Jobs in Jamaica: Information Services Assistant

[Xavier]

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[Reggae plus]

There was a time in my life when I thought that grabbing an on-air job at one of the radio stations in Jamaica would be the PERFECT thing for me to do. I don't want to admit to being egotistical. I really thought that I could have done a bang-up job on ANY of the music stations which featured old hits and variety. I knew my 'stuff'. Mo-Bay? Yes-I. Mandeville? Perfect when KLAS was still there. Ochi? No problem...especially on Irie. Even Kingston on RJR...although I wasn't sure that I wanted to actually LIVE in Kingston.

I'd play out, up north, in a Jamaican bar/club or at a domino tournament...even at all-night 'bashments'. Strangers I'd never met would wander in, kiss teeth and mutter something along the lines of..."b/c...what's disya white man business?" [kiss more teeth for emphasis] No problem. I could understand their reluctance when it came to accepting that some Canadian guy would have a reasonable clue what Jamaican people wanted to [and I mean REALLY wanted to] hear. By the time folks were leaving out I had 'nuff people looking to have me come and play out for their next event...heck I even landed weddings [although I didn't ever really like doing those I have to say]

I spoke with people I knew...people primarily of Jamaican descent/heritage who had left out from Toronto to 'man' the microphone at a REAL Jamaican radio station. I'd been on the air, over the years, on JBC [North East], KLAS [a couple of times] and RJR. I had played out at a variety of functions in Jamaica...and in various locations and parishes. [not only where I was surrounded by people who'd known me for years] It WORKED. I should add that I'd also been on the radio in Canada [large markets] for a couple of decades by then.

The underlying reality though was money. Not that I expected a whole heap of loot. Just something to subsist on. You make the rest playing out based on your abilities and capabilities...you make it by being in demand. [eg. Barry G./David Rodigan] It never came to fruition. One side was reluctant to give it a 'go'. The other...my side...reluctant to believe that it might have really worked. So? The push wasn't enough...although I did have some key Jamaican people in my corner who 'could' have made it happen if I'd only had the 'guts'.

The end result?

Regret. [but only for about 15 years...so far]

[LinSkinny]

An uncle from Toronto, did dat. Went to JA and build up di radio station from nutting finishing out a chapter in him life. Someting im always wanted to do. Him since pass, but not before checking another ting off him list.

[Reggae plus]

Junior Chung?