Stories about Caribbean from October, 2014
Pioneering Trinidad & Tobago TV Personality Hazel Ward-Redman Remembered
Hazel Ward-Redman, who showcased the musical and artistic talent of young Trinbagonians through her television shows, has passed away. Fans and protégés pay their respects.
Off-Field Drama in West Indies Cricket Strike Heats Up Online Discussion
The West Indies' 2014 tour to India has been cancelled, thanks to a players' strike. Could this be the beginning of the end of West Indies cricket?
Hitting Below the Belt? Trinidad & Tobago President Tries to Gag Comedian Over Jokes About First Lady
A president, a first lady and a comedian walk into a bar...and what happens next, no-one could have anticipated. Did good-natured teasing hit below the belt?
Baby Doc's Death Fails to Bring Closure for Haitians
Dictators Jean-Claude and Francois Duvalier never paid for their crimes while alive; indeed, the fact that justice was not served is still a thorn in the side of many Haitians.
As Pressure Mounts in Trinidad ‘Re-Route’ Protest, Pro-Highway Supporters Get Nasty
An anonymous group, "Citizens4dhighway", places a malicious ad in a local daily designed to look like a newspaper report intended to belittle Dr. Kublalsingh's hunger strike. The outcry continues.
This is What Happens When Ricky Martin’s Hits Get an Indie Spin
No matter what you think about Ricky Martin, he's one of Puerto Rico's most cherished international exports who has put the spotlight on the island.
Barbados Muslims Reject ISIS, but Still Face Anti-Islam Bigotry Online
Many prominent Islamic scholars have condemned ISIS, but that unfortunately hasn't stopped some from conflating the militant group with the religion of Islam, like popular blog Barbados Free Press did.
Trailblazing ‘Soda Pop Anthology’ Showcases Comics by Puerto Rican Women
The anthology, published by Soda Pop Comics, an indie studio of female comics writers, wants to bring greater visibility and acceptance for women creators.
Too Late for Jamaican Government to ‘Kiss and Make Up’ When It Comes to Chikungunya
As the prime minister admits that Chikungunya has caused a "national emergency" in Jamaica, people remain dissatisfied with the government's efforts to educate citizens and contain the disease.
Artists Create Climate Change Mural in Grenada to Warn of Modern-Day ‘Paradise Lost’
"Never mind the Caribbean, I don't believe the average resident of any of the developing countries...are as conscious of the issue as they should be."
If Activists Were Prime Ministers, the Hunger Strike Over the Highway in Trinidad Would Be Over
A satirical video dealing with the Highway Re-Route Movement's protest over the construction of part of a bypass, calls out the government's "commitment to truth vs. spin”.
Bahamas Constitutional Reform To Address Citizenship, Gender Equality
Among the areas to be addressed is the right of certain Bahamians to pass citizenship on to their children.
Trinidad-born Actor and Renaissance Man Geoffrey Holder Dies at 84
Holder is remembered for being one of the greatest artists Trinidad has produced, and a prominent member of a golden generation of artists who came of age in the 1950s.
Still No Arrests in Case of Murdered Trinidad Attorney
After one national newspaper published the contents of murdered Trinidadian attorney Dana Seetahal‘s will, public relations expert and blogger Denise Demming is more concerned that five months later, no-one has been arrested: As the days pass and the likelihood of laying charges against the perpetrators of this crime recedes, I...
Jamaicans Are Now So Familiar with Chikungunya Virus They're Calling It Chik-V
The country's health ministry has faced criticism for its handling of an outbreak of Chikungunya, a virus spread by mosquitoes that causes high fever and severe joint pain.
Marlon James Writes the Great Jamaican Novel – and the World is Raving About It
Jamaican author Marlon James’ new novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, has been released to such fanfare that even hard-hitting literary critics cannot use enough superlatives in their reviews. Michiko Kakutani, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for The New York Times, described James as a “prodigious talent”, calling the novel “epic...
Battleground Instagram: the Jamaican Reggae Artiste vs. the Youth and Culture Minister
Recent online misadventures of Jamaica's state officials are an example of how social media are changing the way Caribbean politicians interact with the public.
“Democratize Development!” Say the Women of Trinidad's Highway Re-Route Movement
Global Voices Caribbean editor Janine Mendes-Franco reports from a protest against construction plans for a stretch of highway that represents growing public dissatisfaction over the government's lack of transparency.
The Chikungunya Virus Brings Jamaica to Its Knees
Jamaica is confronting a dangerous health scare, as bloggers argue that social media can be used as an effective information channel to educate the public about risks.
Against Her Will – Trinidad Newspaper Publishes Details of Slain Attorney's Estate
Today's lead story in one of Trinidad and Tobago's most popular newspapers was the contents of slain Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal's will. Seetahal was gunned down five months ago in Port of Spain; no one has yet been arrested for her murder. The blog Wired 868 could not understand the...
La Respuesta, an Online Magazine by and for the Millions of Puerto Ricans Living in the US
"One of our core values is to look critically at oppressive elements such as colonialism, racism, trans/ homophobia, sexism..." explains Xavier Burgo Peña, editor and co-founder of "La Respuesta."