tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post2069921739942591916..comments2023-09-07T01:46:58.215-07:00Comments on Active Voice: Making sense of the Mayhem in MumbaiAnnie Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18002716362243335338noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-22235016238084273862008-12-14T05:05:00.000-08:002008-12-14T05:05:00.000-08:00Yes, EAR the situation in Gravel Heights is alarmi...Yes, EAR the situation in Gravel Heights is alarming and the state's impotence even more so. Someone should do a map of the country showing all the areas controlled by Dons and 'thugs' as you call them. this is the sort of thing one of the newspapers should undertake. a very graphic representation of the erosion of state power...Annie Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002716362243335338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-90468762404846290772008-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:002008-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:00Annie,your analogies and descriptions with respect...Annie,your analogies and descriptions with respect to terroristic behaviour manifesting or unfolding in Jamaican hotels are well taken.Interestingly,both scenarios posited by you are extremely likely.<BR/><BR/>Concerning local/domestic or foreign terrorists carrying out such operations. Surely, the likelihood is greater that foreign terrorists are more likely to exploit the lack of security and the vulnerability of Jamaica in this regard.Nonetheless,all hotels, and for that matter,all institutions in Jamaica need to become more pro-active and pre-emptive regarding the possibility of terrorism.Because our homegrown terrorists are becoming more empowered and brazen daily, as the IRRELEVANCY and IMPOTENCY of both the extant administration and the OPPOSITION becomes more conspicuously obvious.Consequently,the likelihood of assaults on such institutions by homegrown terrorists should not be taken lightly or disregarded.With regard to the IRRELEVANCY and IMPOTENCY of both the state and HER MAJESTY'S LOYAL OPPOSITION, witness the COWARDLY behaviour on the part of the state and the OPPOSITION in the calculated and systematic CLEANSING and DEPOPULATION of the Gravel Heights community by thugs, while the police provides cover and escort services for the denizens of the community.Undoubtedly,and unquestionably,this can be taxonomized as the MOTHER OF ALL SHAMEFUL ACTS IN the ANNALS of JAMAICA, where law abiding citizens are removed/forced from their homes by gunmen, while the state pontificates and pontificates, exposing their IRRELEVANCY and their INCOMPETENCY of controlling thugs and goons.Indeed,this reminds one of DARFUR. Nuff respect!!ESTEBAN AGOSTO REIDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-69083295127189375132008-12-08T04:17:00.000-08:002008-12-08T04:17:00.000-08:00There is no doubt that as Anonymous says one of th...There is no doubt that as Anonymous says one of the big lessons from Mumbai is the gross lack of responsible reporting from the media. if and when anything like this happens here the media should apply the knowledge acquired from live reporting at the Taj Palace in Mumbai.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the offending media personnel in Mumbai do need some kind of disciplinary action; its worth considering because Anon is right we don't know how many lives were unnecessarily lost due to info gratuitously provided by the Indian media.<BR/><BR/>Natalie: you're right (as usual). there is not enough citizen activism in Jamaica. we rarely if ever see the kind of anger that is being directed at politicians in India now. how and when will this change?<BR/><BR/>Sify.com:<BR/><BR/>hey thanks for the invite. of course i'm interested. have sent an email.Annie Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002716362243335338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-69191370529767246252008-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:002008-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:00Dear Sir/MadamAllow us to introduce ourselves. We ...Dear Sir/Madam<BR/><BR/>Allow us to introduce ourselves.<BR/> <BR/>We are www.sify.com, India’s premier online portal and the first choice for several of India’s popular reality shows. For a record fourth time in a row, we have been selected to be Indian Idol’s online partner.<BR/><BR/>Besides our regular offerings of daily coverage, videos, discussion boards and the likes, we will also be commissioning the Sify Indian fan club. This letter is to inquire if you would be interested in hosting your links on our site.Your link will be prominently displayed on our page<BR/><BR/>If you are interested, please contact us on Indianidol08@gmail.com<BR/><BR/>We look forward to hearing from you soon<BR/><BR/>Warm regards,<BR/>Indian Idol Team(sify)indianidollivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13383199849055075960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-51003752961838030602008-12-07T19:22:00.000-08:002008-12-07T19:22:00.000-08:00Annie - In some ways, Mumbai is just a larger vers...Annie - In some ways, Mumbai is just a larger version of Kingston. But in many many ways, its citizens are leaps and bounds ahead of Jamaicans in terms of their insistence on talking back directly to the government - not just through votes or via media, but by making themselves and their outrage visible and heard. I mean, who would have thought that in the middle of this siege, that people in Mumbai and elsewhere in India would be taking to the streets and demanding that the gov't get its act together? We in Jamaica would not ever think of doing such a thing, even when the circumstances clearly call for such mass action. Instead, we hungrily turn on each other, faulting one group or another for the problem, and then plotting how to get rid of them. All the while, the inept government officials etc. sits with legs crossed waiting for the helper to bring the paycheck and the cup of tea.<BR/><BR/>I am sorry to hear what is going on in your neighborhood; this kind of ineptitude just makes me want to throw bricks.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05974754968045758692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-36983587772741598102008-12-07T17:32:00.000-08:002008-12-07T17:32:00.000-08:00Quite some attention has been drawn on the WW-1 im...Quite some attention has been drawn on the WW-1 implements that the local police / security were 'armed' with, the delay in commando-es dropping in, lack of coordination between agencies and inaction within, politicians fumbling both with words & actions. <BR/><BR/>This incident should also throw light on the responsibilities within media on their reportage - how many lives did they save by their live telecasts & leading scoops and how many were they responsible for losing ? There will always be security related gaps in all such incidents, but the key new learning from Mumbai would be how media conducts & regulates itself. <BR/><BR/>Everytime,someone does a live telecast of commando-es being airdropped or comes live to say how x number of people are kept safe in a "member's area" within the hotel or does a live phone-in interview with a victim trapped within, these terrorists are provided with directions & sitting ducks for their statistics. Such parts of media must be tried as cohorts to terrorism unleashed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-36300464258755417842008-12-07T16:46:00.000-08:002008-12-07T16:46:00.000-08:00Thanks EAR,yes, i think like you that the Caribbea...Thanks EAR,<BR/><BR/>yes, i think like you that the Caribbean is likely to be the next port of call for the disgruntled of the world. our hotels are completely open and vulnerable. i can book a room and move in with luggage full of weapons and bombs. even without booking a room i could be part of some conference or get-together such as the IFFRO AGM at the Ritz-Carlton recently and arrive with suitcases full of 'books' or 'printed material' pertaining to the meeting. no one scans the luggage/baggage or otherwise ensures that no armaments are being smuggled into the hotel.<BR/><BR/>well, to tell you the truth there has been no reason for hotels here to take such precautions but in the wake of Mumbai i think we all need to step up the security or end up with the kind of mayhem that ensued in mumbai--Annie Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002716362243335338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953848556540874315.post-86446888732241894602008-12-07T15:58:00.000-08:002008-12-07T15:58:00.000-08:00Annie, an excellent comparison of two post colonia...Annie, an excellent comparison of two post colonial societies,both totally lacking and devoid, with regard to understanding and implementing pro-active and pre-emptive policies and measures to deter,prevent,maintain,manage and contain tragic --- man made or otherwise --- disasters, such as, urban violence and terrorism being savagely and brutally unleashed on civilian populations.Indeed,the culture and psychology of inaction, on the part of governmental authorities is suffocating.Again,it boils down to political leadership or the lack thereof.Many of our leaders in both societies, India and Jamaica are totally disconnected from the mass publics.Indeed,in many instances they are totally aloof and indifferent.Consequently,they do not comprehend the day to day circumstances,situations and experiences of the populace, until a crisis develops or ensue, then at that point in time, they try to react and most of the time in confounded,bewildered,and discombobulated manner,suggesting and indicating a considerably high degree of unpreparedness,lack of sophistication and appreciation of the problem,crisis, or disaster at hand.In all honesty, most of our leaders at various levels within both societies are just MUDDLERS and do not understand or appreciate the essence and principles of SYSTEMS and MANAGEMENT regarding various crises, challenges and disasters including terrorism that confronts us as a people.What transpired in Mumbai will eventually happen in Jamaica and I can categorically assure you that we will not be ready for it. Indeed, it is just a matter of time.Interestingly,with all our hotels across the island, none of them is secure to prevent such an eventuality. WI NUH READY!! TRUST ME! But we talk a good talk,but when dissected and analyzed it is the usual vacuous rhetoric. Nuff respect!!ESTEBAN AGOSTO REIDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com