IT was good to learn that the recent business survey sponsored by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce showed a resurgence in confidence. More of us are understanding that positivity is energising, while negativity is draining. Positivity demands energy to follow through on one’s resolve, while negativity robs us of our will to succeed.

A JIS report mentions the response of PSOJ President William Mahfood to the survey: “Mahfood says he is optimistic about Jamaica’s continued economic recovery and growth over the medium to long term, noting that a number of other private sector stakeholders share similar sentiments. This optimism, he informs, has manifested in ‘tremendous’ investments which they have made, particularly over the last 18 months, to expand their operations.

“I think a lot of these will now begin to reap the rewards,” he is quoted as saying. “There are still companies on the sidelines, which have been waiting for stability (in the economy), and I advise them that now is the time (to invest) as never, I think, in the future will we see an opportunity like now, to invest in the country.”

I met the dynamic V Sherry Tross, executive secretary in the OAS Secretariat for Integral Development last Friday, just before her organisation’s signing of a partnership with our Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce to support small businesses. As we discussed the importance of small business, she told us of a Guyanese young man who was chosen to display his solar-dried fruits at an exhibition in Central America some years ago.

“He arrived two days before the event and practised important phrases in Spanish that would help him to market his products, working hard for a modest cash prize which he needed for his business,” recalled Tross. She said that he had prepared small packets of his products so visitors could sample them on the spot. Lo and behold, a Brazilian distributor was bowled over and the young man is prospering, as his products are now being sold throughout Brazil.

As Cuba opens up and we aspire to wider markets, it is important that we focus on Spanish language training in our schools, and indeed all sectors. Tross noted that the Government of Panama is moving to make their country a bilingual nation. Our own world champion boxer Nicholas “Axeman” Walters is alreadly bilingual after using Panama as his training base.

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce is onto something with a plan to equip businesses with Spanish language skills. Their executive director, Trevor Fearon, noted in a letter to the business community promoting a new Spanish learning project: “One fact that emerged during the JCC’s 2013 Procurement Seminar was that firms from the English-speaking Caribbean were at a competitive disadvantage in attempting to take advantage of the multibillion markets…Now, with Jamaica positioning itself as one of the hemisphere’s logistics nodes, it may be all the more important for our businesses to prepare themselves for greater interaction with the countries and businesses of the region — and a crucial step in that direction is literally speaking the same language!”

Pass a hat for Tivoli?

Can you imagine the poor, grieving relatives of the 70 killed in the security forces’ operation into Tivoli Gardens contemplating the fees paid to participants in the commission of enquiry? In a letter to the press, Trevor Blair from Irish Town notes that the approximately $52 million budgeted for enquiry chairman, Sir David Simmons, is higher than the annual salaries of the chief justices of both the US and Britain!

So, with due respect to the folks at the Justice Ministry who organised these astronomical fees for the enquiry, we wish to point out that there is always room for negotiation, especially when you know you have a good cause. Why do megastars sing for free at the Shaggy & Friends concert? Because they want to save the lives of little children. We are hardly expecting those learned judges to work for free at the Tivoli Enquiry, but they could have been asked to accept more reasonable fees in consideration of well-needed community development programmes.

I understand that between $10 and $20 million is being requested to prepare a report for the Finsac enquiry — a report! Civil servants, police officers, teachers and nurses, who can only dream of such sums, should rise up and demand some balance in the remuneration of folks providing public service.

I recall that, in his report, former Public Defender Earl Witter had recommended a model for Tivoli similar to the Agency for Innercity Renewal (AIR) successfully initiated by Dr Henley Morgan in Trench Town. I am hoping that the suggestion will be taken up…as well as a collection from the well-paid participants in the enquiry, to seed the project. Let the truth come out, let justice be done, and let the residents of Tivoli Gardens finally get a real chance at being proud and productive citizens.

The Moodies’ parenting lessons

I was intrigued to learn that yet another daughter of the inspiring Gloria Moodie was a high-achiever. She is Dr Rosemary Moodie, who recently received the prestigious Constance Hamilton Award, and in September of last year was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence for her work in health and as Chair of the YWCA.

I called Dr Moodie’s sister, Andrea (Chin-See) to learn more about their upbringing. She said they had a great role model in their mother Gloria, who managed extensive property divestment projects and became the first manager of the Jamaica Conference Centre. Her late father, Allan Moodie, was a full participant in family life, affirming his daughters and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

The Moodies were Christian, hard-working folks who instilled in their children the values of diligence, honesty and service. “We were taught that you should work hard for your goals, and that achievement should never be at anyone’s expense, but on your own merit,” said Andrea.

Gloria is a devout Catholic, while Allan was a dedicated Anglican who had worked closely with the legendary Bishop Gibson. Now Andrea carries on his work as a veritable pillar of St Andrew Parish Church. The third sister, Margaret (Jervis) is a widely respected partner with DunnCox, and has been involved in several downtown Kingston outreach activities. Their lives teach us the value of good parenting.

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