WHILE ATTENDING a guild event during his first week at UWI’s St Augustine campus last September, Luke James-Trim made what he considered to be a disturbing observation – The students from all of the islands that had participated in the event proudly displayed aspects of their cultural heritage but Tobago was a no-show.
James-Trim, 22, who was appointed Caricom youth ambassador (Tobago) on September 8, 2023, recalled he was walking with the guild’s Tobago Affairs officer Janae Campbell at the time. Campbell is a former Tobago Youth Council president.
“We made about four laps around the quadrangle anxiously looking for the Tobago tent but it was nowhere to be found,” he told Sunday Newsday.
But his disappointment did not end there.
“After asking around I came to the understanding that for years, Tobagonian students have always felt left out as there was no dedicated platform for us to showcase our culture and identity. I started feeling a bit sad because I admired how the other islands had that sense of community and pride.
“They displayed and educated others about their culture, heritage and what makes their island unique and I eagerly wanted to see that same level of cultural change coming out of Tobago.”
James-Trim, a law student, said he immediately considered ways in which he could change this reality.
He toyed around with a few ideas for several months before finally deciding on an initiative through which Tobagonian students could showcase the island’s heritage to their regional counterparts on campus and not feel left out.
James-Trim said his former employers, Tobago Updates, were impressed by the idea for the project and pushed it. His followers on social media also responded overwhelmingly to the initiative.
“From that public awareness, people reached out to ask how they can assist.” James-Trim launched the Tobago Students’ Association in TT on March 11, his first major project as Caricom youth ambassador (Tobago). The organisation also has a 15-member executive.
“One of the greatest lessons I have learnt from my law lecturers is that as law students we shouldn’t just be problem identifiers but be problem solvers. That’s exactly what I decided to do with the launch of the association. It is not just about highlighting a problem. It’s about becoming the catalyst for change.
[caption id="attachment_1070687" align="alignnone" width="1024"] President of Tobago Students’ Association in TT believes the group is laying the foundationfor a stronger, more united Tobago.[/caption]
The youth leader, who comes from Mt St George, is hoping the organisation will be the nexus through which greater regional integration can be forged.
“Over time, we’ve witnessed a divisive narrative perpetuated by past political leaders, fostering an adversarial relationship between Trinidad and Tobago, often for self-serving agendas. As the new generation, we reject this outdated and counterproductive approach. Our islands, each with its distinct culture and nuances, are the threads that weave the tapestry of ou
