by Felix Edinborough (Pierrot Grenade)

I just want to express my heartfelt appreciation
For Brian's grandiloquent contribution
In and out of the carnival celebration
Both as a great person and the quintessential Midnight Robber
Because he was always one or the other
Or most times even both together

Brian was what you would call a Midnight Robber fadder
They couldn't have nobody better
When you hear him with he long, long speech
You had was to say - Boy that man could preach!
He would make you hand over wealth and ammunition
And would accomplish his mission without corruption
Because he would have such bombastic language
That without even using parliamentary privilege
He would cover you with slander
And call you mocking pretender
And make you bend your knees
And hand over your treasure keys

When Brian gave you his genealogy pardner
You know this was no two by four Midnight Robber
He would tell you that from the age of one
His life's story had just begun
And when his great grandfather's treasures were stolen
From his guarded coffer
There and then he became a Midnight Robber

His eloquence and verbosity would cause you such trepidation
That you would hand over your life savings without hesitation
For you know if you only make the mistake and hesitate
You could be victim one hundred and…something in a parlous state
Worse yet when you hear his name Canganciero
That would make you tremble from head to toe

I could hear him saying at the big Pearly Gate
Be quick, be quick it is getting late
And when he let loose his bombast without half-truths innuendoes or lies
Peter bound to say, Brian boy you have talked your way into Paradise
A person who spent so much time on life's stage
Preserving our cultural heritage
And did so much for our traditional carnival celebration
Deserves our highest commendation

May Brian's soul rest in peace
And with that sincere wish my words will now cease

DEAR EDITOR: I wish to express my condolence to the Cluny Sisters on the death of Sr Patricia Douglas.
I worked with her to help a child during the August vacation. Her dedication to ensure that special education needs were met, as well as provision of shelter that was safe and secure touched my heart.
I will always remember her going to fetch her guitar to sing our song of thanksgiving. The children of “Mespo” in St Vincent have lost a caring champion.

Shireen Dewan-Mc Ken, Newtown

DEAR EDITOR: I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to someone who played a part in giving me a second chance at life, you know who are. May the Lord bless you always.
TTAC (Trinidad & Tobago Altar servers Council) and Vision are also special to me and I thank them for coming into my life. To those who helped me, Mr Chan and others, the Mt Hope doctors and ICU nurses and others on the ward, people across Trinidad who pledged help from the goodness of their hearts, may God also bless you all, as good Samaritans, now and forever.

Harris Mahase, Coryal