My first attempt at a cake not from the box. Gluten, soy, dairy and egg free due to several dietary restrictions. It turned out pretty well and a good party was had by all babies. Grateful.

Congratulations to the 18 Degrees North team for winning runner-up in the Jamaica Broilers Fair Play awards of Excellence. The team won the $300,000 award for the investigative report on Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ real estate holdings.

Nationwide News reporter Abka Fitz-Henley won the $500,000 first place prize.

Many people celebrated earlier this year when Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the new government would not be pursuing the Goat Islands logistics hub. The region, called the Portland Bight Protected Area, is an environmentally sensitive area in the Kingston harbor full of endangered species, including the Rock Iguana. This two-foot-long iguana was apparently indigenous to Jamaica, but none remain, although environmentalists are hoping the government’s decision will allow some to return.

The New York Times has a good feature on this topic, check it out here, and check out my piece on touring the nearby mangroves, which remains one of my most popular posts

The view last night.

Despite Hurricane Matthew, eight young Jamaicans are now in the United States to participate in the Young Leaders of the Americas program. The program is meant to link young leaders around the world.

From the Observer:

According to the US Government, the initiative “will help address the opportunity gap for youth, especially women, by empowering entrepreneurs and civil society leaders with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere”.

I had the pleasure of working with one young leader, Latoya West-Blackwood, and watching another perform- Steppa. These are people the world needs. Good luck!

Up to 108 are now dead in Haiti as Hurricane Matthew heads towards the U.S. Up to 28,000 homes have been destroyed and cholera is also a threat as sanitation is now non-existent. This is all happening as the country attempts to recover from the earthquake over six years ago, as well as a holder outbreak caused by United Nations workers. Check out this site to donate. And also check out this story, which adds a fresh perspective- stand in solidarity with Haiti, not pity. It urges an alternative point of view from the disaster narrative. Stay safe everyone.

The hurricane frenzy has died down in Jamaica. Now back to the business of life. This article appeared on the front page of the New York Times on Sunday, a big deal. It outlines Jamaica’s plans for marijuana growth and investment. It also quotes my former Cuso colleague Varun Baker about his views on the industry. It is worth a read, although I have some thoughts, of course. It is fairly well-balanced and does not rely too heavily on cliches about Jamaica, although it does draw on them briefly but I think in this case it cannot be avoided, due to the subject matter. It has an array of sources and it seems the writer actually spoke to people in person. I’m uneasy about referring to Varun, however, as a “well-traveled and educated entrepreneur”. He is all of those things, but this seems to imply that not many Jamaicans are, as if it is noteworthy. In any case, a good article overall and worth a read.

Matthew spared Jamaica. The tropical storm warning seems to have been discontinued and airports and schools will reopen. And the homeless seem to have returned to their “spots.” As Matthew descended on Jamaica, I became obsessed with what the homeless men (and they are mostly men) would do in the storm. Especially the mentally ill ones. Would someone go and persuade them to go to a shelter? Would there be enough room? What would happen to their belongings? There are several guys who live on or near my street. I wonder where they went. In any case, it seems Barbara Ellington of the Gleaner had the same questions, or at least an editor did. So big up to the Gleaner for this story.  It is a (relatively) solid piece of journalism.

And now prayers for Haiti. Check out this excellent Propublica investigative report (it is over a year old but still worth your time) about how the Red Cross raised half-a-billion dollars for Haiti yet built only SIX homes.

Matthew is meandering, not yet a direct hit over Jamaica. Flooding is occurring and some strong winds. This meme is circulating, it is hilarious, check it out. Humour as coping mechanism.

Yesterday we headed to MegaMart in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew. I expected it to be an hours-long exercise, but it seems most people are either not concerned or they will do their storm preparations this weekend. It seems likely that the hurricane will be a direct hit on Jamaica. This is Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ rather sober and alarming address to the nation after an emergency meeting yesterday.