Columns

When completing my first degree in economics at The University of the West Indies (UWI), a favourite topic of the professors was the theory related to economies of scale. Such views highlighted a business approach to achieving an efficient output by proportionally decreasing costs. This...

International Day of Mathematics 4:40 pm
“ And because mathematics is everywhere and is critical to making informed and effective decisions, this year on this day we are publishing Mathematics in Action — a guide to explain to decision-makers how they can use this treasure trove of human intelligence, especially to...

Accountability is a must 4:40 pm
The statement posted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness's Twitter page at midnight last Friday was terse: “Late this evening I met with Minister Robert Montague, who tendered his resignation with immediate effect. Minister Montague expressed that it was a privilege to have had the...

Mark Golding hasn't learnt the whole trick

Sunday, March 13, 2022

On the heels of a memorial service to mark the 25th passing of former prime minister and People's National Party (PNP) President Michael Manley, held at National Heroes' Circle last Sunday, the current leader of the PNP, Mark Golding, made a statement which is...

Let's end this political football game

Sunday, March 13, 2022

As we approach our 60th year of Independence from Great Britain, our two major political parties — People's National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) — would have had almost equal time at the helm of running Jamaica. Yet, when this term comes to an end, what will...

Local government as the engine of development — the Portmore model

Sunday, March 13, 2022

The “Portmore as a Parish” debate is rather d�j� vu, but not for reasons of politics. It reminds me of the film The Golden Child starred by Eddie Murphy, a classic movie which has got me thinking: Is Portmore the Golden Child, a centre piece for its wonders and promise, but...

Paulwell wrong on causes of low voter turnout

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Writing in The Sunday Gleaner on March 6, Phillip Paulwell, the six-term Member of Parliament for Kingston Eastern and Port Royal, laments the low voter turnout and “political tribalism” which have prevented Jamaica from becoming the...

Power, responsibility, Ukraine and West Kingston

Sunday, March 13, 2022

The world is basically divided into three superpowers. This is not a political nor a geographical specification, although there is, of course, an overlap.

Manley, Seaga: United at last?

Friday, March 11, 2022

They were archrivals in life, but now the Andrew Holness Administration has decided to unite them in death on a $2,000 banknote, soon to be unleashed on a mostly sceptical and, in some cases, astounded Jamaican public.

The facts of the matter

Friday, March 11, 2022

The following is a response from Nakashka Coffee Company Limited to the article 'It's outside my jurisdiction' published in the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Putin chose war, we remain united with Ukraine

Thursday, March 10, 2022

This is a dangerous moment for Europe and for freedom-loving people around the world.

What can be learnt from the war in Ukraine?

Thursday, March 10, 2022

I have vivid memories of being conned out of the cash from a week's pay while living as a student in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Empowering women and girls in the Caribbean for long-lasting change

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

“Raise a son, and you will raise a man, raise a girl and you will raise a nation.” A World Bank report underlines the truth of this adage. It shows that increasing female labour market income contributed to a 30 per cent reduction in extreme poverty in Latin America and the...

Gaining a heart of wisdom during lent

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

The psalmist in Psalm 90 takes a rather pessimistic view of life. He paints a picture of the fragility of human existence by comparing life to a watch in the night, a yesterday that is past, and grass which grows up and flourishes in the morning, but which withers and is cut down in the...

Quality teachers require a quality education system

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

The education of a nation is one of the strongest foundations for social and economic advancement; however, we continue to experience a deficit in this area, and the novel coronavirus pandemic has only served to exacerbate this situation.

To accelerate growth, empower Caribbean women entrepreneurs

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

As Caribbean countries chart a post-pandemic future, evidence is mounting that one of the surest ways to accelerate growth is to empower women.

Kicking the can down the road

Monday, March 7, 2022

Vladimir Putin has good reason to wear a constant smirk on his face. As the bad-boy bully he is calling the shots and getting his way. No one wants to confront him — no one — that is, except Volodymyr Zelensky, whose name has become synonymous with courage and defiance.

When the Ukraine crisis became ours

Monday, March 7, 2022

As our Jamaican students in the Ukraine posted about their fears of an impending invasion by Russian forces, we became fully engaged, moved by appeals, interviews with their tearful parents, their hazardous journey to Ukraine and finally, their arrival in Montego Bay last Wednesday. Many...