Reggae music, beaches, Rastas, jerk chicken, Usain Bolt, Bob Marley? Do these iconic images appear in your mind when you think of Jamaica? Or do you think of the crime and the poverty? These questions all revolve around the concept of branding a nation and what it means to capitalize on popular perceptions of an entire country. A complex and rich intellectual pursuit to be sure.

On July 16 and 17, a conference will tackle the concept of nation branding. The Brand Jamaica Symposium is the creation of Jamaican scholar Dr. Hume Johnson. She has travelled the world and during these travels, became intrigued by the concept of nation branding, especially that of Jamaica. In fact, I participated in a component of her research, which involved a lively discussion with non-Jamaicans about their perception of the country.

As a Canadian who was born in Australia, lived in India, Jamaica, studied for several years in the United States and traveled extensively, I have also always been intrigued by the concept of nation branding. I think living in the shadow of the most powerful nation in the world provides an especially interesting perspective. (What would Canada’s brand be, anyway? We are used to the cold, we like hockey, we are always polite and not American? Just to throw out a few, slightly cynical thoughts…)

I will be a presenter at this conference, with my topic being the government’s management of the ChikV epidemic. If you are in Jamaica, please come and check it out and if not, a journal will be produced with some of the findings.

This song has broken into Billboard’s Hot 100 charts, at number 7. I saw this fellow perform a couple of years ago and he is certainly talented. It is always curious which Jamaican artists/songs break into the mainstream. This is a good song, but there are thousands that are better, and the remix is just strange. In any case, enjoy your Friday.

Rules of conduct outside of Fort Augusta Correctional Facility.

OMG it is mango season.

Schoolchildren crossing Mannings Hill Road at the end of the day.

Last week, I was out at the beautiful Caymanas Golf Course for an event. As per usual for a golf course, it is sprawling acres of green, well-manicure lawns. The club house is perched on a small mountain, and receives a cool breeze. There is a pool, and like most things here, decorations and designs from probably the 1950s. Another place appearing stopped in time.

Just below the golf course is a tract of suburban homes. Dozens and dozens of them. And soon there will be a major highway running through the subdivision. This is part of the China Harbour Engineering Company’s multi-billion (JMD) investment in a new transportation corridor- the North South Highway. Residents are understandably upset, as there does not seem to have been much consultation.

When we drove by the other day, there was a gaping cut-out in the mountain and tons of steel reinforcement already in place, apparently to support a bridge. It does seem that the plan is to cut the highway literally over the heads of residents. Work did not seem to be going on, however. If I recall correctly, the project is on hold. It will be interesting to see how and when it proceeds.

The first phase of this project is already done, with a new link from Spanish Town area to Ocho Rios. I have driven on it several times and it is indeed faster and smoother, but never well-populated. Here are details on the second phase:

Phase 2A – North South Highway features:-

• The construction of 67.2 Km dual carriageway over a 36-months period, including the completion of the Mount Rosser By-pass. The construction is expected to be finalized by the beginning of 2016, operating and open to the public by the middle of 2016. The middle section (Linstead to Moneague) is estimated to be in operations and opened to the public by mid-2014.
• New Toll Plazas and interchanges to access/exit the highway at Caymanas, Angels, Treadways, and Lydford.
• The Section from Linstead to Moneague is estimated to be completed, operating and open to the public by the middle of 2014. This section is currently under construction.
• Section 1 (Caymanas to Linstead) – Construction started in October 2013.
• Section 3 (Caymanas to Mammee Bay – Construction started in November 2013.

i will never get tired of fresh fruit just picked off the tree. Right now it is mango and naseberry season and this is a giant papaya. Lots of healthy sugars.

Beach day. Recently, the seaweed has collected on the shoreline. It is still beautiful at Fort Clarence.

Flowers are blooming right now in abundance. This one is cassia fistula, otherwise known as Golden Shower. I quickly learned that if you pick it, it will die right away, so it is best enjoyed just by viewing it. Enjoy your day

Children playing against this glorious backdrop.