Columns

America is failing the compassion test on immigration

One of the enduring strengths of America is the way it has treated with generosity people from all over the world who want to enter its shores. As an immigrant nation itself, the country has benefited substantially from this openness as people from all over the world... Read More

Edward Seaga's work deserves to be properly memorialised
On June 23, 2019, Jamaica's fifth Prime Minister Edward Seaga was laid to rest at National Heroes' Park. If my mother, Helen Champagnie, were alive, his funeral would not have missed her. Equally, she would not have missed those who now unreservedly sing his praises, but in past times could not...... Read More

From bruk-pocket to Porscheperity?
Renowned and respected Miami Herald journalist Jacqueline Charles, in her June 15, 2019 piece on Jamaica's economic turnaround, opened a can of things. For one Government senator it was a can of “awesome” things; for a business mogul it was a can of must read information. For me, it...... Read More

OAS should promote systemic change in Haiti, not an external agenda
In what is increasingly becoming a pattern of ignoring established procedures and authority in the Organisation of American States (OAS), a delegation went to troubled Haiti on June 19 without any discussion or mandate by the Permanent Council — the organ responsible for making and...... Read More

In memoriam: Edward Seaga was no saint, but the quintessential turnaround leader

CHRISTOPHER BURNS - Christopher Burns is vice-president of finance and CFO of a multinational corporation. Send your comments to the Jamaica Observer | Sunday, June, 23 2019

Edward Philip George Seaga took his final bow on May 28, 2019, as ordered by destiny. His passing happened on the same day as his arrival day, but exactly after he reached four scores and nine years old, which, in and of itself, is quite a glitzy feat. The timing and precision of birthday and... Read More

Jamaica has been afflicted by stony silence and 'bad lampism'

GARFIELD HIGGINS Garfield Higgins is an educator and journalist. Send comments to the Observer or higgins160@yahoo.com. | Sunday, June, 23 2019

The pumpkin plant should not be uprooted. — Acholi/Ateso proverb, Uganda� Read More

A frightening new state of bravado among criminals

James Moss-Solomon | Sunday, June, 23 2019

(Reprinted from the latest edition of online journal Public Opinion)� Read More

The new death squads they have given us

Jason McKay | Sunday, June, 23 2019

Another of the alleged Clarendon death squad trials has ended in acquittals. What is left is basically one that never started off as a police shooting and the other the conviction of a narcissist who honestly needs to mount an insanity defence as part of his appeal, as he actually... Read More

Wha' sweet yuh can also sour

Barbara Gloudon | Friday, June, 21 2019

Everybody knows the joys of mango season; from the smallest boy eating a dozen blackies with the juice staining his shirt, to the society maven using a silver spoon, with pinky finger extended, to scoop out a Bombay. Read More

Jamaican Diaspora sponsors gun crime here... not Americans!

Franklin Johnston | Friday, June, 21 2019

There is confusion about guns and, like chronically dependent people, we “other” the problem, cite what America is not doing, and exonerate those who send the guns. Read More

The future of the PNP – A look at the party's 7 'sins'

Canute Thompson | Thursday, June, 20 2019

In Part 1, published on June 11, 2019, I discussed that the People's National Party's (PNP) popularity has been in decline since 1997, even though it won the elections held that year. I made this argument to highlight the fact that the party which Peter Phillips inherited in 2017 was... Read More

Recruitment, education and retention

Clement Lambert | Wednesday, June, 19 2019

Reports of extrajudicial slayings and the ensuing investigations seem to have the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in a bit of a pickle. The nation seems to be further losing faith in the ability of the force to uphold the law in a professional and forthright manner. Corruption seems to be rife... Read More

Bunting's calculated risk may need divine intervention

Raulston Nembhard | Wednesday, June, 19 2019

NO one who has been following Jamaican politics in recent times would have been surprised at Peter Bunting's decision to challenge Dr Peter Phillips for the presidency of the People's National Party (PNP). He had made his intentions known for some time having deferred his intention to... Read More

Democrats must not make the same mistake as in 2016

Victor Dixon | Tuesday, June, 18 2019

In 2016 the corporate media and the Democratic National Committee anointed Hillary Clinton as presidential nominee even before the primaries started. She carried a lot of baggage and in the end, although she won the popular vote, Donald Trump walked into the White House. Read More

Drug trafficking is a global problem foist upon Caribbean countries

Bocchit Edmond | Tuesday, June, 18 2019

Violent crime is down in countries across the Caribbean. Jamaica's prime minister said that homicides fell by 22 per cent last year. Homicides in the Dominican Republic have been on a downward trend since 2011. In the Bahamas, statistics for 2018 highlight an overall... Read More