Photo courtesy of Jamaica Observer

Thanks to social media, he was quickly rewarded for his effort by telecom company LIME. Nesbeth and fellow student Donique Benjamin received $15,000 each in book vouchers from LIME, complete with a photo op. (That is about $300US).

From the Observer:

Matthew’s mother, Suzette Dixon, told OBSERVER ONLINE Tuesday that Matthew is humbled by the experience adding that she is not surprised by her son’s actions

“He is from a good home with strong parents and supporting family members,” said Dixon. “Therefore, I expected nothing less.”

feature series

Photo courtesy of the Guardian Newspaper

The Guardian newspaper today has a feature based on some recent statistics from a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report. According to this extensive report, Kingston, Jamaica has the 10th highest murder rate out of the 137 most populous cities in the world.

There were 328 murders in 2011 in Kingston, an amount that marks a decrease from the previous year. The actual rate is 50.3 murders per 100,000 people. Most of the list consists of South American nations, although the top spot was taken by St. Kitts and Nevis. The second and third highest murder rates are in Caracas, Venezuela and Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Over the past several years, gang and drug-related violence has flared up so badly in Central and South America that residents of these nations are pouring over the U.S. borders, seeking safety and a better life.

The New York Times’ Damien Cave is currently writing a feature series on this issue and it is worth checking out. Some of the stories highlight the direct connection between poverty and gang violence. (Cave has written about Jamaica several times.)

TEN THOUSAND cases of child abuse were reported in Jamaica in 2013. 10,000. Four zeroes. That means there were ten thousand times an individual thought it necessary to take action to report a child being harmed. That takes much time and effort. And then think about all the times people ignored the situation, did not want to get involved or simply did not know how to file a report. Think about it: in one year, there were 10,000 incidents in which a child felt pain at the hands of an adult, likely an adult who was supposed to be protecting them.

Of course, this is unacceptable. We don’t hear a lot about all the work that happens on the ground to combat this epidemic, but the government agencies, the churches and civil society groups are doing what they can with little resources to protect these most innocent members of society.

Judging by media headlines and discourse, however, one would be forgiven in thinking that Jamaica’s children are in fact safe in their homes but threatened instead by the “gay agenda“. The most recent controversy surrounds the curriculum used in private children’s homes by a civil society group contracted by the government. (Read a reporter’s account of the culmination of a press conference on the topic.)

Clearly, the situation has overheated. Rhetoric and defensiveness now distort everyone’s perspective. The issue has also had fuel thrown on the fire by headlines like “Homo Thugs” and a story about a male jogger being raped (with no verification) and the termination of a contract of a professor at the University of the West Indies for making statements about HIV/AIDS.

It is time for everyone to step away from the flames, take a deep breath of clean air and remember what is important. TEN THOUSAND reports of children being abused.

Discussion amongst elites in the media is not an accurate measure of what the nation is talking about, but it is an indication and it does influence the national conversation. So people at churches, parties and the workplace are now talking about the “gay agenda” and how it is taking over Jamaica. What about the TEN THOUSAND reports of child abuse?

To date, there is no evidence that the “gay agenda” harms children. But there is documented evidence of AT LEAST TEN THOUSAND instances of harm to children in ONE YEAR ALONE. It is time to direct the nation’s energy and attention to this tragic epidemic.

It is Friday, the end of another week, of course. It seems I am in the minority in my lack of interest in the World Cup. Flags are flying from cars all over Kingston and in many businesses and workplaces I have entered this week, the television is tuned to a game. I had to steer around a group of men glued to the set yesterday in the grocery store and the television was reluctantly turned off during a meeting yesterday. Combined with the summer heat that seemed to drop on Kingston in one quick instant a week ago, the city is slow and movement stifled.

At least during the day. The early dawn is another story. The city is another world as the sky bleaches from black to purple to blue in the early hours. The newspaper vendors start to dart around to their clients, whether on foot or motorcycle. The prostitutes wait for a last client then head home. The young guys who live in the gully gather to discuss their night’s work. The girls in their short, colourful dresses shed their heels and walk home barefoot, accompanied by a couple guys in dress shirts and jeans. And the runners (me included) pass by, soaking it all in. So many very different worlds colliding before the city stretches and wakes and starts moving for another day of hustling. It is Friday and I still am not really interested in football. I wish I were, maybe I will try to catch a few minutes of a game today. Enjoy your day.

After such a poignant, real and disturbing blog post yesterday, please enjoy this picture of some of the faces of the future of Jamaica. They represent all the girls that need protection in this beautiful nation. Please think about what you can do to be a part of this effort.

Over the weekend, I was back in Canada for a family event. In Toronto, in fact, where everything is clean, shiny, new and orderly, at least in comparison to Kingston. This is not meant to denigrate Kingston, such a lively, bright, vibrant city that is full of its own natural beauty, but the contrast just struck me.

I was with a couple who had been together for over 20 years, friends of the family, and I must identify them as males, which is relevant to the story only because of my reaction to being with them. I found myself concerned for their safety. Shouldn’t they tone down their voices, mannerisms, affection towards one another, I found myself worrying…what if people noticed that they are a couple? Are they safe here? Will people say or do anything negative?

And then I remembered, I am not in Jamaica. For the most part, this couple can move freely in society, probably not 100 per cent free of discrimination and harassment, but at least in their daily lives they do not experience fear of mob attack or personal attacks.

This experience came back to me as I watched this news report about a young man who escaped an angry mob that had become riled up because he had purchased a lip stain. Judging by the crowd’s passion, he could have lost his life.

I am always loathe to compare and contrast and criticize different cultures and countries, especially as a foreigner. (Please read another beautiful account of this occurrence here.)

So I will not do that. Instead, I turn deep inwards and ask myself: should a young man be physically injured and harassed because he purchased a cosmetic item? The answer I come up with is “No.” I hope this question (specific to this situation or any other similar situation) enters the consciousness of any other individual not only here in Jamaica, but everywhere.

In what situation is it ever acceptable for fellow human beings to physically or psychically harm one another when we are all just trying to live our lives the way we want to, full of love, free of pain and endeavouring towards the future, full of hope?

Last week, the Jacques Parenting Association celebrated the opening of its Computer Lab and Internet Cafe. This was the culmination of many months of hard work, including a day of service last year during which the Canadian Navy visited Kingston for the day and helped to refurbish a container so it could be wired for Internet and computers installed. This was accomplished with the help of Canadian High Commissioner Robert Ready and his wife Joanne.

The Computer Centre also received funds from a government program called the Universal Service Fund, which to date has equipped 169 centres across the island in the aim of increasing access to information technology. Check out the official government story here.

As Member of Parliament Julian Robinson, who is Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining stated:

“The lab provides a great opportunity for those persons who otherwise would not have access to a computer, either at home or school, to come here; for children to do their homework, for adults to do their research,” he said.

He said persons can use the technology to find ways to empower themselves, noting that there are many applications on the Internet that persons can use to work online.

“Persons who may be sitting here during the days, can’t find a job, a little frustrated, there are opportunities here and one of the things I am committed to as Member of Parliament, is to provide the training for those persons so that they are aware of the opportunities and they can take advantage of it,” he said.

I like how High Commissioner Ready put it best, that this is a “real, tangible result” that will help poor and marginalized residents gain access to the Internet, a venue that will help propel them forward as they seek education and work.

I visited the computer centre a couple of months ago and it was indeed in use by Jacques Road residents. Many of them do not have a computer at home let alone the resources to pay for Internet access, so such a centre is a lifeline to employment, health care, government services and research needs for students.

Congratulations to Jacques Road Parenting Association, especially Miss Francena Pryce and Miss Ann Marie Lynch!

Photo courtesy of Jamaica Observer.