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Shock and anger

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Investigators comb the scene where Hines’ body was found. In bottom photo, observers take a peek down the sink hole in which Hines’ body was discovered, and subsequently recovered from.
  • Attorney’s body taken from sinkhole
  • Colleagues blast authorities

Barrington Flemming/Shamir Brown

With mystery still shrouding the gruesome slaying of noted Trelawny attorney, 65-year-old William Hines, affectionately called ‘Baldy’, whose decomposing body was retrieved from a 40-foot-deep sink hole on his farm at Orange Valley district on the border of Trelawny and St. James on Sunday, colleagues have responded with shock and anger at the authorities, arguing that enough resources were not committed to search for him since he went missing on January 6.

Hines’ body, with hands and feet bound, was discovered after a community member stumbled upon a number of objects and blood stains, which pointed to the hole in which his body was dumped. A search party comprising the police, firefighters, family members and colleagues returned to the site on Sunday after attempts to retrieve the body on Saturday were hampered by a lack of equipment.

Khadine Colman, one attorney-at-law who was among those at the scene, while expressing profound sadness at the brutal way in which Hines met his end, lambasted the authorities, citing that not enough money and resources were committed to the search, which took a month to locate Hines.

  • William Hines

“We are deeply saddened and extremely upset about the loss of our colleague and we are disturbed by the length of time it took to find him and for us to even get to this point. We know that his soul cannot rest in peace until his killer or killers are found,” the attorney said.

She pointed to a lack of resources granted to the police and the fire service, citing that this was caused by misplaced priorities by the government, as the search and retrieval of Hines’ body had to be curtailed on Saturday when an ambulance at the scene and other equipment had to be diverted to an accident scene along the Rose Hall main road.

“I am told that there are plans afoot to spend 1 billion dollars to undertake a beach project in Montego Bay, I am not against recreational activities for persons to socialize; but how can we utilize resources to spend on recreational facilities when we do not have resources to effectively man a crime scene?”

Hines was described by his colleagues, as a strident advocate for rehabilitation of wrongdoers, and one of his colleagues bemoaned the fact that while he practiced criminal law, it may have been persons whom he would have represented in the court who ended his life.

The noted attorney, who practiced law in Kingston for a number of years, was originally from Comfort Hall in Trelawny and an avid lover of farming, and had returned to Trelawny and bought a piece of land in a neighbouring community to raise cattle.

One of Hines’ sisters remembers him fondly as a loving, kind and supportive person.

“The last time we spoke was during the holidays when we shared good tidings for the New Year. But it did not materialize for him as his life ended abruptly.  He was very much into farming and would come down from Kingston every weekend to look after his livestock. This is very difficult for us as a family. It is hard, very hard to take,” she said.

Rovers hunt third straight

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CLOSE ON THE HEELS: Romeo Dodds of the Melbourne team maintained possession of the ball despite being chased by Catherine Hall’s Taj Robinson during their St. James FA Sandals Resorts International Major League match played at Albion on Thursday. Melbourne Mind Games won the game 1-0.

Sandals Major League

Noelita Lawrence

Smooth-sailing Lilliput Rovers will look to extend their excellent early season form in the St. James Football Association Sandals Resorts International Major League when they tackle struggling Irwin in a lone Monday game (February 4) set to be played out at the Irwin High School.

Rovers, former many-times semi-finalists, take aim at a third straight as they bid for a return to sole leadership of Zone 1, ‘The Group of death’.

They will be up against an Irwin side that has yet to mark off a win, their only point coming from a drawn result. Irwin have also managed to score just once in two outings, with their strike force seemingly lacking in confidence.

Rovers, who flattered to deceive last year, flopping out at the last four hurdle, are yet to conceded a goal while they have hit the back of their opponents’ net five times already.

Promoted Bogue and Cambridge, still yet to secure a victory, look to break that jinks when the two come face to face on Tuesday in an affair that promises to be exciting.

Matches are slated to kick-off at 3 p.m.

MELBOURNE SQUEEZE THROUGH

Meanwhile, as action continued at the start of the weekend, Melbourne Mind Games nabbed a second straight victory, clipping Catherine Hall 1-0 in a competitive and entertaining showdown at the Albion playfield, while Marl Road and MoBay City, shared eight goals down the middle in a 4-4 thriller at the UDC field.

Watched by a good-sized crowd on hand at Albion, Melbourne, who began the season with a heavy defeat, roared back in fine form and moved their points tally to six with victory over their longtime rivals.

The vital goal of the contest came in the 67th minute through substitute Trevon Allen.

Allen slotted in mere ten seconds after getting onto the pitch, and with his very first touch of the ball, getting on the end of an ill-timed back pass to roll the ball into an unguarded net between the defender and the advancing goalkeeper.

Catherine Hall, suffering their first defeat of the campaign, were wasteful in-front of goal, failing to take any of their many chances created, especially in the second half.

Jamario Wallace had one of the clearest chances for the losers, crashing his unchallenged shot from inside the 18-yard-box onto the crossbar as timed expired.

Malik Cummings and Kemar Reid also missed glorious chances as the Garfield Anderson-coached Catherine Hall, who moved the ball around with ease playing slick one-two passes almost always, lacked composure to finish.

EIGHT-GOAL THRILLER

Meantime, it was goals galore at the UDC field as for the second time in three outings, Marl Road squandered an advantage and were forced to share points with their opponents, playing out a 4-4 draw with youthful MoBay City, who with the result, remained undefeated.

In the latest clash, free-scoring Marl Road raced to a 3-1 lead 25 minutes in, through a stunning hat-trick by Shevon Smith, only to be pegged back by a charging City side who placed themselves in a winning position before conceding late in time added on.

Marl Road, through the energetic Smith, started like a runaway train and raced into a cushioned advantage, scoring in the 7th, 20th and 25th minutes.

Smith opened the scoring when he stabbed in uncontested at the near post, before adding a second from the penalty spot. He later completed the three-timer, getting on the end of a defense-splitting to pass to slot in on the run past the goalkeeper.

Dalkeith McFerson earned his team a share of the points when he found the equalizer in the second minute of time added on (90+2)

MoBay City, who had cut the deficit to one early on with a goal from the penalty spot from Brandon Curate after 18 minutes, produced a sensational comeback, striking three times in the second half, including what should have been the winner, but failed to hold.

Ryan Baker, Chris Christian in the 30th and 65th minutes and Kenrick Smith, with what looked like the winner on the stroke of full time, were the scorers for the MoBay City team, who remained undefeated.

The Leacroft Lettman-coached team should have won the contest but missed a flurry of chances, mostly one-on-ones with the goalkeeper. On each occasion, however, the attackers fluffed their shots.

Crystal Axe heats up Negril scene

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Crystal Axe

MGN/AL

Coming from a musical family, the name Crystal Axe is among the most popular names in the Lucea and Negril areas. She has established the enviable reputation of being among the best female singers, a fact not many can dispute. Born in Central Village, St Catherine, she came to live in Montego Bay at a tender age and attended the Salt Spring Basic School. She then attended the Barracks Road Primary, where she then graduated to the Harrison Memorial High. Due to financial strains, however, the aspiring singer had to be transferred to Anchovy High, where she completed her studies, and then graduated.

Though a long and winding road to get to her passion, Crystal Axe benefitted from trying her hand at a few different things, all of which, in some way, contributed to her now burgeoning musical career. It wasn’t quite clear how taking business classes at the New Era Bus Institute, as well as completing an additional business course would land her in singing, but surprisingly, it all did. Crystal Axe went from business to music, and she never looked back. As is customary in the pursuit of one’s passions, Crystal Axe encountered a number of challenges, but she effectively trumped them all. After making it to the Western City, she was soon performing as a cabaret artist at many of the top show venues. Back in Negril, she graced spaces such as Risky Business, De Bus, Alfred’s, Grand Lido, Bourbon Beach and Roots Bamboo. These gigs catapulted her to success as not long after, Crystal Axe landed an overseas gig. Crystal Axe was recruited to sing in a band in West Germany with a group called ‘Seeed’. Her stay in Germany reaped more success when she teamed up with a Montegonian artiste named Black Copper, and that partnership yielded the song which turned out to be a hit, ‘Party On’, which was on the EMI Records label. The song went to number two on the German Black Record Charts, and number 8 on the Top 100 charts.

The popularity from that song gained Crystal Axe more recognition as a female Jamaican artiste and from then, the shows kept pouring in.

PERSONAL RELEASES

Over the years, Crystal Axe has done some inspiring work of her own. She released several singles, as well as two albums and three music videos, which all reaped a beyond admirable level of success. Some of her more popular songs from her catalogue are ‘Love In My Heart’, ‘Rain Is Falling’, ‘Crying Over You’, ‘So Much Love’, ‘In Yah’, ‘Promises’, ‘Loving You’ ft. Bushman, and ‘Love Me Up’. A testament to her appeal, Crystal Axe has been sought by many musicians, and she has subsequently done a number of features as a result. Her list of artistes she has collaborated with over the years includes Easy Wayne, Ray Dawen, Bushman and Black Copper ,just to name a few. “I got the inspiration from my father, Rueben Brooks, who is also a singer. Music is in my blood. My little sister, Princess Tia, is now on tour also as a singer, and my time is near to restart my tours as I have three songs to release next month. I want to thank the Father up above for showing some success in my musical career,” expressed Crystal Axe, whose real name is Gayamaris’ Brooks. She now sings at the No Name Bar in West End Negril, in the Crystal Axe Showcase series each Thursday.

Abortion is a woman’s right

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Anthony Barrett

“Any realistic vision of change must be based on the notion of empowerment of people.” – ‘The Poverty of Nations’, Michael Manley’s seventh book, published 1991

Separate and apart from our domestic politics, there are two other polarizing issues which, without rhyme or reason, divide Jamaica: abortion and homosexuality. Many of us scribes have shied away from addressing both for fear of getting labeled.  Today, before our parliament, the issue of abortion is up for debate/discussion.

Let me be clear, as a father of eight girls, I do believe that a woman has the right to choose. It’s her body, her time, her patience, her nurturing. Make no mistake, most Jamaican men are breeders, not fathers.  Be honest, ask yourself – What should a young, ambitious female do with an unwanted child when she realizes the father will be an absentee and the social intervention programmes in this country do not, fulsomely, address the issue of adoption? Given the dire economic situation in Jamaica, there are few Jamaicans who are willing to adopt a child and provide a proper, loving and nurturing home.

With that said, there can be no doubt as to my position on abortion. For those not so subtle or cogent, I am pro-abortion and most importantly, I am an advocate of a woman’s right to choose, to determine whether or not she carries a child. For too long, publicly, many Jamaicans have objected to abortion yet they have, in some ways, facilitated the practice. Oh, what sanctimonious hypocrites we are.

Here in Jamaica, the Morning After Pill can be bought legally in certain pharmacies and on the streets. There is no furor from the church and the self-righteous hypocrites. As the devil’s advocate, is the morning after pill a legalized form of abortion? If the church is so incensed and morally perturbed, why have they not protested such activities?

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I am not a new advocate of abortion. In my memory I have never been pro-life. My once ambivalent position on abortion changed in the early 1980’s. As a young graduate from Cornwall College, I did 6th form at the Montego Bay Community College. There, I met and fell in love with a young lady. My supplications and declaration of love to her fell on deaf ears, she only had eyes for a man, who, like I, had no visible means of income. Unlike me, he drove the most coveted Westminster motor cars whilst I depended on my friend, Robin Clarke for transportation home to Granville after classes.

Over time, this young lady and I became true friends despite my unrequited love for her. Towards the end of our first year at Com C, I found her under an almond tree quietly crying to herself. After hugging and cajoling her, I found out that she was pregnant and the father didn’t want her or the child. She couldn’t tell her well-to-do parents. She was by then contemplating suicide. I convinced her to leave school and go to Granville with me so we could best discuss the matter. There was a pond below Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College. To access it, you either had to ask the guard’s permission or climb the wall. We climbed the wall. Sitting by that pond side, water lilies and ducks, we decided on a course of action. No way could she drop out of school, no way could her parents learn of her misfortune.

Like her, I was saving my meagre earnings from Holiday Inn. We pooled our money and three weeks later, we went to one of the most eminent doctors in Montego Bay. We had gotten the doctor’s name via my enquiries. Ashamed, we went to see the doctor. After a scouring scolding, the doctor decided he would do the procedure the next day. Elated, we asked how much. Suffice it to say, we were $1,000.00 short. I remember well going to my sister Sybil at her business place on Creek St. and lying to her to get that $1,000.00. The next day we achieved our objective. Today, this female has a son but the most important fact is that she is one of the three most pre-eminent brain surgeons in America.

WHAT IF?

This lady remains a lifelong friend. She, in the time given her based on the demand for her skills, counsels and assists young women who are in the position she once was. Had my friend carried that unwanted child, she would have done so on her own. The father died in a shootout with the police in Flanker. Had she not done that, she would not have gained the education and skills to save lives.

A few years before her mother died, surprisingly, I saw the mom, then a Jamaican school principal, in my then hometown of Philadelphia at the Penn Relays. After hugs and greetings, we sat beside each other in the stands watching the races. At the end of the day, I invited her to dinner at my home in Ardmore. After dinner, while showing her my Jamaican plants, she said to me: “I know you impregnated my daughter because the doctor you both went to is my friend, who called me. I respect you for correcting your mistake.”

I didn’t make that mistake, but how many young girls are in that position my friend was once in? In my life, I have paid for five abortions, four were mine. Father Ho-lung and Damion Crawford and other professed anti-abortionists, whilst I accept your positions, there are extenuating factors which contribute to abortion. I dare to ask of you all, can you provide a safe space for these unwanted babies? Can you imprison all doctors who provide that necessary service? Do you know them? I guarantee that I can find among eminent doctors many illegal abortionists. If you both are so upset, start advocating for a ban on the of sale of the Morning After Pill. Peace! mocobarret@yahoo.com

Poor Lucea

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Dengue haven? Serving as a perfect mosquito breeding site for Dengue, green murky waters have gathered behind a clothing shop in Bustamante Square, Lucea.

Alan Lewin – Correspondent

If you should go on a stroll through the town of Lucea in Hanover, in about 5 minutes, you would have easily walked out the entire town. A small and dense area, the town is always crammed with people moving to and fro during the daytime. But as tiny and compact as the town is, its upkeep is in dire need of an upgrade.

This town sees several thousand tourists and visitors traversing through on a monthly basis, but with an embarrassing lack of sites and attractions, they are not convinced to stop. The citizens who work and live in and around the town are fed up with the slow and lacklustre approach to development that is taking place there.

Almost every other manhole cover has rotted, others are broken, and the gutters have a foul odor and are filled with garbage. The Stanhope Market is in a deplorable condition with poor lighting and unkempt stalls.

No Hope: This garbage-filled drain sits at a section of the Stanhope Market in Lucea. – Alan Lewin photos

POTHOLES GALORE

On the outskirts of the city, drivers have to be maneuvering potholes galore on many of the roads. A visit to other neighbouring parishes would reveal that there are major improvements in the town areas, and other areas extending beyond the cities, but it’s the opposite for Lucea and its surrounding environs in Hanover.

The young people are angry with the condition of the town and pointed out some of the facilities that are available in the other parishes, which are convenient and provide laughter and enjoyment that they could use.

They were quick to vocalize that the parish has no Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), no Burger King, no movie theatre and no Tutti Frutti outlet.“What are we down here for? If we want KFC, we have to go to Montego Bay, which is about 30 miles from here. The people in authority need to do more for the development. Is it that Local Government Minister, Desmond McKenzie, doesn’t rate this parish to develop it?” questioned a female student of the Kenilworth HEART Academy.

CONTEMPLATING MIGRATING

Residents of Lucea and surrounding areas in Hanover are now contemplating migrating to Montego Bay as the city offers better job and business opportunities. Small business operator in Lucea Maxine Brown, is one such person planning to relocate to Montego Bay in order to boost her business. “I plan to move to Montego Bay for a better living. This parish is too dead and old fashioned. It is the same way national hero Bustamante left it: same old market, same old buildings, only one thing them must have ‘licked’ down and is the Cliff Theatre on the main street. Is time for the people in authority to do something and improve the Lucea town; it comin’ like a ghost town. As it reach 7 p.m. the town almost empty,” said Brown. Despite player, in the BPO industry, Collective Solutions, being located in Sandy Bay, Hanover, persons are still migrating to Negril and Montego Bay to find suitable jobs in the hotels and call centres.

Frogs’ day in court

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THE CULPRIT: This frog, captured here with the note in its mouth, was one of the culprits who sent the Western Regional Gun Court into a frenzy earlier this week, as many believed they were sent to the courthouse as a result of obeah.

When two frogs, both with sheets of parchment papers in their mouths bearing names on them, showed up in the Western Regional Gun Court on Wednesday, legal proceedings were brought to a halt, giving way to pandemonium, and leaving many to speculate that the frogs were there on witchcraft/obeah duties.

The discovery, which was made by two lawmen around 9:30 a.m. in the courthouse, sent lawyers, as well as other court attendants, hopping, some to avoid frog poop, and others to escape what they believed was a sure sign of witchcraft at work.

While most in attendance were afraid to approach the business-like frogs, the sheets of paper they were carrying in their mouths were carefully and eventually removed, and the writings on them revealed. The notes read: “Jermaine Maris Smith: Judge 1, Judge all.” It was further observed that one frog had one sheet of paper in its mouth, while the other had two.

Though unconfirmed, reports are the name on the sheets of paper is that of an accused person who has a matter in the Gun Court.

Up to yesterday, according to several reports, the frogs were still in the courthouse, despite having the pieces of paper removed from their mouths. Additional information also revealed that the courtroom had been littered with frog waste.

St. James SOE ends tomorrow, nail-biting begins

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Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter

Despite the well-intentioned pleas for an extension, the decision to end the current State of Public Emergency in St. James will take effect tomorrow, January 31, and already, citizens and business owners alike are panicking.

St. James, highly regarded as the tourism mecca of the region, gained the unenviable reputation of being Jamaica’s most murderous parish in 2017, after a staggering 335 murders were recorded. The following year, 2018, St. James continued its murderous trek as just two weeks in, the parish recorded 12 murders, forcing the government to consider implementing a measure they thought was far too extreme – a State of Public Emergency. The government had delayed its implementation due to various calls from stakeholders, particularly those in the tourism industry, who insisted that such a measure would negatively impact St. James’ tourism product. As pressure from the public mounted, however, a State of Emergency was declared in St. James on January 18, 2018, by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Now, a few legal hiccups (alleged human rights violations, extensive detainment etc.), a reasonable decline in violent crimes, and a few extensions later, all in the span of a year, there are concerns that St. James will revert to its murderous ways, which have Reverend Peter Burnett, Chairman of the St. James Ministers’ Fraternal, reasonably perplexed. “The untimely and unfortunate ending of the current State of Emergency in St. James… is drawing near,” Burnett wrote to the Western Mirror. “It is still my prayer that the representatives of the people will agree to extend the State of Emergency beyond January 31… and I’m hopeful because prayers are being offered up to God for wisdom and courage for our political representatives and leaders of the security forces.”

REASONABLE REPLACEMENT

Burnett is not alone in his wishes for an extension, as one business owner, who spoke to the Western Mirror on condition of anonymity, explained that he too hopes the political representatives hear the cry of the people. “Listen, though I haven’t been making as much money because I have to be closing early because of the State of Emergency, I think that’s a small price to pay for my life. In early 2018, right down the road from here – almost next door, they killed one of my friends, a fellow business owner, and I was thinking of just closing up shop permanently and move away with my family, but since the State of Emergency was declared, a sense of calm returned, and I haven’t felt this safe in years. So, I am really hoping they extend it, at least until they can find a reasonable replacement,” the business owner shared.

A number of businesses have suffered as a result of the imposed and enforced early closing hours, but there were also many who benefitted. According to one female bar operator, “I feel safe because of the patrols and soldiers coming to check. Dem always wait till mi lock up before dem leave, and sometimes dem walk wid mi go a mi gate, and mi love dat. Mi feel safe.”

Despite having over a hundred murders in 2018 while the State of Emergency was active, residents still reported feeling considerably safer when compared to times prior to the SOE’s implementation. It is because of that why Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, recently implored members of government to let good sense prevail, so as to allow an additional extension beyond tomorrow.

In the event that the extension is not granted, however, there are reassurances by Minister of Security, Dr. Horace Chang and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, that St. James will not go back to its former crime-ridden days. Though they may lose some of their powers, their presence will remain, the men assured of the security forces.

Unacceptable

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  • Rats take over Railway land

Barrington Flemming – Staff Reporter

The St. James Health Department has written to the Jamaica Railway Corporation calling for immediate action, to address breaches of the Public Health Act at the People’s Arcade and lands adjacent to it, which are now being overrun by rats.

Lennox Wallace, Chief Public Health Inspector for St.  James, says the Jamaica Railway Corporation has reneged on an agreement with the St. James Health Department, which was forged more than a year ago to undertake a massive clean-up programme and to convert the Arcade from domestic to commercial operation, after it was discovered that people had been living there.

“This is unacceptable. This does not meet public health standards and Montego Bay deserves better. The Corporation is not keeping up with its side of the bargain as 95 percent of People’s Arcade is being occupied for domestic purposes. They initiated a clean-up of the drain but it was incomplete. The adjacent land which formerly housed the abattoir is now overrun with rats,” Wallace explained.

The drain, he said, now poses a serious health risk, especially in light of the Dengue Fever Outbreak, as the stagnant water there would provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The Railway Corporation in a meeting involving the Health Department and the St. James Municipal Corporation, had committed to undertake a massive clean-up campaign and to rehabilitate sections of the facility, remove persons living there, as well as to return the facility to full commercial operation.

Mr. Wallace said, however that the Corporation reneged on the agreement so the Health Department had no choice but to force the hand of the management to act speedily to resolve the issue urgently. 

He further explained that the Health Department has been advised that the water supply at the People’s Arcade has been disconnected and in light of that, it will be carrying out inspection of food-operating establishments there to have them closed as they have no potable water with which to operate. 

 “We understand that the water supply was disconnected because it was illegally connected, so when we carry out our inspection, there shouldn’t be any food establishment in operation. We have no choice to order them closed because of a lack of running water.”

Efforts to get a comment from the principals at the Railway Corporation proved futile.

Dangerous nuisance in the city

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This shell on Market Street, another of the old, unsightly structures of concern to the St James Municipal Corporation. – CWP photos

Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer

Efforts by the St James Municipal Corporation to rid the city of Montego Bay of several abandoned and unsightly buildings, are proving frustrating.

Under Section 4 of the Town Nuisance Prevention Act, there are eleven buildings in the city that have been certified by the Superintendent to be so dilapidated, they were “considered a danger to the public.”

The list includes premises at the old Vassell building, 3 Albion Lane, 8 Hart Street, registered to Transworld Traders Int. Ltd.; 36 Barnet View Gardens, registered to Adella Johnson, et al; one on Barracks Road, registered to Percival Wilson. On Market Street, 33 which is registered to Luiton Lewin; 50, registered to George Downer and 52, registered to Derrick McLeod.

The old Vassell building at Albion Lane, once the place of choice for poor Montegonians shopping wholesale, now a nuisance in the city.

The others are: 8 Queen’s Street, registered to Marion James, et al; 8 Queen’s Drive, registered to Fred Smith; 18, Thompson Street, registered to Ivy Craig and 42 Union Street, registered to West Indies Union of SDA.

The required resolution for notices to be served on the parties to abate “this nuisance” was passed several months ago, stating that “the Superintendent has declared these lands or buildings to be dangerous to the public, neighbours or to persons who may enter or to adjoining buildings.”

However, in recent months, the Corporation’s desire to see the declared nuisance abated has had to be tempered. They have been in court for months for “a Conditional Order to abate or give the Council (Corporation) authority to dispose of these properties” but at each succeeding meeting, the Corporation has been hearing that here has been no further update and they were still in the court.

Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the Corporation, Councillor Homer Davis, is anxious to have the problem addressed. He questioned, “What are we doing about those buildings? Tell me, we don’t have the authority? I don’t think we should have these buildings giving a bad image to the city.”

Other councillors agreed with him, stressing that, “They are a clear and present danger” and should be removed forthwith.

Councillor Richard Vernon, in whose division some of the derelict structures are to be found, expressed the view that, “Oftentimes, we do try to get things done (but), we try through the wrong channels; we are backed by many Acts that give us the authority to carry out certain activities, so in this case, we don’t need any lawyer.”

Dear Dreamer, Persistence beats Bad Timing

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Photo source: https://nutrition.org

Michael Nattoo

Jack and Rose meeting on the Titanic (fictional), Romeo and Juliet falling in love (fictional), and Gully Bop and Miss Chin (pre-split) – all shining examples of the love we all yearn for. But aside from that obvious detail, what other common thread runs through these stories? If you guessed ‘bad timing’, then you, my friend, are right. They all had chemistry, but timing proved to be a b… bad thing. Yes, timing proved the Achilles heel in those ‘exemplary’ love stories. The Titanic crashed days after Jack and Rose hit it off, Romeo and Juliet lived in a time when their families were yet to find peace with each other (if we’re counting that as the only issue they had) and Gully Bop and Miss Chin… well… they were Gully Bop and Miss Chin much too soon. Point is: Timing is EVERYTHING. Yes, I tried avoiding the use of that cliché to get my point across but it’s the only one that seems fitting for the matter at hand – see what I did there? ‘At hand’?  Because we’re talking about time and… Sorry.

Now, I’m sure for most of you, my aforementioned arguments, if I may generously call them that, are stating the obvious: “Michael, of course it’s bad timing. Duh”, you say. And to that I say, Dear Dreamer, you are right. I am stating the obvious, but there is a reason to my madness. You see, recognizing and acknowledging that many of the ills we face stem from that abstract ‘bad timing’ thing, is the start of overcoming it. It was Sun Tzu who once said: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

See, I told you I was getting somewhere with this. Not only am I in the business of stating the obvious, you see, but I can intersperse my madness with some ‘good advice’, like so: knowing (acknowledging) your foe (bad timing) makes it much easier to focus on defeating it. The trick is, however, you can only overcome (defeat) bad timing with one thing: optimistic persistence. Sure, you could throw ‘planning’ into the mix, but what happens when, not if, your plans get derailed? The way I see it, ‘planning’ is just a way to optimize your persistence. If you fail, you try, and you try and you try again. That’s persistence, Dear Dreamer, and that’s you chipping away at the effects of bad timing.

Take a moment to remember your ‘Almosts’: the “almost lover”, the “almost friend” or the “almost whatever-good-thing-you-could’ve-gotten-but-didn’t.” I’m serious. Stop reading right now, and reflect. Keep reflecting. Done? Good. If I had allowed you, perhaps you could have recalled a few more of those experiences too, where everything seemed almost JUST perfect, but wasn’t quite right, and therefore fragile. That ‘not quite right’ is the chink that makes your armor a paper shirt in a war of scissors. Quite the dynamic, huh?

There are many things we won’t accomplish in our lifetimes, but we get to choose what those things are. I hate to sound like that annoying guy who believes every single thing can be made possible if we persist at it, but there is some merit to that. Persistence is about focus. It’s about exhausting the odds. We almost never get anything when we’re quite ready for it. This means that more often than not, we’re faced with the issue of having something good, at a really bad time. That’s often incentive enough for us to jump ship. But if we persist, if we try long and hard enough, it’ll come. Pause. What I’m saying is, if you keep swinging, you are bound to hit something. It’s a shot in the dark, yes, but it beats the alternative of running away.

Companies like Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, and even Sony, were ahead of their time, and inevitably, they failed when they first tried. That’s not because they weren’t good ideas, but because they just couldn’t flourish that time. Unless you have your very own personal seer, your only option is to keep swinging. Nobody cares how great your ideas are, or how great your plans are, or even how great you are. The truth is, people are more inclined to celebrating mediocrity, just so long as it is consistent, and persistent.

So, be persistent, keep swinging. It has to connect one day. And that, Dear Dreamer, is a scientific fact… probably.

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