Extortion!

1. There is disquiet in the business community these days about aggressive solicitation from politicians. It is nothing new, but with a tight economic situation, no one has money to spare. Recently, we heard about a politician who has been dishing out $10,000 tickets for a fund-raiser. Thankfully, it is the well-heeled who are targeted. The fact is, businessmen who are among the targeted feel most obliged to fork out the money. After all, they live and work here and a contract or two might be in their future. But some say it is tantamount to extortion.

Brand Jamaica

2. We can expect the opportunists to start cashing in on Brand Jamaica in the days and months ahead. From website domains to consumer items, they will all be branded in the name of the rock. Recently we saw Brazilian coffee being marketed in burlap - yes, the same material that we call 'crocus bag', which for years adorned our coffee, is no longer unique to the local beans. Some are suggesting that if we are not careful, the Trelawny Yam Festival may soon be held in Beijing.

Speaking out

3. The guru already has a mouthpiece which he has been using to great advantage to win friends and peddle influence. Word on the street is that he will soon acquire another entity, one that will ensure he is able to leave footprints on everything national in real time. It is true what the donkey says: "The world nuh level."

Getting the Boot

4. The executive thought that his college buddy could save him from the axe. But he should understand that college buddy has been under the gun lately and may soon join the unemployment line. You can fool some people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.