THE EDITOR, Madam: Having seen a recent documentary on the 61 tonnes of rubble that had accumulated on the Gaza Strip, experts predict that to clear such a mess will take at least seven to 10 years. The scale of devastation caused by Hurricane...
THE EDITOR, Madam: There is an old maxim in political philosophy: “You can respect the office of authority without respecting the person in authority.” It is the shield that allows a democracy to survive a bad leader. But in Jamaica, we are...
THE EDITOR, Madam: There is a concern among educators that some principals continue to engage in behaviour that has led to demotivation, lower trust and an increase in teacher’s resignation and ‘ quiet quitting.” It is sad to say, but too often...
THE EDITOR, Madam: There is no doubt that the future of crime fighting in Jamaica must be grounded in intelligence-led policing, collaboration, presence, and vigilance. As a nation, we should commend the reported reduction in crime over the past...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Two speeches delivered on January 20 — one at home by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, and the other abroad by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos —together offer a timely framework for...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, many families in western parishes are facing painful loss – damaged homes, disrupted work, and deep uncertainty. As our communities begin the long work of recovery, we need more than...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The passing of Curtis Ward marks the loss of one of Jamaica’s most accomplished diplomats and public intellectuals. His death is a moment of collective sorrow, and an occasion to reflect on a legacy that exemplified excellence...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I have no affiliation to any political party nor to any particular ideology, but I have always been interested in politics and politicians. In my view, elected participants provide a form of entertainment, with some performing...
THE EDITOR, Madam: There has been a lot of quibbling and to and fro concerning education in Jamaica to a point where one becomes confused as to the education pathway. At times the ministers or the party in power are blamed, other times the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The guilty verdict returned against Constable Noel Maitland in the murder of Donna-Lee Donaldson represents a defining moment for justice in Jamaica. This decision affirms that no one is above the law and that our courts remain...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Leighton Johnson’s recent letter on the realities of inclusive education in Jamaica deserves serious national attention. His account reflects what many educators have long known but rarely see acknowledged publicly: placing...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I was struck by the tribute given to Mable Tenn by Douglas Orane at her memorial on Tuesday, January 14. I knew Mable very well starting in the ‘80s in the emerging days of Caribbean feminism, as I was writing Blaze A Fire: the...
THE EDITOR Madam: In late 2021, the findings of the Orlando Patterson-led Jamaica Education Transformation Commission were formally presented to the Government of Jamaica. The report provided a sobering assessment of the state of the education...
THE EDITOR, Madam: There is a lack of trained special education teachers Jamaica’s education system, which is one area that needs urgent attention. In schools, students have different learning profiles, including disabilities, developmental...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am writing with reference to The Gleaner editorial of Saturday, January 17, titled, ‘Prioritise earthquake readiness’, which deserves hearty commendation. In lucid terms, it exposes Jamaica’s alarming seismic complacency amid...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As a contributor to the Joint Select Committee on NIDS in January 2021, I strongly recommend resisting any proposal to suspend or dilute the Data Protection Act, including the recent suggestion raised by Minister Phillips at...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As Jamaica continues the arduous work of recovery after Hurricane Melissa, it is important to acknowledge the visible efforts under way – particularly housing repairs, infrastructure rehabilitation, and targeted recovery...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The immediate concern after a disaster is rescue operations and humanitarian aid. However, physical security which mandates the protection of assets, tangible and intangible, are most times overlooked. Disasters often leave...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The name Jonathan Daniels may not be widely remembered in the Caribbean, but it should be. His life and death speak directly to this moment – especially as silence, caution, and economic comfort increasingly replace moral...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Recently, I received a report from the Micro Care Centre outlining the cognitive profile of a student placed at our school. The report indicated that the student has an IQ of 79 and requires individualised support, including...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Careful consideration should be given to the warning by Mickel Jackson, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) in her Sunday Gleaner column of January 11. It goes to the heart of who we are as a society governed by...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The long overdue eradication of the jury system, seems to be imminent, but unfortunately, as the debate intensifies, a partisan element seems to be taking centre stage, and might well upstage the process. People who have had...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Some time ago I was involved in a a case where the complainant looked like Pippi Longstocking. She looked so cute, petite and harmless, as if lies would be strangers to her mouth. It took two tries, but the jury eventually...
THE EDITOR, Madam: A troubling practice is quietly taking root in schools – children are being excluded because they do not yet have a psychoeducational assessment. What was designed as a tool to support learning is increasingly being used as a...
THE EDITOR, Madam: It is far too late to ignore what has already become woven into the fabric of daily life. The digital world is central to how we live, work, communicate, and even understand ourselves. As we grow more aware of the significance...
