Celebrating 210 years of Chinese arrival

The events began (October 5) yesterday and continue to October 12 at various venues.

On October 12, the CBL will commemorate the 210th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of 194 Chinese men who travelled to TT on the Fortitude.

For the bicentennial in 2006, two legacy items Dragon Boat regatta and Trinidad and Tobago Chinese Steel Ensemble were established and these continue to develop ten years later. The regatta will be held on October 9 while the Steel Ensemble will be providing entertainment at the various events.

In June 2016, this year’s celebrations started with the annual Dragon Boat Festival at Pigeon Point, Tobago, which is now in its fifth year. Other events that will be available to the general public are: Cultural show on October 7 at 5 pm on the Brian Lara Promenade, Frederick Street and Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. Mayor Keron Valentine and the director of culture, Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, are among the speakers at this event. Dragon Boat Festival, October 9 at the Boardwalk, Chaguaramas, 35 local teams representing schools and business organisations are registered to race in addition to the Chinese teams from the Embassy and local Chinese associations.

Airing of the documentaryFortitude on all the local television stations on October 9, at 7.30 pm. The Chinese Embassy commissioned a documentary, approximately one hour that was produced by JCD & Associates Ltd. It showcases the contributions made by the Chinese community in TT and although the production was done over a year ago, only a few hundred persons have seen it.

A film festival is on at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain until October 11; tickets can be collected at the box office to see the following: Oct 6 - Chinese Girl and Monkey King: Hero is Back Oct 7 - Chinese Girl and Monster Hurt Oct 10 - Chinese Girl and Go Away! Mr Tumor Oct 11 - Chinese Girl and Ballet in the Flames of War