Category Archives: Caribbean

Traeth Bach, Ceredigion

This is a beautiful beach, about two miles south of Llangrannog on the Ceredigion coast. The walk from the car park at Traeth Penbryn, along the Ceredigion coastal path, is a glorious day out in itself, and once down on the beach you will rarely have company, so there is peace and quiet to enjoy the scene. Keep an eye out for birds, as the cliffs are home to many. The water is usually calm and perfect for swimming, and if youre lucky you can see the dolphins further out. Ieuan, energy data analyst, Cardiff

As a child, I lived minutes away from this beach so it holds many memories. I would spend hours roaming the sand dunes, avoiding dead sheep that had wandered off the cliff at night and been washed ashore. When I was nine, I cycled off the bridge by the beach mouth, landing in a clump of nettles. It was the location of many family barbecues, freezing swims and the last walk I did with my father before he died. This beach will always be incredibly special to me. Jenny Duarte, teacher and psychotherapist, Bushmills, Northern Ireland

This has to be one of the most pristine, spectacular beaches in the UK. Luskentyre sands on Harris may get all the plaudits, but Scarista is the (relatively) lesser explored rival. My husband and I often holiday at Scarista House where you can glimpse the beach beyond the dunes from our room. The lack of parking and signage makes a trip there a wonderful, solitary experience. In the right light, the sand has hues of pink, lapped by aquamarine waves into green and inky blue. Sunsets are spectacular, too. David McMullan pharmacist, Bridge of Allan

This is probably the most secluded beach in south-east England. It is more than half an hour from the nearest road, through some of the most stunning countryside in the region. The approach, whether through the waterfall, streams and fern-covered gullies of the glen or the sandstone cliffs of the Hastings country park, gives the beach an exotic character that feels a million miles away from the crowded beaches further west in Sussex. It is worth going at low tide when the beach has a wide stretch of sand and you can walk back into Hastings under the cliffs, spot fossils and feel like you are on a 1980s Doctor Who-style alien planet. Stefan Noble, researcher, Hastings

The middle of this beach, outside the hotel, gets really busy but the far right and left corners of the beach are always quiet. We visited at the end of June and were one of five small families spread out. Its our favourite because its a white, sandy beach, the water is clear, the current isnt too strong, the backdrop of the cliffs is stunning and you feel like youre in an oasis. It doesnt feel like youre in England at all and to be able to compare it with beaches in Florida and South America is just mindblowing. Aj Ellahi, property developer, Nottinghamshire

Although there are many hidden and lesser known beaches in Cornwall, going back home to the beautiful sandy beach at Dornoch always feels special. The walk through the sand dunes opens on to a lovely, quiet spot which holds many fun childhood memories for me. Victoria Allan, strategic commissioning manager in adult social care, Cornwall

The sea doesnt go out too far here, so its great for swimming at low or high tide. There is soft, pale sand on a wide beach and deep dunes behind, and its never busy, so always peaceful for walks. There are also clean toilets, a large car park, and a nice Airstream cafe. Its dog-friendly and great for wildlife, with a large year-round population of seals that pup on the beach in winter and terns that breed in spring. Sue Charles, life science communications consultant, Norwich

Driving down the narrow winding lane from Aberffraw, on the west coast of Anglesey, you catch sight of Yr Eglwys yn y mr the church in the sea whitewashed and gleaming in the sunlight. St Cwyfans church originally stood on a peninsula but erosion has left it on an island, and with sturdy shoes, it is accessible at low tide. I love this place and the Celtic feel of it. My four-year-old grandson, Hamish, likes it too as he can build sandcastles and potter about in the rock pools. Dilwyn Griffiths, trade union officer, Llangefni, Ynys Mn, Anglesey

We have just returned from Shetland. The weather, unlike the rest of the UK, was glorious. We happened upon this immaculate, white sand bay at Sumburgh Head on a clear, hot, sunny day when the sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue and the sea a deep shade of azure. It was hard to believe we werent in the Caribbean. Across the road lies Sumburgh airport and while the sound of helicopters and planes coming and going was hard to ignore, there was nothing else to disturb the tranquillity of the beach, which we had almost to ourselves. We walked up to the top of the head to the lighthouse and were treated to a wonderful show of puffins. Perfect! Jane Deans, writer and blogger, Christchurch, Dorset

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Its just like the Caribbean: readers on eight beautiful, tranquil British beaches - The Guardian

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FOLEY Celebrate the island life at OWA with a festival paying respects to Caribbean heritage and culture. The 2nd Annual Caribbean Day will feature a live art competition, music, vendors, drum clinics, stilt walkers and kids activities. This free event will take place from 4 - 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 in Downtown OWA.

Live music from Dex Daley and JAM-X will play on the OWA Island Stage from 4 - 6:30 p.m. Grab a seat on the OWA Island Amphitheater, and enjoy their unique blend of reggae, ska and Caribbean roots music featuring steel drums. The Defrosters will close out the live music for the evening, playing from 8:30 - 10 p.m.

Calling all vendors! OWA is looking for arts & crafts vendors to join in on the fun. Arts & crafts vendor spaces are only $30, and vendors are encouraged to apply. Applications are accepted through July 23.

A highlight of the event is the live sidewalk chalk art competition. Categories include both Pro and Youth, and OWA will give away cash prizes for the top three picks in each division. Interested artists may submit their artwork as an application. Artwork submissions will be accepted through July 28.

Guests can mingle their way through the many activities set up throughout Downtown OWA. Kids activities will include hair braiding, pineapple bowling, a hula hoop contest, sand art, and a photo wall! Complimentary brewed Mango Tango or Blue Raspberry Crush tea will be available while supplies last between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. at The Spice & Tea Exchange.

Downtown OWA is the destination for everyones shopping, dining, and entertainment needs! For more information on this growing event and to learn more about other new Downtown additions like Gravity Island Watersports, Rum Island, or El Diablo, head to VisitOWA.com.

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OWA Announces 2nd Annual Caribbean Day on Saturday, Aug. 7 - Gulf Coast News Today

Cruising has returned to Antigua and Barbuda.

The first cruise ship to return to the destination was Windstar Cruises Sea Breeze, which called on St Johns this week.

The ship was welcomed with a water cannon salute in St Johns harbor, the booming of tugboat horns and steel pan performances by the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra.

Today is truly an exciting day for Antigua and Barbudas cruise industry. It is one that we have been working hard towards with our Health Authorities and International Cruise lines to ensure that we restart in a safe and sustainable manner to the benefit of all stakeholders, said Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez.Its also one that has been looked forward to with anticipation by the scores of businesses and hundreds of our countrymen who depend on this industry for their livelihoods.

The return comes as the island has mounted a successful vaccination program, with 37,000 people in Antiguas adult population vaccinated, and cases at an all-time low.

Nothing could have given me greater joy today than the sight of the Star Breeze pulling into the port! We are absolutely thrilled to welcome this fabulous yacht-style cruise ship and its passengers and crew to Antigua and Brbuda, said Dona Regis-Prosper, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port. In recent weeks, we have been in many discussions with the Windstar Cruises team and the government to determine how to make this trip, and voyages to come, as safe and successful as possible for everyone involved.

All crew and passengers on Star Breeze are fully vaccinated.

More than 60 passengers disembarked from the boutique ship to enjoy the destination.

CJ

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Cruising Returns to Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

07/13/2021

With a population just north of 71,000, the Caribbean island country of Dominica (J7) boasts a modest but active ham radio population. Given Dominicas vulnerability to hurricanes, the ham radio emphasis often focuses on emergency communication support. In 2017, after Hurricane Maria hit the tiny island, ham radio filled a huge telecommunications gap. Now the countrys telecommunications regulator is asking hams to help formulate new amateur radio guidelines and standards. Dominicas National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) collected comments until July 12 from radio amateurs participating in a consultation (what the US FCC would call a proceeding) that could lead to a formal and better-documented set of rules and regulations.

There is limited guidance for those who seek to utilize the telecommunications media for their own personal use, enjoyment, and fulfilment as hobby, as in the case of amateur radio, the NTRC said in the consultation document. Generally, [amateur radio] is self-regulating, and so the involvement of the telecommunications regulator is minimized. Though the amateur radio clubs generally do their best to provide some level of guidance and support to existing and prospective operators, there is great need for a formal and comprehensive set of guidelines and standards for the operation of Amateur Radio Services in Dominica.

Resources used in developing the draft proposals included ARRL, the FCCs Part 97 amateur radio rules, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

A primary source for this document was the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 47, Part 97), due to its comprehensiveness and its informal adoption in certain parts by the local amateur radio fraternity, the NTRC said. Specific ARRL resources included The ARRL FCC Rule Book; The ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs, and The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications. The regulators also looked at Canadas and Australias amateur radio rules. The proposals would provide for three license classes Novice, General, and Advanced as well as the licensing procedures for each.

The NTRC held a public meeting via Zoom in mid-June to highlight and clarify important issues regarding the consultation. NTRC personnel later met with amateur radio club representatives at the NTRCs office. Under Telecommunications Act No. 8 of 2000 and its associated regulations, the NTRC oversees compliance with all telecommunication rules in Dominica, including amateur radio. The NTRC also manages amateur radio spectrum.

Following the initial comment period, the NTRC will review the comments and subsequently submit the Revised Draft Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards document for the comments on the initial comments received. The NTRC will also review these comments and finalize the policy document, taking all views into consideration, to adopt and publish the Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards document.

Brian J. Machesney, K1LI/J7Y, a frequent visitor to Dominica, has provided considerable guidance and assistance to the amateur radio community in Dominica, especially in the area of emergency and disaster communication. He characterized the NTRC proposals as a comprehensive documentation of the common-sense practices that have traditionally been followed, with some notable additions.

See more here:

Young Caribbean Nation Formalizing Amateur Radio Guidelines and Standards - ARRL

Carnival Cruise Line will allow its fully-vaccinated crew members to go out in ports and homeports, as long as the authorities permit shore leave access. This was reported by Crew Center who cite their crew sources within Carnival.

There will also be no need for crew to stay in reserved areas or attend organized shore excursions, according to Crew Center. In terms of exiting in ports the ships are visiting, crew members will reportedly have the same rights as guests.

According to Crew Centers information, the crew will be allowed shore leave in U.S. ports after the first month of the return of the ship in service, which for Carnival team members means from the beginning of August.

We are expecting to receive our i95s to get out in Miami by the end of July, one Carnival crew member told Crew Center.

If achieved, Carnival team members will be the first crew to disembark the ships in U.S. ports for a short shore leave since March 2020 after the CDC issued No Sail Order on all cruise ships sailing out of the United States. The crew will have a chance to visit some of their favorite places again and contribute to the U.S. economy by spending money onshore.

Four Carnival ships are scheduled for a restart from the U.S. in July, with the Carnival Vista already setting sail on July 3 from Galveston. The Carnival Breeze will resume operations from the same port on July 15, and the Carnival Horizon from Miami. The Carnival Miracle will start sailing to Alaska from Seattle.

The rest is here:

Carnival To Allow Crew Shore Leave in U.S. and Caribbean Ports - Cruise Industry News

Free Charity Concert featuring Kevin Lyttle, Mikaben and the Tennors to benefitSt. Vincent & the Grenadines Volcano Relief

MIRAMAR, FL (Monday, June 14, 2021)- The City of Miramar today announced details of an Island-Hopping Experience that will take place at Shirley Branca Park located at 6900 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023 on Saturday, June 19, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The event is part of the Citys month-long celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month which kicked off June 1, 2021. Guests will be able to make their way around the park, which will feature a Caribbean showcase from various islands, while enjoying art, culture, and entertainment from their favorite island.

Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers will host the event and is partnering with Smiley Girl Entertainment and the SAEDINTRA Foundation to facilitate a free concert benefitting the victims of the La Soufrire Volcano eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which took place earlier this year. The eruption forced upwards of 16,000 people to evacuate while leaving the entire population without clean drinking water. A donation drive will be held at the event to collect non-perishable and essential items such as water, canned food, and toiletries.

St. Vincents Kevin Lyttle will headline the concert event, which will also feature performances by Haitis Mikaben and the Tennors from Jamaica.

Commissioner Chambers stated, This is going to be an unforgettable experience and a great opportunity to bring out the entire family to have some fun while supporting a great cause. Guests will also be able to conveniently get the COVID-19 vaccine on-site at the park while they safely enjoy the sights and sounds of the Caribbean. Dont forget to bring your flags and represent your country!

The Island-Hopping Experience is free to the public with registration available at http://www.IslandHoppingExperience.Eventbrite.com. Food, drinks, and Caribbean products will be available for sale.

For more information on events taking place in the City of Miramar to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, visit http://www.MiramarFL.gov/CAHM.

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Island-hopping experience in the heart of Miramar to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage month - Miami's Community Newspapers

Saba, the Dutch Caribbean island known as the "unspoiled queen," southwest of St. Maarten, got some good news last month following its border reopening on May 1 and the lifting of quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers.

The U.S. State Department designated Saba a Level 1 destination, with the recommendation that travelers "exercise normal precautions." The levels go from one to four; the highest level advises against all travel to a specific country.

More than 85% of Saba's adult population is vaccinated. With increased airlift on SXM Airways from St. Maarten and Winair's new schedule of two flights a day via St. Maarten, the tiny, five-square-mile island is ready for visitors to explore new hiking trails and dive sites.

The island meanwhile appointed Malinda Hassell the director of tourism. Her role will officially begin in August, when the current director, Glenn Holm, retires following a 46-year tenure with the government.

Hassell, born and raised in the islands, takes up her post after serving as marketing manager at Tourism Corp. Bonaire, communications manager at the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association and destination marketing manager at the Discover Dominica Authority.

"I look forward to contributing towards the success of Saba's sustainable tourism development, particularly during this post-Covid economic and industry recovery period," Hassell said

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Good news for tourism on the Caribbean island of Saba - Travel Weekly

Since the COVID-19 pandemic first began nearly two years ago, it exposed sharp disparities related to poverty, access to healthcare, and overall quality of life that one time left Black Americans more than three times more likely to die from the virus.

"We carry a higher burden of chronic disease that predisposes us to the more serious complications of coronavirus," Uch Blackstock, a physician who works in Brooklyn told the Washington post. "We don't have access to care and if we do it's likely that care is of worst quality because they are often termed minority-serving."

While part of the larger contingent of Black Americans, for many Caribbean American communities in the US, their unique impact But for many, the unique

A New York City Health Department map showing the virus' early spread confirmed neighborhoods with a high concentration of Caribbean-Americans in the city's Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx boroughs were among the areas most affected by COVID-19.

Now, as states reopen and communities are tasked with rebuilding, Caribbean diasporas across the country told Insider their unity behind their shared cultural identity is key to their sociopolitical, health, economic recovery.

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Black people hold many of the jobs in the taxi service industry, the foodservice industry, as well as the hotel industry. Many immigrants, including Caribbean immigrants, also work in the healthcare industry the very frontline workers that have been caring for the nation during the pandemic.

A report from the Migration Policy Institute also shows that more than 2.6 million immigrants were employed as healthcare workers as of 2018. They account for 18% of healthcare workers in the US.

That meant when the public was asked to stay at home to flatten the curve, it was immigrant communities and Black and brown Americans who largely kept the country running.

But advocates note that in polling and surveys, Caribbean Americans are often lumped together with African Americans and that can make it difficult to campaign for their unique needs as a community culturally, politically, and economically.

In 2020, the US Census Bureau released a new questionnaire that included the option for people to note their country of origin, which will help differentiate Caribbean Americans from African Americans.

"Twenty percent of New York, New Yorkers are of Caribbean descent so it's very important that we're seen," Shelley Worrell the founder and chief curator of caribBeing, told NY1.

The cultural advocacy group cautioned that impact came at a cost to the community as the coronavirus spread.

As evictions skyrocketed and joblessness grew, Worrell jumped into gear serving hot meals to frontline workers at two hospitals, including facilities that primarily serve the city's Caribbean population in Brooklyn.

Many Black-owned businesses, already severely impacted by disparities in access to federal aid, were forced to close altogether or struggled to stay afloat. Among those, Worrell focused efforts on the Caribbean business community federal and state aid can overlook.

caribBeing's directory of Caribbean businesses then served as a one-stop-shop to support local businesses right as a public campaign to support Black-owned businesses gained steam following the killing of George Floyd in June.

"We were able to really try to amplify the Caribbean businesses in our neighborhoods to drive traffic and media attention to the community," Worrell said.

In South Florida, where the Caribbean diaspora is 21%, drawing attention to community resources was just as much a public health and cultural necessity as an economic one.

Black Americans, including Caribbean Americans, are familiar with the country's history of medical exploitation which leaves room for misinformation to propagate.

With misinformation about the coronavirus and the vaccine has been spreading in the community, Miami-based attorney Marlon Hill focused primarily on ensuring the people are efficiently educated about what's happening throughout the pandemic, as well as facilitating mental health and wellness of the community.

"With the assistance of the Caribbean medical professional community, we have conducted a number of webinars to dispel myths about COVID-19 vaccines and the ongoing pandemic," he told Insider in an email.

But Hill told Insider keeping the community culturally connect is as vital as medically informed. South Florida's annual Caribbean carnival was cancelled last October, putting the final nail in the coffin of a festival tourism season that begins with Trinidad and Tobago's pre-Lenten celebration in February.

Last year's masquerade of colorful costumes in the twin-island Republic is one of few the region, and its diaspora in the US and elsewhere, have seen ever since - devastating a thriving tourism and cultural entertainment scene.

"Their intention was to relieve the minds of the people," she said. "Just using the music to entertain people. We know they're human, but we also [got to] see that side of them."

Similar to D-Nice's Club Quarantine sessions during the pandemic, DJs including Brooklyn-based Kevin Crown and Tony Matterhorn of Jamaica played live music sets designed to virtually recreate the high-energy fetes that can draw thousands of patrons.

Over time, his shows garnered as many as 5000 viewers per show. Crown told Insider that those music sessions started to help fans, as well as himself.

"I even lost my uncle to COVID so it was just a lot of anxiety every day and as much as [my music] helped people, it helped me cope and gave me a purpose," he said, at the time receiving messages from fans that his performance kept them from the brink."

Advocates say the tireless work to keep the diaspora together during a time of global suffering will only ramp up as states re-open.

Following a pandemic, and racial unrest that saw communities of color targeted, Hill cautioned for political leaders to mitigate some of the socioeconomic and healthcare issues in the community by meeting the community where they are.

"Be more proactive in sharing these messages in a vernacular that the community can understand and also see," he said. "Be more proactive in speaking in our language and in our culture."

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The pandemic hit Caribbean American communities hard. How the diaspora is rallying around covid recovery - Business Insider

By Alberto Brunori

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. July 7, 2021: People in the Caribbean face some of the highest levels of violence in the world. Of the 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries surveyed in 2020 by the independent think-tank Insight crime, three Caribbean countries ranked in the top-six with most violence. Jamaica tops the list with the highest numbers of murders (46.5) per 100 000 inhabitants, with Trinidad & Tobago (28.2) and Belize (24.3) ranking respectively as the fourth and sixth.

The Caribbean region is in fact particularly exposed to the presence of organized crime groups, which contributes in part to high violence levels. While Caribbean countries are not the only ones facing this threat, the characteristics of Small Island Development States (SIDS) pose specific challenges in implementing effective responses. High crime rates impact the lives of everyone. However, women, ethnic minorities, migrants, young men, and people living in poverty are amongst those most at risk of falling victims to human rights violations stemming from insecurity.

Unfortunately, a strictly security-focused approach to the problem continues to be the norm. This includes at times an emphasis on so-called Anti-Gang legislation, the extended use of state of emergencies or harsher punishments, including the death penalty, which remains on the books in several countries. As regularly pointed out by UN Human Rights treaty bodies, these measures increase the risk of human rights violations, such as extra-judicial or arbitrary killings, unnecessary or excessive use of force by security forces or unlawful or arbitrary arrests and detention.

A security-focused approach has proved to be ineffective in preventing crime, costly for governments and increases mistrust between communities and government institutions, including in security forces. Instead of combating the symptoms, a human rights-based shift is urgently needed to tackle the underlying root causes.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it is essential to prioritize resources to social protection, health and education systems and employment to curb discrimination, social exclusion, and inequality, which all remain key drivers for crime and social conflicts

Reforms towards strengthening an independent, impartial and efficient judiciary improve access to justice for all and are fundamental to counter impunity and reoccurrence. This includes strengthening capacities of the judiciary and ensuring effective investigations, prosecution and victim-centred punishment of perpetrators in compliance with judicial guarantees of defendants.

Supporting access to justice for victims is key, such as by countering discrimination, promoting legal aid programmes and awareness raising campaigns. As Caribbean countries continue to present some of the highest levels of sexual and gender-based violence in the Americas, there is a particular need to step up efforts to promote access to justice for victims, especially women and girls, strengthen protection mechanisms, protocols and capacities within the police and judiciary to ensure a gender-sensitive approach.

Investment in human rights compliant policy-, training- and accountability frameworks of security forces. Security forces play an important role in countering crime, but they require detailed internal guidance that is compliant with international human rights standards. One good example in the region is the Caribbean Human Rights and Use of Force Model Policy, which, if adopted by governments and security forces, would significantly strengthen internal guidelines in relation to use of force and human rights.

International experience shows that governments must support security forces with sufficient resources to ensure training and internal oversight, but also avoid political interference in day-to-day-activities. Security forces need to be held accountable for any unlawful or arbitrary actions. This would translate into operational independence, establishing trust with communities and, most importantly, countering crime. Finally, it is important to strengthen rights of members of security force who often put their lives on the line to protect rights of others.

Strengthening rehabilitation and community reintegration of offenders. Harsher prison sentences, overcrowding and dire prison conditions do not deter crime. On the contrary, such measures contribute to re-occurrence and therewith feed into the cycle of violence. Humane custodial measures accompanied by the better use of alternatives of imprisonment and a focus on rehabilitation will reduce crime. As part of community-based interventions religious leaders and the private sector can be important actors of change in preventing stigmatization and supporting reintegration, especially of juvenile offenders.

Ensuring that human rights are protected today contributes to the prevention of violations and possible violence tomorrow. Making the shift to a human rights-based approach to crime prevention doesnt require reinvention of the wheel. As the leading UN entity on human rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been supporting countries across the world, including in the Caribbean, to tackle many of these issues.

This includes building judiciary capacity in incorporating international human rights standards into domestic legal frameworks, reforming and implementing new legislation relating to domestic and sexual violence and human rights training of civil servants, law enforcement and other security forces.

While challenges persist, many countries in the region have shown commitment to make the shift. OHCHR stands ready to support governments and all partners involved in this endeavour.

EDITORS NOTE: Alberto Brunori is the Regional Representative for Central America and the English-speaking Caribbean of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Contact him at [emailprotected] or on Twitter at @Albrunori or @OACNUDH.

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Why Caribbean Governments Should Make The Shift To A Human Rights-Based Approach To Crime Prevention Now - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News -...

Its no secret that Caribbean and Southern cuisine are heavily influenced by each other.

Recipes such as okra soup, stewed ham hocks with beans, and seafood stew all have notes of African and Southern heritage. These recipes are also often made in the Caribbean and the Southern states of America.

Reina Gascn-Lpez, known as the Southern Boricua, is the founder of The Sofrito Project, a food blog she created in 2017. Her mission is to show the similarities of Puerto Rican and Southern cuisine by making her own one-of-a-kind recipes.

I wanted to share my food with everybody so when it first started, I decided to go to culinary school and I wanted to document everything that I was learning and post pictures, Gascn-Lpez said in a recent interview with AL DA News.

Gascn-Lpez was born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, but moved to Charleston, South Carolina, when her father was stationed there in the Navy. There, the Puerto Rican community was small, and her family didnt have access to typical Puerto Rican food staples, such as yuca and plantains.

We just try to make it work whenever we didn't have an ingredient, she said.

Right before Gascn-Lpez started her blog, she began to research the similarities between Southern and Puerto Rican cuisine. She believed typical Southern dishes were very similar to the food she ate growing up in Puerto Rico.

The more research I started doing about southern cuisine the more similarities there are with Puerto Rican food, we are all connected with food, said Gascn-Lopez.

The research inspired her to apply at the Culinary Institute of Charleston. At that time, she also created her blog, the Sofrito Project.

She started her blog posting recipes to show off her cooking skills to family and friends. It soon became a success, and showcased authentic Puerto Rican recipes, such as sofrito, carne frita y cebollas, and bacalaitos.

However, she also wanted to highlight the similarities between Southern and Puerto Rican food.

For example, one traditional staple in Puerto Rico called, quimbombo guisado, is okra stew in South Carolina. The Southern version is a food staple of the Gullah Geechee community, an African-American population who live in the Lowcountry and the Sea Islands of South Carolina.

I would go to friends' houses and they would ask me if I wanted stewed okra, it tasted really good but it wasn't really how we make it. But its cool to see the similarities, she said.

Representing Puerto Rican cuisine correctly

Gascn-Lpez also spoke to AL DA about her disapproval of the lack of Latinx and women chefs in the media and its effects.

Just recently, a video of British chef Gordon Ramsay making pegao, which is a traditional crunchy rice dish, caused major backlash.

It is frustrating because there are many talented chefs and cooks that are out there that can do the pegao correctly, she said.

Gascn-Lpez believes that Ramsay should have collaborated or invited another chef of Puerto Rican descent to make pegao the right way.

We see it so often in the culinary world where white chefs will go on the show and not use their access or privilege to highlight anybody else, said Gascn-Lpez.

Nonetheless, she is still creating her own brand and has many projects in the works.

I want to get into video, she said. I started a Patreon page and I want to share exclusive recipes and content.

Gascn-Lpez is also planning to publish her own cookbook in the near future.

That is definitely a plan of mine, said Gascn-Lpez. I want to just ride it out and see what happens.

Check out her website for more information.

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Reina Gascn-Lpez shares her love of Afro-Caribbean cuisine with the Sofrito Project - AL DIA News