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A recent flight experience on Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) has sparked criticism from a passenger, highlighting significant issues with in-flight service. The incident occurred on Flight BW481 from Fort Lauderdale to Piarco on November 2, 2025. Despite a two-hour delay, the passenger noted that airport and desk staff were courteous and apologetic. However, the situation deteriorated once onboard. A flight attendant’s inappropriate remark about passengers using the restroom caused embarrassment, particularly among elderly travelers. Throughout the flight, the attendant displayed a belligerent attitude, including mocking passengers struggling with overhead bins and dismissing inquiries about meal options. The passenger, a frequent flyer with 50 years of experience, described the attendant’s behavior as the worst they had encountered. Despite CAL’s accolades, including being named the Caribbean’s Leading Airline Brand for the ninth consecutive year and receiving the APEX Five-Star Major Airline rating, the passenger urged the airline’s management to address these service shortcomings to maintain its esteemed reputation.

In a heartfelt celebration of World Kindness Day, President Christine Kangaloo and her husband, Kerwyn Garcia, SC, visited the JC Mac Donald Home for the Aged on November 14, bringing warmth and compassion to its residents. The visit, marked by meaningful interactions and shared moments of joy, underscored the importance of kindness in fostering community connections. Established in 1931, the JC Mac Donald Home has a storied history of serving the elderly, currently housing 20 residents under the care of a dedicated team of 12 staff members. The President’s Office also organized a special lunch for the residents, enhancing the day’s festivities. A highlight of the visit was the debut performance of the Office of the President’s Choir, whose uplifting melodies brought music and delight to the home. President Kangaloo expressed her gratitude to the home’s management and staff for their unwavering commitment to caring for the elderly, reaffirming the significance of such acts of kindness in society.

In a world where traditional notions of masculinity often discourage emotional expression, mental health practitioner Amanda Ackbarali is championing a more compassionate approach to men’s mental health. As International Men’s Day (November 19) and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month are observed, Ackbarali highlights the urgent need for culturally grounded support systems to help men navigate their emotional struggles. With over a decade of experience in psychology and mediation, Ackbarali founded The Opening Lotus in 2018, a mental health practice dedicated to providing accessible care for marginalized populations, including men facing depression, anxiety, burnout, and unresolved grief. She emphasizes that men often seek therapy not because they are ‘mentally ill,’ but because life has become overwhelming, and they are ready to find new ways to cope. Ackbarali points out that societal expectations in Trinidad and Tobago often pressure men to suppress their emotions, leading them to cope through humor, alcohol, or religion rather than addressing their pain. She advocates for healing spaces that feel natural and culturally familiar, such as river limes, hikes, or football matches, where men can open up without judgment. Ackbarali also notes a generational shift, with younger men increasingly embracing therapy and older men showing greater emotional openness. She calls for a strengths-based approach to men’s mental health, celebrating their resilience and capacity for leadership and care. By teaching emotional literacy early and using creative methods like music, storytelling, and sports, Ackbarali believes we can raise emotionally intelligent boys who grow into compassionate men. She urges parents, teachers, and communities to listen without ridicule and encourages men to start their healing journey, knowing that one man’s progress can inspire another.