Stories about Caribbean from May, 2009
Trinidad & Tobago: Where's the Integrity?
Transparency and good governance have been popular topics in the Caribbean blogosphere of late. The latest debacle over integrity (or lack thereof?) comes from Trinidad and Tobago, where, in the last few weeks, a second attempt to establish an Integrity Commission has come to a crashing halt amidst revelations that the Chair of the Commission, a Catholic priest, had committed acts of plagiarism. To add even more fuel to the fire, the journalist who drew attention to the plagiarism in the first place, appears to have been fired. Bloggers speak out.
Jamaica: Calabash & Language
Annie Paul blogs about Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival, at which some folks were offended by the colourful language in authors’ readings: “Does shielding young ears from words like pussy, bombaclaat, pumpum and other such words ensure a more sensitive, ethical adult? Especially when they can see for themselves the hypocritical,...
Haiti: Flooding Claims Lives
Repeating Islands reports that “at least 11 people died…in Haiti after torrential rains triggered floods throughout the nation.”
Jamaica: And now for the Bad News
“Former PM Edward Seaga was never accused of being a ray of sunshine when he was an active politician”: Jamaica and the World reports that Seaga's analysis of the island's economic situation leaves the current administration with “no soft options. No easy answers. No exit.”
Guyana, Barbados: Illegal Immigration
When it comes to the issue of illegal immigrants in Barbados, Guyanese blogger Imran Khan says: “What is wong is wrong”, adding in another post: “I’m interested in learning what, specifically, President Bharrat Jagdeo is accusing the Barbadians of being ‘un-CARICOM-like’ about?”
Jamaica, Barbados: Calabash Kicks Off
Repeating Islands reports that leading off the readings at Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival this year will be “Jamaican writers Velma Pollard and Esther Phillips, and Bajan poet Millicent Graham.”
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago:
Barbados-based B.C. Pires publishes a column by the journalist who exposed alleged plagiarism by the former Chairperson of Trinidad and Tobago's now-defunct Integrity Commission.
Trinidad & Tobago: Sulphur Story
As news breaks about the presence of excessive sulfur in the aviation fuel being used to refuel aircrafts in Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life criticizes the government's downplaying of the situation, saying: “If a company is making something as important as aviation fuel and does not have a...
Jamaica: Look Behind
Jamaican diaspora blogger Labrish takes us to Cockpit Country, “The Land of Look Behind”.
Jamaica: By the Bye
Girl With a Purpose notes that Jamaica is in for another by-election, adding: “One unfortunate thing about this…is that Jamaicans will have to fork out another JMD $40 million, or more, for the Electoral Office of Jamaica to administer it.”
Jamaica: Discussing Human Rights
“Traditionally, the discussion of human rights in Jamaica has been conducted in what may be considered ‘the privileged voice'”: Raw Politics…Jamaica Style! questions the value of this norm.
Trinidad & Tobago: Internet Killed the TV Star?
“The one media outlet that best serves the fat, the dumb, the happy, is one that is in for a wild roller coaster ride as people around the world tune out so that they can tune in on the Internet”: Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, KnowProSE.com thinks that television has...
Bermuda, Cayman Islands: Referendum
Bermudian bloggers Vexed Bermoothes and Catch a fire are paying attention to the Cayman Islands’ recently-concluded elections and citizens’ participation in a referendum vote on the country's new constitution.
Jamaica: The Ananda Alert
Jamaica's Yardflex.com finally sees “a glimmer of light on the horizon when it comes to the protection of our children.”
Aruba: Election Season
As Aruba gears up for this year's national elections, Arubagirl says: “I don't mind campaigns. What I do mind is that pronunciations made by politicians who are clearly campaigning are presented as ‘fact’.”
Dominica: Brain Drain
“When are we going to realize that knowledge is a wealth-creating asset to our country’s development?”: Dominica Weekly is concerned about the island's brain drain.
Jamaica: Big Money?
“It is a sign of the times, showing how Jamaica’s economy is suffering, devalued you could say”: Jamaica Salt says that the country's new 5,000 dollar bank note is “not much to celebrate”.
Jamaica: Thief!
“Some police, no wonder why the crime rate in Jamaica is so high. When you call them you can't get an answer and when they do finally arrive…they are basically of no use”: Stunner recounts the details of an attempted robbery.
Guyana: R.I.P.
“An era has quietly passed and hardly anyone has paid any notice”: Imran Khan pays his last respects to the Guyanese tradition of broadcasting death announcements.
Haiti: Minimum Wage Increase
Wadner Pierre says that “Haitian labor activists applauded the Preval administration's decision to raise the minimum wage in Haiti from 70 to 200 gourdes ($5.50 USD) per day”, but notes that “the increase has been strongly opposed by Haitian industrialists.”
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Crop Over
Repeating Islands, Trinidad Carnival Diary and Islandista are getting into gear for Barbados’ 2009 Crop Over festival.
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