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Sex in shelters, the JTA and politics 

Sadly, partisan politics has, for the umpteenth time, interfered with a matter that calls for urgent attention, when such a serious and delicate issue is placed in the ring of discontent.

It has to do with the claim by Mark Malabver, president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, that some of those who are still ill-advisedly holed up in shelters, specifically schools, mainly in the western section of Jamaica, have been engaging in sexual acts in view of students at those schools.

What’s so strange here? It is not unusual for those in shelters to have sex among themselves. In one incident that I can recall, which occurred at a shelter in Portland, following a hurricane years ago, a girl of 15 years, in other words, a minor, was found to be having sex with a ‘big tata ram man’. That would boil down to a serious charge for the adult, but, mysteriously, the matter never went further than the individual who was supervising the shelter. It was said that they were ‘together’, and that was that.

So, many years later, the JTA president, who had in earlier years shown his hand as a man who intended to represent the Opposition People’s National Party in either General or Local Government election, as the law allows him to do, is being accused of playing politics with the matter, all because of the party link.

The pettiness even took a silly turn during last week’s monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation when Jamaica Labour Party Councillor for the Yallahs Division, Dean Jones, raised it by pushing the line that because the JTA president still is, or was a PNP sympathiser, supporter or member, he was covered in mischief by suggesting that sexual acts were occurring at schools in western Jamaica, by those supposedly temporary residents.

To compound the problem, former mayor and PNP councillor for the White Horses division, Hubert Williams, took to the floor to denounce Jones’s comments, when he should have remained silent, because it was not relevant to the agenda, and as such, there was no need for such an issue to be raised at a council meeting within that context. Some councillors just cannot even focus on the needs of people in their divisions. They just jump at any opportunity to push the button of political tribalism, and that’s all that matters. No wonder Jamaica is not growing.

That time-wasting episode was preceded by claims from Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, that Malabver needed to supply proof that sex was on the table at the shelters. Now what kind of proof does he want? Would he like to have ‘spies’ with phone cameras strategically located to capture the oohs and aaas?

Then the matter of the Ministry of Education saying that the JTA had not supplied anything “formal” about the matter, despite Malabver saying openly that he had spoken to Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon about it last month during an event, which the minister had responded to, also became contentious. Malabver should know that in such circumstances, you do not say things to people, especially those who are in high office. You write, and then that automatically becomes proof.

Apparently, that was not done, and Malabver has to take the flak for it.

Incidentally, while the exchanges were going on, I spoke with two of my usually impeccable sources in Westmoreland, who know everything that happens in the parish. Both told me that they knew for sure that open sex was going on at Petersfield High School, adding that those in what one called ‘high authority’ knew about it too, but had chosen not to be a part of the controversy.

I still believe that the JTA president would not be so irresponsible as to make such a claim without having information in his back pocket.

I’ve never been one to support schools being used as shelters, as they are for learning. Period. Why should there be any surprise that there is a raging debate about such a matter now?

The argument, too, by members of the Government, that people do not like to stay in shelters, is false. What, for example, do we define as a shelter? And, why are there so many people who have been discharged from hospitals still staying there years after they were deemed fit to go back home? Figure that one out.

That PNP man charged with incest

It came to public attention last week that a former Member of Parliament who represented the People’s National Party some years ago had been charged with a sex-based act, which shocked not only the political arena but the wider national space.

It emerged that the act was committed last January on his own teenage daughter. So here we go, if the allegations are true, this former MP caught up with his daughter, who, from all accounts, does not live with him, is in a deep mess. The charge of incest has been revealed, but maybe personnel in the legal field could tell me why not rape too?

There are two things that I have always wanted to find out in life, by research, before my eyes close for good. The first one would be how does a father have sex with his daughter that he raised from day one to anytime after … toddler, adolescent or adult stage? Or even if she was not raised by him, even if he met her at any point why would he be aroused?

The other is how does one man reduce himself to sexual penetration, or get involved in other acts with another man?. The latter is a special case and requires much time. So, let’s look at the first.

In getting sexually involved with his daughter, usually by force, a man must be going through deep mental issues. Would he not believe that, immediately or years later, that girl would face an emotional crisis? Or he, the father, upon realising that what he did would remain on his hands … wouldn’t he feel depressed to a point at which he would want to end his life?

My big surprise is that, for the crime that he is being accused of, he received bail in the sum of $300,000, and his travel documents were not held onto by the court. To me, that is appalling.

Some members of the PNP, though not condoning what the member has been accused of doing, were opposed to the party’s name being called in respect of the matter, but what did they expect?

The real news, for journalists and media organisations, is that the individual charged was or still is connected to a political party, and even served in the Jamaican Parliament. People who offer themselves to serve must be aware that there will be risks involved and circumstances to face, should they step out of line in their private avocations or public obligations.

Therefore, glueing the PNP to this individual is, to borrow a saying from the sport of golf, ‘par for the course.’ The party just has to live with it. Perhaps it may be spurred to do deeper screening procedures to emerge with the best background information that can be achieved.

Funny though, that the same individual, when he was picked by the party to run in the seat, got the nod under controversial circumstances, amid applications from others who were better ‘qualified’. Life isn’t easy! 

Questions for JACDEN a must, but where is the fairness? 

The saga continues. Dennis Gordon, CEO of JACDEN Group, remains on his own in the middle of a crocodile sanctuary, while others roam like gladiators in an imagined battle. 

I watched a programme on TVJ last week, in which discussants, which included a Government Senator and Parliamentary Secretary, tore into Gordon for his company’s transgressions regarding initially unpaid customs duties for items which had been imported under the University Hospital of the West Indies tax exemption system. Nothing is wrong with that, but there was one gaping hole: The host did not ask one question about who the principals of the three other companies involved in the saga were, nor did the panellists volunteer information about them.

I maintain that if JACDEN did something wrong, then the price must be paid for it. But what about the others? And just like Gordon has been highlighted as the man at the forefront of one, there ought to be similar discussions about who the others are.

It is just not fair for one man’s neck to be placed on the chopping block, yet no one knows of the indiscretions of others.

I know Gordon very well, more so for his achievements in cricket. He was a top cricketer at Camperdown High School while I attended Kingston College, later played for St Thomas, his parish of birth, and then Melbourne Cricket Club, which he represented for many years, scored 13 Senior Cup centuries, and took many wickets without turning his intended offspinners that much.

I invited him to serve as a cricket writer or columnist for the Jamaica Observer in the paper’s infancy during the 1990s, and he received written commendation from former Prime Minister Michael Manley about his writings. So that is out of the way – there is no denial of our connection – although we have disagreed on many political and other issues over the years.

At a time like this, when he faces questions relevant to governance, others must not be allowed to hide behind the Greater Wall of Jamaica. Their stories must be told, too.

Speid unfit to be national coach

We have heard that Rudolph Speid is days away from being named as head coach of Jamaica’s national football team – something that is set to be ratified by officials of the Jamaica Football Federation when they meet soon.

What the hell has happened to the JFF? Have President Michael Ricketts and his executives gone outrightly mad? Do they realise what they would be imposing on the Jamaican supporters and lovers of football?

It is sad that people like Bruce Gaynor, Elaine Walker Brown, Garnett Daley and others are still involved in football administration. It is worse when they take a man who determined that the worst coach in the United Kingdom should take Jamaica to the 2026 World Cup, when the island had the best chance to; and when that failed, he campaigned to get the same job, but flopped in his bid to demonstrate his ‘greatness’ when he was inserted by Ricketts.

The public should now tell the JFF what they think of the ongoing administrative bungling by those who lead football in Jamaica.