What Andrew Holness Should Have Said

In his opening address to Parliament yesterday, I was expecting, no hoping; for a different tone form the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Andrew Holness. I must express my disappointment for you see; one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. Given its size, this can hardly be regarded as a formidable opposition. Indeed, if nothing else, its size should ensure that its members attend Parliament without fail or risk missing crucial votes for which their numbers may make a difference. I suggest that collaboration will be the opposition's most potent weapon as they are significantly outnumbered and can easily be outvoted.

Let me therefore share what would, for me, have been opening remarks worthy of an opposition, intent on proving that size does not matter.

Mr. Speaker, members of this Honourable House, every Member of the Opposition is humbled by the privilege to be of service to the people of Jamaica.

As an opposition, we commit to:

1.   Deliberate partnership in good governance

2.   Fervent advocacy for justice

3.   Honorable stewardship of the public trust

4.   Meaningful debate of the business of the People's Parliament

5.  Purposeful action on the People's behalf.

We are hopeful that the gains which have been made will be regarded as the bases for continued improvements in the social and economic well-being of the people of Jamaica. 

Congratulations to all the members of this Honourable House who have been given, once again or for the first time, the opportunity to do right by the people of Jamaica.

Today we begin a new leg on this awesome journey called service.

Now That I Have Your Attention

Madam Prime Minister, I have been imagining a scene in which we met again in the laundry products section of my supermarket, and like the last time, I had your attention. So, now that I have your attention, here are my thoughts. I hope you find some counsel in my words, but if you don't; please note that I mean well, and I ask that you take my words as graciously as I know you are able.

Let's start with the size of the cabinet for, like many, I too raised my eyebrows. After all, 2007 really wasn't so long ago and my memory is still fresh. I admit it, I have Google to thank for "keeping" some of those memories safe but I do recall you being very strident about the size of Bruce Golding's cabinet (remember this nugget from the Gleaner http://t.co/h0tZari?). It's hard to stave off the cynicism that lingers just below the surface but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt. In exchange, I’ll take a commitment from you to trim the size of the cabinet at the end of your first 18 months. On the up side, I like the succession planning direction I think you're going in but it won't mean much if there aren't meaningful changes in the medium term.

I think I should tell you that I found the caricature of you in the G2K advertising campaign distasteful (at best), and it wasn't aimed at me; lady you are as strong as they come. On second thoughts, it might as well have been aimed at me for; I slept on the bench at the foot of the bed, in one of two rooms of a wooden house, in which my grandmother helped to raise at least a dozen of us. The odds of making it into the middle class weren’t in my favour. It was aimed at my mother who didn't learn to speak "properly" until she went to England to become a nurse and, whilst there nurtured her passion for reading. It was aimed at my sisters who have spent their entire working lives as teachers in the public school system; the eldest one just opted for early retirement after feeling put upon one time too many, by the last administration. It was aimed at every little dark-skinned girl from a working class home, below the Clock who dares to dream big. I also think that the ads served as deterrent to women in general of all hues who would think to run for public office.

Now we won't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but on the big things I hope we agree. I believe that the elected government sits at the pleasure of all the people, and is bound by the country's Constitution and its body of laws to govern in the people's very best interest. I believe that the government has, as its primary functions:

1. the maintenance of law and order, the security of the citizens and the assets held in public trust,
2. the administration of the same standard of justice for those who have much and nothing at all,
3. the management of the public treasury with an equitable system of taxation and an open account of the public funds,
4. the provision of key public goods and services, and the maintenance of public infrastructure, financed by the taxes we should all pay; each to his means,
5. the provision of a safety net for those who are unable, disabled or incapable of making it on their own, especially the very young and the very old and,
6. to build and maintain positive relationships with the rest of the world.

No I don't believe that it is the government's role to provide jobs but I do believe that the government should employ the most competent in the delivery of those key goods and services. Unfortunately too many people fail to recognize the public sector beyond the civil service and seem not to accept that teachers, police personnel, fire fighters, public transportation workers, nurses and doctors in the public healthcare system, among others, are a necessary part of the public sector.

The rest should be placed in the private sector through a robust and transparent system of public contracting or otherwise consolidated in a few must-have public agencies. For example, there is no reason for the government to collect money; ask JPS, Digicel, Lime, the United States embassy, and a host of other entities. Even the RGD managed to divest itself of that temptation by reducing cash transactions and, the introduction of online payments by the Jamaica Customs department was a very progressive move back then. Why not have the insurance companies manage the fitness certification process for motor vehicles? The Electoral Office of Jamaica has managed to provide voter identification cards for millions of Jamaicans, why not shift drivers' license production there? Just a few suggestions for you.

In the end Madam Prime Minister, I really am cheering for you, my success as a Jamaican is linked to yours. Next time we meet maybe we can discuss and agree on what success looks like. You see, I have no green card or dual citizenship. I was born here, educated here and have achieved moderate success here, regardless of which party is in government. I do not cheat, lie or steal. I treat my fellow human beings with the respect and courtesy that I wish for myself. I do not abuse the generosity of others and I pay my fair share of taxes. I cannot therefore hold you to any lower standards.

Good luck, it'll be a hard row to hoe.

Nuff blessings,

M

Letter to Mr. Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,

Please allow me to call you Barack, for what I have to say to you will sound and feel like it's coming from family or at least, a dear friend.

Before you ran for President of the United States of America I'll admit, I had never heard of you. My mom and sister who live in Chicago knew of you but your name didn't come up in our conversations. Full disclosure here; I'm not an American citizen nor am I a green card holder but both my mom and youngest sister are American citizens so I'm heavily invested. Your success and, by extension, the success of the United States of American is a personal matter for me. Of course it works for my country too when your economy is vibrant, but that's a topic for another letter.

So on that fateful night in 2008, I sat on the edge of my bed with my son, who was eight years old at the time, and shared the joy of the crowds in Grant Park. My son was concerned that I was crying so I was very happy to explain to him why they were tears of joy. The first thing I told him was that I never imagined that I would be alive to see a black man elected to be the president of the United States of America. It was a difficult sell to an eight year old who has only ever seen black people, men and a woman too, as head of our country. He didn't quite get it but I pressed on.

My son then, profoundly asked, how come you were the first, and if America ever had a woman prime minister. You see Barack; he was just learning new things in fourth grade social studies and learnt that Dominica once had a lady prime minister. Of course I also explained that America has a president not a prime minister, he didn't absorb the difference and I was too emotional to explain at that time. In his young mind a prime minister and a president was the same thing; head of the country.

As he got older, he has watched me obsess over the state of the States. We argue over the television when he wants to watch iCarly and want to watch Rachel Maddow or Wolf Blitzer or some other. He now asks, quite frequently, why people are so mean to you. Yep, he caught glimpses of those posters during that awful period of the healthcare debates, when I was too slow on the remote control. I do my best to explain the cut and thrust of politics, but he's got it in his head that they don't like you because you are black. I couldn't deny that, that is a part of it, and still can’t think of too many reasonably straight forward explanations for an 11 year old to fully absorb.

I explain to him, and hope he both understands and believes, that the world is in bad shape and the US is a big part of it. I explain that lots of things are happening that you couldn't have imagined. "Like what mommy?" he asks. There was that big oil spill thing, the financial sector stuff, the automobile industry stuff, the lady who got shot in her head, the guy who shouted "you lie" (he thinks that guy doesn't have any manners), the fighting in places with names ending with "stan". He’s glad Aunt B finally got a job so she could buy the ticket to come home to visit, since for an 11 year old 2+ years is a very long time to not have a job. He wonders if Grandma can afford her medicines up there or if I have to send her money and I tell him I help out. By the way, thanks for fixing the donut hole especially since my sister’s on furlough.

All that aside though, Barack, I am concerned. I really wish you hadn’t wasted so much valuable political capital insisting on the bipartisan thing; really those other guys don't want you to succeed. From where I sit, it seems like some of them are so filled with disdain for you, that they will throw the baby (you) out with then bathwater (the country). You see, they are so blinded by arrogance that they can't imagine that, even the great USA can fall hard. Let's face facts here, the rich have never had it so good and they won't be hiring any time soon if they can get richer without adding one more head to the payroll.

I was disappointed that you didn't go "gangsta" on the GOP and hold out for taxes in the debt ceiling fight. Seems like all that compromising, was a waste since the USA had its credit rating downgraded anyway. Oh and good job taking out Bin Laden, I knew you had it in you when to showed those pirates early on who’s in charge.

Your problem this November won't be the jobs situation; it won't be the fact that you are averse to a good brawl. Your problem this November will be voter turnout. If those who support you are not motivated enough to get out and vote on the day, or even get one of those voter IDs that some states are now insisting on so that they can get out and vote on the day, you will not see that second term. 

Things are tough Barack, all over the world. Your presidency is extraordinary so don't be daunted. The confluence of global events, from Ireland to Japan, has been nothing short of spectacular, unprecedented and heretofore unimaginable. In the end though, hope always trumps despair. You see Barack, the millions who voted for you didn't expect miracles; they simply expected you to fight hard for them. Your job is singular, give people tangible reasons to remain hopeful.

Happy New Year, Mr. President, happy new year to you, Michelle and the girls!

Nuff love,

M

Redundancy: The Case for Unemployment Insurance

Like many of the labour laws passed during what may arguably be the most prolific legislative period in Jamaica’s political history, The Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act is long overdue for review. Some may even argue that it has outlived its usefulness. After all, it was passed in 1974 when there were scarcely computers, let alone smartphones, or the vast possibilities of the Internet which has so changed the way we live, work, communicate and conduct business. In the words of one of Jamaica’s best known taxation experts Mrs. Ethlyn Norton-Coke, the Act “is a deterrent to employment” and, to others, perceived as a threat or risk to marginal or struggling enterprises. There is another oft debated legacy of this Act; it has fostered a culture rooted in the notion that redundancy is an entitlement regardless of the circumstances. Truth be told, many employees at every level, expect some payment even when they choose to leave their jobs. Some even come asking for redundancy when they are ready to move on.

Jamaican businesses are caught between a rock and a very expensive hard place. They are required to be agile and flexible in the modern business environment, because they often lack scale.  A firm's capacity must also be responsive to consumers' demand for its products and services. The Act lays the burden of the cost of adjusting such capacity entirely at the feet of the employer. It did not contemplate innovation such as electronic security systems, internet banking and online bill payment; which have lead to substantially increased productivity with smaller workforces. If Jamaican firms in general and small businesses in particular, are to be viable they must be allowed to adjust their workforce capacity without the burden of significant costs, which are inherent in the application of the Act.

A precondition must however be the introduction, testing, and successful implementation of cost effective and fair mechanisms for helping displaced employees to transition. If the consumers' tastes change and the demand for a firm’s output falls away, it may not or may not be the fault of the firm. Yet, only the firm is left with the cost of separation from a workforce that it may no longer need or can redeploy.

I had hoped that the discussion which resurfaced in late 2011 (see Gleaner Editorial of September 7, 2011 http://bit.ly/wfxJpd), would continue and without the usual intractable postures. I am enthusiastic about an unemployment insurance scheme as a modern alternative. I am not however as enthusiastic about the National Health Fund (NHF) as the operator of any such scheme. I can certainly see an opportunity for the insurance sector to introduce a new product to the market which allows companies to manage this inherent cost in a prudent way. I foresee that, as is the case with most pension plans, there can be a matching arrangement which allows both sides to prepare for the eventuality. I can even see such a scheme having the same tax status as NIS or a pension contribution.

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) rules do not allow firms to carry redundancy provisions beyond the current period; as they do bad debt provisions for example. But, the modern reality is that firms will continue, through innovation, to produce more with far less. The fact is that the production of low cost goods will continue to migrate to low waged countries, this is not new. Many of us can recall the migration of companies such as Colgate and Jockey from Jamaica, to countries like the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica where wages are lower, and yes, labour laws may even be lax.

To demonstrate the point, I have conducted a loose experiment which began in my closet, and the results were not surprising to me. My favorite pink Ralph Lauren top; made in China. My favourite baby blue Brooks Brothers shirt; made in Malaysia. My GapBody undies; made in Sri Lanka. My well worn Ed Hardy footwear; made in Vietnam. My comfy old Anne Klein iflex shoes; made in China. My ready-to-throw-out Victoria's Secret pajamas are made in Vietnam too so I hope you've got the point. Don't think it's all about clothing either; my trusty iPad is assembled in China. If anyone knows for a fact that any of these countries have anything even remotely akin to Jamaica's Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act, please speak up.

Let me be very clear though, I am not in favour of repealing this Act without a meaningful replacement. It would not only be unconscionable but I dare say impossible to achieve given the current make up of the Jamaican government. The world is a very different place than it was in 1974; in which small, developing countries such as ours must compete. Surely we can successfully compete and do right by our workers at the same time. On this issue however, we simply cannot do both with closed minds.

My Perfect Bank

I have, for some time, been giving deep thought to this subject. I might even say I have obsessed over it, just a bit. So, here are some thoughts on my perfect bank. To get to my perfect bank, I'll examine the things I like least about my interactions with my current bank and work backwards.

Getting Started
Opening an account is usually done once, at the start of the relationship, but sometimes one needs to open another account with the same bank. I get that I may need to interact with a real person on the first occasion, but every time after that is a huge waste of my time. 

My perfect bank on the other hand would give me the option to submit all paperwork with only an initial appearance to prove that I'm not a cat. All subsequent requests for accounts will be done online and with the help of a webcam and Skype, FaceTime  or whatever technology has to offer at the time. I can then interact with that nice customer service person from the comfort of my own space; at any hour I like. Yes, 24-hour customer service support is standard fare. After all, if I can upload a picture to apply for a US visa, what say a mere bank.

To keep my files current, they'd only ask that I upload a few certified documents every few years or so, and they'd accept scanned submissions. Or, if I wanted to do something really quaint, I could send them by courier (at my perfect bank's expense). For pictures, I'd upload a current one to my perfect bank's secure portal, which once received, will be verified by that nice customer service person on the other end of the webcam  or whatever technology has to offer at the time. After all, if I can upload a picture to apply for a US visa, what say a mere bank.

Fees
How about fees, the bane of my existence when dealing with my bank. I'd choose my own fee base from a slew of options, depending on the level of service I want. I accept that there's a price for service, I just want to have a say in how much I pay. Most importantly, the fees would be lowest when my online transactions are highest. When it comes to fees therefore, the more I do for myself from my perfect bank's incredible platform, the less I pay. 

Branch Network
But what about branches? You ask. Don't need them really, the more brick and mortar, the higher the cost of operating ergo more fees. I'll come to my perfect bank's one office that one time, otherwise a traveling officer may come to my home, office or any other convenient place, mutually agreed. After all, my insurance agent finds me when it's time to "upgrade" my coverage and it doesn't cost me a cent for that service. Come to think of it, I don't even need to go to NHT anymore to get a refund.

I do however require that my perfect bank has the necessary international credentials to ensure that my cards work for me when I travel abroad. The ATM is my perfect bank's branch network infrastructure, wherever in the world the international credentials extend.

The Other Little Things
My perfect bank's platform will allow me to set as many alerts as I need. To tell me if my account has been compromised, to tell me when transactions of a certain size have been completed, to prompt me when I've hit my floor or ceiling balances, to automate transfers and more neat or mundane stuff. My perfect bank will not require cheques to transfer funds between banks. In fact cheques would be a very expensive option and completely avoidable. 

If you think about it, you'll realise that the "new" bank on Hope Road only has one address, the problem is they don't serve individuals. Only one commercial bank in Jamaica now allows bank to bank transfers by individuals. The two big ones charge so much for so many services that it's hard to keep track. The rest of them just go along to get along. You may note that I have mentioned interest rates, that is simply because I don't need my perfect bank to be all things to me. But, if I do need to borrow money, I expect the rates to competitive and the terms to be flexible.

In the meanwhile, I'll keep dreaming.