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Policing old school - mounted police in Kingston A pot of gold is hidden somewhere... Sunrays peeping from an overcast sky Random tilt Rainy Monday afternoon on Oxford Road

A year on after the incursion, Jamaica’s capital exudes vibrancy and resilience Amitabh Sharma Contributor On May 1, the streets were filled with a riot of colour, music on the crescendo and a sea of revellers dancing their blues away at the carnival parade that meandered through the streets of Kingston. This was a welcome and refreshing contrast to 12 months back, when the air in the city was filled with tension, apprehension and fear, as the security forces prepared for intervention in the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens. The incursion, which saw pitched gunfights between the security forces and the supporters of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, left Kingston scarred and bruised, and the city’s tourism and hospitality industry in uncertainty. “It (the impact) was quite significant, with hotels dropping to as low as 10-15 per cent occupancy [and] attractions, taxi operators, etc, seeing little to no business. It also set back the hard work and progress of the JHTA (J...

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...