Skettel Kingdom

How the Faithful City Became a Digital Whore

My Take on Jamaica’s J$500 Million OnlyFans Bill

“How the faithful city has become a whore! She who was full of justice—righteousness lodged in her—but now murderers.” 

— Isaiah 1:21

I read that verse and used to think of ancient Jerusalem. But then, when I read the news: Jamaicans spent nearly J$500 million on OnlyFans last year, I can only think Jamaica has become The Skettel Kingdom. More than any other English‑speaking Caribbean country. According to OnlyGuider—a web activity tracker that watches the watchers—we are the top subscribers in the region. I knew there would be a reckoning for all this 4th wave feminism, Sex and the City, Fifty Shades of Grey, Mills and Boons demographic. It has brought us to the Gen Z Jezebel, the 21st century skettel and toxic femininity in heavy doses.

Half a billion dollars. For digital pumpum.

Let that settle.

The Economy Is So Good…

People will tell you this is a sign of prosperity, probably those garbed in green. Money flowing, credit cards swiping, girls getting bags. But I look at it different. If the economy was truly good, would so many young women be selling digital flesh from their bedroom? Would so many young men be either  tapping out or tapping "subscribe" instead of learning to talk to a real woman? Why is it that in this 21st century, we have digitised the world's oldest profession? Is this how far humanity has come? Is this what Jamaicans have become?

Free pumpum pic soon stop send pon WhatsApp. That era dead. Now everything is pay-per-view, subscription-based, locked behind a monthly fee. The good tings dem? You don't get them for free anymore. Even the artists—the very same dancers and influencers you see on stage—them a swear up and down that they "empowered," but at the end of the month, OnlyFans takes its 20% and London laughs all the way to the bank.

Did you all see that article of the sex group in the church in Kingston? There seems to be female sexual epidemic going on and the church has been no exception.

Gen Z Incels With Online Banking

Let me tell you about the other side of the transaction. The subscribers. A whole generation of young men—some of them incels, let's call it what it is—sitting with online banking apps and no real romantic prospects. They will tell you straight: "Mi cannot afford real pumpum." Or some will be so based and say "Rasta f--k dem bitches, they too too expensive and demanding"

So what do they do? They pay for the ethereal version. The surreal. The digital. The virtual. Pixels arranged to look like skin. A ghost you can watch but never touch. Others will invest in flesh lights or flesh like and fall further and further down the digital rabbit holes and graphic glory holes.

Mi BRC. "You will own nothing and be happy!" That is one of mantras of the technofeudal lords and the transhumanists that would see humanity diminished and subdued. This is the ethos of the Epstein class and esoteric, occult elites. That's the slogan of our age, and we have swallowed it whole. You won't own a house. You won't own land. But you will own a monthly subscription to a woman who will never know your name. And somehow we call that progress.

Could I-Wayne have said it any better when he chanted:

"Bun babylon slaveries

Dem separate man and woman 

Lock dem in a cages 

Dem seh more sodomy to less babies 

Dem seh more birth control and abortion for di ladies for ages 

Di book of life pages" 

Is this funny when you consider that Trump stopped USAID from spending millions promoting the LGBT (LGBTQQIP2SAA or LGBTIQCAPGNGFNBA) agenda in Jamaica. Now consider our declining birth rate and you don't see any connections still. Then go to https://jmail.world/ and check out Jeffrey Epstein's emails for yourself, note his interests and activities in Jamaica. Am I sounding conspiratorial now. Maybe we are just reading too much into things eh?

My searches revealed that Jeffrey Epstein had interests in Jamaica primarily related to his funding of scientific research, particularly studies on elite Jamaican sprinters. Emails indicate discussions about genetic research and its potential connection to athletic performance. 

Here's a summary of the findings: 

Scientific Research Funding: Epstein provided financial support to evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers for research, some of which focused on Jamaican sprinters. This research aimed to study the genetics of elite athletes in Jamaica, with mentions of athletes like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Yohan Blake, and Elaine Thompson.

 

Property Mentioned: An email references a property located in the "Tryall Club in Jamaica."

 

Travel: There are mentions of flights to and from Jamaica.

 

Personal Experience: An email from Peter Mandelson states he was "back from Jamaica." Another email from Robert Trivers mentions being in Jamaica and having limited internet access.

 

Overall, Epstein's interests in Jamaica appear to be primarily linked to his support for scientific research, specifically in the field of sports genetics, rather than any personal or business ventures beyond that.

Technofeudalism and Transhumanism, Right Here in Jamaica

I used those words in my comment, and people thought I was being fancy. But listen. Technofeudalism is real: the platform owns the castle, the creators are serfs, and the subscribers pay rent for a glimpse of something they'll never truly possess. OnlyFans takes its cut, sends nothing back to our economy, and we are left with less money and more loneliness.

Transhumanism sounds like science fiction until you realize it means detaching human experience from the human body. When a man pays for digital pumpum instead of seeking physical intimacy, he is already halfway to being a brain in a vat with a credit card. The flesh is no longer necessary. The algorithm is enough.

This is not a joke. This is the infection spreading through our nation.

A Deeper Look at the Birth Rate

Here is where the story gets darker. You cannot have a generation of young men satisfying their sexual needs through a screen and expect the population to replace itself.

Jamaica's birth rate has been declining for years. The latest data shows we are barely above replacement level in some parishes, and below it in others. The reasons given are always the same: cost of living, women's education, delayed marriage. All true. But let me add another reason that nobody wants to say out loud.

If boys are going digital, what are we expecting? Virtual babies?

You cannot subscribe your way to a family. A monthly OnlyFans charge does not produce a child. A screen does not hold your hand in the delivery room. And a generation of young men who have learned that intimacy is something you purchase, consume, and close like a browser tab—those men are not going to become fathers. They are not going to become husbands. They are going to become permanent subscribers, paying rent to a platform until their credit card declines.

What the Half-Billion Actually Buys

The evidence from OnlyGuider doesn't tell me whether people are spending because they are rich or because they are broken. But I know our streets. I know our unemployment lines. I know the young men who scroll for hours and the young women who calculate whether showing a little more will pay the light bill.

Half a billion dollars buys a lot of things. It could have bought microloans for small farmers. Scholarships for girls who don't want to take their clothes off. Mental health services for the lonely. Fertility support for couples who actually want children. Instead, it bought subscriptions. Screenshots. Temporary dopamine.

And at the end of the month, the content is still there, but the money is gone—and so is the next generation.

So What Does Isaiah Say to Us Now?

The prophet didn't condemn the city because of a few sex workers. He condemned it because the whole covenant system had rotted. Justice had become transaction. Righteousness had become performance. And the people had learned to pay for what once received freely—love, loyalty, touch, truth, and yes, children.

That's us. That's Jamaica in 2026. We have turned the faithful city into a digital market, and we are spending half a billion dollars to prove it. And in the same breath, we are wringing our hands about why young people aren't having babies.

You cannot replace flesh with pixels and then act surprised when the cradle stays empty.

I'm not calling for a ban. I'm not standing on a street corner with a sign. I'm just a man who saw the news, remembered the Bible, looked at my own country's birth rate, and felt something between a laugh and a sob.

The free pumpum pic really did stop sending on WhatsApp.

And now? Now we pay.

And we will own nothing.

And we will birth no one.

And somehow, we are supposed to be happy.

— A Jamaican who still remembers that children require more than a subscription.

California Fires: A Jamaican Critique of Governance, Accountability, and Preventable Tragedies

The Cali Fires

Reflections on Political and Municipal Responsibility in the Woke Khalifate

Fires in Jamaica are a common occurrence and can have devastating consequences in Shanty towns and such, and I myself when living in Kendal, Manchester as child, woke up in a burning house. I am intimate with the particular scent that massive fires have after burning houses. I still have books that smell of that burning house. I can't help thinking about that Shawn Calvin song "Sunny Came Home"... especially that line that says, "...dry is good but wind is better..."Armageddon they say will be in an apocalyptic fire. But what is an Apocalypse if not the burning away and the revelation of truth. Trial by fire as it were.

The recent wildfires in California have not only devastated communities but have also ignited a fierce debate about political and municipal ineptitude. As I observe the critiques directed at Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, particularly from those who oppose "woke" and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, I find myself in agreement with many of these sentiments. These wildfires in California have become a tragic annual spectacle to the global news viewer. Towering flames consume homes, forests, and lives, and while the world watches in horror, one can’t help but wonder: could this all have been avoided? From where I sit in Jamaica, a land familiar with the wrath of nature, the answer feels like a resounding “Yes." The fires are predictable, and therefore, preventable. So why does California, one of the wealthiest places on Earth, seem so incapable of stopping them? 

The fires are not just tragic events; they expose significant failures in leadership and governance. As a Jamaican, I view these fires not just as natural disasters but as glaring symbols of political ineptitude, misplaced priorities, and systemic negligence. Let’s explore this issue from a uniquely Jamaican perspective, with a touch of cynicism, a splash of insight, and a strong dose of accountability. For as I pen this post I've had to ask my mother the family hub, about the family in California practically every other day last week. Though she says they're safe one can't help but feel a tad edgy and remember why I lobby for all our diaspora to have some place and hub out of Jamaica.

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Fire and Accountability: Where’s the Leadership?

In Jamaica, we have a saying: “Prevention better than cure.” It’s simple, direct, and rooted in common sense. When we know a hurricane is coming, we prepare. We board up our windows, stock up on supplies, and rely on our leaders to put systems in place to minimize damage. Disaster preparedness here isn’t perfect, but it’s proactive. 

Contrast this with California, where wildfires are as inevitable as sunshine, and yet the response often seems like an afterthought. The question is: where's the leadership? Officials like Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are quick to make speeches, but what about action? If a government knows these fires are coming every year, why isn’t there a more robust strategy in place?

In Jamaica, our **Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM)** works tirelessly to anticipate and mitigate the effects of hurricanes. We try to enforce strict building codes though even the Prime Minister himself flouts them from time to time. We conduct public education campaigns, and maintain community disaster plans. If Jamaica, with its limited resources, can do this for hurricanes, why can’t California do the same for wildfires? Huh???

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Negligence or Ineptitude? A Legal and Ethical Perspective

From a legal standpoint, California’s failure to prevent these fires could be seen as a breach of  “duty of care.”  In Jamaican law, negligence occurs when a party fails to act reasonably to prevent foreseeable harm. By this standard, California’s leaders and utility companies like PG&E could find themselves squarely in the crosshairs. 

Let’s break this down:

• If the government knows that electrical sparks from outdated grids can ignite fires, why hasn’t it invested in infrastructure upgrades?
• If wildfires are exacerbated by overgrown vegetation, why aren’t there more controlled burns and firebreaks?
• If zoning laws allow people to build homes in high-risk areas, who’s responsible when those homes go up in flames?

These aren’t rhetorical questions. They’re the kinds of hard truths Jamaicans demand from our leaders. When something goes wrong here, we don’t dance around the issue—we demand accountability. Maybe California could use a bit of our fiery spirit, pun intended.

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Woke Policies vs. Practical Solutions

Now, let’s talk about the critique of “woke” policies and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, which some argue have distracted leaders like Newsom and Mayor Bass from practical governance. As a Jamaican, I understand the importance of equity—our national motto is literally, “Out of Many, One People.” In Jamaica I think most people get it that we want equal opportunity and not equal outcomes. So equity isn’t just about representation; it’s about ensuring that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, is protected.

When fires ravage California, it’s often the poorest communities that suffer the most. They’re the ones with the least resources to rebuild, the least political clout to demand better, and the least ability to escape. If leaders are spending more time on ideological posturing than on preventing disasters, then yes, they deserve criticism. Equity must extend beyond boardrooms and policy documents to include real-world protection for those at risk. 3.9% of donations must not be filtered to any political campaigns or organisation like some have tried to get by with in recent days. If you are donating please don't do it through Mr. Newsom.

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Lessons from Europe: How Others Tackle Wildfires

California isn’t the only place dealing with wildfires. Countries like Spain, Portugal, and Greece face similar challenges but often handle them more effectively. Here’s what they’re doing right:

1. **Controlled Burns:**    
   European nations regularly conduct controlled burns to reduce flammable vegetation. California has been criticized for neglecting this simple, effective practice.
2. **Infrastructure Upgrades:**  
   In Europe, utility companies are held accountable for maintaining safe electrical grids. In California, PG&E has faced lawsuits but continues to fall short. Why?
3. **Strict Zoning Laws:**  
   European countries enforce laws that prevent construction in high-risk areas, unlike California, where urban sprawl often pushes communities into fire-prone zones.
4. **Community Involvement:**  
   Europeans actively engage local communities in wildfire prevention efforts. This approach mirrors Jamaica’s reliance on community disaster response teams, where local knowledge plays a crucial role.

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Elon Musk, Mel Gibson, and the Culture of Distrust

Even cultural icons have weighed in on California’s wildfires. Elon Musk, ever the technophile, has criticized the state for failing to innovate, suggesting that drones, AI, and other technologies could revolutionize wildfire prevention. He’s not wrong. California, with its wealth and tech industry, has no excuse for not leading the world in disaster prevention technology.

Then there’s Mel Gibson, whose more conspiratorial tone reflects a broader mistrust in the system. When preventable disasters keep happening, people start to wonder: is this incompetence, or is there something more sinister at play? While I won’t dive into conspiracy theories, it’s clear that these repeated failures have eroded public trust in California’s leadership.

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A Jamaican Call for Better Governance

From a Jamaican perspective, the California fires are a tragic reminder of what happens when leaders fail to prioritize the basics: preparation, accountability, and care for the public good. Here in Jamaica, we know that nature is unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean it’s unbeatable. We prepare, we adapt, and we hold our leaders accountable.

California, take a page from our book. Stop making excuses, stop pointing fingers, and start doing the work. Invest in controlled burns, upgrade your infrastructure, enforce zoning laws, and engage your communities. And for heaven’s sake, stop letting utility companies and water managers off the hook.

As we say in Jamaica: “If yuh cyaan ketch Quako, yuh ketch him shut.” In other words, if you can’t fix the problem at its root, at least address the symptoms. California’s leaders have no excuse for letting predictable disasters spiral into chaos year after year. Captain's must take responsibility for the ship, ain't it?

It’s time for action, not just rhetoric. The fires may be burning in California, but the heat is on its leaders to finally step up.

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Conclusion

The California fires are a tragedy, but they don’t have to be inevitable. From a Jamaican perspective, the solution lies in accountability, preparedness, and a commitment to protecting all citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful. Let’s hope California’s leaders are listening—because if they aren’t, the flames will be back, fiercer than ever.

Out Here On A Limb!

The Great Renaming: A Humorous Yet Thought-Provoking Musing on Animal Anatomy and Evolution 

Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hats—or your fins, wings, and webbed fingers, as the case may be—because I am here to challenge the very foundations of zoological nomenclature with the audacity of a squirrel challenging gravity during a leap of faith. It's time we reexamine what we *think* we know about our animal kin. Let me present to you a thesis that is as witty as it is scientifically provocative: Animals are mislabeled, misunderstood, and dare I say, misrepresented in the great book of life.  

All the data presented here is based on my own HANDS ON experience!

The Case Against "Four-Footedness"  

Let’s take a moment and truly consider the so-called "four-footed" animals. Cats and dogs—pardon, *puss and dawg*—are among the most egregious victims of this anatomical propaganda. Anyone who has spent years sketching their skeletal frames (as I have, with the fervour of a Renaissance anatomist) will tell you: the front "legs" of these creatures are not legs at all, but rather arms. Yes, arms! The bone structure is nearly identical to the human arm—humerus, radius, ulna, and let’s not even get started on the wrist-like carpus.  

And those paws? They’re hands in disguise, my friends. Hands! Observe a cat batting at a toy or a dog digging a hole with surgical precision, and tell me that isn’t a form of manual dexterity. If these creatures are walking on all fours, they are, in fact, walking on their hands. Ponder that the next time you see a Labrador sauntering down the street with regal nonchalance.  

Kangaroos are fascinating creatures, particularly when you examine their front limbs, which resemble human arms in both structure and function. These "arms" are equipped with powerful pectoral muscles that enable them to deliver impressive punches during their unique form of boxing. When kangaroos engage in this sparring behavior, their muscular build and the ability to extend their limbs showcase a remarkable similarity to human upper-body mechanics. The kangaroo’s forelimbs are not just for balance or support; they are adept at striking, allowing these marsupials to assert dominance and communicate through physical displays. This anthropomorphic quality in their anatomy highlights the evolutionary adaptations that allow kangaroos to thrive in their environment while also captivating our imagination with their human-like strength and agility. Don't you think it is something to think about or consider?

Birds Do Not Have Wings—They Have Hands That Fly  

Now, let us turn to the aviators of the animal kingdom: birds. The so-called "wing" is nothing more than a glorified hand wearing a particularly fashionable feathered cape. Anatomically speaking, the avian wing comprises the same basic structure as your own arm—shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Yes, fingers! Those feathers are just the avant-garde extensions of what evolutionarily amounts to jazz hands.  

Bats, of course, have taken this concept to its logical extreme. Their "wings" are merely webbed fingers stretched to improbable lengths, like something out of a Tim Burton sketchbook. They don’t flap wings; they high-five the air.  

The Aquatic Ape Theory: Humans, Seals, and the Ghosts of Our Webbed Ancestors  

Now that we’ve established the hand-walking, hand-flying reality of terrestrial and aerial creatures, let’s dive—literally—into the aquatic realm. There’s a theory, whispered among the more rebellious anthropologists, that humans are not merely distant cousins of the chimpanzee but rather the offspring of an aquatic ape. Think about it: humans are oddly suited for water. We have subcutaneous fat (blubber, if you will) much like seals and whales, and our babies, when submerged, instinctively hold their breath and perform a rudimentary doggy paddle. Could it be that we are the web-fingered descendants of some long-forgotten coastal ape that decided to take a swim and never stopped?  

Seals, of course, are the obvious sea-dog analog. Their skeletal structure screams "canine cousin," and their vocalizations—those charming *arfs*—are but a watery echo of their terrestrial counterparts. Meanwhile, the walrus, with its saber-toothed maw, could very well be the aquatic equivalent of a prehistoric lion forced to adapt to icy oceans.  

Whales, Wolves, and Porpoise-Pigs  

And what of the great leviathans of the sea? Whales are often said to have evolved from wolf-like ancestors, and dolphins, in ancient times, bore the name "porpoise," a term derived from the Latin *porcus piscis*, meaning "pig fish." While I admit I have yet to personally compare dolphin and pig bones in the manner of a Victorian naturalist, the linguistic and behavioral parallels are uncanny.  

Dolphins are social, intelligent, and occasionally mischievous—traits they share with pigs. Perhaps they are the aquatic swine of yore, frolicking in the waves instead of rooting in the dirt.

Lobsters, Scorpions, and the Arthropod Ancestry  

Finally, let us consider the crustaceans and their terrestrial doppelgängers. Is a lobster not but a scorpion in a diving suit? And what of the crab, with its spider-like gait and penchant for scuttling sideways? Shrimp and roaches, too, seem to share a common lineage, their exoskeletal forms suggesting a family reunion that spans both land and sea.  

A Call to Action (and Renaming)  

Time for a New Nomenclature

So, my fellow thinkers, artists, and amateur anatomists, I propose that we abandon outdated labels like "four-footed" and "winged" in favor of terms that reflect the reality of these creatures’ anatomy and evolution. Let us celebrate the hand-walking, hand-flying, web-fingered wonders of our world. And while we’re at it, let’s give some thought to the connections that bind us all—from the scuttling lobster to the soaring bird, from the barking dog to the blubbery seal.  

After all, in the grand tapestry of life, we are all but variations on a theme, our bones echoing the same ancient melodies, our forms shaped by the whims of evolution. And if that’s not worth a hearty *arf* or a jubilant high-five, I don’t know what is.  

References:  

- Darwin, C. (1859). *On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.* (Also, a great read if you like long sentences and Victorian drama.)  

- Shubin, N. (2008). *Your Inner Fish.* (Or, why your hand is also a fish fin.)  

- Ancient sailors who mistook dolphins for pigs and seals for sea-dogs. (Unpublished anecdotes but undeniably compelling.)  

And with that, I leave you to ponder the marvels of the natural world, one humorous bone structure at a time.

G-Nomads Comic by Yannick Pessoa

As a writer and artist who struggles to make it in Jamaica my passion projects get put to the side in pursuit of what’s financially sound, viable and feasible. As such sometimes I feel my brain gets crammed up and crowded with unrealized, unreleased and yet to be unleashed ideas. Many days and months I feel my brain will explode with dreams and ideas yet to be manifested!

This is but one of my comic adventures…

Meet the G-Nomads!!!

In a world where a subset of humans known as Meta sapiens are emerging with extraordinary genetic mutations and abilities, fear and prejudice run rampant. Governments and private organizations seek to control or exploit these "enhanced" individuals, while extremist groups view them as abominations to be eradicated.

Enter Dr. Y, a charismatic and powerful Rastafarian leader who has established a clandestine network called the G-Nomads. Inspired by the Underground Railroad that aided escaped enslaved people, the G-Nomads rescue persecuted Meta sapiens and provide them safe haven in hidden compounds scattered across Bay City and the Caribbean island of "Xaymaca."

At the heart of the story is a diverse group of young Meta sapiens, each with their own unique abilities and personal struggles. Some have been forced into hiding, others exploited by nefarious forces, and many simply fear for their lives due to public hysteria. Under Dr. Y's guidance and the G-Nomads' protection, they must come to terms with their extraordinary powers while grappling with the ethical implications of using them.

The narrative explores parallels between the Meta sapien experience and real-world civil rights movements, drawing inspiration from the American Civil War, the fight to end transatlantic slavery, and modern issues like human trafficking. Dr. Y's Rastafarian philosophies and beliefs intersect with the mutant phenomenon, providing a unique cultural lens on evolution, oppression, and the struggle for freedom.

Overarching conflicts arise as governing bodies and corporations increasingly view Meta sapiens as commodities to be exploited or threats to be neutralized. Radical factions emerge on both sides, some Meta sapiens becoming radicalized against their human oppressors, while others preach peaceful coexistence. The G-Nomads find themselves caught in the middle, protecting their charges while navigating a world that fears and discriminates against them.

Personal arcs explore individual Meta sapiens coming to grips with their abilities, whether to embrace their powers openly or remain in hiding, the psychological toll of constant persecution, and the challenges of forging a unified community out of a diverse group of outsiders.

With tones blending sci-fi action, social commentary, and character-driven drama akin to Doom Patrol, and The Umbrella Academy, G-Nomads offers a fresh perspective on the mutant metaphor by filtering it through the lens of the African diaspora and Rastafarian culture. At its core, it's a story of finding one's place in an unaccepting world, the importance of chosen family, and the never-ending fight for equality and justice.

The conceptualization of the first 3 pages for a G-Nomads comic book:

PAGE ONE

Panel 1: Large, widescreen panel of a bustling city street at night. Neon signs, traffic lights, and headlights cut through the shadows and grime. In the foreground, a YOUNG MAN runs down an alley, fear etched on his face as he looks over his shoulder.

Panel 2: Close-up of the Young Man's eyes, glowing with an eerie, otherworldly energy.

SFX: HUM-MMMMM

Panel 3: The Young Man teleports in a blinding flash of light and energy, just as two heavily armed guards round the corner of the alley, weapons drawn.

GUARD 1: What the--?!

GUARD 2: Dammit! Another Meta freak!

PAGE TWO 

Panel 1: Large, stylized title card that dominates the page: G-NOMADS

Panel 2: A series of quick slices/inset panels showing brief glimpses of people using extraordinary abilities - energy blasts, telekinesis, elemental control. The panels contrast with images of fearful human crowds reacting in terror.

Panel 3: An advanced genetics laboratory, with scientists in lab coats studying DNA strands, cells mutating on a cellular level under microscopes.

Panel 4: Exterior shot of a well-fortified but camouflaged compound hidden in a lush, overgrown Caribbean setting. Rastafarian disciples in purple and green garb move about, as Meta sapien children play with fantastic elemental conjurings of energy, fire, water, etc.

PAGE THREE

Panel 1: DR. Y, an imposing Rastafarian figure with long dreadlocks, emerges from a dwelling, surveying the scene before him with a measured gaze.

Panel 2: Inset panels contrasting two scenes - fearful human crowd reacting with anger and aggression, juxtaposed with determined, powerful-looking Meta sapien teens.

Panel 3: Dr. Y crouches down, placing a calming hand on the shoulder of a young Meta sapien child, looking paternal but formidable.

Panel 4: Dramatic close-up on Dr. Y's intense eyes, burning with resolve and conviction. Meta sapien children flex their energy/elemental abilities behind him.

Let me know if this script hits the right visual notes to effectively set up the world, characters and tone I’m striving for with G-Nomads in the first few pages!

On Being a Grassroots Activist in Western Jamaica

As a resident of Montego Bay, Jamaica, I have seen the amazing work being done by grassroots activists in my community and around the world. These change-makers are truly the backbone of local empowerment, working tirelessly to address social, political, and economic injustices. They are the ones fighting to modify unfair laws, promoting peace, human rights, and equality, and responding to emergencies with unwavering courage and determination.

As an activist in Paradise Acres and Norwood I have experienced firsthand the challenges facing grassroots projects and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the country. Despite the tireless efforts of those who seek to create positive change in their communities, the obstacles are numerous, from the walls that separate bureaucracy from grassroots initiatives to the lack of government support for social entrepreneurship. Not only that but, grassroots activists often face tremendous challenges. Corruption, lack of funding, and a lack of support from allies that can make it difficult for these change-makers to sustain their efforts and continue to make a positive impact in their communities.

Before I dive too deeply into this discussion let me clarifying what I mean by grassroot activism. Grassroots activism is a bottom-up approach to social and political change that empowers individuals and communities to address their own issues and bring about positive change. In Montego Bay, Jamaica, community-based organizations and civil society groups are on the front-lines of these grassroot initiatives working towards creating a better future for the people of Jamaica.

Montego Bay, located on the northwest coast of Jamaica, is one of the island's largest cities and a major tourist destination. The history of Montego Bay is intertwined with Jamaica's colonial past, with the city serving as a hub for the slave trade and later as a center for the export of sugar and other crops. Despite its rich history, Montego Bay continues to face numerous social and economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and crime.

Paradise Acres and Norwood Montego Bay are two communities within the city that are particularly affected by these issues. Despite the difficulties they face, local residents are taking action to improve their communities and address the problems they face. The thing about grassroots activism though is... it is heartbreaking work and in my Caribbean island of Jamaica, it is a land of both breathtaking beauty and heart-wrenching tragedy. For those of us who call this place home, heartbreak is a familiar feeling, as we've lost friends and loved ones to all manner of circumstances.  In the words of the great Bob Marley "Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost along the way, In this great future, you can't forget your past So dry your tears, I seh ."

But one loss in particular still haunts me - the death of my friend Rasta Errol.

Errol was a member of the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society, an organization established to provide care and support to the marginalized Rastafari community in the aftermath of the Coral Gardens atrocities of 1963. I had last seen him at a seminar for capacity building and an RCGBS meeting, full of life and energy as he discussed the future of the organization and the community it serves. But just a few short days later, while walking in the People's Arcade, he was viciously attacked by a group of men with knives and died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

This tragedy is not just a personal loss, but a devastating blow to the community as a whole. It highlights the ongoing struggles faced by Jamaica's marginalized groups, and the urgent need for organizations like the RCGBS to continue their efforts in providing support and protection.

 

But it is not just the Rastafari community that is facing challenges. Civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in Montego Bay and across Jamaica are also grappling with bureaucratic hurdles and confusing legal parameters that limit their freedom of association. The nonprofit industrial complex (NPIC) in Jamaica has been criticized for its lack of support for these organizations, with the state and its partners seemingly more interested in giving money to abstract concepts and causes than to the people who desperately need it.

I have seen the barriers that exist between activists, donors, and ally organizations, like international NGOs. Donors and allies often struggle to connect with grassroots groups and understand the unique challenges they face. This can lead to limited funding and resources being directed towards organizations considered to be more stable, trustworthy, and less "controversial." Meanwhile, the limited resources available for grassroots activists often come with excessive requirements and foster competition between groups, rather than supporting collaboration and cooperation.

This situation is not sustainable. Activists are forced to become more and more resilient, but they cannot continue to carry the weight of their causes on their own. They are asking for change, for a world where their work is recognized, resourced, and supported. It's time for us to stand with them, to understand the importance of their work, and to provide the support they need to continue making a positive impact in our world. 

I believe in the power of grassroots activism. I believe in the strength of community-based organizations that are truly driven by the people, for the people. I believe that tearing down the walls between bureaucracies and making the internal bureaucracy more flexible will lead to more resilient communities and a better future for Jamaica and its pan-African heart.

I also believe in the power of social entrepreneurship, which I see as a way to address large-scale issues in a sustainable and effective manner. But this requires a change in thinking and action on the part of the government and its partners, and so far, discussions on this topic have not taken place at a significant level.

So in sharing my experience I am calling upon all those who care about the future of Jamaica and its people to come together, to centralize our efforts, and to fight for a better tomorrow. Let us honor the memory of all those who have suffered and died in the face of injustice and inequality. This is a call to action for all of us who believe in the power of grassroots activism to bring about positive change. By breaking down the barriers that stand between grassroots activists, donors, and allies, we can create powerful, empowered alliances that will help bring about the change we need to see in our world.

I am out here and on the front-lines seeking ways in this movement, bringing together community to work towards a common goal. Through collective action and a shared commitment to change, we can support and uplift the tireless efforts of grassroots activists everywhere. In a world that is more challenged and politically divided than ever, unity is essential. By coming together in solidarity, we can ensure that grassroots activists are valued, resourced, and supported as they work towards a better future for us all. Join the revolution, and work towards a world where change-makers on the front-lines are recognized, resourced, and supported!

Jamaican Top Ten Movies - A 2023 List

Jamaica has a rich and diverse film industry, producing a wide range of films that explore the country's culture, history, and politics. Not like this list hasn't been done all over there internet, and even on this blog,! However for some reason I feel compelled to do it again for 2023. So here is another top ten list of notable Jamaican films:

1. "The Harder They Come" (1972) - This iconic film stars Jimmy Cliff as a young man who moves to Kingston to become a musician and ends up becoming a notorious outlaw. It is widely considered a classic of Jamaican cinema and is credited with introducing reggae music to a worldwide audience.

   

2. "Rockers" (1978) - This film is a classic roots reggae movie that tells the story of a group of musicians in Kingston, Jamaica who are trying to make a living in the music industry. It stars Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, a real-life reggae drummer and actor, and features an all-star cast of Jamaican musicians.

   

3. "Third World Cop" (1999) - This is a crime action film that follows a young police officer in Jamaica as he struggles to fight against the drug trade and corruption in his community. It stars Jamaican actor Paul Campbell and features a memorable performance by the late legendary Jamaican DJ and actor, Carl Bradshaw.
   
   

4. "Dancehall Queen" (1997) - This film is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a poor Jamaican woman who becomes a popular dancehall queen. It stars Audrey Reid and is directed by Don Letts.

   
   

5. "One Love" (2003) - This film is a romantic drama that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman from a rival community and must navigate the cultural differences and conflicts that arise as a result. It stars Ky-Mani Marley, the son of Bob Marley, and is directed by Rick Elgood.

6. "Cool Runnings" (1993) - This is a American sports comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub, it is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsleigh team's debut in competition during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The film stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba and John Candy.

7. "Shottas" (2002) - A crime film that tells the story of two young men who grow up in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica and become involved in the world of organized crime. The film stars Ky-Mani Marley and Spragga Benz, and is directed by Cess Silvera.

8. "Countryman" (1982) - A film that tells the story of a fisherman who becomes a local hero in Jamaica after discovering a valuable underwater treasure. It stars Winston Ntshona and is directed by Dickie Jobson.

9. "The Lunatic" (1992) - this is a Jamaican drama film directed by Chris Browne and starring Paul Campbell and Carl Bradshaw. The film tells the story of a man who is released from a mental institution and returns home to Jamaica, where he faces numerous challenges and struggles to rebuild his life.

10. "Smile Orange" (1976) - a Jamaican film directed by Perry Henzell, is a satire about a struggling Jamaican resort hotel, as seen through the eyes of the hotel's staff and guests. The film is considered a classic and a cult film of the Jamaican cinema, it stars Carl Bradshaw and Raymond St. Jacques.

Other noteworthy mentions include "Jamaica, Jamaica" (2020), "Kingston Paradise" (2012), "Better Mus' Come" (2011), "No Place Like Home" (2001), "

Religion’s Impact on a young Jamaican Psyche

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”

― Issac Asimov

This week I think it reasonable to open my article with a quote from a Sci-Fi writer as we are living in some really sci-fi times, with bizarre cults and a fracturing society. I want to examine how religion affects the minds of Jamaican youth and how it impacted mine. Here is my story…

 At age 10, I became an atheist. Today as it pertains to God I am agnostic leaning to atheist, as a Rastafari, my faith is hinged on pan africanism, afrofuturism and a spirituality more akin to archaeology and anthropology of everything African... From ancient gods to ancestors. However, how did I become this person, how did a 10 year old in Norwood, Montego Bay become an atheist or an agnostic?

Well I attended many churches. First one I mainly remember well is Holy Trinity out by Westgate, where my beloved Grand Ma was a devout member. I remember my terrifying christening there... a ritual that I resisted since it wasn't my own volition. I remember the Father well, a well mannered enough man but that church bored me to tears and was steeped in Montego Bay's social politics. Or so it seemed to me as a young one. Then when I began attending Mt. Alvernia Prep Catholicism was introduced to me but my domestic set up was anti Catholic to a degree and very wary of homosexuality and catomite altered altar boys, and from my young perspective seeing their church attire and sometimes smoking priests gave even the young me the impression this place was at once too liberal in some regard and yet wound up in chants and ritual, and was just as boring in sound and song as Anglican.

My mother dabbled in the world of Pentecostal church with one Pastor Nigel who was killed in a house robbery at Bogue. She would eventually settle at Hillview Baptist church where many a community youth I were familiar with went and so I felt comfortable there and the service wasn't that boring... and by the time I was in grade 3, I had watched The Robe and Jesus of Nazareth so many times that I one day became so stupefied by Jesus' sacrifice and peaceful way that I to my chagrin then said to my mother that I wanted to be " A fighter for Jesus". An incident my cousin Camara Brown and brother Dax Pessoa never fail to remind me about or gimmicks me about and oh how I cringe hearing the tale repeated. My family was elated, especially my mother. And like a well brainwashed soldier, high on Jesus hopped up an reinforced by Peter Parker Spider-man and his motto of great power brings great responsibility, Star Trek and Data's and Spock's brands of stoicism and utilitarian logic "the good of the many outweighs the good of the few".

Imagine the melee of ideas like these in the mind of a black child that believed his mother sang young gifted and black to him, whose grandma was in the UNIA... Imagine the mind molded in a Christian yet pan African household... I was charged up... a young black superhero... young gifted and black... I was the X-Men, Malcolm X-Men School for gifted... “Mi start get up early go church walk by mi self, go Sunday school, stay for big church, trying to get more moral more good a try understand God’s will... What did he want me to do etc? Granted hormones had become a problem, I went to church religiously and imbibed the message though as an early puberty child, I was lusting after the young girls in tight dresses, plus maybe some of my mother’s friends in all their church dress plumpness and pulchritude.

 

Beyond that I was good and ready to be a saint… I really did consider being a pastor… eeek! Oh I prayed to have wisdom like Solomon after al my mother wanted my middle name to be Nestor god of wisdom and my father wanted it to be the wise nesta Marley, I prayed like Samuel to be chosen, to ask for wisdom and granted health and length of days… “yep be a wise 'gallis' like Solomon and not to be gal clown like Samson.” Oh how silly I was. But I took spiritual matters and science very seriously from the day I was born. These meant everything to me, them and Africa… so they had to collide.

As in the back of my mind was marinating a debate that had happened one Sunday on the verandah, my father and uncles were debating God. My uncle Hugh Thompson a devout atheist was at it against my uncle David Brown a very religious man, they had asked my father to weigh in and I remembered his words well, "If Zeus and such are Greek and Norse and Roman mythology, then our religion might just be Jewish mythology" and forever that moment it dawned on my that I simply assumed Christians were right. But that didn't cause my divorce psychologically from church.

It came one Sunday when my Sunday school teacher were giving a Sunday school lesson on revelations, it was my common entrance year, but what in the sermon caused the great divorce and moment of cognitive dissonance is when she informed be Jews get a second chance on Judgement day but gentile which we all were would be judged and if not found worthy would be tossed in hell fire... how could even God be sort of racist and biased and if he didn't rather me or black people it can't work and I wanted no more part in it and maybe it was Jewish mythology and not my story or mythos. I would years later find out Pessoa is a Jewish last name but little comfort anyway. And so I wrestled with it inside. And when I mentioned it to friends they all looked scared or told me not to think so much. When I told my mother it became a family crisis for all of high school. I was recommended to speak with this person or that parson... only for all my questions to come up unanswered but everyone wanted me to just accept without irrefutable proof or sound logic and science that God is real... I was no longer the good son but now spaced out, a possible high school weed head even though I never knew what a spliff was, I was wayward etc.. I was a victim of fads, they said I was easily swayed.

The tribulations of not walking in religious norm followed me to the UWI, where in my first semester a big argument with Ms. Kitty after she attacked me as the devil worshiper (I wonder if she remembers that!), whilst I was reasoning with someone else on Atheism. She and that debate led a portion of people to dub me as devil boy... ironic that at home in my community I was called Jesus… but I was persecuted over my opinion and belief. So when I say I understand the rigors of being ostracized by Christians and Christianity to be ridiculed and persecuted despite all my logic and scientific methodology, my critical thinking.... I understand how a religion can put enmity in family, the familiar and the familial.

So let us not heap scorn and condemnation in the Pathway congregation... Who controls your mind... is it Mark Zuckerberg, Rachel Maddow, Jewish myth writers who goads yours mind and prompts your ideas who coaxed you and cajoled your brain? Did the influence of external thought and ideas from outside u ever make u take stance and divides from friends and family?

About the author: Yannick Nesta Pessoa B.A. is Jamaica’s first blogger, a Social Advocate, Community Activist and Philosopher. Follow on Twitter & Instagram @yahnyk. Follow on Youtube @ and Reply to yannickpessoa@gmail.com

A Concise History of MoBay

Montego Bay is the most urban setting in St. James. An early map of Jamaica has Montego Bay listed as “Bahia de Manteca” or “Lard Bay,” so called because of the lard making industry made possible by the hunting of wild boars which populated the surrounding hills. Montego Bay was a sugar and banana town but the sugar factories were closed and bananas are now shipped out from Kingston and Port Antonio.

Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second largest city. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Montego Bay is also among the top five fastest growing urban centres in the country. The growth is spurred by tourism, which is the major foreign exchange earner for the parish of St. James. The high number of tourist attractions and resorts in Montego Bay provide employment for hundreds of Jamaicans. Over 80 per cent of the entire parish is dependent on tourism.

Flash Point 2022

The Eye of the Tiger

“Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead.”
― Yvonne Woon, Dead Beautiful

As we look at 2021 in the rearview mirror, Jamaica, let's keep our eyes on the road through 2022. There be many a rut and potholes ahead for this chevied country as we will commemorate its 60th year of alleged political Independence from August 6, 1962. Before that, our beloved island was a British colony. And in discussing the British Monarchy and Jamaica, we cannot do so without acknowledging the history of how the relationship began. In 2001 The Transatlantic slave trade was recognised in the UN Durban Declaration as a crime against humanity. The total scale of loss and underdevelopment caused by the colonial project is almost incalculable. Jamaica's past cannot be undone; that does not mean her future must be determined by terms dictated centuries ago. We must examine this issue keenly, as 2022 is the Chinese year of the tiger. I think as Rasta lions, black panthers, maybe we use the eye of the tiger to examine this matter and to look at our collective future.

A rough guide to Jamaica's history goes like this: The island became an imperial colony in 1508 when Spain appropriated an indigenous peoples' land. In 1655, Brits forcefully got hold of the island with barely a battle, and thus the British Empire claimed it. Over time, slaves who seized their freedom joined the indigenous Taino on interior of the isle, eventually being labelled by Europeans as Maroons. The Maroons won one of the wars with British forces circa. 1728-1740 but then lost a second war circa. 1795-1796. In the 1800s, slavery was abolished after the rebellions of Sam Sharpe and Paul Bogle, it was then that Jamaicans derived the right to vote, though the British still maintained power.

Kicking off Pan Africanism in the 20th century, Marcus Garvey advanced black nationalism and went on to be the most illustrious black leader of that era. During the Great Depression, workers protested inequality and agitated the authorities in Jamaica and other Caribbean colonies. By 1943, labour leader Alexander Bustamante gained an electoral victory and founded a new, liberal constitution. After the Second World War, Jamaican leadership formulated the government structure to gear up for Independence. In 1962, Bustamante's party the Jamaica Labour Party won the election and he became premier. That year, the Britain's Parliament formally accorded Jamaica Independence, and Bustamante was converted to the independent country's first prime minister.

2022 is Jamaica's Flash Point, and in the regional political aftermath of Barbados declaring its republican status, disembarrassing itself of the bonds of England's monarchy, Jamaicans returned to its chant for republican standing. Now to boldly go where Caribbean nations have gone before, our Constitution requires that there be a national referendum, until then we are all loyal subjects of Her Majesty The Queen, her heirs, and successors. BroGad does not seem apt to the task as he keeps genuflecting to Trump and Biden, so willing to toby to the United States that he says we live in their backyard and begged Her Majesty to be Privy to the Council. Prime Minister Holness, in his usual political cowardice and dodgy shiftiness, has replied by alleging that there are numerous developmental matters that must be handled before he can unctuously and unconditionally defend ending the nation's noose held by Brittany. A powerful question is: If not now, when? If it is not us, who?

It has been argued that Jamaica has not yet reached a level of economic development that would warrant a Jamaican head of State. Similar ideas and questions were posed at the time of Independence. In 1962 commentators posited the stage of Jamaica's social development and cast doubt on the new nation's ability to exist as a stable democracy. We must remember that loyalty to the Crown was once sacrosanct for many Jamaicans and I suspect BroGad; some called Britain the motherland. Generations later, despite their labour and migration, status and statehood is disavowed by the UK's Foreign Ministry

The existence of a developmental stage at which Jamaica should have her own head of State implies pastoral and benevolent qualities of monarchy, a benevolence that slavery has shown us is not characteristic of England in reality. Is it true that Jamaica should at some point become a parliamentary republic only when arbitrary goals or conditions have been met. NO! Jamaicans have always deserved sovereignty!

Just imagine, how would our national heroes and heroine react to the question of our nation moving forward to being a republic? Like many a christian ask, what would Jesus do? We ask ourselves now as a nation; What would Marcus Garvey undoubtedly say but, “Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will.” Norman Manley, who had already said, “Mission accomplished,” with regard to the acquisition of political Independence, would at present emphasize that the route to economic independence, which is the next pivotal step, may only be rightfully attained within the context of self-rule, emboldened by full sovereignty. Sam Sharpe would want to know if he had died in vain, after resisted  his colonial masters, choosing to die on yonder gallows rather than live in slavery. Paul Bogle and George William Gordon, who both gave their lives as well for the noble cause of freeing their black brothers and sisters from oppression, would be impatient in terms of their country doing what is long overdue and what is right. Finally, Nanny, who helped to defeat our British masters, would be shocked to know that we are still kowtowing to Her Majesty or whomever sits on the British throne. Time has come!

On that note, the nation must realize that the acquisition of republican standing is inextricably joined to constitutional reform. As the UWI and UTech conveyor belt churn out lawyers yearly, and the nation has many inside and outside of the political sphere, yet our legislative agenda has been less than spectacular. Golding has shown a knack for getting things done legally, as is evidenced by his stint as minister of justice from 2012 to 2016. This is his opportunity to spearhead a thrust that the nation needs. But key to this movement is for there to be intensive public education, as well as community and sectoral discussions so that the people can understand what is at stake.

Now the major question is... What will Jamaica look like when every child learns that their countries' leadership has thrown off the vestiges of colonialism and their sovereignty is not circumscribed; how then will they chart Jamaica's future?

About the author: Yannick Nesta Pessoa B.A. is Jamaica’s first blogger, a Social Advocate, Community Activist and Legal Student.  Follow on Twitter & Instagram @yahnyk. Follow on Youtube @ and Reply to yannickpessoa@gmail.com

Dear Paradise II: Another Love Letter to My Community

As long as I breathe, I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fight for the future, that radiant future, in which man, strong and beautiful, will become master of the drifting stream of his history and will direct it towards the boundless horizons of beauty, joy and happiness!
-Leon Trotsky

Dear Family, friends, community members, associates one and all,

You may be a parent, teacher, police officer, young person, community activist, or someone angered by what you see wrong in Jamaica, Mobay and Paradise. I would like to invite you into a space of uncompromised honesty. Let us engage each other in conversation, not primarily as scholars wanting to defend a theory, or as politicians seeking to win votes or advance a public policy agenda, or even as activists fighting for a cause, but instead, just as human beings trying to understand, as clearly as possible, our situation and condition at this turbulent moment in history.

As activists or community member I am sure your anger is sparked by gun violence, youth unemployment, classism, social justice or inequality — or you simply don’t understand why some people are upset — you are not alone. Like many, you might feel helpless, thinking, “I could never make a real difference or lasting change.” But you’d be wrong. Humans are such a complex species. We could not figure out the mind of a human, no matter how hard we tried. Psychology touches on some of the behavioral and thought processes that are experienced by a human, but Psychology will never be completely factual because the human brain is far too complicated.



We want the world to be a happy and just place, maybe it will or won’t be so. But you must know that change comes from parents and teachers who instill the power of critical thinking in children and teens. It comes from leaders who build relationships between diverse people and organizations. It comes from everyday people who think deeply about problems and solutions. How does this happen? We cannot begin to make effective change in our communities until we recognize how we are intricately connected to the people and issues we want to change.

Community is like family; and like all families, we may not always get along or see eye-to-eye. But just like my daughter likes to say, ‘family sticks together and helps one another.” Community is about people who care about one another and are willing to be united for the betterment of the greater good.

Now the other day a community member, one Teacher P/QP picked my brain with a question or more like a quote he had read, it went like this “Of all the follies in which man indulges there is none greater than the folly of thinking one can change the world!” He said he shared it because I was one of the few people who could fathom it in the immediate environment. I wondered if it was that he thought that my activities trying to better the community were in vain. I think he expected me to contemplate and give him a response. The quote did blow me away for a few days.

But a few days later the universe it seems gave me the answer. I don’t remember what I was watching on Youtube but some speaker had said, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, is to offer you something you already have. He would have you believe you are nothing and insignificant and unable to affect your destiny or impact the world without his help. But therein is the lie, for from the moment you enter the world it is already fundamentally changed, your presence has already impacted lives, for you life has altered your mother and father, the spaces you inhabit.

Now to be honest I haven’t shared the answer in person with Teacher P but ironically I found our dialogue mirrored in an episode of Star Trek… yeah I am a trekkie… especially seeing one of the characters was called Q, but the conversation went like this:

Q:
Hear this, Picard, and reflect: "All the galaxy is a stage."... "Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Q:
Perhaps maybe a little, uh, Hamlet?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:
Oh, I know Hamlet. And what he might say with irony, I say with conviction: "What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form, in moving, how express and admirable! In action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a god!"

Q:
Surely, you don't see your species like that, do you?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:
I see us one day becoming that, Q. Is it that which concerns you?

I put all this to say that, granted much is wrong with the community I am truly grateful for stilling having a space where discuss my love relationship with the community. I believe when we lift others we rise together. Through discourse, discussion and debate. It is no coincidence Paradise has a spot called debate corner, it is not for the faint of heart. More than ever we must remember to help others. We are all where we are because someone helped us along our journey. I wanted to share a letter of thanks to the community for all you’ve done and meant to me. When all is said and done, I hope I will have done more than I said. As I remain optimistic and realistic in this gloomy and slow times, I close with the following:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Unpopular: Political Revamp

“Any realistic vision of change must be based on the notion of empowerment of people.”
Michael Manley

Today the People’s National Party’s position is quite unenviable. PNP’s elected officials have struggled to find a clear and compelling message that speaks effectively to the whole of the country. General principles and values are one thing; a succinct and up-to-date message is another. For too long the political mantra of the PNP though not explicitly said is that: “we're out to beat Jamaica Labour Party, and not help poor people.

The PNP hasn’t found the formula that both bridges these internal fissures and appeals more broadly to a bigger electorate. If you look at it from the outside, it’s not so healthy. The People’s National Party is not very popular today with a lot of people, and that is truly a problem. If you look at it in absolute terms and just look at where the PNPs stand today: not very good. You look at where the leadership stands, you look at where the party stands in terms of the public, it’s just not good. There’s no way to call it good.

Party leaders and stalwarts are always fearful of leadership contests, as they know the vitriol, malice and even violence normally reserved for rival political parties will turn inwards and the true nature of party politics will be revealed. There are those in the PNP who would say it’s an overstatement to suggest the party is in the midst of an identity crisis. Yet after years of political observation and watching strategists, elected officials at many levels and grass-roots activists, it’s clear to me that for all the anti-JLP energy that exists, especially on Facebook — is energy that will invariably help to bind PNPs in common cause come 2020. However, the party’s challenges are serious. Ideological differences are only part of it. This is a party of rising constituencies demanding not just to be heard but to be at the table of decision-makers. It is a party in flux, moving from one era to another, with no obvious leader and an identity yet to be fully shaped.

One reason factions of the party and electorate has moved left is that much of the power and energy has shifted from establishment leaders toward the grass roots, whose strength was highlighted by the presence of FHI360, COMET ii and USAID, programs and grants that are boosting Civil Society Organization as well as community based groups. Hence through their own cooperation and movements people have seen the value or socialist ideology, but not necessarily the value of political groups, which are subject to the whims and fancies of Delegates, political hierarchies and bureaucracies. So as communities see viable alternatives in forming Social Enterprises, Social Entrepreneurships, CDC’s, Benevolent Societies, Neighbourhood Watches, conversely political groups which are reliant on hand out and scraps or scarce benefits and spoils. It then seems incumbent on the party to engage these groups, join them, boost them, rather than solely or explicitly soliciting hands and hearts to your individual political aims or goals.

If one failed to notice globally, Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Occasio Cortez and Kshema Sawant prove that socialism is alive and well even in the heart of world superpowers. It is fervent in Latin America. The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway have implemented socialism in their economic institutions. The Norse countries consistently ranked near the top of the world in happiness, human development and overall well-being, have highly organized labor markets, universal welfare states and relatively high levels of public ownership of capital. Yet the PNP drifts ideologically and philosophically here in this 21st century. Then when we see candidate choice and selection for both local and central government elections are riddled with egomaniacs on both sides who treat the electorate as secondary or non-essential till election day while always courting the delegates of both parties who are stuck as die hearts to each party or victims of some kind of political Stockholm’s syndrome.

Here are 7 topics which are hot globally and in the streets of Jamaica with civil society organizations, community activists, USAID, the youth and the Rastafari community, yet I have never heard PNP mention:

1. Public ownership ,
2. Citizens cooperatives ,
3. Civil society organisations ,
4. Open government ,
5. Open source ,
6. Universal basic income
7. Social enterprise / social entrepreneurship.

These questions of leadership, identity and philosophical outlook unnerve the PNP, because the party has no scaffolding. All the dominant leaders of the last two generations—the Manleys, PJ Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller—have receded. The myth of PNP country is discredited and defeat has shaken the party’s foundational strategy—or, at the very least, exposed it as a wishful description of a more distant future, rather than a clear plan for victory in the present. The PNP has in opposition an illusion of unity, but the reality is deeply conflicted. The establishment in the party want the disgruntled to disappear, but reality doesn’t work like that. Two of the party’s largest concerns—race and class—reside in an increasing state of tension, a tension that will grow as the party turns toward the next election. To produce a governing majority, the party will need to survive an unsettling reckoning with itself. The JLP didn’t just prevail over the PNP; they called into doubt their old truths.The party’s must begin sensing the emotional landscape of the people they are selling the vision to, not delegates, but its general membership and the wider electorate.

About the author: Yannick Nesta Pessoa B.A. is Jamaica’s first blogger, a Community Activist, an Artist and Entrepreneur. Follow Yannick on Twitter at @yahnyk | yannickpessoa@yahoo.com

Party Reformation: My Struggles with PNP

“We'd all like t'vote for th' best man, but he's never a candidate”
Kin Hubbard

For some time I have been uncomfortable with the inner workings of the People’s National Party. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between the PNP and the JLP. This to me is an issue of ideology and personality. Ideologically the PNP used to a socialist party and governed by a social democratic ethos, that is no more. Socialism used to be unfashionable so the party abandoned it somewhere in the 90’s while subscribing to IMF edicts. However Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Occasio Cortez and Kshema Sawant prove that socialism is alive and well even in the heart of world superpowers. Yet the PNP drifts ideologically and philosophically here in this 21st century. Then when we see candidate choice and selection for both local and central government elections are riddled with egomaniacs on both sides who treat the electorate as secondary or non-essential till election day while always courting the delegates of both parties who are stuck as die hearts to each party or victims of some kind of political Stockholm’s syndrome. This cannot continue.

Well the monomania media election blitz will soon be in full swing, and everybody will be vying for votes. Tribal politics has taken to social media and the factions there are always in electoral fever. In all this Mobay, the government’s bastard child always neglected for the media pet Kingston, it seems silly that we, major contributors to the nation’s economy, via tourism, foreign currency and remittance dollars (legal and via lotto scam), have so little say. I say we hold candidates to ransom; each community ought to kidnap the MP, until the community’s demands are met. Until there is a community centre in every community, till the roads are addressed, until drainage is solved and so on.



Dr Peter Phillips’ viability as party leader is in question, it is one of the central issues to the undecided voter. The party is confronting new questions about who it is and what it stands for. The more important question however,  is how this plays out in our next election. PNP hopefuls will need to test the “articulate minority’s” and the grassroot’s wish list on the stump and might feel pressure to outbid each other on how far left they can go. Those apparently pursuing an “adult in the room” or  “trying to stay tame and sound normal strategy,” such as the PNP has been fumbling along with, will not only face opposition from the modern PNP base and the unattached voters, but will also find the free media oxygen sucked from the room by the more colorful radical opponents.

The ideologically driven members of the party make for good television but bad politics where the conservative party members and delegates are concerned. But the ideas that are talked about by civil society organizations, popular movements and political radicals in Jamaica are neglected by the PNP extablishment. In a May 2016 article entitled “Portia Betrayed” O. Dave Allen contends that the PNP and Portia was betrayed by the country, I contend that it is the PNP that betrayed the voters and even he seems to admit that when he wrote in the article that:

“The opposition was broke, starved of donor funding from the private sector, the leadership of Andrew Holness was in question; and the JLP fractious. For the first time in the history of Peoples National Party, the party enjoyed the full and explicit support for its policies by the formal private sector, the international donor community and local and international financial intermediaries.Yet not much could be shown by way of social programmes in keeping with the historic characteristics, policies and programmes of previous PNP administrations.”

Grassroots leftist insurgency that has sprung up across the country, including in spots far from PNP strongholds. Today, ultimately, the most profound progressive leadership for the PNP is not being embraced at all. It’s in communities and movements across the country—nurturing diverse progressive political strengths in many aspects of social change, including at election time.

No matter how intense the top-down pressure gets from Party hierarchy, we should insist from the ground up that members of Parliament and Councillors stand their ground for progressive principles that the man in the street is seeking. If party members aren’t willing to fight for those principles, then the grassroots will mobilize: to create an outcry, to lobby and to consider launching challenges as is evidenced by Peter Buntings hat being thrown in PNP’s political ring. I think it is a good thing and no elected officials should be immune from scrutiny and accountability.