Small island developing states are especially vulnerable to external economic and environmental shocks. At the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Samoa, 1-4 September, the Commonwealth is partnering with the United Nations, governments and international organisations to help build the resilience of these countries. Khadija Holder, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad …

SIDS 2014: "Social development in Small Island Developing States" Read More »

One might think that oil prices indicate the number of job opportunities in that field, but as Shastri Sookdeo, 27, a Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam explains, the relationship between prices and jobs is not linear. The job market is, like every other market, affected by the laws of supply and demand. When …

“Prices don’t affect new jobs in oil industry” Read More »

Food brings comfort, and comfort foods have strong connection to personal history. Shastri Sookdeo, 27, a Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam, describes his favourite comfort food and its links to his travels. Food is usually linked to memory. This isn’t an original idea and to many people the food that I’ve chosen is …

“In praise of comfort food – in praise of dosa” Read More »

Rome is a cliche, but in a good way, writes Shastri Sookdeo, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam. He has praise for the city’s food, architecture and sense of life. Rome is a cliché. Usually that isn’t a good thing, but when the cliché is that a city is cool, full …

“Rome deserves cliche status – in the positive” Read More »

As the residents of tiny Tobago consider more legislative autonomy, Latoyaa Roberts-Thomas, 29, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago, looks at the practical and legal implications. The island of Tobago, with a population of approximately 60,000 persons, has a unique political arrangement with its counterpart, Trinidad, within in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. …

“Tobago’s quest for internal self-government” Read More »

As the popularity of English as a second language rises, Shastri Sookdeo, 28, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam, looks at the effect on the incentive for native English speakers to become bilingual. The number of people that have learnt English as a second language has always amazed me. In the East …

“Perspective of a native English speaker” Read More »

Pack your bags, get ready to go. Shastri Sookdeo, 28, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam, takes you on a culinary journey to explore the best elements that Swiss cuisine has to offer.   Rösti is considered to be the national dish of Switzerland. It’s a dish which has a lot of similarities …

“Come and explore Switzerland through food” Read More »

Everyone’s an advocate until it requires them to actually practice what they preach. writes Ashlee Burnett, 20, a Correspondent from Couva in Trinidad, as she examines consent in the context of Carnival. Everyone’s an activist until it requires them to act on everything they preach against. In 2017, women’s rights were celebrated; her right to say …

“#ConsentIsIn, including at Carnival” Read More »

Examining the myths behind epilepsy takes on a personal meaning for Ashlee Burnett, 20, a Correspondent from Couva in Trinidad. We were introduced to each other when I was 16 years old. Before that, I heard it in a dance hall song, ““Hold mi like yuh really, really, really, really miss me Baby, yuh move …

“Epilepsy awareness with the colour purple” Read More »