Gay Men Blamed for Fire at Old Court House Occupied by Squatters on East Street

The scattering of displaced or formerly homeless MSM or Transgender persons across Kingston due to the challenges in the Shoemaker Gully, downtown Kingston and other parts of the capital (indeed island-wide if one were to really examine the situation) has reaped some blame to at least one of them following a fire at an old court house on East Street. The flames were set to have been set by one of two men who also occupied a room in the building used by squatters for some time and the fire was reportedly set in revenge by one who accused the other of infidelity and spending an amount of cash he was not to have done.

It was only some weeks ago a similar incident outing occurring off East Queen Street had two alleged gay men had to relocate following angry residents descending on them after a heated argument leading to a fight over some clothes, a fire was not the final outcome but the men were left subsequently left without a roof and told not to return; so many skirmishes dotted across town has the New Kingston population of displaced MSM/trans individuals bouncing from here to there.

The police raid as carried by Superintendent Murdock in New Kingston who has been trying to strike a balance between public order and welfare issues with this group has not helped either as now the persons are left to scatter once again in the long line of clashes with the cops and members of the public. One such clash allegedly also occurred in June in the Coronation Market district where one person was accused of stealing or attempting to steal a phone from a woman, he was set upon but managed to escape in the crowded corridor as shoppers try to purchase their ground provisions and so forth. A clash as well with other wondering or cruising populations in the downtown district have not gone unnoticed, the challenge is they occur so frequently these days as cruisers and commercial sex workers jostle for possible clients that it is near impossible to keep up and report on them. The last clash ended up in a stone throwing incident nearing the Railway Corporation office on Darling Street and as a consequence the men who load buses and guide cars to be parked in the informal parking lot have vowed no ‘battyman’ will be allowed near their turf.

Residents at the fire incident at hand are very much up in arms as some have lost everything as the building was raised, school supplies in particular that were just purchased was where the anger was present as former resident complain they have no money to resupply those items while one woman said she had not completed shopping for the remaining items on the list.

Veiled threats have been dropped by some of the residents or victims of the fire possibly directed to at one or both men who are accused of contributing to the blaze as persons tried to fend for items in the cooling down operations. Some persons managed to save what they could and it is unclear as to how many families were actually affected by the fire.

The growing numbers of young MSM/trans persons without a home or job to sustain themselves has been a concern of mine for some near ten years in Kingston in particular as other avenues of escape dry up, Club Heavens where some of the older persons would sleep is no more, so too is Calabash formerly run by the late BeBe Stevenson that was closed after a police raid in Montego Bay in the hunt for lotto scammers. The recent offensive of alleged scammers as well has only sought to add more problems as persons who would take in young unemployed males (gay or straight) for such activity fall from grace the formerly engaged males mostly are left stranded or lost in the cold after arrests, family members who disown or leave them to languish in lockups or forcibly evicted as well apart from new cases of homophobic relatives doing the same.

The age of persons who are being thrown out is also frightening as young as 11 in one case earlier this year and the other challenge is that older men take advantage of some of these youngsters pretending to help them when really what they are after is some fresh meat. These entire issues just further compound the matter of a problem that had a solution but we all know where that went and we now live with the consequences with nice damage control and explain-aways by crafty bloggers and press release writers.

We are told of feeding programs, difficulty to find a place for a shelter, so called Dwayne’s House ideas, politicians hovering to capitalise on the matter and an incompetent LGBT agency in the middle of all this with documentary after documentary yet the populations’ situation has not improved, in fact the last photos and interactions I have had with some of the persons they are clearly not well physically and other videos with musical artists supposedly showing some sympathy also reflects the concern of the actual health of some of the more vocal members of the group.

Where will this Kingston problem end? When there are other smaller fires in St Catherine, St. Ann, Manchester to a certain extent (linked to lotto scamming crack down) and Trelawny as well with this fire adding more back on the streets. The community based shelter assistance is still an option but not for this particular set of homeless gays and transgender persons as the fear if they will wreck ones house and home and while the half way house concept is being pushed by some the needed stabilization work required prior to such residency is nowhere in sight it seems.

Peace and tolerance indeed is required firstly for our own before making demands of and on John Public or the politicians to change laws when all the group is also seen as HIV prevention guinea pigs.
The Star News in the meantime carried an entry on the matter:

Homosexual men, believed to be involved in a heated altercation, are said to be responsible for the massive fire which yesterday gutted a board structure along East Street in Kingston.

More than 20 persons squatting in the building were left homeless. Some residents managed to save a few household items.

Whether the building was insured or the estimated cost of the damage is not known.

One of the more than 20 residents of the dwelling, Charmaine Burch, said she woke up to what sounded like stones being flung against zinc.

heated fight

She said the men responsible for the fire were homosexuals who were involved in a heated fight at the rear of the premises, which then resulted in the building being set ablaze.

"Same one dem from New Kingston. Mi come out and turn to, and seh to him a waah gwaan inna de yard. Him say he didn't know. Mi come out and look and see mi room up in a smoke," said Burch, who lost everything including money and school items for her four children.

The chaos that emerged saw residents scrambling to remove what little they could, others armed with stones were seen chasing some men further along East Street.

Police at the scene said one of the men responsible was detained at the Central Police Station.

ENDS

Let us see where all this goes folks

H

New Kingston Shoemaker Gully Homeless Gays Accused of Inappropriate Advance Towards Teen .......

I can't get a break it looks like as I tried to get some well deserved rest now comes this. Another accusation of advances towards members of the public.

So it seems yesterday's story carried in the previous post had more than met the eye when we were told that the police were looking for criminals, this other allegation was not included in that piece nor in the piece that the Observer carried as well on the raid by the cops. Unfortunately Superintendent Murdock who in all fairness has been trying to keep the peace was injured but now we have a possible reason for reprisal by the public towards our displaced, homeless and a few of them downright lazy MSM/Trans brethren.

The Star carried the excerpted parts below yesterday which has just sent an arrow in my soul as to think we had a solution to this and it was thrown out by the very people who are now being persuaded to fix it, and to think today is the second day of the third anniversary of the civil disobedience some of the older homeless MSM took against the very agencies (JASL/JFLAG) and the coincidence of them making news again is just funny to me.

The Star said:

Teens seek refuge after advances from New Kingston homosexuals

André Williams, STAR Writer

Homosexuals linked to the 'gully-bridge' in New Kingston have angered at least one parent recently after her son was assaulted while on his way from a match and had to run inside a church for refuge, THE STAR understands.

Information reaching our news desk is that the 17-year-old boy remains traumatised following Saturday's incident, where a friend of his was touched on his bottom by one of the gays. After making their disgust heard, they had to run for their lives when other gays became involved.

Michelle Dwyer, the teen's mother, told THE STAR that the police had to rescue her son from the church after a standoff for more than two hours.

"They attacked my son, and he had to run inside a church. He locked himself inside, and about 20 of dem stood by, some trying to get to my son. A church assistant came and tried to help the situation, but she, too, was told off. They were saying dem afi get my son tonight, and dem want him phone," the mom said.

Dwyer continued, "When the police finally came about 7:30 and removed my son, from inside the church, him say the gays circle dem and start talk a bag of things bout weh dem ago do and weh dem can do."

THE STAR was told that the teen was asked to point out his attackers and later taken to the station to give a formal report.

Dwyer told our news team that her son is willing to go public and let people know what took place so that it doesn't happen again.

"I am angry. What if it were my younger son? Other people children have to walk there, too. People have gotten raped and robbed, but many are afraid to report it. My son is traumatised and said he would take his own life inside the church than to have any of them touch him," she said.

According to Dwyer, the police say they cannot do much about the multitude of issues with these gay men.

She said: "If someone attack dem, den human rights come out, but if someone harm my son, how it go? The police dem tell mi say as soon as dem lock dem up, people in high places come and bail them or have them released."

When our news team contacted the St Andrew Central Police Division, an officer close to the investigation confirmed the incident.

In addition, the officer also shed light on the nuisance caused by these gay men.

"They are responsible for scores of robberies and other acts of violence. To be frank, half the reports come from their clients ...people who go their to conduct business with these men," the officer said.

He further stated that the clear-up rate for the crimes involving these men is at a minimal. "Unless we catch dem in the act, victims are not willing to come forward because of the repercussions. When we detain these persons and the victims hear about court, they often drop the matter. We have a tuff job up here, man, tuff job."

Name changed

ENDS

The predatory construct to this story only makes the group bait for attacks I fear as that same construct has always been the main pillar on which anti gay voices rely to make their points and induce fear but several questions arise in this matter for me having some understanding of the streets.

How did it get to a stage where a touch could have happened?

What did he say or do to them to make them so riled up that they (the MSM) decided to entrap the 'victim?'

Why isn't it not the victim who is more traumatized or speaking more in the report than a third party?

Where is this 'church' as there are no known religious meeting places nearby the Shoemaker Gully and why wasn't the church named in the story?

I find parts of this tale from the Star to be conjecture and not plausible here, yes some of the population's members are miscreants as that has been established but this one seems like gay-baiting at work here more so than the truth or the 'victim' may himself been curious but was not expecting such contact, in fact could the 'victims' themselves be homosexuals under the quiet but the defending parent is unaware of it?

The side of the MSM involved we may never get the truth as these things always end up clouded with anger and differing versions leaving grave uncertainty. And as for the responses to this we are constantly told and shown documentaries of the group but no real solution to move them from lives interrupted to some meaningful developmental work. The Safe House Project which was a temporary answer back in 2008 - 9 was closed by Jamaica AIDS Support's board (members who also sit on JFLAG and CVCC) yet they drag their feet in terms of responding to his festering problem but readily prepare pretty reports and wave the group as vulnerable only in as far as HIV is concerned. 

We were told of Dwayne's House which seems stuck in a rut even as more documentaries flow, Yes Miss Yvonne Sobers of Families Against State Terrorism, FAST maybe trying but food in a styrofoam box is not enough when the very folks she is aligned with sat and watched the only shelter close under dubious circumstances and the some the same MSM/Trans put to pasture, now five years later here we have the grief.

also 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?

New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population

Funny And Framed - 'Mother' Of New Kingston Gays Says They Are Not To Be Blamed For Increase In Crime also from July Police Hunt Murder Suspect in Homeless MSM/Trans Population in New Kingston

Ist Anniversary of the 2nd Homeless MSM Civil disobedience .... and the men are still homeless

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

Rowdy gays banned by J-FLAG, JASL .......... (Jamaica Observer)

The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Original Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable

Cops seek "GAY shotta" who alleged fired at New Kingston police

Displaced gay man arrested for sleeping in the Shoemaker Gully in New Kingston

MARAUDING HOMOSEXUALS AND J-FLAG (OBSERVER EDITORIAL) ………………… Feb 2013 the abandonment realization

THE SAFE HOUSE PROJECT BACKGROUND FROM THE CONCEPTUALIZER Oct 2012

Tense stand-off between homeless MSM and Security team in New Kingston Sept 2013

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

How many more stories or reports of this nature (plus those un-reported) are we to tolerate as projects sit on paper and ideas that were enacted made to crumble while the populations languish?

As one commentator had put it the hypocrisy of it all is that the monied homosexuals seem to be using their poorer counterparts for funding means while they enjoy a better quality of life yet making calls for tolerance. A question I have asked before is how can there be calls for tolerance (these days is like an expletive) when such is not demonstrably clear in our back yard, the clear class divide between more affluent LGBT persons and this group is disturbing when compared to mantra on which the struggle or public advocacy rests.

Think on these things.

Peace and tolerance

H

Homeless LGBT New Kingston Population Targeted by Cops Again ......... 3rd Anniversary of Civil Disobedience

Here we are again this old familiar place. How many more like this must we see before an answer is found?

As today is a reminder of the issue of homelessness in New Kingston with the least amongst us as the civil disobedience some of the displaced and homeless LGBT predecessors took against JFLAG and Jamaica AIDS Support back in August 2011 now we see a story in the Gleaner again as they continue to make news. So many other reports and incidents for that matter have gone unnoticed or unreported.

Police carry out an operation at a gully in New Kingston, yesterday. The police, who said they were seaching for wanted men, were met with resistance by a group of persons who passers-by described as cross-dressers, who live in the gully.-Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

The paper in part said:

Beer and rum bottles, and stones were hurled by cross-dressing men and passers-by yesterday morning, as they squared off against each other in New Kingston following a police operation to apprehend two juveniles at Shoemaker Gully. The juveniles had sought refuge in the gully after it was believed that they stole money and a tablet computer.

In the chaos, two members of the security forces - a police woman and head of the New Kingston Police, Superintendent Christopher Murdock - were injured.

"While carrying out the operation I was attacked by one of the men. He is presently in custody. I received injuries to my arm. I do not know if there are other injuries as I fell to the ground in a bid to restrain him," said Murdock.

ALLEGEDLY STOLE $100,000

It is alleged that the juveniles stole the sum of $100,000 as well as the tablet computer from a relative and sought refuge in the gully. It is unclear if the youngsters are part of the community of cross-dressers who are known to live in the gully. One of the juveniles, a 14-year-old, has been handed over to the Child Development Agency.

One of the juveniles was apprehended, but neither the money nor the tablet was recovered.

During the operation to find the juveniles, six men who are said to be responsible for a number of robberies in the New Kingston area were also apprehended and taken into custody. These men were expected to face an identification parade and were, according to police, likely to be charged with larceny.

"Other persons we are seeking include: 'Pebbles', he is the main perpetrator; one who goes by the name 'Batman'; one who goes by the name 'Morris'; and a youngster that we are trying to find now, his name is Tarique."

Murdock acknowledged that some of the men living in the gully have never turned up on police radar as troublemakers, and are simply homeless.

The senior policeman also said that the police would return to the area in short order with more equipment to dismantle sturdily built structures that have been created on the bank of the gully by the men living there.

ENDS

The superintendent who was injured has been the same gentleman who has been in fairness patient over the period of years literally and he recently submitted a power-point presentation on a possible solution which seems to have been scoffed at by JFLAG and others, lest we forget the CVCC/JFJ fiasco, so much money was spent on that children's home training yet the same folks who sit on these boards who are LGBT ignore their own community challenges all for HIV prevention money more so than LGBT developmental work that is so urgently needed.

Now that Murdock has been injured will his tolerant stance change is the question in handling this group? also see: New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker Gully LGBT Homeless Population and Funny And Framed - 'Mother' Of New Kingston Gays Says They Are Not To Be Blamed For Increase In Crime also from July Police Hunt Murder Suspect in Homeless MSM/Trans Population in New Kingston

August 23 and 24 2011 were the two days that group without the newcomers stoned JFLAG/JASL offices at 4 Upper Musgrave Avenue prior to both NGOs being evicted by the landlord in 2013. It is a part of our history some folks would rather have us bury but the lingering problems is the proof of the lack of care and real concern about this particular group of displaced and homeless GLTB Youth and the numbers are growing every month.

What is next as the toss up between public order and a place to live continues with our brothers and sisters and what press release or damage control is going to come now from groups such as JFLAG?

scenes from the latest documentary on the population from Fusion:

another in the line of documentaries persons are so eager to shoot yet no real tangible help for the group as they are paraded in the victimhood ploy, mere feeding via food in a styrofoam box is not enough for me and where have all the donations gone or why has not there been a report of some kind to show where the figures have reached?

also see:

Ist Anniversary of the 2nd Homeless MSM Civil disobedience .... and the men are still homeless

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

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?

MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

Rowdy gays banned by J-FLAG, JASL .......... (Jamaica Observer)

The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Original Ultimatum on December 30, 2009

And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable

Cops seek "GAY shotta" who alleged fired at New Kingston police

Displaced gay man arrested for sleeping in the Shoemaker Gully in New Kingston

MARAUDING HOMOSEXUALS AND J-FLAG (OBSERVER EDITORIAL) ………………… Feb 2013 the abandonment realization 

THE SAFE HOUSE PROJECT BACKGROUND FROM THE CONCEPTUALIZER Oct 2012

Tense stand-off between homeless MSM and Security team in New Kingston Sept 2013

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

Let us see where all this leads to.

Peace and tolerance

H

Christian Youth Group against Alkaline Performing in Guyana

So the fanaticism that we saw from Jamaica CAUSE here in June is spreading Caribbean wide it seems as church groups decide what persons are free to see or not, Alkaline as covered on this blog has done some songs that are controversial indeed including the one liner in "F*** You" that encourages anal oral sex and so on. The show was scheduled for last evening and no news has come of any cancellation. IRIE FM spoke to the artist's manager HERE

Why does the "majority" feel they must impose their will on the minority, his shows are deemed for adults only I have gathered and as such people should be free to attend despite the content so long as others who are not so in tune with his or others style are not exposed to the event. One cannot be forced to come to Christ neither must one be forced to stop their actions (when not in harming the majority) and in this case persons are prepared to spend their money to see an act

He is well liked here in Jamaica despite the anal controversy and has since released other songs with a more vaginal tinge that has gained him some success despite the fallout with himself and other artistes such as Gage and such who constantly accuse him of being gay under the quiet or promoting homosexual sex.

Youth group against Alkaline performing in Guyana

He is set to make his first appearance in Guyana over the weekend, but his imminent performance in the country has been met by heavy resistance by at least one outreach organisation.

Joshua Generation, the Youth Arm of Love and Faith World Outreach Ministries, have made it clear that they do not support the move by Hits and Jams Entertainment to have dancehall artiste Alkaline perform at their Jamzone Summer Break.

The youth outreach group is hoping the organisers will think twice about the artiste's appearance. In their letter to the country's national newspaper, Starbroeke, the group gave reasons why they oppose Alkaline's performance.

"We've decided that we will take a stand and make it known that we do not appreciate and will not condone Hits and Jams bringing artistes like Alkaline to our land. This is a position we maintain in relation to this particular artiste and any others whose music and lifestyle do nothing to positively uplift our youth," they said.

The youth group used the artiste's ban in other countries to support their stance. "It has been made public that Alkaline, Tommy Lee and other artistes of similar nature have been barred from performing in some countries, therefore, begging the question as to why we should expose our youth to this level of vulgarity."

The letter goes on to state that Alkaline and other dancehall artistes, including Tommy Lee, play an important part in the deterioration of the society's moral standings. Not only is the group asking that the artiste's performance be cancelled, but they are also calling on the nation's president to act on getting local radio stations to stop playing the artiste's music.

Despite the opinions of the youth organisation, it seems to be all systems go for the young artiste. The Weekend STAR was told by a member of Alkaline's management team that the artiste will be performing as scheduled.

"The promoters have assured us that he will be performing as scheduled, nothing has changed," the representative said. The 19-year-old entertainer, who has been booked for the show since June, is set to perform on Saturday.

also see:
Alkaline Comes Under More Pressure for his Controversial Lyrics & Image

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

Additionally his song "My Life" has been used similarly to a Vybz Kartel track to a recent documentary on the homeless LGBT youth in New Kingston:

By the way today is the third anniversary of the civil disobedience some of them took against JASL/JFLAG post the closure of the Safe House project in February 2010 and the deteriorating relationship with the group and the NGOs, to date as we have seen the numbers have grown so much and they have been made to or are being used as said by some for gay right while their situation has not improved. The latest article on the group is 

See: 

Ist Anniversary of the 2nd Homeless MSM Civil disobedience .... and the men are still homeless

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston

MSM employ Civil Disobedience to get Board's Attention ....

Rowdy gays banned by J-FLAG, JASL .......... (Jamaica Observer)

Funds Dry Up For Local Human-Rights Lobbies

Says the headline in today's Gleaner, some of us like smaller lesser known entities like GLBTQ Jamaica or Aphrodite's P.R.I.D.E Jamaica rely on individual donations from readers or funding from the FCO as was the case with the APJ Enterprise Training Project activities. There maybe some local donations by kind individuals via cheque or even cash as well especially for special requests for crisis interventions but those are drying up as hard times or belt tightening becomes more the norm.

I am wondering what is the purpose of this article though as there have been some push-back on human rights groups especially since the JFJ sex ed fiasco of so called foreign imposition of values via money and funding by some of the same persons ironically named in the piece below such as Betty Ann Blaine and even the acting public defender hinted to it HERE. Then there is the mischief making by first time MP Damion Crawford (same one who belittled Portia's Buggery Review/Conscience Vote suggestion) and his take on rights organizations and agendas.

Now to the story:

The reluctance of one local human-rights lobby to push the agenda of overseas backers has resulted in the curtailing of its operations, and the futures of similar organisations are in jeopardy as the ability to secure international funding to fight for citizens' rights has become increasingly difficult.

Yvonne McCalla-Sobers, who chairs advocacy group Families Against State Terrorism (FAST), told The Sunday Gleaner that the non-government organisation (NGO) has been unable to fulfil its mandate in recent times because of a lack of funding.

The group was started in 2001 following the alleged extrajudicial killing of two citizens by police in separate incidents.

"It was supposed to seek justice for family members who have been killed by the police or suffered in some way from the State," McCalla-Sobers said.

But McCalla-Sobers noted that apart from the fact that the families they represent had started to become weary of delayed justice for their relatives, "there is also the issue that where you get your funding sometimes can dictate what you do or don't do".

She noted that, at times, advocacy groups such as FAST were being asked to make compromises in order to secure funding.

She said that in the beginning, her group was primarily getting funding from Jamaicans within the diaspora but, following the recession, it was necessary to seek funding from international agencies primarily based in the United Kingdom (UK).

"The compromise would have been in, let us say, other persons far away deciding on the action that should be taken here," said McCalla-Sobers, who did not want to elaborate on the types of compromises her group was being required to make.

"The requests were nothing that would have been unethical, but it's just not in the direction that we saw the need here," she quickly pointed out.

Last week, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness called for the establishment of a commission of human rights to assist in safeguarding the rights of citizens.

His call came following the killing of construction worker Mario Deane, who died on Independence Day as a result of injuries sustained while at the Barnett Street Police Station in St James.

STRENGTHEN EXISTING INSTITUTIONS

However, legal luminary and former chairman of the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR), Dr Lloyd Barnett, believes the focus ought to be on strengthening existing human-rights institutions rather than creating a new one.

"I would like to see what it is that he is proposing because we sometimes react to problems by creating new posts rather than strengthening existing posts, and you get a multiplicity of positions, each underfunded and inadequate for the task," he said.

Much like FAST, he said the IJCHR is currently challenged to carry out projects because of a lack of funding. He said the council's last major project for which it received funding dates back to two years ago.

Most of the IJCHR's focus now, he said, is on education rather than advocacy, which can be very expensive.

"In order to conduct a human-rights advocacy or human-rights programme, money is needed, both for staff and material. You have to provide staff to interview people to receive their complaints … . That requires money. You have to pay rent, pay telephone bills, pay for all the normal things that you require to run an office and to provide a service. In addition to that, you would have to carry out investigations or to employ persons to advise on technical matters," he said.

Barnett said that although in the past the group got funding from a number of agencies, including USAID and the Commonwealth Secretariat, today, "a lot of the funding is based upon specific programmes".

Last year, parliamentarian Raymond Pryce suggested that it be made mandatory for interest groups to disclose their sources of funding and publish their financials.

He told The Sunday Gleaner that while these organisations help to keep democracy robust, "many times, they can receive funds in a subversive way that has hidden agendas, and many times those sources of funds come from agencies that are inimical to the way of life of the wider society".

Checks made by The Sunday Gleaner with at least 10 of the country's more prominent interest groups showed that while several were 100 per cent locally funded, there were many others that received the majority of or all their funding from overseas.

J-FLAG LOOKS TO US, UK

"We have to apply for grants much like any other NGOs and they are largely out of the United States and we have one donor in the UK," said Dane Lewis, executive director of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG).

The group's donors are listed on its website and include organisations such as Freedom House, Frontline Defenders, the Mac AIDS Fund, and Open Society Foundation.

Funding for the organisation primarily comes from overseas, and much of it is used for public education, Lewis said.

Lobbies such as Citizens Action for Principles and Integrity (CAPI), the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and National Integrity Action (NIA) are among those that receive both local and international funding.

Co-convenor for CAPI, Dennis Meadows, said while the group's four executive members are the ones primarily financing its advocacy work, persons locally and overseas have been making donations through the group's website.

He said his organisation was a virtual one and membership at last check stood at around 4,500 persons, with donations from the diaspora amounting to no more than US$1,000 per year.

"From a NGO standpoint, you have to build a foundation before you can seek to approach international agencies," he said when quizzed about his funding sources.

Diana McCaulay, JET's chief executive officer, said her organisation receives grant funding from overseas, but the work it does is also possible due to the help of local sponsors and membership fees.

The 24-year-old organisation currently has about 400-500 individuals on its mailing list and, of this number, about 200 persons pay fees annually.

MAINLY LOCAL FUNDING

"There have been years where we have had larger foreign amounts, and then that year, it would look like the foreign donation was greater, but if you look the whole of JET's life, I would say local funding is, by far, the majority," she said.

Professor Trevor Munroe, executive director of the NIA, said his group was primarily funded by USAID and the Department for International Development, but gets technical support from the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition and Flow.

Flow has, for example, given NIA free cable advertisement space valued at more than $2 million per month.

"They provide funds, but we are the persons who decide how those funds are utilised. They don't tell us," said Munroe in regard to NIA's international partners.

The groups that rely primarily on local funders include Hear the Children's Cry, the Lawyers Christian Fellowship and the recently convened Churches Action Uniting Society for Emancipation (CAUSE).

Co-founder of Hear the Children's Cry, Betty Ann Blaine, said the group was heavily reliant on charitable donations and grant funding from the private sector to carry out its work.

"We operate on a very small budget. Our budget is not more than $2 million per year," she asserted. "We have no overseas funding. All of our funding, right now, is from within Jamaica."

She lamented the fact that several NGOs have been forced to close their doors in recent times because of the inability to secure funding.

ENDS

Why did the author not get more information from JCHS, LCF or Jamaica CAUSE on their budgets or funding sources? I find it a bit strange as they have or seem to have millions at their disposal with all the full paged ads they have managed to put out in the same paper that can sometimes run into millions of dollars literally dependent on the day in question they are published. The paraphernalia as well in their Bain protests does not come cheap either and therefore must be coming from another source of funding, I say foreign ones that were not disclosed. I has well been established that homophobic or anti gay groups outside the US and as far as Africa such as Uganda have all benefited from funding from US based religious linked groups and personalities who cannot do their hate in the US so they export it.

Yet we are to believe that these groups are so lowly they only receive local funding!?

Did the author or editor of the Gleaner did not want to ruffle the feathers of their largest customer with their full paged ads so no pressure or questions were brought to bear as to the real state of affairs of their funding? given that one of the criticisms towards gay activism is so called imposed values and beliefs funded by foreigners yet we see the very same strategy in their camp and when such overseas funding for LGBT groups do not come easy as one has to prove and write proposals etc. if it were so easy as I wish it was groups like mine and others would have been fat with cash and able to do far more work than how snails pace we are.

Anyway I still want to encourage you my readers to continue your support as it is crucial for smaller frontline groups and individuals like me. Donations are accepted via Paypal securely where the donations buttons are located or

Tel: 1-876-813-4942 if any difficulties or email: lgbtevent@gmail.com

Thank You

Peace and tolerance 

H

National Children’s Summit for Jamaica Conference Centre for August Excludes Sexuality Issues

The following press release came to had via email from a reader originally from the Child Development Agency, CDA and it struck me that the core issues of sexuality, early initiation and sex that have bee raised via various incidents (JFJ sex manual matter included) and by numerous public commentators and private citizens yet this upcoming conference seems to nicely ignore those realities. In light of the recent announcement Youth Ministry to develop programmes to address LGBT youth, homeless, destitute and vulnerable children a conference of this type would at least begin to look at some of these issues affecting teens even as none state actors also shrug their ow responsibilities in a sense while passing them off to government.

Just saying ..........

The release said:

Nearly 600 children from across Jamaica will converge on the Jamaica Conference Centre on August 21, 2014, for the Child Development Agency’s first National Children’s Summit.

Being spearheaded by CDA’s Children Advisory Panel (CAP), under the theme, “Creating Opportunities for Jamaica’s Vulnerable Children- Opening Doors to Securing a Brighter Future,” the Summit is part of the CDA’s 10th anniversary celebrations being observed from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015.

CAP is a 15-member grouping pulled from different sectors of the society which was established in 2012 to provide child-friendly advice to CDA’s Executive Management Team and the CDA Advisory Board..

In addition to CAP members, those to attend the Summit include children nominated from youth organizations, church groups; children who are in the care of the State and representatives of the Office of the Children’s Registry Child Ambassador corps, the Office of the Children’s Advocate Children’s Advisory Group and the National Centre for Youth Development, among others.

CDA’s CAP Chairperson Charles Young explained that the team had identified the need for the Summit as part of its general itinerary of activities and is primarily an extension of its mandate to seek and represent the views of children, especially those who are in the care of the State on matters affecting them.

“The objective of the Summit is to create an environment in which children ages 9 to 17 can interact and share experiences and views on critical issues affecting them in Jamaica, and to make recommendations on how these issues can be addressed,” Mr. Young said, pointing to a number of issues which have been impacting children and young persons, including child abuse, neglect, general violence permeating the society, bulling, and general lack of respect for others and their properties, and other socioeconomic factors impacting almost every individual.

“Our goal is to give these children a voice. During the Summit, we will encourage them to have open and honest discussions on the matters affecting them, and to come up with solutions that we can share with the leadership of the CDA,” Mr. Young said.

Giving details on the features of the Summit, Kinshashia Johnson, PR Officer for the CDA CAP said that the event will feature an official opening ceremony, with speeches by the Minister of Youth and Culture, the Hon. Lisa Hanna, and CEO of the CDA Rosalee Gage-Grey and child representatives; topical workshop discussions, and interactive sessions on technology, art and craft, and career development.

Workshop sessions will include discussions on Managing Conflict; Knowing Your Rights as well as Your Responsibilities; Helping Children Transition from the Primary to Secondary Education System; Success for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond; Developing Entrepreneurial Skills and Abilities and Technology for Kids and Teens.

Ms. Johnson further disclosed that interactive features of the Summit will be an art and craft room called Art Expression Centre which will allow children to creatively express themselves by participating in painting of a mural; a Spa Oasis facilitated by HEART/NTA to provide beauty treatment services and demonstrations to the children, while appealing to their professional development; a play therapy area; a Robotics Display that will allow children to participate in assembling Lego robots; computer games, as well as a feature titled ‘Exploring the Musical You’.

She pointed out that adults who will be in attendance as chaperones or as specially invited guests will not be neglected as sessions are also planned for them Parents and caregivers who will participate in a workshop session called Good Parenting versus Bad Parenting, Success for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond and Knowing Your Rights as well as Your Responsibilities, the latter of which will be delivered with a special focus on child participatory rights.

In preparation for the Children’s Summit, the Children’s Advisory Panel members are currently carrying out a number of pre-summit meetings with children in different parishes across the island. Miss Johnson indicated that this was necessary because “the issues to be explored and discussed are so many and we had to find creative and cost effective ways to cover a number of areas, which could ordinarily not be possible in a one day event.

The Summit is seeking to achieve a number of specific outcomes including, developing a document outlining recommendations for improvements in service to children in Jamaica; giving children a greater understanding of initiatives being carried out by both State and Non-State actors; creating an avenue through which children can share their experiences.

The children will also be reviewing and providing a report on issues of importance affecting them and assessing the Children’s Declaration which was developed during the 2012 UN Regional Meeting on Violence against Children, to determine if the recommendations have been achieved, and if not, what they believe would be necessary to move the process along.

CDA CEO Rosalee Gage-Grey congratulated CDA CAP on the staging of the first National Children’s Summit, noting that the Agency is keen to hear the views of the children and to work closely with them in finding workable solutions to some of the issues they face.

“Since CAP was established two years ago to provide policy advice to the CDA Executive Management Team and the CDA Advisory Board, the group has been consistent in undertaking initiatives that have helped us in advancing the matter of child protection in Jamaica,” Mrs. Gage-Grey said.

ENDS

Typical sanitized approaches to looking at issues yet sexuality is ignored for the most part and as the investigations or witch hunt for the so called culprits responsible for the sex educational manual from Jamaicans for Justice continue I think as that has gone suddenly so quiet despite an interim report from the child development agency and an interim board of JFJ becoming active and vocal as of late.

I would have thought 16 year olds to 17 or 18 who are at the legal age of majority would have not been included in this as "children" as they are teenagers with much more issues to contend with; seeing that the age of consent is 16, yet the age of majority is 18 when it comes to getting married but to adopt a child one has to be 25 years of age and older under our laws. These weird gaps in age and legal definitions of a child versus how we treat with teens issues is of great concern.

The abuse of tees the nightly lists of missing kids seems not important for this conference and as for sexual orientation embedded in sexuality where that is nowhere to be seen. The topic on children knowing their rights one wonders if that is to supposedly bump he JFJ version of it and present a more comfortable version excluding same gender sex issues and avoidance of abuse by other tees as well as adults; owing to the fact that only church groups seemed to be the ones invited.

Let us see how this one goes.

Also see:

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna's conflation of same gender sex & abuse responded to part 2

Concerned sources claim that ... Boys kissed, fondled by male teacher

Children’s Advocacy & LGBT Agencies inconsistent approach to Homeless MSM Youth

Urgent need for sex & sexuality to be discussed nationally and Part 2 2012, not much has changed eh?

also see Dr Heather Little-White's take recently prior to her passing: Sexuality Education ... To Teach Or Not To Teach? 

UPDATE

Peace and tolerance

H

Sizzla Delivers More Anti Gay Lyrics at Pulse's MVP Event

I wonder what Pulse's head Kingsley Cooper has to say about this latest choice of entertainment linked to his brand?

Whenever Sizzla touches the stage, expect him to stir up trouble with his words. On Friday night last, it was no different. Strangely this happened at Pulse modelling agency's headquarters on Trafalgar Road which in all truthfulness has honed several gay and bisexual models careers(though they're not out) and is the industry is known for doing such as it attracts a large LGBT following and budding models who want to be on the biggest campaigns out there? I have no doubt members of the LGBTQ populations were there in attendance as their events do attract a hip uptown crowd and it can be argued that some wanna be downtowners like these uptown dancehall events to pretend to be rudebois and dancehall girls.

a shot from the show on Friday Night at Pulse

Pulse event flyer

Some homeless and displaced MSM/Trans at a recent food delivery by Yvonne McCallah Sobers this is just five minutes walk away from Pulse's venue/offices

Let us also bear in mind that the homeless MSM/Trans persons just reside a few yards up the road from the venue and who have been highly visible in recent times in local and international media with refixed videos and songs of them as well, see: Vybz Kartel Fans Upset at Use of Artist's Song in Homeless Gays Documentary, some have argued that the attention and visibility is not translated to monetary gain for them as they are still in the gully desperate and needy while everyone talks about them and show public sympathy. Brian Williamson's former office (co-founder of JFLAG) and JFLAG's too sits just up the road as well on Haughton Avenue perpendicular to Pulse's site for persons who may wish to locate the venue. One wonders if this latest one is a swipe at the displaced LGBTQ populations/communities?

Patrons who attended part 2 of the MVP series, held at Pulse headquarters, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, St Andrew, came out to see one person, dancehall artiste Sizzla, so their patience was wearing thin when, at minutes to three in the morning, the entertainer still had not graced the stage.

Thankfully, experienced DJ Sanjay kept the party going, mixing on the turntables. He managed to keep the audience entertained with a slew of hits from all genres, including hip hop and R& B.

The moment everyone was waiting arrived as Sizzla took to the stage shortly after 3 a.m. Making his agenda known from the start, the deejay proceeded to lash out against homosexuality, much to the audience's delight.

His anti-gay lyrics were met with heavy forwards and a barrage of blanks as the audience agreed with his every word. He hinted to the recent JFJ contoversy and the children's homes also linking homosexuality to paedophilia, a conflation that has been deliberately used to justify anti gay sentiments.

Still, there were patrons who wanted to see the artiste perform their favourite songs, but were forced to wait until the entertainer was through with his lyrical onslaught as he took a good time on stage doing so. He did perform a few of his hits and the audience loved every minute of it. Unfortunately we see that some acts still are holding on to using antigay songs and murder music to remain relevant as they cannot produce more or better quality lyrics which strangely he also has in his repertoire. Sizzla somehow refused to use them moreso than to resort to "burning out" homosexuality as it were.

They were also given a little extra when Sizzla invited Munga Honourable and Blak Ryno, aka Ryno the Stinger, to the stage. Both entertainers gave a brief performance as the night drew to a close. When the Star team left the venue, minutes to 4, the party was still in full swing.

It is not the first time he has used a Pulse promoted event to do so he also did it in 2013 at Superjam as well with one-liners and having the band cue up particular tracks that are well known by the audience, he does not say a word and allows the band to continue playing the track as the excited audience sing along. This is an old trick used when the Stop Murder Music Campaign was less aggressive in its tactic as a way for singers who infringe to say they did not and claim mutedness as it was the audience who went along and not the actual artists.

He has also gotten away with lyrical murder in parts of Africa where he is extremely popular and performs unimpeded his murder materials to much support but his integrity has to be questioned, how on one hand he can sing antigay songs some calling for the execution of homosexuals while on the other hand promote unity, love under a Rastafarian construct, that just sound contradictory to me.

Peace and tolerance indeed is needed at this time of the struggle on all fronts.

also see related posts:

Murder Music Campaign needs local leadership/ownership once again

Sizzla Rejects J-FLAG Olive Branch .......... oh really?

Leave the Gays - Some Music industry insiders say artistes can focus on other things

Queen Ifrica calls on gay community to out paedophiles from amongst its midst

'Sting' Bans Sizzla, D'Angel - Stinging Criticisms Come From Organisers

Anti gay Dancehall acts Sizzla & Capleton's shows cancelled in the US

Sizzla bats for Queen Ifrica as expected

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

Beenieman Says apology to gay community had no influence in his return to performing in the US

Sizzla Hits Back At Gay Rights Critics .. 2012

Gays celebrate Independence, too says Blacka Ellis 2013

Be vigilant be safe

H

Parliament seeks submissions for sexual offences bills

also see: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST JAMAICA’S BUGGERY LAW

Mark GOLDING (Justice Minister left) ... many issues could dominate deliberations. SIMPSON MILLER ... under fire regarding election Buggery Law review suggestion.

GORDON House has begun advertising for submissions to two new joint select committees appointed to deliberate on the recently announced Road Traffic Bill and the sexual offences legislations.

The joint select committee on the sexual offences legislations will be reviewing four bills -- the Child Care and Protection Act, the Domestic Violence Act, the Offences Against the Person Act and the Sexual Offences Act, which is having its first five-year review having been promulgated in 2009.

Among other issues the committee will look at are offences and punishment under these Acts, placing special emphasis on the protection of the most vulnerable (women, children, the elderly and persons living with disabilities) from violence and abuse.

Chairman of this committee and Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, has acknowledged that with the review open to public submissions, it is not unlikely that issues such as the repeal of the buggery law, as well as the treatment of what he called "sexual minorities" including lesbian, gay, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs), could dominate the deliberations.

However, he said that other issues, such as the common approach to sexual deviance in the region and its effect on public health programmes, including HIV/AIDS, will also be highlighted during the review.

Golding has confirmed dialogue with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist with the case for the reform of provisions for intimacy in private among consenting consulting adults, with particular focus on public health disadvantages and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The LGBT community has often criticised Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for failing to deliver on her 2011 election platform pledge to review the country's buggery law. Golding has said that he would not be surprised if the contending parties used the opportunity provided by the review to make their cases for and against repealing the legislation, but made it clear that this should not be seen as the aim of the exercise.

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has suggested a referendum to decide the issue, contending that a conscience vote in Parliament would not be effective.

The long-awaited Road Traffic Bill has been drafted to modernise and update current legislation by making the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) the licensing authority and delegating its functions; broadening the role of the Road Traffic Appeal Tribunal; providing for the reclassification of all forms of vehicles; introducing new classes of driver's licences and attaching conditions to the granting of these licences; and dealing with the transportation of dangerous and hazardous substances.

However, the major issue has been the significant increases in the fines for breaches of the proposed new provisions, which has raised concern among the public.

The actual ad on the Parliamentary website read as follows:

A Joint Select Committee of Parliament has been appointed to review the “Sexual Offences Act”.

This Joint Select Committee will also review the “Child Care and Protection Act”, the “Domestic Violence Act”, the “Offences against the Person Act” and the offences and punishment under these Acts placing special emphasis on the protection of the vulnerable (women, children, the elderly and persons living with disabilities) from violence and abuse.

Accordingly, the Joint Select Committee is inviting written submissions from the public to aid the Committee’s deliberations.

Please send your written submissions by FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 to:

Clerk to the Houses

Houses of Parliament

Gordon House

81 Duke Street

Kingston

or
clerk@japarliament.gov.jm

Persons making written submissions may be required to appear before the Committee at short notice to explain their submissions.

Please click here to download copies of the Bill.

I still say the harking for a conscience vote is not the way to go as a full debate with proper submission seems more sensible to me with private deliberations which have been ungoing for years with parliamentarians although they pander to the majority none the less. Conscience votes can made to only serve to sure up political support and power and given the recent flexing of the religious antigay groups I am sure the PNP is nervously in a sense knowing they have support of churches but more so the established older ones, the more evangelical ones though seem to be breaking away to the JLP hence the threat recently by them to vote out any party that touches the buggery law, while the JLP fully supports a referendum on the issue.

General elections are due in 2016 and with the IMF austerity measures upon us voter apathy seems high still even after all these years, the PNP we must recognize is a minority government as only just about 50% or eligible voters came out and the buggery review suggestion was no mere risk that she took after the team measured the ground and saw that only die hards were in support, so something had to give to sway other voters and non committed to dip their finger in the ink and it is not lost to them that they have a far larger LGBT support that the JLP.

I hope JFLAG will be sensible this time around and submit a confident submission with decriminalization as its core and not allow infighting as in 1999 to derail the thrust.

also see:

The original JFLAG Parliamentary submission HERE

With the interference of anti gay voices such as Shirley Richards and Rev Al Miller(presently on trial for perverting the course of justice) this was what the 1999 report read like in part and the joint select committee requested:

The Committee urges J. Flag to carry out further research as to
(i) the Constitutions which guarantee protection against discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation;
(ii) the laws which would be inconsistent with such a constitutional provision;
(iii) scientific data as to the causes of homosexuality;
and (iv) whether there has been an increase in homosexuality following on such a liberalization of the law in other countries.

The Committee is not at present disposed, however, to include in the Charter of Rights a guarantee of protection from discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation, because of the implications which this would have, in particular, its implications in relation to the institution of marriage and questions of parenting. It would, however, bring to the attention of the Government, as a matter for consideration, the issue of the repeal of the provisions of the Offences Against the Person Act in so far as it relates to the offence of buggery between consenting adults in private.

ENDS

So I hope this time around this new joint select committee will not dance around the issue as they did in 1999, then again in 2006 and again in 2010. See more HERE

also see:
Why The Obsession with Gays Shirley Richards?

Buggery could dominate review of sex laws (Observer)

J-FLAG now advocating for decriminalisation of same-sex acts

Opposition Leader sides with antigay groups on Referendum on The Buggery Law

Promised (I mean suggested) Conscience vote on Buggery law not a priority right now (yet again) says Prime Minister

Non Governmental Organization Consultant says JLP suggested Referendum on Buggery is not a good idea

PNP’s Bobby Pickersgill differs on Conscience Vote route to decide on Buggery Law

PNP's Damion Crawford says it's highly unlikely buggery review will happen ........ it's not important now

Justice Minister reiterates his personal position on the Buggery Law, Anal Intercourse, Consent & Privacy

Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica

Promised Conscience Vote on Buggery in Jamaica was a fluke, Sexual Offences Bill to be updated 2014

Keep Laws out of gays bedrooms (FLASHBACK) featuring Oswald Harding a more sensible politician who has since resigned from the senate

THE JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT SCHIZOPHRENIC ON HUMAN RIGHTS ?

and an associated podcast:

Beyond the Headlines host Dionne Jackson Miller had Arlene Harrison Henry on human rights day 2012 on the the removal of language in the form of sexual orientation on the Summary Executions UN Resolution - On November 21, 2012, Jamaica voted against resolution A/C.3/67/L.36 at the United Nations condemning extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions which urges States “to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including… all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation.

Coincidentally the upcoming challenge in the Supreme Court by Javed Jaghai et al is on November 21 this year as well.

The question arising out of the case publicly is will he have standing when the matter is opened in the constitutional court?

also see:

Judge rules Rastafarians, JFJ cannot intervene in buggery law hearing

1. Affidavit of J-FLAG to be filed and served by 29 Nov 2013

2. Expert report of Professor Chis Breyer to be filed Dec 9, 2013 which speaks to the impact of the anti-sodomy law on the HIV epidemic among MSM in Jamaica.

3. Affidavit of Defendant (AG) to filed 31 Jan 2014

4. Affidavit of Interested Parties to be filed and served by 28 Feb 2014

5. Both Claimants to file and serve their affidavits in response by 4th April 2014

6. Statements of Facts & Issues as well as Listing Questionnaires to be filed by each party and served by April 30, 2014

7. Pre Trial Review to be held on 14th May 2014 for 3 hours

8. Any further application intending to be heard along with written submissions should be filed and served on or before 24 April 2014

9. Trial fixed for November 10 -21st 2014

10. Claimants Attorneys to file and serve order

The AG is preparing the order for the strike out.

The judged refused the strike out application in whole but said that unless the claimant can provide notification of attendance at trial by DEC.9 the paragraphs in his affidavit (para. 18) with mention of reports would be struck out.

The claimant has to provide a notice of attendance for the following persons who prepared reports on the situation for Jamaican LGBT individuals:

1. Human Rights Watch
2. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
3. J-FLAG STATISTICS
4. SHADOW REPORT for the UN Universal Periodic Review
5. TIMES AND ECONOMIST Magazines

More related posts:
J-FLAG finally shows open Support for the Constitutional Challenge to Buggery Law by Javed Jaghai

JFLAG Position Statement on Upcoming Conscience Vote on Jamaica’s Buggery Law

Hardened Positions by Religious Fanatics & Their LGBT Detractors Will Only Leave More Blood on the Floor

Peace and tolerance

H