“[…] The frustration in Greenvale, however, runs deeper than a single Sunday blackout. The community already feels utterly abandoned. The general election, which promised so much, has long passed, leaving a vacuum where change was supposed to be. “[…] We need some level of professionalism, which starts not with a …
Read More »Daly Bread: Two Miles of ‘Roy’ Regis and DJ Pelau
Co-incidentally with the event described below, drawing talent from the diaspora has been in the news. The Government has passed legislation to allow persons to obtain Trinidad and Tobago citizenship through a grandparent who was a citizen at time of the applicant’s birth. The immediate benefit of this legislation is …
Read More »Dear Editor: “Evidence-based decision-making” can transform T&T from “underachievers’ paradise”
“[…] Now, Trinidad and Tobago is a shadow of its former self, undermined by a lack of innovative leadership, perceived corruption, crime, poor infrastructure and most of all, a culture that has transformed itself into rewarding mediocrity rather than excellence. “[…] Evidence-based decision-making is critical in achieving service excellence… [For …
Read More »Dear Editor: Jack Warner’s extradition “freedom” is a mirage—ex-FIFA VP still can’t travel
“[…] At first glance, this might sound like the end of Jack Warner’s ordeal. If the court sets him free, why not get on a plane and resume life abroad? “The reality is far harsher: Warner’s freedom would be limited to Trinidad and Tobago. Step outside, and he risks arrest …
Read More »Dear Editor: Congrats to Jack Warner—but what does his extradition success mean for T&T?
“[…] On 23 September, Justice Karen Reid ruled that the extradition process against him was flawed and has permanently stopped it. “This outcome raises troubling questions. Does justice in our country depend on access to resources and influence? What role will Warner now be given under our new Prime Minister? …
Read More »Dear Editor: Who is paying Roger Alexander’s legal bills? The public deserves transparency
“[…] When a sitting minister hires some of the most expensive lawyers in the country, the public has a right to ask: is this coming out of his pocket, his political party’s pocket, or ours? “If he is paying personally: fair enough… If his political party or donors are paying, that …
Read More »Daly Bread: Ambiguity, sovereignty and policy palsy—pondering US’ naval play and NGC’s withdrawal
Last week, in light of the current United States naval presence in Caribbean waters, I posed a question about sovereignty, to which I return below. However, I must begin this week noting that the National Gas Company (NGC), a premier state enterprise, has pelted both the Minister of Education, Dr …
Read More »Dear Editor: PM had enough time to study PNM mistakes—now give us budget where everybody wins
“[…] Please do not incur excessive debt to fulfil campaign promises or popular votes. Continuous deficit financing and public debt that balloons uncontrollably will undermine investor/lender confidence, reduce cash flow and impact generational wealth. Everybody must win. “[…] Madame Prime Minister 2.0, it is clear that if T&T achieves its …
Read More »Noble: The Ground was as hard—how will T&T get out of this financial hole?
As primary school children, we would have learnt a poem by John Keats. “There was a naughty boy/ And a naughty boy was he,/ He ran away to Scotland/ The people for to see–/ Then he found/ That the ground/ Was as hard,/ That a yard/ Was as long…” This …
Read More »Daly Bread: Unpolluted performance—why events like Pan On D Ave matter
My last topic was the cancellation of the Independence Day military parade, which was yet another issue over which there was polarisation, partly driven by the partisan political zealots. Currently, some of the reactions to the United States’ naval presence in Caribbean waters are intended superficially to spin a potentially …
Read More »St Louis: PNM’s post-election confession betrays T&T’s cyclical governance issues
When in government, the People’s National Movement (PNM) speaks with the certainty of authority—decisions are made, policies defended, and dissent dismissed as misinformed or politically motivated. The tone is top-down, and messaging emphasises competence, legacy and control. Consultation becomes performance, not practice. But in opposition—or after electoral defeat—a different voice …
Read More »Devaluation: the good, the bad and the public debt—why T&T needs careful analysis, not noise
“[…] Basic economic theory does not always manifest in practice—in fact, it rarely does. To understand if or by how much exports/imports change requires an understanding of how responsive exports/imports are to price changes. This is called elasticity in economics. “[…] Alongside this, the constantly changing geopolitical environment must be …
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