Every man has a right to defend himself and his rights, and no-one, whatever be his sexual orientation, has the right to violate the right and space of another. Just last week, I was confronted by a group of Black female sociologists at the annual conference of the Association of Black Sociologists, in New York and had to be defending the country against the perception that we are the most homophobic country in the world and that gays are in mortal fear, walking around, with targets brightly tattooed on their backs. Of course, my first argument was that the term ‘homophobia’ is misleading because it is an inaccurate expression introduced in the 1970s by gay psychologist George Weinberg, who argued that, ‘”.... It was a fear of homosexuals which seemed to be associated with a fear of contagion….”
Evidence of anti-gay violence
Thus, apart from the fact that the term is inaccurate and sociologists should know better than to use it, terminologies such as ‘gay-hostile’ or anti-gay, might be more useful. Nevertheless, my contention was that, just as we have exaggerated the police killings of civilians and labelled all of them, including the non-controversial ones, ‘extra-judicial’, the country was getting a bad rap. True, there is anecdotal evidence that gays are attacked and occasionally killed in Jamaica, but there is little evidence that there is disproportionate violence against gays as compared to the overall level of violence against young men and women. Indeed, over the last year, the Reggae Boyz have been beaten more often in Jamaica than the reports of gay assaults.
Nevertheless, it didn’t help that 17 year old-cross dresser, Dwayne Jones, was murdered by a mob in Montego Bay, when he was discovered to have been masquerading as a woman, and allegedly dancing with men. Immediately, I mourned this senseless killing, as I do, when other young men are slain for myriad motives. Similarly, tears literally come to my eyes, when police reports come in and young men are killed under circumstances which even the police high command must be incredulous over. Worse of all, I never support mob executions, even when the ‘criminal’ just killed his wife and child.’
Trayvon Martin
Yet, I had just returned from a country, where young Trayvon Martin died at the hands of neighbourhood-watch vigilante, George Zimmerman, and amazingly, was acquitted by a ‘jury of his peers.’ It was one of the big themes of the conference and Martin was portrayed as a victim through and through. The 17-year-old Black youth, was walking through a ‘White neighbourhood’ around 7:00 pm and was wearing a hoodie. It was relatively dark and he was covered up like a typical Jamaican ghetto, ‘bleachas’, and his identity would not have been apparent. Zimmerman, accosted him, against the instructions of the 911 police operator, and a conflict ensued, with the White zealot, getting ‘minority’ bruises and the youth being shot dead. Under a Florida statute, commonly called the ‘stand your ground law, if one feels threatened, he has the right to defend himself. Zimmerman was deemed to have acted in self-defence under the American legislation and thus, was free, with blood on his hands.
Nonetheless, throwing a cat among the pigeons, I asked the conference, “what would you feel if each of you was alone in your neighbourhood and an unfamiliar male, with face obscured, was walking in a lonely part of your community and you were alone there? “ What would you think of such a person, would you feel fear? I ask you right now, the same question. I know what my honest answer would be.
"Victims"initiating confrontation
Now, I agree that Zimmerman should have remained in his car and not followed the boy, but tell me, did he have a right to feel suspicious. Was he reasonable to ‘pree’ the youth? In Jamaica we don't have a 'stand your ground' law, but case law allows one to use proportionate force to defend oneself. But what does that have to do with Jamaica and gays?
Well, a few hours, fresh from my arrival from the ‘Big Apple’, I was buying gas in one of my regular service stations, and what happened next was a ‘Total’ shock to me. Going about my business, my eyes were assaulted by a car full of the ugliest set of women God must have created. Six grotesquely made up men, with face foundation thick like a politician’s skull, eye shadows and eyeliners, bought from the duco shop, fake eyelashes bigger than the bobo dread’s broom and colours brighter than the Ras’ cloth turban, began shouting expletives in my direction and at the pump attendant. For all the love I have for my mother, the instructions as to how, I should demonstrate my affections towards her were deeply offensive and thank God, they did not stop the car and confront me.
Standing my ground in Jamaica
Let me make this clear, I was buying gas, and would not have turned towards them, if they were not making a racket. Now, follow this; if I am challenged by any other human, who can present a credible threat to me, I am free to defend myself. If there are two or more against me, it is according to the Jamaican maxim, ‘two pon one ….’ But I guarantee, that with a child and other loved ones to live for, I would not become the victim of a literal gay-bashing.
These men, dressed as women, were in my view, breaking the law, because they were obscuring their identity. Had I been menaced, it would have been assault at common law, and if any one of the four, and worse, if all four had touched a button, it would have been battery. All I did was glance towards the ruckus and the men shouted a tirade of calumnious language and threats in my direction. Would I have been justified in ‘standing my ground?’
Sexual contact by fraud
As for the unfortunate murder of the Mobay youth, I cry for his family. Yet, I ask, did he simply dress like a girl and was gyrating on his boyfriend? If that is the case, then there was absolutely no basis for anything except disgust. However, did he pass himself as a woman and was rubbing up on straight men? While I cannot justify the killing, I ask the homophile and heterosexual human rights activists, “do you know that under the Sexual Offences Act, any kind of sensual contact against ones will, is assault? Do you know that getting sexual favours or some approximation of it by fraud, puts the perpetrator on a rape path? Do you know that pretending to be someone else in order to gain sexual access to another person, is both assault and rape, depending on how far one gets. Most important, what would you feel and do if someone of your sex tricked you into some degree of intimacy?
Getting the facts and being prudent
As with the Martin case, I don’t know all the facts. Witnesses in the murder of Jones have not come forward. Nevertheless, as with other murders, the police will investigate, and assuming that the accused aren’t bleached, wear fake hair, have lots of monetary resources; the truth will come out in court.
In the meantime, I am taking this opportunity to speak to the gay community and other activists to advise their margin gatherer to desist from initiating conflict because, despite their resemblance to visitors from the grave, duppy might not know who fi frighten next.
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Sunday, August 18, 2013
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Alexander Brucetamante?
He is given credit for starting the movement which changed the society and became a father of the nation. This man took a principled position which many saw as not benefiting him personally. He bared his chest defiantly, staking his political future, if not his life, on his bravery. Later, the administration locked him up for two years because he dared to make anti-colonial comments. Even without the benefit of WikiLeaks, it was a case of cock mouth kill cock.
After a bit of sleight of hand, he hoodwinked his opponent into calling an election at a time when he wanted, as opposed to when it suited his adversary, and became the first prime minister of independent Jamaica. Despite ill-advised concessions in the bauxite deals with the multinationals gaining inordinate control over our resources and limited gains for workers, who had propelled him into power, William Alexander Clarke, the mythological Alexander Bustamante, is canonised in the annals of our history as a hero.
Heroes are about who is writing and who has control over the machinery of ideology at the time. In simple language, history is written by the powerful. It was Latino writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez who said, "Let us hurry to write our history before the historians arrive." A similar Kenyan proverb declares, "Until the lions have their own historians, the tale of the hunt will favour the hunter."
Fast-forward to 2000 something AD when all who are reading this are nothing more than a pile of decayed bones and the school-children are researching Orette Bruce Golding, MP. By then, Dudus would have settled and Golding would have been recorded as the prime minister who 'belled' the cat, a nefarious gangster who came to prominence between the early 1990s and 2000s when Golding was either in Opposition or out of Parliament, and was ousted and extradited three years after he became prime minister. His-story might very well make Golding the hero for facing down criminals and in the wake of the departure of Christopher Coke, violent crime, which peaked under a People's National Party (PNP) Government in 2006, and dipped quicker than his credibility in 2010.
What of Tivoli dead?
And what of the 73 'martyrs' in Tivoli, who some residents claim were the victims of the indiscretionary and reckless violence of the armed forces? Which version of history will be written? Well, it was a military-police operation, and official reports, the only recorded accounts so far, clearly state that they were enemy troops or militiamen, fighting to protect Coke and his lawless empire.
Even when we look at the saga involving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) acting improperly on behalf of the Government and engaging Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, what do we have? A prime minister who apologised to the nation, bowed to pressure to stay in office although he explicitly said that he had offered his resignation, and a year later, finally relented to his conscience. The scribes will record that the 'Driva' did the proper thing and appointed a commission of enquiry to investigate, among other things, his own possible wrongdoings. Unlike his 'frenemy' Harold Brady, who was the agent of the JLP/Government and who could have answered all the questions definitively, Golding appeared before the commission, gave testimony and suffered the humiliation of an angry, miserable cross examination.
Long after he is typified as 'pathologically mendacious' by the ultra witty and brilliant PNP jurist, K.D. Knight, unless there is a book that has it immortalised, the memory of that comment would fade and the newspaper pages will have long wrapped pungent formaldehyde-soaked fish, absorbed flood waters and made a workable substitute for bathroom tissue. All that will be in the Golding Chronicles will be the report of the commissioners. No one was guilty of any major offence.
Strange as it might sound, I bet hardly anyone knows that Bustamante would have benefited from being seen as a Spanish white man in the 1920s and '30s if he had a Spanish name instead of a mulatto one. How well-known is it that Bustamante was not a practising trade unionist, nor was he a labour leader when the uprisings in 1938 occurred? In fact, he was an officer of the Jamaica Workmen and Tradesmen Union in 1937 but was ousted by its founders A.G.S. Coombs and H.C. Buchanan, who had founded it in 1935. It is perhaps unknown to many that Bustamante offered his services as a mediator to the employers and Government and was rejected. And, after approaching the striking workers to speak to them, he was initially rebuffed with more force than a mendicant finance minister approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Take my word: It was St Willliam Grant, whose contribution as labour leader is conveniently 'parked' at Bustamante's feet, who told the masses that a repulsion of Busta meant a concomitant rejection of him. Busta did not start any labour uprising.
Resisting police
Like Bustamante, Golding left while still having more time left in his term. Busta, like Bruce, is a co-founder of a political party. The difference is that Busta was a PNP man who went to set up the JLP in 1943, while Golding is a two-time Labourite who left, was out in the blue, but returned to greener pastures.
Does anyone recall when an attempt was made by the police and military to enter Tivoli in pursuit of criminals in 2005? And where was Bruce? He stood and faced down the security forces in a fashion reminiscent of the 1938 strikes. Only recently imposed on the workers by Grant, Bustamante told the police "shoot me, but leave them alone!" Yeah, right, black policemen shooting a deputy-white elite in Jamaica in the 1930s? Not even today in 21st-century Jamrock would Offica Dibble point anything beyond his index finger at a 'brung man', much less then. Bruce read his history and he knows the legend of 'Alexander the Great'.
After becoming leader of an Edward Seaga-less JLP, he egged and taunted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to call elections. Paying more attention to him than the polls, she waited until it was Bruce time and called it too late and the rest is ... his-story! Busta pushed his cousin to do the same, and instead of paying attention to the streets, Norman Manley kept his eyes on Busta. And in 1961, Manley, who had done all the work to secure our Independence, had to walk away a broken man as Bustamante sucked up the cake like the fat child at a birthday party. Round one, Bruce.
So, where will Bruce Golding's legacy be written? If by stepping down and letting Andrew Holness lead the JLP to victory, beating an undefeatable Portia Simpson-led PNP, what will he be seen as? He would have done what only Bustamante alone ever did - give the JLP two consecutive (contested) victories over the PNP. Bruce might be loose, but he is no fool.
After a bit of sleight of hand, he hoodwinked his opponent into calling an election at a time when he wanted, as opposed to when it suited his adversary, and became the first prime minister of independent Jamaica. Despite ill-advised concessions in the bauxite deals with the multinationals gaining inordinate control over our resources and limited gains for workers, who had propelled him into power, William Alexander Clarke, the mythological Alexander Bustamante, is canonised in the annals of our history as a hero.
Heroes are about who is writing and who has control over the machinery of ideology at the time. In simple language, history is written by the powerful. It was Latino writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez who said, "Let us hurry to write our history before the historians arrive." A similar Kenyan proverb declares, "Until the lions have their own historians, the tale of the hunt will favour the hunter."
Fast-forward to 2000 something AD when all who are reading this are nothing more than a pile of decayed bones and the school-children are researching Orette Bruce Golding, MP. By then, Dudus would have settled and Golding would have been recorded as the prime minister who 'belled' the cat, a nefarious gangster who came to prominence between the early 1990s and 2000s when Golding was either in Opposition or out of Parliament, and was ousted and extradited three years after he became prime minister. His-story might very well make Golding the hero for facing down criminals and in the wake of the departure of Christopher Coke, violent crime, which peaked under a People's National Party (PNP) Government in 2006, and dipped quicker than his credibility in 2010.
What of Tivoli dead?
And what of the 73 'martyrs' in Tivoli, who some residents claim were the victims of the indiscretionary and reckless violence of the armed forces? Which version of history will be written? Well, it was a military-police operation, and official reports, the only recorded accounts so far, clearly state that they were enemy troops or militiamen, fighting to protect Coke and his lawless empire.
Even when we look at the saga involving the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) acting improperly on behalf of the Government and engaging Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, what do we have? A prime minister who apologised to the nation, bowed to pressure to stay in office although he explicitly said that he had offered his resignation, and a year later, finally relented to his conscience. The scribes will record that the 'Driva' did the proper thing and appointed a commission of enquiry to investigate, among other things, his own possible wrongdoings. Unlike his 'frenemy' Harold Brady, who was the agent of the JLP/Government and who could have answered all the questions definitively, Golding appeared before the commission, gave testimony and suffered the humiliation of an angry, miserable cross examination.
Long after he is typified as 'pathologically mendacious' by the ultra witty and brilliant PNP jurist, K.D. Knight, unless there is a book that has it immortalised, the memory of that comment would fade and the newspaper pages will have long wrapped pungent formaldehyde-soaked fish, absorbed flood waters and made a workable substitute for bathroom tissue. All that will be in the Golding Chronicles will be the report of the commissioners. No one was guilty of any major offence.
Strange as it might sound, I bet hardly anyone knows that Bustamante would have benefited from being seen as a Spanish white man in the 1920s and '30s if he had a Spanish name instead of a mulatto one. How well-known is it that Bustamante was not a practising trade unionist, nor was he a labour leader when the uprisings in 1938 occurred? In fact, he was an officer of the Jamaica Workmen and Tradesmen Union in 1937 but was ousted by its founders A.G.S. Coombs and H.C. Buchanan, who had founded it in 1935. It is perhaps unknown to many that Bustamante offered his services as a mediator to the employers and Government and was rejected. And, after approaching the striking workers to speak to them, he was initially rebuffed with more force than a mendicant finance minister approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Take my word: It was St Willliam Grant, whose contribution as labour leader is conveniently 'parked' at Bustamante's feet, who told the masses that a repulsion of Busta meant a concomitant rejection of him. Busta did not start any labour uprising.
Resisting police
Like Bustamante, Golding left while still having more time left in his term. Busta, like Bruce, is a co-founder of a political party. The difference is that Busta was a PNP man who went to set up the JLP in 1943, while Golding is a two-time Labourite who left, was out in the blue, but returned to greener pastures.
Does anyone recall when an attempt was made by the police and military to enter Tivoli in pursuit of criminals in 2005? And where was Bruce? He stood and faced down the security forces in a fashion reminiscent of the 1938 strikes. Only recently imposed on the workers by Grant, Bustamante told the police "shoot me, but leave them alone!" Yeah, right, black policemen shooting a deputy-white elite in Jamaica in the 1930s? Not even today in 21st-century Jamrock would Offica Dibble point anything beyond his index finger at a 'brung man', much less then. Bruce read his history and he knows the legend of 'Alexander the Great'.
After becoming leader of an Edward Seaga-less JLP, he egged and taunted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to call elections. Paying more attention to him than the polls, she waited until it was Bruce time and called it too late and the rest is ... his-story! Busta pushed his cousin to do the same, and instead of paying attention to the streets, Norman Manley kept his eyes on Busta. And in 1961, Manley, who had done all the work to secure our Independence, had to walk away a broken man as Bustamante sucked up the cake like the fat child at a birthday party. Round one, Bruce.
So, where will Bruce Golding's legacy be written? If by stepping down and letting Andrew Holness lead the JLP to victory, beating an undefeatable Portia Simpson-led PNP, what will he be seen as? He would have done what only Bustamante alone ever did - give the JLP two consecutive (contested) victories over the PNP. Bruce might be loose, but he is no fool.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Habemus Papam : The Pope is Selected
As close as it was predicted he has won by more than a nose. In fact he has beaten the whole nest of candidates and the only ones who didn’t affirm his victory were the old nest. Now, unless there is an act of God or some act of the devil that he commits, Andrew Holness is going to not only going to be the next leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) but more important, he is going to be the ninth prime minister of Jamaica.
A man, born in 1972, the same year that current Prime Minister Bruce Golding took his first bite of Parliament, this youngest JLP Member of Parliament was in gestation for the first five months of Golding’s novitiate and was only eight years old when his political sire, Edward Seaga, tasted his first and only legitimate election victory, in 1980. This is an important fact because unlike his likely opponent in the next general elections, due any time before December 2012, he had nothing to do with any of the political developments which marked the 1970s and 1980s, some of the darkest days of our political life.
Indeed, the only ‘viable’ JLP obstacle standing in the way of his acclamation, Mike Henry, was not only part of that period but he has been a political icon for so long, he might have wet his feet when crossing the red sea. Holness, notwithstanding this, is not a rookie.
Entering parliament in the eighth year of Seaga’s 15-year odyssey in the political wilderness, Holness, then fresh with the stains of maternal milk on his lips, the 25 year old went on to win three elections in West Central St Andrew.
Holness presents a daunting challenge if not a leviathan for the People’s National Party (PNP). For the past two years, the portly Peter Phillips led a PNP inquiry and revelation of surreptitious dealing regarding the delayed extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. In a saga which wound like a Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie novel, the matter ended with Coke’s voluntary departure to face the music in the United States and an enquiry by a Commission, handpicked by Golding and hen pecked by PNP Attorney KD Knight and others.
In the end we knew nothing. The main protagonist, ‘Labourphile’ Harold Brady, who stated that he was contracted by the government to engage the American law firm, Mannat Phelps and Phillips, batted and blinked his eyes, stared blankly and said nothing, remaining as silent as Commissioner Anthony Irons during the inquiry. The commission found no one culpable and to date the JLP maintains that the party had engaged the firm, and the commission agreed. Significantly, Holness, like the pope, was celibate of the whole affair.
Let us not pretend, inasmuch as Holness has been in parliament for more than 14 years, and is the rising star; like the namesake contest, it is not a case of the most talented winning but the person who can amass the most votes. Call a spade a trowel and shovel the PNP into the discourse. In the run up to the 2007 elections beginning with the fight for the leadership of the PNP back in 2006, Sista P, for all her popularity, was not the preferred persona of elites within the PNP. Founded by Intellectuals and university men, including Professor MG Smith and educator Howard Cooke, the PNP hosted a bitter battle to succeed the departing PJ Patterson. Many awful things were said about Portia’s intellect and abilities by her own party and I will not repeat them here; ignorance is bliss. In the end Portia was the happy victor.
I have no evidence to think that Holness is smarter or more capable of being Prime Minister than the other would-be candidates. Mike Henry has loads of political experience and has run private enterprises and sporting clubs. Pearnel Charles, trade unionist, has more than 40 years of politics behind him, where his best days are. But he is savvy. The eloquent Bobby Montaque, who knows the rounds and has been an elected politician for more than two decades, is no chicken, although he ran afoul of the public with his strident treatment of an infirmary official two years ago.
At 59, Audley Shaw, is not yet in the valley, although he is just getting over the hill, but importantly, he is Minister of Finance. Even though he, with a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease predicted no ill effect of the global financial crisis in 2007, he is managing the economy in the most challenging times. However, without refuelling his electoral energy at a cool oasis, the polls suggest that his leadership wont make him take the labourites across the political desert.
Christopher Tufton, Dr Cassava, who did a decent job in agriculture, is a University lecturer, with loads of research. in his new portfolio of commerce and industry, he looked like a shoe-in. Having recovered from the slip of his tongue a few years ago; this genuine ‘frontrunner’ would not encourage persons to put their X beside the head this time. But he would not beat Portia in an election now.
In comes Holness. Seaga endorsed him in a wink, his face scarcely recovering from the smirk in the aftermath of Golding’s announced fugue. Picture his stand off with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association over a number of issues including the poorly thought out, and even more poorly defended appointment of Alphansus Davis as Chairman of the Teachers’ Services Commission. It took the departure of Golding and his Gorbachevesque intervention for Holness to relent from senseless petulance. And as soon as Bruce was getting loose, he was joining the Brady brunch. Such a move could only suggest that Holness was saving his brain from the political challenges of leadership.
Nevertheless, the public in several polls had indicated that of all government ministers it was felt that he was doing the best job. Boxill/RJR researchers found that he was the person the public would most prefer to lead the JLP. Hot off the press, surveys by the Gleaner’s Bill Johnson and Don Anderson, demonstrate that Portia has a mere four points on him. That is a virtual statistical dead heat.
The PNP is now caught off guard even to the point of one spokesman forgetting that PJ was in office after Portia was elected president and criticising the JLP for the same anomaly. Portia and her older passengers in her Jeep have a major hurdle in young Holness, who may very well take it home if he times the elections better than she did. If he makes belter decisions that recently, when the smoke settles the nation and not just the JLP might say, habemus papam.
A man, born in 1972, the same year that current Prime Minister Bruce Golding took his first bite of Parliament, this youngest JLP Member of Parliament was in gestation for the first five months of Golding’s novitiate and was only eight years old when his political sire, Edward Seaga, tasted his first and only legitimate election victory, in 1980. This is an important fact because unlike his likely opponent in the next general elections, due any time before December 2012, he had nothing to do with any of the political developments which marked the 1970s and 1980s, some of the darkest days of our political life.
Indeed, the only ‘viable’ JLP obstacle standing in the way of his acclamation, Mike Henry, was not only part of that period but he has been a political icon for so long, he might have wet his feet when crossing the red sea. Holness, notwithstanding this, is not a rookie.
Entering parliament in the eighth year of Seaga’s 15-year odyssey in the political wilderness, Holness, then fresh with the stains of maternal milk on his lips, the 25 year old went on to win three elections in West Central St Andrew.
Holness presents a daunting challenge if not a leviathan for the People’s National Party (PNP). For the past two years, the portly Peter Phillips led a PNP inquiry and revelation of surreptitious dealing regarding the delayed extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. In a saga which wound like a Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie novel, the matter ended with Coke’s voluntary departure to face the music in the United States and an enquiry by a Commission, handpicked by Golding and hen pecked by PNP Attorney KD Knight and others.
In the end we knew nothing. The main protagonist, ‘Labourphile’ Harold Brady, who stated that he was contracted by the government to engage the American law firm, Mannat Phelps and Phillips, batted and blinked his eyes, stared blankly and said nothing, remaining as silent as Commissioner Anthony Irons during the inquiry. The commission found no one culpable and to date the JLP maintains that the party had engaged the firm, and the commission agreed. Significantly, Holness, like the pope, was celibate of the whole affair.
Let us not pretend, inasmuch as Holness has been in parliament for more than 14 years, and is the rising star; like the namesake contest, it is not a case of the most talented winning but the person who can amass the most votes. Call a spade a trowel and shovel the PNP into the discourse. In the run up to the 2007 elections beginning with the fight for the leadership of the PNP back in 2006, Sista P, for all her popularity, was not the preferred persona of elites within the PNP. Founded by Intellectuals and university men, including Professor MG Smith and educator Howard Cooke, the PNP hosted a bitter battle to succeed the departing PJ Patterson. Many awful things were said about Portia’s intellect and abilities by her own party and I will not repeat them here; ignorance is bliss. In the end Portia was the happy victor.
I have no evidence to think that Holness is smarter or more capable of being Prime Minister than the other would-be candidates. Mike Henry has loads of political experience and has run private enterprises and sporting clubs. Pearnel Charles, trade unionist, has more than 40 years of politics behind him, where his best days are. But he is savvy. The eloquent Bobby Montaque, who knows the rounds and has been an elected politician for more than two decades, is no chicken, although he ran afoul of the public with his strident treatment of an infirmary official two years ago.
At 59, Audley Shaw, is not yet in the valley, although he is just getting over the hill, but importantly, he is Minister of Finance. Even though he, with a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease predicted no ill effect of the global financial crisis in 2007, he is managing the economy in the most challenging times. However, without refuelling his electoral energy at a cool oasis, the polls suggest that his leadership wont make him take the labourites across the political desert.
Christopher Tufton, Dr Cassava, who did a decent job in agriculture, is a University lecturer, with loads of research. in his new portfolio of commerce and industry, he looked like a shoe-in. Having recovered from the slip of his tongue a few years ago; this genuine ‘frontrunner’ would not encourage persons to put their X beside the head this time. But he would not beat Portia in an election now.
In comes Holness. Seaga endorsed him in a wink, his face scarcely recovering from the smirk in the aftermath of Golding’s announced fugue. Picture his stand off with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association over a number of issues including the poorly thought out, and even more poorly defended appointment of Alphansus Davis as Chairman of the Teachers’ Services Commission. It took the departure of Golding and his Gorbachevesque intervention for Holness to relent from senseless petulance. And as soon as Bruce was getting loose, he was joining the Brady brunch. Such a move could only suggest that Holness was saving his brain from the political challenges of leadership.
Nevertheless, the public in several polls had indicated that of all government ministers it was felt that he was doing the best job. Boxill/RJR researchers found that he was the person the public would most prefer to lead the JLP. Hot off the press, surveys by the Gleaner’s Bill Johnson and Don Anderson, demonstrate that Portia has a mere four points on him. That is a virtual statistical dead heat.
The PNP is now caught off guard even to the point of one spokesman forgetting that PJ was in office after Portia was elected president and criticising the JLP for the same anomaly. Portia and her older passengers in her Jeep have a major hurdle in young Holness, who may very well take it home if he times the elections better than she did. If he makes belter decisions that recently, when the smoke settles the nation and not just the JLP might say, habemus papam.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Warminster's electile dysfunction
“Go to hell!” well, if the downward trend continues that is where we are likely to meet the contentious, re-elected Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parliamentarian, Everald Warmington. Let’s call a spade a shovel and admit it, St Catherine South Western is a labourite constituency right now, Warmington trounced erstwhile Peoples’ National Party (PNP) councillor Carlos Waul, who ran as an independent candidate, by almost 3,000 votes. Polling 5,891 to 2,991 votes versus a candidate who was as viable as a stone Waul, he beat him as if he had West Indies painted across his chest.
No Sex Bias
Showing no sex bias either, he knocked out children activist- cum-politician, Betty Ann Blaine, whose 177 was simply child’s play. Still not dissuaded by as many election losses as lies told at the Manatt enquiry, the ubiquitous Ras Astor Black was again in line for his customary electoral punishment. Black, with his drop in the bucket 46, got the treatment which was reminiscent of that which the 1960s JLP ordered against persons of his faith and he was mauled for daring to think that he could enter mainstream politics. Unfortunately, Christopher Irons of the Marcus Garvey People's Political Party (MGPPP), with his 60, split the Rasta vote.
For some, especially my colleagues in the women in media group, who took exception at his maltreatment of a CVM television anchor and later his behind the scenes rebuttal of her supervisor’s inquiry, it was a bad blow. Leaving an awful taste in their mouths, the JLP has not yet taken any action against him and despite protestations by this group, kept him on the slate as the candidate.
No Choice
Truthfully, the JLP might not have had much of a choice, as it would have had to find a stranger to the constituency in a ridiculously short time. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea-and the sea is to the southernmost point of the constituency- it was a case of choosing ‘black dog fi monkey,’ although I am not quite sure which one applies here.
History in Constituency
Warmington’s involvement in the constituency and his misconduct are both long-standing and legendary. In 1980, facing the electorate for the first time, then as a Jamaican citizen I believe, he upset the PNP’s Ruddy Lawson, polling 9,727 to Lawson’s 6,088. After a hiatus which saw Lawson returning to the seat in 1989, rolling over then JLP candidate Mike Williams, the ‘Warbinger’ returned in 1993 to meet the clenched fist of Lawson, whose 7146 knocked the tongue out of his bell which rang up a respectable 5663.
With Lawson’s departure, it was a woman’s turn to ‘give him licks’ and Jennifer Edwards of the PNP took home more than 1,000 vote ahead of him. The final score sheet was 8267 to 7122. In 2002 after his second of two tries against her, it went the other way and he unseated Edwards. His 1,300-plus margin: 9,305 to her 8,091, showed how much a constituency can swing, even when the candidate is entrenched. This lesson he is yet to learn.
The results of the 2007 elections would clearly have spurred him into overconfidence and delusion of invulnerability, as ‘superman’ posted the largest margin among successful JLP candidates. More than 3,000 votes separated him from the PNP’s Dennis Jones. Scorecard 10,488 to 7,244. Obviously forgetting that his constituency has swung both ways, he perhaps believes that he or the party is so entrenched that he could even substitute his embattled colleague Garnett Reid for himself and still gain a victory. One will note that Reid polled the lowest total of any JLP candidate in 2007 and was soundly trashed by Portia Simpson Miller in St Andrew South, with 601 votes to Simpson-Miller’s 9,360.
Serial Misconduct
Since 2007, his conduct has deteriorated. After being accused by his constituents of neglecting them, just three months after his election that year, he spurned media inquiries, adding that they did not elect him. ‘Cock mout’ kill cock,’ as clearly annoyed residents expressed disgust about their representative’s reprehensible behaviour. Similar comments were directed towards Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections over his intemperate remarks, “They did not employ me, so they cannot dismiss me.” Warmington had reportedly told residents of Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine that if they did not vote for the JLP, they would not receive hurricane-relief cheques. An unsigned publicly released apology did not bear his signature. However, the always truthful Prime Minister Bruce Golding affirmed that he had seen a signed copy.
Misbehaviour Again
In 2008, he struck again and declared that he does not speak with the media. So embarrassing was his conduct that the prime minister declared, “Mr Warmington is going to need considerably more speaking to.” Last year, perhaps after some self-reflection, he called Contractor Greg Christie an “overzealous idiot” because Christie had questioned his misconduct in the award of government contracts.
Then late last year, he accused the press and particularly, this newspaper of “gutterism” and having an agenda. Again apologies were not forthcoming but the party/Government (not sure who is who), distanced itself from his stance. The one lesson that seems to be learnt here is that Warmington is incorrigible, and like many who would be king, he should note that history is littered with the political corpses of leaders who push their heads up so high; no one can ask them anything.
Giving back the seat to the PNP
Nevertheless, despite the baseless arrogance and overconfidence, Warmington might already be giving back the seat to the PNP. Waul though not representing the PNP and it is still unclear if he has relinquished his orange citizenship, got 2,991 votes. This represents 34 per cent of the persons who voted. There are 37,151 eligible voters in the constituency; therefore only 24.6 per cent came out to vote. While it is true that by-elections do not generally stimulate large turnouts, the low participation is not simply a continuation of this trend. Persons are fed up with him and only a die-hard core is backing him. An independent candidate in a by-election is not expected to get many votes. Imagine if it were a openly PNP-supported nominee.
Election Results as Indicator
In 2007, Warmington got almost 30 per cent of all voters eligible to vote and 56 per cent of all who voted. In this by-election, the numbers are 16 and 64 per cent respectively. In raw numbers, he got 5,891 compared to his 2007 total of 10,488. This reduction to just over 56 per cent of his earlier total should be a wakeup call. In comparison, Daryl Vaz’s, 7,915 votes, to the PNP’s Kenneth Rowe's 5,987, in 2009, the first of the four by-elections, was an improvement over his 2007 showing against Abe Dabdoub. There he polled 6,977.
Backing Himself
I am no Carl Stone and I hold no brief for Waul, but it takes more than a set of loyal followers to win an open contest. In the next general elections Warmington needs to remember that 75 per cent of potential voters did not even bother to turn out. To believe that his victory is a harbinger of other electoral success is akin to Usain Bolt standing still and backing himself in a race against Tyson Gay.
No Sex Bias
Showing no sex bias either, he knocked out children activist- cum-politician, Betty Ann Blaine, whose 177 was simply child’s play. Still not dissuaded by as many election losses as lies told at the Manatt enquiry, the ubiquitous Ras Astor Black was again in line for his customary electoral punishment. Black, with his drop in the bucket 46, got the treatment which was reminiscent of that which the 1960s JLP ordered against persons of his faith and he was mauled for daring to think that he could enter mainstream politics. Unfortunately, Christopher Irons of the Marcus Garvey People's Political Party (MGPPP), with his 60, split the Rasta vote.
For some, especially my colleagues in the women in media group, who took exception at his maltreatment of a CVM television anchor and later his behind the scenes rebuttal of her supervisor’s inquiry, it was a bad blow. Leaving an awful taste in their mouths, the JLP has not yet taken any action against him and despite protestations by this group, kept him on the slate as the candidate.
No Choice
Truthfully, the JLP might not have had much of a choice, as it would have had to find a stranger to the constituency in a ridiculously short time. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea-and the sea is to the southernmost point of the constituency- it was a case of choosing ‘black dog fi monkey,’ although I am not quite sure which one applies here.
History in Constituency
Warmington’s involvement in the constituency and his misconduct are both long-standing and legendary. In 1980, facing the electorate for the first time, then as a Jamaican citizen I believe, he upset the PNP’s Ruddy Lawson, polling 9,727 to Lawson’s 6,088. After a hiatus which saw Lawson returning to the seat in 1989, rolling over then JLP candidate Mike Williams, the ‘Warbinger’ returned in 1993 to meet the clenched fist of Lawson, whose 7146 knocked the tongue out of his bell which rang up a respectable 5663.
With Lawson’s departure, it was a woman’s turn to ‘give him licks’ and Jennifer Edwards of the PNP took home more than 1,000 vote ahead of him. The final score sheet was 8267 to 7122. In 2002 after his second of two tries against her, it went the other way and he unseated Edwards. His 1,300-plus margin: 9,305 to her 8,091, showed how much a constituency can swing, even when the candidate is entrenched. This lesson he is yet to learn.
The results of the 2007 elections would clearly have spurred him into overconfidence and delusion of invulnerability, as ‘superman’ posted the largest margin among successful JLP candidates. More than 3,000 votes separated him from the PNP’s Dennis Jones. Scorecard 10,488 to 7,244. Obviously forgetting that his constituency has swung both ways, he perhaps believes that he or the party is so entrenched that he could even substitute his embattled colleague Garnett Reid for himself and still gain a victory. One will note that Reid polled the lowest total of any JLP candidate in 2007 and was soundly trashed by Portia Simpson Miller in St Andrew South, with 601 votes to Simpson-Miller’s 9,360.
Serial Misconduct
Since 2007, his conduct has deteriorated. After being accused by his constituents of neglecting them, just three months after his election that year, he spurned media inquiries, adding that they did not elect him. ‘Cock mout’ kill cock,’ as clearly annoyed residents expressed disgust about their representative’s reprehensible behaviour. Similar comments were directed towards Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections over his intemperate remarks, “They did not employ me, so they cannot dismiss me.” Warmington had reportedly told residents of Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine that if they did not vote for the JLP, they would not receive hurricane-relief cheques. An unsigned publicly released apology did not bear his signature. However, the always truthful Prime Minister Bruce Golding affirmed that he had seen a signed copy.
Misbehaviour Again
In 2008, he struck again and declared that he does not speak with the media. So embarrassing was his conduct that the prime minister declared, “Mr Warmington is going to need considerably more speaking to.” Last year, perhaps after some self-reflection, he called Contractor Greg Christie an “overzealous idiot” because Christie had questioned his misconduct in the award of government contracts.
Then late last year, he accused the press and particularly, this newspaper of “gutterism” and having an agenda. Again apologies were not forthcoming but the party/Government (not sure who is who), distanced itself from his stance. The one lesson that seems to be learnt here is that Warmington is incorrigible, and like many who would be king, he should note that history is littered with the political corpses of leaders who push their heads up so high; no one can ask them anything.
Giving back the seat to the PNP
Nevertheless, despite the baseless arrogance and overconfidence, Warmington might already be giving back the seat to the PNP. Waul though not representing the PNP and it is still unclear if he has relinquished his orange citizenship, got 2,991 votes. This represents 34 per cent of the persons who voted. There are 37,151 eligible voters in the constituency; therefore only 24.6 per cent came out to vote. While it is true that by-elections do not generally stimulate large turnouts, the low participation is not simply a continuation of this trend. Persons are fed up with him and only a die-hard core is backing him. An independent candidate in a by-election is not expected to get many votes. Imagine if it were a openly PNP-supported nominee.
Election Results as Indicator
In 2007, Warmington got almost 30 per cent of all voters eligible to vote and 56 per cent of all who voted. In this by-election, the numbers are 16 and 64 per cent respectively. In raw numbers, he got 5,891 compared to his 2007 total of 10,488. This reduction to just over 56 per cent of his earlier total should be a wakeup call. In comparison, Daryl Vaz’s, 7,915 votes, to the PNP’s Kenneth Rowe's 5,987, in 2009, the first of the four by-elections, was an improvement over his 2007 showing against Abe Dabdoub. There he polled 6,977.
Backing Himself
I am no Carl Stone and I hold no brief for Waul, but it takes more than a set of loyal followers to win an open contest. In the next general elections Warmington needs to remember that 75 per cent of potential voters did not even bother to turn out. To believe that his victory is a harbinger of other electoral success is akin to Usain Bolt standing still and backing himself in a race against Tyson Gay.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
An Incom-Barry-ble Man
Not many compound words have the same meaning when separated into two. Imagine awe full and awe some and given the behaviour of some of our men in public life, I would shudder at the word Bountiful. However, Alston Barrington Chevannes was in every sense a gentle man.
Through the tears which wash my eyes and clear my vision, I see this gentle giant of a man who, despite the terminology we use to describe each other in the academy, has no peer. There is none in the Jamaican parliament, commerce, industry, entertainment, politics or anywhere else that I know in this country of ours, that can measure up to him. In 2004, my deepest sympathies were to the present Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences who smartly wears sandals, because Barry’s shoes were just too large to wear.
Imagine me a young Blackademic to be asked to assist him in a survey he was doing in the late 1980s. And he invited me to his house and shared his family and his meal. By the way, he was a master chef. As my master’s degree ground to a conclusion, he supported and encouraged me and when the ‘land of farrin’ beckoned to seek doctoral studies, he wrote an overly flattering recommendation. Had I not known him to be the most (and perhaps only truly ) honest man in the University of the West Indies (UWI), it would seem like a news release coming from our political leaders regarding Trafigura or Manatt.
Halfway through my studies after being apprised of my progress, he, being pleased with the news, offered me the job at UWI on the distinct condition that the PhD was to be completed within the two years of the contract. And the rest is …sociology. Back at UWI, this Dean encouraged me in all aspect of my life, “how is the research Orville?” “Are the publications coming out?” What’s happening with the painting” you can’t allow your art to die you know.”
Then came the vote of confidence and invitations to participate in forums he was associated with, and at times the request to (poorly) substitute for him when he was unable to attend events. Sometimes this was across international lines.
His work is often referenced in mine. As a bald-headed man who ‘appreci-loves’ Rastafari ,Chevannes’ is axiomatic. We both embrace our blackness and Jamaicanness and thank Rastafari for keeping the African spirit alive. When will government pay attention to his findings from the Ganja Commission? Read his Learning to be a Man and get a better insight into the genesis and current ‘dymanics’ on the Jamaican male, than Edith Clarke’s My Mother who Fathered Me, a book which most Jamaicans reference but don’t ever read, but cite when they denigrate Jamaican men.
Can you imagine the joy I experienced when the one person out of thousands at UWI who I chose to be my friend and mentor and who embraced me as his ‘son’ in the academy turned out to be my biological cousin? We discovered this in 2001.
With great pride I saw his more recent study on Jamaican fatherhood vindicated, despite our being besieged by a pair of prominent feminists at a forum in St Ann in 2006, where he demonstrated that the stereotypical ‘wutliss’ man, who is absent from his child’s life is not the norm but the exception. Just months ago the Registrar General Department (RGD) boasted that its initiative has led to 70 percent of new fathers having their names on their children’s ‘age papers’ within hours of birth. Of course, proudly referring to Prof, I asked the RGD on national radio if we suddenly found fathers out of the woodworks. An apology to him is not yet forthcoming. Touché Barry!
My last act of pinch-hitting for him was to a group of PhD Public Health students, just three days before him falling ill. It was a pleasure to do so once again. Hopefully I won’t disappear in the unfillable gap he left.
When I wrote for the Gleaner between 2004 and 2008 he encouraged me and said “I love the space and niche you have carved out for yourself. Don’t stop.” Well… He pushed me for an explanation for my decision to cease but I never relented. Prof said “Orville, most times you have to be a bigger man.” Well Barry you are right. But no matter how much bigger I get, I will always look up to you.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Stated Emergency or Emergence of State
A declaration of a state of emergency automatically leads to a decline in crime. Tell me if there is anyone who is so dumb as to believe this. Does the trip to the doctor by itself make one better? Of course, my colleague and bredren from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Prof. Ian Boxill conducted a poll on behalf of my other employer, RJR communication group. Overwhelmingly, Jamaicans, when asked in May, were in favour of its imposition. Duh! Boxill’s and the internet RJR straw poll indicate strong support as well, with more than 70 percent of respondents saying, extend it. It would have been interesting to see if anyone was concerned about the public’s opinion regarding the delay by the government in extraditing Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
Playing Politics
Another esteemed academic, Professor Don Robotham, the first person to be blamed for my being a sociologist, excoriates the opposition Peoples’ National Party (PNP) over its cowardice in that “They did not even have the guts to come out and vote against a state of emergency to which they were clearly opposed. Instead they 'abstained.’ ” Doubtless, I agree with him on that point because it seemed to be decisive indecisiveness. When the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) brought the request to extend it to Parliament, not being convinced that the circumstances merited it, the people who took money from Trafigura and still have not given full disclosure, should have voted ‘no.’ He cites ulterior and even sinister motives and I have little to fault him there. After all, politicians do politics and both parties have benefited from the repugnance of having garrisons and lumpenproletarians under their direction. That is what we know as “dutty politics.”
Correlation but not Causation
However, Robotham is a social scientist and he attributes much to the state of emergency. “[A] whopping 49 per cent reduction, as a result of the state of emergency… 78 fewer persons were shot in June 2010, as compared to the 170 in May 2010, a reduction of 46 per cent… reported rapes decreased by eight, from 48 in May 2010 to 39 in June 2010, a decrease of 23 per cent.” In our discipline we call that a correlation, which does not necessarily mean causation. Sorry Don, it is not that simple, tell me what happened during the state of emergency that led to the decline in crime.
Deterrents to Crime
The most effective deterrent against crime is the likelihood that one will be caught. When I first wrote on the topic of the death penalty during my sojourn with the Gleaner this point was well made. Less than ¼ of all homicides result in an arrest, and the rate of conviction is somewhere in the same range. Simply put therefore, typically one literally “gets away with murder,” in this country.
The next question thus, is “how come they don’t get apprehended?” That has to be a combination of policing and community cooperation. An editorial on the RJR news website dated June 22, 2010, hit the nail on the head. I don’t speak for my broadcast company and I carry no brief for the news room. Nonetheless, the commentary is spot on. “should the security forces be given the air, sea, protective gear, vehicles, computer systems, intelligence gathering surveillance equipment, training and operational facilities that they need?” Ask Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, former head of both the army and the police and he will tell you how he unsuccessfully pleaded for the tools to do his job.
Powers of the Security Forces
Since 1994, the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act has allowed the police to do a large numbers of things, such as launching curfews. This they could do without telling the public. They could hold persons of interest, process them, search without warrants and restrict movement, just like a state of emergency. However, curfews require the permission of the Minister of National Security when there is no state of emergency. Thus, information can be allegedly passed from him, indirectly or directly, to any politically affiliated don….hmm! Maybe we should have one. Furthermore, the army, without the police or minister’s interference, can drop searches or curfews around the mayor’s, JLP General Secretary’s or Leader of Opposition’s houses. Actually, I like that. I bet that they the soldiers don’t even have to hand over spent shells to the police. Whoever might or not be in his cabinet, the soldiers can “drop it pon dem without warning!”
The Incursion into Tivoli
On May 24, interestingly named Labour Day, the military and police did what many thought was impossible. They went into Tivoli Gardens, crushed whatever opposition there was, and without a protective Member of Parliament to stop the innocent victims from being slaughtered, as was warned by Attorney Tom Tavares Finson, routed the thugs.
Emboldened by either a delusion about their own hype or strength, criminal elements had the misguided view that they could “hold off the army.” Barricades were erected; booby traps, armaments and personnel were stocked up. I could not help but remember the song Scallawa Squami by Baby Wayne, who dared, “How you fi dis Scallawa Squami, man who a fight so much time wid di army.” Of course Baby Wayne was a crackhead, totally divorced from reality.
Garrison Mumma
Nevertheless, it is tempting to believe that something must have made them feel that Tivoli was either impregnable or that the order would never be given to export the President or even to enter in pursuit of his cronies. After all, their would-be nemesis, Lewin, the declarer that Tivoli was, “Garrison Mumma,” had been unceremoniously removed. Furthermore, for the better part of a year, the JLP/Government had pulled out all the stops, including those holding up its credibility and the truth, to prevent the exportation of Coke.
Significance of the Incursion
Let’s be honest, it was the incursion into Tivoli and the clear message to those who attack law and order, that made the difference. Increased security personnel on the streets and more protective gear for them, allowed more soldiers and police to be on patrol. Without Tivoli there is no place where criminals can feel that there is any refuge. Ask Presi Coke himself what is the solution to the homicides. He Al-legedly told the Holy Transporter that reducing the supply of bullets is the key. Well, we don’t produce bullets or guns and most of them are imported, ironically from the USA, the country of the Commissioner of Customs, via the wharves…..Located where?
State of Emergency 1976
Still, as we talk of the state of emergency we seem to forget that the 1976 travesty of the PNP did not lead to a reduction in violent crime. On the contrary, it saw an increase in murders from just over 200 for 1975/76 to 388 for 1976/77 and serious trampling on human rights. By the way, now Prime Minister Bruce Golding did remind us of this seven years ago and said, “so often the police detain scores of people who are first locked up then "processed" and later released. Why? Because the police have no evidence on which to charge them. Under the Thomas-Robotham plan, the police would simply detain and lock up. No need for any "processing"! No need for any evidence! No need for any trial! The gates are flung wide open for corrupt policemen to "deal with" individuals with whom they have a dispute and for a corrupt government to "deal with" its political opponents with whom it always has a dispute.” He continued, “The atrocities that were perpetrated by the government in the state of emergency of 1976 must never be allowed to happen again! They will never be allowed to happen again.” Tell me, what apart from the administration, has changed to give us this assurance?
What is an Emergency?
An emergency is an abnormal event, not a process. It is something that has a short duration. It is that period when our adrenaline kicks in because we have a big dog chasing us or a duppy is trying to drag us into the dark. When we are in that state our hearts race, blood sugar and pressure rise. However, if sustained, it kills us.
Legal Basis for State of Emergency
A state of emergency is not to be declared frivolously. Under Section 26 (5) of the Constitution, whatever might be public sentiment, it can only be lawfully declared if “…a public emergency has arisen as a result of the imminence of a state of war between Jamaica and a foreign state or as a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence, … infectious disease or other calamity ...”
Also if “… action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person or body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of supplies or services essential to life.”
The latter occurred on Sunday May 23, 2010 and ostensibly ended with the capture of Dudus on June 22, 2010. Search the law above and tell me if a state of emergency could be now be legally maintained.
Support the Police
True, the police and military would like more power to do their work. However, this is not a military or police state, held under their boots and parliament cannot simply be a “lubricated conduit.” In any event how many times have the police got what they wished for?
Let’s use the laws at our disposal and give the police full support.
Playing Politics
Another esteemed academic, Professor Don Robotham, the first person to be blamed for my being a sociologist, excoriates the opposition Peoples’ National Party (PNP) over its cowardice in that “They did not even have the guts to come out and vote against a state of emergency to which they were clearly opposed. Instead they 'abstained.’ ” Doubtless, I agree with him on that point because it seemed to be decisive indecisiveness. When the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) brought the request to extend it to Parliament, not being convinced that the circumstances merited it, the people who took money from Trafigura and still have not given full disclosure, should have voted ‘no.’ He cites ulterior and even sinister motives and I have little to fault him there. After all, politicians do politics and both parties have benefited from the repugnance of having garrisons and lumpenproletarians under their direction. That is what we know as “dutty politics.”
Correlation but not Causation
However, Robotham is a social scientist and he attributes much to the state of emergency. “[A] whopping 49 per cent reduction, as a result of the state of emergency… 78 fewer persons were shot in June 2010, as compared to the 170 in May 2010, a reduction of 46 per cent… reported rapes decreased by eight, from 48 in May 2010 to 39 in June 2010, a decrease of 23 per cent.” In our discipline we call that a correlation, which does not necessarily mean causation. Sorry Don, it is not that simple, tell me what happened during the state of emergency that led to the decline in crime.
Deterrents to Crime
The most effective deterrent against crime is the likelihood that one will be caught. When I first wrote on the topic of the death penalty during my sojourn with the Gleaner this point was well made. Less than ¼ of all homicides result in an arrest, and the rate of conviction is somewhere in the same range. Simply put therefore, typically one literally “gets away with murder,” in this country.
The next question thus, is “how come they don’t get apprehended?” That has to be a combination of policing and community cooperation. An editorial on the RJR news website dated June 22, 2010, hit the nail on the head. I don’t speak for my broadcast company and I carry no brief for the news room. Nonetheless, the commentary is spot on. “should the security forces be given the air, sea, protective gear, vehicles, computer systems, intelligence gathering surveillance equipment, training and operational facilities that they need?” Ask Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, former head of both the army and the police and he will tell you how he unsuccessfully pleaded for the tools to do his job.
Powers of the Security Forces
Since 1994, the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act has allowed the police to do a large numbers of things, such as launching curfews. This they could do without telling the public. They could hold persons of interest, process them, search without warrants and restrict movement, just like a state of emergency. However, curfews require the permission of the Minister of National Security when there is no state of emergency. Thus, information can be allegedly passed from him, indirectly or directly, to any politically affiliated don….hmm! Maybe we should have one. Furthermore, the army, without the police or minister’s interference, can drop searches or curfews around the mayor’s, JLP General Secretary’s or Leader of Opposition’s houses. Actually, I like that. I bet that they the soldiers don’t even have to hand over spent shells to the police. Whoever might or not be in his cabinet, the soldiers can “drop it pon dem without warning!”
The Incursion into Tivoli
On May 24, interestingly named Labour Day, the military and police did what many thought was impossible. They went into Tivoli Gardens, crushed whatever opposition there was, and without a protective Member of Parliament to stop the innocent victims from being slaughtered, as was warned by Attorney Tom Tavares Finson, routed the thugs.
Emboldened by either a delusion about their own hype or strength, criminal elements had the misguided view that they could “hold off the army.” Barricades were erected; booby traps, armaments and personnel were stocked up. I could not help but remember the song Scallawa Squami by Baby Wayne, who dared, “How you fi dis Scallawa Squami, man who a fight so much time wid di army.” Of course Baby Wayne was a crackhead, totally divorced from reality.
Garrison Mumma
Nevertheless, it is tempting to believe that something must have made them feel that Tivoli was either impregnable or that the order would never be given to export the President or even to enter in pursuit of his cronies. After all, their would-be nemesis, Lewin, the declarer that Tivoli was, “Garrison Mumma,” had been unceremoniously removed. Furthermore, for the better part of a year, the JLP/Government had pulled out all the stops, including those holding up its credibility and the truth, to prevent the exportation of Coke.
Significance of the Incursion
Let’s be honest, it was the incursion into Tivoli and the clear message to those who attack law and order, that made the difference. Increased security personnel on the streets and more protective gear for them, allowed more soldiers and police to be on patrol. Without Tivoli there is no place where criminals can feel that there is any refuge. Ask Presi Coke himself what is the solution to the homicides. He Al-legedly told the Holy Transporter that reducing the supply of bullets is the key. Well, we don’t produce bullets or guns and most of them are imported, ironically from the USA, the country of the Commissioner of Customs, via the wharves…..Located where?
State of Emergency 1976
Still, as we talk of the state of emergency we seem to forget that the 1976 travesty of the PNP did not lead to a reduction in violent crime. On the contrary, it saw an increase in murders from just over 200 for 1975/76 to 388 for 1976/77 and serious trampling on human rights. By the way, now Prime Minister Bruce Golding did remind us of this seven years ago and said, “so often the police detain scores of people who are first locked up then "processed" and later released. Why? Because the police have no evidence on which to charge them. Under the Thomas-Robotham plan, the police would simply detain and lock up. No need for any "processing"! No need for any evidence! No need for any trial! The gates are flung wide open for corrupt policemen to "deal with" individuals with whom they have a dispute and for a corrupt government to "deal with" its political opponents with whom it always has a dispute.” He continued, “The atrocities that were perpetrated by the government in the state of emergency of 1976 must never be allowed to happen again! They will never be allowed to happen again.” Tell me, what apart from the administration, has changed to give us this assurance?
What is an Emergency?
An emergency is an abnormal event, not a process. It is something that has a short duration. It is that period when our adrenaline kicks in because we have a big dog chasing us or a duppy is trying to drag us into the dark. When we are in that state our hearts race, blood sugar and pressure rise. However, if sustained, it kills us.
Legal Basis for State of Emergency
A state of emergency is not to be declared frivolously. Under Section 26 (5) of the Constitution, whatever might be public sentiment, it can only be lawfully declared if “…a public emergency has arisen as a result of the imminence of a state of war between Jamaica and a foreign state or as a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence, … infectious disease or other calamity ...”
Also if “… action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person or body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of supplies or services essential to life.”
The latter occurred on Sunday May 23, 2010 and ostensibly ended with the capture of Dudus on June 22, 2010. Search the law above and tell me if a state of emergency could be now be legally maintained.
Support the Police
True, the police and military would like more power to do their work. However, this is not a military or police state, held under their boots and parliament cannot simply be a “lubricated conduit.” In any event how many times have the police got what they wished for?
Let’s use the laws at our disposal and give the police full support.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Rear Admirable
The Admiral lied! There is no way that the hyper pigmented Security Minister Dwight Nelson could have turned pale on being advised about the impending extradition request for Michael Christopher “Dudus” Coke. However, that is where my incredulity ends. I have yet to prove Hardley Lewin a liar but there are countless reasons to question the veracity of anything the little men in green say. After all the truth seems so alien to them they could very well be from Mars.
Extradition request
Here are facts. The American authorities made the request in August 2009. Before the government or Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), (and even the Prime Minister/Party leader doesn’t know them different) could respond, the shadiness began. From Venus, the lady Attorney General/Minister of Justice should have responded. Nothing came from the lady planet. In two shakes of a duck’s tale, attorneys Manatt, Phelps and Phillips were contracted. By September 18 they somehow got the impression, all by their learned selves, that they were being engaged by the government of Jamaica and not the JLP. Oh,the diplomatic note was sent from Mars to the US seeking additional information.
Speaking in Strange Languages
Of course, Prime Minister Golding had declared almost four years earlier, as he chided the Peoples’ National Party (PNP) over the despicable Trafigura matter, that the Government and ruling party have no separate identity. So then, the JLP and the government should have been speaking the same Martian right? Well, Lady Venus was not speaking and the generally unintelligible “communications” minister was clearly speaking another language. In declaring that the government had no relationship with the law firm Minister Vaz was accused by Jamaican attorney and firm backer of the JLP, Harold Brady of either being “daft or needs to have his head examined!” Clearly Brady knew something which Vaz should have but maybe one was speaking the language of Venus and the other, the language of Uranus.
Unmoved but Fishy
Public pressure grew and there were calls to have the courts determine if Coke should be sent. But the Driver kept course and the Minister of Justice refused to be rocked or swayed. Indeed, her objection to signing the order for the export of Coke seemed perfectly logical. Solicitor General’s advice was that she shouldn’t because the evidence was tainted due to Constable X doing, what Lewin later revealed to be perfectly lawful. Note, Lewin was Constable X’s (now re-named “Red Herring”) ultimate senior officer. Well named, because by the second paragraph of this column it was obvious that something was fishy.
Legally Sound but Swayed
Given what was public knowledge, I supported Justice Minister Lightbourne from a legal standpoint, because the only way in which she could have sent the matter for the courts to determine, was if she already declared that he should be extradited and thus signed it. Then, appropriately in the week leading up to “Labour Day” she signed. No new legal information was presented up to today. Yet in the Senate she declared that she was influenced by public sentiments "It was clear that the public- interest concerns had become paramount and compelling and that this required exercising my discretion so as to at least diminish and/or allay those concerns," What???!!! So all the legal arguments went out the window! So much for the unflappable Attorney General, who operates only on legal facts.
A weak apology but limited disclosure, left us feeling “dissed” with no closure. Thus, Driver re-started the vehicle, declared a state of emergency and continued his journey. Now, 73 civilians, two policemen, a prominent upper-St Andrew resident and a soldier later, it was all for naught.
Conspiracy?
In an interesting about-face, there is a declaration of war on criminality and commerce minister, Karl Sam(fie)Muda, who conspired with the Prime Minister and other Labourites to mislead the people, is attempting along with Driver and the eloquent Vaz, to wear halos. So mek mi ask dem, “What is the new information which led the JLP/government to sign the order? Unoo nah tell we how, Manatt dem get the impression dat dem did a deal wid the government? Who lied? Mantt et al, Brady or Vaz?”
Perversion of Intelligence
Something insidious and reprehensible took place in the entire affair as it looks that somebody, who sought to prevent Coke being sent to the United States (US), was perverting not only the course of justice but the entire system of common morals and most of all, my intelligence.
Ironically, a driver, who is daft and needs to have his head examined, was arrested while trying to do exactly what the JLP/government was trying to avoid for an entire year: send Coke to the US. Yet these hypocrites without moral rectitude, refused to ask him to step aside. Did you know that under the Public Service Regulations 1961, public officers are typically interdicted on partial pay while facing criminal charges? Never in my 30 years of public service have I seen any variation of this. But then again, no government has ever compromised itself as much in defence of an area don.
Gag order
More than 70 persons died in vain and the government hints at lawsuits against Lewin? Citing the Official Secrets Acts, which must be guiding the JLP, Nelson is seeking to gag the admiral. Like Monica who could end up being their Lewin-sky, he refused to keep his mouth shut. Lewin said Tivoli was the “Mother of all Garrisons.” Ticky! He had given the crime portfolio to his eventual successor while Commissioner. Thus, any blame for the lack of success was his too. Nelson can speak but he cannot talk, because he was Minister of National Security and much of what Lewin sought and the cops are still clamouring for, was not provided. They were under equipped to take on Tivoli and even Lewin’s former charges, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) had to “tun han mek fashion”
Full Revelation Please
Attacking the Admiral is not the same as the full revelation that we need in this debacle. Dwight is too bright to make any further mistakes beyond that with the English language as he attacked a “revengeful” Lewin. All of Jamaica knows that the Labourites were behind Coke up to the few days leading to the signing of the order. Does Nelson really think that the lack of proof that the “Presi” was in deep communication with them vindicates them?
I Hardley think so.
Extradition request
Here are facts. The American authorities made the request in August 2009. Before the government or Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), (and even the Prime Minister/Party leader doesn’t know them different) could respond, the shadiness began. From Venus, the lady Attorney General/Minister of Justice should have responded. Nothing came from the lady planet. In two shakes of a duck’s tale, attorneys Manatt, Phelps and Phillips were contracted. By September 18 they somehow got the impression, all by their learned selves, that they were being engaged by the government of Jamaica and not the JLP. Oh,the diplomatic note was sent from Mars to the US seeking additional information.
Speaking in Strange Languages
Of course, Prime Minister Golding had declared almost four years earlier, as he chided the Peoples’ National Party (PNP) over the despicable Trafigura matter, that the Government and ruling party have no separate identity. So then, the JLP and the government should have been speaking the same Martian right? Well, Lady Venus was not speaking and the generally unintelligible “communications” minister was clearly speaking another language. In declaring that the government had no relationship with the law firm Minister Vaz was accused by Jamaican attorney and firm backer of the JLP, Harold Brady of either being “daft or needs to have his head examined!” Clearly Brady knew something which Vaz should have but maybe one was speaking the language of Venus and the other, the language of Uranus.
Unmoved but Fishy
Public pressure grew and there were calls to have the courts determine if Coke should be sent. But the Driver kept course and the Minister of Justice refused to be rocked or swayed. Indeed, her objection to signing the order for the export of Coke seemed perfectly logical. Solicitor General’s advice was that she shouldn’t because the evidence was tainted due to Constable X doing, what Lewin later revealed to be perfectly lawful. Note, Lewin was Constable X’s (now re-named “Red Herring”) ultimate senior officer. Well named, because by the second paragraph of this column it was obvious that something was fishy.
Legally Sound but Swayed
Given what was public knowledge, I supported Justice Minister Lightbourne from a legal standpoint, because the only way in which she could have sent the matter for the courts to determine, was if she already declared that he should be extradited and thus signed it. Then, appropriately in the week leading up to “Labour Day” she signed. No new legal information was presented up to today. Yet in the Senate she declared that she was influenced by public sentiments "It was clear that the public- interest concerns had become paramount and compelling and that this required exercising my discretion so as to at least diminish and/or allay those concerns," What???!!! So all the legal arguments went out the window! So much for the unflappable Attorney General, who operates only on legal facts.
A weak apology but limited disclosure, left us feeling “dissed” with no closure. Thus, Driver re-started the vehicle, declared a state of emergency and continued his journey. Now, 73 civilians, two policemen, a prominent upper-St Andrew resident and a soldier later, it was all for naught.
Conspiracy?
In an interesting about-face, there is a declaration of war on criminality and commerce minister, Karl Sam(fie)Muda, who conspired with the Prime Minister and other Labourites to mislead the people, is attempting along with Driver and the eloquent Vaz, to wear halos. So mek mi ask dem, “What is the new information which led the JLP/government to sign the order? Unoo nah tell we how, Manatt dem get the impression dat dem did a deal wid the government? Who lied? Mantt et al, Brady or Vaz?”
Perversion of Intelligence
Something insidious and reprehensible took place in the entire affair as it looks that somebody, who sought to prevent Coke being sent to the United States (US), was perverting not only the course of justice but the entire system of common morals and most of all, my intelligence.
Ironically, a driver, who is daft and needs to have his head examined, was arrested while trying to do exactly what the JLP/government was trying to avoid for an entire year: send Coke to the US. Yet these hypocrites without moral rectitude, refused to ask him to step aside. Did you know that under the Public Service Regulations 1961, public officers are typically interdicted on partial pay while facing criminal charges? Never in my 30 years of public service have I seen any variation of this. But then again, no government has ever compromised itself as much in defence of an area don.
Gag order
More than 70 persons died in vain and the government hints at lawsuits against Lewin? Citing the Official Secrets Acts, which must be guiding the JLP, Nelson is seeking to gag the admiral. Like Monica who could end up being their Lewin-sky, he refused to keep his mouth shut. Lewin said Tivoli was the “Mother of all Garrisons.” Ticky! He had given the crime portfolio to his eventual successor while Commissioner. Thus, any blame for the lack of success was his too. Nelson can speak but he cannot talk, because he was Minister of National Security and much of what Lewin sought and the cops are still clamouring for, was not provided. They were under equipped to take on Tivoli and even Lewin’s former charges, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) had to “tun han mek fashion”
Full Revelation Please
Attacking the Admiral is not the same as the full revelation that we need in this debacle. Dwight is too bright to make any further mistakes beyond that with the English language as he attacked a “revengeful” Lewin. All of Jamaica knows that the Labourites were behind Coke up to the few days leading to the signing of the order. Does Nelson really think that the lack of proof that the “Presi” was in deep communication with them vindicates them?
I Hardley think so.
What’s in a Name?
Enjoy this one
My mother is a dressmaker and her name is Taylor. She was literate early and her maiden name is Reid. Never mind Junior. Michael is a cut above the rest at RJR and he is Sharpe, Sport Commentary loves to cuss and he is Tracey. Another more famous Michael took many a woman and he was Manley.
Usain Bolt is fast but Asafa is said to lack toughness, never mind Tyson…hmmmm. Walter Dix is short. Carmeleta Jeter is supersonic. Outstanding 800 metre runner Abubaker Kaki only does well when he runs by himself and he cannot stand up through the rounds. Imagine, Tirunesh, from the country Rastafari call Jah Jah land, is Dibaba.
In politics little of what Vaz says holds water but Tufton is anything but. Poor Webhy could not untangle the finances of his minister. A Nelson is a crippling hold in wrestling but more common is the deceptive Half-Nelson. Millers grind seeds into ‘dus.’ Nevertheless, Chuck is parked in the speaker’s seat. Ronnie 2/8th is firmly quartered in the back benches. Know anything about Andrew Gallimore?…I know of his father. Still I believe Bobby is a closer relative because I cannot imagine any "man tek you."
Welcome back Caster Semenya
My mother is a dressmaker and her name is Taylor. She was literate early and her maiden name is Reid. Never mind Junior. Michael is a cut above the rest at RJR and he is Sharpe, Sport Commentary loves to cuss and he is Tracey. Another more famous Michael took many a woman and he was Manley.
Usain Bolt is fast but Asafa is said to lack toughness, never mind Tyson…hmmmm. Walter Dix is short. Carmeleta Jeter is supersonic. Outstanding 800 metre runner Abubaker Kaki only does well when he runs by himself and he cannot stand up through the rounds. Imagine, Tirunesh, from the country Rastafari call Jah Jah land, is Dibaba.
In politics little of what Vaz says holds water but Tufton is anything but. Poor Webhy could not untangle the finances of his minister. A Nelson is a crippling hold in wrestling but more common is the deceptive Half-Nelson. Millers grind seeds into ‘dus.’ Nevertheless, Chuck is parked in the speaker’s seat. Ronnie 2/8th is firmly quartered in the back benches. Know anything about Andrew Gallimore?…I know of his father. Still I believe Bobby is a closer relative because I cannot imagine any "man tek you."
Welcome back Caster Semenya
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Re-Awakening
It's been a while but like the Phoenix I shall return in a few days. It does sound PJ and Portiaesque but the line is sort of original. Look out for the unbiased commentary regarding the USA vs Jamaica.
Of course, it is the hottest topic and the dus' is still blowing. However, things are a bit confused because the USA wants US to export Coke but there is resistance from the green. How confused is the world. It is even likely that a few green plants might be uprooted and shipped to the land of the spangled banner. Not only potted plants although those in vases are easier to go.
In the meantime join me along with the other thousands of Jamaicans in another USA vs Jamaica saga... the Penn relays. It is not known how large the supporters will be because only Jamaicans with American passports will feel comfortable. Undocumented, underdocumented and 'visitors' will hold on to their Master cards because visas are a scarce commodity. But then the athletes at Penn will try to beat the charge of the American Express.
There, Jamaicans run but not from justice. Backs are turned, but the baton is still passed and unless it is fumbled there is a logical conclusion.
Notice that the two 4x100 teams are Black and Gold ... no green.
More anon!
If you you are one of the first 12 persons to recognise me at Penn you will receive an RJR 94FM calender.
Join me on Wednesday April 28 on RJR 94FM 'Hot Line and North American listeners link up on the Hot Link 12:30 and 1:00. Squeeze from WVIP 93.5 Link Up Radio and I take calls from the Tri-State area. Ask me anything! It is where "The truth comes to live and the lies come to die."
Call 876-9262178, 876-9268631, 876-9267615. From North America call 1-888-317-2347
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Plane Truth: American Airlines’ Runway Super Muddle
Miracle on the Jamrock
Thank God, Praises to Allah, Tank yu Jah Jah! The AA overshot the runway, did not brake except for the break in the fence, and like a few politician, switched and landed on the opposite side of the road. Immediately, the image of a vehicle skidding off the asphalt conjures up thoughts of membership in another AA but let the ideas brew as we distill the details. Good news, just three weeks short of the anniversary of US Airways “Miracle on the Hudson” landing on January 15 2008.
My Near Miss
This is a story which is particularly close to me because the aircraft came down at a place that I was scheduled to pass, on my way to Morgan’s Harbour Hotel in Port Royal, where I was to join my RJR 94FM colleagues on an outside broadcast. Were it not for my tardiness and lethargy, my punctuality would have given me a first hand, high-definition, full impact account of the crash. At a minimum, I would have been stranded on the other side of the Port Royal Road for several hours. Start with the good news. With the exception of a few millilitres of body fluids and couple kilograms of fright-generated waste, nothing was lost. No fatalities! Call this not the miracle on the Hudson, but a miracle on another Rock. Jamrock!
Plane Specifications
Boeing 737-800s land and take off on the average at a ground speed of 250 kilometres (140 miles) per hour. This assumes a relatively full craft with some 150 passengers. Imagine the force of such an object weighing more than 60,000 kilograms.or around 132,000 pounds. Compare this to a motor car such as Usain Bolt’s crashed BMW M3 which tips the scale at a mere 1,400 kilos. An aircraft of that size and mass slamming into anything, including the sea, could easily mean its disintegration. Just imagine even being in a building just 18 feet off the ground on the second floor, falling. How come nobody died?
Early Reports
Reports are still preliminary; and your guess is as good as mine. Actually no! I was on the scene before the Ministers of Transport, Security and Information. Even the two former ‘shadow’ ministers were there in the dark, trying to get a first hand view. Here are the facts. It all started with flight American Airlines 331 leaving Washington DC via Miami and it ended with a few bumps off Runway 30 at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) on the old Palisadoes Peninsula.
Missed Landing
This craft, carrying 152 passengers, heading for sun and sea, appeared to land much too fast and took them to the beach much earlier than they expected. Three more metres from the nose takes you into water. The cause of the crash is not known and I reserve my judgement if not the pilot’s. However, one gets the impression that our neighbours to the north are struggling to find something peculiar about Jamaica that might have contributed significantly to the incident. American Airlines pilots, with hundreds of winter flights per year, in snow, sleet almost no visibility and ice, should not be overly daunted by tropical rain. Sometimes snowy landings are so common that they remind us that America is a White country. Okay! The flight landed at night in a Black country.
Requirements for Safe Landing
In order to have a safe landing 737-800s require up to 2,000 metres (7,000 feet) of asphalted runway, but can easily come to a halt in less. I took a first hand view of a few such planes touching down since Wednesday and saw so much runway left, we could divest part of it along with the national airline that the government is inexplicably refusing to sell to our pilots. For the record, Runway 30 has another 700 metres (2,000 feet) and our Air Jamaica pilots regularly land Airbus 320, essentially the same craft, on it. British Airways and Virgin pilots routinely land the bigger Boeing 747 in all kinds of conditions on the same ‘tiny’ unlit runway. Of course, if a pilot wants to make maximum use of the runway he has to avoid leaving half of it untouched, no matter how much he wants to evade contact with a black surface.
Tail Wind
Furthermore, one should always be mindful of the wind. In flight school student pilots are taught “never land with a tail wind.” However, in craft such as these airplanes, there is a maximum allowable trailing wind of 10 knots in most cases. Check the wind speed and direction at 10:00 pm on Tuesday December 22 from the Met Office or Air Traffic Information Service. 'Twas an ill wind that blew no good!
Rain
Nonetheless, we know that it was raining steadily. Some of the American reports give the impression that it was a major inundation, especially since two adults and a child had drowned hours earlier in Portland. Well let’s just get this straight! It rained continually for four days-meaning that it was not consistent. It was a deluge but do not self-delude into thinking that it was an impossible situation. In any event, Air Jamaica flight JM62 had landed in similar conditions just half an hour earlier. Furthermore, the tragedy in Portland, 50 miles away, is more the result of incomplete road work and not just the weather.
Missing Approach Lights
Never mind the accurate report from BusinessWeek magazine on Thursday that a 400-metre stretch of white lights over the sea was non-functioning for the last month. That is not a requirement; it merely assists pilots who, in any event, should be using their instruments. Notwithstanding that, they are obliged to have sight of the runway at least 200 feet above ground. If not; circle, next runway or next airport.
Inadequate Emergency Provision
Still, our post-crash response like King Belshazzar, was weighed and found wanting.
The Airport Authorities reported that they responded within 120 seconds. Passengers’ estimates are between 15 and 25 minutes. The truth lies somewhere in between and is perhaps mitigated by the speedy rescue by a father of one of the passengers and a 'sheroic'driver of a Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC)bus, who were just in the vicinity.
But, we did not have enough ambulances, fire trucks or medical personnel. Clearly, the enviable safety record of the Jamaican air transport system might have contributed to this complacency but it is no excuse. Imagine if the plane had exploded or many were critically injured. This must be a wake up call.
Air J to the World
Alas, travellers have found a new enthusiasm for Air Jamaica and its competent flight crew and don’t want it sold. With many passengers now scared of AA it should mean a tail windfall for Air J. But no. Any loss of the guaranteed number of seats to AA means that Jamaica’s government must pay it US$4.5 million, in a curious deal negotiated with Tourism Minister Ed ‘Boughtless.’ Guess what, the Air J CEO who closed down two Air J routes in the USA is the husband of an AA executive. He was employed to rivals before, worked with Air J, left for the competition and then came back to the not-so-fatted calf.
No explosion, but lots of smoke and more fire.
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