Early Announcement of Final Election Results Causes Conflicts in Jamaica

Announcing the final election results on the same night the polls close can be successfully done by certain countries such as the United States. However, making such an early announcement of the final results in countries such as Jamaica continues to cause confusion and later becomes a costly re-count process. This past elections is an example that indicates Jamaica still has not achieved the ability to count the ballots and provide accurate results on election night without making mistakes. The rush to get the results out creates disappointment and embarrassment when one candidate is later advised that the initial announcement of winning the constituents' votes was not correct. It also causes contention between the candidates and party supporters who have to wonder if any corruption occurred during the initial counting of the ballots. A number of countries give additional time to counting the ballots. Announcing the final results the next day or two gives workers a better opportunity to take their time to get the job completed efficiently. Other countries have taken this step to avoid after election confusion.  Why not Jamaica?

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Popeyes Clogs Up Cross Roads!

A second franchise of the Popeye's restaurant was opened in Jamaica to fanfare at its Cross Roads location. Wonderful!! Another American restaurant is opened that sells greasy fried food to create more health problems for Jamaicans. It would be interesting to know how much of this unhealthy food Richard Lake, Lois Sherwood, and the other franchise owners at Restaurant Associates really eat. It is about time the health of the people is taken into consideration so that more effort will be given to starting Jamaican restaurant chains, such as Island Grill, that has developed a reputation for providing well cooked, healthy meals. Bombarding communities with so many American fast food restaurants, for instance three KFCs in Portmore, is simply just greed that manipulates the population's desire to eat "American".

Money Comes Out on Top Over Preserving the Environment

The "Environmental Minister's" lifting of the ban that prevented Karisma Development Corp. from removing sand from an already eroding beach property to use on another property shows that those like himself in charge of the country's environmental issues are either illiterate to the consequences that will likely occur to the coastline from the destructive sand mining, or have been lured by the monetary outcomes in building another hotel and the backdoor deals for making the decision in favor of the hoel development company. Diana McCaulay, environmentalist, explained in details the differences in sand quality from one coastline to the next. The published response showed the harm  that will not only affect the coastline where the sand was removed but also the coastal areas where the sand was transferred. However, this detailed response to the issue appears to have been overlooked by the minister. In concurring with a statement made on a popular radio talk show today, "Why bother to have an Environment ministry?"In time, those who have been lured by money that have caused them to make decisions in favor of big businesses will be remembered in history for their contribution to the destruction of the country's environment.

Government Lift Ban on Karisma Development for Removing Sand

Caribbean Maritime Institute Questionable Hiring Practices

Pamella Munroe Ellis’s audit report on the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) indicates cronyism at its best. The hiring of six assistant lecturers who have no training or teaching experience in the subject areas simply shows a disinterest by the institution’s leadership to provide qualified lecturers so that students may obtain the best possible education. Furthermore, the hiring of 253 part-time lecturers without approval from the Ministry of Finance indicates a breakdown in communication between CMI and the ministry that resulted in failure to monitor spending of $135.6 million paid in salaries at tax payers’ expense. Students’ surveyed feedback on their dissatisfaction with the training offered by CMI lecturers should be taken seriously especially since these students are paying such high tuition for their education. CMI’s leadership should be held responsible for compromising the education needs of its students
Caribbean Maritime Institute Accused Of Employing Unqualified And Inexperienced Educators

Is Lisa Hanna an Innocent Victim of Controversies?

Everald Warmington's usual tirades continued this week when he referred to Minister Lisa Hanna as a jezebel. This outburst was disrespectful and showed a lack of professionalism. Many believe his outburst this time has gone too far and disciplinary action needs to be taken since proper conduct is expected from all members of Parliament especially during a sitting of the House of Representatives. On the other hand, this is yet another public controversial incident involving Ms. Hanna. In fact, it appears that throughout her tenure as a government minister, she is constantly embroiled in uncomfortable issues that stirs up public attention. It includes but not limited to: the questionable handling of certain cases in her ministry; the bathing suit posting on social media; her comrade, Dayton Campbell, taking her to task; claims of her secretive survey to publicly declare her popularity; the Jamaica Observer 3 part publicity story; claims of fractions with the Prime Minister and her close circle; discontent with counselors in her constituency; claims by her counselors of impropriety; and now her dispute with Mr. Warmington which she quickly brought to her fans' attention on social media to incite their support. Is it pure coincidence that Ms. Hanna seems to attract controversy causing her to often become a popular debate topic on social media? But then, her PNP colleagues such as Natalie Neita-Headley, Imani Duncan-Price, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, and others appear to be quietly working hard to do a good job without scandals or drama that generate public attention through social media debates. There is more than meets the eye.

Prime Minister's Fear of the Media?

Until recently, Portia Simpson-Miller had not been vocal on a number of public concerns since she indicates that she has been "working, working, working". However, during the election period, she has been making efforts to get her political message across. She speaks comfortably to her party supporters at political rallies; her recorded messages on the party's accomplishments are heard throughout the day on various radio stations; she has even gone to the extent to hold a press conference with school children. However, the prime minister does not seem to be making any effort to give time to the Jamaican news media where she, no doubt, would be expected to respond to reporters' thought provoking questions on the nations' issues including questions that she still has not publicly addressed for sometime. Previous encounters with new reporters have not resulted in favorable public impression of her ability to communicate with others outside of her comfort zone. However, in this pre-election season, she will  have to engage in dialog with news reporters sooner than later, The quicker she confronts an apparent dissatisfaction with the news reporters' questioning, the better opportunity she will have to get her message across to all Jamaicans.

Jamaica - Suspension for a Letter but No Disciplinary Action for the 18 Baby Death Mishandling!

Member of Parliament, Marlene Malahoo-Forte has been suspended from the Jamaican Parliament for not producing a letter to support her claim that the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council had expressed an interest in travelling to Jamaica to hear cases. But, it is quite ironic that such swift disciplinary action has not been taken in the case of the Minister of Health who has consistently mishandled health epidemics that includes the death of 18 babies. In fact, such immediate action was not taken for other government minister's misuse of millions of dollars. Both cases demonstrate a gross mishandling by the sitting government!