“Judicial independence essentially means that judges and other judicial officers are free to exercise the functions of their office without fear of reprisal, retribution or termination. The elements of such independence are security of tenure, financial security and administrative independence. “Each of these elements is essential to ensure that democracy …
Read More »DEAR EDITOR: Force-fed freedom? Must Muslim women move backwards to Islamic Front?
“Is Abdullah suggesting, however irrational that may appear, that anyone who raises questions about the advisability or wisdom of wearing the hijab is encouraging Muslim women to tend towards prostitution? “Clearly, Muslim women, hijabis or not, can think for themselves. Evidently, Aisha Sabur didn’t feel she wanted to remove her …
Read More »MEDIA MONITOR: Did Guardian editorial heads play a role in making Baldeosingh’s head roll?
The Guardian’s recent firing of controversial columnist Kelvin Baldeosingh after the publication of a column under his by-line which the Guardian has not, it seems, removed from its online site raises an issue that I think needs urgent ventilation. Some say that it’s really very straightforward; four other columnists have …
Read More »Mischievous and disturbingly misleading! Ex-TTDF Chief blasts report into Al-Rawi children’s use of firearms
“I am […] deeply concerned that the disturbingly misleading statements made in the TTDF response carry the potential to do serious harm to the character and reputation of Major General Maharaj… “The implications are further exacerbated when one observes that the only person named in the entire TTDF document is …
Read More »DALY BREAD: Exercising power without legitimacy; why Chief Justice must say “goodbye” not “sorry”
On Thursday last, by a vote of nearly 2 to 1 in the case of each resolution, the members of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago, (LATT) the governing body for lawyers, declared their loss of confidence in the Chief Justice. By a similar margin, it dealt with the …
Read More »SALAAM: Politicians must stop using Arrival Day and Emancipation to divide us; and here’s how
We reach! When, after fifty years of Independence, Indian Arrival Day is an occasion for sowing discord and disharmony among the two major races on this piece of rock, we really reach! In these hard times, in this guava season, the PNM Government forked out almost TT$350,000 to groups celebrating …
Read More »Suffer the children: Some changes at Children’s Authority but protection challenges remain
Will the recently announced Board of Management of the Children’s Authority be able to rise to the challenge of resolving the many problems that have plagued the organisation over its two years of operation? SHEILA RAMPERSAD concludes her investigation into whether the Authority is fulfilling its promise. Among the Authority’s …
Read More »Lifeline gets new TSTT toll-free number; NGO still desperate for financial aid
Lifeline, a 24-hour hotline for persons suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide and violence, have a new toll-free number to dial after TSTT stepped in to help the 40-year old non-governmental organisation. The toll-free number is 800-5588. The TSTT service came online today and is a boon for Lifeline who, …
Read More »Hijabbing still?! Liburd looks at Baldeosingh, religion, the Guardian and the hijab
In the year of our Lord 2017, when we routinely hand money to indiscernible faces behind tinted windows—at places ranging from the gas station to a government office—spend thousands in online transactions with no personal interaction whatsoever or troubleshoot complex issues over the phone with people we will never meet; …
Read More »BPTT announces go-ahead for Angelin project, significant Savannah and Macadamia wells
BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC today announced the sanction for the development of its Angelin offshore gas project. The project, according to a BPTT media statement, will feature the construction of a new platform—bpTT’s 15th offshore production facility—60 kilometres off the south-east coast of Trinidad in water-depth of approximately 65 …
Read More »Hijabonomics explained: Baldeosingh responds to column that saw him axed by Guardian
“The entire column makes the point that, rather than being a symbol of repression, Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab do so for cogent and rational reasons. It appears that Mr Umar Abdullah either does not understand this, or is pretending to not understand it.” The following is …
Read More »Fire Baldeosingh immediately! Islamic Front responds to Guardian’s controversial hijab column
“Kevin Baldeosingh has crossed the line to suggest such, and enough is enough! We are calling for his immediate dismissal. “If this is not done Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) together with the entire Muslim Community of Trinidad and Tobago will have no reason but to believe Guardian Media Limited …
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