At Your Service With Vernon Derby on Nationwide Radio

Theme Song For At Your Service

Ackee Walk

On Monday, November 8, 2021, I will dedicate my show to the people living in Ackee Walk in Kingston, who have lost another member of their community due to violence. I remember that young man who had saved the life of a little boy who fell into the gully during heavy rains and he became my friend. I had great hopes for him. The little boy whose life he had saved, came to look for him recently only to learn that the man who saved his life had been killed. 

I will dedicated this song to all those good people who live in Ackee Walk. Ackee Walk is off Molynes Road in Kingston.

Song For Ackee Walk Residents

I will take calls between 0840 and 0900 EST. During Immigration Monday my guests will be Opal Lee - Attorney at Law who will answer your questions about going to the USA and Nadine Mahabeer - Immigration Consultant will answer your questions about going to Canada.

Come for the fun, stay for the information and leave fulfilled.

Tune in to Nationwide Radio.

Share this post with persons you know living in Ackee Walk.

More Readings:

Another killing in Ackee Walk.

Step Up the Heat on Criminals!!!

Shooting In Ackee Walk In Kingston Again

Crime Scene at Ackee Walk
in Kingston

At minutes past four this afternoon, November 6, 2021, the silence was shattered with the sounds of a barrage of gun shots being fired in rapid succession. Yes I knew that another life was lost and the eerie silence which followed was just as blood curdling. It's another crime scene in Kingston, Jamaica. 

The last time a similar incident occurred and I rushed to the crime scene, the deputy Principal of Excelsior was gunned down while she cared for her plants, in full few of her son. The crime scene was at the corner of Fairdene Avenue and Molynes Road in Kingston. Persons dashed from all corners to find out who had bitten the dust again - who was made a duppy! The community of Ackee Walk was the scene of another crime. Gun shots...death...this is the life that our children are growing up in and they were there observing everything.

When I arrived at the scene, women were screaming and men openly cried because another community member seemed to have lost his life.  I saw the injured/dead man lying on the ground motionlessly, while there were commotion and confusion all around. Everyone was yelling out as to what should be done. Eventually someone turned the man over in the recovery position. He was bleeding profusely. Someone yelled, "Check his pulse, check his pulse". One lady attempted to do so and as she attempted to do so the injured man gasped for air. I said to myself that, that was his last breath. This is the first time that I am seeing a man die - die like a mongrel dog on the street. What a country - what a life!

The people were now attempting to lift the injured/dead man to take him in a car to the hospital. I begged them to be careful how they lifted him because they could cause further injury. In that confusion no one was listening to any voice of reason. Many persons were trying to lift him up, and then someone lost hold of the man and his head then hit the asphalt with a loud thud. I said to myself that there is no doubt that he is dead now!

The police officers arrived quickly on the scene. I stood on the other side of the road and was about to take a picture when a police yelled at me, "Yu can't teck no picture". That seems to be a new police law to me.

I left the area feeling sad for all of us. We cannot depend on the police force alone to deal with the crime taking place in this country. The police were very quick on the scene but those criminals would be miles away by the time they arrived. We need to organize citizens in various areas to become members of a Community Security Force. Train them to deal with security, first aid, disaster management and other things so that they can assist their communities. They should also be armed. As a society, decent citizens should have the right to arm and to protect themselves from these terrorists. The nation must act now and we must tell our leaders that we have had enough. It's time for ACTION!

Killing In Albert Town, Trelawny & Scammers in Spalding Clarendon?

I just got a report that there was another killing in Albert Town on Friday, November 5, 2021. Report coming to me is the killing is connected to the scamming taking place in the community. I also understand that the scamming is taking root in Spalding in Clarendon. I get reports of youngsters driving these fancy cars which they probably could not afford with a normal job. It is strange how these guys just seem to get away. A resident contends that some of these scammers are getting support from the police! There is Covid-19, but crime continues to be the leading killer and we are unable to even dent the problem.

Mr. Prime Minister, it is time to call the nation together as one powerful force to deal with the high level of crime. We have had enough. Please add your comments to this blog and state what action that you think the government should take to deal with this scourge.

Shooting In Albert Town, Trelawny

Good people must Unite

For the Good of this Country.

When Good people fail to Act

Then the Good people become a part of the Evil.

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NWC Interuptions In St. Andrew

Press Release From NWC

Andrew Cannon
Public Relations Manager

The National Water Commission is advising its customers that water supply to the St. Andrew communities of Queensbury, Perkins Boulevard and Duhaney Park Areas will be disrupted today, Saturday, November 6, 2021 as the NWC undertakes emergency pipeline and valve repairs. 

Customers supplied by the network will experience no water conditions for several hours as these works are undertaken. 

 

Completion timeline:             

6 pm, today, Saturday, November 6, 2021.

Areas affected are Queensbury, Queensborough Drive and environs, Meadowbrook Estate, Perkins Boulevard and all roads leading off, sections of Patrick City and Sections of the Duhaney Park .

Note: I will be in touch with Mr. Andrew Cannon for updates.

What's Happening, November 6, 2021

Judge Orders Police Brought Before the Court in Handcuffs

Corporal Rohan James

The Jamaica Police Federation has sent out a release about a judge ordering a police man in uniform to be brought before the court in handcuffs, for failing to appear in court the previous day. The federation release under the name of its President Rohan James, stated that the constable had another matter in another court with similar jurisdiction. This was communicated to the appropriate persons who had in turn highlight this to the judge.

My first response is do we have a system in place to deal with this challenge of a police not being able to attend court? First, police officers should be informed possible about a week in advance that the officer  is to attend court. This advice should be sent electronically to the officer and this system would allow the officer to indicate his inability to attend court or not. 

The idea of a judge having the power to haul a police officer in front of the court just like that is an indication of a system which is not working. I am aware that officers sometimes do not turn up for cases and this must be frustrating for all. We cannot have different arms of the system dealing with justice being at war. If persons who are part of the security, and the judicial system cannot work together, then we should not expect the system to deal with crime in a country were we are in the top 10 in terms of the number of murders committed annually per capita in Jamaica. 

If the judge abused his power then a report should be made to the appropriate body to deal with it. It is possible that this judge should not continue as a judge! The country must be able to to have full confidence in those who are to see to it that our laws are obeyed, and those who are arbitrators of justice. If this is not working then this country is doomed for failure.

The Police Federation should realize that this country needs ideas as to how to improve the system because those who are in a position to come up with ideas are coming up with blanks.  Every sector of the society must be held accountable. Police officers should be held accountable and so should our judges. Where any one falls short, them that persons should be told to pack their bags and leave or be encouraged to do so depending on the severity of the case.

I encourage the Police Federation to forget the confrontation and any disruption of the system. Get the ideas out there for solving a situation which cannot continue. I encourage well thinking Jamaicans to look at those solutions and to come up with your own. We should then advise our humble servants in Gordon House what action should be taken. You can start by adding your comments at the end of this blog.

Brenda Hines

Brenda Hines

Brenda Hines who was married to Phillip Hines and was living in Lime Tree, Trelawny before migrating to the United States, has died. I wish all her family members and friends all the best.

JCDC Crisis - Minister Grange in an Unenviable Position!!!

Daffodil Thompson

Our sources have indicated that Mr. Sydney Bartley who was tipped to be the next head of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), has not yet taken up the position. Indications are that the controversy surrounding his appointment might have caused the authorities to think twice. Objections to this possible appointment have come from the political parties, public servants, other stakeholders and the general public. 

The JCDC has been without a permanent head for about four

Leydon Kirton

years. Many have cited the danger of having an organization for so long without a permanent head. Mr. Sydney Bartley cannot be appointed permanently, because he is above retirement age. Daffodil Thompson who acted as head before,  was not given the nod for the post even although she had the support of the then Board. Many were impressed with her leadership style and she did significant work in streamlining the operations of the JCDC. A reliable source advised me when Mrs. Leyden Kirton was appointed to act as Executive Director, that she would not be confirmed in the job. He felt that she would not be confirmed, because there are certain things that she would not be willing to do while occupying that post.

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Important Reminder - Hazardous Substance

Important Reminder About Hazardous Substance

The Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA), an Agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, is reminding its stakeholders that in accordance with the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, 2015 (NSRP Act), all importers of radiation sources are required to have a valid HSRA import permit for presentation at the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) for clearance of such commodities.

 

Failure to comply with the requirement constitutes a breach of Section 210 of the Customs Act and may attract fines. There may also be charges associated with storage, as the imported item/s will remain at the port pending the presentation of the HSRA import permit. 

 

Also be advised, that import permits are only issued to end-users who are duly authorized with the HSRA; a process which can take an average of 30 business days, as it requires preparation and submission of several documents, payment of fees, a site inspection and consideration of the application by the Technical Committee of the HSRA Board, which currently meets twice a month. 

 

Radiation sources covered under the legislation include, but are not limited to the following:

 

1.        Industrial equipment such as gauges (Nuclear/Moisture Density/Compaction/ XRay), XRF/XRD analyzers, Full Scan Vehicle Imaging Systems and Baggage Scanners.

 

2.      Medical and Dental equipment used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as,  Conventional X-ray Units, Linear Accelerators, Cobalt-60 Teletherapy Units, PET/ SPECT Scanners, Mammography Units,  Fluoroscopy Units, Veterinary X-ray Units, Intraoral and Portable Dental Unit, Whole Body Bone Densitometers, Radioisotopes.

 

3.       Equipment used in research/education/agriculture such as check sources. 

 

In light of the foregoing, the HSRA is encouraging all end-users to complete the authorization process as soon as possible, so your future import needs can be facilitated in a timely manner and avoid the potentially high costs associated with any breach of the legal requirements.  

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What's Happening, November 4, 2021

Two Police Officers Clash?

I got this video from one of my supporters in rural Jamaica. You must watch this interaction between two persons who are suppose to 'Serve and Protect'.

When I saw this video I said to myself that from the bottom to the top, it seems that persons can get away with any and everything. The question some might ask is, who we should fear, the bad men out of uniform or the bad men in uniform. Please add your comments to this post because your comments could start a great a tsunami which could help to wash away the nastiness in this beautiful country, Jamaica Land We Love! 

 

Are We Heading to the Top - World Leaders in Murders?

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Murder Rates (per 100k people) in 2017:

1. El Salvador (61.7)
2. Honduras (41.0)
3. Venezuela (49.9)
4. United States Virgin Islands (49.3 [2012 data])
5. Jamaica (56.4)
6. Lesotho (43.6 [[2016 data]] per 100k people)
7. Belize (37.8)
8. Saint Vincent And The Grenadines (36.5 [2016 data])
9. Saint Kitts And Nevis (36.1 [2012 data])
10. South Africa (35.7)

 Click on this link for more information: World Population Review.

Careful of Scammers

Do not jump to donate funds based on requests made, when you cannot confirm if there is a genuine need. It is best to work though organizations such as Food For The Poor, a reputable church group or a service organization.

I got this video shown below and I don't think that persons should donate to the bank account indicated.

We have persons who have promised jobs overseas to Jamaicans and these scammers have disappeared in thin air. There is one gentleman who formed an organization, and as far as I know, that person is the president, the whole executive and the membership of the organization. From reports that I have received he is a deportee who was involved in gangs in the USA. He is oftentimes seen in a business suites attending media interviews, being a part of national organizations and have convince persons that he is a graduate of a top US university. For sometime he fooled some that he was a lawyer.

There are also church leader who seem to have a strong following and persons must be careful of these pastors who can mislead others. I am watching a particular church in Westmoreland and as far as I know, there is another church in Montego Bay which was also in the news. That church, where the state had to remove the children from. That church has  to be monitored.

Dancing With The Ball

Bureau Of Standards Jamaica Makes Presentation to Vernon Derby

Thanks for the beautiful gift that was given to me by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica just saying thanks for being guest speaker at the long service awards function recently.

Gift from Bureau of Standards Jamaica

Click on the link for my Bureau of Standards Jamaica Speech.

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Vybz Kartel Backers Should Resign Now!

Howard Mitchell

Those who promoted the idea for Vybz Kartel to be used in a promotional campaign to get persons to take the Covid-19 vaccine should resign from all Government posts and any other leadership positions they hold in this country. It is unbelievable that any official connected to the government could have even considered using a convicted murderer in a vaccination campaign.  It is even amazing that they have not been asked to pack their bags and go.

I would love to hear from the Chairman of the National Health Fund if he had recommended that Vybz Kartel should be used in the Covid-19 vaccine Campaign. If you did Mr. Mitchell, then the honourable thing for you to do is to resign as Chairman of the National Health Fund with immediate effect.

Jamaica needs a clean out of some of the leaders in the public sector and also in the private sector. The type and quality leaders we have in the private and the public sector, give an indication as to whether we will head in the right direction or not. We cannot plant corn and expect to reap peas, and a number of our leaders fit into the corn category.

More Readings

• Amazing who the private sector welcomed back to Jamaica.
• Supporters of convicted murderer.
• More support for Kartel
• Bloggers outraged at suggestion to use Kartel in vaccine campaign.

Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) Needs Your Support

Frankie Campbell

The following message was received from the Chairman of JAVAA:

Good day: This is Frankie Campbell Chairman of The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) and Manager and Bass Player of Fab 5. JAVAA is an organziation dedicated to the  preservation of Jamaica's musical heritage through the protection of the professional well-being of our vintage artistes and musicians. We are now over 18 years old and have over 150 members. 

We have life insurance coverage for 100 of our members which has allowed us to be able to bury with some dignity, many of our members who have died. Pre COVID we had many shows on an annual basis, raising money for the day to day running of the association and giving valuable exposure and an income to performing members of the group. With the global pandemic in Jamaica since March 10, 2020, we have been unable to put on any event as our industry is totally shut down. Fab 5, who over the last 18 years have been the main benefactor, investing millions of dollars, so JAVAA could stay afloat, have also found themselves in the same predicament, no earnings over the last 19 months. 

We are now appealing to anyone for whatever assistance we can get to ensure that this important music organization does not die, but will live on to benefit our vintage performers/musicians and Jamaica at large, through the promotion of positive wholesome music that Jamaica was known for in the past. Thanks and be blessed. For further information please contact: Frankie Campbell 876 819-2936  11 Springvale Ave Kgn 10

Culture Minister Under Fire - How Will PM Handle This?

Hon. Olivia Grange
 Minister of Sports, Culture,
Entertainment and Gender Affairs.

Culture Minister, The Hon. Oliva 'Babsy' Grange, is coming under fire for what some say is the pending appointment of Sydney Bartley as Executive Director for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Mr. Bartley has been in the boiling pot of controversy in the past. With his colourful, dramatic and outgoing personality, some feel that Sydney would be the ideal choice to lead the JCDC. Others contend that perception can hinder even the best leader in their efforts to do good.  

Persons have said that the JCDC caters a lot to the children and therefore any perception about the possible treatment of children can damage

Sydney Bartley

the name of the organization. Some have argued that Sydney Bartley has not been convicted of any crime and therefore if he is the best man for the job then let him do the job.

This matter has now become very controversial and I understand from good sources that the matter has been brought to the Prime Minister's attention. Members of Parliament have also wade in on the matter privately, and have expressed their concerns.

A comment on a previous blog that I wrote, stated that if Sydney Bartley is the best man for the job then staff members who do not support the appointment should seek another employment. Based on feedback, it is clear that staff members, members of the Management

The Most Hon. Andrew Holness
Prime Minister of Jamaica

team and some members of the Board do not support the possible appointment.

Word on the ground is that Mr. Bartley could take up his appointment on Wednesday of this week. It is still not clear why neither the current Acting Executive Director, Mrs. Leyton Kirton nor the previous Executive Director, Ms. Daffodil Thompson of the JCDC, were not considered fit for the post. Information from reliable sources state that the previous Director Ms. Daffodil who performed exceptionally well, and was recommended for appointment by a sub-committee of the Board was surprisingly not appointed.

The organization has been without a permanent head since 2017 and this has no doubt impacted on the performance of the organization.

The question on everybody's mind is how Prime Minister, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness will handle this matter, which could take on national proportions. Depending on how this matter is handled, it could put a dent in the popularity of his government. We should note that both audit and Integrity Commission investigations into the operations of the JCDC are currently taking place.

Other Readings:

• Bartley wins case.
• Opposition's concern.
• Hanna adamant that Permanent Secretary must go.
• Hanna to face questions on Bartley.

What's Happening, October 31, Update

Controversy at JCDC

Sydney Bartley

Staff members of the Jamaica Cultural Develop Commission are in a state of shock after hearing about the possible appointment of Mr. Sydney Bartley as Executive Director of the agency. This was published in the Jamaica Gleaner today. I got a few messages from staff members who declared that if Mr. Bartley will be the new Head, then the level of respect for a post like that might not be forth-coming from staff members. Some staff members still contend that former Interim Executive Director Daffodill Thompson should have been appointed to the position.

The new head will take up an organization which might have a number of questions to  respond to from the  Auditor General and also the Integrity Commission.

Calls for Juliet Holness to be Appointed as Minister

Many Jamaicans are seeing The Most Hon. Juliet Holness as the next Prime Minister of Jamaica. Persons have said to me that PM Holness should only do two terms and then the party should elect Juliet as the next leader. Her supporters are asking that she be appointed as a Minister now.

Her constituents are pleased with her efforts to improve the roads in the constituency which are in a deplorable condition. Reports are that she is doing a great job with the farmers by introducing crops to them like strawberries for example. There are those who feel that she should stick with her constituency and build the constituency some more.

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What's Happening, October 31, 2021

New Head Of Government Organization

Word on the ground is that there will be a new head of of a well known government agency, and this could end up being another controversial appointment. Jamaicans have become very concerned about the integrity of persons who are appointed to government boards and as heads of these government organizations. Citizens are saying that persons who have a question mark above their heads should not be appointed to sensitive government positions.

This organization which is about to get a new head, has been without a head for a number of years. One Trade Union leader has said this is not looking good. This situation has remained unnoticed by the public and also the auditor general.

The last head of the organization ended up being locked out of an official function of the organization and this lead to a deterioration in relationships. The acting head who was being favourably seen as the next head of the agency, her contract was not renewed even although recommendations for acceptance was given by a sub-committee of the board.

Note:

While writing this blog I saw a Gleaner report that Sydney Bartley is tipped to be the next head of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. If this is confirmed then this appointment could be a very controversial indeed! 

The Meteorological Office

At 10:00 p.m., the center of Subtropical Storm Wanda was located near latitude 36.2 North, longitude 45.4 West. The storm is moving toward the southeast near 33 km/h, and a slower southeast to east-southeast motion is expected during the next day or two.  A turn to the northeast or north is forecast to occur on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 km/h with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next few days.

Subtropical Storm Wanda is not a threat to Jamaica.

Pay While On Special Leave

There was a heated debate in the house recently about  Principal of Jamaica College having his special leave extended.

One union leader said that in the public sector and specifically in the police force, cops are given a part of their salaries, when they are sent on leave pending the outcome of a case. In this case, Mt. Ruel Reid was given special leave to take on the role of Minister. Now that he is not the Minster should he return to school? Has the school Board considered the matter now in court involving Mr. Reid and has sent him on further leave or not? If the Board has sent him on leave, is he entitled to his full salary or a part of it?

In the house of parliament after the long arguments about this matter, I do not recall anyone mentioning what the laws says about a matter like this.

I have been informed that Mr. Ruel Reid is not the only Principal who is on leave because of a pending court case. The question is, why those names are not being mentioned at this time and what action will be taken to deal with all these issues.

We must realize that a man is not guilty until he or she is proven guilty in a court of law. It seems to me that the challenge is not whether or not someone is getting a salary while there is a case in court against that person,  but  how long it takes to resolve the matter in court.

Many are zooming in on Ruel Reid but is Fritz Pinnock on leave and is he being paid his full salary?  I understand that the Principal of Mona Secondary is on leave also and I wonder if he is being paid his full salary? I understand that a member of parliament had a charge against her but that MP is still in the house and is still getting paid as far as I know. That reminds me about another case, when there was a major uproar about another member of parliament who it is alleged assaulted his girl friend. There were calls from all over for him to resign but there is silence for the female MP who was charged and arrested.

There was also the report of the wife of another member of parliament who reported a case of assault to the police against her husband. There was no call for that MP to resign his seat and he still continued to get his salary.

There are also other cases of a parish councillor and others who have been charged and they did not resign their positions and they continued to get a salary. It is clear that the field is not level. The society is hypocritical towards certain issue and we must admit that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

We need to hear from the lawyers and our trade union leaders. Do we have a standard practice as to what should happen when public officers are charged? Should they be suspended from their post immediately pending the outcome of their case? I understand that members of the police are not happy with how they are treated when they are suspended because a case has been brought against them. We should bear in mind that the outcome of each case could take almost forever!!! 

One thing is certain, and that is, the state should not charge someone and the case takes up to six years and the person has to live without a salary. This is punishing the person as if that persons had been convicted in a court of law.

Ah boy...Donkey sey di wo'l no lebel!

More Readings

MP Neita-Headley

Mikael Phillips

Patrick Roberts

Ruel Reid and wife arrested

Kari Douglas

JLP Councillor in custody

Is His Excellency - Dead Or Alive?

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith, former head of the Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Montego was controversial in life and now he is controversial in death - the self style 'His Excellency Kevin Smith' is still alive - alive in the minds of the people. Some who are just trying to make the story more intriguing and saying that Kevin did not die while others are saying that he raised from the dead on the third day.

One gentleman call me from the United States and told me that Kevin Smith should not have been allowed to be taken in a car so that he could be in direct contact with the police officers. He claims that he has seen how a well known hypnotist whose name was Bunny Neil, had hypnotized persons and got them to do strange things. He declares that Kevin Smith has special gifts and he is trained. It is possible therefore that he could have taken over the minds of those police officers in the car. Kevin's plan was for the police to crash the car and for him to get away scot free. A second person called me tonight with the same theory. He felt Kevin put the policemen to sleep and that is why the car careened off the road.

Well the stories will continue and if officials of the state do not communicate properly with the nation then this will help to develop a fertile breeding ground for more exciting rumours. 

What is interesting about this man, is that he had two police outriders escorted him to his birthday bash, while he travelled in a stretch limousine followed by another and yet the force hierarchy was unaware of this. This man built a church with members from all over and no one seemed to be aware of his antecedents. All of a sudden no one seems to know kevin. This might seem strange on a small island but not strange in Jamaica Land We Love.

More Readings

Lawyer not aware of where body is.

Talk of Kevin's resurrection causes business man nightmare.

Who was Kevin Smith.

Support High End Front Of Package Labelling Now You Could Save Many Lives!

No Buy Puss Eena Bag

Dr. Andrene Chung
Consultant Cardiologist,
Chair
Heart Foundation
of Jamaica.

You might have heard the saying, 'No buy “puss eena bag!” and therefore you should ask yourself if it is a wise idea to buy puss eena bag. When we go to the supermarkets, the fast food restaurants, the corner shops and the street vendors, do we stop to see what we are buying? Do we look at the labels and if we do, do we understand what is written on these labels? Do you understand what is a serving? Are you able to understand how to calculate how much magnesium, calcium and other nutrients per serving to find out if you are  consuming the required amount of nutrients? Do you know what is the definition of a serving, a portion, sodium or trans-fat? Very few of us would be able to answer these questions and that is why it is important for regulations to be put in place to make it easier for consumers to make decision on what to include in their diet.

I am confused by this label.

The Winning Front of Package Labels

Deborah Chen
Executive Director
Heart Foundation
of Jamaica

That is why the Heart Foundation of Jamaica with its Chair, Dr. Andrene Chung and it's Executive Director Deborah Chen, is now on a drive to convince the government to put in place a simple and effective system which will assist consumers to choose foods that have nutrients that are beneficial to them - foods which do not contain too much of any ingredients such as salt, fats and sugar. 

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica wants the government to put in place, a system which will allow each consumer to be able to look at the label of a product and be able to make a decision which is right for that consumer. There should be no need for that consumer to take out a calculator and calculate how much grams of the various nutrients there are in the product in order to make a decision. 

Many items that we purchase, have a significant amount of trans fats, saturated fats, added sugars and sodium/salt which can lead to obesity and which might eventually end up with us having diabetes (some call it sugar), heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure for example. You will notice that more Jamaicans are getting fat these days and this is not the look of prosperity, but the look of trouble ahead.  We call that trouble, non-communicable disease (NCDs).

Need to Reduce Intake of Too Much Unhealthy Foods

The World Health Organization and our own Ministry of Health and Wellness have been advising us to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods that we consume in order to reduce the level of obesity and NCDs. The solution to all of this is to implement a simple system to help us to make a decision quickly in terms of what we purchase to eat. The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is supporting the move to implement Front Of Package Warning Labels (FOPWL). This symbol on the front of food labels will indicate to us what is unhealthy about some foods that we are about to purchase.

Where are we?

The Caribbean, which includes our country Jamaica, has no regulation which states what nutritional facts must be indicated on the labels of food products. Consumers are therefore not benefitting from such laws at this time.  However, in July 2016, CARICOM Heads of Government decided on the need to make nutritional labelling among other actions such as reducing the marketing of foods to children, mandatory. 

Some Jamaican organizations have taken the lead to advocate for healthy food policies and, one such organization is the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ). There has been some achievements in terms of improving the Caribbean population health, but it seems as if some things have made a turn for the worse.

On March 30, 2021, the voting for Jamaica took place, and the majority of the stakeholder representatives I am told, voted in favour of the 'High In' Black Octagonal Model of FOPWL to be used on food packages. This 'High In Black Octagonal Model has been used by other countries such as Chile, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. It’s a simple black octagon that shows when saturated fats, trans fats, sodium/salt and sugar are contained in high amounts in food and beverage products. (See Image 1.)

Regional studies have shown that this model is most effective in helping consumers to make healthier choices when buying foods. A local study by the Pan American Health Organization, Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness and the University of Technology, Jamaica, compared different models of front of package labelling and this black octagonal model was the most effective for our Jamaican people in:

• Helping them to select healthier food options.
• Helping them to understand when a product has too much sodium/salt, sugars and unhealthy fats.
• Helping them to identify which food and beverages are the least harmful.

The Benefits

The following are the benefits of the proposed Front of Package Labels are as follows:

• Nutrition labelling is not mandated by law and this move would benefit consumers.
• This model is easily understood by the consumers.
• There is no need for the consumer to do any calculations of the nutrients in the product.
• There is no need to interpret the labels.
• It makes it easier for the consumer to make wise food choices which will result in lower health bills for the country. This could result in .foreign exchange savings.

We encourage consumers to support the move for the 'High In' Front of Package Warning Labels. It might not be in the interest of the manufactures in the short term, but it will be in the interest of  all, in the long term. Eating wisely means less medical bills and therefore more funds will be available for purchasing other goods especially those made locally.

Support a healthy Jamaica, support healthy eating habits, support the 'High In' Black Octagonal Model of FOPWL, and support the move to eat Less Sugar, Less High Fats, Less High In Saturated Fats, Less High In Trans Fats, Less High In Sodium food and reduce the high incidence of non-communicable disease such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

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More Readings:

• Dr. Andrene Chung, Consultant Cardiologist and Chair of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.
• Christopher Tufton - front of package labels.
• JMEA on front of page package labels.
• Richard Pandohie and the JMEA.
• Antoya G. Cassels.
• Front of package labelling research.

Note: 

• Thanks to the Heart Foundation of Jamaica for providing some of the material for this blog.
• Show your support by adding your comments below.

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Click HERE in order to register and to get future blogs, Share this article with especially your friends and relatives who have diabetes, suffer from hypertension and heart disease.  Encourage them to join this movement for 'High In' Front of Package Warning Labels. They will appreciate your gesture.