“How much for the vehicle yuh driving?” This question was one amongst the torrent of words thrown at Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al-Rawi (demoted from attorney general) in the course of a walking tour in Bamboo No 2. …
Read More »Dear Editor: Martin Daly SC should explain finer points of Vincent Nelson’s indemnity deal
“[…] I would also like Mr [Martin] Daly SC to explain, in his column, why he thinks that the DPP took the correct decision to discontinue, for the time being, the charges against Messrs Anand Ramlogan, SC, and Gerard Ramdeen—having regard to all the documentary and other information in the public domain, …
Read More »Dear Editor: Nelson legal quagmire started with Al-Rawi’s procedural error
“[…] The Vincent Nelson situation was not an intricate, and perplexing state of affairs nor was it complicated or difficult. From the very beginning, when Mr Nelson ‘outed’ others for an alleged legal fees kickback scheme, the former Attorney General ought to have frog-marched him out of his Chambers to the …
Read More »Noble: The common thread between Ramlogan and Al Rawi, and why T&T must fight back
The debacle that has engulfed the two former attorney-generals is illuminating. We have had a ringside seat to see how powerful men among us run their affairs. We understand clearly how little our daily pain factors into their calculations. We see how reckless they can be because of the lack …
Read More »Daly Bread: How Al Rawi’s machinations contributed to collapse of corruption case
One year ago I asked: “how are we holding Vincent Nelson, the disgraced British King’s Counsel to his bargain?” The bargain was a plea bargain made with the Director of Public Prosecutions (the DPP). Vincent Nelson pleaded guilty in a corruption case in which Anand Ramlogan SC, a former attorney …
Read More »Dear Editor: Faris should do what he’s paid to do—not indulge in PR gimmicks
“[…] Does it feel good to see a minister doing the hard work? Yes of course, but he is not paid to do that. “While this task is very necessary, he is paid to get it done—not do it himself. His time, which costs the taxpayers lots of money by the hour, …
Read More »Early Bird: Lyricsing in Parliament; how Rodney Charles’ Mia Mottley remark resurrected Explainer
“Have you seen the ad everybody on Facebook seems to be talking about?” “Yuh want to spoil my morning!” Bobby grumbled, making a long face behind his mask. “Too early to be talking about Facebook, bro! And anyway, I’m not on Facebook! “And I want to talk about serious business. …
Read More »Daly Bread: Connecting the dots; was Al-Rawi’s fall linked to Griffith’s?
Owing to pressures on my time, I was unable last Sunday to join in the commentary on the Prime Minister’s confession that he was the high official present at President’s House in August 2021. He was not there to meet the President, as he frequently does, but to meet …
Read More »Noble: The Public Service and norms—the case of the AG versus the CPC
God has a sense of humour. In 2017, Reginald Armour SC defended the Government in a Judicial Review case brought by a public servant seeking to establish the bounds of authority that the Prime Minister had on his ambassadorial posting. By 2019, in the Court of Appeal, he won with …
Read More »Missing the Faris for the trees? Mr Live Wire gets another political lecture from a mysterious man
(Scene: A dapper gentleman examines a humble lodging with notable admiration.) FAR: I love the more intimate office space, boss. I can get from one end to the next far quicker than at my last office, which is bound to make me even more less-dynamic. The decor is more than …
Read More »Demming: Govt’s failure to pass Beverage Container Bill reflects our environmental neglect
After 22 years of passing the buck, the government has failed to pass the Beverage Container Bill which was intended to provide a structure for the collection and safe disposal of beverage containers. Their collective incompetence has facilitated the degradation of our environment, the clogging of our waterways, and litter …
Read More »Kangalee: Dr Rowley’s bluff has failed, and he’s struggling to hold off dissent in his own party
“[…] Pushing his deadline back to 17 February in the hope that his under-fire Attorney General comes up with some legislative arrangement that could pass muster won’t change the price of coconut water. It gives the forces opposed to his policy more time to mobilise. “[…] Most importantly, though, …
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