August 28, 2013

It has been a strange week, so far. But there are many strange weeks in Jamaica. One just has to keep on going.

The death of Dean: A dark shadow arrived yesterday: The horrible murder of a good and kind Jamaican, Dean Moriah. We first met Dean fifteen or more years ago. We were immediately struck by his warmth, energy, and dedication to making people happy. A perfect ambassador for our tourism industry. Dean was stabbed, and crawled out of his house in Montego Bay – residents found him on the road. Emergency services were reportedly slow in coming. His house was burnt and his car stolen. It is painful to think of Dean suffering in this way. His friend and Gleaner senior journalist Janet Silvera noted on my Facebook page yesterday: “I have watched Dean over the years. He was selfless. He could hardly say no. He fought for everybody. All he wanted was to make a difference to the society.” Nuff said.

Former tourism worker and all-round kind and loving human being, Dean Moriah. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Poor, poor journalism: No one has yet been arrested for Dean’s murder, but CVM Television last night suggested that it was committed by a “lover gone berserk.” Then a faceless, nameless resident was interviewed. This wise man suggested off-camera that “what goes on in people’s bedrooms” does, in fact, affect the community (hint, hint). The entire report (apart from a heartfelt tribute to Dean from a local singer) was based on rumor and hearsay. Yet another example of what passes for TV journalism in this country.

What is the matter with Montego Bay? There is another terribly sad account below of the murder of a 65-year-old businessman a few days ago. A man in the place where Dean lived, Bogue Village, was arrested over the weekend in connection with the lotto scam. Why is the lotto scam still going on, despite the huge efforts of local and overseas law enforcement? Can someone who lives in the “second city” tell us what is going on there – or is it all hush-hush?

Political overkill: The local media in the first part of this week has obsessed over the utterances of Opposition Leader Andrew Holness and the challenger for his party’s leadership position, former Finance Minister Audley Shaw. And let’s not forget their supporters. Both television stations dedicated the first fifteen minutes (and it was a very long fifteen minutes) to coverage of the weekend’s party meetings, for two consecutive evenings. I suppose we will have to endure extensive reporting and analysis of every word that comes out of the politicians’ mouths between now and the Jamaica Labour Party Conference in November, when the matter will be decided.

Don’t get me wrong – politics is important. But can our media houses be a little more selective in their reporting? Thank you! There is other news, you know…

For example, negative economic growth: This came a distant second after the politics. Perhaps the news will sink in later that the economy shrank by 0.4 per cent in the June 2013 compared to the 2012 quarter – led by large drops in agricultural production (sugar cane down 41 per cent, bananas 57 per cent!) Almost every sector of the economy dropped, apart from mining and residential construction. Despite this, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) declares that we are “out of recession.” How come? The PIOJ predicts a “resurgence in output,” blaming the “impact of Hurricane Sandy” ten months ago for the latest decline.  Can we have much more analysis of this situation please?

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica Colin Bullock believes the economic future is rosy, despite continuous declines in GDP. (Photo: Gleaner)

“The greatest enemy to the environment is ABJECT POVERTY:” So says our former Finance Minister Omar Davies, in response to criticism of the proposed Portland Bight Protected Area development by the Chinese. Well, Minister Davies (who now heads Transport and Works) should know all about poverty. And it’s not quite as simple as that. The Minister is presumably seeking to justify the development as providing jobs and economic growth (how many jobs by the way? How many jobs for Jamaicans?) Oh – the World Bank notes that the greatest threat to the environment is not poverty, but rapid population growth. Not the same thing, at all.

A message for the Government’s “Build, build, build” enthusiasts. Thanks to Susan Goffe for sharing this!

Other environmental tidbits: I understand that eight laying turtles were killed and their eggs dug up a few days ago. I do not know details, but this is devastating news. On a happier note, there is much enthusiasm about the upcoming International Beach Cleanup Day (September 21) organized by the Jamaican Environment Trust (JET). And by the way, JET’s recycling center has re-opened. They take clean plastic, paper/newspaper and glass. Drop-off spot is 11B Waterloo Road, Kingston 10 and JET’s number is (876) 960-3693.

The persecution of handcart operators: Why, oh why did the Mayor of Kingston see fit to confiscate over 100 handcarts in the downtown area, when the announced regulations governing them are not yet finalized and discussions are still under way? Have licenses already been issued to all handcart vendors? If not, how can the vendors/transporters of goods have their livelihoods taken away from them because they are “unlicensed”?

Some of the confiscated handcarts. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

 Horrible machines: At least, jet skis are horrible when operated by young men with a macho mentality who like to show off their “skills,” swerving and speeding through the water at our various hotels on the north coast. It puzzles me that the recent horrible death of a six-year-old girl (her sisters were also injured, one of them badly, only four years old) sparked so little comment in the media. Perhaps if a tourist who died there would have been more comment (although this has in fact happened too). Jet skis disturb beachgoers with their noise and fumes, and are extremely dangerous to swimmers. Like so many other things in Jamaica, the situation is almost out of control. Why can’t the media report the name of the jet ski rider (has he/she been charged?) Or the hotel? I understand there was a serious jet ski incident in Negril recently, which has been hushed up. Can we stop hushing things up, now?

Protecting us all: I am so glad that the police are concerned about the safety of Chinese nationals living in Jamaica. They have even appointed a special liaison officer to work with the Chinese community. May I say: Jamaicans deserve protection too. And perhaps downtown Chinese businesspersons, who complain of extortion and robbery attempts, should start using the local banking system rather than carrying large amounts of cash everywhere. Why are all their transactions cash-only, anyway?

And hats off to…

• The Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) who rolled up at a friend’s door recently with a large Yellow Snake (Jamaican Boa) in a bag. My friend runs a wildlife sanctuary in St. Ann, and the ISCF crew had confiscated this endangered snake from a man in St. Mary. They were terrified of it, of course! But congratulations to the ISCF and may they continue to enforce Jamaica’s environmental laws to the very best of their ability (and, as we know, with their limited resources).
• Education Minister Ronald Thwaites for his plan to introduce local produce, juices etc into the school feeding program this year. This will benefit farmers, cut costs and we should have healthier students, too! Great move.
• Diabetes reality show: Talking of health, I look forward to hearing more about celebrity chef Charles Mattocks’ upcoming television show targeting diabetics (Charles is diabetic himself). I believe he may be coming to Jamaica soon? Find him on Twitter @thepoorchef1 or online at charlesmattocks.com.
• ECCO Magazine for hosting a very interesting #tweetchat on Sustainable Tourism with Mirieme Hill of Virgin Holidays today. Some good ideas were aired! Look forward to the next one. Next time, we need to bring government entities into the conversation…
• Jamaica Public Service Company for launching its charitable arm, the JPS Foundation. Read more here: http://www.myjpsco.com/community/foundation/ I am already a big fan of JPS CEO Kelly Tomblin, and look forward to hearing more about the Foundation’s projects.
• Social Media Chica Stacy-Ann Hayles for her first Storify compilation from Twitter on “Is the Social Media Helping or Hurting the Job Market?” You can find it here: #Storify story “#SMCchat 1: Is Social Media Helping or Hurting The Job Market?” sfy.co/dP1n

My quote for today: “There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist.”  (Mark Twain)

Stay positive! But please spare a thought for the grieving families and friends of these Jamaicans, murdered in the past three days. RIP, Dean and all the others.

Linford Wallace, 29, Chancery Lane, downtown Kingston

Unidentified man, Industrial Terrace, Kingston 14

Unidentified man, Benson Fording/Norbrook, Kingston 8

Dean Moriah, 41, Bogue Village, St. James

Unidentified man, Montego Bay, St. James

“Dwayne,” 17, Cove Road, Westmoreland

Related articles:

https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/its-build-build-build-august-25-2013/ It’s “build, build, build” – August 25, 2012

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130826/lead/lead22.html Jamaica, China talk visa waivers: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130828/business/business1.html PIOJ predicts return to growth in Sept. quarter – GDP shrinks 0.4%: Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/-Jamaica-out-of-recession-_14958761 “Jamaica out of recession”: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130826/lead/lead43.html COMPLANT eyes Sav

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47538 Police to ramp up security for the Chinese community: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130826/news/news9.html Let Goat Islands development proceed; Address JADCO’s issues now! Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130827/cleisure/cleisure3.html China port may finish off Goat Islands fisheries: Diana McCaulay op-ed/Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Logistics-Hub–here-we-go-again_14938445 Logistics hub – here we go again: Letter to the Editor/Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Wigton-IDs-four-wind-energy-sites_14929664 Wigton IDs four wind energy sites: Jamaica Observer

https://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/unprecedented-response-to-international-beach-clean-up-day-in-jamaica/ Unprecedented response to International Beach Cleanup Day

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47498 JADCO outlines number of tests conducted May 2009 -July 2013: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47513 Another month before KPH gets critical diagnostic equipment: Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Get-a-skill- Get a skill! Says Education Minister: Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Local-food–juices-for-school-feeding-programme_14952112 Local food, juices for school feeding program: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130821/news/news2.html Excelling to make her Dad proud: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130827/lead/lead1.html Battle lines drawn: JLP members take sides… Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130826/letters/letters3.html Prioritize regulation of jet skis: Letter to the Editor/Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130826/letters/letters6.html Curb jet-ski madness: Letter to the Editor/Gleaner

http://anniepaul.net/2013/08/21/demonic-jetski-kills-6-year-old-girl-in-jamaica/ Demonic jetski kills six-year-old girl in Jamaica: anniepaul.net

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/several-arrested-following-massive-conch-seizure Several arrested following massive conch seizure: RJR News

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Handcart-seizures-leave-vendors-furious_14938472 Handcart seizures leave vendors furious: Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Residents-reject-go-kart-track-plan-for-Barbican-Square_14956552 Residents reject go-kart track plan for Barbican Square: Jamaica Observer

http://cbcburke9.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/gangs-framing-popular-cops/ Gangs framing popular cops:  CBC Burke blog

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Margaritaville-entertainment-manager-killed_14958875 Margaritaville entertainment manager killed: Jamaica Observer

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Brutal-murder_14947814 Co-owner of WYS Catering stabbed, shot dead in his house: Jamaica Observer

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47503 At least seven killed in weekend crashes: Gleaner

By the way, the Jamaican Boa lives in the endangered Cockpit Country and the (possibly even more endangered) Goat Island in the Portland Bight Protected Area. It is endemic to Jamaica. (Photo: Windsor Research Centre/www.cockpitcountry.com)