| |
A people
without the knowledge of their past history,
origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
Marcus Garvey |
Join us on Facebook |
Visit our Jamaica50 Page
May 2012
Jamaica's modern
history started in May. On the 5th of May
1494 Christopher Columbus landed at (?)Discovery Bay on
Jamaica's north coast and on the 10th in 1655 Admiral William Penn and General Robert
Venables captured Jamaica from the Spanish on behalf of
England.
Hugh Shearer was born on the 18th in 1923 and
Edward Seaga on the 28th in 1930. On the 25th in 1923
Arthur Wint
was born. On the 10th in 1960
Merlene Ottey was born in Hanover and twenty-two years later, on
the 15th in 1982,
Veronica Campbell was born in Trelawny. On the 19th in 1948
Grace Jones, who shocked the music world decades before Gaga,
was born in Spanish Town.
On the 23rd in 1832
Sam Sharpe was hanged in Montego Bay Square.
Claude McKay died in
Chicago on the 22nd in 1948.
Bob Marley
died on the 11th in 1981and was given an official funeral on the
21st.
Carlton Alexander died on the 23rd in 1989.
On the 10th in
1948 the last Constant Spring tram pulled into the
shed on Orange St. marking the end of
Kingston's tramcar
service.
Jamaica's first Drive-In Cinema was opened on Washington Boulevard
in Kingston on the 10th in 1960. In 1938, on the 17th, a work gang
started clearing a section of the Palisadoes for the new airport. On
the 21st, in 1952, the then Department of Agriculture announced the
development of a new breed of cattle, called the Jamaica Hope, by
the young veterinarian, Dr.
T. P. Lecky.
| 23rd May is Labour Day |
 |
Jamaica's labour
movement started in May of 1938.
On the 2nd
St William Grant led
a crowd of about 3000 unemployed people through the streets of
Kingston.
On the 22nd
Workers on the wharves in Kingston demanded one
shilling per hour and two shillings for overtime.
Bustamante
offers to negotiate but they decided to strike
immediately.
On the 23rd huge crowds gathered at Parade to listen to
Bustamante's now famous speech where he assures workers that he can
negotiate on their behalf for better pay and working conditions.
Jamaica's Labour Day is celebrated on the 23rd of May each year. |
More
Notable Dates in
May
Everyone with an
interest in our history will be thrilled to know that on the 30th of
May, the
Institute of Jamaica will launch their Virtual Museum.
Please visit
Gifts from Jamaica,
our Amazon Store,
where we have collected hundreds of Jamaican and Jamaican themed
products available from Amazon and put them all in one place.
Spotlight on Brand Jamaica
For decades Jamaicans
have had a love affair with imported goods. Our stores overflow with
all the brand name imported shoes while our local manufacturers of
good quality products struggle to be successful. Many consumers buy
second quality synthetic imported shoes not even realising that,
often for the same price, they can get top quality leather locally
made shoes.
And besides, what
woman doesn't love shoes?
|
Leder Mode
Leder Mode is
best known for children's school shoes and safety boots but
produce a much wider line.
Retail
outlets in Kingston, Montego Bay and Portmore. Also
available in 5 other Caribbean locations.
LederMode
|
Bridget Sandals
Many years
ago Briget started making and selling handcrafted ladies'
sandals from home. Her retail business is now 20 years old.
Retail outlet
in Kingston. Also available in 3 other Caribbean locations
and South Florida.
Brigit Sandals
|
D'NexStep
Laid off
after decades as a corporate executive, Dorrette decided to
make a career of her true love by producing handcrafted
sandals. Her sandals have been used in both New York and
Miami Fashion Weeks.
Locations in
Kingston, Ocho Rios and South Florida.
D'NexStep |
|
Our 2012 Calendars are still
Available
|
|
 |
 |
Other
Jamaican Themed Products
|
Jamaica-Allspice is
an on-line magazine dedicated to showcasing the diversity of
Jamaica. You can read about
our rich history. For instance did you know that Falmouth is one of
the world's most perfect examples of pure Georgian architecture?
Aside from world famous
reggae artists and athletes, there are also Jamaicans like
George Lecky
who developed the Hope Red, one of the most popular varieties of cattle
in the world.
There's also the very
diverse geography and
wildlife of our Island where, almost side by side;
iguanas sun on barren rocks, crocodiles lie in wait in mangrove swamps
and varieties of birds fly amongst the trees in our
beautiful
mountains. You might even see a rodent the size of a dog, the agouti,
hiding in a tropical rain forest.
There are lots of other
interesting facts. Did you know, for instance, that Jamaica has greater
roadway density than anywhere else in the world? Or that we own more
cellular phones, per capita, than either the USA or Canada?
Enjoy our magazine and
please feel free to send us your comments.
Betty SB
Editor
Contact the
ALLSPICE
"Jamaica Pepper" Eugenia Pimenta: Native Tree the berries of which are a
popular spice which tastes like a combination of several other spices
-- OED
Our magazine offers you many aspects which together
give you that unique mixture which is Jamaica.
|
