Check this House Hunters episode filmed recently in JA.

I have not been back to Treasure Beach for a few years, but it is one of my favourite places on the island. It is sleepy, peaceful and safe. We spent hours on the beach and visited Black River and the Pelican Bar, as well as ate some deliciously simple food.

This is a good review of how it is transforming into more of a destination, albeit not for everyone, as it is expensive.

Check out the feature in the Guardian here.

This is an interesting “long read” in today’s Guardian newspaper. (Jamaica gets a mention). It talks about branding countries. This week also marks the kick-off of a conference at the University of the West Indies about “Imagining Kingston: A Conference on Regenerating the City”. It is a similar topic- branding and gaining a foothold on the international stage.

From the Conference’s web site:

We have in Kingston old quarters, a geography of dereliction, social discomfort and crime that rank this city in the top thirty in the world with respect to murder. But this city is a global cultural icon, the birth place of Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae, Dub, Nyabinghi and Dancehall. It became a global centre for sonic/lyrical design and is designated a creative music city by UNESCO. It contains the aesthetic, imaginative and experiential seeds of possibility. This Kingston town is waiting to be the catalyst for a fundamental expansion of tourism in Jamaica. Kingston is beckoning us to imagine tourism differently to reflect the creative and cultural ethos it birthed and changed the sonic/lyrical landscape of the world forever. Imagine Kingston as the cultural capital of the Caribbean, a centre of innovation, creativity, design, arts, culture and attendant services.

I have always been interested in branding, economic development of cities and what people refer to as “world class cities”. Some are a given, like Paris, London, New York and Tokyo. Some are on their way, and some continue to clamber. In any case, it is a discussion with a lot of potential for ideas, as is Kingston as an international destination.

Marrying someone of a different culture is a challenge. It can be rich and rewarding but also rife with conflict and misunderstandings. Who knew that one of the biggest sources of disagreement would be weather, temperature, climate and treatment of illnesses?

This is a winter coat my husband just brought home from the United States for our two-year-old daughter. When he showed it to me, my first thought was that he was thinking that we might be going to Canada for a visit soon, where winter is descending. But we have no trip planned. I told him tentatively it was a nice jacket, then asked him what it was for.

“It can get cold here in December,” he said.

I could not help but burst out laughing. The average lows are around 23 degrees Celsius. Yes, it can get colder in the mountains, but we are in the concrete jungle of Kingston, where the sun bakes the city all day. And this is a fur-lined jacket.

This is just one of many climate/temperature-related disagreements we have on a regular basis. We can only laugh.

Some exciting collaborative efforts are underway between the University of Technology, the University of the West Indies and Northern Caribbean University.

Our inspired Halloween costume…

It seems the Jamaica Observer has had to apologize to Zahra Burton as a result of a short piece they ran on a settlement with Prime Minister Andrew Holness. (Check out a piece I wrote about it here. Burton’s story explored the Prime Minister’s assets and property taxes.)

Here is the Observer piece:

An incorrect report was filed yesterday on the Jamaica Observer’s website incorrectly saying that 18 Degrees North had apologised to Andrew Holness over its episode on his home purchases and construction.

However, 18 Degrees North’s news release on the resolution of the lawsuit Holness had filed against the show made no mention of the show apologising.

We regret the error and apologise to the producers of the show, Miss Zahra Burton and Global Reporters for the Caribbean.

And here is Zahra’s response, from her Facebook page:

It has come to my attention about an erroneous headline from the Jamaica Observer. I assure you this is false and I am happy the Jamaica Observer has issued a correction. Under no circumstances did I or would I apologize for the airing of my programme 18 Degrees North with the episode on Andrew Holness. I have fought long and hard to get to this point and I stand by my report.
For those of you have not seen the statement I issued here it is. There is no apology here.
NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION OF ANDREW HOLNESS LAWSUIT AGAINST ZAHRA BURTON AND GLOBAL REPORTERS FOR THE CARIBBEAN, PRODUCERS OF 18º NORTH
On May 30, 2016, a programme named 18 Degrees North, produced by Zahra Burton and Global Reporters for the Caribbean, LLC (“the Programme”) was aired on Television Jamaica (“TVJ”). In the Programme, certain facts were revealed regarding property purchases and construction by Mr. Andrew Holness.
Subsequently, Mr. Holness filed a claim for libel in the Supreme Court against both Producers and TVJ. A defence was filed to the claim and the matter has been resolved.
The Producers, Zahra Burton and Global Reporters for the Caribbean, were not motivated by any malice against Mr. Holness.

I have been teaching my students about accuracy and verification and how important it is as a journalist to be right. Your reputation and credibility are all you have. And that newspapers making corrections is a big deal and something to be avoided at all costs. Mistakes happen, of course, but as a journalist, your job is to get it right. Take the time you need to take to get it right.

A short video showcasing CUSO International’s work in Jamaica.

It seems Jamaica’s foreign assistance from the United States, via USAID, may be coming to an end.

I have suspected that this would happen under the Trump administration, one that is inward-looking and protectionist. A 33 per cent cut worldwide may be coming down. This is not good news for Jamaica. Having witnessed first-hand the effect that USAID projects and its people can have on the nation, this would be a very unfortunate outcome.

On the flip side, proponents of phasing out aid and tied aid and any form of assistance might argue that it will allow the country to become more self-sufficient. Both arguments are well worth exploring, in theory, and in the proper timeline.

I drive by this restaurant on my way home from bringing my daughter to school. I have always wondered why it is called the Quebec restaurant…A piece of Canada in JA.