A 23-year-old Trinidadian artist has created the TIME Magazine’s special cover project, The New American Revolution.
Nneka Jones, a graduate of the University of Tampa, was tapped by TIME international art director Victor Williams to create her first cover for the magazine, the American flag image that speaks to where the country is now.
Jones was recruited to do the cover after her photo-realistic painting of George Floyd caught the art director’s eye on Instagram.
Jones, who works in embroidery on canvas, created the artwork featured on the cover by stenciling the outline of the black stripes onto the canvas, and hand-embroidering them with black thread. The white stripes in between are raw canvas. Similarly, the stars are the white of the canvas and she hand-embroidered the black around the stars.
“Every time she pushes the needle through the canvas, it’s an act of intention that mirrors the marching, the protests, the push to form a more perfect union,” TIME’s Williams says. “It’s deliberate. It’s painstaking. It’s long. It’s hard. Each one of those stitches is a single person’s story, a single person’s travails. That’s why we wanted to make the stitches visible.”
According to TIME, Jones’ fingers got torn up and sore from sewing this portrait in about 24 hours to meet the magazine’s deadline as such pieces usually take a week to a month to produce.
For the project, Pharrell curated a series of essays and conversations between Black leaders that explore America’s oppressive past and visions for a more equitable future, with perspectives from Kenya Barris, Angela Davis, Imara Jones, Naomi Osaka, Yara Shahidi, Tyler, the Creator and more. 
In his essay for The New American Revolution, Pharrell writes: “In assembling this project, I asked some of the most qualified people I know in every field—from Angela Davis to Tyler, the Creator, to Representative ­Barbara Lee—to talk with us, and with one another, about the way forward. I wanted to convey a vision of a future filled with the artists, creators and entrepreneurs who can fulfill the promise of this country’s principles.” 
He continues: “America’s wealth was built on the slave labor of Black people: This is our past. To live up to America’s ideals, we must trust in a Black vision of the future.”
Alongside his curation of conversations with Black leaders, Pharrell  is premiering a new song: “Entrepreneur,” featuring Jay-Z. He tells TIME that he hopes the track raises awareness of the challenges faced by minority-owned businesses and inspires more collaboration among entrepreneurs of colour—leading in turn to “more money and more opportunity for everyone. Source: The Loop, August 2020

According to the recent study of the Global Status of Reef Sharks, Tobago supports a higher than average number of shark species. Dr Anjani Ganase asks us to take note and institute measures to protect and conserve this diversity.

A recent study on the global status of reef sharks has finally been published and confirms that reef sharks have a long history of heavy over exploitation. The study surveyed coral reefs from 58 countries around the world, including 18 in the Caribbean region. These surveys show that about 20 % of the reefs surveyed were devoid of reef shark species; these included the Dominican Republic and Colombia. Areas with lower shark numbers were more commonly associated with greater fishing pressures because of high local human population densities, as well as poor governance and management of shark fishing. 
The study also revealed which factors contributed to areas with an above average number of reef sharks. These factors include regulation on the restricted use of certain fishing equipment, such as gillnets and longlines. The gillnet is made of nylon that is spread through the water column trapping anything that crosses its path. Most fish get caught by their gills as the fish tries to back out of the net. Longlines use lines towed behind the boat with a series of baited hooks. Unfortunately, both methods have a very high by-catch rate, where unintended marine organisms such as turtles and dolphins are caught as well. Additional factors that help conserve sharks are the establishment of protected areas or shark sanctuaries, as well as enforcing catch limits. 

For this study, the authors used the BRUV (baited remote underwater video) system where an underwater camera is attached to a baited cage and lowered to the reef bottom. The camera then records all marine life that approaches the BRUV including sharks and rays. The method is unbiased and removes the disturbances that can be caused by human divers. The BRUV method also allows places that are not easily accessible by humans, such as deeper sites and more exposed wave environments to be observed as well. 

Trinidad and Tobago was one of the countries included in the study. In 2016, Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville (ERIC) collaborated with Global Fin Print to survey three sites across Trinidad and Tobago - northeast Tobago, Buccoo and Toco using the BRUV technology. The project was supported by the Tobago House of Assembly, Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and the Environment, who granted the research permit, and by the fisheries officers from the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries, who assisted in the fieldwork. The results of the study ranked T&T as one of the countries with the lowest probability of observing sharks. This is not a surprise as reef sharks in Tobago are a rare sight. T&T has extremely poor fisheries management in general, in addition to our culture of eating shark. As part of the global study, the outcome of the study found that Tobago, compared to the rest of the Caribbean region, has a lower than average incidence of reef sharks via the BRUVs. On average, sharks were observed 25 % of the time using the BRUVS; in Tobago they were observed only 18 % of the time.
However in Tobago, the diversity of shark species was well above average (regional average is five species, while in Tobago ten species were observed). The species observed include the Caribbean reef shark, smoothhound shark, nurse sharks, sharpnose sharks, as well as larger predators such as Tiger sharks and the critically endangered Great Hammerheads. Therefore, while low numbers were expected for T&T, the results also show that with the protection of areas and the regulation of fishing methods, Trinidad and Tobago can be a viable place for shark conservation, considering that a variety of shark species are still found on our reefs.

While some of the results are sobering, the study highlighted that areas with high conservation potential are those that implement strategies such as fisheries management and establishment of shark sanctuaries. This requires close collaboration between government agencies and community. This is especially important for Tobago as we move towards implementing the approved National Protected Areas Systems Plan! - Ryan Mohammed, ERIC

This is a comforting result when compared to my personal observations. Of the 200 or more surveys on coral reefs across 13 countries in the Caribbean done over nine months, my team only encountered five sharks. All of the sharks observed were found in marine protected areas in Belize and Bahamas. 
Reef sharks have really important and variable roles on coral reefs. Many of the roles vary with the species of the sharks. Tiger Sharks are an example of an apex predator that consumes large amounts of food and their prey includes marine turtles and smaller sharks; they really can eat anything that comes in their path. Conversely, Great Hammerheads feed on prey that lives close to the bottom, such as stingrays, where they use their head to pin down the ray. Both of these large shark species have very wide home ranges, roaming the ocean for over a thousand kilometres. Owing to their size, these large sharks play a role in transporting nutrients away from reefs to the open ocean. 

Smaller reef shark species, such as the Caribbean reef shark and Blacktips, have relatively smaller home ranges and reside within 50 km or even less of a coral reef. The presence of these sharks on coral reefs is fundamental to the proper functioning of healthy coral reefs by restricting overpopulation of species lower down the food chain. The diet of reef sharks is quite varied. Nurse sharks and Blacktip reef sharks feed mainly on shellfish, along with squid and shrimp. Caribbean reef and Blacktip sharks target fish and stingrays. Coral reefs benefit from this top down control in the food web to prevent the overpopulation of specific species. In return, coral reefs act as nurseries for certain shark species owing to the three-dimensional complexity of the reef that aids in providing refuge. 
Considering the high diversity of shark species in T&T, the development of an MPA and shark sanctuary along with regulations for the use of gillnets may drastically restore local populations. Tobago is one of the few destinations in the Caribbean where visitors can explore our coral reefs for shark encounters; another asset for marine research and tourism. 
Reference: 
MacNeil MA et al. (2020) Global status and conservation potential of reef sharks. Nature
Source:  Wild Tobago, July 30, 2020

Trinidadian volunteer Giselle Mendez was given the Commonwealth Points of Light award from the Queen for her service during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the British High Commission.
Mendez represented Trinidad and Tobago as the 148th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service encouraging community volunteering.
In a statement issued July 17, 2020, UK High Commissioner Tim Stew said Mendez' volunteer work during the challenging COVID-19 period is inspiring:
'Giselle Mendez has shown us the value of coming together to connect, even virtually, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.'
'I am inspired by her work to bring about meaningful change in various communities and to positively influence young people in this country. And, I’m delighted that Giselle will join three others from Trinidad and Tobago who have received this award from Her Majesty the Queen.
'This also makes Giselle the 148th person in the Commonwealth to receive this international award since 2018.'
'I wish her continued strength to carry on this good work. And I hope this award will further inspire young people to act, however they can, to drive positive change in their communities.'
Mendez, founder of the ‘Volunteer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago’ (VCTT) in 2012, has worked to connect people and encourage collaborations with volunteers for sustained and structured interventions in various sectors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the VCTT team launched their ‘virtual volunteering’ initiative to promote mindfulness and safe volunteering opportunities such as telephone befriending, child tutoring, letter writing to isolated people or donating to an NGO.
Mendez also leads over 130 mentors that will provide guidance and support to young people beyond the pandemic through their e-mentoring programmes, ‘Me to We’ and ‘Grown in East Port of Spain’.
Mendez said the VCTT aims to help transform communities for the better.
'Volunteer Centre of Trinidad and Tobago’ (VCTT) is a volunteer matching platform which connects people to high impact custom built interventions which support the Sustainable Development Goals.'
'Our current interventions include the ‘Me to We E-Mentorship’ programme supported by Prince's Trust International, the ‘Grown in East Port of Spain home & community garden’ initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and the development of a regional network for Volunteerism supported by ‘Ruach Tova’ - Good Deeds Day.'
'At VCTT we believe in the transformational power of people, and our family of volunteers is honoured for this recognition of our 8 years of service as we curate an all-inclusive space for citizens to be activated and meaningfully engaged in pioneering viable solutions, in support of our ‘Vision of A Volunteer In Every Home’.'
As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen - as Head of the Commonwealth - thanked inspirational volunteers across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they have made in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week.
The High Commission said: 'By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.'
The High Commission said voluntary service is high on the agenda for improving Commonwealth nations, which is why the Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.  Source: The Loop, July 30, 2020

Approximately 165 Venezuelan nationals were repatriated to their home country this week, National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed to Loop News.
The development comes after several illegal immigrants were recently detained by authorities - several Trinidadian nationals were also detained in connection with human trafficking.
In a video shared online, a man claimed in Spanish that a vessel was carrying repatriated Venezuelans. Other videos were recently shared online showing Venezuelan vessels in the Gulf of Paria near Chaguaramas.  
crackdownLOOP NEWS CREATED : 29 JULY 2020COVID-19
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedInShare to WhatsAppShare to MessengerShare to EmailShare to TelegramShare to More186Approximately 165 Venezuelan nationals were repatriated to their home country this week, National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed to Loop News.
The development comes after several illegal immigrants were recently detained by authorities - several Trinidadian nationals were also detained in connection with human trafficking.
In a video shared online, a man claimed in Spanish that a vessel was carrying repatriated Venezuelans. Other videos were recently shared online showing Venezuelan vessels in the Gulf of Paria near Chaguaramas.  
In a media briefing on Saturday (July 25), Young said that national security agencies would be ensuring that anyone found involved in human trafficking would be charged under the Trafficking in Persons Act.
Young added that Venezuelans with national registration cards, who were caught assisting or harbouring illegal immigrants, would have their registrations revoked and would be deported.
Trinidadians have raised concerns over the possible spread of COVID-19 due to the unregulated entry of illegal immigrants, following a recent spike in confirmed cases. 
Due to patient confidentiality, the Ministry has not confirmed whether any patients were illegal immigrants. The Ministry also warned the public not to 'jump to conclusions'.
The increase in cases has lead to a surge of xenophobic comments online. 
As of July 28, 2020, there were five more cases of the virus, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 153.
The Health Ministry said three of the cases were imported as a result of nationals who had returned from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, and Vietnam.
The Ministry said another recent case is a primaary contact of another recent positive case, while another is ending epidemiological investigations. 
Five (5) additional persons have tested positive for COVID-19.
-      Three (3) of the cases are imported. These are nationals who recently returned from the  following countries: Antigua, Guyana and Vietnam
-      One case is a primary contact of a recently positive COVID-19 case.
-      One case is pending epidemiological investigation.