Category Archives: politics

The Murder of Lance Thomas in Police Custody.

Caribbean, History, Leadership, politics, Sint Maarten, , , , , ,

By Wade A. Bailey:

Rotterdam: 7/5/2026.

A photo of Lance Thomas.

Based on the circumstances surrounding the death of Lance Thomas in Sint Maarten, this report evaluates the incident against the legal standards of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which apply to Sint Maarten as an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Lance was a man whom I knew personally; he was well-loved in the community. Lance was a professional Carpenter who obtained a diploma as such at the Milton Peters College in Sint Maarten.

Lance was a well-travelled Rastafari who travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean, where he was present at many Rastafari gatherings. He supported himself as an agriculturist. Thomas was a father who lived in St. Peter’s in his own home with his wife and son.

1. Right to Liberty and Security (Habeas Corpus)

Under Article 6 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 5 of the ECHR, every individual has the right to liberty. Thomas’s detention without being suspected of a crime is a severe departure from these legal norms.

  • Lawful Arrest: Detention is only permitted under specific conditions (e.g., suspicion of a crime, non-compliance with a court order, or for the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases).

  • Arbitrary Detention: Holding a person without a charge or a legal basis (such as the missing KZ-verklaring or Declaration of Insanity) constitutes arbitrary detention.

2. Protection of Persons with Mental Health Issues

The mention of a “Declaration of Insanity” suggests that Thomas may have been experiencing a mental health crisis. EU standards provide specific protections for “persons of unsound mind” (Article 5(1)(e) ECHR).

  • The Winterwerp Criteria: According to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), for a person to be detained on mental health grounds:

    1. A true mental disorder must be reliably established by objective medical expertise.

    2. The disorder must be of a kind or degree warranting compulsory confinement.

    3. The validity of continued confinement depends upon the persistence of such a disorder.

  • Administrative Failure: The absence of a signed declaration due to a Minister being “off-island” does not legally justify the suspension of an individual’s fundamental rights.

3. Right to Life and the Duty of Care

Article 2 of the EU Charter and Article 2 of the ECHR (Right to Life) place a “positive obligation” on the state to protect the lives of those in its custody.

  • Heightened Responsibility: When a person is detained, the state is fully responsible for their physical well-being. This includes providing adequate medical care and monitoring, especially in solitary confinement.

  • Operational Failures: Finding an individual “lifeless” after four days in a holding cell indicates a potential breach of the state’s duty to provide a safe environment and necessary medical intervention.

4. The Right to an Effective Investigation

Following a death in state custody, Article 47 of the EU Charter and the procedural limb of Article 2 ECHR mandate an independent, thorough, and prompt investigation.

  • National Detectives (Landsrecherche): The launch of a criminal investigation by the National Detectives is a required legal step to ensure accountability.

  • Transparency: While the Minister of Justice cited the “integrity of the investigation” to withhold details, the law requires that the next of kin (the Thomas family) be involved in the process to the extent necessary to safeguard their legitimate interests.

Summary of Potential Violations

Provision Legal Basis Context in Thomas Case
Right to Liberty Art. 6 CFR / Art. 5 ECHR Detained without charge or legal “insanity” declaration.
Right to Life Art. 2 CFR / Art. 2 ECHR Failure of the state to protect a person in its custody.
Dignity & Health Art. 1 & 35 CFR Potential lack of medical care and improper use of solitary confinement.
Effective Remedy Art. 47 CFR / Art. 13 ECHR Requirement for the National Detectives to provide a transparent, criminal-level accounting of the death.

Book Review: Sneeuw over Curaçao by John van den Heuvel.

Black History, Caribbean, Crime Curacao, Crime Sint Maarten, Europe, Gang Culture., Gangs Curacao, Gangs Sint Maarten, Koraalspecht Curacao, No Limit Soldiers Curacao, politics, Sint Maarten, Tourism, , , , ,

 In Sneeuw over Curaçao (Snow Over Curaçao), veteran Dutch crime reporter John van den Heuvel delivers a gripping, non-fiction deep dive into the dark underbelly of the Caribbean. Known for his fearless reporting on organised crime, van den Heuvel shifts his focus from the streets of Amsterdam to the turquoise waters of the Antilles, revealing how this tropical paradise became a pivotal hub for the international cocaine trade.

The Premise

The “snow” in the title is, of course, a metaphor for cocaine. Van den Heuvel explores the symbiotic and often devastating relationship between South American drug cartels and the island of Curaçao. The book isn’t just a collection of police reports; it is a narrative journey through the corruption, money laundering, and violent power struggles that occur far away from the tourist resorts.

Key Themes and Insights

  • Geopolitical Vulnerability: The author explains how Curaçao’s location makes it a “stepping stone” for drugs travelling from Colombia and Venezuela toward Europe and North America.

  • The “Nieuwe Onderwereld” (New Underworld): Van den Heuvel documents the rise of a new generation of criminals who are more tech-savvy, more international, and significantly more ruthless than their predecessors.

  • The Toll on Society: Beyond the “glamour” of high-stakes crime, the book highlights the tragic impact on the local community, including the rise in liquidations (contract killings) and the erosion of political integrity.

Style and Impact

Van den Heuvel writes with the urgency of a breaking news story. His style is:

  1. Direct and Gritty: He doesn’t shy away from the graphic reality of the drug trade.

  2. Well-Researched: Utilising his vast network of informants and legal sources, the book feels authoritative and authentic.

  3. Personal: At times, the narrative reflects the personal risks van den Heuvel takes to uncover these stories, adding a layer of tension to the reading experience.

Final Verdict

Sneeuw over Curaçao is a must-read for fans of true crime and investigative journalism. It serves as a sobering reminder that behind the postcards of white sandy beaches lies a complex, dangerous industry. While the book focuses on a specific region, its lessons about global organised crime are universal.

“A chilling look at how the drug trade can paralyze a society, told by a man who has seen the front lines of the war on drugs firsthand.”

Ethiopia, the birthplace of The Human Race.

Africa, Ethiopia, Ethnic Wars, Haile Sellassie, Hindu Kush, History, politics, Pre-Aryan, Soualiga Youth, , , , , ,

 Excerpted from Rastafari and Its Shamanist Origins by Wade A. Bailey.

Ethiopia’s bedrock belongs to the earth’s first continent, a continent called Gondwanaland by geologists, of which Africa forms the last intact remnant. The structures of this 600-million-year-old land, made up of hard, massive folded pre-Cambrian crystalline rock, have been covered over throughout most of Ethiopia by recent formations. Ethiopia is called the cradle of mankind by some geologists and anthropologists. The Bible records in Genesis 2:8-14 that: ‘And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from thence it was parted into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison, that is, it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good, there is Bdellium and the Onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second is Gihon (Blue Nile) the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel, that is, the river which goeth toward the east of Assyria, and the fourth river is the Euphrates. As per the biblical description Eden was a huge landmass and the river that flowed out of it, straddled more than one country, Ethiopia is one that was specifically named as being completely surrounded by one of the rivers namely Gihon (Blue Nile), judging from the biblical description the Garden of Eden is placed on the African continent, interestingly said placement is in agreement with, scientific, archaeological, historical references and evidence.

Here we have a visual map aide showing the proximity of Arab countries to Africa; from those countries, Cannabis was introduced to the continent. Ethiopia is located in northeastern Africa, the ‘Horn’ of Africa, so-called because of the horn-shaped tip of the continent, which demarcates the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean. Ethiopia is bordered by Sudan on its western border, Somalia to the southeast, Kenya to the south, Djibouti to the east, and Eritrea to the north and northeast. Ethiopia consists of four major river systems. The first system consists of the Takaze, also known as the Atbara, the Abbay or the Blue Nile, and lastly the Baro, originating in Sudan, then flowing westward into the Nile.

According to the officially available figures, Ethiopia’s population is about 76 million people, making it the third most populous nation in Africa. The varying ethnicities that comprise Ethiopia’s populace is diverse and are grouped as follows: the Amhara and Tigrinya, 32 per cent, the Oromo 40 per cent, Sidamo 9 percent, Somali 6 percent, Shankella 6 per cent, Gurage 2 per cent, Afar 4 percent. There are hundreds of languages spoken in Ethiopia that fall into four major categories. Three of which have a common ancestry that is called proto-Afroasiatic by linguists (Afro-Asiatic is Hamitic-Semitic). The three are known as Cushitic, Omotic, and Semitic. Harold G. Marcus wrote in his seminal work, A History of Ethiopia, published by the University of California, that: ‘Evidence is strong that the Afro-Asiatic (Hamitic-Semitic) group of languages developed and fissured in the Sudan-Ethiopian borderlands. The Proto-Cushitic and Proto-Semitic began their evolution. In Ethiopia, the Semitic branch grew into a northern group, today echoed in Tigrinya, and a southern group, best heard in Amharic. It simultaneously spread to the Middle East, whence, millennia later, it returned in a written form to enrich its cousins several times removed. Cushitic includes the Agaw, the Somali, the Afar, the Saho, the Hadiya, the Kambata, the Oromo, and the Gedeo. Omotic, the term Omotic is derived from the fact that the people thus designated traditionally lived on both sides of the Omo River. The following nationalities comprise the Omotic, the Dorze, Janjaro, Maji, Kafa, Waylata and the Dizi.

The last category is the Semitic Geez, which is the oldest Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is largely confined to the religious sphere, i.e. sacral literature and theology. Other Semitic languages are Amharic, Tigrinya, Harari, and Gurage. There are the Nilo-Saharan language groups, which are not connected to the Cushitic, Omotic, and Semitic language groups previously cited. They are as follows: the Anuak, the Nuer, the Kunamain in southwestern Eritrea, the Gumuz in western Gojam and the Manjanjir. Linguistic and archaeological evidence points to a prehistoric genesis for Ethiopian culture. Early evidence of human existence has been found in the varied array of stone tools found in many parts of Ethiopia. Village farming was developed in Ethiopia during the Neolithic period. There is empirical evidence that Stone Age culture endured in Ethiopia during different epochs. The Watta of Ethiopia were related to the hunting groups of northeastern and eastern Africa. The Agau is an early population that still exists today in Ethiopia. The Agau discovered new strains of plants, the domestication of the donkey and mule breeding regionally. The plateau peoples are grouped into three groups, linguistically and anthropologically; they are referred to as the Central Agau and Eastern Cushites. During the second Millennium, the population increased dramatically; as a result, the Cushitic population who lived in the southern fringes expanded into Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganyika. The migrations of the Bantus into Ethiopia changed the population dynamics in Ethiopia and all other southern African societies. Along with the aforementioned and the erection of the phallic stones in southern Ethiopia, the basis for the development of states in Ethiopia was established. The development of city-states in Ethiopia was spurred by various socio-religious dynamics and the interpersonal relationships of the various people groups vis-à-vis their counterparts. One of the ethnicities in Ethiopia credited with helping advance the proto-city state to the contemporary city-state is the Oromo.

The Oromo lived in the Ethiopian highlands in areas like Bali, the borders of what is now the Republic of Somalia. They claim to have emerged from the Borana region of southwestern Ethiopia. By the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, powerful Abyssinian kings by force of arms made the Oromo move west and southwest into the barely habitable, salt pans, lava fields, and toward the boulder and sand deserts near Lake Rudolph. Some Oromo groups, over time, developed powerful monarchial states. The Oromo are notable for their martial feats, specifically as cavalry (mounted soldiers). Ancient Ethiopian literature is replete with mentions of or praises to the Oromo for their exploits on the battlefield. In 1776, the civil war ushered in the era of the ‘age of princes’; the war and political intrigues persisted till 1855. The civil war ultimately resulted in the proto-provincialism that is prevalent even today; as a result, the various provinces competed for territory and resources against the other provinces in a struggle for ultimate hegemony. The period saw the ascendency of various provincial dynasties, each province was demarcated along ethnic and national lines, the loyalty of the people was not to Ethiopia, but to their provinces and their kings who ruled over them. The Gondar monarchy’s decline led to an increase in the influence of the Galla. Gondar was once Ethiopia’s largest city and a hub of religion and art. Gondar was Ethiopia’s de facto capital from 1635 to 1867. By this time, the Solomonic dynasty and ethos extant for hundreds of years were well established. Since the Galla at the time were a well-established and powerful ethnic group, the royal family forged strong ties with the Galla through marriage.

The Ethiopian imperial monarchy was diluted because the majority of Galla were Muslims; the throne then was not a legitimate manifestation of Christian power but was an instrument of power wielded by Muslims. One dynasty that laid claim to the Solomonic heritage, as well as being a mainly Christian polity in its hierarchical structure, was Shoa.  Shoa, an alternate spelling is Shewa, free of the rampant civil strife sweeping the rest of Ethiopia, was able to create a largely coherent bureaucracy that was characterised by a heterogeneous coexistence among the varying ethnic and religious groups. The unification of Shoa was solidified under a Christian dynastic monarchy, which waged wars of hegemony till the end of the 18th century. In the reign of Sahle Sellassie (1813-1847) an Amhara Negus, he had many children, one of them being Haile Melekot, the father of Menellek II. When his father was murdered, Sahle Sellassie seized the throne although he had older male siblings. Sahle moved swiftly to consolidate power with the help of his mother’s kinsmen. He marched from the monastery at Sehla Dingay, where he was enrolled as a student, to his father’s capital at Qundi and claimed the succession; he was proclaimed Ras of Showa. Some of his male siblings reached Qundi at a later date and were promptly imprisoned.

Shortly after his proclamation as Ras, he proclaimed himself Negus of Shewa. In 1829, Shewa was hit with a debilitating famine; shortly thereafter, a cholera epidemic struck, killing two-thirds of the stricken. Again, misfortune struck when one of the Negus’ generals rebelled, Medoko, several of the elite Matchlockmen (infantry with guns) deserted with him and they joined with the Oromo. Together, they burned Angolalla and waged battles against Shewa. When Sahle Sellassie was able to put down the rebellion (1835), another catastrophe struck. Shewa was afflicted by a drought which decimated crops and livestock, bringing famine to the province. Sahle Sellassie responded to the famine by opening up the royal storehouses to the people. This act greatly enhanced his status with many viewing him as a wise, loving, and generous king.  Sahle Sellassie was a great reformer. Some of his notable reforms are as follows: he limited executions to murder, treason, and sacrilege; executions required the consent of the Negus. He further ceased the practices (torture) of his predecessors, such as brandings with hot irons, executions, and severance of limbs of accused persons and criminals. Many death sentences were reduced to life imprisonment or property forfeiture. Blood money was paid to a murder victim’s relatives, instead of handing them over to the relatives of the victim’s family (an ancient tradition in Ethiopia still practised at the time). He instituted tax reforms and greatly increased the store of firearms available to the state at the time.

He signed friendship treaties with both France and England and even encouraged foreigners to settle in Shoa. In the following, I will highlight Ethiopian Orthodoxy, Ethiopian history, iconography, music, art, and culture. Ethiopian artists have produced an enormous amount of work, particularly the artwork of the Tewahedo Church, murals, manuscripts, ceremonial furniture, including their unique crosses and panel paintings on wood. Ethiopian iconography depicts a wide variety of sacred imagery used for a variety of reasons, both devotional and apotropaic objects (amulets), i.e. having the power to ward off evil or bad luck. The national dress of Ethiopia is the Shamma, a rectangular shawl of three feet in width, handwoven from cotton. Men wear jodhpurs, which fit tightly from the knee to the ankles. Women wear blouses with full skirts of ankle length.

Men and women wrap barnos around their shoulders (especially in the highlands) when the weather cools or is breezy. The national dish of Ethiopia is called injera, a locally made sour, fermented flatbread with a spongelike texture, and wat ot zegeni, which is a type of curried stew made of beef, mutton or chicken. Hard-boiled eggs are added and are seasoned in the Ethiopian manner with red pepper (berbere) and other spices. It is at times served with tedj, a honey mead fermented

drink, or tall an Ethiopian beer. Names and naming ceremonies in Ethiopia, like most Middle Eastern and African countries, are of paramount importance. Asfa Wossen Asserate, the great-grandson of Haile Sellassie, wrote in his book; ‘King of Kings: The Triumph and Tragedy of Emperor Haile Sellassie’, the following: ‘Ethiopian naming conventions have no concept of the division into Christian name and surname that is usual in Europe. People have a single given name. This is often followed by the father’s name, thus Tafari Makonnen is Tafari, the son of Makonnen. If a child dies, and another is born, the newborn child’s name oftentimes is Kassa, meaning restitution. Common male names are Hagos (joy), Desta (pleasure), Tesfaye (my hope). Some common names for females in Ethiopia are Ababa (flower), Zewditu (crown), Terunesh (you are pure), and a host of others, but these are commonly recognisable even in this work since the famous Etege Zewditu Menellek’s daughter’s name is one of the most common female names in Ethiopia. Common Christian or baptismal male names are names compounded with, for instance, Gebre (servant of), an example is Gebre Yesus (servant of Jesus), Walda (son of), Haile (power of), and Habte (gift of). Well-known female baptismal names are, often compounded with the following Amete (maid of), like Amete Maryam, maid of Mary, or Walatta (daughter of), for example, Walatta Sion (daughter of Zion).

 

 

 

NGO’s An Alternate Governance Model In The Caribbean.

Agriculture Sector Caribbean, Caribbean, COMTEX, Global Warming, History, IMF, Leadership, politics, Sint Maarten, Thought Leaders., Tourism, , , , ,

This article, posted in 2021 still relevant today.

 

How to revitalise Caribbean economies.

Caribbean, Entrpreneurship, Innovation, Leadership, NGO, Politics, Sint Maarten, Technology, Thought Leaders., , , , , ,  Edit

Above the logo of the Soualiga Youth Foundation. Profiled on this BLOG in the HOME section.

ST PETERS Sint Maarten: Since 2000, the Foundation Soualiga Youth wrote a detailed report which was presented to the Minister of Education,n Sarah Wescott Williams. In said report, the Foundation outlined a comprehensive plan of action pertinent to Economic revitalization of the Caribbean economies, using Agriculture and Eco-Cultural Tourism as an alternative to the present hedonistic people-destructive trend in tourism. The plan was never taken seriously, and experts worldwide are predicting the imminent collapse of the Tourism sector as a viable economic pillar regionally. This article is a mirror of what the Soualiga Youth presented to the government of Sint Maarten.

Nov 21, 2012 (Menafn – Caribbean News Now – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) –There is indeed a continuing conversation in many global quarters about the type of prescription necessary for the revival of the Caribbean economies. In Washington, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) are lamenting about the evolving middle class in Latin America and the Caribbean.

While they have exercised much care and caution about defining the specific nations where the middle class is emerging, we must not lose sight of the fact that these two powerful agencies have not substantially addressed the growing poverty issues and decrease in quality of life among certain sectors of the region’s population. In addition, there have been no indicators from these two agencies as to how an emerging middle class will contribute to the control of poverty, improve youth employment and improve the quality of life for the disadvantaged in a sustained manner.

To the great disappointment of many other global observers, the Washington and Geneva multilateralists are aggressively pursuing their selfish development agenda through the deployment of financial resources and development of phony collaborative partnerships with their regional counterparts.
These agencies and their collaborators are yet to come forward with any viable and achievable suggestions regarding the revitalisation of our economies; managing our foreign policy reserves by decreasing imports, and most importantly, development strategies for a sustainable path that would alleviate the region’s social and economic ills.
Addressing youth unemployment, rural development, access to information technology tools and ensuring some initiatives will bring tangible benefits to the disadvantaged are innovations and expectations that should become key development and policy planks in the region.

As efforts and suggestions are developed for advancing and sustaining the Caribbean economies, there are at least three sectors that require immediate attention and hopefully will result in some improvements. However, it must be noted and recognised that successful and sustainable outcomes will only be derived from a genuine change of attitude, recognition of the need for broad-based planning, participation and an acceptance that the global community is changing and Caribbean governments and institutions are obligated to fall in line with these global changes.
Agriculture has long been recognised as the central mainstay of Caribbean economies. Unfortunately, this economy has disappeared, and there has been no coordinated or demonstrated effort to revive and sustain it. Short-term tourist dollars seem to be the priority. Accumulation of foreign currency in any Caribbean nation should not be dependent only upon tourism.

Many of our small farmers have been abandoned as weak-kneed regional policy experts associated with various governments have embarked upon a wild and ill-fated chase for tourism dollars, which is unlikely to increase.
While the chase of tourism dollars might be justified by the weak-kneed policy experts, evidence clearly indicates that Caribbean economies should not rely only on the tourism sector, given global economic uncertainties in Europe and North America. Tourism should not be embraced as the saviour of Caribbean economies. Agriculture should be the priority.

In reviving and sustaining this important industry, there are several factors that require a radical change in thinking and perception about production and market penetration. The application of new information technology tools, identifying and building new partnerships, creation and creating and sustaining a strong national marketing board that will assist agricultural stakeholders in exporting and selling their products.

The days of the Geest Line, Harrison Shipping, Atlantic Lines, the Saguenay and Canada Steamship Lines are remembered by many for transporting our agricultural products in better times. Unfortunately, maintenance and sustainability of these exports are disappearing, and very little efforts are being made for the production and export reliability of these products. Like the tourism industry, they are foreign currency income earner,s and this is why the rationale and need for the agricultural economy is vital to our future.

The tourism industry is an important sector for the region. While the importance of this industry is recognised and encouraged, like the agricultural industry, it also requires radical changes and understanding. The Caribbean tourism industry is very competitive and exceeds the old antique marketing strategy of white sand beaches, bikini-clad women with tantalizing physique and beautiful white teeth.

Potential vacationers are looking at affordability, safety, quick, accessible transportation and potential venues or attractions that suit their interests. These expectations require many changes in the management of this industry. Pricing, target marketing, and promotion are essential if Caribbean nations are interested in holding their niche.

Tourism income earnings are fine and must always be encouraged. However, consideration must be given to a more intricate and sustainable link with our agricultural industry. Tourist vacationers must be encouraged to consume more local foods and other consumption goods associated with the tourist industry.

Preserving Local Cultural Economic Models:

The preservation of the local arts and craft industry is of critical importance. This would require effective monitoring and maintenance of existing legislation that addresses trade preferences and the import of these products. Irrespective of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) hype, our local arts and crafts industries should always be protected.

As I examine the plight and future of the region’s disadvantaged, it is crystal clear that unemployment, sexual exploitation, youth delinquency, crime, and lawlessness will continue to confront Caribbean governments. At the same time, many regional individuals have embarked upon further education only to discover after graduation that there are no immediate employment opportunities at home.
Therefore, Caribbean governments need to broaden their perception of another potential foreign income source. Given the decline of the tourism industry, the collapse of the agricultural industry and limited export products, the denial must end, and our leaders need to get down to work to address local economic conditions and stop blaming global economic conditions.

No Need To Reinvent The Wheel:

Jamaica and Barbados maintain fairly good tourism and trade infrastructures that earn them foreign exchange. However, these two CARICOM nations are actively and aggressively engaged in labour export that provides opportunities for their unemployed skilled workers to seek temporary foreign employment in the United States and Canada. While these two nations, like their other regional colleagues, are engaged in the Canadian seasonal farm workers program, they recognise that it is minuscule and there is a need for sourcing other potential opportunities.

Many of our regional governments need to take a page from Barbados and Jamaica, as labour export generates good foreign income and also contributes to the improvement of the quality of life. Those regional governments with tunnel vision on labour export must understand that they need to go beyond the seasonal farm workers program.

Exploiting New Growth Avenues:

Our governments can begin exploring new labour market opportunities by putting their consular officials to investigate and identify employment opportunities for skilled unemployed workers in their domain. Canada and other Western nations have growing temporary employment opportunities that can utilise the skills of our employees. We need to move beyond the farm workers program.
Recognition and implementation of the above suggestions require our regional Ministries of Labour to become more innovative and forward-looking in addressing labour market opportunities in their domain. They might wish to solicit the assistance of the Trinidad-based International Labour Office (ILO) if they decide to become innovative and creative.

Murder On The Open Seas: Tyranny Masked as Defense.

al-Qaeda, Caribbean, History, Leadership, politics, Sint Maarten, Terrorism, Thought Leaders., , , , , ,

Rotterdam:

The murder of Trinidadian, Venezuelan, and other Caribbean nationals by the American government under the Trump administration is unprecedented in modern times and completely illegal, as per Western international law. Placing the entire Trump Administration in the criminal bracket. Calling Trump a war criminal is an oxymoron. Who is America at war with in the Caribbean? Which Caribbean country is at war with America? Is Venezuela at war with America? Is Cuba at war with America? The boats that Trump has ordered destroyed in Caribbean waters are fishing vessels. All illicit narcotics shipments to America are sent by submarine vessels and through shipping ports, or go fasts. Not fishing boats, which cannot safely reach the US.

The US government, which touts itself as a paradigm of democracy and a protector of democratic freedoms, have murdered defenceless fishermen classified as terrorists. The insanity of present American geo-politics vis-à-vis the Caribbean is mind-boggling to say the least. Presenting no evidence, the US government is conducting an insidious pogrom in our region, in direct contravention of international law. The ramifications of the actions of the US government under Trump will have far-reaching, dire consequences for decades to come. For fishermen in many Caribbean islands, their industry has  been devastated their ability to feed themselves and their families, all but taken away. Fisherfolk are forced to remain on land since no one knows when they will be targeted by the US government if they dare venture out to sea to fish.

 

Regional uncertainty:

Many Caribbean governments are in a state of uncertainty due to the mercurial nature of the present American foreign policy, which has negatively impacted the region’s economy, which is heavily dependent on its tourism sector. Climate change, illicit narcotics trafficking and the modern gangs spawned in the Caribbean, government corruption and recently terrorism.

Dire regional reality:

The phenomenon of many nationals of Trinidad and Tobago making Hijra to Syria and Iraq to fight on behalf of ISIS/ISIL is a reality threatening peace and security in the Caribbean. With the addition of the insane and criminal policies of Trump, the Caribbean is faced with a dire reality: which leaders will stand forth to guide the region beyond these troublesome times, certainly not the present crop of useful idiots. The NGO’s effective thought leaders and the many innovative leaders on the ground in the region are needed more than ever before in the Caribbean if any meaningful and effective changes are going to be brought to the fore. More to come on the serious, fast changing geo-political reality in the Caribbean.

New Content Coming soon.

Caribbean, History, Leadership, politics, Sint Maarten, Terrorism, Thought Leaders., , , , , , ,

Iam elated to announce that, after a long hiatus, this blog has been upgraded and will soon become a full-fledged website. Much has changed in my personal life.  I still live in and work in Rotterdam, and now, increasingly, we work outside of Rotterdam.  The Foundation Lalibela is now functional in North Africa, namely Morocco; more about that at a later time. Soon to come, my forthcoming book, “Soldiers”:  a dive into terrorism, illicit narcotics trafficking, gang culture and corruption in government, from a Caribbean-centric perspective. The book takes the form of a novel and is based on factual events, with, of course, some fiction. Stay tuned for much more from us on this site. Bless.

 

Lalibela Foundation and Silverback General Contracting N.V. working on projects in the Netherlands and Sint Maarten.

Africa, Caribbean, Lalibela Commonunity, Pan Africanism, politics, Rastafari, Technology, Thought Leaders., , , , , ,
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Lalibela Foundation and Silverback General Contracting N.V. working on projects in the Netherlands and Sint Maarten.

Foundation Lalibela Commonunity working in Rotterdam. This is how Foundation Lalibela raises funds to support relief efforts in Ethiopia.

Africa, Caribbean, Entrpreneurship, Ethiopia, Europe, Innovation, Lalibela Commonunity, Leadership, NGO, Pan Africanism, politics, Sint Maarten, Soualiga Youth, Technology, Thought Leaders., , , ,
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Foundation Lalibela Commonunity working in Rotterdam. This is how Foundation Lalibela raises funds to support relief efforts in Ethiopia.

Shamanism A Global Value System.

Nationalism, Occultidm, politics, Pre-Aryan, Satanism, Shamanism., Sun God, Theosophy, tibet, Tibetan Shamanism, Witchcraft, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In Tibet, the pre-Buddhist cultural value system is referred to by anthropologists, the Tibetans themselves as well as a host of other disciplines and professions as a Shamanist culture. The Tibetan practitioners of Bon consider themselves to be Shamen. The Shamanism of Tibet is ancient, and it incorporates Black magic as well as so-called “white magic”. The Tibetans have written extensively about their spiritual value system a well-known work on Tibetan Shamanism is the: “Tibetan book of the Dead”. The Bonpo Shamen were and still many are members of a clan guild. The Bon Shaman like Shamen of every culture globally are visited and then possessed by an “ancestral spirit”, a god or a demon this is their own account, not mine.
The possessed would then become “divinely mad”; temporarily retreating into the wilderness the Shaman lived primitive existences i.e., “like an animal” and saw visions of him/herself devoured by animals. After the possessed returned to their clan they were taught by elder Shamen how to use their powers and how to invoke spirits to do their bidding through the incantation of mantras.

Figure: above is of Mantras/Runes carved into the rock in Tibet. The word Rune means secret or mystery in early English and related languages.

The flag of Tibet is a culture wholly given over to Shamanic principles and has been thus for thousands of years. The sun symbol is easily recognized on this flag, the “yin yang” between the lions, the two Snow Lions (associated with the heavens); they represent the East, cheerfulness, a precise and clear mind free of doubt, and the earth element. The Snow Lion is one of the Four Dignities which are the Lion, Tiger, Garuda, and Dragon they four are symbolic of the confidence the leader must develop in order to rule with wisdom and compassion.

Image: an illustration depicting the Four Dignitaries the sun is again a central theme here.

Tibetan Shamanism existed and was practiced in Tibet hundreds, if not thousands of years before Buddhism came to Tibet, it is a distinct spiritual value system that today has incorporated Buddhism. A true study of Tibetan spirituality for example, the Tibetan book of the dead will expose the student to Buddhist thought already being explored in Tibetan Shamanism, any study and practice of Buddhism will not necessarily expose one to the multi layered and complexed nature of the Shamanic culture in Tibetan Shamanism also known as Bon, Bon-po ,or Bön. Bon religion is also incorporated into their spiritual practices by Satanists as well as Witches. Iam inferring here that Tibetan Shamanic practices, are a highly complexed set of magical rituals complete with spirit possession, that is of such sophistry, that secular scholars equate their spiritual manuals as historical and cultural but have no comprehension of them , or they choose to ignore the inherent “spirituality”, as practiced by the Tibetan Shamen. The present “living god”, of Tibetan Lamaism, is the Dalai Lama Tenzien Gyatso. The Dalai Lama is held to be a god in flesh, by his followers, and a reincarnation of Buddha. A quote here from Helena Blavatsky’s “Isis Unveiled Volume I”, will lay bare some of the essence of what is being said herein. “Lamas-Buddhist monks belonging to the Lamaic religion of Tibet, as for instance friars are to the popish or Roman catholic religion. Every lama is subject to the grand Taley-, the Buddhist pope of Tibet, who holds his residence at Lhasa and is a reincarnation of Buddha”.

The “Tibetan Shamanic Wheel of Life”, which predates Buddhism yet it, incorporates in its entirety Buddhist thought. The Samsara Wheel/The Wheel of Joy is the middle illustration in the painting. From the: Tibetan Book of the Dead.

The Gyankil Chakra above represents the Samsara wheel to the left of the page.
As an example of the idea of Buddhist taught in a pre-Buddhist culture let us examine the Samsara Wheel. This Chakra is replete with Buddhist thought and it predates Buddhism, to call Tibetan Shamanism Buddhism is to miss the point entirely. Bon in its darkest manifestation is an ancient form of Sun god spirituality as such witchcraft and Satanists can and do incorporate and draw from this spirituality as it is authentic pristine sorcery. Many will be offended by the above statement their offense stems from their ignorance pertinent to spiritual matters. I will quote from the Tibetan Buddhist text entitled: “The Epitome of The Great Symbol”. “Whatever thoughts, or concepts, or obscuring [or disturbing] passions arise are neither to be abandoned nor allowed to control one; they are to be allowed to arise without one’s trying to direct [or shape] them. If one do no more than merely to recognize them as soon as they arise, and persists in so doing, they will come to be realized [or to dawn] in their true [or void] form through not being abandoned. By that method, all things which may seem to be obstacles to spiritual growth can be made use of as aids on the Path. And therefore, the method is called “The utilizing of obstacles as aids on the Path. “Though the text is called Tibetan Buddhism the thought processes expressed. were known to Tibetan Shamen and present in their literature. The quote is of the type that, “Left Hand Path”, practitioners i.e. Satanist’s”, delight in uttering hence their incorporation of Tibetan Shamanism, into their own practices.


Another example of a spiritual value system being used to sell everything, from cologne to soap is the line of Samsara products. Presently what people refer to as secular society, is not secular at all, since civilizations are built from the value systems of the people within them, and all “secular” states and governments still gather inspiration from the mythology, culture and spiritual values of their forebearers.

The flag of South Korea this flag is fully Shamanistic in its entirety. At left an original rendering of same.


The white background symbolizes the cleanliness/purity of the people, taeguks/trigrams represent the origins of all things universally, red represents the earth and blue heaven/sky.
For those who may think that what I propose here is mere supposition, I refer you to the book Liber 777 by Aleister Crowley. In the editorial preface Liber 777 is called a cabbalistic dictionary of ceremonial magic, oriental mysticism, comparative religion, and symbology.
Crowley on page 67 used the taeguks or trigrams below, in his Trigrams of the Yi King with their various attributes. The fact that the trigrams shown below, all correspond to an element namely wind, water, earth, fire all necessary for the practice of witchcraft is telling in the sense that, the Korean’s knowingly placed such symbols along with the, “Ying Yang”, on their flag thus signalling their spiritual values to the symbol literate.
The Korean Sam-Taegeuk is to the right of the page. This flag begs the question why a secular government would incorporate Shamanism, in modernity into their national flag? The lessons that history and etymology has taught humanity, has largely gone unnoticed by the majority of people, yet these symbols that are representative of “spiritual value systems”, are being used throughout modern society globally, pointing to the very spiritual nature of human beings, even in the twenty first century . I will continue here with the explanation of the colors on the Korean flag, yellow is for the Korean people, blue is symbolic of the heavens, red is the earth.
The symbolism on the sides, of both flags above are characters that have the same meaning; the meanings are as follows:

This symbol above on the right of both flags is a Korean character it is called gam.

  1. The variant meanings of the above character are as follows moon, winter, north, intelligence, son, water, and wisdom.

This character is seen at the lower half at right of both flags above called in Korean gon it stands for, earth as in nature, summer, west, courtesy, mother, earth as in one of the four elements, vitality.

  1. The final character ri is representative of the following and can be seen on the bottom left on both flags, sun, autumn, south, justice, daughter, fire, fruition.
    The Shamanist characteristic of South Korea is visible throughout the flag and its symbolism.

The Logo of the World Conference against Racism racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance a creation of the United Nations. Observe the logo an ancient Shamanic symbol used in many cultures as we have already shown throughout this book. Today it is showing up in the logo of a United Nations created “representative” body. It is indeed not surprising to me in the least as the UN is a known supporter of all things esoteric and occultic. Again, we see that organizations globally that claim to be “secular” are nothing but fronts for a spirituality that is expressly forbidden in scripture.
The flag to the right of the page was once used by what is now communist North Korea supposedly two opposing ideologies both using the same symbolism as the symbols are representative of spirit and spirit is universal and all encompassing.

The present flag of North Korea. The blue, red and white are still present and have the same meanings as the South Korean flag. Ironically, the state is called The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, all this from a dictatorial, government.

The presidential seal of the President of Communist Korea two Phoenix birds on both sides, with the national flower the Hibiscus middle at bottom of the seal. The Phoenix bird is also a sunsymbol and a prominent feature in Shamanic, occultic and esoteric spirituality globally, its use on this seal is in keeping with that tradition.

The phoenix is known in the mythology of all cultures globally the mystical bird which self-combusts into flames and is miraculously reborn from its own ashes. The phoenix also corresponds and is shown directly in the book the Goetia or the Lesser Key of Solomon, as the demon Fennex a great Marquis of Hell and has twenty legions of demons under his command, he teaches all wonderful science, he is an excellent poet and is very obedient to the conjurer his color is purple as he claims royalty, other spellings of his name is Phoenix, Pheynix and Phoenix.


Shensea’s Satanic themed RUN RUN.

Bondage, Caribbean, Dancehall Music, Devil Worship, Gang Culture., liberal Values, Occultidm, politics, Pop Culture., Satanism, Shensea, Sint Maarten, Witchcraft, , , , , , , , , , ,

This post dovetails unto one of the oft repeated claims on this blog, of the overt pro-satanist imagery, in western pop culture and the music industry in particular.

Shensea is a Jamaican Dancehall performer, who after signing with the American label Interscope, underwent a dark transformation in her music video content. Proving again the overt agenda, by the corporate entertainment industry in particularly the US, in the promotion of a pro-satanic anti-Christian cultural value system.

One of her latest videos Run Run, directed by Christian Breslauer, is a poignant example of satanic imagery in a music video. Breslauer also directed Lil Nas X’ Industry Baby and most notably Rexha’s Sacrifice, a video about human sacrifice. Being that Shensea is a Caribbean entertainer and this Blog deals with all things Caribbean, I will dissect some of the content in her video, their symbols and meaning.

Above Shensea holding a knife while chasing a male in the video. Notably the knife or dagger rather is reminiscent of a typical ceremonial dagger .

The image above hearkens on the theme of seductress. Shensea is dressed like a belly dancer, who were prostitutes in the ancient Middle Eastern cultures.

runrun8 The Occult Meaning of Shenseea's "Run Run": Sacrifice for Fame

Above the male in the video being prepared to be sacrificed. Shensea attired in typical bondage or Dominatrix garb. Her headpiece is topped by two horns, just in case you thought the imagery is all innocent and coincidental.

Above Kali the Hindu goddess standing above her husband Shiva.

Kali in her role as destroyer holding aloft the severed head of one of her male victims.

The themes here are all reminiscent of those found in the Shensea video, namely dominance of the feminine principle over the masculine, which theme is central in witchcraft .

Shiva is also called Kala, Kala is the masculine of Kali and Shiva is the lord of death hence the name of his consort Kali meaning the eternal time, death and night. Kali is also Durga the warrior goddess, of ecstatic sexual rites, rite as in worship.

In Hinduism, the female principle takes precedence over the male, as the feminine in Hinduism is the most powerful aspect. The preceding concept is clear even in the names of the two demons portrayed in the painting above, Shiva or Kala comes from Kali, she preceded him in the cosmogony of Hinduism. In the painting kali stands on Shiva in order to pacify her anger, the subservient position of Shiva to Kali is a perfect rendering of the type of Goddess worship the Hindu‘s engage in.

runrun11 The Occult Meaning of Shenseea's "Run Run": Sacrifice for Fame

Above the censer, usually used ceremonially to burn flesh, contains a human heart and live snakes. The snake or Serpent biblically is a symbol of Satan, Lucifer.

Above the male bowing (subservient), handing the ceremonial dagger to Shensea standing above him in the (dominant), role.

Shensea in this clip holds a live Serpent in her hand above her head.

The video imagery for Run Run, is totally deliberate and it actually portrays various culturally relevant themes and symbols. The attire of Shensea in this clip hearkens on the theme of seductress witch, again the Serpent symbol of Lucifer is held aloft above her head, denoting submission.

The central themes in this video of dominance, of female over male , Satanic imagery and overt human sacrifice themes, witchcraft and seductiveness are all deliberate used in an attempt to calm lull and allay, the viewers into acceptance of its content. Shensea Koffee, Vybzkartel , Tommy Lee and a host of others in the Caribbean are being used to push, the liberal values of the Western Cultural Value system along with its gang friendly music culture, fostered by the political elite within said system. The Western Anglo cultural value system has destroyed the very fabric of the social order in the Caribbean, which is a culture predicated on Bible values i.e. Christian values. This post is part of a series of posts entitled: Satanism in Popular Culture.