Art & Leisure

A postcard depicting a banana plantation.
March 1, 2026

The glory days of Jamaica’s banana export empire

Jamaica’s banana industries once stood among the pillars of the island’s agricultural economy, shaping rural livelihoods, export trade, and international business relationships. Although the industry has declined since its peak in the early 1900s, its historic impact remains deeply rooted in the nation’s landscape, economic development, and cuisine.

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In this 1959 photo (from left) artist Vicki Noonan is seen discussing some of her work with her husband, Tom Noonan and Mrs. Edna Manley, who opened the exhibition at Art Gallery of the Institute of Jamaica.
March 1, 2026

Edna Manley – mother of modern art

In 1950, when Edna Manley began formal art training in Kingston, Jamaica did not yet possess an established visual arts tradition. There were no structured institutions, no curriculum, no national…
March 1, 2026

Do we just want the ‘wanting’

Have you noticed how excited your mind becomes when something new appears in your life? A new phone, a new car, a new job, or even a new relationship? Anything ‘new’ feels thrilling. The thought of…
March 1, 2026

Poems

Our very own books of history The whole day’s experiences Are often churned In every person’s mind For separation of Hope from deceit and despair Torn in the wrangles of Dejection that come…
Khmer cultural artefacts that were returned to Cambodia on display at the National Museum, in Phnom Penh.
March 1, 2026

Cambodia takes back looted historic artefacts

PHNOM PENH (AP) Cambodian officials on Friday received more than six dozen historic artefacts described as part of the country’s cultural heritage that had been looted during decades of war and…
Illustration of a satellite breaking up into multiple pieces at higher altitudes.
February 22, 2026

Sophia Forster | In space, no one can hear the pollution

When we hear people talk about “pollution,” we generally assume they’re talking about pollution on Earth. Slogans like “There is no Planet B,” “Go Green,” or “Save the Earth,” are meant to warn people…
In this 2018 photo Alpha Institute band members are seen performing at the Jamaica Best School Band competition.
February 22, 2026

Unsung echoes of excellence

From the heart of Kingston emerged a disciplined musical movement that would reverberate far beyond the city’s limits. What began under the guidance of the Sisters of Mercy as a vocational…
February 22, 2026

Ownership: The silent killer of compassion

Love, in its purest form, gives freedom. It does not control or claim ownership over people or situations. When love turns into possession, its fragrance begins to fade. When parents assume that their…
Spanish Armet Helmet
February 15, 2026

A Spanish remnant: Armet helmet

National Museum Jamaica (NMJ) and the Simón Bolívar Cultural Centre (SBCC) collaborated on the mini-exhibition, “A Snapshot of Jamaica’s Surviving Spanish Legacy.” Featuring fragments of Spanish…
Entrance to the St. John’s Anglican Church on the Highgate property built in 1840.
February 15, 2026

Sligoville – The roots of freedom

In the cool hills of Sligoville, history does not whisper, it speaks with clarity. Established in 1834, this hillside settlement is recognised as the first free village in the Caribbean. Its founding…