Air Jamaica has accumulated losses of U.S one billion dollars and debt of five hundred million dollars.

Can we afford the airline in its present format?

Like most Jamaicans I feel sentimental about what's loosely called our national airline. However, unlike most Jamaicans, I operate on a budget and hate deficit financing so I endeavour to live within my means.

I make this analogy to emphasize the point that we cannot afford Air Jamaica and would resent any Jamaican government using my tax dollars as guarantee to any would-be 'purchaser'.

Do the pilots have a viable business plan for the airline? Are they willing to risk everything they have to maintain the status quo? Do they require a government guarantee?

Why doesn't the tourism sector, which has benefited significantly from Air Jamaica make a bid for this asset?
 
Is it that they consider it a liability?

And why do talk-show hosts on the island's top radio stations not do their research instead of ecouraging emotionally-charged chatter, which does more harm than good, on the airwaves ?

We can't have our cake and eat it!

Time for a reality check.

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It’s over six months since the departure of the affable   Brenda LaGrange Johnson as America’s envoy to Kingston and there’s no word of a new ambassador to, arguably, the English-speaking Caribbean’s most influential country.

When will Jamaica get a new U.S. Ambassador?                                                 

Hilary may well be correct.  The White House’s clearance and vetting process appears too lengthy. The new President has a plethora of domestic and foreign policy issues with which to contend – there’s no doubt about that.

However I think it’s time the Obama administration displays some signs of seriousness about the Caribbean which is right on its doorsteps. There was relatively little but polite chatter at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain earlier this year, although I believe Caribbean leaders missed a golden opportunity to connect tangibly with the new president of the world’s greatest economic power.

Jamaica has a serious historic relationship with the U.S., not the least being the fact that millions of Jamaicans live in that country and the fact that America is by far our largest trading partner. Its consular officers in Kingston must also certainly be some of the busiest globally.

How much longer will the U.S. $100 million embassy compound in Kingston continue to be headed by a Charge D’affaires and some Bush-era-type operatives?

Or will Kingston suffer because of cost-cutting initiatives?

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U.S. $9 drink!

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Jamaican Mark Mckenzie who has served Diageo's Red Stripe as Managing Director for over five years is leaving the brewery giant.

Mckenzie was an affable character and his tenure was perhaps distinguished by efforts to diversify Red Stripe's income stream by  exploring new overseas markets. That has paid dividends.

However under his stewardship the domestic market plumetted considerably as the disposable income of Jamaicans shrank and the company came under the twin pressures from segments of the entertainment industry as well as imported beers.

Some insiders liked McKenzie. From my own intelligence other powerful insiders didn't like him feeling he was not decisive.

Was he pushed? I can't say.

However consider this comment from Board Chairman Richard Byles who thanked McKenzie for his tenure: "After five challenging years with much that we can be proud of, the Board has decided that it is again time to refresh the leadership of this iconic business. This comes at a time when we face great challenges, but also great opportunities for future domestic and international growth."

Mckenzie is being succeeded by Briton, Alan Barnes who has had considerable experience in the brewery business.

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I felt happy this week despite the pervasive crime and other social ills afflicting our island.

What made me happy?

The tone of the budget presentations by both  Finance Minister Audley Shaw On April 23, 2009 and Opposition Spokesman for Finance Dr. Omar Davis on April 28 reflected  the kind of maturity I have always yearned for in our politics.

Both came to the table with possible solutions to Jamaica's economic woes.

Shaw's presentation on April 23 reflected maturity and full realization of  the impact of the global problems on Jamaica. The contentious tax on petrol to my mind was a good way of ensuring that more persons were contributing to the country's revenues  as there's an estimated 200,000 working individuals who refuse to pay income tax.

The opposition PNP largely  resisted the temptation to organize widescale demonstrations which could only further serve to weaken the country's fragile economic system. The  demonstrations were sporadic and largely peaceful but for a few miscreants who always use such occasions to rob motorists and create mayhem.

Instead Davis proposed a spending package to close the gap in the budget by  transferring more of the burden to the rich through a 33 1/3% surcharge  dividends on high-yielding government paper and forays into two cash-rich funds.

To be fair both men engaged in gamesmanship which is par for the course in our parliamentary democracy but they largely refrained from the traditional inflammatory and accusatory tones.

Both presentations were almost 'Obamaesque' in nature.

Is this a fresh start in Jamaican politics?

Only time will tell.

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