Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from November, 2013
Jamaica: Not Quite All Right
Active Voice isn't so sure that the new Jamaica tourist board slogan is actually “all right”.
Jamaica: Language & Development
Jamaica needs to be declared the bilingual state it is asap. Annie Paul thinks that “half of Jamaica’s problems stem from its linguistic identity crisis, insisting its mother tongue is English when a huge proportion of the population can only speak Patois.”
Jamaica: Abuse of Police Power
If the police involved…are allowed to go unpunished aren’t you sending a message to other cops with no respect for human rights, especially the rights of the poor, that they have a license to behave like this? Active Voice issues a plea to Jamaica's police commissioner after two teens were...
The Caribbean Review of Books Reinvents Itself Online
Regional litbloggers will be glad to know that The Caribbean Review of Books is back in publication – online – with some help from Bocas Lit Fest.
Haiti: Reforestation Nation
Haiti Grassroots Watch blogs about some of the challenges of reforestation on the island.
Jamaica: Get with the (Interactive TV) Program!
You can buy the exclusive rights to such shows but you can’t do that and treat them as if they’re the kind of traditional uni-directional, analog content that’s on its way out without raising the ire of your viewers. The Voice is stirring up some discussion in Jamaica – and...
Jamaica: Police Painting Out Murals
Many will say the murals are merely ‘a glorification of criminals’ and should be defaced for fear of their ‘grave effects’ on ‘poor Jamaicans’ [but]…How does a profoundly corrupt state determine criminality? A really interesting post by Active Voice about the police embracing iconoclasm as a crime strategy.
The Caribbean Tweets for NBC's The Voice Contestant Tessanne Chin
Jamaican musical sensation Tessanne Chin is battling it out on season 5 of NBC's The Voice - and every week, Caribbean netizens are showing their support for the songstress.
D.R., Haiti: We Can Work It Out?
This is an island. No way out. So these two nations, who have been doing a live rendition of a Russian novel for 500 years, are going to have to work it out. Contrary to many of the opinions expressed in this post, Changing Perspectives weighs in on the decision...
Trinidad & Tobago: Opposition Wins Again; Government Still Optimistic
Hot off their win in the Local Government Elections, the opposition People's National Movement has won the St. Joseph by-election - yet, the government is forging ahead with hope.
Trinidad & Tobago: Creative Collaboration & Devious Download
The Caribbean Review of Books blogs about an exciting new project, Douen Islands, whose “first manifestation” is an e-book of eleven poems (one of which boasts a video adaptation) and brief Twitter texts. Bonus: Click on the downloadable link in the post.
NaBloPoMo, Caribbean Style!
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has spawned NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), which, in turn, is getting quite a few Caribbean netizens blogging – here, here and here.
The Caribbean's Financial Culture
Abeng News magazine reports that the Caribbean has some of the lowest savings rates in the world.