The line in the sand for the PNP part 11: Health scandals & leadership matters again

It is no wonder why persons are turned off from the electoral process as evidenced in the poll results recently. I am frazzled if not still befuddled as I scan the lay of the land to make my decision for placing my X on the faithful day.

See previous parts for more:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 & 8 & 9 & 10

Sometimes things have a way of coming back to bite administrations especially when they are or were in opposition; remember when Mrs Simpson Miller described the then JLP as an uncaring government? Well it now seems the same adage can apply to the PNP. This ugly business of the Health Ministr(y) (er’s) present scandals in the long line of many for the PNP, Trafigura, Shell Waiver and such.

Dr Bullock Ducasse on the issue

The late in the day apology that lasted some 27 seconds was forced under duress reportedly by the party leader and Prime Minister who seconded a senior government official to visit Dr Ferguson and he coughed it up in response. I had prepared this post and held it in draft yesterday until I saw what was to unfold, I see no reason to change my position any as the last twenty fours the tense press briefing with Dr Marion Bullock Ducasse, Sandrea Falconer et al and the half hearted fake apology from Dr Fenton Ferguson. He claimed he “would never disregard the life of any human being” and explained that he “simply wanted to convey that premature babies are more susceptible to infections”.

“I am before you not only as the minister of health but also a father who couldn’t begin to imagine losing my child. And my niece Shelema was born premature so I personally understand.  I want to express my sympathies to the families affected and apologize to them and all Jamaicans”, the minister said.

At the time of his statement in Parliament, Ferguson said the babies are in fact premature, which results in their immune systems being severely compromised.

Members of the Opposition on Tuesday rejected this explanation with the Opposition Leader Andrew Holness calling for him to resign.

Karl Samuda lashed out at Ferguson, telling him to man up and apologize to the mothers whose babies died of the bacteria in both the Cornwall Regional Hospital and the University Hospital of the West Indies. Unlike Cliff Hughes and others who suggest we must accept the apology but not let him off the hook; he needs to go and why oh why it is only UWHI the focus seems to be on when Cornwall Regional and other rural hospitals and a gag order placed on them; all matters must come through the Ministry of Health.

Frankly Dr Fenton Ferguson MUST be fired, simply put. Where oh where is the so called audit done at the regional health authorities in May 2015 that the goodly minister has placed under lock and key, when it is tax payers money and some grant funding that paid for it. He only gave us a summary in that uncomfortable September 2 press conference. That report should not be the purview or ownership of the Minister and his team including the now arrogant Permanent Secretary Dr Kevin Harvey in whom I am so disappointed as to his performance in this matter. Publish or perish I suppose. He (Ferguson) no longer enjoys the confidence of the public in large measure yet Mrs Miller keeps him there. He continues to serve at Mrs Miller’s pleasure. 

The minister only announced yesterday of a task force being set up yet he knew all this from May 2015 in addition to the warning made by the now vilified Dr Alfred Dawes former President of the Medical Doctors Association of Jamaica MAJ as he showed up the glaring gaps. And we are to believe that nobody told him the minister of the matters arising.

Dr Kevin Harvey permanent secretary used the fear of hospital stigmatization if the report is released to give justification and claimed he was to consult a body of stakeholders for same, to which no answer has come or release of the damning report. Audley Shaw finance spokesperson for the opposition asked the question of the age in this matter to which Ferguson could not respond sensibly. Audley Shaw in parliament October 27 asked:

“I want to ask you directly today was the issue of infectious disease and mortality among premature babies were specifically addressed in the health audit?”

To which Dr Ferguson replied:

“What I would say to you member, I am very clear that in that audit there was mention relative to infection prevention and control, among other things; equipment, pharmaceuticals and other things that I have mentioned in the public space; when I spoke on the audit I said that in my presentation ....... so yes, it spoke to infection control.”

Mr Shaw responded:

“You have not answered my question minister; I’ll ask you again, did the report, the audit make specific reference to babies, premature babies dying, dying as a result of infectious environment, I want to know if the report specifically referred to these deaths?”

Ferguson response:

“That I would have to check, I would never depend upon my brain about a specific question as you have asked; what I will tell you is that I know there was a discussion on, raised about prevention and control of infections; if you so desire that I will not be able to give you that response this afternoon; if you table them I will respond.”

Shaw fires back:

"So you’re privy to an audit which you have refused to make public although it is owned by the public; it is our report and by right that report should be made public; and you made a reference at the press conference about certain conditions that were not appropriate or that could lead to infectious diseases, I recall that; but I want to know, I would like for you minister to tell us specifically did the report speak to the lack of water, soaps, gloves, tissue, hand cleaners, masks, protective clothing and the repeat use of disposables and the fact that surgeons have to be wearing garbage bags; did the report make reference to these issues?”

Ferguson’s response:

“Member from North East Manchester you have had the benefit of having had the report or being told; as the minister I have the responsibility that if I am going to answer questions as you have posed I would much prefer if you were to table them..”

So we are to accept that dodging attempt by the goodly minister because Mr Shaw has had the benefit of seeing the report so he must not ask questions, the lunacy of this minister. He seems to forget he HAS the report and is wifing it up. And he did not take it to parliament via some device as is customary these days as MPs can be seen even during debates business tapping away or even talking on smartphones. And then the it wasn’t me stance on October 16, didn’t the minister even read the report in the first place so that answers can roll off his tongue when pressed on such an important matter as it consumes him. If the matter of the infections is in the report then he have lied to us bearing in mind he has the report from August; and is this the reason why the report has not been made public?

What is so damning in this report that it cannot be made public?

Gleaner: Public Defender Subpoenas UHWI Heads Over Dead Babies

I am angered by this as the leader of the PNP whose political career is mostly founded on being in touch with the people as it were and Mama P hence the name for her has thrived despite the shark infested political waters. See from the Observer: Where is the real Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller? and We need a transformational leader, but is it Holness? But can I vote for a JLP who also is showing up their poor management of issues and performance in the upper house in the present CCJ impasse? 

also see: CCJ Debate Continues Today...Sanction Against Malahoo Forte To Be Lifted (Gleaner) and Nicholson urges removal of ban on Malahoo Forte

What has the Prime Minister done since the story broke or where is the passion she once displayed for children or has she even read the audit? Has she forgotten the speech she made at the last PNP conference in Kingston? yet she has gone silent (barring laryngitis claims) Mrs Simpson Miller seems not in charge of her ministers, when one can see the Finance Minister making announcements on elections when that has usually been the purview of the leader or PM. After ten days she broke her silence on such a serious public matter she addressed it for 73 seconds. She said:

“Mr Speaker, I am sure that all of us in this honourable house on both sides would have a feeling of sadness for what happened with the children; I hope that a system would be put in place that this will never happen again; I want to extend sympathies to members of the family, I hope that the Ministry of Health and the minister will look at the present system to see what needs to be done that what happened will never ever happen again; our children are our future and we have a responsibility to ensure the protection of our children, the future leaders.”

I am not a big fan of Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange but she stood up and reminded the house that it is no laughing matter and that lives were lost, for that I give her some credit but she needs to do more work in her constituency. Ms Grange’s intervention came after a distasteful joke about the cousin of the PM who sits on the JLP side Everald Warmington, reference to Dr Ferguson being her ‘son’ and Pernel Charles’ response where he said thank God he was not born premature. Seems the uncaring nature runs in all sides. The PM does not seems to understand her mandate or power to hire and fire not to hope but to direct, issue instructions and get things done; but as I have said before she was never PM material from the onset, nice personality yes but she does not have the skills for that level of management. As PM she should not be telling us “I hope” there is no room for aspirational crap here, this could never happen to previous Prime Ministers especially P. J. Patterson or Bruce Golding or older ones as Edward Seaga. Mrs Miller bailed out Dr Ferguson during the Chik-V debacle and now here is again with a bougie and she still protects or preserves him. As for the resignations at University of the West Indies hospital UWHI denied by the board chair is dubious to say the least.

Dr Ferguson must also remember his stance when in opposition as played on Nationwide yesterday and the day before when foot and mouth challenges befell the JLP government. Now he finds himself in the driver’s seat with the same stance from the present opposition. Then comes the dismissal by Dr Ferguson in parliament under pressure from the opposition by suggesting the babies were not real babies and would not matter anyway, he described them as neonates in other words they are not babies in the real sense. According to the US National Library of Medicine they defined neonates as a baby who is four weeks old or younger, it continued that a neonate is also called a newborn; Dr Ferguson shows his callousness and uncaring nature and that of his team. How insulting to the mothers and family who lost a baby as if to suggest their child’s life is worth nothing. This is not the stoneage periods where there were no technologies that can help premature babies overcome the early stages of growth.

Dr Ferguson despite his calls repeatedly on buggery law reform for purposes of HIV prevention and interventions but he is not irreplaceable. Sensible Health Ministers be they pro or against homosexuality does not have room for opposing such moves. So Ferguson can go as far as I am concerned.

CCJ debate matters

So the about face by the Justice Minister with respect to Mrs Malahoo Forte’s suspension from the house he has now arrived at a place where he wishes the suspension discontinued though it is left up to the President of the Senate; since he has finally contacted the secretariat of the Privy Council and requested and received a copy of the controversial letter that has caused the firestorm, why didn’t the minister do that when it was first raised by Mrs Forte and save us the grief of all of this in the first place?

Is Mrs Forte being targeted for her stridency as opposition spokesperson on Health and targeting the Health Minister in her new role? Given she was the Foreign Affairs Minister under the JLP and a previous resident magistrate judge.

Announcements and more announcements

Charisma announced investments for hotel rooms (over 10 years though); Another one linked to the logistics hub and the LMG project but will these announcements materialize and business confidence on paper looks optimistic but we have heard that before. If there is a change of government will the JLP continue the workable tenets or will we have a start from scratch and ditch workable plans as discarded knowledge? The string of announcements according to some sceptics seems as part of the election ploy and then the real jobs do not materialize. Remember the (Kronk &) Anchor Finance aka Crown n Anchor (a takeoff of the gambling street side game) MOU and it turned out to be a farce; yet that died right before our eyes and numerous other project announcements. Good news for Spanish Town as far as the freezone but I recall the rice factory now turned bus terminus and the present crime situation and will jobs automatically convert get rich quick lazy twenty somethings to working class citizens? I am not convinced as we have been burnt before and announcements made then nothing in effect. I am not too celebratory.

We are in a crisis of leadership but who among the bad eggs are we to choose from?

finally a flashback joke of sorts in this G2K:

Looks like Portia turned down the ting too much that it is causing her her present troubles.

Until next time.

Peace & tolerance

H

Papine man survives coma following brutal attack, mistaken as gay

So Loop reported (Facebook) that a man missed death by the skin of his teeth as he was reportedly mistaken to be a gay man (hmph) as he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, sadly very little comment has come from either JFLAG or any of the 'advocates' who are dealing with or claim to be addressing homelessness as life goes on, "... a dutty battyman dem who bring disgrace ..." as one commentator on social media puts it.

Not to mention the other numerous challenges that are hard to keep track of regarding this population and yet still we are told of projects in the works, no money or space available all because a so wrong turn was made in 2009 and we are still paying the price for it and that of our brethren regarding some of the same persons who are now parading as advocate when they never cared about this section of our 'community' (boy we do not have one yet).

This incident also shows the dangers those of us who prefer to work on the frontline and walk with the populations have to contend with, this is not the first time we have had this happen, some five years ago I can remember a National Council of Drug Abuse staff members in my days at the Ministry of Health's HIV program where he was attacked in New Kingston at the very infamous Shoemaker Gully by an alleged drug addict one late night while conducting street interventions.

For the folks who think Jamaica has cooled we better rethink that but then again those folks are in a privileged middle class world or bubble (bubbles have a way of bursting) far removed from the realities and live ever so vicariously on twitter-verse promoting out and proud messages.

Anyway;

Loop reported:

Asheen Walford was just walking home; little did he know that he would be on the receiving end of a brutal attack that threatened to cut his life short.

Walford, while walking along Upper Waterloo Avenue, was caught in the middle of massive brawl between armed men and the homeless gays who have made the old Cholera cemetery their home.

Although the homosexuals claim the attack was unprovoked, a source has revealed that a man was robbed by cross-dressers in the area.

Loop News understands that the man, then returned with a gang of armed accomplices, who emerged from two cars in the vicinity of the Canadian Embassy.

The homeless men stood no chance against the mob, with some being severely beaten, stabbed and even shot at.

Walford is at an undisclosed hospital, in a serious but stable condition. With a punctured lung and severe brain swelling, the 24-year-old was given very slim chances of survival by doctors.

However, a close friend of Walford told Loop News that he woke from his coma, and is speaking and eating as of Tuesday.

ENDS

In a social media post from the National Anti-Discrimination Alliance (NADA), Walford, who hails from a Papine, St Andrew address, is a well-known volunteer that works closely with the homeless population in the Corporate Area.

NADA's Facebook Page had:

Let us keep Asheen Walford in our prayers while we wish for a speedy recovery. He is one of our committed volunteers who worked closely with the homeless, and unfortunately was one of several victims of a homophobic mob attack on Saturday night. Currently he is holding on for dear life as we were advised that his chances of living are low. Stay tuned as we will continue to provide updates on his condition.

As expected the rebuff from some quarters not surprisingly in the LGBT populations is that the homeless should be left to fend for themselves as they are the cause of their problems and the rest of us should move on to rights or our own lives, just goes to show the callousness that has come to define us eh.

This is sad to watch these 7 years after the dubious closure of the only safe house for MSM/Trans in Jamaica and still no serious or comprehensive interventions since to take its place.

I hope the young man recovers soon from this and sorry this happened to him but we have seen other attacks on 'friends' or allies before in 2014 the Jamaica Observer carried this one: Movie producer attacked by gay prostitutes - "A movie producer, who earlier this year did a documentary on gay prostitutes in New Kingston, became the target in an attempted robbery by some of the same men he had interviewed.

The 44-year-old producer was reportedly cornered by 18 gay prostitutes, armed with knives, and who demanded his phone and cash." MORE HERE, there have been several other challenges where persons have simply stopped assisting them as they effectively bite the hands that help them; so they are outcasts by society's and family members standards and doubly marginalized from the very population of which they are from due to the image they have or has been created about them, the pigeon-holing by media and some LGBT advocates has not helped either.

also see:

The Quietus ......... The Safe House Project Closes

And we continue to reap the world-wind for not addressing homelessness when it was manageable 2013


Homeless Awareness Month: Flashback to New Kingston's Displaced MSM 2013

Reported homophobic cases: January - October 2015

Where is that "I am Not a Fish" documentary?

MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard

Complaint of "Freaky Gays" Harassing New Kingston Residents 2011

And The Machinery ...... The murder of Charms 2011

Man robbed by crossdresser while engaging in sexual transaction! (this entry's case prior)

Rowdy Gays Strike - J-FLAG Abandons Raucous Homosexuals Misbehaving In New Kingston 2012

Homeless LGBT New Kingston Population Targeted by Cops Again ......... 3rd Anniversary of Civil Disobedience ....... 2014

More Jamaican LGBTQ displacements & homeless challenges in 2014

JFLAG has no moral authority to speak on homeless gay men in New Kingston says members of the public2014

 

Video from Loop: VIDEO: Homeless gay men, rejected by their families, beg for place to live

Barbican man becomes second innocent victim of Cholera cemetery beating Oct 29, 2015

Here is a three year old podcast below (hardly much has changed) on my take on governments role (or the lack thereof) in addressing MSM homeless; but if they cannot handle national homelessness how can they be asked to address specific needs of MSM/Trans folk? Powerful monied LGBT organizations need to take up the slack and stop passing the buck:

Sadly designated sites (167 King Street) for general homeless assistance still remain unused since as evidenced above they were launched by a JLP government so continuity is not the name of the game for the benefit of the least amongst us.

flashback to the stoning incident at JASL offices 2011

more posts for consideration:

Shelter Coming For Homeless Gays reports the Gleaner

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

And MSM continue to be ready material for data collection ..... what about the interventions

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

'Don't come back here' - Maxfield residents warn gay man after publicized eviction

More forced evictions reported for 2013

The toss up between MSM homelessness & public order makes news again

Street MSM Stone J-FLAG – After Being Cleared From Gov’t Property, Homosexuals Launch Assault another such clash occurred earlier in January which forced JFLAG to vacate yet another office space.

Housing Minister seeks funds for Shelter from NHT Money ....... Will the LGBT Homeless be Assisted?

Some good news on the homeless MSM front ..... guarded & waiting part 2: Dwayne's House Project

New Kingston Cop Proposes Shelter for Shoemaker MSM/Trans homeless persons

MP Julian Robinson claims he wants help for New Kingston homeless gays 2013

Peace, Prayers & Tolerance required indeed

UPDATE: Asheen Walford Released from Hospital Following Brutal Mob Attack in Jamaica Nov 15, 2015

UPDATE 2016

 here is the 'mistaken' man at an LGBT party

You decide folks but proper reporting by news outlets so critical to bring credibility to bear on the struggle overall.

H

Men who have anal sex with women are (likely to be) gay! ..... oh boi

Krystal Tomlinson & Colin Hines from FAME FM

Lawd some Jamaicans needs help. Ignorance is bliss I guess.

FAME FM’s Uncensored hosted by Krystal Tomlinson and the ever uncomfortable DJ Colin Hines when it comes to topics on homosexuality or as in last evening’s show on whether or not men who have anal sex with women or receive or accede to women’s wishes to penetrate them are gay? Proved we have a long way to go in this country in as far as the understanding of sexual orientation and such are concerned and as for the Twitter/Facebook comments is just sickening really; how backward we are as a country yet still despite so much information available at our fingertips literally.

Persons behind a microphone frankly in my view need to be well rounded and be reminded that even if they hold personal positions one is hosting a show and all points should contend in the proper exchange of ideas or information. This is not just a FAME FM problem as I find myself having to stomach for purposes of determining reality some rather inane discourse these days on radio as all kinds of antigay venom comes forth; silly season anyone? Especially when it comes to this business of referendum on buggery calls.

Thankfully Sexologist, Columnist & former radio show host on Nationwide Radio’s ‘All Woman’ Dr Shelly Ann Weeks was in house though late and another sexuality expert for the first half and even with good information flowing from both the ‘anal is gay’ analogy kept creeping into the conversation which sometimes descended into a shouting match. Dr Shelly Ann debunked it quickly by asking why have the hosts had designated anal as gay and who determined it so if persons choose to practice anal sex in heterosexual unions?

“I don’t have a gay part of my body” Dr Weeks said.

Colin Hines as usual cried foul from the beginning of the discussion and a male guest who came on who penetrates women anally was almost raked over the coals for his choice although he said he is not sexually attracted to men. I was pleased that Dr Weeks also explained that not all gay men indulge in anal penetration and do other things otherwise known as outer-course or non-penetrative activities; she teased Colin Hines that if he tried it he might like it; to which he got a little testy.

Then came the rape versus buggery argument where a male guest who says he retails sex toys dismissed anal sex without consent as rape but thankfully again Dr Shelly Ann Weeks debunked that thought instantly; she clearly stated rape is rape whether it was anal or vaginal penetration.

The question of young teens or adolescent girls who want to keep their virginity and who prefer or are forced to have unprotected anal sex so as to keep clear came up as a dangerous alternative if the right precautions were not taken; thankfully Dr Shelly again came to save the day as to safer anal sex, condom usage, lubrication, PH balance and diseases such as Hepatitis B etc. I was deeply disturbed as to the level of discourse at some points in the hour long show; save and except for Krystal Tomlinson’s forward thinking there clearly needs to be a serious campaign of some kind or discussion on buggery, anal health, erogenous zones, human sexuality and what homosexuality actually is. Anal sex does not make someone gay and the buggery law in Jamaica is not just only for gay or bisexual men who practice anal penetration with other men.

The infamous dancehall DJ Zebra case comes to mind, He was found guilty of carnal abuse and buggery and is serving 30 years (20 for rape; 10 for buggery).The Crown led evidence that the entertainer sexually assaulted the teenage daughter of his girlfriend.

It is said that the child had to run away from home and related her ordeal to a senior relative who reported the matter to the police.

Then came the practice of rimming or anal oral play as introduced by Krystal Tomlinson and the products on the market with Colin Hines expressing that the discussion was disturbing but the male guest by phone who has anal sex with women intervened and said that if persons believe that a man who penetrates a woman is gay and that is revolving around fear which could explain homophobic violence in Jamaica. He then asked how two men or two women in bed affect me or my life. To which Colin Hines gave the usually crappy correct answer in homophobes eyes that of the anus being the anus; and it’s not for sex; and he does not need lubricants and such as vaginas already have that naturally but Dr Shelly Ann Weeks intervened yet again to say that not all women lube naturally and require purchasing items to aid their sexual exploration. Then came the supposition of whether or not persons can be trusted although and those who “bun it out” (public abhorrence to anal sex) in public and then do it in private in other words are effectively pious hypocrites via public homophobia but have private fetishes and therefore should not be two-faced about it.

“I think we need to take the gayness off the table completely” Dr Weeks continued. Krystal Tomlinson had suggested it was gayish for a man to have anal sex with women as he may also be interested in men seeing it is the same orifice.

Colin asked the telephone male guest:

“A man being penetrated by a woman in his ‘bahind’ (colloquial for behind) is that gay?”

To which he said he does not know as he has never had that requested of him or had it done to him.

Sexuality is so beautiful and lovely Dr Shelly Ann Weeks outlined and parts of the body have several neurons and membranes etc and then the male sex toy retailer went down the road of labels such as BATTYMAN which he spelt out on air and when challenged by Dr Weeks as to everyone having ears, nipples, lips he then went on to suggest more lables such as the ridiculous ear man or nippleman or a bottomist; but it is not gay to which I just shook my head as it took so long near the end of the show to finally get some sense coming in the exchange in regards to him.

The use of the term ‘tumble bug’ especially by Colin Hines kept creeping in the exchange and is a stigmatizing term; I swear Colin Hines needs an intervention or change him as host. Other strange comments from Colin included:

“I am one of the idiots out there if I’m inclined to have anal sex then you’re inclined to have homosexual sex ..... that’s just me.”

“Anal sex, no thank you”

“What if someone were to say to you, you allow a woman to penetrate you; what’s to stop you from allowing a man to?”

“Are there no boundaries?” (Colin’s usual pet peeve, playing into the antigay advocacy tagline of moral nihilism).

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks responded appropriately to the first comment:

“No but Colin, let us explore your logic; with that logic then you’ll have to spread it right across the anatomy; you can’t say if a man has anal sex with a woman then he will do the same thing with a man, then you’ll have to say the same thing about if he kisses a woman; then you’ll have to say the same thing about if he plays with her nipples; both men and women have lips, both men and women have nipples, both men and women have anuses.”

In other words it amounts to sexual orientation.

Dr Weeks also responded to his third comment/question:

“The only difference a man has anatomically is fact that a man has a penis and a woman has a vagina; both of us have nipples; both of us have nose; both of us have eyes; both of us have butt cheeks; both of us have anuses. If you’re gonna say that rule about the anus then if a man kisses a woman what is to stop him from kissing another man?

Or if a man nibbles on a woman’s nipple, what’s stopping him from doing it to another man; so why is it we just zero in on the anus and decide that anything that a man does to a woman’s anus he will automatically do it to a man’s anus?”

Krystal Tomlinson interjected:

“Similarly in receiving a blow job ........ If the context is all eggs its eggs then all mouth is mouth; if you receive from a woman then you’ll receive it from a man ....... we don’t extend the logic that far.”

Colin Hines responded, “Then may God help unu” (you) and he continued that he felt anal sex is not supposed to happen and held his hardened position on the matter, he then ended by saying there is no redeeming quality in anal sex.

Audrey Cole Crosdale a social and behaviour change specialist who was a guest on the panel in the first half of the show mentioned early in the show that the anus can be considered an erogenous zone or words to such effect. She also drew an analogy of what attracts persons and things or looks that make different desirability. She mentioned socio-economic status can also be a turn on for some.

She said in part:

“A man’s anus might turn him on but he is not attracted to a man” which to me was the line for the night as it debunked the belief that sexual practice automatically determines sexual orientation especially when it comes to anal sex.

“A man who may want his woman to penetrate him it’s because he is stimulated by his anus; it turns him on because different parts of our body; some of us our breasts don’t turn us on while some of us we touch it and there is a trigger.....” she continued.

On the matter of a man on the receptive end another guest who arrived later in the show claimed that if the man penetrates a woman anally that does not mean he is gay but if he wants to have penetration done to him or if he accedes to his woman’s request or demands by her wearing a strap on for example then he is gay or inclined to have a man penetrate him. That female speaker was supposed to be a university student ...... sigh, help us lord. Fingers and other sex toys were not mentioned as part of the items substituted for such sexual play. Then came the usual “one way street barb” by the sex toy retailer, I am disappointed that for someone in the sex industry and who be of an opened mind he should be so ignorant and display such on national radio of all places; I wouldn’t patronise his shop or encourage persons to do so at all. He claimed that a woman had asked of him to perform anal sex on her and he promptly put her out of his house the evening in question as it totally turned him off.

Krystal Tomlinson was forced to do an intervention via Wikipedia as she read what the meaning of gay was and so on related to homosexuality. The discussion was trivial though in my view and the teaching moments were lost at some stages as shouting or talkover blocked the information.

Krystal asked the late arrive/female student that “.......the idea of a man surrendering his anus for penetration equals .......?

To which she answered:

“Well it takes away from what the fantasy should be.....” Dr Weeks correctly intervened and suggested the word ‘should’ was problematic as that an agreement or consent is expected by the parties involved and to each their own.

“Who makes that determination though?” asked Dr Weeks.

I pray for the day when I can hear some sensible discourse on homosexuality and anal sex more frequently and not the stuff that is broadcast these days. I recently heard Pastor Aaron Dumas aka “Tell Me Pastor” of Star News on Power 106FM with the same garbage as Colin Hines and as a psychologist correlating anal sex to homosexuality despite the fact that the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, DSM that guides all psychologists and psychiatrists does not see homosexuality as a disorder from as early as 1973; but he chooses to operate outside its sphere. He has also gone as far to encourage reparative therapy on numerous occasions despite the proof is out there that such a practice can be problematic to persons who so engage.

Sigh!

Peace & tolerance

H

also see my post on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica: FAME FM’s ‘Uncensored’ radio show conflates homosexuality, paedophilia with transgenderism April 2015

and Oh really! ............ Penile/anal penetration is NOT SEX Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society?

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Homophobia - What are we afraid of?

Dr Shelly Ann Weeks on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation

Sexuality - What is yours?

Safer rimming or anilingus .......... tips & suggestions 2012

Fame FM's "Uncensored" on Piercings, Men fighting for mirror time & dancehall's changing aesthetics 2011

The Ass-pects of anal sex 2010

The line in the sand for the PNP part 10 : Buggery referendum & more CCJ

I am still befuddled from my last entry in this series, also see previous parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 & 8 & 9

that's the question ......

So I decided to wait a bit until the smoke settled somewhat on the latest salvo by the PNP and one of its failing ministers; I wanted to adequately look at it with less emotional reaction. This one may figure in the election as so close to it and Mrs Simpson Miller may have to carry over to next year before she can call it; sensible pundits would not call it now or by November as expected as the PNP are good at recovery and spin doctoring but the public is up in arms and calls for Ferguson’s resignation come from everywhere.

Gleaner's Lasmay is on point lol ....... crosses indeed.

not to be outdone is Clovis from the Observer

in relation to the BIll Johnson polls

That 18 dead babies fiasco concerning the Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson has had a scapegoat made in that of the University of the West Indies Hospital UWHI’s failure to report the matter of viruses or suspicious infections and their effects; we are now being told it is still a paper-based report in the era of the latest technologies and such. But why did such a virus which is a hospital based or created one for the most part be allowed to go so out of control to arrive at such disastrous effects? If the experts know of these infections why or where are the necessary systems to control it so it does not get out of hand?

When the goodly Dr Dawes revealed the damning information on the shortages and lack of cleaning implements some months before at some hospitals; why was the needed obviously emergency actions taken to arrest them seeing that the outcomes are life threatening?

Between the correspondences involving chief persons at UHWI and responses by the chief medical officer after some two to three weeks elapsed as to the alert stated in the letter(s) yet the minister was not (made) aware! And then Mama P wants me to vote for crap like that; while she and others shields him.

Where are the figures for the last four years or so to show the trail or tracking of the trends, given we are told the babies were premature ones and are susceptible to such infections via incubators or intravenous lines etc. Why did it take so long to generate the report even in the Ministry even after they are sent late to them from the respective hospitals? Nobody seems accountable and the minister seems to be using every opportunity to oil his skin so the water can bounce off and he keeps referring to ignorance and his technical team is responsible for informing him. My further sentiments are contextualised also by that so called audit or report that is not released in full to the public with a press conference thrown in our face and a callous regard and we are to stomach or accept it and move on.

The Prime Minister, party leader has not said an official word on babies matter and it is as if it were animals died which further complicates her leadership style and indeed skills for me. Not even at her Petersfield appearance did she mention the matter. This health minister has failed at every turn during his stint and should go; he procrastinated during Chik-V even when alarms were raised and persons were reporting to hospitals sick with obvious symptoms and he was slow to act. The foot and mouth disease breakout in schools seem the other elephant in the room and it was the Education Minister who was quick on the draw to act making Ferguson look like a big doo doo. Isn’t this the same Mama P who pontificated on the platform at the conference held recently on the safety of children! Usually known as comforter in chief; her strength is that she connects with people and good at empathizing but something has gone wrong, although I still do think she is not Prime Minister-ship material to begin with.

What is troubling where the persons involved are concerned is that it seems normal to have outbreaks in care facilities and the babies are considered not healthy babies so who cares?

Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s and PNP President at a western Jamaica meeting on the campaign trail had me laughing like crazy as she accused the parliamentary opposition of making promises that they did not keep them; she never elaborated the promises in detail and the crowd of course cheered stupidly as per usual but I guess several boxes of chicken and Red Stripe Beer (NOT HEINEKEN as the bottle is green lol) were distributed as usual at these meetings to bribe and cajole die-hards and so called hungry bellies who just want a dollar without working for it, mendicancy anyone!. Mrs Simpson Miller needs to remember her suggestion in my eyes and seen as a promise by others of the so called buggery review she made in the leadership debate in the 2011 election campaign.

Not to mention the jobs, jobs, jobs she shouted from the platform in the 2011 campaign (thank God for archiving) and the highly touted logistics hub that is yet to materialize and her failing minister Anthony Hylton who is often described as the most educated of all of the bunch; now we are hearing the China Engineering Company (CHEC) who was to spearhead the project mostly at the controversial Goat Island is to move its headquarters from Jamaica to Panama which is kinda quiet to some; it was not until yesterday I saw an article by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga where he mentioned it. The JEEP item that was to provide temporary employment and as used to inflate job numbers although persons only work for two to one month cycles but are counted as one job on each engagement seems lost in translation, all one has to do is look at the once brisk so called beautification on main thoroughfares and the missing people with whackers is clear; the sheer numbers of them in the early stages has waned which had many asking if we really needed four or five people to manicure a space no larger than a few hundred squares?

Then this latest CCJ debate matter has just turned me off again with the obnoxious “keep the buggery law & no to gay marriage [2006]” A. J. Nicholson now Foreign Affairs Minister insulting opposition senator Marlene Malahoo Forte, his continued disrespect for female members in the house is disgusting and it seems the party leader is unable or refuses to discipline him. Not to be outdone was Justice Minister Mark Golding but why would Mrs Forte do all that, after she was once a resident magistrate judge the protestations by the government side is nothing more than a smoke screen obviously. Another example of Mrs Simpson Miller’s lack of hands on leadership. Then comes the four female senators who for political reasons in an attempt to create an air of the we against them mantra have stood up in support of the very man who offended not only them but the nation with that awful rape comment last year during a debate in the senate. (AJ Nicholson reprimanded in Senate for ‘flexi-rape’ comment) with the same senator as his target it seems the PNP female senators have convenient amnesia and are more interested in keeping the party line in tact more than principles. A letter of suspension has been issued to Mrs Forte.

The issue of another letter that was said to have been sent to the JLP when in power from the Privy Council on the court travelling to Jamaica has surfaced and it seems A. J. Nicholson’s latest barb is an attempt to obfuscate the debate; Mrs Malahoo Forte has since said a bathroom break was what held her back in returning the senate chamber during that section of the debate where she was to present the letter. She has since presented the supposed letter in the public square at a campaign meeting but says if she is banned from the senate then how is she to present same. I am old enough to recall the repeated clashes with the former JLP senator and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne who time and time again we had clashes and interruptions by him and heckling during her presentations or debates. She was the one who revealed in effect that the letter existed yet Mark Golding claimed his inability to find it and where or where did Malahoo Forte found the letter and why did the government couldn’t find it? The answer has come that Mrs Forte wrote the Privy Council for a copy and she got it there. She further noted that the Government senators were embarrassed because she was able to access a copy of the letter and they couldn't.

"Let me tell you something, I gave a commitment that I would give them. They vex with me because I could call high places to get the document. It burn them, it burn them, it burn them. If they were diligent in their work when the Leader of the Opposition mentioned the same letter in his speech in the Lower House, if they really wanted to find out what better choices they can make on behalf of the people of Jamaica until we fully sort out our affairs, they would have gone in search of the letter," the suspended senator argued.

"And the fact that they said they couldn't find it in the ministry (of justice) they could have done the same thing like me to get a copy of the letter and that is how you work diligently."

She questioned the logics in suspending her until the document was produced.

"They suspend me until I present the letter. What opportunity will I have to present it so it goes on the record of Parliament that I have in fact produced it? I must send it outside of the Parliament? I don't think that is wise because I might hear that I did not send it at all. But the letter is here," Malahoo Forte remarked.

The JLP has since issued a warning that they won’t support the bills on the CCJ if the Senate’s President does not apologize, and through the member Delroy Chuck he said at a platform they would take the matter to the constitutional high court and the Privy Council to show the mockery of the constitution that is being made. He says the bills do not sit well in the constitution as echoed by former Senator Lightbourne says our courts were set in stone in the constitution while the CCJ is set via a treaty which can easily change to our detriment. It makes some sense but how to get around that. So A. J. Nicholson’s misogynistic behaviour is unacceptable now and something must be done about him if they return to power it cannot be business as usual with him and equally Mr Warmington of the opposition and his outlandish behaviour during his tenure.

It is not about whether the Privy Council is a set of old white men far away or not it is about the constitutional attachments; and why not our own final court while sprucing up own resident magistrate courts used for the most part by the average citizen.

Now we have confirmation again from the Opposition via its leader on the matter of the suggested and demanded by religious right movements’ referendum on buggery as he while addressing a meeting also in Petersfield Westmoreland as well said: “ ... You will also know that when it comes time to determine whether or not we should make any changes to the buggery act or to any other act that determines how Jamaicans see the family; you know that we are not going to take it upon ourselves in parliament to make that decision; we are going to come to you the people of the country to make that decision.” also see:  Opposition leader (JLP) reiterates his call for a referendum on Buggery .... 2014

Obviously Holness is playing to the antigay groups and on the homo-negative environment nationally. I guess the JLP is using this to make the overtake in the polls as the statistical dead heat ensues. The PNP has been silent on that matter since this round of the race or I might have missed something but the JLP is out of the starting blocks in as far as that one is concerned and it is my burning issue apart from the economics.

And where oh where is the PNP at prayer group ....... oops sorry I mean the Jamaica Council of Churches on this buggery law reform matter?

All kinds of stunts of shows are being put before us to distract us; this business of working, working, working doesn’t wash anymore and is so worn out then it is no wonder according to the Bill Johnson poll as evidenced in the Gleaner 25th October shows clear apathy which worries me as the 18 – 24 year olds are the fibre of the society for growth; they cannot complain if they stay away from the process and then stuff happens then sound off and it is not about voting and then hoping for manna to fall from heaven afterwards. We must participate and guard our vote or monitor the items we are interested in to see to it that they are delivered.

also see: Count Us Out! - Just Over Half Of Jamaica's Youth Would Not Vote If Election Were Held Now

#NoToPolitics - PNP, JLP Youth Leaders Accept That Peers See Nothing To Vote For

#NoToPolitics - Young People Speak

Edward Seaga: In What Direction Are We Going?

The figures are disturbing to me  for the youth poll for example (no graphic available): Ages

18 – 24: 47% would not vote; 25% for JLP; 19% for PNP; 8% undecided

25-34: 40% would not vote; 15% undecided; 27% for JLP; 18% for PNP

35-44: 30% would not vote; 22% undecided; 25% for PNP; 22% for JLP

45-54: 20% would not vote; 31% for PNP; 29% for JLP; 18% undecided

55-64: 17% would not vote; 41% for PNP; 32% for JLP; 9% undecided

65+: 19% would not vote; 47%for PNP; 16% for JLP; 18% undecided

Things to think on seriously. The politics is to moribund and is a major turnoff. But the younger folks have alot to loose with the current decisions we make.

Ernie Smith (left) & Dennis Meadows

JLP's Ernest Smith walks away from Trelawny seat

... suggests Meadows, Bartley as possible replacements good riddance to bad rubbish; that Ernie Smith fool from back in the day and his anti gay smear campaign, the house will be better for his departure. But as for Dennis Meadows, I am not so sure; while he did well in the senate his stance on the buggery law seems opposing.

see some old posts I had done on Ernie: Promoting homosexuality? No, its about freedom of choice, privacy & tolerance 2009 and "Keep it to Yuself mentality" on homosexuality part 2 .... on "str8 Jamaica and MP, Attorney, Ernest Smith sings different buggery tune 2009 and Would Lawyer MP Ernest Smith Represent Gays?

Gonna be watching the landscape and see wah deh gwaan a John shop.

UPDATE October 27, 2015 from the Observer:

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland -- Opposition Leader Andrew Holness says a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government will allow the Jamaican people to vote in a referendum to determine if there should be any amendment to the Buggery Act.

"You will also know that when it comes to time to determine whether or not we should make any changes to the Buggery Act, or to any other act that determines how Jamaicans see the family, you know that we are not going to take it up onto ourselves in Parliament to make that decision. We are going to come to you, the people of the country, to make that decision," Holness told a the JLP Area Council Four meeting held at the Mannings School here on Sunday

Holness, meanwhile, lashed Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who he quoted as saying that her immediate focus is to address the poverty of the Jamaican people, when she was asked for a schedule on amendments to the Buggery Act.

"... So they asked the prime minister, 'Prime minister, what is the timetable for the removal of the Buggery Law? And she says: 'Well, we have to go and we have to consult with the people you know, we have to go and consult with the people, but right now it is not a priority because we have to deal with the poverty of the people.' And I reflected on what she said," Holness said, adding that he had to ponder how the Government's push for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was going to end poverty in Jamaica."

Said Holness: "I have asked the prime minister before and I have told the Parliament before [that] when you can tell me how the CCJ is going to end poverty in this country, I will join you in that crusade.

"In the same way that that matter is not a priority, I don't see how the CCJ is going to make one person in Jamaica richer than they were before. It might, maybe for a few lawyers, but I don't know," said the JLP leader.

"This is an independent country and when that time come you know that a Labour Party Government is going to put that question (of the CCJ) for you to decide where we go with it," said Holness.

ENDS

More pontificating to the religious right.

also see: JFLAG Tries to Clarify its Agenda 2014

"Outdated" Bail Laws to be changed but Buggery Laws remain ... how convenient Mr.Golding? 2010

Peace and tolerance

H