Mahogany CoConut Blog

One Caribbean Nation. Flags of the Caribbean Since we last published, our regional sources have reported that COVID continues to place extreme pressure on our socio-economic progress. There is a dangerous lack of creativity, vision, and innovation throughout the region. The need for leaders to paint pictures of optimism is understandable but it cannot replace honesty and being forthright with the citizens, they are elected to lead. There is a profound lack of inspirational leadership throughout the region. Citizens already faced with daily survival are not searching for fancy speeches or scraps and "freeness" in the form of political largesse. They are waiting for a true picture of hope in these challenging times. There will be no change until there is a change of how our political leaders perceive the people, they are given the honour to lead. The working classes of the pre independence era, were inspired by leaders in both the political and labour movements, who sough...

One Caribbean Nation. Flags of The Caribbean Flag of the Republic of China The recent news that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has sought financial assistance from China, should not have surprised, those citizens, who have been monitoring the economic presence of China throughout the region. Trinidad and Tobago opted to secure the assistance from China rather than negotiate one with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The reason being that the Chinese loan did not come with the harsh conditions usually inflicted by the fund. We note that the governments of; Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana along with several others, have also turned to China for both economic and developmental aid. While we understand that with struggling economies and the devastation caused by COVID, many of our economies are in a perilous state, and China seems more than willing, to render assistance, we are forced to ask: At what price? The region having survived slavery inflicted by the Europeans; al...

One Caribbean Nation. Virgin Islands Barbuda Dominica We have often noted that we are not in the: “We told you so business”. The reason being that we take no delight, when we predict that some negative features of the region, will eventually lead to serious socio-economic retardation. The enormous damage done to some islands   by the deadly hurricanes that now dominate regional news and discussion, has brought us to a sense of reality, that only the most obstinate among us, would seek to ignore. We are hoping, some would say against hope itself, that the loud shouts for regional cooperation in the areas of disaster preparedness, are not silenced as the tumult  we now endure, fades. We have warned that crime and a deteriorating environment, if allowed to continue, would be the ultimate undoing of the region. These positions were taken long before the destruction, that the hurricane season has dumped upon us. It is believed that many of the gains made in the last three de...

One Caribbean Nation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ...

One Caribbean Nation. Dr.Carla Barnett National Flag of Belize The Mahogany Coconut Group welcomes Dr. Carla Natalie Barnett, the new Secretary General of CARICOM. Dr. Barnett, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, is the eighth Secretary General and the first female to hold the office. The MCG hopes that her appointment will strengthen ties with her homeland Belize, and its Caribbean neighbors, and act as a conduit for us to further explore its beauty and customs. Dr. Barnett is taking up office at a very challenging time for the region. Most of our economies, have suffered severe shock, caused by the devasting damage to the tourism industry by COVID-19 and the challenge of finding the financial resources to combat the pandemic. There remains an embarrassing level of pettiness among some regional leaders, as was recently evident during the LIAT controversy. We are also fighting the negative effects of climate change on our beautiful but often fragile environment. O...

One Caribbean Nation. From our very inception, the Mahogany Coconut Group, has placed considerable emphasis on the abuse of our women, children, and the elderly in our region. As some countries celebrate Child Month, we must once more state that child abuse and other crimes against children are rampant in many of our societies. In keeping with our philosophy of One Caribbean Nation state, we will not identify any country as the main culprit. Suffice it to say that a crime committed against one child in our region, is a crime against all our children. Many of the laws pertaining to the abuse and exploitation of children are bordering on the archaic, even when they are “modernized”. Our research of   rape cases and other atrocities against minors, indicate that the legal system allows several years to elapse before trials of this nature are heard. We are also alarmed that consensual sex is the defense of choice in these matters. Legally, there really cannot be any consensual ...

One Caribbean Nation. Within our region, the advent of COVID has given unscrupulous employers the greenlight to further emasculate the workers movement. Keen observers suggest that the trade unions are being systematically marginalized. While we expect such efforts from the private sectors; it appears that the public sector because of failing revenues, may have no choice and some countries are already finding difficulties in meeting public sector wages. We opine that the road ahead for all regional economies, will be fraught with almost insurmountable challenges. We remain concerned that too many economies are anchored by tourism and any further local, regional, or international shocks, to this industry, will certainly throw us into more socio-economic peril. A one-dimensional economy, limits employment opportunities and the concomitant unemployment, leads to decreases in the union membership thereby making workers targets of     anti-worker machinations. To avoid the de...

One Caribbean Nation. DMX by Michael Headley There seems to a global push, by some government officials, organizations, media pundits and others, to advocate the decriminalization of the law, regarding possession and use of small quantities of marijuana/cannabis/pot/weed.   However, in their haste to celebrate potential users literally lighting up, they may want to avoid being later haunted by the words of the late rapper DMX, born Earl Simmons.  He died at age 50, from an apparent drug overdose, which triggered a heart attack on April 09 (New York Post, Entertainment April 09. by Chuck Arnold and Adriana Diaz).    In a November 2020 interview, published by Judith Charles Lotter (Home/News/Celebrity) DMX talked about how he was tricked into using drugs, by his mentor, who had deceptively slipped him a 'blunt', which was laced with crack.  Prior to this, at age 14, he said that he had never smoked cigarettes or weed. DMX asked "Why would you do that to...

One Caribbean Nation Weekend Regional News PORT OF SPAIN – The T&T Police Service has announced that in the next few days, it will ramp up its surveillance and monitoring of citizens to ensure that public health regulations are not being breached. Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said after a meeting with National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on Wednesday, several decisions were taken to intensify the response to lawbreakers. The Operational Command Centre and Commissioner’s Command Centre will be both used for their surveillance capabilities. “We will be monitoring all areas with the 1,000-plus cameras across the country to ascertain if it is we are seeing persons congregating in a mass, if we are seeing vehicles parked in a certain place so we will be intensifying our operational procedure as it pertains to ensuring that persons adhere to the regulations,” Griffith said at a media conference at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain yesterday. From the surve...

One Caribbean Nation. The devastation wreaked upon the good people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines by the eruption of the Mount Soufriere Volcano, will remain in their memories forever. When confronted by such horrific acts of nature, we are all reminded of our insignificance, in the greater scheme of things. Many will utilize their faith and Christian/religious beliefs, to navigate them through this difficult period. The Mahogany Coconut Group respects all faiths, religions and beliefs; quite aware of the role they play throughout our region. The MCG sees such journeys as deeply personal to their followers. The  great spiritual comfort they bring to the lives, trials, and tribulations of our people, at home and in the Diaspora cannot be denied or ignored. We urge all Caribbean people and friends of the region, to render assistance to our sister island. We also take this opportunity to wish, the wonderful people of Barbados, a very quick recovery from the volcanic ash that ...

One Caribbean Nation. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated, the need for regional governments, to act as one force, when there are such crises. The scramble for desperately needed vaccines, has exposed the vulnerabilities of our island states. We need each other now “more than ever”. The region's largely based tourism economies, have been savaged and we suggest that full recovery, will in some cases , take a decade. Some leaders are pretending that they were unaware that the fragile nature of their economies, and often strained relations with others, would have exposed how naked we all are, when confronted by unexpected and economically devastating shocks. While we support all regional governments in their gallant battles against the deadly virus; we are nevertheless certain that a progressive, functioning, one Caribbean nation, would have better battled the challenges. We note, with great admiration how the nation of Cuba, is confronting the pandemic with its own...

One Caribbean Nation. Once more the images of a fractured Caribbean have emerged. Apparently, President Biden, has invited two Caribbean leaders, to a Climate Change conference. The MCG does not engage in highlighting individual regional leaders, unless we deem it central to the point we are trying to make.   While we cannot tell Biden or any other country’s leader whom to extend invitations, we are of the view, that CARICOM as a regional force, must start to assert its independence, in matters relating to climate change, poverty, hunger and other maladies affecting the region and the world. Our failure to act as one body with one voice, is sending a message to our citizens, that we can be pushed around by those who control global politics, wealth, and power. Climate change is already wreaking havoc in the Caribbean. It is known that our coral reef, coast lines and water supply, are under tremendous threats. Biden and others cannot save us -we need to save ourselves. Rather...

One Caribbean Nation. Gaston Browne National Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Oh, Noooo Mr. Browne! Mr. Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, must be told, that his words as a leader of a Caribbean country and member of  CARICOM, have consequences. He cannot “go about the place’, calling citizens of any Caribbean country “rotten elements’, simply because they disagree, with his administration’s and his position on LIAT. We will not tolerate undermining any workers’ cause, and the pilots of LIAT are no exception. He must also impress upon his cabinet members, that the days of petty insular diatribe and baseless innuendo, against other regional leaders and members, will not serve the cause being fought by progressive Caribbean citizens, to create a new vibrant Caribbean nation. There are too many regional leaders, who see our islands, as their serfdoms. They seem to believe that replacing the colonialists with a new set of frauds, is the future of the Caribbe...

One Caribbean Nation. Radio School, an excellent teaching tool       by Michael Headley Jeff Broomes Voice of Barbados, Starcom Network and its sponsors, must be congratulated for the innovative and educational program Radio School, aired at 3:32 PM,  from Monday to Thursday on Voice of Barbados, 92.9 FM.   The targeted audience are pupils, whose education has been somewhat interrupted by the COVID-19 virus.  However, there can be no educational pause because the pupils still must prepare for the Common Entrance examination a.k.a. 11 Plus, at a future date.  With its promotional catchy phrase, from age ' seven to seventy -seven', the net is cast wide so that all and sundry can participate.  Voice of Barbados, Starcom Network and its sponsors, must be congratulated for the innovative and educational program Radio School, aired at 3:32 PM,  from Mon...

One Caribbean Nation. Close Them Down  It is not the policy of the Mahogany Coconut Group to highlight any one Caribbean country. However, we must once more, turn our attention, to the country of Barbados and the horrendous cases of child abuse occurring there. Recently, we commented on the inhumane treatment of a youth, at the Fun Ranch, in the parish of St. Andrew. We note that the perpetrators of those atrocities, were brought before the country’s law courts. Today, we are shocked to report, another act of horrific treatment, of a young woman who was in the custodial care of the state-run Government Industrial School (GIS) where wayward youth are supposed to be rehabilitated. On this occasion, the young resident was placed naked in a cold cell. We now call on the government of Barbados, to close both the Fun Ranch and the Government Industrial School and to immediately carry out a full, independent, and transparent investigation, into their operations. Close them d...

One Caribbean Nation. By Michael Headley In this Orwellian age,  when right is wrong and vice versa, the Attorney General, Dale Marshall fell victim to Doublespeak as  he tried unsuccessfully,  to explain The Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) Amendment) Bill 2020 (Nation News March 07).  His lame explanation blew up in smoke as he stated, in one breath that smoking cannabis (pot/,marijuana)  was a crime, however persons, caught, in possession of 14 grams or less, will be treated differently, by the police .  They would be fined and not confined.  The treasury must be smiling but how many 14 grams or less is one person allowed before they will be confined?   Mr. Attorney General, is smoking cannabis a crime or can users sidestep it by paying a fine?  Be specific.   Mr Attorney General, as recent as March 16, the Moderator, on Getting down to brass tacks, stated that because users the...

One Caribbean , One People Flags of Caribbean Countries The CARICOM Community Flag The Mahogany Coconut Blog is celebrating its thirteenth anniversary during this month. Our first posting was  March 10th, 2008.The MCG (Mahogany Coconut Group) is totally and unapologetically committed to the emergence of One Caribbean Nation State. We therefore try our utmost to comment on matters affecting the entire region and have steadfastly tried, to avoid being an organ of any individual country.   However, we occasionally highlight issues that are confronting any individual state. We have been foremost in advocating: children’s, women’s, and the rights of our elderly; exposing and attacking racism in the region; calling for the eradication of regional poverty; insisting that corrupt public officials be removed from office; promoting economic justice; encouraging healthy lifestyles; defending our gay community and their rights to love whomever they please and promoting our Caribbean cul...

One Caribbean Nation. We honor and respect all women on this International Women’s Day. However, we must state with absolute clarity, that we remain concerned and aware that our Caribbean women, continue to be physically and mentally abused; domestic abuse is growing throughout the region. Our women, since the days of slavery, have held the fabric of our societies together. They have allowed men to “rule” even when such respect was not earned. For the last half century, this traditional role has undergone considerable change and we have seen women rise to leadership in all spheres of regional endeavor. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the political arena, where we have witnessed them attain the highest political office as Prime Ministers. In both the public and private sectors, our women have displayed their abilities to function at the highest levels. We are convinced that these achievements, have caused a great majority of our men some discomfort. The days of the man ...

One Caribbean Nation. Shirley Chishlom Quotes: "When morality comes against profit, it is seldom that profit loses." "If they don't give you a seat at the table bring a folding chair" Walter Rodney Quote: " For the only great men among the unfree and the oppressed are those who struggle to destroy the oppressor." Harry Belafonte  Quote: " You can cage the singer but not the song." We conclude our contribution to Black History month, by honouring three Caribbean freedom fighters, who have contributed greatly to the struggle for Black Liberation. We urge all Caribbean institutions of learning, from kindergarten to unversity, to promote Black Studies. The Caribbean has been instrumental in the Black global struggle , for social and economic justice.  Flags of the Caribbean