An excellent book review

http://www.caribbeantoday.com/other/facts/books/item/26739-book-launch-an-overwhelming-success.html

The overall coverage of the launch was good but this book review  y Dawn A. Davis was great.


‘Looking Back’, love for Jamaica shines through.

Author:  Dawn A. Davis

Joan Williams’s “Looking Back” is not a memoir. It’s a story of Jamaica coming of age - the way it was, is and has become.

It’s the story of pain, tragedy and rebirth.
Yes, it’s partly Williams’s personal story, but the events of an era that shaped Jamaican politics and its collective psyche gives this book its edge. The turbulent period of the 1970s is highlighted as Williams charts her path from activism to would-be politician to popular radio commentator.
She claims to write the truth for those who were not there; those still in the dark. Her telling of the sometimes “toxic” environment that bred troubled communities in Jamaica post-Independence is palpable.
“The ‘garrisonisation’ of the country had reached the point where even a separate ‘independent state’ was established within one constituency, with a President to boot,” Williams stated.
The quote describes the West Kingston community that was headed by the infamous Christopher Coke, also known as “Presi” and “Dudus” who, according to Williams, was protected by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) although he was a known criminal and wanted by the United States. The author chronicles the happenings in garrison communities like Tivoli Gardens, run by Dudus’s father Lester Lloyd “Jim Brown” Coke for decades. She also addresses the overflow of criminality that reached the U.S. via the notoriously violent “Shower Posse” gang, which adds to the macabre picture Williams paints.
WRONG ROAD
The author’s distrust of the Michael Manley-led People’s National Party (PNP) of the time is evident in her comments about the PNP’s “dance” with socialism that she and others thought would lead Jamaica down the wrong road. So, Williams changing party alliances was no surprise.
It is well known, based on World Bank statistics, that Jamaica is among the top five murder capitals of the world. Williams tells the readers why, based on her own experiences. She names politicians and other “upstanding” Jamaicans involved in what she calls “civil war”, especially during the run-up to Jamaica’s 1980 general elections.
“As the undeclared civil war raged at the local level, almost every constituency in Jamaica saw some form of violence coming from either the JLP, the PNP or the Trevor Munroe led WPJ, which supported the PNP. By the end of 1980, murders had doubled to almost 900 from 440 the previous year for there was no shortage of weapons or ammunition on either side,” Williams wrote.
WORTHY READ
The author records the plight of the poor, especially those who lived in garrisons - “in the line of fire”. She compares their daily lives to those of the political rulers who were amassing wealth and status at their constituents’ expense. It is these types of juxtapositions that makes this work a worthy read.
Williams’s personal journey as a businesswoman, farmer, activist, wife and mother brings Jamaica’s reality closer to the reader. The loss of her son in 1995 to a gunman is not just heart-wrenching, it is a sad metaphor for what Jamaica had become.
In spite of all the violence and personal loss, Williams’s story leaves one with a sense of hope. For no matter what her beloved Jamaica is going through or is labeled her ‘umbilical’ connection and unconditional love for her country shines through.

http://www.caribbeantoday.com/other/facts/books/item/26800-looking-back-love-for-jamaica-shines-through.html

https://youtu.be/LvUJXyiJKKM

My first Haloween

Being a Jamaican, I have never celebrated Halloween, for as far as I am concerned, that is something American children do to be able to get as much sweets as they can, once per year.

Yes over the past decade or so,  I have heard that some rich kids in Jamaica have adopted this festival and some stores have even tried to promote it to boost sales. After all, who can blame them when it is revealed that in the USA only Christmas sales exceed the take from this event? Anyway, it still hasn't taken off in my island.

Sure my granddaughter who is American and grew up in the tradition, is always excited by the event. Her mother always sends me photos of her all dressed up and the costumes are always cute. This year she dressed as a dragon with the face of a cat. And she looked absolutely beautiful.  Her mom also takes her to many Halloween parties but she only attends security, never dressing up.

Toastmaster Wagner proudly models his innovative costume.

I was recently disabused of the impression that Halloween was for kids,  on joining a Toastmaster club in Florida and heard some adults there talking excitedly about what they were going to be doing for Halloween. Even our meeting which falls a day after the event, would be converted from its regular format to one where costumes would be worn and an exciting agenda presented, we were informed.

So I got very interested in  learning something new about the country to which I had recently moved. I was actually very curious to see the types of costumes the adults would come up with, but unfortunately only one member, Toastmaster Wagner, actually dressed up for the event and his costume was very creative.

However the agenda was quite appropriate as members were invited to act out a murder mystery instead of following the regular format.

Yup,  Toastmaster Tamara, (4th from left) did kinda look like a postmistress!

And they all played their parts well with one participant, the librarian, even dressed for the part.

It was a well thought-out murder plot which found even those of us who weren't participating directly, paying rapt attention to the clues throughout and even examining some of the actors to try and ascertain who the murderer was.

So if this is an example of an adult Halloween party, I think its a great idea. If on the other hand adult Halloween parties are people dressing up like witches and ghosts and going around shouting boo, I can't say I will ever consider it a worthwhile experience!

Incidentally,  I live in a very large apartment complex and deliberately walked around on Halloween night to see the kids in action, I did not see one child on the compound in costume. I wonder why? 

Caribbean National News Weekly's take on "Looking Back...:" launch.

The Caribbean National News Weekly carried an excellent report on the Florida launch of my memoir, "Looking Back......."

See the report at;
https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/news/local-news/book-launch-jamaican-author/

Florida launch of "Looking back...."

Front; Mrs Shagoury (l) who delivered the book review sits beside Dr. Marshall who read from the publication

The Florida launch of my major publication  "Looking Back.....the struggle to preserve our freedoms" which was organized in conjunction with the South Regional Library at Broward Community College on the 21st October was an overwhelming success as the turnout and enthusiasm of the audience certainly exceeded my expectations, especially as I have only been in Florida for less than a year.
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This was no doubt due in part to the wide publicity it garnered when I spent time on "Hot Topic" moderated by  Duke of Earle" on am radio WAVS 1170. This program has has an extremely wide Jamaican listenership and I spent a full hour and half the week before on air with him, discussing the book and

Mr. Colin Smith and a few members of his Tallawah Mento Band entertain

answering questions posed by his radio audience.

Further publicity was also  received on "Taking care of business" on the same station moderated by Winston Barnes who is also Vice Mayor of Miramar city. Barnes who started his journalism career in Jamaica, spoke at the launching and was effusive in his praise of Williams for writing a book which will add to the documentation of the political history of our country, giving people a greater understanding of  who we are as Jamaicans.

Mrs. Marcia Ward

Consulting with Vice Mayor Barnes

The function had  kicked off on a happy note with the early attendees being entertained by Tallawah Mento Band under the leadership of well known Jamaican artist/musician/ cultural activist /businessman Colin Smith who also emceed the function.

The  feature address was delivered by Mr. Wayne  Golding Sr. well known immigration lawyer and the Jamaica Diaspora Board  Representative in charge of the Southern USA.

Mr. Golding, was introduced by Ms. Marcia Ward, Asst. Regional Manager of the Broward Library, who also welcomed the guests on behalf of her institution.

In his wide ranging address, Mr Golding
outlined the remarkable achievements of the 13 year old Diaspora Association and the important role it continues to play in the development of Jamaica, not only in financial terms but also by helping the Jamaican government with expertise and assisting Jamaicans overseas understand and  negotiate through the bureaucracy in Jamaica. He urged the Jamaicans in the audience to become involved with the Association so we can all contribute to making the country the dynamo of the region.

Wayne Golding Esq. Addresses the receptive audience

A comprehensive  and interesting review of "Looking Back....." was delivered by Mrs. Yvonne Shagoury, a retired Jamaican businesswoman now resident in Florida and a reading from the chapter entitled "Perception versus Reality,  was read by Dr. Bernard Marshall, foundation member of the Greensboro/ Jamaica friendship Association in North Carolina.

This was followed by me taking only a few questions from the audience before, due to the limited time, moving the vote of thanks and signing books for the appreciative audience.

Autographing a copy of the book for a happy attendee

Mrs. Sheryl Wynter, Information Officer, represented the Jamaica High Commission. 

The Florida launch was a valuable plug for the publication which already receives excellent reviews on Amazon.com. at; https://www.amazon.com/LOOKING-BACK-Struggle-Preserve-Freedoms-ebook/dp/B015BONME0

https://youtu.be/LvUJXyiJKKM

Green Cay, Boyton Beach

The main building in the background, has an interesting display of the animals in the area. 

I love to go hiking with my Meetup group under the experienced leadership of Jennifer Weis, for as a Florida native, she knows her state extremely well.

This week we retuned to the attractive sand serene Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands in Boynton Beach, and I didn't mind at all, as at that venue you are guaranteed never to see the same thing each time.

When we returned this week, I noticed that there were none of the animals that I had seen the last time like rabbits and iguanas or even the huge alligator we saw then, beating the water and screaming on top of  his lungs to attract a mate.

A hawk taking  bird's eye view of his surroundings

Instead, we were greeted by a far greater variety of birds preening themselves apparently to attract the humans knocking around with the huge impressive cameras designed to catch every movement their models made.

  For these birds have apparently become quite accustomed to seeing non- threatening humans wondering around with the  huge contraptions which they point at them but they realize they are not dangerous.

I could never recommend a better place to enjoy the wonders of nature.

This woodpecker stops working for a minute to pose

The Dotard

Many persons were puzzled when the president of N. Korea referred to the president of the USA as a "dotard." But he is perfectly correct as a dotard is simply a retard in his dotage.

Flamingo Gardens

Some trees are over 200 years old

Today I went on our first Meet Up trek with the Boca Raton nature group since hurricane Irma hit Florida causing much damage all around.

One place that apparently had a lot of tree and plant damage was Flamingo Gardens in Davie and today ( 23rd September) was the first day they were reopening  section of the gardens to the public.

These gardens are an important section of the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary and are home to a myriad of birds, butterflies and flora.

The aviary is the most impressive I have ever seen with a large variety of owls, eagles, pelicans, storks, birds of prey and of course huge spectacular flamingos.

The great thing I like about Flamingo, is that these gardens are also a refuge for Florida's small, native wildlife that have been hurt. They rescue, nurse, heal them and if they are able, return them to the wild or else they remain at this sanctuary.

At this time they have panthers a black bear, otters, alligators, possums, otters, bobcats, turtles etc.

An iguana basks in the sun beside the flamingo pool

I love that aspect of the gardens but it is really mainly a botanical garden which was established in 1927 and once had over 3000 species of rare and exotic, tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees. Some of the magnificent oak trees which thankfully are still standing are in excess of 200 years old.

Not all the trees are native to Florida however as over the years, to diversify, they have brought trees and plants from all over the world. However a number of them were damaged and are being carefully pruned and rehabilitated where possible. 

So while only about two thirds of the garden was open to the public today, it is still extremely impressive.

A bobcat sleeps in his cage in a tree

There is also a museum which had been a weekend retreat of the Wray's who used it in the 1930's and later donated the property to the state.

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