Kingston Must Visit spots - Spot #1 The National Gallery

We always encourage our visitors to see the sights on our north coast and somehow steer them clear of Kingston. Yes we have a few tough spots but the good spots far out number the tough ones.


Kingston is a where it's happening city so follow me for the next 10 posts and I will tell you where you must trod once you come this side of the globe.

My #1 must visit spot is the National Gallery of Jamaica. http://www.natgalja.org.jm/

It is located on Kingston’s waterfront and has on display the largest collection of Jamaican art. Some of the works of our artists such as Kapo, Barrington Watson, Ebony G. Patterson and Edna Manley to name a few are on display.

From time to time there are exhibitions by various artists at the National Gallery of Jamaica.

Exhibition of 'bling bling culture' by young artist Ebony Patterson was all the rave in 2010.
http://nationalgalleryofjamaica.wordpress.com/tag/ebony-g-patterson/

There is an exhibition of the works of Barrington Watson until April 29, 2012“Barrington: A Retrospective”. This exhibition has over 250 paintings, drawings, and original prints.

The National Gallery of Jamaica is a must visit spot as it has on display some of the most beautiful and interesting works of art by Jamaican artists.

So remember don’t leave Kingston before you drop in at the national gallery – you will be happy you took the time.

Just my Vibes,

Alli

Passing of our Giant Journalist Wilmot 'Motty' Perkins

We all mourn the passing of Motty today...he will be missed and I doubt if there will ever be another like him in our lifetime.  His very popular talk show radio programme, 'Perkins on Line' forced many issues to the 'front burner' and it was a must for me to listen to whenever I had the time.

I remember his infectious and unique laugh but even more so his ability to fiercely criticise our political leaders and still welcome them to his programme.  He was a teacher to all who listened to his radio programme and even though I did not always agree with him, he argued his point of view fearlessly. The man on the street saw him as their teacher and he spoke daily of the need for justice for all Jamaicans.

He also spoke constantly of our need as a people to produce to get ourselves out of debt.

I salute this great icon and his life and his work. I will miss hearing him on the radio.

May his soul rest in peace and may his wife, Elaine and family find solace in the memories and the love and admiration so many of us have for this giant.

Alli

Sir Henry Morgan, 17th century Don?

Sir Henry Morgan's exploits can be read in many books and it is no secret that he plundered and lived a wild and lavish lifestyle as a result of his exploits.

Was he a 17th century Don?

Kingston Harbour in the morning

Kingston harbour in the morning with man attempting to catch fish.

Our 'silly season'

Yes it has begun. The start of our silly season and I am not talking about Christmas which is a really big season here in ‘Jamrock’. The season I am telling you about is much bigger than the yule-tide period by far.


I am talking about the season leading up to general elections and it seems as if we are in that season now.

Everyone has gone silly since Prime Minister Bruce Golding decided to throw in the towel. Mark you he hasn't thrown it in yet but all hell has broken lose since his announced intention recently. We are all guessing that the heir apparent aka the new kid on the block Andrew will call general elections before Christmas so the two parties are in high election alert.

Just to give you a background to our politics here in Jamrock there are two major political parties; the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)- which is the present Government and the People's National Party (PNP) which is in opposition after having had the country's reins for over 18 years. The PNP's colour is bright orange and the JLP’s is green.


Even with restrictions agreed on by both parties these colours are everywhere. Everyone seems to be wearing a green or orange shirt with party emblems and photos with the exception of those of us who don’t vote along strick party lines. The political parties give these shirts to supporters along with flags and other stuff before party meetings which provide a huge impact adding to the excitement and seemingly large numbers attending these meetings.


These meetings are held in parish capitals but the party conferences are held in Kingston so bus loads of supporters are trucked in from all over the country in their party shirts, coloured caps waving flags with the buses and trucks driving through towns known to support the opposing parties!  You can well imagine the conflict that and jeering that comes from doing this!


http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101122/lead/lead7.html
 
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110919/lead/lead91.html
 
Then there is the music which is played on the buses and also at the conferences. It is like a big party with food and refreshments provided to the supporters on the journey to the conference. Party supporter show their loyal support by dancing and singing party songs and also by use of the fist for the PNP and the victory sign for the JLP which is a show of the index and middle fingers. There is even talk of money being handed out at these events. I am tempted to attend to see if this is true but I am basically a coward and I doubt if I would succeed in showing support for both colours!



The highlight at these conferences are the speeches. Yes man we here just love to ‘chat’ and we love people who have the gift of gab and can ‘chat’. The political parties’ top brass take great care in choosing speakers to address these almost party like gatherings. Speakers with high energy and with catchy rhetoric always send the party supporters into wild dancing and singing. The late Michael Manley, Prime Minister and PNP President was well known for his speeches and his catchy phrases.


These speeches or catchy little phrases are then replayed in party advertisements on television and radio stations the months and weeks leading up to the General election day. Prime time television is never the same the months leading up to a general election. Most of the advertisements are political and can be quite amusing.

Politicians who are known to suffer from ‘foot and mouth disease’ (meaning that they say things that are downright stupid i.e. putting their foot in their mouth) can hear their speeches being replayed every night during prime time with the opposing political party placing their speech in a clip.


Then there are the musical jingles on radio. These are quite catchy at times and one can even start humming while going along without even realizing it.  Yes its silly as they have us wired.


Any outsider looking on will view all of this as fun but it is really a serious matter – the changing of the ‘guards’ but somehow it seems like the the start of the silly season.

Just My Vibes.

Alli

Green, Green Grass of Home

Some folks call it grass, others herb with the more popular names being ganja and marijuana. Whatever the name, it’s illegal here on ‘Jamrock’.

Look a like herb plant

Often we hear of Police seizing attempted shipments of the herb, making arrests and also destroying well cultivated fields. That however doesn’t stop some folks from trying to grow and export it in large or small quantities; or even smoking it or drinking it as a tea for medicinal purpose.

If I had a dollar for every arrest made for possession of this herb I would be very wealthy. Thousands of persons have fallen on the wrong side of the law because of this herb and yet it doesn’t seem to stop many from having a love affair with it.

Which leads me to wonder what would happen if marijuana aka ganja, or the herb was legalised; chances are lots of persons would plant it in their back yard – probably there would be a glut! And I would imagine there would be less money to be made in it as a business.

There are two different schools of thought. One group believes that it is as harmless as any other natural herb and even less hazardous than alcohol; they see alcohol as more dangerous than the herb. Just hearing about the carnage from drunk driving gives some credit to this thought.

On the other hand some folks feel strongly that it is a very potent herb and not everyone can handle the effects of smoking it. There may be some truth to this but I am not certain if any evidence can be found to link persons smoking ganja or even drinking of the tea to motor vehicle accidents. Food for thought looking at it from both sides.

Just in case I become a target, let me clarify; I don’t smoke the herb – I never have and I never will. Red wine is my thing and some rum punch on special occasions.

This is just My vibes on the green green grass of home.

Alli

Port Royal fishing boat

Fishermen boats at dusk in Port Royal.