I am a writer and media producer based in Trinidad and Tobago. Follow me on Twitter @JanineMFranco.
Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from October, 2013
High Voter Turnout Reframes Trinidad Election Story
First reports indicated low voter turnout for Local Government Elections, but the reality was the total opposite, confirming some netizens' suspicions that the electorate is anything but apathetic.
Opposition Wins Trinidad's Local Government Elections, but Everybody Celebrates
The opposition People's National Movement has won Trinidad's Local Government Elections - but that hasn't stopped the other political parties from claiming some measure of victory. Netizens, meanwhile, are incredulous.
Trinidad & Tobago: Giving the Government the Finger?
Today, Trinidadians voted in the country's Local Government Elections; Facebook was full of photos of citizens' ink-stained fingers. The question remains: have their votes sent a message to the government?
Cancellation of Electoral Debate in Trinidad & Tobago: Symptom of Political Malaise?
Local Government Elections will take place in Trinidad and Tobago next week, but any chance of hearing the political leaders debate one another about relevant issues, has been foiled.
Earthquake Spurs Tsunami of Tweets in Trinidad & Tobago
If social media had a Richter scale, comments about the earthquake that struck last night would have registered high, judging from the timelines of Twitter and Facebook users.
Hungry in Haiti
Why – when the country has received at least one billion U.S. dollars worth of food aid between 1995 and the 2010 earthquake – is hunger on the rise? Haiti Grassroots Watch examines “complaints and rumors about the misuse, abuse, or negative effects of food aid.”
Landmark Ruling in Discrimination Case Puts the Caribbean First
The Caribbean Court of Justice's decision in a controversial discrimination case sends the signal that regional citizens have the right to freedom of movement across CARICOM states, without suffering harassment.
Trinidad & Tobago: Getting the Facts on Property Tax
In my opinion, the anti-Property Tax movement was an important measure of the extent to which our national discourse is now irrational and baseless. Afra Raymond explains.
Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada: “The Killing of a Revolution”
I was transfixed; in turns horrified, unbelieving, angry, and sad. Worse still, frustrated. Because the verdict of the film as to who was really responsible was inconclusive. Norman Girvan reviews Bruce's Paddington's film “Forward Ever”, about the executions of former Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and members of his cabinet.
Trinidad & Tobago: Crime Fighting – There's an App for That!
Gerard Best blogs about a new open data initiative aimed at stemming the tide of crime in the country.
