This is something someone on the Animal Welfare Network (AWN) Facebook Page just posted, and part of what gets me so angry about Trinidadians' excessively setting off fireworks (often illegally, since it's against the law to do so within the municipal boundaries of cities like Port of Spain and San Fernando, which often include suburban …
Continue reading Trinidad fireworks… and their collateral damage
Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2011 The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is one of the most impressive historical landmarks in Trinidad & Tobago’s capital of Port of Spain. With a foundation stone laid back in 1816, this magnificent Roman Catholic minor basilica was completed and consecrated in 1851. But after nearly …
Continue reading Saving the soul of the city | Caribbean Beat
Originally written for and published in Caribbean Beat magazine in 2011 It’s 4 am. Weary volunteers from Save Our Sea Turtles (SOS Tobago) have been patrolling the beaches since 8 pm the night before, ensuring that the evening’s nesting turtles and their hatchlings go undisturbed by poachers, predators, or even fascinated onlookers. In another 90 minutes or so, the …
Continue reading SOS: Saving Tobago’s turtles | Caribbean Beat
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 …
I think folks need to be very careful before declaring themselves "the first" to do something that's "never been done before", especially on a small island or coming from a "third world country" (grimace). The smallness of the island or the developing-ness of the nation often belies the contributions of significant trailblazers who have gone …
Why isn't there a culture of real feedback, reviewing or criticism in T&T? It's something I've heard artists and (good) journalists & editors complain about for years: that there isn't a real core of reviewers and "critics" (however infuriating they me be) to actually give feedback on our cultural products. I can't remember the last …
Continue reading Arts criticism/reviewing in Trinidad & Tobago: is there any?
At the MEP website, we posted on this more than a month ago (see More Than Sorry: Helping Haiti Rebuild of September 16), but the United Nations is still pleading with organisations and individuals globally to urgently assist with donations that enable relief and recovery efforts in storm-battered, poverty-afflicted Haiti. I'm actually a little surprised …
There are quite a few Caribbean people who may want to eviscerate me for this, but I am delighted that international corporations, rights groups, and others are putting pressure on conservative and regressive Caribbean governments (Jamaica and St Kitts for the moment) on human rights and animal abuses. If we want to play the capitalist …
Caroline Taylor 