Early last week, Louis Saldenah promised the Caribbean Camera that he was planning to put on a “HUGE Band Launch” on Saturday night. When the doors opened at his 2024 costume showcase at the Grand Cinnamon Banquet & Convention Hall in Scarborough, it was obvious he had kept his word (and then some). Saldenah Carnival band launch 2024 “We had approximately 1,100 people attend our band launch last Saturday night,” Saldenah told the Caribbean Camera. And Saldenah hasn’t stopped thinking big. Tonight (Thursday 25, April), Part Two hits with the official opening of the Saldenah Mas Camp in Scar ..read more

A unique celebration takes place as Trinidad and Tobago’s own Panman Pat marks his 79th birthday this Sunday, from 3 to 6 PM, a with a heartfelt and vibrant event aimed not only at celebration but also at giving back. The Blind Birthday Telethon, a blend of festivity and philanthropy, is set to broadcast live, engaging audiences in an act of communal support and generosity. Patrick McNeilly (Panman Pat) The telethon, hosted at the Consulate on Trinidad and Tobago soil, promises a spontaneous program, rich with musical interludes and featuring local luminaries. Pat, a National Republic Awardee ..read more

In the early hours of the morning, an immigration agent’s visit to a residence in a bustling tourist enclave in the eastern Dominican Republic took a dark turn, as allegations of sexual assault was reported by a 14-year-old Haitian girl. The incident, which reportedly occurred on April 5th in Bávaro, near the renowned Punta Cana tourist area, has reignited concerns over the treatment of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader According to a video testimony, the immigration agent initially entered the home, inquiring about the girl’s parents and th ..read more

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his support on Saturday for the formation of a Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) in Haiti, which is charged with selecting new political leaders and organizing elections in the Caribbean nation. Ariel Henry In a statement released by his spokesperson, Guterres praised the release of a decree that officially established the transitional council. This body is responsible for selecting Haiti’s next prime minister and cabinet. According to the statement, the secretary-general urged all Haitian stakeholders “to continue making progress in puttin ..read more

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell urged the United States on Sunday to lift Cuba from its list of countries deemed sponsors of terrorism and to terminate the economic blockade imposed on the Spanish-speaking nation. Dickon Mitchell Speaking at a press conference held at the Maurice Bishop International Airport to share insights from his official three-day visit to Cuba, Prime Minister Mitchell underscored the long-standing unjust economic blockade endured by the Cuban people for six decades. Despite this challenge, Mitchell highlighted Cuba’s unwavering commitment to global engagement and assista ..read more

By Lincoln DePradine The challenge of obtaining a tertiary education, for young men and women living in the Caribbean, was underscored last Saturday in Toronto by several speakers including Jamaica-born Donette Chin-Loy Chang, who received an honourary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2018. From left are Ann-Marie Hibbert and husband Kevin_ Donette Chin-Loy Chang & Brigette Chang Although the Caribbean is not poor, “basic resources and wealth are inequitably distributed’’ and a “substantial percentage of the population lives beneath the poverty line’’, with many “s ..read more

The Canadian Army Reserve is reaching out to the Caribbean community to participate in an upcoming job fair hosted by the 31 Canadian Brigade Group. This event is scheduled to take place at the John Weir Foote VC Armouries at 200 James Street North, in Hamilton on April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The job fair aims to showcase a variety of career opportunities within the Canadian Forces, highlighting the potential for stable employment, educational benefits, and unique life experiences. According to Paul Verheye, a representative from the Canadian Armed Forces, this initiative offers an a ..read more

By Lincoln DePradine Grenada, whose former High Commissioners to Canada have included one-time Miss World winner, Jennifer Hosten, is returning to having its own single diplomat based in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. Sylvester Quarless The Caribbean nation, as a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, has had joint representation in Ottawa through an OECS High Commissioner. Mario Bullen, who died in 2009, was the last diplomat to serve as High Commissioner for Grenada in Canada. Bullen, a career diplomat, also was a Grenada and OECS Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels ..read more

By Neil Armstrong Roger McTair, 80, a Trinidadian Canadian writer, pioneering documentary filmmaker, and poet, passed away on April 8 after a long fight with Parkinson’s and other overlapping issues. Plans are being made to celebrate his life and legacy in early May at a theatre in the west end of Toronto. In an email to friends and family, his son, Ian Kamau Prieto-McTair, an artist, writer, and designer, said alongside his aunt Dion, and mother Claire, they have all been navigating the end-of-life process. r Roger McTair  “We appreciate the condolences, cards, stories, and support we’ve ..read more

Singer and songwriter Vincent Darby wants the world to see his artistry By Neil Armstrong UK R&B/Pop sensation Vincent Darby is celebrating his 24th birthday in Toronto this week, a place he calls “home away from home” because he has many relatives living here, but “Jamaica is spiritual home, it’s unlike anything else,” says Darby who recently performed at The Drake Hotel Underground and isrecording his forthcoming album. Vincent Darby photo by Jemel Ganal The Birmingham-born musician has been singing for the past 15 years and just completed a tour with performances in Austin, Texas at SXS ..read more