SANDOR PANTON of Top5Jamaica.com, in association with the Gleaner Online, guides you through what's new, cool and interesting on the Internet. From Jamaica to the wider Caribbean and the rest of the world, this is the 'Week on the Web'.
Online repositories of Jamaican data needed
A recent article in the Ottawa Business Journal - http:// www.ottawabusinessjournal.com - had me thinking about the need for indigenous online repositories of Jamaica-related statistics and information. The Ottawa Business Journal article stated that according to a recent annual revenue survey by the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada, online advertising revenues in Canada will reach Can $519 million in 2005 (43 per cent more than the Can $364 million earned in 2004). The article had me pondering about the availability of any such data from a strictly Jamaican perspective.
Jamaica's presence in the online world is undoubtedly on the rise, but there are still quite a few glaring gaps in terms of the needs that are currently being filled. There's no doubt that many entertainment-related needs are being filled, however, from a business and e-Government perspective we are severely lacking when we look at what's available online. Yes, there are Government agencies such as the Statistical Institute of Jamaica - http://www.statinja.com - and the Bank of Jamaica - http:// www.boj.org.jm - offering limited online access to some statistics and information, but what about websites offering data that would be useful to a range of individuals and companies, from students doing research at a secondary or tertiary level, to venture capitalists who may be investigating the potential and viability of a particular industry or type of business.
The door is wide open for a smart individual or company to look to fill this need immediately; a business model that includes some sort of membership subscription is not far-fetched, as the inherent value of the data is likely to make the cost of the service secondary in the minds of those who may find it useful.
Young Entrepreneurs Association in Jamaica
The Employers Federation of Jamaica has reportedly proposed (http://www.bizjamaica.com/downloads/YEA.pdf) the development of a Young Entrepreneurs Association here in Jamaica. The signs that such an association will actually work are very encouraging, and I look forward to it being a reality in the near future.
Websites of the week
http://www.thecommentatorjm.com - Truly independent online media. The commentator offers grass roots media perspectives on everything from foreign affairs and politics to culture and religion.
http://www.marketingvox.com - As with previous weeks, I've featured a second site which is not specifically Jamaican, but which should be of interest to some who are business-minded. The Marketing Vox describes itself as the online voice of marketing, as it offers detailed advertising and marketing related news from a global perspective.
Top 5 views on Jamaica Gleaner, week ending September 10, 2005
1. 'We'll do it again' - GOLDING PROMISES MORE PROTESTS http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050907/lead/lead1.html 5,420 views
2. Bodies found in upscale community http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050908/lead/lead6.html 5,247 views
3. A mayor's nightmare? Expert warns of New Orleans-type catastrophe in Portmore http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050904/lead/lead1.html 3,767 views
4. Sex in the city - MoBay: liberated and decadent http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050904/lead/lead7.html 3,589 views
5. JLP plan protest - Islandwide demo against price hikes http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050905/lead/lead1.html 3,247 views
Top 5 views on Jamaica Star, week ending September 10, 2005
1. The dark side of black people http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20050902/cleisure/cleisure1.html 52,421 views
2. Hottie Hottie Girl
http://www.jamaica-star.com/hottie-girls/651.html 12,539 views
3. Poster Girl
http://www.jamaica-star.com/poster_girl/pg_85.html 12,433 views
4. Poster Girl
http://www.jamaica-star.com/poster_girl/pg_77.html 5,898 views
5. Hottie Hottie Girl
http://www.jamaica-star.com/hottie-girls/656.html 4,487 views
