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I believe the comment on Mr. Lee’s personal life was inappropriate. He has long said management skills and marketing experience is what he brings to CCW. He flatly admits he has never set foot in the ring. The fact that he does not want to “get involved” in matches is evidence he understands such matters are better left to others. He should be applauded not admonished for knowing when to delegate authority – the sign of a true leader.

As far as the “surrounded by a half-dozen young models” comment, I have had the pleasure of accompanying Lee and his inner circle to regular Thursday night meetings at Jamrock, and indeed there were several scantily clad beauties in attendance. So what? It is Lee’s business, and not ours. I am a happily married man. Mr. Lee is not. It seems to me Tyrell Stephens is a bit envious of Lee’s life-style, as many men (happily married or not) would be.

CCW Raises Investor Interest Rate to 36%, Doubles Equity Share

Caribbean Championship Wrestling has announced in order to pry the local investment community off government paper, the company has raised its return on loans to fund start-up and initial operations from 30% to 36%, and offered an additional 20% of the company to investors. "Frankly, we did not expect government to be our chief rival as we looked for investors. But that is what we are dealing with." said CCW President Augustus "Augie" Lee. "Investors are preferring the safety of a guaranteed 30% or higher return, rather than stimulating the economy's growth by investing in new ventures. And how is all this paper guaranteed? As it stands now, 60% of the country's budget services debt. Buying government paper compounds the problem. In my mind, investing in the economy by creating new businesses, jobs, goods, and services makes far more sense than adding to the avalanche of debt. We had to hike our interest rate to get investors excited again."

Caribbean Championship Wrestling's parent company, The Forge Wrestling School, Ltd., has been looking for an additional ten million Jamaican dollars (about US$ 192,000) since January. Investments take the form of three year loans to the company. "CCW needs local participation. The Board of Directors (the investor group) will form company policy to further the company's Mission Statement, assist in developing television programs and live events with a distinctly Jamaican flavour, monitor company revenue and expenses, and decide when dividends are paid. While there is foreign capital out there, it is unlikely an investor overseas can do for the company what a group of Jamaican investors can do."

When asked what safeguards were in place to protect investors, Lee said "The individual who makes the largest loan to the company is automatically designated CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and represents investor interests as he heads the Board of Directors. Investor capital is placed in two party accounts, and both the company President and the CEO must sign all checks, so in this way the investor group directly controls company spending."

Each investor gets an equity share of the company, relative to the amount loaned. "This is much more important." stated Lee. "We will do over 123 million dollars in combined revenues in the first two years. Imagine what 4% of the company would be worth by year three, after we expand to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, The Bahamas, and beyond. An equity share is like owning stock. The shareholder can sell his equity at any time, or pass to his children."

When asked if the company can begin live events in August as planned, without Jamaican investors, Lee replied, "We could, but we would have to look at lack of local investor involvement as a serious setback. It might make more sense to launch in another country, and begin shows in Jamaica in 2006. But I'd rather start here, as our market research shows Jamaica will embrace pro wrestling quickly. According to surveys, 80% of males age 18 - 34 enjoy watching pro wrestling on TV, and 80% would attend live events if scheduled in their area. These numbers are hard to ignore."