Friday, February 28, 2014

'JAMAICA DAY' IDEAL WAY TO INSTIL NATIONALISM

    
 
Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen presents a copy of the proclamation declaring February 26, 2010 'Jamaica Day', to Director of the Culture in Education Programme in the Education Ministry, Amina Blackwood Meeks, at King's House in Kingston on Friday, January 15 ,2010

Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has said that the celebration of 'Jamaica Day' in schools is an ideal way to instil the spirit of nationalism in citizens that is necessary for the social development of the country.

"Jamaica Day provides a good opportunity for all Jamaicans to partner with young people to help define and create the most suitable context within which Jamaicans can be the best example of humanity, first to Jamaicans and ultimately to the rest of the world," he stated.

He said that now is an opportune time to enhance the profile of Jamaica Day, and therefore broaden national participation in the activities in order to align with national development objectives.

The Governor-General commended the programme and supporting agencies for the level of enthusiasm and interest shown in "branding Jamaica in the hearts of our children," noting that it is very important "that each Jamaican has a vision of what it is to be a Jamaican, not just in terms of being born here, but also what is involved in being a good citizen."The entire Jamaica, every single citizen, every man, woman, boy and girl, the business community, should make this the best Jamaica Day,"

'Jamaica Day' is celebrated once every academic year, on the last Friday in February and is designated to showcase aspects of Jamaica's culture through the performing arts, visits to historical sites, sporting activities and recognition of outstanding citizens.

The Culture in Education Programme, which places culture as the context, content and methodology for learning, is used as a mechanism within the classroom to enrich curriculum delivery.

It also serves as a tool for building clubs and societies as well as a device for giving meaning to the performing arts programme of various institutions.


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Happy New Month !!!


I wish you God's blessings, favour and mercy.
I pray that this month brings all the joy and happiness you desire.
May all your dreams come true.

Let me share this declaration with you, it might help.

" I declare that I have the grace I need for this month.
  I am full of power, strength and determination
  Nothing I say will be too much for me.

 I will overcome every obstacle, outlast every challenge
 And come through every difficulty better than I was before.

This is my declaration".
God be with you and your family now and always

Jamaica Land Of My Birth

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Root & Culture By Simone Myrie in Jamaica

I decided to go to Jamaica. We've been wanting to take a trip for the longest time and thought this month would be ideal and the only time i can take it. I had such a wonderful time! was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach also went out and ventured to the country side. Everyone was welcoming and nice. Not to mention the great food! I can tell you this Jamaicans are VERY proud of their heritage and I was glad to capture it! overall, the trip was fun and I am looking forward to be back soon....................Love the Land of My Birth...................
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Celebrate Jamaica Day



Some 706 primary and secondary schools across the island will celebrate Jamaica Day today (February 28) under the theme: 'Celebrating Jamaica, contributing my personal best'.

Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie think this celebration is to foster national pride in students.

"We know about the influences from outside so it is basically getting our students to be one with our culture. In a sense, if we are not careful (our culture) is diminishing,"this occasion will help to build community relations and get the students to feel better about themselves and by extension their culture.

"It is to foster civic pride in our students and we are hoping to achieve all of that throughout the island based on the activities that will be done in the schools," he stated.

Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie belief each school will celebrate Jamaica Day in its own unique way.

"It could be a case where they have an extended devotion, a civic ceremony where you have the uniformed groups involved in (a) flag-raising ceremony, a display of cultural items, inter-house competitions, debates, quizzes, discussions or seminars. It has to be a case where the activities they are involved in are connected to the theme," '

In the meantime, Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie is imploring parents to use the occasion to educate children about their heritage.

"We need to get children to feel good about themselves before they can feel good about their country and culture. Show them where they are coming from. Parents need to salute Jamaica Day and be as patriotic as possible," .

Jamaica Day forms part of the Ministry's Culture in Education programme and is celebrated once every academic year, on the last Friday in February to showcase aspects of Jamaica's culture.

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Picture by Khadijah and Marco Daley.

The Jamaican Mother


“Yes man, bruck it”, “You doing very well”,- what the Jamaican mother tells her child who is misbehaving.

You are balancing your mother’s favourite glass on your forehead and she catches you, applauds and tells you 
“Keep it up.” If you are foolish enough you will believe her and continue. If you have one iota of sense, you will know that if you continue, you are working your way towards some sort of punishment.

When she tells you “bruck it man, caw mi have plenty money fi buy more” do not listen… it is a ploy. And when you do actually bruck it, she tells you “Well done”, but that does not make you feel that your mother is proud of you, it makes you know that punishment is just around the corner.

She just baked a nice potato pone, you know di one wid di wetty wetty top, and every minute you go for a slice. Watch it. Some will take one big ol ‘junk’ (chunk) of di pudden and they are seen as ‘craven’ (greedy). Your slice is so thin that your name and 'craven, would never be in the same sentence. The thing is you have gone back five times.

When she sees you with the knife in your hand, having already cut your sixth slice, and says sweetly ‘So why you stop ? Finish the whole thing one time, cause nobody else don’t want any.” You know that what she is really saying is “if I ketch yuh back inside yah one more time tideh, me an yuh.“


And of course the classic is when she sends you for the belt with which she will give you a ‘beaten’. Most times she does not have to do anything, because the process of going for the belt is in and of itself punishment enough. One a dem ol time mother would send you fi go cut yuh owna piece of 'wis wis' that she plan to beat you with. Believe mi, no beaten kyaan hot, like a beaten wid a switch, especially pon yuh foot. It sting fi days.

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Jamaican Breakfast


Jamaica's most beloved meal isn't a jerk lunch or dinner—it's breakfast. These hearty breakfast dishes, from ackee and saltfish to fluffy fried johnnycakes, are one of the world's most satisfying ways to begin the day. 

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"I will still be a Jamaican"


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" LOVE"


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It's All About Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie, The Rhythm Of The
People.The limited edition "Love" shirt will only be available for 7 days and quantities are limited to get printed on time. So make sure to grab yours today before it gone
 

"I will still be a Jamaican"

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Ladies........It's All About Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie, The Rhythm Of The People.The limited edition "I will still be a Jamaican" shirt will only be available for 7 days and quantities are limited to get printed on time. So make sure to grab yours today before it gone

"I will still be a Jamaican"

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It's All About Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie, The Rhythm Of The People.The limited edition "I will still be a Jamaican" shirt will only be available for 7 days and quantities are limited to get printed on time. So make sure to grab yours today before it gone 



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Remember walking home from school............

Remember walking home from school............
Picture contributed by Maliek  Campbell

Sense of pride

I recall well our preparations for high school. My parents got the sketch for the uniform design from the school and took it to the dressmaker who followed those specifications. When we showed up that first day of school, we all looked alike and we understood it meant that we would all be safe and identifiable. It also meant that no one knew who was rich or poor. But best of all, it made us feel a sense of pride in showing our school colours; the pleats in the tunics were sharp and the seams in the boys pants were a straight, single line because they too were learning that a properly ironed pair of mens pants, had just one seam. The boys had clearly defined waistlines (what a concept). No sloppy pants loosely falling midway down their butts while exposing brief-covered bums and shirts clearly showing an allergy to their pants. Today's schoolboys usually either look like urchins who have lost a street fight or drunkards who have temporarily lost the battle with sanity.

Parents, today, these are the pictures of your sons. You are sending or driving them to school in pants you bought but which they have altered to the latest close-fitting and other styles. Parents, you need to let your children know that school is not the place to express their fashion sense. It is the place to learn, develop skills of analysis, study hard, pass exams and qualify for college.


Unnecessary squabble

Parents, you must take back control and help your children understand this. The minister of education should not have to waste time listening and responding to principals and parents argue over flouting of the school dress code. Can you believe it? Just weeks ago, these same parents were begging, pleading and crying with school authorities to take children who had not even been given a space there (many did not meet the required standards). Parent  attended orientation, you agreed to the rules, you signed on the dotted line, and then come September 3, you allow your to child to show up in his/her interpretation of the uniform.

You condone them breaking the rules. You suddenly allow them to call the shots; you have suddenly become afraid of them. You suddenly start the road to your children becoming lawbreaking citizens!

It is time to instill some discipline in children, starting with obeying school rules. Get a grip on children; restrict their overuse of the Internet, cellphones and things that distract them from the task at hand. You are responsible for them, so act like it!




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This is Jamaica.

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind.”...........first spoken by the late Marcus Garvey and later made famous by Bob Marley.



Jamaica’s The island has come a long way since its slavery days, but still has miles to go. Jamaica’s spirit is its people – they are survivors. Like any Third World country, they suffer from crippling poverty, crime, drug use, violence, and depression — afflictions you would expect of any people brought to a place against their will.

Despite all this, there is still an integrity, a pride, and a grace .

Early in the morning, you will see a young girl or boy emerge from what looks like a tin shanty on the side of the road. They will step out into the already humid air, their skin scrubbed clean, hair freshly braided, school uniform pressed into perfect creases. How on Earth could a child get ready for school in that place? But this is Jamaica. A man wakes up at sunrise to start cleaning his small plot of Earth – maybe just a cemented area next to his well-worn, tiny home. As he sweeps and begins burning his garbage, you can hear him singing a Bob Marley song softly to himself.
This is Jamaica.


Or, you’ll get into one of the island’s infamous taxi services to find an impeccably clean and air-freshened car, seat belts rolled up, and an enthusiastic driver who is eager to show you as much of the island as can be squeezed into a single day, despite the fact that he stops at the same locations day in and day out. But this is Jamaica.

Its people are proud, and Jesus, can they hustle. Generations of poverty has a history of turning its young to the streets, adopting violence and drug dealing in order to survive. But then there are those who use their creativity, their wit, and cunning to make it day by day. Drive the best taxi, make the best jerk, or provide the best tour, and you’re guaranteed a tenuous income, especially during tourist season.

Today Roots & Culture By Simone Myrie, in honor of the My island’s lets share some of our favorite pictures of /Jamaica /Jamaicans in the comment box below . I’m proud to be a part of this culture and nation, even if it’s only by 1/4.

Out of many, one people.
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Monday, February 24, 2014

Roots And Culture By Simone Myrie ( Civics Text Book ) coming soon ...................... Extract from Chapter 3 Get to know our island - Jamaica

Roots And Culture By Simone Myrie ( Civics Text Book ) coming soon ......................

Extract from Chapter 3

Get to know our island - Jamaica

Jamaica had more than 14 parishes, some of which no longer exist (having either been absorbed or divided between neighboring parishes). At the highest number in 1865, Jamaica had 22 parishes.

Parishes have been a feature of local administration in Jamaica ever since the island was captured by the British in 1655. Each parish has a capital town and serves as a unit of local government. The parishes are also divided into three counties - Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey - but the counties have no administrative role.

Cornwall has 5 – St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Middlesex has 5 – St. Catherine, St. Mary, Clarendon, St. Ann and Manchester.

Surrey has 4 – Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Portland.

Each parish has its own parish council which is given limited powers. Each parish has a capital town.

The former parishes were:
Metcalfe (now part of Saint Mary)
Port Royal (divided between Kingston and Saint Andrew)
Saint David (now part of Saint Thomas)
Saint Dorothy (now part of Saint Catherine)
Saint George (divided between Saint Mary and Portland)
Saint John (now part of Saint Catherine)
Saint Thomas-in-the-Vale* (now part of Saint Catherine)
Vere (now part of Clarendon)

Jamaica's 14 parishes are as follows:

St. Elizabeth:
Named in honour of Elizabeth, wife of a former Governor. St. Elizabeth is known for its farming activities and is called the “feeding basket” of Jamaica. It is Jamaica’s second largest parish. St. Elizabeth is a major producer of bauxite. There are two sugar factories in the parish and a number of crops (among them cassava, peas, pimento, tobacco). This parish is also the producer of livestock. The capital town is Black River.

Trelawny:
Named after a former Governor, St. William Trelawny. Trelawny is known for its sugar estates. Rum and sugar are Trelawny's main products. The capital town is Falmouth.

St. James:
Named after the Duke of York who became James II. St. James is known as the second city of Jamaica. It is the birthplace of our National Hero, The Rt. Excellent Samuel Sharpe. Montego Bay is the capital town. Popularly known as “Mo Bay”, it is one of the most famous tourist destinations internationally.

Hanover:
Named after the English Monarch, George I, from the House of Hanover in Germany. Hanover is the smallest parish in the island and is the birthplace of one of Jamaica’s National Heroes – The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante. Agriculture is its main product. The capital Town is Lucea.

Westmoreland:
Possibly named because it is the most westernmost parish in the Island. Westmoreland is Jamaica’s eighth largest parish. The parish depends on sugar cane for employment.

Negril has some of the world’s best beaches and is noted for its white sands. Negril is one of Jamaica’s main tourist destinations. The capital town is Savanna-la-mar.

St. Catherine:
Named after Queen Katherine, Charles II’s Queen, the name was changed to “Catherine”. St. Catherine is one of Jamaica’s largest parishes and is next to Kingston as an industrial center. The largest salt producing plant in the Caribbean and the Caymanas Park horse-racing track are located in this parish. The capital town is Spanish Town.

St. Mary:
One of Jamaica’s smallest parishes. Scott's Hall is known to be the home of the St. Mary Maroons. St. Mary has the largest number of (East) Indians in Jamaica. It is the parish with the most historic buildings, monuments and ruins. St. Mary has several Great Houses. It was named after its capital Puerto Santa Maria. It was one of the first sections of the island to be occupied by the Spanish. It produces a large variety of agricultural produce such as bananas, coconut, coffee and breadfruit. The capital town is Port Maria.

Clarendon:
Clarendon was named in honour of St. Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. An extensive amount of bauxite can be found in Clarendon. It is the location of the famous Milk River Bath and is Jamaica’s 3rd largest parish. The capital town is May Pen.

St. Ann:
Named after Ann Hyde, Wife of King James II of England. It is the largest parish in Jamaica and is also known as the “Garden Parish” because of its beautiful flowers. It is the birthplace of our National Hero, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Reggae singer Bob Marley. St. Ann is one of the major tourist destinations in Jamaica. The famous Dunn’s River Falls and a number of popular beaches are situated in St. Ann. Ocho Rios, popularly known as “Ochie”, is a town in St. Ann. Ocho Rios is the second major tourist town on the north coast. The capital town is St. Ann’s Bay.

Manchester:
Our National Hero, The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley was born in this Parish. It is Jamaica's sixth largest parish. The area is mostly mountainous and the climate is usually cool. A number of Jamaica's businesses were started in Mandeville and it is the hub of the bauxite mining industry. One of the oldest hotels in the Caribbean, the Mandeville Hotel, is located in this parish. Citrus (oranges, ortaniques and grapefruit) are grown here in abundance. Manchester was named in honour of the Duke of Manchester, the then Governor of Jamaica. The capital town is Mandeville.

Kingston:
This is the capital of Jamaica and also the largest city in Jamaica. It is the centre of commerce for the Island. One of Jamaica’s National Heroes, The Right Excellent George William Gordon was born in Kingston. Two airports, The Norman Manley International Airport and Tinson Pen (smaller and more domestic) are located in Kingston. The capital town is Kingston.

St. Andrew:
The University of the West Indies and The College of Arts, Science and Technology (now known as The University of Technology) are located in this parish. The capital town is Half-Way-Tree.

The local government for the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew were merged to form the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

Important places that are located in St. Andrew are the Governor General’s residence at King’s House, the Prime Minister’s residence at Jamaica House, the National Stadium, Sabina Park (cricket) and the Bob Marley Museum.

St. Thomas:
Might be named after Thomas, Lord Windsor, Governor of Jamaica in 1662. Our National Hero, The Right Excellent Paul Bogle was born in that Parish. The famous Morant Bay Rebellion took place in that parish. There are many factories in St. Thomas and sugar and bananas are their main export crops. The capital town is Morant Bay.

Portland:
Named after the Duke of Portland, Governor of Jamaica in 1723, Portland is known for its agricultural products. Breadfruits, bananas, coffee, coconuts and ackees are among some of the products. Portland has been known to be the host for the rich and famous many of whom own property there. The world famous Blue Lagoon is located in this parish. There is also rafting on the River Grande. Portland is also famous for its jerked food - especially its jerk pork! (Note: ‘Jerk’ food means spicy food. ) Port Antonio is the capital town.

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Do you know the name of this fruit?

This strange fruit has an even stranger name.
Do you know the name of this fruit? 

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Jamaicans are happy people!

Believe it or not, Jamaicans are happy people! Proud to be Jamaican!

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Chocolate

Are you a lover of chocolate ? Historians now say it was invented in Jamaica as far back as 1494

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'Marbles'


Remember when 'marbles' was the most popular after school game?
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Chinese Skip

Comment if you remember playing Chinese Skip during school breaks and after dismissal!

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Traditional Jamaican Food


Traditional Jamaican eats (clockwise from top left): Sweets – Duckoono/Blue Draws, Grater cakes. Jerk pork, Curry goat, rice and peas and fried plantain, oxtail and beans with white rice, ackee and saltfish with boiled dumplings and yam, mackerel run down, beef patty and coco bread and escoveitch fish with fried bammy.

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Higglering: The backbone of Jamaica’s internal market system

Higglering: The backbone of Jamaica’s internal market system

Higglering is by no means a new phenomenon in Jamaica. This occupation dates back to the time of slavery. During this time, slaves, mostly those from the rural areas, were allowed to have their own provision grounds so that they could grow their own food. They often planted more than what was needed by their families and so were given allowance to sell their surplus produce.

As a result, it was customary for the male slaves to cultivate and maintain the farms while the female slaves took the surplus produce to the market to sell or trade on Sundays which was their only day off from work.

The first markets in Jamaica were established on larger sugar plantations or at prominent road junctions. Here, slaves from various plantations gathered to sell their produce. Each vendor, exclusive of those who walked around the market to sell their produce, had a ‘special’ spot in the market form which they sold each week. This allowed their customers to find them easily each week. In addition to being their place of work, markets also served as social centres for the slaves. They used this opportunity to communicate freely with each other, a privilege that would have been otherwise denied by their owners.

Slave owners sometimes used their slaves, especially those who were unskilled, as part-time higglers for themselves or for other traders who sought to hire additional help. However, despite the fact that they were slaves, higglers enjoyed some freedom of movement at the market. They were relatively independent at this time, being given control over the sale of the provisions and all cash or kind dealings. Consequently, these higglers, who were predominantly women, attained some amount of status within the local community. They were recognized for their contributions to the internal marketing system.

There were two main categories of higglers: town or urban higglers and country or rural higglers. The urban higgler usually bought produce from the rural higglers or traded their manufactured goods for the latter’s fresh produce. The rural higgler would bring produce from the country to be sold in the urban markets.

Traditional market garb included a bandana head tie and an apron with two large pockets to the front where receipts from the day’s sale were usually kept. No higgler would also be complete without her large market basket, also called bankra, which was used to transport and display the goods. Market scenes often showed market women balancing baskets on their heads as this was a popular sight. Others carried trays instead of baskets whilst others made makeshift stalls to display and sell their goods.

Over the years, the higglering trade expanded. No longer did higglers remain in one place to peddle their goods, but they also traveled to other places in Jamaica, via land or sea, to sell their goods. This proved to be more profitable to the slave higgler, however, it proved to be a threat to the established white tradesmen as the slave higglers provided much competition for them. So, in order to curtail this expansion, several pieces of legislation were passed which restricted the sale of goods by slave higglers. Some laws restricted the hours of trading in the established market; others dictated that higglers obtain licenses for trading. One piece of legislation was passed by the St. Catherine Vestry which prohibited slave higglers from selling or retailing plantation provisions, poultry, fruit, vegetables, grass and corn within that area. As time passed the measures became more rigid which climaxed in the passing of legislation in 1834 which banned the selling of goods on Sundays which resulted in the discontinuation of Sunday Markets.

During the post-emancipation period, there seemed to have been an increase in the number of higglers in the island. This was mainly due to the fact that it was one of the few jobs the newly-freed slaves knew how to do, outside of farming. The freed slaves then had total control over their trade. They could plant what they wanted, sell what they wanted, for how much they wanted and to whom they wanted. Having been given their freedom, some slaves also became owners of plots of land and were then referred to as peasants. They also began to form links with other black traders.

Higglering is still a thriving business in Jamaica and it still maintains some of the characteristics of the trade from the time of slavery. The trade still is a very important component in Jamaica’s economy; it is still dominated by women and there are still common spaces in which the trade is carried out. However, several changes have also occurred over the years. Higglers now do not only sell agricultural produce, but a whole range of products including clothing, accessories and household items. Those that travel overseas to procure these items are referred to as Informal Commercial Importers (ICIs). Though some may argue otherwise, there has been some improvement in the status of the ICIs also. Several of them have managed to work their way into communities which were traditionally occupied by middle and upper class persons. They drive expensive vehicles and live a life that is superior to many.

Whatever your views may be, it can not be denied that higglers provide a very essential service and so should be shown appreciation for their contributions
e?

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Congrats Rohan Freeman

Congrats Rohan Freeman, the First Jamaican and the First Afro-American to climb the Seven Highest Mountains in the World

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Good Morning JAMAICA

Good Morning! Grateful to be able to Rise,
now time to GRIND and SHINE.
Have a Blessed day and prosperous workweek.

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Good Old Jamaica

I GUESS I may be getting just a teeny-weeny bit old, because I can remember when it was considered

rude to whistle in front of adults, the biggest bad words pickney used to cuss were ‘blouse and skirt’,'rahtid’ and ‘blow-wow’; and slackness was talking big bwoy stories.

I am probably not so young anymore, I guess, because I can remember when people used to charter JOS bus to go to outing at Gunboat beach. And the beach dem was clean! And bad boys were the ones riding skate, and playing marbles and racing board horse in the gutter water after rain.

I remember when children were afraid of Johnkunnu - now even police fraid a pickney, ’cause pickney a shotta!

Call me archaic, but I remember when school children never had such a wide range of colorfully creative chemical concoctions and toxic adventures to choose from such as sweets and snacks. For example, I saw one recently marked cheese tricks and when you read the fine print carefully, you realized that the ingredients did not include any cheese - so-so tricks!

But I suppose it must be old age, because I also remember that children used to eat jackfruit, juneplum, naseberry, guinep, hogplum and tinkin toe; we used to relish treats like bustamante-backbone, drops, gizzada, toto, cut-cake and grater-cake. MEN USED TO DANCE WITH WOMEN after asking if they could have this dance!!

I must be clearly approaching dinosaur status, because I can vividly recall a period when independence time meant street dance on every corner, and we never had to import carnival to have revelling in the streets, and float parades were magnificent. I must have come from them dark ages, but I remember when man used to go party to dance with woman, not to “par wid man”, and women never had to walk naked to get attention.

But I am not quite ready for the rocking chair and adult diapers just yet. No papa! Still,

I remember when Rasta was a lifestyle. Now dreadlocks is a hairstyle. I remember when a turban-and-robe-wearing Rastafarian of the boboshanti order was a reserved and holy man who lived in the hills and rejected expressions of vanity and weapons of destruction. But times change fast, and now-a-days wrap head man toting gun. And turban clad Rastaman whining up on girls and sipping alcohol beverages in night club.

Trust me I am not an old prude, but I remember when watching dancing on TV meant looking at things like ‘Where it’s at!’ Now watching a ‘live video’ of a session means seeing the video camera slither and slide like an unruly invisible phallus,
I am not exactly ancient yet, (and I am not some uptown snob), but if my memory serves me right, poverty doesn’t mean the absence of dignity

I remember when ghetto life never meant dirty living. I remember when, no matter how things rough, a big hard black man would be too proud to stand up on the roadside begging. I remember when young boys didn’t aspire to be a ‘thug’ and a ‘gangster. LIFE HAD VALUE.

OK, ah think I am beginning to see one or two lonely grey hairs. But still, it can’t be so long ago; because I lucidly remember a time when children were safe, and elders were respected. I remember a time when, for everyman, there was something that was held sacred; and life had value. No, is not any hallucination, ’cause I remember it plain, plain...

Do you remember ‘Old Time Jamaica’? Or you too young? Do you remember too?

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