Saturday, October 11, 2014 is the UN International Day of the Girl Child. This special day aims to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world,” says the United Nations.

International Day of the Girl Child

What is it like to be a 21st century girl? In many parts of the world, girls face discrimination. In some countries, they are forced into early marriages(46% of girls in India, for example) –  which they are physically and psychologically unprepared for. In many countries, girls are subject to physical and sexual abuse. Millions of girls up to fifteen years of age endure and suffer from female genital mutilation (circumcision). Many are deprived of a proper education. Many are forced into child labor, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses on the need to address these difficulties, to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

Eve for Life

In Jamaica, the non-governmental organization Eve for Life supports and empowers some of the most marginalized girls: young (mostly teenage) mothers living with HIV and AIDS and their children. Executive Director Patricia Watson and Director of Programs and Training Joy Crawford co-founded Eve for Life in 2008. They are supported by a loyal and hard-working staff and a group of amazing “Mentor Moms” who guide and support the young women, based in Kingston, St. James and St. Ann. Their core services and programmes include parenting workshops, HIV and AIDS counselling, social support, training and capacity building, AIDS education and community sensitization and mobilization and advocacy.

Eve for Life staff, volunteers, mentor moms and supporters gather at the soft launch of Nuh Guh Deh last November. (My photo)

Young women make up over sixty per cent of all people living with HIV globally. In Jamaica, there are more than twice as many women in the 15 – 24 years age group living with HIV as there are men. The physical and psychological challenges Eve for Life clients face (apart from trying to keep themselves and their children healthy) are unbelievably complex. Their situation is usually exacerbated by poverty and the rising cost of living; unemployment; stigma and discrimination; lack of family support; domestic and sexual abuse (increasingly); and even in some cases homelessness. Eve does an absolutely incredible job. They build the girls’ confidence. They counsel them on difficult issues. They help the girls get into training programs, so they can earn money. They help them get back to school, or into programs where they can continue their education. They help the girls become independent, strong and hopeful again. They offer them love. And, most importantly, they care.

As the International Day of the Girl Child approaches, Eve for life is on a mission. It aims to try to change a mindset that exists among some Jamaican men and that is often supported by women too. This is the practice of “grooming” young girls, sexualizing them when they are still very young. It is the practice of older men approaching these very young girls for sex, which is often forced on them. They are still children. It is illegal. It is sexual abuse. It causes mental, spiritual and physical suffering, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sometimes HIV. Men, stop it! Nuh Guh Deh!

Deirdre Kienan (left) of UNICEF, Marion Scott (centre) of the National Family Planning Board, and St Rachel Ustanny of Family Planning Association of Jamaica show their Nuh Guh Deh T shirts at the “soft” launch of the Eve for Life initiative in November, 2013. (Photo: Rudolph Brown/Gleaner)

If you have not already done so, please read some of my earlier posts, including Nickeisha’s Story: http://petchary.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/nuh-guh-deh-nickeishas-story/  In a heartfelt speech at the soft launch of the “Nuh Guh Deh” campaign last November, Nickeisha, who is from St. Ann, said: “As someone who has experienced abuse, I feel it is my duty as an empowered and proud teenager and mother to say this to you … “NUH GUH DEH!!” Lef wi mek wi grow…!!”

The official launch of the Nuh Guh Deh campaign will be on the International Day of the Girl Child, Saturday, October 11, 2014. Eve for Life and all the girls would love you to be there to support them. It’s going to be a lively, exciting event. More details to follow.

Eve for Life Jamaica will celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child in a very important way, by asking Jamaican men “Nuh Guh Deh” (Don’t Go There!)

If you also want to support Eve for Life financially, no amount is too small. Funds are needed so that Pat, Joy and the team can continue their work and support our vulnerable girls. Eve is asking each person to give J$365 x 365 days. Monthly, weekly or annual deposits can be made. Persons can contribute for any number of days; if possible for at least four days per month.

Funds received will support the organization’s local fundraising to strength and sustain work with adolescent girls and children affected by HIV and AIDS.

If you need more information feel free to contact Shandell Lowe at 876-771-8500.

You can contribute to funds to Scotiabank Jamaica’s Constant Spring Financial Centre Savings Account:  EVE for Life; Branch No. 21725; Account No. 32433

Contact Eve for Life: Office: 876-758-7049; Other: 876-816-1365/876-342-6107  Fax: 876-758-7049

E-Mail: info@eveforlife.org; evejamaica@gmail.com

Website: http://www.eveforlife.org  You can also find them on Facebook and on Twitter @EveforLife

A star supporter: Musician, actor and leader of the Nomaddz band Sheldon Shepherd with Eve for Life’s Joy Crawford, outside a benefit concert the band gave last year. (My photo)

Despite the weather forecast today (which predicted we would be “high and dry”) we actually had some refreshing rain. Another great stress reliever was the arrival of… Yes! A garbage truck! I like to think that my photo of our piles of garbage posted on Instagram did the trick. We feel very fortunate, as a street close by is still knee deep in the stuff.

Mario Deane died in custody after suffering severe injuries at the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay.

Predictable: Just as I expected, our Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller chose a partisan political meeting on Sunday to finally say something about Mario Deane, nearly two weeks after his death. This was the wrong platform; and the tone of her response was also inappropriate. Her remarks on the tragedy, which has deeply disturbed so many Jamaicans, turned into a diatribe against the Opposition. She had not commented on the Deane case “because it was under investigation” and her Ministers of Justice and National Security had already spoken, she added.  As always, the PM seemed to take personally the criticisms of her complete silence while all sections of society were expressing anger at Mario Deane’s death (and the complex and painful ramifications of it). She does not seem to understand the nature of her position as Prime Minister. This means she should speak out on matters of national concern. This is called “leadership.” She must cover all bases.

The PM did, however, acknowledge the importance of human rights. That phrase is rolling off the tongue of some politicians a little more easily, these days. Jamaicans for Justice has commended her for this. By the way, an autopsy on Mario Deane by an overseas pathologist will likely take place next week.

Minister of Transport & Works Omar Davies.

Great timing: Minister of Transport Omar Davies announced an increase in bus fares for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) today – effective Sunday, so we have just three days’ notice. The timing could not have been worse, as the new school year approaches. Adult fares will increase by 20%; children, students and the disabled will see a 50% increase; and senior citizens a 200% increase. Minister Davies said the JUTC is seeking to run a “first world service” with hugely increasing expenses. It doesn’t seem likely at this time that the government will back down on this – unless there is a huge fuss (and there is a faint possibility that there may be demonstrations and civil unrest on this matter). The Minister says he would have to find another funding source to keep the JUTC afloat if the increase was withdrawn. He waffled over the major increase for senior citizens, even appearing to question the journalist’s description of this demographic as “vulnerable.”

Ironically, the People’s National Party (PNP) fiercely opposed a proposed fare increase in 2010. Portia Simpson Miller, then Opposition Leader, called the move “wicked and uncaring”. Now it’s Andrew Holness’ turn (he called the fare increase a “travesty of grave injustice, inconsiderate and wicked” and threatened street protests). He does have a point about the last Auditor General’s Report, which highlighted many inefficiencies in the JUTC. Minister Davies says some of these will be addressed by year-end – in particular, the lack of a mechanism to track the operations of its buses. They will get GPS. Oh, and they will issue schedules!

Passengers board a JUTC bus. (Photo: Rudolph Brown/Gleaner)

In the scheme of things bus fares may not seem high. But a Twitter friend calculated that for a Jamaican earning the minimum wage, taking one bus to and from work will mean transportation will take up 21% of his/her income (thank you, Alexis Goffe!) If that person has a child, then bus fares will be 27% of income. Bear in mind that July inflation was higher than expected (mainly due to much higher food prices caused by the drought).

Passengers embarking a Jamaica Urban Transit Company bus at North Parade, downtown Kingston. (Photo: Gleaner)

The JUTC’s history has been a rough and rocky one. Eleven years ago, then Finance Minister Omar Davies gave it a huge (J$3.45 billion) to clear its debt. By that time, it was racking up losses of billions of Jamaican Dollars.

Fourth consecutive quarter of growth: This has to be good news, doesn’t it. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) reported growth of 1.2% for the past quarter – especially in agriculture. The PIOJ, as always, put a positive spin on it all, but only projected a maximum one per cent growth rate for the next quarter. Nothing to crow about, after all?

Mayor Shernet Haughton with members of her team after the first sitting of the Hanover Parish Council in 2012. (Photo: Adrian Frater/Gleaner)

What is the story behind the resignation of Mayor of Lucea Shernet  Haughton, after just over two years in office, and her Deputy? I understand that there were party machinations; we may never know details. I also see this as the triumph of the Patriarchy. I cannot forget the extremely unpleasant, misogynistic (and perhaps racist) attack on her by local Member of Parliament Ian Hayles, who said the Mayor was “not his type” at a party meeting.

Bring your own water: Back to school is upon us, and Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says some schools may ask students to bring their own water for drinking and sanitary purposes to school each day (the image of small children staggering down the road with their heavy bag of books and a few gallons of water is not a happy one).The drought has not lifted, despite a few showers here and there. It’s worsening in some areas. Bush fires continue. I am still hoping that the National Water Commission will do a better job of responding to the many calls regarding leaking pipes – and fix them! Incidentally, when did the NWC last do any customer service training? Their staff do not know the meaning of the word “customer,” I swear. Re-training urgently needed!

Most schools “ineffective”: Six out of every ten schools surveyed (129 of them) by the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) are failing to provide quality education. NEI reports are generally as gloomy as the PIOJ’s reports are optimistic. I am not sure I am happy with Education Minister Ronald Thwaites “calling out” specific schools in his speeches. How does that help? There is no doubt, however, that leadership and management of schools is a major concern. As it is in most sectors, one might add. The NEI report will be published next month.

The Victoria Jubilee Hospital.

You’re in labor? Well, just shut up!  This has (allegedly) been the attitude of some nurses at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the public maternity hospital in downtown Kingston. We have been hearing these stories for years. Now an extremely damning report from a mother (who lost her baby) in the Jamaica Observer prompted other mothers to come forward with tales of woe, focusing on unprofessional behavior by the staff. At last the Minister of Health has taken action. He recently ordered an investigation into the allegations, suggesting perhaps staff need “customer service training.” Methinks also the Ministry fears lawsuits…

This is what Great Goat Island looked like on September 14, 2013 when we traveled round the islands. (My photo)

“There’s nothing there!” The Government’s chief propagandizer for the transshipment port at Goat Islands, the Caribbean Maritime Institute Dr. Fritz Pinnock, took a much larger group of media and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce members on a lovely boat trip to the area on Sunday. He told financial analyst Ralston Hyman on radio (Mr. Hyman is already gung-ho on the project so was an uncritical listener) that he took the group to Greater Goat Island. This was not apparent in the Facebook photos I saw. Clearly Dr. Pinnock took them to a degraded area, in the middle of the day. I doubt the group were impressed as to the ecological value of Goat Islands after that. Dr. Pinnock said they could see there was “nothing there” (what does “nothing” mean in this context?)

Sprinter Usain Bolt challenged Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna to the icebucket treatment.

The IceBuckets: Never one to shy away from self-promotion, our Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna sat at her desk, waterproof makeup applied, for someone to pour a bucket of ice water over her in the cause of ALS research. Critics said the water damaged her computer and government documents, but Ms. Hanna’s office denied this. I just hope that all these people seeking a nice PR opportunity will actually donate to the cause – and the Minister did promote the cause, too. Ms. Hanna is a bit of a video star these days. Having conquered Instagram with her glamorous photos, she is now on YouTube. Her PR man tweeted a video of the birthday celebrations at her office today, complete with a large cake (hopefully not purchased on the public purse). Happy birthday, Minister!

Another “big man” charged with fraud: A member of the PNP’s National Executive Committee (on the party executive for the Prime Minister’s South West St. Andrew constituency) Donovan Bisasor and an employee have been accused of fleecing the National Water Commission of over 7 million dollars was granted multi-million dollar bail this week. This is the work of the new MOCA (the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency). The two return to court on September 29.

Chikungunya cases are increasing: As of this evening there are seventeen confirmed cases. People, arm thyselves with mosquito zappers! They are very effective. If we have more rain, numbers of mosquitoes will go up rapidly. Also keep checking possible breeding grounds around the house. Mosquitoes can breed quickly in a small amount of water – even that contained in a leaf, or a bottle-top…

Fab at forty: National Gallery of Jamaica

Happy Anniversary!  To two great institutions: The National Gallery of Jamaica (forty years) and the Gleaner newspaper (180 years!) Celebrations are in order!

My next overview should be on Sunday, all things being well…

The Gleaner is 180 years old!

I reported in my previous blog on the increase in bus fares announced yesterday; the increases will take effect on Sunday. There have been numerous expressions of deep concern from several sectors of society, including the National Consumer League and some trade unions. The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union says the issue will impact public sector wage negotiations next year (in March, 2013 civil servants agreed to wage restraint for the contract period 2012-2015. They are feeling the pinch). Jamaica’s oldest union, the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JACISERA) has gone a step further, suggesting members boycott the Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation buses. JACISERA says the increase does not bode well for the Partnership for Transformation among the public and private sector and civil society.

Fares for Jamaica’s senior citizens have seen by far the largest increase. Below is a release from the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP), which supports Jamaicans over fifty who are retired or planning to retire. Seniors are already struggling with rising inflation and a declining standard of living for many. This increase is, in my view, quite heartless.

Kingston, Jamaica- August 21, 2014: The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) is reacting with shock to the government’s announcement of an increase in the bus fare for seniors who travel on the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses, from $20.00 to $60.00 – a whopping increase of 200 per cent.

Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, Chair of the CCRP, in commenting on the decision, stated: “The increase will amplify the burden on seniors who have to make regular visits to health care facilities such as hospitals and health clinics along with collecting their NIS [pensions].”

She further indicated that the increase will also have a negative impact on programmes implemented by the CCRP, the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) and other organizations for seniors, designed to promote active ageing and healthy living, as most seniors will not be able to attend due the increase.

Jean Lowrie-Chin, Founder and CEO of the CCRP, added that the plight of seniors in the society is already quite alarming and this would further compound their challenges. “They are facing the triple jeopardy of poor health, economic marginalization and threats to their personal security – surely there needs to be special consideration for them,” she said.

The government is urged to identify other alternatives that will not discriminate against this vulnerable group of citizens.

-END-

ABOUT CCRP:

CCRP Jamaica was launched in April 2010. It is a membership organisation for persons 50 and over retired or planning to retire. CCRP is dedicated to honouring the wisdom of seniors and promoting respect for them through programmes that enhance their well-being, skills, and talents towards the development of Jamaica, the Caribbean and the Diaspora. Our aspiration is for all seniors to be empowered to live ‘Life to the Fullest’.

Contact: Dorett Linton,
CCRP Jamaica
Tel: 926-6740 (office)
435-0099 (mobile)

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has broken another record in the number of beach cleanup sites registered for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day activities in Jamaica (on Saturday, September 20, 2014). 114 ICC beach cleanup sites across the island have been registered, including ten underwater cleanups. JET expects the number of participants to increase from last year’s 6,000 to 8,000 in 2014. And, at the same time, JET is preparing to launch another marine litter focused initiative – the Clean Coasts Project (CCP), a one-year program expanding on the theme of ICC and targeted at Jamaican resort areas.

Volunteers on Fort Rocky beach at last year’s International Beach Cleanup Day. (My photo)

We left the offices of JET and moved quickly through the sultry morning’s rush hour traffic yesterday, heading for the Port Royal Marine Laboratory. On board the bus were JET staff, journalists and cameramen, representatives of Recycling Partners (the new private sector initiative), Sandals Resorts, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the National Solid Waste Management Agency (NSWMA). Importantly, too, a representative of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) participated. TEF is the primary sponsor and long-time supporter of Jamaica’s ICC Day and is also funding the CCP.

Looking towards St. Catherine, from the Port Royal Marine Laboratory, which is just inside the entrance to Kingston Harbour. (My photo)

As we set off, JET Program Director Suzanne Stanley told us to take note of all the drains and gullies along the way. These are the veins and arteries of the city. Rainwater runs from the hills above, sweeping through Kingston, filling the gullies and flooding many streets and drains (tropical rain is generally emphatic in nature). The waterways carry the débris that has accumulated in them or floated down from the streets, down to the sea.

JET’s Conservation Director Llewelyn Meggs was one of our experts on board the boat. (My photo)

It is quite extraordinary how different a place looks from the water. There are so many hidden things that you never see driving along on land with the water alongside. This is especially true of Kingston Harbour (the eighth largest natural harbor in the world). And one of the mostly hidden things you see is…garbage. Plenty of it.

After our drive to Port Royal (as always, sleepy) at the end of the long narrow Palisadoes strip, we retraced our steps by boat, across the smooth, shining water. The harbor is almost always very calm in the morning. Pelicans scooted low across the water, and the occasional frigate bird sailed above. As we approached the towers of downtown, the quality of the water changed. It became very dark, and it began to smell very bad. We saw the occasional dead fish and some pieces of floating garbage. Llewelyn Meggs, JET’s Conservation Director, pointed out large pipes and openings, through which waste passed into the harbor (including sewage). The General Penitentiary, housing well over 1,000 inmates, was across the road from one of these large pipes.

Approaching downtown Kingston’s waterfront. From the boat, it seemed like a lonely, almost desolate place – and this was a weekday morning. There was almost no sign of life apart from some traffic. (My photo)

The highlight (or rather the low point) of this part of the tour was the Rae Town Fishing Village. Rae Town is a vibrant but impoverished community, famous for its mid-week street dances – when uptowners would venture downtown for a bit of excitement. Not sure if those are still taking place. But from our boat it’s a sad picture – chaotic and filthy. The small concrete huts built to hold fishermen’s equipment are now occupied by families; they don’t have proper sanitation. Children played surrounded by piles of garbage. The Rae Town Gully, as it empties into the sea, is filled with garbage, and you can see even more all the way up the gully, waiting to come down. Surprisingly, I noticed Great Egrets and other birds picking through the filth at the mouth of the gully. Llewelyn Meggs explained that they are probably feeding on the algae and other nutrients created by the garbage (pieces of bright green algae floated by the boat). They are taking in toxins, too.

The fetid, disgusting gully at Rae Town. Try to imagine the stink. (My photo)

We were happy, at this point, to have the boat turn around and head back towards the mangroves that fringe the Palisadoes strip. The smell from Rae Town was so overwhelming I was feeling nauseous. It was indescribable. Don’t tell me there are no public health issues there.

Rae Town – a cleaner spot here. (My photo)

On the Palisadoes side of the harbor, we turned towards the mangroves (yes, this is a Ramsar site, although a chunk of the mangroves fringing it on the harbor side of the long spit of land was destroyed when the airport road was raised and rebuilt by the Chinese. They promised to replant mangroves, but have not done so). We circled Refuge Cay, which is covered with mangroves and is a breeding and roosting spot for sea birds such as the Brown Pelican and Magnificent Frigate Bird. It is also carpeted with garbage. On one side of the small cay, the garbage (a large plastic laundry basket, yards and yards of plastic bottles and plastic bags) chokes the mangroves. The tap roots cannot grow down. Marine life cannot breed there. On the other side – which does not receive the wave of garbage moving across the harbor from the gullies – the mangrove looks fairly healthy. We spotted pelicans perched in the bright green foliage like statues. Roosting areas were white with bird droppings.

Rae Town. (My photo)

Apparently, it is very difficult to extract the garbage from the mangroves. But I wish we could at least try.

Pelican poses for his photo on Refuge Cay. Some of our group renamed it “Refuse Cay.” (My photo)

Back in Port Royal, Suzanne Stanley updated us on the last ICC Day in Jamaica (see my blog from last year). There were close to 6,000 volunteers island wide last year. A huge number descended on the Fort Rocky site on the Port Royal road. On three miles of coastline there, 2,366 volunteers collected 820 bags with 12,300 pounds of garbage. This included 27,000 plastic bottles! When JET returned a few weeks later, Suzanne said, “The garbage was back.” Jamaicans generate approximately one kilogram of waste per person per day. Kingston’s Riverton City dump receives sixty per cent of the island’s garbage (the NSWMA prefers to call it a “disposal site”). 38 per cent of the population burns garbage (open burning is illegal but the law is not enforced) which causes major environmental and health problems. Overall last year, about two thirds of the garbage collected on ICC Day was plastic.

Garbage clogging the mangrove at Refuge Cay. (My photo)

One more stop before we returned to Kingston. A quick detour to a piece of land adjoining the Norman Manley International Airport, near a go-kart racing track. The land belongs to the Airports Authority of Jamaica. It consists of a garbage dump and a piece of waste land covered with garbage, which is thick along the shoreline.  When we arrived a man was sitting motionless next to the dump, which was smoking heavily. The smoke was choking and toxic. Walking down to the shore, we saw garbage literally piled up. An old television and any amount of household waste was there – including a great deal of plastic of course. Here and there, there was a small pile of garbage which had been burned (this is illegal) – including a pile of aerosol cans!

A television set rests among the trash at the Airports Authority of Jamaica’s land next to the airport. (My photo)

This is private property; I don’t think it will be a part of ICC Day. In fact, it does not look as if it has ever been cleaned. It is utterly disgraceful, a major health hazard. Wouldn’t a small park be nice?

These were aerosol cans that someone had attempted to burn. (My photo)

ICC Day 2014 will be rather different from last year. There were so many people at Fort Rocky (with sponsors’ tents dispensing free food and drink) that the event turned into a “lyme.” After everyone had gone home, we had to clean up after the volunteers! This year is going to be more focused. It will be shorter, with no sponsors’ tents. Volunteers will split into groups of five, with a leader. All groups must register by Friday, September 5! For more information, visit JET’s website at http://www.jamentrust.org/all-events/details/26-international-coastal-cleanup-day-2014.html  You can also find JET on Facebook and on Twitter @jamentrust and call them at (876) 960-3693.

“Once waste enters the marine environment, it’s much harder to deal with,” says Suzanne Stanley. “When it’s on the shoreline, it’s pretty much the last chance to capture it before it ends up in the sea.”

That’s why International Coastal Cleanup Day is so important. Sign up today. And even more importantly, we need to get involved in keeping our environment clean and healthy on a regular basis, every day of the year.

P.S. A piece of empty land opposite Gloria’s restaurant in Port Royal is now thickly strewn with litter. I mean, really thick. It has always been bad, but yesterday I noticed that it is a great deal worse. Wind from the nearby beach seems to blow every single piece of litter onto this land. As a responsible corporate citizen, couldn’t Gloria’s make the effort to clean this area adjacent to their business? It does not reflect well on them, at all.

P.P.S. One bright moment in the tour was when I was just settling into the boat at the Port Royal Marine Lab. I looked down in the water and saw a beautiful Spotted Eagle Ray swimming past. I wish I had taken a photograph, but he was moving quite fast… It was heartening to see.

The Spotted Eagle Ray. What a beauty he was! (Photo: belizearchaeologyecotours.com)

ICC efforts began in Jamaica in the mid-90s with small cleanups taking place in a few locations across the island. In 2008 the Jamaica Environment Trust became national coordinators of ICC activities in Jamaica, with the support of TEF as the primary donor. JET works with local site coordinators – community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, government agencies, private sector organizations, hotels, tourism stakeholders, youth clubs, service clubs, and schools. ICC volunteers don’t just pick up trash on coastlines; they also collect data on the type of garbage they find. JET compiles the data and sends it to the global coordinator, the U.S.-based Ocean Conservancy. “ICC Day in Jamaica has grown leaps and bounds each year,” says Suzanne.“The overwhelming response we have received this year makes us feel really positive about other marine litter focused activities we will be undertaking this year through the Clean Coasts Project.” More about that project in another blog.

Children swimming in the water downtown, a stone’s throw from the horrible Rae Town Gully. A little girl in a pink swimsuit waved to us. (My photo)

Here is a press release from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing on the planned increases in bus fares, to take place on Sunday, August 24. Please note the last paragraph which I highlighted in bold:

The Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr the Hon Omar Davies together with the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, Hon Horace Dalley and senior officials of both ministries held a meeting with the leadership of various groups representing pensioners and senior citizens as well as public sector workers earlier today concerning bus fares which were recently announced. The institutions represented were Jamaica Civil Service Association led by its President, Mr O’Neil Grant and Vice President, Mr Robert Chung; Mrs Helene Davis-Whyte, Vice President of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, and General Secretary of JALGO; Mr Charles Jones, President of the Jamaica Government Pensioners’ Association; Mrs Syringa Marshall Burnett, Chairman, National Council of Senior Citizens. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company(JUTC) was represented by Chairman Rev Garnett Roper and Mr Colin Campbell, Managing Director.

There was a frank exchange of views during which the representatives of the trade unions and senior citizens groups spoke to the negative impact which the proposed increase will have on their members. At the same time, Minister Davies and representatives of the JUTC explained the precarious position of the entity, despite the existing subsidy provided by the GOJ.

It was agreed that there will be consultations beginning immediately on various transportation challenges facing public sector workers, involving the Ministry of Finance and the public sector, the representatives of the workers and the senior leadership of the JUTC.

From the meeting, it was proposed that an adjustment be made to the proposed fare for senior citizens, making it $40.00 (one-third of the adult fare).

This proposal was presented to the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet by Minister Davies and Cabinet has approved this change to the fare structure announced on Wednesday. Consequently, as of Sunday, August 24, the fare structure will be:

 Adults                                                                     $120.00

Senior Citizens and pensioners                    $ 40.00

Children, Students and members

of the disabled community                            $ 30.00

Contact: Leo McEwan

Tel:       383-3205

Yaneek Page is Managing Director of Future Services International, Executive Director of the television show “The Innovators,” and a trainer and consultant in innovation and entrepreneurship. She is a woman of boundless energy, drive and enthusiasm, with her feet firmly on the ground. Yaneek was invited to speak to a group of Jamaican students (21 of them) who had received scholarships and book grants under the Burger King National Scholarship Awards Program to pursue secondary and tertiary studies. This is the fourteenth year of the program. 

Here is Yaneek’s speech to the scholarship winners. If you have a child who needs a little inspiration as the new academic year is about to begin, perhaps you could share it with her/him…

A role model for Jamaican women: Yaneek Page. (Photo: Gleaner)

Thank you so much for this kind invitation, and what an absolute honour it is to be here in the company of tomorrow’s leaders. When I was asked to deliver this charge to BK’s 2014 scholarship awardees I was absolutely elated. After all, what greater privilege could one have than to aim to inspire Jamaica’s future visionaries and game-changers?

I have a very short time with you today but I know in my heart that the next 20 minutes will inspire one of you, if not all of you to change your community, help transform this beautiful place we have the privilege to call home & hopefully make your impact felt around the world – so let’s get started.

The first step in changing the world – as big as that goal may seem – is to change yourself.

I know you’ve probably heard this before, but I want you to stop and think about it for a second. If you stop complaining about all the problems that we face and start thinking of ways you could solve those problems it changes everything. Right?

How many of you see yourselves as problem-solvers? Future leaders? Game-changers? Each one of you has the power to think differently, take bold action and transform your world. It all starts with believing in yourself. Most of you bright sparks have found your drive for excellence at an early age, unlike me. I would describe myself as a late bloomer. It wasn’t until university that I recognized my potential and began to really believe in myself. As you heard earlier I did very well at university, winning an academic scholarship to pursue post graduate studies, copping every award at graduation and emerging at the top of my cohort as the most outstanding student overall. I will never forget feeling so accomplished but yet so uneasy at my graduation…almost pressured. I remember my fellow graduate who gave the vote of thanks at the awards ceremony saying “Yaneek, you have done very well. We are expecting great things from you.” I couldn’t help but wonder, what more do you expect? I’ve worked so hard and done so much already. How can you possibly expect me to top this?

Little did I know that it was possible to achieve more, much more. And so today, I challenge you all, as my colleague challenged me – you have done well and we are proud of you, but this is just the beginning. We are expecting great things from you.

Let me share a few lessons – from me, the late bloomer, that I hope will guide and motivate you along your new journey.

There is a saying that I came across that has resonated with me from the first day I read it. I don’t know the author but those words aptly describe my journey so far. The saying goes like this:

“Work for a cause/Not for applause, Live life to express/Not to impress,

Don’t strive to make your presence noticed/Make your absence felt”

I have always worked for a cause, without any expectation of success, recognition, fame or fortune. I focus on my passions – for justice, entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment and my beloved family– and taking bold action to make positive changes.

There are two things I have that will make me truly wealthy forever. I’m not saying I’ll be rotten rich, I’m saying with those two things no matter how many times I fail, no matter how hard things get, no matter how bad the economy may be – I will always find a way out. Do you know what those things are? Who can guess?

Yes, education is one. Can anyone guess the other, anyone?

The other key to true wealth is building relationships. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to acquire material things that we forget how important it is to build relationships with people. My strengths have been investing heavily in continuous education and self-improvement and building strong relationships with great people. Every major break I’ve ever had can be attributed to strong relationships and working hard for a cause, never thinking about applause.

This picture is from my first big break as a professional – I landed a coveted job with GraceKennedy (GK) and was recruited to their Accelerated Development Program for young professionals. They chose 12 people from a pool of over 800 applicants. What’s funny is that after leaving university it took 7 months to find a job- even with a distinction & all those awards! In that time I did a project for Jamaica Employer’s Federation which required some interaction with GK’s Chief HR Officer who invited me to apply. We had never met before, only engaged via email and telephone. There I was minding my business doing this small project to the best of my ability and someone noticed, and offered me an opportunity that lead to my dream job.

It was the experience at GraceKennedy in Risk Management that allowed me to create a viable business model in my company Future Services International. From my days at university after being introduced to the concept of “Restorative Justice” I knew I wanted to find a solution to some of the challenges ordinary Jamaicans experienced in accessing justice but I had no idea how to do it – until I learned those risk management skills at Grace. But even after leaving Grace I had built and maintained strong relationships. In my years with the company I had earned a reputation for being a professional who was hard working and would get the job done no matter what. My boss used to say ‘Give it to Yaneek. If she can’t get it done it’s probably not possible.’ I always had and shared big bold ideas. Whether it as a way to save the company money or help make the company more money, I was all over it. So much so that even the Chairman and CEO Mr. Douglas Orane knew me well. Not usual for a company with nearly 2,000 employees. When I had an idea for a young professionals network to link youth at home with the Diaspora I went to Mr. Orane with a group of like-minded colleagues to get his feedback and guidance. He too was excited about the idea, endorsed it and put me in touch with Sandra Glasgow from the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ). I will tell you that he gave me some great advice and every concern he expressed came to pass. It’s not that he was psychic, but with experience comes wisdom do never you forget the value of older people.

I went on to launch the Young Professionals Association of Jamaica – here I am with Mr. Bruce Golding, who was the Prime Minister at the time and the guest speaker at the event. From an idea to seeking guidance from distinguished leaders, to bold action.

I went on to join the PSOJ, Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA) and Women Business Owners (WBO) – I was always volunteering to help, never shying away from a challenge, always speaking up, sharing ideas. I went on to become an elected VP of YEA, the youngest elected president of the WBO and an elected executive member of the PSOJ. I dedicated my summer to giving back to students by organizing Jamaica’s first entrepreneurship summer camp. With all this work I was doing, I caught the attention of Sandra Glasgow who nominated me for the prestigious U.S. International Visitor leadership Program (IVLP). You can’t apply to this program; you must be nominated – and the PSOJ CEO whom Mr. Douglas Orane had introduced me to, nominated me. See what happens when you pursue your passions, build relationships, work hard for a cause and act with integrity? The world of opportunities opens to you, and if you use your talents fully it is likely that you also create your own big opportunities.

Every year I think things can’t get better. They do, I continue to be blessed beyond measure. During the IVLP I connected with an organization called the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) – just sharing what I was doing in Jamaica in supporting women’s entrepreneurship. Guess what happened? I was invited to participate in a yearlong mentorship program where I was mentored by one of the US top association professionals and trained by the ASAE. I’m now a member. Even more the US State Department invited me to meet the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Santo Domingo, Dom Rep. She was amazing, and by far the most famous person I had ever met – but in all the awe I still managed to build a connection with one of the organization’s I met on at that conference – WEConnect International. After the event we exchanged emails, kept in touch and I offered to work for them in Jamaica for free. They were reluctant at first. However we stayed connected and eventually we partnered with them to launch a chapter of their global network in Jamaica – it was the first in the Caribbean (and they had no plans of coming here). Would you believe that since the launch last year we have over 160 self-registered women entrepreneurs. Better yet, on August 1, 2014 I was named the official representative for WEConnect International in the English Speaking Caribbean. How amazing is that?! And it all started with me going over to talk to the founder Elizabeth Vazquez to congratulate her on her amazing presentation and awesome work.

Last year, through WEConnect and the U.S. State Department I learned of an amazing program that supports women entrepreneurs to grow their business – Vital Voices Grow Program. Another wonderful U.S. non-profit. Well I applied, was accepted, received a year of free training and even won a small grant – my first ever in business! But would you believe – it did not end there, by speaking up during the training, helping other participants, volunteering to lead follow-on webinars I was invited to apply to be the 2014 business planning trainer. I did, and was accepted and in October 2014 I’ll be off to Argentina to deliver business planning training to women entrepreneurs from across Latin America and the Caribbean. As I continued to do my work, people continued to take notice – without asking for it or even expecting it I received recognition, awards and much applause.

Now I don’t want you all to think life is a breeze and that you will never have challenges. You will! Believe me when I tell you sometimes those challenges will shake you, even bring you to your knees, but you must stay strong and never let them break you. Challenges are actually amazing. They may be hard at the time but they prepare you for bigger things. Sometimes what seem like good doors will have to close for even better doors to open. For example take a look at this last slide – this was me as the host of Live at 7 on CVM. Funnily enough, I never chose TV. It was the producer who chose me. Yet my stint at CVM was a complete disaster. My first night on air I froze! Dumbfounded and silent on live TV. Can you say embarrassing! I was devastated. CVM was so angry. A few weeks later they said it wasn’t working. I felt like a complete failure. But from that experience, which seemed like my worst nightmare coming to life, came the best silver lining. A few months after leaving CVM I picked myself up, brushed myself off and decided to extract value from the experience and put my new skills in television to work. Everything fell into place as it was meant to be. I had the idea for a great TV show, The Innovators, and wanted to bring it to life. Without the skills and connections made at CVM I would never have been able to do it. In fact, if CVM didn’t let me go I would have been trapped in a two-year contract. I would never be where I am now – proudly celebrating the fourth season of Jamaica’s #1 entrepreneurship television show, The Innovators –which is now aired in 18 countries.

Now that you’ve heard this late bloomer’s story, I hope you have learned some lessons you can use. I want you to keep in mind not only the lessons but these top tips. If you take nothing else away from this presentation today I promise that if you do the following eight things you will unleash your potential to positively impact your community and hopefully the world.

1. Be constantly aware of the country’s challenges and remember you have the ability to fix them
2. Work on yourself and aim for experiences that challenge and develop you
3. Keep learning
4. Balance knowledge and technical know-how with soft skills
5. Be bold and create your own opportunities
6. Find your driving force
7. Build relationships as you work for your cause
8. And again don’t fear failure, embrace it. It’s part of the course, a constant source of learning, the best way to new discoveries and most often a prerequisite for success.

I know I may have exceeded my time a bit and I hope you will forgive me, but I hope most of all that I inspired at least one of you to make the most of your education, build strong relationships, think big, be fearless, take bold and make a change. Thank you so very much.

I am sorry. The flu got me. I have just emerged from it with a somewhat painful cough. Hence the hiatus on my blog.

Bus fare problems: Last Friday, we heard (briefly) that the Jamaica Urban Transit Company’s (JUTC) fare hikes had been “put on hold” after discussions among the Government and trades unions. This was after a rising tide of protests from various groups – notably, from those representing our seniors under stress. Then something went wrong. The Government confirmed that there had been a slight adjustment – seniors’ bus fares would be doubling instead of tripling – but the other fare increases, including for students and the disabled, would remain. The increases took effect on Sunday.

Minister of Transport, Works and Housing (and former Finance Minister) Omar Davies, M.P. (Photo: Ministry of Transport & Works)

The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JACISERA) thought the meeting had gone differently. It is embarrassed and feeling “dissed” that Transport Minister Omar Davies had in fact scarcely backed down. JACISERA now says it does not trust the Minister, noting there was no consultation before the decision to increase fares, either. They are upset that the Heads of Agreement signed last year for a Social Partnership – which was supposed to help government, unions and civil society share the burden of Jamaica’s embattled economy – seems to mean little more than the paper it was written on to those in power. There are rumblings, and the rumblings might grow louder. I wouldn’t rule out industrial action.

A JUTC bus.

Many questions: Questions are rattling around about the JUTC’s management, in particular its staggering financial losses. Former Contractor General Greg Christie and others are calling for a full and proper audit (the Auditor General pointed to many failings in her last report). The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) – after a rather ineffective protest on a rainy Monday morning – is calling for Messrs Campbell and Roper to resign. And of course, let’s bear in mind that those in rural areas (not served by the JUTC) pay much higher fares than their urban counterparts. 

Reverend Garnett Roper, Chairman of the JUTC.

A miserable affair: I listened with a sinking heart to a radio interview during which two young journalists attempted to discuss issues relating to the JUTC’s operations with its Chairman, Reverend Garnett Roper – who, like its Managing Director Colin Campbell, is a high-profile supporter of the ruling People’s National Party (Mr. Campbell is a former General Secretary of the party, but also a former State Minister in the Transport Ministry). The interview ended with Rev. Roper hanging up on the journalists after they asked him a simple question: “Do you have any expertise in running a transport company?” The tone was most unpleasant, and I would say disrespectful and patronizing. Journalists are just trying to do their job!

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller takes every criticism personally. Please, Madam.

Another rant: I don’t know where to start on our Prime Minister’s latest outburst. It is getting embarrassing, now. Portia Simpson Miller was responding to comments by Opposition Leader Andrew Holness’ remarks about “empty barrels.” He didn’t mention her by name, but our Prime Minister happily took the bait and went into another rant to People’s National Party (PNP) supporters over the weekend. Amidst a sea of orange, with a strange sneer on her face, she called Mr. Holness “rude and crude,” shouting, “How dare you!” I thought Mr. Holness’ remarks were quite mild. The response was disproportionate, ill-considered and as one talk show host put it, “unbecoming” of a Prime Minister.

Does she have any advisors? The Prime Minister does have a public relations team, I am sure of it. What do they do? I suspect they may all be “yes men” or “yes women” – otherwise, surely, they would advise her against this string of intemperate remarks? Especially at this time, when many Jamaicans are “fed up.” 

Protesters placards at Monday morning’s protest organized by the Jamaica Labour Party, which some commentators say “fizzled.” (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Andrew Holness is surely only doing his job: The Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional office. In opposing the current administration, Mr. Holness is simply doing his job by criticizing. “How dare he?” He should, in fact, keep up the pressure and try to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to serious issues affecting Jamaica. The economy? Human rights? Public health issues? Can you start talking about things that Jamaicans care/worry about? No more tracing matches, please!

“We will be your worst nightmare”: Portia Simpson Miller, then Opposition Leader, at the PNP Annual Conference in September, 2007. (Photo: Ricardo Makyn/Gleaner)

Flashback: On September 16, 2007, at the PNP’s Annual Conference soon after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was voted into power, then Opposition Portia Simpson Miller shouted: “I am going to let them have sleepless nights … We are going to be their worst nightmare!” (Yes, she did shout; I remember it well. The JLP tossed and turned, no doubt!)

So sick and tired of it, but praedial larceny (the theft of agricultural crops and animals) is still out of control. Well, the police did catch a man recently, who had stolen some goats from an elderly woman. He got a six month sentence, which the magistrate seemed to think was a “strong message.” No, I don’t think so. The other night I watched a farmer openly weeping on television after his goats were stolen, saying he would not be able to help his child pursue further education. People suffer, and our Agriculture Ministry is missing in action. So far as I know, the Minister is still in a Florida hospital.

Jasmine Rand and Benjamin Crump, two American human rights lawyers who are taking an interest in Mario Deane’s case.

Mike Brown and Mario Deane: It is odd the way things work out sometimes, and I like to think social media may have had a small part to play – but two tragedies were playing out in two very different (but close) countries, Jamaica and the United States at the same time. One was the shooting death of Mike Brown by the police in Ferguson, Missouri; the other the beating and death of Mario Deane in a police lockup in Montego Bay.  Now, the same pathologist who performed the autopsy on Mr. Brown, Dr. Michael Baden, will conduct an autopsy on Mr. Deane’s body next Tuesday, September 2. Meanwhile, a U.S. attorney who is representing Mr. Brown’s family, Jasmine Rand, has taken an interest in Mr. Deane’s case and will arrive in Jamaica this weekend. A lawyer who also represented the family of Trayvon Martin in Florida last year, Benjamin Crump, has also expressed sympathy and support. It’s not exactly clear what role they will play, but I believe this will be in an advisory capacity.

Ambassador Carlton Masters is Jamaica’s first envoy to the African Union. He presented his credentials on March 21, 2013. (Photo: The Habari Network)

Jamaica has its first representative at the African Union. His name is Carlton A. Masters and he is co-founder, chair and CEO of Goodworks International, a PR/lobbying/consulting firm working to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Africa (in particular, Nigeria). He is now an Ambassador and the appointment was actually effective February 4, 2013. Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is a Senior Advisor at Goodworks. Mr. Masters’ appointment as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister appears to have sparked some controversy recently. I will leave it at that.

Wannabe Commissioners: The Police Services Commission has not included a Jamaican-born FBI official in its six-person shortlist for the post of Police Commissioner. Representatives of the diaspora in the United States are pretty angry that Wilfred Rattigan will not be interviewed for this very sensitive post. However, bearing in mind the sensitivity of the position, one would expect thorough background checks to be made on each candidate. No doubt they were done.

Pit latrines in schools will be a thing of the past… by the end of next year, says Education Minister Ronald Thwaites. Meanwhile, 270 schools are identified as having water problems. Will their thousands of students have to bring in their own water then? Do they have water at home?  School starts on Monday, September 1.

Dear Jamaica Observer, this is not a “heron” and her chicks. It’s a Brown Pelican! But a great article on Refuge Cay in the Palisadoes mangrove forest, which we sarcastically renamed “Refuse Cay.” (Photo: Kimone Thompson)

Terrific reporting: Journalists were galvanized by last week’s thought-provoking trip round Kingston Harbour, where we viewed acres of garbage (see my recent post and the latest article I did for gleanerblogs.com). Excellent reporting – including a punchy piece in the Sunday Gleaner by Chris Serju, and a good in-depth look at the issue on CVM Television’s “Live at Seven.” A correction is needed, though, on the caption to this Jamaica Observer photo! Live at Seven’s Simon Crosskill also made sharply apposite remarks on the matter this evening – pointing out that Jamaicans need to take personal responsibility for the garbage menace and “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Now.

The bridge in Retreat, St. Mary. Surely this wouldn’t cost so much to fix? (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

A dangerous crossing: Residents of Retreat, St. Mary are furious that a footbridge on which they greatly depend is broken and quite dangerous. After dark I would be especially nervous about crossing it (there are no street lights in the country). Residents have protested by blocking the main road for three consecutive days.

Daily protests: But this is just one of the protests that take place in places across the country on a daily basis. There was also one in Manchester over a police killing; and another by a group of mostly middle-aged women. They had adapted the words of a folksong to fit their message about the need for a fire engine in their area, which has been prone to bush fires in recent months. They actually sang rather well. If I were to list the protests, there would probably be about twenty separate ones per week – mostly about lack of water, poor roads and other infrastructural issues; or some act of perceived or actual injustice. “We Want Justice!” is the common refrain.

Drug hauls: There have been several quite large drug seizures at the Kingston Container Terminal lately. This week, police found 267 pounds of cocaine in a shipment of lumber from Suriname, bound for China. Extraordinary!

Please read: My post on the Clean Coasts Project in my “Social Impact” series for the Gleaner Online: http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/  I’d be grateful if you could leave comments on the page! Thank you… (This is a weekly feature – check it out every Tuesday!)

Big ups…

• To Peace and Love in Society (PALS) - it was once called Peace and Love in Schools. They celebrate twenty years this year, and are now looking to rebuild their volunteer base. If you’d like to help, or for more information on their programs, visit their website at http://www.palsjamaica.org

Quite an intense discussion at Bookophilia this evening with ECCO Magazine and business leaders on “going green.” (Photo: ECCO)

• To ECCO Magazine for its highly successful discussion at Bookophilia this evening on “The Business of Going Green.”  Several business leaders and a number of young entrepreneurs filled the bookstore. It was most gratifying to see a growing interest in sustainable business practices. Do also take a read of ECCO’s August “GreenYourBiz” newsletter, hot off the press, here: http://issuu.com/eccomagazine/docs/august_gyb_newsletter_final/c/sldhs6z# (Yours truly is a contributor!)

Maria Gullotta works hard for the rehabilitation of prisoners in Jamaica.

• To Stand Up for Jamaica, a small NGO headed by Maria Gullotta, which works quite quietly in the prisons, helping to rehabilitate prisoners. Quite a few at the Tower Street and Fort Augusta Correctional Facilities sat CXC examinations in Mathematics and English in a program funded by the European Union, and many did well, especially in Mathematics. Ms. Gullotta is rightly proud, and congratulations to all those who studied and passed their exams. (By the way, if you have not seen the documentary film “Songs of Redemption” released last year – it’s really time you did…)

In the past week, many Jamaicans have lost their lives to violent crime. My deepest sympathies are with the families and friends who are mourning these tragic deaths. When will it end? By the way, there was a reported 8.2% drop in murders from January to June this year compared to the first six months of 2013. But this list seems rather long for just one week, since my last blog post.

Christopher Tracy, 39, Arnett Gardens, Kingston

Willie Picton, 37, Arnett Gardens, Kingston

Wayne Gaynor, 41, Duke Street, Kingston

Shanel Rowe, 34, Old Braeton, St. Catherine

Kevin Lawrence, 25, Store Hill/Kitson Town, St. Catherine

Unidentified man, Bendon District, St. Catherine

Norman Blake, Guanaboa Vale, St. Catherine

Horace Reid, 26, New Harbour Village Housing Scheme/Old Harbour, St. Catherine

Shana-Kay Simpson, 21, Middleton Meadows, Linstead, St. Catherine

Garfield Simpson, 35, Middleton Meadows, Linstead, St. Catherine

Ricodel Jackson, 25,Middleton Meadows, Linstead, St. Catherine

Dean Pratt, 43,Middleton Meadows, Linstead, St. Catherine

Brenton Drummond, 25, Orange, St. James

Odarie Sinclair, 24, Orange, St. James

Jayheim Cooper, 2, Lewis District, St. Ann

Lascelles Hyatt, Gayle, St. Mary

Glenton Logan, 33, Yallahs, St. Thomas

Christopher Thompson, 41, Burford Hill, Westmoreland

Relatives in shock after the murder of four residents in Middleton Meadows, Linstead. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

I was watching a steamy film last night. It was full of smoldering jealousy, betrayal, anger, deceit, remorse, hot sex in unusual locations, murder, agonizing body disposal, guilt… You name it, everything was piled in there – except boredom. The film was about a married woman, who was having an affair with a younger man with a thick French accent and a sort of smoochy Bohemian appeal (he turned out to be rather unreliable, as Frenchmen often do). The cuckold husband fumed and fretted and committed the dastardly deed. His wife was a mess, and only seemed to be having fun when canoodling with the aforementioned Frenchman.

Olivier Martinez giving us a sexy look.

This was a classic triangle situation, Hollywood-style. Also, amusingly, I realized that the actor who played the passionate lover, Olivier Martinez, had got himself into a real-life triangle situation (sort of) some time back (his personal life has been more interesting than his movie career, so far). He has been married for about a year to the alluring movie actress Halle Berry (her third attempt), and they have a baby boy (I hear this marriage is on the rocks now. Poor Halle!) Before they were married, the smoochy Frenchman Martinez got into a fight with another Frenchman – sorry, French Canadian – a pretty boy called Gabriel Aubry, Halle B’s former partner. They both ended up in hospital, and a flurry of lawsuits ensued. Phew. Mostly bruised egos, though, nothing more.

The “Menage A Trois”: a 1910 postcard.

Now, let’s not confuse this with what is called a “ménage à trois” (literally, a “household for three”) – which seems to me altogether more fun than the rather competitive triangle. This means, of course, that three people settle down together in a cozy sexual relationship. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, in searching around for a word to rhyme with this expression, suggested “ayatollah.” Well, that would make for an amusing little poem. A haiku, perhaps. No, I won’t go there.

Love triangles are fertile ground for country and western songs, operas, novels, and of course movies. Arguably the most famous love story of them all, William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” involved another man. The tempestuous 19th century novel “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë is a pretty mind-blowing love triangle: Cathy, the rebellious wild child; Heathcliff, the gloomy, passionate man of the moors, her “soulmate”; and the refined Edgar, a gentle soul. Plenty of dramatic declarations, the wind howls, and so on, and so forth. Don’t tell me those Victorians were dull and stuffy.

The 1939 version of “Wuthering Heights” with Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and Cathy (Merle Oberon) perched on the cold moors. They’ve got all that passion to keep them warm. And dear Edgar hanging out in the background.

And artistic types themselves seemed to get into these kinds of situations rather regularly, and probably still do. The German composer Johannes Brahms spent half his life in love with fellow composer and friend Robert Schumann’s wife Clara (one is not sure whether anything “happened” between them, even after Schumann’s death). At the other end of the musical spectrum, Linda, Joey and Johnny Ramone (of the punk band The Ramones) got very tangled up. Joey was apparently the Mr. Nice Guy, Johnny was the aggressive one, and Linda was sort of…in the middle. Joey and Johnny continued playing together even after Linda married Johnny, but didn’t talk to each other. Awkward.

Two-thirds of a triangle: Johnny and Linda Ramone.

Hmm. Real-life love triangles often don’t end well, do they? For example, there was a hugely public and very sad situation in the British Royal Family some years back, involving Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles. “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,” said Diana.

Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks” is one of his moodier albums.

One of my favorite love triangle songs is a not very well-known one by Bob Dylan – one of his storytelling songs, from the great album “Blood On The Tracks.” Although with Lily, Rosemary, Big Jim and the Jack of Hearts in that particular song – could be a rectangle there.

Yes, did you know that there is something called a “love rectangle”? I was never very good at geometry, but clearly this involves four people, and is presumably even trickier than a triangle. Some people like to make their lives complicated, I suppose. Presumably the rectangles are equilateral – but, perhaps not. These kinds of situations appear quite regularly in light opera, farces, and so on, with people hiding behind doors and chasing each other across the stage and then back again, until the audience is utterly confused. Do they really occur in real life? How utterly nerve-wracking it must be.

As for me, I think I will stick with the safe old “one on one” relationship. You know, a straight line, so to speak.

Boring, I know. But all of the above takes up far too much energy, it seems to me. I like the quiet life.

Many Jamaicans have circled Monday, September 1 on their calendars, and not because it’s the first day of the month. It’s the day school starts, after the long summer holidays that began in July. It’s not an easy time of year. Parents, teachers – and most of all the students – are in a state of growing nervous tension. The stores are full of anxious mothers trying to find the best deals in school bags, pens, pencils, exercise books. The stress level in bookstores is particularly high; parents make notes on the lists in their hands, comparing text book prices. Street vendors are making a big sales push in downtown Kingston, spreading their goods on the sidewalk; some are chased away by the police. Times are hard; people are trying to make ends meet.

One young man who has seized on the importance of education for Jamaica is Gordon Swaby. And this is the first  (and probably not the last) time I will mention his youth. But just to emphasize, he is young - not yet 24 years old. Through his online social learning platform, EduFocal, Gordon focuses on making learning fun. Good Lord – he has even made examination preparation fun, if you can imagine that!  Students working towards the dreaded GSAT and CXC exams register on the EduFocal website for a low annual fee. Once logged in, they do not simply take tests that reinforce what they have learned in school. The EduFocal system is much more than that. It is modeled on what Gordon calls “gamification.” There, I’ve learnt a new word. It’s not only interactive, with input available from peers and teachers; it also progresses like a video game. And you know how addictive those are. There is always an incentive to go on to the next level, and rewards in the form of sponsored prizes. Students can also track their progress, and there is a leader board competition, too. That’s gamification.

EduFocal Awards 2013: Shamique Francis, the winner in the Grade Six Achievement Test category, accepts her prizes from Julian Robinson (left), minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, and Peter Levy (right), managing director of British Caribbean Insurance Company. Sharing in the moment is Gordon Swaby, CEO, EduFocal. (Photo: Naphtali Junior/Jamaica Observer)

It was video games that got him started, Gordon tells me. As a fifteen-year-old high school student he built Advance-Gamers, a video gaming resource website. I wasn’t going to mention his youth again, was I, but Gordon laughingly calls that period his “younger days.” He adds: “I started Advance-Gamers because I liked playing video games, but my parents refused to buy them for me. So I started the website, and when it got big enough I wrote video game publishers who would send me the games to review and keep.” He then began to develop the EduFocal concept with his older cousin in 2011. “He was doing his Masters at the time and didn’t have much time to contribute so I toiled along alone,” says Gordon.That year was intense. EduFocal was launched on March 15, 2012 at Kingston’s Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. 

The center of the town of Christiana, Gordon’s home town.

Gordon grew up in the small farming town of Christiana, in Manchester’s cool hills. He attended Holmwood Technical High School. Who or what inspired him as a boy, I asked him? “I was influenced by many things and people growing up,” Gordon responds. “My parents, brothers, TV shows, cartoons and friends…But if I had to choose I would say that my parents [Lloyd and Olivene Swaby] had and continue to have the biggest influence on me. They’re both entrepreneurs.”  At EduFocal, he also recognizes his supportive board of directors: Peter Levy (chairman), Lloyd Swaby, Grace Lindo, Maxwell Jardim, JJ Geewax and Renee Rattray. “Outside of my board, I have to thank others who have contributed to the continued growth of the company, EduFocal’s lead developer Paul Allen and Shane Shipston,” says Gordon.

He describes himself as being “an average student” at Holmwood. He says he learned to read and write “very late” - after which English became his favorite subject. In fact, he has been blogging since the age of fifteen (read his blog at gordonswaby.com) – a veteran! Gordon chuckles at his teenage blog posts. “Some of them I imagine are very embarrassing,” he says. Clearly he doesn’t look back at them often, although he does say he has a tendency to “introspect.” Nevertheless, I suspect he mainly keeps moving forward.

I am curious as to what drives Gordon. He says he is good at strategizing and negotiating – but confesses to being “a chronic procrastinator…I’m surprised when I get anything done.” I find this hard to believe – he has been moving along at such a snappy pace. Gordon insists: “I have a bad habit of waiting until the last minute to get stuff done. This has been something I’ve struggled with since I was a child. I would wait until the last minute to pack for a trip, do my homework etc. But with that said, I usually am a man of my word. I’m very persistent and I love to follow through.” Gordon places a great deal of value on follow-through, and I agree with him that it’s something many people in and outside business don’t take seriously. “I think I’d credit that for me getting so far so fast in my short time on this earth,” Gordon stresses.

Gordon Swaby. (Photo: Gleaner)

Gordon’s spirit of enterprise has been recognized. Soon after the launch of EduFocal, he was selected as one of twenty up-and-coming businesspeople to be provided with skills training and mentorship at the Montego Bay-based Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. That same year, he won one of the Jamaica Gleaner Fifty Under Fifty awards for business leadership. Earlier this year, the Inter-American Development Bank named Gordon as one of ten Young Innovators for Latin America and the Caribbean. He was off to Bahia, Brazil, where he was invited to meet with the IDB’s board of governors. Judging from his enthusiastic tweets, it was an exciting experience for the Jamaican entrepreneur. He has also been spotted at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva very recently. Why? He is the Founding Curator of the Kingston hub of the WEF’s Global Shapers Community. Oh, he is also a winner of The Governor General’s Youth Achievement Award and the Commonwealth Youth Award in Development.

Another award which I did not mention: Gordon receives the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of Technology in Jamaica.

It would be almost impossible to pick Gordon out from this amazing group of 310 Curators of  at the World Economic Forum earlier this month.

I asked Gordon about his vision for the future. In five years’ time, perhaps, when he would have reached the lofty age of 29. He hopes EduFocal will have gone public by then, and he would have moved into the position of chairman. But of course he won’t sit still. “I am passionate about startups and will likely consult and invest in other startups.”

Gordon feels passionately about entrepreneurship. I asked him if there could, perhaps, be too many entrepreneurs in Jamaica. “Definitely not!” he retorts. “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any economy. You can’t have too many. I think informal entrepreneurship thrives in Jamaica. People turn to entrepreneurship out of a need to to take care of themselves and their families. I hope we can move from informal to formal entrepreneurship soon; Jamaica will be better off for it.” 

And Gordon is happy with the way things are going for EduFocal. “We’re about to expand into Trinidad and Tobago and I’m very excited about that. We’ve also partnered with First Global Bank for a project that we will be launching in September. We are also expanding into SAT test prep via a partnership with Versan Educational Services.”

George Henry (left), principal of Spalding High School, greets Gordon Swaby, CEO of EduFocal, as Dean of Discipline Yvonne McLeod-Myrie looks on. Gordon was at the school to give a motivational speech to students. (Photo: Dave Lindo/Gleaner)

A serious final question. How does Gordon see the future of education in Jamaica? He has concerns. “The world is changing fast. The way things are going, Jamaica will be far behind the rest of the world in the next twenty to thirty years. Education should create thinkers, thinkers who will be placed in jobs that have not been created yet. I would hope that the future of education in Jamaica reflects this.”  I would hope so too. One of those quantum leaps is required.

And a final reminder from Mr. Swaby: Don’t forget to follow through.

Gordon Swaby’s easy smile.

The summer is disappearing, fast. And we are getting bucketfuls of rain. Oodles of it, filling the streets with galloping waters.

Former Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, who died in Fort Lauderdale on August 28. (Photo: Gleaner)

The death of Minister Clarke: Our Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke died suddenly last Thursday. He was at Fort Lauderdale Airport on his way back to Jamaica after undergoing back surgery in Florida, and died of a heart attack. Tributes and remembrances have been flooding in; there is no doubt that many people inside and outside politics were very fond of the Minister and genuinely liked him as a human being. He was what Americans would call a “mensch.” He seemed unusually free of the “tribalistic” leanings of the vast majority of our politicians.

A party stalwart, too: Minister Clarke was a staunch “comrade,” and as such the People’s National Party (PNP) will miss him (he was a Vice President Emeritus). He joined the political fray at the local level in the 80s and served as Mayor of Black River, then served as a Member of Parliament since 1991. He was unbeaten at the polls, whether in local or national government – a highly successful politician.

Chistopher Tufton (left), who was then the minister of agriculture, greets Roger Clarke, who was the opposition spokesman on agriculture at the time, during the launch of the Eat Jamaican campaign at the Coronation Market in Kingston on March 1, 2011. (Photo: Gleaner)

BUT agriculture needs to “step up”: As a cane farmer himself (he was apparently the largest sugar cane producer in Jamaica), Minister Clarke was undoubtedly close to many farmers at the grassroots level. We got used to him in the agriculture portfolio, which he held for about twelve years altogether. But is the “people’s touch” enough? I really think a sharp mind is needed to give Jamaican agriculture the high profile required in the world of international trade. And let’s face it, agriculture has been on steady decline in Jamaica for the past decade at least. Sugar, coffee, citrus, for example. Praedial larceny still ravages the sector and has not been dealt with. The much-touted agro-parks have not been a roaring success. We can’t blame the MInistry for the terrible drought, which brought J$1 billion in losses, of course. Minister Clarke was a lovely man, but…For what concrete achievements will he be remembered?

No new Cabinet member: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says Minister Clarke’s former portfolio will be transferred to someone who is already in the Cabinet, perhaps with the assistance of a state minister. Social Security and Labor Minister Derrick Kellier had been acting in the Minister’s absence. And clearly a by-election is due, in what has always been a “safe” PNP seat (the Jamaica Labour Party only won it once, in 1980).

Talking of the drought, we have had enough rain in the past week to keep us happy for a while. But water levels in our main reservoirs have only increased by five per cent, we are told. So water restrictions remain. And I hope Minister Pickersgill is still looking at a thorough overhaul of our water management system, so that we will be at least able to better cope with future “water crises.” It’s not impossible, Minister – put your mind to it, please.

Back to school issues and non-issues: While we all keep fingers crossed that the academic year will start comfortably this week, the Jamaica Observer managed to find a “sexy” story with which to grace its front page: A tale of conspiracy and corruption among teachers and bookstores to “pad” school book lists. The article offers no evidence whatsoever of this (which schools? which bookstores? how does it work?)

Executive Director, Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission, Maxine Henry-Wilson addressing a public forum on ‘Financing Tertiary Education’ held on February 25, 2014.  To her credit, she did urge Jamaicans to make sure they enrolled for accredited programs and with approved institutions. (Photo: JIS)

A much more serious issue involves Jamaica’s tertiary institutions. The external quality assurance body for tertiary education in Jamaica, the University Council of Jamaica has registered 44 tertiary institutions, and accredited one university (the University of the West Indies/UWI) and 255 academic programs of study. In other words, all UWI’s programs are accredited; many others are not. A UWI professor and Gleaner columnist, Carolyn Cooper, put the cat among the pigeons on this. There is alarm among students and recent graduates who fear their expensive degree or diploma may not be worth the paper it’s printed on. I understand, though, that it is very costly and may take years to get a program accredited. Ridiculous! As Professor Cooper notes, there is a huge need not just for accreditation but for regulation in this sector – the task of the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission headed by a former education minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson. Ah, but the Commission is not yet legal! (A year ago it promised “more information” on its Facebook page. None forthcoming).

Tivoli Gardens enquiry: The Commissioners who took the Oath of Office before former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Hon. Mr. Justice Lensley Wolfe this week are: Chairman, Retired Chief Justice and former Attorney General of Barbados Sir David Simmons; Retired Judge of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica, Mrs. Justice Hazel Harris, CD; and Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security, University of the West Indies, Professor Anthony Harriott. These people are charged with determining whether anyone’s rights were violated during the May 2010 incursion by security forces into Tivoli Gardens, the conduct of operations by the security forces during the State of Emergency at that time, and much more. No date has been set for the Commission to start its deliberations; I hope we hear soon.

Chikungunya on the rise: The number of people with the Chikungunya virus (“chik v”) is 21 and counting; and with the recent rains, a whole lot more mosquitoes will be breeding. We really must be careful and seek out possible breeding spots around the yard. Mosquitoes can breed even in a leaf or flower…

Members of the Rotary Club of Trafalgar, New Heights on a work day at Shalom Basic School in August Town, St. Andrew, last weekend. (Photo: Facebook page)

Special “big ups” to the Rotary Club of Trafalgar, New Heights (“the first new generation club of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean”) which is very busy under its new President Coleen Lewis. The Club staged a Health Fair for children going back to school in Maverley, Kingston yesterday.

And the Jamaica/Ireland connection! At the Irish arts festival Electric Picnic, Irieland TV (clever, eh?) has launched a 40-minute creative documentary film that “tells the story of Belfast poet Gearóid Mac Lochlainn’s musical pilgrimage to Jamaica, to see if the message of ‘One Love’ that crossed sectarian divisions during his youth in Belfast, is still alive in Jamaica today. In a musical voyage that brings him from Trenchtown to the Trelawny maroons, from Inna De Yard to a Nyabinghi groundation ceremony, Gearóid looks beyond the famous recording studios to the very roots of roots Reggae.” Very cool! It’s called ‘Ceolchuairt Jamaica‘ and perhaps someone can tell me what the first Gaelic word means!

To finish off, I am going to quote from Gleaner columnist Gordon Robinson’s column today: “According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, 9.9% of Jamaicans lived below the poverty line in 2007. By 2009, the figure was 16.9%; and, by 2011, over 20%. Today, more than 1.1 million Jamaicans live below the poverty line. Jamaica has dropped, on the Human Development Index, from 79th in the world (2011) to 86th since 2013. Barbados is ranked 36th; Haiti 100th.” Let’s just allow that to sink in.

I am very sad to say that the number of Jamaicans murdered each week seems to be increasing. Since Wednesday the following names have come up, and I send deepest sympathies to all the families:

Angela Bennett, 39, Coronation Market/Chapel Lane, Kingston (allegedly by police)

Nelvin Hunter, 30, Half Way Tree, Kingston

Jenice Reid, St. John’s Road/Spanish Town, St. Catherine

Bradley Watkiss, St. John’s Road/Spanish Town, St. Catherine 

Omar Peart, 36, Cumberland, St. Catherine

Lynette Graham, 42, Faith’s Pen, St. Ann

Lamar Williams, 18, Coxheath/Runaway Bay, St. Ann

Filo Wint, Florence Hall, Trelawny (German national)

Clinton Butler, 63, Maggotty, St. Elizabeth

I get emotional about certain things. One of them is the destruction of the few relatively untouched areas of our planet, in the name of unsustainable “development.” Despite the recent warnings that the damage we human beings have already done is beyond repair, in terms of climate change, some among us relentlessly move onwards in pursuit of profit and perhaps economic domination. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in a leaked draft report, noted a few days ago: “Without additional mitigation, and even with adaptation, warming by the end of the 21st century will lead to high to very high risk of severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts globally.”  But hey, they are probably exaggerating, say our “investors,” sweeping all before them. Let’s build another coal plant.

Here’s a little list I started – beginning with what is closest to our home, and one would hope, dearest to our hearts. You will notice a common thread in this list of destruction/planned destruction, I am sure.

CHEC equipment near Little Goat Island earlier this month. They are doing test boreholes. See savegoatislands.org for more information. (Photo: Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)

• Portland Bight Protected Area/Goat Islands, Jamaica: Still a closely guarded secret, the Goat Islands area is the target of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), with whom the Jamaican Government recently signed a mysterious agreement. CHEC intends to build a transshipment port that will accommodate the mega-ships that are designed to pass through the expanded Panama Canal. “The Portland Bight Protected Area, including the Goat Islands and the adjacent areas, were protected under Jamaican law by the current Administration for good, scientific reasons and after considerable study,” says Diana McCaulay of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), which is spearheading the campaign to save Goat Islands. Why the lack of transparency? What is really happening? For more information and to sign the petition, visit savegoatislands.org and the JET website and Facebook page.

The western bay at Little Goat Island is rich with seagrass. I have seen this for myself. (Photo: Kirsty Swinnerton)

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (fifth left), cuts the ribbon to officially open the Linstead to Moneague segment of the North/South Highway on August 5. Also participating are Opposition Spokesman on Infrastructure Development, Dr. Horace Chang (left); Regional Director for China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), Tang Zhongdong (third left), and Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies (seventh left). (Photo: JIS)

• The Highway 2000 (Mt Rosser leg of North-South link) plus 1,200 acres: Built by CHEC and opened with great fanfare, ironically, just before Independence Day – with a huge Chinese banner and Jamaican women dressed in Chinese costume. Minister of Transport and Works Omar Davies told journalists that in addition to the toll to be collected by the Chinese for the next fifty years, the Jamaican Government also agreed to give the company 1,200 acres – adding they have not decided “which 1,200 acres they want.” Take your pick! What if the land is native forest? What if it is an area of particular interest re: biodiversity? I understand the land will be “along the highway” somewhere. What will CHEC do with this land? Will they build a factory, a coal plant and if so, will they have to go through proper environmental approvals?

• The huge Baha Mar construction in the Bahamas, two years ago.

  Baha Mar Resort, New Providence Island, Bahamas: Backed by China’s state-run Export-Import Bank of China and constructed by the China State Construction Engineering Corp., the huge 2,900-room Baha Mar Resort broke ground at Nassau’s Cable Beach in February 2011 with plans for four new hotels plus what had previously been the 694-room Sheraton Nassau Beach Hotel as well as a casino, a golf course and a convention center. It is trying hard to promote environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, although there have been major issues regarding its air-conditioning systems. It is scheduled to open in late spring 2015 and has provided employment for thousands of Chinese workers.

A wide swath of mangrove forest cleared on the north side of North Bimini, Bahamas. Save The Bays has been urging the declaration of a marine protected area for northern Bimini to preserve remaining mangrove habitats and some of the most treasured coral reefs in the world. (Photo: Dr. Kristine Stump)

• Bimini, Bahamas: These three small, laid-back islands, famous for their pristine marine environment and eco-tourism, are now under threat from the Genting Group, a Malaysian consortium, which wants to build a huge pier with mega-ferries bringing many thousands of tourists daily from Miami to the smallest (nine-square-mile) island, where it has already built a casino and resort. Marine biologists call the plans “an ecological and socioeconomic disaster.” (There is a world-famous shark research lab there). Please watch this beautiful short video from Bimini on the importance of mangroves: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/314266880221474431/ Source: Telegraph UK, Save The Bays

Some of Antigua’s small islands from the air. I saw a lot of mangrove forest and coral reef. (My photo)

•  A US$1 billion mega resort in Antigua, Barbuda and surrounding small islands (including Guiana Island) is to be built by the Yida International Investment Group. The new government signed an agreement with the Chinese the day after it was elected in June. Slated to be 50 per cent larger than the above-mentioned Baha Mar resort, construction on the “Singulari” scheme is slated to begin in 2015 on 900 acres of land in the north of Antigua and 700 acres of tiny islands (much of it previously owned by former “investor” Alan Stanford). It will include several luxury hotels, hundreds of private homes, a school, hospital, marinas, golf courses, an entertainment district, horse racing track and the Caribbean’s biggest casino. Little Antigua is about to turn into a mega construction site. I wonder how its lovely small resorts feel?  Source: Various websites

A picture of the planned Chinese mega-resort in Antigua.

A tiny fraction of the deforestation in Guyana on the Kwakwani/Ituni trail by Bai Shan Lin. (Photo: Kaiteur News)

• Our neighbors in Guyana are simply suffering from the depredations of a Chinese company, part of a group of 11 companies operating in Guyana. They are all part of the China Forest Industry Group. These companies have seven logging concessions in Guyana, covering a total area of 960,000 hectares (about 4.5% of the area of the country). The company has also ignored, on three separate occasions, a cease order for sand mining and is building a road illegally. The Kaiteur News has posted devastating videos of massive deforestation, taking place apparently without parliamentary approval.   Source: REDD-monitor.org, Kaiteur News and Mark Jacobs blog.

The proposed Nicaragua Canal route will cut through nature reserves and the Bluefields wetlands as well as rainforest. (Nature, International Weekly Journal of Science)

• And further afield… The planned Nicaragua Canal will cut a swathe right across the country and work is supposed to start this year. If completed, it is said to be the largest engineering project in history and will be much larger than, and a rival to the Panama Canal. According to AP, residents of the Brito region in south-west Nicaragua are alarmed and feel intimidated by groups of Chinese and Nicaraguans, accompanied by police and soldiers conducting a “census” to see if they can buy their land to build the canal. The Nicaraguan government has already granted the previously little-known HKND Group headed by Wang Jing of China rights to the canal, ports, highways and rights of way stretching across the country from The Brito River on the Pacific to Bluefields Bay on the Atlantic. Ometepe Island, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010, is directly in the path of the proposed canal. It includes Lake Cocibolca, the biggest fresh water reservoir in the country; developers would have to dynamite their way through it. It also includes a “restless” volcano, unique elfin forest and is a special place for migratory birds heading to North America. Activities include agriculture, fishing and community-based eco-tourism. It is just beautiful.

That’s all for now. I could go on, but this list is long enough already, don’t you think?

Rodolfo Molina, an 81-year-old retired mechanic, dries rice for storage outside his home where he has lived for 40 years in Rivas, Nicaragua. Rivas is the town where the first phase of an Inter-Oceanic canal is planned to be built in 2014. (Photo: AP)

Please find below a press release from J-FLAG, dated Friday, August 29, 2014. I have also added Javed’s thoughts on the matter. 

Javed Jaghai, a gay man who brought a legal challenge to Jamaica’s anti-buggery laws in the country’s Supreme Court, has discontinued his case following threats of violence. Mr Jaghai argued that these laws violated his and others’ constitutional rights.

In a signed affidavit, a copy of which is attached to this statement, Mr Jaghai attributes his decision to personal threats, the burden that the litigation was putting on his family, and continuing incidents of violence against Jamaica’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In his affidavit, Mr Jaghai told the court:
“Though the cause and the case are noble, I am no longer willing to gamble with my life or the lives of my parents and siblings.”

Janet Burak of AIDS-Free World, which supported Jaghai in his case from the beginning, said: “The fear that drove Javed to withdraw from the case is the same fear that keeps gay men in Jamaica underground, away from effective HIV testing, prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions. Jamaica’s own Minister of Health has publicly stated that stigma and discrimination are driving the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men. The country’s HIV prevalence rate for this at-risk population is the highest in the western hemisphere (33%), and Jamaica’s anti-gay law is among the most severe in the Caribbean region, with sentences of up to 10 years in prison for consensual sexual relations between men.”

J-FLAG, which had brought the claim alongside Mr Jaghai, said it understood his situation and that it fully supported his decision. J-FLAG has therefore consented to a Notice of Discontinuance.

Dane Lewis, Executive Director of J-FLAG, said: “A law criminalising what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home has no place in a free society that values and protects all its citizens.

The existence of this law and the closely related cultural hostility experienced by LGBT Jamaicans should be carefully considered in light of the reasons for Javed requesting that the case be discontinued. This is a live example of the ways in which the continued existence and enforcement of the anti-buggery law contributes to the lack of access to justice for sexual and gender minorities in Jamaica.”

All parties involved hope that in the aftermath of this there will be an opportunity to engage in a series of consultations with multiple stakeholders, including government, geared at sensitising Jamaicans about the LGBT community.

AIDS-Free World has been working, and will continue to work, in the Caribbean and elsewhere, to eliminate laws and policies that inhibit a more effective HIV response, including Jamaica’s anti-sodomy laws.

J-FLAG remains committed to advocating for the rights of Jamaica’s LGBT community and will continue to support any legitimate means to effect meaningful change to improve their lives and to ensure that the community enjoys the rights afforded to all.

The J-FLAG logo includes the colors of the Jamaican flag (black, green and gold).

Contacts:

AFW: jburak@aidsfreeworld.org +1 (212) 729-5084
J-FLAG: admin@j-flag.org (876) 754-2130
Mr Jaghai filed a constitutional challenge to the buggery laws against the Attorney General on 6 February 2013. On 3 September 2013, J-FLAG was added to the action as a claimant.
AIDS-Free World is an international advocacy organization working for more urgent and effective global responses to HIV and AIDS. To learn more, visit
http://www.aidsfreeworld.org.
J-FLAG is the foremost organisation in Jamaica advocating for the rights of LGBT people, and is committed to promoting social change, empowering the LGBT community, and building tolerance for, and acceptance of LGBT people. Through our programmes we seek to foster the acceptance and enrichment of the lives of same-gender-loving persons who have been, and continue to be an integral part of society. To find out more, please visit http://jflag.org/.

AIDS-Free World

END NOTES from Javed Jaghai:

After a period of extensive reflection, I am confident in my decision to withdraw as claimant for the following reasons (in no particular order):

My family is currently attending to the urgent medical needs of my sister. My participation in the case and the attendant social consequences place an extra burden on us that I cannot justify at this time.

Jamaica is a very small society with many poorly socialized people. Unstable individuals regularly harm unsuspecting others for choosing to live in a way that displeases them. While I have never been harmed physically, I have been threatened enough times to know that I am vulnerable. Though the cause and the case are noble, I am no longer willing to gamble with my life or the lives of my parents and siblings.

The plantocracy in the colony of Jamaica ratified the law in question in 1864 – a year before the Morant Bay Rebellion. Great Britain granted the island independence in 1962 and one-time subjects of a violent empire became citizens of a new nation. Fifty-two years after independence, we are debating the constitutional validity of an 1864 law that is silly. I simply cannot continue to submerge my consciousness in an 1860’s reality to make sense of a legal system that acknowledges no discontinuity between colonial Jamaica and Jamaica in 2014.

I am very concerned that this case could go into 2015 and beyond given consistent delays. If this matter should be taken to the next level, which my lawyers suggested is likely, then we can expect another few years of sensationalized deliberations. I refuse to stand by while prominent voices in the society use this moment as an opportunity to incite mistrust and instigate waves of hysteria. I am not fighting any battles. This is not a war. I do not fight, I promote peace. But participants in island-wide protests and subsequent media reports and commentaries insist that “we” are at war, so I am going to lay down my weapons. I do not want to be characterized as a villain anymore.

After reading the submissions made by the many interested parties in the case (please read their submissions), it is clear to me that the “homosexual” or “gay” is a fantasy born of ignorance, fear and misguided convictions. I will dedicate no more of my time, energy and intelligence to grappling with anyone’s illusions. We only get to witness a slice of cosmic time. I want to enjoy the phenomenal chance I get to ride this rotating planet in space.

For these and other reasons, I think it is best for me to withdraw the claim. A genuine challenge deserves a claimant who is actually convinced that there is justice to be pursued by way of The Law.

Schools are back, uptown city dwellers are back from their holidays and back on the roads (and downtown ones never went anywhere). The rains are steadily receding. Life is back to “normal.”

Nicholas Deane (right) is moved to tears as he speaks about his son Mario, who was mauled while in the custody of the Barnett Street police last month. Deane died three days later. Looking on are United States-based attorney Jasmine Rand and local attorney Bert Samuels. (Photo: Michael Gordon/Jamaica Observer)

The pathologist and the lawyer: We had two visitors from the United States this week. Both of them were here because of Mario Deane, who was allegedly beaten at the Barnett Street Police Station one month ago. Attorney Jasmine Rand, who was on Trayvon Martin’s legal team, came in support of local lawyers representing Deane’s family. She is not qualified to practice law in Jamaica. But I rather like the shared concerns over such cases between Americans and Jamaicans – many of whom have followed events in Ferguson and related matters with great interest. Solidarity is good. But I felt Ms. Rand’s comments about the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) were a little off the mark – I detected a lack of faith in the Commission, which I think is unwarranted. As the Gleaner noted today, “We trust INDECOM.”

Mario Deane’s mother Mercia Frazer (centre) and her daughter Sadikie Deane (left) listen as United States-based pathologist Michael Baden addresses members of the media outside the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James, yesterday, about the autopsy performed on the body of Mario Deane, who died last month while in the custody of the police. (Photo: Phillip Lemonte/Jamaica Observer)

Dr. Michael Baden, the pathologist who presided over the autopsy on Mario Deane along with Jamaica’s Dr Murari Saranji yesterday, looks like an absent-minded professor. Deane could not have survived the terrible beating he received, said Dr. Baden; he died of his injuries on Independence Day, August 6, after three days in hospital. It appears that Mr. Deane was repeatedly punched and his neck was squeezed; also his cheekbones were broken. There were marks on his wrist. He died from his head injuries. But of course, question is: Who was exactly involved, and how?

And suddenly, “human rights” is the buzzword: Even politicians, such as National Security Minister Peter Bunting, are talking about it. For many years now, human rights lobby groups such as Jamaicans for Justice have been sneered at for “defending criminals,” ridiculed and/or ignored. Successive administrations have happily gone along with this. The Jamaican Government has, for many years, allowed Jamaicans who aren’t thinking very hard to continue believing that “human rights” is a foreign concept, forced on us by outsiders (rather than universal). That way, they didn’t have to do anything, and could continue more or less ignoring the numerous annual reports by the U.S. State Department, Amnesty and others on the very issue of prison conditions.

Protesters outside the Barnett Street Police Station after Mario Deane’s death. (Photo: Gleaner)

Now since the Mario Deane case, politicians seem anxious. Perhaps it is that the local media have not let this one go; perhaps it is the interest from overseas. Perhaps, even, the eagle eye of the IMF. On social media, #JusticeForMarioDeane and similar hashtags are still circulating. So Minister Bunting has set up a committee to look into conditions in prisons and lock-ups. This administration loves setting up committees. We shall see.

Does anyone remember the case of Agana Barrett? In October 1992, a 21-year-old apprentice carpenter from Grants Pen, Agana Barrett died of suffocation, along with two others (Vassell Brown and Ian Forbes), in the Constant Spring lock-up. They were crammed into a small cell with 18 other men and beaten by other inmates and/or police. The men were denied adequate food and some were forced to drink their own urine and sweat to quench their thirst. A court determined that Agana’s wrongful death was worth less than J$2 million. There was a huge fuss about it for a couple of months but were the policemen in charge at the time punished? Five policemen were charged after being held responsible for the deaths by a Coroner’s Court; but were acquitted in 1996. Oh, Mr. Barrett and his cellmates had just been picked up off the street for “processing,” by the way.

Javed Jaghai graduated from Dartmouth College in 2012. He is a sincere, smart, articulate, kind and sensitive young Jamaican.

Lord Anthony Gifford has lived in Jamaica for many years and has steadfastly advocated for Jamaicans’ human rights. I must support every word of his op-ed in today’s Gleaner, praising the courage of Javed Jaghai, who has reluctantly withdrawn his lawsuit challenging Jamaica’s antiquated law against buggery. Lord Gifford points to two key obstacles for Javed: Firstly that, being a gay man in Jamaica, he and his family suffered threats of violence. Secondly, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has a savings clause “which said that nothing contained in any law relating to sexual offenses, obscene publications and abortion, which was in force at the time the Charter was passed into law, should be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of the provisions of the Charter.” Thanks to the religious zealots of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, who had strong input into the legislation.

A schoolboy story: Overseas there is an interesting case. A former high-profile policeman in west Kingston, “Schoolboy Richie” (Errol Cliff Richards) and a colleague are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute, import and export narcotics into and from the United States. The two are suspected of conducting a multinational narcotics operation across Trinidad, Colombia, Venezuela, Canada, and the United States. Richards was dismissed from the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 1996. He was accused along with another policeman, then SSP Owen Ellington, of conspiracy to defraud an insurance company. SSP Ellington (later Police Commissioner) was cleared of the charge and later sued the Government for malicious prosecution. Mr. Richards goes back to a New York court on September 23.

Chlorine spill: These seem to occur with alarming regularity. What’s with all these old chlorine tanks lying around on government compounds?  This time, 45 residents of Morant Bay were overcome with the fumes (this stuff is so poisonous!) and there was panic, with schools and businesses closing (yes, the first day of school was Monday – what a way to start!)

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (right), on August 27 commissions into service the Ballater Avenue Well located at 9 Ballater Avenue in Kingston. Looking on is Managing Director, Jamaica Wells and Services Limited, Richard Simpson. (Photo: JIS)

You don’t miss the water ’til…  On his excellent new call-in program (which has a good investigative flavor) broadcast journalist Cliff Hughes has been trying to get to the bottom of an issue affecting many inner-city residents – a complete lack of water. Yesterday, Member of Parliament for these areas and prominent Cabinet Minister Omar Davies told Mr. Hughes he had tried, but couldn’t do anything about the lack of water in many parts of his constituency. Minister Davies has represented these impoverished areas for the past 21 years, without much to show for it, but that’s another story.

The well water goes somewhere else: Last week a new well was opened in Kingston (the city’s wells were closed years ago as they were polluted with sewage) – with much fanfare. But it appears the communities the water is intended for will not receive it any time soon. Although the well came on stream on July 1, the National Water Commission has so many technical issues (broken mains, stolen pipes etc) that it will take some time to fix. Meanwhile, Arnett Gardens has had no water since March. How on earth do they manage? This is a major public health issue, bearing in mind these are densely populated areas.

Jamaica’s inflation rate: It is worrying and depressing for most of us to visit the supermarket these days. The price of food has gone through the roof. This is partly due to the drought, and also due to the 24% depreciation in our exchange rate in the past two years. Jamaica’s inflation rate is currently one of the highest in the world, and the highest in the Caribbean (9% in the last year) but is actually an improvement over previous years. The second highest is Cuba, by the way, at 5.5% and Haiti’s inflation is 4.2%. Our inflation for the month of July alone was 1.4%. And yet, Bank of Jamaica Governor Brian Wynter was just last week expressing pride at Jamaica’s “resilience to inflationary shocks,” thanks to the International Monetary Fund arrangements. Well, it’s all relative, I suppose. Mr. Wynter has predicted 1 – 2 per cent growth for this fiscal year.

Jamaica is a little more competitive: Jamaica has improved in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index. It’s at 86th – Jamaica is the second most competitive economy in the Caribbean, after Barbados. Trinidad and Tobago is at 89th position.

“Social Impact” on gleanerblogs.com: That’s my weekly article. This week I am writing about issues for Jamaica and the Caribbean being aired at the Third Annual Small Island Developing States Conference in Apia, Samoa. Here’s the link. Do leave a comment if you would like: http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/?p=2157

Multi-kudos to…

The University Hospital of the West Indies’ Physiotherapy Department for getting our terrific veteran marathon runner, Alfred “Frano” Francis, literally back on track. As the beneficiary of some wonderful physiotherapists here in Jamaica, who brought me from extreme and constant pain to complete normality a couple of years ago, I can only imagine how it feels to have made a comeback from a rather rare and frightening disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Now Frano is “up and running” for the Jamaica Gleaner’s 180th Anniversary 5K Run on Saturday, September 13.  “In life you need to give thanks,” says Frano. Indeed! Register for the Gleaner 5K here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/180run/ The Run/Walk is open to all levels and all ages and will also benefit the awesome Peace and Love in Society (PALS) – look them up at http://www.palsjamaica.org/

PALS supporting community policing in west Kingston. (Photo: PALS/Twitter)

Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis of Running Events Jamaica explains how he was assisted by the Physiotherapy Department of the University Hospital of the West Indies after he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome. – (Photo: Gladstone Taylor/Gleaner)

#natureROCKS: Adam Wilson shot this along Hellshire’s central coast in the heart of the Portland Bight Protected Area. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

#natureROCKS: To encourage an appreciation of nature, the Jamaica Observer’s Kimone Thompson has started a “selfie” competition for Jamaicans to take a photo of themselves in a natural setting (in some cases, it’s people’s backyards, but…)  Share yours on Twitter to @JamaicaObserver. Lovely idea, Kimone!

Chantal Raymond is a former Miss Jamaica and a Harvard Law School graduate. She moderates a blog called “Free Speech Jamaica” which “seeks to bring awareness to the importance of freedom of expression, to illuminate any form of censorship and limitations on freedom of expression which aims to promote silence, and to give voice to the disenfranchised and neglected in society.” She addresses issues in the U.S. and Jamaica. Check out the blog.

Our champion swimmer Alia Atkinson.

The awesome Alia Atkinson, who won her second gold medal at the Doha FINA/MASTBANK Swimming World Cup 2014 in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. Alia is going from strength to strength!

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz celebrate one of their goals against Puerto Rico in the CFU Caribbean Cup at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad, on August 19. The Girlz won the game 4-1. (Photo: Dexter Philip/Jamaica Observer)

And talking about sport, big ups to Sherwin Williams for their long-standing support for the Reggae Girlz – Jamaica’s women’s football team. They have a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals, which would be a first for a Caribbean team. I wish them all the luck in the world!

Chantal Raymond moderates a very good blog called “Free Speech Jamaica” (freespeechjamaica.com)

More road madness: For some reason, deaths on the road seem to be rising rather steeply. This morning, a taxi overtaking a line of traffic smashed into a light pole, killing a six-year-old girl and her mother who were passengers. Last night, a van hit a bus driver who was guiding a woman across the road; the woman died and the man is seriously injured. The van driver sped away. Two people were killed in an accident in Holland, St. Elizabeth on Monday. Most, if not all these accidents seem to be due to speeding. And three people, including a little baby, were killed and several injured when a car crashed in St. Ann on Saturday. They were traveling in a Mitsubish Evolution. Isn’t that a sports car? Speeding again?

My deepest condolences to all those who are mourning the deaths of these Jamaicans who have been murdered in the past three days.

Randy Rowe, 17, Truro/Frome, Westmoreland

Kemar Samuels, 29, Truro/Frome, Westmoreland 

Omar Scarlett, 37, Darliston, Westmoreland

Unidentified man, Wilshire, Trelawny (shot by licensed firearm holder after shooting a policeman with a spear gun. Policeman is hospitalized)

Ian Martin, 39, Esher, St. Mary

Unidentified woman, Leithe, Hanover

This is Karl Grayson, who has been missing since Wednesday, August 27. He was clad in a pair of black shoes, black denim trousers and a white short-sleeved shirt with the Gleaner logo embroidered at the front. Anyone knowing of his whereabouts is asked to contact the Matilda’s Corner Police Station, 279-1932, or 538-6441, or the nearest police station.

A press release tonight from the National Road Safety Council. Please, please take care on our roads!

During the week August 28-September 3, according to police reports, 17 persons have been killed on Jamaica’s roads, mainly due to careless driving with motorists failing to keep to the left. In two of the cases the drivers failed to stop. This brings the number of road fatalities to 217 since the start of this year, compared to 203 over the same period in 2013.

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is horrified at this sudden surge in road fatalities, and sympathizes with the bereaved families, especially those grieving the loss of a mother and child in one crash which occurred in the early morning of Wednesday September 3.

“This situation calls for urgent action,” said Dr Jones. “First by the police to ramp up significantly their campaign to reduce speeding and careless driving across the island. Secondly by the Government to supply the traffic division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) with the resources needed to clamp down on reckless drivers; speed guns, motor cycles and motor cars. Thirdly by the private sector to provide the NRSC with additional resources, and together with the funds provided by the Jamaican Government through the National Health Fund (NHF), assist the NRSC in ramping up considerably the kind of public education required to deal with this grave national problem.”

In addition Mrs. Paula Fletcher, Executive Director of the NRSC is urging all parents and teachers to be particularly vigilant in ensuring that children, especially during the back to school period, are properly supervised whilst traversing our roads. “Please observe carefully and use the information provided by the NRSC in the media,” she exhorted.

Dr Jones appealed: “Finally, all citizens need to be eternally vigilant in encouraging road users to exercise due care in how we drive, ride and walk on the nation’s roads, in order that we may achieve the target of BELOW 240 road fatalities. This is the only way we can prevent the grief and pain and anguish resulted from these tragic losses.”
Dr. Lucien W. Jones
Vice Chairman
National Road Safety Council

Patron – His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen: Governor General
Chairman – The Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller: Prime Minister
Exec. Dir. – Mrs. Paula Fletcher MBA

For more information, please contact:
Ainsworth Morris, PROComm, Tel: 9266740 or 3756136

Investigations continue into the beating of Mario Deane at the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay and his subsequent death on Independence Day (August 6). There are many areas of deep concern that must be addressed – and not in a superficial, “band-aid” way either. We know – everyone knows – that Mr. Deane is one of a number of Jamaicans who have suffered, endured abuses of their human rights and died in police lock-ups over the years. We should note that Mr. Deane had not been charged with any crime and his friend had reportedly been turned away when he came to bail him out. As some details have emerged in the media, the circumstances of Mr. Deane’s death become even more worrying.

Human rights abuses in Jamaica’s prisons and lock-ups are regularly documented in annual reports compiled by various local and international entities. Every year, in fact. These reports have been basically ignored by successive Jamaican administrations, although the terrible conditions are well-known to many Jamaicans. Those who work in the government security agencies, non-governmental organizations such as Jamaicans for Justice, and the Justices of the Peace who regularly visit the lock-ups – all of them know that conditions are bad. Little or no action has been taken, over the years. Police lock-up conditions are similar to what was called “The Black Hole of Calcutta” – a small dungeon in the Indian city where prisoners of war were confined, resulting in many deaths. So the story tells us, and this happened in 1756. We are now in the 21st century but little progress has been made in Jamaica.

In its Executive Summary for 2013, the U.S. State Department Human Rights Report for Jamaica notes: “The most serious human rights issues were alleged unlawful security force killings; cases involving the violation of rights that were not resolved in a timely way; and poor prison and jail conditions, including abuse of detainees and prisoners and severe overcrowding.” Read more at: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/#wrapper  This is just one report, and as JFJ notes in its press release below, these conditions have been routinely documented and reported.

As the tragic story unfolded, another issue of growing concern is the plight of Mr. Deane’s fellow inmates, two of whom have been charged with his beating. These two are reportedly mentally challenged, and there was a third (called “Dummy”) who is a deaf-mute man. How could these people who are already facing so many challenges be locked up in the 19th century lock-up, which the pathologist called ? How many other disadvantaged, poor Jamaicans are locked up in this way, without proper medical care and treatment? The two accused men must have adequate legal representation; and, with all other mentally challenged detainees and prisoners, appropriate medical management.

Dawn Marie Roper, Chair of Mensana, a local non-profit organization, recently wrote to the local newspapers as follows:

The Editor / Sir:

Mensana Jamaica Stands With Family of Adrian Morgan

It was deeply moving to see the CVM TV news coverage of a demonstration in Whitehouse by the family and supporters of Adrian Morgan, a mentally ill man accused of murdering Mario Deane. What is being done to Mr. Morgan is a clear case of injustice against the mentally ill.

Mr. Morgan’s mother described the difficulties she experienced in locating him when he was found to be missing, the unexplained wounds to his body, and now the accusations made against him in his diminished capacity to defend himself against these accusations.

Mental health is a concern for all of us as almost every family in Jamaica is affected. Mensana Jamaica, a support group of the family members of persons living with mental illness, stands in complete support of Mr. Morgan and his family. We deeply sympathise with you and we completely understand what you are going through.

It is high time that the scape-goating of persons with diminished capacities to defend themselves (yes, we are calling it that) stops.

To the mother and grandmother of Mr. Morgan and the other supporters who demonstrated for justice in Whitehouse, Westmoreland yesterday, our hearts go out to you in this terrible time, and we stand with you wholeheartedly in your calls for justice. We call on all Jamaica to do the same as mental illness is no respecter of persons.

Sincerely

Dawn Marie Roper

Chair

MENSANA JAMAICA: Mental Health Support Group

For a whole mind, body and spirit

Mensana’s mission: Training and information sharing to help family members and caregivers cope, advocacy to improve national services and public education to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Founded in 1997, Mensana holds support meetings every second Saturday of the month from 10:00am – 12noon at
11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 (To rear of NEPA premises by the Society of Friends (Quakers). Mailing address: 
c/o 46 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10. Tel: (876) 340-8837; email: mensanajamaica@gmail.com

Here is JFJ’s most recent statement on the Mario Deane issue and the issue of conditions in Jamaica’s prisons and lock-ups, in general: 

Thursday, September 04, 2014, Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) wishes to congratulate the Ministers of Justice and National Security on taking some steps to correct the systemic problems plaguing police lock-ups and correctional and remand facilities. We note the recent announcement of the formation of three ‘working groups’, each headed by a governmental entity, and each tasked with specific responsibility to present a draft report and recommendations by the end of September.

Over the last fifteen years, JFJ has witnessed, documented and reported on Jamaica’s detention practices, especially in relation to police lock-ups, have adversely affected the lives of many Jamaicans. In fact, complaints from members of the public about arbitrary detention and abuse inside lock-ups outnumber any other issue we have dealt with as an organization. It is an incontestable fact that Jamaica’s general detention practices breach Jamaica’s own constitution and Jamaica’s laws including the Bail Act and the Constabulary Force Act, as well as international human rights standards. This patent violation has been consistently recognized by both the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights and the United Nations for the past decade in reports to the government.

JFJ must note for the record the issues affecting police lock-ups and those affecting prisons are distinct and should not be confused. JFJ is disappointed with the decision to marry the issues of police lock-up and prisons, which serve functionally different groups of people, and are currently administered by different government bodies. By marrying the issues, we are conflating those who are convicted with those who are un-convicted. This reinforces the belief of many within the society that there is no distinction between the two groups, and that detained persons are ‘guilty till proven innocent’.

We would therefore strongly suggest a separate focus by the sub-committee on detention practices and conditions inside lock-ups, especially in light of the unique issues faced by pre-trial detainees who are often wrongly called ‘prisoners’. The protections and standards for individuals in pre-trial detention settings are well established in international human rights instruments, and ought to be adhered to. The entrenched disregard of these and their absence in domestic legislation have led to the abuse of far too many Jamaicans.

Over the last few decades, numerous Jamaicans have lost their lives in police lock-up, including Agana Barrett, Ian Forbes, Vassell Brown, Kamoza Clarke and now Mario Deane. There are also the numerous untold stories of the unspeakable irreparable damage done to persons in police lock-ups, many of whom were released after protracted periods of time without ever facing a single charge or after being proven innocent.

This Government’s current study of the detention issue is a signal step, which can be a turning point in how persons in detention are treated. It could eventually help us as a nation to correct some of the systemic injustices meted out by a detention system in need of serious reform. JFJ stands ready to offer any support it can to the case for reform. Too many Jamaican have died in police lock-ups for us to settle for anything less. JFJ is committed to do its part to correct this grave problem since we are of the view that injustice to one is injustice to all.

By the way: Have the many churches in Jamaica made any comments of any significance on the case of Mario Deane? Well, I believe there were a couple of statements, made very belatedly – and only after the noise surrounding the case grew louder.The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches made a statement (“It is indeed an unfortunate situation”) – nine days after Mr. Deane’s death. Otherwise, I am afraid our religious leaders might have been largely silent. (Am I being unfair? I think not). A gentleman called Dr. Jepthah Ford said on radio today he had written to many church people on this specific matter in the past, and only received responses from two. A week ago, Member of Parliament Raymond Pryce urged the Christian church to “come out and start talking about these things” just as it had raised its collective voice on other issues in which they have been much engaged – casino gambling, a flexible work week, abortion and of course, what they call “the gay agenda.” All these issues are of far more concern to our churches than the way in which poor black Jamaicans (mostly young men) are treated on a daily basis in our prisons and lock-ups. 

The last few days have been full of drama…and rain. Quite a few Jamaicans have various flu-like bugs, and we all live in fear of chikungunya (a name which has had all kinds of weird and crazy pronunciations here – but the virus is really no joke). With the persistent rains (which we are glad for) one expects “chik v” cases to increase.

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard vessels enroute to the crash site – JDF Photo. By the way, the JDF Coast Guard is headed by a woman (the first in history) Antonette Wemyss-Gordon.

An unresponsive plane: Out of the blue (literally) Jamaica was the focus of a drama reported widely in the international news. An out-of-control small plane crashed on Friday into the ocean fourteen miles east of the island. One theory is that there was a loss of cabin pressure – the pilot was seen apparently unconscious from U.S. jet fighters escorting the plane. The U.S. Coast Guard have been helping out in the search for the wreckage, but reportedly pulled out last night. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) actually officially ended operations at 4:00 p.m. today and says the search and recovery operation is now at an end. It is a very sad story, indeed, but it seems the JDF did its very best, given fairly limited resources.

How secure are our schools? Last year, violent incidents in schools were reported with alarming regularity in the media. The term has just started, but already jamaicablogz.com is reporting a knife attack on an eleven-year-old student at Grange Hill Primary School in Westmoreland; Shavoy Taylor’s attacker, a classmate, has reportedly disappeared. Shavoy has several stitches in a cut on his face.

Amendments to the INDECOM Act: A Parliamentary Joint Select Committee has proposed and the Independent Commission of Investigation (INDECOM) accepted amendments to the INDECOM Act that would require members of the security forces to give information on shootings, or face disciplinary action or dismissal.

Talking about accountability… Why are our politicians not held more accountable? Why do the media not conduct more investigations into political corruption? There are several answers to this question. The status quo remains the same; the patriarchy of the “old boys’ club” remains firmly in place; and some benefit. At what cost?

I am tired of the shenanigans by our two competing telecoms providers, Digicel and LIME, over the blocking of Voice Over Internet Protocol services such as Viber. They are constantly bickering and complaining, and their customers don’t seem to be benefiting at all in any way. If we are paying for a data service, we should be able to use it however we want. Customers are plain fed up!

CHEC equipment near Little Goat Island. The Chinese firm has been doing test boreholes. (Photo: Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)

“Slow boat to Goat Islands”: A Sunday Gleaner report is suggesting things may be slightly less “gung-ho” on what it erroneously calls the logistics hub at Goat Islands, which China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is proposing to build. No, it’s a transshipment port they want to build. There is a lot of talk about CHEC doing “due diligence,” etc and making sure it’s all feasible. Hmm. Feasibility? I thought we had been told this was the perfect – the only – location for a megaport, in a protected area. (This part of the report amused me: “But [Jennifer] Armond [CHEC spokesperson] is not worried that the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will find the project an environmental hazard, as she argued the CHEC has taken specific steps to ensure that the integrity of the environment is protected.” OK, then. Pull the other leg, to use a British expression). Orville Taylor nails it in his column in the same newspaper: “In this present scenario, don’t blame CHEC; they will take as much as government allows them to; they have no loyalty to us.” Right.

Anyway, thanks to the Gleaner’s Gary Spaulding for managing to squeeze out some information for us from CHEC, who have finally decided they should speak to the press. We have been in the dark for long enough…

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (fourth left) and a ‘crew’ at work breaking ground for the cardiac wing of the Bustamante Hospital for Children in FEBRUARY, 2013. Other members of the team (from left) are Emma Scanlan, executive director, Chain of Hope; Lyttleton Shirley, then chairman, South East Regional Health Authority; Andy Thorburn, then chief executive officer, Digicel; Lady Allen; Fenton Ferguson, minister of health; Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell and Tara Nunes, vice-president, Sagicor Investments. (Photo: Gleaner)

Cardiac center on hold: It appears that work on a major addition to the Bustamante Hospital for Children – a pediatric cardiac center, to which several donors have contributed – has been halted because of a disagreement between the South East Regional Health Authority and one of the donors. The Sunday Gleaner report is confusing and puzzling, but refers to unnecessary delays by the Government that resulted in cost overruns. Ugh. Fix it, fix it please! The health of hundreds of Jamaican children hangs in the balance because of this nonsense.

E-cigarette smoker. (Photo: Andrew Vaughan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

E-cigarettes: I understand that e-cigarettes are widely available in Jamaica, even on sale in pharmacies. It seems that the World Health Organization (WHO) hasn’t quite made up its mind over these things, which apparently deliver vaporized nicotine (and perhaps other toxic substances) to your system. The New England Journal of Medicine is now reporting e-cigarettes may even be “gateway drugs.” As Jamaica is a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, I hope our Health Minister will keep an eye on this situation. The WHO is going to make some kind of statement later in the year.

I’m a bit fuzzy about the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Firearm and Tactical Training Unit (FTTU). Opposition Security Spokesman Derrick Smith says he wants his counterpart Peter Bunting to explain whether the FTTU is to be disbanded, because of pressure from the United States related to the Leahy Act (but wasn’t the FTTU funded by the British Government?) Mr. Smith asks also whether this has anything to do with the role played by the JCF in the Tivoli Gardens incursion of 2010 (this may be just a little dig to muddy the waters ahead of the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry – who knows). The JCF put out a somewhat ambivalent statement saying that the FTTU is under “review” but that its “mandate will continue.” We wait to hear more on this.

Opposition Spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith.

And will we hear who the new Police Commissioner will be, this week? All the interviews have been done, one understands.

Why aren’t we talking about constitutional reform like Trinidad and Tobago?  Dionne Jackson Miller’s article on the RJR website is worth a read: http://www.rjrnewsonline.com/opinion/tt-is-talking-constitutional-reform-why-not-jamaica

Now…Major kudos to:

Author A-dziko Simba Gegele engages in discussion at Saturday’s pop-up book club organized by BluMoon Books. (My photo)

New (prize-winning) novelist A-dziko Simba Gegele and her publisher BluMoon Books, who inspired at least one guest at our pop-up book club last night to start writing again! A-dziko’s novel, “All Over Again,” is a terrific, lively read and is available in local bookstores.

A blog to follow: Get to know Onyka Barrett, a dedicated Guyanese child rights activist and writer currently based in Jamaica. Her blog is at http://islandscribbler.wordpress.com

The second issue of Susumba’s Book Bag can now be read online at susumba.com

And if you don’t read susumba.com… Why not? This great website offers insightful reviews of the Jamaican arts scene, and you can also contribute your short stories and poems to Susumba’s Book Bag, a quarterly digital magazine for Caribbean writers. Check it out!

Minister Hanna (center) tours the exhibition with senior curator O’Neil Lawrence (right) and assistant curator Monique Barnett-Davidson (left) (Photo: Oliver Watt/National Gallery of Jamaica)

Sorry I missed the 40th anniversary celebrations of the National Gallery of Jamaica last weekend. But you can see their excellent In Retrospect exhibition, up until November 15.

Portrait of Edna Manley by Albert Huie (1940) from the National Gallery of Jamaica’s In Retrospect exhibition.

Among those who lost their lives in the past four days are a guidance counselor/teacher at the Oracabessa Primary School in St. Mary, who was shot dead; and another woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by the father of her child in the bus park in May Pen. Witnesses seized and attacked the man. The report on CVM Television was simply heart-rending. In fact, three women have been murdered in the past four days. My condolences to all those who are grieving.

Unidentified man, March Pen, St. Catherine (killed by police)

Unidentified man, Lauriston, St. Catherine (killed by police)

Sean Kameka, Georges Valley, Manchester

Lorene Francis, May Pen, Clarendon

Ena Murphy, 52, Wentworth/Galina, St. Mary

Kenisha Sudan, 34, Buckfield, St. Ann

Wilson Brown, 53, Lyssons, St. Thomas

There are lots of pop-ups, these days. Pop-up restaurants, pop-up stores… Why not a pop-up book club?

Blouse and Skirt Books.

Well, that is what local publisher Tanya Batson Savage has been doing with Kingston-based BluMoon Publishers, which has an imprint called Blouse and Skirt Books (“Blouse and skirt!” is a great Jamaican exclamation of pleased surprise). Founded in 2005, publishing books for young people (BluMoon) and cutting-edge Caribbean fiction writers and poets (Blouse and Skirt).

Chilling in the back yard… (My photo)

So there we were, gathered on a humid evening in our back yard in Kingston among pots of bougainvilleas to hear A-dziko Simba Gegele read from her book “All Over Again.”  There were bursts of laughter, quiet giggles and nods, as A-dziko (looking through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy) gave us glimpses of life in a fictional rural village, Riverland. The boy is boastful, impatient, highly competitive, creating (and enduring) all the dramas of growing up, with a cast of characters including his cry-baby younger sister and a show-off schoolmate. A-dziko, with thirty years of theater, poetry and prose writing under her belt, brings him to life when she reads.

A-dziko Simba Gegele has a vibrant spirit and a wonderful reading style, expressive and energetic. (My photo)

In between readings, there were all kinds of discussions cropping up, accompanied by sips of wine. Some waxed philosophical. We talked about the differences between poetry and prose in terms of conveying emotion. A-dziko talked about how the smallest gesture or everyday incident can spark her interest and get her writing. Others discussed the differences between football and cricket, and the role sports plays in boys’ lives. Then we got into a discussion on education, and the bringing up of boys and girls, that could have gone on all night.

Oh, there aren’t any photos of this –  but I should have taken some of the delectable sweet offerings that we all indulged in. Unashamedly. A sponsor of the Pop-Up Book Club was A Likkle Slice of Heaven, a local dessert caterer whose confections were “to die for.” We almost did.

I would recommend pop-up book clubs. They are informal, fun and undemanding. So long as you have a few bottles on hand to make things go along, it’s a great way to read, listen, share thoughts and socialize.  Oh, and did I mention the cakes?

“All Over Again” displayed on our back verandah. The book won the first Burt Award for Caribbean Literature for a book suitable for young adults (age 12-18) established by the Canadian non-profit CODE. (My photo)

Here’s a reminder of the upcoming International Coastal Cleanup Day in Jamaica – Saturday, September 20. The Jamaica Environment Trust is expecting a tremendous turnout. Many thanks to the Tourism Enhancement Fund and to the Sandals Foundation for their ongoing support!

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has received an overwhelming response to International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day Jamaica, to be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014. For the first time in Jamaica, there are over 130 registered cleanup sites islandwide, including 6 river and 11 underwater cleanups. The number of expected participants has also increased to a record breaking 8,000 volunteers.

“ICC Day in Jamaica has grown leaps and bounds each year,” said Diana McCaulay, JET CEO, “We aimed for 100 sites and more volunteers this year, but 130 sites far exceeds our expectations.” As the National Coordinator, JET is working with local site coordinators to carry out cleanups in all 14 parishes in Jamaica on Saturday. The JET flagship beach cleanup has over 2,200 persons registered, including 21 corporate teams, who will be volunteering at the Fort Rocky Beach on the Palisadoes strip in Kingston.

International Coastal Cleanup Day in Jamaica is funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The Ministry of Tourism and its agencies, including TEF, will participate in cleanups in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston. “The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is delighted to know that a record number of sites have been registered for the 2014 ICC Day. It is a clear indication that we are beginning to understand and appreciate the concept of social responsibility and the importance of environmental stewardship…not only to ensure our own survival, but is also expected of us from visitors who are holding destinations to higher environmental standards,” said Clyde Harrison, Executive Director of the TEF.

There has also been enthusiastic participation from tourism stakeholders including hotels and resort boards. Sandals Foundation has come aboard again as a major supporter of ICC Jamaica 2014, coordinating 10 cleanups in 4 parishes. Couples Swept Away, Hedonism II, The Cardiff Hotel and Spa, and the Tryall Club are also coordinating cleanups in their resort areas.

At ICC cleanups, volunteers are not only responsible for picking up trash, but also collecting data on the type of garbage they collect. The data is compiled and sent by JET to the Ocean Conservancy, who coordinates the event globally. A full list of cleanups islandwide is available on JET’s website, http://www.jamentrust.org. JET encourages all Jamaicans to join a cleanup in their region – A day at the beach can make a world of difference!

For further details, contact Suzanne Stanley, Jamaica Environment Trust, 11 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10. Tel: (876) 960-3693; sstanley.jet@gmail.com

Please find below JET’s photographs from last year’s ICC Day around the island…

Scuba divers such as those from the Discovery Bay Marine Lab in 2012 participate in ICC Day by assisting with underwater cleanups.

Volunteers at ICC Day 2013.

Young volunteers at ICC Day 2012.