Trump suffering from dementia!

 If ever there was a ‘Teflon don,’ it’s Donald Trump himself.

You know, a lot of us laughed when he declared in the 2016 campaign for president that he could kill a man on 5th Avenue and get away with it, but history has demonstrated that Trump knows his people. 

For while he has not actually killed anyone (that we know of), he has done just about everything else and gets away with it. 

He has used money that he collected for his foundation for his own use, refused to pay workmen and robbed those who enrolled in his Trump University, been an extreme racist, compromised the country's foreign policy with China after Ivanka received numerous copyrights from that country, used his expensive hotels to house secret service people guarding him at taxpayer's expense, is a super predator who had grabbed random women by their p*****, instigated an insurrection after trying to steal an election, tried to withhold funds from Ukraine unless they assisted him in dirty tricks for the 2020 elections and on and on. 

Name it and Trump has done it, but he retains unshakable support from most Christians and majority whites. 

I am watching this civil rape case brought by E. Jean Carrol with great interest.

Most likely she will not succeed but what has amazed me is how the media has virtually ignored his creeping dementia as revealed in this trial.  

As I said, he is covered in teflon, so while we all recognize that Biden is too old to run again, (Joan, my views: He is just too old! (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)  we often fail to point out that this also applies to Trump, as he is only four years younger than Biden and is far less mentally competent!

Where Trump's dementia surfaced dramatically again for the world to see, was in his deposition for this case. For, after claiming he didn't know his accuser, when he was shown a photo in which both she and he were quite clear, he misidentified his rape victim as his ex-wife Marla. 😅😅😅

In my book, this is clear evidence that his dementia is galloping!

KSAC a cesspool of corruption

I believe it was former US speaker, Tip O’Neil, who first publicly made the observation, “All politics is local.” That is certainly true and recently it appears that our PM Andrew Holness got the drift. For I heard in a newscast for 2022, where he said that, no matter how well the government is doing, what affects people most is that pothole at the front gate.

Well, I have literally and metaphorically had that pothole at my gate for decades and it’s is there because of the entrenched corruption at the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

While I could write a book about the potholes, I will bypass that today to deal with the rabid corruption which prevents the KSAC from enforcing the appropriate and severe laws concerning the building breaches in our city.

I was only reminded of our own years of frustration, on reading the comments by the judge involved in the case at 10 Roseberry Drive, where the development company, in full view of all, constructed 32 bedrooms on a property approved for just 12.

This exposure followed closely on similar breaches exposed at 17 Birdsucker Drive. These cases only came to public attention as a result of court action taken by private citizens.

In the Birdsucker case, the judge described the local government authority as a ‘sleeping watchdog’ and in the case of Roseberry, the judge intimated that she thought corruption was involved.

I certainly don’t consider the KSAC a sleeping watchdog, for I know that it is a cesspool of corruption, spanning many administrations and decades.

You will note that from the two addresses cited above, some degree of affluence by residents there can be assumed, which has enabled them to take these matters to the courts.

But that was not the case in places like Richmond Park, Eastwood Park and Bedford Park, where this so-called sleeping watchdog, allowed residential areas to be completely destroyed, despite the pleas of the citizens.

I can speak directly about Bedford Park, where one of the operators who illegally operated commercial businesses in the residential area, told members of the citizens association many years ago, “Mi hab money so oono caan move mi.”

Time has proven him perfectly correct, for despite the regular reports to the KSAC regarding the breaches, the number of illegal operators in the area simply increased and the roads destroyed, as they were not built to withstand commercial activity.

Every administration (PNP and JLP) at the KSAC received complaints from residents at Bedford Park over the decades, but as the problem only escalated, as the political operatives at this corrupt institution, just got richer before our very eyes.

In the latest case of the watchdog ‘sleeping’ while obvious building and operating breaches continued in full view, two employees have been sent on leave.

That will not solve the problem of corruption at the KSAC as that’s not the level where the problem is and certainly not where the buck stops.

The problem there is one of the inherent corruption and only the arrest and imprisonment of political operatives who are in charge, but who regard this institution as a private money tree, can deal with it.

 I wouldn’t hold my breath though, since politicians from both parties have demonstrated over the year what their only interest is, when they get elected to that lucrative institution.

Yes, it’s a new year, but very little will change in local governance in Kingston and probably around the entire island. As people become more disgusted with local governance, you will see even lower voter turnouts than the 37% in the last election for people have lost faith in the ability of politicians to play by the rules and serve the public interest, not only theirs.

Despite the recent court findings, that situation will never change and only bodes well only for those who support anarchy, badmanism and corruption.  

And no, I am no longer the eternal optimist.

 

 

Enforcement and corruption

 I don't mind if you consider me a prophetess of doom, but for decades I have been warning that corruption is going to be the death of our beautiful little country. And we seem to be right on the way, with the totally unnecessary spike in covid 19.

What do you think is mainly the cause of us not enforcing the myriad of laws that we have on the books to protect the society?

While it is quick and  easy and in many instances correct, to point fingers at the legendary and oft highlighted corruption in the police force, they are by no stretch of the imagination the only problem. 

For many politicians and bureaucrats at both local and central government level are just as corrupt. But none of them could succeed if,  we the people were not so selfish, have this deep love for shortcuts and so steeped in the entrenched practice of dropping money.

This national acceptance  of corruption is so visible and in your face as you enter our cities and towns, many of which are eye sores. Why? Mostly because those being paid to enforce our laws have no interest in doing their jobs but simply use their positions to enrich themselves.

In fact, I am here to tell you that the Town and Country Planning Act, only serves the interest of the enforcers.

This is a situation I know well, having resided in an area where the blatant disregard for this law has led to widespread commercialization which has not only destroyed the aesthetics but also the roads as well. For increased commercial activity causes a massive increase in  traffic, thus destroying the roads which are not maintained.

Bedford Park Avenue in St. Andrew North East,  is nothing but a series of potholes, due to traffic caused by commercialization.

The blatant infringement of this particular law in our community, has over the decades, been brought to the attention of just about every enforcer, be it, political representative, every town planner at the KSAC, every councilor and every mayor, to no avail. But as the first and main creator of that commercialization told the residents many decades ago, "mi have money suh nobady caan move mi". He has indeed been right, and his presence, growth and development has only caused others with the same mentality, to move in, pay who they must and live happily ever after while the community deteriorates.

Oh yes,  in my beleaguered country, most citizens, know exactly who to pay to look the other way so the laws cannot be enforced. And if you think the ever growing, dangerous and troubling problem of squatting on gully banks will every go away, think again for while it may not be a matter of making money, it is in the interest of politicians to have the regulations ignored so more garrison enclaves can be established.

Corruption here is so widespread and clearly acceptable, that even supposedly 'upstanding' citizens  think nothing of dropping money to get vehicles passed. This is something that often takes just about an hour to complete, for its a process which I have been doing at 'Swallowfied' for decades. But to some people who have no problem gossiping or participating in other time wasting and trifling activity, it is too much as, dem nuh hab time fi waste! So, they happily pay thousands of dollars to someone to get the documents stamped, without the vehicle ever being inspected.

This latest troubling spike in the spike in Covid 19, which now has now reached an alarming 18,527 cases, 368 deaths and hospitals being put under serious strain, is just the latest example of what happens because we refuse to enforce the rules.

I  have maintained, ever since the debate started, that locking down the country is a ridiculous solution as it is disastrous for the economy and pushes the vast majority of the Jamaican poor further into financial ruin and despair.

If we were serious about enforcing the protocols like hand washing, social distancing etc, we could learn  by now to survive effectively with this invisible enemy. In fact, although being in the vulnerable age group, I have continued doing most of what I love to do, because I make sure to take the necessary steps to protect my health and those with whom I must come into contact.

However, because of the lack of strict enforcement by the authorities (for whatever reason!) on those who refuse to follow the sensible protocols, we now see this frightening spike in the spread of the virus as delinquent taxi drivers have continued to pack up their vehicles with unmasked drivers and passengers, young people continue to hold and attend events totally unmasked, and the rich have continued to have their carefree parties both at home and at sea, and on and on, right under the noses of the so-called enforcers.

So now  we are facing  crisis and there is the heavy handed response and widespread panic response by the government.

Can someone please tell me why they should implement national restrictions on the entire country and not just on those pockets where the spread is now a problem? For example, why are Clarendon, Portland, St. Mary and Westmorland being treated the same as other parishes where the spread is rife? Isn't it more logical to deploy people and other resources to enforce the protocols where they are needed and leave the less affected parishes alone?

 No , I guess that is too simplistic in a country where the mantra has always been that the good must suffer for the bad. 

As long as we continue to ignore the fact that corruption and the lack of enforcement go hand in hand, and only a few continue to benefit to the detriment of the vast majority, we will continue on the slippery slope to our own destruction.

Poor James Forbes

I think most Jamaicans are saddened that Senior Sup. James Forbes has been found guilty in what is loosely being called the Bicknell bribery affair, as for years Senior Sup. Forbes has represented all that we wished for in a police force, by giving it a warmer, human face and an air of professionalism. 

What I have found lacking in the press reports of the trial is what was made of the fact that it was a former Commissioner of Police and current adviser to the Ministry of Security, Lucius Thomas who dragged Forbes into the who messy affair. 

For according to the Gleaner report of the 22nd August 2012, which stated under the heading "Thomas Offered Advice" "When Police Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn met with former Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas at his home, the younger police officer was reportedly advised by the retired police chief to ensure that he takes care of his family.

The police sergeant had reportedly gone to Thomas' home on the advice of a friend, after pressure was allegedly brought to bear on him to drop the bribery charge against businessman Bruce Bicknell.

It is understood that when the sergeant solicited the retired policeman's advice, Thomas sought an assurance from Llewellyn whether he was convinced that Bicknell was actually seeking to bribe him.

The former police commissioner reportedly told the sergeant that he had done the "correct thing", based on what was happening but urged him to think about his family.

It was then that the former Police Commissioner proposed that mediation would best serve to resolve the issue, which brought Senior Superintendent of Police James Forbes into the mix."

It seems therefore it is the former commissioner who brought the Senior Sup. Forbes into the mix to "mediate"! So what weight was given to this and was Thomas called at all to testify at this trial? The report seems to have left out this very important aspect of the affair.

And what did former and present security adviser Commissioner Thomas mean when he reportedly advised  the complainant Jubert Llewelyn to "Think about his family?" 

There is too much left murky in the report of the trial of Senior Superintendent Forbes,  leaving me with a funny feeling that the other half has never been told! 

UPDATE

It took almost nine years, but justice was finally done, hence the Gleaner Headline of February 26, 2021; 

James Forbes freed of corruption charge.

In his famous ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that “justice too long delayed is justice denied”. 

That being the case, can we ever say that most people in Jamaica who are drawn before the courts, ever achieve justice?

 Sad.

Trafigura Again

A few days ago, I made the observation that the PNP and JLP were criminal organizations, based upon the fact that between them they had violently converted 25% of the constituencies in Jamaica into garrisons. For those who do not understand or have forgotten let me remind you.

The process of garrison formation is a type of political cleansing which involves using murder, arson, rape or terrorism to drive out the supporters of the other party and make the constituency or division into a homogeneous unit.

The latest example of this took place in St. Catherine in August this year when when some fifteen to twenty heavily armed members of the PNP aligned Clansman gang, invaded a community and killed ten persons in one night including an 11 year old child. This is the same Clansman gang whose leader Bulbie the PNP chose over their own Member of parliament Heather Robinson in 1995, when she told parliament how he was trying to take over her constituency but her colleagues refused to offer her any support. So she was forced to leave the constituency and the rest is history.

During the conversation referred to above, I maintained that there could be no redemption for Jamaica as long as those two parties alternate in government. I was asked by a caller if the younger politicians wouldn't make a difference and asked him if the Mafia started a university what would he expect the graduates to be?

I didn’t have to wait long for proof that this observation was spot on, for within a day I heard on the news that the President of the PNP youth organization was saying there was nothing wrong with Trafigura giving his party $31 million just before the 2007 election.

For the benefit of those who have no idea what the Trafigura issue is, let me enlighten to you. Trafigura is a company registered in the Netherlands and it collects, transports and sells Nigerian oil for Jamaica. For as a fraternal gesture many decades ago, the government of Nigeria started to give Jamaica oil at US$5 per barrel less than the market price.

During the 90's, in a sweetheart deal the PNP government passed on this concession to Trafigura for them to lift the oil and sell it on the open market and give us something. Guess how much they give Jamaica from this deal? 12 cents per barrel !

Since an election was on the horizon in 2007 and the oil lifting deal was soon to come up for renewal, when the news of the surreptitious "gift" leaked, most Jamaicans assumed that it was a straight bribe for them to get back the contract without competition, a corrupt act in any part of the world. However, Trafigura insisted that it was not a gift but a payment on a contract and they claimed to have a written document to prove it. Problem is however, up to today, no one outside of the PNP and Trafigura have seen this contract and we have no idea what the party which formed the government was tying us into.

To understand the possible implications, one must understand what Trafigura is and how it operates.

This is the company which in 2006, paid treacherous Ivoirians, (natives of the Ivory Coast in Africa) a small amount of money, (less than $31 million) to contaminate their land and people by dumping dump toxic waste in their country. As a result of this poison being dumped there, a number of Ivoirians died and thousands more had to be hospitalized. The million dollar questions therefore still stands, was the $31 million given to the PNP as a bribe or was it a down payment on a contract to dump toxic waste in Jamaica thus destroying lives and the environment ?

Having gone to the mafia college however, the young politician can see nothing criminal nor wrong with taking a bribe from or getting involved in a contract with such a disreputable company!

You know, the late Michael Manley, former head of the PNP was known to be a very unprincipled man, but I prefer to think his expressed love for Africa and things African could have been genuine.

 Therefore I am prepared to put my neck on the block that he would never have had any kind of association with a company which had so brutally destroyed the lives of poor black Africans. But the young graduates of the present mafia institution do not see a problem here

What a set!