Mid-week, and I am tired. And time is speeding by.
More secrecy: Minister of Transport and Works and our resident Environmental Expert Omar “Two Likkle Lizards” Davies made an announcement in the Lower House on Tuesday regarding the “study” on Goat Islands, the Portland Bight Protected Area and the proposed logistics hub. Only after a question from the Opposition’s Audley Shaw did it become clear that no other location is under consideration. So that’s that? Perhaps. After giving away as little as possible on the subject, Minister Davies then sat down and proceeded to laugh and joke through the remainder of the debate on the subject. Glad you find the selling out of a precious piece of our environmental and cultural heritage so humorous, Mr. Davies. But we should be used to the sheer arrogance of our politicians. It takes one’s breath away sometimes, though. Here is the laughing Minister Davies’ statement: http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads-120/35438
Question: Why is the Cabinet going to approve the project (and of course they will) before an Environmental Impact Assessment takes place? Isn’t that doing things in the wrong order? Another question: Why is a “summary” of the report on Goat Islands, now complete, to be posted on the Port Authority of Jamaica‘s website tomorrow? Why not just slap the whole thing on? Another question: Why is the Ministry of Industry Investment & Commerce’s forum on the logistics hub on November 12 not open to the public? Why does it cost $8,000? Is it open to the media? Another question: Why are our Environment Minister and the National Environment & Planning Agency so completely silent?
Blacklisted: Meanwhile, as I have noted before, the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and its subsidiaries are on a World Bank blacklist (which applies to other multilaterals too). At least one CHEC mega-project, such as this one in Pakistan, is in jeopardy as a result: http://tribune.com.pk/story/624951/at-stake-lng-services-tender-faces-an-uncertain-fate/
And as I have also mentioned before, Guyana has had similar issues with a huge CHEC project similarly shrouded in secrecy.
Parliament also passed the tax omnibus legislation yesterday, biting the bullet at last. The private sector are happy; they have been banging on about tax reform ever since the Matalon Report on Tax Reform.
But hey, for the ninth consecutive year Jamaica has slipped down in the World Bank’s Doing Business report. See here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131030/business/business1.html Is it a question of sighing and saying “Next!”
Very happy to hear Health Minister Fenton Ferguson’s views regarding teen mothers and the need for them to continue their education. I am not sure how much clout he has on this matter but kudos to him.
Minister of National Security Peter Bunting gave an unconvincing performance on CVM Television’s Live at Seven on Tuesday evening. I am glad that the program finally got hold of him and that he finally spoke. In his usual detached style, the former banker actually said something quite untrue: that police killings are trending down. They are actually higher than last year. One journalist pointed out on Twitter that the police had killed six Jamaicans in the past 24 hours. Then the Minister rather lamely asked for the public’s co-operation in helping to solve crime. Minister Bunting: There is something called trust.
Mr. Bunting is lacking in empathy. When a young woman, seven months pregnant, was gunned down in front of her family on National Heroes Day, could he not have issued a statement expressing sadness and condolences to the family? Perhaps even more so, could our silent Prime Minister have issued a statement of condolence? OK, then. No.
As I mentioned before, the Minister’s answer to the crime issue, “Operation Resilience” is more of the same old policing style of ten/twenty/thirty years ago: scooping up dozens of young men off the streets, imposing curfews and engaging in alleged shootouts with alleged gangsters. The Ministry is not addressing the root causes of crime – nor even making any pretense at “community policing” – a term that seems increasingly passé. Meanwhile, OR claims to have seized fifty guns, “linked to” as many as thirty murders. Nice round figures. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Police–Operation-Resilience-nets-50-guns-in-one-month_15354251
“Avoid Mountain View”: This used to be a regular alert around town, whenever the Mountain View Avenue area (the main route from uptown to the airport) was enduring some new episode of violence. The message this week sounded drearily familiar. Yes, Operation Resilience was at work in an inner-city area where another young man and Police Youth Club member was killed by the police just a year ago. Another teenager’s blood flowing in the street. Angry demonstrations followed, and Mountain View was blocked.
A raunchy video: There has been a terrible fuss about a video (recorded two years ago) of schoolgirls and boys “getting on bad” at a school outing, in their Maggotty High School uniforms. Some of the students have since left the school; at least one has to explain herself to the school board. The video, no longer on YouTube, is still available elsewhere online, if you want to feast your eyes on it. Jamaicans of course have reacted with the same shock and horror as when reading recent lurid media reports of sex at the transport center, schoolboys buying Viagra at illegal pharmacies, etc. Of course it is a failure of parenting. And the students are simply modeling the behavior of adults. Remember the photos of our Agriculture Minister disporting himself in similar manner in public (and many adult Jamaicans thought it was cool, he was just having fun…) He helped to set the tone. What do you expect the kids to do? The outraged reaction of many Jamaicans does not constitute a “war against our culture and dancehall” as some Jamaicans contend. This is not about dancehall at all! But expelling students is just a knee-jerk reaction that will solve nothing. Just like the police killing more alleged criminals. And why are the girls being targeted for the most criticism by the self-righteous ones among us?
No special awards this week. I’m tired.
The murder rate – and that of police killings – continues to escalate. My deepest condolences to those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Richard Denzil, 20, National Stadium, Kingston (on National Heroes Day – previously unidentified)
George Whyte, 63, Russia/Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland
Melbourne Johnson, 58, Russia/Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland
Bromfield Clarke, 45, Russia/Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland
Unidentified man, Passagefort, St. Catherine
Unidentified man, Spanish Town, St. Catherine
Killed by the police:
Romarco Wilson, 19, Jarrett Lane/Mountain View Avenue, Kingston
Dwight Oshane, Waterhouse, Kingston
Unidentified man, Denham Town, Kingston
Mahoney Smith, 24, White Hall/Negril, Westmoreland
Sandor Robinson, 31, Roehampton, St. James
“Marvin”, Albion Mews, St. James
Here are a few additional articles:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Child-victims-of-incest–rape-among-HIV-infected_15347415
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Abstinence-message-not-really-reaching-teens–say-experts_15348122 Abstinence message not really reaching teens, say experts: Jamaica Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Journalism–the-law–and-the-public-interest_15325547 Journalism, the law and the public interest: Claude Robinson column/Sunday Observer
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Promoting-and-enforcing-the-rule-of-law_15084841 Promoting and enforcing the rule of law: Nigel Gayle op-ed
http://cucumberjuice.wordpress.com/2013/10/30/untitled-iii/ Untitled III: cucumberjuice.wordpress.com
Port Authority Refuses To Disclose The MoU Regarding the Logistics Hub and Port Development (petchary.wordpress.com)
RIP Lou: Sunday, October 27, 2013 (petchary.wordpress.com)
Blood Will Have Blood (petchary.wordpress.com)
Petchary's Blog 
Reblogged this on idealisticrebel and commented:
This woman is a heroine. Please read her blog.
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My dear Barbara: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, again. Emma
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I know you are tired, but you are a heroine to many including myself. May you have energy when you need it, May you be blessed and protected. Remember the Beloved is wihin you. I am praying for you. Hugs, Barbara
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Barbara – you brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for your continuous support and love. I am going to use my energy carefully this week. Many thanks for your blessings and prayers. It means a lot to me…
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That picture of the Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke is wrong in so many ways. It’s just base! I guess having class and behaving with dignity is no longer the way to be. At least, it doesn’t seem to be behaviour our Jamaican politicians feel its important to exhibit. what an example for our poor youths!
I can certainly understand that you are tired. Everyday is just more of the same. We need hope! We need a new breed of educated, creative, forward-thinking, bright, moral, honest, upstanding politicians. Preferably those who are able to speak English as well as they speak patois. We need to sweep out these useless, old aging politicians. I am not an ageist, but if the politician is not bringing anything to the table year after year and simply getting rich through contacts and questionable dealings, why have them in office.They are just a drain on Jamaica. As for the current Prime Minister, the only thing I am proud of about her is that she’s a woman. She’s been a complete waste of time. Yes, I said it.
Wake up Jamaicans!
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Hi, Donna: You used the word “dignity” and I think that is key. It’s a much under-estimated quality that I think is essential for our political (and other) leaders. I can think of good role models (including some of our athletes for example) who would not be seen dead doing this at a public meeting! I agree, our political leaders need to rethink and “check themselves.” No, the old politicians only seem interested in preserving the status quo in Jamaica – the aging patriarchy. I remember how depressed I felt when I saw Portia Simpson Miller’s “new” Cabinet two years ago sitting in Parliament for the first time – it was like all the old dinosaurs recycled, nothing but grey and white hairs! (NO, I am not ageist – how could I be, since I am in my sixties myself! – it’s not the age that matters but the mindset). These were all old comrades being rewarded for their long service by becoming ministers. I agree with you on the Prime Minister. As a woman, I am deeply disappointed. Oh dear yes – not only wake up, but DO something, Jamaicans!
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The Portland Bight issue is no laughing matter, but you had me laughing out loud at Omar “Two Likkle Lizard” Davies. Hahaha! Good one!
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Well yes, I don’t know why but I keep giving poor Mr. Davies all kinds of extra names!! Well, he said it, so… One has to laugh a bit sometimes, or else one would cry!
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This is a depressing litany of violence and disregard by those in power… I see why you began by saying you were tired! Hang in there – your past posts and activities have been a tribute to people like you who are trying to make our world better… Even in the face of such incompetence.
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Yes, I am sorry. It has been a rather difficult week for poor Jamaica, but I don’t want my readers to get too depressed!! Thank you for your kind words, and yes – I am definitely hanging in there! There is also much to appreciate, and celebrate, always! Thanks for your comment!
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