Health Minister Fenton Ferguson decided to apologize yesterday for his statement that the 19 babies who died were not babies in the real sense. (By this logic, they were premature, so their immune systems were not fully developed.) The apology is fine, too bad it had to be made, surely compounding the parents’ pain.

Vogue has an extensive feature on Jamaica in this month’s edition. Check it out here. It looks at alternatives to the resorts, roots music, dancehall moves and profiles new artists.

Another attack on the homeless youth. A young man in a coma. They have found a new place to live, by the Canadian High Commission, but apparently people have started seeking them out to confront them. Read the story here.

Social media has, thankfully, jumped on the tragedy of 18 babies dying at two Jamaican hospitals. In fact, a hashtag #deadbabiesscandal has emerged. That does not sit well with me, despite the good intentions behind it.

Perhaps it is because I am holding my newborn daughter in my arms, Perhaps it is because we tried to have our daughter at the University of the West Indies Hospital (but were too late to register), where some of those babies died of a bacterial infection. But I don’t think that the hashtag is particularly sensitive to those parents who lost their most precious children. It is not a scandal. It is beyond that. I even struggle with what word to use to describe it- tragedy does not seem right.

But scandal speaks of something salacious or something at the level of mere gossip. These parents have to deal with a lifetime of grief unimaginable to most of us. They will have more questions than answers for the rest of their lives. Every time they see a baby or a child, they will think, What if…

Two people have now lost their jobs- management of the hospitals, but the Prime Minister remains silent and the Health Minister is still in charge. Another social media campaign has started- #FireFenton (Health Minister Ferguson Fention). In any case, the intentions behind the hashtag are surely noble, but perhaps not so sensitive to those parents now suffering in their own private hell.

By now, most people have seen Drake’s beautiful new video for Hotline Bling. And now the parody videos start- this one from Jamaican Bella Blair.

Apparently, Jamaica had grown “uneasy” with Canada after 10 years of Conservative rule under Stephen Harper. An editorial in the Jamaica Gleaner today welcomes new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, partly for nostalgic reasons, partly for the promise of a move away from a unipolar world, as Trudeau recalls fighter planes from the efforts against ISIL in the Middle East.

If Mr Trudeau’s promises for global engagement hold, he will add to the purchase of soft power in international relations, and, perhaps, help to strengthen Barack Obama against those on the American right who reject the value or efficacy of this approach.

And here is the conclusion:

A Canada led by Justin Trudeau may be more understanding of the concerns of small, poor indebted countries like those in the region, but is also likely to be tough and pragmatic in any negotiations.

To follow up on the tragedy of the dead newborn babies, fellow blogger Dennis Jones asks some tough questions I have also been pondering. Take a read here.

Eighteen newborn babies dead. Dozens more affected. This is the situation at two major hospitals here- the University of West Indies Hospital and one in a rural parish. As someone who has just given birth (in fact, we tried to register to deliver at UWIH but were too late), my heart aches for the parents. I am staring at my beautiful, tiny daughter with even more gratitude these days.

As usual, I have more questions than answers. Who is responsible? (Reports indicate that it is a bacterial infection, a result of unhygienic practices). Why did the health minister not know until four months later? Should he resign? (In fact, he is not taking responsibility, instead he is claiming that he could not act because he did not know. This is true, but isn’t the minister ultimately responsible for ministering his or her portfolio? If he admitted ignorance over such a major issue, isn’t that in fact an admission of negligence?) Why are foreign experts coming in now? Why are they coming at all? Do local officials not know how to maintain hygiene? Did the drought cause this due to a lack of water? How will the parents be treated?

I just keep thinking about it: imagine carrying your child for nine months to healthy term, then to have the most precious thing in your life perish as a result of careless behavior. How would you ever recover from that? Thoughts and prayers are with the parents.

Congratulations to Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The 43-year-old son of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau took a majority win in Canada last night, dumping Stephen Harper, who was going for a fourth term.

Change soon come in Canada. And voter turnout experience a strong surge, with close to 70 per cent of voters heading to the polls. Last election, it was closer to 60 per cent. Good work fellow Canadians.

I wonder if most Jamaicans would agree with the message Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller delivered today, on National Heroes Day.

An excerpt:

The Government that I lead, fully understands the struggles of the Jamaican people, and is committed to realising our collective hopes and dreams of peace, social and economic progress for Jamaica.

And what of this comment, in light of the recent deal with the British government to build a prison here in Jamaica for convicted criminals of Jamaican origin living in the U.K.:

Individually and collectively,our Heroes and Heroine destabilised the colonial regime and advanced the social, political and economic freedom of Jamaica.

Much food for thought on an important day.