Floyd Morris has been named President of the Senate by the PNP administration and while this may be seen as a triumph for a blind person, it could also be interpreted as the collective thinking of the PNP, where the blind leads the blind.
As someone said to be me ” Jay it may not be that bad after-all since being visually impaired may not be lack of vision given that we have a Prime Minister that can see but is visionally impaired”
Whatever the reason for this decision, I believe it shows lack of foresight on the part of the Prime Minister, a characteristic behaviour that she has perfected over the last 15months or so. It is this kind of lack of leadership that is taking Jamaica off course but many Jamaicans seems contended to just ride along. Mr Redwood would have none of it and jumped ship, in search of economic prosperity in a foreign land.
Courtesy : Jamaica Observer
Filed under: Economics |
Warren's Blog 
Ummmm….jay. Come on. Why yuh hating on di blind man suh? Does the post of Senate President require a person to have sight? If not why discriminate against the visually impaired?
That’s not cool jay. Blind people have every right to do what anybody else does as much as their visual impairment will allow for.
And how is Portia being blamed for Senator Morris being elected as President of the Senate by his colleagues? Portia appointed Sophia Frazer-Binns as a new Senator. She didn’t appoint Senator Morris as President of the Senate (no PM has the power to do so).
Many Jamaicans would not say what I have said out of fear of being called names like “bias, hater or being accused of discriminatory practices”, but this is not necessarily so.
I believe persons who are impaired in one way or another must be given the chance to succeed in Jamaica, but I am of the firm belief that our actions must be more of substance vs symbolism.
No one in the house would dare to be critical of Senator Morris for fear of the backlash that would take place as a result of any such criticism.
So basically, you start the backpedaling? If indeed you firmly ” believe persons who are impaired in one way or another must be given the chance to succeed in Jamaica,”, how is that the following statement is congruous with the statement made earlier…..“I believe it shows lack of foresight on the part of the Prime Minister”?
Obviously, these two statements are diametric contradictions/diabolically opposed. I think you should apologize to the Prime Minister and withdraw the disparaging commentary you made above. As you have said in the past, you are a “real man” and have no problem apologizing when you know you are in the wrong (a parting swipe at me at the time). If you elect not apologize, feel free to continue digging a deeper hole by attempting to explain away what amounts to an ignominious statement.
Suggesting that a person deserves a chance does in no way detract from the point that it shows lack of foresight at this particular point in time.
This thing is straight for optics and nothing else. It makes for good letter to the editor and headlines in the Gleaner and Observer.
“Suggesting that a person deserves a chance does in no way detract from the point that it shows lack of foresight at this particular point in time”
Actually jay, yes it does because you are in essence saying that blind people should only be given a chance when things are nice and rosy and we can indulge them. That’s a pretty disgusting attitude. That’s the same kind of paternalistic attitude that was displayed in the past by authorities who believed it was the duty of those “more fortunate” (in having been born white or rich) to lead until those “less fortunate” (in having been born as black, yellow or brown or being poor) could take a leading position themselves. This was all bullshit of course whether it was epitomized as White Man’s Burden in the 1890s and 1900s or Apartheid in the 1940s to 1990s.
That’s really low jay. Really low. Had you replaced the subject of your post with another person with another “affliction” such as being a woman, being black, being poor, being deaf or being crippled I’m sure even you would notice how biased the article would be in that it criticizes the election of a person SOLELY on physical characteristics. And note you still haven’t said why Senator Morris is unfit for the role other than the fact you believe his blindness is symbolic of the administration’s lack of foresight and the fact that you believe he was appointed (which is crap) to generate good PR. In essence you are harping on about symbolism and your post has zero substance which belies your claim that you are of the firm belief that our actions must be more of substance vs symbolism. Well jay here is your chance:
– who do YOU think should have been elected as Senate President?
– why is it that Senator Arthur Williams, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, seconded the nomination of Mr. Morris and participated in generating good PR for the PNP? Is Arthur Williams secretly a member of the PNP?
– other than Mr. Morris’ blindness, why do YOU believe Mr. Morris is unfit for the role of Senate President? (and please don’t mention Portia; I’m asking why Mr. Morris is unfit for the role and his suitability has nothing to do with Portia as it should be quite possible for Portia to appoint someone capable to a position that she is allowed to even if she herself is incapable; she didn’t appoint Mr. Morris as Senate President (which is something else that Clovis got wrong but no matter, Clovis strikes me as an individual with little understanding of moral codes and who is on the border of hating his own skin colour so what Clovis gets right or wrong really doesn’t matter)).
There you go. Four questions which you can answer to provide substance to your criticism. If you can’t do so then it means you have no substance to your criticism and it’s basically all about criticizing the blind man for being blind. Which is of course, no less discriminatory than criticizing the black man for being black or the woman for being a woman.
Good try Jon, but I won’t fall for it.
This is all PR and optics. If we are serious about assimilating those impaired either visually or other there are more concrete things we can do as a country to aid those individuals.
This PR show does not impress me one bit.
Mr Morris for example has long advocated for issues concerning the visually impaired when he was Minister of state in the former PNP administration, what was done.
He complained about simple stuff like sidewalk with craters, which many visually impaired persons had fallen into and become injured, yet not much was done to address those issues.
This administration has long focused on being great PR machine, but has offered little in substance to go along with this.
Sick and tired of the showmanship .
Good try Jon, but I won’t fall for it.
You won’t fall for it or you can’t answer the questions?
This is all PR and optics. If we are serious about assimilating those impaired either visually or other there are more concrete things we can do as a country to aid those individuals.
Oh so now you are claiming that Senator Morris’ independent election as Senate President is somehow part of a declared policy on assimilating the impaired in our society? Do you have a source for that?
This PR show does not impress me one bit.
Mr Morris for example has long advocated for issues concerning the visually impaired when he was Minister of state in the former PNP administration, what was done.
He complained about simple stuff like sidewalk with craters, which many visually impaired persons had fallen into and become injured, yet not much was done to address those issues.
So because he advocated for improvements for the blind then his election as Senate President shows a lack of foresight on the part of the Prime Minister? Poor jay, so disconnected from reality here it seems.
Why don’t you prove you have a grasp on reality and tell us on what personal merits, Senator Morris should NOT have been elected Senate President and tell us which other Senator would have been better for the post and why. It’s really very simple jay.
Sick and tired of the showmanship .
So am I. So quit dodging and answer the four questions I’ve asked. Those are really four VERY SIMPLE questions, the answers to which will demonstrate that you aren’t just ragging on the guy because he is blind.
Seems like you are unable to see what is in front of you.
I guess in time you will regain your vision.
I am sure the goodly Senator can see clearly what is going on, but heck why not go along.
Its just a pity.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.
Many Jamaicans would not say what I have said out of fear of being called names like “bias, hater or being accused of discriminatory practices”, but this is not necessarily so.
That’s because beating up on a blind person obtaining a distinguished post is biased and hating and showing discrimination.
I believe persons who are impaired in one way or another must be given the chance to succeed in Jamaica, but I am of the firm belief that our actions must be more of substance vs symbolism.
Really? Then why is your post all about the symbolism of a blind man being elected President of the Senate? Not once in your post do you outline why you think Senator Morris should not be Senate President other than to say “it could also be interpreted as the collective thinking of the PNP, where the blind leads the blind.” and that you “believe it shows lack of foresight on the part of the Prime Minister”
Where have you stated that Senator Morris is not fit for the position based on some proven or highly suspicious corrupt past (unless losing your sight is interpreted as corruption of the eyes) or because he has a proven poor attendance record in the Senate? Or because he is accused of rape or molestation? Or accused of having millions of dollars obtained illicitly?
Further your post not only seems to discriminate against Mr. Morris just because he is blind, but because you seem to see the hand of Portia in everything. Your entire post ends up appearing to be discrimination based on misconception since you erroneously believe Portia selected Morris as Senate leader. However Senator Morris was elected, not appointed. The news from Go Jamaica on May 17 reports that Floyd Morris was nominated by AJ Nicholson and that this nomination was seconded by Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Arthur Williams. Are we now to believe that Senator Arthur Williams does the bidding of Portia?
Its all a sideshow at this point in time. Its all optics and makes for good headlines in the gleaner and observer and letters to the editor.
Okay, so now that it is pointed out that the Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate supported the nomination of Mr. Morris and that Portia didn’t appoint him you shift your argument to it all being for show. That really disappointing from you jay.
Usually when presented with facts to the contrary you can admit that you made a mistake and move the discussion along intelligently. But here it seems you are so caught up in trying to defend the indefensible that you are veering off into the conspiracy theory territory. Sad.
Very good PR, very good indeed and one that will NOT be criticized by any public figure again out of FEAR !
Just listen for wave of criticism of Clovis today
Well Clovis has already long since shown himself to have little moral standards (I remember once there was a major public shock at his drawings which were clearly inappropriate in a newspaper that can be read by people under 18; one would have thought he secretly wanted to do adult comics and some of his past cartoons concerning JLP internal elections showed a definite bias towards those with a lighter complexion that I’m sure has not been displayed in newspapers since the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s) so aligning yourself with that disgusting man isn’t exactly a good thing jay.
Jon said
Okay, so now that it is pointed out that the Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate supported the nomination of Mr. Morris and that Portia didn’t appoint him you shift your argument to it all being for show. That really disappointing from you jay.
If I truly believed deep down that was the case, I would have said I made an error, but not this time around.
This is all optics and good for PR and headlines, the opposition had no choice but to go along least they get attacked just like I am being attacked now.
What a slick move and everyone falls for it, except Jay of course.
Umm….jay, have been eating some tainted cookies from the Netherlands or something? It’s not whether or not YOU believe deep down that Senator Arthur Williams supported the nomination. It’s on public record. And Senator Arthur Williams has never been afraid to express his personal opinion if it is opposed to what the current administration (not too long ago he did just that).
So if this administration is all about PR then you are basically saying that Senator Arthur Williams is a part of the administration and that, therefore, the JLP is a junior partner in the current administration. Because Senator Arthur Williams just approved and put his name towards a PNP PR stunt by your logic.
I offer an alternative, simpler theory which requires no ridiculous conspiracy theories and no blatant discrimination against blind people: Senator Morris expressed an interest in becoming Senate President, discussed the issue with his colleagues in the Senate both from the PNP and from the JLP and pretty much everybody either approved of his aim or were not opposed to it. Hence he got the support of AJ Nicholson and Arthur Williams (and I’m sure he must have spoken to them in order for them to nominate him since he obviously did not nominate himself).
Poor Jon.
Mr Williams is not a idiot.
To suggest he is part of the PR team of the PNP is nonsense and I know you are aware of that.
Senator Williams did what he had to do and hey who can blame him. He would not want to face the wrath of anyone who would suggest he is discriminating. Its all a part of the political mine field.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.
Wow. So I take it you and Senator Arthur Williams are tight like drinking buddies for you to be able to assert that he did what he had to do. You obviously must be referring to Article 42, Section 5 of the Constitution which says that the Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate absolutely MUST second the nomination of the Leader of Government Business in the Senate in order for a person to be elected President of the Senate.
But then again Article 42, Section 5 is non-existent and hence nonsense, just like the nonsense suggest I gave before that Senator Williams must be a part of the PNP administration (incidentally, yes I knew that, (duh!), and yes it was sarcasm and yes it was meant to illustrate the lunacy of what you have been arguing as I took what you said to the logical conclusion). And since there is no requirement for Senator Williams to second the nomination, perhaps you can explain why Senator Williams didn’t simply keep quiet and let someone else (either PNP or JLP) second the nomination?
Politics Jon, Jamaican style.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.
Floyd has long advocated for a policy related to JPS light poles being located in the middle of the sidewalks, which was creating problems for the visually impaired, what action if any has been taken.
As I said before and I will repeat, it time we start taking action as it relates to those amongst us who are impaired in one way or another.
Those specific and measurable actions are the ones that will help those visually impaired etc to feel like the society is putting measures in place to address their concerns.
Enough of the PR stuff, lets put stuff down on the ground to demonstrate that we are serious and enough of the PR crap !
How about demonstrating that you aren’t really biased against the man just because he is blind? Right now what you are doing strikes me as the “but I have black friends” defence employed by some racists or the defence offered by apartheid South Africa’s government that they were improving the lot of blacks, coloureds and Asians and had always intended to improve their lives. You openly discriminate against the guy due to his blindness and now attempt to mollify it with calls for real action to help blind people without actually saying that it’s fine for a blind man to be Senate President, House Speaker or even Prime Minister or Governor-General. I ask you to name ONE person who you think would have been a better option as Senate President and up to now not even a hint of a name. It’s obvious that you have nobody in mind and just don’t like the fact that the man is blind! It’s sickening.
Never opposed Mr Morris as senator did I ? Just check the records.
The move at this point smacks as slick PR work.
Have you ever put someone in a position where you know what the outcome is most likely to be given the nature of the decision to be made.
The timing of Mr Morris was just perfect !
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.
And I never said you did oppose Mr. Morris as a Senator did I? Check the conversation. However you have opposed Mr. Morris becoming President of the Senate for no other reason than the fact that he is blind which seems disturbingly similar to the attitude of people who used to think blacks and women should know their place and not expect to lead. Apparently for you it’s fine that he be a Senator but he shouldn’t dare try to become Senate President with his blind self. That’s very much like the idea that it was okay for a woman to actually go to work alongside men but that she shouldn’t dare to aspire to actually lead men in the workplace.
You have made some very disparating comments about Mr Morris . How dare you address the man with terms like ” with him blind self”. I think you ought to withdrawn that comment.
I would never refer to Mr Morris using those terms.
😦
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.