“[…] The T&T constitution is defective in one important respect. Too much power of nomination and appointment resides in the premiership and presidency; and therein lies suspicions of cronyism. “The Constitution effectively leaves the lid of the cookie jar unsecured. It then seems to operate on the expectation that those …
Read More »Demming: 23% of T&T supports government; but here’s how to increase participation
I can blame Covid-19 for feeling stuck, but that would not be entirely honest. That feeling of ‘stuck-ness’ has been happening for a while and Covid-19 has only made it more intense. My observation of Parliament, via the Parliament Channel, often evokes the thought that I have heard this before; …
Read More »Stealth and craftiness at play! Dumas, Daly slam attack on FOIA and proposed pension spike
“Why is a Government which says it is committed to transparency proposing to make it more difficult for citizens to access information from official sources? “[…] [And] why, at a time of economic belt-tightening and obviously rising unemployment—whatever the official pronouncements on that issue—does the government consider it a good …
Read More »Vidale: How legislation preserved Plantation society’s status quo; why emancipation hinges on labour struggle
In the first part of this discourse I attempted to argue that Emancipation as an event failed to meet the expectations of the African who were freed. But more than that, I posit that a concerted effort was made to ensure that changes to the essence of the society’s power …
Read More »Despite popular belief, there’s no ‘F’ in democracy; why T&T has only known maximum leadership
I must give credit to Kyle Skeeto Amos for the headline of this piece. His contemplation on the nature of our democracy is nothing short of brilliant. That said, I want to use another story, the one about the hikers and the lion, to perhaps identify why there is no …
Read More »Forex 101: Dr Farrell explains foreign exchange market and Central Bank’s role
“No minister or prime minister can cause the DPP to prosecute or discontinue a prosecution… No minister or prime minister can instruct the Commissioner of Police to arrest anyone. These offices, which are part of the Executive arm, have their independence explicitly protected in the Constitution as is the Judiciary …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s only hope is to abandon neo-colonial system left by pirates and sea dogs
“Because we are too spineless in the face of our failed colonial realities, we must now live in fear of a generation that will have theirs: by any means necessary. “They cannot be blamed, for it is we who failed to confront the new pirates head-on, so that generations to …
Read More »Mystifying dead-ends to reform: Sunity explains why the people must seize reins
Of all the plans being promoted by the Dr Keith Rowley administration, local government reform offers the greatest potential for revolutionary political change through decentralisation of power. But we would be a very naïve people indeed if we were to ignore the record and underestimate the great risk of it …
Read More »Politics With Honour; Sunity explains how to replace the PP with People’s Power
So the Extempo King has fallen victim to the extempo politics of an extempo party—and he’s vex? Really? Winston “Gypsy” Peters should know that he can’t play mas and ‘fraid powder. He has been lucky to enjoy five years on the biggest extempo stage in the land and now that …
Read More »Into the blogosphere: Wired868’s most read blogs of 2014
Brian Lara versus Sachin Tendulkar, the secret thoughts of a cussbud Minister, an internationally recognised community football coach in Chaguanas and constitutional reform debate were all among our best read posts for 2014. Here is our Top Ten list: 10. Cricket’s ‘Greatest’ debate: Santa Cruz statistician Franklyn “Uncle Frank” Hernandez …
Read More »An offbeat look at: Crime, Church, CEPEP and Christmas
Wired868 abandons satire in this series to go straight for the forehead: Call me Ishmael. The name my mother gave me not too good at the moment; so is best to use this one to get a Government cheque. I work CEPEP, or 10-days as allyuh like to call it. …
Read More »Independents shame Senate in controversial bill debate
Columnist Earl Best watched the end of the Constitution Amendment Bill debate in the Senate on television and was not amused: The government of the day—and of the night, Section 34 has taught us—is sleeping the sleep of the just; confident that a substantial part of the battle for post-election …
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