Carnival in Jamaica is a cultural import that is largely an uptown Kingston phenomenon, although versions of it occur elsewhere on the island. Weeks of frantic bacchanal sessions culminate on Sunday with the Road March. It’s not as large and inclusive as it was in the early days, largely because of economic decline. Nevertheless, the crazy noise of j’ouvert woke us at an unearthly hour on Saturday morning, as revelers leaped and “wined” their way energetically through the dark Kingston streets. Apologies for the delay in sending this (power cut was one reason) and also for the inability to post photos. WordPress is not allowing me to post more than two!
The tax still rankles… The media has been hearing from everybody and his aunt about Minister Peter Phillips’ proposed tax on bank withdrawals. Is there anyone who supports it? Financial analyst Dennis Chung was quite misrepresented in a Gleaner headline as “hailing” the tax. As the Gleaner noted in a later, conflicting report, Mr. Chung actually said the government had made a “clever” move – which is not the same thing as saying you think it’s a good thing. In fact, Mr. Chung does not like it in principle, as it would move people towards cash – but pointed out that not a lot of money was involved. Some journalists need to listen more carefully when commentators are giving a nuanced response. It’s not always a question of simply “for” or “against” it.
…and the dump still smoulders: More than a week after it started, the fire at the Riverton City dump in Kingston is still smoking. Two government agencies (the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA) and the National Environment & Planning Agency) apparently don’t see eye to eye over it, while a third agency (the Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management) dutifully puts out press releases about the status of the fire. The NSWMA was told to put the fire out by Friday. NSWMA head Jennifer Edwards sounded rather defensive in a television interview, said it was well nigh impossible to secure the area properly, but made a good point: The entire dump needs to be covered and turned into a proper landfill. She knows this won’t happen any time soon, due to lack of resources.
Things fall apart: The Energy World International (EWI) situation appears to be unraveling this evening (it’s now Monday – yes, I am late again due to family commitments and a long power cut, ironically, over the weekend). Last Thursday, EWI failed to pay the required bond on time. Now, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says it will not provide funding for the major power project for which Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell signed the license, because the government broke its own procurement regulations as stipulated by the Office of the Contractor General. Oh, did I mention the Minister had actually amended the license and re-signed it so that it excluded the necessity to pay a bond? OH. Yes. The saga continues and the Office of Utilities Regulation is scheduled to make a full report tomorrow.
Waffling Opposition: By the way, I don’t believe the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party asked enough questions about the EWI issue from the start. They should have made a much greater fuss from the moment EWI was allowed in after the deadline; the moment when things started looking a little dodgy. They should be asking many questions about the planned Goat Islands project too, where there is an equal lack of transparency. But, they are not.
Bovine passports: I don’t think I told you about the latest idea coming from the Minister of Agriculture to combat praedial larceny – that is, the theft of agricultural livestock and produce. Well, every darned cow in the country (there are at least 70,000) is going to get an electronic tag. This should take about a year to do, they say. Minister Roger Clarke said each cow will be “virtually issued a passport,” a comment that has spawned a number of jokes about visas, whether cows would be allowed to travel first class, etc. I think this sounds like a gimmick, and where will the money come from? Will this apply to sheep, pigs and goats too? However, the Ministry is seeking to make major amendments to the relevant legislation. For example, fines for praedial larceny are far too low. And Minister Clarke is paying attention to climate change: he is hoping to put much more money into rainwater harvesting projects for farmers, and into reducing waste in irrigation systems.
Talking of rain: Where is it? The drought is biting down hard on us, and many areas (rural and urban) are experiencing water restrictions. Although some areas had a little rain this week, Kingston is a virtual desert.
There is much more going on in Jamaica to tell you about. I will try to catch up properly (and provide an EWI update) on Wednesday.
Commendations and congrats to:
- Ms Fayval Williams, a company executive, who is the new Deputy Spokesperson on Finance for the Jamaica Labour Party. I have heard her on radio several times, and she seems competent and savvy. Wishing her good luck in her new position.
- Young entrepreneur Gordon Swaby, founder of the online social learning platform EduFocal, whom I see on Twitter quite a bit. The IDB has invited him to join their consultations on “Relentless Conversations for Relentless Innovations: The Private Sector and the New Education” in Washington, DC, this summer. Gordon is going from strength to strength! Take a look at http://www.edufocal.com.
Two men (bread salesmen) were shot dead in Hanover, western Jamaica, and their cell phones stolen. These incidents baffle and sadden me. They leave families and loved ones in mourning, and I send my deepest condolences to them all.
Delmar Brissett, South Camp Road, Kingston
Dorraine Brown, 49, Waltham Park Road, Kingston
Ralston McLaughlin, 69, Copse, Hanover
Terrence Weston, 49, Copse, Hanover
Damion Shaw, 36, Providence Heights, St. James
Kemar Clarke, 22, Phillipsfield, St. Thomas
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