Letter from the publisher

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Happy Birthday to us!

The Caribbean Camera celebrated its 33rd anniversary last Tuesday, a testament to its enduring presence and significance in the Black and Caribbean communities in Canada.

Since it first saw the light of print in 1990, The Caribbean Camera has become a vibrant voice in our communities.

Although I personally did not witness the early development of the paper, I have heard countless stories of the unwavering commitment and hard work of outstanding individuals such as the late Kiffayette Mohammed who was the office manager, and the paper’s first editor, Raynier Maharaj. Their relentless efforts transformed The Caribbean Camera into an influential weekly newspaper.

I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made for the betterment of our communities. Of course, the landscape of the newspaper industry has undergone significant changes and we now face the unfortunate reality of individuals masquerading as members of the Black and Caribbean communities and posing as publishers with the aim of undermining legitimate Black and Caribbean-owned media outlets.

The Caribbean Camera takes great pride in being the respected voice of the Caribbean communities, representing not only Black individuals but all Caribbean people. We are proud of our publication record.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to suspend our print edition for several months. However, we persevered by transitioning to a biweekly printing schedule while continuing to

provide a weekly e-paper to keep the community well-informed and up-to-date on matters of interest and concern.

As a newspaper, our primary objective is to inform the community about issues that directly impact their lives. We consistently speak truth to power while seeking to maintain the highest standards of journalism. We always aim to provide our readers with ample information to make their own decisions and foster critical thinking and independent thought.

On June 4th, The Caribbean Camera had the distinct honor of receiving an award from the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC). We are deeply grateful for their recognition of The Caribbean Camera’s remarkable accomplishments over the past 33 years. This recognition serves as a powerful motivation for us to strive for even greater heights.

However, the nature of service is evolving, and we have observed the need to adapt. Last year, we initiated our Impact Awards, a response to the realization that although several prestigious awards have been established, none specifically celebrated and supported the Caribbean community.

While acknowledging the significance of existing Black, Indo, and National Awards from various Caribbean-focused organizations, we hope that our Impact Awards can act as a unifying force, bringing together the Caribbean and Black communities to honor our own.

As we prepare to honor the 2023 “Impactors,” we invite you to join the celebration and nominate deserving individuals within your circles for recognition across ten categories.

Last year’s winners were Tony Sharpe for SPORTS, Joel “Connector” Davis for ARTS AND CULTURE, Kirk Diamond for ENTERTAINMENT, The CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals

for COMMUNITY, The Black Scientists Task Force on Vaccine Equity for HEALTH, Louis Saldenah for CARNIVAL ARTS, Kandy Samsundar and Colleen Russell-Rawlins for EDUCATION, Sherrie Mohammed for MENTAL HEALTH, and Marcus Davenport for BUSINESS.

We invite you to attend IMPACTS AWARDS 2023, not just as a recipient but also as a supporter.

In our pursuit of growth and progress, we envisioned the opening of an online store last year. We are pleased to inform you that we are now on track to make it a reality.

This store will feature “Caribbean Camera” and “Impact Awards” merchandise, along with fashion from Cut to Fit, a local custom apparel company, and delectable products from Papa Joe’s Bakery such as Currant Rolls and Caribbean Fruit Cake.

Moreover, we are actively seeking additional Black and Caribbean-owned businesses to join us to showcase their full range of products – or a select few.

Our future plans also include the creation of a Black and Caribbean coupon site that will be integrated with The Caribbean Camera, granting you access to exclusive discounts on various community offerings, ranging from advertising opportunities to accommodations and everything in between.

We are excited about the prospects of the future, as we aim to contribute to the development of a stronger and more united Caribbean community.

To our loyal readers, we express our deepest gratitude for your support and dedication to The Caribbean Camera. We do not take your loyalty for granted. It has been our privilege to serve you over the past 33 years. We sincerely hope to continue this journey together for many years to come.

As we eagerly look ahead, we kindly ask for your continued assistance in our growth by supporting our advertisers, as they are the lifeblood that enables us to produce this paper.

Furthermore, we strongly encourage you to share any valuable information that can benefit our community. Send us your stories. Your contributions are invaluable, and we welcome your active participation. So please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

We have not forgotten the tireless efforts of the individuals who diligently work to deliver this paper to you every week. You know who you are and we are profoundly grateful for your commitment.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our readers and advertisers for embarking on this incredible journey with us. Despite its ups and downs, the trip has been nothing short of exhilarating, and we are thrilled to enter our 34^th year with unwavering enthusiasm.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Joseph

Publisher