Category Archives: Carnival

Carnival, Entertainment, General T&T, Music

An Anarchist Anthem

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
March 06, 2017

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeLast Wednesday, Max Prime’s “We Jammin’ Still” was declared the Road March of the year. Over the two days of Carnival, it was played over 556 times as opposed Machel Montano’s “Your Time Now” that was played 77 times. On January 11, Joanne Briggs declared: “Ultimate Rejects” has already been declared the people’s anthem for Carnival 2017″ (Trinidad Guardian). She wasn’t wrong. Over the last two months, “We Jammin’ Still” replaced our National Anthem as an expression of our people’s sentiment: a directionless nation in crisis.
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Carnival, Entertainment, General T&T, Music

Hail the Queen

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By Raffique Shah
February 24, 2017

Raffique ShahI had planned to write on the resurgence of Calypso Rose since last year, when, having read about her successes in France, I decided to check YouTube to get proof of the pudding, in a manner of speaking. I have grown wary of boasts by many bards, more so those of the fast-foods Soca-ilk who make similar claims when all they have done is appear at carnivals or concerts up the islands or before diaspora-audiences in North America.
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Carnival, General T&T, Race and Identity

Living As Dogs, Part 1

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
November 06, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI am glad Brian MacFarlane has agreed to withhold a section of his 2017 presentation, “Cazabon-The Art of Living.” MacFarlane has argued that the Cazabon era, which he identified as the 1880s and 1890s, “was the most beautiful time—art was fabulous, fashion was glorious, and the architecture was amazing and full of such intricate details.” Two questions arise: “A beautiful time for whom?” and, “What was happening to Indo-Trinidadians during the Cazabon period?”
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Carnival, Culture, General T&T, International, Japan, Violence

Of sensuality and vulgarity

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By Raffique Shah
February 16, 2016

Raffique ShahI wonder if the wide spectrum of persons who have used the words “misogyny” and “misogynic” to describe ex-Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee following his asinine statements on the murder of pannist Asami Nagakiya either believe what they are saying, or understand the definitions of the words?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, misogyny means “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women”.
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Carnival, Crime in T&T, Culture, Entertainment, Gender, General T&T, Media, PNM, Politics

TIM KEE MUST GO!

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By Darcel Choy and Sasha Harrinanan
February 16, 2016 – newsday.co.tt

TIM KEE MUST GO!PEOPLE’S National Movement (PNM) Chairman Franklin Khan last night insisted that the party’s Treasurer and Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee must resign in the wake of his (Tim Kee) contro- versial comments made in the wake of the murder last week of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya, who body was found on Ash Wednesday under a tree in the Queen’s Park Savannah. Khan made his position clear speaking also in his capacity as PNM chairman and Urban Development and Local Government Minister. He did so as Tim Kee’s intention to demit office following an emergency meeting of the Corporation did not materialise yesterday.
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Carnival, General T&T, Health, International, Politics

Man, mosquito and money

By Raffique Shah
February 02, 2016

Raffique ShahIn this space yesterday, Dr Sherene Kalloo launched a broadside against Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and his almost jokey war against the Zika virus, pre-empting a column I had already half-written, titled “Man vs Mosquito”.

Dr Kalloo argued that Minister Deyalsingh’s declaration of war against Zika and the Aedes Egypti mosquito by deploying soldiers, as hard-hit Brazil has done, as being a failed strategy.

It has not worked in Brazil and it will not work here.
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Carnival, Crime in T&T, Entertainment, Gender, General T&T, International, Japan, Media, PNM, Politics, Protest, Sex, Violence

PM: Tim Kee did the right thing

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Trinidad Guardian
Monday, February 15, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Prie Minister Dr Keith RowleyPrime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee did the correct thing in responding to criticism from the national community. He said Tim Kee’s statements following the murder of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya were “unacceptable.”
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Carnival, Culture, Entertainment, Gender, General T&T, Murder, PNM, Politics, Sex, Sex Crimes, Violence

Mayor Tim Kee Set to Resign

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Tim Kee caves in

By Corey Connelly
February 14, 2016 – newsday.co.tt

Raymond Tim KeeBowing to mounting pressure, both at home and abroad, over his recent controversial statements about the death of Japanese national, Asami Nagakiya, Raymond Tim Kee yesterday signalled his intention to resign as Mayor of Portof- Spain.
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Carnival, Culture, General T&T, Media, Sex Crimes

Mayor: Beware dangerous ‘sub-cultures’

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By Sean Douglas
February 11 2016 – newsday.co.tt

CarnivalPORT-OF-SPAIN Mayor Raymond Tim Kee yesterday called on women, especially tourists visiting for Carnival, to maintain their dignity and protect themselves against dangerous local sub-cultures, as he reacted with shock over the discovery of a mas woman’s body, still clad in bikini and beads, yesterday under a large tree at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
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