Orville W. Taylor, Contributor
I AM holding my breath because I fear that I might get leptospirosis from breathing the same air that the rats are exhaling. We are on the verge of an outbreak of a dangerous disease.
Thank goodness it is not communicable by air or tear gas, but it is contagious. Therefore, it is spread by contact with the bodily emission of infected mammals. Caused by the leptospira bacterium, it is most commonly transmitted by rats, which have been growing in numbers and size due to what I believe is the poor storage, disposal and collection of garbage. With the recent discovery of impropriety and allegations of thievery in the National Solid Waste Management Authority I believe that this version could be renamed 'kleptospirosis'.
HUGE RATS
Still, these rats are very large and have caused many a cat to simply bow and look the other way rather than challenge them. Indeed, the vermin are so huge that r-a-t is no longer a small word to spell. Nevertheless, rats have historically 'plagued' us by spreading epidemics such as the 'Black Plague' or 'bubonic plague' caused by the yersinia pestis bacterium and spread by fleas living on the species 'black rat.' "Bwoy! Black can't get a break eh!"
The plague has had several outbreaks in history but the most noteworthy was that of 1347 to 1350 which killed around 34 million Europeans, a third of the population. Other notable outbreaks include one in Italy between 1629 and 1631, the Great Plague of London from 1665 to 1666 (note the three sixes and the mark of the beast), and the Great Plague of Vienna in Austria in 1679. Bet you thought that AIDS is the most dangerous killer in history.
For the record, we have the benefit of modern science and medicine and unlike the medieval Europeans, we have microbiological knowledge and understand good hygiene. We are just too nasty and corrupt. By the way, the scientific name for the black rat is Rattus rattus, which is similar to the nickname we used to call Shocking Vibes and Rising Stars musical connoisseur, Clyde McKenzie. His surname though, is another matter.
THE 'FALL GUY'
I don't know whose idea it was for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parish councillors along with the ubiquitous James Robertson to march in the direction of Jamaica House on Monday, but media star Desmond McKenzie became the 'fall guy.' As I watched the newscasts, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him as he fell faster than Karl Blythe's chances of winning the Peoples' National Party's (PNP) presidency and collapsed like the pathetic West Indies batting line up.
It was embarrassing to watch him being tear-gassed like 'ordinary' University of the West Indies (UWI) students in 1986 and in October last year. To compound the matter, he was ineptly rescued by Robertson and others who, clearly knowing nothing about first aid, unceremoniously raised one of his legs up in the air and dragged him away like an illegally parked car. Thank heavens they did not administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because that could be another blow.
The reason for the march was understandable. Enough funds were not allocated by Finance Minister Davies for the cleaning of drains and the proper repair of roads. And of course, Minister Simpson-Miller gave them so little money she can be called "Poor-sha." It is unreasonable to give them baskets to carry water and we know over the past year there has been a whole lot, if not in the pipes. "Sorry Danny Buck!"
However, I am a strong believer in due procedure and lawfulness especially when it comes to public officials and politicians. The contingent intended to march and that is what they did.
Renowned attorney, Bert Samuels, called a spade a spade and neatly dissected the event. It was not a walk but a march as defined by the Public Order Act. It was a march even though it is not the end of the financial year. The ridiculous declaration that they were at Devon House to have ice cream is 'difficult to swallow.' It is not that I am lactose intolerant but I don't consume milk or any other cow products. Even more so, I don't tolerate 'bull' very well. What went on last week was a joke.
UNLAWFUL MARCH
Since they intended to march, permission should have been sought. In the absence of authorisation from the police, it was unlawful. Having being cautioned by the police on camera that a march would have been illegal, Mass Desmond, who I still believe is trying to do right, should have told his younger colleague that they should really have the 'Ice Scream' and then seek the necessary permission later. As it turned out, they openly flouted the law, defied the police and of course the tear gas made the 'eyes scream.'
It is my view that the police needed to have taken the necessary steps to prevent the illegal act from taking place. I am yet to be convinced, however, that it was absolutely unavoidable to use tear gas. Nonetheless, the rules of engagement governing the discharging of tear gas canisters are clearly defined within the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) internal guidelines. Therefore, if it is discovered that the rules were breached, then the perpetrators should be penalised.
In a period when we are trying to enforce one law and one order, our officials must toe the line.
On a final note, congratulations Trinidad and Tobago. Despite the fiasco on Saturday when they dropped a point I did not lose hope. After the thunderous kick that levelled the score I said, "'Bahrain' injury and suicide bombers Trinidad would win."
Dr. Orville Taylor is senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
