Chik V Weariness, Poll Shockers and The Hospital Floor: Monday, October 13, 2014

I promised a post for Sunday, and I am a woman of my word. Sorry though – it’s Monday. Having said that, my reason for taking a break last week was because I had “stuff” going on. But the stuff was thrown out the window when “chik v” arrived, just nine days ago. I am still wobbling along, slightly off kilter but doing the best I can. A lot of news, but I will touch on a few things here…

Professor Carolyn Cooper.

Boring each other: I have a feeling that we are all at this point boring each other with detailed descriptions of our symptoms (which seem to come and go) whether on social media or over the telephone. The Chikungunya virus is not a straightforward customer, as anyone who has endured it will know. You don’t wake up in the morning and say, “Oh – it’s gone!” I have fooled myself that way, already. So, “chik v” continues to wend its weary way across Jamaica, the recriminations continue – and I agree with columnist Carolyn Cooper about the clean-up exercises – too little, too late! Of course, these photo-ops by the Prime Minister and the (not-fired) Health Minister in their constituencies are just that – PR exercises which all party supporters were called to turn out for.

“Self-diagnosing”: Now, what does the Health Ministry really want us to do?  Health officials are complaining that Jamaicans are diagnosing themselves as having “chik v” – although they might have some other more dangerous disease such as dengue fever or leptospirosis, which a doctor should see. Then on the other hand we are told not to “crowd up” the hospitals with suspected “chik v” systems. At this stage, with the virus still spreading rapidly, and in the absence of any clear guidance or information, what would you like us to do, Minister? Stay home or crowd up the hospital – so that we can be ignored for hours in the emergency room?

Tragedy on the emergency room floor: On September 30 at around 7:00 p.m., 76-year-old Unalee Edwards took her son, 34-year-old Jason Forbes, to the Spanish Town Hospital, as he was complaining of bad stomach pains. Some fourteen hours later, on the morning of October 1, Mr. Forbes’ name was finally called for attention. But it was too late. He had died, right there, on a towel on the hospital floor, after screaming and crying for help for hours. His calls and his elderly mother’s efforts to get help for him were apparently ignored by auxiliary and medical staff. When interviewed about the case, a leading representative of the profession went to great lengths to tell us about the pressure on hospital staff, but omitted to express condolences or sympathy to Mr. Forbes’ family (who said they knew why this happened – “We are poor people,” or words to that effect).

Oh, and don’t think this is an isolated case of neglect. Every day in public hospitals across the country, Jamaicans in pain and need are treated contemptuously by staff. Very many of us know this, and have experienced it for ourselves. When are things going to change, Minister Ferguson? Are these people trained to show compassion and caring? Would they like their own families to be treated so coldly? Would a politician be happy at a family member being treated this way (But what am I saying… They go overseas!)

Is there one justice system and one health system for the rich, and another for the poor? Many Jamaicans would not dispute this, sad to say. In fact, the latest poll shows 96% believe that real “justice” is reserved for the well-off.

Sierra Leone’s government welcomes the 165 Cuban health-care workers who came to fight Ebola. (Photo: Glenna Gordon for The Wall Street Journal)

Ebola: Meanwhile, we know we are not prepared for the arrival of ebola on our shores. This is not only in terms of physical preparation and equipment, but also training – practical training for health care workers. I have heard the Cubans are putting the medical personnel they are sending to West Africa through a rigorous “boot camp” to ensure they have the procedures exactly correct. Perhaps we could learn from our close neighbors and do likewise?

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s popularity appears to have dropped precipitously according to the latest opinion polls. (Photo: Gleaner)

Political polls are a bit of a mixed bag for Jamaica. They can be unreliable and can take you down roads that turn out to be dead ends. But the recent polls by Bill Johnson, published in the Gleaner, have certainly caused a little frisson. The People’s National Party must be seriously worried that its President and the nation’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, seems to have lost a great deal of her legendary personal appeal, with an only 39 per cent favorability rating. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has 53 per cent favorability (a little surprising perhaps, since the Jamaican public has never seemed exactly enthusiastic about “Anju.“) “Sista P/Mama P” has been the strength, the backbone of the party, ensuring that it can win elections. And then there are the respondents’ views on corruption: 70 per cent of Jamaica’s elected officials, 80 per cent of the police force and 50 per cent of government employees are considered corrupt by the Jamaican public. How much more damning could these polls be? But Professor Trevor Munroe, Executive Director of the anti-corruption watchdog group National Integrity Action, is not surprised, and nor should we be.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. (Photo: AP)

Growth projections: According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Latin American-Caribbean region is slowing down in economic growth. Our neighbors in Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and St. Kitts & Nevis are expected to record the highest growth in 2014 and 2015. Jamaica is expected to have a measly 1.1 and 1.8 per cent in those two years. We may be passing the IMF tests, but… You can read the IMF survey here: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2014/car101014c.htm

Senator Floyd Morris.

Good news! At last, the Senate passed the Disabilities Act last Friday, October 10. The visually-challenged President of the Senate Floyd Morris expressed his personal joy at its passing (with fourteen amendments). I hope it will make a difference; but as we all know, legislation cannot wipe away discrimination. That will take much longer.

Roaring River. (Photo: Irie FM)

Bad news! It was with a familiar sinking feeling that I read that the Chinese want another piece of Jamaica; and we will have to give it to them, in part payment for the North-South Highway. The headline “Chinese want lands next to Dunn’s River” gave me a chill (and it wasn’t the Chik V). The China Harbour Engineering Company want the Jamaican Government to give them these lands and have submitted a proposal for a development there. Yes, they are entitled to 1,200 acres of land. The Gleaner article notes: “The Government has started the process of picking out large tracts of lands, which could be made available to the Chinese.” (to “make available” means “to hand over”).

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST: The Commission of Enquiry into the West Kingston incursion of May 2010 will begin on Monday, December 1. Read the Terms of Reference here: http://jis.gov.jm/media/TOR-for-West-Kingston-COE-2014.pdf  The Commission has its own dedicated website and its full contact details are here: http://www.coewk.org.jm/content/contact-us  with a useful form, so do not hesitate to contact them… And watch this space for more.

“Big ups” are due to…

• Britanny Mossop, Diandra Stephens, Chrystal Brown, Curtis Moxam, Oral Edwards, Kavion Grant, Sophia Richards, Ackera Gowie, Ricka-Ann Miles and Kaylia Spence. Who are they? These are young volunteers who recently received recognition from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen through his I Believe Initiative. They gave up their holidays to work with non-profit organizations during the GG’s second annual Summer of Service program. Kudos too, to the local firms who provided scholarships and prizes to the young people: The University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University, Newport Fersan Jamaica Limited, Sandals Foundation, Kingston Bookshop, Lasco Jamaica Limited, Derrimon Trading Co. Limited – and of course, the excellent I Believe Initiative.

The “ROAR Group” of young women sing at the launch of “Nuh Guh Deh” on Saturday, October 11. More photos can be viewed on Eve for Life’s Facebook page!

• The incredible women of Eve for Life, the non-governmental organization that supports teen mothers living with HIV and AIDS. Due to my illness, I missed the official launch of their “Nuh Guh Deh” campaign against sex with the girl child – and of a very important publication, “I am Now Free: Diaries of a Survivor of Child Rape and Sexual Abuse.” Huge thanks to all the supporters of this effort, including the British High Commission, U.S. Embassy and UNICEF, the wonderful Fabian Thomas and Tribe Sankofa, the fabulously awesome and committed Nomaddz – my heart overflows when I think of all those who provided technical, resource and moral support. Please read Janet Silvera’s reporting in the Sunday Gleaner. And please support Eve for Life!

Jamaican poet Ann-Margaret Lim presented a copy of her book “Festival of Wild Orchid” to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on October 3. The GG is such a kind and sincere person. I am sure the meeting went really well.

 

Although murder rates have declined this year, I was disturbed to see how many Jamaicans lost their lives since I last posted. Among them were four men who were killed on a leg of the North-South Highway recently constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company. They were transporting nearly J$2 million in cash – wages to be paid to workers on the highway, on a Sunday afternoon in a regular motor vehicle. This is astonishing. Is this the way they pay their workers? Now four lives have been lost, besides the money of course. Why was there no security, and why would the company allow large amounts of cash to be carried around in this way?

Stenneth Smith, 48, Heywood Street, Kingston

Andrew Williams, 42, Sheffield Road, East Kingston

Ian Nugent, 36, Half Way Tree Police Station, Kingston (killed by police)

Martin Grant, Mona, Kingston 7

Unidentified man, Cargill Avenue, Kingston 10 (killed by police)

Unidentified man, Hughenden/Hendon Drive, Kingston 20

Jeffers Ferguson, 34, August Town, St. Andrew

George Witter, 26, Goldsmith Villa/August Town, St. Andrew

Franklyn Smith, 49, Bull Bay, St. Andrew

Unidentified man, Bull Bay, St. Andrew

Craig Christopher Harris, 29, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine

Carlton Scott, 43, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Kirk Anthony Foote, 33, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Courtney Corbourne, 42, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Unknown taxi operator, Hellshire, St. Catherine

Unidentified woman, Ackee Village/Portmore, St. Catherine

Denroy Dennis, 24, Green Meadows, Clarendon

Unidentified man, Castleton, St. Mary (killed by police)

Richard Johnson, Florence Hall, Trelawny

Jessica McLarty, 18, Buckfield, St. Ann

 

Lincoln “Style” Scott, former drummer with the excellent reggae band Roots Radics, died at his Williamsfield, Manchester home Thursday evening. It appears that he was murdered. This is so sad.