Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime in every live-action Transformers film since 2007, died Wednesday August 26th, at his Los Angeles home.
His agent broke the news Wednesday, and explained that Cullen died at home surrounded by family. If you spent the ’80s glued to Saturday morning cartoons, you know this man built the entire franchise from the vocal cords up. Even Hasbro’s new AI studio knows better than to touch what he made, as some voices you don’t replicate.
Iconic Transformers voice actor passes away after 40 years as Optimus Prime
Cullen was 85 and the cause of death remains unclear, though his loved ones issued a statement asking fans to honor his legacy through compassion and service. “Be strong enough to be gentle,” they wrote in a statement, borrowing the very ethos Cullen brought to every recording booth.
He first voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s animated series and later reprised the role across Michael Bay’s blockbuster film franchise, which essentially turned “Autobots, roll out” into a generational rallying cry.
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Spellbound Caravan is coming to
WHERE: East Gates Mall WHEN:8th August 2026 TIME:1:00pm to 6:00pm.
Bring your family and friends and join us for an afternoon packed with fun, learning, entertainment, games, and fantastic prizes, it’s absolutely FREE FREE FREE!
Great to see more Trini darts magic! Joshua Balfour, Caribbean Darts Cup Men's Champ (beating Rashad Sweeting in the final), Kimberli Rojas. Women's Champ, and Joshua Young, Boys Champ! 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🎯🎯🎯🏆🏆🏆 ~ Ben Braithwaite @benbraithwaite
History was made today as the Port of Spain City Council officially renamed Oxford Street to Kwame Ture Street.
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Born at 54 Oxford Street in the original Yoruba Village, Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) was one of the most influential organisers of the American Civil Rights Movement…
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August 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM
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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago August 1, 2026
History was made today as the Port of Spain City Council officially renamed Oxford Street to Kwame Ture Street.
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Born at 54 Oxford Street in the original Yoruba Village, Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) was one of the most influential organisers of the American Civil Rights Movement…
Belize has become a full member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Programme for International Drug Monitoring (PIDM), a milestone that strengthens the country's ability to monitor the safety of medicines and protect public health.
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The achievement follows years of work by Belize's Ministry of Health and Wellness to strengthen its national pharmacovigilance system, regulatory oversight and post-marketing surveillance of medical products, with technical support from PAHO.
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PNM MEDIA RELEASE:
On Thursday 23rd July, the People's National Movement calls all citizens to action: stand with us against tyranny, injustice and dictatorship.
Join us at Balisier House- be a part of the movement that says enough is enough! The future of Trinidad and Tobago depends on our actions today.
Unite with us to defend democracy and freedom.
🗓️ Thursday 23rd July 2026 📍 Balisier House 1 Tranquillity Street, Port of Spain 🕡 Time: 6:30 PM
🔥 Feature Address: The Honourable Pennelope A. Beckles, MP Political Leader of the People's National Movement Leader of the Opposition
🎙️ Featuring a powerful line-up of speakers
📺 Watch Live on all PNM Digital Platforms 📻 Listen Live on 195.5 FM
Trinidad and Tobago is ours to defend, our democracy is ours to protect, and we must never surrender our freedom.
Stand with us. Stand for democracy. Stand for freedom. Stand for Trinidad and Tobago. 🇹🇹
-- END --
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REMINDER: YOU CAN WATCH THE EVENT RIGHT HERE ON BOUNXUP LIVESTREAM PAGE AND ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
It is with profound sadness that I join Barbados, the Caribbean and the cricketing world in mourning the passing of The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, our Sir Garry.
From Bay Land to Kensington and onto the world stage, he carried Barbados and the West Indies with distinction. He made us all stand a little taller as Barbadians, and I will always be grateful for what he gave to our country and our people. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him.
Today has been declared a Day of National Mourning. Flags will be flown at half-mast, no official functions will take place, and details of the State Funeral will be announced. Barbados stands.
The West Indies stand.
The world stands.
Well played, Sir Garry. Well played.
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Actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in the "Jurassic Park" films and "Peaky Blinders," died on Monday, according to his official social media account. He was 78.
"Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," the statement, which was posted early on Monday, said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free."
Tributes on Social Media Included Posts such as:
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At Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, Monday July 6th, PNM members gathered for an interfaith service.
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After the service some people took to Social Media to complain that the tone of the speech delivered by the (purportedly hand-picked) by the Political Leader to deliver the keynote sermon felt combative, accusatory, dictatorial and divisive.
One person was quoted as saying it felt like a "spiritual attack" aimed at dissenting voices in the Party and those who dare to speak out about their discontent and dissatisfaction with the (lack of) leadership of the Political Leader Penelope Beckles-Robinson, particularly in her role as GORTT Opposition Leader.
PNM Inter-faith Service Sermon
July 6th 2025 Balisier House, Port Of Spain
If faith meets opportunity. We will have success. We eh ready, yet
God is going to move in his time. God is going to move in his time as soon as we get ready. There are things called unforced errors.
I have been for the Lord for the last few months. I remember when Mia was going through her situations. She called a snap election.
So why we can't have a snap election in Trinidad? Divinely, she won; if a snap election is called here in Trinidad and Tobago. Are we ready? Are we ready? Every one of us say we love the PNM, but our love is shown in different ways. Some of us could love to see the PNM stay in opposition.
Others could want to see the PNM out of opposition.
Even as I speak to you here today, let your hearts, let the Holy Spirit speak to your very hearts today.
And ask yourself, if you are serving the true and living God, and if you are doing what he wants of you.
I have been speaking a lot. When I started to speak where we were going to find ourselves, people went out and said, Keeper on the 24th of July 2010, put his name on our ballot box to contest local government election, knowing I was going to lose by 291 votes.
My campaign manager could have said, Cabinet Cast Member was also the coordinating team player, and I said I was going to lose.
When my then political leader asked me to contest, I knew people like you are saying, I'm doing it for the sake of my party and my political leader. Let me say to us party members today, no one can serve two masters. You either love one and hate the other.
Even in the kingdom of darkness, there is a structure of rank. And they don't break ranks in the kingdom of darkness. Let us stop the breaking of ranks. When you break ranks, you're going to hear familiar voices. The familiar voices will deceive you into believing what you are doing is right. Let's not do that.
I want to pray. You will have to be seated. Join us in the presence of Jesus.
Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before you this evening, Lord, in celebration. Father, even as we celebrate, O God, we pray that you will search every heart present here today. Father, in the name of Jesus, your word says, no weapons formed against us shall prosper.
And every tongue that rises up against us in condemnation, Lord, you have already condemned. So we pray God today, Father, and we declare, Lord, your word didn't say they will not be formed. They will be formed, but they shall not prosper.
And Father, for the tongues that are wagging against our political leader and officers of the party, we silence them in the realm of the Spirit. In Jesus' name, we declare that they must bow in the name of Jesus. Father, Lord, it is easier for us to say they are Judas' Lord.
But Lord, Judas was important in your ministry. Because Lord Jesus said, Judas did not betray you. We would not have had salvation.
So we thank you for the Judas' and we will learn by their behaviors. Father, we thank you that even now they will expose themselves. So we will know, Father.
And we thank you, Father. We thank you, Father, that what you have so ordained, no devil in hell will intercept. Father, we have had leaders, starting with Dr. Williams, George Michael Chambers, Patrick Manning, Dr. Rowley, Father.
Today we are at the point of Penelope Beckles Robinson. We cover her in the precious blood of Jesus. Father, you anointed her as you appointed her, Father.
We declare no devil in hell will interfere with her success. We pray, Father, that every person who claims that they love the PNM will fall in line. Father, we hear all sorts of strange voices coming out to make utterances, Lord.
Strength forces, Lord. We cancel the utterances. And we declare, Father, every time they will speak, you will bless our political leaders.
And we will see and we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is called, she is anointed, and she is appointed for this time. We pray every officer of the movement, Father, the executives, they will operate in decency and in order. We pray that there will be no breaking of ranks, no establishing of their own kingdoms.
Father, we are prepared for local government elections that could be called at any time. We pray that the right people will come forth. The right people will be successful in the screening and they will be placed before the different corporations.
And we pray, Lord, that the PNM, I prophesy today, that the PNM will be successful in the next local government election. We will be successful, Lord, because the true soulmates in the army of the PNM will rise up and come forth, Father. Those who stayed away at the polls in the last government elections, they will return home.
We declare, Lord, that our political leader, she's not weak. She's strong. She's bold as a lion.
Her style may be different from those who went before. But, Lord, we declare your anointing upon her that there's choice everywhere. In Jesus' name we pray.
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PNM PARTY CHAIRMAN'S MARVIN GONZALES' RESPONSE TO MR. ASHTON FORDE
Gonzales: PNM exec to contact stalwart Ford on concerns
People’s National Movement (PNM) chairman Marvin Gonzales says he will personally reach out to party stalwart Ashton Ford, after the veteran member publicly raised concerns about the Opposition’s internal affairs, saying the issues present an opportunity for dialogue rather than division.
Speaking with Guardian Media outside Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, where members gathered for an interfaith service, Gonzales declined to say whether Ford’s claims were true but acknowledged they reflected concerns that deserved to be heard. Gonzales said, “Perhaps it presents an opportunity for the leadership of the party to meet with Mr Ford to have those matters ventilated and perhaps resolved. So, I don’t see those things in a really negative way quite frankly. I think it helps the democratic process. It helps leadership when members express serious concerns about matters within the party and they ought not to be discouraged.”
Ford issued a lengthy public statement outlining what he described as growing dissatisfaction among members over the conduct of the executive and general council.
Among the many concerns raised by Ford were allegations that general secretary Foster Cummings has failed to present members’ correspondence to the general council, questions surrounding the appointment of a committee to investigate complaints involving San Fernando East MP Brian Manning and assistant general secretary Patricia Alexis, claims of inconsistent disciplinary standards involving Arima Mayor Balliram Maharaj, criticism over how former senator Janelle John-Bates was treated following the parliamentary committee controversy, and what he described as an increasingly “authoritarian approach” by the party’s leader Pennelope Beckles and Cummings.
Rather than dismissing the concerns, Gonzales said they should be viewed as part of a healthy democratic process, although he admitted he would have preferred if those concerns were raised privately.
He added, “When persons take to social media, or rather decide to ventilate those matters in the public, then it perhaps suggests that we may not be doing enough to meet with them in private and it’s an opportunity for us as an executive and as a leadership to now create a platform to meet with some of those persons who may have concerns about ways in which the party is being managed.”
Describing Ford as someone who has always acted in the party’s best interests, Gonzales said he intends to contact him personally. “I don’t think anyone can suggest that he does not have the best interests of the party at heart. As a long-standing, experienced member of the party, I think we should meet with him and have open dialogue with respect to the concerns that he raised.”
Gonzales also sought to reassure supporters amid speculation that the public criticism reflected deeper divisions within the Opposition. Gonzales said, “I want to tell the supporters, do not be dismayed. Do not be worried, or overly worried, about the perception of disunity within the party.”
He said PNM parliamentarians recently held a retreat to reflect on the party’s performance following last year’s general election defeat and discuss the Opposition’s future direction. Gonzales added, “It was a very productive exercise. As the chairman of the party, we emerged from the retreat a far stronger team than when we entered into that retreat.”
He added that the leadership remained committed to strengthening and preserving the PNM. Gonzales also dismissed suggestions of any rift with former prime minister Stuart Young and Beckles, confirming Young attended the parliamentary retreat and participated fully.
He added, “I have a very good relationship with Mr Young. I could only learn from Mr Young... My relationship with Mr Young, quite honestly, cannot be better than how it is right now.”
He also rejected suggestions of competing “Team Penny” and “Team Stuart” factions, saying differences of opinion over leadership are common in politics but insisting his own focus remains on rebuilding the party.
LIFELONG PNM MEMBER ASHTON FORDE, PENS A SCATHING EDITIORIAL REVIEW OF THE PNM
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Dear Editor,
PNM Review
I joined the People’s National Movement (PNM) on March 31, 1968, in the Arima Constituency. From the outset, I became actively involved in the party’s youth arm, serving as Secretary of the Youth League and later as Assistant Secretary on the first Executive of the National Youth League.
My family’s connection to the PNM runs deep. My father was a foundation member of the party and served as Secretary of the Arima Constituency for 20 years. During that same period, he also sat on both the General Council and the Central Executive.
My own public service followed. I was elected Councillor and later Mayor of Arima during the leadership of our first Political Leader and Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams. I subsequently served as a Member of Parliament under Prime Minister George Chambers.
I worked at the Office of the Opposition Leader on two occasions — from 1986 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 2001 — when Mr. Patrick Manning held that position. Later, I served at the Office of the Prime Minister before taking up an appointment at the London High Commission in 2004.
Following the party’s defeat in the 2010 General Election, I was appointed General Secretary of the PNM, a post I held until 2017.
During my formative years in the movement, I also served as Assistant Secretary of the Legislative Group under Dr. Williams and later as Secretary under Mr. Chambers.
I have outlined this history to set the record straight before commenting on the current state of affairs in our beloved party.
Growing Concern Among Member/s
Across the country, I have heard increasing expressions of dissatisfaction from party members regarding the way the Executive and the General Council are conducting the business of the PNM.
Particular criticism has been directed at the General Secretary, who is frequently described by members as acting independently and, in many instances, contrary to the party’s Constitution.
One major complaint is his continued refusal to have correspondence from members read at meetings of the General Council. These letters address issues ranging from membership listings to alleged breaches of the Constitution. The justification offered is that a member must be financially current before his or her correspondence can be considered.
The most recent example involved a letter from the Member of Parliament for San Fernando East, Brian Manning. Initially, the letter was discarded on the grounds that it had been addressed to the General Council rather than to the General Secretary. After a significant outcry from party members, the letter was eventually read at a special sitting of the General Council on June 30, 2026.
At that same meeting, the General Secretary also read a letter from Ms. Patricia Alexis, who serves as Assistant General Secretary, Chairman of the San Fernando East Constituency, Deputy Mayor of San Fernando, and coordinator of the Point Fortin Constituency. Following the presentation of both letters, the Council agreed to establish a committee to investigate the matters raised.
Questions Over the Committee
The controversy arose over the composition of that committee. It consisted of three members of the party leadership and two members of the General Council. A proposal was made to co-opt additional members from outside the Council, but the Political Leader rejected the suggestion on the basis that the nominees were not members of the General Council.
Critics argue that this decision conflicts with the party’s Constitution, which allows members of the movement who are not on the General Council to serve on committees. They point to the appointment of Ms. Brigid Anisette-George, who chaired the Constitutional Reform Committee under Dr. Keith Rowley despite not being a member of the General Council at the time.
As a result, concerns have been raised that the committee’s eventual findings may be viewed as favouring Ms. Alexis and placing MP Brian Manning at a disadvantage within his constituency.
Treatment of Brian Manning
Supporters of Mr. Manning have also highlighted other incidents they believe demonstrate unfair treatment. They note that Ms. Alexis did not function in the San Fernando East Constituency during the 2025 General Election because she was perceived as part of the clique currently controlling the party.
More recently, the PNM held a public meeting in the Marabella district where MP Manning who was born and raised in the area was not included as a platform speaker. This has prompted members to ask why the only elected PNM representative in Parliament for the vast region stretching from Sangre Grande to Cedros, including Central Trinidad, was omitted from the platform.
The Arima Situation
Many members compare that treatment with the party’s handling of Arima Mayor Balliram Maharaj. The Mayor continues to function despite publicly admitting that he attended a UNC dinner in December 2024 on the same day the Arima Borough Corporation held its Christmas function, from which he was absent.
According to critics, he neither apologized nor expressed remorse for what they regard as an act of betrayal against the party that placed him in office.
Further controversy arose when UNC activist and Minister Phillip Alexander publicly declared his support for the Mayor and made disparaging remarks about the PNM. Mr. Alexander said in a post on social media accompanied by a photo “Balliram is a self-made man. PNM canal conchs who have to buy garbage bag and rat trap on credit disrespected him. Who needs that? I am happy to be the one to bring him across to a better party.”
Meanwhile, members complain that the Arima Borough Corporation is effectively leaderless and that the Mayor never reported or attended either the Arima or Malabar/Mausica constituencies at executive or group meetings.
The Janelle John-Bates Matter
Another example frequently cited by members is the treatment of former Senator Janelle John-Bates.
I state categorically that she was wrong to edit a report submitted by former Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh to a parliamentary committee of which she was a member. However, party members continue to question how such a situation arose in the first place.
Ms. John-Bates was a new senator with less than a year of experience, yet she was tasked with editing a document prepared by a former Minister of Health who had served for nearly a decade.
It is difficult to believe that she appointed herself to perform that role. Reports have indicated that senior party member Faris Al-Rawi currently the party’s Public Relations Officer and a former Attorney General and Minister of Rural Development and Local Government was involved, making Ms. John-Bates the junior figure in the matter.
When she offered her resignation from the Senate after being removed from the committee, the Opposition Leader did not act promptly in accepting it. Consequently, Ms. John-Bates faced hostile reactions both in the Senate and in the wider public, while Faris Al-Rawi remained untouched and continues to serve as a senator.
A Call for Urgent Action
For these reasons, I believe the General Council of the PNM must act urgently to end what many members describe as an increasingly authoritarian approach by the Political Leader and the General Secretary, who is perceived by some as exercising overwhelming control over the party.
Failure to address these concerns, they warn, could further alienate members who are already expressing doubts about the leadership of Ms. Penelope Beckles-Robinson.
If there is one point I wish to make abundantly clear, it is this: few people in the PNM know
Ms. Beckles-Robinson as well as I do. I’ve known her for the past thirty-two years.
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Emeritus Professor John Agard, one of the Caribbean’s most influential environmental scientists and climate change advocates, has died at the age of 71.
The announcement was made yesterday by The University of the West Indies, which said Agard died on June 19.
In a tribute, St Augustine Campus Principal Rose-Marie Belle Antoine described him as “a brilliant, innovative, enterprising person who gave so much to The UWI, his community and beyond.”
A professor of Tropical Island Ecology, Agard earned international recognition for his work in sustainable development and climate change. He played a key role in shaping Trinidad and Tobago’s environmental legislation, including the Certificate of Environmental Clearance Rules, Noise Pollution Rules and Water Pollution Rules introduced in 2001.
Agard also helped establish several protected areas, including the Matura Natural Park, Nariva Swamp and Aripo Savannahs, while serving as chairman of the Environmental Management Authority.
His influence extended globally through his work as a lead author for the Small Islands chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore.
Remembering his lifelong commitment to environmental protection, The UWI recalled Agard once saying that his passion was “to make the world a better place. To make my country a better place. To make my region a better place.”
The university extended condolences to his family and friends.
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Steelpan virtuoso Robert Greenidge has died. He wast 76
He was renowned for his work as musical director and arranger for Desperadoes.
Robert Greenidge, the internationally acclaimed steelpan virtuoso, arranger and composer whose artistry helped elevate Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument to global recognition, died on June 8th after a prolonged illness. He was 76.
For more than half a century, Greenidge stood as one of the steelpan’s most influential ambassadors—an artiste whose technical brilliance, musical imagination and versatility connected panyards with prestigious concert halls, recording studios and festival stages.
Peabo Bryson Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast Singer Dead at 75
Peabo was the legendary voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney classics "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" ... and both of his theme songs won Grammy Awards.
Reports say the singer died Tuesday at 5 PM "surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him."
Peabo's best known for his soulful ballets and duets ... his 1991 collab with Celine Dion from "Beauty and the Beast" was a huge hit.
The following year, Peabo and Regina Belle worked on "A Whole New World" for Disney's "Aladdin"; the song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, the first song from an animated film to do so.
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Southern Soul legend: The great Clarence Carter has died at age 90.
Carter was a singer, guitarist and songwriter whose music has moved easily between deep blues, country-soul, gospel fervor and earthy humor. Born January 14, 1936, in Montgomery, Alabama,
Carter was blind from birth and studied at Alabama State University, where he earned a music degree.
Carter’s biggest pop moment came in 1970 with “Patches,” a dramatic story-song of a son forced to grow up early that reached the upper reaches of both the pop and R&B charts and became his third gold record.
Other key hits included
“Tell Daddy,” which helped inspire Etta James’s answer record
“Tell Mama,”
“Snatching It Back,”
“The Feeling Is Right,”
“I Can’t Leave Your Love Alone,”
the holiday favorite “Back Door Santa.”
Later in his career, he scored another monster hit with his signature Southern soul party record, “Strokin’.”
THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC. TRAVEL WELL TO THE ANCESTRAL REALM. R.I.P. 🙏🏽
Did you know your blood type is far more than just a tag for blood transfusions? According to long-term health studies, it is one of the most precise biological maps your body carries. In this video, we break down the genetic strengths and vulnerabilities of every blood type—O, A, B, and AB—and provide an exact, actionable protocol to help you optimize your longevity and healthspan. Genes may load the gun, but habits pull the trigger. Learn how to use your blood type as a roadmap to outsmart your genetic risks, from cardiovascular health to cognitive protection.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diet, or health protocol. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen in this
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Kes the Band is set to make a highly anticipated debut on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, marking a major milestone for Caribbean music on the international stage.
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The performance, scheduled to air Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. EST, will showcase the band’s evolution after 20 years in music. Filmed in front of a live audience at NPR Music Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the stripped-back, intimate setting of the critically acclaimed series will highlight the band’s artistry, musicianship, and storytelling.
Kes the Band will present a carefully curated set featuring special music guests, reimagining fan favorites through live instrumentation and rich harmonies that reflect the group’s Caribbean roots and global influence.
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