Your Money eZine by eMedia Interactive Group Limited

CONTENTS

6 11 EDITOR’S NOTE Creating jobs through innovation p.4 NEWS p.6 DO GOOD Deika Morrison encourages Jamaica to ‘Do Good’ p.7

TECH NOW VantagePoint ITC gives business the technological edge p.9 DIASPORA Caribbean Savouries scores big in England and Ireland p.11 BUSINESS LOUNGE There’s a new ‘Dawg’ in town p.13 Growing Jamaica’s tech industry beyond BPO p.17 FORM Architects launches Home Builders’ Guide p.18

YOUR TAXES Get ready to file your annual income tax returns p.21 INSIGHTS How Google’s new privacy policy affects your data p.22 START UPS EduFocal: Redefining education through social learning p.26 Y-FOLLOW @Pinterest p.29

editor’s note

CREATING JOBS THROUGH INNOVATION

e have all probably heard it enough times for it to become cliché, but innovation is a key component to job creation, especially in sluggish economic conditions such as we have been experiencing for the past four years. We often limit this focus to the technology sector, but innovation can take place in any industry, at any time. For instance, in our cover story, Caribbean Broilers (CB) took the bold step to launch pork sausages and not only offer a new product but distribute it solely through a cart vendor programme, thus creating employment opportunities for potentially hundreds of young Jamaicans. The youth unemployment rate is an un-

comfortably high 30 per cent. According to figures from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), of the 159,700 members of the labour force out of work up to October 2011, 119,400 were between 20 and 44 years old, roughly the same demographic CB is targeting with its Bad Dawg cart vendor programme. Any measure that can be undertaken to drive employment in this crucial group must be commended. This demographic is also the core of Jamaica’s burgeoning technology industry, which state minister for technology Julian Robinson has pledged to “aggressively target and pursue” investments to develop. Players in the software and application development sector are calling for incubators to help them develop and

expand their ideas and Robinson in turn is calling on the private sector to see the business opportunity in building these desperately needed spaces. This issue also marks the debut of our News column, where we review and preview important events and relevant information related to business and entrepreneurship. Of great importance is the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, which provides a golden opportunity for local and regional female entrepreneurs to gain funding for their start-ups. The March 15 deadline is fast approaching, so we encourage all female entrepreneurs to apply. Tracey-Ann Wisdom

yourmoney ezine

neWs

(Left to right) Mentoring in action: Young entrepreneur edward Marshall Case, with Clint Greenleaf and Warren Brow, directors of the small Business Advisory Board of the Huffington Post.

Cartier Women’s Initiative Award looking for the next great startup March 13 is the deadline for local and regional female entrepreneurs interested in applying for the 2012 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. The five-year-old award is a global entrepreneurship competition for women-led, for-profit businesses. In addition to being female-headed, the business must be in the startup phase (more than one but less than three years old) and be a new concept, not a subsidiary of a pre-existing business. Entrants must also be 18 years or older at the time of application. Visit the website for more information. Branson Centre selects second cohort, stages global mentorship summit with The Huffington Post The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship in Montego Bay will this week announce which 20 of the 160 applicants will join its second cohort of entrepreneurs. The successful 20 will start their two-day orientation at the beginning of April, followed by a 12-week business development programme. Applicants represented sectors from music to ecommerce to agriculture. Of the first cohort who joined when the centre

launched in September, 11 have made it through to the second stage where they can access mentoring. In February, 12 directors of the Small Business Advisory Board of The Huffington Post attended a three-day summit at the centre. The Huffington Post team met with the first cohort of entrepreneurs and will participate in the first global mentorship pilot with the centre. A key aspect of the mentorship stage is to provide knowledge from experienced entrepreneurs and networking opportunities. The centre will open its next round of applications in April/May. For more information, contact the Branson centre: 632-5134 or enquiries.caribbean@ bransoncentre.org Nationwide 90FM and UTECH launch entrepreneurial competition Nationwide 90FM and the University of Technology (UTech), through the Scotiabank Chair in Entrepreneurship and Development, have partnered to present The Entrepreneurial Challenge. The competition is aimed at entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium size enterprise (MSME) sector who have over-

come tremendous obstacles during the global recession. Fifty challengers will be selected in recognition of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence. They will go through a series of challenges, including video presentations, interviews with the competition judges, crafting a dream business plan and finally, a mystery challenge. The winner will receive $3 million in cash, marketing/promotional support and business support services. The deadline is March 19. Visit theentrepreneurialchallenge.com to apply. Half a million Jamaicans activate Digicel’s new $8.99 flat rate service Digicel’s new flat rate of $8.99 for calls to any local number has proved a runaway success with more than 120,000 prepaid customers per day activating the service. This means that so far, half a million Jamaicans have activated. The service, launched March 2, is set to reach one million activations by the 17th. Prepaid customers can activate by dialing *155# then pressing ‘send’ for free and save up to 47 per cent on calls. This does not affect per second billing or the Gimme Five promotion.

yourmoney ezine

do Good

DEIKA MORRISON

ENCOURAGES JAMAICA TO ‘DO GOOD’

very Jamaican knows of the world records held by Usain Bolt, but few are aware of this one: In May 2010, Jamaica smashed the Guinness World Record for the most books donated to charity in seven days. The previous record of 242,624 books was erased by the 657,061 donated by the Rotary Club of Jamaica. The mastermind behind this mammoth undertaking was Deika Morrison, who convinced more than 150 organisations and thousands of individuals to collect books for the Jamaica Library Service and raise awareness of the importance of literacy and reading. The success of this initiative led Morrison, a former senator, to create Do Good Jamaica, an online home for and about civil society organisations. The website hosts a searchable database of organisations, a calendar of events, news about organisations, resources, a map of Jamaica showing various organisations and completed projects, as well as verified projects seeking funding and a live stream facility these groups can use. “The core,” explained Morrison, “is USAID’s database that we turned from a print version into electronic that is searchable and updated constantly. We

“Our project, Crayons Count, is a prime example of how we can shape a generation together.” are really a clearing house of information, so all we do is make people aware of what other organisations are doing.” The response from both civil organisations and the general public has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Morrison stated. “People love the concept and the fact that they can find out this kind of information easily so they can help. Organisations welcome the exposure they are getting and the ability to ask for help. “We want to support NGOs and promote the good work that they do. We believe we have created a platform for collaboration for the betterment of Jamaica. Our project, Crayons Count, is a prime example of how we can shape a generation together,” Morrison said. Crayons Count is a new campaign created to increase awareness of the importance of early childhood education and good early childhood practices. Speaking at the project launch earlier

(Left to right): Managing director of the Gleaner, Christopher Barnes; founder of do Good Jamaica, deika Morrison; Managing director of Continental Baking Company, Butch Hendrickson and Miss Jamaica World 2011, danielle Crosskill at the launch of Crayons Count, a do Good Jamaica initiative.

this month, Morrison addressed the “serious lack of learning materials” across the island’s basic schools. Crayons Count will seek to address this deficit by donating a learning kit to 2,700 of these institutions, which will include crayons, books, puppets, play dough, building blocks, puzzles, paint and paint brushes and glue sticks. Continental Baking Company will also be sponsoring a full page supplement in every Saturday Gleaner, focusing on the Early Childhood Commission’s curriculum and tips. Jamaicans can contribute by donating items from home, signing up as volunteers or making financial donation to the project. Crayons Count will be represented at the Do Good Jamaica/ Kingston Book Festival on March 17 at Emancipation Park and the Early Childhood Expo on June 22 and 23. To find out how you can assist, visit dogoodjamaica.org/crayonscount. Organisations wishing to be listed on the Do Good Jamaica website can visit dogoodjamaica.org/about or call 9273167 for more information.

yourmoney ezine

teCH noW

VANTAGEPOINT ITC gives businesses the technological edge By Tracey-Ann Wisdom

director of information technology and training, Andre Harris

o matter the industry you operate in as an entrepreneur or an employee, technology has changed the way we do business. Therefore, it is important that you are knowledgeable about the tools of your trade, from the most basic application to the latest, most complicated software or programme to boost efficiency and performance. VantagePoint IT Training and Consulting offers a number of courses covering everything from Microsoft Office to networking and troubleshooting to virtualisation, as well as business skills like presentation, negotiation, writing and accounting. “Organisations invest a lot in terms of their hardware and software, so it wouldn’t make sense to invest a lot of money and don’t have the persons trained in order to effectively operate the systems as well as the hardware,” said director of information technology and training, Andre Harris. VantagePoint is also a certified Microsoft Learning Partner, one of only a handful in the Caribbean. The company is authorised to carry out training in Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Microsoft Exchange email software, database management and Sharepoint, a document management and collabora-

VantagePoint is a certified Microsoft learning partner, one of only a handful in the Caribbean. tion tool, among other programmes. “Being a Microsoft Partner enables us to offer support to our clients as we have access to unlimited tools and resources, software, expert support, as well as the latest information on products and new developments,” Harris said. After you have set up your network and trained your staff, you need to protect it from hackers and other cyber criminals, as well as natural disasters. VantagePoint, Harris said, offers system maintenance, disaster recovery and a range of security courses to protect your investment.

components coming up in late April, early May. It will actually help not only businesses but also the security forces to fight cyber crime and help to protect organisations and secure their data,” he said. For more information, contact VantagePoint ITC: Call: 876-970-5545 or 876-779-3596 Email: info@vantagepointitc.com

advertisment

“Intruders will try to get into your network and it can disrupt your business continuity, so you need to find a way to secure your network. Also, your internal users need to be trained. Sometimes they’re the ones who actually let in these external persons by downloading viruses in emails and the websites that they use.” Additional training sessions are to launch shortly. “We have some security yourmoney ezine

diAsPorA

CARIBBEAN SAVOURIES scores big in English, Irish ethnic food markets By Tracey-Ann Wisdom

f luck is the meeting of preparation and opportunity, then Paul Scott is one lucky man. Years of international experience in the distribution and sale of food products and in the cold storage industry prepared him for the moment when, living in New York, he was introduced to a range of patties that reminded him of the taste of home, sparking a business idea. Returning to the United Kingdom, where he had originally emigrated from Kingston in 1990, Scott offered samples and taste-tests to his potential market, primarily migrant Jamaicans, and the patties were an instant hit.

Since then, Caribbean Savouries has grown from just microwaveable beef patties to one of the most popular brands of Jamaican fast food staples in the UK. The line of products now includes chicken and vegetable patties and cocktail beef patties, under the Caribbean Food Delights label; pre-cooked plantain slices, and gluten-free bammies and bammy sticks. Caribbean Savouries upped its profile in 2008 when they signed a distribution deal with major UK supermarket chain Asda, making its products readily available to an even wider customer base. Scott’s products are not only popular in Britain but have also found a favourable market in Ireland. In December

Paul scott, founder of Caribbean savouries Limited

“It has been so good to see that our products have been enjoyed by consumers across the UK.” 2009, the decision was taken to launch the products in that country based on strong interest from Irish consumers. The line of products is now available in JC Savages, Ireland’s largest independent retailers. “It has been so good to see that our products have been enjoyed by consumers across the UK,” said Caribbean Savouries head of marketing, Ronke Lawal. “Our newest product, microwavable plantain, has been selling swiftly across stores in the UK. Within our first month of introducing Caribbean Savouries, we sold out of our beef patties, something that continues to make us so proud.” Indeed, Scott has a lot to be proud of, having copped the Black Business Initia-

tive (BBI) Enterprise Life Achievement Award in October 2009. The award recognises the social and economic contributions of black and minority ethnic individuals and groups in Great Britain. The Caribbean Food Delights line of patties was shortlisted for best new product at the annual World Food Awards that same year. There are currently no plans to make the products available in Jamaica, but Lawal said if there should be a demand, Caribbean Savouries would supply. Although he no longer calls Jamaica home, Scott has also made it a priority to give back to the land of his birth, contributing to a number of charitable projects. The company has donated a medical bus, which provides medical and dental care across the island and provides scholarships for students at the University of the West Indies. Caribbean Savouries also supports the Noel Holmes Memorial Hospital and West Haven Children’s Home in Hanover. yourmoney ezine

Business Lounge real Business. real talk.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a NEW DAWG in town! Caribbean Broilers promotes entrepreneurship with new sausages

By Tracey-Ann Wisdom Photos by Warren Buckle

Business LounGe

(Left to right): Cart vendor, Aubrey dennis; Bad dawg sausages’ brand manager, Alicia Bogues and head chef at Caribbean Broilers, Gary Bowes

n this age of healthy eating, with pundits touting the life-extending benefits of everything from vegetarian to gluten-free to macrobiotic diets, pork is practically a dirty word. Long eschewed by many Jamaicans for religious reasons, the meat has also been deemed unhealthy by some medical practitioners. But the Caribbean Broilers Group, the largest producer of pork products in the Caribbean, is banking on its latest offering, Bad Dawg Sausages, to help dispel the myths about the other white meat. The sausages, launched on February 2, have begun to generate quite a buzz and brand manager, Alicia Bogues, is keen on keeping the momentum going. Bad Dawg has been making the promotional rounds with two carts – a large one for product demonstrations and a smaller one that has set up outside Club Riddim in New Kingston, at Red Stripe

Premier League games and at other venues and events around Kingston to generally positive review.

cially flavoured and dyed. Therefore, it’s healthier and more fulfilling and it also affords a better taste,” Bogues explained.

“The cart has only been on the road for two weeks, and we’ve received so many calls to have it go to additional places,” Bogues said.

The Bad Dawg concept was bought from Darshan Young and Simon Levy, who operated a grilling group of the same name. Bad Dawg was also the name of their signature sandwich. The two, longtime CB customers, were approached by group divisional pork manager, Matthew Lyn, who loved the concept and tweaked it, then introduced a cart vending programme, Bogues explained.

The primary reason behind Bad Dawg’s early success is not just the edgy image (the canine in the logo sports an earring and a gold tooth) or the strong social media push, but what is in the product itself. “There is a big difference between a sausage and a frankfurter. There are competitors that are offering a different product and its important to distinguish what that difference is. We are 100 per cent quality meat, which means you get actual meat trimmings, not mechanically deboned meat, which is then artifi-

Unique distribution programme Not satisfied to simply change the hot dog game, the CB Group is also employing a unique way of selling the product: You won’t find Bad Dawg Sausages at your nearby supermarket or even in a deli – the sausages will be sold exclusively by cart vendors, much like the beloved pan chicken. yourmoney ezine

the Bad dawg sausages promotional cart, which has been making its way around Kingston.

“It would have been much easier for the company, which has an extremely wide distribution network, to simply put the product in retail stores and supermarkets and it would sell. We are very confident in the quality of the products and the affordability, but it’s a Jamaican family company and we wanted to give back to Jamaica in some way,” Bogues said. “We want to be the marketer and the distributor of the product, but we don’t want to be the retail guys. We want people to buy a cart, standardise it, we outfit them, train them, give them a uniform and they go, follow all procedures according to whatever parish council and go out and own their own businesses, essentially,” she explained. The company has also arranged financing options through private third party financiers and microfinance institutions for potential vendors who need assistance. There should be seven carts in operation by the beginning of May. There are currently two carts, the large one used strictly for promotions and the other smaller cart, which is operated by Aubrey Dennis, the first vendor in the programme. Other vendors are set to come from the HEART

Trust/NTA, as the Ebony Park Academy has signed a memorandum of understanding with the CB Group to help improve pig-rearing techniques available to farmers, boost the supply of pork locally and dispel the myths about the meat. “HEART turns out some really great people and not everybody can get a job locally or even away, and this affords an opportunity for them to do something and be their own boss,” she said. “I’ve been in dialogue with [the coordinator] and she has churned out a few lists of people who are interested.” Before the programme rolls out fully, the vendors will undergo a period of training to include customer service skills, basic management skills, hygiene and applying for food handler’s permits. “A big part of this programme is that you almost need a personality behind the cart and that’s why you must be trained. Anybody can go and grill a (hot) dog, but what else are you going to offer?” Social media strategy Bad Dawg also does all the marketing and media promotion for the brand, so basical-

ly the vendor’s only job is to find the right locations to sell. The strong social media campaign is designed to target the 18-44 year-old group and attract not only potential customers, but also potential vendors. “We’re driving a very heavy social mediabased marketing plan. We’ve teamed up with Stush and we have a very active Facebook and Twitter page that has been the hub and storefront for us. The big cart goes to various events and we’re also going to be at schools and corporate lunch hours just to familiarise people with the product,” Bogues explained. Going forward, Bad Dawg is looking to expand the line to include a chicken sausage, but right now, the emphasis is on pork. They are also in discussions with other popular food brands to come on board and potentially create combo opportunities. In the meantime, the Bad Dawg team has a growing list if upcoming appearances, especially as the carnival season heats up, so look out for the bright yellow cart at a corner near you. yourmoney ezine

Business LounGe Johnson, who is also his financier for the cart. Bryan, as Dennis is known, is the first vendor to sign on with the Bad Dawg cart programme. “I like it. It’s very interesting,” he said of the programme. “People love this product, even though it’s pork and a lot of people don’t eat pork and to see it take off like that is good.” However, this is just the promotional phase, so he hasn’t yet begun to operate the cart on his own. Dennis has big plans for his business. So far, he has staked out two locations, outside Club Riddim in New Kingston and another venue downtown. He also shared that Johnson is currently in discussions with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to get permission for him to sell inside the Half Way Tree Transport Centre. “That would be nice for me. He’s a popular guy, so he knows all kinds of places and events.” He also wants to customise his cart with an additional burner so he can sell jerk products as well. Dennis said the programme has great potential to grow and create permanent jobs for young people like himself. Johnson, a friend and associate of Matthew Lyn, who was instrumental in getting Bad Dawg off the ground, has had the cart for two years, since the idea for the sausages came about. He is helping Dennis iron out some of the problematic issues they have identified and will be available to assist other vendors as they come on board as well.

AUBREY DENNIS THE FIRST BAD DAWG CART VENDOR Aubrey Dennis is a HEART-certified chef, so he knows his way around food. The 30-year-old has seven years experience working in two popular Chinese restaurants in Kingston and was also a

jerk vendor, selling in Half Way Tree and at various events. Dennis heard about the Bad Dawg programme from his friend, Michael

The biggest problem they have come across so far is getting the cart around to various locations. The carts have to be connected to a vehicle to move around, so the vendors will need to arrange their transportation. “Maybe what we need to look at is getting locations for them, because to move them around can be very tedious for them, especially without the right vehicle,” he stated. yourmoney ezine

Business LounGe

Growing Jamaica’s tech industry beyond BPO Julian robinson, state minister for technology

Whenever there is talk of an increase in the number of technology jobs in Jamaica, it is most often focused on business process outsourcing. This industry, comprising primarily of international call centres, currently employs approximately 13,000 Jamaicans. There is certainly enough interest to at least double that number in the next three years, providing that we have the space to facilitate the investment, said Julian Robinson, state minister for technology.

didn’t know that until recently,” he said. “There are people who are doing a lot of innovative things with the technology, including those applications that you use on your BlackBerry. A number of them have actually developed solutions to local issues.”

According to Robinson, Jamaica now has a small local community of software developers, mostly young people who work from home in their spare time after their nine-to-fives and on weekends.

Tech entrepreneurship “I believe that while we may understand the government’s push to create jobs quickly via call centre type jobs, encouraging tech entrepreneurship especially will mean the growth of software/app development sector solving local, regional and global problems and being very successful. I believe we will see even more success stories over the next three years,” said self-proclaimed ‘tech evangelist’ Ingrid Riley, founder of digital marketing agency Connectimass and blog SiliconCaribe.com.

“There’s a Software Developers of Jamaica (association) and there’s another group that encompasses people who are in development, people who have built applications. There’s a Jamaican equivalent of eBay (JamDeal.com). I

Robinson admitted that it is hard to get an accurate measure of this industry when most of its practitioners are “under the radar”, but he has already met with one of these groups and they “all recognise the potential of the technol-

But what about diving into the booming software development sector, specifically smartphone application creation?

ogy and how powerful it is and the fact that they can make a living out of it.” Riley highlighted the success of January’s SlashRoots developers’ conference, plus interest in her own Kingston BETA and Caribbean BETA networking sessions as indications that Jamaica’s technology industry is on the right path. “I see it in RIM developing close relationships with Caribbean developers via initiatives such as the formation of the Blackberry Developers User Group and them actively creating other opportunities for developers to get knowledge and access to build apps,” she said. “We see it in the rise of web apps online. I see it in the endorsement of government and their actions in supporting these events and initiatives via agencies such as JAMPRO, in addition to the diversity of expertise and experiences in the new board composition of CITO (Central Information Technology Office). I see it in the move to woo initiatives such as the Digital City Jamaica, which seeks to train in new media skills.” yourmoney ezine

Business LounGe

“It’s that kind of environment [incubators] that facilitates the creation of new ideas and new products and new businesses.”

Growing pains However, the fledgling software development industry faces a number of obstacles. “The challenges being faced are somewhat similar to many small businesses that, in a sense, operate within what I would call the informal part of our economy. Not all of them are registered companies, so access to financing is difficult. Many of them don’t have the collateral to go to a traditional bank to seek loans,” Robinson said. Riley also noted challenges, including: a lack of knowledge of how to take an idea to market; form startup teams; network regionally and how to get seed funding. Robinson is looking to develop incubators to mitigate some of these problems. “It’s that kind of environment that facilitates the creation of new ideas and new products and new businesses,” he said. “How we’re going to facilitate that, I don’t have the answer yet. Certainly, it is also an opportunity for a private sector person to look at

it as a business opportunity, but we’ll be working to facilitate the growth of this area.” More will also be done to embrace an open data platform, which makes data such as that related to government and civil agencies, freely accessible to the public. “It allows persons who have ideas, who may have solutions to specific problems, to develop those products and solutions without any restrictions or without having to worry about accessing proprietary technology, which is expensive to do legally. “As for government, obviously, we have to ensure that there are certain standards across agencies, and we have the CITO tasked to ensure this. We are certainly supportive of it and will continue to promote it and provide the kind of assistance that those entities need,” Robinson said. While much-needed focus is being placed on growing the software development industry, the competitive tele-

coms market also holds opportunities for further expansion and job creation. Jamaica’s voice telephony penetration rate is currently about 110 per cent, Robinson said, but there are certainly prospects in the emerging data services sector. “I think you may find a player who may see a gap in that kind of market and want to expand, particularly given how many smartphone devices are available and how widely available they are. I wouldn’t say at this point we have a specific party that is interested, but we are certainly going to promote it,” Robinson said. “What is clear to us is that Jamaicans like to use these devices and, in fact, many of them substitute for laptops and computers at home because they can use their BlackBerries and other devices to search online and for many people, that’s their primary source of access to data.”

yourmoney ezine

Business LounGe

“This guide was created from conversations with our clients and aimed at educating anyone trying or thinking about building a home in Jamaica.”

eZine (digital magazine) format, with a print version in the works. Form is currently in discussions with Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) to produce 5,000 copies of a limited edition of the guide, to include mortgage and financing information as a part of their Jamaica 50 anniversary celebrations. These will be distributed in Jamaica, the United States and the United Kingdom.

ForM Architects’ managing director, damian edmond

FORM ARCHITECTS launches Home Builders’ Guide By Tracey-Ann Wisdom

sk somebody about his or her plans for the future, and it is almost guaranteed that home ownership will be on that list. Whether they want to build it from scratch or find the perfect house already constructed, people generally want to have a place of rest after a long day and where they can entertain family and friends. However, most of them really have no idea what exactly they want in a house and they are probably also unaware of all the factors they should consider before they start construction. Recognising this, FORM Architects has created a Home Builders’ Guide to help potential homeowners get the most out of their investment. “An architect sees a house as much more than collections of rooms and we at Form Architects go through an extensive exercise to educate our clients

in how to approach the thinking and ultimately the design of their home before we even begin the design process,” said FORM Managing Director, Damian Edmond. “This guide was created from conversations with our clients and aimed at educating anyone trying or thinking about building a home in Jamaica. The guide is a valuable source of information that they can keep and refer to when deciding to make this big step to build your home.” “Creating this guide was challenging because we had to explain a difficult and complex process in non-technical architectural terms so that just about anyone can understand the information being presented,” he added. The first edition of the guide, which has been on the drawing board for two years, will be available this month in

The electronic edition will be distributed by eMedia Interactive, publisher of Your Money eZine. “We intend on updating it each year to include new information that is current and relevant to the building industry and that will help potential home builders to build homes in the future,” Edmond said. “Partnering with eMedia is a no brainer and a natural symbiosis for FORM Architects to help in the distribution and reach of free information on architecture and the construction industry to Jamaicans via the Internet.” This FORM Home Builders’ Guide is the first of its kind in Jamaica and Edmond expects it to reach thousands of Jamaicans as well as other Caribbean nationals and the Diaspora. “It is our hope that this guide will help homebuilders and homeowners in the construction process and help them to create better homes for their families. We hope that it also enlightens the public of the importance of using trained professionals in the creation or production of this valuable investment called a home.” For more information, contact FORM Architects: Call: 876-970-5563 Fax: 876-970-5548 Email: contact@formarchitects.com yourmoney ezine

Your tAxes

GET READY TO FILE YOUR ANNUAL INCOME TAX RETURNS March 15 is upon us and as a result, all companies, self-employed persons, partners, employed persons with other sources of income, accountants and auditors are busily preparing to file their annual income tax returns. They are also required to declare their estimated income for 2012 on or before the 15th. STATUTORY INCOME Statutory income is revenue from all sources after allowable deductions under the Income Tax Act, for example, NIS, pension exemption and approved superannuation. Sources of income include profits from business, trade, profession, rent and farming. TYPES OF INCOME TAX t 1":& QBZSPMM FNQMPZFF 25 per cent) t *OEJWJEVBM JODPNF UBY TFMG FNQMPZFE QFSTPOT (25 per cent) t $PSQPSBUF JODPNF UBY DPNQBOJFT BOE PUIFS PSHBOJTBUJPO (33.33 per cent) PAYROLL EMPLOYEES (PAYE) t 5IF UBY JT QBJE PO JODPNF FBSOFE EVSJOH UIF ZFBS t "O FNQMPZFF XJMM IBWF JODPNF UBY EFEVDUFE GSPN IJT PS IFS QBZ and will not need to file an income tax return, unless applying for a refund of excess tax deducted or declaring additional income. INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX t *ODPNF UBY JT QBJE PO OFU JODPNF t 4FMG FNQMPZFE QFSTPOT BSF SFRVJSFE UP mMF UIFJS PXO JODPNF UBY return annually. INCOME TAX THRESHOLD Since January 1, 2010: Weekly - $8,484 Fortnightly - $16,968 Monthly - $36,764 Yearly - $441,168 BENEFITS OF FILING ANNUAL RETURN t #BTFE PO UIF DPOUSJCVUJPOT TVCNJUUFE CZ FNQMPZFST XPSLFST BSF able to have access to pensions and housing benefits. t 'JMJOH BOOVBM SFUVSOT IFMQT UIF DPNQBOZ UP CF UBY DPNQMJBOU 5IJT allows the company to attain a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC), which enables the company to obtain government and other contracts. REMINDERS t &NQMPZFS T BOOVBM SFUVSO TUBUVUPSZ EFEVDUJPOT March 31, 2012 t *ODPNF UBY SFUVSO March 15, 2012 t "OOVBM FTUJNBUFE SFUVSOT March 15, 2012 t "OOVBM FTUJNBUFE JODPNF UBY TIPVME CF QBJE RVBSUFSMZ March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15

yourmoney ezine

insiGHts

How the new privacy policy affects your data

By Keresa Arnold

f you use Google search or can’t go a day without signing into YouTube, then pay attention. Google recently announced changes to its privacy policy, which took effect on March 1. Similar to the usual uproar from Facebook’s numerous privacy changes, Google is now in hot water and has had to oil up its public relations machinery to deal with the backlash.

vate stuff private, we’re making it more useful to you in your daily life, too.”

changing now, however, is how they will use it.

Here’s how it works. Everyone has a ‘user profile’ and if you do a search for iPads, for example, Google will use this information to tailor ads and other search results specifically for you, while also having the ability to interact with you on a more personal level.

Many believe that Google is trying to gain greater access to their private content. Not true, says Google. According to them, the new policies are aimed at changing the way the company uses YouTube and web history, which would help them serve customers better. Instead of different privacy policies for each Google product or feature you use (Gmail, Search, YouTube, Calendar and the more than 60 other services), they’re now streamlining the content in order to give you a more “intuitive” experience.

“It may even mean that we will be able to tell you when you’ll be late for a meeting, based on your location, calendar and local traffic conditions,” they said. This is possible only if you use a location-enabled Google service, like GPS on a mobile phone.

How do you stop this? Technically, you can’t. Google has become synonymous with searches and practically everybody uses YouTube. Despite this, Google isn’t taking all your power away. They’ve also provided different options to help you control (to some extent) the content you share. Here’s what you can do:

“We’re just tidying up a bit… It means that if you’re signed in, we’ll treat you as one single user across all our products, combining information you provide for one service with information from the others,” the company said in a recent video. “We’re not just keeping your pri-

While this might sound exciting on the surface, the problem many people have is that Google has never before had the right to manipulate data to meet your so-called needs. There are few laws governing the collection, use and distribution of private user data, and many privacy experts are now crying foul. They don’t believe any one company should have that much access to and power over users’ data. What’s interesting is that Google has always had access to your information. Yes, all your searches have been stored. What’s

t #Z BDDFTTJOH UIFJS EBTICPBSE PQUJPO you can review and control information linked to your account. You can also remove information from many of their services. t 5IFJS BET QSFGFSFODFT NBOBHFS PQUJPO allows you to view and edit the ads that you think will be more appropriate for you. t "T NFOUJPOFE FWFSZPOF OPX IBT B Google profile, and you have the chance to edit how your profile appears to particular individuals. t 'JOBMMZ ZPV IBWF TPNF DPOUSPM PWFS who you share content with, especially as it relates to Google+ circles and streams options, which allows you to edit who sees your profile.

yourmoney ezine

AdvertoriAL

SAMPARS CASH AND CARRY A new way to shop Are you tired of spending your Saturdays or workday evenings waiting in long lines, at the supermarket cash register? Then welcome to Sampars Cash and Carry, where a whole new shopping experience awaits you! Our 30-year track record of friendly customer service, low prices and high quality products remains unbroken, but as the times have changed, so have we. Sampars Cash and Carry introduces its easy, time-saving and hassle-free ways for you to get all the items on your grocery list, at our signature wholesale prices: t 4IPQ POMJOF XXX TIPQTBNQBST DPN 4JHO VQ BOE DSFBUF ZPVS BDcount, using our secure e-commerce website, select your items from our wide range of grocery products and more and choose how you want to receive your order. Shop using your either credit or visa debit cards. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as easy as that. Our special â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;My Shopping Grocery Listâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; feature, tracks your orders so you never forget any of the key grocery items you have purchased. t *TMBOE XJEF EFMJWFSZ TFSWJDF :PV EPO U IBWF UP TUSVHHMF XJUI IFBWZ shopping bags â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we will deliver to you. Our next-day delivery service is island-wide, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in Kingston. Take advantage of our current special â&#x20AC;&#x201C; delivery anywhere in Jamaica for only $600. If online shopping isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your thing, feel free to call or fax in your order or send us an email with your list. And if you still prefer to shop in person, come on over to our spacious, secure location at 233 Marcus Garvey Drive Kingston 11. Loyalty programmes Sign up for our Membership Club, free of cost, when you create your online account or come in to our location. You will receive a free Membership Club card account, where you can earn loyalty points from your purchases. You can use your points towards future purchases at Sampars Cash and Carry or at any of our partner locations. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our way of saying thank you for shopping with us. Contact us: Log on to www.shopsampars.com Email sales@smaparsja.com Visit us in store at 233 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 11 or Call us at: 923-8733. Sampars Cash and Carry - Wholesalers to the nation... Serving you

yourmoney ezine

stArt uPs

“EduFocal is a social learning tool. It focuses on standardised examinations at the CSEC and GSAT levels.”

EDUFOCAL:

REDEFINING EDUCATION THROUGH SOCIAL LEARNING By Keresa Arnold

Photos by Warren Buckle

t 21 years old, Gordon Swaby already has a wealth of experience under his belt having started two businesses by the time he was 19. His formal entry into entrepreneurship came at age 15 when he created a website, advance-gamers.com, which grabbed the attention of game developers in the US who sent products for him to review. Now, more mature and with an even better understanding of his entrepreneurial aspirations, he is focused on

making greater waves in the business world. A third year Computing major at the University of Technology, he is preparing to launch his newest venture, EduFocal, on March 15. This, he said, is poised to redefine how students learn. “EduFocal is a social learning tool. It focuses on standardised examinations at the CSEC and GSAT levels. If you’re familiar with the video game Pokémon, then the mechanics system is kind of

Gordon swaby, creator of eduFocal

like that where you start at level one in all the subjects that you’re doing,” Swaby said. The company offers a range of subject areas and encourages students to have a more meaningful learning experience outside of school, while also gaining rewards. To access the resources, students must pay a $2,000 subscription fee and receive an EduFocal code, which is valid for one year. These can be bought at any location that sells digital cellular phone credit.

yourmoney ezine

stArt uPs

“In five years, I see the company in other Caribbean islands and also listed on the Jamaica Junior Stock Exchange.” Codes will be used for registration at edufocal.com and students will be able to log in and access questions for the subjects they want to practice. They can choose from a list of teachers in different topics, and will be able to answer questions and earn experience points if the answers are correct. “As you move up through the levels in a particular subject, the questions will become harder and, of course, the harder they are, the more experience points they’re worth,” he said. “When a child is at level 65, this child will unlock the ability to create questions for their friends. So say that I have a friend who is weak in number theory in mathematics and I am a subject expert in number theory, they can request that I create some questions for them.” These questions will be reviewed by a teacher, after which the student who requested the question will be able to access them. Reward points are then given to the subject expert who created the question, but only after the student becomes more proficient in the topic. Reward points can then be used to buy items like laptops and iPods from the EduFocal virtual store or redeem them for cash. Living by the motto “never an employee, always an employer”, Swaby was recently accepted into the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship, which offers mentorship, networking opportunities and the chance to access capital to 20 emerging entrepreneurs each year. EduFocal currently has five staff members, but plans are in place to expand outside of Jamaica as the company introduces new standardised exams, such as SATs. “In five years, I see the company in other Caribbean islands and also listed on the Jamaica Junior Stock Exchange,” Swaby said.

yourmoney ezine

Y-FoLLoW advertisement

@ People use pinboards (your average bulletin board) to do everything from post notices to creating vision boards for planning outfits, organising weddings, decorating homes and more. Pinterest has taken this concept online and cultivated a huge following of enthusiastic pinners (especially in the arts community), connecting people from all over the world based on shared tastes and interests. Check out this Pinterest board dedicated to Jamaica. The website has an active social media presence, interacting with more than 521,000 followers on Twitter every day. It also has more than 1.4 million fans on Facebook, but is not as active on that network.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been following the buzz and are thinking of signing up, check out the Pinterest timeline: t (FU ZPVS RVFTUJPOT BOTXFSFE 1JOUFSFTU JT UXP ZFBST PME CVU UIF buzz is relatively new, so many current and potential users are still figuring out how it works and how it can benefit them. If you have any questions, the quickest way to get an answer is on Twitter. t /PUF UIF DIBOHFT 8IFOFWFS UIF 1JOUFSFTU UFBN UXFBLT UIF XFCsite, they post the news on their social media platforms and share how it will affect users so they are always in the know. t 1JO XJUI QVSQPTF -FBSO IPX VTFST CPUI JOEJWJEVBMT BOE DPNQBnies, have been using the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various features in their regular blog â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pinterviewsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This is great information for brand building. t 1JOUFSFTU QBSUJFT 6TFST BDSPTT UIF 64 IBWF CFFO DPNJOH UPHFUIFS for parties and meet-ups to share their stories and learn more about the site. Get inspiration for planning your own party to tap into the local community of pinners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; these are great networking events. Note: Pinterest is currently invite-only, so you have to request an invitation from the site or be invited by someone already in the network.

yourmoney ezine