God bless the King, and God bless America. These two countries are our allies, and despite disagreements, from time to time, we certainly want to keep the relationship solid and positive. Yet, despite the overarching influence that the Americans...
I was intrigued by an undated video snippet of a little boy carrying out an impromptu interview of our prime minister. It began like this. [Little boy] “Umm … is your work, your job of being a prime minister easy or difficult?” [Prime Minister] “...
A police dog is one of the non-lethal use of force options available to crime-fighters. And while the dog’s breed is extremely important, training is also a vital part of ensuring that the animal and its handler are equipped to effectively perform...
In the international arena, small states consistently grapple with existential threats. The structures of the global economy, finance, and trade not only sideline them but are deliberately skewed against their favour. Despite these formidable...
Ten years ago, when I was 69, my friends had a ball making fun of me. My bawling back at them only made it worse. They hit me with the Mighty Sparrow’s song, Number 69, especially the chorus: “The customer’s always right and to please you is my...
In the face of regional outrage, the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) appropriately abandoned its plan to cut a number of STEM subjects from its roster because too few students enrolled for them. That, however, should only be the first step. Now...
Eminent counsel the Hon Dr Lloyd Barnett, OJ, in a letter to this newspaper published Wednesday, June 5 has taken issue with my claim that the members of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) are a “bunch of political appointees representing...
The country would be doomed if it took each working person two working days to draft an email of two sentences. The country would be even more doomed if while operating at that snail’s pace we all thought we were being efficient and productive....
Those who are concerned with the minutiae, or given to quibble over details, may enquire into the specific powers invoked by Daryl Vaz to ban ride-hailing apps like Uber and inDrive. They may perhaps claim that it was the wrong minister who did...
AS THE 16th Chinese ambassador to Jamaica, I bear the heavy responsibility and glorious mission to promote China-Jamaica strategic partnership to a new level and deliver more achievements. I have marched forward with solid steps in the past two...
CRISIS. IT’S a word that we just love to throw out each day and to be honest, when you live in a country as festive as ours, you can almost be forgiven for believing that Jamaica is just a non-stop train wreck, lurching from crisis to crisis,...
The best disasters are those that never happen. The next best thing, however, is to be as prepared as possible if they strike. We hope that is Jamaica’s situation as the island enters the annual Atlantic hurricane season, which weather experts...
On June 5 (today), two highly relevant days are commemorated, strongly connected to the sustainability of fishing: World Environment Day and the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. IUU fishing...
In my article of January 3 on the 2024 trade and economic agenda, I pointed to the many general/presidential elections scheduled for this year around the globe, which could have far-reaching implications for addressing the many global crises,...
The new Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) administration opened its innings with a well-placed shot beyond the boundary to secure an international Cricket West Indies (CWI) three-match T20 series at Sabina Park, prior to the commencement of the...
Speaking at the justice ministry’s Child Diversion Forum recently, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck expressed the Government’s desire to ban corporal punishment in homes. Chuck stated, “We are against any form of punishment using a beating. It must...
The security review of key government facilities ordered by the police chief, Dr Kevin Blake, is an appropriate response to last weekend’s attempted firebombing of Gordon House, home of Jamaica’s Parliament. Happily, damage to the building was...
As was the case when this newspaper celebrated dancehall musician Nigy Boy’s recent graduation with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from New York’s Stony Brook University, we laud Floyd Morris’ appointment as professor of...
What is the point of the Prime Minister and the Central Bank Governor bemoaning low productivity If they are not dealing with illiteracy first? Do we know of any productive country where up to half of primary school leavers are seriously deficient...
May 2024 marks 30 years after the First Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States held in Barbados from April 25 to May 6, 1994. That Barbados Conference, organised in large part by the small islands...
If not the smart money, substantial judicial heft is behind Marva McDonald-Bishop to be the next president of Jamaica’s Court of Appeal. Last week, for instance, Seymour Panton, a former president of the court, unreservedly endorsed Ms McDonald-...
On Wednesday last, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr gave his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives. Doubtless, this ministry being my cradle, much of what he presented is of deep interest to me...
Jamaica’s trade in goods and services accounts for approximately 80 per cent of GDP. As such, there are few single pieces of legislation that have a greater impact on economic activity than the Customs Act. Yet, Jamaica’s Customs Act dates back to...
In response to last week’s column, “So much to pree in Kingston!,” I got a backhanded compliment from Mark Chue who posted this comment: “A refreshing (sic) to not have to read about colonialization, race, blackness and the usual grievance...
It’s bad enough that it takes a lot of money to eat healthy. Because vegetables, lean protein, and fruits are exorbitantly priced, most Jamaicans subsist on a starchy and oily diet. To make things worse when they become ill, the public hospitals...
