Tropical Storm Gustav

ramir - rains wipe out parts of the gully

nothing stops the gully

different perspective

Gustav dies down

it's raining...it's pouring...

emergency headquarters

Gustav turns to a Tropical storm as the winds pick up

Hurricane Gustav Brewing

Personal Update

The month of August has been a very different colour than July for me. In July I was placed at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). JCDC oversaw the festival season including the massive Independence Day celebrations. The work of JCDC played a major role encouraging and championing traditional Jamaican culture through forms of dance, speech, song and drama.

The month of July was a struggle for a number of personal reasons, but no matter what the issue was (loneliness, racism, lack of purpose at work, etc.), they all seem trivial in retrospect. I say that because when I’m connected with God, these issues are barely noticeable.

In August, I was placed at the Ministry of Youth, where I was given the responsibility for evaluating the National Youth Policy for the Parliamentary Secretary of Youth, before the 5 year review comes up in Cabinet. I’m also to evaluate the Ministry’s entire programme, including all programs and projects.
These tasks are challenging, but what makes this job even better is the challenge of coordinating three great projects! My task is to turn 3 idealistic ideas into reality! Cool eh?! First we’ll try to recycle tires from the landfill and transform them into basketball courts in the inner city. Second project involves turning organic waste from the produce market into quality fertilizer for the agricultural sector, while employing inner city youth to collect and distribute the goods! This project also aims to be revenue neutral!

The third project is about youth mentorship through football. This is a country where the majority of kids grow up without a father and usually without a male role model in their lives. My friend Andrea and I have had the neighborhood kids for dinner at her place and it’s apparent that both parents are noticeably absent in these kids lives. The mentorship program will provide youth from inner city communities (da ghetto) with training in football coaching and peer counseling/mentorship, which will better equip them to play a positive role in mentoring the youth that look up to them. The ghettos are not with an order – it exists, but it’s controlled by a Don who uses weapons as his means of empowerment. This will hopefully plant seeds that’ll empower these youth to change the orientation of the ghetto from bottom up. Will give an update on that in a couple weeks.

August was also more positive on the personal front as well. I have a couple friends now and a couple hobbies to balance things out. I play futbol here in the community and have been out sailing a couple times a month so far. It’s been a blessing being out at sea and learning the ropes of navigating a boat. Spiritually I have more momentum these days, though it is something that starts over every morning. I’m grateful to be here to be doing what I’m doing. Obviously, there are still moments of loneliness and insecurity and so forth, but my sense of purpose here now overshadows these things as does a positive mentality most days.

For those reading this, I’d love to hear to hear what’s happening in your life! I’m not able to keep up with everyone via email, but I think of all of you here. Many wild blessing!

dpe.

p.s. - check out: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=22&x=story&xid=414882

home-made olympics

Lightning Strikes - Twice! Jamaica on live during the Womens 400m Hurdles

Lightening Strikes!!! Bolt takes the 100 metres!!

Jamaican Sprinters Suspected of Doping at Olympics

Suspected PED's Mailed to JA's Olympic Camp in Bejing

A 200 kilo shopment of suspected Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED) addressed to the Jamaican track team at the Olympic Village was seized by authorities at the Wong Hung Lo docks in Bejing early this morning. Coming on the heels of the disclosure that a member of the JA team has tested positive for a banned substance, the news has rocked the JAAA and cast an even greater pall over the team's preparations for the Games.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior customs inspector told Reuters that suspicions were aroused by the bulky and lumpy shipment which was wrapped in rough, dirty burlap. Stenciled in bold letters on the bag was the address of the Jamaican team at the Village and also the words:

DELIVER TO ASAFA, USAIN, VERONICA AND KERRON.....DEM CYAAN RUN GOOD WIITHOUT IT.

Upon opening the package, dozens and dozens of a dirty, tubular product was discovered and immediately sent to the WADA lab in Bejing for testing. Chinese customs are certain that they have intercepted a shipment of pure, unprocessed steroids and have put the IAAF and the JAAA on notice that severe action will be taken as soon as WADA confirms their findings.

The picture below is of one of the mystery 'products' from the shipment and was taken at the lab just before testing commenced. We will update this story as soon as there is more to report as indeed the entire world of track and field anxiously awaits WADA's report.

For non Jamaican readers, Yams are known to be the secret reason why Jamaicans run so fast...here's hoping they finish 1-2 in the 100m

Post Independence - Jamaican History (Part 6)

The 1960’s was like a honeymoon on the island, where everyone lived in a kind of peace of happiness. Violence and crime was practically non existent and the economy was strong given favorable prices in international Bauxite and Aluminum exports markets. The population was around one million people. I’ve been told by more experienced Jamaicans that it was truly an island paradise.
Since Independence, power was swapped hands between the two main political parties. With the election of the PNP in 1972, the country adopted a socialist slant, aligning itself with its close neighbor Cuba. New social services were introduced, including schools, health facilities and welfare services.

In some respect Jamaicans were empowered by the new services, while in other ways it created a culture where ‘the government will take care of everybody.’ This culture of dependence has stayed on the island since the 1970’s. There was short term gain, but it did not take long before the cracks would emerge in this short sighted public policy approach.

Towards the end of the 1970’s, the honeymoon lurched to an end. The political parties created militia like armed detachments (I’d call it a gang or posse), with the purpose of protecting public officials. By this time the island was being used as an intermediate base for drug trafficking between Colombia and North America.

Weapons started spilling into the island predominantly coming from the drug trade. Guns quickly found happy fingers in the two main militias. The two militias lined up roughly with the PNP and the JLP and continue to fight out turf wars in the name of their respective parties (one disputed territory is not more than a five minute walk from where I live). Crime plateau’d in 1980, where the election period witnessed 800 politically motivated murders.

The 1980’s also saw a new government come into power and open up close relations with the United States and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Major restructuring took place to alter some of the massive socialist reforms introduced in the 1980’s. While of the neo-liberal reforms created the appearance of short term financial stability, it has arguably led to greater dependence on international actors (like markets and donor agencies) due to specialization nature of the reforms.

While Jamaica increased production of cash crops for export, they reduced staple crop production, increasing their reliance on imports for some basic necessities. This process can work, but it appears it was done prematurely, before Jamaica had a secure foundation. Jamaicans have excelled in tourism and it is reflected in its portion of the GDP (65%).
When the charismatic Manley and his PNP was re-elected in 1989 after two terms in opposition, they took a softer socialist tone than before. They remained close with Cuba and were a little more financially responsible.

The problem with public expenditures is rarely that they lack revenue – it’s that political leaders keep so much for themselves.
The PNP held onto power until 2007 when the JLP were re-elected by a razor thin majority. They did not inherit a garden of orchids when they took over the Government, but it appears they’re making the effort to improve the island. This is while the PNP goes through a leadership race to determine who will carry the message for them in the next general election.

Many Jamaicans have emigrated over time. It’s estimated while the population of the island has almost tripled to three million, there are a third as many living abroad. They are concentrated in Canada (Greater Toronto Area), USA (New York, Miami and Fort Lauderdale) and Briton (London). Remittances from Jamaicans living abroad make up an increasingly significant portion of the GDP.Election violence has diminished in recent years, though crime and violence is still unequivocally the number one issue affecting Jamaicans. More to do with that in weeks to come on danielito.

Jamaicans are a proud people, and the majority is descendant from the original black slave population. Their identity has been shaped by a history of overcoming struggle and oppression. The struggle continues today in the face of violence and crime but now there is a growing sense of national effort to combat these challenges. The island’s dynamic culture was largely shaped by the colonial experience, but be certain that it is 100 per cent Jamaican.

With the Olympics taking place in Beijing this year, Jamaicans are enthusiastic about their medal chances, particularly in track and field. They currently are the world record holder in the 100 metre. Success at the Olympics has the ability to instantly bring the country together. The newspapers forecast the world’s fastest man will be wearing black, green and gold on the podium. With any luck, I hope they’re be right. DPE.

Independence Day Fireworks

feel da rhydm

Jamaican Independence - Jamaican History (Part 5)

Workers conditions improved at the dusk of the 19th century and at the dawn of the 20th century. Jamaicans fought in the First World War with the British, which opened the eyes of many Jamaicans to the world for the first time. Jamaican soldiers came back from the war full of ideas.

Following the end of slavery, workers unions slowly emerged giving voice to the workers. The great depression caused pain to the economy and by extension hurt the workers as well. Fortunately, Jamaica was saved by massive amounts of Bauxite, which could be easily produced in Aluminum Ore (a major export).

In an effort to improve their situation in the boom, unions organized massive riots in 1938. These riots ended fatally and resulted in a major turning point in Jamaica’s political history. The union leaders who emerged from the strike, eventually ended up leading the independence movement.

The unions played a decisive role in articulating the lack of self determination in Jamaica. Following the major riots, the two most prominent union leaders, also cousins (and fathers of independence), founded Jamaica’s two political parties.

Out of the National Workers Union, John Manley founded the People’s National Party (PNP) and led the country towards self government. In 1943, the Jamaican Labour Party was founded under the leadership of Alexander Bustamente, who would eventually become the first Prime Minister of an independent Jamaica. In the first election with universal suffrage (1944) the Labour Party took it.

During the Second World War, British Jamaicans were subject to the war draft, but the draft was never used because Jamaica’s volunteer enlistments met the colonial quota. In part due to Jamaica’s contribution to the war and partly due to the anti-colonial global movement, the British granted Jamaica a new constitution. This document established a Jamaican elected Government with real power and autonomy over its affairs for the first time!!

Before independence, the Caribbean countries also had a score to settle before the next chapter could begin. They had to decide if they wanted to be governed by a Federation made up of the former British Caribbean colonies, or if each island was to be governed independently.

In 1961, Jamaicans voted in a nation wide referendum to govern itself independently. One year later the draft Independence Constitution was unanimously approved by the elected Jamaican representatives. Jamaica was now an independent country!

For the first time in its history they were able to select their own head of state and have complete control over their affairs. Their Coat of Arms reads appropriately: “Out of Many, One People.”

On August 6th 1962, Jamaica lowered the British flag and raised its newly minted flag of black, green and gold.

Kingston Regatta

Had a brilliant weekend sailing! There was a regatta, which is a boat race with sailboats. The first regatta was racing gondolas in Venice, but as you can see, times have changed.

Spent the weekend on a boat call the Stephanie J. and was blessed with good company. Our mate Roger's experiences sailing across the Atlantic came in handy when we almost went over in a Squall. Pretty wild!

The weekend was made complete by being pulled over by cops in the countryside as I went for a morning stroll on my lonesome.
Now my hands are healing from the sails.



Tomorrow is Indepence Day in Jamaica!