I am a writer and media producer based in Trinidad and Tobago. Follow me on Twitter @JanineMFranco.
Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from January, 2022
An upcoming British edition of ‘Capitalism and Slavery’ makes news, but the Caribbean has always known the book's worth
Dr. Eric Williams' seminal book is attracting fresh interest after it was announced that a new edition will be published in Britain.
The issue of the Jamaican police allegedly cutting a young woman's dreadlocks remains unresolved
"Ms. King is symbolic of the ‘have nots;’ in Jamaica, who continue to be neglected and whose human rights are so often disregarded and abused."
Clean sweep for incumbent Mia Mottley in Barbados’ first election as a republic
"Regardless of political affiliation, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has cemented her place in Barbados’ history."
Tobago ditches ‘colonial’ dress code, waits for its sister isle, Trinidad, to catch up
“To refuse service to anyone for any reason related to dress codes are discriminatory, classist, and rooted in colonialism and segregation.”
Trinidad and Tobago residents’ response to proposed amendments to fireworks legislation? Enforce existing laws
"As it stands, the draft fireworks bill is unacceptable. According to one source, the draft sounds like it was written by the sellers of fireworks themselves."
Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier, whose representation of Black people in film helped change racist perceptions, dies at 94
"So much is made of him being the first Black male actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor in 1963 [...] but his legacy is so much greater..."
‘The king is passing’: Narrie Approo, Trinidad & Tobago's oldest Black Indian masquerader, dies at 94
Narrie Approo had a lifelong love and respect for Trinidad and Tobago's sacred Carnival traditions, which he expressed most passionately through his portrayals of Black Indian mas.
Trinidad and Tobago loses three musical treasures at the start of 2022
The oldest living calypsonian, a beloved soca parang artist, and a pioneer of kaiso jazz music have all passed away, leaving Trinidad and Tobago the poorer for it.
In Trinidad and Tobago, baby, it's cold outside
A North American cold front brought the chilly weather, with the coolest temperature recorded via a calibrated thermometer being 17.63°C, and an uncalibrated thermometer recording a minimum low of 15°C.
