CEO's Corner

2009 New Year’s Message

January 12, 2009

Let me take this opportunity to wish you a prosperous and productive 2009. Let me also warn those who have nicknamed it “2000 and mine”, that we cannot move forward in today’s world with all the challenges being faced globally without a sense of team.

 

Many economists, politicians, business people and people in general are predicting that 2009 will be one of the most challenging years for the global economy in modern history. The effects of the struggles faced by the US economy have been far reaching and have affected the entire world. There are predictions of Companies going bankrupt, job losses that could reach into the millions, families could lose their homes etc. Personally amid all this prediction of doom and gloom I believe there is hope and opportunity.

 

In 2008 history was created when US elected its first Black president. He won that election with a message of hope, unity and finding the common ground so we all can live together. No!! Barack OBama will not solve the world’s problem, but if anything we should use his messages to realize that together, “yes we can”.

 

There are many opportunities to be had in 2009, but it requires that we don’t take the approach of “2000 and mine” but rather “2000 and together”. For I.T. especially, there will be opportunities in the fields of Telecommunication, Software Development and Business Intelligence.

 

For I.T. specialists in Jamaica, we need to come together and ensure that we are prepared and able to service firstly the development needs in Jamaica but also across the world. As you may all be aware some investors are looking at Jamaica as an outsourcing point for call centers and software development.

 

Throughout my life I have heard some very powerful quotes and the one that comes to mind as I typed this message is, “fortune favours the brave”. Do not ignore nor underestimate the challenges that lie ahead, but also do not underestimate your abilities to meet and defeat those challenges.

 

Ladies and gentlemen I give to you 2009.