Stories about Caribbean from February, 2006
Barbados: First Album Release by Bloggers’ Brother
SunGoddess does an undeniably great job promoting her brother's first album, “Free,” which has been released in Barbados by CRS Music. Links to sample tracks are provided.
Jamaica: First Female Prime Minister
Continuing the global trend of more female heads of state, Portia Simpson-Miller won elections to become the first female party leader and Prime Minister in Jamaica's history. Although not his first choice, Leon Robinson says of Simpson-Miller: “she can cross party lines, she has a humble attitude, she's spiritual and...
Lone Haiti-Based Haitian Blogger on Recent Haitian Elections
Yon Ayisyen, the sole Haiti-based Haitian blogger complains (FR) that he does not have an internet connection at home. But that has not stopped him from blogging regularly if not always promptly about the recent presidential elections. Special Rules for Favored Candidate? Riots over the possibility of a runoff in...
Guyana: Mashramani
VSO/CIDA intern Michiyo experiences Mashramani, Guyana's Carnival, and posts a few photos with short captions (also rendered in Japanese). A sampling: “Everyone is full of glitters. By the time I finished watching the parade, I myself was covered with it.”
Jamaica: Say no to Brokeback
“Now before you gay advocates out there start posting hateful comments, understand that Jamaica is a very conservative country,” says Leon, in defense of the anti-Brokeback Mountain outcry in Jamaica.
Guyana: Sucking teeth
“With one long “stchuuuuup” and you eyes looking thin and mean, you can cut a big man down to li’l boy size,” writes Guyana-gyal in her treatise on the Caribbean art of sucking teeth.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival necessities & reenactments
Got your snake oil? Just in time for the official start of Trinidad & Tobago's Carnival on February 27, Attillah Springer makes a list of Carnival necessities. She also posts photos of old-time Carnival and the reenactment of the Canboulay Riots of the 1880s.
Caribbean: World Cup 2007 security
Barbados Free Press has it from “a confidential source” that “British and South African intelligence agencies and counter-terror units are to play major planning and operational roles in providing security for the 2007 Cricket World Cup” (which is being hosted by several Caribbean territories). The same source says, however, that...
Bahamas: Jeb Bush visit
On the occasion of Florida governor Jeb Bush's visit to the Bahama, Bahama Pundit offers an overview of Bush's achievements and some foreign policy suggestions for the Bahamas leadership.
The web make to blog on Carnival day…
… to paraphrase the late Lord Kitchener, calypsonian extraordinaire. It's Carnival Friday here in Trinidad and Tobago, which means that after weeks of mounting anticipation (the Carnival season really gets started as soon as Christmastime festivities are over), the biggest event in the country's calendar is underway. This weekend will...
Jamaica: PNP leadership race
Leon posts brief “pros and cons” profiles of the candidates in the People's National Party (PNP) leadership race.
Bermuda: Plantation questions
A politician's refusal to answer what he considers “plantation questions” disappoints both the Limey and Christian Dunleavy.
Guyana: Artist Donald Locke
Guyana Diaspora profiles painter and sculptor Donald Locke.
Argentina, Cayman Islands: Gay Cruise Ships
Ian writes that South America's first “gay cruiser” has docked in Buenos Aires. Andres Duque has more on the controversial cruise journey – which plans on ending its voyage in Rio for Carnival – as he compares it to a similar cruise which caused an uproar in the Cayman Islands...
Caribbean: Cricket shrink
Ri imagines a conversation between the West Indies cricket team's captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and the team's new Irish shrink.
Caribbean: Music and copyright
Attorney and writer/blogger Nyashazasha publishes a well-researched article on copyright issues affecting the Caribbean music industry.
Barbados: Hospitality on the bus
Linda Thompkins at My Barbados Blog receives an e-mail from a visitor who was alarmed at an offer from a young Barbadian woman riding with her on a crowded bus to hold her packages. “Let me say it is quite natural for bus riders that are seated to hold packages,”...
Trinidad & Tobago: Earth's magnetic field
Taran Rampersad speculates on the possible links between the earth's magnetic field and global warming.
Barbados: Environmentalist remembered & tuk band
Barbados Free Press pays tribute to the late environmental advocate Dr. Colin Hudson. And Titilayo posts photos of a traditional tuk band.
Barbados: Ministers’ assets & politics
Barbados Free Press takes issue with the fact that public officials in Barbados are not required to declare their assets. And with Barbados a “hotbed of political goings-on” in recent times, Neil Benn can't help but break his self-imposed rule about not blogging about politics.
Caribbean: Hurricane season
“My Caribbean and Florida bloggers, do you realise we are less than 16 weeks away from hurricane season”? asks Cayman Islands-based blogger Ri.
About our Caribbean coverage
Janine Mendes Franco is the Caribbean editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
