Super Bowl Sunday!!!

Well it’s Super Bowl Sunday in the USA and things are very quiet here, almost scary quiet. I fear that if business doesn’t pick up soon on the port, and in the whole country for that matter, a lot of people are going starve, or turn to illicit means or violence to survive. Things are very bad here and getting worse.

The world economic crisis is definitely taking its toll on the economy here in Jamaica. One of our cargo terminals here in Kingston laid off 70+ people last Friday because volumes are down and there is not enough volume to keep everyone working. Of course with work scarce and people struggling to make ends meet, it makes our job even tougher.

Organizations and other businesses (and I use the term business losely) who shall remain nameless, are trying every means of transporting cargo, legal and illegal, currently known to man to get their products in and out of this country.

Our port facilities are empty today and normally in Kingston, we would have at least 4 vessels loading and unloading cargo on a weekend. We have had one ship in port for three days due to the captain and crew being arrested and held for smuggling. This vessel has been seized and its cargo impounded, because they found the contraband in a common area on board and it couldn't be pinned on any one person. Normally marine seizures of this type are charged against the captain of the vessle or the owners of the Cargo Line to pay off any fines levied against the carrier. This particular seizure was done to facilitate payment of a multi-million dollar (US $) fine for smuggling drugs. The Jamaican Government could go as far as selling the vessel at auction to pay off the fine. Anyone want to by a used cargo vessel?

However, as generally happens on this type of seizure, the vessel will probably be rented back to the owners of the line and the fine will be paid over a negotiated period of time. They (the cargo line) can’t earn money to pay off the fine if they don’t have a vessel to transport cargo. It’s definitely not a perfect system, but…it’s worked (more or less) for several decades now.

I am really concerned however, that with the economy in the condition that it’s in and everyone saying it will get worse before it gets better, we will surely have a lot more of this type of situation to deal with in the near future.

Bwoy what a downer eh?

OK, on to a more upbeat topic. Who you rooting for in the big game today? Send me a remark and let me know whose colors you’re wearing!!! I’m thinking the Cardinals…. Not that I think they will win, but it’s been so long since they have performed this well through a season, that I just hope they win. I’m a sucker for the underdog.... what can I say!

Anyway, let me know how you stand!!! Come on….write it….get out on that limb and pick one…. and then let me know where you stand and why!!!!

I’m preparing for visitors. I’m making some snacks and preparing varying flavors of wings, and preping chips and dips and all manner of finger foods, as several of my co workers (who BTW really don’t know a lot about American Football) converge on my house here to watch the game and eat!!!!

So until next time. Lata, Mon!!!