Saturday, July 02, 2005
The current state of Rockfort Mineral Spa
Once upon a time there was a beloved place of rest and relaxation named Rockfort Mineral Spa. It was a place where you could go for the aesthetic pleasures of bubbling heated water or bonofide relief of certain ailments with the aid of varying mineral baths that where at your disposal.
(SKIP A COUPLE YEARS AHEAD)
The roach motel now run by Mr. Prakash, a man obviously devote to the ways of making a quick buck, (The way of the coolie) is an absolute atrocity! The beloved Mineral bathe is now ‘lucrative’ in collecting a couple dollars from neighboring patrons to access the make shift pool, gently laced with cement dust floating at the bottom. Other services offered are meals from a less than appetizing kitchen that I have personally been in to inspect, and occasional users of the mineral bathes.
Changing Area and Bathrooms
This area actually consists of an uncovered labyrinth, exposed to the sun and traffic. It obviously best serves as an area for persons on the compound to come and have sexual encounters, as there are simply raggedly old concrete booths, with wooden doors, ready to drop off their hinges. Most stalls bare graffiti signs detailing the number of sexual exploits of conquered females/ males in the booth and the said positions they where delivered.
The Spa Area
Mr. Prick..I mean Prakash, has the entrance floor to this area flooded with water…for whatever reason, I guess it has to do with fueling prospective clients the desire to get wet?? Maybe?? Anyway, the Spa areas, although in working condition is unsavory. What can I say? The tiles in the spa in which you sit, the floor, the walls, even the wastebasket in the corner is a site to be seen…or not. I guess persons wishing to get some type of therapeutic benefit from here will have to be completely focused on the supposed benefits, and stay clear of any presumptions that the treatment, aesthetically, will be pleasing.
Mr. Prakash, after taking up the position of management blames his ‘loss’ of business due to the fact that the nearby super giant company, Caribbean Cement Co. located beside it is to blame, as the dust from the plant has floated over and, “mashed up the business”.
I have a clear alternative for Mr. Prakash..a few sticks of dynamite will solve your problems. Look into it sir and reap the rewards.
Jimscreechy
Interlude to Anarchy: A Public Service Announcement
Bad Karma for C&W?
I have no sympathy for this company whatsoever where their financial status is concerned. Does anyone care to jump back in time with me, a few years ago when a company now known as Digicel, penetrated the then, monopolized Mobile/ Telecommunications industry? Does anyone care to remember the absolutely ghastly service most received from C&WJ in the mobile category? Service was an “on occasion” basis. Those brave enough to wield C&WJ mobiles were slewed with inappropriate service and uninspired packages and/ or services, unregulated “free” international and local calls, queued text messages and not to mention having the chore of lugging around the 4lb phones. Not until the long awaited presence of Digicel arrived did we have a choice, and what a wonderful feeling choice is in a world of none. I purposely waited a couple of months for Digicel to set up operations, to purchase my first mobile and I’m glad I waited.
My reason for having no empathy for C&WJ is because, it was not until the influx of some nature of competition, coupled with a noticeable boom in sales of choice mobile phones from Digicel, did C&WJ decide to ‘pull up their socks’ and diversify their mobile product. Thus the reason for the massive marketing strategy featuring the puzzling “switch” logos and then the final launch and activation of their newly acquired GSM/TDMA network, which the implementation of is now one of the reasons they have failed to pull a profit and cannot pay out dividends. Bad Service. Bad Forecasting. Bad Karma.
I shudder to think where we all currently would be if some sort of competition had not arrived on JA soil- we would be probably all still be punching away at the ”Retry” button several times to connect and still brandishing the less than desired “peanut phone”. My fellow Jamaicans do we not see the power that we wield? A valuable lesson can be learned I implore all, do no put up with shabby service of any kind, encourage competition and demand fair service as it can do wonders, encouraging these large companies to try hard to improve their product, ultimately pleasing us, the customer.
Sham shame on you C&W for poor planning, and for putting your investors in such a position.
Jimscreechy
Friday, July 01, 2005
Ask what the new Police Comish can do for you-January 15,2005
The New Police Commish-what’s in store?
Squaddie or Squaddy (skwod ’ē), n. pl.-dies.
Jamaican Informal. a Policeman by technical standards, however by the standards of civilized Jamaicans- an irate/ disgruntled/ inept member of the police force who for his/her mental ability should actually be better suited tending to someone’s lawn as an alternative to being assigned a patrol vehicle and a government issued firearm.
The expected babble of what is to be expected of the new Police Commish replacing the much inept and disappointing ousted ex Police Commissioner Francis Forbes has started and the boring published high hopes of the media (soon to be crushed in the near future because of the impending, predictable cataclysmic flop of any JA political venture) about what can be done for the new button pusher, Lucius Thomas to improve what we all currently refer to as the er…Police Force of Jamaica (?)
Bill Johnson of Johnson’s Survey has been appointed the expected and tedious task of instilling hope in a country that should have given up a long time ago about the hopes for the Police Force. He does this by recommending ways as how Lucy old Boy can ‘connect’ with the massives, thus gaining our trust and maybe even the trust of the relatives of those purposely snuffed out by Reneto ‘Mad Max’ Adams??…(See archived article, entitled, “Operation Kingfish- Jamaica’s Latest Crime fighting Squad-October 20,2004”)
Well, for the pill popping, purple skunked eyed, politically un-inclined, Jimscreechy of www.jimscreechy.blogspot.com has come up with a number of ways the new Commish can improve the Police Force, thus regaining respect in the eyes of the public in his first few couple a months:
1. First and foremost, send back ¾ of the entire Police Force to re-sit their CXC English language exam and even if they do pass…send them back just to be sure!! We the people, are tired of being pulled over in our cars, only to be badgered by near leotard wearing, fresh outta da camp squaddies that cant even speak English!
2. Please! Please! Get rid of the middle aged Cop, always at the scene of a crime, on the 8 o’clock news, wearing a tight polyester khaki uniform and top hat, swinging around his S&M baton. He NEVER has any other comment for the reporters, other than, “We accosted the individual at approximately (so and so time), and then we proceeded to detain him and will be questioning him further on the matter. During this pathetic display of Public Relations- beads of sweat are rolling down his face and his eyes are darting all over the place, eagerly searching for something to inspire his next statement.
3. How about actually assigning those fresh, green, group of squaddies, posted all around Kingston somewhere shady to stand so that they wont be so irate and cocky when they do stop us. Maybe the root of their derangement lies in being pelted by the sun hours for hours at a time. Brain fried squaddies might tend to only wreak more havoc on the un assuming public.
4. Make it mandatory for, “How bad is my driving? Call this number..“ decals to be placed on the back of all police vehicles. How much times have we the people had to pull over on the curb to let through a police vehicle-sirens a blazing only to notice on their passing by that the vehicle is filled with two catties smiling in approval at the squaddies successful attempt to show their power over traffic. Double dating on taxpayers $ are they?
5. Last, but one of the most noteworthy suggestions should be on the delivery of new police initiatives. Whether they be crime deterrent initiatives, public relation initiatives or maybe even the promise of a spanking new fleet of automobiles; always Lucy old boy, start your public speeches/ press conferences with emphasis on “maybe it can work” or “we hope to do the following things” :
Good luck old boy and we look forward to your first job productivity assessment later down in the year. Lets hope you don’t bomb.
Jim Screechy