1. Duel of dual citizens
The matter of dual citizenship has taken centre stage. While the Constitution must be followed to the letter, one cannot help asking how come a person aged 21 from a country like, say, Vanuatu (where Bislama and French are among the languages spoken) could live in Jamaica for a year and then be deemed eligible for a seat in Parliament on the strength of being a Commonwealth citizen, while a Jamaican who has spent all his or her life here would be disqualified by virtue of dual citizenship. Hmmm, something to think about.
2. Rape allegations!
Two Caribbean leaders have been accused of rape , so far, this year. The latest is the dashing Michael 'Iron Mike' Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Before that, there was Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines. In Misick's case, he is alleged to have raped a stripper who attended a posh event on the island. She is said to have grabbed the incriminating bed sheets and made off to America, where she held a press conference to make public her claims. The FBI are said to be investigating the report.
Meanwhile, the British government has ordered a commission of enquiry into happenings in that dependency.
3. Life is cheap
Those who have connections with the underworld say it only takes $5,000 to have a person killed. When one considers that amount is less than US$100, one begins to understand the monster that is trawling the streets.
4. 'Bina gets ready
Contractors are working at break-neck speed to get Sabina Park ready for Thursday's Test match. The focus is on the expensive private boxes which were, reportedly, handed over only recently. A cursory glance at the list of owners include entities like the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) and people are wondering whether the box was given gratis and, if not, why would taxpayers' money be used to indulge in such luxury?
Does the BOJ board think that such expenditure is justified? There are many public companies that own boxes that cost the price of a house and the question is how do these benefit the average shareholder?
5. Boorish
A customer makes a purchase at a well-known hardware store in Kingston. There is a rule in force that calls for persons making purchases with credit cards to provide a form of identification.
This man, who appears to come from the upper reaches of St Andrew, refuses to show his ID and with a perfunctory wave of hand, he asks, "You don't know me?" The cashier insists that she does not know him.
He suggests that the supervisor must surely know him because he shops there 'nearly' every day. The supervisor looks at him quizzically and asks, "I know you?"
She takes the card, surveys it, looks at the man again and OKs it. Such boorish behaviour certainly did not impress other shoppers.
