Cops freed of corruption charges shakedown of gay men

In a followup up to a post of a case of an alleged shake down if not extortion I am so disappointed as when we need justice to be served it is thrown to the curve. At least in my buggery case in 1996 that ended in 1999 I stayed the course and fought it to the end in the form of a sine die adjournment.

see the previous entry here: Cops in $500k gays blackmail case mentioned in St Catherine court

Presently

Three police personnel who were answering to corruption charges in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court were freed due to the continuous absence of the complainant.

Those freed are Corporal Tyrone Harvey, Constable Lamore Small and Woman Constable Kerry-Ann Williams all from the Portmore Police Station.

When the matter came up before Resident Magistrate Jacqueline Wilcott, three were freed of the criminal charges.

Allegations are that on January 23, 2013, police were on patrol on a section of the Hellshire main road in St Catherine.

The complainants were observed in a motorcar in a secluded area.The police upon investigating saw two males in the vehicle. They were warned by the police about their actions.

The complainants later reported that the police had solicited $500,000 for them not to be prosecuted.

It was further reported that they were taken to an Automated Teller Machine, where over $20,000 was withdrawn and handed over to the cops.

A report was made to the (then Anti-Corruption Branch) and an investigation launched.

This resulted in the Director of Public Prosecutions ruling that the three be charged with corruption. The accused were defended by Peter Champanie and Sean Kinghorn.

I am really upset at this one, how can we stop this kind of thing from happening when there is no case to set the benchmark for same? Even as police are encouraged in LGBT training for new cops is ongoing.

also see: Cops urged to use diversity training to make a difference, but .. and see more posts from sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on police harassment HERE (newer posts appear first so scroll to see archived entries.

also see a post involving Bebe: Discrimination by cops while carrying out duties ??? .......... 2012

Apology Accepted JCF but some questions on several fronts still linger 2011

Lesbian profiled & pepper sprayed by cops 2015

Hope that others will be bold to stick and stay with the case to gain true justice.

Peace & tolerance

H

Steve Lenford Harvey: 10 years gone

I cannot believe that it is so quickly time has passed that “Big Nose” has passed or I should say was tragically taken from us in a case that was bizarre to begin with and ended in arrests and trials of the accused. He was forced to leave his home on the night of November 30, 2005 in Patrick City by gunmen who invaded the house and robbed himself and other occupants; at which point a computer was perused alongside phones with text messages from where a profiling exercise ensued to arrive at a homophobic conclusion. 

TVJ Interview in Kingston 

at Jamaica AIDS Support former offices at Upper Musgrave Avenue Kingston 10

Steve was forced to drive away and killed elsewhere. It is now clear to many that the profiling was being done all along as the house was being staked out despite the fact the residence is on a main road and would be supposedly less targeted given also the middle class status of the area.

I came into contact with Lenford in the nineties while I volunteered for Jamaica AIDS Support then; the ‘For Life’ was added later and he was a Peer Educator and GLABCOM Steering Committee member as well. He also had a hand in the male netball team training and management. Then in 2006 onwards he was a member of the ‘gay church’ Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ and choir member; I remember the rehearsal sessions which were funny as he was not one of the better singers then lol. 

He was also a politics man and an open if not staunch supporter of the People’s National Party, PNP and his beloved Mama P (Portia Simpson) I wonder how now he would react given the air of elections around and the strong criticisms of Mama P and her less than articulate style; coupled with the neglected suggestion promise of a conscience vote/buggery review. He was also a good friend of first time Member of Parliament Raymond Pryce well before his sojourn into politics as he was a volunteer as well in my time too of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life JASL before moving on to the Jamaica Consumers’ League. 

Harvey then took on his biggest work yet at LACASSO - 

Harvey became involved with Jamaica AIDS Support in 1997.He became the group's Kingston co-ordinator, and in this position primarily worked to ensure that the marginalised groups within the country – including prisoners, sex workers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people – had access to information about the HIV/AIDS virus. He was selected as Jamaica's representative at the Latin America and Caribbean Council of AIDS Service Organizations. He was also a registered delegate to the conference of the People's National Party.

Jamaican police arrested four individuals whom they then committing with murder in the furtherance of a robbery. The accused remained in police custody for almost ten years before the case came to court. At that point, the police dropped their murder charges against two of the accused. The other two, Dwayne Owen and Andrew West, went on trial and were found unanimously guilty of murder by a jury. Although prosecutors had requested capital punishment in the case, the judge sentenced them to life in prison with a minimum of thirty years before becoming eligible for parole.

Following investigations, in 2005 police arrested four individuals – Dwayne Owen, Andrew West, Ryan Wilson, and Chevaughn Gibson – charging them all with committing murder in the furtherance of a robbery. Defence lawyers repeatedly complained that the prosecution had been late in handing over relevant documents to them.

The case was brought before the Home Circuit Court on April 24, 2014, however it could not proceed because important documents had not been served on the defence.The witnesses for the case, who included ten police officers and two civilians, were bound over. Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith stated that no further adjournments of the case would be permitted, ordering the Director of Public Prosecutions to make full disclosure to the defence, and insisting that the trial must start on May 19. In her words, "This case has been going on for far too long and has reached the point where something must happen."However, on that date the trial was postponed again due to the unavailability of a courtroom, being rescheduled for June 1. At that date it was again postponed, this time due to a shortage of available jurors, with the new date being set for July 7.

In early July 2014, the prosecution announced that they were dropping all charges against Wilson, who was declared free to go after over eight years in prison. They had determined that at the time of the murder he had been in custody at the Constant Spring Police Station.[8] The prosecution also stated that it was dropping the murder charges against Gibson, who would instead be charged with misprision of felony. After a three week trial, in late July a twelve-person jury unanimously found both Owen and West guilty of murder. The state prosecutors, Kathy Pryce and Karen Seymour Johnson, requested that Owen and West face the death penalty. However, in November Justice Lloyd Hibbert sentenced them to life in prison, stipulating that they must serve a minimum of thirty years before becoming eligible for parole. He stated that in sentencing the pair he took into account the fact that they had already spent a decade in custody. In December, both Owen and West launched appeals against their conviction.

Independently of the Harvey case, West was also charged with being involved in the murder of Jamie Lue, a financial analyst at Alliance Capital Limited, who had been abducted, robbed and killed in December 2005.

Really miss him after all these years.

Peace & tolerance

H

Homeless Awareness Month: Possibilities & Challenges

November is homeless awareness month here on Gay Jamaica Watch & GLBTQ Jamaica you can check out the last entry on the latter here:

An older project designed to help street boys in general from back in 2005/6 came up for mention recently.

In this 2006 photo, a JDF major chats with yougsters after they graduated from the Possibility Programme's re-socialisation camp.

Several students who are involved in the Possibility Programme - a multi-agency project aimed at providing support for children and youth at risk - have been performing well socially and academically despite their challenges. These boys, who are residents of the Possibility Hostel and attend prominent high schools in Kingston and St Andrew, aced their recent Caribbean Examinations Council examinations.

One boy who sat 10 subjects was successful with six grade one and four grade two passes, while another attained seven grade one and three grade two passes. Another student placed first in his class, with term and examination grades averaging A and B passes. According to director Lolita Phillips, the objective of the programme is to assist in the reintegration of street children and at-risk youth with their families and/or schools where possible, in order to improve their life chances. Phillips is happy that the boys enrolled in the project are doing well, which she says speaks volumes to the programme's rehabilitative efforts that include education and skills training.

"We are providing a service and we want to make sure that the boys that are here are doing well. They do not have to be very academic but we ensure that they are provided for, ensuring that their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being are taken care of," said Phillips.

There are four intervention components designed to address the challenges of the target group. These are a care centre, skills employment and training centre, annual re-socialization camps and a youth hostel. The care centre acts as the intake facility. It is where youths are assessed for placement. If the individual is six to 15 years old and is assessed as unable to read, the staff will decide if there is a need to get in touch with the family and find out why he has dropped out of school, and if there is a possibility of reintegration into the regular school system.

One-To-One

Remedial Work

Youth who would not be able to function effectively in the regular school system would be encouraged to stay at the facility, because there is one-to-one remedial work that can be done. However, if the youth is over the age of 15 and requires remedial work, he is referred to the Skills Training and Employment Centre, where he will get remedial classes and gain a hands-on skill. The combination of literacy and skills training is more suited to these individuals. For the boys who have nowhere to live, they are assessed and, if they satisfy the requirements, they are housed in the hostel where they get to develop a number of skills. The selection process is also quite tedious and includes obtaining relevant information pertaining to the child/children that help the administrators in the decision-making process to place them at the various intervention centres.

"We are very specific about the intake process. It is important that we conduct a thorough evaluation of the applicants. We cannot have a facility and not interview the persons that are coming in. "It is not discriminatory but we have to have a fair idea of who we are taking into the facilities," said Phillips.
In addition, once per year the boys are taken on what the director calls a resocialisation camp, which is done jointly with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), a partner in the programme for a number of years. 

Sadly there were some talks to expand this initiative to MSM/trans populations but the dubious closure of the only Safe house for said groups specifically to address homelessness outside of the already closed AIDS hospices was not to go any further. It is good to see that project is still in operation. Also see from the former Executive Director named in the podcast more background on the project: HERE also see the beginning of the issues from the closure of the project: The Quietus ……… The Safe House Project Closes and The Ultimatum on December 30, 2009 

meanwhile:
I conducted a site visit and took some shots to a previous hide away for the guys which was exposed and burnt out by thugs mainly due to the inability of the men using the space to be circumspect:

former sleeping area now laid bare as the space was attacked in July of this year so the guys are on the move again with very little help

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

With images such as that one above of one of our homeless MSM and the obvious emaciated state more evidence of the lack of interest in addressing homelessness and HIV/AIDS. I am reminded of when friends, colleagues and party patrons at my parties I DJ or promote used to drop like flies in the early nineties; when one would wonder who will be off the scene this month or week or if someone is missing the guess would be they are in the hospital; then when one actually finds them they are mere skin and bones. Sigh

We are told repeatedly of promises to deal with it or flimsy excuses that a space cannot be found etc, see:

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

MSM/Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard Oct 2015

Homeless Awareness Month 2015 ..... Recap & Concerns 07.11.15 

MSM Trans homeless - From gully to graveyard 04.10.15. 

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. Taken 2013

also see: 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 see the UPDATE May 22, 2015

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

also see some previous post from as early as 2009:

On homelessness, evictions, hypocrisy & now JFLAG's own displacement ...............

newer photo taken November 21, 2015 

Hope remains while company is true, will the brethren already homeless and newer displacees ever have a good chance to move from lives interrupted to the road to independence?

finally see this one: 

Peace & tolerance

H

The line in the sand part 15: More shenanigans & exploiting buggery .........

Observer's Clovis on point again

So the PNP may well be a one term administration after all if the disgruntled party supporters who are still threatening not to vote at all coupled with the other factors.

See previous parts for more: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 & 8 & 9 & 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

I waited a while to make an entry in this series and boy so much has happened but now that the Prime Minister has effectively false started in announcing the date the opposition is going to pounce and my present concern is we are in for a lengthy campaign war which reminds me of the gas price demonstrations in January 1979 I was young but I remember them well while then opposition JLP with Edward Seaga on a roll and they kept up the pressure to the point that in February in 1980 Michael Manley had to announce an election as he felt he had to keep Jamaica afloat. This was right in the middle of the ideological struggle with election violence; the economy went into freefall and such. Then there are the IMF pre-requisites and the fact that the government whichever one has to cut the public sector in the reform process by April 2016 or thereabout and we remember what happened to the JLP when they did cut jobs prior to the 1989 polls and lost despite other developments in the positive. An inefficient public service is simply an albatross on development and we better recognise that if we intend to grow the economy in any serious percentages. 

Observer poll on Fenton November 2015

God apparently has not touched the PNP leader yet as she said she is waiting for before announcing the date but with the smoke still settling from the Ferguson dead babies failure then the other matters just deflect us from watching the real issues. Last time I checked God gave us a brain and we should use it.

Gleaner's Lasmay toon 

Fixed election dates anyone? The second week in August would be nice to me as Independence Day will not affect the season that much coupled with the tourism off season and schools would be out on holidays hence schools can be used as they are now as polling stations or for political meetings. We need to remove the stop and start foolishness every four to five years when we are held to ransom by a Prime Minister and where persons, businesses and such cannot plan. Too much uncertainty, Simpson Miller needs to learn what happened to one of her young MPs and the ‘tricks you’ trope Damian Crawford conducted now he is out and will not run as candidate for St Thomas. I wonder if the now available billions ($4.1) via the IMF’s decrease of the primary surplus target from 7.5% to 7.25% for the second half of fiscal year 2015/6 and down to 7% for 2016/7 was the reason why the election is also delayed. Apart from the polls showing the JLP over-taking the PNP as a whopping 11% of PNP supporters say they wouldn’t vote for both parties at all; the machinery made need time to try to recoup lost support. 

see: Aubyn HilI: IMF Finally Concedes It Was Wrong (Gleaner)

We were told get ready by Miller and Peter Phillips saying even a blind man could see, then Miller’s comment last week comparing a horse race while listing all the pieces required. There is a cost that the electoral office of Jamaica has incurred simply due to the election date delayed; it costs to train persons and to retrain them for the future day according to the Director of Elections Orette Fischer adding to that are the businesses whose plans are impacted again.

Will Peter Phillips resign as campaign manager after he jumped the gun on the announcement when it is the purview of the PM or is there a power struggle between Phillips & Miller carrying over from all these years following the nasty leadership race where the two came head to head? After all Britain changed their law to make election dates fixed as they have removed archaic laws but we hold on to them including buggery now being used as a football to capture religious fanatics. (see: Nicholson says JLP 'crazy' for wanting referendum on buggery law .... oh boi) and Golding, Buggery And The CCJ

Tufton on Same Sex Marriages & Growing Up ..... Charles panders to antigay position

The PNP cannot call an election now either as the dead babies issues, internal elections battles, raw wounds in terms of who has done them wrong internally, the austere economic reform program despite the freeing up of four billion and near eight billion next year so time is needed and the talk of elections by February may not be so sensible; it is too short a time to recover from the variables outlined.

Then I had to contend with a call from the electoral office about my application for my identification voter and national ID card that my photos and that of many others were corrupted. I was asked to return to the office to retake them of which I refused and demanded they send a team to my home as they did for the verification process to retake the shots; they did accede to my demand but this just goes to show the almost failing governmental systems and such. I am still up in the air as to who to vote for these days as the exploitation of buggery is the main thing that bothers me then are the jobs that were promised by the PNP in 2011 and a clearly campaign trail promise of 100,000 jobs by finance minister Peter Phillips when we now very clear that is not countable given the JEEP jobs are temporary and is a feeding tree for the same party. Long lotto lines are not jobs either. While passing the 10th IMF test what is to come is also worrying; yes we have heard announcements of investments on the hotel strip as a spin off from the opening up of Cuba or the so called freezone in St Catherine in terms of car parts processing (we have heard that before and none materialized) so the timing of these announcements leave me wondering based on previous promises that die the moment the announcement or election fever ends. Peter Phillips lied to us saying he or his administration created 63,000+ but when he was fact checked it turns out to be just under 40,000. I do not believe that when so many complaints come from qualified University graduates who have to either take jobs well below their degrees and or stay home and the small business avenues opportunities are rare and few in between; the wider masses are simply not in the loop.

The economy cannot absorb paying redundancy payments from laid off public sector workers whilst in the same breath the private sector has not developed enough such as in the old days one could jump from a public sector job and morph into a private sector job and still be able to make oneself up for promotional advancement. But we have had so many issues of this in previous times where accusations of political victimization where an opposition party cries foul where their supporters allegedly are laid off in such exercises.

Why are we not producing sugar in such a number to really earn form it despite health warnings demand has not waned yet we hear sugar factories closing and persons being laid off. What has happened to Cocoa especially when world market is demanding so much including the big names in chocolate products and hot beverages yet our plants are just barely surviving from disease or low production. We have so much potential and yet we are sluggish in development. We were paying 56 cents in every dollar for debt in 2011 when the JLP lost in that race now we are back to almost 75 cents again for debt servicing not to mention the renegotiation of the Petro-Caribe debt buy back which in 25 years may end up costing us more despite the present reprieve.

Then comes the Foreign Affairs, previously Justice Minister and senate leader A. J. Nicholson riding the CCJ buggery referendum train as exacted on Friday

“This referendum business, you know, it is full time that we get out of it. You know why? I hear coming from some quarters in your (JLP) party that you want an insane proposal, that you want to have a referendum in Jamaica on the issue of buggery! You crazy?” Nicholson asked the Opposition during the debate on the Caribbean Court of Justice Bills.

“You want people running up and down Jamaica on a political platform dealing with homosexuality, you crazy? Look here, let us wake up, man,” Nicholson stated. So the will of the people is a no no for Nicholson but his inconsistency on this matter is also worth recalling.

JLP MP Pearnel Charles (North Central Clarendon) was reported in the press recently as telling supporters that the promise by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on the eve of the 2011 General Election to repeal the buggery law was purely vote catching.

Speaking at a mass rally in Alexandria, St Ann last Sunday night, and Charles said that the JLP would not countenance same-sex marriages.

"This will never happen here, not as long as I am alive," he declared to loud cheers from the crowd. Charles added that he would enlist the church to help him in "the fight".

Essentially the suggested conscience vote on buggery by the PNP and or the push for a rushed ill-prepared society towards a referendum by the JLP is what the LGBT lobbyists and people like me have to contend with. One waits with baited breath how the leadership debates that are scheduled in three tranches will look and sound like and will the question of buggery law reform or referendum as the case may be will come up? With disappearing foreign funding as well in as far as election support such as the last election in 2011 the subject matter at hand may not factor at all. And where oh where is my member of parliament who I have not seen in ages? When the roads where repaired earlier this year albeit with activists and supporters doing the job shabbily the word on the street was too many PNPs live on the avenue (barring the long held feeling the affluence on the strip and the well done houses breeding jealousy of some kind) so we did not deserve any repairs as voters did not do the right thing or voted for the right colour.

Why oh why Mr Holness’s house is coming up for mention as a campaign barb, sigh, I have no idea. That one is way over the top to me and if there is evidence as is implied that Mr Holness got his house or funds via ill-gotten gains then take it to the relevant authorities not on a campaign trail meeting.

see:

Every poor man must build his castle' - Holness defends Beverley Hills mansion (Gleaner)

Phillips hammers at Andrew's house again (Gleaner)

Comrades awestruck as MP calls PNP Chairman Bobby Montague (Observer)

I am conflicted otherwise when I cannot separate my vote in terms of wanting a member of parliament of one political stripe who is performing but the Prime Minister is of another and I want that PM when in essence we are choosing a PM via the present system so we may really need political reform, the automatic selection of the PM via MPs seat success needs to go yah man.

also see:

Political analyst says delay in election not good for party (Observer)

Dawes decries political appointments in health sector (Observer)

Vaz Back With A Vengeance - Firebrand Declares Commitment To JLP (Gleaner)

Peace & tolerance

H

Nicholson says JLP 'crazy' for wanting referendum on buggery law .... oh boi

Excerpts from Balford Henry's report in the Observer.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of Government Business in the Senate, AJ Nicholson, has criticized statements coming from within the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that the issue of amending Jamaica’s buggery law should be put to a referendum.

2007 Lasmay Gleaner cartoon says it quite clearly

Obviously the goodly former Justice Minister now Foreign Affairs who seems to have convenient amnesia of his previous utterances regarding the buggery and how his administration has exploited or manipulated same for votes; lest we forget the election win by none other than PJ Patterson where he used TOK's Chi Chi Man song to sure up his hetero-image in the wake of homosexual allegation as used by the JLP.

also see:
PNP 2006, No plans to Legalise Same Sex Union (FLASHBACK)

Opposition Leader sides with antigay groups on Referendum on The Buggery Law 2014

Opposition sides with Govt on No to same sex marriage (2009 post when the PNP was in opposition)

Jamaican Opposition Leader says he would allow homosexuals in his cabinet (Holness flip flopping on the issue when it suits him)

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson’s call for tolerance not genuine & sheer hypocrisy 2014

Holness dithering on homosexuality 2011

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

Minister Golding trying to manipulate anti-gay sentiments (Jamaica Observer Editorial) 

Justice Minister exploits homophobia to gain CCJ support

“This referendum business, you know, it is full time that we get out of it. You know why? I hear coming from some quarters in your (JLP) party that you want an insane proposal, that you want to have a referendum in Jamaica on the issue of buggery! You crazy?” Nicholson asked the Opposition during yesterday’s debate on the Caribbean Court of Justice Bills.

“You want people running up and down Jamaica on a political platform dealing with homosexuality, you crazy? Look here, let us wake up, man,” Nicholson stated.

JLP MP Pearnel Charles (North Central Clarendon) was reported in the press recently as telling supporters that the promise by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on the eve of the 2011 General Election to repeal the buggery law was purely vote catching.

Speaking at a mass rally in Alexandria, St Ann Sunday night, Charles said that the JLP would not countenance same-sex marriages.

"This will never happen here, not as long as I am alive," he declared to loud cheers from the crowd. Charles added that he would enlist the church to help him in "the fight".

In the lead up to the 2011 General Election, Simpson Miller had promised Jamaica’s lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community that, as prime minister, she would facilitate in Parliament a conscience vote on the controversial issue of the buggery law. But, after four years in office, nothing has been done to support this promise.

However, Charles’ call for a referendum on the issue was first proposed by leader of the party and the Opposition, Andrew Holness. Holness said that a JLP Government would allow Jamaicans 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," he told a JLP Area Council Four meeting at Manning’s School in October.

And I ask again:

Where are the sensible minds in the senate such as the former Attorney General, Foreign Affairs and Justice Minster Oswald Harding of the very JLP who in 2004 said: Keep Law Out of Gays’ Bedrooms (FLASHBACK) or Harding warns against discrimination based on language, sexual orientation (Observer 2011) is this the reason why we do not see him anymore around politically? He the longest serving senator in the nation's history. He was born in Kingston. Harding was the first person to serve as President of the Senate of Jamaica for two non-consecutive tenures, serving from 1980 to 1984 and from 2007 to 2011. First appointed to the Senate in 1977, he served in the body continuously until 2002, and rejoined the Senate from 2007 until his retirement from politics in 2011. His first period as a senator was the longest continuous tenure in the body's history.
Mr Nicholson needs to be reminded some more of his own manipulation what hypocrisy is this.

more Nicholson manipulation:
Foreign Affairs Minister says Govt should be cautious on gay rights issues in Jamaica 

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

Nicholson insists no need for referendum on CCJ Bills (Observer) 
The Arthur Williams, Malahoo Forte issue (Observer)

Nuff said yah man

Peace & tolerance

H

Artistes Should Speak Against Political Violence, Poverty - Bounty Killer

Oh really is this the same Bounty Killer whose name is coined due to his public persona as being the self proclaimed warlord? Ironically he is silent on the murder music output he contributed to but loud on so called political violence; I wonder sometimes if this new found piss-bowl self righteous some older dancehall acts are now finding is so late and indeed hypocritical; remember Beenieman's tirade on Bad Boy's Trevor sex scene issue? 

when they (artistes like Beenie) helped to set the very voilent psyche that young men seem to aspire to with bravado and idealizing thuggery/hypermasculinity and misogyny.

The Gleaner carried this today:

With an election just around the corner, dancehall icon Bounty Killer is challenging recording artistes to make music with more substance and fulfilling content, especially social commentary. According to the artiste, known for songs like Poor People Fed Up, Anytime, Book Book Book, among others, the problems facing the lower class are no longer at the forefront of Jamaican music.

Bounty Killer says during his formative years, political violence was at its peak and he wanted his music to make a difference. He, therefore, yearns to see his fellow artistes tackle issues regarding politicians and their influence over the youth of the inner city.

"Some of these artistes are doing music just for the hype and stardom, and while that is also good, there are more important things. I used to take the poor people problem as my problem because I came into music to change certain things because at the time, political warfare was at its peak and the senseless violence over politics and politicians," he said.

Slippery Slope

The artiste says politicians have continued to fail the people of Jamaica, and when the music begins to fail to educate the masses, society will continue to go down a slippery slope.

"You know what they say: The more things change, the more they remain the same. The youths continue to hurt each other for politicians, yet there are people in Jamaica still living without running water, still don't have electricity and don't have roads. The youths need to speak up because it can't be just about flossing alone," he said.

The crime rate in 2015 has surpassed that of 2014, which is a clear indication that the Government failed to control criminal activities in an island that is already lacking in investments. Bounty Killer blames poverty for the spike in crime.

The Biggest Killer

"More people need to be singing for the poor because poverty is the biggest killer right now. People know me as an artiste, but I am also an advocate for justice. At first when I did songs like Poor People Fed Up, I did not do them because I thought I was going to get a big support. I did those songs because positive music needed to be heard," Bounty explained.

Bounty Killer is promoting a new song called Karma, featuring Lukie D. The single is a social commentary and tackles the problem of youth embroiled in criminal activities. He gave credit to reggae-dancehall artiste Bugle for his work where social commentary is concerned. However, not to be left out of the mix, reggae artiste Kabaka Pyramid is perhaps deserving of credit for his song, Well Done, which toys with politicians using sarcasm to highlight the errors of Jamaica's politicians.

He sings:"Election a when the tension a rise / Suh yu buy wi Kentucky, not to mention the fries / Anything fi secure yu vote / And then yu rob the people fi secure yu boat / Fi guh a Goat Island, weh the Chinese own / The whole Jamaica is a Chinese loan / Well done, Mr Politician man!"

ENDS

Has Bounty Killer forgotten his own words or his clashes with other dancehall acts with violence laden lyrics to empahsize misplaced bravado or has sought to apologise for inciting the very violence he now seemingly opposes overall and especially to gays in Jamaica? Remember these?: Deejays seek Obama's help for visa ..... there are consequences for actions & words or  What's wrong wid Bounty Killer? 2008

Met Police hypocrisy on homophobia - SMM London Bounty Killer refused to sign the symbolic Reggae Compassionate Act

remember this?:

Battyman fi get bun track

What's wrong wid Bounty Killer? 2008

Bounty Killer and his B****man comments at Shaggy’s fundraiser 2010

Anything to Remain Current ........... Bounty Killer Backs Anti Gay Religious Groups Stance

Dancehall act Busy Signal under fire for "I Love Girls Who Love Girls" song

Busy Signal recovers with "Too Many Men" in subtle messaged song

Busy Signal's "We Nah Dweet" hits out at Down Low life & a certain Kartellic act

Dancehall meets house music: Is Tolerance already there in the fusion but unrecognised? 2010

We need to speak up against homophobia in music 2009

LGBT History Month - Stop Murder Music 2008

Dancehall's princess "Spice" lesbophobic rant "No Gyal To Mi Ting "

Artistes Afraid To Tackle Issues says the Gleaner .... including murder music

Vybz Kartel lashes back with "Woman Wi Love" song, has he forgotten it is he who blurred the lines

Dancehall Acts with Anti Gay Legacy Feud with each other as Creativity Fades

Dancehall DJs warned again to avoid murder music at GT Taylor’s Extravaganza 2015 event

Street Dance DJs Clash over Playing of Sam Smith's Gay Themed 'Stay With Me" Song

If Bounty and company really want to be legitimate as I have said in previous posts they need to rescind or discontinue the public availability of their offending lyriced songs and openly apologize or show some true remorse for their hurtful words; then and only then will they will begin to get my support. But I may have to wait a lifetime for that to happen as violence and homophobic songs still sell. Buju Banton claims his Boom Bye Bye track was when he was fifteen years old yet he still earns from the song from iTunes etc while not separating himself from the track or pulling it from the market as a show of true tolerance.

also see:

Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye still available on iTunes despite so called ban in 2008 2014

One half of sometimes anti gay duo Twins of Twins Double Standards - Politicians Use Music To Promote Their Own Agenda - Patrick Gaynor (Gleaner 22.11.15)


Andrew Holness & that 'Fish' comment; politicians who exploit homophobia

Who will have the ethical cojones to separate themselves from previously recorded murder materials? None for now I doubt.

Peace & tolerance

H

Humans aren't monogamous by nature .........

Leighton said:

Every now and then I overhear a conversation that, in one way or the other, opens my mind up as to why people often fail at relationships. Lord knows I am no expert, but there are certain basic things in life that tell you why some things will never work.

The conversation I overheard was between two young women. Apparently they were discussing future plans with the young men they were currently seeing. From what I

gather, one of the girls had a boyfriend who was her first, and based on what I garnered, she intended for him to be her husband. On the surface, that is very commendable, but I just shook my head because none of it made sense to me.

Here was this girl deciding already that this relationship that she had was going to be her only one. She had found Mr Right at the get-go. I sincerely wish her the best, but somehow I feel she is going to get her heart broken.

When you walk into a store to buy an item of clothing, usually you end of trying on a few before deciding on the right one. Similarly, when you are at the market buying produce, you don't usually buy the first piece of produce you see. You look around. You check to see if there are any soft spots or impurities.

Similarly, when finding a mate, I believe men and women need to shop around. Now, this girl is going to make a decision that this is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with when she doesn't even know that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Based on what I overheard, he had played no part in this decision. He may well be thinking that she is a nice girl (and she was or she certainly seemed to be), but I am sure he wants to look around a bit before he decides that he wants to settle down, and more importantly whether he wants to settle down with her.

Automatically, she puts pressure on herself to make this relationship work, when in reality it might be her worst option. It also puts pressure on the guy, who now in response to that pressure, might want to opt out of the relationship before things get crazy and then she labels him something derogatory and swears off men for the rest of her days.

WASTE OF TIME

It is a grand waste of time. You see, contrary to popular belief, mankind is not monogamous by nature. That is why men and women will have multiple partners throughout their lives. Many will have multiple partners all at the same time. In the West, people are socialised to be monogamous. They are trained to be with one man or woman. Elsewhere in the world, men are allowed to have several wives and concubines, and I am sure there are cultures in which women are allowed to have more than one man.

That is why this drinking the first water you come to makes no sense. Over time, you might discover that this man or woman is not for you. The longer you spend with someone, the more likely you are to discover who they truly are. This girl could find that her boyfriend might be a woman beater, rapist, a drug dealer or he could be the best man ever, but there are many possibilities.

I had a girlfriend once, who, during the first two or three weeks, to me she was the best girl a man could have. Two weeks after that, it turns out she was a crazy witch.

That is why I advocate for shopping around, especially when you are young. You have your whole life ahead of you to live and explore different things, destinations and people. Why deny yourself the chance to find someone that is really right by opting for the first person who finds you cute. It makes no sense.

Send comments to levyl1@hotmail.com

other rants by Levy:
What goes on in the minds of the overly religious?

Silent on murders, vocal about gays

Leighton Levy on Gays are not our problem .... JCHS told to check the mirror

Jamaica's Gay Hypocrisy

Lyrics, not gays, tearing down reggae or dancehall

More on the carnival & gays ........... A country of hypocrites!

Silent madness on the rise (Star feature) also hear a previous discussion on Polygamy:

Man 'faints' after getting prison sentence for $25K fleece

High drama unfolded in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday after a habitual conman appeared to faint when he heard he would be spending the next nine months in prison for fleecing over $25,000 from a schoolboy.

Kemano Williams, 22, of Sandy Park Road, Kingston 6, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge of larceny by trick.

The court heard that Williams sold a defective smartphone to the schoolboy for $25,500 and then offered to fix it. The schoolboy gave back the phone to the accused for it to be repaired, but the accused tried to sell the same cell phone to another person, who turned out to be the schoolboy's father. The matter was reported to the police.

pills

When asked why he should not go to prison for his offence, Williams held up a bottle of pills as he explained that he was unable to meet with the complainant on the agreed date because he had to go to the hospital for a blood clot in his lungs.

He also claimed that he tried contacting the complainant but was unsuccessful.

However, the schoolboy rubbished that explanation when he said, "I went on Facebook to contact him (the accused) and he blocked me, and I tried contacting him on all his numbers and didn't get him."

Senior RM Judith Pusey ordered the accused to spend nine months in prison.

Williams responded with a dramatic plea, "Jesus Christ! Me will do anything. Please, me a beg you. Me will do anything you say, your Honour." Afterwards, he flung himself on the bench.

Pusey said, "If you keep it up, you going to get three more months on it."

I could not agree with Pusey more on this one as the victim was a mere schoolboy, what depths some of us will go to just to make a buck. I was alerted to this one by a longtimer who knows of the matter, Thanks a million for the alert mi fren .... this is how we must be vigilant and call out the bad eggs in the population; they just make it bad for everyone else and the already fragile image of the LGBT community.

Then we wonder why antigay groups have so much strengths to even go as far as to suggest peadophilia or inappropriate contact with teens or younger persons.

Sigh!

Why some boys don't just go and look a job and honestly earn a bread but want to live big without earning it fear and square.

Peace & tolerance

H