To all those in the Jamaican Lovers Group on BlogCatalog and anyone else that wants to join in, I am sponsoring a contest on October 20th. All you need to do is create a post on October 20th saying why you love Jamaica.

The contest will run from October 20th to October 25. The prize will be a Bob Marley compilation CD. (Some of Bob's greatest hits).

Link my site (so I can track your post) -

iriejamaica.blogspot.com/

Winners will be announced on October 25.

ONELOVE EVERYONE!!..BLESSINGS

Broadway-Shaggy and Barrington Levy

Two of my favorite artist combined. I love this jam mon!

70 year Sentence for Jamaican in Connecticut

Anthony Thompson, 27, was sentenced before Judge Elliot Solomon in a Superior Court in Hartford on Friday. This according to the courant newspaper in Hartford.

A jury found him guilty in June of murder and two counts of first-degree assault, a decision Thompson is planning to appeal.

He and his brother, Earl Thompson, are also charged in the slaying of a 21-year-old woman who witnessed the 2005 shooting and was to testify. (Earl has not been sentenced yet)




Earl Thompson

In the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2005, Anthony Thompson fatally shot O'Neil Robinson, 34, at the Cleveland Cafe at 3019 Main St. Police said at the time that Thompson and Robinson had argued and threw punches at each other inside the bar. Thompson went to a car, retrieved a handgun, returned to the club and started shooting, witnesses said.


In June of 2007, Asher Glace, a 21-year-old nurse's aide, was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in a car in her mother's driveway on Cornwall Street in Hartford. Glace had told authorities she saw Anthony Thompson gun down three people at the Cleveland Cafe.

So he also shot the witness. I think this judge wanted to set and example with this gentleman. 70years ? You might as well just gave the man life in prison. It is the same thing.

Bog Walk Gorge Closed

The Gorge is to be closed while repair work is being done. This follows reports by the St. Catherine Police Department, that they have been forced to put measures in place to prevent motorists from using the Gorge.

The Gorge was extensively damaged during the recent passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.



Source: RJR NEWS

No Show At Lady Saw's Birthday Party

You know the worst thing is to throw a party and no one shows up. Well, people did show up to Lady Saw's party last week, held at the Reggae Beach. (outside of Ocho Rios). Scheduled were Remy Ma, Terror Squad, Freddie McGregor, Sanchez, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Elephant man.

By 4am. there were still no artist on the stage. People started leaving and of course complaining. The tickets were $900.00. When contacted by the Jamaican Star. LadySaw's booking agent told them to ask Lady Saw themselves.

All White Funeral-Carlton Grant Jr

At the nine night-Spragga Benz
and Carlton's mother

As many of you know Spragga Benz's son Carlton was laid to to rest on September 13th. The sad thing it was bitter sweet for me. That was my birthday but also the funeral reminded me of all the craziness that is happening in this world. Some say we are in the last days. I believe them.

For those who don't remember the incident surrounding Carlton's death occurred on Church Street in Kingston when the police were on an alleged patrol. It was reported that Grant and a friend was riding a bicycle when ordered by the police to stop, which they did and one of them pulled a gun and fired at the police. The fire was returned and the men ran, the area was searched and Grant's body was found suffering from several gunshot wounds.

Carlton Grant Jr. successfully sat his CXCs earning 6 subjects. He will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Carlton.



My girlfriend went to the funeral and called it a "Celebration of Life." She stated the theme was "angels" that was why they wore white.She said the singing was so beautiful by the Camperdown High School Singers.

Weeping openly and even uncontrollably at times, family and friends filed into Our Lady Of Angels Church on Molynes Road at 10:00am. The church quickly filled up with many representatives from the Jamaican and global music fraternities in attendance, including: Nadine Sutherland, Clyde McKenzie, Assassin, Carlene Smith, TOK, Richie Stephens, Copper Cat and Foxy Brown.

Pictures from Yardflex.com

Sad Times in Sandside,St. Mary

I have read many things in the Jamaica Observer, but this by far is the saddest thing I have ever read. The body of 11-year old Aakim Scott was found stuffed in a plastic bag on Tuesday, (the day after her was reported missing).



















Aakim's mother

His dismembered body was found stuffed in a 100-pound polyethylene bag, with the limbs and head separated from the torso, which was cut in two.

Aakim, who lived with his mother Andrea Ffolkes, and 70-year-old grandfather, was last seen on Sunday evening when he went to a house in the district, where two of the teenage suspects live, to charge his cellular telephone. The child's relatives and residents of the district became suspicious when he did not return and launched a search which led them to the premises where the teenagers lived.

The teens wee found to be in possession of the child's cellpone. The irate relatives (an other community members) burned down the suspects home. This is Jamaican justice. Sometimes if you wait for the police things will never get done.

I feel sorry that then burned down the suspects homes, but what kind of monsters would dismember a child, then stuff his body in a plastic bag (and this was this woman's only child.)
The observer states,
"police were unable to confirm that the boy was sodomized before he was murdered."

Source: Jamaican Observer

The Jamaica I know and Love

I wrote this post about two years ago, but I felt with everything going on I had to repost this to remind myself and many Jamacians abroad what the country stands for. Not just sports or tourism, but the rich history that surrounds it.

Brief History of Jamaica
Compiled from various history books by Donna Essix

I. Pre-Colombian Jamaica

Prior to the arrival of Columbus in 1494, Jamaica was inhabited by Arawaks, living in simple communities based on fishing, hunting, and small scale cultivation of cassava. The impact of the contact with the Spanish was traumatic, and these communities disappeared in 70-80 years. Plunder, disruption of economic activities, new diseases, and migration decimated the indigenous population. Only a few artifacts-facts, examples of which are on display at the small museum at White Marl, and a few Spanish corruptions of place names (such as Ocho Rios) remain from this period. Otherwise, there is no Arawak influence on the subsequent development of life on the island.

II. The Spanish Occupation, 1494-1655

Disappointed by the absence of gold on the island, the Spanish used Jamaica as a base for supporting the conquest of the Americas, particularly Mexico with its treasures of gold and silver. The population of the Spanish settlement, including their slaves, was never large. It was administered from the Town of Santiago de la Vega, now called Spanish Town, and much of the architecture of the original buildings is still evident today in the town square. Economic activity consisted primarily of production for domestic consumption, and to a lesser extent the supply of Spanish ships.

In 1655, it was captured by the British expedition led by Admirals Penn and Venables, following their unsuccessful invasion of Hispaniola. By this time, the island was of little significance to the Spanish crown, and accordingly, very little was done to defend it against the British. As with the previous period, the influence of the Spanish settlement on the subsequent social, economic and political life of the island was marginal. Apart from remnants of buildings with the distinct

Spanish colonial architectural styles, and names of places, there is very little visible evidence of the Spanish occupation.

III. The Slave Economy, 1655-1838

After a brief period of experimenting with indentured European labor, the British turned to large scale importation of Africans to be used as slaves on the sugar plantations. In its hey-day, Jamaica was one of "the jewels in the English crown" because of the fabulous prosperity it brought to the English plantation owners directly, and indirectly to those cities, such as Liverpool and Bristol, which serviced the trade with Jamaica and the rest of the British Caribbean (West Indies). Plantation slavery was based on the Triangular trade among England (manufactured goods), Africa (slaves), and the Caribbean (sugar), which itself was the basis for what later emerged as the international economy. International trade was so important to the Jamaican economy that when the American war of independence disrupted trade between what was then the "North American colonies" and the Caribbean, 15,000 thousands of slaves died of starvation in Jamaica alone.

The plantation dominated economic life in every sense. It occupied the best lands, the laws supported the slave system, and in general all commercial and other economic activity depended on the rhythm of activity of the plantation. Some slaves inevitably ran away from the estates to live in small bands in the mountains as Maroons.

In recognition of her leadership in the Maroon wars against the British, Nanny was eventually named a national hero. Except for the Maroons, all agricultural activity took place on the plantations. The towns served as the commercial sites for the export of sugar and the importation of the inputs for production.

The political system consisted of a governor and his executive council, and an assembly of representatives elected on a limited franchise determined by property ownership. The politics of this period was characterized by an uneasy alliance between the governor as the representative of the crown, and the Assembly of planters, against the slaves. Frequently, the alliance broke down, invariably over taxation of the plantations.

By the close of the 18th century, sugar was losing its economic preeminence because of competition from beet sugar as well as rising production costs. In 1838, the slaves were Emancipated and the plantations had to begin paying wages to its workers. One of Jamaica's national heroes, Rev.Sam Sharpe, after whom Montego Bay's city square is named, is celebrated for his leadership role in the famous Christmas rebellion of slaves in 1831, a few years before Emancipation.

IV. The Development of the Peasantry. 1838-1938

After Emancipation, many of the ex-slaves settled down as small farmers in the mountains, cultivating steep hill slopes far away from the plantations. Still others settled on marginal lands in the plains nearby the plantations on land leased or bought in various land settlement schemes organized and sponsored by Christian groups such as the Baptists.

Struggles over land were central themes in the history of this period, culminating in the Morant Bay rebellion, for which two of Jamaica's national heroes, George William Gordon and Paul Bogle paid with their lives.

In this period, sugar continued its secular decline, but peasant exports of logwood, coffee, and eventually bananas grew steadily. In this way, the economy began to be diversified away from its traditional dependence on sugar alone.

V. The National Movement and Decolonization, 1938-1962
The roots of the national movement for independence reach back into the struggles for land in the 19th century. More immediately, it was inspired by the political ideas and agitation of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, one of Jamaica's national heroes, and precipitated by the reaction of the sugar and dock workers to the economic crisis spawned by the Great Depression. It emerged as a political force in the context of the rebellion in 1938. Its most enduring political institutions, are the two major political parties, and the labor unions affiliated to them. Both the founder of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the Bustamante Industrial Trades Union (BITU), Alexander Bustamante, and the founder of the People's National Party (PNP) and the National Workers Union (NWU), Norman Manley, have been declared national heroes for their individual and combined efforts in securing political independence from England. The constitutional change that facilitated the emergence of these parties was the granting of adult suffrage and a measure of self-government in 1944.

The period 1944- 1962 not only saw major political changes, but also major transformations of the structure of the economy. From a monocrop export economy, the economy became diversified around the export of sugar, bananas and other agricultural commodities, the export of bauxite and alumina, and the tourist industry.

These in turn, stimulated a vibrant construction industry, and an import substituting manufacturing sector. The USA displaced the UK as Jamaica's principal trading partner. There was also a tremendous migration of labor to the UK and the USA which needed labor for the post-war reconstruction and expansion of their
economies.

VI. The First Decade of Political Independence, 1962-1972

Political Independence was granted in 1962, following Jamaica's rejection, by referendum, of membership in the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica was given a Westminister style constitution, with a Governor-general as the representative of the British Crown, and a bicameral Parliament. There is a House of Representatives consisting of elected representatives and a Senate appointed by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The government is headed by a Prime Minister, who is required to consult with the Governor General and the Leader of the Opposition on certain matters. The first two governments were formed by the JLP, which had opposed membership in the Federation.

The post-war boom in the economy continued through the 60's, though it gradually slowed down, with the completion of the investment cycle of the bauxite/alumina industry. By the end of the decade, there were well established mining, tourism, manufacturing, and construction sectors, alongside the traditional agricultural and distribution sectors.

VII. The Second Decade of Political Independence

Between 1972 and 1980, the PNP, the other major political party, held political office and initiated a shift in major economic policies. Most notable was the imposition of the Bauxite Levy in 1974, in order to increase Jamaica's share of the income in that industry. The government positioned the state in the leadership role within the process of economic development, with a view to attenuating and rectifying the inherited economic inequalities.

Related to this was an ideology of social reform to protect the weakest sections of the population, and to promote the welfare of the poor through subsidized food, housing, education, health, and other important social services. In international affairs, Jamaica opened up relations with many non-capitalist countries, and promoted the solidarity of the Third World in international negotiations with the advanced countries.

Mad Lion Back On Track

Mad Lion has recently gone back in the studio and has vowed to bring back love of dancehall music again. I hear yuh Lion. Right now there is too much jealousy and bickering going on between many of the artist. It was like when you put Biggie Smalls and Tupac on the stage, bound to be some controversy.



Recently Mad Lion echoed the same sentiment to a reporter with the Jamaican Observer. He was quoted as saying, " Lamenting on the state of dancehall music, he noted, "Everybody is so mad at each other. And this is reflected in the lyrics - guns, murder, violence. All this does is stall real creativity and eventually the music will fall into a rut." Currently in the island doing some work with producer Paul 'Scatta' Burrell, the British-born Mad Lion says this is his first visit to Jamaica in 10 years, but he has been keeping abreast with trends and movements and that was one of the main reasons he opted to work with Scatta, a producer known for delivering infectious dancehall riddims.

Carl Lewis Stop Hating

Boy I tell you jealousy is a bad ting mon! Carl Lewis is a track and field athlete whose credits to the sport speak for itself. He has won 10 Olympic medals including 9 golds, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were golds, in a career that spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired. Lewis, who currently lives in Los Angeles, is now an actor and has a role in the upcoming, 2010 jewel heist movie '62 pickup starring comedian Eddie Griffin.

With all that being said, why is Carl Lewis questioning the authenticity of the power of Usain Bolt? In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated he was asked what he thought about the accomplishments of Usain Bolt.

"Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested," he fumed.

I think he forgot 2003 he failed several drug test that questioned the validity of his achievements. Sometimes folks think what you are doing is what they are doing. I challenge Mr. Lewis to come to Jamaica and see the accomplishments that many of the athletes all over Jamaica are doing. Jamaican children start running sometimes before they walk. I challenge him to walk the Hills and Roads of Trelawny. (or anywhere in the country for that matter).

The Jamaican diet is rich in starches, where it took, Michael Phelps all that food to build up the Carbs in his body, Bolt only had to eat a dinner of Yam, Coco, and some Fish to get the same results.
Dr Herb Elliott, Jamaica's team doctor who is a member of the IAAF anti-doping commission and a man whose integrity has never been questioned, is on record as saying that he tested Mr Bolt 15 times between last November and December.

Jamaica is ranked fifth of the 15 countries most tested in the IAAF's out-of-competition program last year. Carl, give it up. You had your time, (with question I might add again). Let Jamaica have their time.

Tribute to 9/11

Bruce Golding's one year anniversary

Many have given Bruce Golding and his people a failing grade. However, was the administration before them any better? We have one year versus 18 years. It reminds me of the old proverb that says, "Carry the same bucket to the well everyday, and one day the b0ttom is going to drop out."




So for 18 years we had one ruling, now after one year we expect this administration to make this huge change? According to the Jamaican Observer, Tech's Dr Horace Williams, a lecturer in the School of Business Administration, also gave the government a "passing grade for effort", but said that it had fallen victim to its own short-sightedness and had been overly 'optimistic' in promises to reduce crime, achieve single digit inflation, low interest rates and create 'jobs, jobs, jobs'.

I think the one thing that people are disappointed with is the level of crime that has occurred. Although Kingfish and company have indeed clamped down on the badman dem, I (as many other Jamaicans) feel the government could do better.

But corruption is on both sides. The gunman run the country.

In Memory of Carlton Grant Jr

We know that children should not go before their parents. The senseless killings have to stop. Well, no one knows the story of this killing but the gun. Residents are still in mourning over the August death of Spragga Benz's son, Carlton Grant (aka Little Wayne) . Carlton was known by many in his community and will be missed.

The police allege that two men were signaled to stop while they rode their bicycles along Church street (downtown Kingston). The men allegedly pulled guns and fired at the police, after which gun fire was returned.

Grant was found with gunshot wounds and died in the hospital. Police say a .45 Caliber gun was found on him.

Several eyewitnesses have stated they saw the police shoot Carlton. I wasn't there so I don't know, but I do know that sometimes we give authority to the wrong people. Police have to wonder why nobody want to turn the gunman in. Because people don't know who feh trust.

The truth will be revealed. Rest in Peace Little Youth.

Congratulations to Serena Williams

Serena Williams outlasted Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 7-5 for her third US Open championship and ninth Grand Slam title on Sunday.

It had been even longer since her last Open championship - six years. And though it was her ninth Grand Slam title, it was just her second since capturing the Australian Open in early 2005.

Williams beat Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 7-5 in the final and didn't drop a set the entire tournament. She figures many doubted that she'd ever climb back on top of the tennis world as her ranking plummeted all the way to No. 139.

"Oh, yeah," she said Monday. "I think a lot of people, probably everyone thought (that). I always felt that I can be No. 1 if I really put in the effort."

Source: China View

For more indept news on this event remember to vist Black Tennis Pro. Sheila, always has the hottest news in the tennis world.

Red Stripe Beer Pulls Out of Another Event

Here we go again Red Stripe Beer has pulled out from another event. This time though the company is not taking it lightly. Hybrid Events, which held Spice and other parties to rival the popular ATI/RTI weekend in Negril, had a relationship with Red Stripe for a number of years through its Smirnoff brand. However, that relationship has now ended due to contractual breaches.



In April this year, the beer company indicated that it would not renew its title sponsorship of the annual Reggae festival Red Strip Reggae Sumfest and the Supreme Promotions one-night stage show, Sting.
Red Stripe is a member of the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors which took similar action by disassociating itself from individual artistes.

I don't know the symantics or what the "Real" issues are, however I "DO" know that I love mi red stripe beer mon.

Bolt "Bolted" back to Jamaica mon

The rain didn't stop Usain Bolt's return "back a yawd." People lined the road from Norman Manley Airport all the way to the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. There were housewives, grandmothers, pregnant women, professionals, schoolchildren, men, boys and girls stood in the pouring rain, singing Bolt's praises.




They faced the slanting rain, waded in water which was at times ankle-deep, and many of them trekked all the way from the Palisadoes road to the Pegasus. This was the way it was reported from the Jamaican Observer.

Fans grabbed onto the sides and jumped onto the hood, trying to get Bolt's attention. Although his car was a convertible, he had to satisfy himself with just an open window since it was pouring.



Usain Bolt is a hero to so many Jamaican people. Sports has long since been important in Jamaica, but to have someone so dominate the track and field events is just unbelievable.

"I'm just happy to be home. I just glad," Bolt told journalists from 17 media houses, including news crews from BBC TV, London Times, French TV1 and Le Quippe (newspaper) also out of France, who were accredited to witness his long awaited return to the island

Not only did Usain let every person in Beijing an World Wide know our National Anthem, he did it with pride. With the crime situation dominating not only Jamaica's local news but world wide it is good to have something to be proud of again.

Roy Shirley's Body Returns Home

Roy Shirley (also known as the KING OF ROCKSTEADY) was born in 1944. As many Jamaican artists, he started singing in the Church choir with his mother, he developed his musical talent by learning the guitar and progressed with the help of Jimmy Cliff, and band leaders Byron Lee and Sonny Bradshaw and the late Drum Bago, in the early sixties. He made his first recording in the mid-sixties, cutting ‘Shirley’ for Leslie Kong.

Shirley attended one-off sessions for Blondel Calnek and WIRL Records before cutting what was to be his first major hit, ‘Hold Them’ (aka ‘Feel Good’) for Joe Gibbs. He moved to Britain around 1973.




I think Joe missed out on signing Shirley. He had a very unique sound and voice. Shirley, who was 60, died early last month. His family could not afford the funeral expenses. His expenses will be covered by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artist. (JAVA).


Source: CaribWorldNews

Reggae Singer on "fake gun" rap

Natalie Hendry, 20, of Gilmerton, (Scotland) was signed by Sony Records earlier this year after impressing in a series of auditions. Now you may wonder who is she? Well she happens to be woman who sings in Scottish-Jamaican reggae band Project Bona Fide, admitted possession of an offensive weapon and was kept on remand while social workers looked into her background.

Yesterday, the court heard how police found Hendry hiding in a common stairwell of a block of flats. They searched her and found the gun, a metal pole and a dart, but she claimed she had been given the weapons to hold by a man called Paul who had been involved in a disturbance over a drug deal.

I didn't even know Scotland HAD reggae singers. She that shows how widely acclaimed Reggae music is. How influential the beat is to reach worldwide audiences.

Jamaica Sights

When one visits Jamaica, there is a sense of excitement when that tropical breeze hits your face. You know you are about to be in for an adventure. There are so many wonderful places in Jamaica to visit that I really can't list them all.

Here are some Sites to visit:

Lacovia

Lacovia is the longest village in Jamaica, laid out for more than five miles on either side of the South Coast highway and the Black River, both of which divide the community into East and West Lacovia. Throughout the 18th century, Black River and Lacovia alternated as the capital of the parish of St Elizabeth. At one point in time, the river was the main transportation route for the parish, as road travel through the dense and humid mangrove swamps was treacherous at worst, miserable at best. > Learn More

Fire Fly

The historic home of playwright Noel Coward offers a nice tour. Named for the luminous insects seen in the warm evenings, this house has certainly entertained its share of luminaries from both the political and entertainment worlds, including Queen Elizabeth II, Laurence Olivier, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Alec Guiness, Peter O'Toole, and Richard Burton. > Learn More

Lime Cay

Fifteen minutes by boat from Port Royal is a small, low-lying island cay with one of the most beautiful beaches in Jamaica. The largest of the many small cays off the coast of Port Royal, Lime Cay is uninhabitable by humans because it is occasionally submerged when the tide comes in. Lime Cay has been the source of many scams and hoaxes whereby the cay is “sold” to unsuspecting buyers as a potential location for a private resort. > Learn More

Runaway Bay

Runaway Bay is certainly one of the most scenic areas in Jamaica, Since the early 1960s, when the old Cardiff Hall Estate was converted to a combination of luxury hotels, golf courses and private villas, the town has developed its own character and persona as an elegant yet lively getaway. Over the years, there has been much debate about the name of this small coastal town. > Learn More

New Kingston

If your travels bring you to the city of Kingston, you will, at some point, probably end up in New Kingston, the fast-growing commercial district that is increasingly becoming the business centre of the country. Built on lands formerly part of the Knutsford Park Race Track, major construction projects in New Kingston began in the late 1950s, and still continue today. The result – most of Jamaica’s modern multi-storeyed office blocks, the visible representation of the high-flying financial service industry, are clustered here. > Learn More

South Park Rasta-History of Reggae Music

I love this video. The rasta South Park character (who speaks like a white guy) is priceless. Great animation. I also love the music that accompanies the narrator. Ras Toon is dropping some science on us. Ras Toon is letting everyone remember the importance of Reggae Worldwide.

Booklyn West Indian Day Carnival

Labor Day is not Labor Day without the West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway.

New York union labor leadership gets credit for creating the well established Labor Day which now also marks the end of summer for most.

The the Brooklyn Carnival parade upholds the deep NYC traditions as well as the first proposal for the holiday -- "a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families."

Growing up in Brookly and Jamaica has been a unique experience for me. I can say I have the best of both worlds. The Labor Day parade has become a tradition.

Happy Anniversary Jamaica Labor Party

On September 3, 2007 the Party ended its 18 years in Opposition when it defeated the People's National Party after gaining 32 of the 60 seats in Parliament. I think with the clean up efforts produced by Gustav, many may have forgotten that is has already been one year that the Jamaica Labor Party has been the controlling government.

So what is the scorecard? Do you think they have done a good job for Jamaica so far?

3 Fastest Men Competing at The Van Damme

Triple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, former world record holder Asafa Powell and current triple world champion Tyson Gay are set to clash over 100 metres at the Van Damme Memorial golden league meet in Brussels on Friday.

Just fresh off his Olympic wins, Usain is set to rock the lightening bolt again.

The Van Damme Memorial meet will be shown live on TVJ starting at 1pm on Friday. I think Bolt pretty much has this locked down but you never know. Surprises do happen.

Drugs Found In Container En Route to China

Police and customs officials are investigating the discovery of drugs in a transshipment container at the Kingston terminal Wednesday.















The container was en route to China from Guyana.

Source: RJR NEWS

Where is the Bridge?

For many people that read this blog that are either non-Jamaican or have never visited Jamaica you might not be able to comprehend the anguish by the residents who have had their livelihood taken away from them with Gustav. ( I know one hell of a long sentence huh?)

Well, as many people on the Eastern end of the island waited for a Bailey Bridge (temporary bridge) that was constructed by the Jamaica Defense Force to be fully functional, tempers started to rise.






By afternoon, pedestrians were allowed to use the bridge to get across the Hope River. The use of the bridge however was restricted to single-lane traffic and lights are to be installed to manage traffic flow. Some people (especially vendors) who depend on selling their wares in Kingston had to wait

However, (as reported by the Jamaican Observer) because of the heavy traffic the bridge became unstable and the pedestrian crossing was soon halted.

More Photos of Devastation

As the cleanup effort continues many people are contemplating if they should relocate their home. However, I wonder relocate to where? I mean Jamaica is an island right? So mother nature doesn't seem to partial where it lands its devastation.

I am just glad that there was not any more damage then reported or seen.

Thanks to Don Giovanni Powell at Flickr.com for use of his pictures.