Jean Maxine Richards was named after her parents, His Excellency President Max Richards and Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards. “Jean,” she says, “because my Dad wanted me to be as pretty as my mom and Maxine from his name Max.” But as so often happens, she is always only known as Maxine.

Born on November 20, 1969 in San Fernando, where her mother was practising medicine, Maxine first went to the University of the West Indies Prep School, followed by St Augustine Girls’ High School. Graduating with both O’ and A’ level certificates, she immediately went to Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography, a subject she had always liked but with great foresight for someone so young, chose geology as her minor because of this country’s oil industry. In 1992, she returned and went to work at Petrotrin, Santa Flora. But the oil industry was not doing too well and Maxine was looking for something else to do. A reply to a newspaper ad that Pepsi Cola needed people to do research won her a contract to do their research throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and in Guyana as well. That was the start of her own business which she runs to this day, Trends Limited, at Victoria Suites in Port- of-Spain, taking time in between to complete an MBA at the Institute of Business between 1995-1997. Research was not her first interest but came through circumstances. What then were her first loves?

 “To be honest,” says Maxine, “I did not know what I wanted to do, but knew one thing for sure, I did not want to be a doctor like my mother as I feel faint at the sight of blood.” She did give thought to being either a flight attendant or model but her parents did not approve of either career. And since Maxine is very close to both her parents with whom she spends every Sunday, and especially her mother who she speaks to on the phone at least twice a day, she did not pursue those two careers. She quickly added, “My Dad was the strict one when we were growing up but we get along well and party together.” We, refers to her brother Mark, who is just one year older and is finishing a specialty in anesthetics at Warrington, Manchester.

Maxine has no interest whatsoever in politics and the nearest she has come to the political world is through her company doing some market research for one of the parties. There is no special person in Maxine’s life. “I just have a lot of friends, no steady, as I am trying to get my business where I want it to be. Also too many of my friends got married straight out of high school and have had divorces.” With a coy smile Maxine says “maybe when I am closer to 40, I will find that right person. I am just not interested as I have seen too many people get hurt. Also sometimes I am at work until late at night and when I go home I might be working still so it really is only on the weekend I take time out to have some fun.”  And fun is hanging out on Friday’s at Jenny’s on the Boulevard or Trotters, or dinner at TGIF.

Those of us who admired Maxine’s beautiful Peter Elias dress at her father’s inauguration on March 17, will find it hard to believe that she is normally a jeans person.  “The formal attire is not for me, I just love my jeans, but I now have to get some formal clothes”, which will be in her favourite colours of red and yellow, or for that matter any bright colour as she says “I love bright colours.” Maxine and her business partner produced the “Marigold” section in her cousin, Michael Headley’s Carnival 2003 band – Poison. Members of the Marigold lead section wore bustiers with short pants, and the regulars wore bikinis. “Actually my parents played in my section this year…We did all the decorating of belts and costumes…I saw it as a challenge and besides not being satisfied with the work other people do for you, my major scare was that on the days of Carnival pieces would fall off so I decided let me make it so if anyone was to blame it would be me.”

She belongs to a small organisation “Peer Pressure Too” which throws parties to raise funds for underprivileged children. “Last June on Labour Day we tried along with the St Augustine Chorale to raise funds so that they could go to Canada but did not raise enough. We are trying again this year at the Centre of Excellence in the Garden Sanctuary, on Labour Day, with an all-inclusive fete. These are the fetes I love to attend at Carnival.”  Maxine and her group have adopted the Abandoned Boys Ward at St Ann’s Hospital where they help with Christmas parties. Last Wednesday, she was accompanied by Her Excellency to an Easter treat for these youngsters.

This very down-to-earth young woman will soon move into The President’s House with her parents because: “My mother would feel a lot more comfortable if I were there and I am very attached to her.” Maxine does not see this infringing on her lifestyle and plans to fit the two in together. “My mother asked me to come and live there and I will try it on a phased basis, I just have to rent my apartment out.” Maxine empathises with the adjustment her mother must make to the security that comes with being First Lady “as she really is a very regular person. I took her to the Trini Posse stand when New Zealand played here and she enjoyed herself. That is now out of the question. I am glad that the security does not apply to me as I went back to the stand last weekend.”

Maxine enjoys travelling; loves dogs; likes the sea but hates to admit “not here in Trinidad. I prefer Tobago and even more so Antigua, where my only goddaughter lives, and she is the closest link I have with children. I just don’t ever think of one of my own.” Maxine never thought her father would have been President and says “when I saw it for the first time in Newsday on January 1 this year, I was surprised. At first there was a lot of attention on my family but it is cooling off now. Actually, the first Friday after the inauguration, nobody spoke to me in Jenny’s. The second week they came across and said they were looking for security, but I have none. I was surprised as I do not know what they were thinking.” The only sport Maxine has played is tennis. Now, she keeps fit on a treadmill at home. She sees herself as “more a night person, so I work in my business from 10 am until 6 pm.”

Naparima Bowl, San Fernando remains one of the best venues where many of the world’s most famous performers go to perform for southerners. Although the venue has been earmarked for renovations, there has not been any major work done to the building for more than 25 years. However, the new manager has a plan for the Bowl.

Reynold Bassant, one of TT’s most prolific writers and cultural activist, has been able to provide service for scores of artistes who visit the Bowl on a daily basis. Bassant seems to be the most qualified person for this job and many people predict that there will be change to the Bowl now that he has taken the reins. He has spent 30 years of his life as the Chief Librarian at the Carnegie Free Library, San Fernando but Bassant is well known in  performing arts circle. He seems to be the anchor for those who are into the performing arts in South. Many would turn to him for advice and also for review of their work.

One might wonder how come a librarian connects so much to arts in San Fernando? Well it’s easy, Bassant encouraged the artistes of the southland to showcase their talent for the people who frequent the library. He used the library as a place where the playwrights, poets and story tellers are able to reach an audience one-on-one and talk about their art. “It worked in many ways. It showed the skill of the artistes who want to communicate with an audience but in a homely atmosphere filled with warmth, love and affection. It also gave the listeners an opportunity to think about the arts and develop a love for it. Cause there are many people who hear about storytelling and they get turned off thinking this is not something interesting, but when exposed to it they realise how much fun there is in listening to a story told in the company of friend and relative,” he explained. Bassant noted that while the policy of the libraries remain to provide books for the reading public, he used the forum for a lot more.

“In the beginning I went through a lot from my bosses for promoting the arts through the library, but later on they realised that my idea was generating a greater flow of youths to the library.  Despite the initial problems I had I was later complimented for my efforts,” he said. He noted that the library started celebrating all the major festivals including Carnival, Divali, Eid-ul-Fitr  and Christmas. The public was invited to  attend these functions and the library provided documents on the origin of the festivals and also on the people who were invited to participate in the cultural aspect of the festivals.

From his office at Naparima Bowl  Bassant said he was lucky to get a break with a newspaper to do feature writings about the artistes in 1974. “I was able to inform the country on the happenings of the south-based performers. It was one of the best opportunities I had to assist the many striving performers of the southland,” he said. During the 70’s and 80’s the public looked forward to learning about the arts through the pieces submitted by Reynold Bassant. He gained a reputation for his excellent writings and won many competitions. He took the first prize for poetry in the PNM’s 25th anniversary competition. Later on he won the Public Service Association’s  excellent writing contest and the National Cultural Council’s annual writing competition.

Bassant noted that it was Newsday’s the editor-in-chief, Therese Mills (who was the editor of Guardian at the time) who gave him the opportunity to publish his short story Jai on the School Bus. This gave him  a boost as the public got to view his writing from a different angle. Bassant grew up in Marcano Street, Princes Town, and his parents Joseph and Violet Bassant still live there. It was while attending Naparima Boys College that he met the playwright and dramatist James Lewah who trained him and he acted in many of Lewah’s productions. Bassant is now working with the Ministry of Culture to make the Bowl the “sanctuary of the performing arts in south Trinidad”.

Just like he did with the library, Bassant is now working feverishly to give the artistes the opportunity to showcase their talent for the schools and other institutions. “I believe if those who are painters, writers and musicians can come and spend an entire week at the Bowl, then the schools and other institutions can come in and see what the artistes have to offer by paying a small fee of $1, he said. Through a government scholarship he was able to attain a BA in English language, history and sociology. He also holds a Masters in Library and Information Science and a diploma in public relations and human resource personnel management. Bassant and his wife Dawn have a two-month-old baby, Justine Amanda. He has two other children from a previous marriage,  son Mark lives in Canada and daughter Candice lives here.

Naresh Bhola is sharing his passion for kick-boxing with young people in South Trinidad.

The physical education teacher at Princes Town Junior Secondary School has his own school of kick-boxing called “Zion’s”. He is also a fitness freak and lectures to several organisations on good health and fitness. But his passion in life is kick-boxing and his  mission is to establish an institution for this sport. For the time being he has opened his home on Knolly Street, Princes Town, to potential kick-boxers. Bhola said the sport has given him a sense of direction in life.

“Having learnt the art, I was determined to pass on the knowledge to the young people. I harboured a burning desire to reach out to the young people who are full of energy and teach them the art of kick-boxing. This art is so beautiful it helps you to develop coordination with the muscles in your body and with your mind. It gets your physical body moving in style. This is why this art is recommended for young people,” he said. He added that a fit body means a fit mind and this is the philosophy he uses to teach the thousands of students who pass through his hands at the secondary school.  Bhola spends plenty time surfing the net for new equipment and refresher courses on the sport.

As a youngster Bhola loved Chinese martial arts movies and would sit glued to the television once they were being shown. When he was 13 years old he was introduced to karate at St Stephen’s College, Princess Town. While a student at Presentation College, San Fernando, his first tutor, Shodan Rawl Cambridge Shotokan spent long hours showing him the different karate moves.  After two years he gave up  to concentrate on his studies. While he was attending UWI he took up karate again, this time under the tutorship of Sensi Tumpak. After a couple of months he had to discontinue for several personal reasons. Then in 1985 he joined yet another karate class at the  Princes Town Senior Secondary School, “Lion Style”.  He continued pursuing this art for 15 years and holds a black belt.

It was in 1990 the kick-boxing instructor, Brandon Burke introduced the sport  to the karate students. “I decided to spend a lot of my time and effort behind it because I liked it. The high jumps and the quick foot-works were very exciting. It is a disciplined art but with more actions,” he said. He excelled within a short space of time and went on to win many trophies for karate. In 1995 due to numerous requests from the youngsters who attended the junior secondary school, he opened his own school of kick-boxing. With no place to train students he decided to use his own garage. Classes are on Saturdays and adults also come for training.  Bhola has expanded to the Princes Town Senior Secondary, where he tutors children from three to 15 years. Apart from training the youths he takes them hiking and on trips to waterfalls.

Dejectedly Bhola noted that the Government has done little for this sport in Trinidad. He said that the few bodies and sports clubs involved in teaching are at war and as a result the Ministry of Sports refuses to help anyone.  He explained that the National Kick-boxing Council (NKC) lead by Brandon Burke has a few groups under that umbrella and the Trinidad and Tobago Kick-Boxing Federation (TTKBF) has many of the south-based groups under that umbrella and for some reason the two groups are always at war.  Zion’s Club where Bhola tutors is under the TTKBF. “Whenever we request a meeting with Government officials seeking assistance the other group never shows up and we are asked to reschedule,” he said.

It is Bhola’s wish to see the Ministry call all kick-boxing groups together and form one organisation that can take the sport into the future. Furthermore, he is calling on the corporate sponsors to look at the progress of this sport and assist in getting a ring for kick-boxers. He noted that building a ring locally would cost $20,000 and importing one from Miami US$9,000. The material needed for a ring includes canvas rope, board, wood, ply, sponge and turn buckle. Naresh hopes to accomplish his goal of getting a ring and the establishment of a proper school in south during the course of 2003.

She is known in the entertainment circles as “Sexy Kavita Maharaj”. She has been entertaining local and foreign audiences with her singing and now as host of  her own radio programme, Chutney Fire on 106 FM.

People will remember Kavita as the artiste who had the crowds dancing to the sizzling music of the Dil-E-Nadan orchestra. Then in a sudden twist of events, Kavita found herself in a very uncomfortable situation where she was accused of disrespecting the elders in that band and was told by band manager, Richard Ramnarine that her services were no longer required.

As Kavita puts it, when one door is closed another one is opened almost immediately. “Many people are so hurt from getting the door slammed in their face that they do not recognise that there is another opened door staring at them. I did not realise how popular I had become because of my stint with Dil-E-Nadan. After the media carried the story my phone was ringing off the hook. Promoters and other orchestras were calling non-stop for me to join their band,” she said.

Kavita has a unique style and sings with a certain depth that is different from other East Indian female performers. She is very in tune with the various rhythms and beats. She is what the music director would call a dream to work with. While growing up she would sing the choruses of the top songs from Bollywood movies. Her mother Lalita Maraj and her elder sister, Nandini Maharaj also  encouraged young Kavita to sing. At the Riverside Hindu School she was chosen to sing at the Baal Vikaas competition. Her teacher, Saromini Maharaj taught her the words of the Hindi song and pretty soon she was able to sing the song in its original form. “Our school won all the trophies for singing that year and we celebrated at home and at school. “This really inspired me to learn more songs and to continue singing for my school,” she said.

After graduating from secondary school she decided to join a band. “I was stifling my talent and I couldn’t take it anymore. This is why I decided to join a band,” she said. After spending one year with Dil-E-Nadan she toured Holland and also performed in Miami, New York, and Suriname. After her split from Dil-E-Nadan, she got turned off from performing, kept a low profile and made very few public appearances. Eventually she took up the offer to do announcing at 106 FM.

Kavita is back on the stage and performs with the band Karma, along with Nisha, Ravi and Anil Bissembhar. She is now delving into pop, reggae, chutney and film songs including songs like “Under It All”, “Bat Kay Laa” and top soca tune “Nasty”. She is also undergoing voice training with Ashford Joseph and is learning keyboards. And yes, she has a boyfriend whom she loves very much. His name is “Mr Handsome” and as she puts it, he is very charming as well.