Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

The Windies Cricket Team Strike and Why Women are Needed on the WICB!

The Windies players hail their fans
Originally uploaded by caribbeancricket

"Oh no, not again!", might have been the retort of some West Indian cricket fans, when they heard the news of the West Indian Cricket team strike, for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

But unfortunately, it's deja vu again!

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) are at an impasse over unpaid monies to the West Indian players who toured England in April-June 2009.

(The WICB is the governing body for West Indies cricket, while WIPA is the union representing West Indian players).

The WICB has said that it has offered to pay the players, five (5) times their regular salaries...

But WIPA is claiming that:

1) It's more than just salaries that's at issue, it's the proper insurance coverage for players when they're injured.

2) It has no contract with the WICB for this upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Well, whatever the reasons, it seems that tomorrow's match against Bangladesh might be in jeopardy, unless the WICB and WIPA can iron out their differences.

(Bangladesh is in the Caribbean for  its upcoming series against the West Indies. The tour schedule for Bangladesh vs West Indies can be found, here).

The interesting thing to note is that if the West Indian players forfeit the match, then the West Indies Cricket Board will have to compensate Bangladesh to the tune of US $2 million, as per International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket rules.

(The ICC is the governing Board for cricket, internationally).

Well, we hope that the WICB and WIPA can reach an amicable agreement, so that the WICB won't be fined that amount.

But one wonders why both parties can't seem to have a standard contract in place, that's suitable to both of them.

...Is it so hard for the WICB to be fair to WIPA and vice versa?

It's a real disgrace that for almost every other major tour, these two organizations seem to be at logger-heads over standard contracts.

But I blame the WICB...they have delayed implementing a Pay-by-Performance contract and their procrastination has been like a noose around their neck.

Players should never be paid five (5) times their standard salaries, unless their performance individually and as a team is excellent!

And the West Indies' results on their recent tour in England, was a downright disgrace!

[We lost the test series 0-2,the One Day Internationals 0-2 and just managed to make the semi-finals of the ICC twenty20 (20/20) tournament].

...with all sorts of excuses made about the weather impeding performance.

I think that it's now time for a new WICB to be established, with fresh ideas, guts and business savvy, who can negotiate in the best interest of West Indies cricket: the fans, the players, the sponsors and the West Indian governments, who by mandate, have to pump money into the management of West Indies Cricket.

Until then, we will forever be having this tug-of-war between the WICB and WIPA.

My humble suggestion - the WICB needs to include at least three (3) women, who are prudent, business and financially savvy, with guts, and who can get things done, on that Board!...

(Presently, there are no women on the WICB...just take a look at the names of all the Directors on the Board - all men!)

WICB...you need the balance of women on that Board, to help you to think straight!...

Your high testosterone levels (hence, huge egos), are interfering with effective decision-making!

Nuff said! (Jamaican, meaning, enough has been said :)).

(I would like to thank  caribbeancricket for the use of their Flickr inset picture above, of the Windies Cricket team hailing their fans).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Article, "West Indies players threaten boycott", by Cricinfo staff -Cricinfo.com, July 8,2009

2) Power 106FM 5:00 p.m. news, July 7,2009

3) Nationwide Radio's Evening Programme - "Cover Story", July 7,2009

4) Television Jamaica News at 7:00 p.m., July 7,2009

Michael Jackson's Funeral: Unnecessarily Extravagant?

Michale Jackson
Originally uploaded by Michale Jackson

Now I know that we have a habit in the Caribbean and among black communities in general, that when we bury our loved ones, we bury them, "in style".

The poorest among us have the most extravagant funerals...

...So that the dead person's relatives can say that they put him/her away "good".

Oh, don't mind the huge debt the family incurs to put their loved one away "good"...they just want to know that he/she had the biggest funeral and could out-do the previous "biggest" funeral, reserved for the well known and most-loved members of the community.

Well, its seems that Michael Jackson's family is following this time-honored tradition.

They announced that Michael Jackson's funeral/memorial service will be held next Tuesday..

...And guess what?

1) There were supposedly 11,000 tickets being given away to those fans who wanted to attend...now it's been reported that this number has reached 17,500

2) The funeral will be held at the Staples Center - home to the LA Lakers and the last place Michael performed before his death.

3) The Staples Center have been selling these tickets through their website, which crashed due to the huge demand for them. [That's 17,500 potential/existing customers that can be marketed to and increased brand value for the Staples Center (from free publicity from the funeral), at a very low acquisition cost].

Now I've been wondering the following, since I heard the news:

1) Hasn't it been reported that Michael is indebted to the tune of US $500 million dollars?

2) Who will be paying for Michael Jackson's funeral/memorial service...his family or the City of Los Angeles(LA)?

3) How much money will this memorial service cost?

(It has also been reported that Michael's body will not be at this memorial service for him and that the city of LA is broke and will be stretched thin, should they be the ones paying for this funeral).

Yes, I know Michael Jackson was the king of Pop and yes, many friends, family and fans want to pay their last respects to him...

...But the Staples Center?

Again, I trust that the family/the City of LA has been wise and has struck up a beautiful deal with the Staples Center managers - a deal which is more of a quid pro quo than actual money being fleshed out.

The Staples Center has already benefitted and stands to benefit tremendously from hosting Michael Jackson's funeral:

They will forever be embellished in history...

Additionally, the money they stand to make by making the Center a monument to his death, will more than pay for any costs the family would incur for holding the funeral there.

I hope the family's business managers or the LA City Officials were wise in suggesting this...and did not actually flesh out any money for this venue.

====

If it is that his family will pay for this memorial service and it is true that Michael is so heavily indebted:

I think it would be unwise for them to spend so much on the memorial service and:

1) Not attend to Michael's debt problems, first.

2) Not have sufficient money left over for the present and future well-being of his children.

I just hope that Michael's family or the LA City Officials are being wise, level-headed and financially prudent where his funeral/memorial service is concerned.

(I would like to thank Michale Jackson for his Flickr inset photo above).

Gillian

Copyright 2009 Gillian Campbell. All Rights Reserved.

 

Source Include

1) Article, "Massive demand for Michael Jackson memorial tickets" by Bob, Tourtellotte, Reuters, July 3,2009

2) BBC News, July 2,2009

Happy Canada Day, to our Canadian Friends!

P1020354
Originally uploaded by Janusz ZL

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog wishes our Canadian friends, a Happy Canada Day!!!

(Canada celebrates 142 years as a self-governing country).

Yippee!!!

According to the Canadian Heritage Site:

"Canada Day is seen as an opportunity for Canadians to reconnect with their communities and to remember their history and heritage passed down through the works of Canadian authors, poets, artists, performers, scientific researchers and entrepreneurs.

....As we look ahead, we have every reason to face the future with confidence and enthusiasm".

Wow, that's huge!

...A country that actually celebrates creativity, scientific research and entrepreneurship, is definitely going to be rich for decades!

No wonder Canadians have such an optimistic view of the future!

Well, we celebrate with you and wish you every success in all your endeavours!

The rest of the world could learn a lot from you, Canada!

Big Up!! (Jamaican, meaning, "Kudos to you!!")

(I would like to thank Janusz ZL for the use of his Flickr inset photo of Canada Day celebrations in Canada).

Gillian

Source Includes

Canadian Heritage Site

Asafa Powell Will Pose Challenge to Bolt and Gay in Berlin

Asafa Powell Bonita Jamaica Fastest
Originally uploaded by Bonita Jamaica

Ok friends, you may be saying that I'm crazy, but I believe that 2009 will be the year for Asafa Powell.

[Asafa Powell  is the former World recorder holder in the 100 metres(m), having set the record of 9.74 seconds in 2007. This record was subsequently broken by Usain Bolt (9.69 seconds) in the 2008 Beijing Olympics].

I saw him at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic (JAAA) Championships - on Saturday, which was the Jamaica National Trials for Berlin World Championships and the CAC Games in Cuba and he gave Usain Bolt a good run for his money!

Bolt had to get into 3rd gear to pass Asafa at the 70 metre line mark in the 100m.

Usain Bolt won the race in 9.86 seconds (secs), Powell came in second at 9.97 secs and Michael Frater came in third at 10.02 secs.

Thus all three (3) have qualified to represent Jamaica in the 100m in the Berlin, Germany, in August.

Most of Jamaica's senior athletes are currently on the European IAAF Golden League Tour and there is an expected showdown between Bolt and Tyson Gay at these games.

(Tyson Gay is the world's third fastest man in the 100m, having run 9.77 secs in June 2008).

However, I feel Asafa will be the dark horse, if not at the Golden Leagues, at the Berlin World Championships, for the 100m.

He seems to mean business this time around, having rebounded from months of injury.

(Apparently he's upset over the flack he's been getting in the Jamaican media and from Jamaicans, re his inability to perform at major events like the World Championships and the Olympics and is determined to prove that he's still the greatest at the 100m).

He told the media that he's going on the Golden League Tour to recover his gold medal and I believe him.

I think Jamaicans should too...what about you...do you think it's Asafa's time to shine?

(I would like to thank Bonita Jamaica for the use of her Flickr inset photo of Asafa Powell at the end of his world record run in June 2006 of 9.77 secs).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica June 27-29,2009

2) Asafa Powell biography- Wikipedia.org

3) Michael Frater biography- Wikipedia.org

4) Tyson Gay biography - Wikpedia.org

Remembering Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson

||| ▒▒ Fairytale Waterfall in Wales
Originally uploaded by wabberjocky

I was saddened today to hear about the death of one of my favorite actresses - Farrah Fawcett.

Farrah had been struggling with anal cancer for the past four (4) years and lost her battle with it, today.

Just when I was getting used to to hearing the news of her death, I heard that Michael Jackson had been hospitalized with cardiac arrest.

Then it was confirmed that he had died.

==========

As a child, I loved the original Charlies Angels with the stunningly beautiful actresses Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. They played Jill Monroe, Sabrina Duncan, and Kelly Garrett, respectively.

Each week they would solve case after case that was allocated to them by their famous boss, 'Charlie', who was represented as a voice over a large speaker phone.

I was just in awe of what these three women represented to me as a very young girl.

I saw women in very powerful positions, as these 'Angels' were not only good private investigators, there were women who nobody could kick around.

And for me that was very powerful.

=========

Michael Jackson rocked my teenage world!

You know, Michael Jackson (Mikey J) was the only singer that I went nuts for, as a young teenager, at age 14.

...I had a large poster of him in my room...I had his picture cards... I was even trying to perfect his famous moonwalk.

Man could he sing and dance!

I would eagerly await the release of his next hit song and Michael Jackson did not disappoint...

...It seems that he produced hit after hit, after hit...winning him thirteen (13) grammy awards over his illustrious career.

His Thriller album was a testament to the musical and theatrical genius of the man.

Then I noticed his transformation into a lighter skinned being and was disappointed...

I couldn't understand how a handsome, young, black man could transform himself into someone you would barely recognize from his former pictures.

He said it was vitiligo...many thought otherwise - that he was bleaching his skin.

But his light skin was actually the result of the medicines he took to control the vitiligo which left him with blotches that he used pancake makeup to cover up.

(Please see information about vitiligo, here).

So yes, he had faults - deep faults, due to his own admission that he lost his childhood due to him touring actively from age 5 and due to his self-imposed low, self-esteem problems.

But the guy was a musical genius!

Very few singers and songwriters have had the following and impact that Mikey J has had, worldwide!

He will be missed!

=========

Farrah leaves behind long-time partner - Ryan O'Neal and son Redmond O'Neal.

Michael leaves behind children - Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. and 7-year old Prince Michael Jackson II (Blanket).

====

Please see Michael Jackson's biography here.

Farrah Fawcett's biography can be found here.

Farrah, Michael, you both lived your lives to the fullest...May your souls rest in peace.

As we'd say in Jamaica...Walk good...and may good duppy (ghost) follow you!

Gillian

Sources Include

1) CNN, June 25,2009

2) Nationwide Radio's Evening Programme - "Cover Story", June 25,2009

3) Television Jamaica News at 7:00 p.m., June 25,2009

4) Article, "Charlie's Angels" star Farrah Fawcett dead at 62", Thaindian News, June 26,2009

5) Farrah Fawcett via Wikipedia.org

6) Michael Jackson via Wikipedia.org

Gregory Mair Wins North East St. Catherine Seat

Please read this post for a background to the following:

Today, was the day for the slated By-Election for the North East St.Catherine constituency in Jamaica.

The two gentlemen contesting this seat were the JLP's Gregory Mair and the PNP's Granville Valentine.

However, this by-election was low-keyed in comparison to the West-Portland by election won by Daryl Vaz in March...so much so that the Prime Minister is presently in Geneva, at the ILO Summit on the Global Jobs Crisis, due to his commitment to make a presentation at this Summit..

According to Nationwide Radio:

The Electoral Office reports that 10,041 voters (representing 53% of voters in the constituency) turned out today, in comparison to 61.4% in the 2007 General Election.

6,374 votes went to the JLP's Mr. Gregory Mair, whilst 3,667 votes went to newcomer to politics, and the PNP's representative, Mr. Granville Valentine.

Hence Mr. Mair got 63% of the votes and Mr. Valentine got 36% of the votes.

What this means is that Mr. Mair continues to be the Member of Parliament for this constituency.

Hence the seat count in our 60-member Parliament is now:

JLP: 32 seats

PNP: 28 seats.

What's interesting about this by-election is that the JLP's victory increased from 54% in 2007 to 63% today, whilst the PNP's share of vote decreased from 46% in 2007 to 37% today.

Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog congratulates Mr. Mair on his victory today.

Gillian

Source:

Nationwide Radio's "Cover Story", June 16, 2009