“Betaa, dey ain’t making no more land” was the advice Mr Terrence Deyalsingh, reported to the House on 11 July 2014, his grandmother told him. He went on “… land is a family heritage… it represents wealth, it represents where you toil; it represents an investment.” The Medium-Term Policy Framework …
Read More »Anaphora, cataphora and grammatical euphoria; Scotty Ranking steps up for Media Monitor duty
I was born in the mid-70s, the period claimed by both Generation X and Generation Y. Perhaps that is what created within me that enigmatic mix of new world tastes and old world styles. Most people who know me will say that, when it comes to grammar, I’m definitely old …
Read More »Demming: Reflecting on the rape of a peninsula; Rowley must protect Chaguaramas’ beauty
My first visit to the seaside was Carenage; and in particular, Williams Bay. We travelled by bus and eventually I would ‘borrow’ my father’s Raleigh bicycle—put the seat to its lowest position and ride there. I remember that Pier 1 was not even a thing. Today, its building is imposing …
Read More »Noble: How can we help rescue the women like Netanya who cannot run away?
Not all women can run away, as advised by Singing Francine. They are treated worse than dogs. They are treated with vindictiveness. They are ‘owned’ and dare not challenge the man or seek to pursue their own decisions or rights. This week, we add Netanya Mohamdally to the list of …
Read More »Daly Bread: Peewats and pharaohs; concerns over Paria secrecy and Venezuela geo-politics
Last week predictably began with more turbulence over the aftermath of the Petrotrin shut down and over one of the successor companies, Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited. Our governments have had marked communications deficits because there is too much attempted secrecy over the process attendant upon deals constantly being made …
Read More »Day in the life of a call centre agent: it’s the most stressful job I’ve ever endured!
“On most days, it’s a fast-pace job. Which means there are calls in wait, and you have to try to wrap up your present call as fast as you can to facilitate the next customer or customers in wait. “This was all new to me and I admit, some days …
Read More »Salaam: How to make Trinidad a real place
I keep hearing the phrase that ‘Trinidad is not a real place’. I’ve lived here almost the entire part of my life and I know that Trinidad is not a figment of my imagination or some fictional or imaginary parallel universe. But I can relate to the bewilderment, angst and …
Read More »Daly Bread: In ‘wth’ country; Paria Fuel, the President and the Chief Justice
What the hell? Can one set out to sell a State asset by mistake? ‘Wth’ is a milder version of the social media acronym used to express surprise or disgust. It was my response to the Minister of Energy’s implausible media release on Monday last related to the failure of …
Read More »Dear Editor: Is Children’s Authority advocating child beating and encouraging victim blaming?
“In one ad, the Authority states: ‘Ensure children are appropriately dressed, to avoid exposing them to unwarranted attention from predators’. This message places the blame for sexual assault on the child’s appearance. “Surely this cannot apply to the babies, toddlers, children and teens assaulted in their homes, by trusted adults! …
Read More »Rowley: Let Caribbean be a zone of peace; Prime Minister defends stance on Venezuela
“Now more than ever we need to revisit the significant events and connect the dots between our principles informing our decisions and show how those decisions have shaped who we are—to determine how we are viewed—and why we must do what we do now. “[…] We hold to those principles …
Read More »Demming: Rend your hearts and not thy garments! Legal Affairs should loosen dress code
Recently I witnessed an act of discrimination at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Two people were not allowed to enter the building because of their dress. One was wearing mid-calf jeans and the other had jeans with horizontal tears. In my own case I was only allowed in because I …
Read More »Noble: Don’t forget how we got in this financial mess; and here’s how to improve our economy
“Thank God for decisions made to stimulate drilling […] by the Kamla Persad- Bissessar government… Instead of benefitting from flowing gas today, we might well have been on our knees, eating grass.” (Dr Bhoe Tewarie, Trinidad Express, 13 March.) An astounding statement with subtexts! What exactly is he saying and …
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