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2008 Story of the Year SHOW ME THE MONEY Cash Plus and Olint reportedly sucked in J$150 billion to J$200 billion, what happened to all that money?

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15 years ago

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The rise and fall of Olint, Cash Plus, and the two men who ran these companies is by far the biggest story of 2008. Their activities impacted many in Jamaica, and as far north as the UK, USA, Canada and south to Trinidad and environs. These two men, David Smith and Carlos Hill changed and rocked the Jamaican financial landscape in 2008. They are both credited as the founders and architects of the alternative investment schemes that sucked in so much money, that it has left countless thousands still wondering where it all went and will they ever get their money back. One thing is for sure, high interest rate returns will have a very different meaning from now on.

The year started with Jitters over alternative investment schemes spreading to World Wise another recently started scheme. Jitters over the uncertainty of alternative investment schemes, following a ‘cease and desist’ order against Cash Plus spread to forex exchange trading entity World Wise Partners.

A few days later the Government finally decided to step in with the Attorney General and financial officials meeting on alternative investment schemes. An urgent meeting was convened between Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne, officials of the Finance Ministry and Financial Services Commission (FSC), to make recommendations and guidelines to address the growing concerns over unregistered investment clubs. The instruction was given by Prime Minister Bruce Golding during a meeting with Finance Minister Audley Shaw’; minister without portfolio in the ministry, Don Wheby; FSC officials and representatives of the banking sector.

Golding said the number one priority was to protect the integrity of the country’s financial system and establish the requisite legislative framework for dealing with other investment schemes that may develop in the future.

In April, it is announced that Cash Plus is in turmoil with the Investment club in receivership. The five-year-old investment club Cash Plus Limited, which has been engaged in a number of legal battles over the past 12 months, is in receivership. Kevin Bandoian, a chartered accountant employed to Price-Waterhouse Coopers in the United States, was appointed joint receiver-manager. Later that month, every investors worst fear is realised when the police following investigations announce that Cash Plus has no money here to repay, cop tells court. Supporters of Carlos Hill, the CEO of Cash Plus, the collapsed alternative investment scheme, protest and demand his release from police custody outside the Half-Way-Tree Courthouse where Hill, his brother Bertram and Cash Plus’ chief financial officer Peter Wilson appeared. Head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) Fitz Bailey revealed in court that Cash Plus has no money in Jamaica to repay its investors. “Based on what we have investigated there is no money, we have not identified any money in Jamaica to repay investors,” Bailey said. “In addition, a number of companies and assets said to be owned by Cash Plus turned out to be false.”

Early May and the Cash Plus boss is out on bail but cannot leave home between 6:00 pm and 8:00 am. Carlos Hill, head of the failed informal investment scheme, Cash Plus, and his brother, Bertram Hill, were granted bail in the Supreme Court, but with stringent conditions. Hill, who got bail in the sum of $15 million, was ordered to report daily to the Fraud Squad and slapped with a curfew order that requires him to be at his Norbrook, St Andrew home between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am. His brother, who the police said is a Cash Plus director, was offered $10-million bail, with similar conditions set by Justice Bertram Morrison. Bertram Hill will have to remain at his brother’s house as he resides in the United States. Both men were ordered to surrender their travel documents.

Next, it was Olint, considered by many to be the safest of them all. The May 16, 2008 headline reads Olint at the crossroads. The alternative investment scheme Olint Corp headed by David Smith now finds itself at a crossroads, with its next move determining the very existence of the popular foreign currency trading outfit. For the better part of the year, it has been unable to honour all its payout commitments, with many of its members exhibiting steadfast forbearance while the club’s founder attempts to put things right.

At the same time, Olint is fighting a court case against NCB and reports are that in the United States, banking house Wachovia is conducting a protracted due diligence report, thus making it impossible for Olint to provide timely payments to its members. To compound matters further, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) continues to call for Olint to register and publish audited financial statements.

“If David (Smith) does pay out everybody what he should rightfully pay them, then there will be a huge sigh of relief right across Jamaica. He would be regarded as a hero and his reputation will be enhanced both professionally and personally. If he does not, he will be stigmatised as a charlatan and rendered a pariah. His fate lies in his own hands. His word, dare I say it, has to be his bond.”

By June 18th, the full impact of the fallout begins to seep out with the announcement by Realtors that Fallout in ‘investment schemes’ impacting housing demand. Realtors expect slower growth in the housing market in 2008, with the fallout of get-rich schemes, high oil and commodity prices. Cash Plus, Olint and Worldwise, the three popular get-rich schemes, have suspended payments to its members since early this year. With the fallout, Valerie Levy expects housing demand to slide by about 10 per cent. “This as potential homeowners no longer have the cash flow and cannot qualify for mortgages,” said Levy who heads Valerie Levy and Associates. She added that if the schemes are to reorganise, then it will again fuel the market. Prices are expected to fall but rather rise as supply continues to lag behind demand. Real estate experts say a portion of new mortgages would have come from the get-rich schemes encasements.

The local currently is not immune to all this and so the Jamaican dollar gathers downhill momentum. The Jamaican dollar brakes through the $72 mark and continues to slide, notwithstanding strong interventions and an interest-rate hike by the central bank. The currency closed on the spot market at $72.19 against the US dollar, a new record low, having hit $72.06 following a more than six cent decline. The Bank of Jamaica, signalling a positive outlook, said that the most recent movement in the exchange rate is related to payments due to overseas creditors. “This occurred at a time when local banks and other financial institutions have been reducing their exposure to credit lines offered by correspondent banks and investment houses,” said the central bank.

In mid July, one of the much talked about Cash Plus acquisitions is back with the owners who are eager to offload the loss maker. Mainland puts flagship store on the market. Jeffrey Myrie, one of the owners of Mainland International Limited, is looking for buyers for the Hardware Company’s ‘Super Home Centre’ store which sits on the periphery of Spanish Town in St Catherine. Mainland wants at least US$6 million for the property that it spent more than US$14 million building six years ago. The 87,000-square-foot store sits on 4.079 acres of land. “It’s a store that was not profitable,” said Myrie. Myrie’s insistence that Mainland would continue operating as a going concern follows a failed attempt to sell the hardware outfit to Cash Plus Limited, a company now in receivership.

Despite all the warnings and signs of grave and immediate danger there are those who see Few dangers from Olint’s slide. With no precise figure available for the funds, Olint and its various subsidiaries have under management; analyst says it is hard to predict the full impact of the corralling of the foreign exchange trader’s assets on the local economy. But there appears to be a fair bit of consensus that the immediate effect would be consumer spending, in much the same as the Cash Plus effect. Olint, considered the forerunner of the unregulated investment schemes, is as secretive about its dealings as the other 40 or so operations that regulators have detected over time. But ‘guestimates’ have centred on US$600 million (J$43 billion) of principal, and possibly US$2 billion (J$144 billion) when interest payables are added to the mix. Jamaican think tank, CaPRI, which estimated the total amount of invested funds in the schemes at J$100 billion to J$200 billion, said Wednesday that it had no individual breakout of the figures.

The media attention quickly shifts from Carlos Hill to David Smith as the Olint boss readies team for legal showdown. A high-calibre team of Jamaican and international lawyers flew to the Turks and Caicos Islands to assist Olint Corporation Ltd boss, David Smith, in preparing for a looming legal battle.

Meanwhile, in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, few people in the British territory know the investment club or Smith. In fact, a commission of inquiry ordered by the British government into alleged government corruption in the islands is the biggest news here. Smith’s house and his offices were raided by members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, who seized documents and computers. But Detective Assistant Superintendent Mark Knighton, who led the operation, said his team from the Financial Crime Unit has found nothing incriminating to date. “Our next move is to examine the contents of these documents and see what they reveal,” Knighton said. “I would say that this investigation will take months, rather than weeks because, to my knowledge, this is just a small number of the documents.”

Finally, the reality of what is about to come and for many already here is upon us. The billion dollar question now is What happened to all that money? Club members of popular foreign currency trading outfit Olint and indeed most of the country are preoccupied with two questions: Will people be able to recover their invested funds and what happened to all that money? The answer to both those questions resides with Olint’s main principal, David Smith.

Olint was expected to make a significant payout, a deadline that came and went, with no good news for its club members, many of whom have not received a payment since the beginning of the year. Earlier that month, Smith, speaking to journalist Cliff Hughes, said that Jamaicans should pray for Olint and keep their fingers crossed that the money arrives in Jamaica. Alas, divine intervention did not materialise. Many club members expressed concern, and by Monday of that week, a foreboding picture was painted when its Braemar Avenue office was closed and an e-mail was released to all club members, part of which read: “It is with some regret that we advise, that as a result of threats to staff members, including a bomb threat within the last few days which is being taken seriously, the Club Member Care Office will be closed to the public as of Monday, July 14, 2008. Efforts are being made to address the matter and we will advise you further.”

Dennis Chung staring in his crystal ball sees the future and predicts A perfect economic storm. The next six to nine months he says will be one of the most challenging periods in the economic history of independent Jamaica. “And I say independent Jamaica merely because I am not aware of what the economic circumstances were before. In fact, what is brewing, I would call a perfect economic storm. I say this not just because bad management of the economy over the years is finally coming home to roost, but also because the vicious global environment will play havoc on vulnerable economies such as ours. The reason for our vulnerability is because we have allowed ourselves to be destroyed by the demons of consumerism, corruption, crime, and politics rather than economic decisions. In fact, the infrastructure that would make our economy able to weather the current global shocks does not exist, because we have failed to educate our people and insist on productivity.”

To provide some clarity to what is happening, the BUSINESSUITE Magazine publishes a feature entitled What Exactly is a Ponzi scheme? A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that involves promising or paying abnormally high returns (“profits”) to investors out of the money paid in by subsequent investors, rather than from net revenues generated by any real business. It is named after Charles Ponzi. A Ponzi scheme usually offers abnormally high short-term returns in order to entice new investors. The high returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises (and pays) require an ever-increasing flow of money from investors in order to keep the scheme going.

The system is doomed to collapse because there are little or no underlying earnings from the money received by the promoter. However, the scheme is often interrupted by legal authorities before it collapses, because a Ponzi scheme is suspected and/or because the promoter is selling unregistered securities. As more investors become involved, the likelihood of the scheme coming to the attention of authorities increases.

In August members of the financial sector begin to brace for what must now come. NCB leads the way and is positioning for investment schemes fallout. National Commercial Bank of Jamaica’s (NCB) move to increase its provision for credit losses by 140 per cent over the 12 months to June 30 have led some investors to believe the commercial bank is preparing itself for the potential impact of the fall-out of investment schemes. “It would be prudent [to increase the provision] in order to make sure there are no surprises,” said Neilson Rose equity asset manager at Mayberry Investments. “You are definitely going to see some fallout and these alternative investment schemes were used as cash flow.” The provision jumped from $39.1 million to $93.1 million when the June quarter is compared year over year. Year to date that figure increased 102 per cent from $151.3 million to $307 million. NCB increased this provision even though there was a decrease in its non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans-dropping to 2.34 per cent from 2.92 per cent over 12 months.

Some are already impacted as VMBS announces that Unregulated schemes hurt them in ’07. With its deposit portfolio remaining flat last year, Jamaica’s second largest mortgage bank, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), says that its ability to attract savings was weakened by the raft of unregulated schemes that offered super returns to investors. The explanation for the weak performance in this segment of the society’s business was outlined in its recently released annual report and underlined by the bank’s chairman Roy Hutchinson and CEO Richard Powell when they addressed members at the annual general meeting.

In September, it gets worse as Bad debts grow and Gov’t continue to gauge effect of fall-out. Analysts aren’t able to peg how much the fall out of ‘get-rich schemes’ has fed into the alarming increase in the number of Jamaicans that are not servicing their loans and mortgages. What’s clear, however, is that the pace at which bad debts held by domestic financial institutions have grown over the last year is the highest it has been since the 1990s financial crisis.

Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) data released, showed that up to June 2008, $7.4 billion in non-performing loans (NPL) – loans in arrears for three months and over – was in the system, an amount equal to the capital budget for education and agriculture combined. It’s up 41 per cent over last year, even as loans grew by half that amount. “This may not be the peak of it,” said financial analyst John Jackson, who closely follows publicly listed companies. “It is something that has to be watched carefully.”
Entering the last quarter of the year Jamaican remittances weather downturn, for now – Cocking cites family loyalty. The Inter-American Development Bank warned that the pace at which remittances once flowed will slow down even more than it originally projected, due to the erosion of the dollar’s value, a spike in inflation and the financial meltdown in the United States.
But at least two remittance companies in Jamaica say for now money transfers from the United States are still strong despite the financial crisis there. “We have not seen any fallout at all, none. It is same as usual,” said Andrew Cocking, deputy group president and head of international business at the Capital and Credit Financial Group, whose money transfer operation is handled by subsidiary Capital and Credit Remittance Limited.

The banking community begins to officially speak out led by a prominent Banker who ties fallout of ‘get rich’ schemes to rising loan delinquency. While there is no empirical data to highlight the number of borrowers that have been directly compromised from the fallout in the alternative investment schemes, a sharp spike in the amount of delinquencies on loans in recent months has raised a few eyebrows in the commercial banking sector.

Scotiabank President and CEO Bill Clarke, at a Financial Services Commission investment luncheon said that there are indications that a lot of persons were affected by the collapse in the high-return “get-rich” schemes, and he suspects that an increase in the number of persons who are unable to service their loans with his institution may be related to the fallout. “In our retail banking business, we have found that over the last couple of months that there has been an escalation in delinquencies,” said Clarke. “But when we enquire as to why arrangements are not being made as originally agreed, the answer that we have been getting is ‘our revenue stream is so much impaired’.”

October and attention is shifted away from the failed investment schemes to the Global financial meltdown. Prime Minister Bruce Golding admits that the global financial crisis will affect some of Jamaica’s critical economic structures, despite Finance Minister Shaw’s earlier claims that the country would face minimal impact. However, he is steering away from instigating panic.

Finally, the reality begins to sink in and a Crisis team is put in place. Giving the clearest indication yet that Jamaica is facing fallouts from the financial crisis that has gone global, the Government is putting together a top-level team to monitor the domestic financial system, and take action as needed to steady the markets here. “There is a lot of work being done in terms of managing the crisis in Jamaica,” said Don Wehby, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. “We had a long meeting with all the stakeholders to determine how we are going to approach this crisis,” he said, “because it is a crisis that calls for leadership.”

Alternative investment schemes and their impact on the economy are missing from the headlines, taken over by the global economic crisis.
In late November the headline is that Latibeaudiere avoids ‘R’ word. The Bank of Jamaica said that output was likely to be flat in the December quarter, but Central Bank Governor Derick Latibeaudiere steadfastly avoided the word recession even though the economy contracted 0.3 per cent during the nine months between January to September. A recession is classically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Confession comes in early December when is announced that Jamaica has been in a recession since the start of ’08. The Jamaican economy has been in a recession since March of this year according to official data published by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin). The data showed that realhttp://businessuite.blogspot.com/ gross domestic product (GDP) by quarter has declined year over year since the December 2007 quarter. Statin, which revised its GDP data to rebase its numbers from 1996 to 2003 and which began using, this year, the value-added approach to calculate economic activity, reported a 0.4 per cent decline in value-added during the December quarter of 2007 when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2006.

The year has closed and the alternative investment schemes, their principals, investors and the overall impact on the economy are no longer it would appear current and newsworthy.

Additional sources: Daily Observer, Daily Gleaner, and Internet sources

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Businessuite News24

National Insurance Fund (NIF) Plans to Increase Net Assets

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1 week ago

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April 23, 2024

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The National Insurance Fund (NIF) plans to increase its net assets through the prudent management of the investment portfolio mix.

As stated by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MFPS) in the 2024/25 Jamaica Public Bodies’ Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the increase will be achieved through participation in opportunities that allow for the maximum growth potential and dividend yield for funds invested in the financial markets.

The improvement in the net asset value will allow for the continued allocation of payments to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) as required.

The strategies to be undertaken include increasing investments within the maximum allowable policy limits in financial instruments that provide strong prospects for growth, and diversifying the portfolio into assets that provide increased returns.

Reforms will also be pursued to improve the corporate governance structure of the NIF, to enable the entity to strengthen its compliance regime and respond to market conditions, while facilitating sustained growth and returns on funds held.

The NIS was established under Section 29 of the National Insurance Act of 1966 as the vehicle into which the NIS contributions are paid.

Its core function is the investment of NIS contributions to provide optimum benefits to the contributors.

The investment portfolio comprises a diversified asset portfolio consisting of fixed income, equities, loans and real estate assets.

The NIF disburses funds to the NIS to provide for its registered beneficiaries, which include pension grants and health insurance in the form of NI Gold.

The Fund also remits 20 per cent of NIS contributions to the National Health Fund ( NHF).

The NIF projects a net surplus of $38.9 billion for financial year 2024/25 over $20.1 billion for 2023/24.

By BALFORD HENRY JIS

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Corporate Movements

Corporate Movements – April 2024

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3 weeks ago

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April 9, 2024

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Wigton Windfarm Limited (“WIG” or the “Company”) has announced the following organisational changes and appointments effective May 6, 2024:

The position of Chief Executive Officer will be established, and Mr. Gary Barrow will be appointed thereto as the executive head of the Company.
The position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer will be established, and Miss Michelle Chin Lenn will be appointed thereto. The position of Head of Energy which was held by Miss Michelle Chin Lenn will be dispensed with.
The Board of Directors of WIG is of the view that the aforementioned changes, and specifically the appointment of Mr. Gary Barrow following a successful recruitment process, will further allow the Company to fully realize its vision of being a profitable, regional conglomerate with successful clean energy and other investments. Mr. Barrow also takes the lead at an exciting time for WIG, leading the charge for new investments to deliver a more diversified energy portfolio and growth agenda. Mr. Barrow has demonstrated exceptional leadership for over thirty (30) years in highly relevant c-suite roles in telecommunications and electricity in the region. In addition to his industry know-how and business experience, his multi-disciplinary background in Engineering, Finance, Technology, Innovation, Business Transformation, Process Re-Engineering, Governance and People Management will allow him to hit the ground running at WIG. In his last appointment at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, as the Chief Operating Officer, he led enterprise-wide strategic planning and he executed some of the game-changing projects in their digital transformation and other business innovations. His past successes included smart meters and grid modernization projects. Mr. Barrow holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Master of Business Administration and has completed global leadership development programmes with INSEAD in France, United Kingdom, China, Spain and USA.

Management changes at VM Investments Limited & VM Wealth Management Limited: In our continued drive to deliver customer-focused experiences to our clients, VM Investments Limited (VMIL) introduced the role of Vice President – Operations. This role will oversee Corporate Planning, Corporate Governance, the Research Unit, Internal Controls, Business Transformation and Core Operations. Allison Mais joined the team in this capacity in February and will work to plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee operational activities of VM Wealth Management (VMWM)/VMIL and ensure the development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems. Allison previously worked at GraceKennedy as Head, Strategic Planning where she was responsible for the Group’s Strategic Plan and the monitoring of the Group’s areas of focus and KPIs, leading the Corporate Planning Unit and executing retreats and investor briefings. Prior to this, Allison was the Head, Digital Strategy, GraceKennedy Financial Group and Assistant Vice President, Strategy and Project Management Office, First Global Bank. She holds a Master of Science in Manufacturing, Management & Information Systems from Cranfield University, UK and a Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Technology from the University of Technology. VMIL also wishes to advise that Mr Jason Bailey, who held the post of Manager, Risk and Compliance, of VMIL and VM Wealth Management Limited resigned from the company effective January 22, 2024. We thank Jason for his service and contribution to the VMIL Group and wish him great success in his future endeavours.

At the Radio Jamaica Limited Board of Directors meeting of April 25,2024, the Board passed a resolution to appoint Dr. David McBean as a director of the company, effective 25 April, 2024.

Consequent upon the reorganization of the Mayberry Group of Companies, this letter serves to advise of the Directors and Company Secretary of Mayberry Group Ltd. Note that Mayberry Group Ltd, a company incorporated under the laws of Saint Lucia, was listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on December 13, 2023.

The current Listing of Directors, appointed on September 6, 2023, are as follows:

1. Christopher Berry

2. Konrad Berry

3. Gary Peart

4. Richard Surage

5. Gladstone Lewars

6. Alok Jain

7. Erwin Angus

8. Walter Scott

The Corporate Secretary of Mayberry Group Ltd is FinSec Limited, appointed on November 15, 2022.

Justin Nam has resigned as Eppley’s General Manager to pursue other interests after nearly a decade at the company. His resignation is effective May 31, 2024, and he will coordinate with Raymond and Jeffrey to facilitate a smooth transition.

Raymond Donaldson to join Eppley as CEO

Raymond Donaldson will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Eppley Limited (Eppley) effective May 3, 2024.

“Raymond has extensive leadership experience in financial markets across the Caribbean and a track record of scaling regional businesses. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead high performing teams and deliver results. We are delighted that Raymond will be joining Eppley.” said P.B. Scott, Chairman of Eppley.

Jeffrey Brown will also join Eppley on May 3, 2024, as Chief Investment Officer and will work closely with Denise Gallimore, VP of Real Estate and Samantha Summerbell, AVP Credit to grow and expand Eppley’s investment efforts.

Justin Nam has resigned as Eppley’s General Manager to pursue other interests after nearly a decade at the company. His resignation is effective May 31, 2024, and he will coordinate with Raymond and Jeffrey to facilitate a smooth transition.

“Justin has been an integral part of developing Eppley into the leading regional investment firm it is today contributing to the growth of our credit, mezzanine, infrastructure and real estate portfolios across the Caribbean. As an Eppley alumnus, we wish him well in his future endeavours.” said Nicholas Scott, Vice Chairman of Eppley. “I’ve worked closely for many years with both Raymond and Jeffrey. I know they share Eppley’s investment philosophy and I’m confident that they will continue our proud track record and build our business.”

“Eppley is a pioneer in private market investing in the Caribbean and one of the most respected investment firms in our region known for the caliber of its team, its financial performance and its integrity. I plan to lead Eppley guided by its founding principles for benefit of our team, our clients and our shareholders.” said Raymond Donaldson, Eppley’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.

Raymond Donaldson has a 20-year career in banking and finance in Jamaica, the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. Most recently, Mr. Donaldson was Vice President Corporate and Commercial Banking at National Commercial Bank. Prior to that Mr. Donaldson served as Director of Corporate and Investment Banking in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos at CIBC FirstCaribbean.

Jeffrey Brown has held executive roles in banking in Jamaica and Barbados, mostly recently as Head of Loan Structuring and Syndications at National Commercial Bank and previously at CIBC FirstCaribbean, Scotiabank and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Tropical Battery Company Limited (TROPICAL) has renamed certain posts within the organisation. The Company hereby notifies that the members of the management team, including recent changes and senior management of subsidiaries, are as follows:

Alexander Melville Chief Executive Officer

Alexander Melville, who held the post of Managing Director, has been appointed as CEO effective March 1, 2024. He remains a Director on the. Board of Directors. He has been with Tropical Battery since April 1, 1996 including as Managing Director and has more than 26 years of industry work experience in the Automotive/Battery Business. The experience ranges from warehouse hand, receivables clerk, finance director, to his current role. The highlights during this time would be the transition to real-time sales accounting for all of our retail stores, restructuring shareholder equity with significant investment from our parent company, and helping to put the right people in the right seats, then inspiring and motivating them to achieve growth rates significantly above our industry growth rates. Alexander, also sits on the Board of Eppley Limited, a finance and investment company listed on the JSE, and is on the Audit and Remuneration Committees of that company. Additionally, on Chukka Group Boards; Diverze Assets Inc., Diverze Properties, and as the Treasury Director of Chukka Caribbean Adventures Ltd (a regional Nature Adventure Tour Company).

Daniel Melville Chief Operating Officer

Daniel Melville, who held the post of Deputy Managing Director, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer effective March 1, 2024. On May 19, 2004, Daniel took-up the role as the VP Sales & Marketing at Tropical Battery, where his skills allowed him to lead the sales Team and execute successful customer service strategies. Since taking over this role the sales have grown by more than 15% annually on average. He teams up with all department heads to brainstorm, motivate and inspire our fellow employees, while overseeing business operations. In June 2021 he was promoted to Deputy Managing Director. Daniel is also a board member, and his mandate is to ensure that Tropical Battery is constantly moving towards fulfilment of its short-term and long-term goals and does not diverge from its strategic plan. Before Tropical Battery, he worked for over 14 years at the Chukka Group. Both on the operating side and the marketing team. Prior to joining same, he worked with Carnival Cruise Lines which helped him to gain a unique understanding of visitors’ vacation preferences and needs.

Reshando Mais Chief Financial Controller

Reshando Mais, who held the post of Financial Controller, has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2024. Reshando joined Tropical Battery Company Limited on June 29, 2017, in the capacity of Financial Controller. He is responsible for the accounting and financial operations of the Company which includes, generating and reporting periodic financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. He is a graduate of Northern Caribbean University and University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting and a Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration respectively. He has over 10 years of experience in accounting, external audit real estate industry and merchandising.

David Walton Chief Marketing Officer

David Walton, who held the post of Director of Sales and Marketing, has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer effective March 1, 2024. David joined our Management Team on August 9, 2021 in the capacity of Director of Sales & Marketing. David is an innovative commercial leader with a background in both Sales & Marketing. With over 20 years of experience as a team lead for commercially successful brands, in the alcoholic beverage and FMCG industries, as well as entrepreneurial ventures in the Entertainment & Hospitality Industry, David has consistently built brands and delivered commercial results.

Stacy–Ann Spence Operations Manager

Stacy-Ann has been a part of the Tropical Battery family since November 9, 2015. Her portfolio includes direct oversight of our warehouse distribution, Battery Recycling & Export coordination, Occupational Health & Safety, Corporate Social Responsibility, Administration & Maintenance Management and overall general operations. Stacy-Ann graduated from the University of the West Indies with honors in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Labour & Employment Relations.

Sandra Russell Talent Manager

Sandra Russell, who held the post of Human Resource Manager, has been appointed as Talent Manager. Sandra joined our management team on January 14, 2019, in the capacity of Human Resource Manager. She studied at both local and overseas institutions where she now holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Madison University, USA., and a Diploma in Personnel Management & Industrial Relation from IMP. Mrs. Russell has twenty-four (24) years of management experience in the private sector namely Lasco Distributors Limited. She also served in the Banking and Public Sector as well.

Kamesha Robinson Corporate Governance Administrator

Kamesha Robinson has been appointed as Corporate Governance Administrator effective February 2, 2023. Kamesha joined the Tropical Battery family on March 1, 2010. She oversees the Administration Department and provides comprehensive support to the Board of Directors. With over 16 years’ experience in the telecommunications, retail and automotive industries, she comes with high-quality administrative skills and solid general business knowledge. Prior to Tropical Battery, she worked at Mossel Jamaica Ltd. (Digicel) in the areas of Customer Service and Site Acquisition. She graduated with honors from Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2000 with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Marketing and a Diploma in Business Administration.

Jeffrey Brown Information Technology Manager

Jeffrey Brown was appointed as Information Technology Manager in February 2023. He is a seasoned IT professional with over 18 years of experience in managing and maintaining complex network infrastructure, hardware, and software systems. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to support and optimize operations for a variety of organizations in Jamaica. Jeffrey has been with Tropical Battery since February 27, 2023, he oversees the entire IT infrastructure, administers LAN and wireless (WAN) networks, and leads project management initiatives. Jeffrey’s career trajectory demonstrates a deep dedication to the IT field. He has consistently developed his skills and taken on increasingly complex roles, showcasing his ability to adapt and thrive in different environments. With his comprehensive knowledge, technical expertise, and leadership qualities, Jeffrey Brown is a valuable asset to any organization requiring a reliable and efficient IT manager.

Orane Gray Consultant IT

Effective February 2023, Orane Gray is no longer part of the senior management team but remains a consultant to the Company for information technology. Orane Gray perviously served as Information Technology Manager.

Oliver Hill CEO, Tropical Renewable Energy, Tropical Mobility and Tropical Finance

Oliver Hill is CEO of Tropical Renewable Energy, Tropical Mobility and Tropical Finance, majority-owned subsidiaries established in 2022. Oliver joined Tropical Battery on October 4, 2021. The subsidiaries aims to facilitate the transition to sustainable energy and transport. Oliver brings nearly two decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions intelligence and consulting across Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining Tropical Battery, he worked as a consultant with the Inter-American Development Bank, where he supported the energy, water, and state modernization portfolios. Oliver holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and a Master of Science from Columbia University.

Karina Chez CEO, Kaya Energy Group

Mrs. Karina Chez brings extensive business management and international trade experience to the KAYA team. Karina has been a part of the team since April 1, 2019. She is a strategic visionary driving the company’s growth into the future. Karina is a sought-after international speaker who has presented on topics including solar energy, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, and climate change. She has a broad business network relevant to KAYA’s growth, including serving as the founding President of ASOFER, the Dominican Republic’s renewable energy association; a former president and board member Entrepreneurs’ Organization; a former Board Member of AIRD; and the Chapter Director of Startup Grind. Prior to KAYA, Karina founded The Chess Group, a digital marketing firm based in Dubai and New York, and served as a marketing executive in the Middle East and North America for JumpTV. Karina received an MBA from Pace University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.

Andrew Cramer COO, Kaya Energy Group

Mr. Andrew Cramer is a cofounder and COO of KAYA and oversees project development and implementation processes. He is a frequent speaker at regional energy and technology conferences – including the MIT Technology Review’s EmTech and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum – on topics including the role disruptive technologies like machine learning will play in the renewable energy industry. Prior to KAYA, Andrew worked with the United Nations as a post-conflict electoral consultant in countries including Timor-Leste, Nepal, Sudan, Comoros, Afghanistan and Libya. In 2017, Andrew was selected to be among 90 thought leaders from around the world to participate in a program – funded by Google and based on the NASA Ames Research Facility in Silicon Valley – to examine how exponential technologies can be leveraged to address the negative impacts of climate change. Andrew has a degree in Environmental Sciences from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.

Chris Wunderlich Chief Executive Officer, Rose Electronics Distributing Co.

Chris Wunderlich was appointed the CEO of Rose Electronics Distributing effective January 30, 2024. Chris possesses a solid background in operations and engineering. His tenure in previous roles has been distinguished by significant enhancements in manufacturing processes and operational efficiency. Emphasizing talent development and continuous improvement in his leadership style, Chris aligns well with Tropical Battery’s vision for the company. His strategic approach in empowering teams to solve complex challenges and his commitment to refining operational systems position him as a key leader, ready to drive Rose Electronics towards a future of innovation and success.

Tim Gray Director of Business Intelligence & Accounting, Rose Electronics Distributing Co.

Tim Gray continues bringing a rich tapestry of experience that blends military discipline with business acumen. His nine-year tenure in the US Marine Corps, marked by leadership in high-pressure environments, laid a foundation for his subsequent success in the business world. With a Bachelor’s in Managerial Economics from UC Davis, Tim has rapidly ascended in the finance and accounting sectors, demonstrating a profound ability to navigate complex challenges and implement strategic solutions. As Director of Business Intelligence and Accounting, Tim’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence will be instrumental in driving Rose’s growth and innovation in the evolving landscape of battery technology.

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Economists Hail Jamaica’s Sustained Debt Reduction as “Exceptional”

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April 9, 2024

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Photo: Derrick Scott

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, shares a moment with (from left) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor, Emil Vermer; Professor, Harvard Business School, Laura Alfaro; University of Colorado Professor, Barry Eichengreen; Jamaican economist at Stanford University, Professor Peter Blair Henry; and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Economist, Serkan Arslanalp. Occasion was the Brookings Institute spring papers on economic activity, featuring Jamaica, in Washington DC on March 28.

Jamaica is being hailed as “exceptional” for achieving sustained reduction in the public-debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio (GDP) despite global financial crises, pandemics, and other emergencies.

In a paper titled ‘Sustained Debt Reduction: The Jamaica Exception’, authors Serkan Arslanalp, Barry Eichengreen and Professor Peter Blair Henry, noted that the sharp, sustained reductions in public debt are outstanding “because public-debt-to-GDP ratios have been trending up in advanced countries, emerging markets, and developing countries alike”.

The paper was presented at the Brookings Institute in Washington on Thursday (March 28).

“Governments have borrowed in response to financial crises, pandemics, wars and other emergencies, resulting in higher debt ratios. But only in rare instances have they succeeded in bringing those higher debt ratios back down once the emergency passed,” the paper pointed out.

Jamaican economist at Stanford University, Professor Peter Blair Henry, delivers a paper on ‘Sustained Debt Reduction the Jamaica Exception’ at the Brookings Institute in Washington DC on Thursday (March 28). At left is Co-presenter University of Colorado Professor, Barry Eichengreen.

In the case of Jamaica, the Government was able to cut its debt ratio in half from 144 per cent of GDP at the end of 2012 to 72 per cent in 2023.

The economists said the achievement was despite vulnerability to hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes, storm surges and landslides, noting that Jamaica is ranked as the third most disaster-prone country in the world according to the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

“It did so despite a COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted tourism and mandated exceptional increases in public spending. Yet, despite this exogenously prompted deviation from plan, the IMF’s baseline projection, in its 2023 Article IV report, forecasts a further fall in debt-GDP to less than 60 per cent over the next four years,” the paper said further.

The paper highlighted the fact that the Fiscal Responsibility Framework, introduced in 2010, required the Minister of Finance to take measures to reduce, by the end of fiscal year 2016, the fiscal balance to nil, the debt-GDP ratio to 100 per cent, and public-sector wages as a share of GDP to nine per cent.

“The framework was augmented in 2014 to require the Minister, by the end of fiscal year 2018, to specify a multi-year fiscal trajectory to bring the debt-GDP ratio down to 60 per cent by 2026. The framework included an escape clause to be invoked in the event of large shocks.

“This prevented the rule from being so rigid, in a volatile macroeconomic environment, as to lack credibility. At the same time, it included clear criteria and independent oversight to prevent opportunistic use,” the paper said.

: Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, speaks with University of Colorado Professor, Barry Eichengreen (left), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Professor, Emil Vermer, at the presentation of the Brookings Institute spring papers on economic activity, featuring Jamaica, in Washington DC on March 28.

The paper further pointed to the consensus building exercise entered into by the Government, which was key to the achievement.

“In 2013, a series of ongoing discussions in the National Partnership Council, a social dialogue collaboration involving the Government, parliamentary Opposition, and social partners, culminated in the Partnership for Jamaica Agreement on consensus policies in four areas, first of which was fiscal reform and consolidation,” the paper noted.

“The Partnership for Jamaica Agreement fostered a common belief that the burden of fiscal adjustment would be widely and fairly shared. It supported the creation and ensured broad national acceptance of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) to monitor and publicly report on fiscal policies and outcomes, and to provide independent verification that all parties kept to the terms of their agreement,” the research said.

“By creating a sense of fair burden sharing, Jamaica’s organised process of consultation thus sustained public support for the operation of the country’s fiscal rules, culminating in March 2023 with the establishment of a permanent, independent Fiscal Commission,” the economists declared.

“Jamaica managed its financial system well in this period. It adeptly managed the term structure of the debt, by way of a well-designed fiscal rule, and a partnership agreement creating confidence that the burden of adjustment would be widely and fairly shared.

The fiscal responsibility and the partnership agreement were key, as neither element would have worked to achieve sustained debt reduction in the absence of the other.

Both were needed the authors declared.

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Minister Bartlett Underscores Tourism Strategy and Action Plan’s Importance

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April 9, 2024

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Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has emphasised the importance of Jamaica’s Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (TSAP) in generating the stakeholder capacity to respond to the industry’s new architecture.

The TSAP, being executed through a partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is geared towards boosting socio-economic development and investment, building the local tourism industry’s resilience to climate change and reducing the sector’s contribution to climate change.

It also aims to diversify Jamaica’s inbound tourism and promote the industry’s knowledge-based and technology-enabled development.

Mr. Bartlett also highlighted the TSAP’s importance in making tourism more inclusive and more of an enabler of economic growth and development in Jamaica.

“So, the strategies have to look at not just the physical areas but it has to start with human capital. The most important element within our tourism realisation is with people. Jamaica’s wealth is not in minerals, as you know; but what we really have are our people, and our people are the wealth of this country,” the Minister said.

“And so, our strategy has to deal, very strongly, with building, training, building intellectual capacity, building innovative capacities, building creative capacities, [and] building a new sense of how people can convert knowledge into material goods and services which will have a value and a price,” Mr. Bartlett added.

He was speaking during the opening session of the Tourism Strategy and Action Plan Consultation Workshop for Kingston and St. Andrew, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (April 4).

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), shares a light moment with General Manager, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Caribbean Country Department Group and Representative in Jamaica, Anton Edmunds, during the opening session of the Tourism Strategy and Action Plan Consultation Workshop for Kingston and St. Andrew, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (April 4).

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett underscored the need to increase local production, which is critical in enabling Jamaica to retain a larger ratio of the tourist dollar.

“The consumption pattern of the visitor is three to five times that of the locals. Some people don’t understand why revenue to government has increased significantly without increasing/or new taxes being imposed. They don’t understand that what tourism has done is to increase the consumption pattern in Jamaica exponentially over the last two and a half years in particular, as we started from zero and grew to what is now 4.2 million visitors,” he stated.

“So, whose food are they eating? That is our job, to make sure that it is Jamaican food… our farmers must step up to the plate. The strategy in tourism must drive the linkages in the various areas, so as to stop the leakages from all the other areas,” Minister Bartlett added.

The workshop marks the final in a series of engagements aimed at highlighting relevant components of the Tourism Strategy and gathering as much input as possible from key stakeholders.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), makes a point to Operations Lead Specialist, Tourism, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Olga Gomez-Garcia, during the opening session of the Tourism Strategy and Action Plan Consultation Workshop for Kingston and St. Andrew held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (April 4). Looking on is General Manager, IDB Caribbean Country Department Group and Representative in Jamaica, Anton Edmunds.

By: LATONYA LINTON, JIS

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Statement by Bank of Jamaica Concerning Previous Regulatory Actions Involving Alliance Financial Services Limited

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April 9, 2024

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Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) takes note of the recent Court Decision in the matter involving Alliance Investment Management Limited (AIML), which is not a licensee of the Bank, and public commentary related to the actions taken by the Bank in December 2021 to suspend the cambio and remittance operating licences issued to then AIML-affiliated company Alliance Financial Services Limited (AFSL) effective 3 December 2021. The Bank’s actions also included the revocation of the authorisation granted to AFSL to operate in the Bank of Jamaica Fintech Regulatory Sandbox as a payment service provider effective 3 December 2021.

As stated by the Bank at the time, the regulatory actions became necessary after the Financial Investigations Division (FID) on 2 December 2021 charged AFSL’s principals and two AFSL-affiliated companies at the time (AIML and Alliance Finance Limited (AFL)) with several offences under the Bank of Jamaica Act and the Banking Services Act. Bank of Jamaica is aware that investigations by the FID into the Alliance Group began around 2018. However, it was only after formal charges were laid against the entities and their principals by the FID following the requisite ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, that BOJ took the regulatory action of the suspension of licences to safeguard the financial system. The formal charging of the entities and their principals raised serious “fit and proper” considerations for their continued operation of financial services under the Bank of Jamaica Act and the Banking Services Act.

Alliance Finance Limited subsequently pleaded guilty in the St. Andrew Parish Court to several breaches of the Bank of Jamaica Act and the Banking Services Act and was fined. These breaches for which AFL was convicted related to “Carrying on the Business of Lending in Foreign Currency in breach of the Bank of Jamaica Act” and “Accepting Deposits Without the Requisite Licence in breach of the Banking Services Act.” The breaches involved engaging in economic activities which are regulated and which require an extensive application process, extensive due diligence checks and continuous monitoring throughout the life of the licence in the case of the Banking Services Act. The breaches also involved engaging in the business of lending in foreign currency without the requisite authorisation that allows for review, due diligence and monitoring mechanisms being applied to ensure continued order in the foreign Exchange market. These represent breaches of the substantive framework of financial services regulated by Bank of Jamaica. One consequence of such breaches is being rendered unfit to own and operate financial services in the financial system.

Bank of Jamaica is also aware of legal action initiated in the Supreme Court by the FID related to criminal forfeiture regarding the offences for which AFL was convicted in relation to the Bank of Jamaica Act and the Banking Services Act.

Bank of Jamaica maintains that its actions taken in December 2021 to suspend the cambio and remittance operating licence of AFSL and to revoke the authorisation granted to AFSL to operate in the BOJ Fintech Regulatory Sandbox as a payment service provider, were necessary as the allegations at the time threatened the good order in the foreign exchange market and payment systems as well as the reputation and good standing of the Jamaican financial system internationally. It is important to note that BOJ’s regulatory actions were the subject of judicial review, and finding in the Bank’s favour, the Court of Appeal noted in its 2022 judgment in the matter of Alliance Financial Services Limited v Bank of Jamaica that, “the risk to the financial sector outweighed the economic loss and inconvenience AFSL may suffer as a result of the continuation of the suspension.”

Bank of Jamaica remains committed to fulfilling its mandate to ensure the stability of the Jamaican financial system and the effective and impartial supervision of its licensees.

It is also to be noted that Alliance’s divestment of business was a strategy and activity pursued by the principals of Alliance as their own business decision.

It is also to be noted that Alliance’s divestment of business was a strategy and activity pursued by the principals of Alliance as their own business decision. Bank of Jamaica had no part in that decision or transaction. On 1 April 2022, BOJ publicly advised that AFSL, under a new ownership structure, applied for a cambio and remittance licence, and having satisfied the Bank’s due diligence requirements, was licenced to offer cambio and remittance services at approved locations effective 23 March 2022.

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