The end of 2020 comes with a desire by most, to see and experience a New Year that’s far removed from what the last 10 months or so have delivered. It’s been a rough year, to say the least. COVID-19, along with US government elections, exhausted countless people around the world.

In Trinidad and Tobago, crime and an influx of Venezuelan migrants amid the Covid-19 pandemic and its accompanying restrictions, aggravated many. The feelings of Trinbagonians were aired on social media daily.

Internationally, Kobe Bryant’s sudden death and that of his daughter and 7 others aboard a helicopter, at the start of the year seemed surreal. Followed by the passing of Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman in August, the year went from 0-100 pretty quickly.

This was also the year that saw Nicki Minaj visit her homeland, Trinidad and Tobago with her hubby, for Carnival. There was a little drama there too – jolly ole’ Iwer George’s name being dragged into the digital debates, but we’ll quickly skip that part and recall that months after Nicki’s return to the US when she revealed her pregnancy and later popped out a bouncing baby boy. She celebrated his 3 months of life earlier this week!

COVID-19 came with the harsh reality that the entertainment sector in Trinidad and Tobago would be hard hit. Travel restricted and large gatherings made illegal, entertainers and others who depend on the industry for their livelihoods, stared financial impediment straight in the face. Overseas, some Caribbean artistes did what they felt they needed to, to earn and take care of their families. The post T&T carnival 2020 reality seemed a far cry from the harsher truth that would present itself by September. Many had forgotten the blissful hysteria caused by Machel Montano and his wife Renee, mere months earlier when they tied the knot at the Red House in Port-of-Spain, followed up with “The Wedding” at Machel Monday, which Montano had signalled would’ve been the final instalment of the annually anticipated concert event. It’s been an unforgiving year, but even so, there may be a silver lining….

“I always try to understand what the true message is, in every challenging situation. To many, 2020 will be dubbed THE WORST YEAR EVER, but to me, this year has taught me a great deal about myself in terms of my strength, my resilience, my talents and my ability to adapt, shift and conquer,” soca hit maker Nadia Batson says.

Batson has been an excellent example of true resilience in 2020. She started her own YouTube channel – Yellow Cow TV and together with Digicel, she served her community with her Wonder Woman Wednesday series.

“As we look ahead, I want to encourage others to always look at the glass as half full and start speaking more positivity, prosperity and goodness over our lives,” she urged, adding, “There is a lesson to be learnt from every single situation that you may go through. Trust yourself, trust God and get rid of self doubt. We haven’t made it this far to only make it this far.“

We concur! As we end the year 2020, we here at EBUZZTT.COM wish you and your families, friends and loved ones, an abundance of healing, life and health, happiness and fruitfulness in 2021. What is done is done and we cannot return to 2020 but we can make 2021 a year of forgiveness, love and spiritual awakening… as Nadia said, “Trust God!”