Roleli Speaks

With the prelimnaries and quarterfinals of the 100M out of the way, we now have a fair assesment of how things will look tomorrow. By the time the 100m winner is known, the finalists would have run 4 races in roughly a 36-hour span, Thursday night to Saturday Morning, Jamaican time, therefore conservation of energy will be key. We will keep that in mind in our analysis This is where Bolt looks just as awesome as lightning. Running in the quarter-finals in heat 4, with respected 100M runners such as Olympic Silver medalist (2004) Frances Obikwelu (Por) and Darvis Patton (USA), Bolt got a good start and looking to the left and looking to right after about 50-60 metres simply strolled to victory in 9.92 seconds. Reviewing the action on the big screen after the race, he flashed a simle applauded his effort and off he went, the sign of a confident and relaxed man on a mission. Athletes to watch include Richard Thompson (T&T), and the Churandy Martina (Netherland Antilles) as both stopp...

When I heard that Douglas Chambers, former chairman of the JUTC, had been shot, I hoped beyond hope that he would survived. When I heard that he was dead I was deeply hurt. Working for a dollar($1) because he believed in his country and believed that soon or later people would see that what he was doing was for the best, Douglas Chambers was cut down by cold hearted criminals.  To honour the hard work that he was doing to correct the problems at the JUTC, I believe that everything that was in the agreement that was to be signed should go ahead. There must be no turning back and redundancies should proceed as outlined. I am heartened by the report in the Jamaica Gleaner, No Halt to JUTC redundancy plans,  the Minister in charge and the board has expressed there commitment in carrying the process forward. Here is a good letter which I pretty much full endorse. Here is a quote  The chairman of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Dougie Chambers, was trying his best to clean up the s...

 This morning the Jamaica Gleaner's headline points to a story where over 3,000 persons turned up in response to a Job Recruitment Drive put on by the Corrections Services Depart( CSD ). The CSD is seeking 200 persons and are having of recruiting over a 2 day period. Today I drove past the recruitment location and minutes to 7 the crows was already gather for day 2. Amazing, this is supposedly Jamaica a country where unemployment is very low, the lowest it has been in how many years, yet every time the Jamaica Defense force ( JDF) , CSD and any other body has a recruitment drive they are overrun by applications. All the best to the successful applicants and I hope something turns up for the others that will be denied.

It has finally officially happened. Casinos will now be allowed in Jamaica, so says Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The Prime Minister has seen gold in Casinos and believes this is a golden opportunity to increase the offerings of the Tourism Industry. Now I am not for gambling one bit. I am not for betting on horse-racing, bingo, raffles, lottery, cash-pot, lucky-five, slot machines. My position is simple, gambling does not make sense. Here is why I feel that way. One million Jamaicans gather around the lottery pot. The all throw in $20/$30 dollars. They then sit down with some fanfare , a pretty woman draws some numbers. The person(s) with the lucky number grabs the lion share, grins and runs off and a few others, usually less than 1000 or so, get a little more than they put in depending on the numbers drawn. The promoter grabs his share, walks away and tells the other 999,000 to come back next week. One downside is its effect on family. Casinos in particular have the problem that org...

In his speech in the Budget Debate, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton urged Jamaicans to eat more Cassava. This was the government's response to rising food prices or the "Food Crisis"  as mentioned by Omar Davis, former Finance Minister and Opposition Speaker on Finance.  The only cassava I currently eat is its derivative, Bammy.  I have a few questions for Dr. Christopher "Cassava" Tufton. What happen to the other ground provisions? Let me promote a list of things we need to grow more and eat more Irish Potatoes  Sweat Potatoes Breadfruit, Plant breadfruit trees every where. Banana Plantain Yam - Yellow, White  These can be cooked in a variety of ways such as baked, boiled, fried(least healthy). They can be diced and crushed and used to create delightful salads.  I might just start my own recipe site.

This has been a month.... Obama's Rum Cash Plus Drama West Indies Lose again Reggae boyz struggle

Here are some photos from the Lunar eclipse that occured on February 20, 2008. Photos by my Brother.

If you are in Jamaica and North America you will surely be able to see the total lunar eclipse tonight. The next one visible in our region is not scheduled to occur again until 2010. So gather you friends around with some snacks and drinks and enjoy the occasion. The partial eclipse starts at 8:43 p.m. EST. The full eclipse occurs at 10:01 and lasts for 50-51 minutes ending at 10:51 p.m. EST. The whole eclipse, i.e. partial,total,partial will end at 12:09 a.m. on on the morning of February 21, 2008. For more information visit: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2008Feb21/TLE2008Feb21.html http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/JLEX/JLEX-NA.html http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci838808,00.html http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6613 http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2008Feb21T.GIF For photographers, here is some information on how to capture the lunar eclipse. http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEphot...

Allon Miller is dead. It was only in July 2007, when at 101 years of age, this gentleman captured Jamaica's attention . At 101, he was an avid Internet user who had embraced the technology and used it daily. In fact, he was reported to have said that it had become his girlfriend , wife and everything. He used the internet to browse the internet and communicate with his daughter via e-mail. It is interesting that the Gleaner news article at the time claimed he had only received the computer a year before for his 100th birthday. In July of 2007 ,Cable and Wireless decided to offer this phenomenal gentleman free internet access for the rest of his life. It is reported he dead peacefully in his sleep on February 16, 2008. Rest in peace, Allon Miller. I picked up news of his death on Tech Jamaica. You can see the announcement at the link below http://www.techjamaica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46202&page=4 You can read the Gleaner article, 'Still Logging on at 101' right her...

Following hot on the heels of the confession of the one cop, that he fabricated a witness and testimony, we have another interesting story. The police have some explaining to do. Here is it that a gun that is suppose to be in their safe-keeping end up in the hands of another criminal. We end up with a situation were two different men from two separate incidents are on trial for possession of the same gun. How often have we heard, "No! Him neva have no gun, a lie dem a tell, dem plant that." Same Gun

Yesterday, the Jamaica Star published a story about a photo that the police had in their possession. For fear of a lawsuit, I will not publish the photo here or provide a link to the article. In it, a few persons appear. However of interest are two persons; one with the likeness to a DJ called Vibz Kartel and the other with the likeness to one called Aidonia. The police have said they which to question the men, as they would like to know some more about the photo. Simple enough,the picture could be authentic, a genuine true snapshot of time or not authentic, as in this age of computer graphics it is pretty straightforward in the hands of a intermediate graphic designer for images to be doctored. So this is an interesting piece of news and it is only reasonable that we find out more. Today, we hear of threats to sue the Star for the publication of the photo. The lawyer representing the artistes, whose likeness appear in the photo, utters a very interesting statement. Here I quote a...

A few weeks ago, on Sinday January 13, 2008, the police went on an operation in Tivoli Gardens , Kingston, Jamaica. When it was over, five civilians, all men, lay dead and two security officers were injured. Since then, despite the repeat playing of the tape(s), persons continue to insist that the police, through Steve Brown their spokesperson, said that "innocent lives were lost." Steve Brown never said innocent lives were lost. A news program carried on Television Jamaica, TVJ, was introduces with the a line "Five men where killed in an Operation in Tivoli Gardens, where Police are admitting that Innocent Men where killed". Now is it sad that TVJ framed the whole news broadcast by saying something that the police never said. Even if it was said loosely by some police officer on the operation it was not an official statement and there is no record of it being said. Steve Brown did say words along the line that it was regrettable that lives have been lost, but ...

Let me be the first to congratulate the police for capturing one of the most wanted men. Once again this has been done without a shot being fired. I strongly believe that can be a much more effective force and the Operation Kingfish team has proven this over and over. They captured Andem Took down Zeeks They captured Andem's crony too Now they have taken down the Stone Crushers Boss. Not a shot being fired. Read the latest article here Gleaner -  Captured Stone Crusher boss to be grilled

I got my Jamaica Sunday Gleaner and surprise, surprise Cash Plus Financials can be found in Section F. It includes a breakdown it seems for Cash Plus Group, Cash Plus Development Limited and Cash Plus Limited. Now I am no financial Analyst so I will not comment but will leave that to the more qualified. I no eagerly await the analysis tomorrow. It will make interested reading and might answer many question as well as it might only stir up more confusions. Items to watch are deferred tax, inter-company recievables Hopefully the RJR reports are false and the Cash Plus workers were indeed paid and those shaky investors trying to get back their money were successful ones while the more confident ones got there 'Christmas' investment cheques. Related: Investors Protest and Cash Plus Centers

Jamaica Gas Prices has now launched two new features we hope that our users will find useful. Blog We have launched a blog to complement to other services and we hope it will give users more opportunities to comment and give feedback. Plans are in place to launch a forum where users can talk and share all the want about the gas and energy issues facing the world. http://www.jamaicagasprices.com.jm/blog/ Gas Prices on your Mobile Phone In addition users can also get and post latest gas prices via there PDAs, Blackberries and other Internet enabled mobile phones. http://mobile.jamaicagasprices.com.jm/ In addition there are many features in store so keep you eyes only, watch the gas prices and let us know how much gas is being sold in your area.

Recently Khamal Knight, the son of Senator K.D. Knight died. I attended the funeral and I was glad I did. It as a touching service as speaker after speaker spoke about this young man in a honest and frank way. They spoke of his weakness characterized stubbornness, hinting at his over indulgences and so on, in essence human tendencies and failings. They also spoke of his strengths, kindness, loving spirit, his believe that all men where equal and should be treated as such and his belief that he could do anything he put his head and hands to and finally his deep trust in God. Senator K.D. Knight himself was excellent as he read the eulogy, punctuated with his own special brand of humor that if you were not careful you would have forgotten that you was at a funeral service. Indeed he too showed he was a strong man, and that big men can cry, as at one moment, overcome with grief, he shed a few tears before collecting himself and continuing. Indeed my own respect for the man grew. Ther...

The PNP leader is re-energised after refusing to concede defeat and an ugly speech on election night and now is promising to be a strong opposition. She was heard recently saying in another ugly speech, "it ain't over baby", and pointing out that she would be watching Bruce and the JLP everywhere they go every step they take. If that was not enough she proclaimed that she would be the JLP's worst nightmare. On the downside Prime Minister Golding's call for unity and working together has all but been ignored by Jamaica's first female Leader of the Opposition. Interesting times lie ahead. Portia Simpson-Miller - JLP's worst nightmare. Nightmare Already - Bruce Golding responds

Despite all that problems with Dual Citizenship, uncounted boxes and Portia Simpson-Miller's initial refusal to concede or sit on the platform at the swearing ceremony, the business of the country had to go on. The Jamaica Labour Party ( JLP) named the cabinet ministers and subsequently the state ministers but not without controversy. Personally I don't like the cabinet size or make up and I believe the JLP missed the boat but I will talk about that another time. The major talking point was the appointment of Don Webhy . The JLP either seeing the inability of Audley Shaw to manage the Finance Ministry alone or the serious financial mess the country is in, appointed two(2) other ministers to the finance ministry, Don Wehby , now formerly of Grace Kennedy, and Dwight Nelson, Trade Unionist. Don Wehby was formerly a high ranking member of the Douglas Orane led Grace Kennedy Group which includes First Global Bank Limited and Bill Express and they are also local operators/a...

The Jamaica election has come and gone. The Jamaica Labour Party( JLP ) won defeating thePeoples National Party( PNP ), 31-29 initially but after recounts the results now stand at 33-27. There has been some issues in Eastern Hanover and South East St. Mary that remain unresolved. The results in these constituencies now favouring the JLP are shaky to say the least. In Eastern Hanover, where less than 100 votes decided the winner the problems with which ballots to count continued in the supreme court up until yesterday. In the South East St. Mary ,where less than 100 votes again decided the winner, two boxes where not counted, by mistake or design now one really knows, neither in the first count and the official recount. Now that issue is before the court, whether or not the boxes should be counted. There is also the problem of dual citizenship court actions hanging over the head of Daryl Vaz of Western Portand and Shahine Robinson of North Eastern St. Ann. We can only hope that t...

After a hectic month, I am on a one week break. Hurricane Dean and Jamaica Elections 2007 all but consumed my life. So look out for a flood of posts I will be release many of the thoughts filling up my mind.