Stories about Caribbean from October, 2021
‘Loss and Damage’ are critical issues for fragile Caribbean states at COP26
"It’s important for high emitting, major polluters to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That is what is driving the extremes of climate change. Meanwhile, we have to adapt."
Brandy Rodriguez, ‘fearless’ advocate for Trinidad and Tobago's LGBTQ+ community, dies
'Her work has assisted with the reduction of exclusion, discrimination, and violence of marginalized groups – especially Trans-Women.'
Chaotic attempt to remove Trinidad & Tobago's president demonstrates how ‘the country was the real loser’
Trinidad and Tobago's landscape of tribal politics recently culminated in a motion—which ultimately failed—to remove the country’s sitting president from office.
Controversial Jamaican pastor dies in car crash on the way to being charged for ‘cult’ deaths
Following the bizarre deaths of two congregants and a car crash that claimed the life of the sect's leader, Jamaicans are incredulous over how such "churches" are allowed to operate.
Yasin Abu Bakr, leader of Trinidad & Tobago's attempted Islamist coup, dies 31 years after failed insurrection
"Have you lot praising this ‘community leader’ ever thought about not only the people killed but the people living on after being traumatized?"
Key suspect in Haitian president’s assassination held in Jamaica on immigration charges
Details are still coming to light, but the suspect, Colombian national Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, was arrested in central Jamaica, and was being held on immigration charges.
‘Self governance is self love': Barbados elects first local head of state on journey to becoming a republic
"We have a good relationship with the British monarchy. Long may it continue, as equals. Congratulations to our incoming President Dame Sandra Mason."
How Dave Chappelle's new comedy special went over in the Caribbean
"[Chappelle] built his deconstruction of the importance of comedy to the human condition using the various gender and LGBTQ movements of this century as his prisms."
On National Heroes Day, Jamaicans at home and abroad pay their respects to ‘son of the soil,’ General Colin Powell
Despite his reputation for decency and integrity, Jamaicans—and the Caribbean in general—had qualms about General Powell’s involvement in the Iraq War.
The death of a reputed gangster exposes fault lines in Jamaican society
"There should be no rejoicing at his death; there are two truths here—that our society failed a young man of great potential AND he caused untold pain and suffering."
Peter Telfer, the Trinidadian percussionist who made African drumming a church staple, goes to his Creator
"I remember the first time I heard ‘O Creator’. It woke me up because [...] it was our rhythm, it was our chant, it resonated with us, a Caribbean people."
Could Miami show Trinidad and Tobago how to safely pull off Carnival in a pandemic?
"There were free testing stations, temperature checks. They followed strict protocols [...] My friends who participated are all fully vaccinated. Hoping that it wasn’t a super spreader."
Jamaica forced to dump 55,000 doses as COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy persists
"Before [social media] those who were uninformed knew they were uninformed ... now [the] same uninformed listen to two fake news video clips [and] pronounce themselves experts."
Flower power: Rapper Trinidad James irritates compatriots with sneaker brand misnomer
The debut of the rapper's new sneaker brand, marked by a plethora of inaccuracies about the country's national flower, was followed up by an apathetic apology with additional blunders.
Hope amid scarcity and fear: Cuba after July’s historic protests
"Cuba understood that it had the right to have rights."