View Point

As I close off three weeks of analysis of pan manufacturing, I will refer to the inspiration to be taken from the riveting speech of former First Lady Michelle Obama at the recently concluded Democratic Convention in Chicago. First, however, I am happy to acknowledge and that the quotation with …

“We didn’t want anyone to be in doubt of what we were offering policyholders because dishonest agents, men who lied, could have destroyed the company.” Ray Dieffenthaller, a friend of Cyril Duprey. (Express, 28 August 2024.) The recent passing of Lawrence Duprey, a business titan, should cause us all to …

“[…] The sight of public officials indulging in alcohol sends mixed messages, particularly to younger generations, who are often told to avoid drinking. “The transformation of Trinidad and Tobago will only occur when we start making conscious decisions that reflect the values we want to promote…” The following Letter to …

“All those initiatives are undermined by the fact that in 2024, the Steelpan Manufacturing sector does not have a dedicated and secured source and supply of high quality drums. “To ensure a consistent supply of raw materials the industry requires in place a drum-producing facility, which will produce drums based …

The transatlantic trade in Africans was founded on a misguided interpretation of Christianity. Prince Henry of Portugal, “the Navigator” (1394-1460), put Europe’s aggressive and ruthless expeditions to Africa in motion. It was during this period that the feudal European states began to unite. Henry taught men to sail down the …

“[…] The accusations of political or cultural bias against our judges are simply not warranted on the facts which I have also researched and documented—and to the extent that it may exist, is certainly no worse than any other jurisdiction, even the United Kingdom. “Let us stop falsely accusing our …

“[…] Mr Rushton Paray opined that if we removed the ships from our coat of arms and removed the monuments honouring Christopher Columbus and other notorious colonial-era characters, we run the risk of being afflicted with ‘historical amnesia’. “This is a very fallacious argument… Not only Christians but many other …

“[…] The practice of naming streets in the La Horquetta Housing Development after the country’s leading personalities started under then Minister of Housing Wendell Mottley in 1982 and properly honoured and inspired communities and their residents. “Consequently, the naming of the street after Jack Noreiga was a well-deserved tribute for …

“[…] Amazingly, Pan Trinbago has opted to forgo any possibility of sustainability by giving up this potential by exchanging 13 acres of land in Trincity/Orange Grove for a half-acre and an old building in Port of Spain. “In Trincity/ Orange Grove, the potential is as unlimited as the land space …

“[…] In the book, Shogun, a character uses his mind to outsmart and defeat all his opponents. This really impacted me because squash can be described as physical chess and strategy is a big part of the game. “Reading the book helped me develop better focus and mental toughness, which …

“All of the things happening recently in the pan world, the national instrument status, the GI (Geographical Indication) certificate, pan month—all of these things hinge upon Trinidad being the birthplace of pan and it presupposes that we have the best quality instruments coming out of Trinidad.” This is one of …

Iron shackles bound the African enslaved people together as they journeyed across the Atlantic. They were bound tightly. These shackles created physical scars, but the emotional ones begun long before. The Africans were taken from their homes on various pretexts, never sure when and if they would return. Their pain …