Stories about Jamaica
Vaccine hesitancy in smaller Caribbean islands benefits larger neighbours with high COVID-19 rates
Rather than have vaccine doses expire, regional governments have been donating part of their allocations to larger Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbours who need them.
Global Voices’ top stories on the climate crisis, as the planet observes World Environment Day
On World Environment Day, a look at the Global Voices stories on climate change that have most captured our attention so far this year.
As tourists party, citizens under COVID lockdown ask: Are there ‘two Jamaicas'?
When video of an event at a popular entertainment spot emerged, the images of hundreds of maskless revelers partying in close quarters prompted a wave of anger across Jamaica's blogosphere.
Jamaican literacy activist puts more books into the hands of children isolated by COVID-19 restrictions
"For children who were reading before and continue to have access to books, the pages have been a safe place from the pandemic. For others, the situation has worsened."
Jamaican bees are beautiful—and their survival is crucial
Beekeeping has been steadily catching on in Jamaica for some years now, enriching livelihoods, helping the environment, and providing lots of photographic opportunities.
‘Support your local beekeeper': Caribbean concerns on World Bee Day
This year's event aims to increase awareness of the threat to bees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity, and find ways to protect these vital pollinators.
Amid Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, a look at the Muslim presence in the Caribbean
New generations of Caribbean Muslims are being born and raised in the diaspora, creating a type of religious hybrid that sometimes puts traditional approaches under strain.
Destruction of coastal forest for a major tourism project raises questions about Jamaica’s climate change posture
"A development of this nature is inappropriate for an area which has been afforded several levels of environmental protections, and is well recognised for its diverse and healthy coastal ecosystems."
Attack on a woman in a parking lot has Jamaicans furious and a parliamentarian in limbo
Anger and cynicism have characterised online discussion about the incident, which fed into the bigger issue of gender-based violence.
The George Floyd verdict gets netizens thinking about police brutality in the Caribbean
While social media users across the Caribbean were relieved that George Floyd's murderer was found guilty, they understood that justice being served in this one instance does not equal change.
Jamaica’s COVID-19 vaccination blitz administers 75,000 doses just before expiry date
A shipment of 75,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Jamaica on April 8, but expired a few days later, leading to a race against the clock.
Jamaica's spate of femicides raises perennial questions about the influence of dancehall music
The uptick in female murders has the prime minister chastising the perceived influence of dancehall music, and fanning the flames of an issue on which Jamaicans remain quite divided.
Jamaicans agonise, politicians seek solutions after another young woman is killed
News of a young woman's murder comes against the backdrop of record murder rates in Jamaica which, according to one 2020 survey, is the highest in the region.
Bert Rose, pioneer of Jamaica’s independence-era dance movement, dies at 81
"Mr. Rose’s contribution to nation-building has created the foundation for others to rise to their own greatness. He has left behind a legacy that will live on for generations."
Connecting the dots: ‘Motus’ programme uses technology to track migrating birds in the Caribbean
Designed to enable conservation and ecological research by tracking movement, the Motus Wildlife Tracking System has hundreds of receiver stations and thousands of deployed nanotags on over 236 species, mostly...
As Jamaica sends a large shipment of rescue dogs to Canada, animal rights activists hope regional attitudes will change
The foreign rehoming of Jamaican stray dogs is seen as a "game-changer," sending an important message to "those who have been accustomed to treat[ing] dogs with cruelty rather than kindness."
The Caribbean's foremost literary festival has released its 2021 longlist; Trinidad & Tobago writers dominate
“Where else would you find Trinidadian street food in the same volume as an appraisal of Thom Gunn's poetry, or Dylan Thomas rubbing shoulders with soca?”
Jamaica's first vaccination day brings optimism, though COVID-19 numbers continue to soar
"As more people get vaccinated, share their experiences, and the effects of fewer [...] severe cases of disease are documented, more people who are currently hesitant about [vaccination] will become...
Reggae icon Bunny Wailer, last of the original ‘Wailers,’ passes away
"We remember with great pride how Bunny, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh took Reggae music to the four corners of the earth."
