The first thing she is drawn to…:(

“Practice the buddy system”, said Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the Corporate Communications Unit. “This is one of the most important rules to avoid being abducted” said the Senior Cop.

This is the first line of a news release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, which has been circulating on social media over the past few days. It instructs women on how to remain safe at night. It does not instruct men how to avoid assaulting women. That news release would just read, DON’T DO IT, I guess. Or maybe, STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL YOU MAY ASSAULT OR DISRESPECT A WOMEN. Or TALK TO SOMEONE IF YOU ARE HAVING THESE FEELINGS.

As someone on social media pointed out, the burden is on the woman to avoid being assaulted. I would also point out that there is no background or context. Why is this release out now? Did something precipitate it? Are more women being assaulted than usual? Are women more clueless lately about how to stay safe, or are men feeling more entitled than usual when it comes to taking what they want from women?

As the release suggests, women must not be so attractive as to garner male attention.

Keep a low profile. There are many ways to avoid highlighting your attractiveness to an abductor by downplaying on your financial status, dressing modestly, not wearing expensive jewellery and not openly carrying expensive electronics.

My female students tell me that some of them miss class or leave early to avoid being out at night. They also tell me of assaults that are not reported in the news. So perhaps this release is merited, it just seems misdirected.

I leave the release in full below:

JAMAICA CONSTABULARY FORCE
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
NEWS RELEASE
MONDAY, 2017-02-06

TAKE PRECAUTIONS, PREVENT ABDUCTION
“Practice the buddy system”, said Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the Corporate Communications Unit. “This is one of the most important rules to avoid being abducted” said the Senior Cop.

If you must travel alone, follow these safety rules:
1. Always inform others of your whereabouts. Inform a trusted friend, relative or colleague – give information about where you are going, who you intend to meet with and when you expect to return.

2. Keep a low profile. There are many ways to avoid highlighting your attractiveness to an abductor by downplaying on your financial status, dressing modestly, not wearing expensive jewellery and not openly carrying expensive electronics.

3. Watch your alcohol intake. The effects of alcohol can impair your judgement and make you less alert to your surroundings. Avoid accepting drinks from persons you are not familiar with.

4. If you go to a party never leave your drink unattended even in the company of persons you know and trust.

5. Carry a mobile phone. You can use it to text the licence plate information of the vehicle in which you are travelling to a trusted person. Remember to download the Ministry of National Security “Stay Alert” Application from the Google Play Store.

6. Avoid illegal ‘public’ transportation.

· Especially women travelling alone. Use an official taxi service or a reputable driver. If possible do not take a taxi with all male passengers especially in areas that you are not familiar with.

· Before entering a taxi or any other vehicle take a picture of the car to include any words or images, registration plate and send it via text or other social media to a relative or a trusted friend.

· It is best to let the driver of the taxi or car know that you are sending the information; it could serve as a deterrent. However, you could discretely take a picture of the driver and send it out as well.

7. Vary your pattern-of-life. Avoid setting patterns. If possible, take different routes to frequently visited locations, don’t travel at the same time of day or eat at different restaurants.

8. Never be afraid to scream. If you are being taken against your will, do not hesitate to scream for help and alert persons around you. Your attacker will be taken off guard.

9. Limit use of social media. Avoid advertising your every move on social media and be careful not to provide personal information to individuals you have never met in person.

10. False information puts lives at risk. Persons are also being asked to stop putting false information about abduction and missing persons in social media because it could amount to a ‘wolf, wolf’ situation and end up jeopardizing the safety of someone who is genuinely in need of assistance.

11. Lastly, always remember to trust your instincts and if it does not feel right, chances are it is not, so always err on the side of caution by acting as if something is wrong.

The other day as I was entering UTech’s campus, I noticed a group of well-dressed men handing out small books to drivers. Just after I picked up the parking card from the security guard, one of them handed me a small blue book. The New Testament.

I asked my students about this, and they said they do this when crime seems to be worse.

In some areas of urban Kingston, one must plug one’s nose when walking through public spaces like HalfWay Tree or Parade in downtown, otherwise one is an assaulted by odor. I never got used to it on my walk to the HalfWay Tree coaster every morning when I was working on Camp Road. The odor is urine, to be specific. You can also be treated to watching men in the act, anywhere, anytime in Kingston. Public peeing is the norm here, unfortunately, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of Jamaican dollars per month, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.

In addition to public education campaigns, and perhaps more funding for public restrooms, could this be a solution? In France, where ‘le pipi sauvage’ is also apparently a problem, men can now use a public urinal for free. The Uritrottoir directs the urine to a small garden in a box, which over time will be used for composting. They are painted bright red and cost about 3,000 Euros each. This seems a bit steep for Jamaica’s coffers, however. I guess for now we must remain accustomed to the sights and smells of public urination.

The Guardian yesterday had a lovely feature on pictures from Jamaica in the 1890s. While officially freed from the chains of slavery, residents still seemed to adhere to their previous way of life. Check it out here.

I would say many of the people reading this advertisement can’t afford to travel.

Yesterday as I was driving home from dropping my daughter at pre-school, I noticed a commotion on the other side of the road. Then I saw a young woman in a bright turquoise shirt lying on the ground, and a motorcycle splayed beside her. A young man, presumably the motorcyclist then picked her up and moved her to the side of the road. A crowd was gathering, people praying to Jesus and yelling. She wasn’t moving. I didn’t want to block the road so I kept going. I hope she is ok.

Then as I was driving home from picking my daughter up, I saw another crowd around a motorcyclist, who was hopping around on an injured leg.

These motorcyclists, and all motorists actually, drive way too fast here. They do not respect the rules of the road, let alone respect pedestrians. (Although many people are courteous in stopping to let people cross the road).

And it seems that 2017, nine motorcyclists have died so far, according to the Road Safety Unit, compared to 26 for the entire 2016. That is too many obviously. Overall, there were 377 fatalities in 320 accidents.

Yesterday as I was driving to work, I was stopped in traffic at the corner of Hope Road and Waterloo Road. I bought some bananas, and then Kim, one of the young men who wipe windscreens, came over to wash my windscreen and say hello. He told me that his friend Ian was dead. Last week, I had been wondering where Ian was as I had not seen him in weeks. Awhile ago, when I used to run every morning on the road, I would stop and chat with Ian and Kim and give them whatever little change I had. I learned Ian had a young daughter and that he preferred this lifestyle to anything else. He was always under the influence of something.

Kim said Ian had been on the road on the 19th of last month and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was shot dead. I wrote about Ian here, take a read. I wonder if he had a funeral, if there was enough money for a casket and burial. Thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his little daughter, who no longer has a father.

Yesterday my daughter and I, along with our neighbor’s son, headed out to buy some fresh fruits and vegetables. The transaction was fine and we headed home. On our way back, we rounded a corner and came upon three policemen on the left side of the road. On the right-hand side was another officer talking to someone in a white car that was pulled over.

Like most people’s immediate reaction, I thought “Oh no!” and scanned to see if I was doing anything illegal. Of course I wasn’t, and all seat belts were on. But one of them held up their hand to pull me aside. This is nothing new, I’ve been in the car with my husband when he’s pulled over to do a “routine check”. They have even searched the car. I was a little bit nervous, as I had the baby and another child in the car, but we were on a well-traveled route.

I stopped the car and mistakenly put down the window beside my daughter’s seat, then rolled down mine. “Good afternoon,” I said. The first officer of the three smiled and put his notepad beside his mouth, so as to shield what he was saying from his colleagues. “I was hoping I could come and sit in the front seat with you, but I see you have your baby there.” I smiled and said “I don’t think my husband would like that very much.”

The three officers laughed and asked if everything was ok. “Yes, everything is fine,” I said. Then the same officer asked for a ride around the block. At this point, I really didn’t know what to say. It was clear they had no interest in anything law-related. “Have a good day,” they said.

These routine checks are indeed routine, but I fail to see what purpose they serve.