West Portland By-election

The west Portland by-election called on March 23rd, 2009, because Abe Dabdoud successfully convinced the courts that Daryl Vaz was in breach of the constitution because he had sworn allegiance to the United States of America is now over, thank God for Vaz renounced his US citizenship then went on to give the PNP’s Kenneth Rowe a thorough whopping! 

However, the issues should not be allowed to die. For we as a people need to decide if we will continue the ridiculous situation whereby persons who hold dual citizenship with some foreign countries should not be able to make laws affecting all of us, while others who also have one foot in and one foot out of Jamaica should be allowed, by virtue of this commonwealth nonsense. 

 This is the loophole that the Peoples National Party sought to crawl through when they arrogantly disrespected the voters in west Portland. For by pretending to be super patriots fighting to have only representatives loyal to Jamaica in the parliament, they sneaked thorough the loophole in the Constitution allowing commonwealth citizens to run, and tried to impose Kenneth Rowe, a Canadian citizen, who unlike Vaz was not prepared to give up his dual citizenship and put Jamaica first, on the people. They were severely rejected, partly for that act of immorality.

 As far as I am concerned, if persons are not 100 percent committed to Jamaica, Then give them, any job their little hearts could desire except governor general or as members in the upper or lower house.

 For why should persons who are not totally committed to Jamaica and who are not prepared to live with the consequences of their legislative decisions be allowed to pass laws to affect the rest of us? For too long these double standards have been allowed to prevail and while many of us did not pay much attention to the constitution, now that we have learnt of this anomaly via a very expensive lesson, (the by-election cost in the region of $30 million) we need to correct it. In my book, anyone who holds a Green card or citizenship papers to any other country apart from this fair isle, should never be allowed to pass legislation affecting us period. If they truly believe in what they are doing, then let them do like Vaz and remove all doubt about what they are up to.

SIGMA RUN

As you guys know, we always try to do a ride into the hills on a Sunday to build up our strength for the long excursions into the countryside. On Sunday last (15th March 2009) we dropped our usual routine to go out and support our champion runner and lifesaver, Howie (Howard Lynch)who had entered the 5k Sigma race which started at Emancipation Park in New Kingston. This was the 11th anniversary of the Sigma run.

We knew that Howie had on a green shirt, but apart from one of our members saying that he had seen "green flash " zip past him at the beginning of the race and thought it was the "Green Lantern" we never really saw our mentor.

Anyway, Michael Chuck, Michael Williams , Damit and I had ridden down to the Park where we offered our services as volunteer wardens for the event. This involved policing those who entered the event to ensure that those who had signed up to walk did not sneak some running into it etc. as well as helping to keep traffic at bay. It was an OK day and would have been better had I known Shaggy, my favourite entertainer was going to be there for had I known I would have planted myself in front of the stage and not moved!

Anyway, among the most inspiring things I saw was the wheel chair entrants, who displayed such sportsmanship. It was a good day albeit we never got the level exercise we are accustomed to on a Sunday. Anyway, we topped it off with breakfast at Charles' so it was another day well spent.



Nb. We have a web page at ;http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92523&id=763366822#/profile.php?sid=898a589a2e527723c327ff9342f9a5b9&id=1349315167&hiq=adventure%2Cclub%2Cjamaica%2Cadventureclub

INFERIOR CELL PHONES

I have been forced to turn to the Bureau of Standards in Jamaica to start monitoring the quality of telephones being brought into Jamaica by cellular provider Digicel for it appears that some of what they are selling to the public cannot cannot cope with the tropical climate.

In November last,I bought a bought a Nokia phone from a Digicel outlet and within a month the glass cracked and the dial became marred.When I took it back to the outlet, I was made to understand that this could have happened because of the heat or moisture, not only in one’s car, but in one’s hand.The phone was replaced, not because of the guarantee, but only because the owner of the company was a friend of mine who said he was replacing it at his own expense as the guarantee did not cover exposure to what is supposed to have caused that crack.

Within weeks, the glass of the new phone also cracked and since "Courts" was having a special, I decided to get a cheap spare and bought as Samsung. This I did on the 3rd December 2008. This new phone also stated to act up within weeks, dropping calls and the microphone is also obviously defective since those who call me on this instrument say they just cannot hear what I am saying.

So I took the phone back to Courts with my guarantee. I immediately detected a backing away from the product by the attendant who sought to inform me that they were not responsible for they were only selling it for Digicel. She then told me the board in the phonewas wet.


This I found surprising since the phone had never gotten wet and I certainly would not have returned it had it if it had, since I am aware that phones and water do not go together. That’s when she explained that the mere sweating of the palms could be responsible and then she pointed out that I had signed a document about the moisture getting into the phone.

Now I would like to know how on earth could one possibly use a phone without using one’s hand at some point and are we supposed to dry out palms first before answering a Digicel phone? (I have no such problem with phones supplied by other providers.)

Based on my experiences, it appears to me that some phones being brought in by Digicel are not made for tropical climates and the Bureau of Standards should never be allowing them to bring in inferior products and foisting them on consumers. For how can the unsuspecting public know which are durable in the tropics and which are not?

THE PRIVILEGES OF POWER

For years I have been wondering what drives the addiction of most Jamaican politicians to power, an addiction that causes some to commit murder, arson and even drives some to threaten to create “nightmares” for the entire population in the name of power.

Could it be the money that they are able to siphon off, the privileges of going to cocktail parties every day and being treated in superior fashion to persons who are smarter than they are or born into greater privilege than they did? Is it all part of the “great house syndrome" that Mutty Perkins often refers to?

After torturing myself with the question for about forty years, I never expected it to take a simple little by-election in Portland to give me the answer.

Arising from the by-election called after Daryl Vaz (the Jamaica Labour Party.... JLP ) was removed by the courts on the ground that he was US citizen at the time of his nomination, the PNP (People's National Party) went into the constituency firing on all cylinders to try and grab the seat. One of the salvos they fired was that after Daryl Vaz was removed as Member of Parliament, he continued to keep his Diplomatic Passport.

Hmm. I said to myself, that’s bad. Then all hell broke loose since if every there were a case of "those who live in glass houses" being careful not to throw stones, this was it.

For within days it was disclosed that it was not one or two of those PNP stalwarts who had ceased to hold government positions almost two years ago, (some were given diplomatic passports although they were not entitled to it) who were still holding on to them for dear life, but a whopping 20! Also, according to one radio station, one former junior minister had used his some five times to travel overseas, although he had no such authority. (Isn’t this some kind of fraud based on one impersonating a government official? Or are such laws involving impersonation only to be applied to "ordinary" people?)

Anyway, I couldn’t believe it had taken me so many years to realize the implications of an important perk like a Diplomatic passport. The privileges begin the minute the decision is taken for one to travel on a diplomatic passport for the first perk is nuff US dollars for the per diem. Then there is no worry about visas, things that we ordinary citizens must line up for hours on end to obtain. Then ordinary citizens travel economy, but persons with diplomatic passports usually travel first class, compliments of the taxpayers .

At the airport, the holder of a Diplomatic passport really starts getting the royal treatment since if they stood in line at the airline desk and immigration like us ordinary folk, there would no work for the "protocol” officers and VIP lounge attendants who work at the airports. It is the duty of these mere peons to whisk the dignitaries into the VIP lounge and take their documents for processing. When that is over, they escort them privately to the plane. Good heavens, we could not expect holders of diplomatic passports to mingle with the masses could we?

The real privileges to die for, comes when one leaves the shores of this Fair Isle.

Take a trip to our closest "foreign,” Miami .
First, there is the “disrespect” the minute a Jamaican arrives in the US of A where there is always a scrawny mongrel appearing to smell not only your luggage, but your body to boot. (I would give anything for a diplomatic passport to eliminate that leg alone!) No such dissing of holders of Diplomatic passports!

Next there are the unfriendly customs and immigration officers who not only make you wait forever in long lines but worse, who would never tolerate any form of smuggling regardless of who you are.

Think too of the privilege of being immune from arrest overseas, simply by virtue of having a Diplomatic passport. This served Mrs. Mugabe well in March this year, when according to the “Mail On Line” she wounded a British photographer but was granted diplomatic immunity. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1163710/Robert-Mugabes-wife-given-diplomatic-immunity-alleged-street-attack-Briton.html) What a super privilege, enough to kill and die for!

Anyway, back home, on the return to good old Ja, the VIP treatment again gets into gear at the airport where the overworked protocol officer does the leg work while the holder of the Diplomatic passport sips wine in the VIP lounge. More importantly, they can bring whatever they wish into the island for anyone who questions or even thinks of charging duty on anything that these “diplomats” are bringing in, would be jobless in a minute’.

These my friends are not only the privileges to die for but to kill for as far as some politicians are concerned.

Pathetic, isn't?

RIDING TO NEWCASTLE

Yes you can, yes you can, yes you can. In true Obama style, that's what I had been telling myself the entire day of the 7th February and the entire morning of the 8th.

You see, after failing to make it all the way on to Newcastle in St. Andrew, Jamaica on bicycle two previous occasions, I was now determined to complete the 14 mile uphill ride even if it killed me!

Newcastle is some 4,200 feet above sea level(Brr!) and is approximately14 miles from Papine in St. Andrew. It lies south west of Blue and John Crow National Park. This military camp was established in 1841 by major General William Gomm, shortly after he beat residents of Kingston into submission, in what was described as the Christmas riots which arose because the "natives" were celebrating with music and drumming which the wicked British colonial masters had determined was against the law.

Here the British built barracks and sent some of the colonial troops resident in Jamaica who were being ravaged by yellow fever, into the cool hills to recuperate. The white tombstones in the military graveyard there tells the tale of the success or failure of that venture.

The road to Newcastle is one of the most scenic routes you will find anywhere in the Caribbean. The bank sides of the narrow, winding road are covered with ferns and huge trees as well as delicate wildflowers, ginger lillies and ground orchids which are always in bloom. The air is fresh and crisp and I estimate that in Newcastle it is always at least 10-15 degrees colder than anywhere in Kingston or St. Andrew, but the view of Kingston and the surrounding hills is to die for.

Newcastle remains a training and historic centre for the Jamaica Defense Force so you are liable to see recruits in training or in full uniform going through the procedures in the main square. Here too, as you enter you see the wall with the cannons above, covered with the insignia of the different regiments that have visited or resided there since inception.

Well, I did it. For the first time at last I completed the journey, albeit in just over 4 hours. Also doing the entire ride for the first time were Sasheena, Mike Chuck, Damith, Penny and Omar....all "Fun and Thrills" riders. The "oldsters" who had completed the ride before are Michael Williams, Howie, Michelle and Stephan. Betty drove up to keep our company and Ann Marie did a Joan, she did not complete the entire journney on bicycle. Anyway, next time she will.

After we hung around for a while drinking in the fresh air, the wonderful view and interacting with the soldiers, we started the real fun ride....flying off the hill. As I enjoyed that leg, I thought how much riding uphill is like working. For you work an entire lifetime to get money which you can blow in days. Here we had struggled uphill for four hours to revel in the pleasure of riding downhill for only about half an hour.

Anyway we stopped in Irish town for a wonderful breakfast and after a rowdy session jiving each other about the ride, we headed home.

Another Sunday well spent.

RELIGION THE ROOT OF EVIL?

Forgive me if after living in a country which is reputed to have more Churches per capita than every any other country in the world, I have come to the conclusion that religion is the root of all evil. 

 Yes , when I did history as a child and saw how many wars and purges had a religious base, I did lean towards that opinion, but moderated it for a bit over the years. However, the more I hear about the activities of some Muslims and relate to people who swear on the bible that they are "Christians", the more I again lean towards the conclusion that if not all religion, then certainly Islam and Christianity are if not totally, close to being at the root of most of problems in the world. Take for example the recent abortion debate in Jamaica. 

Which God or who on earth gave the those vocal "Christians "who have been making appearances in Parliament, authority over the bodies of women? Interestingly, most who have come railing against abortion are men. 

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Christian theory (*propaganda) that women were created from the rib of man? Even forgetting that silly argument, who else should have dominion over one's body but the owner of that body? 

 Now the "Christians" here are making a great fuss over the flexi week debate. One had expected the Adventists to be the vocal ones since they have always been strict adherents of the sabbath.

However, Sunday worshipers have also suddenly jumped into the fray at a time when it is accepted internationally that Sundays are just another day and commercial activities proliferate as they do on Saturdays. 

 In my book, as long as Jamaica continues to have this wild growth in irrelevant religions, we will not only remain the among the top five countries in the world with the distinction of having the highest number of murders per capita, but also productivity will hit a new low as church leaders fight tooth and nail to try and keep their collection plates full by insisting that people stay in Church and nag poor God to provide for them rather than getting involved in production.

TOURING JAMAICA

We have a cycling club called "Fun and Thrills" and it is our aim to tour the entire Caribbean on bicycle, starting with Jamaica (where we all live) and which we have been touring at random for about two years.

On Ash Wednesday, February 25th , 2009, we rode from Port Antonio in Portland, (eastern Jamaica) to Mill Bank in the Blue and John Crow mountain range. This is an approximately 17.5 mile journey into the hinterland on extremely bad roads, but the scenery in this section of the "Rio Grande Valley" is so awesome and the climate so pleasant and refreshing, that one hardly noticed the roads.

To get to Mill Bank, you pass though qauint towns and villages such as Fellowship, Ginger House and Comfort Castle. Mill Bank is the last district in the Portland section of the Blue and John Crown Mountain range before you cross over into the Parish of St. Thomas.

These communities are populated by persons loosely called "Moore Town Maroons". Their ancestors were runaway slaves from the plantations. They had been forcibly removed from their native lands and brought to Jamaica by Spanish slave traders in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The term Maroon is derived from the Spanish word cimarrón which means wild. It was therefore used to brand those slaves who fled the plantations in the early 1600s and established their own settlements.

By the early eighteenth century, the Maroon communities controlled most of the eastern part of the island. They formed well organized and efficient underground military units. After decades of warfare, the British finally gave up the idea of ever catching and enslaving them and they yielded to their demands for recognition of their autonomy by signing a treaty with the Maroons in 1739.
Hailing from West and Central African regions with diverse languages and cultural practices, the Maroons practiced their own religious ceremonies that incorporated various spiritual traditions. These expressions and practices, which were then named Kromanti Play, continue to represent the very foundation of Maroon identity. During the ceremonies, dances, songs and specific drumming styles are performed to invoke ancestral spirits. These ceremonies also feature a language of African derivation, likewise named Kromanti, and rare medicinal preparations. As part of their heritage, the inhabitants of the maroon villages possess a unique system of communally-held treaty lands, a local council which uses their own political structure and the use of the abeng, a side-blown horn of which serves as a means of long-distance communication.
The maroon council draws representatives from each village and they have their own legal enforcement system for every infringement except murder. Incidentally, their villages boast extremely low crime rates.

Over the years, thousands of maroons have left their communities and have become integrated in the rest of the society. Most of those who remain are involved in farming and small enterprises.
Mill Bank is reputed to have the 2nd highest rainfall in the world and we were not disappointed as we were soaked about 4 times but got dry very quickly. The food was excellent and the scenery lush and breath taking. The Rio Grande river is huge and impressive, offering dozens of tranquil swimming areas and numerous waterfalls.It was great fun as we stayed together as a group, stopping to rest or just drink in the scenery.

See some of the great pictures we took at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92523&id=763366822.