Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Jamaica's New Government: Tenuous Days Ahead?

Well, Jamaicans are bracing for the 2008/09 budget, set to be announced in Parliament in March of this year.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce Golding, gave us a preview of what to expect this year, on Wednesday, January 23, at a post-Cabinet Press Briefing:

He said that:

1) The output (GDP) of the country needs to be expanded. In layman terms:the economy needs to grow, we need to produce more goods and services.

However, in light on the global economic outlook for 2008 and pending US recession, the government has revised its its projected GDP (gross domestic product) growth from 4 1/2 % down to 3%.

2) He also promised that he'll be concentrating on:

a) Job creation and attracting investments that auger this.

b) Human Resource Development with emphasis on our education system.

c) Ensuring our Energy security

d) Ensuring our Food security.

All this in light of news that NROCC..the government entity that is managing the implementation and expansion of Highway 2000 (the highway project that seeks to connect Kingston with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, while passing through St. Catherine, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. Ann) suffered losses of JMD $1.6 billion in 2006/07 and is projected to have losses of JMD $2.4 billion by March 2007/2008.

To make up for this shortfall in the budget, the PM has announced that Jamaican taxpayers may have to pay...

He has already asked Portmore residents to brace for a 100% increase in toll-fees...

This is the same Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), who, when in Opposition, promised Jamaicans that there would be a reduction in toll fees if they were selected as the next government...that they would renegotiate the contract with Bouygues, the French company that won the contract to construct Highway 2000.

[NROCC is the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited. From the sources, below, it seems that the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) in 2001, guaranteed loans of US $115 million, to NROCC, to start Highway 2000...

The Government of Jamaica(GOJ)  had no money of its own and so had to borrow money (from Jamaican taxpayers' pension funds, PetroCaribe money, and in the form of  Euro bonds) to enact Phase 1A of Highway 2000. The total cost of the project, at the time was estimated to be US $390 million.

Bouygues, a French company,  won the bid (for US $141 million), to do the road construction work for Phase 1A of the project. They set up a local registered firm, here in Jamaica, Trans Jamaica Highway Ltd., to perform this work.

They then contributed US $20 million to do said road construction...this represented their equity investment in the project...a sort of goodwill offering. So NROCC still owed them $121 million($141-20 million.)

So Bouygues, contrary to popular belief (and what was touted by the then GOJ), was not a private investor to the project, but a contractor. They were to be paid to do the construction work on the project and for lending their know-how to the project.

They were to be paid via:

1) The loan from NROCC, that was guaranteed by the DBJ

2) Toll fees charged to Jamaicans, over the next 35 years.

What it seems is that, from the evidence presented below, Bouygues (Trans Jamaica Highway Ltd.) is being paid twice.

Why on earth, would the then GOJ take out a loan to pay Bouygues and then agree to pay them over a period of 35 years, via toll fees?

This just doesn't make sense and I urge the present GOJ and the Contractor General to closely re-examine the contract  and related documents that were signed between the then GOJ and Bouygues...something smells fishy in the State of Denmark and it ain't the fish!]

According to article, "Gov't moves to restructure NROCC's debt", Jamaica Observer, January 25,2008, "The PM told the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 22,2008, that NROCC will be in no position to meet its loan servicing obligations beyond 2008/2009, after which it will experience negative cash flow accumulating to $9.7 billion by 2012/2013.

No wonder!...they are paying for a loan to Bouygues...can't meet their servicing obligations for these loans and no doubt have been penalized for not meeting these obligations. Additionally, the projected revenues that they should have earned from toll-fees, are not being met, due to under-use of the toll-roads by Jamaicans.

Hmmmh!!! and double hmmmmh!

I wonder what other measures will be implemented by the GOJ, to make up for this and other budgetary shortfalls?

Should we be expecting an increase in General Consumption Tax (GCT) and other taxes, in March 2008?

============

But it seems that the JLP is finally understanding the sad economic situation that Jamaica is in...we're broke.

Well, on the books we are..Jamaica is a very rich country whose wealth, unfortunately been squandered, plundered and pirated over the past 46 years. (It's been 46 years since we've become independent.)

However, I do admire the valiant attempts at profitability by the government-run Boards at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and Air Jamaica (Jamaica's national airline) ... two companies that heavily contribute to our debt burden.

As a result of these two government-owned companies' having new Boards, whose members seem to be knowledgeable, experienced and proactive:

1) JUTC's monthly losses have been decreased from JMD $160 million/month to JMD $104 million/month [in just under four (4) months.]

Whilst:

2) Air Jamaica's Chairman, Mrs.Shirley Williams, has projected a decrease in its losses by US $80 million, by December 2008. (Air Jamaica is said to amass losses of up to US $100 million, yearly.)

The sad reality is that jobs will be lost...but both companies are trying to make the process as painless as possible for those to be affected.

So yes, with more and more being uncovered re the real financial quagmire that the country is in, the way forward may seem rocky for this new government.

However, by by the looks of things, they will continue to help keep Jamaica afloat, even though we, as Jamaicans, may undergo severe economic hardship in facilitating this.

Gillian

Sources Include:

1) Interview with Mr. Kingsley Thomas, then President of the Development Bank of Jamaica, on Radio Programme, "This Morning", Nationwide Radio, January 29, 2008.

2) Article, "No plans now to cut public sector - Golding", by Damian Mitchell, News Coordinator - Radio, Jamaica Gleaner, January 25, 2008

3) Article, "Gov't moves to restructure NROCC's debt" Jamaica Observer, January 25,2008

4) Highway 2000 website, http://www.h2kjamaica.com/2005/about/index.htm, January 28, 2008

5) Article, "Jamaica's development - cause for much concern", by Clifton Yap, Jamaica Observer, December 17,2006.

6) Article, "Dark side of Highway 2000 and its tolls", by Ken Chaplin, Jamaica Observer, August 22,2006

Facing the New Year With a Fresh Attitude!

Ever heard it said that attitude is everything?

Well it's true!

A positive attitude is essential for progress in any activity, pursuit, or for your speedy healing after an illness.

Wordnet Princeton Dictionary describes attitude as a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions (tendencies) to act in certain ways.

Hmmhh...

This simply means that how we approach life (our reaction to it's victories, defeats and challenges) is a direct reflection of our views about ourselves, others and the world around us.

Let's face it, some of us have attitudes that need some adjusting.

Our outlook on life isn't always positive and this affects our relationships with ourselves and with others.

For example, a negative attitude towards ourselves may result in:

1. Self-doubt. Where we doubt that we are worthy of the great things that life has to offer (love, friendship, the ability to overcome difficult childhoods and have success in every area of our lives)


2. Self-hatred. Where we hate who we are, because we perceive others to be better than us due to them being prettier, more popular, richer (money-wise), etc.


3. Self-abuse. Where we take our health for granted and/or attract and keep people in our lives who are a drain on our mental, emotional or physical health

While a negative attitude towards others may result in:

1. Us envying others. (Due to the negative perception/thoughts about ourselves given in points 1-3 above)


2. Us abusing others. [Due to the perception that the only way for us to be successful/(on top) is to be mercilessly cruel towards another human being]
   


3. Us not listening to the needs of others and insisting that we already know what the other person is about to say, so we  needn't develop the art of listening


4. Us not responding to the needs of others, even when they have voiced what they need


5. Us spurning people from being around us, due to our negative vibe. (Most healthy people do not like to be around negative people)


6. Us being self-centred and selfish in our relationships. (So much so that these are pursued in light of what we can get out of the other person, versus what we can give to enhance the other person's well-being and the well-being of the relationship, on a whole.)

So how about some New Year's Resolutions to change our attitude?

Firstly, towards ourselves:

How about rethinking how we feel about ourselves, so that our attitudes towards ourselves will change?

• How about us learning to love ourselves a lot more, despite our faults and weaknesses? (By  understanding that we will have faults, but as long as we're obedient to what God wants in and from our lives and are working at eliminating/decreasing these faults in becoming the persons God want us to be, then we're ok with God? (Once we're ok with God, then we're truly ok :))


• How about us finding what we are good at (our strengths) and developing ourselves (via further education and training), based on these strengths?


• Being so focused on self-development, that self-doubt and self-hatred has less of a hold on us

Then, towards others:

With our newly-found self-love:

• Instead of envying others, find out what caused their success and learn from these experiences


• Instead of abusing and tearing people down, encourage them to be the best people they can be and enjoying their successes


• Us listening more to others, by being active listeners (e.g. by looking at people while they're talking and giving them our full attention) and us talking less


• Us being more in touch with the needs of others and trying (with what is reasonable) to meet those needs? (This should vary depending on the closeness of these persons to us)

So there you have it, a few suggestions re how we can change our attitude for the New Year...

What do you think...are these resolutions, reasonable?

Do you think they can be achieved within the year?

We would love to hear what you think. (Just press the Comment link below this post and have your say!)

Gillian

Happy New Year!

We, at Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog, wish you, our friends, a very Happy New Year!

Yipee!!!

May this year be one of reflection, as to your God-given purpose for being placed on this earth...

May it be a time of renewal, in terms of family and other relationships...

May it be one in which you will be able to set tangible goals that can be accomplished...

And may you find fulfillment and joy, in all your endeavours!

(We wish to thank Owais Khan for contributing the inset picture, above. You can find out more about Owais' work, by clicking the hyperlink of her name. This photo was uploaded to stock photo site, www.sxc.hu .)

Gillian