Handouts are never free. The cruel US aid freeze is an opportunity for the Caribbean | Kenneth Mohammed

Trump's orders will cause hardship but it could allow small nations to face up to their dependence on a coercive oligarchy

For generations, many in the Caribbean grew up believing that the United States was the world's great benefactor - a beacon of freedom, prosperity and boundless opportunity. Carefully cultivated through cinema, television, magazines, newspapers and radio, this perception reinforced the idea that the US was a land where hard work could secure a better life.

It was the dream destination for countless Caribbean migrants seeking to escape economic hardship and limited opportunities. But that illusion has crumbled, as historical distortions have become clear.