In Focus

Imagine, if you may, three fanciful scenarios in the Jamaican context. The first involves a judge of the Supreme Court. The second involves the DPP. And the third has the contractor general featured. All three of the individuals now find themselves...

Mr Speaker, the first duty of government is to protect, preserve, and promote life. All other rights follow from the 'right to life.'" - Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Budget Debate 2017.I'm glad I am alive to hear a prime minister say this and not...

Had he lived, Peter Abrahams would have celebrated his 98th birthday on March 19, 2017. While he is best known for his journalism and radio commentaries on RJR, he has left behind a considerable legacy in novels. Peter Henry Abrahams was born on...

It is often said that success has many parents and failure is an orphan.  There is no truer phrase to describe what is now happening in August Town, where there were no murders last year, and three so far this year. It appears that those who...

Over the past two weeks or so, there has been much criticism, scepticism and general lack of understanding about the aims and objectives of the #TambourineArmy. Much of this lack of understanding was displayed on social media, particularly Twitter....

"No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated."- Nelson Mandela Former prime minister of Jamaica Edward Seaga often said, "No poor country is educated, and no educated country is poor."No matter how it is described, leaders across...

As usual, when Jamaicans have a conversation about sex, it all goes sideways.The current debate on the definition of 'rape' and age of 'consent' has majored in the minor (pun intended). The word 'rape' has its roots (Latin 'rapere') in 15th-century...

At its best, party politics is about the formation of viable bodies to advance the social and economic direction of a country, motions that tend to happen in Jamaica more as the exception thanthe rule.At its worst, party politics is akin to the...

Sometimes I wonder if we appreciate how much tax we actually pay and for what collective or personal benefit.PAYE workers pay 25% (30% on earnings over $6m/annum) of taxable salary. What we can sometimes overlook - unless we carefully review our...

Jamaican popular music provides more internationally frequent brand exposure for the island than its powerful athletic teams that make global appearances only from time to time. The value of this brand is enormous and must be protected. Of course,...

A strong America is indispensable to global peace and a weak America. I was never sure about what now President Donald Trump meant about making America great again. However, the issue of his country's national security is not a business deal that,...

I am in a privileged position because I can say, without reservation and ambiguity, that I have full confidence in the integrity of the commissioner. And yes, that is exactly so for Terrence Williams, the commissioner of the Independent Commission...