Posts in category Caribbean News

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 …

Trinidadian novelist may have been the most formidable writer of the English language Contact Staff For many, Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was the greatest writer of the English language. For evidence, check the 30 books that he has written, most of which are described as masterpieces, and see the repertoire of prestigious awards that adorned his achievements, including the Nobel Prize for Literature handed to him in 2001, and his Knighthood with Trinidad and Tobago’s Trinity Cross in 1990, and the Booker Prize in 1971. The man that the world knows as VS Naipaul, celebrated son of Trinidad and Tobago, …

Human trafficking in Guyana Between January 5 and July 3, a total of 77 alleged victims of human trafficking have been rescued in Georgetown, Guyana. Amina Ally, the Minister of Social Protection said 60 of the 77 victims have been placed in protective care, while others are being assisted with jobs and educational opportunities. In one raid, 8 of 16 young ladies—14 Venezuelans, one Cuban, and one from the Dominican Republic—were rescued during a raid executed by the Guyana Police Force. Ally maintained that the protection of human rights and dignity of all the citizens of Guyana is an essential …

Obama visits Kenya and South Africa Former U.S. President, Barack Obama visited Kenya, his father’s native country, on Sunday 15th July. It was his first visit to Africa since leaving office. His two-day visit was to support the launch of a sports and recreational community center pioneered by his half-sister, Dr. Auma Obama, under her foundation Sauti Kuu (Raised Voice in Swahili) at his father’s ancestral home, K’Ogelo. Mr. Obama praised his sister’s efforts in changing the narrative of the African story from asking for handouts, but moving towards empowerment and emancipation. He also made courtesy visits to President Uhuru …

An all Africa exit at FIFA World Cup 2018 For the first time since 1982, there will be  no African team in  the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup Finals. All the big names from the continent including Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, and Senegal have all been eliminated. With matches filled with close calls and near misses the five teams kept soccer fans at the edge of their seats with  some commendable performances EGYPT The hope of Egypt’s Pharaohs lay in their talisman, Liverpool forward, Mohammed Salah who scored  two of the 10 goals that assisted them to qualify. …

Names country’s largest Cabinet and stays with the CCJ By Rosie Awori On Thursday May 24th, Barbados ushered in a new era, as voters were overwhelming in their decision to elect Mia Mottley as the country’s first female prime minister. Mottley led her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to a decisive victory over the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), grabbing all 30 parliamentary seats and delivering the first ever landslide victory in the history of the legislature. The DLP had previously held a slim majority with 16 seats. Mottley now joins a handful of Caribbean women who have had the privilege to …