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Dark Days by the River

“My mother paid $185 and got the Guardian article on me laminated and framed and she has it hanging in the house like a big ornament,” says Ramcumar Gangadeen of Mayaro. “Some relatives in Fyzabad also laminated a copy.”

Gangadeen was featured in Your Stories as a former drug pusher and addict who is completely reformed now.

“I never expected the Guardian to do a big story like that on me. People who knew about my past were congratulating me and those who did not know were inspired to see the change in me.”

Gangadeen, head deacon at his church, said since the article he got more offers to share his story with young people.

“I am happy knowing my story can help someone.”

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For the Love of my Daughter

Andy Cook, a former supervisor who took up washing cars for an income after he was laid off, got a similar job offer with a reputable company after he was featured on Your Stories.

“Right after the article, the company contacted me through the T&T Guardian. I did the interview and I’m waiting.”

Cook said a top security company also spoke him about a job as a health and safety officer. Sales at the car wash increased right after the story, too, as more customers kept coming to wash their cars there in order to see him, he said. “A lot of people read the story.” 

Cook’s story in the T&T Guardian reportedly reached over a quarter of a million worldwide via Facebook .

“People told me they were inspired by my story and came to talk to me. I told them to keep focussed on the prize. In my case, the prize was my daughter. And pray plenty. In season and out of season.”

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A Leatherback Love Affair

Being featured on Your Stories has given young Kyle Mitchell a greater sense of purpose about his conservation work with leatherback turtles and more determination to protect them.

“I knew there were people who appreciated what I did but I did not know on what scale until the story came out.

“A lot of people responded positively to the story. It’s good to know people appreciate what I do. It makes me feel I am not wasting my time.

“I have a greater sense of purpose about what I do. I really thank the T&T Guardian for considering me worthy to be featured on the newspaper.”

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Woman, 26, battles the land

Young farmer, Shelly Ann Cameron, of North Manzanilla said the Agricultural Development Bank called her right after she was featured on Your Stories offering her a loan to help her cultivate her plot of land.

“I really appreciated the offer but I didn’t take it. I just didn’t want to owe anybody,” Cameron said.

A lot of people called offering her barrels to store water for wetting her plants too, she said.

She said she is planning to grow new crops on her land this rainy season, including ginger.

Most of all, Cameron said she was personally deeply moved by the T&T Guardian’s decision to write her story.

“I laminated a newspaper copy so the paper would not get old and have it there as a reminder to never give up on my dreams, no matter how tough it gets. “It may be looking cloudy now but it will always clearer as you push on. I am not a quitter. I don’t give up so easily,” Cameron said.

“I would love to thank the T&T Guardian for changing my life. People from across the world supported me when they read the story.

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Young Conservationists on mission to rescue Wildlife

“We want to thank the T&T Guardian for spreading the word about our organisation and our cause and helping us get the message further out there,” says young conservationist group, Wildlife and Environmental Protection of T&T (WEPTT).

“The story was well received and, yeah, it did give us a boost,” says Taariq Ali on behalf of WEPTT’s directors.

“The story also gave us the opportunity to clarify not well understood issues relating to wildlife. And this is a major part of our mission; to inform and educate T&T citizens on wildlife in our country.”

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Chow Men

“The fact that the T&T Guardian took the time to look at people on the ground, start ups who can end up big ups, to focus on stories that inspire the youth, is really a good thing,” says Hot Mouth Chow partner, Kavell Forde.

Forde said Hot Mouth Chow, which was based on Main Street, Chaguanas, saw an increase in sales after the T&T Guardian featured him and his business partner, his brother, Johnny Fernando, on Your Stories.

The brothers now have other people operating the Hot Mouth Chow cart in Chaguanas while they are conducting business at a new “branch” in San Fernando.

“We were doing the University of the West Indies once a week but will be selling there twice a week in the new semester,” Forde said.

“We are doing events too. We recently did an all inclusive in La Brea.” Forde said a lot of people saw their story on the T&T Guardian and this helped their business grow. “A lot more people bought our chow because of the story. “There were those who said they were inspired and read the story for young people to motivate them.

“Yeah, the story had a positive impact on us. It really captured who we are and what we are about. Thanks to the T&T Guardian.”

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From Cashier to World Class Cocoa Farmer

After Angela Tang, “65-plus” appeared in Your Stories in February, an excited young woman journeyed to her estate in Gran Couva to meet her. “She was so impressed with the story about me and the Santiago Estate that she wanted to buy cocoa beans to make chocolates and handcream.”

Tang’s story was about her rise from a cashier to a cocoa estate owner and told how her prized beans were being exported to international chocolatiers.   She spoke about the value of Gran Couva’s cocoa and expressed her desire for more people to get into cocoa cultivation.

After the story broke, a lot of people, locally and abroad, read it and were inspired and contacted Tang to find out about cocoa farming.

“I thank the Guardian for giving me the opportunity to encourage others, particularly women who own cocoa land, to get into cultivation or their own small business using cocoa beans.”

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Young Chef aims to be his own Boss

Young chef Keion Dennis' dream to open his own restaurant which would enable him to be his own boss and also provide a friendly place where aspiring chefs can train is on the way to becoming a reality. 

Last month Dennis, who had left former places of employment to branch out on his own, was only selling his pies and bakes and saltfish and plantain at the entrance to the gas station near the Chaguanas flyover, and thinking of his dreams.

However, the very day after he was featured on the T&T Guardian's Your Stories, his fortunes changed. 

"They (people) bombarded people and by nine o' clock I was sold out." Keion said his sales tripled in the coming days and weeks to the point where he has already identified a place in Chaguanas to open his restaurant. "I am in the process of getting it registered and, hopefully, the restaurant will open in about two months.

"Much thanks to the T&T Guardian. I appreciate what you have done for me, making my dream happen faster.

"The article built my confidence, opened a new world of possibilities for me and put me in touch with more people who can advise me on opening a business."

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They call him Mr Mom

“Mr Mom”, Terrence Boodram, who became the sole guardian for his 13-year old son, Kyle, when his wife, Seeta, died at childbirth, said a heavy weight was lifted off his chest after he was featured on Your Stories.

He said Seeta died due to hospital negligence but no one really knew what happened and he carried this weight for 13 years.

“When the details surrounding her death were published, I felt free. People in the community, groups we associated with who did not know about our situation were sympathetic and supportive to me and Kyle. Kyle received more counselling from people after the story.”

Boodram said this has enabled him to perform even better in his role as Kyle’s guardian and brought the two of them even closer together.

“I do appreciate the T&T Guardian for taking the time to patiently sit and listen to my story. It did not only impact us but inspired thousands who read the story.”

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More than a Sno-cone Man

Humble Felicity sno cone vendor, Wesley Basdeo, was the first person to be featured on Your Stories when the column began in December last year. T&T Guardian readers were moved by this sno cone vendor with a difference who, while plying his trade, identified needy children in his community and sought help for them.

Readers from as far as the US said they were brought to tears by Basdeo’s story and pledged to help him in his mission to uplift destitute children. “People from New York and in the Chaguanas community donated money and clothing for the children,’ Basdeo said.

“People who wanted to help but did not have an avenue came to me after the story. The work I did really took off after the T&T Guardian story. The story had a great impact. I thank the T&T Guardian for bringing me out.”

Basdeo said he was even recently approached to contest a local government seat in Charlieville in the upcoming elections and asked to be on the events committee in the Chaguanas West constituency office.

“I declined because I wanted to continue to focus fully on the charity work I do,” he said.

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Osei’s not giving up

Many doors opened for Osei James after he was featured in Your Stories in January. The T&T Guardian wrote James’ story while he was recovering from drug addiction at the Readi Centre in Matura.

He gave up pursuing an engineering degree at the University of T&T (UTT) during his dark days and had strained relations with family members.

Today, James has a full time job at the recording studio, Jam Track Records, is planning to restart his engineering studies at UTT and lives with his brother and an aunt.

“The job is my survival bread and butter right now,” he said, indicating he may change career paths after completing his studies. Vowing he will not go back to a life of drugs, James said he plays guitar with a church band and continues to share his positive story.

“I thank the T&T Guardian for helping me share my story with others so they can know there is hope.”

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A Battle won just for her Daughter

Samantha John's burning desire to share her miracle healing story with others to let them know there is hope and they should never give up was fulfilled in ways she never imagined after she was featured on the T&T Guardian's Your Stories last month.

John said she always wanted to tell others how, with her faith and good doctors, she fought stage four cancer for her little daughter.

John is sole guardian for her six-year old daughter and could not endure how she would live without a mother. 

Her story got 22,000 likes on the T&T Guardian Facebook page and possible the second largest amount of shares in the newspaper's Facebook history, reaching thousands and inspiring them and giving them hope. "I was overwhelmed. It's a feeling I cannot describe," she said.

"I really thank the T&T Guardian for helping me share my story."

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T&T’s Hot Pepper King heating up New York, Miami

Emerging hot pepper king, Nawaz Karim's goal to bring more young people into T&T's agriculture sector was realised after he was featured on the Your Stories beat on the T&T Guardian on March 3, 2016.

"It may have been a small story but it had a major impact on agriculture in T&T. After the article, the country basically went hot pepper crazy," Karim said.

"One of my aims was to reach young people and show them the benefits of agriculture. After the article, they were contacting me. "Organisations, institutions, the Government, companies and individuals from T&T, Germany, New York, Miami and other parts of the US, the UK and regionally were calling us to find out how they could get into hot pepper farming and invest in it. The article had a tremendous impact. I want to thank the T&T Guardian for helping to put agriculture out there."

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A Trini Cinderella

The production of Cinderella: A T&T Musical by the newly-revived Bagasse Co promises a uniquely Trinidadian experience.

Co-producer/director Aaron Schneider said, “It's the first Cinderella story being retold using the narrative of a country other than its home country. It's completely coloured with and driven by the same motivational forces that would have been in place in Trinidad post-slavery, so we have the sounds, the patois, the tassa, the African drums, as well as the post-colonial whites, mulattos, and slaves.

“It's a completely new script but placed locally in a time period we know with historical imagery, visuals and fashions that would tell of the times and still touch it a little bit with the magic wand to make it a fairy tale story. It's all new music written by Juliet Agard, who composed A Brighter Day which won several Cacique Awards, all new score, all new choreography, a lot of new talent and a lot of known talent as well.”

He outlined the story: “Our forces of good and evil find root in Papa Bois, the protector of the forest, the protector of all things innocent while our evil stepmother comes from localised stories that have birth in French tradition, that came here with the French and was Africanised through the Middle Passage and came out with our own unique tongue, so what makes the difference is that Cinderella speaks with a Trinidadian tongue.”

He added, “We're treating it as a fairy-tale because we want kids in the age bracket from five years old to as old as they're willing to believe in magic, to come away from this with a solidified and standardised Caribbean fairy-tale that doesn't just hide behind some light dustings of a Trinidadian accent and maybe one stereotypical characterisation that is a caricature of who we're supposed to be, but an equal treatment of the Trinidadian experience throughout the whole play. I believe that if this is done successfully, and we're hoping and praying that it is, we would have ignited a spark in the minds of many young actors, writers and children.”

Schneider said the play is a relaunch of the company after a seven-year hiatus. “Bagasse Co dates back to the early 80s or probably late 70s, and the trajectory was to bring theatre that was not mainstream in T&T into the mainstream. The last memorable show we did was Jesus Christ Superstar in 2005, with a repeat in 2006, and then we shut down operations until now.

“This show is really an opportunity for the kids and the younger actors involved to try their hands at applying many different styles to bring forth characterisations and dramatise roles.

“It really was a sort of workshopping process in disguise because we're rehearsing for an actual show, but it has given a lot of the actors who maybe would not have experienced this kind of acting the opportunity to really try their hand at it. I keep thinking that we try so hard to appear on stage to be real and serious and straight, yet it takes just as much craft or even more craft to be able to play that same character and bring the whimsy and the fancy that makes it into a fairy-tale. It's a chance to try their hand at something that allows them to go so far and then pull back as opposed to coming on stage afraid of going too far and being too dramatic.”

The cast and crew will be well-known to the T&T theatre-going public. “Our primary Cinderella is Aurora Tardieu and our prince is Stephen Hadeed, Jr. The stepmother is Leslie-Ann Lavine, while Kyle Richardson plays the Prince's best friend/page, which is an entirely new character; Cinderella's best friend, a mouse, is played by Kevin Humphrey; Cherysh Le-Anne La Touche is the fairy godmother; Michelle Tardieu plays the Queen/Caciqua, the Prince's mother; Cinderella's father is Kareem Mansford-Griffith and we have a host of chorus members and dancers. An interesting twist is that in preparation for the play, each character had its own Facebook page to engage the public over social media and it was well received.

The directors and producers are Schneider and Christine Johnson, the script was written by Johnson and Aurora Tardieu, music is being composed by Juliet Agard with assistance from Aurora Tardieu and Kyle Richardson, lighting designer is Benny Gomes, choral conductor is Wendy-Ann Austin, musical development and creative input for music is Aurora Tardieu and Kyle Richardson, set design by Schneider, costume design Sean Edwards, music production Jason Dasent and choreographer Juan-Pablo Javier Alba Dennis, Schneider said.

The production ran in Sapa September 17- 20, and will be at Queen's Hall from September 25 - 29, with school shows on September 28 and 29. School shows are at 10 am, Sunday matinees are at 2 pm, Sunday night shows are at 6.30 pm and on the other nights, shows are at 8.30 pm. (Paula Lindo)

More Info:

Further details can be found at www.cinderellatt.com or on Facebook at Cinderella: The Trinidad and Tobago Musical.

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I deleted ‘can’t’ from my vocabulary

Losing your ability to see must be one of the toughest challenges to overcome. Just imagine losing your sight in your early thirties like Carlos Greene.

Born and raised in Waterloo, Carapichaima, central Trinidad, where he resides with his family, 46-year-old Greene became blind in 2000, within the space of four months, due to acute glaucoma. Losing his sight and his subsequent determination to overcome his disability has led to Greene, a Humming Bird Silver Medal awardee, becoming a top paralympic athlete over the years.

Greene recently represented us at the Toronto Parapan Games where he missed medaling by a narrow margin (ten centimetres) in the shot put event since an injury prevented him from competing in his pet event—powerlifting, for which he has become well known on the world circuit.

When Greene became blind over 14 years ago, he found an emotional outlet through exercise (the gym in particular). It quickly became a form of therapy for him. He said that when he exercises, he is on a natural "high". His instructors at the gym encouraged him to enter a competition and he has never looked back since.

His wife of 21 years and his three daughters are a tremendous source of inspiration to him. He is adamant about showing his children and others that a disability is no excuse to not strive to be the best. He also believes that his discipline, his training, and his eventual success will be a source of inspiration for all.

Over the past nine years, he has competed and medalled at several regional and international competitions. At the majority of these competitions Carlos was the only blind competitor. Among the many places he has competed are Guatemala, New Zealand, Aruba, Florida, Delhi, Guyana, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, London and most recently, at the Parapan Games in Toronto.

Some of his gold medal performances: 2008 at the IBSA International Blind Sports Association/IPF World Powerlifting Championships, Miami, Florida, where he broke 11 world records to become the first powerlifter to win a gold medal for T&T in a World Championship Event; 2009, the IBSA International Blind Sports Association/IPF 2009 World Powerlifting Championships, Miami, Florida, breaking seven world records; 2011, North American Powerlifting Federation/International Powerlifting Federation (NAPF/IPF) Championships, Miami, Florida; 2013, 11th Annual North American Powerlifting Federation/International Powerlifting Federation (NAPF/IPF) Championships.

In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012, he was nominated for the “Sportsman of the Year” Award. Thus far, he is the Caribbean’s only blind professional powerlifter. In July 2012, Greene participated in the American track and field paralympic trial, where he won a Silver Medal in the shot put and Bronze Medal in the discus event. He is currently in training for the 2016 Paralympics Games, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Q: Tell us a bit more about yourself. For example, where did you grow up, your schooling, meeting your wife, your children/family?

A: Carlos Greene was born in a little sugar cane and fishing village called Waterloo. I have five brothers and two sisters. I spent my first few years with my grandparents. I have always been involved in sport from a young age, and I have always been involved in community work. I went to Waterloo Presbyterian School and represented the school in football, cricket, volleyball and running. Then I went to Chaguanas Junior Secondary and continued to represent in football, cricket, running and table tennis. I graduated from Junior Secondary and I received an award for physical education.

Then I went to Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive, where I represented in football, badminton and running, and eventually captained the football team. I then spent two years at the Presto Presto Youth Camp where I studied tailoring and represented the camp in running and table tennis.I met my wife in October 1989, and we got married in August 1993. We have three beautiful children, Rebekah, Reanna and Renee. Reanna was just successful in her SEA exam and she passed for her first choice, Bishop Anstey High School, Port-of-Spain. I am so proud of her.

As a blind person, what are some of the challenges you face both in your daily life and in your sport?

As a blind person, especially living in T&T, it is hard because the physical infrastructure (eg sidewalks, no building codes) is not designed for us. Vendors in the street block walkways, sidewalk DJs make it impossible to hear when you walk the street, disrespect by the heads of the same sporting associations that we represent. I have appealed to the authorities and even spoken to those sidewalk DJs. I keep pushing and not accepting the limits that are placed on me. I do see some little glimpses of hope that can make a better future.

When and how did you come to be involved in the sport of powerlifting?

After joining the gym in January 2003, I remembered a young instructor by the name of Justin Joseph telling me, “Do you know how strong you are? I have seen men in here for years and have never see them move weights like you. You should compete in an upcoming powerlifting championship.”

He left only to return with the head instructor, Juan Carve, and my personal instructor, Kevin Da Costa, only to ask, "Would you think about competing?" My immediate response was, "I have nothing to lose." And the journey into the life of Carlos Greene, the strong man, began. I remember clearly 2004, 2005, there were no championships in T&T, then I heard of the North American Powerlifting Federation hosting a championship in Puerto Rico in 2006.

Immediately, I began to prepare for this championship. Then two months before the championship, I fell into an open manhole. The next three months was spent in bed, and thoughts of my powerlifting championship were dying. The moment I felt a bit better, I was in the gym. I missed the 2006 championship, but my heart was now set on the 2007 championship in Guatemala. In 2011, a new desire erupted in me to be the first blind person from the Caribbean to win a paralympic medal. By 2012, I was competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

What are your most prized possessions: one tangible, one intangible?

Intangible is the human spirit. Many people always ask me how I overcame, and I cannot take much praise for it because I got that strength from something within that was built in from creator God. When parents talk to me, they say thank you for inspiring my son and making an impact on society. My tangible possessions are the numerous medals and awards and honors that were given to me as I represented T&T, and won at various events.

What advice would you give to someone contemplating a vocation/career such as yours?

Firstly, I would tell them do not look at the glamour that comes across on the TV. The life of the athlete is not easy, one bad move or one injury and it can all be over. I will never discourage a young person that is coming into sport.  I would also tell them to add education as a tool, believe in yourself and work hard, and it will all be possible.

What are a couple of your most memorable performances?

My first two memorable performances were my first two major championships, Guatemala 2007 and Christchurch, New Zealand, 2007. I remember working hard to go to Guatemala and walking the streets and people asking me “Why are you here?” And when I told them, they said that it is impossible for me to compete as a blind man.

I remember in Guatemala, one Saturday evening, when my name and country was called. I walked out with the coach, he said to me that I am on my own now and my knees buckled. I called on all my strength as I walked under the bar, and as the judge said squat and I squat, the crowd erupted.

It was almost the same in New Zealand six months later. I did not win, I came second on both occasions. However, everyone said that I was the real winner. Everyone wanted photos with me, and I could not even get to the washroom because I was bombarded. The New Zealand power lifting federation said they have never seen someone impact an entire arena like that.

Powerlifting isn’t just about moving a heavy thing—it’s about understanding how your body works in relation to timing and momentum and inertia, and basically the physics of movement.

Tell us about that.

It is proven that when someone loses his sight, that coordination and direction also goes with it. Other than the dynamics to maintain a straight line with the weights, you have to train your body to stand erect and focus on that invisible line, it takes a lot of practice and determination and courage. Many people attempted to do the squat with their eyes closed and they were all unsuccessful for many different reason. I remember one coach saying he took the shot put and closed his eyes, and he couldn’t think of what was the next thing to do.

Tell us about your inspiration to do what you do so well.

Each person is born with specific gifts and talents and that is who or what makes you who you are. To me, it just comes naturally. When it all happened, I still can’t fully answer. I remember the first time I was asked to do powerlifting and I accepted the challenge, and I looked for someone to coach me with the shot put for five years, and then Lester Osuna answered the challenge.

Also, I had a dream from childhood to be a motivational speaker, and for many years, I did not have the courage to stand on a stage and face people. After a while, just like clockwork, everything began coming together. I believe it was the moment when I deleted “Can’t" from my vocabulary. We can be our largest obstacle and even deter ourselves from becoming the person who God has determined we should be.

Of all your accolades, prizes and awards, which do you rate as extremely special?

The Hummingbird Silver Medal that I received in the 2010 Independence Award ceremony. Because as a child, I looked at the Witco sportsman and sportswoman award and Independence award ceremony and dreamt that someday that the President of our twin island republic will pin a medal on my chest.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?

In 2012, I represented T&T at the Arnold Sports Festival in the Pro Deadlift category. Each year they chose five lifters from different parts of the world to compete on this stage. I was invited in 2012 and a few days after arriving at the Arnold Sports Festival, I met one of the organisers, Brad Gillingham, a world champion and hall of famer and world record holder.

He said to me that afternoon that they were looking for people to be invited to the event and, for some reason, my name stood out in his head and when he mentioned it, all the organisers agreed. He then said, “Carlos, I am honoured to have you at this event.”

Upcoming events?

I am focused on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Before that, I may participate at the world Track and Field Paralympic Games in October, and other championships, yet to be decided, that would build up to Rio 2016.

What advice would you give to aspiring athletes?

Be focused, determined, persevere, and follow your dreams. Life as an athlete is not easy but once we are determined to make it, sport has the ability to transform a simple person into a legend, with lots of rewarding moments.

What goals and/or plans do you still have?

Some of the goals that I still have are to see a stadium built in my area (maybe with my name on it), becoming a full-time motivational speaker, and running programmes in schools and correctional institutions for young people.

Describe yourself in two words, one beginning with C, the other with G, your initials.

The two words that will easily characterise me using my initials are Courageous and Gifted...if I may say so! (Laughing).

NOTE: The T&T Blind Welfare Association, of which Greene is a council member, recently launched its 100th year (1914-2014) commemorative publication. In it, Greene’s success story is highlighted.

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Young, gifted and big-hearted

My name is Adanna Jackson-Idoko and I am young, ambitious and have a big heart.

I went to live with my father’s sister in Barataria at the age of three, after my mother passed away. My aunt and uncle were more financially capable of giving me a better future. But I live in San Juan seven years now, with my dad. I have no memory of my mother; only a photo. I have six other siblings, three boys, three girls. I’m the last.

I went to Newtown Girls’ RC and passed for Tranquility, but transferred to Bishop Anstey East. I liked school. Now that I left it.

I regret not being focussed in school: it prevented me from getting a stable job with a comfortable salary. I have plans to go back to school. That’s the only way I could acquire the wealth that I have intentions of accumulating.

My husband’s name is Prince Ene Idoko. I’ve been with him a year now.

He cooks Nigerian food for me, like ochro soup! With different meats in it, like in the Nigerian movies. I would love to go to Nigeria. But it’s TT$21,000 for a ticket.

I would love to have kids. But the financial situation isn’t what it should be yet.

It’s a hard thing, to make your way in the world: to acquire a home, a car, a little job. I watch a lot of motivational videos on YouTube that helps empower me to think more positively. It helps in my everyday situations: instead of telling myself I can’t do something, I tell myself I can.

I’m a firm believer in God and Christianity is what I follow but I don’t like divisions when it comes to God. And I admit I’m a backslider when it comes to going to church.

I’m not much of a Carnival person. I was never much of a big limer.

You have to hold on to something. If is not money, you have to hold on to God.

I like alternative rock, R&B, a little bit of soca. And I’ve begun to like Nigerian music of late.

A lot of people say I speak very maturely, for my age. Is probably because of my past. I’ve had a lot of job and personal experiences for age 24.

I grew up very, very sheltered with my aunt and uncle, very little access to the social life: no cellphone; had to dress a certain way; Disney Channel was my favourite because that was the only one I was allowed to watch. That forced me to run away at the age of 16. And play big woman, curious to see what life holds. I’ve done a lot of living for my age; but that’s what makes me special and stronger.

My hero is my same aunt I ran away from, who is like my mommy. I admire the class and calibre of woman she is.

Now that I’m out here in the hard world, I’m realising the value of a dollar. Things were given to me when I was young. Now, working and cooking and cleaning and making a life with my husband, I now seeing what it is to be an adult with responsibilities.

I have a big heart. Seeing how people [are] treated out here, I [want] to be either a motivational speaker or even a prime minister. I want to have a grand impact on the people I live amongst. A lot of people have it hard and don’t have anybody. I’m one of the people who might feed a vagrant when I get pay. Is hurt my heart. And I say to myself, “If ever I was in a position to make that different, I would”. That’s why I say I have a big heart.

Some people with money have hearts. Working in customer service in Westmoorings, I’ve met a lot of them. Not all of them snobby in attitude. Some are really, really nice people.

I hope one day, if I can’t be a prime minister, to open a non-profit organisation geared at helping people that need help. To become a prime minister, you have to join a political party and it’s a bit corrupting to have to deal with people who have already corrupted the system. I wanted to make my own path but everybody telling me it not likely.

A Trini is somebody free-spirited, hardworking and love to lime.