Make Jamaica Great Again

It was Thursday, August 13, 2020 that the grand announcement was made…..Jamaica’s Sports Day! What Sports Day in the midst of a pandemic you may ask? No need to be alarmed, by Sports Day I mean General Elections. When our PM, Andrew Holness o/c “BroGad” stepped out in his green desert Clarks we all knew what time it was…….green light! With government business out of the way, Parliament was dissolved and the long awaited announcement made – Jamaicans were going to the polls on Thursday, September 3. Social media was abuzz with activity from the moment Andrew called it to the night EOJ declared it. With two (2) “houses” (political parties) competing in this “Sports Day” there were musical dubs, big money ads, stylish political attacks, Vaz vs. Crawford infamous clap-backs, debates and the list goes on. May I just interject how “fully festive” (Jamaican slang for immense excitement) Jamaica is? I can’t imagine not being Jamaican especially during election time. Festive bad, bad!

Preparing for Sports Day:

With motorcades halted due to the spike in Covid19 cases, excitement brewed in the virtual space with politicians and supporters alike campaigning for their “houses”. The enthusiasm was real. Gosh, Jamaican politics so sweet I could write a book but please allow this post to paint the colorful picture of what it’s like.

The PNP (orange house) took us through their usual routine history class, campaigning on the strengths of their previous leaders. Then came a Manifesto which left us confused than convinced. Not only were persons concerned about its feasibility; but, as Sports Day drew closer, parts of the document kept changing as the Campaign Director sought to bring clarity. This inevitably raised concerns about its credibility. Despite discord among members of the party, no clear vision or a proper strategy, the PNP (orange house) lined up their candidates for the September 3 race with their leader hopeful for victory in at least 40 seats.

The JLP (green house) on the other hand stood united with their members and connected with the people…..strategic move. They campaigned on their achievements during the last term while pushing forward a 10-Point recovery plan….simple, concise and straightforward. However, green house came under attack for too much PR. Totally unbothered and confident that one good term deserved another, their Campaign Director seemingly understood benefits of PR and executed to the best of their ability. With green house pushing why their party was the better option for the country, it was very hard to ignore them when they were in our faces EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!

Sports Day – September 3:

Polls opened at 7am sharp with some voters arriving way before opening time in order to avoid the anticipated crowds. Though a few hiccups were experienced at some polling stations, it was smooth sailing at others for the most part with all protocols being observed. Sports Day was going pretty well until minutes before midday, the orange house leader Dr. Phillips publicly declared his intention to step down as captain of the ship and resign should he lose the race. Oh man! More free points for green house. Apparently green house “run een” (capitalized) on this as they seemed to have swarmed polling stations before the 5pm closing time.

By 6pm Jamaicans were nervously glued to their TV screens awaiting the results. Who won Sports Day 2020? Boxes came in, ballots were counted and seats were declared. The Labourites (green house) comfortably took seats they themselves didn’t even anticipate leaving the Comrades (orange house) in total shock and devastation. Seats deemed safe by the PNP were completely wiped out by the JLP including those of the RISE United camp falling completely. For non-Jamaicans reading this, you see orange house has serious leadership challenges so they had an internal “sports day” to oust their existing leader – that is how RISE United came about. By 9:30pm it was declared in favor of green house proving to us that catchy dubs and style don’t win elections; performance does. Sirens blared and pot covers clapped as screams of victory pierced the silence of the night. Sadly, Dr. Peter Phillips – the leader of the PNP (orange house) called it quits. It was a disastrous landslide victory which saw the rise of many new political stars for green house and the fall of many orange house giants. The PNP may have prepared for defeat but not such a brutal one. Election Day/Sports Day indicated a complete change in Jamaica’s political landscape where non-performers get the boot! Democracy prevailed.

Going Forward/Lessons:

The people have spoken and it is clear that they needed a change. The PNP made the grave mistake of thinking they could win the Election with those who benefited from the policies of Michael Manley – wrong! Good PR is also better than none. The Millennials and Gen Z’s view things differently and are more politically attuned – we are seeing and thinking deeper than you can imagine. The ‘die-hard’ culture is dying and people especially youngsters are voting based on performance, not on the basis of party love or family traditions.

Weak leadership is detrimental. You can’t expect Jamaicans to place their vote in the hands of a weak and divided opposition. Now that the PNP is in recovery mode they must develop a clear vision and craft a SMART strategy. Start by finding a good communications strategist. Though it looks dismal at this point let’s also pray that members of the PNP will put aside their differences, find a suitable leader they can all work with and unite for change. After all, government needs a strong Opposition for fair balance.

With Elections now behind us, it is now time for government to undertake new practices, one of which is to hold public servants accountable, in fact this should be at the forefront of their plans for the new term. To the JLP led administration, now that Jamaicans have spoken it’s time to get to work. The people have demonstrated that no seats are safe, you either work or get replaced (as seen in the major PNP upsets). Nuh bother feel seh wha reach PNP cyah reach unu next term. There is no space for complacency!

While the PNP was defeated at the polls, it is safe to declare Jamaica as the real winner. It’s good to know that we live in a democratic society where we’re free to decide who forms our government, we must salute our forefathers for making this a reality for us and for generations to come. Isn’t it a pleasure to vote in and “sweep out” candidates as we like? It is truly an honor to be able to express our political preferences (and these hilarious memes, gosh I love them) freely while maintaining solid and mature friendships with those on opposing sides. Does it get any better than that?!

This year’s Election will go down in history, the JLP aka “green house” won sports day by a landslide victory of 49 seats (points) and painted the entire country green with a just a “likkle tups” of orange seasoning (14 shakes to be exact).

Let us now work diligently and creatively, think generously and honestly so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity. To those who made Jamaica green again, please work together to make Jamaica land we love great again 🇯🇲

Keeping Your Business Afloat During and After A Pandemic

Last evening I delivered a presentation to members of the Manchester business community on the topic “Keeping Your Business Afloat During and After A Pandemic” during their monthly members meeting. When faced with a crisis, it is only natural for individuals and business owners alike to become frustrated and apprehensive about the future. One such crisis is the Covid19 pandemic that has rocked the entire globe. Regardless of what is unfolding around us though, we must continue to grow our economy; and, as such keeping your business afloat amidst this crisis is paramount. Truth is however, every crisis gives birth to opportunity. While we ponder the unprecedented impact of this pandemic, we can transform the crisis into opportunities. Before delving into the “biz nuggets” on how to keep our businesses afloat, we must ask ourselves these four (4) major questions:

1. How do I cope with this crisis now?
2. What opportunities does this crisis create?
3. How can my business stay viable?
4. How can we prepare for future events of this nature?

Having answered these questions, we can proceed into the tips on how to ensure our business remains viable during and after a pandemic.

• Keep Calm: How is this possible you may ask when I’m running low on cash, I have a tough decision to make whether or not to cut staff, rent is due, loans are going into arrears, interest is being generated on my credit card bill and utility companies have been reminding me of overdue bills? And here is this blogger telling me to keep calm during this mayhem! Let me remind you that it is impossible to pour from an empty cup; therefore, you must put yourself before the business. Taking care of yourself will help you to keep calm, which in turn will also mean keeping your staff calm which will create a healthy mindset for everyone to come up with innovative ideas to move forward. You don’t need money to keep calm and to take care of yourself, find a way that works for you. This can take many forms including a nice warm bubble bath in the comfort of your home, reading, binge eating while watching your favorite NetFlix series, exercising, listening to music, meditating or simply…..catching up on some well needed rest. Coming out of this crisis with your mental health in tact will be your greatest achievement so #CalmDown

• Change your mindset and models: Rather than viewing the situation as the end of the world, we should use the current situation to speed up long overdue changes. Sometimes things happen in life to push us outside our comfort zones and start DOING rather than PROCRASTINATING. As my late grandma would say “something haffi happen fi we shake up we folly ground”. Don’t ask me what a “folly ground” is but I think it applies to this context. Covid19 presents a cost-saving opportunity by allowing business owners to re-examine; and, if necessary reinvent, all aspects of operations, business models and revenue models. #ChangeIsNecessary

• Make a financial plan: I am no financial expert but I know the importance of saving for rainy days. Simply put, it is recommended that we all have an emergency fund with at least three (3) months living expenses in preparation for the unexpected. Likewise, businesses should do the same. Every business has the same key expenses including employee salaries, office rent and utility bills. Look at your finances and speak to an expert on how to control expenses for the next three months. What costs are necessary, what can you put on hold or cut? Now isn’t the time to be spending on non-essentials. #FinancialPlanningIsMandatory

• Tap into resources provided by government and financial institutions: The government has initiatives to support small business owners. Be up to date with how the governments can help your business stay afloat. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support where necessary. #CapitalizeOnFreebies

• Find the opportunities: It’s never a good feeling to look for opportunities during a crisis but this pandemic serves as a wake-up call to reconsider how we’ve been operating as individuals and business owners. Is your business model able to survive the changes that is to come? How do you expect your customers to behave moving forward? How can I use technology to gain and retain clients and to boost sales? How can I improve my CRM model? These are just some questions to ask when seeking out opportunities. #OpportunitiesKnockOpenTheDoor

• Establish an online presence: The shutting down of the physical world and the shift to the digital world has transformed not just schools but also organizations. If you didn’t think it was necessary to be online, you’ll need to change that mindset going forward post-Covid. Personally, I was never a huge fan of social media besides WhatsApp. I seldom respond to messages or accept requests on the few platforms I am on. However, Covid19 has taught me that I’ll need to change that as I’ll miss out on opportunities. Covid19 has kept us inside for the most part. For weeks, we have been going outside only for the basic essentials. Therefore, business owners must meet their customers where they are – an online presence is the best medium of reaching them inside. If I say “Google, find vegan restaurants near me” or search “hairdressers in New Kingston” on Jamaica YP and your business doesn’t appear after that search, then your business is non-existent to me. Without an online presence, I regret to inform you that your business is in trouble. Organizations that use the shutdown to enhance their digital capabilities and capitalize on existing trends will be able to get closer to offering real-time experiences. With that said, #GetOnlineOrGetLeftBehind

• Train your staff: If you’re a small business owner, you could train your existing staff on additional skills, which could make them more productive and efficient, rather than hiring more staff. There’s plenty of free or affordable online courses that you can capitalize on. Check out Coursera, UDemy, NewSkills or Shaw Academy – they have a wide array of courses on offer. Larger corporate companies could develop a learning platform to upskill and/or cross train their staff which will allow them to focus on other areas of the business when their department is down. Thanks to my company I have been certified in public speaking fundamentals, leadership, business writing and key account management etc. via their Training & Development online platform. #GetTrained

• Assess your organization’s agility, adaptability and resilience: Ensuring that the organization is agile, adaptable and resilient means we must re-examine the organizational architecture. Assess areas such as infrastructure, processes, technology and facilities. What is working and what isn’t? Only then will you be able to survive after the crisis. How is your customer service? Consumers increasingly judge organizations based on their own customer experience. Your customers will determine whether or not your business stays viable during and after this pandemic. #AssessmentIsCrucial

With evidence of devastation caused by this pandemic across the world, it is imperative that we implement strategic plans to boost our businesses; and ultimately our economy. We must take advantage of the resources available to us and utilize our skills to be successful. It will be a new day in the world post-Covid and we better be prepared as it will not be business as usual. We will be forced to realign our lives and foster a new way of thinking in order to “navigate the seas” when the Covid19 storm has passed.

Sharmica Holness is a client relations executive with an extensive track record in key account management and sales. She is also a freelance communication specialist who specializes in PR/Marketing/Advertising, personal and professional development workshops, team building activities and leadership training.

10 Ways to Spot Dead-weight Before it’s too Late — Leadership Freak

Teams thrive and rise when you ditch dead-weight. “[Will] Felps estimates that teams with just one deadbeat, downer, or asshole suffer a performance disadvantage of 30 to 40 percent compared to teams that have no bad apples.” (Bob Sutton in Good Boss Bad Boss.) Dead-weight isn’t: #1. People who screw up. A consistent screw up requires […]

via 10 Ways to Spot Dead-weight Before it’s too Late — Leadership Freak

Moving From Distress to Eustress — Leadership Freak

88% of leaders report that work is a primary source of stress. What if stress is good for you? These are stressful times. We’d love to avoid or prevent crisis and tragedy. But there’s nothing like stress to bring you to life. Meaningful stress makes life worthwhile. Eustress: The English Oxford Dictionary defines “Eustress” as moderate […]

via Moving From Distress to Eustress — Leadership Freak

When Did We Start Lauding Children Having Children?

 

Social media was abuzz last week with photos of two teenagers in celebratory mode. At first glance (a teenage girl dressed in blue with a teenage boy beside her sitting on beautifully decorated white thrones) I thought it was a sweet 16 birthday party and the young man was her date. We know how these nowadays sweet 16 parties can be – lit or “litty” as millennials put it. Then I scrolled to the other photo and was in for an unexpected surprise! There was the same teenage girl proudly wearing a “Mommy To Be” sash. Her face looked no more than 16 as I thought from the initial photo. The boy decked in white smirking joyfully about his “reward” from casual sex. At the age of 15 it must be an accomplishment “fi breed ooman”? The average 15y/o is still in school depending on the support of his parents while for him….bingo! As Alkaline would put it “dawg yuh breed di fuss gyal weh yuh ever get”.  I was really interested in finding out who these trending teenagers were….

Long story short, this was incarcerated deejay Vybz Kartel’s 15y/o son and his 18y/o expectant girlfriend at their baby shower. Wow, just wow! Naturally I wanted to see what the online community thought of this so I scrolled through the comments. Interestingly, there was overwhelming support and congratulatory messages for the young parents several of which were from Gaza supporters. Then there were others like myself who were alarmed and simply didn’t know what to make of it. Not only is a 15y/o not ready for parenting; but, from my understanding of the law, the circumstances by which this baby was conceived constitutes to statutory rape. Had it been the other way around where father-to-be at 18 years of age impregnated the 15y/o he could be charged. So what makes this situation different (and seemingly appropriate)? 

The writer in me thought of putting pen to paper. However, it so happened that while scrolling through my Gleaner feed the following day, my colleague Asheki Spooner shared similar sentiments in her piece published as “Letter of the Day”. As fate would have it, fans of Vybz Kartel launched their verbal fury to the point where the Gleaner had to disable the comment feature and later remove the entire post. The mayhem didn’t stop there, his mass followers went further to gossip sites and had a field day hurling expletive ridden comments at the writer, some even criticizing the Gleaner of being judgmental. Having published this, I too may be subject to the verbal abuse that was meted out to Miss Spooner. Let me be clear, I’m a very big fan of Vybz Kartel. I think his literary skills and lyrical content is superb but I find that some of his supporters are downright illiterate and ignorant.

Looking at it from a different perspective though, this is attributed to society and culture. The truth is, while boys will follow the actions of the men that they look up to, many women are facilitators of certain behaviours in boys. I have seen and heard enough women in their 30s kissing and referring to young boys as their little boyfriends but imagine a 30 year old man kissing a 3 year old girl and calling her his little girlfriend? Not to mention older women gyrating on little boys in a dance or 30+ year old women taking a young boy’s virginity. Again society. Let me state that children should not be having sex any at all but our society and culture dictate our differential behaviours and treatment of both situations. The double-standard hypocrisy baffles me.

I can’t agree with the manner in which society is glorifying this sort of behavior. Given that the father-to-be is son of a popular entertainer, this is perfectly acceptable? “It is rather disheartening to witness the hypocrisy in discussion on the issue across various platforms, with many seeing it as something to be lauded”.   Yes, the child is filthy rich having reaped tremendous success in the music industry; but, money isn’t the only resource necessary to successfully raise a child. Child abuse is already rampant in Jamaica and it’s the duty of advocates to thoroughly comb through the country to find these abusers whether male or female, old or young! Let us not laud such behavior nor turn a blind eye to matters of this nature as others will then be led to believe it is acceptable. The mother-to-be is an adult but the father-to-be is a child; and that is what baffles me. This is indeed a sad situation. 

 

 

 

Staying Productive During a Global Pandemic

Another Covid19 post you may ask? Yes, it’s the most talked about topic now that the world has come to an abrupt halt.

Let’s face it. Covid19 came upon us like a thief in the night and like a baby who enters this world and changes his parents life forever so it has been. The reality is that Covid19 will be here with us for longer than anticipated; and, as such we must start readjusting our lives to handle the effects of it. Regardless of what is unfolding around us, the economy must continue and as such staying productive amidst this crisis is paramount.

For most of us, our jobs have asked us to work from home while schools have resorted to online platforms as a means of educating the nation’s students. While some of us are happy for the freedom that comes with being able to work from home, inevitably some are finding it challenging to remain productive during this time. It is only natural. After all, we have been forced out of the comfort of our offices and schools where majority of our days are spent. Work-from-home and home schooling implies that we no longer have our dedicated workspace fixed the way we like, our daily chit chat with our coworkers over a cup of coffee, meeting our friends at school, school activities and a lot more. Now we’re stuck at home trying to be productive during a crisis! To some the term “comfort of home” is literal while for others, offices and schools have been their safe haven and sweet escape from the trauma being experienced at home. But that’s for another blog post….Surviving Abuse while Being at home in a Crisis

But how exactly does one remain productive during this global pandemic?

Plug-in:
In order to remain focused and accomplish your tasks, you must “plug-in” for the day. Find a quiet space at your remote location to ensure minimal disturbances so that your focus doesn’t deviate. Ensure that this space while quiet isn’t the ideal “comfort zone” where you’ll be less productive. For example, your bedroom may not be the ideal location.

Set a Schedule:
When you operate from home, it is easy for you to slack off on meeting deadlines. Similar to timetables in schools, having a schedule provides a clear roadmap of what you need to get done, what time this task should start and how long it should last. Schedules allow you to get the most out of the day. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll deliver results with greater efficiency, and increase the morale of your team. Tip: Ensure your schedule for the following day is set the day before (preferably right before you go to bed).

Take Breaks:
By breaks, I don’t mean going to the kitchen each time you get off a phone call or videoconference meeting. No, you don’t need a snack or a glass of juice! Remove yourself from your workstation periodically, stretch, go outside for a few minutes and return.

Disconnect:
I know we all want to keep abreast of the news at this time. However, disconnecting may be good for our mental health as well as allowing for improved performance/productivity. Let’s be real, the news can be psychologically stressful and the constant reminder of how many new cases and deaths do nothing besides create more panic and fear which drives productivity down the ladder.

Filter:
In this crisis we’re faced with many persons competing for our time. From several Zoom webinars, IG live discussions, online parties, Insta brunches to people pitching business ideas and selling products & services, it can become overwhelming. Whew! How do I get away from all this? Learn to develop the art of filtering what is important from what is not. Limit your social media use as you’ll end up wasting an entire day refreshing your timeline and scrolling through countless posts. Remember people now have time on their hands to increase their social media use but the decision is yours not to give in. Your presence isn’t required everywhere!

Do Something:
I recently saw a post which read “if you come out of this crisis without a new skill, talent or certification you would have lacked discipline and not time”. Wrong! I strongly differ against this view. We are in the middle of a crisis so it is biased to make such a general statement. The economy has taken a significant downturn and while some can continue to live their normal lives comfortably, others are struggling. People handle problems differently, some may emerge as “diamonds” post-Covid but some won’t. Remember the same hot water that hardens the egg also softens the potato.

For those who wont learn a new skill or enrol in a short course, spend the time reflecting on how you can better your life after this pandemic has passed. I encourage you to read, listen to music, get some rest and don’t sweat the small stuff. Coming out of this crisis with your sanity in tact is worth way more than having certificate in an online course.

Develop a Deeper Relationship with Family, Friends & God:
Now more than ever we have the time to strengthen our relationships with family, friends and God. While we may be miles apart, technology keeps us connected. Reach out to your “peeps” especially those who live alone, they may do well with a reminder that they are in your thoughts. For those who are spiritually grounded and those who aren’t now would be a good time to seek God. The future is rather uncertain and we are basically living on the edge. Spend time in devotion, listen to inspirational words, read your Bible and pray.

We are all in this fight together and we will be victorious together!

Stay safe and be blessed.

Covid19: Embracing the New Normal

It was March 10, 2020 at 12:45pm as I stood in line at Jamaica Money Market Brokers when Jamaica confirmed its first case of the feared Covid19 virus. While we knew it would reach our shores, we were still hoping that God would yet again show us mercy. But it was not to be so, corona virus greeted us in true and living colors. Naturally, the country went into a frenzy with most shelves emptied of Lysol and hand sanitizers less than two (2) hours after the news broke. As the number of cases increased, life as we knew it changed drastically. Not only were we told to practise proper hygiene and social distancing; but, countries have closed their borders, hotels shut their doors, world tourists sites closed, airplanes parked indefinitely, events cancelled, job losses, non-essential workers being asked to work from home, children being homeschooled, churches closed, most businesses have asked customers to utilise online platforms, funerals and weddings being held virtually, the dreaded long lines at business places, all island curfew, the mandatory wearing of masks, and most of all being asked to #StayHome in order to curtail the spread of the virus. Whew! The world at a literal standstill. What a thing! There has never been a time in my almost 30 years on Earth that I have seen a sudden and total shutdown of almost every country in the world at the same time.

Jamaicans take nothing seriously, we joke about everything so with Covid19 came the memes and lyrics coupled with the jokes on the nightly news. But fun and jokes aside, fast forward to April 26 as I pen this blog, our national tally stands at 350…yes, you read correctly….350 with majority of the cases linked to the work cluster Alorica BPO. Keep in mind, the numbers will continue to rise and Jamaica’s health care system isn’t equipped to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. Yet, there are those (with majority being the uneducated masses) who behave as if this pandemic that has disrupted our lives is something to be taken lightly. They continue to be defiant though the government is pleading with everyone to adhere to the safety protocols. Moreover the sad reality is that those who contribute little or nothing to the economy will be the ones who will be a burden to the country should there be a severe outbreak.

With all this being said, the real question is will the world as we knew it go back to what is was before Covid19 or will we have to embrace a new normal? Most of us are growing rather impatient and praying for Covid19 to go so we can return to our normal lives. However, with Covid19 expected to linger for a while, I’m afraid there will not be a return to normal. It is clear that Covid19 will alter our lives for good. By the time a vaccine arrives, we would have already readjusted to deal with the effects on our social and economic way of life.

With evidence of devastation caused by this pandemic across the world, it is imperative that we implement strategic plans to boost our economy after this crisis has passed. We can’t continue to depend on tourism, remittances, BPO’s, mining and agriculture as main economic drivers. With the severe whiplash being experienced in these areas, the time has come to formulate a diversification plan to fuel economic growth. We must take advantage of the resources available to us and utilize our skills to rise successfully out of this crisis and make Jamaica great again. Life as we knew it will be no more. Business, education, health care, security, technology etc. will be different. It will be a new day in the world and Jamaica better be prepared as it will not be business as usual. It will be a new world and we will be forced to realign our lives and foster a new way of thinking in order to “navigate the seas” when the Covid19 storm has passed.

For me I have started to embrace the change in more ways than one. After my three year hiatus I have finally resumed blogging. As we continue on this fight together, please practise proper hygiene, adhere to the social distancing guidelines; and, if possible #TanAYuhYaad. Stay safe, be blessed and may we never take “outside” for granted again.

Time And Place For Everything

Published:Wednesday | September 13, 2017 | 9:00 AM

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I write in response to a letter titled ‘Well said, Simon Crosskill’, published in your paper dated September 12, 2017.

I honestly believe that the writer and many others like her have missed the point. There is a time and place for everything, and, in the midst of a terrible hurricane that could have affected us, Mr Crosskill’s insensitive and distasteful tweet served no purpose.

The backing of Simon Crosskill by mention of the “Andrew Holness Fan Club” and reference to our prime minister as a demigod is merely putting a political spin on a serious issue. Clearly, we see where the writer is interposing her own political views.

While we are cognisant of Jamaica’s high homicide rate, the PM was simply sending condolences to our Caribbean neighbours and reminding them that they’re in our prayers. Other Caribbean leaders would have extended the same courtesy had we been in a similar position.

Why must we seek to politicise every issue affecting our country? I find that in Jamaica, rather than finding solutions to fix our problems, we are quick to play the political blame game.

While we are all entitled to freedom of speech, we must know when and where to exercise that constitutional right. In light of this, Mr Crosskill failed in his attempt at being relevant.

Let us put aside our petty-mindedness and thank God for sparing us the wrath of Hurricane Irma, not losing sight of the fact that there is a time and place for everything.

SHARMICA HOLNESS

Mandeville, Manchester

MJW Must Protect their Brand

Published:Friday | August 18, 2017 | 8:00 AM

Contributed

Shaneke Williams

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I wish to use this medium to respond to the ongoing Miss Jamaica World (MJW) fiasco where Shaneke Williams was selected as a finalist in the pageant.

I believe that the Miss Jamaica World competition should conduct thorough screening of contestants to ensure that its brand is being protected. That would have prevented the fiasco involving Shaneke Williams.

Character and reputation matter. But I guess, the sole purpose of this pageant was to choose the prettiest girl to represent Jamaica regardless of who she is as an individual.

We were told that the case against Miss Williams was dismissed not for lack of evidence, but, it was the complainant who did not wish to proceed. Provided that this is true, this neither proves innocence – or guilt – on Ms Williams’ part. Inevitably, the public will have concerns.

People need to protect their brands better if they desire to represent their country, both locally and internationally. Ms Williams is beautiful, but that is inadequate. If one aspires to be a role model, your character and reputation must be indisputable. The MJW franchise holders were right, though belatedly so, to have her removed from the pageant, as the competition shouldn’t be the outlet for her to rebuild her tainted reputation.

As a former Festival Queen, I must laud the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) for the tremendous work it has been doing in selecting ladies to represent their parish at the local and national level.

The Festival Queen competition goes beyond having a beautiful face and physique. On submitting an application, each contestant is asked to submit two character references. Having done so, a thorough background check is conducted on each individual. If the individual’s character is not in keeping with the standards of the JCDC, she can be pulled from the competition, even on the night of the coronation.

If the MJW franchise wishes to protect its brand, it might want to adopt a few things from the JCDC rather than employing a ‘just-come-enter’ strategy. Until then, citizens ought to boycott MJW events.

SHARMICA HOLNESS

Miss Manchester Festival Queen 2016

At Wits’ End With NCB

Published:Tuesday | July 25, 2017 | 7:00 AM

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I write to express my annoyance with NCB and the horrific customer service I have been receiving from their customer care call centre recently.

A few weeks ago, NCB’s Internet banking platform prompted me to change my password for security purposes. Having done so, I was barred from using the service. Attempts to generate the access code in an effort to restore my password failed.

My next move was to seek help from their Customer Care Department. I have made numerous calls to their toll free line, sent several emails to customerrelations@jncb.command made quite a few trips to their Mandeville branch to have the issue resolved. However, all my attempts to enable Internet banking access have proven futile.

I then decided that the time had come for me to end my relationship with NCB. On my final attempt via telephone, I was told by an agent that if I wished to terminate business transactions with NCB, I would have to submit the request in writing to their Card Centre, as an email wouldn’t suffice. I’m rather appalled that in this technological day and age, NCB expects me to mail them a letter.

Frustrated, I returned to the branch office on Monday where the agent there did her utmost best to assist. She made the necessary updates and assured me that by the end of the business day, my account would be unblocked so I could resume normal Internet banking operations. Fast-forward to three days later, I am still having the same problem.

With the ease at which I’m able to conduct business with financial institutions like JMMB and BNS, I refuse to settle with a company that not only offers poor customer service but makes it so exasperating to have a simple issue resolved. NCB, you need to do better, as this is utter disregard for my time and a lack of appreciation for my business.

Keep in mind that I have the option of ending our years of togetherness and taking my business elsewhere where I’m valued.

SHARMICA HOLNESS

Mandeville, Manchester