Overvalued dollar, devalued people
If you didn't think that Jamaica's hindquarters are in a vice now, you obviously are one of the stupid tribalists who think that the Government can do nothing wrong. In order for us to move forward, we have to start telling the truth - in particular, telling it to ourselves.
Tivoli inquiry must restore public faith
The Government is to be commended for inviting public comment on draft terms of reference (TOR) for the 2013 West Kingston inquiry. Public participation at this stage provides an opportunity to reduce cynicism and mistrust with respect to commissions of inquiry.
Dollar will slide further if Government fails to act
There are several reasons why the Jamaican currency has seen sharp depreciation over the past several months. When a currency loses value, it is usually because of three broad factors, namely: (1) fundamental weakness in that country's competitive economy (otherwise called uncompetitiveness or market forces), (2) devaluation by government, and (3) speculation on that currency.
Taming the runaway dollar - Speaking up for consumption and imports
Why is there this huge bias in economic analysis against consumption and imports and in favour of production and exports? Being not a 'real' economist, as a certain real economist never misses an opportunity to remind me, and therefore with no professional reputation to be damaged or lost, I can risk asking the stupid questions which everyone else wants to ask but is afraid to ask in the intimidating presence of 'real' economists.
Diaspora much more than a dollar sign
As the Government prepares to host the 5th Jamaica Diaspora Conference this week, this important issue has again become the topic du jour.
Buggery, bigotry and buffoonery
Bigotry is as bigotry does.It's usually dressed up in many disguises, usually religious, but bigotry always exposes itself by the lengths to which it'll go to fashion fallacious arguments to create an illusion of truth protecting its unreasonable beliefs from plain sight.
Don't shield gays from criticism
Religion is the greatest barrier to the acceptance of homosexuality as normal and moral. Gay people know this, and that is why so many are fiercely and bitterly hostile to religion and seek to undermine and ridicule it. Especially in fundamentalist religious cultures like Jamaica's, the fight for gay rights is necessarily a fight against conservative religion.
Tivoli inquiry needs new law to be effective
Our Government has finally announced that the nation will hold a public inquiry into the actions of the State for its entry into the Tivoli Gardens to apprehend Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, for whom an extradition request was issued. Certainly this has been, at least for some, a welcome announcement, but in some quarters there is the view that this will be another meaningless exercise.
To tender or not to tender? Unsolicited investment proposals
The following is an article by the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition.
Teachers, distracted driving, and smoking
I taught for one year at St George's College and wrote about it in 'Lessons from St George's' published Sunday, April 18, 2010.
Orwell's '1984' becomes real
First, let me commend The Gleaner for having the courage to print Andre Wright's Tuesday exposé ('US espionage and the emperor's new clothes'), in which he speaks truth to power, holding up to Jamaica's eyes the worrisome parallels between Bush-era and Obama-era secret 'police-state' spying on citizens and journalists.