After nearly five decades of dedicated artistic practice, Barbadian-born Trinidad-based painter Winston Stewart, professionally known as Sundiata, unveils his comprehensive exhibition \”Visions\” at Arnim’s Art Galleria in Port of Spain. The 75-year-old artist presents approximately 40 oil and mixed-media works that represent the culmination of his lifelong engagement with visual expression.\n\nSundiata’s artistic philosophy centers on raw authenticity, allowing each piece to communicate directly with viewers without intermediary interpretation. \”They’re just an insight into my interests, of how I perceive things and see things,\” the artist explained regarding his exhibition. His creative inspiration derives from continuous engagement with his environment—visual, mental, and social—translated through the distinctive language of art.\n\nThe artist’s background reflects a remarkable synthesis of disciplines. Holding formal qualifications in art, science, and economics, Sundiata received training at the University of Reading in the UK, studied constructivist art in Moscow, and pursued artistic development across multiple countries. This multidisciplinary approach informs his perspective that creative individuals inherently possess capabilities far exceeding societal expectations.\n\nSundiata’s professional journey began with a definitive commitment at age 23 when he abandoned conventional career paths despite societal pressures that dismissed artists as \”crazy or gay.\” His early determination manifested through self-organized exhibitions when traditional galleries rejected his work, eventually leading to international recognition through collector interest and institutional validation.\n\nThe exhibition showcases Sundiata’s stylistic evolution from realism to more expressive forms, featuring architectural elements, figures, still life, and abstract compositions that incorporate aspects of Trinidadian culture. Works including \”Boogsie is Sharp,\” \”Frontline,\” \”St James Hosay,\” \”Femmes aux Mangoes,\” and \”Morning Greetings\” demonstrate his refusal of rigid categorization.\n\nNow celebrating 45 years of marriage and fatherhood, Sundiata maintains his daily artistic practice while rejecting commercial considerations or trends. He creates from genuine motivation rather than market expectations, valuing artistic honesty above external validation. Despite his extensive experience, he remains committed to continuous learning and exploration within his craft.\n\n\”Visions\” runs from December 15 through January 9 at Arnim’s Art Gallery in Port of Spain, offering viewers an intimate glimpse into the mind of an artist who has devoted his life to authentic creative expression.
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Karyn Forbes trades football boots for public service
Tobago’s political landscape witnesses a remarkable transition as former national football captain Karyn “Baby” Forbes steps into the electoral arena. The celebrated athlete, boasting 15 years and over 70 appearances representing Trinidad and Tobago, has been officially nominated as the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Plymouth/Black Rock in the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections scheduled for January 12.
Forbes will contend against Kern Alexis of the Tobago People’s Party in what marks a significant career shift from athletic leadership to political service. In an exclusive interview, Forbes emphasized that her political engagement evolved gradually rather than emerging as a sudden impulse. “This decision grew out of years of listening,” she stated. “Leadership doesn’t end when the game is on pause – it deepens.”
The Plymouth native articulated her alignment with PNM as a choice grounded in principle rather than convenience. “I chose the PNM because I believe in building things that last,” Forbes explained. “Not handouts. Not season promises. Real structures that serve generations.”
Forbes demonstrates acute awareness of her constituency’s challenges, noting struggling families, particularly single-parent households, youth lacking clear pathways despite their abilities, and elderly residents feeling increasingly marginalized. She prioritizes addressing deteriorating sports facilities and community infrastructure requiring urgent attention.
Her political philosophy combines realism with visionary planning. “I don’t pretend to have magical solutions. What I bring is structure and follow-through,” Forbes asserted. Her agenda emphasizes people-first governance, family empowerment, community space revitalization, and leveraging sports, education, and entrepreneurship as opportunity gateways.
If elected, Forbes commits to establishing robust foundations within her first year: “Systems that work, spaces that feel alive again, and people who feel seen. Because service is not about power: It’s about responsibility.”
The athlete-turned-candidate views her role as bridging sports and community development. While embracing her athletic identity, Forbes stresses that “empowerment doesn’t end with sport.” She prepares to release two books—”Woman of Substance” and “Beyond the Whistle”—sharing her journey including mental battles, setbacks, and moments of faith to demonstrate that “success is not linear, and strength isn’t perfection.”
Forbes considers her candidacy fundamentally inspirational: “My candidacy is about showing young people that your background doesn’t box you in. Whether you come from the field, the classroom, the block, or the church, you belong in leadership spaces too.”
She characterizes Tobago’s current situation as pivotal, demanding “stamina, empathy, and integrity” alongside practical understanding of “teamwork and accountability, not in theory, but in practice.”
Despite recently suffering a fractured ankle during training before Trinidad and Tobago’s October 28 friendly against Jamaica, Forbes has begun rehabilitation therapy following cast removal. She remains technically available for national team selection while transitioning toward political service.
Forbes acknowledges the challenges ahead: “Sport has clear rules; life doesn’t. But the same courage it takes to step onto the pitch against stronger opponents is the courage needed to step into leadership when change is necessary.”
She believes football instilled essential values for public service—discipline, accountability, and respect for team roles—understanding that “you may not always score the goal, but your position still matters.” Forbes applies the athletic principle that “preparation beats talent when talent stops working” to governance, emphasizing that “we don’t need more noise. We need preparation, planning, and consistent delivery.”
Ultimately, Forbes frames her political engagement not as power pursuit but responsibility continuation: “I’m not here because it’s comfortable. I’m here because it’s required.” Her perspective redefines leadership as commitment extending far beyond the football pitch, embracing broader community stewardship.
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Budding parang star, Beltino Ramdeen
In the small village of Sangre Chiquito near Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago, a preschooler has become an unexpected viral sensation through his authentic embrace of traditional parang music. Four-year-old Beltino Chandlin Ramdeen, whose spontaneous maracas performance captivated the nation, demonstrates a natural musicality that runs deep in his family’s heritage.
The heartwarming story began when Beltino’s grandmother, Allyson Bengochea-Gyton—an established parang vocalist—shared video footage of her grandson confidently shaking maracas (known locally as chac-chac) while dancing with uninhibited joy. The clip rapidly accumulated thousands of views, resonating with viewers across the country who were charmed by the child’s genuine enthusiasm.
Parang, derived from the Spanish word ‘parranda’ meaning a festive celebration, represents an integral part of Trinidad and Tobago’s Christmas traditions. Typically, parranderos move between households, spreading seasonal cheer through vibrant music, dance, and communal sharing of food and drink while celebrating the birth of Christ.
For Beltino, however, parang transcends seasonal celebration—it constitutes his daily reality. ‘We don’t wait for Christmas to play music,’ Bengochea-Gyton explained. ‘Some of our videos with him were completely spontaneous—just sitting in the afternoon doing nothing, and he will put on music and start shaking his maracas.’
The young boy’s musical inclination appears deeply genetic. His grandmother leads her own parang and Latin ensemble, Ritmos Calientes, while his late grandfather, Hanuman Ramdeen, played both maracas and cuatro. The musical legacy continues with his step-grandfather Leo Gyton, a lead vocalist and skilled cuatro player, plus multiple extended family members who actively participate in Trinidad’s music scene.
Beltino’s relationship with his grandmother is particularly harmonized through music. ‘He calls me his Nani,’ she shared, ‘so he will always say, “Nani, sing for me and I will play.”‘ His learning capacity astonishes the family—he recently absorbed Spanish lyrics simply through listening, without formal instruction. His current favorite is a Latin piece by Peruvian band Corazón Serrano.
This Christmas, the four-year-old has requested a cuatro from Santa Claus, supplementing the maracas he already guards possessively. His family remains committed to nurturing his talent, with plans for music school should his interest persist. Meanwhile, Beltino himself dreams of becoming a doctor—potentially while leading the family band.
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Water warriors – Candice Santana, Laurayne Lucky
In a groundbreaking development for regional water management, the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) has achieved a historic milestone with Candice Santana and Laurayne Lucky assuming simultaneous leadership as president and executive director respectively. This marks the first time since the organization’s establishment in 1991 that both top positions are held by women, signaling a transformative shift in governance approaches to the region’s pressing water and sanitation challenges.
The significance of this leadership transition was highlighted during the CWWA’s 21st Higher Level Forum in Belize, where ministers and utility heads from across the Dutch, Spanish, English, and French Caribbean convened. Santana notably pointed out the persistent gender imbalance at senior levels, observing that only two women were present among the region’s top water management officials.
Both leaders bring substantial credentials to their roles, with Santana, 39, having joined the CWWA board in 2016 and serving six years before her 2024 presidential election, while Lucky, 44, oversees the association’s secretariat operations. Their appointments represent not merely symbolic progress but substantive expertise gained through decades of professional and academic preparation.
Santana emphasizes the importance of merit-based advancement rather than token appointments to fulfill diversity quotas. ‘Do not put me in the ring to just tick a box, especially if you don’t really want to hear what I have to say,’ she asserts, reflecting on her experiences as a young woman facing dual categorization for both age and gender representation.
The new president also addresses the challenge of unsolicited advice frequently directed at young female leaders, advocating for strategic discernment amid external opinions. ‘You need to sit back from all the advice and use your discernment… bring your innovation to the table and understand the best direction for the organization,’ she advises.
Lucky echoes these sentiments, acknowledging the particular challenges women face in the STEM-focused water and sanitation sector while emphasizing the field’s inherent difficulties for all professionals. Their leadership partnership aims to model substantive gender inclusion while addressing the Caribbean’s critical water infrastructure needs through experienced, qualified guidance rather than symbolic representation.
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Ferdie Ferreira’s legacy
The political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago has lost one of its most distinguished voices with the passing of Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ferreira at age 93. A former key advisor to founding Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams, Ferreira represented a vanishing breed of political thinkers who viewed governance as genuine public service rather than political theater.
Ferreira’s remarkable journey began humbly on the Port of Spain docks, where his formal education ended at age 14. His political awakening commenced in 1946 as a member of Butler’s Army of Liberation, with his informal education unfolding through vigorous debates at Woodford Square—the renowned open-air university that shaped generations of Trinidadian thinkers.
Despite his unwavering identification as a PNM loyalist, Ferreira distinguished himself through his uncommon willingness to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints. He transformed political disagreement into an art form, consistently maintaining civil discourse without descending into rancor or personal attacks. His commitment to principled governance sometimes placed him at odds with his own party, most notably in 1980 when he was expelled from the PNM for questioning Dr. Williams’ demand for undated resignation letters from cabinet members.
This principled stance led Ferreira to help establish the Organisation for National Reconstruction and later contribute to building the National Alliance for Reconstruction before returning to the PNM fold in 1992 under Patrick Manning’s leadership. Throughout his six decades of political engagement—expressed through columns, letters to editors, and interviews—Ferreira never tempered his advocacy for transparent governance and mutual respect in parliamentary proceedings.
Even in his final years, he remained an outspoken commentator, challenging political conventions and amplifying dissenting voices within his party. His fearless commentary following the PNM’s April defeat and his balanced assessment of Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles demonstrated his enduring commitment to honest political discourse.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago recognized his contributions with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2021, while his published works—including “Political Encounters 1946-2016” and his 2022 autobiography “Portrait of a Patriot”—stand as testaments to his intellectual legacy.
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From Cocorite to the Rhine – Tyreka Russell’s waterworld
Tyreka Russell’s transition from the warm shores of Cocorite to becoming a professional chemical water analyst in Germany exemplifies a remarkable journey of personal and professional transformation. Her story began in October 2018 when she boarded a flight to Germany, unaware of how profoundly this decision would reshape her life trajectory.
Growing up in a tightly-knit family environment, Russell developed early connections to nature through Sunday hikes with her aunt, a Trinbago Backpackers hike leader, discovering Trinidad and Tobago’s hidden natural treasures. At St Francois Girls’ College in Belmont, she cultivated her academic interests through environmental science, geography, and biology courses, initially aspiring toward marine biology as a means to combine her passion for swimming with environmental conservation.
The pivotal turning point emerged during a career fair at the Hyatt hotel where Russell discovered Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) in Kamp-Lintfort. The institution offered English-taught degrees with free tuition—requiring only living expenses—making international education accessible without German language prerequisites. She enrolled in the BSc Environment and Energy program, despite Germany not being among her original considered destinations (the US, Canada, or UK).
Her arrival in Germany presented significant cultural adaptations: mastering punctual public transportation systems, enduring colder climates (below 22°C), and navigating academic structures vastly different from Trinidad’s system. During her initial semester, Russell avoided solo train travel due to navigation anxieties, relying on international student communities for support while gradually building German language proficiency.
The professional breakthrough occurred through an internship at Lower Left Rhine Drainage Corporation (LINEG) in 2022, where she joined the chemistry department at their central laboratory. This hands-on experience proved instrumental in developing technical skills through authorized independent analyses. Her thesis research—”Detection of Sulphate in Different Water Matrices Using Raman Spectroscopy”—provided particularly valuable practical experience in sample collection, measurement, and results presentation.
Russell’s exceptional performance led to a part-time position offer, coinciding with her pursuit of a B1 German certificate at the Goethe Institute in Düsseldorf—a crucial factor in her subsequent hiring. Upon graduation in 2024, LINEG offered her a full-time chemical analyst position, validating her professional value while presenting emotionally complex decisions about extended stay in Germany.
Collegial support proved essential to her integration, with LINEG colleagues assisting both laboratory techniques and societal navigation, including immigration procedures. While German language remains an ongoing challenge, Russell notes how linguistic improvement transformed her social integration and unlocked previously inaccessible opportunities.
Despite culinary nostalgia for Trinidadian flavors and profound family connections, Russell recognizes Germany’s superior resources for professional development in environmental science. She maintains openness to eventual return to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s environmental monitoring and sustainability initiatives, though currently envisions her career future in Germany.
Her advice to prospective international students emphasizes courageous risk-taking: “Studying or working abroad opens doors you don’t know exist yet. Even short international exposure can transform perspectives, build confidence, and reveal opportunities unavailable domestically.” Reflecting on her journey from Cocorite to Kamp-Lintfort, Russell summarizes: “Challenging and overwhelming—but worth it. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.”
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Highway expansion
In a landmark infrastructure announcement, the Jamaican Government has revealed an ambitious plan to construct a continuous highway network encircling the entire island. This transformative project, designed to address critical transport vulnerabilities exposed by recent natural disasters, represents one of the most significant infrastructure initiatives in Jamaica’s modern history.
Robert Morgan, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, detailed the comprehensive strategy during a recent Jamaica Observer Press Club event. The proposed highway system will extend from Williamsfield in Manchester to connect with Montego Bay’s perimeter road, creating seamless transportation corridors through St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. James parishes.
The initiative emerges as a direct response to the systemic weaknesses revealed when Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, struck the island on October 28. While newer highways demonstrated structural resilience during the extreme weather event, the lack of interconnected routes severely hampered emergency response efforts and recovery operations across affected regions.
Minister Morgan emphasized that true infrastructure resilience extends beyond road durability to encompass comprehensive network connectivity. “We have constructed highways, but they remain non-contiguous,” Morgan explained, highlighting the problematic gaps between existing transportation arteries including the south coast and north coast highways.
The government’s strategic vision involves creating what Morgan describes as a “contiguous ring around the island” through carefully planned linkages between existing routes and new bypass constructions. Key components include determining optimal alignments from Black River to Savanna-la-Mar, alongside planned bypasses for Lucea, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Mammee Bay.
Several project elements are already advancing, including a memorandum of understanding with China Harbour Engineering Company for the Mammee Bay bypass, commenced work on the Port Antonio bypass, and ongoing studies for the Spur Tree bypass. Preliminary planning has also initiated for the Lucea bypass.
While the complete financial scope remains undetermined, the highway network will constitute a cornerstone of Jamaica’s broader reconstruction and resilience strategy. The government will collaborate with multiple agencies including the National Works Agency, National Road Operating and Constructing Company, and the newly established National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority.
Addressing capacity concerns, Minister Morgan expressed confidence that market forces would respond to clearly articulated long-term infrastructure needs. He specifically encouraged local contractors to position themselves for participation, noting their unique understanding of Jamaican topography, geology, and hydrology while emphasizing the importance of professional standards and effective execution.
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‘Grandma was right’: Christopher Williams bats for real estate investment
At the recent Exploring the Caribbean conference in Miami, a compelling case was made for regional real estate investment as a strategic financial move. Christopher Williams, Chairman and CEO of Different Capital and former Proven CEO, presented real estate as the premier asset class for robust returns coupled with inflation protection.
Williams delivered a powerful message to attendees, urging them to reevaluate their investment portfolios. “Our comprehensive analysis across all asset categories consistently reveals real estate as the most promising sector for serious consideration,” Williams stated. He invoked timeless wisdom, noting, “It turns out your grandmother’s classic advice was fundamentally sound—she always told you to buy real estate, and the data confirms she was absolutely correct.
The investment executive highlighted two critical advantages of real estate investment. First, he emphasized its remarkably low volatility compared to other asset classes, as measured by standard deviation metrics. Second, and perhaps more significantly in current economic conditions, Williams pointed to real estate’s inherent inflation-hedging qualities. “Unlike more volatile investments, real estate maintains stability while providing protection against inflationary pressures that periodically emerge, particularly following natural disasters that trigger asset price surges,” he explained.
Williams further elaborated on accessible entry methods beyond direct property acquisition. He specifically highlighted consortium participation as an effective approach for investors seeking diversified exposure without leverage requirements. “This collaborative model enables investors to distribute capital across multiple real estate ventures while maintaining financial flexibility and risk management,” Williams concluded, offering practical pathways for market participation.
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11 killed in mass shooting on Australia’s famous Bondi Beach
SYDNEY, Australia — The iconic Bondi Beach, a symbol of Australia’s vibrant coastal culture, became the scene of horrific violence Sunday when armed assailants opened fire on crowds celebrating Hanukkah, leaving eleven dead and numerous others hospitalized in the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in years.
Australian authorities have officially designated the assault as a terrorist attack specifically targeting Sydney’s Jewish community. Eyewitness accounts describe two shooters dressed in black and armed with semi-automatic rifles unleashing chaos upon the sun-drenched beachfront. The late afternoon tranquility was ruptured by approximately forty shots that witnesses initially mistook for fireworks.
The aftermath presented a harrowing tableau of abandoned personal belongings—towels, bags, and an empty children’s stroller—discarded by panicked beachgoers fleeing for safety. An AFP journalist on site observed six individuals lying wounded or deceased on the sand following the attack.
Amid the terror, acts of extraordinary bravery emerged. Viral social media footage captured a civilian wrestling a firearm from one attacker’s grasp. These individuals were later commended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as ‘heroes’ whose intervention potentially prevented further casualties.
Law enforcement responded rapidly, establishing security perimeters as the bustling entertainment district transformed into a crime scene illuminated by emergency lights rather than nightclub neon. One shooter was confirmed deceased while the other remained in critical condition.
International visitors among the witnesses expressed shock and sorrow. ‘I don’t know what to think. I just feel sad for people,’ stated Sam, a 24-year-old French tourist. Chilean student Camilo Diaz described the prolonged gunfire as ‘shocking’ and originating from ‘a powerful weapon.’
As night fell, shell-shocked survivors gathered beneath shop awnings, contacting anxious relatives to confirm their safety. The typically vibrant beach stood deserted, its emptiness reflecting the profound trauma inflicted upon the community during what should have been a festive religious observance.
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Person of interest in custody after deadly shooting at Brown University
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Law enforcement authorities have detained an individual connected to a mass shooting that erupted at Brown University’s campus on Saturday, leaving two students dead and nine others injured. The violent incident, which unfolded during final examinations, triggered an extensive lockdown and manhunt before authorities announced a breakthrough in the early hours of Sunday.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the detention of a person of interest during a press conference, subsequently lifting the shelter-in-place order that had paralyzed the Ivy League institution. “I want to offer my profound thanks to all the hardworking men and women in law enforcement who worked through the night to be able to get us to this point,” Smiley stated.
According to police reports, the shooting occurred in Barus and Holley Engineering Hall, where examinations were underway. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, seen from behind, walking briskly along a deserted street after opening fire inside a first-floor classroom. Police Colonel Oscar Perez indicated that authorities are “not at this point” seeking additional suspects in connection with the attack.
Of the nine wounded victims, all confirmed to be students, one remains in critical condition, seven are stabilized, and one has been discharged from medical care. The university has postponed all final examinations scheduled for Sunday.
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of terror and confusion. Katie Sun, a student who was studying nearby, reported hearing gunfire from classroom areas. “It was honestly quite terrifying. The shots seemed like they were coming from where the classrooms are,” she told the Brown Daily Herald, recounting how she fled without her belongings.
Lydell Dyer, another student working in the campus gym, described sheltering with 154 others in darkness. “We had to go gather everybody, bring them up to the top floor, turn off the lights, and put down the blinds,” he told CNN.
The shooting represents the latest in America’s ongoing crisis of gun violence, with more than 300 mass shootings recorded nationwide this year according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mayor Smiley emphasized the tragic abnormality of such events: “This should not be normal. This should not be the case that every community needs to prepare for something like this to happen.”
University President Christina Paxson confirmed the tragic loss of two students in a letter to the community, expressing profound grief over the “devastating gun violence” that struck the campus of approximately 11,000 students.
The university’s emergency alert system activated at 4:22 PM local time, instructing students to “lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice.” First responders discovered clothing and blood on sidewalks near the engineering building, according to local news reports.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, which he described as a “terrible thing,” while offering prayers for the victims. The incident revives painful memories of previous campus shootings, including the deadliest such event at Virginia Tech in 2007 that claimed 32 lives.