Caribbean Corner

Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda accused the international community of seeking to prevent countries from resuming commercial whaling. Members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) were also accused of “refusing to accept the responsibility of the organization to engage in the management of this resource.” At the 69th IWC meeting, Antigua and Barbuda’s IWC Commissioner, Daven Joseph, said members were refusing to consider the food security situation of all coastal states interested in utilizing the whaling resource. “I am listening to many countries here that are almost telling us, almost dictating the rights of all countries in terms of what we should eat, what we should not eat,” Joseph said. “You have no right to tell us that whales should not be used for food. It is a colonial posture that has to stop in this organization. How dare you want to tell countries what they should and should not use as dietary supplements? The wor...

Mickalia Forrester-Ewen, a young, fledging actress born in Brooklyn to a Grenadian mother, was crowned Miss Grenada USA 2023 in September of that year. She says winning the crown was “surprising and exhilarating,” she had no idea what would follow. “But this achievement propelled me to become more deeply involved in my community,” she said, reflecting on her one-year reign in an exclusive Caribbean Life interview over the weekend. “It gave me the confidence to overcome imposter syndrome and take control of my life and my goals,” added Forrester-Ewen, 26, who, two Saturdays ago, presented awards at the Nutmeg House on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to students who participated in essay and poetry-writing contests, sponsored by the Brooklyn-based Grenadian-American Ex-Teachers’ Association, Inc. The contest was part of Grenada’s 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.  Since winning the Miss Grenada USA crown, Forrester-Ewen said s...

Books on Farms, Food, and Farming History by various authors c.2024, Various publishers                              $27.00 – $30.00                       Various page counts   Last spring, all you saw was rows and rows of dirt, with a promise of more to come. Then there were soft rows of green, followed by real plants, then crops of bales or food or cobs. That acreage you know or imagine is dear to your heart, so why not read these great books on farms, food, and farm history? If there are animals on your farm, you already know that they have feelings, make friends, and have definite opinions. In “The Wisdom of Sheep: Observations from a Family Farm” by Rosamund Young (Penguin Press), you’ll read about life on Kite’s Nest Farm, where crops are organically grown and the animals are loved. You almost can’t raise livestock without watching them closely and here, Young writes about her sheep and her cows (she’s also the author of ...

Olympic 100-meter women’s champion Julien Alfred on Tuesday stepped off an aircraft bringing her home to St. Lucia for the first time in nearly a decade as the island starts almost a week of celebrations for the 23-year-old who whipped a star-studded field at the recent Paris Olympics to win the gold medal and keep that title in the Caribbean. She also won a silver in the 200 meters. Dressed in the national colors of blue with the two medals dangling around her neck, she was met by a huge delegation led by Prime Minister Phillip Pierre, her parents and other well wishers, former members of her early club, The Survivors and a host of other cheering supporters. She was later taken to the city from the main Hewanorra Airport by motorcade, escorted by armed police and soldiers as the motorcade snaked its way through the hills and valleys in the south to the capital, Castries, 33 miles away. Thousands lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the national heroine as she sat atop an open c...

It’s part dancehall, part Afrobeats, with an ominous jazz riff and powerful lyrics that decry the way poverty and inequality produce criminals from citizens, “Born a Criminal” by a Trinidadian collective of formerly incarcerated artists called Critical Mas — in collaboration with renowned jazz musician Etienne Charles — is poised to take airwaves by storm. To be released at The Burg on Saturday, the song —produced by Rheon Elbourne, credited as the inventor of “Trinibad” music, akin to Jamaican dancehall — was originally written by group member Friday as a calypso tune back in 2010, when he was incarcerated in Trinidad’s youth detention center. Friday won the People’s Choice Award with “Born a Criminal”—but never thought it would transform years later to become part of something much bigger than music. Critical Mas is housed under the umbrella of Incarceration Nations Network, a global prison reform organization helmed by well-known writer, professor and activist Dr. Baz Dreisinge...

Three Caribbean leaders aimed their proverbial ‘pistols’ at the developed world this week, calling for climate change financing and reminding anyone who would listen that the region is one of the smallest polluters on the planet but is still among areas hardest hit by an ever changing climate. Ifraan Ali of Guyana, Gaston Browne of Antigua and Mia Mottley of Barbados all raised the climate change issue and its plethora of negative effects at meetings leading up to the start of sessions of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York. PM Browne, who has been a leading advocate of punishment for those who pollute and walk away, wagged a finger at big oil, warning that victim nations are going to pursue polluters to the bitter end. “Big oil, hear this:  your days of exploiting the global south’s natural resources are numbered. The rich industrialized nations must pay for the loss and damage that have devastated our communities”, he added. He contended that the global governa...

Donna Prescott has lived in New York City for more than two decades. It may surprise many people that she is a mom to a 26-year-old. She is also tenacious. Another surprising thing: “Despite being an extrovert in social settings, I deeply cherish moments of solitude and silence. People may think I thrive on constant interaction, but I find my most profound clarity and strength when I’m alone, recharging in quiet spaces,” she said. Prescott sees her parents as the most significant influences on her path as an entrepreneur today, as they modeled this for her growing up. “My dad was a contractor, and somewhere woven inside me was the blood of someone who knew there was freedom in building something. Then there’s my mom, a homemaker who knew exactly how to step in when needed to make an extra contribution. Seeing them at that time making changes without many resources has left an imprint on me,” she added. Prescott remembers witnessing an act of kin...

It’s back — LIAT, the Caribbean airline that was for decades the region’s central way to get around. Now it’s called LIAT 2020, and the reborn carrier keeps adding new Caribbean islands.  The latest? St Vincent and the Grenadines, where […] The post The New-Look LIAT Is Adding Another Caribbean Island: St Vincent  appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDdkl7

The wine hour. The yoga mats. The food. The coffee and tea service. There’s a reason Kimpton has such a devoted following: it’s been taking the boutique experience to luxury resorts and city hotels across the US and, in recent […] The post Kimpton’s New Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Is Now Taking Bookings — And Has an Opening Date appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDbwj9

Closing the Gender Gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) was the topic of an informative conversation last Thursday, held in partnership between Guyanese Tech expert Cloyette Harris-Stoute, UN delegates Chioma Iwuagu Udegbunam PhD, and Dr. Ezinne Kalu on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly . The forum, hosted at the elegant Waterfall Lounge at 4703 Church Ave. in Brooklyn, focused on Closing the Gender Gap in Science, which has its genesis in the UN 2024 initiative “Women in Science Leadership: A New Era for Sustainability.” In her opening remarks, Udegbunam, a Nigerian national who earned her doctorate in Public Policy Analysis and who has championed women’s causes through her non-profit, Sure Smiles Women and Children Advocacy Initiative while serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder, spoke passionately about women taking on leadership roles in STEM. “Oftentimes, even in school, w...

Restoring mangrove forests to protect low-lying communities. “Climate disaster tagging” to provide data on climate change spending. The world’s first ever protected “seahorse” park.  Sustainability has been a big buzz word in the Caribbean in recent years, with a greater […] The post Why Sustainability Is a “National Passion” in The Bahamas  appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDblCH

Assistant Chief Ruel Stephenson is one of the highest-ranked Jamaicans in the New York Police Department (NYPD), overseeing Patrol Borough Manhattan North. His career is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the transformative power of hard work. Since joining the NYPD in 1995, Stephenson’s journey from an aspiring college student to a high-ranking officer reflects his profound commitment to public service. It serves as an inspiring symbol of determination. Stephenson initially aspired to return to college after completing two years of study. However, financial constraints forced him to look for work, leading him through various roles, from a beverage truck driver to a cable laborer and a security guard at Pathmark supermarket. During this period of uncertainty, he made a life-altering decision to join the police force, seeking a stable career despite the substantial pay cut. “I needed something permanent, stable; joining the police force was a way to secure that st...

Maybe you’ve seen the reports. The wide-ranging looks at tourism arrival data for destinations around the Caribbean. Outlooks for the crucial travel season ahead.  Destinations across the region rely on the Caribbean Tourism Organization for its broad-based tourism research, covering […] The post The Caribbean Tourism Organization Just Named a New Research Director  appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDY9k5

Flying to the US Virgin Islands has been getting easier in the last year, with more flights on carriers like American Airlines, Delta and United — along with lower-cost carriers like Sprit and Sun Country.  Now, JetBlue is getting in […] The post More JetBlue Flights to St Thomas  appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDX1np

Jamaica’s main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the wake of an integrity commission report that has cast doubts about his finances and whether he has enriched himself since becoming head of government more than six years ago. The report, compiled after two years of investigations, details his finances in recent years made it to the 63-member parliament this week but Holness, facing general elections next year, says the report has cleared him of any wrongdoing and of any allegations of illegal enrichment as a result of being head of government. “After this most thorough interrogation of my personal affairs, which is not in any way connected to public funds, or a benefit resulting from my office, they were unable to come to a conclusion regarding illicit enrichment,” he argued but the PNP which says it is leading in opinion polls, says it begs to differ. Opposition leader and attorney Mark Golding argues that q...

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Steve Kimber, who sent in this lovely shot of the beach in Negril, Jamaica. Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the […] The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: Hanging on the Beach in Negril, Jamaica appeared first on Caribbean Journal. http://dlvr.it/TDWfx0

The Brooklyn-based Grenadian-American Ex-Teachers’ Association presented awards to 10 students who participated in the group’s essay and poetry-writing contests on Saturday, Sept. 14, as part of Grenada’s 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.  The award ceremony, which took place at the Nutmeg House on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, was held under the auspices of Grenada New York Consul General Raphael M. Brizan. Justin McIntosh received the award, flanked by Cecily Mason, left; Mickalia Forrester-Ewen, Miss Grenada USA; and Consul General Raphael M. Brizan. Photo by Nelson A. King Mickalia Forrester, Miss Grenada USA, presented the awards to the students. Josiah Henry displays his trophy and certificate, flanked by Cecily Mason, Mickalia Forrester-Ewen, left, and Consul General Raphael M. Brizan. Photo by Nelson A. King Recipients of awards for the Essay Contest were Shamar James Anderson, 17, Archer High School, Lawrenceville, GA; Justin C. McIntosh,16, School for Class...