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MayJune 2015

Marley rocks and heals Baltimore

Come one. Come all to see the new musical play about the late reggae icon, Bob Marley. The play is so powerful, I had to see it twice. It rocked the house. It deserves international exposure. From you step into the lobby of Center Stage you are immersed in Jamaica of the 1970’s. And the impressive creativity of the play continues from there.

As described by Center Stage:
From Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, comes a world premiere musical based on the life and music of Bob Marley. After surviving an assassination attempt in 1976, Marley left Jamaica for London, where he spent nearly two years in self-imposed exile. Chronicling the events surrounding this earth-shaking moment, Marley tells the story of a man transformed into one of the 20^th Century’s most important cultural figures. Set in the soundscape of an era, this new musical weaves together the life and music of a man who, to heal himself, first healed his homeland.

Marley, May 8–Jun 14

Music and Lyrics by Bob Marley

Book by Kwame Kwei-Armah

 Bob Marley fought against injustice through his music. 'Babylon' police had beaten unarmed innocent Freddie Gray to death right there in Baltimore. Another unarmed innocent black man killed by American police! The peaceful protests, looting, violence and curfew  it generated, cut into the rehearsal time for the play. Nevertheless the entire cast found time to help with the healing of Baltimore by giving a free concert in the heart of Freddie Gray’s neighborhood. Bob would have been proud.

The play boasts an international cast with many Jamaicans among the 32 members. Bob Marley is outstandingly played by Dutchman Mtchell Brunings, a former Netherlands Voice TV winner. (Watch his winning performance on The Voice:

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ1Oz6K4rOI

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Guyana elects new leader as PPP loses

David Arthur Granger has become the new president in a very close general elections in Guyana. Granger’s party, A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (AFC) coalition party  garnered 207,200 votes to the incumbent PPP’s 202,694. It took a long five days to count the votes. . APNU+AFC won Region Four by a large margin as well as Regions 7, 8 and 10. The PPP/C won the six other regions.

After taking the oath, Granger, who will become the newest member of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, insisted that he will be “president of all of the people” of Guyana, a clear reference to the racial divide that exists in the South American nation.

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Anguilla elects new government

In recent elections, the main opposition Anguilla United Front (AUF) led by Victor Banks won six of the seven seats with 85.7 percent of the votes cast. The Independent Party took the one other seat with 14.3 percent of the votes. This meant that Anguilla’s incumbent Anguilla United Movement suffered a resounding loss in elections held on the British-Caribbean territory on April 22nd. The AUM, which was contesting all seven seats, did not secure one seat in the general elections.

Medical practitioner Dr Ellis Lorenzo Webster who took over the leadership of the AUM after Hubert Hughes, 82, stepped down after 40 years in active politics, suffered the massive loss. He also failed to win his own seat, losing to independent Pamovan Webster, a lawyer and businessman, who polled 460 votes compared to his 412.

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T&T Opposition Leader suspended from Parliament

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)  Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has been suspended from the Parliament and therefore will not be allowed to return to the House for the remainder of the session. Parliament will automatically dissolve by June 17.
A total of 24 Government members voted for Rowley to be kicked out of Parliament, with only the Cha­guanas West MP, who is also the leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), voting against the motion.
The vote was taken in the absence of the Opposition members, who had walked out hours earlier.
Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal had moved a motion of censure against Rowley, which stated he produced false information to the House when he brought some 31 e-mails to Parliament two years ago.
In the absence of the Opposition, the motion was debated with contributions from Warner and Government ministers Suruj Rambachan, Errol McLeod, Prakash Ramadhar, Rodger Samuel, Tim Gopeesingh and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-
Bissessar.
The Prime Minister said a wheel of conspiracy was plotted against her Government using fake e-mails, which she condemned Rowley for bringing to Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition Leader abused the privilege of the House because while he was entitled to freedom of speech, that freedom must be regulated and should have a foundation of evidence.
Persad-Bissessar went through some of the correspondence contained in the string of e-mails, saying there were elements of fact which were twisted into a wheel of conspiracy to make grave allegations against her and members of her Government.

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Progressive revolutionary Uruguay leader steps down

Uruguay's president, Jose “Pepe” Mujica, a former guerrilla who shunned the presidential palace to live on a farm and gives most of his salary to charity, is stepping down after five years in office. He is ending his term as one of the world's most popular leaders ever. Mujica, 79, is leaving office with a 65 percent approval rating. He is constitutionally prohibited from serving consecutive terms.

After Latin America’s anti-drug war proved a failure, the South American country became the first in the world to fully legalize marijuana, with Mujica arguing that drug trafficking is in fact more dangerous than marijuana itself.

One of the most progressive leaders in Latin America. Muijica also legalized abortion and same-sex marriage and agreed to take in detainees once held at the notorious Guantanamo Bay. Six former US detainees, who were never charged with a crime, came to Uruguay in December as refugees. The six included four Syrians, a Palestinian and a Tunisian. Although they were cleared for release back in 2009, the US was not able to discharge them until Uruguayan President offered to receive them.

Among his other accomplishments are:

Mujica, a former leftist Tupamaro guerrilla leader, spent 13 years in jail during the years of Uruguay's military dictatorship. He survived torture and endless months of solitary confinement. Majica said he never regretted his time in jail, which he believes helped shape his character.

His kindness is the stuff of legends. With the prevalence of pompous leaders all over the world, Mujica's kindness speaks volumes. He refused to move to Uruguay’s luxurious presidential mansion to live in a farm outside Montevideo with his wife and a three-legged dog named Manuela. He gives away about 90 percent of his salary to charity, saying he simply doesn't need it. He drives an 1987 Volkswagen Beetle.

Last year, Mujica turned down a $1 million offer from an Arab sheik who offered to buy his blue car. Pepe refused to sell the vehicle, saying it would offend "all those friends who pooled together to buy it for us.”

Editor’s Comment: Now, there is a true leader, the type of leader the Caribbean needs!

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France to cancel Haiti’s debt but..

French President Francois Hollande has announced that France will cancel Haiti’s debt of US$81.2 million. However he balked at paying reparations.

Haiti, which became the world’s first black republic after winning its war of independence in 1804, was forced to  pay France the equivalent of US $40 billion in gold in exchange for official recognition from France in 1825. This extortion was delivered to the country by 12 French warships armed with 528 cannons. France refuses to pay this back in reparations and even helped depose President Aristide when he demanded it.

French President Francois Hollande has also promised to finance a large scale education program to modernise the country’s education system. Hollande  also promised to sign several agreements with Haitian President Michel Martelly including one that will allow the exportation of organically grown bananas to Europe.

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Pensions at risk for 80 million people in Latin America, Caribbean

Financial experts and policy makers have warned Caribbean countries that in the absence of reforms, members of the growing middle class may be vulnerable to poverty in their old age.

The experts discussed the future of pensions in Latin America and the Caribbean at a panel discussion organised by the Inter-American development Bank (IDB).

The panel explored different policy approaches to ensure greater coverage and sustainability of pension systems in the region. The experts felt that the most widespread practice to bridge the gap in pension coverage is expanding the so-called non-contributory pensions. These government subsidies help reduce inequality and poverty, but will pose a fiscal challenge as the population ages and the number of beneficiaries increases. Today there are eight people of working age for every retiree but, by 2050, the rate will drop to 2.5, close to the OECD average of 1.9.

Population ageing will lead to higher spending on pensions in Latin America and the Caribbean; at the same time, the high number of workers in the informal sector, who do not make contributions, put the adequacy of pension benefits at risk. Currently, only 45 out of every 100 workers contribute to a retirement plan, and this ratio has hardly changed in recent decades.

Many countries in the region still lack systems and institutional capacity for sound management of pensions, both contributory and non-contributory. In that sense, larger investments in systems and reforms of institutional frameworks are important steps towards achieving greater pension coverage and sustainability.

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British companies to invest $400m in Cuba

British companies will invest $400 million in Cuba initiatives, in areas that reportedly include agriculture, tourist infrastructure and energy, a business delegation has reported. Agreements were signed in Cuba during an economic forum that brought together 32 British companies.

Local media reported that the investments would be made in agriculture as well as energy and tourist infrastructure, including a new golf course. Bilateral trade between Britain and Cuba totaled $168 million in 2013, according to latest figures. Britain sends more tourists to Cuba than any other European country, with around 150,000 visitors per year.

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Education Minister, industry leaders to launch STEM academies in Jamaica

Jamaica’s Education Minister Ronald Thwaites has appointed several industry leaders to spearhead the transformation of selected technical high schools into Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM academies that will produce people qualified for employment in several sectors of the economy.

A STEM academy is generally an institution that uses science, technology, engineering and mathematics as the base for the structuring and time-tabling of its programs. In the upper school -- grades 10 and 11 -- students will be offered competency-based training to make them "job ready". In the lower grades STEM, along with Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), will be emphasised in the curriculum. Over time the school is expected to be transformed into a STEM Academy, the ministry said.

Schools slated to become STEM academies include St Andrew Technical High, Kingston Technical High, Jamaica College, St Mary Technical High, Dinthill Technical High, and  Dunoon Park Technical High

The education minister charged education officials and school leaders to ensure the infusion of the STEM methodology in the school curriculum according to the skills and competencies identified by the industry partners.

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 Income inequality

“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is more than a cliché.

It’s a reality, and it has reached a record high in dozens of countries, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which is made up of 34 nations and seeks to improve economic and social well-being worldwide.

The Paris-based organization’s latest report, “In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All,” found that the richest 10 percent of the population among OECD members now earn 9.6 times the income of the poorest 10 percent, up from seven times in the 1980s and nine times in the 2000s.

According to OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, "We have reached a tipping point. Inequality in OECD countries is at its highest since records began. By not addressing inequality, governments are cutting into the social fabric of their countries and hurting their long-term economic growth."

Among OECD members, the gap between the disposable household incomes of the rich and the poor is highest in:

1.  Chile

2.  Mexico

3. Turkey

4. United States

5.  Israel

Income inequality is even higher in some emerging economies and countries that are not OECD members. For example, nonmembers South Africa and Colombia fare worse than Chile.

Among OECD members, the income gap is lowest in:

1. Denmark

2. Slovenia

3. Slovak Republic

4.  Norway

5. Iceland

Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum deemed income disparity the biggest threat facing the world. The chronic gap between the incomes of the richest and poorest citizens is seen as the risk that is most likely to cause serious damage globally in the coming decade.

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 T&T PM released from hospital

Trinidad and Tobago  Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has been released from a private hospital in south Trinidad and ordered to rest after she had complained of feeling unwell. She  left the Cross Crossing Medical Centre in San Fernando. Her blood sugar level was high and her doctors advised her to get immediate bed rest.

Communication Minister Vasant Bharath said the 63-year-old prime minister had been busy in the past two weeks and that her condition was not too serious. He said he expected her to be back on the job shortly.

Since then Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told television viewers that the date for general elections would not be announced before the Parliament is dissolved on June 17. General elections must be held here no later than September 17.

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Jamaica Blue Mountain Project helping poor St Thomas community

Each year, scores of volunteer doctors, nurses, educators and other professionals from around the world take time off from their jobs for weeks and months to live and work among the people in the deep rural community of Hagley Gap in St Thomas, Jamaica, where the international charity Blue Mountain Project (BMP) has set up its base.

The deplorable main road leading from Hagley Gap to other areas in the parish and the rugged terrain make traveling a difficult feat, especially for those trying to get their sick loved ones to the nearest hospitals either in Morant Bay or St Andrew.

However, with the organisation providing year-round medical services, shut-in patients living in some of the most mountainous terrain with only dirt tracks have doctors attend to them in bed, while others receive daily medical attention at the organisation’s clinic — all free of cost. Patients also receive basic medication at the facility, which BMP takes into the island each year. In addition to its medical volunteers, the project also provides educational support for the two local primary schools, income generation for the many unemployed residents and access to clean water from the natural springs located high up in the mountain.

BMP Executive Director Kevin Gebhart, who has been in Jamaica for the past eight months, said the project is funded by United States donors and receives volunteers from all over the world. They operate on a US$80,000-a-year budget.  He explained that the non-profit organization: 

Another noteworthy feature of the project is the income-generating component, as the community benefits from the increased spending such as the voulunteers:

The project provides educational support  such as :

The BMP also has an education ambassador who works closely with the teachers at Minto and Penlyne primary schools, and design Internet based programs to coincide with the schools’ curriculum. “He works with the teachers and backs up what they are doing in the classrooms by making lesson programs that help to reinforce what the teachers are doing.

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  Jamaica ships bamboo charcoal to the US

A new industry is born. Jamaica has begun exporting bamboo charcoal to the US. Jamaica’s first major supply of internationally certified organic bamboo charcoal totalled 9,600 pounds. The charcoal, valued at approximately US$4, 800, was transported from Kingston to Houston, Texas. The supply of bamboo charcoal, which has been certified for export to the US under the US Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Programme (USDA/NOP), has been provided through a partnership involving three entities, two local, and the other, American.

The overall engagement forms part of the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce’s Bamboo Products Industry Project, being administered by the Bamboo and Indigenous Materials Advisory Committee (BIMAC) at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ). The BIMAC is chaired by Gladstone Rose, who is also the BSJ’s Senior Director for Technical Services.

The project is consistent with the Government’s Job Creation and Economic Growth strategic priority, focusing on the development and growth of key productive sectors; development of micro, small, and medium sized enterprises; and facilitating protection of the natural environment.

Global trade for bamboo is estimated to value approximately US$10 billion. A total of 19 million pounds of charcoal are being targeted for production and export over the next two years, under the bamboo project. Data from BIMAC’s registry of suppliers indicates that upwards of 3,000 acres are currently available for charcoal export production.

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