WHEN we consider that over 60 per cent of Jamaicans polled wished to migrate from this fair isle, we know that this ‘bright future’ that our leaders like to herald is not being seen by most of our people. We the articulate minority should be calling out our leaders — although I must admit that fear can get in the way.

In January 2014, Rosemarie Wilson and her husband Junior Pilliner, of Dalling Street in Savanna-la-Mar, were gunned down at their house, leaving eight children. Food for the Poor visited the children and, on seeing their sad living conditions, built them a house in a yard occupied by various dwellers. Along with other representatives of Food for the Poor, we journeyed to Sav (my hometown) to hand over the house and to meet their compassionate aunt Janice Pilliner, who had become the guardian for the family.

A few months later, we were in the parish, so we put together some Easter treats for the family. When we arrived at the yard, a man came out to us and asked what we wanted. We told him we brought gifts for the Pilliner family. He sternly demanded that we give the bag to him and said he would give it to them. We have to admit that we became fearful, handed over the bag, and drove away. This is actually the first time that I am speaking publicly about the incident.

When I remember our childhood walks along Dalling Street, the neat houses with their little gardens, it is disheartening to see them replaced by tenements. Worse yet, when you are not allowed to enter a yard to deliver treats for orphans, you wonder what kind of rights those dwellers have.

This Tivoli Enquiry should be widened to a garrison enquiry. Dr Alfred Sangster, the first chairman of Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), had done an analysis of election trends some years ago, highlighting certain constituencies which seemed to have garrison tendencies. These were constituencies represented by both the Jamaica Labour Party and People’s National Party in Parliament.

I engaged Yakum Fitz-Henley on social media after reading his column last Sunday, which declared that none of our politicians were entitled to his vote. He was responding to calls for compulsory voting. He asked: “Why do we want to run with an idea that citizens must go out to polling stations and give their approval to one of two parties which have consistently shown barefaced disregard for good governance, transparency, and sometimes mere decency when in power?

“This kind of thinking must face the contention that a ‘none of the above’ option would be added to the ballot,” he noted. “Sadly, there hasn’t been any advancement of such an option of mutual rejection. That seems politically unlikely, and rather unclear in efficacy.”

I suggested to Fitz-Henley, a law student at UWI, that his (and my) university could launch a website where we could match the promises made by politicians with their actual delivery. Then he and others resistant to voting would have a good place to assess our representatives. Perhaps National Integrity Action (NIA) could participate in this effort, which could end up being a money-earner, as advertisers are attracted to sites with high traffic.

It is urgent that CAFFE, NIA, young Yakum, and colleagues cast searchlights on our representatives to keep them honest as we see the murder rate rise and the brain drain in full flight. Those of us who do not wish to leave must work even harder to help our leaders understand that the “true respect” we sing of in our national anthem cannot be given to those who do not earn it.

Things are ‘hotting up’ on the campaign trail and it can be fun if it is kept clean. Why not replace those furtive phone calls to truck in the gun-toting terrorists with open calls to address the terrible conditions in our poorer communities? If you are such a good representative, why not show us the data on your achievements?

Our politicians were courageous enough to offer themselves for public office. It is not an easy decision. Let us hope they will call on that courage to run ethical and orderly campaigns, and may the media champion such leaders.

Clearly we cannot continue living in a country where leaders laud our national heroes in public, and act contrary to their teachings in private. The tears of Tivoli and the fears of too many other communities are a hard judgement of those who swear to serve.

Mobay Chamber head’s apology

It was an uneasy week for Jamaicans of Chinese heritage, especially those who remember that awful time in the 60s when business places were burned down. It is ironic that an ignorant statement calling for a boycott of Chinese businesses, for which President Gloria Henry has apologised, came in the face of several announcements of significant support for the education of our children. We understand that a new $17-million block at Cornwall College was funded by Montego Bay businessman Carlton Chin, and there is the $200-million four-year support from Butch Hendrickson’s National Baking Foundation for the Crayons Count early childhood programme which covers Western Jamaica.

I could go on for an entire column, but I don’t want us to belabour this race issue, because Jamaica still remains one of the most racially harmonious countries in the world. Our multi-ethnic family gets hardly a glance in Jamaica while we always get those quizzical looks in others parts of the world. We are the country of Bob Marley’s One Love and Junior Reid’s One Blood. Let’s keep it that way.

Back-to-school and the rules

One dean of discipline at a popular school related how some parents are defending their children’s insistence on wearing sneakers instead of shoes because of lack of funds. On further investigation, it turned out that the colourful brand-name sneakers are twice the cost of regular school shoes. Parents should know that helping their children to adhere to school rules is a life lesson that will reap rich rewards when they become adults.

This is one lesson no teacher can teach them. They need parental guidance to understand that indiscipline is a handicap that will hinder their progress in life. Even if some of the rules seem harsh, they build strength of character, so that children can face life’s expected challenges with courage. So, parents, instead of challenging the rules of the school, be their partner in helping your children to be disciplined, successful Jamaicans.

Good news for Milk River Spa

We welcome the news that our legendary Milk River Spa will benefit from a facelift funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The mineral-rich waters of the spa are said to be helping folks recover from their CHIKV aches and pains. Chairman Dr Guyan Arscott has noted that the renovation could provide a boost for Jamaica’s health tourism plans, as the most celebrated European spas are not as rich as our Milk River Spa in mineral content.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com