Selections from the Caribbean blogosphere · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados
– Campfyah, writing from Caracas, fills us in on some of his Christmas activities and Barbados's participation in an international Christmas charity fair.
– In a post which sparks a healthy string of comments, Jdid spares a thought for Stanley “Tookie” Williams on the day of the latter's execution in California, and is appalled at the lack of empathy shown by a former death row inmate interviewed by CNN.
– Titlayo discovers a Barbadian web site offering “Discrete and Professional Services for Ladies”, and concludes that “the rent-a-dread phenomenon gone upscale”. (Personally, however, I like my services “discreet” as well as “discrete”!).
Belize
– Manolo Romero reports on shenanigans in the public transportation sector as one bus company in receivership goes on strike, leaving commuters stranded all over Belize; and a tour company which is facing the music over the disappearance of a tourist during a snorkeling trip.
– Andy Hunt posts a gorgeous photo of the Tikal Mayan Temples in Guatemala.
Bermuda
– Christian S. Dunleavy wonders who's in charge as Bermuda's Governor appoints a senior police officer from the UK.
Cayman Islands
– Cayman Time links to some interesting satellite pictures of Grand Cayman.
– For a change, Mad Bull agrees with George W. Bush.
Dominica
– Billy wonders whether it's possible to obtain a world passport.
Guyana
– Inspired by a carpenter's request for a “morti-slock”, Guyana-Gyal engages in some syllable-busting word play.
– MediaCritic remembers Guyanese jurist Sir Lionel Luckhoo, “the winningest lawyer that ever lived” and publishes photos of the country's television news anchors.
Haiti
– Alice Backer confesses to having spent more time lately to reading “OPB's” (Other People's Blogs) than posting to her own, so devotes a post to her recent “blogcapades”. One of the issues she's trying to understand is homophobia in Jamaica.
Jamaica
– Kevin Wallen starts a blog and is moved to tears on reading a letter expressing deep appreciation of his work with prison inmates in Jamaica.
– Stunner offers his congratulations to Jamaica's representative in the Miss World beauty pageant on being selected as one of the top 15, remarking that “this is also a major accomplishment for black women who choose to wear their hair natural. It is the first I'm seeing a dark skinned, (kinky) natural hair girl win the Miss Jamaica World Competition.”
– The execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams leads AngryDog to ask the question: “am I racist?”
– Jamaica Culture & People writes about sorrel, the traditional Christmas drink.
– Kingston Girl posts an informal analysis of the reasons Jamaicans want to come home for Christmas.
- Dancehall Blog links to a Jamaica Observer article which states that as of 2006, the all-reggae station IrieFM will no longer be playing versions of songs with obscene lyrics “bleeped” out; and to a BBC Caribbean article announcing a theatrical adaptation of the Jamaican film classic “The Harder they Come” for the London stage.
St Vincent & the Grenadines
– In the aftermath to the recently general elections, Abeni thinks the opposition party are acting like sore losers. On a lighter note, she reproduces a hilarious letter to Santa written in Caribbean dialect by a foul-mouthed child called Little Tiffanie.
Trinidad & Tobago
– “What was the likelihood of global economic forces conspiring to deposit, over the course of 400 years, every major ethnic group, race, creed and religion into a space the size of London and leave them to work it out?”: Nicholas Laughlin quotes his compatriot BC Pires, who gives context to the Trinidad & Tobago football team's qualification for the World Cup in an article for the UK Observer. A considerable volume of buzz this week as well about the World Cup draw, which took place on December 9th and which pits Trinidad & Tobago in the first round against England, Sweden and Paraguay. The Caribbean Beat Blog gives an overview of some of the local and international commentary. Tyndale isn't optimistic about T&T's chances, but thinks the politicians and tourism authorities seem at least poised to take advantage of the promotional opportunities presented by the team's participation. Hassan Voyeau publishes a list of the public holidays in Trinidad & Tobago for 2006 – all 16 of them! – and adds: “expect another holiday in July when the Soca Warriors win the World Cup.”
– Taran Rampersad is pleased to see that Caricom is concerned that their needs are being sidelined in WTO dicussions.
– Jacqueline Morris is interviewed during the WSIS PrepComm3 in Geneva by Jac sm Kee, who “finds out about how a girl from Trinidad & Tobago ends up being a gender & ICT advocate, her insights about the two priority issues in WSIS Phase II . . . as well as the efficacy of the WSIS Gender Caucus”.
– Discussing Winston Dookeran, political leader of the country's opposition party, Jonathan Ali fears that having high principles may in fact be a disadvantage in Trinidad & Tobago's politics.
– The land of calypso and soca is, like most other Caribbean territories, a big consumer though not a significant producer of reggae. Both De Cooler : Soca News and Dancehall Blog report, however, on the release of a reggae compilation out of Trinidad. De Cooler also notes a proliferation of parang (Trinidad & Tobago's traditional Christmas music) releases for the Christmas season.
Podcasts
– Carib World Radio releases an interview with the Jamaica's Consul General in New York, who discusses “key 2005 initiatives and concerns. . . [and] offers a vision of the year ahead for the Jamaican community and Caribbean diaspora as a whole”.
– Roi Kwabena will soon be starting a podcast called HR ( Hermeneutic Ra=dio ).