View Point

“[…] I’m a slave from a land so far/ I was caught/ And I was brought here from Africa…/ I’m a slaaaave from a land so far/ I was caught/And I was brought here from Africa/ “Ah toil, ah toil/ Ah toil, ah toil/ So haaaard each day…/ I’mm dying…/ …

“[…] I am saddened by those among us who cannot restrain ourselves from spewing bitter bile at this moment of great tragedy. “[…] Is there not a John McCain—the Republican presidential candidate who defended Barack Obama as a decent person—among us? No holding back the vile trolls on the Facebook …

“[…] I first met Lisa many years ago when she was a young teacher, full of enthusiasm and an unwavering passion for serving others. Even then, she radiated a bright light that inspired everyone she encountered. “Her journey from the classroom to the corridors of public service was a natural …

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has put his political leadership of the People’s National Movement (PNM) into play, but he did so by ambiguous remarks in the House of Representatives (the House). As a consequence, there have been all kinds of rumblings. Moreover, we are still awaiting “the further positions” …

“[…] Sometimes I drive to work, sometimes I travel. I have to always keep praying because, honestly, not every day I would feel like going. I have to keep talking to myself and say: ‘This is not for you; this is for the patients. They need help and you have …

“[…] This development raises once again the need for constitutional reform to put the necessary mechanisms in place to prevent issues like these from raising their heads and creating doubt in the minds of ordinary citizens about whether decisions being made are really honourable. “Surely, recommendations for your own salary …

Contemporaneously with critical commentaries, the Prime Minister last Sunday attempted certain deflections of the Government’s decision—despite the parlous state of our finances—to accept for its members the hefty salary increases and backpay, which the Salaries Review Commission recommended (the SRC increases). However, it is reasonable to hold this Government accountable …

The next general election at its latest is now one year away. It should be incumbent on the contesting parties to tell us how they will manage the economy so that the country will keep its head above water financially. Cutting government expenditure is one way, but that immediately raises …

“[…] The Cabinet has adopted the same arguments advanced by trade unionists in support of their claims for hefty increases in the remuneration packages of their members. “The SRC surveyed the local, regional and international environment and discovered that the remuneration packages of those under its purview were wholly inadequate …

“[…] A glaring example of this disconnect is the Government’s approach to wage negotiations. While public servants are offered a mere 5% salary increase for 2020–2022—a proposal so meager it was sent to the Industrial Court—the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) has recommended massive raises for top officials. “[…] These increases, …

In August this year, I expressed concern that our country might go broke. A month before, commentators had been calling for an explanation of a withdrawal of TT$1.09 billion from the Heritage and Stabilisation fund. Accountability for the nation’s assets seemed to require specific identification of what aspect of public …

Another big pappy resigned last week but of course that was in foreign. As with lame duck US President Joe Biden, that big pappy too was pushed from within. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who was the leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, had to resign because an investigation …