“[…] This feeling of always being uneducated influenced me when I became prime minister. There were always about 6,000 children thrown on the social dump heap because they failed their Common Entrance exam. “I realised the Common Entrance was not to determine who went to school but who wouldn’t… If …
Read More »Vaneisa: Branding and brainwashing—the good, the bad and the ugly of advertising
What is a Crixism? That was the latest campaign for Crix, regional stalwart for a hundred years, according to its manufacturers, Bermudez Biscuit Company. In its first appearance, it was simply called salt biscuits. I remember my paternal grandfather, who squatted on the chair that was part of a beautifully …
Read More »Dear Editor: Despite “Santa Clausing”, Panday’s legacy is same as other PMs
“[…] Yes, Basdeo Panday was much kinder to certain individuals and organisations than PNM ever was or will be, but the political and economic status quo remained while he played golf with the elites. “[…] What is the legacy of Panday? The same as those before him. Dr Eric Williams, …
Read More »Daly Bread: Criminals ducking the lack of political will
A New Year traditionally renews feelings of hope. Realism may dash hope so commentators feel pressured not to write gloomily during the Christmas/New Year season. My first column of last year invited a re-imagining of the possibilities of sustainable co-operation within communities. I had been departing from the subject of …
Read More »Noble: Massy’s 9-Day Wonder—can a company’s chief lawyer be a whistleblower?
“When you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or die. There is no middle ground.” Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones, season one, episode seven. At the annual general meeting (AGM) celebrating Massy’s 100th anniversary, an employee used her shareholding rights to disrupt the commemoration. Two days later, the …
Read More »Dear Editor: To Basdeo “Silver Fox” Panday—his positives outweigh the negatives
Trade unionist, actor, attorney at law, politician and Trinbagonian legend, Basdeo Panday has passed. He was well known for his silvery-white hair, charisma and sharp wit and was someone many loved to hate politically and ideologically for his style of leadership over the years—his outspokenness and his skilful use of …
Read More »Orin: Parisot-Potter vs Massy; why I’m inspired yet unconvinced by tales of bizarre rituals
“[…] It’s not hard to see where (ex-Massy Holdings general counsel) Angélique Parisot-Potter is coming from. She considers the training to be waste-of-money mumbo jumbo. “Delphi Sphere can counter that it has a strong client portfolio. Its website lists Ernst & Young, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, British Gas and McKinsey. …
Read More »Dr Gopeesingh: Panday was a trailblazer and probably T&T’s greatest patriot
“[…] Basdeo Panday’s life itself is a story of incredible greatness and inspirational heroism—a poor, rural, Indo-Trinidadian boy, consigned to social and economic marginalization, defying and overcoming every single obstacle, to study law in the UK and then become one of T&T’s greatest trade unionists, politicians, prime ministers, and perhaps …
Read More »“You must want to help people…” Day in the life of a firefighter
“[…] I like helping people. When I help you, and you know, you see the joy on people’s faces. I’m like: ‘I saved them. I saved somebody. I had my part to play in that.’ That is my joy—just being a helping hand…” Wired868 highlights the day-to-day lives of everyday …
Read More »Noble: God is mindful of the humble but scatters the proud
Ancestry © is possibly the most extensive software package that helps us to develop our family tree. Knowing your family history enables you to appreciate your identity. The story of Jesus in the New Testament begins with a family tree. In a strange twist, the genealogy by which Matthew attempts …
Read More »Daly Bread: Illuminating the achievements of pan music
As previewed last Sunday, Pantopia is a steelband musical inspired by the music of Ray Holman, scheduled for performance in April next year. I describe this week the strong historical context that should impel support for Pantopia. The historical context includes the insertion into the Trinidad Music Festival of competitive …
Read More »Noble: Sojourner’s truth: Ain’t I a Woman?
At the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, a former enslaved woman, Sojourner Truth, delivered a famous speech. The contents of the actual speech have been contested, with mainly two versions still reported. The more popular version is called “Ain’t I a Woman”. That one has the narrative written …
Read More »