I retired as Public Affairs Specialist/Information Adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica in 2012. I am British by birth, married to a Jamaican, with one son. I have lived on this amazing island for 35 years. I am currently a Board Member of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, a Vice President of the Farquharson Institute for Public Affairs and a member of the Media Working Group at BirdsCaribbean. My interests and pursuits are creative writing, reading (especially international fiction), environmental issues (bird-watching is a real passion), art, music (I am "wired" for rock but also love jazz and classical), and indie films from around the world. And Arsenal Football Club.
First of all, a confession: I was not there. I should have been, and I know I missed something quite special. Following the great success of last year’s “birding with kids” session organised by Birdlife Jamaica, the plan was to celebrate Global Big Day (May 11) in similar fashion. Once again, it was busy, fun … More A Big Day for Jamaica’s birds (and the children)
Today is Mother’s Day in Jamaica. Jamaicans take this day very seriously. Happy Mother’s Day memes flood social media. Sentimental music floats across the gardens of Upper St. Andrew and down through the narrow streets and lanes of downtown Kingston. There is a roaring trade in teddy bears, imported roses wrapped in cellophane, and more. … More Happy Mother Earth Day
I wrote earlier this week about the plight of Haitian refugees, including those who are requesting asylum, and their uncaring treatment by the Jamaican authorities. A planeload of Indians, which raised eyebrows, was also returned to Dubai – with strong signs suggesting this was some kind of human smuggling operation. Both of these situations, although … More Jamaica joins migration talks in Guatemala
Last month, the Caribbean Tourism Organization held its Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in St. George’s, Grenada. Its theme was: The 5 P’s for a Legacy of Caribbean Tourism Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose, Partnership Was it all just “blah blah blah” with the latest catch phrases thrown in; or are those who attend these … More The irony of “sustainable tourism” in the Caribbean
“Exodus! Movement of Jah people!” I often find when I am considering a “big issue” a Bob Marley song comes to mind. Now, this big issue is migration. Jah People have always been on the move – it’s nothing new. These days, however, some are legal people, and they are good. Others are illegal, and … More They are “Jah people”: Jamaica must end arbitrary detentions and forced returns of Haitian asylum seekers
Jamaican sculptor Raymond Watson says a block of wood does not give him the creative spark he needs to start working on a sculpture. However, a tree trunk is a different matter; it gives him the required inspiration. This explains the elemental, almost forceful energy that infuses the works in Mr. Watson’s new exhibition; there … More “Look For Me in the Whirlwind”: The energy of Raymond Watson’s sculpture in a new Jamaican exhibit
I am sharing Professor Carolyn Cooper’s recent blog post (and column in the Sunday Gleaner) – not only because it refers to an area in our “neck of the woods” on the outskirts of Jamaica’s capital city. As she has done in previous articles, Professor Cooper touches on what has been, for some time, a … More Digging up dirt on Lady Musgrave Road: Kingston, Jamaica still has many development issues
Although I had wanted to include it in my last post, I couldn’t locate this Statement from the Press Association of Jamaica. However, I thought it important to add as a postscript, now that I have found it. It touches on some important issues for our island’s democracy. May 3, 2024 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY … More World Press Freedom Day addendum: a Statement from the Press Association of Jamaica
Today (May 3) was World Press Freedom Day. We are delighted that Jamaica has moved up a number of places in the annual index, according to Reporters Without Borders. Jamaica is now 24th on the index of 180 countries, up eight places from 2023 and the highest in the Caribbean region. We must be doing … More World Press Freedom Day: Jamaica moves up the ranks, UNESCO reports on environmental journalists
Some thoughts have been floating around in my mind on a number of developments in Jamaica. So I decided to collect them all in one place. I was just reminded of the George Orwell concept of “Doublethink” from 1984. “Cognitive dissonance” is an internal struggle not quite governed by Orwell’s dystopian stringency – but we … More Environment and climate change in Jamaica: Some outstanding matters
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