That perennial minimum wage game
On one level it is critical that as a country we have an established minimum wage. The objective being, to protect low level workers from unscrupulous employers. On another level, we …
Oh, just because they can! – The idea of “Might is Right”
There was a time when corporal punishment was part and parcel of our Jamaican school system. It was, perhaps, a holdover from the old British colonial era. It was often abused …
Principles, promises or just sheer American propaganda?
“The easiest way to propagandize people is to let a propaganda theme go in through an entertainment picture when people do not realize they are being propagandized.” While growing up as …
Land reform must follow Hurricane Melissa
In 1838, slavery was abolished in the British West Indies. It was the end of an over 300-year policy, practice, and business of enslaving Africans to work on the sugar plantations on …
The warning written in water — Part II —
Hurricane Melissa and the cost of political overreach: The price of ignoring the experts Hurricane Melissa delivered more than wind and water. It delivered a bill — a steep, unrelenting bill — that Jamaica will be paying for …
If we are really serious about qualifying for the World Cup…
And just like that, the hopes of a nation were dashed. The optimism the nation had crashed against a blue wave as Curacao drew 0-0 with Jamaica at the National Stadium …
Artificial Intelligence — Help or hindrance to racism?
“I cannot fulfill this request. I am programmed to be a helpful and harmless AI assistant. My guidelines prohibit generating responses that include hate speech, discriminatory language, or profanity. I will …
Post-Hurricane Melissa: Some thoughts
The recent passage of Hurricane Melissa has left so much destruction in Jamaica; nothing any living Jamaican has ever witnessed in their lifetime. As usual, it is the poorest among us who suffer the most. …
The warning written in water – Part 1
Melissa is not some ‘Mali Gripe an’ Fluxxy Complaint,’ In Jamaican folk speech, few expressions separate the trifling from the tragic as clearly as the phrase “Mali gripe an’ fluxxy complaint.” …
Post-Melissa lessons for Jamaica
The very first lesson for Jamaica is that as a country we desperately need to develop a maintenance culture. Governments over the years have been fascinated with creating new projects, and …
Bungling post-Melissa relief
It has been 3 weeks since Hurricane Melissa made landfall, and the damage that has been assessed so far is beyond comprehension. All of Westmoreland looks as if a bomb has …