Columns

Unrecognised opportunity

In the Chinese zodiac 2021 is the year of the ox. The ox, for the Chinese, symbolises strong patriotism, stability, resilience, and an unrelenting persistence. For those of us watching China over the last decade there is no doubt that its economic prowess is synonymous with the qualities...

Will poor lives ever matter?

IN the eighties and nineties after years of the world accepting and even endorsing the South African Government's racial policy of apartheid, economic sanctions were finally widely introduced.

A plea to countries that can afford to share vaccines

At the beginning of the year, I issued a call for countries to work together to ensure vaccination begins in all countries within the first 100 days of the year.

What is a stroke and how is it treated?

STROKES or cerebrovascular accidents result in significant mortality and morbidity. When combined with cardiac diseases, these two entities are the most common cause of death in Jamaica and indeed worldwide.

Digital transformation accelerates smarter, more efficient industries

IN the historical moment in which humanity is immersed in the middle of a pandemic, information and communication technologies (ICT) play an especially important role in accelerating the process of digital transformation and supporting the recovery of the economy.

Love, honour and obey

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,My love is deep, the more I give to thee,The more I have,For both are infinite.— Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2, 1

The more things change...

That old adage, “The more things change is the more they remain the same,” was coined in 1849 by a popular French author, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr. He was well know for his sense of humour and his powerful satirical style. The phrase echoes his fondness for pointing fun at...

Must 'success' be a bad word in Jamaica?

“BAD mind a go kill dem” is a well-known line from a popular dancehall song which, in many ways, encapsulates an ongoing trend in the Jamaican society where envy and covetousness have taken root in the national psyche, which can lead to various deleterious circumstances for...

Call in the COVID-19 crusaders!

THERE is no doubt that serious times are upon us and, make no bones about it, these times call for serious measures. Irrespective of the side of the political divide on which you stand, many Jamaicans will admit that the Government is doing a valiant job at cauterising the deadly scourge...

A 'time-wasting nonsense', indeed, Justice Panton

In a recent address to a new batch of justices of the pe ace from the parish of St James, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, retired Justice Seymour Panton lamented what he described as a waste of time, the Trafigura court case that is now wending...

Decree and declare — a 'spiritual' clich� revisited

It has become quite popular in certain churches, and so demands examination: The epithet, “I decree and declare…” A cursory analysis of the two verbs should be helpful.

Lessons learnt from COVID-19

Observing the protocols instituted by the Jamaican Government to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 seems to be a challenge for many of us in Jamaica. Supposedly it may be difficult for many to fathom how just the mere act of not having close...

Have we learned from the Jamcovid app experience?

IT was recently announced that on Monday, March 22, 2021 the Government of Jamaica will launch its web-based system for the registration and scheduling of appointments for individuals who wish to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Further, it was reported that the Ministry of Health and Wellness...

#GoodPolicyMattersEvenMore

On March 9, 2021 Dr Nigel Clarke, Jamaica's minister of finance, opened the 2021/22 national budget debate. If ever there was a pivotal budget presentation this would qualify as it.

Golding's masterful strokes in budget debate

The presentation by Leader of Opposition Mark Golding delivered in the 2021/22 budget debate at Gordon House last week was a tour de force and a game-changer. I found it balanced, clear, full of practical suggestions and far-reaching ideas. One could be...