“[…] Through his ability to listen to diverse opinions and his recognition of the merit of the arguments for the recognition of emancipation, Prime Minister George Chambers propelled Trinidad and Tobago to the globally significant position of becoming the first country in the world to declare Emancipation Day as a …
Read More »Dear Editor: We must all applaud the members of the Spiritual Baptist faith!
‘[…] Today, all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago need to applaud the members of the Spiritual Baptist community—for their struggles and the achievement of their liberation is, in fact, an achievement that we all benefit from …’ The following Letter to the Editor commemorating Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day was …
Read More »NJAC Rededication: 1970 Revolution impacts spirituality and religion in T&T
“[…] White supremacist philosophy, then predominant in the society, was reinforced by very visible symbols of wealth, power, science, technology and general achievement, which resulted from centuries of exploitation of the human and physical resources of colonised societies around the world. “[…] The new teachings of the Trinidad and Tobago …
Read More »Thompson: More, Sparrow, More! Why Cutteridge won battle but Sparrow took the war
The following is the fourth and final instalment in Owen Thompson’s four-part series on the classic album, More Sparrow More!, by iconic calypsonian Slinger “Sparrow” Francisco: There are other equally telling avenues that allow us to arrive at meaning and afford us powerful glimpses into the unique quality of the …
Read More »Claude’s Comments: Why Britain owes Spiritual Baptists an apology and reparations
In November 2017, the Spiritual Baptists of T&T solemnly commemorated the centenary of “The Shouters’ Prohibition Ordinance,” the second wave of legislation designed to eradicate Afro-Caribbean Christianity. In 1927, Grenada was hit by the third wave, the “Public Meetings (Shakerism) Prohibition Ordinance.” The tidal wave of state persecution of Spiritual …
Read More »$40,000 can’t celebrate anything! Archbishop Burke and the gimme culture
When I was in the Senate, in 1996, I spoke and voted in favour of the grant of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation holiday, which was celebrated again last Wednesday. At the, time I referred with affection to Earl Lovelace’s great literary work, The Wine of Astonishment, which tells of …
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