“[…] Five male Presidents later, the next President of Trinidad and Tobago should be a woman. Such an appointment would be a significant indicator of gender equality and an expression of the democratic value of inclusion. “We should widen the scope of persons to be considered and Trinidad and Tobago …
Read More »NOT CONDEMNING: The PNM and UNC have failed on crime and sexual harassment; but we are also culpable
If ever there was an under-performing country, it is Trinidad and Tobago. We have under-performed in every area of development and the PNM and the UNC are equally responsible. Both parties have demonstrated an astounding reluctance to collaborate. Even on the occasion of the achievement of Independence, so great was …
Read More »NOT CONDEMNING… Do the PM and the GoRTT see men as more equal than women?
When there is no law against sexual harassment, those engaged in such activities are in fact fully protected to continue their wrongdoing. This is the stark reality in Trinidad and Tobago today. There are few policies and no legislation to provide redress to the victims of sexual harassment. Harassers can …
Read More »Discussion: Does Rowley’s offer of drinks to Faine merit a national conversation?
In a recent TV6 interview entitled “All Things Considered” and meant to be a mid-term review of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s administration, there was a brief exchange between the Prime Minister and reporter Faine Richards. Faine Richards: Prime Minister, I’d like to move the conversation to a more social climate; …
Read More »Demming: Give us our dignity! PM must prove women are equal and act now at Angostura
“This cry for action is not new. Recall ‘Die with my Dignity’ by Singing Sandra. She was singing about sexual harassment in its worst form, yet, as a society, we did nothing. We took no action.” The following letter to the Editor which calls for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to take …
Read More »Do churches condone domestic violence? Can Christian spouses continue to turn the other cheek?
“In conversations with a couple of Christian girlfriends about my situation, I discovered that their Christian husbands were also physically and emotionally abusive. And in October of this year, I met another young woman at a Christmas event who admitted that her Christian husband was also guilty of abuse but …
Read More »Daly Bread: The self-esteem crisis; why our “passes factory” schools are not helping
For many years I have described the low self-esteem plaguing many of our youngsters and its relationship to violent crime and anti-social behaviour. The now widespread fighting in schools is a related phenomenon. Much of my personal knowledge of the self-esteem crisis comes directly from dialogue with some youngsters to …
Read More »Letter to Editor: We can alter our attitude towards women at home
“Now, when these men are “old and strong” and the society is reaping the results of generations of domestic and communal dysfunction on a large scale, we are conveniently pointing accusatory fingers at a veritable forest of old, hard, crooked trees that we as a national collective did nothing to …
Read More »Letter to Editor: Men and women should stop the blame game and work together
“It is my firm belief that until we find a way to make an intervention in the homes, and until the overwhelming majority of Trinbagonian homes are wholesome, functional, nurturing places for children, we are engaging in mass self-deceit if we believe anything will change significantly anytime in the future.” …
Read More »Murder at MovieTowne: Why two T&T Prime Ministers got their responses very wrong
The recent murder in MovieTowne is the second to take place at that location. It has had several reverberations, which are as great as those that accompanied the first one, fourteen years ago. On both occasions our Prime Ministers made insensitive remarks in the aftermath of the murder. On the …
Read More »Letter to Editor: Let’s talk sex, child marriage and T&T’s sexually charged society
“The current debate on child marriages has been a morose, crass exchange of rebuttals over the right to grant the child the opportunity to marry or not marry along a subjective morally defined age range—vis a vis a grant of the right to let them know when to lust, love …
Read More »Big Talk from the Birdie: Best looks at Sparrow’s bravado, conquests and fragile masculinity
“Not a woman ever complain yet with me. Ah eh boastin’ but ah know ah got true ability/durability. And if a woman ever say that I ever leave her dissatisfy, she lie, she lie, she lie, she blasted lie.” And there is a fairly long list of women who may …
Read More »