Social Impact with Emma » Inter-American Development Bank : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Celebration Time at IDB Caribbean

December 7th, 2019

Jamaicans know how to put on a great show – and how to do it right. When I arrived at the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (actually in my neighbourhood), I imagined that the 50th anniversary of the bank’s presence in Jamaica would be – well, a bit stiff. How wrong I was. […]

Prioritising People: The Rebuilding of a Kingston Neighbourhood

October 29th, 2018

There has been a lot of public debate recently about urban development: The new Parliament building, twenty-storey buildings, road widening – and the felling of our city’s trees, which I have written and tweeted about before. It’s all quite overwhelming. What of the people who live in the midst of this sea of concrete mixers […]

We Don’t Need a Knight in Shining Armour, We Need a Team

January 31st, 2018

I have been following the ongoing debate over the outgoing Commissioner of Police George Quallo and his alleged failings; and about what kind of person should be selected to replace him. Should it be someone from outside the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)? A foreigner, perhaps? A Jamaica Defence Force officer? Should it be an experienced […]

What is the Problem With Implementing the Disabilities Act?

September 21st, 2017

Yesterday I attended a lunchtime information session at the offices of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Jamaica. Executive Director of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) in Jamaica, Dr. Carolyn Gomes and Rodje Malcolm of Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) gave us a succinct presentation on the state of human rights on the island. It […]

Tackling Climate Change on Several Fronts

March 1st, 2017

Despite what the new President of the United States says, climate change is real. It is with us, here and now. I believe developing countries such as ours have fully acknowledged this fact (as well as ninety-something per cent of scientists). After all, we are already feeling the effects. Jamaicans may not look at regular […]