Caribbean reactions to Harris

Aug. 16, 2024

Caribbean media reacted exuberantly to Kamala Harris’ positioning as the U.S. Democratic Party nominee. “Jamaicans in the diaspora are rallying behind Kamala Harris' presidential campaign with enthusiasm reminiscent of the support for former President Barack Obama,” reported the Jamaica Gleaner.

Jamaican and other Caribbean nationals in the US “seem especially enthused by the prospect of one of their own becoming president of the US,” according to the Jamaica Observer. Harris’ father was from Jamaica.

Caribbean-American United In Support of Kamala Harris for President — reported signing on 1,000 members within a matter of days after she became the presumptive nominee. Another group, the Caribbean-American Coalition of Florida, has attracted large numbers of volunteers who are working to register new voters, disseminate pertinent information, and raise funds for the campaign.

Yet, Alexander Causewell argues that the press coverage about Jamaican support for Harris is misleading. Despite Jamaica's tendency to celebrate high-achieving individuals of Jamaican descent globally, there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm for Harris, he writes in Compact. 

“Jamaicans might have shown more excitement if Harris had more policy substance and personal authenticity, but the most notable characteristic is her malleability. The average person, whether in Jamaica or the United States, would be hard-pressed to articulate any clear vision associated with Harris. This isn’t because she has failed to express certain views, but that the ones she has expressed have continued to change.”

The Caribbean has reasons to be optimistic about a potential Kamala Harris presidency, largely due to her Caribbean heritage and the symbolic representation it brings. However, despite her ties to the region, Harris has not been particularly active in the Caribbean as a politician, with only two recorded visits as Vice President, writes Narayan Ammachchi in Nearshore Americas. During these visits, she engaged in discussions on economic recovery, climate crisis, security, and other mutual concerns, and announced significant U.S. assistance for regional issues.

But other analysts are more positive about Harris’ work in the region: Harris co-hosted the U.S-Caribbean Leaders Meeting in June 2023, announcing more than $100 million in funding from the United States Agency for International Development for the country. (AS/COA)

“That meeting—and her overall engagement—has been focused on establishing a greater US presence in the Caribbean at a time in which it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Caribbean prosperity yields benefits for the United States too,” writes Jason Marczak for the Atlantic Council. “In keeping with her typical approach, Harris met with Caribbean leaders first to hear their priorities before crafting a strategy. Her priorities started with climate change and the energy transition, expanded to food security, and then extended to security and arms trafficking. At that June 2023 meeting, she announced $100 million of US assistance to address these issues, including Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. … Still, as with her Central America portfolio, substantial progress will not happen overnight.”

And former Barbados Ambassador to the U.S. and OAS argues that: “While it is great to be in contact with the President of the US, I think that from a practical and pragmatic viewpoint we would be better off spending our time and effort engaging members of the State Department, Congress, Senate, and their staff. We must know how the system works and build relationships and nurture them on an ongoing basis—the approach has to be more like a cricket test match and not a T20 game.” (Barbados Today)

The Caribbean and The World 

• Members of the International Seabed Authority elected Leticia Carvalho of Brazil as the group’s new secretary general earlier this month, amid growing support for a preliminary halt to deep-sea mining, reports the Associated Press.

• Carvalho told Foreign Policy her fight to defend natural habitats in the face of powerful extractive interests comes from her background enforcing Brazilian environmental policy — Latin America Brief

• On Sunday, three former Caribbean prime ministers who were involved in the original political negotiations that led to the creation of the presidential council arrived in Port-au-Prince, invited by the council president. “The Caribbean leaders are looking at the Kenya-led mission’s efforts and the relations between Conille and the council. But they are also concerned about the bribery scandal,” reports the Miami Herald. (See also Caribbean Media Corporation.)

• Senator Robert Menendez, long influential in shaping U.S. policy towards Cuba, will retire from Congress after being convicted on multiple counts of corruption. His departure could signal a shift in U.S.-Cuba relations, particularly if Vice President Kamala Harris, who has expressed support for lifting the embargo on Cuba, succeeds in broader policy roles. Menendez’s retirement removes a major opponent of easing U.S.-Cuba tensions, potentially opening the door for new approaches to the relationship under future U.S. administrations. (The Nation)

The Caribbean at the Olympics 

• A number of of Caribbean countries achieved extraordinary results in this year’s Olympics Games, considering their size and GDP, reports El País: “Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Jamaica have won more medals than one would expect from middle-income and tiny countries.”

• In a surprising turn at the Olympics, Jamaican athlete Rojé Stona clinched a historic first gold medal for Jamaica in field events, setting a new Olympic record in the men’s discus throw. This victory brought a wave of joy and pride to Jamaicans, who had faced a series of disappointments with their sprinters at the Games. High-profile withdrawals and injuries among Jamaica's top female sprinters, combined with narrow losses in men's events, had dampened spirits. (Global Voices)

• Thea LaFond of Dominica secured her island’s first Olympic medal by winning gold in the triple jump, emphasizing the unity among Caribbean athletes with the mantra "One Caribbean, one love." Similarly, Julien Alfred of St. Lucia won her nation's first Olympic medals, earning gold and silver in track events. Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic also triumphed with a historic gold in the 400 meters, marking the first for a woman from her country in any Olympic sport. (Associated Press)

Climate and Environmental Justice 

• A floating restaurant, Poko Loko Jamaica, recently suffered significant damage and was abandoned in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. As a result, trash and debris, including large quantities of styrofoam, are now polluting the coastal waters near Ocho Rios. This environmental issue highlights the ongoing challenges and failures in implementing effective sustainable tourism practices in the Caribbean, despite the region's public commitment to environmental protection. (Petchary’s Blog)

• A record 73% of the world's coral reefs are at risk of bleaching due to prolonged high ocean temperatures. This mass bleaching event, the most extensive yet, has spurred coral scientists to call for a radical reevaluation of conservation strategies. Current efforts include coral nursery projects, which have seen limited success and have been criticized as mere "psychological relief." (The Guardian)

• Jamaica’s cannabis industry is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing significant risks from extreme weather such as hurricanes and prolonged dry seasons. These challenges threaten the sustainability of the sector, emphasizing the need for equitable support for small-scale farmers and the implementation of sustainable practices to safeguard its future. (Climate Tracker)

• “There is absolutely no amount of climate financing that will be able to address what we know already is coming down the line in terms of climate impacts especially if we cruise past the 1.5 celsius limit into a 3 degree zone, which if we continue on a business as usual trajectory is exactly where we are headed”, expressed ⁠Rueanna Haynes, Director of CA Caribbean on Our Climate Reality with host Godfrey Augustine, in an interview with Grenada Broadcasting Network.

• “Climate change affects everyone, but its impacts are disproportionately felt by those who have contributed least to the problem. The most vulnerable are often the ones who have contributed minimally to the causes of climate change and are experiencing significant disruptions”, states Trinidadian environmental attorney Justin Sobion, in an interview with Jindal Forum for International and Economic Laws. 

• Since the SIDS4 Conference concluded in Antigua and Barbuda, stakeholders have intensified their efforts to maintain the "special case" status for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), initially granted at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. This status recognizes that SIDS face unique vulnerabilities, particularly from climate change, despite not being major contributors to global environmental threats. Resistance from some developed nations threatens this designation, challenging SIDS’ ability to secure necessary support for sustainable development.  (Global Voices)

Democratic Governance and Public Security

• Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of emergency Wednesday in Clarendon parish after eight people were killed in separate gun attacks on Sunday night, including a seven-year-old boy. (Reuters)

• An investigation by the Center for Investigative Journalism revealed that in 2022, about 11% of the donations made by beneficiaries of Puerto Rico's Law 22, which requires tax incentive recipients to donate to local non-profits, were directed to entities that were not properly registered or were ambiguously named, raising significant concerns about compliance and oversight within the tax incentive program.

• A bribery scandal involving members of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council is threatening the credibility and stability of the U.S.-backed transition to elections. Members of the council are accused of demanding bribes to keep government positions secure, with specific accusations leveled against three council members during meetings where bribes were allegedly requested. The scandal could undermine the council's leadership and the transitional process, potentially affecting the planned presidential and parliamentary elections aimed at resolving Haiti's ongoing political crisis. (Miami Herald)

• “Our primary focus in the constitutional reform discussions should be to improve governance, to decentralise power, and enable people to influence decisions that directly affect their lives. In a republic, a government of the people, for the people, and by the people must be rooted in a strengthened system of local government with provisions for community empowerment”, writes for the Jamaica Gleaner Rosalea Hamilton, PhD, founding director, Institute of Law & Economics.

Reparations and Decolonization

• Critics say the Emancipation Park monument in Jamaica, unveiled 21 years ago, perpetuates negative stereotypes and does not accurately represent the historical and cultural significance of emancipation. The monument features two naked figures, criticized for their depiction of passivity rather than resilience or freedom. (Jamaica Woman Tongue)

Human Rights

• In 1992, El Mejunje in Cuba hosted one of the first transformation shows as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, marking a significant cultural shift towards acceptance amidst widespread homophobia and transphobia. This event and others like it have helped foster a more inclusive environment, allowing LGBTQ+ community members, particularly performers and activists, to express themselves and engage in public life more freely. (La Joven Cuba)

Culture

• On World Steelpan Day, Trinidad and Tobago officially embraced the steelpan as its national instrument, a move celebrated within the documentary "Panyard Universe." This film reveals the steelpan's potential beyond musical practice, portraying panyards as vibrant community hubs that foster personal growth, innovation, and societal transformation. (Global Voices)

• Trinidad and Tobago has officially secured Geographical Indication rights for the steelpan, which affirm the country as the instrument 's birthplace. This significant intellectual-property achievement was announced at the World Steelpan Conference in Port of Spain. This designation will permit the country to better harness steelpan economic potential. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

• Barbados celebrates its centenarians by featuring them on commemorative postage stamps, demonstrating a unique way of honoring its elderly population. This initiative began after a 2016 census highlighted the high number of centenarians on the island, prompting the release of a special stamp collection in 2017 to coincide with the country’s 50th independence anniversary. (Global Voices)

• Saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart expresses immense joy at performing in Guadeloupe, his homeland, as part of the La Créole Jazz Festival. Despite a global tour, playing in Guadeloupe holds a special significance for him, likening the experience to a comforting, familial embrace. (Repeating Islands)

• "Mountains," a film by Haitian American director Monica Sorelle is a multigenerational drama, set in Miami's Little Haiti. (Repeating Islands)

Opportunities 

• Announcing the inaugural cohort of Climate Rights & Justice International's (CRJI) Climate Rights Defenders Programme. Apply

• Applications are now open for a Caribbean Energy Transition Media Workshop. This initiative aims to train 40 journalists from six Caribbean countries in covering the complex topics of energy transition. The workshop will feature expertise from both regional and global professionals and will be conducted online, focusing on the Caribbean’s specific energy challenges and the broader dimensions of adaptation and resilience. Learn more. 

• The Caribbean Oxford Initiative (CaribOx) has announced its Visiting Fellowship program for 2025, inviting applications from researchers at Caribbean research institutions. The program aims to foster collaborations between these researchers and their counterparts at the University of Oxford. The fellowship includes ten months of virtual engagement and a two-month in-person visit to Oxford during Trinity Term, from April 27 to June 21, 2025. Learn more. 

• Climate Tracker is inviting applications for their COP29 opportunity, where successful applicants will join either the in-person or online team covering global climate action. Applicants must submit an online form detailing their passion for climate journalism, relevant experience, and vision for covering COP29, along with a published climate-related story. Applications close on September 6, 2024. Learn more. 

• The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Caribbean Chapter is inviting young Caribbean nationals aged 18-35 to apply as youth representatives for the Caribbean Regional Preparatory Workshop in Miami and COP16 in Cali, Colombia. Successful candidates will participate in setting the region's agenda for international biodiversity discussions, with all expenses covered. Learn more.