Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

131 Radio and Television R adio had its start in Trinidad and Tobago at Radio Trinidad on the 730AM band in 1947 while television had its start at TTT, Trinidad and Tobago Television in 1962. There were many voices and faces the nation came to know and recognise, among them Desmond Bourne, Freddie Wharwood, June Gonsalves, BarbaraAssoon, GlenAntoine, Ed Fung, Frank Hughes, Leo de Leon, Trevor McDonald, Horace James, Sam Ghany, Bob Gittens, Errol Chevalier, Pat Mathura, Clyde Alleyne, Carl Redhead, Aunty Kay, Don Proudfoot, Moean Mohammed, Hazel Ward, Holly Betaudier, Raphie Knowles, Brenda de Silva, Ken Laughlin, Frank Pardo, Jimmy Wong, Ashton Chambers, Hans Hanoomansingh, Mervyn Telfer, Jones P. Madiera, Ann Austin, Ian Ali. Farouk Muhammad, Dave Elcock, Yusuf Ali. Here are some of these, and others, worthy of profiling: IAN ALI (1937-2007) B efore Sesame Street there was Rikki Tikki, hosted by “Uncle Tavi” (Jose Ramon-Fortune) , and later by “Uncle Ian” Ali on TTT. His passion for Carnival inspired him to design for Carnival bands, play steel-pan and in later years, to do carnival commentary on TV and radio. From the 1970s to the 1990s, he produced and presented several television shows.  He taught adults how to paint on “Painting for Pleasure” with AVM Television station and “Rikki Tikki” on TTT was the first television program in the Caribbean for Caribbean children. One of the most popular segments of the show involved “Story-Time’’ where he would paint on huge canvasses, showing an original Caribbean story as he told it.