作者： admin

In the tranquil village of Alensdale, Toco, 91-year-old Elsie London continues to operate her namesake café, a local institution known for its coconut drops, sweetbread, and bottled preserves. Five years after our initial encounter, Ms. London remains seated in her favorite chair, greeting visitors with characteristic warmth and occasional mischievous laughter.

Despite scaling back her culinary activities, she continues weekend baking—producing cakes, bread, and kuchela mango that remain in high demand. Her infamous humor surfaced when discussing homemade wine, as she recounted a neighbor’s mock outrage about supplying sugarcane for her babash production: “He bawl out, ‘Ms. Elsie! I must bring cane for you to make that?’ He say dais jail!”

Beneath the laughter lies profound emotional depth. Without prompting, London revealed a childhood trauma that has shaped her entire existence: “My mother, Kathy, give me away when I was six years old.” The recollection remains painfully vivid despite decades passing. Confronting her mother about the abandonment, young Elsie recognized what she believed to be “fake cry” before walking away with no possessions or plan.

Her salvation came through neighbor Theresa, who immediately embraced the child despite already raising four biological children. Their exchange established a new foundation: “‘Where yuh going?’ I say, ‘Ah come home.’” Theresa’s practical concern—asking about meals and bathing—defined true motherhood for London: “You hear what a mother does ask if she care? That is a mother.”

Theresa became London’s legitimate guardian, arranging schooling and eventually presiding over her marriage ceremonies. This adoption forged London’s fierce independence and perspective on relationships: “No man eh having me so! I had a mind of meh own.” She revealed having been married twice—to George Byron (deceased at 89) and another previously undisclosed spouse.

Even at 91, London maintains sharp political awareness, analyzing US-Venezuela tensions through a fisherman’s lens: “A fishing boat doh have three engines.” Her wisdom reflects lived experience—interpreting politics with the same clarity developed through surviving childhood abandonment.

Ultimately, Elsie London’s story transcends personal history to explore motherhood’s essence. Her resilience demonstrates how familial bonds are forged through choice rather than biology, embodied by Theresa’s simple declaration to a six-year-old: “Well, yuh home.”

In a landmark ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain on November 18, distinguished attorney Israel Khan SC was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Trinidad and Tobago. President Christine Kangaloo presided over the graduation event, bestowing this rare academic honor upon one of the nation’s most formidable legal minds.

This recognition marks an unprecedented moment in Trinidad and Tobago’s legal history, as Khan becomes the first practicing criminal advocate to receive such an honor from the university. The announcement generated immense pride among members of Justitia Omnibus Law Chambers, which Khan has led since establishing the practice in 1979 following his graduation from Hugh Wooding Law School.

Khan’s legal career spans over four and a half decades of exceptional service. Appointed Senior Counsel in 2000, he maintains an extensive practice across Caribbean regional courts and holds placement on the International Criminal Court’s Registry of Defence Counsel in The Hague. He currently presides as president of the Criminal Bar Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Beyond his courtroom achievements, Khan has shaped generations of legal professionals through his 38-year tenure as senior associate tutor at Hugh Wooding Law School. His mentorship philosophy emphasizes empowerment, encouraging students to challenge systemic injustices while adhering to principles of fairness and advocacy for the marginalized.

Khan’s distinctive contribution to Caribbean jurisprudence lies in his principled defiance of colonial legal traditions. He has pioneered an advocacy style rooted in Caribbean reality, making complex legal concepts accessible to ordinary citizens while maintaining formidable intellectual rigor. His approach has influenced countless criminal advocates to embrace cultural identity within legal practice, ensuring justice remains both comprehensible and attainable for all segments of society.

The honorary degree adds to Khan’s recent recognitions, including his 2024 designation as one of Hugh Wooding Law School’s seven most distinguished graduates over its 50-year history. His nomination for consideration as Trinidad and Tobago’s seventh president by the parliamentary opposition in March 2023 further underscores his standing as a national figure of exceptional repute.