“I ask you to recall that in January 2017, in an address to the nation, I invited you to turn your attention to the troubling state of affairs at Petrotrin… “It is with mixed feelings, one of sadness and of resolve that I return to this issue today… Inevitably we …
Read More »Come to work! Marlene warns workers to ignore “irrational and irresponsible” union leaders
“The Minister [Marlene Mc Donald] wishes to discourage citizens from taking such irresponsible and injudicious action and in particular to remind Public Service employees that, as a rule, persons employed in the essential services are prohibited from withholding their services whether or not in sympathy with institutions in which they …
Read More »Daly Bread: Petrotrin is epicentre of socio-economic earthquake; T&T won’t escape reverberations
At least 1,700 workers are reportedly about to lose their jobs at Petrotrin without reprieve because the money-losing oil refinery at Pointe a Pierre is being shutdown. These workers recently had the benefit of an interim five per cent pay rise conceded in response to strike notice given in January …
Read More »Gilkes: Happy In-Dependence: reviewing 56 years of cynicism and self-hate
Happy birthday Iere; yuh tun 56… which means yuh mature, and with maturity comes reasoning and a clearer understanding of who you are and what you still need to do to reach where you want to go. But that’s when yuh mature, not when yuh eh sure of yuhself, confused as to …
Read More »Demming: Demise of Refining; the legacy of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley
I left the oil industry in 1989 because I was impatient with the wait for the VSEP money which was rumoured to be on the way. Since then, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago knew that Trintoc/Petrotrin needed dramatic restructuring; but our politicians continued to use the company as a reward …
Read More »Rishi Maharaj: More questions than answers; full disclosure required on Petrotrin’s future
As with most of the population, I myself anxiously awaited the official statement from the Board of Petrotrin regarding the future of this historical and economic significant company. To say that I was shocked or taken aback by the announcement of the immediate closure of the Refinery operations and the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Who is really responsible for Petrotrin?! Khan, Rowley and Imbert have dirty hands
“One would swear that [Franklin] Khan’s government had just come into office and didn’t have a clue as to what is going on; that Petrotrin was some runaway horse whose directors and management did what they wanted. “[…] All of these projects were started during the chairmanship of Malcolm Jones, …
Read More »56 Years, How Yuh Feel? Salaah suggests introspection as we prepare for Independence Day
On Friday August 31st we celebrate our 56th year of Independence. “How allyuh feel?” How allyuh feel we have grown since 1962 Independence and more significantly, the fact that we are getting near to our diamond anniversary—sixty years—a landmark achievement and a symbol of experience and maturity? Are we on the path …
Read More »Daly Bread: Six, seven, eight or fate; an earthquake wake-up and Naipaul desperation
The subject of today’s column was to be what I term the ‘Naipaul desperation’. However, everyone will currently have a story about where they were and what they feared in the moment of the terrifying earthquake we experienced in the afternoon of Tuesday last. Do we appreciate how powerless we were? …
Read More »Dear Editor: PM Rowley can’t count Indians; Dr Mahabir disputes claim of 50% Indian gov’t
“According to Government’s CSO population survey in 2011, Indians consist of 35 percent of the population, the largest ethnic group in the country. Comprising 26 percent in the government, Indian ministers are, therefore, underrepresented and do not find a proportionate ‘equal place’ in Rowley’s PNM administration.” In the following Letter to the …
Read More »TTPS: Text 482-GARY for serious crime; Commissioner takes over hotline numbers
New Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, has created a new hotline for serious crime, which is meant to supersede traditional TTPS public numbers such as 800-TIPS. In a release by the Police Service’s Corporate Communications Unit, citizens were asked to send a text or WhatsApp message to 482-GARY (4279) if …
Read More »Dear Editor: PNM’s race-tinged ‘sari skit’ was exploited by gender feminists and critics too
“[…] The sari skit is also being used by the gender feminists—who must be distinguished from equity feminists and women’s activists—to drum up support for their cause. “Just like the politicians using race codes, this brand of feminist wants to create fear, with men as the demonised group, by raising …
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