US President Barack Obama in Trinidad for the 5th Summit of Americas

The eagle has landed!



Caption: 'Liberty American Bald Eagle 1'
Photo by grytr and posted on Flickr.com

US President Barack Obama is, due to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Organisation of American States (OAS)5th Summit of the Americas.

The first Summit to be hosted the in Caribbean since its inception in 1994, the three-day event, in which the new US President Barack Obama is expected to participate, has been welcomed in many quarters as catalyst for change in the relationship between the region and the United States.



Caption: President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009
Photo by egad apparel on Flickr.com

This perception is due in large part to Obama’s platform speech on change which a number of Jamaicans, and Caribbean citizens, have taken to include a change or improvement in the relationship between the super power and the region.

The possibility of a dawn of a new era – “Obama change” is alluded to The Gleaner article Obama promises much published today, Friday April 17, 2009, which states “ A new day in the relationship among the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean could dawn today when the fifth Summit of the Americas begins in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Timeline

• The Summit is being held under the theme: ‘Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Stability.’



• The working session will begin tomorrow with bilateral discussions to be followed by the first plenary session which will address the topic ‘Human Prosperity.



• The region’s heads will continue discussions during lunch, examining the topic of Environmental Sustainability. Plenary Session two will address Energy Security. This will be followed by the plenary session on Democratic Governance and Public Security.



• On Sunday, the heads of government will be in retreat after which it is expected that the Declaration of Commitment for Port-of-Spain will be signed.

The "Dagger" , freedoom of the press and Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica

Several weeks ago I was on the UWI bus from Portmore to campus, listening to my usual fare of love songs as chosen by the driver, when one girl responding Anita Baker's "Giving you the best that I got" sighed and said they do not make songs like that anymore - I laughed.

The girl and her friend eyed me suspiciously. What was so funny their eyes said and I responded, "No they don't they make songs like that anymore," I said. "They make 'Daggerin'". That was when the conversation really took off. The two ladies chimed in they were happy that it was banned by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica(BCJ) and were pleased that the latest hit Vybz Kartel and Spice's "Rompin Shop", for which the duo earned an EMA award, was also on the chopping block.

The announcement of the ban was reported on in The Star on (February 07, 2008). The article titled "Daggerin songs banned" stated that the BCJ had put a ban on the playing of "daggerin" songs and songs that require "bleeping" on all radio and television stations, including local cable channels "with immediate effect."

In a release which described the state of the Jamaican music industry as rife with a "a deluge of inappropriate content on the airwaves," the BCJ widened its scope of the use of "inappropriate" content to include, "any recording, live song or music video, which promotes the act of "daggering", or which makes reference to, or is otherwise suggestive of " daggering" and makes it clear that operators who do not comply will be dealt with accordingly.

I will tell you honestly. While the beat of songs such as Daggerin an Romping Shop do not really bother me - because of their catchy nature - the words, especially Romping Shop lyrics does. But even so, perhaps because I am doing a course in Media and Ethics and we are concentrating on rights and freedoms such as freedom of expression, from the moment I read this article I could see the storm a brewing.

And in indeed it has begun.

I have found myself either in conversations about the banned songs or freedom of expression or have been privy to conversations on the topics.

Here are some of the comments: (I have chosen not to identify the persons)

1. "I do not know what is the big deal because every year dem broadcast carnival live on tv"

2. "There is nothing wrong with our music. It is wrong with our censorship. I should not be going to a stage show and seeing a child at the front early in the morning."

3. I remember when I was young I would have to steal and listen to Yellow Man and Athony B and years later...these (Daggerin) songs on the radio."

4. "At this rate nothing can't play pon radio"

The above comments were taken from conversations I either participated in or was a party to. What are you views?

Obama-change

“Change has come to America,” Barack Obama [1]

By becoming the first African American to be elected President of the United States of America Barack Hussein Obama II epitomises “change” not just change in the American political landscape but a change in the mindset of Americans. A black man has become the 44th President of one of the most historically racist countries in the world; he has been embraced by both the black and white community. It is almost as if the words of orator Martin Luther King, Jr. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal[2]” had come to life. The American society, while race was still and issue for many, suddenly was not as myopic as once perceived. Indeed, “change has come to America”.

This change was not limited to America, Obama has through his great speeches, changed the mindset of the world. To truth of this statement is seen even today when one comes across a Barack Obama t-shirt, Obama family photographs on sale and the seamless insertion of the catch phrase “Yes we can” into daily conversation. So strong was his impact that he was labelled a “rock star” because of his ability to pull large audiences during his campaign[3] - everyone wanted to hear him speak and for those who could not be there in person they closely followed the media. His pull is strong even now, months are being elected and days after being inaugurated on January 20, 2009. An example of this is seen in the Jamaica Observer’s January 28, 2009 editorial which states, “For the first time in its 15-year history, the Sunday edition of the Observer’s print run — which was increased by 50 per cent for the occasion — completely sold out, because it offered a free full-colour poster of the first Black president of the United States, Mr Barack Obama.”

This is also seen where a teacher in wanting her students to be exposed to this historic moment took her own television to school so that her class could watch the inauguration ceremony, after which they were required to do an assignment on what it means to them.

It is no stretch of the truth to say Obama has the power to move the world. But how will he use this new found power? Some political pundits are hopeful that he will change some of the US policies towards the region and Cuba. While others have already started to doubt his ability to do what he promising as they say his inheriting an economy in recession means he will only have eyes for the US. I however beg to differ, while he is busy trying to select people who can best assist him to pull America out of recession he is also reaching out to the region. This for me is evident in his upcoming attendance at the fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April. The theme of the Summit is: "Securing Our Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability"[4] at which it is expected that there will be some kind of policy approach post Summit.

While I must agree with Dr. Trevor Munroe, that “Persons expecting special favours for the region will be disappointed" [5]I believe that we should be hopeful that the winds of “change” will blow on the Caribbean.

[1] Excerpt from the election victory speech of President Barack Obama on November 04, 2008.

[2] Excerpt taken from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

[3] See the Jamaica Gleaner Sunday February 01, 2009 section E. Article Obamarley Barack strikes a familiar chord with message of change and unity.
[4] Taken from the Summit of Americas website: http://fifthsummitoftheamericas.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=72
[5] Taken from the Sunday Gleaner article Obama's Caribbean challenge - How will new US president deal with Jamaica and the region? On January 18