My blogs on Joseph "Joey" Issa Founder Cool Group of Companies

Chairman of PICA Joe Issa, who has often seen reforms taking place in the public sector, including his own Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, as enhancing Jamaica’s readiness to increase travel and trade, has yet another occasion to do so; this time, as he compliments the Senate for approving measures for its sister agency and partner is securing the country’s borders, to enhance trading with other nations. “I think it’s the kind of reform the IMF was referring to in part in its latest report, in which it called for it in order for countries to take advantage of looming opportunities from the upswing in global economic activity. “I also think it is reform the authorities, including the Prime Minister himself, have recognised is important for Jamaica to be able to increase exports, either by removing barriers or introducing measures to facilitate it, such as improving processes and systems by which we trade.  “The removal of the export certificate of entrie...

On the heels of a call by Ocho Rios businessman and philanthropist Joe Issa for citizens to heed warnings by the authorities of an approaching weather system, many people got caught by the latest trough unprepared, despite warnings by the Metrological Office. Amid the thunder, lightning and heavy rains which caused widespread flooding and landslides across Jamaica this week, comes news that the met office had sent out some four days earlier, repeated warnings of the presence of a trough over the island that would bring showers and thunderstorms, and for people who live in low-lying areas to take the necessary precaution. But once again, analysts believe the met office warnings went on death ears, and apparently, so did Issa’s, as the latest assessment in the aftermath of this week’s trough points to severe damage to infrastructure, which made it impossible other than by boat and helicopter, to reach some communities marooned by flood waters and in particular, those who were ...

Chairman of the agency responsible for securing Jamaica’s borders Joe Issa has said he anticipated the border issues now being predicted for the UK on account of Brixit. “It was on the cards the moment Britain voted to opt out of Europe. What is now being reported loomed ever since, because, with Brixit, it would not be business as usual. There must be changes in processing inbound and outbound traffic of both people and goods from all over the world at all border points – air and sea. “But while it is not yet known what the future relationship will be between the UK and Europe, it is arrivals and departures at airports that would pose the biggest challenge for immigration and customs officers, especially where they rely heavily on manual processing. “And as is expected with Brixit, a collateral material including immigration and customs forms, passport and citizenship documents, as well as the appropriate staff level must reflect the new status of the UK,” said the chai...

Founder of one of the nation’s largest retail conglomerate Joe Issa, who is a member of “The Ultimate Professional Directory of International Who’s Who”, has said that he supports the teaching of money management across the school system, stating it will make for a more frugal populace. “I am of the view that if we teach money management to kids, it will make them more thrifty later on in life,” says Issa, adding, “It could break the back of the phenomenon of living from pay cheque to pay cheque and make for a less turbulent credit environment, such as what we experienced in the late 1990s when both consumers and financial institutions went belly up.” Issa’s comments come as the present administration moves to introduce an entrepreneurship curriculum in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to foster innovation among school leavers and generate economic growth. But now Issa, who supported the idea of early entrepreneurship training, is pushing the envelope to incl...

Member of the Past Presidents Advisory Committee of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Joe Issa is in support of the early implementation of strategic tourism initiatives to support the continued growth of the sector. In commenting on the several air services agreements which Cabinet has given approval for Jamaica to sign with governments, Issa said, “The agreements will mean more airlift, visitors and foreign exchange for Jamaica,” noting “it will also diversify the support base and create opportunities for Jamaicans to learn new languages to further improve the human resource pillar and assure our quality.” The countries with which air services agreements are to be signed include South Africa, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Seychelles, Italy and Portugal. The agreements, which will provide for air services between Jamaica and each of the signatory countries, were said to have been negotiated at December’s International, Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services...

Businessman and philanthropist Joe Issa hail the latest policy initiative by the ministry of health on feeding Jamaican infants and a strategic action plan to accompany the programme. Joseph Issa "Jamaica does not have an enviable record or indicator of child nourishment up to five-years-old at least and it generally derives from bad nutrition habits earlier in infant and childhood. “And given the critical importance of nutrition especially early in life, I believe the policy could change the habits of parents, especially mothers once they become more aware. “The bigger picture is the short and long-term benefits that will accrue to citizens and the country through lower health costs and greater worker productivity by adopting good nutrition practices from early in life,” said Issa. Issa was commenting on the move by Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton “to give Jamaicans a new National Infant and Young Child Feeding Policy and the National Infant and Young ...

Excerpts from an interview with climate change and science enthusiast Joe Issa show him taking a uniquely strategic position on doomsday “If the new finding leads those who are most responsible for global warming to rethink their approach to taking responsibility and drastically served its purpose. “Far too many people including world leaders are taking global warming for a joke; so if it takes a mathematical formula to scare the hell out of them, then it is worth. “I am not a scientist so I tend to believe what I read from credible sources until they are proven wrong by more credible sources; it’s all science research…Furthermore, we have witnessed more fury in the recent hurricanes than ever before; the science predicted that too,” said Issa, as he reacts to a global warming, a doomsday prediction that could commence as early as 2100. The mathematical formula, which has been created to predict a sixth mass extinction is said to have been developed by Daniel Rothman...

Between the United States, Britain, Europe, Russia, China, Middle East and Latin America, pick one without looming troubles that could reverse the gains Jamaica has made over the past 18 months. That’s how the founder of Cool Corporation Joe Issa warns of the International Monetary Fund’s near certainty that one thing or another could happen across the continents that may impact the current global economic recovery including Jamaica’s. “It’s one of those times I wish the IMF is wrong about looming global shocks that may derail Jamaica’s current growth trajectory, especially after many years of stymied economic growth. It is particularly disheartening as it will be through no fault of ours,” said Issa, who is a member of the Past Presidents Advisory Committee of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce. In bumping up its global growth forecasts, the IMF predicts advanced economies to grow by 2.2 percent this year and two percent in the next while emerging and developing countries ar...

Joe Issa, head of the successfully branded Cool Group of companies that are being leveraged internationally, says there are opportunities for synergy in the quest by the authorities to achieve some major objectives that are consistent with the Prime Minister’s latest call to expedite economic and structural reform.   Joseph Issa Issa was commenting on a number of initiatives, including the move by the sports ministry to tap into the sports goods market. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, reportedly said, “Jamaica should consider carving out a niche market in the sports goods industry, which includes items such as equipment, accessories, and apparel.” Speaking at a recent two-day Inter-Regional Conference on the Strategic Use of Intellectual Property in Sport in Kingston, she said that “Jamaica could also consider marketing itself as a Sports Destination Country similar to Dubai.” Issa explains that “the synergy ...

Former President of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Joe Issa has expressed concern over reports pointing to an increase in unemployment in the Caribbean. Joseph Issa Issa, who has often spoken on issues affecting the Caribbean, including climate change, said: “this is bad news; as a region we should be growing our economies to increase employment for our young people and alleviate poverty, not making things worse for them.” Issa was reacting to a new UN report which says unemployment continues to rise in the Caribbean. According to a CMC report out of Santiago, Chile, carried by the Jamaica Observer, “two United Nations agencies say that urban unemployment will keep rising in Latin America and the Caribbean and could reach 9.4 percent in 2017.” In releasing the newest edition of their joint publication, “Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organi...

Executive Chairman of Cool Corporation Joe Issa, who became Vice President Sales of his family chain of 15 hotel resorts in 1998 – the year Captain Horace Burrell sealed Jamaica’s place in the World Cup Football final – has expressed condolences to his family and friends, urging them to take comfort from his immense contribution to the sport in Jamaica. “I will never forget the celebrations which went on throughout Jamaica in 1998 when we qualified for the world. It was a first by a Caribbean country. It was a landmark year for me, as I had left the youthful threshold of 32, and became a vice president. He went on to development Jamaican football further. “So, rest in peace Captain. It’s God’s call, but your great service to Jamaican football and our youth will live on,” said Issa, who is a Eucharistic Minister of the Roman Catholic Church. To Burrell’s family and friends and the football fraternity, Issa urged: “It’s not easy when you lose a loved one, but if it’s any com...

The Jamaican face of oil and energy, successful businessman and philanthropist Joe Issa, is believed to be true to his word today, as he was three decades ago when he put ideas and self esteem above possessions. For it was with ideas and self esteem that made him hugely successful and popular in the business community, and among citizens in particular for his philanthropy. “I said it at graduation and I‘ll say it again today,” Issa said in an interview, as he responds to the primacy possessions hold in today’s generation, stating “we have lost nothing if we still have our ideas and our self esteem.” I a philosophical approach to urging acceptance of change in daily life, so that it does not break one down, Issa, in his valedictorian speech in 1988, used some stereotypes which he experienced when he entered university in the USA. “I remember being asked: ‘what does your dad do?’ and, ‘does your mom work?’ A true indicator that some people’s value systems, came with the ...

Businessman Joe Issa, a former tourism practitioner in Montego Bay, the home of former Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke, has expressed condolences at the recent passing of Lady Ivy Cooke. She was 100 years old. Widow of Sir Howard, who died in 2014 at the age of 98 years, Lady Ivy Cooke is said to have passed away at the Andrew’s Memorial Hospital in St Andrew. The union is believed to have produced three children - Justice Howard Cooke Jr, Richard and Audrey. “From what I know of Lady Cooke, she was a very bright student and a committed educator, who spent the rest of her life in the classroom teaching,” said Issa, executive chairman of Cool Group of companies, noting, “That’s awesome service to people and country.” Issa, who continues to give towards the education of underprivileged Jamaican children through his Cool Charities subsidiary, said Lady Ivy Cooke is owed a debt of gratitude for her dedication to teaching. Both Prime Ministe...