Variety of Jamaican Black Castor Oil on the market

Castor oil is a name that is encored throughout the world, especially in the global black hair community. However, what differentiates regular clear castor oil from Jamaica Black Castor Oil (JBCO) is the unique roasting process that gives it a distinct dark color and smell. The castor beans possess ricinolein.

Ricinolein is the chief constituent of castor oil and is the active principle in the use of castor oil as a purgative and solvent for several medically useful alkaloids.

Jamaican black castor oil consists of Ricinoleic acid (a hydroxy monounsaturated fatty acid) that is the primary component of this amazing oil that helps detoxify the skin by promoting blood flow and assisting in collagen production. There are several other uses and benefits of castor oil which are listed below:

1. Probably the most well-known benefit of JBCO is its contribution to hair growth. It is known to be quickly absorbed into the scalp to soothe itchiness and dryness.
   
   
2. JBCO helps to treat dandruff and hair breakage.
   
   
3. As several users can attest, JBCO strengthens and moisturizes the hair shaft, contributing to thicker hair.
4. JBCO may be used to treat acne and chapped lips.
   
   
5. JBCO can also be used to improve beard, eyebrows, and eyelash growth.
   
   
6. Known to be quite effective when heated, JBCO can be used as a massage oil to soothe the skin and relieve muscle tension.
   
   
7. It can be used as a laxative. Simply take a teaspoon of JBCO with a splash of lime juice for almost immediate bowel relief. *

*This is not encouraged. Please contact a doctor for verified laxatives and bowel treatment.   

Tourism vs Culture?

If the question should be asked globally, “What comes to mind when you hear the term, ‘Caribbean’?”, the responses would most likely include ‘sun’, ‘sea, ‘beach’, white sand’, ‘fun’, ‘party’ and ‘food’. No doubt, these would have been accurate since Caribbean culture is known globally and has been incorporated into several cultures around the world.

Since this is known and acknowledged by the governmental bodies in the Caribbean, this makes tourism is a large and vital part of the Caribbean economy. At times, however, both tourism and culture seem to be distanced from each other, with each appearing to take precedence at various convenient times. How should we view tourism and culture for the betterment of our economy and lives? To provide possible answers to this question, one must look at both terms and what each may imply.

Tourism, as defined by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon that entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

This is prevalent in the Caribbean as the personal purpose of recreation brings over 30 million individuals to the region annually. It is a suitable spot for those who want to experience a white sandy beach due to the harsh conditions of the temperate climates in which they reside. Not only are the beaches a popular option but there are several other elements that make a great vacation including magnificent hotels, thrilling adventure-themed endeavors, and unique culture.

Highlights from the Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival

PORTLAND, JAMAICA – Monday, June 27, 2022 - The Maroons honored their ancestors at the 14th Annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference & Festival in a weeklong celebration from June 21-25, 2022, in Charles Town, Portland.

It was hosted under the theme, “Sankofa and the Healing of Indigenous Peoples, Lands, and Cultures”. This event also commemorated the 8th year of the Enstoolment of spiritual leader and “Queen of the Maroons”, Gaamang Gloria Simms, by the Okansi Surinamese Maroons in the person of Gaamang Johannes Ballong.

This has been the first face-to-face hosting since the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. There were a series of events that took place at the Asafu Yard in Charles Town, which includes the Ancestor Quao Spanish River, and online on Zoom.

Events included rituals, greetings, and cultural and academic presentations from various stalwarts in Jamaican history. Participants involved in the celebration included Acting Colonel Marcia Douglas of Charles Town, Charles Town Drummers and Dancers, Rastafari warrioress, Mama Fiyah, Reggae princess, Pam Hall, multiple Jamaican Festival Song competition awardee, Roy Rayon, and Dr Dave Gosse, Institute of Caribbean Studies of the UWI. The general theme was that of acknowledging the past and its importance in directing the future of the Jamaican people.

Tourism Minister of Jamaica - Edmund Bartlett Credit: Rudolph Brown

WESTERN BUREAU:

Jamaica seems set to equal its 2019 tourist arrival figures, with June and July giving strong indications of what Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has tagged as a “strong recovery”.

June 2022 has seen 224,721 stopover visitors to the island, surpassing June 2019, which had registered 222,448 visitors, Bartlett told The Gleaner Saturday, hours after returning to the island from the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism event in Lisbon, Portugal.

This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic closed the country’s borders, decimating arrival numbers, that any month has exceeded 2019 numbers.

Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett and Kenya’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Najib Balala at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference: Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Launch Event held today (June 29) in Lisbon, Portugal.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 29, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has given his support to the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy’s (Ocean Panel) vision of accomplishing a viable tourism economy in less than 10 years.

He was giving the keynote address at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference: Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Launch Event in Lisbon, Portugal, today (June 29).  The Ocean Conference is being held under the theme “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”.

During his address, Minister Bartlett pointed out that “Jamaica fully endorses the goal of the Ocean Panel to achieve a sustainable tourism economy by 2030.”

In reiterating his support, Mr. Bartlett stressed that “the health and sustainability of our oceans are critical to the survival of the tourism industry”, adding that “the role of healthy marine and coastal systems in promoting sustainable tourism is especially worthy of recognition.”

Members of the JDF - Source: News Americas Now

“One love, one heart,
Let’s get together and feel alright”

From the country that the “no problem, mon” motto has sprouted from, seems to alight frequent and senseless crimes, especially murders. The most recent news gripping the hearts of the Jamaican people was the traumatising killing of Kemisha Wright and her four children in Clarendon. The questions that are now on the tongues of every citizen appear to be, “When will it stop?”, “When will the government orchestrate a feasible crime plan?” and “When will hanging return?” However, we must pause to release that the problem with crime in the Jamaican society is everyone’s prerogative. The solution to the crime problem rests within our homes, schools, and communities.

It is said that “the home is where the heart is” and “there’s no place like home.” Indeed, a child spends the first years of his/her life at home where the first stage of socialisation is said to take place. A child is a product of their home as it is easy to tell what happens at home in interactions with children, as they tend to be less filtered about sharing the undiluted facts. This then behoves us to make a conscious effort in raising the children in the homes, not to expose them to harmful content or praise negative behaviours when they are performed. Children, once they reach a stage of understanding, should be involved in the tenets of life and be taught to make a positive contribution to society. When the lyrical content of the music at a two-year-old’s birthday party can be promoting drug abuse, crime, and illicit sexual activities, it is rather inevitable that such a child will grow up neglecting these ideas. When violence becomes a child’s preferred mode of conflict resolution then the problem is now seen outside of the home setting.

Another key component in the upbringing of a child is his/her involvement in the school system. The classroom is a culmination of various ideologies which were developed from the different homes. There now arises a battle of belief systems which continues throughout the stages of education. When negativity and corruption gain societal acclaim, children who have been subscribed to this philosophy from the home, will showcase this behaviour and the element of peer pressure will promote these undesirable behaviours. The teachers are now responsible to ensure that they not only teach from the book but from the heart and help to instil good moral principles. This element too is under attack since some teachers have accepted the popular notion of individuality, where they are no longer concerning with others but themselves. Although one may detest the argument, it is understandable for this reaction since the children have a stronger home base and are unapologetic in attacking those who should be respected, including teachers. As much as the school is responsible, the spotlight is still on the home’s responsibility.

Ian Fleming International Airport - Boscobel, St. Mary

The first scheduled commercial flight into Ian Fleming International Airport since its renovation in 2011 was welcomed yesterday by an official delegation.

As the destination’s tourism sector continues its strong recovery, Jamaica is pleased to welcome the inaugural weekly flight from Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS), into Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, by Inter Caribbean Airways that arrived yesterday, June 16. The new route marks the first time a carrier is offering scheduled commercial air service into the airport since the completion of its renovation in 2011.

The Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who was on site to welcome the flight, added: “Air connectivity is the single most important factor in growing visitor arrivals and building tourism. Therefore, this partnership is key to creating the infrastructure needed to make Jamaica an aviation hub while simultaneously beginning a new chapter in the development of this region of our island.”

In addition to Minister Bartlett, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White, and select local dignitaries were on hand to mark the celebratory occasion.

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort Spa & Casino in the Dominican Republic

I’m taking an evening walk through a winding, palm-lined avenue.

I walk by a cinema and a French brasserie, a luxury goods shop, a cigar and rum lounge and an artisanal coffee shop. Families and couples stroll by as a DJ spins Latin music for the evening. 

This could be the Bal Harbour Shops, or a Spanish village, or a high-end shopping plaza in Palm Beach or California. 

But it’s not. It’s in the heart of an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. 

Tourism minister welcoming first commercial flight at the Ian Fleming Intl Airport

KINGSTON, Jamaica— Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, says a single-visa regime among Caricom member countries should be the next critical consideration in rationalising entry protocols in the region.

“[This is] for touristic purposes and can be provided for visitors coming into your space for 30 days or three days… a simple platform that allows everybody and anybody to apply for a Caricom visa that allows you entry into all the Caricom countries,” the minister said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of scheduled commercial flights into the Ian Fleming International Airport, at Boscobel, St Mary, on Thursday, June 16.

Bartlett said the region needs to adopt a new approach to air transportation and develop new ideas about collaboration, using the support of today’s technology.

Marketing is as important as robots

Almost everyone is supposed to have some knowledge of marketing, whether it be by direct, hands-on experience in studying and practicing the various principles or being a marketing representative or even by being enticed to partake of something that was well marketed. Evidently, the importance of marketing is far-reaching as it educates individuals about things that are important and, in some cases, not important to them. Essentially, marketing describes any venture to promote and sell products and services which means it takes place constantly and, in many forms, since we are always in need of a product or service.

Throughout the centuries, a variety of approaches including strategic planning and a high human effort have been taken to appeal to the targeted audience groups. Presently, with the prevalence of digitisation, flyers, posters, billboards, and town criers have taken an electronic turn. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken a ‘predictive’ stance in our everyday lives, from auto-correct to video recommendations to the brand of water we would be most likely inclined to drink. While this has proven to be a remarkable breakthrough in civilization and technology, the compelling question that arises is, “So, why do we still need a marketing team?”

If an algorithm is able to gather an individual’s information, ascertain such a one’s needs, wants and desires, then market goods and services that are relevant and effective to that person, there would be no need to waste resources on people who have been doing the same thing… right? Wrong. Here’s why.

Regardless of the influx of humanoid robots in this present time, the human element will always be irreplaceable, and the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us that – the hard way. We must remember that it is the human effort that has developed the software through with the algorithms perform. While the principles and practices that are being learnt are effective, stronger technological methods must be implemented to make marketing sustainable. One solution could be for marketers to learn the coding techniques for these computer systems, nodding to even more efficient AI suggestions. It then behoves marketers globally, to apply the very principles of marketing to enhance their personal brand and secure a sustainable career.

Carnival in Motion. Photo Credit: Russ Ensley

All it took was one quarantined pandemic for people to acknowledge their need for diversity regarding entertainment options. With stage shows, parties, and concerts being halted, the need arose to use the abounding online world to provide entertainment that would not worsen the global situation. This highlighted the resilience of the Caribbean people, in using a popular Jamaican proverb, to “tek yuh han tun fashion”.

Caribbean culture has been spread through online platforms mainly with the use of social media. Some of these platforms are Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and the key one being TikTok. Aspects such as language, music, and dance, have lit up a world that seemed to go dull at the onset of the pandemic. Although there are some tenets that we would not want to be highlighted, others have taken these taboo and ostracized beliefs to formulate trendy and appreciated content.

The potential of Caribbean culture to “take over the world” is unquestionable, however, it needs to be encouraged by the various government agencies and given a considerable level of priority. By using our strengths to receive profit, we secure a sustainable economy which benefits the region financially and otherwise. When we tap into the vast potential that lies within the Caribbean streets, then we will recognize that we possess all we need to enhance our situation.

Source: Alethia Campbell