BHJ June 2011 ezine

June 2011 Your Positive Connection To Jamaica Issue 8

Bespoke Homes Jamaica

Telephone 020 3318 0993 Mobile 077 5157 2691

www.bhj-ltd.com [email protected]

Giving to others Being able to give new opportunities to others is a driving force behind Bespoke Homes Jamaica. So for example we widen our workers’ skills through new learning opportunities. And we support Saturday & summer school in Jamaica.

Before his recent return to competitive running, Usain Bolt joined Lady Allen, the Governor General’s wife, and others on his 10km walk to support the Bustamante Children’s Hospital.

The public and business are helping the police by giving more information about criminal activity. And by helping in other ways , as when Sandals donated four new VW pickup trucks to the JCF, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations.

Labour Day saw some great efforts, including 30 people helping to clean the fire-damaged Hannah Town Police Station - & the Town’s Network Learning Centre. The youth club provided some helpers, including children as young as seven.

S Sydial & Senator the Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte,

Minister of State, Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade

Sylbourne Sydial of Facilitators for a Better Jamaica has just attended the biennial Diaspora Conference in Ocho Rios. This followed an FFBJ survey in which “lobbying” and “investing” gained majority support as the top ways the Diaspora could help Jamaica. Returning to Jamaica was found to be a better option than remittances.

As Mr Sydial said after the Conference closed: “The Diaspora Conference this year was so crucial as the persons who attended demonstrated a passion to see what they could give back to Jamaica from an investment and political perspective. The Government was also saying the rights things – but then they always say the right things. Now is the time for action”.

Wen i give to yu, i don luk to yu to give mi bak.

What you give always come back – be generous!

(Thanks to Ena Wright for sending this proverb)

Our Bethnal Green event

Our latest one-stop roadshow proved a great hit. It followed our first radio show, when Lillalee Wright was interviewed on Colourful Radio. People came from far & wide to hear our evening of talks at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, on 16 June.

‘The Woman of Proverbs’ – Lorlett Hudson - again chaired the event with aplomb. The development of BHJ into the present one-stop property shop with strong community links was described by Lillalee Wright, drawing on her deep knowledge and some great Jamaican humour. A full analysis of Jamaica National’s finance facilities and borrowers’ requirements was set out by Vasle Atkinson. Hamilton Daley considered many of the key legal issues – not least getting that land title sorted.

Richard Adeshiyan, Lorlett Hudson, Hamilton Daley, Lillalee Wright; and

Vasel Atkinson & colleague (JNBS)

The evening ended with the conclusion of our long-running prize draw. The lucky winner of the spa for two at a Marriott hotel was Vernon Simpson, who attended the Brixton event.

To book your place for our next evening of talks on Wednesday, 14 September in New Cross Gate, use [email protected] or 020 3318 0993. As usual, the event runs from 6.30 – 9.30pm.

BHJ in the West Midlands and Nottingham

We will be in Wolverhampton on Wednesday 5 October, at the Bagot Inn – email [email protected]. We will be in Birmingham on Wednesday 12 October, at the Afro-Caribbean Centre – email [email protected]. We will be in Nottingham on Wednesday 19 October, at the Afro-Caribbean National Artistic Centre – email [email protected].

To book places and for more information, please email or call 020 3318 0993. As usual, all events are from 6.30 – 9.30pm.

mailto:[email protected]








New book offers kids much hope In her recent book “Money Basics for Kids”,

Sharryn Dawson looks at some key issues. Where

does money come from? How to manage your

money. How to save your money. Creating your

business idea.

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor has shown

that in the three years to 2008 Jamaicans were

already among the most entrepreneurial in the

world.

Books like that of Sharryn Dawson should help

more budding entrepreneurs to succeed as well

as giving all children a stronger financial footing

for adult life.

Good values for kids & schools In a new book – “Good values – stories teaching

positive values & attitudes” – Nalda Taylor-

Wright offers a book that can help to counter the

negative attitudes sometimes passed on by older

people.

Education minister, Andrew Holness, also

recently emphasised good values when talking

about school leadership. As he said: "There is

conflict of values going on, so the schools have to

be strengthened institutionally to promote the

values...[to avoid] segregation of people".

At the same time, Holness encouraged school

heads and governors to audit the school’s

performance, at least yearly. Transparency and

use of management systems were vital.

Safer and better transport soon come In May, Jamaica took steps to get ahead of the target to cut

road fatalities in half by 2020, as part of the United Nations

Decade of Action for Road Safety. As transport minister Mike

Henry said, "We are committed to rewriting the laws and

improving the policies and frameworks to make our roads

safer". Asafa Powell offered support for greater responsibility.

Some good news on the long-delayed Spanish Town to Ocho

Rios toll road came from finance minister Audley Shaw.

Cabinet has agreed to let the transport minister talk to a

company other than Bouygues Travaux Publics. They will need

to sort out the technical problems of the Mount Rosser

bypass and complete it. They will also need to initiate

investment in and construct the Spanish Town to Treadways

leg while initiating the Moneague to Drax Hall leg. The new

contract is expected to start before the end of the year.

Disabled school children and others are benefitting from a

doubling to six of the disability buses operating in Kingston.

Transport minister Henry commented that "My job is to make

sure that persons who are less fortunate in the society have

access to public transportation to get them home safely".

Older persons gone surfing The Gleaner recently reported the case of a 68-year old lady

who had been unable to use a computer or the internet. But

after attending computer classes at the Apostolic Seventh-day

Church of God Learning Centre in Victoria, Linstead, she now

prefers to write to people by email instead of by letter. As she

said, "I want all the older folk…to learn to use the computer.

We are liberated. There is so much you can do".





“Windrush: The Next Generation” After a stimulating day of cultural celebration in

Stratford, London, Tony Wade MBE gave a short

talk about how his business career evolved. In the

England of the late 1940s, he started work

washing dishes in the Lyons Coffee House.

Through hard work, determination, saying no to

obstacles, and having respect, he had created a

huge business from black hair & skin products.

Focusing on Kingston

Kingston parish only consists of the old

downtown and Port Royal. Its population lies just

below 100,000, while St. Andrew parish has a

population of more than 555,000 (2001).

Kingston is the only parish bordered by just one

other parish - Saint Andrew is to the east, west

and north. Kingston is the largest predominantly

English-speaking city south of the USA.

Formed in 1692 after an earthquake, by 1716 it

had become the largest town and the centre of

trade for Jamaica. The first free school, Wolmer's,

was founded in 1729. The first theatre was on

Harbour Street but moved to North Parade in

1774. Fort Charles in Port Royal provided an early

warning against would-be invaders.

The long list of famous Jamaicans born in

Kingston city includes Bob Marley, Michael

Manley, Mary Seacole, Louise Bennett-Coverley,

Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Alfred Valentine,

Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh, John Barnes,

Desmond Dekker and Yendi Philipps.

More good economic news Growth in the first quarter of 2011 was confirmed, at a higher

rate than previously thought. The production of goods,

agriculture and tourism performed best. Agriculture & fishing

grew by a seventh. Thanks to higher production and the re-

opening of the Ewarton aluminium plant last June, the mining

sector grew by two-fifths. As a result, jobs grew by 15,000 in

quarter one, leaving the unemployment rate just below 13%.

Looking forward, we have seen Grace say it will take new

steps to export four of its main products. Meanwhile, Red

Stripe is to bottle Smirnoff in Kingston; and Caribbean

Producers is planning to invest US$2m. The International

Trade Expo is set to return to Jamaica after an absence of five

years.

Seeking the environment-economy balance

In early June, the Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals (JIEP) hosted its fifth biennial conference. The continuing need to balance development of Jamaica's natural resources alongside protection of the environment was central.

The importance of achieving environmental balance can be

seen across the island. Six years ago, Kingston almost lost

Hope Gardens to property developers. But Robert Lalor, CEO

of the Nature Preservation Foundation, believes that loss of

the botantical gardens would have questioned Jamaica’s

ability to operate a modern economy while balancing nature.

Rainwater harvesting, for long used in parts of Jamaica, is now

being encouraged on a broader scale by the Caribbean Coastal

Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation, as it seeks to educate

Jamaicans in the face of climate change.





Better Downtown Housing

The Government is seeking to provide a model

housing development in downtown Kingston that

investors will emulate. Cabinet has approved the

compulsory purchase of a property in Chestnut

Lane, where the Downtown Kingston Housing

Pilot Project will be established. The quality of life

of existing residents should rise as the quality of

the housing is improved.

Below and opposite are some existing houses currently available for purchase in Kingston.

Opportunities in Kingston/St Andrew

Two-bedroom apartment: Golden Triangle, St Andrew -

J$15,750,000

2-bed, 2-bathroom apartment. The unit has been

artistically renovated and is suitable for young

professionals or as an investment property. The unit is

approx. 1000 sq feet and is fitted with A/C and a ceiling

fan in both bedrooms. The complex is medium size with

24-hour security guards.

Jamaica Heritage and Other Things

Find that book on Jamaica culture, heritage &

other things Jamaican on 07812 591 080 - or:

www.promotingourheritage.co.uk

www.onehandcantclap.co.uk Facilitators For a Better Jamaica

FFBJ for news, debate, events

And much, much more

On Facebook: Facilitators FB Jamaica

BHJ – “Practical Property Solutions for Your

Safe Passage to Jamaica”

Here at Bespoke Homes Jamaica we bring only positive news. There is too much bad news around. Let’s celebrate our heritage, our “now” and our future. Let’s work for a better Jamaica - a better future for all of us.

Opportunities in Kingston/St Andrew

Two-bedroom apartment: Kingston 10, St Andrew - J$14,000,000

Centrally located, 2-bed, 2-bathroom apartment. Fully furnished. Close

to embassies, shopping and the New Kingston nightlife. Priced to sell.

Studio apartments: Kingston 6, St Andrew - J$11,000,000

A selection of newly built super studio apartments with high quality finishes. Each unit comes with a washer/dryer. Close to the university, US Embassy, shopping, banks, hospitals. Great rental potential.

To purchase For further details and help with finance and legal matters,

contact us at [email protected] or on 020 3318 0993.


Practical Property Solutions for Your

Safe Passage to Jamaica


020 3318 0993

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For instant news, follow us on: www.facebook.com: Bespoke Homes Jamaica

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Send comments to Stuart R. Taylor (Ed.): [email protected] Additional research by Christopher T. Taylor

http://www.promotingourheritage.co.uk/

http://www.onehandcantclap.co.uk/


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Documents

BHJ June 2011 ezine