View Point

The news was blunt but not unexpected. The lead sentences (Express, 9 December 2021) calmly reported, ‘Shadie Dassrath was beaten to death in an apartment in La Romaine last Friday morning. An autopsy done on the body of the 31-year woman found she died of blunt force trauma and sustained …

“[…] My heart raced, my palms were invaded by beads of perspiration and fear consumed my body. Everything went silent for a second and all I could hear was the announcer cheering, ‘Please welcome, with a warm round of applause, Lian-Devi Indar of ASJA Girls’ College San- Fernando, performing Achutam …

“[…] ‘Shhhh, you don’t want her seeing you. Quick, turn your clothes inside out.’ “‘Her?’ I peeked over the rock, the horrific sight on the other side made me double over. ‘That thing’s a her?’  “There’re few words to describe what I saw, monstrous is one of them. Her dark …

“[…] In the midst of the packed atmosphere, the unmistakable sound of a leather whip cracks with fury amongst the crowd like a bolt of lightning across a darkened sky. Spectators carefully inch away though against their better instincts—they wish to lean closer, eager for a more desirable view.  “Younger …

“[…] No matter how intelligent, resourceful, talented, creative or gifted, one individual cannot effectively and efficiently discharge the functions/duties of two full-time jobs. “[…] The Chief Secretary, in effect, would be demonstrating a stupefying lack of confidence in the other members of his team at the THA if he allows …

“[…] ‘Why are you here?’ asked one of the boys. ‘Girls cannot play cricket,’ said another jokingly.  “Their comments were followed by an eruption of laughter from the other boys. Demotivated and embarrassed, I darted from there, as fast as a lightning bolt. I sat at the end of the …

“[…] It’s Carnival Monday, 2022, and reluctantly a gloomy mass of people trickle down the street. Post-covid Carnival and barely anyone marches along the avenue because most are too concerned with catching the still present disease, except of course for those vagrants that have nowhere else to be.  “Due to …

“[…] My whole dream was to be a writer and my parents—well, more specifically my dad—always crushed it. My dad wanted me to become a doctor, something ‘useful’.  “However I wanted to be a writer. The feeling I felt as I brought a tree or a meadow to life. I …

“[…] A ‘no mask, no mas’ policy should be adopted with costume designers incorporating this aspect of PPE into costume designs. “[…] The parade of the bands should be condensed in to one day at one venue to limit the risk of infection…” Seventeen-year-old San Fernando Government Secondary student Aastha …

“[…] The javelin felt weighted in my arms, the back of the iron spear barely touching the tiny blades of grass that held my shifting feet. The field never seemed to end; it seemed longer as beads of sweat drizzled down my face.  “[…] The students before me that had …

“[…] The MSJ looks forward to the PDP making good on its commitments to implement transparency and accountability in the affairs of the Tobago House of Assembly.  “We also believe that the overwhelming mandate received by the PDP presents an opportunity to fashion a new development approach in Tobago based …

“[…] A safe Carnival also looks like one in which a potent communication and public engagement strategy for how to navigate a post-Covid world in a festival environment is rolled out, so that everyone who participates is aware of their responsibilities.  “The next Carnival looks like one in which the …