More Photos of Michael Jackson in Jamaica- Also Katherine Jackson & Bob Marley-1975

Michael Jackson @ 56 hope Rd. (Bob Marley's home)-Look at that afro

Katherine Jackson & Bob Marley @ 56 Hope Road

Michael Jackson in Jamaica with Bob Marley-1975

Michael Jackson in Jamaica with Bob Marley-1975

I have always wonder if Michael Jackson had ever visited Jamaica. While @ work  today I overheard a co-worker talking about a picture of  Michael Jackson taken in Jamaica with Bob Marley.

When I got home I Googled it

While looking at the picture @ first it was hard for me to see Michael Jackson but as you can see his head is circle to the right. He look like a little teenager but when I do the math in 1975 he was 25 years old.

It must have been interesting for two truly musical geniuses to meet. I wonder what the interaction was like, what did they talk about, what did they think of each others music. Did Michael do any concerts in Jamaica?, How come he never came back here to perform? They are very different people.

Tomorrow the world will say goodbye to the king of pop. In a perfect Iwould wish there were no custody battles, no fights to control what will undoubtedly be an even bigger estate in MJ death than in life. We could forget about his troubled personal life and remember the entertainer, the humanitarian.

Credit for the photo: Global Grind

…………….

It’s Charley-Rich Dis Year

The video was surprisingly good especially because I have seen quite a few fool fool videos for some good songs. The story was told well.

So the Parish of  Trelawny gives us yam, Usain Bolt and Charley Black.

“if mi no rich dis year,next year nah pass cause mi barn as a husla”

“Multi-talented”

By the way remember this Movado viedo: “im so special” that Black Entertainment Television (BET) ban earlier this year stating that:

“excessive display of alcohol” and “careless use of women as writhing set dressings!”

Well I saw it on VH1 Soul  and it didn’t appear heavily edited from the original I posted on this site a couple months ago.

I also critisized this Serani “No Games” video ealier this year. At the time I understand they were working on a new one for “international audience”. Well I saw the finish product and well, let just say its Okay.

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The Debate to Restrict Internet , Text Content in Jamaica-Where will it lead?

The Jamaican parliament is now debating how to regulate internet content on what people maybe allowed to say based on some individuals judgment on what might be considered “defamatory”. This might seem simple enough; it might even seem well intended but the signs are troubling.

I think we are being slowly regulated into a box were there is no freedom of expression. The pattern here, first they will restrict the media meaning (radio and television) on what is “decent” many people supported that for obvious reasons, next in the crosshairs internet content and text messages, up text messages.

There is a very interesting article in the Jamaica Gleaner today about the vibrant debate regarding telecommunication content regulation. Service providers have rejected the suggestion by government that they should monitor and or suspend users’ accounts that disseminate “defamatory” content. Without alarming anyone this is just the discussion phase but clearly a road that can and might lead to restrictions. The mechanics will come later.

I beckon the same question that the telecommunication providers ask, what is considered defamatory and who would make that judgment call.  Aren’t the existing civil laws over defamation adequate? If the existing laws do not include internet content by specificity then wouldn’t a simple amendment be required to bring it up to age?

If the telecommunication providers have to extend additional resources be it computer software or human resources to monitor users this will undoubtedly affect the cost of providing the service. The vast amount of content online is overwhelming.

A couple months ago the Broadcasting Commission shook the media landscape with bans on content on radio and television. It would be disingenuous to say their action was not necessary. While many individual who opined in the vibrate debate strongly supported the BC decision, we must put things into context and also refrain from being short sighted, there must be balance.

Many in the dancehall fraternity say the restrictions by the Broadcasting Commission as an assault on dancehall itself. In fact many in the fraternity had to point out that other genre such as calypso (considered uptown music), R&B and hip Hop (foreign music normally given a pass) were just as indecent as Dancehall music. The obvious class lines were drawn here.

Others saw it as a necessary step to reign what was a lack of public decency on the air. Many fans of dancehall supported the move other opposed. Some Jamaicans see no value whatsoever in dancehall culture. They might have been the most ardent supporters of the BC decision.

The problems or the implication of being short sighted or not putting things into context is missing the opportunity to ask what might they regulate, ban, and control next. What might be considered “indecent” or “defamatory”.

A friend of mine who loves to read romance novels supported wholeheartedly the ban by the BC. I asked her how she would feel if the government suddenly decided that the racy illustration that grace the covers of the books she loves so much, not to mention the graphic sexual description which equates to soft porn was targeted by the government and regulated or restricted. Oddly enough a couple months later the government imposed tax on “non-education” books which was reversed after much screaming.

There is a Jamaican proverb for what is happening here. Can anyone tell me? Read the entire report  Jamaica Gleaner story.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not protest;
I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me

New User Name-Surrendering to Twitter & Still Rebuffing Technology.

I have an all new user name fresh out of the wrapper-” RB”. Yep I am retiring DuttyBwoy (what was I thinking). I have been thinking about the change for some time. I am also considering a blog name change from “Kingston State of Mind” to “Jamaica State of Mind” due to my current location and the scope of discussion on this blog.

I am now twittering, yes I know I am late and I am totally fine with that,in fact it’s a deliberate part of my attempt to resist the calling of the herd- but eventually  I give in (you should see my 1G cell phone and by G I don’t mean gigs ). I wear this resistance as a proud badge of honor. I have been watching the wow drooling, love fest over technology’s new social network darling Tweeter without feeling the enthusiasm.

Twitter is just for now the flavor of the month just like Youtube, Digg, My Space, Facebook and all the others. I am not saying that these social network sites are still not very popular, they just don’t excit me. The media is just pimping them out before they move on to the next big thing.

What would spark my interest is a big time machine which can travel into the future, see what the next flavor will be, I can then build it and sell it to one of those big Silicon Valley company for a couple billion dollars .

How many ways can we communicate anyway. A smart search engine that can read my mind or even know how I feel.

The PM, Perkins & Personal Politics

It is indeed very rarely that I get t to listen to daytime talk radio, but today I was afforded this privilege to listen briefly to daytime talk Mutty Perkins.

The main topic most callers wanted to discuss was the now well known farmer Greg the pig farmer from St Catherine who was given a plot of land by Prime Minister Bruce Golding after much appeal last year. Sadly this ambitious, out spoken 27 year old was maliciously murdered, many speculated by his own brother.

After listening to Mr. Perkins he made a few comments that seem to trivialize the sort of personal politics being practiced by the Prime Minister such as personally helping the once productive farmer in his farming. The talk show host also made reference to other instances where the PM helped a child in a wheel chair to get some sort of surgery among other personal stories the PM got involved in.

This annoyed many listeners and a few called in to confront Mr. Perkins who they accuse of mocking the Prime Minister for helping people. Finally during these discussions several things were revealed into the true thinking of Mr. Perkins.

The question that he sought to address was. Is it useful for the Prime Minister to be doing his own special brand of personal help on an individual basis? Obviously the intentions are noble but the question or questions that linger which Mr. Perkins sought to address were:

Instead of the personal help on an individual basis wouldn’t it be more useful for the PM to be looking at ways to help most if not all Jamaicans who face similar challenges?

After all as one caller said the problems that we face intertwined and well known.

Another question, what are the implications of  the Prime Minister helping Jamaicans on an individual basis?

It was after all very interesting that one listener called in sharing his own story of wanting to buy an industrial blender and fryer for his fledgling business. In his own sarcastic way Mr. Perkins told the caller that maybe the PM is listening and will offer help to this ambitious entrepreneur who was finding it very difficult to purchase the tools to take his business to the next level.

The potential implications include many more personal appeals by individuals directly to the Prime Minister himself. These potential appeals take us back to the original question. Is this the most practical use of the Prime Minister’s time however noble his intentions are?

I think what Mr. Perkins found particularly annoying was the way the Prime Minister ran his monthly radio show. Scenario, a woman calls in to discuss that she can not afford to send her children to school or she is going through hell getting registrar office to issue her the birth certificate for her child even though she ordered it several months ago express service with no success. The PM empathize ask the woman to hold so the producer can take her number off the air to see how they can help.

Not that these are not real problems that deserve attention but they do not warrant the attention of the PM. One of Mr. Perkins caller suggested the PM spend 15 to 30 minutes outlining his immediate and long term goals for the country then have people call in to give their ideas, suggestions and opinions.

The Prime Minister has long had a history of his personal brand of governance. In the Portland market truck accident last December where many Jamaicans were killed, the PM was there on the scene even as they took the truck out of the ditch. The recent Hijacking of the Canadian CONjet the PM took the Canadian PM who was visiting along with him directly to where the action was taking place at the Sangsters International airport in Montego Bay. Other noble actions by the PM include replying directly to students who wrote him asking for books for the library at their school.

The complexity and numerous challenges that Jamaica faces, I can not imagine the PM would have much time to address all Jamaicans problem that can be addressed by government on an individual basis. Surely I would assume that is why he has a cabinet filled with hopefully the brightest minds and the countless government agencies to address our problems.

Again I go back to what Mr. Perkins said about this whole issue, if the PM himself has to address these issues personally then what this is saying is that current systems that are in place to address these issues have failed us.

There is a water pipe on my street that seems to burst ever so often and the National Water Commission can not seem to render a permanent fix. They take forever to address the broken pipe when it is brought to their attention.

What should a concern citizen who is directly affected do?, should I appeal personally to the PM to fix the broken pipe. What about the bigger issue of fixing the agency and ministry charged with such responsibilities.

I can argue however that there is nothing wrong with a little personal touch in governance. In fact if we are to compare our leadership with other admirable leadership style, the US president often make reference to a personal story of an individual which the president himself invites to the State of the Union and has offered personal assistance or just pure accolades for something outstanding.

Many have accused the PM of governing from a bubble. The PM is not the most charismatic of leaders. These personal acts of kindness humanize a PM that might appear disconnected from the public.

With Jamaica’s tribalistic political environment there are certain to be discussions about who was wearing a green shirt or who is align to which tribe. This of course is a whole new discussion.

The New Twilight Movie Trailer-Full Moon

Bella and Edward are back at it again and the squeal looks just as interesting as the original. New twists and casts. The trailer is short , it doesn’t give much away and leave the viewer wondering.

I hate to generalize anything but this is clearly a film loaded with the ques for the female audience. Powerful man,forbidden love (crush),(obsession), (belly ache).

Some think its women porn.

Are you vexed by their (love) (lust) or do you celebrate it?

Many of us are still pondering the source of Bella and Edwards love/lust but who cares right, it just feels so good.

This movie and the books stir up a lot of emotions.  You will either really love it or really hate it.  <–interesting discussion.

Yeah I know this doesn’t come out until November so hold your breath.

So what do you think?

I’m back…..:)

Updates coming soon.

900 Jobs in Jeopardy: A Jamaican Joke on the Economic Crises

SO we have all been saturated by all the gloom and doom news about the world economic crisis. The sub prime housing bubble, the toxic assets, bank failure, auto giants filing for bankruptcy more than 6 million Americans losing their jobs since September of last year and millions others homes got foreclosed and that’s just in the united states.

Jamaica has not been immune this who ordeal. The bauxite industry hundreds have lost there jobs alone. According to the Ministry of Labour 1,300 Jamaicans have lost their jobs as a direct result of the world economic crisis.

As if that was not enough the yearly ritual of the budget was revealed last week. Surprise you have got new taxes to pay. There is a whole in the budget and you are expected to fill it. Remember there is a trillion dollar debt lingering out there too.

Legal or not the Cash Plus and Olints have affected many middle class Jamaicans who could probably use a cash advance.

***Sigh

Well the worst part of all this is losing ones job and finding a new job can be a daunting prospect.

Read this Joke: 900 Jobs in Jeopardy: A Jamaican Joke on the Economic Crises

A man from the country part of Jamaica arrived at the Norman
Manley Airport in Kingston, burdened down by his luggage, passport, and
all the necessary titbits for a prolonged journey. Looking around
anxiously he finally approached a ticket counter and told the agent:
“Please do, sell mi a ticket fi go to Jeopardy, Miss. “

The agent looked confused. ‘Jeopardy, Sir? Where is that?’ she asked.

The man, even more nervous and agitated replied: ‘Mi nuh haf no time
fi fool roun’. Jus’ gi mi a ticket to Jeopardy.’

The agent searched through her schedules and other directories.
‘Excuse me, Sir, but there is no such place! Are you sure that’s where
you want to travel?’

The man lost his temper and pounded his fist on the counter.
“Look, ooman.. Mi done tell you already mi nuh haf time fi wace.
Mi hear pon mi radio dis mawnin seh 900 jobs inna Jeopardy; so ah deh
so mi want fi go, NOW!’

HILARIOUS!!!

Sprinter Usain Bolt in Car Accident

Usain Bolt was mildly injured in a car accident Wednesday afternoon at around 1 pm after the BMW-M3 Coupe (a gift from Puma) he was driving ran off the road in on the Vineyard toll section of Highway 2000 in St. Catherine Jamaica.

According to eye witness reports Bolt along with two female companions were traveling towards Kingston. He some how lost control of the car and over turned just before veering off into a nearby ditch. The car came to rest upside down off the road.

Sounds pretty serious right?

Apparently good Samaritans who were near by had to help Bolt and his friends from the wreckage. They were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital. Usain Bolt’s manager however said the Olympic champion only suffered minor injuries the most being thorns or what we in Jamaica call “maka” in his feet after exiting the car.

BMW M3 Coupe

Preliminary indications are that the car might have been speeding as there were tyre marks up to 50 meters from where the car resets. The combination of speed and a wet road surface might have contributed to the accident.

Bolt is schedule to compete in the Jamaica invitational at the National stadium this Saturday, this will be the first time we would get to see him on the tracks in Jamaica since Beijing.

Jamaica Observer Photo-Bolt's car being pulled from the ditch

We are entering that time of year in Jamaica when a shower is almost certain every afternoon. Some of us will be inching along in Kingston’s horrible traffic during rush hours or sailing along the open stretch of asphalt of highway 2000. The fact still remains we all have to be careful on slippery roads.

The combination of water, soot, fuel and debris from cars can lead to all sorts of slipping and sliding on the roads. It’s not as easy to control the vehicle in these conditions. Your tyres have way less grip of the road when compared to a dry road surface.

There is also a condition called aquaplaning. Aquaplaning is when a layer of water forms between your tyres and the actual road surface. This condition makes the car less stable because the tyres are not fully touching the road surface; it is easier to loose control of braking and steering in these conditions. So what’s the point?

Slow down on wet roads.

Usain Bolt last year in Germany test driving the Ferrari. A very fast car and a very expensive one too, yep, you would need payday loans just to TEST drive this baby.

Hijack on the Tarmac?-Jamaica’s First Brush with an International Crisis-Video

By now we have all been fully saturated by all the reports in the media about the “hijacking” of the Canadian airline Canjet flight 918 at the Sangsters International airport en-route to Cuba by 21 year old Montegonian Stephen Fray.

CanJet plane @ MBJ-The airport is owned & operated by a Canadian company

Of course the high drama dominated the media landscape and sent tongues of ordinary Jamaicans waging, many of who thought this could never happen in our country. The video below is from the news cast on Television Jamaica on the day the whole ordeal ended.

As you can see in the report Stephen Harper Canadian Prime Minister was on a 3 day working visit to Jamaica and of course all 187 passengers and crew on the flight were Canadian, right after the summit of the Americas, in the same week Cuba was in the spotlight as relationship with the United States became a little more cordial.

Buk up!?-Coincidence?-Is it even possible that Stephen Fray the 21 year old Montegonian who orchestrated this who episode planned it this way?

Both PMs @ MBJ after the ordeal.

Of course there was coverage in the international media CNN, BBC,CBC, Fox news even as far as Europe and South Africa; it was “breaking news” all over. Below are a few of the reports on television overseas. Below are snippets of what was shown on CNN and the Fox news. There were also live reports on the Fox Report with Shepard Smith, a very high rated newscast in the States.

As you saw in the CNN report they told viewers that one member of the crew was shot dead-Either a blatant lie or miscommunication. Other wise the reports where “fair and balance”?

I find excerpt from fellow bloggers at Barbados Free Press particularly interesting, I am a little disappointed too. I sense the author is celebrating our international day of shame and using it as an opportunity to lure visitors away from Jamaica.

While the truth is, the situation could probably have happened just about anywhere — it didn’t. It happened in Jamaica, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world and a gun culture that is even reflected in popular music. If any of our Canadian readers are thinking of a vacation in Jamaica, may we suggest you reconsider that Barbados is a much friendlier and safer vacation place.

From: Barbados Free Press-Gunman Holds Hostages On Canadian Airliner In Jamaica

I remember just a couple weeks or a month or so ago a Canadian tourists was viciously beaten to death and robbed on the beach in Barbados. I don’t remember any media or blog in Jamaica taking this tone.

The question on many peoples mind is the implication all this will have on Jamaica. The obvious comes to mind that security at our two major airports will become even more stringent. Jamaicans who are already profiled at many international airports as carriers of drugs might get drawn into the terrorist/hijacker profile and of course the negative publicity on the island’s image as it relates to tourism. Already Tourism interests are running around making a lot of noise about the impeding “fallout”. Personally I don’t think there will be any major fallout. I think it is great idea for Sandals to have offered all passengers and crew a free all expenses paid, all inclusive vacation at any Sandals resort-A great move by that hotel.

Clovis takes a jab and the security at the Sangsters International airport, this is hilarious.

From the Jamaica Observer Poking fun @ MBJ's security

Obviously the security is lacking at the Sangsters International airport, if there was not a single armed personnel to challenge Fray when he brandished a gun and passed the metal detectors or even alert the aircrafts and the whole airport, then something is wrong. What if there was more than one hijacker with a clear objective to hurt people, this is very serious especially in a post 9-11. It would appear MBJ would be a terrorist dream so called soft target. I can assure you some idiot will try this again and they better be ready and on the ball.

It is no secret that Jamaica/Caribbean airports are way more relaxed than a JFK or Fort Lauderdale. I am not surprised he could barge through and run to board a plane.

The United States and Canada are more 9-11 sensitive than the Caribbean while their main paradigm is terrorism our main concern is narcotics.

So who is Stephen Fray?, the Jamaica Gleaner did a nice little write up about Fray. From my observation this is just a youth who has just completely thrown this life away. It is always a tragedy to see this.

Fray

There have been so many speculations as to why he did what he did.

1. Girlfriend trouble
2. Money issues
3. Troubled childhood
4. Trying to get attention
5. Mental issues
6. Just plain stupid
7. Acting out a fancy
8. Wanting to impress his girlfriend

Apparently Fray had two profiles online Facebook and Hi5. The Facebook profile was hastily taken down by the Facebook people because of all the obvious connotations towards guns and killing people. Some entries read:

“Niggers were going to die”.

There was also a picture of an AK 45 under it read-“I want an AK 45.”

His profile mentions that his politics is “WAR”

The Hi5 profile on the other hand is more tempered down to what you would expect for 21 year old Jamaican male. Fray does seem quite popular. In the last few days after his identity was revealed people who know Fray has been commenting on his profile. A few interesting entries are:

“Yow stephen how u fi go hi jack plane…..u deh world wide now!…” and

“Oh stephen my heart goes out to u and ur family.I am praying for you and hope you will be ok,and come back to us.Just know ATI/RTI wont be the same without you.bless. “

As many of Stephen friends have said he is jovial and well mannered, this is the last thing they would expect from him. I think it is interesting how he had two profiles online. I don’t know if anyone can see the significance of that because one was Dark (Facebook) and the other was more typical of what society would accept (Hi5). The dark side was unleashed Sunday night when he “Hijacked Canjet 918.

I am not picking on this guy but I really don’t buy the whole “mentally challenged” argument, if you are breathing and have to deal with any shit life throws at you, then you are bound to become “mentally challenged” in the general sense.I think this is used as an excuse for bad behavior in many things. There was no history of mental illness. Everyone has shit they have to deal with , yes I can acknowledge that some deal with it better than others, in some cases people just snap which could possibly explain why he did what he did.

Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this. What was his plan?. Fray reportedly announced “I want to go to America,” after brandishing a gun, I thought it was Cuba.

Did he really expect to get away with this. Did he really think they would take the plane into the air? Did he really rob those passengers?

One passenger said the idea to take the money from passengers and let them go was an idea by a flight attendant in exchange to release the passengers (bribe). Does that mean he robbed the passengers, if he did rob them and took their money then obviously he had the idea in his head that he could have gotten away?. He fired a warning shot outside the plane which means he might have doubts people might have taken him seriously.

One passenger describe Fray as “”very calm for a person who was hijacking a plane”

Destination Cuba? , First I hear it was the United States than Europe, What was he going to do if and when the plane landed at his requested destination?-

what does this mean-He never had a plan, maybe he is watching too many movies.

The question now is what will happen to Mr. Fray, well the stars seem to be aligned in his favor as he was is still alive and although many people are calling this a hijack according to the legal definition of the word the plane must be  “in flight” to be deemed a hijack. He will not face the long sentence that goes with this charge.

Major newspapers profile Stephen Fray:

Who is Stephen Fray? The Jamaica Gleaner

His eyes looked glossy The Jamaica Observer

Bigger Heads Meet-Bruce Golding,Barack Obama & Stephen Harper @ the Summit of the Americas

Bigga eads talk @ the Summit of the Americas

PM Bruce Golding engaged in discussion with US President Barack Obama and Canadian PM Stephen Harper. The Canadian PM will arrive in Jamaica today for a two day visit where he will address the Jamaican parliament.

All members of the CARICOM will  meet with President Barrack Obama in Washington later this year to follow up on bi-lateral discussions. This in my opinion is a good sign. When we follow up on agreements (promises) and dig deeper into the issues we have a greater possibility of solving our challenges and improving the lives of people in the region.

Please forgive my cynical outlook but judging from the headlines and discourse from the leaders and media these summits always seem to be centered around getting more aid, not that there is anything wrong with that, but are there other things we are missing at these summits, what other opportunities are we missing in this once a year sit down we have with world leaders?

Remember last year the violent anti-Bush protests in the streets of Argentina?, well there was none of that in Trinidad. Yes I know we have paramount admiration for President Obama. Also para-phrasing our esteem Prime Minister we have seen more progress in US-Cuba relationship in the last week than in the last 40 years. What a difference a year makes.

Not only that, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez who made his animosity toward the US and Bush a guiding candle in his dark socialistic borderline dictatorship tendencies was photographed with the US president, in fact he was seen in several pictures with the US president. I was skipping through a few of the pictures online and it would appear he was stalking the president. I was embarrass for him.  Some in the US media used the word “pushy” to describe the warming up.

It's not a fist bump, its not a handshake-What is it?

This next one looks more official and it looks sincere. President Bush take note on how to be a President.

President Obama & Chavez exchange pleasantries

There is also a video of Chavez giving President Obama a book. I do not know what the book is about but I am guessing its “Dictatorship 101- How to erode democracy by shutting down free press & seizing private enterprises” . I want my copy of the English edition.

Chavez is suggesting the next Summit of the Americas be held in Cuba, who knows-what a difference a year makes.

Two newsworthy stories as it relates to Jamaica, the US president and the visit by the Canadian PM.

Justice system to benefit from CDN$18.5m grant –Jamaica Gleaner

More aid coming from US for regional security – PM -Jamaica Gleaner

Minister Tells Junior Doctors “Hold Strain”-While Government Gives Away FREE Healthcare.

Yesterday the Ministry of Labour got the courts to issue an injunction to prevent junior doctors from taking action as it relates to pay. Unlike the teachers or other public sector workers, the doctors are not seeking any retroactive/pay increase. They simply want to get paid for their overtime.

I was watching the news yesterday and basically what I was hearing from the Minister of Health Mr. Rudy Spencer was that the government simply can not afford to pay the doctors.

Excuse me while I scratch my head and ponder this for a while. I can not imagine myself working overtime and not being paid for it, even partially. According to the news some doctors work 90 hours per week outside the scope of the 40 hours. They did indicate that the doctors are being paid partially for the overtime I think, but must. Who in their right mind would work an extra 50 hours per week for nothing? Even the most altruistic of souls in these challenging times would find a second job before working for free.

What seems most striking to me is the governments response that they simply do not have the money, a familiar expression I am hearing is “hold strain?”.

“What the government is asking the doctors to do is to hold strain like any other public sector worker for the second tranche of payment which is due on April 1… If we were to pay that it amounts to 912 million dollars which at this time the government can ill afford. We will look at it later on, but in no way shape or form can the government of Jamaica accommodate such claims.”—–Ruddy Spencer ,Minister of Health

“Hold Strain” –I hate that expression, I really don’t know fully what is means but I infer they are saying ummmm, carry this bucket of water even though it is heavy and you are not getting any of it or We can’t afford to pay you so do it for free or partially free. A large part of the health budget will go towards paying health sector workers which lament to the fact that government is just too big not just health but over all. I am not implying massive layoffs and cuts but over time our goal should be reducing government and allow a greater segment of our people to contribute in private enterprises.

At the same time the government was telling junior doctors to “hold strain” because the government can not afford to pay them, the government was busy bulldozing 25 people on squatter land in Westmoreland for being delinquent in payment to regularize their humble settlements. Ironic isn’t it?. Asking for understanding but showing none, why didn’t they “Hold Strain” on these people who “can not afford” to pay at the moment. This is like asking mercy but showing none. I know the ministry of housing is different from health but the government is one whole unit.

I can understand and sympathize more with the junior doctors because they are not asking for a pay increase, they simply want to be paid for their overtime according to their contract.

I have glanced over several long boring articles in both major newspapers about the inefficiencies in the health sector especially since this “free” user fee policy was introduced. They all argue against the policy stating that it was a bad idea. I sense motives in some of the arguments, for example, medical professionals which include private doctors, labs and radiology etc feel that the government is taking away their bread and butter, others who are more affluent would not be caught dead in a public health facility and cringe of the though that their tax dollars are being spent on services they will never use or some who are strong believers in true economics (capitalists) logical, practical minds who oppose any type of socialized government whether it be healthcare or welfare. There are also some in perfect health- they hardly if ever visit a doctor who believe in our own immortality and think they will never get sick so they either don’t care or think it should not be fee since we will never need it.

The government is reluctant to reverse the decision to make healthcare free. They may be reluctant to track back because it would appear to be breaking a campaign promise. The opposition would have a hands up- “I told you so” or “see why we can’t trust them”, “they break their promise”. Everyone wants to ponder to “poor people” even if it means bad policy.

What does this means, policy and politics are inseparable. I do not know exactly how the revenue and expenses system operate in the health ministry but the reality of the situation is that the cost of free is just too expensive. A rounded figure pronounce during the election was that it would cost government roughly two billion a year to provide free healthcare. According to the reports in this article it would cost the government roughly one billion to meet their obligations with junior doctors.

The question here is would it be reasonable to re-introduce user fees in hospitals to meet pay the doctors even partially? To save face the government can explain to clear reason for doing this such as budgetary constraints, to save even more face the most vulnerable of the populace would still be excluded from user fees such as the elderly and children and of course to meet salary obligations to health sector workers.

Some salient questions are: what will happen during the 28 days the court injunction is in effect, what negotiations will take place and if there is no break through will the health sector be at pains for really bad health policy. What will happen when nurses start their march toward more pay?

I can also see the government’s constraints not just because of this “global economic crisis” but for as long as I have been reading and watching a ballooning debt and borderline miniature growth contractions of our economy. I think the Move by Prime Minister Golding to cut his own salary and recommend members of parliament do the same is a very good gesture. Most Jamaicans especially in the public sector should see this as a symbolic gesture of patriotic flavor. Asking for a salary increase in these times looks selfish and greedy. Some might be wondering how I can say this while at the same time arguing that junior doctors should get their money. There is a difference asking for overtime money as to asking for a salary increase. In the health sector we have a big FREE which is horrible policy which in many ways might have a direct impact on the doctors who probably are working longer because of increase work that FREE attracts and then not getting paid for it, at least in the way they should.

How would Jamaicans react to the realities of closing some hospitals and clinic and the partial reintroduction of user fees. I like the idea with a practical approach to making the existing system work more efficiently by reducing fraud, paper work, double work, computerized outdated system, etc. We can also concentrate more on promoting healthier lifestyle rather than treating illnesses. Some of these things will cost money initially but it would be worth it in the long run.

Shoot-Out at Luciano’s Home between Police and Gunman (Video)

It was like Gideon war,a deadly message from the Messenger’s Home as police engage a lone gunman for more than 2 hours at Luciano’s residence-Lord give me strength.

Worldwise Members to Receive Payouts (Press Release from the FSC)

In August of Last year many Jamaicans have been unable to get back their funds invested in alternative investment club Worldwise because of the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The commission has since lifted the order at least temporarily to allow Worldwise investors to get some relief. Read the press release from the FSC:

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) is advising the public that the Cease and Desist Order (“CDO”)

issued on World Wise Partners on August 5, 2008, has been varied and the variation of the CDO was

served on the Company and its Attorneys. T his variation to the CDO allows World Wise Partners

Limited/Noel Strachan (“WWP”), to make payments to investors towards settling the total indebtedness

due to investors in order to close all investor accounts that were opened pursuant to or in furtherance of any

breach of the Securities Act. The CDO had allowed WWP to make payouts for a 90-day period which

expired on November 4, 2008. After the expiration of the timeframe for making payouts under the August

5, 2008 CDO, the FSC requested certain information (see the attached Public Notice). This information

would allow the FSC to ascertain whether WWPL was in fact, in a position to fully settle their obligations to

investors; and what, if any, extended timeframe should be given to WWPL to make the payouts.

In spite of repeated requests made by the FSC to WWPL and its attorneys to provide the FSC with

information, the FSC has not received the requested information from WWPL. Furthermore, WWPL to date

has not indicated to the FSC any objection on their part to supplying this very basic information. However,

while not providing the FSC with the information requested, it was noted, that WWPL made public

representations published in the electronic media about payouts to investors and the purchase of properties

to secure the interest of investors.

Although the FSC has varied the CDO to allow for payments to be made by WWPL to close accounts,

investors are advised that the FSC has no knowledge of the financial condition of WWPL and cannot

comment on whether or not WWPL has the capacity to meet its obligations to investors or on the fairness of

the payout process.

INTERESTING TO NOTE THIS PART

The public is hereby reminded that WWPL is not licensed to conduct securities business and neither have

they applied for licensing or registration from the FSC. The FSC had received an application for a

securities dealer’s licence from a separate entity called World Wise Investment Limited. World Wise

Investment Limited’s application was not approved.

FSC Changing it’s Tune on Inventment Clubs in Jamaica?

I was a little surprise by a report in the Business Gleaner today stating the the Financial Services Commission FSC is at the planning stages of allowing investment clubs to operate in Jamaica. The FSC seems to be changing there tune on investment clubs in Jamaica.

We can all recall the hostile environment the Cash Pluses of the world were placed in by the big banks, media and government. They were alienated (UFO) with an intention by the FSC to WARN/SCARE the public with those press releases, billboards and TV/radio ads.

After the great falls of OLINT and other FX trading firms, why would the government now seek to institutionalize these clubs that many said were pyramid schemes characterized by blatant fraudsters like Carlos Hill and David Smith.

Some of the new guidelines being considered include:

1. Capping the membership of the clubs to no more than 20 persons.

2. Requiring that all club members take part in investment decisions.

3. Requiring that all members invest equal amount of funds.

4. Prohibiting the payment of administrative fees to one club member.

5. Placing a limit on the amount of funds that can be invested in any given year

In the current economic climate of Sanfords and Madoffs who would trust a small man with their money if big world recognized insurance, brokerage or bank in the most sophisticated financial system in the world are falling like flies or nose deep in “toxic assets”.

I shake my head when I look at the upheaval in the United States about American Insurance General AIG. It would appear that AIG alone was responsible for the entire world economic crisis today. The anger and out rage expressed by Americans at the million dollar bonuses paid to big executives servers a daily diet of hate. Then again there has to be a poster child, an example made of someone or something, something emotional.

I think the AIG exes should get their million dollar bonuses because it is contractual, it was promised long before the current melt down. It should be their own decision to not take the money because of the current environment, not heavy handedness and fake anger by politicians calculating public sentiments and eyeing the next election, or talking heads yapping away on TV. The bonuses account for less than .1 (point one) percent of the almost trillion dollar bailout/ stimulus package.

But people have to place their anger and frustration somewhere so the blogs, TV talk, newspapers “gang up ” on 10 people in one company by hammer them daily in the media, threatening them that their names will be released to the media and the congress will past legislation to tax the bonuses at 100% if they don’t give it back.

These are nothing short of mafiaistic tactics in its core element. Bear in mind that some AIG staffers are already being threatened some never worked in derivatives-swaps which are in main cause of many of the problem facing the American economy.

What am I blabbering about?-I am not sure, but what I do see is when the winds of fortune changes then the captains of industry are now the first to be dragged out and lynched. In Jamaica creativeness and firsts are cut down by governments and other greedy friendly bastards, Uncle Sam just give them a big bonus then scold them for taking it.

Sometimes what was outrageous and illegal yesterday will find favor tomorrow. But I can not help but beckon the question. Was it really necessary punish those with a vision and a will, or those willing to take a risk.

There can be many other arguments with mountains of complexities too numerous to get into here. These opinions just barely scratches the surface of a deeper situation both here in Jamaica and the states.

Although it was said before that the government might set up a legal framework for these investment clubs, I can not help but wonder if new urgency was given to making them legit because of the current world economic situation.

Read the Jamaica Gleaner’s article regarding the FSC HERE

US Propose Track & Field Face off With Jamaica- Read the Letter here

Challenger

VS

Champion

Copy of the Letter outlining details of the proposal for a US-Jamaica track and field run off- Should Jamaica accept ?

Dear Teddy;

I was among the millions of captivated observers in Beijing who watched as Jamaican short sprinters dominated their events at the Olympic Games. It was obvious to everyone that with the rise of your country’s great sprinters and hurdlers, a compelling rivalry between Jamaica and the United States had developed. This rivalry showed signs of ramping up at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and began in earnest in 2005 when Asafa Powell broke the men’s 100m world record. Whether it has been Powell-Gatlin, Campbell-Felix or Bolt-Gay, it has been these rivalries that have captivated the imaginations of track fans the world over.

As the IAAF indicated when it announced its new Diamond League, it is rivalries and head-to-head competition that will do the most to increase the popularity of track and field around the world. And of course, our sprinters are not ready to concede Jamaican dominance. Let us not forget that less than two years ago, it was the United States on top of three of the four short sprints and both sprint relays at the 2007 World Championships.

We have all seen how wildly successful and popular USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays has become, thanks to the USA-Jamaica rivalry at this event and the good-natured “competition” between our countries’ fans at Franklin Field. All these factors lead me to believe that feeding the USA-Jamaica rivalry would be a thrilling addition to the Athletics schedule, not just for our athletes and fans, but for global Athletics.

On behalf of USA Track & Field, and with the greatest excitement, I propose a USA-Jamaica Challenge that will pit our countries in two head-to-head, home-and-home team scoring competitions in the spring of 2009. I would ask that you convey this challenge to the esteemed President Aris and General Secretary Gayle of the JAAA. The concept of this challenge is briefly outlined as follows:

Dates: Projected to be in May and June, nations’ schedules permitting.

Sites: One in the east or southeast United States; the other in Jamaica.

Events: Men’s and women’s 100m, 200m, 400m, 110/100mH, 400mH,

long jump and 4×100m, 4×400m & Sprint Medley Relays.

Competitors: 3 or 4 per country in each individual event and 2 teams per country in relays.

Scoring: Cumulative scoring meets.

Financials: To be discussed following preliminary agreement to compete.

Television: Conceivably 2 one-hour live shows, either stand-alone or as part of

USATF Visa Championship Series show(s).

I think you’ll agree that these competitions would offer a means to showcase our phenomenal strengths to the NACAC region and the world, as well as offering each of our nations’ fans the chance to see the very best competition track and field has to offer, on home soil.

I earnestly thank you and your country for entertaining this challenge. We have before us a tremendous opportunity to serve the sport, our athletes and fans. I am hopeful that through good planning and promotions, we will be able to stage these potentially ground-breaking meets. I eagerly await your reply.

Warm personal regards,

Douglas G. Logan

General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer

So what do you think?. The whole world would be interested in these meets, at the same time I know The American track team has been training and gearing up to reclaim their space as the best track and field team in the world. Jamaica can not be afraid of a challenge. If this proposal goes ahead Jamaica has a chance to solidify it’s dominance in world track and field and shows the world that Beijing was not a fluke or their can be surprises, unpleasant surprises for us. If the proposal for the events is this spring I would have wished the challenge to come a little sooner-being mindful of when the track season opens.

According to A Jamaica Gleaner article published March 8, 2009 the response from the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Howard Arisis favorably. Howard Aris an official at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) stated:

“We are interested in anything to further the development of track and field in Jamaica. However, we need to be clear of what are the implications.

“I told him (McCook) until the USA Track and Field writes to the JAAA, indicating the events, the time of year, whether it’s in the United States or Jamaica, for how long, and the sponsorship arrangement, we cannot give any official response, other than we have an interest.”

What do you think? do you wish to see a USA vs Jamaica track and field challenge? should Jamaica turn down the offer? or do you need more information to decide?

Read the entire article HERE and HERE.

Washington Post Talks Crime & Tourism in the Caribbean

The Washington Post did a nice little write up about crime in the Caribbean and the effect on the tourism. You might ask how can it be “nice” when crime is a negative subject matter plaguing Caribbean countries?, well it’s a fair and accurate look at the issue in my opinion.

We can all attest to significant attention given to stories about “murder in paradise” especially where sex/romance is involved, not only that but the negative attention can truly hurt a brand that we all know our tourist officials here try so hard to build every year, the constant monitoring of arrival figures, room occupancies, or the mass hysteria in newspapers and talk radio when figures decline or remain flat.

Without a question tourism is a bread and butter industry for Jamaica employing thousands directly and indirectly but with crime being the Caribbean’s most pressing issue this has the potential to literally destroying this industry. Who wants to vacation somewhere they are not going to feel safe?.

The Washington Post story pointed to a very important fact that despite the crime problem the Caribbean faces, tourists are rarely the victims of crime- however if a distant observer was to get all information from reports in the media you would get the impression that there was great civil unrest, sort of like when a relative overseas call Jamaica concerned about “the recent upsurge” or even some rural Jamaicans saying they are afraid to visit Kingston because of crime as if the entire city was raveling in crime. The truth is that most crime is gang related and mostly confined, and note I said mostly confined to depressed areas. The point made by the Post which speaks such truth:

“Experts are quick to point out that most crime in the Caribbean, especially violent crime, does not target or involve tourists. As State Department spokeswoman Laura Tischler says, despite some areas of concern, “Millions of people travel to [Caribbean destinations] safely and have a good time every year.”

Anthony Harriott, a political sociology professor and director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, goes a step further. “In general, tourists [including Americans] are safer in the Caribbean than in their home countries,” he says.

In 2003, Harriott observes, “Only 0.0004 percent of all visitors to Jamaica reported that they were victimized” by crime. In Barbados, the only other Caribbean nation to publish statistics on crimes against tourists, the rate of violent crimes against tourists was even lower.”

I don’t want to pretend that all is honky dory and there are no real threats to anyone local or tourists if you are in the wrong place, and yes there are wrong places. The Washington Post mentions Montego Bay, Jamaica’s major tourist capital and pointed to the fact that crime has been on the rise there. In recent times it would appear that the second city is in direct competition with Kingston for double, tipple murders and shootings and stabbings. I have witness for myself in the second city whole squadron of police and soldiers in jeeps and cars in a mad rush to corner off some inner-city community to flush out criminals. Later if you read about what transpired most likely you will hear that several arrests were made and 90% of those arrested where release, for all that effort.

Of course all this is this happening away from the perfectly manicured lawns, well kept whites sandy beaches of all inclusive resorts of Rose Hall. It is like Jamaica having to hide the dark side of crime and show off our tropical beauty. Makes you wonder if the police plans a major operation around whether or not a cruise ship will be docking at the port that day, after all they do not want to frighten our guests-they booked Jamaica not Iraq. The story mentions Montego Bay’s crime problem stating:

“here are no major problems inside resorts in Jamaica, but Montego Bay has seen a rise in crime in recent years,” Friedl says. “Why? Because there are 17 slum areas around Montego Bay that you didn’t have before. Many of those people [in the slums] are honest, but some are not. It’s a growing city, and that means more issues.”

In one spark of hope that means even more to us living here everyday than to any tourist here for a few days, crime over all for 2009 is down significantly when compared to 2008. Although this is good news we can not take too much comfort in this as we all know. It is a trend in the right direction that we hope will continue.In the article the Post mention several high profile crimes that involved tourists, although Jamaica has one of the highest crime rate in the world none of the ones mentioned occurred here.

To read the entire article the WP website click here.