Happy 83rd Birthday to our legendary Masman, Peter Minshall!
Peter Minshall was born on July 16th 1941 in Georgetown, Guyana and his family migrated to Trinidad & Tobago in the late-1940s. He grew up in Port of Spain, where he was exposed to Carnival from a young age. He attended Queen's Royal College before leaving to study Theatre Design at the Central School of Art and Design in London.
After graduating, he worked in costume design and mas. He became part of the multi-ethnic West Indian Theatre, as well as Notting Hill Carnival, where he was one of the first persons to design costumes.
When he returned to Trinidad and Tobago in 1974, he brought these experiences with him to create the “From The Land of the Hummingbird” costume for his sister Sherry-Ann Guy (Coelho). This costume showcased one of his earliest innovations: the articulated bird wing.
In 1976, he designed his first full Carnival band “Paradise Lost” which won that year’s Band of the Year title. In 1978, he produced “Zodiac”, followed by 1979’s “Carnival of the Sea,” which won Band of the Year in all categories.
His monochromatic “Danse Macabre” (1980) and “Tan Tan and Saga Boy” (1990) showcased his creativity in movement, with the two towering, 15-foot dancing mobiles of Tan Tan and Saga Boy being moved by just two individual performers.
Minshall appreciated the value of mas as a form of creative expression, and his Carnival creations and trademark dancing mobiles garnered international acclaim. He was invited to design and direct segments of the Summer Olympics in Spain in 1992 and in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996, followed by the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002. He also presented his artwork at international art exhibitions throughout Europe and the United Kingdom.
In 1982, Minshall was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Trinity Cross in 1996 for Art and Culture, and T&T’s first Emmy Award for his segment in the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
This photo showing Peter Minshall is courtesy of the Trinidad Express Newspaper, Nov 12th 1996. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.
References: Bastien, Elliot, and Sandra Bernard-Bastien. World Class Trinidad & Tobago: an Area of Abundance: Profiles of Performance. Sekani Publications, 2006.
Pacifique-Marshall, Virginia, et al. The Carnival Suite: a Collection of Traditional Carnival Characters of Trinidad and Tobago. StarApple, 2014. (National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago, July 16, 2024)

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Trinidad and Tobago mourns the loss of calypsonian Wilfred “Young Creole” Barker, who passed away on July 22 at age 87.
Young Creole, celebrated for his humorous calypsoes and dynamic stage presence, is known for hits like “Doh Jealous Them” and “Shave Me Barber Man,” and his dramatic rendition of the Mighty Sparrow's "Slave"
His contributions were recently honored by the National Action Cultural Committee. \(Source:  IEnt Live, July 24, 2024)

​Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has announced that children from hurricane-ravaged regions in Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines will be allowed to enter T&T and seek refuge with their families.
The decision was made yesterday in reaction to the pressing need to help and support the hundreds of individuals in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation and deaths on the islands. Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines faced significant devastation.
“Given the level of total devastation experienced on these islands, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledging the deep familial ties between these islands and Trinidad and Tobago, has offered to allow school-age children from the devastated zones to be allowed into Trinidad and Tobago if they have family here who may wish to house them during the school holiday period that is upon us at this time,” the PM said.
Back in 2017, Dr Rowley offered accommodation to Dominicans who were left homeless following the passage of Hurricane Maria. At the time, the usual immigration requirements necessary for entry into the country were waived.
(Source: The Guardian, July 3,2024)

The Ministry of Energy confirmed in a June 13 release that a fresh hydrocarbon discharge had been discovered coming from the overturned vessel off the coast of Cove, Tobago.
On February 7, the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) received a report that a ship about 150-200 metres south of Cove had capsized and was spewing a thick, oil-like substance which was washing up on the nearby coast.
Investigators later identified the vessel as Gulfstream, a vessel that had been towed by a tugboat called the Solo Creed.
Earlier on June 13 the Office of the Chief Secretary (OCS) of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) said a large amount of fuel was found to be coming from the boat.
A media release from the OCS said Chief Secretary Farley Augustine held an emergency meeting with stakeholders to discuss the latest spill.
In that release the OCS said it believed wave swells and high tides may have disturbed the vessel, resulting in more oil being discharged.
Thursday's Energy Ministry release said the substance might be dissipating because of the sun and the waves.
Technical staff at the ministry, along with TT Salvage, a local salvage and marine firefighting service provider and QT Environmental Inc, a global oil spill response consulting company, were said to be ready to deploy contingency measures should the discharge get worse.
“These contingency measures include the use of the NOFI current-buster technology at the affected area offshore,” the release said.
It said work on removing the hydrocarbons from the vessel is continuing, with about 30,617 barrels of hydrocarbons being removed to date.
At a press conference in May, Energy Minister Stuart Young said the clean-up had cost about US$12 million up to that time, but estimated the entire exercise could cost US$30 million. (Source: Newsday, June 14, 2024)

He gave the world what some might term the quintessential rum song: Drunk and Disorderly.
But now a brand of rum will actually bear his name.
The Mighty Sparrow: Aged Rum with Spices was introduced on his Facebook page on May 14. However, the Mighty Sparrow is not the one behind the rums, although they bear his name.
US singer/songwriter Lane Steinberg and US producer, director and screenwriter Lenard Dorfman are the rum’s founders.
Four images of bottles were posted and visitors to his page were asked to give their opinions on the bottles and labels. Sparrow reposted them on May 19 asking for more responses.
The product’s website was launched on June 8. The producers said were looking for partners to bring the product to market and all the details were available on the website. The rum falls under The Mighty Sparrow Company, headquartered at 10 Center Street, Irvington, New York.
In a brief phone interview on Wednesday, Sparrow confirmed he had granted permission for his name to be used for the brand.
“I thought it was something good and I am waiting on my contract,” he said.
Sparrow said he was approached three years ago with the idea.
The calypsonian was baptised at the Linden Seventh Day Adventist Church in New York in 2022.
Asked if the rum bearing his name was in conflict with his religious beliefs, Sparrow said, “As long as we have to go along those lines, we have to remember, moderation is the name. It is the key, and not because somebody is sponsoring something that they have to find themselves completely out of it.
“Whatever you are doing, you have to do things moderately.”
Sparrow said he was not deeply involved, and wished the founders success.
The website describes the rums as being “blended with rare TT rums that have been aged in ex-bourbon, American Oak casks. Of this blend, 51 per cent is aged for ten years, and one per cent is aged for 15 years. This age profile is unique and unprecedented for the category.”
It said most spiced rums use an “unaged, neutral base spirit” and added flavourings to mask “harsh-tasting inferior-quality spirit.” However, this rum’s producers were taking a different approach: it was blended at 80 proof, and was complex, deeply rich and with a “velvety, smooth finish.”
The “ultra-premium blend” was then infused with a big, bold taste, it said.
The history of the rum is told on the site: it said Steinberg discovered that Sparrow – his childhood idol – lived nearby. He picked up his guitar and knocked on Sparrow’s door in the hope they could sing together.
“Before long a friendship developed that evolved into a musical partnership. Together, along with Sparrow’s band they performed to enthralled fans throughout the world, until covid19 struck and put an end to the sold-out performances.”
Steinberg was a senior sales executive at an alcohol spirits distribution company and would often share industry tales with his childhood buddy Dorfman.
“Since their formative days spent in the south Florida sunshine, Dorfman went on to be an acclaimed internationally recognised commercial director and marketer,” the website said.
It added that late one night during the pandemic, Sparrow, Steinberg and Dorfman were talking about their mutual love for aged rum and how “there is not a delicious-tasting premium spiced rum on the market.”
Sparrow agreed and shared memories of “big, bold, delicious-tasting, high-quality, aged rums he tasted travelling through the most exclusive Caribbean hotspots.
“Following in the footsteps of the King of Calypso, we created the ultra-Premium, Mighty Sparrow Aged Rum with Spices,” it said.
Other celebrities involved in the spirits industry include Machel Montano, US singer Ciara and French rapper and producer Joey Starr.
Newsday contacted the founders for more details on the brand and company and Dorfman said they would be interested in an interview next week.
​ (Source:  Newsday, June 12, 2024)

The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) has invested US$1.6 million into a sustainable land management project at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.
This initiative was formalised on Monday through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the use of 25 acres at UWI's Orange Grove lands.
Prof Mark Wuddivira, dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, said the partnership aims to establish an integrated land-management model integrating agriculture, forestry and natural-resource management practices.
"This collaboration is set to provide developmental, environmental and food-security benefits across the Caribbean, particularly in territories such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti and St Lucia."
Wuddivira said the slow pace of innovation and the limited development of environmentally sound climate-resilient technologies is no foreign concept.
He said addressing these gaps would require the design and implementation of climate-resilient food-production systems and regional training exercises.
"The development and implementation of climate-resilient technologies are critical as climate-change impacts intensify.
“Training farmers in these technologies will enhance food-production systems and regional capacity."
PISLM executive director Calvin James underscored the organisation's commitment to aiding Caribbean countries in meeting their obligations under the UN Convention to Combat Land Degradation (UNCCD).
"PISLM's primary project, Soil Care, focuses on updating outdated soil maps and analysing soil carbon content across the Caribbean."
With the project now expanding into phase two, PISLM is set to roll out a $18 million initiative across 14 countries.
James highlighted the importance of the agreement, which provides PISLM access to the 25-acre site at Orange Grove for testing sustainable technologies.
"This partnership enables us to research and identify resilient agricultural technologies, transforming degraded areas and enhancing regional sustainability.
“This collaboration allows us to go into what we call hot spots and test land-regulation technologies to see if they have the capacity to transform degraded areas."
The initiative aims to contribute to the Caribbean's goal of reducing its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. (Source: Newsday, June 19, 2024)

In an effort to raise the island's pass rate in Mathematics, the Tobago House of Assembly and several stakeholders are implementing smart classrooms in secondary schools.
Speaking at the launch of the project on Tuesday at the Anne Mitchell Gift Auditorium of the Scarborough Library, THA Secretary of Education, Research and Technology Zorisha Hackett said the initiative aims to improve student engagement, comprehension and performance in the subjects by leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative teaching methods.
Hackett described the launch as “momentous”, noting that the project is a collaboration among the division, Solutions Specialist Ltd, FLOW and RBC.
She said the first phase involves installing nine smart boards in classrooms.
“We are enhancing our focus on mathematics education because there is an average of only 45 per cent of Caribbean students who have passed this exam historically. This definitely indicates a concerning trend in mathematics proficiency among our students.”
She said this challenge needs to be addressed head-on. The division, she said, will be targeting fourth-formers in the first instance.
“Through this smart classroom enhancement project, we are equipping our teachers with tools, the necessary training and, of course, the support they need to integrate technology effectively in your classrooms. This initiative, therefore, underscores the critical importance of a data-driven approach in education, allowing us to track student progress and tailor our strategies accordingly.”
She said the division’s partnership ensures comprehensive teacher training and ongoing support and as its secretary, she remains committed to leveraging technology to provide the teachers and students with interactive and personalised learning experiences to foster collaboration and engagement and prepare the students with the essential digital skills for the future.
“This project is not just about improving academics -it is also about transforming the way we teach and the way we learn. As we embark upon this digital transformation journey together, let us remember that our ultimate goal is to empower our students to reach their full potential and to ensure that no child is left behind.”
(Source: Newsday, May 14,2024) 

​Trinidadian-British actress Viscella Richards was best known for her role as a supporting actor in Black Snake (1973) and part in Zeta One (1969).
She moved from Trinidad to the UK with her family in the 1950s when she was six years-old.
The star, who used the stage name Vikki Richards, began her career onstage. She went on to appear in films such as The Love Factor (1969) and the Onedin Line (1971), and in TV dramas including The Gentle Touch, Howards’ Way, and Return Of The Saint.
​In 1974, she was in the first ever photo taken by legendary Sun photographer Arthur Edwards when she posed with Wolves star striker John Richards (no relation). At the time Richards was starring in the farce No Sex Please, We’re British. Edwards went on to become Britain’s most famous royal photographer.
In the ‘80s Richards moved back to Trinidad where she presented her own television series, Building Your Dream Home, for five years on TTT.
On March 6, 2024, she was found dead at her home in North Valsayn after her property was ransacked by robbers. She was 79.
Source: Dominic Kalipersad, March 9, 2024