Belatedly: August 21, 2013

I can’t seem to catch up with myself this week. My apologies for this belated mid-week missive.

On the up and up… Inflation is up slightly, and bus and taxi fares are up too, by twenty and twenty-five per cent respectively. The poor consumer (poor in the literal sense) is suffering, while the taxi operators think this increase is not enough. But how can we go on like this? Can the poor take any more? I would like to have heard more of financier Aubyn Hill’s comments on the economic situation, and at what point it will be that society reaches breaking point. But I only heard a short excerpt on radio. 

Passed the test: Jamaica has reportedly passed the first International Monetary Fund (IMF) test on all agreed targets, up to June of this year. Fine. But Jamaica is still in recession! The private sector is not clear on what the Government’s plans are to actually progress economically. President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Francis Kennedy insists, “We’ve got to have answers as far as the growth agenda is concerned.” Of course. Where are we heading? What’s the plan?

The blame game is so tempting, isn’t it: Instead of this, Minister of Finance Peter Phillips decided to blame the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration for Jamaica’s current economic doldrums (high unemployment rate, etc) over the weekend. The four years of the JLP, Minister Phillips said, had set the country back “in the worst way that you can imagine.” Never mind the preceding eighteen years with Minister Phillips’ People’s National Party in power. Sorry, I’m not buying it. And I expected better from the Minister.

Nonsense talk: Minister Phillips was speaking at a PNP meeting. Why do politicians (on both sides of the fence) speak such nonsense at these rallies? On the television news during the first half of this week we have suffered from a parade of silly speeches by various members of the government. They are, of course, decked out in orange, with a cackling chorus of party supporters heard in the background and a group of smirking party officials on the platform behind them. How does the Jamaican people benefit from all of this? Not one inch. I suppose next week we will have the Opposition out there, doing exactly the same thing.

That word “sacrifice”: Economist Dennis Chung (who always makes a great deal of sense to me) writes in the article linked below: “It is necessary for us to understand that transformation takes discipline, sacrifice, and a commitment to direction.” Anyone who thinks that they can achieve their goals any other way will eventually reach this conclusion. This principle applies to individuals as well as to institutions and to the national psyche. I quoted Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce a few days ago. She said after her recent victories (and sorry to repeat myself) that success is not down to luck, but hard work. Dennis also points to another important element: identifying goals and aiming for the right goals, otherwise all that effort will be in vain. Barry Wade touched on something similar in his blog post on the athletes’ successes; it is also linked below.

A legitimate occupation? I was rather baffled by the caption on a Jamaica Observer article about the struggles of a place called Parry Town in St. Ann. See the photo below of young men who “earn a living” from fixing the road and then “collecting contributions” from motorists. Um, isn’t that…extortion? I wonder what the unemployment rate is like in this community (not counting the illegal occupations, that is). Probably way higher than the national 16 per cent or so.

The JTA’s millions: Somehow the annual meeting of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), with its usual grandstanding and speechmaking, has all washed over me. How can I take them seriously? The amount of money mysteriously missing from the JTA’s coffers has increased in the last week or two; it’s now up to almost 52 million Jamaican Dollars. Well, the JTA appears to be quite well-off for a trade union; so many millions went missing and they’ve only just noticed? The police are seeking an accountant, who appears to have departed these shores. But was he alone responsible for such a huge fraud?

Having said that… A couple of months ago I appeared on the excellent CVM Television program “Live at Seven” (representing Eve for Life) with the new JTA President, Mark Nicely. We were discussing the issue of pregnant teens being allowed to continue their education, rather than being sent home from school and having to beg for schools to take them back after giving birth. So I am pleased to see that the JTA is supporting efforts to reintegrate the girls into school. In my view, though, the government-funded Women’s Centre of Jamaica needs a great deal more resources so that it can provide a meaningful support system for them.

And a good partnership: Glad to see, too, that the JTA is partnering with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on a pilot project to combat child trafficking. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with AFT representatives some years ago, when they were engaged in a partnership with their South African counterparts on HIV/AIDS. I look forward to hearing more on this Jamaican project.

A cat among the pigeons: That’s Ms. Renee Anne Shirley, the former head of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO). She has written a piece for Sports Illustrated that has got the local sports world all in a flutter. I don’t know enough about the technicalities of drug testing for athletes to really comment; but it does seem as if this agency needs some serious capacity-building at this point. No one can deny this statement, though: “There can be no doubt that the tiny island of 2.7 million is the world’s preeminent sprint factory. And now the island needs a world-class anti-doping operation to go with its achievements on the track.” Ms. Shirley says that Jamaica was one of the first countries to ratify the International Convention Against Doping in Sport. We cannot then fall down on the job in this very important area. Recent events should be telling us that, loud and clear. What say you, Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley? I hear she would not comment when her input was requested for the SI article.

Jamaica’s track seems to be a bit of a roller-coaster, doesn’t it? Medals euphoria one moment, anxiety over drugs the next… We need to take things calm and steady and do what needs to be done. And do it right.

The ten worst politicians: I don’t know if we should take the Top Ten Lists website too seriously. But Jamaica’s ever-glamorous Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna must have been rather stunned to learn that she is ranked Number Four in the Top Ten Worst Politicians, globally. I have to agree that Numbers One and Two (François Hollande and Silvio Berlusconi) are pretty safe bets) But Ms. Hanna? For a start, many of her parliamentary colleagues (on either side of the House) might equally well qualify. It seems harsh. There must be far “worse” politicians than here on Planet Earth. So many to choose from!

I must hand out some bouquets now…

• To the brilliant Bianca Welds, currently at a business start-up camp in Italy (and back from an exhausting tour of the Balkans!) for her wonderful (revived) blog. Her online diary (illustrated with fascinating photos) of her two-week trek through the Balkans is really enjoyable, especially if you are planning a trip to that part of the world. I have also shared her advice on setting up a blog in the link below; in my recent presentation on Blogging for Conservation in Grenada, I made several of the same points – Including recommending WordPress!  
• For businesswoman/author/social media guru (and a Jamaican Fulbright Scholar, like Bianca) Marcia Forbes, for her ongoing commitment to bring us all up to date on the uses, impact and significance of social media. She is now talking to the traditional media houses, who are sometimes a little “behind the loop” – and for their own sakes (nay, even for their survival) they must understand how it all works and enhances the media landscape…
• And to Jonathan Burke, the author of the delightful new children’s book “Bolo the Monkey,” published by the Jamaican publisher Blue Moon Books. Jonathan took the time to visit the children at the Trench Town Reading Centre, as their summer school winds down. The children were entranced by his reading. Publisher Tanya Batson Savage, who read a story she wrote about the “River Mumma,” also captivated the children. As usual, they could not wait to get their hands on the books afterwards. Thank you for coming, Jonathan, Tanya and Scarlett!

My condolences to the families and friends of the following Jamaicans who have died violently in the past three days. The police are expressing particular concern about recent violence in the community of west Kingston – the Jamaica Labour Party “garrison” where Christopher “Dudus” Coke once held sway. It seems a power struggle is in place for “turf” (extortion seems to be the name of the game). I was stunned to hear a policeman on radio discussing the various gangs and the complexities of their alliances and rivalries in the area – including one gang called “Scare Dem” and another called “Four Storey” – apparently named after a building where they live? It is all so confusing – and sad, so sad.

Keith Wallace, 53, downtown Kingston

Steve Barkley, 41, Denham Town, Kingston

Unidentified man, Hanover (mob killing)

Shot by police:

Unidentified man, Spanish Town, St. Catherine

http://digjamaica.com/blog/2013/08/19/economy-update-inflation-rate-for-july-2013/ Economy update: Inflation rate for July 2013: diGJamaica.com

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/How-are-we-going-to-cope_14913680 “How are we going to cope?” Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Many-unemployed-youth-in-the-community_14886077 “We’re not squatters”: Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Phillips–We-have-not-established-a-foundation-to-enhance-growth_14913553 Phillips: We have not established a foundation to enhance growth: Jamaica Observer

http://www.caribjournal.com/2013/08/21/dennis-chung-economic-and-social-transformation-in-jamaica/ Economic and social transformation in Jamaica: Dennis Chung op-ed/Carib Journal

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Look-to-the-microfinance-industry-to-address-unemployment_14913625 Look to the microfinance industry to address unemployment: Jamaica Observer

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/high-profile-tax-delinquents-taken-to-court High profile tax delinquents taken to court: RJR News

http://www.caribjournal.com/2013/08/19/social-media-and-caribbean-politics/ Social media and Caribbean politics: Marcia Forbes/Carib Journal

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Jamaican-ambassador-laments-high-rate-of-Jamaicans-deported-by-US-17311.html Jamaican Ambassador laments high rate of Jamaicans deported by U.S.: Caribbeannewsnow

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/UK-official-alarmed-at-Ja-s-high-rate-of-extra-judicial-killings_14908120 UK official alarmed at Jamaica’s high rate of extra-judicial killings: Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/For-Messrs-Ellington-and-Bunting_14892631 For Messrs Ellington and Bunting: Letter to the Editor from Horace Levy: Sunday Observer

http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2013/060.asp IACHR expresses concern about violence and discrimination against LGTBI persons, particularly youth, in the Americas

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/gay-community-split-on-queen-ifricas-canada-performance Gay community split on Queen Ifrica’s Canada performance: RJR News

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/JTA-calls-on-Ministry-to-assist-pregnant-teens-reintegrate-in-school JTA calls on MInistry to assist pregnant teens reintegrate in school: Jamaica Observer

http://www.toptensworld.com/2013/07/19/top-10-worst-politicians-in-the-world-of-2013/ Top Ten worst politicians in the world of 2013:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130819/lead/lead4.html LIME, Gleaner name inner-city overachievers: Gleaner

http://barryawade.com/2013/08/jamaicans-on-a-high-a-nine-day-wonder/ Jamaicans on a High: A nine-day wonder? Barry Wade blog

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20130819/lax-drug-testing-in-jamaican-track-and-field/ An inside look at Jamaican track’s drug-testing woes: Sports Illustrated

http://blog.biancawelds.com/2013/08/but-i-dont-know-how-to-set-up-a-blog/ But I don’t know how to set up a blog: biancawelds.com

The weekend’s rallies were more constituency meetings – not as big as the JLP election rally depicted in this photograph…but the same kind of atmosphere prevails, and very little sense is spoken.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Mark Nicely is the new President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association. (Photo: Gleaner)

Former JADCO head R. Anne Shirley has stirred up controversy with her “Sports Illustrated” article.

Does Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna deserve her “fourth worst politician in the world” placing? (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister)

Jamaican Fulbright Scholar Bianca Welds, currently at an IT camp in Italy, is an IT whizzkid and a musician to boot, with years of pan-playing to her credit!

Dr. Marcia Forbes is the author of two books on social media and its impact on Jamaican youth. She also heads a dynamic team at Phase Three Productions, a 25-year-old Jamaican company offering TV, film and multimedia services. (Photo: jamediapro.wordpress.com)

Author Jonathan Burke hangs out with the children of Trench Town Reading Centre last Friday after a book reading. The young boy in the front took possession of Jonathan’s book, “Bolo the Monkey.” (My photo)

Young men seated along the Parry Town main road where they earn a living by fixing sections of the roadway and collecting contributions from taxi operators and other motorists. (Photo: Renae Dixon/Jamaica Observer)