3rd Edition Newsletter 2017
2017 PAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL TT COMMEMORATING EMANCIPATION
2017 Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium:
Overcoming Economic Challenges by Exploring International Engagement.
Mr. Khafra Kambon, Chairman of ESCTT and Minister of Trade and Industry speak with guest speakers of the 2017 Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium
The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago hosted the 2017 Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre on the Monday 31st July 2017. This annual event discusses the possibilities of trade between Trinidad and the African continent as businesses look for positive options in an increasing challenging world economic environment. The Symposium’s theme for this year was “Overcoming Economic Challenges by Exploring International Engagement with the aim of addressing the state of the national economy, diversification and the option to consider African countries as new business and trade partners. The Symposium was co hosted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and was officially opened by the line Minister, the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel delivered the keynote address. Dr Chambas has led trade delegations from West Africa to T&T and played other pivotal roles in advancing business relationships
In his present role as special representative, he has maintained a strong interest in seeing the continued development of business relationships between Africa of business relationships between Africa and the Caribbean. Mr. Khafra Kambon, Chairman of ESCTT delivered the opening remarks. Other speakers included Mr. Kyeretwie Osei, Policy Officer Americas and the Caribbean of the Citizens Diaspora Directorate of the African Union, Mr. Gershom Ramazan, Director of Croplands, South Africa, the Honourable Sidi Yahya Tunis Minister of Tourism and Culture in Sierra Leone, Mr. Jesus Gonzales, Caribbean Coordinator in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, in the Republic of Cuba, Mr. Rogelio Douglas, Managing Director, Susgrow Ltd. in Limon Costa Rica, Melvin Foote, CEO Constituency for Africa, Washington, USA. These speakers shared their knowledge, discussing topics with participants ranging from the African Union Mandate and Structures to Facilitate Diaspora Business Engagement, Exploring Opportunities for Mutually Beneficial Tourism Development Between Sierra Leone and the Caribbean to Utilizing the CARICOM-AU Institutional Relationship for Business Facilitation. Commenting on trade possibilities with the African continent, the Honourable Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon acknowledged that there existed well established trade relations between the Republic of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago, stating that over $500 million worth in T&T manufactured products were being exported to Ghana and that there are existing synergies in banking and governance. She further indicated that the Ministry is working towards exporting the steel pan to countries throughout Africa. The ESCTT through the annual Transatlantic Trade and Investment Symposium continues to work towards Reinventing the Triangle, that is refashioning relationships and changing patterns of business and development within the confluence of territories, that once formed the area of the notorious triangular Transatlantic Slave Trade.
2017 Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation Awardees
Mr. Khafra Kambon, Chairman of ESCTT presents Eintou Pearl Springer with the Henry Sylvester Award of Excellence
Every year as part of the annual Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) recognises the achievements and contributions of persons, national and international, who have contributed to the restoration of African selfhood and the development of the creative, economic and social potential of Africans, by granting either the Spirit of Emancipation Award or the Henry Sylvester Award of Excellence. In 2017 the ESCTT was proud to have honoured Ms Francesca Brown-Wilson, Mr. Carlyle Wilson, Rawle Gibbons, Mother Marjorie Anderson with the Spirit of Emancipation Award and Dr. Ralph Henry, Ms. Eintou Pearl Springer and Carlos Hee Houng with the Henry Sylvester Award of Excellence.
Mr. Khafra Kambon, Chairman of ESCTT presents Mother Marjorie Anderson with the Spirit of Emancipation Award
Forum on Africa and its Diaspora: Africa in the Decade for People of Africa Descent
Participants and speakers at the 2017 Forum on Africa and its Diaspora
Oyo State, Nigeria also brought greetings on behalf of the state's Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi. On the morning of the Forum, executive members of CPAN held a special meeting with the Director of CIDO and its Policy Officer, Americas and the Caribbean, Mr. Kyeretwie Osei. The African Union through CIDO supported the participation of CPAN Executive members in both events. The major issues discussed at the Forum were Reparations, the African Refugee crisis and the delivery of African knowledge through existing education systems. The meeting supported CARICOM Governments' call for reparations and declared that all participants would do what was possible in their specific countries and territories to continue to keep the issues of reparations on the front burner, to increase public’s understanding and to encourage the AUC, through CIDO to actively disseminate information on reparations among its members. Following discussions on the state of the global African Refugee Crisis, the meeting praised those countries for addressing the crisis on the continent and called on all in the Diaspora to do more to assist. Participants called for an AUC / CARICOM educational committee of experts which would examine not only the quantity but the quality of the education required to meet the demands of people-centred development in African and its Diaspora Participants agreed to continue working both in the Diaspora and through CIDO to strengthen bonds between the AUC , the peoples of the African continent and those of the Caribbean Diaspora
The Forum on Africa and its Diaspora is an annual event hosted by the ESCTT which forms part of the Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation. The 2017 Forum, with the theme, ‘ Africa and its Diaspora in the Decade for People of African Descent’ was held on the 30th July at the National Carnival Commission VIP Room, Queens Park Savannah. The Forum was officially opened by the Honourable Minister Maxie Cuffy, Minister of Public Administration and Communication, with the key note address being delivered by Mr Ahmed El Basheer, Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), African Union Commission (AUC). Other speakers included Mr Khafra Kambon, Chairman of the ESCTT who delivered the welcome remarks and Mr David Comissiong, Chairman of the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN). Mr. Toye Arulogun, Commissioner for Information and Tourism, Oyo State, Nigeria. also brought greetings on behalf of the state's Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi. On the St. Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra awarded the Spirit of Emancipation Award morning of the Forum executive members of CPAN held a special meeting with the Director of CIDO and its Policy Officer, Americas and the Caribbean, Mr. Kyeretwie Osei. The African Union CIDO Each year through the ESCTT hosts a Youth Pan Concert featuring the top youth steel bands throughout supported the participation of CPAN Executive members both events. the nationinas part of the youth activities of the annual Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation. This year the St Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra, which has participated in the Concert every year since 2012, was awarded the ESCTT's Spirit of Emancipation Award for the outstanding achievement of the orchestra as well as the significant contribution that the members of the band, led by its coordinator, Ms Rosemarie Abraham, continue to make towards the positive development of the young people in the at risk community of Belmont, which forms a major part of the community which was the original Yoruba Village. St. Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra was established in 2009 as part of the School Pan Programme of the St. Margaret’s Boys Anglican Primary School, which was initiated in the year 2002. The purpose of the programme was to provide the children of the Belmont community with an alternative to the existing negative influences. The original band, the St. Margaret’s Boys’ Anglican School Steel Orchestra won the under-13 Panorama championship 10 times. In an effort to keep the members of the band together post the competitions and open membership to females, the band grew into the St Margaret’s Boys’ Steel Orchestra and eventually into the St. Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra. St. Margaret’s Youth Steel Orchestra
The orchestra has evolved into one of the premier steel orchestras which represent Trinidad and Tobago at various international festivals including the Florida Memorial University Youth Steel Band Festival and the 18th Annual World Championships of the Performing Arts in California. One of the band’s most outstanding achievements to date however, has been its selection to perform at Carnegie Hall at the 2015 New York Sounds of Summer International Music Festival. This was the first time a Steel Orchestra had performed at the prestigious venue since the Desperados Steel Band’s performance in 1987. In April 2016 the Orchestra earned first place, winning the Championship Trophy at the USA Music Festival held at Universal Studios in Orlando. Through a number of workshops and pan concerts the members of the band continue to work towards the development of the musical talent of the young people of their community using an instrument, the foundation of which is the African drum. These efforts provide the young persons with the opportunity to survive and overcome the hardships with which many of them are faced as part of life in their underserved community.
THANK YOU ESCTT expresses its sincere appreciation to all our major sponsors, all businesses who would have contributed in kind and all individuals who made financial donations and or volunteered their time and efforts towards the success of the 2017 Pan African Festival TT Commemorating Emancipation.
ESCTT UPDATES The ESCTT African History Quiz and Spoken Word Competition are carded to begin in October. The African History Quiz for secondary schools aims to inform students and by extension the public of the contributions of Africans to world development at the national, regional and international levels. The Quiz also seeks to increase the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the nation’s African Heritage. The Spoken Word Competition for primary schools promotes the social and cultural development of the nation’s youths through the spoken word and also assist children in the development of their oratory and dramatic skills. Participation in the AHQ and SWC is open to all students. Interested in having your child or school participate contact us at 628 5008 or by email at info.emancipation@esctt.org ESCTT will host a National Conversation on the International Decade for People of African Descent on Saturday 18th November This is the third event to be hosted by the ESCTT to raise public awareness about the Decade and moblilise civil society towards action in keeping with the proposed UN Programme of Activities for the Decade. Details about how you can participate in this national conversation will soon be available Conference on Gender Equality and Fatherhood on Friday 17 th November 2017 in recognition of International Men’s Day
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