Twelfth Anniversary: Wednesday, September 11, 2013

On a bright, clear day like today twelve years ago, my husband and I were in Queens, New York. We will never forget the fear and disbelief. And the silence in the skies.

I have a lot of questions today. Firstly:

Who is our Minister of Finance? Minister of Transport and Works Omar Davies has been traveling overseas with some private sector people in tow. He has been assuring people that Jamaica will pass the next International Monetary Fund (IMF) test. What is Finance Minister Peter Phillips doing? He does not seem to have spoken much at all since the IMF agreement was concluded.

Who said anything about “virgin forest”? Meanwhile Minister Davies has had a lot to say about the proposed “Goat Islands” development (which I prefer to call the Portland Bight Protected Area; as we know, any mega-project on the islands would have a severe effect on the surrounding area, including the marine environment). Without telling us what we need to know. He has repeatedly said that the islands are not “virgin forest” but secondary growth, and therefore valueless. Who said anything about virgin forest, Minister Davies? That is not the issue, so that’s a complete red herring. “Dem level it already,” he told a political meeting over the weekend – referring to the U.S. Government who leased it during World War II (I am still not clear whether the 99-year lease was terminated). We now hear, suddenly, that Minister Davies has already commissioned a study to be conducted for the Port Authority of Jamaica; that it will completed before month-end – that is, in about two weeks; and that the final decision will be made by Cabinet.

Aren’t we in a hurry, Minister Davies? All settled in two weeks?

It seems to me that the Goat Islands project is a “done deal.” Just reading the signs. Minister Davies’ comments in Parliament yesterday seem to confirm it. Otherwise, why suggest to opponents, well find another place for the project then? So you have no alternative, Minister Davies? Because there are some possible sites out there. How about somewhere in eastern Jamaica, which is crying out for development (if there are, indeed, so many thousands of jobs on offer?) Oh, but I forget. The parish of St. Thomas is mostly Jamaica Labour Party territory.

The “two lizard” are worth more: At a party political meeting on the weekend (and I believe since) Minister Omar Davies has said that there is no way we can throw away the investment opportunity offered by the Chinese “tru two lizard.” (I’ve have noticed that he is at his most arrogant when speaking in patois). He is of course referring to the highly endangered Jamaican Iguana, which was thought extinct until 1990. Huge efforts and a lot of resources (and funding) – including much overseas support – have been put into the preservation, breeding and re-introduction of the iguana into its native habitat. It is worth millions, to me.

“No” to xenophobia: Yesterday the Prime Minister said we must not criticize the Chinese, because it might upset them and they will take their money elsewhere. Good point. However, when we look at the overseas record of Chinese government firms like China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) we must have concerns. Chad, Angola, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea (just do some googling). The idea of a large chunk of our natural heritage being taken over and secured by armed guards to keep locals out upsets me deeply. Whoever is responsible. But it’s been done before. The Spanish enclaves on the north coast, for example. Don’t get me wrong. I am not angry with the Chinese (or the Spanish). I am upset that the government can allow this to happen, in the name of “jobs” (how did Jamaicans benefit from the Spanish hotels’ destruction of the environment, by the way?)

CCCC/CHEC and the World Bank: Is the government aware that CHEC, as a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Limited (CCCC), has been black-listed by the World Bank (among others) for alleged fraudulent practices? Is the Contractor General planning to do any kind of scrutiny of the many contracts the government has signed in China? Or are these considered “investments” (as Minister Hylton suggested in a television interview last week) and therefore not subject to the usual scrutiny? Please see this link: http://web.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64148989&piPK=64148984&theSitePK=84266&theSitePK=84266&contentMDK=64069844&querycontentMDK=64069700&sup_name=CHINA%20COMMUNICATIONS&supp_country

War crimes, but no war: This is how the incorrigible, outspoken commentator Joan Williams describes the assault on Tivoli Gardens by government forces in May, 2010. More to follow…

And now Dudus is out of the way… Murders and gang-related activity are on the rise. How come? I thought after Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the alleged monster of Tivoli Gardens, was packed off (and is now serving time in the U.S.,) everything would be just fine. Because Tivoli Gardens was the crime problem. Right? Well, now violent crime is climbing back up. What is the Minister of National Security Peter Bunting saying about the root causes – let alone possible solutions? The gangs are merely a symptom of the general insecurity. A murder is a murder is a murder, Minister Bunting. Oh, what happened to the anti-gang legislation that has been on the cards for the past few years; and why the delay, I wonder?

I never hear the once-fashionable phrase “community policing” used any more. I guess it’s no longer in vogue. Since police killings are also higher than last year, I guess we have abandoned that concept.

Violence is rising in the Trench Town area, too. During the summer, the children attending summer school at the Trench Town Reading Centre had to run for cover during a shootout between police and gunmen. The police and soldiers actually used the Centre as a base. There have been a number of murders since. By the way, as we are talking about Minister Davies, Trench Town lies in his “garrison” constituency of South St. Andrew, where he has been Member of Parliament for twenty years. Just go down there; that’s “development” for you.

Our stinking city: As I write, the smell of sewage is wafting over our fair capital city. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is “investigating.” In my last post I commented on air quality in Kingston. But of course this is an ongoing problem. We all know of certain streets downtown where raw sewage flows, especially during rainy periods. Neither the National Water Commission, NEPA or any of the other myriad government agencies appears to care much about those. Only poor people live there…

A major slap on the back to:

Everyone who has supported (or at least taken an interest in) the efforts to oppose the establishment of a Chinese mega-port in the protected area of Portland Bight. If you look at the petition site you will also see comments from many Jamaicans expressing their views on this possible development. Some of them are really heartfelt. Special thanks to veteran American comedienne Betty White for endorsing the cause (I never knew she was such a great nature lover!) and to CEO of Sandals Resorts Adam Stewart for expressing his support via Twitter. There is a Facebook page with many interesting and relevant articles (No! to port on Jamaica’s Goat Island) and follow on Twitter @SaveGoatIslands.

Palmyra’s Books 4 Kids Foundation: Ms. Ragni Trotta heads the Foundation, which has given books to 30,000 students across the island. And they love them, according to the Principal of Port Antonio Infant School. Kudos too to CVM Television for their support in publicizing this effort.

National footballer Jermaine “Tuffy” Anderson, who scored a vital equalizing goal in last night’s World Cup qualifying match against Costa Rica in Kingston.

A lecturer at the College of Science, Agriculture and Education in Portland was murdered this week. And a 16-year-old boy was arrested for the murder of 11-year-old Tassanique James in Denham Town, who was buried with much sadness a few days ago. My deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones, and all those injured and suffering from the violence that besieges us.

Unidentified man, Sixth Street, Trench Town, Kingston 12

Cyprian Moncrieffe, 44, College of Science Agriculture & Education (CASE), Passley Gardens, Portland

Killed by the police:

Wayne Campbell, Clonmel, St. Mary

Unidentified man, Mt. Peace, Hanover

Related links and articles:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130909/news/news1.html Jamaica on track to pass next IMF test – Davies: Gleaner

http://digjamaica.com/blog/2013/09/09/economy-update-august-2013-nir-is-it-enough-to-pass-september-imf-test/ Economy update: August 2013 NIR – is it enough to pass September IMF test? diGJamaica.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130910/business/business1.html Jamaica gets assurance from Venezuela regarding PetroCaribe: Gleaner

http://www.psoj.org/files/s_Call_for_Transparency_Within_360MW_Project_0.pdf Private Sector Groups Call for Transparency within the 360 Megawatt Project

http://digjamaica.com/blog/2013/09/06/transshipment-cargo-volumes-continue-to-decline/ Transshipment cargo volumes continue to decline: diGJamaica.com

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Goat-Islands-and-the-Chinese_15004217 Goat Islands and the Chinese: Howard Chin column/Jamaica Observer