Jamaican democracy is a facade

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education”. -  Franklin D. Roosevelt.

As we reflect on the true meaning of August 6, 2014, thinking whether we are truly independent or not, thinking whether there is anything to celebrate about, thinking whether Grand Gala was a waste of time and money, I am wondering if Jamaica is truly a democratic country. In any country where the government is selected under a democratic regime, the common thought that rests upon one’s mind is that majority rules or majority counts.

The universal adult suffrage was first introduced in Jamaica on November 20, 1944. The aim of such was to create a system that extended voting rights to all adults irrespective of race, sex, or social class. It was to set the foundation for our political system today, and in, a sense, catalysed the movement toward self-government for Jamaica.

The process was led by Norman Manley, and Alexander Bustamante would later become the island's first prime minister. Before Universal Adult Suffrage, implemented in 1944, the right to vote was determined by the amount of wealth or property a man held. Additionally, the universal adult suffrage was to set the pace for equity and equality.

The universal adult suffrage was embedded in the concept that Jamaica ought to be a democratic nation, where it’s the people who decide who leads the country and it’s them who decide their own future as a nation. Only a few in Jamaica really understand the fundamental right to vote. The ‘garrison’ and ‘bandwagon’ mentality is what clouds our judgment, and as such, our decisions are misinformed and unwise. We need not to forget that whoever we choose to led us, is either going to lead us to prosperity or damnation.

Over the years, we have seen a significant decline in the voter turnout. In the 2011 elections, of a number of 1,648,036 people who were eligible to vote, only 869,438 voted, which makes the voter turnout 52.76%. I am wondering why 47.24% did not vote. And, in order to fix this problem, one of the solutions brought forward was to make voting mandatory. Rubbish! Because of what the government – both JLP and PNP, has done over the years, people have lost confidence in them, which means neither party is fit to serve, for both are the same thing – corrupt. In our 52 years of independence what have we achieve? Struggling to pass some IMF tests while crime, abuse and poverty escalate?

In a democracy, people are to select a government that will maneuver us to continuous success, where living is affordable; opportunities are readily available, where we embrace modernisation and globalization, educational and health services are 21^st century – world class, innovation becomes a part of us, where we advance in the world of technology and surpass vision 2030. The selection should be based on informed and wise decision. However, poor governance is a plague unto our nation. I am yet to see the political party which stands out, they are both the same. Questions: if no party is fit to serve, what is the point of choosing since there is nothing to choose? Does democracy truly exists? Is there a difference between ice in a bag and ice in a cube? Democracy might exist, but not in the true sense of the context of its true meaning. 

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com

Misconceptions in this gay debate...

Though I wish not to get entangled in this gay debate, I have read many news articles, letters and columns and editorials and noticed, much have been said. And as such, it induced controversies and criticisms. Within the context and framework of this debate, I have noticed that there are misconceptions and that is why some persons speak and reason the way they do.

The first misconception is that it seems we believe that homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica. To my knowledge, I have yet to hear that there is a law that states that homosexuality is a criminal offense. I have never heard of a case in which, a person is locked up and charged for being attracted to the same sex. I have noticed this misconception because persons believe that the US might pressure Jamaica to ‘free up the B-man them.’ This type of reasoning vacuous, since anybody is free to love whomever they want.

Because of misconception #1, the second misconception follows easily, which is the belief that anal sex is synonymous homosexuality. I have noticed this misconception based on two ideologies. The first is that when a person disagrees with the buggery, it seems that they think they are disagreeing with homosexuality. This is not the case. Disagreeing with the buggery law means you disagree with anal sex, not homosexuality. It seems this ideology has its root in that fact that it is gays who are more likely to engage in anal sex, but studies have shown that heterosexuals engage in anal sex more than homosexuals. Homosexuality is simply being attracted to the same sex and buggery is simply anal sex, though they link in one way or another, they are not the same – common sense!

The second ideology is that since Christians are pushing the retention of the buggery law, people are offended, and the usual thing to do is to say “God says not to judge” or “what about fornication and adultery?” Asking these questions is senseless. When the church was protesting about the retention of the buggery law, they were not protesting against homosexuality but ‘anal sex’, but because of the misconception, this fact is constantly being ignored. The church cannot protest against something that is already legal, though not official.

This other misconception is embedded in, and extends from misconception #2. Because there is the belief that homosexuality is synonymous to anal sex, many have it to say that the buggery law is discriminatory. It is said that the buggery law prevents the LGBT community from accessing proper health care. This type of reasoning is absurd! Then there is this concept that we must get rid of ‘old laws’ that discriminates against a minority or vulnerable group of people. Because our reasoning is insular, we may never accept this fact, the law does not discriminate against homosexuals. Let us eliminate lesbians, since they aren’t likely to commit buggery. What of gays? The buggery law speaks about ‘any man’ not a homosexual man or a gay man. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals engage in the act. The only reason gay men feel discriminated against, is because they are the ones who are ‘more likely’ to commit the act. But that doesn’t mean they are the only ones doing it. The law affects buggers – both homo/heterosexuals not just gays!

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com

Gays, stop hiding behind the buggery law!

It is a common talk that the buggery law discriminates against MSMs and it serves as a hindrance to gays having access to proper health care. It is also considered mendacious to make the claim that in countries, in which the buggery law is removed, there is no improvement of access to health care by MSM community and therefore STIs is high among that group.

I believe that to hide behind the buggery law is either ignorance or stupidity at its best. We ought to be aware that STIs means Sexually Transmitted Infections. That means the most common way the infections can be transmitted is through sexual intercourse – that is common sense. Now, in order to prevent the spreading of STIs, professionals suggest methods which that can be done. One of the most popular and common method is using a condom.

I want to know, how does the buggery law prevents MSM from using condoms? Are they that ignorant that they are oblivious that if you have sex without a condom there is a high possibility of contracting STIs? Or are they just stupid? I am sure that there are tons of advertisements and posters all over the place with the slogan: “use a condom every time.” So this hiding behind the buggery law is just ignorance or mere stupidity. Is it that when they (MSM) see these advertisements they interpret it as speaking to only vaginal sex?

I have no interest in what consenting adults want to do in their bedrooms for that is not my business. But it is foolish to claim that the buggery law is preventing MSM from accessing proper health care and as such, that is why STIs is high among MSM community. What kind of rational is that? The buggery law says that people should not engage in buggery, not that they should not use condoms. Just as how heterosexuals can do HIV tests to ensure that their partners are safe, why can’t the MSM community do that? When is it that when you go to do the test, you are asked whether you are gay or straight? And even if you are asked, does being gay prevent them from being tested? Well, may be.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it that health care comes after one has contracted a STI? Which, there would be treatment and/or cure, if possible, of the infection? Then if that is the case, then doesn’t that mean that everyone has a duty and/or responsibility to protect themselves from contracting STIs? The members of the MSM community should stop their careless lifestyle and start demonstrating wisdom. Additionally, according to Dr David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist, “Most sexual activities carry a risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) ranging from gonorrhoea and herpes to hepatitis B and HIV. Anal intercourse carries a high transmission risk.”

I am not supporting the gay lifestyle; I am just simply saying that whatever life that people choose to live, they must ensure that they do what is necessary to protect themselves. Gays must use the brains that God gave them, and stop hiding behind the buggery law! Let us not confuse ignorance or mere stupidity with incontrovertible truths.  

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com

Reading is important, please stop ignore...

 

It was when I entered the National Library Service’s annual reading competition, I found out how fun reading can be. One of the books that I got to read was titled ‘til am laid to rest,’ written by Garfield Ellis. The book had me hooked, it was an excellent piece. I recently read a novel titled ‘Lifeguard’ by James Patterson; it was a marvelous, explicitly brilliant novel.

With the data that is now available on educatejamaica.org which highlights that only a mere 25% of high schools in Jamaica that were able to produce students with five (5) or more CSEC subjects, which are the minimum requirement to matriculate to a tertiary institution, the blame game starts again. While many are blaming teachers; teachers are complaining about the many factors that affect students’ learning such as lack of resources, socioeconomic background, and students’ cognitive level, among others.

Recently I picked up an Observer which was from 2011, and I saw an article about ‘failing schools.’ The content of the article was no different from what I have been reading now. I have noticed that we are master critics, but amateurs in providing and executing solutions. One columnist mentioned that we must target early childhood and improve the quality of education at that level, with such, I concur. For whatever happens at this level, sets the foundation for academic success.

However, based on UNICEF, Jamaica’s literacy level is at 87%, compared to our Caribbean neighbors Barbados, whose literacy level is at 99.7%, we asked ourselves, what is it that they are doing that we aren’t? If we ought to produce effective citizen, improve our education system, then we need to improve our literacy level. As such, I also urge the government to intervene at the early childhood level. Instead of saying students must not leave high school and cannot read, a child should not leave basic school and cannot read, unless that child has a learning disorder that will prevent him/her from doing so.

“Research findings in applied linguistics and reading research consistently show a strong correlation between reading proficiency and academic success at all ages. From primary school to university,” says E. Pristorius, a linguist. Good readers can understand the individual sentences and the organizational structure of the piece of writing. They can comprehend ideas, arguments and detect implications. When parents and teachers encourage reading, it improves proficiency in the English Language, improves academic success, improves literacy level and by extension, improves our educational outcome. The importance of reading cannot be overemphasized.

Linguists suggest that there is an important stage in every child’s life referred to as early literacy development. Researchers highlight that there are factors which affect such development, oral language being among them. The stronger a child's oral language development, the greater is the literacy success. Because increased literacy correlates to enhanced learning ability and sharper critical reasoning skills, an emphasis on oral language gives children a proven foundation for dramatically accelerated success in life. At this stage, parents are to expose their children to a lot of reading material. Reading and oral language are mutual inclusive – like mutualism in symbiosis. Research tells us that those children who have strong oral language skills often have strong reading and writing skills. We should encourage reading at all levels; less Candy Crush, less Temple Run, less Subway Surf and more reading.

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com

Not repeal, but revise....

Many have been distraught because of the rally on Sunday June 29, 2014, declaring that there are more pressing issues at stake. Questions have been raised, how come the church is not protesting against rapists, murderers, adulterers, fornicators etc.? The church should be the moral fiber of society, the DNA of which our moral standards and values are based up on. Yet, many are of the conviction that the rally or the ‘church’ itself is infiltrated with pure hypocrisy.

It is quite sad to hear the public’s view of the event; however it is just the growing trend – a mere aspect of the status quo. The church over years has lost its voice; its position as the moral fiber of society is slowly delving into a state of extinction. Though we are not perfect, we have failed to live a life in which people have respect for us, and by extension, the church. I was under the conviction that the Jamaican populous embraced a culture of Christian values and principles. Our National Anthem in and of itself is a prayer, which I heard (not sure how true it is) was among the best in the world.

Regardless of how our culture has evolved, I believe that the church community reserves the right to have a voice and to speak out against a human behavior that they and other members of society consider unacceptable. As a Christian, I do not, in any way, tolerate violence and/or discrimination against homosexuals, but I will not accept their behavior as normal, neither will I accept that they were born that way. For, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association recommends that people not use the argument that homosexuality is biological because there is simply not enough evidence.

Many (homosexuals predominantly) are calling on the Government to repeal the buggery law which states “Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or is a party to the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the discretion of the court to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour.” I will not say that the law must be repealed, rather it should be revised. Since homosexuals claim that what they do in the privacy of their homes is nobody’s business, then remove the word private from the law. Clearly, the law in its current state is unenforceable, however let what is done in private, stays in private.

According to J-FLAG, “a wholesale repeal of the buggery law would not be helpful to anyone because it would create a lacuna in the law.” Brian Paul, sub-regional co-ordinator of the Caribbean Forum of the Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS) and advocate for J-FLAG states “So, for instance, if a little boy or little girl should be raped in the anus, in the absence of the buggery law, there is no protection. So, as it is right now, the buggery law does serve some useful purpose, but it is problematic for consenting adults in private.” I believe homosexuals have rights, should be respected and live a peaceful life, but I do not condone homosexuals forcing society to accept their lifestyle as normal.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

Kenroy Davis is an educator and commentator on social issues affecting the country. Email feedback to: kenroy.davis20@gmail.com