Citation Policy

The Caribbean Current is built on evidence. Every article, documentary, commentary and educational publication is supported by sources that a reader can review directly. This policy explains how we select, verify and cite those sources.

Primary sources

Wherever possible we cite primary sources — the Constitution of Jamaica, Acts of Parliament, Standing Orders, Hansard, government reports, court judgments, treaties, official statistics and original archival records. When a primary source exists online we link directly to the official host.

Secondary sources

Where a primary source is not available, or where a claim depends on interpretation, we cite reputable secondary sources — recognised news organisations, statutory bodies and established reference works. We attribute clearly and name the source in the text.

Academic references

For historical and analytical work we rely on peer-reviewed scholarship from the University of the West Indies and other recognised institutions, and on books authored by historians and researchers with a documented record in the field.

Government publications

We treat official government publications as authoritative for their own actions and data — Jamaica Information Service, Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Bank of Jamaica, Auditor General's Department, the Integrity Commission and ministerial publications. We do not treat government communications as neutral on questions of policy.

Historical documents

Historical claims are supported by archival records — Jamaica Archives and Records Department, the National Library of Jamaica, The National Archives (UK), the Legacies of British Slavery project and comparable collections.

Citation formatting

Each publication ends with a Sources & References section listing every source consulted, with direct links to the official document whenever one exists. If no official document exists, we state the publication and, where relevant, the archive box or reference number.

Verification standards

Before publication, factual claims are checked against the source cited. Quotations are checked against the original recording or transcript. Statistics are checked against the publishing agency's most recent release. When a claim cannot be verified, it is not published.

Fact-checking and corrections

If a reader believes a publication contains a factual error, we welcome the challenge. Confirmed errors are corrected transparently in line with our Corrections Policy.

What we do not do

We do not fabricate citations. We do not cite sources we have not reviewed. We do not treat social media posts as sources of fact. We do not present opinion as reporting.