Farmers in East Jamaica reap success from EU-FFP Economic Diversification Programme

FARMERS EXPRESS APPRECIATION: Beneficiary farmers, Bridgette Russell and Jeffery Campbell express appreciation to Food For The Poor, the European Union Banana Support Programme(EUBSP) and Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) for the skills and income-generating activities they have gained, as a result of the Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes. They were speaking at the Closing Ceremony for the Programme on Thursday, May 16 at Esher Seventh Day Adventist Church in St. Mary.  Sharing in the event were (from right): Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Housing; Hon. Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture; Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, Food For The Poor Jamaica; Thomas Opperer, Head, Rural Development and Infrastructure, European Union Delegation; Shaun Baugh, Director of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation/RADA-EUBSP Coordinator; Howard O'Hara (partially hidden), RADA Parish Manager, St. Mary; and Pierre Dawson, Rural Development Officer, EUBSP.

 Esher, St. Mary – May 16, 2013: The FFPJ-EU Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes in eastern Jamaica, officially ended today, but the yields of the farmers are continuing and some are already making plans for expansion. This was announced at today's Closing Ceremony of the Programme at the Esher Seventh Day Adventist Church in St. Mary.

FFP Jamaica Executive Director Jackie Johnson pointed to the hike in demand for scotch bonnet peppers, which has significantly benefited the farmers. "Our FFP Agricultural team tells me that there has been an increase in demand locally and nationally for scotch bonnet peppers, and therefore that is a very viable area of expansion for many of the beneficiary farmers," said Mrs. Johnson. The FFPJ Executive Director explained that although Hurricane Sandy destroyed approximately 85 percent of the pepper plants, "the recipient farmers were still able to make good returns on the reduced crop due to an increase in demand." She announced that already, the farmers have reaped significant yields of over 60,000 pounds of scotch bonnet peppers, 54 gallons of honey and 34 newborn goats. The honey and peppers reaped have a total estimated value of J$ 6.14 Million.

 Under the Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes 40 small farmers in the traditional banana producing areas of Esher St. Mary and Somerset St. Thomas were provided with the materials, training and technical support necessary to engage in the sustainable production of scotch bonnet peppers, goats and honey.

The Programme was financed by the European Union and implemented by Food For The Poor (FFP). The Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) and European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP) were the contracting authority. The Ministry of Agriculture was a supporting partner.

 RECIPIENT FARMERS SERVE AS INSPIRATION

Partner organizations were commended for their collaboration with FFPJ which has caused the transformation of many lives in eastern Jamaica. Citizens were urged to encourage the youth to see agriculture as a lifestyle and or a viable career path. Mrs Johnson urged parents to get their children engaged in backyard gardens in their leisure time. She continued, "Whether or not a school has a 4H Club, the time has come for parents, teachers and students to collaborate in creating and maintaining school gardens and sharing the produce and profits from those gardens. This move will not only generate income for communities, but get us all 'growing what we eat, and eating what we grow' on a wider scale," said Mrs. Johnson. 

Ron Burgess, Senior Director – Recipient Services, FFP, who was the Master of Ceremonies, had high praises for the project and the partnerships formed: "It was a great pleasure partnering with the European Union on this venture and I am very happy and delighted with the results and the transformation it brought to many Jamaican lives."

IMPROVING EFFICIENCY IN AGRICULTURE

Commending the European Union on its initiative to fund the Economic Diversification Programme, Hon. Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture who was the Keynote Speaker announced that the project was funded to the tune of J $30 million. "The EU has contributed so much to the growth and development of our country," remarked Minister Clarke.  

Congratulating the beneficiary farmers for the success of the Programme, Minister Clarke urged them to impart to their fellow farmers and community members, the knowledge and skills they have acquired through the Programme.  He called on the farmers of eastern Jamaica and the island in general to make efficiency in production, be a hallmark of their operations. "Efficiency must be the order of the day…and this will allow you to improve your yields, as it is only with efficiency that you can compete with things (food) coming from abroad."

 He underscored the importance of the island significantly reducing its importation of food by engaging in more agriculture to suit the needs of consumers. "We only produce 14% to 15% of the goat meat we eat in Jamaica, so that is an area of development which our farmers need to get more involved in."

EUBSP DELIGHTED OVER ACHIEVEMENTS

The European Union and the EUBSP have expressed delight about the dynamic and effective partnership between itself, FFP and RADA, which led to the successful implementation of the Programme.  

Thomas Opperer, Head, Rural Development and Infrastructure, European Union Delegation, has expressed the commitment of his organization to continue to assist with the development of agriculture in Jamaica, especially to the needs of the small farmers. He reiterated, "Support to Agriculture is at the heart of the EU project. We try to link markets better to the farmers and farmers to markets."

Mr. Opperer told the audience that since 1996, the EU has invested over J$ 4 billion in projects ranging from infrastructure development, economic empowerment, agricultural technology transfer, skills training and capacity building.

Shaun Baugh, Director of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation/ RADA EUBSP Coordinator who was one of the Speakers at today's Closing Ceremony asserted: "RADA through the EUBSP would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our partner, FFP on successfully implementing the economic diversification and employment creation in the traditional banana producing parishes."

He explained that by assisting farmers displaced by the decline in the banana industry in eastern Jamaica and other parishes, RADA/EUBSP supported agricultural and non-agricultural enterprises, as well as other rural development activities.

MAJOR BENEFITS TO FARMERS

The major achievements of the Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes are as follows:

Ø       Education of farmers in best practices in agriculture

Ø      Income generation opportunities through the production of new crops and the rearing of livestock

Ø      Increase in the profitability of farmers

Ø      Provision of guidelines on post-harvesting and marketing of farm products

Ø      The establishment of Farmers' Associations

Ø      Implementation of marketing strategies for farmers in Somerset and Esher.

 FARMERS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES

Omar Morris, farmer in Esher St. Mary for over 10 years is extremely satisfied at the benefits he has derived from the Economic Diversification Programme for Banana Producing Parishes. Guests at the Closing Ceremony were treated to a tour of Mr. Morris' farm. Speaking in an interview, he related that the Programme has introduced him to the production of honey and pepper, and he is committed to continue on this new path in farming.

"It has really helped me a lot. I use to grow pineapple and plantain, but I never tried growing pepper until the EU-FFP Project. I really like these new things in farming and I will continue to produce them," emphasized Mr. Morris. He credits the Economic Diversification Programme for providing him with planting material, fertilizer, pesticides, goats and the establishment of an irrigation system for his farm. Even though Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of his crops, he is committed to continue farming. "I lost all my peppers during Hurricane Sandy, but Food For The Poor gave me back some pepper suckers and I replanted my peppers some 5 months ago. I really am enjoying farming and I will continue to farm," shared Mr. Morris. "I think the Programme has improved the income for me and the other farmers in Esher."

Outlining the benefits which he and his community have derived from the programme, Orville Wright, beneficiary farmer in Somerset, said, "It has impacted the community in a positive way." Mr. Wright explained that other members of the community who are not beneficiary farmers have also benefited, as they work along with the 20 beneficiaries in the area. "It's an excellent programme, and the farmers are grateful for this investment. Even now, beneficiaries are still excited." 

Among the speakers at the Closing Ceremony were: Howard O'Hara, RADA Parish Manager, St. Mary; Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing; and recipient farmers – Jeffery Campbell and Bridgette Russell.

About EU Banana Support Programme

The EUBSP promotes sustainable development in banana growing areas of Jamaica. Since its inception, it has been investing in the banana parishes of St. James, Clarendon, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Portland and St. Mary in an effort to maintain living standards and social and economic development. The primary beneficiaries are displaced banana farmers, farm workers, port workers and their families and by extension the communities.About Food For The Poor

Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com

 Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886

A school for 'Grandpa Charlie'

New Basic School for St Ann: As part of the Fifty Basic Schools for Jamaica50 Programme sponsored by Food for the Poor, a 10th school was opened yesterday - this time in Steerfield, St Ann. Photo shows Kim Mahfood Williams, Executive Asst to the President, Food for the Poor Inc, Jeff Levitetz, President/Director of the Levitetz Family Foundation and Stephen McConnell, Student Volunteer at Food for the Poor Jamaica at the Opening. The Levitetz Family Foundation donated the School in memory of 'Grandpa Charlie' who had his last vacation in Jamaica at Mamee Bay. Jeff was introduced to the programme by the dedicated Kim, and said because of his grandfather's love of Jamaica, he was delighted to support it. He said that he looked forward to sponsoring more projects for Food for the Poor.


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TENTH SCHOOL FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR IN JAMAICA 50 PROGRAMME

RIBBON CUTTING AT STEERFIELD BASIC SCHOOL
(From left) Lisa Hanna, Member of Parliament for South Eastern St. Ann, and Minister of Youth and Culture; Jeff Levitetz, President/Director, Levitetz Family Foundation; Mitsie Richards, Principal, Steerfield Basic School; Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, Food For The Poor; are all smiles as they participate in one of two ribbon cutting exercises at the official opening of the Steerfield Basic School. The event took place on Wednesday May 15. The school was built by Food For The Poor under its Jamaica 50 Programme and financed by the Levitetz Family Foundation. The FFP Jamaica 50 Programme is aimed at building and /or upgrading 50 early childhood educational institutions in 50 months, in celebration of Jamaica's 50th year of Independence.

Steerfield, St. Ann - May 15, 2013:Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica today handed over a smart new home to the Steerfield Basic School in St. Ann, bringing an end to the school's 12 years of being in sub-standard learning conditions. This is the first early childhood educational institution to be built in the parish under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme, which seeks to build and upgrade 50 basic schools islandwide, in commemoration of Jamaica's fiftieth anniversary of Independence. The gift provides much needed facilities for a school community, which had been struggling for years to serve its children in unsuitable quarters at the Steerfield Community Centre.

The Steerfield Basic School is the tenth early childhood educational institution to be constructed / upgraded under the FFP Jamaica 50 Programme.

Addressing participants at today's official opening of the new building, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica declared, "The Jamaica 50 Programme is an exciting and far reaching initiative that is dear to the hearts of all of us at Food For The Poor. It is our very special way of celebrating Jamaica's Golden Jubilee, by building and/or upgrading 50 early childhood educational institutions in 50 months."

Mrs. Johnson explained that it is the charity's passionate belief that every Jamaican child deserves the opportunity to gain quality education from the very earliest stage in his or her learning career. She added,  "We are also deeply committed to the principle that this quality education should be easy to access. We contend that the facilities housing these learning opportunities should be safe, comfortable, hygienic, and pleasant. They should enhance teaching and learning rather than making it any more challenging than it needs to be."

The FFP Jamaica Executive Director expressed appreciation to all those who have been supporting the Jamaica 50 initiative, making special mention of Jeff Levitetz, President/Director of the Levitetz Family Foundation of the United States, Donors for the new Steerfield Basic School. She also noted that Food For The Poor had a proud history of significant support to the Jamaican education system.

"Apart from the Jamaica 50 Programme," Mrs. Johnson pointed out, "Since 2006, we have built 51 basic schools across the island. Our charity has also supplied many schools with furniture. In addition, we donate cash grants to needy students, on an ongoing basis, to cover the cost of tuition and books."

The 30 children, three to six years old, currently enrolled at the Steerfield Basic School will be enjoying three beautifully decorated classrooms with cheerful, child-friendly furniture. The new school building also features a kitchen, bathroom facilities, office, sickbay and veranda. The FFP team merged four single units, on a strong concrete foundation, to produce this structure.

Hon. Lisa Hanna, Member of Parliament for South Eastern St. Ann, and Minister of Youth and Culture commended the community and Food For The Poor for their partnership in making the school a reality. She announced that she would be providing the school with a computer to serve as a valuable learning tool for the children. She also shared that she will be spearheading the beautification of the Steerfield Community Centre on Labour Day, which will be painted in the same colours as the new Basic School, situated on the same compound. 

Addressing today's Official Opening Ceremony, Mitsie Richards, Principal, explained that for many years the school had to use the facilities at the Community Centre, which were not a suitable learning environment for the small ones. "It was out of desperation and acute frustration that we went to Food For The Poor for assistance," revealed Ms. Richards. 

Expressing appreciation for the new school, she declared,  "Today we have a school that we can be proud of. We are truly grateful to Food For the Poor."
 
Jeff Levitetz, Keynote Speaker and Donor, expressed elation that his Levitetz Family Foundation could be involved in constructing a child-friendly institution for the pre-schoolers of Steerfield. Noting, "It's an amazing thing to be a part of this effort", Mr. Levitetz pointed out that the school was built in honour of his late grandfather, "Grand Pa Charlie", who had vacationed in St. Ann and fallen in love with Jamaica. He commended Food For The Poor stating,  " the tireless effort they put into the construction."

Among those delivering remarks were Hon. Radcliffe Walters, Custos of St. Ann; Maxine Headlam, Regional Director, Region 3, Ministry of Education; Lattimar Coombs, Senior Development Officer, Early Childhood Commission; Lambert Weir, Councillor, Claremont Division; and Clifford Folkes, Steerfield Basic School Board Chairman .The Very Reverend Fr. Burchell McPherson, Board Member, FFP Inc., blessed and dedicated the new building. The Basic School students entertained with cultural items.

Food For The Poor (FFP) -Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.

FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our website at www.foodforthepoorja.com 

Contact:               
Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or 564-5277
Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886
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Independent elderly in Jamaica - but watch for chronic diseases!

JAMAICANS LIVING LONGER: Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer, Director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, shares the latest findings on Jamaican senior citizens. The Professor, who also serves as Chair of CCRPJ (Caribbean Community of Retired Citizens Jamaica), was a featured speaker at the CCRPJ's recent 3^rd AGM and Lifestyle Expo. She noted that Jamaicans were living longer, but that chronic diseases were on the increase among our senior citizens. The CCRPJ Expo took place at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Hope Road.

Kingston, Jamaica, May 15, 2013: The Jamaican population (as part of the Caribbean population) is ageing rapidly, reflecting a worldwide phenomenon. The majority (71.7%) of our senior citizens own their own homes, and most report being financially independent. Chronic diseases are a serious problem among this age group, defined as 60 years and older by the United Nations. Among Jamaican seniors, 65.4% suffer from either diabetes ("sugar") or hypertension (high blood pressure) and 22% have both.

 These findings were shared by Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer, Director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, at the third Anniversary Lifestyle Expo of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP). The event took place recently at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Old Hope Road, under the theme "Seniors Power on the Rise".

The Professor, who chairs the CCRP, explained that these preliminary findings were from a recent study entitled "Ageing in Jamaica today and the implications" over a one year period, completed in 2012. It involved a survey of 2,943 seniors in Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas.  It was carried out by the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, and funded by the National Health Fund. Primary aims of the study were to assess the health and social status of older persons in Jamaica, and to identify their needs.

Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used, including detailed questionnaires administered by trained interviewers, focus groups and blood samples taken from a sub-sample of 400. Those interviewed ranged in age from 60 to 103 years, with the group's average age being 72.2 (± 8.9) years.

Professor Eldemire Shearer noted that population ageing (older persons becoming an increasingly larger proportion of the population) was taking place worldwide at an unprecedented and pervasive rate. Persons 60 years and older represented 8% of world population in 1950 and 10% in 2000, she noted, and were projected to account for 21% by 2050. In Jamaica, the elderly now constitute 11.3% of the population today, up from 5% in 1850, and are projected to rise to 25% by 2050.

"Population ageing brings a number of challenges related to health and welfare'" Professor Eldemire Shearer noted, "so documenting and understanding these are critical to the development of appropriate responses."  The 2012 study was vitally important she added, as the first and only comprehensive epidemiological survey of the elderly in Jamaica had been carried out over 20 years ago, in 1990.

 "There have been demographic, social and economic changes since then," she pointed out, "Information is now needed on the currently prevailing situation, the new challenges and needs, the unaddressed gaps and emergent issues. If we fail to ascertain these, we seriously compromise the capacity to appropriately respond to issues and curtail overall national development and welfare improvement."

 The Professor told the CCRP members and friends that of those surveyed by the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, 52% were female. In the group, 32.9% were single; 23.1% widowed; 6.8% divorced/separated and only 37.1% had a spouse (married or in common-law relationship). The majority had children alive – only 7.4% did not. Most (82.9%) enjoyed a good relationship with children, and more females than males had these good relationships.

 Most of the seniors (72.0%) reported having only primary level education, while 17.0% reported having secondary/technical/vocational schooling, and 5.3% had been to university. Less than six percent (5.7%) reported no formal schooling.

The Professor pointed out that a number of ailments were showing an increase when the 2012 survey was compared to the 1990 one:

Prevalence of high blood pressure rose from 42.6 to 61.3%;

Diabetes – from 10.2% to 26.2%;

Stroke – from 5.1% to 8.2%;

Heart Disease – from 5.4% to 5.5%

Glaucoma – from 4.9% to 11.6%

The prevalence of arthritis decreased, however from 40.0% to 35.0%

 In addition, 5% of those surveyed in 2012 reported suffering from cancer, 55.4% said they were bothered by joint pain and 21.7% had had falls within the previous 6 months. Of the latter, the majority (54.3%) had fallen at home. Injuries sustained over the past year were reported by 9.7% of the seniors surveyed. Of these, 74.8% had received medical care for their injuries, and more than half (53.6%) had been injured at home.

 A total of 83.9% had seen a health care professional during the previous year. Roughly half (51.2%) indicated having a regular public doctor or clinic, while 55.9% indicated having a regular private doctor (not mutually exclusive). Most of those surveyed were able to function mentally: 11.0% were severely impaired and 38.5% had mild impairment. Less than one in 10 (8.7%) had hearing problems; 32.3% had eye problems, 7.5% had a physical disability; more than seventeen percent (17.5%) used assistive devices such as canes or walkers.

 Professor Edemire Shearer reported that most of the seniors interviewed functioned well physically. Less than 1 in 100 (0.8%) were fully dependent regarding basic activities; 92.7% were independent in all basic functions (an increase over the 88.5% reported in the 1990 survey), and approximately 7.3% needed various levels of assistance.

 Of those surveyed 98.3% had worked at some point in their lives. More than three quarters (75.8%) were retired while 24.2% reported still working or seeking employment. Interestingly more than one in five (21.6%) reported that they were still working; half of these full time. One in four (25.0%) reported volunteering activities. Asked how they planned for retirement 16.8% reported doing so with a health plan; 24.7% with savings, and 9.9% through investments. When asked about current sources of income, seniors reported that 13.5% were earning wages; 27.3% were receiving NIS payments; 48.5% were being assisted by their families; 8.2% were on the PATH programme; 15.4% had Jamaican Government pensions and 9.1% had private pensions.

 Professor Eldemire Shearer urged persons to consider what their needs in old age would be, regarding financial independence, daily personal and community support, care givers and health requirements. This was especially important, she noted, for those who were single and lived alone.

Contact:            Dorett Linton, CCRP Coordinator

                          926-6740, 383-2150

Sandy McIntosh

Consulting Editor

PROComm, 6 Kingsway

Kingston 10, Jamaica WI
P 1-876-926-6740
Fixed Digi 1-876-473-3660
M 1-876-310-5311
F 1-876-926-8676
www.procomm.com.jm

...follow through sets us apart

AARP reaches out to CCRP Jamaica

AARP Vice President for International Affairs, Josh Collett, sent an inspiring message to CCRP Jamaica on the occasion of their Third Anniversary. The CCRP Jamaica team was introduced to Josh by Prof Paul Simmonds, Head of Mona School of Business - he is former President of AARP - US Virgin
Islands.
Below is a link to Josh's message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhJruSDgSOI&feature=youtu.be
AARP also sent us over 300 complimentary copies of their recent publications for distribution to our members.
Photos show CCRP member Shirley Tavares enjoying them.
Thank you AARP!

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Let us have a Garrison Inquiry

by Jean Lowrie-Chin  

Observer column | Mon 13 May 2013

An appeal to our leaders to make all Jamaicans fully free (Composite photo of PM Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness - from www.Jamaica-Gleaner.com)

 

Having suffered through that daily soap opera aka ‘The Manatt Inquiry’ and still smarting from the unfinished Finsac Inquiry, Jamaicans are wary about yet another inquiry into the Tivoli incursion announced by the Government.  I believe that this could be a meaningful exercise – one which could actually change the course of Jamaica’s history, if the inquiry were widened to explore allegations of other existing garrisons in both JLP and PNP constituencies. No honest politician could object to such an exercise.

After ensuring that we have gathered credible information on the Tivoli incursion, we could then move to the conditions in other alleged garrisons. Finally, we would be able to hear from residents in these areas, the challenges they face in doing such simple activities as crossing from one side of the road to the other when that road is declared the ‘border’ between a ‘JLP section’ and a ‘PNP section’.  Many of us know first-hand of these communities.  We see the pious political representatives singing hymns at church services, while their constituents dare not negotiate certain corners to arrive at that very church.

In one community I know, an outreach organization had set up evening classes but the attendance kept falling.  It turned out that, because classes ended after a certain hour they could not safely walk past a ‘zone’ to get home. 

A letter from Talk-Show host Joan Williams published in the Jamaica Observer last Tuesday gives us a sobering account of garrison living:  “As I listened with an open mouth to the prime minister's defence of the [inner-city housing] programme, I could not help but recall the desperation with which a mechanic who I knew approached me sometime ago. He lived in a garrison community and had managed to get a government house, for which he paid a small mortgage. When his mom got ill in St Thomas, he went to the country for about three months to stay with her. When he returned, his belongings had been packed away to the back of the house for which he had been paying for years, and other persons were living in his home. He was told that he had a house in the county and it was other people's turn now to live in the house!”

She continued, “When I suggested that I would go to the police with him to deal with the matter, you can guess the response.  The reality of garrison life is that the vast majority are decent people, but they live under the gun and are modern-day slaves as the concept of free will in most of those areas is nothing but a dream. …Political representatives of garrison communities have a responsibility to liberate those who live under tyranny in these areas, but they pretend they do not know the enforcers and have nothing to do with them.”

Joan Williams did not spare the church for their apathy: “… if Jamaica were really a Christian country, or if modern-day Christians were against slavery as were some of their counterparts centuries ago, they would have risen up with one accord long ago and united to demand from the political beneficiaries, the freedom of those thousands of Jamaicans who live under tyranny in the garrisons. It was the late Martin Luther King who said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ I wonder what he would say if he reincarnated in Jamaica today where we seem all too happy to remain silent about the wickedness that passes for normalcy and democracy in this country, with the tacit complicity of the huge religious sector?”

Yes, let us have a Garrison Inquiry, Jamaica - it is the best opportunity we have to free suffering Jamaicans from this grim reality.

Usain Bolt wins, disappoints in season opener

Photo - Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

By Matthew Kitchen. | NBC Sports | May 9, 2013

http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/09/usain-bolt-wins-disappoints-in-season-opener/

Anyone expecting to be dazzled by Usain Bolt this early in the season was probably asking too much, especially after he pulled out of last week's Kingston Invitational with a hamstring strain.

But clocking 10.09-seconds in the 100m to win the Cayman Invitational was still disappointing, and barely beating young training partner Kemar Bailey-Cole in a photo-finish didn't help.

"I just did not feel the power from the blocks and when I got to 50m it wasn't the normal race," Bolt admitted. "It was just a bad race. I have to go back and figure out with my coach what went wrong."

Bolt, who was once again sluggish out of the blocks Wednesday, seems to know how to turn it on when it counts. He did the same last year, running an unimpressive 10.04 in Ostrava and then losing twice to compatriot Yohan Blake at the Jamaican track trials before once again blowing away the field for three golds at the Olympics.

"It was good to get a win but now it's time to go back to the drawing board."

And he'll probably have it all figured out by the World Championships in Moscow later this year, but if not, we're sure Tyson Gay would be happy to bring the 2013 title home to the U.S.

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GTECH gves tech boost to St. Michael's Primary

A TEACHERS DAY WELL SPENT: Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell (right), is welcomed by Mr. Dave Allen, Principal of St. Michael’s Primary. Occasion was a GTECH After School Advantage Programme (ASAP) handover ceremony, at St. Michael’s Primary on May 8, 2013. The company donated 10 computers to the school. Since 2006, GTECH Jamaica has provided assistance to a number of schools and institutions, including Lawrence Tavern and Easington Primary Schools, Sylvia Foote Basic School, the University of Technology, Caribbean Maritime Institute, Portmore Community College, Dunrobin Primary School, Holy Trinity High School, the Jamaica Christian Boys' Home and the SOS Children's Village. On average, the GTECH-funded programme invests US$15,000 to open and maintain each IT centre over a period of four years. The GTECH After School Advantage Programme started in the Caribbean in 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago, where it has established 12 centres since 2011. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, GTECH has partnered with the Queen Louise Home for Children in St. Croix. It plans to open a second centre in St. Thomas this year, as well as one in the Dominican Republic.

HAPPY TEACHERS DAY: Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell (second left), cuts a ceremonial cake on Teachers Day with literary specialist and former teacher of St. Michael's Primary, Verna Duncan (second right). Assisting with the proceedings are GTECH Jamaica's General Manager Debbie Green (left), and GTECH's Regional General Manager for the Caribbean, Ann-Dawn Young Sang. Occasion was a GTECH After School Advantage Programme (ASAP) handover ceremony, at St. Michael's Primary.

TALKING WITH THE MINISTER: Angel White of St. Michael’s Primary, has a discussion with Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell, on Teachers Day. Occasion was a GTECH After School Advantage Programme (ASAP) handover ceremony, at St. Michael’s Primary.