We are unwanted 😡

 We Jamaicans tend to hold ourselves in high esteem and based the performance of many of our nationals at home and abroad, we have some reason to feel so.

For on an individual basis, so many Jamaicans tend to be world beaters!

This is s especially so in sports, music, the arts, etc although when it comes to, operating collectively, especially in sports, we tend to bomb out.

I am not at this time thinking about sports though but our reputation as a country.

A paradox is that despite our terrible reputation at home and abroad because of crime, we remain among the most desirable vacation destinations in the Caribbean

 But that’s for another debate.

The latest statistic which gave me a jolt recently, was when at I heard on Radio  Jamaica (RJR) that in the Caribbean, our passport is one of the least desirable. It’s something, I have never really mulled on, although I travel a lot.

This is demonstrated by the extent to which countries are prepared to refuse to take a chance on us, by allowing us into their countries without visas!

According the report, Barbadians, can travel to over 160 countries without needing a visa and Bahamians are next on the high list with over 150 countries not asking them to get visas.  However, Jamaicans can only travel to 90 countries without a visa. (The entire list and ranking are online).

Even other Caribbean countries don’t particularly like those of us trying to travel to their countries with a Jamaican passport, despite us holding something marked a Caricom passport.

I remember the last time I went to Trinidad, how they scrutinized my documents from top to bottom.  I was just attempting to get home next day after leaving Guyana!  This while other Caricom nationals just ‘zoopsed’ through. 

At that time, I had to catch a connection through Trinidad .

 I was just overnighting there to catch my connection!

As I have been mainly been travelling to Africa recently, my esteem was lifted a bit by the fact that quite a few countries on the Continent, welcome us without visas.

These include Botswana, Zambia, Ghana , Kenya, South Africa.

 I must admit though, I was shocked when no such privilege was extended to us by Ethiopia!

 Shocked, because so many Jamaicans hold Ethiopia in such high regard, with some of our nationals even considering their former King a high prophet.

Besides, quite a few Jamaicans have made that country their home.

Could it be because of the actions of the Jamaicans there why they put in the visa restriction?

On the other hand, more Jamaicans have made Ghana their home and they haven’t slapped any visa restrictions on us!

(According to my research, 1000 Jamaicans live in Ethiopia and around 4000 in Ghana).

Our government needs to tell us why we are the personae non gratae in the Caribbean and why they are not negotiating bilateral agreements for us to travel more easily?

Visas are quite expensive documents and considering how we open up our country to the rest of the world, isn’t it time we get a break?

I forgot, politicians travel on diplomatic passports so don’t have the hassle of getting visas.

Anyway, our passports are probably blacklisted because the world knows our governments are so notoriously corrupt with no one ever being held accountable for anything, so they don’t want people who consider corruption the norm, to visit them!

So, I guess we will continue to be the pariah of the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

---

 [jw1]

Karma is real

 Well, there you have it!

An adulterous couple is now not only head of fading England, ( once leader of the greatest empire in the world,) but also the Commonwealth and the head of the Church of England.

Poor God.

Of course, it is not the first time that adulterers have been heads of a major religion. In fact, when compared to former kings and queens of England, Charles and Camelia are probably saints. For they have no slaves (that we know of), have never murdered millions to increase their resources and enrich their empire etc.!

What has always amazed me in religious arguments is the Christian attitude to adultery.

Most Jamaican children (including yours truly) are taught from they can listen, to obey the ten commandments. What I have always found hilarious in discussions with parsons, deacons, or any high male official of the Christian church, is that whenever I broach the subject of adultery with them, they either totally ignore the question and start ranting about homosexuality, etc  (which is not even banned in the commandments ) or hurry off as they are always late for some appointment.😅 

 So, Charles and Camelia are well suited for being the head of the huge, influential, international Anglican Church aka Church of England.

Anyway, the British can do what they want and choose who they want to be the role models for their children but must Jamaicans and other black people always walk behind them peep peek cluck cluck?

Jamaica only finally tek shame outta wi eye after being embarrassed by Barbados (little England), in finally moving to get rid of the British monarchy as our head of state. But are we really going to be remaining in a Commonwealth headed by them?

Really, what benefit is the Commonwealth to us anyway and in terms of who heads it, surely this black-dominated body can do better than that!

I never watched the coronation as my stomach could not take it, but every newscast I have tried to watch over the last 24 hours has had an overabundance of snippets from the event. Seeing the Ja$ 24,123,750,000 (that’s what 125 million British pounds works out to be) parade put on yesterday, I hope the black people who attended were only there to enjoy the costumes, pageantry and splendor and not to pay homage to the new royals!

For, while we black people are among the most forgiving people in the world and many still tend to worship the British and all the other despots whose ancestors have murdered, enriched, enslaved and exploited our ancestors, karma is real. 

For, not too long ago, we heard that the ‘sun could never set on the British empire, but  England is today a mere shadow of itself. (five prime ministers in six years, the struggling economy, rising unemployment, crippling inflation, decline in trade, frequent strikes etc.)

I suspect too that under King Charles 111 and Queen Camelia, its descent into oblivion and international insignificance will be even more rapid.

 For Karma is real!

HERE WE GO AGAIN?

For in excess of forty years, Jamaica has been knocking around with the troubling issue of whether we should sever relations with the British Monarch as our head of state.

For years too, I have been a voice in the wilderness calling for us to do it before Queen Elizabeth died, for whereas I considered her quite harmless, the thought of having her son Charles as our head of state has always been for me, very repulsive. Not least because I consider that, the non-executive head of state should at the very least, be a good role model and neither Charles nor his “Queen Consort” can fill that bill.

Well, the inevitable is on us and instead of running full speed ahead to get rid of them and appoint a local person as our head, the political nonsense which has always stymied our progress, is evident again.

The more things change the more they remain the same.

In the initial stages, the sticking point between our alternating governments led by the Peoples National Party (PNP) and the Jamaican Labor Party (JLP), has always been the kind of republic we should replace our monarchial system with. For the PNP has always wanted an executive presidency and the JLP a ceremonial one.

I have no idea if that issue has been ironed out yet, but because little England (Barbados) took the step to get rid of the British monarchy in 2022, the ruling JLP, to tek shame outta dem eye, said they would follow suit and even appointed a minister of Constitution Affairs, to lead the process.

There is good reason why we should never cheer too early, for it appears now that those two idiotic institutions (JLP and PNP) are again going to stymie the country’s progress.

For the PNP has now refused to appoint members to the Constitutional Committee to discuss the extent of the constitutional reforms to take place, as getting rid of the monarchy requires serious reform and a referendum.

This time, the distraction is that the PNP wants the country to adopt the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to replace the British Privy Council as our final court of appeal, and will have no discussions unless this is agreed up front.

Omg. But shouldn’t the idea of a Constitutional Committee be that they negotiate these issues, not lay down hard lines?

I will be honest, when the CCJ was first established in 2005, I opposed it totally. For in my book, the interest of the Jamaican people was not properly represented by the Patterson regime (which led the PNP Government at the time) and it had all the appearances of being just another attempt to foist elements of a ‘federation’ though the back door.

For readers will recall that the PNP had supported the West Indies Federation but in 1961, when a referendum was called to sanction our membership, the Jamaican people said no way.

In the initial stages, the CCJ was a lopsided agreement between Jamaica and the other former British colonies. My main grouse was that although Jamaica contributed almost US$29 million of the $100 million fund established to fund the court, NOT ONE MEMBER OF THE JAMAICAN JUDICIARY WAS APOINTEFD TO SERVE ON THE COURT!

On the other hand, Guyana which contributed less than $9 million, had two judges, including the Chairman of that prestigious body.

That to me was a disgraceful insult to our judges, for by no measure could Guyanese judges be said to be twice as competent as Jamaicans.

That was my major turnoff, but over the years that situation has been rectified and the court has handed down some solid judgements and have proven themselves just as good or better than the UK privy council in terms of its competence.

So now I have no argument against us getting rid of the privy council as our final court of appeal.

But if the CCJ has to wait a while, so be it.

The refusal of the PNP to participate in the talks could mean we will be stuck in the monarchial rut again because our politicians seem incapable of sitting down together and ironing out simple issues.

In my book however, if it comes to that, the JLP needs to realize that it is the government and therefore has the responsibility to move full speed ahead with a referendum to get rid of the monarchy, with or without the PNP.

We really can’t allow political squabbles to cause this matter to drag on for another 40 or so years!

 

 

Climate change is real

The 2021 Global Conference on Health & Climate Change held in late October to early November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland may seem to be just another talk shop to some people, but to us in Jamaica, it is a deathly serious matter.

Pity two major polluters, China and Russia refused to attend.

Hellshire beach, before

The fact is though, that while it is the rich countries that are the major polluters and destroyers of our planet, it is small poor states and especially islands, that are already bearing the brunt.

Look at the poor island of Madagascar. Already a huge section of that island has been suffering from a chronic drought for the past four years, resulting in over a million people facing a devastating famine.

We will certainly be hearing similar heart-breaking stories from other places in the near future as storms, floods, droughts  and other natural disasters increase in intensity.

Right now in our own vulnerable island of Jamaica, beach erosion caused by global warming which causes sea levels to rise, has already started to destroy the source of income for hundreds of fishermen and other small entrepreneurs.

This came home to me starkly last year when a group of us went over to Hellshire Beach, a popular  seafood mecca near Kingston.

There hundreds of small entrepeneurs have made a good living for years, feeding those who have journeyed from Kingston and other areas to swim and enjoy their delicious fare.

No beach left at Hellshire

It had also been a regular hangout for my cycling club. We would ride over to the beach, swim, eat breakfast and have a wonderful time, then return to Kington. However, through the rising waters, the beautiful beach has virtually gone, putting hundreds of people out of business, as who wants to go there to eat the delicious seafood that they prepare, if you can’t swim anymore?

Where will we swim?

Other areas of Jamaica are already seeing the creeping disaster too. Among them is another very popular seafood food and fishing area at Alligator Pond in Manchester. 

St. Elizabeth is not being spared either, for residents of Calabash Bay are growing increasingly anxious as their beach slowly disappears.

Yes, many look at the issue of Climate Change and conferences in Europe as being remote and not of interest to us. But they are, for, on the ground the effects of global warming are being felt at the local level.

It is therefore heartening that our Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the extremely articulate Prime Minister Mia Motley of Barbados and other leading Caribbean leaders, made their way to that conference to put our story on to the front burner before it is too late.

The rich countries have promised to curb their destructive habits and make funding available to mitigate the problem. We can be cynical and say we have heard that before or we can become persistent  lobbyists to ensure that they do.

Because for us the dangers are imminent and real.

https://youtu.be/Lqu9pMsvagg

Jamaica independent? Really?

Thanks to the performance of the Jamaican women's 4x100 metre  team on  Independence Day Friday 6th August 2021, we really had something exceptional to celebrate.

These ladies, Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson also clocked a national record 41.02 seconds for Jamaica's first gold in that event since 2004. So, building on the other gold medals won  by Parchment and the ladies in the 100 metre, plus the silver and bronze medals brought home by the other star performers in the previous days, our athletes once again wowed the world and made us so proud.

What a wonderful gift for our struggling nation on the 59^th anniversary of our ‘independence’ from Britain!

While I, like everyone else, was overjoyed by the performance of those who medaled, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate all the elite athletes who represented Jamaica at the 2020 Olympics, whether they medaled or not.

For just qualifying to reach the top of their careers by qualifying to compete in the Olympics is an outstanding feat. While we tend to only see the final results, their success did not come by accident but it took years of dedicated training and discipline to qualify.

 I am therefore personally proud and thankful for all our young athletes who mek Jamaica tek shame outta wi yeye as we celebrate another year of ‘independence’.

For apart from the prowess of these disciplined individuals year in year out, when one reflects on the counter-productive political shenanigans which landed us with economic disasters like FINSAC and the violence ridden society that we have built since independence, there is not much else to celebrate.

Look at the per capita income in US$’s of some other Caribbean islands which got independence after us; Bahamas- 23,671, Barbados-16,237, Antigua $16,176, Trinidad 15,459, Dominica 7,091, Jamaica $4,934.

Fact is, we have the lowest per capita income of all the former British colonies in the Caribbean!

So here we are, though blessed with a myriad of natural resources, yet we have really failed to gain a modicum of economic independence and social stability during those 59 years.

Apart from the economic and social failures, the question I keep asking is how can we be called independent when we, the first English speaking Caribbean country to declare ‘independence’, remain so steeped in mental slavery that we insist on retaining a foreign head of state?

And not even a good foreign one either, when we consider the brutality with which Britain treated our ancestors during slavery and colonialism!

This unacceptable situation remains although both parties, JLP and PNP, which have alternated in government since independence, have at one time or the other promised to enact the necessary constitutional change to correct that unsavory situation. But guess what they say is holding up the process?

The PNP wants an executive president while the JLP wants a ceremonial president. In the meantime, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and soon Barbados, (once known as Little England) have not dithered on the issue.

One the other hand, as if to entrench this love for the racist British monarchy, our own prime minister Andrew Holness in July 2021, accepted appointment to the British Privy Council!

All this is the midst of Caricom now taking a decisive and cooperative approach in demanding reparations from Britain for their brutality, rape, murder and exploitation of or ancestors during slavery and colonialism and their continued oppression of our people during what is now proven to be the Windrush scandal!

My dislike of the current relations​​hip with Britain has nothing to do with the present queen who has been quite unobtrusive and benign. However, she will not live forever and the thought of a foreigner with Charles' reputation and character being the head of state of my country, is even more intolerable.

Anyway, regardless of who it is that sits on the racist British throne, 59 years is just too long for us to claim to be independent while that situation prevails. 

https://youtu.be/oCqHflj4SNE

The case for republicanism

Jamaica used to be the most independent and progressive of what was known as the West Indies, but on the issue of becoming masters or mistresses of our own destiny, we are 
certainly falling behind. 

While we were the first of the former colonies in the Caribbean to declare independence from Britain, on the matter of totally breaking away from those who oppressed out ancestors for centuries, we are acting like morons. For the Queen of England remains our head of state although we have been independent for almost 60 years.

In the meantime Dominica, Trinidad, and Guyana have become republics and the prime minister of Barbados, announced that in November 2021 Barbados will also ditch the British monarchy as its head of state. 

Yes Barbados, which has always been considered more British than the British. 

The insignia given to black Governor's General by the Queen shows the Archangel trampling Satan who is black!

Even in white Australia, the topic has resurfaced, with ex-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, tweeting that in light of the very 'sad revelations' by  Megan and Harry in that famous interview with Oprah Winfrey, it should bolster the call to cut ties with the British monarchy.

In the meantime, Jamaica seems doomed to remain forever hanging on to the skirt tail of the British monarchy, even with a governor general representing the British Queen and wearing an insignia that depicts the archangel St. Michael trampling Satan, who is drawn with dark skin.

In light of the recent revelations where Megan and Harry confirmed what we should already have known, (that the British monarchy is a racist institution,) I again wondered out loud on facebook about when or if Jamaica will seek republican status.  The responses were many, swift and diverse. While most respondents rued the fact that we still maintain the royal family as the head of our country, one respondent declared that Jamaica will never change this situation as it is a racist country!

I had to disagree with that respondent, as I really don't believe that Jamaica is still a racist society although there is no doubt that we still have a number of racists among us. And we have a handful of monarchists too, (some of whom contend that such a move will spell economic disaster, although there is no evidence of this in the former west indies territories which ditched the monarchy.) who believe it would be a sin to remove the royal family😁 and replace the head of state with a local person.

Yes, mental slavery is still alive and well among a few.

 Let me make it clear that despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth is a descendent of those who committed the most serious atrocities against our ancestors, I have nothing against her personally. In fact, I dare say she has done her job with good grace, dignity and diplomacy. Even she however realizes that her type of character will no longer be displayed, once she steps down and her son, Charles takes up any role, including in the predominantly black commonwealth, so she is holding in for as long as possible. 

I am personally repulsed by even the thought that Charles, that despicable person, could become Jamaica's head of state and his wife Camelia, the first lady! For it is no secret that the cold fish Charles, drove Diana to her death.

In the famous interview, Prince Harry said that it was neither the queen nor her husband, who were upset that he and mixed race Megan may have a black child, but he refused to say who it was. In my book, such a petty concern, would fall right into Charles' character. Besides why else would he stop taking Harry's phone calls after he opted to stand up for his wife and child?

While I agree that the queen has been unobtrusive and diplomatic in her role, that second generation of hers, including Andrew, the alleged pedophile, have nothing to contribute to Jamaica!

You know, for around three or four decades, we have been debating this issue of republicanism, but both the JLP and PNP have been standing in the way of progress. For while both parties claim that they support replacing the monarchy, they cannot sit down and agree on the type of president we should have, executive or ceremonial. 

Good god, this is not rocket science. If the two parties were really in for of republicanism, they could take the gradual route Guyana did, or some variation. For Guyana first started with a ceremonial president to remove British, then moved on to the executive presidency.

It is totally disgraceful and demoralizing to majority of Jamaicans who do no to wish to have any further association with the despicable British royal family, the racist oppressors of our ancestors, that our politicians continue keep skirting around the issue.

https://youtu.be/oCqHflj4SNE

Forestry Trek 2014

The annual hike by the Forestry Department was well organised as usual, except that they ran out of water for the return hike.

About twelve large JUTC buses pulled out of the Constant Spring Road spot on schedule at 7am for the hour ride to Schwallenberg in St. Ann ( near Faith's Pen) from where we would hike to Holly Mount Great House in St. Catherine via Mount Diablo. 

When we got to Schwallenberg there was a briefing before we set off in groups of 25 with a forestry representative. 

Fun and Thrills was well represented although we had to register with Chuck's Rotary of St. Andrew to get the group rate. Sheriff, Sparkles, Charles, Johann, Tricia, Charlene, Karen (Chuck) and  Thomas were there, but they stayed with the groups they were registered with.

Braheem centre

Our leader (from the forestry Department) was Braheem who was born in Senegal, grew up in Barbados and now lives and works in Jamaica about which he is very knowledgeable.

The terrain was a bit rough but the lush, varied vegetation including some of the most beautiful ferns and fern trees you will see anywhere, fresh air and camaraderie made up for every discomfort.

There were three or four rest stations along the way with water, even coconut water at one and a good variety of fruits and peeled sugar cane.

We saw raspberries blossoming along the side of the road and I did find a ripe bunch to eat but it was rather sour, but who cares when eating off the land is always half the fun.

We were in no hurry so we drank in the scenery, took pictures and learnt about some of our endemic plants which had been labeled by the organisers and at the end of the journey, I planted a mahogany tree. 

I knew the great house was owned by an acquaintance of mine, Pat Marston,  but I did not know she would have been there, so although she was not allowing the 600 or so hikers to tramp all over her house, she gave us a tour.

Pat (right) with famous artist Carol Crighton inside the great house/

The house was built in the 1800's and her family are the first non-white owners of  the seven families that have owned what had originally been a sugar plantation.

She and her late husband (Toby, who was murdered some years ago) bought the 152 acre property from the family of the late Perry Henzel  of the "The Harder They Come" fame.

He grew up there, she tells me. She had been growing coffee on the property but after destruction of the crop by one of our numerous hurricanes and being unable to collect from the insurers, she abandoned that exercise and now rents the great house to guests.

There is a wonderful view from  every angle of the four bedroom house and from the veranda, you can seen Bridgeport in St. Catherine, most of eastern St. Ann and Oracabessa in St. Mary and some of the most beautiful mountains and vegetation you will see anywhere.

After the tour, we had lunch and headed down but unfortunately Carol slipped, fell and twisted her ankle but luckily we saw a forestry vehicle going down shortly after and she was able to get a lift.

On the return journey we were unfortunate enough to go in a bus which had a power problem as it limped over all the hills but picked up speed on the flat causing another driver to stop to ask our driver what was happening to us,  as everyone passed us by.

Anyway, we got back safely after a great day of exercise, learning and camaraderie.

JOAN WILLIAMS, co-host of JUSTICE on POWER 106, describes herself as an unapologetic addict to the Jamaican outdoors. A foundation member of FUN AND THRILLS ADVENTURE CLUB, she explores the island at any given opportunity cycling, hiking or swimming with that group, family, Jah 3 and anyone else who will have her. In 1995, she published the popular TOUR JAMAICA and the 4^th edition is now an ebook available at;

http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Jamaica-Joan-Williams-ebook/dp/B00EJWCSHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389464644&sr=8-1&keywords=tour+jamaica+by+joan+williams

Contact; gratestj@gmail.com

Leadership Crisis

Jamaica has a serious leadership crisis which does not bode well for the future of this beleaguered country at all.

Things  have been made worse by the recent election of Andrew Holness, a Seaga protegee and apparently a follower of Machiavelli, to the leadership of the alternative government, the JLP.  For many people had hoped he being a young man who claimed to be transnational, would have brought some semblance of decently and integrity to the political process as the present government has long proven to be not only incompetent and corrupt but lacking in leadership. For while our first female Prime Minister Portia Simpson is a novelty, that is mainly what she is and in fact is an embarrassment to female leaders throughout the world, who until now, have been far better at governing and leading than their male counterparts.

So that was why all eyes and hope were on the young man, the representative of the new generation. Holness has however has proven to be far too vindictive, petty and totally dishonest to allow us to hold out any hope for this country, for since he won the election, his only mission seems to have been to go after not only those who openly came out in support of his opponent Audley Shaw but also to even punish those who remained silent, leaning neither towards him or Shaw!

Where he struck the nail in his coffin however was by his outright act of dishonesty towards his own colleagues and  party supporters,  showing what he has in store for all  detractors, independent thinkers and persons aligned to the PNP. 

When Holness was first selected JLP leader by the disgraced Bruce Golding in 2011, as per normal, he selected a group of senators to sit in the Upper House. What Jamaica did not know however is that these appointees had been required to demean themselves in exchange for the vaunted job, by giving Holness undated and open letters of resignations.

While it has been revealed that  the unsigned  letters did not state how or when they could be used. Holness had apparently given the senators verbal assurances that they would only be used if any of them opposed the party's stance on having the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) replacing the British Privy Council as Jamaica's Finial Court of Appeal. 

However when two senators Auther Williams and Dr. Chris Tufton refused to obey his unreasonable request for all senators to resign after he was elected Leader, he simply ignored his promise to the two to only use the letters for a specific purpose, dated them and sent them to the governor general!

If that is not a total breach of trust, I certainty do not know what is, but if Jamaicans do not understand by that act, he is totally without scruples, then we are as blind as lambs to the slaughter.

Of course the crisis of leadership in this country has not passed unnoticed by all around us, for, within days, Barbadian Minister of Industry and International Business Domville Innis,  in castigating the Gleaner for an editorial criticising his government, told them to mind their own business and instead pay attention to the  "...rot going on in Jamaica."

Jamaica is indeed the sick man of the Caribbean. 

The Mighty Essequibo River

I had no idea Guyana had so many islands and so many with white sands beaches to boot,


until I took a day safari down the mighty Essequibo, the 3rd largest river in south America and the river where miners from all over the world are converging on to  make a fortune from gold, using huge dredges that we saw all over, to bring up the mineral.

Many of the islands you see are huge by Caribbean standards with Hog island being even larger than Barbados. Many are also owned by rich Guyanese who have built "country retreats," none being more beautiful and ostentatious than the house and studio on the island owned by internationally acclaimed Guyanese singer Eddie Grant of Electric avenue fame.

I really have never seen such a large expanse of water in my life either, although I have travelled on the Mississippi river and along side the Colorado river. Just being on the mighty Essequibo is like being on an ocean and it does get as rough in parts with huge swells rising up as the wind comes up. And of course we did not even begin to see the river in full for although it is approximately an hour and a half by speed boat to Bartica, allegedly the oldest village established by the Dutch when they colonized the area, that journey does not even cover a distance of one eight of the mighty river.

Eddie Grant's lavish home on his private island

 We had been on our way for a day trip to the 187 acre resort island in the river called Baganara. To get to  Parika where we were taking the speed boat, we had to drive on the longest floating bridge in the world which spans the Demerara river. This bridge is one and a quarter 1/4 miles long and opens up in the middle to allow through huge container ships which bring goods from all over the world, to the dock behind Stabroek market where  there are several wharves.

The road down to Parika symbolizes perfectly the Guyanese cultural heritage as we saw houses and temples boasting the type of architecture depicting Hinduism, Islam and westernization. You could not miss houses where the residents were Hindu as they tend to fly flags in their front yards each colour selected to inform you whether they were mourning or celebrating some important event. Most of the way down too,  sections of the 280 mile the sea wall built by the Dutch in the 18th century to protect the country which lies below sea level, from the mighty Atlantic Ocean was visible.

Our first stop down the very busy and well traversed river was Fort island which the Dutch colonial masters had used as a look out against their British adversaries and where they also auctioned African slaves. Today the population of that 100 acre island is just 10 families and there is a primary school there with 21 students who will have to travel to  the mainland when they get to high school age.

The banks of the Esiquibo are covered with villages where, agriculture, lumber yards and fishing are the mainstay. River transportation is widely used for all these products. Families of monkeys are also all over going about their business in tall trees along the banks.
We had a wonderful peaceful day at the nature reserve resort of Banganara which is a bird watcher's paradise with some 160 species and several shy small wild animals.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I signed up for that river safari, but I certainly would do it again as just being on that huge wide river and at one with nature was worth every minute.

I can't wait to see more of this vast expanse of rain forest known as Guyana before heading off to Suriname, french Guyana and Brazil.

CARICOM again

I am happy to see that the Jamaican government is sending a high level team down to Barbados to conduct a criminal investigation into the finger rape of Ms. Myrie.

I suppose it had to come to that for as foreign minister Dr. Baugh said in parliament, Jamaicans have been complaining for years about the treatment they receive in other Caricom territories.

I think the problem with Caricom is that it is a "school tie" affair being vociferously promoted by graduates of the UWI who dominate the politics in the region, but who because of the red carpet treatment and sweet talk they get from their colleagues in other territories, forget that the UWI graduate population in the region is no more than 1% if that much.

In reality, how can Caricom work in a region where we know so little about each other? Listen every cricket season how many people refer to Guyana as a small island and while Jamaicans can tell you who Obama and Hilary Clinton are, most have't got a clue who Ralph Gonzalves or Stephenson King is. In fact the only relationship we have with the others who the British lumped as the " West Indies" is an almost useless cricket team!

Talk about a relic of colonialism!

I am prepared to bet that a cost benefit analysis on CARICOM would show that Jamaica has been taken to the cleaners and the private sector stymied instead of helped by our involvement in this organisation.

What the "school tie" activists are trying to do is to overthrow the decision of the Jamaican people which was registered in the referendum in 1961. When are Jamaican taxpayers going to say enough is enough?