Jamaican Diaspora dissed the Government’s Council Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (25 February 2023) — The process of birthing the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) (the Council) doomed it from the beginning. Most veterans of diaspora community engagement and active support for the homeland raised concerns about the way the current government of Jamaica conceived of, launched, and exercised control over the Council. Several issues arose concerning the terms of reference and purpose of...
Vantage Point Jamaica – A Reporter’s Chronicle, by Earl Moxam (Book Review) by Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (23 February 2023) — Vantage Point Jamaica is a narrative well-grounded in historical facts written by a highly acclaimed Jamaican journalist which captures a plethora of game-changing events of our nation. Journalist Earl Moxam, a Jamaican, narrating his encounter with history in real time, and through the eyes of those who lived and shaped it before his time. His reporting...
Ukraine: a year later Ambassador Curtis Ward (22 February 2023) — Exactly a year ago, I wrote in The Ward Post that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was, “a clear violation of international law.” I also wrote, “We are long familiar with Putin’s arrogance and his egregious behavior against domestic political opponents. He has now internationalized his egregiousness. The international community will hold him accountable.” I also wrote, indeed predicted at the time of the...
U.S. Government Investigating Jamaica Financial Corruption Mess Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (02 February 2023) — When the news first broke about the fraudulent conversion of investors’ portfolios at the Jamaican investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL), my first thoughts were whether the U.S. financial system was in any way compromised by this criminal act. The possibility of U.S. anti-money laundering laws being violated in this crime raised the specter of investigations by...
Tribute to the late Hon. Ambassador Dr. Richard L. Bernal, O.J. By Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (09 January 2023) –– Jamaica and the Caribbean, indeed the international community, lost a human being who was a superlative diplomat, an exceptional economist, a skilled writer and impactful author, and a great friend of the Jamaican diaspora community across the United States. His laser focus on Jamaican and Caribbean development led me to collaborate with him on several issues. I met Dr...
January 6 Committee Report & the U.S.-African Leaders Summit vie for the headlines Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (20 December 2022) — Washington is a very busy place, and I could have chosen any combination of issues on which to provide brief perspectives for this episode of The Washington Report. I selected two issues on the busy Washington calendar which have major future implications for America and for hundreds of millions of people around the world. The two issues selected are the...
Challenges to democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean: the Trump effect Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (26 November 2022) — Brazil’s losing President Jair Bolsonaro is engaged in a very dangerous game in his attempt to subvert democracy in perhaps one of Latin America’s and the world’s most important emerging economies. Bolsonaro, one of Latin America’s leading autocrats, by denying the outcome of the presidential election which resulted in the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da...
Defining Venezuela Policy: A Critical Analysis Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (30 October 2022) – Questions I am often asked to answer are: What is the United States Venezuela policy? What is Jamaica government Venezuela policy? Is Jamaica’s Venezuela policy tied to or dictated by Washington? In the past five to six years, U.S. policy on Venezuela has become one of the most contentious issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. This is an issue which has created the greatest level of division in...
Jamaican Police as Heroes and Heroines Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (22 October 2022) –– At a time when serious crimes are out of control, and Jamaica notoriously viewed as among the homicide capitals of the world, it is perhaps anomalous, and probably bordering on illogical to say the men and women of the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), more specifically the rank and file, are heroes and heroines. But I unabashedly say they are. Before you conclude I have lost my mind, read on! I...
Citizen Apathy and the Pillars of Democracy Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (15 September 2022) –– I begin by positing that democracy is endangered when citizens fail to be vigilant and engaged in the political process, by failing to demand of government they elect high standards of transparency and accountability. This is not a new position for me, as I have for quite some time used my platforms to advocate for broad civic participation and engagement, and against citizen apathy. I will...
