In a heartwarming display of solidarity, Trinidad and Tobago’s Kes the Band will join a constellation of international stars at the Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert on December 12. This star-studded event, featuring luminaries such as Shaggy, Sean Paul, Tessanne Chin, TOK, Mikey Spice, Richie Stephens, and Inner Circle, aims to raise funds for Jamaica’s recovery following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The Category 5 storm left a trail of devastation, claiming 45 lives, displacing 30,000 households, and causing an estimated $6-$7 billion in damages. Thousands remain in emergency shelters, underscoring the urgent need for relief efforts. Beyond the concert, celebrities like Jamaican dancehall queen Grace “Spice” Hamilton have been actively involved in on-the-ground support, distributing essential supplies and aiding in infrastructure repairs. The Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert, set to take place at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, symbolizes a collective commitment to rebuilding and resilience.
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From scratch: The joy of baking
Baking at home offers a therapeutic escape and a delightful way to spend your time. This weekend, why not dive into the world of baking from scratch with some mouth-watering recipes? Here are a few to get you started:
**Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread**
This recipe combines the rich flavors of chocolate with the natural sweetness of bananas. Start by mashing two large overripe bananas and mixing them with coconut oil, eggs, and brown sugar. Combine flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and tonka bean, then stir into the banana mixture. Add cocoa powder to a portion of the batter and swirl it into the main mixture before baking at 350°F for 50 minutes.**Traditional Sponge with Lime Meringue Frosting**
For a classic treat, prepare a sponge cake by creaming butter and sugar, then adding eggs, vanilla, and milk alternately with sifted flour. Bake in greased pans at 350°F for 35-40 minutes. Top with a lime meringue frosting made by beating egg whites, adding a sugar syrup, and incorporating lime peel.**Coconut Lime Crunchies**
These cookies are a zesty delight. Mix melted butter, sugar, grated coconut, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, vanilla, and lime zest. Roll into balls, press gently, garnish with cherries, and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.**Date Walnut Bran Muffins**
Combine all bran cereal with buttermilk, then mix with sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, walnuts, cinnamon, vanilla, eggs, dates, and vegetable oil. Spoon into muffin tins, top with a butter, walnut, flour, and sugar mixture, and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.These recipes are perfect for a cozy weekend baking session, offering a variety of flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth.
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Youth Transformation and Rehab Centre make basketball return
The Youth Transformation and Rehabilitation Centre (YTRC) marked a significant milestone with their return to competitive school basketball at the Elevate 3×3 Secondary Schools Basketball Championship. The event, held at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua on November 14, saw YTRC re-enter the fray after years of absence from formal competition. Historically a dominant force in the East Zone Secondary Schools Basketball League, YTRC has previously clinched multiple zonal titles and represented the zone at national championships. Their participation in this year’s tournament underscores their commitment to using sports as a transformative tool for youth development. In recent years, YTRC has integrated 3×3 basketball into its rehabilitative framework, organizing events like the R³ 3×3 Invitational tournament to foster teamwork, discipline, and leadership among its residents. The Elevate 3×3 Championship, a national tournament, features top young talent across four divisions: Under-15, Under-17, Under-20 male, and open female. YTRC will compete in the Under-20 and female categories, showcasing players from their active basketball programmes. The TT Prison Service, which oversees YTRC, continues to emphasize the role of structured sports and education in rehabilitation, viewing athletics as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and societal reintegration.
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Rhythm of Culture by UWI dance community
The Winifred Attwell Auditorium at Queen’s Hall came alive on November 7 and 8 with the two-day dance extravaganza, *Rhythm of Culture*. This event, part of the Legacy Year Celebration, paid tribute to Hazel Franco, the founding coordinator of the UWI Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) Dance Unit. The production showcased 28 distinctive pieces, blending Caribbean heritage with Indian, modern, hip-hop, and contemporary dance forms, creating a dynamic dialogue between tradition and innovation. Choreographed by a talented ensemble including Deon Baptiste, Bridgette Wilson, Sherma Burke, Colin Rampersad, Terry David, Kizzy Murray, and others, the performances were a testament to the diversity and vitality of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape. Students from the BA and certificate programs, alongside community dancers, brought these pieces to life. Deboleena Paul, the dance unit coordinator, emphasized that dance transcends artistic expression, serving as a profound connection between body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Rooted in the ancient concept of Nitta Yoga, the festival highlighted the unifying power of art to inspire, transform, and nurture the next generation of artists. The final night concluded with an electrifying bongo performance by the Caribbean dance degree class, leaving the audience dancing and clapping in rhythm.
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Sobers: US troops to return to Trinidad and Tobago for joint military training
The United States military is set to return to Trinidad and Tobago next week for a joint training exercise with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF). The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will participate in the drills, which are scheduled from November 16 to 21. This marks the second such exercise in just over a month, following a similar engagement in October that saw the USS Gravely dock in Port of Spain. The exercises, which will span both rural and urban environments, aim to enhance military-to-military collaboration, focusing on equipment familiarity, tactical training, and professional development. US military assets, including helicopters, will be utilized during the operations, which are planned primarily for dusk and nighttime. Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers emphasized the importance of these exercises, stating, ‘Steel sharpens steel,’ and highlighting their role in strengthening the TTDF’s capacity to combat illegal drugs and weapons. However, the exercises have drawn criticism from Venezuela, which accused Trinidad of facilitating US military aggression. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has placed his military on high alert and mobilized civilian militias in response. US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz defended the exercises, stating they align with US Southern Command’s mission to promote regional stability and counter transnational threats. Meanwhile, former officials and critics have raised concerns about the timing and scale of the exercises, with some suggesting they may be a precursor to broader military actions in the region.
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San City Steel Symphony hosts Culture on Carib Street
San Fernando is poised to host an electrifying cultural festival on November 15, as Carib Street becomes the epicenter of music, dance, and artistic expression. The event, titled ‘Culture on Carib Street – 12 Hours of Culture,’ is an expanded version of the annual Children’s Jamboree, now encompassing a broader audience and a diverse array of performances. From 11 am to 11 pm, attendees will be treated to a rich tapestry of indigenous art forms, including pan, kaiso, extempo, soca, chutney, parang, spoken word, and masquerade, all accompanied by the rhythmic beats of engine rooms, tassa, and African drums.
Traditionally held in August, the event has been rescheduled to coincide with San Fernando’s 37th anniversary as a city. ‘This year, we aimed to create an inclusive experience for everyone—children, adults, and all culture enthusiasts,’ said Aquil Arrindel, manager of the San City band.
The day kicks off with a lively children’s program featuring bouncy castles, games, and performances by notable young talents such as Junior Calypso King Xhaiden Darius, dancer Ariella Rishana Jugoon, extempo artist Kevan Calliste, and the Presentation College Drummers. Spoken-word artist Colleen Cleghorn and mas presentations by Cari Vog Kids and Anra Bobb and Friends will also grace the stage.
As the afternoon progresses, the focus shifts to adult performers and renowned steel orchestras. Music aficionados can anticipate performances by 12-time Panorama champions Desperadoes, alongside Siparia Deltones, Tornadoes, Birdsong, Kalomo Kings, and the host band, SanCity. The evening lineup includes extempo maestro Abebele, calypsonians Impulse and Ras Kommanda, soca star College Boy Jesse, Blaka Dan, Chutney Soca champion Daddy Chinee, and the Los Alumnos De San Juan parang band.
Arrindel highlighted the transformation of the venue, with the car park between Presentation College and the SanCity panyard now paved and serving as the main arena. The space will feature two stages, tents, food vendors, and a bar, ensuring a festive atmosphere despite the rainy season. ‘This is a must-attend, entirely free cultural experience,’ Arrindel promised.
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Appeal Court: Retired military volunteer must be paid
The Court of Appeal has reversed a 2023 High Court decision, mandating the State to compensate retired Coast Guard volunteer David Tannis with $346,836.05 for unpaid salary adjustments tied to his post-retirement service. Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh, alongside Justices of Appeal James Aboud and Ricky Rahim, ruled that Tannis was contractually entitled to revised pay rates negotiated for established Defence Force ranks, even though these adjustments were finalized after his volunteer service concluded. Justice Rahim, who authored the unanimous decision on November 14, emphasized that an implied contractual term linked Tannis’s remuneration to increases granted to comparable ranks in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), in line with a Cabinet-approved methodology established in 1980. Tannis, who served as a marine surveyor in the Volunteer Defence Force from May 24, 2004, to May 23, 2012, had his pay aligned with that of a petty officer and later a chief petty officer. However, he only received adjustments for the 2005–2007 period, with subsequent increases for 2008–2010 and 2011–2013 approved four years after his contract ended. The Appeal Court found the trial judge ‘plainly wrong’ in dismissing Tannis’s claim, noting the State’s failure to file a defense or challenge key evidence. The court highlighted that the 1980 Cabinet Minute established a methodology linking volunteer pay to TTDF rates, making it clear that Tannis should benefit from comparable pay increases. While the court rejected Tannis’s request for exemplary damages, it awarded general damages of $346,836.05 for breach of contract, with interest at 2.5% per year from June 16, 2016. The Attorney General was also ordered to cover the prescribed costs of the claim.
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Make cutting grass priority
In a commendable move, MP Stuart Young and the Port of Spain City Corporation have stepped up to address the fallout from the shutdown of Cepep and URP programs by employing former workers in the Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West constituency and surrounding areas. This initiative not only provides these displaced individuals with a source of income but also ensures the cleanliness and maintenance of local communities. The approach mirrors a similar effort previously undertaken by Mayor Robert Parris in San Fernando. The closure of Cepep and URP has left thousands of vulnerable citizens without livelihoods, while also highlighting the critical role these workers played in maintaining public spaces. Despite assurances that local corporations would fill the gap, the reality is that overgrown vegetation and neglected areas are evident across the country. The author, Nigel Seenathsingh, emphasizes the need to focus on fundamental tasks like grass cutting before pursuing more ambitious AI-driven revitalization plans. This pragmatic approach, he argues, is essential for meaningful progress.
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Classic focaccia for beginners
Focaccia, a beloved Italian bread, has captured the hearts of bakers worldwide with its simplicity, versatility, and rich olive oil flavor. Naomi Anderson, founder of Unicakery in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, shares her passion for this rustic bread, drawing parallels to the local roast bake but with a Mediterranean twist. Anderson highlights its beginner-friendly nature, making it an ideal choice for novice bakers and a canvas for culinary creativity. Whether adorned with rosemary and sea salt or vibrant vegetables, focaccia brings warmth and artistry to the table.
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No need for mokofear, CoP
In a recent letter to the editor, Arthur Dash, a concerned citizen, voiced his frustration with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and its leadership under Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro. Dash criticized Guevarro’s recent remarks referencing the ‘vengeance of moko,’ a local cultural figure, as an inappropriate response to the pervasive crime plaguing the nation. Dash argued that such rhetoric is ineffective in addressing the root causes of citizen distrust in law enforcement. He pointed out that the Police Service Act, along with the judiciary and the Director of Public Prosecutions, has failed to support Guevarro in purging the TTPS of corrupt officers involved in extortion, murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and other serious crimes. Dash highlighted the reluctance of both citizens and police officers to report wrongdoing, citing a lack of tangible consequences for offenders. Instead, corrupt officers often face minimal penalties, such as suspension on half pay, which Dash described as an improvement rather than a punishment. The letter concluded with a stark reminder that while the police may fear the ‘vengeance of moko,’ citizens continue to live in fear of crime every day in Trinidad and Tobago.