Tea Time On The Devil's Verandah

As the last hours of 2005 reel off the clock and the year of the rooster comes to a close, I ponder upon odd questions that just trickle into my mind from nowhere... questions like, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE GUY HARVEY FAD???

Once every corner of Jamaica was filled with people in t-shirts with marlins, dolpins and an assortment of fish on their shirts all courtesy of a caucasian I am sure (cause if it was a black man so many Jamaicans wouldn't wear it)... by the name of Guy Harvey...













you remember don't you???

So anyway... here is everybody's friendly neighbourhood Rastaman... trying to creep into the hearts and minds of the many... scheming on how to take over the world yet again with more diabolical plans... if you have any good plan for taking over the world as well please submit them to cyber_yan@yahoo.com

You are also probably wondering about the title of this post... oh well it is another abstract title I have had milling around in my head. I plan to use it for one of my upcoming books.

Aspiration Area Don 2006

Another abstract title to tickle the minds of the many...

This posting is a psychotic interlude from my boring articles that the Western Mirror has been so courteous enough to publish, as part of my Brainwash and Unlearn Jamaica Programme.

First I will give you all my current reading lists and listening list as to allow you but just a glimpse into the mental realms of a Young Jamaican Megalomaniac(copyrighted MMV).

However I would like to speak on the maddening hours that happen to be x-mas eve, and the eve of x-mas eve. Here we are downtown MoBay... streets flooded... people, cars, music, noise, voices, cacophony, birds, wind, rain... the world is topsy turvy... children, ice-cream, confection, rum, smoke, scribs and clappers, retail wholesale... the world according to Christ has gone insane... in a celebration of one man more than 2000 years passed has decided to forget the man and move with a commercial plan...

Anyway current reading list...


1. LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov
synopsis: "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins..." (big line from the book) Despite its lascivious reputation, the pleasures of Lolita are as much intellectual as erogenous. It is a love story with the power to raise both chuckles and eyebrows. Humbert Humbert is a European intellectual adrift in America, haunted by memories of a lost adolescent love. When he meets his ideal nymphet in the shape of 12-year-old Dolores Haze, he constructs an elaborate plot to seduce her, but first he must get rid of her mother. In spite of his diabolical wit, reality proves to be more slippery than Humbert's feverish fantasies, and Lolita refuses to conform to his image of the perfect lover.

2. THE STRANGER by Albert Camus
synopsis: The Stranger is not merely one of the most widely read novels of the 20th century, but one of the books likely to outlive it. Written in 1946, Camus's compelling and troubling tale of a disaffected, apparently amoral young man has earned a durable popularity (and remains a staple of U.S. high school literature courses) in part because it reveals so vividly the anxieties of its time. Alienation, the fear of anonymity, spiritual doubt--all could have been given a purely modern inflection in the hands of a lesser talent than Camus, who won the Nobel Prize in 1957 and was noted for his existentialist aesthetic. The remarkable trick of The Stranger, however, is that it's not mired in period philosophy.

The plot is simple. A young Algerian, Meursault, afflicted with a sort of aimless inertia, becomes embroiled in the petty intrigues of a local pimp and, somewhat inexplicably, ends up killing a man. Once he's imprisoned and eventually brought to trial, his crime, it becomes apparent, is not so much the arguably defensible murder he has committed as it is his deficient character. The trial's proceedings are absurd, a parsing of incidental trivialities--that Meursault, for instance, seemed unmoved by his own mother's death and then attended a comic movie the evening after her funeral are two ostensibly damning facts--so that the eventual sentence the jury issues is both ridiculous and inevitable.

Meursault remains a cipher nearly to the story's end--dispassionate, clinical, disengaged from his own emotions. "She wanted to know if I loved her," he says of his girlfriend. "I answered the same way I had the last time, that it didn't mean anything but that I probably didn't." There's a latent ominousness in such observations, a sense that devotion is nothing more than self-delusion. It's undoubtedly true that Meursault exhibits an extreme of resignation; however, his confrontation with "the gentle indifference of the world" remains as compelling as it was when Camus first recounted it. --Ben Guterson

3. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd
synopsis: In Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, 14-year-old Lily Owen, neglected by her father and isolated on their Georgia peach farm, spends hours imagining a blissful infancy when she was loved and nurtured by her mother, Deborah, whom she barely remembers. These consoling fantasies are her heart's answer to the family story that as a child, in unclear circumstances, Lily accidentally shot and killed her mother. All Lily has left of Deborah is a strange image of a Black Madonna, with the words "Tiburon, South Carolina" scrawled on the back. The search for a mother, and the need to mother oneself, are crucial elements in this well-written coming-of-age story set in the early 1960s against a background of racial violence and unrest. When Lily's beloved nanny, Rosaleen, manages to insult a group of angry white men on her way to register to vote and has to skip town, Lily takes the opportunity to go with her, fleeing to the only place she can think of--Tiburon, South Carolina--determined to find out more about her dead mother. Although the plot threads are too neatly trimmed, The Secret Life of Bees is a carefully crafted novel with an inspired depiction of character. The legend of the Black Madonna and the brave, kind, peculiar women who perpetuate Lily's story dominate the second half of the book, placing Kidd's debut novel squarely in the honored tradition of the Southern Gothic. --Regina Marler --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

4. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. LEWIS

5. SMALL ISLAND by Andrea Levy
synopsis: Andrea Levy's award-winning novel, Small Island, deftly brings two bleak families into crisp focus. First a Jamaican family, including the well-intentioned Gilbert, who can never manage to say or do exactly the right thing; Romeo Michael, who leaves a wake of women in his path; and finally, Hortense, whose primness belies her huge ambition to become English in every way possible. The other unhappy family is English, starting with Queenie, who escapes the drudgery of being a butcher's daughter only to marry a dull banker. As the chapters reverse chronology and the two groups collide and finally mesh, the book unfolds through time like a photo album, and Levy captures the struggle between class, race, and sex with a humor and tenderness that is both authentic and bracing. The book is cinematic in the best way--lighting up London's bombed-out houses and wartime existence with clarity and verve while never losing her character's voice or story. --Meg Halverson


And now to the listening list:

1. Barrington Levy's - Vice Verse Love
2. Bounty Killer's - Who send dem (remix on the Nas' "if I ruled the world" riddim)
3. Jacob Miller (Every song)
4. Tupac's - Changes & Until the end of time (Just cause they are every gangster's anthem these days)
5. Biggie's - Notorious Thugs
6. Johnny Cash's - Hurt
7. Junior Gong's - Jamrock Album
8. Don Corleon's - Seasons riddim
9. Eddie Fitzroy (any song I can find)
10. Bob Dylan's - All along the watchtower
11. Lenny Kravitz's - Fly Away
12. Sarah Mclachlan's - Sweet Surrender
13. Bush's - Glycerine
14. Shawn Colvin's - Sunny Came Home

I'll now leave you with the words of a great man who is sometimes mad... "I am the Lion in Daniel's den" and "In school I learnt nothing, yet still come out to something, yet people grudge me for like mi do dem something, when I haven't done dem anything."

Hold a meditation on all of these things till the next posting all you lovely people...

My Mobay Christmas Wishlist: A letter to Santa

published in THE WESTERN MIRROR wednesday december 14, 2005

My Mobay Christmas Wishlist

Dear Santa,

Rumours abound, some claim you don’t visit the ghettos, others contend that you do but, you only deliver, Mach 10’s, “Zigzags”, 9mms, Introtechs and maybe some “scribbs and clappers” for the kids. Worse yet I hear it is that you don’t put Rasta men on the roster for anything in the big bag. Some people have gone so far as to claim that you aren’t even real. How preposterous! There is even a rumour that you have elves working at the Parish Council, though I am told that they only wear there green suits when it is election time. I won’t swear I have been good this year, but I have tried Mr. Clause Sir, I really have. As you should be used to by now St. Nick, I’m writing because like the 6 billion other people on the planet I have a few small requests for Christmas. There are a few presents that you could give us here in MoBay, I hope it is not too much, and if so maybe you could delegate some of the work to those elves.

1. Could you fix the roads out by Flankers in its entirety? And when it does get fixed in its entirety could you see that there is proper drainage there, so that you won’t need to fix the road by March. It would be a big help to Montegonians and even easy some of the traffic. No doubt, you would make many of the tourism interests happy as well, not to mention Horace Peterkin who probably has hell to reach to the branch of Sandals out there.


2. I won’t ask you to stop all the crime in the second city, but maybe you could drop off a feasible and reasonable crime plan at the St. James Parish Council. Maybe then they may take up the issue of crime in this town with some zeal, if they know that a popular Caucasian has some interest.


3. Can you get rid of all the bleaching creams that people seem to be using to damage their skin these days? As a matter of fact maybe you could through in a dash of self esteem and black pride while you’re at it.


4. In spite of the vicious rumours that people have spread about you, I ask the you not be spiteful or bare any ill will towards the third world and actually drop off some useful presents to the street kids that beg at the stop lights and every fast food place. I don’t want to press my luck but if it isn’t too much, maybe you could find there parents and enlist them in a good school or just prompt the state agency that deals with such ill-fated children to be more proactive in carrying out their duties.


5. I hate to go back to a topic but I don’t think I was thorough enough on the roads in request 1. But I must ask you to find some good drainage solutions for MoBay. The phenomenon that is flooding is getting far too common in the city. I would never like to see a repeat of what happened in October ever again. Also could see if you sort out whatever the hell is going wrong out by Bogue during rush hours, the insane lines of traffic cannot continue much longer.


6. I would also like to think that the majority of Montego Bay would appreciate you providing the local government with an employment plan. I hope that this isn’t too much to ask of a man who flies the global in just one night. We need an employment plan that will not only make people aware of job opportunities but will help create some.


7. My last plea is probably a trivial one but it is my final wish none the less. I don’t know how you will accomplish this but, is it possible that you could find away to broaden and expand the entertainment arena in MoBay. I tire of hearing people complain that Montego Bay is boring and that they have nothing to do or nowhere to go.

Mr. Clause I know this is somewhat of a tall order, but they say miracles happen at Christmas time. So I beg that you try and give Montego Bay these small favours as our Miracle for the Christmas. Your time and consideration is greatly appreciated sir. My many, many thanks in advance.


Yours Truly,

Yannick Nesta Pessoa
On behalf of the citizens of Montego Bay.

p.s. could you get those little green elves down at the Parish Council cracking for the New Year? Thanks.

Article for the Western Mirror published Dec. 10

Christmas and Mobay: Season of resistance and rebellion

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.
~W.J. Cameron

From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.
~Katharine Whitehorn

Roses are reddish
Violets are bluish
If it weren't for Christmas
We'd all be Jewish.
~Benny Hill

Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money.
~Author Unknown

The Christmas season has come to mean the period when the public plays Santa Claus to the merchants.
~John Andrew Holmes

We must not seek the child Jesus
in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs.
We must seek him among the undernourished children
who have gone to bed tonight with nothing to eat,
among the poor newsboys
who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways.
~Romero December 24, 1979

Jesus was not born on December 25. The Christian liturgy chose that date in order to give a Christian meaning to the Roman feast of the unvanquished sun. The pagans of the Roman Empire celebrated the sun's rebirth during the longest night of the year. That midnight was considered as the starting point of the sun's march, which then began to overcome the darkness. It was easy for the Christians to substitute Jesus Christ for the sun and to make the birth of Christ, Sun of Justice, coincide liturgically with the pagan celebration of the birth of the sun.
~ Author Unknown

Well… the year is winding down and as is tradition the world is moving to a more reflective and mellow state. People are probably seeking to call loved ones; whoever is in “farrin” is probably breaking their neck to reach home. Some households will be graced with the proverbial “barrel” from England, Cayman, Uncle Sam or whichever other destination Jamaicans usually head in search of better incomes. The remittance dollars are surely rolling in, and Western Union is making a killing, not to mention the various other cambios. Some people are eagerly anticipating their bonuses and of course TVJ (or JBC the name that refuses to leave my mind) should have “Greeting from the UK” in full swing (What would a Jamaican Christmas be without it?). Mr. Chin and Kin straight out of Hong Kong probably are starting to see their accounts at the bank reach the size of King Kong as they peddle cheap wares on every street, corner and lane. Montego Bay’s downtown is a hive of activity, legal and illegal. Aristocrats, pick pockets and all those in between take to the streets. St. James Street, Barnett Street, “Bottom Road” a.k.a. Gloucester Ave. and Harbour Street, are prime territory. As the 25^th of December draws nigh, these streets will see boundless human traffic.

However Christmas has a darker more ominous side. Historically and Biblically this is a season of serious bloodshed. If one is to take in the “Book of the Maccabees” one will see that December is the time when Jews (Jesus’ people) were oppressed by Alexander the Great’s successor Antiochus. He killed some 40,000 Jews and destroyed God’s temple. The Jews celebrate “Hanukkah” as the time when the Maccabees recaptured the temple after many more years of war with the Greeks and Syrians. Montego Bay is not unfamiliar with bloodshed in the Christmas season, seeing that MoBay was the site or focal point of the last great slave rebellion in Jamaica; what is referred to these days as the Christmas Rebellion.

As Christmas a historical season of blood shed draws closer, the murder tally for the island continues to alarming levels, and the murder tally and levels of crime in Montego Bay and St. James reach never before seen levels. This is truly a sad irony, this city the site where Sam Sharpe and some 500 other slaves died after the Christmas Rebellion to set us free, we now turn on ourselves using our freedom not to progress, but to kill each other. And the contribution to a sorrowful history of bloodshed in this season continues; as only Sunday night at “Carwash” (one of MoBay’s “hypest” and “vibesiest” street dances) on Harbour Street (a few yards from where Sam Sharpe died in a struggle for betterment) we unleashed our savagery on each other and someone lost their life. This tyranny of unrelenting killing will no doubt continue even on to and through Christmas day.

For those who have forgotten the Sam Sharpe and the Christmas Rebellion, let me remind you. Sam Sharpe was the main instigator of the 1831 Slave Rebellion which began on the Kensington Estate in St. James and which was largely instrumental in bringing about the abolition of slavery. Sam Sharpe became a leader of the native Baptists in Montego Bay using religious meetings (which were the only permissible forms of organised activities for the slaves) to communicate his concern and encourage political thought concerning events in England which affected the slaves and Jamaica. Sam developed a plan of passive resistance in 1831, by which the slaves would refuse to work on Christmas Day of 1831 and afterwards, unless their grievances concerning better treatment and the consideration of freedom were accepted by plantation owners and managers. Sam explained his plan to his chosen supporters after his religious meetings. They then took the plan to the other parishes until the idea had spread throughout St. James, Trelawny, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and Manchester.

On December 27, 1831, the Kensington Estate Great House was set on fire as a signal that the Slave Rebellion had begun. A series of other fires broke out in the area and soon it was clear that the plan of non-violent resistance which Sam Sharpe had originated was impossible and impractical. Armed rebellion and seizing of property spread mostly through the western parishes, but the rebellion was stopped by the first week in January.

An awful reckoning followed. While 14 whites died during the Rebellion, more than 500 slaves lost their lives, the majority of them as a result of the trials that followed. Samuel Sharpe was hanged on May 23, 1832 in what is today known as Sam Sharpe Square.

I have friends that argue that the crime we see today is some sort of rebellion, but I seriously disagree. A rebellion rises against a system of oppression, what we have here is guns rising against black people by other black people, not the system; we have strangely become our own oppressors. I’m sure Sam Sharpe turns in his grave or where ever he lies, and I’m sure he hisses with pain at the step of each murderer and evil doer and black oppressor that steps through his Square in the heart of city. I’m sure somewhere between the honking taxi horns, choir of chirping, the music, and all the other cacophony in the Square he can be heard screaming and howling.

By Yannick Nesta Pessoa
B.A. in Philosophy
Webpage: http//yahnyk.blogspot.com
E-mail: yannickpessoa@gmail.com or yahnyk@hotmail.com

Hmmm evening reflection

Montego Bay Young Fresh Minds Wanted

published in THE WESTERN MIRROR, Dec. 3, 2005

Montego Bay: Young Fresh Minds & Intellects Wanted


"I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job."
~Margaret Thatcher

"It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it."
~Joseph Joubert

"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names."
~Elbert Hubbard

"Fear not those who argue but those who dodge."
~Dale Carnegie

"The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it."
~George Bernard Shaw

"Use soft words and hard arguments."
~English Proverb

"The more arguments you win, the less friends you will have"
~American Proverb

"It is impossible to win an argument with an ignorant man"
~Author Unknown


Meet Montego Bay’s most wanted, the Montegonian, no small irony there. The title I intended to work both ways, more intellects needed in a brain drained to the point of almost desert like dryness in our city and also seeing that I do consider myself young and bright, and now wanted, the title I do believe is most apt. It seems the issue of Jah Cure has put me in the hot seat. It has also seemed to inspire debate as well as Mr. Donald Watson to start a ‘blog’ similar in fashion to mine. I am most honoured to have been the centre of all this attention. This kind of public debate is good for Montego Bay I think, it is due time that we have public forum, ideas and intellectual combatants come to the fore, as Montego Bay will never be boosted to the forefront of development without some sort of intellectual machinery or body to carry it there. So cheers for the sparring of ideas and thoughts. However it is not my intention to turn the Western Mirror into a cursing match.

…And now for my actual rebuttal. Mr. Watson does strike me as a man with an agenda, I hope his real intention is actually defending the victim, if so then he has ascribed himself a noble but unnecessary task, but I will cast no aspersions I’m going to solely tackle the points. Let me say my intention is never to offend the rape victim, I send her all the blessings I can. Mr. Watson however contends that I say free Jah Cure, never in anyone of my articles have I said this, he is making a claim that is not real, and if he is aware that he is making an unreal claim then that is intellectual dishonesty on his part. So Mr. Watson, please get your arguments together.

Mr. Watson also makes the assumption that conviction means guilt, it is common knowledge that the judicial system has convicted innocent men before. A court conviction means that a man is found guilty it does not mean he necessarily is guilty. We also know guilty men by virtue of loop holes or subversive tactics like buying judges and jurors to escape conviction. So the legal system is necessary but not infallible, it like everything in this world has its flaws and has been wrong before. As it pertains to Jah Cure, I contended that the case has discrepancies, which means the court may or may not be right, that does not mean I am saying he is innocent. I HOPE THAT IS CLEAR.

To answer Mr. Watson’s question, if whether or not other popular artistes became rapists I would support them? Well Mr. Watson there are other convicted artistes that are rapists, Zebra (a serial rapist at that) being one such artist, but I was no fan of his work, so I can not ascribe him any redeemable qualities, nor can I hail him as a Montegonian. But if he was a talented musician I would acknowledge his talent as I have done with Jah Cure. Ancient Monarchy also known as Frisko Kid has been alleged to have raped, but I appreciate some of his songs and as such will acknowledge his work. And I would like to re-iterate that acknowledging the work of people is not the same as approval for their transgressions and misdeeds.

Now Mr. Watson also touched a nerve when he makes the proclamation that I have embarrassed myself in front of my readers I suppose. Mr. Watson let me say that you and your small circle of friends are nowhere close to being my entire readership or the Western Mirrors readership. So if it is you think I have embarrassed myself you may very well be in the minority, also people’s disagreement with stance or position is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. In fact I think it may actually be noble and honourable to stand up and state one’s opinion on an issue that may leave you unpopular, granted I think this topic has not left me unpopular.

The reason I have not gone to ask women about this topic Mr. Watson is because I have a sister, a mother, aunts, and many women enough who disagree with me on the topic. And the opinions on the large majority of people, who have not even studied, investigated or know the truth of the case is not of interest to me. Also even if the overwhelming majority of women did say that they think that Jah Cure is whatever undying evil you Mr. Watson are convinced he is, would not necessarily make that the truth. Let us not forget that just a millennia ago the majority of the western world and thinkers thought the world was actually flat, but that never made it so. So sir the opinions of people will not necessarily make Jah Cure truly guilty.

As for the remix of Jah Cure’s song, a good bit of wit, but it does nothing real to add substance to the argument. Also I hope you Mr. Watson know the victim and have consent to champion your cause. Here is to peaceful disagreement, and hopefully we can agree to disagree. May be we can have drink and laugh this topic off one day. Till next week.

p.s. Next week I tackle Christmas in MoBay


By Yannick Nesta Pessoa
B.A. in Philosophy
Webpage: http//yahnyk.blogspot.com
E-mail: yannickpessoa@gmail.com or yahnyk@hotmail.com

Tuesday Afternoon Philosophy Society Meeting

Interviewing a group of chickens as they were palavering on my fence...
Welcome to Tuesday afternoon Montego Bay semi-suburbia...

So here it is folks as, we get the official word from our fine feathered friends here who have chosen to tell Yannick in a world exclusive interview the answer to one of the most trying philosophical conundrums and paradoxes of all time "Who came first, the chicken or the egg?"

MOBAY :: THE TRIBE

Just another day in the life... of MoBay's most wanted and haunted...

THE VITRUVIAN YAN...

It is 1:21 am Thursday morning... repetition, yes I know. I'm thoroughly high on DPH. The other day I realised DPH is fairly unique to Jamaica... I had made the strange but assinine assumption that it was a universal or at least a Caribbean particular... anyway I glugged some of the bottle in a desperate attempt to escape the hysterical sneezing brought on by the mold, "junjo" and dust in my room, that has been wrecked since the rains... the paint on my ceiling is falling off... unto my bed, cobwebs abound, junjo everywhere... chi-chi a nyam weh mi steps... seeing it is made of wood... but I digress. Back the DPH... I feel woozy, drunk, light and happy when I have no reason to be...

I have no idea why this post is titled vitruvian yan. I just thought the pun on my name would be nice. The DPH has dried me up... my tongue is dry, my nose (yaaaaaaaaay!), my eyes and skin. The cold front and cold breeze, washing MoBay is absolutely wonderful. I wish the weather were always like this, not the icebox hell that the USA is, and not the tropical paradise sauna that JTB whores us to be. But a moderate engaging temperature that makes more inclined to be out and about... the sun saps me so regularly and easily these days. And imagine I would never tire in the sun, 7 or so summers ago.

THE MONTEGONIAN :: On the issue of Jah Cure

On the issue of Jah Cure
(article from my weekly column, published in The Western Mirror on 19/11/05)

“When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.”
~Norm Crosby

”A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.”
~Robert Frost

“This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice.”
~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

“Although the legal and ethical definitions of right are the antithesis of each other, most writers use them as synonyms. They confuse power with goodness, and mistake law for justice.”
~Charles T. Sprading, Freedom and its Fundamentals

“It's strange that men should take up crime when there are so many legal ways to be dishonest.”
~Author unknown, quoted in Sunshine magazine

I have come to the realization that the issue of Jah Cure is a contentious issue in Montego Bay. I have been accosted on several occasions by people concerned by my portrayal of as an innocent party amongst other things too good for a “dirty rapist rasta” (to quote one woman). I have even been taken to task on the issue by my dear mother, who by the way is my biggest fan. To be honest I had intended to follow last week’s “Neo-Montegonian Invasions” article with an article titled “Who is a Montegonian” but I’ve come to decide that my stance on Jah Cure (whose real name is Siccature Alcock) and matters pertaining to the issue of Jah Cure took greater precedence. I had considered shying away from this topic seeing that it had placed me in such a hot seat, but in some way I would like think that I am not a coward and as such I am stepping up to the plate and clearing the air. So as I do this, I would ask my gracious readers to bear with me and come to the table with an open mind, as well as note that the opinions expressed in this column are my views and not that of The Western Mirror.

First and foremost I have always hailed Jah Cure as a talent musician and Montegonian. It is my honest belief that most people have allowed their prejudices to Rastafari, Flankers and all the other repressed to communities and subcultures to colour their judgement. I have never ever made the claim that Jah Cure was an innocent man, and if it is that he is a rapist as he has been convicted and duly punished for, he ought to be given a chance at rehabilitation and redemption like any other man. The point of prison isn’t vindictive incarceration and public vengeance, but due punishment and rehabilitation. So if he has sung songs that impact nation, is he to continue to be punished indefinitely?

We as a people must also learn to separate, a man from his message. If Jah Cure is a rapist does that mean he cannot speak truth and make meaningful songs? I might remind everyone of an analogy I once heard in a movie (the name of which eludes me), it says “even a broken watch, tells the right time twice a day;” that is to say if a watch stopped working at 2 o’ clock and says 2 o’clock forever, it must be right at 2 o’clock twice a day even if it isn’t working. I find it also the heights of hypocrisy, that many would neglect to see the wrong side of many other people’s actions yet come down so harshly on a man who says he is trying to make a change. Many are willing to still acknowledge that both accused paedophiles and child molesters Michael Jackson and R. Kelly as good musicians yet will not do the same for a local talent. I go even to remind many that Michael Jordan was accused of being a compulsive gambler, yet his moral indiscretion won’t prevent them from seeing him as the greatest basketball player ever. Bill Cosby a great black activist and proponent of black wholesome family and positive values did have illicit sexual rendezvous while married, yet undisputed that he has greatly contributed to the black ethos and human condition. So why are we so unforgiving of our own?

Prior to Jah Cure’s rise to prominence, the issue of his charges were muddied and made unclear in a massive puddle of speculation, vicious rumours and blatant lies. I for one had been told he was on gun charges, murder charges amongst many other things. I was even told by my aunt that she heard from the always anonymous “friend” (as so many Jamaican’s tend to have when spreading rumours) that he was put away due to strong confirmation of DNA evidence, only to do some factual investigation and find out there never was any DNA evidence a fact later confirmed in a Gleaner exposé on the Jah Cure case. I have also become aware that many Montegonians dispute the plight of Jah Cure without real knowledge of what took place. Now if anyone is really interested in examining Jah Cure’s case objectively I recommend reading his early interview by Julian Smith at http://www.jahworks.org/music/interview/jah_cure.htm and his reflections in the Sunday Gleaner at http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050904/news/news5.html , the arguments put forward by the victim can be read at http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050828/lead/lead2.html . I implore and beseech everyone to thoroughly peruse the information and try to draw rational and objective conclusions of their own. I personally believe that there are discrepancies (especially the fact that the victim never saw her attackers face).

The truth of the Jah Cure’s case however will always lie amongst the victim, Jah Cure and God. It is on this note that I close my arguments. I would also like to re-state my position that I do think Jah Cure is a talented musician that has risen from Montego Bay, whether he is a rapist or not is still a matter I cannot definitively tell anyone, I will maintain though that I do not think his trial was fair and that he is a victim of the prejudices of society, and whether or not his trial was fair does not change whether he is a rapist or not. I am not trying to justify Jah Cure or absolve him, I just want people to see beyond emotional judgements, “suss” and hear say. I rest my case.

By Yannick Nesta Pessoa
B.A. in Philosophy
Webpage: http//yahnyk.blogspot.com
E-mail: yannickpessoa@gmail.com or yahnyk@hotmail.com

SELASSIE ALLSTAR FOOTBALL TEAM :: Real High Scorers

SELASSIE ALLSTAR FOOTBALL TEAM
Real High Scorers

Another Old Poem (circa 2001)

Spinning / Spitting

Open words,
And broken letters,
Pouring hearts,
And bleeding eyes,
The nights are long,
My body is cold,
Memories of a dark tomorrow,
Tie us twogether.

Sometimes deceipt,
Is exposed on a paper receipt,
Let us not subject this germinating love to defeat.

An Old Poem of Mine (circa. 2000)

The Wandering Jew

I wash the dried salt and saliva from my face,
I hope the scent of my sin will wash away,
I look out the window,
And see the world by night,
Pastel designed in mellow moods and tragedies,
Stars sing of memories,
Backdropped by late night ghetto fm melodies,
Harking to age old malodies,
I search the sky for a north star,
And wonder if the stories are true,
Is there really a wandering jew.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa
Copyright (c) Yannick Nesta Pessoa (MMV)

November...

November is the cool month, it carries what is left of the frigid winds that have traversed the Atlantic and made probably its dying steps into the Caribbean. Make no mistakes about anything, Jamaica is still a hot country, but in November, it's just not as hot.

November and December is a time I take for some reflection, for some strange reason the end of the year carries a meloncholy and redolence. I guess it is the looking back at the year that has passed. This year 2005 the Chinese year of the rooster passed faster than the speed of life this year. It seemed like only yesterday, I was bumming and bunking it out with DJ, traversing Kingston via an ailing, red 91 Toyota Camry, and wrapping up a somewhat, celebrity/stage appearance University career, at the "prestigous" UWI. I had made peace with some of my mortal enemies, had an unrival entourage that were the life of campus. What can I say.

Following this vibe, the redolence and all, I think I'll recant some more of my UWI life that took place round about these times.

UWI: Year 0ne, Semester one.

My time at UWI began with some hiccups of course, but I eventually settle at A. Z. Preston Hall, where my presence arguably start as a stir... to say the least, I made few friend there initially owing to the fact that I was perceived as cold, unfriendly and evil as well as potentially Devil worshipping (laughable). Anyway my campus career was much more impressive and eventful. I commandeered the "Arts Tree"... hmmm I'm getting ahead of myself aren't I??? I must make some geographical information become transparent.

Flash back to UWI 2000: The Songs that were running the place were "Chrissy D's" "Here Comes the Rain Again" and "T.O.K.'s" "Chi-Chi Man Car". The Dance that was running the place was ofcourse the "Screechie", dances were few and far between they weren't a weekly phenomenon and the weren't issued out every three days. Bogle was the only real brand name dancer on the scene. Crown Plaza had an excellent club called CLIMAX that soon closed. Sizzla was on the cusp of his first evolution, the one that saw him morph from the sublime and subliminal sleep hit that had raked up the underground and dabbled on the mainstream with "choon"(tunes) like "Praise ye jah", "Babylon gi dem a ride fi dem money" "Row Missa Fishaman" and ofcourse the dancehall mainstay... BLACK OOMAN and Child, into a more diverse and primetime DJ that quake the Dancehall scene forever along with people's impression as he belt items like "Get to the Point," "Fuss Ting Ooman haffi gimmi pumpum" etc... Another signature feature of that year was Black Chiney's mixed CD number 5 I believe, also dubbed CD KILLER... that changed the state of selecting and producing in Jamaica in more ways than I care to remember...

Long before KFC existed of a real students' union, when the club there was known as SHADES, long before the was a HILO BASIX or a Scotia Bank, when HUMANITIES was called ARTS, when the trees in front ARTS office was small shade in a veritable dust bowl. Joe Periera was still ARTS dean. Aggrey Brown was running CARIMAC... UWI had just introduced online registration, school had not yet become a fashion parade or a try out for REtv and HYPEtv, Whaddat.com was a new phenomenon, social were secret break away fetes in common areas and rooms, reading room fetes were the thing, campus was alive in some sense or more in retrospect to the droll routine and factory template character types you encounter their now...

Now that things are in perspective, the truth is in that first year I met real and colourful characters that are indelibly etched in my mind forever... meet the host:

Kadene Headley - now this "ooman" is something else. To say the least she has quite the imagination, she walks between her imaginative world and ours. She showed me what real Kingstonian people are like. Not the uppity uptown, twingy twangy types that end every sentence with "still." Really and truly I find it hard to describe Kadene but to sum her up... he made my first year. She was always making life explosive, I remember a time when she had gotten her bad man friends to chase Garth round the ring road... Kadene was a sociopath.

Natoya Brown - The consumate hot uptownish brown girl of Kadene's crew. I dubbed her EyeCandy... I had had a crush on her for a short time. However between Natoya and Kelly, I was never to live any, any, any faux paux down. They were the constant reality checks in my life. Ofcourse I have to thank God for the fact that they had my back for the most part.

Kelly Durrant - This young lady was the real vibes of the crew. She was witty, sarcastic, mad, and had the most tom boy real life experiences of everybody, with the exception of me of course. Kelly always did look sort of birdy and was the 'A' student. Really I don't know how she managed to live such an adventurous personal life, keep Kadene in check, gimmicks me, par with Natoya and still study.

Kadiesha - Hmmm a trip, I'll leave her alone. Except that I will remember the flex to RAS Beer Vibes and her and Kurt's attempts to trap me at her house.

Kurt Hall - To be honest, I hated Kurt initially because he was too goody 2 shoes hero boy type for my flex, Kadene and crew's KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR, but eventually I would like to think I broke him out the mold just a little bit. Especially taking him out of his white girl phase.

Renee Wong - a strange and sometimes moody, but cute, half chiney girl wid a cock batty, weh mi did lust after most of my academic career. Eventually another RAS proved more to her liking, I guess accents gives you an edge in the business.

Roxanne Burton - the pretty pretty philosophy teacher, that soon became a mainstay and another grounding figure in my academic career. If I had been one for the teenage movies and teacher puppy love routine maybe I might have had a crush on her. Ok I fib... maybe I actually did but... that's not the point.

Thaz pretty much it for my host of characters... I somehow feel that I haven't done them much justice in this short synopsis, but somehow I can't capture my memories and bind them to words tonight...


But back to November... I find that this is the time of year that everyone opts to reflect, I believe in a very subconscious way. Mainstream dancehall hits take a small back step and the backdrop music that fills my night are the likes of Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy, Dennis Brown "Revolution" or the baseline of it with small audible snippets of the actuall song is what is actually making its way from what ever distant dance is going on and filling my night. Trodding through the town, the "ever hype" cars take a break from Kartel and Busy Signal, and back track to the days of Scare Dem Crew and Monster Shaq... (longtime mi nh hear Round Head and general Degree). The street side bars, commonly labelled something 'tavern', 'pub' or 'lounge' take it even a step further really dig up the old rockers with the Jacob Miller and Fred Locks and Eek-a-mouse, you'll even hear the mento and ska era. Now a days, I even passed a small corner shop on Dome Street and heard a pleasantly plump lady harkening back to the days of "Greetings from the UK" and "The Desmonds."

Anyway folks I won't bore you too much... "Lilly Moe"

THE INVASION

THE MONTEGONIAN {My Weekly Column}
Title:THE INVASION…
(published in The Western Mirror: 12/11/05)

We're the middle children of history.... no purpose or place. We have no Great War, no Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.
~From the movie Fight Club, about Generation X

The world is filled with strange paradoxes and lots of ironic situations. General perception of Montego Bay is that it is a resort town, devoid of any of the other cultural facets of life, and is shunned by Montegonians particularly the younger generation as dead end zone for growth in all spheres of life. Montegonians are not the only ones that think so, Kingstonians and those in the “Sunshine City” Portmore, tend to hold this view as well. Here is where it gets paradoxical and a tad ironic. If Montego Bay is so dead end why are our businesses and spheres of life in the city slowly being infested with, non-Montegonians, especially those of a paler or lighter hue? Let us see… maybe because Montego Bay isn’t such a dead end after all.

MoBay is facing an invasion, an invasion with little or no resistance. Residents of the city have, through lack of vision, creativity and will to persevere have handed business opportunities and fiscal development over to an influx of opportunity seeking set of neo-Montegonians. They come from all walks of life really, but the largest chunk of them seems to be Caucasian. It dawned on me in the early summer when my friends and I went to the movies out by Fairview. I had gone to the six o’ clock movie and was surprised to see a huge crowd of white people that seemed Jamaican. To be honest I never knew so many of the fair set of our “many one people” lived here. This idea came back to me after reading Gleaner writer Melville Cooke’s Thursday column on September 29, titled “In search of the great white” (you can read it at: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050929/cleisure/cleisure3.html). In it he discusses the mysterious nature of what he calls the great white; he claims they are some what elusive, he does not know where they live, where they come from, or which hospital they go to. I find this to be the same with the so called Montegonian great whites, but that is just me, I haven’t done any research. Maybe I’ll hand out questionnaires soon.

Somewhere something went wrong when the founding fathers of the city were assembling the beginnings of this city. It would seem no one foresaw the education boom and the information age. So we are stuck it seems in age where there are a lot of under-educated and disenfranchised Montegonian youth, who have opted to leave the city in the hands of anyone who is half interested enough to take it. And by God they are! Montego Bay’s vanguard is not of Montego Bay, a serious paradox and irony that needs to be addressed.

Strange enough these days, I am beginning to see a lot of Kingstonian faces in Montego Bay. They are popping in what was once considered non-profitable jobs for an undiversified market such as the second city. These things range from, very high end professional graphic design, multimedia and studio producing to more traditional realms of artistic pursuit, such as painting, writing and photography. I would really like to know what is it that prompts so many to come to Montego Bay and not only broaden the job scope but also steal those already here for Montegonians. I also would like to know why is that Montegonians lack the vision to take what is ours. There are jobs here, yet one of Montegonians’ major complaints is the small job market or lack of career opportunity. A wise man once said only the fool is thirsty in the abundance of water.

By Yannick Nesta Pessoa
B.A. in Philosophy
Webpage: http//yahnyk.blogspot.com
E-mail: yannickpessoa@gmail.com or yahnyk@hotmail.com

Seasons

Life in Paradise... the seasons change, the shift from summer to Christ's Mas is evident in the air. The days aren't as hot and are actually even glazed in a languid, even sexy sun light... the air is different, the smell redolescent, this is the air of x-mas' I've known before, probably some atmospheric shift owed the North East trade winds. Everywhere is the scent of fresh paint and drying concrete... in fine Caribbean tradition, like some strange clock work, everyone is tending to their house a spring cleaning and sprucing up of sorts. Oddly enough as seasons change, the Seasons riddim is riding the airwaves just the same... and in some near distances I am sure I am hearing "Far from Reality" Natural Black's big single on said riddim.

THE UN-TIED STATES OF AMERICA... racist republic

Once again dear readers, our young, gifted and Ras hero traverses the evil terrains of Babylon(USA). Here in the picture we can see him being scoped out by two security type beasts. They probably think he is some terrorist. oh well.

Several songs can soundtrack my time here in the land of the beast... they are "I'm an Alien... an illegal alien" (so I felt really) and "I'm afraid of Americans" that old David Bowie tune...

"the powers opposed to Negro progress will not be influenced in the slightest by mere verbal protests on our part. They realise only too well that protests of this kind contain nothing but the breath expended in making them. They also realise that their success in enslaving and dominating the darker portion of humanity was due solely to the element of 'force' employed (in the majority of cases this was accomplished by force of arms). Pressure of course may assert itself in other forms, but in the last analysis whatever influence is brought to bear against the powers opposed to Negro progress must contain the element of 'force' in order to accomplish its purpose, since it is apparent that this is the only element they recognise."

Just felt like tossing that line in... A quote from Mr. Marcus Garvey there. Well actually I think maybe it is born out of the fact that these days on inspecting Babylon I am inclined to believe that racism here is on the rise... my reasons are as follows

1. The New Orleans Incident...

2. The Mormon Church is rising in popularity ( read the Newsweek for the 2nd or 3rd week in October) as a matter of fact it is the USA's fastest growing religion... a religion that has stated before that Negroes were put on the earth to be servants of the whites and that we are "hewers of wood and drawers of water." all this said in the name of Jesus Christ mind you...

3. The Prussian Blue, a white female duet of ages ruffly 12, that sing folk racist songs and the ever expanding genre of white racist music... (I saw it on ABC news) read the ABC news feature here: http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1231684&page=1
these demented pair of kiddies even play a video game called Ethnic Cleansing... where they kill NEGROES. Here is a caption from the games site "ETHNIC CLEANSING
The most politically incorrect video game ever made. Run through the ghetto blasting away various blacks and spics in an attempt to gain entrance to the subway system, where the jews have hidden to avoid the carnage. Then, if YOU'RE lucky.... you can blow away jews as they scream "Oy Vey!", on your way to their command center."

"The Race War has begun. Your skin is your uniform in this battle for the survival of your kind. The White Race depends on you to secure its existence. Your peoples enemies surround you in a sea of decay and filth that they have brought to your once clean and White nation.
Not one of their numbers shall be spared........"

Here is are the lyrics to one of their songs
http://www.prussianblue.net/lyrics.htm#victory

4. The Toledo Riots (click Toledo to read the Time magazine feature on it) in Ohio where White Supremicist planned a march this month that broke out into a riot when black gangs protested... (who would have thought black gangs as black activists... end times must be near)

Oh well looks like Black people are but an endangered species

So today ladies and gentle people I will leave you with more Marcus Garvey words (from my humble outpost in the Land of the Beasts)...

"Can we do it? We can do it, we shall do it! If you cannot do it, if you are not prepared to do it... then you will die! You race of cowards, you race of imbosiles, you race of good for nothings, if you cannot do what other men have done, what other nations have done, what other races have done. THEN YOU SHALL DIE"

by MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY

AFTER A BLUE MOON OR TWO...

Greetings. I Know it has been an eternity since posting but life has a way of getting in the way so to speak.

Firstly I'd like to speak on Hurricanes: "I have one comment, Jah works and redder judgement pon Uncle Sam and the beast."

Here are some alleged Katrina pics... and if dem yah real... it looking like armageddon day...






THE UN-TIED STATES OF AMERICA must be doing something wrong, katrina, rita and wilma... the femme fatale, terrible trio...

GOV-A-MENT 2 SAVAGE...

Well gentle people one and all the government has organized protest set upon them by the JLP (Jamrock's Lamest Party)... I can think of a few songs to soundtrack the day... Steele Pulse's "State of Emergency" and Bob Marley's "Road Block" along with Red Rat's "Last night I woke up in a curfew", Vybz Kartel's "Government too savage" and Kaiser Chief's "I predict a riot"... hmmm hopefully as the day progresses I'll be able to get some pictures... a few burning tyres maybe, a tear gassing here and there... looting, maybe I can convince one of the looters to grab me a pair of ADIDAS...

well ppl stick around and we'll see what happens.... huh!!!

WWW.JAHCURE.COM

yow black ppl one an all go check out JaH cUrE site at http://www.jahcure.com

CHECK OUT MY NEW ONLINE RESUME

Please give a look see on my new and revamped online resume and tell me what you think...

http://www.geocities.com/cyber_yan/yannickresume.html

Hmmm... Look how the years roll by...

COME TO MOBAY... Come to Montego Bay

MY MOBAY PROMO ADS... incentive fi hot girl come live here... JTB(Jamaica Tourist Board) better squeeze me a money fi dis... hmmm if they pay me enough I'll even tag on (shudder) Mobay No Problem "MON"

Displaying as well my wonderful photography and design skills...








I think I'll be submitting an ad to the papers... "Come to Mobay, crazy ppl, vybzy ppl and hot GIRLZZZZZZ wanted, IMMEDIATELY" wah yuh think.


Are you tempted yet by my wholesale Mobay whore out... look at the "perdy" orange picturessssssss.

Kids these days

What is the world coming to... kids these days.

Forgot to give proper accreditation to this post... I lifted it from miznneka.blogspot.com

Summer Report... Summa Skool Report.

Zoom in on your globes , your maps, your atlas, or even your satellite system global thing-a-ma-jiggs... and find Xaymaca a.k.a. Jamaica... then scroll west and head to St. James and find Montego Bay (with its new and official zip code of JMCJS01), "The City of Tomorrow"... it is a sweltering 92 degrees farenheit in the days and 88 at night. Now we are in August and hot off the heels of Sumfest, Dancehall Queen and the Negril weekend. Every street corner in every part of planet Jamaica is pumping the new anthem, it a blast out every car that pass you in traffic, its on every radio station, the repercussions and echoes of it are ricocheting between zinc fences... pounding thru board shops and jumping off walls... U know which song it is that I speak of "...some bwoy nuh know this, dem only come around like tourist" Welcome to Jamrock... yah those words trickle off of every lip and throbs in every ear.

The rest of minutes that ought to be spared to other songs probably being occupied by Jah Cure's "Love is" on the "seasoning riddim" as well as Wayne Marshall's "Marry Juana".

Sumfest

Sumfest this year was expectedly lacklustre with No Bounty Killer and No beenie Man, No Vybz Kartel and no Fantan Mojah, no Buju Banton and no Sean Paul... who the hell were they trying to squeeze ruffly $2G a night out of... obviously me... seeing that I ended up there every night after vowing never to go... but Dancehall night was a must with the last minute addition of Dancehall most hardcore Gangsta Ras himself SIZZLA KALONJI...

Dancehall night for the most part was pretty decent with the presence of (I can't believe I am admitting this) Macka Diamond and Lady Saw... of course I-Wayne gave me my laugh for the night when he called Soca music devil music... of course a Trinidadian before week's end had to respond, I am refering to Bunji Garlin for those who not upto speed on the beat eh... but bwoy to be honest I don't think Bunji Garlin is the best man to defend Soca seeing that he borrows so heavily from Bounty Killer's style as it is already and he also falls into the Soca category of "Ragga Soca" which is reggae influenced soca anyway... so him need fi hold a serious medi before him turn Soca biggest defender... but seeing that his biggest influence is Bounty him can some ratings...

Turbulence undoubtedly mash up the place with him ting... obviously everybody did a wait pon notorious. Him and his "rumoured" ooman Sasha performing the two songs weh dem do together...

However the night belonged to the ferocious half of Jamaica's newest Rastafari twin giants... the new and emerging face of Selassie army... none other than the man from August Town, the mighty mighty Miguel Collins a.k.a. SIZZLA... With unrepentant lyrical barrage and fire headed at no other people than the dancehall stiflers themselves the "OUTRAGE"ous Battymen... "Rastaman don't apologize to no..." "Praise ye Jah... Rasta nuh mix up wid homo..." of course teh show could not close without "A some big long gun a run out pon dem, extra magazine clip all dun out pon dem, war dem from night till sun out pon dem, gangstaz gorillas come out pon dem" it was an outstanding exhibition...

HOWEVER mi nuh feel nobody tear up Catherine Hall, Montego bay like Jr. Gong and as a matter of fact after that perfomance he should relinquish the title Jr. caah him a di real man yah now... Gong began his performance wid hits from his Halfway tree album mixed with some from his previous efforts, he and his brother then let off some of the original Gong's songs then Stephen let go a like solo wid his material from his album effort. Gong then pre-ed the crowd wid new material like "In too deep" which for a relatively unknown song... (except that one time I heard it on IRIE FM in early February...) had the crowd riled up.

To be honest Sumfest was the platform for everyone to see the evolving face of Rasta... with the best of Rasta their... the veteran and elder Luciano, the young fire brand Sizzla, the youngest veteran Jr. Gong, new comers and fresh fyah bunners I-Wayne, Richie Spice and Chuck Fender.

Here are some more links on the I-Wayne vs Bunji beef...
1. www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-06-22/entertain1.html

2. http://www.bajandancehall.com/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=199&Itemid=2

3. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id
=90384572

4.

Observer articles on Sumfest: (1) Sumfest bans Sizzla (2) Jr. Gong mash up sumfest

Differently stil Sumfest fun an all but Negril Weekend did di deh too...


NEGRIL WEEKEND: ATI
(An Excerpt/Extract taken from my new magazine "Caribbean Geographic")

Once again it is mating season on the west end of Planet Jamaica, an without fail members of both sexes flock in droves from every nook and cranny on the island. They arrive adorned in fabric of great expense and have groomed themselves as to be successful in a mating courtship and ritual that will last a long weekend.

Like males of other species, every jamaican male is driven by the sexual desire to mate and ensure his genes are passed(sometime with a wide variety of partners) to the next generation. But the mere act of seduction, with a female sometimes many times his size and an appetite (both sexual and biological) to match, is frequently an expensive encounter.

If a males pocket survives the risky and sometimes pointless serenade, rapid copulation follows. But rejected suitors and even successful ones who dally a moment too long find themselves being eaten out by the female. It's a real life fiscal attraction.

The serenades are as varied as the males themselves—some 4 species and a variety of hybrids belonging to a variety of social groups. Some mate by using force (rape); others use chemical and financial incentives. Some woo their sweethearts with gifts (a technique commonly referred to as flossing) while others put on their dancing shoes for some seductive entertainment.

A few of the types of men that could be sited there are, 1. The Bling Kid, usually garbed in what the natives call "ICE" and gawdy yet expensive fashion. 2. The fashionably rootsy, those who try to mediate between the bling group and the less financially endowed or the intellectuals by donning Cooyah wear and La Pluma Negra, they are commonly well groomed and have Rootsy clothes as really token in their wardrobe. 3. Is the Cyar-ologist, who wooes his prey with his loud noise burst from his vehicle of choice which is usually under the brand Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi or Ford. His abode is usually littered with magazines labelled Import Tuner or Honda Tuner. It is commonly speculated that the size of their engines make up for size in genitalia. 4. Is our Mr. Kanye West/Common, this variety don glasses and head wear as marks of their intellectualism and like to lyrically seduce his prey, he will shower her with his poetry and abstractions about life and the like. He also feigns at being a serious patron of the arts. 5. We have the Pseudo Ras/Rent-a-Dread, this type usually seeing marauding with those female of pale complexion and has a serious penchant for the caucasian female. He feigns at being apart of a very serious religious order that he will introduce them to, but more times than not he only ends up introducing them to what native call a "spliff", which is a rudimentary marijuana cigarette.
...............................................

To be real now aaaaah mi step up inna di fete at roughly 1am... the sound a kick and pump... place full up a hot hot hot girls... none of which our noble writer here would be partaking. of course as to be expect a good majority of the girls there were from town... some of the hotter ones were new to me except maybe a sistren a mine weh name Alyssia Telfer... who complained that she couldn't smoke caah her brother doesn't approve.. but she did look hot same way... of course other hot girls amongst the crowd were Corrine Rattan (mi nuh sure if a her last name that) and Monique Melbourne... Mi surprise how Ebony Desouza round up and look great yah now... anyway... mi see nuff preston ppl as expected... Hall Chairman and former ones, prestonites past such as Dauna Kaye McPherson, rookie prestonites like Lidj Sinclair and a host of other ppl... oh how could I forget the multittude of ppl weh deh a foreign for how long weh yuh nuh see since 19-how-long.

Fridays fete was decent and all but Sunday was quite boring really...

Anyway... mi wi give unnu the rest in another edition of Summer Report...
Bless!!!

My Letter To the Editor in The Daily Observer and some responses

I GOT LETTER OF THE DAY HMMMM progress...

Dear Editor,
I write in response to a letter in the Observer of July 13, "No, not Portia". The author, P Chin, argues that senior minister Mrs Simpson Miller, a contender for the "top job" as prime minister, is not suited for the task.

He bases his argument solely on her saying she would rule with advisers. He claims that she is unfit for the task because her responses are "plain and simple" and she lacks "certain skills and qualities, and even decorum" .

However, I would like to believe that she is most suited for the job, owing to her simplicity. I believe that for too long people in government have been too adept at making flowery speeches that say nothing at all and hiding their inabilities, inadequacies and failures behind big words that often fly above the heads of our electorate.

P Chin also says her competence, leadership and public service are appreciated. I say they are her track record, and speak to her work ethic and approach. An approach that says to me a humble member of the electorate and resident Jamaican that she has the necessary will and gumption to get the job done.

I would also like to ask what is the worth of all the diplomacy and decorum. Prime Minister Tony Blair in England is known for his decorum and skills, but has constantly misled his British electorate, as in the case of Iraq.

To cite a more local and intimate example, every day we hear well-educated politicians in the local media make flowery, statesman-like speeches but yet our economy, state security and various ministries are in a shambles.

So I contend if Mrs Simpson Miller were to become prime minister, I think the country would be in very capable hands. What say you?

Yannick Pessoa
Kingston
cyber_yan@yahoo.com

Here is the letter to which I replied

No, P Chin, Portia is great

Monday, July 18, 2005

No, not Portia

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Dear Editor,
Now I feel so sorry for Portia Simpson, senior minister, and now a contender for the top job, hoping to become Jamaica's next prime minister. Seems like every time she opens her mouth, one is forced to laugh ironically, this is not even a joke!

Now she says she will "rule with advisers", when asked how she would manage leading Jamaica on the international stage as the next prime minister. Your recent article "I will rule with advisers", said it all.

I recall a few years ago she was also asked "Why Portia for PM?"; her response was plain and simple, "Why not?" And that's your problem, Ms Simpson - simplicity cannot run a country! It takes certain skills and qualities, and even decorum to effectively lead a nation, and represent it on the world stage!

I fear the worst with Ms Simpson at the helm, certainly not the best the country could put forward as PM. Her competence, leadership and public service, though much appreciated, should clearly remain at the local level.

How can someone hoping to be PM, tell the media (which is read worldwide), she will do like other world leaders, and "rule with advisers"? Clearly, she doesn't have a clue!

P Chin
Chin_P@yahoo.com
Ontario, Canada

And here are some responses I was e-mailed

"Anthony Blair"
I saw your article in the Monday's Observer and I am in total agreement
with you regarding Portia is capable of running the country. Once again
thsnks for article and your forthrightness. All the best.



Anthony C. Blair
Myers, Fletcher & Gordon
Information Management Services Department
21 East Street
Park Place
Kingston
922-5860 (ext. 2544)
This message contains infomration which may be confidential and
privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the
addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or
information contained in the message. If you have received this message
in error, please advise the sender by return e-mail and delete the
message.

Paul Chin
Your letter in todays paper was most ammusing. I think
you should try to become one of Ms Simpson-Millers
'advisors'. Clearly it takes a lot more than a team of
advisors to effectively run a country, this is not a
dolly house, or a play pen. Running a countrys budget
is quite different from managing ones household. One
must be competent, skilled in the art of decision
making, & very much aware of national & international
issues. I wouldve been far more impressed if Portia
had replied to the question, with brief thoughts or
her ideas for Jamaicas foreign Policy or role
internationally (Im sure she doesnt have a clue). And
by the way, what exactly is Ms Millers accomplishments
& record? As I said, her scope & competence seem far
more effective in a local office. She dabbled in
Tourism & failed at that also. Her crudeness & lack of
decorum & tact has not gone unnoticed. You are
forgetting that people like Blair & Bush were highly
successful individuals before entering politics, they

had a record as effective managers & policy & decision
makers. So much so, both, despite the controversy with
Iraqi war, won decisive mandates from electorate to
continue into another term! So continue thinking that
what Jamaica need is a "motherly touch", & "a team of
advisors".

I wish you all well.

PChin
Canada



Paul Thompson
Dear Yannick Pessoa,

I have read your letter in the Jamaica Observer, i would disagree with you on the competence of Portia Simpson-Miller as being a worthy individual for the highest seat of the land. Portia cant even run own Ministry what says the nation?

However my primary reason for opposing Portia for Prime Minister of Jamaica is that she has been apart of the political mercenary sect that has destroyed my country. The whole set of them must just move over and let another set of goodwill individuals take over governance of the country. They have by and large sown the seeds for the type of crime and violence we are experiencing in the country.


Sincerely Yours
Paul Thompson
Middle East

HURRICANE SEASONING

	Bracing for Cindy, Franklin and Irene Terry Joseph Tuesday, June 28th 2005

Devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan last year in Grenada. All indications are that the imminent hurricane season will be at least as robust as last year's, although there is no chance of having a Charley, Frances or the devastating Ivan in the line-up, as those three storm-names have all been discarded forever. The terrible trio hit last year with merciless force, Ivan claming 77 lives in the Caribbean and 52 in the US, moving the international committee of the World Meteorological Organisation to replace them with the names Cindy, Franklin and Irene for the 2005 season. Hurricane names are only deleted if a storm is so deadly or costly that use of its name in a subsequent year would be deemed insensitive. Janet, which tore into Tobago (and other places) in 1955, was consequently axed from future consideration. Six lists are used in rotation, which means we will this year again see those utilized to identify storms of 1999. In Atlantic storms, the list is topped by a name beginning with the letter A and goes sequentially through the alphabet to the letter W (historical data suggests we will never have enough storms to invoke use of X, Y or Z). READ THE REST HERE: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_features?id=85835038 How Atlantic Hurricanes Are Named: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/ "In Atlantic storms, the list is topped by a name beginning with the letter A and goes sequentially through the alphabet to the letter W (historical data suggests we will never have enough storms to invoke use of X, Y or Z). " Hurricane Arlene Hurricane Bret Hurricane Cindy Hurricane Dennis Hurricane Emily Hurricane Franklin Hurricane Gert Hurricane Harvey Hurricane Irene Hurricane Jose Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Lee Hurricane Maria Hurricane Nate Hurricane Ophelia Hurricane Philippe Hurricane Rita Hurricane Stan Hurricane Tammy Hurricane Vince Hurricane Wilma

Here comes the rain again...

Documenting Ivan, Dennis and the hurricane season...

First here are some of my Parri dem blog, weh pertain to the hurricane: Spliffie Blog and Nneka's Blog.

Well what can I say my faithful readers one and all... Dennis was no menace and paled in comparison to Ivan the terrible... Since Ivan passed ten months ago,I have been meaning to put up my Ivan pics but never got around to it but now that we are in the busy hurricane season and seeing Dennis just passed I'll post them now... And it seems that this hurricane season pelting out these beasts of nature, one-a-week, I just saw some mention of another one named Emily last night on the news... This is insane, "MI CYAAAAAAN MANAGE NUH MORE POWA CUT"
Anyway stinking JPS cutting the power before hurricane season, so fiyah bun dem... So here are the pics as promised... "YAHNYK'S HURRICANE IVAN EXTRAVAGANZA"

Trinidadian granny sits on bandit

Trinidadian granny sits on bandit - Grandson saved by 200-pounder
published: Thursday | June 30, 2005

A 73-YEAR-OLD great-grandmother in Trinidad single-handedly tackled a masked gunman who had just shot one of her grandsons, and held him until police arrived. They found the gunman crying with the woman sitting on him.

The drama began when Elise Joseph awoke just after midnight on Monday to the sounds of smashing glass and found her grandson being beaten. It was enough to make her spring into action. Joseph jumped the man, clawing, fighting, grabbing away the gun, tripping and then sitting on him. The man bit her on both arms, but was unable to get her to release him. And despite his tears and plea to be allowed to go home, Joseph, who weighs around 200 pounds, refused to budge. Each time he tried to get up she choked him. Half an hour later, the police came to find Joseph still sitting on the man in the yard of her home at Vessigny Village, La Brea.

Joseph related what happened yesterday, saying she slept through the sound of the bullets but awoke when she heard the smashing of glass. "When I opened the back door, I saw my grandson and somebody scrambling and fighting. I wasn't worried about nothing. I run down and hold on to the gun butt. The fella hold on to it too. I never hold a gun but I point it up in the air, just like what I see in the movies. I was trying to get it away. So we was pulling and tugging and falling. I take the gun from him. She said she kept a hold on the man and saw her wounded grandson fall.

Whappen to TRINI ppl and this BC word bandit man... sound like some cartoon character to RC...

Read the rest at: THE JAMAICA GLEANER