“[…] The 1990 coup demonstrated that unchecked religious freedom and extreme religious ideologies can pose a direct threat to democracy and civil liberties. This horrendous event is a sobering example of how extreme religious beliefs, if unchecked, can manifest as domestic terrorism. “Freedom of religion does not include the liberty …
Read More »Kamla: “The rule of law remains our strongest shield”—lessons from July 27
“[…] Let us be clear: the perpetrators of July 1990 were not patriots. The true patriots defended the Constitution and safeguarded our Republic, some at the cost of their lives, others bearing wounds and trauma to this day. “[…] Today, three months after returning to office, I reaffirm my Government’s …
Read More »Dear Editor: Withdrawal of T&T hockey teams, after standoff between TTHB and SporTT, ‘risks discouraging entire generation of athletes’
“[…] My deepest concern is for the athletes. These young men and women trained for months, in some cases years, with the dream of representing Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage. Many made personal sacrifices. “[…] For these athletes, [this tournament] was the end result of hard work, hope, …
Read More »Justice for Shem: Supporters of extradited T&T sport administrator claim legal double standards
“[…] Shem Alexander, who remains in pre-trial detention in Florida, was arrested in Jamaica and extradited in November 2024—despite being cleared locally after a 15-month police investigation and without the indictment ever being shared with Trinidadian authorities. “Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s own public mention of being listed in …
Read More »Dear Editor: Three things that Cepep—and other T&T institutions—need for true reform
“[…] Almost daily, the discourse has been filled with opinions on Cepep and Cepep workers: UNC/PNM supporters, radio commentators and newspaper columnists present opinions and arguments on one side or the other. “These are all useful for taking the public temperature. But, after nearly 20 years of Cepep, absent from …
Read More »Dear Editor: Meritocracy myth—your surname and liming circle determines success in T&T
“[…] Social capital trumps educational capital every time. In Trinidad and Tobago’s business and politics, social capital—your surname, your old boys’ club, your Carnival band, your golf foursome—often outweighs your degree. “[…] Trinidad and Tobago doesn’t reward talent. It protects power. It preserves privilege. And it punishes those who try to …
Read More »Dear Editor: West Indies Cricket is dead—even with Shai in squad, this is Hopeless
“[…] Being humiliated is nothing new to West Indians born mid-1980s and later. But this 27 all out feels different—this feels irreparable. “In the past, every time we hit a new low, we always had a couple of players in the team that we knew, in the back of our …
Read More »Dear Editor: Why not rechristen the ‘Soca Warriors’ as ‘Feteballers’?
“[…] Nobody could force Selwyn Melville; it is his intellectual property. The game is bigger than everybody, so let’s just move on, leave him alone and get another nickname—just like we moved on from ‘Strike Squad’. “[…] We have a World Cup to qualify for and this should not be an …
Read More »Dear Editor: You could pick who you want as coach and captain—WI problems run deep
“[…] You could pick who you want at this point in time. You could pick whatever coach, he could come from where. “[…] The whole question of grooming and developing sports people is not just you pick some fellas because they make some runs in the first-class competition. The first-class …
Read More »Dear Editor: Can Shallow and Sammy take WI cricket forward? Then why are they still there?!
“[…] Is this just another day in the office? Do you guys not have standards—pride in yourselves, and pride in West Indies cricket? “As a West Indian, I will NEVER forget that score…” The following Letter to the Editor, in the wake of West Indies being bowled out for 27 …
Read More »‘Progress rarely straightforward’; CWI call ‘emergency meeting’ after WI bowled out for 27
“[…] Progress is rarely straightforward… We have already seen encouraging signs, particularly with the ball… Now is the time to stand even closer as a people. “As an immediate step, I have advised the chair of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee to convene an emergency meeting to review the …
Read More »Dear Editor: TTPS shouldn’t be unchecked militia; investigate police “brutality” in Belmont
“[…] The officers (in the Belmont incident) wore no uniforms, bore no visible badges, and allegedly seem to give no verbal identification, yet exercised full policing powers. That borders on impersonation. “TTPS operational guidelines require that plainclothes officers identify themselves clearly when engaging civilians, especially during arrests or searches. Their …
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