Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from November, 2010
St. Lucia: French Passes On
Caribbean Book Blog acknowledges the passing of St. Lucian playwright Stanley French.
Haiti: Tweets on Cholera Outbreak
Twitter updates on the cholera outbreak: @carelpedre gets news that the disease is spreading, while @MissionMANNA tweets a quote from the director of Haiti's health ministry suggesting that the situation is “now a matter of national security.”
U.S.V.I.: No-Smoking Legislation
The Department of Health neglected to hold enough committee meetings to make the no-smoking law a reality; Live De Life hopes that despite the delay, “the bar and restaurant owners choose to go ahead and put this in place now before the start of tourist season.”
St. Lucia: No Bananas
Repeating Islands notes that St. Lucia's banana industry “could take up to eight months to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Tomas.”
Haiti: Cash for Work
“Is it a good thing that the sidewalks are jammed with people selling mostly imported goods and cast-off clothing and shoes from overseas?”: Haiti Grassroots Watch investigates whether cash-for-work programs help or hinder the country's recovery from the January 12 earthquake.
Cuba: Castro on Twitter
Along the Malecon thinks one of the reasons that Hugo Chavez has more Twitter followers than Fidel Castro is because “Internet use in Cuba much more restricted and expensive than it is in Venezuela.”
Barbados: Government-Media Link
Barbados Free Press makes “some observations about this ‘special understanding’ or ‘working relationship’ between the ‘professional’ Barbados news media and the government that results in the news media intentionally withholding news from the public for days.”
Trinidad & Tobago: A Miracle for Judah
Plain Talk chronicles the experience of young Judah Lovell, a burn victim who has suffered through the local health care system and deserves “his over due happily ever after.”
Bermuda: Sexual Discrimination
bermudashorts says that when it comes the issue of sexual orientation and equal rights, “there is no such thing as compromise…passing this legislation has nothing to do with offending conservative or religious Bermudians, it is about discrimination, protecting human rights, one of a government’s main responsibilities.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Silencing the Media
“Fazeer Mohammed is a writer and broadcaster in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Last Saturday he was fired from the Caribbean New Media Group, a STATE-RUN media house in T&T”: The Undisputed Truth finds it curious that “his removal came right after a little confrontational interview with government Minister Dr. Suruj Rambachan.”
St. Lucia: Hurricane Relief Efforts
“There are people who are very much still marooned by the metres of mud that descended from the mountains, swept away and buried their homes, vehicles, farms and kitchen gardens”: Sun, Rain, Or… does not want complacency to set in when it comes to hurricane relief for St. Lucia.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Not to Blame for Boycott
“We don’t care what Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz wants to say. There is no other way to look at the statement of their PM than plain out of order and highhanded”: Yardflex.com does not accept the inference that Jamaicans are to blame for instigating the boycott of T&T products.
Cuba: The Remaining 13
“No individual Cuban not named Orlando Zapata Tamayo is more responsible for the release this year of 39 Cuban prisoners of conscience than Guillermo Farinas”: Uncommon Sense reports that the hunger striker will re-start his protest if Cuba does not release all the political prisoners as promised.
Caribbean: Supporting the CRB
Regional litbloggers are encouraging one another to support The Caribbean Review of Books’ year-end donation drive.
Trinidad & Tobago: The Kamla Debacle
Outlish asks of the hoopla surrounding the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister's recent statements: “What's the real issue? Compassion or Caribbean rivalry?”
St. Lucia: Today's Tomas Update
From the water situation to a list of urgently needed items, Sun, Rain, Or… posts a hurricane update from St. Lucia.
Jamaica: Chevannes Passes Away
Jamaican bloggers pay tribute to the late Professor Emeritus of the University of the West Indies, Barry Chevannes.
Trinidad & Tobago: PM's Statement Causes Backlash
Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister has come under fire for her statements about hurricane relief to some of the CARICOM nations that were severely damaged by Hurricane Tomas. Bloggers throughout the Caribbean archipelago were offended by the sentiment that any release of the twin island republic's aid dollars hinged on reciprocal economic benefits.
Caribbean: Light Over Darkness
Today is the Hindu Festival of Lights – and while Barbados Free Press wishes everyone a “Subh Divali”, Trinidad diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch is concerned about “problems with the hazards caused by fireworks” and Globewriter, in the context of LGBT rights, says: “Divali…is the Hindu celebration of light over darkness...
Trinidad & Tobago: New Literary Festival & Award
Regional litbloggers are thrilled to learn about a new literary festival – and prize for Caribbean literature – “organised and judged by Caribbean people, of genuinely international scope.”
St. Lucia: After Tomas
Sun, Rain, Or… has finally located her family after Hurricane Tomas and has a new update on everything from fund raising to travel.
