Orville W. Taylor, Contributor
"LOOK BEFORE you leap!" This is a common maxim, which if followed, could save many of us from acting precipitously. Me, I am not jumping from anything higher than a bed and that is only if there is a scorpion or unwelcome 'stranger' in it.
Seriously though, if we act, we must be prepared to accept the consequences of our conduct. Therefore, we ought to take advantage of the fact that we have the most sophisticated brain in the animal kingdom and carefully mediate between our thoughts and our behaviour.
I like rule of law, fairness and consistent application of principles especially in public institutions. "Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander!"
I was holding my tongue on the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) matter but cannot hide my discomfort with the recent developments. Two billion dollars disappeared faster than a tenant at the end of the month and Pearnel Charles is crying foul and demanding the arrest of those responsible. Suggesting that it is not a 'black and white' matter as Charles sees it, Portia Simpson-Miller initially emphasised that there were 'breaches' and not necessarily dishonesty or illegality. It is my view that there were 'dishonest illegal breaches'.
Well, whatever! If it is public funds and there was misconduct or pecuniary negligence then there is liability in law and I bet that could eventually lead to action in court. Within 24 hours, Minister Simpson-Miller got a dose of adrenaline and referred the matter to the police and Director of Public Prosecutions quicker than Alston Stewart had chased 'The Boogie Man' out of 'his' studios for fairly interviewing the 'Professor'.
'SCANDALS'
Anyway, this is certainly another of the series of scandals that the Peoples' National Party (PNP) government does not need. Indeed, this Government has had more 'scandals' than a plastic bag factory, starting with the Shell oil deal in the early 1990s. Still, while it is true that this administration has been peppered with questions about its accountability and inaccurate statements by its representatives, there have been many cases of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) failing the honesty test as well.
It should be recalled that Portia acted with less speed in uncovering the scandal that led to the conviction of J A G Smith. In fact, it took more time for Smith to be arrested in 1990 than was needed for the presently promised fire trucks to arrive. Furthermore, the JLP's Andrew Gallimore is apparently just as inaccurate as Raymond Pryce was in making indefensible statements. (Sorry Raymond, I know you want to put it behind you). Then again, we have our hardest working mayor in (recent) history, making a bold and apparently unfounded statement about sewage pouring into public gullies from the University of the West Indies.
Mayor, maybe you confused the words 'theses' and 'faeces' but I got a tour of the facilities and the University is right and you were wrong. In the same way in which you refuted the untrue statement The STAR reporter made about you, you should publicly apologise to the UWI. Being fair doesn't mean that one is always right.
Speaking of which, I accept the correction from my reader from Florida that Boukman was born in Dahomey in Africa although according to research by my colleague Arthur Newland, he was a self-identified Jamaican. Part of the process as we continue to grow as humans is that we take correction and learn from our mistakes and prevent personal biases from blinding us. I wish to 'mutter' this to my Jurassic colleagues who could still learn a thing or two about the pleasures of objectivity.
Anyway, remember two years ago when a public hospital blundered and lost Pansy Campbell's newborn? Well, I am now tempted to think that the baby somehow was born with enough sense to run away just like her sister did a few months ago. To my utter disgust, the father of 'Baby Pansy' is arrested for carnal abuse and his spouse is charged, under the Child Care and Protection Act for not reporting the abuse. Everyone should have his/her day in court so I will allow justice to run its course.
JUSTICE?
Everyone, including the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has an opinion regarding the impasse between the Police Federation and the Government. How many knowledgeable persons and entities have offered to assist? What has been the relationship between the JCTU and the federation? It is not enough to say that the memorandum of understanding is/is not applicable to the police. True, they are not bound, but the Government is, and the JCTU and others should assist.
On a sombre note, we are waiting with bated breath and soiled underwear to hear whether Asafa Powell will run in Helsinki. Of course now we know that his aggravated groin muscle injury was the result of an ill-advised decision to run in the finals in the national championship.
Still, in the unthinkable event that Afasta is unable to run, all is not lost. No one seemed to notice that Christopher Williams ran an unpressured 10.17 in the B race while Justin Gatlin beat Dwight 'Bigga' Thomas, each running 10.15 and 10.19, last Tuesday. Williams is a seasoned contender and is our best curve runner. True, he deserved to be chastised for watching himself on the jumbotron screen instead for preparing to run in 2001's World Championship. However, a 4X100 team with Frater, Bolt, Williams and Bigga on anchor could win gold.
Anyway I am going to get some 'sciance' and pray for Powell.
Dr. Orville Taylor is lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
