Columns

Protectionism is dead. Long live protectionism!

The Kingston Container Terminal.

IF you follow the news, you will hear regularly various treaties — GATT's Uruguay Round, NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP — described as "Free Trade Agreements", whose purpose is to "reduce trade barriers". This is a lie. Without exception, such agreements actually strengthen the one form of protecti ... Read More

The time has come for the tertiary institutions in Jamaica to move away totally from the enclave research culture which causes them to be disconnected from the society and the real issues. Engaged scholarship needed for Ja's growth and development
IS there lack of relevance or is there real contribution to the growth and development of Jamaica by ... Read More

The unabated bloodshed, evil practices and rejection of right-doing as a way of life (culture) is a main cause of the prolonged drought on the land. God is speaking to our nation in the drought
"If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season an ... Read More

Map of jamaica What does it mean to be Jamaican?
MANY of us, at home or abroad, have a love-hate relationship with our country. The love part is abou ... Read More

Jamaica's Federation of courageous women

Jean LOWRIE-CHIN | Monday, July 28, 2014    

Mary Seacole

It is a myth that Jamaican women do not support each other. Jamaica is blessed in her brave and compassionate sisters who have empowered not only women but all members of their national family. The Jamaica Federation of Women (JFW) emerged out of a history of strong leaders, like national heroine Nanny of the Maroons; Mary Seacole, who was an angel of mercy to soldiers in the Crimean War of the mid-19th century; and Jessie Ripoll, founder of Alpha in 1880. What a charge it gave us to share a ... Read More

'Free paper soon bun' — Homework time

Wayne CAMPBELL | Monday, July 28, 2014    

— John Cotton Dana HOMEWORK is often a bad word for students. Yet, homework, otherwise known as practicing, is an important element in a student's overall success. Over the years, the issue of homework has been controversial and contentious. Opinions concerning homework are split among educators, parents and even students. Educators have diverse opinions about the need for homework. Parents, too, also have strong views about how often, how much, and what types of homework their child ... Read More

Let us pray ...for rain

Sunday, July 27, 2014    

THE God of the Judeo-Christian tradition, as portrayed in the Bible, is one who is concerned with the providential care of his people, which includes the forces of nature and history for the well-being of his people. Indeed, for those unfamiliar with this notion, Psalm 104 may be considered a song of praise to the God of creation capturing every facet of God's involvement in the life of the created order through the seasons and, most specifically for our purpose, the provision of the rains for t ... Read More

The flood of economic woes in the drought

MARK WIGNALL | Sunday, July 27, 2014    

One of many thyme fields in the Nain area that have been ruined by the persistent drought affecting the breadbasket parish of St Elizabeth. (PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT)

It was a whopping 96 degrees in the shade last Thursday afternoon in the Grant’s Pen community as Liz complained to me that the drought was 'mashing up' her life. Uneducated, in her late 50s and with grandchildren to look after, the only work she has ever known is how to wash other people's clothes and, in general, satisfy their domestic needs like cleaning the bathroom, sanitising the bedrooms, washing the dishes, and keeping the kitchen clean. “Mi have two work dat mi would norm ... Read More

Passing IMF tests necessary, but not sufficient

GARFIELD HIGGINS | Sunday, July 27, 2014    

GOLDING…has not adequately responded to the DPP's position that the justice system is understaffed and under-resourced. LLEWELLYN… documented the understaffed and under-resourced justice system

"Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it." Mark Twain TO say that the details of Dr Pauline McKenzie's letter to the Daily Observer last Tuesday are frightening is an understatement. Once again we see another example where our Government is falling down on the job disgracefully. Yes, Yes, I heard the arguments about IMF, resource constraints and tight fiscal space, and the rest of the formulised explanations for the rotten state of everything in Jamaica. Bu ... Read More

When Norman Manley won and lost a referendum (Part 1)

LANCE NEITA | Sunday, July 27, 2014    

BUSTAMANTE… continued to 'turn up the thing' against Federation, accusing Manley of misleading the public on the implications to Jamaica of a Caribbean union MANLEY... went on to hasten the pace towards full federation in consort with Eric Williams of Trinidad and Grantley Adams of Barbados.

1953 was an active year for pioneer bauxite/alumina activities in Jamaica. Early in the year, on January 7, Alumina Jamaica (later known as Alcan), made its first alumina shipment, 2,300 tons, 'packed in stout paper bags', on the SS Trident, from Railroad Pier No 3 in Kingston. Reynolds had already shipped its first bauxite cargo on June 5, 1952, and dedicated its plant and shipping pier on January 9, 1953. Kaiser Bauxite Company made its first shipment from Port Kaiser on the Manchester /St E ... Read More

Stormy politics in Guyana for changing of PNC leadership

RICKEY SINGH | Sunday, July 27, 2014    

RAMOTAR… came forward with quite a surprising public call for the main opposition People's National Congress (PNC) to dump its current and firsttime leader, David Granger GRANGER… is a retired brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force and a reputed scion of the party's dynamic founder-leader, the late President Forbes Burnham

IN PARTY politics, they say, "all things are possible", however questionable or surprising at times. And so, across in Guyana, the governing People's Progressive Party (PPP) of President Donald Ramotar came forward with quite a surprising public call last Thursday (July 23) for the main opposition People's National Congress (PNC) to dump its current and first-time leader, David Granger, at the party's three-day 18th Biennial Congress scheduled to conclude today. As it is in Jamaica, where the ... Read More

China will cast a huge shadow as Japan meets CARICOM

Sunday, July 27, 2014    

ABE... very keen to boost trade with Latin America and the Caribbean which, while it nearly doubled over the past decade, still accounts for just five per cent of Japan's foreign trade. He will also want to expand Japan's stock of foreign investment in LAC.

The word will not be spoken in any formal speeches and it won't be mentioned in final statements and declarations, but it will be talked about in the corridors and it will be at the back of everyone's mind as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits five Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations from July 25 to August 2. The word is "China". Animosity between China and Japan has been steadily increasing over the last few years and relations are now tense at best and hostile at worst. From t ... Read More

A little trip 'cross the water

Barbara GLOUDON | Friday, July 25, 2014    

This year Wolmer’s alumni celebrate the 285th anniversary of the establishment of the trust fund set up by John Wolmer in support of education for Jamaicans.

I couldn't tell when last I visited Florida, especially South Florida, second home to countless Jamaicans who have settled in and are so entrenched, it would be easy to believe that they were all born there. A strong component is the "first generation", which began colonising the area from the 70s when many left their birthplace because of the unsettled state of Jamaica at that time. Much water has risen up under the bridge since then, and we move on. A new generation is here. The many Jamai ... Read More

Of excesses, moderation and drought

Franklin JOHNSTON | Friday, July 25, 2014    

Is parliament ready to put health warnings on salt beef, pig’s tail, salt fish?

LAST week the court ordered cigarette giant RJ Reynolds of Tobaccoville, NC, to pay US$7.3m to Cynthia Robinson, widow of Mike Johnson; US$9.6m to his son; and US$26.3billion in punitive damages -- Ouch! From age 13, Mike smoked three packs a day and died of lung cancer at 36. Cynthia claimed: "In 1996 she never knew nicotine was addictive and bad for his health." The verdict is a small step for health and may be a giant step against choice and personal responsibility. So 'Jim Screechy', the ... Read More



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