Point Fortin Public Library

🇹🇹 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S JOURNEY TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE 🇹🇹

On 31st August 1962, Trinidad and Tobago proudly raised its national flag for the first time, marking the birth of a new nation. 🇹🇹

After the Union Jack was lowered at midnight on 30th August, a new chapter began—one filled with celebration, pride, hope, and the promise of self-determination.

From 28th August to 5th September 1962, the nation came together in celebration, joined by international dignitaries for this historic occasion.

✨ A moment that changed our history. A nation was born. A legacy was created.

Happy Independence, Trinidad and Tobago! 🇹🇹❤️🖤🤍

Source of information & Photo: https://www.nalis.gov.tt/resources/tt-content-guide/independence-day/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/191766699268/posts/10163267144719269/

🍃🥂 Your Sip and Paint Time – The Succulent Chenet 🍊🎨

Celebrate the beauty of one of the Caribbean's most beloved tropical fruits by bringing the succulent chenet to life in vibrant watercolours! From fresh green skins to the rich golden-orange flesh, this painting is the perfect way to relax, learn new techniques, and enjoy a creative escape.

In this step-by-step session, you'll discover how to:
🎨 Create soft, transparent watercolor washes.
🌿 Build depth with layered shadows and rich mid-tones.
✨ Add vibrant highlights for a juicy, realistic finish.
🍃 Paint natural branches and lush tropical textures.
🖌️ Turn a simple fruit study into a striking work of art.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this tropical masterpiece is sure to brighten your day and your wall!

Tag a friend who would love this painting and invite them to join you! 👇

🇹🇹 TRINI THINGS: CARAJO! 🇹🇹

Ever hear a Trini say “Ay Carajo!” and wonder what they mean? 😩😂

Carajo is a word introduced by Venezuelan peons and became part of our colourful Trini vocabulary. It’s used as an expression of frustration or surprise—basically meaning “Oh hell!” or “Dammit!”😅

So when something goes wrong and yuh hear, “AY CARAJO!”… just know things real bad! 😂🇹🇹

🗣️ What other Trini words or sayings should we feature next?

Source: Source: Source: Baptiste, Rhona. Trini Talk. Douen Press, 2011, p. 31.

🌊🇹🇹 T&T’S HIDDEN GEMS: SAUT D’EAU 🇹🇹🌊

Just off the north coast of Trinidad, less than 500 metres from the mainland, lies a little island with a big story. 🏝️✨

Saut d’Eau, meaning “waterfall” in French (literally “water jump”), is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s 13 government-protected wildlife sanctuaries. Even more special, it is one of only two pelican breeding grounds in the country. 🦤🌿

Surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean Sea, this small island is a reminder that some of our greatest treasures are hiding right in our own backyard. 💙

🇹🇹 How many of you knew about Saut d’Eau?

Tell us in the comments: Have you ever seen this little island up close? 👀

📞 Trivia Tuesday: Old-School Edition! ☎️

Before smartphones and touchscreens, there was the rotary telephone! 🕰️📞

🤔 How did you dial a number?
Parents, show your children this old-school phone and see if they can figure out how it worked! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️

Would they know how to make a call? 😂📞

📚💻 Learning Something New Online! 🌟

You’re never too old to learn something new! Explore free learning platforms like YouTube and discover helpful tutorials on cooking, gardening, technology, crafts, and so much more. 🎥🌱🍳📱

✨Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep discovering!

🧠 Word of the Week: DOPAMINE (noun)

✨ dō-pə-ˌmēn ✨

We all hear about that "dopamine hit," but what does it actually mean?

It’s not just a feel-good chemical; it’s a powerful neurotransmitter in the brain that’s central to the sensation of pleasure, reward, and motivation. It's what drives us to achieve our goals, from building a dream project to reaching a mountain peak! 🏆🏔️

Think of it as your brain’s way of saying, "Yes! Keep going!"

Whether you’re collaborating with a team to build something amazing, sketching a new idea, or enjoying the great outdoors, dopamine is the spark that keeps you moving toward success. 💡💪

How do you find your motivation and chase that reward? Share your favorite goal-setting activities with us in the comments! 👇

Mental Health Minute: People Go Always Have Something to Say

Every evening, by Miss Ruby gallery, the usual crew does lime by the window. They watching everybody who passing, sipping dey coffee and minding... everybody business except dey own.

"Eh eh, look she again. Every day is ah new outfit!" one whisper.

"Aye, leave she nah... but yuh see who drop she home yesterday?" the next one answer, and just so the bacchanal start.

Across the road, Marcus hear all the murmuring but he only smile. He know one thing—once people talking, it mean yuh doing something. He tip he cap, put in he earbuds, and continue walking like nothing happen.

An old man sitting by the parlour chuckle and say, "Boy, doh study dem. People go always have something to say. If yuh poor, dey go talk. If yuh make money, dey go talk. If yuh quiet, dey go talk. If yuh loud, dey still go talk."

Marcus laugh. "True talk, Uncle."

The next day was the same thing. New rumours. New stories. Same people by the window making up whole episodes from a five-minute scene.

Meanwhile, Marcus get the promotion he was working hard for, buy he mother a new fridge, and keep living he life.

The people by the window? They still there... watching.

Because in Trini, one thing certain:

People go always have something to say.

Pause… breathe… reset.

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Mental Health Minute 🌿

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Take a moment to reflect on how you’re really feeling today.

✨ Mindful Mondays ✨
🌙 Before Sleep Yoga – A Gentle Way to End Your Day 🌸

Take a few quiet moments before bed to stretch, breathe, and let go of the day's stress. These gentle yoga poses help relax tight muscles, calm your mind, and prepare your body for a peaceful, restorative night's sleep.

💜 Benefits of a bedtime yoga routine:
🌸 Relieves stress and tension
🌸 Calms the nervous system
🌸 Improves flexibility and mobility
🌸 Eases back, neck, and shoulder discomfort
🌸 Encourages deep relaxation
🌸 Promotes better quality sleep
🌸 Helps you wake up feeling refreshed and energized

Tonight, dim the lights, breathe deeply, and move gently. Your body and mind will thank you.

✨ Which pose helps you relax the most? Let us know in the comments! 👇

BOOK OF THE WEEK: "New Week, New Book!”

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“She’s Gone” by Kwame Dawes

This book is a poignant collection of poems that explores love, grief, memory, and the emotional journey of loss. Through lyrical and deeply personal reflections, Dawes captures the pain of absence while celebrating the enduring power of love and remembrance. Rich in emotion and vivid imagery, the collection invites readers to reflect on healing, resilience, and the connections that continue long after someone is gone.

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Call Number: WI F DAW

Available now at your nearest Public Library.