Category: Justice

ICYMI in Jamaica: Much Ado About Dreadlocks, INDECOM Chief Steps Down, and JUTC Needs to Shape Up: August 2, 2020

August 3, 2020

August 1 – Emancipation Day – is as good a day as any to restart writing my weekly news posts. I have missed doing them, actually. They help me (and hopefully you) keep a finger on the pulse of things. So, it’s a humid evening, an hour to go before curfew kicks in at 11. … More ICYMI in Jamaica: Much Ado About Dreadlocks, INDECOM Chief Steps Down, and JUTC Needs to Shape Up: August 2, 2020

Are We Trying Hard Enough to Preserve Our Mangroves in Jamaica?

July 27, 2020

Today (July 26) is World Mangrove Day. What does this mean for Jamaica? Regrettably, the average Jamaican might regard mangrove areas as dirty, smelly, somewhat scary places (scary because endangered American Crocodiles live there) – and riddled with mosquitoes. What possible benefits could they bring to the island? Personally, I find wetland areas in Jamaica … More Are We Trying Hard Enough to Preserve Our Mangroves in Jamaica?

JFJ Delivers Open Letter with 2,730 Signatures to Parliament Demanding Legal Reform on Sexual Harassment Bill

July 3, 2020

A wave of anger surged on social media recently, after Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck made a casual (and at the same time pointed) remark regarding the #MeToo movement at a parliamentary committee meeting examining proposed Sexual Harassment legislation. Minister Chuck’s observations, captured on a television news report, were: “We don’t want the situation that now happens … More JFJ Delivers Open Letter with 2,730 Signatures to Parliament Demanding Legal Reform on Sexual Harassment Bill

JFJ Now Providing Legal Services for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

June 21, 2020

The strictures of COVID-19, as explained below, has resulted in the fact that family members are spending much more time at home, together. That should be a good thing, right? Not if a family member is abusive. Women and girls are particularly at risk – so, too, are children. The human rights lobby group Jamaicans … More JFJ Now Providing Legal Services for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15

June 16, 2020

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It’s a rather awkward phrase to pronounce, but a very important day that focuses on an issue that is often ignored and forgotten. Two years ago, I wrote about this as a “hidden problem.” As founder of the non-governmental organization Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) Jean Lowrie-Chin has … More World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 15

Jamaica Psychiatric Association Responds to INDECOM Report on Prisoners “Detained at Pleasure”

June 7, 2020

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) press briefing last week, as usual, highlighted the Commission’s Quarterly Report. The January – March, 2020 Report focused on Jamaicans who are “detained at pleasure” in our prisons. Persons in this category are either children found guilty of a capital offense; persons found unfit to plead by the Court; or persons … More Jamaica Psychiatric Association Responds to INDECOM Report on Prisoners “Detained at Pleasure”

More Issues Surrounding Susan Bogle’s Death in August Town, Jamaica

June 6, 2020

Here is more on the fatal shooting of Susan Bogle in August Town, last week. On May 31, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) began to investigate Ms. Bogle’s death, which took place on May 27, 2020. In a press release, INDECOM said it was aware that there are “more questions than answers forthcoming in the … More More Issues Surrounding Susan Bogle’s Death in August Town, Jamaica

Black Lives Matter: BirdsCaribbean Stands in Solidarity

June 5, 2020

Dear Members of the BirdsCaribbean Community, Recent, tragic events serve as a stark reminder that racism and racial injustices continue to tear apart and divide communities around the world. Direct and indirect violence, discrimination, and oppression against black people cannot be tolerated. Our hearts go out to those that have been—and continue to be—hurt and … More Black Lives Matter: BirdsCaribbean Stands in Solidarity

COVID-19 in Jamaica, Physical Distancing, and a Tale of Two Press Briefings tv

April 10, 2020

Here are a couple of useful websites, before I forget to share them: This one is for people to do a self-assessment for COVID-19, and for employers to check on employees’ status. There is another general one that is updated with local and global states, where you should self-report if you have arrived in Jamaica … More COVID-19 in Jamaica, Physical Distancing, and a Tale of Two Press Briefings tv