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February 22, 2026

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…
People walk past a mural of Che Guevara in Havana
February 22, 2026

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…
UNICEF Jamaica Children, facilitators, and community members gather outside a UNICEF-supported temporary learning space.
February 22, 2026

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…
From left: Pembroke Hall High School Principal Reverend Claude Ellis; Vice-Principal of Human Resources and Operation Yvette Shields-Green and Stacy-Ann McIntosh-Richard engage in a conversation.
Updated 8 hours ago

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…
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.
February 21, 2026

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…
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
February 21, 2026

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…
Jamaica Labour Party Member of Parliament Everald Warmington (left), receives his instrument of appointment from Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), Earl Jarrett.
Updated 8 hours ago

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…
A lay minister places ash on the forehead of a devotee during Ash Wednesday outside a church in downtown Manila, Philippines.
February 20, 2026

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…
From left: Trudyann Bell Williams, niece; Carol Johnson’s twin sister; Yasheima Bell, niece and Toni-Ann Johnson, niece wait as police conduct investigations at Marlin Way, Braeton, Portmore where their relatives were attacked by a man believed to be of
February 20, 2026

Kristen Gyles | Unsound minds cannot be left to roam the streets

Jamaica is experiencing far too many fatal incidents involving persons of unsound mind. Even one case would be too many, but it is alarming how often lives are lost due to the actions of unsupervised…