(A tribute to Jamaica and Black History)
NEWS
BLACK BRIGHT NEWS Black-Brig ht
EDITORIAL A SNAPSHOT OF 2019 Last year was an exciting year for me. It was a year I decided to challenge myself to see how better I could be at interacting with others.
2019 was significant for many reasons. It was the year where I tested my tolerance levels; a year where I recognised my limitations; the year I stepped outside my comfort zone; the year I tested my boundaries.
2019 was the year we found out about illegal deportations of Windrushians; and when the Jamaican High Commission pressed the panic button to invite the police to curtail deportee protestors.
2019 was a year Shamima Begum got exiled for her association with terrorist activity; the year we were inundated with news about Brexit (deal or no deal); it was the year that Thomas Cook went bust; the year space lorries could identify illegal immigrants in lorries travelling at high speed. It was the year that Boris Johnson was formally elected as prime minister and Jeremy Corbyn had to take a back seat. It was the Year of Return (Africa) when Ghana and Nigeria waived visas for Jamaicans, and Gambia offered ‘free land’ to people of African descent.
It was the only year where all top five pageant contestants were won by black women, A South African won Miss Universe, A Jamaican won Miss World, and African-Americans won Miss USA, Miss America and Miss Teen USA. It was the year that the third gene-edited baby was born through CRISPR CAS9 intervention. It was the year the Patriot Act (Police Surveillance Act) in America got renewed; the year that19 year old Jamaican singer Koffee got recognised for her track ‘Toast’ and signed with Columbia Records.
2019 was the year that the US Naval Comfort Ship docked itself in Latin America and Caribbean offering free health care and medicine, bringing back reminders of the 1932-1972 Tuskegee Syphilis experiment; the year Jamaica joined the Belt & Road Initiative signing on with China. It was the year Jamaican people petitioned against the mining of the Cockpit Country, which led to 7% of Jamaica being protected.
2019 was the year that Theresa May stood down as Prime Minister and Boris Johnson stood in. It was the year black billionaire Robert Smith announced the ultimate graduation gift to pay off all student loan debt for all AfricanAmerican Morehouse graduates in the Class of 2019, and the year. It was the year the London Borough of Brent elected a black Mayor and the year the I-90 replaced the Green Card.
It was the year Baby Archie was born to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; the year Prince Charles decided to strip back the royals to just William, Harry, their wives and children when he becomes King in 2021. It was the year President Donald Trump visited the UK and leaked that the NHS was ‘on the table for a trade deal’ - it was also the year Trump was impeached, and faces the next stage of a long process. It was the year that former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Entertainers Louie Rankin, Jah Stitch, Female Footballer Tarania Clarke and writer Toni Morrison died, along with many other famous and not so famous individuals.
It was the year income tax went digital; Tyler Perry made history when he opened his 330 acre film studio in Atlanta - the first studio fully owned by an African American. It was the year of Hurricane Dorian tore into the Bahamas making 1000s of Haitians victims of abuse, deportation and homelessness. Haitians were blamed for bringing the Hurricane through voodoo. It was the year that my mother turned 92 years old, the year I visited Jamaica, the year I changed my car three times, and the year I amassed over 8,000 subscribers on YouTube, the year YouTube started demonetising.
I feel I accomplished most of what I wanted to in 2019, and look forward to setting myself some new goals and challenges for 2020, although I do not know what they are yet.
I heard that writing the date in the year 2020, is the only year when we should write it in its full format, e.g. 31/01/2020, and not as 31/01/20, because anyone can change it to 31/01/2000 or 31/01/2019 or in between any year to suit their convenience. I am not sure how the format can be interfered with, because the typeface, pen or whatever method is being used would be different, but it is wise to take heed in any event. It is probably wise to be cautious though; so don’t write and don’t accept the abbreviated format in any documents, just in case it loses its validity or importance. This situation only applies to 2020. What have we got to look forward to in 2020?
- Many over 25s look forward to a 6.7% increase in the minimum wage - Pension Age is 66 yrs old effective September 202
- New ÂŁ20 note in March 2020 - National Insurance Threshold has been increased to ÂŁ9,500 - Rise in state pension by 3.9% -Rise in Council tax by 2% - 2.7% increase in rail fares - We could leave the EU on 31 January 2020 - Repurcussions of Brexit.
My goal is to get 10,000 subscribers by the end of the year; to retire in June 2020 and return to work, to uplift and educate myself every day. I sense the year will be full on uncertainties, but hopefully, we will get through it and come out safe and sound on the other side!
COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY
THE ZONG MASSACRE A wreath laying ceremony was held on Sunday (December 22), at the Zong Monument in Black River, St Elizabeth (Jamaica), to remember those Ghanaians who represented one third of the cargo on the British Zong ship, and lost their lives when the captain gave the order to throw them overboard in their shackled state, in what as called the Zong Massacre of 1781, A memorial service was held for the 133 shackled Africans who were thrown overboard to lighten the ship, at the St John’s Parish Church, High Street, Black River. Following the service, officials and members of the public paid homage to the victims by tossing flowers into the sea at the waterfront (JAG Myers Park) in Black River, to honour the victims who died by drowning. The event, which was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, in collaboration with the National Council on Reparation, was held within the framework of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, who spoke at the memorial service, said that citizens have a duty to memorialise the victims who died, since “they were destined to become citizens of St Elizabeth, even as they left the continent of Africa.” “Today, we cast our lot with those 10 men who resisted the actions of the crew as hands tied and feet bound with iron bars, they were forcibly thrown into the sea,” he added. – so cruel – they had no chance to survive! The State Minister thanked Mayor of Black River, Councillor Derrick Sangster, and staff members of the Municipal Corporation for their commitment and support in ensuring that “the memorialisation is given the level of solemnity and seriousness it deserves.” Mr. Green, who represented the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon Olivia Grange, said the theme: ‘Recognition, Justice and Development’ for the International Decade for People of African Descent, allows Jamaicans to review elements of their past. “It causes us to recognise that if it were not for the suffering of our ancestors, including the egregious abuses of the Middle Passage and chattel slavery and such horrors as the Zong Massacre, our freedoms which we sometimes take so lightly, would not be assured,” he said. The Zong Massacre was the throwing overboard of 132 African slaves to lighten the slave ship, The Zong, which left the western coast of Africa for Black River with about 440 enslaved Africans. Some sources say it was to lighten the ship – others said it was because they were sick and dying and because they were chattel, they wanted to claim insurance for them. The Zong started with 440 africans and when the Zong docked on December 22, 1781, there were less than 200 Africans on board. Later, the captain of the ship filed an insurance claim for loss of property since the enslaved Africans were seen as property and cargo.Sam Sharp became a national hero. [Adapted from: Jamaican Gleaner, 25 Dec 2019]
The Christmas Rebellion (‘The Baptist War’)
Period: 1831 - 1832
The weeklong Christmas Rebellion, which began on Kensington Estate on December 27, 1831, and engulfed much of the Montego Bay region, was the most serious slave revolt to rock colonial Jamaica. Its impact and the public outcry over the terrible retribution that followed were catalysts for the British parliament passing the Abolition Act in 1834.
The instigator of the revolt was Samuel Sharpe (1801–32), the slave of a Montego Bay solicitor. Sharpe acted as a deacon of Montego Bay’s Burchell Baptist Church and became a ‘Daddy’ (leader) of the church. He used his pulpit as a forum to encourage passive rebellion. In 1831 Sharpe counseled fellow slaves to refuse to work during the Christmas holidays. Word of the secret, passive rebellion spread throughout St James and neighboring parishes. Inevitably word leaked out, and warships and extra troops were sent to Montego Bay.
The rebellion turned into a violent conflict when the Kensington Estate was set on fire. Soon plantations and great houses throughout northwest Jamaica were ablaze, and Sharpe’s noble plan was usurped by wholesale violence. Fourteen colonialists were murdered before authorities suppressed the revolt. Swift and cruel retribution followed. As part of the colonialists’ punishments, more than a thousand slaves were killed. Day after day for six weeks following the revolt’s suppression, magistrates of the Montego Bay Courthouse handed down death sentences to scores of slaves, who were hanged two at a time on the Parade – among them ‘Daddy’ Sam Sharpe. He was later named a national hero and the Parade was renamed Sam Sharp Sq. Source:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/jamaica/montego-bay/background/otherfeatures/5cb997eb-dd43-4126-8260-93b85b44535b/a/nar/5cb997eb-dd43-4126-826093b85b44535b/358078
(Elaborated on Andrew Holness’s End of Year Speech)
JAMAICA’S 2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Lowest unemployment rate in the history of Jamaica at 7.8%. The unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. Longest period of consecutive growth in its history (19 quarters). After decades of high debt and low growth it has turned it around to positive economic growth, despite its indebtedness to China. Record fall in Jamaica debt to GDP ratio at 93% Record low inflation Introduction of Special Procurement Incentives for medium and small enterprises – more incentives for local suppliers whose annual turnover is below J$425m. This means that a national bidder can now earn a government contract even if its bide price exceeds the bid of a foreign bidder, provided the national bidder demonstrates a required percentage of domestic content. Removed the Minimum Business Tax – On 1 April 2019, the Minister announced the abolishment of the Minimum Business Tax, previously $60,000 applied to all companies and corporate bodies incorporated or registered in Jamaica, including overseas companies doing business in Jamaica and self-employed persons. Even dormant companies and companies who were exempted from income tax, were required to pay MBT. It was implemented in April 2014 and signed into law on June 2015. New companies, registered charities, international organisations subject to the diplomatic immunities and privileges act which gross revenue under J$5m were exempt from paying it. This business tax was to be paid annually in two instalments on 15 June and 15 September and the Tax Administration Jamaica was hot on businesses trail, reminding them entrepreneurs when it was due. I am sure that many such business are relieved that it has now been abolished. Reduced Transfer tax from 5% to 2%. Transfer Tax is paid by the
Purchaser to the Commissioner of Stamp Duty when a property is transferred by the seller. Reduced Stamp Duty 1.5m income tax threshold for all workers, resulting in J$10k in monthly savings Successfully completed the International Monetary Fund programme. IMF said “The Jamaican authorities have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to reforms under two consecutive IMF supported programmes that have spanned the last 6.5 years.” Better Cancer Care with new Radiation Facilities – A new J$860m (US$15m) Linear Cancer Treatment Centre opened in Kingston in St Joseph’s Hospital in 26 November 2018, and was the second one. The first facility is located at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay. Reducing waiting times at drugs and pharmacy counters – since the National Health Fund took over public sector pharmacies under the name ‘Drugserv’, the waiting times have significantly reduced from 3 – 4 hours to 20 minutes to an hour. However, the unavailability of drugs seems to be an issue, and where they are saving waiting time in one respect, they are finding that they are having to visit different pharmacies to get the medication they need, which defeats the purpose. Ministry of National Security invests US$47m in border security, (including 5 years spares and support package, ground equipment and tools) in the form of 6 helicopters, 3 x are the new Bell 429 longrange surveillance helicopters for passenger, troops and medical evacuation, 1 x 412EP helicopter to deal with heavy cargo and troop transfer, 2 x used Bell206B3 helicopters will be used for training and 4 x DS 40 CS aeroplanes cost US$1.5m. This will replace the current JDF helicopter fleet which was over 20 years old. New Beechcraft King Air 350 maritime patrol aircraft for the Jamaican Defence Force to be used for search and rescue, customs and fisheries patrol and law enforcement Under a US$30m contract, Thales will supply the Jamaica Defence Force, a turnkey system. built around several Thales coast watcher 100 surveillance systems (new radar systems), electrooptical sensors, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System radios. The radar can also detect surface and air targets ranging from inflatable dinghies to warships, helicopters and aircrafts in low-level flight. It will also deliver a National Control Centre that will process data from radars and sensors to provide operational capacity to the Jamaica Defence Fund. Doubled the security budget Adult Jamaicans Can Renew their Passports Online – from anywhere in the world. The Passport Immigration & Citizen Ageny (PICA)
advises that to use the online passport renewal application process, customers need to log into the agency’s website at www.pica.gov.jm and can begin the process from any location 24 hours a day. You will need a valid credit card, working email address and PDF reader, to receive system generated messages. Minors, first-time adult applicants or adults who were minors when they obtained their last passport cannot apply online. Persons in possession of the non-machine readable passport issued before September 2001, cannot renew online either. 80 new motorcycles for the police valued at J$100m. The government is also hoping to rehabilitate all 186 police stations and build some additional ones within the next two years. Fully equipped cars and bikes will ensure public safety. The Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) branch of police wear bright neon yellow uniforms and use similar colour vehicles for high visibility to discourage lawbreakers from committing offences. Major investment in forensics and DNA – new ballistics machines are being operated from the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine. A newly constructed two storey extension of the Institutes main building (equipped with CCTV cameras, air conditioning units, access control and fire suppression system) will house a national DNA database and provide more office space. It is hoped to be used to prosecute offenders and exonerate the innocent. It is Jamaica’s first DNA database. Record tourist arrivals – approximately 4.5m - record earnings from tourism is US$ 3.88m JS$250m to Launched the Tourism Workers Pension Fund for Caribbeans who are self-employed in the tourism sector and with a retirement savings account that will be portable across places of employment within the tourism sector. If workers have contributed for only 5 years and reach their retirement age of 65, they will get a guaranteed minimum pension. The Tourism Workers Pension Scheme is designed to cover all workers aged between 18-59 working in the tourism sector, whether permanent, contract or self-employed. This includes hotel workers as well as persons employed in other tourism subsectors such as craft vendors, tour operators, red cap porters, contract carriage operators and workers at attractions. Launched the ‘Drive Safe’ app (allowing citizens to report misdemeanours and negligent driving habits) to make Jamaican roads safer. Jamaica Gleaner reported that more than 400 unruly drivers have been reported on, using the Drive Safe app, which was launched on 17 December 2019, but which was made available through the Google Play Store on 5 June 2019. Commissioned two Air Traffic Control Towers at Sangster Airport
and Norman Manley Airports. The Tower at Sangster Airport cost J$2.57billion and was built by a Canadian firm Intelcan Technosystems. Implemented WiFi on Buses – The Jamaica Urban Transit Company has signed a major partnership deal with Growth Tech |Limited for the provision of WiFi connectivity on 400 of its buses. The technology will allow up to 100 devices per bus to access 4G service at any time. 31,513 Mobile Free WiFi hotspots across major towns, including 16k Kingston, 1k Spanish Town, 1k Portmore, 1k Montego Bay, 1k Mandeville and Maypen and four more towns are set to receive free Wifi Hotspots by the end of 2021 Commissioned the largest solar plant in the English-speaking Caribbean – Paradise Park Solar Farm is the largest Solar farm in the English speaking Caribbean. The project was initiated by a Jamaican of the Eight Rivers Energy Company who partners with Neoen an energy company from France. Electricty produced by this 20 megawatt plan is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. It will supply clean power to the Jamaican power grid for JS$85 per MWh for a period of 20 years. New 194 megawat JPG LNG plant in Old Harbour – the completion of the New Fortress Energy Plant (which is an American Company) ‘firmly roots Jamaica in the Liquefied Natural Gas industry at a cost of around US$86m. It is alleged that as of December 2019, it was producing 500,000 gallons a day, and it is anticipated that the Old Harbour terminal will produce 744,000 gallons per day by March 2020 Completed the JS$400m pilot programme for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on 5 buses, invested by New Fortress Energy in a new partnership with Jamaica’s Urban Transit Company (JUTC) for the introduction of the first natural gas powered buses in Jamaica, which will significantly reduce emissions 400 roads resurfaced or rehabilitated; Mandela Highway, Marcus Garvey Drive; Maxfield, Barbican, Constance Spring and more. The Junction Road and South Camp Road are being repaired. South Coast Highway from Harbour View to Port Antonio Extending the East West Highway from Maypen to Williamsfield Over 12 major bridges have been repaired or are under construction Morant Bay Town Centre is planned to start. Over 50 water facilities have been rehabilitated island-wide Major upgrades and placement of water and sewer mains within the corporate area Reduced National Water Commission (NWC) water losses from 60% to 40% in the corporate area JS$800m investment in rural water, which brought water to 1000s
of Jamaicans who never had it because of severe drought conditions and significant reduction in NWC inflows in certain parishes, including Clarendon, St Elizabeth and St Mary causing a drastic decline in the availability of water. 27,000 new housing project between the Neighbourhood Housing Development (NHD) and Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ). HAJ is a land and husing development company that provides shelter solutions for Jamaicans island-wide. They are slated to build 1,650 studio and one-bedroom homes in St Catherine, under a joint venture partnership with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) at a cost of J$9.5billion – offices are based in Kingston and Montego Bay. 16 fire trucks – 8 brand new ones at a cost of J$400m 100 new garbage trucks are being provided by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) up from 57 that Holness quoted in his end of year speech, being the 43 new trucks over the past three years. Successfully completed the tyre removal pilot project (to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner) from Riverton City, and will shortly roll out the full project. This was to remove over 2m tyres that were stockpiled at Riverton City disposal site in Kingston. This will be completed in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, and the National Solid Wast Management Authority (NSWMA). Over 1,000 tyres were being deposited at the site each day. Paid of J$9 billion streetlight debt to Jamaica Public Service (JPS), which dated back several years. The arrears stood in the way of residents getting defective lights repaired and new ones installed. As a result, JPS committed to repairing 12,000 malfunctioning street lights. Single-use plastics has been banned. Planted 3m trees Use of Styrofoam has been banned to reduce the impact plastic has on the environment. Before the ban, Jamaica was known to have one of the highest per capita users of plastic bags in the world, with the average person using 500 plastic bags a year according to Forbes. No more scandal bags! Jamaica is now a Global leader in climate change 7% of Jamaica is now protected including the Cockpit Country (I’m glad the petitioning paid off) Improved School Feeding from 3 – 5 days. Jamaica is said to adopt the Brazilian model to strengthen national school feeding programme, which is also being rolled out in St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda. They will be improving the nutritional content. In 2018, Restaurants of
Jamaica provided J$4.5m to supply an additional 1,500 meals for students. It was found that the alleviation of hunger was one of the mechanism by which school feeding improve academic achievement and undernourished children were more likely to benefit from school feeding programs than those who were adequately nourished. J$347m has been allocated to facilitate the expansion of the school feeding programme for PATH beneficiaries at early childhood level. Comprehensive increased benefits under the Programme of Advancement Through Health & Education (PATH) by 16% In the past, PATH has helped transform 300,000 Jamaicans who will see an average of 16% increase in their cash grants. PATH offers an array of benefits to eligible children from birth to completion of secondary school, senior citizens of 60 years and over, who are not in receipt of a pension, persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women and poor adults aged between 18 and 54 through funding. PATH is a social intervention initiative which benefits the needy and most vulnerable by delivering cash grants. Increased maintenance grant of J$150,000 for each secondary level schools and has outlawed mandatory school fees 269 school canteens upgraded Successful launch of Primary Exit Programme (PEP) The Primary Exit Programme is a series of assessments that will replace the existing Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and is considered to be a more ‘holistic way to determine a child’s readiness to exit the primary educational system and enter high school, by assessing their academic and critical thinking capabilities. Certified over 100 early childhood institutions which is seen as a way of ensuring that a high standard is maintained through the entire educational system. Minimum wage to be increased – the national minimum wage was increased in June 2018 by 12.9% for a 40 hour week, consultations to increase it started in November 2019. Increased National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits to Pensioners. The NIS (similar to National Health Insurance in the UK) covers old age, survivors of a death of a spouse, disability insurance, cash sickness and maternity and healthcare for pensioners and work injury programmes. In 2018, the NIS was increased from $J2,800 to $3,400 per week and may well be increased by 20% in the next round of consultations. Increase in overseas employment figures – 16,681 Jamaicans participated in the overseas employment plan in USA and Canada in 2018 3 shelters are being prepared for abused women Sexual Harassment Bill tabled in July 2019, to address concerns about sexual harassment in the workplace and between landlords
and tenants Entertainment Zone in Montego Bay is being renovated – it is alleged that $1.2 billion is being spent on it. It is to become the most iconic entertainment centre in the Caribbean ‘Fort Rocky’ in Port Royal was Jamaica’s first entertainment zone. Reggae has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s intangible Cultural Heritage List for Humanity – it is said “that while in its embryonic state, reggae music was the voice of the marginalised, the music is now played and embraced by a wide cross-section of society, including various genders, ethnic and religious groups and has contributed to international discourse on issues of injustice, resistance, love and humanity, which underscores the dynamics of the element as being at once cerebral, socio-political, sensual and spiritual... the music continues to be a voice for all..” Blue & John Crow Mountains are now UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites – they cover 4.5% of Jamaica’s land surface and includes Jamaica’s highest point, the Blue Mountain Peak, which is 7,402 feet high (2,256 meters). This UNESCO site also contains ten of the island’s 26 watershed units. Expansion of the Port of Kingston New Cruise Ship Terminal with the installation of a floating pier system at Port Royal – called SeaWalk. Port Royal Town Development has begun Merger of Heart Trust, National Youth Service, Apprenticeship Board & Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) – to create a comprehensive and effective human capital development agency called the Heart Trust National Service & Trading Agency . Over 25,000 young people training through Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE) Over 3,000 trained through the Jamaica National Service Corps under the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) which is the combined military of Jamaica, consisting of an infantry regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coastguard Fleet and supporting engineering unit. The JDF is based on the British Model with similar organisation, training, weapons and traditions. Toni-Ann Singh WON Miss World!
Even though Jamaica owes China US$79 billion, which has to be paid back within ten years, Jamaica was top on the stock exchange in 2018. The debt was disclosed by the Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, Finance & Public Service Minister who claims it will be paid within ten years. 99% of the Chinese loans are to be repaid at a fixed interest rate of 2-3%, which is very low.
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TRAVIS DRIVEWAYS
WHAT’S INSIDE...
A SNAP SHOT OF 2019 JAMAICA’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2019 REMINDER OF BLACK HISTORY FEATURE ARTICLE
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