Stories about Caribbean from October, 2013
“I'm Dominican, Just Like You”: Thousands of Dominicans of Haitian Descent Are Left Stateless
The decision by the Dominican Republic's Constitutional Court to strip descendants of "foreigners" of their citizenship ignores the human reality of thousands of Dominicans.
High Voter Turnout Reframes Trinidad Election Story
First reports indicated low voter turnout for Local Government Elections, but the reality was the total opposite, confirming some netizens' suspicions that the electorate is anything but apathetic.
Grenada: Remembering the Revolution
Thirty years ago this month, former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was executed by a firing squad. It was the beginning of the end of the People's Revolutionary Government in Grenada.
16 Books on Latin American Street Art
In Latin America, street art is of major cultural relevance. The region’s traditions of social movements and revolution have allowed the form to give voice to otherwise unheard sectors of the population. Of course, not all street art is politically or socially-oriented in content, but it does often provide insight...
Opposition Wins Trinidad's Local Government Elections, but Everybody Celebrates
The opposition People's National Movement has won Trinidad's Local Government Elections - but that hasn't stopped the other political parties from claiming some measure of victory. Netizens, meanwhile, are incredulous.
Trinidad & Tobago: Giving the Government the Finger?
Today, Trinidadians voted in the country's Local Government Elections; Facebook was full of photos of citizens' ink-stained fingers. The question remains: have their votes sent a message to the government?
Controversial Candidates, Silly Season in Trinidad & Tobago
The by-election for the St. Joseph parliamentary seat will be held in early November - but the candidates are as controversial as the former representative.
Rise in Entrepreneurship Reveals Gender Tensions in Cuba
The transformation of the Cuban economic model has caused the flourishing of self-employed work, understood as not employed by the state.
Cancellation of Electoral Debate in Trinidad & Tobago: Symptom of Political Malaise?
Local Government Elections will take place in Trinidad and Tobago next week, but any chance of hearing the political leaders debate one another about relevant issues, has been foiled.
Earthquake Spurs Tsunami of Tweets in Trinidad & Tobago
If social media had a Richter scale, comments about the earthquake that struck last night would have registered high, judging from the timelines of Twitter and Facebook users.
Why is Cuban Dissident Sonia Garro in Prison?
Garro is a member of the controversial Damas de Blanco, a group of women advocating for the release of political prisoners in Cuba.
I Didn't Visit Westgate Mall
Matt Hunte, our St. Lucia author, has 20 thoughts around Nairobi's popular Westgate shopping mall, the scene of a horrific militant attack last month.
The Walls Speak in Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rican street art festival "Los Muros Hablan" ("The Walls Speak") joins the community to transform urban space.
Hungry in Haiti
Why – when the country has received at least one billion U.S. dollars worth of food aid between 1995 and the 2010 earthquake – is hunger on the rise? Haiti Grassroots Watch examines “complaints and rumors about the misuse, abuse, or negative effects of food aid.”
Landmark Ruling in Discrimination Case Puts the Caribbean First
The Caribbean Court of Justice's decision in a controversial discrimination case sends the signal that regional citizens have the right to freedom of movement across CARICOM states, without suffering harassment.
Trinidad & Tobago: Getting the Facts on Property Tax
In my opinion, the anti-Property Tax movement was an important measure of the extent to which our national discourse is now irrational and baseless. Afra Raymond explains.
“And Draw Until I Die,” Eight Questions for the Illustrator Lorraine Rodriguez
"Once you discover what you like, what brings you satisfaction, what you know how to do, what you're passionate about more than anything else, then there's no turning back."
Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada: “The Killing of a Revolution”
I was transfixed; in turns horrified, unbelieving, angry, and sad. Worse still, frustrated. Because the verdict of the film as to who was really responsible was inconclusive. Norman Girvan reviews Bruce's Paddington's film “Forward Ever”, about the executions of former Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and members of his cabinet.
Trinidad & Tobago: Crime Fighting – There's an App for That!
Gerard Best blogs about a new open data initiative aimed at stemming the tide of crime in the country.
About our Caribbean coverage
Janine Mendes Franco is the Caribbean editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
