Jamaica Undertakes Large-Scale Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project

Re Post from World Watch Institute

In 2011, the Jamaican government set a target of reducing public sector energy consumption 5 percent below the 2010 level by 2015, mainly through public sector efficiency improvements.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is helping to fund these efforts through a 20-year, US$20 million loan, which Jamaica has pledged to pay back with the savings gained from improved energy efficiency in the public sector. Since August 2009, the government has been monitoring energy use in public buildings, an initiative that it expects to be completed by next February.

 

http://blogs.worldwatch.org/revolt/jamaica-undertakes-large-scale-energy-efficiency-and-conservation-project/

 

Where is the Minister of Foreign Affairs?

He said his main focus was to restore Jamaica’s image on the international scene, given how badly bruised it has been over the last 4.5 yrs.

Given how things have been proceeding over the last 2 months and given the damage that has been caused by an leader who seems not to know when to speak and what to say when she speaks, he has a major challenge. Add to that the growing crime problem and the growing sanitation problems caused by the pile of garbage all over the city, which has resulted in a explosion in the rodent population, similar to what we experienced in 2004 in New Kingston, AJ Nicholson has his work cut out. Rats in New Kingston is now a new phenomena, however what it suggest, is a systemic failure public administrations responsible for garbage collection and disposal. There is the concern from the general public particularly in the New Kingston area about  food security due to rodent infestation.

Confidence in the local currency is waning and the dollars has started to slide, coupled with that we have economics and financial analyst suggesting rising inflation as oil prices continues to rise. Then we have negotiations with the IMF, which not going as planned despite announcements suggesting otherwise, given all of that appears we are in for a rocky ride.

Then the PM leaves for a business trip and leaves the government in the hands of the most incompetent ministers in her cabinet , which furthers erodes confidence in the leadership of the country.

AJ over to you sir, I am not sure how you plan to do, what you say you will do, given what you have to work with, which is precious little.

I hope things will turn around quickly or ” dawg nyam we supper”.

Who planned Monday’s West Kingston Assault ?

This is the question on the lips of many today and there are good reasons for this question.

Commissioner Owen Ellington is considered by many, inculding myself to the Jamaica’s best ever commissioner of police hands down. He  has brought a level of professionalism to the force, which we have not witnessed for years. There is a greater level of accountablity, he has taken a hard line on corrupt cops and he has won the hearts of many  Jamaicans in his crime fighting efforts. Jamaicans had become more accepting of the police and were opening up and providing very good intelligence to the police, much to the credit of the commissioner.

This is part of the reason why Jamaicans are so concerned about what appears to be a growing level of disorganization and gross indiscipline, which appears to be on display once again in the police force.  Monday’s events along with one in Mobay and before that in Clarendon have many Jamaicans hopping mad, because this has not been the modus operandi for a while and the cops were  making steady progress in  fighting crime, so what has gone so horribly wrong.

Owen Ellington is a smart guy, one who is not only a strategic thinker, he also has very good tactical skills, which has been on display for sometime now, until recently. It befuddles me that given Mr Ellington record, he would have organized an assault in West Kingston, when Jamaica had a huge contingent of foreign journalist for the visit of the Prince.

Mr Ellington would have been well aware than any assault of this nature in West Kingston would have a predicitable outcome and one that we would rather not have the international media blow up on their respective network. We are capable of doing enough damage, we do not need to have the international press who were here for the state visit giving us the kind of negative  coverage, which we know they are capable of.

So given Mr Ellington thought process and his methodological approach to crime fighting, the recent event in particular the one  on West Kington does not appear to have his signature written all over it, despite his recent comments on IMPACT, where he said this operation was ” pre-planned”.

So who was or should I ask who were the persons that planned this assault?

The answer should be interesting, if we ever get one.

 

St Thomas Main Rd, Its a Hell(uva) ride ! Updated,improvements observed June 2012

Today I decided to travel along the St Thomas main rd and take a few pictures of what I believe is the worst main rd in the country. These pictures show a number of areas between Grants Pen and Bull Bay, which is as bad as it can get. In areas such as White Horses, Pamphret , Yallahs Pond, the conditions are equally as bad.

There are many persons who travel this route on a daily basis to and from work and I am not sure how they deal with it, its truly an embarassment for the elected  representative of this parish. I think the Parish of St Thomas is neglected for the most part and the people have come to accept that successive governments, will do very little for them, so they simply just sit and wait for something to happen to them.

Beware of falling rocks

Now what am I supposed to do with this information regarding falling rocks. Why not put measures in place to ensure that falling rocks will not result in harm to property or life, would that not be a better approach.

Well not so in Jamaica, just be aware of the fact that, rocks could fall on you while you are driving along this stretch of road, that is enough.