Recently Vernon Derby, from Omega radio, wrote in his blog; “Recently, when the Integrity Commissioners were invited to Parliament, I became … more concerned. The IC chairman’s behaviour struck me as odd. He made a point of bringing his own water...
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) ‘opened a can of worms’ by proposing to merge Emancipation Day and Independence Day holidays to create a single, extended weekend holiday period from the first Friday in August to Monday. The main...
Blistering, record-breaking heat waves, prolonged droughts, deadly floods, unusually warm ocean waters, and more powerful hurricanes are taking lives, causing widespread loss and damage, and eroding hard-earned development gains. Even worse, the...
Between 1973 and 1975, Jamaica’s birth rate was 4.5. However, findings from a 2021-22 national survey (the eighth of its kind), revealed that the birthrate has fallen to 1.9 per woman. This research focused on fertility, contraception, and overall...
In recent years, actions by schools like Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS), Westwood High School, and Titchfield High have caused significant harm to some of Jamaica’s brightest female students. What is most disheartening, however, is the...
It is an easy call to label Mr Usain Bolt as Jamaica’s most beloved and admired living icon. One would have thought that those special attributes would have protected him and the substantial funds he had under management in SSL from the pirates and...
Recent statements from the Minister of National Security suggesting that the Government won’t prioritise unexplained wealth orders (UWOs), citing, in part, constitutional concerns, have ignited a pressing dialogue about the Government’s commitment...
This year, the theme for World Food Day on October 16 is ‘Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future’. It’s a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate foods. But, how do we get from a right to a reality? And, why is it...
There has been much public discourse regarding the proposal for Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) to be incorporated into Jamaica’s legislative framework, with proponents touting it as a potential panacea for all ills. In the interest of furthering...
Jamaica’s political landscape today reveals a concerning trend of deflection and hypocrisy. The public discourse surrounding certain national leaders underscores an uncomfortable truth: supporters prioritise protecting reputations over addressing...
As we recognised World Teacher Day on October 5, there can be no single device that most teachers dislike more in their classroom than cell phones! It was In 1983 that clunky big cell phones first became available to the public, albeit at a steep...
The United Nations General Assembly established September 29 as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to promote policies that reduce poverty and hunger and help combat climate change. This is a debate that we cannot ignore....
Living in today’s fast-paced world, convenience has become a priority for many, especially in food choices. Processed and ultra-processed foods have gained popularity due to the minimal preparation required, their palatability, and not to mention...
“This administration is committed to ridding our society of corruption as is evidenced by the passage of the Integrity Commission Act, which established the Integrity Commission, an institution of which we are very proud. “Under the leadership...
Ronnie Thwaites’ article on Monday, September 23 raised a painfully critical issue: the erosion of trust in Jamaica’s public institutions and its most prominent leaders. The unsettling revelations surrounding the prime minister’s financial returns...
When I travel, I love to go to museums, and historic sites. Unfortunately, too often we see the landmarks, monuments, street markers, etc, representing a totally outdated narrative. It is disappointing when you know research has been done and the...
As we journey the road to the republic, several Jamaicans question how it will affect their ‘bread and butter’ issues. Beyond the symbolic importance of completing the process of decolonisation, the constitutional reform committee (CRC) must answer...
Ask ChatGPT to analyse any policy problem and it will invariably identify multiple possible “root causes” and recommend a “comprehensive”, “holistic”, or “multifaceted” cocktail of policy solutions. The AI’s training data reflects the bias of...
Jamaica’s growth projections have been reduced from 1.8 per cent to a range of -1.0 per cent to 0.5 per cent for FY2024/25 The global economy, despite relatively high interest rates, remains resilient with growth holding steady and projected at 3.2...
Let me ask a most foolish question. Is it at all possible that 100 per cent of the people could perceive politicians as corrupt while in reality not a single one of them is tainted? Answer: Yes, but not in this life, likely. Another question. How...
There is a widening gap in Jamaica’s energy discourse, and it is not just about the growing disparity between renewable energy proponents and those clinging to the fossil-fuel-driven status quo. This gap, more critically, lies between those who...
The western border of Waterford (Gaza country) is the eastern border of Gregory Park. By the green flags in Gregory Park, it is safe to say that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has more popularity there, and, of course, the Waterford area has been...
After reading Michael Witter’s poignant description of ‘Neglect of the people’s business’, in In Focus, The Sunday Gleaner of September 8, the question arose: Why has the people’s business been neglected for so long? This inquiry led to more...
For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public-health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14. This highlights the growing global concern over the resurgence of mpox, including its...
From time to time, cracks in our educational culture become glaringly visible. The latest such fissure is the dismal performance in CSEC mathematics, which has triggered waves of despair and much public hand-wringing. The public’s assessment of the...
