The stage is set tonight for the ‘Big Debate’ between the ruling JLP Finance Minister Audley Shaw and opposition spokesman on Finance Dr. Peter Phillips. Much fireworks anticipated, especially regarding IMF deals, JDIP, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, JEEP and much more. Even more so than the upcoming debate between JLP leader Andrew Holness and PNP leader Portia Simpson, this finance debate will give Jamaicans a good understanding of where the country is leading to after the election. It is not clear whether debates have any effect on voters but this debate will reinforce whatever thoughts voters already have about the two parties.

Minister of Finance  Hon. Audley Shaw was yesterday taken to hospital after feeling dizzy during a Jamaica House meeting. Early diagnosis indicated that Mr. Shaw maybe suffering from a Flu like symptom or an Ear Nose and Throat infection. He is still undergoing observation at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Mr. Shaw had just recently entered the race for JLP leader after Mr. Golding announced his impending departure. However, he backed down after the 39 year old Andrew Holness started to get a wave of support from the party supporters.

The government of Jamaica is tight lipped in informing Jamaicans whether they are passing the IMF tests or not. Minister of Finance Audley Shaw spoke about more austerity measures to come but he refused to say whether the government is on track with the IMF agreement. Many people including the opposition PNP believe that the government has failed the last two IMF assessments.

The opposition spokesman on Finance Dr. Peter Phillips is to address the situation today. The public is also eager to hear the PNP’s alternative to the current economic situation in Jamaica.

Finally, Jamaica will be able to fully compete with other top tourist destinations, like the Bahamas, now that Casino Gaming bill is now signed into law. Jamaica has been trying to introduce Casino Gambling , legally, for a long time but tough resistance from the church and other individuals and istitutions has resisted all efforts. Arthur Williams,  from the Ministry of Finance, stated that the major challenge is to ensure that the casinos are run according to regulations.

Finally, a 52 year old farmer from Manchester claimed the 240 Jamaican million dollar lotto prize. He said he waited long to come forward because he just wanted to cool out. His identity is still obscured to the public but at least speculation that the winning draw was just a ruse from the lotto officials has ended. Hope he spends the money wisely and watch out for the crooks.

This is a practice that Jamaicans don’t need to get involve because this business can become dangerous and even deadly. The Government need to get the root of this organization and get rid of it. Read the rest of this entry

January 06, 2010.

MediaTakeOut.com gas a sad story to report. A 43 year old man that hit the lottery for $17 MILLION is now missing . . . and police fear that he was MURDERED for his money. Read the rest of this entry

The Jamaica people will be placed under more pressure from new government taxation on just about everything that moves. The ruling JLP government had squandered its first two years in office by trying to show how intellectually capable it was and totally ignored the practical reality of how a country is run. Now faced with a run away deficit, high unemployment, difficulty paying its debt, high crime rate the government is responding with nothing else except taxes, taxes and more taxes.

Bank of Jamaica governor Derick Latibeaudiere has resigned suddenly after 13 years at the helm. While a new, or not so new, government has the right to choose its official representations it is bad timing for the BOJ governor to go during economic turmoils. Jamaica is now facing a crisis of too much debt burden and lack of sufficient foreign exchange. This has forced the government to do the unthinkable by running to the IMF. We  hope the resignation or firing of the governor does not do more harm to the already fragile economy.