Today With Vernon - May 26, 2021

Artists Behind The Murals Downtown

One of the murals Downtown Kingston

It was great talking to two of the artists who have been working on those beautifu

Charlton Baker

l murals on Waterlane and in other areas in Kingston, Jamaica. I spoke with Charl Baker and Joshua Solas on air and both artists declared that they were creative from the day they were born.

Joshua said that he use to smash things up around the house. Charl said she used her fathers socks and handkerchiefs to do creative things. She said that art chose her and not the other way round

Joshua said the feedback on the work done in Kingston has been overwhelmingly positive.  I suggested that some of the creative youngsters in the various areas could be allowed to paint some areas in their communities. Charl says it is a part of the vision. She said that it was about using art as a means of social pride.  I was told that the murals have been sealed but they still have to be maintained since exposure to the sun would lead to deterioration.

I told my wonderful guests that it was time to show what is good and to make the good overpower the evil, I went on to say that make the beauty over power the ugly -  if you spread the beauty and love then Jamaica will become a beautiful country.

Charl said that it was high time to take back the city and put Kingston on the map. She went on to say that Kingston is  bursting at the seams with creativity. Kingston's creative is giving a rebirth of the city she said. She also said that it was time to light a big fire to lift the phoenix out of the ashes, to beautify the environment, which would be positive and uplifting.

Take a tour and enjoy the beautiful art.

MP. Dr. Angela Brown-Burke

MP Dr. Angela Brown-Burke

Today for the first time I had a chat with the MP for St, Andrew South Western. She is responsible for the constituency of   St. Andrew South Western. The councilors are Karl Blake for the Grenwich Town, Audrey Smith-Facey for Payne Lands  and Eugene Kelly for Whitfield Town.

Dr. Angela Brown-Burke was asked a number of question and she responded as follows.

Question: Do you believe in separation of powers?

• Answer: Yes.

Question: Should we continue with the Queen as head of state?

• Answer: No.

Question: What action parliament should take against a parliamentarians who brings the office of MP into disrepute.?

• Answer: Need to have code of conduct for members of parliament. We should just deal with conflict of interest but also have strong sanction.

Question: Do you support the death penalty?

• Answer: I is difficult to support the death penalty. Party has allowed members to vote on conscious. We need a justice system which is far more reliable before I would feel comfortable with that final position. 

Question: Name one step you would take to deal with corruption in politics?

• Answer: Believe when an individual is found guilty, the full force of the law must be brought to bear. We need an independent body to deal with this.

Question:  Do you believe in impeachment 

• Answer: Yes

Dr. Brown Burke was born in St. Thomas and then she came to live in Kingston. She attended Wolmer's High and later on she did her Masters in Cuba. 

Dr. Brown-Burke is very concerned about the crime and the unemployment in her consituency. The roads are in a poor state especially Spanish Town Road. The NWC is now laying pipes in that area so hopefully Spanish Town Road will be fixed soon.

She has skill training programmes in the consituency but many can't even afford to attend the training although the cost is very minimal.