I AM glad that Cleve Battick of the Scientific Research Council is recommending the increased production of mushrooms in Jamaica. It is unfortunate that at present we have to import about $7 million worth every year.

Some years ago, there was an upsurge in the local production of mushrooms. But mushroom farming can be a tricky business. Mushrooms are apt to develop a disease which can knock out production almost overnight, and that seems to have happened some time ago.

I trust that Mr. Battick will take precautions to see that our present mushroom farmers will know how to protect themselves as they work to make Jamaica self-supporting in this product.

I trust, too, that he will impose suitable standards of production. Things can sometimes get a bit careless in Jamaica and I wouldn't like to see poisonous varieties, usually "toadstools", creeping into the shops.

Incidentally, there is a variety of psychedelic mushrooms, the production of which might appeal to those unfortunate ganja growers who have had their crops destroyed. However, I'm not sure that the availability of psychedelic mushrooms would be an advantage.

Death of Paul Geddes

As one grows older, one has to get used to the death of one's contemporaries. It was Paul Geddes, my old friend Herbert Hart, and Dr. Evans with whom I got together for the first production of Tia Maria. I had been in England and had watched Englishmen in pubs drinking large quantities of the tepid bitter and mild ales which, in my view, were better poured back into the horse.

Their womenfolk consoled themselves with other drinks which they didn't seem to like very much. I remembered that an aunt of mine, like so many of the wives of sugar estate owners, used to make privately a small amount of liqueurs including a coffee liqueur. So I came to Jamaica to get the recipe from her only to find that the poor old soul had gone gaga and couldn't remember it.

Mr. Hart introduced me to Dr. Evans who had been experimenting with the making of various liqueurs including coffee. We then decided to begin production but, because of the war, the necessary stainless steel vats were not available. As Mr. Geddes was in the position to supply this deficiency, Mr. Hart, Dr. Evans, Mr. Geddes and I formed a company and began production.

Back in England, my job, among other things, was to get my advertising agent in London to devise a name and suitable labels. That was how the name Tia Maria, "Aunt Mary", originated.

We did very well but after a while Mr. Hart and I decided for sundry reasons that we would sell our shares to Dr. Evans and Mr. Geddes. Tia Maria has become the largest selling liqueur in the world, but alas, the early sale of our shares by Mr. Hart and myself deprived us of becoming very rich.

Mr. Geddes was by no means one of my favourite people but, I, and everyone else, must give him the full credit for the creation of Red Stripe Beer, which is the only solid and creative commercial achievement in Jamaica since Independence.

Desnoes and Geddes had been trying for sometime, but with no success to produce a good beer until they finally got a German brewer. But just as he was about to get things right World War II came, the brewer was incarcerated and then put on a ship back to Germany when both brewer and ship mysteriously disappeared.

Mr. Geddes then became brewer-master, and with immense talent and hard work became responsible for the excellent Red Stripe Beer we know today.

I trust that Mr. Geddes, whence he has gone, is now brewing good beer for the angels.

The death penalty

As usual, every obstacle is being placed in our way to follow the excellent example of Trinidad and Tobago. The bleeding hearts in Amnesty International and elsewhere are now in full cry against capital punishment. I cannot understand why our Government still tolerates these invasions of our sovereignty. And, as usual, our murderers are enjoying the services of lawyers who are experts at an infinity of appeals.

So it is that our murderers keep on happily murdering in the sure knowledge that a weak Government will protect them from the proper consequences of their merciless profession.

The Constitution

In the meantime, as crime increases and as our financial situation continues to get worse, we are still engaged in Constitutional discussions.

I am not a monarchist. I would be quite happy to have my poodle Peanuts as Head of State. He would bark loudly at any mischief.

What we need is not necessarily a new Constitution, but a new batch of leaders who will enforce efficiency and honesty in the administration of our affairs.

So long as we have the kind of leadership we have at present, any new Constitution, even if devised in the Kingdom of Heaven, will not save us from the constant deterioration in our morals and finances.

(Taken from the Sunday Gleaner