Talented Film-maker Ina Sotirova

Ina Sotirova

Who knew that a 1920s Cabaret Law made dancing illegal in New York City clubs until 2017? Last week we were treated to a fascinating documentary on this apparently racist legislation by Kingston-based film-maker Ina Sotirova, ‘freedom2dance’. 

We also watched the beautiful ‘Agwe’, Sotirova’s animated story of a courageous young “moon priestess”, which was premiered at the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival last year.  

Sotoriva noted that film-making is at a good place in Jamaica with the support of film commissioner at JAMPRO Renee Robinson for the ‘Propella’ initiative of the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA).

Pardon the brag - but proud of my young cousin Analisa Chapman who Chairs JAFTA!

Still a hard climb for women

Updated - Observer column published 4 March 2019

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Malala Yousafzai

As we geared for International Women’s Day activities, we had to acknowledge that it is simply not true that “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”.  To be clear, we feminists are not demanding that we rule the world, but rather, that girls and women have the same opportunities offered to boys and men.   

In too many countries, women are still regarded as second-class citizens and experience horrific treatment. Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban extremists in the Swat Valley of Pakistan when she was only 15 years old, because she was an active advocate, like her schoolteacher father, of education for girls. Miraculously, she recovered and continues her activism.

The website womankind.org has shocking statistics: “the abuser is usually someone the woman knows: 38% of all murdered women are killed by their partner. Of all women killed globally in 2012, it is estimated that almost half were killed by a partner or relative compared to less than 6% of men. (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014) … Around 1 in 10 (120 million) girls worldwide have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. (UNICEF, 2014). At least 200 million girls and women alive today living in 30 countries have undergone female genital mutilation. (UNICEF, 2016) … A European Union survey showed that 34% of women with a health problem or disability had experienced violence by a partner in their lifetime, compared to 19% per cent of women without a health problem or disability. (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2014)”

Here in Jamaica, we continue to be horrified by incidents of domestic violence in which women and children suffer the most. Women and girls are constantly harassed on our streets, and we seem to have strange priorities, dwelling on a harmless competition among young law students when there are so many crises demanding attention. We applaud Karen Madden’s post: “To whom it may concern: Stop perpetuating this asinine notion that it’s what women wear that gets them raped and/or harassed. Now go forth & be great!”

Dr. Denise Chevannes-Vogel, National Private Sector Specialist – Jamaica Win-Win Programme and  Desreé Ebanks, Programme Associate at the UN Women Caribbean Multi-Country Programme Associate in the UN Women Caribbean Multi Country Office  have enlisted women business owners to support the ‘Women’s Empowerment Principles’ (WEP). In agreement with their mantra that ‘gender equality means good business’, we have signed the statement of support. This emphasizes equality, not dominance, with pledges that include, “Encouraging economic and social conditions that provide opportunities for women and men, girls and boys; and Fostering sustainable development in the countries in which we operate.”

“Balance for Better” - excerpt from column by Jean Lowrie-Chin

published in Jamaica Observer - 11 March 2019

I don’t believe I have ever seen such a groundswell of Women’s Day observances in Jamaica.  The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), brainchild of the legendary Ambassador Sue Cobb used its 15^th Anniversary last Thursday to celebrate ten great Corporate Foundations led by women which have been doing extraordinary work in health, education, the environment and entrepreneurship.

On Friday morning, the dynamic Marlene Street-Forrest, CEO of the Jamaica Stock Exchange invited Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, diplomats and women business leaders to join her in the opening of the Stock Market. 

Later that morning, we attended a Symposium organised by Ms Grange’s Ministry in association with the Canadian High Commission and the European Union. The themes for the event: Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change, and #BalanceForBetter were discussed by two major presenters, Canadian High Commissioner Laurie Peters and Head of the European Union Delegation, Malgorzata Wasilewska.

Ms Peters noted that her government “places women and girls at the centre of what we do”, providing direct funding to women’s rights organisations worldwide.  She said that Canada would be supporting Jamaica’s national strategic action plan to reduce gender-based violence and promote sustainable practices for women farmers. She urged participation in the “Women Deliver” Conference to be held in June in Vancouver – a gathering of 7,000 world leaders and influencers.

Ms Wasilewska noted that women represented 43 percent of the world’s agricultural workforce, and if they had the same access to resources as men, would increase their production by 20 to 30 percent. She said that women must bridge the digital divide to benefit from the disruptive nature of technology. She said that EU has partnered with UN Women for their “Win-Win” programme with the them, gender equality means good business. She called for an enabling society for women as they are key to our living productive, prosperous lives.

At the Rose Leon Conference, Dr. Blossom O’Meally-Nelson noted that times have changed from those days that women were acculturated to be more accepting of male bosses and that she was seeing stronger support of women by women.  Indeed, that has been my experience. Let us continue to take the high road and bring others along in this burgeoning new world where we will enjoy ‘balance for better’. 

Forty Years Strong - Spain's Empowering Constitution

Last December, Ambassador for Spain to Jamaica Hon Josef Maria Bosch Bessa led a most enlightening discussion on his country's Constitution.  Below is his address.

Ambassador for Spain Hon Josef Maria Bosch Bessa

SPAIN –  40 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY, 40 YEARS OF LIBERTY

This December 6th we commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the Spanish Constitution. This period is sufficiently long to allow us an objective evaluation of its merits and achievements.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 has brought about the longest period of liberty, stability and prosperity in the History of our Nation by establishing one of the most advanced democracies after a forty-year long dictatorship and a tragic Civil War.

This anniversary is a good occasion to celebrate a successful Spain that can be proud of itself not only for the strides it has made in the economic field but also for its remarkable record in Human Rights and its social advancements. We are numbered among the countries leading the recognition and enforcement of minority rights like those of LGTB and the furtherance  of social equality for women. We are the country that has overcome the objective of parity with a Government whose composition is now two thirds of women. Forty years in which Spain has consolidated itself as a full democracy ahead of countries such as the US, France, Italy or Belgium according to the Democracy Index of The Economist Intelligence Unit.

During these Forty years of democracy under the 1978 Constitution Spain has flourished as one of the most open and inclusive societies:  open to its own citizens on the inside as well as to the outside through international solidarity, welcoming refugees and economic migrants on a large scale. This is being achieved without the social fractures of other countries that have seen the rise of xenophobic movements that are becoming more and more powerful in many societies of our region. Spain has almost five million immigrants, more than 10% of its 47 million inhabitants, yet it has not experienced significant social integration problems. Spain is also among the most solidarity-prone countries in the world. In the last Forty years, we have dizzyingly transformed from a traditional country of emigration to one of immigration.

Forty years have elapsed in which Spain has moved from being a recipient of Official Development Aid, according to OECD standards, to becoming a developed economy among the ten more industrialized economies of the planet, the sixth biggest car maker in the world, and the second in Europe, second only to Germany. Spain is also the orchard of Europe and a world leader in genetics as well as in irrigation and greenhouse techniques. Spain happens to excel in agriculture and in tourism, those very sectors which are of particular interest to Jamaica. The World Economic Forum has placed Spain as the most competitive country in tourism and according to the World Tourism Organization, it has the second largest earnings in this field, only behind the USA.

Our 1978 Constitution has undoubtedly helped to bring economic growth, social progress and has been paramount in Spain’s integration in western democracies, being the key factor t to its membership in the European Union. Spain is proud to be at the core of the European integration process.

Forty years for a Constitution may seem a too short period in History, but Spain has been of great significance in the History of world constitutionalism. Historians agree that the first Medieval Parliaments in Europe, with the key innovation of including a representation of the commoners, were first created in the Kingdom of Aragon in 1162 and the Kingdom of Leon in 1188. UNESCO has declared the Parliament of the Kingdom of Leon that met in 1188 to be “the oldest documental testimony of the European parliamentary system”. That was officially stated in 2013 within the framework of its Memory of the World Programme.

Historians also consider that the Catalan Parliament was in the XIVth Century the most accomplished model of Parliamentarianism in the Middle Ages, by its organization and scope. The English Parliament only included representatives of the boroughs, what would become the House of Commons, for the first time in 1264.

In the wave of liberal Constitutions that began in Virginia in 1776, Spain also had a central role with the “Constitución de Cádiz” of 1812 which had not only a decisive influence in the newly  independent Republics of Latin America, but also in many revolutionary movements in Europe, from Naples to Russia. As early as in 1812 the Cadiz Constitution established indirect universal male suffrage and a comprehensive charter of human rights, thus becoming the most advanced Constitution of its time. Spain did not lag behind the process of democratization of the European liberal states in the XIXth century and recognized direct universal male suffrage in 1869. The 1931 Republican Constitution granted women's suffrage, some years before European countries such as France (1946) or Switzerland (1971).Therefore the 1978 Constitution has behind it a long constitutional tradition, but what makes  it a milestone is that it is the result of the broadest possible consensus among idelogically opposed political forces and the overall Spanish society, thus being  crucial in the reconciliation of the so called “Two Spains”, one progressive and the other conservative. These “Two Spains” had been in constant conflict during most of the XIXth and XXth centuries. 

The long-standing confrontation of conservative-traditionalist and liberal-progressist forces ruined our country, causing Spain to lag behind a more progressive and developed Northern Europe. The last chapter of this confrontation was the Spanish Civil War in 1936-1939,  a blood bath of Spaniards, brother against brother, which Historians have also seen as the first struggle of Fascism against democratic and proletarian forces - a true prelude to World War II. In fact, during the Spanish Civil War Hitler tested his deadly tactics, standing out the bombings of civilians in the Basque city of Guernica, horror and massacre depicted by Picasso in his masterpiece “Guernica”. The rebellion led by General Franco finally swept the Spanish II Republic putting an end to its modernization and democratization attempts. More than 500,000 persons escaped Franco’s repression and many settled in Latin America. Spain lost many of its intellectuals, artists and writers, entering a long period of cultural darkness. 2019 will be of significance to Spain too, since next year we will honor the hundreds of thousands of Spaniards forced into exile in its 80^th anniversary.

When General Franco passed away in 1975, many feared the risk of the renewal of confrontation as if Spain had a congenital inclination to conflict. Against all odds, Spaniards were able to rewrite their History and build a broad value-based consensus with democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion, tolerance and the recognition of diversity as the cornerstones of the new political system. King Juan Carlos played a decisive role inspiring confidence to all political players as a neutral Head of State. Years 1976 and 1977 were the turning point. The Spanish people imposed its will of peace and reconciliation. Spaniards pushed for democracy and the old Franco Regime forces gave way and faded away with relatively mild resistance. The Franco’s Cortes (a fascist-like undemocratic legislative chamber) voted for its own dissolution in a surprising “hara-kiri” that allowed our first free elections in 1977, after forty years of Dictatorship. The elected Parliament (“Las Cortes Generales”) agreed with a wide majority on the text of the new Constitution that was massively approved by 87,78% of the census on the 6^th December 1978 in a Referendum. Its distinctive mark was its wide social and political consensus that gathered all political parties from the Communists to most of the sectors that supported the Old Regime, aware of the need to leave dictatorship behind. The central actors were, nevertheless, the Socialist Party, PSOE, and a coalition of liberals and Christian democrats, UCD, that imposed the general lines of an advanced constitutional framework in the line of our western European neighbours.

The Constitution of 1978 is the offspring of consensus and it is considered a model of peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. Consensus is at its roots and that consensus also included the traditionally strong nationalist movements in Catalonia and the Basque Country, harshly repressed by General Franco. There were also strong regional feelings in almost every part of Spain, mostly in the Canary Islands, Andalucia, Galicia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. The Constitution decisively established a federative-like model with 17 Autonomous Communities (Regions and Nationalities) with one of the world’s highest levels of self-government.

This is why our political system is known as “Estado de las Autonomías”, State of Autonomies, an original model which has had a deep impact in culture and in the daily life of all citizens. Spain has been profoundly transformed, moving from being one of the most centralized bureaucracies of the world, where everything had to be dealt with in some obscure ministry dependency in Madrid, to a democracy that has brought government and decision making closer to the citizens. Making use of their political autonomy, regions and its capital cities have flourished in culture and also in economy, allowing the expansion of the historical diversity of Spain, an element of its richness and a sign of national identity.

The Constitution of 1978 recognizes Spain as a Nation that includes and protects  Nationalities and Regions and guarantees the co-officiality of all Spanish languages (Catalan, Basque and Galician) along with Castilian in each of the territories concerned. We have been able to build unity on the recognition of our diversity which is our heritage and our richness.

After forty years of democracy, peace, stability and progress, I would like to end by expressing my confidence in the future of the Parliamentarian Monarchy established in 1978 that has demonstrated its solid continuity with the 2014 proclamation of King Felipe VI and Infanta Leonor as Princess of Asturias, my confidence in one of the most advanced democracies whose stability is grounded on the rule of law and on a progressive system of respect and protection of Human Rights.

Cash in on Jamaica

Jamaica Observer column for published 18 February, 2019

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

During the bad old seventies when many were fleeing Jamaica, I noticed that upper income folks were not moving.  Rather, they were installing more sophisticated security features, bought more dogs and built guardhouses at their gates.  I remember the late Cecil Charlton saying to security mogul Kenny Benjamin, “Kenny, I need you to sell me some of them ‘tump-a-tail’ dogs!”, his description of the popular Dobermans.  Clearly, these well-heeled Jamaicans saw the value of remaining here.

Happiness at NHT Groundbreaking - Longville Park 

One lady who had sold out and migrated in a rush returned in the early nineties to see her old house listed for lease at a premium. “God really has a sense of humour,” she told me after she signed the lease and moved in.

The Jamaica Observer reported on January 31, “Fitch Ratings Agency, today upgraded the Government of Jamaica's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer and Local Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B+' from 'B', and revised the outlook to “stable” from “positive”. The agency also upgraded the country ceiling to 'BB-'from 'B'. This is Jamaica's highest rating in over 10 years, said the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.”

Now, with growing interest in Jamaica, everyone whether of small, medium or large means, should be looking at investment options.  Many have been paying into NHT for years, not realizing the increased benefits being offered by them.  Here is information from the NHT website:

“Loan limits have been increased for the following groups:

Non-Homeowners: A non-homeowner is a contributor who does NOT have any legal or undisputed right to ownership of a residential property. 

If you do not own a house and have never accessed a benefit from the NHT, you may access financing up to the loan ceiling. The current loan celling is $5.5m.

Homeowners: An eligible contributor who is already a homeowner but has never received an NHT loan, can get up to $2.5 million to extend, repair and improve his premises or help buy another property. It can also be used to purchase and install a solar panel system and provide hurricane shutters.

Persons buying residential lots: An eligible contributor can now get up to $2.5 million to buy a residential lot being sold on the open market or being sold by the NHT. Two persons may co-apply for the new maximum limit of $5 million.”

Patrick Hylton

In this galloping real estate market, there are excellent opportunities for those with combined incomes: “Under this policy, two applicants can combine their incomes to access loans from the NHT of up to $11 million (i.e. $5.5 million each). If one applicant cannot afford to borrow his maximum individual loan of $5.5 million but the other person is able to afford a higher amount, then the other person with the larger income may access up to $2.5 million over his own loan limit to facilitate the purchase/construction of a residential property.” 

NHT interest rates range from two percent to six percent, with rebates for persons with disabilities. Interest rates for mortgages from commercial banks are competitive, and these can be combined with an NHT loan. I entreat young professionals to invest in that first piece of real estate in a solid location.  This has been my refrain for years; a former employee expressed his gratitude for my advice, because he had invested in a small studio, the rental from which he was able to use to fund post graduate education overseas. 

As has been reported by Bloomberg, Jamaica’s Stock Market recorded the strongest growth in the world in 2018.  I can hear the voice of the late investment guru Sushil Jain saying, “Make sure you invest in the stock market. Don’t you want to have Don Wehby and Patrick Hylton working for you?” Now there is the social stock market which gives social enterprises the opportunity to access funding from the public.  Congratulations to my friends at Deaf Can! Coffee Company, among the first listings, whose products and services are exceptional.

Don Wehby

Because we wanted to become engaged with the clients we have served over the years, we bought a few of their shares on the stock market, and watched as they multiplied and increased in value. In reading their annual reports, we noted that they had significant holdings in real estate, and in our own small way decided to take a few steps, which have also been rewarding.

Whenever you are wondering how Jamaica is doing, take a look at the business programmes and business sections of our newspapers.  You will see that while some of us are continually stuck on cable TV, others are planning their way ahead, and overseas investors are seeing great possibilities here.  The French company Total is set to become a big player in Jamaica’s petrol market as they are purchasing the Epping facilities.  There are some 5,000 hotel rooms to be added to our stock. 

With the arrival of the ‘SeaWalk’ articulated pier, and a sizeable investment in a Port Royal Cruise port, residents of that area, Harbour View, Bull Bay and Rockfort should be getting together to plan cultural and tour packages.  Our Rockfort Mineral Spa is said to be one of the best in the world and surfing is a big attraction in Bull Bay. A ferry ride over to the Kingston Waterfront will bring them to historical sights in the city.

Have you been down to the Kingston Waterfront recently? It is bustling with new restaurants and clubs.  People are not rushing home from their downtown workplaces anymore; instead they are cooling out at the pier, their cars lining most of the length of Ocean Boulevard. 

The folks who had invested years ago in Ocean Towers apartments are now seeing their property appreciate.  Meanwhile, uptown, apartment buildings are appearing everywhere, and getting higher as we maximise the use of landspace in our in-demand metropolis.  Among them is the planned ‘Residences at the Terra Nova’, condos that will offer luxury accommodations and services.

EPOC Co-Chairman Keith Duncan

A recent release from our Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) co-chaired by BOJ Governor Brian Wynter and JMMB President Keith Duncan, noted, “The EPOC met on January 15, 2019 and reviewed the latest available results for the period ending September 2018. Based on the preliminary results for performance to date through the end of November 2018, the GOJ is on track to meet the targets for the Quantitative Performance Criteria (QPCs) and indicative targets (ITs) for the IMF Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) as at end-December 2018. As a result of the overall strong performance, the GOJ has met all eight (8) macro-fiscal structural benchmarks for the November 2016 to November 2018 period. The GOJ has also met the fourteen (14) structural benchmarks for public sector transformation, public bodies and public service reform through end-November 2018.”

Good people, we can spend our time gossiping and bickering over tribalist pettiness, or we can focus our energy on making the best of this positive environment for economic growth.  Record your goals, study your options and step up for yourself, your family and your country.

Patsy Ricketts' Healing 'Jah Ova Evil' Project

The legendary Patsy Rickets receives CCRP 2017 Living Legacy Award from
Most Hon Prof Sir Kenneth Hall and yours truly, Executive Chair and Founder of CCRP.
(Looking back, that was not a great way to hide the cast on my broken arm!)
 

When 24-year-old singer Alty ‘Jah-Ova-Evil’ Nunes died from an aneurysm in February 2011, his mother, the legendary NDTC leading dancer Patsy Ricketts and his siblings decided to carry on his legacy, expanding his ‘Jah Ova Evil’ JOE social enterprise project in Vineyard Town.

As noted by Digicel Foundation Project Officer for Community Development, Miguel ‘Steppa’ Williams, “Jah Over Evil has been involved in creative productions formally for the past 10 years ... Now the group does numerous creative arts development interventions with youth in communities across Kingston and the wider Jamaica. Their most recent partnership with Youth Crime Watch Jamaica, NIA and USAID solidified their social enterprise as a viable option for vulnerable spaces.”

With recent assistance from the Digicel Jamaica Foundation towards training, employment and life skills development, the company which has a music studio and screen-printing facilities now benefits 25 directly and 200 young people indirectly. 

Well done, Patsy Ricketts. As the Bible says, you have ‘turned your tears into dancing’ for the good of your community, in tribute to your dear son.