Latest posts by Guest Contributor
‘Tek sleep and mark death': Oil disaster in Tobago is a cautionary tale
The recent environmental disaster in Tobago — and Guyana's emergence as an oil producer — have some Jamaicans wondering if their country is equipped to mitigate the impacts of an oil spill.
A veteran Hong Kong journalist’s choice to coexist with censorship
"My only belief is that it is better to have one more voice than one less and that having one more reporter is better than one less."
Why Nigerians are facing daily challenges of inflation, falling income, and rising insecurity
Amid this worsening economic crisis, there has been a rise in the numbers of kidnappings for money across the country.
Disability campaigners in Zimbabwe speak out: ‘We are not second-class citizens’
Persons with disabilities explain why they have launched a new national disability campaign in Zimbabwe.
How a Nigerian mother supported her son with Down syndrome to become a successful Olympian
The World Health Organisation estimates that Down syndrome affects approximately 1 in 1,000 live births worldwide. However, the prevalence rate of Down syndrome in Nigeria is unknown because of a lack of data.
How Caribbean ‘Black Cake’ can help the region transcend its traumatic past
"Black Cake" (the book and series) naturally brings to mind the Caribbean Christmas dessert, but the linkages the delicacy shares with the literacies of enslaved Africans are often obscured.
Four change leaders combating gender-based violence in Africa and India
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence(NPSV) are two of the most common forms of violence experienced by women.
SIDS chart vision for energy transition at COP28, advocating tripling renewable energy initiatives and global decarbonisation efforts
To maintain the 1.5 degrees Celsius target by 2030, developed nations must prioritise addressing heavy-emitting industries. This requires, among other things, collaboration with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Caribbean.
Why I am exercising my right to protest in Trinidad & Tobago
This particular march is not merely a protest of alarm; it is also a gesture of mourning. Many of our people have died this year as victims of violence.
It's the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and Trinidad & Tobago still has a long way to go
The most effective way to deal with the attitudinal and systemic barriers many people with disabilities experience on a daily basis in Trinidad and Tobago, is through legislative implementation.
Post-Hurricane Maria, Dominica is still trying to build climate-resilient homes, so at COP28, it will advocate for Loss and Damage financial mechanisms
A Loss and Damage Fund will go a long way in providing “critical climate finance to the most vulnerable countries that are ravaged by the adverse impacts of climate change.”
Why some parents are accused of abandoning their disabled children in special schools in Nigeria
"The World Bank Group’s assessment highlighted that Nigeria, the most populated country in West Africa, recorded 29 million persons with disabilities in 2018."
How the Caribbean influenced domestic work and the ‘international parliament of labour’
'These trans-local struggles took place in the tumult of the late 1960s, inflected by the civil rights movement, the decolonisation of Africa, and broader anti-colonial sentiments in the ‘Third World.’'
How to be a friend to someone who is dying
'We don’t want to engage in conversations about death. We have made obscure the only thing that is a guarantee in life.'
Four citizen-led campaigns promoting mental health awareness in Africa and India
According to a 2021 World Health Organization report, one in four people will experience mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
Examining the issues of climate change and water scarcity in Tanzania, and exploring viable solutions
"Women and children bear the heaviest burden of fetching water. As a result, their opportunities for education and personal development are curtailed, trapping them in a cycle of poverty."
Nigerians demand justice and accountability following rapper Mohbad's tragic passing
Over 260,000 people have signed a petition seeking to ban Marlian Music, the Afrobeats singer's former record label.
Iran’s women, digital rights and human freedoms
While the Iranian government’s tactics reflect a global issue, the world must remember and celebrate the unique courage of Iran’s women, who stand tall in the face of adversity.
Media control, a threat to Nigeria's democracy
Nigeria was ranked 123rd out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index for 2023.
Zimbabwe election aftermath sees human rights defenders and opposition supporters under siege
Critics claim the ongoing post-election harrassment is reminiscent of the late president, Robert Mugabe, who after failing to gain the majority vote in the 2008 election resorted to violence against opposition supporters.
How St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Mayreau Island is tackling food insecurity
"Mayreau is 1.5 square miles, water scarce and generationally food insecure; food importation on the island is at an alarming 95-98 percent."