The heroics displayed by former mayor of May Pen, Scean Barnswell, councillor for the Hayes Division in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, and his wife, were the most inspirational that I have witnessed in more than 50 years.

In the case of Scean, his role must go down in the pages of history as one of the bravest acts seen by the people of Jamaica and the global space in recent times, at any rate, when he effectively rescued a little six-year-old girl from the jaws of certain disaster last week near May Pen. Contrary to what some will say to me, that Jamaica looks out for its people in times of security challenges, I believe that not to be true. There is a lot of selfishness that dominates this land, which includes people not having their neighbours’ backs.

But in a show of strength, Barnswell’s wife, whose full name should be similarly displayed on the Wall of Bravery like her husband’s, directed the background intelligence that convinced her husband to play the role of physical interceptor, rough-up guy, possibly ‘badwud’ messenger, and more, until the police intervened to place the offender under arrest.

Scean himself can be physically intimidating for some, what with his height advantage, and a bit more beanpole than fast bowler Curtly Ambrose when he started to represent the West Indies at cricket during the 1980s. I guess that Scean’s decision to become a black Superman without the cape and strong enough webs designed by Peter Parker, was the ideal way to show the big bad world that here is how a man should demonstrate that he is a real man.

In a backhanded way, the jackass, who some claim to be out of his mind, as if everyone in this country does not have even a milligram of mental instability in their systems, could have harmed Scean. It seemed that the wicked brute opted out of a gun, knife, screwdriver or acid, yet, he was smart enough to find the side roads, the bushes, where vegetation with ‘bur’ was well nourished, and make it to the main road where he would have access to public transportation.

From there, only God knows where he would have taken the innocent girl and committed the unthinkable. Even if the child survived the ultimate punishment for doing absolutely nothing, it would have taken years to soothe the emotional pain that would have followed.

I see that the political organisation that Barnswell supports, the People’s National Party, has commended he and his wife for their brilliant work. The Clarendon Police have done that too, but, unless I am way behind in the dissemination of public relations, I have not heard a word from the police commissioner, nor the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, on the matter, which is quite sad, as political belief should not dictate when and how individuals get due credit.

To save the day, though, last Thursday, during a meeting of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, the organisation, controlled by the JLP by a mayoral advantage, lauded Barnswell as he entered the chamber for the start of the corporation’s monthly meeting. Pleasantly surprising it was that rancour was traded for love, respect, and major appreciation for a job done outside the normal line of duty. And how sweeter it was that its pleasantries were led by the mayor of May Pen and councillor for the Denbigh Division himself, Joel Williams. He is a man who has been fair and understanding for all the years that I have known him.

What, though, of the school from which the child was abducted? Well, the people called administrators, who clearly have no system in place to keep the youngsters intact, will now be running all over the place like headless chickens, thinking about how to make life more difficult for those who always abide by the rules.

Another attack on an underage girl

If one of the gory stories about underage girls was not enough, it emerged that the mother of a 14-year-old girl, and a man aged around 60, were arrested and refused bail, after both conspired to engage the minor in sexual activities.

They are being kept in jail until early February, and I am sure they will seek bail at that time, which might not be a good idea, until the trial ends.

A police probe determined that between June 1 and November 22 this year, both adults virtually agreed or supervised inappropriate sexual actions against the child, with the man involved said to have paid money to the victim, which she passed on to her greedy and worthless mother. 

Now, although the matter has not gone to trial, there are many similar cases making the rounds – girls being seduced for money and other items, cellular phones included, with the mothers in particular just playing the game of using their children to put a few dollars in the pot.

Sometimes I have to wonder how men who are supposed to be mature end up getting a fascination with underage girls. To me, it is, like the Americans say, ‘yucky’ to even contemplate looking at young girls with a sexual objective or intention in mind. How then does a man, any man, choose to go a step further and indulge in any kind of dolly house connection with the immature ones?

Could offenders be influenced by some of the foods being consumed these days? Or is it something in the water, the energy drinks on the market, or a massive increase in mental situations? 

I am trying my best to find out, and hopefully, before long, the answers will come. There is no excuse for the abuse of children aged one to 12, and even though some adolescent children might even want to push themselves into the limelight by hiding their real age, for example, there is no way that any man should get involved with them, for they are simply adults without sense.

Underage girls need their time and space to develop into women who can build their country. There is no time to introduce them to acts that will ultimately derail the train of progress.

Maybe it is time too, for a resurrection of talks on raising the age of consent from 16 as it is now, to 19, for a few 16-year-olds know what life in the sex lane is about at that age.

Extended highway … when and at what cost?

Another sweet talk has hit the public relations scene, with a report in the Jamaica Observer that the domestic highway network will benefit ‘soon’ from what would be a major expansion. Robert Morgan, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (still don’t know what that means, although the ‘job creation’ part has disappeared), was quoted as saying that the plan had reached the discussion stage.

Now, how soon is ‘soon’? Could it be around six months from now that the project will be sent to tender or even begin? Or maybe it will be 16 years down the road? Could also be 25 years from now, don’t you think? The problem I have with people who love to make grand announcements is that when they sit at the table to tell the world about what is to happen, there is nothing tangible to report … they simply come with mere sweet talk, which often lacks key ingredients like the cost (even an initial projection) of the project; a start date and end date, economic benefits to be derived and other key elements.

Just like how, for Jamaica, there are many rivers to cross, there are many questions to answer, in respect of how the highway expansion will happen, if it does happen. One of them is how the national recovery plan for the western, south-western and northern parishes badly impacted by Hurricane Melissa will proceed.

Will money intended to ease the burden of communities almost decimated by the hurricane now have to be diverted to the highway expansion? This is a sensitive issue, and premature statements just to grab headlines have no place in the reality of life.

How can there be any justification for putting a highway expansion project on any agenda at this time, before a decision is made as to how the west will be treated, in terms of its infrastructure?

It is best to wait until all the tools are on the table, and then make an announcement about the details involved, instead of just chatting for the sake of chat, while holding up a blank agenda.

Drab schoolboy football

Luckily, the high school football season is heading to a close after dislocation caused by Hurricane Melissa, with the daCosta Cup competition for rural-area schools (don’t know how Montego Bay-based schools are still referred as ‘rural’), and Corporate Area institutions heading to the final rounds of the Manning Cup, as well as the diluted Ben Francis, and Walker Cup knockout competitions.

What alarmed me more than anything, is the style and quality of football being played. I have seen too many instances of boys just collecting balls and dispatching them upfield, followed by everlasting runs downfield (or upfield) by intended recipients. That’s not the way to go.

World football has shifted. We are now seeing professional teams moving the ball from their defence areas, by way of short passes, straight up to the final third, and reaping greater results, rather than kicking aimlessly and hoping that a sudden Usain Bolt-type energy will take them to the Promised Land.

The fields in Jamaica are not ideal for better quality football. However, aimlessly sending long balls into no man’s land, followed by a chase, is not the way to go.

If some of the coaches involved spend some more time watching pro football, they would (unless their heads are tough) realise that their charges will not go far with the in-thing style of play.