Janine Mendes-Franco · June, 2014

Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from June, 2014

Trinidad and Tobago Parliament Asks Itself For Pay Raise, Says Yes

  27 June 2014

When two controversial bills are passed swiftly and unanimously by a country’s parliament, the alarm bells go off. The passage, on June 13, 2014, of amendments to two parliamentary acts governing pension payments for legislators and judges in Trinidad and Tobago has been called unconstitutional and a threat to the independence...

Trinidad & Tobago: Secrets of the CL Financial Bailout?

  26 June 2014

The public is being told that the CL Financial bailout is being resolved, while at the same time the Minister of Finance & the Economy is withholding the fundamental information which any prudent person would need to make a decision. Afra Raymond wonders what is being hidden.

Trinidad & Tobago: Give Suarez a Menu

  25 June 2014

It is irrefutable now. Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez either needs a psychologist or a new dietician. Thank heavens Uruguay was not playing Chile. Wired868 sinks its teeth into a post about the behaviour of the Uruguayan footballer after he bit an opposing player in his team's World Cup...

The Problem of Bullying in Cuba

  24 June 2014

Abuse at school is an issue that is rarely discussed in the national media, but it affects hundreds, even thousands, of students across the country. Generacion Y blogs about bullying in Cuba.

Jamaica: Beauty & the Beast

  24 June 2014

The issue is that there is an idea in Jamaica of who is beautiful and who isn’t…that this idea of beauty is, to a large extent, a racially constructed one. Kei Miller recounts a heartbreaking story of the dark side of beauty pageants and contends that the Miss Jamaica franchise...

Barbados: No Love in the Cemetery

  19 June 2014

As a mourner discovers exposed skeletal remains and discarded bits of coffins in a local cemetery, Barbados Free Press laments “the latest indignities to buried friends and relatives”.

Bermuda to Get Public Access to Information Law

  17 June 2014

Premier Dunkley has announced that [the] Public Access to Information law will be operational by April, 2015. That’s 5 years after the law was passed, and 12 years after the topic was first introduced. Vexed Bermoothes thinks better late than never.

What About Bermuda's Unsung Heroes?

  12 June 2014

Bermuda marks National Heroes Day on June 16, but in the absence of an honoree for this year's celebration, bloggers discuss how the observance of the holiday could be improved.

Bermuda: Kicking Off the World Cup

  12 June 2014

Breezeblog is thrilled that the World Cup is finally here – and makes a cheeky prediction: “Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, Argentina will beat Brazil in the final.”

Trinidadian Writer Makes Frank O'Connor Award Longlist

  10 June 2014

Repeating Islands notes that Trinidadian writer Barbara Jenkins has been longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award for her book Sic Transit Wagon, adding: “The shortlist of six will be announced at the end of the week.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Why the Smile over Baby Simeon?

  9 June 2014

The Attorney General uses the presentation of a report into circumstances surrounding a baby's horrific death during a C-section “as a photo opportunity”. Jumbie's Watch calls it “a symptom, and a cause, of what is wrong in Trinidadian society.”

Suriname: The Faces of Inspiration

  6 June 2014

During exhibitions I often ask myself to what extent the location or the surroundings influence my perception. Srananart's Blog attends an art exhibit “about religion, rituals and death”.