News Americas, New York, NY, May 13, 2025: Award-winning Trinidadian-born art and museum scholar Dr. Daniela Fifi is set to launch an international book tour for her groundbreaking new publication, Critical Issues in Caribbean Museums. The tour kicks off on May 27th at Western Washington University in Seattle and will include stops across the United States, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom through the fall.

Trinidadian born art scholar, Dr. Daniela Fifi, whose international tour to promote her groundbreaking book Critical Issues in Caribbean Museums, kicks off in two weeks in Seattle, Washington. (PHOTO CREDIT- Sure Thing Productions)

Published by Routledge Press in April, Critical Issues in Caribbean Museums marks a pivotal moment in the academic study of Caribbean museology. As one of the first works from Routledge to focus on this field, the book delves into how Caribbean museums can evolve to better serve their communities – by pushing creative boundaries, sharing best practices, and reimagining the role of cultural institutions in contemporary Caribbean society.

Dr. Fifi, a past recipient of the prestigious President’s Scholar Award from Pratt Institute and the Samuel H. Kress Interpretive Fellowship Award from Columbia University, describes the book as a heartfelt tribute to Caribbean culture—not merely as a place, but as a dynamic and interconnected cultural space.

“This book is a reflection of collective aspirations from museum professionals throughout the Caribbean,” Fifi noted. “It explores the transformative potential of cultural institutions and is intended for everyone from museum enthusiasts and researchers to professors, graduate students, and cultural heritage professionals.”

Rather than a critique, the book provides a rigorous analysis of the sector, aimed at fostering innovation, creativity, and long-term growth.

“Criticality in any field means interrogating essential issues to challenge assumptions and inspire new approaches,” she added. “Through this lens, we can reimagine our practices, elevate standards, and plan for the future of Caribbean museums.”

Dr. Fifi contributed four chapters to the book, including a major piece on the development of museum education, her area of expertise. The volume also features curatorial perspectives on Caribbean art and insights from other leading museum professionals across the region. She emphasized how editing the book alongside co-authors sharpened her collaborative skills.

A proud daughter of Trinidad and Tobago, Fifi’s passion for the arts was nurtured in her teenage years through classes in painting, photography, and pottery. Her journey took her from Trinidad to New York’s Pratt Institute, where she earned a BFA in Communication Design, then to the University of Manchester for a Master’s in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, and finally to Columbia University’s Teachers College, where she completed a Ph.D. in Art and Art Education.

Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Viewfinder, the e-journal of the National Art Education Association, Fifi also serves as a global independent consultant. She is now preparing her next initiative, The Mind Of The Museum, a multidisciplinary project incorporating lectures, podcasts, and international exhibitions that expand on the themes of her book and explore the post-colonial evolution of Caribbean museums.

Following the Seattle launch, the tour will head to A House For Artists in London in July, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California in August, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in September, and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society in Bridgetown in October. Additional dates and venues are expected to be announced soon.

Critical Issues in Caribbean Museums is available now via Routledge Press.

News Americas, New York, NY, May 9, 2025: As the world welcomes Pope Leo XIV, a groundbreaking revelation has emerged that connects the first U.S.-born pontiff to a lesser-known but profoundly rich heritage — one rooted in the Afro-Caribbean and Creole experience of New Orleans, with potential ties to Haiti.

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV (l), the American Robert Prevost, may have roots to the Caribbean. Photo: Marijan Murat/dpa (Photo by Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images)

According to a report published by The New York Times, the new pope, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, descends from Creole people of color in New Orleans through his maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié. Historical records describe both as Black or mulatto, and census documents list Mr. Martinez’s place of birth as “Hayti” — the historic spelling of Haiti — suggesting that the new pontiff may indeed have Haitian roots.

The revelation was uncovered by New Orleans genealogist Jari C. Honora, whose research traced the pope’s maternal lineage to the city’s historic Seventh Ward — a cultural hub of African, Caribbean, and European ancestry, deeply Catholic and central to Louisiana’s Creole identity.

“This discovery is just an additional reminder of how interwoven we are as Americans,” Honora told The Times, adding that it shines a light on the long, often overlooked history of Black Catholics in the U.S., many of whom were enslaved or descended from free people of color.

While the Vatican’s official announcement focused on Leo XIV’s upbringing in Chicago and his missionary work in Peru, the confirmation of his Creole ancestry — and potentially Haitian lineage — adds a deeply symbolic layer to his papacy, particularly for Black Catholics across the Americas.

Pope Leo XIV’s grandparents married at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in New Orleans before relocating to Chicago. His mother, Mildred Martinez, was born there in 1912. In addition to records linking Joseph Martinez to Haiti, his occupation was listed as a cigar maker — a trade historically associated with Caribbean immigrants.

While the Prevost family reportedly did not identify as Black, and the pope’s brother confirmed they “identified as white,” this discovery highlights the nuanced complexity of racial identity in America — particularly among Creole families, many of whom were able to pass as white in segregated societies.

For descendants of Louisiana Creoles and Caribbean immigrants, the new pope’s lineage is being celebrated as a long-overdue recognition of a rich cultural legacy.

“This is a tremendous moment,” said Lolita Villavasso Cherrie, co-founder of The Creole Genealogical and Historical Association. “It’s not just about race; it’s about acknowledging a layered and beautiful history that has shaped American Catholicism.”

Whether or not Pope Leo XIV ever directly addresses his Creole and Haitian ancestry, his elevation stands as a milestone for the broader Black Catholic diaspora — from Louisiana to Haiti to Latin America — whose faith and contributions have long been woven into the Church’s global fabric.

News Americas, New York, NY, May 7, 2025: In a defining moment for the Cayman Islands’ political landscape, Premier André Ebanks on Tuesday officially ushered in a new era of coalition governance as he and 18 other lawmakers took the oath of office in George Town, following a tightly contested election that yielded no outright winner.

Andre Ebanks is the new premier of the Cayman Islands.

At the helm of the newly formed National Coalition For Caymanians, (NCFC), Premier Ebanks is leading what many are calling a bold experiment in unified, people-first governance — a coalition composed of members from three distinct political entities. The alliance brings together the Cayman Islands National Party (CINP), the Caymanian Community Party (CCP), and a group of independents, all of whom joined forces to form a majority in the 19-seat Parliament.

“This is a time for focus, discipline, and collaboration,” Ebanks said following the swearing-in. “We are taking care to build a government that is not only stable and effective, but also transparent — one that communicates clearly, involves the people, and earns the trust of the country.”

Despite the People’s Progressive Movement, (PPM), winning the most seats — seven — the party fell short of a majority, opening the door for coalition politics. The CINP and CCP each secured four seats and, by last Friday, announced the support of three independents, giving the new coalition a working majority of 11 seats.

In a statement released over the weekend, the group announced its unified name, NCFC, reflecting the political merger and shared vision: “National” for CINP, “Coalition” for the independents, and “Caymanians” for the CCP’s grassroots identity.

Now formally installed, the new government is expected to begin work immediately, with an initial focus on addressing an anticipated fiscal deficit and laying the groundwork for the 2026/2027 national budgets. “There is a mountain of work to get through,” said Ebanks, “but we will get through it as a team.”

On Wednesday, the new Cabinet is set to meet with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and senior civil service leaders for strategic briefings aimed at ensuring a coordinated start to the administration’s tenure.

Governor Jane Owen, who presided over the ceremony, expressed her confidence in the new administration. “I look forward to working with you as we plan to deliver for our people over the coming four years of this Parliament,” she said, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to supporting the safety and well-being of all residents.

As the NCFC takes its first steps, expectations are high. The coming weeks will be a critical test of the coalition’s cohesion and ability to translate political unity into effective leadership.

Who is André Ebanks, the New Premier of the Cayman Islands?

André Ebanks, the new Premier of the Cayman Islands, brings a blend of legal expertise and civil service experience to his leadership role. A graduate of Morgan State University in the U.S. with a degree in sociology, he later earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Liverpool and a Master’s in Legal Practice from Manchester Metropolitan University. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2005 and the Cayman Islands Bar in 2006.

Ebanks practiced law with top offshore firms Appleby and Walkers, specializing in investment funds. In 2014, he transitioned to public service, serving as a senior policy advisor and later as deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Community Affairs, overseeing key social support agencies. He most recently served from 2019 to 2021 in a leadership role within the Ministry of Financial Services.

Prior to taking the oath, he wrote on Facebook:”Thank you to God, my amazing wife Tiffany and children Jaxson and Savanna. Thank you to my Dad Atlee Ebanks, Nana Laura, my mother Ellena and my incredible sisters Elizabeth, Megan and Abi. Thank you to all my friends and family here and abroad and to my extraordinary campaign team. Thank you to my nominators, Patty Rivers, Genevieve Henning, Capt Owen Farrington and Roy Grant for their trust in me.

To the Election Office and all those involved in the entire election process, thank you for your professionalism – you did a superb job.

No matter in what capacity I am asked to serve, I look forward to working with my former brothers and sisters in the Civil Service.

To the voters of West Bay South, please know that you are all in my heart and I will be working diligently for you to achieve as much as possible of a ‘Reimagined Cayman’.

God Bless West Bay South and the Cayman Islands as we move forward with positivity and inclusivity.”