As we got out of the car, a group of olive-throated parakeets wheeled past with loud, squeaking cries, their wings beating fast. The noise of the Hope Road traffic faded.

We were at King’s House, the official residence of the Governor General of Jamaica, the Head of State. Our current “GG” is His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen; the building is both an office, the venue for official Government functions and a residence, where he and Lady Allen live, on the top floor. King’s House Lands (then called Somerset Pen) was originally the home of the Anglican Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Jamaica. The house’s first occupant, Sir John Peter Grant, was Governor of Jamaica from 1866 to 1874. He moved from the old capital in Spanish Town in 1872, and purchased the property for six thousand pounds. He spent eight thousand pounds building a new King’s House. In 1907, King’s House was destroyed in a major earthquake, and rebuilt.

The south side of King’s House, with its wonderful buttresses.

It was a beautiful day…

Why was I here on this beautiful morning, all hazy white clouds and birds and powder-blue sky? I was tagging along with Managing Director of Phase Three Productions Marcia Forbes and her staff – and an excited group of young people, slightly nervous and all dressed up in black and white. These were the graduates of two special (free) hectic one-week workshops on videography, hosted by Phase Three with expert presenters and facilitators in celebration of the firm’s thirtieth anniversary. They were to meet with Sir Patrick Allen and to have a special guided tour of King’s House.

On guard at the entrance to King’s House.

As we approached the entrance on the south side of the building, groups of people were leaving. Sir Patrick had just sworn in eight female jurists (as I discovered afterwards) in the bright, high-ceilinged Ballroom. Congratulations to the lady judges! After waiting in the foyer for a few minutes, we made our way to the Consuls’ Tea Garden, which was renovated by the Consular Corps of Jamaica and officially opened in 2010. We stood on the walkway in the shade of a vine, and the sound of a cool waterfall greeted us.

The Governor General welcomed and congratulated the graduates. The program has been endorsed by his “I Believe Initiative” – launched in 2011 – a very effective and high profile service-oriented program for young people. Be all that you can be, is the message.

Marcia Forbes introduces the young people and informs the Governor General of the success of the videography workshops. (My photo)

Sir Patrick made some interesting comments on the building where he lives and works. He said that he hoped the young people, with their collective photographic eye, would retain this “moment in time” in their memories. “I hope it will be etched in your minds,” he added. He noted that he and his wife and their staff “strive to maintain the authenticity and integrity” of the building. Although it still has the breath of colonial days, the Governor General wants King’s House to encompass and enshrine “the hopes and aspirations of a nation.” Because, he added, it is more than a historic building – it is not just a place, it is people.

The Dining Room table seemed to go on forever.

We were then whisked off by our kind and gracious tour guide, Ambassador Evadne Coye, who is Special Advisor to the Governor General. In the Dining Room, we gazed at a huge painting of King George III (almost certainly a copy, Ambassador Coye noted – copies of paintings of royalty were made by lesser artists for every country under British rule). In the Drawing Room, I particularly loved the delicate, almost flowerlike chandeliers in the Drawing Room, beautifully enhanced by the soft golden drapes at the tall windows. The chandeliers were taken from the first King’s House in Spanish Town.

One of the delicious chandeliers, from the original King’s House in Spanish Town, in the Drawing Room.

The room I enjoyed the most (despite the lack of curtains at the windows, for which Ambassador Coye apologized) was the Morning Room. It is comfortable, bright, and has a fine view of the back of the house, with the green mountains beyond. I could spend a day just relaxing there…writing, perhaps, and drinking tea. In one corner stands a bust – a gift from Chile, of their National Hero Bernardo O’Higgins (a name that has always fascinated me). In a large cupboard at the back is a splendid array of silver, from what was then the West Indies Regiment; and in two corner cupboards, some lovely china with the crest “ER” (Elizabeth Regina). A wonderful print of the Rio Cobre caught my eye.

The glow of silver in the Morning Room.

Who is this handsome man? Why, it’s Bernardo O’Higgins, Chile’s National Hero, who led the country to Independence from the Spanish.

This beautiful verandah dates back to 1871.

In the large, sturdy porch outside, Ambassador Coye began to talk about duppies. For non-Jamaicans, that means ghosts. She told us several stories of duppy sightings by soldiers on guard in the quiet of the night, expressing regret that she had not yet seen one for herself. Some of our group looked skeptical, others faintly amused. I just love ghost stories, so I listened closely.

Looking towards the eastern end of King’s House.

As we walked round the side of King’s House, a lively breeze brushed the avenue of palms where swifts wheeled and dived after insects. I had noticed in the porch that a number of their nests were glued to the corners of the walls. How lovely that these graceful birds shared this home with Sir Patrick and Lady Allen – and that previous generations of birds had, most likely, shared this space with previous governor generals and their wives and families.

Swifts’ nests tucked into the porch.

Ambassador Coye tells us duppy stories.

The mantra of the I Believe Initiative, by the way, is: “There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.” As Sir Patrick Allen told the Phase Three graduates this morning, “You are part of what is right with Jamaica.”

And it felt – yes, just right.

King’s House has a very good website: http://www.kingshouse.gov.jm/  They are also on Facebook and on Twitter @KingsHouse_GG  

Learn more about the I Believe Initiative at http://www.ibelieveinitiative.org and you can also find them on Facebook and Twitter @ibija  

Cool reflections on a polished table in the Morning Room.

It’s been an average sort of week, so far. A little rain here and there, and a few interesting things going on round town.

Our new Police Commissioner, Carl Williams. (Photo: Gleaner)

We have a new Police Commissioner: On Monday morning we got our new Police Commissioner. His name is Carl Williams, and he has been a narcotics man for quite a few years – investigating, that is. He is fifty years old and joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force thirty years ago. He was the founding director of the famous Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA) and also helped set up the Anti-Lottery Scam Task Force (which has been quite successful, especially recently; only today two Chinese nationals and a German were arrested). His appointment was no surprise – at least, not to me. I also believe he has the stamp of approval of our “international partners” – in other words, the United States, UK and Canada, who take a close interest in all security-related matters in Jamaica, as we know. And I think he may be the best man for the job – but time will tell. It’s performance that counts.

Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson. (Photo: Gleaner)

A political bug: Well, the mosquitoes bearing the chikungunya virus seem to have acquired green stripes, somewhere along the way. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has been accused of “politicizing” the issue, and to some extent this may be true. Our current Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson (who I discovered is actually a dentist by training) called former Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Baugh’s pronouncements on the matter “alarmist” during a radio interview. He thinks Dr. Baugh (who is a medical doctor) is “embellishing” the facts, somewhat. There is still an enormous amount of confusion among the general public – that is for sure. The Health Ministry has handled the matter clumsily, when all it needed was to get the facts out clearly from the start – symptoms, treatment, keeping mosquitoes away, etc. But in its efforts not to create panic it has managed to obfuscate the issue beautifully. We all know people who are suffering from the virus (or at least who appear to have the symptoms) but are not reporting to the doctor (which costs money after all). The Ministry also talks about not confusing it with dengue fever, leptospirosis – even the flu. The media has been swamped this week with discussions about fogging (are mosquitoes becoming resistant to the active ingredient, malathion?) – or in the case of our neighborhood, the lack of fogging and lack of garbage collection!

A sewage overflow in West Kingston last year. It’s a regular thing. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Awash in raw sewage: We uptowners complain about these trivialities, but we don’t have raw sewage flowing in mini-waterfalls and collecting in ponds like Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston. If you do a quick Google search, you will see that this is by no means a new phenomenon. It has been a recurring problem for years in the inner-city community. Television footage showed Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie and colleagues having to hop over the sewage as they stepped out of his constituency office. Shame on you, National Water Commission!

Seaview Gardens is a pretty name. This is what it looks like – or at least the gully that empties into Kingston Harbour a little further down. Mostly plastic. (Photo: Gleaner)

And choking in plastic: The downtown neighborhood of Seaview Gardens is another that has suffered for years from an enormous pile up of garbage, which fills the gully that empties into the sea not far from the community. You will notice a stench also, as soon as you enter the community; whether it is from another malfunctioning sewage issue, from the swampy land nearby or from the gully, it’s hard to tell – but it’s probably all of the above. I suppose there’s not a hope in hell of the gully ever being cleaned. It would be a huge task.

But then, it’s only poor people living in these places, right? Low priority, or so it always seems…

Public health issues? Well, it seems that despite (or because of) our success with the International Monetary Fund, we have no resources to deal with them. This is the “bitter medicine” of which Opposition Leader Andrew Holness spoke just before the last general elections. No one liked him for saying it, but…

Fire boats, ambulances and other necessities: Meanwhile, the island’s only fire boat has been out of action for about a year, but should be fixed soon, we are assured. And Negril reportedly still has no ambulance of any description, whether for tourists or for local residents.

Police killings down, but… INDECOM reports that our security forces have killed an average of three people per week so far this year – a total of 96. Although this is significantly less than in 2013, the numbers are still very high and disproportionate to the population and the size of our police force.

Policeman charged with murder: Police Corporal Selvin Williams was arrested and charged this week with the December 2012 murder of Valbert Salmon by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). Valbert was shot dead on December 29, 2012 in Top Hill, St. Elizabeth.

Street walking: One of our well-known television reporters, Nadine McLeod of Television Jamaica, has an adventurous streak in her. She donned a wig and tight skirt and sallied out onto the infamous “Back Road” (the Port Henderson Road in St. Catherine), where brothels and go-go clubs proliferate. You can watch her reports, headlined “Business on Back Road,” on TVJ’s website. To be continued…

Major kudos are due to…

A selfie from some of the trainee videographers at Phase Three’s workshops. (Photo: Phase Three/Facebook)

The bright young graduates of Phase Three Production’s thirtieth anniversary free summer workshops on videography, who had their graduation ceremony and a special visit to meet Governor General Sir Patrick Allen this week. The workshops were endorsed by Sir Patrick’s “I Believe” Initiative. I hope all the young people’s dreams and ambitions come true! They are dreaming big…

Sad to say, the police have killed at least four Jamaicans in the past week or so. My condolences to all those who are mourning.

Dadrian Davis, Garveymeade/Portmore, St. Catherine (killed by police)

Okeelie Brown, Garveymeade/Portmore, St. Catherine (killed by police)

Unidentified man, Port Henderson Road, St. Catherine

Felicia Sutherland, 25, Burnside/Red Hills, St. Andrew -employee of RJR

Daryl Lodge, 52, Burnside/Red Hills, St. Andrew – U.S. Citizen

Eldon Calvert, 31, Salt Spring, St. James

Clayton Whyte, 51, Green Pond, St. James

Marlon Davidson, 31, Junction, St. Elizabeth

Irving Drummond, 47, Old Buckfield, St. Ann

Peter Wallis, Clarendon

A picture of grief: Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna (left), Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (center) and Minister responsible for sports Natalie Neita Headley wept as the body of former Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke arrived at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport. His funeral will take place on Saturday in Savannah-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

A few years back I read this novel and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the review I wrote at the time.

I also just learned that “Serena” has been made into a film, directed by Oscar-winner Susanne Bier and starring Jennifer Lawrence in the title role, with Bradley Cooper as George Pemberton. I thought it would make a compelling film – and I hope the film is as good as the book, although I suspect it will be “prettied up” a bit. I understand it will première at the BFI London Film Festival on October 24, but strangely there appears to be no U.S. release date.

By the way, there are no spoilers in this review! 

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in the upcoming film of “Serena” directed by Susanne Bier.

This is what my father would call “a cracking good yarn.” Dear reader, you will be tossed around on a surging current of emotions: anger, jealousy, greed, revenge, self-pity, lust, fear…but very little love.

The heroine – or anti-heroine – of this book, Serena, is ill-named. There is absolutely nothing serene about her; unless you can equate serenity with the calm – a kind of cold certainty – which shines in her eyes when she has just made up her mind to… But no, I had better not say any more. You will soon find out for yourself what Serena is capable of.

It is 1929. George Pemberton steps off the train in Waynesville, North Carolina with his new bride Serena, and the action starts. The story begins with a murder – the kind of killing that is committed deliberately to show dominance, the kind that is done with a swagger. Thereafter, the Pembertons waste no time in establishing their authority among the “highlanders” who work for them. They immediately begin planning their assault on the land: thousands of acres of untouched forest to be logged, gold to be mined, railroads to be laid. It’s all theirs for the taking.

The relationship between Pemberton and his wife is so close that it is almost stifling. Serena sets the tone from the outset: “That’s what I want, everything a part of you also a part of me.” She calls their love-making “a kind of annihilation.” To Pemberton, she is not only desirable; he is in awe of her, unashamed in his admiration.

Serena rides out to oversee the work on a white Arab horse and dispatches her pet eagle to kill all the rattlesnakes in the valleys. The workers quickly develop a healthy respect for their mistress with her men’s clothing and calloused hands. After saving his life, Serena develops a close relationship with one man in particular. He becomes a devoted follower – and accomplice.

Quite apart from the juicy story line and the terrifying heroine (I will reveal no more of the plot, which thunders along at a steadily accelerating pace) there are things to savor along the way. The everyday detail of the period is absorbing: a hunting knife with an elk-bone handle; an apple wood fire burning, with a cane-back chair by the hearth; a Bible wrapped in oilcloth; rhubarb and blackberry jam, buttermilk and whiskey; burlap sacks, gray cotton stockings, red handkerchiefs, tripod cameras. The not-yet-touched areas of the southern landscape are richly described; Rachel, the sweet but resourceful mother of Pemberton’s illegitimate child, lives closely with her environment, going into the woods to gather roots and herbs until sundown.

But, as George Pemberton discovers, and his men already know, the land is hard: it fights back against the attacks of saws and axes. The long cutting blades snap as the tree trunks resist their bite. A young man drowns in a crowd of logs carried downstream. Rattlesnakes bite fiercely. There are rumors of a mountain lion lurking in the hills. The men slip and fall in acres of mud; the rivers fill with silt and dying trout; the wind blows hard and the snow lies thick. There are terrible deaths and injuries. And the end result is the same: a devastated wasteland of tree stumps that grows wider, season by season. Meanwhile, a political battle looms between the loggers and a growing movement to create the first national parks.

Then one beautiful evening, on a meadow golden with brush sedge, George Pemberton confronts his darkest fears alone and reaches out…for salvation.

Author note: Ron Rash was born in Chester Springs, South Carolina, in 1953 and grew up in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He is proud of his Appalachian heritage which goes back 250 years. As a child, he spent summers at his grandmother’s home in the mountains of North Carolina. He has a B.A. and M.A. in English from Gardner-Webb College and Clemson University. He taught English at high school and at a technical college for 17 years. His first book of short stories, “The Night the New Jesus Fell to Earth and Other Stories from Cliffside, North Carolina” was published in 1994. Since then he has published three books of poetry, three short story collections, and four novels. His poetry and fiction have been published in numerous literary journals: he describes himself as a narrative poet, influenced by traditional Welsh poetry. His 2008 novel, “Serena,” is, like his earlier work, set in Appalachia and echoes the environmental themes of his poetry collection “Raising the Dead” (2002) and his novel “Saints at the River” (2004). He currently holds the John Parris Chair in Appalachian Studies at Western CarolinaUniversity, where he teaches Appalachian Literature and Creative Writing. He has won the Novello Literary Award, Foreword Magazine’s Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, the James Still Award of the Fellowship of Southern Writers and an O. Henry Prize, among others.

The beautiful Appalachians in North Carolina are the oldest mountains in the United States. (Photo: mountain professor.com)

As usual, political issues are threatening to swamp much of our media coverage. But there is a lot more going on that gets relegated to the back pages…

Finance Minister Peter Phillips. (Photo: Jamaica Information Service)

“Fighting corruption is a national priority”: So says Finance Minister Peter Phillips. I am sure his supervisors at the International Monetary Fund were glad to hear these words. But these are just words. Don’t we need actions to prove the truth of this statement?

Greg Christie, former Contractor General. (Photo: Gleaner)

Well, I am quoting below a series of tweets from former Contractor General Greg Christie. Yes, you can say quite a lot on Twitter! You can judge for yourself whether the Jamaican Government is doing a good job in “fighting corruption.” Take a minute and read…

“Jamaica’s Finance Minister has publicly acknowledged that the fight against corruption remains a national priority for the Jamaican Government. But has the Jamaican Government, in its day to day conduct, been demonstrating this?The fight against corruption begins with exemplary political leadership from the government of day. It is defined by an inflexible adherence to the rule of law & best practices in good governance. But Jamaica is yet to see this from the Government. The conduct of Dr. Omar Davies comes quickly to mind. He sought to block the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) from scrutinizing the Jamaican Government/China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) $600m highway contract. The OCG is Jamaica’s leading Anti-Corruption Agency. Its mandate is to ensure that there is no impropriety or irregularity in Government contracting. When Dr. Davies failed to secure the support of the Jamaica Supreme Court, he publicly challenged the Court’s ruling. The Government, not to be deterred, at the insistence of Davies, then expressed its intent to use its powers in the Legislature to defang the OCG. Recently, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) was arbitrarily stripped of its regulatory oversight functions over the transport sector.This is a sector which also falls within the ministerial portfolio domain of Dr. Davies, Jamaica’s Minister of Transport, Works and Housing.There is also, at present, a Jamaican Mayor who is facing criminal charges for misleading the OCG. Despite this, he remains in office. If the Government is really serious about tackling corruption, then it, along with all of its Ministers, must begin to walk the talk. They must not talk about fighting corruption. They must, by their actions, adhere to the highest standards of good governance. The Government must also demonstrate that the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill is not a window-dressing facade.T he Bill must be strong enough to bring about a radical change to the endemic corruption that is perceived to be now pervading Jamaica.”

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

Mario Deane’s family needs funds to pay for his funeral in St. James next Sunday. Family members reportedly refused offers of assistance from the Government. Well, the Government has in no way accepted responsibility for Mr. Deane’s death, despite agents of the State supposedly having responsibility for the welfare of those in its custody. Attorney General Patrick Atkinson has said rather coldly that the matter is being investigated, two men have already been charged with Mr. Deane’s murder and the Government will basically wait and see. Donations to assist the family can be made at Scotia Bank – Account number 823837.

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton.

And on legal matters, the Government has got into a bit of a muddle over insolvency and bankruptcy legislation. Our aforementioned supervisors, the IMF, have given us a month-end deadline. It has become so complex, with so many amendments, that at this late stage the Government has decided to table a completely new bill in Parliament. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton hopes to introduce the new bill on Wednesday; he must be a man in a hurry.

Our Health Minister has put out a nice op-ed on chikungunya in all the newspapers, pointing out that it’s “all hands on deck” to prevent the virus spreading. He should have published this weeks ago. Yes, it is true that a certain amount of politicking by the Opposition has gone on around the issue, but the Minister should not just be reacting to that. He owes the Jamaican public clear and open information on the matter. The Minister also gives out numbers to contact (which we should have all known about from Day One): 922-8619; 922-8622 and 1-888-663-5683 (1-888-ONE-LOVE), Monday to Friday. You can also report cases to parish health departments.

Health Minister Fenton Ferguson touring the Kingston Public Hospital. (Photo: Norman Grindley/Gleaner)

Wait until 2017…0r 2018: Erica Virtue is reporting in the Sunday Gleaner that patients must wait until 2017 for surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital – these are mainly orthopedic surgeries. But those dates are mostly taken, so by the end of the year it will be 2018. Surgeries are often canceled because of a broken-down elevator, which has failed for the 20th time this year according to the report! However, emergency surgeries do get precedence (one would hope).

I see and hear some odd things on local media, these days. Some pronunciations that are so strange that I don’t even recognize the word the newsreader is wrestling with. The latest is a protest march in “the pelting sun.” CVM Television, I thought it was the rain that pelted. I could write an entire blog post each week about the desecration of the English language that goes on daily. But it would bore you (and me) to death, I am sure! 

Louis Farrakhan, Leader of the Nation of Islam since 1978.

Minister Farrakhan is coming! Again… The 81-year-old leader of the Nation of Islam will be returning to our shores. No doubt many Jamaicans will embrace him – something I have never understood, since his background (and religion) is so far from the Jamaican experience. Oh, I forgot – he had a Jamaican father (whom he never knew, by the way). This time he is planning a “Million Man March” on Sunday, October 19. Who will be marching? What is the purpose of the March? How will it benefit Jamaicans? How will it benefit the Nation of Islam? Is it a recruiting drive?

And what is the Kingston Metropolitan Region Resort Board? I never heard of it before. Anyway, James Samuels, who heads it, says Kingston is going to earn J$150 million from it. OK, so all the hotels will be booked.  Thinking about leaving town that weekend.

Perhaps the Love March will join. This group of energetic (mostly young) conservative evangelicals, who believe in “the family” and “sexual purity,” had a march a few days ago. They claim to be “non-denominational” (?) and “all love Jesus,” but they sound rather confused to me. They don’t seem to approve of sex, that is for sure.

A good comrade: Patricia Williams holds a custom made wreath at former Minister Roger Clarke’s funeral, held at the St George’s Anglican Church in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland on Saturday. (Photo: Janet Clarke/Gleaner)

Funeral of Roger Clarke: Former Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke was buried in Westmoreland yesterday, on a wave of clichés and platitudes from the politicians, and a tide of genuine emotion among his party supporters, friends and family. He was undoubtedly a very well-loved man. But, Madam Prime Minister, what does “a great Jamaican patriot” really mean? I am always wary of that word patriot.

The Gleaner has had some great op-eds over the past few days – especially the Saturday edition, which was its birthday. Take a read of Kelly McIntosh’s column on “Putting Productivity Back Into Work,” and Gordon Swaby’s commentary on “New Media Must Pick Fights They Can win.” Good stuff.

And please don’t forget my own weekly article on gleanerblogs.com! The series is called “Social Impact” and you can find it here: http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/ There’s a new article up every Tuesday… Please share, and comment. I would love to have your feedback.

What is this beautiful place? Great Goat Island, described as a dump where nothing lives by some government officials. It is fringed with pristine mangrove forest. (Photo: Max Earle)

Congratulations to…

Managing Director of the Gleaner company Christopher Barnes has a few words of gratitude for 80-year-old Lillian Palmer who was a participant in the Gleaner 180 5K Run/Walk in Kingston. – (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby/Gleaner)

The winners of the Gleaner’s 180th anniversary 5K Run/Walk today, Kirk Brown (first male) and Chris-Ann Lewis (first female) – and all the great participants, young and old who came out on Saturday morning. The Gleaner’s Managing Director Christopher Barnes notes: “On the afternoon of Saturday, September 13, 1834, the very first edition of The Gleaner, and Weekly Compendium of News was published and made available at Water Lane in Kingston.” Congratulations again to the “Old Lady of North Street” on its 180th birthday!

Distinguished journalist and a mentor to many, Ms. Fae Ellington, who celebrated her fortieth anniversary in the profession with a blood drive! She collected 87 pints in Kingston this weekend, and the drive will go island-wide on Tuesday. I wish I could donate blood but for various reasons cannot. I hope all who can will support! The Blood Bank is always in need…

Here’s a photo of the new PAJ President Dionne Jackson Miller at Fae’s blood donation drive! (Twitter pic)

Another terrific journalist, Dionne Jackson-Miller, who is new President of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ). Helene Coley-Nicholson (who was so kind to me recently when I was conducting training at the PAJ and still fighting flu!) is the First Vice President and the awesome Karen Madden (a Chelsea Football Club fanatic, but I won’t hold that against her) is Second VP. Rohan Powell is the new PAJ Secretary. A powerful female triumvirate at the helm!

Cash 4 Books, a husband-and-wife outfit in Kingston’s Southdale Plaza that sells secondhand text books for a fraction of the price, easing the burden on parents. Robert and Nicola Desnoes buy and sell books for the current school year that are on the Education Ministry’s book list, and also source them for customers. They are open weekdays from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tel: 876-397-1909 E-mail: cash4booksja@gmail.com and find them on Facebook.

Barbara Blake Hannah.

Barbara Blake Hannah, writer, filmmaker, cultural activist and Director of the Jamaica International Reggae Film Festival, who has won a story competition and will be special guest and presenter at the International Film Festival Summit in Austin, Texas from December 7 – 9. I know Barbara will make the most of every moment! Meanwhile, check out her new historical novel “The Moon has Its Secrets” – available on Amazon and Kindle.

The Jamaican Folk Singers.

Do go see… The Jamaican Folk Singers’ 2014 Season at the Little Theatre in Kingston. They are (and always have been) simply wonderful!

The Government reports a “fifteen per cent reduction” in murders so far this year, compared to 2013. This is wonderful news, although I am slightly puzzled. The lists at the end of  my blogs have been quite long this year, apart from a few weeks during the summer. I think murder rates in some parishes have declined considerably, while others are high – for example, St. James and certain parts of Kingston. Although it seems to me that the distribution is fairly even, across the island. This is just from looking at the lists on my blog… Well, my condolences go out to those who are mourning these Jamaicans who have been murdered in the past four days:

Junior Salmon, Negril, Westmoreland

Kenty Thomas, 47, Montego Bay, St. James

James Sorrell, Falmouth, Trelawny

Peter Wallace, May Pen, Clarendon

27-year-old Bonnie Hardware, of Falmouth, Trelawny and Hartford, Connecticut, USA, has been missing from her home since Wednesday. Please call Falmouth Police or 119 if you have seen her. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Bus operator Peter “Mitchy” Wallace was shot dead and a twelve-year-old male student of Denbigh High School was shot in the back in May Pen, Clarendon last week. (Photo: On The Ground News Reports)

We’ve had dramatic thunderstorms this week so far and are grateful for the rain. Our dog, however, is thoroughly miserable… And some of this week’s news has been troubling, so far. A lot happening, but I will just focus on the major things for now. Lots of little things are bubbling, though, just under the surface.

Fahdeen Ferguson is now on the run.

The great escape: There are so many disturbing aspects to the case of Mario Deane, who was severely beaten in a Montego Bay police lockup and subsequently died on Independence Day, that it is hard to know where to start. Now, a man who is described as a key witness for the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) in the case escaped from custody early on Sunday morning, while he was being transferred for a video identification parade. He was on housebreaking and burglary charges. I heard that he actually went through an (empty) office and out through an unlocked window. How on earth could this happen? Fahdeen Ferguson is now a fugitive, and one suspects his life may be in danger.  One of the two men who have been charged with Deane’s murder, Adrian Morgan, has been deemed fit to stand trial, once he stays on medication; his co-accused is also said to have mental challenges.

The new Commissioner of Police makes a speech. (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby/Gleaner)

I am not interested in speeches: The new Commissioner of Police was sworn in with much fanfare on Monday. For some reason, he made a speech, which the media dutifully reported, several times over. Why did he need to make a speech? Why all the pomp and ceremony? I would have preferred that he just sat down at his desk on his first day in office and got on with the job. One of the first things I would like him to address is the above situation regarding the Mario Deane case. What happened? He must keep an eagle eye on this one. I would also like him to address the issue of corruption in the police force, in a meaningful way. Words like “transparency” and “accountability” are just that – words. We want to see action.

Seal of the Organization of American States.

So let’s talk corruption – again: The Organization of American States (OAS) has completed a review of Jamaica’s anti-corruption oversight bodies, and is none too positive in its conclusions – noting there has been a failure to prosecute corruption in general. It recommends that anti-corruption bodies must be provided “with the resources necessary for the proper performance of their functions.” You can read the full report here: http://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic4_final_jam_en.pdf  Contractor General Greg Christie tweeted yesterday: “The OAS affirms my repeated recommendation to give the Office of the Contractor General the power to halt contracts which exhibit signs of irregularity, impropriety, corruption. Jamaicans should note that no such power has been included in the Draft Integrity Bill which is currently before Jamaica’s Parliament. This substantiates my already stated position that the draft Integrity Bill must be strengthened and should not be passed in its current form.We may not be able to achieve zero corruption, but we can and should insist upon zero tolerance to corruption.” 

Someone’s foot suffering from chikungunya virus. Ugh.

The “chik v” muddle: It only gets worse. Every time he opens his mouth to speak, the Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson (he’s a dentist) seems to confuse us more. Of course, not intentionally, but I think he is starting to confuse himself now. If he cannot say anything that is really helpful, perhaps he should speak less. At every opportunity, the Minister trots out ridiculous figures of 24, 35 cases of chikungunya confirmed etc. Please stop doing this, Minister! You know – we all know – that these figures are meaningless and the actual numbers are much higher. There must be 20 people on my Twitter timeline alone who are describing the exact symptoms of the chikungunya virus and are suffering in pain. I don’t think they are imagining it. Now Dr. Ferguson is telling us that dengue fever is much worse, anyway. Oh, please stop! There have been 113 deaths from the virus in the Latin American/Caribbean region to date, says the Pan American Health Organization, by the way.

“Very unusual”: Minister Ferguson said the situation in schools in the eastern parish of St. Thomas – in particular Yallahs Primary School, where 200 students and ten teachers are sick – is unusual. What is usual, Minister? Approximately 697 students and 60 teachers were absent from 25 schools in the parish yesterday, as they were suffering from flu-like symptoms, joint pains and rashes. The Minister still doesn’t want to think they all have chikungunya – maybe it’s… or… Oh, I give up!

Meanwhile, health authorities confirm there are no beds left at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Kingston. What’s wrong with the children, I wonder?

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has “chik v,” it is reported…

Mosquitoes love Opposition politicians: Now, one TV station reports that Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has gone down with chikungunya (has he been tested?) This is already prompting comment that perhaps the mosquitoes are only biting Jamaica Labour Party politicians; and that if PNP politicians are suffering, they are keeping quiet about it. After all, we are trying to keep the numbers down. At least officially!

Yay! Hooray for coal power: Yes, coal power – very disconcerting. Dr. Vin Lawrence, head of the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET) appointed by the Prime Minister (which appeared to sideline Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell) has decided to turn to local providers of electricity, after all that performance over Energy World International. ESET has received proposals from Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and two bauxite companies who want, to build, own and operate plants powered by gas turbine or coal; and has submitted them to Cabinet. There is no way, however, all this will be up and running by the Government’s self-appointed deadline.

No elected representatives: Our government (or rather the ruling People’s National Party – PNP) has decided that local government elections will take place in March 2015. Will this include the Municipality of Portmore, which still has an “Acting Mayor” almost a year after Mayor George Lee died? What about a by-election in Roger Clarke’s constituency of Central Westmoreland? Do the people now have an “Acting Member of Parliament”? Until when? Has a by-election date been fixed, and if not, why not?

Important! Enumerate today: Jamaican people, if you want to get on the next voters’ list, you must get yourself enumerated by September 30! Otherwise, if an early election is called, you will not be able to vote.

Cabinet retreat: The Cabinet had a two-day retreat this week. And…? Oh, the PNP’s Annual Conference starts tomorrow, so we’re in for a noisy weekend.

Inflation inflating: Jamaica’s inflation has risen slightly over 2013. It is 9.8 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent up to August last year. As I mentioned in a previous post, it’s now the highest in the Caribbean and one of the highest in the world. This comes as no surprise to those of us who visit the supermarket this week. We’re struggling.

Minister of Finance Peter Phillips

But growth predictions are rosy: Despite all this, Finance Minister Peter Phillips expects our growth rate to be three per cent or more for the 2015/16 period, higher than the cautious projection of 1.5 – 2 per cent. The Planning Institute of Jamaica says the growth will occur in “integrated resort development, port and infrastructure and ICT,” as well as expected improvements for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). I would love more details, but all we get is broad statements. We will have to keep a sharp eye out for developments in these sectors.

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), who participated in Tuesday’s (September 16) opening ceremony for the 2014 Michaelmas Term of the Home Circuit Court, march past the building housing three additional courtrooms in Justice Square, at the intersection of Kings and Barry Streets, downtown Kingston. (Photo: Jamaica Information Service)

More court space: Every week there are depressing stories about our malfunctioning justice system – in particular our law courts, which barely creak along. If you have served as a juror or witness (I have done both) you would see for yourself. But the good news is that three additional courtrooms have been opened up in the Supreme Court. Also,the number of cases listed for trial during the Michaelmas Term (September to December) has decreased by 14.06 per cent, compared to the similar period last year. But it’s still just over 500 cases!

Also glad to hear that the five per cent duty on LED bulbs and solar water heaters has been removed. Also, JPS will be purchasing renewable energy from three local producers. Good.

Congratulations to…

“Crossroads Culture”: Dr Afifa Aza will present on her extraordinary visit to Peru next Wednesday evening. Go down there and find out more (it’s free).

• Activist, artist, writer, educator and DJ Dr. Afifa Aza, who achieved her goal of going to Macchu PIcchu, Peru, and even climbed up the mountain behind. What an achievement. Afifa will be presenting her thoughts, illustrated by photographs and film, at Di Institute for Social Leadership in Kingston next Wednesday, September 24 at 5:00 p.m. Do go along and learn more about her experiences.

• Climate change activist and blogger Heather Pinnock, who has been selected for the Climate Reality Leadership Corps three-day training with Chairman and Founder, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on November 4-6 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. See more at: http://climaterealityproject.org/leadership-corps  BUT Heather needs financial support to get to Brazil. Please let me know if you are able to assist in any way! It would be wonderful to have a Jamaican women at the forefront of the global climate change strategy, and Heather certainly would be a great representative. Please support!

My condolences to the families of these Jamaicans who have lost their lives violently…

Kevin Brown, 30, Irish Pen, St. Catherine

Karen Mattey, 34, Irish Pen, St. Catherine

Byron Cameron, 52, Montego Bay, St. James

Crime Stop Jamaica is working with Britain’s Nottinghamshire Police, to locate a wanted man in Jamaica, and is offering a reward of J$1 million. He has been identified as Loandre Palmer who is believed to be involved in the murder of British teenager Malakai McKenzie who was shot outside The Hubb, Sherwood, Nottingham, England on Saturday 21 April 2012. (Photo: On The Ground News Reports)

I suppose I had garbage on my mind this morning. But as the bus made its way down Mountain View Avenue some time before seven, I noticed how tidy and clean the sidewalks were; and even the patches of waste ground where houses had once been. There was very little garbage of any kind to decorate the urban blight of ruined walls and vine-covered ditches. It was especially neat in the Jacques Road area. The community has been making an effort, I am quite sure. It cheered me.

The morning was warm and calm. As we drove along the Palisadoes road towards the airport, the water of Kingston Harbour was a silvery mirror. Only an occasional patch of ripples, where small fish played, disturbed the surface. Brown Pelicans and seagulls sat on rotting posts and rusting buoys. The sky was the palest blue; except lower on the horizon, where a long brown smudge obscured the hills to the west and stretched across the city. I suspect the dump must be smoking, again.

But we, the Jamaican volunteers of International Coastal Cleanup Day were marshaling our attack. We, in our turquoise T shirts with 60s-style lettering – brilliantly psychedelic – were in the vanguard. When we arrived at Fort Rocky Beach along the Port Royal Road, it was still fairly quiet. But as the morning advanced, a veritable army of volunteers descended. Operations went smoothly and efficiently. The beach was conquered before midday.

Congratulations to the organizers, Jamaica Environment Trust and the fabulous sponsors, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and Recycle Now. And to the 2,500 people who volunteered at this one location.

Below are a few photographs of the Cleanup Day. I hope you were able to do something in your neighborhood, too. On our island of Jamaica, there were 114 locations, some of them underwater!

Taking a breather by the sea… The air was deliciously cool, and the water unusually calm. This side is the open sea and the waves are often quite rough.

Oroyo Eubanks (in red cap) flashed me one of his trademark smiles, while his colleague O. Rodger Hutchinson (left) was thinking about it. They were there with colleagues from the Jamaica Information Service.

The energetic Naomi Redway was there, with a large team from the JN Foundation’s Resolution Project. Naomi is a recent graduate of Phase Three Productions’ summer videography workshop. Note camera!

The University of the West Indies crowd. And yes, it was a large crowd!

The jelly coconut man was much in demand as the day grew hotter.

The charming team from ECCO Magazine. Get your copy today!

Truly hands on: Business Development Manager at Recycle Now/Recycling Partners Ann Marie Rodriques (right) with a colleague.

This roving reporter from Power 106 FM interviewed many people…

The volunteers foraged way down the beach, and even along the Port Royal road. The hill in the background is Naggo Head in St. Catherine, on the other side of Kingston Harbour.

A section of the Other Waste Mountain – which also grew after I took this photo.

A section of the Plastic Bottle Mountain – and it grew larger.

Here is a release from the Windsor Research Centre in our beautiful Cockpit Country. Do tune in, watch the videos, visit and share the Facebook page. If you would like more information, do contact Mike Schwartz or Esther Figueroa – contact information below. If you care about Jamaica’s precious biodiversity…Do spread the word!

Windsor Research Centre is excited to announce that Jamaica Environment Trust has come on board as a partner in the “Cockpit Country is Our Home” Multi-Media Public Awareness Campaign and is co-sponsoring a ten-part weekly feature with Cliff Hughes on Power 106 at 12:35 p.m. on Wednesdays. Each feature will be on a different topic that alerts the public to the essential ecological services provided by Cockpit Country and the need to protect Cockpit Country from mining, deforestation and pollution.

This Wednesday 24th launches the first of the series, with the Topic Water. Cliff will be interviewing Fresh Water Biologist Kimberly John who has done extensive
research in Cockpit Country. Broadcasting alongside the ten-week Wednesday specials will be interesting factoids about Cockpit Country that will both inform and inspire listeners.

To access the “Did You Know” Cockpit Country tips as they roll out, as well as other campaign information including photos and videos that you can share – visit Windsor Research Centre on Facebook. You can be part of this exciting celebration of Cockpit Country by writing/blogging/reporting on the many ways that Cockpit Country is central to Jamaica.

For more information visit http://www.cockpitcountry.com; and Windsor Research Centre on Facebook.

Watch “Cockpit Country – Voices From Jamaica’sHeart” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Psj_UcqQY and

“Cockpit Country is Our Home” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylqTfu07PJA (two beautiful films) and follow the campaign as it rolls out over the next three months.

Save Cockpit Country! Say NO to Bauxite Mining!

CONTACT:
Michael Schwartz, Windsor Research Centre: windsor@cwjamaica.com;
997-3832
Esther Figueroa, Campaign Manager: vagabondmedia1@mac.com; 407-7439

Our First Speaker: Ms. Kimberly John
Kimberly John, originally from Trinidad, has lived and worked in Jamaica for over 20 years specializing in the conservation and research of freshwater systems. She has conducted assessments of freshwater across Jamaica Cockpit Country, Black River, White River, Rio Grande (and other Blue and John Crow Mountain rivers) in support of protected areas, watershed management and hydroelectricity generation projects. She led the Waters for Life initiative in Jamaica which focused on inland fishery management and long-term, ridge-to-reef protection of the Rio Grande freshwater ecosystem. Kimberly’s interest and work among the Windward Maroons earned a Conservation and Sustainability fellowship at IUCN, and a Sustainable Watershed Management Award from Swiss Re Ltd. As Caribbean Science Programme manager at The Nature Conservancy, she leads a team of regional scientists responsible for data management, GIS, scientific tools and research. She has published her work in freshwater conservation, indigenous ecological knowledge and produced a documentary on the community-based action to protect freshwater wildlife. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Geography and a Master’s degree in Zoology specialization in freshwater ecology from the University of the West Indies.

*****

The beautiful Cockpit Country. (Photo: Ted Lee Eubanks)

ECCO Magazine (that stands for Environmentally Conscious Consumer Operations) will be hosting another talk at our friendly neighborhood bookstore, Bookophilia, tomorrow evening.

Please do join us! We will be talking with manufacturers and environmentalists on how to get a grip on recycling. Come and share your thoughts!

My apologies for the hiatus. The past week has been very busy, and I have been doing quite a bit of writing elsewhere! See below…

Police vehicles parked in August Town near where Constable James Grant was shot dead on Monday. (Photo: Michael Gordon/Jamaica Observer)

The death of a policeman: I once knew August Town quite well. It’s at the end of a road that passes by the University of the West Indies campus. So close is it to the ivory towers of academia that there have been well-meaning efforts over the years (spearheaded by the late Professor Barry Chevannes) to “uplift” the community. Nevertheless, it continues to struggle with a legacy of politically-instigated violence. It is now mainly gang violence, while the politicians mostly do some posturing. It has been relatively peaceful for a while, but yesterday a policeman was shot dead in African Gardens, one of the less developed parts of August Town  (which is tucked into a deep valley in the hills; it is effectively a cul de sac). The news is disturbing and sad and I hope does not usher in a new wave of troubles in the area, where many hard-working people live. This is the first killing of a policeman this year; the last time a policeman was killed was in October 13 in Montego Bay.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dayton Henry died suddenly in May 2012; rat poison was found in his system.

Last October, I wrote: “There has been a significant increase in murders in Clarendon this year. I remember spending time in May Pen several years ago, when businesspeople and local officials were congratulating the head of operations in Clarendon Senior Superintendent of Police Dayton Henry on a steady decline in the violent crime rate. The 46-year-old Mr. Henry died, suddenly and mysteriously, last year; tests concluded that he was poisoned, and an investigation was reportedly under way. Since his death, the murder rate has climbed again.”  The Coroner’s Inquest into SSP Henry’s death concluded this week, with the court finding he was “systematically poisoned” but unable to determine who was responsible. The police continue their investigations. It might be of interest to know that as a Deputy Superintendent Henry worked in the Internal Affairs and Anti-Corruption Division. And just today, the preliminary enquiry of two of the twelve police officers charged in connection with an alleged “death squad” in Clarendon began in court.

Kamoza Clarke, 31, a mentally ill man who was severely beaten in the lock-up at Falmouth Police Station on October 19, 2013, in hospital with severe head wounds. He died from his injuries. (Photo: Gleaner)

Kamoza Clarke case in court: We recall another tragic case of a death, this time in the Falmouth Police Station lockup – that of Kamoza Clarke, last year. Three policemen facing murder charges and two charged with neglect of duty arising from his death (a beating sustained while in police custody last October) had their bails extended when they appeared in court today. District Constables Alwayne Eccleston, Desmond Lawrence, Tristan Turner and Onecko Brown, and Sergeant Derrick Henry will return to court on November 26 – a number of documents in the case are still outstanding.

Senior Superintendent of Police Egbert Parkins says he has “no reason to believe” that police officers told Fahdeen Ferguson he could leave. The police insist he escaped.

The plot thickens:  “‘Im just walk weh… Nobody nah look fi ‘im.” So says the mother of Fahdean Ferguson, the young man, reportedly a witness for the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) in the case of Mario Deane, who the police still maintain escaped from custody. Ferguson turned himself in at INDECOM’s office in Montego Bay yesterday. INDECOM are now calling Ferguson’s situation “absence from custody,” rather than “escape.” I mean, what actually happened? Did the police really tell Mr. Ferguson he was free to go after the identification parade? If so, why? Or was he just confused? Will we ever know the truth?

Chronixx: His tirade against politicians on Instagram prompted a response from the Minister of Culture.

The singer and the Minister: The popular singer Chronixx posted on Instagram this week. He was very upset about the fact that Jamaica has no live venue for reggae music. He asserted the music is the main reason why people visit what he calls the “beautiful island of bankruptcy.” He had a dig at the politicians and their diehard followers, too. Culture Minister Lisa Hanna responded on Instagram (she seems to spend a lot of time there) and I think she won Round One – her response was quite a put-down. She ended her message: “Stop blaming and lumping all politicians together. It’s unfair and untrue. Blessed love.” Hmmm. Blessed love?

Youth and Culture Minister Lisa Hanna recently undergoing the ice bucket treatment in her office. Widely shared on social media, of course.

The PM made a speech: Our Prime Minister made a two-hour speech at the annual gathering of the comrades – the People’s National Party (PNP) conference, over the weekend. The Jamaica Observer printed her full, unedited speech here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Prime-Minister-Simpson-Miller-s-presentation-at-the-PNP-s-76th-Annual-Conference There was much amusement over her gaffe about “doing less with more money” (of course it should have been the reverse) and her galloping run up to the platform, security officers and fellow party members in tow (running is a habit of hers). Some commentators (and the Opposition) expressed concern that she did not address issues that have been deeply troubling the Jamaican public recently, such as Mario Deane’s death, the chikungunya epidemic and rising food prices. But should we expect much from a speech on a party platform?

Member of Parliament for Central St. James and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lloyd B. Smith speaking at Mario Deane’s funeral in Montego Bay on Sunday. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Speaking of Mario Deane, Opposition backbencher Everald Warmington set the cat among the pigeons (as he likes to do from time to time) in Parliament this week. He suggested the PNP administration was to blame for Deane’s death, shouting after the retreating Deputy Speaker of the House Lloyd B. Smith: “… For the police to throw him inna jail and say is a mad man and a deaf man kill him, I say you as a Government killed the man innocently and try to hide it.” Somewhat ironically perhaps, Mr. Smith, who had just adjourned the session after failing to quieten Mr. Warmington down, is the Member of Parliament for Central St. James. He spoke at Mario Deane’s funeral on Sunday.

JEEP funds have been found, suddenly ($140 million) for “selected projects” at the local government level. In case you have forgotten, JEEP is the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme. Opposition Finance Spokesman Audley Shaw wants the money shared equally among parish councils; he is concerned about partisan sharing of the funds. I also wonder whether this largesse is connected at all with the fact that local government elections are not far away.

Jamaican writer Olive Senior speaking at the Institute of Jamaica on Sunday. (My photo)

My recent articles: My weekly article on gleanerblogs.com is out. I wrote about the remarkable lecture on Sunday by prolific Jamaican author Olive Senior in connection with her latest book,“Dying to Better Themselves: Colón Man and the Panama Experience.”  Kudos to the National Library of Jamaica; the lecture was very well attended. Link to my article is here: http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/?p=2226\

I have also written a couple of articles on Corve daCosta’s lively blog site, Daily Veritas: One on the recent referendum in Scotland (http://www.dailyveritas.com/news-commentary/indyref-the-morning-and-the-night-after/); and another on the chikungunya muddle (http://www.dailyveritas.com/news-commentary/jamaicas-outbreak-of-chikungunya-and-why-over-3000-jamaicans-may-have-it/) Daily Veritas has a delightful mix of articles – something for everyone, I would say. Do read!

I also have a new paper called “Flight of the Petchary” with a collection of articles, photos and videos that I put together and add to on a daily basis. You may subscribe to it by email, and you can read it here: https://paper.li/Petchary/1410819482

And commendations are due to…

The U.S.-based Diaspora charity, Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministries, which organized a group of Indian and American doctors to perform 225 cataract surgeries at the Mandeville Hospital from September 15-19, also donating a special opthalmology machine that assisted with the operations. The group’s work cut the hospital’s waiting list by more than half. Absolutely wonderful!

The Cockpit Country is an incredible water resource, feeding large rivers such as the Black River and Great River.

Windsor Research Centre and environmental activist Esther Figueroa, who have been rolling out a major public education campaign on the enormous value of the Cockpit Country to Jamaica (for a start, it supplies forty per cent of Jamaica’s fresh water!) A weekly feature on Cliff Hughes’ Power 106 FM program started today (it’s every Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. and well worth a listen). I learned a lot today.

Diane Browne, children’s author.

Two other blogs I would like to mention: Author Diane Browne writes about Caribbean children’s literature on her blog; her latest post is about folktales and her latest e-publication is “Ebony and the Auntie of the Starlight, a Caribbean Cinderella story.” http://dianebrowneblog.blogspot.com

The excellent broadcast journalist and newly-elected President of the Press Association of Jamaica Dionne Jackson Miller is writing in RJR’s opinion section, along with colleagues. You can find her latest post, “State funding for politics parties?” here: http://rjrnewsonline.com/opinion/state-funding-for-political-parties

Justice matters: I have not commented much on this, although there is much to say. I recommend a strongly worded piece on another Jamaican blog that I see developing nicely: http://jablogz.com/2014/09/when-there-is-no-justice-rebellion-becomes-law/ There is much to think about. Kudos, too, to the fearless journalist Cliff Hughes, who has regularly highlighted particularly egregious cases of human rights abuses and miscarriages of justice over the years and continues to do so. He often reads from reports by the excellent Gleaner court reporter Barbara Gayle, whose work I would also like to highly commend. The reports are real eye-openers.

Veerle Poupeye, who is celebrating thirty years living on the island. She is doing a terrific job as Executive Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica, bringing it into the public eye with initiatives like the free “Last Sundays” of each month, which are always really enjoyable. Why don’t you drop by on Sunday, September 28?

I extend condolences to all those who are mourning the murder of the following Jamaican citizens:

Police Constable James Grant, 35, African Gardens/August Town, St. Andrew

Jesse James, 24, Westmore Gardens, Spanish Town, St. Catherine 

Mario Duhaney, Central Village, St. Catherine (killed by police)

Robert Barrett, 45, Anchovy, St. James

Lebert Jones, 70, Crofts Hill, Clarendon

Curious onlookers at the cordoned-off area in August Town, where Constable James Grant was killed. (Photo: Gladstone Taylor/Gleaner)

September is coming to an end, with loud thunder and no hurricanes. The yearned-for rains have arrived, and there is a slow drip from the trees. The long, thirsty drought is over, and now it even rains when the sun is shining. Jamaicans call that “the devil and his wife fighting.”

It’s the time of year when the birds return. Return, you may ask? Of course we have birds all year round. But we regard these particular ones as our “special” birds, because they choose our garden to come back to, year after year, starting in September. They are our migratory “winter visitors” – those small, brilliant bundles of feathers, flying thousands of miles from the north (and yes, as far north as Ontario) to our island.

Our Butterfly Bird, the female American Redstart.

Two days ago, I spotted our first arrival. Inevitably, it is the female American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). She is always the first to arrive, and she is a little earlier than last year. The Redstarts are always the last to leave (this year they left in late April; yes, I keep a note of these things). Jamaicans call them the “Butterfly Bird” – and they do flutter. It is said that they often segregate by the sexes; we don’t see the male so often, but he is quite flamboyant – coal black, with flashes of burnt orange, a handsome little bird. Apparently the males like to live in more forested areas, but I do hope to see one or two.

The female has flashes of white and gold in her tail, which she fans out frequently (juveniles look similar, by the way). When I first saw her this year, she darted down from the bougainvillea bush to catch an insect, quickly flying back up with a flick of the white and gold. She is not shy, our Butterfly Bird. If you are outside, she is never far away, perched on a branch, flitting about, looking to see if you disturb any insects for her to feed on. She will call to you quite a lot too… “chip, chip, chip…”

American Redstarts do not breed in the Caribbean. Like the tourists who travel here every winter when it starts getting chilly further north, our feathered winter visitors are spending a vacation down here, feeding and gathering strength before the long journey back up north to breed. On their journeys they encounter many obstacles and hazards, but they keep on going. Many migrating species fly at night, and before they spread out across the islands they gather in Florida and on the Gulf Coast.

Here’s the gorgeous male American Redstart.

I treasure our little birds, and wonder what each individual has experienced to reach our urban garden. I am quoting here from the Jamaica Environment Trust website: “In one night the birds can cover up to 160 km, with a maximum speed of 30 mph. Many birds use up their entire fat reserve during their migration. The American Redstart uses up 50% of its pre-migration fat reserve on its 2,900 km flight to Jamaica. Up to 30%…die during migration. Many birds die, especially on cloudy nights, from encounters with tall buildings and communication towers. Some become exhausted from encounters with strong headwinds, and some are predated by other birds such as owls.”

It is still a mystery to me how birds migrate. A wonder, a miracle even. In the Americas, the smallest of birds do so – even hummingbirds. American Redstarts are only 13 centimeters long themselves. They are one of 36 species of song birds that fly down to Jamaica at this time of the year; there are 13 that are common on the island, and I would love to see them all this winter. 

We welcome our beautiful little warblers, arriving at the end of the summer. One day they are not here, and then the next they are simply with us. How do they find our garden every year? I just don’t know.

Let’s keep a look out for them. Let me know what you see!

International Migratory Bird Day 2014.

International Migratory Bird Day takes place on the second Saturday in October every year in this part of the world. However, bird migration is not a “one day” occurrence, obviously. It is a year-round movement with routes as complex as airline flights. If you would like to know more about migratory birds in the Caribbean, and of course our wonderful year-round resident and endemic birds, do visit the BirdsCaribbean Facebook page and website. Formerly the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) BirdsCaribbean is a non-profit organization committed to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean. More than 80,000 local people participate in our programmes each year, making BirdsCaribbean the most broad-based conservation organization in the region.

BirdsCaribbean’s logo depicts the Bananaquit, a colorful, friendly and easily-recognized songbird that is a common resident on most Caribbean islands.

Tonight’s the Health Minister Fenton Ferguson, author of the “Chik V” débacle, addressed the nation on the topic of this wretched virus that is driving us all crazy, chikungunya.

Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health. He is a dentist by training, not a medical doctor, by the way. Not that I have anything against dentists, at all…

And on that wearying topic, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey told us pretty bluntly last week that they are not now counting the cases any more. They got stuck at the ridiculous figure of 31 and got no further when numbers zoomed up (and most people weren’t getting tested anyway). Dr. Harvey did say, however, that between thirty and sixty per cent of the population will have had it or will get it. Make that sixty per cent (at least). I hardly know anyone who hasn’t had it. Miraculously, I have not (yet). Fellow blogger Cucumber Juice suggests a workable strategy here: http://cucumberjuice.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/chikungunya-notebook-mitigate-and-educate/ Others want the Health Minister to simply resign. Here is the text of Minister Ferguson’s address: http://jis.gov.jm/media/HMH-Address-to-the-Nation-re_chikungunya.pdf  I am puzzled that he omitted to mention that seniors are among the high-risk groups, and also people with sickle cell disease.

Twitter remedies: Meanwhile Twitter is awash with home remedies. Paw paw (papaya leaf) seems to be a favorite. If I tried them all I think I would feel much worse.

Garbage scattered at a section of the Lucea Municipal Bus Park at the edge of the Lucea harbor a few months ago. The town has had a serious garbage-management problem for many years. – (Photo: Christopher Bodden)

One spinoff of this, especially after last weekend’s International Coastal Cleanup Day, is the discussion on how disgustingly filthy our country is, and how the whole island needs cleaning up from top to bottom. After Janella Precius’ excellent television report on the filth lying in the once pretty little town of Lucea between the tourist resorts of Montego Bay and Negril, she returned two or three weeks later to find little or nothing had been done to fix it. The Tourism Minister visited and was pretty disturbed, promising on camera something must and will be done. Ms. Precius says she will keep an eye on things. The town (like so many others) is a public health hazard – and we don’t want our tourists getting Chik V now, do we?!  (Is that why Minister Ferguson was so coy about it in the first place, one wonders?)

My front yard will soon look like this… attracting flies, rats, mosquitoes… No garbage collection for two weeks, again.

So Minister Ferguson announced a National Cleanup Day  – but did not give us a date. How about tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow? No urgency? Will the general populace be fit enough for such strenuous exercise, anyway? Now one Member of Parliament is telling us it’s “everyone’s responsibility.” Well, our garbage has not been collected for over two weeks now. It is stinking and attracting flies and I am trying to prevent mosquito breeding spots from appearing. It is disgusting. Is it my responsibility to collect the garbage and take it to the dump, now?

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

The good news is that three police officers have been charged in connection with the death of Mario Deane, who was beaten in the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay and died on Independence Day, August 6. Two of them are women – including the one who allegedly refused to grant station bail when Deane’s friend came to collect him, and allegedly ordered him to go back in the cells. They are charged with manslaughter, misconduct and attempting to pervert the course of justice and will return to court on October 3. I need to report on a couple of other cases (well, several really) involving the police, but that will be for another post.

Executive Director of National Integrity Action Professor Trevor Munroe. (Photo: Gleaner)

I haven’t written much about the excellent lobby group National Integrity Action (NIA) headed by Professor Trevor Munroe. The Professor made an interesting speech to lay magistrates yesterday, which I am trying to find a copy of.  He asked a lot of pertinent questions and noted that between April and July of this year, J$7.7 billion was cut from central government in order to meet the International Monetary Fund’s review targets.  I hope to report further on the NIA head’s remarks.

Christopher Tufton of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute. (Photo: Gleaner)

Far from reality? The think tank Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) headed by Dr. Christopher Tufton says the much-touted logistics hub has a ways to go. CaPRI concludes that Jamaica lags behind a number of its regional competitors in several areas – including energy costs, security issues, the general business environment and inadequate human resources. Location isn’t everything, the think tank suggests in its report – which I also cannot find online, frustratingly.

Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton.

I’m wondering about Minister Anthony Hylton, who oversees the proposed hub; he seems very quiet these days and seems to spend a lot of time traveling. Has he really got a grip on things? Minister Hylton almost let the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill 2014 (on the IMF’s must-do list) which he was supposed to be piloting slip right through his fingers; it appears the Justice Minister had to rescue it. I hear Minister Hylton is overseas at the moment anyway. The act has to be passed by September 30, and the House of Representatives is going to squeeze it through that same day, now. One hopes.

Commendations to:

• Barbara Gayle (Sunday Gleaner) and Balford Henry (Sunday Observer) who keep us up to date on the incompetencies and slackness of our justice system and our Parliamentary system, respectively. If you want a dose of reality every Sunday, do read them. Why, for example, did the Upper House only sit for fifteen minutes on Friday? It only meets one day a week to start with! As Mr. Henry notes, parliamentary proceedings have been dominated by legislation that must be passed at the IMF’s behest, rushed through to meet deadlines. The Oppositlon has gone along with this.
• The great people at the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), who did a great job on International Coastal Cleanup Day!
• Marcia Forbes did a quick survey of some of us and came up with her findings on whether we bloggers actually want to make money out of our blogs. Here is her article on Caribbean Journal (which by the way is always a pleasant read): http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/09/24/the-business-of-caribbean-blogging/

Members of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), which administers the Portland Bight Protected Area, pose after cleaning up in Peake Bay, Clarendon. (Photo: C-CAM)

I am so pleased to say that in the past four days only one Jamaican has been murdered, according to media reports. Minister of National Security Peter Bunting says murders have declined by 18 per cent compared to the first nine months of last year. Good going and kudos to all.

Tevon Henderson, 20, Bull Bay, St. Thomas

October is here, and we are enjoying beautiful weather. The hills are deep green from the recent rains. The sun does not burn so harshly. It’s a delicious time of year. But, we still have mosquitoes.

Delano Seiveright has been loudly expressing concerns about chikungunya in eastern St. Thomas. He is the Jamaica Labour Party caretaker/candidate for this constituency, currently represented by…the Health Minister. (Photo: Gleaner)

Humble pie: First, I owe Delano Seiveright and his Opposition colleagues an apology. Political candidate Mr. Seiveright and Member of Parliament for western St. Thomas James Robertson raised the alarm about the chikungunya virus over a month ago now. Like many others, I thought they were dramatizing, seeking to score some political points. I wrote about the aedes aegypti mosquito acquiring green striped legs instead of the regular black and white. Health Minister Fenton Ferguson immediately attacked them for politicking; the Opposition Health Spokesman (who is a medical doctor) was being “alarmist.” Well, now we are all alarmist, and I am eating humble pie. Sorry, Delano. None of us have any idea why the Minister decided to play down the possible impact of chikungunya on a population that has never experienced it before. After all, it is appearing in the Western Hemisphere for the first time in history. None of us were immune.

Ignorance and lack of information has  has certainly exacerbated the situation regarding chikungunya in Jamaica. The Health Ministry is to blame; it was talking politics at a crucial point in the epidemic, instead of getting information out. Rumors are rife; some Jamaicans still strongly maintain that chik v is not spread by mosquitoes! The Minister has repeatedly referred to a “seminar” with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Jamaica in May 2012, during which a road map for action on chik v was drawn up. Were all the preparations and actions outlined during that meeting undertaken? Meanwhile, kudos to Opposition Health Spokesman Dr. Kenneth Baugh, who has been sharing valuable information on the virus on radio.

Seaview Gardens. There is a huge pileup of garbage in the gully that empties into the sea. This area has been neglected for years. (Photo: Gleaner)

When is the National Cleanup Day, Minister Ferguson? And isn’t it a bit late to be holding “stakeholder meetings”? And Local Government Ministry…This is too little, too late. The Ministry met with Mayors over the weekend to decide priority communities for vector control. It released funds for six – yes, six! – communities for drain cleaning, etc. Clearly funding is an issue but why these last-minute meetings? The first Chikungunya case in the Caribbean was in St Maarten in December, 2013, and it spread steadily from east to west after that. Wasn’t that enough time for Jamaica to prepare, to educate the public?

No word from the Prime Minister: No, not at all. She made a speech yesterday about the great progress her Government has made on women’s issues (I reserve judgment on that). However, reading out prepared speeches before a group of International Monetary Fund officials and other foreigners does not count.

Do we have these kinds of facilities in Jamaica? (Photo: AP)

Ebola in America: So, a chill went through us all yesterday on hearing that there is a case of Ebola in Dallas, Texas. Remember, Jamaica is very close to the United States; only a 45-minute flight away! The thought of the terrible disease reaching our shores is deeply troubling. The Health Ministry is now on “high alert,” says Dr. Kevin Harvey, Permanent Secretary, noting that isolation units have been prepared (one in Kingston). How speedily could we respond? How well equipped are we? Meanwhile, Jamaicans were impressed by the forthright, no-nonsense and detailed press briefing given by U.S. officials immediately after the case was confirmed.

And our professionals? The heads of our professional associations – doctors and nurses, have been quite evasive when interviewed on radio. One radio commentator expressed his frustration at their reluctance to “call a spade a spade.” He apparently asked them about whether a pregnant woman can transmit chik v  to their child, but got no straight answer. But are we surprised? After all, they all work for the Ministry of Health so they cannot say much. But their predecessors were braver.

And talking of courage, I heard an observation: “Everybody’s afraid…What are they all afraid of?” They are all playing it safe, protecting their livelihoods and afraid to speak out. This applies to many Jamaicans, it appears, especially those working for the Government. In a way, I can’t blame them. But…

Justice Minister Mark Golding. (Photo: Gleaner)

In the midst of all this, Parliament passed a historic law! The legislation allowing for the expungement of criminal records for misdemeanors – including minor ganja possession charges – was passed yesterday. An important, cautious first step. I think Justice Minister Mark Golding is going about this matter in the correct way – carefully and thoughtfully. Kudos to him. Next will come the legalization of medical marijuana and hemp for industrial use, which Cabinet has approved. The lobbyists are feeling a little happier, I think.

Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs Faith Webster.

Bureau of Women’s Affairs (BWA) head Faith Webster’s application seeking a judicial review of an interdiction order in March – meaning that Ms. Webster was abruptly shown the door – will be heard on November 12 and 13. Ms. Webster, who has worked at the BWA for sixteen years, claims she was never able to respond to charges made against her. So, her life has been on hold for most of this year as she seeks to defend herself.

Congratulations!  Proud of these people…

Businesswoman and philanthropist extraordinaire Jean Lowrie-Chin. (Photo: ProComm)

• To Jean Lowrie-Chin, the new President of the Digicel Foundation. I know Jean will do a wonderful job. She is a role model for me, and many other Jamaican women.

The UNICEF Jamaica team, panelists and moderator Empressz  after the #UNICEFActivate talk on education. Big ups to them! (Photo credit: Fellow blogger Dennis Jones, who was at the event. Thanks Dennis!)

• UNICEF Jamaica and the wonderful team of education innovators who spoke at the #UNICEFActivate talk on Monday evening: Deika Morrison of Do Good Jamaica/Crayons Count; Jason Henzell of the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation; Renée Rattray from JN Foundation; and Marvin Hall of Halls of Learning. I have written about it in my weekly Gleaner blog (Social Impact): http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/?p=2239 Fellow blogger Dennis Jones also wrote about it here: http://jamaicapoliticaleconomy.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/no-chalk-good-talk-and-much-innovation-in-education-unicef-activate-talk-kingston/  UNICEF Jamaica is doing great work. 

Award-winning Jamaican writer and poet Kei Miller.

• Dr Kei Miller, Jamaican writer and poet, who won the UK’s Forward Prize for the Best Poetry Collection 2014 for his book “The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way To Zion.”  If you have not read any of Kei’s works by now… go to your nearest bookstore immediately!

• Assistant Commissioner of Police Novelette Grant, who today became Deputy Commissioner of Police – only the second woman to be appointed to this position. I believe she is a very worthy person, intelligent, focused and articulate, and was a strong candidate for Commissioner. Congratulations Novelette!

DCP Novelette Grant.

Minister of National Security Peter Bunting announced that the sleepy parish of Portland has by far the lowest murder rate this year – 10 per 100,000 (by the way, this is how such things should be measured). St. James has the highest. Certainly, murders have declined and we are hoping numbers will stay low for the rest of the year! But some sad news this afternoon. My deepest condolences to the family of Muschett High School student Alicia Brown, who did not arrive at school yesterday morning, and whose body was found today.

Alicia Brown, 13, Stewart Castle, Trelawny

On the roads: Motorcyclists – please take care on the roads! I see some crazy bike riders on a daily basis – careless, and often riding without helmets (do the police enforce this law at all, I wonder?) This young man, a Titchfield High School graduate, lost control of his bike in Snow Hill, Portland, fell off it and died. Was he going too fast?

29-year-old Lloyd Mullings died when he fell off his motorbike in Snow Hill, Portland on Monday. (Photo: On The Ground News Reports)

Dear readers, due to important commitments and deadlines to meet, I will be taking a break from my twice-weekly news updates. There are not enough hours in the day! My next update will be Sunday, October 12.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused – but you might see one or two other postings meanwhile. Just one or two!

Last Friday, October 3 I had the great honor of speaking at the launch of the LASCO Rootz R.E.A.P. Program (R.E.A.P. = Releaf Environmental Awareness Program) at the St. Jago Cathedral Preparatory School in Spanish Town. I was also interviewed on Hot 102 FM, which was fun! I thought I would share my speech with you. I also wrote about the event on my Jamaica Gleaner blog page, “Social Impact,” here: http://gleanerblogs.com/socialimpact/?p=2259

Congratulations to all involved! For more information and to learn how schools can participate, please read my Social Impact blog and look them up on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you, Mr. Hall. Councilor Claude Hamilton, representing the Mayor of Spanish Town; Member of Parliament for St. Catherine Eastern Dr. Denise Daley; President of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association Pastor Wesley Boynes; Mr. Stephen Newland, Project Director, Releaf Foundation; Representatives of LASCO; Principal of St. Jago Cathedral Preparatory School Ms. Andrea Baugh, and the awesome Ms. Nadia Guy, Coordinator of the school’s Environment Club; Teachers, staff and students of St. Jago Cathedral Prep and those from other schools – Denham Town Primary, Allman Town Primary, St. Aloysius Primary, Kinder Kampus and others; Mr. Dickie Crawford and Hot 102 FM and others in attendance…

Good morning, everyone. I am very honored to speak at the launch of this exciting competition. I warmly commend Rootz Underground for its creative inspiration, and LASCO for its support for this visionary project. I am happy to greet the St. Jago Cathedral Preparatory School family. It is a wonderful school that serves its students well and that cares about Jamaica’s environment.

 I recently experienced the joy of seeing our first migratory bird. She had just arrived in our Kingston yard. It is the female American Redstart, commonly called the Butterfly Bird. She is small, she is beautiful, and she has flown nearly 3,000 miles – at night, up to thirty miles per hour – from North America to our yard in Jamaica. And there she is, fluttering in the bushes, happily collecting insects on the wing and splashing in the bird bath. What a mystery – what a miracle she is.

It is the island of Jamaica, the “land of wood and water,” that nurtures this little bird and thousands of others, every year. But don’t we take it all for granted? Why are we so wasteful? This summer we suffered one of the longest and most painful drought periods in living memory. Our political leaders were beseeching us to save water, and to report leaks. We must learn from this, and learn to change our ways. Although the rains have come, I hope that sense of urgency is still with us. All this derives from our failure to prepare, and to think long term. It comes from carelessness – and taking things for granted, just like the return of my little bird every September.

Our Butterfly Bird, the female American Redstart.

But what can I do as an individual, you may ask? It’s time for action. The time is now! Here are just a few things we can do:

#1 Conserve, nurture and protect all living things. Everything has its purpose, even the smallest insect. Just because it has no immediate use to us does not mean we should destroy or throw it away. We are all interdependent, all connected in the cycle of life.

#2 Get rid of our bad habits. One thing we can stop doing, right now: stop littering and dumping garbage. Stop throwing cartons out of the car window, thinking someone else will pick them up. Stop dirtying up our communities. Stop the habit of expecting government to do everything for us. Let’s get up, organize and do it ourselves.

#3 Which brings me to my next point: Get involved. Plant a tree. Recycle. Do a beach cleanup. Join an environmental organization. Volunteer. Find something you are passionate about and get involved in a project that can make a difference. If you don’t know of any, contact Jamaica Environment Trust or a parish environment group, and ask them what you can do. Or start your own group.

Stephen Newland of the band Rootz Underground is onto a very good thing with this project. I congratulate him for his vision!

#4 So they say charity begins at home. Start with your immediate surroundings. Plant some herbs in pots. Start a vegetable garden (that saves money, too). Grow plants that will attract birds and butterflies. You will be happier in your surroundings, and you will set an example to your neighbors. Encourage them to do the same!

#5 So yes – start to empower your community. Remember, it’s action, not words. Start a neighborhood cleanup – not a one-off thing, but a regular exercise perhaps once a month. Create a community park; each resident can contribute something, however small, even if it is just one plant. Teach responsibility; keep the park beautiful. Have some pride!

Get the energy going, even if it’s only two or three of you at first. And keep it up!

The exuberant dancers of St. Jago Prep.

#6 The private sector can, and must play its part. Hunter Lovins of Natural Capital Solutions, who was in Jamaica recently, pointed to many opportunities, saying “Climate change is not about polar bears; it’s about business!” (Well, I actually think it’s both). Have you heard of green collar jobs? Jamaican businesses can save money (and earn money) through sustainable business practices. Things are happening: A public/private sector partnership has started up. Wisynco has begun partnering with several firms – Pepsi Jamaica, Grace Kennedy and others – as well as the government’s JEEP program and other organizations to launch a nationwide recycling initiative. It is called Recycle Now Jamaica and you will be hearing much more about it.

Congratulations to local manufacturer LASCO for its support for Stephen Newland’s project. Here they are setting up their food counter at the school.

#7 Listen and learn. It’s never too late. We have many wonderful scientists who can teach us so much. Take a hike in the Blue Mountains and learn about the unique habitat up there. You can find 200 resident and migratory birds. 800 plant species grow there that exist nowhere else in the world. The world’s second largest butterfly lives in the Blue Mountains; do you know its name?

A West Indian Mahogany tree.

I know the Releaf Foundation is focused on trees. Do you know the names of – and can you recognize – our native, endemic trees? These are the best trees to plant. For a start, they are more hardy and resistant to storms. [Spanish Elm, Blue Mahoe, Lignum Vitae, Santa Maria, French Oak, Stinking Toe, West Indian Mahogany etc]

Did you know that the Cockpit Country provides about forty per cent of our freshwater resources?

Mangrove trees in a lagoon at sunset in the Portland Bight Protected Area of Jamaica. (Photo: Robin Moore)

Did you know that the Portland Bight Protected Area where Goat Islands is situated includes the largest mangrove system in Jamaica (about 2/3 of all Jamaica’s mangroves) which together with extensive sea‐grass beds and coral reefs, likely contains the largest nursery area for fish and shellfish on the island. The largest remaining area of intact dry limestone forest in Jamaica can be found there. 271 plant species have been identified, including 53 that are found nowhere else on Earth.  

Learn about the issues affecting our coastlines. Residents and hoteliers in Negril are seeking alternative solutions to help restore the rapidly eroding beach.

Learning and knowing the facts about Jamaica’s wonderful natural heritage is one thing. But we need to teach others and support others – let’s live as a sustainable community.

Head of St. Jago Cathedral Prep School’s Environment Club and dedicated teacher Nadia Guy talks to Hot 102 FM’s Dickie Crawford on the air about her work.

#8 Teach the children. I know that this school is doing a fantastic job in this area, and so are many schools across the island. But environmental responsibility is not just something you learn in school and forget about when you leave the compound. Let the youth go home, talk to their parents and their neighbors, and put into practice what they have learned in their communities. Let us train responsible, caring young citizens, role models for their peers.

#9 Think long term. Don’t rush to the quickest solution. Sometimes you can take the road less traveled. It may take a little longer to reach your destination, but the rewards will be greater.

#10 Listen to people, talk to people. This is a democracy – make your voice heard and encourage reasonable and fair debate and discussion. Don’t get angry. Get focused and get informed. Talk to your political representatives; lobby the government on environmental issues you care about. Make sure they hear you!

#11 Look around you, and simply enjoy the beauty of this island. People may say beauty cannot generate jobs, but I would dispute this. Many people make money from photography, film and eco-tourism, for example. Observe, enjoy, slow down and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Listen to the nightingale sing; watch the pelicans’ amazing dives.

#12 And always – always practice what you preach!

Going green…

I would like to conclude with some of my own thoughts on environmental conservation.

Firstly, there is much talk nowadays about “balance.” As a blogger, I participated in Jamaica’s second annual Jamaica Blog Day in May. The theme this year was “Environment vs. Development.” I concluded that in this so-called balance, the scales are always tipped in favor of Development. There really is no balance. In fact, this is literally happening. The Scientific American reported last year that global warming is actually changing the location of Earth’s geographic poles.

Political leaders like to talk about “sustainable development” – it’s a favorite catch phrase these days. But what does it really mean? The most widely accepted definition comes from a 1987 report, Our Common Future: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The human race can progress without depleting the earth’s natural resources.  But it has to be a different kind of progress.

Cockpit Country. (Photo: Ted Lee Eubanks)

Secondly, the idea that poverty is the main destroyer of the environment is a myth. The greatest destroyer of the environment is the pouring of concrete where there was once a breeding site for seabirds; the dumping up of mangrove forests that protect us from storms and hurricanes, to create a housing scheme; the cutting down of trees that have taken many decades to grow, and not replanting any; the building of coal-powered plants that will pollute the air we breathe; the dredging of the seabed, removing all the organisms that live there.

So, don’t blame the poor. That is simply unfair. Whether rich or poor, Jamaicans and citizens the world over can learn to live more sustainably. A charcoal burner or a farmer who practices the “slash and burn” can learn more environmentally friendly practices.

I believe it is unchecked greed that is endangering our planet. “If you think the economy is more important than the environment, try holding your breath while counting your money.” (Professor Guy McPherson)

Yes, we all love technology, but does having the latest iPhone really bring us a better quality of life? We know, and we have seen that technology can bring more lasting benefits: electric cars that do not use gas; the use of our natural resources, sun, wind and water, to power our homes and factories; recycling car tires and plastics to create clothing and building materials.

Our Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, often says, “With climate change, we must change.” And he is absolutely right. I believe he is talking about a change of mindset. I would say it is time to change our actions, too. Because climate change is here, and it is now. It’s not in the future. It is right here in the present.

So, we must think differently. We must think about the future of our planet and our children and grandchildren, who will inherit it from us. We have already done enough damage, and we know this. We are also learning from our scientists that some of the damage may be irreversible. We cannot always go back and fix things. We can become less greedy, more caring, and learn to live in harmony with nature and with each other, as we know our Creator (whatever our religion or belief system is) intended us to do. And I am using the word “we” deliberately. Because it is something we must do – can do – together. We can be a force for the good of the planet.

Our lives will become richer and more meaningful. We will be healthier and happier. And the future of generations to come will be much brighter.

I want to end by quoting a banner I saw during the recent climate change people’s march. It said, “There is no Planet B.” We cannot continue behaving as if there is another planet that we can move on to, after we have used up this one and made it unlivable. This is the only Planet we have. This is our Mother Earth.

How could we treat our Mother this way? She has always provided us with everything we need!

Here is another quote, which I confess I stole from Ms. Lovins’ recent presentation, by Buckminster Fuller – an architect and an early environmental activist. “We are called to be architects of the future: not its victims.”

Thank you for listening to me. I wish you all a wonderful day and a more sustainable future for our beautiful – and fragile – island of Jamaica.

A view across part of the Portland Bight Protected Area. (Photo: Ted Lee Eubanks)

Mensana Jamaica is a mental health support group that does much-needed work here in Jamaica. Below is Mensana’s message for today (October 10, 2014) – World Mental Health Day. There is still much work to be done in support of Jamaicans living with mental illness. If you are in Kingston and would like to support the organization in its annual fundraiser, please join them for the traditional “Saturday Soup” tomorrow.

Mensana’s fundraiser.

Mensana Jamaica welcomes the observance of World Mental Health Day on October 10. The focus on schizophrenia this year is most appropriate in our view as schizophrenia is a very common mental illness, but is grossly misunderstood by most Jamaicans. Consequently caregivers and loved ones of persons living with schizophrenia and many persons living with schizophrenia themselves, experience a lot of suffering due to ignorance, fear, misconceptions, stigma, shame and discrimination.

Mensana knows about that. We hear about it from our members all the time.

Mensana Jamaica is a mental health support group comprising caregivers, other family members and persons living with mental illnesses.

It was started in Kingston, in 1997 by two mothers of sons with schizophrenia and a psychiatrist.

The word “Mensana” is derived from the Latin phrase “Mens Sana in Corpore Sana” which translates to “A healthy (sound) mind in a healthy body”. Hence our slogan: “For a whole mind, body and spirit.”

Mensana Jamaica meets once per month, 10:00 a.m. every second Saturday only, at the Quakers meeting place, 11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5.

Mensana Jamaica’s objectives are three-fold:

Support and Information Sharing – In addition to caregivers and loved-ones of persons living with a range of mental illnesses, our support group also includes professional mental health caregivers such as psychiatrists, mental health nurses and counsellors and, persons living with mental illnesses. In our sharing sessions participants discuss their concerns and stressors, and are helped by the feedback and advice. They also benefit from a feeling of safety to share in a space where others understand what they are going through. In August Mensana Jamaica conducted a caregivers retreat to really help members get to the heart of the issues that affect family and caregivers of persons with mental illnesses. Mensana also reaches out to other groups that help persons living with mental illnesses, such as the Open Arms Drop In Centre on Windward Road. We have conducted talks for the family members of the patients at the Bellevue Hospital and fostered the commencement of other mental health support groups such as one for Spanish Town in 2012.

Advocacy and Public Awareness – Mensana Jamaica is a registered, non-government voluntary organization and is a part of the Civil Society response for Mental Health in Jamaica.   Through public forums, media appearances, work-shops, conferences and participation in national technical working groups and advisory committees, Mensana advocates for improved national mental health services, and builds awareness to end stigma and discrimination.

Some of the national committees on which Mensana is represented include:

• The Task force to revise the National Mental Health Policy,
• The Ministry of Health (MOH) community health and psychiatry human rights committee and
• The Joint Meeting of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Mental Health Services of the MoH)

There are several issues in mental health that members of Mensana believe need urgent attention. Some of these are:

•  Access to appropriate and adequate health care is a right, which is not afforded to most persons with mental illness in Jamaica. Such care involves not only chemical management but also psycho-social support and rehabilitation services. In Jamaica there is emphasis on chemical management with little or no psycho-social support.
• Treatment of the mentally ill in the penal system is still abysmal. There are illegal incarcerations due to lack of hospital space, no forensic psychiatric services and one or two psychiatrists working in the prisons. Delays in psychiatric evaluations of arrested persons result in long detention in jail, and mentally ill persons are being ‘lost’ in the prisons for decades because of being unfit to plead. There is also no social support for persons released. In addition to these issues, there is evidently limited police training in appropriate methods of restraint leading to excessive force and frequent instances of persons being shot and killed.  It is important to note however, that the Police have a well thought out draft policy for dealing with the mentally ill. We commend them in their efforts to put this together, however we are calling for their speedy ratification and implementation of this policy. Should this be done, we would see far fewer incidences of the violation of the rights of the mentally ill by the Police.
• The Community Mental Health Services need more vehicles, vehicle maintenance and upkeep in order to help them to better serve the needs in community mental health care.
• Jamaica’s Mental Health Policy is still in draft stage and has been for years. Although some good ideas are in this draft and would make for significant improvement in the management of our mental health program if implemented, the policy is still in limbo.
• As our country gets ready to decriminalize ganja, we seriously question our preparedness to manage the expected increase in usage of ganja particularly by the youth population.

We mean to keep these and other critical mental health issues in public focus until they no longer exist.

Public Awareness & Education: Public awareness and education are keys in tackling stigma and discrimination. We try to keep our membership informed about mental health issues locally and internationally. Our meetings are often attended by experts on various mental health issues who are specially invited to share on these issues. Our last speaker was Dr. Winston De La Haye of the Department of Psychiatry who came in September to share about the implications of the decriminalization of ganja, in order to arm us with the facts on this issue.

Once a month Mensana Jamaica conducts talks with the student doctors at UWI to acquaint them with the issues that affect caregivers of persons with mental illnesses.

Our facebook page – Mensana Jamaica, is the most recent addition to our public education efforts.

It is important for the public to better understand mental illness and to respond to persons who are affected without fear, stigma and discrimination. Mental illness is treatable. The negative effects need not be a life sentence. With appropriate treatment, understanding and support, persons living with mental illnesses can recover and live meaningful lives.

Mensana Jamaica

October, 2014

I promised a post for Sunday, and I am a woman of my word. Sorry though – it’s Monday. Having said that, my reason for taking a break last week was because I had “stuff” going on. But the stuff was thrown out the window when “chik v” arrived, just nine days ago. I am still wobbling along, slightly off kilter but doing the best I can. A lot of news, but I will touch on a few things here…

Professor Carolyn Cooper.

Boring each other: I have a feeling that we are all at this point boring each other with detailed descriptions of our symptoms (which seem to come and go) whether on social media or over the telephone. The Chikungunya virus is not a straightforward customer, as anyone who has endured it will know. You don’t wake up in the morning and say, “Oh – it’s gone!” I have fooled myself that way, already. So, “chik v” continues to wend its weary way across Jamaica, the recriminations continue – and I agree with columnist Carolyn Cooper about the clean-up exercises – too little, too late! Of course, these photo-ops by the Prime Minister and the (not-fired) Health Minister in their constituencies are just that – PR exercises which all party supporters were called to turn out for.

“Self-diagnosing”: Now, what does the Health Ministry really want us to do?  Health officials are complaining that Jamaicans are diagnosing themselves as having “chik v” – although they might have some other more dangerous disease such as dengue fever or leptospirosis, which a doctor should see. Then on the other hand we are told not to “crowd up” the hospitals with suspected “chik v” systems. At this stage, with the virus still spreading rapidly, and in the absence of any clear guidance or information, what would you like us to do, Minister? Stay home or crowd up the hospital – so that we can be ignored for hours in the emergency room?

Tragedy on the emergency room floor: On September 30 at around 7:00 p.m., 76-year-old Unalee Edwards took her son, 34-year-old Jason Forbes, to the Spanish Town Hospital, as he was complaining of bad stomach pains. Some fourteen hours later, on the morning of October 1, Mr. Forbes’ name was finally called for attention. But it was too late. He had died, right there, on a towel on the hospital floor, after screaming and crying for help for hours. His calls and his elderly mother’s efforts to get help for him were apparently ignored by auxiliary and medical staff. When interviewed about the case, a leading representative of the profession went to great lengths to tell us about the pressure on hospital staff, but omitted to express condolences or sympathy to Mr. Forbes’ family (who said they knew why this happened – “We are poor people,” or words to that effect).

Oh, and don’t think this is an isolated case of neglect. Every day in public hospitals across the country, Jamaicans in pain and need are treated contemptuously by staff. Very many of us know this, and have experienced it for ourselves. When are things going to change, Minister Ferguson? Are these people trained to show compassion and caring? Would they like their own families to be treated so coldly? Would a politician be happy at a family member being treated this way (But what am I saying… They go overseas!)

Is there one justice system and one health system for the rich, and another for the poor? Many Jamaicans would not dispute this, sad to say. In fact, the latest poll shows 96% believe that real “justice” is reserved for the well-off.

Sierra Leone’s government welcomes the 165 Cuban health-care workers who came to fight Ebola. (Photo: Glenna Gordon for The Wall Street Journal)

Ebola: Meanwhile, we know we are not prepared for the arrival of ebola on our shores. This is not only in terms of physical preparation and equipment, but also training – practical training for health care workers. I have heard the Cubans are putting the medical personnel they are sending to West Africa through a rigorous “boot camp” to ensure they have the procedures exactly correct. Perhaps we could learn from our close neighbors and do likewise?

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s popularity appears to have dropped precipitously according to the latest opinion polls. (Photo: Gleaner)

Political polls are a bit of a mixed bag for Jamaica. They can be unreliable and can take you down roads that turn out to be dead ends. But the recent polls by Bill Johnson, published in the Gleaner, have certainly caused a little frisson. The People’s National Party must be seriously worried that its President and the nation’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, seems to have lost a great deal of her legendary personal appeal, with an only 39 per cent favorability rating. Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has 53 per cent favorability (a little surprising perhaps, since the Jamaican public has never seemed exactly enthusiastic about “Anju.“) “Sista P/Mama P” has been the strength, the backbone of the party, ensuring that it can win elections. And then there are the respondents’ views on corruption: 70 per cent of Jamaica’s elected officials, 80 per cent of the police force and 50 per cent of government employees are considered corrupt by the Jamaican public. How much more damning could these polls be? But Professor Trevor Munroe, Executive Director of the anti-corruption watchdog group National Integrity Action, is not surprised, and nor should we be.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. (Photo: AP)

Growth projections: According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Latin American-Caribbean region is slowing down in economic growth. Our neighbors in Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and St. Kitts & Nevis are expected to record the highest growth in 2014 and 2015. Jamaica is expected to have a measly 1.1 and 1.8 per cent in those two years. We may be passing the IMF tests, but… You can read the IMF survey here: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2014/car101014c.htm

Senator Floyd Morris.

Good news! At last, the Senate passed the Disabilities Act last Friday, October 10. The visually-challenged President of the Senate Floyd Morris expressed his personal joy at its passing (with fourteen amendments). I hope it will make a difference; but as we all know, legislation cannot wipe away discrimination. That will take much longer.

Roaring River. (Photo: Irie FM)

Bad news! It was with a familiar sinking feeling that I read that the Chinese want another piece of Jamaica; and we will have to give it to them, in part payment for the North-South Highway. The headline “Chinese want lands next to Dunn’s River” gave me a chill (and it wasn’t the Chik V). The China Harbour Engineering Company want the Jamaican Government to give them these lands and have submitted a proposal for a development there. Yes, they are entitled to 1,200 acres of land. The Gleaner article notes: “The Government has started the process of picking out large tracts of lands, which could be made available to the Chinese.” (to “make available” means “to hand over”).

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST: The Commission of Enquiry into the West Kingston incursion of May 2010 will begin on Monday, December 1. Read the Terms of Reference here: http://jis.gov.jm/media/TOR-for-West-Kingston-COE-2014.pdf  The Commission has its own dedicated website and its full contact details are here: http://www.coewk.org.jm/content/contact-us  with a useful form, so do not hesitate to contact them… And watch this space for more.

“Big ups” are due to…

• Britanny Mossop, Diandra Stephens, Chrystal Brown, Curtis Moxam, Oral Edwards, Kavion Grant, Sophia Richards, Ackera Gowie, Ricka-Ann Miles and Kaylia Spence. Who are they? These are young volunteers who recently received recognition from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen through his I Believe Initiative. They gave up their holidays to work with non-profit organizations during the GG’s second annual Summer of Service program. Kudos too, to the local firms who provided scholarships and prizes to the young people: The University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University, Newport Fersan Jamaica Limited, Sandals Foundation, Kingston Bookshop, Lasco Jamaica Limited, Derrimon Trading Co. Limited – and of course, the excellent I Believe Initiative.

The “ROAR Group” of young women sing at the launch of “Nuh Guh Deh” on Saturday, October 11. More photos can be viewed on Eve for Life’s Facebook page!

• The incredible women of Eve for Life, the non-governmental organization that supports teen mothers living with HIV and AIDS. Due to my illness, I missed the official launch of their “Nuh Guh Deh” campaign against sex with the girl child – and of a very important publication, “I am Now Free: Diaries of a Survivor of Child Rape and Sexual Abuse.” Huge thanks to all the supporters of this effort, including the British High Commission, U.S. Embassy and UNICEF, the wonderful Fabian Thomas and Tribe Sankofa, the fabulously awesome and committed Nomaddz – my heart overflows when I think of all those who provided technical, resource and moral support. Please read Janet Silvera’s reporting in the Sunday Gleaner. And please support Eve for Life!

Jamaican poet Ann-Margaret Lim presented a copy of her book “Festival of Wild Orchid” to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on October 3. The GG is such a kind and sincere person. I am sure the meeting went really well.

Although murder rates have declined this year, I was disturbed to see how many Jamaicans lost their lives since I last posted. Among them were four men who were killed on a leg of the North-South Highway recently constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company. They were transporting nearly J$2 million in cash – wages to be paid to workers on the highway, on a Sunday afternoon in a regular motor vehicle. This is astonishing. Is this the way they pay their workers? Now four lives have been lost, besides the money of course. Why was there no security, and why would the company allow large amounts of cash to be carried around in this way?

Stenneth Smith, 48, Heywood Street, Kingston

Andrew Williams, 42, Sheffield Road, East Kingston

Ian Nugent, 36, Half Way Tree Police Station, Kingston (killed by police)

Martin Grant, Mona, Kingston 7

Unidentified man, Cargill Avenue, Kingston 10 (killed by police)

Unidentified man, Hughenden/Hendon Drive, Kingston 20

Jeffers Ferguson, 34, August Town, St. Andrew

George Witter, 26, Goldsmith Villa/August Town, St. Andrew

Franklyn Smith, 49, Bull Bay, St. Andrew

Unidentified man, Bull Bay, St. Andrew

Craig Christopher Harris, 29, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine

Carlton Scott, 43, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Kirk Anthony Foote, 33, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Courtney Corbourne, 42, Bowers Wood/Linstead, St. Catherine 

Unknown taxi operator, Hellshire, St. Catherine

Unidentified woman, Ackee Village/Portmore, St. Catherine

Denroy Dennis, 24, Green Meadows, Clarendon

Unidentified man, Castleton, St. Mary (killed by police)

Richard Johnson, Florence Hall, Trelawny

Jessica McLarty, 18, Buckfield, St. Ann

Lincoln “Style” Scott, former drummer with the excellent reggae band Roots Radics, died at his Williamsfield, Manchester home Thursday evening. It appears that he was murdered. This is so sad.