Commentary

The eruption of the tongue-twisting Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokull - which translated into English means 'island-mountain glacier' - severely disrupted a large chunk of the world's aviation system for over a week. In Europe, air travel was brought to a virtual standstill for several days.

It is not very often that one gets the opportunity to make a fresh start. The Jamaican Government's return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year presented such an opportunity. The foundations of world capitalism were shaken by the global financial crisis.

Our friend Tricia, with whom we had left our dog 'Crix' when we went away for a few days, dropped the bombshell on my wife Indranie, "Congratulations, you are now a grandmother!" Then Tricia looked at me, "What do you have to say to that, Grandpa?"...

The Budget debates of the 1970s echoed the wide ideological differences between the two parties, and the kareba outfits worn by Government members in contrast to the conservative suits of the Opposition mirrored this disparity more eloquently than any speech could do in Gordon House.

The Earth can take so much and no more. Did we think that we could continue to cut down our natural forests without ultimately facing the consequences? At one time, little Jamaica was declared to have the highest rate of defores-tation in the world.

My initial reaction to your daily front-page publication of the country's murder toll was to agree with the contributor who criticised the practice; but when I compared the figure in Sunday's edition - April 18 (482) with the previous Sunday's (April 11) of 436 - which meant that 46 persons were murdered last week, I appreciated the reason.

At the recent Sam Sharpe International Conference held at Regent's Park College, University of Oxford, I polled some people on the age of Sam Sharpe at the time of the 1831 resistance, based on the popular image of Sharpe found on our money bills and the one displayed at this historic conference.

It's graduation season once again and despite all the ashes in the air over the United Kingdom, adoring relatives and doting parents are currently in the process of planning for graduations here, there and everywhere.I have been...

SAY WHAT you wish of Edmund Bartlett, he is worthy of the country's congratulations. At the same time, the tourism minister deserves our sympathy.

The Gleaner's Sunday, April 18, editorial speaks to what the prime minister and Opposition leader must do to help fight crime. The Gleaner which has the attention of (pretty much) all of Jamaica and many sections of the world, suggest that the political leaders 'interview' their members to determine if they have ties to gangs and such.

I'm beginning to believe the People's National Party (PNP) has taken leave of its senses. That organisation just doesn't get it.