JAMEXIT - CARICOM Passport Has No Use To Jamaicans

Here we go again...another incident in Trinidad and Tobago where Jamaicans were treated poorly. In this matter, the Jamaican women entering the country were made to sleep on a hard floor and given only a bottle of water before deporting them back to Jamaica. This kind of disrespectful reaction to Jamaicans is not a typical reaction that would be shown to immigrants from CARICOM countries who enter Jamaica. Such incidents generate the question as to why Jamaica, the most popular and dominant English speaking country of all the Caribbean countries, should continue to issue CARICOM passports or remain a full fledge or even a member of CARICOM. The Jamaica Manufacturing Association (JMA) also presents a list of concerns that the Jamaican exporters experience while doing business with Trinidad. The treatment of Jamaicans by CARICOM countries in general does not indicate that these countries want to engage with Jamaica in working towards a unified Caribbean. It clearly shows that most islands that are separated from Jamaica by their south eastern location want to maintain a close relationship with people in that region but not with Jamaica that is located in the distant north western region. Furthermore, while Bahamas is not located in the eastern region of the Caribbean and is not considered a full fledge member of CARICOM, it, as a Caribbean nation, is renown for its draconian treatment towards not only Jamaicans but people of other Caribbean countries since others are not considered "Bahamian" even by birth. For Jamaica, it is full time to review the CARICOM agreement and disassociate with the regions in the aspects of the agreement that are simply not working. It is time to move on!

School Challenge Quiz Showcases Outstanding Students from All Schools

The overall impression after release of the GSAT results is that, for the most part, a great number of the highest scoring students throughout the country are placed at Campion College. Campion College has come a long way from its former days as a private boys only school when it was not a popular choice among boys unless they were not successful in the Common Entrance Exam. The same feelings applied to girls who would not generally want to go to its sister school, St. Peters & Paul. So, both were the schools of last resort if students did not secure a place at their primary choice schools, St. Georges College or Immaculate Conception High School. However, today, Campion College is considered an elite high school and a popular choice among hundreds of thousands of students. This influential school is known for its state-of-the art equipment and well maintained facilities unlike other high schools where students may not have proper equipment, the facilities are dilapidated, and they may have to carry around their chairs since furniture is lacking in many classrooms. Nevertheless, the School Challenge Quiz, clearly demonstrate that the best and brightest students do not all gravitate to Campion College. The competition shows that there are outstanding students enrolled in other corporate area high schools and also rural schools. While these schools may not have picturesque surroundings and a college campus-like atmosphere similar to Campion College, they are still producing, through the dedication of hard-working teachers, the best and brightest students who are expected to excel in their future endeavors. Congratulations Tichfield High School on your 2016 School Challenge Championship win!

Dental Hygienists Working As Dentists

Too often when people go to dental offices in certain Jamaican communities, they are greeted by a receptionist who may also serve as the dental hygienist or, believe it or not, they may even take on the responsibilities of the dentist. Far too many dentists are opening up offices in these communities but are no where to be found at these offices during the important daytime working hours since they are working elsewhere. As a result, these dentists are leaving patients in the care of their hygienists/receptionists to perform important procedures. So, the dental hygienists/receptionists are running these offices under no supervision and charging the same fees as a dentist to perform routine and even complicated dental care services. A recent case occurred when a dental hygienist indicated that the dentist was not in office, but she would perform the duties of removing four teeth from the mouth of an elderly woman. Luckily, the daughter of the elderly lady was present to question the dental hygienist's qualification, refuse the dental procedure, and leave the office. However, too often unsuspecting patients who may not be knowledgeable about the dental hygienist's qualifications will allow him or her to perform dental procedures without the presence and guidance of a dentist. In such cases, dental complications may occur at that moment or later. Patients need to be educated that the dentist whose office was used for the procedure will ultimately be legally responsible for their difficulties. Evidently, the opening of private dental practices need to be regulated by the Ministry of Health so that a dentist is always in office to attend to patients' needs.

UWI Hospital Mona Fails Again at Serving the Public

It is disheartening to hear that a lady cannot obtain critical eye treatment and is on the verge of becoming blind because UWI hospital no longer provides a machine to handle the needed procedure. Certainly, after years of use, machines will break down. However, it does not appear any responsible person at the hospital considers that important machines such as that eye machine will need to be replaced eventually. The Chairman of the UWI Board, James Moss Solomon, provided a poor, inexcusable response that the machine costs too much money. It would have been more informative to hear from Mr. Moss Solomon what action will be taken to seek funding to replace the machine so that not only this lady but the public will continue to benefit in the future. Such response shows an indifference to the plight of people who cannot afford private medical attention since having such eye procedure done privately will cost over $1 million Jamaica dollars. Such a shame!

Early Announcement of Final Election Results Causes Conflicts in Jamaica

Announcing the final election results on the same night the polls close can be successfully done by certain countries such as the United States. However, making such an early announcement of the final results in countries such as Jamaica continues to cause confusion and later becomes a costly re-count process. This past elections is an example that indicates Jamaica still has not achieved the ability to count the ballots and provide accurate results on election night without making mistakes. The rush to get the results out creates disappointment and embarrassment when one candidate is later advised that the initial announcement of winning the constituents' votes was not correct. It also causes contention between the candidates and party supporters who have to wonder if any corruption occurred during the initial counting of the ballots. A number of countries give additional time to counting the ballots. Announcing the final results the next day or two gives workers a better opportunity to take their time to get the job completed efficiently. Other countries have taken this step to avoid after election confusion.  Why not Jamaica?

Ballot Recount Creates Post-Election Tension in Jamaica This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Ballot-Recount-Creates-Post-Election-Tension-in-Jamaica-20160301-0003.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

Popeyes Clogs Up Cross Roads!

A second franchise of the Popeye's restaurant was opened in Jamaica to fanfare at its Cross Roads location. Wonderful!! Another American restaurant is opened that sells greasy fried food to create more health problems for Jamaicans. It would be interesting to know how much of this unhealthy food Richard Lake, Lois Sherwood, and the other franchise owners at Restaurant Associates really eat. It is about time the health of the people is taken into consideration so that more effort will be given to starting Jamaican restaurant chains, such as Island Grill, that has developed a reputation for providing well cooked, healthy meals. Bombarding communities with so many American fast food restaurants, for instance three KFCs in Portmore, is simply just greed that manipulates the population's desire to eat "American".

Money Comes Out on Top Over Preserving the Environment

The "Environmental Minister's" lifting of the ban that prevented Karisma Development Corp. from removing sand from an already eroding beach property to use on another property shows that those like himself in charge of the country's environmental issues are either illiterate to the consequences that will likely occur to the coastline from the destructive sand mining, or have been lured by the monetary outcomes in building another hotel and the backdoor deals for making the decision in favor of the hoel development company. Diana McCaulay, environmentalist, explained in details the differences in sand quality from one coastline to the next. The published response showed the harm  that will not only affect the coastline where the sand was removed but also the coastal areas where the sand was transferred. However, this detailed response to the issue appears to have been overlooked by the minister. In concurring with a statement made on a popular radio talk show today, "Why bother to have an Environment ministry?"In time, those who have been lured by money that have caused them to make decisions in favor of big businesses will be remembered in history for their contribution to the destruction of the country's environment.

Government Lift Ban on Karisma Development for Removing Sand