Carib Scope

标签： Trinidad and Tobago

特立尼达和多巴哥

  • Sea of white as thousands flock Xperience fete

    Sea of white as thousands flock Xperience fete

    San Fernando’s Skinner Park underwent a spectacular transformation on January 17 as thousands of music enthusiasts clad in white converged for Xperience: Equilibrium, the acclaimed cooler fete experience that marked a significant venue transition for this annual carnival celebration.

    The event showcased an impressive roster of over 30 performing artists, highlighted by the iconic King of Soca, Machel Montano. Montano delivered a powerhouse performance featuring his potential Road March contender ‘Encore,’ though it was his collaborative piece ‘Pull d Pin’ with soca stars Lil Natty and Thunda that truly electrified the audience. The musical extravaganza further included stellar appearances from Nadia Batson, Bunji Garlin, Voice, Iwer George, Yung Bredda, Lyrikal, Mical Teja, Patrice Roberts, and Lady Lava.

    Audience engagement reached fever pitch during Full Blown’s rendition of their massive hit ‘Respectfully Yours,’ with the crowd demonstrating unwavering enthusiasm throughout the evening. The entertainment package was enhanced by traditional carnival elements including moko jumbies, an energetic rhythm section, and a vividly painted fire-breathing character (a blue devil adorned in green) that maintained the event’s dynamic atmosphere.

    This year’s relocation from the Brian Lara Cricket Academy to Skinner Park followed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s directive prohibiting carnival events at sporting venues. Sheldon Stephen, Managing Director of Lollabee Group of Companies and event promoter, confirmed to Newsday that the production concluded without incidents or accidents. While acknowledging the successful turnout of both artists and patrons, Stephen remained noncommittal regarding whether Skinner Park would become the event’s permanent home.

    Newsday photographer Innis Francis documented the vibrant spectacle, capturing images of revelers immersed in the soca experience, artists delivering memorable performances, and the sea of white-clad attendees that defined the visual aesthetic of Xperience: Equilibrium.

  • Artist Sarah Beckett bids goodbye to Trinidad and Tobago

    Artist Sarah Beckett bids goodbye to Trinidad and Tobago

    After more than five decades of artistic dedication, renowned artist and poet Sarah Beckett prepares to depart Trinidad and Tobago with a profound final exhibition that mirrors her lifelong connection to the nation. ‘Echoes of a Lifetime,’ hosted at Horizons Art Gallery on Mucurapo Road from January 21-24, serves as both a retrospective and heartfelt farewell before her relocation to the United Kingdom.

    The exhibition assembles approximately 100 works spanning 25 years of creative output, including oils, drawings, acrylics, and gouache pieces ranging from monumental canvases to intricate miniatures. While some works have been previously exhibited, others will debut publicly for the first time. Accompanying these pieces will be a selection of Beckett’s personal sketchbooks, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the genesis of her artistic ideas.

    At nearly 80 years old and following a year of health challenges, Beckett acknowledged her children’s encouragement to relocate closer to family in the UK. She embraces this transition as an opportunity to ‘learn a new song in my 80s,’ maintaining optimism about establishing her own flat while remaining near loved ones.

    Despite this geographical shift, Beckett emphasizes this does not mark the conclusion of her creative journey. While conceding that large-scale works requiring physical endurance may become impractical, she intends to continue painting on a reduced scale. Additionally, she remains engaged in developing an illustrated poetry book, a project she plans to advance within her new environment.

    Beckett’s connection to Trinidad defies simple explanation. First arriving at age 20 from Southampton with her three children and Trinidadian husband, she subsequently lived elsewhere but consistently returned to the island. A 2015 relocation attempt to the UK lasted merely nine months before she recognized her unreadiness to leave Trinidad permanently, describing the nation as ‘entwined in my blood.’

    Her profound affection found expression in the 2024 poetry collection ‘Iere: Living in the Land of the Humming Bird,’ where she reflected that Trinidad nurtured her development as both poet and artist. The publication stands as her lyrical tribute to the island’s beauty, cultural complexities, and enduring spirit, while also acknowledging its struggles.

    The current transition inspired her newest poem ‘My Song,’ which opens with the verses: ‘Do not call this ending,/do not name it closure,/I know how to carry the sun/in the palms of my hands,/dye drab walls with color.’ These lines encapsulate her perspective that this departure represents transformation rather than termination.

    Beckett acknowledges the emotional complexity of preparing her final exhibition while dismantling decades of life in Trinidad. She expresses gratitude for her extraordinary experiences and artistic opportunities while acknowledging the inherent sadness of farewell. Nevertheless, she affirms the timeliness of this decision and anticipates familial connections in her next chapter.

    Her parting wisdom encourages focusing on life’s small blessings rather than lamenting circumstances, emphasizing appreciation over longing for alternatives. The exhibition not only showcases artistic legacy but embodies Beckett’s philosophical approach to transitions—honoring the past while embracing new beginnings.

  • Taking bets on Sunday gambling

    Taking bets on Sunday gambling

    The National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) of Trinidad and Tobago has announced a significant policy shift that will permit gambling operations on Sundays starting February 8, marking a departure from the country’s longstanding tradition of restricting gaming activities on the Sabbath. The decision, published in a January 2 legal notice, includes modified draw times and maintains the suspension of gaming on religious public holidays.

    The NLCB justifies this expansion as a business development strategy, noting that Trinidad and Tobago remains the only Caribbean nation without Sunday gambling. The board emphasizes that lottery facilities will provide utility bill payment services and other non-gambling transactions alongside gaming options, attempting to balance convenience with cultural sensitivity.

    This policy change has sparked substantial opposition from religious organizations and industry stakeholders alike. The Trinidad and Tobago Council of Evangelical Churches issued a strong condemnation, arguing that Sunday gambling exacerbates addiction risks and undermines societal moral foundations. Meanwhile, the Electronic Lotto Agents Association expressed practical concerns about increased operational costs, potential security risks, and uncertain financial returns from the additional operating day.

    Notably, the decision appears to have been made without comprehensive stakeholder consultation. Dave Persad, president of the Online Gaming Agents Association, revealed that industry representatives learned about the policy change through social media and have been unable to secure meetings with the NLCB board appointed in July.

    The move occurs within Trinidad and Tobago’s unique gambling landscape, where petroleum revenues have historically reduced the economic pressure to expand gaming tourism that many neighboring Caribbean nations have embraced. The country’s gambling sector exists in a complex regulatory space between privately licensed operators and state-sanctioned games overseen by the NLCB.

  • Veronica Callender, dancing her way to the top

    Veronica Callender, dancing her way to the top

    An 11-year-old dance sensation from Trinidad and Tobago is poised to make her mark on the global stage following a spectacular debut performance at the All Dance World Championships in Orlando. Veronica Callender, a student at Newtown Girls’ RC School, achieved the remarkable feat of securing dual victories in the Dancehall and Afro dance categories within the All New Dancer division for ages 11-14 last April.

    The young prodigy, representing both her nation and the Lil Angel of Dance academy, demonstrated extraordinary talent during her first international competition and overseas journey. Despite initial challenges with complex choreography crafted by her instructor Roxanne Augustine-Charles, Callender’s perseverance transformed uncertainty into confidence through rigorous training.

    Her pre-performance strategy involves mentally transforming the stage into her personal dance space, eliminating nervousness by imagining herself dancing alone in her room. This psychological technique proved effective until the awards ceremony, where anxious moments turned to exhilaration as she discovered her dual victories.

    Beyond the competition, Callender embraced cultural exchange, introducing international peers to Trinidadian culture while experiencing American fast food and shopping. Her triumph has unlocked an invitation to the International Dance Open in Italy, where she aims to replicate her success.

    The journey to Italy requires substantial financial backing, prompting Lil Angel of Dance to seek corporate and public sponsorship. Callender balances her dance career with academic commitments at Newtown Girls’ RC School and musical involvement in the TT Cadet Force Steel Orchestra and Highlanders Junior Steel Orchestra.

    With six years of dance experience spanning Dance Dynamix of TT and her current academy, Callender specializes in Dance Hall, Afrobeats, Reggaeton and Hip hop, while expressing interest in exploring traditional Indian dance. As preparations intensify for the 2026 competition, the young ambassador anticipates Italian cuisine and cultural exploration alongside her competitive objectives.

  • San Juan South school Hillview at TTSBA opening

    San Juan South school Hillview at TTSBA opening

    The Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena in Tacarigua witnessed an explosive start to the TT Schools Basketball Association (TTSBA) season on January 15, with several schools delivering commanding performances across multiple age divisions.

    In east zone boys’ under-15 action, San Juan South Secondary demonstrated absolute dominance with a crushing 26-8 victory over Hillview College. The match was highlighted by Tyerese Singh’s exceptional offensive display, as the standout player contributed 13 points to secure his team’s decisive win.

    North zone competition featured an intense boys’ under-17 showdown where St Mary’s College emerged triumphant against traditional rivals Queen’s Royal College with a final score of 49-36. The ‘Saints’ were propelled to victory by N’kobie Ince’s impressive 15-point performance that consistently overwhelmed their opponents’ defense.

    South/central zone action saw Presentation College (San Fernando) claim a solid 27-17 win against St Benedict’s College in under-20 boys’ competition. The victory was anchored by Justin Francis’s notable 13-point contribution that established early momentum for his team.

    The day’s lone girls’ matchup featured St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain overpowering East Mucurapo Secondary 18-5 in a north zone open fixture. Li Mobhair and Saria Riley shared scoring honors with six points each, handing last year’s girls’ under-15 champions a disappointing season opener.

    This new season begins following Fatima College’s remarkable double championship achievement in 2023, where they secured both boys’ under-17 and under-20 titles, while Holy Cross College captured the under-15 trophy.

  • Children create own soca at Spirit Mas workshop

    Children create own soca at Spirit Mas workshop

    PORT OF SPAIN – More than 100 children from three Trinidadian children’s homes experienced an immersive introduction to Carnival arts during Spirit Mas’ second annual Children’s Carnival Workshop at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on January 11.

    The event brought together youth from St Mary’s Children’s Home, Credo Foundation, and Rainbow Rescue for a comprehensive exploration of Carnival’s creative dimensions. Participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions across multiple disciplines including songwriting, costume design, deejaying, stilt-walking, and traditional soca and cultural dance.

    Guiding the young participants were nationally recognized practitioners in each field. The songwriting segment, led by Freetown Collective’s lead singer Muhammad Muwakil alongside music producers Kitwana Israel, Kyle Phillips, and Mevon Soodeen, provided deep insights into musical creation. Facilitators demonstrated fundamental songwriting techniques, vocal dynamics, and the transformation of creative concepts into polished productions.

    The workshop culminated in a collaborative achievement as participants composed and performed their own unofficial soca composition. Fifteen-year-old Aliyah emerged as the lead vocalist, recording verses while other children contributed supporting vocals and additional lyrics. The emotional impact was palpable when participants heard their collective work played back for the first time.

    “It was shocking. It sounded amazing, and I didn’t even recognise my own voice,” Aliyah expressed, adding with hopeful anticipation, “Maybe one day I’ll be a singer.”

    The program featured specialized instruction across multiple Carnival disciplines: Marvin Dowridge led cultural dance sessions, Rocstars Deejay Academy provided DJ instruction, Nkwame Martin taught soca dance, and the National Steel Symphony Orchestra introduced steelpan fundamentals. Costume design was facilitated by Nakitah Hyatali and Deshaune Fitzwilliam, while stilt-walking instruction came from the Kaiso Kai Valencia Cultural Group, with makeup artistry handled by Madame Maharaj Beauty School.

    Aliyah highlighted the workshop’s significance for cultural preservation, noting: “This is a way of passing down knowledge and experience so the next generation will be educated on our culture and heritage. It’s important that Spirit continues this.”

  • Scotland: ‘Zones bill’ will worsen stigma in crime hotspots

    Scotland: ‘Zones bill’ will worsen stigma in crime hotspots

    PORT OF SPAIN – Opposition Parliament Member Keith Scotland has launched a forceful critique against the proposed Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) Bill, arguing it would institutionalize discrimination against residents in designated areas while undermining constitutional protections. During an extended parliamentary session that stretched from January 16 into the early hours of January 17, the Port of Spain South MP positioned the legislation as merely a rebranded extension of emergency powers set to expire on January 31, 2026.

    Scotland emphasized that the bill fails to address fundamental concerns about parliamentary oversight, time limitations, and clear exit strategies. He cautioned that designating specific communities as ‘zones of special operation’ would subject law-abiding citizens to perpetual collective suspicion, exacerbating existing stigmatization that already hinders their access to employment and financial services.

    The MP drew parallels to Jamaica’s legal experience, citing the Dayton Campbell versus Attorney General case where appellate judges ruled similar security powers unconstitutional. He questioned the government’s rationale for modeling legislation on a framework already deemed legally problematic by regional courts.

    Scotland also challenged the government’s narrative of success during the recent state of emergency, noting that crime reduction achievements should be attributed to broader law enforcement policies rather than extraordinary measures. He warned against normalizing emergency powers, emphasizing that effective crime fighting requires strengthening routine policing rather than creating permanent special zones.

    ‘When the state of emergency was first introduced, the public expected something fundamentally different in its replacement,’ Scotland stated. ‘Instead, we are presented with legislation that risks becoming a permanent emergency under another name.’

    The opposition MP further noted that historical designations of emergency measures have disproportionately targeted specific socioeconomic communities, raising concerns about embedded structural biases in security policy formulation.

  • Harnarine claims innocence as CoE report goes public

    Harnarine claims innocence as CoE report goes public

    In the aftermath of Trinidad and Tobago’s financial crisis, former Hindu Credit Union (HCU) president Harry Harnarine has publicly asserted his innocence regarding the findings of the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the collapse of both Colonial Life Insurance Company (Clico) and HCU. Harnarine’s declaration on January 17 came directly in response to Attorney General John Jeremie’s presentation of the CoE reports before the House of Representatives.

    During a telephone interview, Harnarine maintained his position stating, “I haven’t done anything wrong,” emphasizing his full cooperation with the enquiry process by attending all hearings when summoned as a witness. Other prominent figures including former finance minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira and former Finance Ministry permanent secretary Vishnu Dhanpaul also testified during the proceedings.

    The CoE report outlined potential civil remedies for affected HCU depositors, noting that those receiving government relief up to $75,000 would assign their entitlements to the state. The commission identified legislative provisions enabling the Commissioner for Cooperative Development to investigate possible misfeasance or breach of trust by HCU officers.

    However, the CoE acknowledged limitations in evidence gathering, stating insufficient oral and documentary evidence was available by the conclusion of hearings. This evidentiary gap prompted recommendations for the Director of Public Prosecutions to examine potential criminal proceedings against unnamed individuals who declined to participate voluntarily despite ample opportunity.

    Harnarine reiterated his longstanding position that HCU was not insolvent at the time of its winding up, claiming he had petitioned three separate labour ministers between 2020 seeking appeal hearings. While former minister Errol McLeod couldn’t recall such requests, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus indicated the matter fell under the Commissioner for Cooperative Development’s jurisdiction.

    The parallel investigation into Clico’s collapse attributed the failure to a fundamentally defective business model within the CL Financial Group, citing senior management’s inability to implement necessary changes despite external auditor recommendations. The commission notably cleared the Central Bank of any misconduct while criticizing late CLF chairman Lawrence Duprey’s actions, suggesting potential criminal proceedings.

    Both institutions collapsed in 2009 following aggressive investments in high-risk foreign real estate assets financed through unsustainable high-interest strategies, creating one of the Caribbean’s most significant financial crises.

  • Bajan, Trinidad and Tobago health advocates applaud healthier school nutrition policy

    Bajan, Trinidad and Tobago health advocates applaud healthier school nutrition policy

    In a significant public health endorsement, the Barbados-based Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Trinidad & Tobago Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance have formally commended the government’s newly updated school nutrition standards. The organizations praised what they characterized as “bold steps” taken by Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath and Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe during the policy’s announcement in Port of Spain on January 9.

    The updated policy represents a substantial expansion of the 2017 ban on sugary drinks in schools. Under the new regulations, only water, 100% fruit juices, low-fat milk, and blended vegetable or fruit drinks without added sugars or artificial sweeteners are permitted in government and government-assisted schools.

    Key enhancements include explicit nutritional limits for pre-packaged snacks with specific restrictions on calories, sugar, fat, and sodium content. The policy also establishes stronger standards for meals prepared or sold in school cafeterias, promoting balanced nutrition through fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and appropriate starches prepared using healthier cooking methods like baking, grilling, steaming, or boiling.

    Notably, the initiative introduces comprehensive restrictions on marketing and promoting unhealthy foods and beverages within school environments. District health and education officers will implement monitoring and compliance mechanisms to ensure adherence. A five-point nutritional checklist will govern all snacks and meals sold on school grounds, explicitly excluding energy drinks and artificial sweeteners.

    The policy addresses what ministers termed “the silent pandemic” of childhood obesity. HCC president Dr. Kenneth Connell emphasized the timeliness of these measures, noting that “childhood obesity remains a major concern for us in the Caribbean, as increasing incidence of NCDs is being recognised across the region in young people.”

    Dr. Karen Sealey, chair of the NCD Alliance, highlighted the serious health implications, stating that “childhood obesity is linked to complications in children and adolescents such as diabetes and hypertension, and it tracks into adulthood.” Alarmingly, recent data indicates over 30% of school-aged children in Trinidad & Tobago are overweight or obese, with 93.3% of the population consuming fewer than five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

    This initiative positions Trinidad & Tobago alongside other Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, and Bermuda that are implementing robust measures to improve school food environments by removing ultra-processed products and prohibiting their marketing to children.

  • Gov’t moving to prepare country for AI intergration

    Gov’t moving to prepare country for AI intergration

    The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through its Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, has embarked on a comprehensive national initiative to establish responsible artificial intelligence governance. In collaboration with UNESCO and the UNDP, the nation is systematically evaluating its preparedness for AI integration across critical sectors.

    This strategic partnership commenced with the November 26 launch of the UNDP’s AI Landscape Assessment (AILA), which provides a practical framework for identifying opportunities and challenges in AI adoption. The current phase involves implementing UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), initiated through a multi-stakeholder survey distributed to leaders across public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and youth organizations.

    The assessment examines five crucial dimensions: legal and regulatory frameworks; technological infrastructure; societal and cultural implications; scientific and educational capabilities; and economic impacts. Data collected will directly inform national AI policy development, ensuring future strategies prioritize ethical considerations, human rights, inclusion, and transparency.

    From January 19-23, sector-based consultation sessions will allow stakeholders to validate preliminary findings and propose sector-specific actions. The process will culminate in a national Validation Workshop on February 27 at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, convening government officials, researchers, industry experts, and key stakeholders to examine results and establish clear implementation roadmaps.

    Minister Dominic Smith’s ministry emphasized that these coordinated efforts demonstrate Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to harnessing AI innovation while safeguarding citizens’ rights and privacy, ultimately aiming to deliver sustainable benefits for national development.