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.