The Antigua “Terror” Video Ambassador Curtis Ward (09 December 2016) — My first view of a video produced, posted on a website, originating in Antigua, and circulating on social media left me saddened to see that politics anywhere in the Caribbean, or elsewhere in the world where democracy is the norm, could be reduced to this low and dangerous level. Nowhere in any form of political discourse or competition in a democratic society should such a message to commit violent...
The Ward Post Monthly Brief Vol. 1. No. 1. (October-November 2016) The Ward Post Monthly Brief, which is published monthly,brings together in one convenient location a synopsis of, and links to the TWP blogs posted during the month. Jamaica Justice System – Cluttered with Relics of Post-British Colonialism – Ambassador Ralph Thomas used the retirement of Justice Lennox Campbell from the Jamaican Judiciary as an opportunity to take a close look at the lack of operational and...
Tribute to Jamaica’s Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller Ambassador Ralph Thomas Today, I pay tribute to a great ex-Jamaican Prime Minister, Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller, ON, Leader of the Opposition who, after 40 years of service in many roles to the People of Jamaica and the world, has announced a timeline for her departure as Leader of her Party and of the Parliamentary Opposition. As she conducts her departure from the stage of leadership, long will we remember her achievements...
Will Trump Fall on the Sanction Sword? (03 Dec. 2016) — Since president-elect Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, there has been a plethora of speculations, discussions, and even predictions defining the future of the Trump presidency. Some have even speculated he would end up being impeached for either gross foreign and security policy mistakes, or due to gross conflict of interest – president of the U.S. vis-à-vis CEO of Trump global enterprises. While these...
Jamaica Justice System – Cluttered with Relics of Post-British Colonialism Congratulations to Justice Lennox Campbell OD, Q.C. on his retirement from the Jamaican Judiciary and for his distinguished service to Jamaica on the Bench. Importantly, the learned Justice points to certain operational and capacity problems that have resulted in an overburdened Judiciary and the perception of an exceedingly slow Justice System, where “Justice delayed is often Justice denied.” In taking...
Trump Presidency Threatens Caribbean Partnership Programs (21 Nov. 2016) — The uncertainty of what a Donald Trump presidency is likely to mean in all areas of foreign policy – economic, political, security, etc., fueled by lack of specifics during the campaign or since the election makes it extremely difficult to do otherwise than to speculate. Hence, my hesitation to opine on the future policies of POTUS Trump (president of the United States Trump) is driven by lack of...
Jamaican Lives, Jamaican way of life Matters (19 Nov. 2016) — It is ironic the Prime Minister of Jamaica attended the COP22 conference in Morocco (November 2016) making a speech claiming a place for Jamaica among global leadership on action to prevent climate change and to ameliorate the conditions which cause global warming. At the same time, the government of Jamaica, of which he is the head, is on board with Chinese investors on course to do untold damage to Jamaica’s pristine but...
Jamaicans face a matter of life and death–not economic opportunity (17 Nov. 2016) — On Thursday, November 17, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner ran an editorial: “Wanting To Hear From The Gov’t About Alpart.” The editorial raised concerns about the Jamaican Government’s silence on the possible severe environmental impact of Chinese company Jinquan’s plan to invest heavily in bauxite/alumina/aluminum production in Jamaica powered by coal-fired energy generation. According to Ambassador...
Sanctions Enforcement – Violations and De-risking (08 Nov. 2016) — Discussions at various levels throughout the Caribbean region on the threat of de-risking by U.S. and European banks have focused primarily on the debilitating possible effects on Caribbean financial institutions and Caribbean countries’ economic development. Without access to U.S. and European banks for correspondent banking relationships and lack of future access for payable through accounts and other financial...
