9766370788: "Finding a Place: IndoTrinidadian Literature" by Kris Rampersad @ BookFinder.com

9766370788: "Finding a Place: IndoTrinidadian Literature" by Kris Rampersad @ BookFinder.com

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Commonwealth praise for book on Kamla's speeches

• Published on Jun 6, 2010, 12:01 am AST
• Updated on Jan 28, 2011, 4:07 am AST

A valuable addition to research on gender and women in politics in the Commonwealth. That's how Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation described the new book by Dr Kris Rampersad, Through The Political Glass Ceiling —the Race to Prime Ministership by Trinidad & Tobago's first female, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Selected Speeches. 

Speaking at the Commonwealth launch of the book at the Partners' Forum of the Ninth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting (9WAMM) in Barbados on Friday, Dr Collins noted the need for research and documentation identified by various speakers and workshops of the meeting. He stated that the book, and the project for promoting social research and publishing which it

launches, are answers to that need.
Reviews Through the Politicla Glass Ceiling

He also pointed out that it is not common for a chair of the Commonwealth to change mid-term as happened in this case with the change of Government in Trinidad and Tobago which makes Mrs. Persad-Bissessar, the first female Caribbean chair-in-office of the Commonwealth. The launch was attended by representatives from across the Commonwealth. A copy of Through the Political Glass Ceiling was presented to Chairperson of the Foundation, Simone de Comarmond who endorsed Dr Collins appreciation of the book's as a needed documentation on gender development. 

The launch was in keeping with the Forum's theme, Gender Issues in the Economic Crisis Recovery and Beyond: Women as Agents of Transformation. All proceeds of the launch go towards supporting Caribbean research and publishing. Compiled, with introduction, contexts and analyses by Dr Kris Rampersad, the book features selected speeches of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar against the backdrop of the roles of gender and geo-politics among other factors in the contest for leadership between Mrs Persad-Bissessar and the country's longest standing political entity, the People's National Movement.

Commonwealth praise for book on Kamla's speeches | Trinidad Express Newspaper | News

Julia Roberts: 'I'm Definitely a Practicing Hindu'

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Julia Roberts: 'I'm Definitely a Practicing Hindu'

Suggestions for politicians in search of a cheap arts policy

By

THE perception at election time is that politicians can get ahead only by rolling out the pork barrel and spending up big. But while we'd all love more money for the arts, there are a lot of things that could make us all culturally richer for not much more than the cost of political will, taking the lead, changing some rules and tweaking a few settings.

So, in the spirit of trying to get some actual ideas into the vacuum that is this election campaign, I've knocked up a list of suggestions for pollies wanting to do - or be seen to be doing - something useful on the cheap.

1. An empty spaces program

The rising cost of property hits every creative person who has to pay for space. Yet, throughout the country, from big cities to marginal seats, many buildings sit empty. Some tweaks to the tax, liability and property rules and a little national leadership and we could open up a lot of it cheaply and easily. I should know: in the past two years I've helped broker nearly 50 deals for artists to occupy privately owned empty shops, offices and warehouses, for a few dollars each.

2. Clean up copyright

It's stupidly complicated, stupidly expensive and doesn't work very well. The cost and complexity of the system is weighing everything else down. So let's return to basic principles. We need to pay artists for their work. We need better respect for fair use - particularly of the non-commercial variety that kids do every day. But most of all we need efficiency in administration to make it faster, cheaper and easier for all concerned. It's microeconomic reform. Fix it and we'll save money.

3. Put our national cultural collections online

It's a no-brainer. Our museums, galleries, orchestras, opera companies and state theatres are sitting on rich cultural archives that could be shared online tomorrow. But the confusion of rights makes it difficult, and they often err on the side of caution, meaning these vast resources are lost in red tape. We need the 21st-century equivalent of public lending rights on the national broadband network. It's the cheapest education and most effective audience development opportunity there is. We're spending a fortune on infrastructure, so we'd be mad not to do it.

4. Kill the petty complexities

Ever tried to rent a park, a hall, put on a gig or hold a show? The permits, permissions and red tape involved are where 90 per cent of the interactions between governments and the arts take place. For many artists, particularly those starting out, they are a killer. There is huge potential to lead here. Streamline the permits, slash the insurance requirements, offer meaningful exemptions for small projects and not-for-profit projects and events. Make it possible for communities to create events without the need for capital, lawyers and interminable time lost in the wheels of government.

5. Do something about insurance

The costs of volunteer and public liability insurance are killing small projects. In this litigious arse-covering society of ours, perfectly safe and sensible things aren't happening as a result. How about cheap, simple volunteer and public liability insurance for those too new, too poor, or too temporary to be a paid, permanent operation? The cost would be tiny relative to the activity it would generate.

6. Tax

The arts are a very lumpy industry in terms of work patterns. We need better deductibility for genuine artists, better averaging of tax and cash flows, and real allowances for the fact that real artists often need to cross-subsidise from other sources of personal or family income to get by. It's how success stories start.

7. Social security

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Walking wounded

There's a huge difference between not being paid for a while and being unemployed. In a world of casualised work, artists, like all employees and contractors, have good periods followed by deep troughs. They need the flexibility to ride them out. If you shunt them off into poorly designed programs halfway through the R&D on a new project, you cost money rather than save it. The most successful creative people I know have gone without income to invest in their future. While we're at it, making accreditation easier for small arts organisations under work-for-the-dole would help too.

So, need an arts announcement fast? Here are a few suggestions. I'm available for highly paid consultancy work, or to applaud your initiative at a press conference if you want to announce any of the above.

From Suggestions for politicians in search of a cheap arts policy

Marcus Westbury, August 2, 2010 

Find out more at www.krisrampersad.com

00873_20100723_BusinessUpdate

00873_20100723_BusinessUpdate

NGOs Pledge To Help

'People will be in need of clean linen, clothing, appliances, household items and foodstuff and we are asking our groups and organisations to help mobilise and coordinate relief for affected victims. NGOs and CSOs are well-positioned to identify and serve the persons in need and should collaborate with their local government officials and members of Parliament and national relief agencies to help alleviate the sufferings of flood-stricken districts.' - Dr Kris Rampersad, International Relations Director, Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women on Flood Relief efforts

NGOs pledge to help

WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST 2010

The TT Red Cross Society (TTRCS) has not issued a public appeal but is doing its part by preparing hampers. An official of the TTRCS said volunteers were out on the field doing assessments.

A disaster officer disclosed that they visited Macaulay, Preysal, Gasparillo and Waterloo along with officials of the Office of Disaster Relief and Management. First-aid at shelters in Gasparillo and Waterloo is being handled by the TTRCS.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) will provide assistan

ce to affected persons through its 69 branches located across the country. President of the Society Rudolph Boneo said the SVP customarily received donation “drop offs” and the branches will network with the head office about persons at parishes in need.

The Congress of the People’s Flagship House, Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain is the collection site for tinned food, baby items and toiletries donated by the public. The COP has asked for food items, baby items, water and first-aid supplies to be dropped off. Collection is from 7.30 am. Further information can be obtained by calling 6222-5817.

A San Fernando Relief Centre has been established at the corner of Lower Hillside and Coffee Street next to Black Gold. Supplies can be delivered between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm. A request was made for water, mattresses, blankets tinned foods etc.

The COP thanked citizens for showing compassion and dedication to assist their brothers and sisters in their “time of need”.

The Network of Non-Governmental Organisations yesterday called for all its member organisations, other NGOs and civil society organisations (CSO) to coordinate and mobilise relief efforts for flood victims in their districts.

In a release, international relations director for the Network Dr Kris Rampersad said, “People will be in need of clean linen, clothing, appliances, household items and foodstuff and we are asking our groups and organisations to help mobilise and coordinate relief for affected victims.”

She said NGOs and CSOs were well positioned to identify and serve the persons in need and should collaborate with their local government officials and members of Parliament “and national relief agencies to help alleviate the sufferings of flood-stricken districts.”

The Health Ministry issued an advisory on food and water safety after floods advising persons affected not to cook or eat fruits and vegetables or food in bags or cartons soaked in flood waters. Food in damaged cans or any poultry or animals drowned in floods should not be eaten. The ministry warned against bathing or playing in flood waters, as these can carry water-borne diseases. “Wear rubber gloves and other protective clothing for personal protection during clean-up to avoid direct skin contact with contaminated material.”

To disinfect water the ministry suggested boiling water until it reached “rolling boil for one minute”. A one-eighth teaspoon (0.75 ml) or eight drops of bleach should be used to one gallon of water and the water should be allowed to stand for 30 minutes.

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt

For more about Dr Kris Rampersad, NGOs, Climate Change, Floods, Sustainable Development visit www.krisrampersad.com

Trinidad and Tobago ratifies UNESCO Convention -

Trinidad and Tobago ratifies UNESCO Convention -

Dr Kris Calls for more for arts and culture in Budget

Call for more for arts and culture in Budget

TUESDAY 3 AUGUST 2010

“It is time to move beyond the lip service and put the proper structure, facilities and mechanisms in place to take advantage of the rich multiculturalism and arts for the benefit of both our human and political development, nationally, regionally and internationally,” said Media, Cultural and Literary Consultant, Dr Kris Rampersad.

“It is now well-recognised that our arts and culture are among our most untapped renewable resource. It has untapped value not only to us here in the region but internationally. It is time that the country where was invented the only musical instrument in recent times; which has an as yet incomparable record of social cohesion despite its multicultural diversity, takes its place as a leader on the world cultural stage,” she said.

“We also need to change our perception of the sector,” she added.

Rampersad noted that change can only come from meaningful diversification and more equitable treatment of groups, and an enabling environment and infrastructure for investment in the arts and culture, similar to that which has been given to petroleum over the decades, to make it possible that the enormous cadre of talent available locally can face the competitive global marketplace.

“If we are serious about weaning ourselves away from dependency on petroleum, and dependency as a whole we must do away with the ad hoc treatment of arts and culture where groups and individuals, and individual cultural sectors are subject to whatever partisan interests the powers of the day may hold, and establish a cultural policy along with programmes and actions that will standardise State treatment of the arts and culture sector that will hold for all,” she noted.

“We tend to underestimate the potential of the arts and culture, and often speak of it either in terms of economic or human development – but we are in a position to take full advantage of both elements – to use our cultural resilience and get rid of the ‘gimme gimme’ syndrome to forge the kind of social transformation that will secure for our sustainable development for generations to come,” she said.

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt :

For More and to access services and resources visit https://krisrampersad.com/ 

Make this a budget for Arts and Culture

The 2010 Budget should be devoted to strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s arts and culture so we move beyond the lip service and put the proper structure, facilities and mechanisms in place to take advantage of the rich multiculturalism and arts for the benefit of both our human and political development, nationally, regionally and internationally.

 It is now well-recognised that our arts and culture are among our most untapped renewable resource. It has untapped value not only to us here in the region but internationally.  It is time that the country where was invented the only musical instrument in recent times; which has an as yet incomparable record of social cohesion despite its multicultural diversity, takes its place as a leader in the world cultural stage.

We also need to change our perception of the sector - as not just its products as literature, performance, language design, film, song, music, dance, which are all underutilised – but also how we utilise the spirit of resilience and creative impulses that drives our capacity to rise above our circumstances, as well as how we leverage our diasporic connections which include our ancestral countries of origin, but also elements of the T&T and Caribbean diasporas that we are developing across the globe. That way we will make our experiences of slavery and indentureship truly emancipating.  

That can only come from meaningful diversification and more equitable treatment of groups, and an enabling environment and infrastructure for investment in the arts and culture, similar to that which has been given to petroleum over the decades, to make it possible that the enormous cadre of talent available locally can face the competitive global marketplace. The 2010 Budget must give substance to the continuing rhetoric that ‘culture is the new oil’ and give to the sector the kind of support petroleum has received through tax incentives, development of infrastructure, and facilitation. It should facilitate communities to appreciate and protect their cultural practices and assets that can form a vibrant base for the new tourism that caters to special interests as the old tourism flounders in the face of the economic crisis. It should project infrastructural development as to provide for such a community focus, and at the same time provide mechanisms to the international communities – international agencies as those of the United Nations and UNESCO, the European Union, and the Commonwealth and utilise our foreign missions to forge partnerships that includes our various diasporas of origin which effectively encompasses most of the world - also an as yet unquantified asset.

If we are serious about weaning ourselves away from dependency on petroleum, and dependency as a whole we must do away with the ad hoc treatment of arts and culture where groups and individuals, and individual cultural sectors are subject to whatever partisan interests the powers of the day may hold, and establish a cultural policy along with programmes and actions that will standardize State treatment of the arts and culture sector that will hold for all.     

“We tend to underestimate the potential of the arts and culture, and often speak of it either in terms of economic or human development – but we are in a position to take full advantage of both elements – to use our cultural resilience and get rid of the ‘gimme gimme’ syndrome to forge the kind of social transformation that will secure for our sustainable development for generations to come.