Dr. Errol Morrison and Easton Douglas - Irresponsible Appointment Gone Wrong

The ongoing UTech problems are not surprising.  It was just a matter of time for Dr. Errol Morrison's ineffective leadership to become intolerable. Dr. Morrison is a physician and well known locally for his specialty in addressing diabetes issues. However, when his name was announced in 2007 to assume the responsibility as president of a learning institution, there was skepticism on his knowledge and ability to lead such a prominent university. This is just one of the many leadership appointments that are given based on politics and friendship to people who simple have no knowledge or experience to successfully do a good job outside of their comfort zone. Instead, they have to rely on the knowledge of experts who eventually get tired of being used and not getting any recognition. With time on the hands of inexperienced appointees, their idle minds lead to no good. So, quite often, an autocratic leadership style along with illegal and deceptive practices will occur, as in the case of UTech.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140312/lead/lead2.html

Easton Douglas ..............he made his intentions clear during his CVM interview on the program, "Direct" with Garfield Burford, when he defiantly argued that as the Managing Director for NHT's board of Directors, he must  have an office in the NHT building to oversee the day-to-day operations of the institution??!!  So far four prominent, well-respected  board members have resigned, and this lack of confidence demonstrates Douglas's inability to lead the board. If he cannot lead a board, then his desire to be the CEO of the institution would certainly present a problem. But, in a desire for power, it is difficult to see such shortcomings.

$117.825 Million Dollar Travel Expenses For Jamaican Prime Minister And Ministers

Portia Simpson and her cabinet should be a shame of themselves! Jamaica is experiencing severe financial crisis with high unemployment and continuous increases in basic items yet these government leaders see no reason to show any sympathy for the struggles of the people and the economy. They continue to live off tax payers and show no sign that they intend to cutback with their expensive lifestyle. Not only does Portia brag at spending  millions on foreign travel, she cannot account for the specific outcomes from her unnecessary trips. Hopefully foreign lenders are taking a note of how these Jamaican leaders are squandering money for personal gains instead of using it to the benefit of the country.

Shaggy & Friends - Neyo's Lip Syncing Performance

Shaggy and friends 2014 once again achieved its main purpose of securing well needed funds for sick, needy children at the Bustamante Children's Hospital. Getting to the show, however, was a great inconvenience for many who had to simply leave their cars  at the side of the road and trek through the long traffic jam to the venue. Nevertheless, the show was too long with some unnecessary performers, and the scheduled appearance of the acts seemed disorganized. The main act appeared in the middle of the concert while less popular acts came on stage thereafter. The act, however, that should be singled out is Neyo's. He is mainly known to the R & B community, and a better performance was expected from him. Certainly, he could not have been paid for lip syncing to recorded music while dancing around the stage!!??  Patrons and sponsors deserved better than that poor unacceptable rendition.

Government Minister Job Review

Position:                    Government Minister

Experience:  

Experience is not necessary to be appointed to head a government ministry. Also, prior involvement in corruption or under-performance in a previous government position will not deter appointment to a ministerial position. Emphasis in appointment is given to a close association with the prime minister rather than experience.

Duties:

• Rely on the knowledge of experienced staff and consultants to carry out daily duties.
•  Feed of  the expertise of experienced staff and consultants to negotiate for loans or foreign investment.
• Engage in continuous self-promotion by participating in video and photo opportunities at private or public functions, conferences along with associating themselfves with athletes and others who are regarded as “famous”.

Education:                 
                      A tertiary level education is .not a requirement but is helpful

Benefits:                               

·         salary ranges $4,000,000 to $5,000,000  or higher

·         Multi-million dollar housing in upscale neighborhood

·         generous housing allowance

·         staff to attend to residence and a driver

·         latest model luxury car.

·         substantial bonus for selling out any government owned entity   to foreign companies.

·         substantial bonus for signing loans and foreign investments.

·         travelling the world under the pretense of engaging in            international business. 

·         travelling first class on commercial carriers with an entourage that includes family members.

·         Occupying luxury hotel accommodations, dining at expensive restaurants, and shopping at high end stores both locally and internationally

·         Maintaining a lavish lifestyle with taxpayers money

Other Requirements:           

• an ability to coerce voters with no intention of following through with campaign promises
•  ability to use tax payers funds for personal gains  without conscience
•  ability to engage in negotiations on behalf of the country with no accountability to the public  on the details of the discussions
•  The ability to demonstrate a lack of conscience for those burdened by continuous increases due to the fact that the minister will not have to pay for the use of these essentials while in public office.   

                                   

Portmore Municipal County - Shame On You

CVM aired a news story tonight on Portmore Municipal County's removal of huge mounds of earth around the Greater Portmore area. An articulate resident made known that the top soil was being removed for an housing development. He also clearly explained the issues that have existed with the removal of so much earth so close to the neighborhood. Among the concerns are the flooding of the land when it rains since there is a pond nearby. Also, another major concern is that the earth removal has caused more alligators to gravitate towards the neighborhood thereby causing the residents to live in fear. No, Mr. Acting Mayor, these concerns are certainly not mischievious. With news cameras buzzing around the neighborhood, it is no wonder that Leon Thomas, the acting mayor, had to come up with an excuse. The lame excuse is that they are only bushing and clearing empty lots to prevent an eyesore. Quite frankly, it is not difficult to communicate information that has the citizens's best interest at heart. So, it would not have been difficulty to alert the residents that the land would be bushed, and this explanation would have helped to prevent such confusion that now exists with residents.  However, when scheming, back-door deals are made, there is never any intention to communicate with the public.  Another example of taking the public for granted

Chinese Take Over Jamaica!!

"How yu  business downtown?" I asked a neighbor who tries to make a living for her and her daughter by selling her wares downtown. She responded "business nu good. Me there all day and nuthing no sell". Business was much betta last year. Nuthing no gwan since the Chinese teck over duntown." "The Chinese?" I asked. "What do you mean they take over downtown?" "Them buy up the whole a the buildings duntown". "Them can sell tings cheap cheap so people pass we on the street and go inna them store." "Them no have no worry clearing them containers at the warf so them can bring in anything and sell it cheap."  This made me consider that when Portia and her team was signing the agreement with China, apparently she and her team did not consider the Jamaican people who are struggling to make a living. Obviously, the Chinese have created a monopoly downtown and from all indications throughout the island, and this does not leave any room for Jamaicans to compete in selling goods. So, if these Jamaicans no longer make a living then what is next for them? When signing agreements, personal gains for the government is the foremost concern and the Chinese teck over situation is a perfect example of how the Jamaica people are the least of their consideration when doing so.

Mobilizing A Nation for Tessanne Chin

Jamaica is troubled by so many problems such as the high crime rate, unemployment, and other issues too numerous to mention. However, it was amazing visiting Jamaica to experience how citizens living within and outside of such a small island can come together to become an unstoppable force in an effort to ensure than Tessanne Chin won the Voice. While 2.5 million Jamaicans living in Jamaica were not able to use all the options available to vote for Tessanne,  the Jamaican diaspora located in every major city within the United States mobilized the 5 million or so Jamaican Americans to use all options to vote for Tessanne. From professionals to lay workers to students, Jamaican Americans came out as a force to be recon with from the east coast to the west coast; from the mid west and mid east states.  They made sure they used all options to vote for Tessanne.. The numerous radio stations in Jamaica also played a great part as conversation, music, and predictions were heard from sun rise to sunset with the urging of citizens to contact all relatives and friends living in the United States to use all options to participate in the Voice voting.  So, there is no doubt that Tessanne would have won with votes from even so many non-Jamaicans who recognized her talents especially after singing Bridge Over Troubled Water. So, what happens now? Tessanne will have a successful music career and will continue to make Jamaica proud. But, for Jamaica, however, after such a highlight for the nation, it does not eliminate the issues such as the continued rise in crime rate, and this was evidence by Tessanne's frightened reaction on stage when she jumped upon hearing an explosive blast that was meant for the release of confetti and not the shooting of a gun. Tessanne is a perfect example that Jamaicans can achieve so much and Jamaicans demonstrate that they are unstoppable when they come together for a cause. But the nation must also come together to eradicate the negative forces that are pulling the country in the wrong direction.
Dr. J. Campbell