Stories about Caribbean from July, 2015
30 July 2015
So the Caribbean Walks Into a Bar…
#IfTheCaribbeanWasABar is trending in the regional blogosphere, bringing up issues of shared territory and identity in hilarious and illuminating ways.
29 July 2015
Battle of the Hashtags in Lead-up to Trinidad & Tobago's General Elections
The sparring match between Trinidad and Tobago's two main political parties on the eve of the country's general election has been duly hashtagged.
27 July 2015
How To Miss A Coup d'Etat
The July 27, 1990 attempted coup is Trinidad and Tobago's "Where were you when JFK was shot?" moment. But what if you weren't in the country at the time?
25 July 2015
Videos of Trinidad Jailbreak Show Prisoners Made Confident Exit from Downtown Prison
As somebody quipped on Facebook, it looked like "more of a jail release than a jailbreak".
Conspiracy Theories Abound in Aftermath of Trinidad Jailbreak
In the absence of an official version of events from the country's protective services, netizens have been sharing their own theories about yesterday's jailbreak in Trinidad's capital city.
24 July 2015
Trinidad's Capital Sent Into a Tailspin as Three Inmates Shoot Their Way Out of Prison
One escapee—awaiting trial in connection with a high-profile murder—and a police officer died in the ensuing frenzy. The other two prisoners are reportedly still at large.
22 July 2015
The Origins of Anti-Haitian Sentiment in the Dominican Republic
Ruling the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961, Rafael Trujillo used anti-Haitian ideology to rally Dominicans around his dictatorship.
20 July 2015
High-Profile Arrests Ahead of Elections Raise Tempers and Eyebrows in Trinidad and Tobago
There has been tremendous public pressure on Trinidad and Tobago's police force to solve a high-profile murder. After more than year, detectives finally produced a name.
17 July 2015
Cuba Si, Google No: Cuban Officials Rumored to Reject Google's Free WiFi Offer
In the words of a journalist who has resided in Havana since the early 1990s, "They say that when the donation is too large, even the poor become suspicious."
Enough With the ‘Us Versus Them Mentality'—We Are All Trinidadian
Lily Kwok posted a photo of herself on Facebook holding a placard that said, "I will not 'Go back to China'. I am Trinidadian" following a spate of anti-Chinese racism.
One Puerto Rican Island's 135-Year History of Struggle and Victory
A short documentary by the monthly newspaper Diálogo commemorates the 40 years since the people of Culebra expelled the US Navy and 135 years since the island municipality was founded.
The Force Isn't Strong With Trinidad & Tobago's Newest Political Party
The Third Force Movement announced less than two weeks after its launch that it will not be contesting the country's general elections in September. Cue the Star Wars jokes.
16 July 2015
Politics Overshadows Trinidad & Tobago Footballers in CONCACAF Gold Cup
Trinidad and Tobago's national football squad secured a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals, but the country's politicians seem determined to spoil the celebration with politicking.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Chinese Community Is Dog-Tired of Racial Stereotyping
Video of dog being skinned (allegedly at a Chinese restaurant) goes viral. Health minister hastily comments. Local Chinese community hits back online to try to bring the minister to heel.
Mexican Newspaper Launches Mayan-Language Edition
Mayan is the second most important indigenous language in Mexico, spoken by about 800,000 people.
10 July 2015
Netizens See More Farce Than ‘Force’ in Trinidad & Tobago's New Political Party
The Third Force Movement unintentionally became the butt of online jokes when netizens used the Trinbagonian penchant for pronouncing "th" as "t" to rechristen the group "The Turd Force".
7 July 2015
Film Explores Haiti's Only Free School for Children With Disabilities
"Only 1 in 50 Haitian children with disabilities attend school. This is a tremendous setback both for the children who stay home, and for parents..."
About our Caribbean coverage
Janine Mendes Franco is the Caribbean editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
