Joseph Issa – Former Chamber President Expresses Concern Over Rising Unemployment In The Caribbean.

Former President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Joe Issa has expressed concern over reports pointing to an increase in unemployment in the Caribbean.

Issa, who has often spoken on issues affecting the Caribbean, including climate change, said: “this is bad news; as a region we should be growing our economies to increase employment for our young people and alleviate poverty, not making things worse for them.”

Issa was reacting to a new UN report which says unemployment continues to rise in the Caribbean.

According to a CMC report out of Santiago, Chile, carried by the Jamaica Observer, “two United Nations agencies say that urban unemployment will keep rising in Latin America and the Caribbean and could reach 9.4 percent in 2017.”

In releasing the newest edition of their joint publication, “Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), said “low economic growth experienced by regional countries in the last few years will continue affecting the region’s labour market performance this year.”

According to the latest estimates, the rate of regional urban unemployment could reach 9.4 percent on average this year, which represents a 0.5 percentage point increase from the 8.9 percent recorded in 2016, the report said.

The report is said to sum up “labour dynamics in the region during the first half of this year and analyses the characteristics of the transition made by young people – one of the groups most affected by the labour deterioration – from the educational system to the labour market.”

According to both United Nations organisations, “during the first half of 2017, two trends were observed: While the deterioration of some labour indicators – such as the employment and unemployment rates – persisted, a slower pace of decline was noted, which could point to ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’.

“The figures released in the report show a 0.3 percentage point decline in the rate of urban employment – the proportion of the working-age population that is employed – and a 0.9-point increase in the rate of urban unemployment between the first half of 2016 and the same period of 2017.”

The article quoted the report adding that “as in previous years, the regional trend is particularly influenced by the weak performance of Brazil’s labour market, although after several years of contraction, a very slight economic growth upturn is forecast for that country in 2017 and its employment indicators are starting to stabilise.”

In other countries of the region, the study indicates that labour market performance has been more favourable, especially in Central America.

ECLAC and the ILO said that weakness in the region’s labour markets is also reflected in the quality of employment.

It said “in six of the eight countries with available information, the report states that the creation of self-employment was more dynamic than the creation of salaried jobs during the first half of 2017.

“About young people, the report says that this group “generally faces structural problems to insertion in productive employment and decent work.”

“Young people’s paths into the labour market in the region are found to be generally much longer than in the developed countries, something that is heavily shaped by the role of women, often still centred on caregiving and household activities,” Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s executive secretary, and José Manuel Salazar, the ILO’s regional director, is said to have written in the publication.

Joe Issa Kingston Must Play Big City Role in Jamaica’s Growth and Wellbeing.

Innovative personality Joe Issa, who is a Certified Public Accountant, has tipped Kingston to play the big-city role that it should, stating it has a responsibility to do so.

 

Joseph Issa Founder Cool Group of Companies

 

 “Big cities all over the world – Kingston included – attract the best human capital from around the country and abroad, and as the big city, with more people and economic activity it will also consume most of the country’s energy base and generate most of the waste, including CO₂ emission into the atmosphere, which is the main contributor to global warming.

“As Jamaica’s largest city Kingston must take responsibility for generating economic and social prosperity for its residents, who have to endure the waste, and most of whom were lured from other areas of Jamaica, with the promise of a better life for themselves and their families, whom they left behind in communities across the island.

“These rural communities have been deprived of their skills base and expertise to help them develop and grow, and have suffered from family dislocation, which has further impeded their development,” argues Issa, who is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and an advocate for the protection of the environment.

Issa, who along with Times Magazine and UNESCO has touted the readiness of the city of Kingston to be many things, including the 2017 must-visit city and the music and entertainment capital of the world, stated that current undertakings would enhance several of its goals.

“Efforts to redevelop downtown Kingston including the wharf and harbour, those initiatives aimed at establishing more music and culture museums, restaurants and hotels, entrepreneurial education to build a cadre of new entrepreneurs, and technology training to build capacity, will take the city some way towards increasing the social and economic pie for the people and enhance the visitor experience,” he said.

While noting that there is a trickle-down impact on other parishes, Issa also highlighted their plight: “Waste generated in the city that does not end up in its drains, gullies and harbour will surely surface on country roads, drains, riverbeds and coastlines, with a negative impact on fish sanctuaries.”

On the basis that every challenge presents an opportunity, Issa said increased awareness of recycling and waste management is not only creating jobs but is also reducing waste around the island – a project in which his Cool Oasis gas stations participate.

Issa was reacting to a news release by Subhash Patil, partner and head of the government and public sector consulting services team for PwC (PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLC) in India, in which he stated that “cities are responsible for the lion’s share of the earth’s energy consumption, waste output, and greenhouse gas emissions.”

He adds that “clearly, cities need to innovate solutions which will drive human civilisation to a sustainable future,” as he highlights PwC Russia’s report – ‘Cities Readiness Index’ – in which Singapore came in at No. 1 regarding digital economy infrastructure.

PwC Russia is one of many offices located around the world to service thousands of clients in many areas. PwC first came to Russia in 1913 and reopened its doors for good in 1989 with an office in Moscow. It has since become “the largest network of firms in Russia providing audit, consulting, and tax and legal services,” according to its website.

The Moscow office is said to employ over 2,000 people, of whom 93 are foreign nationals from 26 different countries. The remainder is believed to be Russian citizens from 80 different regions. Over 35 top managers at PwC are women, and the average age of staff is 29.Its clients in Russia are said to represent over 2,000 companies, more than 200 of which are listed in the RAEX-600.

PwC Russia has several publications including 2017 Retail Industry Trends; Consumer Packaged Goods Trends; and Customers are calling the shots: It’s time for retailers to get fit for the digital age.

Joe Issa Has Hosted Esteem Prime Ministers on Both Sides of the Atlantic

The congeniality of businessman Joe Issa has brought much delight to prime ministers from both hemispheres, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

The affable executive chairman of Cool Group of companies has entertained former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who famously enjoyed a cordial relationship with former Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley, with whom he shared a common vision about the world.

Born Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, PC, CC, CH, QC, FRSC on October 18, 1919 and died September 28, 2000, Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, as he is usually called, was Canada’s 15^th Prime Minister, and served from April 20, 1968, to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980, to June 30, 1984, according to Wikipedia.

He served under Lester B. Pearson‘s as Parliamentary Secretary and later as Minister of Justice. He became a media sensation, inspiring “Trudeaumania”, and “his personality dominated the political scene to an extent never before seen in Canadian political life, arousing passionate and polarising reactions throughout Canada.” His motto, “Reason before passion” was widely held. He retired from politics in 1984, Wikipedia is quoted as saying.

However, little did Issa know that Pierre Trudeau’s ‘love affair’ with Jamaica would rub on his son Justine, who would later pay multiple visits the island, giving Issa, on one occasion the envious opportunity of hosting him. The two went jet skiing and dining several times. Justine recently became Canada’s Prime Minister, and Issa wasted no time in congratulating and urging him to become a staunch ally of Jamaica.

 

Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien

 

Issa also hosted another Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, born Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, PC, OM, CC, QC on January 11, 1934. Chrétien was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1963 and became the leader of the Liberal Party in 1990. He led the party to a majority government in the 1993 federal election and was re-elected with further majorities in 1997 and 2000.

As Canada’s 20^th Prime Minister, Chrétien resigned in December 2003 and left public life. In retroactive polling, Chrétien ranks highly among both scholars and the public, according to Wikipedia.

Across the Atlantic, the Cool brand developer has also entertained a former British Prime Minister, Sir John Major who, along with his wife Norma was spending his birthday in Jamaica.

Sir John Major, KG, CH, PC was born in March 1943. He became an MP in 1979 to 2001 and was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary in the Thatcher Government. He became Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, says Wikipedia.

Sir John has the distinction of overseeing Britain’s most prolonged period of continuous economic growth and the beginning of the Northern Ireland peace process.

 

Joseph Issa – NWC Initiative To Contribute To Nation’s Stock Of Renewables.

Founder of Cool Corporation and former President of St Ann Chamber of Commerce Joe Issa hails an initiative by the National Water Commission (NWC) that will see it applying renewable energy in its operations.

A section of the Mona Reservoir in Kingston 

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“I am glad that yet another big company has joined to Government’s call to diversify the country’s energy base to reduce costly oil imports both on its pocket and the environment while making energy more cost-efficient and the nation more self-sufficient and resilient.

“Their efforts will contribute to the achievement of the targeted 30 percent renewable in Jamaica’s energy mix by 2030. We are already at about 17 percent and every megawatt that is commisioned, whether from solar or wind, counts,” said Issa

Issa was commenting on news that the NWC was seeking to install a five-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic system at the Mona Reservoir in Kingston, to modernise its operations.

This was noted by President of the NWC, Mark Barnett, at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’.

 

President of the NWC, Mark Barnett

 

The president said the move is aimed at improving the economic viability and operational efficiency of the company.

According to the Gleaner, a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to carry out the pilot, with plans to install 5MW systems in other NWC facilities if it proves successful. An advertisement is now said to be out inviting bids for the floating barge.

“We want to put up at least 10MW of renewables, which will impact not only the NWC but will fall in line with the sustainable development goals that have been established and to which the country is committed,” Barnett is reported as saying.

According to the report, the strategy being employed is to place solar panels on a floating barge, which will be used to harness energy from the sun to help reduce the company’s energy bill.

“The consultants to do the study should be submitting their bids this month. Moreover, that study, I presume, should take three to four months. So, once it is deemed to be viable, I am sure that procurement should start this calendar year,” Barnett reportedly said.