Noel Hilton and Cronies Need To Answer To Multi-Million Payouts

Here we go again with white collar criminals!! The Jamaican public needs answers immediately from the Port Authority's Board-of-Directors, specifically Noel Hylton, Chairman-of-the-Board, as to why they disregarded government guidelines and approved multi-million dollar  payments to senior officers who were not entitled to such outrageous retirement benefits plus gratuity. In addition to gratuity of $31 million, one senior officer on contract received  three  pensions which includes one valued at $56 million, another for $554,164 U.S. dollars, and a third offered in a lump sum of $120,000 with monthly payments of $34,834. It is unbelievable and an injustice that one man receives three pensions when there are so many retirees from the Port Authority of Jamaica who are barely surviving on the pittance that they are offered for retirement after giving so many years of dedicated service to the government entity. In addition, many workers at the Port Authority now can hardly survive on their monthly salaries. Yes, Mr. Hilton and his board members need to account for why they found it acceptable to shell out multi-millions to 14 senior officers. The board has changed through the years but what has remained consistent is that Noel Hilton, at 80 something years old, continues to hang on to the Chairman position. It is well past time for a new chairman at Port Authority of Jamaica.  These white-collar criminals have no conscience, and they need to be arrested!

Senior Port Authority Officers Get Multimillion-Dollar Payments To Which They Are Not Entitled

UWI - Mona, Jamaica Unapologetic Induction Blunder

Today, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, Jamaica, inducted Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, into its Honour's Park. The university uses the Honour's Park to celebrate past students who were or are heads of government. This action is certainly a privilege for Dr. Rowley, However, it is an absolute embarrassment for Jamaica since its own Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, who is not only holding the government leadership post for the second time but also obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees from UWI has not yet been inducted into the Honour's Park. Initially when the university was pressed by the Jamaica Gleaner to explain such a disrespectful reaction towards its own local prime minister, the institution showed a disregard for the matter with no response. The public took to social media to say that the university's decision is politically motivated. But, whatever the reason, the fact that Mr. Holness has not yet been inducted shows poor judgement on the part of the institution which has played into a common perception within the country that "anything foreign is better". Although at this time, UWI Mona cannot undo the blunder and bad impression that the institution has placed upon itself, with egg on its face, the university finally advised today that Prime Minister Andrew Holness will be inducted into the Honour's Park later this year. Obviously, that response means that the institution had not been planning to perform Holness's induction, so at this time, they are not even sure when is "later this year".

UWI Mona Inducts T & T Prime Minister Rowley Into Honour's Park

$150 Million Payout To Attorneys - Double Blow For Tivoli Gardens Residents

It was not enough that many of the Tivoli Gardens' residents were grossly abused and 73 persons were massacred in 2011 as security forces stopped at nothing to capture Christopher Coke alias Dudus. But media reports uncovered that tax payers lined the pockets of the three leading attorneys on the commission and also those who participated in the Tivoli Gardens Hearing. Out of $150 million, a grand sum of approximately $130 million was paid to the three leading commissioners, David Simmons, Velma Hylton, and Hazel Harris. The remaining millions were paid out to a couple of attorneys at the Frater, Innis, Gordon law firm, along with individual attorneys - Deborah Martin and Valerie Neita-Robinson. What is absurd is these attorneys represented the security forces and vehemently accused all the residents that testified at the commission as liars. The attorneys also used their superior attitude to intimidate and insult the intelligence of these residents from poor backgrounds. These attorneys made all efforts to discredit the residents so as to prevent them from receiving any compensation. Well, as of now their intentions have come to pass since none of those who went through traumatic experiences and lost loved ones at the hand of the security forces has received any significant compensation. Yet, of course, the attorneys have not been denied of their millions. Denis Brooks and Cliff Hughes on Nationwide Network radio justify that if it wasn't for the attorneys no one would know that the Tivoli Gardens residents deserve compensation. What bullshit!! The fact that the heads of some relatives were blown off by the security forces and the other gruesome bodies were displayed on the internet prove that a massacre must have occurred. What a shameful happening that certainly proves that poverty is a curse!

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.