Terrific Phase of Test Cricket

The last few weeks of international men’s test cricket matches proved once again that dark predictions of the eventual demise of that format of the game is certainly way off.

Even the fledging West Indies proved their relevance by winning a test match away to Australia (series 1-1) for the first time since the 1990s.

A victory that sent global shock waves similar to when England defeated a then unbeatable West Indies in the Caribbean in 1990.

Host India defeated England 4-1 in a pulsating series that was entertaining and more competitive than the overall score line. A test series where younger/newish players delivered spells of genius cricket way beyond their limited experience.

Despite losing a number of their studded players India found young replacements who grabbed their chances to make it interesting for the selectors to leave them out for the next series

As for South Africa their board decided to take a dim view of the test arena and just play 2 test matches in 2024 prioritising the shorter versions of games.

Such short sighted thinking by the South African suits led to the sudden retirement their most senior batsman.

But what was even worse from the PROTEAS was their disrespectful decision to send easily the worst side to leave Ntiini country to play (and lose) two test match in New Zealand and ensure one New Zealander scored centuries for fun.

And to think South Africa kicked and screamed to rejoin test cricket following the boycott during the apartheid period.

Australia turned up in New Zealand after the South African debacle and gave the host the usual smackdown. Even when New Zealand had the Aussies on their knees in the 2nd test the lower batting order of the visitors found a way snatch an unlikely victory.

Ireland found time to score their first test ever test victory with a win over Afghanistan at the lush surroundings of Abu Dhabi.

Throughout the various test series we saw many of the much vaunted batters make below par scores only for the lower order batter to save the days with consistent rearguard action at the crease.

An extraordinary period of test match cricket for us fans to indulge whether on screen, live commentary and podcasts with the latter 2 my goto preferences.

Special thanks to commercial radio stations Talksport (UK) and SEN/SENZ (Australia/New Zealand) for their live coverage of the test matches in India and across the Trans-Tasman region.

Radio cricket commentary is a dead in Jamaica and thus grateful for these commercial stations for giving us local fans audio access to the live game and those anecdotal colourful stories.

As a West Indies fan I look forward to my side continuing their upward turn during the upcoming summer tour of England.

Better days ahead for the five day format.

Or should it be four days?

Jamaica’s Local Govt Election 2024 :Winners & Losers

In the local government election held on the 26th February the JLP won 7 parishes, PNP 5. Kingston and St. Andrew parishes tied with 20 seats each. We thinks.

A week plus now since the local government election and it’s still being debated as to which political party won.

Here are some of the winners and losers.

Winners

• Mark Golding – His first real test since becoming Leader of the Opposition/Peoples National Party (PNP) was better than many expected. Had done the ground work endlessly across the island since taking the mantle in 2021. Proved he has the mandate to go forward to the next general election as leader. Silenced his senior naysayers within the PNP.
• People’s National Party – Revived their fortunes in western Jamaica and stronger than predicted performances in the corporate area as well as St Catherine.
• Media – The relentless 4 week campaign by both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration and PNP was unlike any previous local election. The media raked in much needed advertising revenue from both main parties. Unlike the last local election in 2016 even the PNP did media advertisements.
• Social media – Exposed the controversial and lighthearted stories that the mainstram media missed or largely ignored.
• Opinion Pollsters – Their findings over the previous 12 months were close to spot on.
•Public – Despite the low voter turnout (29.%)this was the most talked about local government election that I can ever remember. “Who won?”was the talk on the streets days after polling day. Proof there is a willingness by the non voters to engage but many are just not impressed by either 2 main parties.

Losers

• Andrew Holness – Despite his party winning more parish councils outright Prime Minister Holness delayed-delayed- delayed calling the local government election date from early 2021 when at the time the PNP was in the abyss. In boxing terms the JLP won by a split decision.
• Lisa Hanna at al – Hanna and supporters took a real hit where some of her supporters hoped Golding would have failed dismally and ushered him out quickly thereafter.
• Everald Warmington (JLP) – His controversial verbage days after the election – following the defeat of one of his councillors- led to his sacking from cabinet. Surreal. JLP administration may have to “buy” his silence because a Warmington on the back bench will be a major thorn to his own side.
• Dennis Meadows (PNP) – The former JLP senator turned comrade got caught on camera endorsing scamming and his political rise within the PNP ranks was clipped.
• Venesha Phillips & Kari Douglas (JLP) – Both councillors switched alliances after winning their respective divisions for the PNP in 2016. Both lost.
• Markland Edwards (JLP) – JLP candidate for one of the biggest prizes of them all – Mayor of Portmore- could not unseat the incumbent.

Expect some political upheavals within the Holness administration in order to seize more of an advantage over the PNP.

Local Government Election 2024: Prelude to the Big One?

Jamaica’s local government election will take place on the 26th February.

After much delay and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration using its huge majority in the lower house to move the local election date beyond the legal time frame, the moment of truth for both main political parties and some independents is finally here.

2020 general election was the last time the electorate were active but that was during the height of COVID-19 and lockdowns, thus political campaigns and the eventual voter turn out was lowkey.

But now the campaign shackles seem to have been removed and political candidates and their hard core supporters are hitting the road vigorously.

Nomination day in my area of Old Harbour (South West St Catherine) recently drew large crowds of JLP and surprisingly that of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP).

It is a sign of how calm political hostilities have been in the area in recent years as both MPs office (Everald Warmington) and that of the PNP caretaker’s (Kurt Waul) is literally 60 metres from each other and both set of supporters enjoy friendly banter.

JLP has had a stranglehold on Old Harbour and its environs for some time and thus the PNP turning out in their droves and orange colours must be credited to their leader Mark Golding who has been campaigning in the area energetically unlike his 4 predecessors.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his colleagues have hit the campaign trail like a Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce; they got out of the campaign blocks like a rocket.

Holness seems to have found his mojo and displaying real confidence of a sure victory Monday week.

Golding has energized the PNP to the surprise of many includingthe JLP, media and anti Golding comrades.

Local government campaigns in Jamaica tends to be uninteresting, low funded and immaterial. But the publicity and coverage of this particular campaign has the feel of a general election.

JLP has pr’d their administration incessantly backed up by certain parts of the media and savy communications people within their camp.

So virtually every day/week for months the administration makes announcements, launches something, groundbreaking with their hard hats and shovels and ceremonial opening events for new roads or buildings named in honour of their own Labourites.

Little PNP momentum was expected by many observers when Golding became party leader. But Golding has surprised many doubters and made the PNP relevant following its dismal performance under his predecessor.

Golding has toured the entire country relentlessly and when he visited to the South West Catherine constituency recently he spent at least 9 hours which is unheard off by previous leaders of either main parties.

(I am sure Holness will put in a high profile appearance in Old Harbour in the coming days)

I would not be surprised that if the JLP does well on February 26th that Holness will call an immediate general election by say April, May.

The local government election has been deemed by many observers and anti Golding PNP supporters as a big test for the opposition leader since he took the helm in 2020.

But that’s a bit unfair given the average Jamaican hardly participates or could care less about local government elections.

For one thing many Jamaicans have no clue what parish council does given how much power is in the hands of central government.

I feel Golding needs to do reasonable well. He does not to beat the JLP outright just give them a run that could be a springboard for the general election.

Holness administration has been dogged by corruption issues, crime, public sector brain drain and they have countered these stains with with strong economic performance and infrastructure development.

The average Jamaican was not impressed when the administration awarded themselves (& PNP MPs) back dated triple digit percentage pay increases.

Poll after poll has hinted that the public thinks Jamaica is going in the wrong direction.

If the JLP does resounding well on February 26 expect the general election to be not far behind.

If Holness remains the PM thereafter expect the PNP to lose a few high profile members which will send shockwaves across the political landscape and could spell the end of Golding’s tenure.

Jamaican elections can be so unpredictable sometimes whatever the opinion polls might say. We’ve seen in previous general elections where the deemed unassailable administration gets unceremoniously kicked out by the electorate.

But this is the local government election coming up but I expect the big one not far behind.

Nomination Day in Old Harbour

People to Watch in 2024

• Xi Jingping (Chinese President) Taiwan
• Alicia Kearns (UK Conservative MP) My parliamentarian of 2023. Her stock will continue to rise in 2024. Has already had solid start following her scrutiny of Foreign Secretary David Cameron at a select committee hearing. Enemy of the state of….China
• Mia Mottley (Barbados PM) Could walk away from her premiership in preparation for greater things.
• Frankie Dettori (Jockey) That elusive win in one of the US triple crown races could happen.
• Jose Mourinho (Football Manager) Could be back in English football.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene or Elise Stefanik (US Congress Representatives) One of them could be Trump’s VP pick.
• Leon Bailey (Jamaican footballer) A major money transfer move to an even bigger club looms. Expect Bayern to sniff around.
• Mary Lou Macdonald (Irish politician) Could be a very clear front runner for Taoiseach (PM) if her party does well in the local elections.
• Benny Gantz (Israel politician) Could finally get his dream of succeeding Netanyahu as PM.
• Justin Trudeau (Canadian PM) Had a rough 2023 May make his departure intentions public. Especially if Trump is the GOP candidate. Who needs that again on their doorstep?
• Lisa Hanna (Jamaican MP) May switch sides.
• Marcelo Bielsa (Football Manager) Could lead Uruguay to Copa America glory.
• Shericka Jackson (Athlete, Jamaica) No surprise world record could have her name next to it.

My Winners and Losers of 2023

WINNERS

Global

• Kate Forbes (Scottish National Party) Was one of my persons to watch in 2023. Despite losing a leadership race to Humza Yousaf, Forbes she seemed to have dodged a poison chalice given the sliding fortunes, scandals and high profile departures that’s dogged the party since Nicola Sturgeon’s sudden resignation as leader in January. SNP’s stranglehold on Scottish is under pressure for the first time in 3 decades.
• Tish James (New York) Scored a few big legal wins against the Trump organisation.
• Penny Mordaunt (Leader of the UK House of Commons) At the Coronation of King Charles she carried a heavy sword in the traditional sense. Big deal? It was a big deal.
• Alicia Kearns (UK Tory MP) The one true Tory worth listening to.
• David Cameron (Foreign Secretary) The former PM who blundered GB to BREXIT and oversaw the mother of public spending cuts came back from the political dead and is travelling the globe in an officially capacity. Unreal.
• Rachin Ravindra (Cricketer, New Zealand) Had a dream debut world cup tournament as a batter breaking numerous records.
• Irfan Ali (President, Guyana) His country’s continued oil and gas bonanza means attracting allies should there be nearby threats and intimidation.
• Fani Willis (District Attorney for Fulton County, Georgia) Has manage to score some big wins in the Trump election fraud case against some his acolytes.
• Hayley Matthews (cricketer, Barbados, West Indies) The leading light of West Indies cricket of either genders. Outstanding with bat, ball or in the field. Was player of the tournament in the first ever WPL in India.

Jamaica

• Mark Golding (Leader of Opposition) The People’s National Party polling stronger than expected under his leadership. Effective enough for the ruling Jamaica Labour Party not to call any elections in 2023.
• Lorne Donaldson (Head Coach of the Reggae Girlz) Took the Jamaican women’s football team to uncharted levels when the team reached the knockout stage of the football World Cup. But still not respected by the suits running local football and he was subsequently pushed out.
• Ackeef Nugent aged 13, has been assisting children in his inner city community with lessons in mathematics, English, sciences, social studies, drama and sports. Brings back memories of my own childhood where some of us did something similar.
• Danielle Williams (athlete) Sprung a major upset in the World Championships when winning the sprint hurdle 8 years after her victory in the same race.
• Solomon Sharpe (Head of Jamaica’s horse racing track) Pulled off a real coup when the biggest local race meet was featured live on US based Fox sports channel.
• Matthew Samuda (Government minister) He has had a good year professionally and personally ▪︎MPs, Government Ministers and Governor General Triple digit percentage back dated pay rises was unnecessary but they grabbed it -undeservedly.
• Vloggers, Bloggers who continue to provide a broader perspective of local happenings that’s missing from mainstream media. Priceless content.

LOSERS

Global

• Benjamin Netanyahu (PM, Israel) Regained power again. But his crusade to rip up Israel’s much vaunted criminal justice system in order to save his own skin meant he was blindsided when Hamas attacked on October 7th.
• Elon Musk – app formerly known as Twitter is tanking under his leadership
• 2 leaders of the warring factions in Sudan. The damage may have been largely ignored by Western media. But g but those anti immigration EU politicians will soon find out.
• Rishi Sunak (UK PM) – Worst than Truss, Boris. One of the most awful person to hold UK public office
• Suella Braverman (UK Home Secretary) Her portrayal as Enoch Powell’s love godchild from another mother would have even have shocked him. Terrible minister.
• Daniel Ortega (President of Nicaragua) What a disappointment and an example of leader in power for too long leading to violations of the citizens human rights.
• Hamas leadership that orchestrated the October 7 attack in Israel. One of the great military blunders. Action was not worth losing 20000+ Palestinians and what little territory you had left.
• Emmanuel Macron (French President) His influence in Francophile West Africa diminished significantly since to a number of coups. His empty throats against the Niger and Mali coup leaders were just that.
• Sam Bankman Fried co-founder and former chief executive officer of FTX& Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance These 2 former crypto giants felt the wrath of US justice and were cut down to size spectacularly.


Jamaica

• Andrew Holness (Prime Minister) After 6 years in power his unassailable green shooted stardust has certainly waned due to perceptions of corruption amongst his colleagues and his average handling of the crime and violence scourge.
• Dennis Chung (Businessman and Administrator) His perceived glowing local reputation took a hit this year over his handling of local football matters (Reggae Girlz wages) and the entire waste management infrastructure.
• Cricket Administration and Government Their continued poor running of the sport in Jamaica culminating in the loss of the T20 CPL franchise and not playing host to any games during the upcoming T20 world cup being held in our region. Ducks all round.

Philip Hedley 1938 – 2024, David Soul 1943 – 2024

Philip Hedley, Artistic Director

David Soul, Singer and Actor

Both David and Philip passed away on Friday.

Both were leading players in the entertainment business. David’s career was global and Philip’s work was behind the scenes and touched many UK lives.

But that’s not why I am scribing these few words, its just to mention the brief exchanges I had with them personally that stayed with me.

Had to Pinch Myself

The first time I became aware of the name Philip Hedley was in my private email inbox in 2004.

Philip was replying to a letter I had sent to the Theatre Royal Stratford East in London.

In that letter addressed to the theatre itself I sang the praises of the cast and production team of the musical play The Big Life that I thoroughly enjoyed (3 times) during it’s short season there.

Anyone who has associated with me in London during the late 1980s – 2010s knew of my love for theatre especially works developed on the smaller stages across the capital.

In 2003 I had moved from west London to the east side of the capital and thus Theatre Royal Stratford East was 15 minutes drive from my new flat and was now my local theatre. Especially with a Caribbean restaurant being a part of that iconic establishment.

Philip’s email thanked me for the positive feedback and that he had shared my letter with the cast of The Big Life.

Philip also wrote that he had placed a copy of the letter on the notice board.

I was chuffed. I was just impressed that somebody took the time reply to me. It was unexpected.

This letter I wrote was the first time I had done something of that nature.

This period started off a number of fascinating email exchanges between Philip and myself.

Philip suggested we meet for coffee at the Geoffrye Museum in East London.

So my then girlfriend and I joined Philip for refreshments one weekday afternoon. The first thing Philip said when we met was “Gaaaary, please to meet you. You just missed meeting (actor) Rudolph Walker”

Oh no!!

Philip and I chatted for near on 2 hours. He was keen to know about my background and we discussed the potential of The Big Life transferring successfully to the bright lights of the West End theatre scene.

Such a move for a small production to the West End is a very expensive exercise.

Philip was complimentary about my drafting skills and asked if had done any theatre. I said no but added that in the late 1980s at college I had written a play at 1 hour notice for a business admin assignment and the group got an A.

“Where I wrote jokes in the script did audience did giggle”

I also added that in my Customs and Excise career I did some roleplaying acting on training courses held in London and Cambridgeshire. That was fun.

Philip was humble and unassuming. I did not know anything about him and up till then I did not even what an artistic director did.

I began to research Philip’s theatrical history I was amazed by the acting/playwrighting careers he had help launched and his own incredible body of work.

Some of these plays I had seen before I was not aware of Philip’s involvement in the production. E.g. Five Guys Named Moe

The theatre walls of Stratford East were filled with pictures of scenes from plays that Philip was involved with since the 1970s. Those plays starred or written by individuals that have gone on to be established figures in their craft.

I could not believe that man of the stature of Philip took time out of his busy career to see little old me.

Thanks to Philip’s encouragement I was part of meetings that discussed the marketing of The Big Life going forward.

Those discussions were fascinating and brought a mixture of people of all backgrounds, professions and ages incl. Children.

Such meetings included actors who had gone on bigger things in film and TV but were long standing supporters of Stratford East.

I could not believe it when I was in one of those chats sitting next to actress Saskia Reeves.

Pinch myself moment.

The Big Life did indeed transfer to the West End in 2005 and was doing well at the box office.

Then the 7 July bombings struck London and The Big Life just like many other productions had to close prematurely as fear across London meant fewer audiences in Theatreland.

Lessons from that period of interacting with Philip and observing how he dealt with people included

1. If you have experienced something good based on the activities of others, do send some positive feedback to the provider/management.
2. Have quality time even for those outside your usual environment.
3. If you spot a hidden talent in someone that they haven’t noticed themselves say something encouraging to them about it.

Philip’s long career at Stratford East came to an end that said 2004 which disappointed me at the time.

But Philip did encourage me to take up writing of any sort because he saw something and based on my unusual career journey and background I had a lot of unique stories to tell.

Phillip did come into my thoughts often in recent months as The Big Life is returning to Stratford East next month.

I’ve kept that initial email from Philip till this very day.

Thank you Philip. Probably the nicest person I ever met in England.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/05/former-theatre-royal-stratford-east-artistic-director-philip-hedley-dies

https://www.stratfordeast.com/whats-on/all-shows/the-big-life

https://youtu.be/YQKVUYvsZ8I?si=2fDL3hmd3sfdwpq1

“Morning Mr Soul“

One bright late morning in the early 1990s I was chilling on a wall on our estate in South Kilburn, NW London.

This casually dressed down tallish white man (long strap bag) was walking near to me coming from the direction of Maida Vale.

He nodded and I said “good morning…” then I quickly realised who he was and added “…Mr Soooul”. He stopped and smiled and said “You sure?” and said “yes man”.

I asked “what you doing round here? ” and he said lived nearby and would normally use this route to Kilburn High Road.

While we were chatting I noticed people I knew in the area were saying hi just to me and not David.

I said to David “look at that? I am more famous than him lol.

This moment was unreal. I said to David imagine just 15 years ago in London during the mid 1970s he couldn’t even walk 10 metres without been swamped.

David said he was relieved all that hype had died down and could move around freely without much bother and how he loved London.

I mentioned to David this area of London was always filled with residents from the entertainment/creative industry.

Then I pointed to a phone box near us and said back in the day Chris Blackwell – when building his empire at Island Records – -would use that said phonebox to sell records.

It is always moving when a person you follow on social media that’s active on there suddenly passes away. It makes the death even more poignant as David was an abundance of energy in his postings.

The next time I saw David he was calling out to me!

You couldn’t make this up.

But that was London life for you back then.

The PJRchive interview with David Soul
.
https://shows.acast.com/pjrchive/episodes/david-soul-interviews
..

Andre Braugher 1962-2023

Andre Braugher, what a fine and remarkable actor.

Braugher’s voice, delivery and body language were just commanding in scene after scene when I first came across him on screen via the NBC TV cop show – Baltimore based – Homicide: Life on the Street.

That show was just extraordinary and seeing Braugher in such as strong, serious and engaging part was enlightening and made my Saturday evenings in London.

But just like any quality US cop show that came across the UK the local schedulers moved Homicide all all over schedule and did not even screen the entire 7 seasons.

Scandalous!

What was equally scandalous was that Braugher’s starring role in Thief did not get a 2nd season.

I’d never seen an actor in such a regular role where the character Frank Pembleton was so unpredictable yet suave, assured and emotionally captivating.

You hanged on Pembleton’s every word or the mind games he played with his suspects and the interactions he had with his chief G played by the great Yaphett Kotto.

Not to mention how Frank and his partner Tim Bayliss (Kyle Secor) conversed and debated when going through their investigations or about life.

That ensemble of characters that Braugher led in Homicide was special and fun to watch and his role is one of the greats in tv.

Braugher as Frank Pembleton made me think to myself at the time – this is proper acting.

I was not surprised then to learn decades later that Braugher was classically trained and loved Shakespeare.

But one of Braughers stunning performances on tv for me was not in Homicide or Brooklyn Nine-Nine it was when he guested as a defence lawyer on Law and Order: SVU in the episode “Spiraling Down”.

That court room scene where Braugher aggressively interrogates his own client played by Treat Williams was epic.


If your vocabulary is limited then your thoughts are limited – Andre Braugher



https://www.npr.org/2023/12/19/1197960885/fresh-air-draft-12-19-2023

https://youtu.be/m0_VBVXuyCM?si=dbCzpkqC8i6tgMRG

Terry, Shane, Dean, Russell & Benjamin R I.P.

From last week I have been attempting to scribe a few words of tribute to a number of individuals that has been relevant to British popular culture – and by extension my own – who passed away recently.

But each time I attempted to do so we got hit with more news of the passing of others which just shocked me even more to the core.

Last week in the space of hours the UK lost high profile figures from sport (Terry Venables), music (Shane McGowan) and television (Dean Sullivan).

This week we got news on the deaths of Russell Hargreaves (sports media) and Professor Benjamin Zephaniah (arts, media, activism)

Terry Venables (1943 – 2023)

I have been a fan of the West London football club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) since 1971. Terry was part of that side which was awash with talent and played an entertaining brand of the game.

When I was in Jamaica during the late 1970s Terry again came into my radius a lot more when he was manager of Crystal Palace who played a lively brand of football and included one of my favourite players then, Vince Hilaire.

We were fortunate to see Palace on Jamaican television via the ITV/LWT produced show Big League Soccer hosted by Brian Moore.

(Who would have thought that a few years later I would be working in London just yards from where that show was produced by LWT)

So when Venables left Palace to manage QPR I was delighted as we were shown on Big League Soccer quite often and we even made an FA Cup final which was shown live on Jamaican tv. Happy days then – but we lost to Tottenham Hotspurs in that final.

When Terry left QPR to manage Barcelona I thought he was going backwards, me not realising how massive that Catalan football club was until a few years later when El Tel won the Spanish League title with them when I was in the UK.

I loved Terry as a personality. He was fun and infectious. He was flawed in a Arthur Daley kind of way. He was adventurous and II loved the way he expressed his style of football.

I was disappointed when Terry eventually joined Tottenham Hotspurs because his predecessor David Pleat had a good team that was competitive and entertaining at White Hart Lane. Pleat was unfairly sacked for non football reasons thanks to the gutter hypocrital tabloid media.

(But Terry – as England manager- would have his own fair share of tabloid attacks led especially by one Harry Harris.)

Terry did relatively well at Spurs but he was on friendly terms with most of the British football journalists which meant at times he got a free ride which many of his detractors felt was undeserved.

Business tycoon Alan Sugar was then chairman of Spurs and who appointeded Terry CEO, felt this London media adoration of Terry was misleading and it used to really piss him off.

So Sugar would provide negative scoops on Terry to Harris Harris of the Daily Mirror whose editor at the time was one Piers Morgan.

Despite been successful as England manager Terry would suffer the same resignation/sacking fate as Pleat and we could only imagine what he could have done had remained England manager until the 1998 World Cup.

In the 1996 Euros tournament held in England Terry had put together an England team that brought a feel good factor to the masses; despite getting knocked out in the semifinals.

Met Terry a few times in the 1990s in Soho as he was mates with a couple of colleagues/acquaintances of mine who were close to Terry’s pr friend the one and only Eric “Bubbla” Hall.

I once told Terry how I was disappointed about his lack of using strikers Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole.

15 minutes later Terry was still explaining to me his reasons for not picking them often.

“Riiiiiight” was my response.


Shane McGowan (1957 – 2023)

“You’ve never heard of Shane McGowan?” Is what a couple of my classmates at Kilburn Polytechnic in 1986 said to me in at a pub in Kilburn after class.

“No” I said. But Shane was in that pub chatting away.

He even came and spoke to those class mates who were big fans of him.

But within a few months of that Shane McGowan moment I began to realise who he was and his impact on the London music scene then and beyond.

Kilburn is part of my roots and the Irish influence on that community is legendary and Shane embraced Kilburn.

Good bloke.

Dean Sullivan (aka Jimmy Corkhill)

1955 – 2023

Brookside will always be my favourite tv soap. It was more than a soap.

Although it sadly ended in early 2000s, Brookside story lines even by today’s standards were pioneering, thought provoking and outraged the right wing media and Conservative parliamentarians of that time.

I learnt so much about the Liverpool lingo because of Brookie which I would use regularly.

Sullivan’s portrayal of the Jimmy Corkhill character was a major cog of Brookside especially from the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.

Whatever incarnation of Jimmy that came through our screens Dean stole the scene.

Whether it was the comedic, straight man, roguish, irritating husband and especially the drug addict version, Dean left you in amazement. Even when Dean was on screen without any lines his facial expressions, head moments made you laugh.

Humble guy in person and I was lucky to tell him how great he was as Jiiiimmy!


Russell Hargreaves

News of Russell’s death left me shocked and numb. For much of the 2010s Russell’s weekend nightly show on Talksport radio kept me going as I was caring for dad nonstop for 4-5 years.

I am nuts about sports and Russell and I were kindred spirits in that sense. We would exchange messages about sports and music but in particular rugby union which was Russell’s real passion and he was chuffed that I was as interested and knowledgeable of such a sport.

But my initial awareness of Russell in sports media goes back to 2000s when he presented sports updates on LBC radio which at the time didn’t cover sport in any grand way.

Commercial sports radio in the UK was covered nationally solely by Talksport.

I liked the energy and thrust that Russell brought to LBC listeners but thought he was wasted.

I came across Russell casually in the 2000s at rugby union games and I would say to Russ he should be at Talksport radio

Now for many years my workplace was either next door or just minutes away from the studios of Talksport radio.

Not far from ITV studios I mentioned. So you met media and sports people routinely in the local pubs, cafes, wine bars or just sitting by the benches by the River Thames

In a couple of casual chats with staff from Talksport I mentioned “you should hire that Russell Hargreaves on LBC”

So I was chuffed years later to hear Russell was providing rugby union, golf and football updates on Talksport.

Eventually Russell would get his own show at weekends from 1am – 6am.

Normally in commercial radio that time slot is tough gig to pull off successfully but Russell delivered. He got the balance right.

He showed his versatility at discussing a wide range of sports with guests and listeners across the globe.

Russell brought a level of professionalism and respectability that was missing from Talksport which was mostly a football oriented radio station.

Last time I heard Russell was during his coverage of the recent rugby union world cup in France.

That scenario was how I had envisioned of Russell all those years ago.

44 is no age.. What a loss.


Benjamin Zephaniah (1958 – 2023)

I first came across Benjamin’s work in the 1980s on BBC2, Channel 4 and in particular the black run pirate stations across London.

We first met in the early 1990s walking along Waterloo Bridge where I nodded to Benjamin and said “keep doing what you going” leading to a brief chat as you do.

Our paths would regularly cross thereafter in London at public talks, book festivals, marches, theatreland, gigs, South Bank, East London.

I was so impressed by Benjamin ability to stand out and just be himself at all times.

Not compromising, keep it real and make Babylon sit up.

We would chat about Jamaica, reggae, poetry, plays and Aston Villa.

He was fascinated by stories I told him about what really goes on in Whitehall and my anecdotal stories about the anti narcotics world.

Benjamin – so too my late dad – would have been chuffed this week at how his hometown football club Aston Villa defeated both Manchester City and Arsenal within days.

Genius, engaging, unpredictable enlightening.

Rest me Idren

Up The Villa!

Maduro’s Guyana Gambit

The recent ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Venezuela should respect the existing border with Guyana was not surprising.

That border contention over Guyana’s Essequibo lucrative region has been lingering for over a century and when you trace the core of the reasons why Venezuela feel robbed you can see why this issue has raised its ugly head; given that Guyana’s continued tap into oil/gas reserves backed by the US government through US based oil giants.

Senior US and UK government figures have warned Venezuela government to respect the ICJ ruling.

That’s a bit rich from the Washington and Westminster.

In 2019 the ICJ ruled that the UK should abandon sovereignty over the Chagos Islands which includes the territory of Diego Garcia where the natives where removed so that US could set up a military bases.

In the 1960s both govts went around international law through the US congress and US parliament and devised a scheme to control that region within the Indian Ocean

The UK & US continue to ignore that ICJ ruling from 2019.

(British courts has pushed back against claims of those Chagos Islands citizens to return home.)

I for one hope the status quo stays still over the unnecessary Essequibo dispute.

Guyana has a rough time economically from as long as I can remember and deserves this significant change of fortunes since these recent endless energy discoveries.

The only issue for me is whether the Guyanese government is getting a fair deal for its citizens from all the contracts agreed with those big oil giants.

The Caribbean as a region should also be reaping benefits in the medium to long term. The last thing this region needs is any land invasion in the name of energy which would have far reaching immeasurable negative consequences on our doorsteps.

From a layman’s point doesn’t Venezuela has even energy reserves to maximize their economic fortunes despite the sanctions metered out by the US?

Yes.

Let Guyana enjoy this energy boom moment without any nearby intimidation.
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If Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro decides to play bully on Guyana he will lose more of the few allies he currently has especially those from the Caribbean.

Even China, who invested heavily in Guyana in recent years, may take a dim view of Maduro if he invades his neighbours.

He’s on his own

Further reading


The Secret Agenda Behind the Venezuela-Guyana Conflict

https://coha.org/the-secret-agenda-behind-the-venezuela-guyana-conflict/


WikiLeaks: Lula was worried Venezuela would invade Guyana

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/01/22/news/guyana/wikileaks-lula-was-worried-venezuela-would-invade-guyana/

How the US and UK worked together to recolonise the Chagos Islands and evict Chagossians

https://theconversation.com/how-the-us-and-uk-worked-together-to-recolonise-the-chagos-islands-and-evict-chagossians-177636

Biden/Harris 2024 Should Step Aside For…

The recent television debate on Fox News between Democratic, Gavin Newsome (Governor of California) and Republican, Ron DeSantis (Governor of Florida) confirmed for me that the former should have been one of the leading candidates to replace Joe Biden in next year’s US presidential elections.

We all know that Biden, 81, was meant to be a one term president and lay the groundwork for Kamala Harris (VP) to be the Democratic Party presidential candidate for 2024.

But Harris has been truly uninspiring from day one in her VP role.

In fact Harris was a terrible candidate in the 2020 primaries and after being mauled by Tusli Gabbard in one of the early debates she quickly withdrew her candidacy. Her polling numbers amongst Democrats alone were abysmal then.

(What the hell has happened to Gabbard?)

I was indeed surprised when Kamala won the VP nomination but then again senior Democrats such as Jim Clyburn were adamant that their 2020 VP candidate must be a black woman.

Why? I thought at the time.

The first time Newsome came into my conscience as a possible successor to Biden was when Harris made a horlicks of the border role POTUS assigned to her in 2020.

Harris displayed a lack of focus and leadership on the border role issue and has never recovered from whatever lofty standings she might have had following that debacle.

As time went on Harris just was not connecting or being effective in any of her positions. It was kind of Qualyeish.

That’s when I felt Harris needed a graceful way out of the White House into some governorship position at the State level. Then that experience could boost her presidential intentions in say 2028.

But ego politics and indeed identity politics doesn’t allow some senior east coast Democrats to swallow their pride and encourage the Biden/Harris ticket to step aside for the benefit of those dreading a return of Donald Trump. .

Both Biden and Harris have been polling dreadfully against all the leading Republican primary presidential contenders.

And thus Democrats in the media and celebrity circles are prepared to accept that a Biden/Harris ticket should go ahead, exaggerate their performance in the White House, ignore the reality and lose out eventually to the GOP.

Really?

My suggestion would be for Biden not to run and allow a Newsome/Gretchen Whitmer (Governor of Michigan) ticket to run and let Harris be lined to be the next Governor of California.

There is still time

It’s hard to see the Biden/Harris ticket turnaround their poor polling numbers in key swing states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan but having a change of ticket could reverse the DNC fortunes.

A lot has changed since January 2020 and the Biden administration has long lost it’s way whether on domestic or foreign policy issues.

Newsome, in appearing on Fox News for prime time interviews and debates has allowed him to crossover and reach an audience vehemently anti-Democrat. That matters in such a very divisive electorate and toxic cable news environment.

Yes, the Democrats have done brilliant in some recent key state run elections. But those winners rarely ran touting the Biden/Harris “achievements” and instead kept their campaign messaging mainly to local issues.

The mainstream media is mostly in the Biden/Harris camp and thus their reporting and commentary on that administration is restrained in its criticism of how poor that duo has performed.

A Trump victory in 2024 may be good for media business but not for the rest of us.

Those senior die hard influential Democrat donors need to stop flushing money down the shithole and come to their senses.

There is still time to do the sensible thing.