International Lending Agencies Must Stop Giving Grants to Countries That Squander The Money

Loans and grants to Jamaica from foreign entities continue to be misappropriated by top officials in Jamaican government ministries. These monies are expected to serve as necessary funds for ailing industries, farmers experiencing difficulties, improvement of infrastructure, etc.  Yet, millions of dollars have been going instead to chairmen and members of government boards or permanent secretaries such as Donovan Standberry who should be responsible for ensuring that the monies are disbursed appropriately. Clearly there is a cesspool of corruption in the Jamaican government when the auditor general, Pamela Monroe-Ellis continuously uncovers that hundreds of millions of dollars have not been going through the proper checks and balances. Instead, a conflict of interest is prevalent with those who should be managing the funds for public use are giving themselves personal loans. Yet, even after the audit reports of such criminal acts, no actions have been taken to either reclaim the ill-gotten funds or arrest these highly connected persons. Tax payers in countries such as the United States should become aware of what is occurring since often it is their tax payer's money that are going to developing countries such as Jamaica where, the funds are squandered by these unscrupulous persons in high government positions. It is no longer acceptable for these international loan representatives to visit these countries, stay at the most expensive hotels, and be wined and dined prior to becoming a part of a public relations photo op to hand over a check worth millions of dollars. It is now time to take steps to ensure that the funds are used to address the needs of the country.  In the meantime, these senior managers/executives will have to answer to their conscience as the very critical public, including "friends" silently judge them on how they acquired their property.  The three stories below are examples of the blatant use of moneys from international agencies.

$655 Million Unaccounted for at PC Bank

Factories Corporation of Jamaica Spending Spree

$200 Million Disbursed Without Approval

Housing Association of Jamaica - $2 Billion Missing

Port Authority Pension Bombshell

Candidates Accused of Not Accounting for Election Donations

Overseas Athletes Representing Jamaica - the Country of Their Roots

For the Rio Olympics, the Jamaican team will show a growth in athletic areas that are new to the country. Past Olympians who can no longer qualify for the Jamaican Olympic national team continue to choose to represents other countries. However, it is welcoming to see a reversal of this trend since so many strong athletic contenders who live in other countries but have Jamaican roots are choosing to represent Jamaica. As a result, Jamaica now has a gymnastic team; Diana Levy will be the country's first hammer thrower, and others such as Aisha Praught,  Yona Knight-Wisdom, are trying to make a mark elsewhere. As the team continues to dominate in track and field, it is hoped that athletes will also excel in other areas with these new contenders.

Let's Focus On English Before Making Spanish A Second Language

Prime Minister Holness came back from Cuba and announced that he wants to make Spanish an official second language. But, consideration should be given instead to spending money on developing the English language abilities of so many students who are having difficulties with not only speaking proper English but with written Grammar. Surely, many in Jamaica are used to and comfortable speaking only Jamaican patois. This is not a problem unless they are placed in a situation or an environment where proper English would be expected for all to understand. Nevertheless, while knowing another language is a good idea, this concept has already been implemented in schools throughout the island for so many years. It is important to give attention to perfecting the first language of the country - English.

Politically Connected Appointees to Government Boards Must Stop

Here we go again!!  Five members on the board of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) committed the most despicable act of employing themselves in key managerial positions. But, it doesn't end there. As board members they were able to approve salaries for themselves that resulted in a sum total of $25 million. The report from Auditor General, Pamela Monroe Ellis, should not have been a surprise. But, where in the world would board members who, by the way are generally in financially secure careers or positions, be so crooked as to commit such an unforgiving act - only in Jamaica! This is amazing especially when the government is complaining that they have no money! Certainly these board member crooks have no conscience or any shame in stealing hard-working tax payers' money for their own personal gains. Their actions show that the nepotism practices of Jamaican Prime Ministers and other government hierarchy in appointing their friends to government boards need to stop. It is unethical for the politically connected to get such positions when they are no vetted through a check and balance system to see if they are suitable to hold such high positions. 

Call Out K.D. Knight's Disrespectful Behavior in Trafigura Court Hearing

The behavior of K.D. Knight at the Trafigura court hearing yesterday is not expected of an attorney who has achieved the status of "QC" or for any litigation attorney in court whatsoever. As an elderly, long-standing attorney, his actions in court towards Judge Lennox Campbell and others clearly do not set a good example for other attorneys. It was quite clear that Knight had intentions to be disruptive and only demonstrates that he:

• is a bully who is used to dominating others
• is short tempered
• demonstrates divisive behavior if he does not get his way
• is used to laying the blame on another when he is the wrong doer 
• has been given a badge of honor as "sheriff" so he may believe he is above the law and can do whatever he wants in a courthouse
• arrogant 

The question is why was no action taken against Knight by Justice Lennox Campbell instead of putting up with the impertinent challenges. The behavior of Knight is just another example of the indiscipline that exists in Jamaica. One sees it on the streets every day, but just would not think that it would be played out in the courthouse by a man who has been practicing law for so many years.

"Bad Minded" People

Growing up in Jamaica, I always heard about people having "bad mind". However, for so many years, that phrase has never been mentioned around me throughout my interactions in Jamaica and around Jamaicans abroad, so I completely forgot about the term until lately when the word appeared to have been resurrected. This resurgence of "bad mind" indicates that it is not a word that has gone out of style -- this term from the past is still alive and well nowadays. During the recent elections,  Andrew Holness's mansion saga brought this term back to life in the public forum as the then Leader of the Opposition indicated that some people, primarily from the opposing PNP, had "bad mind" about his ability to purchase a dwelling at such a exorbitant cost. From all indications, the magnificent appearance of the property made many wonder how he could have acquired so much money on his politician salary to build such a structure. However, another politician has caught the "bad mind" bug. Julian Robinson's intent to purchase a multi-million dollar home with his wife, a CEO of a bank, is under scrutiny, and ironically his personal business has been brought to the public not by the opposition ruling party but surprisingly person or persons from his own political party. It appears that these "bad minded" people do not seem to realize people who come from humble backgrounds can work hard to achieve academic  and professional successes that will subsequently lead to their ability to afford an expensive house in an economy with property values that having been increasing rapidly due to the unstable economy. It must be emotionally draining, unproductive, and a sad situation for people to waste so much energy worrying about another person's ability to succeed.

Don't Expect Quick Resolutions from Jamaican Government Offices

I began to fret as I contemplated the  experience I would face when I arrive at my destination. I know without a doubt that I should expect to get the run around as nothing ever goes smoothly at any of these service locations. There is only a guarantee that once I finally get to speak to a customer service employee after standing in a long line, I will be given information that will clearly mean nothing if I return the next day and ask the same questions to another employee. With so many horror stories from Jamaican pensioners and others, I will not hold my breath in hope of getting any resolution to my problem on that day or that week or that month or even that year. In fact, the issue may continue for the next years due to the lackadaisical work culture that this entity has come to symbolize. So, I should get used to entering the building since  many more visits are predicted before the matter will be finally resolved. Where am I? Of course, at a Jamaican government office - where else could I be?

Too Much Time on the Mayor's Hands

It is inconceivable how a mayor of a city that is plagued by so many social issues and population needs seems to have found so much time throughout each day to post on social media. The constant postings throughout the day indicates that the mayor may simply have nothing to do or this mayor is effective in delegating work to others so as to free up tax payers' time to constantly post on social media. It would be acceptable if this mayor would post on the work that is taking place on the bad roads or dilapidated buildings or the dirty, smelly streets with running sewer water or the many other issues that need to be fixed throughout the city. Tax payers would certainly welcome posts on successes achieved or notices on social activities planned to benefit the residents of communities throughout the city. However, in addition to silly postings, the main emphasis of the mayor is to blast the ruling JLP or to spread propaganda or call out other politicians - even those associated with PNP who brings out the mayor's wrath. Taxpayers deserve better.