Category: Family

“I See My Land”: Jamaica’s Poet Laureate Olive Senior on World Poetry Day, 2021

March 26, 2021

Our recently installed Poet Laureate, Olive Senior, has pledged to help foster environmental awareness through her poetry. She was guest speaker at this year’s World Poetry Day celebration organised by the National Library of Jamaica in partnership with UNESCO – a virtual event, of course. I am hoping that next year we will all be … More “I See My Land”: Jamaica’s Poet Laureate Olive Senior on World Poetry Day, 2021

Vaccination Time for Jamaican Seniors

March 23, 2021

This morning was an interesting experience. My dear husband, who falls in the over-75 bracket, received an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. This is the much-discussed AstraZeneca, which is the first vaccine that Jamaica has received, to date. By the way, Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to receive vaccines through the World Health Organization’s … More Vaccination Time for Jamaican Seniors

A tale of two Akeems

March 16, 2021

A tale of two Akeems is the name of my latest release for Sounds of life. It is an audio documentary about the joint police-military operation in Bedward Gardens August Town on March 10. It tells the story of Akeem Thomas and Akeem Mclean during that police military operation. Listen to a tale of two…

Real Leadership on International Women’s Day – Choosing to Challenge the Status Quo

March 8, 2021

Tomorrow (Monday, March 8) is International Women’s Day. So, tomorrow, women (and men, and all gender identities) are being asked to raise their right hand symbolically in a gesture to suggest that they #ChooseToChallenge inequality, discrimination, bias and stereotypes. It’s a call to action. As Joy Crawford, Executive Director of the Jamaican non-profit organization Eve … More Real Leadership on International Women’s Day – Choosing to Challenge the Status Quo

Leo, Aliya, MLK, and the Parrots: A Lesson in Mentorship

March 6, 2021

Dr. Leo R. Douglas, a Jamaican ornithologist, conservationist, and all-round extraordinary scientist and person, was a recipient of The New York University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award, which was presented to him on February 2, 2021. Leo (can I call him Leo, please?) is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Liberal Studies at NYU. … More Leo, Aliya, MLK, and the Parrots: A Lesson in Mentorship

Update in Jamaican Parliament on Vaccines and COVID-19: Tuesday, February 2, 2021

February 4, 2021

Things seem to be happening rather rapidly this year, and it’s hard to keep up. In case any of us are confused or don’t have the current full picture on COVID-19 and the availability of vaccines, etc., I am sharing the text of Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton’s presentation in the House of … More Update in Jamaican Parliament on Vaccines and COVID-19: Tuesday, February 2, 2021

ICYMI in Jamaica, February 2, 2021: The Degenerate Behavior Edition

February 3, 2021

Happy World Wetlands Day! There have been several events on the day, although mostly virtual – including an Instagram chat organised by the #WetlandWarriors – yes, the #Youth4PuertoBueno strike again! Crime and violence continues to hit the headlines, COVID-19 churning away in the background, and social media is wringing its collective hands over it all. … More ICYMI in Jamaica, February 2, 2021: The Degenerate Behavior Edition

Watching People Die

January 23, 2021

All year, everyday, I have been watching people die. Die from coronaDie from gunshotDie from heartbreak….poor health, lack of health care, health complications, comorbidities and so called “old age” All year people have been gone too soon.Sun is shining but life is filled with so much doom All year I have been watching people die.…

ICYMI in Jamaica, January 12, 2021: The “Heartware” Edition

January 13, 2021

It’s 2021, and everything seems to be happening at once. It’s hard to keep up. Education, health, crime (crime!!), travel and tourism – and more – all seem to be “hot button” issues. The new year is already shaping up to be quite crowded; we need to wrap our heads around some fundamental issues, and … More ICYMI in Jamaica, January 12, 2021: The “Heartware” Edition