Tag: Montego Bay

Meet the Book Industry Association of Jamaica’s inaugural Literacy Heroes

March 7, 2023

The Book Industry Association of Jamaica is about to present its inaugural Literacy Hero Awards to a sustainable community library project in Rose Town, a social media reading campaign led by a mother and son duo, a Pan-African mobile bookstore, and a foundation for children with intellectual disabilities to honour the memory of a beloved “bookworm” sister. APPLAUSE! … More Meet the Book Industry Association of Jamaica’s inaugural Literacy Heroes

“Tek serious ting mek laugh”… a Jamaican habit that makes life bearable, and birds can join in

February 5, 2023

I have never understood why anyone would think Jamaica was a backwater, where nothing ever happens. The past week has been as full of dramatic news (59 guns found at Montego Bay seaport!), arguments, storms in teacups, and indeed sadness, as ever. When a huge debate about whether taxi drivers should put child seats in … More “Tek serious ting mek laugh”… a Jamaican habit that makes life bearable, and birds can join in

Jamaican citizens call for consultations with government over planned urban developments

December 7, 2022

Do we want participatory governance, or is it just a box that our government likes to check? Do government officials even want to bother with that box marked “consultations,” at all? Citizens Rights to the City (CRC) is a grouping formed fairly recently, comprising no less than 29 already well-established citizens groups and communities in … More Jamaican citizens call for consultations with government over planned urban developments

“The greenest since Independence”: Jamaica Labour Party defends its environmental record

November 6, 2021

As COP26 (the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow) winds on, and Caribbean leaders make wonderful speeches at the podium, the Jamaican Government has been feeling a little pressure at home from some Jamaicans (including myself) who are concerned that the speeches don’t quite match up to activities on the ground. Such activities would include, of … More “The greenest since Independence”: Jamaica Labour Party defends its environmental record

Jamaica’s rivers and gullies are suffering from abuse

September 27, 2021

Today is World Rivers Day. It is observed on the fourth Sunday in September every year, I have learned. It was founded by a Canadian, Mark Angelo, a long-time river advocate who spoke at the United Nations in 2005 as part of its Water for Life campaign. Jamaican rivers are very different, of course, from … More Jamaica’s rivers and gullies are suffering from abuse

September 21, 2021 in Jamaica: The car that broke down, the toast that burnt, and the polls that flopped

September 22, 2021

With tropical storms pottering around in the Atlantic (two are called Peter and Rose, the names of our nephew and niece, respectively), it has been warm and muggy in Kingston. Clouds appear and do not bring rain. It has been a week of surprising developments – not least that of the toast to “No Movement … More September 21, 2021 in Jamaica: The car that broke down, the toast that burnt, and the polls that flopped

Now COVID-19 vaccines are here in Jamaica, some of us would still prefer to party but – just get vaccinated

August 22, 2021

The Delta variant has “officially” arrived, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has announced. Twenty-two out of forty samples were returned from the Caribbean Public Health Agency. We are in the early stages of the dreaded Third Wave. Already, it is terrible. As all this is happening, we are also struggling with a wave of … More Now COVID-19 vaccines are here in Jamaica, some of us would still prefer to party but – just get vaccinated

JET and Coca-Cola remove over 1,000 pounds of garbage from Jamaican coastlines through Circular Seas cleanups

July 6, 2021

The Old Hospital Park Beach in Montego Bay, St. James was abuzz with activity on the morning of Saturday July 3, 2021 as the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) hosted the final Circular Seas beach cleanup in collaboration with Coca-Cola Jamaica and Ocean Conservancy, supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation.  “These cleanup activities are not only important … More JET and Coca-Cola remove over 1,000 pounds of garbage from Jamaican coastlines through Circular Seas cleanups