Emancipation Day Message 2025 The P J Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Advocacy (01 August 2925) — Emancipation Day marks a turning point in our collective history. August morning in 1838 ended a chapter of black chattel and enslavement, but it did not terminate the pernicious and oppressive divide of imperial rule. This unique anniversary is a celebration of the strength, courage, and resilience of those who came before us- People who, in the face of unimaginable suffering and...
Consequential Electoral Contestation in the Caribbean Prof. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, PhD (28 July 2025) —When political sociologists concerned with the Caribbean reflect on the period March through December 2025 years from now, they will likely proclaim it as having been one of the most consequential electoral seasons in the region. Why, one may ask? Well, here’s why! The Regional Electoral Landscape On March 12, the incumbent People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize was returned to...
Why We Celebrate Caribbean Heritage in August Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (24 July 2025) — Of the 12 months in the year, the month of August has the most historic relevance to people of Caribbean heritage everywhere in the world. No other month holds comparable relevance and historic meaning for Caribbean people and Caribbean nationhood. Our history teaches us about who we are as Caribbean people. Here are some very important historical relationships that we as Caribbean people share among...
Support COE Special Tribunal on Russian Aggression against Ukraine Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (22 July 2025) — The International Criminal Court (ICC), while having within its jurisdiction the crime of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the “crime of aggression”, and has already issued indictments against Russia’s president Vladimir Putin on war crimes violations, the ICC has not issued an indictment against Putin for the international crime of aggression. Yet...
Caribbean Interfaith Service draws attention to Haiti’s crisis (20 July 2025) — The 6th annual interfaith service celebrating Caribbean heritage was held in Washington. DC on June 29th at the Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ. Interim Pastor of the host Church, Rev. Leddell Bragg-Reynolds officiated the service which had as its theme, “Finding Strength in the Storm”. The Rev. Joseph M. Constant, a Haitian national and Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in...
Crossing the Rubicon into Autocracy Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (19 June 2025) — We may not be there yet, but we are well on the way. This essay is about autocracy, that corruption feeds on autocracy and vice-versa. Corruption thrives in autocracy with one used to conceal the other. Our country, Jamaica, embarked on the journey of an independent nation embracing democracy and eschewing authoritarianism. Who can forget the words of Jamaica’s first prime minister and National Hero, the...
100 Days of Chaos, Fear, Human Misery, and Global Insecurity An Essay on the Status of the World Ambassador Curtis Ward (13 May 2025) — President Donald Trump’s America First foreign policy during his first 100 days makes the world less safe. The world is in chaos; fear stalks the land which was once hailed as a refuge; human misery is widespread as the U.S. has ended assistance to those in need; and regions of the world are teetering on the brink of conflict. Global insecurity —...
Constitutional Reform Is Dead…Or Is It? Rosalea Hamilton, PhD (06 May 2025)– On April 14, 2025, Nationwide 90FM reported that “Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has accepted that the goal of transforming Jamaica into a republic at this time, has been dashed. The prime minister places the blame of the failure squarely at the feet of opposition leader, Mark Golding.” So does this mean that the Constitutional (Amendment) (Republic) Bill, 2024 to create a “Republic” that...
A New World Order —Trump’s America First foreign policy Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (05 April 2025) — President Donald Trump is leaving no doubt about his intention to use American military and economic superiority to not only change or dismantle world order but to dominate it. He hopes to replace world order by which multilateral and bilateral relations have been governed since World War II with an America First policy across all areas of human interaction. The intent is to destroy and...
Rubio’s visit to Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname — what it means for the region Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (30 March 2025) – In his second trip to Latin America and the Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made Jamaica his first country to visit in the English-speaking Caribbean. A bilateral meeting between Rubio and Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness was first on the agenda. Why is that significant? Several reasons. Not only is Jamaica the largest English-speaking country in...
