Few would disagree that the economic collapse which led to the devastation called FINSAC and its even more destructive successor, the cynically misnamed Jamaica Redevelop-ment Foundation, was the result of Government's high-interest rate policy of the 1990s.
Most days, the central business district of downtown Kingston is a cacophonous hive of jostling humanity engaging in a dizzying swirl of commerce. But by sunset, haggling vendors and shoppers are gone, the reinforced shutters of its stores are pulled tight, and the area's streets are mostly deserted.
If we are to judge by the uptick in the poverty figures and the rise in the unemployment rate, this festive season is going to be a sombre one for many Jamaicans. My supermarket operator tells me that in the past, it used to be the case that there would be a noticeable pick-up in spending in the two weeks leading up to Christmas. But in recent times, that window is now compressed to the last three days prior to the big day...
It is the week before Christmas and I am in the Turks and Caicos Islands, on the island of Grand Turk, on which is located the capital of the island chain.
Below are edited excerpts from readers comments posted online at www.jamaica-gleaner.com reacting to yesterday's lead story 'Beastly bust - J'can, US lawmen bring down international drug ring'....
The United States government, faced with the publication on the Internet of a quarter-million cables sent by US embassies in recent years, has responded just as it did when WikiLeaks posted similar troves of secret messages about...
We do not know as yet what is to be made of Prime Minister Bruce Golding's shunting of James Robertson, the energy minister, from the leadership of the Government's liquefied natural gas (LNG) conversion project, or why Mr Robertson's right-hand man on...
Below are edited excerpts from comments posted by readers online at www.jamaica-gleaner.com reacting to yesterday's lead story 'Un-beer-able' - Red Stripe, Wisynco angered by Shaw's revised alcohol tax measures'.Eeny, meeny, miney mo?I am...
Trade unionism is a relatively recent development in Jamaica's public education dating back to the 1950s when self- rule, regulation and the introduction of the free-place system served as precursors to teacher representation.
The Auditor General's Department has released its "Performance Audit Report of the National Environment and Planning Agency's (NEPA) Role in Protecting the Environment and Promoting Sustainable Development" - and it is damning! NEPA has failed both in...
The 'Chrismus' breeze that is now blowing across the island is similar to the cold front conditions that Jamaica experienced in December 1962.It had been a chilly month and it kept most people indoors, including our...
The Gleaner of December 2 related a story about Dr Lawrence Williams, a Jamai-can scientist at the Scientific Research Council, being celebrated on the international stage for finding an effective treatment for some types of cancer.Williams was awarded...
Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. I grew up in Trinidad, where the traditions of the season are deeply rooted and highly enjoyable. It is the time of parang when in each village...
It is not enough for the Golding administration, as it has done through its national security minister, Mr Dwight Nelson, to react with mere hubris and anger.That suggests the administration is inviting Jamaicans to infer that the dispatches from...
Published:Wednesday | December 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
GIVEN ITS bad fiscal situation, no one can quarrel with the Government for harbouring all kinds of ideas for increasing its revenue - even if hare-brained. But as the administration should be aware, what is worse than formulating bad policy is actually...
Published:Wednesday | December 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Below are edited excerpts from comments posted online at www.jamaica-gleaner.com from readers' reaction to yesterday's lead story, 'Teachers flunk'.Wrong qualificationsMany teachers are upgrading their qualifications but not in their...
Published:Wednesday | December 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
TO THE children of Jamaica - our future. Grownups have taught you many important lessons. Hopefully, you're obediently following them, otherwise, Santa won't be kind to you this Christmas. Remember, listen to mommy and daddy...
Published:Wednesday | December 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
RESPONDING PREDICTABLY to the proposal by the Government to relocate Up Park Camp, the voices of opposition are growing louder and louder.So far, we have heard that there are historical strings which ought not to be severed.
This newspaper understands that governments cannot undertake their negotiations in the open, with every minute detail subject to public referenda. However, policy should be transparent and it is the people's right to know of the initiatives being...
I felt obligated to give my views on the disastrous path we appear to be taking to seriously damage the tourism industry. We have been piling tax upon tax on our visitors for giving them the privilege of spending their hard-earned...
The intention of this letter is not to respond to the personal attacks by Dr Henry Lowe, but is designed to inform the public of the questions they should ask of any new bioactive product being brought to market, whether...
The mild, mild, milquetoast west, driven mainly by pedestrian American media, is obsessed with analysing relationships. The American talk show TV revolution experienced since Joe Franklin's trendsetting 1951 debut has been...
The finance minister, Mr Audley Shaw, has been loud about and incessant in his efforts to improve the efficiency of tax collection and the successes the ministry has been having on that score, including in widening the tax net....
Below are edited excerpts from comments posted online at www.jamaica-gleaner.com from readers reacting to yesterday's lead story 'Liquor tax licks hotels'...
