THE EDITOR, Madam: This is an open letter of generous encouragement to Minister Delroy Chuck. Greetings, Minister: Now that the constitutional reform process is once again among your portfolio responsibilities, you will recall that I once...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Vision impairment remains a significant global public-health concern. Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near- or distance-vision impairment. In at least one billion of these, vision impairment could have been...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The name Portia Simpson Miller is one that would easily be recognised by all Jamaicans. She led a political party and became the Prime Minister of Jamaica, holding the distinction of being the first female prime minister of the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: It seems that the West Indies (WI) batters can’t play spin and fast bowling. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think of a time when West Indian batters would be running away from fast bowling. The bookies are having a blast...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The 2025 World Mental Health Day theme, “Mental Health is Not a Luxury – It is a Lifeline” is a powerful message that demands urgent attention, particularly across the Caribbean and African regions. For too long, we have...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Just this weekend, my son and I had a full-blown argument over his endless scrolling versus his non-existent CSEC study time. My wife supports phones because she wants to keep them connected (and honestly, I get it – she just...
THE EDITOR, Madam: October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness, but this month is also the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In 2019, Jamaica became the first country in the Caribbean to officially recognise it, following a...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill recently renewed calls for amendments to Jamaica’s Public Procurement Act, citing inefficiencies caused by excessive procedural controls. He noted that the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: This morning, I felt compelled to publicly express my deep appreciation to the Joan Duncan Foundation of JMMB for its quiet yet unwavering commitment to the Child Resiliency Programme (CRP), administered by the Violence...
THE EDITOR, Madam: While overseas, I was pleased to learn that Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines have opened their borders to free movement and trade. This bold move toward regional integration deserves applause and...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Our Reggae Boyz are in pole position for qualification for the 2026 World Cup Finals, and the collection of players which has been assembled over the last few years is finally showing signs of ‘gelling as a unit’. A certain Mr...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Mr John Mahfood, former president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, has called for cuts to the size of the public-sector workforce as a way of reducing the public-sector wage bill and to spur growth in the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: The wires have been singing lately about the appointments of well-regarded Caribbean jurists to international bodies. They, like Bob Marley, often see minimal regard at home for their solid intellectual talents. Sometimes,...
THE EDITOR, Madam: When Prime Minister Andrew Holness used his swearing-in ceremony to invite Opposition Leader Mark Golding to “let us talk,” it appeared as a mature and statesmanlike gesture. However, the subsequent step – a letter asking Mr...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Jamaica is quietly sleepwalking into a demographic winter, a chilling reality that threatens not only our population numbers, but the very soul of our culture, productivity, and national identity. With a birth rate now below 1....
THE EDITOR, Madam: Jamaica is covered with some dark economic clouds ahead with the second lowest per capita income of US$7,000 in the Caribbean. Our productivity and attitude to work have been on free fall while crime grows alongside other...
THE EDITOR, Madam: It is ironical that a person who commits a suicide is someone who believes in life, and happiness. No one comes into this world with a doom-and-gloom state of mind about the things, or, expectedly ask, “Why am I here?” Suicide...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am a bereaved mother who lost my 22-year-old son to suicide one year ago. Losing a child to suicide is described as one of the most traumatic forms of grief and loss. You never get over it. Instead, you learn to live through...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Every year when we celebrate our independence, British monarchy being our head of state reminds us that we are not fully independent. On paper, Jamaica is an independent country. In reality, with the King as our head of state...
THE EDITOR, Madam: I am writing to express heartfelt condolences on the passing of Justice Ruth Lawrence. Her tragic and untimely death leaves behind a legal fraternity and a grateful nation in mourning. We have lost not only a judge but an...
THE EDITOR, Madam: In the heart of Jamaican culture lies a spiritual practice that has defied centuries of persecution and stigma – obeah. This ancient tradition, born from the resilience of enslaved Africans, has evolved into a distinct cultural...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Throughout my life – from infant school through to university, most of my teachers were not only effective educators but also genuinely decent human beings. As a parent, my interactions with the education system have largely...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Cricket lovers in the region should petition Nicholas Pooran to reconsider his retirement from international cricket. He is one of the top players in the T20 format. Pooran is an exceptional cricketer, who has served West...
THE EDITOR, Madam: Last week, The Gleaner reported that a seven-year-old child was raped while heading home from school. Subsequently, the community rallied to comfort the students and families. The swift action of residents in apprehending the...
THE EDITOR, Madam: We need to start recognising that our kids need support, not ridicule. Our future hinges on them, yet there’s this annoying belief that these ‘modern youths’ are lost causes and that their generation is doomed. That mindset is...
