Wednesday, October 9Welcome to Jamaica-Linc
Night-life on pause
Entertainment

Night-life on pause

Oldies Reggae Records When the sun sets in Jamaica the night lights usually go up in clubs and on dancefloors across Kingston and popular urban centres. As Monte Blake reeled off names like Turn Table, Tit for Tat, Top Hat, Stables and El Rancho, which were once located on the Red Hills Road strip, a picture emerged of a vibrant city, a real party town. Truthfully, the entire island throbs with a syncopated beat that is incredibly infectious, reminding us of Bob Marley’s famous words, “When the music hits you, you feel no pain.” Sadly, since March, the coronavirus pandemic has put night-life on pause. Terms like “lock-down” “curfew” and “quarantine” have been fused into everyday language and the consequence is that patrons are robbed of solid interactions and lively entertainment....
Food Quiz
Food

Food Quiz

So you think you know much about Jamaican food and drink? Well let’s test your knowledge of gastronomic delights which are of Jamaican origin. This quiz was put together by our Editorial Team. If you are eating peppered shrimps (“swimps”) which parish are you in? St. Elizabeth 2. Tastee Patty started in what year? 1966 3. One of the most famous patty brands went out of business – what was it called? Bruce’s 4. To make “wash” what ingredients are used?  Sugar and sour orange Gizzada, that crisp pastry shell stuffed with coconut filling, is influenced by the cuisine of ? Portugal
My Hair Journey
Blogs

My Hair Journey

“I am not my hair. I am not my skin. I am the soul that lives within!” – India Arie Growing up I was never ashamed of my kinky hair but it was not something I was proud of, either. The strands just existed on my scalp; nothing great, nothing horrible, they were just there. However, when the teenaged years stormed in (‘que’ my mother’s deep sigh) all that I was interested in - or not – changed. For instance, my BET, 106 and Park obsessions, went into full bloom and the world of Dora existed no more. With all this new exposure came – amongst other things - my dream of one day having straight highlighted hair, popping pink gloss (you know the song) and a giant fan following my every step. Why? Because that was how beauty and being fierce were presented. It also didn’t help that every...
Herbs VS Covid
Health

Herbs VS Covid

Every mother has a stash of home remedies in her kitchen. In mere seconds she is able to whip up a concoction with ingredients such as garlic, honey, white rum, limes, aloe and ginger, to treat household members who may feel unwell. She learnt from her mother about the healing powers of plants, with details of their curative powers being passed down through the generations. Recognized for its biodiversity, Jamaica is home to about 4,000 types of wild plants. More than 300 have been identified as useful herbs.  Those who are old enough may recall the sweet, alliterating sounds of iterant herb vendors who moved through Kingston communities peddling their stock. The lyrics of this folk song may jog some memories.  “She had Man Piaba, Woman PiabTom Tom Fall back and lemon gr...
Going Green In Jamaica
Environment

Going Green In Jamaica

Organic Food, Safe and Healthy Jamaica is going green.  This however, has nothing to do with the September 3 landslide secured by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) which is identified by the colour green. There is a buzz around organic farming which has resulted in a virtual green revolution, particularly in the parish of St. Thomas, where farmers have bought into the idea of finding a more sustainable approach to food production. Traditional farming methods where the ultimate goal was higher yields, have had a negative impact on the environment – creating climate change, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and pollution of important natural resources. No one understands the need for organic food more than Nicola Shirley-Philips, Director of the St. Thomas-based Source...
Name Your Favourite Female Politicians
Archives

Name Your Favourite Female Politicians

Question: Name your Favourite Female Politicians If beauty were on the ballot, the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) would have won the 2020 General Elections hands down. After all, it’s the party that has a real Miss World within its ranks. Lisa Hanna, the precocious teenager who captured the Miss World crown in 1993 at age 18, is still in fine form and many argue that if she dared, she would be a strong contender for the title, even today. But in the world of politics beauty may not count as much. As it turned out the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 48 of 63 seats and Miss Hanna managed to eke out a 31-vote victory to educator Delroy Granston, a last minute stand-in and political unknown. We took to the streets to ask Jamaicans about their favourite female po...
Pastoring in a pandemic
Religion

Pastoring in a pandemic

Bereaved families usually have their pick of persons wanting to be pall bearers at funeral services. A funeral is a community event and neighbours, friends and co-workers usually feel honored to perform this task. However, with covid-restricted numbers in force at funerals, old ways are being eliminated and the situation can get a tad awkward, as Rev. Dr. Devon Dick found out recently. The mandatory 15 attending a funeral were mostly women and when it came time for the coffin to be moved it became a challenge for the women, mainly due to physical inability. As anyone who has ever shouldered a casket knows, it’s not easy. Pastor Dick who has been shepherd of the Boulevard Baptist flock for 30 years, talked about how he has been responding to covid-induced challenges. “Everything...
Breadfruit Bounces Back
News

Breadfruit Bounces Back

Back in the 1950’s there were more breadfruit trees in Jamaica than people. With the population hovering around 1.5 million in the 1950’s, there were about 2.3 million breadfruit trees on the Island. However, the shift to a more urban lifestyle over the decades, meant that women who worked outside of the home became too busy to invest the time to prepare the fruit, by roasting or baking. Besides, taste buds were getting used to imported rice and by-products of wheat and corn, which were easier to prepare. Roasted Breadfruit Is Readily Available At Many Markets And Grocery Outlets Breadfruit’s popularity took a dive, and by 1986, there were fewer than 50,000 breadfruit trees in production. Breadfruit, that dimpled green orb, is a native of Papua New Guinea and was brought to the...