On Thursday evening February 26, Jamaica installed her 6th. Governor General.
He is Dr. Patrick Linton Allen.
Governor General Dr Patrick Allen and his wife, Patricia.
If you should ask the average man or woman on the street what the job function of the Governor general is, you may be told that he is the representative of the Queen. This is right, but the job involves more than attending tea parties. He is a national symbol of unity as he is non partisan, providing Solomonic salve to make us rise above partisan rancor.
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He is entrusted with great moral authority and is given extensive discretionary power. The electoral commission along with many other governmental commission reports to him. For example, if you are a juvenile who commits murder, your life and death resides in his hands. Thus candidates for this position have to demonstrate seasoned, balanced, leadership.
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The selection of Dr. Allen seems to be an excellent choice. His training, and administrative acumen brings a significant strength to the leadership of our Island. Being a pastor and being involved in molding the lives of young people some of whom sang for him (choir from Northern Caribbean University) at his installation speaks volume.
Northern Caribbean Choir Performing
In his 21 minutes address , he revealed how grateful he is to all those who invested in him, and he was humbled by the privilege of serving as the head of state.
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He was sobering in his assessment of the challenges we face. The ones I recall are:
The foreboding impact of the global economic situation.
Security and respect for ourselves to reduce the violence.
Food security with a return to farming and local production.
Education engagement for all in the information age.
He had many sparkling moments in his speech. The sentence bites that continue to resonate with me are:
Jamaica needs the service of all of its people.
There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.
I believe in the destiny of Jamaica. Let this be found in every heart and on every screen saver.
We are approaching the morning of hope.
Cling to hope.
His vision of Jamaica clearly includes the diaspora, but he painted vivid images of hope echoing from the Blue Mountains to the Dolphin Mountain, emotionally calling us home.
This historic service ended with some tender moments. Both wives of the outgoing and in coming Governor Generals were given vibrant bouquets by a boys scout and girls guide. Both ladies filled with the abundance of grace embraced these young people with such motherly care, a tender yet powerful symbol of their love and commitment to our future.
Let’s lift up the hands of our leaders through our prayerful support.
P.S. Blessed is the leader who seeks the best for those he serves.
Bolt’s mom: Usain, You have to take the call. This is his 8th. call for you today!
Bolt: Okay, I guess I must.
Taking the phone
Bolt: Hey dolphin, great hearing from you!
Phelps: Hey Lightning! Been trying to reach you mon. You heard of the trouble I got into?
Bolt: Yes man. What were you thinking?
Phelps: I got some of that stuff from your country?
Bolt: Not from my country. I offered you my secret sauce, but you remember what you did. You laugh at me. So who is laughing now?
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Phelps: You right! But how about those Rastas?
Bolt: Look, there is no reformed movement among the rastas. So do not believe the rumors of the country making you an honorary citizen.
Real Secret Sauce
Bolt: Truth me known, I would check out some jamaicaneats to get ready for 2012. You will not find any “special” oregano recipes there if you know what I mean.
Bolt: Do you remember when the IOC lost his cool with me sharing a little personality?
Phelps: Yes, so sorry I did not support you then.
Bolt: That’s okay. No hard feelings. Hope you will pull through this rough patch.
I have been busy doing some good things.
Your ex president Bill Clinton wants to meet with me to see how we can support his foundation activities.
I have accepted a piece of beach front property to get a place to chill in the off season.
I have been trying to motivate some of our youth as I participate in an auction for my sneakers.
Land signing Sneaker Auction
Phelps: This is great of you. Thanks for the fine example. I am from Baltimore and my city can use my positive modeling.
Bolt: No problem man. Let’s use our celebrity to inspire in a positive manner.
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Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
by Elmer Letterman
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What advise would you share with Bolt to help him maintain his positive image?
As we rebuild our lives, it’s good to know what to avoid and what new regulations will be meaningful to foster a sustainable economic future.
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The media tends to exaggerate negative news; focusing on the most dramatic statistics; constantly making comparisons with the great Depression . It can become down right depressing.
If you were unfortunate to lose your job, especially for those of us over 40, our worst fear can become a crippling ,depressing event.
Grieve the loss! but don’t remain there!
if we remain flexible and retain a positive attitude, we can look for ways of turning our lemons into lemonade.
We can create unexpected opportunities. Sure, we will be forced to take a new strategy, we may be able to pursue career paths that we previously never thought of.
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Share your comments on how you have moved beyond a job loss to a new possibility.
It’s nearly 515 years since Columbus came to Jamaica on his second voyage.
This Wednesday, the King and Queen of Spain came instead of sending an adventurer. For 146 years, Jamaica was a Spanish colony until it was abandoned to the British. The Spanish has left a legacy that is visibly reflected in our architecture, and names of many of our towns.
King Juan Carlos I addressed parliament, and made significant commitment about the two nation’s relationship.
Spain has been quietly nurturing the relationship in recent years.
Spanish investment is said to be around US$1.48 B resulting in 40,000 jobs.
Spain is one of the leading developers , building a significant portion of the new accommodation capacity.
Spanish visitors account for the third largest set of visitors from Europe.
They sent aid during the devastating hurricanes of last year.
They have made investments in agriculture and training of farmers.
They have invested in the restoration of the Spanish presence in Spanish Town such a a wing of the hospital.
Spain has supported teaching of Spanish as a foreign language which will help with our Latin America engagements.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh (right), and Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos, sign copies of bilateral agreements for the establishment of air services between both countries.
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Tourism remains our golden goose. However, is the increased development like feeding steroids to the goose?
We are faced with a major dilemma. How do you leverage the interest from the Chinese, and now the Spanish and create a sustainable, diverse economic situation?
I had a strong urge for some rum and raisin ice cream, so I zipped down to my local Jamaican market to pick up a pint.
Well, there was no rum raisin, so I looked or some grape nut. No grape nut! How about some sour sop, no sour sop! or mango! only cherry vanilla.
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I called out to the store clerk who assured me that a delivery was slated for tomorrow.
Well, I was bent out of shape and gave him a piece of my mind. Before I blew my final gasket, I was interrupted by Guzu, you remember, the Yard Genie.
He tapped me on the shoulder and followed that with a restraining squeeze. “I know times are tough, but should you not be happy for this store that they are moving some products?”
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“You are right” , I relented.
“You are not coping too well with the pressure of the times, are you?”
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“I guess I need some help .”
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“You have the choice of three roles. These are:”
Victim Role;
The Victim is in constant “reactive” mode and avoids responsibility for his/her life, actions and results.
The Victim’s reactions are mostly “negative”
The Victim says… “It’s not fair.” “It’s not my fault.”
Persecutor Role;
The Persecutor is mostly in “reactive” mode and points the finger and blames others for what’s going on in his/her life.
The Persecutor’s reactions are mostly “negative”
The Persecutor says… “It’s your fault.” “Look at what you’ve done.”
Deliverer Role;
The Deliverer takes the initiative and is mostly in “proactive” mode and takes responsibility, ownership and control of his/her thoughts, actions and feelings.
The Deliverer is proactive and the actions are mostly “positive”
The Deliverer says… “There’s got to be a way.”
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” So I have three questions for you.
Question #1: When faced with a challenge, what role are you choosing to play?
Question #2: Are your actions or reactions mostly negative, positive or neutral?
Question #3: How is your role, actions/reactions hurting or helping you?”
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The last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitudes - Victor Frank.
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Have you talked to anyone from the depression era to see how they coped?
Please forgive your old man and let me use this forum to talk with you. I know it may be embarrassing, but I wanted to encourage this type of conversation between parents and their kids. As always, I thank God for each of you. You each uniquely bring a special joy to my life.
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Let me share with you what spurred this mode of communication. last week I saw a college student made a fool of himself in asking President Obama for assistance with his career at McDonalds. What a tragedy! Where did this person develop such an attitude!
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There is a proverb or a curse attributed to the Chinese that goes like this:
May you live in interesting times.
This to me is classically Chinese, they recognize the promise and the peril, like ying and yang.
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First, let me share some of the perils we face. The economic tsunami have exposed corporate bad guys who outraged us by receiving billions in taxpayer bailout dollars and then turning around and awarding themselves and their cronies lavish corporate bonuses. The present political class is posing to be our saviors, lambasting the sins of the financial class, while loading up the needed stimulus package with enough pork to start a hog farm. I trust these guys as much as I trust a mongoose next to a chicken coop. (See stimulus details here)
Facebook, Amazon, EBay, Google, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, and of course, Apple did not become successful enterprises by government initiative. It was visionary folks who networked with like-minded people scraped together the needed VC funding , took the risk and launch the enterprise.
Let me take a few moments and share my heart with you.
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Daily Dozen for the Daley Daughters
Nourish your spirit and mind daily in the WORD and use other proven inspirational sources. Listen to new ideas, but filter them through the prism of your principal convictions.
Stay true to your convictions even if you are majority of one. Do not give your ears to the media naysayers who are only announcing doom.
Be a student of history and recognize the forces at work. Pledge to be a life long learner and develop your potential to its fullest.
Continue to set goals, set deadlines, and measure your progress. Focus on what you want, not what you fear.
Never lose your sense of urgency on the goals you set for yourself. Work hard and smart.
Develop a solid network of fabulous friends.
Go for it, and never play it safe.
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Continued success in your endeavors.
Become a hero of these times and remember:
We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.
Let me share an example of the help this site does provide.
Going out of business/ liquidation/ clearance sales can be opportunities to get great deals. But don’t be tricked. Not all of these so-called “sales” will save you money.
For example, that product might be labeled “40 % off” - but 40 % off what?
It might be off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, not the last price it actually sold for.
Is it last year’s model?
There’s a good chance you’ll be able to get it for less somewhere else.
There are some ways you can find out instantly if the same item is being sold cheaper online.
If your cellphone has Internet access, go to the mobile version of Google Product Search: m.google.com/products. Then enter the product name or model number.
If you are without Internet access but can text message, you can text the product’s ISBN or UPC (the number under the bar code) to save@mobsaver.com. The MobSaver service will send you a list of prices for the same item on Amazon and eBay. Find out more at
The formal initiative started back in April of 2008 with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett met with China National Tourism Administration’s Chairman Shao Qiwei to discuss tourism between the two nations.
During the trip, Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett also met with Mr. Li Jianping, Vice President of the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries , forging a new level of commitment to China/Jamaica tourism. This was prior to successful Olympics Jamaica had in Beijing.
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It is clear that the traditional markets of Europe and North America will be stagnant at best in the near future, and the Chinese market represent an area for replacement and growth.
The Chinese clearly are making significant presence in the Caribbean, and Latin America to add to their large presence in Africa.
His Excellency Xi Jinping arrives for a four day visit.
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During his visit, the Chinese Vice President is expected to sign a number of agreements with the Jamaican Government covering agriculture, finance, education and infrastructural development.The first down payment was the signing of a $100M line of credit.
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What would you say to a prospective tourist from China to bypass Hawaii and come to Jamaica?
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What concerns and hopes do you have for this budding relationship?
I know some of us “guys” tend to forget about these things.
Well, listen up! You can send your loved one a free card on me.
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Guys this is a great way to earn some brownie points.
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Ok, maybe there is a catch… if you live on the east coast of the United States the card will take 4-5 days to get there so make sure you visit the site today to send your free card that it will arrive on time.
