#galleryyuhself/Trinidad Express newspaper

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Galleryyuhself - We on it!

Long running children’s television show Sesame Street earlier this week highlighted a muppet family with ‘trini’ roots as part of its cast, stirring pride within its local audience.

The Show’s Facebook page on Wednesday shared newcomers Wes and Elijah, a father and son duo who were officially introduced to the Sesame Street cast in 2021 as part of its “Coming Together” outreach initiative regarding racism.

“Meet Wes and Elijah! They live on Sesame Street with Wes’ mom and their beloved dog, Bubba. Wes loves using his imagination, playing with friends, and going to kindergarten. His dad, Elijah, is a meteorologist who loves to be outdoors, preferably on a nature walk with Wes. They both love to cook – especially food from Trinidad, like roti!” the post read.

Elijah, a muppet weatherman has been part of sketches with his son discussing difficult topics including prejudice. In one sketch he is heard discussing his son’s Trinidadian links and the steel drum (steelpan).

“My son Wes is very good, he’s taking lessons from my wife on our homemade steel drum. But the other day wes didn’t want to play his drum. He told us that another kid at school said it sounded funny. It bothered me and I could tell it really bothered wes too. I realized I needed to take a pause. I reminded him because he plays the steel drums because it connects to his ancestors. Wes has African American roots from me and Caribbean roots from his mom. His parents come from Trinidad where the steel drum is played,” Elijah said.

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Galleryyuhself - Divali Celebrations 2024 - newspaper advertising full page events.

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Galleryyuhself - Newspaper design.

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Galleryyuhself - forty seven years ago Trinidad and Tobago made a bold move. Happy Republic Day.

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from the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago.

#OnThisDay in 1976, Trinidad and Tobago had already become a Republic. This new status was declared on August 1st 1976, when the last Governor-General Sir Ellis Clarke was sworn in as the first President of Trinidad and Tobago. The holiday is commemorated on September 24th because it was on this day in 1976 that the first Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago met under the new Republican Constitution.

So what changed? When Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962, it was still part of the British monarchy—meaning that between 1962 and 1976, Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II was the Queen of Trinidad and Tobago. The monarch’s constitutional roles were delegated by the Governor-General, who was Sir Solomon Hochoy from 1962 to 1972. In 1972, Sir Ellis Clarke succeeded Sir Solomon Hochoy as Governor-General.

After over a decade as an Independent nation, it was decided that Trinidad and Tobago should become a Republic with a Head of State elected solely by its citizens. In order to bring about these changes, a Constitution Commission was formed in 1971.

The Commission held meetings around Trinidad and Tobago, and consolidated their findings and recommendations for constitutional reform into a report that was submitted to the Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke, in 1974. A Constitution was then written to replace the Order in Council of the Queen and in 1976, the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act of 1976 was passed.

This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection. If you are interested in learning more about our country’s path to becoming a Republic, you can check out our Exhibition, “The Road to Nationhood: Crown Colony Government to Republicanism.” The newspaper clippings in this Exhibition are courtesy the Trinidad Guardian and the Trinidad Express Newspapers. The document is available for viewing here: https://bit.ly/3mKFbYZ.

References: “Report of the Constitution Commission: Presented to His Excellency the Governor-General on January 22, 1974.” The Constitution Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, 1974. The full document is available at the National Archives or online via http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1101.pdf

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Galleryyuhself - Stay tuned.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Three newspapers. three different approaches to readership.

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~Galleryyuhself~~ The Express Newspaper is a reflection of how far we have come. The couple on the newspaper’s cover get to celebrate like all new parents do. A first for 2020 or any year before it.

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~Galleryyuhself~ Only in Trinidad and Tobago. Bars have been asked to close at 8:00 pm and now the owners want to sue the government for the fact that they are made to shut up shop two hours earlier.