Jamaican Till I Die!

The more I travel and the more I communicate with people in different countries both in person and online, and the more I explore global news and current affairs as it happens in countries around the world. Is the more I have grown to appreciate my Jamaica and my Jamaican people even more.  I am not saying we are better than anyone. I am not saying we are superior to anyone and the fact that for the most part we do not think on those levels make me appreciate us more. As a matter of fact most of us Jamaicans know our limitations and enjoy our mediocre simple life. I will go even further to declare simplification of life is a much better way of living than an overly complex life. Simple things make my day and life worth living. Like finding a big East Indian mango, golden in colour, ripened to perfection and sweeter than sugar and it is big enough to be a single meal. I spent one part of my life chasing the dreams of my parents, thinking about corporate ladders, having...

As we laugh, party, dance, build new relationships, watch television, enjoy the Olympics, live on Facebook and twitter, send our kids to school, worry about GSAT, CXC, SATs, GMAT, MCATs, etc, strive to move up the corporate and social ladder, go to job interviews and so as we human beings on this planet participate in these and our myriad other rituals I wonder... As a curious observer of life on this planet today I wonder how many others notice... Notice that the institutions of politics, finance, energy, education, health care, and most importantly the ecosystem are headed toward near-certain collapse. Notice the amount of trees that are destroyed daily, notice the amount of topsoil erosion, habitat destruction, irreversible loss of biodiversity, disappearing rainforests, the dead rivers, lakes and seas, the imminent water crisis, Notice our almost, total dependence on fossil fuels and the corruption that drives the industry. Who notices the political trend toward fa...

“How come you are staying here?” my client exclaimed when he dropped me off at the Altamont Court hotel in Kingston, JA. “Because this fits my needs. It’s efficient, safe and clean. I am family when am here plus, it’s fantastic value for money. Why?” I am curious. “Because someone of your stature should be staying at the Spanish Court Hotel, you should be holding your meetings there to show people who you are. And act more white!”. He replies with open conviction. Nowhere else is the appearance of wealth and social status more ridge and important for display than in Jamaica in 2011. The need to show ones ability is no longer judged by ones credentials and authority those solid foundations have been replaced with gauche peacock parades of bling and wild grandiose titles they have self bestowed online. “CEO’s” without staff, “Presidents” without revenue and “Tech Guru’s” and “Consultants” who aren’t even bankable by a major brand to hire them as staff. So many, just ...

This is a collection of disturbing things that I have experienced over many years, things that sometimes come up in certain political, social and economic conversation with friends.   I remember my first job on leaving school, I was working for the Government and my neighbor was kind enough to offer me a ride to work in the mornings since she also worked in the same location. Each morning I would stand by my gate waiting for her since she lived just two gates down from my house.  I remember her early morning rituals between leaving her front door and driving away from her gate, each morning her helper would open the gates for her to back out of her driveway at which point she would immediately start to issue orders to the helper like a drill sergeant to a private at the top of her voice and I remember feeling so embarrassed for the helper because such things should really be said in private. On a recent visit to Café Blue at sovereign plaza one morning, trying t...