I did warn my readers about a long hiatus. And it has been long – and very busy. So forgive me as I try to catch up on a few issues that have completely floated by me while I had my head down doing other stuff. This won’t be at all complete. I have probably missed things. Forgive me.
One thing we have been missing is the collection of garbage. We have been piling it up – and up – in our front yard, and it is very hot indeed. So you can imagine that the smell has been rising and the fear of rats, flies etc has grown. The National Solid Waste Management Authority came and collected late yesterday, after two weeks. We understand budget cuts have been biting the government agency very hard. They are trying to do their best with limited resources. My commiserations, but we do pay our property taxes. There are aggrieved customers out there.
The ball is round: I suspect that the thrilling, topsy turvy World Cup 2014 football matches have been creating major distractions for those anywhere near a television. Including myself, I confess! I blogged about this at the start of the tournament, and have a few more gems to share with you in a later blog. Jamaicans are still doggedly supporting Brazil, who of course have a very good chance of winning at this point. But anything can happen…
Their day in court: The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has challenged the Minister of Finance, the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Attorney General for their decision not to provide information to the NGO on the proposed port on Goat Islands, in the Portland Bight Protected Area. The date for the two-day judicial review of their application has been set for October 23. How far away that seems, but I’m happy the matter will be heard.
The children: I just reblogged an article by Kate Chappell, pointing out that 10,000 cases of child abuse were reported last year. And yet, over the past couple of weeks thousands of column inches and hours of air time have been taken up by a discussion (part sermonizing and part hysterical rant) about the so-called “gay agenda” and its terrifying impact on our children’s sex education. We really have our priorities straight, don’t we?
How not to take responsibility: The Ministry of Youth and Culture has revealed that neither it nor the Child Development Agency (which is supposed to monitor and govern what goes on in children’s homes) had a clue about a controversial sex education manual taught in six homes by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). But isn’t the Ministry responsible? Why didn’t they know? Aren’t they supposed to know what is taking place in children’s homes? What else is happening that they are unaware of? Incidentally, I read a report where one of the homes said they did not conduct “training in the areas relating to homosexuality and anal sex,” as Minister Hanna stated. Here is the link from the online Old Harbour News: http://www.oldharbournews.com/index.php/news/item/212-hell-no-sunbeam-boys-home-denies-anal-oral-sex-acceptance-was-taught Are we being told the truth, or a version of it, I wonder? And again – does anybody really care about our most vulnerable children, or is this just all self-serving?
…and how to take responsibility: Meanwhile, Dr. Carolyn Gomes – a woman of principle and integrity – has resigned from JFJ’s board and JFJ has apologized. Dr. Gomes is easy fodder for the anti-gay brigade. After all, human rights have always been a dirty word (or two words) and gay rights are even dirtier. So, back to dragging Dr. Gomes’ name in the mud, as they did when she headed JFJ. It is shameful.
No dialogue, just shouting: The Christian fundamentalists talk to themselves, and to the (often very supportive) media, but are not interested in dialogue with anyone else. The so-called “gay lobby” has in the past regularly invited them to sit down for a civilized discussion, but they have refused. They will, one presumes and hopes, eventually run out of steam. Meanwhile, in the virtual absence of any sex education in our state schools, the children are basically learning from each other and from dancehall songs. What about the parents, I hear you ask? Well, we know the traditional “nuclear family” hardly exists anywhere, let alone in Jamaica.
Fire below! A dreary tit-for-tat took place in the House of Representatives today over the state of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). An Auditor General report showed that 36 per cent of the JFB’s emergency vehicles were out of service. Only one of six ambulances assigned to the JFB is operational. There are no fire boats at all, and the JFB needs four – one for each major port. And so on. We know this is not a new situation; the serious shortage of equipment and vehicles has been well known for years. But Local Government Minister Noel Arscott and his Opposition counterpart Desmond McKenzie chose to indulge in some finger-pointing about which administration (read political party) had done/not done anything about it. Thanks again to the Government of Japan, which has committed to helping restore the many fire hydrants that are also not working. (PS Do you recall when Portia Simpson Miller, as Local Government Minister, abstained from a vote on an Opposition resolution on the dreadful state of the JFB, back in 2004? Her colleagues were furious).
Was there any point in reviving the Ministry of Local Government, as the Simpson Miller did? It has no money, it seems. The garbage collection, the Fire Brigade… It’s the proverbial basket to carry water.
Recent UN reports note that Kingston is the tenth most murderous city in the world at 50.3 per 100,000 per head of the population, with 328 murders (although numbers are declining). By contrast, there were 100 murders in London, the city of my birth. Eight of the “top ten” are in the Americas, with Basseterre, St. Kitts (hardly a “city”!) coming out on top. The other two are in Africa. So, for what it’s worth… Check http://www.unodc.org for more statistics, if you wish.
Huge pat on the back to…
Panos Caribbean (especially the dynamic duo of Petre Williams Raynor and Indi Mclymont Lafayette) on the launch of their regional information hub and interactive database on climate change adaptation, the Panos Information Portal last week. Here’s the link: http://panosip.org/ It was a pleasure to be a part of the launch in Montego Bay, and you will hear more about it from me shortly.
The awesome alumnae of St. Andrew High School for Girls, who have exceeded their target of US$25,000 to refurbish a WWII-era science lab by crowd-funding. Yes, girls in science matter!
The Jacques Road Parenting Association and all those who made the opening of the new computer center possible. I have written about my visits there with CUSO volunteer Kate Chappell, and am sorry that in the end I could not attend. But I know everyone worked so hard to make this happen, for the benefit of the community. Congratulations!
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The historic Ward Theatre, Kingston. It does not look as smart now as it does in this photograph. A rescue operation is urgently needed!
The organizers of Kingston on the Edge (KOTE) 2014 – June 20 -29 – an annual cutting-edge arts festival in our capital city, which I have seen very little of because I have been so busy. KOTE is in its sixth year and it is always well supported. You can say all the awful things you want about Kingston, but it is always vibrant, always creative – always edgy, yes. I love this city. KOTE kicked off last weekend with a clean-up of the poor old Ward Theatre (102 years old now), a beautiful historic building which is in poor condition, and a show there. Congratulations to the organizers. Read more at http://www.kingstonontheedge.org There are many exciting events scheduled. Last day is Sunday!
I have not been able to keep track, but I am sharing below the names of a few Jamaicans who have been murdered across the island since I last posted on June 15. Again, I will try to catch up. My sincerest condolences to the families of these Jamaicans who lost their lives:
Stephen Williams Dixon, Kings Avenue/Richmond Park, Kingston (suspected mob killing)
Romaine Thompson, 18, Spanish Town, St. Catherine
Verna Dunkley-Morrison, 51, Willowdene Estate, St. Catherine
Unidentified man,Willowdene Estate, St. Catherine
Omar Gordon, 34, Sevens Heights, Clarendon
Ralston Pinnock, 40, Goshen, St. Elizabeth
Petchary's Blog 
Thank you for your continued support Emma and for keeping us up-to-date on so much important news!
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You are most welcome, Kate! I have a lot of catching up to do but glad it is helpful! All the best.
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Well done, trying to catch up. It’s an unfunded mandate 🙂 Dare I suggest that some public services be hived off from government? Not my philosophical preference, but no money, no service can’t do.
Fundamentalists run out of steam? I see no basis for such a hope. I see also little real effort by the media to make dialogue happen that is about real understanding. We all have agendas. We all have biases. We do not all have equal access to organs of communication. The loudest cocks should not rule the roost.
Accountability is a concept understood differently in Jamaica, I’ve said before. Ministers and ministries seem to handle responsibilities in ways that appear erratic at best and down right derelict at best. Dare I say that is where leadership is key and in its absence one gets…Well, Jamaica.
The football is a great distraction, let’s not forget that, and falls just when public upset should be high.
Caribbean crime levels is part of a wider social crisis in the region, for which I have heard very little that makes sense in terms of addressing it. London offers many lessons on how to address social issues, not all successfully, but many lessons anyway.
On Ward Theatre: Downtown Kingston needs gentrification, but it’s a hard process to get traction in developing countries. Have to see if Digicel Foundation can be a better catalyst.
Keep stoking fires.
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Thank you so much Dennis for your kind and thoughtful comments, as always. I would like to suggest that some of those public services be removed from government, too… It might make sense. We have to think of something… The Caribbean and Latin/Central America have SUCH crime rates that I often wonder… well, what is fueling this? Is it the high levels of social inequality? I don’t know.
As for the dear Ward Theatre, such a lovely building, I don’t think the Digicel Foundation is focused on that but rather on special education for the next year or so anyway. I think many foundations are afraid of big projects like that – buildings. It’s sad. Thanks for the encouragement and I must catch up on YOUR blog! I have been remiss…
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