Election Day: trust the process

Jamaica Observer column published Monday August 31, 2020 - excerpts                         by Jean Lowrie-Chin

We are three days away from Jamaica's 18th general election and we can be proud that since 1944 both political parties have accepted the results. The first General Parliamentary Election under universal adult suffrage was held on 14 December 1944 after the dissolution of the Legislative Council, which had been Jamaica's legislative body since 1868. The Jamaica Labour Party, led by Alexander Bustamante, won 22 of the 32 seats.

Our Representation of the People Act which was last amended in 2012 through the efforts of the then Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) led by William Chin See, has made our electoral system even stronger,  with heavier penalties, a Constituted Authority of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica overseeing Election Day activities and a Political Ombudsman monitoring political campaigning.

Further, there is CAFFE, The Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections, of which I am proud to have been a founding member. In 1997 I received a call from the late Jesuit superior for Jamaica Father Jim Webb who had gone to cast his vote in an inner-city area and on his arrival was told, “Is alright Father, you vote already”.

Resolving to address the issue, Father Jim called a meeting at the Roman Catholic Chancery with a group including Dr Blossom O’Meally Nelson and Dr Alfred Sangster. Doctor Sangster accepted the post as first Chairman of CAFFE. Because our company serves the Electoral Office of Jamaica, I recused myself from the Committee but had the pleasure of taking Dr Sangster to meet the then Director of Elections Danville Walker who enthusiastically welcomed this civic organization. With our ROPA, ECJ, EOJ, Political Ombudsman and CAFFE, we have a fortified electoral system. It is so well respected globally, that our officials have been invited to consult with their counterparts and observe elections in various countries.

However, this is the first time since Independence that we will be having an Election during a pandemic. The careless conduct of some Jamaicans is causing anxiety among our electorate. They should be reassured that the safety protocols are being strictly observed. The EOJ has assigned a 7000-strong sanitizing team who will ensure that social distancing is practiced at polling stations and that masks are worn.

Director of Elections Glasspole Brown has assured senior citizens that they will be given priority by supervisors when they arrive at polling stations. The National Health Fund are supplying masks and sanitizer to candidates, and we are urging them to reserve some for the elderly folks who they will be transporting to polling stations. Indeed, seniors are the most faithful of voters and therefore every government should be paying more attention to their welfare.

Monday, September 7^th will be the start of Senior Citizens Week. We hope that post-election, they will be getting the same level of attention from our eager candidates.

Politics takes courage

Jamaicans have been following keenly the political debates – this column is going to press before the final debate between Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips. Media polls and comments indicate that the JLP representatives won the first two debates, although the PNP representatives had some good moments.

Scrolling through social media at the harsh comments from supporters of either side, it is clear that a brave heart is required for politics. The tribalists are going full tilt, and we wonder if these are the same people who stand up and sing our national anthem which calls for “true respect for all”. Whatever side we support, we should thank each and every candidate for stepping up to represent their party so that our democratic system can remain strong.  Digital media travels at the speed of light and spreads like wildfire, so let us be responsible in our utterances.

It is not an easy road, and some of my colleagues who have gone into politics have shared unending demands for school fees, funeral, medical and various other expenses.  “Politics can bruk yu,” commented MP for Kingston Central Rev. Ronnie Thwaites, who will not be seeking re-election, in a recent media interview. This is why I am mystified that after all these years, the teachings of Marcus Mosiah Garvey which promote dignity over dependence, have not been mainstreamed in our schools.

Workshop for state care school leavers

International Gaming Technology (IGT) hosted an excellent virtual workshop last Friday for their After-School Advantage (ASA) students at Mustard Seed’s ‘Matthew 25:40’ residence, SOS Village - Stony Hill and Sunbeam Boys Home. Coach Tanique Easy gave useful guidelines on virtual job interviews to the enthusiastic youngsters, recommending appropriate dress, good posture, and having knowledge of the interviewer’s organization.

“Don't be late,” she warned. “You should log on at least five minutes before the time of the interview and ensure that you are in a quiet, well-lit location.” She said that “no silly user-names” should be displayed, only one’s correct birth name, and that the camera must be on. “Remove nose rings and cover tattoos,” she advised. We were impressed with the response of the students and the obvious care that their teachers took to prepare them for the workshop.

 “We want to ensure that students at the ASA centres understand that despite the fact that there may be a downturn in employment today because of Covid, preparation is important to ensure that when an opportunity arises you are ready.” said Debbie Green, General Manager of IGT Jamaica. “There's nothing to say that somebody would not be offered a job during these times – it’s not all doom and gloom – it may be difficult but there are still opportunities. We want to ensure that you are armed with the skills that can help you to ace what is likely to be an interview in a virtual setting rather than a person-to-person physical setting.”

 

CCRP Welcomes Special Provisions for Senior Citizens on Election Day

The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) welcomes assurances from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) that senior citizens will be given priority when voting in the General Election on Thursday, September 3, 2020.

"As an elder, I am pleased to hear that we will be allowed to go to the head of the line at polling stations to limit our exposure," said CCRP Foundation Board Member  Mrs Vilma McDonald, adding: "We understand that supervisors will be in charge of assisting us. That is important as we will need help also to navigate the strict COVID-19 protocols that will be in place."

CCRP is encouraged to hear that political candidates are instructing those who will be transporting our elders to observe all COVID-19 protocols, and to sanitize their vehicles. It is critical that there is a safe mode of transportation to and from the polling station. 

"We welcome the news that the National Health Fund will be distributing a number of  disposable masks and sanitizer to all candidates," noted Mrs McDonald. "They should have some in reserve for the elderly they transport as some home-made masks may not fit well and make good use of the hand sanitizers to protect their supporters."  

"I want all my fellow seniors to be able to exercise their right to vote with a feeling of safety and security, during the pandemic," she added.  

In order to check if your name is on the voters' list, simply go to the EOJ website at https://ecj.com.jm. For more details on the voting procedure, view their YouTube channel at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqh4RPaMiqc

Staff at the CCRP head office and regional chapters are now working remotely.  They can be contacted at the numbers and email addresses given on the CCRP website:  ccrponline.org.

‘Actions speak louder than words’

 Jamaica Observer column published 24 AUG 2020

 

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

 

We watched with concern the large crowds dressed in green and orange who gathered in close quarters on Nomination Day last Tuesday to cheer on their candidates. Somehow all the news reports and warnings were still not registering with these folks, much to the alarm of members of our medical community.  

 

President of the Medical Association of Jamaica Dr Andrew Manning noted in a statement: “Our observations of Nomination Day on Tuesday were disheartening … The leadership of both parties have indicated that their respective supporters will behave responsibly but actions speak louder than words! We are calling on them to declare publicly specific measures that they will take at this time to aid in the fight against COVID-19. We cannot afford to be complacent. Enough is enough.”

 

Dr Mindi Fitz-Henley, President of The Jamaica  Medical Doctors Association, stated, “It would be irresponsible of us if we did not speak up on this public health crisis on the verge of crippling the nation.” She said the health sector was “stretched thin and the blatant lack of adherence to the protocols established by the Ministry of Health and Wellness is only adding to this burden.”

 

Dr Fitz-Henley noted that “doctors have been working tirelessly to save lives putting the well-being of the country above themselves and their families for months. It is disheartening to say the least to see their sacrifices being outrightly disregarded.”

 

Within a few hours of receiving these releases we learned at the Prime Minister's emergency press briefing last Friday that two doctors at the Kingston Public Hospital had tested positive for Covid. It is unfair that because of downright carelessness and indiscipline, these doctors have now been affected.

 

Someone posted on social media that persons who had just arrived at the Norman Manley Airport were seen heading into the KFC in Harbour View despite signing an agreement at the airport that they would immediately go into quarantine. PM Holness disclosed that the Police had been briefed to enforce quarantine regulations; it seems that unless we make examples of the lawbreakers, their dangerous behaviour will continue.

 

Curfew hours are again extended for Kingston & St Andrew, Saint Catherine and Clarendon because of last week’s spike in positive cases. This is a blow to restaurants and clubs which were just getting back on their feet. There was a suggestion on social media that perhaps delivery services and restaurant staff could be allowed to operate until 10:00 PM so that persons could order in meals. This may be a veritable lifesaver for some small businesses.  

 

Pardon the repetition, but we must take individual responsibility to police ourselves, our families, friends and coworkers. It has been six long months and many of us are getting “Covid weary”. With the wearing of masks, the constant washing of hands, the wiping of surfaces, the distancing even when we are seeing a long lost friend or relative, we feel disoriented and must push ourselves to continue to organize, focus and produce.

 

But let us have a heart for our frontline personnel, working night and day to keep this country safe. All they are asking of you who are in quarantine is to remain in your home and to ensure that you do not come into close contact with anyone around you.

 

Uganda President Kaguta Museveni waxed Biblical to drive home his message: “Let's be our brothers' keeper. In no time, we shall regain our freedom, enterprise and socializing ... In the midst of emergency, we practice urgency of service and the urgency of love for others.”

 

Our politicians on the campaign trail are witty and persuasive. Let us hear them use these laudable qualities to convince their followers to be more responsible. Should they make dubs of the heartfelt appeals of Dr Fitz-Henley and Dr Manning? Whatever it takes, let us do it so that Election Day will not result in another spike, more heartbreak and more sleepless nights for our dedicated front-line workers.

 

Jamaica shines on

 

The United States Democratic convention held over four days last week featured outstanding individuals with Jamaican roots. There was General Colin Powell who endorsed the candidacy Joe Biden for US President. There was host Kerry Washington and the hilarious Sarah Cooper who gave yet another genius impression of President Donald Trump. Best of all was the brilliant Kamala Harris, the first woman and woman of color nominated for the Vice Presidency.

 

Buju Banton performed for millions on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and on Trevor Noah’s Daily Show. Chronixx was also a guest on a popular night show and we learned that President Barack Obama had Bob Marley, Koffee and Popcaan on his 2020 summer playlist.

 

Jamaica Observer Senior Associate Editor Novia McDonald-Whyte staged the world’s first ever virtual fashion show last month, featuring designers from six countries, endorsed by the legendary Naomi Campbell. “If the last few months have taught us anything, it is that we have the power to create our own narrative and our own icons,” said Campbell. “I can't wait to see the fresh, new interpretations of style.”

It is pressure that creates diamonds and these times challenge us to become the best versions of ourselves, embracing the many opportunities that digital options offer. 

“The live experiences that defined our content simply evaporated, and so we were challenged to rethink everything,” said McDonald-Whyte in a news report. “Working through a crisis to bring new ideas to the fore meant that we had to strengthen existing relationships and forge new connections across the world.”

Congratulations Barbara Blake-Hannah

The UK Press Gazette has launched the Barbara Blake Hannah award aimed at recognizing up and coming ethnic minority journalists. Jamaican Barbara Blake Hannah was the UK's first black on-screen TV news Reporter. She began her UK career in 1968 withThames TV, interviewing top notables.

A prolific author, Barbara launched her latest book, “Growing Up – Dawta of JAH” recounting her experiences and findings since her return to Jamaica in 1972.  Barbara shared a wise saying, “’If the lion does not tell its tale, the hunter will always make the headlines’,” and added, “So hear me roar!”

 

Rugby wonder Keisha-Ann Down

 

Do not let her exquisite looks fool you – Keisha-Ann Down has been a warrior in rugby, having shone on the Kingston University team in London. After completing a master’s degree in sustainable development and working in the UK, Keisha-Ann returned to Jamaica and established her corporate coaching company Dragonfly Pathways. She was elected vice president of the Jamaica Rugby Association, and with President Jerry Benzwick, raised funds, developed their constitution and bylaws, attracting international respect for our national team.

 

It was announced recently that Keisha-Ann is the first Jamaican to be awarded a World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship. She will pursue the Women in Leadership course through Cornell University (USA), while working on an on-line Sports Coaching Psychology programme in the UK.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Election dubs and sobering stats

Jamaica Observer column published Monday 17 Aug 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Prime Minister Andrew Holness chose to announce General Elections in the House of Parliament last Tuesday acknowledging that we were in a pandemic – a far cry from the huge and colourful gatherings of the past. We learned that Nomination Day would be tomorrow Tuesday, August 18 and that Election Day would be Thursday September 3^rd. There is a sense of relief that the whole process will be rolled out quickly.

“We will be efficient and we will be peaceful,” urged PM Holness. “We are having an election in a pandemic … it is important that politics does not become a cause of the spread … I decided to announce this in the House, the people's House, not a House of disunity and I am asking that we are united as a country, as one people.” He appealed that Elections be conducted “agreeably, peacefully, and responsibly.”

And so we are now in election mode with ads blaring on radio TV and on social media one dub competing with the other. It is all good fun for this land of reggae and dancehall – why quarrel when we can dance?

However, we are concerned that the seniors, the most faithful of all voters, be protected as they go to the polls. We know the familiar Election Day sights captured in the press: the infirm elderly being lifted into motor vehicles and taken to vote. We hope that representatives of both political parties will ensure that persons who have this task will comply with all the safety protocols.

At a recent press briefing Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton expressed misgivings when asked if persons with Covid would be allowed to vote.  We wonder also about those persons who may not be positive but are in quarantine. Could consideration be given to allowing those persons to vote on the day reserved for the security forces? We have been hearing from seniors that if persons with Covid are allowed to vote on Election Day, they will not be participating, so we hope a solution can be found.

Covid spike

However last week was very troubling as we saw a distinct spike in the cases of Covid, with numbers well past the 1000 mark and two communities in quarantine. It was disappointing to hear that a pastor had exposed his congregation in the Sandy Bay community. Most of the established denominations are compliant, and so, once again, we are appealing to the Jamaica Council of Churches, the Evangelicals, the Umbrella Group of Churches and the Multi-Faith organisation, to have a register online of bona fide places of worship so that pretenders do not prey on gullible citizens.

Having been living nearly six months in this ‘Twilight Zone’ of Covid, it seems people are letting their guard down and endangering others. CMO Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie has warned that you are 3.5 times more likely to be infected in a motor vehicle than in a workplace or a household. If you are using taxi or bus, please remember to wear your mask, ensuring that your nose and mouth are covered.

Several workplaces recently announced that members of their staff have tested positive for Covid and so those of us who have reopened our businesses and have not had any incidents should not become complacent. We recently entered a small shop with bold sign. ‘No Mask, No Entry’ yet several persons without masks were being served. We understand that a shopkeeper recently tested positive for Covid and it is a stark reminder that as we try to balance life and livelihood we must stick to the protocols.

PSOJ on Economic Recovery

Last Friday's PSOJ conference give us some hard facts but ended on a note of hope. Gratitude to Dr Marcia Forbes who live-tweeted from the conference since I was not able to attend. Her assessment of JMA president Richard Pandohie as ‘bright and practical’ was borne out by the factors he presented including:

-          Pre-Covid, lots of economic activities but no real economic growth. Consumption driven economy with minimal value added

-          operating the same way we did will not give us a V shape recovery. Radical change in economic base required with a heavy focus on value-added, productivity and export

-          need service pillar and productive pillar together not one or the other. Diversification will be a key driver

 

The following he noted were needed to provide the right kind of support for manufacturing: policy directives and support to drive export, incentives for research and development, capacity support to help MSMEs to access available funds, capability development to improve supply and quality of technical resources, broadband improvement, and focus on our strengths – agro-processing, creative and logistics.

JHTA Vice President Nicola Madden Greg said a 75% decline in visitor arrivals was expected and that airplane load capacity is expected to be between 40 and 50% instead of the usual 80 percent; cruise tourism is expected to resume in the fourth quarter of this year.

“However, major UK and Canadian Tour operators were set to resume flights in September and there is expectation of increased intra- regional travel,” she shared. “The local ‘staycation’ market will provide welcome support, but new business models and new markets will need to be explored.”

In a media interview later in the day PSOJ president Keith Duncan said that it was time for Jamaica to move from planning to action. He noted that Jamaica was able to achieve macroeconomic stability because there were strict criteria laid down by the IMF and “what gets measured gets done”. 

“Jamaica is 134 out of 190 in trade, import and export,” he noted, “and so we must now have the will and the focus … Covid had exposed all our vulnerabilities. We have become a nation of buyers and sellers” he said. He called for greater investment in broadband and good governance to address these gaping shortcomings.

Kamala Harris on Biden’s Presidential Ticket

Women of color everywhere, and Jamaica in particular, rejoiced when US Presidential candidate Joe Biden announced that his running mate would be Senator Kamala Harris the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants. Miss Harris made a riveting acceptance speech honoring her family and Joe Biden, and criticizing the US president's handling of the Covid pandemic. The President and his allies responded in harsh tones. This reminded me of the attacks on Michelle Obama as described in her book, “Becoming”. It is the cynical portrayal of the strong woman of colour as “the angry black woman”. However, Senator Harris remained positive and dignified in subsequent interviews. We are proud of her.

Happy Birthday Marcus Garvey

Today, the 133^rd Birthday of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the great man must be smiling down at the prospect of a daughter of a Jamaican campaigning for high office, and at the enduring strength of our democracy. It should be a national holiday, imbuing the nation with his philosophy of dignity and self-reliance. As Stevie Wonder sang for MLK, let us create some dubs for a Marcus Garvey Day.

lowriechin@aim.com

 

A Groundswell of Patriotism

 Jamaica Observer column published 10 August 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Someone posted a message on social media on the morning of August 6, declaring that it was Jamaica’s day, and that we should come on board to celebrate our amazing country. As Kamala Harris said in her Instagram live session with Sarah Cooper, both of whom are of Jamaican heritage “Jamaica is a big country on a small island”. Throughout Independence Day, greetings in black, green and gold took over our screens with some wonderful sayings – including, “I didn't ask to be Jamaican - I just got lucky!’

And so we decided that nothing would stand in the way of our enjoyment of the 58th Anniversary of our Independence. The morning  started with the wonderful news of deserving Jamaicans who had received National Honours, among them outstanding friends and colleagues Antoinette Aiken OD, Archbishop Kenneth Richards CD,  the late Government Minister and MP Shahine Robinson CD, the late Delano Forbes Sr CD, Keith Duncan CD, Brian Jardim CD, Oliver Samuels CD, Garfield Grandison CD, Hon Patrick Hylton OJ, Hon Tom Tavares Finson OJ and Hon Brian Wynter OJ. Please visit this JIS link for the full list of honorees: https://jis.gov.jm/media/2020/08/Honours-and-Awards-listing-2020-1.pdf . 

When you hear people tearing down this great country, please refer them to the citations below the names of these members of our Jamaican family, our nation builders.  They are persons of excellence and if we emulate rather than denigrate, this country would be unstoppable.

Our Festival Songs played all day and thanks to Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange and The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission we enjoyed an excellent Jamaica Independence Extravaganza on television and on the web so that Jamaicans all over the world could participate.

Congratulations to the phenomenal recipients of the Jamaica Reggae Music Icon Awards: Marcia Griffiths, Ken Boothe and Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell.

Zoom links showed some lively folks dancing away in their living rooms and waving their flags. The passion of our Diaspora for Jamaica is always moving.

National Consensus on Crime

This spirit of hope was underpinned by the long-awaited signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the National Consensus on Crime by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips last Monday. We owe a debt of gratitude to the working committee of stakeholders led by Lloyd Distant and dynamic members including the ultimate mover and shaker, Minna Israel.

We are grateful for the responsiveness to the year-long process by Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang and Opposition Spokesperson on National Security MP Fitz Jackson.

The MOU aims at the dismantling and elimination of criminal gangs; normalising and reintegrating troubled communities; preventing corruption, collusion and money laundering; and reforming and modernising the police and justice system. It has stated agreements on a monitoring and reporting mechanism. Other signatories to the MOU include the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Jamaica Council of Churches; Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ); Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU); Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches.

‘Chicken Merry, Hawk deh Near’

Full of Independence joy, we were rocking away to the live show when a message appeared on PBCJ: ‘Standby for a Press Briefing with PM Most Hon Andrew Holness’.  We had a feeling of trepidation as we remembered our grandmother’s warning, “Chicken merry, hawk deh near.” The Prime Minister outlined in grim terms the fact that a Pastor in Clarendon who had recently returned to Jamaica from the US had been conducting services without following the prescribed protocols for churches. This had resulted in members of his congregation falling ill with Covid, resulting in a quarantine being declared for the district of Sandy Bay in Clarendon. Furthermore, in St. Thomas an elderly woman who had been called to a church to pray over someone who was suffering from Covid, caught the virus. A section of St. Thomas was also placed in quarantine. In that one single day, 30 persons were diagnosed with Covid and the following day, we had one more death and 29 more persons diagnosed with the virus.

The result of this careless behaviour is that the Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie will now have to review some of the guidelines for gatherings, especially for funerals. The government is on the horns of a dilemma: how do we keep the economy going while keeping the country safe? PSOJ President Keith Duncan has opined that the country cannot afford a total lockdown, but that there had to be consequences for companies and individuals who do not follow the protocols. Also, he called for more public health aides to be involved in the monitoring of communities.

Beirut misery

On Wednesday, our timelines lit up with a huge explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Over 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate blew up, from a fire started by sparks from a welding job. So extensive was the damage that over 150 persons have lost their lives, 5,000 have been injured and 300,000 persons have been left homeless.  Reports are that a ship carrying the chemicals from Georgia in Eastern Europe to Mozambique, was forced to dock in the port of Beirut in 2014. The dangerous chemicals were offloaded and stored in a facility at the port. Letters had been written by concerned citizens about this hazardous material sitting dangerously close to densely populated neighborhoods. It is alleged that the letters were not answered and so the chemicals remained there for six years, becoming increasingly unstable.

The scenes from the aftermath of explosion are heartrending: family members frantically searching for relatives still buried under the rubble, hospitals overflowing with patients and business owners hopelessly surveying their damaged surroundings.

We understand that the international community had for years been criticizing the government of Lebanon for corruption and poor governance.  That spark which destroyed a city is a stark reminder to leaders everywhere. Now the world must assist this traumatized country to rebuild.

Happy 50th Archbishop Dufour

Yesterday Archbishop Emeritus Charles Dufour celebrated his 50th Anniversary of ordination as a Catholic priest. Ordained August 12, 1970, he has moved congregations throughout Jamaica with his spirited homilies and his meaningful projects. He was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Montego Bay in 1995 and was appointed the sixth Archbishop of Kingston in Jamaica by Pope Benedict in 2011.

A dedicated Jamaican, Archbishop Dufour’s social engagement includes the Peace Management Initiative, of which he was the first chairman (March 2003 – February 2008); the Parliamentary Salaries Commission; the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority (PCOA), of which he was appointed Chairman in 2008 by then Governor-General Sir Kenneth Hall and the Good Shepherd Foundation, of his own establishment and patronage.

Archbishop Dufour is an inspiring example of servant-leadership for God and his people. We wish him a blessed 50th Anniversary, and many more to come.

These testing times

 Jamaica Observer column published 3 August 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

On the eve of Emancipation Day news came of The Kensington Primary School’s decision to ban a pupil from wearing locks to school. Naomi Francis and Emily Shields have advised that we should await the written Ruling from the Supreme Court before we pass any further judgment. However, we note the anguished postings of State Minister for Education Alando Terrelonge who wears his locks so well, calling for amendments to the Education Act, which would address such issues.

We understand that the school authorities had said they were afraid of lice being brought into the school. Are they suggesting that individuals with straight hair cannot get lice? This is ridiculous. In the press reports we saw the parents of the child, Mr and Mrs Virgo, wearing well-groomed locks.  As we celebrate Emancipation and Independence, is this school suggesting that if you have naturally straight hair and braid it, this is quite acceptable but if you have naturally curly hair and put it in locks it is unacceptable? That is downright prejudice.

As we honour the courageous life of civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis. we encourage Minister Terrelonge and indeed all concerned citizens to give ‘good trouble’ until such school rules are fixed.

 Lockdown and purity testing

In this semi-lockdown, there is a ramping up of political campaigning and purity testing by both the JLP and PNP. It is important to ensure that good governance is in place and where it is not happening it should be addressed. However, this should not blind us to the positives.

While the scandals may be enticing, our time and energy are better directed at encouraging citizens’ responsibility to keep our Covid curve flat.  Let us highlight the work of the dedicated public servants in our Ministries of Health, Finance, Local Government, Foreign Affairs in their taxing tasks of testing, contact tracing, implementing of protocols for hospitals and infirmaries and the repatriation of thousands of Jamaicans.  Now the Ministries of Tourism and Agriculture, Entertainment, Gender & Sports are collaborating for a careful reopening of certain sectors of the economy. Kudos to the PSOJ, Digicel Jamaica Foundation, Food for the Poor and United Way and The Jamaica Constabulary Force for their active outreach, especially to our indigent elderly.

Hopeful indicators

Richard Pandohie, recently re-elected President of the JMEA posted on social media: “Some good indicators showing an upward bounce in economic activities: fuel sales up, cement sales up, alcohol sales up. Chicken sales have rebounded well ahead of the projected timeline by the industry players, small poultry farmers are buying chicks to restock their operations.”

Both Seprod, headed by Pandohie and GraceKennedy, headed by Don Wehby have recorded continued increase in sales, and remittances are up. Let us spare a thought for those hardworking Jamaicans, many of them on the frontline in the US Covid crisis, who continue to support their families here.

Covid anxiety

We have been hearing the ads from Rise Life Management, offering counselling to folks who feel depressed or anxious and we should encourage our friends and colleagues to make use of this service because this Covid situation is challenging. There are several viral videos of people refusing to wear masks in the US but here in Jamaica I heard a story that took it to another level. A regular shopper at a rural wholesale refused to accept the sanitizer at the entrance to the store, pushing past the guard and when the cashier tried to stop her from entering, she used the most foul language, and left to make a purchase.  I thought my friend was going to say that she bought a mask but in fact what she returned with was a brand-new machete! She had to be subdued and sent on her way.

Unwelcome break

I decided in June to remove wires which had served their time in healing my right elbow which I had broken a couple of years ago. For the procedure, I had to do a Covid test and go into isolation.  Yes, the test is uncomfortable, having those long swabs pushed up one’s nostrils, but it is very quick.  The surgery was a simple procedure by the gifted Dr Chris Rose and anaesthetist Doctor Crawford Sykes. Within nine days the stitches were out and I was as good as new and celebrating the full use of both arms.

You can imagine my dismay when, three days later I slipped on the cattle trap at my gate and saw my left-hand hanging limp - I had broken my wrist! Remember never to wear those rubber flip-flops in your yard. My incredulous doctors were once again tubing me up in the UWI operating theatre two weeks later.

I am grateful to my family of angels and fantastic team at work who have ensured my comfort and supported our various activities including the CCRP annual general meeting held one week after the surgery. Fellow CCRP board director Dr Owen James reminded me that I was still in patient mode but I made it through and using Facebook live, we were able to engage with hundreds of members.

Thank goodness I had the CCRP health insurance. James Pawson, Chairman of Gallagher Insurance Brokers, designers of the plan, disclosed at the AGM that since last December, they had settled over 54,000 claims at a cost of over $330 million, underwritten by Sagicor. This happy founder has seen our membership grow to over 10,000 in our tenth year.  

Season of Music

The star-studded Festival Song Contest came just in time to raise our spirits. The entire lineup was great so congratulations to all the participants as listed by Jamaica Observer Entertainment Editor Brian Bonitto, “reggae singer Freddie McGregor (Tun Up Di Sound); three-time festival song winner Toots & The Maytals ( Rise Up Jamaica); [Winner] reggae singjay Buju Banton ( I Am Jamaican); Papa Michigan (formerly of Michigan and Smiley) ( Festival Dance); dancehall quartet LUST (featuring Lukie D, Thriller U, Singing Melody & Tony Curtis) ( Wave The Flag); and 2009 Digicel Rising Stars winner Shuga ( One People)… two-time Jamaica Festival Song winner Nazzle Man ( Jamaica Nice); up-and-coming dancehall artistes Xtra Bigg ( Jamaica A Paradise); Radix OD ( Place To Be); and actress Sakina Deer (We Are Jamaica).”

The Covid lockdown has seen other great musical creations including Koffee’s song of the same name which in six days had 3.2 million hits on YouTube and Kevin Downswell's “We Will Be Stronger”.

Nadine Sutherland’s Birthday tribute to Rita Marley told us of a generous and brilliant woman who mentored Nadine as her own, including her in the classical music training she organized for her children. This sent us to YouTube to enjoy the charismatic I-Threes – Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.

Let us tune out the dissonance and tune in to our great Jamaican music. Happy Independence Day!

Many rivers to cross in agriculture

Jamaica Observer column published 13 July 2020

Jean Lowrie-Chin

It was only last week that this column mentioned the importance of agriculture to Jamaica’s economy, and referred to Michael Lee-Chin’s 3,000-acre mega farm at Innswood in St. Catherine. The photo of the flourishing plants gave us high hopes for this initiative.  Then came the news just a couple of days later: 80 percent of the first crop of beautiful peppers had been stolen. Not even this modern farm is immune to this pervasive disease of praedial larceny.

Thankfully, Lee-Chin is using the incident as a teacherly moment. “One of the reasons I got into agriculture is to determine where all the nodes of friction are, so we can shine a light onto and remove; that's the only way to develop this important sector,” he noted. “Praedial larceny is a big one, and there are many others: water for irrigation, land, financing, know-how, government bureaucracy, bureaucrats who are not willing to learn modern ways... I would never be able to identify, granularly all these areas of retardation had I not gotten into the business.”

 “It's important that we develop this sector to not only give us food security but also be able to develop derivative industries like agro-processing, packaging, storage, transportation, know-how, weedicide manufacturing, pesticide manufacturing, fertilizer manufacturing etc,” the can-do entrepreneur opined. “Additionally, every developed economy has agriculture at the base of the pyramid, above that base is manufacturing and above that services; using that pyramid model you can see why our economic growth is low and erratic.”

Gideon Siterman, Manager of the Innswood Farm, notes that the Ministry of Agriculture could “shorten and speed up the procedures regarding opening the market for new materials, for example, fertilizers and chemicals used in developed countries, to introduce them to the Jamaican market that will enhance productivity and will give us direct know-how and a professional base … this is needed to reach export markets.”

Siterman believes that KPIs (key performance indicators) should be defined, and that they should be measurable, simple and easy to monitor: “I believe that if such an action plan is adopted based on the necessity for a change of attitude, we could really get results very soon if we’ll move quickly to make it happen. It’s in our hands, we cannot miss the opportunity!”

We can cite the agricultural success stories of GraceKennedy, CB Group, Jamaica Producers, Trade Winds, Jamaica Broilers and Rainforest. Small farmers have also benefitted from relationships with these companies, even as they battle praedial larceny with limited resources.

As Chairman of the Economic Growth Council, Lee-Chin has the clout to bring together private and public sector stakeholders to address the challenges faced by farmers, large and small. What a difference this will make to our economy as it struggles to get back on its feet, post-Covid.

Covid Carelessness

We are happy for those families who welcomed home their relatives, but we must appeal to them to be responsible. We hear of persons being picked up at the airport and taken directly to restaurants and then there was that news report of a man who had tested positive but was asymptomatic, attending a wake and a funeral, and dodging the authorities. 

Clearly, with so much criminal activity in Jamaica, our security forces have enough on their hands to be chasing these Covid crazies. Our health workers are stretched and stressed. We must play our part by reporting careless behaviour and reinforcing Covid prevention messages in our communities and households. As we see the mounting numbers right next door in the US, we should realise that this pandemic is far from over, and our country would have a difficult time contending with a serious outbreak.

Notwithstanding however, let us be reasonable towards persons who have recovered from the illness, and let us not stigmatise communities as happened in Norwood last week. As Minister Tufton reminds us, “Cut the hate, don’t discriminate.”   

August Town ambition

The news that August Town was declared a Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) last week brought back memories of our visit with Miguel ‘Steppa’ Williams on behalf of the Digicel Foundation to an area called African Gardens.  There on both banks of the Hope River, enthusiastic farmers were growing crops and rearing animals, navigating rocky paths, and looking out for each other.

We were so impressed with their level of commitment that they were selected as recipients of a 15^th Anniversary grant last November to assist with irrigation and farming implements. We salute Perry Palmer, Robert Simpson, Robert Campbell, Max Gibbs, Bertram Davis, Anthony Moody and all the good people of August Town. May this ZOSO bring you well-deserved peace.

Happy 70^th Radio Jamaica

Evolving from the station ZQI set up by the Government to announce the price of goods during World War II, Radio Jamaica last week celebrated its 70^th Anniversary. For many Jamaicans, the station was our alarm clock, our purveyor of news and our dance partner. The phenomenal growth of Radio Jamaica, its expansion with TVJ, the creation of Fame-FM, Hitz, RETV and JNN and later its merger with the Gleaner and Power 106 would not have been possible without the visionary leadership of the late J. Lester Spaulding.

In the eighties, our PR shop collaborated with the late Milton Weller and Ralston McKenzie on several projects including the RJR Radio Advertising Awards and the commissioning of the Galina Tower. We organised outside broadcasts with such legends as Don Topping, Marie Garth, Dorraine Samuels and Alan Magnus. Some of the actual letters we featured in the RJR Newsletter were hilarious: Marie Garth was addressed as ‘Marine Guard’, Don Topping Odyssey was ‘Don Topping Outa Sea’, Billy Graham, Minneapolis, Minnesota was ‘Many Apples, Many Sodas’ and Ronnie Thwaites was ‘Ronnie 2/8’. I kid you not!

Happy 70^th Anniversary to the evergreen Radio Jamaica (back to its original name) – here’s to continued success.

DPP’s tenure extended

We are happy to hear that the tenure of Director of Public Prosecution, Paula Llewellyn, has been extended. Ms Llewellyn has constantly engaged the Jamaican public on the challenges faced by her hard-working team, always accessible to the media and taking up myriad speaking engagements. We find her straightforward manner refreshing, and we are relieved that Jamaica will continue to have the benefit of this excellent professional.

Farewell Orville Holness

We extend deep sympathy to our colleague Nigel Holness and his family, on the passing of their beloved father and grand-father Orville Selbourne Holness. Of his Dad, Nigel writes, “He was a real Father to his many children … I am a better man and person because of the influence he had on my life and likewise my brothers and sister and by extension our children. Most importantly he gave his life to Christ and so is now in heaven with His Saviour.”  Rest in peace, goodly gentleman.