Tag: Ruel Reid

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

Jamaica Update, June 11, 2021: Shelly-Ann runs like the wind, George Wright makes a cameo appearance, and Mark Golding does TikTok

June 12, 2021

I have had a long hiatus from my weekly updates. Life has been a little overwhelming. “Tempus fugit.” I am scraping the surface here, but will go more in depth next week and will try to stick to a Friday/Saturday update! Environmental stories will follow in due course and there is much to report; however, … More Jamaica Update, June 11, 2021: Shelly-Ann runs like the wind, George Wright makes a cameo appearance, and Mark Golding does TikTok

Treading Water: Jamaica’s Ranking on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index

January 28, 2021

National Integrity Action (NIA) held a virtual press briefing this morning, to announce Jamaica’s latest rating on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. The island is ranked at 69th out of 179, alongside Tunisia, Bulgaria, South Africa, Hungary, and Romania. Six CARICOM countries are ranked higher than us: that is, Barbados, Bahamas, St. Vincent and the … More Treading Water: Jamaica’s Ranking on the 2020 Corruption Perception Index

ICYMI in Jamaica, December 15, 2020: The Vaccine Edition

December 16, 2020

The big news has been not only the COVID-19 vaccine, but the fact that the very first person to receive it was a Jamaican American. A cold front arrived, bringing strong winds and lower temperatures for a day; our moringa tree took a beating, and has not recovered yet. And behind everything else the crime … More ICYMI in Jamaica, December 15, 2020: The Vaccine Edition

“Argument Dunn,” Goodbye to GSAT and King Evil’s Demise: Jamaica, November 5, 2017

November 5, 2017

It’s been a rainswept, slightly upside-down week or two, since I last wrote. Christmas seems a stone’s throw away, and in the short intervals between rain showers it has been rather pleasant. But oh, the dramas on our dramatic little island continue… Agriculture: I wish our Agriculture Minister wasn’t so full of bluster. Now he has … More “Argument Dunn,” Goodbye to GSAT and King Evil’s Demise: Jamaica, November 5, 2017

Reflections on the Sexual Abuse of Our Children: 2 – Concerns About Rural Poverty, Education and the Church

January 26, 2017

I am sharing another perspective here from two activists and educators, Afifa Aza and Georgia Love. There are many societal problems, buried deep in the story of the alleged sexual abuse of young girls by senior church members (which is still unfolding). Afifa and Georgia have their own concerns, and they are asking some pointed … More Reflections on the Sexual Abuse of Our Children: 2 – Concerns About Rural Poverty, Education and the Church

Nuh Guh Deh! Reflections on the Sexual Abuse of our Children: 1 – A Perspective from Eve for Life

January 26, 2017

Jamaicans, young and old and in all walks of life, are still consumed with the issue of the abuse of young girls by older men in privileged positions… Not a new issue, often hidden and secret – but an “open secret.” Many views have been expressed. I am sharing on my blog more perspectives that … More Nuh Guh Deh! Reflections on the Sexual Abuse of our Children: 1 – A Perspective from Eve for Life

Unkempt Children, Unhappy Deportees, and the PM Tours Portland Bight: Sunday, September 11, 2016

September 12, 2016

It’s that sad anniversary again (why does 9/11 always seem to come round so fast?) That clear blue day when tragedy and horror struck, and nothing was ever the same again. We were in New York City at the time…But that’s another story. It’s also 29 years today since reggae star Peter Tosh was murdered. … More Unkempt Children, Unhappy Deportees, and the PM Tours Portland Bight: Sunday, September 11, 2016

NW Manley Turns in His Grave, Blacking Out, and A Hero’s Quiet Return: Jamaica, Tuesday, August 30, 2016

August 31, 2016

After a day or two of grey clouds and drizzle, an energetic breeze is livening us up this morning. Our little dog has been racing up and down the yard.  There is a shift in the season, and all around us there are depressions and burgeoning storms. Hopefully they will avoid our little island. We … More NW Manley Turns in His Grave, Blacking Out, and A Hero’s Quiet Return: Jamaica, Tuesday, August 30, 2016