Yannick Pessoa... Name inspired by Yannick Noah... Now Dustin Brown and Keez Pessoa #blog #tennis

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All Hail the Queen of the Republic of Montego Bay: Queen Ifrica

Now as Montego Bay's image and along with it Jamaica's image as well, is being torn apart by foreign press and media. It seems the identity of the city is in dispute and on debate. Which Queen represents Montego Bay is it Queen Ifrica or is it the Gully Queen alleged gay martyr!

As Cliff Hughes, J-Flag and international gay lobby groups will issue their sanctimonious denouncements from their farcical moral high ground. "In times likes these, when we are missing our heroes," men like Obama, not just the president, part of a rich black elite, would "stand up" for homosexuality and gay right, yet stand down on matters of the black community, while black unemployment is at its worst. When Jamaica is willing to highlight Scamming from Montego Bay yet ignore the undeniable root in and link to homosexuality, when Jamaica endorses Tommy Lee as the best of Montego Bay, some refuse to let go off Jah Cure's past conviction, and fail to endorse Queen Ifrica. When Carolyn Cooper is willing to highlight Vybz Kartel, promote him in the hallowed halls of academia. In an age where Poorsha promise to put away allegiance to the British crown. In an age where Rasta is appropriated by whomever to do whatever... Why is it the that a strong black Rasta woman from Montego Bay has to stand up as Queen... and I believe right now, not just for Montego Bay but Jamaica? Why is it that she is not getting the recognition she deserves.

I think JFLAG is out of line on this and need to hop of Montego Bay's Queen back... OK!

Ifrica a represent Mobay the realest way! She is carrying on in the theatre of the public's collective consciousness, the role of Nanny, Nanna, Goddess Inanna, in the tradition of Queens like Sheba, Nefertiti, Nefertari, Cleopatra, the Candaces. First she schooled Peter Bunting, "Don't Cry Mister Bunting," so till if even only symbolic or effectual or for the sake of PR had to call her in and get advice, She stood up on the issue of Beedies, she has shown she is not afraid to say the unpopular when she sang "Daddy don't touch me there" "And no boy cyah draw mi round no corner," and "Keep it to yourself." She blessed up this city by titling one of her albums after this city... this in an age where everyone does just a city song or a big up weh come from song. Now she makes a stand for another cause, now JFLAG and Cliff Hughes want to make her a big deal for all the wrong reasons... this is how I would love to see other artistes using their powers for good, in a socially active way, more activism, as part of peaceful protests, lobbies, rallies, ganja rallies, ecological fairs etc.

Right now I wish she would attack Minister Ferguson on GMO and car pollution, it would seem he is only concerned with smoking and the financial incentives it can accrue via penalties and taxes. As a matter of fact she should see all the rest of the ministries on matters of education, culture, ecology and the environment. Teach "Hoggish Greedly" aka minister of Agriculture bout organic and urban farming, eco-city, ecopolis, vertical farms etc... She fi kunk Paulwell and step up the urgency of alternative energy!
Ifrica Mobay Love You...

"Keep it to yourself" by Queen Ifrica

As horrific as Dwayne's death is, as mob justice is horrific and irrational, he is no martyr nor any Queen!
Look at the pic on the wall in the background, the carving, is a man with an enlarged penis, and on the other side a picture of another dubious looking character. 

Our Online Edition!

The Online Newspaper Edition of THE MONTEGONIAN

Who Protects Brand Montego Bay?

Brand Montego: Part 1

The City has to Develop and Protect it's Brand

A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well. Jeff Bezos

“There is more similarity in the marketing challenge of selling a precious painting by Degas and a frosted mug of root beer than you ever thought possible.”
A. Alfred Taubman

Imagine the words Montego Bay, instantaneously it brings to mind, relaxation, coconut and palm trees, white sand beaches, sun and sometimes even sex - it's one of the most powerful images in the Caribbean. So how is it, dozens of companies use the name to sell products – Payless is notorious for selling a brand of sandals called the Montego Bay Club, there is even a foreign band full of white boys called Montego Bay Band, A Freemason pub of some sort in England with the Name Montego Bay littering the menu- so I put it to both the government and the public now, that we start considering seeking protection for Brand Montego Bay, under intellectual property, through trademark and copyright.

Freemasons Arms Pub... on the Menu Montego Bay Chicken Wrap!

We must consider that in today’s environment cities compete amongst each other for talent, business and human resources. In many ways they have to act like commercial entities by selling themselves to potential customers – business investors, visitors/tourists, the working and creative classes– as successful, vibrant, forward-looking brands. Simply put they have to market themselves as the place to be, project an image of tomorrow and betterment. At the same time that image, that name, that identity must be guarded. Just as commercial entities, have lawyers and make legal cases on issues of copyright and trademark infringement. So too must local government and even central government entities now seek to protect the Brand Montego Bay and Brands of Jamaica.

How do a group of white boys in America or is it England become the Montego Bay Band?

Intellectual property rules offer the potential to provide a valuable source of income for people in developing countries, who tend to get only a small sliver of the profits made on their goods on the international market. Do we profit from made in China T-Shirts that say Montego Bay. NOPE! Montegonians are not getting value. Their image and name is being abused. Consequently I saw a study that detail through study of Mobay and other areas, how Brand Jamaica has mostly benefited entities like Puma, whilst craft vendors and small businesses flailing in the harsh economy.

Montego Bay City must re-examine its role and function, as well as define its appeal to ‘citizens/consumers’, at the same time protecting the name and the Brand of the city for the citizens. Our city must distinguish itself from our competitors (Kingston, Portmore, Ocho Rios) and position our self as a recognizable brand in an increasingly regional and international market place. Port of Spain, San Fernando, Bridgetown, Kingstown are all Caribbean cities vying for status and international cosmopolitan appeal, so what of us in the Bay?

I noted on twitter that a few Kingstonians started noticing that “Mobay look like farrin” and that “any time mi waan go farrin mi go Fairview, Montego Bay.”

Here is an excerpt of Mobay through a foreigners eyes

“Downtown resembled a cross between America and what we would picture as rural Africa. The streets were full of activity. People yelling, laughing, buying and selling items. Playing music. Their skin was black as tar and beautiful. Their hair was the epitome of natural. They wore clothes that we would have worn in the early 2000’s but did their best to match it up.”

From instagram.com (via @RudeboyRJ) - June 3, 4:05 PM

What is the vision of Mobay, what is the vision for Montego Bay, who protects the name Montego Bay? The name Montego Bay has been already been branded and used and bandied about like there is no tomorrow, but Montegonians haven't seen the benefits.

I put it out there that Montego Bay is the biggest cultural brand in the Caribbean. When I travel abroad, Montego Bay always seems to be the more popular Jamaican destination and known location. So those companies using the Montego Bay Brand in ways that really do enhance their business, they use the name to make association with luxury, comfort, sun, breeze and such... so it's reasonable for the Montegonians to ask, Why aren't you coming to talk to us? Why aren't you asking our permission? Why don't you engage with us?

The notion of cities and cultures seeking IP protection is not an entirely new one - the Native American Navajo recently brought a case against the clothes company Urban Outfitters, for use of their name.

Relying on past glory is no longer enough; As the once den like, homely Montego Bay is now becoming a metropolis and showing a citizenry acquiring the cosmopolitan lifestyles to go with it… the friendly city is now a big city, and nowhere near as friendly as it used to be. 

Today, successful companies and young talented people have lost hometown loyalties; note the influx of outsiders and outside businesses in Mobay, not to mention the ‘Spanish Invasion’. They can choose where to cluster. Cities with distinctive characteristics; be they economic, cultural, environmental or life style, and it these things that will attract the best companies and people. So now we have questions of Montego Bay’s identity and its brand identity: What are the distinctive characteristics of Montego Bay, what makes us, US?


To Be Cont’d