Stories about Suriname
After the SID4 conference in Antigua & Barbuda, ‘small islands’ fight to maintain ‘special case’ status at the UN
“We are not creating these problems but they’re tremendously disruptive to our development [...] SIDS are on the frontline, and we are one of the most vulnerable groups.”
The Suriname book prohibition in a global context of free expression
Suriname's book ban on corruption exposure is more than a local issue; it's a global wake-up call for the defence of free speech and press freedom against authoritarianism.
Desi Bouterse's post-conviction disappearance leaves Suriname in turmoil
The shocking turn of events has stirred reactions of disbelief, anger and concern, as well as loss of faith in the judicial system.
Year in review: In 2023, the climate crisis was top of mind for the Caribbean
Of the many stories Global Voices Caribbean covered this year, the lion's share have been linked to global warming, and the importance of climate justice to the region's survival.
COP28 delivers ‘death certificate’ for island nations
The Global Stocktake is meant to be the big outcome of the climate negotiations this year, but we have significantly deviated from restricting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
How climate change is affecting mental health in some of the Caribbean's Indigenous communities
"Climate change events [cause] a disconnection through displacement and loss of our homes, our land, and our ways of doing things. Having to relocate and start over is traumatic."
A journey through three continents: 150 years of Indian Caribbean migration to The Netherlands
With over 160,000 Indian Caribbeans in The Netherlands, they have become an indispensable population group. They have made a long journey, marked every year on June 5, as Prawas Din, or Immigration Day.
Caribbean journalists: ‘Shortfalls in climate reporting can be improved’
Caribbean journalists are finding it essential to report on climate justice issues, and ensure those who play a greater role in causing climate change are held accountable.
Suriname’s Indigenous communities are on the front line of the climate fight
Now in a race against time to protect their traditions, many of Suriname’s Indigenous communities have reported being affected by an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
Racial tensions rise in Suriname amidst economic instability, but citizens still hope for unity
Suriname, a tiny country in South America and a member of CARICOM, has been in uproar due to economic instability and corruption. Amidst the mayhem, racial tensions are growing.
How Surinamese fisheries are being impacted by climate change — and what's being done about it
In Suriname, issues like inadequate reporting, overfishing, and illegality pose challenges to the country’s fishing industry, but when it comes to climate change, the impact is difficult to determine.
The Dutch state apologises for slavery, and the Caribbean wonders: Will reparations follow?
The Caribbean’s response to the Dutch apology was mixed — positive in some respects, guarded or even dismissive in others.
The overturning of Roe vs. Wade unsettles the Caribbean, most of which doesn't have progressive abortion laws
"Apart from women deeply inculcated with religious dogma, the time cannot be far off when women throughout the Caribbean will use their voting power to demand the right to choose."
2021 in review, from a Caribbean point of view
While the Caribbean was primarily focused on rising COVID-19 infection rates, a steady stream of variants, and strong vaccine hesitancy, the pandemic wasn't the only story affecting the region in 2021.
As shorebird populations drastically decline in the French Caribbean, hunting traditions persist
The colonial era practice is still popular in Martinique and Guadeloupe, and also takes place in French Guiana, Suriname and, to a lesser extent, Barbados.
Former Surinamese president Dési Bouterse convicted of murder for the second time—but will he go to prison?
If Bouterse is not imprisoned after this second conviction, it will not sit well with many Surinamese who view him first and foremost as a murderer.
After Dutch Literary Prize winner says Suriname ‘needed’ former president Bouterse, organisers cancel her award ceremony
In 2019, Dési Bouterse, who first came to power in a coup, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted for the execution 15 dissidents in 1982.
Amid Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, a look at the Muslim presence in the Caribbean
New generations of Caribbean Muslims are being born and raised in the diaspora, creating a type of religious hybrid that sometimes puts traditional approaches under strain.
Caribbean denounces Trump’s decision to put Cuba back on terrorism list; hopes for a reversal with Biden
Some expect the Biden/Harris administration to re-establish a working relationship with the island; other Cuban commentators find that unlikely. Either way, CARICOM wants Cuba taken off the US' terrorism list.
The Caribbean's case for reparations: Part III
Reparatory justice can play an important role in dealing with challenges like disease, climate change and COVID-19, all of which pose existential threats to the region.
The Caribbean's case for reparations: Part II
"We transformed these broken colonies into functional democracies without any support […] and now we have this debt crisis because we were abandoned by those who plundered our wealth."
