Tag: homicide

They are “Jah people”: Jamaica must end arbitrary detentions and forced returns of Haitian asylum seekers

May 9, 2024

“Exodus! Movement of Jah people!” I often find when I am considering a “big issue” a Bob Marley song comes to mind. Now, this big issue is migration. Jah People have always been on the move – it’s nothing new. These days, however, some are legal people, and they are good. Others are illegal, and … More They are “Jah people”: Jamaica must end arbitrary detentions and forced returns of Haitian asylum seekers

World Press Freedom Day addendum: a Statement from the Press Association of Jamaica

May 4, 2024

Although I had wanted to include it in my last post, I couldn’t locate this Statement from the Press Association of Jamaica. However, I thought it important to add as a postscript, now that I have found it. It touches on some important issues for our island’s democracy.  May 3, 2024  WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY … More World Press Freedom Day addendum: a Statement from the Press Association of Jamaica

World Press Freedom Day: Jamaica moves up the ranks, UNESCO reports on environmental journalists

May 4, 2024

Today (May 3) was World Press Freedom Day. We are delighted that Jamaica has moved up a number of places in the annual index, according to Reporters Without Borders. Jamaica is now 24th on the index of 180 countries, up eight places from 2023 and the highest in the Caribbean region. We must be doing … More World Press Freedom Day: Jamaica moves up the ranks, UNESCO reports on environmental journalists

International Women’s Day 2024: Stand Up for Jamaica says women and girls must be protected, and I agree

March 8, 2024

Tomorrow (Friday, March 8) is International Women’s Day. As usual, there are overarching themes, hashtags and slogans. That’s all fine. But, to me the most important message of all is that women’s rights are human rights – as Hillary Clinton said in a speech in Beijing when she was First Lady, back in 1995. Simple. … More International Women’s Day 2024: Stand Up for Jamaica says women and girls must be protected, and I agree

Stand Up for Jamaica helps 20 domestic abuse victims towards financial independence

March 4, 2024

I have just realised that International Women’s Day is coming up this week (Friday March 8) with the theme: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” It’s a worthy sentiment, but I cannot help feeling that the theme for Jamaica should be (perhaps every year) along the lines of protecting women and girls. Just one example: a … More Stand Up for Jamaica helps 20 domestic abuse victims towards financial independence

Rethink mandatory sentences for children, says Stand Up for Jamaica

January 8, 2024

Throughout the holidays and immediately afterwards, the Jamaican Government, media and the public in general have been wringing their hands over the “crime and violence issue.” In the past year or so, thousands of hours have been spent on radio interviews, webinars, speeches, parliamentary debates, press briefings; and social media weaves a new story every … More Rethink mandatory sentences for children, says Stand Up for Jamaica

On her way home: Remembering Miss Jenny on Human Rights Day in Jamaica

December 11, 2023

She had a “straight back.” She was courageous, and determined. She was Miss Jenny. On Tuesday evening, December 5, 2023, at a little after 5:00 p.m., a 73-year-old resident of Kingston, Jamaica, followed her well-worn path from work to home as usual: a dirt path in the Waltham Park area of the city, hemmed in … More On her way home: Remembering Miss Jenny on Human Rights Day in Jamaica

Domestic violence haunts societies – here are some resources from the U.S. that might help Jamaicans

October 7, 2023

Domestic violence haunts us. It is a dark cloud that never goes away, whether it be in Jamaica, the United States, or elsewhere. However, so many organisations here and in other countries are working to reduce its prevalence; in Jamaica, I would mention Eve for Life, a non-governmental organisation currently celebrating its 15th anniversary, that … More Domestic violence haunts societies – here are some resources from the U.S. that might help Jamaicans

UNICEF urges Jamaican Government to reconsider proposed mandatory minimum sentences for children

June 23, 2023

On June 20 UNICEF Jamaica made a submission to a parliamentary committee considering changes to legislation governing children – urging against the proposed imposition of mandatory minimum sentences for children. This violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF points out. And what about addressing the root causes of crime? … More UNICEF urges Jamaican Government to reconsider proposed mandatory minimum sentences for children