Few sensations are as depressing as arriving back in England after a holiday in Jamaica. It’s not just the weather which is depressing: it’s the feeling that you are entering a place where the collective forces of institutional racism, the weather, public transport and the police all seem to conspire to get on your very [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:26 on May 31st, 2007 in Society
No Comments »I met a really delightful pair of women yesterday while waiting for my delayed flight from Jamaica to England. It was certainly an enjoyable experience and at least it helped to pass the time as the flight was over an hour late.
Woman one, let’s call her L, was a very serious, business-minded woman whose occasionally [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:56 on May 30th, 2007 in Relationships
No Comments »It is always a sad thing when people misjudge you based on false or inaccurate assumptions. Anyone judged like this is always going to feel a great sense of injustice.
Take for instance the subject of Jamaican nationality - or African ancestry for that matter. Now a Jamaican born native who has spent all her/his life [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:16 on May 29th, 2007 in Society
No Comments »Wednesday, May 23 was Labour Day and this is usually a positive time in Jamaica. For 24 hours the island transforms into a hub of do-good activities and this promotes a day of unity within the island.
People take Labour Day seriously and they get heavily involved in these community projects. This year there were over [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:54 on May 28th, 2007 in Culture
No Comments »I’ve always enjoyed doing business in Jamaica. Okay, sometimes the slow pace of transactions do get a little frustrating at times, but at least you do make progress and there are certain ’short cuts’ you can take to minimise the misery.
It’s a great help if you know people on the inside of organisations you have [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:47 on May 27th, 2007 in Society
No Comments »We’re leading up to elections here in Jamaica and usually it is traditionally a time people fear and have visions of gloom about. This is all for good reasons!
In the past Jamaica has become famous for the violence which mars “peaceful and democratic” elections. Usually rival members of the main political parties, the ruling PNP [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:12 on May 26th, 2007 in Politics
No Comments »It is always amazing to think that Jamaica, one of the most beautiful places on earth, should also be infected with so much poverty and hardship.
The huge number of high performance 4 x 4 vehicles that whiz pass beggars and destitute people, even as your eyes catch sight of some beautiful Ginger Lily growing from [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:01 on May 25th, 2007 in Society
No Comments »There is a natural ambiance about Jamaica that is sometimes hard to explain. For instance, there is a certain time of the evening when you can hear every ambient sound so clearly you can isolate each channel distinctly.
From vintage Studio One reggae wafting over from some radio or sound system a little distance in front [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:56 on May 24th, 2007 in Culture
No Comments »I wasn’t really counting on how the change of weather, from Britain’s invariably stark and dark climate to Jamaica’s usually light and bright warm tone, would affect my physical health. But, it has!
Mentally and spiritually, of course, I knew I was already affected. The thought lifted my spirits, as did the preparation for the trip.
Before [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:41 on May 23rd, 2007 in Lifestyle
No Comments »What I like best about the Caribbean is that you’re never too far from natural food. By natural I’m talking about “ital” as in the Rastafarian sense or “organic” as in the westerners sense. Food that has been picked a few moments before you eat them.
You should have guessed by now that I prefer natural [...]
Posted by BlackMan at 08:00:35 on May 22nd, 2007 in Lifestyle
No Comments »
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