One group: burning tyres, pieces of wood, cardboard—debris really—in protest against the conditions of roads that are impassable or collapsing; or the absence of water via taps or trucks; or maybe it’s a bridge gone, cutting them off; or a fallen tree yet to be cleared; or a downed electricity …
Read More »Noble: Who really cares? How shallow protests ignore chance for real change
‘Poor children are victims of circumstance/ In life they never really get a chance/Or have opportunities as privileged children do/ The road from the poor suburb to prison leads them/ From broken homes they are condemned to fail/ Their abusive and drug-addicted parents serving time in jail/ Their parents too …
Read More »Media Monitor—Pt 3: Class of 868; taking tired newspaper habits right down to the wire(d)
“Allyuh publishin anything now?” asked a sarcastic commenter on a recent Wired868 story. Wired868’s editor is not the person who spent two years performing autopsies on the two media dinosaurs in Port-of-Spain. But he is nonetheless acutely aware of the adage that enjoins entities to adapt or die. To the …
Read More »Dr Rowley: ‘The most efficient and viable solution for Tobago’; THA to get 15 districts
“In the forty year history of the Tobago House of Assembly, there has never been an even share of seats to respective political parties resulting in such a deadlocked election result in Tobago. “Further, given that the number of electoral districts is an even one there is the real possibility …
Read More »Demming: No nine-day wonder; Andrea Bharatt’s death must lead to action
February 21 will mark nine days after the burial of Andrea Bharatt, and it is likely that the marching, candlelight vigils and accusations of ‘shedding crocodile tears’ will no longer be at the forefront of our minds. We will retreat to the burglar-proofed boxes we call homes and cautiously peer …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s two-tongued on issue of violence and the women whose lives matter
“[…] Gender-based violence is often separated from the larger problem of violence that has pervaded this society. The violence is symptomatic of a country built and driven by bloodshed, which is then propped up by widespread corruption. “[…] If it is acceptable for the police to unlawfully assume the role …
Read More »Media Monitor 2: An Obscene Farce! St Vincent St, Independence Sq, Memory Lane and and Shit Street
“Nah, sir!” Two words, no more. But I know I heard controlled anger. I know I heard complete disbelief. “You mean you read (she used the present tense) that Sunday Guardian editorial,” she said, her voice almost breaking with the effort not to lose control, “and only see grammatical errors?” …
Read More »How Evidence (Amendment) Bill can transform TTPS by overhauling suspect interview process
Change is needed. Whether they are the right changes, fast changes or far enough changes, will always be a matter for debate. However, what is certain is that the criminal justice system needs reform. And while it may be convenient to ascribe blame on one component of this integral system, …
Read More »PCA investigate death of Andrea murder suspects, TTPS court absences and DSS arrest
The following press statement was issued by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA): The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has initiated investigations into three recent and serious allegations against the Trinidad and Tobago Police. 1. An investigation has begun into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, of Andrew Morris and Joel Belcon on …
Read More »Dear Editor: Death of Andrea murder suspects, while in TTPS custody, is cause for alarm
“[…] I understand the pain and anguish that the friends and relatives of the murdered girl, Andrea Bharatt, must feel. “[…] But we have the deaths of two men, whose fates have to be examined. In real life, vigilante justice is an incredibly slippery slope that we as a society should …
Read More »Dear Editor: The death penalty won’t make our women or girls safe
Once again, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) and the Greater Caribbean for Life (GCL) urge T&T’s government to focus on human development and crime prevention rather than expend time and energy in seeking to resume hanging. CCSJ and GCL are aware that passions are running high in T&T …
Read More »Media Monitor: Editor, editor where have you been? To London, not ‘Lester’, to see the queen
If you plan to be a journalist in voice or vision media at the BBC, be prepared to spend a full three months merely learning names. Important people, places, common foreign words and phrases and, of course, commonly mispronounced words like ‘epitome’ and ‘anemone’. One wonders if any such arrangements …
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