**************************************************** **************************************************** *** *** *** THE PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER *** *** *** **************************************************** **************************************************** Newsletter: Number 07 for 2005 - Edition 1 Publication Date: February 7, 2005 Title: After the protest (KR) Editor: Kennedy Reid Subscribers: 188 Sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/portmore_newsletter/ Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org Web site: http://www.portmore.org Phone: 876-320-7343 CONTENTS ======== 1. The Highway2000 Street Protest - Kennedy 2. Someone please help these persons! 3. KINGFISH at Portmore Chamber of Commerce 4. Reactions to the Higway 2000 protest 5. Puppet Show - Jean Small 6. A gay Jamaican - gay male 7. Disappointed with the content of the website - Renatha Francis 8. Disaster management - Sherine Bailey ############################################################ 1. The Highway2000 Street Protest - Kennedy ############################################################ Dear readers... The Highway 2000 street protest took place as scheduled and it made head lines in the media. Sadly, the Gleaner Newspaper's Sunday headline was a real editorial manipulation of the public. One was lead to believe that the Minister of Transportation called the protesters "liars".. Shame on the Editors!! On the other hand, the Minister should be ashamed of himself for claiming that the protesters were being unreasonable. It was he who did not respond to a demand for a meeting in time and then wanted the protest canceled at short notice. On the matter of whether or not the Chairman of the Joint was threatened. It was something whispered about, but not confirmed. While most protesters were ordinary citizens letting their voices heard, some local opposition politicians participated "too enthusiastically". I suppose that's the nature of politics. If the shoe were on the other foot .... ON THE POSITIVE SIDE The citizens got a chance to vent their dissatisfaction and the authorities now know that this matter needs to be addressed. The point was made. There were about 200 - 300 persons in attendance. The participants were animated and festive, except for a moment of silence for the victims of the St Mary murders. Motorist blew their horns in support. Well, let’s see what occurs next... Pictures of the protest are on the website so do go and have a look! www.portmore.org On another matter... There is a section in this newsletter for people who write asking for all sorts of information. Would you, my readers, be so kind as to assist them with answers? Kennedy ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 2. Someone please help these persons! ############################################################ Subject: Awnings "R" Us Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:00:13 -0500 From: "Denise Clayton" Hello, I am interested in getting an e-mail address for the above company listed on your website. Thanks! Denise ______________________ Denise Clayton Deputy Director Philadelphia Safe and Sound 1835 Market Street Suite 420 Philadelphia, PA 19103 dclayton@philasafesound.org (215) 568-0620 (215) 568-0745 (Fax) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "nadine hamilton" To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Looking for someone Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 15:46:36 -0500 Hi there. I'm not sure how you can help me. I am looking for someone that lives in your community. He lives in Gregory Park. It there some way that I can be forwarded a copy of the phone directory for even give you the name to get in contact with this person. From what I understand he is a well known man in the area, he goes by the name of Micheal Barrett. Any help that you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you in advance, Nadine Mckoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 19:22:53 -0000 From: "tera_hylton" To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Subject: Need Some Info. I send a email to you last week and you responded. It was about Population Growth in Portmore and the effect this have on the Mangroves Environment. You told me you could'nt assist me,but you told me to go on NEPA website. Well i go on NEPA website and I did'nt get any information. Can you please assist me with some more website that you think i could get some information on this topic. Your early reply will be highly appriciated. Thank You. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 12:56:29 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Message from Front page From: Louise Valle Kindly provide a street address and mailing address for the Mayor's office. Thanks you louise.valle@cwjamaica.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "Lyn" To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: land registeration Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:07:10 -0000 Lyn wrote: Is this the right email address for caribbean housing finance corporation limited. I have an account that I would like to close for my Vanzie land in Trelawny. If not can you email me the right address........... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 16:20:16 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Message from Front page FROM kerajm@yahoo.com I don't really have any comments but I was wondering if you could inform me of any agency that would be able to supply me with information on the Newlands community in Old Portmore. I would greatly appreciate this help. On second thoughts, I do have some comments or suggestions rather. Would it be possible to make available infofmation or a listing of the different organisations and agencies responsible for the developments and activities in Portmore? If this is already a feature of this website, please let me know. In the meantime I am looking forward to a favourable and helpful response. -S. Watson from Greater Portmore ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Someone please... Please help these persons for me! Kennedy ############################################################ 3. KINGFISH at Portmore Chamber of Commerce ############################################################ From: "Millicent Lynch" Subject: Portmore Chamber Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 13:01:19 -0500 Karen can you send this out to all Community Leaders and also inform tham that an Information Officer from KINGFISH will be our guest speaker at our next meeting to be held at Lions Civic Centre on Thursday, February 17 at 2:00pm Please be prepared to ask questions on the Security of our communities. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 4. Reactions to the Higway 2000 protest ############################################################ Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 07:46:54 -0800 (PST) From: Leisa Hi Kennedy I did not know about the protest until after it was held. I did not received that newsletter with that information sorry I missed it Leisa Westmeade ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "Andrea L" Subject: RE: [deleted] Protest is still on (KR) Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 13:30:46 -0500 Hello (again) Kennedy: Oh...I so love when people have the ability to remain objective. Sooo many of us don't know that word... Thumbs up to you Ken for saying it as it is...this isn't a PNP or a JLP issue.... it's a PORTMORE issue....together we stand for one cause, the cause for fairness; and the cause not to be bullied into using a route that doesn't make sense... I hear so many persons saying they will be supporting it...because it is sooooo wrong. The Causeway was used as a promotional tool for the Portmore houses... "drive via Causeway and it's only 1/2 hour to Half-Way-Tree and Town".... do you remember?? It is sad that it has to come to this. The Government really should've made every attempt to resolve this. We should not be bullied or 'bamboozle' into this... One Love!! Andrea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 14:28:25 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Message from Front page From: [Email adress withheld - call 320-7343 for it] I find this site very useful. I do believe that Portmore residents need to present a unified position on the issue of the toll road and its alternatives. I was unable to make the toll meetings because I was pregnant at the time, and even now with a young child, it is not always convenient for me. However, I am an accomplished researcher/analyst and would like to volunteer my skills in helping the Joint Council to conduct polls, surveys etc among residents, in order to cement our position when we negotiate with the government. Currently I am the Senior Research & Planning Analyst with [company name deleted] and prior to that, a research analyst with [company name deleted]. Please let me hear from you. Cecile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "Ann Marie Ellis-Bowen" To: portmore_newsletter-owner@yahoogroups.com Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 20:13:44 +0000 Hello Kennedy, I recently signed-up but I cannot seem to remember my yahoo password so of course I cannot access the yahoo groups. I would like to use your medium to express my support for the protest march which is planned for tomorrow. I will not be able to participate physically, as being a Seventh Day Adventist precludes such activities on Sabbath. Be that as it may, I would like for you to express my support to the organizers. I am particularly impressed that placards wil be pre-prepared and I do hope these will be of a quality - the message and the appearance - of which we all will be proud. I am also happy that efforts will be made to keep the politicking off the Agenda. This type of thing tend to harbour a particular croud which could make our strong cause seem baseless. I personally feel strongly about being provided with a viable alternative route - It is preposterous for the authorities to even suggest that Mandela Highway should be the alternative. Has anyone invited them to try to get onto the Mandela Highway presently on a morning when there is real traffic on that road? If it is so bad now, what would happen if a greater number of persons were forced to use it. You know what I find extremely cold and unfeeling - the Prime Minister's statement that "progress comes with a price" - yes we all know that progress comes with a price and we too want progress. But how dare he, even insinuate that they must take from us what we already have and then tell us we must now pay a higher price for the same commodity - whether we can afford to or not. Granted, it may not have been said in response to a portmore resident's complaint, but it is just as applicable. Personally, I believe this government has grown so arrogant - it feels it can do anything without having to account to anybody. This is most untenable. Anyway - After all that, I will reiterate - My full support goes to the organizers. If there are any protests on Sundays or any other day - I will definitely be there. I wish to contribute to the dialogue when I can. New Member Annie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 12:27:52 -0800 (PST) From: "LEIGHTON COX" Subject: ONE BRIGHT DAY To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com And it was written in history …. It was a great morning on Saturday 29th of January 2005 , when the “Portmoreridians” slaves of the sunshine city of Portmore , came out to protest and defend the rights they had to a road named the causeway. And as I stood in the mist of the crowd, it came home to me, this is what my forefathers had to fight for “ equal rights and justice” how could I belief such a foolish notion or thought that slavery was abolish . My rights to a road which I had traveled on for many a years, was being trampled on and kicked aside. And as I stood with my fellow “Portmoreridian” slaves gazing into the rising sun from the east as if in a daze, I could have sworn I saw the head image of my Hero “ Bob Marley” imprinted and patterned in the sun’s rays, and he said If there was even one protester here this morning I would have stood up with you and shouted aloud “GET UP STAND UP, STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND DON ’T GIVE UP THE FIGHT” As consciences came back to me from gazing into the sun, I saw in the distance a Rasta man passing by saying “ Defend uno road people” and in a sigh of content I said thanks for the sign Bob. As I left the protest trodding the road back to the Portmore mall, I felt a sense of freedom and democracy “ the right to choose”. I then began to hum a tune that came to me “ To the Privy we shall go!!, To the Privy we shall go!! , Hay Oh the Cheery Oh !!To the Privy Counsel we shall go”. PS I have already framed my $500.00 dollar note in a glass picture frame, and when the time is right I will break it and remove my $500.00 note and contribute it , for legal fees to the defense of the Portmore Causeway at the Privy Counsel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 18:38:44 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Message from Front page We need to stop the Govement from taking away our's road from us.even if we need to go to the Court the Higest Court Andrew Holmes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "James, Andrea" To: "'kennedyreid@yahoo.com'" Subject: PEACEFUL TOLL PROTEST Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 08:21:25 -0500 Hi Kennedy, Thanks for helping to spread the word. We are trying to inform as many persons as possible. Via Public Address System Flyers E-mail, Word of mouth. I'm imploring your readers to print a few flyers and distribute in their communities to assist in spreading the word. Hoping that All of us as Portmore Residents will joint this Protest and Let our voices be heard. Where in the World, Residents pay to enter and exit their communities????? Without a suitable Choice!!!!!! By the way your notes from the Council meeting was very informative. I read it at our citizens' association meeting on sunday and the residents had many questions. Councillor Wheatley clarified some of the concerns and the others will be forwarded to Mayor Lee. Keep up the Good work and by keeping us informed. Andrea James Portmore Pines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 09:34:13 -0000 From: "cstanberry" At this point, without a proper terms of reference, I expect very little from this proposed jesture - a street protest. I propose, however, that the better thing to do is to insist that our MP table this matter of the municipality and highway2000(portmore leg) bin parliament and do some work, for .....sake. Why is the joint citizen assoc. and the ministers fraternal doing another's job? Based on the facts, however, I believe we simply need to lobby the gov. through the proper channels of course, to offer consession to the portmore people for the removal of a free and primary route. My vehicle, or the type thereof, is netting for the gov. $60 between Spanish Town and Mandella and is in no way comparative to the relatively shorter distance the causeway totals. Any rate therefore to be comnsidered has to be 30% of the above figure. Now, let me make another case or simply asked some questions: 1. Are there provisions to widen the roadway between Bayside and T-Junction? The least the gov. could do is to improve on this space in anticipation for the increased traffic after d-day. 2. The heavey trucks are presently damaging the roadway leading to the mall, how will this be corrected, or by whom? 3. How will our motor cycle & bicycle users be provided for? I have heard complaints of discomfort already coming from persons who have to attend (on foot) to work along the "port henderson"/" back road" strip. Quite frankly, the goverment has gone about this thing the wrong way. Apart from little or no information to the public regarding design,and workflow, one has the sense that Jamaicans are viewed by the Gov.in the same it did 40 years ago. The portmore community has one major doorway, the causeway, because the others are littterally shut during periods of heavy rains, and this final door will be opened only after subscription to the dictates of the beast. The reality is clear, $600, $60 or $6 (666), the latter six being the "eye of the needle" called a round-about by "High-95". The future is bright only for those who will opt to take the "narrow" way. Regards, Claude Stanberry ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 5. Puppet Show - Jean Small ############################################################ From: "jean small" Subject: Puppet Show in Portmore To: webmaster@portmore.org Kennedy Please help me advertise this show in teh Portmore newsletter. Thanks Jean Small ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Mrs. Small, The show was this weekend... I am sorry the newsletter missed the date!!!! Please do not hesitate to let me know the next time it shows. I am also sorry my kids missed it! Kennedy ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Jade Vine We have a wide assortment of gifts for your loved ones in Jamaica. Call 876-939-1656 or 876-704-9723 to place an order. jadevine@anngel.com.jm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 6. A gay Jamaican - gay Male (Name changed) ############################################################ Hi Kennedy.. On the matter of Jamaica's reaction to homosexuals, really this is becoming too much. I can tell u, I think that wat this ostracised group is dying for is some RIGHT TO PRIVACY, RIGHT TO FAIRNESS AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN BEING AND FREEDOM FROM PERSECUTION. I dont think they are actually rallying to IMPRESS HOMOSEXUALITY ON THE JAMAICAN SOCIETY. Which wise person really thinks that homosexuals really want to lure others on their side. Listen this is banal. There are other important issues in life. On the matter of created or learnt behaviour, WHO THE HELL WOULD WANT TO LEARN THIS SEXUALITY IN A SOCIETY THAT IS SO HOMOPHOBIC? Certainly not me... from mi a pickney I have been this way. So I think the researchers should look into the possibilities more. There are talks about moral culture and habits. Now, wow, do you really think that homosexuals have a campain to demoralise the society? And if the sexuality is inherently demoral and ungodly, has the bible given the right for any man to take the innocent life of another brother? Does that give the right for violence against homosexuals? TALK ABOUT MORAL AND LEGAL JUSTICE. I guess everyone wants to **** batty man, and when when somebody else **** his/ her family wid a knife or a gun, that's injustice. I mean, it's like saying HITLER IS A DECENT RATIONAL MAN; HE DID NOTHING TO ME. HE DIDN't TOUCH JAMAICA! And look at the DOUBLE STANDARDS some more, Jamaica is such a religious moral society, yet there is such a high level of crime and violence? Where is the church and wat is the church doing or not doing to be so ineffective in creating breeds of barbarians who were once innocent children? " Unu don't like man who soft"! Maybe if people were a bit "soft" then we could feel the implications of this quality: values; decency and compassion, instead of, roughness and brutality, murder, violence etc! Look at those issues, quite frankly i think for many homosexuals, their sexality is not even their entire life nor is it their entire preoccupation. Yes it might be hard to find true luv ( a situation arisen from the paranoia against persecution, need to hide, disgrace from social identity etc), but they too are focused on living and striving like any other hetero "normal" person. For that reason, I'd propose to the wider society (whether straight, bi, gay or some other form) to just drop the whole wanton barbarism and "immoral" deviance against homosexuals; look at more important issues: children are dying, crime, vioelnce, sickness and disease, education and hope. Leave homosexuals in peace and privacy. In so doing the society would even award itself the decency of a rational mentality. A mentality to be tolerant towards, per se, even two heterosexual male friends who go walking down the road having a good time without fearing that someone will judge them. Save themselves from the stupidity to look on others and judge who they are based on " wat dem wear, dem walk, dem look etc.". I tell you Jamaica needs to save itself from this craziness and fatigue...I really think this is stress for everyone.... even for hetero because for example,"people jus foolishly fass and believe seh dem must hav the right to judge others and discriminate violently". Well, for that, one slap in the judger's face from this, their imbecillic behaviour. WATS THIS ******* PARANOIA?! Well you know if you all keep this up it's not gonna solve the problem. For example, wives, ladies it's your carming gentle man and husbands who r gonna continue to end up in another man's bed: a clandestine affair based on fear of persecution and lack of facility to have confidence and pride 'if their is a case of identity crisis).It's the shotta who ends up at a party and having the boys going wild. And don't anyone dare to blame homosexuals for this lure into the "immoral cliques". Every man has his responsibilty. So they r there in it not because someone invited them. And which homosexual fool or crazy dood is going to go up to an heterosexual ....esp. shotta demanding for a relationship or crusing... in Jamaica... in a madly homophobic society? Where's the logic that it is homosexuals who are impressing this thing on "real men" in society? Maybe dem fi start check out the "real men" because, can I tell yu, they (the "real men") are the ones who probably "a look di batty man dem". Probably? Well, you might say then that this is not a fact. And so I will simply add that, maybe the " real men" are not really "real" after all. BLAME THIS SAHADY BEHAVIOUR ON THEIR IDENTITY CRISIS, YOU, THE HETEROSEXUAL HELP TO BREED! And hey, everybody in every corner of socety knows that this is true! Man a pose up seh dem straight, but si dem behind closed door! WHAT A PIECE OF HYPOCRISY! So within this atmosphere of violence and paranoia I go walking down the streets of Kgn and I think "anyone here walking about could be gay, yuo know? Big deal! Moving on! Listen, Iv'e got my deadlines, my bills to pay, my debt, money and work to gain... and with all this, there is no infrastructure and facility to achieve all this. Look around at the misery. Look, look, look. MOVE ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC. THAT WILL CHANGE A MENTALITY, A CULTURE, A MORE IMPORTANT DIFFERENT SITUATION.BROTHER MAN EASE AND SETTLE AND BE NICE TO YOUR OWN. ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Dear Gay Male, As you know... I do not support the gay lifestyle and Unlike what the Americans preach, I believe that members of a society DO have the right to judge each other.... or we would not be a society. Homosexual behavior is a threat to the norms on which most societies have been built and is therefore discouraged. The idea that homosexual behaviour can not be learnt is untrue because it is "learnt" behaviour in all prisons! Indeed, any "pleasure seeking" activity can be learnt if the individuals dare to perceive it and the circumstances encourage it....even bestiality. (learning is mostly subconscious... education is deliberate. Learning begins from before birth) This is why I strongly oppose homosexual exposure to teenagers as "acceptable"... this is the age of sexual experimentation and orientation for life. And I firmly believe that you become what you practice! It is said that Rev. Jimmy Swaggart started his career of consorting with prostitutes from an early age. He tried to kick the habit but it ended up disgracing him. In the same way, drinking alcohol is a learnt behavior.... most drinks taste badly. While I believe that gays should be left alone.... I'm not convinced that this is what they want. the gay groups are not just looking for the right to be left alone, but to demand acceptance and affirmation. If the Americans legalises gay marriage, then gays will demand a place in the public square. They will impose "acceptance" on the American people with the force of law behind them. Next, they will demand that indebted states, such as Jamaica, accept them or face not receiving US tax dollars! ( I wonder if this is the mark of the beast?) Anyway... Enough. You, and all the other gay persons on this list, are still my friends, although we do not agree... Walk good. Kennedy PS... I know you are angry, but do cut out the curse words, or you will not be published again.. OK. ############################################################ 7. disappointed with the content of the website - Renatha Francis ############################################################ Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 21:48:08 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time) From: "Renatha Francis" To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Re: Portmore Website Sir/Madame, I was recently browsing the net and came across your website. I am a Jamaican from Portmore who now resides in the United States. While i appreciate the fact that you took the time to develop a website that 'Portmor-ians'' and wider Jamaican's can visit, i must say that i was rather disappointed with the content of the website for several reasons. 1. Though Portmore is still a new city, i feel that the website did not accurately capture the city's tradition. For instance, Hellshire beach and the many fish places and those who prepare some of the best seafood meals should have been captured. This i believe, would be a real attraction to Jamaican's abroad and to foreign tourists alike. There seemed to be no thought put into the content and what it was designed to say about the city and to whom. 2. The section on "Mature Topics", (title and content) seems displaced, mundane and largely uneventful. One does not get an idea of what message you are trying to convey, if any. 3. In your "Endangered Plants of Jamaica" section, you featured one plant twice - duplication does not seem necessary. There is much more that could be said about the content of the site. I am sure i am not the only Jamaican who was disappointed as to its content. I leave you with a few suggestions: 1, Define your target audience - if the objective is to bring attention and attraction to the city of Portmore, perhaps it can be done in a more cohesive and coherent way and in a way that attracts positive attention. 2. Pay attention to what is put into the website so as to avoid duplication and the attraction of negative press. The World Wide Web is accessible to the world - perhaps showing a burnt out Portmore Mall, Protests and an alleged 'Car Thief' to the world, may not be exactly the type of attention you want to showcase. All in all, your website needs serious revision and reconstruction. As Jamaican's abroad, we would rather have no website at all than to have a haphazard and disastrous one that reflects poorly on our country and city. Sincerely, R. Francis ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Renatha, Thanks for taking the time to make such extensive comments. and I noted your concerns with some consternation. However, I quickly got over that!!! In fact I am very satisfied that the site does exactly what I intended... I am having fun and others are being informed! I will leave it to other Portmorians to create a "tourist" site, and to the municipality to create the "official" site, but my site is about community matters, issues, and development as haphazard and disastrous as it may be. I am very excited that you can speak for 'Jamaicans abroad'? Are the 3 million of you really coming to the site? WOW!!! With that many visitors I might finally make some money off this thing! Until then... It stays up! I hope some builds the site you desire. Kennedy Reid ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Jade Vine We have a wide assortment of gifts for your loved ones in Jamaica. Call 876-939-1656 or 876-704-9723 to place an order. jadevine@anngel.com.jm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 8. disaster management - Sherine Bailey ############################################################ From: "Sherine Bailey" To: "'kennedyreid@yahoo.com'" Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 17:06:36 -0500 Hello Kennedy, I am presently doing a research on disaster management in Portmore. It is possible for me to get the document on the website on portmore ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Dear Sherine, Yes, just use the search feature on the site. Interestingly I attended the Municipal Disaster Committee meeting today. At the end of the month Mayor Lee plans to invite Citizens to discuss this and other matters. Do call Ms. Karen Kennedy a the municipal office and express your interest. Mr. Omar Afflick from ODPEM was the special guest speaker on Earth Quake disasters in Portmore. RJR and TVJ were there asking questions. He stated that the chances of the tsunami in Jamaica was very low. Portmore needs to be prepared at the state, community and individual level for earthquakes. The mayor stated that we are more prepared for hurricanes. Later it was noted that the plans for the Portmore Disaster Management Center are well advanced. The representative of the Greater Portmore Group, which 1st came up with the plan, stated that they are looking for matching funds from the municipality as they had sourced a grant of $380,000 from the NHT for the project. Other topics included the mosquito problem and the defective sewage plants in Portmore. But do get involved! Kennedy [--------------------THE END OF ENTRIES-------------------] Legal Notices - Please read 1. This newsletter makes NO guarantees of accuracy nor authorship. 2. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, and do NOT represent the views of any Political Party or Community Organisation. 3. Commercial publication of this newsletter needs the express consent of the webmaster in writing. 4. Copy Rights are owned by Kennedy Reid General Notes - Please read 1. Please copy this newsletter to as many persons as you may, However, please do not alter the contents. 2. To read our past newsletters go to http://www.portmore.org/newsletters/index.html 3. This newsletter is an open forum so please feel free to send us your contributions. We do NOT edit your letters, but may delete sections that can not be published. Deleted sections will be noted. Private e-mail addresses are deleted from letters and, if you ask, we will delete your name also! The Webmaster may comment on your contribution, but reserves the last word for you. Write to webmaster@portmore.org or rhouse@cybervale.com 4. Comments made in this newsletter should be taken in a light manner as the style of this newsletter attempts to be humourous. "Why be ordinary?" - KR [--------------------------THE END--------------------------------]