RE: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-30-1951Hrs
Please note the omission of Curtis Crichlow 1973 (deceased)
Allan S Noreiga

RE: Mausica

2011-Sep-30-1157Hrs
Allan
You got to be kidding.
finbar
'take time to laugh for it is the  music of the soul....'
Finbar Ryan

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-30-1003Hrs

I join with fellow Mausicans, in extending condolences to Pat and her family,  on the passing of her sister Emily.  Emily attended Fyzabad Intermediate with me, and although she was my junior, she was known to me as a member of the renowned Allum clan.  May she rest in peace.  Stay strong Pat

Best Regards

Irmin G. Lewis-McKenzie

In the time of your life ....... LIVE!

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-30-0935Hrs

Hey Amir, where were you and your guitar hiding all this while?  Good to hear of you, Denison, Sita, Manny and Surrendra.  Hope that all you happily-retired people will be an awesome part of the 2013 reunion.  Do you not remember that we, graduates of 1975, planned our own ceremony at The Scarlet Ibis Hotel, when The Cuff refused to "graduate us"?

Looking forward to some sweet guitar music in 2013.  Hello to the others, please.

Melvina Dick

RE: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-29-2229Hrs

Hi

Could someone tell me where I could find the listing of Mausicans' Alumnis by year group? I see reference being made to the listings and was wondering.

Thanks

Allan S Noreiga

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-29-2147Hrs

Ok My Ppl,

It is out. I was hoping that we would have everything organized and confirmed before the "news" came on the blog.  Hope that there is not toooo much confusion.  Hazel, I sent you an email with information that only Sunday Dec. 18th was available at Hilton, and that the Manager is checking for me the cost of the brunch.  There will be a downpayment to be made.  The 18th is tentatively booked. However, Finbar is also checking with Alicia's Palace, Lady Chancellor Hill. We will compare prices and come up with the best and most affordable cost and work with a menu.  More information will be forthcoming, by middle to end of next week.   It will happen, just give us some time and remember that Patience is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.  This needs practice. Ah givin' allyuh plenty practice, not so Hazel. Joan Braithwaite is our person in South.  She is compiling a list of Mausicans as I type.  I am suggesting that we divide Trinidad and Tobago into five regions: North, South, East, West and Tobago and at the mini-reunion we get two persons from each region to be on the committee, this will make it 10 people.  This will be a lot different from the Tobago Reunion when the only person from the West was Felix. The very few everybody else was from the East, then we had Jasper Joefield as our rep. in Tobago with help from Alan Clovis and Mike Duncan and many others.  With this arrangement, as Joan is doing, the reps could prepare a listing from each region and these reps. will be responsible for disseminating the information as soon as decisions are made at the committee meeting level.  This is the first step.   We must take it one step at a time.  I know that the anxiety is building, but again "let the Spirit move you to Patience."  Let me stop this, ah gorn. Next time you all hear from me is with a DEFINITE VENUE. UP TO NOW THE DATE IS DECEMBER 18TH.

On a sad note, let me add my condolences to the Allum Family, on the passing of Pat's sister Emily. Emily was with us in Grenada. She was really a lively and bubbly person. I know that Pat and June and the rest of the family did not expect this so this will really "hit them."  Please know that our prayers are with you and your family, Pat.

Maria

Anna Maria Mora

RE: correction

2011-Sep-29-2116Hrs
correction: deceased is Rawle Rampersadsingh.
Apologies to all. Respect.
stilltruckingoverfiftywithguitarsoundingsweet
Amir Jairam

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-29-1841Hrs

Dear Rodney,

Like you, I celebrate the life of Dr. Williams who had a vision for the people of Trinidad and Tobago and as a result, so many of have had the opportunity to better our lives.

I wish to share with you the accolades, nostalgia and reveries of our MTC lecturer, Mrs. Linda Edwards-Romain who penned the lines below and shared them with me and so many others, I am sure:

"My dear Gwendoline:

I take this opportunity to send you this essay I wrote to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Eric Williams birth.I sent copies to the other Mausicns on my list, then saw your name and comment on the e-mail blog from Errol.

My friend Selwyn Cudjoe responded to say that he will be reading poetry at Oxford University tomorrow, as part of a commemorative project., honouring Dr. Williams. I asked him to read Stephen Spenders "I Think Continually Of Those Who", the first line is the title.

So many say thar Dr. Williams did nothing for TnT, because they are ignorant. Your generation, my generation, knows.

Linda E Edwards-Romain

Standing Tall, at 5’ 2”

A personal commemorative on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Eric Eustace Williams, Ph.D. Founding father of Trinidad and Tobago, an independent country.

By Linda E. Edwards.

“Whenever a man stands tall in the estimation of others, he must remember that he is standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before.” Most Rev. Desmond Tutu, accepting the degree of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, UWI, St. Augustine, 1987.

Himself a short man, Rev. Tutu was perhaps,  paying tribute to another short man, who made all of this possible- the expansion of the University from Imperial College, through a College of Oxford University offering the Humanities, Sciences and Agriculture, to a full university with faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Law, from which Tutu was now receiving accolades for his work in the fight to free South Africa. It was my unique privilege to be there, just as it had been my privilege twenty-one years earlier, to sit on the podium with Dr. Williams; the American Ambassador, Robert Miner; the Provost of the University, The Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago; and Her Royal Highness, Alice, Countess of Athlone, to whom I was selected as honorary train bearer for the ceremonies laying the cornerstone for the New College of Arts and Sciences at STA. The Countess was Chancellor of the University at the time, and Dr. Williams was Vice-Chancellor.

In the official pictures of the ceremony, I am the tall undergraduate student sitting to the rear of the dignitaries. The sun on my face made me frown. Sunglasses would have been unthinkable for any but Mr. Miner and the Doc. I would have liked to walk closer to the doc, in the procession, just to see how much taller than him I was, but protocol assigned me to the rear, a glorified sort of servant status, and I never got next to him. The 5’ 2” in the title is an estimate from my 5’ 9”perspective.

The legacy of Dr. Williams really begins, not with Full Internal Self Government, in 1956, or Independence in 1962, but in 1964 when a host of new undergraduates surged into St. Augustine, to help create a better educated, more committed Middle Class. Most of our degreed people, he hoped, would learn to appreciate their rainforest as well as the snows of Europe. A degree in those days, as it still is in many parts of the Third World and the Commonwealth, was almost a guaranteed passport to the good life. I was not so much interested in the Good Life, as I already had a good one, such as it was. It was a chance for me to read, and read, and read, and to write. My good life at the time, included a Diploma from The Government Training College, with distinctions in almost everything, three A-levels that I had studied for, unaided by mentor or teacher; a husband, a beautiful boy-child and a job. The last three kept me from constantly holding a book to my nose, though occasionally burning the dinner, because I was reading and cooking. Going up to the University, meant for me, untrammeled reading.

Dr. Williams had said that the future of the country was in the child’s school bag. He meant that and opened up every opportunity to educate our children beyond the rote learning without questioning, that had dominated the education system prior to independence. Today’s children want to know the “Why” of everything, and “because I said so” is not enough, not in the classroom at least. This new breed of student, those of my era, took our irreverent attitudes to UWI and made some drastic changes among the privileged class that previously went there.. When once you turn someone on to thinking for himself/herself, you cannot turn back the clock. He must have known this, but knew also, that thinking for oneself is a must if a people are to be free. If he could see what the under-thirties are doing about thinking today, he would squirm.

I often describe myself as an Eric Williams Scholar. By that I mean, that “bright” as I was supposed to be, so designated by all my teachers, I would not have gone to university without the scholarship programme the government, under Dr. Williams, invested in. I was one of eleven children of a family of small farmers, and educators, but no one in our immediate family had gone to university before. Cousin Bert was a Pharmacist (the Hon. Robert Wallace,) and we had relatives who had been school principals and teachers before me, but none had gone to university. This was true also, I am sure, for all my friends who went to UWI between 1964 and1970.

As a follow up to University, I taught at a teachers’ college, where it was an honour to teach at least two members of TnT’s diplomatic service, the Hon. Dr. Harold Robertson, Consul General at one time in New York, and the Hon Lester Efebo Wilkerson, TnT’s first Ambassador To Cuba. Dr. Robertson re-acquainted himself with me, before I knew where he was. He was at the Consulate in Miami when I asked to send a donation of books for teacher education, through the Diplomatic Channels to the Ministry of Education. He facilitated this by my mailing the books to Miami, and the consulate sending them on. I never got an acknowledgement from the Education people, but I hope the books made a difference, even if they ended up in someone’s private collection.

I have been a teacher all my life, and maybe would have been if Dr. Williams had not come along. Both my aunt and great aunt were teachers before my sisters and I started. But going to UWI opened the mind, doors to other cultures, and the remembrance of what commited teachers could do, to push a student forward.

Whenever I decide to lend a student a book, even though to me, books are very precious, I do it in the name of my poetry teacher at UWI, Dr. Landeg White, a young Welshman, who, once trying to explain something, with the limited resources we had in our library; and getting nowhere, jumped into his car and scooted up St. Augustine Circular Road, to his house, to get another book that explained it better. Whenever I invited students to my home, at Christmas, for tea or just to talk, I do that in remembrance of him also. For Dr. Carl Campbell, I honour the memory of his scooping me up off the floor, when, six  months pregnant, I had stepped on a rug in front of his office, in the wet, and it had skidded out from under me. The compassionate caring he showed, taught me that teachers can bridge gaps between themselves and students simply by being kind.

In the Region 1V Education Office of the State of Texas, there is a portrait of me hanging on the fourth floor. It says “Teacher of The Year, NFISD, 1996.” That portrait is there due to Dr. Williams also. I got into trouble with some of his sycophants, because I said one of his books on the curriculum, was too difficult for a student of basic history to read and understand. Capitalism and Slavery needs an extensive vocabulary, and  dictionary handy. Every page has at least one word that the average O-level student of 1968 did not understand. But saying this, was like saying the emperor had no clothes. I had to migrate, but my enormous skills and my UWI degree got me a teaching position, even before I got a green card.

So, on this 100th anniversary of his birth, I thank our founding father for opening doors for us, his people, all his people, like no one else ever did for maintaining a  steady course of independence from Britain, and distance from the United States of America, which would have gladly gobbled us up; for giving us watchwords like Discipline, Production and Tolerance, which many of us no longer practice; and for all the other ways, including the lectures at the University of Woodford Square, that helped to push our people forward.

Happy Birthday, distinguished elder, son of our soil, visionary and scholar.

I remember. I am grateful.

Linda Edwards

Houston, Texas USA"

Gwendoline Williams

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-29-1826Hrs
Dear Hazel,
December 29th. would be wonderful.
Cheers
Gwen
Gwendoline Williams

RE: Mausica 2011

2011-Sep-28-2003Hrs

Hi Errol can you kindly post this on the blog.

Hi Gwen

Thanks for your gracious comments. I am charmed . Both you and Angie were wonderful flat mates also. Expect a buzz from me soon and a few reunion pics.

Regards

Joan Parris-Brathwaite

Re: PASSING

2011-Sep-28-1852Hrs
Errol,

Not sure about grad prog. for 74, but will ask. We did not have a graduation for the 1975 group (or at least I didn't know about one). We were the last of the pre-service trainees and rumour had it that we caused too much damage (greatly exaggerated), hence no grad. BTW, we never got back our caution money ! No official notification was ever given.

Perhaps a list can be obtained from the MOE's archives?

Thanks for lending an 'ear'.

Proud to be Mausican,

Amir Jairam

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-28-0009Hrs

My Fellow Mausicans,

Many of us will remember the significant role that Dr. Eric Williams, the father of our nation, played in our lives. Under his leadership the country emerged from years of colonial rule into a world full of opportunities for Trinbagonians and many of our neighboring islands.

It was during that era that the PNM had its brightest moments. Education was a core value of the PNM Government.

In 1963, Mausica Teachers College was born. In 1966, I received a scholarship to attend our beloved Mausica. What a blessing that was. Mausica was a peak experience in my life. Just imagine, I was one of fifty-five youngmen selected that year.

Therefore,  this month as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dr Eric Eustace Williams' birth, I offer sincere thanks to our visionary father. May we continue to teach our students about his many achievements and may his name remain ethched in our memory.

Thank you, Dr. Williams.

Rodney Foster,

Stone Mountain, GA.

Re: PASSING

2011-Sep-27-1846Hrs

Errol, Pardon me for being the bearer of bad news, viz the  passing of two of my second years:

1974 graduates who passed:

1) Rawle Rampersingh (worked with me at Penal Jss where he was responsible for discovering David Williams, West Indies wicketkeeper - passed sometime around 1978 or thereaboust)

2) Selwyn Dardaine, in a road accident, somewhere about the late 70s or early to mid-eighties.

Also, I notice your list of 1974 graduates is incomplete. I'm in contact with at least four 1974 graduates, my second years, and may be able to supply some of the missing names.

Alive and well from 1974, all retired in recent years are:-

Krishna Manickchan

Drupatee Bhowansingh (married to Krishna)

Denison Dwarkah

Surendra Ram (married to Denison)

These are my good friends and we are from the general area of Fyzabad.

Amir Jairam

RE: correction

2011-Sep-26-2058Hrs

# 85 on the 1975 list is Victor Ramroop and not what is stated there.

Also, Gerrard George (deceased) has been omitted from the 1975 list.

Thank you,

Amir Jairam (1975)

stilltruckingoverfiftywithguitarsoundingsweet

Amir Jairam

RE: passing

2011-Sep-26-2047Hrs

Two of my 1975 year mates passed many years ago:

Gerard George (I don't remember the year, but it was not many years after graduation)

Hassan Mohammed (Probably about 5 or 6 years ago)

RIP to them.

message from: Amir Jairam ('last of the in-service Mausicans', 1975)

stilltruckingoverfiftywithguitarsoundingsweet

Amir Jairam

RE: Saying thanks

2011-Sep-25-1822Hrs
Hi Errol,
Please post on the blog. Thanks.
Fellow Mausicans,

Once again , on behalf of The Planning Committee for the Big Apple Mausica Reunion, I wish to acknowledge all the gracious comments regarding your experiences at the events. It is nothing short of gratifying to know that people really enjoyed what was carefully planned for them. Besides, you took the time off to briefly state that and we deeply appreciate your kind remarks. We too, enjoyed your company and your enthusiastic participation at all the events. Your enthusiasm covered our flaws but in true Mausican style ,we just had a good ole time. We look forward to seeing you all in 2013.

Bernice "Buzzie" Tarradath

The Planning Committee

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-24-0836Hrs

It is with great sorrw that I extend sincerest condolences to Pat and by extension the other members of the Allum family, on the passing of her sister Emily. God's Blessings to the family. May her soul rest in peace.

Clare Creese-Woodley

RE: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-23-2035Hrs

My sincere condolences to all those who were touched by Maynard (71-73)

May he find peace

Allan S. Noreiga

(70-72, Havenite)

RE: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-23-1654Hrs

My condolences to the family of Maynard Armoogan. I pray that God will comfort them at this sad time of their lives.

Joy A. Valdez

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-23-1202Hrs
Dear Gwen,
Hello All,

I wish I could remember the words to that calypso. Old age setting in long days.

I am proposing Thursday, December 29 for the mini-reunion at Hilton. Maria you have to check early on availability.Wednesday 28th should be fine,too.We do not want to interfere with peopkle's plans for Old Year's Night or Christmas, although all I do is go to church.

Love to all,

Hazel Thompson-Ahye

RE: Maynard Armoogan (71- 73)

2011-Sep-17-1757Hrs

Hello Errol,

Maynard  Armoogan (71 - 73) went to be with the Lord on Saturday 17th Sept,2011 at Mt. Hope Med. Complex., former teacher at Pleasantville Gov't  School, San Fernando.. Our prayers & condolences to the family  especially his daughter, Esther.

Thank You  Errol.

Radica  Ramnarine (73-75)

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-16-0545Hrs
Dear Joan,

You do speak for me and so many others. Buzzie and the rest of the organizing team were tremendous. The reunion was indeed memorable.

I was so privileged to meet you and your daughter. I still remember your warmth and good sense of humour. You all were such great flat mates to Angela (Ifill) and myself. Hope to catch up in here in Trinidad soon.

Warm regards

Gwen

689 0644

Gwendoline Williams

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-16-0538Hrs

Ok Hazel, good idea re Christmas get together.... as Lady Observer, you MAY sing "Mamas without Papas"  (smile)

Gwen

Gwendoline Williams

RE: Thanking the Big Apple Reunion Committee

2011-Sep-13-1820Hrs

Hi Errol

Can you please send the following message to Buzzie and her committee?.

Hi Ms. Buzzie thanks for a wonderful reunion 2011 which reunited old friends and created new memories. Congratulations to all the other hard working committee members: Mary, Joan, Myrtle, Kathleen, Vinetta, Jacqueline, Melvina, Marlene, Maria, Annmarie, Carlston, Ewart, Ven, Margaret and Fena for a job well done. Thanks also to Gilda (my sis) for her gastronomical delights and to Kathy for her sumptuous breakfast at her home (can we come back again next year?)

In all of this we cannot forget Errol Lashley for the part he plays in keeping the Mausica Spirit alive.

Thanks again Buzzie for your hospitality during my two weeks vacation in the Big Apple after the reunion (Friends Forever).

Love to the Mausica Family and Friends

Joan Parris-Brathwaite

(64-66)

RE: Pioneer group

2011-Sep-11-1820Hrs
Lovely group, isn't it?
Felix Edinborough

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-08-2352Hrs

Dear Errol,

As always, I enjoy hearing from and reading about Mausicans. I still regret not being able to make the reunion this year.

Many years ago there used to be a Christmas get together in Trinidad with parang music and good old Mausica fun. Would it be possible for one to be organized this year? I am definitely coming home for Christmas and would love to participate in a mini- reunion. I can pull out some of those Kirdendalians from my year who seem never to be able to make a reunion. Any takers? I would even promise not to sing. Finbar, no comment from you.

Hazel Thompson-Ahye, alias, Lady Observer.

Re: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-03-2130Hrs

To the NY planning committee : It was a pleasure to attend such a  superbly organised  reunion. Congrats! A job well done.

To all  my fellow Mausicans : I enjoyed meeting and socializing with you after 48 years. It seemed as if it was only yesterday we were in Mausica. Fond memories of beautiful times will continue to  keep us alive and happy.  Be blessed, hoping to see you in 2013.

Germaine Gomez

RE:

2011-Sep-02-1955Hrs

Hi Errol,

Let me join the chorus and say what a fantastic job you are doing keeping Mausicans {silent, vocal and textual} connected.

I guess I am one of the silent ones but I enjoy receiving the weekly news.  Please include Patricia Batson ytcpb@yahoo.com on your mailing list.

I met Pat during the vacation and she is eager to receive Mausican news.

Lana Derrick McDonald

RE: MAUSICA WEEKLY EMAILS

2011-Sep-01-1540Hrs

Thank you Errol for posting the photos taken by Carlston and fellow mausicans.

I enjoyed the view. Do pass on my sincere thanks to the camera men and women and all who posed to make the photos look  movie like.. I recognized some college mates but had a difficult time recognizing others. I made out Pat Aq, Merle, Finbar, Esther, Susan, Jenny, Elizabeth, Phyllis, Marlene. Was it Myrtle?, Gemma, Lio, Conrad? Ronnie, Hudson, Norville.....1971, 72, 73. They all seemed to have a wonderful time.

I can certainly do with a slice of that  MTC cake.It looked delicious. Was it?

God bless you all

Pat Phelps.