Pope Francis I (Jorge Bergoglio) who recently died, was the first ever pontiff from Latin America and the first non-European one in 1,300 years. The 88-year old Argentinian’s 12-year papacy transformed the 1.3 billion-strong Catholic Church into...
In the mid 1980s when many of our political leaders had not yet decided what percentage of Michael Manley they should be, it was accepted that the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Michael Manley was everyone’s ideal of the complete politician. The...
On December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina to Mario José Bergoglio and Regina María Sívori. Students of Numerology, an ancient Hindu science, recognise he was born on a “Number 8 Day” (1+7=8). In...
The opinion article by Howard Mitchell titled ‘Why Jamaica Must Defend Its Rum Heritage and Its Future’ presents a passionate defence of National Rums of Jamaica’s (NRJ’s) position in challenging the strict provisions of the Jamaica Rum...
Six hundred billion dollars. Let that sink in. According to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, this is the sum that the Government of Jamaica now proposes to spend over the next six years to revitalise the Montpelier...
On April 14, Nationwide reported that “Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has accepted that the goal of transforming Jamaica into a republic at this time has been dashed. The prime minister places the blame of the failure squarely at the feet of...
Let me state right up front that I have been a sometime consultant to National Rums of Jamaica, further, I enjoy its product as much as I enjoy the products of its competitors. I therefore claim some knowledge of the subject. Few industries reflect...
The Government seems to have given up on the Jamaica Urban Transit Company’s mission of providing commuters of the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR). It is now devoid of policy, plan, operational goals or strategy and is subject to...
Verne Shepherd (VS) in conversation with Maria Alessandra Bollettino (MB) giving insights on Takyi’s revolt VS: Some years ago, as I was preparing to deliver the Chief Takyi Lecture I came across your PhD Thesis on the 1760 War in Jamaica led by...
The arrival of the Mexican Navy Sail Training Vessel, ARM Cuauhtémoc (BE-01), known as the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” to the Port of Kingston from April 21 to 23, highlights Mexico’s maritime diplomacy and underscores growing significance...
I read this week with interest that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is at it again. Carping about the Integrity Commission (IC). The Gleaner reported that Edmund Bartlett and Kamina Johnson Smith wrote to Justice Carol Lawrence Bestwick about the...
April 18 was the global recognition of the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS). Its 2025 theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts.” The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is promoting this,...
I know we’re in Silly Season but the latest political putridity crosses every red line ending up in an historic Portland Peninsula. Jamaicans woke up on Friday, April 11 to breaking news that the leaders of both houses of parliament had written to...
Despite recent verbosity from Constitutional Affairs Minister, another “General” Election is likely before July. The last PM who delayed the call due to another “call” endured a catastrophic weather event and lost an election she might’ve won....
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to reshape our economy, workforce, and daily lives. As we navigate this seismic shift, prioritising local innovation and investment in AI research and development is crucial – addressing not only our unique...
South Africa currently finds itself in a wrestling match with the white supremacist US administration of Donald Trump. This situation has been exacerbated by AfriForum and Solidarity delegations misrepresenting the plight of still privileged...
The Medical Council of Jamaica (MCJ) serves as the primary regulatory body responsible for ensuring the competence, professionalism, and ethical conduct of medical practitioners in Jamaica. By enforcing regulations, investigating complaints, and...
In 1984, I read George Orwell’s disturbing novel 1984, which was an eye-opening experience. One of my takeaways was that Truth is a casualty of the power applied by authoritarian heads of state. The routine lies used by dictatorships to control...
If most of us who have accepted that the ‘80s were special times sociologically and politically, we will therefore accept that any number would play. In the natural push to be the leader of the pack and head of the widespread herd, political war...
I keep telling you production is the key. Only production earns real money and hence drives real economic growth. To analyse the problem and find solutions we should look at statistics directly linked to production. For example, World Bank’s...
While the imposition of term limits is among the key proposals for constitutional reform in Jamaica, it is currently not a feature of parliamentary democracies globally. Parliamentary democracies hold regular elections but do not institutionalise...
With an unemployment rate at a historic low, Jamaica is experiencing a period of robust employment growth and increasing productivity. It is imperative that we also focus on safeguarding the welfare of every Jamaican. To that end, the Government...
Before he founded the People’s National Party (PNP), Norman Manley led the creation of Jamaica Welfare Limited in 1937. Jamaica Welfare aimed to empower communities by organising councils, developing local industries, and ensuring that economic...
Under the pretext of reciprocity, the US announced tariff hikes on nearly all its trading partners, including a 34 per cent tax on imports from China, a 20 per cent on the European Union, and a 10 per cent on most regional countries, while in the...
The WTO Secretariat is closely monitoring and analysing the measures announced by the United States on April 2, 2025. Many members have reached out to us, and we are actively engaging with them in response to their questions about the potential...
