In Port of Spain, history was never just a matter of archives. It was also told in public squares, in schools, in family conversations, where a colonial society was looking for the words to think differently about itself. Eric Williams understood the power of storytelling very early on. Before becoming head of government, he made history an instrument of collective lucidity.
A historian before the head of government
Born in Port of Spain on September 25, 1911, Eric Williams grew up in a Trinidad still part of the British colonial order. His schooling took him to Queen’s Royal College, then to Oxford University, where he obtained his doctorate in 1938. This passage through one of the great institutions of the imperial world gives his work a special significance: he knows the codes of British academia, but uses them to interrogate the history of empire from the perspective of the Caribbean.
This intellectual trajectory takes on a major dimension with Capitalism and Slaverypublished in 1944. The book defends a thesis that has left a lasting mark on Caribbean studies: slavery, the slave trade and abolition must also be understood in their relationship with British economic interests. According to Britannica, Eric Williams was a Caribbean historian, founder of the People’s National Movement and first Prime Minister of independent Trinidad and Tobago.
1962, an independence conceived as a national pedagogy
When Eric Williams founded the People’s National Movement in 1956, he didn’t just organize an electoral machine. He built a political language. He spoke of history, education and collective responsibility. In a society made up of multiple African, Indian, European, Creole and religious heritages, independence could not be reduced to changing a flag. A common consciousness had to be created without erasing differences.
On August 31, 1962, Trinidad and Tobago became independent. This date remains central in the national memory, as it marks the country’s official entry into sovereignty. But it takes on even greater meaning when we link it to the life of Eric Williams. For him, political independence had to be underpinned by intellectual independence. A people could not simply receive its history from London, from colonial textbooks or from outsiders. They had to learn to read their own past.
Woodford Square, the open-air university
Eric Williams ‘ uniqueness also lies in the way he transmits. At Woodford Square, in the heart of Port of Spain, his public interventions helped transform the urban space into a place for popular education. It wasn’t a classical amphitheatre. It was a square, with citizens, workers, students, onlookers and opponents. Knowledge came out of the libraries and into civic life.
This method explains part of his authority. Eric Williams didn’t just speak to administrative elites or graduates. He was speaking to a people in political formation. He posited a simple yet demanding idea: understanding the history of slavery, colonization, labor and institutions would help us better understand the choices of a new country. From this perspective, history was not nostalgic. It served to prepare for the future.
A national figure, a Caribbean heritage
After independence, Eric Williams remained in power until his death on March 29, 1981. His political longevity demands a nuanced reading. He remains the central builder of the modern Trinidadian state, but also a figure of authority whose imprint profoundly structured public life. As is often the case with the founding fathers, admiration must not prevent analysis. His legacy is immense because it is also complex.
Yet the regional scope of his work goes beyond national debates. The UNESCO dossier devoted to Eric Williams Collection underlines the importance of his archives for the history of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and international relations. This recognition shows that his work is not just about a territory. It is part of a broader question: who has the right to tell Caribbean history, and from what point of view?
What his career still has to say to the Caribbean
You have to stay on the right scale. Eric Williams belongs first and foremost to Trinidad and Tobago. His story does not sum up the entire Caribbean. But it speaks to the region because it reveals a common tension: how to transform a colonial memory into a political force, without freezing it in resentment or reducing it to an official symbol?
This is where his singularity remains strong. He did not separate the intellectual from the political. He did not treat history as a patriotic decoration. He used it as a method for building a state, naming dependencies, shaping citizens and giving depth to independence. In a Caribbean still confronted with imported narratives, economic fragility and fragmented memories, this requirement remains relevant today.
Eric Williams leaves us with a wider lesson than his biography. A nation is not only built with laws, buildings and ceremonies. It is also built with the narratives it accepts to transmit, discuss and sometimes correct. In Trinidad and Tobago, as elsewhere in the region, the question remains open: what places today still play the role of Woodford Square in shaping the Caribbean consciousness of tomorrow?
Eric Williams was a Trinidadian historian, founder of the People’s National Movement and first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago after the country’s independence in 1962.
Eric Williams is important because he led Trinidad and Tobago to independence while defending the idea that a Caribbean people should know and write its own history.
The link between Eric Williams and Caribbean history stems in particular from his book Capitalism and Slaverywhich contributed to a new reading of the relationship between slavery, the colonial economy and the British Empire.
On March 25, 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that marks a milestone in the international recognition of the history of slavery. The text qualifies the transatlantic African slave trade and racialized chattel slavery as the most serious crime against humanity. The text, sponsored by Ghana, was adopted by 123 votes in favor, with 3 against and 52 abstentions. Opponents included the USA, Argentina and Israel, while several European countries, including the UK, chose to abstain. Behind this strong wording is more than just a symbolic gesture. For the Caribbean, this decision is part of a historical and political continuity, echoing decades of work, demands and struggles for fairer recognition of this memory.
Recognition that redefines the international debate
By classifying slavery as a major crime against humanity, the UN has crossed a threshold rarely reached by international bodies. This recognition does not create an immediate legal obligation for States, but it profoundly alters the framework of global debate. It introduces a more explicit reading of history, in which the transatlantic slave trade is no longer merely evoked as a past tragedy, but as a crime whose consequences continue into the present.
This evolution in international discourse is not insignificant. It comes at a time when issues relating to colonial legacies, structural discrimination and historical inequalities are taking on increasing importance in public debate. By taking a clear stance, the UN is helping to legitimize the analyses long put forward by Caribbean researchers, institutions and cultural players, who stress that the history of slavery cannot be dissociated from contemporary realities.
The Caribbean, at the heart of history and current issues
For the Caribbean territories, this decision is more than just a historical observation. It has a direct bearing on their very construction. The transatlantic slave trade and the slave system have shaped the region’s economies, societies, languages and cultures. Plantations, land structures, social hierarchies and even some of today’s economic dynamics have their roots in this period.
Recognition by the UN thus confirms a reality that the Caribbean has never ceased to bear: that of a founding history, the effects of which are still visible. It also repositioned the region in the global narrative, not as a peripheral space, but as a central territory in the understanding of the great historical transformations linked to slavery and colonization.
This international recognition also offers a strategic opportunity. It strengthens the capacity of Caribbean territories to influence global discussions on memory, justice and reparations. It gives added legitimacy to the steps already taken by certain regional institutions, which have been working for several years to structure concrete proposals on these issues.
Reparations and memorial justice: a new dynamic
One of the most important effects of this resolution concerns the issue of reparations. By classifying slavery as a major crime against humanity, the UN opens the way to more structured discussions on forms of restorative justice. This includes avenues such as official apologies, the restitution of cultural property, the funding of educational programs and public policies aimed at correcting the inequalities inherited from this history.
In the Caribbean, these issues are not new. They are part of a long-standing process, driven in particular by regional initiatives seeking recognition of the lasting consequences of slavery. The UN decision does not create a binding framework, but it changes the balance of power by giving international support to these claims.
It can also encourage better structuring of remembrance policies. In many regions, the transmission of the history of slavery remains uneven and sometimes fragmented, despite the fact that it is central to understanding today’s societies. UN recognition can serve as a lever to strengthen educational programs, support research and enhance the value of places of remembrance.
Recognition that also reveals tensions
The vote on this resolution highlights persistent differences within the international community. While a large majority of States supported the text, certain oppositions and abstentions show that the issue remains sensitive. The reservations expressed relate in particular to the political and historical implications of this qualification, as well as to the consequences it could have in terms of reparations.
These tensions are a reminder that there is no absolute consensus on the recognition of slavery as a major crime. It remains a subject of debate, where diplomatic stakes, historical responsibilities and economic considerations are intertwined. For the Caribbean, this situation confirms that the battle for full recognition of this history is still ongoing.
Rethinking the Caribbean narrative on a global scale
Beyond the political stakes, this decision offers an opportunity to redefine the way the Caribbean is told internationally. All too often reduced to a simplified tourist or cultural image, the region has a complex history marked by violence, resistance and reconstruction.
The UN’s position puts this history back at the center of the global narrative. It invites us to consider the Caribbean not only as a space of memory, but also as a place of intellectual and political production. The region’s reflections on slavery, colonization and their consequences continue to inform contemporary debates far beyond its borders.
For a medium like RichèsKarayib, this news underlines the importance of offering a demanding, contextualized reading of the Caribbean territories. It reminds us that the region’s culture, history and economic issues are deeply intertwined, and must be approached in their entirety.
Turning recognition into leverage
The real impact of this resolution will depend on the actions that follow. International recognition is a step forward, but it is not enough on its own to bring about concrete change. For the Caribbean, the challenge now is to transform this decision into a lever for action, by strengthening cooperation, structuring public policies and consolidating research and transmission initiatives.
The UN has set an important milestone by classifying the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as a major crime against humanity. For the Caribbean territories, this recognition represents an opportunity to advance essential debates linked to their history and development. It opens up a new way of thinking about international relations, by fully integrating the legacies of the past into the construction of the present and the future.
The UN decision adopted on March 25, 2026 recognizes the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as the most serious crime against humanity. It aims to affirm the historical gravity of these events, and to encourage international discussions on remembrance, justice and reparations.
No, this UN resolution is not legally binding. It does not impose direct obligations, but it does have a strong political and symbolic impact that can influence international discussions and public policy.
The Caribbean has been deeply marked by the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. This recognition by the UN validates a historical reading that has long been held in the region, and can support initiatives linked to remembrance, education and reparations.
The integration of Richès Karayib into the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) marks a new stage in the development of Caribbean media. This membership formalizes Richès Karayib’s regional roots and reinforces its determination to actively contribute to the structuring of the Caribbean media landscape.
In a context where the circulation of content remains fragmented between linguistic and geographic territories, joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union represents a strategic lever for boosting the visibility and circulation of Caribbean content.
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union, a pillar of the Caribbean media landscape
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union is the regional organization that federates the Caribbean media, covering radio, television, print and digital platforms. It plays a central role in cooperation between broadcasters, the circulation of content, the professionalization of players in the sector and the promotion of Caribbean productions.
Every year, the Caribbean Broadcasting Union organizes the CBU Media Awards. These awards recognize the most outstanding productions in radio, television, print and digital. These awards are a major event for Caribbean media professionals, helping to raise standards of journalistic and editorial quality in the region. By becoming a member of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Richès Karayib joins a structured and recognized network at the heart of regional media dynamics.
A strategic step for Richès Karayib
Since its creation, Richès Karayib has been promoting culture, heritage, tourism and the women and men who shape the Caribbean’s attractiveness and influence. Membership of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union consolidates this trajectory by opening up new prospects:
- – publishing cooperation on a regional scale
- – increased circulation of content
- – professional exchanges between member media
- – enhanced visibility with institutional and economic players
Joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union also enables Richès Karayib to place its productions within a demanding regional framework, where content quality, journalistic rigor and editorial impact are decisive. This new step comes at a time when the medium is developing its print, digital and audiovisual formats, with a clear ambition: to connect Caribbean territories beyond linguistic borders.
Building a structured Caribbean media space
The Caribbean is rich in talent, culture and initiative. However, content produced in one territory is still not widely distributed to other islands and countries in the region. One of the major challenges of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union is precisely to promote this circulation and encourage regional collaboration.
By joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Richès Karayib is affirming its desire to play an active part in this dynamic. This is not just institutional recognition, but a commitment: to contribute to a more connected, visible and structured Caribbean media.
This approach is in line with Richès Karayib’s mission to promote the region’s talents, initiatives and heritage, while encouraging synergies between regions.
Setting course for the CBU Media Awards
As part of this membership, Richès Karayib will take part in the 37th CBU Media Awards organized by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union. Richès Karayib’s participation is in line with the company’s commitment to professionalization and regional outreach.
Beyond the competition, the CBU Media Awards represent a space for Caribbean media to meet, exchange ideas and gain visibility. For RK, it’s a further opportunity to promote a committed editorial voice in the service of the Caribbean.
A new development phase
Joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union marks a natural evolution for Richès Karayib. After consolidating its presence in the French-speaking Caribbean, the medium is now taking a decisive step towards wider regional integration.
In a changing media environment, where cooperation, editorial quality and international visibility are essential, joining the Caribbean Broadcasting Union is a strong signal.
Richès Karayib’s ambition is to contribute to a more visible, coherent and assertive Caribbean media.
The Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) is the regional media organization for the Caribbean, covering radio, television, print and digital platforms. It promotes cooperation, the circulation of content and the professionalization of players in the sector.
Membership of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union enables Richès Karayib to join a structured regional network, boost its visibility on a Caribbean scale and develop editorial collaborations with other member media.
The CBU Media Awards are an annual competition organized by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union to recognize the best radio, television, print and digital productions in the region.
Black History Month 2026 is more than just an annual commemoration in the American cultural calendar. February 2026 marks a major historical turning point: the centenary of what was to become Black History Month. A century earlier, in 1926, an intellectual and activist initiative laid the foundations for an in-depth effort to correct a glaring absence: that of the history of black populations in official narratives and educational programs.
In 2026, Black History Month celebrates more than symbolic longevity. It invites us to question the way societies produce, select and transmit their memories, as well as the power relations that determine what deserves – or not – to be taught, recognized and commemorated.
Origins of Black History Month: from Negro History Week to national recognition
The history of Black History Month officially began in 1926 with the creation of Negro History Week the initiative of African-American researchers united within the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. At a time when black history is largely absent from school textbooks and universities, this initiative aims to produce rigorous, documented and transferable knowledge about the contributions of people of African descent to the United States.
From the outset, the challenge went beyond mere symbolic recognition. It’s about rebalancing the historical narrative, based on research, archiving and educational dissemination. Negro History Week gradually became a space for contesting dominant narratives, highlighting trajectories, struggles and creations long relegated to the margins.
2026, a pivotal year: the centenary of Black History Month
A century after this first initiative, Black History Month 2026 is part of a dynamic of historical rereading. The transformation of a week of commemoration into an officially recognized month in the mid-1970s marked an important, but not definitive, step in the institutional recognition of black history.
The theme chosen for this edition, “A Century of Black History Commemorations”. A century of commemorations is an opportunity to take a critical look at the road we’ve travelled. The aim is not simply to measure the progress made, but to analyze the profound dynamics revealed by a century of commemorations: tensions between institutions and communities, issues of educational transmission, struggles for historical legitimacy.
Miami, Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean crossroads for Black History Month 2026
In this context, Miami occupies a singular place in the celebrations of Black History Month 2026. As a crossroads between North America, the Caribbean and Latin America, Miami embodies a transatlantic black memory, shaped by migration, exile and cultural circulation.
The programming supported by local and community institutions reflects this plurality. It articulates African-American and Afro-Caribbean heritages, underlining the historical continuity between the United States and the Caribbean. In Miami, Black History Month is not just a tribute to the past, but a living space for diasporic dialogue.
Black History Month 2026 program in Miami: highlights
Ceremonies and times of remembrance
- – February 1st – Trayvon Martin Remembrance Gala
- – February 2 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pieces of Black History Exhibition
- – February 3rd – HistoryMiami Icon Awards
– Institutional launches and public events
- – February 6th – Black History Month Kickoff and Exhibit (Miami-Dade County)
- – February 20th – Black History Month Food Truck & Vendor Fair
Music, jazz, gospel and stage creations
- – Concerts and performances throughout the month at the Adrienne Arsht Center, the New World Center and the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center
- – Jazz, spirituals and gospel highlights, including creations dedicated to Malcolm X, Langston Hughes and Margaret Bonds
- – Symphonic and vocal programming combining Afro-American heritage and contemporary expression
Festivals, gastronomy and diasporic culture
- – Heritage Fest (February 7)
- – Culinary events integrated into the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, with an explicit focus on Afro-Caribbean cultures
- – Cultural brunches and community gatherings in Miami’s historic neighborhoods
Exhibitions and events throughout February
- – Art exhibitions at Historic Hampton House, Pérez Art Museum Miami and in the public library network
- – Heritage tours and Black History Bus Tours of historic black neighborhoods
- – Screenings, performances and educational activities throughout the month
Black arts, music and heritage: passing on a living history
Black music and collective memory
Music takes center stage at Black History Month 2026. Jazz, gospel, spirituals and contemporary creations tell the story of a black sound that spans the centuries. These musical forms bear witness to resistance, adaptation and cultural transmission from African and Caribbean worlds, transformed in the American context.
Through concerts and performances, music becomes a tool tool of memory capable of linking the history of slavery with contemporary artistic expression.
Visual arts, exhibitions and urban narratives
The exhibitions and heritage projects presented during Black History Month 2026 contribute to a critical re-reading of urban and social history. They shed light on long-invisibilized narratives, rooted in the neighborhoods, cultural practices and individual trajectories of black communities.
Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean gastronomy: an embodied cultural history
Gastronomy is another essential vector of transmission. Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean cuisines tell a story of constraint, inventiveness and resilience. Born of contexts marked by slavery and migration, they have established themselves as cultural heritages in their own right.
As part of Black History Month 2026, the showcasing of these culinary traditions highlights the historical circulations between the Caribbean and the United States, as well as the contemporary recognition of these heritages.
The Caribbean, an essential dimension of Black History Month 2026
Even when the Caribbean is not explicitly named, it remains omnipresent in Black History Month 2026. Caribbean migrations have profoundly shaped black American cultures, influencing music, religious practices, cuisine and intellectual movements.
Miami illustrates this historical continuity, where Afro-Caribbean and Afro-American narratives intersect and respond to each other. The Caribbean thus appears not simply as a background, but as a structural component of black history in the United States.
A century of commemoration: passing on long-marginalized stories
The centenary of Black History Month raises a fundamental question: how does a society choose to pass on the stories it has long marginalized? The recognition of black history has never been a linear process. It is the result of intellectual struggles, community mobilizations and ongoing institutional negotiations.
In 2026, Black History Month presents itself not as a finished celebration, but as a critical tool for the present. It reminds us that history is a field of debate, where dominant narratives can and must be interrogated.
Black History Month 2026 marks the centenary of Negro History Week, created in 1926 by African-American scholars to document and transmit the history of black populations, long absent from mainstream narratives. This centenary edition invites critical reflection on a century of commemorations and the transmission of historical knowledge.
Miami is a unique Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean crossroads. In 2026, the city will host a dense program of memory, arts, music, gastronomy and heritage, illustrating the historical links between the United States and the Caribbean in the construction of contemporary black cultures.
Yes, the black history of the United States is inseparable from Afro-Caribbean migration and heritage. Black History Month 2026 highlights these cultural circulations, particularly in Miami, where Caribbean music, cuisine and stories play a central role in the celebrations.
The Caribbean coral reefs are one of the region’s most precious natural pillars. They protect coasts, feed populations, support tourism and harbor exceptional biodiversity. Yet this strategic ecosystem is undergoing an unprecedented crisis. In just over forty years, almost half of all hard corals have disappeared, under the combined effect of global warming and increasing human pressure. Behind this silent erosion lies a central issue for the future of the Caribbean territories: their ecological, economic and social resilience.
Caribbean coral reefs: a historic loss since 1980
Data compiled by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network have drawn a stark conclusion. Between 1980 and 2024, hard coral cover in the Caribbean fell by 48 %. This decline occurred in fits and starts, during several episodes of mass mortality, often correlated with major climatic anomalies.
Some years were marked by abrupt changes. In 1998 and again in 2005, widespread bleaching episodes led to major losses. More recently, the 2023-2024 period has been marked by a further fall estimated at 16.9% reduction in coral cover in a single year. This is a direct consequence of exceptionally high ocean temperatures. These figures now place Caribbean reefs among the world’s most threatened marine ecosystems.
Coral bleaching and thermal stress: the causes of the decline
Warming waters and record-breaking sea temperatures
The main factor explaining the decline of Caribbean coral reefs is ocean warming. In the region’s reef zones, the average surface temperature has risen by around 1.07°C between 1985 and 2024 at a rate higher than that observed on a global scale. In 2023, some areas recorded temperatures exceeding 30°C for several weeks. This is a critical threshold for coral survival.
Ocean acidification and coral disease
Under the influence of heat or pollution, corals expel zooxanthellae, the symbiotic microalgae that provide them with most of their energy. This phenomenon, known as bleaching, permanently weakens colonies. When the stress is prolonged, mortality becomes inevitable. Added to this is ocean acidification, linked to the absorption of atmospheric CO₂, which weakens the calcareous structures of corals and encourages the onset of disease.
Why are Caribbean coral reefs essential to biodiversity?
Although they only cover about 1% of the seabed coral reefs are home to almost 25% of the world’s marine biodiversity . In the Caribbean, they provide essential habitat for hundreds of species: parrotfish, lobsters, conch shells, sea turtles and coastal sharks.
The gradual disappearance of coral leads to a cascading cascade collapse associated ecosystems. Degraded reefs are gradually being invaded by macroalgae, whose presence has increased by more than 80% since 1980. This transformation is accentuated by the over-fishing of herbivorous fish, which used to play a key role in maintaining the reef’s ecological balance.
A major economic impact for Caribbean territories
Coastal tourism and coral reefs
The Caribbean coral reefs represent a major economic driver. Their contribution is estimated at more than $6 billion a year. In many areas, these activities are an essential part of the local economy and employment. In many areas, these activities are an essential part of the local economy and employment.
Artisanal fishing and food security
Reefs also serve as breeding and feeding grounds for many species exploited by artisanal fishing. Their degradation directly threatens the food security of already vulnerable coastal communities.
Natural coastal protection against storms
Last but not least, reefs act as a natural natural barrier against coastal erosion and cyclonic swell. Their weakening exposes Caribbean coasts to increased risks of flooding and forces states to invest in costly artificial infrastructures.
Human pressure and urbanization: vulnerability specific to the Caribbean
The specificity of the Caribbean lies in the high human density in the vicinity of reefs. Since the early 2000s, the population living within 20 kilometers of these ecosystems has increased by nearly 30 %. This concentration results in increased coastal pollution, inadequate sanitation systems, poorly regulated tourism and rapid coastal urbanization.
The Caribbean coral reefs are undergoing a double shock: local pressure from human activities and the global impact of climate change, two mutually reinforcing dynamics.
Can the Caribbean's coral reefs still regenerate?
Marine protected areas and ecological corridors
Despite the gravity of the situation, some areas are showing signs of resilience. Particularly resilient coral colonies have been identified in the southern Gulf of Mexico, some of them disease-free and home to critically endangered species. These discoveries have led to the creation of interconnected marine protected areas, encouraging the circulation of species and the natural regeneration of reefs.
Coral restoration and natural resilience
Restoration programs, based on coral nurseries and targeted transplants, demonstrate that recovery is possible when human pressures are reduced. As the United Nations Environment Programme, science shows that reefs can recover if coherent policies of protection, fisheries management and pollution reduction are implemented.
The loss of almost half of the Caribbean’s coral reefs since 1980 marks a historic turning point. It reveals the limitations of current management models, and underlines the urgent need for an integrated approach that brings together science, public policy and local stakeholders. The survival of the reefs will largely determine the environmental, economic and social future of the Caribbean.
Coral reefs in the Caribbean are disappearing mainly due to global warming, which is causing massive bleaching episodes, combined with ocean acidification, coral disease and local human pressures.
They support tourism, fishing and coastal protection. Their degradation leads to significant economic losses and increases the costs associated with erosion and coastal infrastructure.
Yes, when human pressures are reduced and effective protection measures put in place, some reefs show a real capacity for resilience and regeneration.
Tobago is often summed up in a few words: beaches, reefs, nature. Yet the island deserves more than a quick summary. Small in size but dense in what it has to offer, the island embodies a thoughtful Caribbean, where the territory has never yielded to excess. Here, tourism has developed without overshadowing local life, and nature remains a structuring framework.
A separate island within Trinidad and Tobago
Situated in the south of the Caribbean arc, it has formed an independent state with Trinidad since 1962. Unlike its big industrial sister, the island has retained a resolutely insular profile. The island covers just over 300 km² and has a population of around 60,000. This small scale has a direct influence on the visitor experience: short distances, limited traffic, simple human relationships.
Scarborough, the capital, concentrates the administration and part of the commercial activity. Elsewhere, coastal villages and rural areas structure daily life. It’s not trying to compete with the big seaside destinations; it’s asserting a different logic, based on continuity and stability.
Nature protected for centuries
One of Tobago’s strong points is its long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Buccoo Reef Marine Park officially created in the 1970s, is one of the oldest protected marine areas in the Caribbean. This shallow reef plays a central role in the coastal ecosystem and in the local economy, notably through artisanal fishing and supervised nautical activities.
Inland, the Main Ridge Forest Reserve established in 1776, is often cited as the world’s oldest protected forest reserve. This forest covers a large part of the island’s backbone, helping to regulate the climate, preserve the soil and feed watercourses. For visitors, it offers a distinct counterpoint to the beaches: shady paths, gentle slopes, wildlife observation.
Open, unstaged beaches
The island’s beaches are numerous and varied. Some, like Pigeon Point and Store Bay, are easily accessible and well developed. Others, on the east coast, are more exposed to the wind and less frequented. What they all have in common is the absence of massive beachfront constructions. Beaches remain public spaces, integrated into daily life.
This configuration attracts family tourism, independent travelers and visitors looking for extended stays. The island is not a quick stopover destination; it can be discovered over several days, sometimes weeks.
A culture rooted in continuity
The culture is the result of a long mixing of African heritage, British influences and Caribbean contributions. The English language structures the public space, but cultural practices remain profoundly local. Music, cuisine and community festivities are first conceived for the locals before being shared with visitors.
The Tobago Heritage Festival organized each year, illustrates this approach. It showcases villages, oral histories, dances and skills, without excessive staging. For the visitor, it’s an opportunity to observe a living culture, not a static one.
Controlled tourism
Accommodation on the island is deliberately modest. There are medium-sized hotels, guest houses and independent rentals. Large resorts are rare and concentrated in specific areas. This strategy limits pressure on infrastructure and natural resources.
Local authorities, including the Tobago House of Assembly. The local authorities play a central role in regional planning. Decisions relating to tourism, the environment and transport are often taken on an island-wide basis, which reinforces the coherence of the choices made.
A clear destination for travellers
Tobago is accessible by regional and international flights via A.N.R. Robinson International Airport. Entry formalities are straightforward for many travelers, and the island has sufficient infrastructure for a comfortable stay without excess.
For tourists, it represents a well-balanced destination: beaches, nature, culture and services are all present, without permanent competition between these elements. The island doesn’t seek to surprise, but to last.
Highlighting the island today means underlining that another trajectory is possible in the Caribbean. That of an island that has chosen protection, moderation and continuity. It’s not spectacular for its accumulation, but for the coherence of its model.
For travelers with an eye for how a territory develops, the island offers a rare example: an island that welcomes visitors without transforming itself excessively.
Tobago lies to the south of the Caribbean arc. Together with Trinidad, it forms the independent state of Trinidad and Tobago, off the coast of Venezuela.
Tobago is characterized by deliberately limited tourism, strong protection of its reefs and forests, and local life that is still very much alive.
Yes, the island offers a stable environment, sufficient infrastructure and a pace of life conducive to stays of several weeks, without excessive tourist pressure.
From November 22 to November 30, 2025, the Caribbean Film Days festival is underway online. For the first time, a space entirely dedicated to Caribbean cinema brings together more than forty works accessible anywhere in the world, at any time. The event, the result of a collaboration between Caribbean Creativity and the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe, transforms the month of November into a time of cultural sharing and solidarity, in aid of the populations affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Caribbean Film Days doesn’t just show films: it builds bridges. A link between the islands, between the diaspora and the territories of origin, between art and social reality, between memory and the future. For a public often far removed from traditional cinemas or deprived of access to Caribbean films, it’s a rare, almost unique opportunity to enter into stories that tell the region from the inside.
A festival designed to be seen everywhere
Unlike physical festivals, Caribbean Film Days requires no travel, no reservations and no set times.
How to watch movies?
- – visit the YardVibes platform,
- – browse the catalog,
- – choose a film,
- – rent it via Vimeo on Demand,
- – and watch it streaming, at any time of day.
No geographical constraints: Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, Oceania: everyone can take part.
A cinema that tells the story of the islands as they live
To appreciate a festival, you have to understand what it shows. Caribbean Film Days isn’t just a list of titles: it’s a mosaic of Caribbean realities, from its music to its struggles, from its creativity to its contradictions.
Here are just a few examples of the works on offer at Caribbean Film Days:
- “Kanaval” (Haiti – Dominican Republic): a powerful feature film about identity, migration and memory.
- “Jocelyne Béroard, At Heart”: a sensitive portrait of the zouk icon and her influence in the Caribbean.
- “Joseph” (Barbados – Jamaica – Ghana): a quest for origins linking the Americas to Africa.
- “Stones Have Laws” (Suriname): an immersion in Maroon traditions and their relationship with the land.
- “Heart of Haiti”: a journey to the heart of Haitian artistic creation.
- “Why Do Jamaicans Run So Fast?” an intimate look at Jamaican athletes and their heritage.
Documentaries, fiction, archives, independent projects, artistic experiments: this is a complete panorama of Caribbean cinema, too often absent from international platforms. The aim of this program is clear: to show a Caribbean that is not just beaches or tourist clichés, but one that expresses itself through voices, faces, struggles and dreams.
A festival in support of the islands affected by Hurricane Melissa
This first edition of Caribbean Film Days would not have the same scope without the context in which it takes place.
Hurricane Melissa left a devastating mark on the region, particularly in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The rains, destruction and loss of life have left a deep mark on communities.
Caribbean Film Days has chosen to act on its own scale. Each film rental generates a donation, which goes entirely to reconstruction and support initiatives.
Watching a film means :
- – support affected families,
- – contribute to infrastructure rehabilitation,
- – a gesture of solidarity that goes beyond words.
It’s an ethical stance: the Caribbean, while contributing very little to global emissions, is exposed to the most violent consequences of climate change.
This festival reminds us of this injustice by giving a central role to culture.
A rendezvous for the diaspora and fans of Caribbean culture
For many, watching “a film from home” means reconnecting with a language, an accent, a landscape, a way of telling a story. The Caribbean diaspora in Europe and North America will find in the festival a way to reconnect with universes that are similar to their own. For non-Caribbean audiences, it’s an essential discovery: the Caribbean isn’t just a vacation zone, it’s a region with social, political and artistic dynamics that deserve to be understood.
The online format also makes it possible to engage a younger audience, often accustomed to streaming platforms, but with little exposure to Caribbean cinema.
Why does this festival matter today?
Caribbean Film Days fills a void. A gap in access, a gap in distribution infrastructure, a gap in international recognition.
They show that :
– the Caribbean has a solid, diverse and meaningful film production;
– solidarity can take the form of a cultural gesture;
– a film can link territories that sometimes don’t intersect;
– the stories told by Caribbean people have their place in global digital spaces.
How to get involved
- ▶️ Go to YardVibes (official platform).
- ▶️ Choose one of the films below.
- ▶️ Rent it via Vimeo on Demand.
- ▶️ Watch, share, recommend.
- ▶️ Every viewing contributes to Melissa’s post-hurricane relief efforts.
FAQ
Simply visit YardVibes, choose a film and rent it via Vimeo on Demand. Viewing is available 24/7.
Over forty works from Caribbean cinema: documentaries, fiction, portraits, historical accounts and musical films.
Yes, all proceeds from film rentals during Caribbean Film Days are donated to Hurricane Melissa relief and reconstruction initiatives in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
In 1978, in the heart of Trinidad and Tobago carnival, a woman shook the foundations of a male-dominated world. Calypso Rose, real name Linda McArtha Monica Sandy-Lewis, became the first woman to win the prestigious Calypso Monarch national competition.
But behind this victory lies a lifetime of perseverance, talent and struggle, carried by an artist whose voice symbolizes Caribbean resistance and freedom of expression.
From humble roots to the birth of a vocation
Born on April 27, 1940 in Bethel, on the island of Tobago, Calypso Rose grew up in a large family marked by faith and music. Her father, a fisherman and Baptist preacher, instilled discipline in her; her aunt, an avid calypso record fan, introduced her to popular rhythms.
At the age of thirteen, she composed Glass Thief, a song inspired by a simple news item, already revealing her instincts as a social observer. The young girl quickly realized that music could tell the realities of the people, denounce injustice and convey joy as well as pain.
When she moved to Trinidad, she discovered the “calypso tents”, carnival venues where only men took to the stage. She took her first steps there, first under the name Crusoe Kid, before choosing the name that would go down in history: Calypso Rose. A rose in a field of thorns, ready to bloom despite the obstacles.
Breaking the codes of a masculine world
In the 1960s, Calypso Rose made a name for herself in local competitions. Her presence shocked some, but her talent commanded respect. Where others had fun rhyming, she wrote to bear witness.
In 1978, her performance of Her Majesty and I Thank Thee shook up the stage: the jury and audience gave her a standing ovation. She became the first woman to win the Calypso King crown, and was immediately renamed Calypso Monarch to celebrate this breakthrough.
Her courage paved the way for all those who would come after her. That day, the Queen of Calypso was born.
The songs that shaped his legend
Fire in Meh Wire (1966)
This track marks a turning point. Its intoxicating melody and contagious energy make Fire in Meh Wire a Caribbean anthem. Played for two consecutive years during Carnival, the song became one of the first calypso tracks to cross borders. It sums up the essence of Calypso Rose: a popular music, rooted in everyday life, but universal in its message.
No Madam
One of her strongest songs. With No Madam, Calypso Rose denounces the abuse of domestic workers. The song becomes a collective cry for the dignity of working women, and urges the authorities to recognize their rights. In the Caribbean, few artists have dared to tackle such sensitive subjects head-on, let alone in a festive style.
More Tempo (1977)
Written in the New York subway, Tempo won the title of Road March at the carnival. The song illustrates Calypso Rose’s ability to connect the Caribbean diaspora around rhythm, pride and memory. Even far from home, she keeps the cadence of her heart.
A worldwide career and a triumphant comeback
From the streets of Port-d’Espagne to festivals in Paris, London and Montreal, Calypso Rose has taken the voice of the Caribbean to the biggest stages. Now based in Queens, New York, she continues to tour and collaborate with other artists.
In 2016, her album Far From Home, produced with Manu Chao, marked an international turning point. With tracks like Leave Me Alone, she proves that calypso remains a living force, capable of speaking of independence and female dignity. The album is a triumph: in 2017, it wins the “Album du Monde” award at the Victoires de la Musique awards, and is a major hit in the European charts.
That same year, at the age of 78, Calypso Rose took to the stage at Coachella. A historic performance: she became the doyenne of the festival and the first calypso artist to perform there. Her laughter, energy and authenticity conquered a worldwide audience.
Commitment, recognition and transmission
Calypso Rose’s work goes beyond music. Her songs have carried the voices of women, workers and those forgotten by society. She has always mixed art and commitment: “I sing for all the women who can’t speak,” she said in an interview with The Guardian.
His career has been hailed with the highest distinctions:
- 🏆 the WOMEX Artist Award (2016);
- 🏆 les Victoires de la Musique (2017);
- 🏆 the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s highest honor.
With over 800 songs and some twenty albums, she has turned calypso into a social and poetic chronicle. Each track carries a fragment of collective memory, a lesson in dignity and joy.
Calypso Rose, a voice for the future
Today, she continues to sing, travel and inspire. Split between New York and Tobago, she remains faithful to her origins and her people.
His legacy can be seen in the footsteps of new generations of Caribbean artists, from Jamaica to Guadeloupe, who are now proudly asserting themselves.
By breaking the barriers of a male-dominated world, she didn’t just conquer a crown: she blazed a trail. Her laughter, strength and humanity make her a living legend of the Caribbean – an eternal rose, rooted in the land of calypso.
Machel Montano has nothing left to prove. Yet, year after year, he continues to make Caribbean music history. On October 28, 2025, at the official Road March awards ceremony in Trinidad, the singer received his first-place trophy and award cheque for his track “PARDY”. A victory that once again confirms the longevity and influence of Machel Montano, a true ambassador of soca worldwide.
A ceremony of recognition and gratitude
On stage, the emotion was palpable. The artist took the floor to thank all those who had contributed to his success:
“Today the team and I attended the official Road March Prize Giving Ceremony to receive our 1st place Trophy and Cheque for winning the 2025 Road March Title.”
These words reflect the simple, sincere joy of an artist who, despite a career spanning several decades, remains faithful to his roots and his team.
At the official presentation ceremony, Machel Montano paid tribute to the organizers and partners:
“Special shouts to bmobile and TUCO for this wonderful presentation and acknowledgement of the hard work put in to make PARDY the song it is today.”
The thanks addressed to his entourage testify to the cohesion of a group united by passion and respect for a job well done.
"PARDY": a song that has become a symbol of celebration and unity
The success of “PARDY” extends far beyond the borders of Trinidad & Tobago. According to figures released by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), the song was played over 260 times during Carnival – a record that earned it the official title of Road March 2025.
But beyond the numbers, it’s the spirit of the track that has left its mark. With its catchy chorus and unifying tempo, “PARDY” embodies everything soca stands for: freedom, collective energy and the power of living together.
For Machel Montano, the success of this song is above all down to teamwork. He expressed his gratitude to those who supported him:
“Thank you to all those who believed in the project from the outset and made it possible to write a new page of history.
These words reflect the deeply human dimension of Machel Montano’s success: nothing is done alone, everything is built together.
An artist with roots and a global outlook
For over thirty years, Machel Montano has been promoting Caribbean culture. His international collaborations and tours have helped establish soca on the world stage. But this new award proves that, despite his global influence, he remains first and foremost a people’s artist, faithful to the streets, parties, carnivals and traditions of Trinidad.
“Thank you to everyone who helped us win this title and to everyone who continues to support PARDY globally – this one is for you!” he shared.
This message sums up Machel Montano’s philosophy: an artist who speaks to all, without borders. From the streets of Port of Spain to the stages of Miami, London and Paris, “PARDY” has united the Caribbean diaspora around a single pulse: that of the drum and the heart.
Road March 2025: a historic victory
The year 2025 marks a new chapter in Machel Montano‘s career. Already a multiple Road March winner, he confirms that he remains the absolute reference in the genre.
This victory is also symbolic: it proves that soca, often considered a niche style, still has the power to unite entire generations and cultures.
For Machel Montano, this recognition is not an end in itself, but a reminder that Caribbean music lives, breathes and renews itself every year, to the rhythm of carnivals and collaborations.
The legacy of a soca king
With “PARDY”, Machel Montano doesn’t just sign a new success; he perpetuates a tradition. A tradition of festive music, rooted in cultural resistance and shared joy.
The artist has made his career a bridge between generations: from his early beginnings to his more recent projects, each step reinforces his image as a modern icon.
His influence now extends beyond music: Machel Montano embodies a model of constancy, hard work and transmission. His commitment to young artists, his respect for local musicians and his vision of a united Caribbean make him one of the most inspiring figures in the cultural world.
The Road March 2025 trophy awarded to Machel Montano for “PARDY” symbolizes more than just a musical success: it’s a collective victory for a team, a people and a culture.
Audiences, producers, musicians and fans have all contributed to this triumph. And, as the singer himself says, this prize belongs to all those who make the heart of soca beat faster.
👏 Congratulations to Machel Montano and the whole “PARDY” team – Road March 2025 champions! 👏
The Caribbean Japan Partnership has reached a new milestone with the organization of the first Caribbean Regional Dialogue, held on August 21 and 22, 2025 in Saint Lucia. Hosted at the Bay Gardens Hotel and orchestrated by the Commission of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in collaboration with Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), the event brought together governments, regional organizations, the private sector, academia, civil society and youth representatives from across the CARICOM region. For two days, discussions centered on a central theme: “Advancing Resilient Prosperity in the Caribbean”.
A shared ambition: transforming resilience into a driver of prosperity
In his opening address, the Hon. Wayne Girard Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy of Saint Lucia, emphasized that resilience is more than just the ability to bounce back from crises. It must be conceived as a commitment to sustainability, inclusion and innovation. For him, this Dialogue is both a wake-up call and a platform for cooperation to redefine the trajectory of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is part of this transformation process. Dr Didacus Jules, OECS Director General, invited the region to rethink its global narrative. In his view, the Caribbean needs to present itself not as a vulnerable territory, but as one of the world’s most dynamic regions. These include renewable energies, the blue economy, community tourism and the transformation of food systems.
Five strategic pillars for sustainable development
The discussions were structured around five major pillars :
- Blue economy : Sustainable use of marine resources and development of value chains.
- Community-based tourism : Community-based tourism: involving local populations in a more equitable form of tourism.
- Agriculture and food security : Strengthening food sovereignty on the islands.
- Economic and commercial development : Diversification and integration into the global economy.
- Climate and disaster risk reduction: building infrastructures and policies adapted to island realities.
Through the Caribbean Japan Partnership, these pillars are reinforced by cross-cutting themes: the importance of data, gender mainstreaming, youth participation, the central role of civil society and the commitment of the private sector.
Concrete initiatives proposed by OECS
Dr Didacus Jules proposed several operational tools to transform discussions into tangible results:
- ✅ A Caribbean Island Systems Management Pact : to harmonize policies and improve regional resilience.
- ✅ A Blue Value Chain Accelerator : designed to maximize the economic benefits of marine resources.
- ✅ A toolbox for climate-resilient financing : A toolbox for climate-resilient financing, to direct financial flows towards sustainable projects adapted to local realities.
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is therefore intended as a lever to translate the Antigua and Barbuda’s Agenda for SIDS into concrete, measurable solutions.
Closer cooperation with Japan
The Caribbean Japan Partnership is more than just a diplomatic exercise. It prepares the region for greater visibility on the world stage. Indeed, the Castries Dialogue served as a prelude to the Interregional Dialogue and World Island Summit scheduled for 2026 in Tokyo. These gatherings will bring together the island nations of the Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Oceans to tackle common challenges and seize shared opportunities.
The Professor Mitsutaku Makino, President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI-SPF), said the discussions represented an important first step in building solid international cooperation. In his view, the Caribbean Japan Partnership is an opportunity to advance collective solutions to the climate and economic challenges facing small island nations.
On his side, Hideyuki Shiozawa, Director of Island Nations at OPRI-SPF, stressed the need to bridge the gap between international policies and the realities experienced by local populations. For him, fostering dialogue and providing data to decision-makers is the key to building momentum towards the World Synergy Conference and the Tokyo Summit.
The Caribbean: from a catalog of vulnerabilities to a portfolio of solutions
Throughout the debates, a strong message emerged: no Caribbean country can tackle global challenges alone. Common threats – rising sea levels, dwindling fish stocks, inequalities in global financial systems – call for collective responses and bold innovation.
In conclusion, the participants affirmed their desire to present the Caribbean as a portfolio of solutions. Dr Didacus Jules summed up this ambition by saying:
“This isn’t just a meeting; it’s an important step towards enhanced cooperation, stronger systems and a shared Caribbean vision of peace, resilience and prosperity.”
This objective is at the heart of the Caribbean Japan Partnership which aims to go beyond mere diplomacy to become a concrete tool for development and resilience.
A step into the future
The Caribbean Japan Partnership opens up new prospects for small island nations. The challenge now is to turn promises into measurable actions, and to make the Caribbean voice heard in major international debates. In the run-up to the World Island Summit in Tokyo in 2026, the Caribbean is presenting itself not as a fragile periphery, but as a strategic player with global solutions for a sustainable future.
