The hypocrisy of the Donna-Lee Donaldson's Case

 

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

The recent outcry surrounding the case of Donna-Lee Donaldson really highlights how we are as a people and a nation. All over social media, the common thought is “Justice for Donna-Lee”. So many people are following up on this case, and I can imagine that yes, the family needs answers, as well as everyone that is invested in this case. I was on social media, specifically Instagram and I happened to come across a video of a group of people led by LA Lewis demanding justice for Donna-Lee. While this may be genuine, I put to you that as a nation, we are a bunch of hypocrites!

Let me first put this out there, I am NOT saying that people do not have the right to be angry, the right to protest, the right to demand answers, the right to their opinions, and I am not saying that the family does not deserve closure in this case. However, I have a question for all the protestors, those on social media, and those invested in this case, where was and is the outcry for Jasmine Dean, for our missing children, and the many missing persons in Jamaica? Why is it that we did not put the same energy into demanding Justice for Jasmine Dean? The answer is simple, we are a bunch of hypocrites! We are only interested in justice for those who we know about.

Yolanda Beckford, Christopher Murray, Shinell Douglas, Tanisha James, Tajae Hylton, Merlin Taylor, Shamilla Williams and Tava-Goy Tavares. Do you know what all those persons have in common? They are also missing, but you did not know that did you? Even if you knew, do you even care? I bet you have no clue who they are. But you know Donna-Lee don’t know? What is the difference between her and them? She is popular and they are not. Do you think if Donna-Lee was just another missing person on the JCF web page we would care so much? Obviously not! We don't even know who Yolanda Beckford is.

Whenever I read about the Donna-Lee case from our news source this is what I see “in the case of the disappearance of social media personality Donna-Lee Donaldson.” Emphasis added. That was taken from the Jamaica Gleaner. Is it that we are more interested in justice for Donna-Lee because she is popular? Is it that we care less about Jasmine Dean because she was just a blind student at the UWI, in other words, she is just another Jamaican? Just another missing person? After all, people go missing all the time right? Where is the outcry for the thousands of missing children in Jamaica?

I see no concern for the number of children and other persons that goes missing in Jamaica. “Data from the Child Protection & Family Services Agency (CPFSA) show that between 2017 and 2021, some 6,686 children were reported missing” Gleaner April 9, 2022. Where are the outcry, the protests, and the social media sensations demanding justice for the hundreds of children that go missing each year? Oh, these children are not popular, nobody knows them.

It is so funny how we act over people we consider “popular” and how we care less about people we consider as “just another person”. Jasmine Dean deserves justice, but guess what, we don’t remember about her, do we remember that emotional video that her father did? Are you telling me that nobody knows about what happened to her? Jasmine’s father deserves closure too, but I bet your popular social media sensations don’t care. I bet your popular protestors don’t even remember her, I bet your outcries fall short of the hundreds of missing children. Is Donna-Lee’s life worth more than the others?

It is full time we more pass our hypocrisies and not just demand justice for one but justice for all. Just critiquing not criticizing!

Mr Holness, set your house in order!

There was a time when King Hezekiah was very sick and the prophet Isaiah said to him. “This is what the Lord says, put your house in order, because you are going to die, you will not recover.” You must be wondering why I referred that that story. Since the year began, and even before, the JLP has not been handling internal issues well. Since Mr. Holness was caught up with violating the constitution, he has not been able to keep is party members under control. Every time there is a problem, you can expect to hear it in the news. I am sure that Mr. Holness means well, but we are yet to hear real substance coming from him that the Jamaican people can restore faith in him. Those who were calling for his resignation following the Supreme Court’s ruling, what are they saying now?

Many people think the JLP has failed to distinguish itself as a suitable alternative for the Jamaican people. The JLP has been singing the mantra from ‘poverty to prosperity’, but how many actually buy into it? The Jamaican people have been facing some serious times with the man at street level still finding it hard to make ends meet. Many have lost faith in Mr. Holness and have never ceased to criticise him wherever the opportunity arises. Whenever I read columns from Ian Boyne, he never seems too critical of Mr. Holness. I really hope Mr. Holness can restore hope in the population and regain those who have lost faith in him. I really admire him as a leader but he has a lot of work to do, especially with respect to internal affairs. If Mr. Holness is unable to manage his own party then how can he manage the affairs of the country?

Every chance he gets, he cease every opportunity to point out that the current administration is only interested in passing IMF tests, while they are failing the people test? But Mr. Holness, a word to the wise: ensure that you are passing the people test, because the general election is coming up. It would be sad to know that you also fail the same test you are accusing the current administration of not passing. The current administration has failed to lead by example and their wanton waste of public funds has cost tax payers dearly. If we want to get a feel of how the current administration is performing, then we need to read Garfield Higgins columns on Sundays in the Jamaica Observer. His scrutiny of the current administration is on par and his last column ‘The things this Gov’t does speak’ is a must read. Peter Philips has been doing a fairly good job in his management of the economy and I must commend him, but I believe that there are persons who are part of the current administration that must go!

Mr. Holness has written several articles advocating solutions to issues of national importance, one such was concerning PICA, but solutions and promotion of growth is significantly lacking. Mr. Holness latest, ‘Jamaica needs a minister of growth’ published in today’s Gleaner is a profound article and his analysis of growth is quite legitimate and opens a new light that probably has been ignored. I believe that he is on to something, but what I expected to come from him, was ‘this is what I would have done differently.’ Whilst it’s good to critically analyse the poor performance of the current administration, without giving alternative solutions weakens the overall motive, regardless of how justified it is.

In the final analysis I will say this: To Mr. Holness, the people are dying for an alternative, but you are yet to distinguish yourself as such. As the prophet Isaiah said to Hezekiah I am saying to you, the election bell will ring soon, so put your house in order, if not, ‘dawg nyam yuh suffer’. The word have been spoken, Hezekiah responded positively, how will you? 

A time when it was rolling calves and three foot jacks!

Who remember when their parents or grandparents used to tell them stories about rolling calf? What about three foot jack? Whooping bwoy? I for one used to enjoy them, even though sometimes hearing them would leave me scared and shaken up. My brother and I would sit in the evenings and listen to my great grand uncle telling us stories of rolling calf and three foot jack. The thought was that, if you ever see a rolling calf, ensure that you find a cross road before it does else, you know what. Hearing ‘duppy’ stories was one of my favorite past times, I would look forward to it. Generally, storytelling was an essential aspect of our culture, whether it was ‘duppy’ stories or otherwise. Is it gone forever?

When I was in fifth grade in primary school, whenever the teacher is not in the classroom, my friends and I would get together and share ‘duppy’ stories that our grandparents told us, as well as our own experiences. The most common one would have been the one about a person trying to catch up to somebody because he/she needs company but cannot seem to do so, hence the conclusion is that it is a ghost. The principle of ghost is nothing new per se, even in the Bible you have references to ghost. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after in the resurrection while the door was closed because they were afraid of the Jews, they thought it was a ghost but Jesus said a spirit does not have flesh and bones. The ghost stories were always interesting and exciting to me.

I remember one morning I got up early, about 4 a.m. and look through the window, I saw a car driving on the road and the light shined and two things that appeared to be playing in the road, up until this day, I don’t know what they were, but I saw the car stopped reverse and turn back, I was like what? You may say I was dreaming, could be but I know I wasn’t and what I saw. I had other experiences which I swear I saw ghosts and only God alone can tell me it wasn’t so, but I guess you might say my mind was playing tricks on me. I once asked my great grand uncle, why it is that ghosts are not prevalent as in your day. He replied by saying that because of the introductions of cars and street lights it drove them away and I was like okay then.

I also heard about methods one can employ to see ‘duppies’, but I implore you, do not try them at home. I heard that if you wash you face with rice water, that is the water after you wash the rice, you could see them, also if you put dog matter in your eye, eewwww! I also hear if you used seven rice grain you will see the seven Chinese duppies. I used to hear about the black heart man, who will offer children gifts and take them way to sacrifice them. These stories were legendary. But now, ask any child if they know about rolling calf or three foot jack, then ask if they know about candy crush, subway surf and temple run. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and social media have consumed them, and they miss out on the fun that I use to have. Those stories bond families together, but healthy social relationships, that is all the past, I guess the black heart man has retired and we have found some way to get rid of the duppies. Oh when it was about rolling calves and three foot jacks!

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Is world peace possible?

What does it mean to build peace in our hearts and minds? How does it relate to the world around us? These are indeed thought provoking questions, can they really be answered? Can we really build peace in our hearts and minds? And if we can, how does it relate to the world around us? I have been struggling to come to grips with what his happening in the world around us. Not that I am surprised but that it can scare you to know that a man can just put a bullet in your brain just because he doesn't like you. It is a shame to know that human being, homo sapiens, who is said to be above other species in thinking and reasoning is doing such cruelty to one another. I would to love to wake up one day and see on the news and in the papers, "World peace at last!", but I guess that is fairy tale, mere fiction, something that will never come to reality. 

With acts of terrorism and hundreds of people been killed, we are left to wonder when is the next genocide, forgive me for thinking negative but the status quo gives me no choice. But how can we build peace in our hearts and minds? I think one of the biggest barriers to this is ourselves. If we cannot see others how we see ourselves that it can never happen. Building peace in our hearts and minds being one with nature, fully connected by engaging the mind, body and soul, and to seek holistic development. It means that we all envision a world independent of war, violence, crime, hatred and work towards it. It means we will first, love ourselves and second, spread that love throughout, so that others can feel it, be touched by it so much that they cannot contain it and as such, burst open and spread it to others.

Once we can build peace with our minds and hearts, then we will be inclined to spread it throughout the world. Like a disease that spreads, we will replace what is wrong, with what is right and that is peace and love, forgiveness and honestly, all the qualities that will make each individual exception and irresistible. The question is asked again, what does it mean to build peace in our hearts and minds? Do you have an answer, what say you?  

Are politicians the biggest scammers?

In Jamaica, scamming can be no doubt placed in the top ten highest paying jobs. The way it has been publicized, it has now been considered as a career that children wants to pursue. Children are encapsulated by the type of life that scammers live, the big house, the nice car and the lavish lifestyle have consumed them. When we take a look at print and online media sources, time and time again we read that scammers have been caught and investigations are ongoing. A few have been convicted and some are still doing their thing. The question I want to ask is what do we think of scamming?

A dictionary definition tells us that a scam is fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit. I will not explore the reasons why people scam because that is, I think, self-explanatory. I am not so fully knowledgeable of how the scamming thing works entirely, but the little I know should be able to capture the essence of where I am going. Now, a scam works by tricking people of their money and in return promise them goods or service which could be in form of a prize or something tangible that is of worth. A scammer will call persons and convince them that they have won millions of dollars in cash and prizes, but in order to claim it, they have to pay a ‘processing fee’. After they send that money to whoever, they receive nothing and never hear from that person again. How would you feel?

Considering other things like Ponzi schemes such as cash plus and Olint. Those ventures caused persons to lose a woefully and it affected many lives. Even today people still have not recovered from those schemes. Today people are finding creative ways to scam people, even their own. A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often solicit new investors by promising to invest funds in opportunities claimed to generate high returns with little or no risk. It is a carefully orchestrated financial scam that is completely illegal.

How is it that Ponzi schemes were able to, and can still flourish in Jamaica? Hear what Delano Franklyn had to say “First, known and reputable persons and institutions were involved. A list of the names of the institutions and persons published by the FSC indicates that even persons who propagate the highest form of ethics and moral values in the society were involved in the collection of funds, some of whom are now on the run from people who are demanding repayment.

“Second, the high level of informality which exists in the Jamaica economy. Studies have shown that the size of the informal economy in Jamaica is almost 50 per cent. This informal economy is characterised by a 'hussle' mentality. It operates above, around and under the regulated economy. Its culture is one of anti-regulation. It settles its own scores where there are differences. It is not class or social specific. All types are involved, the rich, the poor, the social, the anti-social and big and small businesses.

“Third, the existence of selective morality and ethical values in the country. The owner of a business in Jamaica has no difficulty conspiring with another to extract electricity from the Jamaica Public Service, but rightly, calls in the police if an employee is caught stealing; a provider of professional services has no difficulty operating two books in order to avoid the payment of taxes, but complains bitterly about the irregularity with which his garbage is being collected; and there are persons among us who have no respect for planning or building laws. They build anything, anywhere.” (Jamaica Observer, April 25, 2012)

Having considered the whole notion of scamming and Ponzi schemes, I have been considering the question, is politics the biggest Ponzi scheme and politicians the biggest scammers? Look at it, politicians promise to do this and that and in the end, collect a big pay check and do nothing for the people. Look at how the government works, it collects people tax money, yet they do nothing for them in return. At the end of the day the people are scammed out of their hard earned money. Which politician doesn’t own a big house or drive a decent car? Which politician know how it feels to can’t find food to eat? The poor is getting the worst end of the bargain.

On April 30, 2014, the Jamaica Observer carried the headline “PM promises over 21,000 jobs in 2014/15”. The article stated “The prime minister, who was speaking in the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, explained that close to 80 per cent of the jobs will be created under the Government's minimum wage emergency works scheme, the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), and its rural food production-boosting agro parks development programme.” Did that actually came to fruition? Were 21,000 jobs issued? Is politics one big Ponzi scheme? What say you? +Mario Boothe

Homosexuality, Compatibility and Mothers' Day

As we explore the essence of motherhood, it is critical that we take to time out to respect all the hardworking mothers who have worked assiduously to ensure that their children get the best possible care and are successful in their various endeavors. However to talk about what makes a mother worthy of honour would be endless. As we explore the issue at hand, let us consider a brief history of mothers’ day.

Brief History

“Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service. Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s.”

“The roots of the modern American Mother’s Day date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War (1861-65), Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

“The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is simply attraction to the same sex. Many times, these people’s lifestyles are considered as unnatural and they continue to be despised. Hatred towards them have led to many of them being abused and many use violence against them. The Christian religion is one of the biggest challenge to homosexuality. Those who are strictly against them are considered as fundamentalists. Today, we have homosexuals in the very church that despise them. In some countries and or states they are allow to get married. Tolerance towards gays have been slightly on a rise in some countries and or states. They should not be allowed to be abused, they should not be subjected to violent treatment or discrimination, they deserve better because they are humans first and homosexuals second.

I do not wish to bring my personal beliefs in this discussion but must I say that I am a fundamentalist so I need not to say more, but I wish to see them being treated for the human beings that they are with dignity and respect. They are different, we might not agree with their lifestyles but that does not mean we should treat them as less human. We might try to convince them otherwise but it’s their choice so let them live how they want to. In Jamaica, violence against homosexuals do exists, but I refuse to believe that we are homophobic as portrayed in the international community. Sometimes these gays take it too far, and I would implore them to behave better. Some of them harass people and think that they can get away with certain things. Not so! They hide behind the buggery law claiming it stops them from accessing health care – rubbish!

Gay marriage compatible with mothers’ day?

Can homosexuals (gays) factor in the celebrations of mothers’ day? Are homosexual relationships a direct threat to the traditional concept of the family that we have accepted for years? When we have two men in a relationship with a child, which does the child consider as the mother? Is that family structure robbing the child of that motherliness structure and comfort that they should receive? The typical dictionary definition will tell you that ‘mother’ is a “term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent” can that definition apply to the current and new trend that we have been exposed to?

The flip-side to it is equally important about women and fathers’ day, but I would not get into that, exploring one side should convey the idea. Many people question the idea of such a family structure and the arguments range from religious to secular. Why do gay couples have to depend on straight people to have access to a child? The mere fact that they have to be dependent does that mean that something is dead wrong with the concept? With respect to lesbians, they are able to have children, be biological mothers, but don’t they have to depend on men for that to happen? The gay couple without women cannot have access to children and the lesbian couple with men cannot have access to children, is that enough to show them something must be wrong? Why the dependency? If something is the natural order of things, does it have to depend directly on other factors for it to work? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless of how feminine a man is in a gay family it can never to be equal to that bond that a child would have established with a female mother, however, it is the way it is. These are some thought provoking questions to a real issue worthy of discussion. The questions are asked, what is your answer? 

Note: The brief history is extracted from History.com Url - http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day

The PNP virus: A new epidemic...

In 2014, Jamaica ranks 85 of 174 countries on the corruption index by Transparency International. Let me start by saying that this is a bad state to be in. Corruption drives away investors, and that is bad for any country. The current PNP administration knows nothing about accountability. And the failure to remove non-performers from high places are negligible. Like Ebola, a new epidemic has revealed itself in Gordon House and it is called the PNPVLS – People’s National Party Vision Less Syndrome. It is caused by a virus that once it enters the body it goes straight to the brain, and eats out that part of the brain that interprets vision. As such, a person who has this disease cannot see non-performance, corruption or lack of accountability. Depending on the stage of the virus, type 1 includes when one cannot see one of the three and type 2 includes when one cannot see a combination of the three. This virus is a deadly virus and is costing Jamaicans millions.

It seems this virus has no cure, or no treatment. A person can live with this virus for an entire lifetime and is unaware that they have it. It can be spread through direct contact with the person or via the air. The symptoms include: failure to get rid of non-performers, have a tendency to defend non-performers, failure to see a corrupt colleague, has no idea that someone is wasting public funds, refused to adhere to the voice of the public, resist change, and having no clue what is happening at street level among others. The virus has infiltrate Gordon House because clearly most if not all have shown some signs of these symptoms. Will there ever be a cure or treatment for this disease? I hope so.

A few persons have caught this disease and I am wondering who else is going to catch it. The main person who has this disease is the PM. She refuse to sack Philipo Paulowell, Fentonian Ferginsono, Eastoni Douglas and was trying to defend Jennifera Edwardso for her handling of the Riverton City Dump. The NHT has been on a rampant waste of public funds, as revealed by the Auditor General. Clearly Jamaica is feeling the effects of these people who are either not performing, not accountable or corrupt. The Auditor General also revealed that the Ministry of Education was giving out illegitimate contracts. Then we hear about a former Mayor who award family members and close friends contracts and or money amounting to over three million dollars. How can we get better, and these are happening under the PNP administration.

It was Garfield Higgins that wrote well informed and extensive column in the Jamaica Observer showing us that the PNP knows nothing about accountability. Is it that it just happen to be that way? No, the disease has taken it roots, eating out the brain slowly but surely. How a virus does works? The concept is simple: “Viruses lie around our environment all of the time just waiting for a host cell to come along. They can enter us through the nose, mouth or breaks in the skin. Once inside, they find a host cell to infect. For example, cold and flu viruses will attack cells that line the respiratory or digestive tracts. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, attacks the T-cells of the immune system.

Regardless of the type of host cell, all viruses follow the same basic steps in what is known as the lytic cycle:

1. A virus particle attaches to a host cell.

2. The particle releases its genetic instructions into the host cell.

3. The injected genetic material recruits the host cell's enzymes.

4. The enzymes make parts for more new virus particles.

5. The new particles assemble the parts into new viruses.

6. The new particles break free from the host cell.

All viruses have some type of protein on the outside coat or envelope that "feels" or "recognizes" the proper host cell(s). This protein attaches the virus to the membrane of the host cell. Some enveloped viruses can dissolve right through the cell membrane of the host because both the virus envelope and the cell membrane are made of lipids.

Those viruses that do not enter the cell must inject their contents (genetic instructions, enzymes) into the host cell. Those viruses that dissolve into a cell simply release their contents once inside the host. In either case, the results are the same. (Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.). It is sad, but I hope that it will not spread, because I sure don’t want it.