In Focus
July 12, 2026
Dennis A. Minott | An open letter to the Ascot Primary School community
Dear children,
Permit an old physicist, educator and grandfather to write to you — not because I know your names, but because I know something about dreams.
Since late June, your school has found…
July 12, 2026
Imani Tafari-Ama | Faraway wars, nearer burdens
July 4 has long occupied a special place in the North American political imagination. This year, the United States (US) commemorated 250 years of independence, celebrating ideals of liberty,…
July 12, 2026
Stephen Johnson | Before we legislate: Pragmatic path for Jamaica’s children online
Termario Daniels’s recent piece in In Focus, The Sunday Gleaner, “Why blocking social media won’t protect children,” is timely. As the Ministry of Health and Wellness weighs regulation for minors, his…
July 12, 2026
Christian Tavares-Finson | Changing face of violence against women
Jamaica was recently named the most peaceful country in the Caribbean in the Global Peace Index. Murders are at lows, robberies have fallen, and communities that once lived under the shadow of…
July 5, 2026
Kishi Anderson Leachman and Steve Sider | Ascot Primary controversy and urgent need for inclusive school leadership
Recent public debate has been sparked by reports that students at Ascot Primary School were barred from wearing graduation gowns because of low academic performance on the Primary Exit Profile (PEP).…
July 5, 2026
Canute Thompson | Some naked (and hidden) truths about university rankings
In recent months, there have been conversations and public commentaries on the nature, purpose, meaning, and trustworthiness of university rankings. The fact that there are these expressions of…
July 5, 2026
Dennis A Minott | Can another MoU alter Jamaica’s geography?
Every generation confronts a defining policy test. Ours may well be whether Jamaica chooses to build its future upon engineering reality or political optimism. The recent memorandum of understanding…
July 5, 2026
Termario Daniels | Why blocking social media won’t protect children
Jamaica has always recognised the need to protect its children offline, and now the call has been placed on us to protect them through their screens.
Parents, teachers, youth workers and…
June 28, 2026
Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie and Diana McCaulay | Securing Jamaica's energy future
Electricity in Jamaica is expensive. In fact, our electricity bills are among the highest in the Caribbean. High energy costs affect everyone. Businesses have to spend more money to operate, which can…