News Americas, LOS ANGELES, CA: British Caribbean-roots actors are making a major impact in Hollywood with several currently on major U.S. television shows or on the silver screen. Here are ten famous Caribbean actors you should know:

1: Naomie Harris

Actress Naomie Harris’ roots extend to Jamaica and Trinidad. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Born in Britain in 1976, to a Jamaican mother and Trinidadian father, Harris became famous for her performances as Tia/Calypso in two of the wildly popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies. But she truly hit it out of the park when she landed the role of Eve Moneypenny in the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre becoming the first black actress to play the role. On her Caribbean roots, the graduate of Cambridge University has said: “I was raised within the Jamaican culture in Britain. I was surrounded by these incredibly powerful women growing up — independent, opinionated, strong-willed women, like my mum and my aunt.” 

2: Lennie James

The Walking Dead’s Lennie James’ Caribbean roots extend from Britain to Trinidad.

Lennie James has appeared in more than 20 films, including Les Misérables, Snatch, and Colombiana (2011) as well as Robert Hawkins in the CBS series Jericho, Detective Joe Geddes in the AMC television series Low Winter Sun and Morgan Jones in the popular AMC series The Walking Dead.  James was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire to Trinidadian parents. He has professed to being the main cook for his family of four with a fondness for Caribbean cuisine. James also works as a mentor to black inner-city kids, and says he rejects the importance people attach to fame and celebrity.

3: Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel

British-born actress Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel of ‘Furious 7’ roots extend to St. Lucia.

Nathalie Joanne Emmanuel is known for playing computer hacker Ramsey in ‘Furious 7’ (2015). She was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, to a father of Saint Lucian and English descent and a mother of Dominican origin. She was also the interpreter Missandei on the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. FHM magazine ranked Emmanuel as 99th in their 100 Sexiest Women of 2013. In 2015, she appeared in the April 2016 issue of InStyle and GQ magazines.

4: Marianne Ragipcien Jean-Baptiste

Marianne Jean-Baptise who plays Bethany Mayfair in The Blindspot has St. Lucian roots. (Photo by: Giovanni Rufino/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

She is an English-born actress who plays FBI agent plays Bethany Mayfair in the popular series on NBC, ‘The Blindspot.’ Marianne Ragipcien Jean-Baptiste was born in London to a mother from Antigua and father from St. Lucia. She grew up in Peckham and was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre. Jean-Baptiste gained international success from the Mike Leigh-directed social drama Secrets & Lies (1996), receiving both Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations for her performance, becoming the first black British actress to be nominated for an Academy Award, and the second black Briton to be nominated, succeeding Jaye Davidson. She has been married to Evan Williams since 1997. She is also a writer and composer and wrote the score for Mike Leigh’s “Career Girls.” Jean-Baptiste has also written and performed with British jazz musicians, including Jason Rebello, for whom she wrote and recorded four tracks on his album “Keeping Time.”

5: Naomi Elaine Campbell

Naomi Campbell was born in London to a Jamaican mother and father.

Of course many know this English born beauty for her super model fame but the 45-year-old is now an actress. Campbell, 45, was born to Jamaican parents in London and has established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models. She recently had a recurring role as a cougar for a guest role in the hit US television show “Empire,” playing Camilla Marks the love interest of the youngest son Hakeem. Camilla is 20 years Hakeem’s junior in the show, and Campbell said at times she felt shy when filming the raunchy scenes. Campbell has a three-bedroom oceanfront property is in Oracabessa, Jamaica.

6: Eamonn Walker

Actor Eamonn Walker who plays Chief Wallace Boden on Chicago Fire has Trinidadian and Grenadian roots. (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

He is a famous Caribbean actor who plays fire chief Firehouse 51 Battalion Chief Wallace Boden on NBC’s ‘Chicago Fire’ but few know that actor Eamonn Walker has Caribbean roots. Walker was born in London to a Grenadian father and a Trinidadian mother, in 1962. He also actually lived in Trinidad for six months when he was nine years old before returning to London to attend the Hungerford School in Islington and later the University of North London. Of his Caribbean roots he says: “My whole being and everything that I do has my British and Grenadian sides running through me. Until I went to grade school, I spoke with my Caribbean accent as my mother did but quickly received my first taste of discrimination when kids made fun of me and made my life pretty miserable, because we all know how cruel kids can be (laughs). So I learned to speak like everyone else with a North London accent. Again, my need to be connected with my people has always been in me and I recently returned from Grenada where I met my father’s side of the family for the first time and it was beautiful. In every fiber of my being, knowing my people has always been important to me and I’m glad I was able to meet my extended family.”

7: Alfred Enoch

Actor Alfred Enoch of ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ traces his roots to Barbados. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Trevor Project)

 Alfred “Alfie” Enoch plays the role of Wes Gibbins in the ABC legal drama series, ‘How to Get Away with Murder.’ He was born in London to but traces his roots to Barbados through his maternal grandparents. He made his big acting debut in 2001 as Dean Thomas in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ He has appeared in seven of the eight Harry Potter films and also voiced the character in the video game based on the first part of the film. For his portrayal of Gibbins, Enoch has received two NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series consecutive nominations. His father, William Russell, is a renowned actor who played Ian Chesterton in the original run of the BBC show, ‘Dr. Who.’’’

8: Delroy Lindo

Actor Delroy Lindo was born in the UK to Jamaican parents.

Delroy Lindo is perhaps best known for his roles in a trio of Spike Lee films, especially as West Indian Archie in Lee’s Malcolm X (1992) and Woody Carmichael in Crooklyn (1994), Catlett in Get Shorty, Arthur Rose in The Cider House Rules, and Detective Castlebeck in Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). Lindo starred as Alderman Ronin Gibbons in the TV series The Chicago Code (2011) and as Winter on the series Believe, which premiered in 2014. He was born in England to Jamaican parents. Lindo was recently cast as Dominic Fortune in ABC’s pilot of Marvel’s Most Wanted opposite Adrianne Palicki and Nick Blood.

9: Marsha Thomason

Actress Marsha Thomason roots extend to Jamaica. brecht/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank)

Marsha Thomason is best known for playing Nessa Holt in the first two seasons of the NBC series Las Vegas, Naomi Dorrit on the ABC series Lost, and FBI agent Diana Berrigan on the USA Network series White Collar. She was born in Moston, Greater Manchester, England to Phyllis (née McCrae), a Jamaican electronics company employee, and Peter Thomason, who worked in politics.

10:  Adrian Lester, OBE

Actor Adrian Lester was born in in Birmingham, Warwickshire to Jamaican immigrants.

Adrian Lester is a multi award winning actor and director, known for seven seasons of the hit TV show Hustle (2004), The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Primary Colors (1998) and his extensive classical work in the theatre playing Othello, Henry V, Rosalind and Hamlet to name but a few. He was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Jamaican immigrants Monica, a medical secretary, and Reginald, a manager for a contract cleaning company. Lester was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to drama.

News Americas, New York, NY, October 2, 2024: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the road in front of the Jamaica High Commission in New Delhi has been officially named Jamaica Marg, symbolizing the growing ties between India and Jamaica.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jamaica Prime minister Andrew Holness before their meeting at Hyderabad house on October 1, 2024 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on October 1st, PM Modi, who has pushed a Hindu nationalist agenda, expressed optimism that the relationship between the two nations will grow “faster than Usain Bolt.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, during a joint press conference, at Hyderabad House on October 1, 2024 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Highlighting the role of sports in strengthening their bond, PM Modi noted: “Both India and Jamaica are cricket-loving countries, and sports play a very strong and important role in our relations.” He emphasized that the people of India hold a special affection for cricketers, adding, “The outcome of today’s discussions will accelerate our relations even faster than Usain Bolt, and we will continue to reach new heights.”

Prime Minister Modi also praised the Indian community in Jamaica, calling them a “living example” of cultural heritage. He acknowledged the nearly 70,000 people of Indian origin in Jamaica and thanked Prime Minister Holness for his support and care for them.

The Jamaican Prime Minister’s visit to India – Jamaica Marg, from September 30th to October 3rd, marks the first official bilateral visit of a Jamaican Prime Minister to India. PM Modi expressed confidence that this historic visit would inject new energy into both India-Jamaica relations and India’s engagement with the wider Caribbean region.

India has been a “reliable and committed development partner” in Jamaica’s growth, PM Modi added, underscoring the shared history that connects the two nations. Diplomatic relations between India and Jamaica were established on August 12, 1962. Following the visit of PM Indira Gandhi to Jamaica (1975), a resident Mission was established in Kingston in 1976. A Resident Mission of Jamaica in India started functioning in 2020.

Holness on Tuesday acknowledged the bilateral relations it shares with India, saying that Jamaica has a lot to learn from the country.

“As India positions itself as the knowledge capital of the world, we recognize the remarkable strides made by your government in STEM education and digitalization,” he said. “We, therefore, look forward to learning from India as a beacon of technological advancement and in the global south as the government of Jamaica seeks to equip itself and its people with the relevant skills to navigate this changing and dynamic world.”

News Americas, New York, NY, October 1, 2024: A police officer in Grenada facing multiple sexual offense charges, including incest, is scheduled to return to court later this month.

Grenada police officer Nigel Joseph, facing 15 sex-related charges, including incest, is set to return to court on October 28, 2024.

Corporal Nigel Joseph, attached to the Special Services Unit (SSU) of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), appeared in the Sauteurs Magistrate’s Court on September 23, 2024, where he was charged with 15 sex-related offenses, including incest with one of his daughters. Dressed in a blue and white shirt with black pants, Joseph covered his face with a red bandana as he arrived at the court.

Joseph, 48, was arrested on September 21, 2024, and has since been granted EC$50,000 bail with two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, he must surrender his travel documents, relocate from St. Patrick, report to the Hermitage Police Station weekly, and avoid contact with the victim. He is also required to seek permission from the court to leave Grenada and inform the authorities of any travel to Carriacou.

Joseph is due back in court on October 28, 2024. He has been suspended from active duty pending the outcome of the case.

The charges against Joseph highlight growing concerns about incest cases in Grenada. Senior Crown Counsel Howard Pinnock, of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, recently noted an increase in such cases during the opening of the Assizes.

This case is reminiscent of a 2016 conviction in which Cpl. Lennard Benjamin was sentenced to 15 years in prison for incest with his daughter in River Road, St. George’s.

Joseph faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of incest involving a child under 13 years of age. His alleged offenses are said to have taken place in areas like River Antoine and Mt. Rose in St. Andrew and St. Patrick.

 By NAN News Editor – News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 27, 2016. It’s less often talked about but seen widely in many Caribbean & South American nations – sex tourism! People want to know where is prostitution legal in the Caribbean. So where are the top destinations for sex tourism in the Caribbean? Here are the top four:

Some tourists travel for the “big banana” as promoted by this local Caribbean singer in song at a tourist hot spot.

1: Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is seeing a rise in sex tourism, especially female sex tourism. It is estimated that anywhere from 6000 to 10,000 female work in the sex trade in the Dominican Republic, and many cross over from Haiti as well. The Dominican Republic’s sex tourism trade may be so popular due to its relative accessibility from both the United States of America and Europe. According to the sex tourism global guide, tourists seeking sex can find it in the following areas in the DR:

The Metropolitan Area: the cosmopolitan capital and its surrounding beaches.

The Eastern Plains and the East Coast: home to the world-famous all inclusive hotels of Bavaro and Punta Cana, and the major resorts of Casa de Campo and Cap Cana.

The Eastern Cibao and the Bay of Samaná: a beautiful bay often described as a “Paradise on Earth”

The Western Cibao and the North Coast: the second largest city, the highest mountains in the Caribbean, and the popular beaches of the Atlantic Coast.

The Enriquillo Valley and the South: the most secluded area of the country, almost untouched by tourism, with a unique scenery and wildlife.

Both male and female homosexual activity is legal in the Dominican Republic. Same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. The age of consent—regardless of sexual orientation—is 18.

2: Cuba

In Cuba, jineterismo is a category of illegal or semi-legal economic activities related to tourism in Cuba. Prostitution is a way some Cubans use to get out of Cuba, having sex with a tourist for help getting out of the island. These activities include prostitution and pimping, as well as other forms of hustling, such as selling black-market and counterfeit goods. The term derives from the Spanish jinete (“horserider”). A jinetera is Cuban slang for a female sex-worker.

The United States Department of State defines jinetero as: “Street “jockeys,” who specialize in swindling tourists. Most jineteros speak English and go out of their way to appear friendly, by offering to serve as tour guides or to facilitate the purchase of cheap cigars, for example. However many are in fact professional criminals who will not hesitate to use violence in their efforts to acquire tourists’ money and other valuables.” The Justice Minister of Cuba reported that the government convicted 224 people for pimping activities in 2012. It was previously reported that many tourists, particularly from Canada and Europe, travel to Cuba in order to have access to prostitution.

Since prostitution is illegal in Cuba you will need to pay the doorman (10-20 CUC). This is totally normal and the doorman will accept your payment happily 90% of the time. Leave the girl outside and ask him discretely. If you are a bit shy you can also just give the girl your room number, wait there and let her do the talking. If you don’t pay the doorman directly wait until she is escorted to your room. Don’t let her do the payment unless you want to risk spending the time alone…

Needless to say: don’t fall into deep sleep afterwards if you have valuable stuff in your room. Normally the doorman will come knocking at the end of his shift to pick up the girl.

Areas Frequented:

Western Cuba (Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Isla de la Juventud): the capital, the rolling hills of Pinar del Rio and an off-the-beaten-path island with good scuba diving add up to an exciting region

Central Cuba (Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Santi Spíritus, Ciego de Avila)

Eastern Cuba (Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Guantánamo)

3: Jamaica

Jamaica is a caribbean country where prostitution is illegal but widely tolerated and is a frequent choice for sex tourism. Female prostitutes solicit from their homes or join customers in their hotel rooms or private homes. A number of prostitutes dance in adult night clubs and a percentage of them are from other countries. These imported prostitutes work in the more sophisticated night clubs in Kingston, which cater mainly to tourists, foreign workers, diplomats and affluent locals. Other clubs have mostly local prostitutes, some of whom have regular day jobs.

Massage parlors in Jamaica sometimes operate as fronts for brothels. These are well advertised in local pornographic magazines and in official newspapers.

Gay prostitutes can be found working in hotels as entertainment coordinators. Blatant male prostitution is rare, since the homophobic nature of the country makes male prostitutes generally conduct their business in more subtle ways. Still, some male prostitutes have been seen soliciting in the streets.

In the tourist areas of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, prostitutes, and other citizens, sometimes solicit themselves in the hopes of gaining a connection via their client, with whom they will later travel to a developed country. Sexual favors are often the result and money will be exchanged. Some of these result in long-term relationships.

Areas frequented:

Cornwall County: the western region consisting of the parishes of Hanover, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Trelawny and Westmoreland.
Middlesex County: the central region consisting of the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine and Saint Mary.
Surrey County: the eastern region consisting of the parishes of Kingston, Portland, Saint Andrew and Saint Thomas.

4: Barbados

Prostitution is illegal in Barbados, but brothels with women from Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean islands operate in the country.

Barbados, like many other Caribbean nations, is a major stop over for girls traveling from South American and Caribbean nations to Canada, the USA, and Europe. Barbados is also a destination country for women from Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations, and thus a place for sex tourism . Most will come to Barbados to work in strip clubs and brothels.

Red Light Districts

Barbados’ Red-light district is located at Nelson street.  Almost 50 percent of sex workers in Barbados are Guyanese. There are also some street prostitutes around The Garrison at night after 9 p.m., as well as at Club Rolexx.