$50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

[evanovitch]

$50M homes
Article Published: Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
<span style="font-weight: bold">• Three Cabinet ministers buy houses in Miami</span>



Not only do some members of Parliament enjoy being citizens of the United States but also like some members of the business class, they appear to have acquired the taste for owning homes in Miami and other United States cities. Some might say they are putting themselves in positions similar to several Third World politicians who own properties in North America and Europe.
<span style="font-weight: bold">
At least three Cabinet ministers have acquired properties in Miami valued at over $50 million and two of them have done so since the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took power in 2007</span>.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Finance minister Audley Shaw and information minister Daryl Vaz bought their houses since the JLP was voted into office in 2007 while their colleague James Robertson acquired his in 2003 and 1999.</span>



The Robertsons are listed as owners of NW 21 Court Pembroke Pines in Broward County, Florida and another house at 6864 NW 109 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178-3729 which was purchased in June 1999 for US $189,300.00. The Pembroke Pines property was acquired in January 2003 at cost of US$219,400 or J$18.6 million. The couple secured a US$175,400 mortgage through BAC Florida Bank at 169 Miracle Mile 12-10, 8th Floor, Coral Gables Florida 33134.

The records show that Ministr Shaw purchased his condo unit located at 13951 SW 66 Street, Miami, Florida for US$123,000 or J$10.5 million in February this year. It was not ascertained if he paid cash or if he had secured a mortgage on the property.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz bought his property situated at 3171 Way, Miramar, Florida in Broward County in May this year for US$315,000 or just over J$27 million. Like Minister Robertson, Minister Vaz obtained a mortgage from BAC Florida Bank for US$220,500.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Earlier this year, news surfaced that Minister Vaz’s wife acquired a swanky Cherry Gardens property, which was part of the FINSAC debt portfolio, for J$45 million</span>.




Homestead exemption It was noted that both Shaw and Vaz are apparently beneficiaries of tax exemptions called Homestead Exemption.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Homestead Exemptions are only granted to US citizens or permanent residents of the State of Florida.</span>

State law allows Florida homeowners to claim up to US$50,000 homestead exemptions on their primary residence. The first US$25,000 of this exemption applies to all taxing authorities, while the second US$25,000 excludes school board taxes and applies to properties with assessed values greater than US$50,000. To qualify for homestead exemption, the applicant must own the property and it must be his or her permanent residence as of January 1 of the year the application was made. Proof of ownership can either be a warranty deed, property tax bill among other things.

Under state law, an applicant must produce evidence of the location where the applicant’s dependent children are registered for school, proof of voter registration in the state, or a valid Florida driver’s licence issued under Florida Statute 322.18 or a valid Florida identification card among other requirements.

Non-citizens must present one of the following for proof of US residency — permanent residence card, popularly called green card, passport with 1-551 stamp or proof of parolee status pursuant to 212 (d) (5). Efforts to find out if Minister James Robertson had declared the two properties in which he and his wife are registered as owners to the Parliamentary Integrity Commission were unsuccessful. The acquisition of these properties is an area, which needs thorough investigation by the Parliamentary Integrity Commission, and their findings ought to be made public.

[evanovitch]

So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?

So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?


Tuesday, October 05, 2010






The sentiment that once you are a politician or minister of government you must not acquire properties or seek health services overseas is abject nonsense.

We probably should not dignify such suggestions with an editorial in this beloved newspaper, but for the fact that there are actually some people who pander to such beliefs, usually to satisfy some personal or political agenda.

Of course we are referring to two news stories which emerged over the weekend: the first in the Sunday Herald titled '$50 million homes' saying that three Cabinet ministers — Mr Audley Shaw, the finance minister; Mr Daryl Vaz, the information minister; and Mr James Robertson, the energy minister — have bought homes in the United States; <span style="font-weight: bold">and the second in yesterday's edition of the Observer, reporting that some doctors have blasted Mr Shaw for seeking medical assistance overseas for his ailing baby.</span>
As a newspaper, we recognise that such information will make headlines. However, we are entirely aware that, as our wise old people used to say, &quot;not everything good fi eat good fi talk&quot;.

We have cherished the notion in this country that every Jamaican, politicians included, has the right to enjoy the quality of life that he or she can afford. This includes the right to seek the best health services available and in any part of the world.

Even if Jamaica had the best health care system in the world, it would still be our right to go wherever we feel comfortable. Despite great advancements in medicine in their country, many Americans go to Cuba and elsewhere for their highly reputable health services.

Mr Shaw was forced to suffer the indignity of explaining why his child who was born prematurely was undergoing treatment in the United States.<span style="font-weight: bold"> The short answer to that is it is none of our business. Unless, of course, Mr Shaw was using public funds to pay for the treatment.</span>
We also wonder what the naysayers would tell Mr and Mrs Shaw if the child were to die after being brought home just to satisfy that silly idea that her parents must send the 'right signal' by using local health services.

By the way, let's not even pretend that our local health services can handle all our demands.

As to the matter of ministers acquiring homes in the US, we can't help asking what was the true purpose of the story?

We note that no suggestion was offered, other than by a subliminal message, that public funds were corruptly used in the acquisition of the properties. In one case, the minister — Mr Robertson — bought his homes while his party was in Opposition. A second minister — Mr Vaz — was a businessman and citizen of the US until he renounced that citizenship to satisfy our electoral laws.

As far as we know, the only stricture on politicians is that they declare such property to the Integrity Commission of Parliament.

But most importantly, were there other politicians or ministers of government, past or present, who acquired homes overseas? Such a story would demand that kind of rigour, if the intention was about keeping politicians honest.

<span style="font-weight: bold">As we said earlier, every Jamaican has the right to enjoy the fruits of his/her legal earnings. To suggest otherwise is parochial and puerile.</span>

[evanovitch]

Re: So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?

i would like fi know too, how him pay fi dat neonatal flight ambulance dat muss have been used fi transport dat baby...regular air ambulance is not cheap so specialised muss be a brute

an dont babies bawn a yaad premature all di time...from di ghetto to uptown so is wat him a seh bout fi him chile as opposed to the citizens him claim to be mekking a betta Jamaica fah

[evanovitch]

Lobby for better system but respect Shaw's decision

Lobby for better system but respect Shaw's decision


Tuesday, October 05, 2010



Dear Editor,

I read with amusement the article in Monday's Observer, &quot;Doctors angry&quot;. The article outlines a position taken by doctors and the wider membership of the Medical Association of Jamaica. They suggest that Minister Shaw had no right to take his child abroad for treatment The article also indicates that such a move reflects a lack of trust in their competency and the health system's capacity.

I think it is unfortunate that the minister has come under such criticism and these are my reasons: (1) The decision taken by the minister is a family decision, a right that each citizen in Jamaica has. We also don't know what support the parents have in the USA which would have made this decision a realistic option. (2) Most doctors who are ill, where do they go? Perhaps we should ask the Tony Thwaites Wing at the University Hospital of the West Indies to disclose what percentage of its patients are doctors.

(3) The doctors are bashing the government for attempting to provide health care to all Jamaican citizens which is accessible and without any form of prejudice. Indeed, the road has been rocky and while more funding is needed, it is a step in the right direction. The problem with this step is merely resources which really should be provided for the system to work. For these resources to be found, taxes must be paid. (4) Earlier this year, a friend of mine broke his leg. A consultant was called in at the hospital and the consultant's fee was over $20,000 (cash) for the visit.

I was advised that in the event surgery was required, the fee would have been $300,000 (again, preferably cash). What amazed me was the consultant requiring cash, no credit card and no cheque. The sum of money was for one patient.

Before my friend's treatment was completed, another case came in (perhaps another $20,000 in cash). I have no grouse with the charge. My grouse is that taxes are not likely to be paid on the money my friend paid. Now I want to suggest to Dr De La Haye that if professionals who earn substantial sums of money in their private practices decided to pay their taxes, then the working conditions for them and their patients in the public system would be vastly improved.

So continue to lobby for a better health system, but please respect a man's family decision and encourage professionals to stop evading taxes and to be above board. Then perhaps even doctors will choose the public system when they need its services in life-threatening situations.

J Jesmond

[Ja. Jewel]

Re: Lobby for better system but respect Shaw's decision

Very enlightening info .....thanks Evan!

[R_C]

Re: So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i would like fi know too, how him pay fi dat neonatal flight ambulance dat muss have been used fi transport dat baby...regular air ambulance is not cheap so specialised muss be a brute.</div></div>.

Evan, the baby was born in Florida.

[evanovitch]

Re: So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rollin_Calf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i would like fi know too, how him pay fi dat neonatal flight ambulance dat muss have been used fi transport dat baby...regular air ambulance is not cheap so specialised muss be a brute.</div></div>.

Evan, the baby was born in Florida. </div></div>

tonx

[Blackstar*]

Re: Lobby for better system but respect Shaw's decision

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Before my friend's treatment was completed, another case came in (perhaps another $20,000 in cash). I have no grouse with the charge. My grouse is that taxes are not likely to be paid on the money my friend paid. Now I want to suggest to Dr De La Haye that if professionals who earn substantial sums of money in their private practices decided to pay their taxes, then the working conditions for them and their patients in the public system would be vastly improved.

J Jesmond </div></div>
True word this.

[Marielle]

Re: So what if politicians buy homes, health services overseas?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic">many Americans go to Cuba</span> and elsewhere for their highly reputable health services.</div></div>

[Leddih]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

The question is what have they used to secure their loans. Is the collateral in any way based on expected income from their government jobs or anticipated future income from political connections or a hefty pension from a few years work or kickbacks from contracts? This would make them desperate to retain power especially if they are career politicians. In other words, will they have to devise ways to dig into the public purse in order to honour their &quot;noble&quot; commitments?

If it's their own money and not dependent on the above then it's their business and they should be left alone.

Is it?

If their loyalties are compromised then they should resign.

[Suesumba]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

i didn't know jamaican politicians were so well paid

[Skelly]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

I am in the wrong line of work..

[remo]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SueSumba</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i didn't know jamaican politicians were so well paid </div></div>
For what they do....too much
here

[Tuff Gong]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

Just want to ask. What if they had bought the property purely for investment purposes?
Not only that, many JLP big persons were chased out of Jamaica in the 70s and certainly would not get work in Jamaica the 90s. Babsy Grange, Pearnel Charles' wife, etc. Aren't we the architect of our own misery, where many folks have to keep one foot in Jamaica and one foot in foreign?

Even with the explanation of how shabbily Mr. Shaw's daughter was treated it seems there is no sympathy for his position that his daughter needed life sustaining care and that the purchase of the house was an absolute necessity.

Some of the positions we take based on rumour and malice makes I shake my head. I guess if the Comrade Herald had paid their taxes hospitals would be in a better shape to take care of critically sick persons still living in Jamaica.

[johnnycakes]

Re: $50M homes ...shame shame shame shame

As long as those people made their money honestly, no one should squawk about what they do with that money.
Sure everyone would like to be able to buy a nice house in Florida where it is safer and where needed medical care is readily available but that's not how the world works.
Some of us are rich and most of us just don't have the money to do that.

These rich folks also don't have to spend any money in Florida hiring machete wielding thugs to protect their property or to run the owners of the property off so they could buy it like some of us have had to do.