“[…] I saw recently, via our local news media, the paintings done by some of our prisoners, and I was, indeed, very impressed by what I saw. “[…] The display of the paintings done by our prisoners at the Independence art exhibition would go a long way towards giving effect …
Read More »Daly Bread: The context of fiery protests—often misunderstood and misinterpreted
Before examining the context of our fiery protests, let us first turn to some events abroad that are relevant to the use and abuse of power. “For now, each party’s biggest strength is the weakness of the opponent.” Does this statement resonate? It is in fact a conclusion drawn last …
Read More »Noble: Wicked problems, imagination and Laventille—understanding the “deficit discourse”
Many of us remember pivotal periods that form our life’s perspective. For me, it was the late 60’s and early 70’s. I was a child in the Oval on 30 August 1962 when Dr Eric Williams inspired us, schoolchildren, by telling us that our future was in our schoolbags. I …
Read More »Dr Shaka Hislop: “We must be intentional in how we want to shape this world”
“[…] Those who benefit most from the inequalities of racism and supremacy that we continue to live in today are, in Dr Martin Luther King’s words, more efficient and effective with the limited time that they are afforded. “That leaves us—who are progressive, who dream of a better world—with the …
Read More »Thompson: “He knew every inch of Territory QRC”—a man called Patrick White
I woke up one morning a few weeks ago to news that dulled the effulgence of the light that usually comes over a city like Madrid in early June. A message from my brother that Patrick White had died. “At school when we were all students it seemed normal,” my …
Read More »MATT offers condolences to families of Anthony Harris and Joel Nanton
“[…] Anthony Harris was a well-known and universally appreciated sports photographer who covered events with distinction across more than three decades for Guardian Media. “He was mortally injured when a vehicle struck him while riding around the Queen’s Park Savannah. The driver did not stop…” The following is a statement …
Read More »Farewell Joel Nanton, I have never met a better person
Joel Nanton, the chair of the Department of Journalism and Media at COSTAATT, passed away yesterday at the age of 47—after a three-year battle with illness. Wired868 joins the rest of the media community in expressing condolences to his wife, Hollene, and their three children, as well as to his family …
Read More »Daly Bread: Compromising due process of law is potential catalyst for wider social unrest
Public trust and confidence in the capacity of our country’s institutions and high offices to make full disclosure and to observe due process of law has again been shaken. Compromising due process is a potential catalyst for wider social unrest because of the way in which the authorities manipulate the …
Read More »Noble: The Pimping of East Port of Spain; how T&T abused “Eastmoorings” for decades
Our national anthem urges us to have “boundless faith in our destiny”. It affirms that “here every creed and race find an equal place” and “may God bless our Nation”. Do these lofty words meet reality? Do these words apply to the people of Laventille, or are they to be …
Read More »Daly Bread: Dividing the bread; PEA asks right questions on rising prices
The earthy language of Phillip Alexander may make his commentaries unattractive to some people. It is useful however that he repeatedly sticks it to the establishment, revealing a far better understanding of socio-economic reality than many of our rulers—even though he might not get many votes at the ballot box. …
Read More »Noble: The best gov’t money can buy—how “tenderpreneurs” hijack the national interest
Mark Twain is credited with the saying: “We have the best government that money can buy.” Locally, we have not been shy about accepting money from unaccountable sources. Our non-existent rules about political campaign rules enable greedy political investors to corrupt our nation and destroy trust. As Chinua Achebe observed …
Read More »Daly Bread: A rationale for accountability; our governments persistently fail to “level with us”
All of last week there was intense focus on whether, in the words of one editorial writer, the Attorney General “told an untruth in a sworn affidavit in the Miami court”. All three daily newspapers in the course of the week contained editorials severely critical of the Attorney General (the …
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