Stories about Caribbean
Destruction of coastal forest for a major tourism project raises questions about Jamaica’s climate change posture
"A development of this nature is inappropriate for an area which has been afforded several levels of environmental protections, and is well recognised for its diverse and healthy coastal ecosystems."
Imagining the Caribbean's architectural alphabet
As his contribution to the online design challenge "36 Days of Type," Trinidadian artist Nicholas Huggins decided to create a visual alphabet inspired by the architecture of the region.
In the grip of pandemic, ‘the time is now’
"I don't know, but I want to be here, persisting. Intemperately. Ridiculously. Maybe even foolishly. And the difficulty has been in believing I deserve that grace. Maybe you feel the...
Heavy rains worsen the effects of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ La Soufrière volcano
As the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season draws closer, the country has been experiencing heavy bouts of rainfall, which have contributed to the creation of lahars, or destructive volcanic mudflows.
Attack on a woman in a parking lot has Jamaicans furious and a parliamentarian in limbo
Anger and cynicism have characterised online discussion about the incident, which fed into the bigger issue of gender-based violence.
Could the sargassum plaguing Tobago's beaches be an opportunity?
As sargassum continues to be a seasonal crisis for many tourism-dependent Caribbean islands, people have been wondering about the possibilities of putting the seaweed to good use.
The George Floyd verdict gets netizens thinking about police brutality in the Caribbean
While social media users across the Caribbean were relieved that George Floyd's murderer was found guilty, they understood that justice being served in this one instance does not equal change.
As St. Vincent's La Soufrière erupts again, experts say it's ‘not over yet’
Even though volcanologists explain that this type of activity is to be expected, residents are getting weary.
Jamaica’s COVID-19 vaccination blitz administers 75,000 doses just before expiry date
A shipment of 75,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Jamaica on April 8, but expired a few days later, leading to a race against the clock.
St. Vincent's La Soufrière explodes again on 42nd anniversary of last major eruption
There are concerns for residents who have refused to leave their homes in the "Red Zone," and for birds and other wildlife.
The longer La Soufrière's activity lasts, the more dire St. Vincent's situation becomes
Ash fall, sulphur-filled air, poor visibility, volcanic rock falling out of the sky and continued eruptions, and La Soufrière's rumblings still aren't over.
Jamaica's spate of femicides raises perennial questions about the influence of dancehall music
The uptick in female murders has the prime minister chastising the perceived influence of dancehall music, and fanning the flames of an issue on which Jamaicans remain quite divided.
‘Explosive eruption confirmed’ at St. Vincent's La Soufrière volcano
"Evacuations have been taking place by both land and sea, with several regional territories, including St. Lucia and Barbados, offering to receive displaced people."
Residents prepare for possible evacuation as St. Vincent's La Soufrière volcano heats up
The head of St. Vincent and the Grenadines' National Emergency Management Office tells residents, "Be ready, get your things in order."
Jamaicans agonise, politicians seek solutions after another young woman is killed
News of a young woman's murder comes against the backdrop of record murder rates in Jamaica which, according to one 2020 survey, is the highest in the region.
Bert Rose, pioneer of Jamaica’s independence-era dance movement, dies at 81
"Mr. Rose’s contribution to nation-building has created the foundation for others to rise to their own greatness. He has left behind a legacy that will live on for generations."
Connecting the dots: ‘Motus’ programme uses technology to track migrating birds in the Caribbean
Designed to enable conservation and ecological research by tracking movement, the Motus Wildlife Tracking System has hundreds of receiver stations and thousands of deployed nanotags on over 236 species, mostly...
As Jamaica sends a large shipment of rescue dogs to Canada, animal rights activists hope regional attitudes will change
The foreign rehoming of Jamaican stray dogs is seen as a "game-changer," sending an important message to "those who have been accustomed to treat[ing] dogs with cruelty rather than kindness."
The ‘tree of life’ that's under threat in Trinidad
Naturally occurring moriche palm populations exist in only six locations in Trinidad, but are under threat, predominantly because of unregulated human impact.
About our Caribbean coverage
Janine Mendes Franco is the Caribbean editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
