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...
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...
Transparency and Accountability are not merely convenient words in good governance Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (31 August 2022) — Commitment to “Transparency and Accountability” are precepts for good governance and rule of law in modern civilized society. These are not just words to be spoken, they are action words which define the character of leadership in governments and societies at large. It is tiresome to hear political leaders claim that they adhere to these precepts when in fact...
Unable to rebut the message, Jamaican government attacks the messenger Ambassador Curtis A. Ward “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Sir Walter Scott, 1808 (20 August 2022) – An interpretation ascribed to this verse from Sir Walter Scott’s “Marmion”, is “when you lie or act dishonestly, you are initiating problems and a domino structure of complications which eventually run out of control.” A major problem with some governments is that they...
Disrespect to Jamaicans who leave Jamaica Dahlia Walker-Huntington, Esq. (14 August 2022) — The remarks of Montego Bay’s Deputy Mayor that “Only cowards run away to go to America because they are seeking out opportunity” smacks of ignorance at the highest levels. How could a politician in Jamaica who reads the newspapers, listens to the news, or is on social media make such an ill-informed, public statement? Jamaicans for generations have been travelers – from the pioneers in...
Call for transparency and factual details of Jamaican Government expenditure on Kamina Johnson Smith’s failed Commonwealth Secretary-General bid! Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (09 August 2022) — Since release by the Jamaican government on August 7th of the long-awaited response to repeated demands for transparency and disclosure of the cost to Jamaican taxpayers for the unsuccessful bid of Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith to serve as Commonwealth Secretary-General, the...
