» Finance

Big Debate Tonight

Jamaica Views Readers — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:38:50 +0000

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.

Audley Shaw Taken To Hopsital

Jamaica Views Readers — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:11:08 +0000

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.

Jamaicans in The Dark Regarding IMF Agreements

Jamaica Views Readers — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:53:12 +0000

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.

Jamaica to Have Casino Gaming

Jamaica Views Readers — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:58:18 +0000

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.

Where the Taxes go

Jamaica Views Readers — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:45:14 +0000

We need transparency and accountability in Jamaica. Yes we are under going great economic pressures at this time therefore we need the government to give us account as to where, by whom and on what our money is being used on. Yes we have to tighten our belts and make sacrifices but we also need to know and see what we are making sacrifices for and why we are tightening our belts to the point of almost suffocation.

The government is making millions of dollars from new and increase taxes but the people of Jamaica don’t have a clue as to what that tax money is being spent for or on. The government is also making money from sales; money barrowed and gifts to Jamaica yet we have not seen or heard of where that money is going.

We the people of Jamaica need transparency in regards to the spending of our money by the Jamaican Government.

Francis Buchanan

Manchester Farmer Claimed $240m lotto

Jamaica Views Readers — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:23:23 +0000

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.

Cash For Gold

Jamaica Views Readers — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:45:03 +0000

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.

This reminded of the scrap metal business only that the cash for gold can be more dangerous and deadly. At least when the scrap metal business started we used to have lots of old metal lying around which include old cars that have lying all over the country for years. But this cash for gold will not be the same as scrap metal lying in bushes or on the sidewalks.

Only a few Jamaicans who will have gold lying around their house in excess that they need to sell it. So why then would the Government have people setting up random shops buying gold from any Tom, Dick, or Harry? I have no knowledge of Jamaica cultivating gold so why these people are allowed to buy gold without any proper licenses, identification or documentation. This practice has to stop because it is going to increase violence, robberies and murders just for gold. This already has started people are being robbed of their gold chain and we all know where this is gold chain is going to end up.

We have enough problems with murders which we cannot get a grip on so why now when we have such economic crisis with so many unemployed people who are hurting for some form of income are we tempting and giving them ideas to rob or kill people only for a few dollars. Just like what happen with the scrap metals once there was no more metal on the street people started to destroy and rob in order to obtain the metal for sale disregarding their fellow Jamaicans that were being hurt in the process.

We don’t need a genius to see the potential downfall and the destruction that this business can cause. It is up to the government to do something about this business as soon as possible before it is too late.

Francis Buchanan

Is This Lottery Winner Dead or Hiding in Jamaica?

Jamaica Views Readers — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:34:33 +0000

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.

Here’s what went down. Abraham Shakespeare bought a single lottery ticket at a convenience store in a Florida town called Frostproof. Abraham, who had been in prison in the past for burglary, battery and not paying child support, won a lump-sum jackpot of $16.9 million.

Abraham didn’t spend a lot of money. He only bought a Nissan Altima, a Rolex from a pawn shop, a $1 million home in a gated community. But almost as soon as he won, he started having problems. First, one of his co-workers sued him, claiming Abraham stole the winning ticket from him.

Then, his family and friends started coming for his money. Abraham reportedly paid for countless funerals, he also “invested” millions in friends starting businesses. And he reportedly gave a million dollars to a guy known only as “Big Man.”

But that wasn’t his downfall. Abraham met a 30 year old woman named Dee Dee Moore, who at first claimed was interested in writing a book about Shakespeare’s life. She befriended Abraham and later was his “financial adviser,” despite never graduating from high school..

Over the next few months, Dee Dee formed a corporation and started transferring Abraham’s assets (including his home in the gated community) to that corporation. She also began filing papers to have amounts owed to Abraham be transferred to her corporations.

Here’s where things get CRAZY. A few months later, Abraham DISAPPEARS. And Dee Dee was the last person to see him. So what happened to him, well here’s what Dee Dee told the Ledger of Lakeland

The 37-year-old Moore contacted reporters at the newspaper in April, saying Shakespeare was “laying low” because people tried to suck money out of him.

That made sense to Shakespeare’s mother — sort of. “I remember once, talking with me over the phone, he said he might go to Jamaica,” she said.

On Dec. 5, a sobbing Moore told The Ledger that she helped Shakespeare disappear, but now wants him to return because detectives were searching her home and car and looking for blood on her belongings.

One reason he wanted to leave, she said, was a child support case for a child he allegedly fathered after winning the lottery. “Abraham sold me his mess to get a better life,” she told the paper.

Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes

Jamaica Views Readers — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:53:28 +0000

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 Gov. Resigns

Jamaica Views Readers — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:18:33 +0000

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.