Stories about Caribbean
The ball is back in Jamaica’s Appeals Court as UK Privy Council quashes dancehall star Vybz Kartel’s conviction
The Privy Council said “juror misconduct” was the primary reason for quashing the convictions since this would likely have affected the jurors’ reasoning and their verdict.
The year Palestine ‘played mas’ in Trinidad & Tobago
Despite the fact that Trinidad and Tobago does not officially recognise the Palestinian state, support for Palestine has been building, eventually coming into full view during the country's Carnival celebrations.
Jamaican musicians and fans shocked at passing of soulful roots reggae singer ‘Peetah’ Morgan at age 46
The group became known globally as a “conscious” reggae band, with lyrics infused with social awareness backed by roots reggae rhythms.
‘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.
Understanding Tobago’s disastrous oil spill
The spill’s effects on the Petit Trou Lagoon – located on the coast of Lowlands, Tobago – has caused utmost concern, given the area is ecologically sensitive with dense mangrove cover.
Flying fish and bearded fig trees are on the decline in Barbados
Flying fish landings have reportedly decreased by almost 50 percent since 2011, and without strategic conservation measures, Barbados could see the bearded fig tree disappear from the landscape.
Tobago continues to grapple with oil spill caused by unidentified tanker
Just prior to the much anticipated Carnival long weekend, an overturned ship has caused an oil spill, polluting Tobago's turquoise waters and causing an environmental hazard and national emergency.
The Suriname book prohibition in a global context of free expression
Suriname's book ban on corruption exposure is more than a local issue; it's a global wake-up call for the defence of free speech and press freedom against authoritarianism.
‘The bass is the backbone': Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, bass player for Jamaica's iconic ‘Wailers’ band, passes away at 77
"[T]he world lost not just an iconic musician and the backbone of The Wailers but a remarkable human being whose legacy is as immense as his talent."
‘Remember the name': The unlikely triumph of Guyana's Shamar Joseph has brought joy to West Indies cricket fans
For many fans of the game, the moment was like a return to the glory days of West Indies cricket, leaving some to wonder whether they were witnessing a renaissance.
Could the Caribbean bridge the gap between culture and sustainability?
Tobago’s thriving culture, which includes farming and food festivals, is one example of the intersection of creative industries and concepts of sustainability like eating local and growing one’s own food.
Celebrities, celebration, and a touch of controversy at the Jamaica premiere of the Marley biopic ‘One Love’
"Last night at the Jamaican premiere of #OneLoveMovie [...] you could sense that there was something special about his music [...] encapsulated in his anthem of One Love!"
Jamaica is developing, but at what cost?
Increasingly large developments along Jamaica’s idyllic north coast, a popular tourist destination, have local environmentalists concerned about several recurring issues observed in environmental decision-making in the country.
The role of climate-smart agriculture in Guyana’s push to reduce food imports
To help achieve CARICOM's goal of reducing 25 percent of the Caribbean’s food imports by 2025, Guyana is turning to climate-smart agriculture techniques as a means of sustainably increasing food production.
Jamaica-born Jason Allen-Paisant is the latest Caribbean poet to win the esteemed T.S. Eliot Prize
"A historic night for Caribbean poetry": His win makes it the third time in five years that a poet with Caribbean roots has won the prestigious prize.
Desi Bouterse's post-conviction disappearance leaves Suriname in turmoil
The shocking turn of events has stirred reactions of disbelief, anger and concern, as well as loss of faith in the judicial system.
When it comes to FOMO, in Trinidad & Tobago the struggle is real
A former minister of finance resorted to jumping a fence in order to gain entry to the state funeral of former prime minister Basdeo Panday, leaving social media users stunned.
Is the Bouterse verdict a symbol of justice in Suriname's turbulent past?
Bouterse's conviction on December 20, 2023 raised questions on national identity. Divided reactions reflect Suriname's struggle with its Dutch colonial past and its quest for a future balancing justice with reconciliation.
In Trinidad & Tobago, a violent start to the new year
While much of the violence is attributed the drug trade and its ripple effects, the country also grapples with incidences of violent home invasions, kidnapping and femicide.
On the first day of 2024, former Trinidad & Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday dies
Panday "[created] labour and political history and [became] one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most compelling post-independence figures.”
Year in review: In 2023, the climate crisis was top of mind for the Caribbean
Of the many stories Global Voices Caribbean covered this year, the lion's share have been linked to global warming, and the importance of climate justice to the region's survival.