Spotlight Caribbean · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Anguilla
Eric Olsen has a post on Blogcritics.org about Anguilla's upcoming Tranquility Jazz Festival from November 9th to the 13th. Bob Green's Anguilla News covers American Eagles’ recent announcement of more frequent flights from San Juan to the small island as well as the 2006 dates for Anguilla's annual Regatta.
Aruba
Aruba Girl, on her way to Puerto Rico for a shopping spree, seems slightly disturbed that neighboring Venezuela has democratically elected Hugo Chavez. Daniel Kuo was able to photograph Aruba's famed “Natural Bridge,” shortly after it collapsed.
Bahamas
The Bahamas were spared by tropical storm Rita, but Wolfgang – who unfortunately decided to stop blogging yesterday – was able to document the stormy weather on Sunday and said oil prices increased on mere speculation of the storm's effects. Bahamas Blog has a summary of the Bahamas International Film Festival as well as an insightful piece on how the Nassau Guardian covers graffiti and Bahamian culture in general. Womanish Words, in a highly reflective post, is curious as to what percentage of Bahamians have Lucayan ancestry in their blood were DNA testing to be done as it was in Puerto Rico. Nicolette Bethel examines the roll of government during disasters following Hurricane Katrina and the fire which destroyed the Bahamas’ famed Straw Market. Finally, Camlaw has advice for getting settled in Nassau.
Barbados
This, That, & Whatever was at the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting held in Bridgetown, Barbados this week and has an excellent summary. De Cooler: Soca News highlights Bajan soca artist, Edwin Yearwood's newest album. Bajan, Neil Benn, currently studying in the U.K. is not impressed with Nation News columnist Ezra Alleyne. Jdid, originally from Barbados, but currently living in Toronto, says the Caribbean has very few degrees of separation:
Plus I stopped and talked to the dread about his fete tomorrow night. Not sure I'll reach but the dread is cool people. Been buying ‘conscious’ reggae from the yout for like a year or more now and its only a few weeks back that I found out that he's in business with a bajan bredren that I've known since like 95. Small world aint it? Like earlier this summer I found out this sistren I've known since University is the cousin of one of my best friends back home. The Caribbean community just too small. Everyone's connected to everyone else somehow.
Bermuda
Whappenings has a good roundup of what's been happening in Bermuda this week including the rumors of the next James Bond movie being shot there. OffshoreNet has a thorough introduction to Bermuda  while Bermuda Blog has a set of photos from a walk on the beach to a friend's BBQ.
Cuba
Steven's Cuba Blog has an impressive set of three photographs entitled “Voices of Cuba.” The one pictured here is of Yadin, a computer programmer who says she can make more from renting a room than working as a programmer. The PF Hyper Blog observes that Cuba survived category 5 hurricane Ivan without any loss of life while Tasteful Future takes a closer look at the United States’ refusal of Cuba's offer to send 1,500 doctors to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mora from Babalu Blog, meanwhile, takes a more critical look at Cuban doctors. Finally, Havana Journal links to an article on Castro's speech to the 3,515 new doctors from around the Caribbean and Latin America who recently graduated from the “Henry Reeve International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in Disaster Situations and Serious Epidemics.”
Dominica
News-Dominica.com has a press release from the office of the Prime Minister announcing “a Massive National Clean-up and Beautification Programme in an effort to raise the consciousness of the Dominican people on the importance of the protection and preservation of the environment.”
Dominican Republic
Spanglish blogger, Cesar D, is having problems with both college and his car. Annie Sánchez explains the nicknames she's given her friends. Bracuta wants to know why so many disasters – natural and otherwise – have been occurring recently. Diego Vega is reminded of:
video clubs here in the Dominican Republic. They all have a small section called “Foreign Cinema”. There you will find all non American movies, including the few Dominican movies that they have… I figure globalization didn't work both ways here!
Grenada
Steve Brett has a collection of photographs from last month's Carnival in Grenada. Paul Gardenghi has an update on his new Grenadian podcast.
Guyana
Guyana-Gyal takes the challenge and tells a fictional story in 50 words. Emile Mervin focuses on the Guyanan Guyanese youth who visited Venezuela for the World Youth Forum, emphasizing their determination to meld idealism with capitalism. Taran Rampersad has left Guyana for Canada and offers an excellent recap of his time there. And Living Guyana feels insulted by the EU.
Haiti
We are still searching all avenues for a single weblog written directly from Haiti, a country with overwhelmingly expensive internet access. The National Coalition for Hatian Rights, however, has set up this Livejournal community to discuss all things Hatian. Haiti Innovation also has a blog-like format with an RSS feed and Western Hemisphere Policy Watch focused today on Haiti's current chaotic state of affairs.
Jamaica
Professor Charles Nesson has two posts explaining the work he has been doing in Jamaica. Jamaica Culture & People wonders if a photographed man is a descendent of the Maroons. The Egoist explains the significance of the colors on Jamaica's flag. Mad Bull has found three more bloggers to add to his ever-expanding Caribbean blog roll. Contemplation says “Hurricane Rita has us dead in her cross hairs” and Kingston Girl reports that the thunderstorms have already started.
Puerto Rico
Wooster Collective has a photograph of new street art in Puerto Rico. Gil C. Schmidt believes that his fellow Puerto Ricans must change first before they expect their government to. Aníbal Freytes, a longtime IT employee, is tired of working for the Puerto Rican government. Tinta Digital has an excellent post in Spanish (machine translated here) rethinking the university system in Puerto Rico. Roberto Borrero posts about the opening of an exhibit in San Juan highlighting contemporary Taino artwork.
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Abeni says it's campaign season, “that time of year when seemingly rational persons become almost unrecognisable.”
Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Free Radio has just released podcast episode number 32, a Skype-interview with journalist, Simon Lee. Peace River Postings describes a workshop given in Port of Spain on web technologies, during which all internet connectivity on the island was shut down. Karen W. discusses her identity and decides to refer to herself as “Englameridadian.” Solace offers up the ingredients for Trinidadian politics. Ana is tired of crime in her country after a third bomb went off in Port of Spain. Subway Chronicles has more information and links on the bombing. De Cooler: Soca News reports that:
Probably the oldest record store for soca music, Rhyner’s, is now closed. Founded in 1938, the shop now moved from Prince Street, Port of Spain in Trinidad to a internet based online shop. Diana Rhyner said, that piracy, vagrancy and banditry forced the shop to close.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Frank Barnako writes that tropical storm Philippe is expected to miss Saint John. Iris of Welcome to Paradox, meanwhile, has an all-inclusive list of how to prepare for a hurricane in the Caribbean.