“Slavery is indeed scotched in our colonies, but it is not killed; its name is changed: its character remains to be changed hereafter”. [Special Magistrate Richard Robert Madden MD (1898-1886)]. Monday (October 20)...
Happily, it was all a misunderstanding. Everyone misapprehended Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ intention when he appeared to relegate Opposition Leader Mark Golding, negotiating first with the justice minister, Delroy Chuck, on constitutional...
Recently, I had a conversation with a colleague that forced me to rethink the way I view gender roles especially within the context of a rapidly changing society. He asked me, “If you were married to a man who earns less than you, would you have a...
Despite apparently different perspectives among its members on America’s aggressive naval posture in the southern Caribbean, The Gleaner is surprised that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders haven’t had formal talks on the situation. But now...
I REMEMBER my high-school history lessons on Haiti. Once proudly declared to be the first black republic and first independent state in the Caribbean, Haiti now owns the unenviable title of being the place where every decade brings a new apocalypse...
This year’s World Food Day marks 80 years since the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), whose mandate from the outset has been to ensure humanity’s freedom from want. Today, around 8.2 per cent of people...
As was implied by his office, this newspaper appreciates that the governor general, Sir Patrick Allen, is not obliged to explain his actions – or inaction – to the public, unless he is specifically required to do so by the Constitution, or some...
IN THE lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the concern was and continues to be whether the multilateral system created 80 years ago will hold or whether it will disintegrate. It was interesting to note that most countries were...
Last month’s promulgation by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes of protocols for the use of AI-generated documents in court proceedings advances his long-standing advocacy for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for a more efficient, and...
Today “senior citizen care” has become a national concern. 1970s family planning policies kept our population below 3,000,000. But, consequently, it’s an ageing population. If migration is brought into it.... I recommend an excellent article (...
Whenever someone dies by suicide, one of the most common reactions is to ask the question “Why?”. Most of us have never thought of taking our own lives. Persons who do, or attempt to do so, are sometimes judged harshly, and deemed to be crazy,...
When he responded last week to the Independent Fiscal Commission’s (IFC) warning that the government’s ongoing inability to meet its capital spending targets could weaken Jamaica’s growth prospects, Prime Minister Andrew Holness focused primarily...
I abhor cruelty – hurt inflicted by design or default, personal or systemic. Cruelty denies and defies humanity. “Cruelty is an outlet for sadism allowing individuals to inflict cruel acts (and support cruel systems) believing they are acting...
In recent years, Jamaica has promoted the Alternate Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE) as a reform designed to meet the diverse learning needs of students. The idea sounds progressive: rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum, students are...
Since the 1970s, Jamaica has advanced women’s rights. However, a growing, rarely discussed concern has emerged: the rise of anti-male sentiment and systemic disadvantages affecting young black Jamaican males. Jamaica’s top quintile is dominated by...
In May 2022, public health organisations and advocates across Jamaica welcomed the announcement of the Green Paper for the National School Nutrition Policy (SNP). Developed by the Government of Jamaica through the Ministry of Education and Youth (...
Growth of one per cent a year won’t cut it. At that rate, it will take 70 years for the Jamaican economy to double in size and to bring the island’s per capita GDP in range of some of its smaller eastern Caribbean CARICOM partners. The recently re...
I am glad that at that the first working meeting of the newly elected House of Representatives, the Leader of Government Business, Floyd Green, decided to suspend, and not pass the motion to constitute the members of the sessional committees and to...
At the height of the 2025 general election, it was announced that the minimum wage will be increased incrementally with the intent to double it in five years. I felt a chill run through me because, although I am cognisant of the needs of the many,...
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Jamaican citizens are facing a small set of criminals, including unfortunately, family members, who are hell-bent on causing mayhem. These heartless scoundrels seem to have no limit to their savagery....
This article looks ahead about our country decades in the future. It is not about our current government. It is about a growing feature in our democracy. It’s about us. The headlines shouted low voter turnout in the recent elections in Jamaica....
People, especially those in public office, should know when it is sensible to shut their mouths and humbly accept culpability for their wrongs, rather than attempt an obfuscatory spin that merely ties themselves into knots. Keisha Lewis, the...
‘Don’t give up on yourself, you are more resilient than you think — asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of’.’ I came across this quote recently and it gave me pause as I considered the recent deaths of Jamaicans because of suicide. Anyone can...
“Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the best live shows from the funniest stand-up comedians, ranging from witty and irrelevant to deeply raunchy.” Well, I look for that in both ways - firstly, because I loved humour almost from...
