On an early morning run or walk through Port of Spain, you are greeted by homelessness, filth and a strong smell of human faeces. That’s not very different from some other developing countries, but after 60 years of dominance by one political party, our capital city is still in this …
Read More »Demming: Mr Mayor, praise in public, criticise in private!
When a mayor resorts to angrily scolding a roomful of more than 80 adults (all of whom can vote), it tells me that he has forgotten the road travelled to the office he holds. It tells me that he should not be the mayor of anything; he should really return …
Read More »Demming: Atone for your intemperance with sexual harassment legislation, Mr PM
Twenty-six years ago, Radhica Saith published a book titled Why Not a Woman? It paid tribute to more than 100 women in Trinidad who had been making a difference in various spheres of life. One of the women featured at the time was former government minister and mother of our …
Read More »Demming: Do the right thing for T&T’s harassed women and release the Darryl Smith report, Mr PM
On 9 April 2018, I blogged: “How would things have been different for the minister of sports had the GOTT implemented a sexual harassment policy throughout all state enterprises and ministries and piloted relevant legislation? Women’s rights are human rights and once again this government is failing us.” Eighteen months …
Read More »Demming: State failure to blame for Arouca rehab facility
Leave alone … zap … seems to be the preferred management strategy being deployed throughout this country. It is a very unhelpful strategy to leave any situation to fester then swoop down and try to zap it out of existence. The recent furore over the 69 or so people being …
Read More »Demming: Why Patriotic Energies can be the game-changer for Trinidad and Tobago
The consummation of this deal with Patriotic Energies and Technologies Company Ltd (PETCL) might be the game-changer we have been looking for to change the work ethic of Trinidad and Tobago. But it will require a level of collaboration that we have not experienced in recent times. From one perspective, …
Read More »Demming: Election Goody No.1; amnesty extension with no tax refund is mamaguy
Hurray … election goodies have begun. The income tax amnesty has been extended to September 30th. But like an ungrateful voter, my response is a big steups. Unless the extension of time is accompanied by the release of refund cheques, we are all in the same place. The tax amnesty …
Read More »Demming: PM needs to start believing in us again
The unravelling of the contract between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Chinese construction company, Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co Ltd (CGGC), is so close to the fourth anniversary of PNM’s 2015 election victory because it represents the collapse of a significant plank upon which the Keith Rowley-led administration placed …
Read More »Demming: Stumbling up the stairs; government fumbles Petrotrin transition
The past few weeks have left me stunned by the antics of our leadership. Penny, Marlene, Burkee, Simonette, Espinet, Quamina … I can go on and on, but there is one common theme: they were headlined in the media because of some act of incompetence by the leadership of our …
Read More »Invasion of Privacy; Why release of alleged Justice Lucky recording should concern us all
A feeling of fear covered me as I read a recent report of a recording of a private conversation allegedly between Justice Gillian Lucky and another person. I was further panicked because the Trinidad Express newspaper got hold of the tape, transcribed it and used it as a news story. …
Read More »Demming: People before bricks and mortar; why more police stations aren’t the solution
Another Police Station has been commissioned, but crime and criminality continue to dig in. In a year or so, the people of Carenage will have an improved structure and a few policemen will benefit from promotions or transfers, but what will be the impact on crime and lawlessness in the …
Read More »Demming: Until PNM and UNC unite on crime, we are all sitting ducks
The societal breakdown around us is palpable. Everywhere you turn there is chaos, indiscipline and manifestations of a society about to implode. Once you leave your home, your senses are assaulted by aggressive driving, loud music, lack of courtesy and piles of garbage. These assaults are carried out by people …
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