Jamaican Till I Die!

Jamaica’s Food Security and safety depends on our integrity, morality, self-respect, respect for others, personal responsibility and basic human decency. We are simply at the mercy of each other, especially since our food supply system lacks a standard nationwide process to protect us. Anything can be injected into the food supply at any stage of the process and we would not know. When it comes to food import we have no control, we gave all control to the exporting country and we are totally at their mercy to eat what they want us to eat. BRASÍLIA, Brazil (AFP)  – Salmonella steaks? Carcinogenic chemicals? Lying labels? Brazil, the world's biggest beef and poultry exporter, has been hit by stomach-churning allegations of corrupt practices in its meat industry. Police have halted exports by 21 meat processers suspected of bribing inspectors to issue them bogus health certificates for rotten meat. Brazil's rotten meat scandal: what we know Jamaica's food security a s...

The 2008 Global Recession In 2008, The International Monetary Fund stated that the drying up of global credit after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing Global recession would lead to serious concerns for Jamaica’s economic prospect and the sustainability. They declared that the country’s 1.5 trillion debt would put pressure on the country’s economy and exchange rates. However the then Minister of Finance the Honorable Audley Shaw dismissed the IMF concerns and declared that the Global financial crisis would not have any impact on the Jamaican economy. In fact the Minister of Finance the Honorable Audley Shaw stated that the Global recession would be opportunistic for Jamaica. He declared that, as a result of the recession, the Jamaican economy will grow +2.0% to +3.0% in the next fiscal year, as he moved to downplay concerns of the effects of a global economic slowdown. And in particular, any effects the looming recession in the United States will have on the Jamai...

My Auntie hired a handyman to do various work around her house. On his first day on the Job he arrived very late with the excuse that he did not have any money for bus fare and had to borrow the money for it… My Aunt then asked if he needed something to drink before starting work, tea, coffee, juice, water and he requested water. My aunt went into the house and returned with a tall glass of ice cold water to which Mr. Handyman asked… Is that Tap water or Bottled water? My Aunt declared that it was refrigerated tap water to which Mr. Handyman responded that “he does not drink tap water but only drinks Bottled water”. My Aunt told him that she does not have any money to waste on bottled water especially since she is at home and that she drinks the refrigerated tap water because she finds nothing wrong with it since Jamaica’s water is not recycled but comes from various rivers, springs and underground streams. However she directed him to the nearest shop and told him he would ...

Written: 2012 Import and Destroy Kingston-Wharves, Imports Only Wharves- Exports not Allowed!! Some time ago in 2009, the then Minister of Agriculture declared that fertilizer from Jamaican companies was too expensive and as such Jamaica would import/buy fertilizer from American sources.  This to me is a very anti-Jamaica and anti-Jamaican business position for our Government to take because it is not like fertilizer was in short supply and we must increase short term supply to the local market. I do understand the need to keep the agricultural cost of production down and inflation in check. What was missing from the Agriculture Minister was any sort of analysis as to why the local price of fertilizer was so high. We heard nothing about the Ministry trying to engage fertilizer producers, trying to find out why prices were high and how the Government can help to reduce cost and lower the prices to the consumers. There was no long term plan of action. The Government’s position...

Jamaica have become the Export Dumping Ground My impression of Jamaicans when I was growing up was that we were very picky eaters. Always concerned with the quality of our food. Always thinking about where it came from, who was preparing it and what was in it. We did not eat out much, simply because there was nothing out there that could beat a home cooked meal and we really did not trust people we did not know making our food. Back in the days, you could not get most Jamaicans, well the ones I know, to eat out and even if they did eat out it would be for a light snacks. After that they would go home and enjoyed their nice Fresh Hot Home cook meals. I cannot imagine leaving grandma’s home cook stew peas and rice with the squidly dumplings to subject my tender tummy to the great unknown. I do not know where this food was coming from, how fresh it was and what was in it. Dried Dead Rats Found in Rice Imported from USA Just a couple weeks ago Jamaica imported 1,500 Metric Tonn...