Share the wealth, help a neighbour today

HELLO, MI neighbour! Google 'the world's richest people' and you will see names like William Gates, 48 - USA; Warren Buffett, 73 - USA; Karl Albrecht, 84 - Germany; Prince Alwaleed BinTalal Alsaud, 47- Saudi Arabia; Paul Allen, 51 - USA; Alice Walton, 55 - USA, and the list goes on.

These are all powerful people. Name it and they have the ability to own it - money talks. In the line-up, you could also read of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the head of one of the richest countries. It is said that he was born eating with gold spoons - literally. Clothes worn are embroidered with gold and silver. The source says that his palace is the largest and most luxurious in the world - consisting of 1788 rooms, 257 bathrooms inlaid with gold and silver and a garage to accommodate 110 cars.

According to Wikipedia, this gentleman is the owner of:

• 531 Mercedes-Benzes
• 367 Ferraris
• 362 Bentleys
• 185 BMWs
• 177 Jaguars
• 160 Porsches
• 130 Rolls-Royces, and
• 20 Lamborghinis

Wow! This is mind-boggling! He owns the most luxurious aircraft in the world, inlaid with gold. He bought a Boeing 747 for US$100 million, and then re-designed it as a home, costing another US$120 million.

Then they say the world's richest man for 2010 was one Symeon Freemanstein, who is currently the most successful businessman and the youngest independent financier, entrepreneur and shareholder in the history of the world into 2011. With assets now valued in the region of US$82.2 billion, his stocks still climb daily. It is believed that Freemanstein makes over US$1,450 per second! Symeon, who thinks very highly of his personal staff, pays his secretary just under US$95,000 a month, his driver US$75,000 and his barber US$5,000 for a trim.

Financial genius

The incredible-yet-little-known financial genius, investor, businessman and philanthropist has major shareholdings in all of the top-ranked businesses in the world. He has invested in energy, fuel, banking and finance, communication, electronics, food and beverages production, property development, aviation, retail, motor-vehicle production, chemical research and development, logistics and transport, entertainment, sports and mining. Phew! And these are people we have hardly heard of.

Among the rich people of the world, you will never see names like Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, and so on. No one who has championed the cause of humanity will be mentioned. The martyrs of whom we have read so much about were never considered rich. Why? Riches are measured in terms of financial wealth. And in our world, the greater the wealth the greater the respect, privileges, and opportunities.

No one would deny the importance of financial wealth in these times. Aspire to it, but remember this type can rob you of true riches. You are very rich if you can genuinely care about others, relieve the pain of the suffering and bring freedom to an imprisoned soul.

If you do not have a dime, but have peace of mind, be at peace; millions would pay for what you have.

Thanks for helping

1. Mrs Henry, Clarendon, for clothing for the neighbours.

2. Miss Evans, St Andrew, for offering housing fixtures to a neighbour in St Mary.

3. Shirley, St Catherine, for children's clothing.

4. Delores, St Andrew, for supplying children with shoes for school.

5. Dianne, St Andrew, for supply of clothing and ground provisions.

Opportunities to help

1. Nerissa, St Catherine, 76-year-old diabetic in need of a bed.

2. Unemployed needs shoes and clothing for 10- and 14-year-old girls.

3. Manchester woman trying to enlist in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Needs an additional subject. Asking neighbours for $3,300 for the examination.

4. Nerissa, St Andrew, in need of a sewing machine to assist with income generation.

5. Ms Bogle, Manchester, caring for three disabled persons. In need of wheelchairs and diapers for them.

6. Ms Whyte, St Thomas, has a renal disease - dialysed twice weekly. Needs financial assistance.

7. Claudette, St Andrew, needs size-nine shoes and size-12 dress for church.

To help us, please call 906-3167, 884-3866, 299-3412 or deposit to acct # 351 044 276 NCB. (Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX) or send donations to Hello Neighbour c/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10, neighbourtoo@yahoo.com.