So today I ventured into the city. I don’t visit often because of the quarantine…, but each time I do, I experience new characters and sometimes it is worth talking about.
It takes me 25 minutes to get to the public transportation on foot. That journey was cut short today by some random guy who offered me a lift to the town centre. I have a feeling that he thought I was someone else, nevertheless, I was grateful for the lift. I would like to think he gave me the lift because of the respect people in the community have over time developed for me. That took some work, and not without challenges. If that is the case, I am proud of me…!
The public transportation journey was also note worthy! Between Golden Spring and Half Way Tree, I observed the conductress paying out $400.00 in extortion fees (Golden Spring $50, Stony Hill $50, Half Way Tree $200). I still have issue with this type of extortion that is publicly accepted by authorities! Despite the pandemic and even before it, I felt that this practice should be condemned. Not by penal punishment, but rather re-education with social transformation activities. In Half Way Tree I made my discomfort palpable just with my eyes over my mask! The extortionist gave me his mind, but my message was clear! At times my disposition (along with my shaved head!) makes me seem like a member of law enforcers!
After all that drama I arrived at JPS to pay my bill, ahead of me was a gentleman (or so I thought). As I positioned myself behind him to collect my bill statement, he turned around and start to unload. Apparently he paid his landlady a years rent in advance, he’s also been out of the country and now that he’s returned, he’s without electricity. He showed me his bill and it was less than my own (Me who have been without employment since March 2020). He continued to threaten the life of his landlady with such wrath, I let him know that his bill is not only far less than my own, "but if you can afford to pay a years rent in advance surely $3+K Jamaican is not worth all that anger." I said to him. He then reassured me he was Nigerian and he can make his landlady "disappear". My immediate response is, "well sir you are in Jamaica, not Nigeria…!" Somehow, in this moment I reflected on how Africans sold us into slavery and now here is one man from Nigeria, publicly threatening to kill a Jamaican sister for inconvenience.
By the time I arrived in Stony Hill, the plane that crash landed in Jamaica in Clarendon became the topic of conversation. A mystery that is yet to be solved by our authorities. Fat chance! Nonetheless, there were underlining concerns raised by all involved in the dialogue. Evidently there is little interest in solving this mystery. What could possibly be the cargo of this plane? If this is a crash landing, where are the passenger(s) and why are there no forensic reports coming out about this craft? Are there any mechanical defects? Are there issues with fuel or navigation? Clearly this was a well planned stunt!
As I head home I couldn’t help thinking, this Nigerian could commit a crime and get away with it, he's confident in publicly stating his intention! Clearly because he feels that Jamaica's justice system is seriously flawed. The Zoso (Zones of special operation) or the so called curfews that are being posted in poor communities are not decreasing murder rates in Jamaica. Our JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) have stepped-up their rhetoric’s on the phone (finally they are polite) but their response to emergencies are beyond poor. I suspect the rebuttal to this criticism is lack of resources.
In conclusion, if we are subjected to extraditing criminals to the USA or any other countries for that matter, for crimes being committed overseas… can we at least, afford our citizens more protection from the aliens who continue to infiltrate Jamaica and seem to think they can act as they like…! I wanted to tell the Nigerian that a Rasta Man from Africa was left stranded here in Jamaica by a popular artist… he was murdered a few years ago because of similar behavior! Body was never identified, never claimed!
Well, I'm glad to have ventured out... I am certainly not unhappy to have encounter that Nigerian fool... but I am grateful that his stupidity gave me a reason to laugh. Though he felt entitled, the security draw him up, politely too like you would a child. I was proud of our front line workers yet again!
Register for Dance In The Park! Lets sweat off the frustrations due to covid 19!
Stay safe
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