Another Cabinet retreat !

What’s our (the people) expectations from these retreats and have those been met from the previous three.

This is the Government’s fourth retreat in less than 15 months and we are no closer to an economic plan, than when the started in Jan 2012.

I think the PNP government should just surrender and seek real help as clearly they cannot manage the job.

Courtesy : Jamaica Observer

How does one measure success ?

Success the Jamaican way

Jamaicans definition of success appears not to be based on anything quantitative  but more so on gut feelings or personal  opinions.

We measure a persons success by the car they drive or the house they reside in or even in some cases the way they look ie dress code.

We measure the performance of our political parties based on our like or dislike for the leader of the party or the party or in some cases both.

We measure the performance of our minister by virtue of his or her announcements or how often we see them in their constituency.

We celebrate announcements not achievements.

How can one truly measure performance without first setting measurable targets and then match the results attained to the original targets set.

Come April 1, we will be forced to listen to what is called in our system  the ” budget debate”. This is a time when we get a chance to hear how much additional taxes we will be asked to pay and what carrot will be  hung in front of us to soften that blow.

Why are we not interest in hearing the scorecard of each portfolio minister?

Why are not interested in putting them on the podium and have them tell us their achievements and or failures vs the set target at the start of the last fiscal year?

Why are we not interest in hearing the plans they have to improve their respective performance with timelines within  which we can expect to see these results?

Why are we not interested in having each of these minister present quarterly reports , which are made publicly and have them explain why we are off target if we are ,while showcasing the performance targets that have been met or exceeded thus far for that quarter?

Jamaica does not have the luxury of time on its hands, we must turn the system on its head, expose the non performers and become their worse nightmare and make it very difficult if not impossible  for non performers to continue in their respective ministries, regardless if he is a nice guy or belongs to my party.

A snake can run for win a seat  and become a “honourable” minister in Jamaica, as long as he belongs to the right party at that point in time.

Its time to put Jamaica first !

Shake, Shake, Shake, “Jay wake up man, you dream too much”.

Barbados Targets 1,000 Jobs With New $600m Stimulus

With  BD$1.00 = US$0.50 , this package is equivalent to J$29.2B and here is what they plan do do.

“This new stimulus to the Barbados economy will forge additional economic activity and contribute to the reinvigoration of the construction sector, creating new jobs and growing the Barbados economy,” Finance and Economic Minister Chris Sinckler told Parliament as it debated the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2013 to 2014.

He further added:

“This is the type of stimulus we know that is sustainable. It creates more jobs and economic activity and ensure that business in Barbados flourish,” said Sinckler.

“Our hope is that these projects will create in excess of one thousand new jobs from this work during the construction phase and also other spin-offs,” he told legislators

 

Now I know readers are going to say ” Jamaica cannot afford a stimulus package at this time, because we have no money, which is true and I won’t argue with that.

Notice when you read the article there is no mention of things like ” bushing of streets side, drain cleaning etc”, all of which passes for job creation in a country where the literacy rate is less that 90%.

These are real infrastructural development projects and nothing like our best job creation program called JEEP.

The difference when you lead a country with a literacy rate of 99.8% and one of 89.8 % is most apparent.

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130320/business/business4.html