“In fact, the best business in the world is to be partners with all citizens, collecting your royalty from their efforts without taking any risk or putting up any capital. That’s the best business in the world, which is the business of taxation,” noted business mogul Michael Lee-Chin at an Organization of American States (OAS) meeting nine years ago. “I would love to own such a business. If I did, I would focus on enabling more of the same to increase my fee income, which is taxes. So governments should focus on what they have — the best business in the world. Government’s role in business should be, primarily, to enable fertile business conditions.”

He noted that the biggest challenge to Government was corruption, and we should promote zero tolerance for this. Lee-Chin noted in his address, “Government should provide ease and expeditiousness in terms of starting a business; ease and expeditiousness, in terms of dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvencies.”

We can congratulate the authorities for their interventions to prevent currency depreciation, which Lee-Chin described as “the silent destroyer of wealth”. However, like other developing states, we are vulnerable in the face of the current geopolitical crisis.

The Public Sector Transformation Unit, led by Patricia Sinclair McCalla under the Bruce Golding-led Administration conducted extensive research and made practical recommendations, many of which are yet to be implemented. There are brilliant government agencies, but there are others, however, that are not up to mark. We have seen some improvement in the Companies Office of Jamaica, but steps should be taken to make it more business-friendly.

In this Senior Citizens’ Month, we note the government offices which have limited accessibility for the elderly. It is hard to digest the contrast of salaries and benefits enjoyed by the top tier in government while our hospitals and schools are struggling to keep up. With technology supporting tighter, more productive teams, it is difficult to understand why we have these huge government buildings and facilities which necessitate heavy budgets for maintenance and security.

Government, “the best business in the world”, ought to facilitate the taxpayers who have been sustaining it with their creativity, resources, and diligence. It will mean better business for us all.

Dervan Malcolm.

With not even one month gone since the reopening of schools, we are hearing of one child being assaulted, another being denied use of the bathroom and soiling herself, three children hit by a falling boulder, and a schoolboy being stabbed.

We understand that the children who were hit by the boulder were walking to school on a train track in Breadnut Walk, in the north-western area of St Elizabeth. One of the three was seriously injured and is in a coma at a Kingston hospital.

Jamaica Observer reporter Kasey Williams reported on the deplorable state of the community roads. She quoted senior citizen Daisy Gordon: “We need the road to be sorted out for Merry Wood to Breadnut Walk. The road has become a tunnel, like it is going to collapse. We need our road [to be fixed]. There are a lot of people who live in Breadnut Walk…The road turn bush, it is just a donkey track.”

Councillor Clinton Samuels of the Ipswich division said, “Vehicles won’t traverse on the road, so residents find it easier to walk here. It is not just now, is a long time people walk this area to reach Merry Wood.” These “long time” situations are unacceptable.

There is reluctance to release the list of known sexual offenders to the public, but we must demand that it is accessible to principals and guidance counsellors. Armed with this information they can alert the police if such individuals live near their schools.

Drought precautions

Headley Samuels

Our CCRP Safety and Security Committee has been holding a series of online meetings to help protect seniors from dangerous situations. During this time of drought, here are tips from Howard Thomas, assistant superintendent in charge of fire prevention for the Kingston and St Andrew area. Water shortages and lock-offs should make us even more careful about fires.

Thomas warned about being locked up with grills and not having keys at hand; keys should be kept in one location. He warned that the vulnerable elderly or children should never be left alone. There should always be a cane, walker, or wheelchair and a clear exit. A gathering area should be designated.

He said there should be smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in kitchens. When cooking, you should assemble all the ingredients before you begin so you are not searching for an item while leaving the stove untended. You must never allow small children near your stove.

Overloading outlets can start a fire. LPG cylinders should be anchored to a wall for safety. Do not run old extension cords near carpets. He said you should throw out old boxes and papers as these are fire hazards. You should be aware of medications that make you drowsy and stay away from fire-causing situations.

You should never burn garbage and report any incident of this. You should call 110 to report fires and keep the phone number of the fire station closest to you. You may ask the Jamaica Fire Brigade to do an inspection of your home if you wish to be reassured about your safety. Once there is a fire that you are unable to extinguish quickly, he advised us to, “Get out, and stay out!”

 

Remembering our media brothers

Jamaica’s media community is mourning the loss of Dervan Malcolm, Headley “Dellmar” Samuels, and Balford Henry. Through his Both Sides of the Story and broadcasts in the US and Canada, Malcolm helped to knit our Jamaican Diaspora more closely with his easy charm and affirmations. We asked him to host our CCRP Silver Club television series and now treasure his programmes on our YouTube channel.

I remember Samuels from my early days at the Jamaica Daily News, this flashy dresser who brightened up our floor with his stories. He continued to be a sought-after photographer at sporting events and published a memorable book of his best work. In a tribute to Dellmar, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) applauded his enthusiastic coverage of some 175 Test matches and seven ICC Cricket World Cups.

Balford Henry

Henry’s awards and accolades from his peers recall his five decades of journalistic excellence. He won fellowships in London, Wales, and the US, as well as several awards as he navigated our media landscape at The Gleaner, Jamaica Observer, and Jamaica Information Service. He was known for his deep knowledge and enlightened coverage of Jamaica’s labour relations issues and our parliamentary sittings. He was awarded the Order of Distinction for excellence in journalism in 2011.

Our deepest sympathy to the families of our exemplary media brothers.

 

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send
comments to lowriechin@aim.com.