# data[].attributes.body
• "Johannes Lingelbach Stock Photos and Images." Alamy Stock Photos. N.p., n.d. Web.
• Lamming, George. "Language and the Politics of Ethnicity in the Caribban."  N.p., Web 2 Mar. 2012.
• "Maha Sabha: No Need to Amend Hindu Marriage Act." CNC3. N.p., Web 16 Aug. 2016.
• “548 Child Marriages over Last 10 Years." Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. N.p., Web 2 June 2016.
• Rambally, Ria, and Rosemarie Sant. "The Child Bride—Dularie’s Story." Trinidad Guardian, Web 23 May 2016.
• Ramdass, Anna. "‘3,404 child brides in last two decades’." Sunday Express. N.p., Web 11 Jan. 2017.
• Sookraj, Radhica. "No More Hindu Child Marriages." Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. N.p., Web 3 June 2016.
• Wayow, Sue-Ann. "Hindu Women: Revise All Marriage Acts." Trinidad Express Newspapers. N.p., Web 20 May 2016.
• Unit 1: The Concept of (Caribbean) Civilization. University of the West Indies. Web 23 Jan, 2017
• Unit 3: The Diversified Caribbean in the 16th and 17th Century. University of the West Indies. Web 6 Feb, 2017

• Unit 6: Caribbean Identity: Defining a Caribbean Self. University of the West Indies. Web 6 Mar, 2017
• Unit 7: Religion, Education and Caribbean Family Life: The Foundation of Respectable Caribbean Society. University of the West Indies. Web 13 Mar, 2017
• Unit 8: Caribbean Cultural Expression: Festival, Music and Sports. University of the West Indies. Web 20 Mar, 2017

# data[].attributes.body
This assignment is part of my course work, related to one of the most mind boggling and life changing courses I have ever done. Caribbean Civilization has surely impacted my life and made me develop a greater appreciation for my society and at large, the entire Caribbean region. 4 entries are present as it relates to the plenaries/units done:

• Critical thinking on an issue of importance to Caribbean Civilization.

• Application of learning in Caribbean Civilization, to students’ understanding of their social or geographical environment.

• Application of learning in the course to understanding a problem of regional importance as reflected in news and current affairs literature/programs in the region.

• Self-evaluation of learning for the semester.

Social Issues will be discussed throughout this entire portfolio as it relates to the Caribbean, through the eyes of Caribbean Civilization.

# data[].attributes.headline
Critical thinking on an issue of importance to Caribbean Civilisation.  March 20th 2017

# data[].attributes.subject
Critical thinking on an issue of importance to Caribbean Civilisation.  March 20th 2017

# data[].attributes.body
Unit 8 comprised of 3 sessions that dealt with Caribbean Cultural Expression (Music, Festival and Sports). It showed how Trinidad has developed as a nation through the cultural aspect and how we have grown as a people on the whole. One aspect of cultural adhesiveness is our religious festivals. All races and religious denominations celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas. We have also embraced otherr religious holidays such as Diwali and Eid ul Fitr. We visit the homes of persons of Hindus and Muslims on Divali and Eid and participate in their cultural and religious celebrations. Apart from religious holidays, Carnival/Mas is another festival that is celebrated in Trinidad that shows cultural and ethnic agreement. The Mas tradition originated in the late 18th century with French plantation owners organizing masquerades (mas) before the beginning of lent. This festival is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago by all races. Last but not least, Music is another aspect that has merged us a cultural island. During carnival, music such as soca, dancehall and reggae, steelpan and chutney soca, can be heard predominately across the airwaves and is enjoyed by all ethnic denominations

# data[].attributes.headline
Application of learning in Caribbean Civilisation, to students’ understanding of their social or geographical environment. Unit 3 February 6th 2017

# data[].attributes.subject
Application of learning in Caribbean Civilisation, to students’ understanding of their social or geographical environment. Unit 3 February 6th 2017

# data[].attributes.body
At the beginning of this class, a Whatsapp group was formed by one of the students, Warren Anderson, so that we could co relate and help each other during this course. This group, consists presently of 136 persons, from different Caribbean islands. Through the eyes of the group, Unit 3, Caribbean Diversity was clearly appreciated, thoroughly explained and understood.

Language throughout the Caribbean is diverse. There are four predominate languages spoken throughout the Caribbean based on colonisation (French, Dutch, English and Spanish) but the multiple complex dialects and creoles based on each island is what sets us apart.

Culturally, even though we belong to the Caribbean, each of the islands have their own traditions, beliefs, customs, dialects/creoles that we are uniquely linked too. This can be linked back to Language, whereby, because the experience of each island varies, the language varies, eg, Martinique and Haiti both speak French Creole but because of their different experiences, both countries speak a different type of French creole.

The Caribbean contains one of the purest diaspora of races in the world. We have races and ethnicities from almost every part of the globe and can easily locate heritages of Africans, east Indians, Chinese, Whites and Syrians located within the same community. Due to interracial mixing of these communities, new and unique racial blends have been formed.

# data[].attributes.headline
Application of learning in the course to understanding a problem of regional importance as reflected in news and current affairs literature/programs in the region. March 13th , 2017

# data[].attributes.subject
Application of learning in the course to understanding a problem of regional importance as reflected in news and current affairs literature/programs in the region. March 13th , 2017

# data[].attributes.body
Religion, education, and Caribbean family life are key aspects in the personal development and growth of an individual in the Caribbean. Unit 7 was enriching, as it widened my perception of how cultures and tradition affect each individual within this multicultural country. This year thus far, one subject that has sparked a national outcry for change is Child marriage. 4 marriage acts in this country gives for children to be married at the age of 12 -16 years old and these include:

• The Marriage Act of 1923, which governs Christian and civil marriages, sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 years but allows exceptions on religious grounds.

• The Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act sets the minimum age of marriage at 12 for girls and 16 for boys.

• The Hindu Marriage Act sets the age at 14 for girls and 18 for boys,

• The Orisah Marriage Act sets the age at 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

According to UNICEF 2016, 8% of girls in Trinidad and Tobago are married before the age of 18.

After analysing materials given throughout this course and this unit, I was able to conceptualize the religious cultures and reasons that were the driving force for this issue, However, I believe putting a child through marriage at such a tender age is traumatic and will cause psychological harm to this child in the future. In January 2017, the Attorney General announced a bill to harmonize the country’s marriage laws and raise the legal minimum age of marriage to 18 years old, without exception. On 18 January 2017 this bill passed through the Senate and will now be debated by members of parliament in the Lower House (Trinidad Express,2017)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dr. Fuad Khan Debates Child Marriage in T&T

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dr. Fuad Khan Contributes to the Parliamentary Debate on Child Marriages in Trinidad and Tobago on 3/3/2017

# data[].attributes.body
As the debate over child marriage and the legislation for or against it continues, Dike Rostant spoke to two youth representatives from the Revival of the Ummah. The representatives, Ruqaqyah Abdullah and Isa Jeziah, said nothing is wrong with setting a legal age for people to get married, but believe the legislation is infringing the rights of some. This video is listed below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Perspective on Child Marriage from Muslim Youth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the debate over child marriage and the legislation for or against it continues, Dike Rostant spoke to two youth representatives from the Revival of the Ummah. The representatives, Ruqaqyah Abdullah and Isa Jeziah, said nothing is wrong with setting a legal age for people to get married, but believe the legislation is infringing the rights of some.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FORMER CHILD BRIDE: MARRIAGE ROBS GIRLS OF THEIR YOUTH, EDUCATION

# data[].attributes.headline
Self-evaluation of learning for the semester.

# data[].attributes.subject
Self-evaluation of learning for the semester.

# data[].attributes.body
Caribbean Civilization has turned out to be one of the most fascinating and life changing courses I have ever done. From being naïve and mislead by experiences before this, from believing in the Caribs and Arawaks, to Christopher Columbus discovering the Caribbean in unit 1, this course has truly been a life changing one, that has impacted my way of thinking. Who am I, my identity, my ancestral background is more intriguing and worth knowing more off (Unit 6). The chattel system in Unit 4 is still something that has me awed, enslaved with no rights, resulted I the destruction of a person mentally and physically. With the introduction of this course, I have learned how total strangers, can become such good friends, even though we are nations apart. I have truly learnt to know and love my neighboring regions. Even though we are regions apart, this course has shown me that we true meaning of Our Caribbean ancestry and most recently, Our Caribbean Unity. Thank you for this life changing opportunity