Author: Janine Mendes-Franco

“One of the latest national topics is the Ministry of Education's pilot project to convert twenty co-educational (or co-ed) secondary schools into same-sex (or single-sex) schools”: KnowTnT.com and Ken Sambury comment.

“Exploitation of child domestics is a global problem, not a Haitian 'slavery' 
issue”: The Haitian Blogger republishes a piece by Ezilidanto that exposes the real “slavery” in Haiti.

MEP Caribbean Publishers has the scoop on Trinidad and Tobago's Red Earth Eco Arts Festival, which, in commemoration of World Environment Day, plans to focus the spotlight on the country's “fragile fresh water systems: rivers, streams, waterfalls, underground springs and mangroves.”

Cuban bloggers report on the earthquake tremors that hit the island two days ago.

Blogging about Jamaica's refusal to extradite Christopher ‘Dudus' Coke to the US, Active Voice says that “there's no level playing field”, while My View of JamDown from UpSo adds: “The fact is that Jamaica is neither America's weed nor cocaine dealer!”

Uncommon Sense confirms that Cuban dissident leader Oswaldo Payá has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, “There should be little doubt that if he were to be named this year's recipient, it would elevate his status and that of the entire dissident movement on the island. And it would be a big win for the cause of Cuban freedom.”

Boyce Voice and B.C. Pires blog about the public outcry surrounding the appearance of Jamaican dancehall performers, Vybz Kartel and Mavado, in Barbados.

Guyana-Gyal has a theory about “how tongues all over the world latch on to the I-Talk.”

Caribbean Book Blog is excited about St. Lucia's upcoming WORD ALIVE International Literary Festival, “the first full-scale international literary event of magnitude to be held in the island.”

From Barbados, B.C. Pires comments on the political goings-on in Trinidad and Tobago, saying, “There is only a small difference between prosecution and persecution.”

Lifespan of a Chennette goes “touristing” in Guyana's capital city.

“I don’t think anyone has any real confidence that Government will act to restrain its spending, or plan to work down the debt without strangling the community with taxes”: Bermuda's budget debate has eroded Vexed Bermoothes‘ confidence.

KnowTnT.com's Edmund Gall asks himself, “Are we Trinis more likely to be *against* something than *for* the opposite?”

Barbados-based B.C. Pires posts some observations about the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister's statements “that a war is on between the PNM government and some elements of the construction sector”: “No matter which way you look at it, everyone in these small islands is firetrucked.”

Trinidadian bloggers discuss the Prime Minister's behaviour during a recent “walkabout”.

Bermudian bloggers comment on term limits. Politics.bm: “The requirement to prove Bermuda status for entry is draconian and unnecessary…”; Vexed Bermoothes: “I believe that term limits are very dangerous, particularly combined with all the other mixed messages sent by this Government towards international business.”

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has finally got a touch of rain – and Abeni is rejoicing!

KnowTnT.com links to “a report entitled The Tragedy & The Hidden History of NAPA” and comments: “I'm hoping that the accusations are fully investigated and that, if they are true, that the powers that be are stung into changing their reprehensible treatment of our artists.

Trinidad and Tobago's environmental Green Fund is supporting two worthwhile projects – a reafforestation initiative and a plastic recycling drive. Greenlight Network has the details.