What a heady fortnight it has been — passionately defending our favourites, wearing their colours, and bearing their flags, celebrating winners and sympathising with others. By the time this column is published, we will know who the winners are — Spain or Argentina.

However, there were really no losers, and the match for third place between England and France saw the highest number of goals of any match of the competition, with England winning 6-4. Kylian Mbappe surpassed Lionel Messi with eight goals in the current campaign, so the final will also decide which of the two stars will win the Golden Boot.

We marvelled at heroes like Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper who shocked even the most legendary players, and sweet moments when the world fell in love with the brother of Spain’s Lamine Yamal, three-year-old Keyne, whose cute expressions were celebrated on the jumbotron and went viral.

After learning of his Jamaican roots, Jude Bellingham also became a favourite, and we were moved by the singing of
Hey Jude from the stands after his two fast goals against Norway. Some were annoyed at the slap he gave the Argentinian Valentin Barco after England’s loss, but it is alleged that he was responding to an insult; he subsequently apologised. His fans cheered his brilliant run, ending with scoring the sixth goal for England in the last minute of Saturday’s event.

Yes, we were high on the games transported over three countries, and now we are in post-World Cup blues. However, the nation’s business awaits, so we need to sober up and put all this passion into the urgent needs of our country.

Hefty Budgets

An appeal from Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton for more compassionate care and better management in hospitals drew wide criticisms on social media. He responded to someone who blamed the ministry’s leadership, noting, “A Government that moves budget — $60B in 2015 to $140B in 2025 — hires 24k workers on staff — gov should also take responsibility for running a hospital and department in a hospital?” This is the dilemma that leaders have: How to give autonomy and authority without the backlash of non-performance.

Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon also announced over $832 million in additional funding for schools islandwide. Does this mean that come “September morning” children will no longer be under tarpaulin in schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa and still roofless?

We are also looking forward to hearing how the over $1 billion allocated for post-hurricane repairs and building is being spent. Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr visited a senior citizen in St James after her plight was reported by
Nationwide News Network (
NNN) radio. The minister’s explanation was that the verification process for payouts was taking longer than expected. But how could a verification process for such cases take eight months? Who oversees verification personnel? What is the reporting system? To quote the late Don Wehby, “If it isn’t measured, it won’t get done.”

Low population growth

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has announced, “Jamaica is undergoing demographic changes that are consistent with the final stages of the demographic transition model, which is characterised by low fertility and low mortality rates; this contributes to low or negative population growth.”

The comparison of population figures in the years 2024 (2,763,600) and 2025 (2,764,200) shows zero per cent growth. In 2025, there were 28,900 births and 21,300 deaths; the increase of 7,600 was cut to 600 by migration.

A Jamaica Information Service (JIS) report notes that PIOJ Director General Dr Wayne Henry indicated that there has been substantial reduction in population growth, reduction in the child population, and major increases in the working age and elderly populations. On the positive side, we have seen an increase in life expectancy at birth to almost 75 years.

We see challenges and opportunities in these numbers. Affordable childcare facilities and longer parental leave may be an incentive for young couples. Developers should explore the building of retirement villages with health services to serve not only seniors in Jamaica, but also members of the Diaspora.

Minister Tufton recently made a heartfelt appeal to families not to abandon their older relatives in hospitals or alone at home. In a
JIS report, he was quoted as saying, “You were given birth by someone; you were cared for by someone, and if that someone is alive, whether blood relative, parent or guardian, look out for them and provide them with the support they need.”

The proportion of working age Jamaicans — 18-64 years old — is still the largest. With intelligent and honest leadership, they can become significant contributors to our national growth. How much we can expect will be determined by governance and accountability.

Road Safety Headache

Last Tuesday, vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council made a heartfelt appeal for an urgent response to the increasing number of road deaths in Jamaica. At a press conference last Tuesday, he noted that while there was a significant reduction in murders in 2025, there was a three per cent increase in deaths from traffic crashes.

Within the same week, there was a horrific crash in Bogue, Trelawny, which claimed the lives of seven men. We do not have details of their ages, but Dr Jones had noted at the briefing that victims of road fatalities were people between the ages of 18 and 49, at the prime of their working life.

“We have to approach it in a systematic fashion, otherwise we will fail,” said Dr Jones. “We have to have safe roads, we have to have safe road users, we have to have safe speeds, safe vehicles, and an efficient post-crash system.”

Farewell, Great Ones

Jamaica said farewell to Professor Oswald Harding and MVP’s Coach Stephen Francis, while we join Barbados in mourning the passing of the world-renowned cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers. When we consider the achievements of these gentlemen, we should never sell short our country or region.

Professor Harding was the longest-serving senator in Jamaica and was president of the Senate on two separate occasions, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attorney general, and minister of justice. He was co-founder of the law faculty at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and a distinguished legal scholar.

Coach Francis has shaped a number of Jamaican athletes into global champions, among them Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson Herah, Shericka Jackson, Bridgette Foster-Hylton, Asafa Powell, Kishane Thompson, Melaine Walker, as well as Tia and Tina Clayton. MVP President Bruce James noted, “Stephen Francis changed the trajectory of Jamaican athletics for the better. He proved that Jamaican athletes, guided by Jamaican coaches, supported by Jamaican management, and training in Jamaica could become the absolute best in the world.”

Declared as the greatest all-rounder cricket star, Sir Garfield has been hailed worldwide. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley expressed “profound sadness” and commented, “From Bay Land to Kensington and onto the world stage, he carried Barbados and the West Indies with distinction. He made us all stand a little taller as Barbadians, and I will always be grateful for what he gave to our country and our people.”

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.