Bermuda: Parliamentary alibis

The Limey cites several examples of equivocation on the part of Bermuda's MP's over their failure to debate an important amendment to the Human Rights Act last week, and reports that a rally is being organised to protest the lack of debate among the MPs. Christian Dunleavy reproduces on his...

Caribbean: Lists

On his freshly launched blog, Jamaican novelist Marlon James weighs in on the New York Times “Top Twenty-Five American Books”. Barbadian blogger Titilayo singles out a few notables from TIME magazine's “list of “100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world”.

Barbados: Labour party blogging

Barbados's incumbent Barbados Labour Party seems to have taken to blogging like a fish to water — at least for now. Four posts in the last four days, on topics such as why the “two major media organizations” in the UK and the USA contacted blog Barbados Free Press for...

Bahamas: Development proposal

Residents of a small community in the Bahamas vote against a proposal which would have helped “preserve the character of local communities”. Larry Smith says the proposal's “scope, bureaucratic complexity and level of detail” may be to blame, “and, of course, we should not overlook the ever-present influence of party...

Latest in the Francophone Caribbean Blogosphere

St. Lucia: privatisation of utilities

Should the St. Lucian water company be privatised? Should the mass transit system remain in private hands? Matthew Hunte weighs in. “We end up in a funny situation where (quite a few of) the same people who oppose private water are quite content to leave our transport system in the...

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Condoms in schools?

Twenty per cent of live births in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are to teenage mothers. So why, asks Abeni, is the minister of education “vehemently opposing the idea of condoms being distributed in schools. At least it deserves some thought rather than a blanket refusal.”

Bermuda: Auditor general “under attack”?

Is Bermuda's government “engaging in a direct attack” on the independent auditor general? “Any doubts … should be put to rest,” says Christian S. Dunleavy. “This move ranks the tops in total stupidity. So high in fact that it wreaks of scandal,” says IMHO.bm.

Barbados: Senegalese “death boat”

“What circumstances did these men come from that drove them to make a desperate trip to a strange new land in search of a better life? How must the people who loved them be suffering now, in the agony of loss and not knowing?” Titilayo muses on the fate of...

Caribbean: What blogging is for

“Blogging … challenges the elitism that pervades the Caribbean and is a great experiment in the democratization of data,” says Geoffrey Philp in a thoughtful essay on the potential role of blogging in the region. “Blogging provides the kind of freedom that is anathema to many gatekeepers who want to...

Martinique: Boat Parking in the Way of Beach Enjoyment

Bien Vu complains (Fr) that a Martiniquan municipality is prioritizing the parking of catamarans along a local beach over the comfort and enjoyment of bathers in order to generate revenue.

Belize: Fauna photos

Mollusca‘s “Belize 2006″ photoset on Flickr includes some dramatic images of the country's fauna, including the highly venemous fer-de-lance snake, a colourful grasshopper and some tiny tree frogs.

Dominica: The Nature of tourism

Both Titlayo and Francomenz write about their recent vacations in Dominica. Titlayo posts a beautiful photo of Trafalgar Falls, noting that they are “one of Dominica's main tourist attractions, especially for cruise ship visitors, who were there in abundance the day we went.” Francomenz cautions that “Dominicans have an awesome...

Rock Steady: Desmond Dekker

Mshairi remembers Rock Steady great, Desmond Dekker who passed away recently. Who can ever forget “Israelites”

Barbados: The risky business of political blogging

Barbados Free Press reviews the Barbados Labour Party's newly launched blog and outlines the risks a political party faces in undertaking such a project: “the two main risks can be shortened to this. . . 1/ Risk of Public Failure – Successful Blogging Takes New Skills & Commitment . ....

Bahamas: Ignoring the revolution

“These days, it is possible to link to other human beings anywhere in the world by using satellites, cell phones, and the internet. The world has changed, and – without realizing – we have changed with it,” marvels Nicolette Bethel, “But it appears we haven’t noticed this change. That this...

Trinidad & Tobago: More smelter woes

Attending a five-hour public consultation where Trinidad & Tobago's Environmental Management Authority tries to convince the audience that the aluminium smelter to be constructed in southern Trinidad is no threat to the environment, only serves to fuel Attillah Springer's anger and skepticism about the project: “We'd be seriously fooling ourselves...

Haiti: Mother's Day

“In Haiti May 28 is a day of celebration of Haitian mothers,” says blogger (Fr) AyitiCherieConnexion. “I'd like to say: Happy Mothers’ day to all the women of Haiti, whether they are rich or poor, whether they are from the countryside, from the cities or from the mountains. After all,...

Senegal: Conversations on Drowned Migrants

Senegalese blogger Seckasysteme has been keeping a close eye on thousands of migrants from Senegal who have attempted to reach Europe on clandestine rafts since the beginning of the year. Last week the blogger explained that 23 migrant hopefuls had been intercepted by Senegalese authorities on their way to the...

Martinique: Stabbing over 10 Euros

“Yet another tragedy in Fort-de-France! [Martinique's capital]” says (Fr) Bien Vu. “Two 20-year olds get in a fight over a debt! Of 10 Euros! The borrower did not hesitate to pull a knife and stab the [lender] several times. End result, the young man has been in the coma for...

West Indies: Cricket victory over India

Today Trinidad and Tobago hosted the fourth match in the current West Indies vs India One Day International cricket series. Francomenz didn't make it to the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain to watch the match, but she followed it on the radio. “Too exciting!!!” she wrote when West...