Happy Independence Day JA - Out of Many One!

Photo: caribbeanelections.com

Den wait unnu nuh hear bout wi bunononos celebration?

HEH! What ah la la?!!!

Yuh si how mi hot out inna mi colours????

Ah weh yuh deh?

Dah one here name: BLACK GREEN AN’ GOLD 52!!!

Dem think ah now wi jus’ ah come BUT

Ah from long time Jamaica have tings pon lock!

JAMAICA – Seveen (LA Lewis voice) star general fi the Caribbean and numba 1 inna eberyting!

Mi ah guh spell it out fi unnu yardie style enuh

Jamaica born inna 1962…dubbed di land of wood and wata…nuff and plenty!

From Negril to Morant Point wi braggadocios an’ wi braggadocious and wi proud.

Everyweh wi guh tings IRIE!

Ah wee seh Jamaica NO PROBLEM

Fiwi culture badda dan bad!

Wi music tun up loud to the four corners ah di earth.

Wi gi dem MENTO, SKA, ROCKSTEADY, REGGAE & DANCEHALL!

“ONE LOVE” ah di song fi di millennium from the great reggae jam-icon Missa Marley!

Inna Jamaica ah bare excitement, weh else yuh know have ah party an’ ah dance move fi each day ah di week?

Heh! Mek Vegas all ah tell dem di bruk bruk bruk bruk bruk it dung!

Jamaican cuisine! Lady nuttin nuh sweeter dan mi granny greater cake and drops, ackee and saltfish.

Inna sports wi beat dem bad! We have di fastest man pon earth. He’s OH SO USAINABLE!!!!

Veronica, Bolt and Asafa show dem seh wi ah di sprint capital ah di worl’.

MI PROUD FI BI JAMAICAN!!!!

Fimi country ah ooman territory! Jus ask Mama P! Ah always ooman time ah Jamaica!!!

Listen mi! Ah Jamaican scholar is always pon the P.A.T.H to success dats why wi future well copaset!

Ah nuh jus’ sand sun and sea wi seh

Wi ah set up shop fi 2030 fi mek Jamaica ah place fi live work, raise ah family and duh business.

Suh come ah Jamaica coz fi wi nation deh pon ah mission and ah yahso ah guh nice!

The Road to Emancipation

Photo: Jamille De-Andra Chin

Driving through the green fields of Adelphi on this August Mawnin' as we celebrate Emancipation Day in Jamaica. Freedom is a wonderful thing we should never ever take for granted. Our forefathers worked hard with blood, sweat, tears and death for us to have it...we are entrusted to use it for the greater good. One of my favorite punch lines to use when the system is pressuring people is "tell dem seh slavery done from 1838!" Lest they forget and need I have to remind them. To be truly emancipated is to be fearless, determined, strong and fighting for what you believe in. The history books remind us where we are coming from and we celebrate this day to remind us of our continued journey to be resilient and united in our battles and challenges. In the same say, I was driving on Wakefield Road and just realized that the roads in these parts are still the same "bruk stone" roads from slavery days. These roads have stood the test of time as opposed to the smooth roads the local authorities build which are smooth death traps with short life spans. The roads are always fixed during the rainy season and is a grave injustice because the rain washes away all the components of the road and then we have potholes the size of craters...mechanics who rejoice because we have to constantly service our SUVs after the roads have shaked the living daylights out of us in transit...but we press gas and keep it moving.

The moment in time captures it perfectly. The sun shines to give us hope, the land is green and fertile and we have evolved from our colonial plantation days of King Sugar. The question is where does the road to development lead? It has many trials and tribulations. We have vast geographic, economic, social and political challenges. Do we know where we want our "Sweet Sweet Jamaica" to go? We have drafted many master plans and dream of seeing Vision 2030 but how close are we to the dream of being a developed nation in the Third World? There is no silk road to development. The hardships we endure are meant to strengthen our design for greatness as a nation. I charge that we need an educated population to propel our economy. We can't move forward if we don't change our thinking. Our great National Hero Marcus Garvey told us "A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots". The Reggae Ambassador Bob Marley told us to "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery!" and  Prime Minister Bustamante cautioned us, "Without discipline, we cannot succeed; and with disorder we will fail." 

The axiom says that "Unity is Strength"and if we don't commit to planning effectively in all sectors, our future will be a dream dried up and not actualized. We believe in Brand Jamaica but what is faith without works, sacrifice and dedication? If we can unite in sports and entertainment, we can do it for the other sectors in which we are lagging. The dreams live within us but we must speak up and let our voices be heard, stand up and be counted to vote for what is right in the name of brotherhood and justice. We need to get up and make our mark on Jamaica Land We Love! The roads are rocky, rough and there will be rainy days but they can be a lot lighter and interesting to traverse if we learn to work together.