Tag: GraceKennedy

The Resilient Reggae Tiger Inspires National Library Staff in a Difficult Time

August 19, 2020

“Resilience” is a popular word these days. We apply it to many things: climate change, economic decline, hurricanes and other disasters. And COVID-19. Looking back at our Emancipation/Independence Day holidays, that was what it was all about. Amidst the online celebrations, the usual good wishes and Jamaican colors on social media, the underlying theme was … More The Resilient Reggae Tiger Inspires National Library Staff in a Difficult Time

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

Statement to the Senate by Minister of Foreign Affairs with an Update on the Ministry’s Support of Jamaicans Overseas During COVID-19 Pandemic

May 26, 2020

The news has been dominated recently by stories of returning Jamaican cruise ship workers – sometimes complaining, sometimes happy to be home – with another cruise ship arriving today carrying around 174 workers. Then there are the deportees, a monthly delivery of Jamaicans – a separate issue altogether, but all have to go into quarantine … More Statement to the Senate by Minister of Foreign Affairs with an Update on the Ministry’s Support of Jamaicans Overseas During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Forest Factor: Millions of Trees Planted, Too Many Lost

February 8, 2020

You may have missed this (as I almost did in the horrendous month of January) – but the Forestry Department has been busy. You may recall that last October Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced a “Three Million Trees in Three Years” project. The numbers are great, but the devil is in the details. Does the … More The Forest Factor: Millions of Trees Planted, Too Many Lost

The National Library of Jamaica Fights Human Trafficking with Poetry and Self-Defence

July 23, 2019

What a fascinating headline that is! Quite a combination, all adding up to a week of empowerment for youngsters from stressed communities, along with teachers, caregivers, and youth workers.  This week is Trafficking in Persons Week in Jamaica. I am not sure if many Jamaicans have fully grasped the meaning, depth, and significance of this … More The National Library of Jamaica Fights Human Trafficking with Poetry and Self-Defence

“What’s the Point?” Marguerite Orane Shrugs, Laughs and Moves On

December 28, 2018

It’s not easy to write the kind of book that Jamaican-born coach and facilitator Marguerite Orane has produced. It may look easy to write a thoughtful but cheerful memoir (of sorts) that “keeps it real” about family, migration and ageing. But to get the right tone – not to be too self-indulgent, but to be open … More “What’s the Point?” Marguerite Orane Shrugs, Laughs and Moves On

Anniversaries, Part 1: Tyrone Wilson and the Last Ten Years

September 1, 2018

I was reminded today that there are a few anniversaries in Jamaica this year. One of them is Tyrone Wilson’s tenth. He has reached double digits. I wrote about him a few years ago, after visiting him at the University of Technology Entrepreneurial Centre, an incubator. At age 22, Tyrone was just about to “change … More Anniversaries, Part 1: Tyrone Wilson and the Last Ten Years

Canada, CARIMAC Host National Cyber Security Conference Next Week

November 24, 2017

There’s a lot going on at the moment – I guess before everything goes quiet over the Christmas holiday. An important conference on Cyber Security with a lot of international speakers is coming up. This is yet another huge issue for Jamaica at the moment, with the fierce debate over the upcoming National ID System (NIDS) continuing. … More Canada, CARIMAC Host National Cyber Security Conference Next Week

Curbing Corruption: Jamaica’s Imperative – Professor Trevor Munroe Speaks at the Schomburg Center

November 20, 2016

Three days ago, the Executive Director of National Integrity Action (NIA), of which I am a proud member, spoke at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library as part of the CIN 12th Caribbean Lecture Series. While his audience may have been largely members of the substantial Jamaican diaspora in that … More Curbing Corruption: Jamaica’s Imperative – Professor Trevor Munroe Speaks at the Schomburg Center