Murders in 2008

The number of people murdered in Jamaica in 2008 reached 1600.

That’s the second highest total ever recorded. 2005 saw more people killed – 1,674 was the total then. Read about 2005 totals here.

There were 1,574 murders reported in 2007, a 17 per cent rise on 2006. More details on those figures here.

One of the final murders in 2008 was a pregnant woman who was apparently shot over an argument about the whereabouts of an illegal gun. She and two others were taken out of the car they were driving in and shot several times. See full details of that shooting here.

I thought this photo of a woman shot on the street with her unfinished fizzy drink beside her while people around look on shows the reality of what these figures amount to. It has now become something that people become immune to and expect to see. Unless you are directly related to the person lying there, it’s easy to feel detached. While the fear means that more and more people stay indoors, they keep their houses, their mouths and their eyes tightly bound shut.

Bruce Golding is claiming success in his policies and says he’s going to improve the justice system – if it wasn’t so tragic it would be seriously laughable.

Kartel win it

The dancehall clash everyone was waiting for.  Kartel vs Mavado at Sting 2008 and the overwhelming consensus is that Kartel reigns supreme over the Gully God.  It was Kartel coming out in army fatigues signalling he was serious about this war.   It threw Mavado and he starts stumbling and shouting about his microphone levels not being right when it seems he was covering up for forgetting his lyrics.

I’m not surprised as Kartel is the far more eloquent and media savvy of the two, but just because you’re good at battling, does not change the fact that the big hits of 2008 came from Mavado’s melancholic voice as opposed to Kartel’s aggressive lyrics.

Jamaicans for Justice – Human Rights Award

Dr Carolyn Gomes, executive director of the citizen rights action group Jamaicans for Justice has won the prestigious UN human rights award.

It is an important recognition of the work that is being done by Dr Gomes and her team.  I have interviewd her a couple of times,  around the issue of families who were trying to get the police to be accountable for extra judicial killings, like in the Braeton seven case.

Both this and countless other cases have brought unsuccessful prosecutions as a culture of impunity in the police force prevails and still holds strong, making it even more crucial that the work she does continues to be given some of the spotlight.

Here is the full announcement ..

The President of the General Assembly, Miguel d´Escoto Brockmann, today announced the winners of the prestigious United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights for 2008:  Ms. Louise Arbour, Mr. Ramsey Clark, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, Dr. Denis Mukwege and Human Rights Watch.  Benazir Bhutto and Sister Dorothy Stang were awarded the Prize posthumously.

The award is given to individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.  Previous recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International, Jimmy Carter, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Reverend Dr. Martin L. King.

“As we mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we acknowledge the tireless work and invaluable contribution of these individuals and organizations that have fought to see the rights and freedoms embodied in this historic document become a reality for people in all corners of the world”, said the General Assembly President.

President d’Escoto continued, “These awardees constitute symbols of persistence, valour and tenacity in their resistance to public and private authorities that violate human rights.  They constitute a moral force to put an end to systematic human rights violations.  In doing so, they are an inspiration to all of us who seek and believe another type of society, another type of political system, another economic model, another world is possible where all persons will be treated as brothers and sisters, without discrimination, exclusion or destruction of life in all its forms.”

The Human Rights Prize is awarded every five years, in accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly, which was adopted in 1966.  The Prize was first awarded on 10 December 1968, the International Year for Human Rights and the twentieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The recipients of the Prize were selected by a committee comprised of the President of the General Assembly (Chairperson), the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the Human Rights Council, the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council.

The committee had met in New York, with the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on 21 November to select the awardees from among 189 nominations received, in accordance with the established rules.

The Prize will be awarded at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Human Rights Day, 10 December.

A press conference with some of the Human Rights Prize awardees will take place in room S-226 at United Nations Headquarters on 10 December 2008.

contact details here