Dennie Quill, Contributor
WHAT EXCITEMENT! My head is swirling from hearing the various versions of what went down in 'Bulbie's' living room. However, I won't be handing out any bouquets, not even a withered rose to the police for this so-called successful operation. The man eluded them for 10 years, not hiding in some cave like Osama, but he was up and about doing 'legitimate' business, handling huge sums of money and only after an estimated 100 lives have been taken, Kingfish quietly walks into his living room and took him down in a gun battle! Jamaica is a small country; it is not possible for the police, OK, for at least one policeman, not to have known where 'Bulbie' was. Enough said. By the way, was there a reward offered for his capture?
Had I not attended the UWI's graduation on Saturday evening, I would have elaborated on the 'Bulbie' saga - but the script is still being written - there is the funeral to come and the wills to be read. More anon.
FRUSTRATED WELL-WISHERS
Last Saturday, I arrived at the Mona campus shortly after four o'clock and found a seat on the lawn. There were dark threatening clouds overhead even as the procession of graduates was taking place. It was clear that there were not enough seats for the scores of family members and well-wishers who were streaming in from all corners of the grounds. Then the rains came. "Every year we have this foolishness," shouted one frustrated mother who was trying to shield her young child from the raindrops.
"You mean big, big university couldn't go to the Arena so dat rain or shine the graduation can go on?" asked another woman, whose lovely sequined dress was now drenched. "UTech deh deh arready so dem couldn't go deh," added a man whose group included his elderly mother, wife and two children.
The prudent had come armed with umbrellas, others had to seek refuge under trees or tents or eaves. Eventually, the action moved to the Assembly Hall. It's the same Assembly Hall that has been there for decades. The UWI population must have tripled since it was built. Understandably, the hall could barely accommodate all the graduates, let alone officials, performers, working press, parents and friends.
Chaos reigned supreme on Saturday night. Persons were told to watch the proceedings on monitors which had been set up at various points on the campus. I ended up in a room with used cartons stacked almost to the ceiling - discarded plastic littered the floor. It had not been swept in a while and had not been prepared for guests. Yet, like decent Jamaicans, we huddled together, afraid to blink, because we so desperately wanted to catch a glimpse of our loved ones.
ILL PREPARED
Inside the hall, there was drama too. The University Singers arrived on stage for the first mime of the evening. Oh, they looked lovely - the women in red and the men in dark suits. The group was picture perfect, but not a word issued from anyone's mouth. After about five minutes or so, they departed and the appreciative audience applauded. Albeit, they returned later and gave an excellent rendition.
As the platform party of administrators, faculty and honoured guests walked towards their seats, an instrumental version of Ken Boothe's Puppet On A String ushered them in. I don't know if that was deliberate or coincidental, but Puppet On A String conjures up all sorts of pictures in my mind. Then a visibly upset Sir George Alleyne, who had apparently not been properly briefed, called on the audience to sing the Jamaican National Anthem. He attempted to raise the song, when he was drowned out by the electronic version.
An affable man in good times, Sir George attempted to assuage a seething audience. He acknowledged that not much could have been done about the weather, but better preparations could have been made. He promised it would never happen again. As I understand it, an area close to the Mona Post Office has been earmarked for a new multi-purpose hall, etc., but let's see what happens next year.
FLAYED FOR DOING A POOR JOB
Apologies were accepted and the ceremony began. More precisely, the long ceremony began. The handing out of degrees, diplomas and certificates took a while and some of the graduates forgot their manners, striding by the Chancellor without even a hint of acknowledgement. Of course, the loudest applause was saved for the top performers.
It was simply amazing to hear the head of a faculty pronouncing what we were taught to be a silent 'h' in Thomas and Thompson. He said it once and a few eyebrows went up. However, after three times, a woman declared, "It's not a mistake, he doesn't know better." Her companion sighed: "Even at the highest level."
Many left that ceremony with misgivings, for many families this has happened too often. The organisers must be flayed for doing a poor job. Persons in society see the UWI as a pacesetter and this institution is expected to demonstrate the highest levels of organisation and style in whatever it does so that others may emulate it. Frankly, I have been to the graduation of some prep schools which have been better executed.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
