By the late Angelo Bissessarsingh. 
​The first organized cricket club in the island was formed in the late 1870s by a group of English colonial officers and planters. The Sovereign Cricket club membership eventually formed what was the genesis of the still-existing Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) in 1891. Five years later, the QPCC acquired the lease on lands which were to become the Queen’s Park Oval which is today one of the best cricketing arenas in the Caribbean. The ethnic composition of the QPCC came under fire in the 1890s. This was an era characterized by anti-colonial sentiments and heightened by the presence of several influential and vocal coloured men who spoke out against old and racially biased stratification of colonial society. One of these agitators in particular, Edgar Maresse-Smith, was pivotal in having Lebrun Constantine accepted into the QPCC as its first non-white member.
Lebrun Constantine was born in Maraval , a district barely a mile outside Trinidad’s capital city of Port-of-Spain on a cocoa plantation where his parents were workers. He worked on a cocoa estate as well in his youth and played cricket in matches held at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain where he quickly established a reputation for being a good batsman. At that time Cricket in Trinidad had not as yet taken on an organized front although one of the most distinguished icons of the game was born in the island.
Lebrun made history as well as being a regular on the Trinidad cricket team from as early as 1893-94. Inter-colonial cricket matches between Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica were then popular and Lebrun was a player in almost every meet after 1899. The first three tournaments were fielded with all-white teams. In 1894, Robert Slade made the first tour of the West Indies with an English cricket team, followed two years later by a team under Arthur Priestly. In the latter tour, the English side came up against an all-West Indian contingent that included Lebrun Constantine and lost. In 1900, R.S.A Warner (brother of Sir Pelham Warner) led the first West Indian touring team to England.
Although not accorded first class status, the West Indians played well. Once again, the lineup included Lebrun Constantine as a batsman and wicket keeper. His batting averages were second in the West Indies team, being 30 for 610. During this tour as well, Constantine made history by becoming the first West Indian to score a century (113 runs) against an English team. In 1906 another tour to England took place of which he was a member. This time he managed to be third in the batting averages. Of his performance in the 1906 tour, the following commentary was given;
"another of the brigade who proved himself very strong on the left side and can bat with power. He fields in the slips and can bowl right arm medium pace if required".
Aside from his prowess as a batsman and wicket keeper, Lebrun was also a fielder of note with his energy and accuracy coming in for high praise. Lebrun Constantine’s last match of his professional career was in a 1923 inter-colonial match against Barbados. This was a landmark event since also in the batting lineup was Lebrun’s son – Learie Nicholas Constantine (21 September 1901 – 1 July 1971) - who rose to become one of the greatest cricketers in history and was later knighted and in 1969 became the first black peer in the House of Lords as Baron Constantine of Maraval in Trinidad and the County Palatine in Lancaster. Another son, Elias (22 May 1912 – 22 May 2003) also became a cricketer of renown, and who played for the West Indies in test matches in the 1930s. Despite his pioneering career he was largely low-profile in his own homeland. Whilst touring with the first West Indian teams, he supported himself as a coachman in the employ of Madame Poleska de Boissiere. Lebrun occasionally made public statements on cricket in the local press but remained mostly private until he died in 1942. 
(Source: Angelo Bissessarsingh's Vitrual Museum of Trinidad & Tobago, September 21, 2023) 

By the time of Columbus’ arrival to the region at the end of the 15th century, the Kalinagos were the main residents of Tobago.
The Kalinago, who were named “Island Caribs” by the Europeans, are believed to have migrated from the Orinoco River area in South America around 1200 AD. Some say that the Kalinago called the island of Tobago “Urupaina,” (meaning “snail” in the Kali’na language) because they thought Tobago’s landscape resembled a large snail.
The Europeans also gave Tobago several names, including Christopher Columbus, who called Tobago “Belaforme” in his writing because “from a distance it seemed beautiful.” From as early as 1511, Spanish records show Tobago recorded under the name “Tabaco,” referencing the tobacco leaves that were grown and smoked by the indigenous inhabitants of the island.
The name also appears as “Tabago” in Dutch and French records.
This photo showing a 1665 Dutch Map of “Tabago”, is courtesy of the National Archives of the Netherlands.
References: Boomert, Arie. The Indigenous Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago: from the First Settlers until Today. Sidestone Press, 2016
Reid, Basil. “The Journal of Caribbean History: Volume 38, Issue 2.” University of the West Indies Press, 2 Mar. 2020.
(Source: The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago, September 13, 2023)

From Blogger Patricia Bissessar
The National pledge is an oath of allegiance or a solemn promise. Reciting the National Pledge in schools is intended to instill a sense of national patriotism and pride amongst our students. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is usually recited immediately after the singing of the National Anthem at the opening and closing of school terms and on special occasions like Independence Day and Republic Day. In the two Government Primary Schools where I served as principal, it was recited by the student body during morning assembly each day.
However, despite this element being so integral to instilling national pride, respect for elders and country, many students are unaware of the person who was responsible for writing our National Pledge or understand what is the purpose of reciting the pledge - and indeed, why they might be pledging allegiance to their Country.
Our National Pledge was written by Marjorie Padmore, musician and pioneer in Educational School Broadcasting was composed for school children and. Marjorie Padmore was also one of a pioneering team of educational broadcasters in the 1960s.The author Marjorie Padmore in the same year composed our National Song “God Bless Our Nation.In both pieces she thought long and hard as to what the words should mean. She was in love with her beloved Trinidad and Tobago a nation now about to start out and she felt pride in its future.
Marjorie, also composed many jingles and rhymes for the Ministry of Education School Broadcasting Unit and was in fact its first female Director .For many years she worked long and hard to set a foundation for the Education system. Many may remember having to listen to the radio during the afternoon of the school day as she taught. Something that our children today seem to have to do once again using different technology. Marjorie was awarded the Hummingbird Medal for her significant contributions to nation building .
(Source: Aspiring Minds T&T and the Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago, Aug 23, 2023)





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Did you know that on August 26th 1962 the Gov't of T &T launched the issue of Independence Saving Bonds to encourage all citizens to invest in the growth and development of our country?
Citizens of T&T were able to purchase Independence Saving Bonds from as low as $10.00 up to $500.00.
Permission has been granted to ABVMTT by Jazad N. Ali author of book " The Stamp Cancelling Machine Slogan Postmarks of Trinidad and Tobago 1923 -2023" to share the following excerpt taken from the book re " Independence Saving Bonds.

​Born Ebenezer Elliot, he was more popularly known a Papa Neezer or Neza. He was a direct descendent of original Merikin settlers George Elliot, on his father’s side, and George Blackwell, on his mother’s side, His parents arrived in Trinidad as "merikins" immigrants and settled in Moruga as free slaves from America.
Born of African American descent, Ebenezar attended the village primary school in Moruga up to seventh standard. He was raised a London Baptist in the Church in the Fifth Company Village, and he remained a devout Baptist and a conscientious Christian all his life. He had a special liking for Shango religion (many worshipers prefer the name Orisha.) , and became an accomplished drummer and adherent to the religion and eventually became an accomplished leader of the religion.
Ebenezar was a family man, who was sociable, charitable, very approachable and because he established undying friendships and acquaintances, he became known as ‘Papa’ or ‘father’.Papa Neezar was 32-years-old when in a dream it was revealed to him that he had special healing powers to cure the sick and cast out evil spirits. Legend has it that while asleep in his garden one night a snake passed over him causing him no harm. He interpreted this as being bestowed with spiritual powers to give guidance to others for life issues and problems.
Described as a dynamic person, he was well known for his prophecies using the ‘Obi Seed’ and bible passages (especially the Psalms) which he would use according to his revelations. All his ceremonies and rituals in the various manifestations of his spiritual powers began with paying homage to his ancestors.To Papa Neezar and his Orisha-worshiping followers ritual sacrifice was an important part of their beliefs and practices Animals, particularly chickens and goats, was often offered as sacrifices in situations such as serious illness or misfortune.After performing the rituals the meat from the sacrificed animals would then be cooked and distributed to the villagers. Fruits and vegetables are used frequently and are pleasing to the particular Orisha spirits. Papa Neezar did much to promote his religion and was very influential in the construction of a modern church in his community.
According to Ms. Leonis Roberts, his granddaughter, he was not an Obeah man, but a helper and healer. "Obeah" she said “is not about doing bad from the long-time point of view but it was about helping people. He never took money, was not about the money."
Papa Neezar fell ill and died at the San Fernando General Hospital on January 8, 1969.He was buried at the Third Company Baptist Church cemetery in Lengua. Long after his death historians discovered a turine (a large jar for mixing concoctions), morocoy shell, flambeaux, various sizes of clay bottles, a large black Bible, a corn mill and several items that can be found in an alchemist shop. In Moruga his name is still revered as a man of spiritual powers.

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He was John Archer, a notorious, habitual criminal during the early years of the 20th century.
A former soldier with the Second West India Regiment in his native Barbados, Archer arrived in Trinidad in 1887 as a stowaway on a ship, after fleeing the Panama Canal where he had gone to work but landed in trouble.
He continued his violent ways in Trinidad where he was an alcoholic known for frequent street fights and use of obscene language.
By the time Archer tallied up 119 convictions, he was called by the nickname "Bad John". Even a 1902 Mirror report on one of his court trials said he was "better known as 'Bad John’."
Despite his reputation, Archer, a wharf worker, was credited with saving three persons from drowning in the muddy depths of the Port of Spain harbour.
Ironically, Archer drowned in 1916. He was believed to be aged 62.
Sources:
Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago by Lise Winer
Freddie Kissoon, Newsday, 2010
Photo: John “Bad John” Archer, Argo Newspaper, 1913
(Source: Dominic Kalipersad, January 16, 2020)