I am a media producer based in Trinidad and Tobago. I blog at WIM. My Twitter handle is @JanineMFranco.
Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco
29 September 2016
Facebook Live Video Triggers Presidential Controversy in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago's President Anthony Carmona held a press conference on September 28 to respond to claims against his office, but many questions remain unanswered.
27 September 2016
Trinidad & Tobago's Deadline for Passing US Tax Legislation Looms as Politicians ‘Play Games’
"In essence, every bank in the world will become non-paid informants of the IRS."
20 September 2016
Could an Ousted Crime Show Host Be a Symptom of a Bigger Problem in Trinidad & Tobago?
"Ian Alleyne represents a collection of unfortunate truths about Trinidad and Tobago; we don’t trust our justice system, [...] but have all-too-much faith in those who pander to us."
18 September 2016
‘Convenient Outrage’ in Trinidad & Tobago Over Demolition of Dance Pioneer Beryl McBurnie's House
"What's the point of outrage now if you didn't actually give any thought to the deterioration of this historical building over the years?"
18 August 2016
Exposing Discrimination or Unfair Trial by Social Media? The Case of a Workplace Hairdo in Trinidad & Tobago
"Sometimes we have to shatter the status-quo to make fundamental changes. its how things have happened for centuries. There is always a spark that ignites the change."
15 August 2016
A Black Man's At-Work Reprimand Has Trinidad & Tobago Wondering, ‘Natural Hair Not Accepted Here’?
"How a person wears his/her hair is not an internal matter Colfire. Soon you will want to dictate weight, hair colour and lightness of complexion. Poor form."
10 August 2016
Makandal Daaga, Leader of Trinidad & Tobago's Black Power Revolution, Remembered As ‘A Man Out for Change’
Netizens discuss the life and legacy of Makandal Daaga, who led the country's 1970 Black Power movement and became actively involved in the political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.
5 August 2016
Trinidad & Tobago's Culture Was ‘Made Richer’ Thanks to Earl Crosby
"He was one of those people that you think would always be there — and then he's suddenly gone and this hole is created that can't be easily filled."
Trinidadian Guitarist Fitzroy Coleman, ‘the Greatest Chord Player of All Time’, Has Died
A self-taught musical genius, Fitzroy Coleman is remembered for his amazing chord innovation and superior musicianship.
4 August 2016
Feminism Is a Difficult Battle for Black Caribbean Women
Standing up for women's rights is tough enough without being poor, black, or marginalised. One blog will speak out for Caribbean women at the upcoming Black Feminisms Forum in Brazil.
21 July 2016
Will Trinidad & Tobago Students Be Last Out of the Gate if the Government Stops Funding Tertiary Education?
As the country faces an economic recession, there are concerns that students have been abusing the government's funding of their tertiary education. Will the programme be discontinued or merely restructured?
2 July 2016
Former Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning Dies, Days After Being Diagnosed with Leukemia
The late Patrick Manning is remembered as a visionary politician who was an avid supporter of regional integration.
28 June 2016
26 June 2016
15 June 2016
Harold La Borde, the First Trinidadian to Sail the World, Remembered for His Sense of Adventure
"There are heroes in name and then there are heroes in legend who will live on through the ages. The late Harold La Borde was the latter."
3 June 2016
Problems in Trinidad and Tobago? Write the Queen!
One citizen was so frustrated with the level of crime in the country that she wrote to the Queen of England for help. Social media users, meanwhile, created a hashtag.
31 May 2016
Hindu Religious Leader Tells Child Marriage Critics in Trinidad & Tobago to ‘Mind Your Own Damn Business’
"That’s exactly the sort of idea that, if you let bounce around in your head for a bit, leads to an aneurysm."
Some in Trinidad & Tobago Are Royally Sceptical of the Tourism Ministry’s Soca Cruise Idea
One Facebook user called the plan a "Ship of Fools", while another wondered, "An investment has returns. What are the returns on this shit?"
Farewell to Holly Betaudier, a Man Who Dedicated His Life to Promoting Trinidad & Tobago's Cultural Diversity
"He created the bridge between successive generations and offered [...] the experiences of many of our early artists who painted the tapestry of life in Trinidad and Tobago!"
25 May 2016
Bloggers Boggled Over Why Child Marriage Is Still on the Books in Trinidad & Tobago
"This is not just an issue of age and maturity, but once again, of power."
