Tag: Ed Bartlett

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

ICYMI in Jamaica, December 29: The Sam Sharpe Day Edition

December 30, 2020

Well, Christmas is over. We tried to make the best of it. Apart from a young man who insisted on riding his noisy motorbike up and down our street, Christmas was also quiet – perhaps because of the 7:00 p.m. curfew on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. However, in some places the illegal parties continued … More ICYMI in Jamaica, December 29: The Sam Sharpe Day Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica: November 21, 2020, The Bad Dog Edition

November 21, 2020

It has been quite a week. The debate over the threatened mining operation in Puerto Bueno Mountain (Dry Harbour Mountain) dominated much of the local media (including social media), with many radio interviews, discussions, letters to the editor and columns, such as this piece by environmentalist Peter Espeut (who does not mince his words). Besides … More ICYMI in Jamaica: November 21, 2020, The Bad Dog Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica, September 22, 2020: A Small Asteroid, Yeng Yengs, The Return of Kanye, and Any Further Questions?

September 23, 2020

The violent thunderstorms of the previous week diminished, but we are in troubled times, bad weather or no. COVID-19 seems to be overwhelming us all. It’s the main topic of every newscast and almost every discussion on Twitter, WhatsApp, everywhere. Meanwhile, a small asteroid will be passing quite close to Earth soon – read more … More ICYMI in Jamaica, September 22, 2020: A Small Asteroid, Yeng Yengs, The Return of Kanye, and Any Further Questions?

ICYMI in Jamaica, August 16, 2020: Andrew Says Let’s Go, el-Faisal Says Goodbye, and JAMP Says Sorry

August 16, 2020

This week was a momentous one for those who get excited about elections. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced the date in Parliament (not in front of a large crowd of frenzied supporters, as is normally the case): Thursday, September 3. Nomination Day will be next week – Tuesday, August 18. Thankfully, it will not … More ICYMI in Jamaica, August 16, 2020: Andrew Says Let’s Go, el-Faisal Says Goodbye, and JAMP Says Sorry

ICYMI: August 9, 2020: A Pair of Desert Boots, A SWAT Team, and More Weak Fences

August 10, 2020

Well, the past week has been pretty intense, with politics, crime and COVID-19 vying for the headlines (and sometimes getting mixed up together). Click on the highlights for links to the stories. Your feedback is always welcome! Agriculture: Here’s a good piece in Forbes magazine about the challenges for Jamaica’s small farmers in the face of climate change … More ICYMI: August 9, 2020: A Pair of Desert Boots, A SWAT Team, and More Weak Fences

Revitalizing the Caribbean Tourism Sector: The IDB’s Innovation Challenge

July 14, 2020

Our tourism sector has not yet emerged from the doldrums. In Jamaica, while battling COVID-19 with what appear to be depleting resources, we “opened up” to tourism on June 15. Now, close to one month later, we seem to be just feeling our way. Nevertheless, our ever-upbeat Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett told us a few … More Revitalizing the Caribbean Tourism Sector: The IDB’s Innovation Challenge

“The Virus Is Still Out There”: COVID-19 in Jamaica – Travel, Tourism, More

June 15, 2020

Some people have asked me if I am going to do another update on COVID-19. We had two back-to-back press briefings and an online event with the Minister of Tourism, which I missed, at the end of this week. But first here are the latest numbers: We have two new cases today – June 14 … More “The Virus Is Still Out There”: COVID-19 in Jamaica – Travel, Tourism, More

“If a Dirt, a Dirt”: COVID-19 and a Reopening of the Jamaican Economy

May 13, 2020

“If a dirt, a dirt.” There is a fatalistic streak in the Jamaican psyche. The point is sometimes reached where people shrug their shoulders and say, “Suh it guh” (that is how things go). In this COVID-19 era, this tendency has kicked in. “Dirt” refers to death. As this current saying suggests (there are many … More “If a Dirt, a Dirt”: COVID-19 and a Reopening of the Jamaican Economy

Jamaica Turns Away a Cruise Ship: Is the Tourism Industry Affected by COVID-19?

February 27, 2020

It is quite clear that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having an impact on the travel industry. Yesterday a cruise ship, the MSC Meraviglia, was turned away from the Jamaican cruise port of Ocho Rios. Subsequently it was denied access by the Cayman Islands. It has, however, been given permission to dock in Cozumel, Mexico this … More Jamaica Turns Away a Cruise Ship: Is the Tourism Industry Affected by COVID-19?