CHAIR of Tobago CivilNET Rodney Piggott says the organisation is working closely with the Emancipation Support Committee to decolonise spaces in Trinidad and Tobago.
“We have spaces like Fort King George (overlooking Scarborough)…. one of the most beautiful places in Tobago and I have to call this man’s name. I have to pour libation every time I use their names. Where are my ancestors’ names on these places?” he asked on Saturday while addressing a group of African descendants at the 2nd Middle Passage Remembrance Day observance at Bago’s, Swallows Beach, Crown Point.
Piggott noted Picton Street, scene of some of the most “barbaric” acts in Port of Spain, was also named after an early coloniser.
“We don’t realise this but it is their ancestors we are revering every time we call their names. We are about decolonising these spaces.”
Last year, the government appointed a five-member committee to review the placement of statues, monuments and historical signage across the country.
Piggott told the gathering that Tobago CivilNET, since its inception, has addressed several matters interest, including internal self-government.
He said the group has also established committees to “bring all activities of the people of Tobago to the forefront of Tobagonians.
“Right now, the political scene dominates Tobago. Everything is politics and no one knows of anything else except politics.”
Saying the organisation also started a holistic health series on social media, Piggott said the fourth episode, which airs on June 21, deals with mental health.
“Sometimes we don’t think that a people itself can be sick, that the mentality of a people can be sick.”
Author and historian Sufia Giza, who is of Muskogee/Creek and Gullah heritage, introduced the first Middle Passage Remembrance Day last year, in Tobago, as part of a celebration throughout the African diaspora honouring the millions of slaves who perished during the treacherous journey.
Remembrance Day seeks to educate African descendants about the importance of acknowledging and respecting the sacrifices made by their ancestors.
The celebration has been taking place in Ghana, Panama and various parts of the US, including Brooklyn, New York, Oakland, California, Charleston, South Carolina and other locations.
Giza, who has been celebrating the Middle Passage in South Carolina for the 12 years, said she was inspired by the gathering at the event.
“We are growing from strength to strength,” she said.
Giza also showed an image on her laptop computer of an area behind the Scarborough Police Station where she learnt, African slaves disembarked when they came to Tobago. She is hoping next year’s Middle Passage observance can be held at that site.
Giza urged the gathering to trace their respective lineages.
“I could trace my lineage to black native Americans crossing Siberia 15,000 BC and I still have 52 per cent Nigerian. I could go back 11 generations. So when it comes to decolonisation that is the work that we have to do. We have to find who and whose we belong to and that is our strength.”
Ifa Rounke Diedre Prescod, who has authored three books, offered libations to several historically-recognised African liberators, who, she believes, paved the way for ensuing generations. They included former South African president and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela; Black Jamaican nationalist Marcus Garvey; and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Hazel Beckles Younglao also spoke. One of the highlights of the event was a drum procession from Bago’s to Swallows Beach. (Source: Newsday, June 10, 2023)

The vibrant poetry scene of Trinidad and Tobago has won international recognition as writer Ronaldo Mohammed was chosen to represent the country from June 7-11 at the 40th edition of the Poetry Market (Marché de la Poésie) in Paris, France.
Mohammed was one of ten exceptional emerging poets selected to showcase their work at the highly-anticipated literary event. The cohort stood out from 252 applications from hopefuls vying for a chance to participate in the programme. For the first time, the Caribbean region was a guest of honour at the Poetry Market, due to the alliance forged with the Transcultura programme, a media relase said.
The event followed a call for young poets from the Caribbean, 18-35 years, initiated under the auspices of the Unesco programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean, and the European Union through Culture and Creativity. It is funded by the European Union. As part of this opportunity, the poets were also featured in a special supplement of the Market of letters (Marché des lettres), a prominent publication of the event, which served as a testament to the rich literary talent emerging from the Caribbean.
Mohammed, a poet and teaching artist, draws inspiration from TT's culture, folklore, and the nuances of local dialect, to shed light on issues such as crime, violence among youth, gender-based violence, and the challenges faced by Venezuelan migrants in TT, the release said. His approach has been evident in his performances during this year’s First Citizens National Poetry Slam, which was the closing event of the 2023 NGC Bocas Lit Fest.
Mohammed credits local authors for his passion for writing and poetry. “I'm extremely proud to have represented TT at this literary event in Europe,” he said. “Through this opportunity, I was able to present my first-ever chapbook of poems, What Happens at the Edge of the World, which highlights the untold stories of people who have succumbed to and soldiered through the rough realities of life in TT society.”
He believes this achievement affirms his status as a rising star in the world of poetry.
The Poetry Market is an annual event that presents a unique opportunity for young Caribbean poets to expand their professional horizons, forge connections with influential figures in the European literary scene, and strengthen their networks. A dedicated stand promoting the works of these talented poets graced the heart of Paris at the Place Saint-Sulpice. (Source: Newsday, June 16, 2023)

Air Canada is returning to Trinidad.
Tourism Trinidad announced on Saturday that the airline will resume its air service between Toronto, Canada to Port of Spain, Trinidad.
TTAL said via a press release that historically, Air Canada has been and still remains a vital partner to Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism industry and its diaspora connectivity.
The airline for the 12-month period of January to December 2019 had a total of 22,918 passengers disembarking at Port of Spain.
Air Canada will recommence service on November 1, 2023, with three flights per week arriving in Trinidad at 11:25 pm, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and departing at 12:30 am Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
From December 3, 2023, to March 9, 2024, service will be expanded to four flights per week, arriving at 12:25 am, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and departing at 1:30 am, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Carla Cupid, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Trinidad, said: “We welcome back Air Canada to our destination. This is a positive development for our tourism industry, and we look forward to using this connection to continue to promote Trinidad as a top travel destination.”
On hearing the news of the new flights, High Commissioner for Canada to Trinidad and Tobago, Arif Keshani, noted that: “The ties between our countries are significant and I am very pleased that Air Canada will be resuming their flight between Port of Spain and Toronto this Fall. This, combined with the expansion of Canada’s electronic travel authoriaation (eTA) program to include Trinidad and Tobago, will further serve to enhance our bilateral economic, social and people-to-people connections.”
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Senator Randall Mitchell, also expressed his enthusiasm about the news.
"We continue to work with our international partners and stakeholders in the Air Transportation industry to increase our connectivity and seat capacity from our traditional source markets while at the same time, reducing the cost of travel to Trinidad and Tobago," he said.
“This marries well with the recent announcement by the Canadian government of Visa-free travel to Canada to the diaspora located there.”
Tourism Trinidad and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts are confident that the recommencement of Air Canada’s service between Toronto and Port of Spain will be a major boost to the tourism industry.
The airline's flights will provide a convenient and affordable way for Canadians to travel to Trinidad and vice-versa while helping to attract more visitors from other parts of the world.
​(Source: The Loop)

Believed to be one of the longest living persons in Trinidad and Tobago, he had been kidnapped into the slave trade in 1850.
Campbell (pictured) was illegally kidnapped by Portuguese slave traders in his home village in the Congo. He was then taken to the coast with other captives, and sent to the Americas on a slave ship. While in transit, a British warship intercepted the vessel and arrested the slave traders.
Campbell and others who had been abducted from their homes were sent to St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean. They were a few of many enslaved Africans who were removed from slave ships by the British Royal Navy after the Slave Trade Act of 1807 was passed. This Act made the British slave trade illegal, although the trade continued in French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and in parts of the Americas.
Beginning in 1810, the British established treaties that allowed them to use their naval vessels to patrol the West Africa coast and the Caribbean Sea, stopping and searching ships of other nations suspected of participating in the illegal trade. The kidnapped Africans found on these ships in the Caribbean Sea were taken to British Caribbean colonies, while those found on ships off the West African coast were sent to St. Helena or Sierra Leone.
Referred to as “recaptives,” or “Liberated Africans,” by the British, many of them were eventually taken to British colonies to fill post-Emancipation labour shortages. Between 1841 and 1861, a total of 6,581 recaptives were sent to Trinidad from Sierra Leone and St. Helena as indentured labourers.
Tobago received smaller numbers—292 people from St. Helena in 1851 and 225 during 1862. William “Panchoo” Campbell (pictured) was among those sent to Tobago from St. Helena. He settled in Speyside in 1871 until his death at 115 years of age in December 1938, still bearing the scars of branding on his skin.
This photo of William “Panchoo” Campbell is courtesy of "The Book of Trinidad" (2010) by Gérard Besson and Bridget Brereton. This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Reference Collection. (Source: National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago, July 29, 2022)
References:
Alford, C. E. R. A Guide Book to Tobago. Trinidad Pub. Co., 1936.
Archibald, Douglas. Tobago: Melancholy Isle, Volume III, 1807-1898. Westindiana, 2003.
Besson Gérard A., and Bridget Brereton. The Book of Trinidad. Paria Publ., 2010.

Many people were left stranded in their houses on Monday owing to the South Oropouche River and its tributaries bursting their banks and causing severe flooding.
Particularly in the south, many roads became impassable, and people suffered significant losses.
Penal, Debe, Barrackpore, Woodland and Moruga were among the hardest hit communities, and on Monday afternoon, the water was still rising.
On Monday, the TT Meteorological Service (Met Office) upgraded Sunday's yellow riverine flood alert to an orange level alert for south Trinidad. The alert is set to end on Tuesday at 5 pm.
The office anticipated more rains "over the next 24 hours," which would raise the river levels even more.


Like the Met Office that called on people not to take unnecessary risks in flood, the Rural Development and Local Government Ministry urged people to avoid driving through or wading through rising floodwaters for their safety.
Affected people can seek shelter at the "activated emergency shelters" at the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation (PDRC) and the Barrackpore Regional Complex.
The ministry said two other buildings—Woodland Hindu School and Esperance Regional Complex —were "on standby" for use if necessary.
At New Colonial Road in Barrackpore, only trucks were able to drive through the floodwater.
Some residents, including Haffize Mohammed and businessman Nick Boodram, used a tractor to pass through floodwater. They said they were driving around and looking for anyone who might have been stranded on the road.
Mohammed said the water was so high at several areas off Rochard Douglas Road, like Sukhan Trace, that the tractor could not pass there.
"We went to see who we could have assisted. We helped about four people who were stranded on the road."
Boodram of Nick's Poultry Depot said if they had a helicopter, they would have used it to help the affected people.
There were reports of farmers losing their chickens to the floodwater in Barrackpore. Newsday was unable to venture further into the floodwater.
PDRC chairman Dr Allen Sammy said the corporation sent 200 sandbags to people in the Barrackpore area. The corporation was also distributing sandbags "on demand" to anyone.
He added," The flood was so bad that several schools, like Suchit Trace Hindu, Debe Hindu and Ramai Trace Hindu, were closed for the day."


He recalled at around 2 am, members of the corporation's disaster management unit (DMU) evacuated a family at Suchit Trace. This family was relocated to the shelter in Barrackpore.
Hours later, around 11 am, the DMU members evacuated a family at Mulchan Trace, off the Penal Rock Road, Penal, and relocated them with other relatives.
Sammy anticipated the situation to get worse, considering the rain was ongoing.
When Newsday visited Suchit Trace, parts of the road were still impassable.
Residents Ryan Ramlal and Ravi Jugmohan walked through the water to get to the other side of the road.
Ramlal said he wanted to buy a few items from a business place.
"We have vehicles, but we cannot use them," Ramlal said.
At Gopie Trace, a street away, the problem was similar. Drivers were seen rerouting as water flooded the roadway.
Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo toured affected areas like Puzzle Island and Ragoonanan Trace in Penal, as well as Pluck Road, Woodland, on a truck on Monday.
He said the water was as high as four feet in some homes, "and the water is now starting to come."


Parts of Pluck Road were also impassable. Resident Ramdeen Manchand waited on the roadside, hoping the water would subside so he could get to his nearby home at Binda Trace.
Manchand recalled that his wife awakened him at about 1.30 am to inform him that floodwater was entering the house. The couple and their five children immediately began moving items to higher grounds.
"At least once a year, this area is flooded. Last year, we had flooding about two or three times. This year, the flood came earlier than usual. The hurricane season started a few days ago, and we already have this. Normally, we expect a flood a few weeks later."
He was unsure how high the water level reached into his home or the extent of the damage to the house and household articles. The house is near the South Oropouche River.
There were also reports of flooding at Siparia, Aripero, Fyzabad and Chase Village.
A summary from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) on Monday mid-morning said listed several reports of residential flooding in areas like Basse Terre Village, La Rufin, and La Fortune, all in Moruga.
It added that the water had subsided, and representatives from the Princes Town Regional Corporation's DMU assessed damage and distributed relief.
In the East Region, the ODPM reported two instances of street flooding, one at Cedar Grove in Mayaro and the other at Poole Valley in Rio Claro. A house was flooded at Jairam Trace in Navet, and a tree fell at Lassalle Trace in Biche. The bad weather also damaged the roof of a house at Tambi Lane, Rest House Village.
As of Monday afternoon, the El Carmen River in Caroni reached 73 percent capacity, and the Caroni River (Bamboo Settlement No 3) was at 64 per cent.
In case of an emergency, people can call any of the corporations as well as the ODPM at 511 or 800-ODMP (6376).
(source: June 12, 2023, Newsday)

Former Pan Trinbago president Patrick Arnold  who died in Tobago on May 9 last, is being remembered as a man who changed the face and fate of pan and its players.
Pan Trinbago’s vice president Keith Simpson said: “He was a good and honest man who changed the face of the movement by ensuring respect and financial rewards for its members.
“He is the one responsible for securing remittances for pan players and raising the prize money up to $1 million.”
Under Arnold’s leadership, Simpson said,” he introduced Pan in the 21st Century and Pan Down Memory Lane.
” He also sought to separate the bands into small, medium and large categories, as the smaller and medium bands did not stand a chance competing against big bands like Renegades, All Stars and Desperados.
“For his contribution to the steelband movement, he must be revered and remembered,” Simpson noted.
Echoing Simpson’s statements, Pan Trinbago president Beverely Ramsey-Moore said “Arnold was also responsible for pan yard judging.
“He made a contribution to the community and the instrument itself, as he was a builder and a pan tuner.”
In addition to serving as president of Pan Trinbago from 1996 to 2009, Arnold also served as chair of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) under the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration.
A former Senator, he was also the founder and manager of Our Boys conventional steelband.
In a statement, the Tourism Ministry said 84-year old Arnold was a great leader, visionary, cultural ambassador and local icon.
“Patrick Arnold was a stalwart in the steelpan movement and a valiant contributor to the Tobago Steelband community,” the statement said.
Describing Arnold as an ambassador of culture, nationally and internationally, the UNC recalled that under the Basdeo Panday administration, Arnold received the deed to lands at Trincity for the construction a national home for pan.
” He had a lasting effect on the organisation and management of the steelpan movement. My he rest in eternal peace.” the UNC said.
The NCC said Arnold always displayed a fierce determination and vision in whatever field he served.
“In many instances, he was instrumental in redefining the scope and shape of several aspects of our annual carnival traditions that we celebrate to this day,” it noted. 
(Source: Caribbean Camera, June 8, 2023)

News releaseJune 6, 2023, 11:30 a.m.—Winnipeg--Canada is a destination of choice for people looking to visit, do business or reunite with family and friends. That’s why we are committed to improving our immigration programs and services by making them more efficient and equitable for people around the world.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air. Effective today, eligible travellers from these countries can benefit from the program:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Costa Rica
• Morocco
• Panama
• Philippines
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uruguay

Introducing visa-free air travel will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for thousands of travellers to visit Canada for up to six months for either business or leisure. It will also help grow Canada’s economy by facilitating more travel, tourism and international business, and by strengthening Canada’s relationships with these countries while keeping Canadians safe.
This decision will also divert thousands of applications from Canada’s visa caseload, allowing us to process visa applications more efficiently, which will benefit all visa applicants.
Individuals who already have a valid visa can continue to use it to travel to Canada. Those who are not eligible for an eTA, or who are travelling to Canada by means other than air (for example, by car, bus, train and boat—including by cruise ship), will still need a visitor visa. Travellers can visit Canada.ca/eTA to find out whether they’re eligible for an eTA and how to apply for one.
Quotes“This exciting development means that more individuals from around the world can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements. This expansion not only enhances convenience for travellers, it will also increase travel, tourism and economic benefits, as well as strengthen global bonds with these 13 countries.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“Canada is a destination of choice for so many around the world. We’re making it easier for more people to visit Canada, whether they’re coming to do business, sightsee or reunite with family and friends. Expanding the eTA program to include countries like the Philippines is also an important part of our Indo-Pacific Strategy, as we look to further engage in the region, build on people-to-people ties and make travel to Canada easier, faster and safer for everyone.”
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Canada has what the world wants, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to our shores. Expanding the eTA for Canada is a major step toward helping our tourism industry soar to new heights. By streamlining the entry process for international travellers, we send a strong message that Canada is open for business, adventures and unforgettable experiences. This strategic move supports our visitor economy by injecting vitality into our local communities and creating countless job opportunities. It is not just about attracting visitors; it is about showcasing the breathtaking landscapes, diverse cultures, and warm hospitality that define Canada. Let us seize this opportunity to place our nation firmly on the global tourism map, all while building an economy that works for everyone."
– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
"Air Canada is pleased with the announcement today to implement a more user-friendly process to obtain authorization to travel to Canada and connect via Air Canada’s global hubs. The global market for travel and tourism is competitive, and finding easier ways for travellers to obtain their travel authorizations is beneficial not only to Air Canada, but also the entire travel and tourism industry in Canada."
– Lisa Pierce, Vice President, Global Sales and Air Canada Vacations
“Expanding visa-free air travel presents immediate opportunities for YVR to connect with more countries around the world, including key destinations in Latin America and Asia. That enhanced access to global markets will provide incredible benefits for our community and support local economic growth. This decisive policy action is a step in the right direction for YVR, British Columbia and Canada. It continues to provide opportunities for people to enjoy our world-class tourism experiences or reunite with loved ones, creates new jobs, and will deliver more direct revenue for our local economy.”
– Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority
Quick facts

• The eTA is a digital travel document that most visa-exempt travellers need in order to travel to or transit through Canada by air.
  
• The eTA application is used by Canadian officials to conduct light-touch, pre-travel screening of air travellers. It costs CAN$7 to apply, and most applications are automatically approved within minutes.
  
• To apply for an eTA, travellers need only a valid passport, a credit card, an email address and access to the Internet.
  
• Almost 20.9 million eTAs have been issued since the eTA program was introduced on August 1, 2015.
  
• IRCC first expanded its eTA program in April 2017 to include eligible Brazilians, Bulgarians and Romanians. Canada lifted the visa requirement for all citizens of Bulgaria and Romania later that year. Today, eligible Brazilian nationals continue to enjoy visa-free air travel to Canada.
  
• Within the next year, Canada expects to receive 200,000 (or 20%) more visitors from these 13 countries. Within a decade, increased travel from these countries is expected to bring almost $160 million in additional tourism revenue.
  

Click here to eIn today’s feature of ‘’Heroes of Trinidad & Tobago’’we highlight the matron of Broadcasting KATHLEEN “AUNTY KAY” WARNER
(1903 – 1996)
She was a Trinidadian actress and radio personality, also known as "Aunty Kay". A multi-talented woman, she was during the course of her life a medical student, pianist, singer, actress, dancer, broadcaster and teacher, giving lessons in music and elocution, as well as briefly serving as an alderman of the Port of Spain City Council.
She is best remembered as the long-time host of the popular children's Programme The Aunty Kay Show, which aired from 1942 to 1985 on Radio Trinidad every Sunday afternoon.
As Aunty Kay, she became a popular broadcaster on Radio Trinidad, hosting one of the most important shows for young people of the time, which ran for 43 years (1942–1985) and "featured mostly talented young people from the low-income areas who came every Sunday to display their singing talents. What was particularly striking about the show was the theme song. One of Auntie Kay's signature items was her eloquence in grammar, this always struck many as ironic because the theme song was filled with slang."
The Aunty Kay Show provided an early platform for many of Trinidad and Tobago's performers to make their debut as youngsters, including Heather Headley, Lancelot Layne and calypsonian Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow.
In 2006, she was posthumously honored with an Award for Excellence by the Trinidad & Tobago Publishers & Broadcasters; Association, for her ‘’Outstanding & Pioneering Contribution to the development of radio in Trinidad & Tobago’’, with special emphasis on providing an avenue for the exposure of young talent and contributing to the overall development for young people’’. Also, on July 21st 2007 she was one of 10 women remembered as having ‘made a mark in culture’’. (Source:  Anything News, May 19) 

ANGELO JEDIDIAH.
angelo.jedidiah@guardian.co.tt

Already standing on a historic and enviable reputation for the world’s finest cocoa beans, T&T is being prepared for the emergence of a booming chocolate industry.
The University of the West Indies (UWI), together with the Cocoa Research Centre (CRC) yesterday hosted a foundation laying ceremony for the UWI Chocolate Factory, at Univeristy Field Station, Mount Hope.
According to CRC director Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan, this chocolate factory has been in the works for the past decade.
Umaharan said the factory is being built to materialise the CRC’s research, being the world’s oldest cocoa research institution and custodian to the world’s largest collection of cocoa (over 2,000 varieties).
“While we have a global reputation for the cocoa quality that we have, we need to build a reputation for our chocolate brands and other value-added products,” Umaharan said.
The 100 acres of farmland connected to the UWI Chocolate Factory is expected to be a beacon in rejuvenating abandoned old cocoa farms locally and regionally.
“This is one of the few agricultural industries that give us a comparative advantage in the global market and an opportunity to earn foreign exchange in a sustainable way,” he added.

The cocoa beans currently exported only captured 7.8 per cent of the total value chain, which the CRC is hoping to expand, along with creating employment opportunities and aiding in the development of the rural sector.
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said the Government has identified agriculture and agri-procressing as key non-energy sectors that can aid in sustaining socio-economic growth.
“There has already been an expansion in the export of raw and roasted cocoa beans, cocoa powder, chocolate in blocks, slabs, bars and cocoa butter from $125.3 million to $156.5 million from 2021-2022. So the growth is there,” Gopee-Scoon said.
EU Ambassador to T&T Peter Cavendish told Guardian Media that the EU firmly believes in the quality of cocoa beans from T&T and rated it as the best in the world.

This was proven through the EU’s contribution of €250 thousand to the CRC’s procurement of machinery to be used in the factory.
According to CRC, the chocolate factory will be a part of its International Fine Cocoa Innovation Centre, which will house a museum of cocoa plants, a cocoa tourism centre, a restaurant, labs and a ‘chocolate academy’ that will host interactive short courses in chocolate making.
The construction of the chocolate factory is expected to be completed and commissioned in January 2024. (Source: Trinidad Guardian, April 25, 2023)