"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"

http://teespring.com/rootsbysimonemyrie

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 

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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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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