By Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
James
IF YOU listen to the musings of many men on the street, there is no way that Una James, the mother of 18-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo, who was convicted of capital murder last week, should be forgiven.
In their hearts and minds, it is hard to find sympathy for Ms. James, a tragic figure who claims she has been brought low by her own steely ambition.
"My ambition cost my son his life," she said simply, a note of resignation creeping into her voice. "I know it...my ambition.
"I am not much different from any Jamaican woman who was struggling and went overseas to seek a better life for her family. How am I different? How many more Una James and Lee Malvos do you think are out there? People who have tried to make it by going overseas? It's the same story. It's just that Lee fell under the influence of the wrong man at the wrong time."
CHANCE MEETING
In a number of interviews, Ms. James has attempted to deflect the blame from herself, downplaying her role as the major force that caused the 18 year old to cross paths with John Allen Muhammad, a chance meeting that would end in a reign of terror in the Washington area.
"I blame myself in some respects but I can't blame myself for my life... growing up in poverty," she said. "I had to seek a life. I had a vision, and gave it a go. I never regret taking him with me to Antigua, I regret leaving him in Antigua. I should have waited, both of us should have gone to the US together," she said.
"I went to the US illegal but I went to the vocational institute to get my GED, and to get computer skills, it just didn't work out the way I planned it."
With the re-broadcast of a number of television interviews on local and international stations, Ms. James has gained some measure of fame and notoriety.
"Whenever I am on the bus, or in the street. People will walk up to me and start talking. Most are friendly, but there are those who blame me for 'Jamaica's bad name'. They ask me why I abandoned my child, and they ask me things like 'is Muhammad my gentleman?'. Even Minister K.D Knight asked if Muhammad was the child's stepfather. They don't understand the case, they just assume things," she said.
She has been estranged from Leslie Malvo, the father of her son, after their relationship soured because of domestic frictions over non-payment of child support.
"We have had no relationship over the past few years since I carried him to Family Court. He didn't attend, and I took out another summons for him to take care of Malvo. I accompanied a rat patrol to look for him, and we found him gambling in a yard. The police called him over, he made a threatening comment right in front of the police. They did nothing. That's the way police deal with domestic matters in this country," she remarked.
Ms. James is facing a tough Christmas this year, what with her son's conviction for capital murder, and the fact that she is a 39 year-old deportee with few skills, and no job. She said she has skills in designing and tailoring, but "but I cannot do even this because when I sit for long periods, my ankles swell up".
She has tried her hand at being a higgler in downtown Kingston, but even that commercial venture has been put on hold.
"When I was deported, the authorities sent a five CD player in my personal things. I sold the CD player, and bought provisions in Coronation Market. I had to stop because of the stress I was under with the trial and all that...but right now, I need a job to support myself and Lee...any job," she said.
Ms. James refuses to give up and during her occasional conversations with her son, encourages him to fight on.
"I don't want them to kill him. And if they don't but give him life without parole, I want Lee to continue to go to school, and though he may not be able to become a pilot again, I told him that if he works hard, he may even be able to become a criminal lawyer before the verdict came from the jury...but right now things are just up in the air," she said.
Earlier this week, Ms. James wrote to her son, and sent a Christmas card to him through his lawyer.
"I can't even see my son. I can't even get to see my only child. Is this the justice that the U.S. serves up to other citizens of the world. It is not fair, I want to embrace my son, give him love. Why shouldn't I be given the chance to see him?" she asked.
