THE President is coming! Di president a come! Wi cyaan miss this one. If a egg wi inna di red. What’s the date, again? April 7, me inna dat! By the way, which president?

There’s more that one in the world. At one time we actually had a “Prezzie”, but the one coming is not him. Prezzie is actually in residence now in the same country from which the real president will come. Don’t mix dem up!

The real one is the one and only, the 44th president of the United States of America, the first man of colour to lead the most powerful nation in the world. Powerful yes, even in these times when leadership is under pressure from some within and without.

The 44th president began his reign in 2008, having triumphed at the polls for a second term in 2011. Oh, how we and other citizens of the world, far away, welcomed him. Who can forget the excitement which his victory brought? Some Jamaicans claimed kinship right away, building on our African heritage, and weren’t we proud to see him making history. Many of our people were in residence in his country, as many as remained Back-A-Jamdown.

We danced, we sang, “Yes, we can!” A friend in ‘the States’ had seen to it and encouraged me to demonstrate my own love and affection for “one a wi”. She equipped me with my own Obama T-shirt and campaign button to wear in Jamaica. On his Inauguration Day we rejoiced with the thousands who thronged the streets of Washington, DC, and cities everywhere. There were tears of joy, and Jamaicans were right in the thick of it. (So we stay!)

Before long into the president’s term, under-miners were soon at work. The world has been watching where the road would lead since. Will Obama’s second (and last) term as president end on a note of the respect usually accorded their presidents, or will some politicians in their system continue to be critical of everything he does? What of the sordid tone which they have introduced?

Security is always a critical factor in a US president’s life. Could the growing hostility and disrespect have a more dangerous effect on the American people? The world will never forget the history of John F Kennedy. Nobody wants to see it repeated, hence, I can imagine the attention to details of security.

It cannot be easy to be surrounded by security personnel, but like Shakespeare said: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Mr Obama has had to get accustomed to the weight of office. A president has to get accustomed to the ever-present security which surrounds him. While we are hoping that when he comes here we’ll be able to see him, we will never know details of the security plans. But be assured that he will not go unprotected. Some voices have been calling already for as many Jamaicans as possible to be allowed to catch a glimpse of him, considering that we have been anticipating a visit from the day he assumed office. I’m sure he’d like to move freely among us, but it is not easy.

One voice, I’ve heard, has been insisting that she simply has to see him. She had been waiting long, but more than likely, she will have to rethink her expectations. Many others have been lamenting that President Obama should have insisted on coming here long time ago for a nice vacation, accompanied by Mrs Obama and their daughters. We’d have shown him a good time, “drop awn” on him some serious reggae music and real yard food. I’d take him to my parish and show him what Jamaica really stands for. Nuh mind the ones who are giving us bad name. Yes, Mr President, we have problems, but we also have some good people here. Come stay as long as you like, Sir.

Working the Hotline show yesterday, a man called to insist that it is he who got the 44th president of the USA to be coming here. According to him, it is he, with the assistance of “the maid”, in the Obama household, who were able to extend the invitation to the great man himself. The caller was not amused at all when his alleged disclosure was not taken seriously. He was not pleased that he has not been invited to be on the receiving line. We have to admit that our people “nuh easy”, as we say.

Oh no, not again!!

Last week I insisted that I would not be returning soon to the children’s problems. Not for now, said I, but now I have to seek your forgiveness. What can I do when we have had reports during this week of other children who lost their lives over recent days? What in Heaven’s name are we going to do? We cannot continue this way. What gives us the right to treat any child so cruelly? It has to stop!

Riverton dump fire

This has unsettled the whole Corporate Area and adjoining parishes from week. The nuisance of the smoke upsets people, and many politics and politicians choked the atmosphere as much as the clouds of smoke while the winds drove the discomfort in all directions. The smoke has abated somewhat now, but the crisis is not yet over.

The manager of National Solid Waste Management Authority has lost not only her job, but was battered in the public battle, wherein she was accused of all manner of failure and inability to manage appropriately. Beside her, other technocrats have much to face with threats of legal action to come. Then, by dumping Miss Jennifer Edwards, apparently the authorities seem to believe that they will be let off the hook.

The question which I’d like to have answered is, when new management is found, will the public be advised of the management policies? I expect that the post will be advertised as is customary for seeking public sector managers. Not many people knew what were the requirements for the managerial position at the dump, but that didn’t prevent Miss Edwards from being severely criticised and accused of inability to manage. It will be interesting to see what will be demanded of her successor. There is also the question of how improvements being demanded will be financed.

Say what?! The police are insisting that the fire at Riverton was the work of arsonists. Why did word of it stop as suddenly as it started? Could there have been a connection between Riverton and a fire which also broke out in a Montego Bay dump? So why is nobody arguing it or telling us more?

As suddenly as the report of that blaze came, so suddenly it vanished. What the…is going on? We deserve to treat ourselves better than this. We’re talking and talking about hopes for growth. This certainly could not be the way to go about it. If we’re really serious, how can we make progress, this way? Are we serious?

Best wishes for success…

Good luck to the youngsters who will sit the GSAT, delayed to next week because of the effects of the Riverton dump fire. Parents and guardians, as well as teachers who have been preparing the young students for this critical rite of passage, will have a special task of calming them down and rebuilding their confidence.

gloudonb@yahoo.com