Half Way Through: June 30, 2013

It’s been a sociable week for the Petchary, who is still trying to catch her breath after the much-dreaded French exam. I’m going to touch on a few things here and there, and hopefully get round to anything I have omitted in my next (Wednesday) post.

“The JLP, however, staggers about”: This is a quote from the Sunday Gleaner editorial, with which I heartily concur. I wish the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) would get its act together. As if the Tivoli Gardens massacre of May, 2010 were not shameful enough, the party that was in power at the time prevaricates, waffles and seems to think that a Commission of Enquiry into the horrific episode (in which at least 76 Jamaican citizens died) will be a “waste of time.” JLP leader Andrew Holness‘ comments on the matter are what I would call “mealymouthed.” For those not familiar with this word, the online definition describes the Opposition Leader’s remarks perfectly: “mealy-mouthed (hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy) ‘a mealymouthed politician.'” I expected better of you, Mr. Holness. (Just noticed that the always sensible Sunday Observer columnist Claude Robinson used the same words as me… Get your act together!)

Start from scratch? Mr. Reneto de Cordova etc Adams still has the media in the palm of his hand, as he always did during his very active years as a Senior Superintendent of Police. Every time he opens his mouth, the local media (and a large section of the public) kow-tow to his words of wisdom. I saw Mr. Adams’ eyes for the first time ever in a television interview recently (even on TV, he always wore dark glasses). Now the “tough crime-fighter” has come up with another gem – that the entire police force should be done away with, and replaced by a completely new batch, because of all the corruption. And how much would that cost, Mr. Adams? And what purpose would it serve? Please.

The palest skin: I omitted to mention the June 19 edition of Dionne Jackson-Miller’s cutting-edge current affairs show All Angles last week, which focused on the highly sensitive (in more ways than one) issue of skin bleaching. The discussion caused a firestorm of tweets. It is, of course, a highly complex social phenomenon and by no means exclusive to Jamaica. Issues of identity, self-esteem, and of course the health concerns (the things the bleachers do to their skin!) are all in there. I don’t know how long this has actually been around in Jamaica – probably longer than I realize. And it ain’t going anywhere soon. If you want your mind to be boggled, watch the program in full at the link below. Sunday Gleaner columnist Daniel Thwaites (whose pieces I am starting to enjoy) comments most wittily on the topic.

The air we breathe: I am very glad that the legislation banning smoking in public places has finally been passed, although I have some concerns about how it is going to work in practice. All those whining about their rights to blow their smoke around will just have to get used to the idea. In many other countries, smokers simply step outside to indulge in their habit. Only fair, I think… Other sources of pollution are the filthy – yes, utterly filthy – Jamaica Urban Transit Company public buses that charge around the city. I hope that the just-introduced Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel should make a difference; but I wish it was not priced so much higher than the regular. And proper legislation to regulate emissions (and enforcement of such) is urgently required. We do have laws against the open burning of trash etc. (a horrible Jamaican habit) which is almost never enforced. One of our neighbors is prone to doing this; whenever he does, we shout over the wall at him that we cannot breathe. Next time it happens, I am going to report him.

Please leave the south coast alone! The excellent environmental reporter Petre Williams-Raynor of the Gleaner has turned the spotlight on another endangered “protected” area, Manatee Bay in the Hellshire Hills of St. Catherine. A government agency, the Urban Development Corporation, has announced that several areas including Manatee Bay might be up for “integrated resort development,” that is, more hideous, soul-destroying all-inclusive hotels. This is horrendous – the Bay lies within the Portland Bight Protected Area, which is administered by the excellent and hard-working people at the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM). So what does “protected” mean then? Let’s watch this closely. (Take a look at http://www.caribbeanenvironments.com/blog/2013/04/field-trip-to-manatee-bay/)

Enormous Petchary appreciation for:

• My tweeps! This week, the wonderful Jamaican Twittersphere has inspired at least two posts from my fellow bloggers, and you will see the links below. We are witty, we are sarcastic, we are sometimes a little unkind…but we are also supportive, uplifting, endlessly fascinating and always argumentative. I love Twitter! Follow me @petchary by the way…
• Justice David Batts, who last week ruled that the police must stop the illegal – yes, it is illegal – practice of “give me a search, nuh.” Cars, buses and motor bikes stopped at the side of the road while the police search through the entire vehicle is a common sight in Jamaica. Justice Batts says there must be “reasonable cause.” His ruling and comments on a six-year-old case brought by a taxi driver (see link below) is sensible and commendable and I think based solidly on the Constitution.
• Live at Seven on CVM Television, which always tackles important issues, week after week. On Friday evening it was the complex, confusing and very perturbing issue of this attempt to “define the boundaries” of the precious Cockpit Country. I am planning to write more on this, as I attended the recent “consultations” (my quotation marks) on the matter in Kingston. I do hope the program’s host Simon Crosskill will keep this issue on his front burner and return to it when (or if) there are new developments…
• And I don’t think I properly thanked the crazy-wonderful band Nomaddz, who a week ago performed a benefit show for Eve for Life, the non-governmental organization that empowers young mothers living with HIV and AIDS, and their children. Much love and thankfulness to you! This is an astonishingly talented group (in terms of acting, singing, musicianship, and sheer creativity). They are doing stuff that no one else is doing – true originals. They will go far, and what is more they are just lovely young men.
• Food for the Poor always has its priorities right. A simply marvelous charity that I cannot praise too highly. I sometimes wonder what Jamaica would do without them! This time, they have donated equipment to the Jamaica Environment Trust (of which I am a member) to assist it in its work protecting the fisheries of the Pedro Banks and Pedro Cays. Excellent.
• Leaving you with a nice quote from the great Mr. Twain: “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” 

My condolences to the families of those who have died violently since Wednesday. They all leave behind grief, sadness and regret… The police have killed four in four days.

Courtney Gillings, 39, Fellowship Meadows, St. Catherine

Killed by the police:

Unidentified man, Kirkland Heights, St. Andrew

Unidentified man, Half Way Tree, Kingston

Unidentified man, Half Way Tree, Kingston

Alphanso Cameron, 20, Ebony Park, Clarendon

Related articles and links (local blogs in purple):

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/political-ombudsman-resigns Political Ombudsman resigns: RJR News

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130620/cleisure/cleisure3.html Wanted: A purposeful Parliament: Jaevion Nelson column/Gleaner

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/legal-battle-between-bunting-and-curacao-national-begins-july-24 Legal battle between Bunting and Curacao national begins July 24: RJR News

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130630/letters/letters5.html Azan should have resigned: Letter to the Sunday Gleaner

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/two-men-awaiting-trail-since-2004-offered-bail Two men awaiting trial since 2004 offered bail: RJR News

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Watch-your-words–Betty-Ann_14595578 Watch your words, Betty Ann: Letter to the Jamaica Observer

http://www.jflag.org/2013/06/betty-ann-blaine-must-be-honest-about-child-sexual-abuse/ Betty Ann Blaine must be honest about child sexual abuse: http://www.jflag.org

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/letters/letters3.html Get serious about child care and protection: Letter to the Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/letters/letters5.html Don’t ignore nation’s wish for Tivoli enquiry: Letter to the Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130628/news/news1.html Jamaica deserves a coherent voice from the JLP on the Tivoli enquiry: Claude Robinson column/Sunday Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130630/cleisure/cleisure1.html JLP – absence of leadership: Sunday Gleaner editorial

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/indecom-act-to-be-reviewed INDECOM Act to be reviewed: RJR News

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130630/lead/lead1.html Stop it now: Judge tells police to end illegal stop and search of vehicles: Sunday Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130627/cleisure/cleisure3.html Bunting vs freedom of expression: Gary Spaulding op-ed/Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/-Cancel-the-debt-_14574108 “Cancel the debt” says Washington think tank: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130628/business/business1.html Zacca proposes zero input tax for exporters: Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/Jamaican-ports-among-worst-hit-by-economic-crisis_14570394 Jamaican ports among worst hit by economic crisis: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130629/news/news8.html Ackee exporters make FDA “green list”: Jamaica Star

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/Is-Caricom-the-bloc-the-builders-rejected-_14576039 Is CARICOM the bloc the builders rejected? Jamaica Observer editorial

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Increasing-Jamaica-s-tourism-competitiveness_14585889 Increasing Jamaica’s tourism competitiveness: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/cleisure/cleisure1.html Beyond the noisy rhetoric: Gleaner editorial

http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads/34399 JEEP provides employment for 700 persons in West Central St. James: Jamaica Information Service

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/lead/lead3.html “We need to value our natural resources”: Sunday Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130628/news/news1.html “Back off Manatee Bay!” Sunday Gleaner

http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads-1/34403 Ultra low sulphur diesel to address black smoke nuisance: Jamaica Information Service

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=46096 Transport ministry, NEPA to tackle JUTC black-smoke issue: Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/but-what-about-open-burning—p—_14586155 Great ban on public smoking, but what about open burning? Letter to the Jamaica Observer from Jamaica Environment Trust

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130630/lead/lead3.html Child guidance clinics under stress as thousands seek help to address mental problems: Sunday Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/lead/lead33.html Youth support HIV Testing Day: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130630/letters/letters2.html Limited religious knowledge: Maurice Tomlinson letter to the Sunday Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130627/cleisure/cleisure4.html Bleaching their way to acceptance: Jaevion Nelson column/Gleaner

http://www.televisionjamaica.com/Programmes/AllAngles.aspx/Videos/27218 All Angles: The Skin Bleaching Phenomenon: TVJ

http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads/34409 Fire brigade gets equipment from U.S.: Jamaica Information Service

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130629/news/news1.html Charles Town gets a taste of Suriname: Gleaner

http://stacyannhayles.com/2013/06/28/portia-should-name-her-book-psmbooktitles-in-case-you-missed-it/ Portia should name her book… PSMBookTitles, in case you missed it: stacyannhayles.com

http://cucumberjuice.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/3-tips-for-jamaican-politicians-on-twitter/ Three tips for Jamaican government officials on Twitter: cucumberjuice.wordpress.com

Residents and security forces in the aftermath of the Tivoli Gardens incursion of May, 2010. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

The vacillating Mr. Andrew Holness, Leader of the Opposition. (Photo: Jamaica Gleaner)

The scary former policeman and media darling Reneto Adams, wearing his trademark sinister sunglasses. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

A scientist works in the unspoiled Manatee Bay in St. Catherine, now also under threat from development.

Supreme Court Justice David Batts, Q.C., who was sworn in late last year. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

One of the last untouched areas of our fragile island: the now-threatened Cockpit Country. (Photo: Gleaner)

The delightful and awesomely talented Nomaddz. (Photo: Dexter Communications Inc)

Fishermen at the Pedro Cays, which are about 80 kilometers south/south-west of Jamaica. (Photo: Gleaner)