Basic School Gets Light After 73 Years!

"Basic School Gets Light After 73 year". At first, I didn't believe I had seen this heading on the Go-Jamaica website, so I had to do a double take and read the heading carefully once again to digest its content. Yes, what I saw was correct, and my initial reaction was, "Unbelievable"! How could this be so"? It was good to see that the Jamaica Public Service stepped up to the plate to provide the necessary light posts and wiring to enable a more accommodating situation for the basic school students. However, did it have to take so long for a reputable body, whether government or private, to see the disservice that had been done  to poor children at York Town Basic School who were without the well-needed electricity for 73 years? Why so long? It is unimaginable how many more schools in Jamaica may be facing the same crisis! Another recent report indicates that when school re-opened the interim principal discovered that at a corporate high school they were short 537 chairs and 393 desks! This resulted in the chaining down of desks and chairs and even some students moving the unchained desk and chairs with them from classroom to classroom. To make matters worse,  as discussed in a previous blog, some children are still experiencing the burden of using pit toilet! Come on, can we not do better to serve all Jamaican children regardless of where they live? We must do better in this 21st century.

Incompetence at Its Best!

If a leader is incompetent then this incompetence creates a domino effect. So it is with Mrs. Simpson-Miller and her cabinet. The ODP provided a recent report that clearly indicated the unacceptable actions of government ministers such as Mr. Azan and Mr. Paulwell.  Furthermore, Mr. Phillips' overall performance demonstrates that he is unable to lead at even a satisfactory level as the Minister of Finance.  Not to mention the recent ECJ/Herbert Thompson blunder. These are a few of the many problems throughout the PNP's reign. However, Mrs. Simpson-Miller continues to stand by her ministers by taking the "see no evil", "hear no evil", "speak no evil" approach. Simpson-Miller may possess a wonderful, loving, caring, motherly personality and her "comrades" laud her with praises since she has been so good to them by placing them in top positions, her intellectual capacity may put her at a disadvantage that causes the lack of confidence to manage on her own without these people. So, in spite of the fact that she may be aware that some persons  may not be the best persons for the ministries, boards, etc. that they oversee, she may have placed herself  in a position that she cannot lead the country without them. So, since she has no control over her cabinet and other political appointees and they are quite aware of their free reign to do whatever they please, the incompetence will continue. What a shame!

"Don't Bash Chinese!"

Portia warns Jamaican not to bash the Chinese!!??  Well, let's hope that her desire for Chinese investments in the country will not make these foreigners believe that they have the right to treat Jamaicans in the brutal and domineering fashion that they are used to doing with their own people. Of course, top government "players" are only considering how much money they can personally earn for themselves from Chinese investment and not about the personal welfare of their own Jamaicans. The website below tells the story of how the Chinese manhandled and forced two educators of their land by knocking down their school building simply because interested persons wanted to build high rise buildings on the land. Hope this does not happen in Jamaica!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24057915

Are Extra Lesson Exam Services Effective?

"What a way Jamaica have schools!" My father exclaimed this thought while reading the classified section of the Jamaica Gleaner's Sunday edition. Later, I was curious to find out what he meant and quickly realized that the school classified section was filled with education services pandering to those students who are taking or re-taking CXC exams. Claims of success filled the pages such as "pass your CAPE exam in only one year and get into university", "the best CXC classes", "the best math product ever", "excellent achievement record" "we offer the best teaching in Jamaica" to name a few. Looking at so many ads makes one wonder about the level of teaching in the high schools to cause so many to see a need to establish their own extra lesson services. Even the Minister of Education has verified that the recent CXC results show a decline as overall students in Jamaica continue to perform poorly in many subject areas. Nevertheless, how effective are these extra lesson services? Are these services primarily taught by trained teachers who are aware of the varied learning needs of students or others who may not have a clue? Are learning techniques implemented based on the student's needs or are the same non-productive class procedures used? It would be interesting to know how really effective these services are in helping students to pass the tests.

Here We Go Again!

Colin Campbell was recently handed the position as the Managing Director of the JUTC. Indeed, he was handed the position under the pretense that he went through a fair pre-employment process according to "Reverend" Garnett Roper. It certainly cannot be a fair process when a candidate is so closely associated with the persons who are making the decision for the post. Quite frankly, it was a waste of time for the other persons who "Reverend" Roper claims were in contention for the position. How could such candidates ever have been in close contention when "Reverend" Roper indicated that Campbell had already possessed the experience from his previous government position and that he is a "such" a good communicator. Apparently honesty, trustworthy, integrity were not key words that may have been considered as important for selecting the candidate for the job.  "Reverend" Roper even had the audacity to indicate that the JLP had engaged in the same practices when they were in office. So, does that make the practice right? For a person who claims to be a man of God, it is quite ironic that instead of taking the high road and leading by example he is taking the stance that "them do it, so we can do it too".  So, how can the most qualified persons who possess the education, experience, and integrity gain high level government positions when each political party continues to give these jobs to friends and family?  This problem is quite evident now as the incompetency of certain persons in prominent government positions are evident as they continue to make countless errors that ultimately affects the country. There was an opportunity to demonstrate high moral standards in selecting a Managing Director of the JUTC, but political biases overshadowed ethical judgement.

Jamaicans' Passivity to Government Corruption

The Jamaican dollar has greatly devalued against the U.S. dollar which is now at an all time high selling price of at least JA$100 for US$1.  Unemployment continues to be a major factor as many students are graduating without any signs of employment unless their parents own a company, holds a high position at a company, or the graduate or their parent knows someone influential in the business sector. Having close connections to well-known, wealthy Jamaican families not only will guarantee a top-level job, but it demonstrates nepotism at its best!! Nevertheless, prices of food, gas, electricity, water, and just about everything else have been rising steadily, yet government workers' salaries have remain frozen with the excuse from the finance minister that there is no money to  increase salaries. But, government ministers demonstrate that they have no conscience by using tax payers money to profile at expensive functions and parties every week as seen in the media, and they seem to have no problems finding money to purchase luxury cars for themselves. Furthermore, it is quite absurd to recently read that ministers have received a raise! Even more alarming is that while the government professes there is no money, they seem to find the money to dress in the most expensive clothes and accessories, stay at the most luxurious hotels abroad, take expensive vacations, and arrive there and back on first class airline tickets issued with the use of tax payers' money. After all of these blatant offenses, the Jamaican people remain passive. The only action that the people seem capable of taking is complaining on the radio talk shows and other media about high prices, over-charging of pubic service companies that monopolize industries,  and other consumer issues. The irony is that in a country with so many "leaders", no one will step up to organize any public demonstrations against the difficulties they are facing. Obviously, if prices of goods and services continuously increase and consumers maintain their usual buying customs of these goods, then there will be no efforts made to lower prices or even consider the issues. So, price increases will continue since government and business owners have realized that the passive nature of Jamaicans will not allow them to take action in the streets such as the people of Brazil, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries where the people can no longer take government abuses and have come out in force to demonstrate the government high spending, corruption, and lack of concern in funding the important needs of the people.  People of Jamaica need to put aside their passivity, political biases, and go out in large number to demonstrate government's selfish actions of self-service, the corruptive acts and basically the lack of regard for the people's well being. At this point, that is the only way that a government with no conscience will recognize that they need to begin serving the people of Jamaica and not their personal interests.

Freeness Mentality At Its Best

What an embarrassment to hear that government minister, Anthony Hilton, owes a businessman U.S. $120,000 for the purchase of a home! Now, after six years of dodging his obligation and giving the seller the run around, he appears to have miraculously found the money to pay during the upcoming week! Did he believe that his high profile name and government positions meant a waiver of his responsibilities in paying the JA$2 million for a house that he occupied for a number of years? As an attorney, he should have known better especially after signing a contract to pay. Furthermore the poor excuse of relying on monies from the sale of property to honor his obligations certainly is insulting to anyone's intelligence. If he was unable to come up with the money for the property upon signing the contract, then he should not have entered into such obligation. But, that is the mentality of so many Jamaicans who want to live the "big life" which they cannot afford. For instance, Ms. J rents an expensive place off Hope Road and has to make high payments each month for a new SUV, so why is she complaining that she cannot afford to buy food to have a decent meal each day? Too often this is the case of living above one's means which always gets exposed in the long run. So it's just not worth living an expensive, pretentious life to "show off". One may get away with using the freeness mentality with relatives during law school and at the beginning of one's career then disassociating onself from these kind relatives when one becomes successful. However, this behavior does not work in disregarding the efforts of a successful businessman to collect his money! So, Mr. Hilton.....pay the man his money!