Day of the Leadership Vote! At last! Sunday, November 10, 2013

Since I last wrote, I fought a fierce battle with an aggressive flu – and think I may have won. They say it is H1-N1, or something. Whatever it is, both my husband and I have been very sick. The air has been thick with rain and all kinds of bugs have been brewing in the humidity, it seems. And today some 5,000 party delegates voted for the leadership of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)! Thank God, the day has arrived at last…

Andrew Holness rejoices with his supporters earlier today. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Well, I can now inform you that the current Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, was returned as head of the JLP fairly convincingly. There was a media blitz, with all the media houses setting up camp and sending us exciting tweets (well, I confess, not exciting for me). We were mostly concerned with Arsenal Football Club‘s struggle with Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the vote paled into insignificance accordingly. But the leadership race has increasingly dominated the broadcast media in recent weeks. I suppose now we will be besieged with analyses of the result for the next week or so, before (one hopes) returning to the real, important business of the nation – crime, the economy, our children, our justice system.

A party delegate, in dancehall gear, celebrates Mr. Holness’ win at the leadership vote at Kingston’s National Stadium today. (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby/Gleaner)

And hopefully, the re-elected JLP leader will turn to these major challenges and speak out on them. Something he has hardly been doing for the past two years… So today, they all talked about “unity” and Holness’ erstwhile challenger, Audley Shaw, said the race had “re-energized” the party. Yes, it woke up Holness, if that’s what you mean by “re-energize.”

Andrew Holness’ challenger Audley Shaw holds up his finger showing that he voted (I wonder who for) at the National Stadium. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Perfect timing: The Jamaican and Chinese Governments signed yet another deal; this time it is for a Chinese Garden, to be constructed at a cost of J$230 million at Hope Gardens  (An appropriate location? I don’t know). With a deal on the destruction of Goat Islands and the Portland Bight Protected Area about to get official approval (some think it may have been a done deal), is this a reward for our co-operation? Not a loan this time. A “gift.”  Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/230-million-Chinese-Garden-donated-to-Jamaica_15408101 (Note the date of the signing of this agreement – over two weeks ago).

Another signing ceremony with the Chinese: The gift of a garden this time. (Photo: Jamaica Information Service)

Yesterday, an all-day forum (with only one female out of 24 panelists, all day) sang the praises of the hub. Diana McCaulay and others live-tweeted from the event (oh, the wonders of Twitter!) As my health did not permit my attendance, I was grateful for this. They reported laughter in the audience when Jamaica was described as “socially and politically stable.” This admits fears of violence at today’s Jamaica Labour Party leadership vote, and numerous roadblocks and protests across the island last week. Depends what you call stable, I suppose. As for the glorious hub: precious few specifics, as usual.

MP Anthony Hylton should take a tour of some of the constituencies he represents in Kingston 20 and thereabouts. Not long ago I wrote about the appalling conditions in a small community called New Haven. Now a friend of mine has posted photos of the “roads” in the area that he represents on Facebook, and they are not any better. I suppose the Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce is too busy thinking about the logistics hub to worry about impassable roads. After all, he does not have to live there.

Logistics hub PR roll-out continues: Minister Hylton’s logistics hub propaganda campaign continues with an exciting essay competition. Wow. And of course the Port Authority of Jamaica (let’s not forget that Omar Davies‘ ministry does not want to be outdone) has started its “intellectually stimulating” series of forums (for whom exactly?) Meanwhile, educational institutions are hurriedly putting Masters/Diplomas in Logistics programs in place (who is going to teach them?) Quick, quick…

One of the roads in Kingston 20. Minister Hylton, the neglect in your constituency is glaring! (Photo: Facebook)

The tweetings of the “Rasta Yute”: Minister Damion Crawford is Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment. Not long ago, he tweeted some ill-informed remarks about the proposed Goat Islands development, starting off with the exhortation “Build, build, build!” (and to think that, as a student of tourism, he once spoke eloquently on the importance of preserving the environment…) This week came another ill-conceived tweet based on incorrect information: “Say NO to INDECOM #close_it”  As we know, INDECOM (the Independent Commission of Investigations) was set up just over three years ago as an independent body to investigate police abuses, including the steadily rising number of extra-judicial killings. As I have noted in recent posts, INDECOM seems to be under some kind of subtle, and not-so-subtle, pressure from the police rank and file; but now the Minister of National Security had to make a statement that the government was not considering disbanding INDECOM.

State Minister responsible for entertainment, Damion Crawford. He is developing a habit of talking/tweeting a lot of ill-informed stuff on issues outside his portfolio. However, some believe we should excuse him because he is a “Rasta” and he is “young.” Well, Mr. Crawford, I don’t think Rastas are usually anti-environment and pro-police abuse, generally… And how old are you again?

Interviewed on radio regarding his tweet, Minister Crawford said we are really being unfair on the police (agents of the state with infinitely more powers than the average citizen) by investigating them. They can do a great job of it themselves. The interviewers sounded slightly incredulous as they tried to make the Rasta Yute see sense. “I do not claim to be the authority…” said the RY at one point. No? Well, then as a public servant, perhaps you should not comment. And should you be tweeting what one assumes to be a personal opinion as a Government Minister? Thanks to my tweep/fellow blogger for these observations on the RY tweet: http://thinkjamaica.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/indecom/ Another blogger, Annie Paul, commented thus: http://anniepaul.net/2013/11/08/say-yes-to-indecom-if-you-want-to-be-taken-seriously-mr-crawford/ (and I agree Annie, what a huge disappointment this Minister is). The Commissioner himself called the Minister’s comments “naïve.” That’s being kind, Mr. Commissioner. My friend “Cogito Ergo Sum” is a little kinder, too. See link below.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), is greeted by her Japanese counterpart, His Excellency Shinzo Abe, prior to their talks in Tokyo on Tuesday (November 5). Both leaders signed a statement pledging to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. (Photo: Jamaica Information Service)

Back from her travels (for now): Meanwhile our Prime Minister returned from another overseas trip, to Japan this time. What happened on this trip? Courtesy calls? Check. Photo-ops? Check. Well-crafted speeches? Check. Nice outfits? Check. Platitudes about the “important relationship between our two countries”? Check. First class travel for all? Check. Nice hotel? Check. Business Forum? That sounds more like it. But specifics, please, Minister Paulwell! (He was amongst her entourage…) Oh – there is a two-minute video on the Jamaica Information Service website that may or may not enlighten us.

Minister Paulwell is suggesting that Jamaica is a world leader in “addressing energy needs.” We are reeling from escalating energy costs, with one of the highest rates in the Caribbean, don’t we? Are we committed to renewable energy (we did not even get enough bids, the other day to fill what we had on offer)? And what about the Energy World International fiasco, and the unconscionable delays in that bid? I would say our energy future looks a little uncertain. Only a couple of weeks ago there was talk of an impending “energy crisis,” and Jamaica Public Service Company is worried about two ancient stations that are on their last legs. Seems like there’s a lot of work to do.  Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-a-leader-in-addressing-energy-needs–says-Paulwell_15408571

Is our Prime Minister really “an Ambassador” for our country, Jamaica Observer – is that the correct term? What about running the country? It must be lovely to go abroad for the above-mentioned hand-shaking and smiling, while your country is fighting an escalating crime rate, soaring dollar, etc etc. Read the Observer’s off-the-mark editorial here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/PM-in-Japan–doing-what-she-does-best_15394137 How I long for a thought-provoking editorial, instead of the platitudes we are getting from both newspapers these days!

Ah, but what is this? Minister Hanna is off to Paris (nice shopping, there) leading a delegation to UNESCO. This is mentioned in Saturday’s Gleaner editorial, which asks some hard questions for once. Primarily: Is Child Abuse on Parliament’s Radar? http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131109/cleisure/cleisure1.html In the face of the Office of the Children’s Registry’s dreadfulstatistics on child abuse reports… Let’s face it. It’s not a priority. Is it?

What’s going on with corruption prosecutions and the Jamaica Customs? Just asking.

And what happened to the promised revised National Youth Policy? Minister of Youth and Culture, please respond to the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network’s hard-working program officer Javan Campbell. (Oh, but the Minister is “leading a delegation” somewhere isn’t she?) OK. It’s now around four months late, but she’ll get round to it… Here’s Javan’s letter: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Sill-no-revised-National-Youth-Policy_15409820

Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna is off on a trip to Paris. What about our child abuse crisis, Minister? The National Youth Policy? The detention centers? (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister)

Very special Big ups to:

• Alia Atkinson is really doing well. Jamaicans usually focus on track athletes but this swimmer has been quietly “making waves” (pun intended!) in swimming, breaking another national record last week. Read more here on this Jamaican news blog: http://jablogz.com/2013/11/alia-atkinson-breaks-national-record-on-fina-world-cup-tour/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jablogz%2FvaHv+%28JABLOGZ+-+Articles+written+from+a+Jamaican+Perspective%29

Jamaican swimmer Alia Atkinson. (Photo: Ricardo Makyn/Gleaner)

• The Rockfort Development Council and Youth Opportunities Limited (YOU – who have been working in the area for the past eight years) for their efforts to support the local small/micro-business community. I attended an interesting and lively meeting there this week. I wish them all the best of luck and future co-operation and upliftment! YOU’s Kate Chappell writes about it here: http://jamaicajournal.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/move-beyond-trade-small-business-owners-urged/

Members of the Rockfort business community put their heads together at the meeting organized by Youth Opportunities Unlimited a few days ago. (My photo)

• Women Business Owners, who have done a great job training female entrepreneurs in recent years. Jamaica recently found itself at the bottom of a the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Venture Scope Study 2013 for Latin America/Caribbean. So the only way now is up. Get to it, my sistren! You can read more about the project and WBO at their website: http://www.womenbusinessownersja.com

Women Business Owners logo.

• Kimroy Bailey, who recently organized a science camp in rural St. Mary (at his old school, Lowe River Primary and Junior High School) focusing on robotics and renewable energy. We need far more initiatives like these to enhance children’s interest in science. Congrats to Kimroy, an energetic young UTech graduate with a mission. Read more: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131109/news/news3.html You can visit Kimroy’s page at http://kimroybailey.com  He has a lot going on!

It has been another sad week, and my deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the following Jamaicans. The tears continue to fall:

Kimroy Bailey (right) with students and volunteers at Lowe River Primary and Junior High School.

Billy Dee Lawrence, 21, Spicy Grove, St. Mary

Neal Taylor, 56, Denbigh, Clarendon

Keron Martin Fraser, Spanish Town, St. Catherine (Trinidadian national)

Lenford Ulett, 55, Brae’s River, St. Elizabeth

Killed by the police:

Dujon Robinson, 29, Mount Salem, St. James

Geraldo Bell, 20, Runaway Bay, St. Ann

The front page of Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday newspaper last month, when Keron Martin first went missing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few more articles of interest:

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131109/lead/lead6.html No work yet on juvenile detention facilities: Gleaner

http://dmarcuswilliams.blogspot.com/2013/11/shut-down-indecom-damion-crawfords-big.html Shut down INDECOM: Damian Crawford’s BIG issue: D Marcus Williams blog

http://newsandviewsbydjmillerja.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/environment-v-development-takeaways-from-the-uwicmi-logistics-hub-forum/ Environment vs Development? Takeaways from the UWI-CMI logistics hub forum: Dionne Jackson Miller blog