Curse of the sea turtle :-

This week 2 Bahia Principe workers were murdered

“Karen Brown’s Spain: Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries 2006 (Karen Brown’s Spain Charming Inns & Itineraries)” (Karen  Brown)

Cass cass continues :-

The dis-United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad continues its’ diss-cussions. Details here and here and here.

The problem ? Winston Dookeran (Political leader), Basdeo Panday (Chairman) and Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Opposition leader) cannot agree on who is to run things. This is just fine with Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the ruling party, the Peoples National Movement (PNM).

“Callaloo or Tossed Salad? East Indians and the Cultural Politics of Identity in Trinidad” (Viranjini Munasinghe)

Good looking crime statistics :-

Minister of National Security Peter Phillips takes a bow for the 25% drop in serious crimes in Jamaica so far this year, BUT refuses to break out the champagne. He reckons we need similar big reductions for 2 or 3 years in a row, before any celebrations are due….

“Lost in the City” (Edward P. Jones)

Money and jobs :-

Despite the massive decline in Foreign Direct Investment in the region, tourist arrivals to Jamaica are the highest ever for July, Juici Patties is  investing in a family park, Northern Caribbean University is expanding, and the Brazilians are thinking about buying our sugar factories.

Only sad thing about all this money being spent is that almost none of it will be spent in Kingston (my birthplace, my hometown, and, unfortunately, the armpit of the Caribbean)…..

“Kingston: A Cultural and Literary History (Cities of the Imagination S.)” (David Howard)

Not cricket or very bad Hair day?

Darrell Hair, Aussie cricket umpire, won’t be missed……

His career ending decision to accuse the Pakistanis of ball-tampering, and then cede the Test Match to England, may get him a warm welcome in his new English hometown of Lincoln (where he migrated recently).

On the other hand, plenty of Pakistanis live in England, and they are not all gentle giants like Inzamam ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain…..

Inzamamam ul-Haq

“A History of Australian Cricket” (Chris Harte, Bernard Whimpress)

Because Jamaica’s murder rate isn’t high enough :-

The British are sending home Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal (born in Jamaica as Trevor Forrest) . The Muslim cleric has been imprisoned since 2003 for inciting religious hatred i.e. encouraging Muslims to kill unbelievers…..

I’ve been trying to think of a positive spin to put on this news. How about this ?

Most likely the Sheikh will devote his time to converting angry young men from Kingston’s inner-city communities and he will then encourage them to move to Afghanistan, Iraq etc. where jihad can be waged without restriction…..Jamaica’s crime rate will then fall drastically…..yeah……..I’m not really believing it myself……

“Qawwali Jam: Islamic Gospal” (Mehar Ali and Sher Ali)

Because such is life in the tropics:-

Our first storm scare of the 2006 season is Tropical Storm Ernesto. Supposed to hit lunchtime tomorrow. Not really worrying, but definitely praying…..

“My Mother’s Hymn Book” (Johnny Cash)

“The Power & The Glory” (Mahalia Jackson)

“Hallelujah: Great Choral Classics” (Decca)

[posted with ecto]

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