In this column, I continue my reportage of the launch of Bernard Coard’s book The Grenada Revolution: What Really Happened? Put on by the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies on September 15, the anticipation-filled...
Edward Seaga, the former prime minister and early mentor to Andrew Holness, was notorious for his tart one-liners and pithy put-downs.Once, when he believed he had been wronged by another newspaper, Mr Seaga attacked the matter at the annual...
Peter Phillips, the leader of the People's National Party (PNP), is no doubt right in his characterisation of Robert Pickersgill, who has just retired as the party's chairman: that he exemplifies unswerving commitment to the party.But as likeable a...
Reading the story published in The Sunday Gleaner of September 17 about the young lady who attempted suicide to escape the daily torment of unkind children at her school, brought back so many bad memories of my own time as a student in high school....
According to some soothsayer and his interpretation of the Bible, the world was supposed to have ended last Saturday. So much for that. Me and my bills (step off, grammarians!) are still very much here.If I'm gonna be honest, I'm not quite ready for...
It is a pity that in reacting to Donna Parchment Brown, the political ombudsman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness came across as an aloof, arrogant and high-handed ruler who dares anyone to question his action.The prime minister needs to appreciate...
One morning last week, I had an experience that got me thinking about how we influence our children. After breakfast, I entered my bathroom to get ready for work, but when I opened the door to the shower stall I...
Prime Minister Andrew Holness' attempt at scolding Donna Parchment Brown for her presumed meddling in matters in which he believes she has no place, reminds us that there is unfinished business to enhance political transparency and limit the ability...
I recently saw a young lady who was extremely close to her younger cousin. In fact, they were like sisters. She was severely emotionally traumatised when she saw (viral) photographs of her little cousin's mutilated dead body appear on her smartphone...
Tammy's babyfather is in Florida. His income as sideman on a delivery truck has taken a beating since Miss Irma visited recently. He usually sends money at month end, not through a remittance company, but, albeit riskily, by post or with one of his...
People who are paid low wages are among the most abused in Jamaica. Their rights are taken for granted daily by their employers and supervisors who treat them unfairly and constantly threaten to fire them.Remedies for redress and opportunities to...
Recall these words, Prime Minister:"I pledge to serve the people of Jamaica faithfully, with all of my energies, all of my heart, mind, and soul."The people are sovereign and their views and...
In essence, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has told Donna Parchment-Brown, the political ombudsman, to butt out. For, on government contracts, of their award and execution, she has no jurisdiction. These are matters for the National Contracts...
So Miss Paula has finally got off her high horse of prosecutorial dignity and resorted to blocking the road! Or has she moved her office as director of public prosecutions to South East St Mary? How else do you explain the rapid response she's got...
T`hat's the power of Jamaican culture. Since the 1970s, reggae and Rastafari have had a far-reaching influence on Poland. For some 'conscious' Poles, the holy herb became a substitute for vodka.Tomasz Lipinski, a pioneer of Polish punk rock and...
If the PNP wants to seriously move the economy forward, it has to go beyond the ideological rigidities of democratic socialism and the romance of the underdog. It has to incorporate more ideas on public-sector efficiency and management, profits,...
I am grateful for the patience of The Gleaner’s usually very demanding opinion editor, who accepted my excuses for columnistic non-production with mild, if unmistakable, disapproval. Better columnists churn out copy regardless of personal...
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
If nuclear deterrence is a cardinal principle, why should it be a cardinal principle only for a few? Why should North Korea denuclearise when others are not doing so? When the others are testing and enhancing their nuclear capacity? When the US has...
Legislative draftsmen are working on fixed-term election dates and term limits for prime ministers in fulfilment of promises made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.Under the current parliamentary system, there is a maximum term length of five years....
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
"Oh-ho!" exclaimed the pirate chief, a gleam of triumphant satisfaction passing over his face for an instant and then vanishing as he again confronted the captain sternly.The preceding sentence is an example of the use of the interjection "Oh-ho!",...
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
As I expected, Michael Ricketts was voted president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). It should not have come as a surprise to anyone. The minute it was announced that he had secured eight nominations, it was clear that he wouldn't lose. It...
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
In the beginning, the slogan describing the strategy to be employed in the zones of special operations (ZOSO) was 'clear, hold, build'. I don't see it in its publicity or on its website, which probably means that the strategy is not well understood...
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Some time back, I wrote about the lack of common sense that seems to be quite prevalent within the ranks of key decision-makers in this here island of ours. Despite seeing some aspects of my concerns being addressed, there are many areas where dumb...
Published:Thursday | September 21, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Karl Samuda, the trade and agriculture minister, may have bought the Government a partial respite, but by no means has it resolved the problem of Jamaica's doddery sugar industry. It still teeters at a precipice, facing the moral hazard of...
Memories of the world's oldest person, Violet Moss Brown, are quite pleasant in spite of the negatives that shrouded the last days of her existence. On a visit on March 11, I found her to have immaculate memory in spite of her 117 years. She...
