Jamaica Year in Review 2009

The year, 2009 began with vast global recession triggered by a plunging US economy which was characterised by a ‘tsunami’ of job loss, diminishing dollars and rising prices which was bound to affect the islands.  Jamaica’s newish ‘govament’ (as any ruling body is called by Jamaicans) chose the denial route. Public opinion channelled through its excellent cadre of journalists cited a level of diffidence in the new administration’s approach to public information. The criticisms continued to surface when it found itself hard put to contain a persistently high crime rate and the rising tide of job losses. There was also its perceived lack of resolve in sanitizing the sickly smell of carry-over scandals (political and otherwise) from the previous administration.