Tag Archives: Shaggy

Sunday Songs

By petchary on | 12 Comments

This week’s post will be somewhat abbreviated. I am in study mode – I am taking the Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française Niveau B1 (DELF exam level B1) in French. I have been preparing at the Alliance Francaise de la Jamaique and would highly recommend their classes. The summer classes – focusing on conversational French – will start soon (see link below) so why don’t you get Frenchified, now! Anyway – exam on Tuesday morning and I am truly out of the habit of studying, revising etc. It is an effort; my attention span seems to have shortened considerably since my student days, which is worrying. Wish me luck!

I called this post “Sunday Songs” because for the entire week (and the previous one) much media and public attention has been focused on a song (or songs). What song are we singing now? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Confusion and contention surrounds the issue of the “Jamaica 50″ official song, intended to raise our spirits and uplift our hearts as we celebrate our half century of independence. The traditional media has been trying to interpret the back-tracking, denials, confirmations and the ultimately contradictory statements emanating from the halls of government. In the background, there has been a ever-louder chorus of disapproval, recrimination and regret in the social media and among local bloggers (see links below), on talk shows, letters to the editor, vox pops and other outlets. Wails of “Oh, why can’t we just all get along, forget the ‘cass-cass’ and enjoy the celebration?” have been barely heard above the rising tide of anger and disappointment. The Minister in charge, Culture Minister Lisa Hanna, knit her brows prettily and said she didn’t know what all the fuss was over the reported sidelining of an official song written by Mikey Bennett (which has some merit, and a more traditionally “Jamaican” feel to it). That was before more was revealed, online and elsewhere. It appeared, for example, that the “new” song – a highly polished, generic pop song performed by Orville “Shaggy” Burrell (a man not unconnected with the current political administration) – was also launched as the “official” song for Jamaica 50. The video, and the program inviting journalists to the launch, appear to confirm this. The Ministry initially tried to say that there are many and varied Jamaica 50 songs, and that various songs had been approved by the Jamaica 50 Secretariat. The Secretariat, headed by a marketing “whizz kid” called Robert Bryan, then denied that Shaggy’s little ditty was the official song, despite what seemed to be evidence to the contrary. Now it is said that the public may be able to vote for a song. Conversations on this topic tend to begin with, “But…” “No, but…” “Well, didn’t they…” and end with question marks.

Minister of Culture Lisa Hanna

Minister of Culture Lisa Hanna

So, the song celebrating the fiftieth year of our independence seems to be wallowing in a mire of utter confusion. One can use several phrases to describe this state of affairs. Fiasco. Debacle. Mess. Public relations disaster (yes, certainly). I would call it, to use a colorful English term, a right cock-up.

Songs of lamentation at the end of this article, as I had promised to do, every week, as a reminder of Jamaica’s affliction – a fever which never breaks, that of crime and violence.

Moving on, with a sigh…

The People’s National Party administration is again teetering on the edge of a “donation scandal,” this time related to funds that Mr. David Smith, the incarcerated head of the failed Ponzi scheme Olint, says he donated to the party (US$1 million). Let us not forget that Mr. Smith told lawyers that he also donated $2 million to the Jamaica Labour Party, whose representatives become very vague when questioned by journalists. The question is whether the funds should, or will be, returned, as the authorities in the Turks & Caicos Islands have requested. Smith is spending a few years in those islands before moving on for a considerably longer period to the U.S. prison system. The PNP’s chairman Mr. Robert Pickersgill said that there was “no moral obligation” for the PNP to repay the money (I think it is always unfortunate when a political party is linked with the word “moral” in the same headline). With the mood of the Jamaican people as it is, this was altogether a most ill-conceived remark. As one columnist observed caustically, “We allow our MPs and Cabinet ministers to wear the title “honourable” before their names.” 

The week has passed very quickly, and I have been too busy to follow every detail in the news, so I will cut this short as my French books are beckoning me. However, I must note in passing that the following items washed over my head during the week:

  • The Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) results came out, whereby Jamaican children make the rite of passage from primary to secondary school. There was the usual gnashing of teeth by those parents whose children had not done well enough to go to one of the “traditional high schools” deemed superior (most are in Kingston); and celebrations by those who did well. There were the pompous speeches (or hard-hitting speeches, if you prefer) by our loquacious Minister of Education Mr. Ronald Thwaites, who in time-honored socialist fashion likened the GSAT system to educational “apartheid.” He hit the Sunday Gleaner headlines today with another grand exhortation to poor-performing teachers…“Pack up and go!”  My question, as always, to politicians who tell us (ad nauseam) what needs to be done and what the government would like to do is, “HOW?” followed by “WHEN?” Let us just see if there is any action to follow these many pleasing words (yes, I agree 100 per cent, Mr. Minister, but…)
  • There was an embarrassing episode involving the Attorney General, who was apparently not aware of a legal opinion that had threatened to turn the entire pension reform process on its head. The opinion was withdrawn…
  • There was another fashion show, or another beauty contest; or both, probably.
  • A full-scale price war broke out  between our two battling mobile phone providers – the dominant Digicel, and LIME – who fired the first salvo. The consumer has benefited greatly. Once again, all is vibrant and healthy in the telecoms sector, presided over by the highly focused Minister Phillip Paulwell (whom I seem to heap praises on every week).
  • More good news! The Minister of Finance did some further back-pedaling and jiggling of numbers, and announced that General Consumption Tax would not be imposed on any books at all. Well done to the Book Industry Association of Jamaica, who once again successfully lobbied for the removal of taxes.
Despite the Jamaica 50 imbroglio, the arts scene is looking lively, too…
Mallica "Kapo" Reynolds

Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, Jamaican revivalist, spiritualist, painter and sculptor (1911-1989). Visit the Kapo Gallery at the National Gallery of Jamaica to get the real “feel” of the man and his work.

KOTE 2012

Kingston on the Edge 2012

  • The annual Kingston on the Edge (KOTE) urban arts festival kicked off in fine style on Friday night, and will continue throughout the week.
  • The National Gallery of Jamaica (a must-visit for those in Kingston) opened its doors today with its refurbished gallery of the sculptures of Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, and will be open once a month on Sundays from now on with special events.
  • We had the pleasure of attending the opening night of a theater revival – a play called “Stanley, Fay Pularchie and P” written by Gloria Lannaman in the 1970s and set in 1938, the time of major labor unrest in colonial Jamaica. Congratulations to producers Pauline Stone Myrie and Marjorie Whylie (who acted in the original production), director D. Pablo Hoilett and the excellent cast. There are three performances per weekend at the cozy Theatre Place in New Kingston, until August 19, 2012. Lots of humor (I particularly enjoyed one scene in the back of a truck en route to the country); there is drama, and there is no happy ending, really. Great stuff!
Marguerite Newland (left) and Marsha-Ann Hay (right)

Marguerite Newland (left) and Marsha-Ann Hay (right) rehearse a scene from Gloria Lannaman’s “Stanley, Fay Pularchie and P.” Ms. Newland is the only member of the current cast from the original play.

In Memoriam

  • Warren Gyles, 30, in Salt Marsh, Trelawny
  • Shamone Henry, 26, in Golden Grove, St. Ann
  • Joshman Douglas, in Golden Grove, St. Ann
  • Tania Christie Lowe, 37, in Granville, St. James
  • Rohan Simpson, 39, in August Town, St. Andrew
  • Moses Francis in August Town, St. Andrew
  • Two other men in August Town, St. Andrew (names not determined)
  • Narval Powell, 16, in Christian Gardens, Portmore, St. Catherine
  • Unidentified man, found in Penwood Road, Kingston 11
  • Unidentified man killed by police in Temple Hall, St. Andrew
  • Melanie Lindo Thompson, 43, Craig Head, Manchester
  • Anita Watson, 73
I believe that there were others during the week, but the above is a list of those who were murdered in Jamaica since last Sunday. At least one police killing. My deepest condolences to all those family and friends who are mourning their loss.
Well, as the French would say, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”  Which reminds me… I must get back to my books.
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Earth Day Plus One: Postscript from the Garden

By petchary on | 9 Comments

It is a beautiful green garden, the kind that feels like home.  Three or four big old mango trees, the tips of their branches dripping with “black mangoes” (and one Bombay tree that I was told doesn’t bear much).  The lawns are not flat or perfectly smooth, and a little worn in places.The white house that stands back from the road is worn with memories, but comfortable with them.  One can still imagine family members sitting on the verandah on warm afternoons, sipping lemonade.  Inside, the wooden floors shine, and walls and screens are adorned with bright posters and photographs.  This is the home of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) in Kingston, Jamaica.

Jamaica Environment Trust

JET's cozy office.

In the JET garden

Under the mango tree.

For Earth Day 2012, JET welcomed over one hundred young people from several inner-city communities to their headquarters for a special celebration.  Most of the children had participated in a special joint project between JET and the downtown-based NGO RISE Life Management Services, which works with at-risk youth.  The project, supported by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, is called “Building Appreciation for Nature in Children at Risk.”  There is a link to this project below.  The program began with the communities of Parade Gardens, Fletcher’s Land and Allman Town; the second phase included children from Drewsland, Tower Hill and Majesty Gardens, and I also met some children from Cockburn Gardens.  These are all depressed areas of Kingston; despite their attractive names, there are very few gardens indeed.  There is concrete, there is uncollected garbage, there are rats, zinc fences.  Hence the need for such a project, which was conceptualized by the dynamic leaders of JET and RISE, Diana McCaulay and Sonita Abrahams.  From the enthusiasm and interest of the young people (and their desire to show off their new-found knowledge) I could tell that the program had been successful.  It was clear from their faces, from their sheer enjoyment.

One of the highlights of the morning was the reading of two books written by Jamaican children’s author Jana Bent.  Well, it was much more than a reading.  Jana’s two books, “Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band” and “The Reggae Band Rescues Mama Edda Leatherback” come with music CDs that enhance the narrative and encourage participation.  The music is excellent, inspired, written and performed by Jamaican reggae singer Shaggy – rhythmic, fun and well produced.  Of course, both the books have strong messages on environmental protection – not just Jamaica-related.  The second book involves the poor Leatherback Turtle who has swallowed a plastic bag…. But don’t worry, of course there was a happy ending.

Children listening to a story from Jana Bent

The children ended up playing little instruments provided by Jana (with much vigor and gusto) and doing some recycling of their own with boxes and items she provided.  Jana is so talented – she acts the book rather than reads it.  See the link below and buy copies for your kids – I can guarantee they will enjoy them thoroughly.  Jana has had great support from Jamaican musicians and educators in the books’ production and will no doubt continue to do so (as well as sponsorship from the United Nations Environment Program, among others).  And the good news is she is working on a third book… If you take a look at the photos on my Facebook page and at the link to my Flickr Earth Day album, you can see for yourself that the children had a wonderful time… and got all the messages.
A group of girls

This group of girls gave us a warm welcome.

A group of boys

I also got acquainted with these bright young men from Drewsland.

Children with recycling boxes

Children with recycling boxes: did I mention that large quantities of Milo were consumed (and quite a bit of it decorated the young ones' T shirts)...

And as one of the old hippy anthems has it (in fact, it was the classic “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell, I believe) … “We’ve got to get back to the garden.”  For the children’s sake.
Jamaican musician Shaggy with Shaggy Parrot books

Musician Shaggy is a warm-hearted, generous man who raises funds for the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston. Always working for the kids.

Two young fans of Shaggy Parrot

Two young fans of Shaggy Parrot

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Posted in: Americas, Books, Environment, Music, Society, Spirit | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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