In Focus

July 12, 2026

Dennis A. Minott | An open letter to the Ascot Primary School community

Dear children, Permit an old physicist, educator and grandfather to write to you — not because I know your names, but because I know something about dreams. Since late June, your school has found…
July 12, 2026

Imani Tafari-Ama | Faraway wars, nearer burdens

July 4 has long occupied a special place in the North American political imagination. This year, the United States (US) commemorated 250 years of independence, celebrating ideals of liberty,…
July 12, 2026

Stephen Johnson | Before we legislate: Pragmatic path for Jamaica’s children online

Termario Daniels’s recent piece in In Focus, The Sunday Gleaner, “Why blocking social media won’t protect children,” is timely. As the Ministry of Health and Wellness weighs regulation for minors, his…
July 12, 2026

Christian Tavares-Finson | Changing face of violence against women

Jamaica was recently named the most peaceful country in the Caribbean in the Global Peace Index. Murders are at lows, robberies have fallen, and communities that once lived under the shadow of…
July 5, 2026

Kishi Anderson Leachman and Steve Sider | Ascot Primary controversy and urgent need for inclusive school leadership

Recent public debate has been sparked by reports that students at Ascot Primary School were barred from wearing graduation gowns because of low academic performance on the Primary Exit Profile (PEP).…
July 5, 2026

Canute Thompson | Some naked (and hidden) truths about university rankings

In recent months, there have been conversations and public commentaries on the nature, purpose, meaning, and trustworthiness of university rankings. The fact that there are these expressions of…
July 5, 2026

Dennis A Minott | Can another MoU alter Jamaica’s geography?

Every generation confronts a defining policy test. Ours may well be whether Jamaica chooses to build its future upon engineering reality or political optimism. The recent memorandum of understanding…
July 5, 2026

Termario Daniels | Why blocking social media won’t protect children

Jamaica has always recognised the need to protect its children offline, and now the call has been placed on us to protect them through their screens. Parents, teachers, youth workers and…
June 28, 2026

Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie and Diana McCaulay | Securing Jamaica's energy future

Electricity in Jamaica is expensive. In fact, our electricity bills are among the highest in the Caribbean. High energy costs affect everyone. Businesses have to spend more money to operate, which can…