KINGSTON, Jamaica — The arrival of the first group of third-country nationals (TCNs) in Jamaica, alongside concerns over Government spending, public healthcare and fatal police shootings, prompted members of civil society group Stand Up for Jamaica to stage a protest in downtown Kingston on Tuesday.

Bearing placards, on Duke Street in Downtown Kingston, hours before Parliament convened, members of the group expressed mounting frustrations over the Governments expected expenditure on the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), and a surge in police fatalities across the Island.

“We decided that enough is enough. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to come out to show Jamaica that that we are tired and upset as to what is taking place here. The TCNs can be coming here today or this week, sometime, but yet still, people who were affected by the Hurricane are still sleeping under trees,” said an angry protester who only gave her name as Charlotte.

The first batch of TCNs reportedly arrived on the island yesterday. It was not immediately clear what time the flight arrived or how many people were on board; however, Observer Online sources said the group would mainly consist of South Americans, and the Government is expected to provide an update at Tuesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing.

READ: TCN deal takes flight

In a post on her social media account on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, reiterated that the Government has made efforts to negotiate the transit agreement with protection of Jamaica and the Jamaican people in mind — also in accordance with the principles of safe and orderly migration, consistent with domestic and international law.

But Charlotte told the Observer that the arrival of the TCNs was not the only thing fuelling her anger.

“I am upset about the $40 million wage that Antony Anderson will be getting. NaRRA building is $115 million yet still the government revenue is short by $31.1 billion. There are people out there with disabilities that are begging on the streets. Yes, the people voted but at the end of the day, our voices need to be heard. And we have been muted. Your vote is your voice,” she added.

Another protester, who identified herself as Ms Hutchinson, shared similar concerns, pointing to what she described as deficiencies in the public healthcare system and the Government’s spending priorities.

“Our hospitals are in a deplorable state. I lost my husband last year on my birthday and our first anniversary at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital, a place that don’t even have a defibrillator to restart somebody’s heart. That’s the type of hospital. So at what point do we stand up?” she questioned.

“In the same breath you turn around and you pay the CEO of NaRRA almost $50 million dollars, then you want to put him into a building that costs $115 million dollars and your excuse is that it’s earthquake and hurricane-resilient as if Jamaica just suddenly landed in an earthquake and a hurricane zone,” she said,” Ms Hutchinson continued.

(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The Government has faced criticism following the announcement of an annual rental cost of approximately $115 million for NaRRA’s headquarters. Critics have questioned the decision, arguing that the Government has office space across the island, some of which is not being fully utilised.

READ: Gov’t defends $40m salary for NaRRA CEO

Hutchinson also questioned the pace of Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, particularly the Government’s stated intention to use donated funds to support the construction of modular homes and their foundations.

“They also said that the money that they collected from donations for Hurricane Melissa, they made a decision not to spend it quickly because they want to use it for modular homes and the foundation for modular homes. So while our people suffer, live under tarpaulin, get wet, can’t afford food, dying in hospitals, our children are learning under bamboo trees, you’re paying someone this excessive amount of money. We are here because if we don’t stand up, if we don’t speak out, if we don’t bring awareness, we are going to find ourselves back in the chains,” she argued.

(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Meanwhile, another protester, who identified herself as Maroon Queen, called for greater accountability following a series of fatal police shootings.

“I’m here to stand up for the young innocent youths that’s been unalived by the police. We have criminals in our society that are attacking the country, and then we have criminals in uniform, too. That is just too much. We have to stand and do something. We are also calling for body-worn cameras because now we don’t know who is actually the criminal and who is innocent. So we need cameras. A police should not have anything to do with any civilian if they do not have a camera,” she said.

The issue of extrajudicial killings by members of the security forces was raised by Opposition members during last Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. At least 231 people had been killed by the police so far this year.

“We have seen enough. They do smear campaign on victims, after they do, they plant guns and all of that. They are killing so many women now because I guess they want to put a fear factor in our society, in our people. They want our people be afraid to stand up for what is right. We need a proper system where you take them in and you do a proper investigation. One innocent is too many,” Queen charged.