Only In Jamaica

I was told a story about an accident on Mount Rosser recently, which if it were not such a sad reflection on our attitudes and callousness to each other, would be very hilarious.

As seems a regular occurrence in that area, a truck's brakes failed and the driver tried desperately to bank it but ended up crashing and destroying a car and a part of a house. He and his sideman were severely injured in the accident.

As it comes to me, whenever trucks crash in that area, many residents move in quickly to pilfer whatever the truck is transporting while totally ignoring the fate of the injured.

This they set out to do at this accident also, only problem is that the truck was empty as it had delivered the goods to St. Ann was returning.

As the driver and sideman lay on the ground injured and in need of assistance, I understand they were severely abused by some citizens for crashing an "EMPTY TRUCK!"

Of course they had no words of sympathy either for those who lost their  vehicle and had their home damaged,  as I understand they too were very distraught. Their one and only concern was that they had found nothing to pilfer!

I keep hoping against hope this report is not true but based on the actions of so many persons at accident scenes in this pathetic country recently,  I am really finding it difficult to dismiss this report.

THE REAL FREELOADERS

The latest scandal in this beautiful country of  ours is the cutting off of electrify by the Jamaica Public Service  (JPS) to some of their legal, legitimate customers who are unfortunate enough to reside in some of the notorious garrison communities.

Among the comments you hear from those trying to justify JPS's actions is that most people who live in those communities are free loaders who take what they cannot pay for as they figure  society owes it them. This  may be true to a certain extent, but who are the real freeloaders?

 In my book, it is not so much residents in those areas but the members of parliament who do not live in the areas they "represent"  but who are the the real beneficiaries of garrison politics. For in these garrisons, although most residents may get free water, free light and free homes, they have to give up a great deal of their personal freedoms  for these benefits, which may be free to them but not to us the taxpayers and consumers of electricity.

The real freeloaders get to enjoy the great benefits that come with being a representative in parliament without ever having to do a day of campaigning,  for the  party support has been solidified over time  and constantly maintained by the gunmen aligned to the parties.

 Because of the structure of these constituencies, the representatives have to do absolutely nothing  to improve the lot of the residents and although from time to time you are assaulted by their pompous pronouncements about the many "....decades they have spent serving the people",  when you visit these areas,  you often see people living in conditions not fit for humans.

As far as the JLP and PNP are concerned, these garrison constituencies are however top prizes to be awarded  to the senior and elite of their parties as rewards for years of  service to their particular political club, with no concern about what the maintenance of these garrisons is doing to the country and the future of our children.

 In fact, it is totally disgraceful that in 2014, while we profile about being a democratic county, almost 25% of the constituencies can be described as garrisons or near garrisons.

Unfortunately for the JPS, they are the only private company that has to deal with the officially endorsed and encouraged theft that  comes with garrison politics as the "free"  houses and water comes straight out of the taxpayer's pockets without a peep from us.

I wonder how the outrageous action that the JPS felt forced to take, thus exposing to the world the illegal nature of  a large segment of our "democracy"  so the blessed ones can sit in parliament and become our representatives on the world stage, will  reflect on our reputation when those who compile the "ease of doing business"  do their next survey?

Tessane Chin to the world

Once again a great Jamaican, this time Tessanne Chin, has shone on the world stage and demonstrated once  more that Jamaicans are world beaters.

And now, once again, we will see the politicians jumping over each other to get on her bandwagon to try and benefit from her personal achievements, something in which they played no part.

Tessaane's success has again exposed for the world to see that it is only the poor leadership which has plagued this country since independence, that has brought us to where we are. For it is poor leadership that has put us on the top of the corruption and murder pile, destroying the potential of so many of our super talented people, while the cultist followers would have us honour those who have been the architects of our destruction.

For it is the garrison politicians and their willing collaborators in the two major parties, who have brought Jamaica to the criminal level that the country has sunk to, as the  garrisons are the crime incubators in which slavery is even being practiced today with the blessings of some of our so called leaders, present and past.

Tessane's success, did not come about only because of her natural talents, but because her talents were nurtured and most importantly, because Jamaicans at home and abroad, found something to rally around.

This is where leadership comes in, for with proper leadership, we at home and abroad can bond together and become world leaders in every possible area of life.

This is why I find this determination by some politicians to limit our potential, stifle our self respect, confidence and faith in ourselves by insisting that we have to hang on to the colonial  and parochial concept of Federation, now called Caricom, to succeed in this world, so counter-productive.

For if little Singapore without a tenth of our natural and human resources can become a world leader, whats stopping us?

The answer, poor leadership, has been clear for decades but are we really prepared to shake off the shackles of lethargy and continue to accept the leadership of those who limit us, as we go into the new year?

Despite the magnificent performance of the Tessanes, Shellies, Bolts and the unexposed talents of the thousands of young Jamaicans here, plus the obvious willingness of those in the diaspora to work with us to help us succeed,  I would not hold my breath, since there is real truth in the popular saying, "without vision the people will perish."

A Petty Bureaucrat

I had to reply to the Public Defender's letter in the Jamaican Observer, since his personal attack on me just confirmed what I always thought of him, ie. he is nothing but an ineffective petty bureaucrat.
The letter is below,.

I refer to the public defender's letter of December 5, "Public defender in his ackee, takes on Joan Williams, Al Miller". I won't bother to comment on his defense of his office, but with regard to his childish, unthinking and spurious suggestion that I provide employment for Mr Junior Christie (the man sentenced to three months for stealing 45 ackee) I have no vacancy at this time!

However, I live on the periphery of King's House and have often commented on the state of what appears to be hundreds of acres of idle land overgrown with weeds. Since King's House receives millions of dollars per year for the upkeep of the property from us taxpayers, may I suggest that the public defender Mr Earl Witter put a proposal to the governor general for the development of that vast property to provide employment for Mr Christie and so many others in need of work.

Policing in Jamaica

I am in total agreement with today's editorial in the Jamaican Observer but was inspired to write because of this one statement, ".....who from this distance seems hardly to have put a foot wrong since he took over leadership of the constabulary...", in reference to commissioner Ellington.

I am still puzzled how we made so many poor choices of commissioners over at least a decade, while there was someone of commissioner Ellington's apparent competence was right there in the force. In the meantime, hundreds of lives were lost because corruption reigned supreme and no sensible crime fighting strategy was developed or implemented for such a long time.

Now for the first time in years, we see the polls indicating that crime is no longer the main concern of Jamaican citizens.

It is indeed a breath a of fresh air and while crime and especially murders continue to keep us in the top five in the world, at least we are seeing good progress.

Congratulations to Commissioner Ellington who is demonstrating that with proper leadership, any organisation is capable of transformation.

Hopefully the kudos and awards that he is receiving will only inspire he and his team to do even better rather than allowing it to go to their heads.