#Caribbean politics

[allthegeopolitics]

Trinidad and Tobago is redrawing the island’s coat of arms for the first time since its creation in 1962 to remove references to European colonisation – a move lauded by many in the eastern Caribbean nation.

Explorer Christopher Columbus’s three ships – the Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria – will be replaced with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument that originated on the island.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley first made the announcement on Sunday at a party convention for his governing People’s National Movement to a standing ovation, saying the changes will be made by late September.

“That should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our constitution,” he said. [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @vague-humanoid

[bijoumikhawal]

seen a lot of comments on my latest Haiti post with "I haven't seen any news about this on here" and such and yeah... that's why I'm posting it. Mostly it's only Haitians who are talking about what's going on, and whatever posts they're making on Tumblr haven't really been showing up in the search function for me and aren't getting reblogged to my circles. Most Haitians have also requested that their words be boosted instead of outsiders speaking for them, which is also why I mostly compile relevant tweets with only a little commentary of my own.

I humbly request that other people start actively paying attention and making similar posts too, and to do so for other countries such as Sudan and the DRC. I also see relatively little information circulating here about them and news round ups actually take a fair amount of time to make. A good starting point is going on Twitter to the accounts I've boosted and paying attention to what they're saying. I can also recommend further accounts to follow for info.

[accessible-tumbling]

ID: A screenshot of a Twitter post by [shining heart emoji] [disco emoji] Hot & Unbothered [disco emoji] [shining heart emoji] @ Ahleeahnah with text reading: "Everyone wants to come to the Caribbean for vacation but who is there to help when hurricanes destroy the islands?!

I need y'all to act like you love the Caribbean for real and [caps] Share, Donate [caps end], offer your time, support, expertise in whatever ways you can."

End ID.

THIS

[iloveethnicities]

Afro-Bahamians are all involved in tourism.

The perception that Afro-Bahamians are primarily or exclusively involved in the tourism industry is a stereotype that fails to capture the rich diversity of roles they occupy across the Bahamas’ social and economic landscape. While it is true that tourism plays a major role in the Bahamian economy—contributing nearly half of the country’s GDP and employing a significant portion of the workforce—Afro-Bahamians are not limited to this sector. The breadth and depth of their contributions span industries as diverse as education, government, healthcare, finance, agriculture, technology, and the arts, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of their involvement in Bahamian society.

In the field of business, many Afro-Bahamians are successful entrepreneurs who own and operate companies in sectors such as real estate, retail, consulting, and manufacturing. They contribute to economic growth by creating jobs, developing new markets, and driving local innovation. Afro-Bahamian business leaders often play an instrumental role in initiatives to support small businesses and foster economic independence, helping to reduce reliance on tourism by expanding the economic base. This entrepreneurial spirit, rooted in resilience and adaptability, reflects a long history of Afro-Bahamians cultivating self-sufficiency and building enterprises within their communities.

In healthcare, Afro-Bahamians serve as doctors, nurses, specialists, administrators, and public health officials who are essential to the well-being of the nation. They work across both urban and rural areas, bringing healthcare access to communities throughout the islands. Afro-Bahamian medical professionals not only deliver quality care but also engage in health education, preventative care, and public health initiatives that address issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and other health challenges affecting Bahamian communities. These contributions are vital to maintaining public health infrastructure and ensuring the long-term well-being of the population.

Education is another sector where Afro-Bahamians have made significant strides. Afro-Bahamian educators, from teachers to professors, school administrators, and policymakers, are dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for young Bahamians. Their efforts have been instrumental in raising educational standards, developing culturally relevant curricula, and expanding access to education. Furthermore, many Afro-Bahamian academics and researchers contribute to the study of Bahamian history, culture, and social issues, enriching the intellectual landscape of the nation. These contributions empower the next generation, foster national pride, and challenge misconceptions by educating the public on the depth and diversity of Bahamian culture.

Government and public service are also fields in which Afro-Bahamians have historically played leading roles. Many Afro-Bahamians hold key positions in government as ministers, diplomats, civil servants, and policy advisors. They work to shape policies that address issues such as social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development, advocating for the interests of all Bahamians. Through public service, Afro-Bahamians have helped guide the Bahamas through significant milestones, from independence to contemporary governance challenges. Their leadership has been essential to fostering a political landscape that represents and supports the diverse needs of Bahamian citizens.

In recent years, Afro-Bahamians have also made significant inroads in technology and innovation. The growth of digital technology, e-commerce, and tech startups in the Bahamas has been bolstered by Afro-Bahamian entrepreneurs and innovators who see the potential for technology to diversify the economy. Through their work, they are expanding the nation’s presence in the global digital economy, creating high-skill jobs, and promoting technological literacy. These advancements help reduce the country's reliance on tourism by opening up new avenues for economic growth and demonstrating that the Bahamas can compete in technology and innovation on a global scale.

The arts, culture, and entertainment sectors also showcase the contributions of Afro-Bahamians, who are celebrated worldwide for their creativity in music, dance, visual arts, literature, and film. Afro-Bahamian artists often draw on their heritage to create works that reflect the struggles, triumphs, and spirit of the Bahamian people, contributing to a vibrant cultural identity that extends beyond the Bahamas. The world-renowned Junkanoo festival, a traditional Bahamian celebration rooted in Afro-Bahamian culture, exemplifies the nation’s unique cultural heritage and continues to attract global recognition. Afro-Bahamian writers, musicians, and performers frequently explore themes of identity, resilience, and history, helping to define and share Bahamian culture far beyond its borders.

In essence, Afro-Bahamians play integral roles in virtually every sector of Bahamian society. Their contributions go far beyond tourism, encompassing leadership, innovation, and expertise that shape the nation’s identity and economic future. Dispelling the myth that Afro-Bahamians are confined to tourism not only acknowledges these achievements but also honors the diversity, resilience, and dedication that Afro-Bahamians bring to their communities and country. By recognizing these contributions, we gain a fuller, more accurate understanding of Afro-Bahamians’ impact and the breadth of Bahamian culture and society as a whole.

[havatabanca]

[b-0-ngripper]

Here's a video explaining how the US invaded and occupied Haiti in the early 20th century

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #1 Haitian-American Platform (@lunionsuite)

[troythecatfish]

[blackbrownfamily]

Ayiti 1805

[sanyu-thewitch05]

Black Diaspora, if King Charles dies on Black History Month we need to…

TURN IT UP!!!

[bimdraws]

Cubans for Palestinian Liberation 🇨🇺🇵🇸

[kcarve]

"patriotism kills!" (KcARve) 07/24

mixed media piece

[gravalicious]

Errol Barrow

[fatehbaz]

[T]he infamous Diable (Devil’s Island) [French prison in Guiana, South America] [...]. Seventy thousand convicts were sent to French Guiana between 1852 and 1938. [...] Alongside deportation of political prisoners [...], a [...] convict population [...] was sent to the bagne (common parlance for the penal colony) [...] as a utopian colonial project [...] via the contribution convict labour would make towards colonial development in French Guaina. However, [...] French Guiana [...] was predominantly used as a depository for the unwanted citizens of France and its colonies. The last remaining French and North African convicts were repatriated in 1953, whereas the last Vietnamese prisoners were not given passage home until 1954 [...].

[T]he same form of built environment and carceral technology [...] structures found on Con Dao [French prison in Vietnam] and [the French prison in Guiana] [were] built at almost the same time [...] to house the same convict populations (Vietnamese implicated in anticolonial struggles) [...]. Old world colonialism is thus displaced by new world imperialism. Both rely on the prison island and its cellblocks. [...]

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The carceral continuities [...] throughout France’s penal colonies are supplemented by legal exceptionalism which works to redefine colonial subjects within shifting political contexts. [...] Many of the Indochinois convicts transported to the forest camps of French Guiana in 1931, including the Bagne des annamites, had originally been classed as political prisoners. The transfer was intended in part [...] to remove a number of anticolonial actors from Indochina. [...]

As political deportees sent to French Guiana were usually exempt from labour according to the political decree of 1850, this status had to be revoked to ensure the maximum labour force possible.

Consequently, those arrested on suspicion of specific acts of violence or property damage were reclassed as common criminals. Described by Dedebant and Frémaux (2012, 7) as “little arrangements between governors,” this was not simply a sleight of hand but written into legal codes. [...]

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[M]any of the Vietnamese sent to French Guiana had to wait until the 1960s to be repatriated. [...] After their sentences were completed, convicts were not simply repatriated to France or other colonies.

A system of “doublage” intended to shore up colonial development meant they had to serve the same length of their sentence again on the colony. For those condemned to eight years or more, this became life. Opportunities for sustainable livelihood were limited in a territory possessing swathes of free convict labour. Worn out and sick from their time in the bagne, most of these men were unfit to work and relied on charity to survive. [...]

[T]he last living convict [of the Guiana penal colony] [...] died in Algeria in 2007 after being repatriated to Annaba. In an interview given in 2005, he claims that every night he dreams he is back in Cayenne: “when I think about it, I get vertigo, I spent my life there” [...].

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All text above by: Sophie Fuggle. "From Green Hell to Grey Heritage: Ecologies of Colour in the Penal Colony". Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies, Volume 24 (2022), Issue 6, pages 897-916. Published online 8 April 2021. At: doi dot org slash 10.1080/1369801X.2021.1892507 [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

[newhistorybooks]

“This book presents a brilliant analysis of the neoliberal policies imposed on Haiti by international institutions. Dupuy skillfully connects decades of extractive foreign interventions in Haiti, from the US occupation to the aftermath of Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. Haiti since 1804 points the way toward a future in which Haitians might finally regain sovereignty over their own economy and government."

[lgbtpopcult]

Caribbean: Same-sex marriage likely in Sint-Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao