News Americas, New York, NY, November 15, 2024: Caribbean immigrant author and lecturer, Elizabeth Nunez, whose works masterfully explored themes of family, colonialism’s lingering effects, and the immigrant experience, has died. According to the New York Times, she passed away at her home in Brooklyn. She was 80. Her son, Jason Harrell, told the Times the cause was complications from a stroke.

Trinidad-and-Tobago born author Elizabeth Nunez is dead at 80.

Dr. Nunez was celebrated for her ability to weave the complexities of identity, belonging, and history into her novels, often with sharp commentary on American academia and the New York publishing world.

A Life Rooted in Stories and Scholarship

Born on February 18, 1944, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Nunez grew up in a prominent family of Portuguese and African descent. Raised under the British colonial education system, she developed an early love for literature, devouring works by English authors like Enid Blyton and Jane Austen. This literary upbringing shaped her identity, even as she sought to move beyond the Eurocentric narratives of her childhood.

Her first novel, When Rocks Dance (1986), marked the beginning of her literary journey. Initially planning to write about a modern academic in America, she instead delved into the historical and cultural tensions of her Trinidadian heritage.

Exploring Identity and Belonging

Dr. Nunez’s novels often reflected her personal journey as a Trinidadian navigating life in the United States. Beyond the Limbo Silence (1998) mirrored her own experience as a young student attending a small Catholic college in Wisconsin, where she confronted her ignorance of Caribbean history and colonialism’s harsh truths.

In Grace (2003), she portrayed the challenges of a Caribbean-born professor in Brooklyn, reflecting her own career at Medgar Evers College, where she encountered tensions with Black American colleagues.

Her critically acclaimed Prospero’s Daughter (2006) reimagined Shakespeare’s The Tempest in a Trinidadian setting, grappling with themes of xenophobia, power, and cultural clash.

Academic and Literary Contributions

Dr. Nunez earned her Ph.D. in literature from New York University and held leadership roles at Medgar Evers College, including chair of the English department and provost. She later joined Hunter College as a distinguished professor of English, retiring earlier this year.

A tireless advocate for Black literature, she co-founded the National Black Writers Conference, directing it for over a decade.

Despite her deep connection to the Caribbean, Dr. Nunez resisted being boxed in as a “Caribbean writer,” emphasizing her broader literary contributions. “I don’t mind being classified as a Caribbean writer,” she told The Miami Herald in 2006, “as long as it’s a subcategory in literary fiction.”

Legacy

Nunez authored 11 novels, including Now Lila Knows (2022). Her memoir, Not for Everyday Use (2014), offered a poignant look at her upbringing and the intricate relationships within her family.

She is survived by her son, Jason Harrell; 10 siblings; and two granddaughters.

Nunez leaves behind a literary legacy that transcends borders, championing stories that resonate with the complexities of identity, history, and the human spirit.

News Americas, New York, NY, Sun. Nov. 10, 2024: Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, (TPC), today announcedthe dismissal of Prime Minister Garry Conille, a decision anticipated to heighten the ongoing political and socio-economic tensions in the CARICOM nation.

Prime Minister of Haiti Garry Conille, seen here with President of Kenya William Ruto (unseen) at the State House in Nairobi on October 11, 2024, was sacked on Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images)

The decree, signed by TPC leader Leslie Voltaire, marks Conille’s removal just 6 months after he was appointed in May and sworn in in June following the resignation of former Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry.

The decree, which international media reports indicate will be published Monday, appoints businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime as Conille’s successor. However, political analysts note that only the Haitian Parliament has constitutional authority to dismiss a prime minister, creating controversy around the TPC’s decision in the absence of a functioning Parliament. Former Justice Minister Bernard Gousse described the move as “illegal,” alleging that the council overstepped its powers amid lingering allegations of corruption.

Just a day prior, Conille addressed a TPC-organized forum focused on advancing Haiti’s electoral process, where he stressed the need for collaboration among political figures to enable a peaceful transition of power by February 7, 2026. “The Haitian people expect us to fight and succeed on their behalf,” Conille said, affirming that close to half of the funding for the referendum and electoral process is secured, with the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) and the National Conference on Constitutional Reform poised to oversee these initiatives.

Conille emphasized Haiti’s need for “new governance” by 2026 and discussed substantial progress on the transitional projects, including establishing the CEP and securing funds for critical phases of the national conference, slated to launch officially on November 12, 2024. “Despite the crisis, we are committed to the election process,” he stated, urging political leaders to support constitutional reforms and voter mobilization.

This development follows recent CARICOM-led discussions aimed at reducing tensions between the TPC and the interim government. The regional organization previously expressed concerns about the rift between Voltaire and Conille, warning that the discord threatened the spirit of the transitional agreement signed earlier this year.

In a recent broadcast, Voltaire reviewed Haiti’s progress during the transition period, discussing key issues like security, judicial reform, public finance management, and constitutional reform preparations. Tensions reportedly escalated following Conille’s resistance to a requested cabinet reshuffle that sought to replace several ministers.

The TPC’s latest decision underscores ongoing challenges in Haiti’s transitional process, as CARICOM, through its Eminent Persons Group chaired by former St. Lucia Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, continues its engagement to support Haitian-led governance and preparations for free elections.

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Nov. 6, 2024: Caribbean immigrant voters who began Tuesday with hopes for a win by U.S. Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris are now grappling with shock, fear, and disbelief at the return to power of convicted felon and former President Donald Trump.

Despondent Kamala Harris supportes at Howard University on November 6, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The shock is compounded by the realization that Trump’s victory was powered not only by an overwhelmingly White voting base but also by unexpected support from Black, Latino, and Asian voters. Trump secured 292 electoral votes, boosted by 12 percent of the Black vote, 45 percent of the Latino vote, and 39 percent of the Asian vote, according to exit polls. Additionally, 55 percent of voters identifying as “other” races reportedly cast ballots for him—a result that surprised many analysts.

This diverse backing came despite the historic candidacy of Harris, a Black and South Asian woman with Jamaican roots, on the Democratic ticket.

A Harris supporter reacts to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Antigua-born, U.S. citizen, and political thought leader Dr. Isaac Newton had predicted a Harris win when News Americas spoke with him last week. Still reeling from the result, Newton said: “This election outcome isn’t primarily about Trump as an individual, but about what he represents. His speeches, personality, and defiance—even his dramatic rejection of the 2020 election results—resonate with millions. In Trump, many see a reflection of their own bold, unapologetic, and fiercely individualistic identity. He’s not simply tolerated; he’s embraced because he aligns with a core American essence. Trump flourishes in America because he’s not an outsider; he embodies the values, identity, and spirit that take root in American soil. His win isn’t just about who he is; it’s about what many Americans see in themselves.”

Harris supporters react to election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Jamaican-born Irwine Clare, OD, head of Caribbean Immigrant Services and Team Jamaica Bickle, was also hopeful for a Harris victory. Today, he remarked that the election results signify how the U.S. has “normalized racism and misogyny,” cautioning that Trump’s supporters, including Black, Latino, and Asian voters, should be prepared for the practical consequences.

He warned that elections have consequences and that the supporters of Trump, including Blacks, Latinos and Asians and immigrant voters, must now be “prepared for what this means practically.”

British-born, Jamaican journalist Barrington Salmon, who had anticipated a Harris win, expressed disappointment. “America died on Nov 5th,” said Salmon. “Killed by racial hatred and grievance, misplaced anger and fear of whites becoming a minority. The idea that a felon who orchestrated a coup, walked off with secret documents, and engaged in behavior that would have disqualified any other person is now poised to become the 47th president of the United States boggles the mind. This was America at its most racist and misogynistic. Harris’ sex, race, and immigrant roots doomed her bid because America has a deep hatred for women, and the mainstream has no use for Black and brown people.”

Salmon also highlighted a major concern: the likely implementation of Project 2025, noting, “Trump says he will detain and deport millions of undocumented and legal immigrants, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, and slash Medicare and Social Security. I expect that he will sign a national abortion ban that will extend the suffering and deaths of women and girls.”

Guyanese-American and mental health advocate Annan Boodram also expressed shock, telling News Americas: “Trump’s second victory will empower more Americans to reveal their true character, described by Socrates as ‘a lawless and beastly nature.’ America has changed, and Trumpism will be here long after you, me, and Trump are gone. America can no longer talk about democratic principles, morality, ethnic brotherhood, or the family of humanity.”

Jamaican immigrant Clement Humes, host of Groovin’ Radio and a strong Harris supporter, struggled to process the outcome. “This must be a bad dream—a convicted felon and woman molester was just elected president, after everything he has said about Latinos, Haitians, women, African Americans, and other groups,” said Humes. “Many American voters looked right past all of this and voted for a madman. Mass deportation, changes to birthright citizenship, and denaturalization—all this is nothing to his supporters, and racism is clear here, turning back America some 200 years. This is sad, to say the least.”

Trinidad-and-Tobago-born Coral Sherman, a U.S. voter, shared similar dismay. “Donald Trump won by activating a cult of voters who chose his racism, misogyny, and xenophobia over democracy,” she said. “He also received overwhelming support from the church because of his stance on abortion, even though his actions are far from godly. It was also unfortunate that the Muslim population did not vote for Harris because she didn’t take a strong stance on a ceasefire in the Middle East, but they are in for a rude awakening with Trump at the helm.”

Throughout his campaign, Trump maintained a history of inflammatory rhetoric, referring to immigrants as “animals” and “vermin” and suggesting they were “poisoning the blood” of America. He made unsubstantiated claims that Haitian refugees in Ohio were eating pets. At a Madison Square Garden rally, compared by some to historical nationalist gatherings, a comedian mocked Puerto Ricans, Latinos, Black Americans, Jews, and Palestinians. Another speaker urged a “return to true Americans,” stirring further controversy.

Trump’s rhetoric resonates with close allies like former advisor Stephen Miller, who stated, “America is for Americans and Americans only.” Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked Harris’ background and intelligence, calling her a “Samoan Malaysian” with a “low IQ”—a claim parroted by Trump. Businessman Grant Cardone directed sexist and racist remarks at Harris, falsely accusing her of associations with “pimp handlers.”

In contrast, Biden’s administration achieved economic gains for Black Americans. Black unemployment, homeownership, and labor force participation rates improved, while inflation-adjusted take-home pay increased. The uninsured rate among Black Americans reached a historic low.

Despite these advancements, a segment of Black evangelical voters and congregations endorsed Trump, seeing him as the preferred candidate. This shift underscores the complexity of voter allegiances, even in the face of widely perceived divisive policies and rhetoric. The nation now watches to see if Trump will enact Project 2025, a plan that may impact the very base that helped secure his return.