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Editor’s Note: The report of the Jamaica Educational Transformation Commission (JETC) has been submitted. To date, there has been very little public debate on the report. However, some commentators have expressed concern that the report has fallen short of expectations.  In this contributed piece, Dr. Louis Moyston, a historian, equity advocate, and educational consultant, shares […]

Canute Thompson Today, January 20, 2022, marks the first anniversary of President Biden’s time in office.  It has been a mixed year with successes and setbacks with the setbacks appearing to outweigh the successes.  While his nearly $2T stimulus package (Rescue Plan) has brought relief to many middle class and poor Americans it has fueled

Martin Luther King, Jr., the great 20th century civil rights leader, asserted in his 1963 book, Strength to Love, “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige,

The spate of public corruption in Jamaica continues to pose an existential threat. Over the past year there have been at least two major corruption scandals each month. In one highly publicized case, a former Minister of Education who has been charged with major crimes involving public funds, was able to secure a golden handshake

Societies from time to time must confront issues which are uncomfortable, and which require clear course of action. The recent developments concerning the Pathway International Church and it’s now deceased leader Kevin Smith, have brought into sharp focus, an important conversation we must have concerning the qualities we expect to see in those who lead.

The world has been awakened to a true leader, at present, the only one in her class.  Her name is Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados.  While there have been other great world leaders and while there are others who are doing a decent job in running their countries and companies, Prime Minister Mia

Jamaica is on a slippery slope.  The level of corruption unfolding before our eyes is unprecedented.  In my last column, entitled “Why we must not relent in the fight against corruption”, I sought to explain the social, economic costs of corruption, highlighting what the $100B lost per year really means in the deprivation of education,

Why we must not relent in calling out corruption The scale of corruption and abuse of public resources in Jamaica is frighteningly high, and the defence of some that it has always been this way (which I am not sure is true), is the very reason we must do something about it, not ignore it.

Jamaica’s governance framework is beset by several weaknesses.  These weaknesses pose a great danger to the ideals of democracy as well as undermine the principles and practices of accountability.  These weaknesses include ineffective legislative frameworks for investigative state agencies and conflicted persons being appointed to sensitive offices. For example, the Integrity Commission Act prohibits the

On the night of Tuesday, September 14, 2021, a video of Minister Floyd Green, then Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, went viral.  The video captured scenes of a birthday party which was held either that day (September 14) or the previous day, both of which were designated “No Movement” Days here in Jamaica as part