All entries by this author

Guyana Farmers Pray for Rain

Jun 11th, 2010 | By Elan Era John | Category: Environment, Headlines

Rural farmers on the Demerara’s East Coast in Guyana are hoping that the rains quickly come or else they stand to lose millions invested in farmlands for rice and cash crops and they want the government to do more to help them cope with the extremely dry weather brought about by El Nino. Some of [...]



Crime Insulation for Vulnerable Rural Areas

Jun 11th, 2010 | By Michael Spence | Category: Letters

I have been listening to the discourse in the media, among intellectuals and the little man on the street daily and the truth is that the band aid incursion into Tivoli Gardens (TG) will not rid the country of criminality.What is happening for sure is the scattering of TG seeds all over Jamaica which had [...]



The Time is Right For a Gun Amnesty

Jun 8th, 2010 | By Orville Plummer | Category: Letters

For the first time in recent memory the security forces appear to be having the upper hand against the criminal elements in the society, thanks to the recent police-military operations in West Kingston and the associated state of emergency in Kingston and St Andrew. The putting down of the West Kingston insurrection has dealt a [...]



Change, Can You Believe It?

Jun 4th, 2010 | By Mark Lee | Category: Headlines

The scene is haunting. It recalls those pictures of war ravaged African cities where dark faces congregate by seemingly useless buildings to stare at nothing as feet force people on to nowhere in particular. But it is West Queen Street, downtown Kingston, Jamaica, the Wednesday when things are supposedly returning to normal after the Jamaica [...]



State of Emergency

May 23rd, 2010 | By Mark Lee | Category: General, Headlines

A state of emergency has been declared by the government in Kingston the Jamaican capital as gunmen attacked four police stations and burned one to the ground. The State of Emergency begins at 6 o’clock Sunday evening and last for a month. A statement from Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the decision to declare the [...]



Jamaica Government Relents on Extradition Fight

May 17th, 2010 | By Mark Lee | Category: Headlines

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in a mood of atonement, announced Monday night that the US extradition request for alleged drug dealer and gun runner, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, is to proceed. Rumours of the decision to allow the process had created a tense atmosphere in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, where government offices, the courts and [...]



Music, Crime and Violence

May 16th, 2010 | By Lloyd Stanbury | Category: Arts & Leisure

Who feels it, knows it. I quote this phrase today in reference to the scourge of crime and gun violence that has now invaded and taken control of the lives of many young Jamaicans. My comments are made not only as an active participant in the Jamaican music industry, but also as someone who has [...]



Jamaica’s 9-11 Moment

May 16th, 2010 | By Mark Lee | Category: Editorial, Opinion

Jamaica is having a 9-11 moment. Prime Minister Bruce Golding flying a plane of obfuscation into the Jamaican parliament, has brought a unity not often seen across classes and interests on the island. But calls for Golding’s resignation will not solve what is at the heart of the people’s disquiet: the seeming formalisation by the [...]



Time for Jamaica’s “Velvet Revolution”

May 15th, 2010 | By Orville Plummer | Category: Letters

It should be abundantly clear to all well thinking Jamaican that the current political order, dominated by the PNP and the JLP, is busted and is incapable of delivering good governance and economic development. The recent admission by Prime Minister Golding that he sanctioned the scheme to lobby the American government in relation to the [...]



JLP Senators Back Prime Minister Golding

May 14th, 2010 | By Mark Lee | Category: General, Headlines

All the senators nominated by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have thrown their support behind Prime Minister Bruce Golding, beleaguered with calls for his resignation by the opposition, human rights and church groups after he told parliament on Tuesday the party had hired a law firm to lobby the US government over a treaty [...]