In Focus

"A broad public-information campaign" is to be undertaken to educate the public - you and me - about something called 'fiscal rule', which is something the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is demanding of the Government to be in place by March 31 as a loan condition.

Agriculture is that quintessential intersect between business and applied science. On the business side, those involved in the activity concern themselves with the viability of the commodities they produce, securing maximum returns on their investment, increasing operational efficiency, and reducing losses - be that as a result of crop failure, market glut or praedial larceny.

The name Everald Warmington has become a metaphor for crudeness, crassness, boorishness and philistinism.

Tucked away among News in Brief in this newspaper on Big Earhquake Day last Tuesday (January 14) was a truly big story: 'Chinese company to develop 30,000 affordable housing units'.

The message came in an outpouring of rough, unpolished verbiage; and at first, I was slightly disturbed by Mr Warmington's outburst against people who do not vote but feel entitled to services provided by t

In a previous letter, I sought to highlight the fact that the bidding process for the 360MW plant had not attracted companies with strong financial resources, with the implication that perhaps we should take a closer look at the investment planning aspect of this process.

The Goat Islands discussion has significantly muddied the water about logistics hubs, trans-shipment ports and port development in Jamaica. It is not fully appreciated that logistics hub development in Jamaica is not about the Goat Islands or another location.

There are few areas in which our schizophrenia is more poignantly pronounced than in our response to crime. Every so often we go into a frenzy over crime, especially when some high-profile person gets murdered or if children and whole families are slaughtered, or some persons are killed gruesomely.

No guilty person should walk free. However, the decision to free or convict an accused cannot be taken frivolously. In a country with one of the world's highest homicide rates, we want the guilty caught, have their culpability determined, and punished in a swift and definitive fashion.

Far more crucial to containing crime is changing police-citizen relations than changing minister of national security.

"Give us vision lest we perish."- Jamaica National AnthemTry wishing the family and friends of the 1,200 Jamaicans murdered last year happy new year.

It's going to be a tough year. I am happy to be alive to see the new year - and it is a happy new year - but 2014 is going to be a tough year.