Honoring our fallen heroes (07 January 2025) –This compelling story, “WAR HERO RESCUED After 107 years: Private Robert Theophilus Downer”, narrated with passion and compassion by Dr. Goulda Downer is not just about one forgotten Jamaican soldier. The resurrection of Robert Theophilus Downer, her great grandfather, whose ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom versus tyranny, forgotten and ignored for over a hundred years, calls upon Jamaicans and other Caribbean people, and the...
A clash of interests and ideology of a future Trump administration Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (03 Decenter 2024) — The Trump presidential campaign brought together a collection of individuals who saw an opportunity for power but their reasons for supporting Trump were at variance. They had different objectives for a future Trump administration. There were those driven by greed, wealth accumulation and power. They bought influence and used their wealth to significantly impact the outcome of...
Peace not Possible if Ukraine & Palestine are Occupied Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (08 November 2024) — There are few political leaders who are proponents of Ukraine ceding a part of its territory to Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Those who do are on the wrong side of settled international law and norms. This shattered peace in Europe was the direct result of Russian aggression, invasion, seizure and occupation of large swathes of Ukraine’s territory. Seizing another country’s...
Will Trump’s Administration reflect the Darkness of his Campaign? Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (08 November 2024) — We have been here before with Donald Trump’s victory in 2016. The chaos in the White House began the day he took the oath of office on January 20, 2017. His inauguration then marked the day when domestic and global uncertainty became a real challenge. The threats posed by Trump’s first presidency rattled the diplomatic community in the U.S. capital and in capitals...
End of a Campaign of Hope, Harris out and Trump in Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (07 November 2024) — Hand wringing and critical post-election analyses are the expected reaction to an unsuccessful election campaign. Most of the post-election analysts would have been among most who in the immediate pre-election period were saying Vice President Kamala Harris had ran a brilliant campaign and had done everything right. Now many have opposite views. Very few analysts and commentators were bold...
Trump & Project 2025, Our greatest threat yet Ambassador Curtis A. Ward 28 October 2024 — Early voting in the U.S. elections is well underway in many states but most Americans will vote on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Many critical issues are on the ballot, but democracy is paramount for the future of America and for liberal democracies around the world. The threat to democracy is a threat to the underlying guarantees of rights and freedoms — for the rule of law and the freedoms we...
Is our Prime Minister upholding the Ministerial Ethical Standards? Professor Dr. Trevor Munroe, C.D. (29 September 2024) –– A little over four years before the September 17th, 2024 publication of the Integrity Commission’s Investigation Report relating to “concerns that he [PM Holness] owns assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings;” our Prime Minister told us: “As Head of the Government of Jamaica, I am committed to ensuring the highest standards of accountability...
Washington-based Caribbean PAC Condemns Attacks Against Haitian Immigrants The Caribbean-American Political Action Committee (C-PAC) issued a Press Release condemning the Republican Party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates, former president Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. J. D. Vance for their pernicious lies levelled against Haitian immigrants in the United States. C-PAC called on the Republican Party, all Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives of...
Expectations and Reality, Mark Golding’s biggest test Ambassadors Curtis A. Ward One of the most difficult speeches for a Jamaican politician is the speech of the political parties’ leaders at their respective annual conferences. This year’s conferences, perhaps the last for either party leader before the next general election is called, is more of a challenge to the Leader of Opposition and PNP president than it is to the prime minister and JLP president. The opposition leader was...
Integrity Commission Report Questions Jamaican Prime Minister’s Financial Transactions A long-awaited Integrity Commission (IC) report on Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ lack of annual financial report certification was recently tabled in the Jamaican Parliament and made public. It raised a plethora of questions in the public about Prime Minister Holness’ lack of disclosure to, and cooperation with the Integrity Commission. The IC report which was unable, among other things, to...
