September 2010

Marcia Forbes PhD

How often have we wondered just what some of the lyrics of these songs are saying? I remember sitting in a board room with a group of media managers trying to interpret the words of one of Missy Elliott’s songs. “If you’re worth it, let me work it” something like that. Those were the only few words of the song I actually knew but the rhythm was so infectious that I sang my own version of lyrics each time I heard the song.

Marcia Forbes PhD

The dialogue regarding how best to arrive at a dispute settlement court to facilitate effective operation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in light of the recent ruling of the Privy Council, should now be on in earnest. There is no sensible way to avoid the establishment of a properly constituted dispute body if the CSME is to appropriately function within its anticipated parameters.

Marcia Forbes PhD
The road to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for China was not an easy one. While the challenges and circumstances are different, the road to CSME for the Caribbean region, particularly Jamaica at this time, is similarly difficult. It has been almost 18 years since Grand Anse and the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. So too was China’s accession to the WTO a very long process, extending over a fifteen year period. But they got there! The terms of China’s protocol of accession (entry ticket) were more far-reaching than those of any other country. These are described as WTO Plus.
Marcia Forbes PhD

 

The link between CSME and the post LOME IV Agreement, Cotonou, deserves some exploration if only to determine ways in which one can support the other. Despite the 1989 Grand Anse decision by CARICOM heads to establish a Single Market and Economy “

in the shortest possible time

”, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which amended nine Protocols “

in order to create the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy

Marcia Forbes PhD

A regional trade agreement (RTA) is one entered into by countries wherein the parties align themselves for the purpose of achieving a pre-determined form of economic integration or for political and military concerns, as was the situation with the 1985 creation of the U.S.-Israel free trade agreement. An RTA is not necessarily based on geographical proximity of the participating parties. Under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/ World Trade Organization (WTO) system RTAs can only be entered into by countries which qualify as customs territories. These are those which exercise

Marcia Forbes PhD

In order to determine whether we fit in or measure up, we compare ourselves with others who we perceive to be similar to us. The more favourable the comparison, the better we’ll feel about ourselves and the greater the boost to our self-esteem. Many of the people adolescents see in music videos are close to their age and in some cases are themselves adolescents. If only based on age therefore, adolescents have grounds for comparing themselves with these artistes. 

Marcia Forbes PhD

“R & B helps to like reflect deeply on relationships”

Marcia Forbes PhD

“Honey came home and caught me red-handed banging on the bathroom floor”   Despite this confession to his friend Shaggy, the latter was clear in his instructions to Ric Rok, “Say it wasn’t you”. We all celebrate Shaggy and his successes even with this ‘barefacedness’, succinctly captured in his advice to deny, deny, deny. 

Marcia Forbes PhD

How often have we heard complaints about music videos? They show nothing good! Pure slackness! Too much whining up! The girls too naked! Yet how many of us have stopped to try to understand what these short, exciting, music driven TV programmes really mean to young people, especially to Jamaican teenagers?

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