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Standing
in an empty Stollmeyer Stand, this lone protester makes his
point on Sunday at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Trini
to which bone?
When
it comes to lip service there’s none like a Trini. In
any bar, street corner or home, you’ll hear Trinis boasting
of how much they are “Trini to de bone,” and how
patriot they are, but when it comes to putting words into
action, they’re no where to be seen.
Case in point was last weekend’s Carib Shield regional
cricket match at the Queen’s Park Oval between Barbados
and “we team,” T&T. The largest the crowd was,
at any point of the three days the game was played, was around
150 on Saturday.
Maybe it’s because we are a big-occasion people that
the home team received almost no support from the public.
Maybe it is the venue, or a northern thing, because I’m
sure that if this game was being played at Guaracara Park,
Inshan Ali Park or in Couva, the venue would be sold out.
The
thousands who flock to the Oval for the big international
games involving the West Indies, some from as early as 4 am
on match day, were noticeably absent on the weekend. Most
striking was a turnout of one in the popular Trini Posse Stand
on Saturday, and its being completely unoccupied on Sunday.
At least in the Concrete Stand there was some support as the
regular members of that stand’s posse turned out on Saturday.
Among the faithful were Rawle Dove, Owen and Johann Serrette,
Phill “de Thrill” Simmonds, Domingo “Shortpants”
Moreno, Rupert “Socks” Pantaleon, Dorian Betaudier,
and Sebro.
Between the drinks and picong, the Concrete Stand was kept
alive with some spirited singing by members, led by extempore
veteran Relator, accompanied by comedian Tommy Joseph, converting
a garbage bin into a du-dup. Among the handful of female supporters
seen at the Oval on the weekend were T&T allrounder Richard
Kelly’s sister (Anneliese), Rosemarie Hezekiah, Arlene
Gomes, Ariane Ramnath, Susan Neptune, Michele Paul, and Roslyn
Kellar, daughter of the late conch shell blower.
On
Sunday, with defeat facing team T&T, the turnout was even
more sparse, but the spirit just as lively in the Concrete
Stand, maintained to the bitter end by journalist Keith Sheppard,
Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Trevor Murray, former
T&T player Andrew Clarke and the elder Serrette.
Despite some silly dismissals on Friday and Saturday, I am
sure that T&T would have given a better showing, perhaps
even making it to the final, if more Trinis to the bone had
turned up at the Oval to support the lads.
Left: Anneliese Kelly, sister of T&T allrounder
Richard Kelly, gives support to the national team from the
cycling track at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.
Right: T&T bowler Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed
(third from left) celebrates the fall of a Barbados wicket
with almost no one to cheer at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Photos: David Wears and Dilip Singh
Big
George plays Little John
| He
is popular on the radio, being heard daily on Mixed Nuts
on CT Vibe 105FM; popular for his zany television ads;
and popular for his humorous forays on to comedy stages.
Now George Gonzales is about to take on another challenge.
The 51† Lounge show host will make his theatrical debut
on March 24, when D C Shell Theatre premieres Robin
Hood at Queen’s Hall. George has been cast as Little
John, the robust sidekick of Robin Hood.
Other popular actors appearing in this local adaptation
of the beloved classic are Cliff Learmond as the Sheriff
of Nottingham; Curtis Gross as Sir Guy of Lisbon; and
Sheldon “Crazy Catholic” Narine as evil Prince
John.
Robin Hood runs for five nights.
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Mixed
Nuts host George Gonzales plays Little John in Robin
Hood.
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Stevie
Wonder for Tobago
Tobago has been chosen as the destination for the first ever
Tobago Gourmet Jazz Festival.
This event is scheduled to take place on August 12-14, in
Fort James, in the beautiful village of Plymouth, and its
headline act is Stevie Wonder.
Speaking on behalf of the event’s producers, John Arnold
said: “This event would establish Tobago as the ideal
destination—unspoilt, clean, green and serene —for
a show of this nature and magnitude and certainly would attract
many visitors to our shores.
“The
benefits to be derived from hosting a festival of this nature
are many and every business sector in Tobago stands to benefit
significantly from it.”
Arnold, who can be contacted at 678-3363, added that tickets
for the Tobago Gourmet Jazz Festival would cost in the vicinity
of US$85US -$100 each.
The
way to a man’s heart
Those who know me well know I don’t make joke when it
comes to my stomach. While I may have a number of unhealthy
habits, like smoking, I am very particular about my daily
diet, opting not to consume any aerated beverages or fast
foods. In a town inundated with eateries of average standards,
every now again I discover some new place where the food is
tops, like the fare at Frankie’s, D’Bocas and Creole
Cuisine.
My most recently found oasis of gourmet delight is Sweet Lime,
which has recently updated its menu. The Sweet Lime Jackpot
is a jackpot indeed, its ingredients being sea conch, marinated
with local herbs and spices, slow-cooked in a curry coconut
sauce, and served on a bed of steaming basmati rice. I guarantee
this meal will have you licking your fingers, as well as Sweet
Lime’s Lobster Taino, consisting of chunks of lobster
meat, sautéed in tangy lemon butter and served with
a fresh veggie medley and “loaded” baked potato.
If you notice my mid-section expanding a bit lately, it’s
because of my frequent visits to these establishments.
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