Some rains have arrived, and we all feel refreshed as we enter into the first “normal” back to work week, after dilly dallying for the best part of two weeks through the “Emancipendence” holiday. But please – please – let us not get back to our wasteful ways with water, now the horrible drought appears to be over in some parts of the island, at least. There was a burst water main yesterday near our house. Gallons of treated water were wasted before the National Water Commission (NWC) came and fixed it today – after dozens of phone calls from us and all our neighbors. When my husband called one of the hot line numbers today to report it again, the NWC representative who answered could hardly be bothered to speak to him. Does the NWC realize that it has customers – namely, the Jamaican public? Nevertheless, I am happy to report that the number to text about leaks is working: 838-5325. Use it. We must not go back to “business as usual” and nor should the NWC.
The death of Mario Deane: I wrote about this tragic event in a previous blog post at some length. The aftermath continues to reveal more painful and confusing details, although one wonders whether the real truth will ever come out. There are many allegations flying and many comments from family members. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has woken up again. Today he visited the police lock-up and talked to Mr. Deane’s family, promising assistance with an independent pathologist to conduct Mr. Deane’s post mortem. One could say that this is a welcome, improved focus on human rights by the politicians; or one could be cynical and say this is making political hay out of the tragedy.
The Acting Public Defender made some curious comments recently. He seems to think that local civil society groups should not take the lead on human rights issues – it should be government agencies such as the one he leads. Yes, your office did a simply marvelous job investigating the Tivoli Gardens massacre, Mr. Makulu. And your office has closed less than half your cases over a six-year period. Mr. Holness has also proposed a government “Human Rights Commission” in the wake of Mr. Deane’s death. I am not too sure about that idea. Might such a commission complicate the work of the Independent Commission of Investigations?
A lone voice: Former Medical Association of Jamaica head and consultant psychiatrist Dr. Winston De La Haye has irritated those who believe in starting what Mr. Delano Seiveright calls a “ganja industry.” Dr. De La Haye, who treats those suffering from the ill effects of drugs on a daily basis, thinks we should “slow down” a bit and consider the inadequacies of our mental health services. And we know that we are barely coping in this area. Dr. De La Haye does believe in the exploration of the medical use of cannabis extracts. He was contradicted by his colleague Dr. Wendel Abel on several points. I am sorry, Dr. De La Haye. You are politically incorrect – a veritable voice crying in the wilderness. Why aren’t you jumping on the bandwagon?
Dr. De La Haye’s medical opinion was also brushed aside by Mr. Seiveright, who sees big dollar signs in “freeing up the weed.” (If Mr. Seiveright mentions the word “Colorado” one more time…) Mr. Seiveright, who is Director of the Ganja Reform Coalition has just been selected as a Jamaica Labour Party candidate in the next elections. He has just petitioned the Prime Minister for permission to have the parish of Westmoreland grow and trade in the weed free from prosecution. The Westmoreland Hemp and Ganja Farmers Association is also planning a ganjafest in May, 2015 – to include an academic conference and a “Cannabis Cup” for the finest weed. I suppose attendees will have to try it out first. I am sure Westmoreland native Peter Tosh would be delighted if he were alive today.
The key point is… We are not addressing the fundamental issue of mental health in Jamaica. This seems not to be a major consideration, which is tragic.
Independence? So, the day before Jamaica’s Independence, a huge banner with large Chinese writing (with smaller English writing underneath) stretched across our glorious new highway. Jamaican women in red Chinese dress stood in a row. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller told us as she joyfully cut the red ribbon to open the highway that it was a “gift” to the Jamaican people for Independence.
A “gift”? Some of us were not convinced. Yes, lovely – the travel time will be cut to 45 minutes from Caymanas, near Kingston to Ocho Rios on the north coast. Very convenient, for those who can afford it. The section of highway now open (and free of charge until September 5) runs to Moneague only. My sense is this is in the interests of the “investors,” China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). Since we can’t really afford it, CHEC will receive fifty years’ worth of tolls from the road, plus a chunk of free land. They will be allowed to apply for a toll increase every year, and I doubt they will be refused. We don’t say no to CHEC, do we?
Take your pick, China Harbour: And speaking on radio, Minister Omar Davies (in his usual offhand way) mentioned that his Government will give CHEC 1,200 acres in the Mount Rosser area nearby. They haven’t told us where they want it yet, he said casually. What are they going to do with this substantial piece of land? Who knows. A coal-powered plant? A housing estate for Chinese workers? A bauxite mine? I am sure whatever the use is, their land use will involve the substantial use of concrete in this beautiful, hilly area. Let’s hope they will still have to get planning permission (but I doubt there will be any problem with that).
Now you see it… As some senior Chinese people were in Jamaica, then why not ink another agreement? Last week, the Jamaica Observer published a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) report. It was here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/China-Harbour-to-begin-work-at-Portland-Bight. Just try clicking on that link and see what happens. Gone, right? The report provided a lot of detail on the coal plant and other aspects of the proposed destruction of the Portland Bight Protected Area around Goat Islands, in connection with the signing of a Final Framework Agreement. But it was hastily taken down and a retraction (sort of) appeared on the JIS website, here: jis.gov.jm/work-started-portland-bight.
Footnote: It has come to our attention that some kind of platform, and a survey ship, have appeared near Goat Islands to conduct geo-technical surveys. CHEC has received an amended beach license to do borehole drilling in and around Goat Islands for the proposed transshipment port. You can find all the details, including a copy of the beach license and other documents, on Jamaica Environment Trust’s dedicated website here: http://savegoatislands.org/information/ and I urge you to study them carefully, as well as the rest of the website. JET continues to keep a close watch on developments and the website is updated daily with press reports.
We now have rain, and the first two confirmed “local” cases of the Chikungunya virus, transmitted via mosquitoes. I would strongly recommend investing in a “zapper.” Shaped like a small tennis racket, it electrocutes the nasty little things when you wave it around. My husband and I take great pleasure in doing this. However, with only intermittent garbage collection (over two weeks’ worth piled up again, until we paid a private truck to take it away) and the rain, chances are we will have more mosquitoes and more “chik v.” Let’s be as careful as we can.
The situation has not been a happy one. Since Mario Deane’s death on Independence Day, two young men have been killed by the police. 27-year-old Frei Riley was shot dead during an alleged shootout in a gully on Langston Road in the Mountain View area of Kingston on Friday. This morning, the police killed an unidentified man in New Road, Westmoreland. My condolences to all the grieving families of these Jamaicans who have been murdered in the past week:
Unidentified man, Olympic Gardens, Kingston
Fabian Thomas, 28, Waterhouse, Kingston
Dwayne Lennon, 30, Nain, St. Elizabeth
Mario Deane, 31, from injuries incurred at Barnett Street police lockup, Montego Bay, St. James
Dwight Ashall, 41, Mount Edgecombe, St. Ann (visitor to Jamaica from the U.S.)
Unidentified man, Pompala Housing Scheme, St. Mary (Barbadian citizen)
Jeffery Ewen, 22, Red Ground/Negril, Westmoreland
Leroy Lindsay, 36, Somerset, St. Thomas
Oshane Reid, 22, Wheelersfield, St. Thomas
Romaine Malcolm, 37, Haddington District, Hanover
Petchary's Blog 
I heard the Public Defender’s point differently, that NGOs don’t have a public mandate to address issues that are really statewide, and are not necessarily answerable to anyone, apart from say their immediate stakeholders, whoever and wherever they may be. I heard him since say that human rights is not for the PD office, though some Opposition politicians have called for such a move in forming a human rights commission. If I’m right, that mandate should come from some national elective, representational process, with the body answerable say to Parliament.
The drought isn’t broken. We got a few days of rain, which barely covered what we draw from the reservoirs, which still remain very low. Sure, plants and us got a nice dousing, but we need months of rain to make a real dent. Yes, keep conserving and using water wisely.
See my blog today on mental health issues. For Jamaicans, it’s another of our head in the sand issues. Generally, the mentally ill are discarded and disregarded.
On information management, I can’t keep track of the flow of distortions that come from reports issued and retracted, and it’s disturbing when it’s done. Glad it’s not just me thinking I see stories that I then can’t find again.
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Thanks for your interpretation of the Public Defender’s remarks. I should really look up his office’s Mission Statement. Isn’t it supposed to investigate human rights breaches such as Tivoli? If that is not its mandate, what is? I think the Opposition has confused things somewhat by proposing a Human Rights Commission at this point. I would like to hear more details.
I just read your blog post on mental health. It is one of those huge elephants in the room that we have chosen to ignore. There is huge discrimination against “mad” people and there is this new idea of not institutionalizing them but having them treated in communities and families (who are already struggling to cope…) Yes, it’s funny about those reports, isn’t it? The difference being that this was a government agency that put out an official press release (quite long it was too) and then hastily withdrew it! Ouch.
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I think the PD can investigate but not then prosecute as a matter of course, but see the Act http://moj.gov.jm/sites/default/files/laws/Public%20Defender%20%28Interim%29%20Act.pdf
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OK… Thanks…
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