3 MYTHS THAT BLOCK PROGRESS FOR THE POOR: Bill Gates 2014

By 2035, there will be almost no poor countries left in the world.

Bill gates.

MYTH ONE

POOR COUNTRIES ARE DOOMED TO STAY POOR

http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/?cid=gf_ob_ll0_012108#section=home

Bank Fees are the least of my concern right now, high taxes are

There is no doubt that banks in Jamaica have increased fees to compensate for the losses from 3 debt exchanges in 3 years and the Jamaican consumer have had to bear the brunt on these increased cost.

While banks fees have been moving up, I am more concerned about what the government is doing to me as it relates to taxes, the movement of the dollar, the movement of oil prices and the rapid increase in the cost of goods and services.

My property taxes in 2013 for example was 146% above where they were in the previous year. The cost per litre of fuel has increased significantly over the past two years, resulting in increase electricity cost and the cost of all goods and services.

The Jamaican dollar lost approx 15% of its value, which has translated in an equivalent or greater increase in the price of goods and service to reflect this change.

My income last year fell in real terms by more than 15% and is likely to fall even more this year given the target set for inflation and additional price increases that we can all expect to see.

So while persons are jumping on the back of the banks, the Government has placed us over a barrel and taking us for everything they can, without providing any improvement in the services they offer for our increased payments.

Targeting the banks at this time is just another distraction, which is meant to take focus from the poor performance of this government.

 

Where on earth will EWI get the money to build the 360MW power plant?

EWC the parent company has total market capitalization of just about US$656 and yet they here planning to build a power plant cost over US$700M, which is greater than the total capitalization of the entire group.

The Jamaica Energy Minister however seems prepared to moved forward with EWC, when there is still no clear indication on how EWI will successfully finance the project.

Mr Paulwell can you indicate whether or not it’s true that the Jamaican Government has been having discussions with China to assist with the financing of the project given that EWC has had major problems in the past to finance their projects.

Over to you Mr Paulwell

Why has EWC failed to inform the ASX of the Jamaican 360MW Project ?

Up to yesterday the Australian Stock Exchange ASX have not been informed about EWC which is the parent company of EWI, about the pending material change as it relates to the undertaking of a near US$700M project here in Jamaica.

EWC is a publicly listed company and matters of this nature must be reported, so why has EWC failed to provide that information thus far ?

No word from the police high command or the Minister on alleged burial site at Harbour View

The Sunday Observer gave a chilling account of murders and burial of bodies somewhere in Harbour View, where according to the reports over 100 bodies could have been buried.
Online readers express outage in the observer blog and called for the cops to immediately investigate these claims.

Its now four days since that report was done and I have not yet heard a word from the Commissioner of Police or the Minister of National Security or civil society groups on these claims, which if are true, would be the single largest gang based mass burial site in Jamaica.

The silence from both men and even members of the government and the opposition is frightening. One would have imagined that the Minister of National Security and the COP would have a personal interest in this case and move quickly to secure the site and immediately begin excavation work to determine if the claims were true, at least as a start.

I am stunned that the country can be so passive about what I consider to be a national emergency issue and the “its like it does not matter” approach that we seem to have adopted.

If over 100 persons could have been murdered and buried in this area, it would seem to indicate that this gang is probably the “wickedest” gang in Jamaica and the fact that the could operate for so long is an indictment on the people of Jamaica.

What is the intention of the police as it relates to this case ?
The COP was quick to claim that his men were not members of any death squads, but when presented with possible evidence of a death squad in harbour view, he has been “noisely” silent.

Mr Ellington over to you sir!

Jamaicans are largely a bunch of jokers, we are like sitting ducks

For months there has been great debate about the provision of a 360MW generating plant in Jamaica until finally EWI was ushered in as the favoured bidder. No sooner had EWI won the bid, there was noise about the financial viability of the firm and their ability to undertake the project given the massive capital investment required.

The local utility watchdog (more like mongrel) indicated to the country, that an investigation will be carried out into the the firm EWI and that would have been undertaken by the FID here in Jamaica.

Just a week ago we got word that the investigations were complete and the files have been handed over to the OUR.

The National Integrity Action (NIA) and the Energy Monitoring Over Sight committee have both asked for the report to be made public and despite their appeal, the OUR has refused to budge, citing confidentially as their reason.

Now Energy World Corporation or EWC is the parent company of Energy World International and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange ASX and is a publicly traded company.

Now EWC Corporation as a publicly listed company is supposed to disclose, as a matter of due course all related matters as it relates to the group to the ASX and that info  is to be made available to all investors.

What is curious and I have asked for clarification from the ASX, is why after winning a bid to undertake its single biggest project ever, EWC has not reported this material change to the ASX?

Why would EWC having won a bid for over US$700M not reported this major deal to the ASX ?

Something is not right here and I intended to get to the bottom of it one way or another.

 

 

Portia no longer thinks “Fiscal targets cannot eat and people cannot sleep on balance sheet”

DEC 21, 2011

“That is why they have no intention of while trying to balance the books, balance peoples’ lives as well. Fiscal targets cannot eat and people cannot sleep on balance sheet.

“So, while they are balancing the books and looking at the fiscal targets, they need to put the people of Jamaica at the heart and the centre of government and governance,” Simpson Miller said. ( She was opposition leader at the time).

I wonder what Portia Simpson Miller and her apologist have to say about the above two statements made December 2011.

Today we find ourselves in the very same position, where the PNP administration is pushing to meeting IMF fiscal target and the population is suffering in the process.

Jamaican voters are fool fool indeed !

Madame PM are  you placing Jamaicans at the heart of governance and government or are you focused on meeting fiscal targets set by the IMF?

Jamaican voters are fool fool indeed , always missing the big picture and “majoring” in minors.

Jamaica voters needs an education is commonsense and must be taught the ability to reason things out and make better decisions. This experiment with the PNP has been nothing but a disaster, which we will pay for ( those who choose to remain) in the very near future !

Agro Parks a failed experiment ?

The big project to spur growth in Jamaica is being hinged on so called Agro Parks, but what has been our experience in the past and how can that guide us going forward.

•  Nyerere Community Farm at Cacoon Castle, Hanover  

Establish 1974

Acreage  12,000 acres

Farms involved

Nyerere Farms, Mafoota and Haughton Groove Farm

• Project land lease ran 1970’s – 1981
• Agro 21 – Spring plain was one of the biggest part of Agr0 21

None of these projects exist today and truth be told they had limited success during their time.  What will make these new Agro Parks any different and given the past experience with previous government run program, failure is highly likely.

Changes in WTO rules played a part in the failure of some of the above projects and it was not soley poor management by those placed in charge of the government lead initiative.

Is the harbour view river bed now a crime scene ?

Its now been 24hrs since that chilling Jamaica Observer story about the killings fields and mass burial spot located in a place call crusher and said to be located in harbour view.

In first world countries, before the day ended on sunday, the place would have been sealed off and law enforcement would be crawling over the place inch by inch with dogs, shovels, body bags, plastic bags and everything else that is required to determine if their are bodies hidden in that area.

The area would be off limits to everyone but law enforcement officials from yesterday afternoon and would  remain so until every square inch has been covered and every minute piece of evidence gathered that could help determine the veracity of the story.

In a country like Jamaica, we express disgust having read the story and we vent for a few hours, but then its back to business ” No problem mon”.

The Jamaica Observer story if it correct and given that I know for a fact that some sections are correct, provides enough proof that in this country, we are NOT serious solving crime.

According to the informant, the cop killed in Harbour View was done by criminal gangs located in the area and yet the cops have not been able to solve that murder almost a year later. Now tell can we really say we are serious about crime fighting ?

When will the digging commence in Harbour view  Mr Commissioner and when will the entire team and Rockfort and Harbour View be transferred including the commanding officer for East Kingston ?

I am sure we will get a report from CCN along  these lines before the end of today.

” The JCF has been made aware of a report a local newspaper about mass burial at a site located on harbour view and the allegedly involvement of rogue members of the JCF. The high command wishes to inform the public, that we have no such official reports, but we will be carrying out intensive investigation to determine the veracity of this story. In order to aid the investigation, we are asking that ex-gangster who was featured in the article to come into the police so we can conduct an interview and gather any additional information that can assist our investigation.

The police high command would like to assure this young man that we will offer him the highest level of protection for himself and his family, while we conduct a through investigation into his claims.

We want the public to be assured that no stones will be left unturned as we carry out our investigation into these claims and will keep the public informed as much as we can about the progress of our investigation.

We urge any other member of the harbour view community and others with information to come in so we can collect the necessary statements, which can go a far way in assisting our investigation.”

Bless.

JCF Special report on the link between crime and the police. Mass burial site in Harbour View ?

The JCF special branch in the legal department, recently prepared a report, which tried to establish a link between criminality and schools. I am suggesting that in light of a damning report in the Jamaica Sunday Observer of January 26, 2014, the police need to conduct a study to determine the link between criminal gangs in Jamaica and the police.

Focus should be on East Kingston, Central Kingston and Spanishtown.

Today’s Observer report gave a shocking account of what is said to be police involvement in killings and cover up to go along with these killings as well as an unwillingness to take any sort of action. Here are some accounts as reported in the Observer.

A stunning claim has been made by a former gang member in the eastern belt of the Jamaica capital, that men in the criminal underworld, often assisted by rogue policemen, have been killing people and burying their bodies in the vicinity of a sand mine.

The practice, according to the man, has been going on for “whole heap a years”, and is carried out by individuals who are based between the East Kingston community of Rockfort, and the adjoining Harbour View in East Rural St Andrew

“Is nearly 100 bodies buried in the river bed. Dem usually use the big tractor dem, but sometimes when the tractors not there, dem use shovel,” the man said.

According to the informant, most of the criminal activities are carried out by members of the ‘Mad Ants Crew’, which has since changed its name to ‘Bay Shore’.

“Things got bad when some youth got guns from overseas (through a now imprisoned Don), and they got unruly and started to rob people and rape the women. Eventually, they got another set of youth to get rid of the first set a youth dem, by sending a vanload of guns to wipe dem out.

“When they are going to step out and do a thing at night time, the police would pass through first. A certain set of police would go with the men and make sure things allright.

“When certain shipment of drugs coming out or going in, police escort it. They set up roadblocks … nutten can’t pass, especially on the airport road, and then dem let it go.

“In the process, the youth dem who dem get to wipe out the first set, start get unruly, so that’s how dem started to organise and kill dem and bury dem at the place called Crusher, up past the gypsum site, the same place that PreMix used to run,” the former gangster said.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Mass-Burial-Site-Claim_15872832