Eight Things to Know About Asia in 2012
Unlike my favorite literary greats (Orwell, Huxley, Shteyngart, Atwood, H.G. Wells and Murakami to name a few), I have little confidence in predicting humanity’s future overall. As a long-time Asia-watcher with fairly strong training in socioeconomics, I am a tad more assured that my insights on opportunities and challenges East of the prime meridian will be worth a bit more than night soil (although an increase in biogas plants puts this assurance at great risk). Hence, in the Year of the Dragon, here are eight things you should know:
Warning signs in China
1. If you’re struggling in the West, you can still head East for a fresh start… but it’s going to be more challenging to find a job and a welcome mat.
According to HSBC’s recent Expat Explorer Survey, Southeast Asia is a highly desirable destination for foreigners, with Singapore coming in as the most ideal expat location. Unigroup Worldwide issued a similar study showing a nearly 50% increase in the number of Americans moving to China. As an expat who has returned to Asia for the second time after eight years at home in New York, I can attest that the number of Westerners living and working in East Asia is staggering compared to what the population was here a decade ago. Continue reading
Fudging the books – Commentary
Fudging the books
It is clear that the Guyana Police Force received a sum of money during the pre- and post-elections period late last year. The police were requested to be in-lying and so be ready to move in the event of any eventuality.
A sum of money was spent for the upkeep of the force during the elections. We know that this year the government approached the National Assembly for a supplementary provision of $90.6 million to cover the cost of feeding and transporting the police during the elections period, and to ensure the mobility of the police during the intensification of patrols in and around the city.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, in response to a question, said that his government had released $90 million to the police for the elections. We duly reported this fact and questioned the extent of this expenditure. The authorities never responded. Weeks went by; Divisional Commanders commented on the situation to report that they never received any money.
Instead, they said that they sought assistance from the business community for food and other supplies needed during the elections period. Again we asked questions about this $90.6 million, only to be met with a wall of silence. We tried to get answers at the Annual Police Officers’ Conference and got none. Continue reading →
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