February has arrived. It is a month that is usually the prelude to our annual carnival, which culminates in two days of what used to be ingenious and artistic masquerade, (colloquially known as mas’). However, some mas’ has introduced a Mardi Gras strut that contains an unwelcome shade or classist …
Read More »Daly Bread: Dr Rowley’s succession manoeuvres; how to ride steelpan momentum
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley (the PM) has evaded having his choice of Minister Stuart Young as successor to the leadership of the party and the country (or indeed any other person desiring such leadership) sent to a vote at a convention of the membership of the People’s National Movement …
Read More »Daly Bread: Gov’t policy incoherence continues to stymie steelpan industry
It can hardly be disputed that good governance invariably requires the making of policies and their effective implementation. As Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley proceeds toward the still unclear date of his departure from office and the People’s National Movement (PNM) Government completes two consecutive five year terms in office …
Read More »Daly Bread: T&T’s murderous trail of 2024 into 2025
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley gave a superficial description of our country’s state of narco-infiltrated crime to the media on Friday last before his melodramatic announcement of his intended resignation from office as prime minister “before the end of the legal limits of this term” and his departure from electoral …
Read More »Daly Bread: Pervading sadness at Morris-Julian’s passing—a role model for party representatives
My intended topic this week was a further examination of the rumblings over leadership succession within the People’s National Movement (PNM), the party currently in government, with the General Elections due no later than November next year. I have been suspicious that the PNM hierarchy wishes to avoid succession to …
Read More »Daly Bread: Uncertainties of Dragon Gas and Diego Martin
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has put his political leadership of the People’s National Movement (PNM) into play, but he did so by ambiguous remarks in the House of Representatives (the House). As a consequence, there have been all kinds of rumblings. Moreover, we are still awaiting “the further positions” …
Read More »Daly Bread: Deflections and delusions, as General Election beckons
Contemporaneously with critical commentaries, the Prime Minister last Sunday attempted certain deflections of the Government’s decision—despite the parlous state of our finances—to accept for its members the hefty salary increases and backpay, which the Salaries Review Commission recommended (the SRC increases). However, it is reasonable to hold this Government accountable …
Read More »Daly Bread: Gov’t and Opposition must level with electorate on impact of expenditure
The next general election at its latest is now one year away. It should be incumbent on the contesting parties to tell us how they will manage the economy so that the country will keep its head above water financially. Cutting government expenditure is one way, but that immediately raises …
Read More »Daly Bread: Champagne taste, mauby pocket—tale of the T&T economy
In August this year, I expressed concern that our country might go broke. A month before, commentators had been calling for an explanation of a withdrawal of TT$1.09 billion from the Heritage and Stabilisation fund. Accountability for the nation’s assets seemed to require specific identification of what aspect of public …
Read More »Daly Bread: T&T politicians should look at differing governance examples
Another big pappy resigned last week but of course that was in foreign. As with lame duck US President Joe Biden, that big pappy too was pushed from within. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who was the leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, had to resign because an investigation …
Read More »Daly Bread: The PNM’s election year excuse
A second volume of The Daly Commentaries—a selection of these weekly columns from 2016-2023, picking up from my first volume covering 2002 to 2015—has been published. Information about its release concludes this column. During my twenty-two plus years as a columnist, I have had the unstinting support of the Express …
Read More »Daly Bread: Why the PNM’s internal affairs are a matter of public interest
I have examined the surprise announcement that the People’s National Movement (PNM) convention and internal election scheduled for November 17 had been cancelled and the further announcement swiftly, but ambiguously, walking back the cancellation decision. My view remains that any apparent suppression of democracy within the PNM is a matter …
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