Mahogany CoConut Blog

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...