THE funeral for celebrated journalist Jones P Madeira will take place on January 16 at the Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Church on Woodford Street, Arima, at 2.00 pm.
A private cremation will follow.
Madeira, 80, died at the Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex at 3.33 pm on January 10.
“He was ailing for some time and had been hospitalised for the past week as he battled a number of very serious medical conditions,” his family said in a statement.
Madeira is described as a selfless legend by his family, while colleagues remember a kind, committed man who led an exemplary life.
Furness Chemicals Ltd, a member of the Furness Trinidad Group of Companies, has reported a 400 per cent increase in exports to the Caribbean and South American region.
In a release on January 14, Furness Chemicals said among its household and industrial cleaning chemicals products, its chlorine-free bleaching solution, Oxi Wash, accounts for about 50 per cent of its export output.
The company’s export markets include Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent, Guyana and Suriname.
“In 2025 Furness Chemicals Ltd hopes to conclude ongoing negotiations to export to the Dutch Caribbean islands as well as Jamaica and South America,” the release said.
Worker at Furness Chemicals Ltd loading stock onto a shipping container. – Photo courtesy Furness Chemicals Ltd
A teenager became the country’s latest murder victim when he was shot dead metres away from the Four Roads Police Station on January 13.
Hale “Ato” Besson was walking home after buying bread at a store near Starlite Shopping Plaza when a white car pulled up.
Gunmen got out and shot Besson multiple times before they got back into the car, which sped off.
Officers from the Four Roads station found Besson lying on the ground, next to Domino’s Pizza opposite the NP gas station.
A policeman who was at the gas station heard the shots and saw the car drive off. He gave his colleagues a description of it, but up to Monday night, they were unable to find it.
Besson died before an ambulance could arrive.
His death brings the murder toll for the year to 13.
Domino’s closed immediately after the shooting, and employees were sent home.
A senior employee told Newsday staff did not appear scared or traumatised, and they returned to work on January 14.
The employee said they had not yet been told whether any additional security measures would be put in place at the store, or whether counselling would be made available if employees ask for it.
In 2024, Besson was among people interviewed by Canadian YouTube vlogger Christopher Hughes, whose blog name is Chris Must List.
Hughes went to violent communities in Trinidad where he spoke to residents to get their perspective on the community and the causes of crime in the area.
During a video feature in Trinidad, he spoke with Besson about crime in Belmont.
Sitting in an area known as Rifle Hill, Besson told him Belmont was “one love,” but added some areas were dangerous to go because of gang feuds.
“Belmont is love, unified, one love. But if you diss the order you will get disorder.
“It have certain parts who repping their gang and you can’t go in a boy area and rep your sign.”
He then directed Hughes further up the hill, where the vlogger spoke with a man armed with a high-powered rifle.
Besson’s was the second murder in Diego Martin in four days.
The body of 58-year-old James “Monty” Forde of Pioneer Drive, Petit Valley, was found at Bata Circular, Ravine Road, Petit Valley on January 11.
Residents reported hearing gunshots at around 10.45 pm on January 10, but only found Forde’s body the next day in a yard along the street.
This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
A MAN identified only as “Ato” was shot dead near Starlite Shopping Plaza on January 13.
People in the area reported hearing gunshots around 9 pm.
The victim was found minutes later lying on the ground on Cuthbert Road, next to Domino’s Pizza, opposite the Four Roads Quick Shoppe.
He died before an ambulance could arrive.
His death brings the murder toll for the year to 12.
Police continue to search for the killers, who reportedly escaped in a white Toyota Fielder wagon.
SCORES of people dead or missing, thousands of properties destroyed, widespread looting, a state of emergency – this is not a description of the latest post-apocalyptic Hollywood movie. This is the reality in Los Angeles, America’s most populous county and one of its most affluent, where wildfires have been raging since January 7. It is a powerful reminder that even mighty nations must bow to climate change.
A combination of notable factors set the stage for the inferno. A strong high-pressure system meant Santa Ana winds reached hurricane-like speeds. The near-drought conditions produced the perfect tinderbox. Once sparked, the first flames grew from 20 acres to 200 acres in minutes.
While US investigators probe whether an earlier fire on January 1, due to human factors like fireworks use, might have also played a role, these two background factors have undoubtedly impeded all efforts to douse the flames. The message is obvious.
Early estimates put the fire’s cost at US$150 billion; extreme weather comes with extreme consequences. These consequences are a tale of fire and ice: elsewhere, Arctic blasts have been bringing sub-freezing temperatures in other states.
But there are further lessons.
Spreading as fast as the flames is disinformation. In a playbook the world is now very familiar with, lie after lie after lie has been told by Republican officials for political gain. These officials have made no effort to reckon with climate change.
Instead, it has been falsely claimed that water reservoirs were low, that looting is no longer a criminal offence, and that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies are to blame for everything. Ironically, Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Facebook would no longer be fact-checking came on the same day the fires started. Elon Musk has amplified untruths on his platform, X.
What Donald Trump, 78, has done so far in response to the emergency is a glimpse of what he is likely to do once he assumes the White House: play politics, traffic in lies until enough US voters believe him and distract from the real issues.
Already Mr Trump, who is busy feuding with US allies who have been helping the fire response like Canada and Mexico, has hinted he might withhold aid to California, a heavily Democratic state, once in power. There is precedent for this. In his first term, he issued similar broadsides when it came to covid19 and other types of emergency relief.
On climate change, Mr Trump has vowed to reverse Joe Biden’s recent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling. He came to power pledging to “drill, baby, drill.”
But with 2024 ending as the hottest on record and with California being transformed beyond imagining, Mr Trump may well have said “burn, baby, burn.”
AMID THE excitement of ushering in 2025, the second term of this academic year unfortunately began just as the previous term terminated. The litany of challenges affecting the school system was there to greet students, teachers and school administrators as they excitedly returned to school.
From crumbling infrastructure to resource deprivation, schools will once again be forced to function under severe constraints. Based on feedback from schools, the four-week break was unfortunately not embraced by the authorities as an opportunity to address outstanding infrastructural, health and safety issues plaguing the school system.
While the records will reflect a façade that all schools were reopened, ready and capable to resume the teaching and learning process, the reality revealed a different narrative. The reports of schools being disrupted due to health and safety issues have predictably begun to make the national headlines once again with calls for the authorities to urgently address these long outstanding issues.
These pleas have again been predictably met with a wall of silence or dismissal from the ministry of education and once again school communities are left to face these challenges on their own, but with covert pressure to ensure that schools remain open despite the health and safety threats posed.
TTUTA has been closely tracking these developments and is committed to ensure that the provisions of the law are adhered to. In defending the rights of its members, it ensures that schools conform to minimum standards of operational safety and efficiency because it believes firmly that the working conditions of the teacher constitute the learning environment of the students.
Teachers will continue to assert their right to work in safe schools. That is non-negotiable. They also have the right to demand that they be provided with adequate resources to deliver curriculum and be adequately compensated for the critical nation-building role they play.
This agenda will continue to preoccupy the union’s attention during this year, being forced to adopt drastic and unpopular decisions in its unrelenting quest to ensure our nation’s education system is characterised by quality schools delivering quality education.
Over the last decade this mandate has assumed unprecedented proportions given the rapidly deteriorating physical conditions prevalent in most of the nation’s schools owing to age and prolonged neglect.
Like most other public facilities, schools suffer from inadequate or non-existent facility management regimes and are left to deteriorate to calamitous proportions, precipitating drastic and extreme responses from stakeholders before remedial action is undertaken by the authorities.
Between a highly centralised and bureaucratic facility management arrangement and a micro management approach that has been adopted regarding schools, administrators and teachers are left almost helpless as they watch their schools literally fall apart before their eyes.
What is more disconcerting is that there is no indication that the situation will improve. The calls for the authorities to provide schools with basics such as tables and chairs remain unfulfilled. Schools will have to continue to devote precious time and effort to engage in fundraising activities to provide rudimentary resources to remain open and functional.
This year will once again see teachers enduring exponential levels of student indiscipline and deviance as parents continue to abdicate their responsibilities to ensure their children are brought up in the right way. They will continue to contend with a generation of parents who see child rights in a vacuum, divorced from responsibility and accountability.
From rude, impolite, bad-mannered and discourteous attitudes to gross disrespect and insolence, the patience and tolerance of teachers will be tested to its limits, judging by trends of past years.
Anger, intolerance and frustration will continue to be the underlying emotions of many students, with teachers having to dig deeply into their emotional arsenal to provide such students with a sense of hope for a brighter future.
TTUTA and its functionaries will certainly be kept busy giving the foregoing challenges, but the spark of hope for a better and brighter future will continue to define its approach and modus operandi as the principal education stakeholder.
Despite the dismissive attitude of the ministry of education and the demonisation by various sectors of the society over the years, it has persevered to pursue its mandate for improvements in the quality of education.
It remains committed to rational, dispassionate and respectful dialogue and working with all other stakeholders and the ministry. Its commitment to the cause of quality education and the enhancement of teachers’ status remains steadfast and unwavering. H
HAVE YOU ever told a lie, and before its venom slipped from your tongue you regretted it? I have. The very thought of being caught with my hands in the cookie jar is a thrilling feeling that makes the forbidden act all the more appealing. And I know many of you out there can relate to this.
In the days of my youth, nothing intrigued me more than those proscribed activities my mother made clear I should not engage in.
While I was not always brave to push the boundaries, I often longed to do the opposite of what I was told. And I can’t be the only person who felt/feels that way.
Curiosity can sometimes sink its claws so far into us that it pushes us to explore paths that aren’t just inherently wrong, but those we know for a fact can bring results we’ll regret. The psychology behind decision-making is a complex, mind-boggling process that we naturally know very little about.
Sometimes we make decisions we know are inherently bad, like procrastinating or continuing to engage in an unhealthy relationship, and then regret the outcome when things come full circle.
Take procrastination, for example. We know it is terrible and can make life stressful and complicated, so why do we keep doing it?
Decision-making depends mainly on information fed to the brain and an interesting analysis that takes place thereafter. Sometimes bad decisions can emanate from being privy to wrong information or not having any information on the subject matter at all. But that’s not all.
There are times during the decision-making process when the information our brains have at their disposal isn’t based on objective, factual data.
Research on decision-making shows that our brains process a wide range of personal, experiential information – what we’ve learned from previous choices, circumstances, relationships, and other people.
Pretty much everything we’ve ever experienced plays into every single decision.
Weeding out the bad from objective and subjective information can be a faulty process, especially with cognitive biases at work. Cognitive biases are shortcuts our brains develop that help us solve problems and interpret information quickly based on patterns we’ve experienced and reinforced over time. But, as the old people say, shortcut does bruk foot, and in the case of the brain, efficiency can sometimes lead to poor judgement.
We are exposed to objective information about the negative implications of several actions like, say, infidelity or overconsumption of alcohol, yet this doesn’t stop us from engaging.
But can it also be blamed on one’s weakness of will or lack of self-control?
The Greeks believed that we are often unwittingly plagued by “Akrasia,” a state of mind in which one acts against better judgement, often through weakness of will. Constantly finding oneself in this state is akin to self-decay, as life can quickly spin out of control while we lose our equilibrium.
Most psychologists believe that people can be trained to behave this way by forming better habits and a well-developed self-check system, which can only be actualised by recognising one’s flaws.
Beyond the psychological perspective, some believe the driving force behind engaging in behaviour that can only hurt us or has the potential to harm others is purely instinctive.
Colouring outside the lines, even in the realm of darkness, can temporarily take us away from the mundanity and agony of life. While the positive effects aren’t typically long-lasting, “deviant behaviour” arguably adds a new layer to our experience, raises the bar, and excites us.
“We long to have every need fulfilled, even as we toil and struggle endlessly searching for the things that fuel us. Human nature dictates that we will search and search until we find it, no matter the cost to ourselves or the agony it causes us, perhaps even to our own demise.”
Even in the face of experience and flashing red lights that inform us of eventual danger, we engage in behaviour, sometimes habitually, because we long for the thrill despite having full knowledge of what it will do to us.
To compensate, we rationalise our behaviour by saying, “You only live once.” Or by tricking ourselves into believing that “things will be different this time.”
Continuous use of unhealthy behaviours can quickly become coping mechanisms for avoiding emotional discomfort, especially when our actions don’t align with our inner belief system, and that can easily be a recipe for disaster. How do you address the desire to engage in unhealthy behaviour even when the outcome is looking at you dead in the eye?
In next week’s piece, we’ll explore more of what fuels unhealthy desires and steps we can take to steer our energy towards healthier, more rewarding decisions.
SOCA music has made it to NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.
Machel Montano and a group of talented musicians made history as they brought the Washington, DC, studio alive with the vibrant sounds of the TT-born genre.
The 20-minute concert was uploaded to YouTube on January 13 (images from the concert leaked online in late November 2024).
The Tiny Desk Concert series, which began in 2008, allows singers and musicians to give intimate live concerts. Many of its videos garner millions of views.
NPR Music’s YouTube channel has over ten million subscribers and nearly 3,000 videos uploaded. Major artistes have graced this studio, such as Usher, Adele, Sting, Shaggy, Alicia Keys, T-Pain, Justin Timberlake, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Erykah Badu, Coldplay, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.
Montano opened his show, in front of a live audience, with his 2007 hit One More Time.
Before moving on, he told the audience, “My name is Machel Montano, from Trinidad and Tobago.”
He added that in the Caribbean, “It’s always dancing time.”
He went on to sing Dance With You, then told the audience to get ready for “wining time,” moving on to Fast Wine.
Taking off his jacket, he joked, “Time to turn up that heat.”
He explained they would be transitioning from groovy to power soca, then sang Like Ah Boss, Famalay and Soca Kingdom.
Audience members jumped, danced and sang along. Some waved bandanas with the national flags of different Caribbean countries.
Machel Montano in his element during the filming of his NPR Tiny Desk concert in Washington, DC. – Photo by Anil Mathi/Courtesy of Monk Music
Montano was accompanied by musicians Kyle Peters (guitar), Bayete Williams (keyboard), Duane “Abletron Gawd” Williams (effects), Dwain “Dwaingerous” Antrobus (keyboard), Damien Neblett (bass guitar), Melvin Alick (drums), Etienne Charles (trumpet, flugelhorn), Rhys Thompson and Modupe Onilu aka Boomboomroomtt (percussion), and Lamar Antwon Robinson and Michael Chandlar as backup vocalists.
In an Instagram post, Montano said it was not just his moment but “our (TT’s) moment.
“Today we made history. For the first time ever, soca music has graced the iconic NPR Tiny Desk stage, and I am filled with gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of pride, to represent our culture on this global platform.
“(This is) a moment for every soca lover, every Caribbean soul, and every person who carries the rhythm of the islands in their heart. Let’s celebrate this milestone together. Watch it. Share it. Be proud of how far our music has come. Thank you for being part of this journey.”
NPR Music posted on Instagram: “Stretch and loosen up! Machel Montano is the first to bring soca, the high-energy dance music of the Caribbean, to the desk.”
Montano replied, “What an honour and a privilege! Thank you for the opportunity and for sharing the joy of soca to the world. We had a blast at your spot!”
Fellow artistes congratulated him including Mical Teja, Wendell Manwarren, Teddyson John, among others. TUCO (Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ also did so.
‘Lady’ brought to tears: ‘I’m excited and proud’
Montano’s mother Elizabeth “Lady” Montano told Newsday her pores raised and the performance. brought her to tears.
She said she felt a deep sense of pride, knowing how hard her son had worked over the years.
She was happy to see so many positive comments under the YouTube video.
“I was explaining to Machel that there were some people (in the comments) who said they didn’t know the artiste or the genre, and then people from the Caribbean started to explain who he is, what he means to the region, how long he has been doing (music)…
“I am always proud of him. He loves and represents music, the culture, the people of TT and the Caribbean.”
She was also happy the band was made up of Caribbean people.
“There were Bajans, Trinis, people who went far back with him…He always puts this effort into what he does, because he knows the meaning and the purpose.”
Although she was in the US at the time, she was unable to attend the live recording.
But, she said, “Remember, I was there from the beginning of his career. So there were memories of all the work he has put in over the years, and I felt this joy to see everything come together.
“When I saw the songs he chose, I knew why he chose them, I knew why he did them in a particular way.”
Musicians honoured to be part of history
Of the musicians who accompanied Montano, jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles said being on Tiny Desk was “a huge deal” for him.
He said the way he found out about it was a bit funny.
Audience members are in their glee during Machel Montano’s NPR Tiny Desk concert. Photo by Anil Mathi/Courtesy of M – Photo by Anil Mathi/Courtesy of Monk Music
“I was on tour in New York and Machel called me out of the blue and told me he was doing a 50th-birthday show at the Kennedy Center, then he added, ‘Oh, and we’re doing a Tiny Desk concert (that same day).’”
He was grateful and happy “that NPR had the vision to bring soca into the mix…
“To see soca music from the English-speaking Caribbean being featured is always special.”
Seeing all the Caribbean flags in the audience warmed his heart.
Keyboardist Bayete Williams, part of Montano’s band for several years, said this was “another honour on a long chain…
“Machel plays on a number of very large stages. We have played at the Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden, we’ve played in Japan…”
He was very proud of the performance, explaining that the style of music was different from the soca star’s “usual high-energy” ones…
“We had some rules…no in-ear monitors, no headphones, no digital percussion…”
So the energy was “way more organic.
“Yet still the mandate was to bring soca to the world. So with that in mind, we took up the challenge, and I think we put together a (good) show.
“Even some of (NPR’s) technical (team) left their posts and came in the audience to party with us,” he said, laughing.
He said the performance introduced soca to new demographics.
He praised his fellow musicians, dubbing them “all stars” and “masters of their craft.”
Williams, who is also a mixing engineer, said NPR did well presenting the sound of soca.
NPR’s audio technical director was Josh Newell and audio engineer, Tiffany Vera Castro.
Percussionists Rhys Thompson and Modupe Onilu were also honoured to have been part of it.
Thompson said he has always enjoyed Tiny Desk concerts, and having been part of one is still mind-blowing – it never crossed his mind he would someday be there.
“It was a bit nerve-racking,” he admitted, but said the audience helped with the energy on set.
He was supposed to go on vacation around the time it was filmed, but when he found out he was to be on Tiny Desk: “My jaw literally dropped to the floor.”
Onilu’s heart “skipped a beat” when he heard.
“I started to get excited – and I’m not one to really get excited like that. It was just a phenomenal moment to hear those words as a gig.”
He has played on big stages before, but considers this the biggest yet.
“Having this be the first display of soca music there, I’m honoured to be part of the history and such a cultural platform.”
He, too, praised NPR for the sound.
“Usually, the percussions are the last thing you have to force your ears to hear in a live recording. But the first thing someone told me this morning was, ‘I actually heard your drums and your instruments.’ They did an amazing job.”
Even now the video is out, guitarist Kyle Peters said he is still in disbelief.
“Even while being there, just knowing I was in the same space a lot of these huge artistes have been before…artistes that I have looked up to – that was incredible.”
Despite the name Tiny Desk, he was still surprised just how small the space was.
But: “NPR made us feel very comfortable and we still got to make the space our own and have a good time. That day was definitely significant and huge.
“And then getting up this morning to see the final thing, which I’ve been waiting on, was great. They did exceptionally well, and kudos to the (sound) engineer. They kept the energy and it sounded clean.”
He said this is a great feat for soca and TT culture.
Bajan drummer Melvin Alick called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s very humbling just to know that the opportunity was extended to us.”
Like Williams, he explained the performance was very technical, owing to the restrictions.
“So we are there trying to listen to each other, keep everything in time, play with energy, but at the same time, not be too loud…a whole bunch of different dynamics.
“But I’m really glad it came out well and we were still able to get the energy of what soca music is, to still translate the same way without it overpowering (Montano).”
He said the audience “had a blast.”
He praised those who were part of Montano’s band before him for paving the way for many of today’s successes.
“If you think about the legacy of coming after Kitch (Kernal Roberts) – who, to me, is the most incredible soca drummer to ever live – what he did and achieved and accomplished with Machel really laid the foundation for where these things are…
“If you think back to the HD (band) days, they took soca to a whole other level. So for us to even get here is really off of their foundation.”
He called the performance a celebration of soca and all who have had an impact on the genre since its creation.
IT only took five men to get the fish on the boat, but Varoon Boodram and a team of fishermen caught a Warsaw grouper weighing over 300 pounds off the North Coast on January 12.
Boodram, along with Andrew Cameron, his brother Donald, Timothy Ramai, captain Garry Fortune, Sean Lee and another man called Mr Trevor, were all part of the special catch.
Boodram said it felt like a regular catch when the fish started to bite and he did not know the fish was so large.
Varoon Boodram next to the Warsaw grouper. –
“Honestly when the fish took the bait it did not feel like a massive fish because when I felt the fish was biting it did not actually feel like a grouper, it felt like one of the amberjacks which we were catching at the same time.”
The grouper weighed 330 pounds and measured six foot six inches in length, the heaviest fish Boodram said he ever caught.
It was a team effort.
Boodram said, “It took five of us to bring it over the boat…when it floated up roughly 200 feet behind the boat we saw it break the surface and we were like, ‘That is a big fish.’ It is only until it reach inside of the boat we actually saw how massive it was.”
It was a battle between the fishermen and the grouper.
“It was really an intense fight…when that fish pull, it bend the rod…I thought at that moment I was going to hear, ‘pax,’ the rod was going to burst.
“However, it was a nice hour-and-a-half fight.
“Originally three of us tried to pull it in the boat, (but) he (the fish) looked like he was pulling us out the boat.”
Timothy Ramai takes a photo with the Warsaw grouper to show the length of the fish. –
Boodram said for a previous fishing trip he was sick and could not help his friends. He was elated to make up for that disappointment.
“I am calling this one the redeemer, because the first time I went out with these same guys on the north side…I ended up coming down with the flu. I spent the entire day on the boat sleeping…they say, ‘We bring a man to fish and he sick whole day, sleeping.'”
Boodram has been fishing for a few years and loves the excitement of being on the sea.
“It is just a hobby that I love. I don’t eat fish, but I just love to go hold it. I love the excitement in it.”
One of Boodram’s neighbours in Bamboo bought the fish.
“My neighbour buys and sells fish, so when he saw it he said, ‘What you are going to do with it?’ I say we going to cut it up and my brother-in-law will take it. He said, ‘I will buy it from you, if you are willing to sell it.'”
Boodram was glad to part ways with the fish, as he did not have space to store it. It was sold for $3,300.
Stephen Marcelle hit the stage at Soka in Moka alongside Dil-E-Nadan, performing his latest release Trini Sweet at the all-inclusive fete on January 5.
For Marcelle, the ascent has only just begun and Carnival 2025 will ultimately be his springboard into becoming the artiste he has always dreamed of being, said a media release.
“I’ve been a frontline bandmember of Dil-E-Nadan for the past decade. The experience has been incredible and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten over the years, but my intention is to make Stephen Marcelle a household name,” he said in the release.
“I’ve done many songs over the years, but I think as an artiste it’s your duty to market yourself and your product properly. Due to my busy schedule, I hadn’t been able to do that effectively.”
The healthcare professional, artiste and Phd student says he is investing in himself, taking the time to build his music catalogue and market himself.
As he juggles junior management responsibilities with the North West Regional Health Authority, touring with Dil-e-Nadan, and studying, Marcelle is adamant his time management skills have equipped him for the challenge, the release said.
In November, he performed with Dil-E-Nadan in Amsterdam where he showed music lovers his versatility as a Trinidad and Tobago-born artiste.
“I’ve been singing a Dutch song in that language. I’ve done it in Suriname and I did it in Amsterdam. The crowd is always amazed that I’m able to do that.”
He anticipates even more opportunities to discover and be introduced to new markets and cultures outside of the Caribbean region.
“Trini Sweet was written by Jason ‘Shaft’ Bishop. It’s one of those songs that paints a picture of the feeling being at home in TT invokes.
“Our food, the freedom we have, our people and our culture all hold the sweetness of our country and when foreigners come here and see that, they’re convinced that TT is paradise.”
Stephen Marcelle –
Admittedly, Marcelle says crime is a cause for concern but says he believes everyone has a part to play in the change that must happen. “Yes, we have crime here and yes, the blame game will continue, but we all need to take control of this problem. That aside, TT is still a sweet place to be.”
The soca, calypso and chutney music singer plans to enter Carnival competitions. He has been successful in past competitions, winning the Emancipation Calypso Monarch in 2012 and the Young King Calypso title in 2013. He was also semifinalist in the Calypso Fiesta competition, Skinner Park, San Fernando, for seven times.
“Strengthening my personal brand as an artiste is beneficial to the Dil-E-Nadan brand as well and the support has been there throughout. It’s important for me to become more than just ‘the other guy,’ and to do that, I understand what I need to do.”
He anticipates the day soca lovers will acknowledge him not as “the other guy,” but as Stephen Marcelle.
“I’ve been doing calypso compositions as well. I’ve written for children for the junior calypso competitions and it’s something I plan on dedicating more time to, as well.”
His commitment to that aspect of his music career sees him writing as much as possible when he flies to fulfill commitments overseas.
“I never sleep on the plane so I use the time to write or study or do work.”
Celebrations for Couva Carnival 2025 move into high gear on January 18, with screening of prospective contestants for the Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant at the Balmain Community Centre, Balmain, Couva, starting at 10 am.
The pageant, one of the main highlights of festivities in central Trinidad, is attended by thousands and serves as a gateway for the top performers to enter more prestigious events, a media release said.
Co-ordinator Marcia Merrick-Mohammed, herself a former pageant winner, is planning to put on a spectacular show this year with exciting new elements, the release said.
Chairman of the Couva Carnival Committee (CCC) Ramchand Rajbal Maraj said committee members have been meeting regularly since December to fine-tune preparations for the festivities.
“We intend to introduce a new element to Couva Carnival this year by inviting the general public to be a part of our formal launch which gives them a taste of what the entire season will deliver,” he said in the release.
Rawle “Ratel” Peters was the Couva Carnival Committee’s Senior Calypso Monarch 2024
He made a stirring appeal to the business community to get more actively involved in Carnival in central Trinidad.
“We need more assistance from our corporate citizens to take Couva Carnival to a higher level. It is very costly to put on these shows which are free to the public. Our subvention from the National Carnival Commission does not cover our full expenditure,” he noted.
Anyone desirous of taking part in the pageant or sponsoring a contestant can contact either Merrick-Mohammed at 345-0012 or Shanti Ramcharan at 498-8621.
Couva Carnival events:
January 18
10 am: Screening for Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant, Balmain Community Centre, Balmain, Couva
January 26
9 am: Auditions for Calypso Monarch competitions (Seniors & Juniors), Balmain Community Centre
February 15
4 pm: Formal launch Couva Carnival and sashing of Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant contestants, Bear Feelings Restaurant & Bar, Southern Main Road, McBean, Couva
February 22
Motorcade for Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant
February 27
7 pm: TUCO South/Central Calypso Tent, Couva car park
February 28
7 pm: Finals of Couva Calypso Monarch competitions (Seniors & Juniors) and Extempo competition, Couva car park
March 1
Miss Central Trinidad Queen Pageant finals, Couva car park
March 2
1 pm: Kiddies Carnival, Couva car park
5 pm: Stickfighting competition, pan and extempo
March 3
5 am: J’Ouvert competition, Couva car park
7 pm: Monday Nite Mas and King and Queen of the bands competitions
March 4
11 am: Parade of the bands and las lap, Couva car park.
THE EDITOR: In 1991 the Telephone Company (Telco) was merged with the international service provider Textel. The new company was rightly named Telecom Services of TT as it expanded it service from voice to high-speed data, wireless and full-motion video. The HR, finance, customer service and engineering departments all had to merge to improve efficiency.
The representative union, CWU, in an attempt to block the merger, blocked the merging of the two pension plans. The merger that produced TSTT resulted in increased salaries for former Telco workers and capital expenditure for infrastructural development.
In 2021, the company pursued a merger of the two pension plans but the CWU strongly resisted without providing any justification. The company incentivised the proposal by offering a payout of $300 million, a third of the surplus which happens to be the workers’ contribution. There was wiggle room for a larger payout but the union was not interested.
After talks broke down, the retirees took the matter to court through private counsel late last year and are awaiting a judgement, which may come as early as next month.
Another related matter was the excess “over-deduction” of 1.5 per cent pension dues for the period 1995 to 2006, which both company and union agreed would have been refunded. That was four years ago.
We have a pension plan with $2 billion in assets, $1 billion in surplus and 1,400 beneficiaries, with retired managers, many of whom were never part of Telco, receiving as much as $65K while bona fide Telco retirees receive as little as $1,000 per month, not enough to pay property tax or the cost of medication.
Merging of the two plans will benefit the financially weaker TSTT pension plan, yet the union is unmoved and the company appears to have moved on.
THE EDITOR: I write to propose the creation of an alternative form of government-issued identification for citizens of TT.
Currently, many government agencies and financial institutions require individuals to present two forms of identification for various transactions. While the national ID Card is widely available, the two most commonly accepted secondary forms of identification are the driver’s licence and passport.
However, a significant portion of the population may not possess either of these. This can create significant inconvenience and hinder access to essential services.
Therefore, I propose the implementation of an alternative, easily obtainable form of government-issued identification. This could potentially be a:
* Government-issued ID Card: Specifically designed for those who do not possess a driver’s licence or passport.
* Enhanced national ID Card: With additional security features and potentially including biometric data.
This alternative identification would:
* Improve accessibility: Allow citizens without driver’s licences or passports to easily conduct government transactions.
* Enhance security: Provide an additional layer of security for government services.
* Reduce bureaucratic hurdles: Streamline processes and reduce delays for citizens.
I urge the government authority to consider this proposal and take the necessary steps to implement a solution that addresses the identification needs of all citizens.
The Kambule Spirit of Carnival Festival 2025 begins its lineup with the Lacouray in Lakou Wi series of conversations on January 17 with a discussion and performance themed Africa in the Carnival.
The launch will feature performances by soca producer and performer Keegan Taylor, percussionist and vocalist Sheena Ajibola Richardson and Egbe Omo Oni Isese, a media release said.
The cast of Kambule will perform a short excerpt of the production. The launch begins at 6 pm at Lakou Wi space, 12 Warner Street, Newtown.
Idakeda director Attillah Springer will join with Odunmbaku Adesoga Somorin of Ketus Ifa Institute to present an engaging exploration of African masking traditions. This presentation will delve into the historical and spiritual significance of masks in African culture and their enduring influence on carnivals and festivals across the Caribbean, the release said.
The Lacouray in Lakou Wi series is designed to foster meaningful dialogue around the cultural and historical threads that shape Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival traditions. Through discussions and performances, Idakeda said it also aims to give the audience some important context for what happens in the play, Kambule, written and directed by Eintou Springer.
In explaining the significance of the event founder and managing director of Idakeda Group Dara Healy said in the release, “It is important for us to share that the jamettes who were involved in the Canboulay Riots had a history, a spiritual foundation and a philosophy that drove them to stand up against the colonial authorities.
“Carnival is so much more than the frivolity that is promoted. Events like this provide insight into the deep connections between Carnival and our ongoing quest for self-recognition and cultural confidence.”
In addition to the January 17 discussions, the Kambule Spirit of Carnival Festival includes workshops for children and adults, an in-house exhibition and Africa in the Carnival city tours.
For more info: kambule1881 on Instagram, connectwithus@idakedagroup.com,
WhatsApp 868-710-9171 or visit www.idakedagroup.com.
OPPOSITION whip David Lee was sceptical about the impending appointment of Energy Minister Stuart Young as prime minister, but his opposition colleague Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally wished Young well, although vowing to hold him to account.
Lee opined that Young was simply a younger version of the Prime Minister, as he dismissed the expected handover of the leadership of the country, speaking to reporters as he entered the Red House for the House of Representatives sitting on January 13.
“All the policies of this Government, Stuart Young was part and parcel of. He was a senior individual, grown over the years, with Prime Minister Rowley, so what do you expect going further? He is just a younger version, in my view. He might be of a different race.”
Lee said he watched the media conference after the PNM General Council on January 11 featuring Young (PNM chairman) and Minister of Youth Development Foster Cummings (general secretary).
Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee arrives at Parliament on January 13. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle
“The body language says it all. It tells me that nothing has been solved. That is my interpretation of the body language.
“But as you know, the PNM has to appear to be healed and to be one. That is their mantra.
“But one would never have expected the kind of bacchanal that would have taken place in the past two months with this whole issue of their leadership.”
Lee said the SoE was announced on December 30 at a news briefing by Young and Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds.
“The Prime Minister was nowhere there to be seen.
“Then the following week, right after New Year’s, there is this whole issue about leadership and who will be prime minister and who will be political leader. That whole conversation has taken away from the crux of the matter we are coming to debate here today, which is the SoE.”
He likened Young’s appointment before a general election to a substitute on a football team, just given a chance to play before the end of the game.
“Prime Minister Rowley has to give Stuart Young a ‘sweat.’ In football you have to give the 12th man a sweat before the match ends.
“I think that is what is happening here today, that he is giving Stuart Young a sweat to see if he can score a goal. We will wait and see.”
Reporters asked his thoughts on Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne’s reported interested in seeking to become Diego Martin West MP on Rowley’s bowing out.
Lee said, “I really don’t want to get into PNM confusion and bacchanal. When you look at how the UNC has run their business, we are very democratic, we are very calm as a united party. When there were talks about our internal (elections) last year, democracy played out. There we are. We are calm, cool.
“Everybody talked about the PNM being an institution – and look at the bacchanal that is happening in the PNM right now. I really don’t want to talk about who takes over the PM’s seat in Diego Martin West.”
The Prime Minister debates the SoE bill in Parliament on January 13. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle
Reporters asked if the UNC was apace with the PNM in candidate selection for the general election.
Lee said, “We do everything very strategically. Last year when the PNM was putting out all their candidates, you ask the question: why are they putting out all their candidates?
“Maybe it was negotiations for what is happening right now in the PNM bacchanal.”
With most PNM MPs being returned as candidates, he felt that reflected negotiations behind the scenes.
Newsday asked if UNC MPs on the UP slate, which was led by Mayaro MP Rushton Paray in the UNC internal elections, would get a fair hearing at the screening.
Lee replied, “You refer to them as dissidents. I am not referring to them as dissidents. I am referring to them as colleagues.
“Out of the five, I think four or three said they had filed (nomination papers for the general election). They will come to screening if they decide to come to screening, and they will have a fair hearing, just as how we had our internal elections back in June last year where everybody had a chance. We had a very open and democratic election.”
Rambally, however, welcomed Young’s pending move to become PM.
He said, “I commend Minister Young.
“You are seeing someone who is young in their profession, relatively young in politics, prepared to offer themselves at the highest level.
“He is going to be scrutinised in a way more than ever before. It is commendable that people are prepared to do that. So I would wish him well, wish him the best. I’d want to wish him well, that at the end of the day he serves well, he leads well.”
Rambally said Young’s message of unity to build Trinidad and Tobago has resonated with him.
“That being said, I have not lost focus, in that he will now be held to the highest standards of accountability.
“So as an opposition MP, whatever I have directed at Dr Keith Christopher Rowley is now going to be double-fold against my good partner and friend and my colleague in the legal profession, Minister Young.”
THE EDITOR: I recall the shock I felt in May 2014 when I read the news about the assassination of Dana Seetahal SC, who was engaged in prosecuting a high-profile murder.
I called then for robust and effective round-the-clock security for prosecutors, especially those engaged in high-profile matters and supported an immediate state of emergency (SoE) with a lockdown to identify and locate those responsible. Over ten years later, no one has been convicted for that heinous crime.
On New Year’s Eve 2024 another colleague, special prosecutor Randall Hector, reported as having optimistically stating at a church service, “We have had a very bloody year in 2024 for TT. Right now, we are under a SoE but regardless of what is happening out there, God has protected us,” was murdered, the victim of another assassination and disproving his optimism.
On January 3 the newspapers carried the headlines of the fear of prosecutors and the apparent notification by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the acting Chief Justice that prosecutors would not be attending court that day because it was necessary to hold a meeting about the killing.
Yet, despite the fact that TT has a new annual record of 624 homicides, the Police Commissioner was reported as having declared that the police service had “significant results” and made “significant progress” in 2024.
The irony should not be lost on anyone. Lest there be any confusion, the simple fact is that invisible results or progress is of no value to the law-abiding public; it only valuable to criminals as confirmation that they cannot be stopped.
TT did not get to this level of criminality overnight. It has been allowed to run out of control for many, many years with successive failures in leadership, action and resources. Despite the fact that a former police commissioner had started to make progress, that progress appears to have been unwelcome and he was replaced.
TT cannot be policed like London, Toronto or New York. What is required is the kind of leadership and proactive police and prosecutorial action that identifies within the shortest period of time those who have committed serious violent crimes and bringing them to trial. Anything less is a waste of time.
At present, the declared state of emergency does not appear to have had any meaningful effect. While I hope, as others hope, that miraculous results will be achieved, I share the pessimism of others based on many, many years of disappointment when it comes to the rising level of criminality that has been unrelenting for far too long.
THE EDITOR: Prof Lloyd Best coined the phrase “Doctor Politics” in the 1970s to describe the political shenanigans of the late Dr Eric Williams.
Over the last two weeks this country has witnessed Doctor Politics, Rowley style, at its worst.
It was manifestly apparent that the registered members of the PNM would not have supported Prime Minister Rowley’s “Gary Sobers,” Stuart Young, for political leader at the party’s 51st annual convention and internal election carded for November 17 last year.
In the face of the impending “run-out” of Young, Dr Rowley hastily abandoned the convention and election.
Soon thereafter, Ferdie Ferreira, a founding member of the PNM, voiced what is common knowledge within party circles – that Young is no favourite in the party. To quote Ferreira:
“There is a level of dissatisfaction, discomfort and disquiet among party members and officers over PM Rowley’s hint that Young is his possible replacement.
“It’s no secret there are quite a few members in the party – and prominent members – who are openly saying they would not support Stuart Young to succeed Rowley.”
On December 30 last year, against the run of play, after some four years of inertia in the sphere of crime-fighting, the government surprisingly declared a state of emergency (SoE), allegedly due to intelligence that there was impending criminal activity that posed a clear and present danger to public safety, and the government was acting decisively in the public interest to avert this danger to the citizenry.
The nation was thus plunged into as state of heightened alert, during which many of the enshrined guarantees under the Constitution are suspended.
The much anticipated press conference held, not as expected by the Prime Minister to whom the nation spontaneously endears in moments of national crisis, but by none other than Energy Minister Young assuming the role of acting Attorney General, with Reginald Armour, the substantive AG, conveniently out of the jurisdiction.
To imbue the fiction with an aura of legitimacy, the embattled Fitzgerald Hinds, ever the patsy, entered an appearance that was purely ceremonial and Young proceeded to weave a tale of perceived retribution by certain criminal elements in the country, sufficiently grave so as to pose a clear and present danger to public safety and by extension national security.
The naïve and unsuspecting public expressed a fleeting optimism that perhaps at long last the government had awoken from its slumber and was once and for all frontally tackling the criminal elements in the country.
However, the only purpose and intent of the SoE was to crush any intended protest over Young’s appointment by the PNM caucus in the egg before it hatched.
The PNM caucus, comprising the party’s MPs and senators, routinely convenes to select speakers for debates and for joint select committee meetings of Parliament. The caucus possesses no constitutional power to select or endorse a political leader, let alone a prime minister.
Young had the audacity to label members who were exercising their democratic right to vie for positions during the last PNM internal election as “pothounds,” even as he lacks the testicular fortitude to compete fairly in a leadership race in the very party of which he is chairman.
That Rowley would treat the party membership with such utter contumely, not even bothering to feign deference and respect concern for the time-honoured and hallowed party conventions as the only constitutional means by which the political leader is selected, but that he would dare to subvert the party’s democratic traditions under the pretext of furthering national security imperatives is unforgivable.
That a sitting prime minister could engineer such an outrage is, to say the very least, shocking.
This hoodwinking of the nation possesses all of the irony of Shakespearian tragedy, writ large, for within hours of the SoE being declared, special state prosecutor and attorney Randall Hector was gunned down as he left the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Stanmore Avenue in the nation’s capital in the wee hours of New Year’s Day.
Unsurprisingly, this calculated and brazen attack evoked no word of sympathy from either Hinds or Young, both of whom are themselves attorneys.
Since Hector’s brutal slaying, the murder rate continues to abound, giving the lie to the claim that the government implemented the SoE to tackle the criminal elements head-on.
Young, with Rowley’s blessings, is attempting to become prime minister by sleight of hand.
Devon “Lyrikal” Martin has released 20 songs this Carnival, creating a diverse playlist for the 2025 season.
The tracks offer a variety of music –from pulsating power soca anthems for the road to groovy, mid-tempo tunes for fetes and with “patriotism that touches the heart,” a media release said.
Known for his energetic performances, Lyrikal’s latest contributions reflect his commitment to the art form and culture, the release said.
“Carnival is not just an event; it’s a feeling, a celebration of life, love, and freedom. I wanted to create something for everyone –no matter where you are or how you feel,” Lyrikal said in the release.
“Of all the songs I have released thus far, there is a song for everyone; my goal was to make sure that no one is left out of the Carnival experience.”
The collection of songs, which Lyrikal calls his “Carnival Playlist,” is something he has always wanted to do and felt 2025 was the perfect time to bring this dream to life, the release said.
There are two collaborations among the 20 songs.
Songs such as Dotish, Strange Things, Bacchanal Time, and Carnival Meeting are gaining traction on streaming platforms and in Carnival circuits across the Caribbean and the diaspora, the release said.
Lyrikal’s Carnival 2025 playlist is also a journey through the vibrancy and essence of soca music, the release said, adding that he reinforces his title as the New York’s King of Soca while further solidifying his global appeal.
The songs can be streamed from his official Spotify playlist.
For more info: follow Lyrikal’s Carnival 2025 journey on his official social media pages at @iamlyrikalace (TikTok & Instagram).
THE EDITOR: Over the past two weeks the topic of discussion has been Prime Minister Rowley’s intention to resign office, exit public life and go off to his family. His decision is a historic one.
From Mason Hall to Whitehall, Dr Rowley dedicated 45 years of his life to the service of TT. He has contributed quite a lot to the development of the nation. He most certainly deserves a happy, enjoyable retirement.
On January 6 Rowley announced that Minister Stuart Young was voted to be the new leader. Young over the years has and continues to prove that he is capable of leading and managing the affairs of this country with high morals and integrity. His achievements are monumental as he daily shows his love and selfless service.
While I avoid commenting on statements made by members of the opposition, I offer my deepest sympathies to the opposition leader and her members. It is obvious she is delirious and once again caught unprepared, hence her perplexing statements.
I read where she commented that a lazy young man has replaced a lazy old man. She said the latest developments in the PNM is an affront to democracy.
The UNC leader needs to understand that the only affront to democracy is a leader who has lost multiple elections and refuses to demit office. An affront to democracy is having individuals on million-dollar bail sitting at her side with the intention to “represent” the people of this country.
An affront to democracy is leading a government plagued by controversy and every Monday morning having to replace a minister.
The opposition leader should be the last person to refer to anyone as lazy and old. She refers to Rowley as old and greedy. Rowley at age 75 fulfils all his obligations as Prime Minister, walks faster than the officers in his security detail, and does not require assistance exiting his vehicle. He tends to his sheep and other animals on his farm, as well as his crops.
Stuart Young works 15-20 hours a day and has placed on hold a prominent legal practice not only in TT, but the Caribbean and the UK, all in the name of service to country.
Both Rowley and Young are present in Parliament and their MP offices seeing and representing the people who elected them.
The opposition leader needs to take a good look in the mirror and use the time when she is absent from Parliament and not doing the people’s business to do some deep introspection. Her utterances are those of a delirious woman who is seeking power and office by any means necessary.
As Alfred Adler said, “the power-hungry individual follows a path to his or her own destruction.”
I believe the opposition leader realises that she has already become a victim of this philosophy. However, it is not too late for her followers. Those who continue to support her will unfortunately suffer the consequences of her decisions, as they have done over the years.
The country is in good hands and I hope and pray that Young will continue to be the humble, ambitious, hard-working gentleman that he has always been.
CHE Benny showed his quality in dead-ball situations as he converted a penalty and a free kick to steer AC Port of Spain to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Pt Fortin Civic when the TT Premier Football League continued at the Arima Velodrome on January 12.
The victory meant AC Port of Spain jumped from fifth to third in the standings with 12 points. Defence Force have been flawless this campaign with 18 points, winning all six of their matches. Central FC are also off to an impressive start, earning 15 points with five wins from six matches.
Benny opened the scoring in the 26th minute from the penalty spot, before completing his brace with a left-footed free kick in the 41st minute. It was a lead AC held until the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Nathan Lewis gave AC a 3-0 cushion with an item in the 76th minute.
AC kept the foot on the gas, as Benny’s former St Anthony’s College teammate Haile Beckles found the back of the net in the 86th minute.
Pt Fortin Civic grabbed a late consolation goal in stoppage time (91st minute). Pt Fortin remained in eighth position in the 12-team table.
In the first match of the doubleheader in Arima, the contest between Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and Prison Service FC ended in a 0-0 draw.
Rangers and Prison have been struggling this season.
The La Horquetta men are in 11th place and Prison are in ninth position.
MINISTER of Trade Paula Gopee-Scoon has said implementing property tax on business is not a consideration of the government for the time being.
She made the statement while answering questions from the media after a tour of the Blue Waters factory on Orange Grove Road in Tacarigua.
The company won the title Manufacturer of the Year Large 2023 at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association’s awards ceremony in November.
“I can give you the position of the government, that it is not on the table right now.
“When you look at the last budget, there is no mention of an introduction of the property tax on business.”
She said while its implementation might be considered some time in the future, consultations with the private sector would be held at that time.
In the 2021 budget presentation, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert expressed the government’s plans to begin collecting property tax. Imbert said government would start with residential properties, and commercial, industrial and agricultural properties would follow in that order.
The tax is payable on a percentage of the annual taxable value (ATV) of the land owned. Schedule one of the Property Tax Act breaks down the tax rates for each section, with residential land being taxed at two per cent of the ATV and commercial land at six per cent of the ATV.
Industrial land is divided into two categories – industrial land with plant and machinery housed in the building would be taxed at a rate of six per cent; and plant and machinery not housed in a building at three per cent of the ATV.
Agricultural land will be taxed at one per cent of ATV.
Blue Waters on forex challenges: We manage
Owner of Blue Waters Dominic Hadeed said while the company was still seeing some challenges accessing foreign exchange (forex), it is doing well with the assistance of Eximbank, local commercial banks and the efforts of the business to earn its own forex.
“It’s as my uncle used to say, a hair from here and a hair from there would make a beard.
“A little from Eximbank, a little from local banks, a little from export and a little from buying local… we manage. I wouldn’t say that it is smooth sailing, but we manage.”
Hadeed said while the company was getting assistance from financial institutions, it was also growing sales locally and growing its exports.
“I think when the banks are seeing that you are making an effort, I think everyone will work together, because they are hoping that if they give you some support in the short run, in the long run you will be less reliant, or not reliant at all. That is what we are trying to do.”
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