mmmmmmm: fr today's editorial in di Observer

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"Consequently, they have conceptualised a competition which will see businesses competing to put in the best display of the national colours - black, green and gold - in their shops.
With full participation this should create a striking visual impact that will raise the awareness of the symbolic importance of the national colours.
But without an enthusiastic reception, the effort will fall flat. According to the committee, but for a significant contingent of the second city's Chinese business community, which has displayed no interest in getting involved in any aspect of the cultural wave, the response has been encouraging.
As we understand it, this segment is simply living up to their modus operandi of breezing into town, hawking as much money as they possibly can, pulling down their shutters and getting out without giving back a dollar to the community in which they operate.
And while we can't stop them from operating in this unsociable manner, it is a matter that needs to be addressed via dialogue and/or negotiation. For, as Mr Lloyd B Smith pointed out at the launch of the initiative, the last thing that cities like Montego Bay need is to be overwhelmed by Chinatown. For this is Jamaica, a proud island that, for all its challenges, still has much to recommend it."

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Re: mmmmmmm: fr today's editorial in di Observer

"LET'S GIVE THE JACKSONS A BLACK, GREEN AND GOLD WELCOME
Monday, July 20, 2009
Minutes after Mr Robert Russell, chairman of Reggae Sumfest, announced at the Hilton Kingston Hotel that the brothers of the late, great Mr Michael Jackson would be coming to Jamaica to perform at the 17-year-old festival - TMZ TV, a syndicated entertainment and gossip outlet operating out of California - picked up the story.
"We're told they'll be flown to Montego Bay, put up in a swanky hotel with all expenses covered. They'll also be paid - we don't know how much but we're told it's a 'large sum'. The only catch: mandatory meet and greets with fans," they reported.
In other words, every aspect of the deal except the interaction with the fans got the thumbs up.
What cheek!
The very asset on which we pride the integrity of our tourism product - our people - was simply dismissed as a bother, a necessary evil to be encountered en route to enjoying the hotel, pay, and other 'goodies' associated with the trip.
No doubt we'll be subjected to more snide, ignorant remarks as the world follows the story of this remarkable coup which will see Messrs Tito, Randy and Jackie Jackson and possibly their brother Marlon sharing the stage on the festival's International Night this week.
That's why it is imperative for us to roll out the good ol' Jamaican welcome that we are capable of.
For it would be too bad to justify TMZ's commentary by spoiling with bad behaviour, the wonderful opportunity to promote our country which this occasion will afford us.
We're off to a good start, given Mr 'Butch' Stewart's generous offer to facilitate the trip via his private jet.
And if we are smart, we will ride on the momentum of that gesture by seizing the opportunity that our upcoming Independence celebrations will afford us to showcase our culture and heritage.
In this regard, the stage has already been set by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission through its Visual Impact Programme.
Under this programme, which was reported in last Thursday's edition of our sister title the Observer West, a committee of patriots is working to revive the national spirit by convincing the citizenry to rally, literally, around the flag."

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Re: mmmmmmm: fr today's editorial in di Observer

don't know wedda to laff at giving di Jacksons a 'patriotic' welcome wid all dis flag display ,OR dem being upset at the Chinese , not cause of dem operandi of 'exploiting' di community BUT cause dem not flying fi flag fi di Jacksons

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Re: mmmmmmm: fr today's editorial in di Observer

NEWS

NO, JERMAINE
... Festival promoter says Jacksons have confirmed attendance at Sumfest
BY KARYL WALKER [email protected]
Monday, July 20, 2009
REGGAE Sumfest promoter Robert Russell yesterday fired back at Internet news reports which quoted Jermaine Jackson, the bereaved brother of pop icon Michael Jackson, as saying that neither he nor his brothers would be flying into the island for this week's Reggae Sumfest concert.
Russell, who slammed the reports as erroneous, told the Observer that the organisers had solid confirmation that two of the Jackson brothers, Tito and Jackie, would be in the island for the world-renowned festival. He said they were awaiting confirmation from two other brothers.
"Who said Jermaine Jackson was coming to Jamaica? He is not coming," Russell said yesterday. "I certainly had no discussion with him, but Tito and Jackie are already confirmed and we are awaiting confirmation from Randy and Marlon," Russell told the Observer yesterday.
Tito and Randy Jackson are expected to perform on International Night II, this Saturday, July 25.
The brothers are expected to be flown into the island on the private jet of Observer chairman, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, who offered to fly the Jackson brothers into the island in order to ease travel constraints caused by Air Jamaica's discontinuation of flights to and from the California city of Los Angeles.
"Tito was the one who made initial contact. Jermaine, however, was never confirmed," the source said.
The website, contactmusic.com, quoted Jermaine Jackson as "slamming" a report on the website tmz.com that he and his brothers would be arriving to perform at the festival.
"No. TMZ needs to get their facts straight. We're not going to Jamaica," the report quoted Jermaine Jackson as saying.
The report, which ran under the headline, "Jermaine Jackson slams Jamaica concert reports," was picked up by a few other online organisations.
This year's festival will be held in honour of Jackson's sterling contribution to entertainment, and Summerfest Productions is expected to present a lifetime award to Jackson's mother Katherine and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II.
However, Russell said Jackson's mother and children would not make it in time for the concert.
"They are coming on holiday to Jamaica, but they indicated that this week would be too hectic for them," Russell said.
Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25, after he collapsed at his mansion and was rushed to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre.
He was 50 at the time of his death.
Widely regarded as the best entertainer of all time, Jackson and his brothers performed in Jamaica at the National Stadium in 1975.