The Student Press by Kerry Peters

JAIL FOR CHILD PORN Tougher laws coming

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

Tougher legislation coming to crack down on child porn by Abby Brathwaite

Sex videos were once the stuff of Paris Hilton and Anya Ayoung-Chee but as soon a new government is installed and Parliament reconvenes, legislation will be passed to punish people — including teens — who spread them in any way. Those found guilty will face ten years in prison.

n the past month two videos were circulated on Facebook which clearly showed secondary school students engaging in sexual activity in their school uniform. The Student Press learnt that, in both cases, school officials found out about the recordings and punished the students involved. Still, the videos were leaked online and spread like wildfire.

The Children’s Bill, 2010 — which was before the Parliament before its dissolution for the upcoming general election — is the piece of legislation the police are waiting on to be able to arrest those who, whatever their motivations, circulate sex videos. In Section 56 of the Bill, which recognizes anyone under 18 as a child, a person commits an offence and is liable

on conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for ten years if he/she: (a) makes or permits to be made any child pornography; (b) makes or permits to be made any copy of any child pornography; (c) distributes or shows such child pornography; (d) publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that the advertiser distributes or shows such child pornography with a view to it being distributed or shown by himself or others, or intends to do so; or (e) has in his possession child pornography The Bill goes on to say that a person is to be regarded as distributing child pornography if he: (a) offers it; (b) parts with possession of it ; (c) exposes it; (d) posts it on the internet or causes it to be posted on the internet; (e) e-mails it; (f) faxes it; or (g) transmits it by any other means Amos Sylvester, head of the Cyber Crime Unit in the police service, is anxious for the bill to become law. Recently, he’s seen a number of cases where videos and pictures have been posted online which contravene the rules laid out in the impending legislation. “We hope it will be

NEWS

passed as soon as possible because we have had numerous instances coming to us where we actually cannot charge,” he said. He said the current laws regarding the dissemination of pornography are inadequate because they make no mention of the internet and incur a small penalty of $400. When he and his team are able to enforce the stiffer penalties, they will use the technology available to them to determine the persons responsible for offensive postings online — translation: trace IP address — and it includes the power to seize computers in the course of their investigations. In April, the first school sex video to be made public involved two boys from Fatima College, the second, a female student and several male students from Brazil High. Sylvester said he’s been kept busy by all of it. “Within the last few months we have had several requests by Principals to come in and give lectures about the use of Facebook. Parents have a bigger job to play in terms of what we teach children, the last generation did not have to deal with this. The average child has a camera phone which I have always said should not be given to a child. A phone? Yes. But a camera phone? No.” He warned students in particular to be very cautious about their use of recording devices and the internet.

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

HEALTH

In her 19 years of life, Christine Evangelist has suffered more health traumas than most people have in a lifetime. Her kidneys began to fail in early childhood. By age 12, regular dialysis treatment was doing the job of her kidneys. Last year, a donated kidney failed after only a year, and the resulting treatment caused permanent damage to her left leg and had Christine’s family fearing for her life.

Teen holds out hope for kidney transplant,

pursuit of her dreams STORY By Erline Andrews

Blood Work: Hooked-up to the dialysis machine that drains and purifies her blood before returning it to her, Christine Evangelist signs a form at the Dialysis Unit, Mount Hope Hospital. The 19-year-old needs another kidney transplant after the first one she did failed. Photo By Maria Nunes

n the small but comfortable living room of the home she shares with her grandmother and aunt, Christine extends her frail left arm, scarred and bruised along its entire length from having needles inserted as part of her dialysis treatment. Her pulse is unusually fast. It’s more like a buzz, actually, rather than a pulse, like the beating of bee’s wings under her delicate skin. It’s from an inflamed thyroid, Christine explains. The condition appeared two months ago and may have been caused by her kidney problems. Asked how her health problems have affected her social life, her ability to go out with friends and – a more delicate question – have a boyfriend, Christine gives a smile that is both sad and wry: She has more important things to worry about than liming and guys. About 400 people are on the transplant waiting list of the National Organ Transplant Unit, which organizes free

kidney transplant operations. Not a large number, really. But the demand is not being met by the number of donors, leaving patients such as Christine in health limbo. Ignorance is one of the major reasons for the shortfall. “There’s a severe shortage,” says Marva Robley, secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Organ Transplant Foundation. “One of the reasons for that is because people are unaware that you can donate an organ and still lead a normal life. A donor can be a relative or a stranger as long as you have a matching blood type.” Even in death, says Robley, people are leery of parting with their body parts. “We started a deceased donor program about four years ago,” she says. “We just haven’t had any deceased donors. People say, ‘I came with my two kidneys, I want to go with my two kidneys.” Robley, a patient counsellor, says young transplant hopefuls have an especially tough time of it. You can’t do the things that normal teenagers would want to do, especially if you’re dialyzing,” she says. “And it takes a toll on the family.” Patients often suffer “emotional stress,” she says. “You ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why is this happening to me?’ And you become very depressed.” Christine has two dialysis sessions per week, each involving a two-hour wait at the Mt. Hope hospital followed by more than three hours hooked up to a machine that slowly drains and returns her blood, cleaning it of waste along the way. It’s the role her kidneys should have been playing in her body. But around the age of 2, her kidneys started to show signs of distress. “Instead of growing, her kidneys shrink,” recalls Christine’s grandmother, Octavia. For the first five years, the dialysis was done at home by Christine’s aunt, Marina. After she received a kidney from her uncle, the catheter or tube that facilitated that type of dialysis was removed from where it had been embedded in her abdomen. When the donated kidney failed

last year, emergency surgery had to be performed in that area to save her life but made it difficult to replace the catheter. She began to receive the form of dialysis that is only available in the hospital. A catheter was placed just beneath her right collarbone. It is covered by a tightly sealed bandage, to protect it from liquid and other sources of infection. A fistula, or surgical rewiring of the veins, in her left arm would soon take the place of the catheter. The tube was one of the reasons she couldn’t go to the beach, Christine explains with her sad, wry smile. But while the fistula can get wet, it might not make it easier for Christine to head to the beach anytime soon. She has just been too weak. Always a slim girl, she has nevertheless become fragile thin over the past few months since the kidney failed. After she was rushed to the hospital, efforts to insert a new catheter resulted in hemorrhaging and damage to her leg. The result has been considerably more difficulty in moving about. Breathing problems caused by her thyroid condition keeps her up some nights. It’s hard to keep her spirits up under circumstances that seem to throw up one new challenge after another. It helps a little that Christine has formed a friendship with another young dialysis patient, Akila. They had planned to go to the mall last month, but mutual health appointments scuttled the plan. They hope illness won’t get in the way of Akila’s upcoming birthday party. Christine’s health has already upset more important plans. She’d wanted to go to the U.S. to study to be a forensic scientist. But her family would not be able to afford dialysis treatment abroad. There’s hope in an offer from Christine’s father to give her one of his kidneys after the yearlong waiting period has expired between a failed transplant and a new one. Asked if she feels optimistic that things will work out, Christine gives a sad, wry smile.

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

Popcaan asked dancehall kingpin Vybz Kartel, “Where yuh get that new Clarks dey dawdie?” and sent sales of the British brand through the roof and into another galaxy.

Kartel puts best foot forward, Clarks sales poppin’ by Abby Brathwaite

he Student Press spoke to local retailers of the classic shoe recently, and they confirmed an uptick in purchases of Clarks since the release of Kartel’s song in March. Like Trinidad, Jamaica is experiencing a similar surge. In fact, the Jamaican Star reported that there has been an increase in robberies at Clarks stores in that country, given the renewed interest. An ode to Clarks is nothing new to dancehall. In the ’80s, reggae artiste Little John (not to be confused with rapper Lil John) released a tribute to the shoe titled “Clarks Booty” in which he encouraged lovers of the footwear to “Hold up yuh foot and show yuh Clarks booty.” By the end of April, encouraged by the overwhelming response to his song, Kartel released two more Clarksinspired songs – Clarks Again and Clarks 3 (Where Weh Yuh Have). He is capitalizing on an obsession that has been apparent for years. People have loved these shoes for a long, long time. The Clarks Desert Boots were first introduced in 1950 and remain one of the more popular designs. About a decade later, Wallabies were created, and these, too, became a staple in the Clarks community. And while owners of the shoe may debate whether the company’s best offering is a pair of leather centre stitch or one of the more delicate suede beauties, they all agree that keeping these shoes in pristine condition is the highest priority. Dwaylon Wright, 17, remembers how excited he was when he got his first Clarks two years ago. He still has that pair and has added two more to his collection. “All are Wallabies … I have a black and a brown, both of them are suede and I just bought a navy blue leather Wallabies.” Although he is a diehard Clarks man, he is not impressed with Vybz Kartel’s celebratory song. He thinks the song’s music video may have done Clarks lovers everywhere an injustice. Wright said, “Honestly, I don’t really like the Vybz Kartel and Popcaan song. I can’t explain why, but I just don’t favor it and most of the Clarks in the video are old and beaten out.” For this fifth-former, maintaining that fresh-out-

FEATURE

the-box look is very important. He, like many others like him, is always armed with his shoe brush. Whatever you do, don’t mash this man’s Clarks unless you want serious problems. If you only understood how Romario Narcis cared for his black suede centre stitch Clarks, you would keep your step in check around him: First, he steams the shoe. Then, he carefully places it in a plastic bag. He places this treasure in his freezer overnight. After removing the shoes from the freezer, he applies suede spray. He then systematically brushes the shoe. This, he cautions, must be done in one direction only to maximize the effect. You can understand, then, his response when someone trespasses on his feet: “Simple, just hand them my brush and put the foot forward.” If you ever happen to be the poor soul caught in this transgression, please remember the brush-in-one-direction-only rule. You don’t want to make a bad situation catastrophic. The 15-year-old thinks Kartel’s song is the hottest dancehall track for the year and is seriously contemplating purchasing another Clarks. “The pair of Clarks that I looking to invest in right now is a sky-blue one,” he said. Narcis loves the look of his suede Clarks, but his shoe-care routine is the reason why Wright prefers the leather counterpart. Wright keeps his leather shoe looking brand-new by daily wiping away the dust that settles on it using a damp cloth. He is also saving his money to get a new pair, which he hopes to purchase in July. And save he should. A pair of Desert Boots usually starts around $680, while a pair of Wallabies starts at $900. Sarah Partapsingh’s boyfriend promised to buy her a pair for Valentine’s Day, but the cocoabrown centre stitch she set her heart on was out of stock. Two weeks later when they became available, she got her Dad to make the purchase. Her size-4 feet now proudly show off her favourite shoes. When she is not wearing them, they are in their shoe box. She advises, “Keep your Clarks in the box at all times, because when dust gets on it, it kinda changes the original colour. I have a suede spray that I use after I wear my Clarks, and it is always in the box when it is not on my feet.” While no one said they used a toothbrush to get out the dust fast as Kartel suggested, they did underscore the importance of caring for their preferred Clarks. Preventing the shoes from looking old and tired can be a consuming job, but it is a most critical part of the Clarks culture, as it is only then that the wearer can boast: Everybody afi ask where mih get mih Clarks.

POETRY THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010

‘

I prayed for the rain to come, And come it did

Bella’s Silent Torment By Reshma Beharry, From 5 San Juan South Secondary School.

Identity: A struggle of a teen Landslide Afiya Gaspard, U6 Sixth Form Government School I prayed for the rain to come, And come it did, It started as a drizzle, As it steadily began to drip. And then came the down pour, And the thunder, And some lightning, A storm was brewing, And so was the turmoil stirring, The trouble that the wind blew in. I thought the rain was the problem, The fact that it was missing. No water was the issue, The reason for my disdain. But as the storm emerged, And the rain slaughtered the sky, As darkness fell amongst the clouds, And the water splattered the very dry. Like a lightning bolt striking, An epiphany hit, And the rain was no longer the end, But just the start of it. My pain, surged on forward, As a sharp pain struck my chest, Disappointment was this feeling, It’s been a while since i last felt it, This feeling that devours. For when it rains it pours, So no thanks for these April showers, For with it came these showers of my own, A storm advanced to all others. The rain left me in a mood. One I hoped I could dismiss of, But like the consequences of the drought, There is no easy dismissal. The rain has brought some problems, My desert paradise of barren earth now gone, Like the soil which leaves the earth as the sky sheds its tears, Or the leaves from the trees which cannot provide a shelter for the rich earth it covers, As they fall. So to have left my dreams, As my life is caught up, In this landslide.

Carlos Karan Rampersad, Form 5 ASJA Boys College, Charlieville I walk the streets everyday, the looks that glare and stare display The disgust and shame, they look at me not knowing it hurts so dearly. What did I do them, I ask is it my daily task, or is it me they hate so bad, the true inner beauty of this young man. Masculine out and sensitive within, they make the rope I walk on very thin. Stigma and disgrace that face me so, they do, do more than the average Joe. What did I do them, I ask is it the person hiding within this mask, or is it the people I associate with, the same people you willing, fully share a life before. Is it because they have change, or that they are no longer in your range. I have done nothing wrong, trying to fit in this world so very long. I walk a path with many other, so with them, I do not even bother. What did I do them, I ask is it because I am different in manner, or because I don’t act like your persona. This is my life, and I know where I fit in now, and people like you have shown me how, cause many have given one blinded eye for me , and have given me a place in this reality.

Portrait Giselle Permell, Form 3 Corpus Christi College Make me portrait painted in blue Make me a portrait that shows the true you Take off the mask you hide behind Open your arms and kiss the sky Crashing waves and salty air The country wind whipping your hair Lazy days and endless nights Twinkling stars and city lights Life could bring amazing things So don’t live life caged in Afraid to embrace the you within

She stood there observant about every word that was said to her It tore her existence, it made her sore. Everything she once knew had been frayed and now life held no meaning it was never the same It went through the deepest part of her interior as something she knew swiftly vanished Her world got traumatized, as every part of her stood frozen Her surroundings began to spin as she had now become insane Had this really been true? Deceit, lies, false attributes. Everything she thought she knew Could this be unquestionable? It was indeed implausible. Months flew like a shot Yet still it felt perpetual She stayed in that even stance Helpless, she was she pretended to discard the thought of him Those daunting dreams engulfed her she lost herself more than ever She felt it worst than a incisive dagger her emptiness amplified; Insides worsened; Her hole grew deeper

Only if I believe

Annalie Prime, Form 4 Miracle Ministries Pentecostal, If I could reach God then the skies is not the limit Bachac mistakes just confront it Migrane stuttered speech doesn’t ask for laughter But here on after it comes The world says: “Don’t look for me with December smiles and candy coated raindrops” Just stop waiting for money to bear on trees Rather look at the leaves they are green See, just when you have it you think you lose Not really because you just walked away Thinking the skies is the limit Have you ever seen a cat that smiles from ear to ear Queer, but possible Stifle minds grow now, riffle hearts know now There lives Ak’s just another day of hard thinking Ten years from now, the skies will clear out And our minds will flesh out Of helium corrupted standby But do not be deceived It will only happen if you believe

OPINION

THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010

TSP STAFF CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kerry Peters MANAGING EDITOR Abby Brathwaite DESIGN & LAYOUT Aisha Provoteaux PRINTED BY Trinidad Express Newspapers Limited STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS Reshma Beharry Renee Browne Afiya Gaspard Teneille Gibson Rishma Hansil Sharda Maraj Adriana Marine Brendon O’Brien Giselle Permell Kourdell Powell Annalie Prime Nicolette Ramsay Carlos Karan Rampersad Jeniece Scott Krystol Scott Kumarie Seepersad Kristian Solomon Shanice Vitalis CONTACT US The Student Press P.O. Box 1584 Wrightson Road Port-of-Spain T 1 868 640 7648 F 1 868 640 4866 info@thestudentpressdigital.com www.thestudentpressdigital.com The Student Press is a monthly published by Yearbooks Caribe Co. Ltd. The views expressed in this newspaper are those of the writers and not necessarily ours. Address all letters to The Editor, The Student Press, and mail in sealed envelope. Free copies of The Student Press are distributed in most secondary schools nationwide. © COPYRIGHT 2010. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

EDITORIAL

Meeting the challenge of sex and technology School, government and family planning officials thought they had enough on their hands either keeping teens from having sex or encouraging them to have safe sex. Now a new, dark and potentially dangerous element has been added to the mix - that of digital and Internet technology that allows teens to film themselves or other teens doing all manner of sexual acts in a form that is easily uploaded to the Web and therefore easily and quickly accessed by millions of eyes. This trend has the possibility of destroying not only reputations but lives and also impinging on the well-being of anyone connected with the individuals filmed. Child pornography – the creation and exchange of sexual footage featuring minors – is also, of course, a crime. The most recent example is the leaking of the video of two young students of the

Fatima boys’ college performing sex acts on each other in their uniform on what appears to be the school compound. The principal of the school, Fr. Gregory Augustine, said quite commendably that the school intends to deal with the boys with compassion. But beyond that the question that school and others must ask themselves is what must be done when the weapons of both sex and

digital technology are held together in young and therefore very likely careless hands. Even as the Fatima scandal was still swirling, there were rumours of new teen sex tape leaks. And a few others had been circulating prior to the Fatima tape. For the past few years, schools and parents in the United States have been grappling with the phenomenon of sexting –

young people sharing sexually explicit images of themselves via cell phone. A survey found almost 20 per cent of American teens admitting to the practice. In 2008, an 18-yearold from Ohio was teased mercilessly at school following the distribution of nude images she’d sent her boyfriend before they broke up. She eventually committed suicide. Last year, three teen girls and three boys in Pennsylvania were arrested for exchanging pictures of the girls, who were 14 and 15. With the widespread use of smart phones among teens in Trinidad and Tobago, it may only be a matter of time before sexting and its attendant problems become issues here. Another global phenomenon knocking at our door is the posting of suggestive pictures of themselves by users of Facebook, MySpace and other social media that enjoy widespread popularity young people. These potentially taxing problems should be tackled head on. Education and family planning

officials should meet to map out a strategy for dealing with the Pandora’s box opened by digital technology. A number states in the US have instituted laws to curb sexting, but these laws have been criticised for putting the young people guilty of it on the permanent registry that includes dangerous sex offenders. Trinidad and Tobago may not have to go as far as legislation. Sensible solutions could include an education campaign about the repercussions of abuse of digital technology and the incorporating of the role of technology in sex ed classes or discussions. Punishing and holding up for vilification the students who may or may not have been willing participants in the filming of themselves in a sex tape would not be helpful. Students have to be sensitised about the need to guard themselves against the risk of exploitation and shame in this new era where a life can be shattered in the time it takes to click a mouse.

page 21

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

NEWS

Artsy teens take up courses from September

Come September the first batch of students will be enrolled at the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Academy for Performing Arts (APA).

PA offers professional training in dance, music, acting, design technology and management and music and entertainment technology. Students can begin with short courses, certificates or diplomas in these fields or pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Katy Gainham, Programme Professor at APA told The Student Press that the establishment of the Academy will help cement the arts as a viable career option. “The Academy will provide teenagers with the training they need to be able to take up careers in the performing arts both here and abroad,” Gainham said. “The performing arts have been shown to provide sustainable, long-term employment all over the world. The strength of a career in the performing arts is that it can be adaptable to many economic situations. A lot of work in the performing arts is project-based, or small-business based. Performing artists are often described as cultural entrepreneurs, able to use their skills, crafts and artistry in a variety of employment settings.” She added, “Our UTT Academy programmes are designed to train, educate and make students ready for the reality of the economy they will find themselves in. Our BFA programmes include courses in entrepreneurship and business, as well as core courses in education.” She believes that teenagers who are passionate about the arts will benefit tremendously from the establishment of APA. “I’d encourage teenagers who want to pursue careers in the performing arts to come to APA because we are offering international standards of performing arts training given by top flight practitioners, delivered through high quality, dynamic university programmes in a wonderful, modern facility,” she said. It is her hope that exposure to APA’s prorgammes will help students realize the wealth of opportunities available to those who choose this area of study. “There are teaching opportunities available to those who are trained in the performing arts, plus careers in arts management and events management and you can start to see the wealth of employment opportunities available to those trained in the performing arts,” she said “Cultural entrepreneurs have been shown to be a ‘good bet’ for loans and mortgages, for example, as they are resourceful and unlikely to be unemployed (as they usually have several strands of employment).”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010 It shouldn’t be surprising. Often the most committed to a cause are the ones in whom it brings about the greatest change. Soca-pop star Rizon is an evangelical Christian who believes so fervently in using his fame to tell people about God and morality that he carefully researches beforehand the “themes” he wants to address in public appearances. But years ago, he was such a wayward teen that for many acquaintances, it had been a foregone conclusion he’d end up in jail.

“T

hat would have been my destination eventually if I kept going how I was going,” says the tall, dreadlocked 29-year-old, sprawled on the moss-green cushions of the wicker couch in his manager’s apartment in St. Augustine. Rizon – real name Shane Gibson – says that at one point during his tenure at Queens Royal College, it seemed his single-parent

mother had to come in to see the principal “every week or every other week.” He kept bad company and would often get into fights. He tells of one particularly violent encounter erupting out of a disputed foul in a football game. He suffered a “bus head” while his opponent eventually bolted, he recalls, a trace of old masculine triumph in his voice. Come on. That’s the Rizon version of the story, right? “No. He ran like a

madman.” His tone is now amused and insistent. It’s actually not hard to imagine Rizon, who grew up on crime-plagued Belmont Valley Road in Belmont – intimidating someone that much. He has an easy manner and smile, but besides his height – well over 6 feet – and muscular frame, there’s a steely quality about him. He gives the impression of being able to be stern, nononsense when he has to be, a

Soca-pop star hopes his music and life inspire others By Erline Andrews

Redeemed Rizon: Using his musical talent Rizon — real name Shane Gibson — promotes a positive message. As a teen he was labeled a troublemaker destined for jail, now he uses his story of transformation as inspiration. Photo courtesy Jammerson D.V. Hunte

stereotypical dad if he and his wife have the “two or three” kids he envisages. He dismisses the suggestion that what he sees as his role – much like a father does – to advise and occasionally chastise his young fans might come across as preachy and turn some people off. “Every artist has a message,” he says. “You’ll have one artist who might go on stage and talk about his ability to attract a lot of women. You’ll have another artist who’ll then go on stage and talk about the many benefits of smoking. That’s their message, and they may not appear preachy because of the content of their message, but somebody might dare to call me preachy because the content of my message might

be one of righteousness. I don’t have a problem with that. Let them call me preachy.” But would such a message leave little room for error in Rizon’s own behavior off stage? “I suppose that’s a natural price you have to pay,” he says. “The flip side to that is to be a rebel and to make people feel that wrong and selfishness are acceptable so that when I happen to fall into those things everybody is cool with it, but that makes no sense to me. So I’m going to try to inspire people to try to do the right thing.” He doesn’t think he’s immune from making mistakes, he says. “I don’t have any superhero ambitions or false notions

of who I am,” he says. “I understand how very weak I am as a human being. I’m going to just try daily to brace myself to get the strength that I need to try to do what is right.” For the most part, so far the message seems to be working for Rizon. (The name is derived from the last two syllables of “horizon” and the expression “risen with Christ.”) His first single, “Reach,” took off in 2007. In it, Rizon announces that he’s “bussing the rope so I can reach for what is mine.” A string of other wellreceived releases followed, including “Liberate,” about finding the courage to end a bad relationship, and the anti-greed screed “Amnesia.” Rizon’s music,

a wildly infectious hybrid of soca, reggae and R&B, will be compiled in a soonto-be-released debut album, Liberate, even as a second, Love Broadcast, is in the works. In the meantime, he’s been appearing regularly on stage, including a recent “evening of thanksgiving” with like-minded artists. The popularity of his music defies expectations of the reaction of Trinidad and Tobago listeners to locally produced music with lyrics that encourage them to behave rather than misbehave. But perhaps more inspiring that Rizon’s lyrics and whatever other pronouncements he makes is the fact of Rizon’s success itself. He’s where many people told him he couldn’t be, and he got there through diligence

and a willingness to take chances. He cleaned up his act in his late teens, became a born-again Christian, completed a degree in business at the University of the West Indies, and after drudging through a number of 9-to-5 jobs for a few years, he ignored discouraging voices and walked away from his job even before “Reach” was released. The song was written as much to give himself inspiration as his listeners. “It was [a] step in faith,” he says of leaving his job. “It was, this is what I want to do. I had the opportunity to do it. Let’s do it. For me, at the end of the day I just had to reach. I don’t know how people going to respond, but this is what I love, and I’m going to give it my best shot.”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010

Aaron Fresh’s big break seemed the work of Providence. The 17-year-old singer and his Trinidadian mom had been visiting talent agencies and soliciting other kinds of help – falling prey to scam artists along the way – as they sought opportunities for him to realize his dream of being a performer. But it was a chance encounter that did the trick.

Aaron Fresh enjoying his first big break By Erline Andrews

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

“I

was practising for a school talent show with my friend,” Aaron – real name Aaron Hinton – explains in a phone interview. “We were in his bedroom rehearsing, and the window was open.” The two were belting out a track by 1990s R&B duo KC and Jojo when the man who would become Aaron’s producer passed by on the way to his car. “He heard us singing through the window,” says Aaron. “So he came and he said, ‘You should come to the studio once in a while.’ Fortunately, he knew Ray Brown, which is Nick Cannon’s business partner, and they set up a meeting.” Rapper-actor Nick Cannon has been in the business since he was a teen himself and is now giving other young people the same chance he had. After hearing the cherub-faced Aaron sing, Cannon took the teen under his wing and signed Aaron to his label, NCredible Entertainment. Aaron’s debut album, Fresh N Up, is due out this summer, but a couple of teen-targeted singles – “Spending All My Time” and “Dirty Girl” – have been feeding a blooming fan base.

Aaron is following on the heels of a recent string of artists of Caribbean descent who have made unlikely ascents into the American pop universe, including Trinidadian-American Nicki Minaj, Barbadian-American Rihanna and Jamaican-American Sean Kingston. But Aaron believes he’s doing a better job of melding the two cultures that have made him who he is. Born in Chicago, he spent age 8 to 14 in Trinidad. His accent vacillates between the Trinidadian, the American and a blend of the two. He speaks enthusiastically about his Trinidadian heritage and promises of Fresh N Up: “As soon as you press play, you’re going to feel like, ‘Wow, I’m in Trinidad right now, but I’m really in America!’ People from America could relate to this kind of music, too. They get a piece of the Trinidadian and they also get a piece of what they’re used to.” He’s been rubbing shoulders with pop superstars Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber, but he sounds most excited about a phone call from a Trinidadian hero – soca star Machel Montano. One of his producers stunned him by putting Montano on the phone when he and Aaron spoke recently.

“He gave me a call and then he was like, ‘Yo, I have a friend I want you to talk to,’” Aaron recalls. “And then Machel come on the phone, I was like, ‘Yay!’ It was definitely a great experience.” Aaron was even further psyched by Montano’s suggestion that the two could collaborate in the future. It’s the legacy of Montano and other Caribbean artists that gives Caribbean-American pop performers an edge, says Aaron. “We have more energy. We have more stage presence,” he says. “I remember watching Soca Monarch with all them guys – Machel and Bunji and Faye Ann. They just jumping up and jumping up. Always being happy. I think we have that advantage.” Aaron insists he’s not a star yet, but there are signs that he’s getting there. He was surprised by the crowd response during a recent performance at the famed Roseland Ballroom in New York. “It was just amazing to see everybody singing my songs,” he says. “I just start to do the melody, and people were like, ‘Spending all my time loving you, all my time loving you.’ I was like, ‘What! That’s insane!’ And then, you know, to sign autographs and stuff and to see that I have fans – that’s a blessing.”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

ART AND ENTERTAINMENT

r e n n i w a e

b o t d e n i t s e d s i ” s r s e n s a f o L k c “ i fl n o i t c a g amon

The Losers

4 OUT OF 5

stars

Starring Jeffrey Dea n Morgan Zoe Saldan a Chris Evan s Ru nning Ti me 103 minute s [1hr, 43m ins]

omic books come in many varieties. The ones we know off the bat, like Batman and Iron Man, are from the major comic book publishing companies that market themselves and their characters slightly better. However, those parent companies have lesser-known imprints, where lesser-known comic artists and writers can come up with comics that have the capacity to be cult classics. Both types of comics, some may know, get the chance to translate their characters to the Big Screen. For instance, Vertigo Publishing is an imprint of DC Comics. DC has brought out Superman and Batman movies, while their imprint Vertigo has produced movies for their comic series Constantine, A History of Violence, V for Vendetta, Stardust and finally The Losers. As with any genre that starts with an already established fan base, not screwing up is critical. But when most people

don’t know what the series is, and the people who do know it are fanatically in love with it, not screwing up is more than just difficult. Well, at least it used to be difficult. Most historians argue that with the release of Batman Begins and Iron Man, the tables have adequately turned. The newest addition to the comic book movie list is The Losers, based on a comic book series about a team of Special Forces operatives who were betrayed by their handler Max (Jason Patric, The Lost Boys, Speed 2: Cruise Control) and believed to be dead, who, with the help of a mysterious woman named Aisha (Zoe Saldana, Star Trek, Avatar), seek to clear their names and exact revenge on Max. The first thing you notice is the pace at the beginning. We meet the team and get accustomed to their individual quirks quickly and easily. Each character, much like their comic book counterparts, are vastly different in terms of skills and personality, and that comes out on-screen without problems, as does their relationship with each other as a family unit. Attempting to establish this in a short amount of time is exceedingly risky, but revealing character traits blatantly works here, with a group of testosterone-filled army men with almost no inhibitions with each other. The combat scenes in this film are undoubtedly creative, without being

over-thetop or resembling a scene from The Matrix. It mixes the possible and the intelligent with the stylish. The perfect example of this is the hand-to-hand fight scene between Aisha and The Losers’ leader, Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Watchmen). The scene is simple and possible, while feeling like one of those street fights that moves past punches and kicks into chokeholds and slams, while still carrying a suggestive tension between man and woman. The film benefits from a witty but sometimes overindulgent script. The overindulgence isn’t even a problem. It helps merge the brilliant Special Forces agents that they should be with the quirky human beings that they are, and that mixture creates the characters that we can’t take our eyes away from for all 103 minutes. At moments, the wellcrafted satire is completely abandoned in order to slip into that state of comic recklessness that gets little children to read, and the alternation between the two is barely noticed. Once in a while, the film trips over its own pacing, with some short and almost completely detached scenes seeming to pop up in between other segments. Also, the excellent cinematography that brings it back into the loud and colourful comic book realm is lost by unnecessary scenes in between the action scenes and ends up getting emphasized in the excitement. The good

news is that the adrenaline never seems to stop pumping in this film. The bad news is that, for a few people, that adrenaline might seem redundant. Despite the blazing pace the film chooses to take, nothing is taken away from the performances that make it below par. The relationship between every member of the team is always maintained. The guilty leader, Clay, is played by a quite capable Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Zoe Saldana’s portrayal of Aisha carries a constant mystique that still leaves room for the character’s emotional releases, Saldana’s professional strength. Jensen (Chris Evans, Fantastic Four) brings the comic relief, brings it constantly and brings it well. Clay’s second-in-command, Roque (Idris Elba, American Gangster, Obsessed), a short-tempered, aggressive, confident and fast-acting man, is done just as well as the others, but the transition between his character at the start and his character at the end is not seen, which makes him even more of a shocker onscreen. In sum, the movie is a success at everything it sets out to do. It is a beautiful, fast-paced, character-driven action flick that keeps you strapped to your seat. The fact that the violence and obscenity are underplayed doesn’t take away a thing, because the suggestion of it all is enough to keep you going. Its slight problem with pace might be its only real issue, and when you add up everything else, you might as well just forget it.

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

Fellas, some girls doh handle rejection good at all. Dey sad. And ah warning allyuh jed. Is best yuh listen to meh now cuz right now ah book up until November 2012 with a set ah fellas trying to get muh help nah. Is not soo much dat ah have to counsel ah whole heap ah fellas eh but some boy soo sad inno, one counselling session does last 3-4 months depending on de school he going to and how good he is in English nah. Plus I is ah man ha to make time for muh girl too cuz how it go look if The Love Doc lady complainin? (dah go be like Bas gettin kick out he own party) Men like me have a rep to protect lads.

Why you should NEVER add your Ex as a Facebook friend

nyway, as ah was sayin pal. Some chicks doh handle de rejection ting nice inno. So ah taking this time to kinda help allyuh fellas navigate the rough waters that these good looking-pretend-deyis-mermaid-when-dem-is-shark chicks does be swimming in. Fellas, first ting. Ah know allyuh hear bout making a TACK-BACK but ah sure allyuh yutes never hear bout de TECH-BACK? See wha ah talking about. Look ah ask dat question and not a single guy could say he know about de tech-back. Fail. Boy, de tech-back is when a girl use technology to get back at you after you reject her. Daz wha end up happening to muh boy David from El Do blue. De man ex hit him a tech-back on Facebook. What? Confused? Sigh. Aite let me see if I can help you out lad. Dude, take it from ah man of my reputation and registration (as in vehicle registraton “LD 1” as in Love Doc 1— if yuh din already know), dude, some girls are sneaky on the tech side of life. You see dah chick David was with? Yep. Well, ah not being mean, cuz I always say real men don’t ever say mean things about women (when they’re within earshot) but let’s just say this girl wasn’t no bess ting. Put it this way, de girl used to look lil marasmee. As in dry-ish. Plus, she shape like ah upside

ADVICE

down swizel stick. Signs of life in de face and then nothing all de way down. Feel meh? Well, yeh. Anyway, true story. David din realize what he do de oda day when he add dat girl as a friend on Facebook and unfortunately for him, she accept it. De man say like de girl was waiting for the friend request. He say one second after he hit “Send” he see notification come up “Kay-Marie has accepted blah blah”. Now by this time muh boy done lose focus eh. What yuh think happen? Yep. He let he guard down and did the unthinkable. He start going thru her pics. All 167 of them, carefully arranged in 4 albums. If de fella was thinking fast he would have realized something wasn’t right just by looking at the names of Kay-Marie’s photo albums. — “Me after de dump” — “Getting the 6-pack” — “Shopping for shorts in New York with Mom” — “Photoshoot for Swimsuit Ad” Allyuh see what I talking bout. Yuh telling me dat normal? Yuh telling me dat it normal for a girl who shape like ah upside down swizel stick to be modelling swimsuit one year later? Yuh telling me it normal that a chick from Arima Compre who had a belly shape like ah letter ‘B’ now have a 6-pack. Nah. I ha better sense dan dat lads and after doing my investigations I realized I had seen this very thing before. Chicks who get dumped use the rejection to their advantage. Dey hittin’ the gym, the mall, and they doing the ‘work-dat-body-work-dat-body’ thing. And for what? Just to get back at their ex-boyfriends. You see what society has come to? You see why I voting UNC? Fellas, we need CHAYNGE. Dese chicks can be so heartless. Like dem doh realize guys are PEEEP-ULL too. Ah girl eh ha nuttin’ to do wid sheself dan to spend ah inordinate amount ah time on ah personal makeover? Just so she could look bess? Just so she could take pics of, her, (OMG) — fine, sweet, perfect, pretty self...and put up on facebook? Guys, this is what they do. Fellas is a trap. Daz wha David din realize in time and he play farse and say he responding to Friend Suggestion. She was waiting for him to do that for months. She’d been to New York with her mom only six weeks after the breakup (well, the Dump) and her mom gave her that most hated “show-that-boy-he-isnot-your-entire-world-speech.” Sadly, it worked. And my girl went shopping for new threads. We talking level bess clothes. Um, er, yeh fellas daz how it does go yuh know. So ah warning allyuh this month. NEVER. EVER. NEVER. EVER. NEVER ADD YOUR EX AS A FACEBOOK FRIEND! What do you know of this girl once you’ve dumped her lads? She may well be just waiting on your good-fornuttin-PNM-tail to launch her revenge. And David fell for it. Without thinking on his feet like Messi in the six-yard box, he headed straight for her photos. Fellas, imagine you dump ah chick and one year later you going through her pics on Facebook and your heart beating faster than Jack Warner speech. Yuh mouth open like yuh ketchin fly and all you thinking is O-M-G-W-H-A-T-D-I-D-I-D-O? It happens guys. This is the tech-back executed to perfection. Girls using technology for the wrong thing. Meant to pay wretched men like David back for dumping her and not giving her the chance to really blossom. Be warned guys. Some chicks won’t forget. You will simply motivate them to step up their game and because you weren’t patient, they will be seeking revenge at all costs. And Facebook, once thought to be every guy’s dream network, now does you a disservice. Without warning, your former swizel stick making Halle Berry look like Oprah. De girl looking GOOOD. Not good eh. GOOOD. The extra O is for “Oh” God, I wish I could have her back. Careful fellas. Be patient! Let her bloom!

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

Y Are hickeys “lovebites” or the kiss of death? STORY BY Rohandra John

Suddenly, you find yourself panicking because there is a big hickey sitting on your neck, a telltale sign that you’ve been smooching with that boyfriend or girlfriend nobody else but you know about.

ou can’t afford to let the love-bite sell you out, so you’re prepared to get rid of it at all cost. You try rubbing it off with your hands – but that doesn’t work, so you grab a cloth and next a towel. You dash water – still there. You try makeup – but the mark remains visible. You have no choice but to face your parents, who notice the mark the moment they set eyes on you. But you know to yourself that they can’t handle the truth, so you lie and tell them you were stung by a bee in the middle of the night! Many teenagers admit they often lie and go to extreme lengths to conceal their hickeys rather than be honest with their parents because they don’t want them finding out about their intimate relationships and fear punishment. A hickey is actually broken blood vessels beneath the skin. It’s like a bruise, except that it is caused by another person’s mouth. They are easily planted on the neck because it is one of the more sensitive areas of the body, according to www. romanceclass.com. Sixteen-year-old Candice, a student of Bon Air Secondary, used all the tricks in her book to keep her love-bite hidden from her “strict” parents.

“They didn’t know I had a boyfriend and I know that they would have gotten upset,” said the teenager who wanted only her first name used. So, she made up her mind to do whatever it takes to keep the love-bite out of sight. “I was constantly rubbing the spot for the mark to go away, but that didn’t work. I used makeup, but it was still showing up, so I wore my hair down to cover it up.” It took only a few minutes for the red blotch to appear, but to her it seemed like an eternity before it would go away. Whenever her parents looked at her, she thought they were gazing at her neck. She recalls being on edge. She was also uneasy at school and prayed that none of her teachers would observe the mysterious red welt, because she knew they would squeal on her. The hickey finally disappeared after a weak. The fifth-former said she felt like a piece of property the whole time the hickey was on her. “Is like somebody stamp you as being theirs. I was embarrassed about it.” She added, “It wasn’t a very nice experience. It was a lot of hard work just keeping that hickey hidden.” Her advice to other girls: “Don’t allow yourself to get carried away, because

A coin cleaner

Coins that contain a lot of the metal copper look yellow, orange or brown. They gradually turn a darker color because of a chemical reaction that “corrodes” the metal. Here’s how to reverse that reaction:

You’ll need • Some copper coins that have turned a dark color

Put on the lid and shake the jar a few times

• Teaspoon

Examine the coins. Have they changed?

• Table salt • Large, clean glass jar with lid • White vinegar

Rinse the coins well with water and let them dry in the air before you spend them

when you get caught up in the moment, things happen. And don’t let your boyfriends put hickeys on your neck.” Nineteen-year-old Anna Beckles, an upper-sixth student at Mucurapo East Secondary, remembers boiling water, soaking a towel in it and patting her neck to get rid of her hickey. “This remedy worked sometimes and other times failed because it depends on how deep the welt is,” she said. She didn’t want her parents asking too many questions, so she also wore her hair down to cover the mark. Beckles also recalled that one of her girlfriends, who was desperate to get rid of the red blotch before her parents spotted it, heated a spoon and placed it to her neck, hoping to get it out. It only made matters worse. “She end up burning herself,” she said, laughing. She said she no longer goes out of her way to conceal a hickey from her parents because she is now of age and can have a relationship. Fourth-former Whitney Willoughby, who goes to Bon Air High school, swears that she has never had a hickey but “I know people does come in school, tell all kind of lies and do all kind of thing to get rid of them. “Some of them does

TEEN LIFE

claim a bee or some other insect sting them. They does put plaster on it and use hot water to get it off. Is all kind of stories you does hear in my school.” Eighteen-year-old Chris Grant, a lower-sixth student at the Professional Institute of Marketing and Business Studies, said his parents may not fuss too much if they see him with a hickey now, but when he was underage, it was a different story. He recalls that there was one time, in his earlier teens, when a girlfriend planted hickeys on his back and neck. He said he dared not let his parents see them. “You know how parents could be sometime-ish. They tell you something is OK and then when they realize thing happening, they carry on.” He wore his shirt neck up and kept his jersey on in the house for several days until the red marks disappeared. Grant said now that he is 18, he does not worry about his parents seeing his love-bites. He thinks, though, that guys get away with sporting hickeys while girls get a harder time about it because of the way society functions. “I find with girls, when they have that, it gives the impression that they come from a broken home or that their parents not really strict. But for boys, is just normal,” he said.

Do this

What happened

Put coins in jar

Pour vinegar into the jar until it’s one-quarter full

Put one spoonful of salt into the vinegar

The coins turn bright and shiny and look like a new coins because a layer of corrosion is not covering them any more Salt contains sodium and chlorine, two chemical elements; the chlorine breaks down the corrosion and makes it wash away

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

‘

POEMS

Now she picks up pieces of herself, All trampled in the dust.

My Escape Kristian Solomon, Lower 6 Signal Hill Secondary School Joy, fun, happiness Seduction, approval, rewards; No despair rejection, or disapprovals; Sadness, pain and fear My place of escape My ideal headquarters to retreat My force of defense against; a world of dismay A world of fright and pain A world of no love I have travel to and fro; from this place And I have returned And I am here to once again face dismay I will love without; remorse And fight without an army And though many may not believe me I will win I will be triumphant I will have my escape.

Addicted Nicolette Ramsay, Form 4 Holy Name Convent POS Take a sip, slowly swallow Don’t spit it out nor throw up tomorrow I thought it won’t hurt anymore You were my remedy, the “perfect” cure After a while I became allergic The more I took you, the more I felt sick But I didn’t want any alternative Though you had some flaws, you were superlative I was blind sighted, adamant that you’d work You proved me wrong; you ripped out my heart, through it in the dirt I entrusted it to you thinking you’d mend it Instead what do you do? The complete opposite! The reoccurring question pops into my head, why was I so stupid? I don’t know what more of a shock was; the fact that I trusted you or what you did You’ve changed me; I’m now a heartless person But now I’m better; my days for shedding tears are finally over Who knew freedom would feel so grand You’re not holding me down, I can ultimately stand But I can’t help it even though you left me crushed Out of everyone on earth, you’re the only one I’ll truly love

Thought You Said ... Krystol Scott, Form 4 Bishop’s High School Tobago You told me that you loved me... So why did you leave me to cry in the cold? You swore this time was different... Why does that line seem so old? You told me I was the only one That made you feel that way You said that you cared about me... So why didnt you stay? Love is such a powerful word... One which we often misuse.... Something we take for granted.. Something we beat and abuse... Tears I cry in this endless dream, Pain I feel flows like an endless stream I hear the song of sorrow and despair Forever alone in this dark place... Love does not live here.. Love quit me, I did not quit him Memories of sweet moments and what could have been He sung this song as he walked towards the door, “I don’t want to know you or see you anymore.” I cried and asked “Was it me?” He said, “ You and I were just not meant to be.” He left me alone with rage, anger, and pain. How could something so sweet be so vain? “Don’t cry my dear we can still be friends.” I let out a sigh and told him that this is the end. At that exact moment I felt as is I wanted to die, Because everything he ever told me was a lie. Everything within me began to shatter even more, as I stood motionlessly and let him walk out the door, I don’t know where to start.... where to begin, So I picked up the pieces so my heart can mend...

A Fallen Star Shanice Vitalis, Form 4 Bishop Anstey High School East Cheerful masks, Underneath just useless faces. Never revealed, They left no traces. It’s not real, And it seems to me, They let it engulf them, And let blind eyes be. Only in their hearts the truth is kept, And with contrasting actions, They let the lies of the enemy unfold. To the people she loves, The entire world. And for the truth? Never to be told. Now her world is falling apart, Leaving her bare and exposed. Two sides to every story, And her ‘friends’?....They chose. (A Fallen Star) Now she picks up pieces of herself, All trampled in the dust. By friends who chose to believe the lies, Now there’s no one left to trust.

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

Rescuing “best furry friends”

has become a major pet project STORY BY SARAH WILLIAMS Annmaray Huggins is much more convincing as a bona fide, paw-loving animal enthusiast than as a girl “awww”-ing over cutesy slideshows of cats and dogs.

Proud Pet Owner: Gripping Annmaray Huggins’ finger is her parrot Oracle, who is happy for the attention from his 19-year-old owner. Oracle is the sole bird among several dogs and cats which Annmaray cares for and loves. Photo By Angelo Marcelle

he is so passionate, she’s defied her doctor’s orders to give up her numerous pets as the solution to her allergy problems. Perhaps if the doctor saw her nine dogs, five cats and parrot the same way she did, he may have offered her a more attractive alternative than trading them all for a goldfish. Fifteen pets are the least of her worries. For the many homeless animals on the streets of San Fernando in need of loving care, runny, itchy eyes are but a small sacrifice for a 19-year-old activist willing to put it all on the line for her BFFs (best furry friends). It was a Saturday morning and Annmaray was one-half of a two-woman rescue team crouched in the bushes trying desperately to lure three pups burrowed in the thick undergrowth of razor grass opposite her home. Their eyes had opened to the harsh world around them: above, matted grass; next door, headstones and cold concrete slabs at a cemetery. “These pups do not know a human’s touch,” she said, stroking one pup that was snuggled in her lap. It was wrapped in an old shirt and trembling. The other two from the litter had escaped again into the bushes after they were rescued, too afraid of what life would be like surrounded by faces that weren’t canine. The lot had become home to several strays, one of which was their mother. Annmaray’s mom, a petite but equally fearless animal lover and volunteer at Animals Alive Sanctuary, had been lying in the grass peering into the labyrinth of lawn the dogs had created for some time before they’d had any success. The bushes were part of the challenge in an otherwise-uneventful rescue. The other part would be finding room for them at the sanctuary in La Romaine and then an eventual safe and loving family. The satisfaction written on Annmaray’s face with her latest rescue is undeniable. If she holds him any longer, she says, she’ll be tempted to keep him. “Wait...I mean, ‘her,’” she says after making a quick check. That could make all the difference with a pet adoption. One check by a potential owner and they move on in search of a male “guard dog.” Gender bias, it seems, has made its way into the animal kingdom. But Annmaray’s mom, Hazel Ann Huggins, says females are sometimes the fiercest defenders. “Dutchess,” who she calls her

FEATURE

Caribbean terrier (aka pot hound), is both watchful and loyal. “Missy,” another rescued dog, has acted almost like a surrogate to every other rescue that was brought to their home, including the three cats that found their way to the gate in pouring rain that was brought to the house by a gentleman from Port of Spain. Living in a house full of furry felines and canines is much like living with a clawing, gnawing little brother or sister who always thinks you have time to play. Annmaray describes each animal’s personality like she’s describing her siblings, complete with a photo album on her cell phone: one of “Tigger” in an empty fish bowl, another of “Passion,” a rescue which had been so badly injured and diseased that the doctors gave her a 10 percent chance of survival when he first saw her. They’re a big part of her day when she’s not in her room studying or helping out with fundraising for the sanctuary. Jet Li, Dutchess, Ginger, Chewy and Sapphire, the Rottweiler Arwana, and her pups Oya and Medusa have all enjoyed the loving care of the Huggins family, without fear or favour for their pedigree or background. Having many different personalities in one space is not without some rivalry and jealousy. “Chewy,” a fiery Chihuahua lookalike, doesn’t quite like the idea of being acquainted with felines. He won’t let Kitty, the newest addition to the household, forget that she should stay indoors…or else! “At first, when she came, ‘Summer’ (another cat) didn’t like her, but now they are best buds,” Annmaray said of one friendship. It is part of the reason Kitty’s adjusting so well despite Chewy’s constant barking. But the family’s first cat, Guinness, does not join in the scampering and playful games with the others. He is getting old and has never accepted his adoptive siblings. Neo has gingivitis, so he drools and causes Annmaray’s allergies to flare up. Her room is out of bounds to the animals because of this. All except Oracle. Oracle does what any parrot does best, mimic and be a major show-off and attention-seeker. But he’s hopeless at being a bird. He’s afraid of the rain and other birds and enjoys eating pelau. For every animal she’s given a home to, she’s raised the bar for animal awareness despite her personal sacrifice. She probably won’t be the Pamela Anderson or Khloe Kardashian of animal rights in T&T, but to her furry friends, she’s their superhero.

writingaboutwhatyoutalkabout

www.thestudentpressdigital.com

APRIL 2010 • THE STUDENT PRESS

RHYMES WITH ORANGE

ck Win i t 3 movie

HENRY

out lo H UG

MOTHER GOOSE & GRIM

COMICS AND JOKES

Every month we let our office dog Swanky choose the stalest joke. If you see Swanky’s pic next to your joke, you’re not funny and you made him angry. For that, you win three movie tickets. Rest assured, we feel very sorry for those who live with you and have to put up with your sense of humour. Email jokes to info@thestudentpressdigital.com Sharda Maraj, Lower 6 St. Augustine Girls High Q: When is a door not a door A: When it is ajar... Teneille Gibson, Upper 6 Signal Hill Secondary Comprehensive Two fish are in a tank, one is driving the other is shooting. Adriana Marine, Form 5 South East POS Secondary School Q: What do you call a one-eyed rasta who’s a teacher? A: Sir-Lass-He-Eye Kumarie Seepersad, Form 4 St. Francois Girls College Q: Why did the fish get lock up? A: Because it was caught with sea-weed! Kourdell Powell, Form 3 Queens Royal College Q: Why do potatoes make good detectives? A: Because they keep their eyes peeled. Rishma Hansil, Upper 6 Holy Name Convent POS Q: What did Columbus see on his right hand before he discovered Trinidad A: He saw 4 fingers and a thumb. Jeniece Scott, Form 2 Bishop Anstey High School Q: Why were the apples and grapes upset with the magician? A: Because he diss ah pear! (disappear) Renee Browne, Form 3 St. Joseph Convent, San Fernando Q: What is the worst gift to give a midget? A: A yo-yo

SPORTS THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010

Junior chess champ is

on board with success STORY BY SARAH WILLIAMS

Joseph Gill is anxious for his Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) exams to start. The sooner they begin, the sooner they’ll be over and he’ll get back to doing what he really loves: playing chess.

T Chess Champ: Pointing out the various pieces on his chess board, Joseph Gill explains the game. The 17-year-old is the National Junior Chess Championship in his age group. Photo By Angelo Marcelle

he Fatima College fifthformer may not be the star player on a field capturing headlines like a youth cricketer, but his recent success has made him the latest standard-bearer of another gentleman’s sport at the school. Joseph emerged at the top of his age category in the National Junior Chess Championship put on by the T&T Chess Foundation. The last time he wrote a major exam, his mom thought chess would help prepare him to cope with his most challenging subject, math. Lucky for him, he soon realized chess was not only keeping his mother happy, but he became very passionate about his “alternative” math lessons. But those days at Holy Name Prep are no more. CSEC is a far cry from the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams he had to write, and it’s difficult to choose between chess and exams.

So he’s put a temporary hold on chess. As with any sportsman aspiring to be “pro,” chess is all he thinks about. He’d even skip lunch. “Chess is a science, an art and a profession,” Joseph said as he placed the rooks, knights, bishops, queens, kings and pawns in their ranks by colour. Whites go first. Lunchtime chess games are a norm at Fatima, and Joseph takes a break from his studies for a special treat: sharing his love for the game with a relative novice. While most of the other guys are hungry for the adrenaline rush of a football or cricket game to ease the study stress, Joseph is among the chess die-hards heading to the VP’s office to collect chess sets and spend the next hour or so huddled close around a table, eyebrows furrowed around the monochrome board. The boys, bubbling with enthusiasm over the game, are encouraged by teacher and form five dean Mr. Aloysius Joseph. He recalls a time Fatima College was among the top chess-playing schools, along with Bishop Anstey and other schools in Port of Spain. He hopes that with proper support and a few promising players such as Joseph, they would once again raise the profile of the game.

“You can see Joseph is very passionate about chess,” the dean said. He believes other students seeing Joseph’s success will take a second look at the game as a sport much like cricket and football. As a former Fatima College chess player, he believes critical-thinking skills can be developed in weak students by using chess: greater focus and discipline, enough to excel at academics and relating among their peers. For the moment, chess is largely an after-school thing. The challenges are not always time-restricted and a single game can go on for hours, sometimes staying back as late as 8 or 9 at night, deeply engrossed in the game. The suspense, overwhelming in the silence, builds with every tick of the clock between them. It’s the kind of sport they’d probably play until they’re 99. When he leaves for home, there are no siblings to challenge to a game, nor any relative willing to risk the embarrassment of playing against him. Thanks to the investment of time and money from past students and chess enthusiasts, he has improved greatly on tactical aspects of the game with “Fritz.” The Junior Chess Champion said he sometimes trades his liming time for a mental tussle

with his virtual chess board in the hope of being one step closer to Grand Master level, like teens in Europe and the United States. Fritz is a German-developed software with varying levels of difficulty and has developed chess beyond the image of elderly professor-types in their study, locked into deep concentration and hunched over a chess board. The 17-year-old says that with each loss in front of his computer, he’s been able to build pattern recognition. “Losing is normal. Winning is normal. At the end of the day, there is no loser. You become better. You learn.” “I rarely miss combinations,” Joseph said. “You have to have dedication, an understanding of the fundamentals. I watch and learn from the masters by studying thousands of Grand Master games with Fritz.” With his current World Chess Federation (FIDE) rating at 1962, he sees his chances of becoming a Grand Master way off in the distance now that he’s looking at a career and education. The former National Boys under-16 champ says he can’t help but wish special provisions were made for young sportsmen representing the country and trying to balance sport and education.

SPORTS THE STUDENT PRESS • APRIL 2010 Kerron Ford always loved football. But he was not known for being the best footballer. His talents were apparently so unimpressive, some friends advised that he was wasting time on the sport. But while these friends will be relegated to seeing South Africa on their television for World Cup 2010, this 19-year-old visited the host nation to represent his country for the third time in the international Red Bull Street Style on April 28.

Footballer’s perseverance, skills helping him compete against the best in the world STORY BY JULIEN NEAVES

Photo By: Abraham Diaz

lthough Ford did not make it out of the preliminary round in this year’s competition he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is overcast and lightly drizzling the morning of the interview. The pavilion of the Eddie Hart grounds, Tacarigua is occupied by some young men. Ford arrives in a black T-shirt that says “Ginga Street” – a Brazilian sportswear brand and souvenir from a previous competition. He is softspoken, with a somewhat reserved demeanour. He started freestyle football about three years ago while a third-former at Trinity College East. Two of his friends were watching football tricks on the Internet and shared them with Kerron’s football-loving class. Ford chose to learn the skills to develop ball con trol which he hoped would get him on the school’s football team. He never did make the team – “the skills came too late” – but he continued with freestyle football even after his friends gave it up. “And from then to now, I continued ‘skillsin’.” He was inspired by his favourite freestyler, South Korean Jeon Kwon, and learned most of his moves from YouTube. Ford has no coach and is self-taught. In 2007, he heard about the local Red Bull competition and felt he knew enough moves to give it a shot. He had no idea he would win, beating out 15 other freestylers, to represent his country that same year in Argentina at the world competition. It was Ford’s first time traveling abroad, and he recalled it was a great feeling to know he accomplished it for himself. “All my hard work to reach that far, that was an excellent experience.” His mother accompanied him, and she has been very supportive of his freestyle career. “She just really loved it and want to see me do meh best in it.” The trip opened his eyes to the

world of freestyle football. It exposed him to the skills of his international competitors and people who made a living from the sport. He was the youngest at the competition that year. The rules remained unchanged from the local competition – one ball, two players and three minutes of freestyle battle. Competitors perform their tricks at 20-second intervals and then pass the ball off to the other player. They are judged on style, control and creativity. At the international leg, there is a preliminary round and then you progress to the top 16 automatic knockouts. Although Ford has never made it past the preliminary round, he is not dismayed. “It encouraged me to do better in the next competition, and every year to progress and do better than last year.” Ford returned for the local Red Bull competition for 2008, and took home the title again. In November 2008, the international competition was held in Brazil, five-time World Cup winners. Many of the previous country representatives returned and Ford was happy to be reunited with the friends he made the first time around. He recalled that the Brazilians were “very friendly” and loved football, and he even picked up some fans, the crowd cheering for whoever had the best tricks. In December 2009, Ford had his hat trick after winning the local competition yet again. He felt he deserved the win this time, as he put in the hard work and had stepped up his game. To remain on top of his game his fitness level has to be high, so he runs for stamina, stretches for flexibility and lifts weights for strength. He said there were about 60 freestyle moves and that the most difficult part for him was coming up with new aweinspiring moves. During the interview, he took the opportunity to do some tricks. He performed a number of moves, including a handstand into a knee stall, neck stall into a handstand, multiple around-the-worlds

(raising the ball and making a 360 with his foot), and rolling the ball around his arms like a basketball player. His face was the picture of focus and concentration, and you could almost see him mentally brushing himself off after he made a mistake, which were few. The boys from MILART and MIPART thoroughly enjoyed the show. While Ford lay on the ground doing sole juggles, one said “waaaay” and another “that look hard.” He also did freezes, head and shoulder stalls and included breakdance-type moves in his performance. The boys declared that Ford could play for English Premier League club Manchester United and called him “Messi” and “Ronaldo,” referring to striking stars Barcelona FC’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. This was a far cry from a few years ago, when his football skills were mocked. “‘I don’t know why this boy plays football,’” he recalled one friend commenting. But he used those discouraging comments as fuel to encourage himself. He was driven to prove them wrong. “I feel like I prove my point.” Now some of those friends are shocked by his skills while others still do not believe it is him. “Wait nuh, this is not the same guy that was so like so much crap in football and look how good he getting,” Ford quipped. He noted that in the past three years, freestyle football has “exploded” locally and more people were getting into it. Ford is pursuing a business management certificate at the School of Accounting and Management and then wants to get his accounting degree. He stressed that even if he took time off for his studies, freestyle football will always be a part of his life. “It built into me.” then wants to get his accounting degree. He stressed that even if he took time off for his studies, freestyle football will always be a part of his life. “It built into me.”