Plantain

29/04/2025

24/04/2025

“Having served for three and a half years as High Commissioner and Head of Mission, I was acutely aware of some challenges and gaps in overseas representation. Consequently, I obtained approval from the Prime Minister to host a six-day conference, where I flew our Heads of Mission back to Trinidad. I invited industry leaders to speak at the session. They included the likes of Ken Julien, Ken Valley, Camille Robinson-Regis, Wayne Bertrand, Noel Garcia, Richard Bernal, Conrad Enill, Robert Riley, Professor Anthony Bryan and Arthur Lok Jack. The objective was to give our diplomats a solid grounding in the country’s business strategy and to transform them into advocates and representatives who could facilitate business. We also told them that we expected them to uphold specific work standards, as in any other senior appointment in the public service. Our vision was to make Port of Spain the diplomatic centre of the Caribbean.”

22/04/2025

17/04/2025

“When I was in my early teens, I joined the Cadet Corps. At around the time of independence, in August of 1962, Princess Mary came to Trinidad and Tobago to represent the Queen. She came to Scarborough and inspected the parade of uniformed personnel, including the cadets. A newspaper took a picture of that moment, and you can see me there with her.

While in the Cadet Corps, we also once travelled by boat to Trinidad to camp for a week in Mayaro, on the southeastern end of the island. Driving along the Valencia stretch to get there was really exciting for me. It was a long road that just kept going and going and going. In Tobago, roads like that simply did not exist. When we got to Mayaro, we stayed in tents in an open playing field opposite the police station. I was tasked with guard duty responsibilities one night. I remember taking a nap on a big wooden bench in the prison cell. That was the only time I ever came close to a prison cell.”

15/04/2025

“Whereas my mother was the gentler, more lenient parent, my father was a very serious, firm and dogmatic man. He was bold and was not the kind of person to take nonsense. If he had a problem with the car, he would be at the dealership making a racket. He stood for what he believed in. But he was jovial, too. He liked to play cards and gamble but never wanted to see his children doing the same: ‘Boy, be careful… doh gamble on horse foot,’ he said, which meant, ‘Don’t expect to win when you wager on horse racing.’ My parents were both industrious and hard-working, and my father helped distribute my mother’s bread to shops within the closely-knit districts that included Bethel, Pleasant Prospect, Mount Irvine, Black Rock, Buccoo and Riseland Hill. But he also had other lucrative activities. He worked, throughout the years, as a shopkeeper, a taxi driver, and an animal trafficker – buying goats, sheep and pigs and selling them in Trinidad. During his visits there he would also purchase stock from Camacho Brothers on South Quay and have it shipped back to the shop in Tobago. He also drove and operated a Massey Ferguson tractor at Mount Irvine Estate five minutes away.”

10/04/2025

“As far as my family is concerned, the farthest back I can go is to Arthur Piggott, my paternal grandfather. What I remember about him is that he always wore a cap, and always carried a carved walking stick. He lived ten minutes on foot from us, and when we would go to see him, he would be sitting in a chair in his characteristic pose – upright like a stately older man.”

08/04/2025

A heartfelt dedication...

03/04/2025

01/04/2025

Arnold Piggott: A Remarkable Journey from Humble Beginnings to the World Stage

Just before the pandemic reshaped our world, Plantain was honored with a significant request: to help Arnold Piggott preserve his extraordinary life story in a memoir.

Born in Tobago to humble beginnings, Arnold moved to New York as a teenager, where he worked tirelessly to fund his education, ultimately earning a degree in Business Administration.

His early career in banking proved successful, but his true calling emerged in the political arena. Arnold served the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, holding a series of prominent roles: Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006–2007), Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources (2007), Minister of Works and Transport, and High Commissioner to Canada.

Throughout these appointments, he remained a beacon of resilience, rising from modest roots to represent his nation on the global stage.

At Plantain, we bring life stories to light. In collaboration with the Piggott family, we crafted a nearly 200-page manuscript brimming with vivid anecdotes, trials overcome, and invaluable lessons for future generations.

The memoir’s design draws inspiration from the Piggotts’ residence—its large format and dynamic, orange-hued fonts reflecting the essence of their home.

Over the next few weeks, we shall showcase some of the book, and we are deeply grateful to the Piggott family for entrusting us with such a personal and inspiring narrative. Arnold’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance, and it stands as a testament to our passion at Plantain for helping individuals and families share their legacies with the world.

25/03/2025

"My Mom recently turned 85 and as part of her celebration, we ( her kids) presented her with a mini-bio of her life. Not only was the process to get the book done easy but The Plantain Team really worked FANTASTIC with us on short notice and we presented my Mom with a really beautiful tribute to her life, with some very old pictures we found, but also some sketches that the Plantain Team did of the building (long demolished) where she had her first job...where they found images of that building form 65+ years ago is amzaing ......brought all of us to tears!" — Joe Pires

20/03/2025

19/02/2025

In the end, Maggie worked with us on two bespoke wedding books. Each was thoughtfully designed in close collaboration with the client over several weeks.

After the design process, master artisans carefully crafted the books using only the finest materials, ensuring they will stand the test of time. Luxurious silk matte paper, French silk thread, and archival-quality inks were used, and traditional binding techniques ensured the books remain as stunning decades from now as they are today.

Every detail, from the acid-free paper to the hand-sewn binding, guarantees that your wedding book is not just a beautiful keepsake, but a true work of art—an heirloom to be cherished for generations.

Each book we create is a personalized masterpiece, crafted with care, attention to detail, and the highest standards of craftsmanship.

Here's what Maggie had to say about working with us:

"I had a great experience working with Plantain. They were professional, quick to respond and provided a well-designed final product. They also worked with the printer to get the exact specifications I desired. I really enjoyed working together. 10/10!"

Ready to Create Your Own Heirloom? Let us know!