Carifuna / Caribbean / Politics

How do you feel about Wyclef Jean running for President of Haiti?

myvoice — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:14:19 GMT

Good Intentions or Opportunistic?

Jamaica - Tivoli under siege. What lessons do we learn?

Yute — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:04:12 GMT

The past week has been tough for Jamaicans and more specifically the residents of Tivoli as an out right war was waged by the military and security forces in their bid to arrest Christopher Dudus Coke. A death toll thus far of 73 persons, damage to infrastructure and a people traumatised. What are the learning points, not only for Jamaica but for the wider Caribbean? Can Jamaica, like Trinidad after the coup years ago rise from the ashes of the bloodshed? What path should the Jamaican government etch to restore confidentiality?

Pm kamla Persad-Bissesar

what next — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:38:18 GMT

Just have to post this quote from kamla. I am so happy that change has come to TT and I hope she will be given a real opportunity along with her new government to make a difference.

Race was an issue in elections but Im glad it did not dominate.

Today, we leave the labels behind, we move forward as a nation, all
committed to the same goal, a safer, more prosperous and just Trinidad
and Tobago where we all have opportunity and equality, and so I say, no
more labels, no more prefixes of Afro- and Indo- and North and South
and East-West Corridor and Tobago. The election is over.’ -Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

No more PNM

what next — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:52:40 GMT

So Trinidad and Tobago will be hosting elections soon, May 26th, I believe. I cant wait to see manning pushed out the door. he has done some good for TT, but the bad just over shadows the good. I am convinced he does nothing to alleviate the crime in TT because its those same criminals that constantly vote him in. I mean if he can spend one million on a flag pole, why cant he invest in technology to fight crime? In this day and age we still do not have a fingerprint database for criminals.....

As much as I dislike Manning and PNM, I suspect he will be voted in again. why? some will vote PNM because there parents and grandparents voted PNM, others are racist. Only this week I realized how much some black people fear an Indian coming to power again. I find this so ironic. Indians after syrians have held most of the wealth in the country, shouldn't they be constantly afraid of Manning the black PM? Also some black people see politics as the only stronghold that black people have...This may be true but Black people need to get up and do for themselves and stop waiting for Mannings hand outs....I vote for no more PNM...no more manning

US Government spending.

jamroc08 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:01:10 GMT

The article in the link below gives us an insight on how the administration uses media to justify getting billions of dollars to spend on a war that they will inevitably lose. Do you think that this is okay or should they be using some of this money to resolve our issues at home?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20generals.html

Should West Indians in the diaspora have the right to vote in their country of origin?

Yute — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:21:22 GMT

People within the disapora play a significant role in the socio-economic and even political development of their respective islands through a variety of means. Should they therefore be given the right to vote in elections in their country of origin while they are citizens of other territories?

POOR POOR HAITI

missy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:07:34 GMT

What have the Haitians people done to deserve all this.....They cant even get over one disaster and up comes another.........I feel for my Haitian Brothers and Sisters.......It hurts to see them suffer so often.......Well in St. Vincent & the Grenadines we are going to start from tomorrow to donate via Red Cross to Haiti Relief Fund.........Though little it may be.....it will help .......Please people....be grateful for what you have......When things are not going too well.....just tell yourself.....folks are going through a lot worse.....Haiti, Sudan....etc...Let's all channel some positive vibes to them and ask the Most High God to have mercy on this world. .....HAITI AM SORRY.....

Google....an inhumane, monopolistic giant or an inadvertent monopoly with good intentions

what next — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:05:46 GMT

I heard on the news that Google is giving one million to the recovery efforts in Haitian. i wondered if my ears deceived me. One Million? Maybe they are doing donations in installments and this is only the first one. This company is worth billions. It has spend millions to digitize orphan books and more money to pursue court litigation to confirm this right. Google is also spending millions on its various map projects. There are the google phones. Google owns Youtube. Google uses gmail to run advertisements. Google is even collecting information about its email account users. from the content of your emails, where you live and visit through its maps. Your tastes and preferences through the worldwide web. It is quietly amassing a database of information about its users which will be worth miillions, even billions to companies. I think it also owns at least one advertising company. So I ask again One miillion? is it because they dont think they will see a return on their money if the donate it to Haiti or is it because they don't believe in human rights? While they are threatening to leave China now because of the constraints in china, they were willing to limit searches on their website in China to promote good relations with the Chinese government. why? because profit lurked around the corner. I guess the same cannot be said about Haiti, at least not in the short term. so what is google?

BOLT...NEW AMBASSADOR FOR JAMAICA

BlessedOne — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:33:04 GMT

Triple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt received a diplomatic passport from Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Thursday. Usain Bolt seemed very appreciative of this honor, but lets be realistic can he deliver in this role appointed to him? can he handle the role of an Ambassador for a country? Prime Minster Golding says. "We want the world never to forget for one moment that he is Jamaican to the bone and he has so strengthened our image and is such a powerful symbol of what Jamaicans can become," Now I know the world cannot and will never forget where Bolt is from, in fact I know athletes around the world are trying to prepare themselves in efforts to compete with this mega star.

But as great as that sounds, I do not think he is ready for the title of Ambassador for a country; lets look at Wyclef Jean from island of Haiti, who is an Ambassador of the country. His role is not reigned only on his musical success but more so on what his success has done for the country. He used his music career to serve his country.

An Ambassador of a country is a very high and important role; and the success and popularity of a man should not be the resume for a political positions.

Do you even own your email account?

what next — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:57:03 GMT

I was listening to the radio today and they were discussing the first criminal case as a result of the financial melt down. it involved two Bear employees. I cannot remember their names. What stuck with me was that Google had been subpoenaed and had produced one of the defendants email accounts. Now I know email is not 100% save because of hackers etc. I also know that work emails belong to the company you work for. What I did not realize is that google owns your email accounts, or do they? Even though they were subpeoenaed I wonder if they were within their rights when they disclosed the information or if this guy's privacy was violated?

how to end crime in T& T

what next — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:53:00 GMT

Each time I read the Trinidad Express online, you can always expect to read of the murders that took place the day before. Today's express I read of five murders that had taken place yesterday. The crime situation just continues to get worse in this country. What is Manning doing about it? Asolutely nothing. Even for the most basic violations. I mean how hard is it to even crack down on those who violate the rules of the road? The government can spend millions on the summit but they can't spend millions on computerizing their systems. Mke it easier for police officers to write tickets. The same cameras installed for the summit can be used to catch drivers breaking red lights, drivers speeding and drivers driving down streets that clearly say no entry.

Why must I live my life in fear. Imagine its dangerous to walk the streets after 6 PM. You have to be careful how you answer people or look at people because you do not know who has a gun. If you go to a party be careful of what valuables you pull out because you do not knowwho is watching you and who will try to hold you up later and as usual when you need the police they are never around.

For me the extend of the crime is all related to politics. All these old people in government who are only there to milk the country's resources and squabble among themselves like children. Still, PNM knows how to keep some people happy: Cepep and URP are all it takes for some people to keep voting PNM. Be careful if you open your mouth about the corruption in these two organizations because you will definitely be signing your own death warrant.

Still,what is to be done about all the crime? Forget rehabilitation that does not work. What are the cops and threatened citizens to do? I say shoot first then ask questions later, of course dead men don't talk....

Summit of the Americas in Trinidad

what next — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:49:25 GMT

The Summit of the Americas was held in Trinidad this past weekend. Even before the summit many Trinidadians were not too happy because the event was being held there. The government spent millions trying to get the country ready for the summit. Many found that the money would have been better spent directly on things that would benefit Trinidad and Tobago citizens. Now that the summit is over. I would love to hear from folks, Did the T&T government spend too much money on the summit? Was it a waste? or was it worth it?

what's in a hand shake

what next — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:40:31 GMT

Obama, caught a lot of flack in the U.S for shaking hands with Chavez, someone who is seen as Anti-American. Some critics said he appeared too jovial in shaking Chavez's hand. His joviality may be interpreted as american weakness. Most political analysts agreed however that only future relations between Venezuela and the U.S will show if the handshake helped or harmed. I did not see the actual handshake but I know body language can be important. Still I wonder if these political analysts and politicians are not taking thinks too far. Even if Obama was too jovial when he shook Chavez's hand, what about that old saying about keeping your friends close..but your enemies closer? ( SOmething like that)

American Politics and how it affects you as "caribbean Americans"...

myvoice — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:30:33 GMT

Health Care, Taxes, The Economy, Immigration, Education etc. What are the issues that matters to you?