Black Immigrant Daily News

First Rock Real Estate, last Friday, gained 17 per cent to $13.75, followed by Sagicor Select Funds up 10 per cent to $0.46 and Caribbean Assurance, which gained 7.0 per cent to $2.48.

The top declining stocks were JMMB Preference shares down 19 per cent to $2.00, ISP Finance down 15 per cent to $17.00, CAC 2000 Limited, which dipped 14 per cent to $1.01.

The JSE Index advanced by 1,744.70 points (0.49 per cent) to close at 358,760.10 points and the volume traded amounted to 11,090,416 valued at $78,193,166.57.

The Junior market Index declined by 20.58 points (0.49 per cent) to close at 4,175.89 points and the volume traded amounted to 14,998,187 valued at $39,991,106.39.

Meanwhile, the JSE Combined Index advanced by 1,443.05 points (0.39 per cent) to close at 372,996.72 points and the volume traded amounted to 26,088,603 valued at $118,184,272.96.

The JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 601.52 points (0.15 per cent) to close at 409,154.78 points and the volume traded amounted to 11,083,762 valued at $77,910,863.02.

The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 1.25 points (0.56 per cent) to close at 222.51 points and the volume traded amounted to 358,034 valued at $26,938.09.

Also on the day, the JSE Cross Listed Index advanced by 1.31 points (2.26 per cent) to close at 59.22 points and the volume traded amounted to 658 valued at $282,303.55.

The JSE Financial Index advanced by 0.15 points (0.17 per cent) to close at 86.18 points and the volume traded amounted to 3,967,595 valued at $45,232,413.25.

The JSE Manufacturing & Distribution Index advanced by 1.05 points (1.06 per cent) to close at 100.34 points and the volume traded amounted to 11,072,924 valued at $60,049,164.24.

Overall Market activity resulted from trading in 101 stocks of which 37 advanced, 44 declined and 20 traded firm.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Dear Editor,

Let me start by saying I am an ordinary citizen like everyone else struggling to get by like most people in this country.

I know in some way or form we all pay taxes directly and indirectly in this country that we all call home.

For a few weeks i’ve noticed the Public Works Department for a few weeks in September have been patching roads all across the country. It quite obvious the government has no money to totally resurface the major roads across the country hence the constant patching.

Although the way in which the roads are engaged patched makes no sense whatsoever something is better than nothing. However, I am upset with the recent road patching the PWD conduct in September. I live on the eastern side of the island and to get to and from work every day I use the All-Saints Main Road. From the second week of September the PWD patched that particular road from Townhouse Mega Store right up Kennedys Hardware store and stopped there.

I drive a car like other not so fortunate person’s, and cannot afford a jeep or truck like the better off and elites persons in society. Starting from the elderly home past John I Martin Racetrack right up to BeLab Services is where the worst stretch of that road remains. I don’t know or want to believe it deliberate but I found it very strange that the worst section of All Saints Road has not been patched so that it can ease the pressure it put on person vehicles traveling on that said road.

Another thing I’ve noticed driving is that lots of the roadways including the newly built ones does not have proper drainage or if it does have drainage either it isn’t maintained properly or grass has overgrown where the water should be going into, hence the water settles on the roadways because it has no where to go. I think we can all agree All Saints Road from West Bus Station right out to English Habor needs to resurface totally, but this government clearly doesn’t have the money to do this therefore for the foreseeable future it seems to constantly patching roads will be the norm.

Myself  like many others has to change suspension parts very regularly with these crater ridden terrains we call road surfaces, and just like food prices gone up the price of car parts has gone up putting extra strains on people already struggling with high cost of everything in this country.

I implore Minister Lennox Weston and the Public Works Department to please send a crew to All Saints Road to finish patching the road so it can ease the pressure it places on motorist’s vehicle suspension parts.

Dornell Joseph, Frustrated Motorists

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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The Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre – File photo

EX-Petrotrin Pointe-a-Pierre refinery workers staged their second protest in as many days on Sunday, demanding the restart of the refinery in the face of rising fuel prices.

Led by Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Pointe-a-Pierre branch president Christopher Jackman, about two dozen ex-employees marched from Marabella to the main gate of the refinery.

They waved a national flag and carried placards which demanded the refinery be sold to Patriotic Energy and Technologies Co Ltd. They insisted Petrotrin’s closure, four years ago, was “a hostile takeover, not a restructuring.” The workers said refineries all over the world were profiting.

Jackman said the protest was triggered by statements by the Prime Minister about the lack of interest in the refinery, except from one entity. Dr Rowley also said it was not a budgetary item for the next fiscal year.

“That was a kind of dagger in the heart for former refinery workers, because here we are, still waiting after four years for an update on the status of the RFPs (request for proposals); for the refinery to be reopened; and for people to return to work,” Jackman told Newsday.

He called on Government to come clean on the RFP process and identify the interests. He maintained Patriotic had the expertise.

Countering Rowley’s claim that Petrotrin was a loss-making entity, costing the state billions annually, Jackman said the union made a freedom of information request on the cost by Paria to import fuel.

“We found it is twice as much as the so-called burden caused by the refinery,” Jackman said. “The Prime Minister’s statements are quite demeaning and insulting and unacceptable.”

He said while the refinery had issues, it was a profit-making asset and could add value going forward for the country in terms of employment, earning foreign exchange and to counter the increase in the cost of fuel which has the capacity to send everything up.

“This is a multi-billion asset rotting away four years now, and we have no clue as to the way forward. Refineries around the world are now making three times their regular profit, and according to OPEC, fuel prices are expected to skyrocket.

“We have a refinery here, but because of its closure, citizens are at the mercy of fluctuating prices. We no longer have fuel security. We want our refinery restarted now.”

He said protests will intensify, and the union will invite taxi drivers and fishermen who are also reeling from high fuel costs. Lake Asphalt workers, who are also feeling the brunt of Petrotrin’s closure because of the shortage of bitumen, will also be invited to join the union.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Amid a deteriorating security situation in Haiti, UN Security-General António Guterres called on Sunday for the Security Council to consider deploying armed forces to help the country address immense humanitarian concerns.

In a statement, Mr. Guterres announced that he has submitted a letter to the Council, containing options for enhanced security support to Haiti.

The move by the UN chief comes a week after Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry sent out a request to the international community, for a “specialized armed force” to intervene in a country which has effectively ground to a halt.

in a statement released on Saturday, the US Government State Department said that it was reviewing the Haitian Government’s request, in coordination with international partners, to “determine how we can increase our support to help address Haiti’s fuel shortage and security constraints.”

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However, the composition of such an armed force has, so far, not been specified, and no commitments to send troops have been made by any UN Member States.

Last month, gangs blockaded the Verreux fuel terminal, Haiti’s main fuel port, leading to major gas and diesel shortages, and causing businesses and hospitals to shut down.

Potable water supplies have also been impacted, at a time when Haitians are facing a cholera outbreak, following three years without any cases.

The outbreak prompted Martin Griffiths, the UN’s humanitarian relief chief, to call on Saturday for emergency life-saving assistance funding, and warn that, if the spread of the disease is left unchecked, it could lead to “cataclysmic levels of despair for the people of Haiti.”

In his statement, the UN Secretary-General implored Haitians to “rise above their differences and to engage, without further delay, in a peaceful and inclusive dialogue on a constructive way forward.”

Mr. Guterres promised that the United Nations stands by the people of Haiti and that it will “support efforts to build consensus, reduce violence and promote stability in the country”.

SOURCE: UN News

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