I have been trying to point out to all for years, including to those who keep harping on the historical slavery that was abolished almost two hundred years ago, that a new type of slavery is alive and well in Jamaica. For the fact is, most of those who live in the twelve garrisons are nothing but the slaves of the dons.
Of course, most people, because they are political cultists first and Jamaicans last, have preferred to ignore this terrible fact.
The garrisons were set up for the convenience of despicable politicians who are too lazy and corrupt to campaign to get into parliament, preferring to use gunmen to do what should be an honourable task. In return, their minions are guaranteed a lot of freeness...... free shelter, free light, free water compliments of taxpayers and paying consumers, plus the extras provided by the dons who claim to be modern day Robin Hoods. However, what they do not seem to realise is that a time will come when they would have to pay the piper.
The chickens have come home to roost for the Tivoli people, some 2000 of whom it was estimated, brazenly claimed they were prepared to put their lives for on the block for their don. Of course, what most members of the public do not know is that the vast majority had no option but to come out and demonstrate, for if they didn't, they would have been exiled from the community or worse, as is the lot of most other slaves who live in the garrisons.
Will those enslaved in other garrisons learn anything form these past three terrible days?
While the "Tivolites" were required to lay their lives on the block for their don, not only was it reported that he sent his children out before the upheaval began in earnest, but also it appears that he too has sneaked out and left them to face the music.
Do those who swear their dons love them understand what happened here? I doubt if they are prepared to accept reality however for the freeness mentality was firmly planted and nurtured in the 70's and it has been well fertilised over the years by the a string of dons who operate with the blessings of their political bosses.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tacky Falls
While the country waited to see what the security forces were going to do about Tivoli gardens where the residents had threatened to fight to the death rather than have their don Dudus extradited, Fun and Thrills headed for the peaceful countryside, for as we are often reminded by country folk, Kingston is not Jamaica.
As expected the country areas were as beautiful and peaceful as expected and we had a wonderful day.
As expected the country areas were as beautiful and peaceful as expected and we had a wonderful day.
It was a wonderful, easy ride as it was quite overcast and the flora and fauna , the mountains and valleys were absolutely awe inspiring and breath taking.
 |
| The road divides the beautiful Castleton gardens into two |
Our first stop was by Castleton Gardens gate where both water coconuts and the most delicious janga soup in the world is available.
Our second stop was at a fruit stand operated by the most unpleasant vendor I have ever encountered in my long life. He will certainly never ever get business from any of us who stopped there that morning.
To begin with, Howie dismounted , took out his camera and put his bicycle close to his operation in order to take pictures of the riders coming down the hill. Without even stopping to find out what was happening, he shouted at Howie that he couldn't take his picture! Then poor Damit bought some nesberrries from him and withdrew to the wall to eat one, only to be shouted at by the man that he could not sit on the public curb wall! When I asked why, he said he did not have to answer any questions! I was amazed when during his tirade he declared that he had been in business there for 22 years. I am positive he could never have had any repeat business during that period.
That aside, all went well and at Agulta Vale we packed up our bikes into the pickup and drove to have a delicious breakfast to at a place beyond Islington in St. Mary called Friendship.
Then we set off to our true destination, Tacky Falls named after the maroon warrior who led one of the two slave rebellions of 1740.
To get there, you have walk down a fairly steep, treacherous, and slippery path, but it was well worth the trip. While these falls were not too spectacular because of the drought which prevailed when we went there, we were told by our guide that when it is really raging, you dare not go under the falls or the you will be swept away by the raging waters into the ravine which seems to be at least forty feet deep. At the edge of the ravine, the are caves under the huge rocks and also we are told, a clear cool underground lake (which we did not of course explore!) which is where Tacky was able to hide from the British to conduct his assaults.After a bath at the falls, we headed to one of the beaches at Robin's Bay where some persons had a wonderful time swimming, while I had a beautiful nap before heading home.
It was indeed another wonderful outing into the most beautiful countryside in the world.
The Opportunity
The chickens have finally come to roost
For decades now, Jamaican politicians have nurtured gunmen and created garrison constituencies as this gives them the opportunity to get seats without having to campaign. This cancer has spread to some 20% 0f the country with the PNP having nine of the twelve garrison constituencies and the JLP three.
However, the Tivoli Gardens constituency has over the years definitely become what former commissioner of police Lewin called the "mother of all garrisons" thanks to the former prime minister and long time member of parliament Edward Seaga. Over the years, they have virtually removed themselves from Jamaican government institutions becoming a republic with whoever the don is being the president, minister of security and Robin Hood.
When the US government decided that they wanted the current don, Christoper Dudus Coke, his loyalists in Tivoli said no way. In fact they came out in their numbers on to the streets of Kingston, swearing to defend him to the death. The Jamaican state therefore had to go into the barricaded area for him or else join Somalia as a country divided up with sections run by warlords.
The assault on Tivoli started on Monday 24th May 2010, after terrorists there fired the first shots and set fire to a number of police stations, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency in certain affected areas.
We do not know what the outcome sill be, but the war is under way with the army joining in the assault against both Tivoli gunmen as well as gunmen from outside the area. Ironically many of these gunmen are loyal to the opposition PNP but have said they owe Dudus, since he had helped their warlord Zeekes,in the past.
So its now the state versus the armed criminals from both the PNP and JLP.
Hopefully, the security forces will soon prevail but it should not stop there. For when the Tivoli leg is over, the security forces should immediately be deployed into the other well armed garrisons to disarm all the thugs there who have been at the root of Jamaica's crime problem, capitulating us to the top, as the murder capital of the world.
As bad as things are today for the entire country, it gives us the perfect opportunity to deal with the problem once and for all.
For decades now, Jamaican politicians have nurtured gunmen and created garrison constituencies as this gives them the opportunity to get seats without having to campaign. This cancer has spread to some 20% 0f the country with the PNP having nine of the twelve garrison constituencies and the JLP three.
However, the Tivoli Gardens constituency has over the years definitely become what former commissioner of police Lewin called the "mother of all garrisons" thanks to the former prime minister and long time member of parliament Edward Seaga. Over the years, they have virtually removed themselves from Jamaican government institutions becoming a republic with whoever the don is being the president, minister of security and Robin Hood.
When the US government decided that they wanted the current don, Christoper Dudus Coke, his loyalists in Tivoli said no way. In fact they came out in their numbers on to the streets of Kingston, swearing to defend him to the death. The Jamaican state therefore had to go into the barricaded area for him or else join Somalia as a country divided up with sections run by warlords.
The assault on Tivoli started on Monday 24th May 2010, after terrorists there fired the first shots and set fire to a number of police stations, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency in certain affected areas.
We do not know what the outcome sill be, but the war is under way with the army joining in the assault against both Tivoli gunmen as well as gunmen from outside the area. Ironically many of these gunmen are loyal to the opposition PNP but have said they owe Dudus, since he had helped their warlord Zeekes,in the past.
So its now the state versus the armed criminals from both the PNP and JLP.
Hopefully, the security forces will soon prevail but it should not stop there. For when the Tivoli leg is over, the security forces should immediately be deployed into the other well armed garrisons to disarm all the thugs there who have been at the root of Jamaica's crime problem, capitulating us to the top, as the murder capital of the world.
As bad as things are today for the entire country, it gives us the perfect opportunity to deal with the problem once and for all.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Great Brother
If you do not have a brother, get one!
Now I am no expert on the matter as I only have one brother and no sisters, but my brother Bernie is the greatest.
This was again reinforced on the weekend of May 15th when he put on a wonderful early birthday party for me at his vacation home in Silver Sands.
You see, since I reached the half century mark some years ago, I decided that I would have a party for every birthday following that big bash, for my 50th birthday party was indeed a big a splash and I guess as you get older you really appreciate your friends and close family. For whereas you may see them a couple of times during the year and keep up with them in other ways, one big get together per year is just not too much, for life is short.
So as I planned this years big do, I was overwhelmed when Bernie told me he was planning to be here in May, as he had never been in Jamaica when my birthday came around. I therefore told him to be here for the weekend of May 21st since my birthday was actually on the 20th and I was planning the session for that weekend.
A few days later he called to say he couldn't come that weekend but would be here the weekend before that and he would be having the party at his home in Silver Sands for me, so we should all come down to Trelawny.
He did and it was absolutely wonderful. Everyone had a great time and they have been calling me ever since to say how they enjoyed themselves as the food, music and ambiance was just great.
At the party too were the foundation members of "Fun and Thrills" my riding group. So being health freaks, we decided that we had to work off all the food with a long 22 mile ride from Duncan's via Hamden , Daniel Town the Trelawny stadium and back home. The route was not at all difficult and it was extremely scenic....that is until we got to the highway. That was where the real bangarang hit us as by then the sun was blaring down and the breeze was against us. It is the longest 9 kilometre ride I have had in a long time. That leg of the ride made me have a new level of respect for the 'round the island riders" Howie, Heather, Michael , Damit and Orrel, who on Easter weekend, rode around the entire island taking 4 days. Can you imagine how much self discipline it took to stay in the saddle as the sun unmercifully beat down on them? I still think they are masochists.
But I deviate. As Bernie and Judy (my sister in law) had to get to the airport early, unfortunately we missed them as we got back to the house after they had driven out. I was so hot and tired that all I could do was eat breakfast and lie in the pool to get my body temperature back to normal. I never even had the energy to go down to the beach, lest I had to fight any waves.
Anyway I eventually bounced back and the joy and mood of the wonderful weekend returned before we had to return to Kingston.
Another year older and great weekend.
For other photographs, go to ;http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=212087&id=763366822&saved
Friday, May 14, 2010
Lets Settle Down
Consensus is very difficult to achieve in Jamaica because of the serious political polarization that prevails. The closest we seem to have come to consensus recently, is in the call for Bruce Golding to step down as prime minister. And there are no two ways about it, for a leader who is stripped of all moral authority cannot lead a democracy, especially a country like Jamaica which is in the financial and moral mire.
So where do we go from here? Are we going to just continue exciting up ourselves about Mr. Golding's betrayal or are we going to be decisive and move on?
I do not think there are too many people except the cultists, who think the PNP is an alternative, so forget an election now. You see, the PNP is still being haunted by the ghost of Trafigura and until they tell the truth about that matter, they too have no moral authority.
For the question still remains, what did Trafigura pay the PNP $30 million for? Was it to contaminate our country with toxic waste as they did in the Ivory Coast, killing many Africans and injuring another 31,000 (to whom they have had to pay compensation)? Was it to mine bauxite in our Cockpit country and destroy that invaluable resource as was suggested? Or was it to bribe the government to renew their contract to lift the Nigerian oil? All the options are unspeakable and until the PNP comes clean, their exploiting of the Golding betrayal is nothing but cheap politics.
This country has a serious problem with crime and Mr. Golding cannot lead the charge to deal with gunmen as he has compromised himself terribly. Unfortunately, neither can the PNP with their well established and oiled garrisons. In fact they operate three times as many garrisons as the JLP does!
In my book, what needs to happen now is for civil society to step in and flex its muscles.
We need to;
1) Insist that Golding goes now (PSOJ etc must not restart their talk with government as long as Golding is the head of the government.)
2) The deputy prime minister Ken Baugh must be sworn in to continue the work of government. While Dr. Baugh may not be the most dynamic of leaders, at least in his many years of politics he has never been compromised.
3) We must not loose sight of the root cause of all this drama..... the extradition of the alleged don of Tivoli. Now that the hypocrisy has been exposed.....the claim that the government was protecting the human rights of a Jamaican citizen, civil society needs now to be vocal, unwavering and determined that the extradition request be sent to the courts immediately.
4) We need to be absolutely uncompromising in our call for the garrison constituencies to be purged of political collaboration (some 80% of the violent crimes are traced to the garrisons) by the members of the PNP and JLP distancing themselves from the dons. For whereas people like Peter Bunting and Dr.Peter Phillips would like to make pretty speeches to try to and impress the battered and bruised citizens of this country that they have had a Damascus experience, after having so severely bitten by Mr. Golding who came to us a reformed person, it is going to take a lot more than pretty speeches to convince anyone. This can only start when they distance themselves from the well known dons in their constituencies and cease to have them on their campaign teams for the only way that this country can deal with the critical issue of crime is when the top of the stream is cleansed.
Yes, the present soap opera may stimulate our appetites but the business of the country must go on and it is now the perfect time for the ordinary citizens of this country to take a stand and be determined that decency be the order of the day in the political arena from now on .
So where do we go from here? Are we going to just continue exciting up ourselves about Mr. Golding's betrayal or are we going to be decisive and move on?
I do not think there are too many people except the cultists, who think the PNP is an alternative, so forget an election now. You see, the PNP is still being haunted by the ghost of Trafigura and until they tell the truth about that matter, they too have no moral authority.
For the question still remains, what did Trafigura pay the PNP $30 million for? Was it to contaminate our country with toxic waste as they did in the Ivory Coast, killing many Africans and injuring another 31,000 (to whom they have had to pay compensation)? Was it to mine bauxite in our Cockpit country and destroy that invaluable resource as was suggested? Or was it to bribe the government to renew their contract to lift the Nigerian oil? All the options are unspeakable and until the PNP comes clean, their exploiting of the Golding betrayal is nothing but cheap politics.
This country has a serious problem with crime and Mr. Golding cannot lead the charge to deal with gunmen as he has compromised himself terribly. Unfortunately, neither can the PNP with their well established and oiled garrisons. In fact they operate three times as many garrisons as the JLP does!
In my book, what needs to happen now is for civil society to step in and flex its muscles.
We need to;
1) Insist that Golding goes now (PSOJ etc must not restart their talk with government as long as Golding is the head of the government.)
2) The deputy prime minister Ken Baugh must be sworn in to continue the work of government. While Dr. Baugh may not be the most dynamic of leaders, at least in his many years of politics he has never been compromised.
3) We must not loose sight of the root cause of all this drama..... the extradition of the alleged don of Tivoli. Now that the hypocrisy has been exposed.....the claim that the government was protecting the human rights of a Jamaican citizen, civil society needs now to be vocal, unwavering and determined that the extradition request be sent to the courts immediately.
4) We need to be absolutely uncompromising in our call for the garrison constituencies to be purged of political collaboration (some 80% of the violent crimes are traced to the garrisons) by the members of the PNP and JLP distancing themselves from the dons. For whereas people like Peter Bunting and Dr.Peter Phillips would like to make pretty speeches to try to and impress the battered and bruised citizens of this country that they have had a Damascus experience, after having so severely bitten by Mr. Golding who came to us a reformed person, it is going to take a lot more than pretty speeches to convince anyone. This can only start when they distance themselves from the well known dons in their constituencies and cease to have them on their campaign teams for the only way that this country can deal with the critical issue of crime is when the top of the stream is cleansed.
Yes, the present soap opera may stimulate our appetites but the business of the country must go on and it is now the perfect time for the ordinary citizens of this country to take a stand and be determined that decency be the order of the day in the political arena from now on .
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Prime minister Should Go
As I heard Bruce Golding having to admit that he was behind the hiring of a US law firm to try and prevent the extraditing of Tivoli Gardens don and reputed drug lord, I couldn't but reflect on the famous words by Walter Scott" O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!"
For nothing but deception has come out of the prime ministers mouth since the matter first emerged. Of course his cultists will tell you that when he said the government of Jamaica did not hire Manatt Phelps and Phillips, that was the absolute truth. Of course it was, but the lie was just as blatant for while he was saying that, the prime minister was pretending that he knew nothing about the hiring of the firm. Now the tells us he sanctioned it on behalf of the party not the government. Is he expecting us to swallow that and say ok, fine, forget it?
Absolutely not.Golding has lost all moral authority to be the leader of this country as has his minister of justice Dorothy Lightbourne. They both need to do the right thing and go.
One of the constant complaints that I had about the P.J.Patterson administration was that Jamaica was placed 3rd on his list of priorities. For his first interest was his party, the PNP, then he put everything Caribbean above Jamaica's interest. Golding in opposition sold himself as a reformed person, but obviously it is true that a leopard cannot change it s spots. Golding was brought up in gangland style politics and he has learned well.
I cry for my country caught as it is between two armed gangs profiling as political parties. We have a country where there is no longer any such thing as morality, where illiteracy is rampant, dishonesty considered the norm and hopelessness pervades.
What, I wonder will Jamaica look like in 20 years? I can't even try to imagine.
For nothing but deception has come out of the prime ministers mouth since the matter first emerged. Of course his cultists will tell you that when he said the government of Jamaica did not hire Manatt Phelps and Phillips, that was the absolute truth. Of course it was, but the lie was just as blatant for while he was saying that, the prime minister was pretending that he knew nothing about the hiring of the firm. Now the tells us he sanctioned it on behalf of the party not the government. Is he expecting us to swallow that and say ok, fine, forget it?
Absolutely not.Golding has lost all moral authority to be the leader of this country as has his minister of justice Dorothy Lightbourne. They both need to do the right thing and go.
One of the constant complaints that I had about the P.J.Patterson administration was that Jamaica was placed 3rd on his list of priorities. For his first interest was his party, the PNP, then he put everything Caribbean above Jamaica's interest. Golding in opposition sold himself as a reformed person, but obviously it is true that a leopard cannot change it s spots. Golding was brought up in gangland style politics and he has learned well.
I cry for my country caught as it is between two armed gangs profiling as political parties. We have a country where there is no longer any such thing as morality, where illiteracy is rampant, dishonesty considered the norm and hopelessness pervades.
What, I wonder will Jamaica look like in 20 years? I can't even try to imagine.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Pontious Pilate?
Oh oh, am I in serious problems! You see, despite the fact that I know from experience how slick so-called goody goody people are (ie. self proclaimed Christians) , I had forgotten about Pontious Pilate and the fact that he must be the role model for the slickest ones of all.
You will recall how poor Pontious felt badly about having to sign the death warrant for Jesus, so he left the room.
Who one earth knew that Sir Patrick had left the room, I mean, left the island?
Well apparently he had done just that and had an acting Governor General in place. Well now wasn't that one hell of a state secret! And imagine, it happened conveniently just as the casino bill arrived on his desk for signature!
Yeah , I lost the bet as I really never took the Pontious Pilate option into consideration. Anacy would be proud!
Woe is me for it seems my many years of being samfied by Christians w has taught me nothing..
Good thing one accepted my odds.
So Ladies and gentlemen, the casino law has now been passed and the godly gentleman remains intact and pure, without so far having to soil his honourable signature.
Selah.
You will recall how poor Pontious felt badly about having to sign the death warrant for Jesus, so he left the room.
Who one earth knew that Sir Patrick had left the room, I mean, left the island?
Well apparently he had done just that and had an acting Governor General in place. Well now wasn't that one hell of a state secret! And imagine, it happened conveniently just as the casino bill arrived on his desk for signature!
Yeah , I lost the bet as I really never took the Pontious Pilate option into consideration. Anacy would be proud!
Woe is me for it seems my many years of being samfied by Christians w has taught me nothing..
Good thing one accepted my odds.
So Ladies and gentlemen, the casino law has now been passed and the godly gentleman remains intact and pure, without so far having to soil his honourable signature.
Selah.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
So-Called Christians! LOL
So-called Christians never cease to amuse me. It is a somewhat sick joke with me I guess, but you see I live in a country where in excess of 90% of the population claims to be Christians and my years of interaction with most of them has made me extremely cynical. For as far as I can see, if poor Jesus Christ ever visited Jamaica and saw what most of those who claim to be following his teachings and preaching in his name are doing, he would surely have a heart attack!
I am now waiting to for the biggest joke of all.
You see, we now have a very christian Governor General. His name is Sir Patrick Allen, as one of the lovely perks that comes with the job of Governor General is knighthood by the great Queen in England.
Before Sir Patrick accepted this exalted position, he was head of the powerful, influential and very christian West Indies Adventist Association or whatever they are called. In other words, he must have been considered the top christian among Adventists.
Now in Jamaica, the Governor General is required to sign all laws passed by the elected and appointed ones in parliament, whether he agrees with the law or not.
Also in Jamaica, nothing whips so-called Christians into action quicker than a suggestion that Casino gambling should be introduced into this fair land. So paranoid have the so-called christian leaders become that every time there is mention of the six letter word they rouse themselves from the deep slumber that keeps them silent while little children get raped or have their throats cut or as murder spirals out of control, to utter threats of hell fire and brimstone, call for national prayers and fasting when anyone dares breathe the word Casino.
Well the real bangarang is about to explode and we will finally see true christian example at the highest level, for there is now actually a bill at Kings House awaiting the signature of our esteemed Governor General Sir Patrick to make Casinos legal in Jamaica.
This bill was passed by the representatives of the people who sit in the Lower House as well as the appointed ones sitting in the Upper House and only needs the signature of the Governor General to become the law of the land.
What a bam bam for the question being asked far and wide is, will he or wont he? Sign the bill into law I that is!
In other words, will he throw out all his so called christian principles and sign into law something he has always opposed or will he resign rather than put his much sought after signature on such a despicable piece of legislation?
Any bets?
I am betting that as a good christian he will never give up the exotic life that one enjoys as Governor General for it comes with great Royal perks (although in my view, it the most useless job in Jamaica) for so-called christian principles.
Come on, I am offering odds of 500 to 1 that he will sign.
Give up the good life? Ha. Stay tuned.
Fine Print
Please note that I have never paid a bet that I lost!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Unreasonable Teachers
I am absolutely amazed how Jamaican teachers could decide to call a strike for two days starting on the first day of "Education Week" and a day after "Child month" started. Were these teachers being cynical?
What is truly amazing too is how these teachers could be demanding more pay just days after a report was published showing the numeracy level among school children is a mere 45%.
As far as I am concerned, very few of those teachers are deserving of their current salaries!
What is truly amazing too is how these teachers could be demanding more pay just days after a report was published showing the numeracy level among school children is a mere 45%.
As far as I am concerned, very few of those teachers are deserving of their current salaries!
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