In Focus

Apocrypha, that other dimension beyond the clouds, was in a tizzy. The International Monetary Farce (IMF) insisted that, in order for Apocryphans to obtain international financial assistance, Apocrypha needed to adopt certain new rules...

The high-powered managing director of the world's most influential multilateral institution, Christine Lagarde, has visited Jamaica amid a swirling controversy over its exchange rate and fresh concerns over Jamaica's growth prospects.

There is growing concern about the movement of the Jamaican dollar. It has moved from J$99.33 to US$1 at the start of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement in May of last year to J$112.14 at the end of trading Friday, June 27. Audley Shaw, opposition spokesman on finance, says the IMF wants it to go to J$120:US$1.

When Richard Byles told journalists at a press conference that the seven-year failure to get the fuel diversification and price-reduction energy project going was "like we are obeahed", the room was tickled into giggles.

In recent times, members of the gay community have been showing increasing hostility and aggression towards the rest of us who carry on a normal, traditional sex life. They are now receiving support from so-called human-rights advocates who have failed to disclose that they are actually receiving financial and other support from the gay community...

Irony had a good month in June with the forced firing and rehiring of Brendan Bain followed by the mental picture of Carolyn Gomes, hoisted on her own petard, flouncing out of a Jamaicans for Justice for Some (JFJFS) boardroom having not got her own way for the first time at last.

The people's representatives have been dissed by one of their own who has been called up to be Big Minister.

Once again, price movements are disrupting the country. Jamaicans have come to recognise that whenever the exchange rate is 'devalued'/depreciated, they can look out for price increases and howls of protest, particularly about the most essential items, food and drink.

In 2009, arrangements got under way for the establishment of selected coastal areas for protection from fishing around Jamaica.

Jamaica needs to redefine the limiting roles, responsibilities and expectations of women and men in relation to each other. As we concentrate on fathers today, redefining these roles can free up men to be nurturing active dads involved in everyday parenting - everyone can hug, everyone can change a diaper, everyone can reason with their child and really listen to them. Let us redefine these roles for Jamaica's collective benefit.

As I walked along the hallway at the University of Technology behind a bobbin backpack on a young man striding forward into destiny, we encountered a man standing with shoulders drooped and head bowed perusing a pile of papers. It was during the week of final grading in preparation for their validation.