Jamaica’s Tourism and Economy

You know…one of the funniest Ministers of government I have come across is the Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw. He is funnier than the Minister who claimed that the “saf-e-ty” of Jamaica’s visitors, is paramount but not quite as funny as that rural MP-turned Junior Minister who likes to visit and speak with his “consequency”…(Oh JNN did him a bitter injustice when they repeated that “consequency” broadcast daily)….but he’s (MOF) getting there.

Clearly he must be joking when he says that we should use the US recession as an opportunity for growth, rather than view it is a sign of distress for us all. While he mentioned that “oil price is going to go down if we have a recession. Interest rates are going down, commodity prices are going to moderate, inflation will moderate in the new fiscal year,”….and yadda yadda yadda…..BUT what piqued my interest was his view on tourism. He claimed that American tourists would cut out European vacations in lieu of one to Jamaica….straight to Jamaica? Well first of all I want to ask him….what empirical data he has in claws that could substantiate that statement…..because as far as I know….even if Americans were going on the cheap….there is certainly Cancun which is MUCH cheaper than coming to Jamaica. Also…who says Americans were rushing to Europe for a vacation? If you pick up any business or world magazine, you’re likely to see that it is the Europeans, in light of the weak US dollar, who are rushing to the US to make purchases and vacation….they simply can’t afford to shop in Europe…even when the Canadian dollar surpassed the value of the US$, CBC news from Toronto brought to the fore, how some Canadian retailers were feeling the pinch as many persons rushed south to get a bang for their buck. So…where could this alarming logic come from? I mean seriously now…..Jamaica has a way of targeting what I call “cheap” tourists. We are satisfied with 1000 people coming to spend $1.00 each, rather than 2 tourists, spending $500.00 each…which in turn would ease the pressure off some of our natural and man made resources. Islands such as Barbados and Grenada on the other hand, enjoy welcoming high end customers. When you go to Barbados, they let in plane loads of people hassle free (not us Caribbean people of course) and there are so many private jets on the runway with the “who is who” who have jetted in. Bermuda, I know definitively, is beyond the reach of the cheap tourist and price their product to attract wealthy, repeat business. So why have I made this point? Because in time of struggle and strife, it is the high end customer who can recover from exogenous shocks faster and easier than low end potential tourists. Therefore, I am of the view that it is this type of tourist who won’t be THAT adversely affected and will continue to vacation during bad periods. I also believe that unless your tourism product is at least 80% geared towards such persons, then I can see no logic in that argument whatsoever. Well, even the Gleaner editorial had to attack it shortly thereafter because really…..the days of people being so stupid to believe in every thing they hear……ARE OVER! We are reading and we are following what is happening in the world….so please….wheel and come again Mr!

Jamaican Girl’s RSS Feed

Here I am…back again. Over the last week, several people have asked me if I have an RSS Feed…well I am not really a “techy” so I hope this works. If you want to follow my posts up to the minute, I think this is the RSS Feed for the blog:

 http://jamaicangirl2007.wordpress.com/feed/

Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues - Why I would never return!!

Well I am somewhat BACK! I won’t be able to post as frequently as I had done last year because of personal commitments. I also vow to focus more on life in general in Jamaica, rather that the rather boring political landscape which is now in vogue. Anyway, Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2008 left many patrons feeling as if they had been cheated. Let me just back up a bit though and speak of my personal experience and why I would NEVER return to such an event!

In 2006 I flew down to Montego Bay on the spur of the moment, as my friends coaxed me to come down even for the final night to see Patti Labelle. I gave in, jumped on the plane, landed in Montego Bay, enjoyed the day with friends and the show that night. The venue was superb and you got the feeling that everyone was having a damn good time! I thought to myself that for once Jamaicans are capable of staging an event of this magnitude, in an orderly fashion. Boy was I in for a surprise. I convinced my entire family to attend the 2007 event. Never one to settle for mediocrity, the entire family checked into one of the upscale hotels (not the Rose Hall Resort) on the Rose Hall strip on the Friday afternoon ready and geared for the weekend. We bought VIP tickets and were quickly ushered to the front of the stage to a small enclosed area. After watching a few acts we agreed that there was no other way to do this but to sit right under the stage. What a pleasant event we thought! To our horror, each time a major act got on stage, people from the sky boxes descended up on the VIP area, blocking patrons who were already installed in the area as well as trampled on them. We complained but it fell on deaf ears! On top of it, the crowd was loud and boisterous and I can clearly proclaim that Jamaicans do not know how to behave themselves at these types of events. To make it worst, the Friday night billed many dance hall acts who, in my opinion, had no business at such an event, for they are neither jazz nor blues. We left the venue pissed as hell as we felt cheated of our VIP access. The next day we compared stories and incidents with friends who were sitting in the general area. One man plopped himself in front of a friend’s father, took out his ganja spliff and when asked to remove himself as he was blocking and choking those who were there already, he backed out his knife and was ready for a tumble. The goodly parents just backed off and accepted it for the rest of the night.

We were locked in as we had bought the weekend pass and even though 50% of our party had said that the organisers could stuff the money for Saturday’s ticket, we convinced them and again, we trekked back to the so called VIP section to be entertained. We were met at the entrance by security guards who told us that we couldn’t bring in our fold up chairs as VIP was only standing space. Where the hell were we to put the chairs we had on our backs? After several people came in, everyone eventually opened their chairs and dared the security to do something about it. When we looked around us, people were jumping the fence to come over to the section they had not paid for and nobody said anything to them. Again the sky box people invaded us and it was worst on the final night as more people seemed to have wanted only to attend on Saturday. As Earth Wind and Fire appeared, I took 2 pictures of them on stage and we left. What a fiasco! Never again!!

So, this time around, when I heard all my friends saying “Yeah man….wi haffi reach!!”  I didn’t say a word….I was adamant that these people weren’t getting my money. I almost went down just for Saturday night but decided against it as memories from the previous year rushed in my head….hell no! I opened the papers this morning to see that Miss Diana Ross flopped the show and patrons were breathing fire. I am happy because I still have my US$80.00 in my pocket and a full tank of gas in my car. Based on the write up in the papers today, I would NEVER venture to Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues for the rest of my born days, especially when I can buy a ticket for the same cost and watch these same people in the comfort of an organised arena or stadium, where people know how to behave themselves. Everyone I spoke to on Friday stated that the main reason why they were not going was because of the bad behaviour and disorganisation from the pervious festival. My main pet peeve was that I felt ripped off with the VIP tickets! All that it is, is plain ole greed and trying to cram everyone into the place like tuna! Well to hell with that Festival…I will never ever ever ever ever return! As for Miss Diana Ross now dubbed “Miss Rass” (clawt), what you did was not nice…..the woman even lip-synched and the record scratched on her….ha ha ha! Any views?

Click the link below:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid285859616/bclid294430730/bctid1395204461

I shall return!

Now where have you all heard that before? Ok guys, I have been reading your comments but I have been so tied up. Also, I have kinda stopped reading the newspapers or watching the news so I don’t even know what’s going on. I know it sounds odd for someone who had a lot to say during the summer….but it’s true….the news or the country is of no interest to me. However, in the interest of healthy discussions I will force myself to read a page or two and I SHALL RETURN!

Soon come back!!

Air Jamaica flight to…..

Ok I have to admit I have been very lazy for the last few weeks with this writing thing. I promise to keep on keeping on but sometimes it can be very difficult , especially with all the things I have to do.

 Here is a humourous account of an Air Jamaica flight I made to a small island on Friday. Oh if there was ever a time I wish I was not a Jamaican was on Friday, October 12th. I was on my way to a small island who shall remain nameless….but I will leave you to guess at the end, where I could have gone…lol.

 It all began on Air Jamaica’s flight 038 from Kingston to Montego Bay. The economy section was so full I was wondering who was going to get the jump seat as there was only standing space left. I am one of those people who like to arrive last on board as I don’t know what the hell the rush is to get on. I mean let’s get serious…you have a boarding pass and therefore you must get your seat. I totally forgot that I wasn’t checking on any luggage so when my brain caught up I was dashing to the gate……it is beyond me how Jamaicans can travel with so much bullshit, so much so one person can fill an entire bin with the crap with no space for a single little grip! As I took my seat, I scanned the plane to see if I knew anyone around me….not a soul (personally). However, this flight made me ponder on cell phone etiquette. Now every man, woman and child owns a cell phone so we should be beyond speaking on top of our lungs to get noticed right?? Wrong!

 A few rows up from me was a politician and family…clearly heading out for the long weekend, despite the fact that the Heroes Day Ceremony should have been attended by all Members of Parliament……anyway…..the said gentleman took out his cell phone and proceeded with a conversation which went something like this:

MP: Miss Brown…..good morning…Minister here. I need you to write a letter for me and copy the Most Honourable PM and another Minister (name omitted intentionally).

MP: And when you address the second Minister, please give him his rightful title which is Minister of XYZPQR.

 MP: What’s that Miss Brown? Yes….correct. On another note I was trying to call the office earlier today and it rang without an answer…is Miss Jones and Miss Smith in? What? Not in? No man…we have to correct that when I get back. I will call back in an hour to see what is happening.

 Well if that wasn’t bad enough, a guy behind me was busy giving his secretary/assistant directions on how to find the keys with the additional bunch to the storeroom.

Guy: Sheron….yuh nuh si di big key bunch man? Look fi it. When yuh fine it yuh will si one likkle bunch pon it….the key fi di store room deh pon it. One likkel brown key…but do…nuh mek nuhbady know seh mi  beg yuh fi go in deh fi mi. Janet and Rose come yet? Awright…so everything criss? Awright…oonu did write weh oonu want pon di list weh Janet gi mi yesterday? Awright..tek care…si yuh when mi get back Monday.

 He then proceeds to tell the people in his row the story about the store room key.  The guy next to me was no better…..he explained to someone on his cell that “I signed the contract yesterday….they know I don’t work for less than $150,000 a day so take it or leave it”

Now people…..is so people show off? Well the real comedy started when I got to Montego Bay and waited on my connection to the small island. To begin with, it looks like the island ordered a trailer load of entertainers or something. I felt I stuck out as a sore thumb as I was one of the few people who didn’t have multi-coloured hair, fake D and G shades and outfits that are clearly available online from a speciality store. A group of 3 women stood up in a corner who fit this description with their cell phone, obviously speaking to someone in the small island:

 Girl: Hello? Puncie? Weh yuh seh yuh bredda name again? Billy? Awright…gimme Billy address again….weh mi fi tell dem? Mi and Billy a fren? Ok…..mi ‘ave it….awright…tenks. My appreciate the ‘ook up.

This was followed by some confusion with 2 of the 3 girls as the one who was writing the info down wrote the WRONG phone number!! Wow….so we are now on the aircraft…..I am saying “Thank you Lord for not making the flight too full”. So as we take off, the pilto announces that it is one hour to our destination and the weather may make the flight a little bumpy…..

 The first air pocket made the plane feel as if we were going straight down to the sea. It was followed by some bawl outs…..”lawd puppa Jesus…ah wah dis pon wi…di plane lick a pothole….mi know seh mi shoulda did stay home….” as well as “yuh know seh people haffi brave fi tek dem yah singting ya!”

Now here is the part that makes me regret being a Jamaican. After landing and going through the not so bad immigration….the customs woman looked at me and said “Jamaica?”. When I said yes she said “Policy…we are told that Jamaican searches are 100% so put your little suitcase up here”. After digging up my mentionables and unmentionables she let me go and said “Sorry…it’s policy….”. What a good thing I was there for only a few hours…..place nice but lawd……..Jamaicans have it hard!  

Promise to the Nurses of Jamaica

Below is the full speech made by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Audley Shaw, in his heyday as the Opposition spokesman on Finance.

The Nurses’ Association of Jamaica (NAJ) is pressing the Government to fulfil a promise made by Finance Minister Audley Shaw, when he was in Opposition, to double the take-home pay of nurses when he became minister.

It was at the NAJ’s 60th Anniversary/founder’s luncheon on July 19, 2006, that Mr. Shaw gave the commitment, which he subsequently said he could not recall.

Here are excerpts from the speech:

I believe our nurses require special attention. I believe that there should be a risk differential that is paid to nurses for the work that they are doing (applause). When the firemen go to work at midnight, there is a special amount of money given to them for taxi; there is taxi money given to the firemen for the hours that they have to go to work. The point that I am trying to make is that Mrs. Allwood-Anderson (NAJ president) has been quite sharp in making this point, that the Minister of Finance must not be allowed to hide behind the memorandum of understanding and say his hands are tied. The fact is, that, even if the base pay is not touched, there are other areas that can be (inaudible due to applause).

The other area that I would put - I would say categorically right now, I’ll put it on the table publicly today - that the issue of sessional work, or overtime work, as more people understand it to be, we believe that overtime work by nurses should not attract any taxes (applause). If you were to start with those two things - this differential for the nurses and not taxing overtime pay - it would have an immediate impact! (applause)

support double pay

But I want to go further! And I hope I don’t get myself into too deep a trouble today. I want to say that Mrs. Allwood-Anderson has publicly stated that the take-home pay of nurses ought to be doubled, and I want to publicly support that position (applause). Doubling the take-home pay of that nurse who has a master’s degree means that instead of getting US$540 per month, she’s going to get $1,080 per month. That is still one third of what she would get … and that is still 20 per cent or 15 per cent of what she would get if she were working in Florida, or New York, or elsewhere.

So, while doubling the nurses’ salary might appear to be ambitious, I don’t believe it is overly ambitious. I don’t believe that it is. I believe that in the context of where you are starting from, it is still a relatively modest claim.

I believe that this is something that I would like to give the commitment that, as Minister of Finance, this would have to be just the starting position, just the starting position, doubling the salary of nurses!

And I’m going to tell you something: We can find the money to do it! And I don’t want you to be cynical about it. Let me tell you why I think we can find the money to do it. Cut out the corruption! Cut out the corruption! And I’ll give you just one example. It’s covered on two pages of the newspapers today. Cut out the corruption! Cut out the nepotism! Cut out the issue of contracts being awarded to yourself!

mismanagement

Another example is not just corruption. It’s mismanagement! Yesterday, in the House of Parliament, we found that some $2.7 billion of overdraft has been racked up by the Sugar Company of Jamaica. You know why? Because, instead of the minister finding the money either from the Consolidated Fund or PetroCaribe Fund … There’s cash around the place; there’s money around the place! You have the Consolidated Fund, you have PetroCaribe, you have the net international reserves - US$2 billion … There is money, but he allows one company - the Sugar Company - to rack up those kinds of overdrafts at an interest rate of 43 per cent! Forty-three percentage interest rate! As I said to the Finance Minister, it is an absolutely scandal and an absolute disgrace! So, he runs a close overdraft and he tells the nurses, “I don’t have any … (inaudible).

In those two examples alone - Sandals Whitehouse and the Sugar Company of Jamaica - we are seeing almost $6 billion; two billion more than you need to double your salary, going down the drain.

The final point then is to say, how do we finance it? We finance it by cutting out the corruption. The Leader of the Opposition has a bill before Parliament now, calling for precisely what Mr. Christie has called for. Mr. Christie, in his report, has asked that the Government pass a law that makes it legal for anybody … to be able to illegally award contracts to themselves without vacating the chair, declaring interest and making sure that the transparent system of competitive award of contracts takes place.

issue of governance

How can a country be wealthy if one third of our adults are not working? If one third of our adults are not productive human beings, how can we be wealthy, and is it any surprise that we have such a high crime rate? And so, it is an issue of governance, attracting investors, training people, putting them to work and then from that, you raise more taxes, and not borrow your way out. We are borrowing our way out to build up the NIR! But then when you borrow, everything instead of earning your way out … When you earn, you earn taxes; when you earn taxes you pay your nurses. We are borrowing and when you borrow, every year the budget comes and what happens at that time? Seventy dollars out of every hundred-dollar bill has to pay debt! But I tell you, it’s worse than that! Because our revenues are not adequate to cover our debt, we now have to borrow money just to cover the debt, and borrow more money to pay nurses, to pay police. It is unsustainable! It just cannot continue.

So, today I say to you: Don’t give up your fight! Mrs. Allwood-Anderson, you are on the runway! Don’t give up your fight! You keep hope alive! Keep it alive!

You know, I’m glad for my mother. Before she died, she left all of her children with the fear of the Lord in their hearts, and I read the Bible a lot, and one of the words in the Bible allows you hope. And the book of Job tells us that there is hope of a tree that will be cut down; that it will sprout again, and from the tender branch thereof, it shall not cease.

Jamaica can sprout again! And the nurses will sprout again! God bless all of you! (applause)

Source: The Jamaica Gleaner - October 7th, 2007

Jamaican Nurses looking forward to their “double pay”

 Source: Jamaica Gleaner - October 3rd, 2007

Just when I thought I could exhale, along comes the Nurses Association of Jamaica, claiming that they “have di tape”. Di Tape? Well this morning’s Jamaica Gleaner has reported that this group will be holding the Minister of Finance to his word. Apparently when he was the Opposition spokesman on finance, he had cut their cake with them at their 60th anniversary party and promised them at least “double pay”.

“We have him on a DVD where he cut the cake with us at our 60th anniversary/Founder’s Day and he really sympathised with us and we are holding him to it (the promise),” declared Edith Allwood-Anderson, NAJ president, yesterday at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum.

Now anyone who has listened to Edith Allwood-Anderson over the last year will see that this is a woman who doesn’t joke around. She takes her position seriously and I am sure Omar Davies must be saying “Thank yuh Lawd seh dat woman get off mi back”.

Interesting times ahead……………

Read: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070926/lead/lead1.html

That tuition refund from the Government of Jamaica

Folks, I couldn’t miss the news tonight. In fact, I had to watch both television newscasts so that I could hear both perspectives on the issue of the tuition refund. The Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness held  a press conference this evening to announce that the nation will hear when the disbursement of refunds will be forthcoming, at a later date. He claims that refunds will be some time in November…ok cool.

However, we are now hearing that tuition costs amounts to some B$1.8!! This is after we were told it would cost a little over B$1.0. What a drastic difference! There was I thinking (because I am so stupid) that the tuition would have cost exactly B$1.0. Wow. Someone dared to ask where the money was coming from to facilitate this refund, to which the Minister expressed that we shouldn’t be concerned about that. He continued to say that if we are really THAT concerned then we need to direct that question to the Minister of Finance. Well, well, well…….there is even the suggestion that when the refund is made it should be left with the schools for development purposes……well, well, well….there was I thinking that schools ran on chocolate…silly me.

On another note, the Gleaner reported a story this morning about the auxiliary fees “which vary from school to school, usually cover developmental, PTA, insurance and laboratory fees, among others, and range from $2,000 to $12,000″. The Minister states that the Ministry will now begin a debate about these fees, with a view to constructing policy. Good for them.Alphansus Davis, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, claims “That aspect needs to be regulated because we can’t have a system where people increase these fees to supplement tuition fees,” Mr. Davis said.

If I were a primary or secondary school teacher, which I am not, but if I were, I would succumb to the rules of capitalism. You get what you pay for. Want extra? It’s gonna cost you! I wonder if they think that quality teachers come cheap. If I ran a primary or secondary school there would be a sign at the gate saying “Basic services only. For premium services, call 1 888 PAY MORE and press 2 for more details on how to obtain our services at an additional cost”.  The Ministry could never be in their right mind.  How will they attract QUALITY teachers?

To top it off, the feedback question on TVJ this evening was “Do you think this administration has been reckless with their spending and promises?” (or words to that effect)…..funny..71% of the respondents said YES!! It’s those Comrades….they are sitting by the phone and pressing 2 FOR YES. They manipulated the straw poll this evening!!

To the Jamaican Diaspora - Please come home

Here is a question I have always wanted to ask those in the Jamaican Diaspora and hopefully I will get some honest answers. Since it has been said that Jamaica has been so mashed up over the years, and it appears there is now a shimmer of hope on the horizon, when can we expect you back here, on a full time basis,  to contribute some sweat and tears with the rest of us? We would love you all to come back home and give us some brain power which may, in the long run, reduce our dependence on remittances.

 Can I hear an Amen from the crowd? Just curious to know if you are coming home to help.

 I await your wrath……………….

Dear Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce Golding

As always, I visit my fellow bloggers to see what’s happening in their neck of the woods and found this letter quite interesting. Bobby thanks for letting me link you…haffi big yuh up. You can read some more of his posts at:

 http://hecklefind.wordpress.com/

 Ok…here goes: 

Dear Sir Our Honourable Prime Minister O. B. Golding

Allow me this opportunity to congratulate you on your ascension to the highest public post that we have in our blessed land we love. It was an hard fought battle, personally i don’t think the battle has come to a conclusion as yet, but we’ll see.

You personally got my attention, the day you took on to yourself the role of convert. Speaking glowingly of your changes and your principles that you have now adopted. You offered a straw and i held on to it with my heart heavy with doubt, i rode that doubt out and decided to take a chance with blind hope.

Well, here you are, not by any major doing on my part, but you are at the helm. Allow me to remind you that power corrupts, remember that. Be steadfast in your doings, and hold true to your words as it was spoken today (sept. 11,) at your inauguration. To you much has been given and from you much is expected.

You made a slip, and for me a really bad one when you lied about the discussion you had with the commissioner of police, in regards to the state of emergency, that is strike one for you, you have two more strikes to go. Be careful be really careful.

There are those among you, who i am sure do not share the same perceived passion you continue to exhibit, for wanting a united and prosperous country, they have other plans. They fought tooth and nail like rabid dogs to help get you there…… they are hungry and will need to be fed, cause if not they will turn on you and rip you to shreads. So my advice to you; chain them and do it quickly, we cannot afford their pang like desires.

There is a very thin line between love and hate, very very thin, i profess no love for you, but i have faith and i have showed charity, and i took a chance and trusted you, placed in you my hope, the future of my “kedked”, Please don’t ramp with my vote!!!

Yours a faithful

Jamaican Citizen