Editorial

Like father, like son: Canada keeps faith with Jamaica

Forty-six years ago, almost to the day, then Canadian Prime Minister Mr Pierre Trudeau vacationed in Jamaica. With him was his three-year-old son, Justin. The picture of the young boy trying to climb a coconut tree in St Mary warmed the hearts of...

Agro-Invest on the right path

If Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC) is able to meet its stated target of putting at least 10,000 more acres of land into agricultural production over the next two years, the agency would deserve commendations.

America's Christmas gift to the world

But for the pesky distractions of American domestic politics and, of course, other countries' own internal struggles to cope with the novel coronavirus pandemic, mankind would be appropriately celebrating the miracle of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fingers crossed despite alarming COVID-19 developments

Hope remains alive and well that the various vaccines being rapidly brought to the fore to combat the novel coronavirus will prove pivotal in ending the pandemic.

Warning lights for planet Earth are flashing red

LAST week, the Paris Climate Agreement (PCA) marked its fifth anniversary with a Climate Ambition Summit hosted by the United Kingdom, France, and the United Nations. But with all its lofty ideals, the warning lights for planet Earth are flashing red.

Focused planning for WI cricket can't be put on hold

BACK in 2012 after West Indies had cruised past touring New Zealand 2-0 in a two-Test series, many downplayed the triumph, arguing that the visitors were behind the hosts in the ICC Test rankings.

Infrastructure improvement also vital for road safety

News broke last week that, up to December 8, a total of 402 people had died in motor vehicle crashes on Jamaican roads, since January 1.

Wi-Fi hot spots — one of the few nice things about 2020

One of the all-too-few positive developments of this mostly frightful 2020 is the robust effort to establish Wi-Fi hot spots across Jamaica — starting in 12 town centres by the end of this year — spearheaded by the Universal Service Fund...

Should COVID-19 vaccines be exempt from intellectual property rights?

Quite understandably, news of the emergency approval of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine overshadowed a dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO) between developing countries and pharmaceutical giants last week.

Winter tourist season starts today: never waste a good crisis

Researchers will have to dig deep into the archives to find when last things have been this thin for the winter tourist season — which officially runs from today to April 30, 2021 — thanks to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Giving back and changing lives

In these troubled times — which will forever be coloured by the novel coronavirus pandemic — it is easy to get so caught up with personal problems that we lose sight of the larger picture.

It's a brave, new post-COVID-19 world

With the much-anticipated arrival of a vaccine to counter the novel coronavirus, it is even more crucial now that every facet of society begins to prepare or accelerate plans to operate in a post-pandemic world.

Administrators should prepare carefully for return of sport

The COVID-19 surge continues. Up to yesterday there were more than 70 million cases registered worldwide, including 1.6 million deaths.

Personal ambition trumping policy in the PNP

Recent developments in the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) have left the country convinced that the 82-year-old movement has not been able to even begin the process of healing that it so badly needs to make it a viable alternative to the...

COVID-19 Vaccine Commission could be too little, too late

We probably should have known better, but we in this space assumed that the Government had already put in place a body akin to what the Ministry of Health and Wellness announced this week as a National COVID-19 Vaccine Commission.