Dear Reader,

Thanks for dropping by! Negril.com is dedicated to exposing the Heart, Arts and Culture of Jamaica. Negril.com strives to cover all our varied art expressions through reviews, commentaries, interviews, and tips you can use.

To read exciting contributions by our writers, you can either read the blogs below this welcome note or click on any of the links (above the welcome note) to individual pages. You can also search through our monthly archives listed on the right of this page.

If you would love to have your cultural event or project featured, please contact us at either our Negril office (957-3191) or Kingston representative (797-7297). You may also send an email to anthea@negril.com. Keep connected!! One World, One Love!

JUST A THOUGHT:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a
tree without roots.” — Marcus Mosiah Garvey

Toriano Adaryll  “Tito” Jackson, singer and guitarist himself, joined in Mello go Roun’ 2009, the official start of the country’s Independence Celebrations, held recently. Being the second eldest brother of Michael Jackson, he was the special guest of Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

Mello Go Roun’, inspired by the tv series ‘Ring Ding’ with Jamaica’s loved Folklorist, the former Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverly, was staged July 30, at the National Arena. Perhaps the most popular family event on the Jamaican calendar, it was a colourful package of entertainment and culture bringing more than Jamaicans on a memorable journey through Jamaica’s history. It remains one of the premier segments for celebrations’ organizer, the Jamaica Cultural Development Centre.

For Mello Go Roun, there were deliveries in speech, music drama and dance forms designed over the years. Equally indellible were the vibrant and well thought out costumes, and props which inspired much creative energy and commitment to the task at hand by the performers.

Young and old alike were nothing less than appreciative of  the unfolding of Jamaica’s history and cultural expressions, from traditional to modern day contemporary. Among the more impacting performances were the dub –poetry piece Barrel Pickney to by the Zyem Kids, and the pulsating rendition of the Dinki Mini by the Islington Cultural Club, as was anticipated by many.

See also Spectacular performances at Jamaica’s Mello go roun 2009 for more on Independence Celebrations.

Again its written in our unique Jamaican dialect (internationally known as Patois). its’s a great way to learn our language while learning of our culture and literary skills through poetry. Contact negril.com’s team for interpretation to your language where necessary. ]

TAX DEH PON SALT

-          By Joan Andrea Hutchinson (April 2009)

SOMETIME MI DID want to be a people

A animal or a bug

But today mi glad bag bus an mi happy

Because mi is a slug

Mi say Bap Bap Bap an Booyaka

Mi shout Yippy-di-deee

Oonoo nearly gi wi high blood pressure

But now wi life salt free

Free like a bird in a tree becaw Man A Yard

Say salt fi hug up tax

Free fi  nyam dung oonoo gyaaden a night time

An live life to di max

Oonoo tink say wi slug is just a nuisance

Claim say a just one ting wi want

Fi entime oonoo gyaaden start fi prosper

Wi come nyam dung plant

Oonoo come wid oonoo backle a salt a night time

A come throw salt pon slug

Wicked oonoo wicked an evilous man

A set a cold, hard hearted thug

And di cheap salt weh oonoo buy, bun hot yuh know

Woii … di discomfort an di pain

Cheap oonoo too cheap fi evenbuy slug pellets

Dat woulda be more humane

Front a public oonoo defend di poor an disadvantaged

Down to di criminal oonoo hug

Read Bible an pray loud, den come a oonoo yard

An a dash salt pon slug

All some a oonoo so call deestant  an tapanaris

Wid oonoo high moral ways

Oonoo miss one lickle leaf, and di badwud oonoo cuss

Slug haffie cork slug aise

Mi think say some a di ooman dem a bun wi

Caw dem know dem body done

An a company dem a look becaw dem husband

Out a street a gi dem bun

So Man a Yard, mi nah gi nutten right or wrong

Mi nah say nutten a nobady fault

But mi kin stap bun mi an mi can live in peace

Becaw  tax deh pon salt.

Jamaicans to fight with the pen

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

IN AN ONLINE campaign begun by one-year-old Bookophilia, Jamaicans are being mobilised to bring about change in Jamaica through the gift of writing. This signifies that Jamaica has come a long way since its independence, with the citizens now assuming a new role of holding government officials accountable. This especially when it comes to the literacy and advancement of the island’s natives.

Led by the representatives of Bookophilia bookstore and club, Kingston, Jamaicans are being challenged to take a stand against, and, to insist on a repeal of taxes which will affect all Jamaicans.

This is in direct response to an imposed the new literacy tax by the Government. Accordingly under the category of “Books, Newspapers and Education” - previously tax-exempt, books and reading material as of Monday, April 27 are being taxed.

“Books, Newspapers and Education” [are defined as]:
10. Printed matter, articles and materials such as –
(a) brochures, pamphlets and leaflets for religious purposes and books other than schoolbooks and booklets
(b) newspapers journals and periodicals, whether or not illustrated
(c) children’s picture books and painting books;
(d) maps and hydrographic charts and similar charts of all kinds, including atlases, wall maps and topographical plans, printed globes (terrestrial or celestial).”

The revision issued on Monday is that religious materials and educational materials (as defined by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue) will be tax-exempt.

In 2003, similar attempt to impose a similar tax failed after swift action from citizens who protested and lobbied in unison.

Bookophilia heads negotiate the imposition as unfair, in a country where the literacy rate is already woefully low. In a recent release they also argue “We have to make our leadership understand that the list of MOE textbooks is too narrow a definition of “educational”. Every children’s book is educational - and reading of any book should be encouraged.

They also propose that the move will also present a practical difficulty in how this would be implemented. For example definitions on religious and educational books seemingly remain unclear.

Questions proposed are Is Mother Teresas biography a religious book? What about books by the Dalai Lama? Is a book on Caribbean politics educational? What about a great work of literature like say a copy of War and Peace? How long will it take to clear goods on the wharf as Customs officers try to decipher which of the 1000 different titles in a shipment should attract tax? 

Already the team has demonstrated the advantage of being literate, at least computer literate.

In a posted note on Facebook, contact information for both the Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Member of Parliament (info@cabinet.gov.jm; info@mof.gov.jm; FitzAlbert_2@yahoo.com)

Supporters are then asked to copy, edit and pesonalise the letter below into a personal e-mail to the above addresses. 

>>>>>>>>> sample letter >>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear Prime Minister Golding and Minister Shaw:

As a concerned citizen, I am writing this letter to urge you and your colleagues to act swiftly to repeal the tax on books. Protecting our ability to access books and affordable reading material is critical to our nation’s development.

I urge you to stand with us on this issue and keep all books affordable for the people of Jamaica. I am particularly concerned about the following:

1. That only the MOE list of approved textbooks or religious texts are exempted - This narrow definition, limited to MOE approved textbooks and books deemed religious by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, is unacceptable. We believe that all books, especially children’s books, are of educational value.

2. That reading, books and education are not luxury items to be taxed for quick returns and short-term revenue gains. We demand that our government take a long-term view of this issue and its impact on the future of our nation.

3. That with the impact of recent devaluation, the price of books has already increased and this tax will put many books beyond the reach of the average citizen.

We have the right to develop into a literate and educated society. Citizens must have access to diverse and affordable reading material. Reading of any and all types of material, must be strongly encouraged by our government.

I strongly urge you to act now to repeal this tax and allow all books and reading material to remain tax-exempt.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.

Sincerely,

………………………
(your name)

Up to publication time, the number of participants or letters submitted remains unknown.

 exposing the Arts of Jamaica!!!

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

FOR OVER 10 years, Negril.com remains dedicated to exposing the Heart, Arts and Culture of Jamaica. Negril.com recognises that visitors to the island especially are attracted to the island because of the island’s unique culture and multiskilled people. Negril.com strives to unfold Jamaica’s varied art expressions through reviews, commentaries, interviews, and tips readers can use, especially while in Jamaica.

This especially as there are those persons who shy away from reading the local news, sometimes filled with reports on crime within Jamaica. Currently, there are hotels that do not allow immediate access to local newspapers for this reason, and hence preventing them from grasping a full understanding of the island and its offering otherwise.

The online mediahouse, however, in no way competes, but rather compliments exisiting media houses. It operates as an an extension of the coverage of Arts and Culture of local media houses. It is staffed by a qualified editorial team, long experienced with the varied arts and expressions and are themselves seasoned and proliferic journalists in this regard.

Anthea McGibbon, an experienced art critic and artist herself functions as the Content Editor. She still on occasion contributes to the the Gleaner’s Art Section.

Some of these persons contribute on a voluntary basis, joining the quest to see Jamaica take its rightful place at the pinnacle of the world. The vision of the team is to use arts and culture to transform the outlook of and from Jamaica. 

Partnering with companies such as Negril Education Environment Trust, performing and visual artists, as well as the popular spots around the island, it is hoped that even the most insatiable hunger for interaction with Jamaica and its people will be filled.

Contributions by our writers can be still be accessed, despite the layout of the site is currently being upgraded for better interaction and exposure, which at times result in photographs not being shown. 

To access contributions, readers must first log on to www.negril.com and choose/click on Arts and Culture from the list to the left of the home page.

Thereafter readers can click on any of the links (above the welcome note) to individual pages. Articles and their links are also published immediately following the welcome note. Readers can also search through the monthly archives listed on the right of this pages in the Arts and Culture section.

Readers can join the message boards or simply send a comment where requested.

So far, there are numerous websites are reusing downloaded information and articles from the site. Interestingly the only one not accrediting the source is located in Portmore, Jamaica, and doing so without expressed permission.

To reuse any item from the site please contact the management or content editor in writing and additionally give proper accredition on the source. 

For coverage or feature of any cultural event or project including books in Negril.com’s Art and Culture section, contact can be made at any of the following:

The Negril office (957-3191), Coral Plaza or
Kingston representative (797-7297)
Mail can be sent to 3 South Avenue, Building #2, Swallowfield, Kingston
You may also send an email to the Content Editor Anthea McGibbon, at anthea@negril.com or islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk.

Keep connected!! One World, One Love!

JUST A THOUGHT:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” - Marcus Mosiah Garvey

- By Joan Andrea Hutchinson (written 1992)         

[Editor's note: Tourists BEWARE!

The following poem was written in our Jamaican dialect - internationally known as Jamaican Patois. It has its own rules, that are not hard to follow, and if you are one to study languages and origins, look carefully, the meaning is sure to be found.]

EVERY SOCIETY DEVELOP hobbies an pastime

Fi help lighten dem load

An since Jamaicans extra creative wi develop

Di pastime of blocking road

Sometimes wi block off a whole area

Block it from end to end

An so di police dem try fi clear di block

Wi block it back again

For wi an di police a fambily an combolo

Dat’s why dem respect wi pan di street

For ef dem lick wi, when dem come home

Dem nah get nutten fi eat

An wi have dis blockroading ting down to a science

Wi block a highway in ten seconds flat

An wi meck traffic back up at any major intersection

By di time yuh say “Who dat?”

Wi use ol iron, cardboard, bedspring, stove

Tree trunk an scrapses board

An ef dat nuh enough wi spread out pan di grung

Or set fire pan di road

When roadblock a keep mi coulda half naked

Wid settas inna mi head

Mi lef pot pan fire, lef baby inna house

Ef a egg, mi inna di red

Sometimes mi nuh know weh mi a block road fah

But mi shout out lickle more

“J-O-S-T-E-S-S  Justice  an unfairity

A just becaw wi poor “

September mi did buy one bashment outfit

So Junior school fee couldn’t pay

Mi nuh buy him school book, but him get a Air Nike

An mi sen him go school same way

Junior him go school go tell teacher badwud

An den him bruck a fight

Teacher sen him wid note, bout mi fi come see her

But teacher could a brite

So a fine a ol fridge, two kyar tyre an some corowchez

An I block di road pan dem

Mi nuh business if pickney nah learn today mi nah move

Till dem sen fi CVM

Eh eh, see di TV camera yah a come

Meck mi fix up mi clothes

An brush up di pepper grain at mi headside

An wipe di sweat offa mi nose

Am I on di air?  Say why wi blocking di road?

Becaw road meck fi block

High seat kill Miss Thomas puss

An cock mout kill cock

Chicken merry an hawk deh near

Lawd mi deh pan TV

Greetings to my loving baby faada

An him tuff turbit girl Marie

An all a di bashmint man an girl remember

Mi have di latest designer style

Goosie hanbag, Moskini an DKNY

Mi dung a Arcade all di while

Di camera still turn on? Say why wi blocking di road?

For dem fi come talk to wi

From day wi out yah a bun inna hot sun

But lawd mi look good pan TV

  — 

The National Parenting Center (TNPC.com) - The worlds largest parenting advocacy group, that reviews tests and evaluates children’s products from manufacturers worldwide, (including Disney and Baby Einstein), has awarded the CD Storybook, “Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band” featuring the voice of Shaggy, the 2009 Seal of Approval.
 
The book will carry the silver TNPC Seal of Approval sticker that draws attention of buyers. Today The National Parenting Center started a US wide promotion campaign of the list of awardees to over 5,000 media houses, tv stations, parenting magazines, as well as to buyers for major US retail and online stores, and 50,000 parents across America. their site is visited by 400,000 parents looking for recommendations of items to buy for their children.
 

CHECK THESE LINKS

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090111/arts/arts6.html

http://negril.com/blog/?page_id=292

Anthea McGibbon, Content Editor

JAMAICAN SHELDON LAWRENCE, known as “Aidonia” is convincing as one of the latest rising dancehall deejays.

Earlier this year in March, he completed a month-long tour of Europe and this summer will embark on another tour. The tour is being planned for  August to
September.

By next week, the entertainer will be headlining a number of major shows throughout North America and the Caribbean if all goes well. His schedule kicks off this Saturday, May 2, with scheduled performance in the Bahamas. Afterwards he will be touring the United States, beginning in New York from May 8th - 16th.

Now, the savvy lyricist, according to his publicist, busies himself in studio, hinting at the release of his highly anticipated debut album in the coming months.

This is to compliment several singles already on the market.

Reviewer: P. Gavin James

Cast: Andrea Wright

          Garfield Reid

          Stede Flash

          Donald Thompson

          Felisha Lord

          Sheldon Shepperd

          Patrick Smith

Production House: Stages

*********************************************************************

TO SOME VIEWERS, it would seem ironic that the roots play Money Worries would evoke such laughter in fickle economic times. Truth be told, the production was a welcoming break from the now monotonous negativity which encircles the global economic environment.

The Paul Beale drama, while being humorous, urges the viewer to think twice on matters concerning financial transactions, while at the same time presenting numerous twists to the dynamics of male/ female relationships and interactions.

  The action centres around Delcita Coldwater (played by Andrea Wright), who by fate, or other sinister means becomes involved in a romantic relationship with elusive conman Trevor Gonzalez (played by Stages Productions veteran Garfield Reid). In the initial acts of the play, Reid is cast to be the more predatory character of the two, but unbeknown to Trevor, Delcita has a plan of her own, and upon realizing Trevor’s ways, sets the wheels of motion into action, and it is then that he realizes that he is in for more that he had bargained for. As with most Stages Production comedies, there is no shortage of comedic value [with some jabs being a lot more convincing than others].

  Pithy one-liners were put to good use throughout the play to full effect, but by Delcita more than any other character. Classic examples are given in her confrontation with Trevor’s fiancé, Enchunuba Heat. After the two characters square off in a lengthy tirade as to who Trevor truly ‘belongs’ to,  Ms Heat stomps her seniority to Delcita by flashing her engagement ring for all to see. Not to be outdone, Delcita in an inimitable fashion blurts out “A you a wear the ring , but a mi a carry the swing”  to an effect which had the audience on hand in throes of laughter.

  Separate and apart from exploring issues of finance, and the dynamics of male and female relationships, the drama also portrays the legal system within Jamaica and the flaws that exist within it. The drama also portrays the almost comical manner in which matters such as material evidence are manipulated in order to gain the upper hand in difficult cases, and how the matter of witness testimony comes into play.

  Although watching can cause some level of introspection into the class factors that affect justice, the complementing cast that shed light on the predicament are Sheldon Shepperd, who makes an appearance as an alcoholic lawyer, Mr. Case. The character, who seems to be genuinely interested in crunching up big cases to boost his law firm, makes an exception upon realizing that both he and Delcita had been hoodwinked by the same person. Despite all of his good attributes, because his life is in such a mess, is hard for the audience, or even the other characters to really take him or his struggling law practice seriously.

  His polar opposite is portrayed by Donald Thompson -who goes by the name Dr. Bull in the play. He comes to the play with numerous degrees and qualifications in tow, and it is his presence that casts a dark shadow on the practice that Mr. Case operates. Although Bull serves to be a constant annoyance to Case, it shows the viewer also the varying types of quality offered in the legal profession and proves the age old adage ‘ Money Talks’  to be quite true.

   The cast is rounded out by theatre veteran Stede Flash, who plays the comical Judge Stamma, whose name makes his impediment clear. With his experience in theatre, it seems almost effortless to elicit laughter from the audience. In the court scene of the play, he is supported by Patrick Smith, who makes an on-stage mockery of the clerk of courts in his portrayal.

Where the stage and the transition between acts are concerned, the use of multiple focus light to interchange the scenery should be appealing to most viewers, and this is one of the production strong points of the drama. Although the scene changes were not seamless so to speak, the transition was quite smooth. The props were quite convincing and for the most part correctly placed. The use of the Mighty Maytones rocksteady hit Money Worries at the beginning and the end of the play was also quite nifty and noteworthy.

What is also noticeable at the end was the concurrence that the play made for some good laughs, but some of the rib ticklers just did not come off right, as some members of the audience were left in bewilderment.

     Money Worries, separate and apart from the comedic elements, while not being over the moon, give the viewer much food for thought and makes for a good watch.

**********************************************************************

*** ½ stars

P Gavin James is a mass communication graduate of CARIMAC.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on our art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.

P Gavin James, Negril.com Writer

DOREEN EAST, A self-styled ‘natural writer’, on April 4 launched her book Hit Me With a Good Man, recently in the cool of St Andrew.

 The project, which took just over a year to write and compile, was as the writer explained, a project to capture the experience of a Jamaican woman. This Jamaican woman returns to her homeland and finds love. This time however, the story was told through a Jamaican’s eyes with a purely Jamaican perspective.

At the book’s launch, East, the author her apparent love for writing, which as a result, a voracious appetite for reading had developed, so much so that at age 8, she found herself reading Shakespeare.

  The need for writing her book, as she explained it, arose from a need which she  felt was not being satisfied by the overseas literary community. “ I felt almost duty-bound to step outside of the figurative and literary stereotype of  the Jamaican experience of being only ‘rum, reggae and ganja’. I felt that Jamaica was shortchanging itself with non-Jamaicans writing from the perspective of citizens without really living an authentic Jamaican experience,” East said. “You have to be Jamaican to feel Jamaica”

  According to East, the text is not autobiographical. She left Jamaica to live overseas for ten years, but despite all leaving, impressed upon those who were on hand, that there was a constant yearning to reconnect with Jamaica. The text chronicles the adjustments that a returnee has to make, and the initial level of culture shock of coming back to a somewhat different Jamaica from which she had left. In summing up her work, and to bring it closer home to the males on hand for the launch, she paralleled Jamaica and the female returnee. She emphasised “Like a woman- in the sense that when you leave her, it is like you find yourself wanting to come back to her ”.

      While the launch was not an exclusive family event, close family friend Sister Mariamne Samad, was on hand to relate the similarities of her experience and those shared by the central character, (being that she was among the few with a pre release copy).

She related experiences from her 58 year marriage, and the adjustments that she had to make as a result of marrying at age 17. She described the work as being “delicious”, due to the depth of the scope the writer successfully covered in addition to the vivid imagery which was used to bring across feelings and thoughts towards the reader. In closing Samad summarised “this book is so exciting, that I couldn’t find myself putting it down, it had awakened things within me which I thought died a long time ago” to the delight of persons in the audience.

  Other persons on hand, who previewed the book before release described it as being ‘evenly balanced’ and that it had ‘presented that lessons life had to teach, and that there were no learning manuals’.

Separate and apart from exploring the ever arising issue of erotic love and its forms, the text also tackle dead relationships. It also explores the complex issues as to why human nature sometimes propels or deters us from following through on what is right for us, and not based on external factors. The author also felt the need to write about HIV/AIDS, but did so in a satirical manner to dull the grave issue.

 In closing,  East outlined that the text was more about general, but personal experience and not just what she had experienced in her personal life. Indicating that the text was the quilt work of the many life experiences of Jamaican women, she felt her portrayal was quite justified.

At the signing, i became evident how close the project was to her heart, and based on the initial responses from those who have read the work, there is much promise.

P Gavin James is a mass communication graduate of CARIMAC.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties uploading photographs. As soon as relating issues are resolved, photographs will be uploaded. Please understand. Thanks in advance and for your continued support.

For more on our art and culture, see also the Gleaner’s art section.