"Corporate Alliance" where are you?

So I'm flipping through the channels looking for something mildly interesting to watch at 10:45 on Friday night, when I come across highlights of a recent fashion show on CVM. The girl dem look good (although nuff a dem mawga), so I stop for a few.

I'm nodding my head to the beat of the background music, when I realise that it's "Wait", by the Ying Yang Twins. Nice tune, but it's the unedited version.

Heh.

I wonder if the "corporate alliance" is going to threaten to boycott any event put on by the producers of the show, and boycott CVM for broadcasting the "offensive" material. It wasn't live, so they can't use that excuse.

I sent an email to Elaine Bryan, the programmes manager at CVM, advising her of the incident and asking her to review the material and let me know what actions will be taken. Anyone care to make a wager as to how long it'll take her to answer? Anyone?

The Sound of Silence

It was the night before the 15th and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. And then the 15th came... and went without fanfare or drama. Surprising? I think not.

The Private Sector Organisation who gave the ultimatum uttered not a word. The Prime Minister who is a man of calculated words had nothing to say. The Leader of the Opposition whom all would expect to say something considering that an election year is around the corner also had no comments. And are we surprised by this speechlessness from the leaders of this society? I think not.

There was however one thing that was clearly brought to the fore in this, that everyone had mud to sling and even the self righteous were brought low. Still the ripple effects of the problems continue the murder rate is now approaching 800 that would mean that within the space of 3 weeks over 100 people have died. Still we hear the deafening sound of silence. And the voices of the victims of crime and violence echo even more loudly in the silence. But what is the message that it sends to the rest of the nation? Apathy, fear, inertia, or just the calm before we storm the bastion of crime, corruption and immorality?

Well all voices returned when Asafa broke the 100 meter world record I am very proud of his accomplishments.

Thank God for sports. Do you think that maybe we could get another public holiday?
Oops... here we go again with the silence.

Bullshit CCN!!

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) has, once again, decided to stop releasing weekly crime statistics, ostensibly because of a heart attack suffered by the head of its statistics department. They'll still send out crime information three times a day, but will refrain from releasing weekly crime statistics.

Said Supt. Ramsay-Nelson, head of the CCN, "I think I have the responsibility to relieve the stress. We compile information and send out releases three times a day. Must we turn around at the end of the week and send the information back to you? Each newsroom has to develop its system to compile the information from now on."

I don't know what method the CCN uses to compile its info, but if the method which the rest of the police force uses is any indication, it probably involves a shit-load of hand written paper-work. I can just imagine the variation in figures produced by each newsroom. Maybe that's exactly what the JCF wants. Then they can just pick the lowest figure and work with it.

Here's an idea Supe, how about using a simple MS Excel workbook that'll calculate all those weekly, and yearly, statistics automatically from your daily entries? Anyone with rudimentary knowledge of Excel can set it up. Shit, I'd come do it for you for free.

How about "relieving the stress" on your statistics department that way, instead of witholding information from the country, or releasing it only to "media practitioners and persons who already had police approval"?

This whole story reeks of bullshit. It appears as if the CCN is just trying to contain the growing dissatisfaction of the general public at the skyrocketing crime rate by only releasing figures once a month, especially since this announcement comes after one of the worst months in Jamaica's history. 167 people were murdered in May 2005.

Find another solution Supe, this one is woefully inadequate.

Another one bites the dust

On May 29th, I wrote in praise of Mr. Laurence Heffes' apparently brave stand against extortionists. Unfortunately, what seemed to be a case of one man facing down extortionists with only his courage and unflinching stand as weapons seems to have dissolved into something far different. Apparently, Mr. Heffes has known Donald 'Zeeks' Phipps and his family since the early 1970's, and is the godfather of one of Zeek's daughters. For those of you who don't know, Zeeks is the "reputed" don of Matthews Lane, a PNP enclave in the middle of a JLP garrison. It has also come to light that Mr. Heffes' wife posted bail for Zeeks last year, claiming, quite rightly, that the posting of bail makes no presumption of guilt or innocence.

And now he's changing his fucking tune! If bailing Zeeks last year implied no presumption of innocence or guilt, Mr. Heffes, why wouldn't you bail him now, if asked? How is it a different ball game now? Perhaps you know something the rest of us don't about the "alleged activities"?

Didn't it ever occur to you that you could "run way" extortionists and help other businessmen deal with their problems because the extortionists knew of your close association with Zeeks, or were subsequently made aware of it???? I mean, come on dude! We were all under the impression that you made the stand with no "backative" other than your moral convictions. Having a don on your side kinda changes the fucking playing field, don't you think?

One man's fight.......yeah, right.

The talk continues.....

So our esteemed PM has now declared that all 36 PNP MP's will be required to sign the "Emancipation Park declaration". Good move PJ. I hope that those who don't sign, or those who sign but fail to live up to the declaration, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Oops, wait a minute, it isn't legally enforcable, is it? Well, I at least hope that the PM will treat it as if it were enforceable, and punish transgressions with the same harsh penalties brought against those MP's who fail to follow laws such as the one requiring them to declare their assets. No, scratch that, bad example.

Hmmm.....

Ok, I've got it! Any PNP MP who breaks his committment to the declaration should suffer the same fate as those PNP MP's or ministers who were involved in scandals. Yes, that's it. They should suffer the same punishment meted out to those who were involved in the zinc scandal, the furniture scandal, the shell waiver scandal.........hang on. Wasn't that last one PJ?

What's that you say?
Oh, he resigned.
But was elected PNP president less than a year later?
And sworn in as Prime Minister two days after being elected PNP president???

I guess the MP's have nothing to worry about.

Things Fall Apart

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold…
The best lack conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats

As the count down continues we see what appears to be the Public Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s initiative to fight crime in the country unraveling at the seams. Let us replay the focal points of this stance to see why the thread is thinning.

On the first day of the infamous protest the masses cried out that they were not in support of this movement why?

They too have been having crimes inflicted upon them for many years and the elites of the business sector did not seek to protest with them.
No one asked for their say in the top down approach to fighting crime.

The members of Parliament as well as the PSOJ debated that the masses were losing sight of the big picture and were not thinking of the country only of themselves. Point duly noted.

Next was the request that politicians disassociate themselves from criminals what was the outcome of this furor in the house.

Members of Parliament protested that politicians were being made scapegoats in the private sector's current protest against rising crime.
Legislators criticised the prime minister and the opposition leader for agreeing to a set of demands made by private sector leaders
Private sector has also done a lot to encourage criminality in this country.

The PSOJ and the masses could equally say that the members of parliament are also losing sight of the big picture and are thinking only of themselves.

The fact is as always that all parties have lost sight of the big picture. The big picture was never the escalating crime rate this was only a symptom of the bigger picture. The bigger picture has always been the erosion of the moral fabric of this society in the struggle for power and money.

At the risk of using clichés, when will we all see that the whole can become greater than the sum of the parts. We need to unite as a collective and attack this problem together. The big picture is not about the private sector jumping up to take the reigns and the glory of performing this feat that the state has been unable to do, it is not about the state failing to protect its citizens, it is not about the citizens who are now filled with a sense of apathy. It is about everyone saying “we have all sinned”. We have all contributed to the decadence and we are all going to work together to make the change.

The Time has come the Walrus Said to Speak of Many Things

“A New Era in Politics” was the headlines heralded in today’s Gleaner. There was a meeting of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) to discuss the strategies for combating the escalating crime rates in the country.

What were the outcomes of this discussion heralding the dawn of a new time?

A committee headed by the Political Ombudsman to begin implementing recommendations contained in the report on National Committee on Political Tribalism, (Kerr Report)

A Joint Select Committee on Security to consider further capacity enhancing measures as well as material support for the security forces.

Pardon my cynicism but this does not hit me as any new feat in the political arena. We have had committees from the dawn of Jamaican politics who have been commissioned to investigate and address the “crisis of the day” we have even had committees to investigate and monitor the committees that have been formed. What then differentiates these committees from their predecessors?

Could it be the fact that both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have agreed to have their elected Members of Parliament declare in writing their commitment not to knowingly associate with criminals, nor accept financial support from them?

If my memory has not failed me have we not seen these very same leaders of politics associating with criminals and then disavowing having any knowledge of the fact that these men that they associate with were criminals? Come on!

This is not a new era in politics this is old rhetoric. Let us not continue to dabble in insignificant ramblings. Let us not continue to treat the symptom and not the cause. Let us not be afraid to break the bones, even though it will hurt, in order for healing to take place. The time has come to speak out on what really is plaguing this country let us not waste it by delving in the ineffective syntax of yesterday.

Bill Clarke on "Impact"

Bill Clarke and Cliff Hughes had an interesting discussion tonight. Too bad Mr. Clarke skipped around the issue everyone wanted to hear him address, namely the response of the PM to Mr. Clarke's "failed state" comment. Cliff tried his best, but was unable to get Mr. Clarke to adequately defend his comment in the wake of PJ's observation that one the largest commercial banking conglomerates in the hemisphere mainitains Jamaica as a profit center (referring to the Bank of Nova Scotia, of which Mr. Clarke is the president and CEO), and, as such, how could Jamaica be a failed state? I was hoping that Mr. Clarke would have called the PM out on this, but I can understand his reluctance. Don't want to mess up the relationship between the PM and BNS, do we? Not when BNS has made in excess of JMD$1 billion profit for the first quarter of 2005. One must tread carefully. Maybe next time he'll be braver.

He did make some good points though. He raised the question of exactly who the PSOJ was demonstrating against, since the government and opposition announced their support for the initiative. Perhaps it was the criminals Mr. Clarke. They would certainly be moved to change their ways by an ineffectual demonstration, even though our politicians have not been so inclined thus far.

The "stand" against crime

It was heartening to read in today's Observer of businessmen who not only refuse to give in to the demands of extortionists, but also help other businessmen who have received letters demanding "protection money" or "donations to community activities" and have the balls to follow through by reporting it to the police and testifying . One hopes that Mr. Heffes' story will encourage other businesses to take a real stand against extortion. I wonder how long it'll take the government and opposition to pass legislation prescribing stiffer penalties for extortionists.

My mood was quickly darkened, however, at the bullshit emanating from the mouth of Sameer Younis, who stated that while he was against extortion, he would never encourage others not to pay because of the risk of them being killed. What...the....fuck?!?! This is exactly the attitude which allows the extortionists to thrive.

While we're at it Mr. Younis, perhaps we shouldn't encourage people to report police corruption, since they might be killed. Or to report drug trafficking. Or any other crime which may result in bodily harm coming to the person making the report. Let's all just do what is best for our "own conscience and safety" regardless of whether or not it's supporting illegal activites.


Only slightly better was the the bullshit from Bev Lopez. Mrs. Lopez's statements at a recent press conference seem to imply that she is the one who isn't living in the "real world". In the "real world", people unfortunately do get killed for standing up to criminals, no matter how good the police force is. While I agree with her view that the state has failed to protect the citizenry effectively, Mrs. Lopez must realize that no police force in the world can "ensure that there will be no repercussions" from the reporting of extortion. Extortion cannot be prosecuted without a specific report from the person being extorted. The charging of someone with extorting a specific business gives the criminals all the information they need to carry out a reprisal, if they so desire. Witholding cooperation in this matter from the police only serves to make the criminals bolder and the police weaker. So for all the rheotric, the stance of the PSOJ on extortion has come down to simply encouraging persons not to pay, rather than encouraging them to report it.

So, Mrs. Lopez, when businesses refuse to pay and an owner/staff member is attacked or killed, what then? There will be no police report on attempted extortion which could have been used to identify suspects. I suppose there'll be another outcry about the impotence of the police force.

On a lighter note, it seems as if the West Indies will finally win a test match! After sitting through many, many agonizing defeats, perhaps there's a glimmer of hope. Let's hope that it's the beginning of a reversal of fortune.

18 DAYS TO GO AND THE BUCK IS PASSING

Below are the responses of political representatives of Jamaica to the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) emancipation park declaration ultimatum. The declaration demanded that political representatives sever ties with gunmen and other criminal elements in their constituencies, and gave the politicians until June 15, 2005 to do so publicly. It also called for the dismantling of political garrisons.

Karl Samuda (JLP General Secretary)
"We are prepared to do all we can to reduce crime, but we do not want to be held responsible for what is really the responsibility of the elected government, and the nation ought not to lose sight of that fact."

Omar Davies (Finance Minister)
Omar Davies, whose South St Andrew seat is considered as one of the main garrisons of the governing People's National Party (PNP), said yesterday that he had taken concrete steps to de-tribalise his constituency, including bringing warring factions together in "Rema" and promoting peaceful interaction with their former enemy - Tivoli Gardens - through football matches and other initiatives.
"I have gone way beyond a letter, I have opened up the constituency."

Dr Karl Blythe (PNP vice president)
Dr. Blythe said that he had no known association with any criminals and therefore could not disassociate himself. Blythe, the MP for Western Westmoreland and a former water and housing minister, also sought to explain the context in which he attended the funeral of reputed gangster, Willie Haggart a few years ago.

"As a politician you meet and shake hands with many people but I have not knowingly formed any such association. You know I come from a rural constituency, I was introduced to Willie Haggart as an influential community person, I didn't know anything about his reputation as a somebody with shady associations. It is when he died that I started to hear all sorts of things," said Blythe.

Taken from the Jamaica Observer May 28, 2005.

Old Rhetoric

The PSOJ's 2005 Declaration of Emancipation Park contains nothing new. While I agree with all the points laid out in the declaration, various entities have been calling for these steps for years. What is different about this call? Does the PSOJ think that the government is going to make an about-face because of a half day shut-down?

I also find it interesting that the declaration contained this line: "Be it resolved that effective May 25, 2005, the citizens of Jamaica hereby unite to restore law, order and freedom from fear to our country." Has the PSOJ been talking to the man in the street? Do they realise that the overwhelming view is that this lockdown "only happen 'cause a big man dead....them no really care bout we." An initiative such as this cannot be successful if there is no groundswell of support from the average man.

The token gesture by Grace Kennedy of donating half a day's profit may serve to further alienate the average man from the PSOJ. Half a day's profit. Five million dollars. More money than the minimum-wage earning Jamaican will earn in 40 years, made in half a day. Why not contribute one day's profit a month? That'll only be 3.2% of the annual profit. A small price to pay to help get the country back on track.

There has to be much more of a sacrifice on the part of Jamaican corporations if they expect to garner a modicum of support at the grass-roots level. They have to show, in a meaningful, tangible way, that they are serious about tackling crime. Rhetoric and token gestures simply won't do.

The same goes for the statement issued by the Prime Minister. The government must lead by example, not by rhetoric. If only the PM got as worked up about crime and the current state of Jamaica as he did about the CCJ perhaps we'd be in a different situation today. The country is fed up of statements with no follow up.

What of the Fuel That Sustains the Revolution?

"The hypocrisy began at 1 pm" was one of the many catch phrases thrown around on the internet today describing the stance by the PSOJ of Jamaica to shutdown the business in Jamaica for half a day to protest the escalating crime rate in the country.

As the PSOJ takes the initiative to launch an attack against crime and violence in the country I laud the initiative and extend my support to such a valiant effort. I am concerned however by the fact that to date they have not voiced the strategies that are going to be used to maintain this fiery outburst which has as its catalyst the death of two business men who reside in May Pen.

Surely Iwould like to think that if the fuel required to keep the momentum was the death of the citizens of the country then there is no question that the fires of this movement will not go out. The fact that protesters held a mass rally in the heart of the capital to read the names of more than 650 people murdered since the start of the year attests to this fact.

But where was the outcry when the other 648 people died? Where was the PSOJ taking its stance for the masses that they now ask to support them whole heartedly in their venture.

We would like to hope that the fire that keeps this revolutionary movement going would not be the death of another affluent citizen in the country as 642 deaths later I am sure that the fire would be out.

The shutdown

The shutdown planned today by the PSOJ "to register the concern of the business sector over the deterioration of law and order in the country" is too little, too late. The call for the shutdown, coming as it did a few days after the brutal murder of two May Pen businessmen, seems more like a reflex reaction to murders so close to home than a genuine concern for the safety of the people of Jamaica. This, coupled with the apparent inability of the PSOJ and other entities to bring pressure to bear on politicians who sit in the front pews of area leaders' funerals to resign, area leaders whom many say were directly related to the crime which the PSOJ claims to be condemning, makes this gesture by the PSOJ woefully inadequate.

What is needed is not just a half-day lockdown, but a 24 hour shutdown of all businesses, schools, factories and churches. A march on the Prime Minister's office. A more vocal PSOJ, more vocal social entities. Vocal not only when one of their own is killed, but when any Jamaican, rich or poor, is murdered. The time for cozying up to the ineffective political and social leadership of this country is over.

Of fires and parents

The charge of child neglect brought against Devon Pinnock after the death of his two year old child seems woefully inadequate. This isn't a case where the child broke an arm or a leg because of his neglect. A two-year old child was burnt to death becuase Mr. Pinnock was next door selling cigarettes! WTF? Negligent homicide, defined as "the killing of another person through gross negligence or without malice" and "unintentional killing(s) in which the actor(s) should have known they were creating substantial and unjustified risks of death by conduct that grossly deviated from ordinary care", would have been much more appropriate, but there is no such provision under the 'Offences against the Person Act' .

Under the 'Child Care and Protection Act 2003', an adult who has custody, charge or care of a child and wilfully assaults, physically and mentally ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes a child to suffer any of the above can be fined up to $500,000 or imprisoned with hard labour.

They should lock him, and anyone else who leaves 2 and 4 year olds in a house unattended, up and throw away the key.