In this episode, we dive deep into Trinidad & Tobago’s music industry with Nigel Campbell, a music businessman, promoter, writer, and podcaster. Nigel discusses his efforts to expand the appeal of island music through various media and live performances.
He highlights the challenges and opportunities in commodifying local creativity and the need for artists to treat their craft as a business. Nigel also shares insights on the importance of data, recording, and live performances for sustaining the music industry. Additionally, we explore the origins and significance of the Jazz Artists on the Greens festival and the evolution of Caribbean jazz.
For those seeking to break into the industry, Nigel offers invaluable advice on mastering your craft and building essential connections. Don’t miss this enriching conversation about the past, present, and future of Caribbean music.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf28VwN9Boo&ab_channel=DenniseDemming
In this episode of Tuesday Talk, host David Abdulah engages in a detailed conversation with Anthony Paul, a seasoned consultant in the energy sector. The discussion centers on the commercial agreement between Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited and Petrojam, a state-owned company in Jamaica. Paul provides insights into the collaboration, highlighting the inefficiencies of Petrojam’s refinery, the trading dynamics, and the potential risks and benefits for both Trinidad and Jamaica. The conversation also delves into broader issues within Trinidad’s energy sector, including transparency, procurement practices, and the implications of past decisions on the country’s current energy landscape. This episode aims to shed light on the complexities and challenges of the Caribbean energy market, emphasizing the need for accountability and proper governance.
Most people in Trinidad and Tobago have six different numbers that identify them—their Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) number, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) number, birth certificate number, national ID card number, driver’s permit number, and passport number. While this may seem normal, it is an outdated and inefficient way of managing citizen records.
I posed two questions to my friends in the digital space: Is this system desirable, and how difficult would it be to collapse these numbers into one? The unanimous response was that multiple ID numbers create unnecessary bureaucracy and inefficiency. According to a 2014 World Bank Report, 120 out of 193 countries had already implemented a single unique identifier for each citizen from birth.
If Trinidad and Tobago had such a system, governance, and service delivery would vastly improve. Consider the challenges posed during the COVID-19 pandemic—without a unified citizen database, the government struggled to distribute aid efficiently. A single ID would allow accurate tracking of those in need, ensuring food cards and social benefits go directly to the right people without duplication or fraud.
Even Minister Camille Robinson-Regis admitted that local government bodies and community-based NGOs had to be used to locate those in need. This highlights the lack of a proper data system. A unique identifier would provide transparency, minimizing the ability for people to claim benefits multiple times while ensuring no one is left behind.
Other nations have transitioned to a single ID system over time with minimal disruption. In 2009, India launched the world’s largest biometric ID system, the Aadhaar program, which now covers over a billion citizens. The real challenge for Trinidad and Tobago is not technology—it’s the bureaucratic hurdles and lack of political will.
A unified ID system would require cleaning and consolidating data across government agencies and redesigning outdated processes. But with 1.3 million citizens, this is far less complex than managing McDonald’s 1.7 million employees across 100+ countries.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced many businesses and government agencies to adopt remote work and online services. This should have been a wake-up call to modernize our systems instead of returning to outdated, paper-based methods. The momentum for digital transformation must continue.
Perhaps it’s time to engage local tech experts to design a National ID system through an innovation challenge. With the right leadership and vision, Trinidad and Tobago can take a bold step into the digital future. The only question left is: Will we citizens choose the right leadership team?
Denise Demming interviews Michael Boothman, who recounts his journey as a musician, artist, and producer. Boothman details his early start with piano lessons at five, his self-teaching of guitar and other instruments, and the influence of his artistic family. He discusses creating various bands and music over the years. Boothman reflects on his music’s impact, the challenges of gaining recognition, and his career highlights, including a major contract with RCA and working with iconic musicians like Quincy Jones. He emphasizes the need for Caribbean music to gain a broader appreciation and advises young musicians to “just do it”. Boothman also discusses the challenges of marketing music today and the potential for a dedicated Caribbean music platform.
Fully protected = fully prepared. Get your children the HPV vaccine from age 9 and let’s vanquish the virus, and the cancers they cause. Together we can end cervical cancer.
Dennise Demming 