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The TED talk- The Danger of a Single story by Chimamanda gives us a different perspective of society and its cultures. Chimamanda utilizes her experiences of a “single story” to effectively portray that one shouldn’t judge another based on a single story. A single story creates stereotypes, lessens opportunities, equality and takes away a person’s humanity. From her talk, I gathered that no one is solely based on a single story but that everyone’s life is unique and is a compilation of various stories. In society today, a lot of things are based on a single story. It is identified, not only worldwide- but in the Caribbean that societies judge Muslim men, women and even children here based on an event that occurred in 1990 to overthrow the government of Trinidad and Tobago. In Trinidad, Muslims are classified as terrorists and treated unfairly - however I think they shouldn’t be judged based on one person’s actions they all have their own stories and shouldn’t be criticized for following their religion or wearing traditional wear. In some Secondary schools- like the one I attended, girls are not permitted to wear their hijab which is a veil worn on their heads. They should be allowed to wear their hijab and follow their religion regardless of what school they attend or where in the world they reside- we should all be treated equally.
Reporting by Jodi Baitoon Caribbean Civilization report- 25 November, 2017.

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THE decade, 1990-1999, started out disastrously: on July 27, 1990 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, a fundamentalist Muslim group, stormed a sitting session of the House of Representatives at the Red House after exploding a car bomb that set Police Headquarters on St Vincent Street afire. They also invaded State-owned Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) and neighbouring Radio Trinidad.

At the Red House, they took Prime Minister ANR Robinson, several Government Members of Parliament, along with Opposition MPs, hostage. Curiously absent from that afternoon's Parliamentary session was Patrick Manning, leader of the People's National Movement (PNM) and Basdeo Panday, leader of the United National Congress (UNC).

Some two dozen staff members were taken hostage at TTT and at Radio Trinidad.

Muslimeen leader, Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, who led the onslaught at TTT, went on air that evening to announce to a totally startled public that the Government had been overthrown, Prime Minister Robinson and other Ministers were "under arrest" and "would be put on trial." Bakr also declared that evening that the army was on his side.

Nothing could be further from the truth, for even as Bakr made his earth-shattering announcement, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment were being mustered to deal with this unprecedented national crisis.

Later that evening, with a gun to his head, Prime Minister Robinson was ordered to use a radio phone to call on the bristling military forces outside the Red House to stand down. Instead he shouted: "Murderers! Torturers! Attack with full force!" for which act of courage he was shot in the leg.

Government Ministers outside of the Red House, like Herbert Atwell, Lincoln Myers and Clive Pantin, issued a statement later that evening saying that the Government was still in control of the country and appealing for calm. A nation-wide state of emergency, with a curfew, was also declared.

Hostages at TTT were placed in a room that was said to be wired with explosives which, they were told, would be set off if the army attacked the television station.

But the army did attack TTT on

the Saturday, engaging the insurgents for hours in gun battle. A ceasefire was finally struck later that day.

And negotiations got underway.

The Muslimeen were relying on the promise, made by National Security Minister Selwyn Richardson in the Red House, of an amnesty that would pardon them for all the crimes they had committed (civilians had been shot dead by the Muslimeen when they stormed into the Red House and that included a policeman sentry at Police Headquarters).

But on Monday, July 30, the army again opened fire on the insurgents in TTT-and this time around the insurgents were ordered by their leaders not to return fire. Clearly, by now, the insurgents realised they were out-manned and out-gunned. Again a ceasefire was eventually agreed and negotiations resumed.

Finally, on August 1, 1990, observed as a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago to mark Emancipation Day, the insurgents released their hostages and surrendered to the army. Prime Minister Robinson had been released the day before. Leo de Vignes, a Government MP, who had been shot in the leg, was also released and taken to hospital, but died shortly thereafter.

The 114 insurgents were to spend some two years in jail while the courts deliberated on the validity of the amnesty they had been granted. The local courts finally upheld the amnesty and the insurgents were freed. The Government appealed to the Privy Council, which ruled the amnesty invalid because the insurgents had continued to make demands after agreeing

to the amnesty. But the Privy Council also ruled that since four years had elapsed since the attempted coup, it would not be in keeping with "due process" to have the insurgents all rounded up and tried for their crimes. They remained free.

It would be more than 20 years before a Commission of Enquiry into the events of 1990, was set up in 2012.

In June 1991, the Government won a major lawsuit against the John O'Halloran estate for a considerable sum of money after a successful suit involving allegations of bribery and corruption. O'Halloran, a former PNM Minister of Industry and Commerce, had migrated to Canada to live off his ill-gotten gains, but died there.

In mid-December 1991, the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Government led by Robinson (and from which Basdeo Panday and several of his key members had since defected) lost a general election. The NAR had come to office in 1986 with a thundering 33-3 majority. But by the 1991 general election, the NAR could only manage to win two seats, with the PNM winning 21 seats. Panday's United National Congress (UNC) had won 13 seats.

PNM Political Leader Patrick Manning was sworn in as Prime Minister.

On September 15 that year, the Caribbean Communication Network's TV6, having successfully applied for a broadcast licence, went on air and can now lay claim to being the most popular television network in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 1992, Peter Minshall was part of the design team for the Barcelona Olympics; he would leave his unmistakeable mark on the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 as well. And St Lucian, Derek Walcott, with his strong T&T connection, received the Nobel Prize for Literature in November 1992.

On the world stage too, cricketer Brian Lara would break two world records within two months in 1994. He scored 375, the highest in Tests, and 501 not out, the highest in first-class scores. Eventually, he would become the only cricketer ever to have scored one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, and five hundred in first class cricket.

In early 1995, on February 2, the country lost a stalwart and pioneer of the labour movement when George Weekes passed away. He had become the President General of the powerful Oilfields' Workers Trade Union in the same year as Independence, and had led the OWTU until he retired after 25 years in 1987, to be succeeded by Errol McLeod.

In November 1995, Prime Minister Manning called an early general election and the result was that both the PNM and the Opposition UNC won 17 seats each, with two seats going to the NAR. The NAR threw its lot in with the UNC and Basdeo Panday, UNC leader, was subsequently sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister of Indian descent.

On May 12, 1998, Trinidad and Tobago was overjoyed at the news that Wendy Fitzwilliam had won the Miss Universe crown in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In June 1999 the government of Prime Minister Panday, which included then attorney-general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, presided over the death by hanging of Dole Chadee and eight members of his gang after they were all found guilty of murder. It was an unprecedented manifestation of judicial execution, which has not been repeated to date.

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THE decade, 1990-1999, started out disastrously: on July 27, 1990 members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen, a fundamentalist Muslim group, stormed a sitting session of the House of Representatives at the Red House after exploding a car bomb that set Police Headquarters on St Vincent Street afire.

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Ethnic, Cultural, Religious Diversity and Equality in Trinidad.

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Ethnic, Cultural, Religious Diversity and Equality in Trinidad.

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In terms of diversity whether it be ethnic, cultural or even religious- I can say that Trinidad is the most mixed Caribbean island because of its various cultures, festivals, mixed races/ ethnic groups and different religions. After doing a little reading, I discovered that indigenous groups and even their culture is still practiced in Trinidad- in Santa Rosa a Kalinago community has various celebrations and activities which takes place in August (leading up to Independence Day) in remembrance of their ancestors. (Tobago) Every ethnic group that settled in Trinidad left a part of their culture which now is now embedded in the island’s DNA and is a part of our culture. In my perspective the enslaved Africans and indentured East Indians had the greatest impact as they as they inhabited the island as a majority of the post-colonial era. Today there are many religious holidays and festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Shouter Baptist, Christmas, Divali and many more that are celebrated as a nation by all ethnic groups and different religions. The most popular festival is Carnival, which is a mix of different cultures- reflecting African, Asian and European influences. It is known to bring together people with various backgrounds. The origin of this festival is often argued, but it can be pinpointed to Trinidad however the European and West African traditions were critical in the formation of the festival. (Norton, 2009, p 22-26.) Trinidad is also an island of mixed religions. The largest religious groups are Protestants (Presbyterians, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglicans, Methodists) Roman Catholics, Hindus and Muslims- there are also the Shouter Baptists and Orisha faith which are amongst the fastest growing religious groups. Today all people of different ethnic groups, religious beliefs and cultures live as one and are all treated with equality.
Reporting by Jodi Baitoon Caribbean Civilization report- 29 November, 2017.

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Haiti and It's Devastation by Natural Disasters. 

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Haiti and It's Devastation by Natural Disasters. 

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Haiti was the most prosperous Caribbean island of all the french colonies during the period of slavery- with the production of coffee, sugar and a few other agricultural products. This brought tremendous profits to the masters/ landowners of Hispainiola, which today makes up the Dominican Republic and Haiti- which currently is a divided island. Citizens of Haiti are not allowed to cross onto the Dominican Republic (as part of a deportation legacy). Today Haiti is one of the most under-developed countries worldwide- Earthquakes and hurricanes are only part of Haiti's misery. In addition to these multiple disasters, the international and local corrupt rulers of Haiti continuously assured its destruction as they rooted in  greed and power. Due to this today Haiti is portrayed as a "failed state" with weak, non-existent resources and institutions. The slave owners of the United States and Britain's colonies in the Caribbean saw the Haitian Revolution as a threat to their systems and success, and sought out to hinder Haiti's development. After the proclamation of Independence on January, 1 1804, France and the United States refused to acknowledge the Republic of Haiti and in 1825 Haiti began paying France for claims related to the destruction of property during the revolution in 1791-1803. Citizens of Haiti were denied entry in Florida and following this there were numerous government attacks by the US military. In addition to this Haiti had to cope with multiple hurricanes and earthquakes that reeked havoc on their country leaving the majority of the population homeless, injured and even dead. Haiti should be paid for the years of exploitation and oppression imposed by the United States, France, the United Nations and Canada. Their powers have hampered Haiti's ability to become self-reliant and independent.
Reporting by Jodi Baitoon Caribbean Civilization report- 30 November, 2017.

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What has Caribbean Civilization taught me?

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What has Caribbean Civilization taught me?

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Throughout my years of never-ending studies, history was never intended to be a part of my academic curriculum hence I lacked knowledge in that aspect- until now. I always viewed history as being boring however, it was quite enlightening and I enjoyed learning of events in history that aided in the formation of my country today. Upon completion of this course I feel like I have gained a new sense of identity as I learned of those who came before me, it also gave me a better understanding of my background and regional neighbors. I am certainly more aware of the social and economical issues I have encountered in my environment. What impacted me the most in this course is learning of African slavery and the impact it had on the mental and emotional state of an African individual that is most evident in society today. Another aspect of the course that stood out to me was the immigrants and indigenous people who were forcibly brought to the Caribbean to work each made a contribution to the development of the region.
Also, I found the concept of online learning quite effective and efficient- I must conclude that this Caribbean Civilization course was an important aspect of my all round knowledge as a student and my ability to think critically in society.
Reporting by Jodi Baitoon Caribbean Civilization report- 30 November, 2017.

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-Campbell, F John. "Unit 4-Beyond the Rivers of Babylon." Online Lecture 2 Oct, 2017. University of the West Indies.
-Tobago, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and. Santa Rosa Carib Festival. Trinidad, August 2017. Online document.
-Norton, Noel. Noel Norton's 20 Years of Trinidad Carnival. Trinidad & Tobago Insurance Limited, 2009

-REASONS BEHIND HAITI’S POVERTY

KAREN FRAGALA SMITH ON 1/15/10

http://www.newsweek.com/reasons-behind-haitis-poverty-70801

-Bob Corbett
Why is Haiti so poor?
Fall, 1986 Director, PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

http://faculty.webster.edu/corbetre/haiti/misctopic/leftover/whypoor.htm

-Pat Patrick. “My Culture Trinidad and Tobago.” YouTube. 23 Feb 2013. Web. 27 November 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgku01wi07g.
-CNN. “Hurricane Matthew hits Haiti.” YouTube. 4 October 2016. Web. 29 November 2017.
https://youtu.be/ZMDqSBmLNqA
-Campbell, F John. "Unit 7- Religion, Education and Caribbean Family Life." Online Lecture 30 Oct, 2017. University of the West Indies.