In the midst of chaos, opportunity knocks

[Don1]

Similar to how Caribbean and Canadian companies picked up the carcasses of Jamaican banks and insurance companies when the GOJ and private sector bankrupted these firms, Jamaica should exploit the USA's crisis.

NCB, Jamaica National, Grace or some combination of those and others should look to buy a small, struggling US bank... once it has a license in NY and/or Florida.

That's a potentially huge winner.... the diaspora would welcome that.

[Assasin]

you talking sense. nuff big companies a go shed some assests that are not useful to them but are money winners.

[Historian]

Similar to how Caribbean and Canadian companies picked up the carcasses of Jamaican banks and insurance companies when the GOJ and private sector bankrupted these firms, Jamaica should exploit the USA's crisis.

NCB, Jamaica National, Grace or some combination of those and others should look to buy a small, struggling US bank... once it has a license in NY and/or Florida. That's a potentially huge winner.... the diaspora would welcome that.

I have two minds about this, Don1. On the one hand, you are making a great deal of sense, as you always do! On the other hand, I keep remembering the Jamaica Cement Company before and after the Trinidadian take over! We had been running at a loss for many years, but guess what happened one year after the Trini's took charge?

In other words, we Jamaicans have not yet demonstrated any potential that is comparable to those "Caribbean and Canadian companies" you referred to above! And as I type this reply, my mind flows to other situations like that ill-fated expansion of Island Grill into the USA.

Of course, this is sidetracking a bit from the sentiments you expressed, but my theme is clear: Can our private sector -- or to be more specific, our local managerial class -- grasp the opportunity you pointed out above and make a success of it? Personally, I wish that they would surprise me and succeed!!

Remember my overriding theme for the past several months ("Jamaica's problems are not merely the result of governance")? Of course, if you have been reading both daily newspaper editorials in recent times, you will no doubt realize that I am not alone in this pessimistic view.

[Don1]

I have two minds about this, Don1. On the one hand, you are making a great deal of sense, as you always do! On the other hand, I keep remembering the Jamaica Cement Company before and after the Trinidadian take over! We had been running at a loss for many years, but guess what happened one year after the Trini's took charge?

In other words, we Jamaicans have not yet demonstrated any potential that is comparable to those "Caribbean and Canadian companies" you referred to above! And as I type this reply, my mind flows to other situations like that ill-fated expansion of Island Grill into the USA.

Of course, this is sidetracking a bit from the sentiments you expressed, but my theme is clear: Can our private sector -- or to be more specific, our local managerial class -- grasp the opportunity you pointed out above and make a success of it? Personally, I wish that they would surprise me and succeed!!

Remember my overriding theme for the past several months ("Jamaica's problems are not merely the result of governance")? Of course, if you have been reading both daily newspaper editorials in recent times, you will no doubt realize that I am not alone in this pessimistic view.

I hear you boss... but I think we could do it.

Jamaicans have media outlets in NY for example... newspapers, brokered radio and brokered TV outlets. Promoting such a venture would be a breeze.... nuff excitement & national pride.

Let's assume there are 500,000 Jamaicans (very low estimate) in NY, with a per capita income of $30,000.... that's a $15b+ market.... more than Jamaica's GDP.

All the successful immigrant groups have their own banks recycling their dollars... why not us?

The time is now.

[Karl]

Aaaaah Historian!
I wonder if Mosiah would say, "not me"?

...as to Shatta's saying on the "reluctance to use the experts"...or put another way our propensity to (as, for example, our JFF) consider selves experts in all matters

...stumbling blocks?
Yes! ...agree with thoughts on 'do we trust our private sector big boys to do it right'...
...but, I am with Don1 on this one. The opportunities are there...our private sector should jump at it!

[Don1]

I have two minds about this, Don1. On the one hand, you are making a great deal of sense, as you always do! On the other hand, I keep remembering the Jamaica Cement Company before and after the Trinidadian take over! We had been running at a loss for many years, but guess what happened one year after the Trini's took charge?

In other words, we Jamaicans have not yet demonstrated any potential that is comparable to those "Caribbean and Canadian companies" you referred to above! And as I type this reply, my mind flows to other situations like that ill-fated expansion of Island Grill into the USA.

Of course, this is sidetracking a bit from the sentiments you expressed, but my theme is clear: Can our private sector -- or to be more specific, our local managerial class -- grasp the opportunity you pointed out above and make a success of it? Personally, I wish that they would surprise me and succeed!!

Remember my overriding theme for the past several months ("Jamaica's problems are not merely the result of governance")? Of course, if you have been reading both daily newspaper editorials in recent times, you will no doubt realize that I am not alone in this pessimistic view.

NCB is Canadian owned... so that may be a lifeline here.