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New Age Trendestters perform for judges during the start of the single pan band preliminaries for Panorama 2023 on Friday night. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle

IN recent times gunshots have been the more popular sounds emanating from Enterprise, Chaguanas.

On Friday night, however, the sweet sound of steel took centre stage in the community as Panorama 2023 officially played off in central Trinidad with the preliminary judging of single pan bands in panyards.

The first band to strike a note in Pan Trinbago’s 60th Diamond Jubilee was Edinburgh 500 Steel Ensemble at Lapwing Crescent, in Edinburgh 500.

Edinburg 500 Steel Ensemble was the first single pan band to perform for judges at the start of the single pan band preliminaries for Panorama 2023, at its panyard on Lapwing Crescent, Chaguanas, on Friday night. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle

Two Enterprise bands followed – Pan Angels at Badase Street, and New Age Trendsetters at Francois Street.

The opening night was tinged with some sadness as a minute of silence was observed for iconic pannist Kevin Sobers who died, earlier Friday, from a massive heart attack.

Sobers played with Tropical Angel Harps, also an Enterprise band, and New Age Trendsetters and spent a great part of his life travelling on the European circuit representing TT through the steelpan. He was also the lead soloist with jazz band Moyen, and was the brother of local dancehall artiste, Marlon Asher, and calypsonian Stacey Sobers.

Observing the encouraging crowds which showed up to witness the start of Panorama after a covid19 imposed two-year absence, Pan Trinbago PRO Whitfield Weekes told Newsday, “Pan is the answer to crime.”

“Not only in Enterprise, but all over TT. It is a unifying force to bring peace to all people. We have seen it here tonight.”

He observed that the two Enterprise bands, which are also close to Tropical Angel Harps, “are in the middle of the crime heartland.”

“Those three bands are located in a most violent territory and are all “creating that avenue for peace. If more resources and support are put into these bands, there would be a reduction in crime.

“I am of the firm view that pan is the answer to stop crime,” Weekes said.

The season got off to a creditable start with young pan arranger Josiah Didier making his debut with Edinburgh 500 Steel Ensemble, managed by Dennis Singh. The band performed Merchant’s Caribbean Connection.

Marcus Ash, Pan Trinbago’s education officer, congratulated Singh for taking a chance with Didier and giving youths an opportunity to showcase their talent.

Having the honour of opening the celebration with Didier also playing the national anthem, Ash said it was history in the making.

He congratulated the band on behalf of president Beverley Ramsey-Moore, chalking up her absence due to a family matter.

Showing its readiness for Panorama, Pan Angels gave a convincing performance for a spot in the finals with a Ricardo Dennis arrangement of Out and Bad.

Pan Angels pannists perform for judges in their panyard at Badase Street, Enterprise during the start of the single pan band competition for Panorama 2023 on Friday night. – Photo by Angelo Marcelle

New Age Trendsetters was also gave a solid showing with a Nicholas Joseph and Myles Phillips arrangement of Fire Coming Down.

With flambeaux alight and an infusion of Calypso Rose’s Fire, Fire, the band had its audience singing along and dancing long after the judges – Damien Phillip, Ezra Joseph, Roger Sardinha and Stephanie Power – were done with their adjudication.

Single pan judging in the South/Central Region ended on Saturday night, with judges visiting Jah Roots in Point Fortin, Blanca 47 in La Brea and Super Vibes in La Romaine.

There are only six single bands in the South/Central region.

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…pilot project for coffee, cocoa also announced

Farmers from villages in the lower Pomeroon area in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) will soon benefit from a series of projects intended to significantly improve drainage andagricultural productivity within the farming communities.

During an outreach to Wakapoa, Hackney, and Marlborough, on Friday, Agriculture Minister,Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed that the ministry through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon commence a massive blocked drainage programme in four areas in the lower Pomeroon.

The minister’s visit came just days after His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali visited the area and met with flood-affected farmers. Minister Mustapha had accompanied the Head of State and promised farmers to return to the villages on Friday.

During Friday’s visit, farmers were again allowed to raise issues that were affecting them. Many farmers said that the main issue was the flooding due to heavy and constant rainfall.While responding to the farmers’ concerns, Minister Mustapha said the NDIA will commencethe blocked drainage programme in the lower Pomeroon area to assist with minimisingflooding.

“The burning issue here is drainage. This area is very vulnerable to flooding, more so, now with climate change which has resulted in extended rainy periods. When the President visited you made several requests and it was decided that we will do the block drainage. We need you to identify the four areas where you want us to do it and we’ll do it. In addition to that, farmers with small plots; five and ten acres; we’ll develop a database after which work will be done to lift the level of your farmlands. In the long term, we’ll be building two large pump stations; one at Charity and the other at Cozier. The primary dredging works have already started in the Pomeroon River. The preparation is being done now. As soon as that is completed, the contractor will bring the larger dredge to dredge the river so that you can have better drainage,” Minister Mustapha said.

During the President’s visit last Tuesday, a farmers’ group from the area also sought assistance with repairing two machines that are used to assist farmers in the area. Minister Mustapha said that the ministry will assist with repairing the two machines that are currently inoperable so that the farmers can benefit. These machines, he added, will also be used to assist with the farm enhancement project targeting small-scale farmers.

While addressing concerns raised by cash crop farmers, Minister Mustapha said that farmers from the lower Pomeroon will soon benefit from an introductory training exercise on best practices and farming techniques. This, he added, will see extension staff from NAREI and the GLDA hosting seminars to educate farmers on budding, apiculture, and other agriculture-related areas. This exercise is expected to commence within the next two weeks.

Farmers were also assured that planting materials such as seeds and seedlings, as well asAcoushi Ants bait, will be made available to them free of cost from the ministry. MinisterMustapha also informed that NAREI will set up a small plant nursery at Wakapoa so thatfarmers can also benefit from better access to planting materials.

He disclosed that farming tools such as spray cans, tillers, and a fogging machine among other items will be given to farmers from the area.

As it relates to livestock, Minister Mustapha said farmers from each of the three villages willreceive Black Giant chicks to assist with developing their poultry production. He furtherdisclosed that, through the GLDA, the agricultural science department at the WakapoaSecondary will benefit from Black Giant chicks and other inputs to assist students who arewriting Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, to do the practical aspect of their School Based Assignments (SBAs).

With the government looking to expand on the cultivation of non-traditional products, Minister Mustapha told farmers that the ministry will soon begin a pilot project for the cultivation of coffee and cocoa in the area.

“We recognise the importance of the Pomeroon in terms of agriculture. This is why we’vepartnered with IICA to restart the cultivation of coffee and cocoa in the Pomeroon. We’ll make those plants available for free, and we’ll work with the farmers to develop the plots so that farmers in the Pomeroon can once again be the producers of coffee and cocoa in Guyana. This programme should commence within another month,” he noted.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

redaction web

Photo d’illustration • DR

Ce matin (samedi 12 novembre) un nouvel accident de la route s’est produit vers 11heures à Fort-de-France, un octogénaire a été mortellement percuté par une voiture.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

By Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

Destinations that ignore or neglect beautification will not make it in any top-five or even top-ten rankings and will just be considered ordinary and mediocre. Such will become their reputation and they will not attract more visitors regardless of how high the tourism promotion budget is.

The prefect paradise destination doesn’t need much of a budget, because the dream bliss will be cherished by eagerly visiting travel journalists who are writing articles with the most amazing expressions of adoration.

Their word gets out to broad audiences that are interested in finding the sizzling hot-spot for a next vacation, or maybe even interested in a form of investment for repeat visits.

The published awesome descriptions of the reporter’s experiences will stick in the mind of potential visitors like a stroke of magic.

The preference and subsequent arising demand will be noticed by travel agents as well as the route analysts and planners of airlines.

Courting travel agents and airlines which some consider the right strategy, may be a weak effort if the destination’s tourism product is just about average or less. At the end is all about what individual visiting guests desire and yearn for, a tropical paradise.

The destination beautician is the person whose job it is to improve the appearance of the destination by using the beauty features of nature. This beautician is the angel from paradise who will be the guiding light for the stakeholders of hospitality and tourism at a destination.

The beautician is a nature aesthetician who focuses on keeping a destination looking phenomenally idyllic, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of the dream of a lifetime destination for stayovers, as if it is to be applicable to the fine arts of life.

Unfortunately, no destination has such an explicit paradise beautician on the payroll or as a consultant. Probably never thought of it that such a person could exist who could actually do some magic that others lack.

Maybe creating such a proficient position should be a top priority to advance uniqueness, class, and style for increasing a destination’s attraction level. The beautician can be a stylist to create a particular kind of stunning magnificence of a destination that may set it apart from others.

The valued wealth of a destination lies mainly in its natural beauty. The dream getaway par excellence must be the embodiment of the ultimate tropical paradise retreat with breathtaking decor and scenery, reminiscent of the natural beauties displayed by lush verdant vegetation and tropical flowers galore.

Look around you. Is that what you see now? What is missing? Maybe an ecosystem depicting grace, serenity, sacredness, and beauty at the same time?

People are living in a world that ought to be better and they need help to find a way. When times are rough, an escape is desired. All the unpleasantness of the world can best be forgotten in the beauty of nature! People want to rejuvenate; the word rolls off the tongue easily, like a gentle tropical breeze.

Nothing makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty. And as for beauty being only skin-deep…, that is baloney. It is not just what is seen with the eyes, but also with the heart and emerging emotions.

Let visitors get into an eco-system to be soothed and healed, and to have their senses put in order. The location should have the words “come and unwind in paradise” written all over and doesn’t disappoint.

Beautification is much about creating a space in which to enjoy relaxing moments and focus on one’s well-being while surrounded by plants and exotic flowers that give an original paradise-touch to a dreamy tropical garden appearance. The Caribbean climate is beneficial, as it allows tropical flowers and fruits to thrive. There’s something about tropical blossoms that just screams “paradise.” The striking blooms with exotic shapes of the endemic exotic flora come in various colors, from vibrant yellows and oranges to deep reds and purples.

Let it be a space where tasty tropical coconut water is discovered and if so desired enhanced by a whiff of spirit as a sweet combination for love and re-hydration. Mind that nature’s purpose of this liquid is to serve as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during the nuclear phase of development. Just imagine what that can do, that an ice-cold ‘rum-coke’ with or without a cocktail cherry cannot do.

Too often there is an aim to create a destination that is a kindergarten for grown-ups with adrenaline spiking adventure rides.

Every so often existing valuable beauty goes unnoticed because of being too busy trying to create cheap sensation with no lasting value. Loosing is always tragic but loosing because of thoughtlessness is quite deplorable. Great beauty can be found in the simplicity and sustainability of nature and at almost no expense. It mainly needs tender loving care, sun and water.

Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. – Albert Einstein

Let the beautician be the angel from paradise who creates a fabulous way to immerse oneself, literally, into the destination’s breath-taking scenery, where visitors will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself, feel what heaven feels like, and capture it in their hearts.

It will leave them longing for more and more often. Simply translated in hospitality vocabulary, becoming loyal repeat stayovers.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali said that following the National Cleanup Exercise, heavy focus will be placed on enforcement to ensure that the country remains clean.

The Head of State made this statement as he joined in the continuation of the National Cleanup Exercise along Vlissengen Road in the vicinity of St. Sidwell’s Primary School this morning.

The President pointed to some improvement in the state of cleanliness in the area since the last exercise, this he said is a step in the right direction. He however called for intensified efforts to curb the dumping of garbage.

“We have given enough time, enough education programmes; enforcement is going to become a major aspect of what we are doing.”

GDF ranks in Georgetown cleaning up

The President said that following the national cleanup effort, work will begin on improving the secondary drainage run-off across the country, in a phased manner. He reiterated that the cleanliness and the upkeep of the environment is a shared responsibility.

President Ali was joined this morning by the Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips; Minister of Housing and Water, the Honourable Colin Croal, Minister of Public Works, the Honourable Juan Edghill, the Army Chief of Staff,  Brigadier Godfrey Bess as well as the Head of the Private Sector Commission, Paul Chung among others.

Prime Minister Ret’d Brig Mark Phillips also participated in the clean-up exercise this morning

Dr Ali lauded the participation of the youths from Albouystown and members of the football community who came out in their numbers to join in the exercise. He also pointed to the massive mobilisation of the Men on Mission (M.O.M) team.

“Today, they are part of the national effort to make a positive change, and this is the type of behavioural influence we want all across the country.”

The President and his team visited several locations in the city, including Durban Park, the Seawalls, and the Stabroek Market, and will be heading to Charity in Region 2 (Pomeroon -Supenaam) later today.

The country-wide clean-up exercise is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works’ National Enhancement Committee and saw the involvement of various stakeholders, including government agencies, the diplomatic corps, the private sector, NGO’s the joint services and members of civil society

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