Shame and scandal in the family: Yu father not yu father, but yu father don’t know…….
The Sunday Gleaner gave us something to talk about this week: DNA tests to prove paternity in Jamaica result in one third of Jamaican men doing the test finding out that they are not the baby father. This is supposedly higher than in other countries such as the U.S. and the U.K. Much shock and much cussing all round.
So does this prove Jamaican women are more promiscuous, wickeder etc than women in other countries ? No, but it probably proves what we know already: – all the men who go around boasting that they have “nuff gal” are NOT just talking, and they are also NOT defying the laws of mathematics (see this New York Times article about the mathematical impossibility of a population with a lot of promiscuous men and a lot of chaste women).
Jamaican men have “nuff gal” AND Jamaican women have “nuff man” – it’s just that Jamaican women know better than to boast, and Jamaican men hate being reminded that their girlfriends and wives are not waiting quietly at home while they go out to check out the new ting…….
“Calypso Carnival” (Various Artists)
The new government is planning:
For Air Jamaica
Thinking about taking back the London route from Virgin Atlantic
Making the airline profitable by following yet another model, this time it’s the Sri Lankan model
What we can look forward to:
(1)A few more years of massive losses
(2) More chest-pounding talk about national pride
(3) Several more changes of the Board and the CEO
(4) Virgin Atlantic taking market share from Air Jamaica and British Airways (try flying Virgin just once to understand why Air Jamaica can’t make it)
For the national debt
To tackle the debt by adhering strictly to fiscal targets
To widen the tax net and increase compliance
Growing the economy by 6 to 8% annually and collecting $10 to 20 billion in new taxes
What we can look forward to:
(1) Minister Without Portfolio Don Wehby getting an education in the difference between public and private sector fiscal management
(2) New taxes
(3) Growth (well, let’s hope and pray)
For the transport system
Reduce the losses (running at $100 million per month)
Get the hundreds of buses awaiting repair back on the road
What we can look forward to:
(1) More buses on the road
(2) Renaming of the losses as “government subsidy” (but, hopefully, not until after some significant loss reduction has occurred)
For the Local Government Elections
The elections are to be held as scheduled (i.e. before the end of December 2007)
What we can look forward to:
(1) Polls, polls, and more polls
(2) Analysts explaining why the polls are wrong
For National Security
New blood at the top of the Jamaica Defence Force (Hardley Lewin out as JDF chief) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (Lucius Thomas out as Commissioner)
What we can look forward to:
(1) Lot of argument about the performance of the four Scotland Yardies and whether they should stay or go…..
Total amnesia section
Venture capitalists ?
Business leaders are supporting the establishment of a venture capital fund, as suggested by banker Ryland Campbell. This is because it’s a good way to kick start new businesses and help young entrepreneurs.
Also because the failure of previous venture capitalists to kick start new businesses (for example, Dennis Lalor and David Panton’s Caribbean Equity Partners; the Noel Lyon headed Jamaica Venture Fund; the government’s notorious Intech Fund/Universal Access Fund set up by the gone-but-not-forgotten Phillip Paulwell) should not prevent Mr. Campbell from throwing his money in the same direction……
Crime fighters ?
Business leaders are supporting an increase in spending on fighting crime, rather than on education. This is because crime is an immediate problem and improving the education system is going to take time.
Also just because we have neglected education year after year, and crime has exploded, and every single analysis tells us that the criminals are poor, uneducated and unemployable young males, this is absolutely no reason to change our short-term quick-fix approach….. Absolutely no reason….
Beautiful women in politics – David Panton section
Wendy Fitzwilliam and son, Ailan
Lisa Hanna and son, Alexander
Miss World 1993 Lisa Hanna won her seat in recent general elections in Jamaica and now represents the people of South East St. Ann in Parliament.
Not to be outdone, Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam is planning to run for a seat in Trinidad’s general election set for November 5, 2007.
Both ladies have sons with David Panton, one time JLP candidate and Jamaican venture capitalist. Mr. Panton now resides in Atlanta and appears to have shelved his own political ambitions for the time being…..
Still pending: – the outcome of the September 3 general election
The legal battle for Eastern Hanover continues…. The PNP’s D.K. Duncan goes back to court today October 10, 2007……
First U.S. passport case (Daryl Vaz) will be in court next week Tuesday….
Performance review : Reggae Boyz section
Captain Horace Burrell
The Captain is set to get back in the saddle as President of the Jamaica Football Federation after the November 4, 2007 elections.
Soon-to-be-former-President Crenston Boxhill’s four years in office are notable only for the hiring of Bora as technical director.
As a few cynics have pointed out, Bora (at US $1million a year) costs Jamaica more than the annual salaries of Prime Minister Golding and his entire 18 member Cabinet…..And in November, he’ll have been here for a year…… So what has Bora done for us lately ? (Or ever, for that matter ? No offence meant…..)
“The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 / William Cosel” (William Cosel)
Technorati Tags: Air Jamaica, D.K.Duncan, David Panton, Lisa Hanna, Trinidad
Jamaica and the world 
Wow one third of men? I wonder how many of them find out they are the father to babies that they didn’t think were theirs. And good point about the women, perhaps they are just more conservative about boasting. And thanks for the info on women in politics. I love when smart women are beautiful too! (Yes it can happen!)