The recent $8.2 billion Paris Olympics were an exuberant celebration of the spirit of sports. The stunning opening ceremony along the river Seine saw Aya Nakamura, the sumptuous Malian-French singer influenced by Afrobeats and Caribbean zouk – who...
With Hurricane Beryl hitting the Caribbean, Typhoon Gaemi making landfall in the Philippines, the wildfires in Canada, and the increasing global water insecurity, the climate crisis continues to highlight the need for concerted mitigation and...
In the aftermath of the horrific gun deaths and mayhem which took place at Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon, the actions taken would be something like this: Long before the nation could allow the pain to seep into our souls, the police personnel...
MANY OF us may be familiar with non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, as silent killers. But there is another silent killer, one to which we must give all due attention: heat. To help us on our way, we have an instructive...
It is fitting that the venue where Jamaica’s Independence celebrations were held on August 6, 1962, is the beloved showcase of a sport widely recognised as the nation’s greatest international achievement. There are good reasons for Jamaicans to...
Responding to a Gleaner query at a Mona Heights flag-raising ceremony on August 6, Patricia Duncan Sutherland, shadow minister for social transformation and protection, expressed a preference for an executive president. This has raised questions...
I have had the privilege of playing basketball every Saturday morning for the last 10 years with a group of gentlemen who simply love the game. We are all in our mid-30s to late 40s, from diverse backgrounds, representing every sector of our...
Beryl has disrupted our summer and, in some cases, wrecked lives. For children, adolescents, and youth, it is an additional challenge to the triple threat they are facing this summer. They face the triple threat of loss of learning, high...
To fairly and legally terminate a contract with a monopoly electrical power provider, a government must follow a structured legal process. This typically involves: Reviewing the contract: The government should first thoroughly review the existing...
The moment Jamaicans became aware that Shelly-Ann and Shericka were late no-shows in their respective races, a raw feeling of deflation washed over our little nation. And if we wanted to be honest with ourselves, we would know that some of the low...
The answer is ... absolutely! I strongly support Carlton Fearon’s proposal in his letter to the editor to separate Jamaica’s power generation from transmission and distribution to enhance competition and efficiency in the energy sector. This...
The PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy joins in the fitting commemoration of Emancipation Day across Jamaica, the wider Caribbean, and nations on the African continent. This day of great historical significance commemorates the...
All aspects of the lives of enslaved people were governed by acts and laws drawn up by the colonisers. In “West Indian Slave Laws of the 18th Century” [1970], Elsa Goveia provides a pan-Caribbean account of such laws. Here we present the second...
In April 2013, Barack Obama was forced to apologise for describing California’s Kamala Harris as “the best-looking attorney general”, also calling her “brilliant”, “dedicated”, and “tough.” America’s first black president was nevertheless widely...
The last 10 days in July witnessed some of the most remarkable events of 2024 to date. The crowning of Kamala Harris as the 2024 presidential candidate in the United States (US) and the release of dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer) and...
It is August 1 as I write this column. Emancipation Day. Feeling nice and sweet after all that freedom. We who live in these times were never roped by the neck and we were never forced to hear the screams of our mothers and sisters as they were...
The part that the chef de mission plays in an Olympic team has never been carefully explained to the public, hence my decision to try to throw some light on it. The chef de mission is the head of the Olympic team, responsible for the welfare of all...
In the heart of a nation divided, the 2024 presidential race had taken an unexpected turn. President Joe Biden had stepped aside, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris to carry the torch for the Democratic Party. On the other side, former President...
Last Wednesday, a reader captured the sadness that many Jamaicans were expressing. It is normal that we feel sad whenever a child or a woman is killed in tragic circumstances. In this case, it was a detective sergeant of the Jamiaca Constabulary...
On Friday, July 19, I described the move by the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd (JPS) as “unconscionable” as it would “provide the company with an undeserved windfall”. The information I will present in this article supports this statement, and...
Hurricane Beryl is another reminder of the existential threat that climate change poses for the Caribbean. It was not just a record-breaking Category 5 meteorological event; it was a profound reminder of our vulnerabilities, inequities, and...
The battle against plastics began decades ago. In the early days, the focus was on the proliferation of plastic pollution and its impact on land use. The battle shifted in the 1980s, with local skirmishes against single-use plastics that created...
The idea that Jamaica is a country without borders while resonating with Jamaicans abroad (the diaspora) is not only a fiction, but fast becoming a lie. It makes us feel good about Jamaica’s reach and possible influence, but I might even be kind...
For decades, corruption scandals have undermined successive regimes in the United States (US). Fraudulent officials have enriched themselves by exploiting the power they hold in office. The latest addition to this muddy saga is Democratic Senator...
This July is already proving to be one of the most eventful months in our history. It started with Hurricane Beryl on July 3, followed by its aftermath of agricultural devastation, decimated livelihoods, Denbigh postponed, and structural damages...
