To me, the full moon is at its ultimate, beautiful best when it rises over a Caribbean beach on a clear, star-filled night. Magnificent, a glittering orb tinged with gold, it appears over the horizon and then, rising higher and higher, it shines down on silver-tipped waves and shadowed sands. Is it any wonder that Earth’s satellite was worshipped as a goddess by the first inhabitants of the West Indies, or that its motions were accurately recorded by many ancient cultures?” Compelling words of Dr Maura Patricia Imbert, President of the Astronomical Society of Trinidad and Tobago. On July 19, 2003, the Imbert-Barrow Observatory, erected at the top of Mount St Benedict to house a brand new 12-inch telescope donated by UNESCO to the TT Astronomical Society, was opened to sponsors and specially invited guests. Among the numerous features of this impressive telescope is that it is fully computerised and can store as much as 60,000 objects in its database.

A founding member and president since 1972, Maura co-authored two pioneering texts on observational astronomy in the Caribbean, Trinidadian Skies and Tropical Skies. In 1998 she published Caribbean Skies and is currently working on a companion volume, The Caribbean Moon. The size of this lady’s portfolio contrasts sharply with her diminutive stature. For years she has been teaching classes in basic astronomy at the School of Continuing Studies, writing articles for newspapers and magazines, doing consultancy research projects in addition to pursuing her passion for astronomy. Dr Imbert talks fluently about planets, asteroids and meteors, comets, the sun, stars, galaxies, Black holes and how lucky we are in the Caribbean that we can see almost the entire celestial sphere. Aptly called the Star Lady by many, she recalls memorable events witnessed by the society, among hem Halley’s comet in 1986 when a noted astronomer, Dr Fred Whipple came to Trinidad with 300 Americans to view this comet in our skies. In Tobago, on September 8, 2001, Maura played an integral part in the videotaping of a once in a lifetime astronomical event: the occultation of a star by Titania, one of the moons of the planet Uranus. The Trinidad and Tobago team’s precise taping of Titania being eclipsed by a star is a precious recording, which was made available to international astronomical societies and featured on several Internet websites. She was also present in Antigua on March 20, 2001 at the Spring Equinox, on the invitation of the government there to investigate the possibility of the existence of a tropical Stonehenge on the island.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Maura holds a doctorate in Biochemistry and is now pursuing a Masters degree in Astronomy. “I have always been interested in astronomy since I was 12 or 13; I don’t know why, since none of my family was involved in this; so that when I got married and moved to Barbados in the early sixties and when I found there was an active astronomical society there, I joined. When we moved to Trinidad in 1964, I got together with some very interested persons and our society here was born. The first President was Dr Russel Barrow, hence the name of the observatory.” Her dedication, enthusiasm and passion for the skies are obvious — “Our skies are so wonderfully placed, if I can put it like that. You see, we are 10 degrees North of the Equator, so we can see Polaris, and 80 degrees South, so we can see almost the whole sky. We can see constellations that people in other countries cannot see. Stargazers in North America and Britain can never see many of the glorious southern constellations, so they’re always fascinated seeing them here. On the other hand, there are northern constellations like Ursa Major the Big Dipper that people in Australia can never glimpse, so when they come to visit, they are always captivated by what they can see here. Our new observatory, built at Mt St Benedict with the kind permission of the Abbot, is ideal for our sessions. There is a viewing deck with a wonderful picture of our skies. We have a mandate from UNESCO to popularise our mission and so we plan to have astro weekends for secondary school children.”

In a recent magazine article entitled By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Maura confirms common beliefs about lunar influence on high and low tides in the ocean and carefully analyses the myth of moon-madness in human beings and animals. The moon is reputed to affect mammals, and many predators are more active at full moon, including wolves. A recent research project carried out in the United Kingdom records findings that in over 1,000 cases of hospital treatment of dog bites researched, there was s direct correlation between the time when the bites occurred and full moon phase! Maura fondly recalls her initiation into West Indian living, first in Antigua and later in Barbados where she taught chemistry. Among her noted students was, in later years, the Prime Minister of Antigua Lester Bird, who remembers her as his “school ma’am with the pink cheeks.” A family of unique Caribbean heritage, Maura’s husband was born in St Lucia, her two sons in Antigua, only daughter in Barbados and single grandchild in Trinidad. “As a young girl, to my mom’s horror, I did rock climbing. This was my pride and joy. In fact, if I didn’t get married and move here to the West Indies, I had definite plans to go climbing in the Alps,” she chuckles. Her hobbies are as varied as the interests of this fascinating woman. She does extensive gardening, has a love for music (used to play the viola in her university ensemble) in addition to sailing occasionally being a member of the Yachting Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Maura says that the field of astronomy, though considered exotic, is not really so. She has discerned a genuine interest, especially among young people, in this field. She specifies that the only stipulation to becoming a member of the TT Astronomical Society is a liking for astronomy. Among her present batch of students at the School of Continuing Studies in St Augustine are some who are very active, keen and enthusiastic who can easily take over from her, as she says, “I’m ready to ride off into the sunset.” She is very interested in local medicinal plants and among her non-astronomical achievements, Maura developed a patented three-spice extract that can act as a substitute for chemical preservatives in certain beverages — this has been incorporated into a successful local soft drink. She has done a lot of work with the aloe plant and on a trip to Zimbabwe, met with practitioners of traditional medicine (previously known as witch doctors) who showed keen interest in what we do here in terms of herbal medicines.

Now working on research for her thesis, Maura has chosen Arawak astronomy. In fact, on a walk at the top of a hill in Antigua years ago, she stumbled on remains of what might have been an ancient astronomical observatory. Archaeologists dug up many Arawak artifacts on the site. Megaliths and sacrificial altars to the moon and sun gods, which the Arawaks worshipped centuries ago, were also found on the site. Her research is in analysing and collating data collected from these findings. In spite of her diverse interests, Maura’s love and passion for astronomy seeps through her every conversation. The “Star Lady” spent months personally supervising construction of the building to house the Trinidad and Tobago Astronomical Society’s newest telescope: her pride and joy, a legacy for future local astronomers.

What could bring Humming Bird Day Camp co-director Janice Quamina more happiness than the e-mail she received from a past camper, now resident in Canada that read with the gist: “I went for a job and I had all this university stuff, but do you know what they were interested in?” There was no lingering suspense. The happy camper, Karen Greenidge, was considered for the job she was applying for after presenting her Humming Bird Day Camp (HBDC) certificate as a trained camp counselor. To be a camp counselor meant that she started out at her alma mater as camper, progressed to junior counselor and eventually, counselor. “They were interested in what I did (extra curricular activities),” Karen wrote in her e-mail. That included First Aid, swimming pool supervisor, leader and the list went on. Those words warmed Janice’s heart. However, there’s more happiness. Humming Bird Day Camp, which had its start in 1978 and marked its 25th year in July with a birthday party, has churned out “many-a-success-story” — too numerous to mention. However, Janice noted a few — Charlene Taylor/lawyer, Wayne Fredericks/doctor, Rawle Howard/actuary and Richard Baldwin, a US computer specialist who was hired by a parent, who admired the youngster’s ability during Parents’ Day at the camp many years ago.

Janice was overwhelmed with mixed emotions when she mentioned the name (the late) Vaughn Salandy, former journalist and news anchor. As a teenager he was never missing from the camp, which is located, since its inception, at the St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church Hall on Wendy Fitzwiliam Boulevard, Diamond Vale. As a matter of fact, Vaughn never wanted camp to end during the July/August vacation. One of her “daughters”, as she refers to her, Ancilla ME Harding, has returned to camp. Not as a camper, but as a lecturer in public speaking. Like Karen, Ancilla moved up the ranks becoming counselor at the camp. Fifteen years later, she holds an MBA in Education and teaches Communication Arts and English as a Second Language at a High School in Brooklyn, New York. “My experience there (HBDC) was the turning point in my life. During teenage years you’re impressionable and I had my teenage traumas going on without focus on personal goals. After my training there, I matured (that) summer and my parents noticed it. HBDC — I call it training for life,” Ancilla told People. Janice sat listening to Ancilla. She was touched. It was the accomplishment of nurturing “treasures, jewels that when polished, can shine” and “beautiful human beings,” with the help of her mentor, HBDC co-director and former newspaper writer Enid Alleyne. “To run the camp is one of my passions,” she said, “and serve the community of Diamond Vale, Diego Martin and do wonderful things for the children and teenagers.

There was never a holiday in my life that wasn’t spent serving children.” Her mother, a homemaker who died when Janice was still a youth, instilled the importance of busying oneself during the July/August vacation and yet, having fun. “When I was a teenager this is what was done for me. I grew up in the YWCA and these were the programmes to help you grow.” She added: “My mother used to tell me you have a mission only you could fulfill. She used to baffle me about that. She was a smart woman. She was a Buddhist. That is about doing things to create value in our lives and because of her influence, I have taken up Buddhism too.” Janice later found a job at the YMCA and, after serving as director for some years, “I was told that they didn’t need me anymore and I went to Ms Alleyne and she said why not open my own camp. I remember I came home and I cried because this was my heart,” she recalled. Janice was also teacher at Four Roads Government Primary. Six years later, she transferred to Diamond Vale Government Primary where she has been teaching for 30 years. With her experience in teaching and extensive training as camp counselor and director abroad, “the next day I brainstormed about every possible thing to do to set up a day camp.”

In 1978, the camp opened its doors to 65 children, with 14 counselors. In two-week sessions, campers are taught “life skills, to play constructively, communicate effectively, resolve disputes amicably, compete competitively, discover innate talents, cultivate new friends and do things they’ve never done before.” Some of those things Janice practices at home with her daughter and only child, Janilee, 16, who is also a member of camp 2003. “I love to sew and I love to travel, she added. “I fulfilled one of my dreams, which was to attend the International Teachers Association Conference in Orlando. I did that and I was one of 11 teachers from Trinidad out of more than 19,000 teachers from all over the world. My next dream is to go sailing on a cruise to the Grenadines. In between St Vincent and the Grenadines are the most beautiful islands that we always pass by air.” She has two philosophies in life — “to work is to live” and “I am where I am supposed to be…” “For the kids, I want to create value in their lives and let them know that they are special, that they can make it, there’s a dream for them and,…I want somebody to capture my feeling of giving.”

Gillian Stoute was brought into the spotlight by Simpli Smooth Productions (SSP) modelling agency for her “lankyness”. She had the right “street” attitude and a strong personality that runway models required. She also had the perfect height, 5ft 11 inches, the perfect weight 115 pounds and her statistics (bust, waist and hips) were workable — 35 1/2-26-36. Full-lips, even skin tone were pluses in her book. But looks were secondary. If only she had listened to the negative comments that came at  her from every direction time after time, Gillian would’ve quit a long time ago. “You’ll never amount to anything because you have riders; you doh look anything like a model, no one would support you with that, yuh too dark!” her friends told her. It was her dream to become a runway fashion model from the age of three, so nothing was going to shake her determination, certainly not any comments by friends who had little confidence in her and didn’t share her dream. “If it wasn’t for Mr Deron Attzs/SSP CEO, my confidence level would have gone through the roof,” she said. The 22-year-old from Marabella joined the SSP team in 1997 and since then, has been a hit at many fashion extravaganzas put on by the fashion outfit in San Fernando and throughout the country.

There, she was exposed to members of International model agencies who visited Trinidad to field models for shows abroad. In 1999, Gillian was one of 20 local models out of 90 women, selected by one of the US top model management houses Elite, in a model search hosted by Coco Velvet International. Though she wasn’t top model at the show, being selected over 70 people meant the world to her. “I was advised by Elite scouts that I should take advantage of the US and European market because they felt that I have what it takes to be a force in the fashion industry,” said a vibrant Gillian. She has worked with top fashion designers and models in the industry including Sharon Imbert, Claudia Pegus, Radical Designs and Wendy Fitzwilliam. For 1999/2000, Gillian was Simpli Smooth Productions Fashion Model. “That was a great achievement,” she said, “for a girl who idolised super model Naomi Campbell and was glued to the television and fashion magazines to keep upbreast with the fashion world.”

In 2000, Gillian gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Naomi, and thereafter was back on the ramps. She fell right back on track with the SSP team. Maintaining her weight was never a problem. “I can eat anything and everything and not have to worry about putting on size,” she said. Currently, Gillian is a part-time clerk and “just a girl trying to develop my modelling career”. She’s also a folk dancer with the Embacadere Best Village group. She lost her mother — her “mentor” and “support”, three years ago. Her mother was one who shared her dream. She knows the road ahead  is far from easy. Getting in and out of swimming pools 100 times to satisfy her employers who “must get the right shot”, sweltering in the heat of the sun, day in and day out, she said, is only “part” of the process. “There are the bad days. Yuh pelting the food, slamming down the phone when you’re tired. At the end of the day it’s just an expression of frustration,” Gillian added. The end result, however, is “well worth it.”

There’s more to grooming a dog than meets the eye — as you learn while watching Beverley Hamer at work in North Western Veterinary Clinic on Mucurapo Road. Beverley, (or Bev, as most people call her) a bright-eyed, live wire  grandmother of two, has been grooming Trinidad dogs for the past eighteen years while she lives with two cats. Born in the UK, as a baby Bev’s parents took her to Jamaica where, after leaving school, she started work as what, in those more gracious days, was known as an air hostess with Bee Wee. Three and a half years later she married a Bee Wee pilot and came to live in Trinidad where her two children, Lisa and David were born. Now divorced with her daughter Lisa living in Dallas, Texas with her American husband; and David, his English wife and sons Jack (7) and Charlie (5) living in England, Bev lives with her cats in a townhouse in Glencoe, perched dizzyling high on a steep hillside overlooking the Gulf of Paria. In 1985, with both children studying “away,” it was Bev’s love of  animals, especially dogs and cats, that prompted her to take a  three-and-a-half month-long concentrated course in grooming dogs, in Hounslow, one of the least attractive places in the UK. For six days a week, in the freezing cold, damp depths of an English winter she travelled to Hounslow to learn the techniques of combing, brushing, clipping and bathing dogs of all shapes and sizes and breeds, to prepare them for the show ring — and travelled back to the flat she shared with her son, covered in dog hair.

At the end of that course Bev was the first person from the Caribbean to have her name entered in the UK Professional Groomer’s Directory. She said she had heard of only one other person doing grooming here at that time, now there are four of five more groomers. Bev has her regular clientele of long-haired dogs; poodles (of course), spaniels, West Highland terriers, collies, retrievers, Pekinese, . . . and plenty of pretty cross-breeds like pom-peks, too. When I visited North West Veterinary Bev was preparing to groom “Maestro”, a Giant Schnauzer that Bev calls her “Gentle Giant.” While she waited for an assistant to help her lift Maestro on to the grooming table, she stroked and praised him, playing with his ears and his paws, telling him what good boy he was. Maestro lapped up the praise and the loving-up. With Maestro on the table, Bev set to work to comb the knots out of  his long hair. Bev used the scissors on thick knots, passing the scissors through the knots away from the dog’s body. With all Maestro’s hair free of knots she clipped his coat, trimmed his “moustache” and “beard”, tidied the fringes around his paws. I hadn’t time to see her clip his nails, or shampoo his coat (with human rather than dog shampoo), blow-dry him and brush him until he shone. The photograph shows how sleek, neat, tidy and shiny he looked when I returned to North West to see him after his grooming. As she worked Bev gave us tips on grooming long-haired dogs (the short-haired, she says, only need brushing). She uses a Greyhound metal comb and Universal 6-inch wide slicker brush. She advises owners to groom long-haired dogs four times a week, paying special attention to the main matting areas behind the ears (and inside the flap, for spaniels), under the “armpits”, inside the hind legs and rump.

As most dogs are territorial Bev finds it best to see her clients on her own turf, at North West Veterinary Clinic, whether they are patients of that clinic, or not; they are easier to handle in an  unfamiliar environment than they would be at home. In her own home Bev Hamer’s cats are something else. Neither Henry nor Beulah would perform for strangers when I visited her, I had to be content to photograph her photograph of Bert (now, alas, no more) who, as I hope you can see, knew what the toilet was for — and used it. The others, I’m told, copy his example. Bev’s cats come when she calls them, curl up on her bed, use the spare bathroom — like Bert. They, too, are combed and brushed regularly, their nails clipped (to spare her cushions and upholstery). They are her companions, coming to the door to greet her when she comes home from work, from a game of bridge, or visiting friends. And what better companionship could any grandmother want? Postscript: As member of the Animal Welfare Network that often has trouble finding the owners of lost dogs, Bev pleaded with me to ask all dog owners to make sure their dogs have “dog-tags” attached to their collars clearly marked with the dog’s name and their own telephone numbers in case their pet should stray.

At the Swaha, Shri Raam Dhaam Institute in Diego Martin, the handsome, Umadutt Maharaj, 31, stepped out of his car to a group of cheering devotees as he made his way into the temple at St Lucien Road. He is a celebrity, in his own right. He is well respected as an established pundit by the hundreds of Swaha devotees as well as those in the Hindu communities in Trinidad and Tobago. Looking at him one can sense an aura of deep spirituality. His work in the religious arena has given him a greater sense of being and now he is so engrossed in serving the people of the temple and carrying out the duties of a spiritual person that he lives in a world of his own – a world that is filled with teachings of great books such as the Ramayan, Bhagvad Gita and the Maha Puran (texts of Hindus). He is the managing director of the San Juan insurance firm, Kalyani, an agency of Tatil. He was chosen by the board of directors of Swaha to sit in the position of Spiritual leader when his uncle, Pundit Manideo Persad steps down shortly, as head of Swaha. Pundit Manideo is tipped to be the next High Commissioner of TT to India. Umadutt  is also an accomplished tabla player. Speaking from his home in Mowla Trace, Aranguez, Umadutt, told People: “The good thing about being a Hindu youth is that rules and regulations are all compact and ready for you to follow.

The religious texts have the answers to the most difficult questions in life and if you decide to adhere and abide by these rules then success is assured.” He added that the religious texts of Hinduism have answers for every era in time. Therefore even as the world advances, there are scriptures to deal with the ever changing times, he pointed out. He is the first son of Binmatie (deceased) and Sondatt Maharaj. And the eldest grandson of the well known Sankaracharya Pundit Hari Prasad of Aranguez. Following in his lineage of spiritual leaders, Umadutt joined his uncles and his grandfather to become a pundit, some 15 years now. For him life had its difficult moments but the pains and pressures helped to mould him into a unique person admired by many. At the age of 14 he lost his mother to cancer. He was extremely close to his mother and although he knew she would die, nothing prepared him for her actual passing.

It took a lot of time to come to terms with the fact that the individual who was always there for him was no longer there to call his name or serve him lunch. But Umadutt was bent on making his mother proud of him. He wanted to celebrate the life of his mother and he set out on a mission to accomplish this goal. While it was not an easy thing to do having to cope with his academics studies, he started learning and studying the scriptures during the late hours at night. Umadutt has another mother-figure whom he turned to during this time. His maternal grandmother Chandroutie Prasad was there for him. Chandroutie was only too happy to take care of her eldest grandson. “Back in those days I received a lot of love and affection from my uncles, aunts and grandparents and this really gave me the boost I needed to get on track,” he said.

Despite the distractions as a student of the Aranguez Junior Secondary School, Umadutt knew that his mother’s prayers were with him and he tried never to falter as a young man, but there were times when he would be encouraged to carry out little pranks in school he always knew his limits. He remembered only too clearly when his mother used the swizzle stick to discipline him. “She would be using the swizzle stick on our feet early morning when my brothers, Rabidatt, (who is 30 years old resides in Florida), Jaidatt, (now 27), and Chandradatt, (now 25, and lives in England)  refused to get out of bed. She taught us to serve God first before attempting any other project.” Speaking about his father Sondatt, he noted that he was always there for them. “He was always eager to prepare food and he would make light jokes with us. He would encourage us to choose whatever we wanted to do in life. And he was always encouraging us to study hard and gain a good education,” he said.

He also mentioned his uncle Hardeo Persad who gave him the opportunity to sit through many of his yagyas (congregational worship) and sing along with him. “I felt important and I tried to live up to the position that my uncle offered me in the religious arena,” he said. For the future, Umadutt would like to marry and start another step in life, of raising a family of his own. He would like also to implement ways in reaching the youths of the country who have gone astray. “I would like to make a difference, not by just preaching but building an institution or something that would serve the youths who are neither here nor there in life,” he said.

On any given day one can turn on the radio and hear the soulful voice of Savitri Rampersad, 47, of Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas. She is one of TT’s popular singers whose voice is suited to the sad tunes of yesteryear. Members of  East Indian communities have been demanding the tune, “Bachpan Ki Mahobatt Hoo” from her. It seems like no one in the country can deliver this song quite like Savitri. She released her brand new CD, Back In Times on TTT’s Mastana Bahar recently. The radiant looking Savitri took time off her busy schedule for this interview with People. First off she spoke of her struggle to meet all her commitments as a “performer in demand” and dedicated mother. Savitri who has been meeting the demand for her songs in many countries has a greater challenge at home in the role of mother. Her eldest son, Karan, 24, is disabled and Savitri must spend long hours taking care of him. Karan is suffering from ‘muscular diaphomea’ which leaves the muscles in the body nonfunctioning. “Karan cannot use his hand or feet,” Savitri said. Taking care of her eldest sons has been a major part of her life for the past 15 years.

Both Savitri and her husband of 25 years, Dhanraj Rampersad take care of Karan. They have two other children, Timothy 21, and Rohini, 20, who are both successful students. Savitri has to juggle her time in such a way that she could manage her motherly duties before going out on evenings for performances. Reminiscing on her early childhood days, Savitri remembered at the age of seven when she joined other children in the Endeavour Hindu School to sing bhajans (religious songs). It was then she developing the love for singing and pretending to be Bollywood singers. “Back then I never knew that I would be a performer on stage. I was so shy and coward that I would always stay in the background at home. When I was asked to sing alone in school,  I remember practicing for long hours at home so that I wouldn’t falter before the children at school,” she recalled. Although Savitri claims that she knows very little Hindi, the words of her songs come out so fluently one would think she was born in India. “I believe that I wanted to create an impact in my early childhood days as a good singer and I would try to listen carefully to every word that the original singer sang before attempting the song,” she explained. Today, the art of pronunciation has brought her many trophies. She belts out her tune in such a melodious way that people listen to her attentively.

Talking about her eldest son Karan, she said that he was born with perfect features and when he turned 11 he started losing strength in his feet. “He could not keep his body up at all. Then his other muscles started failing. Today he cannot move his hands or feet,” she said. But taking care of her son is not a task. She noted that the experience of caring for him has humbled her and today she remains a person of God. She said that Karan is her number one fan and he looks forward to hearing her voice on radio and seeing her on TV. Savitri said that she took Karan to the US for medical attention but the doctors could not restore the nerves in his limbs. She noted that her family heard of a doctor in Venezuela and after visiting that country there was still no cure for young Karan. Today he sits at home looking at television and joking and laughing with the members of his family. “If a mosquito bites him, he cannot reach out to kill the insect. He would call his brother or father to help him,” Savitri explained.

Shifting her thoughts, Savitri lamented the fact that local radio station do not give the local artistes the airplay they deserve. “The airwaves are bombarded with songs from India and the local singers who are now of international fame do not get the airplay they deserve in this country.” She noted that she took the time to take her CD to every radio station and of late she would hardly hear the songs. Although she has a lot of live shows to do, the sales of the CD remains slow. “If the people of the country hear the song on the radio they would eventually go out and purchase the CD. Then the radio station would have served its purpose — promoting the local artistes in Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. She said that her best performance ever was in Canada, where she was able to take her son Karan. “Although there were more than 10,000 people at Brampton Stadium, Canada, I sang for Karan and he enjoyed seeing me on stage. This moment I could never forget,” she said. Savitri has been penning her own chutney selections for the stage. She created the tune, ‘Trini Dance So’ for the National Chutney Foundation’s competition this year.