Social Impact with Emma » Marcus Garvey : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Comparing Ourselves to Others: The Singapore Syndrome

November 9th, 2018

We Jamaicans have a bit of an obsession with Singapore, don’t we? Our romance with this small, densely populated country – some 18,000 miles away, with a population twice that of Jamaica – still lingers. Some of the passion may have waned, as romances tend to do, in the past few years. But what sparked […]

Emancipation Revisited

July 31st, 2017

Emancipation is a difficult word. It’s too long, for a start: five syllables long. When combined with the four syllables of Independence holiday it becomes that horrible portmanteau word someone invented (a Government official, perhaps?) a few years ago… Emancipendence. But I would suggest we could hardly celebrate them both together, in one breath. That would be trivialising the […]

Maggotty High: Promoting Health in School and Community

October 27th, 2015

“I’ve been here since six this morning,” one senior citizen told us with a cheerful smile, as he waited for a health check in the Ministry bus. The bus was parked next to Maggotty High School in St. Elizabeth, for a “Build Integrity” Community Health and Information Fair co-sponsored by National Integrity Action (NIA) and the […]

“Not a Poppy Show”: Activism and the Politics of Personal Conviction

October 15th, 2015

National Heroes Day is coming up. Perhaps it’s time to reflect on the inspiration that our heroes can infuse into our lives. At a recent Induction Ceremony and training session organized by the anti-corruption group National Integrity Action (NIA), members had a special treat: a personal insight into a period of youth activism at the […]

Emancipated Women, Independent Youth

August 11th, 2015

The Emancipation and Independence holidays are now retreating in our rear view mirrors, as we look forward to getting through what is left of our dusty, drought-ridden summer. I have the feeling always that the approach to both these holidays – the thinking behind them – gets recycled in a slightly different form, every year. […]

The Hardy Immigrant: A Positive Side of Jamaica’s Nationhood

September 23rd, 2014

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” So said National Hero Marcus Garvey. Is the tree of the Jamaican people in danger of weakening, even perhaps toppling over in the next storm? The question crossed my mind as I sat in the Institute of […]