Animals put humans to shame!

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." - Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

Let me start by asking this question: What is happening to our nation’s children? There have been a march in Clarendon against the violence against our children, and there is also another march that was organized by Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC). I think that is a good initiative but I also think it is not enough.  Parents ought to be more responsible and stop neglecting their children, stop selling them. Our society should know the value of children and stop senselessly killing them. When I examine how humans are treating their own, especially our children, it makes me wonder. It shows that intelligence doesn’t necessary mean that we are better than other species, for clearly in the animal kingdom, the young must be protected at all times, what of humans? We should be a shame of ourselves! Let us examine how the young are protected in the kingdom Animalia:

Elephants

Elephants give new meaning to the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child.” The baby ends up with an entire herd of mothers, all of whom take turns watching over each other’s children. The term for these other female elephants is “allmothers” and they help ensure the newborn's survival by taking the load off of its mother. It frees her up to rejuvenate and obtain enough sustenance to provide milk for her child.

Tamarins

It might not take a whole herd, but in the world of tamarins, it does take a couple of men. Tamarins split the parenting duties a little unevenly, requiring the males in the group to do all of the heavy lifting once the baby is born. Tamarin females have a statistically high rate of twins, and after the hard work of birthing the tykes, both the father and another male will step in to raise them. They team up to carry the kids around and protect them, only requiring the mom to feed them on occasion

Alligator

When a female alligator gives birth to her litter, she spends the next year of her life protecting her babies from other gators looking for a snack. A lot of the time this means corralling her kids into her mouth— yep, sharp teeth and all! — to protect them.

Emperor penguins

Emperor penguins go to great lengths to care for their children. After giving birth, the female emperor penguin will leave the family behind to replenish her body at sea, leaving the father to take on all of the parental responsibilities. For two months, the father will carry his egg around on his feet and forgo eating until the mother returns. When she does, she’ll regurgitate some of her food for the baby, while the father takes his turn out at sea. Cooperative parenting at its finest!

Orangutan

The bond between an orangutan mother and her young is one of the strongest in nature. During the first two years of life, the young rely entirely on their mothers for both food and transportation. The moms stay with their young for six to seven years, teaching them where to find food, what and how to eat and the technique for building a sleeping nest. Female orangutans are known to “visit” their mothers until they reach the age of 15 or 16.

Cheetah

Cheetah mothers raise their young in isolation. They move their litter—usually two to five cubs—every four days to prevent a build-up of smell that predators can track. After 18 months of training as hunters, the cheetah cubs finally leave their mothers. The cubs then form a sibling group that will stay together for another six months.

Having looked at all of that, what of us? “We are in grief and shock over the execution-style murder of three schoolchildren in Clarendon last Wednesday night along with 35-year-old Marquis Hamilton in the Monymusk neighbourhood. The three promising students, 14-year-old Ricardo Briscoe, 14-year-old Raymond Givans, and 16-year-old Alex Turner were made to lie face down and shot in the back of their heads by two gunmen.” (Jean Lowie-Chin, Jamaica Observer Columnist, April 25, 2015). That is what we are doing? Intelligence makes us no better in animal kingdom, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

The Elephants are the one that I admire most, the concept of “all mothers” is quite astonishing. But what of Jamaica. “Santoya Campbell, a 14-year-old Westmoreland girl, went missing on January 26 and her body was found, two days later, stuffed in garbage bags under a bridge. According to grief-stricken relatives, Santoya, who was a grade eight student of Frome Technical High, did not reach school after leaving her home early the morning she went missing. Following a post-mortem it was found out that Santoya was pregnant.

Similarly, another 14-year-old girl, identified as Kayalicia Simpson of St Thomas, was hacked to death and her mutilated body dumped metres from her house on March 3. Police reported that about 5:00 am that day, the grade eight student went outside her house as she prepared for school. About half-an-hour later her body was found lying face down in bushes close to the one-room wooden structure in which she lived” (Jamaica Observer, April 25, 2015). We were told that the mother knew about the killer, and that she was the one that arrange for her child to seek money from him. Intelligence makes us no better than other species, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear." - Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

Desperate times, call for desperate measures

Earlier this year, two 14-year-old girls faced similar fate as 12 year old Jamelia Johnson. According to a report “Santoya Campbell, a 14-year-old Westmoreland girl, went missing on January 26 and her body was found, two days later, stuffed in garbage bags under a bridge. According to grief-stricken relatives, Santoya, who was a grade eight student of Frome Technical High, did not reach school after leaving her home early the morning she went missing. Following a post-mortem it was found out that Santoya was pregnant.

Similarly, another 14-year-old girl, identified as Kayalicia Simpson of St Thomas, was hacked to death and her mutilated body dumped metres from her house on March 3. Police reported that about 5:00 am that day, the grade eight student went outside her house as she prepared for school. About half-an-hour later her body was found lying face down in bushes close to the one-room wooden structure in which she lived” (Jamaica Observer, April 25, 2015).

Now we turn our attention to another child, whose nude body was found in bushes close to a river near her home in Williamsfield, near Riversdale in the parish of St. Catherine. This begs the question, what is happening in Jamaica? Why our children? An autopsy was done to determine of the child was pregnant because that seems to be a trend. However, the results would have us to believe that it was not so. Residents are simply getting frustrated and need answers. All the government seems to be doing is sending condolences to the bereaved family. That is not enough! We want to hear what is going to be done about it. According to the report the people took matters in their own hands.

“Yesterday, a group of angry residents, after learning about the little girl's death, went to her family's home and set the house on fire. The child's mother and grandmother were also attacked by the mob and had to be escorted from the community by the police. The group claimed that it was neglect by the family that led to the child's death.” (Jamaica Observer, April 25, 2015). Imagine that, people took matters in their own hands, and resort to extreme measures because they are adamant that it was neglect by the parents that led to the death of Jamelia. I would not say that I agree with their approach, but I can say that I agree with and understand their frustration. This goes to show that when the government fails to do what they need to, the people will continue to behave in such manner.

Parents have been very neglectful and I think this cannot continue. Santoya mother knew about the relationship with her daughter and the man who took her life. What did she do about it? How many more houses will be burnt down for parents to start being more responsible and caring? How many more attacks by mobs will it take for parents to see that their neglect putting Jamaica’s future is jeopardy? The people attacked the mother and grandmother, was it justified? No. Was it the right approach? No. Then what is?

It is quite sad that this is what it has come to. My heart aches just thinking about our children. What happens next? What does the word safe means? What about protection? Does it mean anything to us as a society? Will it ever stop? Will it be a new trend that just pass by? Will it be a case where every death of a child cause a national outcry, then that’s it? We need to check ourselves. Each of us has a role to play, so let us play it.

A new slave trade in the 21st century... Madness!

According to BBC news "Hundreds of people are feared to have drowned after a boat carrying up to 700 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean sea, the Italian coastguard said. A major rescue operation is under way after the vessel capsized in Libyan waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. Speaking through a translator at a news conference, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the trafficking of migrants amounted to "a new slave trade". Is that really true? Is there a new slave trade that is slowly but surely arising yet hiding from the public? Who are the masterminds of the network? Are there any efforts to dismantle it? There are so many questions that need to be answered.

700 people is quite a number and I can imagine that in number you have men, women and children. To lose their lives in that manner would have been but a sad situation. I wish all efforts are made to destroy this criminal network, and to find the missing people. In our modern era, slavery should have been none existent, but it seem not that case. But human trafficking continues to be a plaque not only in certain countries but by extension a plague on humanity itself. History will tell us how people suffer because of slavery. Today, people will stop at nothing to make money, with little respect for the lives of others. Will it ever stop? we do not know. Italy has been doing all they can and I hope other countries can join forces together to dismantle this criminal network. Hear what PM Matteo Renzi has to say. 

Should a country forfeit individual privacy to achieve national security?

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Debate Match

Could communism work for Jamaica?

Cuba has asked Obama to remove them from the state sponsor list of terrorism and as such, Obama has moved to grant that request. It is said that Cuba has been one of the many states that practice some form of communism government. As such, they were seen as violating of human right. At least most of the states that has some form of communist concept, the international community has placed sanctions on them in hope that they will ‘conform’ and change their ideals. Countries such as Venezuela, North Korea and Russia, the international community has placed sanctions on them. But I would like to examine some of these countries that have some form of communist concept and examine how those countries are doing in terms of growth and other critical areas.

In China, there was a mass demonstration by the people protesting against their government that they would like the right to select their leaders – insisting on having a democratic government. We are yet to see if any result had come from that protest but the people were quite frustrated for whatever reason. Let us face it, China has become a world power, having one of the fastest growing economy in the world, which means you have less poverty, good health care and education system. China is a first world country and they did not automatically become one, the leaders had a vision and they did it their way – communism. A political scientist from china made mention that there isn’t one way to run a country and that is true. While democracy works for some country, communism works for others, would it work for Jamaica?

One of the main aspect that I would like to focus on is the crime rate of some communist states. Cuba has one of the lowest crime rate in the western hemisphere. Singapore which is a guided democracy – having some form of communist concept, has one of the lowest crime rate in the world, along with China and Rwanda in Africa. If you also look at these countries corruption levels, it is also among the lowest in the world. It also goes without saying that some of these countries has one of the best economies in the world. Investors flood these countries, what of Jamaica? If we really look at other critical areas these countries are leading globally. I am not being envious, nor am I saying we ought to adapt every policy from others, I just simply want to see Jamaica being place on a path of growth and prosperity where the citizens feel safe. In recent times, crime in Jamaica has been shocking! Could communism curb the crime monster? While communism work for others, it doesn’t work for some, would it work for Jamaica?

Truth be told, we are a very indiscipline nation. We need to develop a level of discipline and I don’t believe democracy will achieve such. Japan is a democratic state and has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, but democracy in Japan is not democracy in Jamaica. The democracy that exists in Jamaica is one that is poor, and failing. I cannot say definitively if communism would work for Jamaica but clearly democracy isn’t working. Many will say that it is the incompetency of our politicians that is the problem and not democracy because you can have democracy with competent leaders. While that is true, the flipside to that is democracy is the reason those incompetent persons are leading. I strongly support communism but because it usually comes with some violation of human rights, I don’t think it is ideal. However, if it would make me feel safe, live in a discipline country that is growing, I think I could work with that.

The Singaporean model seems fine, it is called a guided democracy – really close to communism. The truth of the matter is, if we can have leaders who are competent, who understand growth strategy and advancement of the people then it can work. As much as how Rwandan president has been chastised for human rights violation, you have a low crime rate, a disciplined nation, a growing economy, less poverty and more jobs. But with our current system, communism wouldn’t work for Jamaica. Alternatively, what I suggest is having term limits on these politicians because there is no way you should have a politicians serving up to until they are 80 – rubbish!  Our political landscape needs to be change, our government system need revamping, the Westminster model has overstayed its welcome, we need something new, something fresh, but the status quo seems that it will never be challenged. In the final analysis the question still stands, would communism work for Jamaica?

Terrorism, fear, horror... in Jamaica?

On Wednesday night four persons were killed in a community in Clarendon, three teenagers and 35 y-old man. It is alleged that perpetrators attempted to rob the boys as they were coming from the gym and when their demands were not met, they killed the young men in cold blood – execution style. The commissioner of police Dr. Williams says that there is a reward of J$500,000 for any information that could lead to the capture arrest of these criminals. When did the hearts of men become so cold? What could have been going through their minds when they commit such an act? Could it be that these activities transcends merely our view of human wickedness and tap into the realm of spirituality – demonic activities. Earlier this year, an eleven year old was shot and killed in cold blood, an eleven month old baby was killed while his mother was bathing him. In a matter of two weeks, two fourteen year old teenage girl were killed and then it was then discovered that they were pregnant.

Additionally, an eleven year old girl was found to be pregnant, allegedly raped by her uncle. When I examine what is happening in my country I become so paranoid, day after day I live in fear – wondering what will happen if I simply walk on the street. It is like I am actually living a horror movie. The word safe has slowly but surely lost it meaning and the sad reality is that what happened to the four persons killed could have happened to any one of us. What really got me spiked was the fact that in January alone, more than 100 persons have been killed, yet our security minister told us we need not to be alarmed. What nonsense! Question, do we have terrorist among us?

It was the UWI, Mona that released a study that show that half of Jamaican youth are willing to give up their citizenship for better opportunities overseas. What is that saying about this country? Mark you, I am very much proud of my country – as our culture is respected world-wide. We are known for producing world class athletes and our reggae music is highly respected. However, Jamaica is not the place it used to be. When I was a child, I used to enjoy the stories my great grand-mother would to tell me about the then Jamaica of which she existed. It is just not the same. Our crime rate makes us a country that attracts less investors, an aspect that is critical to the growth of any nation.

When you think about it, our children are in danger and that means our future is in danger. As a country we have failed to protect our precious treasure. Children must be protected at all cost. Let us look at the animal realm. Have we ever seen how a dog protect its young from what it deemed as predators? Have we seen how a chicken protect its young from predators? Nature itself tells us how precious they are, but it seems humans have it the other way around. Our vision 2030 wants to make Jamaica ‘the’ place to raise families, at this rate, that seems unlikely. Jamaica is not what it used to be. If we do have terrorists, what reason is there for us not to fear?

I cannot account for the pain that these mothers must be facing as a result of the acts of the criminals. They need to get justice, they need to know that these criminals are hunted day and night and the police will stop at nothing to catch them. No amount of word will comfort them, justice will. While nothing will bring back their children, at least they deserved to see the perpetrators punished for their heinous crime. We are a very corrupt nation, our political environment is disastrous, and we are indiscipline. A recent report stated that Jamaica is running one of the worst austerity budget in the world so I find a recent report from the IMF surprising that says “Jamaica’s growth forecast was slightly lowered for 2015, but surprisingly it still beat the average growth in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to fresh data from the island's multilateral lender the International Monetary Fund (IMF).” (Jamaica Observer, April 17, 2015). Jamaica is not the worst, but that does not mean we should settle for mediocrity. Jamaica indeed lack resources to effective tackle crime. We lack the technology, man power and creativity.

I believe these acts that have been occurring since recently are acts of terrorism. While we do not have a massacre as there was in Kenya, what is happening here has some characteristics that resembles those acts. And we need not the wait until it reached that far for us to see that something is definitely wrong. The church has been so silent on these critical issues and this a cause of concern. We need to cry out and demand more of our government, we need more of our nation, our people and ourselves. The culture of silence must change and we need to find ways to put these criminals behind bars. I call for justice, do you?

Innocent blood is crying out in africa

Since the brutal attack on a university campus in Kenya’s northern town of Garissa, much discussion in local and international media has put an emphasis on the untimely response to the attack by Kenya’s security agencies, and of the general lack of an effective counter-terrorism strategy. I find this disturbing due to the fact that not only does the Kenyan Government failed in employing effective counter terrorism strategies but there have been little support from the international community. Discussions and outcry alone cannot cut it, as that will serve as futile vis-à-vis a challenge to the status quo. The people of Kenya and Nigeria has been crying out for too long and I am tired of seeing them being neglected. When the  twelve persons were killed from Charlie Hebdo Satire newspaper in France some time ago, there was an international outcry, a march which attracted leaders from around world, yet during that same time extremist groups killed hundreds in Nigeria and nothing came out of it - imagine that!

Some African countries have been growing economically since recently, while some countries are still lagging - having poor education and health care systems, insufficient resources, lack of jobs and poor political systems. Extreme poverty is dominant in some African countries, where thousands of children died because starvation. Most African countries have failed to be integrated in this globalized and technological world. This has a significant contribution to how some of these countries have been able to effectively employ counter-terrorism strategies as defensive measures. These extremist groups have been shedding innocent blood without a case. If the US is able to Help Iraq and Iran dismantle Isis, why is it that they have not gone to these African countries to offer the same level of help to protect the African people in these countries? Would there need to be a genocide for us to see the threat that these extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram poses to their immediate environs? Are the African people less than the twelve killed in France? Are these extremist groups considered less of a threat to humanity and human rights than Isis?

How does Al-Shabaab does it? According Ngala Chome in his article "Countering Al-Shabaab’s narrative in Kenya’s fight against extremism" he stated that "Abdirahim’s story teaches us at least three key lessons. First, that the commonly-held belief that Al-Shabaab recruits only from disenfranchised and marginalised youth is faulty. Second, the view that radicalisation happens to someone, rather than it being a process the radicalised actively chooses to participate in. Last and perhaps most important, we cannot persist in viewing Al-Shabaab as an external threat to Kenya’s peace, but as a manifestation of the impact of unaddressed local grievances. It is under the latter context that Al-Shabaab has successfully taken advantage of Kenya’s existing fault lines to draw membership (and sympathy) to its side." I too believe that these groups recruit university students  who are specialist in specific areas. I believe that they have an intelligent network consisting of bright minds so the recruiting transcends the mere concept of marginalized  youth.

However, is it  that its because African countries have not cried for help why none is being offered? I do not believe that the case. Saudi has been helping out Yemen to fight the Houthis extremist group without Yemen asking  for help. Whatever the case nay be, the international community has failed miserably, and they should step up and do more for these African nations. Innocent blood is crying out, children, women, men  are dying without a cause. While I encourage and welcome the outcries, protests and discussions, I prefer a more practical approach to the situation. In the final analysis, Ngala Chome laid down the following recommendations: "It is this current state of affairs that needs a re-examination, in addition to and in complementing intelligence efforts and effective counter-terrorism measures. Existing fault-lines need to be bridged, historical injustices genuinely addressed; and alliances with respectable members of the Muslim community made so as to promote the already existing form of Islam that has always been peaceful and tolerant. The latter can, and will act as a buffer against growing radical ideologies originating from outside the region."

Will ISIS ever be no more?

A recent BBC news article titled "Iraq 'retakes over quarter of Islamic State territory'" stated that "

Islamic State (IS) has lost more than a quarter of its territory in Iraq since the US-led coalition air campaign began in August, a Pentagon spokesman says. Col Steve Warren said it was too early to say the tide was turning, but that air strikes and Iraqi ground forces had "unquestionably inflicted some damage". This is a news that is welcoming to the ear, Isis have done so much irreparable damage. People have been killed, civilians have been forced to flee their own countries, economies have been severely affected and they are in control of some of the major cities in Iran, Iraq and Syria. It is clear that some progress have been made but will that trajectory continue? Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi wants the coalition to step up its air campaign against IS. Having seen that Iraq has claim 20 - 30% of its territory through the air campaign against IS, Prime minister al-Abadi wants to take it a step further, to step it up a notch. But will that be enough to suppress ISIS?

I commend them for their efforts and their progress. It was earlier that some members of Iran's army declared that they do not need help from the  United States, but PM al-Abadi has a different view. He has sought help from the US and as such, there were provision of resources, man power and training for Iraqi soldiers. Isis is not the only extremists group present. You have al-shabaab and Boko Haram, but ISIS has proven to be the most powerful. Air strikes  can to just do so much and no more but its not all safe haven, it will take more than that to get any real result. According to BBC analyst Jim Muir, "While coalition bombing has helped contain and damage IS, only troops can push it back. The Kurds, both in Iraq and Syria, have proven by far the most cohesive forces in doing that. The structural deficiencies in Iraq's army, and the controversy over the use of Shia militia, may limit the extent - and extend the timeframe - of further advances against IS in Iraq." This might include more man power from the US or any other country willing to help. Let us face it, US has one of the best armies in the world and effective resources. Therefore, I find Iran's statement of needing no help from the US quite troubling.

One of the questions that needs answering is what will become of the other extremist groups who are reigning havoc all in other parts such as Africa and Yemen? Counties such as Syria and Yemen are struggling because of the rise of extremist groups. The Houthis has taken over Sanaa, Capital of Yemen and the prime minster had been for to flee. Currently, the economic situation in Yemen is disastrous because of this extremist group. It is a common thought that Iran is backing this group but the occasionally deny the accusation. Saudi Arabia has stepped us and launch a air campaign in Yemen against extremist groups but it is currently causing conflict between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. An article in the New York Times titled "Tensions Flare Between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in U.S. Coalition" stated that "A remarkable clash between two key American allies in the Middle East burst into the open here on Wednesday as the Iraqi prime minister publicly criticized the Saudi air campaign in Yemen and a top Saudi official retorted that there was “no logic to those remarks.” This should not be happening now. Now is not the time to start up tensions and conflicts but to work together to achieve a common goal - to suppress these extremists groups. We also learn of what Boko Haram has been doing in Africa, and the recent massacre in Kenya by Al-Shabaab, however, help in Africa is quite negligible and I find that most troubling.

With this conflict flaring up, it is unlikely that these groups will ever be suppressed. We can, at least, compromise, put aside our differences and work together for  even greater results. People are being killed, lives are being destroyed, the time spent on unnecessary conflicts are robbing people of their lives. Under these circumstances, leader are to think about the people and not about starting up tensions that will get us no where. The article quoted PM al-Abadi saying “The dangerous thing is we don’t know what the Saudis want to do after this,” Mr. Abadi said. “Is Iraq within their radar? That’s very, very dangerous. The idea that you intervene in another state unprovoked just for regional ambition is wrong. Saddam has done it before. See what it has done to the country.” To me that is rather being paranoid than having a legitimate concern. Saudi Officials insists that the airstrikes have been effective and measures are being put in place to minimize damage to civilians. Yemen is in dire need of help, that is a fact and Iraq has their own troubles to deal with than to offer help.

I would really like to see the day when Isis is no more, but until then. I will continue to watch, to see the outcome of numerous efforts to suppress them. Let us hope and pray that things will be for the better, some day.