I haven't blogged in a while but how could I sit aside and not speak on the recent issues affecting my nation. Things happen from time to time that are beyond the control of anyone but our reaction to when these things happens is what shows the metal from which we are made. There in lies the major problem with the leaders of our country. They have little or no proper communication skills and it starts with the prime minister herself. I tune into the news every evening and follow updates on social media sites as it relates to the issues of the country. The prime minister is always more vocal when it comes to showing her power in relation to the opposition but so weak when it comes to the affairs of the country and communicating with the people who she claims to have nothing but love for. As a young lady in Jamaica I'm worried about the future of my nation and what it will be like for my fellow young people. At school we aren't safe, walking home from school we aren't saf

Isn't a beautiful feeling when we see our Jamaican children dressed in their Jamaican colours with their smiling faces. It really is a beautiful sight but the sadness always comes to the fore front for me. Our children know little or nothing about our culture. They find it boring but they lose themselves in the culture of other countries. Something needs to be done to ensure that our children are fully aware of the Jamaican culture. If something isn't done what kind of future will we expect for our island? Who will be the story tellers, the folk singers? Everybody wants to sing songs of foreign lands but don't even know the words for our own native songs. The hard work of those who paved the way for us is quickly being erased. Many tourists to our shores are more knowledgable about our island than most of us are and they do this without losing the knowledge of their own home lands. Schools need to make Jamaican history compulsory in schools. Children should have to be taugh

Jamaica land we love!! I remember singing the national anthem every morning in primary school and having to stand attention to it during high school. Whenever I visit the movies the anthem is played before the movies begin and people can be heard complaining about having to stand. They sit and eat and talk while the anthem is being played. On the other hand I will see people who migrate from Jamaica to America dressed up in their American colours on their Independence Day and showing their love for their country. Is Jamaican pride something that we no longer embrace? Is the love for our country fading? What worries me is that instead of pride in our country increasing it continues to be on the decline. Once or twice a year we take pride in our country but for the majority of the year we are primarily caught up in the affairs of other countries. Our financial situation as a country can be improved or infrastructure can be improved but without a knowledge of our culture we will never ful

In Jamaica these days calls are coming from call corners for more attention to be placed on our children to ensure that we protect them as best as possible. We should ensure that they get off the streets early, they aren't taken advantage of and that they attend school. However, what about the examples that we set for them? The way we dress, the relationships we keep, the way we talk to each other, shouldn't we be taking a look at that as well? This takes me to our female entertainers and the examples that they set. From a very young age children find a love for music and they easily eat up everything they see and hear. Recently, two of our most popular female entertainers got into an argument on social media for the entire world to see. It wasn't just the fact that they were arguing but it was mostly about the things that they were saying to each other. Everyone has access to the internet and unfortunately children are getting electronic devices at a very young age. The in

The photograph attached with this blog post shows a wasp on a flower. I took this picture a couple years ago in my mothers garden for a photography assignment. Today, while going through old photographs I stumbled upon this beauty.  Many times I've been stopped by people who say that I tend to focus too much on the negative aspects of my island. So today I decided  that perhaps I will venture into some of its beauty.  My country is a very beautiful island and what I actually do love most of all is the happiness of the people. I can find so much peace by just looking at the nature around me but this also makes me question how much do we still love and appreciate the beauty of this beautiful island. We spend so much time selling off its rich resources or spending time polluting it with our disgraceful practices. The beauty of Jamaica is with us now but will it still be with us for our children to enjoy in the future? Why is it that we claim to love our country so much but we

Watch them all caught up in them politics! Turn on the news another Jamaican child life has ended too quick Busy making plans for the future they say  While everyday the future is being taking away How can you not cry out when you hear of the death of a child? They drop by and offer words of assurance just for a little while Our little girls are being taken advantage of yet elders continue lust Every day we brace ourselves to hear about more pain reaching our children Yet we remember for a while and we move on with our lives because it's not our child It's so captivating to hear a child laugh yet these men find joy in taking innocence from a child So young, filled with great potential yet at just 12,13,14,15 they are killed before their time More and more parents are burying their children our country is really in reverse No matter how many developments take place in our country we continue to disregard our true worth The most influential minds pretend as if they don't hear

Can someone tell me why my friend had to die? Just 14 and I have to watch his mothers eyes run dry My friend wanted to be the fastest track star Only God knows how much more I miss him as each day goes by When the sun goes down my heart beats faster The fear in my eyes now permanent as the gunshots come closer as I walk by Such beauty in my country but the ugliness is always near by You tell me to sit still and make learning my priority  The window shakes and our screams get louder and louder Our books fall off our tables as our education is left behind just for a while I'm just 14 but I've seen so many around me die  Dead bodies have become the norm and it no longer makes me cry This is the reality on my sweet little island They tell me to make my future my priority  But is there a promise of even a tomorrow? The gunshots increase and I see my teacher calling out for us to leave Four bodies on the ground, lifeless with no soul Promises of bright futures now buried and I hear m

It's really alarming the amount of time we spend watching television and especially the things that we do watch on television. We allow the media to tell us what to eat, what to wear, what is the truth, what to hate,who to hate and what is true beauty. We tune in each and everyday to find out where we belong and if we don't match up what we should change to attain the ideal. These days children are given tablets and toys more than they are given books. Growing up several of my birthday gifts were books and I'm thankful that was thought the importance of reading from a young age These days we are shocked by the fact that individuality is such a rare thing yet we all sit in front of the television screen and are fed ideas instead of thinking up our own. When I read a book it opens up my mind and I picture all that the reader is trying to show me I'm not forced to accept anything I'm allowed to create my own story. The television is simply another avenue to control our

Can you hear the drums beating? Do you hear the footsteps approaching? Can you hear the horns of the flashy cars blaring? Do you see the lines forming as the supporters come out cheering? The doors are flung open  As the parliamentarians come closer with their perfectly tailored suits and stush shoes The seats are filled as the meeting begins Some lean back with phones in hands  Such looks of disinterest as the plans for the future takes the centre fold Children and women being raped and murdered on street corners The disinterested look grows stronger  The prime minister flashes a bright smile  She seems caring just for a little while  Parliament is in session  We can't disturb Ministers busy discussing the future of our country We dare not say a word The hours roll by and some step out when the tension gets high If Jamaica could cry out she would ask us why Why do we continue to rip her to pieces as the years go by? Her beaches try the b

   So today, I was just scrolling through my facebook feed and it hit me that most of the talk of the day was centered around the lives of celebrities. Do some of us even form our own opinions or we just simply go with whatever celebrities promote? Perhaps many of you are not aware of the fact that these celebrities have no idea who you are not do they care about your opinions. Then there are some individuals who will sit and write paragraphs under celebrities photographers proclaim get their love for them or telling them how to live there lives. The time you spend pouring out your heart to some of these celebrities you could be using to help improve your very own life. I am not saying that it's wrong to have role models or see someone who you would like to emulate but for heavens sake can you try and look up to someone who is adding some form of substance to this world. The world has enough women with the perfect bodies and the perfect skin, what the world needs is women who have

Strong bones and sharp minds  But are the youths strong enough? Do they even have the time? Consumed with reality TV while real life passes them by Are you telling me these are the ones on who we rely? Praises are given to those who have the most gimmicks  How many do you admire with genuine and powerful lyrics? Who am I talking to?  I'm talking to the youth Some know strength but only the strength of their sexual prowess The value of the mind is low on the scale of attractiveness Flashy cars,perfect physique and neatly laid hair parade at the top of the attractiveness scale What are you using your youth for? To simply keep up with the current downfall or be the generation to stand tall? Consumed with the excitement of the times and the obsession with money Pride and morals are put aside at the pursuit of fame and monetary gain What race are you in ? To simply have fame attached to your name or be proud of your name Strong bones become frail when they have no structure Youth so wea