Category: Family

Three Caribbean writers shortlisted for 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

April 27, 2022

There are three woman writers, from The Bahamas and Jamaica, vying for the Regional Prize for the Caribbean in the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. The shortlist, announced on April 25, includes two previous winners, Jamaican Diana McCaulay (2012) – who has just completed her sixth novel, stay tuned! – and the Bahamas’ Alexia Tolas … More Three Caribbean writers shortlisted for 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

Mixed COVID-19 signals? Omicron BA.2 variant is in Jamaica, and there are questions about timing

April 22, 2022

I had asked whether we are “over” COVID-19 in Jamaica, since as of April 15 all remaining restrictions related to the pandemic have lapsed – including travel restrictions and mandatory mask wearing indoors. Well, we are not quite over it, after all. I think we could have seen this one coming. Or did we know … More Mixed COVID-19 signals? Omicron BA.2 variant is in Jamaica, and there are questions about timing

Dust upon dust: Jamaican rural dwellers continue to suffer from highway construction

April 17, 2022

We often use the words “justice” and “environment/climate change” (depending on the situation) together – not opposing each other, but closely linked. In my last blog post, I shared Professor Carolyn Cooper’s thoughts on the closure of a very popular beach near Kingston for the past two years. This is an environmental injustice. The quality … More Dust upon dust: Jamaican rural dwellers continue to suffer from highway construction

Talking to myself

April 6, 2022

I was reminded by a humorous meme on WhatsApp. It went something like: “I am at a committee meeting. It’s a committee of one, I’m talking to myself.” I talk to myself a great deal, although not necessarily out loud. I do it even more nowadays, since COVID and since, more recently, my husband’s illness. … More Talking to myself

60 Reasons for Apologies and Reparations from Britain and the Royal Family

March 21, 2022

I am sorry I did not attach the “60 Reasons” referred to in the Letter from the Advocates Network that I posted last night. Here they are. I have noted suggestions that there could have been a petition that members of the public could sign onto, and that would certainly have been an option. However, … More 60 Reasons for Apologies and Reparations from Britain and the Royal Family

“Mike and Me”: A Jamaican art exhibition that celebrates a lifelong love

March 18, 2022

Tomorrow (Saturday, March 19) at 11:00 a.m., a remarkable art exhibit will open in Kingston, Jamaica, staged by Blaqmango Consultants. Consisting of textile art and paintings, it is the celebration of the long relationship between two artists – Mike and Margaret Stanley. Mike, a British-born expressionist painter, passed away just before Christmas 2019. The show … More “Mike and Me”: A Jamaican art exhibition that celebrates a lifelong love

I am still here

March 6, 2022

Since our health crisis last month. I have been mentally (and physically) in a different space, and virtually unable to write. But they do say that life throws you some curve balls, just when you don’t expect them to come at you. Tomorrow (all being well) I will start getting a few things off my … More I am still here