Author: Janine Mendes-Franco

“The level of ignorance, fear and hate-mongering surrounding the Haitian migration to the Bahamas is astounding – especially when one considers the fact that Africans living in Haiti achieved the first successful slave revolt in history against one of the world's most advanced nations”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit weighs in on the debate around the issue of Haitian migration.

B.C. Pires shares a humourous perspective on the Beyonce concert, happening later today in Trinidad.

“In these two years since Raul Castro came to power, expulsions for ideological reasons have continued – and are on an upward course – in the centers of higher education”: Generation Y blogs about evictions in Cuban universities.

Tallawah notes that “the University of the West Indies (UWI) is set to establish The Rex Nettleford Foundation for Caribbean Cultural and Social Studies” in honour of its late Vice-Chancellor Emeritus.

Corruption-free Anguilla reflects on the country's recent elections: “I am happy with the election results. I have no doubt that the Anguillian electorate has spoken loudly and clearly.”

Lifespan of a Chennette blogs about Guyana's Kaieteur Falls.

B.C. Pires links to a column by Mark Lyndersay, which, “if listened to, could rescue Trinidad Carnival for photographers; or at least stave off the death of yet another of its vital organs”, while other Trinidadian bloggers comment on the government's decision “to award sole rights to distribute coverage of major Carnival 2010 events to its own media house.”

Trinidadian bloggers post photos from the Carnival Tuesday festivities.

The convicted murderer of a Canadian tourist is to be sentenced today – Barbados Free Press is “hoping he rots in jail until he draws his final breath.”

“The time has come for each Haitian wherever you are, and whoever you are to take a stand, and say ‘NO' to the bureaucracy that worsens the situation in Haiti right now”: A month after the earthquake in Haiti, Wadner Pierre posts his impressions.

“There are a small handful of beautiful programs working in Haiti to raise orphans to adulthood and teaching them to give back to their country. It takes a lot to pull that off. It takes strong and committed Haitian leadership”: The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog calls for a balanced perspective on the issue of orphans.

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival inspires a poem by blogger Andre Bagoo.

Belizean reports that the country's Prime Minister “has urged caution on the part of Belize Defense Force army activities on the southern border with Guatemala” in the context of an ongoing border dispute.

The Haitian Blogger reports that some Fanmi Lavalas members have asked President Preval to allow Aristide to return and to be an ally in the rebuilding of Haiti, calling the move “a good opportunity to address the question of regime change in Haiti and the US and UN involvement in human rights abuses in Haiti…”

“Displays of architectural components — balustrades, window-frames, garden bird-baths — are not an uncommon sight on the outskirts of many Caribbean cities” – but, reports Nicholas Laughlin for Paramaribo SPAN, “the array of concrete columns and reproduction statuary…on the outskirts of Paramaribo is particularly impressive.”

“We have all looked on in horror at the scenes of destruction and human suffering experienced by our Caribbean neighbours in Haiti as a result of the strong earthquake on 12th January”: Afra Raymond considers the implications of a major earthquake on Trinidad & Tobago.

This Beach Called Life and kid5rivers comment on the fact that while the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are on water rations, the Prime Minister's lawn was being liberally watered.

“The Jamaican government and society think that they have more important things to worry about, rather than looking after its prisoners and criminals”: Jamaica Salt blogs about a prison riot in Kingston.

Grenada's Free Spirit is preparing to make cocoa tea, while Trinidad's My Chutney Garden is thinking of plants that thrive in Xeric environments due to “the beginning of an uncharacteristically dry season..”