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A major challenge facing farmers in Portland, Jamaica is dry weather, especially during the optimal growing season from April through August. During this five-month period Portland suffered from severe dry spells during the years 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020. A second challenge is the damage to crops and land as well as loss of livestock due to tropical storms or hurricanes and the associated flooding. Portland farmers have suffered losses due to an active hurricane season numerous times and most recently in the years 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2020.
The burgeoning of small gourmet chocolate boutiques worldwide serves as a key driver for niche and ultra-niche marketing of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), branded as (a) geographical indication (b) estate origin or (c) based on unique genetics. Over 90% of the cacao farms globally, are small with an average size between 2 and 5 hectares and can benefit from supplying to the gourmet boutiques.
Oral malodour called halitosis, and commonly referred to as ‘bad breath’, is a socially offensive and discriminating occurrence that requires effective management for health improvement and avoidance of debasing stratification of sufferer. Halitosis has been reported to be prevalent in up to 50% of the general population in the USA, and about 6-23% in China. Between 80% and 85% of halitosis cases are caused by intraoral conditions. Literature on halitosis in Jamaica is either scarce or non-existent. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a common malodour that seemed to be spreading among persons through oral interaction by face-to-face contact with a sufferer was observed among the general populace in Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica.
The malaria epidemic was responsible for about 241 million infectious cases and 627,000 deaths worldwide in 2020.[1] This infectious disease, transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito, is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium namely P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. knowlesi, P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri.[2,3] Also, malaria is found predominantly in the highlands of Africa which accounts for more than 90% of infections worldwide. While there has been some success in the treatment of malaria, its eradication has been negatively impacted by insecticide and drug resistance. With emergence of thiosemicarbazone as antimalarial agents, the combination of pyridine and amide or thioamide moieties into one scaffold makes for an interesting target.[4]
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