FI WI CONCERNS - Michael Spence

Attorneys & Fraud?

More allegations of fraud against attorneys not sounding good at all .Is it that because the society is over lawyered and the work is just not there they are grabbing at everything to maintain the publicly perceived high lifestyle. Most attorneys are however upright and decent people. Those going into the profession and have eyes to see and ears to hear "even if you crooked cut straight" and "Don't hang your basket higher than you can reach it".15/05/15

Naming of Places

The Balaclava High School, which is soon to be, renamed the Roger Clarke High School. At the end of this government’s term of office will there be anything left to be named. Do you recall the brouhaha in Montego Bay when they were to rename Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay in honour of Dr Herbert Eldemire or the other when What was called Foreshore Road downtown Kingston Waterfront to be named in honour of Edward Seaga how that was opposed. Both those renaming would be fitting as both men contributed significantly to their development and or creation. P J Patterson as I understand it was the political leader who pushed for the creation of the Jamaican style highways so that naming one after him is a reasonable gesture. I do not believe that politicians in power should go around naming national heroes or things for their friends, political associates and family this should be a decision made in consultation with the people by say the Heritage Trust or some other bipartisan or“independent”national body. Renaming cannot be left to the whims and fancies of a few among us to love it or like it. Let us say the Ministry of Finance building at heroes Circle could be renamed the Peter Phillips building honouring him for passing the most consecutive  IMF tests in the history of modern Jamaica and even more so if Jamaica becomes an economic powerhouse under his watch, if not Jamaica College old Boys could rename his Alma Mater in his honour. No civilized country, democracy or plantation should be run that way or else one day we could wake up to Jamaica being renamed. Any  suggestions as to a new name in honour of a friend or political associate? Come on Mr. Derby you are an innovator we are listening do not forget Riverton Dump. Anyone who turns that around into a viable land fill and city their name should be put there. The incentive now is do well wherever you are placed and it may just be named after you. We need however to develop some set nationally agreed transparent criteria to facilitate such so that there can be no argument. So Mr. Derby which high School you want your name on? 15/05/15

Gangs

The police have reasons to believe that the Clansman gang is one of the largest and most organized criminal enterprises in the island says a Gleaner article. Its extortion racket stretches from Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, to sections of Portmore and elsewhere in St Catherine says a Gleaner article. The police say based on the number of buses that use the park, the illegal haul in the Spanish Town park is estimated at $1.5 million a day. All the information is out there but this gang has become more sophisticated, trustworthy, incentivized and embedded on the ground in the community than the police. Remove the politics, incentives /money from the gang and they will be weakened. There is no real will to move against them so it’s business as usual with mere cosmetics for show. Street crawlers like me cannot be fooled by chat, more laws or cosmetics. We recognise action just catch and remove the criminals. Laws have no effect if no one is caught except a few insignificant sitting ducks.15/05/15

Attorney Arrested for running Prostitution Business

WHAT? Attorney-at-law, who was arrested  last April after he was accused by the police of running a prostitution business under the guise of operating a massage parlour. This is an allegation so let us see where this will go I suspect nowhere. If the DPP sees this nowhere destination they should end the proceedings against the lawyer and his co-defendants. By the way is anything on the agenda to legalize prostitution why or why not? Oh, another thing there is now male and female prostitution and therefore ties into buggery laws. Even if it is made legal tomorrow there will be no retroactive effect for those charged prior to its passage.12/0515

Police Robbed???

Man steals Samsung S5 from police vehicle as cop writes traffic ticket shouts an Observer newspaper article. Downtown is a disaster happening and needs more than police intervention. A criminal is an opportunist and if he/she makes an assessment of the act and it seems feasible they will go for it, its their job so if you are even a member of the security forces it makes no difference. Crimes downtown is not only a police matter it is social as well as economic and needs holistic intervention. I go there almoner every day and over the years have seen the deterioration and have had my share of crimes against me including, robbery and ducking gunshots. Criminals also come from elsewhere to work and go back home. With the weakening of strong Criminal Executive Officers (CEOs) or Dons quasi policing network it has become a real criminal free for all. You know Mr. Adams once said that when you get rid of the dons the police cannot fill the breach. Maybe so but they can learn a few logistic operating techniques from them. Presently it is set to get worse on the ground with the police operating like aimless sightseeing crime tourists and traffic ticket writers. Downtown maybe going through a phase of creative destruction with new opportunities set to arise from the rubble but in the meantime there needs to be a rapid response to save

FI WI CONCERNS - Michael Spence

Dons As Consultants

With so many heinous crimes being committed lately many are calling for the most draconian measures to be meted out. Do we recall the "Gun Court which was painted red because it dread"," "indefinite detention" among draconian measures in the era of 70's 80 the murder rate then was a fraction of what it is now. The evidence is that a mandatory sentences without due process is injustice and knee jerk reaction seems to make matters worse. The ideal approach is to look at the conditions that create the need for guns and ammunition or conflicts and do something about that bolstered by effective policing/investigations and an efficient justice system. The certainty of getting caught is the most effective deterrent to crime, the cleared up rate must improve. You know one top Don recommended that there should be a focus on reducing the supply of ammunition would make guns useless no one has taken on his suggestion seriously. These Dons are Criminal Executive Officers (CEOs),it would be a good idea out of the box to have one or two of them being consultants to the relevant ministers or ministries and stop bury our heads in the sand.20/04/15

ISIS

These activities by IS militants is getting bolder and more often so none of us are safe any part of the world, they seem to be well organized .financed and brutal. There should be a focus now on cutting off financing combined with a targeted education program to would be sympathizers. Only Iran can make a dent if they would be willing to cooperate with other countries. The stumbling block is that Islamists are not willing to join with non Islamic people to fight Islamic people. This is a tough one as war against Islam does not end and they never die, or commit suicide they are martyrs working in earnest to establish a Caliphate which is getting larger than Iraq and Syria so instead of being ISIS they are now IS. 20/04/15

 Officers Of The Court Wards...?

Lately a number of lawyers are being hauled before the courts because of allegations of impropriety some of them quite prominent.All lawyers should have a client trust account or otherwise some legally transparent method of securing clients' funds. Thieves are thieves are found in all walks of life and potential clientele should do their due diligence also. The General Legal Council does a good job in trying to weed out the profession and as far as I know it is a no nonsense organization that can punish you for doing or not doing something that affects the clients interest. It would be good Mr Derby to get someone from the General Legal Council on your program to shed some light on this dark spot tainting the legal profession. 20/04/15

 Road Traffic Law

As I read through the proposed traffic fines under the Road Traffic Act I made the following observations. Failing to use appropriate hand signal - $2,000. This one needs to be deleted with the lack of electronic signal being an offence.Overtaking in an intersection to be added this is a very dangerous activity I see daily. Overall most of the fines are oppressive, unconscionable and foolish with the authorities not collecting 60% of traffic fines presently. What's the point of increasing fines or do they plan to have only traffic police and then a dedicated traffic prison. Considering that minimum wage is $5600 for a 40hr work week fines should not be increased more than the average inflation rate for 10 years whatever that is. Draconian thinking or methods do not correct ills they make matters worse whether you choose "left or write" one has to apply reasonable pragmatism.21/04/15

 That Youth

The St Mary youth accused of going to join ISIS is still in custody. What an injustice on the child of poor black rural people and we say how we love and care for the poor. Even the deaf and dumb see that this youth needs to go home to the love and care of his family. These are some of the things that push and harden youths to turn to all kinds of groups and gangs for solace and rescue from barbarity and injustice. Time to jus leggo di yute mek him gwaan a him yaad. 21/04/15

 Police Impersonator

Fifty-seven-year-old repeat police impersonator Derrick Thompson, yesterday pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining money by false pretense and impersonating a police officer.What is the protocol regarding the number of policemen who should be working as far as I know it should be at least two one acts as cover or back up in case of anything. Any one police accost me no car, bicycle, bike or another police in sight I immediately get suspicious because most times it is always "left not write" "left or write" is the correct corrupt approach. Now if traffic fines are being increased as proposed God help motorists and if you have 3ounces of ganja instead of 2 you need God's help times two. 21/04/15

 Is Councillor Haughton Alone?

Again they pick on councilor Haughton a weak Hanover link out in rural Jamaica,  why not audit all Parish Councils starting in Kingston let us see how clean they all are because my guess is all of them have the same modus operandi "parson christen him pickney first". There should be a full scale island wide audit of parish councils after which mass suspensions if needed should take place. Did the council get value for money paid to family, if yes why suspension?. Is there a rule that qualified family members of a mayor or any other politician become ineligible for work in their jurisdiction? 21/04/15