Category: Tourism

Happy Mother Earth Day

May 12, 2024

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

The irony of “sustainable tourism” in the Caribbean

May 9, 2024

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

Environment and climate change in Jamaica: Some outstanding matters

May 1, 2024

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

A week in July with BirdsCaribbean in the Dominican Republic: From Mangroves to Mountains

April 25, 2024

It’s all about learning, sharing, networking, making new friends, establishing new collaborations and making plans. And of course, birding in the field! BirdsCaribbean is the largest bird conservation non-profit organization in the Caribbean region,with over 2,000 members and partners in 31 countries. It has just opened registration for its International Conference in Santo Domingo, in … More A week in July with BirdsCaribbean in the Dominican Republic: From Mangroves to Mountains

The vexed issue of Jamaicans and their beaches

April 1, 2024

Some beaches in Jamaica are off limits to its citizens. Correction: many beaches. This is a fact. The issue of beach access remains a sore point for many Jamaicans; I have a feeling it will never be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, because so many beaches are actually reserved for tourists – and for Jamaicans who … More The vexed issue of Jamaicans and their beaches

Jamaica’s Coalition for Forests calls for a more participatory national budgeting process

March 11, 2024

Firstly, you may ask: Who are the Coalition for Forests? They are 27 civil society organisations (CSOs) that are actively engaged at the local and national levels in forest conservation, management and restoration in Jamaica. The primary goal of the Coalition is to bring the citizens themselves into the process of decision-making and to help … More Jamaica’s Coalition for Forests calls for a more participatory national budgeting process

Environmental Foundation of Jamaica

Environmental Foundation of Jamaica invites proposals for grant funding 2024

March 10, 2024

The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) has a call for proposals out, under its Forest Conservation Fund and the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund (SCCAF). Proposals from eligible non-governmental organisations must be received by email or delivered to EFJ’s address not later than 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024. Please see full details below … More Environmental Foundation of Jamaica invites proposals for grant funding 2024

Jamaica’s battle with plastic: we can’t give up

February 21, 2024

It’s everywhere. It’s insidious. Whether it’s on a beautiful trail in the Blue Mountains, on a riverbank, on a beach, or in a noxious gully in any urban centre in Jamaica… Plastic is there. I shudder to think what overseas visitors notice when they step outside the environs of their all-inclusive hotels. And believe me … More Jamaica’s battle with plastic: we can’t give up

Environmentalist Diana McCaulay’s tribute to a Jamaican legal giant, who led a landmark case against a major hotel development

February 12, 2024

There have been many outpourings of regret and sadness at the recent passing of a retired eminent lawyer, Justice C. Dennis Morrison. Apart from his tremendous legal skills, I understand that he was much loved and appreciated for his empathy, humour and his fundamental humanity. Here I am focusing on Justice Morrison’s role as a … More Environmentalist Diana McCaulay’s tribute to a Jamaican legal giant, who led a landmark case against a major hotel development