Trini food in Seattle: Pam's Trinidadian Caribbean Kitchen

In the next issue of Caribbean Beat, we'll be featuring Pam of Pam's Trinidadian Caribbean Kitchen in Seattle, the aunt of one of our longtime contributors Debbie Jacob.

As an aperitif, check out this YouTube video of Pam in action. We dare you not to crave Trini food, and to not have your "belly asking backbone if throat cut"! And if you're a Trini or West Indian not at home or near a Caribbean expat hub, we dare you not to be homesick...

A Little of New Orleans in Tobago

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Mardi Gras Indians at the Carnival Educative Arts Festival 2010

The Carnival Educative Arts Festival has replaced the traditional Tobago Carnival Caravan for a second year and the Mardi Gras Indians, a character of the New Orleans Carnival, will be taking part this year.

A presentation of the Division of Community Development and Culture, the festival involves the creation of a space that encompasses all aspects of Carnival (the Carnival Village) where learning and re-enacting will take place. This year's theme: "Celebrating the Carnivalesque: We Traditions, We Beauty, We Culture."

According to Cultural Officer Glenda Rose Layne, the structure of the programme includes:

• Theoretical components – exhibitions, research documents, historical data, multimedia presentations and exposure to research and resource material that are appropriate for participants at all levels
• Practical components - interactive workshops
  
• Lectures - discourse by specialists in the different aspects of the art form (movement, history, characters, creative use of materials)

This year the Madi Gras Indians of New Orleans adds an international flavour to the festival. The troupe will be displaying their costumes, conducting workshops on costume-making and sharing performances with our traditional local Carnival characters

Students and community groups alike will be participating in the festival and all the junior participants will also be a part of the Roxborough Carnival Festivities on Carnival Sunday and then in Scarborough on Carnival Monday. Included in the festival will be the calypso and steel pan.

Itinerary for this year’s festival:

• January 24-25 - Erection of set at Scarborough Esplanade
• Monday January 25 - Arrival of Mardi Gras Indians from New Orleans
• Tuesday January 26 - Opening of exhibition and performance theatre at Scarborough Esplanade 
• Wednesday January 27 - Exhibitions continue at various booths.
• Thursday January 28 - Morning Period workshop: Mardi Gras Indians at Fairfield Complex
• Friday January 29 - Opening of exhibition at Roxborough Secondary

All activities will take place either on the Scarborough Esplanade or at Roxborough Secondary School Compound. For further information contact Department of Culture, THA at (868) 639-4453/6897.

Below - Pictures of Wild Indians Characters at Carnival Caravan 2007

Tobago Carnival Regatta ready to set sail

The Tobago Carnival Regatta (formerly Tobago Sail Week) – dubbed "A Festival of Wind – returns this 19–21 February to Pigeon Point Heritage Park.

Just as Carnival winds down in neighbouring Trinidad, visitors will be treated to skies filled with kites and sails of all sizes cutting across the waves. The Regatta's organisers are bringing together an array of sailing and water sports creating a regatta like no other in the region.

Rechristened and relaunched as the Tobago Carnival Regatta just last year, the event comprises five mini regattas (including the big boats, local and regional bum boats, the Young Optimists sailors, and wind surfers and kite boarders executing extreme sport maneuvers only meters from the beach. Organisers report a huge increase in participants from around the world – France, Germany, Norway, the UK, USA, and across the region from Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. Some have already arrived in time to take in Trinidad's world-famous Carnival.

All the excitement takes place off Tobago's pristine southwest coast, with live DJ's getting onlookers and participants into the mood with a sizzling beach party on Pigeon Point beach.

Photos courtesy the Tobago Carnival Regatta

"Clean Carnival 2010" - Tobago Festivals Committee

With a late and relatively low-keyed Carnival Launch on January 15th, Tobago Carnival is finally and officially on the way. The Tobago Festivals Committee has released a Calendar of Events with the following activities:


January:
15th - Carnival Launch at the Esplanade, 4pm and Calypso Tent Opening at the Esplanade, 8:30pm

17th - Tobago Soca Monarch at Fort Granby, 8pm

18th - Tobago Single Pan Bands

21st - Unattached Judges Night, Goodwood High School, 8pm

22nd - Judges Night, Maso Hall High School, 8pm

25th - Tobago Conventional Band

29th - Calypso at Dock Site Bar, 9pm

30th - Calypso at Safari Lounge, 9pm

31st - Tent Clash at Speyside Beach Bar, 8pm

February:
4th - Inter-Department Calypso and Queen Competition, Dwight Yorke Stadium, 7pm

6th - Calypso at Safari Lounge, 9pm

9th - THA Pan Champs at Dwight Yorke Stadium Car Park, 8pm

10th - Tobago Calypso Monarch, (Venue TBA), 8pm

11th - Junior Extravaganza, Calypso/Pan/Mas Competition, at Scarborough Esplanade, 10am

12th - Kins, Queens and Individuals Competition at Dwight Yorke Stadium Car Park, 8pm

13th - Windward Afro-Queen & Calypso Monarch at Roxborough Sporting Complex, 8pm

14th - Kiddies Carnival at Roxborough Sporting Complex, 1pm

15th - J'Ouvert Roxborough & Scarborough, 5am. Mas: Junior Parade & Senior Band of the Day at Scarborough, 1pm. Senior Parade of Bands at Roxborough, 1pm. Monday Night Mas at Scarborough, 8pm

16th - Mas: Senior Parade of Bands at Scarborough, 1pm

Inside the Jan/Feb 2010 issue (#101) of Caribbean Beat!

As Trinidad & Tobago gears up for Carnival, Caribbean Beat celebrates this national festival too.

In “Band of the Years” we mark the 50th anniversary of a seminal mas band, Harts, still a family band and still known as the fun band. But as Lisa Allen-Agostini records, Harts has made its fair share of Carnival innovations, too.

Photojournalist Mark Lyndersay also recalls the ghosts of Carnivals past as he sifts through a collection of archival photos, a treasury of ole-time mas that was left to him as a legacy. “The Gift of the Past” shows the Carnival of half a century ago – including an early image of a boyish young Sparrow, eager to make his mark on the calypso scene.

The band that produced the musical genius of Ellie Mannette is celebrated in “The Panyard under the Breadfruit Tree,” the story of one of the oldest and best-known bands in Trinidad, the Caribbean Airlines Invaders.

And Ndelamiko Lord tries to keep up with Red Plastic Bag of Barbados as she records the life and times of a professional calypsonian.

In other musical news, we meet a “Babe in Total Control,” Bajan singer Livvi Franc, who’s hoping to follow in Rihanna’s steps to stardom.

And Caribbean Beat pays homage to a giant of the Caribbean cultural scene, Nobel laureate Derek Walcott. As the poet turns 80, we reflect on the meaning of his life and work.

A master of a completely different art – or maybe two – also features in this issue. He’s Levi Roots, a Jamaican-born singer. He’s also the inventor of Reggae Reggae sauce, which has taken Britain by storm and made him the star of a television series of his own on Caribbean food.

And on a sombre note we find out how poet Kwame Dawes has been tackling the taboo in his multimedia project about the impact of HIV and Aids in Jamaica.

There’s all this and more, in our regular columns, news on happenings around the region, and reviews of new releases in music, films and books.

Caribbean Beat has always been more than just an inflight magazine, and now its January-February issue is available in selected bookstores.

Doubles duel: George or George X?

Rival "doubles" vendors, George and George X, have been working the same street corner in Woodbrook for quite some. From all appearances, customers prefer George X. Unsure of whether it was actually the taste that influenced their decision, I decided to find out for myself. So, with mih belly in mih hand (as we say), this morning I headed down to Carlos Street.

To my surprise, George X was no longer two feet from George, but all the way to the end of the block in the car park of Coco Lounge. Smart move George X... On a busy morning I'd definitely pick the vendor with parking. There were also four people working at George X's place, as opposed to George's two. After quickly ordering "two with everything expect cucumbers", I headed up to the Roberts Street corner to get the same thing.



Now the moment of truth! I opened both doubles so that I could compare their appearance. Once again, George X was the clear winner, so naturally I picked that one up first. To tell you the truth though, I wasn't that blown away. In my opinion for all that George had against him, his doubles actually tasted better.

At the end of the day, though, even if they have never tried it from anywhere else in the country, Trinis are die-hard supporters of their vendor, willing to drive miles and stand in long lines to get their favourite, perfect doubles.

New Tobago promotion for UK residents

See the YouTube video for details!

The Caribbean Airlines merger with Air Jamaica

The following is a post written by Tourism Development Company (TDC) Marketing Consultant and Trinidad & Tobago Guardian columnist Derren Joseph on the proposed acquisition of Air Jamaica (AJ) by Caribbean Airlines (CAL).

A Caribbean Airlines plane flies in to Crown Point International Airport, Tobago. 

Photo: Giancarlo Lalsingh, published in Discover Trinidad & Tobago 2010

Is the merger a good or a bad thing? I propose that this question is best answered by analysis of the key issues rather than speculation. For those interested in this topic, the best column so far has to be the one from William Lucie-Smith done a couple weeks ago in the Trinidad Express. Before I proceed I thought I should disclose that I am in no way connected to CAL or AJ, but I have previously held relatively senior positions with CAL, British Airways and Thomas Cook. So I am somewhat familiar with the travel industry including aviation – particularly in Western Europe and the Americas.

There are five "Airline Myths" that I would like to first address.

Airline Myth #1 – the aviation industry is at the mercy of normal market forces. It is not. In my opinion, there is no airline in the “West” that does not enjoy some measure of state support or protection. Governments influence airline behaviour through a dizzying array of legislation, taxes and subsidies. Whether it is a law in the USA mandating that an airline be 75% owned and controlled by US citizens (ask Virgin America) to operate, to landing rights, landing fees, traffic rights, restricted competition on routes, preferential slots, preferential terminals, seat guarantees, tax concessions, etc.

Airline Myth #2 – the governments suddenly want to merge airlines. Again this is wrong. As far back as April 1969 Kamaluddin Mohammed, then Minister of West Indian Affairs, spoke about efforts “being made to have BWIA designated the Regional Air Carrier with participation by the other regional governments”. The number of CARICOM and Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) reports done on this are probably too numerous to mention.

Airline Myth #3 – state owned airlines, almost by definition cannot be run efficiently and profitability. Obviously wrong considering the historical performance of Aer Lingus (Ireland), Emirates (Dubai) and Singapore Airlines. Of course, I qualify this with my response to myth #1. Regardless, CAL’s on time performance and customer satisfaction levels since its launch speak to it heading in the right direction.

Airline Myth #4 – there is no local/regional talent and we need foreigners to do everything. LIAT’s Jean Holder wrote that there is no shortage of talent but suggests that the reason behind the apparent lack of implementation of consultant recommendations lies in regional political realities.

Airline Myth #5 – Barbados doesn’t have a national carrier, why should we? Holder suggests that prior to 2007, BWIA operated “in many ways as the national carrier of Barbados and under the Community of Interest Principle of 1983, also as that of other Caribbean countries”. Since 2007 (when BWIA closed), I suspect that Barbados has increased its “incentives” (see myth #1) to encourage increase capacity from North American and European carriers.

Now regarding the merger, I have no clue what the details are beyond the speculation in the press but there are three reasons why I think it should be seriously considered.

Reason #1 – the press has reported or speculated that to consummate the deal, there would be no need for a cash injection from CAL and the AJ debt burden would remain with the Jamaican government.

Reason #2 – the 3 biggest costs for any airline are its fleet including fuel, staff and distribution costs. This deal, as reported, may provide the opportunity for rationalising two of these three costs. Fleet costs would go down once they harmonise equipment, i.e. they decide to use one type of aircraft which positively impacts on maintenance costs and allows for better cross utilisation of crews. Distribution costs would decrease if they manage and sell all inventory from a single global distribution system. A lower cost base should benefit both shareholders (less state support needed) and consumers (both regional and international).

Reason #3 – not only does this deal take us one step closer to thinking regionally but it creates a mechanism for facilitating greater regional integration and development. This of course leads us to the biggest potential sticking point.

The biggest potential obstacle to realising the full range of benefits from the reported merger would be the absence, as far as I am aware, of a single CARICOM/CARIFORUM level aviation policy. Such a policy would not only address technical issues and its implications for airline operation but it would also define the role that air transportation plays in our regional socioeconomic and political development.

This is the context within which I see the proposed merger. My name is Derren Joseph and I love my country. As always, I end by saying that despite our challenges, we are so blessed to live in this beautiful land. Let us continue to have the audacity of hope in our country, as we move towards Vision 2020.

Republished with permission. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of MEP, its staff, or its publications.

Whey we goin'?

With the recent announcement regarding the use of the National Museum, I grabbed the opportunity to visit it this Wednesday. And I was both surprised and disappointed.

Surprised since the museum held some ancient treasures, among them a silver salver that was over 168 years old, as well as some fantastic sculptures and paintings in the art gallery.

But I can only hope the move to the Knowsley building (former home to the Foreign Affairs ministry) will bring good things. Like temperature, humidity and light controlled environments, interactive displays and guided tours. I included 'guided' tours since I had several questions about the exhibits but of course, in true Trini fashion, there wasn't a soul to be found when needed.

When I entered the building, and was presumably greeted by someone at 'Information', I tried to find out if she knew where the museum was being moved to, and her response was: 'If yuh did watch the news, yuh wudda know.' Er, excuse me? If I was a tourist, would that have been her response? Is this the kind of treatment we can expect at its new location?

According to the Trinidad Express, Vel Lewis, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry, said that the relocation will be handled by professionals. However, from what I saw those 'professionals' are needed right now. Several of the exhibits are deteriorating as they are exposed to unnecessary light, dust and temperature variations since several areas have no air-conditioning. Some of the exhibits were clearly never touched after they were initially laid down. Who is in charge of restoration and maintenance, making sure that our history is not being destroyed? And the structure itself is showing its age and needs immediate attention.

While visiting the museum is free to the public, I couldn't take any pictures of the interior, which was understandable, but there weren't any brochures, guidebooks, postcards, etc that I could have kept as keepsakes.

Our museum needs a clearly defined mission and plan. All schools should be visiting, encouraging our children to learn their country's history, exhibits should be rotated and when not in use, stored properly. (While there, I saw a room with a hodgepodge of material that weren't being displayed, improperly stored, just thrown together.)

The museum deserves its proper place as it holds just a fraction of our history and we all know: 'you cyah know whey yuh going, if yuh eh know whey yuh come from.'

UPDATED: Haiti - How to Help

Image via Wikipedia

By now we've probably all heard of the devastating earthquake and aftershocks which have ravaged Haiti. And each of us, no matter where we are, can help. According to this article by Global Post, it is also preferable to donate in cash, rather than in kind. We know it's difficult to choose where to make a donation, and recommend Charity Navigator's explanation of why cash is better than kind, and to find out which (US) sites are the highest rated for accountability.

Here are just some of the most popular trusted online sites raising funds specifically for assisting survivors of the Haitian earthquake (alphabetically):

• Architecture for Humanity
  
• Christian Aid
  
• Lambi Fund of Haiti 
• Network for Good
  
• Mercy Corps
  
• Oxfam (UK)
• Partners in Health
  
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
  
• Save the Children
  
• UNICEF USA
• World Concern
  

At our home in T&T, groups have been organising the collection of funds and relief items since the very day of the earthquake. Here are the ones we have been alerted to, though the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODPM) is now officially in charge of co-ordinating the T&T relief effort:

• Red Cross T&T: accepting cash donations at Republic Bank, account number 1804 8251 7101
• ITNAC (Is There Not A Cause) is collecting both monetary donations at Republic Bank (account name: For This Cause - Haiti, account number: 510009446802), as well as  non-perishable food items, clothing, bedding, temporary building supplies, medical supplies, and toiletries at: 
  
• ITNAC Office, Jardine's Plaza, 96 Charlotte Street, Port of Spain (tel: Naomi, 624-4162)
• Hilton Hotel Trinidad, 1B Lady Young Road, Belmont (tel: Olivia Constantine at 682-6755)
• Fangle Dangle, corner Rosalino and Robert Streets, Woodbrook
• Global Revival Ministeries, bypass on Eastern Main Road, Arima
  
• Jencare Day Spa, 11 Cornelio Street, Woodbrook 
• Cards and Stuff, Trincity Mall, Trincity
• CLICO [Trinidad] Ltd - All Branches (contacts: 868-625-4444 – Onyka ext. 1214 or Sarah ext. 1212)
  
• Text message donations:
  
• bmobile: text HAITI to code GIVE (4483) to donate TT$10 (proceeds go to Medianet and Red Cross Relief Funds)
• Digicel: text HELP to 5151, and Digicel will donate TT$3 per text 
• Three groups are collecting non-perishable food and bottled water, blankets and clothing. They can be dropped off at:
• YMCA: Benbow Road, off Wrightson Road (opposite the power station), Port of Spain (tel: 868-625-9622)
• the COP (Congress of the People) Flagship Office on the corner of Tragrete Road and Broome Street in Port of Spain between 9am and 3pm. Please label all bags. Contact Lisa at (868) 683-2364, Kathryn at 632-4079 or Renatta at 632-3284.
  
• 2 Scott Street, St Clair (corner of Scott and Newbold Streets behind the Ellerslie Private Hospital, formerly Stanley's nursing home), 9am–2pm and 5–7pm until 26 January. For more, visit their Facebook page, email Ariannt@gmail.com, cclem003@gmail.com or call (868) 683-6567, 766-1542

Other MEP Caribbean Publishers blogs on Haiti, after the hurricanes of 2008:

• More than Sorry: Helping Haiti Rebuild (September 2008)
  
• Haiti in Desperate Need (October 2008)
  

For more on the situation in Haiti (via Zemanta)

• 7.0 earthquake hits Haiti (cnn.com)
• Magnitude 7 quake strikes Haiti (msnbc.msn.com)
• You: Earthquake in Haiti prompts warning (guardian.co.uk)
• US sets up toll-free number for Haiti information (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Major Magnitude 7 Quake Hits Haiti: USGS (nytimes.com)
• Aid groups rush to join Haiti rescue effort (cnn.com)
• Haiti earthquake: How to help (msnbc.msn.com)
• Aid groups preparing for major Haiti quake effort (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Haitian contacts, relief efforts (cbc.ca)
• Haiti devastation emerges (theworld.org)
• Athletes try to find family, friends in Haiti (sports.espn.go.com)
• Salvation Army taking text donations for Haiti (cbc.ca)
• UK rescue team heading to Haiti (news.bbc.co.uk)
• 10 Ways You Can Donate to Haitian Earthquake Victims (usnews.com)

NB: We are constantly updating this post to take into account the needs and priorities of the ongoing relief efforts, and to ensure the credibility of all the organisations listed. However, these listings do not indicate editorial endorsements or guarantees, and all donations are made at the donors' own risk.

Carnival deals at The Carlton Savannah in Trinidad

Luxury accommodation, fine dining, music and entertainment and more are what make The Carlton Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad such an attractive location for visitors and locals alike.

Here are brand new Carnival specials from them, with special rates for T&T residents!

 

UWI celebrates Walcott

Image via Wikipedia

Legendary St. Lucian (and adopted Trinidadian) Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott is being celebrated this week at the University of the West Indies (UWI) through a conference (12–15 January, entitled Interlocking Basins of a Globe) in honour of his 80th birthday.

The conference begins with an exhibition of the Walcott family’s private collection of his paintings and a performance of Fragments, a play celebrating Walcott’s literary works.

From 13 January, panel discussions begin around the the themes of “Walcott’s Ghosts and Confréres,” “History as Muse” and “Myths and Histories.” Professor of History, Bridget Brereton will chair a special panel of some established members of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, including Eunice Alleyne, Albert Laveau and Nigel Scott. There will also be a keynote address delivered by Professor Emeritus Edward Baugh, editor of Walcott’s Selected Poems in 2007. Other featured speakers include Professor Emeritus Gordon Rohlehr and Dr. Jean Antoine-Dunne.

Discussions and performances of his work are being complemented by screenings of films made of his work and documentaries about the celebrated author. Screenings take place in the screening room of the Institute of Critical Thinking at the UWI campus, and are free and open to all.

Wednesday 13th @ 12:30pm: The Rig
Written and directed by Walcott and first shown in 1983, The Rig is the Anglophone Caribbean’s first made-for-television feature film. Starring Maurice Brash, Joanne Kilgour and John Isaacs, The Rig explores the impact of the oil industry on village life on the southeast coast of Trinidad, through the classic story of a love triangle.

Thursday 14th at 3:45pm: The Joker of Seville
This is a filmed version of one of Walcott’s most popular plays. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Academy, The Joker of Seville is an updating of the classic El burlador de Sevilla, by Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina. In his version, Walcott employs the refined wit and relaxed pacing of de Molina’s play to examine aspects of social revolution.

Friday 15th at 2pm: The Haytian Earth, The Saddhu of Couva, The Rig
The Haytian Earth, a made-for-television version of the final installment of Walcott’s Haitian Trilogy of plays, is a historical drama of the slavery, rebellion, murder, greed, and power struggles that have fertilised the Haitian earth with blood. The Saddhu of Couva, directed by local filmmaker Yao Ramesar and narrated by Walcott, is a short film based on the poem of the same title.

The event culminates with a reading by the Walcott, and an opportunity for book signing. The entire conference is free. For more information, contact Jean Antoine at 662-2002 ext 3021, or jean.antoine@sta.uwi.edu.

Hiking to Salybia Falls

I'm a designer. Hiking hasn't necessarily been my thing. But after a bit of coaxing, my cousin convinced me to give it a try.

So there I was, armed with sunscreen and insect repellent, (too) early on a Saturday morning walking through "the bush". And you know what...? It wasn't that bad!

Apart from a few muddy areas and the occasional log or shallow river, the trail was pretty easy to follow. We didn't even need a guide. The trail was cut back nicely and there were even wooden steps with rails and garbage bins along the way.


After a cool 45-minute walk, we got the waterfall. Unfortunately the non-swimmers among us were not able to enjoy the shock of swimming at sub-zero temperatures (OK, it wasn't that bad...but it was pretty cold for the first 10 minutes).
 

 There is no shallow area at Salybia Falls – once you dive in, that's it, you're in deep water. There also isn't enough space for a large group to "lime" comfortably for the entire day.

But I had a great time. We spent about two to three hours swimming and I even climbed up the rock face and dove off the cliff down into the waterfall's plunge pool.
So, now as a full-fledged hiker (!), if you decide to take a trip to Salybia Falls the best advice I can give you is to wear proper shoes. You'll have to cross a shallow river and, depending on the weather, track through quite a bit of mud... so wear something that has a lot of traction but that also dries quickly.

Until next time...!

T&T Carnival Calendar

It's that time of year again in T&T, where we gear up for the mother of all West Indian Carnivals and the biggest event on the islands' festival and cultural calendar!

Much more than two days in the streets, Carnival is a season-long affair with more cultural events, parties and competitions than you can possibly keep track of...

But there are a few places we trust to keep us up to date. In no particular order:

• Pan Trinbago
• Ticket Federation (downloadable)
• National Carnival Commission (site under construction the last time we checked)
• TDC (Tourism Development Company) 
  
• And, of course, schedules in the local press

Photo copyright Troy Marshall, published by MEP in Discover Trinidad & Tobago 2010

happy new year

New year, new decade. From all of us here at MEP, a very fruitful, prosperous and productive 2010 to all our clients, customers, partners, associates, contributors, suppliers, friends, readers, sympathisers, supporters, even our enemies if we have any. How much fruit, prosperity or productivity we shall all enjoy remains to be seen, given the state of the world economy; but we can wish, all the same.

Our office here in Port of Spain reopened on Monday and we're busy preparing this year's publication programme. There's an early Carnival ahead (February 15-16), immediately preceded by St Valentine's Day, promising a season of romantic ecstasy (or ecstatic romance). Right after Carnival comes a controversial (and wildly expensive) visit from from Beyoncé, so it looks like a costly couple of months for Trinidadians.

This year is going to be special for MEP, being our twentieth year in business. The company was formed at the end of 1990, so we have an anniversary coming up. But that's another story.