Black Immigrant Daily News

Tobago

Soca artistes Kees Dieffenthaller of Kes the Band, left, and Iwer George will be at Bago Jam on Saturday.

The highly anticipated Tobago carnival, scheduled for October 28-30, will be officially launched on Saturday with a party.

Listed on the Independence calendar of events, Bago Jam will take place at the Shaw Park Complex carpark from 5pm.

The event is free to the public.

Performances are expected from Kes the Band, Iwer George, Farmer Nappy, Shurwayne Winchester, Zan, Kernel Roberts, Sekon Sta and a host of others.

The island’s inuagural October carnival will be held under the theme Ritual, Revelry, Release and a number of activities are scheduled.

The calendar of events was revealed to the media at a media launch recently and includes five main events hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly: Pan in the Gayelle (October 28), J’Ouvert, Night Mas, Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala (October 29), culminating with Parade of the Bands (October 30).

There are also a number of private events starting in September.

Chair of the Tobago Carnival Committee Meisha Trim is excited for the launch.

“We do have a mixture of artistes, both Tobagonians and Trinis alike. You’ll see mas bands on display, there will be a bit of food, a bit of culture. It’s really an event to kickstart Tobago’s carnival in October.

“We really do expect Tobago to have a great showing Saturday. We look forward to hosting our visitors, our friends across the island in Trinidad and the Caribbean.”

Elvis Radgman, CEO of the Tobago Performing Arts Company, said, “With the excitement about the Tobago carnival, there is a particular kind of interest to galvanise the rest of the country about what Tobago is gonna be offering come October. Thus is really to give people a real taste of what is to come.

“This is gonna be the concert of all concerts. It’s the first major event outside of Great Fete (Weekend) to take place in Tobago. It’s the perfect signal and we expect to fill the space.”

Tobago carnival calendar of events

September 25 – Soaked at Roxborough

October 1 – Dream at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex

October 22 – The Hideout at the Argyle Waterfall

October 23 – Revel on the Harbour Master

October 26 – Waddap Wednesday at Canoe Bay

October 27 – Pink Brunch (venue to be announced)

October 28 – Pan in the Gayelle

October 28 – Floats and Bikinis on the Harbour Master

October 28 – Daylight (venue to be announced)

October 28 – Finesse on board the Embassy.

October 29 – J’Ouvert

October 29 – Night Mas

October 29 – Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala

October 29 – Mud Festival in Crown Point

October 29 – TUCO Tobago Lime at Tropikist Hotel

October 29 – Soiree (venue to be announced)

October 30 – Parade of the Bands

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

The five divers employed by a private company hired by Paria Fuel Trading Co Ltd to do maintenance work on a 30-inch pipeline in one of the last photos taken at Pointe-a-Pierre on February 25. From left are Christopher Boodram, who survived,
Kazim Ali, Yuseph Henry, Rishi Nagassar and Fyzal Kurban.

A moment of silence was observed for the four divers who died in the Paria tragedy at the formal opening of the commission of enquiry (CoE) on Wednesday.

Commission chairman, Jerome Lynch, QC, said it is right that they should be remembered with sorrow and compassion.

“Not just them, but their families and friends who grieve for them. I would ask you to please join with me and observe a minute of silence as a mark of respect for those men who have died and for those whose lives have been changed forever,” the Jamaica jurist asked those in attendance.

On behalf of himself and fellow commissioner including subsea specialist Gregory Wilson, he expressed, “our heartfelt sadness and suffering and despair caused by this loss of life.

“We are acutely aware these men were fathers and sons, brothers and cousins, friends and colleagues and breadwinners and confidants who provided joy to many.”

While noting that the enquiry cannot bring back Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr and Yusuf Henry, “it can and it will provide answers to the inevitable questions of how a tragedy of this kind could occur in today’s society.”

Lynch said that he was shocked by the incident.

“Such an incident in a modern country, used to dealing with the extraction of oil and gas and the maintenance of machinery necessary to effect such extraction, is both surprising and tragic in the 21st century.”

He noted that, “194 days ago, four men died when something happened that caused them to be sucked into a 30-inch pipeline stretching across the seabed from berth six to berth five.

“The facts are undoubtedly tragic,” he said pledging to get to the truth, leaving no stone unturned to get there.

Lynch has set hearings for November 21-25, December 5-8, December 12-15, and as a contingent, January 9-13, 2023, although he said hopefully that January hearing would not be necessary.

He said a draft report should be completed by Easter.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Youths play sailor mas during the street parade on Independence Day in Scarborough. – THA

Tobago carnival will be officially launched on Saturday and Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association vice-president Carol-Ann Birchwood-James is anticipating at minimum 95 per cent occupancy for the October 28-30 festivities.

In an interview with Newsday on Wednesday, Birchwood-James said although figures are still being collated, the outlook is positive.

“We sent out to the members to see how the accommodation is going – that was about a week or so ago. We are at 60 per cent filled up to now. We are hoping by the time bookings start – I know that bookings started on the boat already so when the bookings start then we should come up to a good 95 or so per cent.”

Although the majority of visitors are expected to be Trinis, Birchwood-James said “quite a few foreigners have booked.”

She is optimistic the inaugural carnival will be a hit.

“The music is in place – I see we have quite a few songs, there have been quite a few band launches and so on, and there is a buzz in the atmosphere with regards Tobago carnival. We have to admit it – there is a buzz in the atmosphere. People are very excited, and they are coming.”

Although there have been some criticism ahead of the carnival, Birchwood-James believes the festival will only grow. “We would learn from this experience. We’re hoping to make a very good impression.

“We have to keep in mind, it’s a Tobago carnival and not a carnival in Tobago. It’s a Tobago carnival and therefore whatever we produce must be unique. We must make a good first impression so people would want to return.”

General manager at the newly opened Comfort Inn and Suites in Scarborough, Maria Yip-John endorsed Birchwood-James’ sentiments.

“Carnival is looking very good for the carnival period, and apart from that we have several groups that are inquiring. We’re expecting that it is going to be a very good weekend.”

Marcel Van Reeken, the general manager of Blue Waters Inn, Speyside said: “There are quite a few reservations for that time. Right now, we are closed for some renovation works till halfway into October. The reservations for when we reopen are quite good. October is definitely looking good.”

Flights to Tobago for the October 28-30 weekend are almost sold out. A check on Caribbean Airlines website on Wednesday showed all flights from Piarco to Tobago sold out from October 26 to October 28, Return flights are also limited with just two early morning Sunday flights still available. The next available return flights are on November 3.

All sailings to Tobago on October 28 are sold out.

Bago Jam, a free soca concert, will be held at Shaw Park carpark on Saturday to launch the carnival.

Additionally, a number of private events have been earmarked on the calendar beginning September 25.

The island’s inaugural October carnival will be held under the theme Ritual, Revelry, Release. The calendar of events was revealed to the media at a media launch recently and includes five main events hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly: Pan in the Gayelle (October 28), J’Ouvert, Night Mas, Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala (October 29), culminating with Parade of the Bands (October 30).

Tobago carnival calendar of events

September 25 – Soaked at Roxborough

October 1 – Dream at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex

October 22 – The Hideout at the Argyle Waterfall

October 23 – Revel on the Harbour Master

October 26 – Waddap Wednesday at Canoe Bay

October 27 – Pink Brunch (venue to be announced)

October 28 – Pan in the Gayelle

October 28 – Floats and Bikinis on the Harbour Master

October 28 – Daylight (venue to be announced)

October 28 – Finesse on board the Embassy.

October 29 – J’Ouvert

October 29 – Night Mas

October 29 – Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala

October 29 – Mud Festival in Crown Point

October 29 – TUCO Tobago Lime at Tropikist Hotel

October 29 – Soiree (venue to be announced)

October 30 – Parade of the Bands

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Released just about a month ago, August 9, 2022, ‘I’m glad my mom died’ is now a #1 New York Bestseller.

The former actor and singer Jeannette McCurdy has struck gold with her first novel sharing the abuse that she endured at the hands and lips of her mother, who passed away in 2013.

American writer, director, actress, and producer, 36-year-old Lena Dunham, who is known as the creator, writer, and star of the HBO television series Girls, read and reviewed McCurdy’s novel and had this to say. She called it ‘An important cultural document’.

Sold on Barnes & Noble and Amazon as well as many other places in its hardcover form or for Kindle or as an audiobook or audio CD, ‘I’m glad my mom died’ is now an international bestseller.

So what’s the book about?

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor–including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother–and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail–just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

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