Black History Month is commemorated in February as remembrance of important people, events and achievements in the history of the African Diaspora. The commemoration originated in the United States and is credited to black historian Carter G. Woodson who in 1926 started the “Negro History Week”. Black History month in the United this year will [...]
Our athletes did us extremely proud at the Olympic Games held last year in Beijing China with their scintillating performance. As a nation, we were proud as Jamaica became the toast of the world. As we face the clear and present challenges of 2009 and beyond, there are some valuable principles we can learn from [...]
Minister of labour and social security Pearnel Charles referring to Jamaica’s minimum wage has pointed out that “the 17 and a half percent increase in 2008 saw a number of workers loosing their jobs”. The increase was from $2800 to the present $3700. It is a fact that many workers lost their jobs and many [...]
This piece by Kamau Chionesu is in response to some of the issues regarding the dance hall culture that were raised by columnist Ian Boyne in his article ‘Are Jamaicans prepared for 2009?” (The Sunday Gleaner January 4, 2009). It is reproduced courtesy of Caribbean Dialogues online forum.
I tried my hand at making Jamaican patties, for the first time in my long life, a few days ago! As they say in Jamaica: “The Devil always finds evil things for idle hands to do!” One should never try to make Jamaican patties in Illinois, since there is no way that they can turn [...]
Imagine that you were alive in the summer of 1900, living in London, then the capital of the world. Europe ruled the Eastern Hemisphere. There was hardly a place that, if not ruled directly, was not indirectly controlled from a European capital. Europe was at peace and enjoying unprecedented prosperity. Indeed, European interdependence due to [...]
A regional search and rescue course will be held in Montserrat from February 15th to 24th 2009 to help boost the Caribbean’s preparation for coping with natural disasters. Chief Minister of Montserrat, Dr. Lowell Lewis, said the island’s hosting of the Level 1 pilot course is Montserrat ’s contribution to ensuring that the region utilizes [...]
The 25th staging of Reggae Sting at Jamworld, Portmore, Jamaica on December 26, 2008, brought the curtains down on a very successful year for Boardhouse Records. The record label’s two most prominent artists, Assassin and Flippa Mafia were out in their element, and despite all the attention focused on the highly anticipated clash, held their [...]
Girl Posi+ive, the movie screened by Women’s Media Watch Jamaica (WMWJ) recently aimed to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its relationship to gender. While it did a great job in exploring issues relating to HIV and AIDS it failed to truly explore the gender issues. Held at the Fitz Henley Conference Centre on [...]
Granville is a highly textured community, a matriarchal society with a vibrant and rich African cultural tradition nestled between two estates in the north coast parish of St James. Peopled by peasant farmers, small traders, artisan and skilled workmen who cohabited in later years with migrant sugarcane workers from the Barracks of Barnett Limited on [...]