Gleaner Columns

Beginning in January 1997 Errol Miller wrote a weekly Column for the Daily Gleaner. He ceased writing the Column after being appointed Chairman of the Electoral Advisory Committee in December 2000. The dates found at the end of most Columns are the dates on which the Columns were written and submitted. These columns were published three or four days later. These Columns are grouped in broad themes.

THE SHORTWOOD ON THE MOVE

 The last three months have been almost totally preoccupied with political and financial matters. First, it was all about the bail-outs, then the debate about the electoral system followed by the spectacle of the elections themselves and the announcement and formation of the new government. In these circumstances, it is not hard to miss some of the more constructive and long-term actions that are being taken by people without any prompting from the government or corporate leaders.

EDUCATION: A WATCHING BRIEF

 During the recent election campaign, all three major parties placed education as the top priority in their manifestos. To all educators, and to the electorate as a whole, this was a welcome sign. Such recognition of the importance of education to our future by the major contenders gave hope that whoever won, the support for education would be assured.

IN TWO MINDS

When it comes to the Government bail out of the Insurance industry, I must confess that I am caught in two minds. I have bought life insurance all my working life. Following the formula recommended by the industry I have taken out life insurance with premiums to the tune of approximately ten per cent of salary. When it became clear that whole-life and endowment policies were of limited value I started to buy equity related insurance.

DR RAE DAVIS WAS RIGHT

Recently Dr. Rae Davis, President of the University of Technology, made reference to the UNESCO Education Index monitoring progress towards Education For All by the year 2000 and noted that Jamaica ranked number one among the 87 developing countries included in the survey.

ROADS AND DRIVING

At one time cars were scarce and roads were abundant. Now cars are in abundance and roads have become a scarce commodity. Driving in Kingston is more than an exercise in patience and going to the country risking your life on approaching almost every corner.

1 2 … 6