50-what? That was my reaction when the IDB representative told me the news that Jamaica had moved up in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicator from 94 in 2014 to 58 in 2015 (the World Bank changed the methodology, so officially they moved from 85 to 58, not too bad either). We all know that Jamaica is in the process of doing a series of reforms that will positively impact … [Read more...] about Big Jump in the Doing Business Indicator Ranking, More Improvements Expected
Housing Policy and Urbanization in the Caribbean: The State of the Debate
Despite the existence of several successful housing programs in the Caribbean, governments and the private sector have not produced enough housing units to accommodate the growing population. Today, many households cannot afford even the cheapest units produced in the formal private sector and most public sector housing. Faced with this situation, residents are increasingly … [Read more...] about Housing Policy and Urbanization in the Caribbean: The State of the Debate
Child Abuse: Breaking the Cycle through Public Education?
October is being celebrated as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”. It’s a good time for us to reflect on issues close to home. I was pointed to an interesting article published in the New York Times entitled “Punishment or Child Abuse”. The author dealt with the topic in the context of the American society, but I want to take a few minutes to analyse it in the context of the … [Read more...] about Child Abuse: Breaking the Cycle through Public Education?
Get Up, Start Up: Local and global partners help launch young entrepreneurs in Jamaica
Recently, I spent a few hours in a conference room with 60 young tech entrepreneurs in downtown Kingston. Their excitement was palpable. This was the final day of the Start-Up Jamaica boot camp, led by coaches from Oasis500, a Jordanian company that provides entrepreneurship training, business incubation, mentoring, and seed funding to help turn new tech ideas into … [Read more...] about Get Up, Start Up: Local and global partners help launch young entrepreneurs in Jamaica
Much More than a Mosquito Bite
https://vimeo.com/63267428 Did you know that as of 2005, nearly a quarter of residents of the capital region of Guyana were at risk of suffering lymphatic filariasis, an illness that causes permanent swelling in body extremities? This painful condition is locally known as “Goadie” and “Big Foot,” but what causes it? Lymphatic filariasis is a disease classified as a Neglected … [Read more...] about Much More than a Mosquito Bite