Janine Mendes-Franco · May, 2010

Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from May, 2010

Jamaica: Dudus, Security & Seaga

  27 May 2010

In the Tivoli Gardens area of Jamaica's capital city – home turf of alleged drug lord Michael Christopher “Dudus” Coke and epicentre of the unrest that has gripped the Caribbean nation for the past several days – the loyalties are clear, at least from those who care to be vocal about...

St. Lucia: Gun Violence

  27 May 2010

Sun, Rain, Or… is saddened by the recent spate of gun violence in St. Lucia, the “up close and personal shootings…”

Jamaica: Resetting the Clock

  27 May 2010

“Jamaica's bizarre socio-economic clock cannot turn back but it can be reset”: Living in Barbados suggest the current situation “may be the spur to find ways to start dealing with that process.”

Jamaica: Situation Improving?

  27 May 2010

Four days into the state of emergency imposed on the Jamaican capital, the situation is becoming clearer - not simply in terms of statistics - but in understanding the chain of events that led to the current impasse. There are also reports that life in the capital city may slowly be returning to normal.

Bahamas: Waiting on the Budget

  26 May 2010

“The Prime Minister has hinted at some austerity measures or belt tightening, but, on top of that we're told additional taxes are on the way”: Weblog Bahamas is waiting to see what the country's 2010-11 Budget, due to be presented today, will hold.

Trinidad & Tobago: Seeing Sue

  26 May 2010

“Sue, the 67 million-year-old-Tyrannosaurus Rex, is currently visiting our shores”: MEP Caribbean Publishers thinks “this is a great opportunity for the public not only to learn more about this dinosaur, but to see and experience the size of this ancient predator in person.”

Jamaica: Bloggers Look at the Lighter Side

  26 May 2010

West Indians have a saying, "If you don't laugh, you'll cry." Certainly, the current wave of violence in Jamaica - is nothing to laugh about. But after days of sobering news, bloggers clearly needed to seek out the amusing aspects of an otherwise untenable situation.

Jamaica: Women of Tivoli Gardens

  25 May 2010

“If these women pass on this attitude of craven gratitude and dependence on a don to their children, how will the cycle ever be broken?”: Islandista looks at the role of women in the Jamaica crisis.

Trinidad & Tobago: Indian Arrival Day

  25 May 2010

“Indian Arrival Day, celebrated on 30th May, commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack”: TriniGourmet.com will be commemorating the occasion with a few tasty Indian dishes.

Trinidad & Tobago: People's Party Position

  24 May 2010

Afra Raymond thinks that in the context of today's national elections, “with the distinct probability of a victory by the united PP…it is timely to consider the way in which that group might handle the bailout [of the CL Financial group].”

Trinidad & Tobago: Ways of Voting

  24 May 2010

“YOU COULD vote based on race…You can vote about party and not people…You can vote people…You could vote issues…”, all of which, says Tattoo, “leads us to another method of voting. You can vote to make a point.” Coffeewallah, meanwhile, doesn't care how you vote; she simply wants you to...

Jamaica: State of Emergency

  24 May 2010

Things are starting to unravel in Jamaica, as the drug money link between dons and politicians, starts to get the media attention it deserves. The United States want Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke – the notorious don man of Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston for trafficking drugs and guns. But will the ruling...

Trinidad & Tobago: Changing the Mindset

  22 May 2010

Barbados-based B.C. Pires says that “nothing good…can emerge in the long run” from Trinidad and Tobago's upcoming elections: “Trinidad's whole problem is that it thinks only in the short term, if it thinks at all; which is exactly why it continually finds itself in the position of having to eject...