Mahogany CoConut Blog

One Caribbean Nation. We need a task force on food security. Here's why. Dr. Chelston Brathwaite By Chelston Brathwaite In June 2022, I brought to the Senate a Private Member's Resolution to discuss the issue of food security in Barbados. The objective of my efforts was to bring to the attention of the Senate and indeed to the attention of Barbados society, the precarious situation of food security in this nation. The bill was grounded in the fact that we only produce about 20 per cent of our food and was presented in the context of the proposal by the CARICOM Heads of State to reduce the food import bill of the Caribbean by 25 per cent by 2025. With that date being months away from today, in my view, the goal is unlikely to be met. The economists of the world have predicted increases in the cost of food in 2024 due to global shipping challenges and volatile climatic conditions. They have indicated that due to the war in Gaza and climatic challenges in the Panama Canal, ships w...

P. J. Patterson Time for action FORMER JAMAICAN PM URGES REGION TO FORGE LINKS WITH AFRICA NOW FOR MUTUAL BENEFITS By Marlon Madden ON ASSIGNMENT Global Tourism Resilience Conference - Jamaica Stop talking and start doing! This was the strong message from former Prime Minister of Jamaica the Most Honourable Percival James Patterson to Caribbean leaders on forming trade and investment ties with Africa. He said there were several areas in which the Caribbean and the African continent could collaborate in an effort to have economic and social benefits flowing both ways, especially with tourism. He said if the long talked about trade, tourism and investment bridge between the two regions was necessary before the COVID- 19 pandemic then it was “even more essential now”. “Let us forge a strong, broad coalition that includes governments, private sector, bankers, hoteliers, academia, communities and the entire diaspora, to create a mutually-rewarding tourism architecture which is adaptable, co...

One Caribbean Nation. Caribbean Flags Trinidad and Tobago, known as the: “ Twin Island State” is facing the real possibility of becoming a crime infested society. We are afraid that a well-armed and violently disposed group of citizens, is at the forefront , of a lawless attempt, to cripple and eventually annihilate , a people who have never a “met a stranger” collective personality. It is chilling and certainly not: “Trini to the Bone”, to murder seven hundred of our brothers and sisters in 2022. It makes a mockery of the tireless work done by those who have contributed to building a republic, that has greatly contributed to the region, and the world. The Mahogany Coconut Group, had its birth, by the efforts of several Caribbean citizens, both at home and in the Diaspora; among this group was and remains , Trinidadians   therefore to pen this column, comes with a great degree of sadness and concern.   We have always endeavored   to highlight both the negatives and ...

One Caribbean Nation. The Mahogany Coconut Group, thanks all  readers of our blog . We extend sincere best wishes to you and your families for the Holiday/Christmas Season and wish you all the very best for 2023. We are happy to note the following for their contribution to the region during 2022. Prime Minister of Barbados, Ms. Mia Amor Mottley and her administration's efforts in reigniting socio-economic ties with Mother Africa. Ms. Hyacinth Douglas for her contribution to her country Jamaica and the region. Ms. Douglas is a rapidly emerging voice on progressive community based socio-economic models.      The countries of Cuba and Ghana , whose citizens served the region with distinction as we battled COVID ALL Caribbean workers , who displayed great patriotic resilience as they confronted the economic harshness of COVID and in many cases fought against dastardly attempts to annihilate their unions and the gains made in the last sixty years throughout the region. ...

One Caribbean Nation. St Vincent opens first medical marijuana lounge KINGSTOWN – Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar is encouraging traditional growers of marijuana to apply for permits to plant the crop under the government’s medicinal cannabis regime. “There have always been traditional cultivators. And first of all, I want to congratulate the traditional cultivators who have gone to the medicinal cannabis authority, and have received their licenses,” Caesar told iWitness News on Friday, at Canash Bay, where Greenhouse Café, a medical marijuana consumption lounge was opened at Coconut Grove. At Friday’s event, three doctors prescribed medical marijuana products after consultations with patients. Following the consultation, the Medical Cannabis Authority issued the patients a permit to buy medical ganja products for a year. The patients could also fill their prescription at the dispensary at the venue and use the medical marijuana products at the lounge. iWitness News asked Caesa...

One Caribbean Nation. Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman Chief of Defense, The Jamaica Defense Force.The only Female army boss in the world. Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson First Black woman to sit on the  US, Supreme Court The Mahogany Coconut Group is pleased to highlight, celebrate and congratulate, two extraordinary Black women from the great Caribbean and Afro American Nations. As the Mighty Stalin reminds us: we took the same trip on the same ship. MCG, with great pride hails the achievements of : Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman of Jamaica, on becoming the only woman leading an army in the world and Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to sit on the US Supreme Court. Our women have always been in the vanguard, of the struggle for equality, justice and all forms of Black enfranchisement. They have always been the leaders who allowed our men to lead ,and the protectors, who encouraged and taught our men to be guardians. In highlighting these two bri...

One Caribbean Nation. Mr. Saboto Caesar BELMOPAN — St Vincent and the Grenadines Fisheries Minister, Saboto Caesar, says the Caribbean will need to collaborate with international stakeholders in the global fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and organised crime in the fishing industry. Caesar, who is chair of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) told a technical meeting on the issue that the fight globally has increased against IUU fishing and organised crime, and CRFM member states continue to honour their duty in that regard. “It is our quest in the Caribbean to partner with all international agencies to ensure that we reduce criminal activities when it comes to the Blue Economy. We intend to work with regional and international partners and other friendly governments such as Norway… because every member state in the global community must play an important role,” he told the meeting that was organised by the CRFM i...

One Caribbean Nation. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves President Vladimir Putin Once more global developments have grievously impacted on our region. Currently struggling to return to a state of normalcy, we are presently feeling the effects of President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. High gas prices are wreaking unforeseen havoc on our economies; any hope for economic improvement has been shattered. Amid these very horrendous times, we still have regional leaders, deluding themselves that they can influence Putin and be major players, in halting the blood bath and chaos in Ukraine. While anybody with a modicum of humanity, will be gutted by the pain and suffering now inflicted on innocent Ukrainians, especially the children and senior citizens, those with an alert interest in global politics, would have known that such a tragedy was always possible. We were embarrassingly stunned by a note or letter, written by Mr. Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadi...

One Caribbean Nation. Derrick Scott/Gleaner Writer WASHINGTON D.C.: Jamaica-born Winsome Earle-Sears is the new lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Earle-Sears is the first woman to serve as a lieutenant governor and the first black woman to hold a statewide office in the Commonwealth. The lieutenant governor officially serves as president of the Senate and presides over it and also serves as a member of several state boards, commissions and councils. Her oath of office was administered on the steps of the State Capitol building in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday by retired judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, Richard D. Taylor, Jr.  Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks is proud of Earle-Sears' elevation. "You have done so with uncommon grace and have in the process drawn renewed, decidedly positive attention as an exemplar of Jamaicans here, representing respected models of responsible citizenship and as able, contributing ...

Michael Headley One Caribbean Nation. Letter From Brooklyn By Michael Headley Earlier today, January 10th, a caller on VOB's (Voice Of Barbados) down to brass tacks, requested that speakers comments, for the January 19th, snap General Election, should refrain from engaging in Gutter Politics. I found this laughable because without some so-called Gutter Politics the electorate will be treated to a barrage of hyperbolic statements, from various politicians, regarding how many more houses, roads, schools, etcetera, that they will build, if they are elected or reelected.   The reigning Politicians, and aspiring ones, will extol the virtues of how they have, or will, skillfully handle the economy, tourism and other industries, agriculture, health care, unemployment, old age pension, increasing crime and lawlessness.  They are trying to convince   potential voters that they have the tools to steer the ship of state into a safe harbor.  But history shows that th...

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...

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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. 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 ...