Posts in category Caribbean News

Contact Staff Tributes continue to flow as lovers of arts and culture react to the passing Dennis “Sprangalang” Hall an icon of comedy, calypso, theatre and films in his native Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and beyond. Hall, died on Friday, October 2, at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in east Trinidad, two days after his 71st birthday and six months following the passing of his older brother, noted playwright Tony Hall who died of a heart attack also at the age of 71. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Hall, who attended the prestigious Naparima College in South Trinidad where …

Prime Minister Mia Mottley targets November 21, for the island to become a RepublicEgbert Gaye Barbados has developed governance structures and institutions that mark us as what has been described as, “the best governed Black society in the world.” Since Independence, we Barbadians have sought constantly to improve our systems of law and governance so as to ensure they best reflect our characteristics and values as a nation. Barbados’ first prime minister, The Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, cautioned against loitering on colonial premises. That warning is as relevant today as it was in 1966. Having attained Independence over half …

Remembered as titan of Caribbean Literature by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley Contact Staff With the passing of Dr. Kamau Brtaithwithe on February 4, the Caribbean lost one of its literary giants. The Barbados-born poet and academic distinguished himself with a body of work that includes over 50 books of poetry, plays, essays and novels. He also taught extensively in Ghana, the University of the West Indies and at New York University where he was professor of Comparative Literature. In a spectacularly gilded career, Dr. Braithwaite earned some of the most prestigious international awards for his contributions as a historian, …

Contact Staff Meet Simone, Valerie and Samantha, three sisters, each well trained in her respective field as an accounting professional, a beautician and an information technologist, respectively; but they share a singular passion. “Our mother, grandmother and great grandmother always taught us to take pride in our appearance on the inside just as much as on the outside,” stated Simone, the middle sister. Inspired by the guiding wisdom of three generations of women who have been the anchor of their lives, the three sisters acquired and nurtured their passion for health and beauty. And it’s what led them to the …

Contact Staff New UWI campus and new renewable energy plant Two years after Hurricane Irma almost crippled the economy of Antigua-Barbuda, the small twin-island state has been experiencing a significant uplift in its socio-economic outlook with two major projects boosting its education and energy sectors. With the opening of the Five Island Campus this past September, the country became the site of the University Of The West Indies’ fifth land campus, joining Trinidad and Tobago (St. Augustine), Jamaica (Mona) and Barbados Cave Hill) and the major Medical Facility in The Bahamas. The campus, which began admitting its 800 students this …

Contact Staff Visitors to Trinidad and Tobago for the 2019 carnival were gifted with what has been loosely described as “a bumper crop” of Soca and calypsos. Yep, this year, many agreed the music was nice, especially hits like ‘So Long’ and ‘Hookin Me,’ two masterpieces penned by the erstwhile Nadia Batson, which she and her friend Farmer Nappy turned into party anthems for the season. In both songs, which were released very early in the season, Batson was able to capture the nuances of life-situations in T&T and packaged them in some sweet, sweet melodies and people jumping. Among …

The passing of a calypso legend… Contact Staff When we became aware of him in 1974, Winston Bailey was exactly what the calypso world craved: something different. There he was, a seemingly tall man, Black man, dressed in all black, covered by a black cloak, and a big black hat that hid his face. He never smiled because he was always entranced in his music… music that was colored by its driving and pulsating rhythms…. The Shadow. He captivated calypso lovers as he delivered his songs standing straight and rigid in the middle of the stage, periodically elevating into the …

Contact staff Trinidadians in Montreal are rallying to help their home country following the widespread flooding that has inundated much of the island and left tens of thousands stranded and homeless. The relief effort is being headed by several in the entertainment industry, including DJs Production Sounds, Biggz, as well as members of Central Boys and Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive, Challengers Soccer Team and Soca Survivors. They have placed barrels in strategic locations across Montreal to collect supplies to send to assist flood victims at home. And they are asking Montrealers to drop off supplies such as bedding items, towels, baby …

Contact STAFF The steelband world lost an icon with the passing of Ken Professor Philmore on the morning of Sunday, September 30 at the San Fernando General Hospital in south Trinidad. Six days before on the night of Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day, ‘Pro’ was injured when his SUV over-turned on the highway as he was making his way back home after performing at an event in San Fernando.   He was thrown out of the vehicle and admitted to the hospital with broken ribs and punctured lungs. He died of a cardiac arrest.   The 58 year-old stood as …

Barbados Barbados celebrates teacher Avisene Carrington as she marks her 100th birthday Rosie AWORI Barbados’ newest centenarian is, Avisene Carrington. On Saturday, September 15, the country’s governor general, Dame Sandra Mason together with other politicians, family and friends congregated at her home in The Pine in St. Michaels  to celebrate her hundredth year of existence in style. Mrs. Carrington has spent 74 out of her hundred years as an  educator. “Teaching is my life. I left St Michael’s School in July and started teaching in September of 1937, and I later founded my own school, Merrivale preparatory school where I …