The maintenance of an efficient sea bridge between Trinidad and Tobago is a very serious matter. The recent failures of the sea bridge greatly damaged the economy of Tobago and the credibility of the current Government. Undoubtedly however, the procurement and much delayed arrival of the Galleons Passage has become …
Read More »My Story, My Secrets: Hislop, Latapy and Ruiz head cast of 22 motivational storytellers
“The storytellers deal with a whole spectrum of inner issues. Like being too short; too unpopular; too boring; not bright enough; not talented enough; not nice enough; being too poor; too ‘stush’; too weird; too different; too ordinary. “Issues like being a middle child; an ‘unloved’ child; a rebellious child. …
Read More »Farewell to a Carib queen; Dr Rowley pays respects to Jennifer Cassar
“[…] Jennifer Cassar worked tirelessly to sensitise us to the role and contributions of the First Peoples Community and continuously strived to preserve and revitalise Amerindian history and traditions.” The following press statement on the passing of Santa Rosa Carib queen Jennifer Cassar was issued by prime minister Dr Keith …
Read More »Dear Editor: Ex-PNM general secretary knocks Justice Saunders for criticising T&T govt over CCJ
“One would have expected that as a Judge, Mr. Saunders would have checked his facts before making a pronouncement on the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, because if he did, he would have found that the failure of this country to be part of the CCJ lies with the opposition …
Read More »Living Law: Holding decision-makers accountable; why Judicial Review matters
We often read articles in the newspapers about some person applying for judicial review of a decision made that did not go in their favour. But have you ever wondered what is judicial review? It is a legal process by which we can hold government bodies—or those exercising powers authorised …
Read More »Media Monitor: NIF, NoF, Nuff; can Government really bank on OCM?
If you watched the TV6 7pm News on Thursday, then you should have a clear idea of how deep in the doodoo our media are. And since One Caribbean Media (OCM) is one of the five companies on whose entire or partial assets the National Investment Fund is “collateralised”—not my …
Read More »Dear Editor: Citizens deserve “Imbert Treatment” too; time to address class and race bias in T&T
“There is a large body of sociological and psychological evidence that explains that peoples’ experiences with law enforcement personnel are affected by factors such as race, colour, class and status. “Is it that Minister Colm Imbert and TTPS public relations personnel want us to believe that this does not happen …
Read More »Daly Bread: The temporary death of celebrity; T&T’s lessons of humility from the World Cup
World Cup 2018 ends today and I have discerned some lessons of general application. Not many in this region would have foreseen that France and Croatia would be the two teams in the final. Even fewer would have foreseen that Argentina, Brazil and Germany would have failed as early as …
Read More »Demming: Why new Angostura chairman, Bharath, must face up to Balgobin affair
Since 2005 there have been allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Dr Rolph Balgobin. To quote a Trinidad Express Newspaper report of 4 January 2017: “Former (Arthur Lok Jack) ALJ Chairman and (at that time) University of the West Indies Principal Clement Sankat yesterday confirmed that he had inherited the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Did Police act lawfully to find Imbert’s phone? And what about other victims of crime?
“Is the prostitution of the police by the political directorate such that the police are only animated to act effectively when a Minister of Government is affected by crime? The country ravaged by criminal activities including brutal killings have not seen similar alacrity by the police to solve these crimes that …
Read More »Master’s Voice: Black labour pains: By the sweat of MY brow; thou shalt eat bread
“I have […] great doubts whether the Cooly and the African are morally and mentally capable of being acted upon by the same motives in this island on their first arrival as labourers are in more civilised countries… “The only independence which they would desire is idleness, according to their …
Read More »Daly Bread: Evading accountability; how the JLSC tried to mamaguy judicial community
One year ago, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) brought itself into disrepute and tarnished the institutional reputation of the Judiciary by the blunder of the appointment and “un-appointment” of the then Chief Magistrate, Marcia Ayers-Caesar, to the High Court Bench. The JLSC never begged pardon for its blunder …
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