THE EDITOR, Madam: As a young adult living in Jamaica, I’m often asked why so many of us dream of leaving the island, which is often painted as paradise to the rest of the world. To tourists, Jamaica is sun, sand, and reggae. But for those of us...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The Gleaner editorial, “Reading for maths,” published on August 30, makes this indisputable claim: “Reading and comprehending in the language of instruction is critical to learning, which is a foundation to children being...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I write today out of deep concern for the future of Jamaica’s hospitality sector – a sector that is one of the cornerstones of our economy and national identity. We are facing a crisis that demands immediate and decisive action...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am surprised that we are astonished by the recent low passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. Last year, when the ‘Dunce’ bags came into the market, people were split between those who saw the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Candidates for political office everywhere are usually very keen to give local or national media interviews, depending on the position they are competing for; to show themselves to potential voters, and answer questions...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I note the international retirement of West Indies fastest pace bowler from Trinidad and Tobago, Shannon Gabriel. A towering, ferocious, mean, fast-bowling machine, the ideal West Indian fast bowler. Underrated and...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Every educational year, Jamaica grapples with the reduction of teachers, but what we don’t mention is the struggles that special-needs children and their parents face. As it stands, several parishes don’t have a special-...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Could you please help me pose the question “Ent?” to the public in relation to a concerning issue identified by the energy minister? Ent? (‘Isn’t that so?’ ‘Isn’t that true?’ ‘Right?’) Well before I reached age 20, I went to...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In 1965, I went to Church Teachers’ College (CTC) as a member of the Batch 1 pioneers. This was a two-year programme followed by one year of supervised internship. I was elected by my peers to serve as female president, and...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I spent two of the happiest years of my life teaching at Campion College between 1975 and 1977. Expertly led by the Jesuits, the nuns and a whole plethora of lay teachers and parents, not least the inimitable dean of studies,...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In 2011, then Minister of Finance Audley Shaw, in an effort to finalise a new agreement with the IMF, introduced a plethora of new taxes, fees and other fiscal changes. A major plank in the tax collection system was a...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I write to respond to an error in your Gleaner story, ‘Clarke oversaw rise in GDP’. The story erroneously claims that the “prevalence of poverty moved to 16.7 per cent in 2023 or 5.7 percentage points higher relative to 2019...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I agree with the points made Dr Garth Anderson, dean of the Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica (TCJ), recently. The system is caught in the thickets of nice-sounding programmes. This Sixth Form Pathway Programme is clogging the way...
THE EDITOR, Madam: It’s quite evident that many Jamaicans are still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. A lot of people are yet to bounce back, and the financial reserves have all but dried up. Coupled with the prevailing economic...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am writing to express my frustration with both the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), particularly regarding an unexplained J$95,000 spike in my June 2024 domestic water bill. Much...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Jamaica’s economic journey since 2012 has been nothing short of remarkable. We have witnessed significant improvements in our debt repayment capabilities, unemployment rates, and overall economic stability. However, amid these...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I write with great concern about the ongoing delays in Parliament regarding the identification of the eight parliamentarians who have been implicated in the Integrity Commission's recent report. These delays not only undermine...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I write to respond to an error in your Gleaner story, 'Clarke oversaw rise in GDP'. The story erroneously claims that the 'prevalence of poverty moved to 16.7 per cent in 2023 or 5.7 percentage points higher relative to 2019...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The police have stated that the Cherry Tree Lane murders may have connections to convicts currently serving time in prison. This has once again brought the matter of Jamaica’s prison system into enough focus in The Gleaner...
THE EDITOR, Madam: With profound respect and heartfelt admiration, we honour the memory of the late Mrs Juliet Gordon, widow of the late Canon Ernle Gordon. Mrs Gordon’s life was a testament to unwavering dedication, compassion and service,...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Mr Phillip Pauwell is more than disingenuous in attributing to the Jamaica Labour Party administration that I led the all-island electric licence granted to the Jamaica Public Service Company. The facts are as follows: (1) The...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The St James Parish Library stands as a silent testament to the time-worn neglect that has stripped it of its former glory. Once a beacon of knowledge and communal spirit, it now languishes in disrepair. Role of libraries is...
THE EDITOR, Madam: As a boy, my only knowledge of mental illness was of a ‘madman’ and ‘madwoman’. I was taught to ignore them and avoid them. Maybe even fear them. I remember the scorn on people’s faces whenever they passed by as if it was a sin...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The razzle-dazzle and frenetic energy of participants at political conventions has always attracted me; having no affiliation nor philosophical bond with any party, my interest is solely based on the entertainment value such...
