PJ Patterson warns of the G20 running the world at the detriment of Africa and the Caribbean Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (14 November 2021) — Former Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, during a wide-ranging interview on CaribNation TV to discuss the PJ Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, issued an ominous warning about the role of the G20 making decisions that determine the fate of developing countries without full participation in their discussions by representatives of...
We didn’t have to Claim General Colin Powell, he Claimed us (In Memoriam) Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (18 October 2021) — Many Jamaicans and Caribbean people in the diaspora, and also at home, tend to claim famous individuals of Caribbean descent as their own. We bask in their achievements. We didn’t have to claim General Colin Powell, he claimed us. He was proud of his Jamaican heritage. He wrote and spoke of his Jamaican and West Indian heritage, proudly.
COVID couldn’t stop us, and it won’t Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (14 October 2021) — Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) a little-known Jamaican diaspora charitable organization, Partners of Good Shepherd Jamaica (POGS) continued to raise funds under extremely difficult circumstances to support three charities in Jamaica. With a three-member board and a core group of dedicated committee members, though having to cancel its annual signature fundraising events in 2020 and...
Suffering within America’s Third Border and in its “Backyard” Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (01 October 2021) — It is difficult, perhaps imprudent, to point accusatory fingers at all those who bear some level of culpability and responsibility for the suffering of the people of Haiti without being accused of bias, or of pursuing an anti-‘whomever’ campaign. I choose instead to focus on those with the power to ameliorate the suffering and deprivation which is a perpetual Haitian...
Human Rights Imperatives for Biden’s Summit Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (25 September 2021) – When U.S. President Joe Biden announced his Summit for Democracy and identified ‘advancing respect for human rights’ as one of three key themes for discussion it gave some encouragement to human rights advocates and hope to those who are victims of human rights abuses. It signaled a renewal of American support for human rights and a commitment by the Biden Administration to reclaim America’s...
Jamaica’s Gun Problem Earl Moxam’s Commentary On Sunday, September 19, 2021, Earl Moxam, host of Radio Jamaica’s weekly review show, That’s a Rap, did a commentary on the longstanding problem of guns being smuggled into Jamaica and fueling the country’s high murder rate. Please click the link below to listen Earl Moxam’s commentary. From the Editor of The Ward Post: (22 September 2021) — I fully agree with the tenet of Earl Moxam’s...
Corruption on Biden’s December Summit Agenda Ambassador Curtis A. Ward In an article I wrote sixteen years ago, “Anti-corruption strategy in US foreign policy” published in the Jamaica Observer, August 28, 2005, I discussed anti-corruption as an important element in US foreign policy. Launched by President George W. Bush, his primary focus was US national security, specifically how corruption facilitated the threat from terrorism and international organized crimes. Bush’s national...
US-Pakistan troubled relations and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (16 August 2021) — The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban is not an overnight or unexpected military victory for the Taliban or defeat for the United States. This disastrous outcome has been in the making for quite some time and accelerated exponentially with the deteriorating relations between the United States and Pakistan. Former president Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Mike...
Biden’s Summit to address challenges to Democracy, Corruption, and Human Rights Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (13 August 2021) –– I applaud U.S. President Joseph Biden, Jr. for his proposed virtual “Summit for Democracy”. The Summit, which is set for December 9-10, 2021, will be the first of two summits to be organized and hosted by the American President that “will bring together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to set forth an affirmative agenda...
Oldest Caribbean Democracies Shackled to their Colonial Past Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (9 August 2021) — Jamaica’s celebration of 59 years of independence gained from Great Britain on August 6, 1962, also is a celebration of its democratic traditions now spanning two generations. Trinidad & Tobago, gaining independence a little over three weeks later, also celebrates its 59 years anniversary and its unbroken democratic history. But even as the people of these two countries celebrate...
