Natasha Wilson’s words came to me while reflecting on my interview with Keith Look Loy. In significant ways, her calypso summed up Keith’s sentiments: Sweet T&T, is my country/ I want you to know that I love you/ Every creed and race, have an equal place/ So let’s work together …
Read More »Noble: The Highlanders road—how Robert Hernandez builds community through pan
“They say mih country so stressful, so tense/ With race hate, young jail bait, too much violence. Girl, pack up and go, this sweet Trinbago/ I tell dem no way (no way)/ How de people small-minded, macocious and loud/ Of bobol and scandal they boastful and proud/ Yet somehow I …
Read More »Noble: Raising the next generation—on Akeal’s “escape” and Tyeisha’s travails
Akeal Hosein, the latest West Indies cricket sensation, described his father, in an interview published on CricInfo, as “the perfect role model” who worked two jobs and one evening collapsed with exhaustion upon walking through the door. He was a man who spoke to him with respect and as an …
Read More »Vaneisa: Space for our diversity—T&T must resist “segregation” of “special interest” concerns
A long time ago, I had a discussion—maybe an argument—with a newspaper editor about what constituted “soft” news. He thought that issues affecting women were soft, and should be relegated to pages headed by labels that suggested they were for women only. Instinctively, I rejected that. It seemed to me …
Read More »Vaneisa: The house across the street; and coping with inevitability of change
Bob is dismantling the house where he grew up. These past few weeks, there have been sounds of construction—not the loud noises that come from my unconscionable neighbour’s welding business, but the muted clatter of galvanized sheets, and hammering. Before he began, Bob put a letter in the mailbox of …
Read More »Vaneisa: Priceless goals—where sport and youth development meet
Around dusk, a couple weeks ago, as I was leaving the Massy supermarket in St Augustine, a group of maybe six young boys—I’d guess between eight and 12—were trooping around the car park soliciting donations. They approached me and said they were trying to raise funds for their football club. …
Read More »Dear Editor: Sport and social activities can address Enterprise crime spike
“[…] What we see happening did not erupt over night. This is a result of neglect of the community and the youth by those tasked with the authority to assist, like their local representatives, MP, and the Mayor. “[…] One must understand that involvement in sports and social activities reduces …
Read More »Noble: Why T&T’s housing woes can be a national security issue
Government policies toward public housing are linked to their position on delivering economic growth. To interpret the strategies, we need to appreciate that governments respond to the pressures arising from social and demographic change and adherence to particular ideologies. These decisions are complicated by the public discourse which advocates that …
Read More »Dear Editor: Youths can be taught how to BE parents before they become one—what are we waiting for?
“[…] Many years ago, the United Nations funded a parenting skills programme that was available free of charge to parents of high schoolers. Each participant was provided with a textbook and a workbook. The programme was run over several weeks. “[…] For one thing, I learned that values are caught, …
Read More »Noble: We, the greedy people; how we deprive young entrepreneurs and destroy communities
This week’s blackout taught us a great lesson: the street windscreen wiper boys at the West Mall traffic lights are human! Not only are they human and not freaks intent on mischief, but they are also brave entrepreneurs. Who would have thought? When anxiety levels were rising, they, who reportedly live …
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