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Commentary

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

One day last month, there was a pestilence of smoke in my neighbourhood. It wasn't an act of God. Just one of my selfish neighbours burning rubbish in his yard. And it certainly wasn't enlightened self-interest. This is an intelligent man who must...

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

It was a magnificent 35th birthday for Donovan the electrician, who was getting promoted at work and making solid money. The single real problem in his life was Sharon, his girlfriend of four years. De ooman did jus' too miserable.Well, Donovan had...

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Embarrassed by Jamaica's 14-place slide on Transparency International's latest Corruption Perception Index - to 83 of 175 countries - the Government hustled to Parliament to pass the law establishing a single anti-corruption agency.This newspaper...

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

The Jamaican society, for the period from 1980 to present, has experienced tremendous change. I chose 1980 because that period saw the start of raw division in society. More than 800 people were killed, political tribalism rose to the forefront, and...

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

With February being dubbed the month of love, fluffy red and white teddy bears are already on garish display, and as we edge closer to St Valentine's Day, there will be gifts of roses, cards, candies and other treats as persons express love for each...

Published:Friday | February 10, 2017 | 12:00 AM

The clay soils where we lived in Central Trinidad were perfect for rice, and so my family, continuing an Indian lifestyle and traditions, spent a lot of time and energy planting rice (and 'minding' cattle), especially during the period between the...

Published:Thursday | February 9, 2017 | 12:00 AM

A parliamentary committee has been tasked to come up with a 'perfect definition' of rape, and the lobbyists are lining up, sensing the high stakes.Rape is sexual intercourse which, if mutually performed, would be legal, but which lacks the consent...

Published:Thursday | February 9, 2017 | 12:00 AM

I am not a big fan of the NFL. I grew up on the traditional Caribbean sports of cricket and football and track field, and American football was just simply never part of my upbringing.I never liked certain things about the sport from the outset. I...

Published:Thursday | February 9, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Sweetie is hiring. I'm adding 10 full-time staff members to the team in April and I'm currently going through the shortlisting process. I'm looking for a very specific pool of people. No matter the position, they must be happy (because I honestly...

Published:Thursday | February 9, 2017 | 12:00 AM

The proof of the pudding, the saying goes, is in the eating.So we will await the dish that is actually served by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his attorney general, Marlene Malahoo Forte, before deciding on its quality. Mrs Malahoo Forte has...

Published:Wednesday | February 8, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Visiting the Hundred Lane site the morning after a midnight massacre taught me lessons I was unprepared for. It was in the first week of January 2002 and all who were there - journalists, politicians, preachers and residents were in various states...

Published:Wednesday | February 8, 2017 | 12:00 AM

On Saturday, I was asked by a reporter about the church and property taxes. It is suggested that the church should pay property taxes in order to close the gap in the country's budget. I asked how much would be collected for the coffers from such a...

Published:Wednesday | February 8, 2017 | 12:00 AM

People can be so tiring with their pessimism and their consistent ability to throw cold water on any attempt at collective activism. Why do they continue to silence and imprison us with their hopelessness?How can people who so easily applaud...

Published:Wednesday | February 8, 2017 | 12:00 AM

We are hardly surprised, as was revealed by this newspaper yesterday, that the Government may be on the verge of walking back on its undertaking not to tap the National Housing Trust (NHT) for cash to fund its Budget. Over the past four fiscal years...

Published:Tuesday | February 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM

The crime situation facing Jamaica is now a threat to the very fabric of the society. Criminals are running wild throughout the country and are causing law-abiding citizens to cower in fear behind grilles and doors.Shops and bars, especially in...

Published:Tuesday | February 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM

You are the head of a self-appointed coalition to foster a 'healthy society' in Jamaica. You are also a medical doctor. Or you are the head of an assembly of churches, a reverend. No, not one of those going around molesting young girls. No, no, not...

Published:Tuesday | February 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM

New chief of defence staff, Major General Rocky Meade, recently became the 11th head of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). He takes over at a time when national security is front and centre of Jamaica's priorities, and the force is fully stretched,...

Published:Tuesday | February 7, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Three years ago, researchers for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) found that 50 per cent of Jamaicans had lost someone close to them because of violence. Put starkly, half of us know maybe a brother, sister, mother, father, a friend or some...

Published:Sunday | February 5, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Little D was hopping mad.'Twas about 20 years ago while playing with his old-time high-school partner, the Duppy, against Gene Autry and me. Somehow, we'd ended up discussing the philosophy 'Rasta nah bow!'For those of you exiled to Siberia since...

Published:Sunday | February 5, 2017 | 12:00 AM

The 12-year-old boy was standing on the shop piazza in Westmoreland on Friday last asking for 'change' to buy something to eat."Why yu mother don't give yu dinner?" I asked."She cook and never leave none for me," was the reply."Why?" I pressed."She...

Published:Monday | February 6, 2017 | 12:00 AMLascelve Graham

On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, The Gleaner published an article titled 'DQ upset after star leaves for Calabar'. It spoke of athlete Jordan Anderson from Donald Quarrie High School winning a bronze medal at Champs last year. This was the first time a...

Published:Monday | February 6, 2017 | 12:00 AM

With Sunday's announcement of her timetable for stepping aside, Peter Phillips, barring some dramatic turn of events, will, on March 26, become president of the People's National Party (PNP) and later, leader of the Opposition. His party will expect...

Published:Sunday | February 5, 2017 | 12:00 AMMichael Abrahams

I have a very uneasy feeling about Donald Trump’s presidency, and the possible consequences of his actions have already begun to concern me. Trump’s mantra is ‘America First’, but he shows blatant disregard for certain...

Published:Sunday | February 5, 2017 | 12:00 AM

We have a suggestion for Prime Minister Andrew Holness.He should suspend the regular business at today's meeting of the Cabinet and instruct ministers to read the series by the University of the West Indies social anthropologist Herbert Gayle on...

Published:Sunday | February 5, 2017 | 12:00 AM

In 1976, the president of the United States officially designated February as Black History Month. First of all, I don't like it that our race is called 'black'. Officially, we are designated as Negroes, which means black.We used to talk about...

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