Transportation and Road Safety

Digging up dirt on Lady Musgrave Road: Kingston, Jamaica still has many development issues

May 5, 2024

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

Land of Wood and Water, or Land of Concrete and Congestion? A Jamaican biologist comments on the proposed Mammee River Development Project

February 2, 2024

Wendy Lee, who attended the January 11 public meeting on the proposed Mammee River Development Project convened by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), is a Jamaican citizen, a St. Ann resident, and a biologist and environmentalist with over 45 years of experience. Biodiversity, simply put, means the huge variety of life on Planet Earth that … More Land of Wood and Water, or Land of Concrete and Congestion? A Jamaican biologist comments on the proposed Mammee River Development Project

The World Bank says Latin America and the Caribbean may gradually recover in 2024 – but challenges there are

January 12, 2024

I will find some good news soon, I promise; but over the past two weeks, the news has not been very encouraging, whether globally, regionally or even locally. So, yesterday the World Bank released its Global Economic Prospects report for 2024. I am sharing below their predictions for the Latin American/Caribbean region, for the short … More The World Bank says Latin America and the Caribbean may gradually recover in 2024 – but challenges there are

Bloganuary on Day Six: My billboard would say…

January 7, 2024

This reminds me of the 2017 movie with Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in which a grieving mother sends messages via the eponymous billboards to the local police chief, demanding answers on the rape and murder of her daughter. That sounds a little grim, but Ms. McDormand – one of my favourite actresses … More Bloganuary on Day Six: My billboard would say…

The new Digicel building under construction in downtown Kingston

On World Cities Day, some thoughts on Jamaica’s capital city from Wayne Campbell

November 1, 2023

Today was World Cities Day. I had half-forgotten, as we are all busy talking about our disaster preparedness (or lack of it) this week after a 5.6 earthquake hit us (plus aftershocks) yesterday. I am glad that my friend and fellow blogger Wayne Campbell remembered it, and wrote this piece about our beloved city of … More On World Cities Day, some thoughts on Jamaica’s capital city from Wayne Campbell

Open letter calls for Latin American/Caribbean leaders to firmly take the helm at COP28

October 28, 2023

As COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference approaches (incongruously led, this time, by the CEO of a large oil company) I sense a niggling anxiety. The Caribbean is struggling with a whole range of intensifying climate change impacts; and the world is not heading in the right direction, according to the recent Global Stocktake report. … More Open letter calls for Latin American/Caribbean leaders to firmly take the helm at COP28

Public access to beaches is a constitutional right, says Citizens’ Rights to the City

August 11, 2023

Citizens’ Rights to the City, an alliance of 29 neighbourhood organisations across Kingston, Jamaica and its environs, strongly endorses the work of the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM) as they advocate for guaranteed public access to the island’s beaches – which are critical ecosystems and an important part of our cultural and natural heritage. It’s Jamaicans’ constitutional right! … More Public access to beaches is a constitutional right, says Citizens’ Rights to the City

Caribbean environmentalists galvanise to oppose deep sea mining, while Jamaica is poised to go ahead…

June 16, 2023

As Jamaica forges ahead to start exploring the Pacific Ocean for deep sea mining later this year, the non-profit Policy Forum Guyana is spearheading a collective Caribbean effort to lobby for a moratorium on activities promoting the destructive extractive activity. … More Caribbean environmentalists galvanise to oppose deep sea mining, while Jamaica is poised to go ahead…

Women in Agriculture: a new FAO report points to ongoing inequality

April 16, 2023

On average, women spend 4.2 hours per day in unpaid work. Men spend 1.9 hours. In agriculture, women earn roughly 82 cents compared to the man’s dollar. There is considerable inequality. 36 percent of women globally work in agriculture, and it is about the same percentage for Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the … More Women in Agriculture: a new FAO report points to ongoing inequality

“Tek serious ting mek laugh”… a Jamaican habit that makes life bearable, and birds can join in

February 5, 2023

I have never understood why anyone would think Jamaica was a backwater, where nothing ever happens. The past week has been as full of dramatic news (59 guns found at Montego Bay seaport!), arguments, storms in teacups, and indeed sadness, as ever. When a huge debate about whether taxi drivers should put child seats in … More “Tek serious ting mek laugh”… a Jamaican habit that makes life bearable, and birds can join in