Letters And Comments To My Daughter And We Should Give Thanks

The old and destitute By the Ward Theatre, Down Town, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.

By
Basil Fletcher,
Portmore, St. Catherine,
Jamaica

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Forward;

This small booklet is intended in the main to give my daughter, members of my family
and others of a similar age an insight into how I a father born at the start of the 1960s, an
economist and a teacher see life in the Jamaican society and its challenges. It is also hope
that they will reflect on the photographs which are included, in particular how that which
appears to be beautiful and was once beautiful can become that which no one wants to
make physical contact with.

One can only but hope that this booklet will contribute to some reflection by the reader or
readers, both on self and on the society as a whole.

Basil Fletcher

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We Must Give Thanks Because It Could Be Worse

Yesterday the Attorney General came to the Parliament with a slue of proposals to
abridge and abrogate the rights of individuals charged, proposals aimed at removing the
right to bail and trial by jury among others. I would hasten to remind the Attorney
General that there are several individuals in this society whose lives and careers
destroyed as a result of false allegations made by individuals holding the highest offices
in the land, the former Ambassador Wolf who was accused by a former Prime Minister of
spying is but one of such cases. I individually have been accused of being a terrorist and a
spy, and have had to endure state sponsored and organized harassment; persecution and
discrimination, while time and history have shown who the spies who have been acting
and are are acting against the best interests of the Jamaican people. As for myself, I am
yet to receive compensation or redress for the actions taken against me, as for
Ambassador Wolf and the others, I am unable to speak.

I would also like to point out here, that it is now at least seven full years, that I had
presented a proposal that Jamaica could produce high quality fabric and clothing to meet
local demand and for exports, the name :-the Edward Seaga Retting Complex, would ring
a bell in the memories of many. I went so far as to make two small looms which I used to
weave fiber using the sisal plant, to show that with training it can be done.

One notes that according to the Ministry of Tourism , in the year 2014, 2,080,181 stop
over visitors came to Jamaica and 1, 423, 797 cruise ship visitors came to Jamaica. If one
should assume that only five percent of stop over visitors would be prepared to purchase
a shirt made from banana and or pineapple fiber, one is speaking of the sale of 104,009
shirts sold, if one should assume that only ten percent of cruise ship visitors would
purchase a shirt made from banana and or pineapple fiber one would be speaking of the
of 142, 378 shirts. These sale figures are far better than those experiences by any arcade
or store in Jamaica. Here pillow cases and bed linen have been excluded from
consideration.

The fundamental cause of violence and crime in Jamaica is a direct result to exclude
potential small and micro producers from the tourism trade and other industries. I
individually brought to the relevant Minister responsible for training and education and to
the Church the possibilities to be had by training individuals to weave and to make
looms, and to extract fiber from both the pineapple and the banana plants. In other, there
can not be any excuse about the ideas and or the lack of funds, the cost of purchasing a
single gun for the police exceeds by far, the cost of producing two table looms.

The truth be told, ordinary Jamaicans are being forced by both Church and State to Give
Thanks To God Because It Could Be Worse, rather than Giving Thanks To God For
His Abundant Blessings.

Basil Fletcher

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A word or two, for whom it concerns

1. If one cannot help a friend, partner or comrade, do not join with others to pull him
or her down.
2. The man against whom no finger can point does not exist. Approach all men with
equal care and guard.
3. Only a person with the mind of a child, sees a group of individuals pointing
fingers at each other and seeks to go and stand in the middle of them.
4. If man must sin; if man was shaped and carved in iniquity; let him without sin
cast the first stone.

A Letter To A Nephew

Dear Nephew;

It is with very great concern that I have been observing you over the past few months. I
know, that you would expect that I speak to you about your smoking habit or about the
fact that you drink from time to time; yet these are not of the greatest of concern to me,
for the simple reason that not only was I once at your age, but also because I too am a
smoker and I do from time to time drink. In fact I make my own beers and wines at
home, thus I do not have to buy them.

Of greater concern to me and to your mother and to those around you is the fact, that
while you have great dreams and big ambitions, neither the dreams or your ambitions
seem to take you very far from your bed, or to the corner with your friends. It would
appear to me and to many, that you are of the view, that your mother and others around
you, will be there for you at all times, that clothes will be provided and food will be
prepared for you to eat, with you contributing nothing to the process. It would also appear
that you hold the view, that your dreams and ambitions will be realized without any input
from your part.

It is not my wish or desire, to curse you or to be at this time harsh with you, but rather I
would like to remind you of three things I have taken from the Bible, which I have
noticed that you read from time to time. Firstly, while God himself had promised the
Children of Israel a land of their own, the Promised Land, he did not fly them there, he
did not make them just land there without any effort on their part. No they had to fight
through wilderness, deal with hunger and thirst, faced scorpions, snakes, the thorns of the
wild plants, and fight with enemies while on their way. Even when they reached the
frontiers of the Promised Land, they could not just walk into and say Yes We Have
Reached; but rather they had to engage in wars and battles with those who dwell in the

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land. In short, even for the blessings of God, one has to put in serious effort to receive;
one has to prove that he deserves that blessing.

Now, by refusing to get up and engage in any form of productive activity, in refusing to
take even the most basic steps required to obtain employment, do you honestly believe
that you are deserving of the blessings of the God you read and talk about? Do you
believe that your mother and those around you will feel overjoyed with your presence?
In other words, you need to ask of yourself, why is it that things do not seem to be
working out, why your mother and others seem to be so miserable to you; in answering
these questions, you will realize that you have not refused to takes the steps required to
help yourself but you also have led those around you, to come to the view, that you are
not deserving of their blessings.

You also seem to believe that you have some special claim and or privilege over those
things which belong to your mother and elder siblings. Here as you know, while I do
have friends who are Christians, I am not and I make no claim as to breaking bread with
Christians at their Communions; however, I would like to refer you Luke, Chapter 22
verses 24 to 27. Here Jesus, pointed out, that greatest amongst those who follow him
should be manifested in service, that even if you are the greatest you should be the
youngest, there is nothing to menial for you to do even if it is the opening of doors. Thus
in seeking to exercise claim in your mothers house, you have to realize that such a claim
is best shown by the willingness to serve, the willingness to be of value and there can be
nothing to small or too menial for you to do in your mothers house. Here I would also
like to refer you to Luke Chapter 16, verses 9 to 12. It is important that in you, your
mother can have faith, and only you by your deeds and not by your words will you
cultivate and encourage that faith.

The above are important in two respect, the history of the Children of Israel shows that
one has to work for his blessings, one has to prove that he is deserving of the blessings.
Blessings are not free. On this point I will refer you to Luke Chapter 11 , verses 6 to 12.
Secondly, no one will employ you or give you any responsibility for anything of theirs if
they do not have faith in you, if they cannot trust with that which is little and of small
value. God gave unto Israel the Promised Land because in them he could invest his
confidence that even as men, the Children of Israel will be faithful to Him and do their
best to keep is Commandments.

You are aware that I am far, far from being a perfect person, thus I am not expressing my
views because I feel that I am in some way or the other, better than you, more trust
worthy than you are or because I feel that I am greater than you; but rather because I have
lived longer than you have and have learned from my experiences and I share the
concerns of your mother. If you have no faith in yourself, who will have faith in you? If
your mother is far from being convinced that you will take those steps to help yourself,
and has little or no faith in you, who else will have faith in you? Work for your
blessings.

Your uncle;

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You Will Be Trampled On If You Fall

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 The gods and the Land Of Wood And Water
The gods of old gathered around the Great Round Table in their heavenly kingdom,
around the table sat the tiger god, the lion god, the single head eagle god, the double
head eagle god, the dragon god, the serpent god, the unicorn god, the vulture god, the
condor god, the rat god, the rabbit god, the kangaroo god and all the gods of the waters,
the earth and the heavens. Among them was not the doctor bird god, for he was not yet
created. The gods of the prey and the gods of the predators looked among themselves,
and decided that there should be a god, who is so swift that he can escape the grasps of
the cat and mongoose gods, so smart and agile that he confuses the gods of the skies, and
build its nests on branches, not even the smallest of the serpent gods could reach. It was
decided that a god with such abilities had to work with the bees to make the flowers of
the garden bloom and ensure that fruits for all the fruit eating gods of the earth, even as it
heal the wounds and cure the illnesses of all.
After creating this powerful, smart and awesome god, the doctor bird god, the gods each
went back to their places of abode with exception of the serpent and vulture gods, both
claimed that they wanted to introduce themselves in a proper way to the new god, the
youngest of them all. The vulture god told the doctor bird god that it was hungry and
urgently needed food to eat. The serpent god asked the doctor bird god, how is it that it
allowed itself to be fooled and confused by the other gods, a god with its skills and
abilities should launch invasions from the sea, and help the serpent god to create a large
and prosperous kingdom which would be shared between them both and the vulture god
would get what to eat. That very same day at noon, the bull dog god came to the doctor
bird god and begs of him to lead a team of red ants in the rebuilding of the great empire
which he the bull dog god would share with the doctor bird god. As soon as the shadow
of the bull dog god left the Land Of Wood And Water, the kingdom of the Doctor Bird
god, there came the condor god asking for help with swift men with the eyes of the sea
eagle who could guide and or sail its speed boats across the choppy seas. After the condor
god departed, both the unicorn and anasi gods made their appearance seeking to trade
bush medicine and magic spells in exchange for teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers,
engineers, pastors and musicians.
Clouds of great confusion covered the Land Of Wood And Water, even the eight handed
octopus sea god looked on with bewilderment and the two headed eagle god sighed, its
heart laden with pity and sadness-such was never the intention of the gods. The Land of
Wood And Water, the Kingdom of the Doctor Bird god, fell into great disrepair, bushes
and weeds grew where fruit trees and flowers once bloomed. gully beans and bitter herbs
threw out the sweet sop, sour sop, and other fruits. The Doctor Bird god had become all
things to all gods and did not remember its own name, it was called, Doc, Teacher, Pirate,
smuggler, musician, welder, tailor, thief, pastor, rabbi, bishop, murderer and all names
except its own name.
A student who studied at a long table of the Cesky Lev and under the watchful nose and
eyes of the doubled headed eagle, came to the Land Of Wood And Water, the kingdom
of the Doctor Bird god, and saw this strange god, who was a god of everything except its
own home, and unable to take care of its own children. The student from the Cesky long
table, went across the seas to the land of the Bald Eagle god and brought across the seas
the ideas and spirits of the greatest lady that eyes have ever behold and gather together

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the students of the vodka table in the Kingdom Of The Bear, and created a Pepsi, tobacco
and beer table, in order to study this oddity of nature; and to decide if it is not best to
sprint across the high seas, before long latent volcanoes come back alive. Strange things
happen in strange places, and are much more likely to occur in the Kingdom of The God
Of Everything.
The frogs, toads, lizards and bats, were not deemed creatures fit to live in the Kingdom of
the Doctor Bird, The Land Of Wood And Water. The tall trees the nest places of the bats
and the tree toads, were brought down by the beaver teeth saws, which were well oiled
and made to sparkle in the sun light. The lizards were set upon by cats and children, and
the swamp frogs stoned or crushed to death.
The mosquitoes overthrew the crown and all the men at arms; now the country is haunted
by a very strange set of people, aliens from deep space of course, who can be seen on the
streets and the byways , boxing themselves, slapping themselves, and down the slap up
and slap down dance move. No one can get even a minute of sleep, in the hills where
its is very dark, the mosquito with the help of the lighting bug, (pinny walli) curfew all
homes to ensure that the no sleep order from their head of command is rigorously
enforced, in fact a daily news paper reported that an entire village in the western end of
the Land Of Wood And Water was evacuated by marauding mosquitoes , in the urban
centers, the curfew is enforced during the days and during the nights. A de facto state of
emergency has been declared by the victorious mosquito forces.
Our most holy of tables have to be shielded on four sides by five layers of mosquito
netting and can only be entered via a deep super cold underground tunnel. Plans are being
made to carry the table underground along with the bar counter, drinks and drinking
glasses. The US Southern Command is reported to have sent an elite force of biologists,
zoologists and other specialists to study the approach taken by the mosquito forces to
achieve their objectives and the impact of the conquest on the health, well being and
morale of the non combatant civilian population. The KGB has flown in a special team of
their own, with the British, Germans, and Israelis preparing to fly in specialist teams of
their own. Never in the history of the Land of Wood And Water, have so many scientists,
military historians, game theorists been present at any one time for any reason at all.
Maybe the mosquito rebellion and ensuing mosquito military take over is a sign of new
thinking and new development, or a revolutionary leap back to the 18th century. We at
our table have equipped ourselves with ten boxes of folder leaves and other writing
material, to do our own independent observations. We have also acquired twenty pairs of
spikes, five canoes and two Cessna aircrafts, to be sure that we are ready to Run!

End

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A Legacy Of Ruins

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 Assorted Matters

On The Issue Of Death

Numbers, Chapter 20, verses 27 to 29

27. And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight
of the congregation.
28. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon E-le-a-zar his son;
and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and E-le-a-zar came down from
the mount.
29. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron
thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Deuteronomy 34, verses 1 to 8

1. And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Ne-bo, to the
top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land
of Gil-e-ad, unto Dan,
2. And all Naph-ta-li and the land of E-phra-im, and Ma-nas-she, and all the land
of Judah, unto the utmost sea.
3. And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto
Zo-ar.
4. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto
Isaac, and unto Jacob saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see
it with thine eyes, but thou shall not go over thither.
5. So Moses, the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the
word of the Lord.
6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-pe-or; but
no man knowest his sepulcher unto this day.
7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not
dim, nor his natural force abated.
8. And the children of Israel wept in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of
weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

Many of us Morgans, Fletchers and Manakers have now passed our fortieth birthdays,
and as children of aging parents and as the parents of children of our own, we are
forced more than ever before to deal with the issue of death and indeed our own
mortality- for one day we too will die.

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From the words of the scriptures quoted above, it is clear that even those who we
dearly love will die also. God in his wisdom did not hide the death of Aaron from the
people of Israel, perhaps not only for them to recognize that the wages of sin is death,
but most importantly that even the greatest and most loved of men too will have to
die. Secondly, one observe that God through Moses carried out a handing over
ceremony in front of the people- the garments of Moses were passed on to his son,
E-le-a-zar.

In the case of Aaron , he was allowed to take a last look at the people whom he co-
lead for decades, to see the growth in their numbers, to see their growth in terms of
physical strength and health, to see his age mates and their children. In the case of
Moses, he was allowed to see the Promised Land, from border to border, not only to
come to realize that the Lord had kept his promise but also to realize that his personal
journey was not wasted.

In my view, in dealing with the dying and the dead, we have to recognize the role
they played in shaping our lives, for the dying, they should be allowed to see their
children and grandchildren, their age mates, friends and relatives, not for the sake of
collective mourning and the keeping of a grief party but rather that the dying might
leave this world of the living knowing his or her work was done. Grieving is for the
living, not for the dead or for the dying.

For the younger persons who are on the brink of death, that point in life cannot be
easy. It cannot be easy for a young person to see and know that his friends and
relatives and everybody else are living and he or she is about to die. This realization
brings with it denial, anger and grief. Our task of relatives, friends and parents is to
hold the hand this person and walk with the person through this final journey. The old
among us can play a very important role in this process, for they too have lived and
they too are conscious of the fact that they in their last days.

In my view, it is important that the dying is facilitated in coming to an understanding

that he or she was of value, that he or she did make his or her contribution to making
our lives better.

For us as parents, the main lesson which we should learn from the final days and
moments of both Aaron and Moses lives is the importance of training our heirs to the
best of our abilities. Our heirs should not be going around in search of the batons
which we dropped, but rather be stretching the hands out to receive the batons in their
palms. This is why it is of great importance and immense significance for us to ask
ourselves as parents, aunts and uncles:- What legacy are we leaving behind for our
children and grandchildren? What are we leaving for them to work with? What hand
of cards are we leaving for them to play with?

For the Christians, the Last Rites are of importance; for us Morgans, Manakers and
Fletchers, the legacy we leave behind for our children and grandchildren, is of much
greater importance. What did we do with the blessings and talents which God gave to

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 us? For us these are the questions we must answer on our death beds. Our answers to
these questions will determine how we die.

Basil Fletcher

The Sacrifice Of Tooth Paste

One must be very glad and give thanks that the majority of fathers among us are able to
provide for themselves and their children with their basic hygienic needs:-bath soap,
toilet paper, tooth paste etc. Unfortunately, there are fathers among the Fletchers and
Morgans who even these basic needs cannot provide.

For those fathers without means, the measure of fatherhood has to be very different, the
father with the means can afford to pick and choose tooth paste, bath soap etc, by the
brand, by contents, by label, by size, by the coloring and type of packaging, by price, by
place of production and by a great variety of variables. For the father without the means,
the question is :-What can he do, to make that which is bought last a bit longer? What
can he do to make the money spent on these items stretch a bit further?

For this father without means, it might mean using his bath soap more sparingly, so that
there is money to buy his childrens bath soap. For this father it might mean, brushing his
teeth with tooth paste in the morning and flossing and washing his mouth during the day
and at night, so that the tooth paste can go a bit further and that his children can have
tooth paste.

This father has not turned water into wine, he has not made stones into bread, nor has he
made lead into gold, however, that which it is possible for him to do to make life even a
bit better for his children he has done. Perhaps he might even end up with a decayed tooth
or two; perhaps he might get gingivitis as a result of what he has done. The question
which we men of the Morgans and Fletchers families need to answer is:- Are our
children worthy of a sacrifice of tooth paste? Are our children worthy of we using less so
that they can have more?

The rotting and corroding influence of Christianity has lead to the breeding of parents
among us, in particular, mothers, who are unable to recognize the sacrifices made by their
men folks even when these sacrifices stare them directly in the face. This rotting and
corroding influence has brought into being, parents and in particular mothers, who have
lost the ability to value the sacrifices made by their men. The result is the rearing of
children who place no value on the efforts and sacrifices made by their parents, children
who have nothing to give God thanks for and with hate and resentment towards their
fathers. This is the Christian way-not the Morgans Way.

Basil Fletcher

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 There Are Things

There are things done by man which can only be forgiven by God. There are actions
carried out by man against his fellow man which can only be forgiven by God.

Those of us who have suffered at the hand of man with no recourse to justice, have two
choices:-

1) To allow the memories of the evil done, the pains of the wounds felt, to
incapacitate them, thus robbing them of life itself. Or
2) To surrender the case to God to judge, recognizing ones own inability to deal with
the issue or issues, and use the sense of bitterness, the memories of the pain felt,
to drive them in seeking to better the lives of those who they care most about.
This is the Morgans way- The story of Joseph on encountering his brothers who
came to buy corn, perhaps will be of great value to many, he made them
understood how he felt by putting items in their sacks of corn, but he made sure
that they were provided for and a place found for them. Joseph walk in Egypt was
not an easy one, nor are the lives for many of us in this Most Loving Christian
Society.

There are those among us, Fletchers, Manakers and Morgans, who have been
wronged by individuals and or by the society; there are those among us Fletchers,
Manakers and Morgans, who still feel the pains of past blows, the memories of past
injuries and insults- let God deal with those who we cannot or do not want to deal
with; let God get for us the justice which has being denied to us.

There are members of our families, who need and deserve our best help, efforts,
guidance and assistance. In them and through them our lives make sense. Many are
the blows which I have endured, many are the insults and injuries which I have
passed through-this road I know-there are many things done by man against man,
which cannot be forgiven by man-Let God deal with those things- Our Families
Deserve And Need Our Best!

Basil Fletcher

The Beauty We See 1

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 Envy

Dear Ellen;

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English, defines the word envy to mean (1)
a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by anothers better fortune etc. (2)
the object or ground of this feeling( their house is the envy of the neighbourhood).

There are those around us, who would like us to believe that our desire to have a car
which is as new and as good as our neighbours car or better than it, is a sign or feeling of
envy; to want our children to have a future which is equally as good as, if not better than
our neighbours children, is a sign or feeling of envy. This Christian view of life, is not
intended to entrap Christians or to loll them into the acceptance of mediocrity-no- it is

14
intended to entrap us, Fletchers, Manakers and Morgans who are foolish enough to
swallow this Christian bait.

In the eyes of our God, envy is not only a feeling of discontented or resentful longing but
also a feeling that what belongs to another should have been ours- our neighbours new
house should have been ours not theirs or at least it should be shared by us. Davids
attitude to Bath-she-ba the wife of U-ri-ah the Hit-tite was envy. Rebekahs and Jacobs
attitude towards Isaacs desire to bless Esau was envy. In both cases the actions which
resulted from the feelings of envy resulted in the punishment of the individuals involved-
in Jacobs case, punishment by labour, in Davids case, punishment by the death of a
child.

On the other hand, Abrahams search for a land which he could call his own, a land
which his children and grandchildren could call their own was not envy. Moses desire to
see the children of Israel free from Egyptian bondage was not envy, nor was Solomons
thirst for knowledge.

The God of Israel, taught us to have ambition and to strive for the best. The God of Israel
did not promise just any land to his children-He promised a land flowing with milk and
honey (Exodus, Chapter 13, verse 5). The God of Israel even in the wilderness, did not
want just any old tent to be His Tabernacle; He wanted the very best possible, even the
candlestick was to be made of pure gold, and the curtains made of fine twined linen
(Exodus, Chapter 25 to 27).

God, again as shown in the Book of 1 Kings, Chapter 5 to Chapter 6, did not want just
any building to be His Temple-He wanted the best possible. The experience Solomon
gained in the building of the Temple, he used in completing the building of his own
house which took thirteen years to finish, also in building other houses and structures.

The questions which faces us, as Fletchers, Manakers and Morgans are:- What will we
follow? Will we follow the example set out by the God of Israel and walk in the footsteps
of King Solomon or will we swallow the Christian bait and suppress our desire to be the
best and to have the best?

The Fletchers Motto is:- Aim For Higher Things , which also dictates that one should
strive for the best and to be the best. Should the Manakers and Morgans strive for
anything less? Anything less than striving for the best and to be the best, would be and is
in essence ungodly.

With love,

Basil

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 Anti-Queen Ifrica or Anti-Homophobia? Gays Must Clarify Their Position!

Once again the Gay Community has taken action to prevent Queen Ifrica from
performing in the United States in punishment for an act of youthful indiscretion which
occurred some two years ago.

The preventing of Queen Ifrica performing in the United States, takes place in an
environment in which day after day, week after week, there are religious leaders who
launch frontal attacks on the Gay community, only a couple Sundays ago there was one
such religious leader who claimed Jamaica for the Christian Community , a Jamaica
which is anti-gay, and only a few years ago there was a well known religious leader who
was encouraging people to chop up the gays should they seek to march through Half Way
Tree. Yet not one single religious leader, Pastor , Bishop or otherwise has been banned
from preaching in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or the Federal
Republic of Germany.

This leads one to ask, if the Gay Community has a hidden program of selecting particular
individuals for punitive punishment. One is forced to ask, if Queen Ifrica like Sizzla,
were selected for punishment because of their lowly social origins and the fact that they
adhere to the Rastafarian Faith, while our pastors, bishops and likewise are from middle
class origins, with university education and occupy places of privilege in the Jamaican
society.

My position on the issue is well known, I do not support nor agree with gay bashing and
homophobia, equally as I think that people should mind their own business. The
Aksumite Empire of old lost vast territories as a result of interfering in other peoples
business.

Not withstanding, and not only because Queen Ifrica is a Morgan and hence a cousin of
mine, but for the sake of all Jamaicans, here and abroad, the Gay Community needs to
say in the simplest and clearest of manner whether or not it is anti-Queen Ifrica or anti-
homophobia. Once the position of the Gay Community is known on that issue, all
Jamaicans will know what to think and how to act.

Basil Fletcher.

The Beauty We See 2

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17
Remembering Lessons Taught A Long Time Ago

Some months ago, a relative of mine posted on his Facebook page:-If A Farmers Gives
Away Milk Free, Then One Has No Need To Buy It and If A Man Knows That He Can
Get From A Young Lady What He Wants, There Is No Need To Marry Her. Both of
these statements appear to be very simple and easily understood, at our table a Restaurce
U Studentske Koleji, however these statements were not taught, and possible many of my
good friends like unto myself, wonder why it is not possible for us move up into the
organizations in which we work, why is it so difficult for us to move forward in life; yet
we have as far as we are concerned given so much. The good and wise King Solomon
strongly advised against approaching the King without being so invited to do. Neither
Joseph nor Daniel approached the respective rulers without invitation. Many of us, like
unto myself, have spent countless hours in thought preparing proposals, ideas, drafts of
projects which could be implemented, which no one asked f us by name to produce, thus
there is no obligation on the side of those who rule to consider, accept, reject and or to
recognize the giver.

This tendency which so deeply buried in so many of us, comes from the fact that to one
degree or another we care about the societies and communities in which we live, we care
about the organizations in which we work, and are led by something to believe that such
feelings are mutual, that society and or the organizations in which we work must also
have some care or consideration for us. Unfortunately this was not so in the time of
Joseph, it was not so in the time of Solomon, it was not so in the time of Daniel and it
was not so in the time of Jesus or the Apostle Paul, hence it is a sign of deep childishness
and childish beliefs to hold the view that because you the individual care about the
society and or community in which you live and or work, that the feeling of love and
concern ill be or has be reciprocated.

What I did learn however and completely failed to appreciate we some lessons taught
about loving, despising, ignoring and or hating. Tests concerning women who could
bring great happiness and equal if not more feelings of sorrow into the life of an
individual. There was a female student who suffered from a type of skin cancer which
caused her nose to be removed and her lips to be deformed. Sometimes we would see her
by the steps at the hostel with a dust mask over where her nose should have been. The
test here was, can one hate, scorn and or despise the daughter of they whose bread one
eats and in whose bed one sleeps? From another perspective, she was different from
those among whom she lived, she had an illness which resulted her becoming deformed,
race is not an illness and it does not result in deformity, however people are separated and
grouped by race and religion. How do we deal with a person who is very different from
us? How should Czech society in which we were aliens deal with us? I chose to ignore
this young lady at the time, to pretend that she was not there. It could be said, that I failed
that test, I did not accept her as an equal human being. The Czechs were very tricky in the
setting of their tests and only years after, does one comes to the understanding of what
was being tested and why was the test given.

18
Then there was the test to see if one could overcome self and love a young lady who
behaved like a whore and thought that she was a man? This was a particularly difficult
tests for many, as the temptation was to deal with this young lady as she came and to try
to deal with the individual person who was seated where one was. This was the result
which was desired and sought after. Speak of those Tables! Yet if one came to love
this young lady, that individual would be Blessed with great happiness and great
sadness in equal measure. Dealing with this young lady as if she was yours, if one was
not wise enough, could have meant war between very good friends. This was a most
difficult test any young man at the time could encounter. To ignore her, possibly could
have been correct, yet it would have meant that one was being a coward and denying
oneself of some of the most intense and deep experiences one could have ever
encountered, the question however, is that the individual who fell in love with this young
lady would have deliberately chosen to do the equivalent of using crack cocaine. One
could also have chosen to hate her, to despise her, yet each of us in one way or the other,
be it in our attitudes to each other, or in our attitude to the people around us, were no
different from her.

How does a young man deal with a young lady whose job it is to evoke pity. In other
words, she is a hunter for pity. She puts herself in situations which lead to her being
pitied. She does things to herself or allows things to be done her which evokes pity. This
was a brutal test, because the young lady in question, was beautiful as she was intelligent
and thus in the main could lead the unwary or unprepared out of their way. I did not hate
this young lady, I did not become her very good friend, I did not seek to sample of her
treasures, I kept her at arms length.

The meaning and significance of these tests, I did not pick up until most recently, as a
result of examining the dimensions of I am, the person who I am; then these tests and
their significance dawned upon me. Yet, I would have loved to believe that the lessons
learnt even though subconsciously have so guided my approach not only to individuals,
male or females, but also to communities and societies. I however, in relationship to
Jamaica, as a lady demanding pity and putting herself in situations which seek to evoke
feelings of pity, I failed most terribly for many years, possibly if a particular older friend
and lecturer of mine was alive he would have been very disappointed with my failures,
emotions were allowed to rule over sound judgment, and I as far as he knew was capable
of making sound and rational judgments. His disappointment however would not have
lasted very long, considering the fact that he remained loyal to the Czech Republic
though the thick and thin, and thus his sense of disappointment with me, would also have
been a sense of disappointment with himself. Teachers and students at times share
identical weaknesses.

If we truly have not given up our search for the Land Of Atlantics, we have to be brutally
honest with ourselves. We have to gain the ability to look at ourselves in the mirror as it
is and not as we would have wanted it to be, and deal with the person who we see in that
mirror. We also have to learn to look back at the road walked, and the experiences
gained. We Stand In Judgment Of Ourselves, Not Of Others!
End

19
 The Fletchers and Morgan On The Question Of Birthday Party Planning

This morning I went to the supermarket in Greater Portmore , where I live, to do a small
purchase. At the cashier, I noticed an elderly gentleman in front of me in the line with a
basket with three rotisserie chickens and a mountain of rolls and snacks. He was
preparing for a party for a younger member of his family, maybe his grand daughter. I
made a quick calculation in order to compare the cost the meals and treats at his grand
daughters birthday party and the cost of a similar birthday basket at a Mc Donalds or
KFC fast food restaurant. I discovered then and there that this elderly man was perhaps
one of the wisest of men I have encountered so far.

Every year, civil servants, police men and women and nurses , climb high walls in
coming to terms with the cost of preparing for the most basic birthday parties for their
children, forgetting that they are not planning these parties for themselves but rather but
for their children. Here I remember a niece of mine, who wanted her birthday party on the
beach where she and her friends could make soup, cook corns, cut her birthday party
cake on her fathers van bonnet , dip into the sea and take some photographs of
themselves in their bikini swim wears. Yet the father was planning in his mind, the hiring
of a sound system, the renting of chairs and tables and all the works. He was planning for
his party not his daughters birthday party.

If a domestic helper among us, cooked a big pot of curry chicken back and a big pot of
white rice, purchased four or five large bottles of sodas and a bag of party ice, and
purchased some cartoon DVDs, who could have a problem with her, if her young
children, her ten years old birthday boy and all of their friends loved the party, loved her
and did not want to the day to end?

The problem with many of us Fletchers and Morgans, is that not only do we refuse to
accept that we are not able to spend in the same way that we did before on our childrens
birthday parties which we had invariably planned for ourselves and not the children, but
we refuse to accept the fact that on our childrens birthdays their main needs are those of
feeling wanted and loved by family and friends-and to be given the chance to be a star in
their own rights one that day-we as parents and grandparents want to be the stars-we the
parents and grandparents seek to use our children in our search for status and ratings
among our friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Send a piece of the rotisserie chicken around here, and a big plate of the curry
chicken back and white rice. I want a bug glass of Pepsi-Cola to wash it down. Let us
see if Elder Fletcher and Moses Fletcher will find anything sinful about this-Church
people have an habit of capturing other peoples ideas!

Basil Fletcher

20
 The Revolution Which Did Not Get Started

In recent days I have been forced to look back at myself and the Jamaica I knew in the
late seventies and early eighties, as a result of having to pass through two political mass
rallies in Half Way Tree in St. Andrew. While I was glad to see the participation of
young people in these events, I ended up with a bitter taste of disappointment in my
mouth.

As youth, who participated in many demonstrations and political rallies, I do know the
high individuals feels during and after those events; however my generation was not
just interested in walking with flags, with political banners or wearing T shirts; my
generation was not just calling for change. Rather than waiting for the system to change,
my generation went about changing the system in the ways they could at that time. My
generation of system changers gave birth to community theatre in places like Jones
Town on a Saturday or Sunday evening from time to time there were movies shown on
the street, live creative dances staged where students from the Edna Manley and other
such institutions would perform, plays were staged; chess as a game was introduced on
Rodney and Nelson streets. In Allman town, there was a Dance group on Hitchen Street.
Six a side food ball was introduced and the concept of Corner League firmly
established.

The Rastafarian Movement was not just chanting down Babylon in words and song, but
went about changing the Jamaican language, got rid of Jack and Jill nursery rhymes in
schools, introduced and popularized a new approach to cooking and personal hygiene,
people had chewing sticks in their mouths everywhere, and they established a new
trend/school in the Jamaican art movement, got rid of the image of a White Christ in
Church and so on.

I myself introduced the idea of the organized collection and sale of scrap metal, a project
which was introduced in Water House, introduced the idea of using clay to make roofing
tiles using zinc sheets as a type mold, this project was introduced somewhere in
Westmoreland. In short, the carrying of flags was accompanied with new ideas of how to
do things, of searching for implementable solutions to the problems which faced the
ordinary person in their daily lives, be it a question of youth unemployment, the lack of
structured entertainment or whatever other question, here one remembers women of the
Sistren Theatre Movement, the work of the Committee of Women for Progress among the
most vulnerable women.

Today, my generation and I look at the performance of our children, search for the new
ideas which they are bringing or have brought to the table, the new solutions to existing
problems and end up asking of ourselves, where did we as parents went wrong, what did
we fail to teach? Perhaps our greatest failure is that we have failed to teach our children
to think outside of the box, we have failed to teach our children to question that which
exist before them and ask themselves how it could be made better. We have failed to
teach our children to think critically and creatively. This reality has left a bitter taste in

21
our mouth, for the task of introducing the new, the task of challenging the present, the
task of imaging new dreams end up being stuck with us. The Revolution is dead.

Basil Fletcher

The Beauty We See In Her Crumbling Skirt

22
The Demons Of Laziness and Envy, Lying and Deceit

From my perspective the demons of laziness and envy are conjoined twins. If a person is
lazy, he or she will be unwilling to work and to put out the effort to work for what he or
she wants even while wanting to have the same things which others have. Laziness and
envy breeds crime, back biting and the willingness to sabotage others. While a jealous
person will work and put out that extra effort to obtain his or her own, not so with a lazy
and envious person.

No doctor, police or fireman can help a person cloaked in lies and deception. No
relationship of worth can be established on a foundation of lies and deception. Lies and

23
deception be it in the form of the Trojan Horse , Delilah or what ever form they take, are
known to bring kingdoms to their knees and the death of many knights in shining armor.
In my view the above Demons are the worse in the Kingdom of Demons. Greed, Jealousy
and the others can be managed and contained but the four named above cannot be and are
most dangerous.

End

Closed Doors And The Leaching Away Of Confidence In Self- Lessons For Family
Members.

If an individual has over an extended period of time puts out his or her best efforts to find
employment and to live a life which is personally and socially beneficial only to
encounter at each turn, closed doors and sabotage, sooner or later that individual will
begin to question the value of trying and begins to lose confidence in self. This process is
not one which is moderated by the level of education of the individual as one finds even
as one finds individuals with higher education equally affected, the case of Rumanian
doctors in Germany or in some cases Black professionals in the United States and in the
United Kingdom.

The same is done on the basis of religion, nationality, gender or sexuality, depending on
the desires of society. In this way, societies reserve the ability to remove entire blocks
from the labour market and from active social engagement.

At some given point, the individuals involved either with draws from the job market or
becomes willing to accept even the most menial jobs and working conditions, along with
this one finds a concurrent process of reduction in perceptions of self worth and possible
disinhibition.

This process is also used in the criminalization of targeted communities, to increase drug
use in given communities along with increasing the general levels of crime in the targeted
communities. It is the use of social engineering methods to achieve a set of desired social
outcomes.

The system not only targets communities in the campaign of closing doors but at times
specific individuals. In many societies individuals with criminal records experience a
closed door policy which forces many to revert to crime and thus individuals whose lives
are characterized by cycles of ins and outs of prison are created.

In the same manner and by the same means societies create their own radicals, dissidents
etc in accordance with the perceived needs of that society and indeed notorious criminals
are equally so created.

24
A community and or family which has the ability to employ its own, and enjoys a level of
specialist critical skills dominance in branches of the economy and society, is better able
to mitigate and or damped the effects of these types of system engineering. This also
explains why family events such as weddings, birthday parties, funerals and other such
events are of significant importance in overcoming social marginalization.

End

An Erroneous View- Leave Things In The Hands Of God

There is a view that we should leave the short comings and the ills of society to God.
This view is extremely mistaken and dangerous. God left man on Earth to take care of it
and the experience of mankind in all countries and nations is that the day that God has to
step in to correct the shortcomings and evils of man, that day is a day of weeping and
mourning, a day of destruction, whatever form that destruction takes, be it flood,
earthquake, fire or catastrophic accidents.

It is better and much wiser to do what is to be done than await the intervention of God if
the life of society and mankind. The Bible teaches what happens when Israel departs
from the course set out by God.

End

My Biggest Challenge

My biggest challenge in Jamaica is that I have been robbed of the opportunity to work in
keeping with training and abilities, robbed of the opportunities to set up my own business
and robbed of the opportunity to leave.

In short there were two options given to me, either to become a thief or a beggar but I
created a third option, continue my work and further develop my skills.

My advice to family members, once your path is correct, hold your path.
When that is done, even those who sought and seek to crush you come to depend on your
assistance and not you theirs. I have learnt also in this process that if I did not give
someone things to keep for me, even if that person is of your own blood, your
expectations should reflect that reality or you will unfairly place the burdens given to you
by society on the shoulders of that person.
End

25
The Waters Are No- LongerClean!

26
Fletchers, Morgans and Glanvilles

Solomon advice against the moving of stones placed by ones fathers Do not go opening
old sores nor take away the blessings given by ones fathers. There is law and there is
wisdom and there at times is a gulf between the two, then there is learning and there is
understanding and there are at times a gulf between the two.

In exercising our rightful claims to that which is ours, let us no ignore the intentions of
our parents nor the stones they planted. Manchester had even in the days of slavery had
never experienced a slave revolt equal during the various periods of social unrest,
Manchester remained stable and peaceful, because it was ruled by men wise in the art of
governance- the Morgan's Heritage.

I was in the Czech Republic when my mother informed me, that she was informed by one
of my younger brothers that I had a child in Jamaica. I hastily pointed out to her that it
was impossibility.

I have at least one brother who is the son of my father who does not carry the name
Fletcher.

It is said that Michael Manley has a son whose name is Williams and that Hugh Shearer
has a son whose name Spencer. Thus the William's children and the Spencer's children
are cousins.

And there is at least one person, who is now up in age whose name is Brown, yet his
father's name is Chin (now deceased) and was the owner of a shop. Thus the children of
the Brown's family and the Chin's family are cousins.

The blessings and stones given by our fathers we should leave in peace and stop playing
righteous. There is a place for Customary Law (Common Law) and traditions in our legal
system. We are a country with Outside Women" and Joes", that is a social, cultural and
legal reality.

End

27
A Gay Couple

As far as attaining meaningful economic growth, improving the quality of life of the
ordinary Jamaicans and addressing the root cause of economic crime, the Jamaican
people are being asked to vote for one or the other of a gay couple. The outcome is the
same and will always be the same.

It is the duty of each member of the Fletcher's and Morgan's families to do all that is
possible to develop themselves and an independent economic base.

End

A Note To The Fletchers:- Pay Very Careful Attention To The Environment In Which
Your Children Are Grown And Socialized

I have observed that children who are grown in broken homes, later in life tend to
recreate for themselves and their children broken homes. Children grown in an
environment characterized by individual and life failures by the nearest siblings tend to
create personal failures in their own lives.

End

One can waste time trying to kill a lie or one can let those who create the lie suffer
under the burden of the lie.

There are a group of Indians in South America who would possibly die of starvation
because they believe that a particular type of deer is the reincarnated form of their dead.
Many Aborigines in Australia were killed pointing magic sticks at the White man. How
many voodoo priests and their warriors in Congo fell before Belgian guns? Thousands!
All the priests and sacrifices of the Aztecs could not protect them from a handful of
Conquistadors.

Not all lies should be combated.

End

Some Thoughts For Today, For Fletchers, Manakers and Morgans

Most men would spend weeks if not months trying to get into the pants of a beautiful
divorcee but very few are honestly willing and truly pleased to spend even one hour with
her ten years old son. Yet it is in this one distinguishes men from boys.

28
Only a foolish woman or a whore willing goes to bed with a man who is either too busy
or unwilling to give fatherly attention to her son or cannot be trusted with her teenage
daughter.

A foolish man sleeps with a woman who he would feel ashamed introducing to his
teenage daughter and a foolish woman sleeps with a man who she would be ashamed of
introducing to her teenage son.

End

Do Not Go After That Which You Cannot Afford To Keep

It is said that if you want to get a poor man mad, give him a race horse which he has to
keep on the track. He who finds it difficult to find food for himself, will have to ensure
that the horse is properly feed, that it receives its supplements, he who delays going to
the doctor because of the costs will have to ensure that the horse has the best veterinary
care available, he who cannot afford a helper for himself has to employ a groom for the
horse and he who cannot afford further training for himself has to employ a trainer for the
horse.

This morning, I sat next to a young lady on the bus and similar to another I see from time
to time, reminded me of a 2016 Volvo. It is the desire of everyone to have a car which is
designed to be reliable, a car whose design has been tested, a car which one can be proud
of, a car which is lasting and a car which is in keeping with the times, a car with real
potential for further development and refinement. Yet in the hands of a poor person, that
car will be destroyed.

A late friend of mine Dr Denis Jones (RIP) advised a mutual friend to find himself a little
woman and settle down rather than going after the Ms World Beauty Queens which he as
a then young professional would never be able to keep without becoming a criminal.

The advice then sounded a bit harsh but it was very sound advice

End

29
A Close Up Of The Beauty We Admire

30
Know Your Value, Your Worth and Place In Society

The system will try to beat the individual to the point that he or she becomes sorry for
him or herself and even compare him or herself with the insane and the outcasts of
society. This can only happen if you fail to recognize your own worth, value and place in
society, in other words such debasement occurs and can only occur with your consent,
not without.

A person can find him or herself in very trying economic and social conditions and even
reduced to the point of dependency however even in such conditions it is of critical
importance to know your worth, your value and your place in society, if not you will be
crushed as an individual.

The experience of the Jews in Central and Eastern Europe who were subjected to the
worse types of oppression from the 14th to the mid 19th centuries shows that attempts to
debase and dehumanize the individual can be successfully resisted and also the
experience of the African Americans further confirms this fact.

For those of us whose areas of concern are the sciences, the life experience of Prof.
Stephen Hawkins a man who in the eyes of many should be sorry for himself, debased,
dehumanized, depressed and demoralized shows that it can be done.

The replacement value of Stephen Hawkins in the field of science surpasses 2 million
Jamaicans at this point in time. In other words the world is prepared to lose 2 million
average Jamaicans than to lose one Stephen Hawkins . The system has no weapons or
means capable of crushing an individual or group of individuals who/ which does not
want to be crushed. How many average Jamaicans or Americans would it take to replace
you the individual or group of individuals?

In this respect the histories of the African American, the Jews of Central and Eastern
Europe and the life and work of Stephen Hawkins should be studied by all those of us of
Jewish origin.

In The Bible

Abraham was forced to wander about unable to find land to settle with his family, a
leader even slept with his wife, Jacob was robbed and attempts made to humiliate by his
uncle, Joseph was imprisoned and accused of rape, Moses was forced to flee and live the
life of a fugitive, David was forced to live in the wilderness and sleep in the open and
Solomon walked among the poorest of the poor and even sat with the insane, yet none
became debased or dehumanized.

End

31
Our Crumbling Patronage

32
 Laughing At Ones Self, Reflections On And Lessons Learnt From An Unplanned
Class

Sometimes the level of personal growth one experienced and has experienced leaves one
with no other choice but to laugh most energetically at him/ herself. Perhaps it is the
recognition in the final analysis that the ordinary people are the teachers and the most
brilliant of scholars are but the most humble and persistent of students, questioning and
observing all things of relevance and potential relevance.

A farmer stuffing the wound of a cow knows nothing about biophages but he uses them.
An old woman in an Eastern European village knows nothing about probiotics but she
makes and consumes them. Who are the teachers and who are the students? Why did the
Irish drink seaweed tea? Did they know about light metals and their health implications?
Who taught the specialists that ackee could be cooked and safely eaten?

Towards the concept of "Grounded Medicine In Infection Prevention and Treatment Of

Infectious Diseases". Or "Ethno Medicine Learning Medicine From The World Of
Communities.

Why do they do it? When do they do it? How did they do it? Why did it work or did not
work?

Never has been a generation better prepared to tell people to take their problems in prayer
to God than the generation born between 1980 and 2000. Of them I am proud.

When young people sees me undergoing deliberate hardships they understand the nature
of the society in which they live, understand that good work without anything for self is
not the way to go. A good class has been held. Marginal benefit must be in keeping with
marginal effort.

I give Thanks for the opportunity to have had this class and the possibility of conducting
it in such a way that even Slow Learners were given a chance to learn..

If I gave no one anything to keep for me, then I have no right to be upset or annoyed if no
one has any thing for me.

One makes provisions firstly to take care of his or her own, if there is extra it is shared.
The field and hedges, if there is no field there can be no hedges. There was up to recently
a kitten at home, when we prepared for it, the meal would be shared by at least two more
cats. The cat was removed from the home, once that happened, the meat which was
bought for it was given to the dog next door , no more processed cat feed bought. Today
the neighborhood cats have to contests with the doors for food, no food is prepared

33
anymore for cats. The neighborhood cats at what to eat on the block, because for the
kitten Zdravi, food was prepared, here one sees the application of the principle leaving
the hedges for the poor in operation n a practical way.

A doctor cannot use his supplies taking care of the world and have nothing left for his
patients. Treat your patients first then others. Were it not for your patients, there would be
nothing to share.

Society & Nature Decides What Lessons Are Taught When

I was given the chance to teach a class which was planned for me to teach without I
knowing it. By no measure was it an easy class to teach and it was a long walk, which left
me tired and with a pain in my hand where I was hit by a truck (I give thanks that there is
no swelling). I also give Thanks for the opportunity given to me to teach that class.
Since my family members were not there along with me on that walk, I will summarize
the main lessons taught.

1) If I did not give a person or a group of persons, money to put down for me, I
should not be upset if that person does not have any to give you. This goes for the
relationship even with your own children. Thus it is the duty of the individual to
have for him or herself and this holds true also for parents.
2) The fact that you have given a lot of yourself to society and others in need, does
not mean that society or others will make sacrifices for you. This lesson is
perhaps most important for those who work in the various branches of
government, particularly those I the health and or security services. Ensure that
you take care of yourself.
3) Even if you were to sit doing good for society and others 365 days per year and
18 hours per day, there will be does who are willing and prepared to invest even
more time and resources in doing evil and evil against you.
4) No doctor or parent should give all that he or she has and end up with nothing for
him/herself and his or her patients or family. Ensure that you have enough for
your own patients or family before giving. God commanded that the edges should
be left for the poor; he did not command that the entire field be given to the poor.

Those were the lessons taught and perhaps they will also be of value for family
members and to my daughter.
End

34
 A Close Up Look At The Beauty We See

The Difference Between Trust and Care

I care about my country however I do not trust the leadership of Jamaica for even one
millimeter. Care and trust are two distinct things. To say that if I do not trust people does
not mean that I do not trust myself, foolishness. Trust in me is based on knowledge of
myself, trust or distrust of individuals or governments is equally based on knowledge and
experience dealing with individuals and or government. Family members in order to
understand the difference between the two concepts should use me, our relationships and
the Jamaican government's relationship with me to understand the difference in meaning
and texture between trust and caring for. Trust based on untested emotional is childish.
End

35
 When Capitalism is not capitalism, blessings from above and failure of ones best
efforts

We have been taught that capitalism is based on competition and that an invisible hand or
the law of supply and demand regulates the market. As such the concepts of "Chosen
Winners" and "Decided Losers" operating in a capitalist economy should not be. Yet
when one closely the business success of some entities one cannot but conclude that they
had little or no choice but to win, situations in which Marketing is the same as
maintaining organizational unity and loyalty to cause. In Jamaica if a Free Mason is
starting a business, say a restaurant his brothers descend on the place on the opening
night or on a chosen time. After that crowd visit, the business man is on his own in most
cases. In other countries or places it would appear that the "crowding" is of less
importance to ensuring and or guaranteeing given minimum flow of orders over the long
term. With some religious communities or groups members know that their community
members businesses must be supported at the expense of all others. Thus for example if
Island Spice or Juice Patty was owned by a member of such religious grouping and
entered Florida, all the members of this group and their would support Juice Patty or
Island Spice at the expense of Burger King, KFC or Mc Donalds. In this type of situation
one cannot speak of market competition or marketing but market arrangement and
organization.

The same principle and approach holds true in " market denial". Here regardless of the
efforts and investment placed into product development, the establishing of distribution
chains, PR and Marketing, the product or service is doomed to fail, because the
organizational forces controlling and or influencing ordering, purchasing and preferences
have decided that this given good or service should not succeed. This once again has
nothing to do with marketing or market forces but rather market ownership and or
control.

This situation also affects the employment/job market. One finds that it is not the level of
training, education or competence which determines employment in given situations, nor
is it a matter of who you know but rather the presence or absence of organizational
support which determines employment and promotion.

Here one is reminded of the challenges and obstacles met by Abraham in trying to find a
place to settle. The contest in a capitalist economy is in many instances not one of
competing goods and services but rather contest between organizations and communities
to create "reserved markets" and "reserved positions" in the given economy.

The sharp visible contest between political parties for seats and power is very much
similar to the competition between organizations and communities within the economy
for positions and power.

36
This in the Jamaican context means that the Will To Sabotage and the Will To Derail are
common threads running through the entire society and economy, perhaps the simplest
example is the performance appraisal which becomes a note of condemnation and
reproach. It is the labeling and undermining of the Free Mason or Roman Catholic who
is a manager. To the extent that there are organizations competing for influence,
membership and positions of influence and power, to that extent there is the will to
sabotage and derail, and Jamaica is fill with such organizations. The fact that competition
between organizations and communities are not "Offer Driven" but rather "Subversion
Based" means little or no innovation occurs as a by product of the competitions, instead
damage to institutions, offices, careers and staff moral. This type competition also occurs
between states.

It is within this type of environment the Fletcher's, Manaker's and Morgan's families exist
and find their way as individuals and as families through as successful as is possible,
while bearing in mind that God did not give the Children Of Israel prime land, but rather
a land on the fringes.

Part 2

Remembering that God did not give to The Children Of Israel, prime land, but rather land
which was on the fringes, land which was cultivatable but prone to long periods of
droughts and attacks by enemy forces, meant that Israel had to learn from its experiences,
it had to educate itself, it had to work hard and it had to maintain internal unity, which is
one of the reason why the Children Of Israel had to rely on the rule of law and not every
man and woman going to voodoo priests, witches etc and setting traps and snares for each
other- the ways of the Mohabites had to be ruthlessly crushed.

Equally today for us to move forward in the societies in which we live, we have to be
prepared to walk in the footsteps of Israel, respecting and appreciating the blessings that
we have received, realizing that as with Israel, on the lands of the fringes of the desert, a
great nation can be built, for us a great family.

Sometimes the hands we draw is not the best, sometimes the positions in which we find
ourselves is not good, yet we should never become like that dog with the bone who
dropped it in the river in chasing after its own reflection. It is our duty to build using what
we have, developing our skills and our talents even as we as Israel did, guarding the little
that we have the best we can.

As we become stronger and more prosperous, so equally the number of enemies which
face us multiply. As Israel grew in strength so did the number of friends it had and the
number of enemies it faced increase. It is within this context the more successfully family
members, need to understand the challenges which they face, knowing that the more they
prosper, the more there will be individuals wishing and plotting their downfall.

We also need to realize, that while hardship and difficulties can lead to blaming, success
in itself can lead to sharp disagreements, should a man win US$1million, this can cause

37
very sharp disagreement between him, his wife and his children if there was no pri-
agreed plan as to how to use this potential windfall. It is our duty to follow in the
footsteps of Joseph and plan for the good times and the bad times. It is our duty to follow
the laws of Moses and put in place provisions for the weak among us, least we sow the
seeds of disunity and discord leading to our own downfall. In dealing with the negative
actions of individual family members we must look not only at the deed but also at the
intent leading to the deed, a son might wreck an expensive phone trying to customize it
for his mother, equally as he could have wrecked it out of spite. There will be times when
the divisions between individuals are too wide and deep to bridge, it is our duty to bless
to the best of our abilities the immoveable party and wish him or her the best in life,
assuring him or her that he or she will always have the blessing and support of the family
in his or her bid to create a path of his or her own.

Never should we forget, that we live in a society in which we have to create our own
Israel, our own space, we live in a society in which our weakening and marginalization is
what is sought, we live in a society in which no position is given freely, not even the
fringes, we live in a society in which we will fail if we lack a sense of self, a sense of
purpose, a sense of direction and the will to fight.

End

38
Another Look At Beauty (from afar)

39
A warning to Jamaican born Fletchers and Morgans living overseas. 9/7/16

Today over 40 Jamaicans were extradited from the UK to Jamaica, many with appeals
pending. This extradition led to a small protest at the Jamaican High Commission, by
members of the Jamaican community who felt that the Government of Jamaica was not
doing what was required to represent Jamaicans living in the United Kingdom.

The Jamaican High Commission called the British embassy to remove Jamaican
demonstrators, protesting the deportation of Jamaicans, from its embassy. No one
represent Jamaicans outside of Jamaica.

All family members who are Jamaicans living overseas must realize this reality and act in
keeping with this reality. The Government of Jamaica stand willing to act in collusion
with foreign powers to undermine the claims and even the rights of Jamaican nationals
living overseas.

End

Know who to give, when to give and how to give.

I on starting my first job, saw that my brother John (then a father of two biological
children and adopted father for another two)who was not working at the time and thought
that I would be helping him by offering to pay the tuition fees required for him to study to
be a chef. This was a serious level of responsibility that I was offering to take on. My
younger brother John responded angrily to me and told me that I did not ask him if he had
what to eat, I was there sending him to school. At the time I did not understand his
reaction and was very upset, in fact I promised myself never to give him help in the
future, a promise which I broke several times.

Today, being unemployed and with no source of income, should a person give me a six
bed room house with a swimming pool and two German Shepherd guard dogs to live in,
on the condition that I maintain it as is and that I cannot rent it or have guests over, then I
would surely tell that person my mind, because he is in effect being wicked to me.

There is a Jamaican saying that goes:- sorry fi magga dawg him turn round bite yuh (
have pity on a starving dog and it turns and bite you). On one hand it speaks of apparent
ingratitude and on the other it also implies ingratitude. Jesus in his day spoke against the
throwing of your pearls in front of hogs and against throwing the children bread to dogs.
Many find these words and advice from Jesus hard to accept.

Yet, we are being advised to know what to give, who to give and when to give. Should I
pass down the road and saw a beggar sitting by the wayside and go up to this beggar
advising him on how to make money by buying, repairing and selling homes, would I be
helping him or would I be appeasing my ego? If I went to a poor mother of nine children

40
and started to advice her about why having two children is best and the importance of
family planning, would I be helping her or would I not be insulting her in a very decent
way?

Equally one does not go to a Muslim or a Hasidic Jew to give advice on pig farming.
Thus as family, we are asked to be reminded that one has to be wise in giving and one has
to know what to give, who to give and when to give.

End

Annoyance

Many times in dealing with life we forget what are the goals or objectives which we have
set ourselves and have allowed annoyances to become the cause or source of problems.

If I am on my way to the City and encounter along the way an individual who has given
him or herself the task of spitting as I pass by or hurl insults at me, the question which I
must ask myself is if this individual has in someway or manner, blocked my path to the
city. Is he or she is in someway preventing me from reaching the city? Should I decide to
stop and argue with him or her, I would have promoted an annoyance to a problem and
could possible stop myself from reaching the City.

The famous boxer Mike Tyson on several occasions allowed annoyances to become
problems and ended up paying a lot of money to settle law suits brought against him.

A Fletcher in going through the world should be clear in his or her

mind what his or her objectives are, what are his or her goals and with a clear mind deal
with the annoyances which life and or the system places in his or her way.

For young family members serving in the armed forces, in particular the US and British
armed forces which have to deal with combat situations and various types of
engagements, "Diversions" may not only result in mission failures but maybe fatal.
Remember the mission of your unit, that mission guides all your actions in a given
environment. Richard Fletcher and others in uniforms take note. Let the enemy in the
field divert itself, let it annoy itself until Thy Kingdom Come, Focus On Your Mission.

I have also heard from health care workers, of individuals who are ill and hospitalized
for care. These individuals rather than trying to get well, appear to be in the hospital for
the sole reason of giving nurses, doctors and everybody hell, through annoyance.

Never allow annoyance to become a person by giving it a name and identity. Leave it
where it is, in the form that it presented itself, nameless and person less.

End

41
Beauty and Garbage, Beauty and Disrepair

Maturity

Maturity calls for us to accept society as it is and not as what we would want it to be.
Maturity is the acceptance of people as they are and not as what we would want them to
be. Maturity is the acceptance of self as one is, weaknesses and strengths and not who
one wishes he or she was. Maturity is the willingness to accept all that is and on that
basis, decide what one wants and who one wants to be. Maturity is recognition that there
are openings and opportunities for the fittest and the most ready. Maturity is accepting

42
the fact that the opportunities of the rich and the poor are not and will never be the same.
Maturity is understanding and accepting the fact that each individual has his or her
challenges regardless of age, gender, religion, education or race. Maturity is accepting
that in life there will always be challenges and opportunities, victories and defeats.
Maturity is accepting that the ultimate victory is the victory over self imposed limitations
and the ultimate defeat is the defeat of self.

End

43
The Way Things Go, The Demise Of Beauty

44
If this is your talent, the point at which you start, do so with pride, dignity and a sense of
purpose. By honest efforts and goodwill shall you eat bread.

Learning From The Jamaican Experience

The circular discourse of political elite, unlike the discourse of around sports, popular
music and other events dealing with the achievement of the individual, the community
and or the state , lacks a center from which the evolution of ideas and concepts of socio-
cultural development can take place, tracked and studied. In content a debate between old
boys of St. Georges College and Kingston College (they are high schools) is richer in
texture, meaning and socio-cultural relevance than the circular debates of the political
elite.

45
The successes of our sports men and women, our artists in the various branches of the
arts comes as a result of the evolution, development and maturity of native philosophies
in regards to the fields in general, the components therein and management.

A significant feature of the crisis of the Jamaican society is not just of the philosophical
emptiness within the circle represented by the political elite but the fact that this empty
circle is surrounded by much more developed and mature borders over which, it seeks to
impose its will.

If one critically examines the philosophies of the ruling elites in respect to the Jamaican
society and its components, their philosophical attitudes to rights and freedoms of
individuals and communities, their attitude to the development of a national philosophy,
their philosophical attitude to Jamaica and its position in the world of nations among
other things one finds emptiness, an emptiness reflected in their " Cause To Power", with
the idea of Power As A Servant" being corrupted and The Will To Power becomes self
serving.

In such conditions the ruling elites are forced more and more to rely on neglect,
deception, lies and force. Individuals are forced to vote not just for the best of two evils
but rather for which will be least willing to flog with thorns and more with whips and
which is tended to rely on whipping the least.

For young members of the Fletchers family, should we learn from the Jamaican
experience, the lessons are clear. Before one decides to get married and start families, it
cannot be simply to satisfy biological urges and the drive to reproduce, nor is simply a
question of financial affordability but more importantly there is a need to be clear in your
minds as to the non biological and non financial reasons as to why you want to get
married and start families.

Is it an issue of conquest and capture? Do you know the type of family you want to have?
What will be its position and role in society? What roles will be played by the members
of the family in shaping its development? What will be your role in the family in the
development of the individual members of the family? What is your attitude to
disagreements and conflicts? What are the rights and freedoms of the individual family
members? And other such questions should be asked.

End

46
A Circular March

A circular march resource consuming and leads nowhere unless a source of funds can be
identified to break the cycle.

The Earth which went around the sun last year is not the same Earth which goes around
the sun this year, populations change, the number and types of life form change, the level
and types of radiation from the Earth change, land forms and land uses change, water
quality and availability change and the number of changes are endless in one single
rotation.

Only the political establishment and the clerical elite believes that it is possible to turn
back the hands of time ,failing to acknowledge the changing essence of natural and or
even man made cycles, which results in the creation of avoidable hardships and the
imprisonment of entire populations in between the walls of frustrations, disappointments,
unrealized potentials and dreams, poverty, hopelessness, depression and misery.

We Fletchers, Manakers and Morgans do not hold the view that time can be made to
repeat itself and as such our task in all possible circumstances is to move forward and if
need be come together to pool efforts and resources to remove those obstacles hindering
and or retarding the development of individual family members and households.

End

Each Society Is Given A Chance

In fact some organizations and families achieve great success even as the society in
which they operate buckle under challenges and the consequences of lost opportunities,
thanks to the long term vision, the organizational strength and unity of the parties
involved.

The experiences and approaches of these organizations and families, the Fletcher's,
Manaker's and Morgan's families are called upon to study.

The fact that the society itself and the majority of the people have no interests in
fundamental change, governance becomes an exercise in events planning and
management and the generation of superficial ( trivial) conflicts, to retain the interests of
individuals/ society and to give meaning to the lives of many, the creation of warriors
without meaningful or fundamental causes. Boy Georges song "I am a man without
convictions" become the anthem of a disillusioned middle class.

In such an environment, the interests of family and self, takes on paramount importance
over all things, and the " common good" becomes equivalent to " how much" must be
given or is reasonable to give, in order to get through and or to avoid criticism. A society

47
for the fittest, the most ready and prepared, a society for the most endowed and the most
connected, is preserved and strengthened by common will and by common agreement.

End

If Friends Can Do It

Lessons From A Construction Site In Red Hills, St. Andrew, Jamaica For Members Of
The Fletcher's, Manaker's and Morgan's Families

If good friends can come together to build a structure worthy of attention, so can family
members, if they are honest with each other and wish each other well.

Honest might be difficult to accept but it is better than pretense. It is better for an
individual to declare his or her hands than to pretend to be what he or she is not. This is
the fundamental difference between friendship/ comradeship and a pretending enemy.
The same applies to members of a family.

Without this level of honesty and openness between family members, co-operation, joint
work and common cause to take on any challenge becomes impossible and failure and the
squandering of resources a natural outcome. Here it is of critical importance that family
members take all the necessary steps to route out envy and jealousy from among them-
many are the families which have been brought to the ground by envy and jealousy.

Lessons from a construction site in Red Hills, Jamaica.

End

Not leaving If Possible A Family Member Behind

One should not leave a person behind because ones experience does not allow him or her
to identify with where the individual is or where he or she is coming from.

I as an individual, like the vast majority of us, was grown in the law and with respect for
order. In fact, the for the small periods in life when I walked on the fringes of the law, it
was in response to actions taken by those who were in terms of the positions and masks
they wear/wore in society were supposed to be teachers and columns of the law and
proper conduct.

I am asking Fletchers who had grown up on the wrong side of the law and have been able
to " straighten up" their lives to speak with us of their own lives, I ask in particular those
who are not religious to come forward and share how they did it. End

48
The Minister Of Education and Teachers Red Fletcher and Shaun Fletcher

We Fletchers have a problem dealing with family members on the fringes because we do
not know their world, we do not know their challenges and we do not speak their
language and the Minister of Education of Jamaica, is saying that we should not use Red
Fletcher as a teacher because she has tattoos and has several children and smokes some
type of water pipe? Are we incorrect in having Shaun Fletcher as a teacher? The
curriculum of the Fletchers, its traditions, its history, its values binds us all and guides the
activities which we encourage and promote.

To follow the Minister of Education is to abandon family members who are not of the
main stream or middle class. No Fletcher is holier than the people of Egypt, Mali or
Tunisia, yet they have women with tattoos and even belly dancers.

Maybe the Fletchers should not have had me among them because I am a smoker, who
speaks of dumplings and plays Byz Kartel among many other songs on the school
compound and in the class room (I do not smoke in the class room) surely the Minister of
Education would not have employed me- for those who tell me about social responsibility
to teach.

Today we had to employ teachers from Africa because we did not have among us
teachers who could reach some of our family members.

End

When The Politicians and Occultists Have Failed- Words For Family Members

From 25% of the population controlling 60% of the country's wealth to 5% of the
population controlling 75% of the countries wealth. The absolute number of people
controlling the country's wealth has roughly halved even as the percentage of the
country's income has declined.

Less of the country's wealth to satisfy the needs of a greater number of people, from 40%
of GDP to 75% of the population to 25% of GDP to serve the needs of 95% of the
population.

The middle class is in essence a paper middle class which has benefitted more from the
international increase productivity of labour rather which has brought down the price of
imported goods such as cars, fridges, meat, rice etc than from an increase share of the
national pie and whose existence is dependent of debt. The ordinary floor workers have
been led to believe that their supervisors and managers are mean because by the 12th of
any month they are dead broke and living off credit. One finds children of the middle
class whose parents drive good cars going to school without lunch money and hope to
God that daddy finds gas to pick them up in the evenings.

49
Something has failed badly in respect to the people and their welfare. All the occults and
politics practiced by the occultists and politicians of all stripes when measured against the
state of wellbeing of the working and middle classes have failed miserable.

If family members intend to move forward, not only do they have to be clear about the
existing situation, and also understand that the objective of the system is to have them
behaving like dogs fighting and killing each other for scraps of bread (disposable people,
not one better than the other) but of equal importance, the coming to the realization that
no single individual regardless of his efforts, his skills and talents can make it without the
help of others.

It makes no sense driving a 2016 Audi and live in a huge house in the hills but should for
whatever reason be two or three months out of a job, one becomes in fact poorer than
ones cousin living in a house without running water.

It is important that a Fletcher seeks to along with his or her family members, seek to
create a solid foundation based on the deliberate creation of wealth, the avoidance of
unnecessary luxuries, the avoidance of spending outside on goods and services which
could be bought within the family and the avoidance of unnecessary debt- if the sale of
three goats can pay for insuring ones car then rear goats for that purpose rather than
taking out a loan. Yes let your cousin in the hills of St. Ann keep the goats even it means
giving him the spotted ones.

Secondly one has to look critically at his or her use of time. Rather than hanging out to let
traffic run off, could one use that time to earn money or to study? Rather than going after
a "girl" down the road and give the wife some trouble, could that time be used to study or
to earn some money? How many hours does Mr Fletcher or Mrs Fletcher spend watching
TV or listening to politics or sports? Could the time be spent visiting ones sister or
brother who one has not seen in the last six months? Is it possible to help a relative set up
his or her business or to finish school?

Cousin Sam in building a house in Spanish Town, fenced off the site and employed
relatives to make the construction blocks. Money stayed in the family. Sam wants good
yam, he buys it from either his cousins or brother in the hills of St. Ann. Cousin Sam
wants a goat, he buys it from a cousin.

End

50
The Legacy Left For Us And Our Children 1

Jesus and Choices

If Jesus permitted the praying to the saints, then it mean that the saints were also gods.
Hence Jesus was not in fundamental conflict with neither the Roman or Egyptian states
but was in irreconcilable conflict with the Jewish state and its clergy.

51
Modernism in Christianity therefore allows taking leadership from Abraham, Moses,
Solomon or any of the saints, they were all Church builders but each with his own
distinctive characteristics and interests.

The struggle in Christianity in part about which leader to follow, the Ethiopians follow
Solomon and Mary, the Catholic follow Peter and Mary, the Adventists follow John
and their lady, etc. One is also speaking of the institutionalization of "The Saints" in
various forms and combinations.

Perhaps the Rastafarian Movement is most open and honest in this regard, while using
the Bible as their guide, they have named their own Godhead, with Haille Sellase , seen
as the "now" incarnation of God, and Prince Emanuel and Marcus Garvey being
members of the Trinity-theoretically they cannot be seen as being Anti-Christ nor can
they be seen as being Pro-Christ, but rather as a distinct community with its own internal
dialectics.

If one wants to know and understand a country and its culture, doesn't one also has to
know the gods followed? Without that knowledge isn't ones understanding at best
superficial?

Isn't the culture, norms and values and the general state of Kingston the direct result of
the beliefs of the people and the institutions which lead them?

The interplay between and dynamics of the relationships within the Community of
Faith. The impact of Self Definition and Self Labelling by the various elements on the
interplay and internal dynamics of the Community and their socio-spatial consequences.
The role of the City's Sephardi and Moorish legacies in moderating and influencing the
internal debates and negotiations within the Community of Faith.

If Kingston is to give one message to the World, it would be :- "Race Not To Judgment
And Be Studiously Calm In Forming Opinions, Be Not Be Fooled By Size But Explore
Its Dept". This statement acts as a guide to the Jamaican Marxist who seek to understand
the role of the Church in facilitating and encouraging the self expression of the people in
an environment which seeks to deny the individual of the right to an identity, self
definition and self expression and of equal importance, the right to belong and the right to
be recognized and valued.

Without this understanding of the Church and by the use external measures one could
come to see and or to believe that the Church is an enemy of the people and a servant of
the state, thus using the state recognized and approved clerical elites as a blanket to
cover the Church.

End

52
Does Individual Rights Exist On Public Transportation

Does individual rights exist in public transportation?

The relationship and or conflict between group rights and individual rights in public
transportation with reference to the rights of Christians to preach and the right of the
individual to resist Churchification by Entrapment. The right of an individual to listen his
or her music and the individual right to reject being forced to listen. Collusion by the
political establishment and the clerical elite with social deviants to trample on the rights
of the individual.

To permit one is to permit the other, thus the individual is trapped between equal evils.
Give the individual the right to play music in public transportation is the same as giving
the Church the right to preach on public buses, to deny one is to deny the other and
prevent anarchy with each passenger preaching and or playing music and political
campaigning on public buses, given that if the Church has a right to preach, and
individuals have the right to play music, then political parties have a right to campaign on
buses.

In accepting the above one also accepts the right of community and or Church owned and
funded schools to have both religious and political events on the campuses of these
institutions dependent on choice or desire.

If I attended a dinner in a house where the owners are known to eat a lot of land crabs and
pork, do I have the right to tell the hosts to go into the kitchen and prepare me fry
chicken? Is it not to the discretion of the host? Having of my own free will, knowing
accepted an invitation to attend a pork and crab eating dinner, and thus caused the cook to
prepare food for me, do I have the right to refuse to eat what is served if it is prepared in
keeping with the best known acceptable standards? The right of community and or
Church owned schools to serve to all what they prepare.

However if the Church or community breaches or disrespects the right of the individual
in a public space it has surrendered its own rights to monopoly to serve in its own
institutions.

It would be immoral and unjust if the Church should entrap a non believer or an
individual of another faith or denomination for the purpose of conversion yet refusing the
individual the right to do so in that space owned by the Church, unless the leadership of
the Church is claiming that space owned by the Church is of a superior standing in law
than space owned by the public or the community, which is the same as saying that the
Church wields greater power than the public or the community and they, the public and
the community, should submit to the will of the Church, the will to theocracy. The
position of the clerical elite.

The issue then is not of rights but of power to impose will and or to breach the rights of
others. Who benefits from this situation? Those with power.

53
The community in Downtown Kingston, has provided a large tree in South Parade, one in
the Sir William Grant Park and another in North Parade by the bakery where daily
religiously services are facilitated and encouraged, thus respecting the rights of the
religious community to preach and individuals from the lower segments of society to
have places of worship. Here the approach taken by the community in its space and
opportunities allocation exposes even further the unjust and power seeking intent of the
clerical elite which practices space denial.

No one can preach or carry out a party on a public bus unless permission is implicitly or
explicitly given, a bus driver or conductor cannot overturn that which his or her employer
allows and or causes to come into being, unless he or she no longer desires to be
employed by the company. In other words in breaching the rights of the individual the
political establishment and the clerical elite hide their hands and faces behind the
ordinary men and women who are in the employment of the state and whose employment
is dependent on the desires of both the political establishment and the clerical elite. End

Quat and Jucki Jam

An end of a period is the start of a period. Jesus, Rasputin, Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley,
Allende and others are from a perspective of history represent a last bid attempt by the
system to save itself. It is the de-facto stoning and or crucifixion of liberalism in favour
of more extreme forms of problem solving.

The concept of " Quat" symbolic meaning is possibly an attempt to withdraw from social
conflicts and the challenges of society, hiding from Judas, hiding from Bagga- Wire who
betrayed Marcus Garvey.

"Quat" as a concept which also relates to the physical environment. The attempt to avoid
competition , the wish not to be seen, the desire to keep a low profile. While to "Jucki-
Jam" would mean acting within constraints, Quat is to act below the constraints. Quat is
without movement, static.

The origin of the word Quat is the English word "Squat" , a verb with three pictorial
images, with all passive in nature and feminine in essence, one thinks of a soldier
squatting to reduce size and visibility, an Indian squatting against a wall etc and a woman
squatting. In terms of relationship with land, one thinks of illegal occupation of property
with restricted ability to build permanent structures. In street language, it is the same as to
"hold a corner" as different from " holding off a corner".
To "Jucki-Jam" is very much like " holding off a corner" or to rubba dub.

The song " Wait Yuh Turn" by Alkaline , a song which is a favourite of both the political
establishment and the clerical elite , as it openly encourages " Quating" as a social
response to inequality and injustice. The Effemination of the young people and the
further marginalization of the women.

54
While Nesbeth in his song "My Dream, My Dream", shows from his personal experience
that personal and social victories can be won even under conditions of capitalism, as is
shown by the small business people Downtown Kingston and the people of Greater
Portmore who have laid claim to the Sephardic- Moorish attitude and outlook on life,
Alkaline is telling the poor and the middle class that their day will come, they should
surrender and wait their turn. The message of the "Trickle Down Theory" expressed in
song.

Perhaps the song " Take Your Time, Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis, best summarizes
what is meant to "Jucki-Jam" and the experiences of the small business operator or street
side vendor who might have had very good sales last week and a very bad sales this
week, in the case of the street side vendor the police possibly had seized his cart and
goods last week and he has to find money to restart his business this week. For the
secretary it is the third week in the month, a week before her monthly salary and her rent
is now due, her mother is ill, and the children's father is broke. They cannot afford to
Quat, nor can they afford to be reckless, but rather rely on the means at their disposal to
fight their way through until they have crossed the rough patches in their lives' roads.
Either, Quating and becoming depressed or become reckless and run into conflicts with
the law, is in keeping with the roads the political establishment and the clerical elite had
paved for them.

While the song "I Am In A Dancing Mood" by Delroy Wilson, reflects the upside of to
"Jucki- Jam" when things are going well and one has overcome the main pot holes
encountered so far. It is the song of the working people and small business operators
celebrating their victories, the victories which Alkaline and his ideological bedfellows
would have denied them. The tiled sidewalks of the business establishments, both large
and small, reflects that hope for the future and celebrations of past victories.

Revolution we are taught is the overthrow of one class by another, the replacement of
dictatorship by dictatorship, the Sephardic-Moorish architectural rententions in the City
of Kingston, shows that it is the creation of that socio- cultural space which fosters and
facilitates the cultural and economic expressions of all groups, classes, religions, gender
and races in complimentary relationships. Where these complimentary relationships
break down as they do frequently in West Kingston, all groups with the exception of the
political establishment and the clerical elite, come out as losers. Revolution is the
creation of that socio- economic space which runs counter to the mission, policies and
intention of those who have appropriated the symbols of the people for their own selfish
gains and to guarantee the continuity of their rule at the expense of all other groups
within the Jamaican society.

End

55
Simple Beauty

56
An Open Letter To The Mayor Of Kingston

Mrs. Angela Brown Burke Ph.D

Your Worship;

I would like to bring to your attention two proposals which in my view, will contribute to
the improvement of the socio-economic texture of the city even as it creates an additional
source of hope in the future for our young people. The importance of looking at proposals
and ideas similar to the two presented here, is also unlined by the recent killing of two
police officers who were killed as a result of what one could be called economic crimes.
One was killed as a result of robbery, the other was killed, in my view, possible for trying
to deprive the economic disadvantaged of their one or more of their women. If one could
possible create greater opportunities it might be possible to reduce the number and
frequency of economic crimes as well as giving the ordinary people economic interests to
protect. The proposals are as follow:-

1
The former JAMINTEL building stands empty and unutilized even as the state through
its organizations has to find money to pay for the employment of security guards, to pay
for utility bills. It is my view, that this building could be given to both the University of
the West Indies and the University of Technology, Jamaica, as a type of center where
recent graduates can set up offices and work centers, be it in the areas of IT, Marketing,
Accounting or Law, with the understanding that these starting out business people would
be responsible for the paying of their own utility bills and contribute to the salaries of
reception and administrative personnel. It is my view, that as a form of incentive, these
utility bills could be subsidized by the utility companies. Please note that a recent
graduate might not be able to pay rental costs but could contribute to the payment of
utility bills within four to six months of operating his or her business. At this moment the
government has to find the money to keep utilities at this building.

This proposal if implemented, would increase the level of economic activity in that area,
contribute to social stability even as it not only means that the monies currently being
used by the state for the upkeep and security of the building would be more effectively
used. I am fully aware that the KSAC is not the owner of the property hereby mentioned
equally as I am aware that there are proposals to place other government offices here. It is
however known, that neither the police or any other state organization is at present very
willing to move to the facility and I am aware that Her Worship, has significant
persuasive abilities, and thus could act as a broker between the various organizations.

I would like to believe that, should you be able to get this proposal off the ground and up
and running it would be a type of proto type for those Church owned schools which face
closure and could be possibly be used as offices for recent graduates to set up their own
business, particularly in the areas of agricultural marketing and exports.

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Some time ago, I placed on my FaceBook page a picture of a set of sidewalk restaurants,
which in my view, could be replicated around the Sir William Grant Park, Down Town,
Kingston, and operate between 7.00 p.m. and 5.00 a.m. each day. These restaurants
would be tent based type of facilities with each restaurant having at most twenty tables.
This proposal would not only add to the night life in the capital, but it would increase the
level of security in that area, even as it would create economic opportunities for many of
those individuals who reside in Central and West Kingston. The net effect is a much
safer, socio-economic climate in the city, a reduction in unemployment and an increase in
both business ownership and business activities. The restaurant operators would be
expected to cover the costs of their operation in the form of fees paid to the KSAC.

Your Worship, I do pray that you will find the time to give these two proposals serious
consideration and where-in they are acceptable in your eyes that you will speedily act on
them.

Yours truly,
Basil Fletcher
An Open Letter To The Sabbath Keepers Of The Fletchers And Morgans Families In
Jamaica

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Beauty and Burdens

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Dear Family Members;

It is my very that each period in the development of a nation carries with it, its own set of
tasks. The country at this moment has entered a period of drought which will impact
agricultural output in one way or the other and human hygiene also. Should the state of
affairs continue as normal the country at some point will enter a season of heavy rains
which will do its destruction to crops, animal life, housing and infrastructure. The
experience of my generation has been one of having to deal with the relative but
avoidable scarcity of water in one period, stunted crops etc and uncontrolled floods
damaging fields, homes and infrastructure. From this perspective, Jamaica and its leaders
have been opposite of Joshua and the Children of Israel in respect to the giants occupying
the Promised Land. Uncontrolled seasonal flooding and avoidable seasonal water
shortages are two giants which should be taken down in the interests of all.

It is my view, that we are at a point in time, in our development, in which the single main
task of the Ministry of Agriculture is infrastructure development, the putting in place of
the required infrastructure to reduce incidents of flooding and the impact of the dry
seasons. This in some areas will mean the creation of rainwater reservoirs, ponds , spill
way reservoirs, in other areas, the creation of wetlands and in others the creation of dams
on seasonal rivers. Here I wish to point out that while crime has taken a large toll in
terms of cost to farmers and citizens in urban areas, the cost of crime is minuscule when
compared with the yearly costs of flooding and water shortages. I also wish to point out,
that the use of water intended for domestic use and so treated, for agricultural purposes
such as the watering of crops as occur in many parts of Jamaica is wasteful and
unsustainable. The insurance costs and risks of the Jamaican agricultural sector are
unacceptably high.

I also wish to point out the fact, that owing to the impact of seasonal flooding and water
shortages on agricultural output, even if 50% of the rice imported into Jamaica was
plastic, we would have had to eat it because the high price of Jamaican grown staples.

Matters such as these hereby raised, requires the purposeful and constructive discussion
by those whose interests go beyond the fence of the yards and by those who think of what
could be and can be rather than being satisfied with things as they are. It is in this respect,
I invite those Jamaican family members who are Sabbath Keepers, to examine the issues
fore raised and express a formal view in a manner which is in keeping with both form and
traditions. Let it not be said that you have failed to be your brothers keeper and that you
did not look beyond your plates. Such an attitude and approach are in keeping with the
Morgans and Fletchers of Jamaica.

I am;
Basil Fletcher

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Urban Pasturing In Portmore, St. Catherine

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Farming On The Bnk Of A Storm Drain, Portmore, St. Catherine

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 Dr. Kadamawe KNife s Approach Is Correct

Dear Editor;

I would like to lend my support to the position taken by Dr. Kadamawe KNife in the
article entitled KSAC Not Taking Downtown Market District Seriously as was
presented by the Gleaners staff reporter Andre Poyser, in the Daily Gleaner of Tuesday,
August 11, 2015.

Dr. KNife view essentially one which is pointing out the narrow accounting approach
taken by the KSAC to the administration of the city with particular reference to the
Coronation Market, with significant emphasis being placed on revenue collection and
with little or no attention being paid to the further development of the market district.
This view is verified by the Mayor herself in the article Criminality Affecting Fee
Collection In Coronation Market which appeared on the same page in the Daily Gleaner.

Dr. KNife in presenting his views, pointed out the poor management of the hygiene
situation in and around the market, and questions the contribution made by the Mayor to
the development of the facility and the area.

It is my view, that Her Worship the Mayor has failed to grasp the relationship between
underdevelopment/ urban decay and criminality. It is very difficult to avoid criminality in
any large center where goods are sold and significant amount of money is exchanged,
wherein that facility or center is located in a sea of unemployment and social
marginalization. Dr. KNife was at pains to point out that monies collected from the
vendors as fees are not used in to develop and administer the market district; what Dr.
KNife did not say, is that this situation is very much akin to a very productive cow
producing milk which is used to feed other calves at the expense of her calves, hence her
calves end up being malnourished and underfed.

Some years ago, under the Golding administration during the period of another Mayor, I
pointed out that the waste generated by the market district could be used to produce
compost for sale, now I would add that it could also be used to produce methane gas for
the production of electricity for usage in and around the market. The Jamaica Railway
Corporation has a very large and unused or greatly under- utilized premises very close to
the market a location where both methane powered electrical generation and compost
could be produced. Secondly, funds available under the Jamaica Emergency Employment
Programme, the Constituency Development Funds and market fees could be used to get
this production center off the ground, hence creating a new revenue stream while
addressing the triplet environmental hygiene and solid waste management
unemployment and crime .

Perhaps, unlike Dr. KNife, I have come to the conclusion that our elected officials really
do not care about real development and improving the lot of the those in need above and
beyond that which is required to retain power. The empty JAMITEL building on North
Street which could be used as a Technology Center and Business Incubator by both the

63
University of The West Indies and The University of Technology and thus reducing the
level of unemployment among university graduates bears witness to this fact.

Basil Fletcher

The Pollution Of Beauty

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End Of Work

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