Dear Editor,
Nothing bugs me more than hearing black people in Jamaica harp on about the slavery that was abolished over 200 years ago, while remaining silent about the black on black slavery that exists in Jamaican today.
And this new slavery is open and in your face as it is practised in almost all of the 25% of the constituencies in this country, those dubbed "garrison constituencies." These garrison constituencies are controlled by either one powerful don or a series of mini-dons, most either actively or surreptitiously supported by the so-called elected members of parliament. For most of these members of parliament would never qualify to hold a seat, had they not been supported by the violent dons who direct the people how to vote.
How it works is that the don is the new slave master and those who live in the area are the slaves. For example, in certain areas downtown where extortion is a way of life, not only does the don provide the businesses with "security", but staff as well. So when the operator calls him and says he needs, for example, three clerks, he selects the persons then collects money weekly and pays the workers what he feels like and the idea that workers have to the right to demand decent working conditions, an hour for lunch, bathroom breaks, vacation leave or even a decent salary, is nothing but a theory to these people.
This is no secret, as some years one newspaper even interviewed some of the persons (mainly women) who worked under these conditions, but naturally they had to remain anonymous. Another despicable condition that the new slaves have to put up with in the garrisons is the practice whereby when a young girl reaches puberty, if the don so decides, she has to go to him when he calls, so he can take her virginity. Many a mother has had to escape from these garrisons to protect their children, but it is something that the authorities and power brokers will do nothing about as it suits their political schemes. I have for years been speaking out publicly about this despicable modern-day slavery as being practised in the Jamaican garrisons, but the wider society has preferred to pretend that it does not exist. Will anyone pay attention now that the Jamaica Observer has again put it on the agenda with the article Sex For Gun Debt --Girls forced into prostitution?
I certainly would never hold my breath in expectation, neither would I expect those hypocrites who shout loudly about the despicable conditions under which our ancestors lived some 200 hundred years ago, to speak up or fight against what is happening under our noses right here, right now.
Joan E Williams
gratestj@gmail.com
Slavery still exists in Jamaica
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Nothing bugs me more than hearing black people in Jamaica harp on about the slavery that was abolished over 200 years ago, while remaining silent about the black on black slavery that exists in Jamaican today.
And this new slavery is open and in your face as it is practised in almost all of the 25% of the constituencies in this country, those dubbed "garrison constituencies." These garrison constituencies are controlled by either one powerful don or a series of mini-dons, most either actively or surreptitiously supported by the so-called elected members of parliament. For most of these members of parliament would never qualify to hold a seat, had they not been supported by the violent dons who direct the people how to vote.
How it works is that the don is the new slave master and those who live in the area are the slaves. For example, in certain areas downtown where extortion is a way of life, not only does the don provide the businesses with "security", but staff as well. So when the operator calls him and says he needs, for example, three clerks, he selects the persons then collects money weekly and pays the workers what he feels like and the idea that workers have to the right to demand decent working conditions, an hour for lunch, bathroom breaks, vacation leave or even a decent salary, is nothing but a theory to these people.
This is no secret, as some years one newspaper even interviewed some of the persons (mainly women) who worked under these conditions, but naturally they had to remain anonymous. Another despicable condition that the new slaves have to put up with in the garrisons is the practice whereby when a young girl reaches puberty, if the don so decides, she has to go to him when he calls, so he can take her virginity. Many a mother has had to escape from these garrisons to protect their children, but it is something that the authorities and power brokers will do nothing about as it suits their political schemes. I have for years been speaking out publicly about this despicable modern-day slavery as being practised in the Jamaican garrisons, but the wider society has preferred to pretend that it does not exist. Will anyone pay attention now that the Jamaica Observer has again put it on the agenda with the article Sex For Gun Debt --Girls forced into prostitution?
I certainly would never hold my breath in expectation, neither would I expect those hypocrites who shout loudly about the despicable conditions under which our ancestors lived some 200 hundred years ago, to speak up or fight against what is happening under our noses right here, right now.
Joan E Williams
gratestj@gmail.com
Slavery still exists in Jamaica
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