Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Rhino Waste Solutions and EVA Foundation spread clean holiday cheer

    Rhino Waste Solutions and EVA Foundation spread clean holiday cheer

    Rhino Waste Solutions, a division of Rotoplastics Trinidad Limited, has initiated a significant community outreach program focused on enhancing sanitation standards and environmental stewardship in southern Trinidad. The initiative, launched during the holiday season, involved the distribution of over 5,000 rolls of garbage bags to various communities within the Siparia and Fyzabad regions on December 11 and 17.

    The comprehensive program reached more than 15 educational institutions, religious organizations, and community groups. According to company representatives, this environmental initiative is designed to continue into the new year with plans to distribute an additional 7,000 rolls of garbage bags to 26 schools, orphanages, senior care facilities, and community organizations across southern Trinidad. The timing of these distributions aligns with the beginning of the new academic term to maximize impact.

    The corporate social responsibility effort is being conducted in partnership with the registered non-governmental organization EVA Foundation and enjoys support from Siparia West/Fyzabad councillor Jason Ali. The collaboration aims to address the seasonal increase in waste generation during the Christmas period when communities typically experience heightened disposal challenges.

    Councillor Ali emphasized that the donation would substantially augment the Siparia Borough Corporation’s waste management operations by providing residents with practical tools for more effective waste containment. Educational professionals from recipient schools noted that the contribution would support daily maintenance of clean and safe learning environments, as schools typically consume multiple garbage bags each day for sanitation purposes.

    This holiday initiative follows Rhino Waste Solutions’ previous collaboration with the Arima Borough Corporation in July, which involved the donation of four 65-gallon wheelie bins to support recreational facility revitalization projects. The company has indicated plans to expand similar donation programs to northern and central regions of Trinidad in the future.

  • No risk, no story: Keshorn credits coach for golden 2025

    No risk, no story: Keshorn credits coach for golden 2025

    In a remarkable career resurgence, Trinidad and Tobago’s javelin sensation Keshorn Walcott has ascended to the pinnacle of his sport once again, capturing the World Athletics Championships gold medal in Tokyo with a spectacular 88.16-meter throw on September 18, 2025. This triumphant achievement culminated an extraordinary season that began with uncertainty but transformed into glory through strategic coaching changes and mental transformation.

    The 32-year-old Olympic champion attributes his successful comeback to German biomechanics expert Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, whom he partnered with early in 2025. ‘I took a risk. As they say, no risk, no story,’ Walcott revealed during his acceptance speech after receiving Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s Sportsman of the Year award on December 29—his third such honor following previous wins in 2012 and 2016.

    Walcott’s journey to world championship gold required overcoming psychological barriers that had previously hindered his performance at global competitions. ‘I went to every World Championship believing it wasn’t for me,’ he confessed. ‘Most of the time, every World Championship year, I would be having some sort of injury or some sort of problems.’

    The Toco-born athlete described how a shift in mindset proved crucial: ‘This time, it was about really believing that it was possible. I just needed to make some small changes.’ This mental breakthrough, combined with Bartonietz’s technical expertise, created the perfect formula for success.

    With his world championship victory now complement his Olympic gold (2012) and bronze (2016), Walcott has set ambitious targets for the 2026 season. He aims to surpass the 90-meter barrier—a feat he previously accomplished a decade ago in Lausanne with a national record of 90.16m. The upcoming season presents multiple opportunities for excellence, including the Central American and Caribbean Games, Commonwealth Games, Diamond League circuit, and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

    Despite his renewed success, Walcott maintains that no achievement can replicate the euphoria of his unexpected Olympic gold as a teenager in London. Nevertheless, he expressed profound gratitude for the recent recognition from his national Olympic committee, acknowledging the significance of having his dedication and hard work validated by the sporting community.

  • Aniqah Bailey, Nicholas Romany conquer Hardest Mile at Santa Rosa

    Aniqah Bailey, Nicholas Romany conquer Hardest Mile at Santa Rosa

    In an impressive display of athletic prowess, national middle-distance runners Nicholas Romany and Aniqah Bailey emerged victorious at the fourth annual Hardest Mile race held on December 26. The event provided thrilling alternative entertainment for spectators during the Boxing Day horse-racing festivities at Santa Rosa Park in Arima.

    Over 100 determined runners tackled the demanding sandy terrain in pursuit of conquering the challenging one-mile course. Nicholas Romany demonstrated exceptional strategic racing, timing his final move perfectly to overtake Christopher Mitchell on the last bend. Romany crossed the finish line in an impressive 5 minutes and 1 second, securing the men’s title. Mitchell, who had maintained the lead for much of the race, finished just three seconds behind at 5:04 to claim second place.

    Darius Harding captured third position in the men’s category with a time of 5:07, followed by Keron Ali (5:18) and former Carifta boys’ under-20 5,000-meter champion Tafari Waldron (5:29) in fourth and fifth places respectively.

    Seventeen-year-old Aniqah Bailey delivered a remarkable performance in the women’s category, successfully defending her title with a significantly improved time of 5:52 compared to her previous winning time of 6:57. The rising star Nyla Kerr, aged just 14, claimed second place with a time of 6:04, demonstrating exceptional promise for future competitions.

    The women’s category saw intense competition for third place, with Alexia John (6:29) narrowly edging out April Francis (6:31). Twelve-year-old Chennai Moore completed the top five with a time of 6:41, also earning second place in the girls’ under-14 age group behind Kerr.

    Additional age category winners included Haqpera Khafra (women’s 20-29), Guswil George (men’s 40-49), Bauke Groen (men’s 50-59), and Beatrice Charles, who impressed in the women’s 60-plus category. The event showcased both elite athletic talent and inspiring participation across multiple age groups, highlighting the growing popularity of alternative sporting events during traditional holiday celebrations.

  • Antigua and Barbuda’s Tizzy returns to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Tizzy returns to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

    Antiguan soca sensation Tanzania ‘Tizzy’ Sebastian, renowned for her groundbreaking 2007 hit ‘Expose,’ is poised to make a spectacular return to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival 2026 season. The celebrated artist will showcase two explosive new singles: ‘Fire Marshall,’ crafted by Emerge Media, and ‘Freak in De Fete,’ penned by Barbados’ acclaimed songwriter Jus D.

    Tizzy’s comeback follows an exceptionally successful 2025 carnival season in Antigua and Barbuda, where her three recent releases—’Big Ben,’ ‘Charge Up,’ and the Viking Ding Dong collaboration ‘When Last’—received overwhelming audience acclaim. ‘I couldn’t have hoped for better. I think it was the launch for greater things,’ the artist reflected on her recent achievements.

    The soca veteran has cultivated strong artistic relationships with Trinidad’s music community over the years, maintaining connections with major bands and performers including Destra, Atlantik, and D’All Starz. These established ties make Trinidad feel like a second home for the Antiguan performer.

    Tizzy’s return represents more than just another carnival appearance—it marks the culmination of extensive personal reflection and strategic rebranding. ‘My motivation in this business is life,’ she explained. ‘Performing soca music is something I’m very passionate about, and I want to positively encourage those looking at my story.’

    The artist has been diligently working on her sophomore album, ‘Jus Ah Come,’ which she proudly claims as her independent accomplishment. While previous releases were under the ElAkru Music label, her new material is available across all streaming platforms, supported by her husband Rohan Hector who serves as both manager and producer.

    Tizzy characterizes soca as ‘a powerful, energetic genre that expresses what it means to be Caribbean,’ emphasizing how the music provides annual catharsis for hardworking people across the region. She anticipates connecting with fellow artists and soca enthusiasts during the upcoming festival season, promising to ‘hit the ground running’ with additional power soca tracks scheduled for release in the coming weeks.

  • TTFA expands grassroots push, SSFL women’s premiership set for 2026–27

    TTFA expands grassroots push, SSFL women’s premiership set for 2026–27

    In an ambitious move to transform football development, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will implement a comprehensive youth program reaching every primary school student nationwide starting in 2026. TTFA President Kieron Edwards unveiled this groundbreaking initiative during a December 28 interview, framing it as the cornerstone of the association’s long-term vision for the sport.

    The program will engage both boys and girls from age six upward, providing structured football exposure, tactical education, and passion cultivation through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education. This expansion builds upon successful collaborations with FIFA and Concacaf through initiatives like Generation Amazing and NEXT, which have already supplied equipment, training resources, and coach development to prepare schools for the full rollout.

    Edwards emphasized the program’s dual purpose: creating a sustainable pipeline for national team development and establishing football as a viable career path. The initiative represents a significant downward extension of existing efforts, complementing the high-performance program for ages 12-17 while strengthening connections with secondary schools and local leagues.

    Financial support for grassroots football has already been demonstrated through $50,000 allocations to zonal football operations in 2025. Additionally, the TTFA confirmed plans to launch a premier division for women’s secondary school football in the 2026-2027 season, addressing gender equity in development opportunities.

    Beyond school-based programs, the association will host monthly football festivals designed to revitalize playground participation and physical activity among youth. These developments coincide with preparation cycles for national youth teams, with U-17 boys and girls and U-20 boys squads scheduled for World Cup qualifying matches in early 2026.

    Edwards expressed considerable optimism about Trinidad and Tobago’s football future, characterizing 2025 as a foundation-building year that sets the stage for transformative progress in athletic development and career pathway establishment.

  • Harvard to pay tribute to late founding member Lenny Kirton

    Harvard to pay tribute to late founding member Lenny Kirton

    The Harvard Cricket Clinic, a renowned Trinidad and Tobago youth development institution, will commemorate its 60th anniversary by paying tribute to founding coach Lenny Kirton throughout its 2026 season starting January 4th. The organization announced on December 29th the establishment of a $5,000 memorial bursary in Kirton’s name, to be awarded to the most outstanding graduate at June 2026’s closing ceremony.

    The bursary criteria extend beyond cricketing prowess, emphasizing holistic development including discipline, educational achievement, and social skills. This approach reflects Kirton’s philosophy during his tenure, where he mentored future West Indies stars including Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, and batting legend Brian Lara. Remarkably, the clinic also nurtured 400-meter hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon before his track and field ascendancy.

    Kirton, who passed away in April 2020 at age 82, was remembered as instrumental in maintaining focus on education and social development alongside athletic training. His sister Juliet Brooks expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting her brother’s private nature but believing the honor would have pleased him given his dedication to youth development.

    The clinic’s new leadership team consists of former Trinidad and Tobago youth captain Lester Cassimy and ex-sports editor Valentino Singh, both 1970s alumni of Kirton’s program. They acknowledge cricket’s evolution from amateur pastime to professional career path in Trinidad and Tobago, promising operational modernization while preserving the clinic’s developmental ethos.

    Supported by former national youth player Umesh Persad, Nadine Gonzales, and ten accredited coaches, the revitalized program will feature professional coaching, modern techniques, athletic conditioning, sports psychology, competitive match experience, performance analytics, and leadership development for participants aged 5-18.

  • National players shine, Bad Santa win 3×3 Christmas Cup

    National players shine, Bad Santa win 3×3 Christmas Cup

    In a display of holiday-season athletic excellence, Trinidad and Tobago’s premier 3×3 basketball talents dominated Basketball Fan TT’s annual Christmas Cup competition on Boxing Day. The quartet comprising Chike Augustine, Tyrik Singh, and twin brothers Ahkeel ‘Smally’ Boyd and Ahkeem ‘Fatto’ Boyd, competing under the team name ‘Bad Santa’, captured the tournament championship with a decisive 18-11 victory over Oil Birds in the final showdown.

    The event, hosted at Bon Air Basketball Court in Arouca, provided spectators with high-energy entertainment as the nationally recognized players demonstrated their court prowess. The victory marks back-to-back Christmas Cup titles for Singh, who previously triumphed in the 2024 edition with his former team ‘Three Wise Men’ alongside teammates Jason Friday and Jelani Valley.

    Adding to his team’s accomplishments, Ahkeem ‘Fatto’ Boyd secured individual honors by claiming the tournament’s three-point shooting contest championship. His perimeter marksmanship, recently showcased while representing Trinidad and Tobago at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup tournament in León, Mexico last November, proved superior against formidable competition.

    Beyond the athletic achievements, the event served charitable purposes through a successful food donation drive. Participants and patrons contributed both perishable and non-perishable food items, with all non-perishable donations designated for charitable distribution selected by the winning Bad Santa team.

    Basketball Fan TT extended gratitude to local sponsors and community supporters including Bon Air/Arouca/Cane Farm councillor Maria Baptiste, who provided the venue and entertainment infrastructure. The organization also acknowledged contributions from Action Sounds, Bless Convenience for the People Mini Mart, Chords on Steel, Country House Supermarkets, Kiss Baking Company, Los Alumnos de San Juan, PartyVerse Supplies, and numerous volunteers who ensured the event’s success.

  • Pressure rises at Piparo mud volcano

    Pressure rises at Piparo mud volcano

    Despite surface-level calm returning to Piparo’s mud volcano, University of the West Indies (UWI) researchers maintain urgent warnings of escalating eruption risks as underground pressure continues mounting. The research team, led by Professor Oshaine Blake and PhD candidate Kerneese Ramjarrie, documented sustained pressure increases in their December 30 advisory following the volcano’s December 24 explosive activity.

    Critical monitoring data reveals persistent pressure accumulation northwest of the main vent at Monitoring Well #6, where readings surged from 55 to 62.5 PSI during the eruption event and continue fluctuating around 60.5 PSI. Researchers attribute this dangerous pressure build-up to limited fracture networks in the area that prevent adequate pressure release.

    Meanwhile, the main vent sensor (Monitoring Well #3) captured a characteristic ‘breathing’ pattern—pressure rising to 22 PSI before dropping to 19 PSI and oscillating within a 1 PSI range. This rhythmic pressure variation indicates an active volcanic system repeatedly building and releasing energy through subsurface fractures.

    The December 24 eruption caused substantial community damage, ejecting gas and mud chunks that partially destroyed two homes, disrupted utilities, and triggered road collapses. Despite rehabilitation efforts by local authorities restoring electricity and water services, residents face ongoing displacement. Sixty-five-year-old Kim Seebaran abandoned her home of 32 years due to safety concerns, while Fedell Solomon relocated his three young daughters fearing sudden evacuations.

    UWI scientists urgently recommend enhanced monitoring capabilities and immediate funding for predictive systems. Their findings will inform hazard zoning maps and emergency response planning, with stakeholders convening this week to reassess community safety protocols. Residents are advised to avoid fractured areas, report new gas emissions or ground movement, and heed all emergency directives.

  • New registration eases Venezuelan migrants’ anxiety

    New registration eases Venezuelan migrants’ anxiety

    Trinidad and Tobago has initiated a significant expansion of its migrant regularization program, extending eligibility to all undocumented migrants within its borders. Angela Ramnarine of the La Romaine Migrant Support Programme confirmed the development, noting widespread approval among Venezuelan migrants despite some skepticism from a minority faction.

    The program revival comes six years after Trinidad’s initial 2019 registration drive that documented 16,000 Venezuelans. Ramnarine observed that registered numbers had progressively declined since then, resulting in a growing population of undocumented migrants who “felt like they were being hunted by the law.”

    Speaking with Newsday on December 30, Ramnarine reported receiving numerous calls from employers praising Venezuelan workers as “fantastic” contributors, particularly in construction sectors. The new initiative aims to address two critical objectives: comprehensive data collection and enhanced migration control.

    The political context remains inseparable from the migration crisis. Ramnarine noted that Prime Minister Keith Rowley has consistently positioned herself alongside the Venezuelan people amid international disputes regarding President Nicolás Maduro’s legitimacy. Migrants predominantly blame the Chavez and Maduro administrations for their displacement, with many viewing Maduro’s potential removal as their only hope for returning home safely.

    Regarding U.S. involvement, Ramnarine suggested American policies might be strategically designed to encourage migrant settlement in regional neighbors rather than attempting northward migration. She contrasted former President Trump’s threatened deportations of 600,000 Venezuelans with Trinidad’s current regularization approach.

    The nine-month registration window raised questions about duration adequacy, with Ramnarine advocating for employer inclusion in policy discussions. She emphasized the substantial impact migrant labor has created within Trinidad’s workforce, particularly in construction and service industries where employers expressed strong opposition to potential deportations.

    Ramnarine welcomed the program as a remedy to arbitrary enforcement practices, citing pre-Christmas Eve arrests conducted “in an ICE-like way” where detainees could allegedly secure release through under-the-table payments. The regularization should reduce such inconsistencies while alleviating the pervasive fear that prevented migrants from working or sending children to school following October deportation warnings from the Ministry of Homeland Security.

  • High Court pushes for settlement in cyclists’ challenge to TTCF trials

    High Court pushes for settlement in cyclists’ challenge to TTCF trials

    In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago cycling, elite sprinters Njisane Phillip and Makaira Wallace of JLD Cycling Academy, alongside professional enduro rider Alexi Costa-Ramirez, have received a High Court directive to present a settlement proposal to the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF). This judicial instruction emerged from a virtual hearing presided over by Justice Westmin James on December 30, focusing on the federation’s controversial scheduling of national selection trials for the Pan American Track Championships.

    The court-mandated proposal aims to resolve the dispute surrounding the TTCF’s announcement of mandatory trials scheduled for January 17—a date that falls fewer than 12 weeks before the prestigious continental championships. The athletes, represented by attorney Dr. Emir Crowne, previously sought an injunction against the trials, asserting that the timing contravenes the federation’s constitutional provisions and established selection protocols.

    Central to the cyclists’ legal challenge is their claim that the TTCF’s own policies explicitly require national trials to be conducted at least 12 weeks prior to international competitions. They further argue that this abrupt scheduling departure from established practices could potentially jeopardize Olympic qualification opportunities, which frequently depend on meticulously planned continental championship timelines.

    TTCF president Rowena Williams acknowledged that no definitive decisions were reached during the hearing but expressed optimism regarding reaching a mutual agreement by January 2. The federation maintains that trials represent a legitimate selection methodology, noting that previous team selections have incorporated both competitive trials and discretionary choices. The TTCF additionally asserts that the January trial date received proper authorization through a council meeting attended by all three athletes involved in the current dispute.

    Should the settlement negotiations prove unsuccessful, Justice James indicated the High Court stands prepared to issue a prompt ruling on the matter, potentially setting a significant precedent for athlete-federation relations in Trinidad and Tobago sports governance.