标签： Trinidad and Tobago

The National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) of Trinidad and Tobago has achieved significant recognition for its groundbreaking efforts in promoting accessibility. The institution was honored as a finalist for the 2025 Inter-American Development Bank President’s Award for Innovation in Service Excellence (Praise) in the Citizen External User Experience Category for its transformative Marrakesh Project.

During the prestigious awards ceremony hosted at the President’s House on November 26, Nalis received dual honors: their official finalist certification and the distinguished Audience Choice Impact Award within their category. This special recognition, determined by the judging panel, acknowledges the project’s exceptional potential to create meaningful positive change for Trinidad and Tobago’s citizens.

The Marrakesh Project represents a critical advancement in educational accessibility. As the legally authorized entity under the Marrakesh Treaty, Nalis holds the exclusive mandate within Trinidad and Tobago to produce materials in accessible formats including Braille, audio, and large print publications. This initiative specifically serves students who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.

Beyond domestic impact, the project contributes significantly to global accessibility efforts. Nalis systematically converts local educational materials and shares these resources through the international Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), enabling worldwide access to Trinidad and Tobago’s literary and educational content.

The recognition followed a rigorous selection process. A dedicated Nalis team comprising Helen Johnson, Director of Information Networks Division, and Donna Hall-Comissiong, Librarian IV, presented the project directly to the IDB’s judging panel on October 7. Nalis emerged among 12 finalists from various government ministries and departments, all demonstrating exceptional citizen impact across two primary categories: Internal User Experience and External Citizen Experience.

Now in its eighth iteration, the IDB’s President’s Awards continue to highlight excellence and innovation within Trinidad and Tobago’s public sector, showcasing initiatives that significantly enhance citizen services and operational efficiency. The 2025 top honors in the External User Experience Category were awarded to the Ministry of Education for its First Year Infant Registration System TT (FIRSTT) project, while the North West Regional Health Authority secured the Internal User Experience award for implementing a Comprehensive Health Information System.

The Rio Claro community in Trinidad and Tobago finds itself grappling with escalating violent crime as residents express both support and skepticism regarding the newly passed Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025.

Recent months have witnessed a disturbing pattern of violent attacks plaguing this eastern district. On November 25, two masked assailants—one armed with a cutlass, the other with a firearm—stormed a San Pedro business establishment around 2:45 pm. The attackers subdued two male proprietors, aged 62 and 50, binding them before brutally beating the victims and ransacking both their commercial premises and residence. The confrontation culminated with the younger victim being shot in the leg before the perpetrators fled.

This incident follows an earlier assault captured on CCTV footage at a Rio Claro bar, where two masked individuals in long-sleeved clothing accosted a waitress cleaning the lobby. The surveillance recording documented the woman’s terrified screams as she attempted to escape, only to be violently thrown to the floor. The assailants spent two minutes and twenty-five seconds systematically stealing her purse, snacks, and various items from behind the counter.

Tragedy struck again earlier in November when 58-year-old Sylvan Boodhan of Tabaquite Road was fatally shot in the head during an 8:30 am meeting in San Pedro. Despite residents alerting authorities to the suspected killer’s escape, police response failed to apprehend the individual.

Local sources speaking under strict anonymity reveal these represent merely a fraction of approximately ten recent attacks, with many occurring in broad daylight since September. A pervasive climate of fear has prevented numerous incidents from being formally reported due to concerns about retaliation.

This atmosphere of intimidation has severely hampered law enforcement efforts. One business owner disclosed that even when CCTV footage exists, residents routinely refuse to provide evidence to investigators. “Nobody is willing to give the footage. People are saying their cameras are not working. They just safeguard themselves,” the resident explained.

The community remains divided on legislative solutions. While some residents enthusiastically support the stand-your-ground legislation, believing it will provide essential protection, others question its practical effectiveness. A San Pedro small business owner who nostalgically recalled times when “you could sleep with your door open” argued that enhanced police presence would better address security concerns than the new law.

Critics point to potential legal pitfalls, noting that homeowners using deadly force might still face murder charges, potentially remaining in custody for over a decade before exoneration. Meanwhile, law enforcement has launched Operation Festive Shield, an anti-crime initiative designed to increase police visibility and strengthen community relationships during the upcoming Christmas and Carnival seasons.

The legislation, which passed the Senate on December 5 without amendments after clearing the House of Representatives on November 26, eliminates the duty to retreat when defending one’s dwelling and permits the use of defensive force, including lethal measures, against home invaders. Attorney General John Jeremie cited alarming statistical increases in home invasions over the past decade as justification for the bill, emphasizing how such crimes have “resulted in shattered families, loss of life, and a sense of violation both of the person and the sanctity of a person’s home.”

The delicate art of crafting perfect croissants—long considered the domain of professional patisseries—has been made accessible to home bakers through a comprehensive guide by Naomi Anderson, founder of Trinidad’s Unicakery workshop. This culinary breakthrough centers on mastering laminated dough, the foundational technique behind French viennoiserie.

The critical success factor lies in temperature management of butter, which must maintain a precise state between firmness and flexibility. When incorporated correctly, butter creates steam during baking that separates dough layers into the characteristic airy, flaky texture. Anderson emphasizes that butter that’s too cold will fracture and compromise layer integrity, while overly soft butter will assimilate into the dough rather than creating separation.

Anderson’s beginner-friendly recipe utilizes standard ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, salt, milk, eggs, and two cups of butter divided into precisely measured portions. The process involves creating a basic dough ball followed by systematic incorporation of butter blocks through a series of rolls, folds, and chilling cycles.

The technique demonstration shows butter being divided into eight portions, formed into rectangular blocks through pounding between parchment sheets, and systematically enveloped by dough through multiple laminations. Each cycle requires 20-minute chilling intervals to maintain optimal butter consistency.

This versatile dough foundation enables creation of multiple pastry varieties including classic croissants, chocolate-filled variations, or Danish pastries. Anderson stresses that gentle handling during rolling preserves the carefully built layers that define quality pastries.

With twelve years of professional pastry experience, Anderson has transformed Unicakery into a Port of Spain culinary education hub specializing in specialty desserts and hands-on workshops. Her approach demonstrates that patience and precise temperature control can yield bakery-quality results in home kitchens, empowering enthusiasts to elevate their baking capabilities through structured technique mastery.