Guest Columns

“[…] Mr Devant Maharaj argues that critics of that vote treat a dictatorship as a victim. That is not the argument. The argument is that ordinary Cubans are the victims and that the measure punishing them is wrong in law and principle—and that a small state which depends on international …

I support democracy, human rights, political freedom and the right of the Cuban people to determine their own future. Those principles are important and should never be dismissed. However, I am deeply disappointed by Trinidad and Tobago’s decision to vote against the United Nations resolution calling for an end to …

This is the first of a series of commentaries on reparatory justice as conceived in Caricom’s revised Ten Point Plan for Reparations: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment, which was launched in Barbados on 17 September 2026. This article draws attention to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in …

“[…] Mr Raffique Shah admired Paris students protesting fuel prices and the poor conditions of schools in their poorer districts… He granted French youth a structural explanation for their law-breaking, then refused to recognize the structural reason for that mother on a mattress on the floor locally. “[…] At home, …

The recent announcement by the government to divest state assets has stimulated some conversations on the role of the state in the economy. In my opinion these conversations have been fairly limited given the magnitude and range of the divestment, including the Hilton Trinidad, Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, …

Today, Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed the Caribbean, bids farewell to a true cultural giant. With the passing of Dr Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, affectionately known as the Birdie, we have lost far more than a legendary calypsonian. We have lost a storyteller, a social commentator, an entertainer, a …

There is an old adage that says: “a wise man learns from the mistakes of others, while a fool learns from their own mistakes.” This seems fairly commonsense. If one sees someone else undertake an action which results in negative consequences, it would be foolhardy to expect a different result …

“[…] It is nothing short of amazing how this current political directorate can go from conceptualization of 30 ‘police post’ to delivery, in a matter of days. Meanwhile, the issue of body cameras has been simmering on the back burners since Columbus’ arrival. “Each time the topic comes up, we …

Having just celebrated 64 years of independence, discussions as to whether Trinidad and Tobago is better off since gaining independence and if T&T could have done better have been at the fore. I have decided to add my voice to this debate for two reasons. First, as assistant professor at …

Some years ago, I lived and worked in Sierra Leone. I arrived in the capital, Freetown, just ten years after a decade-long civil war.  The war was brutal. According to estimates 50,000 – 75,000 died, 20,000 had limbs amputated, 2 – 2.5 million were displaced, and hundreds of thousands of …

In October 1995, I was part of a fellowship offered by the Committee to Protect Journalists. A dozen or so journalists from around the world were included and we met in Washington for a week before heading out to different newspapers. I had chosen New Orleans because I felt it …

“[…] The media release by the heads of judiciaries—that seemed to focus on the leak of the emails and breach of confidentiality, risked thereby missing the critical issue—which is that leaks of that nature occur when there is real organizational stress and upset and institutional integrity is at stake. “[…] …