By Dennie Quill, ContributorI HAD to see the Manchurian Candidate with Oscar Boy Denzil after all the hype surrounding this film. So there I was sitting in a movie theatre in the US one of few black faces in a sea of white. Scene two and I hear the unmistakable sounds of home as in "some ah dem a 'oller, some ah dem a bawl". This was definitely homegrown even if it was sung by our Haitian neighbour Wyclef Jean. A surge of pride grasped me and it took considerable restraint not to stand up and shout - "yuh hear dat - Jamaican music, man."
Then last month I watched the latest in the Harry Potter series filmed in England and there before my eyes was a Rasta man belting out sweet Jamaican patois in his role as a conductor on the "duppy" bus. On that occasion too I became almost giddy with pride seeing the sights and hearing the sounds that are so distinctly Jamaican. Millions of people all over the world were exposed to the Jamaican culture through this film. One of my buddies is famous for saying "little" Jamaica has given three things to the world Rasta, Reggae and R.(that famous cussword).
BITTER WINTER
Someone recently compiled a clever vignette to demonstrate the flexibility of the R word since it can be used in so many ways to praise, to berate or to express surprise. To demonstrate how much of a Jamaican treasure the R word is I must recount a story told to me many years ago. This Jamaican woman was facing a bitter winter in the Big Apple and as she hugged herself in a bus shelter along comes a thief. He brandished a knife and tried to snatch her coat. In an act of bravery she held onto her coat and said "leggo dis R" to which the would-be robber replied: "Oh! yuh a yardie, have a nice day sis." He then left, possibly in search of another victim.
Bermuda shorts and Panama hats aside (which are made in Ecuador) Jamaica's Reggae and principally Ambassador Bob Marley have helped to spread our rich heritage all over the globe. One can also mention "jerk" and patties, imitated by many but perfected by few. Yes, Jamaica has had an incredible influence on the world culture. In 42 short years since gaining Independence from the Mother Country, Jamaica can be proud of her many accomplishments. Sadly we are still struggling to achieve economic independence and like any 42-year-old will tell you this is the age when she is most concerned about her health and her bank account.
I hope the leaders of the country in reflecting on 42 years of Indepen-dence will conclude that we need to engage the best minds in finding solutions that will put us on the path to prosperity. The promotion of healthy nationalism is the responsibility of all our leaders. Despite his repeated beating of the chest, Dr. Davies has clearly demonstrated that he is bereft of ideas and we really need some creative heads in the Ministry of Finance. Then we may also be able to tackle the scourge of crime and violence which continues to make ugly scars on our otherwise beautiful face.
PILES OF RESPONSES
P.S.: My recent article about the horrors of the ADSL service provoked piles of responses including one from a businessman who knows a thing or two about the telecoms business. He had this to say: "If you look at page 29 of the Kingston directory, CWJ has a "Customer Charter" that outlines service parameters for them which entitles the customer to a rebate if they do not perform. Unfortunately, most customers are unaware of this or do not take advantage. It would be in the public's best interest to be made more aware of this policy.
The OUR clearly does not understand its role or refuses to do the job correctly. Regulation in the US works at two levels; State and Federal. The state regulators are known to take a very active role in defining service parameters that utilities have to meet.
PAID MILLIONS IN FINES
There was one instance in the 90s where Nynex's service was so bad, the New York regulator was fining them US$50,000 per DAY until they improved. They used measurements based on standards agreed to by NYNEX and the regulator and could be checked and verified. Over the course of time, NYNEX paid millions of dollars in fines. The fact the OUR has not set up and put in place monitoring of service levels is just another instance of laxness.
Their response to you is also another instance where the public, whom the OUR is supposed to serve, comes up short in terms of protecting its interest. The fact is the OUR has not complied with many of the laws set out in the Telecom Act 2000 and at some level refuses to do so, despite pleas from the industry and consumers. The answer "go some place else" is an embarrassment to the OUR and the government."
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who can be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
