(Image source: The Jamaica Gleaner)   At the young age of 24 yrs old I am officially turned off by what takes place in the political arena in Jamaica. I fall in the minority group of Jamaican young people who actually keep up to date on world affairs and the daily ins and outs of my country through the eyes of the media as well as my very own observations. The night the election was called I sat at home and watched from my TV screen how dedicated supporters stood for hours to see their leader take the stage and announce the date. I didn't even attempt to stay up and watch the entire broadcast because I had work in the morning and the date affected me in no way or form. The date was called and immediately after the entire nation seemed to turn upside down. Shootings were claimed to be politically linked and people became even fearful to wear their favourite outfit because of the colour scheme. As a young person the behaviour of our leaders is enough to instantly turn

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

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

   I am all about my fellow young people jumping into the ring and showing the world what we have to offer and the changes that we can make once we are given the opportunity to do so. I believe that as the times change around us so too should those who have been in charge of our nation for decades should be changed as well. Our leaders have been given the opportity to forumale change but many have neither tried or they have been unsuccessful therefore a change needs to take place and new faces with new ideas should be able to show what they can bring forward. However, sadly it seems that many young people are simply just young in body but have the same old way of thinking. One would think that they would use their young and sharp minds to come up with new ideas that will help to shape a better Jamaica but instead they allow themselves to be saturated by the same way of political thinking that the country is indeed tired of. If young people are going to step up with the same ideas and t

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

Am I the only one who has come to realize that the only time the government really cares about public opinion is when it comes to election time. The government can't regain power without the help of the public. We as citizen have the power to decide whether or not they are given the chance to further rip our country apart. Why is then that we as citizens fail to see that the power is indeed in our hands. As Jamaicans we are the most vocal people but when it comes to getting up and speaking up for our rights we scared into silence.    When a young government minister can get up and encourage the young minds of the nation to leave the country because of lack of opportunity it certainly speaks volumes. They could care less or not about the fact that employment is so difficult to find. They simply want to send us off so we can be a problem to there nations. To the minister, did you know that the most valuable resource of a nation is its people? Apparently this has slipped your mind o

Love Affair 2014 By Saccheen Laing Have you chosen which path to go in life? Don't worry it isn't a difficult question or is it? The love affair strengthened in 2014  As Digicel and lime continued to fight for our hearts Thousands switching and call rates fluctuating Many remained loyal while others fell victim to the attractiveness of free calls No matter where you turned you felt the heat and passion of the lime and Digicel brawl Five to ten messages each day, is it love or obsession  Our hearts lay in a limbo as we choose our path  Annoyance on one and heartbreak on the other This love affair is clearly like no other. PNP and JLP continued to state their claims Both promising and pleading for a dedicated relationship The gold diggers who found love with the PNP for promises of wealth and elevated statuses  Quickly abandoned ship when the waves got rocky and the dollar slipped  Many where heard complaining about the commitment to the IMF Some stood firm accepting the threesom

When shall the change come? Crime and violence ago continue and mash up Jamdung? Street lights come on at night and our window lids we shut tight tight No kids on the street, no time to meet and greet Why can't we no longer walk at nights? Why we don't have no peace? Police men guard the streets  Kids run quickly pass them not sure if they police or just undercover gunman and thief Thousands complete their university education but student loan awaits them in every gleaner publication Jamaica is such a beautiful nation, nice food and nuff happiness and sweet jubilation Wait a moment and turn the  TV off the international station Turn the dial to our local station No more happiness and sweet jubilation Blood flowing in the streets of poverty and ever increasing destruction You have the answers? Tell us how we need a change in politics Five years time and we still have the same corruption  You tell me to smile because better must come I can

The news comes on one,two, three lives gone again in a Jamdung Twelve dead in Mobay everybody worried  Uncles,aunts,brothers and sisters  everybody fall victim  Police have no answers,politicians drive by just another day in Jamdung After 5 gone you walk fast on the road Sweat pours down your face as you hear the first gun shot ring out Hands firmly placed on your heart as you hear the screams and shout People around you walk by as if nothing is wrong how comes nobody cares about crime in Jamdung? Children going missing everyday but we turn our faces the other way Then suddenly your sister is gone for days and you don't know what to do All of a sudden you see the faces of the girls you turned your face from Then it finally hits you crime is serious in Jamdung A text comes in on your phone saying congrats you have won You run to the bank to collect your millions Couple hours later your bank book is empty  Tears flow from eyes as you ask yourself w

        Bright yellow sun you see when your eyes are open No matter how many times I blink my eyes I see bloody skies, bloody sun, bloody hands, bloody guns A wife applied makeup for the bruises left after her husband pierced her delicate flesh unaware that the makeup couldn’t cover the pain that resonated on her heart. A little boy eyes glistens with excitement as he polishes a gun that has just been placed in his hands by the area leader, unaware that he would use it to take the life of his friend. Don’t you feel the fear leave their bodies like steam from a bubbling engine A little girl waves innocently to a man on the corner,unaware that later he would cut out her innocence from its protective shield. I see the fear around as I sweep my gate in the mornings yet some of us have dust on our eyes like the dust on my window ledges.  Our leaders fail to see the roads we walk on paved with dried blood of innocent lives. Three locks on my doors as I protect my fa