The Harbour View Disaster

A tropical depression that does not even have a name
causes destruction across the Jamaica.

Much of the destruction was 'Man-set". That is, if
one creates particular situations then any natural
occurrence , be it rain or storm or earthquake will
cause far greater damage than it would if it had not
been "Man-set"

The Hope River separates the Eastern part of St.
Andrew and the Parish of St. Thomas from the rest
of Jamaica.
There is no way to go from St. Thomas to Kingston.

A bridge stood across the river for decades.

Because much of the water was used in the
reservoir the river bed was usually dry.
But like most dry river beds in Jamaica, they
become raging torrents after a heavy rain.

Some are more prone to incredible surges than
others; and for decades, those government
members who were responsible had set a policy
of constantly digging down the river bed,
packing the sides, just in case

Of course this aspect of public works is the
center of corruption in Jamaica.

Just as the Mafia controls public works in
America, so that there is never an 'Appian Way',
a road built by the Romans still in use.

What the Mafia wanted, and got, was permanent
work. Permanent road repair contracts in which
most of the cost was pocket filling.

Jamaica has imitated that procedure so that
roads are never fixed, they are patched, and
those 'new roads' which take years to complete
don't last two years.

If anyone were to peruse a contract and
investigate its implementation, one would find
that three times as many workers are budgeted,
and the costs of materials are inflated.
Despite this, money must be grabbed by every hand.

Since 2007 Three Hundred Million Dollars has
filled the pocket of a particular contractor,
and the roads completed between 2007 - 2008
need to be redone in 2010 - 2011 in such
manner that they will last until 2013.

That it costs the tax payers xyz millions
to do this piece of road when in reality
it is 1/4th the cost for a better quality
is never examined.

Which brings me to the Bridge at Harbour View.

Because the river bed was not excavated but allowed
to turn into a pasture, the original bridge was
damaged. It was repaired and then largely destroyed
by Gustav,a tropical storm in 2007.

This storm would not have destroyed the bridge if
the river bed had been excavated and the banks packed.

A Bailey Bridge was flung up and a pathway leading
down into the river bed to carry heavy trucks was accomplished.

But there was no means of pocket filling with this
venture. The brilliant idea was to make the Harbour
View Road four lanes, and to remove the Bailey Bridge
so that everyone would have to cross the Hope River
by going into the river bed, which was dry.

Why this work was begun at the height of the hurricane
season, and why the fording was completely destroyed
is no mystery. Jamaica would be allowed to access
Emergency Relief Money to make the vital 'repairs'.

The Emergency Relief Money, begged from foreign donors
would make fine pocket filling as the Bailey Bridge,
removed in July would be returned to it's place and
all the money that was gotten from the Chinese to do
the Bridge and four lane highway would be double paid.

Workers would have to be paid again to redo what they
had done. Materials that were washed away would need
to be rebought and new and higher prices.

And the Government would get its cut to finance its
election campaign.

Spin

'Spin' is one of those concepts that until you
become aware of it, it doesn't exist. Once you catch it, you see it, you can classify
it, you know exactly what 'script' is being followed.

Recently, the JLP switched on 'Stumble, Shrug and
Smile.'(SSS)George W was a master of it. He'd
mispronounce a name, make a shrug and give his
shiteating smile. The effect was supposed to
be that the person or matter is so unimportant
it wasn't worth consideration. The tactic ceased
to work for Bush. People assumed he was an idiot
and couldn't remember stuff...a dry drunk.

The JLP has decided it can not remember the name;
Manatt, Phelps and Philips nor the name of PNP
candidates. This is supposed to make Manatt seems
so trivial, the PNP candidates of such little note.

It doesn't work. Not with the more intelligent.
For that is a feature the JLP has not recognised.
Not everyone has a double digit I.Q.

As Civil Society, be it Chamber of Commerce, be it
Church groups become more dissatisfied and aware
of Bruce Goldings true nature.

They have begun to appreciate that far from being
the urbane gentleman, he is a man of extremely
questionable morality. A man who can lie with a
perfectly straight face. Who has no scruples.

All the attempts to 'spin' recent events revolve
around "SSS", now that you know, you'll see it.

Who Paid Manatt?

Someone should have told Bruce.
Someone should have explained to him that American
firms must report their employment by foreign
nations (or governmental departments of foreign
nations.

Maybe use the term 'spy' so as to make him
get the fact that there is no way to lie it out.

Yeah I know Bruce is a great liar.
I know he's gotten by since short pants days
because he is so good at it.

However, he can't lie this one out.

Manatt claims to have been hired by the Government
of Jamaica and paid by the Government of Jamaica.

Since Bruce claims this is 'a lie' it is being
investigated.
In the United States.
By real people.
Who aren't Jamaicans.

The problem Golding faces is that he thinks the
whole world is Jamaica.

That every agency, every public servant, every
system whether in Washington D.C. or London, is
built on the same principles (or lack thereof)
that apply in Kingston.

He has no comprehension that some people are
actually honest.
Some people actually tell the truth.
Some people don't steal.
Some people are not for sale.

Sure, if Bruce had used some kind of 'local' firm
they'd have been die hard Labourites willing to
sell their children into slavery to please him.

But Manatt is Not a local firm.

There is no money that can drop, no threat that
can be used, no great 'I Am' to terrorise the proles.

Unless someone walked into Manatt with a brown
paper bag full of cash, then they were paid by cheque.

If they accepted a cheque drawn on Harold Brady's
account they are in a great deal of trouble.
Because Governments do NOT pay bills through proxies
unless there is an embargo.

As there is no embargo, (that is Jamaica is not
subject to sanctions so as to employ a middleman)
the cheque MUST have been drawn on a Jamaican
Government Account to prove to Manatt they were
acting on behalf of a Government.

Hence; if Manatt had been so reckless as to accept
money in a brown paper bag, or from a private bank
account, they are going to be put out of business
in America.

Would a major law firm, like Manatt, risk their
existence for $50k US?
(This sum is petty cash at a firm like Manatt).