On Friday, Prof Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool spoke at the ceremonial opening of the new Law Term held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain.
He spoke on culture and law by making repeated references to steelpan, bongo, calypso, mas and Carnival. He spoke little, or not at all, on tassa, chutney, Ramleela, Divali, Hosay, pichakaree, etc.
His speech raises a number of questions. Why is Carnival Studies offered as a degree at both UWI and UTT? Isn't this duplication a waste of resources? Why is the Academy of Arts at UTT, which he heads, offering a degree only in Carnival Studies and not the broader field of Cultural Studies?
And why is the ceremonial opening of the Law Term always held in a church and not a mosque or temple?
Faitmah Mohammed
Cunupia