YACOS PUBLICATIONS publishes non-fiction books that provide solutions to life’s problems. These books are about relevant issues and concerns in society particularly in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Diaspora, the United States and the International Community. These books are the end result of empirical findings from original, longitudinal and observational studies and offer the reader critical analyses, scholarly data interpretations and interesting subject (book) discussions.
BOOKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
TO ORDER: Send money order / check (for the price of each book) plus $4USD for shipping and handling (for each book).
SEND ORDERS TO:
Dr. L. Trevor Grant, Publisher, Author
Yacos Publications
15A Picton Street
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
Phone: 1-868-338-4386 (Trinidad)
Email – ltgrant@netzero.com & yacos@dr.com
View website drltgrant.mysite.com for blog and to respond to other interesting articles.
Books are also available:
In Trinidad: Ishmael M. Khan, RIK Services Limited, The Blue Edition and the University of the West Indies Bookstores.
In New York: A&B Books 223 Duffield Street, Brooklyn NY 11202 (718) 783-7808
Nubian Bookstores 168-14 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica NY 11432
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Carnivalitis: The Conflicting Discourse of Carnival provides a new and important insight into the highly successful and growing phenomenon that is Trinidad's Carnival. Dr. Grant provides a very interesting and critical account of the cultural festival of Carnival and looks at the relationship between Carnival and current social problems such as crime, homelessness, child abuse and poverty. The blatant exploitation of Carnival by pseudo-leaders, increasing restrictions, police harassment, ineffective Carnival leadership and the powerlessness of Carnivalists are explored.
Price: $13.95 ISBN 0965373444 Paperback, 176 pages, 2004
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The Politicization of Foster Care in New York City provides anecdotal and empirical evidence of the myriad of problems that children in foster care in New York City have been experiencing over the years, and documents many of the inherent problems of the burgeoning, child welfare bureaucracy, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS). The Politicization of Foster Care... is a scholarly, comprehensive analysis of the crisis driven, labyrinthine foster care system and is loaded with statistical information not available elsewhere.
Price: $13.95 ISBN 0965373401 Paperback, 144 pages, 1996
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Undocumented, Illegal and Scared: The Experiences of an Illegal Alien is the personal account of an illegal immigrant from Trinidad who made his way to Canada, St. Croix and New York seeking better opportunities for himself and his family. The book provides factual documentation of Dr. Grant's entry into the United States without proper immigration documents. Dr. Grant provides bold, valid criticisms of the United States immigration policies and the government's failure to create progressive policies to reform the immigration system.
Price: $10.00 ISBN 096537341X Paperback, 96 pages, 2000
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Breaking Up Families: Biological Parents' Views of Kinship Foster Care provides empirical evidence of the experiences of biological parents' whose children were placed in the kinship foster care program in New York City. Many parents had bad experiences with the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and expressed strong sentiments about the agency and its workers. Breaking Up Families... adds new knowledge and meaning to the kinship foster care phenomenon and biological parents' provide valuable information about their experiences with the hostile,insensitive, cruel child welfare agency, ACS.
Price: $19.95 ISBN 0965373436 Paperback, 272 pages, 2004
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The Nowayrians: Homelessness in Trinidad and Tobago provides primary, empirical, quantitative and qualitative data from studies conducted with homeless men and women living on the streets of Port of Spain. Four extensive, anecdotal testimonies of the homeless experience are also presented in this startling, revealing expose of homelessness in Trinidad. Study findings and a sociodemographic profile of the homeless are documented in the book.
Price: $17USD, $100TT ISBN: 0965373452 Paperback, 176 pages, 2008
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Trinival: Carnival of the Gods is an analytical look at the culture of Carnival as it is celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, New Orleans, Canada, England, Spain, Switzerland and other Carnival cities. Many new topics are introduced and discussed in this fascinating book including the sexuality and sensuality in Carnival along with the music, costume and political dynamics. The East Indian influence and contribution to Trinidad Carnival along with a brief history of Chutney music concludes a very stimulating, informative, unique book.
Price: $20USD, $125TT ISBN: 0965373460 Paperback, 176 pages, 2008
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WHO WILL MONITOR THE HOMELESS?
C2009 Dr L. Trevor Grant
Since 1956, the various governments of Trinidad and Tobago have made promises to end homelessness but after 53 years overall and 43 years of the People’s National Movement government, homelessness continues to be a national problem and a burning social issue with no solution in sight from the hand picked, visionless, limited politicians of the day.
Program policies like the Jensen Fox Plan (ONR, 1984), the Chacachacare Plan (ONR, 1985), the Russel Huggins $7million Caura Plan (PNM, 1995) and the Manohar Ramsaran Plan (UNC, 1998)… and the lack of any significant plan or strategy since then to not only remove homeless men and women from the unsafe, unfriendly, violent streets of Port of Spain and other urban centers in the country but to separate, diagnose and provide treatment to the homeless according to their respective categories such as medically ill, mentally ill, physically ill, drug addicted, alcohol addicted, nowayrian… and rehabilitate them before returning them to society and to their families.
Studies have been done. Reports have been written. Books have been written about homelessness in Trinidad and Tobago but nothing significant has been done by the government to solve this growing phenomenon. Interestingly though, the only action taken by the UNC and PNM governments over the years was to remove (scare away) the homeless from the streets in Port of Spain and San Fernando in time for the Miss Universe Pageant (1999), Prince Edward’s visit (2005), the President of Ghana’s visit (2008) and now for the hosting of the 2009 Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference.
What does this say about the people loving, caring PNM government of Trinidad and Tobago which instead of taking care of its citizens is more concerned about spending billions of taxpayers dollars in order to impress foreigners while scaring and threatening these poor, marginalized, sick citizens into hibernating from their place of residence (the streets) to some unknown, dangerous location until the foreigners leave the country.
Although there is renewed talk from the PNM government of removing the homeless from the streets of Port of Spain, placing them at the St. Ann’s Mental Hospital for assessment and then to the renamed, unfinished Piparo Care and Rehabilitation Centre, there is no assurance that the type of rehabilitation services that the homeless population really need will be provided to them at Piparo on an ongoing basis. Since there continues to be a scarcity of qualified, experienced social services professionals in Trinidad and Tobago, it is frightening to think about what the overall outcome and success of this old program initiative will be. Obviously, regular monitoring and evaluation of the Piparo Centre and other Rehabilitation Centers in the country by independent professionals would satisfy the skepticism of many and would allay the fears that the homeless men and women are not being maltreated, beaten and discriminated against and consequently are hidden away from the public’s view in the bushes of Piparo. But then, that may be asking for too much from this loving, caring PNM government.
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Re-Discovery: Return to Political Reality is mainly about Election 2007 in Trinidad and Tobago. Re-Discovery… is also about the political process in the two-island republic from 1925 to 2007 with emphasis and specific details on the election results and the many political parties in Trinidad and Tobago from 1956 to 2007. The political dynasty of the mighty People’s National Movement led by its founder and Father of the Nation; Dr. Eric Williams is explored. The transformation and re-making of the PNM and the election challenges from the opposition parties from the People’s Democratic Party to the United National Congress are addressed.
Price: $17US ISBN: 0965373479 Paperback, 160 pages, 2008
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REPETITIVE, REDUNDANT SOCA LYRICS
c2009 Dr. L. Trevor Grant
As is the practice every year, new soca and calypso songs are released and played on the airwaves, parties and other festivities for the national festival of Carnival. Of course, old, vintage songs are also played alongside the new songs but the emphasis is placed on creating new songs every year. These new songs are given airplay and exposure in order for the soca and calypso artists to qualify and be selected for the highly competitive competitions. The quality of the new soca and calypso songs and conversely the lyrical content of these songs have always brought on acceptance and/or criticisms as concerns are always raised over the simplicity, repetition and factual content of these songs.
Calypso also called kaiso was the musical expression for Carnival from the late 1800s to the late 1900s and was the music of Trinidad Carnival (Trinival). Popular calypsonians from the middle and late 1900s include King Radio, Roaring Lion, Attila the Hun, Lord Melody, Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener. Calypso was a celebrated local music that was transported from Trinidad to the United States and Europe giving fame and fortune to international singers like the Andrew Sisters, Harry Belafonte and Nat King Cole who used the local art form to capture a new audience and make popular a new genre of music. Calypso music was also the precursor to the popular, highly acclaimed Jamaican discovered reggae music, which was formerly called minto, ska and rock steady.
Soca music, a hybrid of calypso music and a faster, jumpier version is presently the music of Carnival. Soca music is music to dance, wine and jump to and is the musical choice of the younger generation. However, much concern has been raised over the years about the poor quality of the lyrical content of the soca songs. This year (2009) is no different as the new soca releases leave much to be desired. The music, the accompanying music to the songs is rich, infectious and vibrant but the lyrics are poor, repetitive and redundant. The themes of many of the soca songs are based on women’s bumper, bam bam, boom boom, behind or bottom along with rum, whiskey and beer consumption, drinking, drunkenness and intoxication. These themes reflect the limitations of the soca songwriters and also their simplistic worldview.
With such sweet, infectious soca music, the lyrical content should be stronger and more meaningful and not wasted on nonsense, ABC lyrics. Therefore, much improvement is needed by the songwriters to extend themselves, be more creative and to become more knowledgeable of social problems, world issues, the environment, politics, sports and other pressing issues. Obviously, songwriters (soca and calypso) are not highly educated and therefore it may be very difficult for them to improve on the quality of their writing ability but they should realize that they cannot export this poor quality of song lyrics (soca and calypso) to the international music stage. Hence, it continues to be extremely difficult for soca music in particular to achieve and maintain international exposure and prominence in the open, highly competitive, fast changing market of world music.
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BUMPERS ROLLING FOR TRINIVAL 2009
© Dr. L. Trevor Grant 2009
Based on the lyrical content of many of the new soca (soul calypso) releases for 2009, Karnevale 2009 is shaping up to be a Bumper Carnival loaded with captivating lyrics aimed directly at the most voluptuous and desirous part of a woman’s anatomy. These songs describe, portray and capture the woman’s buttocks in all types of positions, shapes and sizes as the soca singers try to get a hit for the highly competitive Carnival season.
Other themes in competition for the attention of revelers, radio and party disk jockeys and record players are the overused but favorite of many – rum, whiskey and beer drunkenness and intoxication – as the Carnival revelers consciously look for excuses to touch or wine on a (any) behind for the Carnival season. Alcohol usage and bumpers are both serious combinations for any fete / celebration and Carnival is the perfect place to test these two highly charged Carnival ingredients as it is easier at this time for men to wine on a strange bumper and blame their inebriation (drunkenness) for their behavior.
The bumper is a serious attraction for males and females alike and mixing this attraction with rum, wine, whiskey, drugs and other intoxicants are deadly for the fun-seeking reveler. The magic and mysticism that are linked with consumptionitis, drunkenness, erotic and deviant behavior, women’s physical appearance and the scant quantity of clothing they wear for the hectic, busy, exciting Karnevale season are highlights of the successful nature of the Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago.
The soca and calypso music played for Carnival is the antidote for both entertainer and reveler, and the adoration and attention a woman’s bottom is receiving in 2009 is testament to the bottom worshippers of the sex crazed Trinidadian male. This craving for all sizes of women’s behind have increased the value of women, who are the dominant gender in the otherwise male dominated soca music and Carnival. Always in search for themes for the yearly event, the young soca singers have struck gold on the bottom phenomenon for 2009 and the bottom craving brings satisfaction, desire, lust and additional sexual attraction for the female anatomy, even more so than in previous years.
The flag and rag wavers, the jump and wave revelers have given way to the heavy T bumpers along with the skinny, small and hot bumpers, and the alcohol intoxication together with the bumper worshipping have added to the Carnival experience for 2009. As the season gets into an exciting crescendo, women’s bumpers outfitted in bumper designed tight fitting clothing are the hottest attractions for 2009. For Carnival, it’s the reveler’s choice to push, roll, watch, touch, admire, scope or wine on any bumper – round, flat, false, big or small bambam. The choice is for the reveler but be careful and do not wine on the wrong bumper because there are many sophisticated and proper women whose bottom you can only watch at and not wine on. How unfortunate this would be for the easily aroused Trinidadian bumper-worshipping male to be put in his place.
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CRIMINALITY AND MURDERS IN THE CARIBBEAN
© Dr. L. Trevor Grant 2009
The horrific murder rate in the Caribbean region continues to reach frightening proportions. For example, Trinidad and Tobago recorded a new high of 545 murders in 2008, up from 260 in 2004. Jamaica recorded 1,621 murders in 2008, up from 1,469 in 2004 and Guyana had 157 murders in 2008, up from 131 in 2004; giving a total of 2,323 murders for 2008 in the three countries selected for this study. The population of these small islands – Jamaica 2.8 million, Trinidad and Tobago 1.3 million and Guyana .75 million when compared to New York’s population of 8.6 million reflects how violent the Caribbean islands particularly those under study have become. New York recorded 516 murders in 2008 down from 566 in 2004. In other words, more homicides were committed in Jamaica and Trinidad in 2008 than in New York.
The gruesome killings and heinous crimes that are plaguing the Caribbean region are making life very uncomfortable for its citizens as they continue to live in fear of being victimized by criminals. Once known for its peaceful, tranquil, laid back, relaxed atmosphere, the vacationing Caribbean islands now called murderer’s paradise have become havens for criminal activities including murders, kidnappings, murder/suicide, illegal drugs and the illegal gun trade, gang warfare and the thriving gun trade.
The ever increasing senseless killings, executions, assassinations, drive by shootings, gang related killings, revenge killings, reprisal killings, domestic disputes and lawlessness are all real and it is no longer the norm to deny that criminality is not deeply rooted in the Caribbean region. It is therefore obvious that the Caribbean region particularly Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana are very unsafe and dangerous, and returning nationals and tourists must be careful when traveling to these countries, because the reality is that they could be victimized by the marauding, criminal element.
The governments of the above mentioned islands have instituted a number of new crime initiatives, hired foreign consultants and foreign police commissioners but the steady wave of brutal, sickening crimes continue to surpass previous years’ homicide records and cause serious concerns to not only the respective governments but to citizens at home and abroad. The governments in the region continue to institute tougher crime measures in order to put an end to the lawlessness, criminality and violent behavior but these initiatives are not working because homicides continue to increase and furthermore, the level of homicides are worsening.
A few governments in the Caribbean are re-considering reinstating the death penalty and executing those sentenced to death but for whatever reason, the death penalty is not seen by these governments as the solution to the new wave of brutal crimes that are committed throughout the region. Crime, murders and other forms of violent behavior are ruining the Caribbean landscape and it is time that governments in the region use the death penalty to eliminate those responsible for the violent carnage occurring in their countries.
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