Dear Editor,

Is there a new meaning when the word “discovery’’ is used to clarify or justify crucial decisions by the Government?

I refer specifically to an article in the Jamaica Observer on March 8, 2026 entitled ‘Jamaica points finger at Cuba for medical programme collapse’. Among the concerns raised for the collapse, as reportedly released from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, was an intriguing discovery by the Jamaican Government. According to the ministry, “The Government discovered that salary payments for Cuban medical personnel, while calculated at the same level as their Jamaican counterparts, were being made by Jamaica to the Cuban authorities in US dollars.’’

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “discovery” as: “…to be the first person to become aware that a place or thing exists; to find something hidden/unexpected, or to learn information. And often refers to realising something new or finding something through research or chance”. Based on this definition, I think King Charles III of the United Kingdom would concur that a Government can only discover what it was unaware of.

According to the reported release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Jamaican Government recently made a discovery (and was, therefore, unaware) of a crucial detail of a government programme in operation for half a century. It’s indeed intriguing.

Given the nature of this Cuban-Jamaican cooperation, the ministries of foreign affairs, national security, labour and social security, health and wellness, and finance and planning would be the key coordinators and up to date with the established agreements of the programme.

Perhaps it is more prudent and pertinent to ask: How unaware was the Jamaican Government?

Daive R Facey

DR.Faceyc1@gmail.com