Stories about Caribbean from May, 2023
The Caribbean mourns resilient rock and roll legend Tina Turner
Her decision to go public about her abuse made Turner even more relatable. This was especially true in the Caribbean, which struggles with high rates of domestic violence and femicide.
Investigators in Guyana allege that tragic dorm fire was set by disgruntled student over a confiscated phone
The blaze began in the bathrooms, where the teenager was thought to have sprayed insecticide on a curtain, then lit a match. The fire quickly spread through the building.
Human activities are adversely affecting Barbados’ gullies
Being a predominantly limestone island, gullies form an integral part of Barbados' culture, heritage, and biodiversity — but unsustainable human-influenced activities are leading to their degradation.
‘Deliberately set’ dormitory fire that killed 19 plunges Guyana into mourning
Most of the victims were teen girls who came from surrounding Indigenous communities.
Jamaica ‘celebrates’ the 75th anniversary of Windrush, but should it?
"My mother and father-in-law, with great expectations, went to an inhospitable UK to help fill its need for cheap labour to rebuild the country after the war ... it's personal."
World Bee Day: A Jamaican organic farmer says these furry creatures play a critical role in pollinating her crops
Major threats to Caribbean bee populations include chemical use in agriculture, farming practices like clear cutting, drastic weed removal, and increasing urbanisation.
Whether the rape threat issued at a political meeting was directed at a journalist or not, ‘it’s time to address’ deep-seated issues in Jamaica
The incident has left many Jamaicans concerned that the island's “rape culture” is not being properly addressed.
Caribbean journalists: ‘Shortfalls in climate reporting can be improved’
Caribbean journalists are finding it essential to report on climate justice issues, and ensure those who play a greater role in causing climate change are held accountable.
Prolific Jamaican writer Kwame McPherson wins the 2023 Commonwealth Short Story regional prize for the Caribbean
Judges hailed McPherson's submission, "Ocoee," as “a memorial to the enduring nature of the human spirit."
The Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica beach cleanup points to the need for greater public education
In the Caribbean, though beach clean-ups and plastic collections help to reduce the amount of plastic and raise the level of environmental consciousness, they never seem to be enough.
World Migratory Bird Day celebrates extraordinary avian journeys, twice a year
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) takes place twice a year in the Americas, in honour of the biannual movements of the migrating birds and the amazing distances they travel.
King Charles’ coronation stirs little interest in the Caribbean, save for how he plans to respond to calls for reparations
"King Charles must translate the rhetoric of sorrow into the truly meaningful language of immediate reparations."
Suriname’s Indigenous communities are on the front line of the climate fight
Now in a race against time to protect their traditions, many of Suriname’s Indigenous communities have reported being affected by an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
The press and human rights in Trinidad & Tobago
"I believe press freedom is intrinsically aligned to a wide swathe of freedoms and human rights ..."
Why does Trinidad & Tobago tax books?
"[T]he finance minister described the tax regime as fiscal policy, not social policy, but that’s merely a mirage. All taxation reflects an assessment of social needs and priorities..."
The Caribbean outlook on World Press Freedom Day
Despite dismissiveness from elected officials, as well as instances of verbal abuse and cyberbullying, Caribbean journalists press on.
Brian Samuel’s extraordinary story of a nomadic Caribbean family and the father who held it together
In Caribbean families, fractures may appear due to migration, instability, and the search for a better life. A new book by a Grenadian author takes us along on the journey.
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