Human Trafficking and the Problem of Public Education

August 3rd, 2020

The issue of human trafficking in Jamaica appears shrouded in mystery. Why is this? I have not really grasped the dimensions of the issue on our island, to be honest with you. I have to dig around, consciously, to find out the extent of the problem, and what is being done to combat human trafficking. […]

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Sexual Harassment, Me Too, and the Minister’s Disturbing Giggle

June 27th, 2020

Our Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, is what I would call a “jolly” person, with a good sense of humor. Jamaicans frequently use the word “jovial” – a rather quaint expression meaning good-natured, in a harmless kind of way. For some reason, the adjective is often used to describe a person who has recently passed […]

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COVID-19 and Our Most Vulnerable – Part 2

May 22nd, 2020

“A population that is left behind.” In the first part I wrote about our most vulnerable citizens, whose immune systems are compromised during this pandemic. People living with HIV/AIDS have more to deal with than physical illness. It’s about how other people regard them, and treat them. Unfortunately, this is also true of all our […]

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RISE and the EU: A Partnership to Strengthen Civil Society

March 27th, 2017

On International Women’s Day, I was happy to see a lineup of four women at the head table for a workshop on the Civil Society Boost Initiative (Strategies and Tools for CSO Sustainability). At the opening ceremony, the partnership in this initiative was represented by Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Jamaica, Ambassador […]

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Man and Woman: #Beyond16Days

December 16th, 2016

OK, so this is how it seems to go, nowadays: Man meets Woman. Man and Woman begin a relationship. It may be love, maybe not. The relationship becomes a little more serious. The Man and Woman make some kind of commitment – marriage or “common law.” A child may or may not be born. Dynamics […]

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Jamaica AIDS Support for Life: Celebrating Its 25th Birthday in Style, and Despite Challenges

November 29th, 2016

Thursday, December 1 is World AIDS Day. This piece is my personal, small (and probably very inadequate) tribute to all the men and women who have worked so hard to establish, build and maintain a non-governmental organization that has had more than its fair share of trials and challenges: Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL). […]

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