Stories about Jamaica from June, 2007
Barbados, Jamaica: Irving Youngest to Fly Solo Around the World
Barbados Free Press celebrates the outstanding achievement of Jamaican-born Barington Irving, who has become the youngest pilot and the first black person to fly solo around the world – and they're even more impressed to learn that he built his aircraft himself!
Jamaica: Engaged Employees
Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle links to research which finds a connection between engaged employees and increased competitiveness: “Interesting, especially given my estimate that some 60-80% of Caribbean employees are disengaged.”
Jamaica: Personal Space
“From the beginning of slavery, there has been a war fought over black bodies and black space and because we have been victims in the past, we have conceded our space and our right to that space and it has had a debilitating effect on our self-esteem.” Jamaican Geoffrey Phlip...
Jamaica: Hurting for WI Cricket
The West Indies Cricket Blog links to Jamaican sports journalist Tony Becca's piece on why it hurts so much to talk about West Indies Cricket.
If Bloggers attended the Conference on the Caribbean…
This past week (June 18-21) leaders of CARICOM met with President George W. Bush and other top U.S. government officials in Washington as part of the Conference on the Caribbean. Official word from the U.S. Press Secretary is that: “The Conference on the Caribbean continues an important dialogue between the...
Jamaica: The Roots of Dancehall
Always wanted to find out more about dancehall music? Geoffrey Philp interviews Jamaican music journalist Trevor “Boots” Harris.
Barbados, Jamaica: Flight Record
“Gotta love this guy because he is almost THE poster child for ‘I can do anything if I put my mind to it.'” Barbados Free Press applauds the efforts of 23 year-old Jamaican Barrington Irving, soon to become the youngest pilot ever to fly around the world solo.
Jamaica: Trusting Walcott
“A battle over individuality, morality, divinity, and spelling was being fought on a Caribbean beach. I loved it.” A passage from Omeros inspires Jamaican Geoffrey Philp to write about why he trusts poet Derek Walcott more than his pastor.
Jamaica: Homophobia and Tourism
Francis Wade wonders whether the signals Jamaica is sending to the international community about its position on homosexuality is having an adverse affect on the island's image.
Jamaica: Imagination
“Our imaginations determine the quality of our lives. Change, personally and nationally, occurs when the imagination is engaged in purposeful activity.” Geoffrey Philp muses about charity, imagination and risk.
Jamaica: No More Homophobic Lyrics
Jamaican View reports that “three of the world’s top reggae and dancehall singers have renounced homophobia and condemned violence against lesbians and gay men.”
Jamaica: Blog Novel
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp has just finished a novel inspired by the blogosphere – and his agent thinks its “the first of its kind in fiction”.
Barbados, Jamaica: Police Dropped the Ball
In response to the news that the former Pakistan cricket coach died of natural causes, Barbados Underground “has found the handling of the Woolmer case to be highly incompetent given the information which has been made public so far. The international event CWC 2007 did not deserve to be tainted...
Jamaica: Caribbean Americans and the American dream
Geoffrey Philp confesses that he had no intention of becoming a Caribbean-American, because he wanted to be known only as a Jamaican writer – but he now realises that Caribbean-Americans “have had a significant role in shaping the conscience of America”.
Jamaica: Police Corruption
Francis Wade shares his thoughts about police corruption in Jamaica: “At a pay rate that is abysmal, how much can be expected? They have dangerous jobs, in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and they can barely afford to scratch out a basic existence. Their response is...
Jamaica: The Beauty of Politics
“What does beauty have to with political representation?” asks City Girl, upon hearing the news that a former Jamaican Miss World has been chosen to represent a key political constituency.
Jamaica: Customs Woes
The alleged involvement of Caribbean nationals in the recent JFK terror plot complicates Jamaican Marlon James’ entry into the US: “Maybe I do come to the States too much. I have never been to Europe, or Africa, or South America or even most of the Caribbean. Why was I coming...
Jamaica: ‘Tis Better to Give
“While we have tremendous problems in the country with thieves, we seem to spend so much of our time beating a system that when something is offered at no cost, we have no idea what to do with it.” Francis Wade has discovered that while the joy is in the...
Jamaica: Just Say ‘No’
“Lyrical violence has slowly spread throughout the dancehall, resulting in feuds that incite fans and ruin dances.” Jamaican Veiw reports that certain DJs have refused to play songs that promote violence.
Jamaica: Castleton Gardens
“I believe that as a citizen of Jamaica I should know as much of the island as I can.” Stunner takes a photographic tour of Jamaica's Castleton Gardens.
