It’s official! It’s 2014!
And quieter than a Sunday in our neighborhood. The only excitement has been in the English Premier League, where my team Arsenal managed to cling onto the top spot again.
Frequent flyers: The Gleaner has decided to get to the bottom of those overseas trips by government ministers that Jamaicans (including myself) have been grumbling about for some time. Using the Access to Information Act, journalists have requested information on the ministers’ travels, expenses etc. for the first half of 2013. Half of the ministries have provided information, including the Office of the Prime Minister. Finance Minister Peter Phillips made seven overseas trips in six months with his advisor and usually four others; total cost J$8 million. Technology Minister Philllip Paulwell took sixteen trips during that period with his State Minister Julian Robinson, costing over J$6 million. Education Minister Ronald Thwaites (whose total travel costs were quite modest) believes “You guys have the wrong presumption” (Gleaner’s quote) about overseas travel. It is really hard work, he contends. No fun at all! Not even flying first class…
Corruption bites: Contractor General Dirk Harrison was highly critical of the public sector’s general disregard for the rules and protocols of contract awards in his latest report (for 2012) tabled in Parliament last week. Conflict of interest, unethical conduct, and the flouting of several regulations are among his concerns. Will our political leaders ignore this report (as they usually do)? Is the International Monetary Fund paying attention to this issue? Mr. Harrison notes that every year he repeats the same recommendations. Read “OCG raps public sector disregard for contract rules” in the Jamaica Observer.
And Customs muddle: The Auditor General is none too pleased with Jamaica Customs, either. She asserts that they have been breaking the rules, applying duties and tariffs on imports in an arbitrary way. We have imported a few small items occasionally and have heard that this before. It’s hard to know how much they are going to charge you. That isn’t good enough, Commissioner Reese! Can we have an explanation please?
“Tourism history”: American newlyweds Alexis and Craig Grenier (who had that midwinter pale look) arrived at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to find that they were the two millionth stopover visitors to Jamaica for 2013. This is the first time we have achieved this landmark, and that is great. So, there was much fanfare, speeches by Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and so on. I hope this is the start of something big. But as I have noted before, tourism stats for January to September 2013 (stopovers) show that Cuba (with 2,142,000) and Dominican Republic (3,840,000) were already ahead of Jamaica (1,534,000). Figures from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (www.onecaribbean.org). And Cuba doesn’t have American tourists (yet). So, progress made, but…
Like community peacemaker Horace Levy, I welcome National Security Minister Peter Bunting’s return to community policing considerations. As he said, it is late (I for one thought the idea had been put on ice permanently) but I hope that this will be seriously integrated into Minister Bunting’s “Unite for Jamaica” initiative (see my earlier blog post) – and not just lip service, but through action and programs.
Sounds ominous: Dr. Conrad Douglas (recently-appointed head of the government’s Climate Change Unit and author of the so-called “scoping study” on Goat Islands) is talking about how much money is to be made out of limestone mining in Jamaica. See Jamaica Information Service press release on their website: “Jamaica Can Earn US$7 billion annually from Limestone Industry.” Dr. Douglas talks about “sustainable development and the use of creative conservation technologies, which now exist for the rehabilitation of those areas, which we might extract this resource from…” I wonder if Dr. Douglas and Co. may be training their sights on the Cockpit Country, which is threatened by mining and quarrying. Another “protected area”…
Insecurity everywhere: There is a big panic now about lack of security in downtown Kingston, as if this is something new. I have been writing about it for weeks and asking if downtown really is as safe as we were led to believe. There’s a particular focus on Kingston Public Hospital and police have stepped up their vigilance there, but according to numerous reports widespread street robberies are largely perpetrated by very young men. And after all the reports and complaints, it seems the Ocho Rios bus park is still the venue for stabbings, shootings etc. I don’t want to think the Jamaica Constabulary Force cannot cope? A letter to the Gleaner (“How safe and peaceful are we?”) points out rather eloquently: “the painful scars from these killings are borne by families and friends of the victims deep within their hearts.” Which is what I think about when I post those names at the end of my blog.
Praedial larceny: I have mentioned this so many times. No matter who the Agriculture Minister is, or for how long, they seem totally unable to come up with a solution to the problem of the stealing of livestock and crops from long-suffering farmers. Now there is a “pilot program” with dairy farmers in Clarendon, involving technology. Before that there was a receipt system that was a total failure, but let’s hope this comes to something. Not holding my breath.
Threat level for…? The Jamaica Constabulary Force has put out a notice that the threat level against its members has risen to “extreme” in western Jamaica. What about the threat level for regular Jamaicans? Most of us don’t have heavy weaponry to defend ourselves with, either…
More messages: The official New Year messages are out, and again Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller‘s message is again far too long. It ends with these words: “We are God’s mighty army and we can and shall defeat all the giants as we build our promise (sic) land.” Oh dear.
Do support the LIME Foundation 6K run on Sunday, January 5 in Portmore! Funds raised from the road race will go towards setting up a fund to purchase a fluoroscope for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital – a very important piece of equipment. Deadline for registration is January 3!
A huge pat on the back and major hugs to:
Ms. Deika Morrison and the entire volunteer team supporting Shaggy’s fund-raising efforts for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital. The entire profits of the show will go to the Hospital. For those overseas or wishing to donate online, please go to the Food for the Poor website: foodforthepoor.org/teamshaggy4kids. You can donate 24/7 from mobile device by phone, text or online 501c3, write a check, wire money, or donate by remittance. (I hope that those patrons enjoying complimentary concert tickets will consider making a donation elsewhere).
The Joy of Youth Foundation was set up in 2011 in support of the National Children’s Home. One thing we could do (if I may suggest) is bring some light and happiness into the lives of Jamaican children, who may not have enough joy in their lives. Not just at Christmas, but throughout the year… Go and visit the National Children’s Home. It’s tucked away near Hope Gardens in Kingston.
Professor Geoffrey Palmer is a Jamaican-born scientist and he has been knighted for services to science, human rights and charity. Professor Palmer campaigns for better educational opportunities for minorities in the UK, and against racism. He
Kofi Walker, who organized a lively dance workshop for his young students in beautiful Castleton Gardens, St. Mary, just before Christmas. My hateful flu did not allow me to go, but I congratulate the hard-working dancer and dedicated teacher on his work. You can follow Kofi and his AIR-PAASA Foundation on Facebook. He deserves support! Dance is great for kids – physically, mentally and spiritually!
Ms. Holly Bynoe and Concerned Citizens of Bequia, who have been collecting funds and materials to assist the citizens of St. Vincent, who have lost so much in the Christmas floods that affected the eastern Caribbean. Where is Bequia, you may ask? It’s a tiny island (seven square miles) in the Grenadines. I am really happy to see Caribbean people supporting each other in times of need. I wish that perhaps Jamaica could have done something?
And speaking of Caribbean support…Brian Lara, former West Indies cricketing captain and star batsman, visited Jamaica this week and donated US$250,000 towards children at risk in Jamaica. This is incredibly kind and generous. Thank you!
The Jamaica Observer notes “2013 bloodier than 2012.” It is referring to murders – 1,200 for the year compared to 1,097 in 2012. One assumes that hundreds, maybe thousands more were injured (many seriously) in violent crime incidents. They are not mentioned. To all those who have endured, and still endure grief, pain and suffering (physical and mental) I offer my sympathies. When will it end.
Dyran Dyer, 20, Bayfarm Villa, Kingston
Paul Bailey, 21, Majesty Gardens, Kingston
Unidentified man, Sheffield, Westmoreland
Jerome Wilson, 32, Belvedere, Westmoreland
Shirley Lewis-McFarlane, 53, Discovery Bay, St. Ann (Canadian citizen)
Tasheik Nugent, 16, Brown’s Town, St. Ann
Killed by police:
Torniel Haughton, Big Bridge, Westmoreland
Petchary's Blog 
Great roundup again. Maybe you can note the negative official and public reactions to some Sting performances, including a 5 year ban on D’Angel. I’m watching to see if there’s a sustained backlash against ‘nastiness’ in dance hall or other music genres.
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Thanks Dennis. Yes, actually I saw the public/official response and the banning after I had published this post. I will certainly mention it in the next one. I think the mistake the government made was (as a dancehall fan told me) is that Sting represents “hardcore” dancehall and it is unpredictable. Therefore, they were taking a big risk in endorsing/sponsoring it. They were trying to “sanitize” it and make it a palatable product for global distribution and Sting wasn’t ready for that… So it backfired somewhat. As you say though, this might be the (somewhat shaky) start to a “cleaning up” process that may be more evident next year, if the government are to continue broadcasting it as Jamaican culture, “Brand Jamaica” etc. As for a public backlash – I don’t know… I am told repeatedly “It is part of our culture”…
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In my own little space, I’m prepared to have a ‘discussion’ about what is (part of) our culture, as opposed to a bunch of things that we do. Throwing the word around is not my style, otherwise, I’d have to accept that murdering people is part of our culture, and that I reject. If any of our learned sociologists/social scientists want to weigh in, fine.
Anyway, let’s see if there is a kind of tipping point being approached on some of these so-called ‘cultural’ activities.
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Oh Lord! Having that word “culture” thrown in my face drives me absolutely crazy. Female circumcision is “culture” too, so are child brides. I absolutely agree. There are many things about my own culture I disagree with (I am English by birth)… I am not going to blindly accept everything.
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