This post will be about what is NOT happening- with effects both good and bad.

First, I realized the other day, I am NOT hearing “whitey” at all anymore. Maybe people are used to me now, got bored, and moved on. I still hear lots of other comments, mostly declarative and mostly when I run. They say: “You’re running!” “You’re fit!” or they ask to run with me. I have started calling them on it now and telling them to join me, especially if they look like they are in no state to run, which is most of the time. They are quiet then.

I am also NOT seeing these bugs that are biting me. All of a sudden, I will have dozens of bites all over and I go crazy trying to scratch them. I will also wake up in the night, evidently having been attacked. And they bite in the most irritating places, like fingers, toes and my ears. How does this happen? How do they all find me, all at the same time? I am on the third floor so most of the time I am okay but I’m thinking I may try to rig up the mosquito net. But with concrete walls and a fan right where it should hang, I need some MacGyver skills, which I don’t have. Dengue fever is also a risk here, so I need to figure something out. The alternative is that I am imagining it all and having a pyschosomatic reactioin, which is possible. I am always that person who gets bitten when no one else does and there are no visible bugs.

I am also NOT seeing this dirt and dust that apparently coats my apartment everyday. I leave the doors open to keep it cool and when I come home at night, I wipe the floors and tables and despite not being able to see this dust, the cloths come away dirty.

This post is slightly mundane and domestic, but I had to get these perplexing things out there. Also, lemons are NOT sold here. Only limes. This is bizarre in a country where fruit is plentiful.

Today was an immersion in the industry of trying to make a better Jamaica. This morning, I joined YOU’s Executive Director at an event discussing the completion of a report from the European Union. To be specific, an economist from the U.K. (Scotland, to be exact) flew in to present his findings on how EU aid has improved Jamaica. The EU has worked here for decades and recently implemented a funding plan to improve several aspects of the country, working with native agencies on the ground. These include security and justice, transportation and the economy. It was a little dry. Let’s just say there wasn’t the usual undercurrent of excited commentary from the audience one usually hears at these events. Nonetheless, my reporter’s ears perked up several times. To boil it down, the economist used the word “disappointing” several times to describe the progress. For example, funding for the transportation network was dubiously diverted into future road projects in a contract with the Chinese government. The economist was terribly diplomatic and proper, but even with my limited knowledge, I would conclude that the country’s notorious corruption and slow pace contributed to a lack of progress. There are many, many well-meaning, capable civil society groups and NGOs working here, both local and international, including the big three- EU, USAID and the UN. But regardless of good intentions, by all accounts, it is extremely difficult to make substantial progress here, for many reasons. Stamina and patience are essential ingredients of success.

Later in the day, I again accompanied my Executive Director on a meeting to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, where we met with four people who are working on the country’s long term strategy called Vision 2030. In essence, they are tackling an ambitious project to engage the entire population and get everyone to buy in to this vision, which aims to make Jamaica the place to “live, work, raise families and do business.” They were very interested in YOU’s mentoring program and it seems a fruitful partnership could emerge. They spoke specifically of one community that has been in the headlines lately. It has no running water, people don’t pay for power (they rig up a system where they “kite” it for free), education is not up to standard, they don’t access the health care system they have and the population is 63 per cent under the age of 29. This agency is going to build new housing units and re-engage this community to improve it on many levels. The most fascinating aspect of the discussion came when the woman in charge of communicating with residents talked about her interactions with the “don.’ These dons control the community. They provide the social safety net. They pay for health care, they protect residents from crime and send children to school. They also do not let anything occur in the neighbourhood without their permission.. So this woman is in an intense negotiation with the don to persuade him to allow the government to build new housing. Sounds like a good deal for him right? But he is so skeptical and suspicious of government, he does not believe it will actually happen. It is such a foreign concept to me, and to most Canadians, I would suspect. I hope to visit this community in the near future, perhaps even meet the don?

This morning, most of Jamaica’s non-governmental organization (NGO) community was gathered in the same place. This was because USAID (a major American aid donor) is soliciting “concept papers” for a $30 million grant that will be issued later this year. This will not all go to one organization, rather each grant will run up to $2 million per NGO. These will all be distributed internationally. Needless to say, this will be a highly competitive process. I would estimate that at least 100 people turned out for an information session today, which outlined what officials will be looking for in the concept paper. Basically, we must describe an innovative project that will have measurable result. There are three areas of focus exclusive to Jamaica: basic education, civic participation and climate change. The paper is due in two weeks and will run a maximum of six pages. There are strict guidelines and a non-negotiable deadline. We had a brainstorming session today at YOU and we have some idea of where we want to go. 

The day before, I met with another NGO- UNICEF. I had a meeting with my counterpart, the communications specialist there. We had a great discussion and covered the challenges of conducting our business in Jamaica. UNICEF has been in Jamaica since 1964 and set up a permanent office in 1977. Here in Jamaica, they work in sort of a middle ground, both trying to influence policy and working directly on the ground with local NGOs. During the meeting, the UNICEF rep told me that one of the challenges is simply informing people about rights, especially children’s’ rights. This is a relatively new concept here, apparently. 

I also had a wonderful conversation today with Canadian Senator Don Meredith. A Canadian who was born in Jamaica, he grew up in St. Ann and has been back many times. In fact, he was here in April with a film crew who documented his trip. Senator Meredith is planning a tentative trip to Jamaica for the Jubilee with a delegation of Canadian politicians. We are hoping to plan an event with Senator Meredith, who is dedicated to any causes related to youth. He is clearly devoted to this cause and was gracious with his time today, stepping away from duties on Parliament Hill to speak with me. And from reading the headlines from Canada, it seems the Hill is a busy, controversial place lately.

Ok, got to go- gotta start researching for this concept paper.