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

29 Solo is associated with Mr. Solo, the boat and Solo Harmonites and Solo Pan Knights, the steelbands. MARCUS AND REGINALD DAVIS, SARAN TEELUCKSINGH (1889-1952) , GOKOOL MEAH (1848-1940) , TIMOTHY ROODAL (1884-1952) T hese five men were the pioneers in the cinema industry (from around 1911 into the 1930s). Marcus and Reginald Davis built the London Electric Theatre in 1911 on French Street in Woodbrook (renamed Astor in the 1930’s when bought by Roodal). Teelucksingh built the first cinema at Couva in 1916 and also took the silent films at the time around the country showing them in tents in remote villages. Meah built the Metro Cinema in 1933 which was later renamed Globe (he had also earlier built the Haji Gokool Meah Mosque on Western Main Road, St. James). Roodal built the Roxy Cinema in 1934; he also built the Gaiety Cinema in San Fernando. He later owned a chain of cinemas. YLDEFONSO DE LIMA (1861-1927) V enezuelan-born, he migrated to Trinidad in 1884 and in 1885 established Y de Lima and Company. This was at first a general store selling household goods but he later specialised in the jewelry business. CYRIL DUPREY (1897-1988) I n 1936 he founded Colonial Life Insurance Company, the first locally owned insurance business and in 1958, Colonial Fire Insurance. Today, the main company of the group is CLICO. In 1977 he was awarded the Chaconia Medal Gold and in 1988, the Trinity Cross.