Carnival draws many people to this country, but it's rare for international media coming to discuss those disputed issues that are often ventilated through Trinidad and Tobago’s own media outlets.
That was one reason why the British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) World Questions’ visit to the country on June 7 and aired on June 10 drew a crowd curious to see what the collective response would be.
BBC World Questions is a series of monthly international debate programmes recorded on location by the world-famous media corporation.
“Each edition is led entirely by the audience who can make comments and put questions to a panel of leading thinkers and politicians,” a statement on the show explains.
The recording of the popular radio programme took place at Central Bank Auditorium, Port of Spain on that day.
The result was a 52-minute-59-second programme featuring MP for Port of North/St Ann’s West and Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young, Opposition MP for Tabaquite Anita Haynes, UWI economist Dr Marlene Attzs and Heroes Foundation CEO Lawrence Arjoon discussing LGBTQIA rights, energy, crime, race relations, climate change –and whether the panellists were ever wrong.
From 6 pm, there was a line outside the Central Bank on Lower St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, as people waited to enter the auditorium for the 7 pm start.
At a reception inside, a woman who wished to be identified as "Rampersad" said she had come from Couva to attend because, “When I saw it advertised, I thought it was an excellent opportunity to see, firsthand, how (the) BBC operates, how they bring different perspectives to life. I think it is a very vibrant media organisation, vibrant media house.
[caption id="attachment_1020837" align="alignnone" width="1024"] BBC World Questions producer Charlie Taylor speaks with the audience at Central Bank Auditorium, Port of Spain. The radio programme did its first show in TT on June 7 and aired on June 10. - ROGER JACOB[/caption]
"And it is also an opportunity to meet my fellow Trinidadians and get their perspectives on things. I particularly like the question part of it, where it is open and you can ask anything you want.”
Rampersad was among many people who wrote their questions on cards before the programme started. Eight were chosen from the many that were submitted.
Rampersad said she was particularly interested in hearing from Arjoon, as there was so much going on with TT’s economy and politics, and wanted to know its impact on youth.
She also wanted to hear Arjoon’s response on how to get youths politically involved.
Before the debate began, one of the show’s team members described the terms of engagement, telling the audience there would be parts that would make them laugh, shake their heads and, if they enjoyed a comment, applaud.
He said they wanted an open, polite and respectful debate, though if they disagreed, they were free to do so, and silence was a powerful tool in that case.
The show’s team went to audience members with a mic for comment on so
