Murder, Homelessness and fallouts ..................................

This Post is subject to periodical Update(s)

Sad news again has come this time to a group under the msm umbrella who have been seriously overlooked by the advocacy structures mainly JFLAG, where we now have two murders.

Condolences to their friends and family (if they really care) but this raises serious concerns about MSM homelessness in Jamaica.
Five days ago the post immediately preceding this entry spoke to msm homelessness and a confirmed murder of a relatively new comer that population in the New Kingston area by Dumfries Road with other incidents no one else bothered to mention at a another site where substance abusers and commercial sex workers gather while a buggery matter was of concern in the same vicinity but sometime between last evening June 12th to June 13th on the opposite side of New Kingston again where another open area where substance abusers and msms also hang out was the scene of a brutal murder of two members of the population which some sensationalism from members of the public as news spread and both major television stations carried the story.

here is the TVJ version or HERE on their website

The men were found partially dressed and having female underwear allegedly, also stones with what appeared to be skin and blood tracings on them. One eyewitness suggested that some serious struggle took place based on the blood and scattered clothing with some personal effects on the scene. The police surmise jealousy as a motive for the killing as they were said to be attacked by their assailants. I do not buy that story about jealousy based on information garnered from other members of the population and the fact that a third man who was on the scene also escaped the alleged attack at the time but as we know the truth will come out sooner or later in matters such as this. The typical belief for many Jamaicans over the decades is that murdered gay men are usually killed due to jealousy hence the motive presented by the cops I fear.

here is the CVM nightly news version, the midday news version was not so detailed

 In the distance you can make out the usually contracted undertakers for crime scenes preparing the bodies for removal from the site as a crowd had gathered curiously to see the men apparently.

One of the last entries made by one of the friends close to one of the deceased via his Facebook account who had been going through issues with other family members and community members where he commented that he was going through so much pain, just a hint of the troubles the guys go through, I needn't remind you my readers my position on the lack of proper interventions by the respective LGBT organizations and groups in regards to homelessness, the previous post should bring to bear a reminder and a timeline as to how we got here. We should not have had to wait until we have two gruesome murders to now hear talk by some that homelessness needs to be looked at while apologists continue to say that JFLAG does not have the resources to deal with those issues yet we spending on other lesser activities even in the face of a growing population of displaced LGBT persons predominantly young MSM.

also see an updated post on GLBTQ Jamaica on Wordpress: 

JFLAG’s needs to accept some responsibility for the Trafalgar Murders ….. homelessness not properly addressed

Coincidentally Television Jamaica, TVJ carried a story on Patricia House (a substance abuse rehab centre next door to JASL) that offered residential services for persons yet with all the powerful LGBT agencies and related NGOs we have no such facility for our MSM in particular and very little psycho social support if even by referrals. It was also disturbing to know that many of the JFLAG staff or operatives did not even know who the persons were though there are popular on the party social scenes and elsewhere, this strongly confirms how out of touch and disinterested the structure is in addressing homelessness and displacement and may just plan to use this as another springboard to put themselves forward as our defenders, typical, more on that below.

Meanwhile last evening as well we also lost a favourite on the social scene who was almost decapitated in the Havendale area, affectionately known a 'ronica his body was found after eight in the evening when his friend returned from shopping for a gas cylinder, the other guest who was in the deceased company was missing from the scene. There is a photo of the body that I will not post here. As the news made the rounds however many were shocked as they could not believe and concerns about cruising were brought to attention but unfortunately all that was overshadowed by the murder of the aforementioned men from as early as the midday news on both major television stations and major newspapers online editions. My sources confirmed pretty early as they were on the scene as the news broke and they too assisted the police in identifying the bodies.

here is the Gleaner's take -

also according to the Gleaner THE POLICE last night were still searching for leads into the death of two men whose bodies were found in an open lot along Trafalgar Road, St Andrew, yesterday morning.

"We are yet to know the identities of the men, the cause of death, or what really happened. We are conducting an investigation into the incident as we speak," a police source told The Gleaner.
According to the police, just after 8 a.m. yesterday, they received reports that two bodies were in bushes in an open lot near the stop light by Lady Musgrave and Trafalgar roads.

On arrival on the scene, they discovered the bodies at different locations in the lot, lying in a pool of blood.
The police said one of the bodies was lying face down with a gaping wound to the forehead, while the other was face up with a wound to the left eye. The police said they appeared to be chopped and stoned to death.

"It appears that people have been living in this lot because we found bedding, tarpaulins, doors, cardboard and cooking utensils. This is an area known to be frequented by drug addicts and prostitutes," one police officer said.

The population of homeless and displaced men for the most part has been an issue ever since the closure of the Safe House Pilot project as formed under Jamaica AIDS Support for Life with its offshoot Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG and the splintering on the men on the streets the very place the program was to have kept the men off the streets in 2010, the rowdy behaviour of the men was a concern but was used as an excuse by the then board of JASL to close end the program but the casualty was the Executive Director at the time who sanctioned and instituted the initiative as she was not a "yes man" or lady in this case to a board and its former powerful chairman who also happened to wear several hats in LGBT and HIV advocacy and activism which they still wear. Such is the messy set up of the advocacy structures that well needed interventions that do not meet the approval of or deemed unimportant in the scheme of things by personalities and bodies are scrapped despite their urgent relevance and the pilot project was not the only one. Without going into too much of the mess the sad part about all this death and uncaring is that all this could have been avoided if some sort of residential or semi residential program was continued and tweaked with the problem plagued Safe House Pilot that was stopped in 2010. The men have been languishing on the city streets since with new additions as more msms are marginalized and ostracized by family members.

It would be interesting to hear officially what the representative groups (and their apologists) are going to say and what measures will be taken to finally address the roaming homeless msm populations barring press releases as per usual, the populations which not only exist in Kingston but also St Catherine, St James and St Ann in growing numbers as well. Pardon my cynicism in this matter readers but some of us have come to understand the convenience at which public though tragic incidents like this are used as spring boards for certain agencies to come with pomp and ceremony to present themselves in elaborate public relation campaigns as if they care and are doing this yeoman service for what is expected to be a gullible lgbt community and we all sure cheer from the gallery and be grateful. We are reminded ever so often that there are no resources or requisite funding available to do these important programs and interventions but we see other activities that just on the face of it would cost money as well done post-haste in some instances.

When is the contemptuous treatment of our MARPS, oops I forgot only the experts use such acronyms, I mean most at risk populations going to stop? 

The perception by some persons that the men and the popular 'ronica also get themselves in trouble by supposedly inducing heterosexual men or more appropriately down low men (heaviots) into sexual acts that lead to violence from the same persons maybe true in certain respects but there are other issues related to identity, self acceptance, gay for pay and effemophobia that are too long to be included in this post at this time but there are other references via this and other blogs, certainly the loss of these two persons has brought into sharp focus the ever expanding issues surrounding men who have sex with men, let us hope we use the time and opportunity wisely and not lapse into complacency once again as we are used to the nine day wonder phenomenon.

Here is an audio commentary on the timeline leading to the early homelessness issues after the controversial closure of the Safe House Pilot Project and the resignation of the then Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, JASL leading to the re-displacement and subsequent homelessness if you will of the msm hence their scattering leading to the present situation over the past two years:

 Homeless MSMs Saga Timeline 28.08.11 

JFLAG has since put out the expected press release as it always does which included: "It is unconfirmed but we understand that there is a list circulating with names of persons who are being targeted. We encourage persons to avoid certain areas, events, travelling by public transport and generally being in spaces where we feel unsafe. Travel in groups if you can. Constantly be aware of your surroundings and report any and all violations you witness or experience to the police.

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at 875-2328 or 376-2021 ."

Ok so there is this threat but how are the homeless men themselves be told this when it is they who are the real victims here, is the J finally going to go out there as they ought to have been doing all these years after sanctioning the closure of the previous homeless project and leaving the men to fend for themselves and engage the populations finally? I think not. It is just sad that this is where we are in as far as real work in the trenches are concerned. A fundamental question comes to mind: If The J knew of murders within the last three months why did it have to take this last well covered incident by the press for them to finally cough up a press release?

Frankly JFLAG and its parent Jamaica AIDS Support for Life are culpable in some respects and have blood on their hands, they have failed to properly serve the least amongst us, why didn't they engage the homeless groups as they ought to? They must accept some of the responsibility in all this and to now put out another press release from conveyor belt is not enough and trying to cover their aloofness.

UPDATE (June 15)

JFLAG along with Dr. Leachim Semaj (anti gay psychologist) and Orville Taylor public commentator appeared in the Radio Jamaica, RJR radio program "Beyond the Headlines" hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller but just by listening it was clear the J is using this to present themselves as credible while clearly out of touch with the homeless and displaced populations, this is indeed sad while Dr Semaj as per usual hinted to murders of gay men being caused by jealousy, he usually uses his appearances regarding this subject matter to present this point.

Suspect Held: aired on TVJ June 14th

Now comes news of an intersexed victim in Old Harbour: 

The St Catherine South police are searching for the killer(s) of a hermaphrodite, whose body was found in bushes in Old Harbour Bay yesterday.

Dead is Shannel Campbell, a 20-year-old labourer of Old Harbour Bay.
Reports from the Old Harbour Bay police are that about 10 a.m., the decomposing body of Campbell was found in bushes near an area known as Terminal. Campbell was last seen in the company of a male.

An on-the-spot post-mortem revealed that Campbell had male and female sex organs and that death was caused by a blow with a blunt object.
"It basically means that he got a blow to the head and died as a result," an investigator said
Police had not identified any suspects or established a motive for the killing.


Meanwhile Mark Sangumetti of a Waltham Park address in Kingston has been charged with the double killing of the homeless men. 

He was charged yesterday June 24 for two counts of murder. 
The bodies of 19-year-old Winston Ramsey also known as ‘Blacks’ and 20-year-old Jermaine Thompson also called ‘Avatar’ were found in bushes at the stoplight at the corner of Lady Musgrave and Trafalgar roads on June 13. 

The police had reported that several bloodied stones were found close to the bodies which also had chop wounds. 

 .... also of note the somewhat hypocritical concerns in a Gleaner letter entitled Gays Being Attacked Left, Right And Centre by a former board member of one of the organizations responsible for the closure of the previous Safe House pilot project, why aren't the organizations including JFLAG not addressing MSM homelessness  and are they waiting for deaths and abuse to stand on ceremony with these atrocities? Questions to ponder. 

Here is an audio summary after doing some leg work to confirm the story:

   (June 25, 2012 Update)

Here was the original murder of another homeless MSM as reported in the Star News on May 25 2012 this was not reported anywhere else as far as I have checked and JFLAG was silent on this one as well. 

Mutilated body found

The mutilated body of an unidentified man rumoured to be a homosexual was discovered on Dumfries Road in New Kingston about 8 a.m. yesterday by passers-by on their way to work.

News of the find started to spread across New Kingston like wildfire and THE WEEKEND STAR was informed by a source that scores of people came to the scene trying to get a glimpse of the body which was said to be sporting a gold chain.

According to reports, the scantily dressed body was discovered lying face down in a section of a gully which runs under the roadway and the police were notified.

THE WEEKEND STAR arrived as the body was being removed. Workman on a nearby worksite suggested that the man was a homosexual but could not say why he was killed.

A staff member from an establishment on Dumfries Road told THE WEEKEND STAR that she was almost late for work because of the chaos from the scene.

She said, "From yuh look at di man you can tell he was a homosexual ... you want see how him dress up. Mi tired fi come a work and hear say body find bout di place ... dem must take Dumfries Road for a dump."

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted the New Kingston Police Post, the station commander confirmed that an unidentified body was found.

He also said, "The body could have been placed there overnight, however, the discovery was made this morning. The body had multiple chops, no motive has since been established and investigation into the matter continues."

Peace and tolerance

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Homeless population continues to spiral .....

While we complain or some choose to complain supposedly on our behalf that the mainstream stigmatizes us as lgbt people, ignore us and our call for rights and tolerance, homophobia and homo-negativity yet the least amongst us get ignored overlooked by the noveau intelligentsia and the powers that be in Jamaican advocacy, but who cares? we hand elitism and the very stigma in a box with a large pink bow while telling them to take it and it is getting really sickening, so much so to the point that the homeless have been ignored by the policy crafters in our advocacy and no serious interventions have been contemplated let alone considered to be continued where they were started much to the detriment of the populations themselves but they are presented as most at risk populations MARPS in discourse as if there is any genuine concern to assist them out of their plight. 

We see the occasional press updates on vulnerable groups and supposed concerns yet no serious moves and interventions with all the access to funding to deal with chiefly in this case LGBT homelessness and predominantly MSM homelessness in this country which has passed chronic proportions, Facebook fallouts leading to exposure and forced evictions, other family issues leading to the same outcomes, economic issues on the national level leading to joblessness and hopelessness as other mitigating factors influencing homelessness and displacement.

 Rowdy Gays Matter 21.08.11 

For historical purposes we can track all this downward movement from 2010 such as this Observer expose:
Rowdy gays banned by J-FLAG, JSL with the subsequent damage control from the agencies attempting to pass the blame to government to provide shelter for homeless msms when we know they will do no such thing, also I suggest you replay the audio commentary posted above where the men's bad behaviour was sneaked in as a reason to not engage them yet we have so many behaviour change experts who ought to have lent some expertise in solving this crisis. Also the closure of the Safe House pilot project which folded due to so called bad behaviour by the men at the time, a disinterested position has been taken since that closure and more so after the two day insurrection the men launched on Jamaica AIDS Support for Life and JFLAG which led to further distancing by both organizations and their operatives towards the population.

More on the civil disobedience episode(s):
MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

Homeless MSM to feel the pinch as JASL issues ultimatum

The dark side to the homeless issue .............. (second civil disobedience action by the homeless msm)

 MSM Homelessness 2011 ...my two cents 

 Some considerations ..... would you assist someone who has been displaced ??? from 2011

and 

Homeless MSMs Saga Timeline 28.08.11

Complaint of "Freaky Gays" Harassing New Kingston Residents ........

The numbers have been increasing in Kingston and St. Andrew alone in 2012 while other city centres have been seeing marked increases in the roaming groups from various parts of the island showing up with some awful consequences. Profiling, public humiliation, their own anti social behaviours causing unwanted attention, beatings and now murder. Last evening I was able to confirm a murder of a member of the MSM homeless community, which occurred in New Kingston Tuesday of this week, this is the same area nearing the substance abuse communities in New Kingston a member of that community also was stabbed several times in what seems a strange of circumstances, it would seem that some would want this issue to simply go away and it not be raised and followed up but until we really become cognizant of the fact that the least amongst us are really the ones who are the marginalized. Unconfirmed reports also suggest a member of the group that had gone into hiding after the 15 plus mobbing by the Green Gables theatre strip has also been killed in the new Kingston area as well, some strange circumstances surround the populations in recent times.

Another member who ran afoul of the law in a stabbing incident of another community member is now languishing in a jail cell as charges are laid, another reported beating in New Kingston nearing the old Superplus store now being refurbished where the workmen at the site have been very aggressive towards the men and the cross dressers who traverse the area despite repeated abuse and homo-negativity. The Kingston group also have been scattered as indicated in the last post on homelessness where a mobbing took place in the Green Gables theatre area leading to persons sustaining bruises and a follow up incident in Half Way Tree. 

See more HERE on that post and or 

MSM Homelessness back in the spotlight ............

In that previous post also the populations in St. Catherine who were booted from a house they illegally occupied have now found themselves in problems with the supposed underworld in the parish as threats have been issued for them to lay low.

Western Jamaica has seen its share of challenges with the populations as well, where a leading community figure who supported a shelter program of sorts for the men and cross dressing communities was arrested for alleged lotto scamming activity which has sent a serious blow to the assistance which while not formalized had an impact in keeping the individuals at bay at the house they were staying thus avoiding public exposure and getting into problems. It is as if the men do not exist in the realms of advocacy, no mention of them comes on social networking only a string of narcissistic presentations of caring with a stinging smugness that is disturbing. Other influentials have now abandoned in a way this groups, yes I understand the anti social behaviours of the men is a cause for concern and has been a magnet for some of the troubles the men themselves encounter but do we look at the bigger picture in solving this set of serious community challenges that now have proven to be life threatening. The circumstances surrounding the murder of the young man in New Kingston is cloudy but word has getting around with some negative responses that the man deserved his demise as he was a battyman and the usual anti gay comments. St. Ann and Portland have seen some issues as well as influentials in those neck of the woods have been expressing concerns of perceived young members of the community meeting some challenges including verbal abuse and displacement.

We must not forget the set of circumstances in this sordid history in regards to homelessness and the treatment of the populations by those who say they defend lgbt rights which if we are to be honest we MUST question what are the motives behind the existence of groups if not to serve the community in its entirety and not overlook those who are in the highest place of need, the very same stigma and discrimination we complain about as hinted to in my introduction. 

To burrow an old Star News Headline that rings so true to this day and even in the commercial sex arena there are other mitigating circumstances affecting MSMs who engage in this income earning activity only two weeks ago a male couple was caught in the act allegedly by cops and were charged in a popular strip but the female CSWs who were present and who may have known of the transaction have been coming under pressure from the authorities with increased patrols and interrogation suggesting the women are supporting same sex activity in public. 

There must be some serious solutions to begin to put a dent in this chronic problem, no quick fix or even well rounded set of interventions won't solve this instantaneously and with the behaviour challenges the men themselves present it is not going to be easy in breaking the cycle and assisting them through some self efficacious planning of their own making towards an emancipated state of mind and being. A half way house or drop in centre as suggested by some readers and influentials is patch work as far as I am concerned it makes no sense we have these alternatives without long term rehabilitation supported by a strong psycho social support base of services and activities for the populations themselves to become engaged in. The devil finds work for idle hands eh?

Much to ponder on.

Peace and tolerance

H

click the "Homeless MSM in Jamaica" tab immediately below for previous entries on the subject

Woman defends gender non conformist in Mandeville

Well a look at a slow but positive emerging phenomenon in Jamaica where ordinary citizens are now speaking from a place of tolerance and openly so is what I want us to focus on in this post, following an incident in Mandeville Manchester that was carried as a snippet on CVM TV June 4th. Judging by the reactions online and on Facebook on this clip it is clear we have a long way to go to reach some steadying of tolerance towards LGBT people and as in this case gender non conformists who present as same in public spaces.


There was a mobbing of sorts just some time before the news team from CVM TV arrived but it was cleared by the police as the individual in question who was the subject of the attack ran into the precinct for rescue, they have since gone about their private business. I was particularly pleased of the woman who spoke on camera and she was careful to trod the gender role as she saw the individual in question aesthetics. 

Judging by the opening shot of the video and the male citizen making his comments we also see we still have some work to do especially in that part of the island as was evidenced some years ago when an accused molester/buggerer was jeered at the steps of the courthouse after a much publicized incident involving himself and a teenager in a popular fast food store as captioned in the photo above, here we saw a police woman clearing the way so as to allow the accused who was handcuffed to be taken into to building for his preliminary hearing, see: 

Crowd gather at Mandeville Courthouse for Trade show man charged with indecent assault on 13yo boy

also we could go further to 2004 at that infamous funeral service of my dear friend Kirk Lester in which I was in attendance and it was stoned by angry residents, Manchester has developed an awful reputation as one of those parishes that is very hostile to perceived homosexuals, cross dressers and now added to the list gender non-conformists. The homeless MSM community also has been having its share of problems with profiling in Mandeville as well as there is a small population that has been struggling for some time and who have been pointed out by citizens in the town. 


The change however or accepting persons despite their perceived orientation or gender nonconformity is also welcomed but it is going to take some time yet to sink in.


Meanwhile ........


A shooting incident in St Catherine on June 3 has had many in the Walks Road and surrounding area puzzled, a man reportedly of unsound mind went to take a bath at a popular canal water way along the Spanish Town bypass end, he allegedly made the mistake of removing all his clothes to refresh himself in the cool waters as it is extremely hot these days but was attacked by a group of men nearby who accused him of being gay as he was not to have bathed openly nude infront of other men, the attack led to a gun being brought into play and he was shot in the stomach, he was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. 

A reprisal shooting was said to have taken place in the same vicinity as carried by CVM News subsequently but this brings into sharp focus the stereotypes and perceptions that can lead to anti gay related violence even if the victim is not a member of the lgbt community, the man could have easily been killed and nothing may have come out of it as may have occurred in times before. Another questionable shooting incident involving a doctor in Mandeville as well has many persons puzzled as the deceased was stabbed several times and found nude in his bathroom while his Lexus motor car was found in East Kingston partially burn out and several personal effects missing from the home. A man known only as OJ from Eltham Park in Spanish Town was a main suspect. 


Many in the parish suspect fowl play indeed with a gay twist but this one has been kept under raps due to the prominence of the goodly doctor it seems. We have lost several prominent persons since this year as highlighted in previous posts, the trend is worrying to me and other influentials as many of the deceased were the last we expected to have fallen by this awful method.


Please be vigilant out there folks.


Peace and tolerance


H

Are Lubes Safe for Rectal Use? Next Steps for Researchers and Advocates ..............

Hello readers,

One more resource for you on lubricant safety – and next steps for researchers and advocates.

Check out this excellent presentation by Marc-André LeBlanc at the Microbicides 2012 meeting (April 2012)

Thanks to blogger Jim for sharing this important presentation, images only shared for preview purposes

download presentation HERE

Corporate AIDS Donors Shy Away From Gay Stigma

by Byron Buckley

IT APPEARS that the stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS as a disease related to homosexuality is driving corporate donors away from funding a private sector-led initiative to sustain the national programme to combat the spread of the epidemic.

The Jamaica Business Council on HIV/AIDS (JaBCHA) National Foundation, led by retired insurance executive Earl Moore, is having a hard time getting buy-in from corporate Jamaica. Since its establishment last year, the foundation has raised a drop in the bucket - $6 million - towards its annual target of $500 million.

Current contributors to the JaBCHA Foundation include Scotiabank, Jamaica National Building Society, Sandals, Guardian Life, LASCO, LIME, Flow and CVM TV.

"I believe some corporate leaders are reluctant to support the foundation's fund-raising efforts because they associate HIV/AIDS with homosexuality," reasons Mr Moore. "So, it's not a priority."

The situation is grave in light of the impending withdrawal of Global Funds, which contributed 60 per cent of the estimated annual expenditure of $1.3 billion on Jamaica's HIV/STI programme in 2010. Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson recently disclosed a US$3.2-billion price tag to implement the national HIV/STI programme for the next 18 years.

First detected in 1982, HIV is now present in all of Jamaica's parishes, while Kingston, St Andrew, and St James - the three most urbanised parishes - have the majority of cases. UNAIDS estimates 27,000 people in Jamaica are infected with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and men and women aged 20-44 account for 65 per cent of reported AIDS cases.

attempt to raise funds

Seized with the dire social implications of the lack of access to treatment for PLWHA if funding is not in place, the JaBCHA National Foundation has set out to raise $1 billion over two years. The funding is aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goal of universal access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and care for PLWHA by 2015.

The false morality of employers is worrying because they fail to appreciate the negative impact on the economy if the epidemic is allowed to go unchecked.

As Earl Moore notes, "The high-risk age group, 20-44, is also our labour force's most productive years."

From a humanitarian perspective, the attitude of corporate donors will doom the fate of innocent babies whose HIV-infected mothers will transmit the disease to them at birth. The uncharitable attitude of corporate Jamaica could also result in blighting the future of perhaps a 30-year-old secretary or a 40-year-old salesman who became HIV infected after an episode of unprotected sex. Lack of corporate giving could also block access to life-saving ART from a corporate executive who was infected with HIV by her unfaithful husband.

The fact is, Jamaica needs to stop being an international mendicant and start dealing with its own social problems.

According to World Bank official Dr Shiyan Chao in an October 2010 speech, Jamaica's national HIV/STI programme depends largely on external financial support, unlike in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, as well as St Kitts and Nevis, where they are predominately financed from domestic revenue.

manning the front line

It must also be noted that The Bahamas' national programme is solely financed by the private sector. In light of the austerity Budget tabled recently by Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips, the onus is going to be on the private sector and civil society to man the front line in the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

In fact, a strategic goal of UNAIDS is to pursue "innovative financing mechanisms, as well as partnerships with micro-philanthropy ventures, engaging youth and leveraging new social media".

It is important, for example, for the entertainment industry, the media and faith-based organisations engage in fund-raising to support the national HIV/STI programme.

The unenlightened attitude by some corporate entities betrays the significant work done by JaBCHA, since its inception in 2006 under the umbrella of the Jamaica Employers' Federation, to promote HIV/AIDS best practices in the workplace. This is in tandem with the government-led national HIV/STI programme.

Indeed, the 10 key principles that address HIV in the World of Work, developed by the International Labour Organisation, are part of the draft HIV Workplace Policy template being used by government and private-sector bodies.

Since 2006, eight ministries and 217 private-sector companies have received technical assistance from workplace technical officers to develop and establish their HIV workplace policies.

Byron Buckley is associate editor of The Gleaner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.



The Jamaica Business Council on HIV and AIDS was established by 21 private-sector companies in September 2006.

The council represents the voice of the business sector in HIV-related workplace issues.

JaBCHA currently has 50 members and is growing.