In celebration of International Chocolate week, Britain’s luxury retail store, Harrods will feature a range of chocolates from around the world.
Included in the special collection will be chocolate from Trinidad and Tobago: The Trinidad & Tobago Single-Estate Chocolate Box, available from today, October 10.
Unlike the other packages which feature the origin of the chocolate from a country, the T&T chocolate will be the only one to feature the cocoa plantations from which the chocolate originates – La Reunion, Ortinola, Aripo and Tableland. There will only be 1000 boxes of the limited edition chocolates available.
“Harrods has partnered with the Trinidad & Tobago Cocoa Company to launch an extra-special chocolate treat. Available to buy soon in-store and online, the Trinidad & Tobago Single Estate Chocolate Box contains four unique chocolate bars which are almost too good to share! Despite being made from the same type of bean – called the ‘Trinitario’ – each bar has a unique flavour and is named after the estate at which the cocoa was harvested,” Harrods wrote on its website.

​The distinction of having four Trinidadian estates featured, in addition to being in the prestigious Harrods, is a major accomplishment for Ashley Parasram, the director of the Fine Cocoa Company.
For Parasram, this achievement, following two years of discussion, is a testimony to the strides that have been made in cocoa and chocolate production in recent years.
“If your quality is not right, your quality is not in place and you get into a big market and give someone salmonella then you are done. If you follow through everything and don’t cut corners then you can get access to different markets,” he told Loop during a visit to his company located in the compound of the Cocoa Research Centre in Centeno where the La Reunion estate is based.
The First Cocoa Processing Facility
The Fine Cocoa Company, which has the country’s first cocoa processing facility, has been positioned to lead Government efforts to regulate the burgeoning chocolate industry.
Parasram, who said he was working internationally in sustainable development, was inspired to start the company six years ago when the then British High Commissioner mentioned that while T&T had the best cocoa but it was facing a failing industry.
The company spent the first three years assessing the industry and understanding its needs.
“We spent three years getting data then we built a facility,” said Parasram.
They entered into a public/private partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government under which they share their processing facilities with other cocoa producers.
The facility has the capacity to process 50 tonnes per annum. T&T processes on average 500 tonnes of cocoa per annum.
“We offer affordable processing and chocolates. We produce in volumes that allow for lower prices. We found out that bulk cocoa is one third the cost of local cocoa. Our cocoa is three times the price so our cocoa will never come down to the low prices but we’ve chosen the size of machines carefully to give economies of scale,” explained Arvind Mahabirsingh, Operations Director.

​In the facility, beans are screened and roasted. Mary Ethen-Gray, the Food Technologist, creates a roasting profile based on the moisture, size of bean, load and client requirements. From roasting the beans are placed in a winnower which disposes of the shells.
The beans are then placed in a pregrinder and can then be taken to a conche machine which breaks down the grains into cocoa liquor to be made into chocolate, pressed cocoa butter or powder.
The chocolate is refrigerated and stored for further use.
Setting standards for the industry
More than a chocolate producer, the Fine Cocoa Company is also co-sponsor of a programme designed to boost the industry.
The project, Improving Marketing and Production of Artisanal Cocoa from Trinidad and Tobago (IMPACTT) was started in 2016 and is a joint venture with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Cocoa Research Centre of the University of the West Indies.
The aim of the project is to establish standards across the industry.
“It is a very fragmented sector with varying degrees of quality and scale so what we are trying to do with the development project is setting standards. We are on a very steep learning curve,” said Parasram.
 “We are in a period of transition from the Cocoa Board to the Cocoa Company and there is a lot of uncertainty. With this project, we want to give farmers a checklist and give them guidance. We want to tell farmers that their beans are over fermented or if there is fungus,” he explained.
With the processing facility at the core of the project, Parasram noted, that now more than ever, farmers can see the results of their hard work.
“They weren’t getting feedback to improve their process and this is very important to the industry. When you taste the product you understand why you need to change the process,” he said.
IMPACTT, he said, will improve everything from farm to table with improved standards in packaging, labelling, storage and shipments, among other aspects.
There are currently eight plantations under the IMPACTT project. Parasram estimates that in five years there would be 40 with tractability.
Award-winning chocolate
Noting that the Fine Cocoa Company is still in growth stage, Mahabirsingh said there are a number of new chocolate producers who buy their product to make chocolate. The company also supplies industrial chocolate which acts as a base for some chocolate producers.
As producers, the Fine Cocoa Company produces chocolate bars, cocoa powder, nibs and cocoa butter. Their chocolates range from 50 to 70 percent cocoa.
The company is known for its attractive and clever steelpan tin packaging.
“We needed something to stand out and act as an ambassador. We aren’t really selling chocolate, we are selling T&T,” said Parasram.
The Steelpan design, launched in London last year, was awarded two silver awards by the London Academy of Chocolate in July.
Satisfied that their efforts have paid off where processing, quality and packaging are concerned, the Fine Cocoa Company is now turning its attention to marketing.
While penetrating foreign markets is top of the list through partnerships with the likes of Chef Gordon Ramsey, there is also a major focus on local market expansion.
“We have not been exposed to chocolate made from our cocoa. Our cocoa is well suited to dark chocolate but we have been accustomed to sweet chocolate which we have to change. It requires a nationwide effort and even Government intervention,” said Parasram.
“We have made significant inroads into the food sector with five or six chefs using our products,” he said.
Source: The Looptt 

Our Amerindians were the earliest people to settle in Trinidad and Tobago and as such are celebrated as the First Peoples, the Indigenous Peoples of our twin-island nation. There were two periods of migration into the Caribbean from Central and South America: the archaic period from around 5000BC – 200BC and the saladoid period from around 500BC – 600AD.
There has been a continuous Amerindian presence in Trinidad for almost 11,000 years. However, Tobago’s Amerindian history is very different from that of Trinidad. The earliest settlement in Tobago dates back to about 3500BC but this is thought to have been a short-lived satellite settlement from Trinidad. Permanent Amerindian occupation of Tobago began around 0AD with the Kalina and Kalinago and continued until 1810AD when these peoples abandoned the island to settle in north and east Trinidad.
By the time Christopher Columbus arrived on our shores in 1492, our Amerindian population is thought to have been around 40,000, although population estimates as high as 200,000 have been submitted. The population included eight (8) ethnic peoples belonging to three language families.

• The Waraowitu and the Chaguanes who spoke Warao
• The Aruaca and Sheba who spoke Arawak
• The Nepuyo, Yao and Karina all of whom spoke the Carib language
• The Kalinago or Island Carib of Tobago who spoke an Arawakan language

We, descendants of our First Peoples still live in Trinidad. We continue to fight for and defend our way of life. Our ancestors owned and named our world. Many of these names have survived to date.

• Natural features such as Tapana, Nariva and the Aripo mountains; the Aripo and Tamana Caves; the Caroni, Oropouche and Ortoire rivers
• Place names including Arima, Paria, Salybia, Caura, Arouca, Tacarigua, Chaguanas, Carapichaima, Couva, Chacachacare, Mucurapo, Guaico, Caratal, Guayaguayare , Mayaro and others
• Plants and animals such as carat and timite palms, tobacco, cacao, ceiba (silk cotton tree), maize, manicou, agouti, lappe and many more
• Many of our present towns and villages are built on ancient Amerindian settlement sites
• Some of our roads are built on old Amerindian trails. These include the Tumpuna Road in Arima and part of the Siparia-Quinam road

Parang, utilizing both Spanish and Amerindian instruments emanated from the evangelization of the Amerindians. Arima and Siparia, two large Amerindian mission towns have given us our two oldest festivals: The Santa Rosa festival and La Divina Pastora. We continue to enjoy the foods that our ancestors enjoyed such as wild meat, cocoa, cassava, roucou, corn, maize and warap. Similar to our Amerindian forbears we barbecue our meats and season them with chardon beni (cilantro). We too relax after eating in a hammock.
Source:  ​http://www.santarosafirstpeoples.org/the-legacy-of-the-first-peoples-of-trinidad-and-tobago/

for the first time since 1986, beaten by Trinidad and Tobago.  Read about it here

​Clive Pantin stands like a giant among men, he is respected and revered and with that in mind the Fatima College graduating class of 1975 has presented him with a DVD of his life. 
The one-hour video—Answering the Call… a tribute to Clive Pantin—was aired among a select group of past teachers, graduates and principals of Fatima College at the College Hall on Wednesday evening. 
In the presence of his family, former Fatima College principal Pantin heard his ex-pupils, friends and fellow-teachers speak of him in glowing terms. 
Answering the Call unveils the distinguished life of Pantin and his contribution to Fatima College and beyond. He is seen as an accomplished educator, father, husband, sportsman and government minister. 
Throughout the video, his peers, some former teachers and some former pupils speak about his many achievements, among them businessman Gerry Hadeed, who moved from St Mary's to Fatima College; Roy Huggins, Van Stewart, Maurice Brash, Harry Rodriguez, Bruce Paddington, Conrad Aleong, Stephen Almandoz and Thornton Garcia. 
Kathy Garcia was the first female member of staff at Fatima (1971) and she spoke highly of Pantin and so too did the first two female teachers, Jeanette Zakour now Elias and Daphne Haywood (1972). 
Other people making contributions on the video are present principal Fr Gregory Augustine; Fr Gerard Farfan, who was vice-principal with Clive Pantin; Glen Roach; Ray Holman; the principals of Mucurapo Senior and East Secondary, along with outstanding sportsmen Everald "Gally" Cummings and Brian Charles Lara, both ex-Fatima students. 
Pantin's son, Bernard, also gave comments and said his family felt they had to share the 600 pupils from Fatima with their dad. 
Pantin served as principal of Fatima from 1972 to 1981, during which time the school became the leader in audio and visual technology. 
As a top sportsman, Pantin was a footballer, cricketer and hockey player. And he was a dean, senior dean, senior lay minister, football and cricket coach, vice-principal and principal of Fatima. 
He became the first lay principal of the school, which was previously led by a priest from the Holy Ghost Fathers from its inception in 1945. 
It is said that his dynamic personality infected pupils and teachers alike and is responsible for the love and respect he gained throughout his teaching career. 
Pantin's journey into politics was not the best, having lost the seat he contested on a few occasions, but he says he will do it all over again if given the chance, describing it as "The will of God". 
He became the minister of education under the NAR administration (1986) and is regarded as one of the best ever. 
After politics, Pantin continued to serve the people with the formation of the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL), which distributes food and clothing to the underprivileged. 
Once again he devoted his life to FEEL, just as he was devoted to Fatima. 
Peter Charles of Fatima's graduating class of 1975 said the tribute to Clive Pantin is for the young pupils of Fatima to see and know their former principal and the contribution he made, not only to the college but to society.
Source:  Trinidad Express Sept 30, 2017

​Veteran masman Edmond Hart died yesterday at the age of 94.
Hart died at the San Fernando General Hospital after falling ill on Thursday night.
His passing was announced on the Harts Carnival website yesterday. The mas band said, “At this time, we sincerely appreciate all the kind words and prayers from our family, friends and fellow masqueraders.”
Hart started his Carnival band in 1960 with his then wife Lil. Hart, originally from San Fernando was a part of bands with Harold Saldenah and Bobby Ammon. Their first band of the year title came in 1966 with the band Playing Cards, followed by four more titles with Inferno (1970), Mas Sweet Mas (1983), Islands in the Sun (1986) and Out of this World (1988). In 1973, Edmund Hart received the Humming Bird Gold Medal for his contribution to Carnival development.
David Lopez, head of the National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA) said “the old veterans are going one by one,” referring to the passing of bandleader Neville Aming at 95, last week.
Lopez said Hart was one of the first bandleaders to be involved in a bandleaders association. “He, along with George Bailey and Neville Aming were among the first to approach Dr Eric Williams about the formation of what was the Carnival Bandleaders Association.”
“His contribution to Carnival was really great along with his wife Lil. They were really artists who loved what they were doing,” he said.
Lopez said the NCBA has honoured the Harts by naming the Small Band of the Year trophy after Lil Hart who died in 1991.
“They were making mas in the days when you had creativity in Carnival when they didn’t have all that money. His legacy is with his children, the Harts new generation.
“On behalf of the NCBA, we extend condolences to the Hart family. T&T will be ever grateful to him and his wife for the contribution they made to Carnival.”
Edmond Hart leaves behind his wife, Judy, six children Karen, Maritza, Thais, Aixa, Luis and Gerald, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Source:  Guardian, September 30, 2017

YET ANOTHER Trini has made it to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
The Fyzabad native, Vera Seurattan climbed with the aim of inspiring others to achieve their dreams.
She said: “I want children to see that despite whatever circumstances they are living in, that great things can be achieve and that they should dream big.”
Seurattan, an air traffic controller based in South Korea, began her journey on September 6 and completed it by September 14.
Originally from Mon Desir Road, Seurattan attended the Erin Road Presbyterian Primary School and moved to the United States with her parents and brother.
The solo adventurer said she never thought the trip would become a reality, but pushed herself given that she was close to Nepal.
“I got very excited because historic places have always interested me and Kathmandu in Nepal has seven UNESCO World Heritage sites alone. Nepal has a total of 10. After my nine day trek, I have three free days which I plan to utilize in exploring the temples in Kathmandu. Aside from successfully trekking to Base Camp, I'm most looking forward to eating some good Indian food as I've been away from my mother's cooking for about a year,” she said.
Seurattan joked about finding the Trini local cuisine of “doubles” or channa and buss-up-shot roti during her travel to Nepal.
She said she never had any aspirations to become a mountain climber and was never a fan of hiking or trekking, but after doing research, she felt compelled to plan a trip to Kathmandu which quickly spiralled into a Mouth Everest trekking trip.
“I reasoned that it would be a once in a life time opportunity and it'd be unwise to pass it up. It's also quite a thing to cross off my bucket list. At this stage in my life I realize that I'm unlikely to find major epiphanies or divine inspiration on the mountain. However, I hope to experience something outside all that I've experienced so far in my life. The Nepalese people are known for their generosity and kindness. I simply hope to see a lot of smiling faces on the trekking route and in the villages I stop in overnight.
For me travel is important because it is easy to become jaded with the routine of everyday work and life demands.Travel allows for a respite from these things and it often puts things into perspective and your big problems become more insignificant.
Everyone is born an explorer I believe, and while I might have been glued to my mother's, aunt's and grandmothers hips as a young child I still found time to explore. My fondest memories of my time living in Trinidad are of exploring in both of my grandfather's land and climbing the plum and mango trees with my cousins. Every time I am back in Trinidad, I make time to return to the land and explore because it is what makes me feel most connected to the Earth.”
Speaking about the trip, she excitedly recalled the events.
Though she fell violently ill due to altitude sickness, one of the more hilarious things, she said she entered was having to dodge yak droppings.
She said: “It was an incredible, once in a lifetime trip. I suffered from symptoms of altitude sickness starting on day three and did not feel better until day seven of nine once I had reached a sufficiently low altitude. I suffered from headaches and nausea. I was pretty miserable once I got to Everest Base Camp, the symptoms had taken out all of the excitement from me. I simply wanted to get the task done.
After talking about it with my trek guide and fellow trek companion Alberto Maria Caputo, an Italian from Rome, I found I was quite proud of myself for completing it because they were quite worried about me not making it. I had no idea. They kept it a secret until after I was feeling better to tell me they had been a bit worried.
I must mention that I am most impressed by the Yak. I would pause to watch them go by every time. They are amazing animals who do a great service to the mountains and its people. They are graceful and majestic animals that quietly move goods and materials up the mountains. They wear bells around their necks that make the most harmonious sounds. I brought five yak bells to take home with me. I promised at least one to my mother (in lieu of gold earrings).
The entire trail, except for the last three hours to Everest Base Camp, is littered with yak droppings which I was excited to find out they also call gobar in Nepal, just like in Trinidad. You really have to be careful to steer clear of the droppings that are everywhere. I found it quite comforting to see though, since I'm pretty much in love with yaks now.”
Seurattan said she hopes to continue mountain climbing but may opt for a less challenging route next time.
“As far as future trekking goes, I hope to convince my brother to accompany me to trek the Inca Trail in Peru that leads up to Machu Picchu. It is much more simple than the approximately 75 mile round trip trek of Everest Base Camp and only has a max altitude of 2680 metres. I am looking forward to something a little less challenging,” she said.
​Source: Express news September 19

Queen Street in Port of Spain will officially be renamed tomorrow to Queen Janelle Commissiong Street in recognition of her being named the first woman of colour to win the Miss Universe beautiy pageant crown.
Fondly known as ‘Penny’, she won the title and fame in 1977. During her reign, Penny was an advocate for black rights and world peace. Commissiong was awarded the Trinity Cross, this country’s then highest award in 1977, and three postage stamps were also issued in her honour. She married Brian Bowen, founder of Bowen Marine, who died in an accident in November 1989. After his death, she married businessman Alwin Chow.
​The council of the Port of Spain City Corporation decided to unveil the sign during a formal ceremony tomorrow at 10 am, and with a parade starting at Picadilly Street, along Queen Street and ending at Richmond Street and culminate at the Government Campus Plaza where Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez will deliver an address.  Follow this link
for an article about Janelle.