Bruce Golding and the JDIP - 2 Fast 2 Furious

In politics if thou wouldst mix,

And mean thy fortunes be

Bear this in mind; Be deaf and blind

Let great folks hear and see

Burns, At the Globe Tavern

Looks like the Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party has kicked off their election machinery early. No, I am not talking about on the road campaigning. Rather, I am referring to the US$400 million JDIP (Jamaica Development Infrastructure Project), a rather fancy acronym like the JDX (Jamaica Debt Exchange), but this time around mostly funded with money from the Government of the People’s Republic of China as stated in the article “JDIP will boost economy - Golding”, published Monday, September 13, 2010 BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large, South/Central Bureau, The Jamaica Observer.

Five (5) years of road building that would straddle into a next term in office. Seems like Senator Bruce Golding. Prime Minister of Jamaica is Senator Barack Obama, President of the United States of America long lost twin brother, as Senator Obama had the same idea at about the same time as stated in the article “Barack Obama announces $50bn infrastructure plan”, published 6 September 2010 18:15 GMT , BBC World News . John Public examines the family tree history of these recent coincidences, my Chocolate Pipe warmed up as my fingers caress my keyboard.

Yep. If that is not a campaign strategy to satisfy the pundits who complain of a lack of activity to boost the Micro-Economic side of the Economy, I don’t now what other spotted member of the politics clan it could be. Indeed, the JLP is on a high, after having succeeded with the JDX (Jamaica Debt Exchange) as stated in the article “JDX ends at 99 per cent; Minister says thanks”, published Thursday, February 25, 2010, The Jamaica Observer

Many said it was not possible and its many faceted side effects, most of which are enumerated in the article as noted in the letter to the editor entitled “Jamaicans ignoring positives”, published Monday June 14 2010, by Carlin Cook, The Jamaica Gleaner: Lowering of the Exchange rate, which is good for the Micro-Economic Sector i.e. regular folks in Jamaica who love foreign imported goods but bad for the Macro-Economic Sector i.e.

Big businesses who export, as it makes our goods artificially expensive. Best of all, it is the best way to give out money, only this time the campaign is being literally funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Clever indeed, as Carletta DeLeon, aka the Pet Tales Chick, aka “Dilly”, would opine.

But there is a striking similarity between the JDIP and the major Infrastructural Work being commissioned by Senator Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, or at least the Obama Administration as stated in the article “Barack Obama announces $50bn infrastructure plan”, published 6 September 2010 18:15 GMT , BBC World News.

This is sweetened by a chocolate and vanilla topping, just for the Republicans in the form of Tax Breaks for Big Business that they get their financial kickbacks from so as to please Republicans planning a takeover of Congress as stated in the article “Obama to introduce another business tax cut”, published Saturday August 7 2010 By Ed Henry, CNN Senior White House Correspondent, CNN News.

Why does John Public suspect that Senator Barack Obama, President of the United States of America were talking to each other over the new Google Voice integration into Gmail? Maybe their daughters, Miss Ann-Merita Golding, the wanna-be audiologist as stated in the article “PM's daughter tries to lead 'normal' life”, published Sunday, August 29, 2010 BY HG HELPS Editor-at-Large, The Jamaica Observer

Probably Sasha Obama, The First Daughter, tipped them off on the free calling deal, as that would be “normal” for young ‘uns to have these leaders put on their guinea-pig suits and run a couple laps on Google’s maze. Right?

In addition, the BOJ (Bank of Jamaica) is not only lowering its interest rates on a monthly basis, now in the tens as stated in the article “BOJ lowers rates again”, published Friday, August 27, 2010, The Jamaica Observer.

But the much anticipated so-called Credit Bureau, which John Public calls a CBD (Credit Bureau Database), as it is really a Computer Database, which has being urgently requested by the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Mr. Brian Wynter as stated in the article “Credit Rating bureau needed quickly - Wynter”, published Friday January 22 2010, by Alicia Roache, The Jamaica Observer will soon come to fruition, as it is necessary to move the Economy forward in terms of borrowing.

The local Big Three (3) Banks, namely BNS (Bank of Nova Scotia), RBTT (Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago) especially the NCB (National Commercial Bank), who recently lowered their base lending rates by three (3) percentage points from 20.75% to 17.75% as stated on Prime Time News, aired Thursday July 25^th 2010, Television Jamaica and confirmed in the article “

NCB cuts as loan portfolie increases”, published Sunday July 25 2010, Business Section, The Sunday Gleaner are a follow-on of that trend.

Add to the fact that this make exporting more attractive as suggested by the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) president Titus Evans in the article “JDX Makes exporting more attractive”, published Wednesday, April 21, 2010, The Jamaica Observer and borrowing is up as stated in the article “Small businesses post JA$96 billion sales decline – Firms borrowing more and commerce worsens”, published Sunday June 2010 by Avia Collinder, Business Writer, The Sunday Gleaner and the missing link is now the cost of the main Utilities, that being Electricity. Telecoms is still stalling and of which I have nothing but stale news not worth mentioning

At least on the JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company Limited) side, the price of Electricity cannot be negotiated down due to the ten (10) year exclusive license with the Government of Jamaica as stated in the article “'Follow my bluepring' - Paulwell pushed for breakup of JPS Monopoly”, published Friday April 30 2010, Mark Titus, Business Reporter, The Sunday Gleaner.

Thus dashing the hopes of many who thought that when Senator Phillip Paulwell, Opposition Senator on Mining and Energy and Telecommunications could uses his gift of gab and talk the Utility into agreeing to Energy Sector Liberalization as stated in the article “Paulwell calls for number portability”, published, Wednesday April 21, 2010, Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The seemingly lost, ill-advised and somewhat clueless Senator James Robertson, Minister of Energy and Mining got “lucky”, as not only did he suggest LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) as an alternative cheaper fuel for JPS Co’s Electricity Generators.

A bid to increase in the efficiency in JPS Co Electricity Generation via the implementation of the use of LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) stated by the JPS Co as resulting in a 20% to 30% decrease in the Electricity bills of customers as stated in the article “Government eyes LNG cure for energy problems”, published Wednesday June 16 2010 by Laura Redpath, Senior Staff Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner but he got “back-ative”.

This is from no less qualified a source than Ernest Moniz, Director of the prestigious engineering institute, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently in Time Magazine, a prestigious USA publication, accounts for 24% of the Electricity Generation within the USA as stated in the article “Fuel of the future?”, published Sunday July 4 2010 by Dwight Bellanfante, Gleaner Writer The Jamaica Gleaner.

Discovering Oil as stated in the article “Jamaica may have 3 billion barrels of Oil”, published Wednesday, September 01, 2010, The Jamaica Observer.

It was also a bit of luck on the part of Senator James Robertson, Minister of Energy and Mining with only equity partners with a “boatload” of cash being needed by Sagres Energy, the parent of Canadian firm Rainville Energy that had drilling rights in Jamaica since Thursday June 15^th 2006 AD, announced Friday August 27^th 2010 AD to drill as stated in the article “Sagres yet to commit to Jamaica Oil drilling”, published Friday, September 03, 2010, and the article “Wright affirms Oil potential”, published Friday September 3^rd 2010 by The Jamaica Information Service, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Like I said, Lucky.

On the divestment side, Air Jamaica is no longer ours and off our books, thank Goodness. Farming looks set to make a comeback with Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Agriculture aka the Cassava Man and Lionfish Man (people nice dish dat! Try it nuh?) giving COMPLANT control of the sugar companies for a reasonable US$10 million, an excellent deal as stated in the article “Gov't seals sugar deal with Chinese firm”, published Saturday, July 31, 2010 BY PATRICK FOSTER, Observer writer, The Jamaica Observer.

A follow-on, pardon the cricket pun if you will, from a previous newspaper article “Sugar Rush”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, The Jamaica Gleaner and confirmed by the article “Sweet China Deal”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, , by Alicia Dunkley, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

With Coffee as stated in the article “Gov’t signs US$148-m coffee deal with Chinese entities”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, by Patrick Foster, Observer Writer, The Jamaica Observer and confirmed by the article “A Coffee Break for Ja”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, The Jamaica Gleaner

 Rice too as stated in the article “Doing it the Rice Way”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, The Jamaica Gleaner and confirmed by the article “Jamaica signs coffee supply deal with Chinese Firm”, published Wednesday July 4^th 2010, The Jamaica Observer, are also on the list for divestment to the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

The Government of People’s Republic of China have already begun negotiating with the Government of Jamaica as it relates to acquiring the Kingston Wharves as part of a US$6 billion investment in the relocation of Tinson Pen and VernamField Aerodromes and the development of the railway specifically for the transshipment of goods and services between the aerodromes and Kingston Wharves as stated in the article “CHINESE WANT KINGSTON WHARVES” published Monday, March 08, 2010 by Paul Henry Observer staff reporter henryp@jamaicaobserver.com, The Jamaica Observer.

The Government of People’s Republic of China or more accurately the China Radio International and China Central Television “Chinese media proposal troubles local interest group”, published: Tuesday  April 6, 2010, The Jamaica Gleaner are coming into broadcasting, much to the chagrin of the MAJ (Media Association of Jamaica) and the three (3) local free-to-air television broadcasters, namely Television Jamaica, CVM TV and LOVE TV, numerous cable providers both legal and illegal, one (1) all digital Triple Play Providers, such as FLOW and nearly twenty (20) local free-to-air radio stations that they represent

Ironic, as they are yet to go DSO (Digital Switch-Over) to improve efficiency as stated in the article “Slow road to Digital switch-over - Cable Groups mum; FLOW ahead but network coverage behind”, The Saturday Gleaner, Saturday, August 15, 2009, by Mark Titus, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Bauxite is also on the Government of People’s Republic of China shopping list and they have not even reached the check-out counter as yet! There is much more to write about, but I need to save the extra kick to the finish line for another article, but as far as I can recall, these are the most significant developments, the other being mainly Public Sector Administrative shake-ups, which are ongoing.

Meanwhile the Obama Administration has gone bonkers over All-Electric Car or EV research, specifically into battery technology development as stated in the article Obama: Clean energy's Venture Capitalist-in-Chief”, published August 5, 2010, 5:00PM EST By Mike Dorning, POLITICS & POLICY, BusinessWeek, pumping money into Solar Power Investment in Silicon Valley as stated in the article “Obama commits billions to solar firms”, published July 4, 2010 11:34 AM PDT by Reuters, CNET News - Green Tech.

Not to mention the Bio-Fuels Sector in a bid to find alternatives to the taxation of corn-based ethanol as stated in the article “'Green' gas and Diesel get boost in Biofuel grants”, published December 4, 2009 12:33 PM PST by Martin LaMonica, CNET News - Green Tech.

Emission and MPG (Mile Per Gallon) regulations that punish Automakers for making cars that have lower than expected emissions and mileage standards and give rewards in the form of subsidies to Consumers and Automakers to encourage the adoption of All-Electric Vehicles this coming summer of 2010 as intoned by the article  “Will 'fun-factor' or mandates drive electric car sales?”, published March 6, 2010 1:56 PM PST by Martin LaMonica, CNET News - Green Tech. are also part of the plan

Solidifying clear like molten amorphous crystals of silica glass: the United States of America is going Green, saying ta-ta to Foreign Imported Oil from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and create employment all in one (1) Fiscal Year, with a second ride being an All-Electric Vehicle parked in every garage as opined in the article “The Electric car might be the perfect Second ride”, published  August 3, 2010, 4:35PM EST By Ed Wallace, WALLACE'S WORLD, BusinessWeek.

Barack Obama the Magician indeed!!

This all signals a return to manufacturing and pride in the statement “Made in the USA” putting money back in peoples’ hands and innovation on their minds thereby solving the problem of Research and Innovation for Export to the People’s Republic of China as stated in the article “The Other U.S. Energy Crisis: Lack of R&D”, published June 17, 2010, 12:01AM EST by Peter Coy, POLITICS & POLICY, BusinessWeek and in the prior article “America's Green innovation Problem”, published May 3, 2010, 4:41PM EST By Rob Atkinson and Devon Swezey, BusinessWeek – VIEWPOINT

A chief criticism echoed by ZDNET author Jason Hiner as stated in the article “Is the American tech industry oiling its own guillotine?”, published August 30,2010,7:00am PDT By Jason Hiner, ZDNET - Between the Lines.

Throw in the possible integration of solar panels and other Alternative Energy Technology into cars as a standard, like powered windows, seatbelts, radios and Air conditioning and the picture become clearer.

This is another first in the history of Automobile Design, separating a car’s Electrical System from its Engine System, lowering their MPG ratings and thus complying with both emissions standards as well as Federal and States regulations on mileage, emissions and possibly garner Federal tax breaks and put a few hundred thousand American Autoworkers to the clock, retrofitting cars with ergonomically aesthetic solar panel installations.

That is a few hundred Americans at work, in exchange for Federal Tax Breaks. Millions of voters ……er, I mean Americans………employed to retrofit vehicles to use flex Fuel engines on the proviso for Tax breaks from the Federal Government to Automobile companies. Add in the jobs from Infrastructure investment and the fact that more Americans will be coming home from Iraq and will be employed and you have a huge number of committed voters who will vote for the Obama Administration into a second term in Office.

In summary, the JDIP as stated in the article “JDIP will boost economy - Golding”, published Monday, September 13, 2010 BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large, South/Central Bureau, The Jamaica Observer is a carbon copy of the Obama Administration initiative to fix roads  stated in the article “Barack Obama announces $50bn infrastructure plan”, published 6 September 2010 18:15 GMT , BBC World News, with the “Voters Guaranteed” printed all over it.

Even the time period over which it is to occur is the same: five (5) years. Combined with all the above, both the JLP in Jamaica and the Democrats in the United States of America are a shoe in, to use the American turn of phrase, for Government. Strange but true…………..

But are they both moving a little bit too fast, too furious? Ironic, as improved roads encourage street racing as per the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). John Public chews on his Chocolate pipe as he waxes melodic, another article in which I will have to put on my Economics Hat, as the threat of a Double Dip Recession is very much possible, thanks to the Greeks. More Time, people……..excuse me, my goats need tending.