Dr Barbara Carby, geologist and disaster risk management expert, has warned that, for Jamaica, a serious earthquake is not a matter of “if” but “when”. Venezuela’s massive earthq
uake — two within minutes of each other — is a stark reminder.

Up to press time, the death toll is over 1,400, with thousands of others missing or injured. The heart-rending scenes on social media show desperate Venezuelans scraping away debris with their bare hands in rescue efforts — some successful, but others ending in mourning.

There have been offers for help from Caribbean and Latin American countries. Jamaica and other Caricom countries benefited from Venezuela’s PetroCaribe oil procurement scheme, which offered concessionary financial arrangements from 2005 to 2019, so we should do our best for them.

Jamaica has historical links with Venezuela. The great Simón Bolívar self-exiled in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1815, where he wrote his famous letter, which, according to UNESCO, “is one of the most important documents in Latin American history because Bolívar expresses in it his political thought in relation to the necessary struggle to obtain Latin America’s independence”. His statue, a gift from Venezuela, stands at our National Heroes Circle. We hope the devastated country will get urgent assistance.

Red Cross emergency kitl

Jamaica’s readiness

There is an increasing number of high-rise properties throughout the Corporate Area, and we hope that they are using the appropriate building code for earthquake resistance. In the meantime, we should practise safety drills in homes and at workplaces; experts say that regular drills lessen panic and promote safer outcomes, so let us get to it.

We should also prepare ‘go-bags’, which should be able to sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours. Contents should include non-perishable food, one gallon of water per person per day, flashlights, radio, first aid kit, cash, copies of critical documents, and seven days of prescription medication (see Red Cross graphic).

Oswald Harding.

We need to invest in recovery equipment and training so that we can help ourselves while we await overseas assistance. Let us try to be as prepared as possible.

Restoration of schools

After eight long months, some schools in Western parishes have not been repaired, placing teachers and students in “deplorable and hazardous conditions”, according to a release from the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA). Having seen an entire school built and landscaped in six weeks by the Digicel Jamaica Foundation in Lakes Pen, St Catherine, it is unreasonable that these conditions continue to persist for so long.

The JTA states: “Students and teachers remain confined to cramped tents that are unbearably hot, poorly ventilated, and wholly unfit for meaningful teaching and learning. In a few spaces mould was observed, posing a potential threat to the health, well-being, and safety of students and staff.”

In addition, it says, “The association maintains that no child should be expected to learn, nor any teacher expected to work, in conditions that compromise health, dignity, safety and educational outcomes.”

The upcoming summer holiday offers two clear months for government ministries, municipal councils, and Members of Parliament to get schools ready for the new academic year. We keep singing that the children are our future, but right now we are damaging their chances by expecting them to learn and perform in these horrendous conditions.

USA’s Freedom 250 celebrations

Jamaicans of various walks of life were welcomed to the US Embassy last week by Chargé d’Affaires Scott Renner and his staff as they celebrated ‘Freedom 250, commemorating 250 years of American Independence’. Representing Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett raised a toast, noting the decades of friendship between both countries and the continuous support of the US in offering disaster relief, crime fighting, and tourism.

We have gained much from the generosity of Jamaica’s former ambassadors while they served, and some still continue to do so now as active members of the American Friends of Jamaica. The Cobb Lecture Series sponsored by Ambassador Sue Cobb and her family gave us actionable data, and their scholarships gave students a well-needed boost. The seniors advocacy group CCRP benefited from a President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) grant during Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater’s tour of duty; she also hosted an estate planning event for our members at the embassy. Chargé d’Affaires Renner hosted our members at the Paul Robeson Centre for a digital awareness session. Ambassador Luis Moreno has also supported our gatherings.

There is much controversy surrounding the current US immigration policy; let us calm down and allow diplomatic negotiations to go forward.

Bullying and Cyberbullying

At a recent Legal Aid Council online forum, titled ‘Know the Law, Save the Child: Under-16 Sexual Offences and Bullying’, Education Ministry Coordinator for Safety and Security in Schools Richard Troupe called for collective responsibility of stakeholders. In a Jamaica Information Service report by Ainsworth Morris, Troupe said fellow students and even adults are not trying to intervene when they witness bullying. He said there are adults who record these incidents and share them on social media.

A sobbing mother was heard on a news report describing her daughter’s distress after a cyberbullying incident by three students at a high school in Montego Bay. The three students have been arrested.

A number of schools in western Jamaica were destroyed during Hurricane Melissa, some have yet to be fully restored.Jason Cross

Australia has now made it illegal for children under 16 years old to use social media. We need to take a close look at this legislation because the trauma of cyberbullying can last a lifetime. Cyberbullying is a crime, so let these careless people remember that employers thoroughly check digital footprints when they make hiring decisions.

Farewell, Oswald Harding

In Oswald Harding Jamaica has lost one of its most resolute and visionary political leaders. Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said in a Jamaica Observer report, “ ‘Ossie, as we all affectionately call him, devoted decades of his life to strengthening the institutions of our democracy. As the longest-serving senator in Jamaica’s history and the first person to serve two non-consecutive terms as president of the Senate, he distinguished himself through his wisdom, fairness, and unwavering commitment to parliamentary democracy.

“ ‘His stewardship of the Senate was characterised by dignity, impartiality, and an abiding respect for the rule of law. Throughout an exemplary career that also saw him serve as attorney general and minister of justice, he brought exceptional legal scholarship, sound judgement and integrity to every office he held. His contribution to the development of Jamaica’s constitutional and democratic traditions will endure for generations…Oswald Harding believed deeply in public service and the responsibility of leadership. His life stands as an enduring example of service anchored in honour, humility, and excellence.”

Harding opened opportunities for students of law when he assisted in the establishment of the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology, Jamaica, where he served as dean of the faculty. Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer recently noted his attentive work in the development of the Child Care and Protection Act, creating a sea-change for the welfare of Jamaica’s children.

Our deepest condolence to his dear wife, Marigold, and other family members. May his great soul rest in peace.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and
CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.