Gordon Robinson | Local Domino Awards 2021

Like Euro 2020; Olympics; and T20 World Cup, the Domino Awards took a 2020 pandemic break.

Spoiler alert: Some recipients of these (mostly) humourous awards might be offended and want to send me irate e-mails. Don’t. Be like the Dunce – a happy-go-lucky character who took nothing seriously.

Dunce Award: JAMAICA CONSTABULARY FORCE wins for its consistently inconsistent law enforcement, highlighted by seemingly discriminatory application of Disaster Rick Management Orders. Compare and contrast the approach to Rick’s Cafe (culminating with the ridiculous prosecution of an accountant) and the swift, sure justice meted out to party promoters in lower-than-middle-class areas; the habitual arrest and charge of ordinary citizens (including those seen in videos cussing the PM), followed by prosecutors repeatedly asking judges for adjournments to “complete investigations” with the painstaking and still-unresolved investigation of Floyd after he was clearly seen giving a figurative middle finger to a No-Movement Day.

But the worst failure happened in the Pathways tragedy, including apparent disregard for early red flags; not intervening in time to prevent two innocent lambs being slaughtered; then the bizarre decision to transport His Excellency to Kingston NOT for trial, but only to be charged.

What the Giznickcord? Don’t we live in a COVID-generated virtual world?

JCF: If a macca, mek it jook yu!

Dunce Move of the Year Award: FLOYD GREEN wins on a common canter for his No-Movement Day celebrations that showed the sort of casual indifference to we the people, of which The Dunce would be proud.

Floyd: If a macca, mek it jook yu!

Now my journalism awards:

Journalism Dunce Move of the Year Award: TVJ’s KIRK WRIGHT wins this award by posting a video full of hyperbolic self-praise shortly after a brief hospitalisation. He opened with “This is Kirk Wright. The one and only Kirk Wright – the one you all love” before going on to thank well-wishers for “the outpouring of love” and characterising “much” of social media speculation about his injury as untrue.

Kirk, you’re a reporter not a star. Or, if you’re a star, let us say so. The Dunce’s message for you: “If a macca, mek it jook yu!”

SERIOUS AWARDS:

Rising Star Journalist: GIOVANNI DENNIS has shown maturity well beyond his professional years with insightful, well-researched and thoroughly entertaining investigative pieces. Recently, his exposé of a questionable ‘private’ development in Hupper Sainandrew was on point; replete with crucial detail; yet easy to follow.

Journalist of the Year: This year’s awardee has no public face. Since taking charge of Gleaner’s news desk, ANDRE WRIGHT has transformed it into a shining example of how real investigative journalism works. Once again, The Gleaner is the go-to medium for reliable breaking news (and unreliable complaint from burned subjects). I must include a special mention for Editor-in-Chief Kaymar Jordan, who recognised Andre’s theretofore ignored, ill-used talents; gave him wings; and allowed him to fly.

GENE AUTRY AWARD FOR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

One online reader seems obsessed with his imagined relationship between me and PM. Sigh. The good news is, he seems an avid reader because he picks alleged ‘bias-in-favour-of-a-personal-friend’ nits out of every one of my columns, regardless of subject matter. So this one’s for him: ANDREW HOLNESS wins the award for the (mainly) calm, self-assured (different from arrogant) and even-handed manner in which he led government through crisis after 2021 crisis, showing empathy; demanding accountability; emphasising communication; insisting on education, while showing admirable restraint (often in trying circumstances) mixed with self-confidence and humility. That’s leadership. Leadership isn’t perfect. It simply leads.

In particular, the way he managed a Cabinet imposed on him (limited choice) by Westminster that often failed to perform with credit was exemplary in its balance of defending the public interest with JLP’s interest.

His is a thankless job and, so far, he has been paid accordingly. So thanks, PM, for doing the best any PM could do in these strange times.

Happy New Year and...

Peace and Love!

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.