Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Jamaica undertakes major assessment of its food systems ahead of global UN Food Systems Summit

September 7, 2021

Another important event tomorrow: the opening of consultations in Kingston on an assessment of Jamaica’s food systems – in other words, agricultural production and output. The workshop is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Planning Institute of Jamaica. You can watch the opening ceremony on the PIOJ’s Facebook page tomorrow (Tuesday, … More Jamaica undertakes major assessment of its food systems ahead of global UN Food Systems Summit

On Jamaican bees, and their keepers

May 21, 2021

“Oh Bees,” she says. “I send greetings to your Queen. I wish to be her friend, and to prepare a safe home for her, and for you who are her daughters, and to tell you the news every day. May you carry messages from the land of the living to all souls who dwell in … More On Jamaican bees, and their keepers

ICYMI in Jamaica: February 16, 2021: The Hanging In There Edition

February 17, 2021

The last two weeks have been busy (I skipped last week) and the weather is bright and breezy. However, as COVID-19 numbers have begun to really take off this month (an extended “spike”) the mood of cautious optimism in January seems to have evaporated – although we have had some lighter moments in the past … More ICYMI in Jamaica: February 16, 2021: The Hanging In There Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica, January 12, 2021: The “Heartware” Edition

January 13, 2021

It’s 2021, and everything seems to be happening at once. It’s hard to keep up. Education, health, crime (crime!!), travel and tourism – and more – all seem to be “hot button” issues. The new year is already shaping up to be quite crowded; we need to wrap our heads around some fundamental issues, and … More ICYMI in Jamaica, January 12, 2021: The “Heartware” Edition

ICYMI in Jamaica, January 5, 2021: The Back to School Edition

January 6, 2021

What a week. After the relative peace and quiet of the holidays (apart from an intrusively loud motorbike rider – we need to do something about the “enhanced” mufflers they put on their bikes) we were thrown straight into 2021 with a great deal of agonizing over “back to school” (a dilemma shared by other … More ICYMI in Jamaica, January 5, 2021: The Back to School Edition

PEP, PSTEB and Happy Birthday, Miss Lou: Jamaica on Friday, September 7, 2018

September 8, 2018

What! It’s September already, and August ran away with me. It was a long, hot summer, to coin a cliché – in more ways than one – but now “disturbances” are hovering in the tropical Atlantic. They could be named Helene or Isaac… Here’s a roundup of news – but of course, I know I … More PEP, PSTEB and Happy Birthday, Miss Lou: Jamaica on Friday, September 7, 2018

All Quiet on the Western Front, The Sad Garvey Bust and another Mystery MoU: Jamaica, October 23, 2017

October 24, 2017

It’s a quiet, ordinary Monday in Jamaica – but is anything ever quiet and ordinary on this curious island? Well, here goes with the past week’s ups and downs. Agriculture: The first two ganja licenses were issued on October 18. The Ganja Growers and Producers Association is demanding transparency on the matter of a company hired by … More All Quiet on the Western Front, The Sad Garvey Bust and another Mystery MoU: Jamaica, October 23, 2017

Our School Year Continues in the Garden: A Post from the S.T.E.P. Centre on World Cerebral Palsy Day

October 6, 2017

Since it is difficult to share from a non-WordPress blog, I have copied and pasted this beautiful post from my friends at the S.T.E.P. Centre in Kingston. I remember seeing their garden (once a dump full of construction materials and garbage, before the school was built) in its early tentative days. Now it is starting … More Our School Year Continues in the Garden: A Post from the S.T.E.P. Centre on World Cerebral Palsy Day

Cockpit Country: “We Must Fight For It With Every Breath”

November 5, 2015

In case you were going to ask, the answer is yes. Cockpit Country is still very much under threat from bauxite mining. Several weeks ago now, I found myself at a press briefing/meeting that was extraordinary in many ways. A large delegation of some sixty residents of the Cockpit Country had come to the city. … More Cockpit Country: “We Must Fight For It With Every Breath”

Touring Portland Bight, Part 2: Salt River

September 5, 2015

This is the second part of my recent “day trip” with Ingrid Parchment, Executive Director of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM), across the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA). May I remind you, first of all, that the PBPA is Jamaica’s largest protected area, comprising 1,876 sq km of coastal land and sea, and cays … More Touring Portland Bight, Part 2: Salt River