Jamaicans for Justice Slowly Recovers & Appoints an Interim Board

Dr Barry Wade 

The very foundation of human-rights lobby group Jamaicans For Justice was jolted by the public condemnation of a controversial sex-education programme which was introduced into six private children's homes and the subsequent resignation of four board members, including long-time faces Dr Carolyn Gomes (Carolyn Gomes resigns as JFJ Board Member, JFJ Apologises For controversial Sex Education Course) and Susan Goffe (Influential Susan Gofffe Resigns from JFJ .............New ED "If I Was Aware Of Sex-Ed Programme 'I Would No....)and executive director Kay Osborne in recent months.

The fallout prompted members of the 15-year-old organisation to call for an extraordinary board meeting, and it is coming out of that meeting that Dr Barry Wade and other interim board members were co-opted.

The other members of the board are Christine Dalrymple, Horace Levy, Michael Lumsden, Allan Martin, Carla Gulotta, David Silvera (treasurer of previous board), Clifton McKenzie (also a member of former board), Roje Malcolm and Susan Mah Leung Evans (who had both resigned from prior board).

Wade has cited the first order of business as being that of repairing the organisation's tarnished reputation.

"An advocacy group has to have credibility; it needs the support of civil society," Wade, who is the former general manager of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the chairman of Environmental Solutions Limited, told The Gleaner. "If civil society are unsure of what we are about, then they won't support us. The present controversy has thrown a spanner in the way people see us and so rebuilding our image clearly is what we have to pay attention to. But it is not an event, it is a process."

Upcoming election

The appointment of a full board is expected to be undertaken within the next three months, when there will be a nomination process and election among the paying members, who currently stand at approximately 50 despite the number of persons on roll standing at somewhere in the hundreds. In the interim, however, Wade and his team will seek to get the organisation's house in order.

"This is a transitional period, so other than arranging for the election of a full board, it will be to steady the organisation and make sure that we fulfil all our obligations to our funding agencies and that we have the staff in place to continue," Wade shared. "With the resignation of the ED (executive director) there is a big gap in the organisation, and members of the organisation have volunteered to come in and help get things going again."

Wade, who is seriously considering offering himself up for the post of permanent chairman, believes the organisation will have to work feverishly to make up for lost time, but is confident that they can get back on course.

"We have to play catch-up because we have lost some time with all that has been going on and the resignations, but I have no doubt that we will be able to settle down pretty quickly," Wade reasoned.

Speaking on Beyond The Headlines on RJR yesterday Dr Wade also cleared up the controversial sex education fiasco in a sense that caused the implosion in the first place the perception that they were a cloak for gay organizations, he denied that allegation and went on to explain in a sense the materials delivered were for the instructors firstly then to selected teens for the cohort, also he went on to elaborate that there were sections of the materials that spoke to the illegality of buggery and the law but they recognized that the cohort may have children who were abused so they needed the course. "The material stated what was illegal ....... including what people find offensive anal sex" he said.

Dr Wade also said he did not believe the course was not inappropriate given the above reasons ".....the program was designed to help them avoid, protect themselves and of by chance and how to deal with it thereafter, how to report it." "It is a reality for children in Jamaica that many of them are buggered by adults and they have no recourse in institutions to adequately deal with it and it's that reality Jamaicans for Justice delivered a program with the help of the institutions to help the youngsters.

As for the CDA he said the remit of JFJ was to deal with the boards of the institutions and its their responsibility via the memorandum of understanding with the homes' management. Here I will have to disagree with Dr Wade as the law is clear on the vetting of courses and outsiders entering homes under the aegis of the CDA, the question that must be asked as I have done before if the Sunbeam Home as said publicly submitted in their monthly report the course activity then why did the CDA miss that to arrive at a conclusion of ignorance of a six month long course and why didn't the monitoring officers via conversations with the wards as the have direct access to them and can bypass the homes' management to do so could not ferrett any information regarding the course?

Did the CDA lie to the public when they claimed ignorance of the 6 or 7 month long course by JFJ?

Meanwhile some of the antigay voices who created mass hysteria about this via Jamaica CAUSE and the Professor Bain issue were obviously cautious and most hypocritical in my view in answering a question as to reestablish trust in Jamaicans for Justice in their answers, they steered clear of the sex education course as the facts slowly come forth despite it was not cleared by the constituted authority that being the CDA - Child Development Agency as required by law.

Daniel Thomas, president of the Love March Movement: A lot of damage has been done, so the group might even have to consider a name change. However, I won't dispute that the organisation has done some good work over the years, and nothing is impossible. It is critical that transparency and collaboration are ingredients that the new board will be willing to employ in the interest of the Jamaican people.

Betty-Ann Blaine, an advocate for children: This is a gentleman (Dr Barry Wade) who I have some knowledge about and I think has a reputable image. From my experience, I know that he is very passionate about social issues, including the plight of the poor, among other social ills. Clearly, he has a big job on his hands in restoring the trust of the Jamaican people and restoring the image of the organisation, but I am confident that it can happen. also see: The Deliberate Misuse of the “Sexual Grooming” Term by Antigay Fanatics to Promote Their Hysteria and Betty Ann Blaine Deliberately Conflates Same Gender Attraction & Child Abuse at Christian Anti Gay Mass Rally

Clifford Blake, deputy commissioner of police: I don't know much about the board ,so I wouldn't want to comment much on that, but we (Jamaica Constable Force) have worked well with past boards and we have no problem working with this current board, once it is in the best interest of the Jamaican people.

Bishop Rowan Edwards, immediate past president of the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches: I thank God for this new board. I would hope that the leader has prepared himself to be scrutinized, to be guided and to collaborate. Everyone deserves a second chance and despite the damage that has been done, there is room for restoration. I also call on the Jamaican people to cooperate.

The funders Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, CVCC of the sex education course are quiet as a mouse as Mrs Carolyn Gomes is their new Executive Director from as early as December 2013 I would have thought that despite the aura of the JFJ being lured or smoothered by a gay lobby that they would have categorically denied such claims but the incestuous nature of these coalitions once again makes identity separation near impossible. Thanks however to an active membership of JFJ they have taught us that transparency, fiduciary responsibility and good governance the very principles which made the JFJ what it is has won in a sense, some LGBTQ groups and individuals in Jamaica could learn a thing or two from all this.

I hope the JFJ does not flinch though from working with LGBT groups and individuals from now on but will be careful in its scrutiny and adaptation of areas they may want to cover. I Hope they can get over this perception as painted and set by the Gleaner when the story broke: Back-Door Deal - Gay Lobby Funds JFJ Sex Education Course, Slipped Into Children's Homes says Gleaner

also see:
More Overreaction to the Jamaicans for Justice Sex Education Course & Media Senationalism

Former JFJ Head Carolyn Gomes Distances Self From Controversial Sex Ed Material

Old Guard vs New Guard War of Words at JFJ on Sex Education Course that bypassed CDA

UPDATE August 4

KINGSTON, Jamaica:
Interim chairman of Jamaicans for Justice, Dr Barry Wade is today insisting that the interim board of the human rights lobby group was constitutionally appointed.

JFJ has been plunged into crisis over its unauthorised implementation of a sex education course in six privately-run children’s homes.

The human rights group has also been facing a leadership meltdown following mass resignations and counterclaims over who is responsible for the introduction of anal and oral sex content as part of the course.

The interim board was appointed last week during an emergency meeting of JFJ’s membership.

However, following the announcement, questions have been raised in some sectors about the constitutionality of the board.

According to the Interim Chairman, the group’s constitution gives remaining board members the authority to co-opt to the JFJ.

He says this is what was done for the interim board.

ENDS

UPDATE Press Release from JFJ on Interim Board 

Tuesday, August 5, 2014, Kingston, Jamaica

The interim Board of JFJ has been publicly challenged to state whether it is legitimately constituted. The following sets out the process by which the current directors of the Board came to their positions

JFJ was incorporated under the Companies Act on 15 October 1999. The Companies Act and more specifically its Articles of Association are the relevant governance instruments. The relevant sections of the Articles of Association that guided the process are Clauses 31, 45, 48 and 49.

Clause 31 provides that the minimum number of directors shall be seven, unless otherwise determined by a general meeting of the company.

Clause 45 provides that the directors may appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional director. A director appointed under this provision holds office until the next annual general meeting and he or she shall be eligible for re-election.

The quorum for directors meetings is fixed by the directors but shall, if not fixed by the directors be three. (Clause 48)

During the course of the weeks and days leading up to the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on July 29, which had been called by the Board at the request of members, the number of directors fell below the minimum number of three. The resignations did not take place en bloc, but rather at different points in time, all prior to the date of the EGM. Clause 49 of the Articles was invoked.

Clause 49 provides: “The continuing directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but, if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the articles of the company the necessary quorum of directors, the continuing directors or director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of directors to that number…

Following lengthy discussions of the developments in JFJ, the two remaining board members asked the members assembled at the EGM to indicate whom of their number were prepared to be co-opted to serve on an interim board. The purpose was to ensure a democratic input into the decisions that only the remaining 2 board members could exercise under Clause 49 of JFJ’s Articles of Association. The members present at the EGM indicated their preferences. The EGM was suspended and the existing Board members deliberated and made the appointments recommended by the members present at the EGM. The eight additional directors appointed brought the number of directors up to ten, above the minimum seven required for the full functioning of the Board.

The Board is an interim one because the provisions of Clause 45 limit the tenure of all of the members appointed by the remaining 2 directors till the next annual general meeting of JFJ.

The Board will focus on the following steps to be taken over the next three months to (a) review the recent developments, (b) steady the organisation, and (c) arrange for the holding of an annual general meeting in view of the provisions of Clause 45 of the Articles of Association.

The current Board is properly constituted under JFJ’s Articles of Association, with the full authority to conduct the business of the organization until the next annual general meeting, which in the normal course of events would be held in March or April next year. However, it was the view of the membership at the EGM and the decision of the current Board that it would be prudent to hold an AGM at the earliest possible date to allow for the election of a new Board of directors.

ENDS

The current board members are:

Dr. Barry Wade (Chairperson)
Christine Dalrymple (Secretary)
Susan Evans (Treasurer)
Horace Levy (also of JCSC)
Rodje Malcolm
Allan Martin
Michael Lumsden
Carla Gullotta (formerly of Amnesty Europe & CVCC)
Clifton McKenzie

Peace and tolerance

H

Vybz Kartel Fans Upset at Use of Artist's Song in Homeless Gays Documentary

see this previous post for the full video documentary mentioned below

Much outrage has been coming from fans and associates of Vybz Kartel following the use of one of his songs as the soundtrack for a video showing crossing-dressing and homosexual men in New Kingston.

The four-minute long video surfaced on YouTube on Monday with Kartel's Beautiful Girl being used as the soundtrack. It showed men dressed as woman modelling dancing and parading along Trafalgar Road in New Kingston and the gully close by. The video was posted by Noisey.com that also did the Snoop Dogg Reincarnated documentary, as well as other documentaries with dancehall artistes like Popcaan, Vawnessa Bling and Konshens.

Since hearing about the video, So Unique producer Elvis Redwood said he is appalled by the actions of Noisey, which is the music channel for a magazine called VICE.

"We disapprove of this. We distance ourselves from it. They didn't ask for clearance and we have nothing to do with it," said Redwood, who says he is the man in charge of Adijaheim Records and Short Boss Records.

"We are just disappointed that they used the artiste's song in a video like that without approval. We are against homosexuality and it is illegal in Jamaica."

In the video description, Noisey acknowledged that they did not get approval from Vybz Kartel, however, it said, "Kartel was unable to sign off on this video as an official promo, but we licensed the song and are putting it out there to show people a rarely seen side of one of our favourite places in the world."

They also offered more explanation in the description.

The Gully Queens of New Kingston documentary

"While making a documentary on The Gully Queens of New Kingston, a growing community of gay and transgender youth living in the Jamaican capital's storm drain system on Trafalgar Road, we met people that had been driven below the depths of the city by desperation. This unique community has found solace in the lyrics of street life and struggle of the recently incarcerated singer Vybz Kartel, a national hero of sorts and considered 'The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto' by many," it said.

But that did not stop fans of Vybz Kartel from voicing their anger.

"There is no way Vybz Kartel would approve of this video. Not saying I agree with his views but it's nonsensical to pair these visuals with his music," one viewer said.

Another viewer added, "Kartel would not want this done to his music!!!! This is a big insult to him!"

As the comments flowed, another of the 313 comments that were generated in little over 24 hours said, "This is an insult to Vybz Kartel legacy. Noisey I don't know if y'all know but Kartel don't promote homosexuals at all. Dancehall don't promote homosexuals at all. Keep that in your own circles, don't try to contaminate dancehall with this."

"Now you are trying to bring man down when he already down!!! This video will bring out the worst out of Kartel, that is not what he promotes and never has!!!! Stop using BIG artist name on a SMALL concept video to make it popular," another viewer said.

I thought that released materials are of and in the public domain and can be used by whomever, the LGBT party scene has always used dancehall materials despite the murder music content in some of them I can attest to that as a DJ on the circuit since 1996 so I do not understand why the uproar. Frankly I do not spin dancehall so much but house music instead more in line with LGBT entertainment worldwide.

So long as there is no copyright infringement I do not see what the big deal is, I guess the Vybz camp can claim charges for its use but I am not sure for standard Youtube license videos if that even applies.

Peace and tolerance

H

Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups?

As anti-gay groups such as Jamaica CAUSE and Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS alongside so called child rights advocates Betty Ann Blaine continue their antigay campaign smarting from the June 29th rally in Half Way Tree another report of a man of the cloth sexually assaulting another minor comes to light. It is remarkable how these groups and individuals find strength for homosexuals(ity) yet are silent still on such egregious matters when one of their own infringes.

How many cases such as these must we contend with?

previous entries:

Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society continues its “HIV is a gay disease” campaign with more deception

More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay

Anti gay religious voices where are they? .... Pastor charged with sexual assault

The Star News carried this today:

Another St Thomas pastor has been taken into custody by the Morant Bay police for sexual offences committed against a minor and is scheduled to face the courts today, THE STAR understands.

The latest case was scheduled to get under way on Monday in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, however, attempts failed after the magistrate was absent.

The pastor, whose name is being withheld because of the nature of the offence, remains behind bars.

Information reaching THE STAR is that the pastor, who is of a Prospect address in the parish, was taken into custody on July 27, on allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor two years ago.

Allegations are that in 2012 the pastor assaulted the minor while she was at his home undergoing counselling.

THE STAR gathered that he allegedly fondled and had sex with the minor against her will.

He is charged with rape, grievous sexual assault and sexual grooming.

Further reports reaching our news team is that the man of the cloth allegedly took the 13-year-old girl to his home, after telling her grandmother that he was inviting her to a family dinner as well as to counsel her.

THE STAR gathered that the child was living with the grandmother, who is a member of the church at which the pastor is in charge.

It's further alleged that on arrival at the pastor's home, the child was told to remain in a room.

It's theorised that while she was in the room, the pastor allegedly forced himself on to the minor. The teen reported the matter sometime later.

A report was then filed with the Centre For Investigation Of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) last Thursday following which the pastor was arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, another St Thomas pastor, Daniel Findlay, was charged under the Sexual Offenses Act with three counts of sexual assault with a person under 16 years and one count of grievous sexual assault.

When he last appeared in court the judge advised him that his case will begin soon.

Findlay, 36, appeared in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate's Court in June. Findlay's bail conditions of $250,000 with stringent measures remain.

ENDS

In today's Gleaner however Dr Wayne West of the JCHS continues his public campaign to justify his antigay stance via a letter to the editor using the HIV is a gay disease ploy in response to Ian Boyne's In Focus piece on Sunday last. The letter read in part:

I Haven't Cooked Data On Gays

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Unfortunately, Ian Boyne, as evidenced in his column, 'War over the buggery law' (Sunday Gleaner, July 27, 2014), does not fully understand my position re homosexuality and the buggery law. However, since Ian cannot be held accountable for what the media do not report, I am not holding it against him.

At the Jamaica CAUSE rally in Half-Way Tree on June 29, in a short address to the crowd, I cited the fact that when, in 1973, the American Psychiatry Association (APA) declared homosexual orientation (attraction, identity and behaviour) to be a normal aspect of human sexuality, it was, to the best of my knowledge, the first time a medical association was defining normal without reference to anatomy and physiology, i.e., design.

I informed the crowd that although the World Health Organization (WHO) and other significant medical associations soon followed, the APA, in declaring homosexual orientation normal, the position was illogical and not consistent with standard medical practice.

Normalisation of homosexuality

I further stated that as it relates to men who have sex with men (MSM), the Bronze Age writers of the Bible had been proven by science to be correct and the APA, etc, wrong. To the best of my knowledge, no media house has reported this statement.

My resistance to normalisation of homosexuality has always been primarily philosophical. The health statistics have merely been to support the philosophical position but have never been the primary consideration. I argue that HIV/AIDS epidemics among MSM are merely easily measurable manifestations of the illogic of ignoring design. This is, in fact, supported by research as 98 per cent of the difference in HIV rates between men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals is due to anal-receptive intercourse and the ability of men to play either role on different occasions.

Other manifestations will, no doubt, surface, but they may not be as easily measured. I am surprised that Ian does not seem to be aware that some local LGBT activists have suggested that I deliberately misrepresent the data.

Law is a teacher

The State has the responsibility to make law, but law is not only about punishment; it is also a teacher. If the State adopts a philosophical approach which, in such an important area, ignores design in the universe in its definition of normal, how then would it define abnormal?

As a Christian theist, I hold the view that a great, intelligent being, God, is the first cause, and that God designed the world with purpose and intent. It is, therefore, logical to expect that casual rejection of design will have negative consequences. In fact, even if one were atheistic, logic should still lead to the view that casual rejection of 'apparent' design would have negative consequences.

Our experience with the HIV epidemics among MSM has shown that rejection of design in matters of sex is against the common good. It is folly for the State to legislate that which is both illogical and does not serve the common good.

WAYNE WEST (Dr)
Kingston 6

ENDS

Typical philosophical mumbo jumbo with no real reasoning behind it while his blog has more male nudity (examples above) than even some gay blogs do yet he is opposed to homosexuality?

Their selectivity is astonishing on the real issues out there while private matters and consent between adults is more important to these groups. A weal press release on the murder of two boys recently was only a knee jerk reaction to the criticisms and cynicisms since their launch as to the same selectivity mentioned above.

also see: Betty Ann Blaine Deliberately Conflates Same Gender Attraction & Child Abuse at Christian Anti Gay Mass...

Peace and tolerance needed indeed.

UPDATE August 4

Bail granted:

The St Thomas pastor accused of sexual charges with a minor was granted $400,000 bail in the Morant Bay RM Court earlier on Wednesday. He returns to court on September 5.

The pastor, whose name is being withheld because of the nature of the offence, is charged with rape, grievous sexual assault and sexual grooming.

Allegations are that in 2012, the pastor assaulted the minor while she was at his home undergoing counselling. It is alleged the man of the cloth allegedly took the 13-year-old girl to his home, after telling her grandmother that he was inviting her to a family dinner, as well as to counsel her.

The child was living with the grandmother, who is a member of the pastor's church. It is further alleged that on arrival at the pastor's home, the child was told to remain in a room. The pastor allegedly forced himself on to the minor. The teen reported the matter sometime later.

A report was then filed with the Centre For Investigation Of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) last Thursday, following which the pastor was arrested and charged.

Question is why was the victim allowed to be at his home and ALONE with him why was the counseling not done at his church office or another official building or site?

Sad t seems some persons are too trusting on many fronts leaving their kids alone with men of the cloth and also allowing some of these same men of the cloth to mislead them into creating outcasts in the name of opposing homosexuality.
H

New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population

Superintendent Murdock

The same cop who has factored in so many run-ins with the youngsters in the Shoemaker Gully (often described as a sewer by some activists) has delivered on a promise of his powerpoint presentation on a solution to the issue in New Kingston, problem is it is the same folks who abandoned the men (their predecessors) from the powerful cogs of LGBT/HIV that are in earshot of his plan. 

This ugly business of LGBTQ homelessness and displacements or self imposed exile by persons has had several solutions put forth, problem is the non state actors in particular do not want to get their hands dirty as the more combative and political issues to do with buggery's decriminalization or repeal have risen to the level of importance more so than this. Let us also remember this is like the umpteenth meeting with the cops, some of the LGBT homeless persons and the advocacy structure.

Remember JFLAG's exclusion of the group from that IDAHO symposium on LGBT homelessess? See HERE, how can we ask the same people who only want to academise and editorialise the issue to also try to address their own when they do not want to get their hands dirty but publish wonderful reports as was done earlier this month, see HERE: (re)Presenting and Redressing LGBT Homelessness in Jamaica: Towards a Multifaceted Approach to Addressing Anti-Gay Related Displacement  also LGBT homelessness has always been with us from the records of Gay Freedom Movement(1974) to present but the current issues  started from 2009, see: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009 as carried on this blog.

The last time we saw Superintendent Murdock in action with the population was in December 2013, SEE HERE and attempts have been made to address the group via Dwayne's House (Yvonne McCallah Sobers) who also propose a shelter but to no avail as yet. Also the public crackdown in October 2013, See HERE

Pity that it had to take so much years of grief and some international attention (that seems to be the only thing that moves some folks) to get the same organizations linked to Jamaica AIDS Support who ditched the homeless LGBT youth in the previous Safe House Pilot some five years ago and thus the issues since then to now to listen, but who wants to actually get their hands dirty? my podcast from a year ago on the government providing shelter still stands:

The previous Executive Director of Jamaica AIDS Support who piloted the Safe House Project and understands the issues or myself or other stake holders who have far more intimate knowledge of the situation were NOT made aware of this meeting until it was published in the papers. Another indication of how this issue is being controlled by some.

The Jamaica Observer carried this:

A senior police officer has proposed the establishment of a shelter where homeless gay men in New Kingston can access medication, psychological evaluation, counselling and skills training.

Commanding officer for the New Kingston Police, Deputy Superintendent Christopher Murdock, made the suggestion at a meeting last Thursday attended by residents of communities in New Kingston, some of the homeless young men, business operators in the financial district, and representatives of interest groups, including the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

The meeting, arranged by Government parliamentarian Julian Robinson, whose constituency includes the affected area, was called in an effort to address problems being experienced by residents and business owners in relation to the behaviour of the homeless gay men.

Police say they have received reports of murder, wounding, robbery, car break-ins, house break-ins, malicious destruction of property, one case of shooting, simple larceny, and assault occasioning bodily harm, most of which they have attributed to the young men who live in the Shoemaker gully on Trafalgar Road.

"The fact that you are homosexuals doesn't mean that the behaviour has to be bad," Murdock told the homeless men attending the meeting.

But one woman suggested to Murdock that he needed to accept the fact that because the young men are thrown out of their homes, "they learn street culture".

Until that reality is recognised and accepted, "we are going to always have this problem of finding the solution, because they are going to develop the behaviour to survive on the streets", she said.

But Murdock, in his defence, said that other homeless men are not indulging in acts of criminality.

"Whilst we are mindful of the sexual orientation and the issues surrounding that, we don't want to come to the meeting with that because we have other street boys and they do not give us the problem that we are having with these ones," he said.

However, Murdock's shelter proposal was questioned by Jermaine Burton, founder of the group Colour Pink.

"You have come up with the idea of a shelter, but how have you reached a shelter, because you guys have been on the issue of the shelter... that is like reinventing the wheel from how long," he said.

"The culture itself doesn't create an enabling environment to really go and get a shelter as well. If you put up a shelter and people know that this is a shelter [for homosexuals]... it is more problems," Burton said.

But Robinson quickly clarified the purpose of the shelter, saying that it would be a place for sustainable development.

"It's not a home for you to carry on your activities," said the MP. "So when you think of a shelter, don't think of a shelter for persons to carry on homosexual activities. The shelter we're looking at is a centre where persons can get home training and skills training.

"There are quite a number of persons living there (in the gully) now who don't even have a birth certificate, who have no form of identification, no skills training, no educational qualifications. The centre is to create that, not an area where you are going to say okay, this is where you are going to be carrying on with your sexual activities and carrying on with your lewd behaviour, which is associated with the group where they come out onto the streets, they strip themselves, they gyrate... that's not what we're about," he stated.

Burton, however, asked: "Is this what the community wants? You don't ask the community what they want, yet still you put up that they want a shelter?"

However, Superintendent of Police Fitz Bailey quickly interjected, saying that for years people have been fed up with the behaviour of the young men, and the shelter was the solution.

"All of us are here because we are frustrated and we want a solution, so I have devoted more time than others in sessions trying to come up with a solution, and that would be the ideal thing," Bailey said.

One resident, who expressed frustration with the behaviour of the homeless men, said education would be one of the first steps to finding a remedy.

"First and foremost, we need to educate the persons and their families about their lifestyle. In Jamaica every family has at least one person who is gay. I have gay family members and for years we did not know," she said, adding that when they found out, they did not put them out on the streets.

"I agree with the approach to create a centre and educate these people to let them know if you want to be accepted into society, don't go about behaving like this, as you're only making the situation worse by putting yourselves out there. Your behaviour should be confined to your bedroom and your private quarters, nobody has to know," she said.

The health risks associated with the young men living in the gully were also raised at the meeting which heard that they cook, eat and defecate there.

As the meeting progressed, the idea of the shelter seemed to have gained a bit of support, but even then the question of who would be responsible for getting it established was raised.

"If we could convince members of the civic coalition and those who are spending millions on security to help, we could go a far way," said Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays President Dane Lewis.

"We have to have land, pay people who are going to come and look after health care and other benefits. We've had enough of these sessions; we need to come to a solution," Lewis added.

A female participant felt it was the Government's responsibility.

"The Government has to lead on this. We have had donors give us money and we cannot get the support from communities in society to do this. We have had to give back a $9-million grant because we couldn't find a place. If the Government leads, we will be willing to support in whatever way using our own resources such as representatives from the Ministry of Health and from among those working with the group for quite some time," she said.

Robinson said that he would help to source the land for the shelter, while Murdock asked for a small group to be committed to leading the charge.

A representative from the NCDA and one from the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition gave their commitment to assist, once proper funding was in place and the Government decided to lead the charge beyond providing land.

ENDS

from December 2013


2012 Television discussion with Supt Murdock and MP Julian Robinson

Shoemaker Gully prior to the population explosion

the Cargill Avenue Eviction by cops in 2012 on television

JFLAG shelter document as presented at a Nov 7 2012 townhall meeting, no further explanations as to why it never materialized

former Jamaica AIDS Support/JFLAG office site and Safe House Pilot space that was closed and both agencies evicted as the relationship between the LGBT persons and the agencies deteriorated

member of parliament Julian Robinson and board member of Dwayne' House at a meeting in 2013, also see: MP Julian Robinson claims he wants help for New Kingston homeless gays

Identified space by previous JLP administration left unimproved since 2009

Dwayne's House feeding program earlier this year

Millsborough Avenue house that was captured by the older populations last year

Millsborough Avenue house demolition last year where some of the men illegally captured, more HERE

Homeless MSM Eviction 2013

Take note that it is the same Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition CVCC that was involved in the JFJ sex education fiasco and the Programs Manager is the Chair of JFLAG yet with all those linkages a viable solution cannot come forth after some five years since the Safe House pilot closure and the population explosion. See: Why did CVCC & JFJ not Fund a Project/Home for Homeless LGBT Youth in New Kingston instead of the Children’s Home Fiasco that now obtains?

 Flashback to the origin of the Homeless MSM explosion causation and why to date we have the numbers in Kingston especially.

Let us see where all this goes, great idea by the Superintendent but it will only go down as many others have as another meeting and no real solution and just a formal exercise.

also see from 2012:  Homeless impatient with agencies over slow progress of promised shelter and THE PROBLEMATIC “BATTYMAN ENTITLEMENT” PHENOM, HOMELESSNESS & LGBT SAFE SPACES

2014 - Funny And Framed - 'Mother' Of New Kingston Gays Says They Are Not To Be Blamed For Increase In Crime

Police Hunt Murder Suspect in Homeless MSM/Trans Population in New Kingston

Yet another documentary and no improvement follows, watch if you can, at least this one is the most realistic one yet in the line of them:

Peace and tolerance

H

War Over The Buggery Law

The following is an excerpt from the Gleaner's In Focus, see the full article here

Ian Boyne, Columnist

The struggle between Christians and gay-rights activists over the buggery law is more political than practical. Its repeal or retention is more symbolic than salutary.

Gay people are freely engaging in anal sex and are not worried in the least about police knocking down their doors to arrest them. Nobody is going to report them to the police if they buy their condoms or lubricants. And this argument that gay men are effectively denied health services and hence are vulnerable to HIV infection because of the buggery law seems transparently absurd to me. It is not the existence of the buggery law that prevents gay men from visiting clinics. If any gay man is intimidated to reveal his status, that reluctance has more to do with stigmatisation, prejudice and discrimination - which would remain even if the buggery law were repealed. Once our culture remains heavily influenced by fundamentalist Christianity, that stigma towards homosexuality will remain, whatever happens legally.

Changing the buggery law would be a political victory for gays, yes, and would signal some softening of attitudes towards homosexuality in 'society circles', but on the ground, once you can't eradicate conservative religious ideas about homosexuality, you are going to have stigma, exclusion and non-acceptance. Apartheid was law in South Africa but despised by the black masses of South Africa, just as slavery was law in the British West Indies but revolted against by the enslaved. We know from our history as black people that laws don't equate to popular acceptance. So the repeal of the buggery law would be political and symbolic. That's all.

On the other hand, Christian arguments for the retention of the buggery law are largely political, not philosophical or principled. Christians don't argue on the basis of the merits of the buggery law per se. Their arguments represent either slippery slope reasoning ('this will lead to that') or fear ('This will strengthen the gay lobby agenda', clearly giving them a political victory en route to full legalisation). They can't argue the virtue of the buggery law in itself. Something is just wrong with that philosophically.

Retaining the buggery law can't be justified simply because its repeal could possibly lead to certain consequences. Veronica Evelyn, writing inIn Focus on July 13 in an article titled, revealingly, 'Connect the dots: same-sex marriage and the decriminalisation of buggery', says: "The decriminalisation of buggery is a necessary condition for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The call for the decriminalisation of buggery does not exist in a vacuum. It is but Step 1 in a downward spiral characterised by a series of decriminalisation, enactment and amendment of laws relating to sexual behaviour."

You can't argue for the retention of the buggery law on such philosophically shaky grounds. Plus, it ignores the fact that there are jurisdictions which have decriminalised buggery and that have actually amended their constitutions to specifically outlaw same-sex marriage. Christians must be honest in their debate on this issue and not obfuscate. The decriminalisation of homosexuality does not have to lead to the legalisation or normalisation of homosexuality. No more than adultery is normalised in law, though it is not criminalised.

MUDDLED REASONING

Repealing the buggery law does not necessarily lead to same-sex marriage. We must not create hysteria by muddled reasoning. That is tantamount to lying, which is forbidden in Scripture. Attorney-at-law Shirley Richards, who has quite correctly and courageously exercised her rights as a citizen to staunchly oppose homosexuality, writes in that same July 13 issue of In Focus: "Repeal of the buggery law places us on this road which, in other countries, has resulted in minority homosexual rights taking precedence over the fundamental human rights of the majority."

Make no mistake: The legalisation of homosexuality threatens civil liberties and the rights of those of us who oppose homosexuality on religious grounds. It takes away our options of exercising personal conscience once homosexuality is normalised in law and if same-sex marriage is legalised. That has been the practice and experience so far.

But it is not true to say that the repeal of the buggery law inexorably leads us down that road. Shirley is not right that "repeal of the (buggery) law will also effectively remove the philosophy that protects true marriage". As a lawyer, she should know of those states which have decriminalised homosexuality and yet have constitutional provisions protecting man-woman marriage. Why ignore that evidence? Because we are in a propaganda war?

Dr Wayne West has been another brave and outspoken soul exercising his democratic right to lobby against homosexuality. Wayne has always sought to be reasoned - whatever you think about his efforts. But his reasoning is vulnerable to serious criticism. Wayne has trotted out a lot of incontestable statistics about the dangers of male homosexuality. The truth is - and the way Wayne speaks you would not know this - gay-rights activists accept that men who have sex with men have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS. They accept that anal sex is a more effective means of transmitting AIDS. In fact, that is why they are (misguidedly in my view) pushing for the repeal of buggery laws to free up gays getting treatment. (I don't know of health practitioners reporting gay men who see them.)

Gay activists are saying it is because of the culture of discrimination and stigmatisation why gay men don't get treatment. Using the argument that unprotected anal sex is highly risky can't be the most potent argument against homosexuality, Wayne. Gay men can solve that problem easily by simply using a condom! So what? If gay men start using condoms regularly and the rate of infections among them goes down, would your case against homosexuality collapse?

Health reasons are not what the Bible proffers why homosexuality is morally unacceptable, Wayne. That argument leaves out lesbians. The buggery law is completely silent about lesbians. In fact, in our culture, some of the most ardent and virulent opponents of homosexuality fantasise about and some engage in threesome with women. But the Bible condemns both male and female homosexuality. The conservative Christian opposition seems more cultural than Christian and more political than philosophical. The Christians need to engage a thorough-going and rigorous apologetics against homosexuality and not engage in scattershot, slippery-slope arguments.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT

Some Christians say while it is true that the buggery law does nothing to stop people actually engaging in anal sex, at least it makes an important statement about what the society abhors. It gave Christians a basis for orchestrating the collapse of the Carolyn Gomes-founded Jamaicans for Justice (Gomes was a main agitator against Professor Bain. God, the Christians say, has brought swift judgement against her and her legacy, Jamaicans for Justice).

Christians say, let's keep this law for when buggery is illegal. Gays can't slip material into our schools, children's homes and in our media. But we could still repeal the buggery law and not have homosexuality taught as normal in our schools and public institutions.

Besides, the buggery law does not forbid homosexuality, but only anal sex - which heterosexuals can and do engage in. Our buggery law - unlike in some other jurisdictions - does not punish lesbians. So Christians are supporting a law that falls short of biblical law. Better some of it than none, some would say. But this is not a theocracy, and if adulterers and fornicators are not penalised, nor should homosexuals. It is not fair. You say that's like saying, if you can't catch all criminals, we should not catch some. No, I am saying that in a democratic society, everyone must be equal under the law and laws must be just.

The buggery law is being used as a political weapon against gay people in this culture war. Saying, "Well, adulterers and fornicators don't want to impose their views on us and take away our rights like homosexuals" is another admission that the law is being used as a weapon. A law must be inherently just. We have to do better in our argumentation against homosexuality, brethren.

Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist working with the Jamaica Information Service. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and ianboyne1@yahoo.com.

Father beats son on suspicion of being a homosexual

An irate father accused of cruelly disciplining his son for what he claims were homosexual tendencies had his bail extended when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

The accused, who was charged with cruelty to a child, said that he witnessed his seven-year-old son in the street playing with a number of other children.

It is alleged that the accused accosted his son, scolding him that he is always in the street 'with man'. It is believed that Brown ushered his son away from the roadside to their home where he sought to discipline him by stripping him of his clothes, allegedly using a wire to whip him repeatedly.

The court heard that after enduring a whipping, the seven-year-old fled from the house running breathlessly to a nearby police station in the nude. Brown was subsequently arrested and charged.

However, Brown maintained that his son exhibited homosexual tendencies as he played with other children of similar age. As a result, he sought to discipline his child as he says other parents were not taking the necessary action to prevent a re-occurrence.

"They are feeling on each other's penis and whining on each other and these parents are not doing anything about it," said a seemingly distressed Brown.

"It is called experimentation. It's a normal part of growing up where they play nurse and doctor," remarked Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey. "What you need to do is talk to your child and explain to him what is appropriate behaviour. Beating them is not the answer. Teaching them is the answer. Now the way in which you beat him, that is what you are charged for,"

Subsequently, the accused was ordered to return to court on September 9 for a mention hearing.

Sadly there are so many other cases like this that go unreported or unheard of and teens and young adults suffer in silence unable to be themselves or get validation for who they actually are. The lack of sex and sexuality in schools' curriculum also is a factor as played out in the recent issues shows us why a beating also such as this repeatedly occur.

I hope the case leads to some sense and sensibility into this father who thinks the only way to address this and that some counseling be brought to bear not to supposed restore the youth as it were for the minds of some to heterosexuality but to repair the broken relations between the father and son. 

Reconnecting should be the ultimate goal here than just stopping the beatings and the court case, I hope this young man also does not end up becoming another displaced or homeless statistic as we also have so many of those to speak of.

There was an incident several years ago where a father allegedly handed his gay son to students at his school to be beaten but was rescued by compassionate ancillary staff who took several blows to shield him and called for police intervention.

Jamaica Observer article 19/02/04: Father encourages students to maul 'gay' son

"According to students and teachers at the school, the boy's father apparently found pictures of nude men in the boy's school bag.
Infuriated, he turned up at the school yesterday with the pictures and encouraged the mob to turn on his son. As students began to maul his son, the man is reported to have driven away."

In notoriously homophobic Jamaica gay men can hardly expect protection even from their parents - as was made very clear yesterday.
A father, concerned that his son might be gay, turned up at the Dunoon Park Technical High School in east Kingston and apparently encouraged other students to beat the boy, an eleventh grader.

"Them bruck up desk and bench and beat him up badly," one Dunoon student told the Observer. "Him get nuff lick, box, kick and thump from boy and girl."
The boy's name was withheld by school officials and the extent of his injuries was not immediately known. But whatever they were, it would have been worse were it not for the intervention of ancillary staff.
According to students and teachers at the school, the boy's father apparently found pictures of nude men in the boy's school bag.

Infuriated, he turned up at the school yesterday with the pictures and encouraged the mob to turn on his son. As students began to maul his son, the man is reported to have driven away.
In the frenzy, students hurled stones at police who were called to the school to restore order, in the process damaging police cars and motorbikes. The police eventually were able to rescue the youngster from the other students, most of whom wore uniforms, and whisked him off the campus.
According to a teacher at the school, people from outside the school joined in the fracas.

"They were intent on killing him," this teacher said. "They were like a pack of wild animals who had smelled blood and if it wasn't for a staff member who jumped on top of him, you would be reporting on a mob killing."
The teacher described the behaviour of the student's father as "careless".
"A me save him," an ancillary staff member told the Observer. "Me have to jump on him and shield him cause them was going to kill him. Me get a whole heap of licks, but me push him in the office and lock him in."
School authorities were forced to call the Elletson Road police to escort the boy off the compound when the angry mob became uncontrollable.

But the cops were also attacked, leaving some with minor injuries. After calm was restored, at least a dozen Dunoon students were taken to the Elletson Road police station where they were given a stern warning by officers from the station's Criminal Investigation Bureau before being released.
"We went to the school to calm down a situation and protect the students and they turn around and fling stones on us," an Elletson Road police office complained. "What has the society come to?"
The parent who has been accused of ordering the students to maul his son, reportedly drove away from the school as soon as the fracas started.

Read more: also see from sister blog GLBTQJA 2009: Insensitive Parents & Displaced MSM and Part 2 HERE

Peace and tolerance

H

Alkaline Comes Under More Pressure for his Controversial Lyrics & Image

also see:

Dancehall Act Alkaline (Rimming DJ) Nevis Show To Be Cancelled to Fears of him having negative influence on citizens

Alkaline (Rimming DJ) gets a homophobic response from newcomer Dwayno's track "Mr Faggoty"

"Rimming" promoting DJ gets blamed for freaky singjay's ostracism & death threats

In the latest war of words with younger DJs on the scene even as more established ones also feud anti gay remarks have been thrown though not reported here towards Alkaline due to his controversial lyrics supposedly promoting anal/oral sex with females.

The latest was reported in today's star news while on social media and on Youtube the exchanges persist.

The camp of upcoming dancehall artiste Gage has responded to a recent interview done by deejay Alkaline by describing him as a copycat and fraud.

Alkaline in a recent television interview had said that he did not know who Gage was and he (Alkaline) is the only relevant dancehall artiste, except Mavado and I Octane.

However, Gage's manager, Neil Daley, who spoke on his behalf, had some strong words for Alkaline when contacted by THE WEEKEND STAR recently.

"Time will tell, he will know who Gage is. He stole Gage's song called Queng Dem and he stole Vybz Kartel's songs and style. Alkaline is nothing but a copycat, he walks and bite Vybz Kartel, you are the youngest and the foolest," Daley said.

want a clash

He continued; "Who are you? You not even reach Tommy Lee level yet and yu a try style him in interview. If you want a clash to prove your worth then step up, bring it on."

The manager in bashing Alkaline's recent performance at Sumfest, described it as a flop.

"Him nuh get nuh forward at Sumfest. But mi like how him stand up and pretend that he was getting forward. Him contacts nearly drop out of him eyes when him a kill out himself onstage and the people dem nah respond," Davis said while poking fun at Alkaline's record Touch You which speaks about anal stimulation in sex.

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted Alkaline's publicist, Kymona Bartley, for a comment, she said she was not prepared to speak on the situation and that Alkaline is still googling 'what is a Gage'.

Alkaline is presently promoting his singles How It Feel, Queng Dem and Never End, while Gage has released new singles Thief Di Queng, Levels To This and Jah Jah.

ENDS

Earlier in the year another upcoming DJ Rime Minista also threw homophobic lyrics at the popular DJ, despite his unique looks and lyrics he has a large following even with his taboo subjected songs sometimes.

here are those two dissing tracks:

Frankly some of these youngings in the business need to take a chill pill and just do what they are doing holding their audiences, artists such as Gage is already on the rise with his own crowd what would dissing Alkaline (even if he said he was a copycat prior) do now for his career, I am sort of on the fence now with him after seeing this news.

Sad that as soon as someone talks about anal sexual play (non penetratively) he is assumed to be a homosexual, how shallow?

Peace and tolerance

H

Restorative Therapy Advocate & Anti Gay Voice on Trial for Perverting the Course of Justice

Also see: REVEREND AL MILLER’S OWN MORAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST & ANTI GAY CAMPAIGN

Leading member of the newly formed anti gay group Jamaica CAUSE who had the June 29 rally, Pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle and a strong proponent of restorative therapy Rev Al Miller is on trial for aiding a fugitive. Sadly this is the voice that has been at it for over a decade trying to block LGBT rights of any sort even at the Charter of Rights level where he and Lawyers' Christian Fellowship founder Shirley Richards got removed the only small protection from discrimination due to sexual orientation in the 1999 draft when JFLAG made their parliamentary submission, sadly the J did not adjust their call from a full repeal of buggery to decriminalization so we have had to live with the grief all these years hence the strong opposition since.

The case has been carried by various media, here is an excerpt from the Gleaner's take:

A police sergeant yesterday testified that minutes before the 2010 capture of then fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller led police on a high-speed chase in St Catherine after twice ignoring their attempts to stop his vehicle.

Det Sgt Winston Radcliffe gave evidence that at one point in the chase, his police service vehicle was travelling at 130mph, but still could not keep pace with the popular pastor's "heavily tinted" sport utility vehicle (SUV) with Coke on-board.

Radcliffe said when police finally used their vehicle to force the SUV to stop on the soft shoulder along Mandela Highway and ordered the occupants out, Dudus emerged wearing a black and green peak cap, clear eyeglasses and a black curly wig.

The evidence came as Miller's long-delayed trial for attempting to pervert the course of justice got under way in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Miller, through his attorneys, has insisted that the police were, at all times, aware that he was taking Coke to surrender to authorities.

Radcliffe's testimony provided a behind-the-scenes look into how the islandwide manhunt ended for the former Tivoli Gardens strongman and convicted drug kingpin, who is now serving a 23-year prison sentence in the United States.

The police sergeant told the court that on June 22, 2010, he got information that led him and a team of three constables to position their police car near the entrance to the Bog Walk gorge in St Catherine. He said a short time later, Miller's RAV4 exited the gorge travelling with a Subaru Impreza motor car.

Radcliffe said his team began trailing the two vehicles before requesting assistance from police control and other units that were in the Spanish Town area at the time.

He testified that another police vehicle, which joined the trail after he requested assistance, was used to block the path of the Subaru, while his vehicle was positioned "about one car length" behind the RAV4, bringing both vehicles to a halt.

"The RAV4 SUV pulled out from behind the Impreza and continued towards the [Highway 2000] toll road. I activated the emergency equipment [the flashing lights] on my vehicle and gave chase," said Radcliffe, as Clerk of the Courts Larona Montague-Williams led him through his evidence.

He said he caught up with the SUV a short time later and used his police vehicle to block its path, forcing the driver to stop.

"Myself and my team alighted from our vehicle and moved towards the RAV4 when I observed the front driver window rolled down and the driver identified himself as 'Al Miller'," the sergeant testified.

He said Miller then rolled the window back up, "pulled away from the service vehicle, drove past it, and headed to the toll plaza".

"We drove on to the highway eastbound towards Kingston in an effort to catch up with the RAV4 that was travelling at a very high speed," the sergeant said, noting that his vehicle was travelling at 130mph, but was still about half a mile behind the SUV.

However, Miller's lead attorney, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, challenged this claim, suggesting to Radcliffe that there was no second stop.

While conceding that he did not record the second stop in his notebook, the police sergeant insisted that it took place, triggering an exchange with the attorney.

"You know the importance of preserving your notebook for the purpose of a trial, right?" Samuels-Brown questioned.

"I don't know about preserving it for trial. I know about having them for reference," the sergeant responded.

"Where is that notebook?" the defence attorney pressed.

"I have absolutely no idea," the policeman responded.

He testified that a team from the St Catherine South Police, which was part of the chase, later used their vehicle to force the SUV to a stop on the soft shoulder near the "cane cart crossing" along Mandela Highway.

Radcliffe said Coke was handcuffed and placed in a police car, while Miller remained in the driver's seat of the SUV.

The sergeant said he approached Miller and asked why he did not stop when he was signalled to and the clergyman told him "he was taking Coke to the US Embassy as officers were there waiting for him".

The trial continues today.

ENDS

Old Clovis cartoon with outgoing Commissioner 

Lasmay's take at the time

Sadly this is the man who we must fear or wants to stop LGBT rights or recognition from progressing and even labeling us as "aliens" as he did at the Jamaica CAUSE rally meeting as carried on CVM TV

I hope they find him guilty as he obviously was aiding a fugitive escape the law of the land and his arrogance and refusal to step aside at the time from the church and other leadership positions was even more so troubling to show the lack of integrity he has and seems more interested in power and image more than dignity and truth which are supposed to be God centered principles eh.

The Observer's take: Lawyer accuses cop of lying as trial of Al Miller starts

UPDATE July 26 2014

LAWYERS FOR THE Reverend Merrick 'Al' Miller yesterday questioned a retired police superintendent about a public plea the popular pastor made to then fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke to turn himself in on the condition that he had the "commitment of the authorities" that they would ensure his safety.

The questions by Miller's lead attorney, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, were in reference to a public letter the clergyman wrote in June 2010, which was published by this newspaper during the time of the islandwide manhunt for the former Tivoli Gardens strongman and convicted drug kingpin.

"Are you aware that there was an open letter published in one of our national newspapers in which Reverend Miller wrote 'be assured that I and others will do everything to ensure your safety and we have the commitment of the authorities'?" Samuels-Brown asked retired Superintendent Wrenford Robinson during cross-examination.

"I did not see that appeal," Robinson replied.

Coke was found in Miller's sport utility vehicle along Mandela Highway in St Catherine on June 22, 2010, but the popular pastor has maintained that the police top brass were, at all times, aware that he was taking him to surrender to authorities.

Robinson is the third witness to give evidence in Miller's trial for attempting to pervert the course of justice, which got under way in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday. The trial has been adjourned until September 10.

ENDS

Peace and tolerance

H