Premiere Issue

PREMIERE ISSUE • 2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS W I SI SNUTEE R1 2 0 1 5

MESSAGES FROM OUR LEADERS 10 Prime Minister of Jamaica 12 Jamaica’s Leader of Opposition 13 Minister Of Youth & Culture 14 Jamaica’s Opposition Spokesperson – Culture

F E AT U R E S 16 Hidden Gems

Pelican Bar – A unique escape

32 Voices

In their own words – Who are the Accompong Maroons?

40 Listen True

Bob Marley: “He that does truth”

52 Island Influence

Rude Boys: From Marley and Cliff, Shanty Town to Savile Row

D E PA R T M E N T S 22 MONEY MATTERS

Honesty is the best money policy

24 Youth in the Lead

The RKM Foundation impacting children’s lives

30 CARI CULTURE: Island Etiquette Antigua and Barbuda

57 CARI CULTURE: Carnival From the Caribbean to the World

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS W I SISNUTEE R 1 2015

D E PA R T M E N T S 31 Expressions in Poetry!

Human Foot Print

37 Happy Birthday 38 HEALTH & WELLNESS: What is menopause?

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50 HEALTH & WELLNESS: New Year’s Resolution Diet 51 Did you know?

Little known facts about the Caribbean

55 A Matter of Opinion

Marijuana, Masculinity & Decriminalization

56 UTECH, Jamaica Centre for the Arts

58 Events Calendar Feb – April, 2015

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O N T H E C OV E R

PREMIERE ISSUE - ISSUE 1 • 2015

Robert “Bob” Marley Photo by Dennis Morris

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BOB MARLEY H E

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For more information on the Bob Marley Foundation visit their website at bobmarley.com

PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nelia James EDITOR Tanika Baker CONTRIBUTORS Herbie Miller, Dr. Sonjah Niaah, Dr. Neil Gardener, Wayne Campbell, Neila Lewis, Cherryl Hanson Simpson, Launtia Cuff SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Jenneve James Gooden ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Daniel Barcel贸 PHOTOGRAPHERS Chelsea Bennett, Launtia Cuff and Henry Luetwyler Printed by Pear Tree Press Special Thanks: Caribbean BOLD would like to express a special thank you to all organizations and individuals who have contributed to the successful production of this issue of the magazine.

Caribbean BOLD is published quarterly by Black Green and Bold Synergies International Limited, 24 Dunrobin Avenue, Shop 15, Kingston 10. Caribbean BOLD accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. Reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher.

Tel: (876) 821-3034 Email: caribbeanbold@gmail.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/caribbeanbold Facebook: www.facebook.com/caribbeanbold Website www.blackgreenandbold.com / www.caribbeanboldmagazine.com

CB

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

OUR INAUGURAL ISSUE Welcome to Caribbean Bold

It is with much joy and anticipation that we celebrate the launch of the Caribbean Bold Magazine with this inaugural issue. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the readership of Caribbean Bold. I take this opportunity to thank our contributors, editors, graphic designers, photographers, marketing team, sponsors and well-wishers, all of whom have volunteered to contribute to the success of this magazine.

Caribbean Bold is designed to educate, entertain and inspire and as such it is dedicated to the timely dissemination of high quality contents on Caribbean culture, history and the accomplishments of its nationals both at home and within the diaspora. With its availability in both the printed and digital formats; the magazine is conveniently poised to be accessible from anywhere in the world. Caribbean Bold is published four times a year.

N EI N L ITAE RJ A2M0 E W 1 5S

The subject of culture and history is very important to a people and borrowing the words of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s first national hero, where he passionately enunciated in one of his may speeches ...”A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots…” still hold true today as it did then. Having recognized this, Caribbean Bold considers this an absolute privilege to have you explore the rich history and uniquely diverse cultures of the region through the pages of current and future magazine publications.

We chose Bold as the title for the magazine because of the significance of the region’s contribution to the world, the legacy of bravery and courage bequeathed to us by our forefathers, the confidence with which we face today and the audacity of hope to inspire us for the future.

We welcome values-based contributions that are consistent with the authentic Caribbean experience. As we aim to provide you with the richest and most rewarding reading experience, we also welcome your feedback.

Please connect with us your way: Visit our website: www.blackgreenandbold.com / www.caribbeanboldmagazine.com Send an email: caribbeanbold@gmail.com Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/caribbeanbold Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/caribbeanbold We look forward to hearing from you and having you as a subscriber to Caribbean Bold.

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Marcus Mosiah Garvey

EDITOR’S NOTE

A CULTURAL EXPLORATION

T AWNIINK TAE R B A2K0 E1 R 5

The culture of a people continues to be the binding fabric to our past and the road map charting the path towards our future.

Caribbean Bold is pleased to unveil its inaugural issue where a plethora of interests is represented; highlighting the rich cultural heritage and current happenings in the Caribbean region.

This magazine presents an eclectic mix of positive and uplifting views geared at educating and entertaining our readers.

The February publication of this launch issue is very opportune as it coincides with other significant cultural and historical milestones within the region, such as the: • Celebration of Jamaica’s Reggae Month • Seventieth anniversary of the birth of Reggae’s icon Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley on February 6 • Independence Day Anniversaries for Grenada, St. Lucia and Dominican Republic •Culmination of the 2014/2015 Carnival Celebrations in Trinidad & Tobago This issue will help you to discover the unparalleled creativity of Caribbean nationals and take you to parts unknown such as the hidden gem of Pelican Bar. It will open your eyes and make you question your personal policy regarding money. “Who are the Accompong Maroons?” provides an intimate portrait of the people and the system established by these early freedom fighters. The article on the Jamaican Rude Boys of music is designed to engage and ignite thought. The adoptions of the Trinidad style carnival across the diaspora showcase the powerful influence of the Caribbean on the rest of the world. Additionally, the man, the legend, the incomparable Bob Marley on what the messages in his music and memorabilia reveal about his personality and why the inscription on his Order Of Merit medal “He That Does Truth Comes Into The Light” brings into clear focus the immense contribution of his work and how he continues to serve his country Jamaica so many years after his passing.

As we help to connect the past to the present and generate purpose for the future, Caribbean Bold promises to be engaging yet thought provoking, aspirational and inspirational, fair yet fearless, sophisticated yet not losing the common touch while proudly showcasing the heart and indomitable spirit of people of the CB Caribbean region.

CONTRIBUTORS HERBIE MILLER has been involved in the music industry for over forty years and brings the perspective of a unique insider to his scholarship on Jamaican popular culture. Herbie Miller is a cultural historian with specialized interest in Slave culture, Caribbean identity and Ethnomusicology. He is the director/curator of Jamaica’s Music Museum at the Institute of Jamaica. The curator of exhibitions with musical and social themes, he is also the author of several articles including Brown Girl in the Ring: Margarita and Malungu and Syncopating Rhythm: Jazz and Caribbean Culture. herbimill@aol.com. © 2014

LAUNTIA CUFF is a Public Relations Specialist with experience in speech writing. Having developed a keen interest in social media, Miss Cuff is an active tweeter and independent blogger. She researches, reports and writes on all things within her home parish for one of the Jamaican daily newspaper.

DR. NEIL GARDNER is a Chiropractic Neurologist. He has combined his expertise as a Chiropractic Neurologist with his experience as a successful athlete to pioneer the Sports Neurology Therapeutic Programme.

This is a unique program geared at identifying neurological deficits in athletes and providing specific therapies to not only prevent injury, but more importantly optimize peak athletic performance. He is the recipient of the 2011 Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence and the 2012 recipient of the Alumni of the Year Award from Parker University, Dallas, Texas.

DR. SONJAH STANLEY NIAAH is the inaugural Rhodes Trust Rex Nettleford Fellow in Cultural Studies (2005) and a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Mona. She is a leading author, teacher and researcher on Black Atlantic performance geographies, popular culture and the sacred, and Caribbean Cultural Studies more broadly. She is the author of Reggae Pilgrims: Festivals and the Movement of Jah People (forthcoming Roman and Littlefield), Dancehall: From Slave Ship to Ghetto (2010, University of Ottawa Press).Dr Stanley Niaah is also a blogger at dancehallgeographies.wordpress.com

WAYNE CAMPBELL is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. His commentaries have been published in the Jamaican daily newspapers and other Caribbean Magazines.

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FROM JAMAICA’S PRIME MINISTER

THE LAUNCH OF CARIBBEAN BOLD

W I N HON. T E R PORTIA 2015 MOST SIMPSON-MILLER, ON, MP

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I wish to commend and welcome the addition of Caribbean BOLD magazine to the regional media landscape, as you unveil the inaugural issue of your quarterly publication.

I am very impressed by the confidence, commitment, and drive displayed by the management and staff of this new enterprise, which seeks to promote our region and Brand Jamaica in particular. Similarly I am heartened by the cultural focus embraced by the Caribbean BOLD team and your desire to capture and share with your readers, the fascinating spirit, authentic history and culture of the Caribbean, while placing special emphasis on Jamaica.

Undoubtedly there will be a wide array of features showcasing Jamaica’s rich cultural traditions and diversity, reflective of our motto “Out of Many, One People.” Our cuisine, music, dance, sports and our strong and hospitable people have given life to a unique culture that the world has grown to know and love.

It is evident in our world-class sprinters, our irresistible Blue Mountain coffee, enticing rums and our best known export, Reggae music, just to name a few.

As a Government we have been working diligently to ensure the protection and promotion of our culture.

As part of this effort, we have been developing policies to streamline the ‘creative’ economy and have been keen to showcase our unique cultural heritage. Your publication will therefore provide another valuable avenue through which we can achieve the objective of sharing all that is great about Jamaica and indeed the wider Caribbean, thereby helping to pique the interest of the international community and attract even more visitors to our shores.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica, I extend sincere congratulations to the owners and the editorial team of Caribbean Bold Magazine - Black, Green and Bold Synergies International - on the establishment of your publication and wish you God’s richest blessings in all your endeavours. I anticipate CB that the entire Caribbean will be well served by your efforts.

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FROM JAMAICA’S LEADER OF OPPOSITION

I

am impressed by the vision, initiative and creativity of Black Green and Bold Synergies International Limited, in introducing the Caribbean Bold Magazine. The name says it all. The magazine brings the boldness and brilliance of Caribbean culture and personalities to the world stage.

WIN T E ANDREW R 2015 MOST HON. HOLNESS, MP

Jamaica and the wider Caribbean boast a colourful history and culture; and our stories must be told to the world. We have been trailblazers and standard-bearers in sports, culture, the arts, education and business, which have placed us in the international spotlight and allowed us to shine, no matter where in the world we are. I am very pleased that Caribbean Bold magazine will be yet another avenue, that will share with readers, the best of Jamaica and our sister nations in the Caribbean.

Black Green and Bold Synergies has taken a bold step in embarking on this venture, in a time of great economic uncertainty and instability; and for this it must be commended. I encourage you to be guided by best-practices, transparency, accountability and high standards of professionalism and excellence, which will secure your longevity and continued growth.

I wish for the company great success in its current venture, as well as CB those that lie ahead.

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FROM JAMAICA’S MINISTER OF YOUTH & CULTURE

J

amaica has been blessed with a heritage that is rich and diverse.

Our heritage is a lasting inheritance that embraces our people from various ethnic and cultural groups including the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Jamaican space. We can be proud that our island is home to some of the most intriguing, dramatic and beautiful people and natural landscapes.

Jamaica is aptly portrayed as a mixture of warmth, innovation and a lush nature that lures visitors to our little island of paradise. Our culture continues to transcend language, colour, class and borders and as a nation, we have much to celebrate as we commemorate our heritage and the indelible stamp our culture and people have had on the rest of the world.

Jamaica and the Caribbean by extension have been melting pots of diverse cultures and the meeting points of different traditions and cultural designs. This is reflected in our folklore, celebrations, pastimes, food, religion and institutions, which have all fostered the development of cultural and creative industries that have given us a solid global competitive advantage.

As Caribbean BOLD launches its first magazine issue, I am confident that it will facilitate the integration of all aspects of the Jamaican culture, accurately reflecting our loved sun, sea and sand, our undiluted heritage and the welcoming personalities of our people.

As the world continues to demand our creative talents, the Ministry of Youth and Culture is working to ensure that Jamaica positions itself to leverage the significant economic and development opportunities emerging in the global market through increased strategic programmes.

Undoubtedly, there is a natural mystic about our beautiful island; it strikes a special dynamic force that not only exists within the creative imagination of all Jamaican people but within the land itself. It is a force that is rooted in history – a history that connects so many people of the world. It is the force that is critical to any developmental plan and the success of a nation.

CB

W I N T ELISA R 2015 THE HONOURABLE HANNA, MP

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FROM JAMAICA’S OPPOSITION SPOKESPERSON, CULTURE

W IOLIVIA N T E R“BABSY” 2015 MS. GRANGE, MINISTER & OPPOSITION SPOKESPERSON ON INFORMATION, YOUTH, SPORTS, GENDER AFFAIRS, ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE

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It is a great pleasure and a real honour for me to be contributing to the first issue of this new cultural magazine, Caribbean Bold.

Historically, the emergence of newspapers and magazines in the region has been a major development, greeted with much fanfare and anticipation because, although they were so prevalent and the field so competitive there was always something exciting about the emergence of new players.

But things changed, dramatically, over the past decade and, with the growing prevalence of digital technology, the press has become almost obsolete. There is no ink in the blood of younger generations and we have become involved in transforming ourselves more and more each day into a paperless society.

So, now-a-days, when we hear about a new investor launching a new publication the excitement is basically measured by its chances of survival.

With Caribbean Bold promising to promote both the Jamaican destination and its unique brand, we have to tip our hats to the courage of the investors, and hope that they will be able to overcome the challenges and restore pride and respect to the printed word in our culture.

Therefore, I wish to use this opportunity to express my delight with being associated with this venture, and hope that it will become a new take-off point for printed publications.

I appreciate the mission adopted by the publishers of seeking to capture the fascinating spirit and authentic history of the Caribbean and, most of all, I am glad that they have chosen to do so with a greater emphasis on Jamaica.

No doubt, the Caribbean region is fast becoming a cultural mine, from which other regions of the world seek new and enriching cultural artifacts that will attract the interest of probing and appreciative minds.

However, once we mine these features, we need media to expose their cultural affluence to the world and that is why publications like Caribbean Bold are so badly needed.

I congratulate Black Green and Bold Synergies International Limited for making this very promising investment, and I wish you every success and hope that you will find your niche and make it worthwhile.

I am pleased to offer my full support and strong commitment to your efforts, and I hope that we will be able to work together to make this CB venture the success that it deserves to be.

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PELICAN BAR 16 CARIBBEAN BOLD

Located less than a mile off shore in the Caribbean Sea, Pelican Bar in Parottee St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is a unique escape from the ordinary.

Story and Photos by Launtia Cuff

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nly accessible by boat, Pelican Bar is a place where persons can go to relax, enjoying the view of the beautiful blue and green Caribbean Sea through the gaps in the wood which create it, or take a walk onto the landing where they can enjoy a sunbath.

There, the boards that form the structure also serve as the guest book signed by visitors from all over the globe. There is even a mini-gift shop where persons can purchase authentic Jamaican items.

Join in a friendly game of dominoes or draft, or just find yourself in a corner with a good book. Pelican Bar is a good example of what can be formed out of a creative mind.

The bar and restaurant which was first built in 2001 was created from the dream of Denever Forbes. It was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and rebuilt that same year.

Forbes who is a fisherman said that he first built the hut like structure on his own in two months and said it he first built it so he could stop and relax while at sea.

“I built it and thought it would be a hangout [spot] I did not build it as a bar or [anything]. Because I am a fisherman and I [was] saying probably I would want to stop sometime and relax,” Forbes said.

He said curious onlookers would pass by and stop to see what it was but would leave when they saw that no one else was there.

He said it was a friend who suggested turning it into a bar and about six months after being built the Pelican Bar was born.

He said the same friend later suggested that he should add a restaurant component so that if people stopped by to drink they could get something to eat if they wanted. “[Now] it is a restaurant and a bar and we serve seafood here, like fish and lobster; just simple. We open each morning from 10 o’clock ‘til six in the evening,” he said.

I built it and thought it would be a hangout [spot] I did not build it as a bar or [anything].

He said most of the support for the bar comes from patrons from overseas.

“More people [were] coming more than I expected [what was there to accommodate them] , I just kept adding and then it went into the travel book and so people start come out from overseas.

“We have visitors from all over the world, it is more established overseas. We have support from local but it’s like ninetythree per cent tourists [to] seven per cent locals.

He said that it would be good if local persons would give more support.

“Everyone is welcome whether [from] home or abroad. The main part of my dream is to see people from all over the world greeting and meeting each other like a family and friends,” Forbes expressed.

He said while some locals may feel that it is expensive he said he believed it was affordable for most persons.

Forbes says he is also happy that it does not only benefit him but other members of the community as well “It helps [persons] in the community; that a big part [of] what makes me feel quite satisfied. I employ ten person but they work [on] two different shifts week by week,” he explained.

He said other persons outside of those he employs can also benefit, for example others who may carry persons by boat to CB the restaurant and bar.

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C A R I B B E A N

B O L D

DIGITAL read your favourite new magazine online and on your mobile devices

issuu.com/caribbeanbold

MONEY

HONESTY IS THE BEST MONEY POLICY Cherryl Hanson Simpson “Speak the truth and speak it ever, cost it what it will.

He who hides the wrong he did does the wrong thing still.”

— Children’s memory gem Many of us adults may have vivid memories of being taught the importance of speaking the truth and being honest at all times, back when we were children.

Parents and teachers alike drummed it into us that we should never tell lies, even if we thought that we would be punished for some wrongdoing.

Despite the reinforcement that we received about this critical life lesson, I’m sure that some of us will also remember those times when we ignored the warnings about honesty. The fear of getting into trouble was often too strong to allow us to freely admit to our sins and shortcomings.

There were probably occasions when we thought we had gotten away with telling lies. Perhaps no one saw us break the plate or take the last dumpling off the stove, so we believed that our secret would remain hidden forever. No doubt our shrewd caregivers would have corrected that idea in due course!

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ARE YOU FINANCIALLY DISHONEST? If asked this question, I believe that most people will emphatically state “No!” This is because we usually associate financial dishonesty with stealing money from others. However, there are many instances in which we may tell lies to ourselves and others without considering it to be dishonest.

For example, many people live in a state of financial denial because they refuse to acknowledge that they are living beyond their means. Using credit cards and payroll loans as their crutches, they portray a picture of success to the world, while they are really just one pay cheque away from bankruptcy.

Another way in which persons are less-than-honest about their money is when they refuse to take stock of their financial situation by making a budget plan. They prefer to continue fooling themselves that everything is okay, instead of facing the fact that they are not earning enough to meet their needs.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

— Sir Walter Scott

While ignoring our money challenges may just be to our personal detriment, financial dishonesty becomes even more serious when we deliberately tell lies to obtain benefits or avoid penalties. These actions can have devastating repercussions in the future when they are eventually discovered.

One common practice by some persons who are trying to obtain loans from financial institutions is to give inaccurate information about their other obligations or about their income. They try to present a profile that will be acceptable to the lending agency so that they can get the financing they want.

The problem is that most times these persons end up getting into deeper financial woes when they are unable to service the loans, and their indebtedness increases from interest charges and late fees. They would have been better off without borrowing instead of telling falsehoods to secure funding.

ARE YOU A FINANCIAL CHEAT? I know that most of us would not consider our-

selves cheaters or thieves, but we must understand exactly what we are doing when we refuse to pay our rightful dues to the Government. Although we may dislike taxes, it is the law of the land; if we try to evade them, we are being dishonest.

If we earn extra income from side jobs or by renting out our homes, and fail to declare our earnings, then we are guilty of dishonesty with our taxes. If we own businesses and pay no income taxes, or run personal expenses through company accounts, then we make false declarations about our obligations.

Financial cheating also includes buying expensive items overseas, hiding them in suitcases, and walking cheerfully through the ‘Nothing to Declare’ line at Customs. We can also defraud private entities, for example, by using someone else’s health card to pay for doctor bills or prescriptions.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

– John 8:32, The Holy Bible

If we keep committing ‘little’ offences such as evading taxes or undervaluing customs declarations, then other forms of dishonest behaviour may become more appealing to us. Once we cross the line between truth and deceit, then we run the risk of losing our ability to discern wrong from right.

Can telling the truth be sometimes inconvenient? Yes, there are occasions when you may have to suffer from bureaucratic hindrances or pay large sums of money, while dishonest persons seem to get away scot-free. However, the truth will leave your integrity intact, even if it comes with a financial cost.

Truth be told, there are very few people who can frankly claim that they have been honest one hundred per cent of the time when it comes to their finances. Let’s make an effort to be aware when we are tempted to do the wrong things with our money, and let’s try to make honesty our only money policy.

CB

impacting children’s lives • by Launtia Cuff

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Death is usually clothed in darkness, feelings of helplessness and depression; but there is at least one instance where out of one death something brilliant was born.

In 2010 Jamaican born sisters Janeka Miller and Christine Allen formed the RKM Foundation Inc. in honour of their brother Rohan Keil Miller, who at ten years old was killed in a car crash.

The sisters who now reside in the United States have established the Foundation’s presence in not only the States but in Jamaica and Canada as well.

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“The RKM Foundation Inc. is typically involved with activities that are focused around early childhood education and the various factors that may affect children within the education sector both in the United States and in Jamaica. We understand the importance of educating our youth in all areas and strive to ensure that all our activities are focused on a common goal. Our reading initiative is one such activity which we have designed but have yet to launch. We volunteer within the children’s ministry of our local community church and often make donations for our excess to benefit the children at the local church. We are currently active members of the steering committee for a global missionary group; our aim will be reaching out to underprivileged children globally through the help of our church. We continue to seek new and exciting ways to impact the lives of children,” Miller said Their first trip to Jamaica as a Foundation was June of 2012 and in 2014 the Foundation returned to the island and has implemented two projects where they made donations in the parishes of St. Elizabeth and St. James.

“Our last trip to Jamaica was April 2014. It was an amazing experience which was humbling; exciting and served as a major motivator for all that we need to do in the years to come. We donated toys and books to the school and students. We did a total of thirteen schools in two days. The atmosphere was welcoming and the children were elated. This made the entire trip pleasurable; however, speaking with the teachers and principals gave us a better understanding of the dark under belly of the education system.

Low enrollment, low attendance, lack of parental involvement, children being underfed, the conditions of the bathrooms, overcrowding in classrooms, lack of resources from the government, lack of furniture, No running water etcetera. Although there were so many pressing issues, it was evident that the teachers and principals were creating bridges for these students with their positive attitudes and ‘can do’ spirit. We left our island home feeling that there is much to be done and that we want to continue to be a part of the solution. However, our overall feeling was one of pride and gratitude. This was the country that had raised us and so many before us and will continue to raise so many more, we are proud to be products of that soil because it builds character,” Miller explained.

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WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING OUR YOUTH IN ALL AREAS AND STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR ACTIVITIES ARE FOCUSED ON A COMMON GOAL.

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Janeka Miller and Christine Allen, RKM Founders

Outside of their own projects they also joined with Jamaica Impact Inc., a group which the Foundation has worked with on previous occasions to donate to even more children across the island.

“We joined forces with Jamaica Impact Inc. once again on their annual school supplies and toy drive which was between May 24 [and] August 16 2014.

Our contribution was in excess of one thousand seven hundred pieces of school supplies, books and toys which will benefit children throughout the island.

Our partnership with Jamaica Impact Inc. helps to raise awareness of children in rural Jamaica. Through our partnership numerous schools in rural Jamaica will benefit, it is also an opportunity to start

valuable conversations about our children and education.

“We are [also] active members of the Jamaican Diaspora Advancing Education Initiative. This group includes members of the JTA (Jamaica Teachers’ Association), the Ministry of Education and a host of other organizations [that] are working together to improve the education system. We are excited to be an integral part of this group of individuals who are passionate about change for our youth and the education sector as a whole. In February 2014 a fact finding summit was held in both Kingston and Montego bay which yielded a plethora of useful information which we are actively working on to

bring to fruition,” she explained.

Miller went on to say that the work of the Foundation is funded by donations from the public and that thus far the supporters have been generous. While remaining thankful, she said there was still room for more support.

“The support has been positive, but we could always use additional support.

The more money we raise, the more we can do as an organization. We wanted to launch a reading initiative in a few schools in 2014; that date has been rescheduled to 2015 because we were unable to receive enough funding for the project. However, we are an optimistic team and we make do with what we CB have,” she told the magazine.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RKM FOUNDATION AND HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ITS CAUSE, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE: WWW. THERKMFOUNDATION.ORG

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CARI-CULTURE

ISLAND ETIQUETTE Three hundred and sixty five beaches: one for every day of the year, Mecca of Caribbean cricket: with its long history of cricketing greats, the land of “Each Endeavouring, All Achieving” and the “dawning sun” are some of the known facts and features of the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. However, Antigua and Barbuda is so much more than these.

Recently, Caribbean Bold Magazine caught up with Ms. Maria Blackman, Marketing and Communication Executive, Antiguan & Barbuda Tourism Authority in our quest to find out about the acceptable norms and behaviour of the Antiguan and Barbudan society. Here are some useful tips provided by her for current visitors and persons who intend to visit the island soon.

CONVERSATION Antiguans and Barbudans are hospitable and it is considered polite to greet people you meet by saying Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night or Evening.

BUSINESS Business attire is generally formal unless in an informal setting where business smart attire is acceptable.

Handshaking is customary for introductions.

The hours of Operation for Government offices are from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays. Offices close at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

DINING Tipping is generally accepted at 10-15%. Some restaurants & hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity.

Give porters and bellboys US$1 per bag, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.

Some hotels and formal restaurants have dress codes in effect – so it is best to check before booking.

LEISURE Beach attire is appropriate if at a hotel, villa, or beach. Casual attire should be worn in the capital city of St. Johns, shops and restaurants.

For more information on Antigua and Barbuda, visit their website: www.antiguanice.com

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CB

HUMAN FOOT PRINT

Our path in life maybe different but the final destination is still the same Black or white, rich or poor, male or female, agnostic or Christian, urban or rural dweller, College graduate or not, we all leave foot prints behind.

Life’s journey is wrought with many challenges in the midst of opportunities.

Helping someone in need will make your sojourn worth it.

What will your footprint say about you?

We walk this path only once!

– Wayne Campbell –

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

WHO ARE THE ACCOMPONG MAROONS? PHOTOS BY CHELSEA BENNETT

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During the period of slavery in Jamaica a group of Africans fought and escaped from bondage to establish free communities in the mountainous interior of the island.

Many of these Africans were brought to the island as slaves during Spanish rule however when the Spaniards fled the island giving way to British rule in 1655 many of their slaves were left behind.

These Africans formed themselves into settlements and fought against the English to gain their freedom after more than 80 years of conflict. The conflict came to an end when the British and the Maroons signed a peace treaty giving the Maroons portions of lands in various parts of the island which the Maroons still occupy today.

One such Maroon settlement was Accompong Town, located in the hills of North East St. Elizabeth.

In this interview with Caribbean Bold, Colonel Ferron Williams; Leader of the Accompong Maroons sought to explain who are the Accompong Maroons and the significance of their celebrations.

WHO ARE THE ACCOMPONG MAROONS?

[We were] described as runaway slaves but we describe ourselves as the first freedom fighters in the Western Hemisphere.

HOW DID YOU GET TO BE WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

[The Accompong] Maroons ran away to hills in the Cockpit Country in St. Elizabeth and we (when I say we I’m referring to our forefathers) fought for over 80 years, 83 to be exact. The British could not conquer us and as such they decided to sign [a] peace treaty. On the first of March 1738 the peace treaty was signed between Captain Guthrie and Captain Cudjoe.

HOW IS CULTURE PRESERVED IN ACCOMPONG?

We preserve our cultural heritage as best we can. We are really protective as far as that is concerned. If we allow it to die our children’s children won’t know [where we are coming from].

As long as the child can speak we try to put that in their heads.

It is passed down mouth to mouth we have moonlight vigils and bonfires. We also have storytelling.

We try to have it on [DVDs] and stuff like that. What we notice, the youngsters don’t want to listen [so] we are finding creative ways to pass it on.

DO YOU FIND THAT YOU FIND THAT YOUNG MAROONS STILL EMBRACE THE CULTURE AS MUCH AS BEFORE ESPECIALLY WITH MORE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES? You have to spice it up to make it enticing. You have to be forceful. If you allow them to choose which side they would want to choose they would want to choose the Western way of life and forget.

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WHAT IS LIFE LIKE IN ACCOMPONG?

Like any deep rural farming community it is like that however we govern ourselves. We don’t pay taxes; we try our own cases; its only murder that is supposed to be taken from up here to be tried by the Jamaican government and that is after we do our preliminary [inquiry].

You cannot just come to Accompong and take up dwelling you have to be recommended by a villager and then you’d have to live here for seven years before you would be considered a Maroon. You can become a Maroon by birth or by naturalization.

If [you come in and marry a maroon] you have the right vote in our elections as well.

Water is our main concern; the roads to come up here are in deplorable conditions however when you enter the village we do our

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repair; we try our utmost best.

There is [hardly] employment other than farming [excepting] teachers so [Maroons mostly] go [outside the community for work].

It is one of the safest places on earth. Persons up here sleep sometimes and their doors aren’t closed.

like education, tourism, development, agriculture [etc.] persons are appointed to head those [areas].

The next election is soon; the 25th of March this year [2015] all being well. [We have elections] every 5 years.

WHAT IS THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE LIKE IN ACCOMPONG?

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RECENT JANUARY 6 CELEBRATIONS HELD IN ACCOMPONG?

[In addition to Colonel] we have fourteen other Council Members. We also have full Maroon Council we have the board of elders and we have Junior Council. The board of Elders comprises of persons in their 60s and upward they would give us guidance with difficulties or something you don’t understand they could guide you through.

Council Members have different portfolios

January 6 is the birthday of our paramount Chief Captain Cudjoe instead of having two celebrations so close to each other we celebrate two in one; the Peace Treaty and the [Captain Cudjoe’s] birthday.

Wherever the Maroons [from] Accompong are on the 6th of January they travel back to Accompong [as well as Maroons] from other CB Maroon settlements.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRENADA Home to more than 110,000 people, Grenada is also known as the Isle of Spice as it is one of the largest exporters of nutmeg. After being under British rule for more than two hundred (200) years, Grenada became a fully independent state on 7 February 1974.

The National Flag of Grenada was adopted on the very day the country gained its independence. Three colors, red, yellow, and green, have been used to make the flag. These colors represent the country’s African legacy. Red, yellow, and green represent valor and vitality, sapience and warmth, and abundance and agriculture respectively.

SAINT LUCIA The second largest of the Windward group in the Lesser Antilles finally achieved its independence from Britain on February 22, 1979. The Saint Lucia flag was officially adopted on March 1, 1967, even before independence was gained. The cerulean blue of the flag reflects the tropical sky and surrounding waters of Saint Lucia. The golden color stands for the prevailing sunshine in the Caribbean Island and prosperity.

The black and white colors represent cultural influences of black and white people. The shape of the isosceles triangle is reminiscent of the famous twin Pitons at Soufriere, an emblem of the hope and aspirations of the people.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC During the Haitian occupation, Juan Pablo Duarte from Santo Domingo created a secret society named “La Trinitaria” and planned a coup against the Haitian rulers. On February 27, 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte and the rest of “La Triniatria” successfully established the Dominican Republic’s independence as a sovereign state with a canon shot from the “Puerta del Conde” in Santo Domingo and the rise of the Dominican blue, red, and white flag.

Independence Day is celebrated annually during Carnival. The Dominican Republic’s Carnival is celebrated every year during the entire month of February, culminating with the largest celebration on Independence Day, February 27.

The flag of the Dominican Republic was officially accepted on November 6th, 1844.

It features a centered white cross that extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles—the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue. The actual colors are ultramarine blue and vermilion red in alternate. The CB original colors are derived from the colors of the Haitian flag.

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HEALTH

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

by Neila Lewis

Menopause is when a woman experiences a lowered production of the female sex hormones estrogen, and progesterone. Symptoms vary widely, due to the many effects that these hormones have on the female body. Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle, and affects the reproductive system, urinary tract, heart and blood vessels, breast, bones, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and brain.

As a result women can experience the symptoms of menopause over their entire body.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE? Some women go through menopause without any complications or unpleasant symptoms. But others find menopausal symptoms debilitating, beginning even during pre-menopause, and may last for years.

CHANGES IN MENSTRUAL CYCLE Your period may not be as regular as it used to be.

Menstrual cycle may be heavier, or lighter than usual, and occasionally spot may occur. Also your period may be shorter or longer in duration. If you missed your period, make sure to take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy. A missed period could indicate the onset of menopause. If you are spotting after not having your period for 12 consecutive months, make sure to talk to your doctor to rule out any serious condition like cancer.

HOT FLASHES Many women complain of hot flashes as a primary menopause symptom. It is a sudden feeling of heat either in the upper portion, or all over the body. The intensity can range from mild to very strong, even waking you from sleep. A hot flash may last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Most women experience hot flashes for a year or two after their final menstrual period, some may have them for a longer time; however, they do lessen in intensity over time. Some women do seek medical treatment. Natural treatment

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such as primrose oil, and Limu a dietary sea plant can be helpful.

VAGINAL DRYNESS AND PAINFUL INTERCOURSE The decreased production of estrogen and progesterone can affect the thin layer of moisture that coats the vaginal walls. Women can experience dryness at any age, but it is a particular problem for menopausal women. Signs can include itching around the vulva, as well as stinging or burning, or frequent micturition (urination). Vaginal dryness can make intercourse painful, and may cause slight bleeding.

To combat dryness use a water-based lubricant for intercourse eg: vaginal moisturizers.

INSOMNIA (PROBLEM SLEEPING) For optimal health doctors recommend seven to eight hours of sleep each night for adults. But during menopause it may be hard for one to fall asleep or stay asleep. In order to get as much rest as you can, try relaxation, and breathing techniques. It is also important to exercise during the day. Avoid using the computer, or cell phone before bed, as the light can disrupt your sleep. Warm baths, reading, or listening to mellow music before bed may help you relax.

FREQUENT MICTURITION It is common for menopausal women to lose control of their bladder. You may also feel a constant need to urinate even without a full bladder, or experience dysuria (painful urination). This is because during menopause the tissues in your vagina, and urethra lose their elasticity, and the lining thins.

The surrounding pelvic muscle may also weaken.

Abstain from alcohol, stay hydrated and strengthen your pelvic floor with Kegal exercises.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTIs) During menopause, some women experience an increase in the number of (UTIs) contracted.

Lowered levels of estrogen and changes in the urinary tract make it more susceptible to infection. If you feel persistent urge to urinate, or a burning sensation on micturition see your doctor. Drink plenty of water, and cranberry juice. Always wipe from front to back to prevent urinary tract infection.

DECREASED LIBIDO It is common to feel less interested in sex during menopause, this is caused by physical changes brought about by a decrease in estrogen. These changes can include a delayed clitoral reaction time, slow or absent orgasmic response, and vaginal dryness. In order to continue to have a satisfying sex life there should be understanding between husband and wife where she is comfortable talking about her fears, and is reassured. There are also over the counter treatments available.

DEPRESSION and MOOD SWINGS Changes in hormone production affect the mental stability of women during menopause.

Menopausal women report feelings of irritability, depression, and mood swings, and often go from extreme highs to severe lows in a short period of time. It is important to remember that these hormone fluctuations affect the brain, and that “feeling blue� is not unnatural.

SKIN,HAIR, and OTHER TISSUE CHANGES As you age you will experience changes in your skin and hair. Loss of fatty tissue and collagen will make your skin drier, and thinner, and will affect the elasticity and lubrication of the skin near your vagina and urinary tract. Reduced estrogen may contribute to hair loss, or cause your hair to feel brittle and dry. Make sure to avoid harsh chemical hair treatments which can cause further damage.

Use natural hair products as far as possible.

Use moisturizing lotions for dry skin. Get daily Vitamin D from sunlight.

CB

CARIBBEAN BOLD 39

BY HERBIE MILLER

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PHOTO BY DENNIS MORRIS CARIBBEAN BOLD 41

Bob Marley was as a man of the world who understood it as borderless, free for all to tread because “Jah (God) created the earth for man.” [Tosh].

In his song Road Block Marley retorts: “Why can’t we roam this open country, why can’t we be what we want to be, we want to be free.” And to broadcaster Neville Willoughby he said, “Jah a earth rightful ruler and him noh run no wire fence” around it. With the Wailers band, Marley, as if with a backpack bulging with music, traveled far and wide sharing this philosophy with all who listened. The universal embrace of his message and his immense achievements best gauge his impact during those years. As singer, lyricist, musician, philosopher and philanthropist, his creative genius [brilliance, virtuosity] emphasized universal aesthetics deflecting his accomplishments to timelessness rather than anchored in his own moment.

Coming of age in a multiethnic society in colonial Jamaica, Marley was aware he had a definite role in life; his mission was the oneness of humanity. This jali / griot’s spiritual, sociological and creative quest and message was to energize and bring equilibrium to the human ethos and aesthetic. As an additional wellknown line from another of his songs makes clear, “One love, one heart, lets get together and feel alright” was Bob’s universal message.

Marley was a visionary for whom music was artillery, hymnal and his book of gospel; with his creativity ––much like Pablo Picasso and Miles Davis–– he was able to achieve superstardom and commercial success without compromising idiomatic integrity.

A great deal about Marley’s personality is revealed by the memorabilia and other private items on display at the Museum that bears his name in Kingston, Jamaica. The collection also obscures much and exercises liberal poetic license with the rest. The Bob Marley Museum is located at 56 Hope Road, and is the house Marley occupied from around 1975 until the time of his death in 1981. As an example, the clothes on exhibit displayed his frugality and stylistic preference. They include a blue denim shirt and a pair of olive flannel army trousers with the legs cutoff and described along with another patchwork army green denim pants in quilted style as “Bob’s football shorts.” The manufacturer’s label in the waistline of the flannels gives the following details: Clayman & Sons Ltd. Trousers, Men’s Battledress, Khaki (1954) October 1969 Size No. Small Perhaps to Marley the worn denim jacket, patchwork shirt, denim short pants and army green quilted shorts were his “battledress” since they represent a kind of uniform of rebellion rather than football shorts as the museum’s label suggests. This set of clothing also betray Marley’s shopping habits and suggest he picked up bits and pieces at places like London’s Portobello Road flea market, the Army and Navy surplus shops, and Salvation Army stores in the USA.

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PHOTO BY DENNIS MORRIS CARIBBEAN BOLD 43

THE LEADER OF A CULTURAL REVOLUTION OF SORTS THAT DEFINES 1970S JAMAICA

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It’s generally the case that entertainers tend to display an addiction to high fashion. Yet with all his musical sophistication, Marley’s basic sartorial taste made it appear as if he were either always on the way to a job at a construction site, or even more in keeping with his world view, to some battlefront intent on liberating the exploited from late capitalism’s ferocious pangs, an ethic clearly documented by his lyrics, music and pronouncements. For example, as he so passionately sang: “come we go bun dung Babylon one more time”.

Bob’s attire also suggests he never had the time, or inclination to go shopping for the latest designer apparel. But, there was, as many Marley admirers know, a certain cool about his style and aesthetic. Like the Gap ads of a number of seasons ago that used Hemmingway, Marilyin Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., Picasso and Miles to promote khaki as fashionably cool, and for those of us attentive to the distinct earthy characteristics and sophistication of how hip Bogart wore his trench coat and, Ingrid Bergman, her khakis (see the movie Casablanca) which, at once balanced elegance and relaxed informality, so too, for some of us, Marley was able to transform the earthy to the refined because he brought a kind of iconoclastic reverence to the blue jeans and fatigues he donned. Never mind whether or not they were sound or ripped, he wore them with such nonchalance that it hardly mattered beyond the fact that he was fully clad. And though absolutely ignoring the latest expensive apparel was evident in “Skip’s” everyday wear, it was from the stage that he made the ultimate sartorial impact; he made street clothes look hip, they gave him a rebel image, an aura of panache that was mysteriously adventurous but with classic appeal. Blue denim jeans, army discards, khaki trousers and boots represented his uniform. Marley’s small athletic frame was the model even as his disregard for fashion and trends shaped a distinct couture.

He was seen as the leader of a cultural revolution of sorts that defines 1970s Jamaica when many Rastafarians who fashioned their clothes after His Majesty’s battle dress and antiestablishment youths who were influenced

by Fidel Castro both desired khaki and fatigues for its military and militant overtones. “Se me uppa Constant Spring inna mi Khaki suit an ting” a line from Althea and Donna’s pop hit “Uptown Top Ranking” encapsulates the character of pop culture and the popularity of army fatigues and military khaki during the defining socialist experiment of 1970s Jamaica.

Rastafarian rituals were everyday practice in the life of Bob Marley and are indicative of his African and Afro-Jamaican spiritual and cultural focus.

The Maccabee version of the Bible that sits on a bedside table (opened at Psalm 37) reads: Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against workers of iniquity, For they will soon be cut down like the grass And wither like herb.

These are words that appeared in the lyrics of “Let Jah be Praised” written and sung by Peter Tosh, an original Wailer and lifelong brethren of Marley’s. Like the members of Coptic and Orthodox Christian churches, Rastafarians place great interest in the Maccabees. The open Bible and the Ethiopian Orthodox cross that lies across its pages like a bookmark, represent Bob’s epistemology; his link to Addis Ababa, Lalibella, Oxom, in general, to Ethiopia and H.I.M Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of Judah, he who Rastafarians call God Almighty.

Marley was a thorough and avid student of the scriptures, which not only guided his life and helped shape his worldview but as it did for his brethren Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer among others, it also served as a source of inspiration for lyric to many of this bard’s compositions.

The Chillum pipe is also a ritual object. It was used to smoke herb, the holy sacrament according to Rastafari concepts. Bob smoked herb in pipes like this one as a daily ritual. It was a rite that he shared with other devotees of the Rastafari faith. His pair of studded and adorned sandals–– likely Ghanaian, plus a red, gold and green knitted Rastafari tam are additional personal items that indicate his African centered Rastafarian beliefs.

Of all the ironies to contemplate at the Bob Marley Museum, is one that stands out like a fly on a two-shilling bread. Hanging on a silken maroon colored ribbon is the Honorable Robert Nesta Marley’s insignia of the Order of Merit. It is Jamaica’s third highest honor. The ‘OM’ is the highest

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accolade conferred upon any private Jamaican citizen. It is set-aside for those individuals who have achieved pre-eminent national and international distinction.

Displayed along with other international medals and commendations, the Order of Merit symbolizes the character and achievement of a man that struggled for human dignity and artistic recognition, which until his international breakthrough in 1973, was threatened by class prejudice in his own country. But Bob Marley aimed for the higher ground. He embodied, on the one hand, a generous man with saint like qualities and on the other, a resolute revolutionist who at the sound of the call was prepared to be on the battlefront much like Omar Mukhtar and Haile Selassie when the need arose in their times.

As such, the achievements of this humanitarian, advocate for human equity and musician par excellence is represented by the ‘OM’. It testifies to how significantly Marley has contributed not only to the arts of Jamaica but also to national identity, human consciousness and commerce. And 46 CARIBBEAN BOLD

more, his creative and humanitarian fulfillment re-inspires, re-establishes, re-assures and reaffirms our sense of self and our paths of choice; it informs humanities relationship with itself.

Marley may have intuitively known this is the role of music and the arts in traditional African societies and by extension those of its Diaspora.

The inscription on the medal “He That Does Truth Comes Into The Light” brings into clear focus the fact that the system notwithstanding, this Jamaican has served and continues to serve his country beyond any measure and his service, as required to receive the Order of Merit, has made a “meaningful and significant contribution to national development.” As such, in addition to bestowing this award on Marley, there have also been calls in some quarters for him to be recognized as a National Hero.

In the formative years when the Wailers turned away from producers and went out on their own, Rita Marley, the museum’s administration assistant informed me, “delivered records from the bicycle on display.”

This rustic wire skeleton from the seat is shown

in Picassoesque fashion juxtaposed here next to five wooden kitchen utensils (ladles, spoons, spatulas and forks), illustrative of a mixture of basic unadorned Zulu spoons and utilitarian utensils, which are, in a way, also reminiscent of the vernacular art of Eastern European folk expression. If they were to be displayed upside down, a stretch of the imagination may also create an illusionary connection to Asante Akuaba dolls. Their elongated bodies and circular disc like or geometric heads reiterate balance, and like any number of Marley songs, they also illustrate the importance of form and subject to aesthetics. These items are all made from natural materials that compliment the organic and naturalistic atmosphere of Marley’s home environment. Like almost everything else exhibited, they are worn from usage and are not just props to show off any decorative interest of Marley’s. They glow with the kind of patina that implies a character rich from usage and natural age. Simply put, in Bob’s world, many of the artifacts on display served their respective purpose.

Marley’s hammock hangs in the corner of the upstairs verandah in a manner that suggests that to relax or to loaf was its and the room’s main purpose. In addition to being a site for playing table tennis as evidenced by the table tennis board that used to be on the verandah, it was also the place where Bob entertained his brethren; where reasoning, jibing, talking football, strumming his guitar and making up lyrics also took place.

In fact, from time to time a soccer ball was bounced around in a game of “Keep up.” But the most extreme activity in that space was the physical exercise in which super fit athletes like Gilly, Skill, Neville, Bob and others competed.

Woe be on the man who could not complete ten rolls on that hand wheel abs buster. Bob was one of the most caustic teasers of the group.

Yes, he could be competitive with those he respected, but would mock other challengers he considered not up to the task, a position that carried over from the very way he constructed his life –– respectful of others but never shy to make the rest aware that they were coming up short.

The mixing board, cable and recording tape represent the realized dream Marley harbored

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for artistic and commercial independence for himself and other artists. It however obscures the fact that during Marley’s times the location of the studio was on the ground floor of the main building and not, as implied by the museum’s docents, at the back of the premises.

That Bob Marley was among the twentieth century’s most important musicians is universally acknowledged. His intelligence and his charisma made him one of the truly great artists and leaders of the last hundred years; his band, the Wailers–– like Art Blakey’s or any edition of Miles Davis’ represents in jazz–– is among the defining progeny of reggae distinctiveness in modern popular music. Yet, if the choice were his, Bob may have chosen another profession. If he wished he could have become someone else; he would not choose to become any other musician, but a footballer possessing the abilities of his closest friend and confidant Allan “Skill” Cole. No matter how good his music it was football that Bob wanted to excel at like “Skill.” Cole’s focus on the game and his delicate but sure ball maneuvers in the late 1960s guaranteed him an automatic place on the Jamaican team and by the early 1970s a contract with Nautico Club in the competitive

Brazilian soccer league in the company of players like Pele, Revalino and Tostoa.

I suspect that watching the poetic lyricism of a player like Skill, the agile maneuvers of Herbert “Dago” Gordon and the determination of Corcel Blair represented for Bob the visual counterpart to his own aesthetic fluidity and dogged resolve; a crossing between the nuanced grace and physical endurance that allowed individuals like himself and those he admired to develop a way of rejecting any and everything, anywhere in the world, that suggested social limitations and human subjugation.

It was this mindset that allowed Bob Marley the confidence that made him comfortable with his creative iconoclasm, humanity and frugality, which his life exemplified. So, symbols like the Order of Merit, his hammock, the jeans and Portobello Road military flannels, work boots and sandals, his well worn and thumbed Bible, its loose spine and patina pages; its yellowing over time, suggests Marley was a man of the world, a visionary grounded in spirituality and possessed by humility, humanity and a generous touch of creative genius.

Essay originally published in Big Jamaica.

Museums photos taken by Henry Luetwyler

PHOTO BY ADRIAN BOOT

CB

CARIBBEAN BOLD 49

HEALTH

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION DIET

By Dr. Neil Gardener

Well, it is that time of year again when many persons take stock of their lives and determine if there is anything that needs improving. A new year represents an opportunity for a fresh start and many persons use this time to make resolutions to improve the quality of their lives and/or relationships. The top three New Year’s resolutions are: 1. Spend more time with friends and family 2. Exercise more 3. Lose weight Although it is very important for us to be able to spend more time with those we love, our mandate is to help persons achieve their health goals. If you have resolved to become healthier in 2015 by exercising more and losing weight, these recommendations will be of some help. The problem with resolutions is that they are destined to fail. One third of New Year’s resolutions do not even last until February. They fail because they tend to be based on emotional convictions and they lack actionable steps.

Exercising more and losing weight are not good goals unless you put action steps to it; steps that are measurable and time dependent. Here are some specific steps that someone can take in order to exercise more and lose weight.

EXERCISE MORE Make an exercise plan, which may include, say, walking for 10 minutes per day for the first

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week and then increasing it by 5 minutes per day each successive week until you are walking for 40 minutes or more per day by the end of March.

• Go easy at first, especially if you have not exercised before or in a while.

• Get a group of like-minded friends to walk with you and hold you accountable.

• Keep it simple. The simpler the plan the easier it will be for you to stick to it.

• Make it convenient. Pick a time of day that you are most likely able to devote up to 1 hour for uninterrupted exercise.

• Make it a routine. Exercising at the same time every day will quickly make it a habit.

not sustainable. A simple tool that is helpful is ‘Eat Less CRAP – Eat More FOOD’.

Eat Less CRAP: • Carbonated drinks (all canned and bottled soft drinks, etc.)

• Refined sugar (white or granulated sugar) • Artificial sweeteners and colours including high fructose corn syrup.

• Processed foods (e.g. fast food, canned foods or vegetables, white flour, white rice and donuts) Eat More FOOD: • Fruits and vegetables to make up at least half your plate (half of it cooked and half raw) • Organic lean proteins (e.g. grass fed, hormone free beef and mutton) • Omega 3 fatty acids (e.g. cold water fish like mackerel and salmon, but not canned) • Drink purified water (not coloured or flavoured)

Only if you have been able to keep up a routine of exercising for at least 2 to 3 months, should you consider buying more expensive at-home equipment or paying for a membership at a gym. Most people think that by spending money, it will ensure their commitment, but this has not been proven to be true. In many homes there are expensive exercise machines sitting in a corner gathering dust and partially utilized gym memberships expiring.

If it is not in your house, it is less likely to get into your body. Make a shopping list before going to the supermarket. Diligently read labels, do not put CRAP on your list and do not put anything in your cart that is not on your list.

LOSE WEIGHT Losing weight involves exercising more (see above) and eating right. What does it mean to eat right? Eating right does not include starving yourself or counting calories. Starvation is just

If you want to be successful at anything, you must have a plan for success. Following the above recommendations may help you achieve your goals for the year. I hope for you a wonderful and CB prosperous 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that Jamaica had 22 parishes in the mid nineteenth century?

How did they come about and how did they get their names - Jamaica’s parishes explained.

In 1664, the Spanish relinquished control of Jamaica to the British and Sir Thomas Modyford divided this fair isle into 7 administrative units known as parishes. These were located mainly in the mid to south- eastern end of the island: Clarendon, St. John’s, St. Andrew’s, St. Katherine’s, Port Royal, St. David’s and St. Thomas in the East. Within 25 years, by 1683 the number of parishes had doubled totaling 15 parishes as St. Dorothy’s, St. Thomas in the Vale, Vere, St. George’s, St. Marie’s, St. Ann’s, St. James and St. Elizabeth’s were added. In 1692 earthquake survivors fled across the harbour and Kingston was formed a year later.

By the mid-eighteenth century parishes covered the entire island. In 1758 the island’s 3 counties Surrey, Middlesex and Cornwall were created to facilitate more convenient holdings of courts of Justice. Surrey has 4 parishes Kingston, the smallest parish, St. Andrew, St. Thomas and Portland. Middlesex has 5 St. Catherine, St. Mary, Clarendon, St. Ann and Manchester. Cornwall also has 5 St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, the second smallest parish in the island, and Westmoreland. In the mid-nineteenth century, Jamaica recorded its largest number of parishes, 22. In 1867 some parishes were melded into others and the island was left with 14 - the number of parishes we have today. Each parish has a capital town and serves as a unit of local government. Kingston, which existed as a settlement of houses in the mid-1600s prior to even its formation as a town, became the capital of Jamaica in 1872. It acquired this position due to its function as a major centre for commerce and communication.

Did you know that the Caribbean region’s first female Prime Minister was Eugenia Charles?

Eugenia Charles, in full Mary Eugenia Charles (born May 15, 1919, Pointe Michel, Dominica—died September 6, 2005, Fort-deFrance, Martinique), lawyer and politician who served as prime minister of Dominica from 1980 to 1995. She was the country’s first woman lawyer and the first woman Prime Minister to serve in the Caribbean.

Charles was the granddaughter of slaves.

Her father’s success as a fruit exporter and later as a banker enabled Eugenia to receive an excellent education. After completing high school in Dominica, she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the London School of Economic and Political Science. In 1949 she returned to Dominica and practiced law in Roseau.

Charles became politically active in the late 1960s, after the Dominican government passed legislation limiting dissent. She was selected to be head of the new Dominica Freedom Party, a broad-based political party comprising diverse opposition groups, which she helped found in 1968. Charles was appointed to the legislature in 1970, and in 1975 she won a seat to the House of Assembly and became Leader of the Opposition.

When the Dominica Freedom Party won the 1980 elections, Charles became Prime Minister. Also serving as her own foreign affairs and finance and development minister, Charles fought government corruption, attempted to limit tax evasion, and rejected overtures from foreign business interests to legalize casino gambling on the island. She also cultivated close relations with the United States, urging and supporting that country’s invasion of Grenada in 1983. Known as the “Iron Lady of the Caribbean,” she won two additional terms as prime minister, in 1985 and 1990, before retiring when her party was ousted in 1995.

She subsequently resumed her law practice. In 1991 Charles was made Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE).

Did you know that the Treaty of Chaguaramas signed in 1973 allows for the free movement of people throughout the Caribbean?

The Treaty of Chaguaramas which established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) including the Caribbean Common Market was signed by Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago on 4th July, 1973, in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. It came into effect on 1 August1973.

The Caribbean Community and the Caribbean Common Market replaced the Caribbean Free Trade Association which ceased to exist on 1st May 1974.

The Treaty of Chaguaramas was juridical hybrid consisting of the Caribbean Community as a separate legal entity from the Common Market which had its own discrete legal personality.

Indeed, the legal separation of these two institutions was emphasized by the elaboration of two discrete legal instruments: the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and the Agreement establishing the Common Market (which was later annexed to the Treaty and designated the Common Market Annex). This institutional arrangement facilitated States joining the Community without being parties to the Common Market regime.

In addition to economic issues, the Community instrument addressed issues of foreign policy coordination and functional cooperation. Issues of economic integration, particularly those related to trade arrangements, were addressed in the Common Market Annex.

Because of this juridical separate identity of the regional common market, it was possible for the Bahamas to become a member of the Community in 1983 without joining the CB Common Market.

SOURCES caricom.org/jsp/community/original_treaty.jsp?menu=community caricom.org/jsp/projects/personalities/dame_mary.jsp?

Article by Rebecca Tortello including sources from: Bryce, W. (1946) Ed. Reference Book of Jamaica, B.W.I., Cundall, F. (1926) Handbook of Jamaica for 1926, The Gleaner (1995). Geography and History of Jamaica.

24th Edition, Our Island, Jamaica, Mike Morrissey CARIBBEAN BOLD 51

Rude Boys FROM MARLEY & CLIFF, SHANTY TOWN TO SAVILE ROW

By Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah

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When will the Rude Boys be valued in Jamaica? When I came across the article entitled ‘Rude Boys’ written by Sean O’Hagan published in the Guardian, it brought me back to the days when I served as a board member at the Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) Museums Division. We had the mandate for securing and exhibiting the national collections. To my surprise, a large portion of the materials in the national collection had never been exhibited, including a substantial African Collection bequeathed to the nation by a diplomat posted in Jamaica after a sojourn in West Africa.

I had the privilege of seeing the entire national collection, and many artefacts representing indigenous Jamaican material culture were absent. As a member of the Board, I was constantly appalled for example at how there was never an exhibition on Rastafari, Jamaican fashion or that there was even a significant music collection showcasing the indigenous music birthed in Jamaica.

Yes of course, we have a Jamaican Music Museum but its collection is at a crucial embryonic stage and with no permanent home.

And yes, we have only recently opened an exhibition on Rastafari because I was a key player in engaging the Smithsonian Institution (Museum of Natural History) regarding the possibility of their exhibition ‘Discovering Rastafari!’ travelling to Jamaica, as well as the UWI’s Rastafari Studies Initiative, a key partner in its Jamaican staging. I could go on and on about the national collection, or about how there is no national consciousness about the need for a significant national collection showcasing our indigenous material culture. But that is not my aim.

Now, here comes word that another exhibition-‘Return of the Rude Boy’ depicting Jamaican subculture, recently held in London was not conceptualized by or for Jamaicans. ‘Return of the Rude Boy’ was held at London’s Somerset House. Has there ever been such an exhibition in Jamaica? Perhaps the idea has entered the mind of some persons but never came to light. Regardless of the situation, I am clear that there are two challenges posed here. First, many Jamaicans don’t see their indigenous culture as important enough for archiving, research or preservation. Secondly, where there is a consciousness about its importance, priority after all (some would say) should be placed on more pressing issues such as various forms of crime and violence, grave economic challenges, moral decay, and so on. There is little consciousness of the link between culture and identity formation (personal / national), preservation of culture and education, or even, national culture and creative industries. These are two critical challenges facing

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us as a nation as we seek to chart a path toward sustainable development through creative industries. The link between heritage, tourism and sustainable development through creative industries ought not to be missed.

I leave you with some of the article, and hope that the Institute of Jamaica considers seriously the possibility of having this exhibition travel to Jamaica.

“The rude boy has come a long way from his origins in Jamaican subculture, as shown in a new photography exhibition celebrating the movement’s distinctive style.”

It was towards the end of 1963 that the Wailers released their first single, Simmer Down, on the legendary Studio One label in Jamaica. The song was written and sung by an 18-year-old Bob Marley, the lyrics intended to placate his mother, Cedella, who was worried about the company her son was keeping in the Trench Town ghetto of the Jamaican capital, Kingston, where they lived. Simmer Down was aimed directly at the often sharply dressed young men locally known as “rude boys”, who were making headlines in the then newly independent island with their violent and antisocial behaviour.

“Simmer down, oh control your temper/Simmer down, for the battle will be hotter,” sang Marley over a frenetic rhythm by the studio’s stellar house band, the Skatalites. Produced by Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Simmer Down was not the first song to address the rude boy phenomenon. The previous year Stranger Cole had released Ruff and Tough, produced by Coxsone’s rival, Duke Reid, a song now recognised as the first rude boy anthem.

Simmer Down, though, had an urgency that caught the edgy, increasingly unruly atmosphere of Kingston’s mean streets. It was also an early example of what, as the fast-paced, jazz-inflected thrust of ska gave way first to the slower “bluebeat” and then to the even slower, but deeper, bass-heavy rhythm of reggae, would come to be known as “sufferer’s music” – a song voiced by, and for, the oppressed, who ordinarily had no voice in Jamaican society.

“The figure of the rude boy with his swagger and casual disrespect for the law harks back to older archetypes like the semi-mythical Stagger Lee character in black American folk blues, the bad man who seems invincible,” commentsPaul Gilroy, academic and author of several books on the politics of race, including There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack. “That kind of figure also appeared in various guises in the imported Hollywood western and gangster movies that young Jamaicans lapped up. But the emergence of the rude boy at this particular moment also marked out the acquisition of a new self-confidence and sense of self-reinvention among the young and disaffected that was related somehow to Jamaican independence in 1962. The rude boy was a recognisable, if culturally complex take, on an archetypal bad-boy figure.”

Since then, the rude boy has recurred throughout the history of popular music both in Jamaica and Britain. His sartorial influence – sharp suits, pork-pie hats, shiny shoes – was felt in both the early mod and, more 54 CARIBBEAN BOLD

"The rude boy has come a long way from his origins in Jamaican subculture, as shown in a new photography exhibition celebrating the movement's distinctive style."

problematically, skinhead movements of the early and late 60s, as imported ska and bluebeat singles from Jamaica ignited the hipper dance floors of London and beyond. It was revisited, too, for the 2 Tonemovement that emerged out of the Midlands and London in the wake of punk in the late 70s, when bands such as the Specials and Madness reinvigorated Jamaican ska.

Now an exhibition of photography called The Return of the Rudeboy is about to open at Somerset House in London. Curated by fashionphotographer Dean Chalkley and stylist and creative director Harris Elliott, it aims to “depict a collective of sharply dressed individuals, who exemplify an important yet undocumented subculture …” With live events, DJs, merchandising and even a rude boy barber shop, as well as screenings of fims such as The Harder They Come – perhaps the ultimate depiction of the lawless rude boy lifestyle – the exhibition will, say the curators, “document the life, style and attitude among a growing group of people that embody the essence of the term” What, though, is the essence of rude boy in 2014? For many young people, the term is now synonymous with the 2011 single of the same name

by Rihanna, the reigning rude girl of sexually suggestive R&B. “Come here, rude boy, can you get it up/Come here rude boy, is you big enough?” she sings, rendering the term reductively literal and blatantly stereotypical.

I put it to Harris that, in their interpretation of the term, the rude boy also seems to have travelled a long way from his edgy ghetto roots, shedding his anti-establishment tendencies to become simply an arbiter of a certain kind of post-modern urban style in which the past is rifled and recontextualised, CB and, in the process, stripped of real meaning.

Marijuana, Masculinity & Decriminalization

BY WAYNE CAMPBELL

In a society where there is an undeniable association between the construction of masculinity and the smoking of marijuana the intention of the Jamaican government to decriminalize marijuana might just go up in smoke.

In jurisdictions where decriminalization has occurred the recreational user of marijuana does not face prosecution for possessing or for using small amounts of the drug. Therefore, it would be illegal to trade, sell, or possess large quantities of the drug. As a result the resources of the state and law enforcement are usually shifted and used to target the suppliers and dealers of the drug.

There is a marked difference between legalization of marijuana-which is the route of both Uruguay and the State of Colorado in the United States of America-decriminalization of the drug. Colorado is the first state in the US to legalize the cultivation, sale and recreational usage of marijuana. Consequently individuals over the age of 21 are allowed to have up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use.

Legalization makes an act completely acceptable in the eyes of the law and is, therefore, not subject to any penalties. Decriminalization simply means that an act is no longer regarded as a criminal crime but is still subject to penalties or fines, much like getting a speeding ticket.

The (2006) National School Survey conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse found that twenty four per cent (24%) of adolescents had used marijuana at some point. We can surmise that eight years later the percentage of Jamaican adolescents who have smoked marijuana is much higher. According to The West Indian Medical Journal (2004) the initiation of marijuana among Jamaican students begins as early as age nine years.

This is rather unbelievable and distressing. At age nine our children should be preparing for Grade Four Literacy Test (GFLT) not smoking a ganja joint and getting “high”. Can you remember what your interests were at age nine?

Disturbingly, the (2006) National Council on Drug Abuse survey also revealed that students perceive that marijuana to be the easiest illegal drug to access.

Additionally, there is a clear association between using illegal drugs such as marijuana and behavioral problems this causal effect continues to be a concern for all our schools. A significant number of our teenage aged boys are addicted to the smoking of marijuana. We need to ask ourselves what message is being sent by the pending decriminalization of marijuana

especially on the male student population who are attracted to or already hooked on the drug.

Have we done an assessment to determine adolescent attitudes towards marijuana use in an era of decriminalization? Are we going to put more resources in our schools to assist the administrators to tackle the seemingly losing battle that is being fought daily to save and rescue those students who are addicted to marijuana? Once a student becomes addicted to this drug the evidence is very clear for everyone to see. Evidence includes a marked decrease in one’s school and aggression. In more instances than not the user develops a carefree attitude towards deportment and becomes careless.

We all can only imagine with immense trepidation the myriad of issues especially in regards to the further social disintegration within the society that such a move is likely to begin. There is no doubt that marijuana is highly addictive. The use of this drug significantly impairs bodily and mental functions. Now we know what makes marijuana so addictive.

Tetrahydrocannabinol or (THC) is the chemical compound found in marijuana which makes the drug so addictive. Low doses of THC help reduce pain and nausea. THC also helps to stimulate appetite. Larger doses of THC result in the “high” feeling which is an altered perception of the user’s concept of time and space. It is important to note that for medical purposes synthetic forms of THC can and is in fact produced in laboratories.

Rastas are not the first The argument to decimalize has been heavily dotted by beliefs that ganja should be decriminalize for sacramental purposes. It bears thought.

True, if you ask the average person to think of and name a “marijuana religion” immediately Rastafarianism would come to mind.

However, the use of marijuana in religion dates back to the second millennium B.C. and the practice continues to this day. The Jamaican- born Rastafarian movement is perhaps the most documented and well known modern religion that uses marijuana for spiritual purposes. Many Rastafarians believe that marijuana or ganja aids in the worship of God and meditation. Furthermore they believe that marijuana is the “tree of life” mentioned in the book of Genesis.

There is a long history of marijuana associated with Hinduism, since about 1500 BC by some records. It is most commonly consumed in a drink called bhang, mixed in with spices, milk and sugar and drunk during Holi and Baisakhi, key festivals of the Hindu

religion. The marijuana plant is associated with the god Shiva, and many Shiavites smoke it in clay pipes called chillums, believing it to be a gift from Shiva to help humans reach a higher spiritual level. Marijuana is also used by yogis to enhance their religious experience.

Like in most religions, marijuana use is controversial and divisive in Buddhism. The tenets of Buddhism advise against intoxicants, but in many sects of Chinese Buddhism, marijuana has been used in initiation and mystical rituals since the 5th century BC. Some Tibetan Buddhist priests believe it to be the most holy of plants, and there are many written records that suggest that the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Siddhartha, lived primarily on marijuana seeds and leaves in the years before his enlightenment.

Reason enough to decriminalize? You tell me.

Wood, Water and Weed Jamaica’s position at 18 degrees north and 77 degrees west makes the island an ideal attraction for many tourists. In 2010 Jamaica earned US$1.98 Billion dollars from tourism.

In addition to the land and sea experience it is no secret that many tourists visit our country to sample our marijuana. Are we as a society willing to sacrifice our values to tourism interests?

Are we convinced that the advantages of such an important move will outweigh the disadvantages?

What are truly some of the advantages of decriminalization? Such a move will no doubt free millions of dollars now being used to prosecute recreational users.

It can be argued that decimalizing marijuana is likely to see a freeing up of a substantial amount of law enforcement resources which could be used to prevent more serious crimes.

We need to bear in mind that after Colorado “free up di weed” there was a drastic increase in the number of persons using marijuana. There was also a marked increase in the number of deaths from drug overdose. Undoubtedly there is going to be an initial increase in persons experimenting with marijuana once it is decriminalize. Are we prepared for this as a society? Research has showed that many users of marijuana go on to use more serious forms of drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Should we decimalize a harmful drug which is known for its psychoactive effects, we then need to ask ourselves are we ready for such consequences as a society? If the answer is in the affirmative CB then by all means “free up di weed!”

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University of Technology, Jamaica

CENTRE FOR THE ARTS The Centre for the Arts (CFA) is situated in the heart of the campus. It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sculpture Park, the only open-air museum of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean. The Centre was established in 1998, with a mandate to help individuals unleash their creative energy towards living at the highest and the best of who they are, through an exposure to the arts. It focuses on education in the Visual and Performing Arts, cultural training and professional development through elective and extracurricular programmes.

The Centre supports the cultural needs of the University and wider populace through the staging of outreach activities such as, Cultural Productions, Presentations and Consultation; providing professional Performances by UTech Art and Theatre Ensemble, Workshops geared towards students, staff and Creative Industry Professionals and Facility Rental and Guided Tours of the Caribbean Sculpture Park.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES The Centre offers a diverse range of disciplines; Dance, Drama & Theatre Arts and Music are currently offered as elective courses. Students accrue three (3) credits towards their respective degrees. Outstanding students from our courses form the UTech Art and Theatre Ensemble which at present, are being trained for professional performances.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME Dance and Drama & Theatre Arts are also offered as extracurricular activities, along with Choir, Drumming, Instrumental Band, Sign Language, Steel Pan and Visual Arts. The extra-curricular programmes are made available to UTech students, staff, alumni and the wider Papine Community, who are interested in self expression through the arts.

CARIBBEAN SCULPTURE PARK Recognizing art and culture as positive and necessary change agents in student life the University, building on the vision of Pat Ramsay, founded the Caribbean Sculpture Park in 1999. As the only open-air museum of its kind in the English speaking Caribbean the Park has become a source of pride for the UTech family. This tangible asset continues to be a seamless link to the intangible cultural heritage CB emanating from the Centre for the Arts.

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2015 Significant Dates April 9 Literary Festival and Cultural Showcase

October 15 – November 20 “Creative Edge” Exhibition Series

July 6- 31 “Heritage in Young Hands”, Summer Camp

July 6- 31 CFA Week of Excellence

The event scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2015 pays tribute to Jamaica’s Theatre Arts Industry under the theme, “Stories told and untold: Staging ‘the drama’ of Jamaican Theatre. The theme seeks to highlight theatre as a vital feature of Jamaica’s intangible cultural heritage and crucial sub-sector in the creative industries, as well as to re-engage Jamaicans about the relevance of theatre as a tool in the intellectual development of a nation. The day’s activities begin with an Art Exhibition at 10:00 am, followed by a two-hour Workshop at 11:00 am, then advancing to a Literary Festival 2:00 – 4:00 pm and spectacular Cultural Showcase at 6:30 pm.

FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO THE WORLD With an array of colourful and stunning costumes, vivacious music and energetic partiers, Carnival in Trinidad has been described as the “greatest show on earth” and is rivalled by none.

Although the exact date for the beginnings of the Trinidad Carnival celebrations is unknown, the affair is said to have started in the 18th century around the time of the arrival of French slave owners.

These celebrations were held in the form of an upper class affair hosted by the slave owners in the form of elaborate masquerade balls. The slaves attached to plantations however also held their own carnival celebrations. These slaves brought their own unique flair to celebrations with an infusion of their African culture to the celebrations which they took to the streets after slavery was abolished.

The French slave owners, the Spanish and English colonial powers who also ruled the island at different stages of its history, the African slaves, Indian indentured labourers, and the many other ethnic groups that settled on the island have all left their marks on the celebration.

Those celebrations evolved into the massive celebration of colour, creativity music and festivities that the Trinidad Carnival represents today.

Trinidad-style carnivals have three cultural forms: · Masquerade - the oldest of the traditions, which was imported from Europe and introduced to Trinidad by French plantation owners. · Calypso - developed during slavery by the African slaves. · The steel pan - widely played in Trinidad after 1945.

Carnival in Trinidad is not just for a day or two or even for a week, but it is for an entire season which basically begins the day after Christmas Day and continues into the following year until the beginning of lent.

It is then that Carnival fetes begin and the

media is flooded with the irresistible sounds of carnival in the form of soca music.

By the time the New Year approaches most persons have already made down payments (deposits) on their carnival costumes according to their favourite bands. These costumes can be expensive as some cost as much as US$3000.

Persons begin their work-out routines to get fit for their costumes and the festivities.

Every weekfeatures new parties; the theme of Carnival becomes the life of Trinidad.

Many other nations have taken inspiration from the Trinidad Carnival celebrations to have similar celebrations of their own, although they pale in comparison to the Trinidadian explosion of culture.

From as early as the 1920s the Trinidad Carnival celebration gave birth to other similar celebrations, with the first being the in Harlem, New York, United States.

In 1947 this celebration was dubbed the New York Labour Day Celebration; this celebration itself spawned other Trinidad style carnivals in cities across the US. Now known as the West Indian American Day Carnival, the parade is an annual event held on the first Monday in September, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn New York.

Each year between close to two million participants, come out for the festivities of this seven hour carnival featuring, steel-pan and calypso bands in intricately crafted costumes marching down Eastern Parkway. Before the main event, the pre-parade festivities begin before dawn with J’ouvert (a contraction of the French expression jour ouvert, meaning daybreak). J’ouvert is a pre-carnival where revellers often dress up as political figures or celebrities and throw powdered paint at each other while dancing through the street.

The Notting Hill Carnival is another branch of the Trinidad-style carnival that has taken place in the street of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, UK, since 1966, and was born from two important, separate events aimed at improving race relations in the United Kingdom in 1959 and 1966.

In 1975, the Notting Hill Carnival became a major festival and by 1976 it, the event had undoubtedly become Caribbean in flavour.

The event was blemished however, by riots, mostly as a result of clashes with the police and Caribbean youth.

In more recent times the event blossomed into a positive celebration of London’s cultural diversity, but is still dominated by Caribbean Culture.

This celebration has gone on to inspire other carnivals in a number of cities in the United Kingdom, and is the only Trinidad-style carnival outside of the Caribbean that has gone on to encourage the establishment of Trinidad-style carnivals outside of its host country, as the organizers of the German Carnival of Cultures reference the Notting Hill Carnival as an important influence.

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is yet another celebration of the Trinidad-style carnival that is held every year in Toronto, Canada.

This festival formerly and still popularly called Caribana started in 1967 is North America’s largest cultural festival, with hundreds of Caribbean inspired events and parties.

Caribana which started as a three day festival has evolved into three weeks of festivities with over a million tourists expected to be in Toronto for the event. This year Caribana Weekend will run from Thursday July 30 to Sunday August 2.

Since the inception of the festival, the Caribbean calypso beat has been an important part of the festivities, within the past 15 years Soca too has become a part of the event.

The most significant aspect of the weekend event is said to be the Caribbean Carnival Parade which will take place on the second day of the Caribana weekend.

Many other countries too have added their own unique flair to the Trinidad Carnival creating celebrations of their own. With the infiltration of Carnival into the culture of many other countries, a relatively tiny island in the CB Caribbean has influenced the world.

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EVENTS CALENDAR FEBRUARY 20-27 ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB CARIBBEAN 600 RACE English Harbour, Antigua caribbean600.rorc.org 20-22 ANTIGUA & BARBUDA OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Antigua & Barbuda visitantiguabarbuda.com

1 KINGSTON FOOD, WINE AND SPIRITS FESTIVAL Kingston, Jamaica kingstonwineandfood.com 10-15 CARIBBEAN SPRING FESTIVAL Montego Bay, Jamaica

25 ACTOR BOY AWARDS Kingston, Jamaica actorboyawards.com 28 AUA ROHR TINMAN TRIATHLON, Antigua antiguatinmantriathlon.com

11-18 BRIT JAM Montego Bay, Jamaica officialbritjam.com

28 EARTH HOUR CONCERT Kingston, Jamaica jamaicansmusic.com

21-22 BLUE MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL Kingston, Jamaica bombrushrecords.com

13-15 KINGSTON CITY RUN Kingston, Jamaica kingstoncityrun.com

31 TRELAWNY 10K ROAD RACE Falmouth, Jamaica stea.net

22 SAGICOR SIGMA CORPORATE RUN Kingston, Jamaica sagicorjamaica.com

14-15 ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB ANNUAL LASER OPEN Antigua antiguayachtclub.com

APRIL

27-28 ONENESS REGGAE FEST Ocho Rios, Jamaica onenessreggaefest.com 27-28 ONENESS REGGAE FEST Ocho Rios, Jamaica onenessreggaefest.com

MARCH 1 WINDIES LEGENDS CHARITY CRICKET CHALLENGE Antigua & Barbuda libertasportsclub.com 58 CARIBBEAN BOLD

20-21 JAM AVANT-GARDE FASHION FACE WEEKEND Kingston, Jamaica saintmodels.com 23 EVERYONE’S A WINNER BEST DRESSED CHICKEN 7K Kingston, Jamaica runningeventsja.com 24-28 ISSA BOYS & GIRLS CHAMPS Kingston, Jamaica issasports.com

5 BOSTON JERK FESTIVAL Boston Bay, Jamaica bostonjerkfest.com 6 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL Antigua & Barbuda visitantiguabarbuda.com 6 CARNIVAL OF SPEED St. Ann, Jamaica jrdc.org 12 UTECH KNIGHTS INVITATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CLASSICS Kingston, Jamaica utech.edu.jm

13-17 ENGLAND VERSUS WEST INDIES ODIS Antigua & Barbuda visitantiguabarbuda.com 15-20 ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA Antigua & Barbuda antiguaclassics.com 18 JAKE’S TREASURE BEACH OFF ROAD TRIATHLON Treasure Beach, Jamaica jakeshotelcom/triathlon2015 21-26 TENNIS EVENTS IN JAMAICA Montego Bay, Jamaica jamaicatennis.ca 23 GUADELOUPE TO ANTIGUA RACE Antiqua & barbuda www.sailingweek.com 25 PRAISE ON THE BEACH Montego Bay, Jamaica thevalcopelandgroup.com 26 WESTMORELAND CURRY FESTIVAL Savanna-La-Mar, Jamaica curryfestival.net 30 INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY Kingston, Jamaica jazzday.com

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PRESENTS

CARIBBEAN BOLD MAGAZINE R E S P O N S I B LY A N D C R E D I B LY – T E L L I N G O U R O W N S T O R I E S

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