amjamin

Capturing some pics on slow pace and the fast track... Montego Bay Along North Coast of Jamaica North Coast Highway Along the coast Caged and scared

Published December 20, 2011 The Gleaner Positive Parenting We live in the second decade of the 21 st century, where unfortunately for some men, smart phones, smart cars and smart everything under the sun seem to hold more value than shouldering the responsibility of being a ‘dad’.  Not these dads who spoke to Positive Parenting.   Lloyd Fennell epitomises a man, who played his role as a dad and rose to the occasion when he was left to raise his three children. Fennell got married in 1979 and the union with his wife blessed them with two daughters and a son. “We had our own little home, things weren’t smooth, but got along fairly well,” recalled Fennell, his eyes seemed to wander into the past as he spoke. Photo: stock.xchng “When my youngest daughter was two years old, their mother left,” informed Fennell. He did not shy away or give up but made the best of the frugal resources and strived for the best even when the resources dried up. LEAR...

When I was a girl... Published December 20, 2011 The Gleaner Positive Parenting   “Christmas was very peaceful, as an extended family we would meet for dinner and church,” recollects Leslie Ann-Brown, of the time spent back home in St Ann in the Yuletide season.  “We’ll go all night shopping on Christmas Eve, everything was simple, yet exciting,” says the 29-year-old website developer, who is now living in Kingston and has a 2-year-old son. Growing up, she said, the spirit of the season was different in the countryside.  “In St Ann there was a difference kind of warmth, which is missing in Kingston,” Brown recalls.  “When I came back this place was not sociable.” Brown still misses the simplicity and the festivities back home. “I loved the grand market feel in St Ann; it was so much more personal.” Photo: stock.xchng   “I didn’t feel threatened there,” she reveals, adding with a chuckle, “There was not much of anything was there to ...

Published December 20, 2011 The Gleaner Positive Parenting   Photo: stock.xchng Children. They are godsend blessing, bundle of joys, their peals of laughter fills life with joy. Sometime this story and perception change when they start to cry - uncontrollably, without provocation and non-stop.  While crying is a form of expression, like everything in excess it as the decibels rise, the concern for the child becomes a source of frustration and flaying tempers. But there could be numerous and sometimes overlooked reasons for crying in children. “The first thing to check for if you are dealing with a toddler is to see if there is something physically wrong,” informs Dr Pauline Milbourn, a paediatric psychiatrist. “It could be ear infections, which might make the child cry for long period of time or an insect bite. These are some obvious signs to be looked at.” The child could be uncomfortable with a wet diaper or have a diaper rash. SAFETY FIRST...

Published December 20, 2011 The Gleaner Positive Parenting   There are degrees and variation in which a child expresses emotions, happiness and sadness alike. But when the crying becomes uncontrollable, without provocation, the reasons could be much more than meet the eye. It is normal for the children to cry but sometime this can become habit forming or if the child resorts to tantrum throwing, it can possibly lead to frustration and meltdown. “There are levels of crying, and it might be physical expression of frustration,” says Dr Pauline Milbourn, paediatric psychiatrist, former director of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the Ministry of Health.  Photo: stock.xchng A child may throw tantrums for many reasons, from the need and want to acquire something to sickness. “The child could be having fever, headache or an upset stomach that can trigger tantrums,” Dr Milbourn says. “This behaviour could be out of hunger or overtiredne...

Waterfront Kingston Emancipation Park

Slices of life capturing landmarks, nature and its colours.... Pot of gold...rainbow forming over Blue Mountains overlooking Kingston Sunkissed Strawberry corridor with a hint of Pistachio Ward Theatre, Parade, Downtown Kingston Fort Charles, Port Royal Hues of the evening sky Palette in the sky Port Royal Dusk, Port Royal

Courtesy: stock.xchng As I boarded the Rajdhani Express one fine morning at Chennai (formerly Madras) for Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi), swarm of flies and the unbearable stench from the toilets overpowered me, on the compartment wall a face of smiling ' incredible !ndia ' welcomed passengers aboard. The journey to Delhi was pleasant, nice company, unending conversations and not to forget the flies and mosquitoes, who sung in accompaniment of the PA system that periodically rattled some haunting melodies. We complained to the coach attendant and the (TT) ticket-checking official on the lack of cleanliness...pat came the reply... "sir what can we do, the maintenance of the trains are now in the hands of private contractors, ...they are just minting money without doing work!" Then it was the turn of the coach attendant to make rounds to distribute the bedding, a blanket, bed sheets, pillow and a hand towel. The spick and span white sheets were fine save for so...

A lone fishing boat sits in the Caribbean Sea....St Elizabeth Historical landmark - St. Andrew Parish Church Colours of nature streaking across the sky Innovation in fence art...empty cola bottles form an interesting pattern

Skies over Kingston on an October evening.

Published August 15, 2011 Positive Parenting Magazine Charmaine Rowe * remembers her daughter crying at home and not wanting to go to school the next morning, she was very concerned. She was not dealing with a Kindergarten student but a teenager who was buckling under pressure as her mother was the vice principal her school. "It was very difficult," recalls Rowe, vice principal of a St Andrew High School and mother of two daughters. "She was taunted by her classmates, though she was a naturally talented student, but they thought that she was being given preferential treatment, she was starting to feel the pressure."   The situation reached a flashpoint and came to a stage that her daughter asked to relinquish the post. "She said that she would not be 'picked on' by her friends and I was also seriously thinking about it," Rowe says. Thankfully the situation eased and Rowe still holds the office and is relieved that the time passed. Rowe, ...

A visitor flew in early Tuesday morning, perched itself on the window sill and posed for the camera...

David Yamada, general manager, Wyndham Kingston, speaks on his vision and plans for propelling the property to greater profitability Published August 3, 2011 Hospitality Jamaica David Yamada The sparseness of his office space resonates with his optimism and the artistic and passionate strokes of confidence that he exudes. David Yamada, general manager, Wyndham Kingston, is both upbeat and confident, taking one of the capital city's premium hotels to the next level. "We are striving to regain the position as the premium property in Kingston and we certainly can be there," Yamada said, adding that Wyndham has the perfect mix. "The property has a nice layout and has both a business and resort feel to it." Yamada, who has worked for leading hotel companies such as Marriott, Starwood (and ITT Sheraton) and now Wyndham, as well as major management companies including Interstate Hotels and Resorts and John Q. Hammons Hotels, LLC, told  Hospitalit...

Published: July 6, 2011, Jamaica Gleaner; July 7-13 North American Gleaner   “She was the kind of mother you would dream about,” recalls Brian St Juste of his mother Margarietta St Juste, as his voice trailed into a trance. “She was loving, caring but she was stickler for discipline, she never spoke ill or bad and always taught us to be respectful.” Margarietta St Juste   It were these traits of Margarietta St Juste, which earned accolades, friends and love from people across the board as Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, a position she served from 1993 to 1997. “She not only developed friendship among the Diaspora but with the with Canadians and worked towards the betterment of the people across the board.” The much adored and respected St Juste died on June 28 in Kingston.  She was 75 years old. ‘Shock and disbelief’ were some the emotions described by the media as the news of her passing broke, “She shone and endeared a community to her, so mu...