Kwame Dawes. Image from YouTube uploaded by Poets’ House. – Advertisement – Jamaica will honor its new Poet Laureate, Professor Kwame Dawes, in an investiture ceremony on Wednesday, January 22, at King’s House, starting at 10:00 a.m. The National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), under the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, is organizing the event. Key speakers include Portfolio Minister Hon. Olivia Grange, Deputy Governor-General Hon. Steadman Fuller, and Professor Dawes. Remarks will also come from National Librarian Beverley Lashley and other NLJ officials. The ceremony will feature a citation for the Poet Laureate, live musical performances, and will be broadcast on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) and NLJ’s YouTube and Instagram pages. Professor Kwame Dawes, a Ghanaian-born and Jamaican-raised poet, writer, and scholar, will serve as Poet Laureate for the 2025–2028 term. He has authored works like Sturge Town (2024) and Wheels (2010) and has earned prestigious accolades,...

The Capitol in Washington, DC at night. Photo: US Government. – Advertisement – Yesterday was Donald Trump’s Big Day Out, with ceremonies to mark his inauguration, including parties, balls, and rallies, and yet the incoming president was more concerned about getting his feet under the Oval Office desk to sign off on a record number of presidential executive orders, some of which will have massive impacts on Americans. On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a total of 26 executive orders covering various policies. Ten of these are especially notable: Gender Recognition Order: This mandates federal recognition of only two biological sexes—male and female—based on reproductive anatomy. It restricts funding for gender transition services and bans gender-neutral pronouns in government facilities. End of DEI Programs: This ends diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government, returning to merit-based policies. Cartels as Terrorist Groups: International drug cartels, including...

Marcus Garvey circa 1020. Photo from Library of Congress. – Advertisement – Departing President Joe Biden has issued a posthumous pardon to Jamaican-born civil-rights activist Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey, born in Jamaica on August 17, 1887, was a political activist, publisher, and entrepreneur. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914 to unite and uplift people of African descent globally. Garvey promoted Black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, racial pride, and economic independence. He also established the Black Star Line, a shipping company to support trade and transportation among the African diaspora. In 1923, Garvey was convicted of mail fraud tied to the Black Star Line and sentenced to five years in prison. The charges stemmed from accusations that he had used the U.S. mail system to promote and sell stock in the Black Star Line through misleading advertisements. Specifically, the prosecution claimed that Garvey and the company sent out promotional...

Bad Bunny. Photo by Edermarco , Creative Commons. – Advertisement – Bad Bunny’s latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Pictures), combines Afro-Caribbean and urban rhythms to highlight Puerto Rican culture and the island’s challenges. The album mixes perreo, salsa, bomba, and plena to delve into Puerto Rican identity, traditions, and pressing political and social issues. The album has been described as a “love letter to Puerto Rico,” effectively bridging generational gaps and appealing to a wide audience Songs address topics like power outages, economic instability, corruption, and gentrification, offering a voice to the struggles faced by locals. Cultural experts note Bad Bunny’s ability to reflect the collective experiences of Puerto Ricans. Ritchie Poetry, a Puerto Rican composer, praised the fusion of traditional rhythms with reggaeton, connecting generations through music. Themes in the album include the exodus of Puerto Ricans due to lack of opportunities and...

An image of a lively bar at the beach in Jamaica. – Advertisement – The Jamaican Government, through the Ministry of National Security, is advancing efforts to combat human trafficking with the introduction of a National Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Policy. The U.S. Department of State’s 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report classified Jamaica as a Tier 2 country, acknowledging that while the government does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, announced the initiative on January 17 during the launch of a new awareness course in Montego Bay. Dr. Chang emphasized that the policy targets vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. It also reflects the government’s commitment to addressing human trafficking as a national priority, with a detailed action plan to prevent and tackle the...

Photo: Rawpixels. Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel greets Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State who seems to have been ineffectual in achieving a ceasefire over months of negotiations. – Advertisement – Israel’s Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal for Gaza and a hostage release agreement, with 24 ministers voting for it and eight against. The plan will begin on Sunday. The ceasefire agreement, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, follows over a year of negotiations. President Biden endorsed the deal in May, but it took a further 7 months to bring the deal to fruition. Wednesday. The Israeli Cabinet finalized its approval early Saturday. Starting Monday, the incoming Trump administration will oversee its implementation. The deal has three six-week phases, with details of phases two and three still under discussion. Phase one includes withdrawing Israeli forces from crowded areas in Gaza, increasing aid to the region, and releasing...

An image of what it might be like arriving at London’s Heathrow airport. – Advertisement – Only days after introducing its new Electronic Travel authorization for travelers from countries that don’t need visas to travel to the UK, the UK government has already started changing the rules and hiking prices. Here’s a breakdown of the news for travelers regarding the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Travelers transiting through London Heathrow and Manchester airports without passing UK border control are temporarily exempt from applying for an ETA if they are taking flights to other countries from the “airside”  without actually going through passport control to enter the UK. However passengers landing at London’s Gatwick airport, which welcomes many flights from the US, WILL have to  have ETA prior to travel as Gatwick does not have facilities for changing planes without going through UK customs and immigration first. Gatwick also has flights...

CEO Renaud Irminger. – Advertisement – Basseterre, Saint Kitts – Saint Kitts and Nevis is on track to become the first nation in the Caribbean to implement an advanced Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system by mid-2025. This transformative initiative was highlighted during an introductory meeting on January 17, 2025, with key national stakeholders and the leadership team of Travizory Border Security SA, headed by CEO Renaud Irminger. CEO Renaud Irminger. The introduction of the eTA system is a vital step in the government’s ongoing mission to transform Saint Kitts and Nevis into the first Sustainable Island State. By leveraging digital innovation and modern technologies, the government is enhancing the delivery of public services while fostering economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, the Honourable Dr Terrance M. Drew, underscored this vision, stating: “Saint Kitts and Nevis is proud to lead...

Dollars galore. Photo by Alexander Grey on UnSplash. – Advertisement – The Central Bank of Barbados has addressed concerns about some businesses refusing to accept US $1 bills. While it understands the public’s frustration, the Bank explains that it cannot control whether businesses accept foreign currency, as this is not within its legal authority. The Bank reassures the public that US $1 notes are still accepted by commercial banks and that these banks regularly accept them from customers. In Barbados, the Barbadian dollar (BBD) is the only legal tender. Businesses may choose to accept foreign currencies like the U.S. dollar, but they are not required by law to do so. This leads to inconsistencies, especially with smaller denominations like the US $1 note. If you have US $1 notes, it’s best to exchange them at local banks, which have confirmed they will accept them. This ensures your money can be...

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Marcus Natta and Permanent Secretary Azilla Clarke. – Advertisement – Basseterre, St. Kitts – The innovative Budget Boost Wallet (BBW) initiative by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been overwhelmingly embraced by citizens and residents with approximately 15,000 individuals registered to date. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Marcus Natta and Permanent Secretary Azilla Clarke. Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Marcus L. Natta shared the update on Wednesday’s (January 15, 2025) edition of InFocus. According to the projected number of eligible beneficiaries provided by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, the confirmed registrants account for just over two-thirds of the expected total. The BBW and its dedicated website was launched on January 11, 2025. The temporary financial support initiative aims to alleviate the burden of global inflation on vulnerable households. BBW offers $1,500 in direct assistance over six months to eligible individuals earning $5,000 or less. The $5,000...