Stories about Caribbean from October, 2006
Barbados: Was Adams lazy?
A new book about the failed West Indies Federation describes Sir Grantley Adams, Barbados's first premier and national hero, as “lazy, lethargic” — sets Barbados Free Press wondering if this could have been true.
Barbados: Concorde go home?
A British letter-writer suggests that the Concorde aircraft that Barbados was given by British Airways be relocated to a location where it would receive better treatment, but Titilayo finds evidence to suggest that Barbados's Concorde isn't the only one being housed under less-than-desirable conditions.
Celebrating the Birth of the Guadeloupean Nation
On October 21, Convention Pour Une Guadeloupe Nouvelle commemorated a historical moment (October 21, 1801) it identifies as the birth of the Guadeloupean nation and added: “Nation without state, Guadeloupe is eternal and no one can destroy it. Our national rights must be respected by the French authorities that govern...
Guyane: Too Hot to Cook
Food blog Cafe Creole writes (Fr): “It is very very hot in Guyane right now. We are in the big dry season at least until December 15 … don't feel like eating and even less like cooking. I am sorting my pictures and my documents. ” The blogger then posts...
Barbados: Hair, race & breast cancer
A newspaper report on one woman's public hair-shaving in support of breast cancer awareness reminds Titlayo of the extent to which Barbadians are still grappling with issues of race.
Russia: The Second Blog War
(more buttons and userpics are here) The Russian-language blogosphere (commonly known as ZheZhe) is on fire: some users are shutting down their blogs, others are emigrating to the virtual Trinidad & Tobago – all because LiveJournal.com's owner Six Apart has decided to team up with the Russian internet company Sup,...
Guyana: Reality Shows
Providence Stadium puts forward a few ideas for Guyanese reality shows.
Trinidad & Tobago: The globalisation of Second Life
Trinidad blogger and Second Life player Taran Rampersad looks at Second Life in the context of the global economy: “Issues of Digital Divide are as much of a factor as the dominant cultural trends within SecondLife itself, but as more people come online – more people will enter virtual worlds....
Bermuda: Green Day
Adjustah provides a roundup of the recent commentary from his fellow Bermudian bloggers, noting that today several of them are observing “Green Day” in protest of the preservation of the Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. The Save the Gardens blog has posted photos of people wearing green, holding “Save the Gardens”...
Trinidad & Tobago: Folk wisdom
Christopher Yee Mon dishes out some Trinidadian folk wisdom gleaned from his Auntie Kim. An example: “To Cool You Down in the Sun (Heat Stroke?): Drink Maryshutyuhdoor. Maryshutyuhdoor is the grass in the savannah whose leaves close up when you walk on it. (Could Kill You)”
Haiti: Why Celebrate Dessalines’ Death?
Yon Ayisyen (Fr) laughs at the thought that some in Haiti want to start an investigation into founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ death 200 years after the fact but adds: “However I might sign a petition to ask that we stop celebrating the death of Dessalines. Not that the day off...
Bahamas: The Nassau Institute
Bahamian Sir Arthur Foulkes is highly critical of the Nassau Institute's anti-Kyoto Protocol stance: “it is quite foolish of them and others who are similarly inclined, to sling the charge of “anti-Americanism” against Bahamians who dare to criticize the policies of the US Government.“
Bahamas: Represent
A blog post by a fellow Bahamian causes Nicolette Bethel to consider questions of representation: “How do we collectively decide who represents our nation? When we choose people to send abroad to represent us, what criteria are foremost? And do we use different criteria for different arenas?“
Trinidad and Tobago: Mobilised or immobilised?
Elspeth at Now Is Wow reflects: “Funny how a statement like ‘I'm mobilised’ (which sounds so positive, proactive and ready-to-go) when condensed into one word, becomes the exact opposite: Immobilised”. She writes about her frustration and anger at the news that an acquaintance has been murdered.
Barbados, Canada: Life's not fair
“Dog luck aint cat luck”, says Jdid at Doan Mind Me, quoting an old West Indian saying. In other words, different strokes for different folks. An encounter with a man “just smokin off some weed out in the open” in Toronto, ignored by the police, makes him wonder how some...
Haiti: Commemorating Dessalines
Says AlterPresse, (Fr) “A plethora of activities [conferences, exhibits, ceremonies] … started last weekend to commemorate the bicentennial (October 17, 2006) of the assassination of the founder of the Haitian nation, Jean-Jacques Dessalines. … Members of the Presidential Commission for the Bicentennial invite all to meditate on the work of...
Guyane: School Hitting Controversy
Blada.com is unhappy (Fr) with the Mayor of Cayenne's response to the recent hitting of a child by a school aide. (The mayor issued a decree asking school aides –called ATSEM– not to stay alone with children.) The site believes that that response is against the law and a copout...
Guadeloupe: Celebrating the Nation
Flying in the face of Guadeloupe's status as a French Overseas Department, Convention pour une Guadeloupe Nouvelle writes (Fr): “A nation must live its past in order to be inspired by it. … We will [therefore] celebrate the birth of the Guadeloupean nation in October. It is indeed during the...
Barbados: Environment Minister to address conference
Barbados Free Press is optimistic about the Barbados Environment Minister's attendance at a UN conference in China.
Guadeloupe, Trinidad: Young Rotarian Conference
Guadeloupe Attitude writes (Fr): “Patrick Verdol, Livio Lison and Bella Mado are the 3 Guadeloupeans chosen by the seven Guadeloupean Rotary Clubs to participate in the 2006 RYLA of District 7030 … Chosen by the clubs and districts for their potential leadership, youth aged 14 to 30, attend all expenses...
Guyana: Walk along the sea
Guyana-Gyal walks down to the sea — “just to see what I could see” — and has an encounter with Guyanese music star Eddie Grant that makes her ponder the true meaning of “development”.
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