Since publishing my experiences in a book “No Justice In Jamaica” I have received numerous calls thanking me for putting in writing what so many know, hear of and experience but wish to be silent. I am particularly disturbed by the fact that many who commended me commented that they would never say what I said because “they have to live in Jamaica….at least until they secure enough funds overseas to live there comfortably…..” That really bothers me. The number of persons who speak this way is much more than I thought existed here. The frequency with which I hear businessmen say “the country done …,” “…it can’t fix… it gone too bad” is astounding. Yet the failure to act or speak out confirms to me the extreme level of fear that will prevent any level of short term change …much less long term change.

I take particular note of my writings where readers have been under the misconception that I write about the past and that my problems in the justice system have been solved and concluded. This is absolutely false. I AM NO FURTHER 15 YEARS TODAY THAN I WAS AT DAY ONE IN 2001. The response when I enlighten them is one of disbelief. So much so that I am now frequently asked …”what is the latest status?” I might not have been clear enough in my book so I will have to emphasise this more often. To remove this false impression and keep interested persons up to date, I will use this medium to keep all informed and to minimise the frequency of inquiries.

Here I will address the various inquiries as frankly as I can – occasionally   quoting from my book where I see fit.

  • On the matter of the progress since the brook was printed…predictably, contact has been made with me to press for payment of costs brought about by the ‘Justice Sykes trial’. The contact was made to inform me that the over $20 million of contested costs has been reduced to near $9 million plus interest – totaling over $11 million. I already implied in the book that the original costs were inflated to create pressure and this is no different. You can figure what this is. (Refer to pages 163 -164). We ought not to be distracted by this because those claiming these costs have been encouraged by Jamaica’s justice system to remove tens of millions of dollars from an interest bearing account despite disapproval of the highest courts in Jamaica and England. Had this not been removed, those tens of millions would now be more like hundreds of millions in that raided bank account in 2016.
  • They have also been encouraged to sell assets of the group without accountability; they have been encouraged to collect for rented or leased property holdings of the group without any accountability. They have been encouraged to occupy the group’s property and trade its assets in other names . . . to name a few.
  • The fair conclusion has been waiting on the international auditing company “KPMG” from 2002. It is now 2016. A curious 2 year delay (from April 2008 to July 2010) by KPMG permitted a trial to be heard by Justice Sykes, helping to have Justice Sykes ‘persuade’ a valuation using corrupted financials, unfair exchange rates, and damaging delays – the impact of which all reputable auditors are aware. (read pages 138 -139)
  • Not even the Chief Justice has been able to see to correction of this injustice. It is simple and clear – KPMG has to breach standards, behave unfairly by rewarding one party using the exchange rate in existence 15 years ago while punishing the other, depriving one party of interest using delays while the other benefits. All this has created an indefinite stalemate that devastates our case and appears to be too convenient to have been by accident.

Alternatively, KPMG can choose to display the level integrity expected of all audit companies by correcting their mistakes and immediately seek to be removed as valuator even if it means going all the way to the Privy Council. Their action must be clearly about what is right anywhere in the world. What they do should be what their names and first world countries expect and advertise.  As one who avoids the route of ‘connections’ I await the actions of KPMG and hopefully the actions of the system to bring to account those who might have fleeced the group.

I will keep information flowing on this matter and will write soon to create an awareness and discussion on corruption, and the evils perpetrated on third world countries by professional companies who dare not do it in first world countries.