Author name: Professor Canute Thompson

The Government of Jamaica tabled the report of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) and the accompanying Ministry Paper No 1/2024 of the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. I asked myself the question, having read the report, “is this reform or just partisan realpolitik?”. Reform suggests that something noble, radical, visionary, audacious, selfless, game-changing is […]

Jamaica’s democracy faces some clear dangers which remain contemporary. Thought and industry leaders in the society (in academia, civil society groups, the church, and the private sector) who choose to ignore these risks become complicit to whatever costs the country incurs from such risks.  Even in circumstances in which such costs arise from cowardism (fear),

Education Transformation as Social Justice The transformation of Jamaica’s education system is a goal we should all embrace and a journey, which though will be long, is one which we must pursue.  Perhaps the most important reason such a journey should be undertaken is that justice demands it.  Educational transformation is an act of social

It is deemed normal for supporters of political parties to support what is done by leaders of their parties, regardless of how problematic and demonstrably unethical or unlawful such conduct may be.  Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the United States of America where the twice-impeached ex-President, Donald Trump, now on criminal trial

In September 2023, the Government of Jamaica made an unprecedentedly hurried amendment to the Constitution, completing the tabling and passing of the Bill in a single sitting in the Lower House. Within another three days (that same week) the Bill was passed in the Upper House, and two days later it was signed into law

Recent events in Jamaica have ignited reflection on how our democracy is functioning and what changes we may wish to consider in seeking to strengthen it.  These events include: Is Jamaica’s democracy at risk? Lloyd Smith, a 40-year veteran in the field of journalism, a former Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House

Greatness is defined by doing, impacting and serving exceedingly above the ordinary. This construct must therefore be seen through the lens of a spectrum; identifying the least to the most or rather the ordinary to the extraordinary. In the realm of education, the impact of a teacher is incalculable, transcending textbooks, internet and classrooms to

It is correct that those members of parliament from the People’s National Party (PNP) who were present in Jamaica’s House of Representatives on the occasion of Mrs Juliet Holness’ selection to be the Speaker of the House should have objected to the wife of the Prime Minister (PM) being so elevated. Instead, at the time,

Introduction In the last thirty years it is hard to find a criminal case that has captured the interest of the Jamaican populace in the manner that the Vybz Kartel case has. The fact that the trial started off, just when the term social media was gaining traction and that it has continued along into

Neo-colonial vestige There is a neo-colonial vestige in Jamaica which is rooted in the country’s education and wider social system, which assigns the labels of bright and dunce to people, especially children.  The assigned label often remains with the child / person for a long time (in some instances for life).  One of the insidious