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Saturday, January 17, 2015

JBDC to implement Small Business Development Centre next month

BY KARENA BENNETT Business Observer bennettk@jamaicaobserver

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) believes that by adapting the United States Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) model Jamaica could see improvement in productivity and growth of the local business sector.

SBDC, which is the main source of technical assistance for small businesses in the US, has retained over 158,000 jobs, established 24,500 new businesses and generated fiscal revenue of over US$539 million ($60.9 billion) in that country. This has prompted the JBDC to have a model of the development centre implemented locally by the end of next month.

“We are not in a position to say when this will be officially implemented or launched, but await specific directives from the minister of industry who will announce its launch in short order,” chief executive officer of the JBDC Valerie Veira told the Jamaica Observer.

The centre will focus on three key areas that cover the needs of start-ups as well as established businesses. The programme will include free one-on-one confidential and long-term technical assistance for small businesses, group training focused on subjects of interest to small businesses and market research specifically tailored to meet clients’ needs.

The services should improve the productivity of small businesses, while generating economic impact that creates new jobs, increases revenues, strengthens and diversifies the formal economy and promotes stability and growth, according to the JBDC.

“The JBDC mandate currently focuses on providing business development support for MSMEs and it is the vision of our ministry to move to the SBDC model, which focuses on the growth of SMEs through the strengthening of their management systems,” Veira told the Business Observer.

“We will therefore broaden our core services to include the three key areas that cover the needs of start-ups and established businesses as outlined in the SBDC Model,” she added.

In 2012, the intervention of the small business development centre in the US resulted in the average business increasing its sales from 4.3 per cent to 18.9 per cent year over year. Similarly, small businesses also obtained US$3.4 billion in new financing, while benefiting from assistance in exporting their products or services.

Once the businesses started to see improvements in revenue and productivity, employment levels increased from 1.2 per cent to 13.6 per cent yearly, according to statistics presented by the JBDC.

The programme will require the general public, academics and the private sector to jointly invest efforts and funds in order to guarantee the sustainability of the programme, eliminate inefficiencies and work duplication. Additionally, model supervisors will evaluate the economic impact of the development centre on each business client to monitor its effect on local businesses.

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JBDC to implement Small Business Development Centre next month

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Antonio Vigilante: Ebola crisis reversing development gains in Liberia

ebola-2-629x472 An Ebola victim is carried by health workers for burial on May 13, 2014. (Credit: ©EC/ECHO/Jean-Louis Mosser)

Antonio Vigilante

MONROVIA, Liberia, Tuesday September 16, 2014, IPS - As the Ebola crisis continues to take a toll on people’s lives and livelihoods in West Africa, the focus is increasingly not just on the health aspects of the crisis, but also on its social and economic consequences.

Sure, the human and medical aspects of the crisis are still on the front burner, as they should be. Losing a spouse, a child or another close relative is devastating. The health sector is under tremendous pressure to cope with the sick, and even to protect its own workers from contagion.

There are also health ramifications for those not affected by Ebola: access to regular health care is reduced due to closures of hospitals and clinics, loss of nurses and doctors and increased fees by private health care providers.

Vaccination coverage, for instance, had already declined by 50 percent by July. Women in labour struggle to obtain skilled maternity care — in some cases they are turned away from the few institutions still in operation.

People with HIV who are on antiretroviral drugs and people with chronic diseases on prolonged care have had their treatment interrupted as a result of the closure of health facilities. The public health care system has all but collapsed in parts of the areas hardest hit by Ebola.

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Before the current crisis, Liberia’s economy experienced impressive growth rates of up to 8.7 per cent (2013). GDP growth was already projected to decline to 5.9 per cent this year, as mining production levelled off temporarily, coupled with the fall in international prices for rubber and iron ore, before rising to 6.8 per cent in 2015 and 7.2 per cent in 2016. Future growth figures will now have to be revised, as economic activities have slowed down dramatically in most sectors.

But there is also an underlying issue at hand: The impressive recent growth in Liberia has not been equitable or inclusive. About 57 per cent of the country’s approximately four million inhabitants live below the poverty line and 48 per cent live in conditions of extreme poverty.

The lack of equitable, inclusive development means that more than half of the country’s population—especially women and children–is particularly vulnerable to shocks and crises, ultimately making the whole country less robust and less able to handle a crisis of any magnitude.

Part of the challenge in restoring livelihoods is psychological in nature. Fear and isolation can in the end take more lives than the Ebola virus itself if businesses are not operating, livelihoods disappear and public services are not delivered.

Reduced tax revenues go hand in hand with a decrease in the government’s ability to respond to the crisis. A decline in revenues is expected as Ebola continues to claim the lives of Liberians and the government continues to enforce travel restrictions as part of the state of emergency.

Soon, this is likely to impact salary payments for public employees and could paralyze the country further. Trust in the government is also on the line as it becomes increasingly unable to protect its citizens and deliver the services they desperately need.

At the same time, prices of locally grown and imported foods are increasing as the state of emergency, military road blocks and restricted travel slow down trade. The trend is amplified by a vicious cycle of falling consumer demand and shrinking levels of income.

In this scenario, it is crucial to put in place adequate social protection mechanisms, as the fall in disposable income make families unable to afford food and health services. This would not only contribute to improving social stability and security, but would also make Liberian society as a whole more robust and resilient.

Indeed, a large portion of the population is in need of public assistance. The latest data indicate that about 78 percent of the labour force is in a situation of vulnerable employment. By contrast, formally paid employees (about 195,000 people) make up only about 5 per cent of the population.

About 13 percent of households do not have access to sufficient food and 28 per cent are vulnerable to food insecurity. If the poorest segments of the population get access to some form of social protection mechanism, it will enable them to better withstand the current crisis, as well as future ones.

In the remote parts of the country, far from the hustle and bustle of its capital, Monrovia, it is also necessary to strengthen local authorities’ ability to handle the crisis, for instance by improving monitoring mechanisms and making protection equipment available for those who are in direct contact with Ebola patients and corpses.

The resurgence of the Ebola crisis since July and its gradual escalation into a national emergency in Liberia has diverted the focus and resources available to the authorities to the containment of the virus. In this phase of the crisis, it is necessary to act on all fronts to meet the devastating health, social and economic challenges before Liberia and other affected countries see all their hard-won development gains dwindle to nothing.

Antonio Vigilante is Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Liberia. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Caribbean360.

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Antonio Vigilante: Ebola crisis reversing development gains in Liberia

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

First phase of Goat Islands Development to be completed in 2016 - IMF

The first phase of the Goat Islands Development is to be completed by the end of 2016. That’s the indication given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its latest update on Jamaica’s economic reform programme.
The IMF, in the report, said the project will be executed in phases. China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd., the company which is selected to develop a transshipment port and an industrial and commercial zone in that section of South St Catherine, has obtained permission from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to start the technical feasibility study. The study is a pre-requisite for determining the construction method.

The Goat Islands plan is not without its detractors. A strong civil society lobby has emerged in opposition to the development, citing environmental concerns, particularly because it falls within the Portland Bight Protected Area.

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First phase of Goat Islands Development to be completed in 2016 - IMF

Thursday, August 29, 2013

No decision on Goat Island development — Hylton

CARICOM re-affirms commitment to ensure the development of Haiti

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Wednesday said it remained committed called to working with the international community in the development of Haiti, still recovering from a 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Rodney Charles, told the United Nations Security Council debate on Haiti that the 15-member regional grouping was appreciative of the work done so far in the re-development of the French-speaking CARICOM country.“For us, in CARICOM, the stability and economic development of Haiti is inextricably linked to the wider development agenda of our sub-region. Consequently, CARICOM lauds the efforts of MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) which has facilitated increased stability in Haiti,” Charles said in his address on behalf of the CARICOM grouping.He said CARICOM also welcomed the decision of the Security Council to renew MINUSTAH’s mandate until October 15th, 2013, and support the recommendation of the Secretary General that the mandate be extended until 2014.“CARICOM further welcomes plans to encourage investment which will play a critical role in spurring the social and economic development of Haiti”But the Trinidad diplomat said that CARICOM countries “submit that international assistance must be aligned with Haiti’s national priorities to ensure that there is appropriate national ownership of programmes intended to benefit the Haitian people”.He said CARICOM was also welcomed the strides made by the Haitian government to achieve certain political milestones which are indicative of progress.“We remain optimistic that the forward momentum achieved thus far will be sustained and that all parties involved in the political process would be able to rise above the differences that exist between them and, in the spirit of compromise, work together to put in place the machinery for the holding of the overdue partial senatorial, municipal and local elections.”He said CARICOM had also taken note of the progress made in upholding the rule of law in Haiti as exemplified in the government’s “5 E” policy programme which lists the rule of law as one of its pillars.“We are heartened by the reduction in civil unrest and the incidences of homicides and kidnappings and encouraged by the fact that the political and security situation in the country has remained relatively stable with a notable decrease in major crimes.“We are encouraged by the appearance in court in February of this year of two former presidents. We view these as positive signals of an emerging trend towards stability and evidence of an increasing acceptance of the judicial process, which is an indispensible ingredient for the maintenance of the rule of law.”Charles said that CARICOM countries were also encouraged that the performance of the HaitianNational Police has continued to improve since it assumed increasing responsibility for the provision of internal security.But he told the UN Security Council that the region notes “however that the targets of the National Police Development Plan requires continued commitment by the government as well as Haiti’s partners in order to ensure that adequate resources are available to support its viability”.Charles said there have been a number of other positive developments in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010 and the further destruction caused following hurricane Sandy last year.He said these advancements include the establishment of the inter-Ministerial Committee on human rights, the resettlement of a number of formerly displaced persons, and efforts to address the cholera epidemic, including those undertaken in line with the initiative of the UN Secretary General to support national plans in this regard.“The efforts made by Haitian authorities to propel socio-economic development, including strides made by President (Michel) Martelly to attract foreign direct investment are also noteworthy,” Charles said, noting however that CARICOM “remains gravely concerned about the declining international aid to sustain the rehabilitation work in Haiti.“This situation is unacceptable in the midst of the hurricane season when Haiti remains vulnerable to the effects of devastating storms. We therefore urge all parties to pay outstanding contributions to ensure the timely execution of the mandates of United Nations Peacekeeping Missions whose work is crucial to the fostering of peace, security, stability, the protection of human rights and the promotion of development in respective States.”Charles said that CARICOM remains committed to working together with other partners in the international community in support of the agenda of the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH’s efforts in this regard, to facilitate lasting stability as well as the social and economic development of Haiti.Patrick FosterLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CARICOM re-affirms commitment to ensure the development of Haiti

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

U15 High Performance camp coach expects intense development

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U15 High Performance camp coach expects intense development

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Uruguay meeting discussing population and development agenda beyond 2014

REPRESENTATIVES from Jamaica and 29 other countries in the region are now gathered in Montevideo, Uruguay, to discuss a proposed regional agenda beyond 2014 at the first session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The meeting, which opened yesterday, had among its participants Uruguayan President José Mujica; executive secretary of the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena; and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Babatunde Osotimehin.The meeting is being jointly hosted by the Uruguayan Government, ECLAC and the UNFPA.The meeting is being held amidst observations that although recent decades have seen an increase in well-being in the region — with major progress made in areas such as child mortality, life expectancy, gender equality and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and migrants — the region has many challenges remaining in terms of equality.The proposed regional agenda has two main focuses: equality and a human rights approach. It also provides follow-up to the Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994.Launched by ECLAC and the UNFPA, it identifies the priority themes that should be included in this agenda in the future.“The proposal is based on the review of the ICPD Programme of Action in the region, which showed progress has been made in fulfilling the agreements made in 1994 thanks to policies and measures implemented by national governments (albeit with major differences among them),” ECLAC said yesterday.The document states that the region must focus on seven thematic areas if it is to tackle future population challenges and step up the mainstreaming of such issues in economic and social development policies and programmes.“These areas are the rights and needs of children, adolescents and young people; ageing, social protection and socioeconomic challenges; gender equality; gaps in universal access to sexual and reproductive health services; international migration and protection for the rights of all migrants; territorial inequality, spatial mobility and environmental vulnerability; and the rights of indigenous and Afro-descendent peoples,” ECLAC said in a release yesterday.It also underscores the need for the “region’s specific characteristics” to be “considered as they influence the relationship between population and sustainable development processes.”“These include the region’s major territorial heterogeneity, its cultural complexity and diversity, social, gender and ethnic inequality, weak institutions, rapid progress through demographic transition phases and the relative abundance of natural resources,” ECLACD added.“Inequality must be at the heart of any attempts to tackle all issues involved, as its persistent nature affects population behaviour and demographic trends, which in turn widens gaps in the exercise of rights. This underscores the urgency of equality for growth and growth for equality,” the commission emphasised.

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Uruguay meeting discussing population and development agenda beyond 2014

Friday, July 26, 2013

Why private sector-led growth is central to development

LAST week I wrote about what the pillars of growth are. Today I want to answer a question, often asked in a roundabout way, by persons who say that the private sector has not done what is necessary to grow the economy, so why should they be accomodated with a more business-friendly environment. This is a question asked often by persons who I don’t think truly understand how markets work.

It is very important to understand, as I have often said, that sustainable growth cannot, and will not, happen without private sector prosperity. This concept is sometimes elusive in the Jamaican society, where it is often felt that the “big” man just wants to exploit the “small” man and so must be doing something unethical or illegal to make his money.There were similar sentiments against the banks in the US, after the 2008 financial crisis, but this emotion soon gave way to the practical knowledge that the poor cannot improve their lot without the growth of the “greedy” private sector. The problem we have is that this feeling is not only restricted to the so-called small man but is oftentimes perpetuated by some politicians and intellectuals in their quest to explain why market economies are bad, and instead proffer state intervention and more brimstone and fire on the rich through taxation.Ironically, these same persons who find it convenient to put down the “capitalists” are usually very persistent in seeking charitable contributions from them, or support in some other financial matter. In fact, much of the charitable spending that happens in the society is not from government, but rather from private companies and individuals.But why do I say that private sector-led growth is critical to sustainable economic growth?We can answer this question by first understanding what drives economic growth. Economic growth is measured by the growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is simply the increase in real productive value from period to period, that is adjusted for inflation. GDP growth involves private sector production and spending, as well as government spending. So one may say that government spending is a part of GDP, and therefore, why is the private sector necessary? And it is for this reason that government can play a role in stimulating economic growth, such as during a recession, as they also contribute to GDP.The problem is that government spending is not sustainable with a stagnant, or struggling private sector. And this has been the experience in Jamaica, and we have seen a similar example in the US model coming out of the recession, as opposed to the European approach, which did not emphasise market growth. The reason why government spending is not sustainable without private sector growth is that government spending depends significantly on private sector income, through taxes. So the income taxes, customs duties, corporate tax, and consumption tax depends on activity in the private sector. Therefore, if the private sector is stagnant, or declining, then it is logical that there can be no increase in government spending.Thus, in the final analysis, GDP growth at every level depends on private sector activity. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that if we want to see robust growth in the economy, then we need to have robust private sector growth.It would seem logical, then, that fiscal and monetary policy should have as its primary goal, the facilitation of growth in the private sector. Put another way, which Obama and Bernanke understands very well: the role of government policy must not only be full employment, but also high- value employment through constant innovation. On the contrary in Europe, and particularly Greece, the focus of policy was not on private sector facilitation but rather, fiscal consolidation. The result of both scenarios is there for all to see.This is important for us to understand, not just in Jamaica, but also the Caribbean. This is because the Caribbean has a tendency towards a government dependency syndrome. Add to that the culture of a lack of embracing of private sector success, and you have a compounded negative effect.The market economy may not be a perfect system, but the truth is that it’s the best. If we want to improve the quality of life for everyone, including the most vulnerable in society, then it is essential that private sector growth be robust.So as we continue the implementation of the IMF agreement and structural policies, we need to continue to bear in mind that at the heart of it must be the facilitation of a business environment that encourages private and corporate prosperity. So, as an example, the concepts companies of lower tax rates for PAYE and companies, lower energy rates, more efficient government bureaucracy, and improved law, order, and justice system are all critical to supporting that private sector growth.Our focus of policy must be on encouraging investment and spending through competitive return on investments or feeling secure about one’s future. Our focus must be on businesses and individuals feeling safe, and respected by the justice system. It is this focus that will make Jamaica experience robust growth and become the place to live, work, and raise families.Dennis Chung is a chartered accountant and the author of the books Charting Jamaica’s Economic and Social Development AND Achieving Life’s Equilibrium. His blog is dcjottings.blogspot.comE-mail: dra_chung@hotmail.com

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Burrell plans to offer Whitmore development squad

There is the possibility of a continuing role for Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore in Jamaica’s coaching set-up, hinted JFF president Captain Horace Burrell.

The football boss made the comment at a function on Wednesday to present Whitmore’s successor, German Winfried Schaffer, as head coach of the Boyz.“Tappa still has a role to play… he’s a developing coach who is committed to the country’s football, and who I believe has a bright future,” Burrell told the Jamaica Observer.“When you look at his track record, Mr Whitmore has not done badly, but at this time we believe we needed more experience and that is what we have gone for,” he said.Burrell said there’s a proposal on the table to possibly appoint Whitmore as head coach of the development of the Under-23 squad, the group that would try to qualify for the Olympics and a direct feeder for the senior rank.“We plan to put him in charge of this crucial development team… also as part of his continued development, we will also be sending him on some courses,” Burrell disclosed.“It’s unfortunate how things turned for Whitmore and the senior team, but there’s no animosity either way… there is a mutual respect and understanding that this is football at this level. He remains an asset that we intend to continue to invest in,” said the CONCACAF vice-president.With Schafer coming on board and Jamaican Vin Blaine appointed his assistant, the new order would suggest that technical director Brazilian Alfredo Montesso would not have direct survey of the senior team, and with the possible appointment of Whitmore to the Under-23s, his focus now would be concentrated on the development side.“The technical director is responsible for developing football at the various levels, and we believe that with his passion for development and his overall expertise and experience, Mr Montesso will be able to continue to serve our football in a significant way,” said Burrell.Whitmore had resigned as head coach of the senior Boyz following a string of losses — four back-to-back in the CONCACAF hexagonal — which left Jamaica rooted at the bottom of the standings on two points.Jamaica have four more games, starting with one away to Panama on September 6, to rescue their flagging Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign and clinch one of four possible qualifying spots.Meanwhile, The USA lead the CONCACAF qualifying campaign with 13 points, followed by Costa Rica on 11, Mexico on eight, Honduras with seven, and Panama on six.

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Burrell plans to offer Whitmore development squad

Monday, July 8, 2013

How needed development will displace a trying farmer

News

Karyl WalkerMonday, July 08, 2013

RAY James is a worried man, a sad man, a desperate man.After operating a small farm for 27 years in the impoverished and oftentimes volatile community of March Pen Road off the Spanish Town Bypass in St Catherine, he is to be displaced by a new housing development which will encompass the small space he works on.“It dread. Them tell me to move mi farm because the development coming,” James told the Jamaica Observer.The March Pen Road area is known as a haven for the infamous Klansman gang, which rules with terror in many communities in and on the outskirts of the old capital.A drive through the community revealed that unemployment is high. Many young men and women were seen walking about with apparently little to do, even though some road work was being carried out on the main road in the area.The lure of crime might be tempting, even if dangerous, but for James his love of farming has kept him on the straight and narrow for most of his 56 years.On the little plot that stretches about 100 metres long and 10 metres wide, James cultivates callaloo, okras, tomatoes, hot peppers, and pak choi which he sells to members of the community.In addition, he tends to coconut and soursop trees.“I use this to feed my family of five. My big daughter has just graduated, but two of my other children are still in school,” he said.But James’ source of income might be threatened when developers bring in their heavy equipment to begin construction on the Bernard Lodge Housing project for which ground will be broken on July 16.“A lot of us are glad for the development as we might be able to get some work. Many of the youths have no job, and when they have work that will keep them out of trouble, and give the police less work,” he acknowledged.The project, which is reportedly near oversubscription, is being developed by the Housing Agency of Jamaica Limited (HAJ) while the contractors will be Malphrus International, IBC.It will see 1,584 units — 980 studios going for $4 million each, and 604 one-bedroom houses which will be valued at $4.9 million — being built. Construction is slated to begin in August.Ray James tends to his callaloo plot in March Pen Road. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

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How needed development will displace a trying farmer