Support Coming Fast and Furious: Joe Issa Suggests new Wave Could Build Greater Climate Change Resiliance in Caribbean

St Ann businessman and philanthropist Joe Issa, who misses few chances to raise awareness of the harsh reality of global warming, is upbeat about the recent wave of International testimonies, stating that perchance the Caribbean will get well-deserved attention, regarding building resilience to climate change.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

 “I am not a scientist, and I do not think you need to be one to accept that global warming is impacting the kinds of disasters we see today the world over and here in the Caribbean; the information is all over, and I mean from credible sources.

 “I am glad the scientific, economic and social development communities are turning up their belief that climate change is impacting all countries and are raising awareness of the critical importance of disaster mitigation initiatives for greater resilience.

“Sometimes what is said is not half as important as who said it. Either way, I think with so many scientists coming on board and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) supporting their claims, funding agencies will be more willing to listen and support disaster mitigation projects around the world especially in the Caribbean.

“As for our advocacy I don’t think we make enough of the fact that the Caribbean islands are not only in the line of fire of weather systems from the Atlantic, but as a basin it is also the first line of defense for the US (United States) mainland and its Caribbean territories, as well as the UK (United Kingdom) territories in the region.

“I think the Caribbean basin can argue the case for more funding support from the major donor countries because it shields the US mainland from hurricanes. Many of them die out by the time they have wrecked the islands,” said Issa, in an interview, as he puts his spin on the region’s strategic value.

Issa was commenting on utterances by heads of the world association of scientists and IMF about the reality of global warming and the need to take it seriously and mitigate its impact.

A recent Independent UK article reported that 15,000 scientists from around the world had given a catastrophic warning about the fate of the world in a new ‘letter to humanity’, stating “time is running out.” The message is said to be an update of the 25-year-old first warning sent from the Union of Concerned Scientists that was backed by 1,700 signatures.

More recently, managing director of the IMF Christine Lagarde has come out with a call for funding agencies to support reconstruction and disaster management and mitigation efforts in the Caribbean especially those ravished by recent hurricanes, citing that global warming is at play.

Earlier, while blaming climate change head of the United Nations called for the removal of impediments to the Caribbean islands’ access to aid funding, in light of the recent destruction.

‘Data Protection Bill Coming’: Joe Issa Pleased With Emerging Security Measures

Civic leader in the parish of St. Ann Joe Issa is hailing the passing of the Data Protection Bill as the dawning of a new era of privacy for personal data when it comes to Parliament this September.

“When this Bill is passed it will bring much relief to people whose personal information is out there in the database of private and public sector organisation, not knowing who has access to them.

“The passage of the Bill in Parliament, will herald a new era of privacy of personal information and public confidence in the system of accessing the databases of local institutions,” said Issa, founder of the Cool Group of companies.

Issa was commenting on the announcement by Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, at the opening of a $3.5-million computer resource centre in Annotto Bay, St Mary, that the Bill is slated to be tabled in Parliament in September after the August recess.

The Bill, which aims to safeguard the privacy of individuals whose personal information has been documented by entities with whom they interface, will offer people an additional level of security about how institutions treat with their personal information,” according to an article in the local papers covering the official opening of the centre.

It quoted Dr Wheatley as assuring that “whether it is the bank the Government of Jamaica or any other institution.  once you are in possession of someone’s personal information, you must deal with that information in such a manner that offers that person a level of protection and confidence.”

Issa had commented on the Bill when it was first announced in April by Dr Wheatley, during the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. Dr Wheatly indicated then that “the law aimed to govern the collection, regulation, processing, storage, use and disclosure of certain information in the physical or electronic form.”

He also indicated during the debate that the 2015 Cybercrimes Act would be reviewed this fiscal year “to address concerns regarding how sections of the law are interpreted and enforced,” also stating, that a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Bill would also be tabled.

While encouraging greater use of ICT, Dr Wheatley is said to have repeated a plea for persons and entities “to exercise caution when doing so and safeguard themselves against cyber attacks.”

 

International Businessman Joe Issa Supports Etiquette Tests for Prospective New Employees of Jamaican Corporations, Training to Add Value

At a time when globalization is exposing the weaknesses of many countries in competing with each other, especially in the Human Resource pillar, founder of Cool Corporation Joe Issa is supporting the use of standardized tests in etiquette to determine the suitability of prospective employees of Jamaica corporations, and to also prepare them to add value to their organizations.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“We are now living in a world without borders where competition is fierce, and making a good impression to those with whom you are planning to can make the difference between getting that big export contract or not.

“So it is critical for frontline employees to know the cultures of the countries with which their companies are trading, and being able to take advantage of opportunities to add value to their products,” said Issa.

For it was history-making former chairman and CEO of General Electric Jack Welch who once said, “Globalization has changed us into a company that searches the world, not just to sell or to the source, but to find intellectual capital – the world’s best talents and greatest ideas.”

Citing already-available books on the subject of etiquette, including standardized courses, Issa says “we do not have to invent the wheel as there are templates available; all we need to do is to pick those of the countries with which we are trading and to prepare employees to seize opportunities to improve the business in a number of ways.”

According to Wikipedia, some experts in etiquette teamed up with an international business group in 2011, to form a non-profit organization “to help HR departments of multinationals in measuring the etiquette skills of prospective new employees during the recruitment process by standardizing image and etiquette examination, similar to what ISO does for industrial process measurements.”

From the 16^th century to today, many books have been written on etiquette including: Baldassare Castiglione’s “The Book of the Courtier” – a courtesy book, dealing with questions of etiquette and morality; Erasmus of Rotterdam’s book on “Good Manners for Boys” in 1530; and Emily Post’s 1922 work on “trivialities” of desirable everyday conduct, but also provided descriptions of appropriate conduct for key life events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals, said Wikipedia.

Later, Post is said to have set up an institution which continues “to provide updated advice on how to negotiate modern day society with good manners and decorum.” Her most recent edition is said to have provided advice on such topics as when it is acceptable to ‘unfriend’ someone on Facebook and who is entitled to which armrest when flying.

 

Amy Vanderbil

 

These etiquette books, as well as those by Amy Vanderbilt, Hartley, Judith Martin, and Sandi Toksvig outline, suggested behaviours for a range of social interactions. However, they are all said to have noted that “to be a well-mannered person one must not merely read their books but be able to employ good manners fluidly in any situation that may arise.”

“Urbi et Orbi” Message Highly Anticipated – Catholic Minister

From the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Sunday comes the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (the city and the world) message by the head of the Roman Catholic Church, an address which, according to Eucharistic Minister Joe Issa, is highly anticipated.

“Pope Francis has been quite vocal on world issues; more so than any other Pontiff in recent times, so it is difficult to tell precisely what he is going to talk about in his Easter Sunday message to the city [of Rome]and the world.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“But I think the theme of his address may reflect the occasion – the resurrection of Jesus – so he might talk about the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ to today’s daily living.

“In his message, last Christmas – the birth of Jesus – the central theme was children when he called for world peace and a world in which children can hope to have justice, security and joy. He specifically urged Christians to see Christ in children, especially those for whom there seems no hope,” Issa said, in an interview.

Issa, whose family has had an audience with Pope John Paul 11 at which he sang happy birthday to his twin sisters Zein and Munna, and once received a Papal Blessing from Pope Francis for his birthday, added: “The message this Easter is a much-anticipated one due to the many issues facing the world today, including geopolitics, gender inequality and gun violence, and his tendency to give fresh perspectives on old biblical teachings. I think Catholics around the world will be bracing for his next revelations.”

Speaking on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, a day after the massive anti-gun demonstrations across the United States, the Pope reportedly urged young people to “keep shouting and not allow the older generations to silence your voices or anaesthetise your idealism.” He allegedly did not mention the protest.

However, it was reported that Gabriella Zuniga, 16, and her sister Valentia, 15, both students from Douglas High School in Florida, where 17 people were killed in February – the event which sparked the gun protest – attended the Palm Sunday service with their parents. They were reportedly pictured holding placards, with one saying “Protect Our Children, Not Our Guns”.

Pope Francis – who has often condemned weapons manufacturing and mass shootings – recently stunned Christians when he reportedly went against the thinking of his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI by declaring that the theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real and God is not “a magician with a magic wand”.

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope reportedly explained that both scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator, arguing instead, that they “require it”.

“When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. However, that is not so,” The Independent Online quoted him as saying.

The traditional ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message is delivered twice a year on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, when the curtain comes down on what should be a hectic week for the Pope – two services on Holy Thursday, including one in which he will wash the feet of 12 inmates in a Rome jail; a procession (Way of the Cross) at Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday; and an Easter vigil service on Saturday night, according to Reuters.

Cool Charities Unlocking Doors Through Education

They say that education is a way out of poverty; Joe Issa says it is the only way out. “It enables entry into the labour market or business at a higher level and offers more pay and greater freedom to choose, the better the quality.”

Joseph “Joey” Issa

Moreover, he, more than most should know the value of a good education having attended the best schools and universities; that is why Issa has focused on education in giving back to society.

Issa’s approach is two-pronged: His Cool Charity provides scholarships for bright children to attend a top university while enabling the disadvantaged group to catch on by improving their learning environment with books, collateral material, cupboards and air condition units.

The two-prong approach to giving back to education has been hailed a strategic one with elements of sustainability, by addressing the disadvantages early and giving affected children a fighting chance to become future scholarship candidates.

It was Nelson Mandela who once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and he used it effectively to change many things throughout the globe, some while in jail and many on the outside, as President of South Africa.

Another famous figure, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. put it this way: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” The civil rights leader delivered the famous speech “I have a dream” at a rally in Washington D.C.

However, it was George Washington Carver who, like Issa, spoke of the beauty of education in giving people more choices when he said, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

 

Thumbs Up to Start of Expansion of Ian Fleming Int’l Airport

Small aircraft operator at the Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St Mary, Joe Issa, has given the thumbs up to the start of expansion works at the facility, stating it will improve traffic capacity.

“I applaud the authorities for their vision. The renovation is necessary for adding capacity to the airport. This will make it more attractive to aircraft operators, both regarding an increase in normal traffic and as a hub for the wider Caribbean.

“Its location is pivotal in boosting high-end visitor arrivals to the north coast to utilise existing tourism plants, as well as investors seeking to build hotels and homes in the area.

“And with Jamaica being the leading country in the region regarding airport terminal facilities, the renovations will better position it as a hub for aircraft that are scouting the Caribbean for pleasure and business but need a strong and reliable base from which to operate,” said Issa.

As executive chairman of Cool Group, Issa uses small aircraft to ferry business executives from airports in Kingston, Montego Bay and Negril, as well as the Ian Fleming International Airport which serves the Ocho Rios area where the corporation is headquartered.

Minister of National Security and Member of Parliament for St Mary Western Robert Montague, who reportedly made the announcement, said the expansion works would help in making the airport a regional hub, informing that two airlines were awaiting the completion of the project to make the airport their base. He says the government has already received the applications, according to a Gleaner report.

 

Joe Issa Says Timely Facilitation of BPO Could Potentially Stem Rising Unemployment

Executive Chairman of Cool Corporation Joe Issa says he is pleased that the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is showing increased interest in the Caribbean, stating it is timely and should be facilitated as it could halt rising unemployment in the region.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton  

Joseph “Joey” Issa

“I am pleased that the region is attracting the interest of the BPO industry. It is a trillion dollar business that should be facilitated in earnest as it has the potential to reduce the rising unemployment seen in the Caribbean last year.

“Specifically, the region must give priority to putting in place the necessary infrastructure, workforce training and incentives to attract outsourcing services.

“It pays off in the end because BPOs do not only employ large amounts of workers but also quality workers, which raises earnings for workers and the country.

“Also, in most cases the appropriate training is provided by the BPO companies, with young people, among whom unemployment is highest, being the target for such training,” said Issa.

Issa, who has previously expressed concern over recent United Nations reports of rising unemployment in the Caribbean and Latin America, was directing his comments at a Gleaner article, in which executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), Pamela Coke-Hamilton, revealed that an investor perception survey initiated by CEDA in the final quarter of last year, had shown that nearly half of the respondents were considering outsourcing to the Caribbean.

According to the article, Coke-Hamilton told an outsourcing conference held in Jamaica in December, that indicative results of the survey show that investors are developing a multi-destination strategy based on the attractions of nearness and language.

She was reported saying that the survey showed the need for Caribbean markets to address developmental issues, including more incentive packages, and the provision of more data or market research on the BPO sector.

Regarding the pitch being made to investors, she reportedly cited the Caribbean’s 13 million-strong and qualified workforce and its nearshore destination which gives it a similar time zone as New York with daily flights from key markets, and relative to Miami is anywhere between 45 minutes to three hours away.

Speaking on the time lag for investments to materialise, Suzette Hudson, Caribbean Export’s senior adviser for investment promotion, reportedly told the Financial Gleaner that it can take anywhere from 18-24 months, suggesting that “from the event in December, we can see investments in the sector by early 2019, as we had some excellent leads and interest from BPO operators in expanding throughout the region.”

Among the nations attracting the increased interest of investors, she cited Belize and others which offer Spanish and English, Grenada, and St Lucia. She said, “there is also an interest in linking financial services with outsourcing, and smaller territories like Curacao are taking advantage of this by connecting with the Netherlands and positioning themselves in the fintech and cybersecurity market.”

Based on 2015 data across nine countries – The Bahamas, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Belize, and Trinidad & Tobago – the BPO industry is said to comprise more than 200 delivery centres and 74,000 agents.

According to Caribbean Export, between 2010 and 2015, the industry grew by an average of 17 percent, and that BPO and other professional services generated over US$2 billion in revenue in 2014.

In its online BPO booklet, Caribbean Export reportedly wrote: “Calculations show that companies in the region generate close to US$25 million in revenue for every 1,000 agents. The level of profit is around 7 percent for call centres, and close to 15 percent for non-voice, back-office shared services.”

It put the value of the global BPO market at US$1 trillion and the size of the cross-border outsourced services traded between countries at an annual US$88.9 billion in 2015. The value of Jamaica’s sector at that point, based on revenues generated, was reported to be US$400 million.

The most significant share of this revenue is said to go to the Asia-Pacific region, which dominates the market for outsourced services with a near 70 percent share, followed by Europe with 10 percent, Canada 9 percent, and Latin America with 9 percent.

“Among the noticeable trends in the global BPO industry is the focus on new, innovative offerings, for example in contract structuring, with BPO providers becoming more creative in landing mega-sized and multi-year outsourcing deals,” the booklet reportedly noted.

According to the Gleaner, it added that among the recent trends seen are, “smaller BPO engagements, with clients splitting a deal into smaller, more specialist providers, as opposed to using one large provider; and more flexible location solutions – for example, agents working from home, onsite, nearshore or offshore – are now possible, thanks to technological advancements.”

Joe Issa – Au Revoir Sam Panopoulos! A debt of gratitude is in order for Hawaiian Pizza.

Joe Issa – the turnaround man of Jamaica’s tourism industry – who presented Italian pizza at his hospitality interests to enhance the dining experience of his visitors, has hailed the creator of Hawaiian pizza who passed away recently, at 82 years of age.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

Sam Panopoulos

“It is always a sad moment whenever people of immense imagination and innovation pass on suddenly – like restaurateur Sam Panopoulos who invented the delicious, yet conflict-ridden Hawaiian pizza.

“It used to be thought that a pizza was sufficiently delectable with bacon, mushroom and pepperoni fixings until Sam Panopoulos added pineapple and ham to it.

“From that point forward Hawaiian pizza has changed the way people see canned pineapple,” Issa opined, expressing that “pineapple is presently utilized as a part of numerous other international cooking styles.”

Issa is joined by his previous house visitor, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who is additionally an enthusiast of his nation’s famous Hawaiian pizza.

As indicated by the Guardian – one of several English media houses to declare Panopoulos’ sudden passing, Trudeau is said to have turned out on #teampineapple on Twitter prior this year.

However, in addition to being a delight for many, the pizza, which got its name

“Hawaiian” after the branded tin from which pineapple was first used, is also said to be confusing and appalling for some.

A few Germans are said to have made a case for the creation, saying it depends on their pineapple-cheddar ham sandwich – Toast Hawaii – which was well known in the 1950s, about 10 years before the rise of Hawaiian pizza.

recently, President of Iceland Guoni Johannesson made an online hubbub when he declared to a gathering of school kids that he was against the utilisation of pineapple on pizza, proposing it ought to be prohibited.

Among the individuals who reprimanded him, was Trudeau, who twitted: “I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. Moreover, I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation.”

Panopoulos, who came to Canada in 1954 at 20 years old, found the one of a kind flavour given to the pizza by including pineapple when in1962, he was inspired to try it at one of the several successful restaurants which he and his two brothers operated.

He told the BBC in February this year:  “We just put it on, just for the fun of it, see how it was going to taste. We were young in the business, and we were doing many experiments.”

Joseph Issa Urges Greater Sensitisation To Entrepreneurship To Help Graduates

As the country gears for higher economic growth and employment, celebrated valedictorian Joe Issa, who made his first investment in 1995 at the age of 30 with just US$3,000 and now heads a group of over 50 companies, has said that higher sensitisation of students to entrepreneurship could help them better monetise their education.

Roderick Gordon 

“As it is now, the country needs more entrepreneurs and the younger, the better, but I don’t see it coming without sensitising graduates to entrepreneurship, and the earlier they begin to entertain the thought of becoming an employer instead of an employee, the better they will be able to assess the technical and financial viability of their chosen business.

 

“The importance of being able to do so is that a bank proposal must be convincing and command an immediate positive response. It cannot be based on sentiments but stable observable favourable trends.

“Once pitched the project must leave no room for questions and no questions means a probable immediate yes, an outcome that is more likely the earlier students are sensitised to entrepreneurship.

“The importance of getting immediate yes is because the longer a bank takes to approve a loan the more reasons they will find not to give it,” said Issa, who has served on the board of directors of First Global bank, among other establishments.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

Issa’s statements come amid concerns expressed at a recent Gleaner Editors’ Forum that “one of the things that are killing Jamaica is the inability of individuals who study, train and can’t get a job, and the complete disconnect on how to monetise their training”, according to the newspaper.

It cited Attorney-at-law Roderick Gordon, who chairs one of the companies that have the backing of First AngelsJa, making the statement in support of Chairman of First Angels Ja, Joseph M. Matalon, who had earlier said there was no shortage of investors in Jamaica for the right deals, but argued there be an “immaturity in the environmental ecosystem”.

“We do not get enough qualified deals. We do not get enough qualified people coming forward who have the attitude, experience, educational background, or the expertise to drive the growth of a new business,” Matalon told the Gleaner Editors’ Forum.

Gordon, who is said to get excited when the group offers support and the investment comes to fruition, reportedly said he likes “seeing the innovation come through, seeing people who are a lot more exposed.

“I have seen entrepreneurs who pitch more than once and the second pitch is vastly improved to the first. So they are learning the discipline. They are learning how to focus. They are learning what sounds good from what can make a profit. That makes me excited.”

Joe Issa on Protecting Company Assets and Workers: “We Don’t Like the Guns We But Can’t Do Without Security!”

Former President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Joe Issa says Security is imperative for doing business all over the world today and Jamaica is no exception.

In backing Minister of National Security Robert Montague’s call for improved working conditions for some 32,000 security guards in the country Issa, who is executive chairman of Cool Corp, one of Jamaica’s largest conglomerates argues that without security there is no business sector.

“We don’t like the guns, but we can’t survive without the security,” Issa admits.

“Despite some failing to plan, businesses don’t generally plan to fail and whether they are small or big, security for the business and workers is crucial…it is one of the most critical consideration…it can determine where you locate and how you protect your workers and assets, as well as the way you transact business.

“In that way, security guards had made themselves indispensable in light of criminal activities, which came to a head in the early 1990s, when businesses and workers were openly being attacked, resulting in relocation and some cases closure of the business altogether,” says Issa.

Joseph “Joey” Issa

Stating that the country “would do well to make the lives of security guards more secure and comfortable,” Issa adds, “Any measures which will reduce their long and tiring hours is a step to greater security for client companies and their employees.”

Minister Montague, who said he would be lobbying for improvements in the working conditions of private security guards, is scheduled to take several proposals to Cabinet, including a mandatory day off per week for them.

Analysts say the mandatory day off when passed by parliament will join an agreement signed last year to provide thousands of security guards access to a self-contributory health insurance scheme.

The policy, which is operated through Guardian Life Limited and was designed in collaboration with the Private Security Regulation Authority, is based on the salaries of the guards. It includes individual and family plans for $997 and $1,473 per month, respectively, as well as one for $2,725 for higher categories of wage earners.