"And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain" - Frank Sinatra
I left the UK on VS069 for Kingston, Jamaica on September 4, 2008 bringing to a closure a very important chapter in my life. I was filled with mixed emotions! Yes I had developed more than a fleeting relationship with the life and culture of London. I somehow started to miss going out and about in London, discovering new places, food etc. But I miss my new found friends the most, those with whom I had spent one year studying and lyming. I miss walking the corridors of LSE and all the sights and sounds but it was only for a time. I received a very good education at LSE and it was the realisation of a lifelong ambition to study there. My return to Jamaica is filled with possibilities and I will once again see and be in close reach of my family and friends.
I reflect on my time in the UK and must express my heartfelt gratitude to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the provision of the scholarship; my supervisor Dr. Martin Lodge who guided and shaped my education; my family and friends for seeing me through especially my sister Pamella, mom Clarice and dear fiance Andrew (we can now finally focus on our life together).
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
School is all over
I cannot believe it. School is all over. I submitted my thesis on August 27 and my my was it a relief. The abstract is as follows and yes it has changed significantly from the initial one. I must say though that conducting this research was very enriching. I learnt so much about public management and policy transfer. I also now have a much clearer understanding of how to execute management reform.
Abstract
The literature on cross-national policy transfer indicates that policy failure is almost certain when the policy of a developed country is transferred to a developing country. This is especially the case in public sector reform with some scholars arguing that new public management (NPM) is inappropriate for developing countries. Nevertheless international financial institutions like the World Bank have circulated NPM reforms as models for solving public administrative problems irrespective of cultural, economic and political differences.
The Public Sector Modernization Project in Jamaica serves as an exception to the conventional view of policy transfer failure. It has been successful to date and the reform pattern is set to continue. This mixed-methods research investigates why Jamaica adopted the British EA model in the reform of its public sector given the prevailing ideas on policy transfer. It argues that mimetic processes and coercive isomorphism influenced the adoption of the model but more so the latter. Normative pressures played an insignificant role in the transfer.
The transfer process was one of emulation as opposed to a straightforward copying. The implementation was slower than normal and was deliberate on the part of the Jamaican government in order to test the model and provide for unintended consequences. The end result is the creation of eight executive agencies that have performed creditably to date in key performance indicators. As such this research opens up the discourse on cross-national policy transfer by arguing that although the reform in Jamaica is not in an advanced stage, certain patterns of success have started to emerge which defy conventional wisdom on policy transfer.
The literature on cross-national policy transfer indicates that policy failure is almost certain when the policy of a developed country is transferred to a developing country. This is especially the case in public sector reform with some scholars arguing that new public management (NPM) is inappropriate for developing countries. Nevertheless international financial institutions like the World Bank have circulated NPM reforms as models for solving public administrative problems irrespective of cultural, economic and political differences.
The Public Sector Modernization Project in Jamaica serves as an exception to the conventional view of policy transfer failure. It has been successful to date and the reform pattern is set to continue. This mixed-methods research investigates why Jamaica adopted the British EA model in the reform of its public sector given the prevailing ideas on policy transfer. It argues that mimetic processes and coercive isomorphism influenced the adoption of the model but more so the latter. Normative pressures played an insignificant role in the transfer.
The transfer process was one of emulation as opposed to a straightforward copying. The implementation was slower than normal and was deliberate on the part of the Jamaican government in order to test the model and provide for unintended consequences. The end result is the creation of eight executive agencies that have performed creditably to date in key performance indicators. As such this research opens up the discourse on cross-national policy transfer by arguing that although the reform in Jamaica is not in an advanced stage, certain patterns of success have started to emerge which defy conventional wisdom on policy transfer.
Notting Hill Carnival
I heard it was the biggest carnival in Europe and I was eager to experience it!! My gosh it was crowded. I have never seen so many people in my life. Enjoy the pics (videos not uploading).
Friday, 4 July 2008
End of exams, celebrations and farewell
It has been a fantastic year (almost) at the London School of Economics and Political Science. I have learnt a lot but more so have met some wonderful human beings from all parts of the world. I am thrilled exams are over but I am sad as I will miss my new found friends. I will miss my flatmates - Lauren (US), Zach (Canada), Pol (Spain), and Jihyun (South Korea). Our flat must have been the best - quiet, clean and we got along so well!
Jihyun and I ( he left early for his home country so wasnt there for group pic).
We chatted a lot. I suspect he wanted to improve his English and I dare say he has. I had difficulties conversing with him when we just moved in but now he is so fluent and yes he thanks me all the time.
L-R Zach, Lauren, me and Pol
We were such a happy bunch. I will miss u guys - Lauren's (see u soon), Zach's (very short hi greeting - lol) and Pol's (hi Anakie - pronunciation)
Dr. Martin Lodge, my supervisor and I. He is the best supervisor one could ask for. Patient, extremely helpful and has a keen interest in Jamaica (and that makes a world of difference believe me). I will be emailing him for sure as I get into the meat of this dissertation!
Andras and I. Such a sweetie. We developed such a wonderful friendship over the duration of the Course (MSc. Public Policy and Administration). If it was a beer or bagel or chatting online we were just damn good friends. Andras has an excellent sense of humour and he could pass for a Jamaican! Believe me, you don't want to hear him curse a Jamaican badword and no I did not teach him. He listens to a lot of reggae and says he learnt them from there and he 'bun out babylon too.' I hope to see you soon Andras.
Some of my Coursemates at a farewell barbeque - countries represented: China, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, US, Hungary, Australia
Jihyun and I ( he left early for his home country so wasnt there for group pic).
We chatted a lot. I suspect he wanted to improve his English and I dare say he has. I had difficulties conversing with him when we just moved in but now he is so fluent and yes he thanks me all the time.
L-R Zach, Lauren, me and Pol
We were such a happy bunch. I will miss u guys - Lauren's (see u soon), Zach's (very short hi greeting - lol) and Pol's (hi Anakie - pronunciation)
Dr. Martin Lodge, my supervisor and I. He is the best supervisor one could ask for. Patient, extremely helpful and has a keen interest in Jamaica (and that makes a world of difference believe me). I will be emailing him for sure as I get into the meat of this dissertation!
Andras and I. Such a sweetie. We developed such a wonderful friendship over the duration of the Course (MSc. Public Policy and Administration). If it was a beer or bagel or chatting online we were just damn good friends. Andras has an excellent sense of humour and he could pass for a Jamaican! Believe me, you don't want to hear him curse a Jamaican badword and no I did not teach him. He listens to a lot of reggae and says he learnt them from there and he 'bun out babylon too.' I hope to see you soon Andras.
Some of my Coursemates at a farewell barbeque - countries represented: China, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, US, Hungary, Australia
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Sun bathing
Well I live next door to the Oasis Gym. The sunshine has made my neighbourhood even so much noisier. The Brits have decided to soak up the sun on the tarmac at the gym. Take a look.
Hyde Park
It was a nice and sunny day when Andrew and I went to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to relax. It was nice just being able to lie on the grass!! The flowers had started to bloom and the grass was no longer wilted after the brutal winter.
Andrew posing beside the entrance to the Princess Diana Memorial.
Andrew posing beside the entrance to the Princess Diana Memorial.
Hybernation
It has been a mighty long time since I last updated my blog! School had me under pressure!!!!!! The term papers took over my life not to mention preparing for those revision and study group meetings. Thank God I can breathe once again and finally keep you intouch with life in good ole England.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
End of Term
Believe it or not, teaching is officially over at the London School of Economics and Political Science!!! My gosh how quickly time goes by. I have a total of 5 exams to sit in June plus my dissertation. The timetable is not yet ready but I am hoping that they are nicely spread out.
I am ready to write my dissertation the title of which is Cross-National Policy Transfer: Agencification in Jamaica, 1996 - 2006. It will critically evaluate the reasons for transfer of policy ideas, particularly civil service reform policy, from the North to the South by looking at agencification.
I am ready to write my dissertation the title of which is Cross-National Policy Transfer: Agencification in Jamaica, 1996 - 2006. It will critically evaluate the reasons for transfer of policy ideas, particularly civil service reform policy, from the North to the South by looking at agencification.
I am presently working on a Case Study on e-government in Jamaica, the Jamaica Trade Point in particular - 5000 words; and 2 essays of 2,500 words each. All these are due before exams!!
Well talk about having nightmares - sleep is secondary right now. At times after reading, I go to take a nap and a thought comes to mind and I just can't sleep until I get up to put it on the computer.
Monday, 10 March 2008
Shakespeare's Church
The Collegiate Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, is often known simply as Shakespeare's Church, due to its fame as the place of baptism and burial of William Shakespeare. The present building dates from 1210 and is built on the site of a Saxon monastery. It is Stratford's oldest building, in a striking position on the banks of the River Avon, and has long been England's most visited parish church. It was originally Roman Catholic but is now an Anglican Church.
Holy Trinity contains many interesting features, including:
A 14th-century sanctuary knocker in the church's porch (built c. 1500)
Twenty-six miser cord seats in the chancel, with religious, secular and mythical carvings
Several large stained glass windows featuring major English and Biblical saints at the church's east and west ends
The carved scenes of the life of Jesus around Balsall's tomb were mutilated during the Reformation, as were most images of Christ. Notable 'survivors' include a remarkable face of Christ or possibly God the Father within a sedilia canopy, and some beautiful medieval stained glass depicting the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost. The pre-reformation stone altar slab or mensa was found hidden beneath the floor in Victorian times and has now been re-instated as the High Altar.
The church is open to visitors for much of the year. A small contribution is requested to access the chancel and sanctuary in which Shakespeare is buried. Holy Trinity is a member of the Greater Churches Group. Holy Trinity Church enjoys good relations with other institutions within the town including King Edward VI Grammar School, Shakespeare's School, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare Institute and the Royal Shakespeare Company, the RSC, who performed Henry VIII in the church in 2006 as part of the Complete Works Festival. It is an active parish church serving a parish of some 17,000 people. Services are open to all.
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, poet and playwright, was baptised in Holy Trinity on 26 April 1564 and was buried there on 25 April 1616. The church still possesses the original Elizabethan register giving details of his baptism and burial, though it is kept by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for safekeeping. He is buried in the beautiful 15th-century chancel built by Thomas Balsall, Dean of the Collegiate Church, who was buried within it in 1491.
Shakespeare would have come to Holy Trinity every week when he was in town, i.e. all through his childhood and on his return to live at New Place. His wife Anne Hathaway is buried next to him along with his eldest daughter Susanna. The church witnessed a sad episode shortly before Shakespeare's death. The day after Shakespeare signed his Last Will and Testament on 25 March 1616 in a 'shaky hand', William's son-in-law, Thomas Quiney was found guilty in the church court of fathering an illegitimate son by a Margaret Wheler who had recently died in childbirth. Quiney was ordered to do public penance within the church. The distress and shame for the Shakespeare family must have been immense. Within a month Shakespeare was dead and his funeral and burial being held at Holy Trinity on 25 April 1616.
It is said that Shakespeare's body is buried 20 feet (approx. 7 metres) deep to prevent its theft. Above the grave, a badly eroded stone slab displays his epitaph:
Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosèd here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
But cursed be he that moves my bones.
Holy Trinity contains many interesting features, including:
A 14th-century sanctuary knocker in the church's porch (built c. 1500)
Twenty-six miser cord seats in the chancel, with religious, secular and mythical carvings
Several large stained glass windows featuring major English and Biblical saints at the church's east and west ends
The carved scenes of the life of Jesus around Balsall's tomb were mutilated during the Reformation, as were most images of Christ. Notable 'survivors' include a remarkable face of Christ or possibly God the Father within a sedilia canopy, and some beautiful medieval stained glass depicting the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost. The pre-reformation stone altar slab or mensa was found hidden beneath the floor in Victorian times and has now been re-instated as the High Altar.
The church is open to visitors for much of the year. A small contribution is requested to access the chancel and sanctuary in which Shakespeare is buried. Holy Trinity is a member of the Greater Churches Group. Holy Trinity Church enjoys good relations with other institutions within the town including King Edward VI Grammar School, Shakespeare's School, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare Institute and the Royal Shakespeare Company, the RSC, who performed Henry VIII in the church in 2006 as part of the Complete Works Festival. It is an active parish church serving a parish of some 17,000 people. Services are open to all.
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, poet and playwright, was baptised in Holy Trinity on 26 April 1564 and was buried there on 25 April 1616. The church still possesses the original Elizabethan register giving details of his baptism and burial, though it is kept by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for safekeeping. He is buried in the beautiful 15th-century chancel built by Thomas Balsall, Dean of the Collegiate Church, who was buried within it in 1491.
Shakespeare would have come to Holy Trinity every week when he was in town, i.e. all through his childhood and on his return to live at New Place. His wife Anne Hathaway is buried next to him along with his eldest daughter Susanna. The church witnessed a sad episode shortly before Shakespeare's death. The day after Shakespeare signed his Last Will and Testament on 25 March 1616 in a 'shaky hand', William's son-in-law, Thomas Quiney was found guilty in the church court of fathering an illegitimate son by a Margaret Wheler who had recently died in childbirth. Quiney was ordered to do public penance within the church. The distress and shame for the Shakespeare family must have been immense. Within a month Shakespeare was dead and his funeral and burial being held at Holy Trinity on 25 April 1616.
It is said that Shakespeare's body is buried 20 feet (approx. 7 metres) deep to prevent its theft. Above the grave, a badly eroded stone slab displays his epitaph:
Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosèd here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
But cursed be he that moves my bones.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Shakespeare's Village
Stratford-upon-Avon is an historic town on the river Avon in the English county of Warwickshire, best known as the home town of the great English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. Today, it is a major theater-going destination as the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. As such, it represents one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. I am told it attracts 3 million visitors each year. Stratford-upon-Avon has its origins in the Saxon culture of medieval England (the name "straet-ford" indicates that it was a river crossing). For many centuries it was little more than a small market town on the road to London; even today, it has only 24,000 permanent residents. Though it has developed some industrial capacity, Stratford is now known mostly for its association with Shakespeare. The city benefits tremendously from the resulting tourism and cultural activity, and has gone to great lengths to preserve those buildings that have survived since Shakespeare's time. As a result the center of town is quaint and attractive. On Sunday, March 09, 2008, the LSE Run Society had a trip to the site and I was happy to have been able to make it. Enjoy the pics!
Shakespeare's birth place
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Earthquake
It was a few minutes to one in the morning or there about just as I went to bed, I felt a little sway. I was wondering what is going on? But then I noticed it did not stop. I thought my gosh am I dreaming or what, is this really an earthquake? Worse I am on the 11th floor!!! For the few moments I wondered if they will ever find my body should the building collapse!! But thank God it stopped!
I checked the morning papers and discovered that I really wasnt dreaming! The tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, lasted up to 15 seconds. It shook Britain from coast to coast just before 1am, displacing chimney pots and roof tiles from Newcastle to Brighton.
I checked the morning papers and discovered that I really wasnt dreaming! The tremor, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, lasted up to 15 seconds. It shook Britain from coast to coast just before 1am, displacing chimney pots and roof tiles from Newcastle to Brighton.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Price Fixing between BA and Virgin: Did it kill Air Jamaica?
This story is very interesting! The question being asked is: did this contribute to Air Jamaica's demise?
It was revealed over the weekend that BA and Virgin conspired re increase in fuel charge! They fixed the price and charged it to customers whilst Air Jamaica at the time bore the cost!!
Well now Virgin 'buss' on BA and BA will have to pay a fine on £270 million. I also saw on the news that passengers can now make a claim for a specific period (dont recall the exact dates). But how many will?
It was revealed over the weekend that BA and Virgin conspired re increase in fuel charge! They fixed the price and charged it to customers whilst Air Jamaica at the time bore the cost!!
Well now Virgin 'buss' on BA and BA will have to pay a fine on £270 million. I also saw on the news that passengers can now make a claim for a specific period (dont recall the exact dates). But how many will?
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Salsa
Wow. I so anticipated this night - Saturday as I was to go to my first salsa class and then clubbing! Hail to a good Jamaican, Samantha who works for LSE. Always good to make a Jamaican link up.
So we left for ISH on Great Portland Street where she teaches and my gosh it was fun. I was able to master five steps in one night. Thanks also to Denis from Trinidad (first I danced with a man shorter than me - hehhehe)!!!
I dont remember his name!!!!
Cool down - of course I was videotaping, hence my absence from the floor.
So we left for ISH on Great Portland Street where she teaches and my gosh it was fun. I was able to master five steps in one night. Thanks also to Denis from Trinidad (first I danced with a man shorter than me - hehhehe)!!!
I dont remember his name!!!!
Cool down - of course I was videotaping, hence my absence from the floor.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Confused on Communion
So Ms. Norma and I went to the Bloomsbury Baptist Church Sunday last. Was a rather interesting service. Compared to the Baptist in Jamaica they are very quiet! Almost like Anglicans. There is no clapping and magnifying the name of the Lord, just 'ordinary' worship. Ordinary for me means hymns, bible reading, sermon, collection and notices etc.
But there is something that puzzled me and I hope someone can shed some light on it - taking Communion. As an Anglican you have to be confirmed to partake of Communion but I noticed at the service they passed around the Bread then the Wine for all to take. Frankly I didn't because I know that you don't just take the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ without first taking the steps to cleanse yourself of all the sins and to live a particular life!
So did something pass me by or is tradition being thrown out the window?
PS the link to the church: http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/index.html
But there is something that puzzled me and I hope someone can shed some light on it - taking Communion. As an Anglican you have to be confirmed to partake of Communion but I noticed at the service they passed around the Bread then the Wine for all to take. Frankly I didn't because I know that you don't just take the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ without first taking the steps to cleanse yourself of all the sins and to live a particular life!
So did something pass me by or is tradition being thrown out the window?
PS the link to the church: http://www.bloomsbury.org.uk/index.html
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Brick Lane
And it came to pass that Nagy from Hungary on the Sabbath day beckoned Anneke to journey with him and Nurgul into the Bangladeshi Town of Brick Lane. And behold they came upon many bars and restaurants. They visited the land of the first and finest baigel and it was there that Anneke ate out of her first brown paper bag in London!
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