A small and rather weak tropical storm named Danny is trundling its way into the Caribbean. We might get some rain, and we do need more – much more, to ease the drought. But Kingstonians generally seem less miserable than they did last week (or perhaps it’s just me, as I am feeling better physically and mentally!). The fearful heat has abated and Kingston is enjoying a quiet, cool, rainy Sunday.
Remember broadcaster Cliff Hughes said the athletics was the only thing we have to look forward to? Well, the World Championships are here, and indeed they do provide a pleasant distraction. This morning our wonder boy Usain Bolt beat the despised Justin Gatlin, and there was joy unbounded – as well as many nasty comments on social media about his American competition, which I think we could do without. Meanwhile, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce made her appearance in a huge (and heavy?) green braided hairstyle adorned with yellow flowers. It looked pretty, if over the top. She is, however, an absolute dynamo on the track, and that is what counts!
DK Duncan backs down: DK Duncan has withdrawn from competing with Ian Hayles for chairmanship of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Region Six. In a radio interview, Dr. Duncan seemed unhappy that his age and health were given as factors (I don’t like to be unkind, but politicians must know when to retire, and in his case I believe health is a factor). Duncan said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, and earlier this year had a bout of shingles (which I have had – it is miserable, and painful) – but that he is now well and has been very active in the past three or four months. The veteran politician declared his endless devotion to the PNP but added that he “does not want to give the impression he is indispensable.” Meanwhile, his daughter, who accused a young journalist of hacking her Facebook page and threatened to sue him on Twitter, has issued a formal apology and settled out of court. And so, with Patricia Duncan Sutherland throwing her hat into the race, the Duncans march off under the party banner, and we can get back to some really important news…
…such as crime: The situation in West Kingston remains extremely worrying. In his usual colorful style, Cornwall “Bigga” Ford (who took over from the redoubtable Steve McGregor as police chief for the inner city area) says the ongoing violence is due to gangs fighting over extortion opportunities – Upper Denham Town vs Tivoli Gardens. He also reminded us that the youth need opportunities! Don’t we know it.
…and such as people living in filth, for years: Kudos (once again) to the excellent Live at Seven program on CVM Television, which continues to provide excellent investigative stories and sharp-edged discussions. The report on the sewage and wastewater problem in Central Kingston made me feel nauseous. Waste water from a chicken factory gushes into the gully that runs through the area – bloody water, feathers and more – and from there into the harbor. One can imagine the stench. Sewage continues to flow on the streets; and this has been the situation for five years. Yes, five years. Member of Parliament Ronnie Thwaites had nothing meaningful to say about the situation, except that uptown and downtown are different environments. You bet they are.
Talking of the Reverend Thwaites, I fail to see the logic in the Education Minister’s suggestion that school principals should have term limits. Why? The Association of Principals says there is already an ongoing, yearly appraisal system in place as well as re-training, etc. How about term limits for politicians, instead?
I have a question: Is the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce going to pursue the Krauck/Anchor Finance possible involvement in the logistics hub? Or is this now officially dead in the water? The word from Cabinet back in June was that Minister Anthony Hylton could continue engaging with these firms, despite the Cabinet’s disapproval; a strange state of affairs. The logistics hub itself is becoming a chimera – a mirage on the horizon. The closer one gets to it, the further away it seems to move. Although the head of the Port Authority of Jamaica Gordon Shirley says the Transport Ministry is “negotiating” with China Harbour Engineering Company over the proposed transshipment port at Goat Islands, it seems strange to me that a whole year has passed since CHEC conducted test drilling in the area. Nothing since. However, Shirley told the press this week the project is “is not dead. It’s still very much alive.” He then went on to talk, rather confusingly, about the Kingston Container Terminal (which is to be divested soon, one is told) and Kingston Wharves. One is really none the wiser, is one?
The Prime Minister made a speech this week, to launch the National Export Strategy Phase II. I don’t have much more to say than that. Portia Simpson Miller said “we must become competitive in trade” and export “Brand Jamaica” stuff. Anyway, it’s nice to see that our PM is still around. I thought we’d lost her for a minute, there.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team was here, held its usual polite press conference, and left its usual upbeat-ish press release on the table behind it, on Friday. The team endorsed the PetroCaribe buyback deal as an “important step” in lightening our debt burden; noted the “historic low” of four per cent inflation in July; and looked forward to a “continued strong implementation of the country’s growth strategy.” Aha! Dear old growth. Just one thing, though. As I anticipated months ago, the public sector wage deals recently signed are a bit of an issue. The wage target of nine per cent imposed by the IMF is in danger of not being reached – and will not be, if those who have not yet signed up with the government do so for the same percentage increase already agreed with other public sector groups. Ouch. Finance Minister Peter Phillips spent some time noting, in a very roundabout way, that the Government “will have to look at the arrangements within the public sector with respect to our hiring of additional staff, the filling of posts…” and you know the rest. He hastened to add that this would not happen right away, however. No, Minister Phillips, I suspect it will be put on one side for now, until after the election that you expect to win. The pain can wait.
- Ah, here’s something to look forward to! At least, I am sure the politicians are going to enjoy it. The Summit to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the PetroCaribe Agreement will take place in Montego Bay from September 5-6. I believe Cuban President Raul Castro will attend, and possibly the Venezuelan President, if he is not too busy with plans to annex two-thirds of Guyana. Anyway this will be a great opportunity for more speeches! Oh, joy!
Throwing big bouquets to…
- In addition to Mr. Bolt’s stunning win, Mr. O’dayne Richards came up trumps and won a bronze in the Men’s Shot Put! This was a first for Jamaica in this event and he faced huge competition (no pun intended). Congratulations! We need more athletes to engage in the field events.
- The ever-creative and envelope-pushing Fabian M. Thomas and his Tribe Sankofa, whose theater production “Black Bodies” opens in Kingston next Wednesday August 26 for a short run. The play will address several cases of human rights abuse – such as the 1999 death of Michael Gayle at the hands of security forces, and last year’s tragic death of Mario Deane in Montego Bay, among others. Lest we forget. Today, by the way, is the anniversary of Gayle’s death.
The past few days have held their share of tragedy. A fifteen-year-old girl was shot dead in downtown Kingston; and a couple were involved in an apparent murder/suicide – once again, a young policeman who allegedly shot his partner dead and killed himself. The grieving parents of Leroy White on television this evening brought me to tears. My deepest condolences to all those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.
Jazianne Cole, 15, Tulip Lane, Kingston
Kayden Hunter, 23, Duhaney Park, Kingston
Unidentified man, Oxford Street, Kingston
Leroy Hutchinson, 22, Howard Avenue, May Pen, Clarendon
Leroy White, 21, Howard Avenue, May Pen, Clarendon
Elderly street sweeper (no name), Montego Bay, St. James
Taxi operator (no name), Granville, St. James
Kenroy Grant, Bethel Town, Westmoreland
Unidentified man, Falmouth, Trelawny (police killing)
Petchary's Blog 
Never saw Hughes comment on athletics, but find it facile. It may sound pious but lots of people have lots to look forward to every day in Jamaica. Making it seem otherwise, risk descending into that ‘let’s all wallow’ is something that is not the best in can be. Some of what people look forward to is their ability to just walk and associate in peace and quiet. Take a drive through Kingston around 5-6:30 most mornings and see the walkers and joggers and talkers. Watch the older people whose job it is to sweep the streets; they’re usually gone before 7am. Look at the people setting up stalls for the day. Look at the newspaper vendors. On another plane, look at the party goers, lucky enough to have energy and strength and funds to wile away the nights. I could go on.
In the bizarre world that is politics, you have MPs who can’t wait for another day to jook their opponents or try to out-stupid themselves. You have Ministers like Julian Robinson truly trying to make live better in hard circumstances. You have injured athletes hoping today they see or get the green light to resume training, in the pool, on the track, in the gym. I could go on.
It’s a nice sound bite, but it’s really a disservice to a life that is rich in more ways than many could dream of.
When I was in Vancouver last week, during western Canada’s drought, I could look forward to more months in Jamsican sunshine and warmth, not dwindling time till the next round of frozen steppes and huddling indoors. I had mangoes waiting for me, not more honeydew melon for weeks. I could go on! 😊
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Yes, Dennis, all those things you describe so eloquently are lovely (no, you are not sounding pious!) But on his Power 106 radio program, Cliff was talking about what the nation has to look forward to, in terms of positive, uplifting events – not everyday things that we may or may not appreciate… Yes, Jamaican weather is preferable to cold northern weather on the whole (although while you were away we have suffered the worst of the drought, no water in our pipes!) – but weather is not in itself enough!! PS I am very, very rarely driving around Kingston at 5:30/6:00 am these days…
🙂
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That’s why it’s facile: positive, uplifting things are what you make them…they don’t have to be major events in any way. The GG struck that tone, it seems in comments today. Even in my harshest comments, I still have a certain belief that is driven by those many simple positives 😊
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