A few years ago I had a lecturer whose profound words resonate with me to this day: “many of today’s solutions will prove to be tomorrow’s problems”. Jamaica continues to grapple with the painful realities of crime, violence and gang culture. For...
In a significant and people-centred advancement in public healthcare, the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness in partnership with the National Health Fund (NHF), has expanded the NHF Card Programme to include coverage...
As the Cuban economy crumbles and the future of his revolution grows increasingly fragile under the weight of America’s pressure, the jury remains out on Fidel Castro’s expectation of being absolved by history. For the Caribbean community, the...
It’s a thought that should frighten every parent in 2026: The fact that their child is excelling in exactly the kind of work that a machine is learning to do faster, cheaper and without needing a lunch break. That, in essence, is the uncomfortable...
Why Operation Roaring Lion was essential and why it was launched now are best understood by looking at the Iranian regime’s past and present behaviour. A quick peek at what could be its future if left unchecked is also illuminating. The dangers...
Recently, a patient came to the hospital where I work with a persistent cough. Their doctor had ordered a CT scan – a type of imaging that creates detailed cross-sectional pictures of the body's interior – to look for pneumonia or another infection...
Robert Morgan’s remarks at the recent World Bank round table on infrastructure suggest that the Holness administration is pushing ahead with its plan for a new agency to manage and repair Jamaica’s roads. But like when Prime Minister Dr Andrew...
The daily struggles of poor Jamaicans – whether in rural districts or inner-city communities – rarely intersect with the grand narratives of global power. Their concerns are far more immediate: putting food on the table, caring for their children,...
“ There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell.” – Union General, William T. Sherman, American Civil War, 1861-1865 The wars currently in Ukraine and the Middle East are showcasing a range of new weapon...
Jamaica has stepped into a global debate. The Government’s plan to apply General Consumption Tax (GCT) to digital services supplied from overseas but used in Jamaica has sparked questions about fairness, affordability, and the future of commerce on...
On Sunday, March 8 ( Mission Accomplished?) I essayed an analysis of the reasons for the sudden USA/Israel invasion of Iran. After a detailed review of available evidence, including public statements from President Trump and Secretary of State...
The Government may report that electronic invoicing of its consumption tax regime is already among its plans for deepening the digitalisation of tax management in Jamaica. In that event, either Prime Minister Andrew Holness or the finance minister...
Over the past 60 years, Cuba has deployed over 400,000 health workers across 164 countries to mitigate short-term crises, and for long-term arrangements, as part of the Government’s Foreign Medical Missions (CFMM) programme. Apart from assisting...
In recent times we have been hearing the curious notion being peddled that it is not necessary for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states to have agreement or convergence on their foreign policy positions, and that – in the currently...
Across the Caribbean and parts of South America, the sound of approaching storms has become all too familiar. For many young people in these regions, climate change is no longer an abstract discussion reserved for scientists and global conferences...
The 2026/27 Budget Speech by Minister Fayval Williams was to a large extent an update on the post Hurricane Melissa recovery plans. It told a good story about surviving a great shock, restoring stability, and finding the money to rebuild. The...
Corruption has a corrosive influence on the machinery of government. For several decades, the issue of corruption in public offices has received widespread public attention and frequent intense debate. Both local polls and international surveys...
Last Thursday, I met Bobby at Newell High School in St Elizabeth. After two years in a basic school and six years at primary level, Bobby was placed in Grade 7 at Newell, 20 miles away and a $800 daily taxi fare from home. On arrival, he was...
When Prime Minister Andrew Holness speaks in the Budget Debate this week, there are two issues which this newspaper wants him to place on his list of priorities to be addressed. And, preferably, he should do so before Thursday. First, with a tact...
Last week, UNESCO, in partnership with the Jamaican Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and with the financial support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), hosted a symposium marking the 25th...
Not a piece of bloody cloth; the Jamaican flag has no red. More than 15 countries, including 11 African nations, have some modality of the red, green, and gold. With black and white as a base colour, many teams could get mistaken by the current kit...
The greatest contributing factors to our falling total fertility rate (TFR) are economic hardship and little or no expectation / hope for a better future. There is a biological principle that people, particularly poor people, tend to produce more...
In 2024, one thousand one hundred people contracted HIV and around 25 per cent of them were young people between 15 and 24 years. Consequently, Jamaica is one of four countries contributing to 90 per cent of new infections in the Caribbean. On top...
Weather scientists are calling it ‘super’ and ‘Godzilla’ as the El Niño weather phenomenon takes effect after a two-year respite. El Niño is part of a broader climate cycle and is linked with elevated temperatures across the Caribbean. This...
Amid the current turmoil in the world, it is important that, in the Americas, we should not forget the urgent humanitarian and political crisis confronting the Haitian people. For many years, the United States has been the principal destination for...
