What’s your job? I’m a thief …

Photo by Anne Ruthmann

It seems more and more Jamaicans are taking up robbery as a professional career.  In times of economic downturn, crime pays.

There’s been a staggering increase in the number of reported robberies, a 79 per cent increase on around this time last year.  In actual numbers, there were 277 robberies and 294 break-ins in one month alone.

It’s pretty shocking, but easy money.  I remember talking to some guys who were eagerly awaiting hurricane season one year for looting opportunities. It’s like other countries wait for the strawberry picking season for their employment.

I suppose it makes perfect sense if this is the only way you can see to make money.  But the knock on effects of a worsening crime situation on the island are obvious enough.  Robbery is the nail in the coffin for local businesses struggling to keep afloat.

House break-ins only increase the number of gated developments with their  barking dogs outside as people lock themselves away at night – this kind of thing can destroy communities.

Jamaica’s purse has a hole in it

Golding was not happy about his pay cut

I was going to give this post the title, Jamaica’s empty purse in time for Jamaica’s budget. But then I realised that a 55 billion Jamaican dollar budget shortfall – that’s about 614 million US dollars (as far as I can work out) – well that’s a pretty big hole in the purse.  It emptied a long time ago.

The Jamaican finance minister, Audley Shaw plans on spending more – hundreds of billions of JA dollars in fact.  Where’s he going to get the money?  Well, he’s going to ask for another loan of course.  The IMF are helping out a lot of countries right now, and they’re not being as stupidly strict in the conditions they attach.

Security is on high alert to contain social unrest over his plan to raise taxes.

Passport fees have doubled, tax on gas is set to increase, Prime Minister Golding has been saying he wants to reduce the debt – good luck with that Mr Golding, in this economic climate, you’ll be lucky to keep the debt at the level it is now.

Raising taxes is not popular at the best of times, to do it when people are suffering from a downturn in tourism and other staple industries,  when people are losing their jobs and going hungry, add that to a country awash with guns where people are already murdering each other.   That’s a deadly cocktail.

Cocoa Tea sings for America

I Just came across the reggae singer Cocoa Tea’s song entitled Barack Obama.  A nice relaxing tune. I like it, better than the Luda tune.

Listen to it here.

Jamaican Hijack

Photo by Pat Roxborough AFP/GETTY

The hijacking of a plane at Sangster international airport is what Jamaican tourism needed like a hole in the head.

It seems the gunman – Stephen Fray who’s in his 20’s, was mentally ill – well it’s hardly something a sane person would do is it??

He boarded the Canjet plane which took off from Halifax, Canada, destined for Montego Bay and then Cuba, by forcing his way through security barriers at Sangster during the stopover. There were 182 passengers on board who were all let off in Jamaica but he kept hold of the six crew members from 11pm to 7am.

This is the worst thing that could have happened to Jamaica as it faces major economic trouble. International headlines like this could not have come at a worse time. On the bright side, at least everyone got out of it unharmed, that’s a major blessing.

Trillion Dollar Debt

Photo by PhoeniX252

Jamaica has had some welcome relief from its huge, crippling debt.  It comes from the island’s old colonial masters, the UK.   £5 mill  that’s  $645  million Jamaican dollars has been written off.

It’s reported that the British government say this should help Jamaica concentrate on spending more on its’ public services.

It would indeed be a wonderful thing if Jamaica did improve its’ health services – anyone who has been inside Kingston Public Hospital would I think whole heartedly agree with that.

But with the calls from trade unions and wage demands coming from all sides, whether the savings can be made and re-directed into areas that can benefit the people of Jamaica and improve the economy in some way, I’m afraid I am feeling sceptical about whether this can be achieved.  Here’s a useful background article.

And this looks like a useful film to go see.

The last budget is reported to show fifty per cent of every single dollar earned in Jamaica is going towards debt repayment.   It’s debt to GDP ratio is ranked the world’s 4th highest at 132 per cent.  

It seems like Jamaica owes people from everywhere – including the football association.

The fact that Jamaica is relying on countries and other bodies to suspend debt repayments signals to me that finances have never been properly looked after, can they ever break this habit of a lifetime ?

Reggae Reggae gongs

I was on the red carpet interviewing artists one year at the MOBOs in London.

I remember speaking to among other artists Wayne Wonder – there was a time in my life that I kept bumping into that guy,  I ended up dancing to No Letting Go at my wedding – it spoke to me that song!

 The reason why I bring up the MOBOs is to say that are so many duff reggae awards that are handed out on in the world even the well respected Grammy’s is not somewhere to look for recognising new talent and award to the more established and successful artists – 2009 Grammy winner for best reggae album went to Burning Spear for Jah Is Real.  Which is not really doing it for me I’m afraid – have a listen here. 

This is the reason why a reggae award ceremony happening on May 3rd 2009 is worth writing home about.   It is unfortunately happening not in Jamaica the birthplace and home of reggae, but Jamaica, New York - where they can afford to put on a televised event and arrange flights for all the invited artists and also reap the profits that come with it.  Jamaica itself is not in a financial position to afford even the annual reggae sumfest as it’s reported that organisers are asking the government to help them with funding.  Jamaica and the reggae bailout plan!

It is the Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards and top nominations include Movado, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica and Mr Vegas – I’ve been listening to Mus Come A Road all weekend.  

Now this is a reggae awards ceremony worth covering.