Thirty odd years ago, Berold Hinds left the sleepy village of Fyzabad and with his wife, Juliet, a nurse, set out to make a new life in the United States of America.
Berold, who is employed in security at the United Nations, is currently visiting Trinidad and Tobago in his capacity as President of the Trinidad & Tobago United Cultural Association, a group formed in 1962 basically to promote the cultures of this country in New York.
His mission at this time: to find three suitable candidates who have through their talent helped to put Trinidad and Tobago on the world map. The three will be put forward to the Association and one of them will be chosen to receive the TTUCA's award at the anual August Ball.
The Association, which has from the very first year hosted a formal, black-tie Ball, is in the midst of preparing for the celebration of its 40th anniversary Ball on August 17, 2002 at the New York Mariott Brooklyn.
Of course, Hinds was not about to reveal the names of the three possible nominees being considered at this time. But did say that our Prime Minister, whoever that might be in August, would be invited to attend the Ball, with its Trini/Caribbean music and flavour. Basdeo Panday attended in his capacity as Prime Minister, in 1999, at which time the ball historically held on the last Saturday in the month of August, was moved to facilitate the P.M. Six hundred guests attended that Ball and says Hinds "that is why it is so important to get the Prime Minister to attend as obviously interest is peaked."
Since the group tries to stay away from political issues, Hinds, who was on his way last Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Patrick Manning, was clear "I am interested in getting everybody involved, We support any elected Prime Minister, our interest is a stable, prosperous Trinidad & Tobago, because everybody, citizens and businesses, will prosper from a stable and prosperous country."
The Ball, explained Hinds, is divided into three parts this year. First the Ball itself, from which the South Cancer Support Group will receive a donation. Secondly, a plan is afoot to produce a magazine covering the forty years of Independence of Trinidad and Tobago, 1962-2002 "and this is where businesses in Trinidad and Tobago can get involved as we will feature prominent people such as former Prime Ministers, Presidents, and any other persons who have made a significant and positive contribution to Trinidad and Tobago, even our beauty queens who have won international competitions. We are looking at pretty wide distribution throughout the world via Trinidad & Tobago's Consulates. People in Trinidad can be helpful doing research, getting pictures going back to include people like Butler who somehow contributed to our Independence. And thirdly, a raffle for which we usually get the first prize from BWIA, round trip tickets from New York to Port of Spain and back."
The Association is affiliated to The Trinidad & Tobago Alliance, a group that represents Trinis in New York, of which Jacqueline Best- Phillips is president, and part of the money raised from the above raffle goes to support a scholarship which is presented to the recipient at the Alliance luncheon on the Sunday before thanksgiving in November. President Arthur Robinson has been the guest of honour at one of these luncheons.
Hinds and his Cultural Association try wherever possible to assist people in need, and at the same time work within certain parameters to do other things. "We are the ones that would get out there and organise groups to come together to say meet the Prime Minister if he is visiting, as we co-ordinate at our end and also with government and other agencies at home."
"Our focus is on Trinidad & Tobago nationals, basically, at home and abroad. And also working with our offspring to make them aware of their roots, where they came from and so on. The Association Is able to maintain contacts and works with a large percentage of the Trinidad & Tobago community in any age group. Actually, we are trying to get younger people involved in the organisation but it is very difficult, because as we get older we realise that unless we attract some younger people this thing is going to fall apart very soon."