Carib Queen Jennifer Cassar of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community has died.
Cassar, 66, died on Thursday.
Arima mayor Lisa Morris-Julian extended condolences on behalf of the Arima Borough Corporation.
Morris-Julian said the loss of Cassar was a blow to Arima’s foundation which is rooted on the contributions of the First Peoples. 
She said the council laments the loss of a phenomenal woman who was of Carib descent.
“The council is thankful that she assisted in extensive work to keep persons of First Peoples lineage untied and thriving in the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community. It recognises her decades of labour which assisted to create a space in the Borough where the first Peoples are acknowledged and respected” she said.
Last year, the Government allowed for a one-off public holiday for the First Peoples Community, where Morris-Julian said the late Carib Queen was instrumental in her contributions to the festivities held during the Arima Fest celebrations, the Santa Rosa Festival and the First People’s Heritage Week.
In April 2009, Cassar represented the Santa Rosa First Peoples Carib Community at the 3rd Indigenous Leaders’ Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama in April of 2009.
​Education Minister and Arima Member of Parliament Anthony Garcia also extended condolences on the passing of Cassar.
In a statement, Garcia referred to Cassar as a symbol of strength, will and power within the community.
He said Cassar’s career was vast as she worked in the public service for over forty years.
“She contributed to the development of her country through work in Education, Community Development, Culture, Sport, Health and the Judiciary. Today I take the opportunity to again express my humblest gratitude to Mrs. Jennifer Cassar for her yeoman service to the First Peoples Community, to the Borough of Arima and to Trinidad and Tobago. May her life be an example to those in and outside of the Carib community and may her legacy be carried with love, light and positivity. May she rest in peace,” he said.

Canadian actor Dalmar Abuzeid will make history as the first black character from Trinidad and Tobago in the iconic Anne of Green Gables series, 'Anne with an E'.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Abuzeid will play Sebastian, an Afro-Caribbean steamship worker from Trinidad and Tobago who befriends Gilbert Blythe, one of the story's main characters and Anne's romantic interest in the Netflix series. 
The move was described as a 'watershed moment' for the well-loved story which is based on Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel about a young red-headed orphan in rural Prince Edward Island. 
"It's incredible the way I'm being introduced into a story that already has this history and this audience, and that means so much because I get to be part of that story with the new perspective of an Afro-Caribbean in the world of Anne," Abuzeid said.
His character, Sebastian Lacroix, is originally from Trinidad and arrives in fictional Avonlea as a manual laborer who stokes coal in the engine room of a steamship.
Moira Walley-Becket, creator of Anne with an E, said she deliberately chose a multicultural direction for the show's second season.
"When I was first conceiving Anne With an E, I was troubled by the lack of diversity in the book, especially since Canada is such a diverse nation, both then and now," she said.
The series is available on Netflix.
Source: The Loop, July 12, 2018

YOUNG artist Sarah Ali recently held a private art exhibition at Palm Foundation in Woodbrook, at which she put up for sale 15 pieces of art and six silk scarves to help pay for her tertiary education.
All the pieces, silks included, were sold-out on the night, with the exception of the largest.
The outgoing head girl at Bishop Anstey High School, Ali said, “I cannot even begin to describe my surprise at finding out that so many people wanted to buy my pieces. When I saw those orange ‘sold’ stickers going up next to the pieces I was in awe. I felt so blessed to know that my gift from God was being admired by so many people. I also felt incredibly empowered, as if a young artist as myself could host such a successful first exhibition, then I could do anything, and I could encourage young people like myself to take that leap of faith and share their talents with the world.
“The biggest thing this exhibition taught me was that if you just have faith God will make all things happen.”
Ali got a partial scholarship to attend the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) to do biomedical engineering. But the fees are high and though the $20,000 raised so far from the sale of her art pieces will help, she is hoping that her biggest piece, Imperium Chroma de Musical, will be sold before she leaves on August 2.
Asked if she hopes for an additional scholarship from the government, Ali said, “I have given my all in my CAPE exams, so yes, I am praying for a government scholarship. It would make things a lot easier for my family. I come from a single-parent family so a scholarship would take a huge load off my mom’s shoulders. I am just hoping that the work that I put in would be enough to allow me to receive such an honour.”
Ali got the international scholarship on the basis of her SAT scores: she did the SATs right before her Unit 1 exams for CAPE in 2017.
The scholarship is only awarded to top-performing international students. The engineering programme for which she got the scholarship is for four years, but can be reduced depending on how well she performs in her CAPE exams. Those results are expected to be released next month, and Ali says she is anxiously awaiting them with fingers crossed.
Noting that what she is going to study at tertiary level is so different from her art, Ali explained, “Art is my way of relaxing and stepping away from the chaos that is the world we live in.
“I am studying biomedical engineering, however, because science is my passion. My goal is to enter the field of cancer care, treatment and research. My eyes are set on improving the care of cancer patients, specifically in TT.”
Ali said both her grandfather and godmother recently died because they could not access top-notch care and said she wants to help people like them and their families.
But as far as her art is concerned, she said, “I can never stop painting and sculpting. I have always done art alongside my STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects; art was my extra subject for both CSEC and CAPE. I had to balance all of my science classes during school hours, then paint when I got home and whenever I found free time. I made time for it because it helped me to de-stress and relax. So no fear, this will not be my only art show. There is more in store.
“Also, my artistic talent will allow me to add a creative spin on new ideas to treat cancer.”
Ali placed fourth on the CSEC Visual Arts Regional Merit List in 2016, seventh on the CAPE Visual Arts Regional Merit List in 2016 for Unit 1, was named Women in Art’s Artist of the Year for 2017, was Bishop Anstey head girl 2017-2018 and an altar server for seven years at St Michael and All Angels’ Anglican Parish in Diamond Vale.
Source: Newsday, July 12, 2018

Former National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, has thanked all those who offered him words of encouragement on his nomination to the post of Commissioner of Police, by the government.
A total of 19 government MPs voted in favour of Griffith during the motion which was brought in the Parliament on Monday. 13 Opposition MPs who were present abstained while no one voted against.
In a statement issued less than an hour after the vote, Griffith said he needed no “honeymoon period” as he intended to work hard to gain the trust of the public and work alongside the police to ensure the safety of citizens.
“To those law-abiding citizens who have been sceptical of this decision made, it is my intention to win over your trust and support in the very near future. To those within the Service who may also share concerns, I assure you, I am well aware that I can never do this on my own, and I am certain, despite what is reported in the mainstream media, those who took the oath to protect and serve, will do so with pride. We are all aware that a team is as strong as its weakest link, and part of my role is to ensure all links are bolstered.”
Griffith said he is aware that the post of Commissioner of Police comes with great responsibility, a challenge he is willing to meet.
He also outlined some of his plans to do all that is required to achieve this feat.
“I am intent on utilizing Leadership, Management, Accountability and Measurement of Performance as standards of practice, whilst implementing methodologies that will advance a strategic, future-oriented, targeted approach to crime control, focusing upon the identification, analysis & management of persisting and developing problems or risks, also known as Intelligence Led Policing.”
He said, however, that he will not give further details as he awaits the official transition and handover period from current acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams of whom he praised for his service to country.

The Airports Authority is calling on the owner of an abandoned twin-engine turboprop plane to come forward and claim its aircraft.
The YS 11 aircraft has been at the Piarco International Airport for some time without any communication from its owner/s.
During this time the aircraft has racked up storage charges.
The Airports Authority’s records on the aircraft have not made things clearer, reportedly unable to reveal any current information on the owner/s.
A Public Notice has been issued to the owner/s or persons with a legal interest in the aircraft to remove same by July 9, subject to the payment to the Authority of outstanding storage fees accumulated for the aircraft.
In the event that the aircraft remains unclaimed or the fees unpaid by this date, the Airports Authority said it will be donated to the Chaguaramas Military History and Aerospace Museum.

​A Trinidadian man pleaded guilty to bank fraud involving numerous home equity line of credit loans today in the United States of America, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement yesterday.
The Justice Department statement said: "Garth Anthony Gardner, 49, a citizen of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, has pled guilty to charges involving a scheme in which he made misrepresentations to apply for and obtain more than US$3 million in multiple home equity line of credit loans."
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington D.C. Field Office.
Gardner pled guilty on July 2, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to two counts of bank fraud. Each charge carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces an estimated range of 51 to 63 months in prison and a fine of up to US$100,000. The plea agreement calls for him to pay US$3,165,294 in restitution to 24 financial institutions. It also calls for him to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of US$2,048,446.
U.S. Judge Christopher Cooper scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2018.
According to the government’s evidence, in October 2003, Gardner purchased a property in the 5100 block of 13th Street NW, using the Social Security number of another person and falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen.
The Justice Department said: "In May 2005, he used a corporation that he owned to purchase a second property in the 1300 block of Dexter Terrace SE. Gardner transferred ownership of the second property from the company to himself for US$10. Next, Gardner applied for a series of home equity line of credit loans using the two properties as collateral."
By settling these loans in close proximity to each other, Gardner minimized the banks’ ability to learn about the other loans. From August to October 2004, Gardner obtained 12 home equity line of credit loans from 12 different banks secured by the 13th Street property, totaling approximately US$1.4 million.
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Between March and April 2006, Gardner applied for 13, and obtained 12, such loans from 12 banks, secured by the Dexter Terrace property, totaling approximately US$1.9 million, the Justice Department said.
Around February 2008, Gardner stopped making payments and defaulted on all of the loans. "The banks discovered Gardner’s fraudulent conduct after initiating foreclosure proceedings on the properties," the Justice Department said.
Gardner admitted that he used a portion of the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme to purchase 15 silver bars, which the government recovered and liquidated for about US$1.1 million.
Gardner was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany in May 2017, and was extradited to the District in February 2018, to face the charges that had been pending since 2014. He remains in custody pending his sentencing.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jackson commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service and the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Bradford, David A. Last, Diane Lucas and Denise A. Simmonds, and Paralegal Specialist Aisha Keys.

Machel Montano has been honoured for his work promoting Caribbean culture.
The soca superstar was honoured on Friday night at the Los Angeles 2nd Annual Caribbean Recognition Day which was held ahead of the Hollywood Carnival parade today.
Montano was honoured along with Puerto Rican actress Jeimy Osorio.
The ceremony was held by Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson in association with the Los Angeles Culture Festival.
In his post on Instagram, Montano expressed thanks for the recognition.
"Flew in from Chicago this morning and made it to City hall just in time. I’m honoured to receive recognition from the City of Los Angeles today on LA's Caribbean Heritage Day!! Come celebrate our heritage all weekend with us at @hollywoodcarnival," he wrote. 
Source: The Loop, July 3

For the seventh time, Trinidad and Tobago has copped the title of Caribbean National Culinary Team at Taste of the Caribbean.
The annual culinary competition took place from June 22 to June 26 at the Hyatt Regency Miami. Team T&T also captured the titles of Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktail, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year (Beef Category).
The winning team includes: 
Team Captain: Jeremy Lovell (Courtyard by Marriott)
Senior Chef: Rondell Thompson (Chaud Cafe)
Senior Chef: Tricia Gregoire (Kiddies Cook Culinary Program)
Junior Chef: Zaria Sealey (Heroes Restaurant and Sports Bar)
Pastry Chef: Anton Lee James (Hyatt Regency)
Bartender: Shana Rajahram (Shana Stirs it Up)
Alternate Bartender: Dale Sebro-Jospeh (Trini Bartenders)
Trinidad and Tobago bested Barbados, the reigning champions of 2017 and several other Caribbean territories including Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Turks and Caicos. 
Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), each team selected their best chefs and mixologists from their country to vie for several titles including Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year.
The members of the T&T National Culinary Team 2018 were an immediate hit at the CHTA’s ‘Caribbean305’ event held on June 23 at Jungle Island. Their mouth-watering offerings of geera pork, curried chicken, eggplant and tomato pholourie (with a range of sauces), and a sorrel swizzle rum cocktail were all in high demand by patrons from both the Caribbean and Southern Florida, and their booth was cleared out within the first hour.
For the Team of the Year competition dinner held on June 24, the National Culinary Team presented a scrumptious, well-executed three-course dinner offering that creatively infused many of Trinidad & Tobago’s local flavours and spices, much to the delight and appreciation of the judges and diners alike. Trinidad & Tobago won a Gold medal for this dinner offering.
Team members also participated in several Individual competitions where they amassed six additional medals including one Gold, one Silver, and 4 Bronze. 
Trinidad and Tobago has a known track record for performing exceptionally well over the years at the competition, with a total of 87 medals (including 40 Gold, 31 Silver, and 16 Bronze), numerous individual titles such as Caribbean Bartender of the Year; Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year; Caribbean Chef of the Year; and Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year.
The country has also earned the coveted title of Caribbean National Team of the Year six times--2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2016--a feat that continues to be unmatched by any other participating destination.
"The THRTA recognizes the pivotal role that its hospitality training institute, the Trinidad & Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute (TTHTI) continues to play in achieving these successes, given that five of the six members of the 2018 T&T National Culinary Team are either past or present students of the TTHTI. The THRTA and the TTHTI remain committed to the development of Trinidad & Tobago’s youth by providing them with a regional platform and relevant training to expand their culinary and bartending skills," according to a media release by THRTA on Wednesday. 
"The THRTA sees this continued culinary excellence as a compelling value proposition for Destination T&T to attract international tourists to share in our cuisine, culture and local experiences. Additionally, the continued, demonstrated success on the international stage creates opportunities for the development of our young citizens and the establishment of defined career pathways within the local hospitality and tourism sector."
Source:  the Loop, June 27, 2018

Machel Montano has been honoured for his work promoting Caribbean culture.
The soca superstar was honoured on Friday night at the Los Angeles 2nd Annual Caribbean Recognition Day which was held ahead of the Hollywood Carnival parade today.
Montano was honoured along with Puerto Rican actress Jeimy Osorio.
The ceremony was held by Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson in association with the Los Angeles Culture Festival.
In his post on Instagram, Montano expressed thanks for the recognition.
"Flew in from Chicago this morning and made it to City hall just in time. I’m honoured to receive recognition from the City of Los Angeles today on LA's Caribbean Heritage Day!! Come celebrate our heritage all weekend with us at @hollywoodcarnival," he wrote.
Source: The Loop, June 24, 2018

Keshorn Walcott opened his 2018 campaign with gold at a meet in Aanekoski, Finland, on Thursday. The 2012 Olympic champion produced a 78.58 metres effort to claim the men’s javelin title. Walcott took three throws, landing the spear 75.44m, 78.58m and 77.33m. The Trinidad and Tobago throwing star fouled once, and passed on his last two attempts.
Walcott forced Finland’s Jami Kinnunen and Toni Liflander to settle for second and third, respectively. Kinnunen threw 75.50m, and Liflander 72.12m