Art's higher purpose - our several conversations
Caribbean Journalism
by
1w ago
A glaucoma-themed art exhibition last week could have found few better locations than an eye clinic for a launch. Though distracted and distressed by that fact that we were just one block away from discovery of an outrageous, murderous crime in south Valsayn, there appeared, to me, to be an ironic spark of artistic light. In any event, there was no way I would have dared miss Patrick Roberts’ The Windows – A Conversation with Glaucoma – a collection of mainly acrylic and pastel works depicting several East Port of Spain/Laventille physical structures whose artistic meaning, for Patrick, extend ..read more
Visit website
Caricom’s Haiti Moment
Caribbean Journalism
by
2w ago
Despite Ariel Henry’s resignation offer - and it is provisional upon several important pre-requisites - Caricom deliberations and action on Haiti have still fallen short of an ultimate solution, but so has every other prescription from everyone else. The main difference, though, is that the regional grouping is engaging the deadly situation fully mindful of the contagion of chaos, the requirements of enlightened self-interest, and a sense of fraternal responsibility. The latter, of course, prevails even though Haiti membership had defied even CLR James’s notion of “natural (West Indian) unity ..read more
Visit website
Art’s revolutionary ways
Caribbean Journalism
by
3w ago
Emotional haze of Saharan proportions typically hovers over and permeates the season just ended - conditions under which it is best to be patient about many things. For example, few there may have been to have been discomfited by the Cro Cro judgment and now, regional political rulings on some musical content. But there should there be many more to consider measured caution on such matters. For certain, crass, artless content is far less likely to engender open empathy once assaulted, than craft bearing subtle, instantly undetectable daggers aimed at the heart. Yet, even so, the application of ..read more
Visit website
Disastrous Communication Gaps
Caribbean Journalism
by
1M ago
Just back from a few days in Jamaica with Caribbean media colleagues, disaster response agencies, and associated institutions discussing relationships to be forged and/or strengthened as our region addresses a multiplicity of hazards and threats of both human and natural origins. This was particularly significant in the face of the “Tobago oil spill” story and the extent to which the flow of information on the subject has been open to speculation, conspiracy theories, and mischief of various, cynical varieties. The ease with which elaborate, obviously malicious narratives based on the slendere ..read more
Visit website
Art and Our Packed Agenda
Caribbean Journalism
by
1M ago
There are so many things on the current agenda, both pleasant and deeply tragic, that a public affairs newspaper column provided limited space will always fall far short of comprehensive or adequate coverage. There is the fact of personal perspective and values with these media things as you know. Yet, I always navigate quickly to the op-eds to witness vast tapestries, the undersides of which almost always appear untidily stitched and patched, but where routinely resides actual meaning. Today, I could have addressed the fact of our unitary state and positioned it alongside other regional arch ..read more
Visit website
De Carnival is Over
Caribbean Journalism
by
1M ago
Listen to this here: Eeef you know how allyou does get me vex this time of the year. Results does come een and like it had mad pills in your beer. The people and dem practise hard, hard for months, but quarrel is all you have in your response. The judges and dem try hard to be fair, yet when results reach is like louse run in your hair. It must have a formula to get rid of this, something that work fast like Phensic or Vicks. Instead you keep kwart and head out Buccoo Reef, you bawling and screaming how the judge and dem t’ief. Remember the time Machel win the Road March, and was like somebody ..read more
Visit website
Carnival defiance
Caribbean Journalism
by
1M ago
Last weekend provided a good opportunity to sample, in small and large bits, the contradictions of a country said to be under siege from violent crime and social conflict, and the offerings of people bent on defiant creative expression through it all. The one thing you realise when doing so in T&T is that those intent on challenging the odds do not comprise a marginal, monolithic minority. It seems that for as many who have yielded to fear, there are numerous others interested in claiming earned doses of freedom. This is, perhaps, the spirit of “Kambule” as expressed by poet Pearl Eintou S ..read more
Visit website
Reform Infatuations
Caribbean Journalism
by
2M ago
Like so many other laymen with an interest in this sort of thing (and some experience with navigating it in associated fields), I have been paying close attention to recent, revived interest in the need to reform elements of our national constitution, ostensibly to bring the document in closer alignment with contemporary needs. There have been peaks and troughs in wider interest over the years, and this phase too shall pass. So, let’s at least try to leave a better imprint this time around. Public interest is sporadic even as those with vested interests, through advocacy of one kind or the oth ..read more
Visit website
OMG Pan!
Caribbean Journalism
by
2M ago
Everyone who understands the value of pan to T&T would know how much of a hard sell can be the idea of its unmatched role as a musical instrument, as a model for social organisation, and as a platform for realisation of latent economic value. On point number one, though, people are fully entitled not to like pan and the music played on it. I get “oh geed” in the eyes of some people I know whenever I talk about a “sweet” arrangement or how pore-raising has been one performance or the other. Last Saturday, for example, I confessed to having held back tears during the Small Bands Semi-Finals ..read more
Visit website
I see things
Caribbean Journalism
by
3M ago
So, most of us have made it to 2024. Happy New Year! Last week I threatened to convert the Caribbean public affairs focus of this column into a space to which you turned for advice on love, jobs, the weather, pet care, the best curry mango, and fireworks. We had had thick Sahara Dust last week, you see, and the neighbourhood animals were psyching themselves up for the usual assault from humans who consider loud noises capable of delivering some form of sadistic/masochistic happiness. I spoke then of this ghostly, floating, human form I took for a late friend and colleague and literary gem who ..read more
Visit website

Follow Caribbean Journalism on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR