jan-2018

8 9 OPENING LINES West Kingston community in search of alleged drug don Christopher“Dudus”Coke,whowas wanted for extradition to the United States.During the security operations—which raisedmajor concerns among human rights groups—at least 72 Jamaicans lost their lives and about 35morewerewounded. THE LOSS OF A FEWGOOD MEN Finally,the regionwas inmourning over the death of several keyfigures this year: Trinidad andTobago’s ‘virtual’historianAngelo Bissessarsingh,promising young soca singer DevonMatthews,Jamaicanmedia icon Ian Boyne,and St.Lucian-born but regionally claimedNobel Laureate,Sir DerekWalcott. STILL IN FREE FALL ISSUES OF MIGRATION When it comes to certain pressing issues,the ride definitely isn’t over.The region continues to grap- plewithmatters such asmigration,for instance, against the backdrop of the deepening political and economic crisis in nearbyVenezuela and the recent plight of a group of Cubanmigrants living on the street in a protest outside theTrinidad andTobago office of the UnitedNations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA Because of its geographical location—smackdab betweenNorth and SouthAmerica—the Caribbe- an has been affected by the policies of the United States’“War onDrugs.”So,while the rest of theworld begins to legalizemarijuana and profit handsomely from its legal sale,particularly in themedical mari- juanamarket,the region that is perhapsmost asso- ciatedwith ganja growing nowtrails behind both legislativelyand economically.While there has been some astounding progress in this regard,particularly in Jamaica (which has decriminalized possession in small amounts),other territories are still sluggish.