FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6th, 2007
No. of pages: 3
Media contact: Monique McSween – 202-467-6490, extension 1009
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO NATIONALS CELEBRATE BIG WITH T&T WEEK IN WASHINGTON DC
Washington DC: Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago celebrated the 45th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with “T&T Week” in Washington DC. - a week-long series of cultural activities, hosted by the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago in Washington DC, over the period August 24th – 31st, 2007.
The highlight of this year’s Independence Celebrations was a business and cultural contingent from Tobago - featuring the Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra, calypsonians, limbo dancers and a tambrin band as well officials of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division of Finance and Enterprise Development, all hailing from Tobago to showcase the unique culture and business and investment opportunities which the island offers.
Celebrations began on Friday 24th August with the screening of the feature-length Documentary “Calypso Dreams” produced and directed by Geoffrey Francis Dunn, Ph.D. “Calypso Dreams” has won several awards, including the award for the Best Caribbean Documentary at the Caribbean Film Festival in Jamaica in 2003. The production, which was first shown to sold-out audiences in Washington DC in April 2004, was enjoyed by a packed audience at the Auditorium of the Amour J. Blackburn Centre at Howard University.
On August 25th, the Embassy hosted Washington DC’s first-ever T&T Men Who Can Cook – an outdoor food fest featuring the cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago, which was held at the headquarters of the Inter-American Defense Board in downtown Washington DC. The highlight of this sold-out event was the judging of the best-dish, which was lead by White House Executive Chef, Chef Charlie Redden. Patrons at T&T Men Who Can Cook enjoyed the music of the Tobago-based Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra while sampling a wide-array of T&T cuisine, as well as the rhythms of the Blazing Fire Tassa Group and DC Pan Jammers. Proceeds from tickets sales were donated to the Caribbean Student Scholarship Fund.
Celebrations continued on Sunday 26th August in Baltimore, Maryland with “Pan on the Waterfront” – a concert performance by the Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra at the National Aquarium, Inner Harbour, Baltimore. Hundreds of music enthusiasts danced for more than three hours to the scintillating music of the Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra.
The highlight of T&T Week in Washington DC took place on Monday 27th August. The day began with the launch of the Cove Eco-Industrial and Business Park – the first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago. The Park, which is designed to attract trade and investment to Tobago, targets light industrial activities, including Knowledge-based Industries, Light Manufacturing, Information Technology and pare and Plastic Packaging. To a packed audience of interested investors at the Headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), Tobago House of Assembly Councillor (THA) Neil Wilson, Secretary for Tourism and Transportation and THA Councillor Anselm London - Secretary for Finance and Enterprise Development described the many benefits which make the Cove a lucrative investment opportunity, including a tax holiday of up to ten years for the manufacture of products using significant local inputs, as well as exemptions form import duties on raw material, machinery and equipment.
Monday 27th August closed on a high note with a Reception and Cultural Evening at the OAS Headquarters in downtown Washington DC. That evening, the spotlight was on T&T’s vintage calypsonians - Lord Superior, Poser, Valentino and Mudada who had the audience of US Government Officials, diplomats and T&T nationals on their feet with their renditions of calypso classics. Invitees also enjoyed the music of Indian Classical Singer, Nadia Madoo, the Redemption Sound Setters Steel Orchestra and the Othello Mollineaux Jazz Quartet.
The Grand Finale of T&T Week in Washington DC was Black Stalin in Concert at the Zanzibar on the Waterfront in downtown Washington DC on Friday 31st August. T&T nationals celebrated the 45th Anniversary of the nation’s Independence by dancing until the early hours of the morning to the music of Black Stalin. Also performing at the show was Roger Bon Air Agard & Terra B as well as the Blazing Fire Tassa band.
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