Yesterday a small group congregated outside the famed Devon House, the home of Jamaica’s first black millionaire. In one way, it was fitting, in another way, ironic. Devon House is a gathering spot for Jamaicans from all over to come and relax and enjoy a feeling of safety. It is also a busy intersection (at Hope, Trafalgar and Waterloo Roads) no matter the time of day, but especially at rush hour. Traffic was slower than usual as the afternoon light was waning and it had started to rain.

The event was called “Even in Private” and was meant to condemn a recent rash of home invasions of LGBT people in Jamaica. It was organized by AIDS-Free World and Quality Citizenship Jamaica. Organizers chose this location and time of day strategically, as it meant high visibility yet low risk of physical harm. The event was kept short to reduce chances that dissenters would be able to organize themselves to respond in time. In addition, police were not contacted as previously, they have chosen to remain far away at these types of events, thus rendering them less than effective. (Thank you Maurice for info.)

So this group appeared all of a sudden, holding signs talking about human rights, equality and acceptance, and carrying rainbow banners. They stood, silently for the most part. They cannot walk or march unless they get a permit. Several years ago, they used to get permits, but the bureaucracy and excessive amount of time and hassle it took to secure said permit means they now remain immobile. A permit is not required for this. It should be noted that the bureaucracy seems to miraculously ease up to grant permits for marches hosted by the church that promote a rejection of homosexuality.

Here’s a brief description of the values said church group will be marching for this Sunday, from their Facebook page:

1) The protection of our children from sexual exposure
2) Keeping the buggery law and other family friendly laws
3) Sexual purity: virgins, rings, no flings

The family structure is the basic unit of society, we must protect it. We must stand in love, prayer and boldness for the Jamaica that is best for our children and all Jamaicans.

Obviously, this message is the polar opposite of that which was promoted by those at yesterday’s event, of tolerance for everyone. And when it comes to lack of tolerance, these people know of what they speak. They have been attacked, verbally and physically, for who they are, on a regular basis. Some have been kicked out of their homes and rejected by their communities. So grave is the situation for some that they must migrate as they cannot safely support themselves financially and otherwise. Take, for example, lawyer Maurice Tomlinson (who flew in for roughly 48 hours just for this event), who has migrated because of threats to his safety, among other reasons. Tomlinson is currently challenging three Jamaican television stations over their refusal to air an ad that promotes tolerance towards homosexuals. Tomlinson is also involved in Javed Jaghai’s challenge to the Jamaican government’s buggery law. Both men are claiming a violation of their charter rights.

So this group gathered and held up signs. They talked to the media as well, as a small group of reporters attended this event. This included both film and radio reporters from the BBC, who will carry the message internationally.

Despite being a dark and rainy afternoon, this small group stuck it out. Passersby were mostly silent, save for a few homophobic taunts. A few cars honked their horns. A acquaintance of mine (Jamaican), who was working at Devon House, asked me what was going on. “Are these the gays?” he asked. I said yes. He sort of sneered and said he’d see me later and walked away.

Roughly half-an-hour after this group started congregating, they dispersed. The media, these individuals of a persecuted group here in Jamaica, all went back out to their lives. Some will tell this story, some will live the story. Some will challenge the country on its ability to uphold its guiding principles and rights. Let’s hope they are successful.

Last time I will plug this story. My piece airs tonight on TVJ at 930pm. It will then be posted online on Thursday evening at http://www.18degreesnorth.tv

The process, from start to finish, was one of the most challenging endeavours I have ever undertaken. Prior to this, I had never done television journalism. I was under the false impression that it would be easier than print. I thought this because investigative print pieces require vigorous and exhaustive research. You must also achieve “the get”, ie those important interviews with key officials or sources. Then, the piece must be written, carefully crafted so that it flows into the reader’s brain easily, so they can think about what they are being told, rather than labouring over the actual language and flow of the piece.

How wrong I was. All this and more is required for television. You must do all of the above, and THEN get enough footage to illustrate the piece. I had no idea. It was an amazing, exhilarating and exhausting process but I am happy with how the piece turned out.

I was in PriceMart yesterday, preparing for a colleague’s going away party. It was my first trip to this CostCo.-like place. I try to avoid CostCo at home and I will apply the same rationale here in Jamaica. It is a massive barn of bulk goods. The layout and packaging convince you that you need 763 clothes pins and vats of Crisco and 1194 scented candles, all at once. It is overwhelming. I managed to escape purchase-free, but not before I noticed a display of dolls.

A few school girls were examining the dolls in the pink packages. All of the dolls had white skin. I have not been in any toy stores here, but have seen similar displays in drug or grocery stores. All white dolls. What must this reality be like for the children here? What must it be like for a child to have toys and objects that help them to grow and explore and engage in play not reflect their own existence? I would love to know, to ask them. Check out this well-known update on an experiment on this topic here.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Just a little bit more shameless self-promotion: My piece went to bed last night. IT IS DONE!!! It will air on Monday night at 9:30pm on TVJ in Jamaica. The following Thursday, it will be online at http://www.18degreesnorth.tv. Hopefully, this will shed more light on the issue of children in conflict with the law in Jamaica. Civil society groups say it is a punitive, rather than rehabilitative system. The government this week made some major progress in addressing some of the problems, but fundamental changes must still be made to help, rather than hurt, these children, who often have emotional and social challenges.

A sad note: the young girl in the photo (her mother asked for anonymity), who we called “Aisha”, has run away from home again. The story centred on her experience- she ran away from home for two weeks to visit her father in Montego Bay. As a result, she was placed in an adult prison for three months. I called the authorities to report her missing again. She has been gone since July and has a social worker on the case. When I heard the news this week, my heart dropped and my stomach flipped over and I shed some tears. In fact, I’ve been thinking about her pretty much non-stop, wondering where she is, what she is doing and whether or not she is safe. Jamaica is not an easy place to grow up.

Please pray for her safe return.

These pics are from a shoot the other day for an entertainment show called Fiwi. The shoot was a diversion from working on my piece on children in prison. O’Neil, the producer I am working with, runs this show on Friday nights on one of the main networks, CVM.

We ventured out to a community where Seanizzle lives. Who is Seanizzle? He is a DJ/music producer who has had a couple of major hits, like Beenie Man’s I’m Okay/Drinking Rum and Redbull. Seanizzle did a quick interview with DebbieDebz, a young and engaging host. We also got a preview of a few songs Seanizzle is working on. They will be hits, I can guarantee, especially the one about twerking. Have a great day!

Earlier this week, the government moved up its promise to remove girls from adult prisons in Jamaica. This has significantly altered the story I am working on, but we are adjusting and wrapping up accordingly today. It will air next Monday. Below, find the official press release. Word is that the government advanced the move in order to meet conditions to remove an international “precautionary measures” held against it by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights earlier this summer.

Female Juveniles in the Correctional System Moved to South Camp
Monday, 02 September 2013 17:15
Written by JIS

Fulfilling a commitment given by Minister Peter Bunting during his sectoral debate presentation in June that there would be a complete separation of juveniles from adults in the correctional system by the end of 2013, the Ministry of National Security is today announcing that all female juveniles are now housed at the renovated South Camp Road facility.

Last week the female juveniles at Diamond Crest Juvenile Correctional Centre were transferred to South Camp Road Correctional Facility and today the remaining 25 girls from the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre have been relocated to South Camp Road.

The Government’s juvenile diversion policy has effectively reduced the number of juveniles in correctional facilities across the island. With respect to female juveniles, this number today has been reduced over the last two years by more than half to total sixty one juveniles in custody as at this morning.

The renovated facility is designed to eventually be separated into two separate though adjacent facilities, to house both the islands female adult and juvenile inmates. Nevertheless, for the immediate future the juveniles will be the only occupants at the South Camp Road facility, as the adult females will remain at Fort Augusta until, and unless, the Port Authority has need for the facility.

Contact: Office of the Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Ministry of National Security

TEL.:9064908-22/619-6017/878-0528

FAX: 754-3601

Email: gillian.haughton@mns.gov.jm

People are still talking about twerking, thanks to Miley Cyrus. I am a little bewildered by the response but won’t get into it now as most of it has been said already. (Okay, here’s my one thought: people are accusing Miley of impropriety, objectification and cultural appropriation. Robin Thicke was a willing participant and uses NUDE models in his videos AND he is being SUED by Marvin Gaye’s family for appropriating the main components of “Got to Give it Up.” I’ve not heard anywhere near the same venomous reaction towards Thicke for doing variations on what Miley and countless other pop culture figures are doing).

I’m also bewildered because twerking has been going on (or at least something similar) in the Caribbean for decades. Why are people so excited about it all of a sudden, even before Miley? In any case, a Jamaican MP was caught, maybe not twerking, but engaging in a cousin of twerking over the weekend. From the Gleaner:

In the photo, the robust Clarke is on tiptoe behind a willing, and equally plump, damsel.

The dance is now being dubbed by some as ‘The Chicken Back Dance’ after Clarke’s recent comments concerning the shortage of the popular poultry dish.

Others have been labeling it ‘The Oxtail’ as that was Clarke’s alternative when asked about the fowl fiasco.

Also playing on the oxtail angle, or perhaps a ‘moo’ving tribute to beef and cattle, unflattering photos of bovines engaging in ‘reproductive’ activities have also appeared in cyberspace juxtaposed to the minister’s moves.

The response has been quite hilarious, as I’m sure it would be in Canada. However, I cannot, nor do I want to, picture any Canadian politician doing this. I think the Canadian public is safe, though. Canadian political events are the typical barbeques and bake sales, with no loud music or dancing.

In Jamaica, about 99 per cent of the population can dance, and they look good doing it. I guess Roger Clarke is the exception?

It is Labour Day in the U.S. and Canada, so no school. It is back in session here in Jamaica. Luckily, I am working at home this morning and can avoid the madness on the roads. I was caught up in it a couple of weeks ago, in the downtown area. It seemed most of Kingston had converged on the downtown area to buy the khaki uniforms (for boys), tunics (for girls), books, backpacks, shoes and other supplies. I was there to conduct some business but ended up slaloming around parents making deals with vendors and their children who were tagging along. It was quite an experience.

Yesterday, amid the back-to-school hype, I was struck by this story about a young woman who wants to alter her tunic so it meets the religious requirements of her Islamic religion. Her school will not accommodate her. It sounds like there is more to the story, and it also sounds like personalities are getting in the way of principles. But the question remains: how does it affect other children, who are there to learn, if a fellow student’s uniform is comprised of more material than theirs?

I would like to add a commendation to the reporter for covering this story with sensitivity and commitment to just stating the facts. Have a good Monday!