Bark Di Trute!

Thursday, 9 April 2026

JTA President and Minister McKenzie - Tracing Must Stop!

I notice that 'tracing' is becoming too common with those who are in leadership positions in the country. This practice was very common in the 1970s, and we really don't want to go back to that era. We should be a modern country with visionary leaders. We identify challenges, analyze them, and we come up with solutions. I have used the word 'tracing' in its colloquial sense. When I was in Trelawny, and two women started to cuss one another, you say dem a trace off dem one anedda. I would love to know why the word 'trace' was used like that.

Why am I on this tracing thing? This argument between the president of the JTA, Mark Malabver, and Minister Desmond McKenzie is what country people call dem a trace one anedda. The JTA president has voiced his apprehension about the continued use of schools as hurricane shelters. The JTA president might have his political position, but Minister McKenzie cannot see a hole and fall into it.

This concern does not need any tracing or big attention in the media. In the first place, we should never have a school environment with individuals who have lost their homes living on the same compound. The JTA president said he got reports that individuals were having sex on the compound in full view of the children. It doesn't matter if this is true; these adults shouldn't be there.

We need leaders with vision. Let's convene and pinpoint a location for temporary housing for the individuals currently residing in schools. The people must also assist in setting up these temporary houses.

Let's set aside the tracing and focus on developing a plan now. One thing is certain, and that is, it is an untenable situation to have families living on a school compound.

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Statement From The Lawyers Representing Beaten Jamaica College Student

Many well-known leaders have attended Jamaica College, but their silence on the matter of the assaulted student who had to be withdrawn from the school has been deafening. I have not heard from any of the usually vocal church leaders or the president of the JTA.

It seems that this issue has been classified as 'a no nutten.' The Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information has not found time to comment on the Bark Di Trute Blog, which was sent to her.

The minister should establish a small committee to investigate this issue and provide recommendations. The school board has put itself in an awkward position and therefore it cannot try this case.

The mother of the beaten boy claims that a group of students assaulted her son. Jamaica College has sent out a detailed statement about what happened. Why was such an act done when the matter is in the hands of the police? These statements are conflicting, and if the school administration sent out a misleading statement to society, such an action is grave.

The following is the press release sent out by the lawyer for the parents of the beaten Jamaica College boy:

Statement On Behalf of Mrs Jarrett, April 7, 2026

The family of the injured Jamaica College student has read the press release issued by the Jamaica College Board of Management dated April 1, 2026 and are both horrified and saddened by the blatant attempt to control the narrative surrounding the unbelievable incident, at the school premises. This student was left with very serious injuries. In the Board’s press release, it presents a narrative of what happened to the victim, seemingly painting him as the aggressor. We are not sure on what basis the Board could have thought it appropriate to provide ‘details’, unless it was that someone from the Board witnessed the incident. If that is so, then we expect that Board member to come forward and give a witness statement to the police. To add insult to injury, prior to the airing of the televised broadcast concerning the incident, neither any member of the Board nor school administration sought to engage with the victim’s parents, if even only to enquire after the welfare of their son. This was not expected from the Board of Management of Jamaica College or indeed, from the school administration itself.
That said, the matter is presently before the criminal Court as a charge has been laid against one young man involved in the incident. As much as there is to say, our clients will respect the judicial processes and allow the law to take its course. For them, the wheels of justice must turn without interference or attempted influence from anyone, whether highly placed in society or of low station in life.
From our perspective, those communicating for the school have made a clear decision to issue public statements which in our view, are ill-timed. The question of what happened to the victim is a matter for resolution in Court. There has been no or little consideration of the impact of this event on the injured boy. Aggression in schools is obviously a serious issue and where harm to the degree suffered by this boy is done to anyone, it is a very serious matter. The welfare of every child must be primary – not the reputation of the school. The family’s focus at this time is to ensure the health, safety and emotional wellbeing of their injured son. The event was traumatic, and the handling of the situation has most regrettably, exacerbated the trauma.
The family is confident that the truth will emerge through the proper legal channels. They will take all necessary next steps to protect their son and uphold his best interests, in any way necessary and possible.
The family wishes us to add the following.
As a nation, we must ensure and uphold the care for our children. Jamaica College, like all schools in Jamaica, is expected to provide a safe and wholesome environment for children to learn and grow without trepidation and harm to them. Every learning institution must be held to that standard. Everything must be done to maintain this. Jamaica can do no less.

Injured student

One student could not attend the celebrations. Was he remembered?

Editor's note:

This is a very serious matter in terms of what happened and how the school administration has handled the matter. The nation must watch very carefully how this matter is handled by the school, in the criminal court and also the civil court.

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The Road I have Travelled - Jus a Synopsis

Getting citizens involved and motivating them to be aware of national matters has not been easy. I started doing community work and getting people involved in community matters as an individual, and then, along with a group of people, we started the Citizens Initiative Organization. Due to family commitments and also costs, I had to abandon the movement, and it died. It started at Vernon Anderson's House in Kingston with his wife, me, and another couple were convenors.

I was invited by Liz Bennett to join Nationwide Radio to continue to work on radio. I believe that she was aware of my stint at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). I hosted a youth programme called Youth Rap, hosted a music show called the Big Youth Horn of Plenty Show, appeared in the radio serial The Fortunes of Flora Lee, and did commentary, which was called Derby's Corner.

Tonight I was browsing the Internet, and I was surprised to come across an article written by Kevin Obrian Chang. I did not even remember that article.

Click here to read the article before its taken down.

Oh yes, it was written a long time ago. It brought back some interesting memories. Jamaica now needs another Citizens' Initiative Organization to give the people an independent voice. It was great meeting those citizen associations from as far as Montego Bay in the West. I remember those days working with Mr. Lee, who was head of the Portmore Combined Citizens Associations. Jamaica seemed to have lost many of those public-spirited people, and our country is worse off due to that loss.

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Wednesday, 8 April 2026

You Never Know Who Will Help You One Day

A created picture.

I got up on Monday, April 6, with a minor pain in my right foot. I felt I probably bounced the foot and did not realise it. By Tuesday, the pain was excruciating. I called a few people, and they all said, "Vernon, head to the hospital now because it could be a blood clot." I know that a blood clot is an emergency.

When I reached the hospital, I was unable to walk, and they got a wheelchair for me with a porter.

I went to triage, where the nurse found that the pressure and the temperature were fine.

A lady who saw me and questioned me was very concerned, and although she was there to see the doctor, she was more concerned about me. She indicated that they should check on me as soon as possible.

I met a sweet doctor from St. Lucia who asked me a number of personal questions. She then started feeling different areas of my foot until she found a specific spot. She noticed my contorted face as I writhed in pain at the touch of her fingers.

The doctor continued to feel the area, and she noticed that it was not feeling warm. She then asked me if I felt any pain in my calf. I told her no. She noticed that my foot was not swollen.

The worried woman, my friend, offered to take me to another place for an ultrasound.

The doctor decided then that it was not a blood clot, but I would need to take an X-ray of the foot. Having looked at the X-ray, she ruled out any challenge that could be due to a buildup of uric acid. The bones seemed fine.

The very concerned lady was by the cashier, and she turned to me and said that she would cover the cost. The porter assumed it was my wife and told her she could take me to the nurses' station for my little juck. I said to the porter, "Yu no easy, yu a direct man wife fi look after me!" He was confused, but he realized that the lady was just helping me.

There were other people there who just volunteered to help when I needed help.

Tonight I called a taxi, and I asked the driver, who I know, to pick up a pair of crutches and a few other items. When he came, and I offered to pay him, he quickly remarked that he could not charge me.

The lesson we must learn is that we must be sensitive to our bodies, because many have lost their lives due to not being aware. The next lesson I learned was to continue to treat people with love and respect. There are many excellent Jamaicans around who are willing to help others.

To those in positions of authority, treat your staff well. One day, you may find yourself in need of assistance as you age. Let's treat one another with love and care because you never know who will help you one day.

Thanks to all those who have been calling me and those who have been assisting me this week. I love you all.

I hope to get the results of the colonoscopy and the endoscopy tests soon so that I can proceed with my outstanding operation. It's a rough road sometimes, but life continues for us all.

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DEATHS

Former well-known JBC staff member Lois Burke has died.

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The Honorable Professor Errol Morrison Calls For "Brain Drain" To "Brain Gain"

JIS Press Release April 8, 2026

The Honourable Professor Errol Morrison, OJ

Noted scientist Professor Errol Morrison, has called for a strategic shift from “brain drain” to “brain gain” as a catalyst for boosting Jamaica’s productivity and research capacity.

Delivering the keynote address during the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Research Day Expo, held on the institution’s Portland campus in March, Professor Morrison argued that Jamaica must urgently expand its pool of graduate level researchers if it is to achieve meaningful success in research and innovation.

Citing data from the World Bank, he noted that any country serious about research and development (R&D) must have at least 2,000 individuals per million of its population actively engaged in the field.

“Jamaica, with roughly three million [people]… we will need… 6,000 individuals involved in R&D… [for any real] likelihood of success,” Professor Morrison explained.

However, he revealed a stark gap in the local landscape. “A detailed study of the Jamaican scenario shows we have no more than about 750 graduate-level individuals involved in research and development. So, we are not really on track to achieve major developments,” he stated.

Professor Morrison further highlighted that the majority of the nation’s highly trained talent resides overseas.

“Eighty percent of our tertiary graduates – those who have gotten master’s and doctoral degrees – live and work abroad,” he informed.

Despite this challenge, Professor Morrison pointed to a significant opportunity, noting that some 60,000 individuals in the diaspora have been identified who possess the requisite training and qualifications to enter the R&D sector.

“They are from the Caribbean… and if we were to focus and follow [research done by former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies] Sir Arthur [Lewis]…and show them local projects that they could [be] involved in, then we could possibly reverse the brain drain that we have been having and have a brain gain, bringing them back to help us in our research projects,” he said, adding “it is a win-win.”

Professor Morrison also noted that the Government has signalled its commitment to advancing the research agenda through the appointment of a scientist and researcher, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, as Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects.

“He’s moving to procure funds which the Government will use to support research programmes and projects that they see of national importance. So, funding will certainly be coming in the not-too-distant future for research budgets,” Professor Morrison stated.

Professor Errol Morrison (left), is presented with a plaque by Student Council President at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland, Kemron James, following his keynote address at the institution’s Research Day Expo in March. Looking on are event moderator, Denise Dennis, and Acting Vice President of Academics at CASE, Fazel Huie.

Professor Errol Morrison, delivers the keynote address during the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Research Day Expo, held on the institution’s Portland campus in March.

Students of Excelsior Community College were among the participants at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Research Day Expo, held in March at the institution’s Portland campus inside the TP Lecky Hall. The event was addressed by Professor Errol Morrison.

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DEATHS

Former well-known JBC staff member Lois Burke has died.

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Thursday, 9 April 2026

JTA President and Minister McKenzie - Tracing Must Stop!

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Statement From The Lawyers Representing Beaten Jamaica College Student

Statement On Behalf of Mrs Jarrett, April 7, 2026

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The Road I have Travelled - Jus a Synopsis

Wednesday, 8 April 2026

You Never Know Who Will Help You One Day

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The Honorable Professor Errol Morrison Calls For "Brain Drain" To "Brain Gain"

JIS Press Release April 8, 2026

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