Tag: Caribbean

Street food in Kingston, Jamaica.

Food, Health and the City: Caribbean Foodscapes Research Project in Kingston

July 9, 2019

In Jamaica, we love our food. Our island cuisine is quite famous (ackee and saltfish, jerk chicken and the like). But…aren’t you a little sick of the plethora of fast food outlets, everywhere you look? There are long lines at drive-ins and certain fast food outlets are bursting with Jamaicans – many of them young … More Food, Health and the City: Caribbean Foodscapes Research Project in Kingston

Partnership for Women’s Health Concerned by Parliamentarians’ Perceived Lack of Interest in Abortion Debate

July 5, 2019

On October 9, 2018, Government Member of Parliament Juliet Cuthbert Flynn opened the debate on her Private Member’s Motion (#61) calling for the repeal of Sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, which makes abortion illegal. She is calling for this to be replaced by “The Termination of Pregnancy Act.” This was … More Partnership for Women’s Health Concerned by Parliamentarians’ Perceived Lack of Interest in Abortion Debate

Award Winning Caribbean Authors Journey to Edinburgh

June 27, 2019

My friend, the quietly dynamic publisher Tanya Batson-Savage of Blue Banyan Books sent me this information on three great authors for young adults, who will be traveling to the 2019 Edinburgh International Book Festival this summer. I reviewed the novel “Children of the Spider” by Guyana’s Imam Baksh two years ago, here. It was a … More Award Winning Caribbean Authors Journey to Edinburgh

Record-Breaking Heat is Here, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness Urges Us to be Careful

June 26, 2019

As we keep saying to each other: “The heat is on!” We are all shocked by the soaring temperatures across the island. On June 22, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica recorded the highest temperature on record in Kingston – just over 39 degrees Celsius or 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Professor Michael Taylor of the Climate Studies … More Record-Breaking Heat is Here, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness Urges Us to be Careful

Ministry of Health and Wellness to Study Salt Consumption in Jamaica

June 10, 2019

Our Health and Wellness Minister (yes, that is the new name of the Ministry – the “Wellness” has been added) believes in prevention. He is working on a “Wellness Agenda” this year. Our health services are overwhelmed, overused, under-staffed and under-resourced. Many of Jamaicans’ ailments are what we call “lifestyle diseases,” caused by a bad … More Ministry of Health and Wellness to Study Salt Consumption in Jamaica

Jamaica To Sign Important Regional Agreement on Access to Information and Environmental Justice

May 26, 2019

I did mention to a few online friends that there was some good news contained in Minister Daryl Vaz’s speech at the launch of the Green Expo on May 22 – International Biodiversity Day – which I described in my last post. “Good news?” chorused the cynical Facebookers. “Really? Tell us!” Well yes – I … More Jamaica To Sign Important Regional Agreement on Access to Information and Environmental Justice