The domino game was interrupted while Gene Autry and I travelled to 'Cloud Nine' for pizza.We announced our presence with "Percy, two 'full house' and a pepperoni!" Youngsters born after 1970 are spoiled brats who have veggie pizza (ugh!) or...
Between mosquitoes and thieves, despite the campaign promise of the prime minister, I still can't sleep with my windows open.As the murder crisis intensifies, I look to the leadership of the country for a plan. A real plan. Not just tough-talking "...
For years, the residents of Kingston 6 have been complaining of noise nuisances that are produced at functions within the vicinity of their community. These events are usually held at the Hope Zoo, Hope Gardens, the University of Technology, and the...
It may seem distant and the issues complex, but Jamaica has good reasons to pay attention to the row, led by Saudi Arabia, between Qatar and some of its Gulf neighbours.Not least of why we should have an interest is that more than a handful of...
The mere title above will provoke dismissive responses from persons of faith. However, the purpose of this question is not to provide fodder for some pseudo-philosophical discourse aimed at causing Christians...
Years ago now, the Jamaica Defence Force had advertised for about 10 civilian workers. The morning when applications were to be received, both the Duppy Gate and Cotton Tree entrances to Camp, from early o'clock, were corked with young men, some...
Nearly seven years ago, in July 2010, this newspaper suggested to the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) that, given its deepening state of atrophy, it should disband itself and make way for a new farmers' organisation with a clear and coherent...
As if out of nowhere, a hardy malevolent tree grew right in the middle of the little village that was once called Paradise. It used to be an exotic place where many guests would play and frolic without fear. But this tree grew, spread its branches...
While reliving the horrors experienced by so many families after another spate of bizarre violence across the country last week, I couldn't help but picture Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett's rictus grin plastered on television screens while the elderly...
It seems as if Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett can't admit that ganja is one of the major attractions that draw tourists to Jamaica. A friend of mine recently told me about meeting two visitors from Lapland. That's way to the north of Finland. What...
Jamaica is confronting a major, and worsening, public-health crisis with seriously disruptive pathologies, even if it isn't being formally labelled as such.It's called criminal violence. Should there be any doubt about the condition, or the problem...
In the last few weeks, with murders averaging nearly six per day and extraordinarily low levels of accountability exposed in high places, even some of the most hard-working and patriotic among our people are beginning to lose hope in Jamaica.One...
Crime in Jamaica is a complex, far-reaching issue that is draining the society. People are cowering in fear. It is pretty obvious at this point that only drastic measures are likely to restrict the fear that has been induced.In a letter published in...
Ed Bartlett is too sophisticated to even suggest censorship of the press by the Government. But his suggestion that the press should self-censor is in some ways more sinister, because the implication is that to speak frankly about the problem...
On a scale of one to 10, fishing rates at several thousands or even millions. In fact, you have more than enough to scale Mount Everest. You might start on a small scale like me.My fishing career began by trying to communicate with the fish. I...
The idea that the marquee event, The Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, could be scuttled because of unsanitary conditions borders on the unthinkable. It would be a national embarrassment to postpone an Independence flagship event that...
There is a tendency among gay-rights activists and advocates, which trickles down to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, to chant that there is hardly any progress in Jamaica. Typically, this...
Should a person who lives in a $250-million house in Beverly Hills be lionised for his success or feel ashamed of himself for displaying so much extravagance while people are starving and children dying because they can't afford life-saving...
Do we need more discipline in Jamaica or less? Or do we need to promote the idea that people should not be constrained by rules and regulations, especially when they are young?Annie Rose Kitchin, whose letter to The Gleaner, titled 'Hair police...
Addressing an international conference in Kingston a week ago, Prime Minister Andrew Holness publicly agonised over one of the recurring dilemmas for politicians: how to prioritise the allocation of limited resources when there are many needs.In...
The fact that Australia's cricket is in a long-running wage dispute that could, in 10 days' time, leave its elite players without contracts, and/or lead to a strike, has largely failed to animate the Caribbean voices that like to pontificate on...
Recently, The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Kingston celebrated 50 years of autonomy in an impressive worship service at the National Arena. The afternoon service was started by a roll call of the various congregations and presided over by...
"In certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law ..." Quote from the 2004 movie, The Punisher.A man sits on a bar stool and breaks the law by freely and openly puffing...
Like most of us, I am quite alarmed at the rate at which amere handful of hooligans are slaughtering their fellow Jamaicans. The various commentaries, speeches and howls of indignation all have a common theme: we need to take a firm stance against...
On June 13, 2017, The Gleaner's lead story titled 'Bloody mayhem' reported that 54 murders were committed during the previous week. Stunned by this report, I decided to compare 54 murders in ONE WEEK with the ANNUAL number of murders committed in...
