Mahogany CoConut Blog

One Caribbean Nation. Anthony Kellman Sharon Marshall Philip Nanton On January 23, 2018, at Casa de las Américas in Havana, Cuba, the jury of the 2018 Casa de la Américas Literary Award in the Category of Anglophone Caribbean Literature, decided that the award goes to  Tracing JaJa , a novel by Barbadian writer Anthony Kellman (Peepal Tree Press, 2016).  Having read and fully discussed all the books submitted for the prize, the members of the jury—Elizabeth Nunez (Trinidad and Tobago), Jacob Ross (Grenada), and Emilio Jorge Rodríguez (Cuba)—arrived at their decision for the following reasons : “It is a passionate work of historical fiction drawing on actual events, to uncover one of the many atrocities of British colonial history. The novel engages the reader on both the emotional and cerebral level. We admired, and were moved by, Kellman’s portrayal of Jubo Jubogha, the African King, his resilience and refusal to submit to the indignities imposed on hi...

One Caribbean Nation. Carnival Sweet Fuh Days..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69N0ajTqQs

One Caribbean Nation. THE YUGGE FARRELL STORY AND THE RH ABUSE OF POLITICAL POWER AND THE ASYLUM! Yugge Farrell There is the interesting case of a Vincentian woman by the name of Yugge Farrell who was sent to the psychiatric hospitable on 5 January 2018 to undergo two weeks evaluation because she reportedly ‘cuss’ Karen Duncan-Gonsalves, the wife of Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves. The backlink to the story- Yugge reportedly had a fling with Camillo Gonsalves, the son of the Prime Minister and the tentacles of political power appears to have exerted some influence on how Yugge Farrell’s matter is being treated by the St. Vincent court. Not only was she ferreted to the mental institution with haste, it is reported that a cocktail of drugs were administered to her without any logical basis for doing so. The case has galvanized the support of women across the Caribbean to what they see as an injustice against a young woman whose only ‘crime’ is that she ‘cuss’ a...

One Caribbean Nation. Guyana National Flag  The Mahogany Coconut Group A decade ago, many Guyanese living in the Diaspora, would have been negative about returning home. They feared mostly the racial and political tensions. Some sought to live in other Caribbean islands and were often accused of accepting lower wages than the workers in those countries. In many ways, Guyana had become the butt of many “island jokes” about its weak currency and shortage of consumer goods, taken for granted throughout the region. Those travelling to Guyana on vacations and business often were amazed that Guyanese themselves, were so negative about such a bountiful land with natural resources not found in any other country in the region. They also marvelled at the gracious manner of the Guyanese people, even in the toughest of times. The Guyanese are known for their excellent cuisine and their incredible crafts people. They have long established themselves as intellectual giants in the reg...

One Caribbean Nation. National Flag of Barbados by William Skinner Emboldened by a now decadent and decaying two party system, we have apparently opted to embrace a society bereft of regulatory might. The citizens have been, in some cases, willing accomplices to the cowardly abandonment of their historical mission by the political managerial class. In every area of civic responsibility, we have allowed the devolution of duty whether it entails the mismanagement of the sewage systems or failure to control the destructive mini bus culture. To some degree, we are all accomplices to the current plight of our circumstance. From blatant political party favouritism at state agencies such as the national housing, transport board and welfare departments to the obvious corporate political gymnastics of the CLICO corruption, we have been caught with blood on our hands. We allow inconsiderate vendors to dump their coconut shells any where they choose and turn a blind eye to political n...

One Caribbean Nation. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart Opposition Leader Mia Mottley By William Skinner As we prepare for another General election, it is imperative that we call a spade a spade. Unless there is some unknown, mysterious progressive visionary leader hiding deep in the bowels of the Barbados Labour Party or the Democratic Labour Party, the election would follow the pattern of carnival like exercises of recent election cycles, with mega entertainment and alcohol being distributed to all and sundry including minors. The major challenge of the fledgling third parties will be to avoid such frolic and deal with the myriad problems facing the country. They should treat the public with the seriousness it deserves and avoid making empty promises like their opponents.   Contrary to popular opinion, the so-called political scientists and radio talk show gurus, the people are more prepared to listen to alternatives than at any other time since independence....

One Caribbean Nation. Caribbean Nation Flags by The Mahogany Coconut Group  We have concluded that 2017 is a year that we would want to forget. The economies of almost all Caribbean islands are under pressure and unless solutions are quickly found, chances are that many would be heading to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We are mortally afraid that if we must live under the draconian measures that remain the Fund’s hallmark, there would be little hope in 2018, for any widespread improvement in our struggling economies. The forces of nature via some extremely damaging hurricanes, have set many countries back at least ten years as they were literally destroyed or severely damaged by a relentless and brutal hurricane season. The rapid response of those islands not affected to assist their brothers and sisters, clearly demonstrates, that we can rise to the occasion. It is ironic, that such calamities brought out the very best in us and proved that with progressive lea...

One Caribbean Nation. December 31, 2017 By Michael Headley                                                2017, The Year of the Rooster According to the 12-year cycle of the Chines zodiac sign, 2017 was the year of the fire Rooster.   It stared on January 28, 2017 and ends on February 15, 2018.  In the common vernacular a rooster is nothing but a cock and is supposed to fertilized the hens and guard the hen house. By the way, a rooster can control up to twelve hens.   Based on all the sexual harassment allegations, exposed in 2017, it seemed the perfect climax as the chickens came home to roost with their various claims.  Some guys were being accused of being too cocky and eventually had to fall on their unsheathed swords.  And many went limp and were no longer standing, from their previous upright and extended p...