As part of the World Steelpan Festival being celebrated from August 5-11, an art exhibition entitled Percussion – The Sounds of Steelpan is currently on display the Rotunda Gallery, Red House, Port of Spain.
The exhibition has over 60 paintings on display by local artists and a variety of percussion instruments.
Here are some of the work on display. (Source:  Newsday, August 9, 2024)

The grapefruit is the first citrus fruit to originate in the Americas— on the little island of Barbados in the southeastern Caribbean, known by many as the land of Rihanna.
It is said that grapefruit emerged as a chance seedling— an accidental cross between the Jamaican sweet orange and the Indonesian pomelo fruit which was introduced to the region in 1683 by Captain Philip Chaddock. This would result in pomelo being commonly referred to as shaddock, and the words grapefruit and shaddock being used interchangeably by many Caribbean people.
It is easy to see why grapefruit was named “Forbidden Fruit” by the early English colonists. Having first been spotted in the lush, underground forests of Welchman Hall Gulley in the center of Barbados, it is said that when they discovered the citrus fruit growing there, they wondered if they had ventured into Eden of the bible.
Following its discovery, the novel fruit would grow rapidly in popularity.
There are several academic and cultural accounts of “forbidden fruit” that were recorded in Barbados during the 18th century. The earliest published record is said to have been in the book, “The Natural History of Barbados,” written in 1750 by Reverend Griffith Hughes, a natural historian and rector of the parish of St. Lucy, while another account was recorded by George Washington in the journal that he kept during his visit to Barbados, between 1750 and 1751, in which he described the experience of tasting the fruit at a local dinner party.
The first published record of the word “grapefruit” would appear in the 1837 book, Flora of Jamaica. It is thought that the fruit received this name because it grows in clusters that resemble grapes.
More than three centuries following the birth of the first forbidden fruit in the parish of St. Thomas, grapefruits continue to feature in Barbadian beverages and cocktails and in culinary creations and naturopathic applications.
Bajans are well aware of the positive metabolic effects and immune boosting benefits of the fruit and frequently drink the fresh juice when they are fighting the cold or flu, making sure to retain as much of the rind as possible, given the high concentration of bioflavonoids and other anti-cancer agents located there.
Tangy, juicy and fragrant— grapefruits are recognized and valued for their culinary applications. In cooking, the citrus fruit pairs well with fish or pork and is frequently used in dressings or marinades. The juice is sometimes used in ice creams and sorbets, while the peel can be candied and used in desserts. The fruit is often juiced for a refreshing fresh juice, or it is used in cocktails.
Trudiann Branker, the first female master blender of Barbados’ Mount Gay Rum— the world’s oldest brand of rum— uses Barbados grapefruit as a key ingredient in cocktails such as the “Forbidden Cooler” and “Speightstown Punch” both of which were featured in British Vogue.
The latter cocktail, which is named after a town in the parish of St. Peter, is made of Mount Gay Black Barrel rum, fresh grapefruit juice, ginger syrup and mint tea, and is garnished with a ginger slice, mint leaves, and a grapefruit slice.
Clayton’s Kola Tonic is a bitter sweet tonic made locally with orange, kola nuts and hops, is widely enjoyed on-island. A variety of cocktails are made using Clayton’s and grapefruit, including Clayton’s Pink Lady Grapefruit Cocktail, which consists of fresh pink grapefruit juice, fresh lemon juice, Claytons Kola Tonic, orange liqueur, gin and a grapefruit wedge to garnish, and Clayton’s Grapefruit Sunrise, which is made of Claytons Kola Tonic, grapefruit juice, grenadine and cinnamon.
Claytons Kola Bitters is also combined with honey in a salad dressing for a zesty and refreshing citrus salad featuring grapefruit.
At restaurants across the island, grapefruits are often used in salads, raw fish dishes or in marinades and dressings. Tapas’ Restaurant’s Tuna Tartare, contains raw tuna with orange zest, grapefruit citronette and tomato salsa, while Cafe Luna’s mixed local organic greens are dressed with a grapefruit vinaigrette.
Chef Dario Callender, CEO of Well Catered, a Barbados-based luxury private chef, catering and culinary consulting company, says that, “Apart from the numerous health benefits, grapefruit is one of the most versatile and bold citrus flavors.”
One of Callendar’s favorite recipes with the fruit is his Grapefruit & Orange ceviche with Avocado and Plantain Chips.
Barbados-based plant based Chef and wellness gastronomy consultant, Manuela Scalini enjoys using grapefruit in both savory dishes, such as her Grapefruit Avocado Tartare, or in simple deserts such as grapefruit ice cream.
Scalini’s grapefruit avocado salad is made with slow roasted beets and grilled fennel and served over a baby mesclun mix and microgreens salad. The salad is then topped with caramelized red onions, toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and drizzled with a creamy tarragon and apple cider dressing (made with zucchini, yellow peppers, olive oil, tarragon, mustard seeds, lemon and ACV).
As a zero-waste chef, Scalini is sure to make use of all parts of the grapefruit. She says that after preparing meals that require grapefruit, she uses the peel as an odor remover throughout her house. She also mixes the juice of grapefruit with vinegar for household cleaning purposes.
In addition to meals, beverages, and household uses, grapefruit can be found in local snacks, condiments and confections, and is used in oils, fragrances, and cosmetics.
In January 2023, local hand crafted ice cream and cake company, Little Bits released its highly acclaimed limited edition grapefruit sorbet. Also well received was boutique artisanal chocolatier, Green Monkey Chocolatiers’ Blushing Grapefruit Bears gummies which it has described as “the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavours of a ripe and juicy grapefruit.”
St. Lucy Botanists, a Barbados-based natural perfumer, has developed a number of products that pay homage to the famous Barbados grapefruit. Founder, Kathryn Walters Grisoni’s Grandiflorum compact solid perfume, made of natural beeswax and jojoba oil features notes of cold pressed pink grapefruit, while her Irie essential oil features grapefruit, bergamot and orange. St. Lucy Botanist’s Rind candles carry the scent of fresh and effervescent grapefruit and orange rind, with grapefruit infused oil which Grisoni says “has mood enhancing properties known to reduce stress and fatigue.”
Grapefruit undoubtedly holds a very special historic and cultural place in the heart of Barbados and its people. But despite its plethora of uses and extensive consumption, the country has not done as much as it could to capitalize on the fact that it is the birthplace of a fruit that is expected to have a market value of close to $12 billion by 2027.
I have always wondered why the Barbados tourism industry hasn’t made grapefruit more central to the country’s local tourism product— creating more grapefruit themed products, events and gastronomic experiences.
Forbidden fruit-themed cottage industries, export products, signature juices and cocktails, cosmetics, natural medicinals, household products, festivals and experiences, cookbooks, treats, specialty dishes, and restaurant experiences will hopefully be a part of Barbados’ not-too-distant future. (Source: Forbes, March 20, 2023)

​"I like to take nothing and make something."
Sangre Grande craftsman Reynold Wells, 76, has made a living with this ideology for 30 years, picking up discarded pieces of wood, PVC and stones and creating something of value.
Now retired, Wells is keen to pass on his knowledge to young people.
Adjoining his home, Wells has a museum, a small room filled with decades of his work. He is hoping the authorities see the potential in the industry and invest in it.
He said, "If yuh think yuh need to have money to start a business, yuh wrong. I like to take nothing and make something. All you need is the right energy. "I want Toco/Sangre Grande to wake up, because we rich, yuh know. We have all kinda seeds, gravel. We ain't want no employment. We just hadda think."
On display at the museum are African masks made from coconut shells, African-style sculptures made from wood, wooden elephants, leather purses, mirrors, necklaces, earrings and chac chacs.
He said one of the merits of getting in the craft industry is becoming independent.
"To be independent is a nice thing. If you working with me, you not independent – yuh dependent.
"But if you working for yourself, sometimes yuh lie down on yuh bed 7 o'clock and yuh now start getting yuh motivation for the day. Through the independence, a lot of things will be revealed unto you." 
He believes the potential is limitless when one masters the skill of a craftsman.
"This could go universal. Art could make any country famous."
Wells had the distinction of six of his pieces being featured at First Citizens' Sangre Grande branch a few years ago, as part of an Emancipation Day exhibition organised by the Walke Street Emancipation Committee, headed by Montsho Masimba.
He said some of his work was also featured in an auction alongside other artistes when former US president Barack Obama visited the country in 2009 for the Summit of the Americas.
Wells said he has worked with the Ministry of Community Development's Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) programme, as well as prisoners.
"YTEPP deal with a lot of school dropouts. Golden Grove, some of the prisoners take it good, because I see some have they business on Frederick Street, doing dey lil hustle with dey craft." 
Wells said some of his craft pieces took over a year to make, particularly a 3D three-foot piece depicting a mother and her suckling child.
He said he usually works on multiple items at the same time.
"Sometimes it will call yuh and dismiss yuh."
If you try to force the crafting when your mind is not fully invested, "Yuh will end up with stitches. Yuh go bleed."
Wells recalled being commissioned once by a man in Chaguanas to make an intricate piece of wooden art. He said the man saw the incomplete version and was blown away.
"He say hold that – $1,500. Ah say, 'Nah, when ah done.'"
But a week later, Wells saw a clip on the news that the man had been murdered.
Asked how young people could be swayed from a life of crime, Wells said parents must empower their children to be independent thinkers. He said craftsmanship is about thinking. 
"They never teach we to think. It have some people who can't think. It have people who don't know that they don't know. I might be teaching you something that you don't know that you don't know. I have to have patience with you to make yuh know. The average people out there right now, like they can't think.
"The easiest thing to do is something wrong. Youths were never encouraged by their parents to say no. I couldn't tell my parents no. If my mother say, 'Sit down,' I have to sit down...
"I grow my children different. Young people need to be empowered, think from small, get away the negative thought and think.
"When he go out there and he pardna say: 'Hear nah, if yuh see that easy wuk we do last night, lewwe go, nah,' – he parents never teach he to say no. He can't say no.
"So he easy to mislead. He could become a follower."
Wells said he is eternally grateful to his father, who had always pushed him to think for himself. He said comments by former president and prime minister ANR Robinson also motivated him to "have something." 
He said he also learned a lot from a Santa Cruz craftsman called Anthony, as well as Selwyn Richards from Beetham Gardens in Port of Spain.
Wells said much of his inspiration came from dreams, nature and other muses.
"The imagination eh have no boundary eh. Just the system has boundaries."
He recalled taking small pieces of wood and shaping them into elephants. In Hinduism, the elephant is a sacred animal and seen as an incarnation of Lord Ganesh. Wells said the pieces were small enough to hang on the rear-view mirrors of cars.
"I go Chaguanas, I sell a dozen in ah day for $30. Look at the small piece of wood. Yuh could make a 100 in this and sell that in ah month. Yuh eh need cash to open a business. I've been living off my hands."
Wells said it is important to live well with everyone as one can never know when help is needed. Since his wife died on October 1, 2006, he has been able to get a plate of food from any of his neighbours.
"My lil neighbourhood, I never cuss my neighbour and them. I not living bad with my neighbour and them."
He said he is ready to pass on the knowledge to students and other groups, but structural help is needed. He appealed to the Ministry of Education and the Sangre Grande authorities to collaborate with him to keep craftsmanship alive.
Wells can be reached at 868-292-9768.  (Source:  Newsday, Oct 22, 2022)

The Caribbean American Heritage Awards is a celebration of excellence.
Now in its 27th year, this event is the brainchild of the Institute of Caribbean and Studies and was conceptualised to pay homage to members of the Caribbean diaspora who have made remarkable strides in their respective fields and enjoy success at a regional and international level.
In a statement posted on the CARAH Awards website, organisers said the ICS started this event in 1994 to highlight to the American society at large, the "calibre of individuals that claimed Caribbean American ancestry and to provide a forum for honouring and recognizing their contributions to America and the world."
Given the rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, ICS said the awards are still relevant and just as important today. One of the 2020 recipients is our own:
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Andrea McKenzie, Trinidad and Tobago (Vanguard Award)
The talented artist attributes her natural knack for creativity to her family's respected creative legacy. Throughout her young career, she has already exhibited works across the Caribbean, New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Australia. Andrea also had the opportunity to display her work at the BET network Twenties Tv Series showcase for producer Lena Waithe. She has collaborated with various celebrities including Akon & actress Sydney Sweeney from the award-winning HBO series Euphoria. Her work has also been featured at celebrity auctions. Andrea is also the winner of the “Black I AM Power, Art and Creativity Award” 2019 in Atlanta