The fact that I am obliged to preface this piece by emphasising that it has absolutely nothing to do with politics, speaks volumes about our polarised and contentious society. This piece has to do with principles and good stewardship. When the...
Both Pearnel and I have been married to our respective wives for more than half a century. So on Wednesday last, in the wake of Nigel’s verbal gymnastics the day before, I asked him if ever we said or did something which our wife thought hurtful,...
Some things do not require a lot of money to get done. Documenting the lessons learnt from an event and codifying how to respond should it recur is among them. All this requires, at most, is concentrated effort. That is why this newspaper is, to...
In the last column, I made the point that development is about transforming our structure of production not just about enhancing ‘human capabilities’ in the sense of the great Indian Nobel prize-winning economist, Amartya Sen. If an economy fails...
Reducing road traffic injuries and deaths is now a big issue in Jamaica. How to prevent what happened #fiveatonetime in Temple Hall, St Andrew, recently is a major concern for so many families who have suffered grief and pain from what has been...
Having sustained more than a week of attacks, including suggestions that they behaved corruptly in the Andrew Holness matter, Jamaica’s four selected integrity commissioners might consider bringing the issue to a head by resigning en bloc. The...
Member of Parliament Nigel Clarke simply could not bring himself to apologise for his off-colour description of Mark Golding, leader of the Opposition, as ‘Massa’. It’s a matter of power. Master Clarke appears to think that he’s above admitting...
While we squabble about racist terms and double downs versus apologies, a major shake-up in the balance of power in the world is taking place. Since World War II, the world reserve currency has been in the United States dollar, or as it is called,...
On Wednesday last while hosting Radio Jamaica’s Hotline on 94 FM, I firmly responded to and dismissed a narrative coming from the mouth of the Bobo Rastafari elder, Jah Lloyd. ‘Selassie I liveth everytime!’ It was perhaps the first time that I so...
The American justice system took a huge leap towards accountability on Thursday when former President Donald Trump was indicted for allegedly paying hush money to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 presidential election. Historical notes confirm...
Researching an article on the police “service” in Trinidad and Tobago (T and T), as well as a few of the other Caribbean countries, I started with the realisation that, in putting the words “police” and “service” in “con-junction” (or any other...
Efforts by small states to seek justice for damage and existential threats to their countries, caused by the world’s major environmental polluters, moved a step further at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on March 29. By consensus, the...
It’s good to see that the Jamaican economy is fast recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service disclosed recently that the economy is expected to record 5.1 per cent growth for the current...
Marlene Malahoo Forte and Rocky Meade, the joint leaders of the lawyer-laden committee that is to make suggestions for updating Jamaica’s Constitution, have three urgent tasks. First, they have to convince sceptical Jamaicans that they are not a...
There are those who argue that Jamaica has moved beyond prejudice based on race, leaving class prejudice as our principal national sin. We sociologists know differently. Skin colour and shade distinctions remain important markers of status in...
LAST WEEK, I wrote an article outlining how poor planning around communications possibly helped to exacerbate the collapse of two American banks two weeks ago, and implored banks and financial institutions here in Jamaica to prioritise crisis...
A RECENT report from the United Nations Economic and Social Council estimates that the value of unpaid care and domestic work ranges between 10 and 39 per cent of GDP. Unpaid care work includes the direct care of persons in one’s household, such as...
Few things in Edward Seaga’s political life pained him more than P.J. Patterson’s statement to a campaign crowd that if he descended the platform and moved among them no one could tell the difference. “Mr Seaga felt it was unkind because of all the...
Happily, Mark Golding has made it clear that the Opposition will not be party to the gutting of the Integrity Commission (IC). Instead, the People’s National Party (PNP) would back entrenching the commission in Jamaica’s Constitution, although Mr...
We are indeed living in interesting times. We are still dealing with the fall-out from the global pandemic; a war is still raging in Europe; inflation remains a concern; we just had the Sino-Russia Summit aimed at strengthening this alliance; a...
Gene Autry, The Beast and I were sitting around the domino table hoping to scrounge up a fourth. Haemorrhoid, whose nickname was based on frequent complaints about “piles and piles” of files on his desk, was present but knew not dominoes which he...
Last week, World Athletics banned transgender women from competing in the female category at international events. As of March 31, no transgender athlete who has gone through male puberty will be permitted to compete in female world-ranking...
Anyone who is keen for integrity in public life and in ensuring that there is institutional restraint on impunity in grabbing the national silverware ought to pay attention to the parliamentary committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act. They...
The removal of fees for students enrolled in technical and vocational training courses run by the government’s training agency, HEART/ NSTA Trust, will be widely popular, including, we expect, with employers who regularly face a shortage of...
If there is one Jamaican white man to whom the term Massa does not apply, it is Mark Golding. Anyone who knows him will attest to that. Nigel made a mistake last week which has backfired badly. It was unworthy of someone as cultured and gracious as...
