Stephen VasciannieTHE SCHOOLS' Challenge Quiz continues to be excellent both for educational and entertainment purposes. The experts tell me, however, that sometimes the rate of repetition of questions is too high for comfort. They note, for instance, that in the finals, one team was asked two questions in the Minutes Section that they had already been asked in an earlier round of the quiz in the same year. You may have noticed, but I did not.
The banking sector continues to survive, and in some instances, banks are flourishing. From a layperson's point of view, however, the Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) seem to work less efficiently here than in the United States and Britain. Is this really so? You may have noticed; I am not certain. I take the view, however, that the new credit card statement introduced by one of our major banks is almost indecipherable. The statement has expressions such as "Finance charge MDSE". What can this mean, I find myself asking, especially as the phrase is placed in the vicinity of a 17-letter/digit combination code. The bank may know, but I certainly do not, and it really is asking too much to have persons study the fineprint on a credit card statement every month.
While I am on bank matters, is there an explanation for the following? If you have a dual currency credit card from a certain bank, then, when you used it in Jamaica up to recently, you would properly be charged in Jamaican dollars. Nowadays, though, that seems to have changed: now, even Jamaican expenditure is charged in United States dollars.
This is presumably an error either on the part of the bank or the company to be paid; or a misinterpretation by the reader of the credit card statement; for how can you be charged American dollars for goods purchased in Jamaica? Well, perhaps you can be; for, have you noticed that in some tourist destinations, prices are quoted almost exclusively in American dollars?
Something does not seem quite right about this, not only from the esoteric perspective of sovereignty, but also just on the basis of common-sense. Why should people in Jamaica who wish to purchase, say, a pair of swimming trunks in the vicinity of Doctor's Cave Beach, be made to feel that their money is barely legal tender? You may have an explanation for this; I do not.
SMUG MONEY
If I may return to financial institutions for a moment: you may have noticed that at least one institution relies heavily in its advertisement on a smart-looking young lady who tells us of her aspiration to be a millionaire by age 30. Something about this strikes me as inappropriate.
Of course, people should aspire to wealth and financial security, if that is their desire. But do we need to present ourselves as smug and self-satisfied about the quest for money? And, do we need to put this attitude into the mouth of a young person, night after repetitive night?
Newspaper standards are, generally, quite high. Various experts had things to say, however, about a picture recently captured by one paper, but not the other. You may have noticed this picture. I did, but felt that far too much was made of this scoop. This will happen from time to time. Similarly, you may have noticed the short 'big word' debate in this paper.
Horses for courses, I thought. If you want big words you go to the columnist who offers them so skilfully; if you want small words, you may go elsewhere. One thing, though, columnists (ourselves sometimes prickly, if not cantankerous) probably should not complain too loudly when letter writers seek to 'jook' us. At the same time, letter writers should aspire to transparency: I recently saw a letter from a columnist's relative praising to the heavens the columnist's contribution. You may not have noticed; but some people did.
ANTI-REPUBLICAN, BUSH
On to American politics. You may have noticed that the Democratic Party appears more unified today than it has been in the recent past. This seems related more to anti-Republican, anti-Bush sentiment, than to pro-Kerry enthusiasm, and as such it underlines the sharpness of political division within some parts of the American electorate today. You may also have noticed that the strongest speech at the Democratic Convention was offered by Al Sharpton, though the cynic might say this is to be expected since Reverend Sharpton has reportedly been preaching since age four.
You may have noticed, too, that the Iraq intervention has remained at the top of the American agenda, and may, indeed, determine the results in November. Many experts are inclined to the view that this will work to Kerry's advantage, but this is open to argument. Leave aside the committed voters for both parties: an uncommitted voter may be influenced as much by the desire for continuity in the face of unidentified security threats, as by the desire to put power into the hands of those who would bring home the troops. Victory is surely not a bankable proposition for either side at this time as they have noticed.
Stephen Vasciannie is Professor of International Law, Head of the Department of Government, UWI, and a consultant in the chambers of the Attorney-General.
