Back from the north coast: November 3, 2013

I spent the weekend in a different world: where the scent of suntan lotion fills the air, and nice, sanitized reggae music fills the air. Yes, I was in the massive (and I mean huge) complex that is the Gran Bahia Principe on Jamaica’s fair north coast. But actually, good to be back home…

Mountain View troubles: Just a couple of weeks ago I visited the Jacques Road area of Mountain View. People were getting on with their lives, the Homework Centre was open. Francena and other community leaders were doing great work with much support. It is really extremely sad to hear of the problems in the area, which began a week ago with the police shooting a teenager in the Jarrett Lane area, some distance down the road. But roadblocks and unrest have continued all of this week, and gang activity seems to have started up again. Just over a year ago, the police killed another teen (and leading light in the police youth club there) Kavorne Shue, in the same area. The pain of that death still lingers; and there are now allegations of police brutality in the area. How will all this help to reduce our rate of violent crime?

And Minister Bunting, to be honest, we don’t need a “forum” on violence prevention. Unless it is going to lead to an action plan that will lead to…action. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=48995 And now the Minister has also expressed concern about the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), who investigate police killings, because they actually take away the policemen’s guns. He echoed the Police Federation’s recent complaints. Surely in any investigation into a gun crime, all the guns must be taken for examination? See here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131031/lead/lead5.html

INDECOM says the police killed 15 Jamaicans in September – and 35 in October. Well, the Police Commissioner did warn us that the police will not be “delicate”… Read more here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/lead/lead7.html The INDECOM Commissioner has also clarified the situation re: the “seizing” of guns from the police at crime scenes – an accusation the Minister seemed so eager to back up. So between the police rank and file and the Minister himself, there is a lot of chipping away at the authority of a Commission established by Government. How does this help us as we search for justice for all? And why is the Minister not clear on the role and responsibilities of INDECOM?

The enigma that is Minister Bunting: In my last post I suggested that he is impersonal and lacking in empathy towards the victims of crime. No expressions of regret for the most terrible crimes seem to pass his lips. I’m trying to figure out the mindset, but he is an enigma. I would not like to think that he is quite comfortable with the daily horrors. Here is what some Observer readers think: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-How-s-the-praying-thing-going–Mr-Bunting–_15362955

But I am not letting the Opposition Spokesman off the hook: Mr. Delroy Chuck seems to have had a rush of blood to the head and agrees with Minister Bunting that strong measures must be taken to curb crime. And I quote: “I have heard it from persons who believe that the problem of crime is a social one and if you put in enough social reform and enough social intervention you can curb the crime problem. It nuh work.” So by inference, you do not believe the problem of crime is a social issue, Mr. Chuck? You once used to talk quite a bit of sense… Read more here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131103/news/news5.html

The dynamic duo of Bunting and Chuck (chair and member, respectively, of the joint select committee considering anti-gang legislation) also gave short shrift to human rights lawyer Nancy Anderson of the Norman Manley Law School. Ms. Anderson pointed out that a part of the proposed law is in violation of the (already flawed) Charter of Rights, passed three years ago. Oh no, but strong measures are needed to fight the scourge of gangs, etc., chorused Minister B and Mr. C.Here we are: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131103/news/news6.html

In just a few months this year, the National Water Commission (NWC) has lost J$3.5 billion. Staggering, especially when you consider that this abominably wasteful and inefficient government agency has just been granted a rate increase that we, the consumers, must pay.  http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131031/lead/lead1.html Moreover, the head of the NWC has just resigned, to take up a position as head of…the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which reviews rates and just approved this latest increase. Well, I never. (The Sunday Gleaner came up with a decent editorial at last, reminding politicians of their responsibility. Read here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131103/cleisure/cleisure1.html

Do read our revered columnist Barbara Gloudon’s vivid first-hand account of a teen party she literally ran into recently here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Stranded-in-an-over-sexed-age_15362857  Meanwhile Talk Up Yout,‘ a UNICEF-sponsored project, is urging us not to judge the young people too hastily, after the viral video of Maggotty High School students disporting themselves (two years ago). Read their views here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/letters/letters6.html

Parenting is “in”: Parenting workshops and parenting centers are breaking out all over these days, as both government and non-governmental agencies try to find a solution to the “uncontrollable” behavior of our young adults, among other social ills. I hope they will help to shore up the crumbling family structures that exist in many of our communities; so many children have very little they can call family. Read more about one project: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Whitfield-Town-teen-moms–dads-learn-parenting-skills_15362607

Bobbing and weaving: An item in the business news notes that Jamaicans will spend close to J$1 billion this year on imported weaves. Yes, weaves…fake hair. I choked when I read this. One person in the business observes, “Fake hair is not necessary for survival (er, no ma’am) but has become a staple for many women.” So this is where all our foreign exchange is going. While the economy is collapsing around them, women cannot – must not – do without their fake hair, wigs and even eyelashes! Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Jamaica-s-weave-imports-set-to-hit–1-billion-in-2013_15362696#ixzz2jQpIJ0Ua

Zero out of ten to Mr. Gordon Robinson for his pathetic response to Diana McCaulay’s brilliant critique of his column on the Portland Bight Protected Area (Goat Islands etc). The sexism is absolutely nauseating. He describes Ms. McCaulay as “the subject of every pimply nerd’s wet dreams,” among other things. Mr. Robinson, a lawyer by profession, would say this is humorous, and anyone who disagrees just has no sense of fun. Yes, the most offensive racist, sexist, homophobic, misogynistic comments are often disguised as “humor,” actually. If you can stomach it, read here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131103/focus/focus1.html

Meanwhile, our silent Prime Minister is in Japan. I do hope she is enjoying her trip. “No problem, mon!”  (I have been influenced by my tourism experience this weekend, clearly…) I am tired of asking the same questions: how many people accompanied her (“her support staff and security team”)? And did they all travel first class, as Ms. Simpson Miller always does? What is to be achieved by this visit? Will we, the taxpayers footing the bill for this long-distance journey, be granted a report on the results of the visit?

Three cheers for the following:

• USAID: USAID Jamaica – which celebrated 52 years of foreign assistance on Friday, November 1 – recently graduated 98 youth across the island from training in climate change adaptation – an important, even urgent concern that we should all be paying attention to.  Read more here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/lead/lead8.html and http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/98-graduate-from-Climate-Change-Action-Training-programme
• My former boss, Ian Randle, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI) recently. Here is an edited version of the speech he gave at UWI’s St. Augustine campus in Trinidad: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/lead/lead99.html
• Petre Williams-Raynor, the excellent environmental journalist now with Panos Caribbean, who is highly focused, well-informed and has a consistently high level of output. She has written here on climate change adaptation: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/news/news1.html  And in her blog here following Friday’s fascinating seminar on disaster preparedness for the disabled community in Portmore (more on that later): http://wordsfrompetre.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/34882533-disasters-and-the-disabled

Meanwhile, the police continue to inflict “strong measures” on the Jamaican people. They shot dead two teenage brothers on the first day of the month. A mentally ill man was severely beaten in the Falmouth police lock-up on October 19, and is lying in hospital with serious head injuries. INDECOM is investigating. And a mob chopped and beat to death a teenager in Hanover, who was also said to be “of unsound mind.” My sad condolences to all those left behind to mourn the deaths of the following Jamaican citizens who lost their lives to violence in the past four days: 

Javore Elleston, 14, Riverton City, Kingston

“Mattic Head,” Torrington Park, Kingston

“Strado,” Seaview Gardens, Kingston

Sophia Dawson, 46, Dyke Road/Portmore, St. Catherine

Dennis Martin, 31, Norwood, St. James

Gregory Black, 35, St. James

Ojay Gardner, 18, Chigwell, Hanover (mob killing)

Omar Taylor, Havana Heights, Clarendon

Markland Drysdale, 40, Cow Bay/Albion, St. Thomas

Killed by police:

Odane Myers, 21, Russia/Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland

Lewishon Campbell 17, Mt. Salem, St. James

Romario Campbell, 19, Mt. Salem, St. James

Additional articles of interest:

 

500 Jamaicans hold a candlelight vigil for Kavorne Shue, 25, a peacemaker in the community of Jarrett Lane, Mountain View, in June 2012. The police killed another teen last week in the same area, reopening old wounds.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/lead/lead1.html Feeding Jamaica, no problem: Gleaner

http://newsandviewsbydjmillerja.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/jamaica-masters-of-crisis-management/ Jamaica: Masters of Crisis Management: newsandviewsbydjmiller

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131101/lead/lead96.html Chuck: Changing Article 45 will “Jamaicanize” region: Gleaner

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131103/lead/lead3.html Children stuck in horror: health-care workers recount haunting tales of sex abuse of kids: Sunday Gleaner

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Maroon-chief-to-add-voice-to-international-exchange-on-indigenous-issues Maroon chief to add voice to international exchange on indigenous issues: Jamaica Observer

Opposition Spokesman on National Security Delroy Chuck. (Photo: Gleaner)

National Security Minister Peter Bunting. (Photo: Gleaner)

 

My former boss and ground-breaking Caribbean publisher, Ian Randle.

Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson Miller is on another overseas trip, with her retinue – size unknown. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Twenty-two-month-old Eshauna Gardner who died last Wednesday. Her great-uncle has been arrested in connection with her death. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Kamoza Clarke, 31, a mentally ill man who reports say was severely beaten in the lock-up at Falmouth Police Station on October 19, lies in hospital with severe head wounds. (Photo: Gleaner)

Professor Gordon Shirley, who now heads the Port Authority of Jamaica and is happily toeing the government line on the Goat Islands issue. (Photo: Gleaner)

Colonel Frank Lumsden of the Charles Town Maroons – a very gracious and dignified guardian of his culture. (Photo: Facebook)

Jamaica Observer editorial cartoon, October 30, 2013. Hits the nail on the head…