作者： admin

At just 28 years old, Rondell Thompson has emerged as one of the Caribbean’s most promising culinary talents, recently claiming the prestigious title of Maggi Food Court Caribbean Season Five Champion. As head chef of the Chaud Restaurant Group, Thompson now oversees three kitchens and manages a team of nearly 30 culinary professionals, representing a remarkable ascent from his humble beginnings in Cocorite’s Freedom Street.

Thompson’s culinary philosophy, which he describes as ‘Caribbean vogue on a plate – flair, technique, modern, executive, flavourful,’ reflects both his creative vision and technical mastery. His journey began in childhood kitchens where family gatherings sparked his initial fascination with cooking. ‘From age six, I was always the first to help my mom and aunties in the kitchen,’ Thompson recalled. ‘Those moments formed the passion and drive that shaped me into the chef I am today.’

His professional pathway included foundational years at Hyatt Regency Trinidad’s banquet department, where he gained invaluable front-of-house experience while studying culinary arts. This dual perspective provided unique insights into both kitchen operations and customer service dynamics. Thompson attributes much of his development to mentorship from esteemed chefs including Devon Joseph, Simmone Edwin, Jenny Francis, and Jeremy Lovell.

The newly crowned champion’s credentials extend beyond his recent victory. He previously earned National Junior Chef of Trinidad and Tobago (2017) and National Chef of the Year (2018) honors, alongside multiple medals at Miami’s Taste of The Caribbean competition. His academic foundation includes a bachelor’s degree in culinary management from TT Hospitality and Tourism Institute.

Thompson’s Maggi Food Court victory followed a second-place finish in season four, demonstrating his persistent dedication to culinary excellence. The competition brought together top chefs from across the Caribbean, including eight Jamaican contenders, three from Trinidad and Tobago, and representatives from St Lucia, Barbados, Guyana, and Suriname. Thompson’s winning performance featured five distinct cuisine interpretations, including a standout British-inspired fifth course of warm bread pudding with Milo-rum caramel and vanilla chantilly.

Looking forward, Thompson envisions expanding his brand through international experiences, potential masterclasses, and eventually establishing his own catering company specializing in exclusive dining events. He remains committed to promoting Caribbean fine dining while emphasizing the importance of fundamentals, continuous learning, and resilience for aspiring culinary professionals. ‘This career isn’t for the weak,’ Thompson noted, underscoring the discipline and determination required for culinary success.

In a significant move toward judicial transparency, Freedom Law Chambers has formally requested Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh to disclose comprehensive records detailing extensively delayed court judgments. The request, filed under freedom of information provisions on November 25, comes amid growing public concern over prolonged judicial delays affecting citizens’ access to justice.

Representing civic activist and former Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union official Anthony Dopson, the legal firm highlights how chronic delays in judgment delivery undermine constitutional rights and public confidence in the judicial system. The submission references numerous complaints from citizens and workers experiencing multi-year waits for judgments, repeatedly postponed hearings, and unresolved appeals.

Attorney Aasha Ramlal, who signed the formal request, articulated that these delays directly contravene the Judiciary’s constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and ensure timely justice. The firm has given the Chief Justice until December 25 to respond, warning that any non-committal reply would violate statutory requirements for timely disclosure under Section 15 of the FOIA.

The extensive request seeks detailed documentation including: all cases where High Court judges, masters, registrars, and Court of Appeal judges have reserved judgments for over six months; outstanding decisions on applications or costs beyond three months; unassessed cost statements pending for more than one year; appeals awaiting written reasons exceeding six months; and statistical data on judicial decisions reversed by the Court of Appeal over the past five years.

This initiative follows a similar 2022 request that revealed significant discrepancies in the Judiciary’s record-keeping, with at least 27 matters omitted from official lists of delayed judgments. Ramlal emphasized that accurate data is essential for evaluating judicial performance, resource allocation, and administrative efficiency within the court system.

The letter further argues that transparency serves as a crucial performance measurement tool for the Judicial and Legal Services Commission in evaluating judges for promotions. It notes that many countries routinely publish such information for public inspection, establishing accountability benchmarks for judicial officers.

The context of this request includes recent developments in judicial reform. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo announced in October proposed reforms to enhance judicial efficiency, including creating a Judiciary Chancellor position to oversee case management—a recommendation previously advocated by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The urgency of addressing judicial delays is underscored by specific cases, including that of Daniel Agard, a convicted murderer who has appealed to the Chief Justice regarding delayed rulings in his judicial review lawsuit. Similarly, relatives of successfully appealed murder convictions await clarity on retrial timelines, highlighting the human impact of systemic delays.

Ramlal concluded that Dopson intends to publish any information received, enabling public scrutiny and ensuring comprehensive accountability across the judicial system.

The Bocas Lit Fest, in collaboration with Let’s Read, successfully orchestrated an engaging Family Reading Circle event at the St Joseph Old Road Community Centre in Port of Spain’s East Dry River district on November 22. This specialized literacy initiative brought together 22 young children and their parents for an immersive read-aloud experience designed to foster early childhood development through literature.

Children’s author Mary Cuffy captivated the audience with dynamic readings from her acclaimed Ladybug book series, particularly enchanting attendees with the adventures of ‘Lola and the Dancing Ladybugs.’ The session transformed into an interactive experience as children enthusiastically participated in sing-along segments, bringing the narrative to life through musical engagement.

Suzette Cadiz, representing Let’s Read, complemented the program with spirited readings of beloved children’s classics, further enriching the literary experience for the young attendees. The carefully curated selection of stories aimed to simultaneously entertain and educate, addressing multiple developmental domains through narrative engagement.

The Family Reading Circle program represents a strategic approach to early literacy development, specifically targeting children aged seven years and under. The initiative’s methodology focuses on transforming reading from a passive activity into an interactive experience that strengthens language acquisition, comprehension capabilities, and emotional intelligence. By creating positive associations with literature, the program aims to establish foundational reading habits that can evolve into lifelong literary engagement.

Bocas Lit Fest formally acknowledged Pompey Joseph’s Tutoring Academy for providing the community venue, highlighting the importance of cross-organizational collaboration in advancing educational initiatives within local communities. This partnership model demonstrates how shared resources and expertise can effectively support childhood literacy development in accessible community settings.