SATURDAY MARCH 5, 2022 | VOL 188 NO 55 PAGES: 24 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com GCT INC. $110 Andre Williams/Staff Reporter THE COUNTER-TERRORISM and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) yesterday made another dent in the shipment of illegal firearms after 21 guns including three rifles were seized at a warehouse inside the One Stop Customs Clearance Centre in Kingston. Late yesterday evening, C-TOC listed Jadian Edwards of 3 East Greater Portmore in St Catherine as a person of interest in the gun find. The police believe that the womanmay be of assistance in their investigation and as such have asked Edwards to turn herself in to the police by noon today. The cache reportedly comprised of 18 pistols, three rifles and an assortment of more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The near four-hour operation ended approximately 4:00 p.m. and The Gleaner saw scene of crime personnel in a convoy of police service vehicles exiting the premises located on Industrial Terrace in Kingston. The guns were reportedly found in two barrels shipped from Florida for an intended address in Clarendon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said recently that the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) was formally brought into the ‘Get Every Illegal Gun’ campaign, to strengthen the efforts against the illicit importation of guns through the country’s ports. “We are going to [ensure] that no illegal guns come through our legal ports. It is now time that we get tough on the internal collaborators and facilitators who are allowing illegal guns to come into our country. They get rich from it, while the poor people in the country die from it,”Holness said at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new Stony Hill Police Station in St Andrew last week. The One Stop Customs Clearance Centre is usually busy, especially during the festive period. However, activities yesterday afternoon was reduced to a crawl and not much was happening. An employee at the establishment MAJORGUNFIND INKINGSTON Police leaving One-Stop Customs Clearance Centre on Industrial Terrace on March 4, 2022 where there was a large gun find. NICHOLAS NUNES/PHOTOGRAPHER Cops name woman as person of interest Judana Murphy/Staff Reporter RESIDENTS OF Greenwich Town have lauded the Government for the physical infrastructure upgrades the community has benefited from, through the build phase of the zone of special operations (ZOSO). A ZOSO was imposed in July 2020, as the south west St Andrew community was plagued by increased gang activity. For the first six months of the year, there were seven murders, including two double murders and eight shootings. It has been 247 days since the last murder within the zone and 206 days since the last shooting. Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) senior manager for social development, Mona Sue-Ho, said $35.9 million was spent on phase two of the integrated infrastructure package (IIP) works during the 2021-2022 implementing period. This included improvements to roads, drainages, sidewalks, water mains and removal of zinc fences. JSIF also implemented a solid waste management project valued at $4.1 million, where 26 environmental wardens were trained and employed. One skip was also constructed and placed in the community. Sue-Ho said 59 residents, including 15 fisherfolk, benefited from $13.1 million in enterprise grants during the period 2021 to 2022. “Significant work has been done on the physical side. We need to improve the work on the social side but have made some inroads in our schools with the birth certificate programme and other projects,”she said. Fifty-one-year-old Marcia Valentine told The Gleaner that she was fairly pleased with the improvements that have been made. “The only thing we want is a likkle light on the street. Some streets have light and some don’t have any but the sidewalks are OK, the people come and sweep up the roads in the morning, so it is very clean and the zinc fence dem gone, so di place look nice,” Valentine said. Glendon McDonald, a shop owner, echoed similar sentiments. “Every morningmi wake up, I see the workers sweeping. We have a nice sidewalk can walk pan and we can walk in peace around the community. Everything is just nice since the ZOSO,” he said. Meanwhile, 45-year-old Marcia Green said the community has a “residential look” since themajority of zinc fences havebeen removed. “I like the look. Some of the sidewalks could have been fixed better but we are grateful,” Green said. editorial@gleanerjm.com ZOSO making a difference in Greenwich Town Dr Horace Chang, (left) minister of national security and Angela Brown Burke, MP for St. Andrew South Western chat with Jerdane Dixon, student of Greenwich Town Primary School during a tour yesterday of Greenwich Town where a zone of special operations (ZOSO) was established. RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER Daphne Campbell with her grandchildren twins Shameila Smith, (right) and Shameil looking over her newly built wall which was done as part of the build phase of the zone of special operation in Greenwhich Town in Kingston. Dr Horace Chang, minister of national security; Angela Brown Burke, member of parliament for St Andrew South Western and Omar Sweeney, managing director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund visited the community on a tour of the area yesterday. RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER Tanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter AWESTMORELANDbusinessmanwhowas slapped with 25 years to life sentence for stranglingapregnant14-year-oldschoolgirl, butwasseekinga50percent reduction,was left terribly disappointed yesterday after his sentencewas only reducedby 21days. Cornelius Robinson, of Savanna-la-Mar in theparish,hadappealedhis2015sentenceon thegrounds that itwasmanifestly excessive. Handing down its ruling yesterday, the Court of Appeal in settingaside the sentence only took note of the 21 days that Robinson had served before his imprisonment and substituted the sentencewitha life sentence and a new stipulation for him to serve 24 years 11 months and 10 days. The fashion designer and photo studio operator, who was 37-year-old at the time of his conviction, had pleaded guilty to the murder of the Frome Technical High School student Sontoya Campbell, who he had impregnated. Theteenagerwhowas reportedmissingon January26, after she left for school anddidnot return home, was found a day later wrapped in a garbage bag under the Cabaretta River bridge, near to thegirl’s school. Her body was found with the hands and feet bound, and a cord around her neck. A post-mortem revealed that Campbell’s death was due to strangulation and that she was pregnant at the time of her death. Days after her bodywas found, Robinson was arrested and charged following investigations. Themurder convict, who had not denied having sexual relations with the child, had reported that he had got angry and killed her after she had threatened to expose him to his wife and her mother. According to him, the teenager had demanded money from him to buy a Samsung phone and was using her pregnancy to blackmail him. But residents claimed that Robinson had murdered the teen because she had refused to abort the child and was planning to break the news about the pregnancy to her mother and Robinson’s wife. However, when he appeared in court, Robinson waived his right to a preliminary hearingandpleadedguiltyandwassentenced. However, he later appealedhis sentence. AGGRAVATING FACTORS His attorney-at-law Lambert Johnson argued that his client was entitled to a 50 per cent reduction in light of his exceptionally early guilty plea, his good antecedents and community reports as well as the fact that he was remorseful. However, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Natallie Malcolm and Crown Counsel Dominque Martin argued against the reduction while contending that the aggravating factors in the case had outweighed the mitigating elements. They pointed to the aggravating factor such as the manner in which the student was killed while recalling that Robinson had confessed that he had squeezed her neck until she was lifeless, the manner in which Robinson had disposed of her body and the fact that he had kept her body in his office for the entire day before later discarding her body at 11:00 p.m. Noting that the child’s mother hadmade an arrangement for Robinson to assist her daughter with lunch money and that on the morning of the incident the child had visited him for that reason, the prosecutors also highlighted that Robinson had not only murdered a child but that the act was a betrayal of trust. Court shaves 21 days off 25-year sentence of child killer PLEASE SEE GUN, A3
THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS A2 FOUR BUILDINGS at Harman Barracks have been renovated to the tune of $93.4 million. The barracks, which have a capacity of 72 persons per building, is home to members of the Specialised Operations Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang said it was embarrassing to have professionals who respond to high violence living in the rundown facilities. Through funding from the National Housing Trust (NHT), Chang said the barracks have been restored to a“liveable space”. LONG-TERM PLAN The security minister said the remainder of the buildings at Harman Barracks will be refurbished in short order. “There is a longer-termplan for further development but in the short term, we are refurbishing all the buildings,” Chang said. NHT senior project manager, Jacqueline Johnson, said they had a budget of $104 million but only $93.4 million was paid out. “We removed everything. All that we left were the walls. So we replaced all the windows, all the electrical works were done, painting, we equipped the buildings with washing machines and dryers and kitchen appliances,” Johnson explained. NHT senior general manager, Donald Moore, said the trust is proud to partner with the JCF to improve the conditions of police facilities across the island. “We understand how critical it is to national security and I think that the move to make sure that our communities are safe is a very important part of housing. We are quite happy with the results and I know based on the response of the people who are using the space, that it will be well appreciated,”Moore said. Meanwhile, head of the Specialised Operations Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Warren Clarke, said he was satisfied with the efforts to make members of the force more comfortable. “Enforcement takes a lot of energy, a lot of investment in training and other things and so after working hard, it’s very welcoming to be able to enjoy the facilities that have beenmade available for us,”Clarke remarked. editorial@gleanerjm.com More than $90 million spent to renovate police barracks ACP Warren Clarke (left), Sherika Service (centre), superintendent of police give Dr Horace Chang, deputy prime minister and minister of national security a tour of the renovated areas of the Harman Barracks in Kingston on yesterday. RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER Asha Wilks/Gleaner Writer COMMUN I T Y MEMBERS and business owners in Ewarton, St Catherine, where Russian company En+ Group International PJSC operates UC Rusal WINDALCO in Jamaica, have expressed concern about the lingering uncertainty caused by the potential negative impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the local plant. There are increasing concerns about job security among the scores of men employed to the company who are the sole breadwinners of their respective families. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, among other countries, have imposed punishing economic sanctions on Russia for its military invasion of SouthWest Ukraine on February 24. The list of sanctions targets banks, oil refineries, military exports, among others. It is believed that the penalties inflicted on Russia could have a significant impact on UC Rusal’s WINDALCO operations in Jamaica, resulting in layoffs and a slowdown of daily operations. Some have theorised that if the war continues, the plant will be forced to close as USA may refuse to accept the shipping of alumina from Jamaica through their ports to other countries and corporations. Clemont Amos, a former worker who spent 30 years at UC Rusal as a processing operator, suggested that “a Russian-owned company enuh, anything possible,” in response to the question of possible job cuts. He said that there were periods when the company would shutter the plant for three days at a time to maintain the machines. As a possible closure looms, he expressed fears that they might shut down for good instead of reopening. “Me nuh sure if them a go back to full-scale [operation] cause them haffi a watch wah gwan,” he said. Amos explained that his son, who works at the mining company, did not say if the management had made a decision on what their course of action would be. VincentMorrison, president of the Unionof Clerical, Administrative, and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), has encouraged employees of WINDALCO to“stay calm”. According to Morrison, who had dialogue with company officials on Tuesday, UC Rusal has asserted that it would not be adversely affected by the numerous sanctions against Russia. “Having spoken to the company and having got the assurances from the company... we would be in a position to make our plans, to decide what we are going to do going forward and we can’t do that until we are told by management what are their plans going forward, and their plans as we understand is that business remains the same,” said Morrison about the next course of action. When contacted, Senior Information and Public Affairs Officer at UC Rusal Monique Grange said the company could not comment on issues surrounding its future operations. Despite the fact that business has been poor since the COVID19 outbreak, one taximan who operates the Ewarton to Linstead route explained that if UC Rusal went out of business, it would have a severe impact on his business. Tiffany Jackson andMarsha Gray, both cashiers at the Triple Star Service Station’s Mini Mart, said the store receives significant support from the staff of WINDALCO. Gray told The Gleaner that if WINDALCO closed its doors, the revenue earned by the service station and mini mart would plunge. Job security concerns heighten at Russian-owned bauxite company in Jamaica UC RUSAL WINDALCO bauxite mining company in Ewarton on Thurday, March 3, 2022. Marsha Gray, cashier of Triple Star mini mart speaks about the Russian Ukraine war and the likely impact on the RUSAL WINDALCO company and the community in Ewarton. PHOTOS BY RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER Clement Amos, former worker at UC RUSAL WINDALCO mining company speaks about the Russian Ukraine war and the possible implications for employees at the company. André Williams/Staff Reporter JAMAICANS HAVE long been encouraged to till the soil and Rockfort brothers Davian and Kevan Watt, who turned their backs on a life of crime, are now making significant strides as farmers in their community. The men, who reside inWareika Hill in east Kingston, have seen benefits from crop and vegetable harvesting last year and are looking forward to realising a bumper crop in 2022. “By time we fi reach Coronation Market the fence line full, especially when we had the callaloo,” Kevan told The Gleaner. The residents have welcomed the farm in their community, as accessibility to the market for the elderly has been problematic. The area, measuring close to 50 acres, was a dumping ground and the brothers said they had to fight to secure theplot of land for farming. “We literally almost get inna gun war just to stand where we standing now. You know the type of trouble we use to give and we a pree farming ya now and we fight for it,”Kevon said of the resistance they met upon. Davian, the younger brother, is now a registered farmer with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. He made the plunge in agriculture after a life of violence. “Yuh see pon a bigman level, if me did know say farming so nice from dem time deh til now probably we wouldn’t follow up the violence part of the thing. From we get involved in the farming, can tell yuh say we nuh look back on the violence side,”Davian said. SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT The brothers told The Gleaner that they have received substantial support from their Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell; councillor for the Norman Gardens division, Jacqueline Lewis, and a man identified only as Dane. “From we turn da side ya we nah fi look back, if we nah sell chicken, we a sell plantain, banana and vegetables. The MP push we, councillor push we same way,” Davian said. Their farming and agricultural practices have attracted local and international visitors who have commended the brothers for their achievements. “A prepare we a prepare fi start push on back the crops on the bed. Sweet pepper, broccoli, tomato, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, cabbage.Whenwe reapthecabbage dempretty. Andweget nicegungo,” Kevon told The Gleaner. The i r r i ga t i on wa te r management employed on the farm turns over pleasant results for the sibling farmers. They began banana and plantain production fromonly three suckers and have amassed more than 150 plants that continue to produce suckers for transplanting. The brothers sowed 2,000 sweet peppers last year and are looking to boost production this year. The young farmers feel a sense of accomplishment as they are able to earn a living from farming while at the same time satisfying the demand for fresh produce from residents in surrounding communities. They told The Gleaner that they are in need of additional farm tools and want to get other youth involved in farming. “If dem youth ya did a pree like how we a pree right now, mi a tell yuh it woulda better this side ya. Yuh find say a me and mi breda alone inna the farming,” Kevon said. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries reported a major increase in agricultural production for the last quarter of 2021. Preliminary estimates for domestic crop production for the October to December quarter showed an increase of 18.2 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2020, moving from 161,639.6 tonnes to 190,990 tonnes. According to the ministry, significant contributors to the increased production were: condiments 12,755.7 tonnes (50.2 per cent), fruits 16,123.8 tonnes (36.5 per cent), and vegetables 67,498.5 tonnes (24.1 per cent). Kevan Watt shows off plantain growing on his farm in Rockfort, east Kingston. He also plants a range of agricultural produce. Davian Watt is attending to his vegetable plants. CONTRIBUTED Brothers shun crime to make inroads in farming
THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS A3 Hopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer SEVERAL DISGRUNTLED goat farmers in Crowder, Grange Hill, Westmoreland, are calling on theWestmoreland police to carry out more patrols in their community following the gruesome murder of another goat herder on Wednesday. The latest victim has been identified as 70-year-old Aron Scarlett of Crowder district in Grange Hill. He is the third goat herder to be robbed of his livestock and murdered in that community over the past three months. The concerned goat farmers said that an increase in the police presence was needed in the community as a deterrent to the hard-core criminals. “Rasta was a good and honest, hardworking citizen, and every day him just focus pon him farm an him goats, but the thief dem come een, an just kill him an tek weh him goat suh,” said a man who only gave his name as Eric. Scarlett’s common-law wife, Rosetta Summerville, told The Gleaner that her partner left home about 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday for his goat farm which is located in an area known as Shaw Pen. “After him go bush mi nuh si him come back, all inna di 10:30 mi nuh si him come back,” she said noting that it was a taxi man who told her that her partner was killed at his farm. The distraught woman said she rushed to the location and attempted to view the body but was stopped by a relative who feared she could get ill as a result of her medical condition. TheWestmoreland police have reported that the elderly goat farmer was shot and chopped to death. Praedial larceny is believed to have been the motive behind this latest attack. Scarlett’s death comes three months after two other popular goat herders, 65-year-old Henry Jones, otherwise called ‘Mass Hen’, and 44-year-old Brian Chambers, otherwise called‘Fowlie’, both of the same community were also killed in a similar fashion. Summerville told The Gleaner that she is now convinced that the goat herders are being targeted. “Mi believe seh a somebody from close by involved in a dem tings yah, and a full time the police come een, because dem a target the goat farmers dem.” Efforts to get a comment from the police were unsuccessful. Since the start of the year, a total of 24 persons have been murdered across the parish of Westmoreland. Asha Wilks/Gleaner Writer THE VALE Royal talks, according to People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding, have been quite successful in facilitating much-needed conversation between the Government and the Opposition on national issues. National security, constitutional reform, health, and the Jamaica 60 Diamond Jubilee celebrations were among the topics discussed during the three-and-a-half-hour dialogue, which was held on February 22, 2022. “I think a better understanding of our positions was achieved and that’s very important,” said Golding. He added that he would like to see the commencement of the work in areas that have been identified. Golding said he hoped the prime minister would `arrange more of these consultations so that the Opposition’s positions can be taken into account. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Golding discussed the unacceptably high levels of crime and violence that continue to bedevil the country. Police statistics show that between January 1 and February 19, the country recorded 206 murders, 157 shootings and 130 robberies. In an interview with The Gleaner, Golding asserted that he and the prime minister have established an understanding over the PNP’s opposition to the use of states of public emergencies (SOEs). Golding described the PNP’s stance against SOEs as a “sound” position to an ineffective crimefighting tool, but acknowledged that he planned to assist the Government in finding more effective solutions and strategies to combat crime. “We are all in favour of constructive engagement around crime, we helped them with the ZOSO legislation in Parliament [and] we will do the same with the Firearms bill which is now in Parliament and we have pointed out some ideas to them that we think should be included in the Enhanced Security Measures bill which we have been waiting for a long time and it’s still not before us,” said Golding. The proposed law on Enhanced Security Measures is intended to provide the security forces with the tools they need to dismantle criminal networks, minimise violence, and restore public order. “I am looking forward to seeing those ideas expressed in the legislation that hopefully will reach Parliament shortly,” he added. Golding had also expressed a desire for Jamaica to part ways with the British monarchy in short order and to have its own Jamaican-born head of state. When Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state on November 30, 2021, it reignited and heightened discussions locally that Jamaica may follow suit. As a result, Prime Minister Holness declared last year that Jamaica would become a republic soon. Golding acknowledged that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party “seems to be committed to it as well,” but confessed that the Government was not moving as expeditiously as the PNP would like it to move. Tanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter THE ST Mary brothers accused of killing four people in separate incidents, including a Chinese couple, are to settle their legal representation. Nigel Walters, alias ‘Troy’, and Nicholas Walters were yesterday remanded until June 2 when they made their first appearance in the Home Circuit Court via a voluntary bill of indictment, which allows for their case to bypass a parish court hearing. Nigel, however, was the only defendant who appeared physically as his brother attended via Zoom. In the first case, Chinese business operators, 53-year-old Shiyun Shu and 48-year-old Haikong Wan, were shot and killed during a robbery at their supermarket in Bellevue, St Elizabeth. Three gunmen were reportedly caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) posing as customers in the supermarket before the deadly attack. The second incident involved 45-yearold businesswoman Sophia Brown and her customer, 58-year-old farmer Bernie Lewis, both of Long Hill district, Whitehouse, Westmoreland. Brown was reportedly at her wholesale on January 12 when the brothers entered posing as customers. Both women were reportedly assisting the men when they were shot and killed. Yesterday when the case was mentioned, the prosecutor informed Justice SimoneWolfe-Reece that the case files for both matters are incomplete. In the St Elizabeth case, among the documents outstanding are the ballistic certificate, forensic certificate and a compact disc with footage. The post mortem report has already been received. For the second matter, the crown is awaiting the post mortem. The court was also informed that Nigel is yet to settle his legal representation even though he has retained a lawyer. A mention date was subsequently scheduled for the files to be completed and for Nigel to retain a lawyer. Both defendants were remanded. Attorney-at-law Kerry-Ann Wilson is representing Nicholas. PNP sees positives from renewed Vale Royal talks GOLDING Suzanne Taylor ( right), presents a cheque worth $3 million to Christine Hendricks, head of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) yesterday. Unicomer Jamaica Limited provided the funds to JCPD to improve the level of technology and access to education for the disabled at eight agencies. The agencies set to benefit include: The Combined Disabilities Association, Abilities Foundation, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Early Stimulation Programme, Centre of Excellence – St Thomas, Salvation Army School for the Blind, Duncan’s All Age Special Education Unit and Edgehill School of Special Education. RUDOLPH BROWN/PHOTOGRAPHER been slow. A driver who is often at the location soliciting business to transport barrels said he was on hand when news broke of the find. He told The Gleaner, “Mi nuh know what do dem man ya enuh. Dem just a mash up the country wid di gun ting. Things like dat only slow up work. All today (yesterday) a just little work gwaan, nothing much,” he said on condition of anonymity. Yesterday’s seizure is the second gun bust since the start of the week. On Monday two persons were arrested following an operation at a warehouse on Sea Grape Way in Montego Bay, St James. Seven firearms, including two rifles and a sub-machine gun, were seized in that incident. It is reported that about 2:30 p.m., a joint team consisting of members of the Contraband Enforcement Team and the police were making checks at the facility. The guns were discovered during an inspection of electronic items. Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson during a press conference at his office on Tuesday said 163 weapons were seized since the start of the year, an overall 37 per cent increase when compared to the similar period in 2021. According to the commissioner, there has been a more than 100 per cent increase in the total number of rifles sized this year. The police are also reporting a 26 per cent increase in the number of pistols seized since January. The police say that organised criminals are purchasing these high-powered weapons so that they can terrorise communities, particularly the poorer and more vulnerable areas. “Let me make it clear that the highpowered rifles that we have seized are not cheap. They are not tools of economic development or productivity. They are high-value weapons normally associated with warfare rather than crime,” added Anderson. The police say their probe into yesterday’s seizure is ongoing. HOLNESS Accused murderers of four make appearance in court GUN CONTINUED FROM A1 Another goat farmer in Westmoreland killed Residents want urgent help from the police
THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE A4 Real good stories fromThe Gleaner #GOODHEARTJA Keisha Hill/ Senior Gleaner Writer PATRICE GRAY has sought to use her resources in the best way to assist the people in her community. The 34-year-old from Thornton, in St Elizabeth, wants to see her community flourish and has been using her place of business to facilitate the growth and development of youth in the area. Gray, who moved to the community some 30 years ago, grew up observing her grandmother andmother assisting others. “I saw them giving back in whatever way that they could. I give back in terms of my time and helping with various community projects,” she said. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many students faced challenges accessing Internet service since classes were moved online. Gray equipped an adjoining section of her business place with Wi-Fi and gave students access on weekdays and Sundays. The space has been furnished with benches and tables similar to that of an actual classroom, and a sanitisation unit has been set up. “Many of the students do not have access toWi-Fi at home. I allow the students to use it and have their classes going, and I want to help the children in my community,” Gray said. FUTURE GENERATION As an executive member of her community youth club, Gray is always trying to find ways to reach out and build her community and help the future generation. “The Thornton Community Club does various activities and outreach programmes to help the community. The objective of the community club is to uplift the living standards of persons living in the community. I also do projects on my own, and I have plans to start my own charity,” she said. The community club has also undertaken various initiatives, including delivering care packages to the most vulnerable in the community and the renovation of the community centre for its future use as a skills training and homework centre. Now a health and fitness enthusiast, Gray and her partner recently hosted a competition in February to encourage people in the community to exercise. “I started exercising at the start of the pandemic as a way to relieve stress and boredom. I have encouraged people to start exercising as it helps with health issues. Another executive member started having fitness classes at the community court, and it was a way to encourage more people to join the classes and to lose the weight,” Gray said. Gray is encouraging people to give back in whatever way possible. She is a recent recipient of the Sagicor Community Hero Awards. “It feels good to be recognised but giving back was never about being recognised; it was more of seeing a need that I could fulfil. It is a wonderful feeling to help someone, and by uplifting your community, you will eventually uplift the country,” she said. keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com 34-y-o converts section of business to classroom for students without Wi-Fi Patrice Gray (left), is a recent recipient of the Sagicor Community Hero Awards for her contributions to her community. CONTRIBUTED MANY PERSONS are now leaning towards non-traditional career paths. This is definitely the truth for twenty-one-year-old TahjRojae Scott and his quest for success in Jamaica’s music and entertainment industry and beyond. Currently in his second year of study at The University of the West Indies, pursuing a degree in banking and finance, Scott’s dreams of a successful career in entertainment are based on a strong business sense. Not only is he pursuing a business degree, but he also works with his father in operating the family’s auto sales business. This business background enables him to approach music holistically, with not only a perspective and ear for melodies and harmonies, but a knowledge of business structure, strategy and proper business process. Since the pandemic, Scott has been dedicated to his studies and his craft, having successfully released three projects this year, a few singles, and registered his record label, TRG Records, in a move to expand further in 2022. “My goal is not to just make music, but to also help more artistes in a structured, legal way. The plan is to offer opportunities to other aspiring recording artistes who may not be able to afford frequent trips to the studio but are still motivated to create,”Scott shared. When asked about his motivation and where this passion began, he shared, “I was never interested in sitting in an office I didn’t own. So, since high school, I was always starting new business ventures or partnering with others, it came naturally to me. I enjoy blending my creative ideas withmy business ideas to provide consumers with unique experiences. I enjoymaking executive decisions, and I enjoy entrepreneurship, because there isn’t a hierarchy that you need to rank up in before you can grow. Every day is a new opportunity for limitless growth.” TOP RECIPIENT It is this drive and dedication to all areas of his dream career path that led him to work towards securing the votes needed tomake him the top recipient in the microentrepreneurship category in the NCB Foundation Grant a Wish Programme. Scott’s wishes were granted after being nominated in the category by his mother, and he is now the recipient of the top award, $250,000! “I’d like to express gratitude for this initiative by NCB Foundation. There are many of us with dreams and aspirations which we cannot execute due to lack of money, and these grants will propel so many individuals and organisations further, allowing them to achieve more and assist more individuals, too. This gift will help me to achieve [the] goals I’ve had for years. It will help me to finish building my home studio, which I have been working on for some time now.” As an entrepreneur, Scott shared some insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs - “Plan ahead, keep the faith even when things are slow, be consistent, be able to take criticism from people who are genuine, be confident and, most importantly, don’t give up.”Scott also has big plans for his future and the future of Jamaica’s music and enter tainment industry. “My hopes are to release more music and visual content for the new year, as well as do more collaborations with other creators. I plan to continue doing my best to become more recognised as an artiste next year and add something unique to the music culture through my label and the music I’ll be in charge of.” Entrepreneur gets $250,000 boost Tahj-Rojae and his father, Michael Scott, celebrate with a hug. CONTRIBUTED David Salmon/Gleaner Writer THIS MONTH, students of the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at The University of theWest Indies will be able to apply for financial assistance from the FSS Guild Committee. Spearheaded by social sciences representative, Omolora Wilson, the Tiger Tuition Acceptance Grant aims to support students who face the imminent risk of being deregistered for non-payment of school fees. “Last year during the exam period, a lot of students from the faculty got barred from doing their exams…Thus, I saw it as a need to ensure that students won’t end up in the same situation this semester again,”Wilson told The Gleaner. An estimated 200 students from the faculty are believed to have been deregistered due to nonpayment of school fees last year. Wilson shared that she has successfully lobbied for students who had a financial block last semester to be registered as absent instead of facing a penalty. This allows them to sit their final exams this year. However, she explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had emphasised the need to provide additional support for students as many were still reeling from the fallout. “As faculty of social sciences representative, one of the manifesto points that I want to do was to improve the social science representative grant … . We want to do way more and want to incorporate data plans,” addedWilson. So far, $500,000 has been raised for the grant, with the committee aiming to reach its target of $1 million by the end of the semester. An additional sum has been set aside to purchase electronic devices for students. She elaborated that this is just one of a range of activities being finalised ahead of the Faculty of Social Sciences Week, which will begin on March 20. During this week, the guild representative aims to conduct additional fundraising for the grant and implement projects geared towards student development. “We have our sale of memorabilia which will also go towards students’ tuition or wherever we can assist them… Other initiatives that we have is our social sciences study sessions coming up, and in addition to that, we have our scholarship and sponsorship session coming up,”Wilson said. To access an application formor learnmore about upcoming projects, visit the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Instagram page, @ uwimona_fss or the website at www. mona.uwi.edu/socsci/. david.salmon@gleanerjm.com Social science faculty rep launches grant for students in need Social sciences representative, Omolora Wilson, said the Tiger Tuition Acceptance Grant aims to support students who face the imminent risk of being deregistered for non-payment of school fees. CONTRIBUTED Patrice Gray – A strong pillar in Thornton
THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS A5 George Ruddock/ Gleaner Writer LONDON: AMID THE blanket television news coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, among the most riveting has been Clive Myrie’s live reports from the capital Kyiv on the BBC News at Ten. Each night, Myrie brings the harsh reality of the war zone into sharp focus as he dons flak jacket and reports on the day’s developments while explosions frommissile strikes or the crack of gunfire echo in the background. But this is nothing new for the senior BBC news reporter, as he has travelled tomore than 80 countries as a foreign correspondent since 1996 covering conflicts in such places as Afghanistan and Iraq and now Ukraine. In a recent interview with the Big Issue magazine, Myrie, who was born in Bolton to Jamaican parents, said there will always be an adrenalin rush reporting from dangerous places, but for him it was not about the danger but about “telling stories from incredible places”. YOU COULD BE THE ONE He said: “It’s interesting talking to soldiers and to those who do go into battle. You never ever think, really consciously, that you’re going to be the one who gets shot or blown up or killed. Something has to present itself to you that make it clear that you could be the one. “So, for instance, when I was embedded with the Royal Marines going into Iraq in 2003, we all had to write goodbye letters to our families, a sort of last will and testament I suppose. Just in case we didn’t come back. “That process, saying goodbye in letter form, does remind you that you might not get back.” Many BBC viewers have praised the way Myrie has delivered his reports on the Russian invasion last week. In one of his reports, he talks about the fact that he has to sleep in the underground shelter at nights with hundreds of people as the threat of aerial bombardment looms. One person tweeted: “Clive Myrie is one of my heroes. He sees what is really happening and shares it with the rest of us in an honest and compassionate way.” Another said: Clive Myrie has really solidified his status as a national treasure with his reporting from Kyiv. He’s one of best broadcasters.” Myrie was born in Bolton, Lancashire, to Jamaican parents Norris and Lynne Myrie, who came to England in the 1960s. He was educated at Hayward Grammar School in Bolton before he graduated from the University of Sussex with a bachelor of law degree in 1985. He first joined the BBC in 1987 as a trainee local radio reporter on the corporation’s graduate journalism programme, where his first assignment was a reporter for Radio Bristol. He moved to other stations within the corporation before he became a foreign correspondent in 1996. Between the years 1997 to 1999, he was posted in Tokyo and then Los Angeles, before he eventually became BBC Asia correspondent in 2002. He went on to become Paris correspondent from 2006 to 2007 and his major assignments since include coverage of the impeachment of US President Bill Clinton and wars in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. In April 2009, Myrie was appointed a presenter on BBC News Channel, which brought him alongside some of the bigname presenters, including Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce. In 2019, he began presenting BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten on the national network. More recently in August 2021, he replaced John Humphry as the new host of the flagship BBC Two quiz show, Mastermind, the first black presenter to do so in its 49-year history. Last week, however, he swapped the quiz chair and the news studio to present News at Ten from a high-rise building in the centre of Kyiv, the Ukraine capital. In one of his reports, he told viewers: ”We heard the air raid sirens and we have put on our flak jackets. “One wonders what the people of this city and, indeed, right across this country are now thinking. They prayed for peace and with all the diplomacy over the last few weeks and months, they hoped that would be the case. “Now, we are in a major conflict.” TORONTO: J AMAICA-BORN BLACK entertainment trailblazer Denise Jones will be posthumously awarded the 2022 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award as part of this year’s annual JUNO Awards festivities. The announcement was made by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). Jones, who passed away in December 2020 after being diagnosed with brain cancer, spent a lifetime championing Afro-Caribbean culture in Canada and around the world through her company, Jones & Jones Productions. She also established the internationally renowned JAMBANA One World Festival, and was the founding chair of the reggae category for the JUNO Awards. The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award recognises individuals whose wo r k h a s significantly impacted the growth and development of the Canadian music industry. Named after legendary Canadian publisher and co-founder of the JUNO Awards, this year’s award will be handed over at the JUNO Opening Night Awards, presented by Ontario Creates on Saturday, May 14, and streamed live on CBC Gem, and globally at cbcmusic. ca/junos. Throughout her career, Jones received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Urban Music Association of Canada, the Bob Marley Memorial Award for her work in entertainment, a Government of Ontar i o Community Service Award, a Ministry of Citizenship Ontario Government Awa r d , an African Canadian Achievement Award, and a Ha r r y J e rome Award for Excellence in Entertainment. She was also named one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women in 2018. “Growing up around my mother’s presence made me believe that things are possible. I saw her achieving and realising, every single day. I am forever grateful for that, because I think that’s the most important thing you can give somebody, hope and belief in themselves. Mom did this for us at home and as she passed away, I also came to realise she was doing that for a lot of other people, too. She created a pathway for myself and many others in this country to follow, and we’re committed to keeping that energy, that fire and legacy alive for generations to come,” said Jesse Jones. “Denise Jones will forever be an important and respected figure in the Canadian entertainment industry,” said Allan Reid, president & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “She leaves behind an inspiring legacy, and we are honoured to recognise her devotion to championing black culture and artistes throughout her career.” Jones emigrated to Canada from Portland, Jamaica, in the 1980s and earned her BA in communications and theatre from the University of Windsor. She went on to serve as a theatre critic/arts reporter for CBC Radio in Sudbury, then as an executive director for the Peel Multicultural Council, where she later resided. Jones’ roots in entertainment, along with her passion for championing underrepresented art forms and artists, inspired her to create Jones & Jones Productions with her husband Allan Jones in 1987. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Among her many accomplishments, Jones established the second-largest Afrocentric cultural event in Canada, JAMBANA OneWorld Festival, which, at its height, drew over 45,000 attendees. It was named one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals in 2015. Denise Jones’ renowned accomplishments have been recognised far and wide, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling her “an incredible advocate for Caribbean arts and culture [who] contributed so much to our country”. The 51st Annual JUNO Awards and JUNO Week will be hosted in Toronto from Monday, May 9, through to Sunday, May 15, culminating in The JUNO Awards Broadcast, produced by Insight Productions, at Budweiser Stage, live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBCMusic, CBC Listen, and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos. Glen Munro/ Gleaner Writer SOCIAL MEDIA sensations Craig and Shaun McAnuff are sharing their treasured Jamaican recipes with fans, during a whistle-stop tour across the United Kingdom. The brothers’ journey across the middle and northern cities of the UK, including Birmingham and Leeds, coincides with the recent launch of their new book, Natural Flava. The chefs from South London, whose Jamaican grandmother taught them how to cook Caribbean cuisine, have 163,000 followers on Instagram. Their latest entry into publishing contains over one hundred delicious vegan recipes, many of them inspired by Jamaica’s Rastafarians. Shaun reveals the motive for publishing a second book. He said: “Most of the African Caribbean community are meat eaters. “We’re not trying to tell people to be vegans. We’re not militant and I don’t think that’s the best way to introduce things to people. We are encouraging the introduction of vegans dishes two or three times a week.” Natural Flava showcases dishes such as Rasta pumpkin pasta, aubergines stuffed with spicy gungo peas, green banana curry and sweet potato and chickpea peanut stew, with jollof rice. Discussing the rich variety of vegan recipes found in the book, Craig said: “We wanted to show our community and the world how you can use different Caribbeanbased vegetables, and everyday vegetables as well, with added flavour. “We wanted to show there is more to Caribbean cooking than just jerk chicken.” Shaun has noticed that his mother is enjoying the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle. He said: “She had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, but managed to control it and eradicate it as well. “She lost so much weight, her skin’s glowing and she’s happy. She’s loving it.” Natural Flava follows the release of Craig and Shaun’s first cookbook, Original Flava, in 2019. It contains traditional and new recipes from the Caribbean, from street food chefs and members of the McAnuff family. LIFE CHANGING EXPIERENCE Before the publication of Craig and Shaun’s first book in 2019, the brothers made a pilgrimage to Jamaica, where they discovered an array of fruits and vegetables which became the basis for Natural Flava. Reminiscing on the experience Craig said: “Our trip to Jamaica was a life-changing experience and it opened our eyes to cooking in a different way. On our trip we visited vegan cafés in Negril and were amazed by howmuch natural food was so flavourful and delicious. “We remember stopping at the café on Seven Mile Beach and ordering a meal which consisted of stew peas, curry tofu, rice and peas and cabbage and it tasted amazing. “It was one of the best meals we had. We realised that Jamaica was filled with delicious plant-based recipes.” Gang violence could easily have marred the success of the young brothers. Craig recalls: “Growing up in south London, you’re faced with that challenge,” he said, speaking of gang culture. “You get caught up in that sort of life, and then you’re affiliated with people outside of your circle, and then you’re known as a gang, and then you have to build up that credibility, and not show your weakness.” The younger McAnuff brother remembers being on a bus with a group of friends when a gang member accosted them with a gun. He said: “I started to laugh at him, because I thought it was a fake gun. At the time I was a fearless young man.” Craig believes the incident was a turning point in his life. Both Shaun and Craig now visit schools, where some kids face the lure of becoming gang members. They talk about their experiences and run cooking workshops. “We understand the struggles that young people face when it comes to this sort of thing,” says Craig. “We try to teach young people how to have the no-fear attitude, but in a positive place.” Much of the brothers’positivity and drive come from the support of their grandmother. Shaun says: “Our nan [Lurline] is our inspiration; she’s an amazing lady. She’s actually more popular than us now! She literally gets stopped on the street.” Shaun and Craig spent their summer holidays being trained by their grandmother tomake staple Jamaican dishes like ackee and salt fish, and mackerel rundown. Their YouTube careers in their later years were possible because their nan allowed filming in her home. Brothers taking Natural Flava recipes across UK BBC’s Clive Myrie in the heart of the war zone BBC News at Ten presenter Clive Myrie as he reports from the Ukraine capital. CONTRIBUTED Late Denise Jones named for 2022Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award Natural Flava - by authors, Shaun (left) and Craig McAnuff showcases Jamaican food recipes. CONTRIBUTED
THE GLEANER, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com A6 [LETTER OF THE DAY] The Gleaner [EDITORIAL] OPINION #GLNROPED The opinions on this page, except for The Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gleaner. The Gleaner welcomes your views on any issue. Preference will be given to letters of 300 words or less. They must bear the writer’s name, address and telephone contact. If using a pen name, you must state your full name. Your name and address will be withheld on request. EMAIL US: letters@gleanerjm.com or WRITE US: Editor, The Gleaner Company (Media) Ltd, 7 North Street, PO Box 40, Kingston, or fax: (876)922-6223 WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? The shocking events in Ukraine have been a wake-up call to the world. Both the United Kingdom and Jamaica were quick to respond, and there was no equivocation in either the words of my Prime Minister Boris Johnson or Jamaican PM Andrew Holness’s statement of February 25, condemning what he rightly termed the “invasion” of Ukraine. These events have already had a terrible human cost. CARICOMglass half full Trial by jury critical to protect our democracy THE EDITOR, Madam: I’VE ENJOYED the spectacle of State of the Union speeches from different US presidents over several decades, as the audience keeps jumping up and down and clapping in a way that reminds me of childhood visits to the circus. There’s always a host of political clowns present, but I seldom watch the entire speech as the extreme partisan reactions and self-indulgence usually has a derogatory effect on my gastrointestinal system. This year’s circus inWashington was held onMarch 1 with President Joe Biden as the ringmaster; seated directly behind him was Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives. As nobody wore masks it was hard to keepmy eyes off her facial expressions and antics; she was in a most gleeful mood, and every time she jumped to her feet to lead the applause she was grinning from ear to ear. Shewas the total embodiment of that old Frank Sinatra song, Nancy with the laughing face; in fact, it may well have been written just for her. Watching from his vantage point on my right shoulder, my politically incorrect parrot, Chico, made the observation that the mask mandate is a good thing for some people. He figures masks improves their looks, especially politicians. The retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer added to the frivolity by performing an impression of a shy schoolgirl’s curtsy when he received unexpected praise and a fond farewell from the President. UNITY IN THE CHAMBER A large part of the speech was devoted to the situation in Ukraine, and for once there was unity in the chamber with both political parties applauding the President’s strong condemnation of Russian aggression, but of course there’s always three sides to every story, your side, my side and the truth. Not forgetting what Greek dramatist Aeschylus said about 2500 years ago : “In war, truth is the first casualty”. The aggressive actions taken by Russia against its neighbour must never be condoned, but just maybe some truth about what’s happening now can be traced back to how NATO may have been a tad too eager in expanding their membership eastwards 30 years ago after the break-up of the USSR. NATO members knew that the presence of their troops and weaponry in the former Warsaw Pact countries on its borders would always be a festering sore in the side of Russia. Surely senior politicians in Washington, DC, would remember how the US felt when the Soviets had plans to install nuclear weapons in Cuba in the 1960s, just 90 miles away from the US. I remember those times very well, having worked on cargo vessels traversing the north coast of Cuba bound for US ports from the Caribbean, and getting buzzed by MiG fighter jets flying out of Cuban airbases. Of course, not a single word of those historical matters was mentioned by President Biden at the State of the Union address. BERNIE SMITH Parksville, BC Canada State of the Union, a recurring political circus THE EDITOR, Madam: I AM moved to write this in the face of the recent discussions around Nzinga King’s case. I wish to serve a reminder of the history of inmates under the English common law traditions. I garnered little knowledge about the historical journey of prison while at Pace Law School in NewYork. One of my lecturers, Michael Mushlin, a leading prison right lawyers in New York, said that in the heights of the English colonial era, a prisoner was considered civilly dead and even incompetent to testify in court. Thiswas a featureof the formative years of the English common law system, under which a prisoner was prohibited from testifying in court because he was considered self-interested and biased. In the colonial era in the United States, prisoners were condemned to the extent where they were denied the right to marry. This again was inherited from the English common law system. Incidentally, the 13th Amendment in the Constitution of the United States prohibits slavery except for a person convicted of a crime. Today we see people being condemned and denied jobs, served increased sentences and other repercussions because they were convicted. Some of the prisons in Jamaica were used to hold slaves. Interestingly, Nzinga’s case unfolded while she was in custody. GAWANWALKER Elisabeth Haub School of Law Pace University NewYork Prison laws embedded in colonial era DR MICHAEL Abrahams, in his column, wrote: “Men have done a lot of damage in this world, there is no doubt about that, andmuch of the trauma we have caused is indefensible. But the stereotypes are unfair.” Here are some readers’ reactions sourced from The Gleaner’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. But some pride themselves on not speaking about their feelings. Being non-expressive and very macho. Hence why women have some of those thoughts towards men. – Georgette Segre-Dobson I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. To the good men out there, we as women see you. – Judith Fishley I think women behave that way because they have been hurt by men. Women fail to realise that they have ALSO hurt other men. – Jessica Russell Yes, we do. That’s whymany women take our kindness for weakness and play with our emotions. – Howard Morris From the get-go, mothers need to raise their boys with great selfesteem and empathy that women can’t treat them less than they ought to. As women, if we fail to treat our spouses with respect and love, the wives of your sons will treat them the same. Life is like a circle. A man is someone’s child too. – Vanessa Mckenzie-Lofters The way some men behave will leaveme to think sayman nuh have feelings and heart. In fact, mi think some hate their moms why themact a certain way. – Karen Alexander Lindsay And u knowwhat the worse part of the situation is? Men tend to open up to the wrong set of women just like howwomen tend to open up to the wrong set of men. – Toya Johnson Most of dem jus see us as wallets and doormats. No wonder suicide and domestic crime so high. Man can only bear so much and no more. – @_Dean45 Many parents, in particular mothers, are responsible for how some of us are today. They have scarred them emotionally. Then, when they go out in the wider society, it is no better. We force them to take on this militant role. They are not allowed to cry or be affectionate, else we know what will happen. We can’t even tell another brother we love him. Sowe switch things up and say we rate them. It’s toxic. – @willryanwilson My brothers, don’t waste your time. Stack up the paper and live your lives. If we nuh take care of ourselves, no one will. – @busybignall Compiled by Khanique McDaniel READERS’ REACTIONS THE EDITOR, Madam: I CALL upon the Houses of Parliament to immediately put into place laws to preserve the right of the Jamaican people to trial by their peers. I will cut to the chase in reminding us all that the appointment of the head of the judiciary and the head of the prosecutorial arm of the State is within the purview of the prime minister. Jury trials are, therefore, the only true guarantee to the people of Jamaica of their right to be tried by an impartial and independent tribunal. The law gives an accused, by way of a 2015 amendment (Section 11A of the Criminal Justice (Administration) Act), the right to voluntarily waive his right to trial by jury, if done jointly in writing by the accused and the prosecution. What is now being clamoured for is to take away the right to trial by jury in its entirety. Rather than seeking to deal with the COVID-19created backlog by retrofitting the courtroom to socially distance a seven-member panel of our peers, we are now under the threat of the abolition of trial by jury across the board. I recall that, when the Maurice Bishop revolutionary government came to power in Grenada, it abolished its final court of appeal, the Privy Council. It failed to put in place a replacement court for final appeals. When members of the very cabinet who voted for the abolition of the Privy Council found themselves in the dock as convictedmurderers, they begged their lawyers to challenge the very law they advocated. What if Putin puts a puppet government in place in Ukraine? And that government appoints a chief justice and chief prosecutor? And what if trial by jury is, thereafter, abolished and Putin puts his political opponents on trial? And what if, God forbid, that scenario is repeated in years to come in Jamaica? Trial by jury is, respectfully, the last bastion of democracy to guarantee justice by the people, for the people. We have named our House of Parliament after a man whose call for justice for the people made him the enemy of the then head of state in Jamaica, Governor Edward John Eyre. Eyre declared a court martial and dragged The Honourable George William Gordon before the judges he appointed. The rest is history! To maintain the right of our people to trial by jury is to honour the sacrifices of George William Gordon and Paul Bogle, heroes whose trials were not of the people nor by the people. Parliamentarians, be true representatives of the Jamaican people, and pass the right to trial by jury law now! BERT SAMUELS Attorney-at-law bert.samuels@gmail.com AMONG THE more encouraging developments out of this week’s summit of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government in Belize was the leaders’ embrace of the principle of a multi-track community, which this newspaper has championed since its formal proposal by the Persaud commission more than a year ago. Our disappointment, however, is the too-high threshold – two-thirds of its members – the community has set for initiatives to proceed without everyone going along. CARICOM is notorious for agreeing to do things then dragging its feet on them forever. Which is what underpinned the recommendation that the group headed by Barbadian economist, Avinash Persaud, euphemistically referred to as“enhanced cooperation” in the community .Their aim, really, was to address what other people, including some leaders, call CARICOM’s implementation deficit. The question now is whether, with a bar this high, the reforms will have the hoped-for effect in breaking the logjam within the community. We have our doubts, but hope, fervently, for the best. It is more than three decades since CARICOM leaders committed to transforming the trade and cooperation agreement to a regional single market and economy. It has been almost 16 years since the signing of formal instruments to do so. But, since that time, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has moved in fits and starts. MULTI-TRACK APPROACH Usually, at conferences, leaders assent to undertakings to deepen the integration of the region’s economies, but, at home, run into domestic, political and economic concerns that cause themdelay, if not, change their minds about the agreements. It is against this backdrop that a commission, chaired by Persaud, in a report for CARICOM on how to sustainably kickstart its economies, proposed a multi-track approach to implementing projects, for which it isn’t critical that all member states begin at the same time. Said the commission in its report: “Getting change going is important in itself. Change begets change. The initiative we would like to propose to break CSME agreements out of gridlock is that of enhanced cooperation. Among those matters that are best done internationally, some need to be done collectively at the same time and some couldwork in a phasedmanner, if a critical number of countries set off first in an advance party. There are initiatives, for instance, that some would join but only if others, more enthusiastically, have shown that it works first. Matters that would be done under enhanced cooperation would still be discussed and debated at CARICOM and marshalled by the CARICOM Secretariat so that all are involved, just not all starting at the same time.” With this arrangement, CARICOM is borrowing a system used by many regional blocs, including the European Union (EU) – except for the ratio that can greenlight projects. In the EU, it requires at least a third of members to commit to a programme for it to be launched. In CARICOM, that would translate to at least five of the 14 members that subscribe to its economic agreements. The leaders, however, agreed that, in CARICOM, two-thirds of the members, or at least 10 rounded up, will have to say yes. “Once we can reach a threshold of two-thirds of the community, we can go ahead without unanimity,” said the Barbados prime minister, Mia Mottley, who has responsibility for the CSME within CARICOM. “That enhanced cooperation is central towards us being able to progress within the community without necessarily requiring everybody to move at the same pace.” Significantly, amendments to the requisite protocols of the RevisedTreaty of Chaguaramas, the accord upon which CARICOM rests and dictates that decisions by heads of government must be unanimous, have been done and open for signature by member states. While it doesn’t entirely compensate for our disappointment over the threshold number, the reform is a bit of a palliative. Something happened, maybe more will. The glass is half full. Men have feelings too Coming Sunday: Judith Slater writes ... United in condemnation of Russia’s “war of choice” in Ukraine
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