SPORTS: Football is life. Long live Chapecoense.

Football is often a screen on to which we project various aspects of our lives.  Some people identify with underdogs and so they follow underdog teams.  Or they simply, in their own minds, turn their teams into underdogs.  Some dream of being titans so they follow larger than life football teams, or they elevate their teams to the level of titans.  It's like love, the romantic kind where you see your lover as a reflection of yourself or a reflection of what your self needs in order to be satisfied with itself.  If you see yourself as a giant or if you need giants in your life you may support a club like Real Madrid, the team of Galacticos.  If you identify with the small man who stands up to any challenge and becomes a giant in his own right you may be a fan of Atletico Madrid, a team with less money than the giants that often beats the giants.

But even with football, as in real life, at a certain point romantic love transforms into something less self-centred, real love.  You stop getting angry with your team when it loses and you start suffering with the players when they suffer on the pitch. You find yourself worrying about their injuries, angry at other fans for berating them and even curious at times about their personal lives and how they are getting along in life off the field.  You get to know their strengths and weaknesses and you become ok with their imperfections.  Your player may have a poor left foot but he's one of your heroes.  And the lad has been with the team since he was a teenager so he is one of our own, you remind yourself.

There's also the camaraderie with other fans.  It becomes one big extended family sharing victories and defeats together.  It becomes bigger than family.  It becomes a community of shared hopes, dreams and visions of the future.  We get together in groups and in forums online to discuss strategy, to discuss team politics, to discuss management and the way forward.  It even evolves beyond that to interaction with fans from other teams discussing the state and future of the game.  And at this point it feels like so much more than just a game.

This is why the expression "Football Is Life" is so popular.  It is a sport that imitates life in so many ways.  At a certain point, the imitation is so perfect it doesn't feel like an imitation anymore.  The passion is real.  The love is real.  Grown men cry over defeats. They cry tears of joy over the victories.  Boys and girls nurture dreams. There's the anxiety, the suffering with your team and even heart attacks.  Weddings have been scheduled so as not to clash with matches.  Work has been skipped.  Life has been disrupted and life has been celebrated.  Football is life.

And that is why so many football fans around the world, even those who never heard of the Brazilian team Chapecoense before today, feel the heart-wrenching loss of this team that perished in a horrific air disaster, yesterday.  The connection that all football fans share through football, the passion for a sport that takes up such a great part of our lives, makes such a tragic loss so relatable.  In football as in life we are bound by our empathy and our identification with each other. In the world of football those traits are arguably stronger than in any other sport in the world.

That is why I am gutted by the deaths of so many members of a football team in one night.  I am gutted for their families, their friends and their fans.  I am gutted by the photographs of fans crying in the bleachers of their stadium in Chapeco, Brazil.  The most striking thing about these images is the fans facing a football field devoid of players, a field on to which they would normally project their hopes and dreams but now only reflects a shocking emptiness.  I feel that sense of loss as if it were my own.

Any one of us who has suffered a great tragedy in our family knows that these days will not pass easily for the people in Chapeco.  The days and nights will be long and hard.  If I could offer any comfort to the fans now it is that life inevitably goes on with the living and how we cope with the past is often related to how we approach the future.  The vice president of Chapecoense has vowed to rebuild the team.  It is a declaration that he and the fans will have to hold on to in order to survive this trial.  It may seem almost pointless in this moment of despair but with time this statement of intent will exercise a kind of gravity to pull the club forward.

The greatest legacy of the players who lost their lives on that flight can be the continuation and survival of the hopes and dreams of Chapecoense.  The players already set this in motion by achieving what many never expected this little team to achieve.  They rose from Brazil's lower tiers of football to reach the highest tier, the Serie A. This year they reached the final of a major international competition, the Copa Sudamericana, for the first time in their history.  They were travelling to play this final when disaster struck.

Hopefully, the club and the fans will now draw on what makes football so great, the fact that it is a screen on to which we can project our human spirit and our aspirations.  May the club rise like a phoenix from the ashes and may all the fans, families and friends live that painful but worthwhile rebirth. May this spirit of survival and achievement be the legacy of those players and coaches who worked so hard to put a little team on the map, a team that was on its way in an airplane to achieving something great.  Maybe the flight to football glory has just been delayed.  Never stop flying because that is what football is all about.  Football is life. Life goes on. Long live Chapecoense.

HUMAN RIGHTS: #JamaicanLivesMatter

We need to turn some of our attention from #BlackLivesMatter in the United States and put more of our attention on #JamaicanLivesMatter right here in Jamaica. There's a lot going on. A lot. Amnesty International has been giving some attention to Nakiea Jackson's killing a couple years ago so I've become acquainted with this particular case. One of the things that struck me is how the police often have an excuse not to turn up in court on the days when the case is being tried. I remember someone who worked for my family many, many years ago had a brother who was shot by the police and the police used to do the same thing every time the case came up in court. Amazing how not much has changed over all these years.  

If you are interested in keeping up to date on police extra judicial killings and other human rights issues in Jamaica you can follow the Jamaicans For Justice Facebook page, and the Amnesty International Caribbean Facebook page.  You can also get some of the background on Nakiea Jackson's killing from Petchary's Blog in 2014.

RT #Time4JusticeJA - Stay tuned for more about human rights in #Jamaica @JAForJustice pic.twitter.com/Z1u1y04yiy

— Amnesty Caribbean (@AICaribbean) November 19, 2016

Killings by the police in our country have caused the relatives to seek justice for far too long. #Time4JusticeJA @AICaribbean pic.twitter.com/OXvpDH1AAe

— JamaicansForJustice (@JAForJustice) November 21, 2016

SATIRE: Jamaica Prepares To Vote For Hillary

Jamaican people have become so obsessed with the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump electoral battle they actually think the election is a Jamaican one, and they plan to come out by the thousands to vote tomorrow. Doris MacPherson, a forty two year old hairdresser living in Montego Bay says she is ready to cast her vote for Mrs. Clinton. She laments the fact, however, that the government has put out no information concerning the location of polling stations in Mobay.

“Mi hear say yu have one polling station out by Bogue,” she says “But then mi hear say dem move it go a Bottom Road.  Dem nuh even tell we what time di poll dem a open, tomorrow. Anju Holness need fi organize himself.”

Apparently, the Jamaican government also believes we will be holding an election and has made preparations. Prime Minister Andrew Holness says businesses and schools will close early tomorrow to ensure that everyone in the island has a chance to vote for Hillary Clinton.

“I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this election.” he stated emphatically “Trump must not be allowed to win.  We can’t afford another war.  We lost thousands of Jamaicans in Iraq and Afghanistan.  No more wars, please. No more.”

When reminded that Jamaica did not fight in those wars the Prime Minister appeared momentarily confused and said quietly to himself  “Raas. Is true.”  Nevertheless, he said this election is still important for Jamaica and can affect other issues like the Mexican immigrants pouring into Jamaica at the border and the future of Obamacare in the island.

Prominent Montego Bay psychiatrist, Anthony Patterson, believes that whatever happens at the polls, tomorrow, Jamaicans will need to come together and heal.  “Its scary!” he points out. “The country is bitterly divided and we are on the brink of civil war. We have 99.9 percent of the population on one side with Hillary Clinton, and on the other side we have reggae singer, Etana.  A Trump victory could mean a war between everybody and Etana.”  When contacted for comment Etana furiously dismissed the press saying “A wha di….Unu really bring up dis ting fi come twist me words, again.  Come outa mi house, now!”

At some point tomorrow night the election will be over.  The campaign which began in earnest last year has taken a severe psychological toll on many Jamaicans.  Some have even declared they can’t and won’t speak about any more politics until the election has passed.  Of course, if Mrs. Clinton loses Jamaicans could find themselves in a very uncomfortable position as new Prime Minister Donald Trump grabs all of us by the proverbial pussy.

SPONSORED POST: Get Ready To Celebrate Restaurant Week With MVP Smokehouse In Montego Bay

This year’s Restaurant Week will take place from November 11 to November 19 and of course MVP Smokehouse in Montego Bay is involved.  Montego Bay’s favourite little eatery for Jamaican cuisine has been included in the “Tasty” category of participating restaurants and the establishment's many regular customers are buzzing with anticipation.

So what does MVP Smokehouse have in store for these eight days of culinary celebration now in its 11th year?  Well, expect a very Jamaican menu, of course, reflecting creative twists on popular Jamaican dishes plus a few international items added to enhance the variety.

The appetizers will feature a Jerk Chicken Mousse with Crackers where spicy meets smooth. A Vegetable Quesadilla and Jamaican Peppered Shrimp make up the other offerings in this section before we start turning our attention to the main course.

Ok, now we’re ready.  Are you a seafood person?  Will you be having the Shrimp in Cilantro Sauce? Or are you going full-on Yardie style with the Jerk Pork, Chicken and Sausage Combo?  You can hold on to that Yardie vibe and step it up a notch in sophistication and creativity with the Breast of Chicken stuffed with Gingered Plantains.  Now, that sounds very enticing.

MVP Smokehouse has always kept vegetarians in mind and the Zucchini Noodles served with a Homemade Puttanesca Sauce caters to the non-meat eaters.  But, if you are a meat lover, come back to the light and enjoy the Barbecued Ribs.  Your main course selections are accompanied by a choice of Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Rice & Peas or Mini Smoked Macaroni and Cheese.

Now, we are at that point where bellies are full but we don’t know how to say “STOP!”.  Yes, we are now in dessert territory.  Space will have to be found for the Sinful Chocolate Cake topped with Strawberry Sauce.  Full stomachs must still rise to the challenge of Banana Bread Pudding Minis drizzled with Creme De Cocoa or make way for the Blue Mountain Chocolate Tiramisu.  You could also choose the Cheesecake Cups topped with Assorted Tropical Fruit as your last hurrah.

MVP Smokehouse has such a faithful following in Montego Bay that its regulars could be called the MVP Smokehouse evangelicals.  Surely, they will consider this week to be even more special than the other weeks of the year.  It will be a Christmas before Christmas so to speak, and if you aren’t an evangelical yet, Restaurant Week 2016 is a very special opportunity to discover this almost religious culinary experience for yourself.

SPORTS: The Evolving Football Game And What It Can Mean For Jamaica

Craig Butler, co-founder and head of Jamaica’s Phoenix Academy of football recently made a very interesting statement in one of his Facebook Live broadcasts, recently.  In referring to how Jamaica needs to collectively approach football in the future he said emphatically that what we need is “Systematic, sustained development with one local culture based on our genetic disposition”.  And what is that disposition?  Butler said “We’re fast”.  I found this statement very relevant and encouraging because of the latest evolutionary trends in the beautiful game.  It comes at a time when athleticism has taken on supreme importance in football.  Not that it was never important before but the current tactical trends in football make it even more so.  

The most important and fastest growing of these trends is Pressing.  Pressing, has always been a part of football but in recent years under coaches like Klopp, Guardiola, Simeone, Pochettino and Bielsa among others it has been taken to a higher level.  Pressing, which is essentially pressuring your opponent into giving up possession has become more intense and varied.  Gegenpressing or counter-pressing, the latest buzz word involves pressuring your opponent as soon as you lose the ball in their half in order to get it back.  Pep Guardiola requires his players to press intensely for six seconds after they lose the ball.  There is the high press as your opponent tries to build up their play in their own half.  There is pressing on the flanks trapping the opponents against the touchline  and of course pressing is also involved even when defending deep with a low block.

Pressing in all its forms has become a dominant tactic in the German Bundesliga with almost all the teams,  It has become prevalent in La Liga and Serie A with teams like Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and Fiorentina to name a few.  In England, pressing strategies are also being introduced under coaches like Klopp, Pochettino and Guardiola.  Now, with Guardiola in the Premiership we have already seen teams like Swansea putting a lot of emphasis on a high press trying to disrupt Manchester City’s possession and build-up play.

So what impact has this had on player development in European football?  Well it has made athleticism more important than ever before.  That doesn’t just mean the ability to be quick and to run.  It means, more importantly, the willingness to run.  Players who are unable and/or unwilling to run are now finding themselves on the fringe of the game.  Take for instance Belgian striker, Benteke, who is undoubtably a quality forward but found himself to be surplus to requirements at Liverpool.  The reason is that he doesn’t fit into coach Jurgen Klopp’s philosophy because he is unable to provide the speed, movement and intensity required for a pressing game.  Klopp doesn’t just want a striker who can score, he wants one who can press and move rapidly.  Recently, we saw where Pep Guardiola said he expects more from his star striker Sergio Aguero.  He wasn’t referring to just goals.  Aguero is a prolific goal scorer.  He was referring to movement and pressing.

Players are now required more than ever to be at peak fitness all year round.  Mauricio Pochettino’s players at Tottenham have alluded to how gruelling they found his training methods to be when he introduced them at the club.  Pep Guardiola has made alterations to the players’ dietary regimen and players who are overweight must train separately until they are fit to rejoin the team.  Diego Simeone is very strict, as well, and has made players apologise to the rest of the team for being overweight.  Endurance and speed are of paramount importance.  This also accounts for teams becoming younger.  Tottenham has one of the youngest squads in England and some people jokingly refer to the Bundesliga this year as a schoolboy league.  Obviously some coaches feel they can get more athleticism from younger players.

This brings us back to Craig Butler’s point on Jamaica’s genetic disposition in football.  “We’re fast”.  Indeed we are an athletic people and this bodes well in an era where football is evolving into a game of greater intensity and pace.  We are genetically suited to pressing.  We have the speed and strength and physical intensity for that kind of game.  The game has also become more refined with concepts such as “positional Play” developed by Pep Guardiola to maximize passing and incisiveness.  Other coaches like Unai Emery, Jorge Sampaoli and Frank De Boer among others are advocates of their own versions of positional play.  But don’t be fooled.  This refined style of play also requires athleticism.  Constantly creating passing angles and “free men” is hard work.  It involves a lot of running.  Pep Guardiola when asked recently what he expected of his players at Manchester City as they learn his philosophy had this to say ““They have all the permissions to play awful.  They don’t have permission to don’t run…”.  Jurgen Klopp has also instilled a brand of play at Liverpool where the forward players constantly exchange positions and roles as they attack.  One makes a run out of his normal position and another makes a run to compensate for that change.  

After describing Jamaica’s genetic disposition Butler went on to say, “We’re fast.  It doesn’t mean kick and run, it means quick thinking”.  Indeed, the complex variations of the pressing game with different ways in which to press the opponent, different reasons to press, different triggers to initiate the press doesn’t just require athleticism it requires quick thinking.  It requires intelligence and by intelligence we mean the ability to be open to and absorb different ideas and concepts.  This is not just required for pressing.  It is required for positional play.  It is required for Jurgen Klopp’s dynamic game.  It is required for greater and more intense teamwork.  

Think about a team like Atletico Madrid, known for incredible defensive discipline.  The ball goes to one side of the field and the whole team adapts to the ball position maintaining the correct spacing and positions with each player knowing who must cover which space and who is allowed to move out of position and when.  Atletico’s coach, Diego Simeone, has refined this to a science.  Pep Guardiola has said he wished all his players could be midfielders.  This is because he wants players who are intelligent in reading all aspects of the game and who are adaptable and willing to play different roles.  That is the new intelligent player in football, today.  Jamaica has a foundation of athleticism from which we can begin to develop intelligent players to fit into the rapidly evolving game.

This development, however, is no easy task.  And Mr. Butler further elaborated on his points by making the very pertinent statement that “It means development.  It means focus.  It means everybody being on the same page with the training.  Coaches being on the same page developing the youth in the same way so that they are all unified in their sense of purpose.  When they go away and come back, they remember everything they were taught before”.  These points cannot be over-emphasised.  Recent successes in national football development in Germany and Belgium can be directly attributed to coherent, coordinated, unified strategies beginning at the very early youth level and up.  If you look at the Jamaican team in this moment, drawing on both overseas based players and local players, the challenge is not easy to create a coherent tactical philosophy for the team.

Even clubs do not find this process easy and it takes time.  Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp both needed about a year to get their teams playing the way they want them to play.  A national team does not have that kind of time to train together.  Whatever the chosen tactical philosophy of the Jamaican team, the adaptation to this new strategy must begin at the ground level and clubs must be encouraged in every possible way to participate or at least be aware of the development of our strategies in order to achieve a unified direction.  Thankfully, pressing has seen more prevalence in the Reggae Boyz’ tactics over the past couple years and hopefully it will quickly form a greater part of Jamaica’s overall football DNA at both national and club level.  In reference to our Under 17 players, Jamaican coach Andrew Edwards recently said "Again our pressing game is like a 12th man for us and we are going to be emphasizing improvement in that area".

Like all fans around the world, Jamaicans want quick results, but it is time we look towards the successful nations such as Germany and Belgium to recognise that the only way out of the football doldrums is hard work, time and unity of purpose.  We may not see improvements right away but we must start right away for real improvements to be seen down the road.  We have at least one clear advantage or bonus and that is our natural athleticism and our versatility in sport.  Hell, we have produced a bobsled team.  We can certainly adapt to all the evolving variations of football tactics with athleticism as our core foundation.  With the current tactical developments such as pressing, positional play and a movement towards a new upgraded version of “total football” requiring every player to participate in all facets of play, this is the perfect time in the evolution of the beautiful game to seize the day and begin something special in Jamaica.

SPORTS: 5 Talking Points From The Manchester Derby

Last weekend’s derby clash between Manchester City and Manchester United lived up to the hype which preceded it in recent weeks.  Manchester City emerged with a 2-1 victory from a game that could have been won by either side.  Here are a few points of discussion we can take from the match, the teams and the personalities involved.

Paul Pogba needs a formation that suits him.

 If Jose Mourinho really means to give Paul Pogba freedom to attack he will have to adjust Manchester United’s formation.  Pogba played the derby as part of a two man central midfield.  His raids into City’s half often left United's defence exposed with his partner Marouane Fellaini struggling to manage by himself against the slick attacks of the boys in Blue.  If Pogba is to be given a license to roam it would be better for him to be part of a three man midfield where his two partners can adequately cover the space he leaves behind.  That is how he played when he was at Juventus.

Neither City nor United are better than the other…yet.

It’s too early in the season to make pronouncements about the greatness of either Manchester City or Manchester United.  City played some amazing football in the first half but Manchester United had their fair share of chances and dominated the second half.  Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, believed the game could easily have gone in United’s favour.  City is still learning to play the ball out from the back and their defenders still have to prove they are world class.  United’s defensive pair of Blind and Bailly was already being referred to as the best centre back partnership in the league, but City’s attack tore them to shreds.  Both teams still have lots of work to do.

Rooney will remain controversial.

The debate over Wayne Rooney’s role in the team will not end any time soon.  Rooney played shifting roles in the derby as Mourinho made adjustments to cope with City.  Some pundits feel he failed to bring anything positive to United’s game.  Others argued that his fighting spirit and energetic play helped United take the game to their opponents. The tackle he drew from Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the box should have earned his team a penalty.  One thing is certain, as long as it is felt that Rooney has to play by virtue of his history in the team, the debate over his usefulness will continue.

Mourinho is the same old Mourinho.

Mourinho is still Mourinho and that means there is always the danger of his personality derailing his team.  Following United's defeat in the game, he said that some of his players were to blame.  His felt a few of them were overawed by the magnitude of the derby.  Mourinho explained, however, that he was the one who picked them and the blame, therefore, was his.  In the language of Mourinho that means “I am blaming the players”.  How his men will react to being called out like that after one of the most hyped events of the season remains to be seen.  Jose Mourinho recently lost the confidence of the dressing room when he was at Chelsea and he lost it at Real Madrid before that.

Pep can be as mischievous as Mourinho…sometimes.

Jose Mourinho is often rightly portrayed as the aggressor or mischief-maker when he clashes with other personalities in the game.  In the infamous rivalry between himself and Pep Guardiola which the Spanish press referred to as "the disease", Mourinho was often portrayed as the villain.  But Pep, despite his nice guy image, has a mischievous side as well.  During the Manchester derby, the ball went out of bounds and Pep held on to it preventing Wayne Rooney from retrieving it.  This sparked a momentary confrontation between him and Rooney after which Rooney good naturedly offered a hand in reconciliation.  This is not the first time Pep has done this.  He did exactly the same thing with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2012.  At the time, Guardiola was coaching Barcelona and they were playing Real Madrid.  The incident sparked a famous confrontation between the players of both teams.

LIFESTYLE: Montego Bay Is Buzzing About Its New Mystic Thai Restaurant

It is often said that if you fail you should pick yourself up and get going again,  but not many people talk about what to do if you succeed.  The answer to that second question is very similar to the first solution - get going again.  This is because the reality of life is that the race never ends.  Growth is continuous, it must always be continuous, and successful people recognize this.

Kareena Mahbubani, owner of the new Mystic Thai restaurant in Fairview, Montego Bay is a shining example of this philosophy.  She has watched her other restaurant, Mystic India, grow into one of the most successful restaurants in the second city.  It took a lot of hard work, innovative promotion and learning from various mistakes to bring it to what it is now.  Not content to just sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labour Kareena embarked on her second project, Mystic Thai.

But it wasn’t just a burning desire to move on to a new challenge that spawned the idea.  “My husband and I are absolute foodies,” she declares. “We travel a lot, and from our experiences we realized that a city the size of Montego Bay should have more quality restaurants.”

Owner of Mystic Thai, Kareena Mahbubani
and her husband Arun.

What materialized from this thought process was a dining experience of Thai cuisine.  The location was selected in Fairview, a popular commercial centre in the western part of the city.  Naturally, word started getting around the various social circles of the town that the aromatic, spicy dishes of Thailand were soon to have a home in Montego Bay.

With most of the restaurant-going crowd already familiar with Mystic India, a restaurant that has become one of the premiere dining experiences in Montego Bay, it was only natural that expectations were high for Mystic Thai.  In the months that followed, Mystic Thai became the most anticipated restaurant in Montego Bay evidenced by the incredible turn-out at its recent opening.

The Mystic Thai Tom Kha Soup

“The response was overwhelming,”  Kareena says with pride but also a sense of gratitude. “We had to turn away so many people, last night, who we simply couldn’t fit inside.  We are so pleased and appreciative of those who came.”

The Thai Green Chicken Curry gets its colour
from green chili peppers

As the days and weeks progress we're sure everybody who didn't get in on the opening night will get their turn.  Diners can look forward to a menu featuring traditional Thai delights such as the spicy and sour hot Tom Kha Soup as well as the Satay Chicken, which features strips of grilled and skewered chicken.  Of course, the Chicken Pad Thai, a popular Thai dish in every corner of the world is one of the restaurants many offerings.  

The Thai Green Chicken Curry is also a must.  In case you're wondering, the curry gets its green colour from green chili peppers.  While you’re at it, you may want to try the Herb Crusted Shrimp and compliment your dining experience with a Lavender or Lychee Martini.    

Mystic Thai's decor features Thai silk lanterns and hand-carved wooden artifacts that bring life to the ceiling.  A water fountain with the Mystic Thai logo of a tree was actually custom-built in Thailand and metal drapes are used to give the dining booths more privacy.  We could go on about the ambiance, the menu and the whole dining experience but the best way to assimilate it all is to dine their yourself.

One can't help but get excited about this new offering in Montego Bay.  It's a breath of fresh air and you can expect the same level of service for which Mystic India has been known over the past few years.  Montego Bay is not just the nation's second city, it is our country's tourism capital, and it is always pleasing to see an expansion of our restaurant scene.  And that brings us back to the topic of growth.  Let's hope more restaurant and bar owners in the city won't just stop at one experience of success but move on to the next challenge, as Kareena has done.  We all stand to benefit from that.

POLITICS: It's Not So Much Trump We Should Fear. It's The People He Empowers And The Climate He Creates.

In the same way that Brexit empowered racists in England which has resulted in an upswing in racism-related incidents, a Donald Trump victory will empower racists in America, it will empower corrupt cops who shoot black men, it will empower bigotry against gays and women.  You see, it doesn't matter if Donald Trump is more racist or less racist than we think he is. I have enough trust in the checks and balances of the United States' system of government to believe that it would prevent him from enacting racist policies or at least extreme racist policies.

What is disturbing for the future of the United States, however, is that by vesting the ultimate position of leadership to a man who has made callous, disrespectful insults and remarks aimed at various ethnic groups and cross-sections of the society, more citizens will feel they have carte blanche to do the same.That is the real danger and it has been made even worse by the clever use and twisting of particular causes and ideas that the more ignorant people, the ones who represent "the least common denominator" of American society are using to justify their racism and intolerance.

We see the Trump supporters championing a fight against "political correctness". Trumps racist remarks are explained away as a defiance of political correctness. We see the Black Lives Matter movement being redefined by Trump supporters as a racist movement, not a movement that is seeking to advance human rights for black people in an area where it is lacking.  The far right redefinition of the Black Lives Matter movement, in particular, is frightening not just for its brazen ignorance but for its potential to aggravate and intensify an already explosive situation. There are many on the far right pushing the idea that the sole intention of the movement is to start a race war.

We have seen Donald Trump, the candidate, insult women, insult a journalist with disabilities, insult the Mexicans and make xenophobic statements about Muslims. These actions of Trump, the candidate, have empowered his supporters to do the same. You only have to go on Twitter or Facebook to see the overwhelming evidence of this.

It begs the question, how much further will America go in this scary new direction if Donald Trump moves from being candidate to becoming president. What will it mean for the Black Lives Matter movement and other human rights activists when they move from at least having the quiet understanding of the government to being seen as an enemy of the new status quo.

What will it mean when Mexicans and other Latin American people can say that they have been disrespected in an obviously racist manner by a man who is now the president of the United States and leader of the free world. What will it mean for Muslims in America and around the world that the man in charge of the country that has always held the keys to their fate for decades is afraid of them and contemptuous of their religion.

Let's go back to Brexit for a second. There were many valid and genuine reasons why people within the UK wanted to leave the European Union. These positions have been totally eclipsed by the racism that has become so evident during and since Brexit.  The use of xenophobia to motivate people to vote for Brexit empowered the racists within the United Kingdom. It might not have been the reason most people wanted to see a change but legitimising the argument gave more prominence to racists and xenophobes than they should ever have in any political process, and it allowed them to advance their agenda of hate in a movement that for others was well-intentioned.

Brexit is the template for what Americans can expect from the election of Donald Trump, except it will be much, much worse. It will see racists emboldened, it will see more disregard for the so-called "misfits" of American society, contempt for feminist causes, contempt for environmental causes and it will see more intolerance towards liberal agendas by conservative christians.

The undecided voters need to look at the changes in the social and political climate that have come about so far as a result of this presidential campaign and see how much worse it can actually become if the wrong decision is made in November. The Bernie supporters will have to face the cold hard reality that now that Hillary has won the nomination they have no choice but to support her against Trump, because it might make their own lives and the life of their movement so much more difficult if their political enemies have the presidency on their side. Those of us, like myself, on the outside of the United States looking in, can only cross our fingers and hope that the majority of Americans do the right thing.

LIFESTYLE: PVS Sky Bar & Grill: A Little Hideaway Overlooking The City

While he does host private events at the PVS Sky Bar & Grill, Vijay Sadarangani, the owner of this little gem of a hideaway in the heart Montego Bay, does not encourage outside promoters to consider his venue for their parties.  The reason is that in a few short months the bar has developed a unique charm as a quiet spot for close friends to get together for good conversations and laid back social intercourse.  He doesn't want to spoil that.

Twilight view of the Mobay coastline from the PVS Sky Bar & Grill

At first glance, it's not hard to understand why the bar is doing so well as a hangout spot.  It sits atop Queens Drive overlooking the coastline, the international airport and the azure Caribbean Sea.  It's an area that was always a famous "look-out point" for tourists and visitors to the city.  The only thing missing was a place to sit down, take it all in and enjoy it with a few drinks and a tasty dish.  That all changed a few months ago.

The PVS Sky Bar & Grill sits atop the roof of Mr. Sadarangani's gift shop which caters to the tourist market selling souvenirs, clothes and a host of other items.  Upon taking the location for the shop he immediately saw the potential for a restaurant and bar on the rooftop.  When he opened it, he was approached by several promoters about holding parties and events there, but instead of aiming big he felt it would be to his advantage to aim small.

Friends gather for Karaoke on a Friday night

Hard economic times have seen Montegonians shying away from parties with cover charges and events that charge premium prices for drinks.  Many have opted to get together at each other's homes instead resulting in a surge of private dinners and house parties replacing many "pay parties" and nightclub events.

PVS Sky Bar & Grill offers the type of intimate ambiance people in the city have been gravitating towards, complimenting it with reasonable food and drink prices and the amazing panorama of the city's coastline.  "It's a little something extra," Sadarangani explains. "Something worthwhile to pull people from the comfort of their homes without putting a burden on their wallets."

Jerk Chicken Sushi - the latest exotic addition to the menu

Working professionals of all ages have adopted it the bar as an after-work destination.  A Karaoke night on Fridays has added a little touch of spice.  Small groups of friends who want to spend some quality time together free of loud music and big crowds have become regular guests.  This is what Vijay Sadarangani saw as aiming small instead of aiming big, and it has worked.

The cuisine at PVS Sky Bar & Grill includes a variety of local and international dishes.  One interesting new item is the Jerk Chicken Sushi which proved to be a popular addition especially on the Sushi and Tapas Night held every Saturday.  It's worth a trip to this venue to try the food and take in the ambiance.  If a little rest and relaxation is what you need, this is the spot.

LIFESTYLE: MVP Smokehouse: Where Montegonians Enjoy Their Favourite Jamaican Food

The rustic charm of Montego Bay's MVP Smokehouse

Montego Bay’s MVP Smokehouse recently celebrated three years of existence in which it has become more than just a restaurant to its regular diners. One loyal guest described it as “a pleasant break from the world” and that perhaps sums up the magic of the little eatery’s success. Of course, the traditional Jerk and Jamaican cooking they are famous for has something to do with it but it is the combination of great food with an intimate, family and friends ambiance that defines their achievement in the end.

Three years ago the sibling team of Boris and Michelle Reid opened MVP’s doors to Montego Bay. The rustic tent covered dining area combined with the Reid’s professional but laid back style made the restaurant a pleasant retreat for relaxing with friends.

It’s not surprising to sit at a table and see new arrivals greeting friends already dining in the establishment. “Wait, you’re here again? Do you live here?” one guest asks. “I could ask you the same thing” the other fires back. The laughter and conversation that follows is intimate and friendly. There’s always a feeling of family in the dining area. Even if one is a newcomer that feeling of being at home is present.

Sibling team, Michelle and Boris Reid

Boris and Michelle casually walk out of the kitchen from time to time. There’s always a smile, a nod, a pleasant hello. The Reids recall the early days of the start-up. Being former owners of another successful restaurant in the city they were well known in the community but opening a new restaurant was like beginning from scratch. A new loca

tion outside of the popular centre of the town, a new name, a new style all meant rebuilding their clientele.

Michelle explains that there was a void begging to be filled by traditional Jamaican cuisine and so their menu goes way beyond their tasty Jerk treats that Jamaicans love. “We offer the stuff that locals love to eat at home” she says “but sometimes they would love someone else to cook it for them in a nice, comfortable environment away from home. That’s where we come in.”

Indeed, there is a range of choice on the menu that is guaranteed to water the mouth of anyone who loves the island’s traditional dishes. Escoveitched and Steamed Fish are big sellers. Oxtail and Beans is another favourite. Every Tuesday brings Stew Peas to the menu while Curry Chicken and Roti is offered on Wednesdays. These are just some of the wide variety of dishes which also include vegetarian options and natural juices for the health conscious.

The growth has been steady over the past three years. Old friends and clients re-discovered Boris and Michelle so to speak. It is remarkable that despite the stiff competition in a city famous for Jerk joints MVP Smokehouse rapidly established a reputation for some of the best Jerk pork and chicken in town.

MVP Smokehouse has required very little in the way of professional advertising because their broad selection of local dishes resulted in organic promotion through word of mouth and social media. Friends shared information with friends. Families told other families and the establishment’s reputation grew among familiar circles. Sundays in particular became the day of escape for those wanting an alternative to dining at home but with the same great food they are accustomed to at the family table.

MVP Smokehouse Barbecued Spare Ribs

It has become commonplace now to see local and even foreign celebrities and well-known figures stopping by for a bite and a drink. Still, the Reids take their success in stride. They are pleased to see the glowing reviews in local newspapers and international travel guides but the real reward for them is seeing their guests’ empty plates at the end of a meal and hearing the laughter of their conversations.

As things slow down towards the end of the day Boris and Michelle sit with the folks at the bar or pull up a couple of chairs to a dining table where they join a group of friends. This welcoming vibe is the most important part of their menu. MVP Smokehouse is more than just Jamaican food. It is the happy, easy-going way of life Jamaicans enjoy.