Needed: More MPs from the communities

Last week the Opposition People’s National Party named five men whom the organisation said would be its representatives in five western Jamaica constituencies in the next General Election constitutionally due in 2021.

Three of the candidates – Dr Walton Small, Dr Andre Haughton and Michael Hemmings – are from the general area. The other two – Wavell Hinds and Andre Hylton – are not. It leads to the question: Isn’t it far more difficult for candidates who live outside of constituencies, in the case of the latter two, way out of their constituencies, to effectively manage the political operations of their zones?

Many of the current members of parliament do not live in the areas that they represent, nor are they from there, which, I suspect directly impacts, negatively, the kind of representation that is offered.

A conscious approach should be made by our political parties to have those who go up for seats in the House of Representatives to be chosen from the constituencies from whence they came or have decided to call home. For as long as they are competent they will always be in an advantageous position.

Some have been able to do it effectively, like PJ Patterson for example who represented the people of South Eastern and Eastern Westmoreland for decades. He was born at Rousseau Road in St Andrew, spent seven days there before returning to Hanover where his parents originated, returned to Kingston to attend Calabar, and lived in the Corporate Area for most of his political life while representing the people of Westmoreland. Oh! In 1980 the people of the then Westmoreland South Eastern chose the Jamaica Labour Party’s Euphemia Williams over Patterson.

Corporal McBean and the Police Federation

In December of last year, I had a lengthy discussion with a rank and file policeman who has intimate knowledge of the operations of the Jamaica Police Federation.

The two hours spent with the man led me to believe, or conclude, that he must be one of the brightest in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. It was more than an eye-opener.

It was then that I was informed that by January the Police Federation would have a new chairman, as the membership, specifically the executive, was not happy with the leadership being offered by Corporal Arlene McBean and would move a no-confidence motion against her which she could not survive. I refused to believe that a removal of Corporal McBean could even be contemplated, maybe because of my fondness of her. But then, it has happened. The stories are many and varied and we on the outside do not know for sure what the rank and file members are going through.

I know for a fact that the membership was not happy with how the wage negotiations ended; many too, were not pleased with the federation’s silence on certain court matters involving their members, among other things.

There were other things cited that, if they are true, would reflect badly on the elected executive. Corporal McBean remain liked by the public. She came across as one who genuinely cared and who articulated the federation’s position with precision. But there appeared to be other things amiss. The vexed question of remuneration for police personnel below the rank of assistant superintendent must be addressed. If a nation cannot pay its police personnel realistic wages and salaries, then they will seek other means to settle their bills.

More on those lethal taxi hooligans

I thought I would be heading to a date with St Peter last Tuesday evening when one of those lethal taxi hooligans almost brought that closer to reality.

Last week on the roads was one of the worst that I had ever experienced. Twice before that last incident of my unscheduled date with St Peter, taxi hooligans had me having to switch my vehicle in other directions.

But what took the cake was when I was driving in the right hand lane on Constant Spring Road heading past Merl Grove High School further north, and a taxi hooligan came from almost nowhere on the extreme right, and swung his car onto Dunrobin Avenue. Had the brakes on my vintage ‘crosses’ vehicle not been up to the desired standard there would have been a horrible collision. Also, my swinging the vehicle away from danger would have been the envy of a West Indies fast bowler.

People wide-eyed in amazement and mouths opened even wider could not believe that the taxi hooligan never even stopped. He went right along on his mission to terrorise other motorists. It’s a good thing that one had the luxury of chilling out and seeking a liquified spiritual stimulant that is always good in calming nerves.

It seems that all those who drive taxis and minibuses have a common ‘hustle’ mentality. Many of them cannot read and write and do not even know that a road code exists. I have never seen Jamaica like this.

Why can’t the police hierarchy establish a unit called ‘Taxi and Minibus Poison Squad’ to deal directly with those lethal demons on the road?

If it were left to me I would play a lead role in the formation of an organisation that I would call Righteous Advocates Against Society’s Serpents. As long as we don’t refer to it by its obvious abbreviation, then everything will be fine. Over to you police commissioner.

Criticism in sport must be entertained

Rudolph Speid, the technical director of Cavalier Soccer Club, founded by the legendary Leighton Duncan during the 1960s, has been unnecessarily suspended for one match by the disciplinary committee of the Jamaica Football Federation for daring to criticise referees during a National Premier League match which involved his team last December.

I heard the comments made at the time, and I thought how bold and brave Speid was, but suspected that the dictators who run sport would want to punish him. So said, so done! What a shame! Match officials all over the globe believe that they should always be above criticism, and as a result, it has allowed them to fall into a comfort zone that has only made their performances worse.

It’s a good thing that technology has, by and large, taken over international cricket and some areas of international football. But competition at the local level is still suffering without it. Take for example Jamaica’s domestic cricket and football … I have seen some horrendous decisions which have determined the final result in matches. And if a player or team official voices his concern then he is punished? Not fair at all.

Freedom of expression should not come at a price. There must be fair speech. A referee, for example, is not without fault. He makes mistakes. At one point no one liked a referee (well maybe his wife). He should not receive pats on the back when he commits a boo boo. The suspension of Speid for one match is unfair, unjust and downright stupid.