Do we really want any better?

TAMARA SCOTT-WILLIAMS

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yes, you are sorry, Mr Warmington

FORMER Jamaica Labour Party MP Everald Warmington has apologised. Really? Is that what you call it? We wonder why he bothered, for his joint statement with President Emeritus of the University of Technology (UTech) Dr Alfred Sangster admitting his response "was unworthy of my status as (former) member of parliament and a qualified professional in the building industry" is laughable. Unworthy of his status? What status? We all know he's crude — his statements were unworthy of the people he insulted.

Mind you, media personalities are notoriously thick-skinned (in the words of my mentor at the Observer, Carole Embden — "Yu back haffi broad" — if you want to be in this business); nevertheless, offensive verbal abuse of members of the media or any Jamaican should not be tolerated, and the people in public office who chronically exhibit this or any type of errant behaviour should be relieved of their duties.

No word yet of disciplinary action that is to be taken against Mr Warmington by the Labour Party. In the meantime he is allowed to put himself forward for the upcoming by-election in his old constituency, despite calls from local and international media and civil society that in good conscience he should not be allowed to do so.

Yes, the selection processes are determined by a constitutional and democratic process involving constituency workers and supporters, but that Warmington as a candidate is acceptable to the Jamaica Labour Party and Warmington as member of parliament was acceptable for the people of South West St Catherine says a lot about where our society is headed.

Mr Warmington is a sorry piece of work, but he is savvy too, because he has realised that the majority — the people who call the shots and get him elected — know no better, and expect no better than him. It is up to the people of South West St Catherine to determine whether or not they deserve his type of leadership or if they want better for themselves.

Savage crime is down 42% ...

The news is good: Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that serious crime, ie murder, is down this year by 42 per cent over the same period last year (the first 20 days in March) due to the intensified effort by the security forces since May of last year. In actual figures it means that 150 fewer murders have been committed compared to last year's 354. (Remind me, when was the incursion again?) While we're not sure how, or why, or what specific measures were used to effect this downturn in crime, if the numbers are to be trusted then we all can feel a little safer.

...but institutional crime is up

However, the number of larceny cases has almost doubled when compared with last year. That, coupled with the results of the recent poll which said that 80 per cent of Jamaicans feel that their public officials are corrupt and Contractor General Greg Christie's call for the creation of a special agency to fight corruption because official graft has reached "systemic" levels, suggests that we are dealing with a different kind of crime monster.

Whatever law enforcement and anti-corruption methods put in place have been ineffective in culling the corrupt -- or the greedy, for that matter. Did you notice the irony of the National Water Commission announcing on International Water Day their intention to increase their charges for supplying water to consumers? They say it's because the Jamaica Public Service Company has increased the cost of electricity to consumers by 10 per cent.

My favourite pensioner used 170 KWh of electricity last month for which she was charged more than $5,000. For what? She lives alone, hangs out in the garden most days and is in bed by news time. Needless to say she is concerned by the JPSCo's suggestion that she consume electricity a little more efficiently. Perhaps a Tilly Lamp is in order for her Mother's Day gift.

And did you notice at the supermarket an average of $40 added to every loaf of bread? Food or light? I bet a lot of people are making that desperate choice these days. In the words of the contractor general: "The great majority of Jamaicans (are already condemned) to a future of relative poverty and dismal hopelessness".

Get ready folks, if ever there was a time that the local phrase "dawg a go nyam yu suppah" applies, the time is now.

You too would have 20 secretaries in three years if...

Your Grade Three (cum Grade Five through some strange manoeuvring) executive secretary could not distinguish between a "deks" and a "desk". Much has been made of the attorney general having been through 20 secretaries in the last three years. Why?

Until patois becomes the official language of communication in Jamaica, then anyone who tells the world that her boss "came over to my deks with something in 'er 'an'" might have myriad other talents but should not, under any circumstances, be employed as a secretary. Her ability to write anything, much less an email, is questionable. The only problem, as I see it, is that the talent pool is not large enough.

Rest in peace, Pat Roxborough-Wright

I knew Pat before she married Nodley Wright. They were the two most gentle spirits in the newsroom at the Observer and conducted their private relationship with such dignity and stealth that it came as a surprise to me that they were in fact dating and would marry.

I always considered them two very professional and wonderful people. While I've not kept in touch with Nodley, I've touched base with Pat over the years. She covered my events out West and I continuously marvelled at her ability to be a journalist, law student, piano player, wife and mother all at the same time. Up until recently I had tried to call her on a number that kept ringing without an answer. I had no idea she was so sick. I'm sad I wasn't able to reach her and hear her laugh just one more time. My thoughts are with you and your family, Nodley. I am so very sorry for your loss.

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GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

Do we really want any better?