Modern research has reshaped interpretations of Jamaica’s past, especially the 1760-1761 slave rebellion. The revolt involving Tacky was but one episode in a greater three part Coromantee war involving separate actors.

Caricom is the planet’s largest grouping of mature democracies outside the European Union. For over 40 years, every member country (except Haiti and Suriname) has maintained a free press and independent judiciary, and regularly held free and fair elections.

It was billed as 'All About Trump'. But in recent historical context, the US 2020 presidential election was a pretty normal battle of Democratic and Republican voter bases. The combined vote percentage of the two main parties was about 98.3%, similar to 98.3% in 2012, 98.6% in 2008, and 99% in 2004. The outlier was 2016, when Democrats and Republicans combined for only 94.3% of the total vote.

To many, the 1976 election was socialism defeating capitalism, and a new Jamaica dawning. Minister of National Mobilisation Donald Keith ‘DK’ Duncan vowed to “de-legitimise old values, change socio-economic mindsets, and inculcate compatible perspectives.”

All established political parties suffer serious defeats at times, which naturally call for serious introspection and objective analysis. Historical perspective is a vital part of this process, but it has to begin with accurate history.

The 'Brogadization' of Andrew Holness, seemingly spearheaded by Robert Nesta Morgan, was one of the most successful brand building exercises in Jamaican history. Incorporating street lingo and slick social media suggestiveness, it transformed a likeable, hardworking Prime Minister into an almost folk legend leader.

Age may be just a number, but it matters in politics. Many countries have minimum age qualifications for political positions. Interestingly the mother of modern democracy, the United Kingdom, has no minimal age qualifications, and William Pitt the Younger famously became Prime Minister at 24 in 1783. But a lot of places clearly agree that ‘young bud nuh know storm!’. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_candidacy

‘Declining voter turnout’ is now a regular refrain at every election, as analysts lament the fact that fewer Jamaicans are voting. Yet it is simply not so. The percentage of Jamaicans voting – as a proportion of the total population - has gone up from 27% in 1993, to 32% in both 2011 and 2016.

"The greatest party in sports' -- as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bills itself -- really is the greatest party in sports. As anyone who has been there can attest, there is no 'vibesier' experience than a Jamaica Tallawahs match at Sabina Park. It's a simply wonderful combination of music, laughter, conversation, and cricket lovely cricket."

Jamaica is hard to pin down – ‘The Confounding Island’ says Orlando Patterson. But appraising prominent citizens can provide societal insights. So who was our most influential personality of the decade?