The Teachers Get Paid

For years Jamaican teachers have been underpaid. The Jamaica Teacher's Association (JTA) and government have wage war for years to get Jamaican Teachers salary that was comparable to the economy. Yesterday (finally) a settlement was reached. According to RJR News Finance Minister Audley Shaw says the $15 billion bill to fulfill commitments made in the 2008-2010 wage and fringe benefits agreement with the JTA will cause significant burden to the national budget.

The package calls for a realignment of wages retroactive all the way back to to April 2007.


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Joanna Francis-Jamaican Photographer

I found this very interesting interview on YardEge with Joanna Francis (famous Jamaican Photographer). Check out some of the beautiful jamaican photography at this site

Wordless Wednesday-nuff said mon

Wish me in the picture

Big Up to Obama Mon

America needs a change. Anyting that happen yah, a guh affect Jamaica, so we want a positive change in deh States.

What has happened to Half Way Tree

Man I remember walking to halfway tree and catching the bus to go to school (in high school). Half Way Tree was the hangout back in the days. Now we have all this lawlessness.

Recently there were reported cases where several cases where women and teenaged girls have been abducted and raped by men pretending to be legitimate taxi operators in the Half-Way-Tree area.

(according to RJR NEWS)

A highly placed source at (Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse )told the RJR News Centre that the situation in Half-Way-Tree is out of control.

According to the investigator, CISOCA is now probing several cases last month where women who boarded taxis in the busy commercial district were abducted and raped by criminals posing as cab drivers.

RJR News was told of one case where a University student who boarded a taxi destined for Papine was taken away and sexually assaulted.

Now the school children can't even go to school without being harassed. The gunmen are really running tings now.

Jamaican Pride

I have been sitting here thinking about my own cultural awareness. Just what does it mean to be a Jamaican living in the United States. I have been here for many years, but it wasn't until lately within the last year have I become more appreciative of my own heritage. Due in part to the wonderful friendship of a man who is very much aware of his own culture and what being Jamaican means to him.

I remember going to Vaz Prep in Kingston as a child, and the wonderful memories I had there. Going to school back then I was known as the "sweetie gal." I was always bringing a bag of candy to school. I had my Bustamante, asham, peppermint sticks, icy mint, grater cakes and other goodies.

Of course selling it gave me my lunch money and money for other things. At that time walking to school was what everyone did. I walked from New Kingston , near the Sheraton Hotel, to Constant Spring Road. Quite a distance. This is of course nothing compared to someone living in the countryside of the island has to travel, but for us Kingstonians it was a distance.



So many happy memories, because these were indeed happy times of my life. When I would go by the Tastee Patty shop after school with my friends. We would buy two patties with some cocoa bread and finish it by the time we got home. Of course we had a bottle of ting or some sky juice to wash it down.

Jamaican people have this silent strength that can be seen etched in the faces of the youngest person to the oldest person. A sense of family. It doesn't matter where you lived, town or country one had to respect the eldest member of the family. Respect was not something asked for, it was expected.

I can't help but feel this great sense of pride when I see Jamaicans being recognized for their contributions to society and making mention of their Jamaican heritage. Former US Secretary of State, General Colin Powell who was born of Jamaican parentage stood in the thrust of America'’s political arena at a time that history will not soon forget.



Jamaican History books document our very own Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a Jamaica National Hero, as a courageous Jamaican that spread his wings beyond the boundaries of our beautiful island. Since then, so many Jamaicans like General Powell has proved that although Jamaicans are birthed from a tiny island, our dreams have taken us way beyond the scope of the world and across all walks of life. So part one of my dedication is to all the "yardees" that live abroad but will never forget that part of their heart that says, "I MON ON YAH, BUT I NAH BWAAN YAH." Because Jamaica will always be "YARD."


Some people of Jamaican descent.

Jamaican Comedy

This is an old favorite of mine.

Usain Bolt does the "Talk Show CIrcuits"

Usain has been doing this talk show rounds. Coming up the States, Jamaican triple gold medallist, Usain Bolt will be profiled on 'Real Sports' with Bryant Gumbel this month.

The edition of 'Real Sports', perhaps the most celebrated sports journalism show in the United States, will air on October 21 on HBO.

Here he is on the Regis and Kelly show and on the David Letterman show

Stop the Senseless Killings

It is getting difficult for me to blog when so much senseless killings are going on in Jamaica. Case in point. I listened to RJR news this morning and heard, the following:

Kenroy Ireland and his nephew Ricardo Rodney were playing bingo in Westomoreland, when an argument erupted over money. It was during this argument that Ricardo alledgely used a knife to stab Kenroy in the chest. He died instantly. The nephew is currently being sought after by the police.

Meanwhile, in Roehampton, St James, a man and his nephew, who have had a long standing dispute, got into an altercation during which the nephew allegedly pulled a gun and shot his uncle in the mouth.

He then fled the scene. The uncle was admitted to the hospital in stable condition.
Now these two killings happened the same day. The sad thing is I can give you similar events where in order to solve a disagreement or argument a gun or knife is used. This is how children are being taught to resolve issues.

We just experienced the greatest achievement ever when we had our top athletes compete at one of the most prestigious world events, The Olympics. We captured a nation with the skills shown in the track and field events. However, we seem to always be in this shadow of lawlessness

It cannot end if the head of the corruption is within the government walls. Sadly money is a curse in Jamaica. The same money that is used to build the country is also getting in the hands of the corrupt police department and politicians. It really doesn't matter what political party rules, it will still have the same outcome.

More Stories

• Maggotty High students hospitalised
• Retired Judge heads FINSAC Commission
• Sand theft investigations ongoing

Congratulations to Cameal Davis-2008 Rising Star Winner

Cameal Davis walked away with $1 million in cash and a recording contract when it was revealed that she was the winner of the 2008 Digicel Rising Star Contest. Cameal also wrote her name in the history books as the first female winner of the annual Digicel Rising Stars contest.

The winner announced during the live show at the Courtleigh auditorium.

She is the first woman to ever win the competition.

Condolences to Bounty Killer on the death of his Father

Bounty Killer, (aka Rodney Pierce) was stated by the Jamaican Star to have a good relationship with his Father.

When the Star tried to contact Bounty yesterday, he was quoted as saying, "Mi a ask everybody fi pray fi mi"

To read more Click Here...

Source: Jamaican Star

Financial Experts Mislead Jamaica on Financial Crisis

Unless you have been under a rock for the last few weeks, you are aware that the financial crisis has globally the world. Recently, Financial analyst Ralston Hyman, speaking on the state of the Jamaican economy, chastise Jamid the government for being slow to inform the nation about the serious issue that has become global.

He was quoted as saying, ", "With no disrespect, but for the Finance Minister Audley Shaw to be telling us that nothing will happen to Jamaica is ridiculous," at a forum at the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) Headquarters. Hyman added that the US financial crisis was already affecting living conditions in Jamaica in terms of oil and food prices."

Growing up in Jamaica in the 70's and 80's, I remember the effect of the then "oil crisis" that had hit the United States. This affected the product import into the island. Currently with the recent "bailout" of the banks by the government. Their are two ways this can hurt Jamaica, through Tourism and remittance.

Jamaica has long depended on people sending money from the United States, Canada and the U.K. and other countries by Western Union and Money grams. It is said that this amounts to over 1.5 billion US dollars per year. The US tourism market also provides billions of dollars to the Jamaican economy. What Jamaica needs to do is produce more of the food we eat and cut down spending on luxurious foreign items and this will offset any reduction in foreign exchange.

Jamaicans have become over the years too dependent on Foreign Exchange (my own opinion). What happened to the days when man actually farmed and worked the land for profit and to feed his family. Nowadays the focus is on having two cell phones in your house while your children don't have anything to eat. Greed is what is killing Jamaica, not the gunman.


Source: Caribbean Net News

Alton Ellis -The Godfather of Rocksteady

Alton Ellis was born in 1938 and grew up in Kingston's Trench Town district. Born into a musical family, he learned to play piano at a young age.^[6] He initially sought fame as a dancer, competing on Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour.^[7] After winning a couple of competitions, he switched to singing, starting his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy with Eddy Perkins.^[8] Ellis and Perkins recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, initially in the R&B style, having a massive hit with "Muriel" (from Dodd's first commercially-oriented recording session at Federal studios),^[9], recording a follow-up, "My Heaven", before Perkins moved to the United States.^[8] Ellis continued to work for Dodd and also recorded for his arch-rival, Duke Reid on his Treasure Isle label.^[8] By the mid 1960s, ska was moving on and the beat was slowing down to rocksteady and becoming associated with the violent rude boy subculture in Jamaican dancehalls.





His Many successes over the years included:

• Mr Soul of Jamaica (1967) Treasure Isle
• Sings Rock and Soul (1967) Studio One
• The Best Of (1969) Coxsone
• Sunday Coming (1970) Coxsone
• Greatest Hits (1973) Count Shelly also released as Cry Tough
• Still in Love (1977) Horse
• A Love to Share (1979) Third World
• Showcase (1984) Studio One
• Slummin' (198?) Abraham
• Mr Ska Bean'a (1981) Cha Cha (Alton Ellis & The Heptones)
• A New Day (1983) Body Music
• Daydreaming (1983) Silver Camel
• 25th Silver Jubilee (1984) Sky Note
• Continuation (1985) All Tone
• Jubilee Volume 2 (1985) Sky Note
• Change My Mind (2000) Orchard
• More Alton Ellis (2001) T.P.
• Live with Aspo: Workin' on a Groovy Thing (2001) Belleville International / Patate Records

With Hortense Ellis

• Alton & Hortense Ellis at Studio 1 (1990) Heartbeat

Compilations

• All My Tears (1965-68) (2006) Brook
• Alton Ellis Sings, Heptones Harmonise Jet Star (Alton Ellis & The Heptones - 1978-80)
• Arise Black Man (1968-78) Moll Selekta
• Be True to Yourself (196X-7X) (2004) Trojan
• Get Ready for Rock Reggae Steady (1967-74) (1999) Jamaican Gold
• Many Moods of Alton Ellis (1978-80) (1980) Tele-Tech
• My Time Is the Right Time (1966-71) (2000) Westside
• Reggae Valley of Decision (197X) (1996) House of Reggae
• Soul Groover (1997) Trojan
• Reggae Max (1997) Jet Star
• The Duke Reid Collection (1999) Rhino
• Soul of Jamaica (2001) Bianco
• It Hurts Me So (2006) Essential Gold
• Reggae Chronicles (2006) Hallmark
• Muriel (2007) All Tone

In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymphchemotherapy. glands, but he returned to live performance after receiving

He was the older brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of more than twenty children including Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers.

Ellis died on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, West London, of cancer.

He will be missed.

Source: Wikipedia

Asafa Powell against him dancing

Well, what you gonna say when your parents don't like what you do? It seems Asafa Powell's parents (who recently saw him doing the Gully Linga with Usain Bolt) are not too pleased. For many of us who have (or in my case had) Jamaica parents we know that they can be rigid when it comes to "worldly things" (this includes dancing).



Asafa with his mom

I mean the "Gully Linga" is not as bad as some of the dances me see the pickney dem a do in Jamaica. I guess it doesn't help that your parents are "Reverend William Powell and Cislyn Powell." Anyone that know about sanctified church in Jamaica know that they frown on dancing. I think in the world of athletes, dancing is the least of their problems. Many times promiscuity abounds (but in Jamaica the man dem is not man if they not having sex with all the women on the island dem)- this is iriegal's opinion, so nuh write me nothing bout wha me sey.

His mother was quoted as saying, ": "God gave him those feet to bring joy to the world, but not in that form of dancing. We don't want 'Nuh Linga', we just want Jesus." Cislyn said that she does not want her son to end up in the dancehall culture and has been encouraging him to dare to be Daniel, despite what everyone else might be doing. She notes he continues to be in her Prayers."




Source: Jamaica Star

Olympic Stars Call for and End to Violence

I hope someone listens to them. Yesterday the island honored Usain Bolt who collected gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m in Beijing, Veronica Campbell-Brown 200m gold medalist, 100m medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser, 400m hurdle winner Melanie Walker and all of the rest of the team on the 4x100m relay.





All the athletes accepted the kudos from the island but they also implored the people to "Stop the Violence." We have so many people who would like to return to Jamaica to retire, but it is hard when there is so much fear. Bolt noted that despite his accomplishments the violence seems to have dominated the news.

The Little Black Box Mon

I had this on my other blog "mental stimulation" and ha so much fun with it that I decided to add it to all my blogs. (Lawd all 9 of them). I found I have met so many interesting blogs to the black box. The only caution is it is addictive.

You Click on the box... right on DECIDE... make your choices and see where your path may take you!

Visit HERE if you'd like to add a Little Black Box of your own.






I have also added one on my sidebar, you should too. It is loads of fun


I am compelled to admit it. I am completely addicted to this new form of travel and friend finding. The only reason I stopped long enough to write this post was because someone's Little Black Box brought me home to my own page. Now, it's time to go again.

If you found your way here via a Little Black Box, then please let me know; say hello, and tell us where you are from and a little about yourself! Have and irie day mon.

Massive Protest in North Gully, Montego Bay

It appears the people of this area are not to happy with the police department (lawd, tell me someting new nuh?). The residents state that there were several people who were beaten by the police during their early detainment operations.

The protesters say the police are wrongfully targeting their community and they are not involved in the gang warfare that has led to an upsurge of violence in the King Street area.

Due to the fires and mayhem, there were several business operators have closed their doors.


Source: RJR NEWS

6 Jamaican Hotels Qualify for Best Hotels to Visit

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Wordless Wednesday

What in the world a gwan yah?..lol

Jamaica Land I love

A friend of mine emailed this poem to me. I must admit it made me cry and smile at the same time. The words really let me remember all the fun and good times With so much crime and negative things encompassing the island when I read anything postitive it warm my heart.

So I am passing these thoughts to you of the "Jamaica I love."

JAMAICA, LAND THAT WE LOVE.

Author Unknown.

As I think of the hills and clear blue seas,

Memories of Jamaica rush back to me

As I think of the rivers and fertile earth

I remember Jamaica , the land of my birth.

I relive, in my mind, a distant past

And my heart laments the times I've lost

I think of a time and a place I feel

Gone, but etched in memories surreal.

I long to return to a simple way

In that sunshine land that I used to play

And the almost primitive ways and means,

These are the things that fill my dreams.

The beaches, the mountains, a caressing breeze,

Cane fields, Banana, and Coconut trees,

Long and winding country roads,

And country busses with heavy loads.

The hand-cart man selling his wares,

The Jolly Joseph bus & penny-ha-penny bus fares,

A Fudgeman riding to & fro,

Shouting 'Icicle, Ice Cream Cake & Choco-mo.'

The market stalls filled with fruit,

The laughter, the innocence of my youth,

Things that I miss and long for so --

Things that remind me of long ago.

At nights I recall the star-filled sky,

And 'Peenie Wallie's' flittering by,

In whispered tones we'd spend the night,

Telling 'Duppy' stories that filled with fright.

On a windy day the kites would soar,

While angry waves lashed the shore,

Swaying trees in the howling wind,

God, how much I miss these things.

The way the rain slowed everything down,

The earthy smell as it hit the ground,

Refreshing the land and watering the crops,

The exciting clangour on the zinc roof- tops.

Oh Jamaica , I miss your ways

I miss your climate and sunny days,

In a foreign land, where I've come to rest

Spurred on by an economic quest.

Though no turning back, on this traveled way,

For you my homeland, I'll always pray,

My memories of you will never depart,

Jamaica, Jamaica the beat of my heart.

'

Digicel Continues Its "Rising Stars"

Digicel Rising Stars continues its wining streak ( the American Idol of Jamaica) by showcasing the great talents on the island. With the end of Season 5 quickly coming to a close, the focus is on Cameal Davis. I love her voice. She is only 22 but she has a great stage presence an a powerful voice.

Back to Finalists

Check out this interview with another rising star, "K'Alee" ----> Click Here

Does The United States "Bailout" Affect Jamaica

Many in Jamaica have been asking this question. How does the proposed "bailout" of the United States financial crisis affect Jamaica or any other country for that matter. Jamaica's Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, was quoted as telling parliament that, "I should also indicate that, in terms of additional challenges that may arise in raising capital on the international capital markets, this is being supplemented by the Government's proactive agenda in re-engaging with multilateral institutions on an aggressive basis over the past year, and is now beginning to see the finalization of significant access to project and policy-based loans from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, at attractive interest rates,"







Shaw also stated that, from all indications, the potential need for US dollar liquidity by institutions over the next few months was only a small portion of the current net international reserves (NIR) of the Bank of Jamaica of US$2.2 billion.

I wonder how this will affect the dollar "trade" in Jamaica. As many know Jamaica's dollar is valued much lower then the American dollar, which of course makes it a "ripe" market for the black market. With the current economic crisis hitting America, I wonder how long it will be before Jamaica's dollar surpasses America?

Beenie Man Cleared of Tax Evasion

Beenie Man has been cleared of Tax Evasion by Judge Owen Parkin. He threw out the case Tuesday, ruling evidence which showed the entertainer was not informed of his rights when auditors issued their assessment last year.

Boy, I tell you "thank you" for the screw ups in our justice system.