Janine Mendes-Franco · June, 2012

Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from June, 2012

Trinidad and Tobago: Security Minister or Action Figure?

Instead of taking on Trinidad and Tobago's many serious crime problems, the newly appointed Minister of National Security's first official action was to request an army contingent to demolish a protesters camp blocking the construction of a new highway. His move has inspired a tongue-in-cheek reaction from bloggers.

30 June 2012

Cuba: Clicking Towards the Future

Havana's recently concluded Festival Clic, which was designed to discuss Internet and Society in Cuba, has got several bloggers talking about technology and the role it can play in the country's future.

30 June 2012

Guyana: Race Relations

“In the past decade or so this demonic cancer of contemporary Guyana has been intensifying with systematic, contumelious frequency. We, as a nation, have not failed to take notice but...

23 June 2012

Trinidad & Tobago: Bloggers Discuss Warner & Cabinet Reshuffle

The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has been alluding to some major changes in government ministers' portfolios for some time now; last night, details of her Cabinet reshuffle finally came. Netizens have been sharing their thoughts on their blogs as well as on Twitter and Facebook: the most heated discussion appeared to be over the new appointment to former FIFA Vice-President Austin “Jack” Warner as Minister of National Security.

23 June 2012

Trinidad & Tobago: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse

The case of a 12-year old girl, who recently gave birth to her stepfather's child in Guyana, gets Outlish talking about feminism, education and the everyday reality of women in the Caribbean, while journalist and blogger Lisa Allen-Agostini says it is time to speak out about child sexual abuse.

19 June 2012

Cuba: Two Protests, Many Arrests

The Ladies in White (Las Damas de Blanco) are again top of mind with Cuban diaspora bloggers. As one of the oldest and most respected opposition entities on the island, their peaceful protests - and regular arrests by state security forces - continue to attract attention. The most recent confrontation happened this past weekend as members of the group attempted to carry out two protests in Havana.

19 June 2012

Trinidad & Tobago: Problems for People's Partnership

Much of the political discourse in the Trinidad and Tobago blogosphere of late has been about the shortcomings of the People's Partnership Government. It was no secret that there was dissension within the party ranks, but yesterday's news that the Movement for Social Justice has officially pulled out of the Partnership Government has got a few bloggers talking about possible repercussions.

19 June 2012

Jamaica: Windscreen Murder

Jamaica Woman Tongue blogs about the murder of a man who cleaned windscreens for a living, saying: “This murder seems to be about rank class prejudice. We have to find...

19 June 2012

Guyana: Stories in Photos

“These young photo enthusiasts now are capturing not only life and landscape but vibes, passions and feelings…in years to come, they will be reminded, as will generations to follow, of...

19 June 2012

Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”

Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.

14 June 2012

Jamaica: “Dudus” Sentenced

As Christopher “Dudus” Coke receives a 23-year jail sentence in the United States, Jamaica Salt suggests that “maybe he should consider telling his story publicly, as…the country needs to know...

14 June 2012

Guyana: Shared Humanity

“I do not believe that the response to human savagery and the solution to banditry should be vulgar violence and the public glorification of the defilement of a human being”:...

14 June 2012

Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident

Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.

12 June 2012

Cuba: Economic Deja Vu?

A few Cuban bloggers have been voicing their economic concerns - and wondering whether the island's recent reforms, some of which include a more open approach to self-employment - could translate into political change as well.

7 June 2012