“The theories of legitimacy and procedural justice offer the best explanation. In countries where the State and its institutions are deemed legitimate and fair, increases in arrests and detentions tend to produce the expected deterrent effect. “However, in other jurisdictions, when the State and the exercise of State power are …
Read More »Congratulate Rowley?! It’s his fault! Fixin’ T&T slams PM on Marlene fiasco and gov’t weaknesses
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is still being commended by some for taking decisive action in firing Ms Marlene McDonald for a second time. If Dr Rowley had any appreciation for the philosophy that “politicians serve their party best when they put their country first”, Ms McDonald would not have …
Read More »The other side of powerful: Tenderpreneurs, community leaders and the link to violent crime
Last week’s column raised the issue whether each of the two main political parties are captive to the power wielded by wealthy businessmen. I did so in the light of Mario Sabga-Aboud’s boast about the power that his community had. I also made sure to include in my inquiry the …
Read More »Dear Editor: A house for Mr T&T? Country FirsTT asks citizens to back bid for HDC fairness
“There are currently—and this is a figure that comes from the HDC itself—180,000 applicants on the HDC’s books, which is just about 12% of the entire population. That is no surprise. “The surprise is that, despite the length of the waiting list, there are several developments all across the country …
Read More »The Misuse of Telephones and Telegrams: Why State is over-reaching by prosecuting Facebook post
“The provision [used to prosecute Rayad Mohammed] was enacted in 1951. Yes, 1951. It was enacted to deal with the “misuse of telephone facilities and false telegrams. The legislature at the time sought to capture offensive messages that may have been transmitted by landlines and telegrams. “It is a stretch, …
Read More »Rowley sacks Marlene; Prime Minister adds Public Utilities to his portfolio
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has sacked his Minister of Public Utilities Marlene McDonald, just two days after appointing her in the first place. A release from the Office of the Prime Minister stated that Rowley “today advised President Anthony Carmona to revoke the appointment of Ms Marlene McDonald, Minister …
Read More »Daly Bread: Parts known, unfixed, un-fooled and unmasked; why it’s worse than Bourdain thinks
Anthony Bourdain is a chef, a food and travel writer and television personality. He has significant credibility evidenced by his winning a Peabody award and several Emmys. Our country was recently the subject of an episode of Bourdain’s well-known television series Parts Unknown. Its broadcast has stirred controversy among a …
Read More »STREET VIBES: TTPS BS! Day of total policing disrespect
Many people who frequent the social media, in particular Facebook, would by now have seen the pictures of a person dressed in a uniform which closely resembles that worn by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). He was entering a vehicle which appears to be one from …
Read More »MASTER’S VOICE: Behind the brutal battering of Bayshore’s beige buffers; ignore rage at your peril
My laptop real pick a fine time to stage a sick-out. Almost immediately all kinda things start happening. Fr Harvey get beat up…. by people who vex with him for forgiving those who actually beat him up; Saudi Arabia accused another country of supporting terrorism… That’s right… Saudi Arabia making accusations like that, …
Read More »OLIVE OIL: Don’t tolerate me anymore, Brian Harry tells T&T, include me
Picturing a society free from bigotry and persecution, on the eve of Independence on 31 August 1962, Eric Eustace Williams—the Father of the Nation—gave us the watchwords “Discipline, Tolerance and Production.” Starting the very next day, we began to sing our National Anthem, which says in part, “Here every creed …
Read More »Dear Editor: In the wake of three youth suicides, is T&T ready to consider the mentally ill?
“How competent and resourced are the existing services [that deal with suicidal people and the mentally ill]? The answer to that question will tell you how serious were are about treating this problem.” The following release on youth suicide and society, which follows three suicides over the past two weeks, …
Read More »Dear Editor: A Tale of Two Critics; why Bourdain’s T&T review was ultimately tasty
“[Anthony] Bourdain doesn’t concern himself about whether the food is too much for his ‘tummy’—as [Megan Ogilvie gripes—he explores and situates the cuisine within Trinidad’s history: doubles, roti, fish, kibbeh, pastelles, souse, callaloo, crab and dumplings… the delicious and unique list goes on.” The following Letter to the Editor was submitted …
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