Stories about Caribbean from February, 2013
Christian Protests Target Puerto Rico's Rising LGBTQ Rights
In the past few weeks various key events have occurred with respect to LGBTQ rights, the most prominent of which may be a demonstration organized by conservative Christian groups called "Puerto Rico Rises Up" to protest against proposed amendments that would extend legal protection to same sex couples in cases of domestic violence.
Trinidad & Tobago: Tensions High After Fatal Car Crash Sparks Riots
Netizens from Trinidad and Tobago have been keeping an eye on the fallout over a car crash near the Central Market in Port of Spain on Sunday, which killed a mother and her two young children. The car was allegedly driven by an off-duty police officer. Residents of the area rioted following the incident; protests continued yesterday. Online discussion has also been heated.
Sexual, Holy and Disruptive: One Billion Rising in the Caribbean
The "One Billion Rising" campaign, created in response to statistics which suggest that one in three women will be assaulted or raped in their lifetime, called on women across the world to dance together in protest of gender violence on February 14th. Various groups throughout the Caribbean participated...
Cuban Yoani Sánchez's Arrival in Brazil Makes Noise
Acclaimed Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez left Cuba this past Sunday for the first time since 2004. Sánchez will visit and speak at universities, NGOs and government forums in Europe, Latin America and the United States. While many voices around the world have expressed joy and excitement about Sánchez’s tour, responses have not all been positive.
Trinidad & Tobago's Take on The Harlem Shake
The latest Internet meme craze, the Harlem Shake, in which people dance to the song "Harlem Shake" by Baauer, has now taken Trinidad and Tobago – the other side of the world from where the meme began, in Queensland, Australia – by storm. This post checks out a few of the videos...
Haiti: The Politics of Identity
Tande blogs about “the relationship between cultural identity and belonging” and recommends a Haitian musician whose work goes beyond the identity politics and “offers a compelling example of how some of these tensions play out.”
St. Vincent, Grenada: Silly Electoral System?
The stupidity is the electoral system we operate under that leaves thousands without a political voice in the Parliamentary Halls. A landslide victory for the opposition in Grenada's national elections prompts Abeni to wonder whether the region needs constitutional and electoral reform.
Trinidad & Tobago: Suggestions for Carnival
Mark Lyndersay offers some suggestions to the National Carnival Commission Chair, Allison Demas, after her first Carnival in office.
Barbados: Elections Tomorrow
As Barbados gets ready for its national elections tomorrow, two blogs share their perspectives, here and here.
Jamaica: Reggae, Bleaching and Black History
It's Reggae Month and Black History Month…Jamaica Woman Tongue looks at the bleaching phenomenon against that backdrop.
Haiti: Will Duvalier Pay?
Kevin Edmonds blogs about Duvalier’s impunity in Haiti and what can be done to end it.
Cuba: Reactions to Pope's Resignation
Cuban bloggers, both on-island and from the diaspora, react to the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation here, here and here.
Trinidad & Tobago: Dr. Kim Mallalieu on ICT
ICT Pulse launches its “Caribbean Tech Movers and Shakers” series by profiling Dr. Kim Mallalieu, an educator who has influenced telecoms regulation, mobile applications development and Open Data initiatives.
Who Owns the Copyright for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival?
It has been popular in recent years for photographers (professional and amateur alike) to publish their pictures of Trinidad and Tobago's various Carnival activities online, especially on social media sites like Facebook. But now, the Trinidad & Tobago Copyright Collection Organization (TTCO) considers this to be a possible copyright infringement. Netizens weigh in on the issue.
Dominica, Curacao: Carnival 2013
Catch a glimpse of what this year's Carnival celebrations were like in Dominica and Curacao.
Trinidad & Tobago: Calypso Music
Calypso dead? Not quite. Calypsonians and calypso shows being lazy and unoriginal? We have plenty of that. The Eternal Pantomime explains.
Caribbean: Valentine's Day is for Bloggers
Think you know what love is all about? A few regional bloggers use Valentine's Day as an opportunity to figure it out…
A Fantastic Comeback for Trinidad & Tobago Carnival
The International Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad and Tobago is a major highlight of the country's Carnival festivities but this year it also served as a comeback for former winner Austin “SuperBlue” Lyons, who managed to tie defending champion Machel Montano for first place and a share of the International Soca Monarch title. Bloggers think it was a masterful return to the Carnival arena.
Dreams Come Alive, Baseball Player José Contreras Returns to Cuba
The arrival of José Ariel Contreras to Cuba, a Cuban baseball pitcher based in the US since 2002, has moved the habitants of his native province, Pinar del Río, and also fans of the island's national sport, baseball. Elaine Díaz tells us about this emotional event and its historical and political meaning for Cuba at the moment.
Trinidad & Tobago: Cyber Security
ICT Pulse wonders how serious the Caribbean really is about cybercrime and online security.
Death Knell for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival?
As Trinidad and Tobago gears up for its 2013 Carnival celebrations, bloggers discuss whether this is the beginning of the end of the national festival.
About our Caribbean coverage
Janine Mendes Franco is the Caribbean editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
