Shenelle Ramkhelawan is the new Miss Supranational Trinidad and Tobago.
The 29-year-old beauty from La Romaine triumphed over 17 other contestants to claim the national title over the weekend.
Ramkhelawan is a Senior Network Engineer at Republic Bank Limited. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Project Management at the University of the West Indies.
She will represent Trinidad and Tobago next month in Malopolska, Poland, where she will compete against more than 80 women from around the world in hopes of succeeding Harashta Haifa Zahra of Indonesia as Miss Supranational 2025.
Meanwhile, Le Vaun Oliver is the new Mr Supranational T&T.
Oliver hails from Arima.
He competed against  Richard Noel – Mister Valencia and Cryss Downes – Mister Rio Claro to succeed Anderson Subero as Mister Supranational Trinidad and Tobago.
The Mister Supranational competition is set for 28 June 2025 in Poland.
(Source:The Loop, May 6, 2025)

With the global rise in popularity of our national instrument, the sweet sounds of the steelpan have become increasingly familiar, thanks to faithful members of our diaspora who act as good stewards of the culture to ensure that it is preserved and shared.
One such individual is Wanda Atkins, president of Calyps’Atlantic, a steelpan ensemble based in the Western French city of Nantes.
The isolation of the pandemic pushed Atkins to start thinking about using the internet as a medium to foster camaraderie between the disparate groups, and thus, the French Panorama was born.
Now in its fourth year, the online event is still going strong and on April 26, roughly 300 players from eight bands across different cities show their skills and compete against each other with original arrangements and evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges both from T&T and abroad.
This year’s lineup of judges includes Panorama’s first female title holder, veteran pannist and arranger, Michelle Huggins-Watts, former National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO) artistic director and conductor Akua Leith, Northern Illinois University School for the Arts Steelband Director Yuko Asada and steelpan recording artist, Yoshihiro Harada, the first Japanese national to play in a T&T band. In previous years, American-born jazz musician and steelband arranger Andy Narell, Panograma founder Nevin Roach and half of DnK Steel, Danielle George were among those on the judging panel.

Atkins spoke of the pushback she initially received after floating the idea to some colleagues in the French pan fraternity, saying that while they seem to love playing the instrument, getting the French players to associate music-making with competition was another thing entirely. The French, she explained, don’t view music as a competitive activity in the way that they do with sports.
“People were against it,” she admitted, surmising that she “must have talked to the right people,” as everything started getting off the ground not long afterward.
The members of the French bands, while mostly from mainland France with a few hailing from the French West Indies, are not all newcomers to the instrument. Although many of them learned to play the instrument by rote, others are more seasoned musicians who have visited Trinidad and played with local bands—including Hadco Phase II Pan Groove and WITCO Desperadoes, among others—over the years.
Keeping close to the culture
The bands, although based in France, do not operate in a creative vacuum; rather, they remain very much connected to pan culture, keeping their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in Trinidad and Tobago, which allows them to ensure that their repertoire is up-to-date. Collaboration with veteran Trinbagonian arrangers and pan tuners is part of this effort. Multiple Panorama title holder, pannist and arranger Duvone Stewart is one such collaborator—he’s served as the band’s artistic director since 2003 and facilitates in-person workshops a few times a year. (You can read more about Stewart’s work with Calyps’Atlantic here.)
For the love of pan
With the event still in its nascent stages, there are no cash prizes for the winners; rather, the champions take home a trophy and earn bragging rights as those who managed to make the best impression on the experienced judges. But the event’s small budget aside, there’s more to the prize not being a monetary one—the French Panorama wasn’t created with the aim of fostering a competitive spirit around pan-playing, but rather to encourage cultural exchange and ambassadorship, build inter-group camaraderie and offer a virtual bridge for members of the various groups to share their love of the instrument where city lines and the business of transporting the instruments present logistical and financial hindrances.
Atkins and the team at Calyps’Atlantic managed to pull off an in-person meeting of the bands only once so far, last May. In the cool warmth of spring, some 14 bands assembled for Pan’Fest, a free, open-air event that offered eager audiences arrangements of soca, calypso, as well as pop and soul numbers, showcasing the versatility of the instrument. Stewart attended as a guest of honour and spoken word artist and poet Anthony Joseph and his band wrapped up the evening.
Good weather, delicious food—including a doubles stand run by Paris-dwelling Trini couple Carla and Justin Audroing—and sweet music made the day a success, however, it was an expensive, herculean undertaking to get all the bands in the same place. Atkins hopes to repeat this in subsequent years, perhaps even to have an in-person Panorama in the coming years.
Her goal is to ensure that the French overseas territories are also included. It’s been more of a challenge to get the bands from the French West Indies to participate, however, this year, Reunion Island will be represented, and Atkins considers that a great start, considering the level of coordination across different time zones and cultures.
In the end, an aspect of the French desire for non-competition remained in the concept, and the event has two categories, judged and non-judged, with participants free to choose which they enter.
“A lot of people feel very intimidated to do it,” Atkins said. “So it would be a shame not to actually give them the possibility [to participate].”
A bridge back home
The first American-born child in a Trinbagonian family, Atkins spent most of her childhood in Connecticut, where she was introduced to music at a young age.
“Piano saved me,” she said, recalling her school days in the US when she was faced with bullying and turned to the piano and the clarinet, among other instruments, as an escape.
Leaving the music behind in early adulthood, it caught up to her when she relocated to Nantes in 1993 after her uncle sent her a tenor pan.
“After I received the pan, everything changed,” she shared.
The unique gift pushed Atkins to go in search of community in her new home, and with her musical background, she couldn’t accept such a gift and not use it.
“I couldn’t just keep it in a box somewhere.”
Atkins soon reawakened her musical side, joining the ranks of Calyps’Atlantic and finding community with the group that she is still a part of some 15 years later.
She said that playing pan serves as a bridge back to the place she calls home, which, interestingly, isn’t Connecticut, but Roxborough and Arima, the places that have given her an appreciation for culture, a love of music, and the identity she wears with pride. She makes an effort to visit every year, immersing herself in the large families that welcome her with every trip.
Through her work with Calyps’Atlantic and her organisation of the annual event, Atkins continues to maintain that bridge, expanding it a little further each year.
She is proud of the work she’s done and is grateful to the many collaborators who join her in celebrating her home culture, who believe in the project and continue to help bring it to fruition. She revels in the atmosphere of community encouraged by the love of the instrument.
“I see all the connections being made,” Atkins said, “It’s tradition, it’s identity. I can’t leave this behind.”
The French Panorama will be broadcast live on their YouTube channel on April 26 at 2pm (Trinidad)/8pm (France) and will be available for viewing afterward.
Check out the channel for interviews with the judges and performances from previous years and their Instagram page for updates.
(Story by Tevin Gall, The Loop, April 3, 2025)

​Nelson Island is one of a cluster of size small islands called the Five Islands located in the Gulf of Paria approximately 2.5 kilometres due south of Chaguaramas. Nelson Island holds so many stories of our historical past.
Firstly, the island was supposedly used as a trading post by the First Peoples before the 15th century trans-Atlantic contact period
From the 1820's, the islands were given out as grants for holiday homes for the British elite living in Trinidad. It was named after Dr. Neilson, who was granted the land. The island was previously known as Stephenson's Island and was used as a garrison in the early 1800s . According to an article posted by National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago it was eventually renamed for Dr Neilson, when the grant was taken back.
Later on in the in the 19th and early 20th century the tiny island served as disembarkation point and quarantine station for East Indian indentured servants to Trinidad. On arrival at Nelson Island everything,including the ship, immigrants their belongings and foodstuff were inspected and fumigated. The East Indian immigrants who were brought to serve as indentured servants on sugar estates in Trinidad after the quarantine period were then transported in small boats to Port of Spain and then dispatched to various sugar estates.
Did you know that the first ship to enter Nelson Island was the Humber on Wednesday December 26, 1866? The Humber brought 473 immigrants from India which brought 473 east indian immigrants: 329 men, 84 women, 32 boys and 14 girls ? Records pertaining to that voyage indicates that of this number 25 immigrants unfortunately, did not survive the journey. Nelson Island, a limestone islet in the group known as the Five Islands off Port of Spain harbour became to Trinidad what Ellis Island was to New York City- a gateway to a new life for an alien people.( Angelo Bissessarsingh , 2010)
In World War Two, the island served as a naval station for the United States Navy, an internment camp for enemy alien internees and a detention centre for labour leader Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler. The island was again used as a detention center 1970 to house 50 individuals associated with Trinidad’s Black Power Revolution. '
Today Nelson Island is listed as one of our heritage sites by the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago who offer tours to interested persons wanting to visit this historical site.
Photo : Nelson Island circa 1940
Credit to following sources:
Nelson Island- Indentureship’s Gateway to Trinidad. Author : Angelo Bissessarsingh
Nelson Island and Indian Indentureship in Trinidad.” The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Five Islands article written by LESLIE-ANN PAUL of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago published in Newsday Wednesday 29 April 2020

After a year-long hiatus, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF), one of the Caribbean’s most influential platforms for regional cinema, is making a dynamic return in 2025 under new leadership – and it’s calling on Caribbean filmmakers to submit their work for this year’s showcase.
In a media release, award-winning filmmaker and new festival director, Mariel Brown says she is heartened by the response to the festival’s return from filmmakers, audience members and supporters of the TTFF. “It feels like there is genuine excitement and energy around this year’s festival,” she said, remarking that supporters have been reaching out to her and the TTFF Advisory Group to express their excitement at the festival’s presence.
“We’ve had a phenomenal response so far. Submissions are up by 40 per cent compared to the last submission period in 2023,” Brown said. “We’re on track to receive over 340 submissions, a clear sign that Caribbean storytelling is burgeoning.”
Under the management of Savant Ltd, the revitalised TTFF is placing a bold emphasis on regional identity and diversity. A new programming team has been appointed, with a clear mandate to spotlight films from the English, Spanish, Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean, the release said.


“We are unapologetically Caribbean,” Brown affirmed. “It’s a declaration which underscores the chutzpah and dynamism of the developing Caribbean film scene over the last decade and a half and the festival’s role within it.”
Brown stressed the importance of representation and visibility for Caribbean people, noting that local audiences have long consumed international content without seeing themselves reflected on screen.
“There’s something deeply powerful about seeing – and hearing ourselves, our language, our music – our lives portrayed in authentic ways.
“That’s what TTFF has always championed: telling our stories to our community, for our community.”
This year’s festival, its 19th edition, will feature 80 films, each screened at least twice to maximise audience engagement and ensure filmmakers receive the exposure they deserve.
The festival will run from September 24-30 in Woodbrook, Port of Spain.
In a move to deepen its regional and international impact, TTFF has also brought on an advisory group comprising leading creative and industry professionals, including: Melanie Archer – award-winning designer and curator (TT), Leslie Fields-Cruz – executive director of Black Public Media (USA), Kareem J Mortimer – executive producer and award-winning filmmaker (The Bahamas/ USA) Renee Robinson – international film industry expert and former film commissioner (Jamaica) and Donna N Thomas – senior business consultant (TT), the release said.
“These are people with deep roots in film, design, business, and international markets. Their expertise is helping to shape the future of the festival,” Brown said.


Since its founding in 2005 by film historian, academic and producer Dr Bruce Paddington, TTFF has remained committed to showcasing Caribbean cinema. It has been instrumental in launching the careers of many of the region’s acclaimed filmmakers, such as Jamaica’s Storm Saulter and Gabrielle Blackwood; Kareem Mortimer and Maria Govan from The Bahamas, Bruno Mourral (Haiti), Vashti Anderson (TT/ USA), Ian Harnarine (TT/ Canada) and Damian Marcano (TT).
“In a very real way, the TTFF has served as a launchpad for the Caribbean film industry. It has spotlighted the region as a hub for creativity and cinematic excellence,” said Brown.
Filmmakers interested in submitting their work can do so via FilmFreeway by May 12.
Follow TTFF on social media: @ttfilmfestival (Instagram, Twitter and Threads); ttfilmfestival.com.
(Source: Newsday May 9, 2025)

Each year in May, we shower our mothers with flowers, gifts, and gratitude but how much do we really know about the origins of Mother’s Day? Beyond the greeting cards and brunches lies a rich and sometimes surprising history.
Here are six fascinating facts about Mother’s Day that might just change how you see this heartfelt holiday.
1. Mother’s Day has ancient roots
Although the modern celebration of Mother’s Day as we know it began in the early 20th century, the idea of honouring mothers dates back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans held festivals dedicated to mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele celebrating motherhood and fertility. These festivals involved offerings, feasts, and rituals to honour maternal figures.
2. The modern Mother’s Day was started by a peace activist
The Mother’s Day we know today was championed by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century. After her own mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis campaigned to create a national holiday to honor mothers for their service and sacrifice. Interestingly, her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, had organized “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to improve health and sanitation, and even promoted peace after the Civil War.
3. Mother’s Day was initially a religious observance
Before becoming a secular holiday, Mother’s Day was originally a religious observance. In the United States, it was linked to church services and prayer. Anna Jarvis herself wanted Mother’s Day to be a day for churchgoing, prayer, and quiet reflection on the importance of motherhood, rather than commercial festivities.
4. Anna Jarvis later fought against the holiday’s commercialization
Ironically, Anna Jarvis grew to despise the very holiday she helped create. She was dismayed by the commercialization of Mother’s Day greeting cards, floral arrangements, and candy sales felt like an insult to the sincerity she intended. She even filed lawsuits and organized boycotts, hoping to return the holiday to its original purpose.
5. Mother’s Day became official in 1914
After years of campaigning, Anna Jarvis finally saw her dream realized when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914, declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in the United States. It quickly gained popularity and was adopted in various forms around the world.
6. It’s celebrated differently around the world
Although the sentiment is universal, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates and in unique ways across the globe. In Ethiopia, families gather for a multi-day festival called Antrosht, filled with food, dancing, and storytelling. In Thailand, Mother’s Day is observed on August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, and includes parades and public ceremonies.

​White Hall, originally called Rosenweg, the largest of the private homes on Maraval Road, was built in 1904 by Joseph Leon Agostini, a cocoa planter. Construction commenced in 1904 in accordance with Mr. Agostini’s own design, influenced by a Moorish Mediterranean style and reminiscent of the architecture of Corsica from where the Agostini family originated. Construction took three years.
After J. L. Agostini's death in 1906 his family remained in residence until 1910. Unable to meet mortgage payments, the mortgagee, William Gordon Grant, foreclosed. Thee property was then sold to Mr. Robert Henderson, an American businessman from Venezuela. During his ownership, a delightful variety in the furnishings of the interior was added to the refined dignity of the exterior. The Henderson family renamed it White Hall after the white coral stone from which it is built.
During the Second World War, with the arrival of the United States Forces in Trinidad, White Hall was commandeered from the Siegert family, heirs of Robert Henderson, as the headquarters of the Air Raid Precaution. In 1944, the British Council rented the building as a cultural centre. Later, the Trinidad Central Library, Regional Library, National Archives, Government Broadcasting Unit, Trinidad Art Society and the Cellar Club all rented or occupied space in the building. From 1949, the building remained empty until 1954, when it was purchased by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1957 White Hall was occupied by the Pre-Federal Interim Government prior to the establishment of the West Indies Federation in 1958. In 1963, it became the Office of the Prime Minister occupied by the Hon. Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister after Independence.
Restored in 2000, White Hall continued to be occupied by the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago until 2009.
Further restoration was completed in August 2019 . (Source: Angelo Bissessarsingh's Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago, May 10, 2025. Credit to author Geoffrey MacLean)

Trinidad and Tobago’s junior athletes wrapped up their campaign at the 2025 Carifta Athletics Championships on home soil with a total of 25 medals.
Over the course of three days, the athletes secured nine gold, six silver, and ten bronze medals—just shy of last year’s tally of 27 (four gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze).
Trinidad and Tobago’s best finish at the regional athletics championships came in the 2005 edition, held in Tobago, when the team captured 13 gold, 14 silver, and nine bronze medals.

Jamaica finished atop the medal table with 78 medals, including 30 golds, while The Bahamas claimed 37, mirroring last year’s top three standings.
Some standout performances for Team TTO included Christopher Sammy, who claimed gold in the Boys Under-17 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres. Tobagonian junior distance runner Oshéa Cummings won gold in the Girls Under-17 1,500 metres and bronze in the 3,000 metres.
Tyrique Vincent made history by becoming the first Carifta champion in the Boys Under-20 decathlon. He amassed 6,522 points across ten events, narrowly edging out Grenada’s Jurel Clement, who earned 6,510 points for his efforts. 
Vincent’s sister, Tenique, also delivered a strong performance, winning the Girls Heptathlon Open with a total of 4,019 points.
Dylan Woodruffe stormed to a silver medal in the Boys Under-20 100 metres, clocking a personal best of 10.30 seconds.
In the 4×100 metre relays, Trinidad and Tobago earned three bronze medals and one silver. (Source: The Loop, April 22, 2025)