After a rather busy weekend, I am late again. Sunday was quiet and grey; a gentle rain fell. Today the sky is a clear blue. There is much more to be said on crime and corruption. More than I can write today, so I will save some of it for the next bulletin.
The sound of his own voice: Methinks our eloquent Education Minister sometimes just talks too much. Perhaps it is his background as a lawyer, preacher and long-time radio talk show host. With his usual flowery turn of phrase, Minister Thwaites told journalists this week that his “outing” (my word) of certain high schools as the “locus” (his fancy word) where criminals are nurtured was not intended to disgrace them. Whatever the intent, that is what you have done, Rev. Thwaites. And schools do care about their reputations. But they are under-resourced and over-crowded (those who laughed at footage of distressed principals and teachers in tears would do well to go and visit these schools for a day, to see what pressure they are under).
One hopes that the proposed remedial work will have good effect. You can read about it here: http://www.moe.gov.jm/content/ministry-paper But Minister, reading out that list in Parliament was entirely unnecessary. You can see that now, right? And do we need to be reminded that these schools, and the communities they serve, are in need of serious help?
Irony: By the way, that notorious embodiment of evil Christopher “Dudus” Coke did not go to any of the “prison schools” (as some are now calling them). He attended the prestigious Ardenne High School in uptown Kingston.
On the defensive: Our Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller adopted the defiant stance she usually reserves for party meetings at a recent ribbon-cutting. A large number of party supporters were present. She was defending her overseas travels (she’s now in Cuba). Said our PM: “And I soon gone again (jaw jutting)…” “Gwaan, go!” shouted her supporters. The PM said “it’s no fun or a joke” to travel (first class); it is very hard work – but she does it for her country, her people! (Sartorial note: Please, ma’am, ditch those sunglasses! Please!)
A problem, but “not spiraling out of control”: The Police Commissioner told journalists on Thursday the police are taking measures to control extortion, a major source of funding for criminal gangs. Both he and Minister Bunting appear to acknowledge extortion as a problem that has never been properly addressed, but deny it is on the rise. The Minister seems to cling to one belief he held while in Opposition: The “Dudus effect” (a major drop in violent crime which lasted for but a short time after the Jamaica Labour Party-affiliated don’s arrest in 2010). He still says crime has been generally lower since then and murders are now only 2.5 per day! Wow. Reminder: There were 1,197 homicides last year.
Meanwhile, “tensions heighten” in East Kingston… and West Kingston. Read the articles in yesterday’s Sunday Observer (it appears to me that our journalists/editors are getting a little braver, with headlines like “Police said to be aiding some criminals in the East”). This all feels like the tip of the iceberg. And investigations into the alleged police “death squads” continue…
The latest idea is cameras to be worn by policemen going out on operations (yes, like military ops), to reduce the number of police abuses and improve accountability. Minister Bunting says he can get funding for these from the good old “overseas partners” (the U.S. and UK, who have poured millions of dollars into Jamaica for crime prevention over the years). He says standard operating procedures would have to be revised. Will the policemen actually wear them, or will they quickly develop technical faults? (sorry, that is the cynic in me speaking again!) As Jamaicans for Justice representative Susan Goffe says, “The devil is in the details.” Isn’t it always. And the police have killed four more citizens in the past four days.
The Chimera of the Logistics Hub: PLEASE NOTE: I am not talking about the proposed trans-shipment port on Goat Islands. They are not the same thing! After the two-day symposium on the logistics hub, are we any the wiser? What is the way forward? We are still hearing: “Jamaica is perfectly situated geographically…We should model ourselves on Singapore…Thousands of jobs…Investors are interested…” Which investors? Who, what, when and where? Perhaps the media can enlighten us further. There isn’t much in the “News” section of the website: http://jamaicalogisticshub.com (I gather the “C” word was hardly mentioned at the symposium).
Something happened this week, but…: On Friday, the Jamaica Public Service Company and the (still somewhat mysterious) Energy World International (EWI) signed a Power Purchase Agreement to work together on the planned power plant, due to be completed by 2016. But Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell has not yet issued a license to EWI to commence the work. What is holding it up?
“Work in progress”: Local Government Minister Noel Arscott waffled his way through a television interview about a proposal on boundaries that is supposed to go to Cabinet – at some point – regarding the election of a new Mayor in Portmore. No timeline given. Former Mayor George Lee passed away in September; the legal limit for an acting Mayor to be sitting (three months) is already passed. If we hold our collective breaths, we might soon expire…
Save the Pinnacle: I hear that developers are moving in on the Pinnacle, a piece of land sold (or leased?) to Leonard Howell, a founding father of Rastafari, in the very early days. What are the development plans, and for whom? The ruins of Mr. Howell’s house are on the land in De La Vega Heights, St. Catherine and I understand it is a national monument. Many Rastafarians have lived, died and been buried on this land – and many, it seems, evicted. Emotions are running high. I understand the title is now in the name of Island Homes – the Lake/Lindo family. I am concerned about this…
It’s too late to save Duncan’s Bay Beach, which has been effectively removed by businessman Keith Russell. The National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA) tasked with protecting our environment (I think) did not object and a “perfectly legal” license was issued. One assumes that the sand is going to a hotel property in western Jamaica that doesn’t have much beach. Yes, that’s the way we wreck our environment, round here.
Question: When did NEPA last do an assessment of air quality in Kingston? How often does it measure air quality? Does it ever release the results of its studies?
A “wrecking ball”? Really? A Sunday Gleaner article yesterday suggested that businessman Sameer Younis is being an obstructive nuisance in opposing (in court) the construction of high-density apartments on land owned by a government agency next door to his home. A lovely old house now stands at 62 Lady Musgrave Road, and proposals have been made to turn this into a museum, green space, etc. – all rejected, because someone clearly has their eye on making lots of money out of this development. Mr. Younis is primarily (and justifiably) citing the lack of privacy, noise etc. The wider point is the destruction of an area (where I also live) where many old dwellings have already been destroyed, trees (including the increasingly rare lignum vitae) cut down and townhouses built. When is there going to be any thoughtful planning that incorporates environmental concerns and enhances the quality of life for residents? But hey… Greed rules. Benefits for the “boys and girls,” perhaps. Mr. Younis, you have our support.
Selective on sports? While Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce walked away with major awards recently (and they deserve them), can we give some thought to the many Jamaicans who are striving in other sporting arenas? Two examples are the bob-sled team, who have been crowd-funding and using every possible means to raise funds to reach the Winter Olympics in Sochi, for which they have already qualified. Yes, we are talking about the already-branded hugely-successful Disney-movie “Cool Runnings” team here! Another glaring omission has been the lack of recognition of Jamaica’s martial arts warriors, who are doing incredibly well in a number of international championships; Nicholas Dussard, for example, won a gold and silver in the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) World Championships in Kyrenia, North Cyprus. And there are other high achievers. But it seems both the government and private sector only recognize our aspiring (and achieving) track athletes. Pity.
Big ups to:
Shaggy and Friends, who raised an amazing J$70 million (about US$600,000) through their fund-raising concert. This is an amazing feat, and one we should all be proud of. Shaggy
Young chef Brian Lumley, who opened his 689 restaurant in September of last year. A graduate of the HEART Academy in Runaway Bay, Brian has already won awards and is going places, while still only 27 years old. For reservations, email bookcheflumley@gmail.com or call 876.906.9937. Read more at chefbrianlumley.com and look at his delicious dishes on his Facebook page.
Want to do some volunteering? You will find an application form from the JN Foundation here: https://www.facebook.com/JNFoundation/app_128953167177144 I will post more opportunities whenever I see them…
Put March 1 and 2 in your calendar! Digital Jam 3.0 is coming! What is that? Read more here about this exciting Caribbean ICT initiative, and get involved: http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=497693d524fb730f329e679e8&id=5899ccbd85
The following Jamaicans lost their lives violently in the past few days. My deepest condolences to their grieving families.
Renford Crawford, 43, Rousseau Road, Kingston
Cavel Butler, 21, Canaan Heights, Clarendon
Roland Murray, 35, Buff Bay, Portland
Malachi Webb, 55, Oracabessa, St. Mary
Unidentified man, Coral Gardens, St. James
Killed by the police:
Dwayne Henry, 25, McKoy Lane, Kingston
Carlos Johnson, 31, Halse Delight, St. Andrew
“Nicky,” Halse Delight, St. Andrew
Albert Tulloch, 41, Albert Town, Trelawny
On the roads: (Pedestrians, cyclists AND motorists, please, please be careful!)
An unidentified pedal cyclist was killed on the Hellshire main road, St. Catherine in a collision with a Toyota Rav 4.
Chef Loxley Golding died after he was hit by a motor car on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston while crossing the road.
Petchary's Blog 
I often feel strange ‘liking’ these blogs since you report so much not to ‘like’. Thank goodness there are folks like you and others speaking truth to power.
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Thank you! I know, I am sorry sometimes it seems all negative (but of course it is not – there are many wonderful things too!) But I feel compelled to write about the “dark” side – or rather, the things that should not be hidden. Thank you for your comments as always!
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Emma, you may want to share my views on Dussard, http://jamaicapoliticaleconomy.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/how-many-crabs-in-the-barrel/
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Feel free to copy/paste my Fb comments
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