London Mission Newsletter volume 26 (April 2007)

April 2007

Volume 26

www.tthighcommission.co.uk

Inside this Issue Trinidad and Tobago outperforms Asian Tigers

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Form the Office of the Prime Minister

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Eric Williams: A Profile in Leadership

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Our Legend: Brian Charles Lara

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Nationals watch as Sunderland advance

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Baptists celebrate holiday in the United Kingdom

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Death of a Cultural Icon

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The complete guide to Tobago

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E-mail the Editor at: tthc.information @btconnect.com

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er Excellency Glenda Morean Phillip, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Kingdom, headed the Trinidad and Tobago delegation that attended the African UnionCaribbean Diaspora Conference in London, United Kingdom, from April 23rd – 25th, 2007.

The theme of the Conference was “Towards Unity and United Action of Africans and the African Diaspora for a Better World”.

The main objectives of the Conference, which was sponsored by the Government of South Africa and which was a follow-up to the South Africa-African Union-Caribbean Diaspora Conference held in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2005, and a project to mark 200 years since the signing of the Anti -Slavery Act, were to debate issues of commonality between the two regions and formulate concrete proposals to strengthen the Africa-Caribbean networks on major international issues.

Her Excellency Glenda Morean Philliip (fourth from left) with Her Excellency Dr. Lindiwe Mabuza, High Commissioner for South Africa (far right), Prof. Mullard, Dean of Caribbean Diplomatic Corps, Mr. L. Singh, and other Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Latin America and the Caribbean listen attentively as Professor Ryan (not pictured) delivers his address to the conference.

The Event featured key note speakers and government and academic personalities from the two regions. Professor Selwyn Ryan was one of the keynote speakers and Professor Rhoda Reddock was one of the panellists who dealt with Gender Equality/ Empowerment. The High Commissioner chaired a panel discussion on a number of pertinent topics.

The London Conference was one of six regional conferences that have been scheduled to take place in preparation for the Africa and African Diaspora Con-

ference which will be held at the level of Heads of State and Government in South Africa in 2008.

Other regional preparatory Conferences are to be held in Nassau, Brasilia, Brussels, Johannesburg and Washington.

An Action Plan will be produced from each Conference and will be incorporated into a composite document for the major interregional Diaspora Conference which is scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2008.

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LONDON MISSION

Britons love Tobago land...but Trinbagonians dominate market

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ontrary to reports in recent times, more citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are purchasing land in Tobago than foreigners.

In the April 26, 2007, edition of the Trinidad Guardian, the owner of real estate agency, Caribbean Estates, Ms. Natalie Mahabir, was quoted as say-

ing, “Over the last eight years, at least sixty-five percent and up to seventy percent of land sales are to Trinidadians, either for investment, holiday homes or retirement. Some are developers.” Ms. Mahabir estimated that land transactions for foreigners represented between fifteen and eighteen percent of the business for real estate agents in Tobago.

A study done by a committee of tourism stakeholders in Tobago over a fifteen year period (1990-2005), showed that of those foreign investments, English investors purchased

the most land, followed by Germans and North Americans respectively.

In February this year, then acting Minster of Finance, Sen. The Hon. Conrad Enill, signed an order under the Foreign Investment Act 1990, which stated that a foreign investor must first obtain a licence before acquiring any land in Tobago.

Prior to February 14, the act allowed foreigners, including individuals and companies, to purchase up to one acre of land for residential purposes and up to five acres for commercial purposes.

Trinidad & Tobago outperforms Asian Tigers

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he Honourable Kenneth Valley, Minister of Trade and Industry, disclosed on The Honourable April 17, 2007 at Kenneth Valley the American Chamber of Commerce’s annual general meeting at Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, that Trinidad and Tobago’s economic performance far surpassed those of two of Asia’s economic superpowers, China and India, in 2006.

The Minister also said this country will look to the East, Latin America and Canada to strengthen its trade relations as the possibility of forging a bilateral agreement with the United States remains “a highly political issue.”

He said while China and India recorded respective gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates of 10.9 and nine percent last year, Trinidad and Tobago underscored its strength as “the Caribbean Tiger” by recording GDP growth of 12 percent in 2006.

According to the Honourable Minister, while the Chinese and Indian economies were not as open as Trinidad and Tobago’s, they provided excellent sources of capital equipment and raw materials which were essential for Government’s efforts to strengthen the non-energy sector as the country’s energy assets decline over time. Minister Valley further disclosed that an agreement with China was signed, aimed at giving Trinidad and Tobago Approved Destination Status (ADS) for Chinese tourists. He added that Tobago

House of Assembly Finance Secretary, Dr. Anselm London is leading the initiative for another ADS with India.

The Minister announced that Trinidad and Tobago will soon establish this country’s first embassy in China and is expected to participate in the China International Trade Fair and Annual Canton Trade Fair in September and October. He said that Trinidad and Tobago and China will negotiate an air transportation agreement this year and pursue a programme to cooperate in the field of agriculture.

Minister Valley added that China and South Korea will be sending trade missions to participate in next month’s (May) TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA’s) 2007 Convention.

Inflation drops to 8% in March The Central Statistical Office released data recently which showed that the headline inflation rate dropped to 8.0 percent in March, falling from 8.4 percent in February.

This is the fifth consecutive month of decline since the rate peaked at 10 percent in October 2006.

Core inflation nudged downwards to 4.2 percent in March (year-on-year) from 4.5 percent in February.

Contributing to the fall in core inflation were marginal declines in the prices of clothing, footwear and pharmaceutical products.

LONDON MISSION

Above: The Honourable Prime Minister Patrick Manning meets with head of the US Congressional Sub-Committee on the Western Hemisphere, Mr. Eliot Engel at Whitehall on April 16th 2007.

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Above: Sri Swamiji Ganapathy Sachchidananda from Datta Peetham Ashram, India pays a courtesy call on the Honourable Prime Minister (24th April 2007).

El Salvador pledges support to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago "Trinidad and Tobago has proven itself to be a leader in the region," according to His Excellency Francisco Lainez, Minister of Foreign Affairs for El Salvador.

The Minister made the statement as an official delegation from El Salvador visited Prime Minister Patrick Manning at his Whitehall offices on April 10, 2007.

Minister Lainez who also spoke on behalf of the members of El Salvador's business community that formed part of the delegation, indicated that, “the business community of Trinidad and Tobago had exhibited superb levels of professionalism,” in their dealings with their El Salvadorian counterparts and that they had enjoyed working with them tremendously. The Honourable Patrick Manning attributed the conduct of the business community and citizens of this country to the high level of education that the people of Trinidad and Tobago enjoyed. He indicated that it was with pride that the country now boasted

of having 34 % participation in tertiary education and aimed to have 60% enjoying the benefits of tertiary education by 2015.

The Foreign Minister also expressed the Government of El Salvador’s desire to offer its full co-operation to Trinidad and Tobago in continuing moves towards Caribbean Integration, in the form of CARICOM and the CSME, adding that Trinidad and Tobago was seen amongst its peers in the region as being the leader in this drive.

The Government of El Salvador also offered to Trinidad and Tobago its support in combating the problem of kidnappings. Acknowledging that it had nothing to teach, but much to share, Minister Lainez told Prime Minister Manning that El Salvador had enjoyed a 100 % success rate in combating kidnappings. He said that his Government had formed a committee, which pooled the resources of both the Government and the country’s Chambers of Commerce,

and suggested that Trinidad and Tobago might benefit from employing a similar strategy. He offered full state to state co-operation in this matter and indicated that El Salvador was happy to provide access to the resources necessary to implement this strategy. The Prime Minister said that he supported this initiative and indicated that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago welcomed consultation on this matter.

The Prime Minister thanked Minister Lainez for his offer of support and said that he hoped that the two countries would continue to enjoy fruitful and warm diplomatic relations in the future. Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sen. the Honourable Arnold Piggott accompanied the delegates. The delegation also included El Salvadorian Ambassador responsible for Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Carlos Pineda Cruz.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Trinidad & Tobago

S Sen. the Honourable Arnold Piggott, Minister of Foreign Affairs

ince the fatal shootings at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia on Monday April 16, 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been in continuous contact with the Embassy of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Washington D.C., to ascertain whether there were nationals in need of assistance.

To date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any reports of injuries to Trinidad and Tobago nationals who may be students at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The International Affairs Division of Virginia Tech assured the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago that all international students had been requested to contact their respective Embassies. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator the Honourable Arnold Piggott, extended his condolences and prayers to the family, friends, teachers, loved ones and the student and academic Community of the Virginia Tech University.

His message to Trinidad and Tobago students abroad, wherever they are, in whatever environment, is that they must be alert, eternally vigilant, be cautious, and take some responsibility to protect themselves at all times.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a new Permanent Secretary

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Ms. Edwina Leacock Permanent Secretary

s one of the more senior members of the Trinidad and Tobago Public Service, Ms. Edwina Leacock was first made an Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance in 1992, with responsibility for the monitoring and management of a substantial portfolio of stateowned enterprises spread across all sectors of the economy. During this time, Ms.

Leacock oversaw the largest divestment programme in the history of the country.

Afterwards, she led the Ministry of Agriculture for two years before assuming the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which she occupied for twelve years. In this position, Ms. Leacock managed the country’s rapidly evolving

international trade strategy and the thrust for industrial diversification and international competitiveness. Most recently, she was a key figure in the Ministry’s recent trade ventures to Europe and Asia.

Ms. Leacock assumed her duties as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 26, 2007.

Dr. Saith hands over chairmanship of GECF after successful term

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rinidad and Tobago presided over a successful term as Chairman of the Gas Exporting Senator the Hon. Dr. Lenny Saith Countries Forum (GECF) for the period 2005 – 2006. This was disclosed at a meeting of the GECF held on April 9th when Sen. the Hon. Dr. Lenny Saith, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, handed over the Chairmanship to Qatar.

During his delivery of one of the keynote addresses, Dr. Saith noted that the achievements of the GECF were ongoing. He recapped that three executive bureau and experts meetings were held during Trinidad and Tobago’s term of office.

Qatar’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry , Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, also pointed to the importance of finding solutions to the challenges faced on the global energy front, one of them being a labour shortage.

He further stated that during the three executive bureau and experts meetings, “we continued the work towards the establishment of the Liaison Office and addressed the financing, terms of reference and costs of the gas supply and demand model, currently being developed by Algeria.

Dr. Saith was also quoted in the Financial Times when he stated that the key issue was how the gas producers - and the GECF – adapted to rising product costs and changing energy market.

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Eric Williams: A Profile in Leadership

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n Tuesday April 17, 2007, the Greater London Authority (Mayor of London) and the High Commission co-hosted the twin occasion of the launch of the Dr. Eric E. Williams Memorial Lecture Series entitled “Eric Williams: A Profile in Leadership” and the Commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The event was held at City Hall, London.

The evening turned out to be very successful. Over two hundred and fifty persons (250) attended, including members of the House of Lords, members of the diplomatic corps and academicians.

Professor Colin Palmer, Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University, delivered the feature address. He spoke about the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Dr. Williams’ historiography, his political nationalism and the Federation idea. He pointed out that Dr. Williams was one of the first scholars to make the link between the economics and profits of slavery and its abolition; that the humanitarianism of the 18th the 19th centuries was neither the only factor in its abolition nor even the most compelling one.

Professor Colin Palmer delivered the feature address.

On another issue that has been gaining further attention, Reparations, Professor Palmer rejected the idea of a cash payment to the descendants of slavery. Reparations, he said, should take the form of greater educational opportunities to help in nation and capacity-building and better access to markets for goods produced by developing nations.

Moving to Dr. Williams as a political nationalist from his days as Chief Minister to Premier to the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor Palmer stated that Dr. Williams was a consummate politician who used his academic training to rally the people of Trinidad and Tobago to independence. Nowhere was there greater evidence of this than with his demand to the United States for the return of Chaguaramas to the people. Dr. Williams’ eloquence, he noted, was easily conveyed so that all could understand his message.

To the Greater London Authority, the Comemoration of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Dr. Eric Williams Lecture Series launched.

Transatlantic Slave Trade was its main focus. Their objective was to highlight the significant benefit that accrued to the city of London as a consequence of the slave trade. It is in this regard that Dr. Williams’ thesis contained in “Capitalism and Slavery”, would form the basis for future lectures organized by the Mayor’s Office. Mr. Lee Jasper, the Chair, spoke at some length on the evils of slavery and its lasting impact on the descendants of slaves.

The event was both educational and inspiring. The Question and Answer period that followed Professor Palmer’s presentation only revealed that Dr. Williams’ thesis on slavery and the slave trade, and his nationalism, still have great resonance to the old and the young. Left to run its course without the intervention of the Chair, this session would have taken the evening into very late hours. A video stream of the event can be found on www.london.gov.uk/slavery/whatson.jsp.

Mrs. Erica Williams-Connell and Jamaican High Commissioner, His Excellency Burchell Whiteman, enjoying Professor Palmer’s address.

Present also was Mrs. Erica Williams-Connell, daughter of the late Dr. Eric Williams, a major driving force behind the evening’s proceedings. She left for South Africa immediately after the conference to receive an award from the South African Government on behalf of her father. She received a well-deserved round of applause from the audience for her tireless work in preserving her father’s voluminous works, The Eric Williams Memorial Collection, which is lodged at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.

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Trinidad & Tobago Diplomats attend Caribbean Britain Business Council seminar on Crime and Security in the Caribbean

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n March 21, 2007, the Caribbean Britain Business Council (CBBC) hosted its inaugural seminar on “Crime and Security in the Caribbean” at Canning House, London. According to the notification from CBBC, the seminar would address crime and security issues and related concerns of the UK companies and investors doing, or considering doing, business in the Caribbean. It covered issues such as gun crime, incidence of kidnapping, and crime relating to the trafficking of narcotics.

The presentations were made by Mr. Andrew Allen, Head of Caribbean, Mexico, and Central American Team and Ms. Jo Harrison, Head of the Drugs Section, both of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Attending from the High Commission were Mr. Ashton Ford, Public Affairs, Tourism and Culture Attaché, Mr. Nirmal Bhaggan, Immigration Attaché (pictured below) and Mr. Colin Connelly, First Secretary. There was also rep-

resentation from the Tobago House of Assembly by Mr. Anslem Richards and Ms. Sandra Hendrickson.

On a regional level, Mr. Allen made the point that there was on-going cooperation between the UK and Caribbean governments on crime and security. He remarked on the fact that security was a major agenda item when Caribbean Heads of Government meet.

Moreover, he also said that the initiatives coming out of the Caribbean were regional ones and not those of individual states. An example of such a response was the approach to security with the Cricket World Cup; he expressed the hope that this positive response would be one of the lasting legacies for the Region.

Mr. Allen mentioned that crime was part of the UK’s overall agenda for the Caribbean. He also added that the UK Government was actively involved in a Security Cooperation Plan emanating from the Region; this Plan addressed issues such as training, maritime security and border security.

Ms. Jo Harrison spoke briefly about the UK’s policy on international drugs and crime and her Department’s response to these issues.

That response was part of its foreign policy and approach to good governance. She saw capacity building as an integral response to the problems facing the Region.

The UK’s response also focussed on disrupting supply to Britain, adopting a regional approach to problemsolving, project funding and coordination of policies; overall, Ms. Harrison saw the need for the Region to be more responsive and adaptive.

In the question/answer period, the audience raised salient points about the UK authorities not sharing information on deportees returning to the Caribbean where they could continue their activities; the influence of the media to colour and inflame issues; economic policies which dramatically affected commodity producers of bananas and sugar; the need to address the demand side of the drug trade and combating the flow of guns to the Region. The record was also set straight on the reduction of the levels of murders and kidnappings in Trinidad and Tobago as evidenced by the latest figures, which were mentioned to the panel and the audience.

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by Ashton Ford

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rinidad and Tobago played a pivotal role in the African Union-Caribbean Diaspora Conference which took place at the Brit Oval, Kennington Road, London on April 24th and 25th 2007.

Her Excellency Glenda Morean Phillip, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, chaired the panel discussion in the mid morning session on the first day of the conference.

The High Commissioner said that she was delighted to present Professor Rhoda Reddock of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, to deliver the paper on Gender Equality.

In her presentation, Professor Reddock opened by defining the term Gender Equality and explored its impact on the sexual division of labour.

According to Prof Reddock, gender equality refers to the right of women and men to have the same opportunities for the achievement of important goals in society e.g. quality of life, education, employment and income. She was quick to point out that it did not refer to women and

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South African Foreign Minister, the Honourable Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (centre) with Senator the Honourable G. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica (right) and Professor Selwyn Ryan at the Conference.

men becoming the same.

She said, “It does mean, however, that the boundaries of acceptable masculine and feminine behaviour become open to allow women and men who choose to, the freedom to participate in these activities.”

Her discourse also dealt with PanAfricanism and the struggle for gender equality from a global prospective.

The sessions presided over by Her Excellency also dealt with cooperation for developing and sharing skills in education, technology and training, which were presented by Dr. Pikay Richardson of the Manchester Business School.

Professor Chris Mullard, Honorary Consul for the Republic of South Africa in the South West of England, presented a paper on the cooperation in the field of literature and performing/Visual arts and crafts, including Carnival. Professor Mullard is also the chair of the Notting Hill Carnival Committee.

Economic co-operation, including commodity pricing, investment pat-

terns and trade issues (WTO) and the impact of globalisation were the topics of discussion presented by Mr. Ransford Smith, Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

Health issues were also the subject of discussions at the conference. Professor Kilhumbu Tharu of the Moi University, Kenya, dealt with Malaria, Tuberculosis, Bone Marrow Leukaemia and HIV/Aids, while Dr. Felix Konotey-Ahulu who is a Consultant Physician from Ghana, spoke on the Sickle Cell Disease.

Another noted Trinidad and Tobago representative, Professor Selwyn Ryan of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, participated in the official opening session under the heading Historical Overview from a Caribbean Perspective.

(See report on page11) The High Commission was represented by Ms. Victoria Farley, Counsellor, Mrs. Allison Quong Sing, Executive Secretary, and Mr. Geoff Lowe, Assistant Attaché IV. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Ms. Ayesha Wharton was also in attendance.

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A legend - “someone of noted celebrity, with larger-than -life accomplishments, whose fame is well-known”

Our Legend Brian Lara played his last international match against England in the recently concluded World Cup. Cricinfo’s George Binoy & Sriram Veera looked at the highlights of a long and illustrious career.

One-day debut v Pakistan at Karachi, 1990 Brian Lara made his one-day international debut against Pakistan at Karachi. He scored 11 and was trapped leg before by Waqar Younis.

Test debut v Pakistan at Lahore, 1990 Lara replaced Carlisle Best in the Test team and made his debut in the third Test against Pakistan at Lahore. He made 44 and 5 as the match was drawn.

Sizzler at Sydney v Australia at Sydney, 1993 Lara scored his maiden Test century, a sizzling 277 against Australia at Sydney. He rated it as his best innings and it was the fourth-highest maiden century in Test cricket.

Going past Sobers v England in Antigua, 1994 Sir Garry Sobers' 365 - the highest individual score in Tests - had stood for 36 years before Lara took to England at Antigua. Lara scored 375 out of West Indies's 593 in the first innings as the match was drawn. "I'm only 24, and I must try my best to keep going and to improve," Lara said. "I will be aiming to beat my record, and I think I can do it one day."

Birmingham blitz v Warwickshire v Durham, 1994 Less than two months after Lara had surpassed Sobers' 365, he smashed 501 for Warwickshire against Durham and broke Hanif Mohammad's 499 as the highest score in first-class cricket.

Captaincy beckons v India in Barbados, 1997 Lara's first assignment as captain was the third Test of the home series against India at Barbados. He made a crucial 45 in the second innings to set India a target of 120. West Indies won by 38 runs.

His brilliant best v Australia, Barbados, 1998-99 Lara, who went into the series against Australia with his captaincy under pressure, smacked 213 in the second Test and 100 in the fourth to give them a 2-2 draw. His most remarkable knock came in between at Bridgetown. Set 308 to win on a pitch which held few favours, West Indies slumped to 105 for 5. But Lara brilliantly marshalled the tail, adding 53 for the ninth wicket with Curtly Ambrose and nine vital runs for the last wicket with Courtney Walsh. Lara finished unbeaten on 153, an innings rated by Wisden.com in 2000 as the second-best in Test history.

Most runs in a losing sideDecember, 2001 Lara beat Andy Flower's 341 for most runs in a losing cause. Against Sri Lanka, Lara totalled 351 runs (221 and 130) but Sri Lanka still won by ten wickets The Prince overtakes the King November, 2003 Lara hammered 191 off just 203 balls, his first century against Zimbabwe, to become the highest run-scorer for West Indies, breaking Vivian Richards' record of 8540. West Indies won the match by 128 runs to take the series 1-0. www.cricinfo.com

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Trini...a synonym for excellence!

4,6,6,4,4,4 December, 2003 West Indies were trailing by 228 runs in the first innings when Lara smashed 4,6,6,4,4,4, off Robin Peterson to break the world record for the most runs in an over. Lara went on to reach 202 but a second-innings collapse resulted in a 189-run South African victory.

Captaincy calls again March, 2003 He was handed the reigns of the captaincy for the second time against the visiting Australians.

First to 400 April, 2004 He became the first man to break the 400-run barrier. It came against England. Six months earlier, Matthew Hayden had scored 380 against Zimbabwe to break Lara's 375 against England but Lara became the only man to reclaim the Test record score. That 400 saw him become the second player after Don Bradman to score two Test triple-centuries, and the second after Bill Ponsford to score two first-class quadruple-centuries.

10,000 runs v England at Old Trafford, 2004 Going into the third Test at Old Trafford, Lara had 9993 Test runs. Andrew Flintoff removed him for a duck and 7 but that was enough for Lara to reach the magic figure.

Cup of joy. West Indies win the Champions Trophy September, 2004 He led West Indies to a famous ODI triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy in England when the unlikely pair of Ian Bradshaw and Courtney Browne steered West Indies home in a thriller.

Loses captaincy over sponsorship dispute March, 2005 He lost the captaincy following a dispute with the board over the sponsorship deal. He along with six other players were contracted to Cable and Wireless which clashed with the boards' sponsor, Digicel. Lara declined selection against the visiting South African side when the other rebel players were dropped. He came back for the second Test, after the issue was resolved, but lost his captaincy to Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He hit a scintillating 196 and 176 in the two Tests on return.

That 196 saw him overtake Garry Sobers' tally of 26 tons to become the highest century-maker for West Indies.

Beyond 11,000 November, 2005 Lara not only joined the 11,000-club but also overtook Allan Border's world-record aggregate of 11,174 Test runs with a double-ton in the third Test at Adelaide. Lara, with eight double-centuries, moved clear of Wally Hammond's seven.

Only Bradman, with 12, has more.

Third time lucky? April 2006 Following the resignation of Chanderpaul, Lara was reappointed as captain for the third time. In May, he led the side to an ODI series victory against India at home and took them to the final of the Champions Trophy in India.

Enters the 10,000-club December, 2006 He joined Sachin Tendulkar in the exclusive club of batsmen with more than 10,000 ODI runs. He was the fastest batsmen to score 10,000 and 11,000 Test runs, in terms of number of innings.

Lara announces retirement April 10, 2007 A year after he took over the reigns for the third time, Lara announced that he will be retiring from ODIs at the end of the World Cup. Ten days later, on April 20th, he announced his decision to quit from all forms of the game at the end of the tournament.

Last day at office April 21, 2007 Lara managed 18 in his final knock against England in Barbados with his innings being abruptly cut short by a run-out.

Marlon Samuels pushed to mid-on and hesitated on a run only for Lara to be out of his ground when Kevin Pietersen knocked down the stumps at the non-striker's end.

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Trini...a synonym for excellence!

Left: Carlos Edwards surrounded by Kalifa Figaro and Jannile Neverson after the game. Right: AttachĂŠ Ashton Ford and club Chairman Mr. Niall Quinn exchange souvenirs.

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ver two hundred nationals of Trinidad and Tobago made the long journey from London to Sunderland to witness an important game between Sunderland and Wolves on Saturday April 7th, at the Stadium of Lights. The event was organized by Jannile Neverson in collaboration with the Communications Unit of the Sunderland Club and the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission.

The nationals went to support and cheer Trinidad and Tobago's trio - Dwight Yorke, Carlos Edwards and Stern John - who have been in the forefront of the Sunderland team that carried them to the top of the table in the Championship Division of the English Football League, and most recently, to the Premiership.

Sunderland has qualified to return to the Premiership of the Football Association by virtue of their two victories over the Easter weekend - on Saturday against Wolves

(2-1) and on Easter Monday (2-1) against Southampton.

A five-piece steelband and half a dozen costumed girls accompanied the Trinidad and Tobago contingent to the game along with Mr. Ashton Ford, AttachĂŠ from the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London.

Chairman of the club Mr. Niall Quinn, welcomed the Trinidad and Tobago group and said that he was pleased to see the Trinidad and Tobago fans adding support to Dwight, Carlos, Stern and the rest of the team.

Following the game, Mr. Ford addressed the Board of Directors and members of the club in the boardroom and made presentations of souvenirs sponsored by the UK branch of the Tourism Development Company, to Mr. Quinn and the three national footballers from Trinidad and Tobago.

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Sunderland Mayor says thanks for the support T&T

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he Mayor of the City of Sunderland, His Worship Councillor Tom Foster, welcomed Attaché Ashton Ford of the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London, when he and other nationals visited Sunderland to support the team in their game against Wolves on Saturday April 7, 2007.

The Mayor said that he was happy that Trinidad and Tobago nationals were supporting the team because of the Soca Warriors Dwight Yorke, Stern John and Carlos Edwards, who were making a valuable contribution in ensuring that Sunderland returns to the Premiership division of the English Football Association.

Mr. Ford met several businessmen from Sunderland, Newcastle and Ireland and was able to promote Trinidad and Tobago in the fields of

To Brian Thank you! Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the commitment and the fight. In the midst of all the rubble and confusion that has been West Indian cricket for the past decade, your efforts enabled a proud people to have moments and memories to cherish. You achieved with your bat what many politicians in the region have not – you made us feel proud to be not just Trinidadians or Jamaicans or what have you, but proud to be West Indians.

From right: His Worship Councillor Tom Foster, Mayor of Sunderland with Attaché Ashton Ford and Councillor Robert Symonds.

Business and Tourism to an audience that needed no persuading as to the value and charm of Trinidad and Tobago. The players also took time off to meet the nationals who made the long coach ride from London to cheer them on and thanked them for their fervent support.

in Tobago sometime in the future.

The Mayor said that he hoped that Sunderland would play warm-up games at the Dwight Yorke Stadium

Carlos Edwards was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.

I’ll never forget the “No! Could this really be?” feeling, when I watched your 153n.o. take the game away from the Aussies. Nor will I forget the day my friend Luke and I were driven into a drunken stupor of utter disbelief – the day we watched as you broke the world record… again! Our state was such that we finished an entire bottle of rum (to cope with our delirium of course).

As an artist, your work will always be remembered. Once again… thanks!

You made the unthinkable – possible - and the unbreakable - yours.

On the field of play, the Trinidad and Tobago players gave a good account of themselves with Carlos Edwards scoring in the game against Southampton on Easter Monday which Sunderland won (2-1).

John Via e-mail To send letters to the editor please e -mail to: tthc@btconnect.com or post to: Mr. Ashton Ford Attaché - Public Affairs, Culture & Tourism Trinidad and Tobago High Commission 42 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8NT

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WOMEN PRAISED FOR THEIR WORK AS BAPTISTS CELEBRATE HOLIDAY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM in the Baptist faith and showered praise on Rev’d Stephens for her work over the years.

Celebration in progress at the All Saints Church in London.

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embers of the Baptist faith in the United Kingdom celebrated the Spiritual Shouter Baptist public holiday with a Service of Thanksgiving on Saturday April 14th at the All Saints Church, Clydesdale Road, London.

It was the fourth year the Baptist Community celebrated the national holiday in the United Kingdom, under the distinguished patronage of the High Commissioner, Her Excellency Glenda Morean Phillip. The occasion was observed on March 30th in Trinidad and Tobago.

This year, the Spiritual Baptist Faith Project for Mission and Social Responsibility who organised the Service, also observed the 200 year anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. .

Bishop Ray Brathwaite and Mother Superior Helen Durham represented the Baptist Community from

Trinidad and Tobago, courtesy the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

Bishop Brathwaite addressed the congregation while Mother Superior Durham led the Service in prayer and song. The High Commissioner for Grenada, His Excellency J. S. Charter and Cannon John Metivier also spoke at the Service.

Coordinator of the programme, Reverend Patricia Stephens, said that this year’s Service was well attended and noted that the Baptist community in the United Kingdom was definitely getting stronger.

Mr. Ashton Ford, Attaché for Public Affairs, Culture and Tourism, deputised for the High Commissioner who was on official business in Trinidad and Tobago at the time.

In his address, Mr. Ford paid tribute to the women

He said, “My dear bothers and sisters, it was and it is still very common to see women as leaders, elders, teachers, bishops and even archbishops in your church. This is very instructive at the dawn of the twenty-first century when some other denominations of the Christian Church and other religions are still debating whether women should be ordained as priests or called to higher service in the service of the Almighty. Reverend Mother Superior Elaine Griffith and later Archbishop was not just a dutiful wife to her husband, the late liberator of your church, the Right Reverend Archbishop Elton George Griffith. She was seen as a matriarch who carried an enormous part of the burden in the struggles for liberation.”

Mr. Ford further stated that “The leadership role of women in the church is not confined to our beloved Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Here in the United Kingdom, we must recognize the work of several women in the cause of your faith. One name which easily comes to mind is Joyce Turner, who as Secretary of the London Diocese of the National

Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith, was instrumental in uplifting the community. She was the instrumental figure who laid the groundwork for the documenting of your march to freedom from the bondage inflicted by the 1951 law. I am sure that you are aware that she commissioned the Caribbean Historical Society to write the seminal work Joy Comes in the Morning: Elton George Griffith and the Shouter Baptists by C. M. Jacobs, a compulsory piece of literature for all those who are interested in the growth and development of your faith in the Caribbean.”

With reference to our treasured national - Rev’d Patricia Stephens, Mr. Ford had the following to say: “Ladies and gentlemen and children, we must also pay sterling tribute to our own Reverend Patricia Stephens for her indefatigable tenacity to contribute not only to the growth of the faith in the United Kingdom but also for her determination to unite the various groups here in the UK and impact positively on the many people with whom she interacts. Undoubtedly you will agree with me that it is a huge challenge for individuals to make their mark here in the UK.”

LONDON MISSION

13

Eric Williams, the Caribbean and Africa – According to Professor Selwyn Ryan

by Ashton Ford

T

he biography of the late Dr. Eric Williams, first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, will soon be released, as documented by Professor Selwyn Ryan of the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus.

Professor Ryan made the disclosure as he addressed the African Union-Caribbean Diaspora Conference which took place on April 24th and 25th at the Brit Oval, Kennington Road, London.

Professor Ryan was speaking during the opening session of the conference under the topic Historical Overview. He spoke on the Caribbean Images of Africa, touching on all the players in the development of the Caribbean and the relationship with the African countries.

Some of the topics the Professor dealt with in his wideranging presentation were the African Resistance in the Caribbean, the Rise of Pan Africanism, Sylvester Williams and the first Pan African Congress, T&T’s George Padmore and his role in the Pan African Movement. On the topic of Eric Williams and the Contradictory Images of Africa in the Caribbean, Dr. Ryan said: “Eric Williams embodied in his person, his personality, and his politics all the contradictions and ambivalences of the West Indian in his relationship to Africa. Williams did a great deal to establish the fact that the “blackest thing in slavery was not the African,” and that notions of African inferiority and passivity were historic lies. As he had written in Capitalism and Slavery, “in 1833, the alternatives were clear:emancipation from above or emancipation from below, but Emancipation. The Negroes had been stimulated to freedom by the development of the very wealth which their labour had created.”

Williams would later boast that he spent most of his life writing about slavery, and that he wrote about it from a radical perspective. ”I write like a slave who has been emancipated. I don’t write like a slave owner.” He would however complain that the Africans seemed to be ashamed about the fact of slavery. As he told an audience at Haile Selassie University in Ethiopia in 1964 wlile on an official visit to that country and to the Organization of African Unity, “it is almost as if Africans have been upset by their previous history and seek by the simple formula of forgetting slavery to behave as if it did not occur at all. The African, I believe still suffers from that sense of inferiority. He does not want slavery recalled. Reportedly, some delegates were upset by these remarks.

He, however , was not ashamed about the fact that Africa had been depopulated to create the Caribbean, and that the roots of Caribbean identity lay in Africa. “The historical

Professor Selwyn Ryan

connection between Africa, principally West Africa, and the West Indies is nothing to be ashamed about, though the West Indians don’t like it, and I get the feeling that the West Africans like it less.” He boasted that West Indians had done a great deal for Africa, but that the Africans had not reciprocated. He was now calling on them to support the West Indian islands in their quest to get preferential treatment for their agricultural products such as sugar, cocoa and citrus in European markets.

He viewed preferences as “a form of reparations, inadequate and belated, for centuries of preferential arrangements imposed by the United Kingdom and in the interest of the United Kingdom investors in the West Indies.”

Williams however wanted to clear up a basic error which African were making about West Indian identity which was causing him some “discomfort” and political embarrassment.

He told his listeners that Trinidad and Tobago was not an African State which would vote automatically with the African group as many African diplomats had assumed. Trinidad and Tobago was a multi-ancestral state .”After four centuries of colonialism, the West Indian is not an African, nor is he an Asian or a European. He is an African or an Asian assimilated to the European. In sum, West Indians were Afro-Saxons and IndoSaxons. Not everyone was agreed or amused, not the least being the Afrocentrics in the Caribbean.

The Back to Africa movement has now largely run its course, at least as far as physical movement of people is concerned. West Indians and Africans now understand each other better than they once did, and a better platform now exists for them to collaborate meaningfully in response to the challenges of globalization, which, in many respects, is a new edition of slavery, one in which the mind and not the body is enslaved.”

10 14

LONDON MISSION

Death of a Cultural Icon –

BOSCOE HOLDER

A

r thu r A l dwy n “Boscoe” Holder an iconic figure in the world of art in Trinidad and Tobago, died on April 21, 2007, at the age of eighty five. He had been painting since childhood, a man of much talent in dance as well as painting. He came from a proud middle class family who valued education and the highest standards of etiquette and other social mores, and he endeavoured to show this sense of pride in his paintings.

“Upsweep”

Born in Port of Spain, the eldest of five children, Arthur was something of a child prodigy, starting to handle the draughtsman's tools at the age of five, and soon after, playing the piano with facility, by ear.

His parents encouraged artistic endeavour in all their children, and by his teens, he became associated with a coterie of local artists attempting to establish themselves in Trinidad and Tobago’s colonially stratified society. Likewise, he pursued the dancing and choreography associated with local folk traditions that he later incorpo-

rated in his many productions - for which he also designed the costumes. Again, he became linked with a school of like-minded people, spearheaded by the dancers Beryl and Freda McBurnie.

When Boscoe Holder arrived in London from Trinidad and Tobago early in 1950, he had already built a considerable reputation for himself as a painter, musician, dancer and producer of Caribbean dance revues. He spent twenty years in England establishing his career, in both music and art, before returning to Trinidad and Tobago to concentrate on painting. His knowledge of the history of many unrecognised black dancers and musicians in the Englishspeaking West Indies was considerable, as was his understanding of the role of black performance in Britain during the 1950s.

He eventually resettled in Trinidad in 1970 and concentrated on his painting, receiving awards for his achievements from the Govern-

ments of Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and France, as well as various institutions in the US, in which he sometimes shared the accolades with Geoffrey (brother and renowned actor/ director) and Christian (son).

A prolific painter, especially of the people of the Caribbean, he exhibited work at a number of galleries, local and international, throughout his life. A series of postage stamps was issued in Trinidad and Tobago in 2004 featuring his work.

Mr. Holder never stopped painting and he was able to find compositional elements and techniques to explore, well into his eighties. He was known as much for his large personality as he was for his body of iconic work. He leaves a gap that clearly demarcates the end of an era never to return again.

There are many artists working today who owe Mr. Holder for paving the path that they comfortably walk.

LONDON MISSION

15

The complete guide to With its choice of the Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean, palm tree or rainforest, dozing or diving, and three types of sand, this is a paradise island in the sun like no other, says Marian Amos of The Independent Traveller magazine

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT TOBAGO? For even greater isolation, there's Alternatively, from Speyside take the the Blue Waters Inn (001 868 660 Windward Road north, climbing 4341; www.bluewatersinn.com). steeply through mountainous This is slightly further north-east, vegetation before plunging down and is the sole occupant of the towards the Caribbean waters of beautiful Batteaux Bay. It is Charlotteville. You'll see boats separated from Speyside village by a bobbing on the glassy sea in the bay, steep walk. Again popular with as this is one of Tobago's foremost divers, and also snorkellers, fishing communities. Banana Boat birdwatchers and families, this 38- Inn, 6 Mac's Lane (001 868 660 room hotel with three self-catering 6 1 7 6 ; w w w . b a n a n a - b o a t bungalows was named Best tobago.com) is a quirky new eightCaribbean Eco Resort by Caribbean room hotel, on the shore of Man World magazine in 2002 and 2003. O'War Bay. The Bistro serves Although considered the grandest traditional dishes such as Trini hotel in Speyside, some of its decor shrimp and coconut curry. With and fittings are now slightly doubles from US$60 (£33) with air crumbling, but that is swiftly conditioning, and a third less for forgiven due to its perfect location. rooms with fans, it's perfect for that Doubles from US$175 (£97), with rare species in Tobago, the budget breakfast $18 (£10) per person, and traveller - with the bonus that your two-bedroom bungalows from host is also a PADI diving instructor.

US$505 (£280).

PART IV

Tobago

Tobago (See PART V in next issue)

VACANCIES

LECTURER IN FINANCE Department: Management Studies Faculty: Social Sciences Deadline Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007 LECTURER IN ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES Department: Management Studies Faculty: Social Sciences Deadline Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007 SENIOR LECTURER/ LECTURER IN BIOCHEMISTRY Department: Preclinical Sciences Faculty: Medical Sciences Deadline Date: Thursday, May 31, 2007 LECTURER/ASSISTANT LECTURER IN GOVERNMENT Department: Behavioural Sciences Faculty: Social Sciences Deadline Date: Saturday, June 30, 2007

U.W.I. Application procedure Complete two copies of the application form provided and submit with the application form, your full particulars of qualifications, experience, date of birth, marital status and addresses of three (3) referees (one of whom should be from your current organisation).

This information should be forwarded to: The Campus Registrar The University of the West Indies St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. Fax: 1 868 663 9684 Email: appts@admin.uwi.tt Particulars of advertised posts and applications forms are available at the above address and at http://www.uwi.tt. In order to expedite the appointments procedure, applicants are advised to ask their referees to send references under confidential cover directly to the Campus Registrar at the above address.

From left: Bishop Ray Brathwaite, Mother Superior Helen Durham and Rev’d Patricia Stephens at the Thanksgiving Service held in London.

Ms. Ayesha Wharton of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Trinidad and Tobago display table at the African/Caribbean Conference.

From left: Cannon John Metivier of the Anglican Church in London and His Excellency J. S. Charter- High Commissioner for Grenada, at the Service.

Back in the Premiership: AttachĂŠ Ashton Ford stands with Soca Warriors Carlos Edwards, Dwight Yorke and Stern John. Their efforts have helped promote English club Sunderland to the Premiership for the next season.

See article on page 10.

Trinidad and Tobago High Commission 42 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8NT Tel: 020 7245 9351 Fax: 020 7823 1065 E-mail: tthc.information@btconnect.com