Mahogany CoConut Blog

One Caribbean Nation. Trinidad Guardian Editorial The population of Trinidad and Tobago is now into a period in which every T&TEC generator that blows can give citizens close to the explosion a feeling “that the war has started.” And who can blame such a possible reaction in the circumstances of complete uncertainty about what is likely to unfold out of the happenings of the last couple weeks. The big issue driving the fear to heightened levels is the absence of information on whether or not the United States is planning to take military action against Venezuela and what are the circumstances which can precipitate it. Moreover, the reality is that the consequences of military conflict between the US and Venezuela can have serious repercussions for the safety of Trinidad and Tobago, its citizens and infrastructure. The rhetoric from a few spokespersons of the Venezuelan government has been increasing and disturbing, leading to a sense that there can be retaliatory action against T...

One Caribbean Nation. PM: Trinidad and Tobago will not be blackmailed TRINIDAD Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar does not plan to bow to any pressure from Venezuela as she stressed that Trinidad and Tobago will not be blackmailed and is not dependent on any Venezuelan gas. She declared that no one - be it the Venezuelan government, the People's National Movement (PNM), CARICOM, or any other entity - will "pressure or blackmail" her Government into retreating from the fight against the drug cartels. In response to questions from the Express yesterday, the Prime Minister shrugged off Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's proposal to be made by the board of the Venezuelan state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) for President Nicolás Maduro to suspend all gas agreements with T&T. Persad-Bissessar said reports of Venezuela's proposed gas suspension with T&T are not a cause for any grave concern. "Our ...

One Caribbean Nation. The Caribbean Is One Nation. First published Monday, May 29th., 2017 In recent months, there has been a notable increase in crime in the region. Media reports suggest, that many of these crimes are committed against our children and women folk. Mahogany Coconut’s policy looks at crime as a regional problem thereby avoiding branding any country as the main source. While many may genuinely consider this approach to be somewhat idealistic, we believe that in the global scheme of things, the Caribbean is usually seen as a monolithic entity. As with all human endeavor, citizens from each country tend to seek bragging rights. We are aware that this is true whether we are discussing cricket or the state of individual economies. We see it as nothing more than healthy sibling rivalry. Unfortunately, while the global view of us may be monolithic, we are quite aware that our French and Spanish speaking countries are sometimes excluded for the simple reason, that our educat...

One Caribbean Nation. MONSTROUS MELISSA HURRICANE MELISSA  LEAVES BEHIND DEATH, WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION Hurricane Melissa left dozens dead and widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, toppled utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape Wednesday. A landslide blocked the main roads of Santa Cruz in Jamaica’s St Elizabeth parish, where the streets were reduced to mud pits. Residents swept water from homes as they tried to salvage belongings. Winds ripped off part of the roof at a high school, a designated public shelter. Melissa made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm with top winds of 185 mph , one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, before weakening and moving on to Cuba, but even countries outside the direct path of the massive storm felt its devastating effects. At least 40 people have died across Haiti, Steven Aristil with Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency told The Associated Press. H...

One Caribbean Nation. Maduro halts energy deals with Trinidad VENEZUELA Venezuela on Monday suspended energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, over what officials have described as "hostile" actions by the island nation. Trinidad is now hosting one of the US warships involved in a controversial campaign to destroy Venezuelan speedboats allegedly carrying drugs to the United States. During his weekly television show on Monday night, President Nicolas Maduro accused Trinidad of acting as the "aircraft carrier of the US empire" and said that he was left with no choice but to pull out of treaties signed with Trinidad ten years ago. The announcement came hours after the nation's vice president, who is also Venezuela's minister of hydrocarbons, had suggested the agreements should be cancelled. On Sunday, the USS Gravely, a destroyer fitted with guided missiles, arrived in Trinidad to conduct joint exercises with Trinidad's navy. Venezuelan authorities des...

One Caribbean Nation. A New World Order – or the formal admission of the Old? The world has long spoken of a "rulesbased order", as though the law itself held dominion over power. Yet, behind the diplomatic courtesies and the fine print of charters, it was power that wrote the rules and altered them at will. The difference today is that the altering is done in full view and only a few feign surprise. We all knew what the Order was, even when we hoped for better. We knew it in World Trade Organisation negotiations when our cries for special and differential treatment for small states in trade relations fell on deaf ears. We knew it in climate change negotiations when our pleas for a loss and damage fund evinced a sop, not a solution. From the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 to the Charter of the United Nations in 1945, the international system has proclaimed the sovereign equality of states. In practice, this has always been more aspiration than achievement. Legal sovereignty -...

One Caribbean Nation. US grants Trinidad permission to negotiate -Venezuela gas deal  TRINIDAD The US has granted Trinidad and Tobago permission to negotiate a gas deal with neighbouring Venezuela without facing any US sanctions, the Caribbean nation's attorney general said Thursday. The US Treasury Department granted an Office of Foreign Assets Control licence on Wednesday that allows parties to engage in a transaction that would otherwise be prohibited, according to the agency. With Venezuela hit by US sanctions, Trinidad and Tobago needed the licence to pursue the development of a gas field located in Venezuelan waters. The licence was granted following a request that Trinidad and Tobago made in May, according to Attorney General John Jeremie. "We have six months to negotiate, within parameters," Jeremie said at a news conference. "You have to hit targets, with respect to the US and their posture with Venezuela." He said US companies have certain commercial...

One Caribbean Nation. National deported by the US to Eswatini repatriated JAMAICA A Jamaican man who was among five migrants deported by the United States to Eswatini in Africa has been repatriated to his home country, Eswatini authorities and his lawyers said. Orville Etoria, 62, was held in a maximumsecurity prison in Eswatini for more than two months without charges or access to legal counsel, his lawyers said Tuesday. They accused the US of deporting him there unlawfully in mid-July. The lawyers had said US officials sent him to the southern African nation under the Trump administration's third-country deportation programme even though Jamaica was willing to take him back. They alleged Etoria and the fourother men were then repeatedly denied visits by a lawyer while they were held at the prison. Etoria's lawyers at the New York-based Legal Aid Society confirmed his repatriation, saying in a statement that he had been arbitrarily detained in Eswatini. The case was "a ...

One Caribbean Nation Barbados Today , Editorial Friday, September 19th., 2025 Why the Caribbean cannot ignore erased histori es and silenced voices in the US Freedom of speech, civil rights, and the dignity of Black lives are under siege—not only in the United States, but across the diaspora, with ripple effects already reaching the Caribbean. From freedom of speech to erasing our history, it's all in jeopardy. The First Amendment, long celebrated as a cornerstone of American democracy, is under strain. The consequences are not abstract. Jimmy Kimmel was suspended this week after remarks about the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, widely seen as an example of political pressure shaping entertainment. Stephen Colbert's late-night show was cancelled after sharp criticism of Donald Trump's political comeback, and CNN parted ways with Don Lemon and Brian Stelter, both outspoken critics of Trump's disinformation. Since 2021, at least 22 US states have passed laws ...

One CariOne bbean Nation. US attack in the Caribbean: Gunboat diplomacy’s bloody return The reports are worryingly scant, but it appears as if the United States carried out an extrajudicial killing masked as a unilateral military action, taken when no rules of engagement, declaration of war or due process can be discerned. In the social media era of the performative as message, the destruction of a fast boat carrying 11 people will be celebrated as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American drug cartels, notably the violent Tren de Aragua gang out of Venezuela—if this can be proved. But Trump himself ordered the "strike". "There was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people, and everybody fully understands that," Trump told journalists at the White House. "Obviously, they won't be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won't be doing it again. When they watch that t...

One Caribbean Nation. ‘ NO SURPRISES’ CARICOM URGES US TO CONSULT REGION BEFORE MILITARY ACTION NEAR VENEZUELA By Emmanuel Joseph As tensions between the United States and Venezuela continued to escalate on Tuesday amid a significant US naval build-up in the southern Caribbean, Barbados and other CARICOM countries pressed Washington for assurances that any military action aimed at Venezuela will not threaten regional stability or occur without prior consultation and warning. While US officials say the deployment of warships targets threats from Latin American drug cartels—a core objective of President Donald Trump and part of a wider effort to stem migration and close the US southern border—CARICOM foreign ministers have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking discussions to ensure that any military operations do not extend to other Caribbean territories without notice and explanation. Barbados' Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds told Barbados TODAY: "We have at the ...

One Caribbean Nation Neutrality is T&T’s best defence in US-Venezuela standoff Yesterday 20250823 As tensions rise once more between the United States and Venezuela, T&T finds itself at the edge of a storm. Geography, history and circumstance have placed this country in a position not of its own making. Washington sharpens its rhetoric. Caracas defends its sovereignty. Energy diplomacy is wielded like a weapon. Soon, three US warships will be operating just off T&T’s shores. This is a stark reminder: this geopolitical rivalry is not distant—it is at our doorstep. For small nations such as ours, the temptation may be strong to lean toward one side or the other. But in this moment, neutrality is not weakness—it is wisdom. Venezuela is T&T’s closest neighbour, separated from our twin islands by only seven miles of water. Families, comerce, and history bind the two together. The United States is T&T’s largest trading partner. It is a critical source of investment, rem...

One Caribbean Nation. CELEBRATION CANCELLED INDEPENDENCE PARADE REPLACED WITH NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Government has announced that the annual Independence Day Parade this year will be replaced with a National Day of Prayer and Reflection due to the State of Emergency. "After careful deliberation on intelligence arising out of the State of Emergency, the government has taken the decision to replace the annual Independence Day Parade and Official Functions with a National Day of Prayer and Reflection," a release from the Homeland Security Friday stated. "The National Day of Prayer and Reflection will bring together citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, of all faiths and backgrounds, to unite and to seek guidance and strength during this challenging time, as well as to reflect on where we are as a nation and the way forward." The release noted that there is precedent for the cancellation of the Independence Day Parade in the recent past, as the parade was no...

One Caribbean Nation. Not anti-development, just anti-exclusion Today’s Editorial On the surface, Barbados appears to be moving forward with high-end hotels, airport upgrades, and multimillion-dollar partnerships that frequently dominate the news cycle. The country is marketed as a rising star of Caribbean luxury tourism, with glossy renderings of resorts and ribboncuttings used as symbols of progress. But for many Barbadians, this version of progress feels increasingly out of reach. Behind the ribbon-cuttings lies a more sobering reality: one of rising inequality, poor public consultation, and a development model that appears to benefit a select few while leaving the average citizen behind. The image of progress has been carefully curated, but the substance is uneven at best. Take the highly-publicised Pendry Barbados development – a branded luxury resort with residences, beach clubs, and exclusive amenities. While these may sound like economic game changers, growing concerns suggest ...

One Caribbean Nation. Original Burning Flames mark 40 years of soca excellence The legendary Original Burning Flames are marking 40 years of creating some of the Caribbean's most memorable and influential soca music. Since their formation in 1984, the band has become synonymous with high-energy performances, timeless hits, and a legacy that continues to inspire new generations of fans and artistes alike. Hailing from the village of Potters, Antigua, the original line-up featured three brothers: Toriano King Onyan Edwards (vocals, guitar), David Bubb-I Edwards (vocals, bass), and Clarence Oungku Edwards (vocals, keyboards), along with drummer Rone Foxx Watkins. The brothers initially performed as buskers before joining Arrow's backing band, with Clarence notably serving as bass player and arranger on the world-famous hit Hot, Hot, Hot. The band made an immediate impact on the carnival scene in 1985 with their song Stylie Tight, which won the Road March and was released as their ...

One Caribbean Nation. By Ralph Jemmott The Democratic Labour Party’s Report on Crime, a 146- page document, has been published. It reflects the work of a 12-member commission chaired by Ms Verla DePeiza that was established to examine what appears to be a rising tide of criminality in Barbados. The DLP is to be commended for its efforts. The document itself is entitled A Blueprint to Rescue a Nation. Creeping old age and the fact of being ‘in town long’ have tended to make one sceptical of so-called ‘blueprints.’ This is particularly so when it comes to documents that propose to be able to ‘rescue’ an entire nation.’ Certainly, Barbados, like much of the region, is in need of change to alter the tendency to gun-running, crime—both blue and white collar—, social disorder, drug abuse, and family breakdown with all its attendant consequences. Someone stated recently that in today’s world, there is no guarantee of the success of anything. One aspect of the commission’s findings highlight...

One Caribbean Nation. by William Skinner Trinidad is a Real Country Trinidadians have a rather strange saying : “Trinidad is not a real country”. It’s a light hearted but often frustrating commentary on how “tings” are done in T and T. These things   range   from: complaining about vendors , selling their produce outside of the public markets , to the problems with   what initially appears to be difficult public servants and   customer service.   We say “initially appears”   because most of these often maligned public workers, are pretty cordial , when approached with a smile or   a  little joke. They are similar to    their Caribbean counterparts.   However, customers   who are not always pleasant are supposed to be always right ! Trinidad still has a   very entrenched hy-brid system of local and central government and its not unusual , to be given an answer to a problem , in a local burrough and then realise that t...

One Caribbean Nation. ‘STAND YOUR GROUND’ MINISTER URGES GUN OWNERS TO TAKE FIRM ACTION AGAINST INTRUDERS Defence Minister Wayne Sturge is advising constituents and citizens that during a home invasion, they can shoot first and "explain yourself after". He says that provision, among others, will be available under the proposed stand-your-ground legislation the United National Congress government is seeking to enact. Another measure would allow a victim to defend themselves against an intruder before they are even physically attacked. Sturge made the stunning comments during a stand-yourground consultation at the Sangre Grande Civic Centre. "You don't have to wait to see what the attacker is going to do. You don't have to wait to see if he pulls a gun or a cutlass or anything like this. You can, once you honestly believe that you are under attack, or that an attack is about to take place, or is imminent—as they say here—once you believe an attack is imminent, yo...

One Caribbean Nation.    by Professor Sir Errol R.Walrond  Some 50 years ago there was an informal forum where politicians from both parties and others would gather, relax and candidly discuss issues of the day. I recall a new minister stating that their first priority was to get the streets clean “for the tourists”. He was met with the retort from someone at the table that they should “get the streets clean for us first, then they would be clean for the tourists”. The echoes of this type of thinking persist to this day as with the tax relief for repairs/improvement on villas but none for “ordinary” house owners, or the recent Holetown redevelopment plan. Satisfying tourists.  On that occasion 50 years ago, the conversation shifted to other topics of development and it was posited that Jamaica had gone the way of satisfying the “tourists” need for a marijuana fix and the accompanying gun enforcement of the trade had evolved into corruption o...