The 2016 Revenue Budget As I See It

Our Finance Minister and the Jamaica Labour Party find themselves between a “Rock” and the IMF. That was the notion, as he (The Finance Minister) prepared to give a presentation on how his government will finance the 2016/2017 budget, in Gordon House Jamaica, on Monday May 12, 2016.  Clearly they need to comply with the restrictions of the IMF deal because they want to gain the credit the P.N.P. got for doing the same thing, (and, don’t forget, remain in power!) while, despite the current economic fragility, keep their “prosperity” promise  (and, don’t forget, remain in power!).  So what do they do?  They, “Phase it in” i.e. raise the Income Tax Threshold from $592,800.00 to 1 million dollars as of July 1, 2016 and then on April 1, 2017 to 1.5 million dollars.  What that does is put monies back into the pockets of all P.A.Y.E. workers; Jubilation! Celebration! Unprecedented!  But, through the back door they have sneaked in a new tax package. Did anybody notice?

In order for us to keep extra pocket money the government will give up approximately 12.5 billion dollars by increasing the tax threshold, and collect from the new tax/revenue approximately 13.5 billion dollars; wow! I’m not so much happy anymore.  In fairness to this government, since their last term in office, they have sought to operate “outside the box” wouldn’t you agree? Even in instituting new taxes. Give credit where it’s due, we never, saw this one coming. If one thinks about it, they all do the same; don’t they? It could be interpreted as putting a band aid with smiley face and bright colours over a sore. It just looks attractive but it doesn’t really cure the wound, it may become worse.

Mama P!  Mama P! She looked really tired, even battle worn, as she was being interviewed after the budget debate. But she’s a real champion of the poor; always speaks on behalf of the poor. She didn’t say much, but it was clear that she said the poor would suffer because of the new tax.  This seems to be very effective if one wants to be heard. When giving a sound bite, insert; “the poor!” or “children have to go to school!”  Example: someone would say; “We want justice; because the children have to go to school,” Or “We poor, so we have to hustle, and sell on the street, we don’t have anywhere else to go cause the children have to go to school”.  Have you ever heard it? The next time the news is on, and there is a demonstration, listen out for it.

Ultimately, it is the civil servants like me and most of you, who feel it hardest.  It is like climbing up a rope from a deep hole with only a couple of feet left to reach the top, and then someone pours oil to drench the rope; two steps forward five steps back. That popular Jamaican saying comes to mind.

Well, as we also say here in Jamaica; “A nine day wonda” Let’s just see.

Tribute To Mom

Like the sunshine to dispel the night or the timely passage of breeze

Mom’s are always there to put her children at ease.

She is never too busy, too weary, or too occupied

To come to the rescue or offer words to guide.

She is up very early and at times very late

But her children can be assured, that it is to benefit their fate.

Sacrifices can’t be too much, prayers she often raise

Protection and her children’s best interest is the duty she willingly takes.

Words are often limited to describe or account her love

But there is one thing certain they are blessings from above.

So Mom you are very special, and for you I’ll always care

and in this heart of mine there is a place where you and I share.

                                    Love U Mom

               

Inspired By The Community

Thanks to the crew at WordPress.com, I’m really enjoying my blogging experience. I’m learning bit by bit, meeting other Bloggers, and getting ideas from other Blog Sites. Saturday’s assignment was to write a post building on a comment on a blog that sparked my interest, then link to the blog. Simple isn’t it? I think so, commendations as well for making the assignments simple, even placing how its done steps and videos, so I appreciate that.

I came across this blog that was exclusively dedicated to introverts. That’s like the group considered as “out cast”? Today’s world, in my opinion, does not cater much for people who are “different”, more often its for the popular or those not “different’. I found this site to be really cool. I thought that’s what friendship is about; feeling belonged, because “no man is an island” no one thrives when isolated from others. The site explained who an introvert is, there are challenges and quizzes for its followers, there is even a test on the site for those unsure what their personality trait is. I was definitely lead to take the test and I received a whole new insight on this kind of personality.

The name of the blog is 61musings.com, the post I was reading was entitled: “success, failure and the drive to keep creating”. The post was also an inspiring one, I thought it was ideal for us bloggers. Give it a view, hope you like it, or maybe it will inspire you to create something beneficial to others like yourself.

http://61musings.com/2014/04/26/success-failure-and-the-drive-to-keep-creating/

 

Coconut Cream Stewed Fish

During Easter Jamaicans eat a lot of bun and cheese, and fish; sometimes it’s steamed, stewed, escovitched, fried even curried. Thanks to Grace Kennedy here’s a sumptuous recipe you can make for your home Jamaican style. Hope you’ll enjoy, the instructions are below. Send a feed back, have a happy and holy Easter.

• 1 can(s) Grace Coconut Milk
• 1 teaspoon(s) scotch bonnet pepper, chopped
• 1 1/2 pound(s) Snapper, cutlets
• 4 whole okras, sliced
• 1 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 tablespoon(s) soy sauce
• 2 stalk(s) escallion, chopped
• 1/4 cup(s) Grace White Vinegar
• 1/2 cup(s) tomato, diced
• 1 cup(s) Grace Vegetable Oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cup(s) water
• 1/2 cup(s) sweet pepper, diced
• 3 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup(s) carrot, diced
• 1 teaspoon(s) Grace Caribbean Traditions Black Pepper

Directions

Clean and wash fish in a mixture of Grace Vinegar and water.

Then Pat dry.

Season fish with Grace Caribbean Traditions Black Pepper and salt.

Reserve 2 Tablespoons of the Grace Vegetable Oil and use remainder to fry fish until lightly browned on both sides.

Remove from oil and drain fish on absorbent paper. Set aside.

TO MAKE CREAM SAUCE:

Heat the reserved Grace Vegetable Oil in a large sauce pan and saute the garlic, scotch bonnet pepper, escallion, onion, carrots, okra, tomato and sweet peppers.

Pour in the Grace Coconut Milk, stir and bring to a boil. Add the soy sauce and continue stirring, simmer for 5 minutes.

Place fish in the coconut sauce and spoon sauce over the cutlets. Cover and allow to simmer for approximately 2-5 minutes.

TO SERVE: Serve with rice and peas and a garden salad.

Difficulty: Easy

Preparation time: 10m

Cooking time: 15m

Serving size 4 people

 

Who I am and Why I am here

Hey bloggers!

I am Rayon Davis a fire fighter living in the wonderful island of the fastest man on the planet also known for reggae, vybz, sun, sand and seas (“Jamaica jus incase u neva kno”). I’m in my thirty’s, married with one very smart, lively and at times moody daughter, we’re Seventh Day Adventists love a good laugh and being around nature and people.

I decided to blog to share my point of view on various topics. Topics that interest me such as relationships, technology and sport; my favourite being football and my beloved Arsenal FC. I ‘ll also share my point of view on current affairs (in Jamaica and maybe other countries if its interesting) I’ll tell a few stories, show some photos, write about my trips, business affairs basically my life happenings. Jamaica is a beautiful island full of ups and downs; I will seek to share this with you, hope you’ll enjoy it and maybe come to visit.

There’s no set target on the regularity of blogs, I’ll work under inspiration. Glad to have you on my journey, feel free to leave a comment, share, like, follow; the power is yours

 http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_assignment/zero-to-hero-1-april2014

The Total Lunar Eclipse

 

 

 

Have a look at how the lunar eclipse unfolded in Jamaica at about 2:30 am Tuesday morning. I took these photos from my roof in Caymanas Gardens Portmore St. Catherine Jamaica. I was still a little dazed with sleep and almost got hurt while climbing to get on top of the roof, but it was rewarding at the end. Isn’t it something to behold?

Hope it’s as fascinating as I found it to be.

 

Arsenal v Wigan FA Cup Semifinal at Wembly

“It all comes down to this”, “this is the moment”, “here lies our destiny”, “Do-or-Die”. It’s that serious. Forget the history, forget the statistics; its right down to the cold reality of performance; who’s up for it, who’s more focused, who wants it more, who makes the least mistakes, and who capitalizes on a mistake. It drives chills down your spine and butterflies in your stomach that after all that has been said and done Arsenal and us fans hang on to this thread thin hope in FA Cup glory as the saviour. This in spite of it being the penultimate hurdle before the finish line; we still have Hull City/Sheffield United to beat in the final if we win.

For tomorrows match against Wigan Athletic I call on players like: Ramsey, Santi Carzola, Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Podolski, Vermaelen (for God sakes you’ve been benched for half the season, show some steel and intelligence you’re the captain of the team). Just come out and do the job tomorrow; it’s time to “throw them monkeys off your backs” (figure of speech) get rid of all the critics. Everybody bring your “A” game, and fans be out in your numbers and support the team; “come on you gunners”.

 

Fifty Challenge: She Breathe Her last breath

Covered with flees and weak, she laid on her death bed. Now memories were her playful greetings, noticeably excited tail wagging and cute attempt at barking. though a pup she surely thought of growing up, raising children and become a faithful servant. That was taken by her own master’s mistreatment.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/writing-challenge-fifty/

Lets Do This Gunners!

Another weekend of English Premier League football is here again, yea!  At the moment though, it is one that we Arsenal fans anticipate with considerable and justified fear. We go to Goodison Park to contest an in-form Everton team who we would rather not be playing at this time. Everton has won the last four (4) league games scoring eleven (11) goals while Arsenal has only won one (1) drawn two (2) and embarrassingly losing one (1). History has been on our side though; we have always had a good result against them; trashing them seven (7) goals to nil and lately won four (4) to one (1). That said and done and despite the feeling, this is the match we need to prepare for, it should be a good contest.

We have come through a run of turbulent fixtures; fixtures that the critics had prophesied would derail our championship ambitions (remember the hullabaloo about February and March fixtures). Regrettably they are now saying “I told you so”. The tables have certainly turned. Once we were the envy of all; sitting on the lofty heights of the premier league table, now we seem to squabble for the spoils of fourth place; the last champion’s league spot (where one would have to qualify to be in). We can still save our season by winning the FA cup. This is a trophy that is within our grasps if the right team plays on the day and we play to our abilities. Then the curse of a trophy drought will be all over, yea!

Looking back at our season though, our performances does not deserve this bitter sweet ending. We have played some gutsy and entertaining football. The league this year has been the toughest yet and we’ve beaten some tough opponents (West Ham, Newcastle  to name a few) even at times when we were not at our best performance; our defensive and scoring record speaks to it. Our mistakes this season has been: not wining when it mattered most (Everton, Southampton Swansea even Chelsea).  We can argue all day: Wenger didn’t buy this and Wenger didn’t buy that, injuries to this player and injuries to that player, but it boils down to who is present; who are the players that need to step up and play the part they came for.

These are the same players that harboured winning intentions in the good times, they need to dig deep and revive that confidence that winners are made of. We have players with the skill, technicality and creative ability to fight and save our season. Fans it does not help when we discredit the team it encourages when we support them; cheer them on; give them the boost.  Six games are remaining, six games to fight, six winnable matches that can cause something to happen if other teams drop points. So come on you gunners, let’s make this happen.

Kartel or Adidja Palmer, Who was on trial?

The iconic dancehall figure Vybz Kartel also known as Adidja Palmer will learn of his fate in the Supreme Court downtown Kingston today. Last week’s sentencing was postponed after Justice Lennox Campbell and the lawyers agreed that certain guidelines regarding sentencing were not yet ironed out: this according to a Jamaica Observer report.

There are mixed views as to whether the self acclaimed world boss’ verdict was deserved, and there may be information as was exposed in the trial to support it. Regardless of the views however the Jamaican court system (which was also on trial) gave a guilty verdict. Therefore the world in hours or less will hear what his, along with the guilty co accused punishment shall be.

While the world may be acquainted with Kybz Kartel very little is known of Mr. Adidja Palmer. This was the person at one point introduced to the court as a family man: a husband and father, the sole bread winner of his household and also seemingly a decent law abiding citizen (Ironically, it is said that he does not expose his children to his music). It appeared to be a ploy by his lawyers to shift the attention from the controversial dancehall personality so that it may not be the basis of judgment. This is also the view portrayed by some in sympathy against his verdict.

The argument though poses some questions: can we segregate the two? Is Mr. Palmer a separate individual from Vybz Kartel? Is he (Mr. Palmer) the innocent victim in this entire saga? If the answers to the above questions are no, then this argument is futile. Surely he (Kartel or Mr. Palmer) would not have been known except for the exploits on stage and in the media. So while he and his lawyers may reason that the image: Vybz Kartel, is the business; which is the entity providing a product or service in exchange for money, he is also the individual who resides in Jamaica, raise a family and conducts business. Note also he has a case to answer about perverting the course of justice relating to this same trial.