Cool Sunday, January 19, 2014

A police officer takes footage of the anti-crime graffiti in Denham Town, which they clearly approve of. Are they going to paint it out? Probably not. (Photo: Karl McLarty/Jamaica Observer)

We have a visiting cold front, bringing lovely cool air and lovely rain to some parts of the island. Aah!

Graffiti wars: It’s either smart PR, or clever strategy to lure gang members. Senior Superintendent of Police Steve McGregor, who is in charge of West Kingston, stands in front of walls covered with graffiti calling for “freedum”  (sic) for the oppressed inner-city area. There were over eighty murders in West Kingston last year. The spelling doesn’t matter, but the police seem happy with the defaced walls. The messages suggest that residents are tired of the lingering influence of Christopher “Dudus” Coke and his cronies. On previous occasions the police have whitewashed out some beautifully painted walls in inner city areas – because they celebrated the lives of supposed gangsters, one assumes. I’ve seen similar wall art in San Francisco in memory of a “ghetto youth” and no one would dream of painting it out. It’s a pity. I am not criticizing SSP McGregor  however; I have always known him to be committed to community policing efforts and I wish him luck in his difficult task. I think I understand what he is trying to do.

Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of West Kingston Steve McGregor. (Photo: Gleaner)

“Death Squads”: The Sunday Gleaner dropped a bombshell with its headline today. A former policeman is alleging that senior police officers order the killing of wanted men. The police high command issued a press release today sternly denying any such thing, as you would expect them to; and urging those with such knowledge to let them know, without fear of reprisal. I don’t expect anyone to be doing such a thing any time soon. And I think many Jamaicans may believe such “death squads” exist. And this is the problem: trust. Or should I say, the lack of it.

I’m glad to see that USAID has embarked on Phase 2 of its Community Empowerment and Transformation Project (COMET). Its main aim is to improve police-community relations and citizen security. Nothing could be more important. Nothing!

Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke.

After the apparent mismanagement (according to the Auditor General) of the government’s agro-parks, the Ministry of Agriculture is throwing more money at them, to the tune of J$1 billion. They are supposed to be engines of growth.  “We will have to work to straighten this one out,” says Minister Roger Clarke of the fiasco in St. Thomas, which has seen failed crops and farmers owing hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Let’s hope the European Union and Inter-American Development Bank’s money will be properly spent, this time.

 

Bank of Jamaica Bryan Winter is anxious to keep the Net International Reserves topped up… No wonder he’s frowning. (Photo: Gleaner)

The elusive U.S. Dollar: After Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association head Brian Pengelley expressed his frustration over the shortage of foreign exchange, noting several pointless meetings at the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) and business people running round town desperately searching for it, the BoJ has come clean. It also needs U.S. Dollars and is going to be snapping them up, in order to keep the Net International Reserves at the level required by the International Monetary Fund! What encouraging news… So, with J$1 going for close to US$107, we can expect it to slip still further. Oh, but it’s all awesome isn’t it, Jamaica Observer? (see my note below).

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness: a transformative leader? (Photo: Gleaner)

A laid-back response: Opposition Leader Andrew Holness eventually responded to a journalist’s question on the utterances of Mr. Everald “Go to Hell” Warmington, who declared recently that those who did not vote  (for his party) should not receive any benefits from him. Mr. Holness observed (when pressed by a journalist for a comment): “The party’s position has always been that state resources are available to all citizens, regardless of their belief and whether or not they vote, yes or no.” I am not impressed by his rather casual response to comments that are a) undemocratic b) unconstitutional and c) corrupt, as Professor Munroe suggested. I guess if “Warmie” had made these remarks in Parliament Mr. Holness might have had to make more of a big deal out of it. In an excellent Jamaica Observer column, Mark Wignall questions whether Mr. Holness can be a “transformative” leader if he continues in this vein. I question also.

Bishop Delford Davis (center) holds hands with Opposition Leader Andrew Holness and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at the 35th National Prayer Breakfast this week. (Photo: RJR)

Is there any point? As happens every year, Jamaicans discuss whether the annual National Prayer Breakfast has any purpose. I get the feeling that most Jamaicans think it can’t do any harm. But isn’t it just a lot of hot air, an empty ritual? Don’t we have enough speechifying and sermonizing? Nevertheless, the proceeds do go to a good cause every year; I hope the pledged funds reach their destination.

Finance Minister Peter Phillips (Photo: Gleaner)

“Demoralized,” yes… Finance Minister Peter Phillips said something rather profound recently. He said the Jamaican nation is demoralized – in other words, Jamaicans are doubting their ability to succeed. When this happens, of course, a kind of paralysis sets in – we are frozen and unable to act. Very true, I think. But we must unfreeze ourselves, and get moving!

The Prime Minister on leadership: “There are some leaders who speak to everything… I really need to get some things done and work every day and I work very hard,” our Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller told journalists after the prayer breakfast. Yes, Ma’am. Hard work is your mantra, we know, and nothing wrong with that. But leaders must also communicate with their followers in a substantial way. Do not hide behind “working, working, working.” You have a large staff. Delegate! Communicate!

Everything hunky dory… except… Oh. One little Thing, and a few others. I am all for optimism, and I actually truly am an optimist by nature. But a statement like “We suggest that never before have so many of the elements of success come together at the same time as now”  is far-fetched and just plain silly. The Thing (or should I call it, “monster” of crime), of course, was not mentioned in  –  yes, you’ve guessed it – another pie-in-the-sky, off-the-mark editorial headlined “Five signs that Jamaican prosperity is now on the horizon” in the Jamaica Observer.

Over three months ago, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) selected  Energy World International (EWI) as the entity to build a 360 megawatt power plant in Jamaica. What is the status of the due diligence process? The Jamaica Public Service Company has announced that it is partnering with EWI to acquire a stake in the power plant. Professor Trevor Munroe, of National Integrity Action, and the Opposition JLP are requesting an update. We need one!

The beautiful Cockpit Country. (Photo: Ted Lee Eubanks)

 Cockpit Country: The amazing Cockpit Country is overflowing with biodiversity; but threatened by mining, quarrying and deforestation. Therefore a Gleaner article today seems encouraging. The Forestry Department launched its Cockpit Country Forest Reserve and Surrounding Forest Estates plan last month, in which it seeks to encourage eco-tourism. But there’s much work to be done and money to be raised. Read Petre Williams-Raynor’s excellent article here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140117/news/news2.html

(Cynical laughter): They actually paid good money for a survey to find out whether Jamaicans understand what the logistics hub is. Not surprisingly (considering that it has been behind a mysterious veil since Day One) they discovered that 75% of respondents feel the Government has not provided enough information! Well, well. And 41% weren’t sure whether it was good for the country. Now, at last, the Logistics Hub Task Force is going to “roll out a public education plan.”  Let’s see if that enlightens the poor benighted Jamaican public…

Those zinc fences: If anyone thinks that removing zinc fences and replacing them with painted white PVC ones is going to make one jot of difference to the lives of the impoverished community of Greenwich Town (represented by our Prime Minister)…think again. Do they have flush toilets or running water? Or jobs?

Tourism comparisons: Meanwhile, the small, dry, volcanic island of Tenerife gets five million visitors a year. And Guyana is reporting a twelve per cent increase in visitors last year. How does Jamaica compare?

A lot of cash: Do Jamaicans know that they are obliged to formally report amounts of $10,000 or more in U.S. dollars, equivalent foreign currency, or other monetary instruments when traveling in and out of the United States? Two Jamaican women were caught carrying US$65,643 and $31,040 in cash while attempting to board a flight to Montego Bay recently. They weren’t charged, but the cash was seized. Be aware!

The “untouchables”? I have learned this week that the flouting of Jamaica’s environmental laws by People Who Should Know Better continues unabated. I have heard of two such cases on the western side of the island. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Are the government agencies responsible for protecting our environment willing to take action? Let’s not hold our breath.

More dreadful writing, Gleaner and Observer: The Gleaner wrote an article purportedly about Berette Macaulay’s recent photo-art exhibition in Kingston. Except that it didn’t actually review the exhibition at all, and did not mention the title of it or the titles of the art works! The article consisted of a bio of Ms. Macaulay, copied and pasted from a website. As for the Sunday Observer, one of its articles (a sad story, about the murder of a young nurse that is unsolved after a year) included the phrase: “She meandered her Toyota Starlet motorcar…”  How on earth do you meander a car? Sigh. What are the editors doing? Where are they?

Winston Watts (sitting down) was captain of the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. (Photo: Getty Images)

Support Jamaica’s Bobsled team! Remember the hit movie “Cool Runnings”? Although I had some problems with the authenticity of the actors etc., there’s no doubt the film did great things, celebrating the energy and commitment of Jamaicans. Well, I understand that the two-man bobsled team (comprising Winston Watts and Chris Stokes) has qualified for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, but does not have the funds to get there. They are trying to crowd-fund their trip and have raised just over US$14,000 so far. Here is the link: https://www.crowdtilt.com/campaigns/help-the-jamaican-bobsled-team-get-to-sochi/description Do share with anyone who might be able to support! And chip in with some dollars, if you can!

A woman and children in a section of Greenwich Town (in our Prime Minister’s constituency) earmarked for better housing under a Food For The Poor and Constituency Development Fund program. (Photo: Michael Gordon/Jamaica Observer)

• I highly recommend Kate Chappell’s blog, Jamaican Journal. Kate is a Canadian journalist currently working as a CUSO volunteer with the non-governmental organization Youth Opportunities Unlimited in Kingston. She updates her blog daily and offers a clear-eyed view of current issues in Jamaica. Her recent story about young Navada Smith of Mountain View Avenue is especially inspiring. Find it at: jamaicajournal.wordpress.com.

Deika Morrison (left) and former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater at a Crayons Count workshop last year. (Photo: Gleaner)

• Ms. Deika Morrison is a marvel. She seems to have boundless energy and is such a genuinely caring person. She has just received the Gleaner Honor Award for Education – and it is richly deserved – for her work with Crayons Count. Ms. Morrison has advocated tirelessly for greater recognition of early childhood stimulation over the past three or four years (using the social media to great advantage, too). Congrats!

Not for the first time, there has been a murder in the supposedly quite rural community of Sherwood Content – the home of Usain Bolt. How strange. And how very sad that such an elderly man could be killed. Another rural area, St. Elizabeth, has already had seven murders this year. One wonders about these things. My deepest condolences to those who are grieving. I hope they will find comfort, eventually.

Robert Campbell, 73, Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth

Vivian Staple, 54, Ballards Valley, St. Elizabeth

Vanessa Boyd, 26, Wakefield, Trelawny

Leslie Smith, 79, Sherwood Content, Trelawny

Dwayne Lewin, 56, New Longville, Clarendon

37-year-old Janice Linton (Mama Tete) was stabbed to death in Hope Bay, Portland, on Wednesday. She was the mother of three children. Her common-law husband has been taken into custody. (Photo: On The Ground News Reports)