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)
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Oshéa Cummings celebrates with her gold medal after winning the U-17 1,500 metres at the Carifta Games on April 20th, 2025 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Photo: NAAATT 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) |
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