The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) has invested US$1.6 million into a sustainable land management project at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine.
This initiative was formalised on Monday through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the use of 25 acres at UWI's Orange Grove lands.
Prof Mark Wuddivira, dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, said the partnership aims to establish an integrated land-management model integrating agriculture, forestry and natural-resource management practices.
"This collaboration is set to provide developmental, environmental and food-security benefits across the Caribbean, particularly in territories such as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti and St Lucia."
Wuddivira said the slow pace of innovation and the limited development of environmentally sound climate-resilient technologies is no foreign concept.
He said addressing these gaps would require the design and implementation of climate-resilient food-production systems and regional training exercises.
"The development and implementation of climate-resilient technologies are critical as climate-change impacts intensify.
“Training farmers in these technologies will enhance food-production systems and regional capacity."
PISLM executive director Calvin James underscored the organisation's commitment to aiding Caribbean countries in meeting their obligations under the UN Convention to Combat Land Degradation (UNCCD).
"PISLM's primary project, Soil Care, focuses on updating outdated soil maps and analysing soil carbon content across the Caribbean."
With the project now expanding into phase two, PISLM is set to roll out a $18 million initiative across 14 countries.
James highlighted the importance of the agreement, which provides PISLM access to the 25-acre site at Orange Grove for testing sustainable technologies.
"This partnership enables us to research and identify resilient agricultural technologies, transforming degraded areas and enhancing regional sustainability.
“This collaboration allows us to go into what we call hot spots and test land-regulation technologies to see if they have the capacity to transform degraded areas."
The initiative aims to contribute to the Caribbean's goal of reducing its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. (Source: Newsday, June 19, 2024)

 An eyewitness account of the 1937 Labour Riots in Trinidad.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The air was thick with the smell of burning petrol, the cries of anger, and the promise of change. I was twenty-five years old, a young man working the oil fields in Fyzabad. The discontent that had been simmering for years finally erupted into the madness of 1937.
The oil fields were our lifeblood and our chains. For generations, men like me toiled under the relentless sun, drilling for black gold that enriched foreign hands while we lived in squalor. Our lives were a cycle of labour and poverty, with no end in sight. The colonial masters and local overseers held all the power, and we had none. But something was changing. The whispers of discontent grew louder, and the spark was lit by one man—Tubal Uriah "Buzz" Butler.
Butler was a man of fire and brimstone, his speeches ignited the hope that had long been dormant in our hearts. He spoke of justice, of fair wages, of a future where our children would not be bound by the same chains. On June 19th, a gathering was called in Fyzabad. Hundreds of us, workers from all over Trinidad, assembled to hear Butler speak. The air was electric with anticipation.
As Butler's voice rang out, calling for a strike, a unified cry of agreement rose from the crowd. It was the first time I felt the true power of solidarity. But the colonial authorities were not blind to our gathering storm. They saw Butler as a threat, a trigger that could ignite a full-blown rebellion. As we marched through the streets, demanding our rights, the police confronted us, their guns and batons raised.
The clash was inevitable. I remember the chaos, the sounds of struggle, and the first shot fired. It was like a dam had burst. I saw friends fall, blood staining the earth, but I also saw courage. Men and women who had been beaten down for so long stood tall and fought back. We were no longer silent; our voices rose in unison against the oppression.
In the midst of the riot, I found myself alongside Elma Francois, a woman whose passion for justice matched Butler's. Her presence was a beacon, her words a rallying cry. "We fight for our future!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. Inspired, I fought harder, my anger transforming into a determined force.
The days that followed were a blur of strikes, protests, and clashes with the authorities. The news of our struggle spread like wildfire across Trinidad, and soon, the entire island was gripped by the spirit of resistance. The colonial government, faced with unprecedented unrest, had no choice but to negotiate.
It wasn't an easy victory, and it didn't come without a cost. Lives were lost, and even more were injured. Butler and Francois faced imprisonment, but their sacrifice was not in vain. The riots led to significant changes in labour laws and the formation of trade unions, giving workers like me a voice we had long been denied.
Now, as I look back on that time period, I feel a mix of pride and sorrow. Pride for what we achieved, and sorrow for those who didn't live to see the fruits of our struggle. Labour Day in Trinidad is more than a public holiday; it's a reminder of our resilience, our unity, and the enduring spirit of the people.
Every year, when June 19th comes around, I tell my grandchildren the story of the Labour Riots. I want them to know that the rights we enjoy today were not given, but earned through sweat, blood, and unwavering determination. The flame of 1937 still burns within me, and it is my sincere hope that it kindles one within you.
An excerpt from the personal collection of Joseph Crawford (1987)  (Source:  Sanfernando Community North Library, June 19, 2024)

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Ingredients:
- Ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
- Coconut milk (full-fat)
- Granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- Lime juice (optional, for a hint of acidity)
- Shredded coconut (optional, for added texture)
Instructions:
1. Place the diced mangoes in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the mango puree with coconut milk and granulated sugar. Adjust the amount of sugar to your desired level of sweetness.
3. If using, add a squeeze of lime juice to enhance the mango flavor and add a hint of acidity.
4. For added texture, stir in shredded coconut into the mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a creamy consistency.
6. Once churned, transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until firm.
7. When ready to serve, allow the coconut mango ice cream to sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly before scooping.
8. Scoop the ice cream into bowls or cones and garnish with additional shredded coconut or slices of fresh mango, if desired.
9. Enjoy the tropical flavors of Coconut Mango Ice Cream and savor the taste of summer!

One of the best known names in Caribbean literature, Sam Selvon, was born on May 20th in 1923!
As an author, Selvon is celebrated for his vivid depictions of Caribbean life and stories of West Indian migration. Many of his later writings drew from his experiences as a member of the Windrush generation of Caribbean immigrants to Britain in the 1950s. His book, “The Lonely Londoners” (1956) is still recognized as one of the first novels to incorporate Caribbean dialects in its telling of working-class migrant life in the UK.
Over the years, Selvon authored a number of books, including “Ways of Sunlight” (1957), “Those Who Eat the Cascadura” (1972) and “Moses Ascending” (1975). In 1976, he co-wrote the screenplay for British film “Pressure” with Horace Ové, celebrated as the UK's first Black dramatic feature-length film.
He was a two-time winner of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, a recipient of the Hummingbird Medal (Gold, 1969) and the Chaconia Medal (posthumously, 1994). In the 1980s, Selvon was honoured with degrees from the University of the West Indies (1985) and Warwick University (1989).
Born in San Fernando, Selvon attended Naparima College before serving 5 years in the West Indian Royal Navy (R.N.V.R) during WWII, on ships in the Caribbean. After the War, Selvon worked as a reporter at the Trinidad Guardian Newspaper (1945-1950). He also wrote stories under pseudonyms and had some of his work broadcast by the BBC. Encouraged by this success, he migrated to the UK in 1950 with the manuscript of his first book “A Brighter Sun” (1952).
In London, Selvon worked several jobs, while his short stories were published by various British magazines. He also produced two television scripts for the BBC: “Anansi the Spider Man” and “Home Sweet India.”
Selvon later moved to Canada, where he became a fellow at the University of Dundee, and a professor in creative writing at the University of Victoria.
He passed away on April 16th 1994 in Trinidad. In 2018, on what would have been his 95th birthday, Selvon was honoured by Google with a “Google Doodle”.
This photo is courtesy of the Sunday Guardian newspaper, May 5th 1963, and is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.
(Source: National Archives of T&T, May 20, 2024)

Trinidadian architect-poet Fawzia Muradali Kane has been named as the second prize winner in Britain’s National Poetry Competition for her poem Eric.
The poem was selected from 19,000 poems from 8,841 poets in 110 countries, which were judged anonymously by the poets Jane Draycott, Will Harris and Clare Pollard.
Born in San Fernando, Kane went to the UK on a scholarship to study architecture. She practised as an architect in Trinidad for some years, and now lives in London. Along with Mike Kane she is co-director of KMK Architects.
Most of Kane’s early poetry is in the form of dramatic monologues, mainly in the voice “Tantie Diablesse”, a 300-year-old folklore character who was an enslaved woman from T&T.
“Tantie Diablesse” (Waterloo Press, 2011) is also the name of her first collection, which was a finalist in the poetry section for the 2012 Bocas Lit Fest prize.
Kane’s poetry has been published in journals including Agenda, Brittle Star, Poetry Review, Poetry London, Poetry Wales, and Rialto.
A selection of her poems was published in MPT Profound Pyromania, which focuses on Caribbean poetry. An illustrated long sequence of poems Houses of the Dead was published as a pamphlet by Thamesis Publications in 2014.
More: https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/eric/
(Source: Dominic Kalipersad, May 20, 2024)