Stories about Caribbean
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.
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.
COP28 delivers ‘death certificate’ for island nations
The Global Stocktake is meant to be the big outcome of the climate negotiations this year, but we have significantly deviated from restricting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
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.
As Venezuela postures on reclamation of the Essequibo region, Guyana prepares for ‘worst case scenario’
Prior to the referendum, Venezuela had only alluded to its intention to annexe the Essequibo; by December 5, Maduro's social media showed him holding up a new “official” map of Venezuela.
Benjamin Zephaniah, a unique British poet with Caribbean roots and a wide appeal in a multicultural society, passes on at age 65
He became a beloved artist and performer who crossed all boundaries and sought to heal the fractured society engendered by colonialism, racism and social injustice.
How climate change is affecting mental health in some of the Caribbean's Indigenous communities
"Climate change events [cause] a disconnection through displacement and loss of our homes, our land, and our ways of doing things. Having to relocate and start over is traumatic."