Mahogany CoConut Blog

One Caribbean Nation.                             Did you come for the improvement                                 or the exchange ?            

One Caribbean Nation. by William Skinner Since the abolition of slavery, the Caribbean region has been heading toward a date with destiny. Many of us have hailed events as defining moments. In most cases those moments lingered a while and then faded into historical reference. The abolition of slavery was a significant moment for our physical being but the scars of mental slavery still shackle us to a belief that we have reached the apex of our civilization. The rise of the working class in the 1930s and onward to individual state independence, would have further cemented that we had arrived at a stage of development that was almost miraculous. It is a remarkable feat, that we went from slavery to independence in a historically short time. We should therefore be forgiven if we thought : The Strife   Is O’er, The Battle Won.” We were skillful with our limited resources and those countries within the region with more bountiful resources than others, were generous in the...

One Caribbean Nation. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Walter Rodney 1973  Preface  "This book derives from a concern with the contemporary African situation. It delves into the past only because otherwise it would be impossible to understand how the present came into being and what the trends are for the near future. In the search for an understanding of what is now called “underdevelopment” in Africa, the limits of enquiry have had to be fixed as far apart as the fifteenth century, on the one hand and the end of the colonial period, on the other hand. Ideally. an analysis of underdevelopment should come even closer to the present than the end of the colonial period in the 1960s. The phenomenon of neo-colonialism cries out for extensive investigation in order to formulate the strategy and tactics of African emancipation and development. This study does not go that far, but at least certain solutions are implicit in a correct historical evaluation, just as given med...

One Caribbean Nation. “ Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

One Caribbean Nation. Garlic Chives Garlic chives can aid respiratory disorders by Annette Maynard-Watson BOY OH BOY! My grandmother returned from front line duties in Bimtoons and she had many stories to relate to me about King Coven and his 19 villains. Remember, last week she insisted that I was duty bound to tell you about General Mugwort. This general was healing the villagers of Madagascar and King Coven was very angry. However, back in Bimtoons my grandmother related that Queen Mary had lifted some of the sanctions and the villagers were very happy. Many of them were ecstatic to go to the barber and many were thrilled because they no longer needed to cook on the wood fires because the Chef was again serving roti and wing dings. However, my grandmother said that all of this activity was placing stress on some of the villagers in Bimtoons. They were feeling stress because in the midst of the hive of activities, King Coven was beginning to feel happy again b...

One Caribbean Nation. White supremacy on display Mohammed Iqbal Degia IN RECENT WEEKS, the spectacle of heavily armed white supremacists walking the streets of America unimpeded has been broadcast worldwide. They are “protesting” the COVID-19 lockdowns. Several even stormed the Michigan capitol building. Nowadays, the menacing sight of people of this ilk parading is common. It would be erroneous, however, to believe white supremacy emerged with President Donald Trump. He has merely emboldened some to express more openly and loudly the fascism they had quietened to an extent after the civil rights movement. White supremacy has been entrenched in the United States since the first invaders landed from Europe and embarked on their colonial project. A centuries-old order does not simply shed its core. Thus, white supremacy continues to exhibit itself in the post-civil rights era in various structurally embedded forms. An example of this is in the law enforcement an...

One Caribbean Nation. Caribbean Heads of State The fears of many progressives that Caribbean leaders will not embrace a new economic path post COVID -19, are slowly surfacing. While we support the current efforts , in the fight against COVID-19,we must admit that as the region returns to state of normalcy or what is being branded the “new normal”,   there will be nothing new about their economic management. There is a collective pandering to the same institutions and backward policies that are essentially stagnating growth. We therefore expect the status quo to remain entrenched and we predict that we will witness blatant attempts, to apply the finishing touches to the death of trade unionism. The commanding heights of our economies will continue to be dominated by whites, Asians, and other minorities both local and expatriate. The relentless quest for wealth will continue and many poor Black Caribbean citizens, will be expected to carry the burden. These hopelessly bac...

One Caribbean Nation. Congressman warns US not to meddle Congressman Hakeem Jeffries Ambassador Sarah Lynch NEW YORK – A high-ranking United States Democratic Congressman has strongly urged US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch, and Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US Department of State, Michael Kozak, not to interfere in Guyana’s disputed March 2 elections. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is conducting a countrywide recount of all ballots in the presence of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) scrutineers. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the US   House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus, accused the US State Department officials of interfering in the elections to benefit Guyana’s main opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). “Traditionally, we can monitor how democracy is playing itself out in different parts of the world, but to interfere in such an extraordinary way and in a manner which favours one p...

One Caribbean Nation. Chris Gale Brian Lara Ramnaresh Saran Usain Bolt The Mahogany Coconut Group, considers cricket, to be the most unifying cultural force in the Caribbean region. Our current cricketers have continuously depressed us by their apparent intention, to systematically destroy a legacy, that has been built through sporting, and occasionally physical, blood sweat and tears. We went on a ride of almost mystical dominance , that disappeared like the viciousness of Viv Richards hitting a bowler   for six or the swiftness of Garry Sobers snatching up a catch at pick pocket. As the period of dominance evaporated, we have been luckless in discovering any considerable star material. Most of our players have often turned up; showed some talent and then faltered. However in this barren time at least two have demonstrated immense talent and can correctly claim some level of greatness. Brian Lara and Chris Gale are obvious stars of the last two decades. Brian...

One Caribbean Nation. Under normal circumstances, Caribbean workers would be celebrating, today May 1 st - May Day with addresses by Trade union leaders, picnics, and entertainment. After a public assembly, leisure would take over and that social camaraderie, a vital part of any movement would be enjoyed by all: union members, supporters, families and friends. The current COVID-19 and social distancing have obviously dampened, and in some cases, wiped out these traditional and popular celebrations. On this May Day, many workers, find themselves “out of work”; confined to their homes and practicing rules and regulations that are designed to save their lives and not jobs. Once more trade unions are being asked to redefine themselves as they adjust to the new normal. Regional governments are scrambling, to find solutions that ensure workers do not get trapped and eventually remain helpless in the cracks suddenly created by this menacing virus. While we are encouraged by the admi...