The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

His rhythm slowed with the fall of evening. The music kept going until the birth of morning. The dawn of sunrise and the rhythm returning; unfolding skies, flowers blooming Rain cascading, breaking hearts. The music faded, the small audience waited. Once before the mist had come. But the conductor summoned the band. It was the tambourine man that brought back the rhythm This time…we waited on the drum His youth was behind him, however, you could not tell. Faithful, loyal, protective of the ones who cared for him A part of the family. The mood was one of optimism; though short-lived. An empty plate, painful at times. The atmosphere has changed forever; all that is left are memories. He stood out from the rest. How obedient It happened all so fast The transition was complete within 24 hours That dreaded telephone call. Something was wrong, Mom’s trembling voice betrayed her. I braced myself, You can never be fully prepared for such news. Oh, to rub his back one last...

“You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.”- Chadwick Boseman With the death of Chadwick Boseman the world and specifically the entertainment industry has lost one its brightest stars. Often compared to the legendary Denzel Washington, Chadwick was a talented actor. Boseman played numerous iconic roles both on television and in movies. A few of those outstanding roles are Jackie Robinson in the movie “42”and Thurgood Marshall. Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball while Thurgood was a lawyer and civil rights activist who served as the first African-American Justice on the US Supreme Court. Many of us were captivated with his electric acting skills, as well as the passion he brought to the roles he took on. Chadwick not only entertained us with his amazing and exemplary skills; but he also schooled us in African- American history. To have seen him in his many celebrated roles ...

“People’s participation is the essence of good governance.”- Narendra Modi The General Elections are over! The Andrew Holness, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been returned to power for a second term. While the victory was expected, the margin of win was unexpected. It is safe to say the JLP expected they would have returned to power but they did not think they would have won in a landslide. Numerous polls from last year have pointed to the JLP having a sizeable lead over the People’s National Party (PNP). Pollsters, Don Anderson and Bill Johnson predicted a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) victory. However, some in the People’s National Party questioned the educational background of the pollsters and sought to discredit their polls. In a newspaper interview days after the election Co-chairman for the PNP’S campaign Phillip Paulwell said the party was misled by its internal polls. Of course the resounding victory of the JLP has vindicated the pollsters. No one or very few thought we w...

Undoubtedly, our world as we know it has changed, and continues to change, since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.   As the crisis unfolds, an increasing number of us have become desensitized to having a gun-shaped thermometer directed at our bodies. Part of the new normal in this COVID19 pandemic is the widespread use of infrared thermometers to check the temperature of people before they enter business places. Thermal screening is part of the front-line defense to prevent access to those with an elevated temperature to offices and other places of business. The thermometer is primarily pointed at one’s forehead; however, in recent weeks, it appears that there has been a shift from pointing the infrared thermometer to one’s forehead to one’s wrist. Perhaps, a more accurate check occurs at the wrist or elbow? Many of us willingly submit to the infrared thermometers pointing to our forehead. We comply with the health protocol in good faith and for the better good of the societ...