Stories about Jamaica from November, 2008
Caribbean: Watching Mumbai
From the other side of the world, Caribbean bloggers monitor the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and react with anxiety and consternation.
Jamaica: Punishable by Death
As a country struggling with spiraling rates of violent crime, Jamaica has voted to re-introduce the death penalty, despite appeals from Amnesty International and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The atmosphere on the island nation is tense, with the prevailing attitude appearing to be, in the words of blogger Kadene Porter, "Blood fi blood and fyah fi fyah."
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Thanksgiving
“America is so full of contradictions! For even as our extended family sits down to eat our Thanksgiving dinner, there are many in our neighborhood who are now facing foreclosure and with barely anything to be cheerful about this year”: Jamaican diaspora blogger Geoffrey Philp is thankful for his children...
Jamaica: Austism Speaks
“In Jamaica, the word ‘Autism’ is just now becoming a familar word. Years ago, having a child that was ‘different’ can warrant just titles as, ‘baffon’ or ‘Lagga Head'”: A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah is pleased that autistic children are finally beginning to get the help they need.
Jamaica: Don't Worry, Be Happy
Active Voice wants to let you know “that despite the global financial meltdown and the downfall of another wall–Wall Street–WE ARE NOT IN PANIC MODE in Jamaica.”
Jamaica, Barbados, T&T: Bolt is Athlete of the Year
Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has been chosen as the International Athletic Foundation's ‘Athlete of the Year'; regional bloggers congratulate him.
Jamaica: The Real Story
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp weighs in on the discussion about literary authenticity and the Caribbean writer: “Storytellers come and go, but the story of the Caribbean continues to evolve–waiting for storytellers to respond to the relationship between a people and a place through time.”
Jamaica: Political Will
“There has been a lot of talk recently of the Government's inabilty to curb the massive escalation of murders, kidnappings and other crimes in Jamaica”: Abeng News Magazine‘s John Fagan says that “the whole system is in chaos” and “it will take political will to fix it.”
Barbados: The Abortion Issue
Barbados Free Press comments on two regional mainstream media articles about abortion.
Jamaica: March for Peace
A recent upsurge in crime over the last few weeks has Jamaicans gravely concerned. Last week's discovery of the body of an eleven (11) year old boy was the latest in a string of attacks against the nation's children. Jamaican blogger (and mother) iriegal of A Fe Me Page Dis...
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Poetic Obama
Jamaicans Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot and Poet in Wisconsin both post poems in honour of Barack Obama.
Jamaica: Schoolboy Murdered
A Jamaican schoolboy is sodomized and murdered, prompting Carlos King at Abeng News Magazine to write an open letter to the Prime Minister and Long Bench to address the issue of “the sexism and deep-seated and destructive hatred of homosexuality that pervades this society” with “people pandering to the notion...
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Miami Book Fair
Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp blogs about his experience at the Miami Book Fair.
Jamaica: Only in Jamaica
A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah posts photos of some humourous scenarios that could be “ONLY IN JAMAICA, MON!”
Jamaica: Leadership Roles
“Leadership has to be about prioritizing and making the unpopular decisions that may not help in getting you re-elected but will set the country on the right course for future growth and development”: Trevor Dawes at Abeng News Magazine wonders “why is it that the Jamaican government, regardless of which...
Caribbean: Tributes to Makeba
Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine, Barbados’ Life, Unscripted, on the Rock, and Caribbean blog One Tribe, Many Voices all pay tribute to the late South African musical icon Miriam Makeba.
Jamaica: Women in Danger
YardFlex.com reports that “women and girls have been the steady target of unscrupulous men who have been recently wreaking havoc in different areas of Jamaica with their random kidnappings or attempts.”
Jamaica: Criminals in Charge?
A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah wants to know if the criminals are running things in Jamaica.
Jamaica, U.S.A.: Honeymoon's Over
“Before the new president has taken a moment to recover from the stress of a protracted and vigorous campaign, his wake-up call has been issued, and more importantly, from America's old nemesis:” Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine says that Barack Obama “won't have much of a honeymoon.”
Jamaica: Farewell to the Dragon – Byron Lee
Despite earlier rumours of his death, Jamaica awoke this morning to the news of the passing of the legendary Byron Lee. Lee, bandleader of the Dragonaires, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies yesterday, November 4, 2008, after a two year battle with cancer. Although the news was...
Jamaica: Accidental Shooting
YardFlex.com and A Fe Me Page Dis Iyah blog about the untimely death of a Jamaican schoolgirl who was accidentally shot by her father while he was trying to defend the family from bandits.
