Speeches Shim
January 2016—Twelve-year-old Orlando Scarlette sounds out each word and reads his book with confidence. You can see the big, bright smile on his face. He is proud of himself because he can read.
This was not always the case.
In 2013, when Orlando entered third grade in Jamaica, it quickly became apparent that his reading ability was five levels below what is expected of a 9-year-old.
November 2015 ---According to Jamaica’s National Meteorological Service, some of the country’s most scorching temperatures on record took place in the summer of 2015, regularly reaching and surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That phenomenon beat a record set 135 years ago in 1880.
The high temperatures were accompanied by the longest extended drought season in recorded history, with households and businesses across the island struggling to maintain an adequate supply of water.
To address threats and strains on growth and stability, Jamaica must become a more cohesive and inclusive country. Social cohesion is a driving force for political change and a mechanism that consolidates democratic values into social institutions, thereby strengthening government, public, and private sectors while building confidence among citizenry in their country’s ability to thrive.
July 2015---It’s midday and the sun is scorching hot, with temperatures reaching over 90. But the heat is not a deterrent for Cheryl Binns, who is on her 12-acre farm picking scotch bonnet peppers.
Binns, a mother and grandmother, took up farming later in life. For the last seven years, she has been a farmer in the community of Braco Trelawny, Jamaica. “This is what I love and there is no looking back. I am a full-time farmer,” says the former auto parts saleswoman.
May 2015 ---When it comes to climate risks in the Caribbean, the bluster and rage of hurricanes and tropical storms steal the stage. These events flare up quickly, can cause enormous damage and loss of life, and dissipate within days.
Drought is different. It’s more insidious and creeping, intensifying over many months, stunting or killing crops as it develops, emptying rivers and drying out water supplies. It represents one of the most frequently occurring and persistent climate hazards faced by the Caribbean’s nearly 40 million residents.
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Last updated: January 18, 2022
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