Why does the date of Easter change every year?
Why does the date of Easter change every year?
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th every year, in spite of disputes over the actual birth date of Jesus.
However, Easter varies signi cantly from year to year, despite evidence that Jesus Christ was, in fact, most likely cruci ed on a Friday in early April. In modern times, Easter Sunday, the celebration of his resurrection on the third day, can fall anywhere from March 22nd to April 25th.
But what determines the date of Easter?
History lovers will be interested to know that this question has been debated for much of the last two millennia. In the early church, Easter was celebrated on di erent days in di erent countries, often based on the celebration of the Jewish Passover, which occurred around the same time of year.
The date was bitterly disputed until the council of Nicaea in AD 325 decreed that the festival would be observed on the same day. The day eventually chosen was the Sunday following the rst ‘Paschal’ full moon after the spring equinox. The actual calculation is quite complex, as the spring equinox date di ers slightly from the actual equinox, and the Paschal full moon di ers slightly from the actual full moon.
The controversy did not end there. Although Western Christian churches adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, their Eastern counterparts continued to use the Julian calendar, meaning that churches such as
the Greek Orthodox celebrate Easter Sunday anywhere from April 4th to May 8th.
Many e orts have been made over the years to reduce the variation of the date of Easter. In 1928 in the U.K., an act of Parliament was actually passed, allowing for Easter Sunday to be xed on the rst Sunday after the second Saturday in April.
However, as the government deferred to the authority of the churches, this was never activated.
The Vatican, seat of power of the Catholic church, came out in favour of a xed date for Easter as long ago as 1963, approving a proposal in 1990.
In 2015 the current pope, Pope Francis, said that “we have to come to an agreement” about changing the date, at a meeting of priests from around the world.
In 2016, the then-Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, announced that he was working with other Christian
churches to agree on a xed date for Easter.
Statements in 2021 and 2025 by the Vatican and Orthodox churches stated the goal to achieve consensus by 2025, just in time for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, but thus far nothing has changed.
In sweet T&T, the land where we celebrate some sixteen public holidays a year, the dates of ve of these holidays are determined by Easter Sunday – Carnival Monday, Carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Corpus Christi. The date of Easter also determines the length of the second and third terms of the school year.
A more standardized date for Easter, for example, the Sunday after the second Saturday in April, would go a long way towards making the calendar year more orderly.
Sources: www.bbc.com/news, www.independent.co.uk, https://en.wikipedia.org, other
The Southerner is a community newspaper, distributed free of charge throughout residential areas in and around San Fernando, including Gopaul Lands, St. Joseph Village, Bay View, Bel Air, Bryan’s Gate, Coconut Drive, Gulf View, Palmiste.
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The Southerner
San Fernando Immigration Office closed until further notice
The week before Carnival, the Ministry of National Security announced that the Immigration O ce at #2 Knox Street, San Fernando, would be closed temporarily, with immediate e ect.
The Ministry said that the temporary closure was necessary to complete refurbishment works.
In addition to the 'Building closed until further notice' sign, another sign was placed to direct individuals seeking the Division's services to the Government Campus Plaza in Port of Spain. The Ministry of National Security also advised the public to use the Chaguanas and Point Fortin o ces.
Southbound highway lane partially opened in February
A segment of the long-awaited
road-widening project along the Sir Solomon Hochoy highway was opened for use, six months after the entire project was supposed to be done.
The relevant segment is the Brentwood acceleration lane to the Chase Village overpass. There is now a 100-metre transition zone near the Brentwood acceleration lane, as the highway goes from two lanes to three. These three lanes are maintained for the next two kilometres along the southbound lanes, ending about 400 metres before the Chase Village overpass.
The $65 million project to widen the highway between the Chaguanas overpass and Chase Village overpass was initially carded for completion in August 2024.
Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan said the deadline was not met after some materials used by one contractor, Junior Sammy Contractors Ltd, did not meet quality standards.
Sinanan said it would have been completed by the end of the year once the weather permitted. This new deadline was not met.
He said the new deadline to open the project was at the end of March.
While the road, which is the major artery for tra c between north and south Trinidad, remained open throughout the project, it left thousands of drivers in near stand-still tra c daily.
Many reported their commute times being almost doubled at one point.
Stalwart of Sando mas killed by music truck on Carnival Monday
76-year-old Selwyn Little, a longtime participant in San Fernando Carnival, su ered a tragic death when he was crushed beneath the wheels of a music truck and trailer on Carnival Monday.
Little, a masquerader and ag bearer for the band Jammerz, was walking to the left of a 40-foot music truck along Cipero Street, near Santa Monica Supplies Ltd, when his clothes became caught on the trailer, according to a police report.
The police report said that o cers observed the brake line was not attached to the trailer. The music truck and trailer were taken to the San Fernando Police Station.
San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris extended condolences to the loved ones of Little, who was well-known in San Fernando.
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw o the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
The Home Store and Excellent Stores close their C3 branches
Two popular household goods retailers, The Home Store and Excellent Stores, closed their branches at the C3 Centre, San Fernando, in late December.
The Home Store announced in a social media post on December 29 that it closed both its C3 Centre and Westmall branches.
The Home Store falls under the umbrella company LJ Williams, which reported losses in Trinidad and Tobago for 2024. The chairman of LJ Williams stated that “the company is in the process of restructuring The Home Store to reduce costs, with the expectation that the Group will be in a pro table position by the end of nancial year 2025.” The Home Store was one of the rst stores to be opened at C3 Centre, back in 2016.
On Christmas Eve, ve days before the announcement by the The Home Store, Excellent Stores announced that it would be closing its C3 Centre branch to relocate to SouthPark Mall, Tarouba Link Road, San Fernando.
The company posted to Facebook, “After many wonderful years at C3 Centre, our branch will be relocating on December 31, 2024. Although we must say farewell… it’s a necessary step as we prepare for our next exciting chapter.”
Viewpoints
taxi is so essential in the lives of travelling employees.
Rethink water taxi sailings
Water taxi service needs to be better
The Ministry of Works and Transport via NIDCO (National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd) has under its purview the water taxi service. This service consists of four vessels, namely Paria Bullet, Carnival Runner, Trini Flash and Calypso Sprinter.
These vessels are an essential mode of transportation for passengers who commute from south to north and vice versa daily. As such I am concerned that the Paria Bullet and Carnival Runner are stationary vessels growing barnacles and collecting moss at the San Fernando terminal.
Meanwhile, the service of the Trini Flash and Calypso Sprinter are consistently 10-15 minutes late on every morning sailing from San Fernando to Port of Spain. No one knows why. All sta and passengers are there waiting, yet the vessels begin boarding only 15 minutes prior to departure.
Needless to say, the duration of the journey on the Calypso Sprinter averages 45 minutes while on the Trini Flash it is an hour long. Both vessels are always lled to capacity and commuters are sometimes left behind.
My concern is why is all this hustle and bustle necessary when there are two vessels that are unused?
Can the Government take the focus o of the coat of arms and x the vessels and have them functional? I have seen broken windows on both vessels and plywood covering the windows. Is something wrong with the engines as well?
This wasted capacity in terms of assets growing moss in the sea is unacceptable to citizens who pay tax daily.
The capacity of the working vessels are 403 passengers maximum. The cost of a one-way ticket is $15. Four full sails amount to an average of $24,000 daily, and $120,000 weekly that the government is receiving in sure revenue from this service at minimum. The two other sailings carry an average of 200 passengers in the “o -peak” hours of the day.
Considering that citizens are so dedicated to their jobs that they leave their homes in the deep south in the wee hours of the morning to head to the capital city to engage in business activities that keep the economy running, can the vessels at least sail on time? Can the frequency of sailings be increased?
Can the government at least consider using the revenue to x the defective vessels instead of having them depreciate in the weather?
Can the government simply prioritise transport on our island instead of the coat of arms? Buses and taxis are stuck in hours of tra c daily on the highways (due to roadworks and bottlenecks), which is why the water
Please render us some consideration. Please reinvest some of the revenue into improving the e ciency of the service so that we can all continue to contribute to the greater good of our little island.
Darius E Jaimungal
(Newsday 24/01/25)
N.B In response to this letter, National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco) chairman Herbert George defended the Water Taxi Service. Asked about the operations of the Carnival Runner and Paria Bullet vessels (two of four vessels designated to the service), George said one had been out of service to facilitate compulsory servicing, and the other had been out of operation since 2015.
George said that the remaining two vessels were working and that Nidco had not had any issues with their timeliness. Acquiring more vessels or increasing sails, he said, were not economical solutions, as passengers only frequented the service during its peak hours.
The response from George prompted the two letters below.
Water taxi sailings never on time
I wish to address the comments of Nidco chairman Herbert George in an article titled “Nidco defends water taxi service”, published on January 28 in the Express.
The chairman does not use the water taxi service, yet he is sitting in his high o ce and making comments which are untrue.
As a daily user of the water taxi service, I can say with 100% certainty that these sailings are never on time. Even this morning (January 28), the 6.30 a.m. boat did not leave at that time. Passengers come strolling in at 6.33 a.m. looking for seats on a daily basis.
On the afternoon sailing, it’s no di erent. The 4.45 p.m. boat never leaves at 4.45 p.m. Hundreds of daily commuters can con rm what I am saying here. The 4.45 p.m. sailing leaves closer to 5 p.m., every single day.
So that statement made by Mr George, “...but to say it is untimely is at best inaccurate”, is wholly inaccurate.
Perhaps Mr George should take some of these sailings before making absurd comments in the newspapers and defending a service that is never on time.
Jenieve Alexander San Fernando (Express,
29/01/25)
National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) chairman Herbert George’s update on the status of the two inactive vessels in the water taxi eet is welcomed. Kudos to the Express newspaper for seeking accountability. He, however, needs to be less cavalier with his clients, the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
As quoted in the Express of January 28, when addressing questions on the concerns raised regarding xing the Carnival Runner vessel, which has been out of service since 2015, his words were, “I do not care to be involved in that sort of nonsense...that is not genuine. I do not care to be involved with that. I did not get involved with the old talk at all.”
I understand his concern, but his remarks aren’t becoming for someone of his stature. Anyone who boards the water taxi regularly and sees the poor condition of the Carnival Runner parked up on the jetty will know that it is only useful for spare parts and scrap steel now. Unfortunately, he is being insensitively dismissive since the letter writer he is castigating is only familiar with the service through his wife and may have never seen the vessel.
There needs to be another vessel leaving from San Fernando in the 6.30 to 8.30 a.m. period, because - as Mr George correctly states - the bulk of the tra c is before 9 a.m.
If the 8.30 sailing from San Fernando, which only sails at half or a quarter full, could be moved to 7.30 a.m. (a sailing which once existed), that sailing would leave at capacity. Such a shift is only possible with a third boat, due to the return time for the 6 a.m. and 6.30 a.m. sailings from San Fernando.
The real question, then is why is it taking so long for the Paria Bullet to obtain a berth for servicing? It has been longer than a year.
Why is it that letter writers from South are being insulted by a public o cial for complaining about an essential transportation service, while the Prime Minister has to personally get involved when the vessels to Tobago experience an issue?
Together with the unacceptable situation on the highway, it’s adding to a general resentment over how serious issues in South are being dismissed.
It is not too late, however. I recommend, as damage control, a comprehensive statement by the Nidco Communications Department, which should have approved that public statement by the chairman.
And by the way, I take the 4.45 p.m. sailing, and it almost never leaves on time. The morning sailings usually leave ve minutes late.
Tristan Trent San Fernando (Express, 31/01/25)
Know your MP
With elections coming up on April 28th, let’s take a look at the current Members of Parliament in southern Trinidad.
Pointe-a-Pierre: David Lee (UNC)
San Fernando West: Faris Al-Rawi (PNM)
Born in San Fernando in 1971 (age: 53), Al-Rawi is the son of Husam Al-Rawi and Diane Seukeran. His father is Iraqi Arab, while his mother, an Indo-Trinidadian, also represented the San Fernando West constituency in Parliament. His grandfather, Lionel Seukeran, served in Parliament as a member of the Democratic Labour Party, a former opposing party of the People's National Movement and predecessor to the United National Congress.
United States to further his education in
of a large international shipping
The eldest of two siblings, David Lee was born and raised in a Roman Catholic home with parental roots in San Fernando. Lee attended St Mary’s College (CIC) and then moved to the United States to further his education in Finance and Accounting. Upon returning to Trinidad, David worked at Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago for 15 years and then as CEO of a large international shipping conglomerate.
From 2010 to 2015 he served as the Chairman of the MIC Institute of Technology, playing a key role in expanding technical and vocational skills training across Trinidad and Tobago. He rst entered Parliament as the representative for Pointe-a-Pierre in the 11th Republican Parliament (2015). He was re-elected in 2020.
playing a key role in expanding technical and vocational skills training across representative
Naparima: Rodney Charles (UNC)
Mr. Al-Rawi is a lawyer by trade, being admitted to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago in 1996. He has been involved in the politics of T&T since 1995 and has served in multiple capacities, including as an Alderman of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation. He rst entered Parliament in June 2010 as an Opposition Senator. In 2015, following the PNM’s victory in the General Election, he became Attorney General and Minister of Legal A airs, as well as the MP for San Fernando West.
father the San Fernando West constituency in in again
He won re-election in 2020, and was again appointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal A airs. However, he was removed from this portfolio in 2022, and became Minister of Rural Development and Local Government.
San Fernando East: Brian Manning (PNM)
Minister Patrick Manning and former education
Brian Manning is the son of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning and former education and local government minister Hazel Manning. His father Patrick Manning was MP for San Fernando East from 1971-2015. However, Brian’s election as MP for San Fernando East in 2020 was his rst formal foray into politics.
Before entering politics, Manning worked in the elds of economics, nance, and data science.
Mr. Charles holds a master’s degree in journalism, as well as bachelor’s degrees in journalism and geography, all from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
journalism and geography, all from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
Prior to entering politics, his jobs included Manager, Retail Marketing for National Petroleum; communications consultant to United States-based political consultant James Carville; lecturer and later chair of the English and Communications Department at COSTAAT; and marketing and public relations consultant to the Saint Lucia Labour Party and that country’s United Workers Party. He has also served as Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United Nations and as Public Relations O cer of the United National Congress.
Relations O cer of the United National Congress.
Charles rst entered Parliament as the representative for Naparima in 2015. He was re-elected in 2020. However, he will not be seeking re-election in 2025.
Oropouche West: Davendranath Tancoo (UNC)
Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector as a project manager as well as
Tancoo holds a bachelor’s degree in economics as well as being a quali ed attorney at law. Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector as a project manager as well as an executive director.
Tancoo has served as General Secretary of the UNC since 2010. He rst entered Parliament in 2020.
Tancoo has served as General Secretary of the UNC since 2010. He rst entered Parliament in 2020.
Oropouche East: Dr. Roodal Moonilal (UNC)
Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, an LLB degree in law from the University of London, a Master of
Government of the Netherlands Institute of Social Studies.
Born in 1966 (age:58), Moonilal received a B.Sc. in Government from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, an LLB degree in law from the University of London, a Master of Arts Degree in Labour and Development and a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the Government of the Netherlands Institute of Social Studies.
Before entering politics full-time, Dr. Moonilal worked as a tutor and lecturer at both UWI and the Institute of Social Studies, Holland; was an advisor at the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATS/GWTU); and was an Industrial Relations Consultant/Advisor to the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA). In 1999, he was Director, Policy Monitoring Unit, O ce of the Prime Minister, during the Panday administration.
A member of Parliament since 2001, Moonilal was rst appointed as a Government Senator and was later elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, as MP for Oropouche. He has been MP for Oropouche East since 2010.
Government Senator and was later elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, as MP for Oropouche. He has been MP for Oropouche East since 2010.
DISCIPLINE, PRODUCTION & TOLERANCE
NATIONAL WATCHWORDS - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Moonilal
Pannist Joshua Regrello plays for 30 hours
Joshua Regrello, well-known pannist and son of former San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello, set a Guiness World Record (still pending approval) for playing pan for 30 hours in late December.
Regrello began the challenge – Longest Marathon For Playing Steelpan – at 6am on Friday 27th December, and nished at 12:30pm on Saturday 28th December.
Along the way he was accompanied and encouraged by several of his friends and entertainers including Rome, Violinist ‘Mr Strings’, Soca Artist ‘Voice’ and DJ Ultra Simmo.
Regrello had to stop for a mandatory 30-minute break as prescribed by the record company. Still, with this aside, he played non-stop for the duration of the period and was seen using one hand to continue his music while he grabbed a quick bite or a drink of water.
He also gathered the support and won the admiration of thousands of citizens throughout the journey and received accolades from the government including the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service.
Regrello and his team submitted documentation of his feat to the Guiness World Records team in late January.
Joshua Regrello
World Waterfowl Day
Karissa Shezara Ali, Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust Educator
January 17th, 2025 was the inaugural celebration of World Waterfowl Day. This special day is dedicated to raising awareness about the beauty, diversity, and ecological importance of waterfowl. In addition, it honours the memory of the late Mike Lubbock.
World Waterfowl Day emerged from a growing need to protect these species and their habitats. It was inspired by Mike Lubbock who was a ectionately known to many as the “Waterfowl Man.” Mike was Executive Director of Sylvan Heights Bird Park and Founder of Sylvan Heights Avian Breeding Centre, organizations dedicated to the survival of the world’s waterfowl species. His landmark work resulted
in his being awarded 17 World First Breeding Awards and 15 awards for rst breeding in North America - an unsurpassed accomplishment. Most importantly, his primary focus was to assure the survival of those species that are disappearing both in the wild and within managed collections around the world. Several prominent naturalists credit the survival of a number of species (which would otherwise be extinct today) to his dedicated e orts and those of the sta at Sylvan Heights.
Some of the challenges waterfowl face are habitat loss due to urbanization, pollution, climate change, and overhunting. Their protection is paramount as the health of these species are key indicators of environmental health.
The presence, or absence, of waterfowl - a term referring to duck, geese, and swan species - can signal the state of wetlands and waterways, which are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. These birds are more than just picturesque additions to our landscapes. They contribute to biodiversity by dispersing seeds, controlling insect populations, and serving as prey for larger predators.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some ducks sleep with one eye open... – They do this to stay alert for predators, certain ducks can shut down half of their brain while keeping one eye open.
For centuries, they have inspired art, folklore, and even sustainable hunting practices in many cultures. Some species, like the Canada goose, travel thousands of miles during their annual migrations, relying on ancestral yways to navigate. Waterfowl feathers are coated with natural oils keeping them dry even after hours of swimming and allowing them to take ight from the water. Many waterfowl form lifelong pair bonds and communicate with an array of honks, quacks, and whistles.
The day serves as both a celebration of these birds' resilience and a call to action to safeguard their future.
(Information used from Collection of Occasional Papers, written by PaP WildfowlTrust President, Molly R Gaskin)
Fulvous Whistling Ducks and ducklings
The late Mike Lubbock, a.k.a the “Waterfowl Man”
Trinidad Soroptimists Create Cancer Awareness in Women
In a concerted e ort to address the signi cant public health challenges posed by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the Soroptimist International National Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SITT) launched its Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign under the theme “Let’s Be HPV Heroes. End Cervical Cancer. Get Vaccinated.” This initiative coincided with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and the global Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.
Cervical cancer remains the third most common cancer among women in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, despite being one of the most preventable. The HPV vaccine, proven safe and e ective, can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers when administered at the recommended ages. SI Trinidad and Tobago aims to contribute to the WHO's international goal of eliminating cervical cancer by increasing vaccination rates. Countries with high HPV vaccination rates, such as Australia and the UK, have seen dramatic reductions in HPV infections and cervical and related cancer rates. Trinidad and Tobago, where vaccination rates currently stand at approximately only 12%, needs signi cant progress.
This ongoing campaign seeks to increase awareness about the HPV vaccine, a critical tool in preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers, and to promote vaccination among girls and boys aged 9 to 26 years. As part of the campaign, there were interviews on all the major radio and television stations, with articles and interviews in the three main newspapers. The Soroptimists appreciate their support and the opportunity to advocate for a positive change of attitude in the community.
In addition to traditional media, social media is being extensively used. Posts are regularly displayed on the Facebook pages of the seven clubs, and on the Soroptimist International of Trinidad and Tobago page, which is managed by the National Association, their umbrella organisation. Posts are also being displayed on clubs' Instagram accounts.
An engaging children’s graphic comic book titled HPV Heroes: Defenders of the Future was designed and printed by the Soroptimists. It targets young people, addressing common questions regarding the vaccine’s safety, e ectiveness, and bene ts while debunking persistent myths. It was launched at NALIS, and distributed to their branches. Copies are being sent to doctors' o ces and school libraries. It is also available as a ipbook on clubs' Facebook pages.
Moving forward, Soroptimists are speaking to School PTAs, helping parents to understand the bene ts of having their children receive the vaccine, which is free of charge in Health Centres. Clubs would be happy to receive invitations to address parents.
Complementing this HPV vaccination initiative, Soroptimist International Esperance conducted two community-based cancer screening and awareness events. In October last year, a Cervical and Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening afternoon was hosted at St. John’s Open Bible Church in St. John’s Village as part of the Club’s Women’s Wellness initiative. The event featured a presentation by Esperance Soroptimist Dr. Shalini Gopeesingh, a family medical practitioner, who underscored the importance of a healthy lifestyle and regular screening in the prevention and early detection of both cervical and breast cancers. In partnership with the Cancer Society of Trinidad and Tobago, on-site breast examinations and cervical Pap smears were provided to 30 women, sponsored by the club. Participants commented on the clarity and practicality of the information presented.
From its inception, SI Esperance has created awareness of issues related to breast cancer every October through social and print media. Further reinforcing these e orts, members attended a screening session at Pink Hibiscus Breast Health Specialists in Woodbrook. The session provided recommended diagnostic practices such as breast ultrasounds for women under 40, and combined mammogram and ultrasound examinations for those 40 and over. It underscored the importance of monthly self-examinations in detecting early changes in breast tissue. A breast cancer survivor’s personal account during the event provided additional emphasis on the bene ts of early detection and intervention.
Collectively, these initiatives represent a coordinated, multi-faceted approach to cancer prevention in women across Trinidad and Tobago. Through education, community engagement, and the promotion of early intervention strategies, Soroptimist clubs are actively working to reduce the incidence of cervical and breast cancers and improve long-term health outcomes for the nation. Soroptimists in Trinidad and Tobago invite everyone to join the movement and become HPV Heroes. Whether by ensuring our children are vaccinated, encouraging family and friends to be screened or sharing educational materials, we can all play a part in the ght to end cervical and breast cancer in Trinidad and Tobago.
HPV Heroes: Defenders of the Future
was designed and printed by the
to help children to understand the necessity of receiving the HPV vaccine.
What is the HPV vaccine?
HPV vaccines can help protect children and young adults from some HPV infections. These vaccines are used to prevent some types of cancer that can result from an HPV infection.
What does the HPV vaccine do?
Giving the vaccine to boys and girls can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers when they get older.
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
HPV vaccines have been used since 2006. HPV vaccines went through extensive safety testing before becoming available. Hundreds of million doses of the HPV vaccine have been given worldwide.
How long does the HPV vaccine last?
When a child gets the HPV vaccine, their body makes proteins called antibodies. Antibodies provide protection against the virus when a person is exposed to HPV. The antibodies give strong and long-lasting protection.
Members and potential members of Soroptimist International Esperance at the Cervical and Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening afternoon at St. John’s Open Bible Church in St. John’s Village.
The
comic
Soroptimists
South win Under-15 cricket classic by 63 runs
A ve-wicket haul and man of the match performance from North’s Sanjiv Bachu was not enough, as South emerged victorious by 63 runs over their opponents in the North/South Under-15 Classic, played at the National Cricket Centre in Couva on March 7.
North’s captain Kaiden Pollard won the toss and chose to eld rst. South were bowled out for 165 in 37.4 overs.
Jayden Sadaphal top scored with 30 runs.
His 41-ball stay at the crease included ve fours.
He was well supported by opener Jordan Julien who made 25 and Joshua Joseph who made 19.
Bachu was the chief destroyer of South’s innings, as he took ve wickets for 24 runs in 7.4 overs. In support, Brandon Ramdoo and Samir Boodoo took two wickets each.
In reply, North’s top order crumbled. They
were 26/6 after 9.5 overs.
Skipper Pollard walked in and restored some hope. He and Larell Guiseppi put on a 39-run partnership, taking the team from 26 to 65 runs, before Pollard was out, caught. Guiseppi top scored with 24, while Pollard made 23.
Giovanni McKnight took three wickets for ten runs in ve overs. He was well supported by Samuel Stewart and Reyad Jerome who took two wickets each.
At the end of the match Bachu was awarded the man of the match and best bowler, while Sadaphal was the best batsman.
South’s captain Zion Phillip was the best eldsman in the game.
(Source: Article by Enrique Rupert, Trinidad & Tobago Newsday, 8/3/25)
Pres' San Fernando defending SSCL Intercol T20 title
At press time, PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League Intercol T20 champions Presentation College San Fernando were set to defend their title, with round of 16 matches bowling o on March 25.
Naps boys win big at Junior Badminton tournament
In March, three students from Naparima College performed brilliantly at the National Junior Badminton Tournament.
Liam Persad took gold in the Under 15 Boys' Singles and Doubles.
Nicholi Jebodsingh won three medals: gold in the Under 17 Boys' Singles, silver in the Under 17 Boys' Doubles, and bronze in the Under 17 Mixed Doubles.
Josh Jebodsingh took home bronze in the Under 19 Boys' Doubles.
Temporary Closure of the
San Fernando
North Community Library
The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) advises the public that its San Fernando North Community Library, located at San Fernando North Community Centre, St Vincent Street, will be temporarily closed from March 21 – May 9, 2025.
This closure is due to the community centre being used to facilitate preparations for the upcoming general election.
Patrons can utilize any other library in the NALIS network, as well as online services via the Libby App or the NALIS website at www.nalis.gov.tt.
Public Iftar at Gulf City Mall
On Saturday 22nd March, at 5:00 pm, the Caribbean Dawah Association held T&T’s only public “Iftar”, which means the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Association invited the public to witness - and join - the communal breaking of the fast, central to the Islamic month of Ramadan.
The event included a brief Islamic message, free Qur’ans, educational material and meals distributed to the public. While the association had hosted an Islamic exhibition at the mall throughout the week, the Iftar marked a moment of cultural and spiritual sharing. Visitors were encouraged to observe and take part in the evening ritual that ends a day of fasting.
Siddeeq Shakoor, team leader of the Caribbean Dawah Association’s outreach group, said the group also used the opportunity to o er prayers for those su ering both locally and abroad.
The Caribbean Dawah Association hoped the event would not only deepen understanding of Islam but also foster unity across communities during a time of spiritual re ection.
