The “Authentic Voice” Of The Caribbean Community Comes of Age
A CARIBBEAN TIMES NEWS FRONT PAGE EDITORIAL
July is the month of our anniversary. We want to thank our supporters, our advertisers and an amazing editorial team for making this journey possible. Caribbean Times News was born out of the need for objective and balanced news and representation of the growing and dynamic Caribbean immigrant community in New York City. Our approach from day one was to showcase and highlight the best that this community has to offer and to promote “Caribbean issues” in the Diaspora. And, yes, we sometimes have to report painful episodes and happenings in the community so that we maintain and strike and objective unbiased news and information protocol.
In this context we’ve reported on the devastating effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic both here, in the Caribbean immigrant community, and “back home:” in the region. We’ve also had to inform the community about the negative effects on the small business community – a community that we rely on for its financial support – that have transformed many historical neighborhoods. But we’re grateful that even in these difficult times our resilient small businesses stuck with us and help us ride out this turbulent period.
Today, as we celebrate another milestone in a space that sees an average of two local newspapers close their doors for good every day, we acknowledge how fortunate we are, and the incredible opportunity that we have embraced to continue to serve our community that is now slowly bouncing back. We also note that the Caribbean region is looking forward to the future with some level of optimism and confidence after the pain wrought by the COVID-19 Pandemic that wreaked havoc on the key tourism industry. We welcome and support the efforts of regional governments in their rebuilding efforts.
Here in New York City, we’re also optimistic about the future, especially since the election of Mayor Eric Adams, an African-American leader long aligned with and sympathetic to the issues and challenges that bedevil the Caribbean Immigrant community. And we applaud the many Caribbean-Americans who now serve in the New York City Council – especially a number of Haitian-American women – since this represents the empowerment and “coming of age” of the community. Caribbean Times News stands ready to help in the process of growth and development as we rebuild, recover and energize our community.
We understand and recognize that there will be many challenges along the way, not least of all those faced by small, local newspapers like ours, especially in a digital age. But that does not mean we’re about to become irrelevant or nonconsequential. Far from it. Our mission is a sacred one – Caribbean Times News is the “sword and shield” of the Caribbean immigrant community. We’re its authentic voice in the midst of other voices purporting to speak for us. The road ahead will be tough and hard; there will be good days and bad ones. But we’ve stayed the course and survived – and thrived – this long while facing herculean odds. That is testimony to the indomitable Caribbean “no problem” spirit.
Again, we want to thank all our advertisers for their continued support and acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the incredible editorial team that produces Caribbean Times News so that we continue to educate, inform, and entertain our community.
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