Unlike major concerns such as a cavalcade of US politicians constantly lying to the people, here in Jamaica we have learned to live with little white lies and Jamaican politicians stretching the truth of those on the hustings for the Opposition....
From golden pancakes of denial to scandal stew with titty-bread rolls, our leaders are dining on delusion — and they are bloated with taxpayer gravy. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS What does a typical day look like in the belly of a political mastodon?...
American political scientist Joseph S. Nye Jr, who died last month, recently wrote in an op-ed article titled The Future of World Order that we may not know until 2029 whether we are entering a totally new period of American decline or whether the...
Those close to me know, during the third week of June, I travel (virtually) to London to attend horseracing’s greatest spectacle. It’s my annual pilgrimage to Royal Ascot. As flat racing’s apex, it showcases the best talent and epitomizes...
In preparing for international university admissions — especially to competitive US colleges — families across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean often face a crucial dilemma: Which test should we choose — the ACT or the SAT? On the surface, both are...
Not too long after Delano Seiveright stepped into various spaces making up the political constituency of North Central St Andrew, he found common ground in talking with the people and in trying to navigate many complicated parts of their future....
We may not be there yet but well on the way. Autocracy and corruption feed on each other. Jamaica embarked on its independence journey as a nation embracing democracy and eschewing authoritarianism. Jamaica’s first prime minister and National Hero...
Government members on the Parliament’s Joint Select Committee reviewing the Integrity Commission Act have voted in favour of a recommendation to remove Jamaica’s Auditor General (AG) as a statutory member of the Integrity Commission (IC)....
The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, held in Nice, France, marked a pivotal moment in the global effort to conserve and sustainably use the ocean under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14. For Jamaica, a small island developing state (SIDS...
Today is as good a day as any to be reminded that you came from God and will return to God. There’s too much distraction available, often gleefully seized, regarding fatherhood (no, not that one; don’t be naughty). The latest discussion about...
As the last remaining days of 2024 slipped into the glory of the last few Negril sunsets left, so too did 2025 announce its presence with a hope we could bear. If the prime minister (PM), the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and its administration were...
The 2021 Patterson Report on education transformation, while sweeping in ambition, is strikingly silent on one of the most pernicious problems facing our secondary school system: the chronic inadequacy of Jamaican high-school transcripts. This...
Every June 16, on International Domestic Workers Day, we remember a fundamental truth: domestic work is care work. This is affirmed in the resolution concerning decent work and the care economy adopted by the International Labour Conference in June...
Jamaica stands at a critical crossroads. We are a nation blessed with extraordinary resilience and cultural brilliance yet gripped by persistent crime, economic inequality, and a creeping erosion of public trust in institutions. At the heart of...
Last June, Hurricane Beryl, a powerful Category 5 storm, left a trail of destruction in its wake, underscoring the extreme vulnerability of Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to climate change. Although these nations contribute little...
Too many Jamaicans may recall hearing the chilling phrase, “Always remember I have the handle, and you have the blade.” At first, it commands fear and obedience. But with age and reflection, one begins to question the message it gives. Why should a...
Mental health is one of the most important aspects of well-being. Yet this arena of safety and identity comfort is as fragile as it is maligned. The minute that someone is diagnosed as deficient in the arena of psychosocial health, the stigma of “...
I know it’s political silly season but the rabid counting of trees surrounding a recent Financial Investigations Division (FID) appointment whilst being blinded by the forest is just plain sad. It was announced recently that Dennis Chung, former...
The rule of law and human rights form the cornerstone of democratic governance. In Jamaica, persistent extrajudicial killings and the growing culture of impunity pose a serious threat to these democratic principles. We hold no briefs for criminals...
Last Sunday’s compelling Gleaner editorial reflecting on MAGA’s coercing impact on American academic freedom prompted me to revisit and refine my original plan. With A-QuEST having mentored/coached 11 Rhodes Scholars and over 1,300 PhDs and other...
In April, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ministers Edmund Bartlett and Kamina Johnson Smith wrote to Integrity Commission (IC) chairman Carol Lawrence Beswick, expressing concern about the appointment of Roneiph Lawrence as acting director of...
There is a real opportunity for reparatory justice, which is being resisted by leaders of successive political administrations in the Caribbean. What will it take to decriminalise obia in Jamaica? Throwing off the mantle of colonial legacies such...
The recent announcement by the Government to review and potentially reduce duties on imported food raises significant concerns for our local farmers, particularly my farmers of South West St Ann. While the prime minister insists that these...
On Tuesday, May 20, during an historic sitting of Parliament, Peter David Phillips made his final contribution to that eminent institution. It was advertised as a Sectoral Debate contribution but, in reality, it became a rallying cry to Jamaicans...
The education system in Jamaica has long been a subject of scrutiny, particularly regarding the quality of its teachers. The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) and various political figures often point to the recruitment of Jamaican educators by...
