A part of this review appears in today’s Sunday Gleaner – incomplete and wrongly attributed to the author! The newspaper also does not mention the excellent local publishers, Ian Randle Publishers (IRP). Here is my review (yes, I wrote this!) in full.  In the context of today’s strife within the People’s National Party, the timing of this publication is particularly apt. Perhaps we could look at the Manley era through this current lens, while gaining some rather helpful insights.  Many thoughts ran through my mind as I read the book. Where is democratic socialism today? Has the plight of the “sufferers” been eased over the past few decades? Is the Jamaican citizen now self-reliant, confident and proud, as Manley had envisaged?

Manley’s biographer is Godfrey Smith, a well-known Belizean politician and lawyer. The genesis of the book came from a meeting between Smith and Michael Manley’s daughter Rachel, the author says. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Kudos to author Godfrey Smith, and to Christine Randle of IRP for producing a book that I believe is a major contribution to Jamaica’s difficult, but fascinating political history. It will be available online by the end of the month, and in Jamaican bookstores any day now. Please check IRP’s Facebook page for updates.

Michael Manley: The Biography

We human beings are complex creatures. We have our peculiar ways. We like to think we are logical, but we often behave irrationally. We often vacillate, just when we should be decisive. We make (and do not always acknowledge) mistakes, and we have unexpected successes.

Reading what might be considered the definitive biography of former Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manley confirmed what I had always suspected: that he was just such a human being. Manley has often been portrayed either as a noble but misunderstood leader of messianic proportions; or as a misguided, slightly sinister politician, who brought Jamaica to its knees during the 1970s. This book clearly demonstrates, through intriguing, often intimate revelations, that Manley was neither of these one-dimensional extremes. Yet he was presented to Jamaica (and the world) as one or the other, during his political career and even to this day. This is how we, the public, treat with our leaders, of course: either on a pedestal, or with feet of clay.

Man of the People: In this Gleaner photograph, Prime Minister Michael Manley carries his shovel as he joins Kingston Jaycees in their joint effort with Rae Town Fishermen’s Cooperative to construct a community health clinic on Labour Day, 1975.

This is why such a biography is invaluable. It explores the man behind the superficial “good guy, bad guy” facades. The author calls his subject “Michael” throughout the book, thus immediately “humanizing” him. Mr. Smith collaborated closely with Manley’s daughter Rachel on the writing of the book. Among several other sources – family members and others close to him – he makes substantial use of what he calls “priceless” private correspondence between Manley and his loyal friend, the late Professor Rex Nettleford. The latter offers the reader an unusual and revealing perspective. Professor Nettleford’s reflections are sympathetic and supportive, seeking to explain setbacks, uphold strengths and applaud the successes of his friend. By contrast, the author punctuates his narrative with the hardheaded comments of political scientist Carl Stone, the perceptive founder of the Stone Polls. We are indebted to Professor Stone for his continuous taking of the political temperature, creating a diligent chronicle of the times.

Professor Rex Nettleford was a close friend of Manley. The biography draws heavily from the interesting and thoughtful correspondence between the two. (Photo: nationalgalleryofjamaica.files.wordpress.com)

Manley was a man of his time. This book takes us through his childhood, growing up in the shadow of his esteemed, high-achieving father (and a National Hero, no less) Norman W. Manley, and his artistic, indulgent mother, Edna Manley. As a child of Jamaica’s “first family,” the young Michael grew up in the privileged world of Drumblair. Already a member of the political elite, he asserted himself early as “competitive,” rebellious and strong-willed. He would have been expelled from Jamaica College if his influential father had not intervened. A bit of a “spoiled brat,” one might say.

So, here’s another contradiction. This “man of the people” never lost his love of classical music and art. It was what he was brought up with. His carelessness with money was also a product of privilege. Nevertheless, the author points to Manley’s hard work during the years before he entered politics in the trade union movement. He was proving himself. He was trying to escape those “family connections” but was also genuinely concerned with the plight of the Jamaican worker. We learn that he was afraid of public speaking as a young man, preferring to write – quite ironic since he was later famed for his orator’s skills. He made his first speech at age 27.

The days of Drumblair are gone; only those who experienced it will view it with a twinge of nostalgia. From that comfortable world Manley emerges in the 1960s – a time of great change in Jamaica and globally, engulfed by the Cold War. That war was far from cold. This was a long and exhausting era of heated rhetoric, rumors, arguments, threats, conspiracy theories – and furious, conflicting ideologies. It was a bit like social media today, in fact! But this was the backdrop to Manley’s earnest efforts to progress, to find a way that would benefit and empower the Jamaican people. He traveled through a troubled landscape that was not for the faint-hearted. Manley possessed the requisite courage.

The point is that we cannot simply pick up a figure like Michael Manley and transplant him into the 21^st century; and this book does not attempt to evaluate his actions (and those of his contemporaries) by our modern standards. Truth be told, the Cold War era now seems light years away; with technological advances, society has taken a huge leap forward. Having said that, the book portrays Manley’s vision and the evolution of his ideas in a sensitive manner. Unlike many politicians today Manley was a long-term thinker, whose vision stretched beyond the next election cycle. Yet this book does not hesitate to note that many of his most far-reaching plans, such as land reform, were quickly derailed.

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro was also Manley’s lifelong friend. (Photo: PNP Jamaica)

The book takes us in strict chronological sequence through Manley’s life, without “flashbacks” or “fast forwards.” The Prologue is a concise overview of Manley’s life and times that illustrates the contrasts and contradictions embedded in them, opening with Manley returning from a pleasant evening at the White House with President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and contrasting it with the exciting days of his early acquaintance with Cuban President Fidel Castro – who remained a lifelong friend. This was a thought-provoking introduction, preparing us for the intense, at times almost roller coaster trajectory of Manley’s career.

I enjoyed the short interludes, in which the author “sets the scene” for memorable occasions. The somber mood of Norman Washington Manley’s funeral, and the electric atmosphere at the launch of the PNP’s official campaign for 1980 in Sam Sharpe Square are described in a few short paragraphs.

Apart from the intricacies of his political world, the book offers many glimpses into Manley’s private life, updating the reader at regular intervals. He was married five times, and throughout four of these marriages conducted affairs with other women – including sometimes the wives of close friends. His relations with his children were at times strained by his absences and affected by his work. His colleagues and family suffered, not only from his womanizing but also from a ruthless streak. One example was his treatment of former Finance Minister David Coore, an old friend from childhood days. Michael Manley was a man used to getting his own way. He was a charming, physically attractive and charismatic man, indeed. He was a brilliant speaker, who had a mesmerizing effect on the huge crowds who attended his meetings. He enjoyed praise, and was hurt by criticism. Was he genuinely likeable? The book allows you to judge for yourself. But for politicians, expediency often rules the day.

Prime Minister Michael Manley with U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the White House in 1990. (Photo: Michael Manley Foundation)

The Prime Minister whom we meet in the Prologue, and who maintained cordial relations with the United States, was “Michael Manley Mark II.” This was the second edition, if you like, when he served as Prime Minister from 1989 to 1992. I found this latter section of the book particularly insightful, as the author carefully dissects reactions from former supporters and colleagues on his drastically changed philosophy and new pragmatic approach. At this point in the book, one senses that the author feels some sympathy towards Manley. He seems to suggest that during his last term in office – curtailed by illness – he was just doing his best in the face of a growing debt burden and the inevitability of another IMF agreement. He had damage control to do within his political party, before stepping down and handing over to the ultimate political strategist, P.J. Patterson. Democratic socialism was, by this time, a forgotten dream from a bygone era. Oh, how familiar this all sounds! The politics of disillusion, apathy and broken ideals is a landscape that we are all familiar with, to this day.

The author answers some questions about Michael Manley’s life that I have often pondered (one of which is, was he an “original”? Were his radical views his own, or borrowed ideologies?) More questions, arise, though, such as that annoyingly persistent query: What really was Manley’s legacy? Was it all worth it? His turbulent career could be regarded as an ultimately unsuccessful experiment in socialism, with more negative than positive impacts on Jamaican society. Did Manley really believe “socialism is love,” or was he merely romancing the Jamaican public? Was he a “talker rather than a doer,” as Professor Stone suggested?

Professor Carl Stone’s political commentary and polling techniques were remarkably accurate and trenchant. His work is a “must read” for those enquiring into Jamaica’s political history. (Photo: University of the West Indies, Mona)

The book summarizes Manley’s achievements, both tangible (and there were many, including the National Housing Trust, JAMAL and others) and intangible. One, in Rex Nettleford’s view, was what he called the “smadditization” of Jamaican society (the goodly Professor was adept at coining these phrases). The book notes Nettleford’s view: “Every jack man and woman in Jamaica now felt he or she was somebody because Michael had ripped away the colonial mindset of inferiority and imbued Jamaicans with a sense of confidence of confidence and self-worth. This was something no value could be placed upon.” Self-reliance was the cornerstone of Manley’s vision for Jamaica. Yet, has the Jamaican mindset reached this point (setting aside the inspiration of Usain Bolt)? This is one of many questions arising from this biography that we might like to examine in the cold, somewhat unforgiving light of the 21^st century. How has our self-esteem been looking lately?

Michael Manley “in his ackee” (or in his element, if you prefer) during a rally, with his famous “Rod of Correction.” (Photo: Michael Manley Foundation website)

I wonder why no one has suggested that Michael Manley be nominated as a National Hero. One compelling reason might be that many Jamaicans, especially those in under-privileged communities, are still living in the atmosphere of political divisiveness that he – and others, on both sides – helped to foster. The book describes the distribution of land and housing along party lines, and the PNP’s association with political “enforcers” such as Burry Boy (Manley and his Cabinet ministers attended the latter’s funeral in 1975, an action that Manley later conceded was unwise). In 1974, Manley publicly thanked them at a rally, calling them “my Paseros of the Garrison.” Yes, did you know there was a Garrison Gang? Of course, this was by no means limited to the People’s National Party (PNP) side of the equation. Both parties aligned themselves with criminals.

Not surprisingly in light of this, the average Jamaican is more wary of politicians nowadays. The book notes the disaffection with the Government that quickly emerged during Manley’s second short stint as Prime Minister. In December 1989, 66 per cent of the population was dissatisfied with his administration, after less than a year in office. The heady days of political activism were gone. Apathy set in. Fiery speeches would be of no avail now.

Voting in the 1980 election, which was marred by violence among politically motivated gangs. (Photo: Gleaner)

Yet, reading about some of the extraordinary events of the period, one feels that progress has been made in governance. One could not imagine some of these dramatic (and undemocratic) events happening today: the State of Emergency and imprisonment of Opposition members, for example, or the National Executive Committee of the PNP overruling a Cabinet vote in 1980.

Similarly, one could not now envisage a Prime Minister traveling overseas at the drop of a hat – for a week or two at a time – to pursue his international agenda with like-minded political leaders of the time, while his country flounders in an economic crisis. This “internationalist” aspect of Manley’s career is described in detail in the book, which notes its importance for Manley. He convened an impressive group of world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, at Runaway Bay Resort in 1978, demonstrating an ability to bring together powerful leaders that “no other West Indian leader then or now could show,” the author notes.

The book ends on a muted, thoughtful note with a vivid description of Manley’s funeral. Did all the sound and fury of the 1970s signify nothing, after all? The book spins a complex web of inspiration, frustration, possibilities and disappointments, following each other head over heels. It is a compelling narrative. I would recommend this book as a very readable account not only of the man and his ideas, but of the times he lived in. It’s a piece of history; and as such, it’s a necessary and satisfying read.

Michael Norman Manley (1924 – 1997).

It’s that sad anniversary again (why does 9/11 always seem to come round so fast?) That clear blue day when tragedy and horror struck, and nothing was ever the same again. We were in New York City at the time…But that’s another story. It’s also 29 years today since reggae star Peter Tosh was murdered. Time flies along. Meanwhile, it has been a rather heavy week in a lot of ways. But we did escape to the relative peace of the country for a few days, which is why this bulletin is arriving rather late. I may have missed some items, but bear with me…

Three-year-old Zavier Assam was refused entry to Hopefield Preparatory School because of his hair style. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

“Rules are rules”: There has been a huge fuss in social media over a young boy, who was going into his first year at the uptown, upper class Hopefield Preparatory School. He has a cute, curly hairstyle that is against school rules and has been excluded. His mother learned in June, when she enrolled the little boy, that his hair was unacceptable. She had decided not to back down, deeming the rule discriminatory. Tweeters and Facebookers embraced this with a vengeance, creating the hashtag #unkemptJA. Traditional media jumped on the bandwagon (nowadays, social media often leads with what it considers the “big stories”). While quite a few Jamaicans stuck to the “rules are rules” mantra (but whose rules, and for whom?) many others saw this as a much bigger issue of identity, colonial values and so on. This rumbled on for the whole week, with young people on social media posting selfies with their “unkempt” hair to underscore their anger and concern. Minister of Education Ruel Reid intervened. He thought the school’s action seemed “harsh.” He promised that his Ministry  will have a policy in place by the start of the next school year on “grooming” after island wide stakeholder consultations. Wow. Background: this is not a state school, but private – with students from diverse national and ethnic backgrounds. In 2014 it was the island’s top-performing school in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). Despite all the furore, the school is standing firm (their original concern was that the hair might encourage lice; well, I am sure children with short hair can have lice). The boy’s sister, whose hair was the same length, was told to tie her hair back. A storm in a teacup? Well, I’d say yes – but no.

There is an obsession with “dress rules” in Jamaica in public places. This needs to be revisited, too. Why can’t a Jamaican citizen wearing spaghetti straps or flip flops conduct his/her business in a Government office? How is this going to be a problem?

Upset and angry, a deportee arrives at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

UK deportees are nothing new: Immigration issues related to the “mother country” (United Kingdom) have been sensitive for some time – in particular since the uncomfortable visit of former Prime Minister David Cameron to Jamaica last year. Family members and supporters protested outside the Jamaican High Commission in London about the most recent deportations. Zita Holbourne, co-founder of Barac UK, and community activist wrote in the UK Guardian that the Jamaicans were “snatched” from their families and deported on a private charter plane. 42 deportees duly arrived in Kingston this week. Well, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of National Security have confirmed that this has been happening for several years, under an agreement signed with the UK in 2007. 963 Jamaicans were deported from various countries in the first six months of 2016, the National Security Ministry noted. Wow, that’s quite a few. The largest number is always from the United States (342 for this period), the UK sent back 149 and Canada 82 Jamaicans. Several Caribbean countries between them deported hundreds of Jamaicans (130 from Trinidad alone). Oh, and by the way, Jamaica deports people too. Jamaicans who have lived overseas since they were babies – and never regularized their status – are liable to be deported if they commit an offense. They are not UK citizens. But there are issues regarding procedures, etc. that need to be worked on (have these procedures changed?) and that is a matter between the two governments. The National Security Ministry has made some vague noises on this.

Noah’s Ark scenario: Then we had the Great Flood of Marcus Garvey Drive! As I have noted many times in this blog, the problem of garbage thrown into our gullies – which are only intended to carry water when it rains – has persisted for many years. It’s “out of sight, out of mind.” Residents of the under-served and poor communities that live alongside or near the gullies toss their garbage in and forget about it, while those driving past or over the gullies simply look the other way. The garbage festers for a while, with rats, mosquitoes etc., and then the rain carries it “away” – out of sight, but just causing problems further downtown.

A car sits in high water in the parking lot of the Wallenford Coffee Company on Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston on Friday. (Photo: Ricardo Makyn/Gleaner)

So, during a huge downpour on Friday afternoon (it’s the tropics, that is how our rain is) the Marcus Garvey Drive area was inundated as the nearby Shoemaker Gully was blocked with garbage – made worse, it appears, by some construction work there. It’s a commercial area, and workers had to scramble while many business places were flooded with filthy black water, plastic bottles etc bobbing around on top. Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica is an important public education program on littering that the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has worked extremely hard at, with support from the Tourism Ministry. Will that support continue? If you ask me, it needs to be stepped up considerably and environmental laws must be enforced! I wrote about this last August here after viewing the state of gullies with JET (and the year before during a tour of Kingston Harbour, which is festooned with garbage after heavy rain!) And then there were the garbage-induced floods in Montego Bay, just last month! We have short memories, perhaps.

This lot, where garbage was on fire, created huge health problems for nearby schools. And this is NOT the first time, it appears! (Photo: Ricardo Makyn/Gleaner)

Why do we just dump stuff illegally? Because we can get away with it, I suppose. Well, a lot owned by the Ministry of Justice downtown has been a persistent nuisance because of illegal dumping of garbage and associated fires, creating a major health hazard for schools nearby. Do something about this please!

Garbage on Kingston Harbour, last year. (My photo)

The PNP scandal: I’m not sure if I’d call it a “scandal” but anyway, the Office of the Contractor General is now investigating the “agent’s fee” issue and has conducted interviews with People’s National Party (PNP) General Secretary Paul Burke and former Transport Minister Omar Davies. We shall see where this leads.

Schoolchildren were stranded along several roads in eastern Jamaica yesterday on the first day of school. Gee thanks, taxi drivers! (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

Back to school challenges: The first day back at school seems to have got off to a slightly rocky start, in some areas. With greatly increased traffic in Kingston, the National Works Agency has apparently not completed road works in some parts of the city, causing extreme inconvenience.  Moreover, our friends China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) are about to start widening the Mandela Highway (an extra lane on each side) between Kingston and Spanish Town. Great timing, lads! Further downtown, the ongoing violence in West Kingston has obviously been affecting children very badly. The Principal of Denham Town Primary School says her students are safer at school than at home. When she hears gunfire, she just gathers them all into the building. Then down in eastern St. Thomas, where the erstwhile Health Minister Fenton Ferguson is MP, taxi drivers (upon whom rural residents heavily depend) carefully chose the first day of school to block roads in protest at…bad roads. It seems irresponsible and unfair to residents, who are anxious to get their children off to a good start. In Portland, residents (presumably those who did not have kids to get to school) joined the taxi drivers and blocked the main road. Isn’t rural life hard enough (particularly transportation) without making it extra miserable?

The driver of this bus eventually turned himself in, after fleeing the scene. A 15 year-old student from Garvey Maceo High School is reportedly in serious condition in hospital. (Photo: Gleaner)

And right on cue, there was a school bus crash in Clarendon, in which 23 students were injured (one very seriously). The driver ran away, but finally turned himself in today. UGH.

Talking of the Mandela Highway… Does this mean CHEC will be going on another environmental destruction venture? There are many large and old trees along the road, and on one side is what’s left of wetlands. With CHEC in charge, I fear the worst.

At a University of the West Indies forum this week, U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Luis Moreno announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will set up offices at the U.S. Embassy. This sent quivers of concern among some Jamaicans. Why would the FBI and ATF want to be here? Well, in the case of the former, organized crime (in particular scamming, which has affected many U.S. citizens) would be a major focus I would say. For the latter, the issue of imported guns has long been a major problem. If they can help trace the weapons, this would be a plus. Ambassador Moreno, whose posting in Jamaica is nearing its end, has always been very much focused on security – that’s his background. More joint law enforcement operations, training, equipment, “and yes, more extraditions” are in the offing, he says.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the bird-watching hide at the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation’s Wetland Information Centre yesterday. (Photo: Facebook)

Kudos to the Health Ministry for setting up a J$50 million fund to provide support services for families and babies who might be affected by microcephaly as a result of the Zika virus. Thirty-five pregnant women have tested positive for Zika, with 501 cases suspected Zika cases in pregnancy. Soon these babies will be born (our first Zika case was January 29, 2016).

And major kudos to our Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who toured the Portland Bight Protected Area (including the area around Goat Islands) yesterday with the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation’s (C-CAM) CEO Ingrid Parchment and marine scientist Dr. Dayne Buddo. I am delighted, because there is nothing like seeing a place for yourself. This is when the value and richness of the area, as well as its potential for ecotourism and heritage tourism (which C-CAM has been working on) can be seen and understood. I am really hoping that the importance of this area is now recognized by our Prime Minister. I hope. I hope.

Also cheers, Red Stripe! After major upgrades to its Kingston plant and taking on more staff, Red Stripe was ready to resume exports to the United States, which it has now done. It is also seeking to double its exports to other countries. I don’t drink but I know Red Stripe is a really special Jamaican product.

Reggae Boyz coach Winfried Schaefer.

Reggae Boyz flop – and the coach, too: Initially I had thought our national football team was doing quite well with German coach Winfried Schaefer. Now he has been dropped from appearing at a match against Haiti in Kingston on Tuesday evening, because he allegedly pulled the plug (literally) on a Television Jamaica interview. But this week we were only playing for “pride” anyway, as we were unceremoniously kicked out of the World Cup qualifiers last week. Panama beat the Boyz 2-0, so that was that. Jamaicans are still feeling good about the Olympics, so maybe aren’t that upset. I feel really disappointed that we can’t do better, though.

Another infant was murdered this week. Two teenage brothers were also murdered. Yes, I told you this week was heavy going. Each story is heartbreaking, lives shattered and families left to mourn their dead. My condolences go out to them. I don’t know how they manage to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives…

Leroy Newman, Blount Street/Denham Town, Kingston

Kayon Clarke, Coronation Market, Kingston

Kirt Saddler, Golden Spring, St. Andrew

Conrad Townsend, 39, Golden Spring, St. Andrew

Romario Lawrence, 18, Havana Heights, May Pen, Clarendon

Javelle Lawrence, 19, Havana Heights, May Pen, Clarendon

Shawn Sewell, 18, Top Hill, Clarendon

Jamay Marsh, 22, Farm District, Clarendon

Howard Hewitt, 53, Clarendon Gardens, Clarendon

Shane Hibbert, 31, Barnett Bush/Spring Mount, St. James

Rory Johns, 30, Barnett Bush/Spring Mount, St. James

“Tallest,” Barnett Bush/Spring Mount, St. James

Aian Allen, 36, Water Lane, Montego Bay, St. James

Unidentified man, Montego Bay, St. James

Albert Pryce, 62, Annotto Bay, St. Mary

Rochelle Williams, 25, Annotto Bay, St. Mary

Aleir Sewell, nine months, Annotto Bay, St. Mary

Byron Edwards, 23, Mansfield Heights, Ocho Rios, St. Ann

Alrick Kitchener, 54, Clark’s Town, Trelawny

Kust Saddler (“Ras Wow”) and Conrad Townsend were shot and killed while driving along Faith Home Road in Golden Spring, St. Andrew last week. (Photo: Loop Jamaica)

62 year-old Albert Pryce was shot dead along with a Portland woman and her baby daughter in Annotto Bay, St. Mary. (Photo: Loop Jamaica)

This morning I attended a media call-in with Pawan Patil and Sophie Sirtaine at the World Bank’s Head Office in Washington, DC. as they launched their new report on prospects for a “Blue Economy” for the Caribbean. Thanks to Gerry McDaniel at World Bank’s Jamaica Office for facilitating this. The link to the report (overview and complete report) is in the press release below.

Is Jamaica headed for a Blue Economy? Is it even engaged with the Green Economy, stated as an objective in our Vision 2030? Already, it seems, the Eastern Caribbean (in particular Grenada) is working on Blue Economy policy-making.

I will write more about this, but meanwhile, please read below today’s press release from the World Bank, ahead of this week’s “Our Ocean” Conference 2016, hosted by the U.S. Department of State.

WASHINGTON, September 13, 2016 — In the lead up to this week’s Our Ocean conference hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington D.C., a new World Bank report released today examines how the transition to a Blue Economy for Caribbean countries can not only generate growth, but also help countries gain greater resilience to external shocks by better preserving the ocean.

“The Caribbean Sea represents a tremendous economic asset for the region not only in terms of high value natural resources such as fish stocks, oil and gas, but also as a global hotspot for marine diversity and tourism. Maintaining ocean health is synonymous with growing ocean wealth, and finding this balance is how we’ll be able to better invest in the Caribbean blue economy,” said Pawan Patil, World Bank Senior Economist and co-author of the report.

The report Toward a Blue Economy: A Promise for Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean estimates that Caribbean waters generated US$407 billion in 2012, which represents more than 17 percent of Caribbean GDP, including mainland countries. This amount mainly comes from cargo shipped through Caribbean waters, tourism and oil and gas production. In recent years, revenues from aquaculture have risen, but declined for open sea capture fisheries.

At the same time, the promise of growth is accompanied by increasing threats to the ocean environment. About 166 million people in the Caribbean live within 100 km of the sea. Tourists come to the region largely for its beautiful beaches and sea attractions, which puts tremendous pressure on the very coastal ecosystems that drive economies. About 75 percent of the region’s coral reef is considered to be at risk from human activity and 85 percent of wastewater enters the Caribbean Sea untreated.

 “The report highlights the opportunities offered by the Caribbean blue economy and identifies priority areas for action that can generate blue growth and opportunities for all Caribbean people, while ensuring that oceans and marine ecosystems are sustainably managed and used,” said Sophie Sirtaine, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.

Ocean health = ocean wealth (including such economic activities as dive tourism). This is healthy coral in the Dominican Republic’s Parque Nacional del Este. (Photo: The Nature Conservancy)

 The authors highlight ten principles for investments in a Caribbean blue economy and provide a framework for policymakers to set smart policy and measure economic and environmental benefits. Report recommendations include eco labels to promote sustainable fishing practices and aquaculture; offshore winds and other marine renewable energy systems; and environmentally friendly coastal hotels.

In the Eastern Caribbean, Grenada is the first country to develop a vision for blue growth as the country’s future and has become a leader in the fight against climate change. The small Caribbean economy, also known as the “Spice Island”, has successfully developed a high value seafood export business to the U.S. and nearby Martinique.

“Our Prime Minister has seen how important these tourism and fishing industries are for the people of Grenada, and is committed to ensuring that our oceans and environment are protected,” said Dr. Angus Friday, Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States.

Other small island states around the world such as the Seychelles and Mauritius have championed the blue economy and Eastern Caribbean countries have adopted a regional policy and action plan in 2013, which the World Bank is supporting.

The report suggests key priorities to help countries move toward a blue economy and broaden opportunities for the Caribbean people, while improving ocean health:

• Strengthening regional and national policies to better coordinate and monitor coastal and ocean management across sectors such as fisheries, tourism, transport, energy and environment. The Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy is a good first step, but more needs to be done to foster integrated planning for establishing geographical zones of sea uses and protecting ecosystems.
• Implementing smart policies to promote a healthy, resilient and productive marine environment, as well as build resilient infrastructure: Maintaining coral reefs and biodiversity is critical for the sustainable development of tourism and fisheries. More climate resilient coastal and port infrastructures are also essential for improving connectivity and competitiveness in small island economies, vulnerable to extreme weather events and natural hazards.
• Promoting investment in blue economy enterprises: Start-up finance with better capacity and technology development will be essential to support small blue economy businesses and generate ‘blue jobs’.
• Raising awareness about the blue economy: This will not only require creating the awareness and political will needed for the transition toward a blue economy, but also identifying future skill needs, and developing educational and vocational training to meet this demand.

The analysis was conducted in collaboration with key partners including The Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University.

Contacts:

In Washington: Christelle Chapoy (202) 458-2656 cchapoy@worldbank.org;

In Kingston: Gerrard ‘Gerry’ McDaniel, (876) 260-3329 / 960-0459-62 (Ext. 250), gmcdaniel@worldbank.org

For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org/

Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank

Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/worldbank

For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

In our Caribbean Sea, how can we find that “balance” between economic opportunity and healthy ecosystems?

I ask this question in the headline here because I really don’t know how healthy our Jamaican democracy is – although on balance, I would say we are in reasonably good shape, compared to some other developing nations.  I would suggest that the “two C’s” – Crime and Corruption – are major threats to our democracy – and I would suggest, these particular threats are growing. The European Union has its own challenges – refugees and migration, as well as Brexit of course.

Anyway, here is the EU’s statement on International Day of Democracy, September 15, 2016. If you want to learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals, you may wish to attend the UNDP Social Good Summit on Monday, September 19 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

The European Union flag.

There is a great deal of focus on our  ≈ oceans these days – as well there should be. Here are some of the current projects under way in the Caribbean: ≈ The U.S. State Department is currently hosting the Our Ocean Conference in Washington, DC. ≈ Last month, I attended the Kingston launch of the Trash Free Waters in the Caribbean initiative, a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at the offices of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). ≈ In my last post I described the World Bank’s Blue Economy project in the Caribbean. ≈ One must also mention the International Coastal Cleanup Day this Saturday, September 17 at locations in every parish of Jamaica, coordinated by the Jamaica Environment Trust and with many partners, including NEPA.

≈ Now UNEP-CEP is discussing the need for updated information on pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region, as it prepares its first State of Marine Environment Report for the Caribbean Sea with regional experts. Please see UNEP’s press release, below. I know, there are a lot of acronyms, but understand this is all part of the process of understanding what is really happening to the sea that surrounds us, so that we can take the most meaningful actions to preserve our marine ecosystems and our own health and livelihoods.

I look forward to hearing more about activities related to all these projects. Let every citizen play his/her part! It’s our Caribbean Sea.

Participants at the Regional Technical Workshop held in Kingston, Jamaica (August 15 – 17). (Photo: UNEP-CEP)

Kingston, Jamaica- September 15, 2016

Caribbean Pollution Experts commit to support the development of the First State of Marine Environment Report

At a recent regional workshop convened by the UN Environment – Caribbean Environment Programme, (UNEP CEP) in Jamaica (August 15-17), over 30 national and regional experts committed their support to the continued development of the region’s first State of Marine Environment Report for the Caribbean Sea.

The development of the report will be financed by two regional projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems Project (“UNDP/GEF CLME+”) and the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco). The contributions from these two projects are expected to be in excess of USD 100,000.

Addressing the experts during the workshop, Mr. Christopher Corbin, UNEP-CEP’s Programme Officer with responsibility for its pollution sub-programme, explained that many countries in the Wider Caribbean Region have “limited data on the levels of pollution of their marine environments and that this was being compounded by inadequate national monitoring capacity.’’

Mr. Corbin further highlighted that the lack of pollution data hindered the ability of Governments to identify “pollution hot spots” and focus their Interventions in areas with the highest environmental and human health risks. According to recent UNEP reports, pollution continues to be one of the most significant threats to coastal and marine ecosystems and to public health in the Wider Caribbean Region.

The first draft of the report is expected to be presented at the 3rd Conference of Parties to the LBS Protocol, to be held in early 2017.

UNEP-CEP’s Christopher Corbin explains the Articles of the Land-Based Sources and Activities Protocol of the Cartagena Convention at the Technical Workshop in Kingston. (Photo: UNEP-CEP)

About UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP)

The surface of Kingston Harbour was like highly polished, dark blue glass early this morning. Here and there, a motionless figure perched on a tiny canoe, bent over a fishing line. Pelicans pretended to be statues, on posts near the shore.

On the rocks. (My photo)

International Beach Cleanup Day rolled around again (it seems to come round so fast) and I was volunteering with Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) at the “End of Stones” location on the Palisadoes spit that runs between the harbor and the open sea. The stones are actually huge boulders, dug out of the hills and piled up along the sea side. The stones are intended to shield the road between the city and the Norman Manley International Airport from storms, high winds and high tides. The stones have yet to be tested by a major storm. I suspect they will simply roll into the road when the next hurricane comes, pushed by wind and waves.

In previous years I have worked at Fort Rocky on the road to Port Royal – where approximately 2,000 volunteers were deployed today. At the End of Stones we had around 1,000 people, in large and small teams. There were family groups – the Chow Family were bright and early; corporate entities such as KPMG; students from the University of Technology and Kingston College; the teachers of May Pen Primary School; service clubs; government agencies such as HEART Trust; Japanese volunteers and civil society groups such as TransWave. To name but a few!

JET are good, good people. (My photo)

Walking round the End of Stones, where a huge pile of dusty grey sand had created a small mountain, one emerged onto the beach, which stretched down to the tiny white lighthouse on the Port Royal road at the end. The water was silky smooth and unusually calm, stroking smooth black and grey pebbles. The sky simmered in the rising morning heat, and only a faint cool breath came from the sea.

Zip FM disc jockey ZJ Sparks inciting a dancehall riot to round off the morning. (My photo)

The volunteers stretched down the beach for at least a mile or two, bags trailing. There was plenty to collect – almost all of it washed up on the beach by the sea, much of it from the gullies and rivers, where some Jamaicans are in the habit of dumping their garbage. There were some huge industrial size objects, however, which may have come from a factory, or perhaps even a ship. As usual, plastic bottles were everywhere.

Admiring the view: Volunteers take a break on the Kingston Harbour side. (My photo)

On the harbor side, we gazed at the flat water; the curve of the waterside around by the cement works; the spiky shapes of the ships at anchor; and one moving slowly out with a long, low blast of its horn. Behind lay the green mountains – very green, after all the rain – against a sun-bleached sky.

We had music from Zip FM. The rhythms carried us through the morning, as groups registered with us and asked questions about getting water and collecting their equipment.  We managed to hook up stray volunteers with groups, so they could participate. One group – the alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching program – were well organized with large igloos containing refreshments, folding chairs and floppy hats. They settled down at the end of our tent, after dutifully collecting garbage, to eat and drink. It got busy, then quieter again. The music started to hypnotize. The hot dog stand smelt good.

Minister Ed Bartlett knows about plastic. (My photo)

Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett arrived, and was duly interviewed by the Zip disc jockey, ZJ Sparks (just a few minutes earlier she had been urging on a group of dancers What during a mini dancehall session). The Minister, looking cheerful as usual and wearing the appropriately branded T shirt and cap, was quite knowledgeable about the appalling levels of plastic in the sea. The Tourism Enhancement Fund is the major sponsor of the International Coastal Cleanup Day in Jamaica.

The largest piece of garbage ever collected? (My photo)

The volunteers were amazing, the atmosphere was friendly – and I believe everyone felt they were making a difference. Special kudos (above all) to Deputy CEO of JET Suzanne Stanley and the fabulous JET team; the Jamaica Constabulary Force, who kept traffic flowing; the St. John Ambulance, who had only two cases to deal with (one nasty cut on a hand, one case of dizziness and mild heatstroke); providers of water, ice and food; and Zip, providers of awesome rhythms. And to all those who turned out on a hot Saturday morning to help clean our beaches.

What more is there to say? Well, in the immortal words of JET’s campaign: Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica! It is far too beautiful. Far too beautiful. 

Volunteers working the beach. (My photo)

P.S. Something I really enjoy about the Jamaican beach clean up days is that our young people, who might otherwise still be lazing in bed (Friday night is a big night out in Kingston), always join in substantial numbers, every year, with the same enthusiasm. Today, as usual, they put their hearts into the cleanup work, laughing, joking, singing, working together in teams…and they still had a little energy in reserve for a mini dancehall session, before piling into their buses to go back into town. I don’t like to hear people denigrating our youth. I believe (I know) they are trying to do their best in an unforgiving world that has little time for them.

The sea says “thank you.” (My photo).

I am not good at the “kmt” thing. In Jamaican social media slang this means “kiss my teeth” – a sound of irritation made when the tongue meets the front teeth. There were several occasions this week when I did a mental “kmt.” However, the cooler weather – bright sunny mornings and rainy afternoons – is suiting me just fine. The garden is looking really green, for the first time this year; and I just saw my first winter migrant – a female American Redstart (the “Butterfly Bird”). So, thank goodness for sweet Mother Nature.

Reverend Merrick “Al” Miller says “We are here to serve” and that he will continue to help wanted men. I sense discomfort on the part of the JCF? (Photo: Gleaner)

“KMT” moment #1: The Reverend Al Miller, who was found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice, received a J$1 million fine (the maximum fine – one that he paid immediately). In July 2010, Reverend Miller drove a man wanted in the United States, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, in disguise into Kingston, purportedly to turn him in to the U.S. Embassy. Despite trying to elude the police, they were caught.  A second “KMT” was when fellow clergyman Bishop Herro Blair decided to get in on the self-serving act, weeping outside the court room after Rev. Miller’s sentencing, and telling journalists that he was also asked to intercede with Coke – before Rev. Miller – and “it could have been him.” Please give me a break, Bishop Blair!  For me, the whole episode reeked of hypocrisy, but I am told Rev. Miller performs great services for Jamaica, so perhaps I am being uncharitable. His many supporters have been praying for him – and hey, the prayers worked! No prison time for Al. One quite perturbing detail in this case (Rev. Miller was found guilty in July) was that then Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington did not testify in the court case. As for the whole business of clergymen working with the police to bring in wanted men – I truly have my doubts about this. Let the suspects turn themselves in with their lawyer. Following Bishop Blair’s tearful outburst, the current Commissioner of Police is planning to meet with him and other reverend people, to discuss “ambiguities” in the police-churchmen relationship, and to develop “protocols.” Yes, there are ambiguities, all right!

Talking of extradition… Fourteen extradition requests from the United States are now pending; eight Jamaicans appeared in court on September 13, having been indicted in North Dakota on 48 counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of mail fraud, and one count each of conspiracy and attempting to commit wire fraud. More to follow…

Tweet from @PSimpsonMiller: I want Cde @LisaHannamp to know that she has a bright future ahead in the PNP. She did well and her time will come.

“KMT” #2: Today is the second day of the People’s National Party’s (PNP) annual conference. The results of the first day were predictable: PNP President Portia Simpson Miller was emphatically returned as the leader of a party that may possibly remain in opposition for some time to come. The “contest” between her and Dr. Karl Blythe, who had wheeled himself out of semi-retirement from the public eye to challenge her, was really a non-contest from the start. The real drama was the Vice President elections, in which Mayor of Kingston Angela Brown Burke, Tourism Spokesman Dr. Wykeham McNeill, the former (disastrous) Health Minister Fenton Ferguson (who got the most votes!) and former Local Government Minister Noel Arscott were elected. The “renewal candidate” Lisa Hanna was soundly beaten, apparently because Region Three headed by Phillip Paulwell voted against her.The results were met with varying levels of derision and disgust by many of my Twitter friends. Some younger comrades appeared mortified. Simpson Miller gave Hanna an unavoidable hug (do those hugs mean anything?) and told her “her time will come” (when? Ten, twenty years’ time perhaps?) She also commended Dr. Blythe for his “bravery.” Was the Opposition Leader being sarcastic?

Positive noises: The Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) seems happy about tax revenue, which it says continues to do better than expected – about $7 billion above the amount targeted in the budget. The Tax Administration of Jamaica appears to be doing a good job. The most notable performers were General Consumption Tax (GCT), PAYE and company taxes. The NIR is at $2.5 billion, which is encouraging for the end of September’s target, says EPOC’s Richard Byles.

A third cellular license: There is some controversy over the award of a third cellular license to Symbiote Investment Limited, as announced by the Prime Minister on September 13 – despite a negative report from the Office of the Contractor General in 2009. I must read up more about the history of this  but I am trying to understand how and why this happened.

Smoke (or smog) appearing to emanate from the Riverton City dump, seen this week. (Photo: Facebook)

Privatizing garbage collection? I’m not sure if this is the way to go, but Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says this is still on the cards. More garbage trucks are expected early next year, meanwhile. Those living in the hills around Kingston have noticed quite a bit of smoke over the general area of Riverton dump over the past few days. What’s going on there? Is there any movement on the planned waste-to-energy project now, Minister McKenzie? We need an update.

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (3rd right) with workmen involved in the road expansion project by the National Works Agency on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, during a tour of the area on Friday. The road works were an additional factor in the recent floods. (Photo: JIS)

Meanwhile, while touring the Marcus Garvey Drive area, where major flooding took place recently, the Minister in his sternest voice announced that anti-litter laws are to be strengthened and additional police officers are being trained to enforce said laws.

Bedward Gardens in August Town has been transformed into a dump, created by an unnamed contracting firm working at the University of the West Indies. Here Charles Simpson, director of compliance and enforcement at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), looks on as Audley Gordon, NSWMA chief technical officer, stands atop a section of the illegal dump site. (Photo: Jamaica Star)

I’m glad to know that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has identified the firm responsible for the illegal garbage dump in Bedward Gardens, August Town. Please name the firm, NSWMA, and prosecute them! Let’s see some real action in enforcing all our environmental laws! I know that some are being blatantly broken, especially in regard to protected species.

And talking of protected species: Is it true that weekly “crocodile feasts” are taking place in Westmoreland, apparently with law enforcement turning a blind eye? Well…?

The situation in Negril a week or so ago. (Photo: Facebook)

Talking of flooding, the Negril River overflowed its banks recently and its contents flowed through the grounds of a high-profile resort and into the sea. The river is polluted. Trash blocking the drains has made matters worse, say government agencies; however, I’ve learned that the new road and sidewalks are also very poorly designed. What a mess!

Plans for Portland: The ever-cheerful Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett has announced great plans for the parish of Portland (just as I was about to write a separate post about the ongoing decline and decay there), including “health and wellness tourism.” I have heard about a “Portland revival” so many times before that all I can do is heave a weary sigh. Let’s see what happens, but I’m not holding my breath.

Countryman in the film of the same name. I’m not sure of his real name…He passed away this week.

Do you remember Countryman? He was a real person – a Rastafarian fisherman from Hellshire, St. Catherine – who became a bit of a star in the 1983 film of the same name, directed by the late Dickie Jobson and produced by Chris Blackwell. You can watch the film on YouTube here. The opening scene, where he is fishing from his canoe by moonlight (with Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic playing) has always stuck in my mind. It might seem a little corny nowadays; but it would completely “sell” you on Jamaica, even if you didn’t smoke weed! I was very sad to hear that Countryman has died, in Hellshire. Is Jamaica the same as it was, in those gentler days? Certainly, Hellshire is not. Rest in peace, Countryman. You were loved.

There’s a special event coming up in Montego Bay (October 24 – 26) called FOROMIC XIX 2016. It describes itself as “Latin America and the Caribbean’s most important annual event on microfinance and entrepreneurship.” FOROMIC has a particular focus on microfinance, aiming to show “that serving low-income households and small businesses is possible, sustainable and profitable.” Over 41 countries are expected to attend as well as experts in microenterprise, small and medium enterprise, representatives from financial institutions, entrepreneurship associations, governments, NGOs, academics. This is an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project now in its 19th year, this time with the support of the Jamaican Ministry of Finance and Planning. More details here.

Major big ups to:

Shomari (not sure if I got the spelling right), a young man I met at the University of Technology. He goes round the campus selling small packets of fruit, carefully wrapped, to students at $100 apiece. A piece of pawpaw and a banana, for example. If you see him, buy something from him. He is trying hard, and he knows a lot more about customer service than many of the bored receptionists and passive-aggressives salespeople I know. Great entrepreneurship!

“Think Visual”: Seth Gitner of Syracuse University teaching multimedia storytelling at the U.S. Embassy/UTech workshop. He was terrific! (Photo: U.S. Embassy Facebook page)

The U.S. Embassy, UTech and Seth Gitner: Seth (Associate Professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University) was presenter at two sessions on multimedia storytelling. I attended with PR practitioners, photojournalists, social media practitioners and a bunch of bloggers like myself. I learned a great deal about photography, video, vertical social media (SnapChat etc). and about all kinds of technology and new apps (we had fun in the Sculpture Park with a new gadget that does 360° video). I’m going to get more creative and try some video too…In fact, it may have inspired us bloggers, as my fellow blogger Dennis Jones is now doing Facebook Live sessions! Thanks a million to the U.S. Embassy’s Cleo Walker for organizing the sessions, which I would say were a great success; and to Andrew P. Smith of UTech’s Media and Communications Department.

Jamaica Yellow Pages love their beaches! At the End of Stones site on Palisadoes, Kingston yesterday. (My photo)

Jamaica Environment Trust (for providing the energy, organization and inspiration in bucketfuls!) and all those organizations involved – service clubs, businesses large and small, non-governmental organizations, community groups, schools, colleges, even families – in the International Coastal Cleanup Day yesterday. As I noted in my earlier post, it was very encouraging to see so many young people involved, and working hard. One day a year is not enough, and we need of course to address the root causes of the problems (as a reader just pointed out to me!) However, the day offers an invaluable opportunity for the spirit of volunteerism to thrive – and for those involved to learn and understand more about our environmental challenges first-hand. Many thanks to Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett for stopping by, and congratulations to all!

Chevano Baker is the JN Foundation’s Legacy Scholar. He has just arrived in the UK to study at Birmingham University. He was recently appointed as an I Believe Ambassador by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at Kings House. (Photo: JN Foundation/Twitter)

Managing Director of Consolidated Bakeries Ltd. (Purity Bakery) Anthony Chang. (Photo: Ian Allen/Gleaner)

Businessman Anthony Chang, a former Fulbright Scholar and former President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, who has always been very modest about his achievements and his contributions to “nation-building.” I am happy to see he will receive a national honor on National Heroes Day, next month. Mr. Chang also worked hard in helping to set up the Jamaica Debates Commission – what a pity the People’s National Party eschewed this option during the last election campaign.

Malgorzata Wasilewska, who is the new Head of Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica. She has worked in the field of conflict resolution and peace building. These sound like excellent skills, and I wish her all the very best!

The Jamaica Association for the Deaf, who will be highlighting the importance of sign language during the coming week, which is International Week of the Deaf.

Police Commissioner Carl Williams. (Photo: Gleaner)

Commissioner of Police Carl Williams, who despite the enormous stress of his job and the at times almost overwhelming crime rate, has recently sought to raise his own personal profile and connection with the Jamaican public. I missed his recent “ask me anything” Twitter chat. This week, I think he did quite well in a one-on-one, nearly hour-long interview with Simon Crosskill on CVM Television’s Live at Seven.

Once again, our children are suffering from crime and violence on a daily basis. Recently, a six year-old girl was shot and wounded in March Pen, near Spanish Town. She’s now out of hospital, I am glad to say; but I cannot imagine the trauma. As for the Spanish Town Bus Park, at regular intervals we hear reports of shootings there. What is being done? Shouldn’t there be a police presence there at all times? Meanwhile the list of Jamaicans murdered in the past week is quite terrifying. My deepest condolences to all the many people who are mourning their deaths. When will it end?

Steve Allen (Frenchie), West Kingston (killed by police)

Unidentified man, downtown Kingston

Unidentified man, Church Street, Kingston

Cordettte Lewis, 69, West Street, Denham Town, Kingston

Shamahi Henry, 20, Oakland Avenue, Kingston

Maden Fraser, Parade Gardens, Kingston 

Waid Shaw, Duhaney Park, Kingston

Natalie Smith, 36, Central Village, St. Catherine

Humroy Bennett, 55, Reynolds, Clarendon

Wayne Nicholson, 34, Chapelton, Clarendon

Shakera Roberts, 16, Newcombe, St. Elizabeth

Ricardo Wallace, 26, Elderslie, St. Elizabeth

Brian Chambers, 24, Greenland, Hanover

Ricardo Morgan, 22, Greenland, Hanover

Michael Smith, 24, Long Bay/Barrett Town, St. James

Vinroy Drummond, 22, Barrett Town, St. James

Kingsley Williams, 33, Glendevon, St. James

Obrien Nelson, 23, Flamstead, St. James

Lincoln Atkinson, 23, German Town, St. James

Conroy Johnson, 24, Hampton, St. James

Conroy Jarrett, Adelphi, St. James

Dugal McLeish, 29, Anchovy, St. James

Warren Hodges, Wakefield, Trelawny

Rev. Delroy Bingham, Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay, St. Ann

Wayne Henry, 45, Jeffrey Town, St. Mary

Members of the security forces keep watch as residents converge at the spot where Steve ‘Frenchie’ Allen, an alleged gang member, was fatally shot by members of a police team last Monday. (Photo: Jermaine Barnaby/Gleaner)

The good people at Jamaica Environment Trust seem very happy with Saturday’s International Coastal Cleanup Day. Here is their initial overview – a detailed breakdown from all the cleanup sites will follow.

September 21, 2016

On Saturday, September 17th the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) led 98 groups to stage over 140 beach cleanups across the island marking International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2016. An estimated 9,000 Jamaicans volunteered their time and efforts to clean beaches and waterways across the island on ICC Day this year. Started in 1985 by the U.S.-based NGO the Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup Day is the largest one day volunteer event in the world, taking place in over 100 countries annually. JET is the National Coordinator of ICC activities in Jamaica, which have been funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund since 2008. Last year, Jamaica ranked as having the 14th largest ICC volunteer turnout in the world, and the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Volunteers at JET’s flagship cleanup also ventured out onto the Port Royal main road to collect garbage. (Photo: Jamaica Environment Trust)

In 2016, the biggest cleanups were coordinated by JET on the Palisadoes Strip in Kingston; by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), which partnered with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to clean up the Hellshire coastline in St Catherine; and by the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust (MBMPT), which partnered with the Rotary Club of Montego Bay to clean the coastline of Jamaica’s second city. Over 2,500 volunteers assisted JET in their flagship cleanup on the Palisadoes, and over 1,000 volunteers attended both the NEPA/UDC and MBMP/Rotary Montego Bay cleanups.

Volunteers with the Rotary Club of Montego Bay clean up Freeport in that city. (Photo: Jamaica Environment Trust)

“We are awaiting the data from the other 140 cleanup sites which we expect to come in over the next few weeks,” said Suzanne Stanley, JET Deputy CEO. “The volunteer turnout and effort this year has been exceptional and is truly encouraging.”

JET’s flagship cleanup on the Palisadoes was sponsored by TEF and Recycling Partners of Jamaica, along with in-kind support from several other corporate sponsors. The JET cleanup included three main sites, the Fort Rocky Beach, end of the stone revetment and the Port Royal main road in the vicinity of the end of the airport runway. Initial estimates suggest over 1,000 bags of garbage were removed from those sites, weighing an estimated 16,000 pounds. Special guests at the JET flagship cleanup were Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Clyde Harrison, Executive Director, TEF and Allison Schutes, Senior Manager of the Trash Free Seas Program at the Ocean Conservancy who was attending a Jamaican beach cleanup for the first time.

Left to right: Entertainer Toni “Bella” Blair, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Executive Director of TEF Clyde Harrison, Senior Manager at the Ocean Conservancy Allison Schutes and JET CEO Diana McCaulay at the JET cleanup of Fort Rocky marking ICC 2016 – Saturday, September 17. (Photo: Jamaica Environment Trust)

For me personally, this is probably the biggest and best news of the year! Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted the following to Diana McCaulay, the CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust from the Town Hall meeting he was holding in Queens, New York. Here is JET’s press release of September 23, welcoming the news, after years of campaigning…and of course reminding the Prime Minister that there are “matters outstanding”… We look forward to hearing more from him, but meanwhile: Thank you, Mr. Holness, for listening.

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) welcomes the statement from Prime Minister Holness that the logistics hub port will not go ahead at Goat Islands, due to the environmental damage it would cause. The Prime Minister mentioned other sites were being considered and we look forward to receiving further information in the coming days. A great deal of the concern about this project stemmed from the lack of information that was provided – JET hopes that a more transparent approach will be used in the future regarding this and other large investment projects.

JET encourages the Prime Minister to hold a press briefing on his return to Jamaica on the major environmental decisions that are pending. We would like to hear about the status of the declaration of boundaries for Cockpit Country, followed by closure to mining – a very long outstanding matter. We note Minister Mike Henry’s statement yesterday on the question of the coal plant in Nain, but would like to suggest that the energy source for an aluminum smelter and industrial park is something that would have to be settled at the outset, before deciding that the project is viable, and cannot be taken at a later date. JET has been concerned about the damage caused by the North South Highway link to property and quality of life in some communities as well as the serious impacts on the marine environment on the north coast. Similarly, Jamaica’s problems with solid waste management are all too obvious – we request information on the status of discussions about a waste to energy plant for Jamaica, recycling, waste diversion and reduction and other management measures to reduce the impacts of one use packaging.

JET will continue to monitor developments in the Portland Bight Protected Area, including the natural gas floating platform required by the Jamaica Public Service Co. Ltd. and any other developments which may threaten the natural resources that have been protected by law.

JET thanks everyone who supported the Save Goat Islands campaign.

Contact:

Diana McCaulay
(876) 469-1315

Paulette Coley holds up an aloe plant, abundant on Goat Islands. (Photo: Robin Moore)

I am a little late in sharing this September 19, 2016 press release from our friends at the United Nations Environment Programme – Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP-CEP) about a very important project that opened very  recently (on September 20-21) in Kingston. Topics such as International Waters, Land Degradation, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Forest Management are of critical and urgent importance to our region. The project in Jamaica that falls under this program will focus on biodiversity in the Negril Environmental Protection Area – which certainly needs some attention. I look forward to hearing more about this. You can find this article online here.

IMPORTANT: I should also let you know about the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) Call for Concepts. Grants will be made to a maximum of US$100,000 of matching co-financing (cash and kind), to registered NGOs and CBOs for projects. Kindly note that the deadline for the submission of project concepts is Friday, October 14, 2016 @ 4:00 p.m.These concepts should be submitted in word format (no pdf) to: E-mail: gefsgp.jam@undp.org. For further information please contact the GEF SGP at 978-2390-9 ext. 2030 or visit their website at: http://sgp.undp.org. HURRY – THE DEADLINE IS CLOSE!

Community consultations in Chateaubelair, St. Vincent. (Photo: UNEP-CEP)

The natural beauty and friendly climate of the Caribbean are the envy of many, and the pride of our people. Yet, our Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are very vulnerable, due in part to our small size, vulnerable economies, heavy dependence on external energy resources, and rising populations. Unsustainable and, often unplanned, development is rapidly degrading much of our natural environment and Climate change is expected to further accelerate these negative impacts.

Over 60 representatives from participating countries, partners, and implementing and executing agencies of the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco) Project, will gather for its Inception Workshop, 20th – 21st September 2016 in Kingston, Jamaica.This project is being financed to the tune of almost US$ 21 million by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

GEF IWEco is a new regional, 5-year, initiative to promote a more integrated approach to water, land and ecosystems services management in Caribbean SIDS. It is a multifocal project that will implement activities under four GEF Focal Areas: International Waters, Land Degradation, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Forest Management. This wide approach is based upon an assessment of the threats and barriers within natural resources management which was carried out in consultation with national and regional stakeholders.

IWEco’s primary goal is the implementation of an integrated approach to water, land and ecosystems services management. This will be supported by policy, institutional and legislative reforms, and implementation of effective appropriate technologies and community-based solutions. The project will assist Caribbean SIDS in meeting their global targets on safe and reliable water supplies and improved sanitation, and contribute to improved ecosystem functioning in the Caribbean.

The Hellshire Coast, Portland Bight Protected Area. Natural barriers will protect the coastline from climate change and sea level rise much more effectively than concrete walls.

According to Isabelle Vanderbeck, UNEP Task Manager for the IWEco project, based in Washington DC, “the project is the largest ever implemented by UNEP in the Caribbean – while a challenge – it is also an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of Caribbean persons.”

Sustainable, bountiful harvest on Sarduy Farm, Cienfuegos Watershed, Cuba. (Photo: UNEP-CEP)

About UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) in 1981 under the framework of its Regional Seas Programme. It was developed taking into consideration the importance and value of the Wider Caribbean Region’s fragile and vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems, including an abundance of mainly endemic flora and fauna. A Caribbean Action Plan was adopted by the Countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) and that led to the development and adoption of the Cartagena Convention on 24 March 1983. This Convention is the first regionally binding treaty of its kind that seeks to protect and develop the marine environment of the WCR. Since its entry into force on 11 October 1986, 25 of the 28 Wider Caribbean Region countries have become Contracting Parties.The Convention is supported by three Protocols:

•   Protocol concerning Cooperation in combating Oil Spills, which entered into force on October 11, 1986;
•   Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), which entered into force on June 18, 2000;
•   Protocol concerning Pollution from Land-based sources and activities (LBS), which entered into force on August 13, 2010.In addition, each Protocol is served by a Regional Activity Centre (RAC). These centres are based in Curacao (Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Centre for the Wider Caribbean, RAC/REMPEITC) for the Oil Spills Protocol; in Guadeloupe (RAC/SPAW RAC for the SPAW Protocol and in Cuba, Centre of Engineering and Environmental Management of Coasts and Bays and in Trinidad & Tobago, the Institute of Marine Affairs, both for the LBS Protocol. As they endeavour to protect the Caribbean Sea and sustain our future, we look forward to their continued effort to preserve our Caribbean Sea by facilitating the implementation of the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols in the Wider Caribbean Region. The Regional Coordinating Unit (UNEP-CAR/RCU), established in 1986, serves as the Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention and is based in Kingston, Jamaica.

  CLME+ Project

  The UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project is a 5-year project (2015-2020) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and co-financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The CLME+ Project is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in close collaboration with a large number of global, regional and national-level partners. The regional Project Coordination Unit is located within the IOCARIBE Offices of the IOC of UNESCO, in Cartagena, Colombia.

  IWECo Project

  The GEF IWEco Project is a 5-year project (2015-2020) co-implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and co-financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The IWEco project is co- executed by the UN Environment Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP CEP) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The regional Project Coordinating Unit will be located within UNEP CEP’s offices in Kingston, Jamaica.

  To find out more about the UNEP CAR-RCU, the Cartagena Convention and its Oil Spills, SPAW and LBS Protocols, please visit the http://www.cep.unep.org. You may also contact Mr. Christopher Corbin, Programme Officer for AMEP/CETA sub-programmes, at UNEP CEP by telephone: 1(876) 922-9267-9,Fax:1 (876)922-9292, Email: cjc@cep.unep.org. We can also be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/UNEP-Caribbean-Environment-Programme and Twitter at: https://twitter.com/UNEP_CEP as well as Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/CEPUNEP/featured

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September has been a hectic month for me – but today, being Sunday, I am slowing down a little to admire our garden. It is flourishing for the first time in the entire year, after a series of afternoon thunderstorms this week brought heavenly rain! Give thanks. It’s been a “mixed bag” week but I have several things to be hugely thankful for, including…

An egret meditates, while Brown Pelicans ponder their next move at Old Harbour Bay. Beyond the mangroves in the background are Goat Islands, now no longer threatened by the development of a mega shipping port. (My photo)

#GoatIslandsSaved: As noted in a previous post, Prime Minister Andrew Holness shocked us all (in a good way) the other night by tweeting his response to a question in New York on the fate of Goat Islands, in the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), which for over three years now has been hanging in the balance. Once again, I congratulate Diana McCaulay and her team at the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), who were in the vanguard of the #SaveGoatIslands campaign. There were many other supporters of course, and in particular I want to commend the work of Ingrid Parchment and all at the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, who work so hard every day in their management of the PBPA, the largest protected area in Jamaica. They are doing an excellent job. The Gleaner muddied the waters somewhat, just a day or two before the Prime Minister’s tweet, by suddenly waking up to the fact that the logistics hub has been mentioned in every Jamaican Government Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund for years now. The latest was dated August 30, 2016 (do read it, it’s got a lot of information in it). So, the Gleaner reported that the Government was to go ahead at Goat Islands. Ah! Since then, the Prime Minister visited the area. Perhaps someone omitted to remove the language in the IMF letter, who knows. Listen to the audio of the Prime Minister’s announcement in New York here.

For those who are trying to catch up on the Goat Islands issue, I would refer you (once again) to JET’s excellent website, and to many earlier blog posts I have written over the past three years. The website includes documentation and information on alternative locations (the subject of a study), which many have asked about. The work has been done!

Crime is scaring us: The murder rate has reached new and perilous heights – especially in the parish of St. James, but other parishes (Clarendon in particular) are reeling. Even quiet little Portland has had a few killings. What is happening? I agree with Opposition National Security Spokesman Peter Bunting that we should have a high-level summit on crime, to try at least to understand and to come up with a multi-stakeholder action plan. This should include not only the private sector (including the tourism sector, which is getting nervous) and the below-mentioned Economic Growth Council (EGC) – which has addressed the issue of crime in its new report – but also of course civil society, including youth and women’s groups. The Police Commissioner has been communicating, the Minister of National Security not so much. The Minister has, however, called out the national reserves. Neither of them support a state of emergency, but curfews have been imposed in some St. James neighborhoods. We, after all, do not have personal bodyguards. What happened to Mr. Bunting’s Unite for Change program – which I believe showed promise? Well, perhaps the opening of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office at the U.S. Embassy will help. We are biting our nails.

Michael Lee Chin heads the Economic Growth Council, and we expect great things from them. (Photo: Forbes.com)

Nice report, now for some action! Jean Lowrie-Chin kindly tweeted the September 25, 2016 report of the EGC today. It makes for a good read and is beautifully designed, etc. But as Jean notes: “Now to get it done”!

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announces Jamaica’s ratification of the ILO Convention C 189 (also known as Domestic Workers Convention) during his participation in the deliberations on a report by the United Nations High Level Panel on Economic Empowerment of Women at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, September 22. Seated behind the Prime Minister is Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Courtenay Rattray.

Big Apple PM: Well, apart from the Goat Islands announcement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness seems to have done rather well in New York – and his social media team did a great job of publicizing it. Live tweets, live video on Facebook and simple photo ops (including one with Barack and Michelle Obama) flooded our social media timelines. Although some people seem to find this kind of engagement a little over the top, most appreciate it (I certainly do). You can read the Prime Minister’s speech at the UN General Assembly here. Another big gold star for the Prime Minister in New York was the ratification of the ILO Convention C 189 (also known as the Domestic Workers Convention). This is a tremendous moment for Ms. Shirley Pryce of the Jamaica Household Workers Union, who has worked so hard for this cause, with the support of the 51% Coalition. “We are committed to the protection of rights of the most vulnerable among us and to ensure the welfare of domestic workers within the framework of our determination to promote a decent work for all,” the PM said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (right), listens as Dr. Julius Garvey, son of National Hero, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, addresses a town hall meeting in Queens, New York, USA, on September 22. The Jamaican Government is making a big push for the Obama Administration to grant a pardon to Jamaica’s National Hero. (Photo: JIS)

Pardon for Marcus Garvey: It would be an incredible achievement for both President Barack Obama and our Prime Minister – but most of all, a victory for the Jamaican people – if our National Hero Marcus Garvey could be posthumously pardoned by the U.S. Government for his wrongful 1923 conviction for mail fraud. We wish this could happen before President Obama steps down. The Holness administration is really pushing for it. “The time has come when he should be exonerated…and that time is now,” the PM said. Here there is clearly the influence of former Prime Minister Bruce Golding’s son Steven, President of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica. You can sign and share the White House petition link here.

This system is approaching the Caribbean, and is 90 per cent likely to “develop” into something like a storm within five days or so. You should monitor it on the National Hurricane Center website.

The media became completely distracted by the sudden death of a schoolboy footballer in the early moments of a football match. Dominic James, the 19-year-old captain of St. George’s College football team, collapsed and died, apparently from heart failure at a televised match against Excelsior High School at Stadium East in Kingston on Tuesday. It was a very sad event and there was an outpouring of condolences and sympathy – followed by a burst of moral outrage after one journalist over-zealously tweeted a part of his death certificate, showing that he died of heart failure. Mr. Abka Fitz-Henley of Nationwide News Network did apologize.

Ingrid Brown, late of the Jamaica Observer, was a true professional and a very good writer.

Another sad death this week was that of journalist Ingrid Brown, aged only 39. Ingrid was a sweetheart, and an absolute professional. I always enjoyed working with her; she did great coverage of HIV/AIDS and women’s issues and was an excellent writer.

At least 15 people were killed in and around the “tourism mecca” of Montego Bay in the past week! Many of these murders took place in broad daylight, on main roads, etc. – including the murder of a school bus driver in the town, when two students were injured. Some schools sent children home early. I have not captured all the names of the victims here, I realize. We can put it down to gang activity and scamming – yes, but we have to tackle the root causes of these activities. Meanwhile, my heart goes out to the families and friends of all these Jamaicans who have passed. And this is an incomplete list, tragically…

Unidentified man, Sir Florizel Glasspole Boulevard, East Kingston

Oral Palmer, 35, Effortville, Clarendon

Conroy Nelson, 33, Effortville, Clarendon

Winston Palmer, May Pen Market, Clarendon

Unidentified man, Hellshire, St. Catherine

Unidentified man, Port Henderson Road/Portmore, St. Catherine (mob killing)

Alvin Clarke, 44, Creek Street, Montego Bay, St. James

Keith Morgan, 21, Church Street, Montego Bay, St. James

Bobby Clarke, Ironshore, Montego Bay, St. James

Franklyn Lawrence, 43, Union Street, Montego Bay, St. James

Adrian Anglin, 32, Spring Mount, St. James

Robert James, 35, Mt. Salem, St. James

Kemoy Nelson, Mt. Salem, St. James

Conroy Campbell, 49, Cambridge, St. James

Ricardo Nelson, 27, Long Bay, St. James

Michael Smith, 24, Long Bay, St. James

Unidentified man, Green Island, Hanover (killed by police)

Desmond Ferguson, 44, Main Street/Lucea, Hanover

Asan Anderson, 43, Drapers Heights, Portland

Leroy McCoy, 48, Drapers Heights, Portland

Joan Patterson Fitzgerald, 51, Hope Bay, Portland

Javelle Bakers, 31, Orange Park/Golden Grove, St. Ann

Kelly Robinson, 48, Higgin Town, St. Ann

Cecil Taylor, 46, Highgate, St. Mary

Unidentified man, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth

Crime scene tape in sleepy, rural Drapers in Portland, where two men were shot dead. This is probably the first time such a thing happened in this quiet district – and in a parish which has a very low murder rate in general. (Photo: Gareth Davis Sr., Gleaner)

The U.S. presidential election campaign (and what a strange one it is) is now in its “tun up” phase – to use a current Jamaican phrase. The first Presidential Debate is tomorrow evening, and the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is partnering with the 51% Coalition, and Panos Caribbean as implementing partner, for a live viewing and discussion. This will be the first in a series in which the partners plan to seriously examine democracy issues in the United States and their relevance to our own Jamaica. Please see today’s press release. 

Please follow @51Coalition on Twitter for live tweets from the event, throughout the evening! (6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Jamaican time).

U.S. Embassy, 51% Coalition Partner on “Dinner and a Debate” Series Ahead of U.S. Presidential Elections

JAMAICAN youth will have an opportunity this Monday evening (September 26, 2016) to share in the cut and thrust of the first United States (U.S.) Presidential Debate ahead of the 2016 elections.

They are to gather at the ProComm building at 2 Phoenix Avenue in Kingston, where they will participate in the live viewing of the debate action.

Monday’s viewing is the first in the “Dinner and a Debate” series of the United States Embassy in Kingston, brought to the public through collaboration with the 51% Coalition, with Panos Caribbean as implementing partner.

The series forms a part of a larger initiative to raise awareness and advance understanding of the U.S. election process, with an examination of lessons and implications for Jamaica and the Caribbean, in the interest of responsible and democratic governance.

“The United States and Jamaica have been partners for centuries,” said Counsellor for Public Affairs Joshua Polacheck. “And with this historic election, we approached the 51% Coalition to ensure that the Jamaican public has an opportunity to understand the issues facing the American voter. We’re even bringing officials from the two major political parties to explain their respective party platforms.”

Three other debate viewing events, which will target a variety of stakeholders, and two public education fora involving speakers from the two U.S. political parties are also a part of the suite of activities under the initiative.

“The initiative represents an opportunity for all Jamaicans to be engaged on a dynamic and intriguing political process that is teeming with issues of relevance to the island and to the Caribbean as a whole,” said Panos Caribbean Country Director Petre Williams-Raynor.

“The 51% Coalition looks forward to the next few weeks, eager for the sharing and learning they will afford and trust that our people — women and men, young and old — will support the effort,” she added.

ABOUT THE 51% COALITION

The 51% Coalition is an alliance of women, women’s organisations and partners that formalises collaboration that has been taking place over a number of years. The 51% Coalition seeks to promote gender equality on boards and in decision-making as a means of ensuring that Jamaica has her best chance at national development. The Coalition is working to secure quotas to advance women’s participation in decision-making and more broadly to press for the effective implementation of the National Policy on Gender Equality and the achievement of Vision 2030.

For more information, contact: Ms. Adene Chung, Panos Caribbean. Email: adene@panoscaribbean.org  Tel: (876) 920-0070

Tomorrow evening there will be a special and rather unusual event: A play reading on the life of Miguel de Cervantes – a remarkable man, often described as the “first modern novelist” – on the 400th anniversary of his death. The reading will take place at the Red Bones Blues Cafe, 1 Argyle Road in Kingston on Thursday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free. Spanish wine from La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote, will be on special. The play will highlight the life and work of Cervantes and will be directed by Pierre Lemaire, supported by a cast and crew comprising lecturers, graduates and current students of the Edna Manley School of Drama. It is brought to you by the Embassy of Spain in Jamaica, in partnership with the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

The deranged hero Don Quixote de la Mancha and his sidekick, the rather coarse Sancho Panza. A wonderful painting by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau. (Source: crisismagazine.com)

In fact, in many ways Cervantes was one of those men – like Leonardo Da Vinci, and others – who was way ahead of his time. I am not sure if the word “Renaissance Man” is still used, but he was certainly one of them. Back in the early 1600s, Cervantes created one of the world’s literary masterpieces, Don Quixote – yes, the man who tilted at windmills. He had an eventful life – not the typical life of a great writer – and those were dangerous times in Europe. Born into a large, quite poor family in 1547, he may not have had much of a formal education. He became a soldier in 1570 and was badly wounded in the Battle of Lepanto against the Ottoman Turks (he lost the use of his left hand). He was captured in 1575 and spent five years in prison before a ransom was paid for him. Upon returning home, he wrote a romantic novel and plays that were not very well received. Then he had another spell in prison after being charged with mismanagement of supplies for the Spanish Armada. Poor man! However, this was the period when he started writing Don Quixote and produced a number of other literary works. The second part of Don Quixote was published in 1615, the year before his death at the age of 69.

The story of Don Quixote was turned into a very popular musical, “Man of La Mancha,” and subsequently into a 1972 film starring Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren. (Photo: Stageandcinema.com)

But after his turbulent life, poor Señor Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra could not even rest in peace. He was buried at at the Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians in Madrid, but his remains went missing some time later. Very recently, a search began to find his remains (using the latest technology, how surprised Cervantes would be!) and last year what appeared to be his remains were discovered. On June 11, 2015, he was given a formal burial and a monument in Madrid. The Mayor and other dignitaries attended.

“In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.” Miguel de Cervantes (note his left hand is not shown)…

Cervantes has gone beyond the borders of Spain. He is embraced by many Latin American writers and is one of the most translated authors in the history of literature. Spanish language has been referred to as “the language of Cervantes.” Don Quixote is the second most translated book after the Bible; it has been translated into some indigenous languages in Latin America like Guaraní. Cervantes has had an amazing, universal appeal, catching the imagination of children and adults from different eras and cultures. His works reveal and announce the mysteries of the human soul: love, impossible dreams, lost causes, success and defeat. Who hasn’t ever had a dream love? Who hasn’t fought against windmills? Who has not defended impossible causes? As stated in the Broadway musical “I, Don Quixote”: Who hasn’t dreamed the impossible?

For those who are unfamiliar with his famous work, it is filled with energy – and a great deal of humor and satire. So do make a note in your diary, and come and support the Edna Manley School of Drama tomorrow evening.

Pablo Picasso’s depiction of Don Quixote.

With rising crime rates and increased physical and psychological pressure on the police as well as ordinary citizens, it really is a difficult period for Jamaica. All the more reason for us to keep a close watch on human rights issues, which cannot be brushed aside simply because of our worsening security situation. Now Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) are calling for urgent action to safeguard the rights of two men detained at the Central Police Station in Kingston. The issue of citizens in detention in Jamaica is one of the most persistent and seemingly intractable ones – whether it is in police lockups or detention centers – and there are many concerns. This particular issue is developing, and due to the nature of the situation further information is scarce, but the human rights risks faced by the detainees necessitate an urgent response based on the information JFJ has received. We will wait to see how this unfolds. Here is JFJ’s press release, below:

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 –

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has received credible reports from family members of persons detained at Central Police Station of the serious physical abuse of two detainees while in police custody. We demand urgent action by the relevant authorities to address threats to their life, safety, and fundamental human rights. We call upon the authorities to immediately institute protective measures, conduct investigations into the reports of beatings, and provide access to proper medical care.

Reported abuse at the Central Police Station

According to informants, between September 19 and 23, the detainees were allegedly beaten by police officers during an attempted transportation to a scheduled court appearance – in which some difficulties arose. The beating resulted in serious injuries, leaving signs of physical trauma to the face, chest, and stomach. One of the detainees reportedly sustained very severe injuries that have compromised his health. We are advised by multiple sources that based on the severity of their injuries, they were not brought to court as scheduled.

We are advised by that despite continued requests for proper medical attention, one detainee reportedly continues to experience debilitating health conditions that suggest worsening injuries and potentially threatening medical complications, include continued physical weakness resulting in collapse on at least one occasion, severe contusions and swelling, unrelenting chest and stomach pains, and emotional and mental trauma. These reports have potentially adverse long-term impacts for detainees that must be addressed. In several cases of beatings in detention in Jamaica, injuries have resulted in the death of detainees. There exists at this point a well-established risk of irreparable harm to life, physical wellbeing and health in these instances which the authorities are duty-bound to meaningfully address without delay.

However, based on reports, this has not occurred. Subsequent to the beating, he was reportedly brought to a health centre – which is not a hospital capable of providing emergency care – but did not receive proper medical care. He continues to fear for his declining health, and exhibits signs of severe distress and emotional trauma.

Duty of care

These reports, if determined to be true, raise serious human rights concerns, including possible violations of the right to bodily and physical integrity, the protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and the right to health, all of which are protected under national and international law. JFJ is deeply disturbed by these reports that fit a pattern of reported abuse and neglect in detention settings we have encountered over the past decade in our work. We remain concerned that so many Jamaicans face great risk of human rights violations while in the care of the State.

All persons, regardless of criminal accusation or negative public sentiment against them, have fundamental rights which the state is legally mandated to protect – a hallmark of any civilized society built on the rule of law. People detained by the police, pending trial, do not lose their rights because they are detained. Instead, the police maintain a duty of care that requires that safeguards be established to protect them.

Mario Deane died in hospital after suffering severe injuries at the Barnett Street police lock-up in Montego Bay in August, 2014.

Call to action

JFJ urgently calls upon the relevant authorities to take decisive action, consistent with their obligations under law, to address these reports. We call on the Central Police and the High Command of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to:

· Immediately provide access to proper medical care at a hospital or other facility capable of providing emergency and inpatient treatment, not a health centre that lacks these capabilities.

· Conduct an internal probe into the reports of beatings by police officers and fully cooperate with any investigations by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and other oversight bodies by taking the necessary administrative steps such as properly recording any signs of physical abuse, preventing collusion to frustrate fact-finding, securing station records that indicate which officers may have been involved, and preventing intimidation of potential witnesses – be they police or civilian.

· Ensure full access to counsel and family contact, consistent with the law and JCF policies

· Enforce the Administration Policy for Persons Deprived of Liberty developed after the 2014 fatal beating of Mario Deane in police custody, and all other laws and government policies.

Jamaica continues to suffer intractable human rights challenges with detention due to the weak legislative regulation of police lockups, and their chronic misuse as long-term pre-trial remand despite their intended design as short-term holding areas – the management of which police are ill-equipped and under-resourced to do. In this situation, everyone loses: resources and personnel better dedicated to actual policing remain inefficiently deployed, and the public remains at extreme risk of harm if ever detained in police custody. These present reports intensify the need to implement rights-based reforms to detention such as transitioning pre-trial detention to remand centres, a task for which those facilities are purpose-built.

If you have been reading my blog for the past three years, you will know that literally hundreds of conservation organizations (at home and overseas) and thousands of individuals supported the Jamaica Environment Trust’s Save Goat Islands campaign to rescue this beautiful and unique area from development as a transshipment port. In a couple of blog posts, I even created lists of those supporters. Goat Islands are just a part of the Portland Bight Protected Area, where over 25 years of hard work by local and overseas scientists in rescuing and preserving the Jamaican Iguana (once thought to be extinct) would have been destroyed if the port project had gone ahead. The remarkable breeding program – a collaboration between Hope Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo and San Diego Zoo as well as other partners – is regarded as one of the world’s greatest success stories, as noted below. This press release from the International Iguana Foundation and Global Wildlife Conservation applauds JET’s efforts and successful campaign, and the Jamaican Government’s wise decision. (Biologist and conservation photographer Robin Moore’s photographs, at the link below, on his visit to Goat Islands, capture the magic of the area). Now – who knows – perhaps Goat Islands can become a sanctuary for this exceedingly rare creature, which is just starting to make a comeback. Please click on the links, look at the photographs and watch the documentary!

Breaking: Unprecedented Win for Conservation in Jamaica

Global Wildlife Conservation and International Iguana Foundation Congratulate Jamaica Environment Trust and Government of Jamaica for Thwarting Environmental Catastrophe

For immediate release

September 28, 2016

Global Wildlife Conservation and International Iguana Foundation offer their sincere congratulations today, Sept. 28, to Jamaica Environment Trust after receiving the news that the Jamaican government will not be handing over the Goat Islands to China Harbour Engineering Company to build a proposed $1.5 billion transshipment port. By working with partners to bring transparency to the process and encourage the Jamaican government to abide by its national and international environmental commitments, JET has led the way in thwarting this ecological disaster in the heart of the Portland Bight Protected Area, the country’s largest nature reserve.

“The development would have jeopardized the last remaining habitat of the critically endangered Jamaican iguana in the Hellshire Hills on the mainland, sending more than 25 years of work in recovering the species up in smoke, and killed the vision of creating a haven free of introduced predators for the iguana on the Goat Islands,” said Robin Moore, conservation biologist and GWC communications director. “Having spent so much time involved in this project, and for the most part feeling pretty discouraged about prospects for the area, the species, and all who have worked so hard to bring the iguana back, this news is like a powerful jolt of inspiration.” (Read Moore’s personal account and photos from his trips to the Goat Islands)

Under the leadership of Diana McCaulay, Jamaica Environment Trust has worked tirelessly to bring transparency to the process of deciding where else the new transshipment port and logistics hub could be placed, and giving voice to those living within the Portland Bight Protected Area–those who would be directly impacted by the development. JET has also raised concerns over the long-term repercussions of the development to both the health and productivity of the ecosystem and local communities.

This is the Bahama Mockingbird – a beautiful bird, which lives ONLY in the Portland Bight Protected Area in Jamaica. (My photo)

News that the Jamaican government would not destroy the Goat Islands came at first in a tweet Sept. 22, relayed from a town hall meeting in New York City in which Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, was asked directly about the status of the islands. Holness elaborated by stating “there are other locations [for the port] that would do less environmental damage.”

In April of 2014 and again in September of 2015, Moore traveled to Jamaica to work with JET and IIF partners to bring global attention to the ecological havoc the proposed project would wreak on the Goat Islands and surrounding habitats. The result was the Save Goat Islands documentary, featuring the Jamaican iguana and highlighting how the transshipment port would likely condemn the endemic species to extinction. Together the partners also secured a number of international news stories and ran a social media campaign around http://SaveGoatIslands.org and #SaveGoatIslands (now #GoatIslandsSaved).

The Portland Bight Protected Area is home to numerous globally threatened plant and wildlife species. Found only in Jamaica, the Jamaican Iguana was presumed extinct for four decades. After a small population was re-discovered in the Hellshire Hills in 1990, an international consortium of conservationists mobilized to develop a program of headstarting, invasive predator control and re-introduction to boost recovery of the population.

Though the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Jamaican Iguana as Critically Endangered, the IUCN highlights these conservation efforts as “one of the greatest success stories in conservation science.” Recently researchers have observed an eight-fold increase in the number of female Jamaican Iguanas nesting in the wild, and the news this week keeps the vision of creating a second haven for the iguanas on the Goat Islands—free from introduced predators—alive.

“I think I speak on behalf of numerous passionate individuals and dedicated organizations who have invested blood, sweat and tears into this project over the past quarter century, in congratulating Prime Minister Holness and the Jamaican government in making a responsible decision and recognizing the long-term economic benefits of a healthy environment for Jamaicans and thereby keeping this vision alive,” said Rick Hudson, executive director of the International Iguana Foundation, which has helped spearhead the recovery effort for the Jamaican iguana. “The future for this species depends on preserving the tropical dry forest ecosystem, but the Goat Islands are really the lynchpin in ensuring their long-term survival.”

# # #

A young turtle in the Portland Bight Protected Area. (Photo: Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)

Photo: Wild adult Jamaican iguana. (Photo by Robin Moore)
Download additional images on GWC’s Flickr page: http://bit.ly/2d6h8B0

Global Wildlife Conservation
Global Wildlife Conservation protects endangered species and habitats through science-based field action. GWC envisions a world with diverse and abundant wildlife and is dedicated to ensuring that the species on the verge of extinction are not lost. The global organization brings together scientists, conservationists, policymakers and industry leaders to ensure a truly collaborative approach to species conservation. Learn more at http://www.globalwildlife.org

International Iguana Foundation
The International Iguana Foundation supports conservation, awareness, and scientific programs that enhance the survival of wild iguanas and their habitats. Working to save the most threatened of the world’s 44 iguana species, the IIF provides critical support to field conservation, research and recovery programs. Learn more at http://www.iguanafoundation.org

Contact
Lindsay Renick Mayer
Global Wildlife Conservation
lrenickmayer@globalwildlife.org
202-422-4671

Rick Hudson, Executive Director
International Iguana Foundation
rhudson@fortworthzoo.org
817-343-7380

Tandora Grant, IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group Program Officer
San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research
tandora@sandiegozoo.org
619-744-3380

David Hedrick, Social Media Manager
International Iguana Foundation
d.hedrick@hotmail.com
423-645-3796

A young Amercian crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, among mangroves in a lagoon in Portland Bight Protected Area in Jamaica. (Photo: Robin Moore)

I have been observing the birds in our yard today and wondering if they sense the approaching hurricane. The unusually wet weather has brought one charming visitor to our garden though – the Ovenbird, who has been running in erratic bursts along the ground, tipping his tail, turning over leaves to find insects.

An Ovenbird going for a stroll. American poet Robert Frost wrote a poem about the Ovenbird, which begins: “There is a singer everyone has heard,
Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird,
Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again.” The bird spends its summers in the eastern United States, and winters in the Caribbean and Central America. (Photo: hotspotbirding.com)

Now, the Ovenbird is one of those lovely migratory birds that this article from BirdsCaribbean is referring to. Large and small, these birds somehow, miraculously appear on our shores. I welcome them, and hope they will shelter well from the storm. You can find this article on the BirdsCaribbean website here.

October 1, 2016

Spreading Our Wings for International Migratory Bird Day 2016

October 1, 2016—There’s a rustling in the hedgerow, and a fluttering in the branches. In the Caribbean islands, we are starting to hear different voices and our gardens and landscapes are filled with bright new colors. Our “winter visitors” are arriving, and we welcome them every year.

Many may be surprised to learn that the Caribbean is a winter home for dozens of different migratory bird species. Now in its 26th year, International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) highlights the amazing story of these birds and the importance of protecting them. While IMBD events happen across the Western Hemisphere throughout the year, most Caribbean events happen in the October, a particularly busy month for migratory birds in the West Indies.

Environment for the Americas (EFTA) coordinates IMBD across the Western Hemisphere. BirdsCaribbean is the regional organizer, coordinating all kinds of activities throughout the islands. Refuges, parks, museums, schools, botanical gardens and protected areas host events that reach about 100,000 people each year just in the Caribbean.

The 2016 theme is Spread Your Wings for Bird Conservation, in recognition of the Centennial of the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty, which makes it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell migratory birds. The treaty does not discriminate between live or dead birds, and also grants full protection to any bird parts including feathers, eggs and nests. Over 800 species are currently on the list of protected birds.

The annual IMBD art is a key component of the program and highlights the annual conservation theme. Each of the 11 bird species featured on the 2016 poster represents the importance of protections for birds. The Carolina Parakeet, now extinct, is a reminder that the unregulated hunting of birds or use of their feathers for ornamentation, for example, can result in the complete loss of a species. The remaining 10 species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other international agreements.

This year IMBD partners seek to highlight how laws, treaties and protected areas help conserve our migratory birds, and what the average citizen can do to help. The beautiful 2016 IMBD poster shows eleven migratory bird species in flight, ten of which have benefited from conservation laws. One of these species is the Whimbrel, one of the widest-ranging shorebirds in the world that can fly for 4,000 kilometers non-stop. The poster was designed by Canada-based artist Lionel Worrell, who spent his early years in the Caribbean.

These delightful birds, that travel so far every year, represent a significant part of the biodiversity of the Americas. They are cause for celebration! BirdsCaribbean invites its friends and partners across the region to engage in activities that will not only help these birds continue to spread their wings across the ocean, for example by preserving their habitats. The IMBD events also aim to educate and inform Caribbean residents (young and not so young) on their remarkable lives.

How many migratory birds can you find on your island this winter? Let’s spread our wings and celebrate our remarkable feathered friends!

For more information, and to arrange an interview, please contact: Ingrid Flores, Regional Coordinator of IMBD Caribbean, BirdsCaribbean  Email: imbdcoordinator.pr@gmail.com

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is the largest-known bird conservation and education event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. IMBD was initiated in 1993 by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. It is currently coordinated by Environment for the Americas, Boulder, Colorado, under the direction of Susan Bonfield, Executive Director. For more details, see: http://www.migratorybirdday.org (it’s a beautiful website).

BirdsCaribbean is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats. We raise awareness, promote sound science, and empower local partners to build a region where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems. We are a non-profit (501 (c) 3) membership organization. More than 100,000 people participate in our programs each year, making BirdsCaribbean the most broad-based conservation organization in the region. You can learn more about us, our work, and how to join at: http://www.birdscaribbean.org (also a beautiful website!)

There are many issues affecting our cities these days. One critical one is green spaces – the essence of healthy, sustainable cities. Our city of Kingston is sadly lacking in public spaces where people can relax and enjoy a little bit of Nature, and where children can safely play. The more fortunate among us have nice green yards – but we are talking here about a community park, tended by residents, which has been taken over by a local gaming lounge and bar to use as a parking lot. No, KSAC, a park is NOT a parking lot!

This is the press release from Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) alerting us to this particular case. There may well be others in the Kingston area. We all have a right to enjoy the environment we live in. Or do we?

The members of the Dunrobin Park community are calling on the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) to rescind a lease agreement with Macau Enterprises Limited (Macau) which allows customers of the popular gaming lounge to park their cars in the community’s park area. They have asked the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and the National Integrity Action (NIA) for legal advice.

For over 25 years the residents of Dunrobin Park have enjoyed the benefit of the open space located at lots 1 and 20 as a community park. Through the Dunrobin Park Citizens’ Association, the citizens have worked together to maintain this park by installing a children’s play set, maintaining a lawn, planting trees and erecting a fence around the parameter of the property. Macau obtained a lease on the property from the KSAC on February 1, 2016. “The owners of Macau have been trying for years to persuade us to give them the park to use as a parking area. Because we refused they went to the KSAC,” said Paulette Corrie, a President of Dunrobin Park Citizens’ Association. Community members maintain there was no consultation with them. Instead, the KSAC relied on an undated petition with many signatures being from people who were not residents of Dunrobin Park. “When we heard that the KSAC leased the park to them (Macau), we wrote to the KSAC expressing our disagreement. We were told that they leased the property based on a petition from the community but most of us living here didn’t even know about that petition,” continued Ms. Corrie.

Under the lease, part of the community park has been fenced off by Macau, trees have been cut down, sections have been covered with asphalt, the remaining grass has been trampled and has started to die.

In response to the outcry of the community members, the KSAC has taken the position that the park should be shared between the community and Macau. At a meeting held on August 26, 2016 at the KSAC’s office Ms. Ketha Silvera, the KSAC’S Legal Officer stated that the term ‘park’ can be widely interpreted to include ‘parking lot’. But Volume 1: Planning and Development of the Development and Investment Manual, developed in 2007 by the Government of Jamaica in collaboration with the private sector, outlines the importance of open spaces, including parks and gardens stating that “small areas of open spaces in urban areas will be recognized and given protection by the planning authorities”. The Manual further states that “open spaces shall not be deemed to include buildings, parking areas, or other surfaces designed or intended for vehicular travel”.

Open spaces function as a natural runoff system as the ground absorbs the rainfall. They also filter pollutants and dust from the air helping to regulate air quality and climate; they provide shade and lower temperatures in urban areas reducing energy consumption by countering the warming effects of paved surfaces; they reduce erosion of soil and recharge groundwater supplies, reducing flooding and protecting rivers and the sea from polluted runoff.

“We have to start appreciating the value of green spaces in Jamaica, especially in towns and cities,” says Nastassia Robinson, JET’s Legal Officer. “The planning authorities have been far too willing to allow open spaces to be used for the parking of cars. One example is the section of National Heroes’ Circle being used as a parking lot for the Ministry of Finance”.

Although the title for the disputed property has an encumbrance that it “…shall be used as a park” the lease agreement with Macau states that “…the leased premises is… free and clear of all encumbrances” and that the property “…may be occupied and used exclusively by the Tenant to provide parking for patrons of Tenant business”. These terms disregard the restrictive covenant that is attached to the property and deprives the community of the environmental and social benefits of the park. JET joins the call for the KSAC to do the right thing in protecting our open spaces by returning the park to the community.

Contact:
Nastassia Robinson
Legal Officer, JET
836-9909

Paulette Corrie
President, Dunrobin Park Citizens’ Association
969-8479/478-3826

Mr. Junior Henry
Resident of Dunrobin Park
862-0647

A gentleman (well, maybe rather a rough man actually) named Matthew has taken over our lives. Someone commented that Matthew is an “uptown name,” so we might have expected him to be better behaved. But alas. He has been very difficult so far: slow to make up his mind, at times hesitant and even stopping altogether at one point. We have waited for him the entire weekend, and he has still not arrived. We are getting weary, and some of my Twitter friends have already eaten their “hurricane food.” I had forgotten that hurricanes could be so wearing, rather like an annoying friend who hangs around the house waiting for you to offer him/her a cup of coffee when you have urgent things to do. At this point we all want to tell Hurricane Matthew to just go away. Shoo! But we cannot. We have to just put up with him, hanging around in the background.

Radio DJ @ZjVybz posted this picture on Twitter – hurricane food.

So yesterday there were the supermarket treks, for those who could afford it, to stock up on tinned “bully beef,” mackerel, crackers and bread. And candles, and matches, and batteries, and bleach and anything else one could possibly think of. (Bleach! How can any Jamaican household exist without bleach?) My husband spent long hours pulling down metal awnings, tying them down, putting up plyboard. The sounds of hammering and chain saws floated across the neighborhood on Saturday.

Earlier today, we had a vicious downpour, and a thunderstorm that was relatively short but intense. Almost immediately, some areas were flooded. The low-lying Portmore (built on wetlands, of course, with much of the coastal mangroves destroyed by illegal development) was soon having problems. This was after just one thunderstorm. What if Matthew rains on us for days – which is quite possible?

One wonders if there is proper drainage in Portmore. CVM Television tweeted this photo earlier today after just one downpour. And if the rains continue for days…?

So today (Sunday) there was the inevitable desire for more and more information on the progress of Matthew. Many of us on social media turned into meteorological geniuses. We tossed phrases like “storm surge” and “wobble” and “outer bands” around airily.  A number of Facebook posters decided that God had turned Matthew away – crying “Amen” and “Hallelujah” at the news that the eye of the storm will apparently not pass over our island. But, not so fast, oh God-fearing ones. The storm does not just consist of the eye, a round dot on the tracking map. It is actually huge – about fifty times the size of our little island. This simple fact seems to have eluded many Facebookers, who are chorusing that we have escaped the worst, because of their prayers. The Haitians and Cubans were clearly not praying properly, and indeed they may well receive the brunt of Matthew’s wrath – especially “poor Haiti,” as we often call her. There is always a reason to feel sorry for Haiti, it seems. Or not feel sorry (some of our Christians disapprove of “Voodoo” practices).

Chelsea Avenue in uptown Kingston this afternoon. (Photo: Paul Banks/Facebook)

And there was the usual drama of The People Who Refuse to Move: including thirty or so fisherfolk on the Pedro Cays and most of the population of Port Royal, among others. Our extremely scarce resources (Jamaica Defence Force helicopters) might, one supposes, be forced to rescue them in dangerous conditions if they get bogged down or washed away. This is annoying – and in my view, downright selfish. However, many are afraid to leave their homes and go to the nearby shelters provided because they are afraid their houses will be broken into while they are away. What a sad state of affairs.

Gloria’s, the famous fish restaurant in Port Royal, was closed up today – but the small town’s residents are in no mood to leave. (Photo by Marcia Forbes on Twitter)

Was this climate change, I wonder? Hurricane Matthew seems to have broken some records. He strengthened at a staggering rate on Saturday, running up through the ranks to a Category Five (Total Destruction) before feeling he may have overstepped the mark and pulling back a little – to a “strong Four.”

Tedium, combined with uncertainty, is stressful. I could not concentrate on any writing, as I had planned to, and spent a few hours buried in a dark Netflix crime drama. Our dog watched our various unusual activities, and refused to eat her dinner. The house was dark and a little stuffy, with our windows battened down. The day dragged on, and we ate some “hurricane food” – bully beef (tinned corned beef), brown rice and salad.

But we did find a sensational website: http://www.windyty.com  It is interactive (you can click on a timeline to see what the predictions are) and, depending on whether you are looking at wind, waves or rain, it is a beautiful swirl of colors. It’s also remarkably accurate and quite detailed. It’s a different experience than the prosaic National Hurricane Center advisories and storm track maps, or the Caribbean satellite map on weather.com – which used to be animated, but not any more. Windyty.com is remarkably animated. You should take a look.

The city of Kingston seemed almost sad today. Silent under the gloomy clouds, our street seemed abandoned, as if everyone had departed and it was waiting for someone new to move in. I guess that someone would be Matthew – an overdue, temporary and wholly unwelcome guest.

It is now raining steadily, at 2:00 a.m. And so, we continue to wait.

Some waterspouts were seen off the coast today. (Photo: Twitter)

I will leave the rest of the news for another time – but I would like to “big up”…

Neatly attired in a waterproof jacket with the Jamaican flag on it, Prime Minister Andrew Holness visited the offices of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) today. Strangely, the government agency’s presence on social media has been almost non-existent. So has that of our meteorological services. It’s a good thing we have had regular posts from the PM. (Photo: Facebook)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (and in particular his social media team). The PM communicated well via Facebook and Twitter, really outdoing himself. A meeting with all Members of Parliament (after which he gave each of them J$1 million to spend on drain cleaning and other preparation work) was aired on Facebook Live. Then we had updates of his helicopter tour of the island, including him eating patties en route. There are a few overseas reporters here, too – although considering that Matthew now seems to have more of a penchant for Haiti, they might pop over there instead. Nevertheless, Mr. Holness was seen as being in control, keeping an eye on things, keeping himself informed and keeping the Jamaican public informed. His wife Juliet, who is Member of Parliament in a constituency that is especially challenging in terms of topography, appeared on video standing on the edge of a ripped and broken road (broken several weeks ago) in Gordon Town in the hills above Kingston. It was impossible to fix it at the last minute, of course.

The Prime Minister shared some quirky photos of hurricane preparations – including this small house, lashed onto a roadside fence.

Some media stalwarts: Patria Kay Aarons of CVM Television’s Weather Watch, and roving reporter Dervan Malcolm of Power 106 FM (a man who is permanently on the move) also took to Facebook Live this weekend. Ms. Aarons gave us some great updates, answering questions from viewers as she went along. She regretted – she could not help those who asked, “Should I go into work tomorrow?” Oh, please. Dervan gave us a Facebook Live tour of the deserted streets of Kingston town today. It was like an exceptionally quiet Sunday, and hardly exciting viewing, but the intent was good. And no, the airport road was not blocked, at any time, but some debris was scattered across the Port Royal Road near the lighthouse and had to be cleared.

Downtown Kingston. (Twitter photo by Saffrey Brown)

Today, as we await the passing of Hurricane Matthew – now turning towards Haiti – it is perhaps appropriate that today is World Habitat Day. Last night on the television news, I saw some residents of Golden Grove, St. Thomas, overjoyed and jingling front door keys as they packed all their possessions into vans and pickups and headed for some new houses just down the road (solid concrete). Due to the approaching hurricane, the “powers that be” had allowed them to move into these shiny brand new houses – temporarily. Now, I fully understand why they were so happy. If you have ever driven through the sleepy rural district, you will see what look like “slave quarters” – about 50 ramshackle dwellings. These are four-room barracks, built for sugar workers about a century ago, each one built to house four workers. They are hugely overcrowded and built in a flood-prone area (thus, on stilts, many of which are unstable). They were damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. After many construction delays (and as a result some vandalizing and stealing of fixtures by local crooks), the new houses still do not have electricity, piped water or a sewage pit dug. But the residents are not concerned. They will, at last, have a proper roof over their heads. I cannot see them moving back into those hovels, once the storm has passed.

I am glad my friend and fellow blogger Wayne Campbell wrote a piece about this day. Shelter is an absolutely critical issue in Jamaica (both urban and rural) and in many other developing countries. You can find this article on Wayne’s blog at http://wayaine.blogspot.com 

The appalling “sugar barracks” in Golden Grove, St. Thomas. In 2013 ground was broken for new homes in Hampton Court, but the residents are now moving into them half-finished, three years later. (Photo: Gleaner)

World Habitat Day 2016

Everyone deserves a decent place to live. The United Nations World Habitat Day is annually celebrated on the first Monday of October to reflect on the state of human settlements and people’s right to adequate shelter.

The day serves as a reminder to the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations. As the global population increases so too have the challenges. Regrettably, the number of people especially the poor and vulnerable groups, including women, migrants and persons with disabilities find themselves living in less than desirable conditions as they face discrimination based on their circumstances. It is estimated that a billion new houses will be needed by 2025 to accommodate 50 million new urban dwellers.

Access to affordable housing is not a new phenomenon. It is a global challenge which requires commitment, resources and creativity from governments in order to reverse the growing trends of informal settlements and slums which many urban dwellers now call home. Squatting on government and privately owned lands is now a common feature in many societies, including Jamaica. The eradication of poverty should be a priority for all governments as this is a barrier to quality and affordable housing.

The housing crisis in Jamaica is desperate. It is estimated that between 15 to 35 per cent of Jamaicans are living in abandoned buildings or in squatter settlements. This is most unacceptable and requires urgent attention by the government as it relates to land reform.

The theme of the 2016 World Habitat Day is Housing at the Centre. Interestingly, the first World Habitat Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 to raise awareness about the plight of the 1.6 billion people in need of adequate shelter. The United Nations has outlined seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which are geared towards transforming the world in which we live.

Sustainable Cities and Communities – The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Goal 11 addresses the issue of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. However, there are multiple challenges, including a shortage of housing stock as more and more residential houses are being converted for commercial use and purpose. It is imperative that governments draft legislation or enforce existing laws in order to zone communities and protect the housing stock which are available for people. It cannot be that the rich and powerful are allowed to transform a community or neighborhood from residential to commercial without any sanction at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.

Every one of us regardless of skin colour, religion, sexual orientation, social class and or sex deserves the opportunity for a better future. There is a collective responsibility on all governments to lead the way in empowering and engendering their citizenry to achieve quality and adequate housing in order to achieve sustainable development. In the words of Ban Ki-moon: “Building sustainable cities and a sustainable future will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it will need the engagement of all stakeholders including the private sector and civil society, and especially the poor and marginalized.”

#WorldHabitatDay #affordablehousing #Aleppo #sustainabledevelopment #Jamaica #poverty
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo