http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ JamaicaObserver.com, the most concise and in-depth website for news coverage on Jamaica and the Caribbean. Updated daily 7 days a week, 24 hours a day en-us copyright Jamaica Observer, 2011 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/It-s-not-an-easy-road_14309455 MY favourite cable television advertisement currently running in prime time is a dramatic 30-second promotion of XFINITY's Internet service starring Usain Bolt. Local Opinion Wed, 22 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Commission-of-enquiry-not-adequate-for-Tivoli-incident_14303206 Three years after the security forces' operation in Tivoli, which resulted in the deaths of at least 73 people, some Jamaicans and so-called human rights organisations still do not recognise that what happened was a crime against humanity, which requires a special investigation of those who had command responsibility for the operations. Local Opinion Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/IMF-gives-us-reality-check_14298943 Rev Ronnie Thwaites' contribution last week to the Sectoral Debate was a speech that previous ministers of education may have dreamed of making, but may have been stopped by the risk of losing the favour of 20,000 influential Jamaicans -- our teachers. Local Opinion Mon, 20 May 2013 01:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Caribbean-talks-conservation-on-Branson-s-island_14297161 NECKER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands (AP) — Surrounded by a turquoise sea and a menagerie of exotic animals on a billionaire's private island, political and business leaders gathered Friday to back an initiative aimed at expanding protection for the Caribbean's imperiled coasts and waters. Local News Mon, 20 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Strengthening-the-ties-that-bind_14251420 A lightly edited address by former Prime Minister P J Patterson at the Institute for Global Dialogue in Pretoria, South Africa on April 26, 2013. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Wanted--A-collateral-strategy-for-economic-recovery_14296302 There can be little doubt in anyone's mind that the country is now in a precarious economic situation and is facing a daunting future. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Joyce-Robinson-was-good-for-Jamaica_14290913 THE great spirit of generosity exhibited this past week by a number of individuals and institutions in tribute to the life and work of Dr Joyce Robinson, who made her transition last Sunday at the age of 87, is a welcome reminder that there still exists a warm light in the darkness of bile, mean-spiritedness and malice which now threaten to impoverish not only our public discourse but also our private relationships with one another. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/When-a-simple--to-rahtid--will-not-do_14290893 KINGSTON'S mayor, Angela Brown Burke, is fluent in three or four languages: English, Jamaican, Spanish and French, but chose to tweet the very American phrase "What the F..." when her political sensibilities were affronted by the presence of two Opposition Jamaica Labour Party members on competing television talk shows two weeks ago. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Not-a-Caribbean-man-_14284179 TENSION is developing toward the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) from some quarters in Jamaica. This was exemplified by a column in the Gleaner newspaper written by an Immigration attorney, Mr Ronald Mason. I believe it is fair to summarise what Mr Mason said as follows: He is a Jamaican; not a Caribbean man. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Conservative-party-politics-hits-Shaun-Bailey_14290887 In the months leading up to the 2010 British general election, few Conservative parliamentary candidates got more publicity than Shaun Bailey, who has Jamaican heritage. Every newspaper and magazine you opened seemed to feature him. He was heavily promoted as the face of the "new" Conservative party. Local Opinion Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Answering-for-bloodthirsty-crimes-against-humanity_14294976 RONALD Reagan once described him as "a man of great personal integrity and commitment". Erfaín Ríos Montt, in the course of a long military career dating back to the early 1950s, displayed very little integrity but certainly a lot of commitment to eradicating the indigenous people of his native Guatemala who were guilty of nothing more than wanting to exist and make a living. Local Opinion Sat, 18 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Schoolhouse-heroes_14284174 The paradigm has shifted in schools. The notion that school is the place we prepare children for society is now under siege. Local Opinion Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Babylon-to-new-Jerusalem_14284226 IT'S FULL TIME to create a new national award. We have squabbled so much about the old ones that it is now full time to spruce up the Honours List, put some new wine into old wine skins (you get my drift). Local Opinion Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Pirates--crime-and-solutions LAST week, in my piece headlined ‘Society of contradictions’, I mentioned the role of the pirates in shaping criminality in Jamaica. I omitted to include the oft-used story to counter my argument about the criminals who settled in Australia. And having omitted that, at least one reader replied with that argument online. Local Opinion Thu, 16 May 2013 07:51:29 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/The-Caricom-trade-imbalance---Jamaica-T-T_14266396 Recently, there have been a number of rash and, in some instances, derogatory letters, describing Jamaica's perceived relationship with Trinidad & Tobago (T&T). Some were whimsical and others simply vacuous. Generally, they demonstrate a lack of understanding regarding the consequences that would result if Jamaica were to demit membership of Caricom, apart from the forfeiture of the considerable amount of investment in time and money related to developing the regional union that is Caricom. Local Opinion Wed, 15 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/What-the-public-wants-from-media_14266389 Like most Jamaicans who have expressed an opinion on Public Defender Earl Witter's Report on the Tivoli siege in 2010, I welcome the news that the Government intends to implement the recommendation for a Commission of Enquiry. I have yet to read the report beyond the findings and recommendations but it seems to me that a commission of enquiry or a truth commission of enquiry had been called for by many Jamaicans since 2010, including faith-based advocates. Local Opinion Wed, 15 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Leaders-can-no-longer-think-outside-the-box--you-have-to-think-there-s-no-box_14248840 An edited address by Danny Roberts, head of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute, at the official opening of the Canadian Teachers' Federation/Caribbean Union of Teachers John Thompson Young Leaders Workshop on Thursday, May 25, 2013 at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Hotel. Local Opinion Tue, 14 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/The-heart-of-the-matter_14258051 Tony Hart is one of Jamaica's most successful and illustrious business tycoons. Hailing from a family tree that has contributed greatly to the socio-economic fabric of this country, he has also been a visionary and renowned philanthropist totally committed to his homeland. Local Opinion Tue, 14 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Let-us-have-a-Garrison-Enquiry_14251339 HAVING suffered through that daily soap opera, aka 'The Manatt Enquiry' and still smarting from the unfinished Finsac Enquiry, Jamaicans are wary about yet another enquiry into the Tivoli incursion announced by the Government. Local Opinion Mon, 13 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/New-party-enters-South-Africa-s-treacherous-political-waters_14251403 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — The launch of South Africa's latest political party is evidence both of the unease at the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and of just how much it will take to unseat the party of Nelson Mandela. Local Opinion Mon, 13 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Why-the-Tivoli-enquiry-is-important_14246024 Having made the right decision to have a Commission of Enquiry into the Tivoli Gardens 'incursion', Cabinet must now ensure that the enquiry is credible so that the outcomes can reduce the chances of the State and political actors repeating this most horrendous episode in our history. Local Opinion Sun, 12 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Jamaica-s-productivity-challenge-and-the-revolution-to-come_14239083 Over the past 12 months, Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier has been pounding the pavement extolling the need for a productivity revolution in Jamaica if we are to achieve sustained growth and development for the remainder of the 21st century, much less attain the goals of Vision 2030. Local Opinion Sun, 12 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Forget-the-enquiry--make-a-movie-instead_14246048 "Tivoli Gardens bore classic features of a war zone. There were burnt-out houses and apartments and unmistakable signs of the explosion of incendiary devices, described by residents as "bombs". There were many blood-spattered interior concrete walls and floors and aluminium windows shot out or riddled with bullet holes indicating inward heavy weapon fire. Exterior walls of buildings also, bore physical indicia of high-powered weapon fire. Frightened and traumatised residents (children, women and aging men but mainly women) cowered in fear. Dwellings had been thoroughly ransacked." Local Opinion Sun, 12 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/South-Africa-s-sad-moment_14238344 THE Government of South Africa, headed by President Jacob Zuma, has found itself in an embarrassing position after having felt compelled to postpone quietly last month a posthumous conferment of its highest national honour, the Oliver Tambo Award (gold), to Guyana's late president, Forbes Burnham. Local Opinion Sun, 12 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/A-Brazilian-WTO-head--An-opportunity-to-make-trade-work-_14238303 The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is now set to appoint a new director general. He is Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo, Brazil's long-serving ambassador to the organisation. Local Opinion Sun, 12 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT