Jamaica's "failed experiment" with socialism and the policy of floating its currency are among the key reasons why the Caribbean country continues to face serious economic and social problems. And its relatively high crime rate can be traced to the "tough" economic times there, and until there was a reversal of current economic and social conditions the problem would remain.

That analysis of the past and the present picture of Jamaica came from Edward Seaga, who led the Jamaica Labor Party for 30 years, during which he served as Prime Minister for nine years, beginning in 1980 and then Leader of the Opposition during the entire decade of the 1990s and into the early years of the 21st century, before retiring in 2005.  

NYS Senator Kevin Parker  Acquitted of more serious Counts in Staten Island Trial

Tony Best

New York State Senator, Kevin Parker of Brooklyn was convicted yesterday of two misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief but was found innocent of a more serious felony charge by a jury in a Brooklyn court.The conviction concerns damage to a camera and an automobile belonging to a newspaper photographer during an incident in Brooklyn in May last year. The case was prosecuted by the Staten Island District Attorney, Daniel Donovan, in a Kings County Court after the Brooklyn DA's office stepped aside after Parker had raised questions about the prosecution's handling of the case.State Senator Parker who was re-elected to his seat in Albany last month, was found guilty of two counts of criminal mischief in the 4th degree, Class A misdemeanors, attempted grand larceny in the third degree, criminal mischief in the third degree and a misdemeanor charge of assault in the third degree. If he was convicted of the felony he could have faced seven year prison. But on the misdeamor conviction the punishment could be a year in prison.