In Focus

In the midst of fiercely debating the optics of symbolic pay cuts and the presentation of yet another austerity Budget, The Sunday Gleaner last week chose to run either an ill-timed or well-timed story, 'Poorly paid politicians - J'can political leaders...

I have learnt that at a press conference following his presentation in the Budget Debate, Mr Audley Shaw, opposition spokesman on finance, characterised as a "red herring" my insistence that he should make himself available to testify if the FINSAC enquiry were reopened.

Mayor of Montego Bay, my friend Glendon Harris, seems to be a special case.

At least the past 20 Budget Debates have been farces, and this current episode is shaping up to be yet another of tragicomical proportions.

Shortly after creation of its Energy Division in 1978, the Ministry of Mining issued its first Energy Plan which, among other matters, emphasised the need to diversify Jamaica's energy mix and promote the development of indigenous energy resources. High priority was given to the development of hydropower and, consequently, a number of feasibility studies were commissioned on various rivers that offered this potential.

At the 13th annual prayer and thanksgiving service for the security forces at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, National Security Minister Peter Bunting was quoted as follows: "I am convinced that the best efforts of the security forces by itself will not solve the crime problem in Jamaica, but it is going to take divine intervention, touching the hearts of a wide cross section of the society...

The voluntary embargo on arms imposed by the United Nations against apartheid in South Africa was made mandatory and, by an International Declaration, was adopted against apartheid in sports. But the real focus was on trade, particularly oil, coal and arms.

Love them or hate them, most of us have had a helper at some time in our lives - whether live-in or live-out, whether for a day's work or weekly, or whether just to wash and iron or to tidy a room or the entire house.

Anybody want to know what's wrong with Jamaica's politics? Listen to National Security Minister Peter Bunting: "I am not embarrassed to say that right now, as minister of national security, I am going through a kind of a dark night of the soul...

In real terms, there is going to be a wage freeze for the next three years, and in fact, unless the Government is going to wave a magic wand and turn the economy around faster than a broken promise, workers in the public sector are going to experience a...

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.

In quick succession, two iconic titans of Jamaica (or should that be titanic icons?) have laid off life's armour and gone to their rest in grand old age.