Rasta Government

In the face of increasing USD interest rates, stabilizing the exchange rate would mean increasing our policy rate (which would be the wrong signal to the banks) as well as managing shocks by spending the precious reserves. I prefer strengthening the monetary link by getting the banks to lend (at low rates) to producers of goods and services, especially SMEs in our case. We can increase the bank reserves and refund what they lend to productive SMEs. Their profits can withstand it, and it will force them to get proficient at lending to the many, instead of the few. -RG In response to: Densil Williams | Is inflation targeting the answer?

Mourinho's leadership style leans toward the negative (too much anger and fear of punishment) and does not work in a new environment where the team is worth billions. The players work hard, they are wealthy, and they don't want to deal with someone putting them down too much. Pogba us a World Cup winner. Mourinho's style and personality won't allow him to use positive motivation and leadership skills ( i.e. be a coach) to work with a team that many coaches would kill for. He seems to demoralize teams wherever he goes. -RG In response to: Manchester United lose 1-3 to West Ham to deepen Mourinho’s woes

We need to be careful when we say the "private sector needs to invest". When we consider primary and secondary effects, over 80% of the growth we need will have to come from SME's. The larger investments are providing low level employment, but the real money that's made goes into a few pockets, foreign and local. For Jamaica to grow, SME's need access to capital. Even if dormant bank money is used to start the process, the fact is banks and investors will have to become active and trained in lending and providing equity to small business. -RG In respsonse to: Jamaica in a time of unprecendented opportunities

Jamaican companies are way behind in the area of remote work, flex time and telecommuting generally. For many professionals their most productive, creative or innovative time will not happen sitting at a desk in HWT, Downtown or New Kingston after a long commute back and forth in traffic. Research has found that telecommuting workers are more productive in order to justify the flexibility that they want. This means if we want thinking workers and increased "productivity" and GDP growth, we need workers who can deliver these high end "thinking" products and services that foreigners pay big money for. This also means offices need secure remote networking, and phone, video and audio conferencing equipment of a high enough quality so that all these people can collaborate effectively. We are talking about professionals at the Grace Kennedy level. People that depend on thinking work. Not blue collar or low level office workers. You don't get productiv...

45% is not enough. The rules should not just be to prevent boys only turning up for games. The boys also need alternative career paths for the vast majority of them that will not make a career in the sport. Those career paths need decent grades. If your average falls below 60% in math, english or the sciences or 70% in the softer subjects, they should have a 100% attendance record and be in tutoring. All this money for high school sports and we cant pay for a few tutors? -RG In response to: They are students first ... Wellington defends ISSA's academic rules at TVJ Sports Town Hall

Mr. Chung, you are young and black and it's obvious you have business knowledge coming out of your ears. That's a very rare combination. Jamaican youth need examples, even more than mentors. First they need to know it's possible. Maybe take a page out of your mentors book. How great it would be to see guys like you in business, talking about what it takes to start and run your own business. Even if it's a patty shop. If you have a business let's hear more about it. If you don't want to talk about your journey, how about some small business "how-to" articles? -RG In respsonse to: Who is a nation-builder?

Another win for the small farmer. Render onto Caesar. But Jamaican farmers desperately need to improve their productivity. Was it wise to reject help in that regard? What about next year, and the year after that? What about back to school 2020? -RG In response to Wallenford, Mavis Bank bow to protesting coffee farmers

Jamaica has been the "guard house" of the western hemisphere since pirate days. When Roosevelt came to Jamaica, it was to visit his bases on goat island that oversaw his canal directly due south from there on the compass. The canal was and still is a vital Atlantic-Pacific link. The Chinese and the Americans are playing musical chairs in the little guard house. GOJ controls the tune. At least the Chinese "come bearing gifts". It was always funny to me that people think that giant compound uptown is there for them to stamp a few documents at the window so you can go shopping. We live in a very strategic place. -RG In response to: US/Jamaica rift! Stalemate over intelligence-sharing MOU

Deciding when to call an election is sort of like gauging flood water. It rains a little heavy, but the river looks OK. You go to bed, but when you wake up it's because the house is moving. It was too late for the house when you went to bed, you just didn't know it. Portia is one of the biggest crowd draws this country has ever seen. She came in with a massive approval rating in 2006 and it slipped through her fingers in a matter of months. The teacher was begging her to call it in mid-2015. Andrew came in with good intentions, but circumstances didn't cooperate. Things are progressing slowly, but crime is still high, growth is low, and corruption is rampant. Right now he can blame the opposition's 22 years in power, and the people will probably agree too, but for how long? Petrojam, 5 in 4 is dead, people still locking their doors. Tight. How many more bad surprises can he push aside? BTW with the way things are leaking, he might be forced to dodge another (poss...

Guaranteed win? A year is a long time in politics. It's extremely difficult to judge when people stop blaming the previous administration, and start blaming you. Happened to Portia twice. He can't afford for that point to come late in his current term. He would think himself very lucky if people to start feeling the positive effects of the slow progress some time in his second term. -RG In response to: The fickle nature of politics

When will the NWC provide information on the real condition of their network and the effect on water quality? When you talk to the plumbers and technicians dealing with the maintenance if large pipes, you hear some alarming reports. Even in "uptown" areas. Also everybody is using these black water storage tanks as backup when the NWC supply shuts off. These tanks are not designed for use in hot countries. The heat and high UV exposure causes leaching of the chemicals into the water which is what causes that "plastic-rubber" taste of the water. These chemicals are linked to problems in children and adults, such as heart problems, cancer, asthma, and reproductive system irregularities in women. The NWC supply is not reliable. So who is looking at the health risks of all these black tanks all across jamaica where water is stored for months and years in the hot sun? -RG In response to: Section of Constant Spring Road reduced to single lane

Infrastructure funded by the Chinese is a guaranteed win for Andrew. Barbican, Marcus Garvey, Mandela, all looking good so far. With crime corruption and low growth, Andrew will take all the wins he can get before election. You think he goin slow down the work now? -RG In response to: 'Find the strength to endure', Malahoo Forte urges commuters as road works continue

There are safe healthy flavors they can use to replace the sugar and keep the taste they want. Give them a tax break from the new tax if they use them. -RG In response to: Jamaicans want stronger action on sugary drinks - survey says