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More World Cup: #BrazilvsMexico and #SpainvsChile

Tweet snapshot of two World Cup 2014 matches #Brazil

Chronicling the World Cup through tweets…note my exchange with Mark O’Halloran towards the end in #SpainvsChile 🙂 Thanks @welshirvine!

oblessa

oDessa@oblessa
Bumboclart!!!!! I just saw the score. Chile dun Spain.
an hour ago
tunkuv

Tunku Varadarajan@tunkuv
Chile Ends Spain’s World Cup Reign  http://thebea.st/1vUsXwa  via @tunkuv My take on today’s Chilean end to the Spanish imperium
27 minutes ago
markpoletti

Mark Poletti@markpoletti
Football: Beautiful game, dirty business | The Economist  http://econ.st/1mdAoaU  @changeFIFA
a day ago
jhunjhunwala

$$Jhunjhunwala/Magal@jhunjhunwala
Well deserved yellow card for Ramires. That wasn’t football, that was Karate. #BrazilvsMexico
a day ago
Here's Neymar getting emotional during national anthems. Do those ball girls look a little embarrassed? #bbcworldcup http://t.co/GI8VIKwgTc
Here’s Neymar getting emotional during national anthems. Do those ball girls look a little embarrassed? #bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/GI8VIKwgTc
BBC Radio 5 live@bbc5live
¡

a day ago

Fans watching the Brazil Mexico match on copacabana beach tonight #bbcworldcup http://t.co/9SChYwl23d
Fans watching the Brazil Mexico match on copacabana beach tonight #bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/9SChYwl23d
Ben Brown@BenBrownBBC
¡

a day ago

democracynow

Democracy Now!@democracynow
Watching the #WorldCup? Do you know what is happening outside the stadium in Brazil? Watch:  http://owl.li/y9gl0  #ICYMI #soccer #futbol
a day ago
jhunjhunwala

$$Jhunjhunwala/Magal@jhunjhunwala
Julio Cesar is having one hell of a busy day. The Mexicans are attacking his goalpost like its the US border. #BrazilvsMexico
a day ago
giantpandinha

giantpandinha@giantpandinha
The only way to handle this Brazilian mediocrity is to watch the Brazilians make fun of their team on Twitter.
a day ago
tejucole

Teju Cole@tejucole
The World Cup cameraman rules for crowd shots are strict: you must show three civilians and then one improbably hot girl.
a day ago
allenpjr

Paul Allen@allenpjr
Guillermo Ochoa has a contract waiting for him in a big league somewhere right naow. Man of the match so far.
a day ago
alrickbrown

Matthew Alrick Brown@alrickbrown
Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa having a career match. Many Mexico fans thought he shouldn’t even start, wanted Jose Corona instead…
a day ago
snolen

Stephanie Nolen@snolen
Brazil consensus in the bar: “Esses s��o jogadores nervosos” – nervous players. Also that the new hair is maybe not helping WorldCupp
a day ago
Grindacologist

Grindacologist@Grindacologist
take out the trash mexico…
a day ago
Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa has six fingers on his right hand. __ se sak fè mwen paka fè goal la http://t.co/B55rkD0weu
Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa has six fingers on his right hand. __ se sak fè mwen paka fè goal la pic.twitter.com/B55rkD0weu
TOUJOULA@toujoula
¡

a day ago

corvedacosta

Corve A. DaCosta@corvedacosta
Ja govt woulda give the Mexican keeper house n LAN
a day ago
crokinlizad

CroakingLizard@crokinlizad
Viva Mexico. Viva CONCACAF
a day ago
giantpandinha

giantpandinha@giantpandinha
[Ouch] RT @AnnaCelico Seleção mexicana sambando na nossa cara e no nosso país.
a day ago
allenpjr

Paul Allen@allenpjr
I believe “Ochoa” is Spanish for “Eight Hands”.
a day ago
corvedacosta

Corve A. DaCosta@corvedacosta
Jesas crise
a day ago
Grindacologist

Grindacologist@Grindacologist
jo remind mi a one a dem shifty black coolie from westmoreland…
a day ago
michaelhayes

Mike Hayes@michaelhayes
I’m not fluent but I’m pretty sure Ochoa means ‘brick wall’ in Spanish.
a day ago
allenpjr

Paul Allen@allenpjr
Ochoa is releasing a brand of condoms this summer. Stops everything in this heat!
a day ago
Pretty much. "@reinaazucar: Saving México. #Ochoa #MEX ️ http://t.co/L7yt5l9aXs"
Pretty much. “@reinaazucar: Saving MĂŠxico. #Ochoa #MEX ️ hpic.twitter.com/L7yt5l9aXs
Footybedsheets@_shireenahmed_
¡

a day ago

snolen

Stephanie Nolen@snolen
I’m sorry, but #Brazil team is Neymar and then a bunch of guys who showed up later
a day ago
samitbasu

samit basu@samitbasu
Two player types are missing in this Brazil squad, the midfield genius and irritating overdribbler.
a day ago
hemantmehta

Hemant Mehta@hemantmehta
Ochoa. Noun. A structure that prevents passage. (e.g. The castle was surrounded by ochoas.) #WorldCup2014
a day ago
WelshIrvine

Irvine Welsh@WelshIrvine
Intense goalless draw, moral victory for Mexico, a brilliant performance of guts and graft. #VamosMexico
a day ago
snolen

Stephanie Nolen@snolen
Half room is wildly embracing Mexicans. Half is motionless Brazilians. Clearly tie is fine news for #Mexico. #Brazil seeing its dream wobble
a day ago
#WorldCup Update: Mexico & Brazil draw 0-0 in Group A play. This Getty pic sums it up http://t.co/g7Nkes3F6x
#WorldCup Update: Mexico & Brazil draw 0-0 in Group A play. This Getty pic sums it up pic.twitter.com/g7Nkes3F6x
Mashable@mashable
¡

a day ago

ishaantharoor

Ishaan Tharoor@ishaantharoor
That’s the umpteenth time a football fan could say, “see, goalless draws are great to watch.” Get with it, America.
a day ago
tejucole

Teju Cole@tejucole
Pele. Garrincha. Jairzinho. SĂłcrates. Careca. Romario. Ronaldo. Rivaldo. Ronaldinho. Jo.
a day ago
corvedacosta

Corve A. DaCosta@corvedacosta
The worst is yet to come – this Brazil side is as weak as the Jamaican economy
a day ago
nilanjanaroy

Nilanjana Roy@nilanjanaroy
And his task done, #Ochoa returns to the dimension from whence he came, leaving the Earthlings to whisper of new gods.
a day ago
jonnyschooley

nakedparrot @jonnyschooley
Chile!!!! What a start! Spain on the ropes #ESP #CHI
4 hours ago
bilaltanweer

bilal tanweer@bilaltanweer
Sheer class. Viva la Chile!
4 hours ago
sidin

Studin Studukut@sidin
Hi Spain fans. Why not immerse your sorrows in some entertaining non-fiction?
4 hours ago
Okwonga

Musa Okwonga@Okwonga
Diego Costa was not the droid Spain was looking for.
3 hours ago
CindysDaughter

BRAZIL@CindysDaughter
—————->”@JulianCresser: How did I ever watch a World Cup without Twitter?”
3 hours ago
drbrowne

Browne@drbrowne
Conquistadores, my foot…ball.
3 hours ago
tejucole

Teju Cole@tejucole
A wonderful team. Between 2006-2010 one of the best the game has ever seen. GRACIAS. *switches off TV* France fans, I have my eye on you.
3 hours ago
You won’t hear about him. But this is all about his absence. http://t.co/rcsNyNFyyV
You won’t hear about him. But this is all about his absence. pic.twitter.com/rcsNyNFyyV
Eric Beard@BeardEric
¡

3 hours ago

CultureDoctor

Sonj.N.Stan.Niaah@CultureDoctor
A who guzung Spain?
3 hours ago
abstractsunday

Christoph Niemann@abstractsunday
The only team with reasonably sane haircuts is about to be eliminated #ESPCHI
3 hours ago
amitabhs

Amitabh@amitabhs
The Spanish armada sinks #WorldCup2014 #FifaWorldCup #SPAvsCHI
3 hours ago
samnanton

Sampson Nanton@samnanton
Diego Costa’s probably thinking, “I shoulda choose to play for Brazil instead”.
3 hours ago
thecomicproject

TheComicProject@thecomicproject
Tiki, Taka, Tata – Spanish for “we lost once, we lost again, we got kicked out of the world cup”
3 hours ago
usainbolt

Usain St. Leo Bolt@usainbolt
Never saw this one coming..Spain out of the @FIFAWorldCup in the first round..#WoW
3 hours ago
AlbertoNardelli

Alberto Nardelli@AlbertoNardelli
Spain abdicates. #WorldCup
3 hours ago
ishaantharoor

Ishaan Tharoor@ishaantharoor
All bow before @FutbolsaCountry, who called this result in December  https://twitter.com/FutbolsaCountry/status/409009812060401664 …
3 hours ago
markohalloran

Mark O’Halloran@markohalloran
Perhaps Spain lost because of their recent legalising of gay marriage. Just putting it out there.
3 hours ago
anniepaul

annie paul@anniepaul
Are you Jamaican? RT @markohalloran: Perhaps Spain lost because of their recent legalising of gay marriage. Just putting it out there.
2 hours ago
markohalloran

Mark O’Halloran@markohalloran
@anniepaul worse. I’m irish.
2 hours ago
WelshIrvine

Irvine Welsh@WelshIrvine
@markohalloran @anniepaul Ah twitter. Annie Paul talking to Mark O’Halloran. My work on this earth is done.
2 hours ago
mashable

Mashable@mashable
(•_•) <) )╯ #ESP / \ \(•_•) ( (> is going / \ (•_•) <) )> home / \

A Taste of the Vybz Kartel Trial live and by Twitter…

Following the Vybz Kartel murder trial live and on Twitter.

Vybz vs. Kartel: Defending the Controversial Dancehall Star

So I finally made it to the Vybz Kartel Murder Trial this week. Jamaican DJ Kartel and his four co-accused are charged with the murder of Clive Williams aka Lizard, an associate who apparently borrowed two guns from the DJ and was subsequently unable to return them. It is alleged that in retaliation he was murdered by the DJ and his accomplices. In an unprecedented move Kartel and company have been held without bail for two and a half years, while rumours have swirled that the Police had incontrovertible evidence of Lizard’s murder at the hands of Kartel and his friends (despite the fact that to this day Lizard’s body has not been found). The evidence was said to be in the form of text messages, voice messages and videos found on cell phones belonging to the DJ that were taken into custody by the Police when he was arrested on 29 September 2011. There was also a series of text messages sent by Lizard Williams to his girlfriend saying that he feared for his life and begging her to inform the police.

Although some people, like my friend Peter Dean Rickards, remain skeptical of such evidence (“If someone preppin’ to murder me the last thing I’m going to be doing is sending txt messages…maybe I’m different,” he tweeted and “1) we’re talking about Jamaica here 2) no matter where it is, if you are looking at someone getting ready to kill you…do you send txt messages or do something a little more urgent?”) quite a few people have made up their minds that the entertainer is guilty of the crimes he’s accused of. So much for the accused being considered innocent until proven guilty.

Even though a couple of journalists, Emily Crooks for example, have been expertly tweeting the proceedings each day I wanted to observe the trial live and direct for myself. I particularly wanted to see Kartel’s defence lawyer Tom Tavares-Finson in action but as luck would have it I picked a day when he had just finished cross examining a key witness and wasn’t scheduled to be on. Not only that, it turned out to be the very day when the proceedings were so dull and plodding that Kartel himself fell asleep after lunch (see Emily’s tweets below).

Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed being in court on Wednesday to witness Pierre Rodgers (co-accused Sean Storm’s attorney) systematically pick apart Detective Sergeant Patrick Linton’s testimony. Linton is the former head of the Cybercrimes Unit who downloaded and presented the evidence collected from Kartel’s phones. While waiting for a legal friend to arrive to take me into Courtroom 2 where the Kartel trial was scheduled, I bucked up Supreme Court Judge Bryan Sykes who assured me that I needed no such escort, having a right as a member of the public to attend the trial. That may be true in theory, but in reality entry wasn’t easy.

Had I not been escorted by a legal heavyweight the four heavy set plainclothes policemen outside the courtroom who interrogated us while barring entry would have intimidated me enough to make me leave. Having finally breached the hallowed theatre of justice I was surprised at how small the courtroom was, and intimate; i found myself seated about six feet away from Kartel and within spitting distance of the jury. The DJ wore a shocking pink shirt and orange tie and held a matching orange handkerchief that he occasionally squeezed or twisted in his hands.

I don’t know if there were any other members of the public there, the seats were mostly taken up by plain clothes policeman nattily dressed in suits with different coloured ties and lawyers in their John Crow like robes. Not all the lawyers present were involved with the case, many of them were attending court cases of their own and slipped in and out when time permitted. Legatus Maximus, whose live tweets from the trial i had followed the day before turned out to be one such lawyer.

For those interested in getting a taste of this case and the courtroom action I’ve assembled below a series of tweets from the account of the person tweeting on behalf of Vybz Kartel under the twitter handle @Iamthekartel, followed by some of @Emilynationwide and Legatus Maximus’s tweets capturing some of the action. The main strategy of the Defence this week has been to shake the credibility of Det Sergeant Linton by suggesting that the evidence under his custody was tampered with and unreliable. For a verbatim transcript of the chilling voice notes presented as evidence by the police and much more see Emily Crooks’s blog thecrooksofthematter.

  1. iamthekartel
    Remember dat Babylon have a lot riding on dis case dont xpect them to do the decent thing n admit there is not enuff of a case to continue
  2. Moonie deh home already. One more soon fwd not guilty anyday now. 1 by 1 d whole Gaza crew a fwd home.
  3. Even when not performing, vybzkartel get the most fwd at Sting. Think him need to charge 4 using his name for a Dj to get a fwd
  4. 2014, the yr of freedom.
  5. Incarcerated in 2011.Still gettin nominated 4 awards in 2014!No other human being on the planet can claim that.That is y dem fear d worlboss
  6. 2014 is a landmark year. If allowed the system will pass laws to kill dancehall. Bare jazz fest and Carnival n maybe even some opera fi we
  7. The case is the Crown vs Kartel; no 1 shud b shocked that a ruling by a judge wud favor the CROWN .But all that matters is d jury’s decision
  8. @Warren_Weir This is y d boss sey @Warren_Weir a 1 of d realest yute bout d place. Waterford, cbar n then intl greatness-same path as d boss
  9. An accused by any other name than Adidja Palmer would be home now based on the strange occurrences in this case. pic.twitter.com/9rqHRBMKJI
  10. Warning, this is not a practical joke. This really happened  http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=50459 …. Babylon inform n investigate the passing of a sweetie.
  11. Downtown roads bloc 4 Tessanne official Homecoming tonite.Bigup Tessanne.Wonda how d road dem a aguh stay wen d worlboss ready fi drive home
  12. Stop try blame everything that hapn bad inna Jamaica pon d Gaza. Yes, we confess to mek nuff man gyal give dem bun wid we but a jus we that
  13. “What you have brought to Court is rubbish!!” says the Defence Attorney to the Police in the witness box. Finally sum1 calls a spade a spade
  14. How many ways can Babylon b wrong? Wrong house,wrong dna,wrong name, wrong CD,wrong date of birth,wrong spelling,MUST equal WRONGLY ACCUSED
  15. Not much longer now Gazaarmy. Time running out pon dem. Expect dem to get more desperate n tunup d story telln. But the jury no foolfool
  16. Evidence is like an opinion. One is free to present what they want the jury to believe. Jury will hear both sides n decide what is real.
  17. Back to Court. Few days more before the defence get their turn.
  18. Fair trial includes only using evidence that is in no way exposed to possible tampering.Cuz of Addi d worl see how JA courts work. #fairness
  19. Gaza Fans. Take this seriously. As certain things in this case is clearly being exposed anything name or support Gaza is a target.
  20. From Kentucky Kid to Agana Barnett to Michael Gayle to this. This case shows wat Ghetto yutes have gone thru with d Ja injustice system
  21. Wrong date, wrong machine, wrong terminology, improper chain of custody, no gloves, no dna, no fingerprint – n d man dem still inna jail????
  22. Gaza Army beg u pray fi every ghetto yute inna jail goin to face JA injustice system. From 1865 to Jan 31, 2014 – no justice fi ghetto yutes
  23. Length of court proceedings forces #Kartel to nod off in court. Judge asks ‘accused Palmer is he still before court’ #KartelMurderTrial
  24. #Kartel‘s head was down on his knee making it difficult for the judge to see him. The prosecutor who was on his feet replied…
  25. Taylor – ‘My Lord he is either praying or sleeping’ forcing police in court to awake #Kartel from his afternoon snooze
  26. #KartelMurderTrial updates coming soon. However lawyer for #Kartel, Tom Tavares Finson has just informed me his expert has been detained
  27. Breaking-Phillipots Martin, who’s been charged w hacking DIGI data base is reportedly the expert used by #Kartel‘s lawyers
  28. Major showdown today between bench & bar ie judge and lawyer for #Kartel, Tom Tavares Finson #KartelMurderTrial
  29. Finson objected to Sgt Linton reading a message to jury. He said message read was diff fr what court heard when jury was out today
  30. Finson- ‘My Lord, that is not what was shown when jury was out’ Taylor (prosecutor) ‘this is exactly as in original form’
  31. Finson-‘My Lord, I wish for u to address the jury on the objection I have made and make a ruling’ Judge- ‘I have made a ruling’
  32. Finson- ‘And what is your ruling ‘ Judge – ‘That you are to SIT’ The melanin deficient Finson turned crimson. #JudgeDread
  33. #courtroomchronicles R: on 3rd when u 1st saw SD card did u mention it in ur report? L : no I didn’t. R: isn’t SD card important detail?
  34. #courtroomchronicles R: aren’t u supposed to put all the juicy details in your report? Is it in your statement? L: no I didn’t put it there
  35. #courtroomchronicles R: did u make mention of seeing SD card on the 14th? L: no sir. R: but the 14th is when u started extraction ? L: yes
  36. #courtroomchronicles R: but u made no mention of SD card that day! L: I already cleared that up sir.
  37. #courtroomchronicles R: in failing to mention SD card did u depart from best practice a? L: no counsel.
  38. #courtroomchronicles R: do u agree with me that there is no chain of custody with your SD card? L: no sir. ..
  39. #courtroomchronicles good cross by Rodgers. Devoid of drama …but extremely methodological and effective. He is focused and quite competent
  40. #courtroomchronicles Linton is visibly not as confident as he was yesterday. He no longer sits upright ..but is bent over. Smile forced ..
  41. #courtroomchronicles Rodgers has him against the ropes with the SD card …it really ought to hav been mentioned as it stores much of data
  42. #courtroomchronicles it will be up to Taylor when he re-examines Linton to get evidence out that L could not have put images n vid on phone

Some interesting tweets…

Stephen B. Aranha @sbaranha
I celebrate #Thanksgiving the old-fashioned way; I invite everyone to an enormous feast, after which I kill them and take away their land.

StNaija @StNaija
It is interesting how large 1 Million Naira sounds when you don’t have it, and how small it is when you do.

Adidja A. Palmer @iamthekartel
Tek ppl fi fool. Paid informant n anancy story while unu siddung in a Parliament bout unu waan lock up man fi sing crtn dancehall song. Smh

StNaija @StNaija
One man talks carelessly and it becomes an indictment on the nation? Una go school at all?

StNaija @StNaija
Yes it is! 🙂 “@anniepaul: Wondering if the ‘una’ is equivalent to the Jamaican ‘unno’ meaning you plural or you all @StNaija”

Chiagozie Nwonwu
@mazinwonwu
@StNaija @anniepaul both of them are from Igbo Unu–you, collective.

Mothers, Sons and Amru Sani…

Two excellent articles on Mothers and Sons in India and an intriguing Indo-Jamaican singer who’s been erased from our memories.

So in lieu of an actual post here are two of the most compelling articles I read today. I’m grateful to my old friend Tejaswini Niranjana for the first one about Amru Sani, an Indo-Jamaican singer who broke through the sugarcane curtain to the metropolitan circuit in the 50s. Absolutely fascinating…would love to know more about her.

Second, a totally revealing article about Indian mothers and their sons, by a young, would-be Bollywood star, rehearsing for an audition as an Indian mother figure. The thing is you could probably substitute Jamaican for Indian and find that the piece pretty much describes the love affair many tough Jamaican men have with their mamas…

So here enjoy. trust me, these are two gems…

Evidently, Sani didn’t do much to clear up the confusion. In various interviews, she claimed to have been born in Panama, to have grown up in India, to have been educated in Europe, and to have served as an airplane mechanic in England during World War II because she was too young to become a female pilot.

Amru Sani in Bombay

Perhaps the most credible explanation of Sani’s origins come from the Gleaner, published in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1943, the paper noted that Sani “was going to England shortly” to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. The article listed her as “the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. P. Sani of 10, Lundford Road, St. Andrew”, Jamaica. That would mean that Sani was probably the descendent of Indians shipped off to the West Indies to work as indentured labourers on the sugarcane plantations.

Those humble beginnings didn’t stop her forging a very respectable career for herself. In addition to her music, stage performances in New York, Paris and Rome, she appeared in at least three films: a spaghetti Western called Maracatumba . . . ma non è una rumba (Italy, 1949), The Naked Maja (1958), and John Huston’s The Bible: In the Beginning (1966).  She also made several appearances on the Ed Sullivan television show, including in the episode in which Elvis Presley made his debut.

For more visit Tajmahal Foxtrot….
And now, read all about the inexplicable bond between some mothers and their sons:

A few days ago, a male friend shared with me the tremendous unease he felt at the news of his mother’s impending breast reduction surgery. “It’s not that she wants her breasts smaller or firmer that bothers me—it’s the thought of the surgeon’s hands all over them!” he exclaimed. His mother, also very close to me, had discussed the same matter with me earlier: “I really want to wear pretty bras like you girls can. I want to be able to wear dresses and blouses rather than always loose kurtas. But I haven’t told my son yet. I don’t know why, but I just feel so shy to tell him.”

I am trying to establish myself as an actress in Mumbai, so it was charming to hear a story about breast reduction rather than breast enlargement. But more importantly, I happened to have an upcoming audition for the role of a young woman who, resenting her husband because of his relationship with his mother, redirects all her affection towards her son. While this premise is hardly original, being neither married nor a mother myself, I realised I would have lots to gain in terms of characterisation by paying close attention to the mothers and sons around me.

For the rest of the article go here.

So that’s it for now! back soon-

From the Book of Legends?

Clovis cartoon, Jamaica Observer, August 10, 2012

Got this from my friend Heather by email…the author is unkown but if anyone knows who wrote it tell me and i’ll credit her/him…

Reading from The Book of Legends – Bolt 2 Vs 19-32

19: And when they were all gathered in a certain place in
the land of Lon, these
swift men of many nations, Usain, he being the swiftest of
the lot, did turn and say
to his fellow brethren from the land of Jahm.

20: Verily I shall go before thee to prepare a place on the
mountain for all of us
and one shall stand on my right hand and the other on my
left.

21: For know thee this, there are precious metals on offer
and it is written that we
are the chosen ones and that we alone shall partake of the
gold, silver and bronze
which they have prepared for us on Olympia.

22: There shall be none before us.
23: There shall be none with us on the mount of victory

24: Verily shall the naysayers be silenced and they shall
behold the people of Jahm

25: And they shall say amongst themselves “What sign is
this? How can a land so
small produce such giants?”

26: And they will be struck dumb.

27: We shall cover ourselves with the Black, the Green and
the Gold and show them
the back of our spiked feet.

28: They shall try to overtake us on the curved path. They
will fail.

29: They will try to ambush us in the straits. But they will
again fail, for we will
have already passed that way.

30: The tribe of Lewis shall make burnt offerings and pray
that duppy will tek us but
they will fail and be blinded, dumbfounded and confounded.

31: You Yohan of the Beastly Tribe, and you young Warrior of
the Tribe of Weir are
the chosen ones to be with me in victory.

32: Therefore I say unto thee brethren of Racers, come
swiftly and tarry not in this
starting place and I will meet thee both at the end of this
chevroned path [anon]

Unfortunately I don’t know who wrote this… but I do know
more precious metals will be earned by our relay teams today
and tomorrow!

‘Do you remember the days of slav’ry?’

Independence day decorations opposite the US Embassy in Liguanea, Kingston on Emancipation Day, Aug 1, 2012

Although Kingstonians were running around like chickens with their heads cut off yesterday preparing for the Emancipation Day holiday today a number of supermarkets and small stores were actually open for part of the day. The Indian stores for instance at the Marketplace and Northside Plaza. I was happy because I hadn’t been able to do a proper shopping last week but it did set me remembering an article I published three years ago in the British journal Slavery and Abolition called ‘Do You Remember the Days of Slav’ry?’ Connecting the Present with the Past in Contemporary Jamaica.

Supermarkets in Jamaica are mainly owned by Chinese families. The Indians and Chinese came here as indentured labourers, and emancipation from slavery clearly doesn’t have the same resonance for them as for the rest of the population. In my article i discuss at length the historical ambivalence to this holiday in Jamaica, the celebration of which was officially banned in 1962 when Jamaica became independent and only reinstated in August 2002 on the fortieth anniversary of independence by then prime minister, P.J. Patterson.

Wish i knew who took this amazing image of Jamaica’s Emancipation Monument, they deserve credit. Found this on Facebook today. Sculpted by Laura Facey, Redemption Song was created to stand at the entrance to Emancipation Park in Kingston.

Why not make a pdf of the article available today I thought, considering that its Emancipation Day today and Jamaica is on the verge of celebrating its fiftieth anniversary of independence. The following abstract will explain why it may be of interest:

In early 2006, the parish councilors of St Elizabeth, Jamaica, decided not to support plans
for celebration of the abolition of the slave trade citing the position taken by National Hero Sir
Alexander Bustamante, founding father of the Jamaica Labour Party, that ‘we should celebrate
our achievements (but) we should not look back at our shame’. This article looks at
this instance and others like it of ambivalence towards the memory of slavery and how it
ought to be treated today. Main sources for the article are discussions in the public sphere,
radio, newspaper and television debates on the subject, and interviews with key principals
such as the chairwoman of the Committee for the Commemoration of the Abolition of
the Slave Trade as well as dissenting voices such as the St Elizabeth councilors during the
period 2006–2007 in the run-up to commemorative activities.

So here’s a link to it: https://anniepaul.net/do-you-remember-the-days-of-slavry/

In the published abstract we didn’t catch two errors…’abolition of the slave trade’ instead of  ‘abolition of slavery’, which I’ve taken the opportunity to correct in the abstract above. Hope my article is of interest. Happy Emancipation Day!

The security guard at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), singlehandedly created this festive decoration on the front of the SALISES building

P.S. The entire island has erupted into effusions of black. gold and green, the colours of the Jamaican flag. As @DamienWKing, head of the Economics Department at the University of the West Indies rightlynoted on Twitter: Proliferation of black, green & gold around the country is NOT frivolous. Builds social capital & sense of unity. Important for development.

There is hope.