KINGSTON, Jamaica - Haiti is, more often than not, dismissed as a viable market for exports from Jamaica and is usually not thought of as a possible opportunity for Jamaican companies to establish and do business there.
The Caribbean does not have the luxury of time for decisive action on climate change and global warming. In fact, it is on the brink of calamity, according to a prominent scientist.
Conrad Douglas, a Jamaican scientist who has published over 350 reports on environmental management and related matters, has warned that “urgent action at all levels [is] required now”, cautioning the region against complacency in dealing with climate change.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Having read Ronald Mason's blast against CARICOM, and the insipid reply by Hilbourne Watson, I must intervene. The whole thinking about CARICOM has gone off track. This business of whether Jamaica should be in or out is beside the point. Who told Trinidad and Barbados to set up shop in our backyard? After all! I say we declare war on them and colonise them well and proper.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - A lightly edited address by former Prime Minister P J Patterson at the Institute for Global Dialogue in Pretoria, South Africa on April 26, 2013.
I welcome this pleasant occasion which allows me to address the Institute for Global Dialogue, a thriving brainchild of our living legend, Nelson Mandela.
(Part 2) KINGSTON, Jamaica - It would be foolhardy at the commencement of any trial for attorneys to believe they will be persuasive with only an opening statement. I dare not believe that, and as such I welcome the dialogue triggered by the response to my column on May 5.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - TENSION is developing toward the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) from some quarters in Jamaica. This was exemplified by a column in the Gleaner newspaper written by an Immigration attorney, Mr Ronald Mason. I believe it is fair to summarise what Mr Mason said as follows: He is a Jamaican; not a Caribbean man.
He wants no part of the "totally useless creation we label CARICOM".
The people who populate "those islands 1,000 miles away" are not "brothers and sisters".
KINGSTON, Jamaica - There comes a time when the only thing to do is make clear, definitive, unambiguous statements about things of importance. Here goes. I am a Jamaican, I am NOT a Caribbean man. I want no part of the totally useless creation we label CARICOM. The peoples who populate those islands 1,000 miles away from my home are not brothers and sisters. There has been some cross-breeding, but it's statistically insignificant to warrant the familial term 'brothers'.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade A.J. Nicholson has appealed to the Jamaican private sector to participate in establishing an association to represent their interests at the regional level.
He has also invited the private sector to participate in the preparatory process for a special session of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Last week in the Senate an interesting exchange took place between Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and some PNM senators during the period set aside for questions to ministers. The essence of the argument was that the Attorney General indicated that he could prepare a draft bill within 48 hours on the death penalty.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Spend time in Brussels, or in any other European capital that has a close relationship with the Caribbean, and it soon becomes apparent how fast thinking about policy is changing on a broad range of issues that may affect the region's long-term interests. Look at the matter from the other direction, however, and it is clear that while Caribbean ministers, diplomats and officials may be aware of what is being considered, there is little public debate, clear idea or word about how the region will respond.