In Focus

On Tuesday, April 14, the International Monetary Fund downgraded Jamaica’s growth prospects to -5.6 per cent. This is a severe contraction warranting substantial Government intervention. However, at times, the Government waits too late to respond...

A few days ago as the lady and I drove out, headed to the hardware store to purchase one piece of lumber, she was wearing a face mask, and I had mine on the seat behind me. “So, what’s the point of you wearing the mask in the car and me without...

Public reaction to the initial threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was predictably mixed. While international news of the contagion across continents helped people to appreciate that this was not restricted to a particular region, not many people...

Chupski dons her mask once she ventures out in public. To the bank, the supermarket, the ­pharmacy, the ATM. So far I have never even tried on the one I have. Maybe I should have worn it last Thursday mid-­morning as I stood at the entrance to the...

As Jamaica signs off on Budget 2020-2021, we are still uncertain whether we will be able to withstand the economic onslaught that will accompany the crisis in the years to come. It is clear that this pandemic is like none other that we have seen...

Between December 2019 and February 2020, The Gleaner published a series of articles on my behalf, exploring the issue of food security in Jamaica based on an analysis of the country’s food-import bill for 2018. The current COVID-19 pandemic, which...

Many times, the sequel to an award-winning blockbuster fails to captivate eager patrons interested in the narrative crafted by the director. However, it is pleasing to note that this year’s budget presentation, aptly titled, ‘Moving in the Right...

The global pandemic is real, with almost 8,000 deaths worldwide and nearly 200,000 persons having contracted the virus in 155 affected countries. What is particularly comforting for this country, amid pain and the not knowing, is the bedside and...

Brazil far-right leader, President Jair Bolsonaro, is now begging the thousands of Cuban doctors he had expelled to return to help them in their own fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cuban Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology...

Small developing countries are trade dependent and value a well-functioning multilateral trading system where their needs may be articulated, understood and accommodated. It is generally difficult for small developing countries, like Jamaica, to...

Setting up junior lawyers to succeed! The Jamaican Bar Association has been trying for a while now to encourage established and senior lawyers to volunteer in the mentoring of newly called attorneys. A good and worthwhile effort. However, is...

Twenty-five years ago, Jamaica formally became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 9. 1995. The independent international organization, the WTO, superseded the United Nations (UN) affiliated General Agreement on Tariffs and...