标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In the wake of the catastrophic Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on October 28, the Furness Trinidad Group has mobilized urgent relief efforts. Through its food distribution arm, Furness Shipping & Marketing Limited, the group has dispatched essential canned food items, including corn, peas, carrots, red beans, and chickpeas, to support the affected population. The hurricane, described as the ‘storm of the century,’ caused unprecedented devastation across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, claiming at least 34 lives and leaving widespread destruction in its path. With sustained winds reaching 298 km/h (185 mph) at its peak, Hurricane Melissa surpassed the intensity of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005. William A Ferreira, Chairman and CEO of the Furness Group, expressed profound sorrow for the loss of life and destruction, while emphasizing solidarity with the people of Jamaica. He highlighted the resilience of the Jamaican people, stating that this disaster marks a new chapter rather than the end of their story. Ferreira also praised the dedicated efforts of his team, who worked tirelessly to ensure the timely delivery of aid despite the challenging circumstances. The Furness Group’s initiative underscores the importance of collective support in times of crisis, offering hope and essential resources to those affected by this historic natural disaster.

Soroptimist International Esperance has made significant strides in addressing period poverty and menstrual stigma among adolescent girls in Trinidad. Initiated in 2021, the club’s research uncovered that many girls from impoverished backgrounds missed school during their menstrual cycles due to the inability to afford or access sanitary products. This revelation spurred the club into action, launching a comprehensive initiative to provide sanitary products, educate students, and advocate for policy changes to support menstrual health. The project, initially a three-year pilot, has been extended into its fourth year due to its critical need and remarkable success. The initiative targets schools such as ASJA Girls’ College Barrackpore, Debe Presbyterian Primary, and Picton Presbyterian Primary, with additional donations to Barrackpore West Secondary and Cedros Secondary. The club’s efforts align with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Clean Water and Sanitation. Key achievements include a 12% improvement in school attendance among girls previously missing school due to menstruation, reduced stigma, and the establishment of Menstrual Pad Corners in schools. The club has also engaged in outreach drives, with members, including a 99-year-old volunteer, educating the public and soliciting donations. Corporate partners like Bryden Pi Ltd and Alston’s Marketing Company Ltd have contributed significantly, while individuals and organizations such as Digicel staff and local supermarkets have also supported the cause. Despite funding challenges, the club remains committed to advocating for government support and sustainable solutions, including the removal of import duties on sanitary products. Soroptimist International Esperance’s Period Positivity Project stands as a testament to the power of community-led efforts in promoting dignity, equality, and education for girls.

In a significant environmental initiative, bmobile volunteers recently joined forces with Nature Seekers at Matura Beach, a protected turtle nesting site in Trinidad and Tobago, as part of the 2025 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). The effort, which saw the removal of over 1,100 pounds of debris, underscores bmobile’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. Plastic bottles, fishing nets, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable materials were collected, safeguarding the habitat of endangered leatherback turtles and other marine life. Anjanie Ramesar-Soom, bmobile’s corporate environmental and social responsibility specialist, emphasized the company’s broader vision of building stronger communities and a sustainable future. The cleanup is part of bmobile’s long-standing corporate social responsibility agenda, which includes coastal preservation as a key pillar. Vanessa Rampersad, a network performance systems engineer at TSTT, highlighted the importance of such efforts in protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The 40th anniversary of the ICC, organized globally by Ocean Conservancy, saw data from local cleanups coordinated by the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) informing regional waste-management strategies. CNIRD’s executive director, Marissa Mohammed, praised bmobile’s consistent involvement, calling the company a ‘green pioneer.’ Nature Seekers’ tour coordinator, Larissa Hosein, expressed gratitude for bmobile’s support, noting the positive impact on Matura’s coastline. The cleanup was further supported by the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, ensuring proper waste disposal. Matura, a globally recognized nesting site for leatherback and green sea turtles, plays a vital role in eco-tourism and local livelihoods. Through its participation in the ICC and annual volunteer programs, bmobile reaffirms its dedication to environmental stewardship and the global movement for cleaner, healthier seas.

During a recent visit to a residential neighborhood, I was struck by the sight of nearly 100 children, accompanied by their parents and siblings, dressed as vampires, ghosts, Frankenstein, and werewolves. They carried pumpkin-shaped containers, moving from house to house collecting sweets. A quarter of the adults also wore costumes, with many items purchased locally or online. This scene, reminiscent of an episode of *Twilight Zone*, highlighted the growing appeal of Halloween, a celebration that has evolved from a niche subculture to a mainstream, almost sacred event. A resident explained that while community efforts to celebrate Divali, Eid, and Christmas had poor turnouts, Halloween’s trick-or-treating had captured the neighborhood’s imagination. When I asked children about local folklore like Papa Bois, they were clueless, with one parent dismissing such tales as “evil.” This experience underscored how Halloween’s joyous celebration has been decades in the making, fueled by a steady diet of horror movies and novels. Films like *Halloween*, *The Exorcist*, and *Twilight* have romanticized horror, while slasher movies have normalized violence. Studies, such as one published in *Media Psychology* in 1999, reveal that such media can cause residual anxiety and even symptoms akin to PTSD. NeuroLaunch’s 2023 article further emphasized the mental health risks, including phobias. The Caribbean, too, faces the impact of this cultural imperialism, with local horror movies mirroring the violence and gore of Hollywood. While some argue that Halloween fosters social interaction and creativity, its normalization of violence and desensitization to real-life horrors raise critical questions. As Halloween’s popularity grows, it may soon find its way into school curricula or even become a public holiday, marking its transformation from a fringe event to a cultural cornerstone.