Commentary
22 Feb, 2026
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Garth Rattray | Thoughts about the sugary drinks tax
The Government announced the introduction of a new Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages. It is expected to raise $10.1 billion during the 2026-2027 fiscal year.…
22 Feb, 2026
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Orville Taylor | Diaspora Jamaiquina
A glass of sorrel, not laced with lethal ginger as we are accustomed on the Island. This is not Ghana or Kenya, where some Jamaicans do not even recognise it, because of its local name. Hibiscus is…
22 Feb, 2026
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Byron Blake | Whither the people of Cuba?
Cuba is the largest Caribbean island with a land mass of 42,426 square miles, and a population of 11.6 million in 2024. Life expectancy was 78.6 in 2025, with the female rate at 81 and the male at…
22 Feb, 2026
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Olga Isaza | Jamaica’s recovery must put children first
Almost four months after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, the headlines are understandably moving away from response priorities. Electricity is returning, and daily life is resuming, but for…
21 Feb, 2026
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Editorial | Celebrating small victories
Nine months ago, Pembroke Hall High School in St Andrew was in the spotlight for a crisis that affects too many of Jamaica’s secondary schools. More than seven in 10 of its grade-seven intake either…
21 Feb, 2026
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Tony Deyal | The Barbados fire horse
The Lunar New Year galloped in last Tuesday. This Year of the Fire Horse, according to Chinese beliefs, symbolises energy, independence, endurance, and loyalty, reflecting the qualities of the noble…
21 Feb, 2026
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Ronald Sanders | If Marco Rubio attends CARICOM summit, let it be a reset not a reckoning
If US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accepts the invitation to attend the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St Kitts and Nevis, his presence should be treated as being consequential. It would…
20 Feb, 2026
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Editorial | Warmington on the ECJ
Not surprisingly, Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ recent appointment of Everald Warmington as one of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) two members of the Electoral Commission of the Jamaica (ECJ) has…
20 Feb, 2026
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Peter Espeut | From holy days to holidays
Wednesday, February 18 – Ash Wednesday – was a public holiday in Protestant Jamaica, but not in Catholic Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Ash Wednesday is the opening act in the penitential season of…