We are certainly looking forward to get a reduction in murders (currently stands at more than 1500) in 2009, and we are working still to improve the forensic capabilities among our senior officers in our crime lab. We are also targeting the lottery scammers with a major initiative planned for next year. In 2008 we had our first major conviction in the lottery scheme and there are several more that will come forward in the courts next year.

I am praying we will have a better year for children in 2009 (with) more or most persons sharing the responsibility to protect them and to keep them safe. I hope there will be no more cruel abductions and murders. This was a painful year as we saw young ones having their life snuffed out violently and tragically. I hope the monument on Tower Street will help to strengthen the resolve among us.

My heart goes out to all those grieving the loss of their little ones at this time. I also hope to see many of the recommendations of the Child Protection Audit being implemented as we seek to uphold the rights of children.

I hope that in 2009 the leaders at the community level will continue to put out their best efforts to complete the implementation of local water supply systems including the Mile Gully and Warwick Castle Benevolent Development Societies (BDS), the Gravel Hill BDS and the Whitehorse's BDS. I hope that they will be strengthened and take full responsibility for these water supply projects which are slated for completion in early 2009. We are hoping that the leaders will not give up despite the challenges, but will press ahead to realise their goals.

With regards to WROC - which is currently pursuing banana worker rehabilitation in St Thomas and violence prevention and sustainable livelihoods projects in inner-city Kingston - and the wider voluntary sector in Jamaica, I hope that they will continue to work to stabilise themselves and serve local communities. The pressure for urban livelihoods (sustainable employment) is really tremendous, especially in Kingston.

We also hope that the government will give some consideration to supporting the workers in the voluntary sector with special incentives for those who still do not own their own homes.

The life insurance industry stood up well despite a challenging economic environment achieving some marginal growth over last year. We have felt some of the effects of the alternative schemes, which affected us differently between this year and last. Last year they were in their ascendancy and this year they stalled or collapsed.

Also the fact that the economy was in a recession - now confirmed by STATIN - made sales difficult to come by and saw some pressures from persons wanting to use their long term savings nest egg to pay current bills. Many of the sales reps went back to the core principles by identifying their policyholder's insurance needs and presenting them with appropriate solutions.

The companies supported the process with the launching of new products to cover new policyholder needs in an increasingly dynamic financial universe.

Next year should see an increasing emphasis on conservation of policies as people face hard choices in an uncertain environment. There will be emphasis on the safeness and soundness of life insurance as a regulated investment vehicle and one that provides protection when tragedy strikes in an uncertain environment.

The life insurance companies along with the general companies remain strong at a time when many are needing 'transfusions' elsewhere in the world. Jamaica has had the fortune of a recent overhaul and upgrading of its financial regulatory apparatus.

I expect that interest rates and exchange rate movements will stabilise allowing for a much lower level of inflation in the food sector. The current working capital strain on a number of our customers and competitors may cause some rationalisation in the sector through mergers and acquisitions or downsizing.

Opportunities will present themselves if you are able to innovative to meet the changing needs of consumers in the sector.

I am expecting 2009 to be another excellent year for Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty. As 2008 comes to an end we can only be proud of having our seventh consecutive year of out preforming the previous year in closed sales.

We are excited about the new developments on the market and those to be released.

So 2009 looks great; we finally have a great assortment of resort developments, resort residential in Richmond and starter units. We are also expecting the mortgage companies to start offering interest only mortgages for the first three years until interest rates return to 12 per cent.

The real estate market looks strong for 2009. Don't be fooled by those developments that have not sold off, hopefully those developers will finally have learnt that we live in the tropics and homeowners want green spaces to enjoy.

With regards to the general insurance industry, there is a high level of hurricane activity forecast for 2009 again, but property insurance rates will be about the same as 2008.

In the case of motor insurance, high crime levels resulted in an increase in stolen vehicles in 2008. We have been working with the police during this year and we expect our initiatives to deliver results in 2009 which should see a reduction in stolen vehicles. The movement in the dollar will result in increased claims costs as repairs get more expensive, and the cost of cars will also increase - depending on how these factors play out the result may be in some small changes in motor vehicle insurance rates.

The worldwide economic issues and recession should not affect the local insurance industry as we invest in local financial products which have been spared the problems of the credit derivatives and the mortgage problems of the United States and the United Kingdon. Our business partners in the worldwide insurance market have been impacted, but not to the extent which will affect their business with us.

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com