Jackass sey di worl' no level. Jackass sey a from las' year 'im a wonda why Cash Plus a get a blow now, afta dem inna business 'ow long, an' no mash up nobody money.

First and foremost, Jackass must observe common courtesy and wish all a happy New Year, as well as continued and continuous happiness throughout the year. And whatever our religious and political affiliation, our race (bleached or unbleached) or gender, if there is one thing we seem to agree on is that happiness requires cash. In fact, it requires cash, plus, because the richest of persons always believe that they need more money to buy something else.

To get to the cash, though, much less the plus, many have put their savings and even borrowings into Cash Plus, but lo and behold after a few years in operation, the company's operations were suddenly called into question late last year.

And Jackass is curious as to why. It could not have been complaints by the public (people were getting their money, 10 per cent a month on the barrel head, regular as clockwork, so people would not have to get angry and make a Glock work). It could not have been concern about the financial security of the people who have plunked down their money on a very risky venture (if the politicians really, really cared about our financial well-being they would not have given themselves a 20 per cent salary increase).

And it certainly could not have been an issue with the character of the person or persons who run Cash Plus (after all, john crows who ran banks into the dirt out here have taken pen to paper and live happily ever after abroad with nary a charge on their heads).

So, after studying the situation, like Simoes will study the Reggae Boyz he has been recalled to field marshal 10 years on, Jackass has come to the conclusion that the crackdown has something to do with the acquisitions that Cash Plus was making and trying to make.

Too much, too soon

Drax Hall. Hilton. That newspaper. That radio station. It was too much, too soon, too far into the real bastions of power in Jamaica. To have a lot of money and sponsor the major football league was one thing. To try to buy into the media was quite another.

The world is not level at all, because as long as Cash Plus was only dealing with cash - all was well. It is when they tried to go into the plus of serious real estate and, especially the media, that the crunch came, complete with highly uncomplimentary front page story about Carlos Hill.

What will happen from here on is anybody's guess. Cash Plus is engaged in the battle for the confidence of the public, which is what it always comes down to (hearts and minds, the Americans called it in Iraq), but Jackass knows that in the end what the result will be, whether the company stands or not.

Most of those seeking some cash, plus some more that makes the difference between paying a mortgage or rent are going to end up with a landlord for a long, long, long, time.

Jackass sey di worl' no level. Jackass sey money can mek, but who 'ave it no want everybody fi 'ave it.