Commentary

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic (spread from animals to humans) disease with epidemic potential, and it is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium (spirochete), Leptospira interrogans. Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely. More than one...

Having recommended the creation of a special purpose vehicle to guide the post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding of western Jamaica, The Gleaner continues to support Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ decision to establish a National Reconstruction and...

This is not a time to spar with the major supplier and monopoly distributor of electric power. The company says they need at least US$350 million to fast-track restoration. That’s double what the Cabinet has agreed to lend. Government expects...

This newspaper is grateful that there hasn’t been a serious fire at any of Jamaica’s growing number of high-rise buildings, so as to test the integrity of their construction, or the capacity of the island’s firefighters to adequately respond to...

The current geopolitical environment is arguably not conducive to pursuing reparations for slavery and colonialism. But Africa and its diaspora in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe continue to make headway, with a focus not only on seeking...

With the omission of five small words, “transition away from fossil fuels”, from its final Declaration, COP30 sentenced Jamaica and other small islands and low-lying coastal states (SIDS) to an early and costly demise. The headline out of COP28 in...

While her Cabinet colleagues have hogged the show, talking about everything – from its economic impact to plans for recovery, Fayval Williams, the finance minister, has been peculiarly quiet in the month since Hurricane Melissa devastated western...

When Hurricane Melissa struck last month, the natural expectation would have been for the island’s local government authorities to be quickly on the frontline, among the first responders, providing relief to people in their jurisdictions. They...

I was at university in Canada hanging out with some of my colleagues in one of the lounges when one of them, looking at me, shouted loudly, “Doggone it, Tony.” I was upset and made it clear, “Listen man, I never saw your dog. If it gone somewhere,...

Hugh Grant, the CEO of Jamaica Public Service (JPS), the light and power company, is right about the tremendous cost if the island were to run its overhead power lines underground. His solution: consider subterranean grids in selective areas. “We...

FOUR WEEKS on since the passing of Hurricane Melissa and you can rest assured that, whichever of the remaining 116 active shelters that you visit, the scene will be largely same. Among the debris, fallen trees and roofless structures, men and women...