WELL the wait is over. Yesterday, the Home Circuit Court in Kingston convened for the sentencing of not one but four accused in what lawyers say is a record-breaking trial, stretching over many weeks, featuring dancehall idol Vybz Kartel and associates in the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, a former member of the Gaza Empire. His body has yet to be found but the court accepted that he is dead, nothing having been seen of him as days have stretched into months and months to years.

The many theories of what would happen in favour of “the Worl’ Boss”, as well as the expectations of acquittal or some light tap on the wrist went up like smoke. Life sentences with additional time were the order of the day handed down by the judge. The voice of the day, as far as I am concerned, was that of Stephanie Breakenridge, sister of the missing former associate and friend of Kartel. Her concern was not only for her brother, but marginalised youth. In her words, shared with the media after the sentences were pronounced, she made this call:

“I want this bullying to serve as a deterrent for otherwise, well-thinking people with influence in our society who seek to marginalise youths and use them for their own narcissistic tendencies and their god complex. I want this to serve as a deterrent for them to stop using our youths… The judge would have noticed that the people that are being charged for gun crimes are between 18 and 25. Our youths are being marginalised and used by big people who have means to do otherwise. This should serve as a deterrent to them to stop using our youth for ill means. And also, lastly, I want to say to the mothers, the sisters, the women of this country to arise and speak up and to stop being silent and stop allowing our sons and brothers to be used by these people.”

(PS: Speaking out was an act of bravery. She is in protective custody…but courage conquers fear.)

More woman story

The issue of gender equality in the arena of politics was brought alive just the other day, in questions raised by Senator Imani Duncan-Price, arguing for measures to be taken to guarantee equal representation of male and female alike, especially in the Parliament of the land.

Then, just recently our ambassador to Washington, DC, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, addressing the Organisation of American States, gave the reassurance that Jamaica was committed to gender equality. Yeah, Ambassador, but there’s still a lot of meat to go on that bone. Equal pay for equal work is on the books. Sounds nice, don’t? Ask the girls though…what is the reality in the reality (according to Peter Tosh). As we say in hometown parlance, “See me and come live wid me a two different things”.

A lot of words look good on paper but we still have “hard roads to travel and mighty long ways to go” (Jimmy Cliff). We haven’t reached the Promised Land yet. Trust us. S he who feels it knows it. I won’t say we haven’t made progress, but we are nowhere closer to getting a proper piece of the action. So, let’s stop fooling ourselves. Notice how quickly Senator Duncan-Price’s crusade to keep the debate going has begun fading. Not even the women in politics seem interested in keeping alive a topic which has direct bearing on them. We cannot be congratulating ourselves on progress in gender issues if we can’t spare the time to ensure more progress in so many areas of our lives. Ladies! Wha ‘appen? Imani’s proposal is going to fade jus’ so?

Heartless behaviour

For some time now, I have been concerned about the callous response of motorists towards emergency vehicles, fighting their way through traffic, to save somebody’s life. Ambulances get a hard time carrying sick patients to hospital. Likewise, fire engines trying to reach the scene of a blaze threatening life and property are blocked on the way. It is painful to hear the plaintive wail of sirens trying to “get a pass” to reach the Kingston Public Hospital or the University hospital, especially with patients from the children’s hospital. The sirens could scream all they want. Motorists pay them little or no mind, or worse yet, refuse to get out of the way.

There is a myth that the ambulances “not going nuh-weh. It’s not an emergency”. It has even been said that they’re just running errands or are on their own business. This is apparently justification for obstructing them on the road. A doctor told me the other evening that she has heard of patients travelling in ambulances who have died as a result of being delayed in getting to emergency treatment.

As to the Fire Brigade, that is another matter. Our people have become so sophisticated that they want the fire engines to be on the spot within seconds, like how we see it in TV or the movies. Quick service is expected of life-savers, yet we do little to assist them. It is time to review how emergency vehicles function in our traffic-choked streets. In the Corporate Area, how can a fire engine leave Half-Way-Tree to get to the St Andrew hills to put out a blaze, while the vehicles cannot move freely through the traffic, because of the motorists blocking their way? In other places, it is a serious offence to impede the progress of any emergency vehicle, but here…I don’t know if we have such regulations on our books. If there is, somebody should have appeared in Court by now and left with some serious fines to pay and even sentences of incarceration if it came to that.

A QUESTION TO ALL MOTORISTS: How would you feel if you or a relative was the one in the ambulance which couldn’t reach hospital in time, or what about the fire truck which couldn’t get to your property before it became nothing but ashes? Think on such things and do something about it.

It must be the weather

Reports of some of the most cruel acts against small farmers and keepers of animals have been circulating. There’s the curious one heard recently of mango trees to have been set on fire in a St Thomas district. It is believed that the act was retribution for a mango thief being reported for praedial larceny. Subsequently, I’m told, trees in the mango grove showed signs of fires which people believe were set to burn them down. Have we reached so low or is it the effects of the current dry time? Incidentally, the weather people are not calling it a drought. Dry weather yes, drought no. Same difference, if you ask me.

As to the spate of theft and slaughter of goats, reports are out that livestock farmers in Trelawny have served warning that they do not intend to take it any more. They’re going to fight back. About time!

Since when are people’s properties and hard work rewards for thieves? Enough, enough! We have to do better than this. Exhortations for justice among neighbours is not enough. Somebody must pay.

gloudonb@yahoo.com