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2006-10-16T19:11:00.000-05:00

Trafigura Beheer and PNP- Just another scandal

2006-10-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

I am gutted. I have never felt such disappointment, such shame, such anger over the People’s National Party (PNP). We are still waiting for Trafigura Beheer to elucidate on its statement that the $31million was in fact part of a ‘commercial agreement’ and not a donation towards the PNP’s election campaign as the party claimed.

Having watched several elections over the years and not participating, earlier this year I took steps to ensure that the coming election I would be able to exercise my franchise. I got myself enumerated. Even though I was not impressed with the PNP and certainly had no desire to see them in power for another 5 years, I was planning to vote for them. Not only did I not want Portia Simpson-Miller to be the PNP Prime Minister with the shortest tenure, I also allowed myself to believe that things would be better under her reign. It’s not even that I believed that she was going to be the panacea for all of Jamaica’s ills. Maybe it is that her fervent speeches about looking out for the poor seem more genuine than anyone else. Hell, maybe I was just desperate to believe that finally there’s someone who will make a difference.

I’ve always believed that a party that’s in power too long runs the risk of believing that they are entitled to this. I have seen evidence of this in the PNP before but never had it been so blatant as is now seen in the Trafigura Scandal.

Let’s assume that the PNP is telling the truth. Let’s assume that the the $31 million isn’t public funds but a donation to the party for its election campaign. Does the PNP really expect the Jamaican people to believe that there is nothing inappropriate in accepting a $31million donation from a foreign company that makes millions of dollars from having a business arrangement with the government. A business arrangement that involves a contract that is renewed automatically each year without tender? Are they so desperate to maintain their 17 year reign that they are willing to hide behind the argument that the arrangement is ‘not illegal’ even if it's highly questionable?. Where is the “larger assertion of moral strength and rectitude in our public and private sectors” that the Prime Minister prayed for during her inaugural speech? Oh my Lord, I actually believed!!!. Seems like it's the usual empty rhetoric that politicians like to utter. You know, I’d be willing to be persuaded by the government that a transaction that appears to be unethical even though quite legal, must be undertaken if the ends justify the means. But the ‘means’ can’t be political party funding! How about alleviating the poverty that plagues our lovely country?

It is so totally reprehensible that there are babies dying in Victoria Jubiliee Hospital because of the lack of proper equipment when it seems that the government just used $31million of the public’s money for electioneering. The country has been besetted over the past few months with long drawn out salary negotiations with public sector groupings, and suffered the inconvenience of industrial actions by these groupings, putting lives at risk and jeopardizing our tourism sector while nurses and police took industrial action. All this has been happening while the government chose to use $31million dollars of what now appears to be public funds to finance its campaign. I’m almost rendered inarticulate with disbelief and shock and outrage.

What gets me even more is the arrogance that has been displayed by the various members of the party, namely that triumvirate of A.J. Nicholson, Colin Campbell and Bobby Pickersgill. Imagine the temerity of these people seeking to chastise other bodies and cast aspersion on their objectiveness because these bodies dared to suggest that the matter underscored the need for proper procedures in place to deal with the matter of campaign financing. Talk about adding insult to injury. How dare them? How dare they once again undermine the trust that the Jamaican people invested in them?

The fact that we’re now hearing that Colin Campbell has resigned as a result has not made me feel better. He was not the only person involved in this subterfuge. The suggestion that he resigned because he had not advised the rest of the government about the true nature of the $31 million is not comforting to me. I never knew the day would come when I would say such harsh words about our new Prime Minister. But am I to believe that Prime Minister Portia Simpson had no idea whatsoever about the source of the funding? A conference to dwarf all previous conferences was being planned and as Prime Minister, she didn’t meet with the relevant parties and find out expected costs, and source of funding? It therefore means that if she’s ignorant of all that as they would have us believe, then she is not the right person to be Prime Minister. It means obviously she’s not capable of asking tough questions and therefore will not be able to prevent a recurrence of a similar situation.

Four days after the situation came to light, we have seen several members of the PNP stumbled over blatant lies after blatant lies trying to explain away the stench that the transaction generated but yet the Prime Minister has not yet addressed the nation on the matter.

Being the Head of a government is no child’s play and certain things cannot be delegated. She cannot expect to continue hiding behind her ministers when an issue of such a magnitude and significance abounds. Tossing out one member of the party in order to appease the public in the hope that its bid to win the next election is not derailed is nothing short of condescending.

In retrospect, it’s a good thing that I did go out and get myself enumerated. Now, I’ll be able to do something about it. I might be the only person in my card carrying PNP supporting family to vote against the party but that’s fine. I only hope others are able to put aside politics and do the same thing.

The world has gone crazy

2006-10-06T13:21:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading the news online and I'm convinced the world has gone crazy.

School killing now the norm, children not safe with adults (including relatives) anymore, people having sex with their own sex and animals, Old age pensioners and babies being raped, extremists flying planes into building, people walking in public dressed as the opposite sex, homosexual ordained ministers preaching the word of God, church ministers sexually assaulting children.

I can't make sense of the world anymore. I'm going to hide under a rock. Let me know when it's safe to come out.

Dying is darn expensive!

2006-10-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

What!!!! $85,000 for a cremation!!!

Now, I'm a practical person who've never believed in spending a lot of money on the dead. It makes no sense to me. There will other expenses that comes from being alive that will have to be dealt with even after you've lavishly sent off the loved one to the comforting arms of the Maker. It's fine if the deceased had made arrangement (and paid for it) while living. People are free to do whatever they wish with their money. When it's the living who will have to assume that financial burden it's another matter.

So I've been going around saying that I want to be cremated. I figure that with the absence of a casket, no need for a vault to be built funeral cost should be minimal. Right? I'm so darn wrong.

According to an article I just read in the Sunday Observer, it's just as expensive to die as to live. A basic cremation costs $85,000 while the one with frills can be up to $180,000. (US$1 =J$66)

I've said some other seemingly crazy things too. I mean them though. I've said that I'd like to donote my whichever of my organs that are still usable if they can extend/improve the life of someone else. Because really, if I'm already dead what use are they to me?

I don't know though if there's somewhere in Jamaica that will allow me to 'register' my 'offer'. I don't even know if such a facility exists.

Discouraged

2006-09-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

I feel discouraged. I haven't studied in three days. I feel discouraged. So I've just been sleeping, waking up in the night to study but watching tv instead.

I've been averaging 60-odd% in the questions that I've been working. That's no good because the passmark is 75%. If I don't finish everything by April next year, I'll lose the other two that I've already passed.

Exam is 2 months away and I don't feel comfortable about any of the subjects.

Maybe I should do one in November instead of two, do the other one in January. But jeez, I wanted to enjoy my December. Who wants to be studying throughout the xmas season? Plus I want to enjoy the three days of Jazz Festival in January. Also, I wanted to avoid the additional plane fare to travel to the USA to do the exams. Oh sh_t!

I'm so scared of failing.

Very scared.

Sigh.

How do we help them?

2006-09-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

On my way home today, I decided to stop by Island Grill for some festivals. Before I came out the vehicle I observed that a young fellow who seemed to be selling stuff had moved closer to my door. "Oh Lawd," I thought to myself, "can I get a break from these sellers/beggars?"

"Miss yu can buy a socks from me?" Just as I expected.

"Don't need any socks." Even though I'm tired of them all, the beggars, the windshield wipers, the sellers, I try not to show the annoyance that I feel at not being able to move around without being accosted by one of them.

"Yu can buy me a soup when yu go inside please?"

As a rule I don't give money to anyone on the street. I keep thinking that I don't want to encourage a bad habit, they're young and strong, they're going to use money to buy drugs. However, I'm a sucker for someone indicating that he/she is hungry. So I went inside and bought him a proper meal (chicken sandwich, fries & pepsi and chided myself for not getting him some soup to settle the gas). While I was inside another beggar came up and ask that I put some money on the coins that he had in his hands so he could buy something to eat. So I had to dole out some more money.

I've been wondering these past weeks though, been turning it around in my head, what's the solution? How do we deal with all these sellers-cum-beggars-cum-windshield wipers?

I'm thinking that we need some unskilled work for them because of course they have no training or education. On the surface our construction industry (one obvious source of unskilled work) seem to be booming. You can't drive two minutes without seeing some new apartment building, office building going up. The problem is we don't hear people within the construction industry complaining of a dearth of unskilled labour.

Maybe we should set up some skills training centres so that they can learn a skill (plumbing, tailoring, etc) and create their own employment. The private sector should fund these as its in everyone's interest to have less unemployed young men with too much time on their hands.

Did I single-handedly solve one of Jamaica's problems? I doubt it.

I do wonder though if any serious thought is given by the power-brokers to how to solve that problem.

I hate you Blogger!!!!!!

2006-09-20T23:47:00.000-05:00

Oh bloody hell!!!! I hate you, you Blogger!!!!

I just did a long post, a really long one. For half hour I waxed lyrical on the subject that I was posting on, only to have the darn post disappear just as I was contemplating what what title I should give it.

Google, if you're reading this, Blogger needs to get a 'recovery' thingy. You know, similar to MS Word, Excel. Damn you Blogger.

I'm going to bed!!!! *storms off in disgust*

Inefficient bank service

2006-09-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Some months ago I went into my bank to get a replacement ATM card since I couldn't locate the one I had. I was sure that I hadn't left it in the machine as usual but still couldn't find it. I got the new card and went home. Later that day when I tried to access my account online, I was having all sort of problems so I called up internet banking customer service people. They told me that the reason I couldn't get online was due to the fact that the I had a new ATM card (which had a different no. of course). So I thought, no problem, she could just fix that right there by me giving her the new number on the card to update her system. Wrong. She said it didn't work like that, the branch would have to contact them and advise them of the change.

Now why the dickans didn't the girl dealing with the replacement didn't say that, I thought irritably. Anyhow, I called the branch, they took the number and promised to deal with it promptly. A week later I tried to get online again. Still no access. Apparently the branch hadn't passed on the info to the internet banking people. I tried a month later. Same thing. Several months passed and during this time I called the branch several times. Each time they took the information and still no internet access. So I visited the branch, they wrote down the new atm #(aren't they supposed to have this info anyway?), promised to pass on the info. All this time, I'm still not able to access my account online.

So last Friday in a fit of rage, I went to the bank's website and typed the following message and sent it off.

Message: (Taken verbatim from the email they sent responding)
"What do I need to do? Who do I need to kill to get the bank to record the fact that I have received a new ATM card so that I can finally start accessing my account online again. It has been several damn months since I have received the card. Customer service rep. advised me that the branch will need to inform them (I can't do it myself!) so that they may update the system. I have requested the branch (New Kingston) to do this by phone (several times), I have gone into the branch itself to request that they do so and they recorded the information. Yet, I'm still unable to access my account online. So again I ask, what do I need to do, who do I need to stalk, in order to have access to my account online. Sheesh!!!

Let's see if this medium is any better!!!!

I got a call while I was at work today. It was a representative from the bank calling the advise that my request via the net has been dealt with and I am now able to access my account online.

Apparently you're not supposed to be polite all the while. I haven't confirmed that I can actually access account online as yet though.

Update: 20/Sept/06

Got in and clear voice mail message. Personnel from the bank calling again to assure me that I'm now able to access my account online and urging me to call if I encounter any problem. I still haven't checked as yet.

Nature

2006-09-10T15:19:00.000-05:00

Jamaica is beautiful. So very beautiful. I found myself thinking that (not the first time) as I drove along the road this afternoon. No. I wasn't on my way to or from the country. I wasn't driving through Portland with its lush country side nor was I driving on Spur Tree Hill where you can get the most spectacular view of practically all of Jamaica. I was just driving in good, ole, polluted Kingston.

Maybe because it was overcast and about to rain, but somehow the leaves just looked a little greener, the grass a little more lush. "Ahh, Beautiful," I found myself thinking as I drove along Barbican Road to that big store to see what household goodies they had to tempt me with.

It was a lovely afternoon too. There was a slight drizzle when I was driving back home, a light breeze. Just nice. I actually like when it rains. As long as I'm home with no where to go, it's fine. There's a comforting feel to the sound of heavy rain on your roof during the nights. If you have someone to snuggle up to, it's even better. I don't mind a hurricane every now and then either to stir up some excitement. Unfortunately I live in a country where even a 'mild' shower can cause severe distress to people who live in the more rural areas. I use to be so amazed when we get a regular shower of rain here in Kingston and then watch the news later on and see that houses were under-water, people washed away, while others were left homeless. I wondered how was that possible when it 'just barely rained'

So now, if I hear that a storm is on the horizon, I desperately wish it away like everyone else. I find that now, I even feel guilty if I am enjoying a light shower. As if I was the one who called it. Even while enjoying it, I'm wishing fervently that no one is too negatively affected.

Nature is lovely. Such a pity we don't always take the time to enjoy it. Sometimes in the morning, I hear birds singing outside my window. Absolutely lovely.

Election time again

2006-09-04T22:38:00.000-05:00

The politicians are at it again. Election is in the air and the politicians are reeling out the promises like there's no tomorrow. Who knows, there probably won't be any tomorrow for the loser.

I really haven't decided who I'm voting for yet. I'm tired of the PNP and their scandals but feel like I'd like to give Portia a chance to show what she has in store for the country. I'm not yet too impressed, but afterall it has only been six months .

I must confess too that I'm a more than a little curious to see how the JLP plan to execute all these changes that they have been promising. They have promised to roll back the Portmore Highway toll. They've also promised the country free education up to the secondary school level. How do they plan to finance all these I'd love to know.

Election should be anytime soon but of course we don't know the date yet. As our Prime Ministers are wont to do, the polls are being watched and it will be called at a time that's favourable to the party. The time is certainly not now as she's under seige by all these public sector groups demanding salary increases. That's another pet peeve. We need to have a fixed election date and eliminate the games involved in setting one. That way too there won't be need for an unnecessarily drawn out election campaign and the violence associated with it.

Watching the news as I write:

Living here in Kingston and being exposed to the more modern aspect of living in Jamaica, it is sometimes easy to forget that there are several areas of poverty in the country. Recently I mentioned to an expatriate that I worked with that he's not to be fooled by the 'good life' that's evidenced in New Kingston where we both worked because there are pockets of poverty in the country. Another co-worker who was listening insisted that it's the other way around, Jamaica is a poor country with pockets of wealth. Hmmm.

The reason I mention that conversation is this. I'm now watching the news and watching teachers plea for furniture for the students. The camera then focused on students sitting on metal chairs with a long ply board placed on them (I'm assuming because there's no seat where it should be). In 2006 watching the news, I'm watching parents plea for proper 'flush' toilets because the toddlers are in danger of falling into the 'pit' toilets that they have to use. In 2006.

Now those are isssues that need to be addressed by our politicians. Issues that will remain relevant even after the election.

Who do I vote for?

Jamaican terrorists

2006-08-29T19:26:00.000-05:00

It's 7:30pm and I'm lying in my living room, watching tv. I should be out of the house and at UWI but I'm tired. Damn tired of studying. I left work a little late today and got in about six bells. I told myself that I'm just going to rest for an hour because it's not a good idea to leave work and get straight into studying. I tell myself that I'm just chilling awhile to unwind so that my brain will be more receptive to what I'm going to put in. In reality I really just wanted to watch the two episodes of KING OF QUEENS that start at 6:00pm and ends at 7:00pm.

Then I tell myself that I have to stay and watch the 7:00 news on TVJ because it's always a good idea to know what's going on in the country. I know it's just finding excuse not to leave. It feels too good just lying here.

Oh Gosh, Iranian President just challenged Bush to a debate on World Issues. Everyday there's another standoff. I can't stand it.

Speaking of Bush, I can't believe that terrorist Sheikh Abdullah El Faisal is going to be deported to Jamaica. Lawdhaffmurcy on us. As if our gun-toting criminals aren't enough, now we have to worry about terrorist threats because we'll have our own soon to arrive, fresh from England, in-house terrorist. Why is it, when the wretched people leave our 'peaceful' isles and go else where and learn their wickedness and get caught, they end up back here. Double damn!!!! Our tourism sector has been benefiting from the terrorist action around the world because the caribbean is still seen as safe. With the caribbean now finalizing preparation to host World Cup Cricket in 2007 what better opportunity to hone the skills he learnt overseas.

And what's with these Jamaica-affiliated terrorists anyway? Before we could even digest the news that fast on the heels of 9/11 there was another plane-related terrorist attempt, we bombarded with the news that the 'Shoe Bomber' was Jamaican. Jamaican by means of a Jamaican father.

Ok, it's 7:54 pm, let me head for UWI. If I wait until 8:00 I might see something interesting about to start on tv.

An Efficient Jamaican Police Force Please?

2006-08-25T05:10:00.000-05:00

It is almost 3am but since I'm too worried to sleep I might as well blog. The most worrying thing about living in Jamaica right now is the crime situation. The events of tonight (or rather this morning) speak directly to that.

A little past midnight I was awaken by the persistent ringing of my phones. I checked the number and realized that it was one of my young relatives who was calling so I called her. Apparently, she had been trying to get her mother who had gone down to Montego Bay to visit relatives and wasn't getting through. Finally, at about midnight, her mother answered the phone and in a hushed tone, told her that she can't speak to her because someone was breaking into the house.

Apparently on reaching the house Montego Bay about 11pm, going through the gate with her daughter she was held up by some gunmen who demanded that they hand over their phones and money.

I have not been able to get the entire details but somehow they were allowed to go inside the house safely even though they had seen the faces of the gunmen. It would appear from the events that unfolded later that the gunmen returned to correct that error. The house is situated in one of those crime-ridden areas in Montego Bay so I really don't understand why they even decided to go to the house at that time of the night.

The gunmen returned to the house and made several attempts to gain entry. I was told that they seemed to be hammering the door with something in an attempt to break it down. During this time, my family huddled in terror in one of the rooms in the house. After it appeared that the men were about to gain entry, they started screaming for bloody murder at which point they men left.

After I spoke with my relative (who was apparently too distraught to think straight and call the police before even calling me) I called 119 and reported the situation. Now that whole situation of the police itself needs an entire post. I wonder about the training they receive, if they are coached on how to deal with the public (or their jobs in general), and the procedures/system in place to deal with calls to the emergency number.

The first person I spoke to was ok, asked all the right questions about address, phone number, etc. I called back to provide additional information about the address and was answered by apparently one of the minority that causes the police to get a bad reputation. After relating the situation again because he said he wasn't aware, didn't hear anything about it, I asked if he will be dispatching someone immediately. The man, quite insolently asked me what I thought he should do. Upon answering that I think he should dispatch someone forthwith, he asked "Well, why yu asking then?" and hung up. I thought my question was quite pertinent, since I've heard all these horror stories about calls to the emergency number. You hear of cases where on contacting the police people are told to call back later, no vehicle is available to go to the scene etc. I don't know how true this is but I've even heard of police upon being called, complained that the caller disturbed their viewing of a particular soap on tv.

Well, I called the police station that is nearby the house and spoke to someone who assured me that they were advised and someone had gone by the house. Now, if I explained that the family was holed up in one room, terrified and fearful that the criminals would return, why would the police just cruise past on the road instead of going to the house, looking around, speak to the occurpants to ensure that they were safe?

Jeez, as I said before, I really wonder about the training that they receive. Honestly. On calling back I was told that the patrol vehicle drove past by the house and didn't see anything. If the darn people are inside dead, what would they have seen, just cruising past. I shouldn't be the one to explain all this.

My father lived in Canada all my life. He had diabetis and quite frequently would go into a diabetic coma because sometimes he just didn't take his medication. In addition to hustling to Canada everytime my cousins call me frantically to advise that he's in the hospital, I'd call from Jamaica frequently just to check in. I remember calling one day and couldn't get in touch with him and had worked myself up to quite a state just worrying. I called my mother in the States. I don't know how this work but somehow she was able to contact the police in Canada (she said she called 911 from the States) who at 1:00am went to my father's house, and knocked him up and ensured that he was ok. Why can't I get that type of service here in Ja? People might say, well, that's a first world country, but shouldn't we be making strides in that direction?

I don't need to attend Police Academy to figure that if there are people distressed and fearful for their lives, I can't just cruise past in my patrol car, not see any obvious signs of distress and assume all is well.

Anyway, I insisted that they return to the house. They did, alerted my family that they were outside, looked around the house and ensured that no one was lurking in the vicinity, and promised to patrol the road.

The police is one of the public sector groups who are currently agitating for more pay. I have no quarrel with that, but can we the taxpayers who are funding the salaries see some good service for this. As I said before this really requires another post, but everytime I have cause to deal with the police I wonder is there any serious attempt to effect some changes?

Is this my first blog rant?

2006-08-17T18:22:00.000-05:00

I came across a blog called 'On the Verge' Well, I'm on the verge of doing something unpleasant. I feel like hauling some some old tyres and vehicles and blocking the road, walk up and down with placards until the government does something, I feel like starting another gas riot like the one we had here some years ago.

If I have to drive on my road for another week with all those craters (they can't be called potholes anymore) I'm going to do something very drastic. My road has been in that terrible state since Hurricane Ivan (back in 2004). There's not just one, there are several very deep potholes on the road, so I do a motorised version of hopscotch each day. I swear, the only reason I haven't disappeared in one of these craters so far is because I drive a big-ass truck. What galls me is this, every time there's some 'important' person visiting, whether it be the Pope, or the Queen or her relatives, roads that smoother than my balcony floor are overhauled and 'fixed' if the person is going to be driving on it for two seconds. Yet I can't get a decent road to drive on every darn day. It's enough having to deal with high gas prices, why do I have to deal with other unnecessary expenses that comes from driving on these bad roads. You know, the cost of shocks, suspension joints or whatever the hell is affected when your vehicle drops into one of them.

I'm trying to remember if any country that I've visited had holes these sizes or any at all. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing potholes in the other caribbean islands that I visited. I pay my taxes, is it too much to ask for decent roads to drive on?

My rant is over.

More on language

2006-08-13T21:20:00.000-05:00

All this recent extended discourse, online and in the local papers about the value of the local dialect and how we can show that it's respectable and an accepted variation of the 'official' language without compromising our children's ability to become conversant with the English Language have me thinking in general about languages and how we communicate (That's quite a mouthful I know).

Is it right then for anyone to denigrate other country's equivalent of our patois? I'm just thinking about the way people communicate globally. If we (quite rightly) conclude that patois should be recognised for its cultural relevance and uniqueness, does anyone then has the right to degrade or speak disparagingly about other country's 'local speak' or variation to the 'official' language?

Just to illustrate my point - let's look at the USA. I know quite a few people regard 'american speak' as the way 'uneducated black americans' express themselves. Y'all (that's an example) know the kind of language that I'm referring to. Afterall some of us are guilty of using it at times. So 'aight'(all right) and 'yo' and 'ho' (whore) and expressions like 'his/her ass had better..........' should just be seen as another way of expressing oneself. Right?

Maybe we really shouldn't put anyone in a box based on how they speak. When you think about it, it really doesn't necessarily indicate level of education nor intelligence. Yet we're all guilty of doing that. I have bloggers in my blog-roll who blog predominantly in patois and they are all are all degreed professionals.

Personally, I alternate between standard english and patois depending on the situation because of the stereotype which I know exists. Example, if I have a complaint to make about the poor service of an organization and I demand to speak to the manager/CEO/Head of Department(as I'm wont to do) I know that the chance of me being referred to the head honcho depends on part how I sound. If I sound reasonable educated, manager will think 'Oh, she's at my level, she might be 'somebody' let me speak to her.' However, if I stop by the roadside to buy a coconut jelly from the goodly rastaman, I might say something "Whappen brethren, yu 'ave any cold jelly deh?" I do wonder now though, if that's not being condescending and just as stereo-typical as everyone else. Truth be told, I don't speak to the roadside rastaman like that because I have doubts of his intellectual capacity, I really do it because I love communicating in patois sometimes (it's quite liberating), I get a better response when I come across as being 'real' which might result in me procuring the product at a cheaper price :-)

We Jamaicans all know that telling a good Jamaican joke has to be done in patois in order to capture and relate the nuance and essence of it. Quite possibly, an American is able to do a rant more effectively in 'american speak' - we all therefore use language to our convenience.

So ah wha we fi do now?

2006-08-10T17:44:00.000-05:00

Uhm, ahem, at the risk of being stoned, villified and accused of all kinda bad things, let me ask what ah know dat plenty parents want to ask but not saying anything.

Ah just wondering, you know with this new surge of nationalism and renewed appreciation for de local vernacular in the wake of the passing of the iconic Miss Lou, uhm, when de pickney dem chat bad (beg pardon, ah mean use the local dialect), we nuffi badda correct dem and tell dem fi chat proper Henglish?

Not dat ah don't agree wid what everybody seh, ah tink dere really is a place for we dialect. When me was inna England studying fi mi Masters and haffi chat the Queen's English day in, day out, without a break because the english people and the student dem whose native language wasn't english wouldn't understand, mi happiest time was when mi sistren dem call and bawl out pon de phone "Gal, yu a study? Mek sure yu nuh fail, yu nuh!" What a nice reprieve me get when dem call. Yu wouldn't undastan how good that felt.

But ah just wondering now if we nuffi correct de pickney dem becausen seh ah notice how everybady, from uppa class to middle class to bottom ah de class, all de people dem who usually reprimand de pickney dem (er, ahm, ah kinda including meself in that bunch) to "speak properly", is wha wi mus tell dem seh now? especially the sensible-ish one whe hear we a laud we dialect?

Mi ago feel kinda cute, not to mention hypocritical telling mi God son (as ah usually do) dat him must speak proper when last week me and everybady in Jamaica and de diaspara was saying how is bi-lingual we bi-lingual. Me haffi go whispa tell him to chat good, cause mi nuh waan nubady tek mi hawn.

Jus' kinda wondering still how to proceed hence forth..........

What unnno tink?

Happy Independence Jamaica! A letter for you

2006-08-07T01:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday dear Jamaica.

You're certainly getting on in age. Can't believe you're now 44! Wow! For a tiny island, you've made some serious strides boy (or are you a girl? hmm, I wonder). What I like about you is that you put so much energy into things that you get involved in and so you're relatively well-known. Unfortunately, you're known for the bad as well as the good. So yes, you've made your mark in the world of sports and you have the fastest man in the world now (Asafa Powell). You're known for the warmth and talent of your people, your beautiful beaches, and of course the pulsating reggae music. But you're also known for the notorious 'yardie' gangs, and drug mules. I guess I have to take the good with the bad, but it's really not nice being circled by sniffer dogs when I disembark from a plane coming directly from Jamaica. I don't get that treatment when I'm coming from another country. I remember while studying in England, my university mates from the other caribbean islands complained that everytime they tell someone (a non-West Indian) that they're from Trinidad, Barbados (or wherever they're from) the person would enthusiastically reply "Oh yes, I've been there. Isn't that the town next to Kingston?" I remember also while in England, during our independence celebration, BBC Tv did a week long feature on you. I remember feeling so proud, that big, big England rated us so much that an entire week was dedicated to us. It brought tears to my eyes and a big lump in my throat then.

But you know, I wish you'd grow up in other ways too. The other day I was online checking on your literacy rate and was shocked to see that it was among the lowest in the region. If I remember clearly it was like in the high 70's when everyone else seem to be in the 80's and 90's. And shouldn't your leaders get it together by now? Why is it that the people entrusted with your finances squander it so? You're too old to use that old, worn out excuse of 'youthful exuberance.' Why is it that you still do not have enough jobs so that more persons can live in a dignified manner-especially when they have invested much in education?

Oh, I don't know. You're probably going to say that I'm being hard on you - afterall even though you're no longer on the cusp of adulthood, you're still a small, small island. I know you're going to say that other big countries have similar problems. I guess I'm being like my mother. When I was a teenager and pointed out to her that the other parents were allowing their children(my friends) to go partying she'd say "I don't care about what they do, you're my child and I love you." So it's the same thing here, I complain because I care.

Anyway, let me not spoil your special day by giving you a lecture. Like the typical birthday celebration, you put aside the negatives and enjoy the party. Let me focus on the many things that I love about you, the things that I missed and dreamt about during the short period that I was away. The things that make you so very unique, things that us Jamaicans laugh about and say, only in Jamaica. Like the fact that I can pull up to a roadside vendor and get the sweetest jelly coconut in the world and probably some sugar cane to go with it. Or the fact that we turn anything into a profit making business - hence the rise of the 'rent-a-dread' that's so popular among white female tourists. There are so many things to love about you, the vibes, the energy, the language, the people.

Happy Birthday Jamaica.

Miserable

2006-08-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

So my blog is back from its wanders and I didn't have to do anything. I hope it noted how the other blogs didn't run off from home without a word, leaving their owners in distress :)

This is the long Independence holiday weekend and I should be thrilled at having several days of not being reporting to work. But that's not the case, spirits are very low. Just last week I was bubbling with anticipation of going to Reggae Sunsplash tomorrow. Now, I'm heeing and hawing and wondering if I should go. One part of me wants to go not just to see Beenie Man, and Junior Gong, Steel Pulse, UB40 and the rest, but also for the lyme. I wanted to see what the new Reggae Sunsplash is going to be like. Plus, I want to be at the first Sunsplash after its 10 years absence. Was also looking forward to climbing Dunns River Falls Sunday after Sunsplash, in addition to testing out my new swim skills outside of a 'swimming pool' environment.

A part of me wants to just vegetate in front of the tv, locked in my house for the whole weekend not speaking to anyone. It's just one of those days where even though I know I have loads of things to be thankful for, that fact is not comforting to me. I'm here, beseted with negative ruminations and introspection. It's one of those nights where I'm bothered by everything, the little guys at the stoplights begging coins (why are they on the streets fending for themselves instead of enjoying their childhood anyway?), why am I not eagerly running home to a loving husband and 4 children (being an only child I've always wanted a big family)? Why do I at this stage of my life feel like I want to go spread my easel by the waterfront and paint the sunset instead of doing the 9-5 routine, why do I want to now throw caution to the wind, give up the the safe and orthodox life and go audition for a play/movie? I wonder if this is mid-life crisis I'm going through. But isn't the 30's too early to be going through a mid-life crisis? Am I being impractical for not accepting the affection of my very patient suitor - he's been waiting 15 years without a sign that he'll be rewarded for his patience (he must be the last of the very patient type). Am I going to grow old alone? Ok, I won't be alone I know but aren't I going to have my own family? Am I being punished for wanting the person to be 'just so?' I'm not being too picky? Or am I? So these are the thoughts running through my mind now - is there any 'right' answer?

So, should I just sulk the long weekend away? Should I put on a happy face and go frolicking on the warm Ocho Rios beach after enjoying a night of pulsating reggae music, feasting on jerk chicken and boiled corn, imbibing the laughter of friends? Let me sleep on it.

Oh, there another grouse. Why can't I win the damn lottery anyway?

Blog gone for a 'walk'

2006-08-04T04:29:00.000-05:00

I don't know what's happening with my blog. Apparently I can create new post. I just don't get to view it. I haven't changed anything. I created a new post and went to view other blogs, then my blog decided to go for a 'walk' too. I wonder if it's also viewing other blogs.

TVJ News

2006-08-02T22:35:00.000-05:00

I think I should stop watching the news. I can't stand the disparity in how people are treated man. I was so touched by two reports during this evenings news.

Report 1: This poor man was on tv crying and recounting how he and his 12 year old son was in the market selling and in the evening his son went missing. This happened July 21st and he has been searching everywhere since then, not eating, not sleeping. The man was in so much pain. And of course again I was in tears too (yes, I'm an idiot like that). In addition to that, the man kept receiving these calls on his cell, with the caller not saying anything when the phone is answered. One such call was even received while he was being interviewed.

Report 2: This dreadlocks (should I say 'dreadlocked') man reported that police came by his house (not much of a house really) with a warrant and searched it, destroying everything in sight. After they were through and not finding anything, they proceeded to beat him with their guns, as well as administering kicks and boxes. When several people in the community came out and started protesting, police administered kicks and boxes to them too and shoved several of them in the police jeep. These poeple were later released without being charged.

Now as painful to me as these stories were, what hurt even more was that I didn't hear of anything being done. For the first story I didn't hear of police being involved in the search at all. I'm even thinking, dang! we're living in this technologically advanced world, certainly these calls can be traced. I'm very certain that such an attempt would have been made if other persons with 'better' social standing were involved.

For the second story, again I didn't hear of the disciplinary arm of the police looking into this alleged beating. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusion. Maybe the relevant investigations are being carried out. Maybe they just didn't publicise it, but forgive me if I'm a little skeptical because in other situation where it involves individuals who are at a higher level of the societal ladder, you hear of police and the relevant organizations falling over themselves to investigate the situation and you hear promises of no stones being left unturned until situation is sorted out.

Why is it that is no respect for the poorer people in society. I find all this so painful. Anyway, I looked up the number and called Jamaican for Justice to look into Report 2.

On a more positive note, and this shows the redeeming, beautiful side of our people. Last month, a young boy came on tv with his grandmother and pleaded for financial help, in order to do a surgery that will correct some paralysis of the spine (I think that's it). Well, I was so happy to see him walking out of the hospital after undergoing 9 hours of surgery. Thanks to the generousity of our people who watched the report and felt compelled to do something.

Emancipation Day

2006-08-01T15:27:00.000-05:00

It's Emancipation Day here in Jamaica. It's also a public holiday so no work, yeah. This holiday leads into Independance Day on August 6th (next week), also a public holiday. This period is also my favourite time of the year in Jamaica because that's the time we get back in touch with our culture and Ole Time Jamaica. So, it's a showcase of old time dancing like brukking, maypole dance, Dinki Mini and some others (names of which have slipped me just now). I love this time of the year because it brings back wonderful memories of childhood days. Memories of waking up to Eric Donaldson's 'Cherrio, cherrio baby' or 'I'll neva leave you again, Jamaica, I'll never leave you again' - was it Tinga Stewart who sang that? Memories of running out unto the main road with the rest of Kingston to watch the Jonkonooo dancers pass by on Independence morning. Now, these were people dressed into some frightening looking costumes and all children were terrified of them. They don't dance Independence days anymore, so it's only when you attend the different events during festival time that you might see them. It's the time of year when we're treated to festival songs of old (meaning from the 70's,) that sounds -to me - much nicer than the present types. Back in the days (Gosh, I'm sounding like my grandmother here) the festival songs had more of a mento beat. As a matter of fact the festival songs contest has been renamed Popular Song Contest, which makes sense since they sound like any regular song on radio and lacks that special element which to me makes it a festival song.

Because today is Emancipation Day, the usual fare of slavery movies is on tv. It matters not how many times I see these movies, and I've seen them all, it's the same movies every year, I still feel angry all over at the injustice of slavery. It's the same movies that are shown during Black History Month. Years ago, I would feel a strong sense of hate for all white people whenever I view these movies and believe me I'm not racist in the least. I'm watching Roots now, and listening to slaves referred to as "Wenches who will breed plenty picanninies" and "young Bucks" and it just grates my soul. Grrrrrr.

On another note, there is a plethora of programme about Miss Lou (who is to get a State funeral). And no, this isn't a second tribute to the great woman even though I could wax lyrical about her for a week. Last night there was another nice little programme with her performing one of her songs with her late husband, Eric Coverley. Well, I'm not quite sure if she was the one who wrote this one, but it's an old time favourite:

It was unda de Coconut tree darling
It was unda de coconut tree,
It was dere dat you promised to marry to me
It was unda de coconut tree. Darling.

It was so nostalgic for me and needless to say, I was in tears. Again. I laid propped up on some pillows in my living room, singing along, amidst the tears and for a brief minute, I imagined that I was 6 or 7 years old again watching Ring Ding on tv and singing along. Oh well. I half expected to hear her shout the usual "Clap Dem" when it was finished.

Oh Well, after Roots (don't know why I'm watching this again) I think I'll go check out Augus' Yard happening at Ranny Williams Centre. They'll be having the usual cultural stuff that I mentioned earlier, Maypole dancing, etc and food (Roast Corn, yum-yum), and later showcase dancing from the different periods of Jamaica - from Ska to our current Dance Hall.

Tribute to Miss Lou

2006-07-29T08:54:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to post on Miss Lou's death from I heard the news of her passing, but just could not find the right words. I wanted to write a Miss Lou type poem as a tribute, but alas I'm no poet. As someone who grew up in Jamaica in the 70's it feels like a personal loss. Every single Jamaican child who grew up during that time wanted to go on 'Ring Ding' on tv. I never did go, I think once, arrangements were made but fell through and I remember crying my heart out in disappointment. If a child was in the household it would be mandatory for tv to be on, on a Saturday - Was it midday that the programme came on then? I heard someone on Cool fm saying that they feel like a major part of their childhood has been lost because all the 'Ring Ding' tapes have been lost or erased. I quite understand the feeling. Fortunately though, while we may never be able to recapture those images of Miss Lou saying 'Clap dem' or telling about 'Auntie Roachie' on Ring Ding, we won't forget them because they're etched indelibly in our hearts. We'll also never forget that she inspired pride in our culture and most of all in the local vernacular. While it is accepted that it's important to be conversant with the English Language, the Jamaican patois will always have pride of place. Miss Lou made it acceptable to showcase it beyond our borders, and pave the way for other persons to earn a living from its usage.

As our foremost cultural icon, it feels appropriate that she passed on during the Jamaican festival celebrations when we're in the midst of celebrating our culture. It's especially eerie that she made her transition on the day the the JCDC had its annual SpeechFest, where children from across the nation normally recite the famed Louise Bennett poems. She said once in an interview that her greatest pleasure was hearing the little children recite one of her poems, putting their own spin to it. I like to think that she went off with a smile, with the sound of a child reciting ringing in her ears.

Miss Lou, I'll miss you, thanks for helping to create wonderful childhood memories, as our cultural ambassador and champion of the Jamaican patois, you did a wonderful job. As yu use to love say wen yu deh pon tv, 'Walk good', God bless yu mi chile, and Rest In Peace. We love you.

Non-Jamaican can read about the awesome Dr. the hon Louise Bennett-Coverly and see a sample of her poems here

Blogger Link UP

2006-07-27T05:22:00.000-05:00

I did the unthinkable. After much deliberating, doubts about the wisdom of it, I said what the hell and took the plunge. I thought, what's the worse that can happen? Well, I wasn't worried about being kidnapped or anything like that but I was concerned about being busted.

Yep, I went to the much touted blogger link-up here in Jamaica and met eleven other bloggers. Crazy, aren't I? At first I thought, maybe this is not a good idea. What contributes to blogging being so popular is the mystery element. So you know everything about the bloggee's life but that's fine since you don't know who the bloggee is. You have no idea that the respectable, bespectacled neighbor that you bid good morning each day is 'Man out of town' who likes freaky sex.

I wanted to be able to cuss, deride, criticise everyone who got on my wrong side without being confronted some time later about it or putting my job at risk. I wanted to mull about that guy who couldn't get it up regardless of what I did (no I haven't blogged about that yet) without contributing to the poor soul's embarassment. I thought that it was ok for MadBull and Abeni to be all gungho about it, afterall they don't live here. And so I pondered. What if *gasp* I meet up on someone who reported to me in the past, or an ex (or even present) boss. I don't even know which would be worse. My carefully crafted image of the of the confident, young professional would be shattered. The people who aren't my friends may know from a very frank post that I'm not always as self-assured as I like to project. Oh crap, forget this.

However, the bane of human's existence, a combination of curiousity and inquisitiveness triumphed. That same nosiness that cause me to spend countless hours every night reading about diverse lives of the authors of the different blogs that I frequent. My grandmother would say is 'fastness'.

So anyway I pried myself from the house telling myself that I'm just going for icecream by Devon House and depending on how I feel I'll pop in just to peep. While parking, I anxiously looked in and saw a largish group and wondered. Hmmm, they look quite decent from where I'm sitting in driver's seat and most importantly didn't see anyone I know. Ok, maybe I'll just go get a drink from the bar without them knowing who it is. Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Maybe.

I approached the door, looking for Madbull and KingstonGirl who both have pictures on their sites. Dr.D had indicated that he might not be there so even though he also has a pic on his site, I wasn't looking for him. I paused at the door; I didn't see KG but wow, that handsome guy must be MadBull, he looked nicer in person :)

It was great folks, I put a face to some of the blogs I frequent. I won't mention everyone I meet for fear of leaving out someone. I was quite pleased to meet Francis whose blog got me started. I mentioned him in my very first blog.

I noticed however that I was the only female Jamaica blogger who turned up so I guess that says something about me. It's either, I have too much time on my hand and don't have much to do with it or that I'm just more inquisitive than the typical Jamaican female blogger. Take your pick.

You may curse if you're a Foreign Artiste

2006-07-24T20:55:00.000-05:00

I love my country, but damn if it isn't rife with hypocrisy!

Now, a group of really influential companies that are always sponsoring events (think Air J, Red Stripe, C&W, Digicel) formed a Coalition of Corporate Sponsors. Now this so-called coalition's main objective was to encourage/insist on some decency in dancehall events. Any artiste performing in an event that they sponsored was supposed to adhere to certain rules, observe certain code of conduct - no cursing, bashing of gays etc. Beenie Man and Bounti Killer had violated that at a carnival event and they were banned.

Now, can someone explain to me how is it that Fiddy (50c) performed at Reggae Sumfest last week, used a lot of foul language and I haven't heard peep out of anyone about it. Huh? Nada, Nil, zilch from the Corporate sponsors. Does the code only apply to local artistes? I wasn't there but I heard that Dancehall night which is traditionally the rawest night of all was like church service compared to when Fiddy performed.

Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Fiddy but what is good for the goose must be good for the gander. I'm not even necessarily against risque performances (I do love Lady Saw) but it's unfair to have separate rules.

My personal view is this, apply ratings to the different events just as there are rating to albums. Therefore, patrons know from beforehand that they are attending an xrated event. I'm not necessarily excited about the cursing during the performance, the occasional or odd expletive I can live with. However, I don't wan't to listen to any performance where the expletives are like punctuation marks. I can appreciate though, that not everyone feels the same way that I do.

We need to level the playing ground though.

Read some more on this here

Swimming, blogging and talent contests

2006-07-18T18:20:00.000-05:00

Blogging has become a past-time for me and hoardes of other people people all around the world and it's quite understandable why this is so. I discovered today that there have been cases of people being fired from their jobs because of this pursuit. Well, I found out about two so far. There's Queen of the Sky who was fired from Delta for posing in her uniform and there's Petite Anglaise, the English single mother living in France whose employer fired her for blogging on the job (well, that was the excuse that they gave). Now I know plenty of you are all going to be running scared. Should I think twice about using this medium to cuss out my boss or criticize my co-workers (even when they deserve it).

So is it a case of being no-holds-bar honest and risk being identified and face the consequences or have a no-personality blog that puts everyone (including the writer) to sleep. Censor yourself or be censured?

Rising Star:
Anyway, on the local (Jamaican) scene, just finished watching Rising Stars (Jamaican version of American Idol) and I was quite pleased with the talents on display. Hey at this rate, I'm going to go broke just voting. I have 6 persons that I just have to vote for today and they didn't even show all the competitors (Jeez, what's the right word? Competitors sounds sporty and contestants sounds like beauty queens).

Swimming:
I've taken 6 swimming lessons so far and already I feel discouraged. Now don't get me wrong, it isn't because I haven't seen any progress. It's just my impatience kicking in. It just seems like I have a long way to go before I can swim. When am I going to get to the stage where I can swim the length of the pool. I can't even swim the width without stopping at least three times to rest and breath (in the shallow part). So how on earth am I going to swim the whole length, bear in mind that I won't be able to stop to rest and breathe in the deep side. If only my Mother hadn't listened to my foolish Aunt who advised her to discontinue my swimming lessons while in Prep School because (Now get this people) I was still wetting my bed. Did she think I was soaking up the water in the pool?

Proper way to eat ice-cream

2006-07-14T22:22:00.000-05:00

Man. This is the life. Eating ice-cream and muffins while reading blogs. (Said the person with not much of a life :)

By the way, I take it y'all know the proper way to eat ice-cream? Ok, for the unenlightened. Put the ice-cream in the microwave for a few seconds so it's nice and soft. Then, crush some Excelsior (known to us Jamaicans as 'tough crackers') crackers and mix in it so it's nice and slurpy.

Hmmm, deeelicious :)

What the Hell Zidanne!

2006-07-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

I'm in shock. What the hell was Zidanne thinking? An experienced player. Team captain. About to retire. It's the freaking World Cup Finals for crying out damn loud! What the hell!!!

Tax dodging Jamaican parents

2006-07-07T19:24:00.000-05:00

You know, I was so mad when I read Ruel Reid's comment in the Jamaica Observer yesterday about keeping the children of tax dodgers out of school. I could not believe it. It was very obvious to me that this man was just shooting from the lips without engaging the brain. The suggestion was so ridiculous on so many levels. In a country with a literacy rate of 87% one of the lowest in the caribbean (most countries in the caribbean have literacy rates in the 90%'s) we should be looking at ways of improving this. First of all, there are parents who don't care two hoots about how many days of school a child misses so it's the child who would be punished. Secondly, if such a policy is put in action, how does that help to bring the childless non-compliant taxpayer into the tax net? Also, he obviously hasn't noticed that home-schooling has been catching on here, a non-compliant taxpayer might just decide it's cheaper to do so than pay the government what is due.

Then, did he even think of the pschological impact on the child who has to miss school because his parent owes the government? Obviously not. I too believe that something needs to be done about bringing more people under the tax umbrella. I too strongly believe that it's grossly unfair for the compliant few to be carrying the tax burden while the rest reap the benefits without paying their share. However, this is certainly not the way to go. Is he crazy? And to think that this is the President of the Jamaica Teachers Association who made this suggestion. He represents a group of people who are supposed to be the champion of education in the country. He should be advocating that more be done to increase literacy level. I'm sure the members of the association must have cringed in embarrassment at this absurd suggestion.

Crime in Jamaica

2006-07-04T07:16:00.000-05:00

Jamaica has become a gated country. Every apartment/town-house going up has electronic/automatic gate and/or security personel at the entrance. Thanks to the escallating crime situation. The sad thing about this is even with all that we don't necessarily feel safer and feel compelled to grill every last opening (windows, doors) just in case the afore-mentioned security and electronic gate didn't succeed in keeping out the criminals. It's a sad, worrying situation.

When I was growing up, we didn't have automatic gates and security guards. It creates a dependency because now, I will never live anywhere that doesn't have them. There's a sense of panic if one happens to look outside and notice that for some reason the gate is open and no security is in attendance.

I remember my girl-friend telling me that she doesn't want to live anywhere with security/gates because of that same reason. I remember one Saturday at my previous apartment looking out, seeing the gate open, no security in sight and felt a little fearful. It's no way for anyone to live.

I no longer feel charitable towards the criminals that have us cowering in fear. I want them all dead. Not imprisoned. Not fattened by my hard-earned tax dollars so that they can commit more crimes when they are released. I have no confidence that the police (even the ones seconded here from England) can do anything about it. They haven't made any dent in the numbers so far.

There seems to be an increase in lynching here and I think that's a direct link between that and the confidence (or lack there-of) the public has in the police doing its job. People no longer think that there will be any justice so they have (rightly or wrongly) decided to inflict their own. There was a time when the intelligent side of me would triumph and I would balk at the atrocity and the cringe at the animalistic behavior of these people. I am no longer sure that they aren't doing the right thing. In a situation where (as happened last year) a man laywaits a woman at her workplace, throw acid on her and not only disfigure her but causes her death, and is subsequently killed by enraged onlookers (as happened), how can I feel any sympathy? How can I condemn the the people for not handing him over to the police? I'm not sure that had I been present, I would not have helped in some way. Probably not by actually beating since the sensible side of me probably would have kicked in. I probably would have helped to catch him though, hand him over, telling myself that I'm just handing him over so that they can hand him to the police. Right!

I do remember in my early twenties, while studying one Sunday in an empty class room at what is now known as University of Technology, seeing a man speeding along outside on his bicycle and wondering what he was up to. He didn't look like a student. Minutes later, two girls ran outside screaming and crying that the man held the up with a knife, took their money and jewellery and threatened bodily harm if they made an alarm. Immediately the student body that was present launched a search, found him and gave him a proper beating before handing him over to the police. The police who witnessed the licks, didn't act too hurried in retrieving him from the angry students. At the time clogs were the rage (these tough, board noisy shoes for you men who don't know) and I was wearing a pair. I remember while the students were inflicting boxes and slaps with hands, shoes, and sticks, I had taken off one foot and was trying desperately to make my own mark on him but just could not reach him before the police shoved him in the vehicle. The students seeing him in the police vehicle had backed off but I wasn't satisfied. So seeing him basking in the safety of the police vehicle, I took off my shoe and slap him one on the forehead before running off. It was a most satisfying action to me.

I am scared and angry and fed-up

Damn them all!!!!

2006-06-30T22:15:00.000-05:00

Damn Argentina. Damn them for losing. Damn Germany for beating them. They'll get their just rewards later when they meet my other favourite - Brazil. No one messes with my South American teams. Damn FIFA for putting on this nerve-wracking, anxiety-inducing, tension-filled and totally enjoyable (especially if your team is winning) competition. Damn the German fans who laughed in my face today. Damn everyone who looked askance when they heard I was supporting Argentina.
Damn them all!!!

Viva Soca Warriors

2006-06-26T01:02:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to blog about the world cup for some time now but what with being consumed with the game, keeping scores, having heated discussions and all that, just couldn't find the time. I have read all these different articles in the newspapers written by men warning their women, wives, girlfriends, daughters etc, not to interfere/interrrupt/bother them while the world cup is on and that could have been me writing. I would happily sit down all day just watcing the three matches but alas I have to work. At the start of the competition, I rushed out and bought a small tv to put in my office so I didn't have to miss anything. I could watch each match from the privacy of my office while doing work at the same time (or rather appear to be). Sadly that hasn't happened. The tv sits on top of my filing cabinet mute. The reception is so bad that it's pointless watching it. So whenever there is an absolutely can't-miss match (eg. soca-warriors, brazil etc) I pop downstairs.

I just read basschocolate's post on the world cup Land of the 'Badmind'
where he noted that he was pissed that people in his office seem to be happy that Trinidad is out and that is so sad.

I was just talking to someone about the Soca Warriors and telling them that if I was a born Trini, I couldn't be any prouder. I feel so very emotional everytime the soca warriors clad in their red, black and white took to the field. I had tears in my eyes, lump in my throat and throughout all their matches I was a mass of nerves.

Whenever they were playing, I was no longer Jamaican, I was a caribbean national, pleased as punch and proud to boot of the team. They were representing the caribbean at the highest level of football and representing us damn well.

So while I can understand wistfully wishing that the reggae boyz were there, I can't understand anyone from the Caribbean not wishing the Trini team to go as far as possible within the World Cup. I do understand too, there will be comparison to see if the Trinis were going to do better than the Jamaicans did in '98.

Talk about caribbean unity..

Blogging ....A healthy past-time?

2006-06-24T07:49:00.000-05:00

You know, blogging is really just another take on the reality tv craze. We sit down in front of the tv for hours watching people we don't know embarass themselves. We sit for hours reading about the lives of people we don't know and will never meet. It's a world filled with voyeurs (too lazy to check spelling). That sick craving to know what's going on in other people's lives.

You know what too? I love it!!

On a serious note though, some of the blogs I've read are so interesting, really provide food for thought as well as providing another perspective on thing, so I guess it does serve some purpose apart from pandering to the inquisitive. Reading other people's blog also make you realize that we all have the same concerns, go through the same things some time or the other, have the same uncertainty about life even though we live in different countries.

The world changes and Sex sells the paper

2006-06-08T02:43:00.000-05:00

Isn't it amazing how the world has turned completely around? Things that use to be abnormal is now par for the course. Example, there was a time when talking about sex in polite company was no-no (or was it that polite company didn't speak about sex?). Now, everyone's sex life is an open book. It's no longer a taboo subject and DJ's/rappers' favourite topic is their sexual prowess (even in cases where I'm sure it's proven that there is no prowess at all;)

Same thing for the way we dress. There was a time when women use to wear knickers as swim suits and was swathed in layers of clothes. The poor newly wed male would normally have a challenging time getting access to the goodies. Well, to be honest as a person who borders on being a nudist I'm happy about that change. I'm totally at peace swimming nude in Negril.

Now here's another example of how things change. I go sailing a couple Sundays each month with a friend who owns a boat/yatch. It's usually a small group comprising about 5 or 6 persons. There's usually one or two of his Jamaican white friends. Now Sunday last, I was so amused. Normally, we'd leave Lime Cay about 2pm in order to have enough wind to sail back home but this time we left quite late. After a few minutes of sailing we got stranded when the wind totally died (I'm not really a boater, I think that is referred to as 'becalmed'). The boat/yatch comes with an engine but there was some work being done on it. Anyway, no one seemed too worried (As a non-swimmer I was secretly alarmed but refused to let on that I was), we had rum & cigarettes for those who indulged and food, so we settled down to wait for someone to come along to give us a tow. Sure enough, there was a boat/yatch coming our way. Our host started joking with one of the 'Jamaican whites' on board telling her she's to ask for a tow since it was her kinda of people coming. Another of the 'whiteys' (no-offence meant here) joined in and was also encouraging her to ask since it was her type of people. Of course, a good-natured argument ensued between the two, as to who had more black running through their blood. Female in question (who looks quite caucasion) claiming her right to 'blackness' by saying that she's a browning and not white and pointing to the other person's green eyes saying that if a check was done, it would be proven that he's whiter than her.

Lol. Now all the the above was in jest of course and while we all laughed, I really couldn't help thinking that my ancestors would have been shocked to hear these near-whites/Jamaican-whites/whatever they are falling over themselves to claim a little melanin in their skin. Amazing isn't it?

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Want proof that sensationalism sells the newspaper? Picture me, driving home one lunch time this week (I was sitting in my office all morning thinking of the ackee and banana meal I prepared myself before work, and just had to go home and get some more of it even though I work all the way downtown :)

I'm at the stop-light, salivating at the thought of the treat that I'd have in the next few minutes, wondering why the hell there were so many vehicles on the road (were they all going home to eat too?). Anyway, my eyes wandered to the Star lady by the side of the road and latched on to this headline WIGNALL'S WILD WORLD. Wild??? I wondered about this as images of sex and other lascivious activities flitted across my mind. Why on earth would Mark Wignall one of the columnists that I must read every Sunday be involved in that? Now, I don't normally buy the Star, sticking instead of Observer and Gleaner. However, you should see me frantically rummaging through my bag with one hand, while waving the lady over with the other, all the while watching the light. It was a race against time. Finally, the elusive $20 coin turned up and I was able to make the exchange and satisfy my curiousity.

Then I had to do some acrobatics with my eyes and hands. So it was one hand steering, one eye watching the road, the other hand turning the page, the other eye reading. All that just to read about Mark Wignall's passenger (and I think partner) stripping to her skivvies to prevent the police from dragging away his uninsured, unlicenced, unfit vehicle. Not that it worked, as the police towed the woman semi-nekkid to the police station where a police woman coaxed her into putting on back her clothes.

Moral of the story - Sensational Headline Sells!!! (as if y'all didn't know).

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Now here's proof that I need a man in my life and need to get that situation dealt with immediately.

I've been up from 2:00am updating my blog.

Who the hell does that??????

Ok, it's 3:46am, and I'm going back to bed.

Presumptious Pussy

2006-06-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning I woke up to the sounds of insistent meowing. Somehow all the stray cats in surrounding my apartment complex designated my area the 'horny zone' so I'm really accustomed to the occasional caterwauling, as they get ready to get their groove on. I noticed however, that the meowing was quite extended and seemed even closer than normal. These damn cats could never be brazen enough to come and have sex on my balcony I thought irately. Well, they had apparently passed that stage. Having designated my little area the horny/get it on zone, they apparently thought that my weed/bush garden was the ideal place to start a family. Nestled comfortably beside their mother were about 3 kittens. I thought briefly about evicting the presumptious pussy from her chosen labour ward but after seeing the unflinching glare that I was subjected to, decided to leave her alone. Plus apart from being a coward (the protective instinct of animals for their young is well documented), I don't think I would have had the heart to do so.

Getting Older and Way Too Much Info (WTMI)

2006-06-03T23:39:00.000-05:00

Ok, I don't mind getting old. But can I retain the svelte figure that I had in my 20's? So, I don't mind a little bumper, everyone's been saying that it looks nice on me anyway, but can I not have a belly to match? As a matter of fact, friends who are accustomed to me having a near (I would say) wash-board tummy are now asking if I'm pregnant and if I didn't know for sure that there will never be a second immaculate conception, I would have wondered myself. I feel like my body has betrayed me. I no longer wear a bikini to the beach, opting instead for a tankini (you know the swimsuit with the long top to hide the bellies). I am not necessarily convinced at this moment that the song "Gal tuck een yu belly" refers to me (unless I think he's being prophetic) but I'm certainly sprinting to that point. My clothes don't fit that well anymore and of necessity, I now prefer longer tops.

Also, do you 30 y-o notice that when you laugh the laugh lines no longer disappear, choosing instead to linger in your face a bit.

Oh this takes the cake. You're talking to someone, just started a sentence and ....... nothing! You don't remember where the sentence was leading to or what you wanted to say? Do I hear AMEN from the 30plus community. Embarrassing.

Not to mention those tell-tale signs of varicose veins that have brought my shorts, mini-wearing days to a premature, abrupt end.

Well listen, I don't care what anyone else says about getting old gracefully, I hate it. I want to retain the knowledge that the years bring AND keep the body. Why can't I have it all?

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Do y'all notice that people now use "how are you/how yu doing" as a replacement for "Hello." Or is it just me? So someone approaches me and says "How are you" and before I can open my mouth to tell him how I am, he/she is long gone? Why not just stick to Hello if you're really not interested.

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Ok, I know we live in this wonderfully liberated world where no topic is out-of-bounds. And that's fine. Well not really. Call me an old fuddy-duddy. Whatever! I think certain things just need to be kept to oneself. I hear people talking at times and think WTMI (Way Too Much Information). Example, in the cafeteria line at work and heard a female telling a man that she was so hungry the previous day that her period started early. Huh? Is that possible though? well, that's not the point. Now this was in response to a comment about how long the lunch line was. Does everyone in the line need to be privy to her mentrual cycle.

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Flying after the exam and riding the escallator

2006-05-29T18:50:00.000-05:00

So tomorrow I fly back home. I don't know why everytime I go on a plane, I feel as if I'm embarking on a suicide mission. You'd believe years of flying (several trips per year) would have dulled this feeling and allayed my fears. No such luck. I especially hate flying on American Airline (which I'll be on tomorrow) since in addition to thinking that the plane might just fall out of the sky, I also have to worry about their enemies taking potshots with me on board. I still think that we need parachutes instead (or as well as) life jackets on board.

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I did the exam that I'm here for today. I really can't say if I've passed. The first 3 sections of the paper (3 sets of 24 multiple choice) were fine. After that it went downhill. But I haven't given up hope. The last time, I felt really hopeless and there's no way I could get more than say, 60%, I end up failing by one %. How cruel is that? So the exam can swing anyway. Hopefully the person marking won't have a fight with whosoever and cause me to suffer for it. I don't know why I don't give up on this exam though. Others have. Well, actually I know why. I don't want to feel like I've given up on a goal that I've set for myself. And this is the last part of the educational goal which was, get 1st degree, get masters, get professional. It's partly my fault that I keep getting borderline grade on this particular exam. If truth be told, my studying really has been borderline. I need to remember to the study pattern that worked while completing a degree is totally different from the study pattern that needs to be developed when pursuing a professional qualification.

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It's a small victory but it's huge to me, as uncomfortable as I am with heights. Can you imagine me running up the very, very steep escalator at Wheaton subway station? I couldn't help reminiscing this afternoon while speeding down said escallator. I remember the first time I got off the train, followed fellow passengers around the bend and was confronted with the steepest escallator in the world. I stooped down, looked up in horror and noted that it was perfectly vertical. I balked, went back towards the train, stood outside awhile pondering my options. I could hop back on a train, and find a bus that takes me to Wheaton. But what was the point of that though? I'm already here. So I gathered the little courage I had left, pushed my heart down back to chest level and wait on the next surge of passengers to alight from the train. I thought I'd be fine as long as I position myself behind someone tall enough to block my vision from the offending view. I was doing fine too until the person proved too impatient to just stand while being taken to the top. Somehow, on that fateful day, I made it to the top without spilling my lunch on some unfortunate soul. Fast forward 7 mths later and I'm skipping up and down said not-so-fearful escallator. I'm quite happy.

Paris 'sings'

2006-05-29T18:27:00.000-05:00

Paris Hilton a singer! Gosh what is the world coming to? She warbled a birthday song for Hugh Heffner and a star is born? Now she's all set to unleash her brand of cacophony on the world. God help us.

Jamaica Today

2006-02-21T23:58:00.000-05:00

I was reading the Observer today and noted that the religious groups were calling for people to boycott the showing of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Elder Allan Russel of Emanuel Apostolic Church said that it "a deliberate attempt by Hollywood to indoctrinate the world to a most sinful act." Whoa there! Now, like any other red-blood, born and bred Caribbean person, I am just as fearful of the thought of the whole homosexual thing taking over the world. Hell, I'm affected just as anyone else, probably more. After all it was just a month or so ago that my girlfriend and I were ogling this beefy, properly attired, not-too-bad looking young man at her gay's brother's birthday soirree, when to our deep disappointment, said brother confirmed that the subject of our admiration was looking to cupid to stick him with an arrow with the name of someone his own sex. So yes, I'm as concerned as the next broad. But you know what, I have to wonder about these religious groups, you know, our watch-dog on earth. Now to go back to Brother Russel from Emanuel Church, on what basis does the church decide what is a "most sinful act?" The term seems to indicate that some acts aren't so sinful. I mean, I've really always wondered this, is there a special part of hell that's designated for certain types of sin? And do the sins carry ratings? You know like, if I commit adultry, ok then, that's an everyday sin with a rating of 2/10 so therefore I should probably go to the eastern side of hell (Oh, I don't know how the place is set out) where the fire is just a tad bit hot. I hear it all the time, the person who has never set foot in a church since his mother stop forcing him to, who has a mistress, lies to his wife everyday in order to keep said mistress secret, on hearing about some homosexual act immediately becomes a paragon of morality, denouncing the act because "it is a sin, and against God's word." No thought of his own sins of adultry, lies and whatnot. Aren't they all sins deserving of the same condemnation? Oh, maybe I'm being naive. Back to Brother Russel from whats-it-call church. How does he justify his selectiveness on calling for Brokenback Mountain to be boycotted? Practically all the movies shown by Palace Amusement has not just one but several sins being committed - Murder, adultry, lies, theft, what's that other one called, hmmm, sex before marraige one (this is unbelievable but the term just not coming to mind). Well it just makes me wonder.

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Ever read some of the articles that our so-called reporters, journalists write? Aren't they supposed to be economical when they write? you know, not say more than is necessary to get the point across? Read an article today about some wretched thief who got his just reward (saving us poor over-burdened taxpayers to boot) by crashing the stolen vehicle killing himself while running from the police. Anyway, story went on to tell that said thief stole several household articles before blindfolding the victim and removing his shoes from his feet. Did the writer think that the readers were going to think that the victim was wearing his shoes on his nose?

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PNP Presidential race is heating up. No, actually it's on fire and I just can't wait until Saturday to know which poor soul is going to inherit the running of the country. Not sure if the winner(?) should be congratulated or commiserated with. In the beginning I really wasn't backing any of the candidates, just observing the whole thing. Now, as it relates to Sista P, I don't believe in voting for someone on the basis of his/her sex because I really think the best person whether male or female should be the one for the job. I however do recognize that if Sista P wins, it would be a very historic occassion and understandably so since it would speak to our progress as women in the world today. The fact that a woman can aspire to the highest post in the country is definitely something to celebrate. What concerns me however is the level of nastiness that has shrouded the issues that should be focused on. The race has basically deteriorated to a real market-place cass-cass with the mud-slinging that has been taking place. And now I find myself hoping that Portia will win just so that Phillips and his erudite team can be taught a lesson. Oh yes, what better lesson would there be? than them taking orders from Prime Minister Portia, that girl from the getto who only just got her first degree in the prime of her adult life.

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Ever thought that Sista P should be running for the position of Governor-General instead of Prime Minister? Afterall she has that kissing part down pat.

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Oh, I just love elections! Wouldn't it be fun if Dr. Karl Blythe whom basically everyone has written off, end up winning?

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Very First Blog

2006-02-18T19:52:00.000-05:00

Wow! I have my own blog spot and this is my first blog. Thanks to Francis for planting this seed. Creating the account wasn't too difficult either. Apart from the fact that I spent more than fifteen minutes deliberating whether I should use my own name as the name of the blog or should use something more obscure like 'girlinjamaica' I decided to to take the middle ground. I kinda like the idea of a 'girlinjamaica' type of name because of the anonimity that it affords. I could cussed out my bosses, gripe about people who annoy me with little fear that I would be found on the www. But then again, I thought, I might write something so awe-inspiring, so note-worthy that I'll want people to know the genius responsible for such a masterpiece. Yeah, never mind that it's just a blog. I'm concieted like that. So as you probably guess by now my blog name is a combination of christian name and domicile.

How did I get to this point? Why would I want to join the growing army of bloggers? I was so surprised to know that there were so many. Well first of all, I'm no stranger to giving vent on paper. My electronic diary in word is normally my way of venting my angst, my joy, my disappointment about the many facets of the world we live in. But as Francis noted in his blog, there is just something about public writing. So having read a few really interesting one, I decided to take the plunge. I guess I'll still keep some things confined to the pages of my word diary. We'll see.