The government has really disappointed the youths of this country again.

They had a good opportunity to show live, the 2018 National Junior Panorama finals but they failed to do so. Can you imagine what sense of pride these young people would have felt knowing that they would be on live television on a panorama final? What about those people from Tobago—they continue to be made to feel as outsiders.

Thousands of relatives and friends including school teachers, students and parents of these hundreds of young pan players/musicians would have liked to see their performances, but it was not to be.

They talk a lot about youth this and youth that. But, here, in the final, they cannot bring it live for the public to see. What a shame! Will they even show it even at a later date and time?

This was as ideal opportunity to show the positive side of youth and they dropped the ball big time.

One wonders whether there was any sensible communication among the stakeholders such as Pan Trinbago, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for Youth Affairs on this matter before hand.

My guess is that there wasn’t.

B T Gosine

It is beyond disgraceful that not a single television nor radio station saw it fit to broadcast the National Junior Panorama finals held on Sunday.

This was a moment for our primary and secondary school youngsters to shine in the national spotlight, and silly-headed decision-makers ensured that it was not to be.

Yet, the same people have no hesitation in showing us insanity in the form of this fete and that fete, and a Calypso Monarch semifinal with many tuneless calypsonians.

How are we supposed to encourage excellence in the overall development of our youth when the politicians and the broadcast decision makers are working overtime to deny them same?

These youngsters practice for hours, on lunchtimes and after school. Their dedication to hard work is impressive.

This also highlights the loss of Channel 4 because, clearly, CTV is unable to fill the void.

CTV’s coverage of the Panorama semifinal was riddled with headache-inducing ads, repeated to a sickening degree.

Its coverage of the Calypso Monarch semifinal was, at least, five singers behind, for what was labelled a “live” show.

I dread what they have in store for home-bound viewers for the National Panorama finals.

Linus F Didier,
Mt Hope

The Speech-Language-Audiology Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SLAATT) wishes to advise the public to use hearing protection during the carnival period. Music sound levels are such that exposure will typically cause a gradual hearing loss and or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a result of damage to the delicate nerve endings in the inner ear.

In addition, music sound levels today are higher than in previous years due to advances in stereo equipment. There is no medical cure to repair these damaged nerve endings which can lead to permanent ringing and or hearing loss.

Disposable ear plugs are available at many local pharmacies. Please read the instructions for insertion carefully. For proper insertion pull up and back on the ear before inserting the plug into the ear canal. Cotton, toilet paper etc are not suitable forms of hearing protection as these items are not dense enough to decrease sound to a safe level.

Enjoy your carnival safely.

Dr Natasa Bratt,
St James

Pacific Fleet is worth following in the Novice Stakes over a mile of= Southwell fibresand today, despite an absence of 193 days!

Twice-raced Pacific Fleet is clear ‘best-in’ by virtue of registering a much improved time-handicap mark in a seven furlongs dash at York; you can imagine how much respect trainer Archie Watson has for this Elusive Quality colt to contest a hot Knavesmire maiden.

None of his rivals on this occasion has an earthly chance, just a questionmof fitness.

Surely Watson wouldn’t be wasting time booking champion all-weather jockey, Luke Morris, without very good reason!

Obviously Love Rat will be backed, second twice within a few days on the ‘deep stuff’ and market moves for others are anticipated, but I’ll be ruled by the TH and trust judgement of Watson whose exploits as a ‘rookie’ last season took plenty by surprise.

The ‘old guard’ has to move on and though Gosden, Johnston, and others, are likely to make the ‘200’ club again this year watch out for a formidable younger brigade because Watson, George Scott, Roger Varian, etc, have serious, muchneeded financial backing.

Be Mindful should go close in the nine-runner 3-y-o handicap over a mile, defeat would be nigh on devastating for this Invincible Spirit filly which cost a fortune.

‘Winning brackets’ are imperative, to the tune of six figures in this case, a barometer of the ludicrous fiscal imbalance in the ‘Sport Of Kings!’

My ownership period was all about enjoyment, getting an edge and, when possible, landing gambles before selling on; nowadays only a millionaire can afford, enjoy, coping with extortionate cost of keep which involves at least £70 a day; ‘you do the maths!’

Oisin Murphy has been booked for Be Mindful, we mean business and hopefully can give ‘Faringdon Stables’ a boost in 2018.

Charles Hills needs to pull his finger out and father, Barry, intends to see he does!

Deben can’t be discounted in division two of an ‘aged’ Sprint Handicap over six furlongs; judged on a time-figure long ago John Weymes’ charge is ‘thrown-in’ and worth chancing at huge odds.

Gregory Boyd is one of a handful of experienced pannists in Denmark and the only thing more unique than this fact is the unconventional road he took to a career playing T&T’s national instrument in northern Europe.

Boyd is an accomplished performer of pan; yet, his path to a steelpan career based in Denmark came not via Trinidad nor local sources but rather through New Orleans and the US Navy Steelband.

An American, Gregory Boyd grew up in Detroit and Milwaukee and was raised in a family of drummers and church singers.

When he was old enough, Boyd joined the US Navy and was based at the Naval Technical Training Center Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida training as a Cryptologist. Here he auditioned, without success, to make it into Navy Band Southeast as a drumset player. Upon finally passing the audition after four tries was told there was no opening and on the advice of one of the band members Boyd was suggested to check out the US Navy Steel Band which was based in New Orleans. Boyd took the advice, checked out the band, and became entranced by the steelpan and steelband. Convinced that he had found his calling, Boyd auditioned and joined the US Navy Steel Band. This was the mid- 1980s and Boyd enjoyed playing in the US Navy Steel Band and performing in Mardi Gras and across the United States. During this time New Orleans was as vibrant of a music scene, as it is now, and Boyd found he could supplement his US Navy salary by gigging throughout the region on percussion, drum set, or steelpan. By the early 1990s, the US Navy Steel Band enjoyed a well-established tradition of community involvement and musical excellence in New Orleans nearly two decades in the making. The US Navy Steel Band members fed off the energy of New Orleans, and many band members such as Boyd felt the love of the Crescent City: “Out in town, just the mention of the steel band gets positive feedback.” After three eventful years performing in the US Navy Steel Band, Boyd’s enlistment in the US Navy was almost over and he was faced with a change in his vision of the future. Boyd found he was more interested in working and touring as a professional musician than being in the US Navy. By this time, he had built up a strong reputation as a skilled percussionist and pannist throughout the rich music scene in New Orleans. While a member of the US Navy Steel Band Boyd performed, as a freelance musician, had performed as a guest musician several times for leading rhythm and blues singer Charmaine Neville.

Herself a member of the legendary Neville family of musicians which also includes her father Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers, Charmaine happened to be in need of a fulltime percussionist hired Boyd to fill the role.

Pan swings Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans Boyd performed regularly with Charmaine Neville at many of the leading Rhythm and Blues and jazz clubs in New Orleans, including Snug Harbor and many others.

Playing with Neville’s band was, in many ways, an education for Boyd. Here he had the opportunity to hone his skills and perform along with musicians such as the great saxophonist Reggie Houston himself a roadtested musician playing with the likes of Fats Domino. Boyd used his time playing in Neville’s band to develop a new style on his double seconds steelpans that effectively translates a unique New Orleans funk sound.

“I was one of the first to come out with a New Orleans sound with my instrument. There have been others performing surely but I like to think I added something to the mix.

“I like really trying to imitate great piano parts, guitar, or horns and trying to meld my four-mallet, Quadraphonic Stick technique and make the instrument sound thicker in a band setting and maybe try to achieve some of these textures,” notes Boyd.

His experimentation with a new style of steelpan-playing is evident in his first studio work as a steel pannist on Neville’s album It’s About Time (1992) and his current single Beating on a Drum (2016).

In addition to his work with Neville, Boyd also spent much of the 1980s and 1990s freelancing as a musician for a variety of bands playing a variety of styles in New Orleans and Gulf Coast region.

This includes performances with Cyril Neville, another talent member of the Neville family, trumpeter and current band member of The Sun Ra Arkestra band and Kool and the Gang’s Michael Ray, as well as with legendary trumpeter Kermit Ruffins.

While happy in New Orleans, Boyd’s pursuit of a new adventure intervened. He began working with the Ballet Renversé dance company writing original music for the company—a process he greatly enjoyed. Life changed even further when Boyd fell in love with a Danish woman visiting in New Orleans. In 2002, they married and promptly moved to Denmark where he has lived ever since.

Boyd woos Europe with pan Leaving behind his career and the rich musical traditional of music in New Orleans was hard for Boyd; yet, he embraced the change and took the opportunity to introduce Northern Europe to his unique style of New Orleans steelpan playing.

Since his move to Denmark in 2002 Boyd has built a new career as a percussionist, pannist, singer and, composer. He began gaining fans from across the globe and the late Bruce Lundvall of Blue Note Records noted: “I thought he (Boyd) was also very original as a lyricist. Those lyrics are very interesting. The way he was able to scat and play the pans simultaneously is incredible.”

In Denmark and Northern Europe, Boyd performs and leads his own band and works as a jazz soloist performing with various bands across the region.

Even in Europe, however, Boyd is known for his unique sound—he still uses his “Quadraphonic fourstick technique”—which combines steelpan as an accompaniment instrument with vocals and composing and songwriting.

Boyd has recorded three releases including his first solo album Rich in a Troubled Time, (2000) Transformation (2011) and recently released Beatin’ On A Drum (2016). Boyd is pleased with how life has changed for him.

“Things have going steady and onward. So I am happy and look forward to excellent working relationships all over the world in the future,” he admitted. In addition to performing, Boyd leads workshops on his pan technique and ensemble work and has taught as an adjunct professor of two courses that he designed on Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans and the Golden Era of Funk Music 1969- 1973 study and performance classes at the Royal Danish School of Music.

Exploiting virgin territory

Though he wishes people in Denmark could experience Trinidad and Panorama, Boyd sees the lack of steelpan tradition and Trinidadian diaspora in Denmark as something of a benefit as he feels free to continue experimenting and taking his art in a new direction.

Currently, Boyd is experimenting with his Amplified Steel Pan Instrument or Electro Pan with which he sings and play it in a soulful R&B style, strongly connected to his New Orleans experience.

According to Boyd, he treats the steelpan as a “sort of blues instrument and just basically just turn it as loud as possible and just get it raw as I can. I’m working with a lot of pedals and a Fender amplifier although I am not against going direct.”

Similar to the electric guitar, Boyd wants the ability to enhance his steelpan’s sound by directly miking his instrument and using accessory devises to alter the sound. The result is a sound described by some as “Funk with a bit of the Caribbean.”

What is for sure, however, is the Gregory Boyd is bringing his version of steelpan from Carnival to Mardi Gras to Northern Europe and the World.

n RAY FUNK is a retired Alaskan judge and a Fulbright scholar who is passionately devoted to calypso, pan and mas. Dr Andrew Martin is an ethnomusicologist, percussionist, pannist, and Professor of Music at Inver Hills College in St Paul, Minnesota.

Kes The Band has been enjoying one of their best Carnival seasons to date and will put the proverbial icing on the cake this evening, as they celebrate the fifth instalment of their mega-popular concert event entitled, Tuesday on the Rocks (TOTR5).

Staged at O2 Park in Chaguaramas, this annual event has become a staple on the Carnival calendar and is expected to attract even more fans from around the country, region and globe this year, due to the band’s infectious Carnival 2018 hit on the Folklore Riddim entitled, Hello.

“Hello is such a simple, but powerful greeting,” said lead singer, Kees Dieffenthaller, about the significance of the song’s refrain. “It’s one of those things that can literally make or break someone’s day—depending on how and if it is said and what tone is used. That’s why this song has connected with people of all ages and stages and stations in life—because its such a fundamental greeting, but its one that’s become so rare in today’s world of technology and innovation.

“The theme of this year’s concert event is ‘When We Combine’ cause that’s what we always want our music to do—bring people together—and just saying Hello is one the first building blocks to collaboration…”

The magic of collaboration will manifest both on and offstage at TOTR 5 with fans from all walks of life assembling to experience a superior level of entertainment value from a diverse array of talent. International superstars Nico and Vinz are confirmed to attend and will perform their smash hit Am I Wrong. Jamaican dancehall legend Red Rat returns to Trinidad Carnival for the first time in many years and will join soca stars Blaxx, Nadia Batson, Shal Marshall and Patrice Roberts onstage, alongside the next generation of talent with Erphaan Alves, Turner, Nailah Blackman and two-time International Soca Monarch Aaron “Voice” St Louis, all scheduled to appear and perform their respective hit songs. Lujoe The Gifted has earned their place as the opening act and the magic that will happen live onstage is scheduled to begin and run from 8 pm to 2 am.

“We always stress that this event is not a typical fete,” Dieffenthaller explained, “but, in fact, it is a full-on concert that we put on at Carnival time because of the magical energy that exists within our National Festival.

“Carnival itself is a living breathing organism that brings people together from all around the world and from really diverse musical, economic and social backgrounds – it’s a celebration of life and freedom, music and culture and also a showcase of what all of these different and diverse people, positive minds, hearts and spirits can create and share together.”

More info

Tickets for Tuesday on the Rocks 5 cost $400 for the Courtyard experience and $1,000 for the elevated Executive Deck.

Tickets are available at www.ticketgateway.com or from: Haagen Dazs Stores; Castro’s Bar, Arima; 519 Restaurant, C3 Centre – San Fernando, Desigual, Movietowne – POS and Riley’s, Ariapita Avenue. For more info: Whatsapp or call 392-4752.

As T&T, and other parts of the world by extension, moan from the slippery slope of social decadence, whether it’s “the world is coming to an end,” misguided concepts of education, effects of poor nutrition, incompetent parenting, worn-out laws, softer-hand policing, deficient Constitutions, ineffective prison systems, whatever the cause, the bottom line is, love has gone out the window.

Love has flown the coup but is trying to find its way back via some unique mediums, one such being, through this Carnival season—Spring time—as aptly demonstrated by cultural artistes.

The recently-concluded Chutney-Soca Monarch (CSM) Competition saw first-place winners, Nishard Mayrhoo (“Nishard M”) and Neval Chatelal, interpret love during their rendition, Masala, educating on masala as being “a mixture—a fusion of flavours”—and relating T&T to masala as ‘pisaying’ the masala.

“The same way we pisay the masala, we mixing the different cultures and peoples to form one twin-island Trinidad and Tobago. We have chutney and soca in the masala….”

But to further sweeten the love pot, were the first and second-place winners of the also recently-concluded carnival competition—the National Panorama semi-final on January 28. Renegades and Desperados Steel Orchestras, having performed in the traditional colour of love—red, delivered their potion of love with their tune-of-choice, A Year for Love.

A Year for Love is directed towards the man that lacks love, with the use of reverse psychology to edify on what a true “bad” man is to do if he is to live in love and become a law-abiding king. Anything else, according to two-time International Soca Monarch Aaron “Voice” St Louis, “yuh ent no bad man.”

Renegades and Desperadoes, two steel orchestras whose resident panyards are within challenging communities where police and soldier-patrols have become the norm or, relative posts have taken-up permanent residence…both, to control mad and (weak) bad man—are in themselves trying to encourage a sense of love and pride within their communities whereby, one can wake up and smell the roses.

Should love be at the core of our psyche, daily, living will be more worthwhile.

There will not be the proliferation and brazen faces to relentless delinquency (which encompasses criminal activity), for love is indeed “a many-splendored thing.”

As written by Paul Francis Webster in the mid-1950s and music by Sammy Fain…“Love is a many-splendored thing. It’s the April rose that only grows in the early spring. Love is nature’s way of giving; a reason to be living. The golden crown that makes a man a king….”

Let’s live in love!

Yeji Lee was crowned the 2018 champion of the 30th Edition of the Nestle Svelty/Nescafe Dolce Gusto Ladies Open Golf Championship that concluded on Sunday at the St Andrews Golf Course, Moka Maraval.

The youngster, after registering a victory earlier this year, added to her achievements by shooting a gross 160 (82,78) which ensured she finished three shots clear of close rivals Aleema Jack and Serena Mackenzie at the end of the 36-hole competition.

She was also the only player to register a sub-80 round in the two-day competition which was divided into three flights to accommodate all levels of golfers.

After strong showers and intermittent rain earlier in the week, the sun and wind were a welcome relief for the players, but the course conditions were still testing with wet fairways and greens that were difficult to read.

Both Yeji and Serena were tied at the top after the first day, with Aleema just one shot behind. The scores were close for most of the second day when Mackenzie drove into the left rough on the 14th hole and had to take a penalty drop and fell out of the lead.

The three top players are bidding for a place on the T&T team for regional competition later this year. Karina Matabal took the net prize in this division.

In the other divisions, Sammy Nakanjako, a newcomer to local golf, took the 2nd flight by three shots from Jennifer Grainger. Two very young juniors dominated the 3rd flight, where 12 year old Chloe Ajodha took the winner’s honours, followed by Caylinn Hosein, another promising youngster. The two are expected to move up the ranks in the coming year.

The prizes were distributed by representatives of Nestle Calvin Benjamin, Business Executive Officer, Rae Ann Harper, Brand Manager, Nescafe Dolce Gusto and Marc Clarke, Nestle Brand Activation Officer.

Back home in Trinidad for a month from Japan, Michael “Manish” Robinson is busy making pans, playing pan and bringing several students from the Land of the Rising Sun to play our national instrument.

Manish has been bringing Japanese students to Trinidad for more than 20 years. One year he brought 18 students for Panorama. This year three of his students are playing with La Horquetta Pan Groove to defend their small band crown, others with Desperadoes and Shell Invaders.

Manish is playing with Invaders where he has played many times before and loves Arddin Herbert’s arrangement of Ultimate Rejects’ Inside the Festival.

He disagrees with recent reports that the reason for the downturn in the number of players from Japan coming is just from Asami Nagakiya’s tragic death, as he sees family matters and economic conditions the main reasons players he knows aren’t coming this year.

At the same time, he is someone who was very effected by Nagakiya’s death as she had been a student of his, taking private lessons, buying one of her first pans from him and a friend. Manish rededicates himself to strengthening the bonds between Japan and Trinidad despite the tragedy.

No one is more responsible for the growth of steelpan in Japan than Manish. Equal parts, performer, bandleader, arranger, teacher, steelpan builder and tuner, Manish is based in the industrial city of Yokohama but his impact can be felt all over Japan. In addition to performing, Manish teaches both individual and group lessons and groups and has been doing so for decades.

Bona fide cultural ambassador of the national instrument A true ambassador of steelpan and Trinidadian culture, Manish has built steelpans in Trinidad to take over to Japan, built steelpans in Japan, tuned, arranged, and brought other tuners to help in Japan.

For these efforts and more Pan Trinbago recognised Manish in 2014 for his role in the globalisation of steelpan. Dr Mia Gormandy (UTT) who recently completed her dissertation on steelpan in Japan, sees Manish as invaluable to the region.

“Manish has played an important role in the spread of steelpan in Japan,” notes Gormandy. “Not just as a solo performer, but as the founder, musical director, and arranger for one of the leading steelbands in the country, Sonics Tokyo.”

Born and raised in St Barbs area of Laventille, Manish started playing in a steelband led by his father George “Odo” Robinson, called Supersonics as well, as a steelband at Belmont Secondary School. Later Manish and his brothers took some steelpans from his father and began playing around neighbourhood.

In 1988 and 1989, Manish acquired more steelpans from a supportive neighbour and the steelband La Horquetta Pan Groove was born. A few years later, he would travel themworld with Pandemonium Steel Orchestra.

“We went to Denmark, Sweden, London, went to Canada,” says Manish. “We went to the Olympics in Montreal.”

In 1993, he and schoolmate Noel La Pierre went to Japan and played at Seagaia of Miyazaki, a domed water park with a simulated beach with waves and surfing, swimming, and steelpan.

“They were hired to play steelpan from morning until night, complete with limbo, Carnival parades, and any and all types of simulated Caribbean Carnival experience. While there, he fell in love with Japan and moved there permanently Manish started performing where he could, initially as a solo act with backing tracks. However, as he became more popular he had other opportunities, and he started a small group and worked with Japanese pop bands.

This led to many opportunities in the commercial music industry in Japan and Manish recorded with two of the biggest Japanese pop groups Dreams Come True and Fujiki.

Naïve to the Japanese pop music scene, Manish had no idea how popular Dreams Come True was in the country. He recorded with Dreams Come True on their million-selling song Love Love Love which became a number one hit.

Manish the teacher Since 1999 Manish has been the arranger for Sonics Tokyo, one of the leading steelbands in Japan.

In addition to his many television appearances as a performer as well as a popular children show on pan, Manish appeared on a weekly educational television programme that featured steelpan lessons.

This has led to more teaching gigs all over the country. Starting in 2015 at the request of Mark Loquan, he has been to Australia performing at steelband festivals, tuning pan, teaching workshops and is becoming part of the scene there.

Over the years in Japan, Manish has expanded his teaching repertoire which now includes regular group and solo lessons at community centres and other locations across Japan.

Teaching steelpan is an area of great satisfaction.

He says: “Someone cannot play and then you make them a pannist. You see someone who couldn’t play, they don’t know music, they can’t read music, they can’t even hold the sticks. Then they become excellent players. You feel so happy.”

Bringing his students to the home of pan remains very much part of his teaching mission and something he will continue to do despite adversity.

Steelpan is still growing in Japan and it is Michael “Manish” Robinson who is everywhere supporting and leading the charge.

n RAY FUNK is a retired Alaskan judge and a Fulbright scholar who is passionately devoted to calypso, pan and mas.

DR ANDREW MARTIN is an ethnomusicologist, percussionist, pannist, and Professor of Music at Inver Hills College in St Paul, Minnesota.

The Goodwill Industries is now on board the Digicel Foundation’s Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) programme, after receiving a grant to the sum of $45,000 to expand their screen printing class.

As a vocational school, Goodwill Industries facilitates a variety of employment training programmes, which includes bookbinding, hairstyling, food preparation, furniture refinishing and production to individuals with special needs.

With the funding received from the Foundation, an expanded screen printing class will be added to these services, allowing for more clients to enrol.

The organisation’s long term objective is to introduce evening classes to single parents within the community.

The screen printing classes will focus on the construction and design of cards, printing of T-shirts, banners, cups and caps. The Digicel Foundation EPIC initiative, which targets community, faith-based organisations and NGO’s, was launched in 2016, to assist with implementing small scale projects in communities.

More info

Organisations must submit an application to digicelfoundationtt@ digicelgroup.com, to be reviewed before qualifying for the grant.
Applications can be found at digicelfoundation.org

Someone asked recently, why I felt the need to speak about nakedness and the baring of the soul.

He wanted to know if I believed opening up about my mental ill health diagnoses had any benefits and why would anyone want to be tempted to do such a thing in our culture.

The key to my answer was the concern about “our culture.” Chiefly, I emphasised that the culture of stigma and discrimination that exists in T&T is not special to us but is a worldwide hazard that incorrectly and unfairly promotes labelling and ostracising of those who live openly or visibly with a mental health diagnosis.

For me, it is exactly this which intimidates individuals into silence that I have used and continue to use to force the conversation to stay loud and live and to promote better understanding about mental wellbeing and mental ill health.

Wellbeing is affected by every aspect of a person’s existence. A person’s physical and mental health, his/her social life, his/her economic standing, cultural values, peer influence, community, including upbringing within the family and wider community, all impact on wellbeing.

Sometimes, for some people, the emotional life comprising an individual’s feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes exact the greatest pressures and, living in a space that does not have healthy outlooks and behaviours towards psychosocial health, increases the trauma.

In a WHO document about adolescents living with HIV experience, they described numerous psychosocial stressors which I believe are exactly true for those with a mental health diagnosis. The document says that stressors may be related to the initial diagnosis and disclosure of status; the emotional and financial strain of long-term care and adherence to treatment; coping with stigma and discrimination; distrust of healthcare providers…and abuse/violence (http://apps.who.int/adolescent/hiv-testing-treatment).

Add to that the threat of unemployment upon disclosure of one’s adverse mental health. status. Generally, employers here carry a silent code about not employing or accommodating an employee with a mental ill health diagnosis. The proof is in my inability to find one company in T&T that specifically encourages the employment of people who appear different or declare their difference. And, I am unaware of any clause in the Equal Opportunity legislation that compels employment for such, despite accession to United Nations treaties that say we should behave differently.

But mental illnesses and disorders are so prevalent and mental wellbeing, with or without a diagnosis, is so essential to a healthy individual and an overall healthy population that I cannot accept we should remain closed mouth and secretive about these issues.

That is why I keep talking.

I talk to change an entire population. I intend to impact every life that touches mine globally whether in person or by other communication media. I speak up to make the difference.

I want to create a space where anyone who wants to can talk without fear of prejudice.

Too many people walk around as an unhappy, unfulfilled, miserable shade of themselves for fear of being open to say “I have been raped,” “I have been abused,” “I have suffered interpersonal violence,” “I have been in a depressive state for months,” “I am simply feeling emotionally unwell,” I feel suicidal.”

Me? I am vociferously declaring #MeToo. I am unafraid to say I am a survivor of sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, verbal abuse and manipulation, I have had no less than eight attempts of rape that I “escaped” from as early as age ten, and I have also in turn been as abusive as some of my abusers. I grew up abjectly poor and some of that environment also impacted me negatively despite the brilliance and dedication of my parents to shield me.

That is only some of it and it does not intimidate me to speak out. Neither am I ashamed of the wrong that others have done to me—it was their wrongdoing anyway, and therefore it should be their guilt—not mine!

And, where I have violated others, I remain very open to make swift amends. I would not know how else to live in this world if I had to carry all those difficulties, disappointments and a diagnosis of mental illness.

And, I am not scared either of your gossipy lips that would run to make small talk about my issues. That too, is a reflection of you, not me. So, go ahead nuh and cast the first stone.

n CAROLINE C RAVELLO is a strategic communications and media professional and a public health practitioner. She holds an MA with Merit in Mass Communications (University of Leicester) and is a Master of Public Health With Distinction (The UWI).

Write to: mindful.tt@gmail.com

The T&T Fashion Company Limited (FashionTT) is the sponsor to designer Meiling as she represents T&T at the first Commonwealth Fashion Exchange initiative in February 2018. This initiative will be celebrated at Buckingham Palace during the London Fashion Week.

The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange is a new project created to bring together fashion designers, artisans and creatives across all 52 Commonwealth countries to exchange skills, crafts and traditions to create bespoke looks to showcase to a global audience. The exchange will materialise as an exhibition which will be showcased at a special reception at the Buckingham Palace, where many of the world’s leading fashion industry opinion formers and organisations will be in attendance.

As a participant of the exchange, Meiling was asked to utilise a supply chain/craft from Dominica. Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Meiling found it difficult to find a designer from Dominica who would have been able to collaborate with her. Soon she met with a designer whose home, save for her studio, was completely destroyed by the hurricane. This designer was able to produce a leather belt which became the fashion piece utilised and later embellished by Meiling.

FashionTT General Manager Lisa-Marie Daniel said: “We are always proud to see any of our local designers flourishing and are happy assist them in any way we can. In this case, Meiling has been selected to represent our country at this exciting initiative. “The exchange will be able to connect Meiling to a greater network of designers and craftspeople, as well as people in the fashion/retail industry at all levels.

Students of Success Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School, of Church Street, Laventille, are enjoying the expanded benefits of remedial literacy as four of their teachers have completed training in the acclaimed Arrow teaching method.

The words of Standard Two student, Joshua Bruce, reflect the overall enthusiasm felt by the school.

He said: “I am doing better in school and I am enjoying reading much more. I am happy that I did the Arrow training and my parents and teachers are proud of me. Now that we have Arrow teachers in school all the time, we can ask them to help us whenever we need it.

“I feel like I can achieve anything I want and I’m not scared to learn new things.”

Teachers Lemoy Lamming (First Year/Second Year), Juelin Phillips (First Year/Second Year), Alicia Joseph (Standard One) and Julia Ramkissoon (Standard Two) completed the intensive training at the school and are now equipped to offer the benefits of the Arrow teaching methods to all the students.

Previously, the programme was administered by tutors attached to the Arrow Foundation.

No one is more proud of the improvements being seen than the school’s principal, Dianne Neptune.

She said: “This programme positively impacts on the students who participate and they show noticeable improvement in both their reading and spelling skills.

“In fact, when a member of the Curriculum Division of the Ministry of Education conducted an assessment pre-and-post-training, students had improved these skills from six to eight words to a phenomenal 20 to 25 words.

“The change isn’t only in terms of academics though, as these students grow in confidence and self-esteem, which results in a more positive attitude to school and increased enthusiasm in the classroom.

“They also show marked improvements in their behaviour and they are much more disciplined and obedient,” explained Neptune.

“With us having ARROW-trained teachers full-time now, I look forward to even more students benefitting and improving themselves holistically. With the continued support of the ARROW Foundation and sponsors like Angostura Limited, our students will continue to soar to ‘Success’ and achieve their highest potential,” Neptune added.

The teacher training is the second phase of an ongoing partnership between the ARROW Foundation and Angostura Limited and its specialised teaching initiative with the student population and teaching staff of Success RC. The programme was started at the school in 2014,and since then, some 50 students have celebrated their successful completion of the ARROWstudy programme.

Giselle Laronde-West, Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Communications, Angostura Limited said: “We take corporate responsibility seriously and one of our core areas is community investment, of which education is a key priority. Our partnership with the Arrow Foundation is proving to be revolutionary in terms of unlocking the potential of young people and the results at Success RC speak for themselves.

“It is even more significant because this school is in our fenceline community of Laventille and this project is directly in line with the Prime Minister’s Laventille School Project aimed at improving literacy amongst students. This adds to the other educational projects we are doing in the area, like the Heroes’ Foundation Youth Development Programme, the Primary Schools’ Library Enhancement Project and several Back-To-School Programmes.”

Through the Arrow Foundation/Angostura partnership, Success RC will be licensed to conduct the remedial teaching programme for a further two years, with the added benefit of now having school-based Arrow-trained tutors.

First-Year teacher, Lemoy Lamming, had a very personal perspective on the Arrow training.

He said: “I can testify that even before the students complete the Arrow training they exhibit significant improvement in their reading and spelling ages. My own son, Patrick, did the training and his teacher indicated to me that he improved significantly, including his handwriting. Using the computer is interactive and it helps them to focus and concentrate, increasing the overall effectiveness.

“This brain-based technique with use of self-voice really empowers the students to improve themselves. Now that teachers are seeing the benefits, they want all of their challenged students to take part in this revolutionary remedial training.”

The local Arrow Foundation is a non-profit organisation operating since 2004 and is led by directors Christopher and Cornelia Bonterre.

Since its launch, hundreds of students from schools across T&T have been able to improve their academic performance through the Arrow Programme.

Based on their superlative results, the Foundation has been able to expand its reach through support from organisations including Angostura Limited, bpT&T, RBC Royal Bank, Methanex Trinidad Limited, Citizen’s Security Programme and Atlantic.

Christopher Bonterre explained the added benefits in terms of student behaviour, “Support from companies like Angostura provides us with the impetus to continue to meet the educational needs of the nation’s children.

“Arrow’s focus is on raising self-esteem through literacy improvement, which is also vital to addressing behavioural problems in students.

“A lot of the aggressive behaviour found in our primary and secondary schools is rooted in students’ academic failure and the resulting frustration.

“When students are able to read and write they feel better about themselves, allowing them to engage others without feeling frustrated.”

Developed more than 40 years ago in the United Kingdom, Arrow stands for Aural Read Respond Oral Write. It focuses on remedial work in reading, spelling, dictation, speech and listening skills and assists students who experience academic challenges by transforming their entire approach to learning.

The computer-based learning applies use of the self-voice—a recording of the learner’s own voice while reading—which forms the basis of the multi-sensory learning approach.

For more information on the Arrow Foundation visit www.arrowtt.com or call 624 9063

Dressed in their Limited Edition bpTT Renegades T-shirts, specially invited guests filled the Renegades Pan Yard on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain on Thursday, February 1 when sponsor bpTT hosted its annual Pan Yard Lime.

This year, Renegades is celebrating its 70 anniversary and, to mark the occasion, Norman Christie, Regional President of bpTT, joined with leaders of the band in a special toast and the cutting of a cake.

Entertainment during the evening included performances by the bpTT Renegades Youth Steel Orchestra and the bpTT Renegades Festival Side.

Guests were also treated with a special performance by reinging International Soca Monarch and 2018 National Calypso Monarch finalist Aaron “Voice” St Louis. Voice performed several of his past soca hits followed by his 2018 song Year for Love, bpTT Renegades’ National Panorama tune of choice.

Pictures: Andre Alexander

RS/RR Productions begins the theatre season with their newest comedy The Boy Toy at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain right after carnival.

RS/RR Productions, the company who gave you such hit plays like Man Callaloo, What My Best Friend Did To Me and Hotel21 in 2017, premieres the perfect carnival cool down with this brand new comedy about lies, lies and more lies. The play premieres on Friday, February 16th, and runs until Sunday, February 18th, for three nights only.

This hilarious and bacchanalian brand new comedy, directed by Debra Boucaud Mason and Richard Ragoobarsingh, features the likes of Debra Boucaud Mason, Penelope Spencer, Nikki Crosby, Richard Ragoobarsingh, Aaron Schneider and David Serrette.

The Boy Toy revolves around a mature woman who meets this younger man jogging around the savannah and decides against her better judgment to have a little fling. Her best friend prods her along and calms her misgivings by showing examples in government ministers and other high office holders who have a “young ting.”

From there the confusion escalates as husbands and wives lie to each other leading to a hilarious series of events and complication after complication that will have audiences in stitches of laughter. Would someone seek asylum? Were pictures taken secretly to blackmail the participants? Find out in RS/RR Productions latest comedy presented for your carnival cool down.

Tickets are on sales at all our advertised outlets and at the Central Bank Box Office which opens from noon to 6 pm on February 14 (Ash Wednesday, also Valentine’s Day) and continues daily.

• For tickets and information can call 338-6024/744-7581 or 623- 0845.

Minister of Communications and Public Administration, Maxie Cufffie has hit back at the leader of the People's Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Alexander, who has made several disparaging remarks about his health.

Cuffie says he is well on the road to recovery and will return to T&T as soon as doctors clear him to travel.

He issued the following statement on Tuesday:

"I am totally disgusted by that failed UNC politician, Philip Alexander’s ongoing attempts to gasp political air by clinging unto my back for his moribund People’s Empowerment Party. 

I will like him to know that I am more alive, thank God, than the phantom membership of his political party and refuse to be used to bring PEP into a dying political career. 

Despite his attempts to traumatize my family, friends, constituents and supporters, I wish to assure them that their prayers continue to be answered as I am well on my way to recovery & I am getting stronger daily. 

The doctors are pleased with my continued progress since my arrival here &, by God’s grace, I shall be back home as soon as they clear me for travel to return home. 

I am bolstered by my faith in God and the unfailing love of my family and feel born again."