smi, BSc International Relations, journalist, wordspinner, Trinidadian, Londoner, New Yorker, limer, music-obsessed, drastic sarcastic, Soca Warrior, work in progress.
Back in 2008, I wrote a piece that argued thus, on the subject of my preferred “hairstyle”:
I am my hair. I am challenging, I am defiant, I do not apologize.
And the next time some Wall Street multimillionaire or Oxbridge-educated middle-aged perpetually entitled white British editor encounters a twenty-something <insertracehere> woman from the Caribbean, or someone with locs, he will pause.
U.S. and U.K. prosecutors are investigating a prominent Canadian businessman for criminal money laundering and bribery as part of a two-year investigation centering on Alcoa Inc., the metals giant, according to people familiar with the matter.
The prosecutors have unearthed new documents that they believe show the involvement of Victor Dahdaleh, a longtime agent of Alcoa who helped negotiate contracts with companies in the Middle East and elsewhere, according to the people familiar with the matter. Continue reading Alcoa negotiator being investigated for bribery by US/UK prosecutors→
In response to my indictment of the ‘charitable’ efforts of Virgin Atlantic and the Travel Foundation to turn a generation of young people in the Caribbean into fisherfolk and bee-keepers, a Virgin representative posted the following in the comments:
The Travel Foundation and Virgin Atlantic were concerned to read your comments on our work together in the Caribbean. We believe that the projects will bring huge benefits and stimulate entrepreneurship along with addressing pressing environmental issues. Here is further information which should allay any concerns and provide more information.
You are correct in saying that tourism is key to the region’s economy. In 2008, travel and tourism provided over 2.1m jobs and 15% of the region’s GDP but there is an opportunity to spread the benefits tourism brings further.
There are significant issues with youth unemployment in the Caribbean with as many as 30% of 20-24 year olds out of work.
The projects that we have chosen to develop may seem small, but they are very significant. They link to the globally-important environmental issues of waste management, fish and bee conservation – issues that are vital to food security.
By creating new, small-scale, local business opportunities many of the skills learned can be applied to any business which gives young people independence and choice.
These initiatives will offer choice, new opportunities and new skills for entrepreneurship with the aim that this will create new jobs and opportunities for income generation.
