Yannick Pessoa: A multifaceted personality

WESTERN BUREAU:"I am a bit of a community activist, I try to be the family type," said 29-year-old Yannick Pessoa as he sought to chronicle his life's journey to this point.

Pessoa - a cartoonist, graphic designer, newspaper columnist, and writer - is focused on using his skills to change the way people see or understand things.

A budding entrepreneur, he revealed: "I design khaki suits of Rastafarian influence and am venturing into graphic Tees. I also produce accessories such as chains, pins, and pendants. I have intentions of venturing into the publishing market, and I am currently working on comic strips and children's books."

Pessoa is currently editing the material for a poetry book and a chapbook.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Pessoa holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

"Philosophy comes from the observation of life and the natural cycles. Reality is about perception and how people perceive you and you perceive yourself," he said.

"I can't speak to how people perceive me, but I perceive myself in five characters and archetypes: king, magician, teacher, warrior, and lover. They are all facets of my personality."

As a Rastafarian, who delves into politics from time to time through his articles in a local newspaper, Pessoa voices his love and logic in his columns.

honest and candid

"I try to be as politically active as I can be while remaining true to myself and others around me and by just being honest and candid."

With a need for a new approach to help move Jamaica on a different path, one that leads the progress and development of the country, Pessoa gave his suggestion as to how that might be possible.

"Jamaica today is as a result of what happened in our recent history - the decadence of the '80s, tribalism, cocaine, the sunset of reggae music. My suggestion [is] we need radical political reform, a revolution of economy and industry, evolution of thought. Jamaica needs more human beings actualising their full potential."