Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

PNP Returns Trafigura Money?

On February 3, 2007, in our post entitled "Nuh Draw Mi Tongue", we mentioned the Trafigura debacle that hit the People's National Party (PNP - the Party that forms Jamaica's government), late last year.

This was so severe that it caused the resignation of then Information Minister, Colin Campbell.

[Trafigura is a Dutch oil company who had a contract with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to lift Nigerian oil and give Jamaica a set percentage of the profits each year.

They reportedly gave JMD $31 million to the PNP as a gift for the PNP's election campaign. This is the same amount of money that Jamaica was entitled to, annually, as a result of the Trafigura- Nigeria deal.

However, when the Opposition got wind of what was happening, they contacted the Dutch Government. (It's illegal for Dutch companies to fund political campaigns). So of course, Trafigura retracted the statement that the JMD $31 million was a "gift" and then said it was payment for the Trafigura-Nigeria deal.

The Prime Minister (PM), Portia Simpson-Miller, then promised that the money would have been returned to Trafigura...apparently, this has now been done.]

Information Minister, Donald Buchanan, announced that the money was returned in full, today. This is a full five (5) months after the PM promised the nation that this would have been done.

However, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP - the Party that forms the Opposition) wants proof that this in fact has occurred and wants to know the source of this money - if it is from private funds within the PNP or from the country's coffers.

We all know that this is an election year and both Parties are eager to form the government of our little island.

As a result, we hear pronouncements from both sides, trying to convince us that each Party deserves power.

So any proof that the PNP can gives us a nation, that they in fact have returned the money, would be good.

What would even be better is if they proved that it came from their internal funds within the Party.

I don't think they, the PNP, fully understand the ramifications of a debacle like this...it's a very bad reflection on all of us as Jamaicans, as it makes us look corrupt and incompetent!

Well, we'll see how the PNP responds to this request from the JLP and by extension, the nation...

Can they give us the proof we need, and if so, how soon?

Gillian

News Source:

1.  7:00 p.m. Nightly News, Television Jamaica, February 26, 2007.

Britney Spears in Rehab, Again!

Well, well, well, seems like some of our young celebrities have been having problems with addictions of every sort, again!

For some it's sex, for others, it's drugs and for others...well I just believe they're after some free publicity (public mention in the media) - no matter how bad it is...

As they say in showbiz, bad publicity is better than none, on any day!

So we hear that Britney Spears was in rehab for one day last week and now she's returned, head shaven and all:).

[She apparently went into an upscale hair salon last Friday and when the salon owner refused to do her "bald do", she, Britney, took up the electronic shears and took every inch of hair off her head.

To top it all she went to get two tattoos (one of which consisted of bright, red lips) at a nearby tattoo shop. (This was placed on her wrist :) ).]

Ok, so we hear that she's depressed due to her break up with ex-hubby Kevin Federline - yep, the same guy that dumped his fiance, Shar, while she was pregnant, to be with Britney and the same guy who wants a whopping USD $50 million from Britney in order for him to give up custody of their two children.

So what's a young mom to do?...after all, she's only 25 and the mother of a 5-month old and a 17-month old...and going through the pangs of a break-up from a seemingly greedy ex.

Well, Britney provided us with the answer...she partied until she dropped.

She partied to forget her break-up and to forget how much she's messed up her life, as a result of rushing into marriage for all of the wrong reasons - sex and to keep up with the Hollywood version of marriage.

(She did a reality show with Federline about two years ago, and all the two could "entertain" us with is her need for sex and her need to be satisfied by Federline.)

And now she misses him, misses him like crazy, but she's so confused that she doesn't know what to do...go back to him or try to start a new relationship?...that's the question of the hour for Britney.

Well, if she's really in rehab, I hope they'll be able to help her to sort things through...she needs to get her act together so that she can be a great mom to her kids (children).

[One of the few sane things Britney has done in the last three (3) years was when she and her lawyers insisted that she and Federline sign a prenuptial agreement (which excludes Federline from any of Britney's pre-marriage revenues or assets and only entitles him to USD $300,000 of her reported USD $100 million dollar fortune).]

The reason why I've written this post is to help our young friends to understand that a lot of the celebrities they go crazy for,that they adore...have very messed-up lives.

Yes, they have money...yes, they have fame... but a lot of them aren't grounded...

They don't have strong value systems that keep them centred when everything around them is in chaos. They go with the flow, and as a result, use drugs, make very wrong decisions and do every and anything to be in the spotlight, at great costs to their reputation, their sanity and their bodies.

Then they flaunt (show-off) this lifestyle on TV like it's something to be emulated (copied)...

Young friends...it isn't!

Getting stone cold drunk until you lose sense of who you are...isn't cool...

Getting addicted to anything, whether it be glue, drugs or sex, shows that you lack a strong sense of who you are and why you were placed on this earth... it shows the world that you truly hate who you are, for if you truly loved "you", you would never do anything to damage your body or your reputation...no matter how popular that activity may be.

Starving your body until you look like a skeleton, shows that you have a serious medical and mental condition - that being bulimia or anorexia and that you need urgent attention!

Having friends who only seem interested in partying with you, when you're the new Hollywood queen/king of the moment, will guarantee you no true friends when you really need them.

Behaving like a bully and punching people down and cussing them off, signifies that you have some anger management issues and other deep emotional issues that need sorting out.

These behavioral patterns, show lack of control of self and lack of direction in one's life.

If you want to find people to go crazy for, look in your own home, in your own community...there you'll find everyday heroes and celebrities, who are great role models (people whose behaviour can be copied).

These role models care about their own well-being and the well-being of others.

They are self-less and make great sacrifices, so that others can benefit.

They are leaders (they set goals and motivate themselves and others to achieve them), they set a good example...they are honest, trustworthy, sincere and approachable.

They are people who are reliable, give great advice and who practice what they preach.

They have learnt from their mistakes.

They have made a success of their lives (stable and loving families, have a great sense of purpose, good careers and/or businesses) amidst difficult circumstances.

These are the true celebrities, the true heroes....

Listen to them...learn from them...be encouraged by them....Be one of them...

Gillian

Sources:

1. Article, "Spears Has entered Rehab, Website Says", Associated Press c/o Realtime, February 20, 2007.

2.  Article, "Exclusive -Every detail of Britney Spears pre-nup and £65 million fortune", by Caroline Graham,The Daily Mail, February 14, 2007

3. Article, "Britney Spears Kevin with a Prenup", by Jane Bennett Clark, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, February 2007.

4. Article, "Kevin's threat - $50 million or the babies", Life&Style Weekly, January 10, 2007.

5. Article, "Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Marriage Profile", by  Sheri & Bob Stritof, About.com.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all our Chinese friends and those of Chinese heritage!

It's the year of the pig...

I understand that this year, 2007, is a very important year of the pig. It is referred to as the year of the Golden Pig, as it occurs once in six decades!

As such, vast numbers of Chinese in China are on the move to visit with family to celebrate this very important year.

For those of us who are unfamiliar with the Chinese Zodiac/calendar, the Chinese Zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle, with each cycle represented by an animal. Please see this site which explains it all.

According to the Chinese Culture Centre of San Francisco's website, people born in this year (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 ) are said to be chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their might.

They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They are said to be loyal - they don't make many friends, but when they do, they have them for life. They study a great deal, are very well-informed and have a thirst for knowledge.

They are said to be quick tempered, but hate quarreling and arguments.

They are also said to be kind to their loved ones and no matter how difficult  problems may be, they try to work things out, honestly and sometimes impulsively.

Are there any Chinese New Year celebrations happening in your country?

If so, will you be able to attend any of the events?

Gillian

Sources:

1) Chinese Culture Centre of San Francisco's website

2) Chinese Zodiac, China Today

3) Chiff.com

4) Article, China ushers in year of the pig, BBC News, February 17, 2007