Tag: Florida

Dengue fever outbreak declared in Jamaica – don’t take it lightly, especially children under 14 years

September 23, 2023

Dengue fever is really not to be taken lightly. It is a frightening tropical disease. Once you have had it, you will know that it should be avoided at all costs. I had it about 20 years ago, and cannot say it was “mild.” My fever was so high I had hallucinations for a short … More Dengue fever outbreak declared in Jamaica – don’t take it lightly, especially children under 14 years

Reminder: This is the Conch Closed Season in Jamaica (and support for restoration efforts is needed)

September 7, 2023

Jamaica’s Conch Closed Season is under way (August 8, 2023 – February 29, 2024) and no Queen Conch is to be caught, traded, sold or eaten by law! The Queen Conch is an endangered species, a fascinating creature but sadly in decline – but help is on the way. Support the Jamaica Conch Project today! … More Reminder: This is the Conch Closed Season in Jamaica (and support for restoration efforts is needed)

“The Tide is Rising”: Our ocean, our islands, our storms, and the Super Moon

August 31, 2023

“The Tide Is Rising” will be an important event on the environmental calendar in Trinidad and on Zoom. It is the official Caribbean launch of the Ocean Network for Ecocide Law, in the face of the accelerating climate crisis in the region. Meanwhile, the tide is literally rising in Florida and elsewhere, as storm surges unleash their power on the southern U.S. coastlines. … More “The Tide is Rising”: Our ocean, our islands, our storms, and the Super Moon

BirdsCaribbean Expresses Alarm at the Escalation of Illegal Bird Trafficking in Cuba

December 23, 2021

Wildlife trafficking breaks my heart. Now, BirdsCaribbean has discovered that a huge online trade in wild birds has escalated in Cuba. Here is their press release: December 21, 2021—BirdsCaribbean is extremely concerned at the drastic increase in the capture and trafficking of wild birds in Cuba over the past two years, and is urging the … More BirdsCaribbean Expresses Alarm at the Escalation of Illegal Bird Trafficking in Cuba

Health Ministry, NERHA mourn loss of Tyrone Robinson

January 3, 2021

COVID-19 continues to take its toll. Now a senior member of Jamaica’s health infrastructure has passed away from COVID-19 complications – a man whom Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton described this evening as a friend and a “hands-on Chairman,” whose advice and guidance he greatly valued. Here is the Ministry’s press release: Health … More Health Ministry, NERHA mourn loss of Tyrone Robinson

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 3, 2020: The Illegal Party Edition

November 5, 2020

We could also call this the “U.S. Election Edition,” since many Jamaicans have been nervously following that particular emotional rollercoaster. Why are Jamaicans so engaged? Well, as people say, “When the U.S. sneezes, we catch cold.” We are geographically so close and many of us have family there. South Florida is nicknamed “Kingston 21” – … More ICYMI in Jamaica, November 3, 2020: The Illegal Party Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica, October 13, 2020: The Kindness Edition

October 14, 2020

Well, Hurricane Delta went away (taking most of Bluefields Beach in Westmoreland away with it) and we are left to reflect, once more, on our own human fragility in the face of climate change and COVID-19. Some of us would rather pretend, however, and sip on Bacardi or whatever their favorite drink is, without a … More ICYMI in Jamaica, October 13, 2020: The Kindness Edition

“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

A Digital Town Hall for Jamaicans Living in the U.S.

March 31, 2020

As we know, at any one time there are many thousands of Jamaicans living or staying temporarily in the United States. I believe around one third of Jamaican immigrants to the U.S. (who total close to one million) live in New York, and about one quarter in Florida. But there are also thousands of seasonal … More A Digital Town Hall for Jamaicans Living in the U.S.