Blah Bloh Blog

Yet another move

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:42:00 +0000

I got a notification that Stunner left a comment on the last post here at BBB on Blogspot and I realised I forgot to post the new address of BBB. My bad!

Anyone who still reads this can find me at blahblohblog.wordpress.com. Or you can point your RSS feed reader here.

Come on over!

CWC Super 8 in Grenada!

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:10:00 +0000

Today is the first Super 8 match in Grenada - Windies vs South Africa. The moment we have been waiting for!

Well it's 8:30am and so far there appears to be only light traffic on the road. Here's a pretty poor picture of Tanteen Playing Field which has been desgnated as one of the official parking lots; from here you must hop a shuttle for the onward trip to the stadium. As you can see there are not many cars in the lot. Yet.

Now here's something you don't see everyday. All of the Windjammer yachts in harbour at the same time! I suspect they may be part of the "floating hotel" thing.

And to add a little bit of perspective, behind this hill (Cemetery Hill, Old Fort Road) lies the stadium.

I might take a ride around today for some picture-taking. I'll be sure to post anythng interesting, such as the "friendly match" between the Gov't and Opposition MPs! Hah!

UPDATE: We lost. sigh. Need I type anymore? Why? Why??

Crying for cricket

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:51:00 +0000

Windies vs Australia
10:52am
39 for 3 wickets.

Oh lord above! Why?!?!?

What rubbish!

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:25:00 +0000

Controversy is brewing in Tobago over the archdeacon's opposition to Sir Elton John's headlining act at the Tobago Jazz Festival.

"The artiste is one of God's children and while his lifestyle is questionable he needs to be ministered unto. His visit to the island can open the country to be tempted towards pursuing his lifestyle," the clergyman said.

PEOPLE! Really!? Aren't we, in the Caribbean, a little further along the common sense pathway than this? Tell the church leaders to spend more time ministering to the lecherous, pedophile priests and pastors rampant in our churches, and leave Sir Elton the hell out of it. So now Tobago and the homophobic region is international headlines news, just in time for CWC 2007. What? Like no one attending the World Cup is gay? Stupid, stupid, stupid crap like this just makes my blood boil.

His visit to the island can open the country to be tempted towards pursuing his lifestyle.”

Say wha'? Elton John performing in Tobago will make people become homosexual? Are these people for real? The man owns a house on Mustique and has for years - I sincerely doubt that anyone on Mustique has "turned gay" because of Sir Elton's landownership.

Festival organizer Anthony Maharaj, however, insists the artist is coming. "Elton John is coming as what he is, one of the world greatest performers. He has performed in every country around the world. In Christian countries there has never been an objection,” said Maharaj. “He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have. This country should be honored to have Sir Elton John perform in Tobago."

Elton John has a reputation for being a bit of a diva, and not taking any crap from people, and I am hoping that he unleashes a public hailfire of vitriol on the Tobagonian church officials. They deserve it.

Bushisms

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:59:00 +0000

George Walker Bush, President of the United States, also referred to as "Dubya", "Shrub" or "Jackass" (depending on who you speak to) is the subject of an article by Jacob Weisberg writing for Slate magazine. The article documents some of Bush's frequent tongue-slips, malapropisms and verbal mis-steps and sadly (because it is real) is hysterically funny.

Some choice snippets:

"It's in our country's interests to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm's way." — Washington, D.C., April 28, 2005

"The president and I also reaffirmed our determination to fight terror, to bring drug trafficking to bear, to bring justice to those who pollute our youth" —Speaking with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, Santiago, Chile, Nov. 21, 2004

"Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods." —Austin, Texas, Dec. 20, 2000

"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." — Speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007

Weisberg apparently updates the Bushisms whenever a new one occurs, which, knowing this President, is pretty regularly.

Miss Grenada World

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:57:00 +0000

The government issued this press release on their official web site: Olivacce to Serve as MC for Miss Grenada World Pageant

Olivacce who has worked with NBC in New York for the past thirty years just retired and is returning to his native Grenada next month specifically to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the grand affair.

Begging the question, what EXACTLY is the problem with having the show MC'd by a resident Grenadian?

And furthermore, doesn't the government have anything else to do but issue press releases about a beauty pageant?

For more information on the Miss Grenada World Pageant, check out MissGrenadaWorld.com.

TEMPO in Grenada!

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:55:00 +0000

On Saturday March 3rd 2007 was the first ever TEMPO Concert in Grenada. It was held at the old Drive-In Yard on the Maurice Bishop Highway, a pretty good spot for an open air show. Listed to appear were Richie Spice, Gyptian, assorted local artists, and the finals of the Grenadian VJ Competition. Showtime as stated on the ticket was 6pm.

So of course I get there at 6pm.

Wrong move. The show finally began somewhere around 8:30-9pm. I wish the TEMPO people had indicated on the tickets that were going by Caribbean Standard Time and that we shouldn't seriously expect them, as a professional organisation, to actually start the show at the advertised time. Steups. Silly me, huh?

While waiting we indulged in some good food..

.. and drinks...

Meanwhile, we start hearing chat about how Gyptian is a no-show, and that TEMPO secured Rupee as a replacement performer. By now I was starting to have serious doubts about TEMPO's ability to pull this concert off successfully.

Anyway, when the show finally started, close to 9pm, first up on stage was Keith Simon singing the national anthem. Keith has participated in the Caribbean Song Festival and the Digicel Rising Stars, and his rendition was excellent.

Zingo on stage

West the Cowboy singing Wild, Wild West

Elo - Block De Road

Soca Banton says to wave your flag Over Yuh Head

Flag Party by Sheldon Douglas

Reigning Grenada Calypso Monarch Scholar

My favouritist local calypsonian of all time - The Inspector. Madness Time!!

The BabyKilla Hollis Mapp rocking the place - Balance Yuhself!

Spontaneous tired go Fuh Crown

HoneyLaLa, Jeanille, Nishka and Gary "Mr Smooth". Gary is a local radio DJ who was co-hosting with HoneyLaLa. Frankly I felt that they should have scrapped the VJ Competition and just offered Gary the job. He was fabulous!

The TEMPO chairman or vice-president or whatever. You know the guy - he's always featured on the channel. Yeah, came on stage and mistakenly refered to our island as Jamaica. Twice. Hmph!

Rupee (seXXy!!! but boring) filling in for the missing Gyptian

Now I wish I was able to show you pictures of Richie Spice on stage, but I finally left the concert at about 12:30am, while Rupee was still singing. As of that time I had been on my feet in the Drive-In Yard for over 6 hours and still no sign of the headline artists. From reports I have heard Richie Spice didn't perform until around 2:30-3am. Totally and utterly ridiculous! As far as I am concerned, the line-up of local singers was worth my EC$40 ticket, and I would certainly have paid that to see them alone in concert. (Actually I would pay that to see BabyKilla alone in concert. His stage presence and performance is really good.) However, that does not excuse the TEMPO management for a poorly planned and managed show. The 3-hour delay, during which the TEMPO big-wigs were allegedly eating dinner at The Beach House, was unacceptable.

Shame on you TEMPO. Boo!

Politics, Politricks

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:39:00 +0000

The ongoing local taylaylay continues over allegations that Opposition MP Kenrick Fullerton allegedly beat up his wife following an incident where his wife allegedly smashed his alleged girlfrind's windscreen. For his part MP Fullerton denies the alleged wife beating attack and apparently hinted that it might have actually been he that was attacked by his wife.

So now everyone's got an opinion about politicians and their domestic issues. Needless to say, I won't hesitate to weigh in. Frankly, I could care less what public officials do in the privacy (or non-privacy as the cae may be) of their bedrooms and the sheer hypocrisy of some of the other MPs, politicians and government officials towards this incident makes me laugh. There is not ONE among them who does not have an "outside" woman. Allegedly. Jeez. The way some of them carry on you would think they were 60-year old virgins or something. Come on - even the female ministers/MPs (allegedly) have their own little boy-toys, married-man boyfriends and such like. If it is one thing the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal highlighted, it was that sex and its related "morality issues" are largely irrelevant when it comes to the core issues of governance.

Far more interesting to me is the question of public officials' business and financial dealings, for we all know that from hence springs the seeds of corruption and wrong-doing. And speaking of Mr Fullerton, it seems that he was also embroiled in some sort of mini-scandal pertaining to his insurance agency's finances. Now THAT is something that I care about because how he handles his own business affairs reflects how he will handle the country's own.

In any case I am pleased to see that Fullerton is stepping down from the Opposition NDC's executive body and the party leadership has indicated that they will be seeking a new representative to contest his seat in the next election. Although it has come with some prodding, it is great to see the integrity of the party being put before one member's individual pursuits.

Road Works Grenada-style!

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:09:00 +0000

I recently promised some photos of one of the major roads presently under reconstruction, assumedly to be finished in time for CWC 2007. This road is the Lowthers Lane thru to Tempe main road, and apart from driving through the city itself (which I hear will not be allowed anyway), this road is the only way to get to the stadium from the south of the island.

The bottom of Lowthers Lane, close to the Botanical Gardens (where the ministerial offices are).

Section between Knights Auto and Blue Danube.

Corner by Blue Danube.

Section heading up to the Government Gate round-about.

The Government Gate round-about.

Talk about mud!

More CWC musings

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:34:00 +0000

I came across a relatively old but somewhat embarrassing article from the Telegraph regarding Grenada and the Cricket World Cup 2007.

The article is generally scathing, in that "sharp and witty" way that the British seem to enjoy, but realistically it is probably pretty accurate. Some choice snippets:

.. but there are only 2,000 hotel beds on the island and if the planned home-stay programme works out there will be a further 2,000 beds in locals' houses and apartments.

Then, according to Brenda Hood, the tourism minister, "there will be at least two cruise ships berthed in the harbour during the cricket," providing up to 2,500 more beds. So, I make that a shortfall of some 8,500 beds if they're expecting to fill the new stadium.

the generally shambolic nature of the islands

[Prime Minister Mitchell] says that one of the keys to a successful World Cup for Grenada will be the development of tourism in remote rural areas, like the one we are in.

"Twenty-five years ago you would not have seen electricity or fresh water or roads or telephone services out here. This will be one of the practice grounds next April and it will bring more foreign visitors. And that is just what this area needs."

Huh? He mad or wha'?!

When I ask Brenda Hood why the Chinese are funding the £13.5 million stadium as well as building it, she shoots me a look that suggests I am a simpleton. "Officially, the trade-off is political support at the UN, but we see it as a partnership… we have Grenadians in China and we're expecting Chinese tourists over here in the near future," she says without a smile. The fact that those mortal enemies of the Chinese, the Taiwanese, have already financed and built an 8,000-seat stadium in St Kitts may also have something to do with it.

The drive back to St George from Grenville at the end of the cricket match is shambolic. We inch past oncoming traffic and gridlocks, along narrow, crumbling, ill-maintained roads

But the Caribbean is all about travelling at different speeds and the World Cup will be no different. British cricket-lovers will have to chill out, be prepared for all sorts of inefficiencies, calamities and discomforts… and if they relax a bit they may find that this will be the best Cricket World Cup ever. If they don't, they are going to be driven mad.

Deep sigh....

A perspective on West Indians in the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 15:11:00 +0000

I came across this post today, discussing the possible reasons for the "differences" between African-Americans and West Indian immgrants in the U.S. Although the article is a trifle full of generalisations, I found it interesting reading. See what you think.

To a West Indian, black is a literal description: you are black if your skin is black.

The implication of West Indian success is that racism does not really exist at all--at least, not in the form that we have assumed it does. The implication is that the key factor in understanding racial prejudice is not the behavior and attitudes of whites but the behavior and attitudes of blacks--not white discrimination but black culture. It implies that when the conservatives in Congress say the responsibility for ending urban poverty lies not with collective action but with the poor themselves they are right

This idea of the West Indian as a kind of superior black is not a new one. When the first wave of Caribbean immigrants came to New York and Boston, in the early nineteen-hundreds, other blacks dubbed them Jewmaicans, in derisive reference to the emphasis they placed on hard work and education.

she lived in a country that had blacks and browns in every position of authority, so her personal experience gave the lie to what she read in the encyclopedia. This, I think, is what Noel means when he says that he cannot quite appreciate what it is that weighs black Americans down, because he encountered the debilitating effects of racism late, when he was much stronger. He came of age in a country where he belonged to the majority.

The success of West Indians is not proof that discrimination against American blacks does not exist. Rather, it is the means by which discrimination against American blacks is given one last, vicious twist: I am not so shallow as to despise you for the color of your skin, because I have found people your color that I like. Now I can despise you for who you are.

There is also no small measure of guilt here, for West Indians cannot escape the fact that their success has come, to some extent, at the expense of American blacks, and that as they have noisily differentiated themselves from African-Americans--promoting the stereotype of themselves as the good blacks--they have made it easier for whites to join in. It does not help matters that the same kinds of distinctions between good and bad blacks which govern the immigrant experience here have always lurked just below the surface of life in the West Indies as well. It was the infusion of white blood that gave the colored class its status in the Caribbean, and the members of this class have never forgotten that, nor have they failed, in a thousand subtle ways, to distance themselves from those around them who experienced a darker and less privileged past.

In the new racism, as in the old, somebody always has to be the nigger.

You know, this is why I choose to live in the Caribbean. Coming to terms with your personal and collective identity is difficult enough without having to take into consideration an outsiders' set of rules.

A little bit of WWW maccoing

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:25:00 +0000

The SpiceIslander Talkshop is an online forum board frequented by Grenadians here and abroad. All manner of local news, gossip and tay-lay-lay is debated in a fairly haphazard and sometimes clique-ish fashion - it's obvious that many of the "regulars" know each other. Personally while I sometimes enjoy checking out the Talkshop reactions to Grenadian current affairs, I'd be the first to say the posts can become pretty petty, tedious and hard to read, and the ability to spell (even in dialect) appears to be non-existent.

Anywhoo, I came across this post and the comments are absolutely HILARIOUS! In fact the photos at the head of the post, of Prime Minister Mitchell with young school children, simply beg to be captioned!

My favourite comments:

By just looking at their beautiful faces the kids seem to know more about genuine independence than our beloved Prime Minister.

Wha he go teach them how to TIEF Grenadian money?

and ah say to me self...but dat man also have a devious kinda smile. well lets say..a strange kinda smile check it out...
like he saying ..."is not only me hand ah have up me sleeve"...

Next thing you go hear he wearing his underpants and ah Wifebeater for the Port Louis opening.

What I was trying to say is that soon Grenada may be carved up. Half belonging to China, the other half belonging to Taiwan. I wonder who will get the half with Grand Anse?

Browse around and enjoy!
_____

Of course, true to usual Talkshop form, some of the posters go far off the topic and start yabbering on about Prince and Jimi Hendrix at the Superbowl. God! Like we Grenadians have permanent ADD or something.

33rd Anniversary of Grenadian Independence

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:41:00 +0000

On February 7th, 1974, the state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique became the first of the Windward Islands to achieve independence from Britain.

Happy 33rd Birthday! Oh Beloved Land of Mine.

Taiwan to Grenada - "Pay us we money!"

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:14:00 +0000

Seemingly lost in the kerfuffle over the Anthem Fiasco is this startling bit of information that came to light late last week. Taiwan, our previous BFFs, are suing Grenada for repayment of defaulted loans.

The Export-Import Bank of Taiwan brought the court action against the Grenada government in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York for four loans that the NNP regime took and defaulted on payments. The bank is seeking to recover US$ 21.6 million from the Mitchell government plus interest payments for the loans that were taken to facilitate construction of the first sporting stadium at Queen's Park, the Ministerial Complex at the Botanical Gardens, the agricultural sector, and for road construction projects on Mainland Grenada and the sister isle of Carriacou.

This lawsuit comes as a complete suprise to the ordinary Grenadian, as no one seems to have had any clue about these loan arrangments. What is difficult to comprehend is that the legal action has been going on for a while, with the government retaining counsel in the U.S. (the wife of the Foreign Affairs minister - but OF COURSE!) and the government has never seen it fit to advise the country of this situation before. Ah well, why should they? We are only, after all, just the uneducated masses that keep electing these people into office, over and over and over.

Have you ever heard a more ironic statement than this?

"This matter has severe legal, political, and embarrassing consequences for all of us in Grenada," the article quoted an official from the Ministry of Finance as saying.

Of course let us not forget that this lawsuit comes on the heels of another suit against our Minister for Energy Gregory Bowen, brought by oil investor Jack Grynberg:

[Co-defendant]Korchagin, described as a Russian lawyer, has been sued along with Minister Bowen and two other Russians Mikhail Fridman and Len Blavatnik by U.S oil investor Jack Grynberg for US500,000.00 in damages for breach of contract. Grynberg is alleging that Bowen and the Russians have conspired to prevent him from cashing in on a controversial oil and gas agreement that he signed in 1996 with the ruling New National Party (NNP) administration.

.

sigh

You know - I, for one, just cannot WAIT for the Windfall of Humiliation and Embarassment (aka CWC 2007) destined to be heading our way in March. Wait 'til I show y'all some pictures of the main roads in the hotel district and around the "stadium". Soon I promise.

And the band played on...

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:57:00 +0000

So.... as the international media busts a collective gut giggling at our infamous China/Taiwan Anthem faux-pas, us Grenadians are reminded - yet again - that our shameplates have indeed surpassed maximum capacity and are now useless to us.

Chinese Ambassador, Qian Hongshan, and scores of blue-uniformed Chinese labourers who built the new US$40 million Queen's Park stadium as a gift from Beijing, were visibly uncomfortable as Tai-wan's anthem echoed inside the 20,000-seat venue on Saturday.
Describing it as a blunder, Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell pledged an investigation into how the Royal Grenada Police Band could have prepared the anthem of Taiwan instead of China, which has waged an aggressive campaign in the Caribbean to woo nations away from relationships with its rival.

Just to remind all of you, our "investigatory" P.M. is the Chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee for the World Cup. Allyuh better start praying he don't play de Pakistan anthem for the Indian team!

ps: Dat man is ah eediot oui!

edit: pps: Um... I didn't say which man!

pps2: As per local news this afternoon, it appears a cabinet-level witch-hunt is on the move to pin the blame on the fiasco on the Police Band leader Brian Hurst. Poor guy.

UPDATE Feb 7: As of Feb 6th, Brian Hurst was suspended from the Police Force pending further investigation. Scapegoats Unite!

LaSource Sailing Festival

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:28:00 +0000

Local workboats preparing to race in the 14th Annual LaSource Sailing Festival, January 28th.
Click here for larger photo

And here they are undersail!
Larger photo

Larger photo

I'm back again...

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:06:00 +0000

Lord can y'all ever get rid of me?

Major upheaval in the YY household (impending divorce) has contributed to the relocation of BlahBlohBlog from a private server to BlogSpot and I've been trying to contact my fellow blogrollers/blogrollees to advise of the blog address change. Here's hoping some of them will visit me here! I miss them terribly. *hugs*kisses*

Link up wit' y'all soon.

Grenada and the CSME

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:10:00 +0000

Well, well, well. Looks like the OECS heads of government are concerned about Grenada’s readiness for CSM.

In and of itself this is not surprising. One would be justified in being concerned about Grenada and the Single Market, particularly since the average Grenadian knows next to nothing about the CSME, its implications, and the process of its integration.

It's very disingenious of Dr Mitchell, our "venerable" prime minister, to make a statement like

Grenada may not necessarily be ready because with the advent of Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005), Grenada would have been marginalised

How convenient! Why is it that these 2 hurricanes are a perfect excuse, in Dr Mitchell's eyes, for his country not to be ready for a socio-economic-political transistion that has been over a decade in the making, but yet these same 2 hurricanes become irrelevant and inconsequential when it comes to the question of Grenada being in a physical and fiscal position to host matches for CWC 2007? Dr Mitchell appears to be fervently concerned about loosing face by not being able to host these matches, yet as a Grenadian I find it infinitely more embarassing to admit that not only is Grenada not ready to join the Caricom Single Market, but also that the overwhelming majority of the population are grossly uninformed or misinformed about exactly what the Single Market is supposed to be.

Are we going to be ready for World Cup next year? I guarantee that Dr Mitchell is figuratively going to die trying. Pity he doesn't feel the same sense of committment to the CSME.

Heh. You know us Grenadians - we shameplate done break a long time ago.

I'm back

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:22:00 +0000

T'is me - the yingity yang. Back after a rather long hiatus, capped off by a complete blog address change. Here's to hoping that blogspot is marginally better than a really, crappy web host.

I hope to be able to backup and re-post my archives one of these good days. Meanwhile check out my last, and hopelessly outdated post, which had been eaten by aforementioned Really Crappy Web Host.

CWC 2007 Update #2

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:08:00 +0000

While idly checking out the CWC 2007 website, I came across this venue summary. Wow. Don't those stadiums look sweet?

Hey - check out what they say about Queens Park in Grenada.

Status: minor upgrade required

I must say that I did a double-take reading this line. Minor Upgrade? Are they serious? Who fact-checks that site? (I promise to post some new photos of present progress at the stadium as soon as possible.)

So this led me off again on a new hunt for commentary about Grenada and CWC 2007. Some snippets:
1. The Grenada Today

The trouble with Grenada, though, is that it was spending money on the World Cup at a time when it must rebuild its infrastructure after Hurricane Ivan. "In Grenada there are some definite question marks. You are in a situation in which your fiscal position doesn't have a lot of flexibility. You do face some revenue shortages and you do face pressure on capital expenditure"

2. The Grenada Today again

The countdown has started in Grenada towards the hosting of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup games allocated to the Spice Isle with the unveiling of plans to train 3,500 volunteers.

Successful volunteers on completion of training will be certified and receive top quality brand name uniforms for the matches. Chairman of the local Board of Directors of Grenada LOC, accountant Henry Joseph stated that the volunteers to be chosen will have to do everything possible to ensure that every visitor coming to Grenada is welcomed in the Spice Isle.

The internet cannot convey the expression on my face right at this moment.

3. DAWN.com

Parliaments in the nine countries hosting the 2007 cricket World Cup will soon likely take up legislation to expedite the immigration process for visitors attending matches.....

.....The free flow of cricket fans could be facilitated by putting a special stamp in their passports, Jones said, noting that this area hadn't yet been worked out.

The countries -- Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, St Kitts, Trinidad, Guyana and St Vincent -- will have to approve the legislation since there is no regional authority.

4. Australian Sports Tours. Hey, hey, hey! Proposed trip/tour itinerary for matches in Grenada.

5. Barbados Advocate

Scathing comments were reserved for Grenada, though. "Nowhere, though, does work seem as far behind as in Grenada, where Hurricane Ivan wiped out Queen's Park stadium in September 2004 and washed out roads and bridges throughout the island. China, which two years ago persuaded Grenada to drop its recognition of Taiwan, offered to foot the $40-million bill for the stadium's reconstruction and has flown in labourers to man the 24/7 operation. China is not competing in the World Cup".

It was also suggested that the provision of accommodation would be a challenge. "Home to about 100 000 people, Grenada will have to accommodate an estimated 35,000 visitors during the matches, which is likely to overwhelm a hotel industry still rebuilding after Ivan damaged all but a few of its 1 000 rooms. That could give rise to bed-and-breakfasts, but community development specialist Denyse Ogilvie points out that government demands for hefty licensing fees, insurance and service guarantees are deterring most would-be innkeepers from making the investment. Even the prospects for souvenir sales are dim, as few Grenadians can afford to pay franchise costs for use of ICC event names and logos".

::nervous frown:: Righty-o. I think I'll stop on that note.

More updates soon.

Losing weight: Update #2

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:03:00 +0000

Just an update on the weightloss/exercise programme - 17lbs hit the dust. 33 left to go!

Grenada and World Cup cricket

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 02:32:00 +0000

Now I know you folks have heard the countless stories and reports that some of the islands (chief among them Grenada) are in a state of unreadiness in preparation for the Cricket World Cup 2007. The Chairman of the Caricom CWC 2007 Committee, none other than Keith "Yuh mad or wha?" Mitchell, aka the Grenadian Prime Minister, vigorously asserts that Grenada's National Stadium will most definitely be ready in time for the "testing" that is supposed to take place in October. Yes people, this October. October 2006. Seven months away.

Let me give you a little backstory about de Grenada National Stadium & Cricket Ground. The existing stadium, which was less than 5 years old and had been built under much tay-lay-lay, scandalous confusion and diversion of funds, had been destroyed by Ivan in 2004. After much back-and-forth begging and demanding, P. M. Mitchell managed to persuade the Chinese government (not that they needed much encouragement) to rebuild the stadium in time for World Cup.

Now let me interject here and state that it is my belief that Grenada will have its 6 World cup matches taken away. Will the stadium be ready? Who the hell knows. Those Chinese workers are certainly racking up some overtime, and two separate contractor friends of mine have stated that they believe the stadium could be ready for October. Note well, the stadium could be ready. The pitch now.... well... that's another issue entirely. Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't it usually take a long time to prepare, groom, tender, roll, press and test a pitch? I mean, in the previous stadium, the pitch had taken at least a year and a half to get to an "OK" playing condition. Right now what's left of the pitch is sitting underneath piles of Chinese steel and rebar. There's less than a year to have this pitch not just playable, but World Cup cricket-playable. Hmmm... I doh know nuh.

Then there's the issue about getting Grenada itself ready. [Insert laugh track here] The stadium is right on the northern outskirt of the town of Saint George. Given the current traffic and vehicular conditions on an average workday, taking into consideration that the country's central bus terminus is less than 1/4 mile away from the stadium, and factoring in the state of the roads in and around St. George, I am totally baffled as to how these thousands of cricket fans will be able to get to the stadium on any given day. Not to mention where exactly will these cricket fans be staying? Grenada has approximately 1,800 hotel rooms; yet we "hear" that we can expect at least 5,000 cricket followers to descend on our shores. Oh, I forget... the visitors can avail themselves of our Homestays Programme:
Successful applicants would be required to provide a high level of safety, comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality to all guests. Inspections will therefore be held on an annual basis to maintain prescribed standards.

I happen to know someone who has applied for this Homestay Programme and she was griping that she is required to pay a "license" fee of US$2,500 for the priviledge of being a Homestays venue, and in order just to recoup this fee she'd have to charge US$250 or more per night. That's most than most hotels. And that's without her clearing a profit!

So people. Tell me. What do you think? Can we do it? Can we salvage what's left of our pride and hang on to those 6 matches?

Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

PhotoTime

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 21:02:00 +0000

Holy cow! It's been nearly 3 weeks since I posted and I guess it's nigh time to do something about that. But today is Sunday - siesta-day, and I'm just to lazy to compose a post of any great significance. So what's a lazy girl to do? PHOTOBLOGGING!!!!

I'm actively exercising my beloved Fuji. That camera has so many features I don't know what to do with half of them.

1. Panoramic of St. George's: Lagoon Road/The Carenage area.

Click here for the larger version.

2. Panoramic of gorgeous Grand Anse Beach (No I do not get tired of taking shots of Grand Anse).

Click here for the larger version.

3. Yet another beach shot. I was on this beach this morning and a newly arrived tourist couple walked onto the beach a few feet away from me. The wife looks around, taking in this vista, and says "Oh Billy-Bob! It's just so...so.... Caribbean!"I guess it is indeed.

4. And isn't this shot rather "Caribbean" as well! Mist & fog rolling down from Mt. Maitland into the suburb of Mt. Parnassus on a miserable rainy day. Do excuse my clothes-line in the foreground.

5. And because no photoblog is complete without some eye candy, I present for the ladies' enjoyment my two favourite actors....*sigh*

.. and before some fast person points out, no I didn't take those shots myself; if I had allyuh would ah hear some news story about a crazed woman pouncing on Terrence Howard and Wentworth Miller at the Golden Globes, bawling out "Oh gad! Oh gad! Ah luv ya bad bad bad!"

Meme....

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 23:56:00 +0000

OK then, I guess I'll take on Mad Bull's meme since I have't blogged in ages, and I really should.

A meme about 4 things.... how fortuitous. Four is my favourite number - it's my birthdate. So this Meme about Four better bring some good vibes my way.

Four jobs you've had in your life:
1. Hotel/Front Desk
2. Hotel/Cost Control - after working shifts for about 4 years combined, you ain't catching me back in a hotel.
3. Sales - Aww hell naw! I suck at sales. Only job I was fired from for being terrible.
4. Office Management - Well, there went 4 years of college. I now work in a field fairly unrelated to my degree (marketing).

Four movies you could watch over and over are:
1. Face/Off - Nic Cage and John Travolta. I don't care how sucky it was. I love it.
2. Harold & Kumar go to White Castle. That shit is funnyyyyyyy.
3. The 5th Element - Bruce Willis. Yeah, I'm a Bruce Willis girl; I love this movie - campy and fun.
4. The Matrix Trilogy - Keanu "Sexy" Reeves. Mmmm. I can't believe I'm such a Matrix freak since I generally don't like Sci-fi. And yes, I even like the last one.

Four places you've lived:
1. Springs, St George's, Grenada
2. Castries, St. Lucia
3. Miami Shores, Florida
4. Lucas Street, downtown St. George's, Grenada

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Prison Break!!!!!!! I *heart* this show!
2. Law & Order (all of them)
3. In Living Colour
4. A Baby Story (yeah, Mr YY is always on about didn't I have enough drama with my own labour and delivery, why I want to continously relive the event)

Four places you've been on vacation:
1. New York.
2. Clewiston. (hah! Look it up. It's in the sticks in Central Florida)
3. Staffordshire. (Look that up too! In the sticks in North England)
4. Carriacou. Technically still Grenada but really different in feeling/personality.

Four websites you visit daily (excluding my blogroll)
1. Television Without Pity
2. The First Church of Wentworth Miller
3. MSN
4. CaribbeanNetNews

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Italian
2. Chinese
3. West Indian
4. Indian

Four places you'd rather be:
1. A deserted island off of Sicily. I have no idea why - I have always wanted to go to Sicily.
2. Shanghai. Keeping my 'net sistren Tilary - a tall, black woman with red dreads - company in a place far from home.
3. India. Because I have always wanted to see where my great-grandparents came from.
4. Carriacou. Because Carriacou in small doses is great fun.

Four albums I like best
1. Confessions on A Dance Floor - Madonna. Yeah, as a kid of the 80's, I have undying fondness for Madonna, even though she needs to pack it in already.
2. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette. *sigh* Days of angst, nights of singing with a hairbrush microphone.
3. The Joshua Tree - U2. Still one of the best rock albums ever.
4. Kanye West - mixture of the 2 albums. Kanye's a bit of a jackass, and can't rap worth shit, but I love a lot of his songs

..... and .... MUSIC THAT WILL BE ON MY PLAYLIST FOREVER:
Any 80's compilation, Bob Marley, Jah Cure, Damian Marley, Sean Paul, and Destra.

Time to fire up iTunes. I feel a vibes coming on.

Strike! Update

noreply@blogger.com (YY) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 17:36:00 +0000

Well, Friday's strike was quiet enough. No the country did not grind to a halt. And no, the government has refused to abandon the Levy. Instead, they propose to have a 3% levy, effective immediately, and introduce the 5% in July. And to quote the Finance Minister as he presented this proposal as part of his Budget Speech in parliment on Friday - that is that. End of story.

Ooooooo-Kay then. 5 months paying 2% less tax to the government. [pause and reflect on that]

Anyway, I haven't heard what the unions plan to do in response.