THE Jamaica OBSERVER CELEBRATES FASHION’S NIGHT OUT for the third consecutive year next Thursday, September 8, 2011 and it keeps getting better with each succeeding year. This is a welcome reprieve for shoppers daunted by the harsh economy and escalating prices. In fact, this is a fillip to the much-needed aggregate demand the talking heads keep going on about.

This is an opportunity for Jamaican businesses to showcase their wares and for those looking for a bargain to heed Doreen Frankson’s call “To build Jamaica, Buy Jamaican”. My ecstasy spilled over when I heard that the gorgeous and charming Vivica A Fox would be gracing our shores (of course ground transportation will be in a wonderful Audi) for this shopping extravaganza, courtesy of Permanent Cosmetics & Soho Boutique. Celebrated haircare queen Jane Carter will also be here together with the doyenne of Caribbean fashion Meiling Esau.

This is the time of the year when small businesses, boutiques and other shop owners gather upstream like bears waiting to feast on the bountiful salmon. So get out there, air our your wallets and purses and support the local economy — God knows it needs it!

Thank God for Hillary Clinton

With the likes of Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann putting themselves forward as potential occupants of the White House and thus the leader of the Free World, it is refreshing, to have Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. She is smart, intelligent, lucid and a master of her brief. Can the likes of Palin and Bachmann walk in her shoes? I think not. They both have as much sense as a fly in a jam jar.

If either were to get elected, it would set back the cause of smart, capable women for a generation. Both are woefully out of their depth and the idea of either having their well-manicured fingernails on the button makes one shudder. Mind you, their incessant malapropisms are as entertaining as hell. SNL has a year of goodies to come!

Bolt is still the man

We were all disappointed when Usain Bolt false-started in the 100-metre race at the Daegu World Champs. Nevertheless he is still the Sprint King of the World and one of the best athletes of his generation. If only Asafa Powell had turned up, he may well have won the gold medal judging by his current form. Fortune indeed favours the brave. It’s a salutory lesson for us all: you have to take your shot every opportunity you get, because you may never get another one, even if it is fool’s gold.

David and Goliath

Digicel has got the nod of approval by the Government to acquire Claro, but what does that mean for the consumer? LIME is calling for a level regulatory playing field and for a further reduction of the interconnecting rates. The rates have remained the same for a decade while everything else keeps going up: bread, electricity prices, rice and saltfish. LIME now has its work cut out, but it can still be a force. Dehring and Sinclair need more time to devise a strategy, keep their management team in place, reduce operating expenditure and win the public over. It really is a case of if you build it they will come. The Government may feel compelled to rush to amend legislation pertaining to the telecommunications sector but it would be better if it focused on that other utility company and ensure the JPS bills coming through our letter boxes are more reasonable. As it stands now JPS is killing Jamaican businesses but at the same time posting a profit of US$58 million.

Congratulations, Ryland!

Salutations go out to Ryland Campbell and the team at Capital & Credit for selling out to JMMB. I knew you could do it! The Duncans will now revitalise Capital & Credit and take it to new heights. Will Campbell, Cocking and Martin stay on and lend their acumen, or will they fly away as free as a bird? We shall see. Until.