view from mi verandah

Big up my Ghanian Peoples

2011-01-20T01:56:00.001-05:00

I feeling for some Wachee and roasted fish with the Okra stew on top. Lol. When hunger tek you it makes philosophers out of light weights.

I must admit growing up in sheltered middle class [sic] Jamaica, I developed a somewhat closed mind to the different cultures and peoples of the world. I was certainly well read, well verse in the histories an had a more than passing knowledge of current world affairs, I was never truly a global citizen. The list of the prejudices i held on to tho not long was still non the less still personally embarrassing. London being the only true global village, where practically all peoples and cultures are represented is really a great place for a re-education, a chance to reform and reframe one's outward views of the world around us.

Watching World Cup Football games and enjoying the vibes down at The Gold Coast Bar and Restaurant down in South Norwood when Ghana was still in it was absolutely something else. First of all, to have so many black people gathered in one place and not a police patrol car in sight; I know I was definitely in with good people. Secondly to have so many black people confined in that small pub space, crowded around the television sets, stepping on toes, spilling drinks, invading personal space and not have ruckus kick up, that was absolutely magical. Thirdly, the great welcoming vibe you got; people were generally concerned about the comfort of their fellow patron; I am sorry but I was sold. An honorary citizen I became. Let's face it, us Jamaicans even in the best of times can be a bit much to deal with, we sometimes take it a bit too far; so it was quite different hanging out with my African bretherins.

Good vibes, great food, and great people what better introduction to the delights of the African motherland could one ask for.

Hooked on Blogging

2011-01-10T19:53:00.000-05:00

I've caught the bug, blogging it seems is quite addictive. The visceral rush of committing one's thoughts to paper has been quite refreshing. Being able to do something constructive, during what's essentially a lull period (thanks recession) developing those hidden skills has been quite refreshing.

For me, this blog has shown just how little I have been using my bag of tricks, really been an adage to the concept that we as humans don't really use the sum total of all the talents we are blessed with. I for one never thought that I would have stuck it out this long. The dedication it takes to be cataloguing the sometimes random thoughts that pop in my head at times, getting inspired, organizing, editing and reformatting, is quite astonishing; hopefully i haven't been posting mumbo jumbo.

To this end, I have quite a few posts at varying degrees of completion that I have been slowly working on.

Hopefully those of you who've stumbled on my blog, and those whose feedback I've solicited will appreciate my little efforts and look forward to your new or continued support and visits to my blog.

Another Jamaican Doing it Big

2011-01-05T10:13:00.006-05:00

Jamaican Takes Office As California's AG

KAMALA HARRIS, daughter of Jamaican professor and economist Donald Harris, took the oath of office as California's first female and first minority attorney general on Monday. (rest of the story here (Link)

Another proud moment for us Jamaicans, another of our fellow citizens who's managed to rise to the top of their field.

Too bad, that should she decide to serve the country of her father, and to which I am sure she has some great affinity, our misguided constitution would not allow this. A country badly in need of her learning and experiences and not recognising that, instead of having a serious discussion on the issue of dual nationality, and seeing how we can harness the potential contributions of those in the diaspora who have the capacity to meaningfully do so; we get caught up on discussing simple the things.

A lot of Jamaicans are under the impression that once you leave our fair isle, that things are easy. Whenever a Jamaican progresses through the ranks it cuz "cho, fa-rin easy"; but for many Jamaicans who've succeeded and those on their way to succeeding the path have and are doing so because they have fought hard; for many there were no handouts.

How many other Jamaicans out there, who by grit and determination have managed to reach to the top of their piles. How many other Jamaicans who who through hard work and education abroad, have gained that invaluable knowledge base and practical hands on experience are we as a nation not willing to accommodate? Four years after the issue has been raised, we have gotten NOWHERE in the discussions that we as a country are at some point going to have to have. With the majority of our best and brightest seeking distant shores as they look for opportunities to better their lots in life, if we don't you have to wonder who about the stock from which we will pull our future leaders.

Congrats Ms. Harris, you've done us proud

Jamaicans: We are who we are.

2011-01-04T15:00:00.001-05:00

Video not really safe for work, or in the presence of decent company

On many a cold, miserable and blustering English morning, watching this video brought a little smile to my face, and warmed the cockles of my heart. It literally set the tempo for the day; I listened to Mad Jamaican Woman and I was ready to tackle the big bad city. And like any good movie, or that favourite song, I pretty much now know the script word for word.

More than anything, this video reaffirmed in me, that intrinsic quality, often imitated but never duplicated quite right; that je ne sais quois that seems to be a part of our Jamaican makeup. Yes, it's nice seeing that brief flash of Usain 's victorious image up there in the ITV's news intro, and the constant small "positive" reminders of how we are excelling on the world's stage and ccertainly, some people might argue that she does not represent the best of Jamaica, Jamaican society and Jamaicans as a whole, and certainly not decent and polite society (sic), but you know what, she is Jamaican through and through, loud brash and unapologetic, and truth be told, we are as a people loud, brash and unapologetic in revelling in our Jamaicanness.

It does get lonely being in a big city, more so if one's living in a community where there is a certain lack of diversity, and you are more or less cut off from your larger family and your own community. There is no more reassuring, no more comforting feeling than hearing than hearing that faint hint of a Jamaican accent. Suddenly all urgency departs, the previously sterilized or non existent accent emerges full blast and the conversation starts. And what's the first thing every Jamaican wants to know; "which pawt a Jamaica u cum from?". And in seeking affinity with our newly found country man, we then try to find if circles do indeed connect and if there is any link as weak as it might be, between the new busom buddies. Bless our hearts, but the back and forth of questions that follows, that would be considered "faassing" back home becomes heightened as you seek to make that instant connection to your fellow countryman. All social divisions that would have existed back in Jamaica; me from up so and u from down so, town versus country, Labour versus PNP, and so on, no longer exist, because as insular as your life becomes once u step off that plane we really all want to feel that we belong, that we matter, and that we just aren't easily replaceable cogs in the never resting industrial cogs.

But back to Mad Jamaican Woman. We have as a people developed a strong sense of self, a distinctly vibrant and buzzing national identity. We are known for our colourful and lively personalities. Mad Jamaican Woman was only letting the offending man know that there still has to be respect for the law of the land, that she wasn't going to tolerate him breaking the law, at the expense of her comfort. Having had to hassle with public transport in London, and have met some of these offending characters, I have felt Mad Jamaican Woman's grief and ire tho i certainly didn't have the cajones to let off a few claats, and let them have it in said colourful manner.

Mad Jamaican Woman reminded me of the colourful, buzzing, slightly dangerous vibe u feel now where else on the globe but Kingston and you know what, I think we need to track her down and give her an O.J.

Fear: the New World Order

2011-01-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

It was reported today that the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. was evacuated because of what was suspected was a possible terrorist attack about to take place but what turned out to be the slight human error. (Link)

It seems we've been now become wired, sprung and ready should news of a new terrorist attack break. I've certainly experienced a quiet moment of panic whilst travelling on the underground one evening. Nothing like the train driver announcing that the train wasn't going to leave the station because there was an unattended parcel on the station platform and he could not leave the station until it was dealt with. That certainly elicited a few furtive glances to the side and a few nervous chuckles. With the still raw memory of the 7/7 attacks in London five years ago, quite a few of us that evening had our collective what if moment, and it would be remiss of me to not admit that yes, I said my little prayer.

There has always been the threat of terrorist attacks; the IRA, the Basques etc. but since the horrible events of September 11, the world has witnessed the rise of the new militants, some who've vowed to continue to fight a millenia long war; others going on the offensive to restore their all fighting for their perceived causes. No longer relegated to the "backwaters" of the globe, these conflicts have now spilled over into major international metropolises. Worse still, these attacks and threats are seemingly being planned and carried out by not by foreigners, but increasingly by those born and bred on the new homefronts.

It seems the "First World" is now being governed by the dictates of fear. Huge budgets are being allocated in keeping everyone safe and all efforts are being made to thwart repeats of past attrocities. The problem with that, is that you can't take a rational approach in dealing with people hellbent on carrying out seemingly irrational acts.

A great read for those interested in the conflict between East and West, I found this book very good; gave me quite a good education on the different factions and conflicts that are still taking place a thousand years after they began.

A New Day, A New Dawn, A New Year

2011-01-01T06:51:00.001-05:00

The first day of the new year has broken and it bring with it all the promise of realising one's unfulfilled potential. It brings with it an opportunity to start anew, to improve on the things we were meant to last year, an opportunity to follow through on the plans and resolutions made, an opportunity to let go of some of the obstacles hinderances of last year, and an opportunity to decidedly make a positive difference in one's life and if possible the wider community.

The Dark Ages

2010-12-31T12:07:00.002-05:00

Having had the opportunity to live abroad, it's quite contrasting how our local businesses approach the whole issue of promoting their businesses online. Large and small, our local businesses don't seem to value the benefits that could accrue from having that online presence.

With the advance of mobile and computing technology, the advent of the smart phones, the whole world is at one's fingertips; the access to information only as slow as one's data connection. This is indeed the digital age, consumers are spending more time online, and so it befuddles me why our Jamaican business don't see being online as being vital in doing business.

With so many Jamaicans in the diaspora one would imagine that our businessmen and women would see the value of going digital in promoting their businesses. Quite frankly, with increasingly busy schedules, no one has time to sit to look through phone directories, to look businesses up and then to sit and call around when one could with the click of a mouse, or scroll of a trackball find other companies who actually make the effort to court their customers.

Certainly, when in need of a product or service, I like most customers take to the Internet, to get the undiluted truth, free of the well rehearsed spiel (i dunno why but i think it really ought to be spelt schpiel, but that apparently means something else in Yiddish) of the customer service agent, or reassuring soothings of that persuasive business owner. We do our comparisons, check prices and the variation of said prices and get reviews, all on the said big bad Internet. In this day and age when any buffoon can start a Facebook page expounding on the virtues of picking one's toe nails and asking all and sundry to like said activity, all for FREE, it does not take much effort and investment to get that online presence.

We really need to step it up if we are to compete in a global marketplace

Another case gone to court

2010-12-13T20:11:00.001-05:00

It seems the JLP have now decided to challenge Sharon Hay-Websters legitimacy as a member of the nations parliament; the cynic in me asks why now? Listening to the newly elected general secretary of the JLP Aundre Franklin trying to rationalize their long delayed decision to uphold Jamaica's constitution, I could only think, "come on, when are we as Jamaicans going to stop this foolishness and finally grow up".

The general elections were held on September 3, 2007. Yes, September 3, 2007, over 3 years and 3 months ago. Mind you, elections are constitutionally due every five years, so having seen the majority of the time they've been mandated to govern pass, the JLP weren't bothered to have pursued action until now, at this late stage in their administration. It's been suggested/known from the very time this dual citizenship matter was raised and gained prominence in national affairs that Mrs. Hay-Webster was an American citizen; in fact Mrs. Hay-Webster unlike some of her colleagues on either her side or the other side of the political divide made no effort to deny or hide her nationality status. I wonder if these dual citizen challenges will continue until the 13th hour, one the eve of the "upcoming" elections.

If it's a matter of principle, why have our leaders, those who are so affected, not acted on their consciences and declare whether or not their tenure as the people's representatives is constitutionally legitimate or why the leaders of both political parties have not insisted that they do.

Quite frankly, I am sick of it. This tit-for-tat business our political leaders like to play with our nation's destiny; never looking beyond how they can gain the upperhand over their adversaries. The PNP started this all brouha when they discovered "their principles" through the machinations of Mr. Abe Dabdoub who mind you was a member of the Jamaica Labour Party 2 years before. How ironic is it that it took the PNP losing the general election to rediscover "principle", they certainly weren't concerned with the legitimacy of the house when they were in power and members on both the governing and opposition sides held dual citizenship status. We only seem to act in this country, to right the wrongs when our view of the status quo in Jamaica is affected. We certainly aren't bothered when our neighbours cry out for justice, and only spring into action when issues or circumstances hit close to home. The hypocrisy being demonstrated by both sides show how far we have to go as a modern democracy; the day we get rid of our stymied, political system, where the tribalists and not the true patriots are the ones who are not in charge is the day Jamaica can truly be called a mature democracy.

Many Jamaican's have sought and continue to seek distant shores. We strive in public and private sector roles that we've taken up on our adopted shores. In fact, we are quite proud as Jamaicans when we see our fellow citizens achieve, more so when it's done on foreign shores and seemingly against the odds. We've heard of Jamaican's excelling particularly in various public administrative role particularly in the United States, where this dual-nationality issue seems to most directed. It must be noted that holders of dual nationality obtained from other Commonwealth. In fact Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe as the law stands, is more qualified to represent the people of Jamaica than many of our esteemed citizens abroad.

Quite frankly, the rule makes no sense. The opportunity to serve our country is a privilege, and not a right. We want to encourage Jamaican's of independent means and thinking, those not looking to feed from the feeding trough that has characterised our brand of politics to contribute to national life. The decision to enter politics should be formed from a true patriotic decision to represent, not one that's clouded by economic considerations. Having built lives abroad, asking (when compared to some of the current lot overqualified) candidates, our potential leaders, who can truly transform our fair isle to not only turn their backs on the place that built them and where they made their names, but to forgo or abandon the benefits that they've accrued is asking a bit much. If we were able to promote a system where people in a bid to do service to their country could take a step away from their lives, and give back and contribute to public life, imagine how enriched Jamaica could be. Instead of having individuals who viewed politics as a lifelong career, we were able to have individuals who could take sabbaticals of one or two or even five years and devote to national service, just imagine the leaps and bounds that we would as a nation. Take the example of Mr. Don Wehby.

It must be noted, that it has been the official line of the government's representative for sometime now, certainly in the UK and I would imagine elsewhere, for Jamaican's living abroad both legally and illegally to regularize their status, claiming citizenship where this was possible so that they could derive all the benefits that accrue from living there.

Conflicting no?

But then again, that's our Jamaica where contradiction reigns.

A lion has passed.......

2010-12-12T01:17:00.001-05:00

A lion of the Jamaican press, a great son of the soil and true patriot of our fair isle passed Friday December 10, 2010.

Image Source: Black Agenda Report

John Maxwell known far and wide for his sometimes stringent and strident criticisms of the ills of society as he saw them, always made for interesting reading on a Sunday morning. Agree or not, his articles, as well written as they were, were certainly for me thought provoking, highly enlightening, and thoroughly appreciated for the facts and quite apropos observations, discussions and conclusions drawn of the situations at hand.

For me, he will be particularly remembered as a staunch defender of the natural environment. Often critical of how badly managed our natural environment was; how poorly we were going about developing our island, and the detrimental environmental effects our actions as approved by some of our misguided countrymen had on the country.

As memorialized by the Jamaica Observer:

The gladiator-journalist fought to his last breath

BY DESMOND ALLEN Executive Editor - Operations allend@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, December 11, 2010

JOHN William Maxwell, the gladiator-journalist whose biting pen helped to shape a generation of news men and women, took his last breath at 5:15 pm yesterday, aged 76.

Maxwell, regarded as the journalist's journalist, suffered respiratory failure after slugging it out with lung cancer which he battled with customary courage since 2008.

"John died the way he would have wanted, not lingering on given his weak condition," she told the Observer."He died very peacefully at home," his Netherlands-born wife of 20 years, Dr Marjan deBruin, said last night.

Maxwell who spoke openly about his smoking and drinking, once describing himself as a member of a group of university "thinkers and drinkers", had given up both, saying, "I had done enough for the industry." But apparently too late.

He fought the cancer vigorously, including two visits for treatment in the Netherlands. On his second visit, he was told by doctors they could do no more to fight the cancer, and Maxwell chose to return home to end his days in his beloved Jamaica.

As a demonstration of the love and admiration he enjoyed, Maxwell was able to raise US$80,000 in less than a week to meet the cost of an air ambulance to bring him home as he could not travel by commercial airline.

Gordon "Butch" Stewart, who was among those who helped to bring Maxwell back to Jamaica and was a long-time admirer of the journalistic iconoclast, said last night the news had left him in shock.

"The passing of John Maxwell represents an event of seismic proportions in the journalism profession. I have known John a long time. He worked alongside my father who was chief engineer at the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) where the two were inseparable," said Stewart.

Maxwell was born in a house at Duncans, Trelawny, which slaves a century or so before had lovingly built for the Baptist missionary William Knibb, after the anti-abolitionist planters had burnt his home to the ground.

He was born into a family of politicians. His father was a Baptist pastor and politician; and two maternal uncles were (JLP) Members of the House of Representatives.

His mother, the former Zelma Thelwell, was one of Jamaica's first fashion designers.

Maxwell won deep admiration among his peers and his compatriots at large for his fearless journalism, in which he faced down prime ministers, was fired more than any other reporter and ended up preparing future journalists at the University of the West Indies, Mona in St Andrew.

His journalism odyssey, which began at the Gleaner in 1959 after he left Jamaica College and Calabar, meanders through an unending series of colourful, often controversial anecdotes, pregnant with historical significance.

"Trenchant, fearful of no one, fully armed and suited up to do battle at the drop of a hat, Maxwell is a type of gladiator wielding a merciless pen," was how one interviewer described him.

Eli Matalon, the former PNP security minister, clearly driven to distraction, once described Maxwell as "an over-educated Rasta".

After The Gleaner, he edited the Public Opinion newspaper which was owned by the People's National Party (PNP) but secured his place in the annals of journalism when he started and hosted the Public Eye talk show on JBC radio.

An often exasperating host, Maxwell opened his microphone to thousands of powerless domestic helpers — many slaving away in shameless households — by inspiring a National Minimum Wage.

In later years, he built up an even greater following with his weekly column, Common Sense in the Sunday Observer, which he used to wage a long, often biting campaign for the recognition of Haiti.

Maxwell is survived by his wife and two children, Matthew, director of a small corporate communication company, and Katy, a film animator, both from a previous marriage.

Walk good Mr. Maxwell. Condolences to you grieving family, friends and associates.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Raise the dead...........

2010-12-11T00:39:00.003-05:00

Back in the day, I started this blog and and within a week had lost interest. It's not that I had nothing to say, far from it; it's just that in the greater scheme of things, at the time, with seemingly no instant interest in the blog i figured it was just a waste of time.

I've decided to resuscitate this blog, forming my own online journal of my observations, opinions and any little interesting tidbit of life in "postmodern" Jamaica

More anon

View of the Hills

2008-05-02T16:58:00.001-05:00

Pic taken from the UTECH Campus

Update (08/05/02)

2008-05-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

Still tryng to figure out this whole blogging bit. Trying to figure out the features and such.

The pictures so far, I took with my cell phone.

Hopefully I will find the time to do some research in future

Hopefully that desolate sole that stumbles on my blog will find it interesting reading and check back from time to time to see what mess has fallen out my head

Where's the Order

2008-05-02T08:52:00.000-05:00

I find myself driving into the city each day for work, and I am always amazed at the seemingly lack of order

As I sat in the car driving through the mishmash of neighborhoods, the commercial districts, deteriorating older neighborhoods, innercity and some more affluent areas on my daily trek, the lack of order I observed got me thinking; is there some grand plan for the city (Kingston and St. Andrew) that I am not aware of.

I know of the plans for the redevelopment of the Downtown Kingston area but I was wondering if there was an overall development plan for the city. Private sector interests seem to be leading the whole process, with individual entities undertaking projects.

We find ourselves stuck in traffic morning noon and night trying to navigate the labyrinth that we call our road network to get from point A to point B and with the talk of progressing to first world status, we certainly need to have an organized capital city, where our citizens can efficiently move about,

It has always struck me as odd, the fact that there are lines of traffic leading out of Kingston and St Andrew to the bedroom communities in Portmore and surrounding Spanish Town, whilst the downtown waterfront areas and the neighborhoods leading off become desolate ghost towns at night.

People spend hours sitting in traffic each morning and night to get to and from what I call our bastardadized version of surburbia, where for more economic rather than idealised visions of living out in the country (as is the case with out North American neighbours), thousands of individuals working in the city have chosen to move to these tract style housing developments.

We need to seriously look at our housing practices, and instead of dreaming of that piece of the rock we ought to be as a people, especially those of us just starting out in the workforce thinking of owning or pad in the sky.

Instead of promoting the takeover of what is sometimes prime agricultural lands and converting them to meet housing demand, we should perhaps be looking at converting the acres and acres of lands below Half Way Tree that lead back to Downtown into mixed used types of developments, where people are able to live where they work. I certainly look forward to the day when I can own my city pad (penthouse perhaps) overlooking the harbour in Downtown, being able to walk to the various restaurant, entertainment offerings, office complexes etc.

This is a great opportunity to engage the brains of the many talented Jamaicans, who can begin to truly contribute to nation building. Engage the urban planners to map out, the architects and engineers who will lead the charge as we build up, the business community to invest, and the citizens to get engaged.

And with world prices going the way they are, we all stand to gain by being more efficient, productive and generally more content. I mean, waking up at 4:30 each morning to get to school and or work in the city isn't what i consider the "developed" way.

More anon

The Daily Grind

2008-05-02T07:04:00.000-05:00

Traffic at the exit of Highway 2000 onto Mandela Highway

Its a New Day and The Early Birds are Up

2008-05-02T06:38:00.000-05:00

(The birds are hidden in the bush, they've set up nest below my bedroom window)

Highway 2000

2008-05-01T18:34:00.001-05:00

A sweet piece of road.

What a Mess, The Second Coming of The Spanish

2008-05-01T16:21:00.001-05:00

Are we that poor?

We definitely need to look at the way we invite foreigners to invest on our island, and the inducements that we set ou before them to them to do so. The Spanish have definitely not had a very easy go at it.

Over the past few days it has been reported in the media, the failure of RIU, the Spanish hotel company developing that big pile over on Mahoe Bay in Montego Bay to comply with the building permit that was issued to them.

Let us not even begin to look at the hint of corruption that is beginning to emanate from this whole issue; or even the poor architectural choices that the Spanish developers seem to take when building their odes to bad taste, but this whole issue needs some clarification.

Common sense however dictates that planes don't fly into buildings and so buildings built into the direct flight path of the airport can only be so high and no more. The planning done within these areas are done within strict guides with adherence not an option to those entities building within these areas. In fact development, whereever done, should take place within the guidelines set out by the local planning authorities and not be pushed aside as a matter of economics.

With the situation that is now taking place at Mammee Bay, where the residents in the area, and more so the users of the beach club complaining about the apparent pollution of the Mammee Bay Beach area by the RIU hotel there, and the numerous other instances during the construction and subsequent operations of these hotels this second invasion has ruffled many many local feathers. And as the Spanish become more entrenched within the local business commmunity and particularly at the western end of the island; quietly replacing more and more long established local entities, we need to find that harmonious balance where the Spanish and their way of doing things can coexist with the way we do things (as backward as we may be at times).

Hopefully this whole issue and others that have risen and remain unresolved, and those that are yet to come to light can be resolved as amicably as possible.

One things for sure, the Spanish guys really need to step up the PR, because the antagonistic or brusque approach seems not to be working well with us.

Weblink:

www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/135132_RIU-Hotel-defiant