Joel Nanton, the chair of the Department of Journalism and Media at COSTAATT, passed away yesterday at the age of 47—after a three-year battle with illness. Wired868 joins the rest of the media community in expressing condolences to his wife, Hollene, and their three children, as well as to his family …
Read More »Write Start: Allen-Agostini calls on young essay writers to develop writing muscle
The following is the full text of the brief address delivered by Lisa Allen-Agostini, chief judge for the 11-15 panel in the Write Start National Essay Writing Contest, at the prize-giving ceremony, held at the bMobile box at the Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday 16 December 2021. Also in attendance …
Read More »‘My story came to life!’ Wired868 Write Start winner, Shara Balkaran, blown away by Brian Lara
There was an unexpected touch of royalty at the inaugural Wired868 Write Start national essay writing prize-giving ceremony yesterday evening at the bmobile suite at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair. Parvati Girls’ Hindu College student Shara Balkan won the 11-15 category with a fictional story about how her …
Read More »Write Start: Parvati Girls’ Balkaran, Sando Sec’s Kumar cop top prizes with essays on Lara and a condensed Carnival
The results of Wired868’s Write Start National Essay Contest are available on schedule today. And the records show that, both in quantity and quality, girls dominated their male counterparts, South entries outstripped entries from North, East and Tobago and the young 11-15 writers were much more prolific than the not-so-young …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Josse Franco was enjoying a Kes concert, when Mama Dlo showed up…
“[…] With her metallic chains clinking against her bulging, scaly skin, Mama Dlo suddenly skidded into the heart of the crowd. Panic sent everyone hurtling in different directions, leaving the venue nearly deserted. “Kes and his stunned band stood rooted to the spot; it was up to me. I seized …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Lian-Devi Indar tries to turn the tables on her hero, Raymond Ramnarine
“[…] 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 …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Shantelle Williams has a supernatural encounter with Gerard Besson in the forest
“[…] ‘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 …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Shirley Prescott dreams of a majestic Carnival—but will reality bite?
“[…] 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 …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Shara Balkaran quit cricket that day, but Brian Lara had other ideas…
“[…] ‘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 …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Malique Auguste foresees a dour Carnival where masqueraders are ‘lonely together’
“[…] 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 …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Can Gabriella Mohammed make it as a writer? Lisa Allen-Agostini offers some advice
“[…] 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 …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Aastha Kumar sees designer masks and condensed parade in post-pandemic Carnival
“[…] 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 …
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