Big up my Ghanian Peoples

I feeling for some Wachee and roasted fish with the Okra stew on top. Lol. When hunger tek you it makes philosophers out of light weights. 

I must admit growing up in sheltered middle class [sic] Jamaica, I developed a somewhat closed mind to the different cultures and peoples of the world. I was certainly well read, well verse in the histories an had a more than passing knowledge of current world affairs, I was never truly a global citizen. The list of the prejudices i held on to tho not long was still non the less still personally embarrassing. London being the only true global village, where practically all peoples and cultures are represented is really a great place for a re-education, a chance to reform and reframe one's outward views of the world around us.

Watching World Cup Football games and enjoying the vibes down at The Gold Coast Bar and Restaurant down in South Norwood when Ghana was still in it was absolutely something else. First of all, to have so many black people gathered in one place and not a police patrol car in sight; I know I was definitely in with good people. Secondly to have so many black people confined in that small pub space, crowded around the television sets, stepping on toes, spilling drinks, invading personal space and not have ruckus kick up, that was absolutely magical. Thirdly, the great welcoming vibe you got; people were generally concerned about the comfort of their fellow patron; I am sorry but I was sold. An honorary citizen I became. Let's face it, us Jamaicans even in the best of times can be a bit much to deal with, we sometimes take it a bit too far; so it was quite different hanging out with my African bretherins.

Good vibes, great food, and great people what better introduction to the delights of the African motherland could one ask for.  

Hooked on Blogging

I've caught the bug, blogging it seems is quite addictive. The visceral rush of committing one's thoughts to paper has been quite refreshing. Being able to do something constructive, during what's essentially a lull period (thanks recession) developing those hidden skills has been quite refreshing.

For me, this blog has shown just how little I have been using my bag of tricks, really been an adage to the concept that we as humans don't really use the sum total of all the talents we are blessed with. I for one never thought that I would have stuck it out this long. The dedication it takes to be cataloguing the sometimes random thoughts that pop in my head at times, getting inspired, organizing, editing and reformatting, is quite astonishing; hopefully i haven't been posting mumbo jumbo.

To this end, I have quite a few posts at varying degrees of completion that I have been slowly working on.

Hopefully those of you who've stumbled on my blog, and those whose feedback I've solicited will appreciate my little efforts and look forward to your new or continued support and visits to my blog.

Another Jamaican Doing it Big

Jamaican Takes Office As California's AG

KAMALA HARRIS, daughter of Jamaican professor and economist Donald Harris, took the oath of office as California's first female and first minority attorney general on Monday. (rest of the story here (Link)


Another proud moment for us Jamaicans, another of our fellow citizens who's managed to rise to the top of their field. 


Too bad, that should she decide to serve the country of her father, and to which I am sure she has some great affinity, our misguided constitution would not allow this. A country badly in need of her learning and experiences and not recognising that, instead of having a serious discussion on the issue of dual nationality, and seeing how we can harness the potential contributions of those in the diaspora who have the capacity to meaningfully do so; we get caught up on discussing simple the things. 


A lot of Jamaicans are under the impression that once you leave our fair isle, that things are easy. Whenever a Jamaican progresses through the ranks it cuz "cho, fa-rin easy"; but for many Jamaicans who've succeeded and those on their way to succeeding the path have and are doing so because they have fought hard; for many there were no handouts.


How many other Jamaicans out there, who by grit and determination have managed to reach to the top of their piles. How many other Jamaicans who who through hard work and education abroad, have gained that invaluable knowledge base and practical hands on experience are we as a nation not willing to accommodate? Four years after the issue has been raised, we have gotten NOWHERE in the discussions that we as a country are at some point going to have to have. With the majority of our best and brightest seeking distant shores as they look for opportunities to better their lots in life, if we don't you have to wonder who about the stock from which we will pull our future leaders.


Congrats Ms. Harris, you've done us proud

Jamaicans: We are who we are.

Video not really safe for work, or in the presence of decent company

On many a cold, miserable and blustering English morning, watching this video brought a little smile to my face, and warmed the cockles of my heart. It literally set the tempo for the day; I listened to Mad Jamaican Woman and I was ready to tackle the big bad city. And like any good movie, or that favourite song, I pretty much now know the script word for word.

More than anything, this video reaffirmed in me, that intrinsic quality, often imitated but never duplicated quite right; that je ne sais quois that seems to be a part of our Jamaican makeup. Yes, it's nice seeing that brief flash of Usain 's victorious image up there in the ITV's news intro, and the constant small "positive" reminders of how we are excelling on the world's stage and ccertainly, some people might argue that she does not represent the best of Jamaica, Jamaican society and Jamaicans as a whole, and certainly not decent and polite society (sic), but you know what, she is Jamaican through and through, loud brash and unapologetic, and truth be told, we are as a people loud, brash and unapologetic in revelling in our Jamaicanness.

It does get lonely being in a big city, more so if one's living in a community where there is a certain lack of diversity, and you are more or less cut off from your larger family and your own community. There is no more reassuring, no more comforting feeling than hearing than hearing that faint hint of a Jamaican accent. Suddenly all urgency departs, the previously sterilized or non existent accent emerges full blast and the conversation starts. And what's the first thing every Jamaican wants to know; "which pawt a Jamaica u cum from?". And in seeking affinity with our newly found country man, we then try to find if circles do indeed connect and if there is any link as weak as it might be, between the new busom buddies. Bless our hearts, but the back and forth of questions that follows, that would be considered "faassing" back home becomes heightened as you seek to make that instant connection to your fellow countryman. All social divisions that would have existed back in Jamaica; me from up so and u from down so, town versus country, Labour versus PNP, and so on, no longer exist, because as insular as your life becomes once u step off that plane we really all want to feel that we belong, that we matter, and that we just aren't easily replaceable cogs in the never resting industrial cogs.

But back to Mad Jamaican Woman. We have as a people developed a strong sense of self, a distinctly vibrant and buzzing national identity. We are known for our colourful and lively personalities. Mad Jamaican Woman was only letting the offending man know that there still has to be respect for the law of the land, that she wasn't going to tolerate him breaking the law, at the expense of her comfort. Having had to hassle with public transport in London, and have met some of these offending characters, I have felt Mad Jamaican Woman's grief and ire tho i certainly didn't have the cajones to let off a few claats, and let them have it in said colourful manner.

Mad Jamaican Woman reminded me of the colourful, buzzing, slightly dangerous vibe u feel now where else on the globe but Kingston and you know what, I think we need to track her down and give her an O.J.

Fear: the New World Order

It was reported today that the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. was evacuated because of what was suspected was a possible terrorist attack about to take place but what turned out to be the slight human error. (Link)

It seems we've been now become wired, sprung and ready should news of a new terrorist attack break. I've certainly experienced a quiet moment of panic whilst travelling on the underground one evening. Nothing like the train driver announcing that the train wasn't going to leave the station because there was an unattended parcel on the station platform and he could not leave the station until it was dealt with. That certainly elicited a few furtive glances to the side and a few nervous chuckles. With the still raw memory of the 7/7 attacks in London five years ago, quite a few of us that evening had our collective what if moment, and it would be remiss of me to not admit that yes, I said my little prayer.

There has always been the threat of terrorist attacks; the IRA, the Basques etc. but since the horrible events of September 11, the world has witnessed the rise of the new militants, some who've vowed to continue to fight a millenia long war; others going on the offensive to restore their all fighting for their perceived causes. No longer relegated to the "backwaters" of the globe, these conflicts have now spilled over into major international metropolises. Worse still, these attacks and threats are seemingly being planned and carried out by not by foreigners, but increasingly by those born and bred on the new homefronts.

It seems the "First World" is now being governed by the dictates of fear. Huge budgets are being allocated in keeping everyone safe and all efforts are being made to thwart repeats of past attrocities. The problem with that, is that you can't take a rational approach in dealing with people hellbent on carrying out seemingly irrational acts.

A great read for those interested in the conflict between East and West, I found this book very good; gave me quite a good education on the different factions and conflicts that are still taking place a thousand years after they began.

A New Day, A New Dawn, A New Year

The first day of the new year has broken and it bring with it all the promise of realising one's unfulfilled potential. It brings with it an opportunity to start anew, to improve on the things we were meant to last year, an opportunity to follow through on the plans and resolutions made, an opportunity to let go of some of the obstacles hinderances of last year, and an opportunity to decidedly make a positive difference in one's life and if possible the wider community.

The Dark Ages

Having had the opportunity to live abroad, it's quite contrasting how our local businesses approach the whole issue of promoting their businesses online. Large and small, our local businesses don't seem to value the benefits that could accrue from having that online presence.

With the advance of mobile and computing technology, the advent of the smart phones, the whole world is at one's fingertips; the access to information only as slow as one's data connection. This is indeed the digital age, consumers are spending more time online, and so it befuddles me why our Jamaican business don't see being online as being vital in doing business.

With so many Jamaicans in the diaspora one would imagine that our businessmen and women would see the value of going digital in promoting their businesses. Quite frankly, with increasingly busy schedules, no one has time to sit to look through phone directories, to look businesses up and then to sit and call around when one could with the click of a mouse, or scroll of a trackball find other companies who actually make the effort to court their customers.   

Certainly, when in need of a product or service, I like most customers take to the Internet, to get the undiluted truth, free of the well rehearsed spiel (i dunno why but i think it really ought to be spelt schpiel, but that apparently means something else in Yiddish) of the customer service agent, or reassuring soothings of that persuasive business owner. We do our comparisons, check prices and the variation of said prices and get reviews, all on the said big bad Internet. In this day and age when any buffoon can start a Facebook page expounding on the virtues of picking one's toe nails and asking all and sundry to like said activity, all for FREE, it does not take much effort and investment to get that online presence.

We really need to step it up if we are to compete in a global marketplace