Commentary

The dismal attendance record of some members of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament (PAAC) is a worrying situation that points to the poor management of public-sector accountability and oversight in this country.

The government, and the minister of national security in particular, are understandably pleased that there has been a significant reduction in the number of murders reported for 2014.

In the column on Sunday titled 'Scribes and Pharisees', we published, "A letter in January 3's Gleaner mentioned that the Church deserves Jamaica's lifetime achievement award for backwardness".

Upon hearing that two 16-year-old boys were held culpable for the gruesome death of retired matron Hyacinth Hayden, social media commentators quickly expressed parenting concerns.

Last week, gunmen killed twelve people during an attack on Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in Paris, France

The immediate concern is not now the hundreds of daily illegal backyard fires which spread poisonous fumes in a country with so many asthmatics and similar health issues.