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CONTENTS UNDILUTED pays tribute to John Maxwell by featuring two previous columns by him from the Hot Calaloo UNDILUTED archives:
Not just a book but an invitation to join the Goodwill
Revolution against an unfair, unjust and deceptive system that
keeps the world poor and without hope. Find out how you can join,
quit the rat race, and achieve a happier more meaningful life for
yourself and others through goodwill to all
--------------- 
For
the Life of Laetitia
by Trinidad -born Merle Hodge
Price: $10.54a wonderful book about a young girl in the Carribean, the first of her family to go to secondary school.
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June_July 2017
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She was the leading architect of Jamaica's Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development while she was Minister of Tourism, an industry worth more than $1 billion in U.S. dollars to the nation. |
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She transformed the country's National Insurance Scheme into a major component of government service. |
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Simpson-Miller also led the charge in reforming the nation's drug laws. Marijuana in small amounts was decriminalized. |
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She
also was among the first in the Caribbean to stand up to British Prime
Minister David Cameron and call for reparations for slavery. |
Her PNP party colleague and former Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Omar Davies, are also handed in his resignation at the same time.
Election
drama in the Cayman Islands
Cayman
Islands held elections on May 24 but no party won a majority. A
new Government headed by the leader of the People's Progressive Movement
(PPM), Alden McLaughlin, was sworn into office, after the party was able
to put together a coalition with the Cayman Democratic Party (CDP).
Previously,
McKeeva Bush, the CDP leader, said he had written to Governor Helen
Kilpatrick to rescind an earlier agreement that was signed only hours
earlier with McLaughlin.
Bush
said then he was set to become premier.
“This
has been a long and tedious election campaign, with plenty of ongoing
discussion happening to select who will govern the country for the next
four years,” Bush said in a statement.
Now
it seems Bush has accepted the role of speaker in the new National
Assembly, with McLaughlin as premier.
According
to the new agreement, Moses Kirkconnell will continue to serve as deputy
premier with independents Tara Rivers, Austin Harris and Dwayne Seymour
being part of the new Government.
Details
of the agreement between the parties were finalised in terms of Cabinet
assignments, but McLaughlin said he has the full support of his team for
the coalition and that the new Government reflects the will of the people.
Opposition
wins big in Bermuda general elections
The opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP) have been
voted into office in a resounding victory in general elections in Bermuda.
The PLP, led by David Burt, secured a clear mandate to govern with 59
percent of the vote in a 24-12-seat victory.
CARICOM offer to help
Venezuela
Chairman of the 15-nation
grouping, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, confirmed that
leaders will formally offer their help to President Nicolas Maduro to help
mediate the long-running, bitter impasse with Opposition forces, which has
resulted in more than three months of violent unrest.
Dr Mitchell told the closing
news conference that leaders have settled on a sending mission to Caracas.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had proposed a mission to
include some leaders which he said could help clarify CARICOM’s
understanding of the issues.
“CARICOM heads of government
call for all parties to commit to engage in a renewed dialogue and
negotiation leading to comprehensive political agreement with established
timetables, concrete actions and guarantees to ensure its implementation.
CARICOM heads of government offer their good offices to facilitate this
dialogue,” Mitchell said.
Arrest
of Caribbean immigrants soar across the US
The
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says in the
100 days since US President Donald J Trump signed executive orders (EOs)
regarding immigration enforcement priorities, immigration agents have
arrested more than 41,000 Caribbean and other immigrants who are either
known or suspected of being in the US illegally.The
ICE said that this reflects an increase of 37.6 per cent over the same
period in 2016.
Between
January 22 and April 29, the ICE said its Enforcement and Removal
Operations (ERO) deportation officers administratively arrested 41,318
individuals on civil immigration charges. Between January 24 and April 30,
2016, ERO arrested 30,028.
The
arrest of immigrants at-large in the community increased by more than 50
per cent, from 8,381 last year to 12,766 arrests this year during the same
period, ICE said.
It
said the arrest of convicted criminal immigrants climbed nearly 20 per
cent, from 25,786 last year to 30,473 this year, adding that violent
crimes, such as homicide, rape, kidnapping and assault accounted for more
than 2,700 convictions.
In
total, since Trump signed the EROs, ICE said its immigration enforcement
activity has resulted in more than 400 arrests per day, “including the
capture of egregious and violent offenders.”
Jamaican-born
Chief Usher of the White House fired
The
Jamaican-born chief usher at the White House has been fired by the Donald
Trump led administration. Angella Reid, the second Black and first woman
to hold the position, was appointed in October 2011 during President
Barack Obama’s administration.
Sarah Huckabee
Sanders, a spokeswoman for the President, told reporters that Reid was no
longer in the chief usher position.
“She is no
longer employed here at the White House, but we left on very good
terms,” Sanders said. “It’s not uncommon you would have a transition
of staff when a new administration comes in, and it’s nothing more than
that.”
Reid was born in
the eastern parish of St Thomas, Jamaica and attended high school in the
capital, Kingston, before migrating to the United States. Before being
appointed White House Chief Usher, Reid amassed over 25 years of
experience in hotel management with Ritz-Carlton, managing properties in
Miami, Florida, Washington DC and Arlington, Virginia
Major
cruise lines pullout from a Jamaican port over tourist harassment
Three
major cruise lines have decided to pullout of the Falmouth pier in
northern parish of Trelawny, Jamaica due to concerns over tourist
harassment, among other issues.
According
to the Mayor of Falmouth , Colin Gager, the pullout of the ships- all
subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean, will result in losses of approximately
J$5-million per month. He said the ships brought in close to 10,000
visitors each week. However the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) says
several other cruise lines are still committed to the port.
In
a statement the PAJ – that has the responsibility of managing the
island’s ports – noted that although the decline in earnings for
the destination is noteworthy, it says the summer season generally records
an approximately 40 per cent decline in cruise arrivals,
compared to the winter season. It says the 2018 summer season
will not see a significant variation, when compared to 2016 and 2017.
“The
harassment is straightforward. It’s the aggressive nature in which the
drivers are soliciting business from the tourists …..we want to ensure
that harassment is dealt with.”
Tourism officials are rushing to find an effective
strategy to curtail harassment in and around the recently-built
multibillion-dollar Falmouth cruise ship pier to avert any further fallout
in the tourism trade.
40
homes to be built by Food For The Poor in Jamaica this year
Charity organization
Food for the Poor held its third annual 5K Walk/Run held on May 13 at
Emancipation Park in St Andrew, Jamaica. At the Walk/Run event, Andrew
Mahfood, chairman of FFP-Jamaica, announced that the charity intends to
construct 100 houses in total from the event's proceeds, and that they are
grateful for the 40 houses already committed.
Approximately $46.5
million was raised from the first 5K Walk/Run in 2015 and $53 million in
2016, thanks to donations made by
individuals, companies and others. From
these proceeds over 100 2 bedroom houses have been built for
poverty-stricken families.
More
heavy rains destroy roads, bridges; flood communities in Jamaica
….rain, rain, rain
what a heavy rain ah fall – Jamaican folk song
The
Government says it is too early to
give an estimate, but the cost to the country from relentless rains over
the past three days could be staggering, considering that the damage from
showers just a few weeks ago was preliminarily put at close to $500
million.
The
Jamaica government ministry had just allocated $175 million in emergency
funds to six parishes to help restore access to communities which were cut
off as a result of those rains the previous month. Since then more
relentless torrential rain even heavier has done even greater damage
across the island.
More
rains have again wreaked havoc on the island's infrastructure, dumping up
to a month's volume of rainfall on some areas, washing away bridges,
tearing up roads, forcing rivers to burst their banks, and leaving a
number of Jamaicans marooned.
While
there were no reports of deaths so far, more than 30 people have so far
had to be rescued by the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Fire
Brigade.
Flood
waters also converted the Guy's Hill main road in St Catherine into a
river. St Thomas, Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Manchester, parts of
Westmoreland, St Mary, Portland, and sections of northern St Ann were also
severely impacted.
THE
National Works Agency (NWA) says the preliminary cost for clearing roads
and drains across the island that were impacted by severe rains between
March 18 and May 17 is now at $2.1 billion and will probably be even more.
A
breakdown of the estimates for the clearance of roads and drains for the
four periods of heavy rainfall show $3.37 million for March 18-22;
$671,202 million for April 16 to 23; May 1 to 10, $14.69 million; and
$936,632 million attributable to damage from May 13-17.
New
app brings health services to Jamaicans by smartphone
Jamaicans
can now access reliable healthcare at a distance using the latest in
information and communications technology (ICT). This is through the
Doctor-on-Call application (app), which allows patients to consult with
their doctors and obtain diagnosis through videoconferencing.
The
app was launched by physician and head of the School of Health and Health
Technology of the University of Technology, Professor Winston Davidson,
and his business partner, Sanjeev Kumar Rangaiah, at The Jamaica Pegasus
hotel in New Kingston.
Science,
Energy and Technology Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, commended the
innovators of the “game-changing” app, noting that it represents a
paradigm shift in the way patients access healthcare services.
“So
many of our people are plagued by their inability to access top-quality
healthcare because of distance, cost and a variety of other impediments,
but this (represents) a whole new set of possibilities and treatment
options,” he said.
Professor
Davidson explained that the 24-hour app has a number of features,
including patient follow-up, adjustment of prescription, and patient case
management, among others. He said the information and interaction between
doctor and patient is confidential and can be accessed any time through
cloud storage.
Doctor-on-Call
can be downloaded free of cost from the Google Play Store for Android
smartphones and tablet users, and at the Apple Store for users of iPhones
and iPads by typing DoctorOnCallGlobal.
It
is also available through Google Chrome for laptops or desktop computers
at DoctorOnCallJamaica.com. Patients who use the application will be
required to pay for the service by Visa and Master debit or credit card.
Ziggy
gets lifetime award
Ziggy
Marley is the first reggae act to receive the
Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement.The
presentation took place at the Spring Sing held on the campus of the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Established
in 1988 and hosted by the UCLA Alumni Association and Student Alumni
Association to honour George and Ira Gershwins' contributions to American
music, the annual event is also a showcase for the best student talent on
campus.
Ira
Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger
brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable
songs of the 20th century. He died on August 17, 1983 while George pre-deased
him in 1937. Their songs include Rhapsody in Blue, Summertime, and Porgy
and Bess.
“We
wanted to acknowledge a genre of music that hasn't been represented before
among the Gershwin Award winners,” said Alyson Beckman of Marley's
selection. One of the event's organisers remarked, “No reggae artiste
has ever won it.” The award is intended to honour the creators of all
musical genres.
“He
brings a different perspective that's optimistic, positive, and different
from the rock-and-roll artistes who have a history of winning this award
in the past,” Beckman said of Marley.
Ray
Charles, Julie Andrews, MC Hammer, Pete Townsend, Anthony Kiedis, Alanis
Morissette, Brian Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald are all recipients of the
award.
With eight Grammy Awards and an Emmy, Marley, 49, has
managed to transform the music industry with his progressive agenda during
his three-decade career, and build on the rich musical legacy of his
father, reggae icon Bob Marley.
Jamaica
football has lost its leader
Captain
Horace Burrell, President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Has
died. He made history in leading Jamaica, the first English speaking
Caribbean country to a FIFA World Cup final.
Burrell,
who was 67 years old, had been ill for the past year and was undergoing
treatment at the Johns Hopkins Cancer Treatment Center in Baltimore,
Maryland
In
the words of Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia
'Babsy' Grange:
“The
country owes Captain Burrell a huge debt of gratitude for his work and his
legacy will forever influence Jamaica's football. His passing has left a
void that will take some time to be filled."
Hail
Jamaica’s soccer coach Whitmore
Editorial
Hail
Jamaica’s soccer coach Theodore Whitmore! At the time of this writing,
Jamaica’s national soccer team is waiting to play the US in the finals
of the Gold Cup competition. Along the way they have beaten the favorites
and traditional winner Mexico. This is a tremendous accomplishment for
Jamaica’s coach, Theodore Whitmore and against great odds.
The
greatest obstacle he faced was the failure to recognize his talents by his
own country. It is classic, “A prophet is without honour in his own
country”. Unfortunately this is commonplace in Caribbean and African
countries. Their fellow countrymen are not considered good enough and they
seek out European coaches. We see team after team of black faces headed by
a white European coach. I
consider this an insult.
Previously,
Jamaica had brought in the German, Winfried Shafer, to coach the team at
great expense. But, not only at great expense, but the Jamaica Football
Federation makes all sorts of resources available
to him. In contrast, for preparation
for the Gold Cup, coach Whitmore was not even provided a satisfactory
field to practice on. This type of thing is typical. I remember when
Whitmore was preparing the team for the previous World Cup, he was unable
to get friendly matches with foreign teams. But, coach Schaefer had no
such problems. Even this time for the Gold Cup, English based Jamaican
players were not made available to Whitmore.
I
hope the success of coach Whitmore is a milestone and will bring about the
respect local-bred national coaches deserve. No more knee-jerk "great
white father' national coaches.
India
brides get wooden paddles to beat drunk husbands
An
Indian state minister has given hundreds of wooden bats to newly-wed
brides, urging them to use the paddle as a weapon if their husbands turn
alcoholic or abusive. Gopal Bhargava gave the bats -- which are used to
get dirt out of clothes in traditional laundries -- to nearly 700 brides
at a mass wedding organised by the government of central Madhya Pradesh
state recently.
The
nearly foot-long paddles are emblazoned with messages that read: "For
beating drunkards" and "Police won't intervene".
Bhargava told the brides to reason with their husbands first, adding that they should "let the wooden paddles do the talking" if their spouses refuse to listen.
Perhaps
the Caribbean may be next.......
Let us know what you think. Email us at hotcalaloo@yahoo.com