Janine Mendes-Franco · August, 2011

Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from August, 2011

Cuba: Sixth Sunday vs. Women

  30 August 2011

“This Sunday August 28th was the 6th consecutive Sunday in which dozens of dissidents -mainly women- have been violently attacked by the regime’s forces. And, each passing day, the methods of repression are more ‘sophisticated’”: Pedazos de La Isla explains.

Trinidad & Tobago: Missed Opportunity re: Teen Video?

  30 August 2011

Another blogger weighs in on the Granny Quila video: “Yes this girl did a pile…having said that, it would have been a perfect opportunity to show the compassionate side of the State of Emergency, and used as an chance to reach out to disaffected youth.”

Cuba: Las Damas & the Archbishop

  30 August 2011

Uncommon Sense says that the fact that the leader of The Ladies in White has had to approach Havana's cardinal “to intercede…to halt the summerlong repression of the Damas and their allies…reveals everything there is wrong with the prelate.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Thoughts on the SoE

  29 August 2011

Outlish puts forward four reasons “why…the state of emergency should not be extended”, while KnowTnT.com sums up the first week of the SoE “from a few different angles.”

Bahamas: After Irene

  29 August 2011

“Not one life was lost in the entire country, what a miracle”: Womanish Words blogs about the aftermath of Irene.

Trinidad & Tobago: The “Granny Quilla” Video

  29 August 2011

Railing against the current state of emergency, a teen posts a video on YouTube; the government interprets it as racist and containing threats against the Prime Minister - Jumbie's Watch agrees, but B.C. Pires says: “The video is OBVISOULSY [sic] an attempt at comedy…doesn’t work very well…but that doesn’t mean...

Trinidad & Tobago: Eating for Independence

  29 August 2011

“August 31st is Trinidad’s Independence Day”: TriniGourmet.com posts her menu for this year's celebrations, which she calls “a trifecta of the new, the old, and a new twist on an old favourite.”

Cuba: Woman Evicted

  26 August 2011

Pedazos de La Isla highlights the case of Mercedes Reyes, who was evicted from her home, allegedly for the purpose of turning the property into a Civil Registry Office, saying: “Another victim of eviction and injustice turns to the Cuban resistance to channel their denouncements, their complaints. And the world...

Trinidad & Tobago: “The Real Reason” for SoETT

  26 August 2011

Jumbie's Watch reveals that he has been privy to “the real reason” behind Trinidad and Tobago's State of Emergency, saying: “Until an explanation is presented (promised at the opening of Parliament), I will just continue to support the actions being taken as very necessary at this time.”

Barbados: Wait & See for SoETT

  26 August 2011

From Barbados, B.C. Pires sees how Trinidad and Tobago's State of Emergency is playing out, and says: “One is reluctant to pre-judge anything; but to every charge of, ‘O, ye of little faith!’ there is, sadly, that it is actually We of Much Experience. But let us wait and see.”

Cuba: Pseudo-Transparency

  26 August 2011

Without Evasion considers Raul Castro's pledge “to develop a new brave, honest and transparent journalism during the Sixth Congress of the CCP”, saying: “If the coverage of what happened in Libya is an example of what our reformist General considers information transparency, we can clearly intuit how little faith we...

Jamaica: Disrespecting Garvey

  26 August 2011

President Barack Obama may have lost at least one vote in his re-election bid based on “the White House[‘s] disrespect [for] Marcus Garvey, a national hero of Jamaica”. Geoffrey Philp explains, here and here.

Bahamas: Riding Out Hurricane Irene

  25 August 2011

As Hurricane Irene, the first of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, continues to move through the Bahamas, bloggers have been sharing their experiences. Netizens reported very strong winds, extensive damage to property, felled trees and downed power lines. Several roofs were blown off and there were reports of flooding in certain areas.

Trinidad & Tobago: More Questions on State of Emergency

  24 August 2011

As the State of Emergency continues in Trinidad and Tobago, the government's communication efforts about it continue to be muddled at best: Is it limited or national? Is there a solid strategy in place or not? Local bloggers are voicing their opinions, confusion and frustration online.

Bahamas: Sticking Together Through Irene

  24 August 2011

Havana Times notes that “Hurricane Irene intensified overnight as it churns to the northeast of Cuba, threatening the Bahamas with its 110 mph maximum sustained winds”; over in the Bahamas, Womanish Words says: “Alright, we can do this thing. Lets secure our properties, take our animals inside, stay sober and...

Trinidad & Tobago: Positive Facebook Changes

  24 August 2011

TECHTT says of Facebook's recent changes: “I really love the tag approval feature and think it will be a big hit as I have seen many people complain about unscrupulous tagging. I hope we see a lot more useful changes…”

Cuba: Female Activists Detained

  24 August 2011

Four women who took to Havana's Capitol building to protest recent actions against The Ladies in White have reportedly been detained; Uncommon Sense has the details.