Noor Hassanali: recent President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. In 1939, while a teacher at Naparima, he established "Founder's Day" as an annual event

Rawle Ramkissoon: 1930's, scholar, classicist, (London), later Asst Director of Education

Ralph Laltoo: A graduate, scholar, Dalhousie alumnus, and subsequent influential teacher of English Literature at Naps, Mr Laltoo went on to be Principal of Queen's Royal College for many years.

James Lee Wah: A pupil of Ralph Laltoo, imbued with a similar passion for the English masters, James was a pillar at Naps for many years, in the role of Vice-Principal, and nationally-recognized dramatic arts director and promoter.

Horace James: Nationally-acclaimed comedian and playwright, and radio personality. Outstanding career in British and Trinidad television.

Sir Trevor McDonald: 1959. Radio broadcaster at Naparima's Blue Circle Network, Trinidad's 610, and the UK's Independent TV, Trevor was recently knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, as 'Keeper of the English Language" in the UK. He has also published several titles.

Ralph Maraj: Nationally-renowned actor, writer, teacher, and political figure, Ralph is the Minister of External Affairs in the present government.

Dr Brinsley Samaroo: Brins is a beloved figure among his contemporaries, a history scholar and chronicler of the Indian history of Trinidad, long-time professor at University of theWest Indies, and former minister of the national government.

Dr Allan MacKenzie: A contemporary of Mr Lee Wah's and fellow student of the literary arts, Allan was the second Trinidadian-born principal of the school, a position he held for over thirty years.

Dr Vernon Mulchansingh: Head of Geography Department at UWI, Jamaica

Dr Kenneth Ramchand: A pupil of Mr Lee Wah's, Kenneth is a world-wide authority in West Indian literature, and is a Professor of English at UWI, St. Augustine.

Mervyn Dymally: Born in Cedros, Trinidad, on May 12, 1926, Mervyn M. Dymally became a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981 following a diverse career in education and government, which included Lieutenant-Governor of the State of California.

Len Traboulay: Born September 19, 1934 in San Fernando, attended Naparima College, University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta. Elected Mayor of Port Coquitlam, B.C. in 1981

Dr. Lall R. Sawh: Awarded Chaconia Gold Medal in 1994 for outstanding service in the field of medicine in Trinidad & Tobago. Recognized as the first surgeon to perform kidney transplant operation in the Caribbean; first to introduce "button-hole" surgery to the Caribbean; first to import lithotripsy machine for minor kidney surgery without incision. Recognized as a distinguished individual in "Who's Who in the World" since 1993. Currently an associate lecturer at Mt.Hope and personal urologist to the President of T&T. While at Naparima College, he served as Head Boy while in Sixth Form, then went on to study medicine in Jamaica, where he graduated top of the Caribbean, and was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to continue his post-graduate studies in Scotland.

George Winston MacKenzie: George, younger brother of our former principal, entered the diplomatic service for T&T as a young man, and served as our ambassador in Guiana, London and elsewhere. He is currently the Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. video

Dr Stephen Ramsankar: University of Alberta '61 BSc, '63 BEd, '89 LLD (Honorary) - and a fifties grad of Naparima College, Steve was the long-time principal of Alex Taylor School in Edmonton. His caring, service-oriented values and style transformed the school over the years, especially through program linkages with the community. For his exemplary service in the field of education, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his second alma mater, and the Order of Canada in 1983. Only 18 Albertans have ever received the latter honour in education. Dr Ramsankar passed away at Edmonton in July, 2007.

Lamp of Learning
... academic excellence from the early days

The Arts

Dr Ralph R. Baney: 1948, Internationally known artist and sculptor, graduate of Brighton School of Art and University of Maryland, currently resident in Washington, D.C.

Pictured here with a work commissioned for presentation to Sir Vidia Naipaul in 2007, Ralph has enjoyed a sustained and distinguished career in his field, and has numerous public and private works in at least three countries.

Lindsay Laltoo: Witty, incisive, modern cartoonist.

Errol Sitahal: 1959, Dramatist, playwright, actor.

Anthony Hall: 1961, Dramatist, comedian, playwright, lecturer, long-time television and stage producer.

Tony writes for street, stage and screen. He has worked extensively as an actor, director and playwright - in Canada with Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton and in the West Indies with Derek Walcott's Trinidad Theatre Workshop. He has appeared in television drama and entertainment on CBC, ITV and NBC.

Horace James : 1940's, Dramatist, playwright, TV filmmaker and producer for TTT and abroad.
.. filmography website .. obituary webpage

Ian Angus N. Ali : 1959, Artist, teacher, poet, dramatist, media personality for TTT.

Ian is best remembered by the general public as the television character Uncle Ian on his original children’s show “RikkiTikki”, which also helped pioneer the early character of TTT. .. obituary ..

Rab Maharaj (Robin): 1962, Long-time weather personality for TTT and the nation. Awarded the Trinidad & Tobago Silver Medal of Merit in 2000 by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago for Sterling Contribution to the Science of Meteorology; and For Excellence in Weather Broadcasting 1972-1999. At school, Rab was a Head Prefect, and the Student Leader of Sammy House.

Dr Henry Daniel : 1964-71, Professional dancer, artistic director, professor of contemporary arts at SFU.

Hailing from Friendship Village near San Fernando, after leaving NC in 1971, Henry started his career as an actor with Derek Walcott's Trinidad Theatre Workshop and a dancer with Astor Johnson's Repertory Dance Theatre in TT. Subsequently, he pursued an international careeer in Germany, the UK, and New York. He obtained a doctorate from Bristol University in contemporary performance and new technologies, and currently is researching new interfaces in this area at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

"TTT" is the acronym for Trinidad & Tobago Television

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Published Authors


Samuel Selvon: A 1938 grad, renowned author of several Caribbean novels, and university professor. Naparima has established a Samuel Selvon Day in his honour.

A Brighter Sun (1952) An Island is a World (1955) Lonely Londoners (1956) Ways of Sunlight (1957) Turn Again Tiger (1958) I Hear Thunder (1963) The Housing Lark (1965) A Drink of Water (1968) The Plains of Caroni (1970) Those Who Eat the Cascadura (1972) Moses Ascending (1975) Moses Migrating (1983)

Rabindranath Maharaj: Notable new novelist on the Canadian / West Indian literary scene.

The Interloper (1995) The Writer and His Wife & Other Stories (1996) Homer in Flight (1997) The Lagahoo's Apprentice (2000) The Book of Ifs and Buts (2002) A Perfect Pledge (2007)

Jagdip Maraj: This 1960 graduate published a small volume of poetry while a student at McGill.

The Flaming Circle (1966)

Kenneth Ramchand: A 1958 graduate who developed his literary scholarship as a student, professor, and author.

An Introduction to the Study of West Indian Literature (1976)

West Indian Narrative: An Introductory Anthology (1966)

The West Indian Novel and its Background (1983)

Trevor MacDonald: A 1959 graduate who became a media celebrity in the UK (see elsewhere on this page).

Britain's Favourite View (2007)

Trevor McDonald's World of Poetry (2000 - with Molly Sample)

Fortunate Circumstances (1993)

Viv Richards: The Authorized Biography (1985)

Clive Lloyd (Biography) (..)

Polly Indar, Dorothy B. Ramesar, Sylvia Bissessar: Probably the best-known and most-requested guide to authentic Trinidad cuisine.

Naparima Girls' High School Diamond Jubilee 1912-1987, Trinidad & Tobago Recipes
(Naparima Girls' High School Cook-book)

Ishmael (Jim) Baksh: Two Caribbean-themed novels:

Black Light (1988)

Out of Darkness (1995)

Noor Hassanali: Selected addresses:

Teaching Words (2002)

Winston Mahabir: Memoirs of a senior minister of the TT independence government:

In and Out of Politics (1978)

Brinsley Samaroo: A selection of images of the sugar-cane industry by San Fernando's master photographer.

The Art of Garnet Ifill (1995)

In celebration of 150 Years: the Indian Contribution (1995 - edited with Ramchand, Haracksingh)

India in the Caribbean (1987 - edited with D. Dabydeen)

Stella Algoo:

Austin C. Clarke: a biography (1994)

Joyce Mahabir: An NGHS graduate, whose first novel explores the experience of a young woman moving from a rural Trinidad village to New York.

Jouvert (2007)

Kenneth R. Bainey: A 1966 graduate who has devoted his career to information technology development, application, management and strategic application.

Integrated IT Project Management: A Model-Centric Approach (2003)

Fayad W. Ali: A 1970's graduate who returned to his Alma Mater to make a career of re-enacting the values of former generations of masters dedicated to teaching. Mr Fayad Ali's passion for teaching mathematics together with a personal regard for his students is a formula that has resulted in giving Naparima an amazing record in this field, in the Caribbean and perhaps further afield.

Complementing this, sometimes collaborating with other educators, Fayad has produced a prolific series of teaching text-books in wide use, with another emerging soon from Nelson & Thompson.

Multiple Choice Mathematics for CXC (Nelson & Thornes) Progress Papers in Mathematics (Nelson & Thornes) STP Caribbean Mathematics series, Books 1,2,3 & 4 co-authored (Nelson & Thornes) Solutions to A'level CAPE Mathematics Unit 1 (Caribbean Pub.) Solutions to CAPE A'level Unit 2 (Caribbean Pub) Mastering Multiple Choice at CXC level (Caribbean Pub.) Mastering MC at A'levels (Nelson & Thornes) Mastering MC at NCSE level, both at Nelson & Thornes)