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Jamaicans Are Worried Foreigners Will Take Over the Ganja Market

It's hard to believe lighting up a joint was illegal in Jamaica until about four years ago. But since a 2015 law change, individuals can have a small amount of ganja for personal use, medical sales are allowed, and ganja tourism is on the rise. Which all means permits are being issued for growers and other ganja-related businesses.

The question that worries locals is: Who's going to profit from this? Jamaicans, or somebody else?

The ganja gold rush has attracted foreign investors pumping in money and setting up shop on the island. Smaller local farmers, many of whom had been harassed and punished for growing in the past, simply can’t compete. It now costs $2,000 for a growing license and $10,000 for a distributor's license, and the application process can be difficult.

Barbados Denies Report of Measles Outbreak

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday, March 4, 2019 – The Ministry of Health and Wellness has denied a local media report that the island is experiencing a measles outbreak.

In fact, said Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Karen Broome, Barbados has not documented a case of measles since 1990.

A local online news website last Friday quoted Director of PAREDOS, Sheila Stuart as saying that “The Ministry of Health sent four inspectors to check those green cards for immunization purposes because we have a measles outbreak in Barbados”.

However, the Ministry said it is simply conducting a review of vaccination records of children in nurseries and day care centres throughout the island to ensure they are up-to-date, in order to prevent an outbreak.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness advises that measles can be prevented once children receive two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine which in Barbados is administered at ages 12 months and 18 months. If your child has not been vaccinated, you are advised to contact your health care provider immediately,” it said.

Rum Journal: A Bourbon-Edged Expression from Papa’s Pilar

We’ve long been fans of the upstart Papa’s Pilar rum brand, thanks to what is one of the industry’s most drinkable rums and a terrific, authentic Hemingway-backed story.

The brand has taken that drinkability both to hard-core rum aficionados and, more importantly, to bourbon and whisky drinkers.

The latter is likely the focus behind the newest expression, a new 2,000-case production of the Papa’s Pilar Bourbon Barrel Finished Dark Rum.

In recent years the brand, which made its initial launch five years ago with an aged “dark” and a lightly aged “blonde” expression, has diversified its range with a host of special-finish expressions, most notably last year’s spectacular Sherry finish.

And this is just as good.

This expression takes the signature blend (which itself blends rums aged in bourbon, port and sherry casks, and finishes it in bourbon barrels.

So what is the newest Pilar like?

The aroma is a delight, with notes of malted chocolate, key lime, cocoa powder and vanilla, with a flavour profile marked by sweet-edged notes of black pepper and spice.

On the finish, the bourbon begins to emerge, as the layers of this rum reveal themselves, with hints of toffee and caramel.