“[…] The crime situation is very terrible. Being a parent, I do not believe in condoning wrong things. It’s really sad that these things happening in Mayaro now. Mayaro is coming like a little Laventille…” Mayaro resident. Express, 24 January 2023. The resident was referencing the slaying of three youths …
Read More »Noble: What the police cannot do—how to address T&T’s angry climate
We, as a nation, are perched at the point of tipping into anarchy, but all is not yet lost. The choice is ours to make. There is no magic bullet or pill to take away our pain. Only a sense of determination, commitment, and a clear vision will drag us …
Read More »Daly Bread: Why create new violent crime committee while Ryan and Watkins reports gather dust?
The Prime Minister has previously made casual references to violent crime being a public health issue. However, on Monday last, he stated that his “Government’s intention was to develop a national plan of action that would be driven by a public health approach [which] would involve the defining of the …
Read More »Noble: Wicked problems, imagination and Laventille—understanding the “deficit discourse”
Many of us remember pivotal periods that form our life’s perspective. For me, it was the late 60’s and early 70’s. I was a child in the Oval on 30 August 1962 when Dr Eric Williams inspired us, schoolchildren, by telling us that our future was in our schoolbags. I …
Read More »Noble: The Pimping of East Port of Spain; how T&T abused “Eastmoorings” for decades
Our national anthem urges us to have “boundless faith in our destiny”. It affirms that “here every creed and race find an equal place” and “may God bless our Nation”. Do these lofty words meet reality? Do these words apply to the people of Laventille, or are they to be …
Read More »Noble: We, the greedy people; how we deprive young entrepreneurs and destroy communities
This week’s blackout taught us a great lesson: the street windscreen wiper boys at the West Mall traffic lights are human! Not only are they human and not freaks intent on mischief, but they are also brave entrepreneurs. Who would have thought? When anxiety levels were rising, they, who reportedly live …
Read More »Flashback: Guerra to the world; John John starlet’s mission to rise above violent background
The following article, written by Lasana Liburd, was first published in the Trinidad Express newspaper on 8 November 2007: “I could be the best player in the world,” said 19-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Ataulla Guerra. “All I have to do is stay honest and truthful to myself …
Read More »Flashback: Ghetto fabulous; re-introducing 2006 T&T star Aurtis Otis Seaton-Whitley
The following article was first published in the Trinidad Express on 27 October 2005 and written by Lasana Liburd: Otis Seaton was hired by Don Leo Beenhakker as the muscle. The Trinidad and Tobago national football team coach needed a player with the energy and courage to protect his back …
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 »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 »‘A good soul who wouldn’t hurt a fly!’ Football mourns murder of Prisons star Nathan Julien
Prison Service FC forward Nathan Julien was murdered last night during a drive-by shooting in Maloney. He was 28 years old. Unconfirmed reports suggest that two others were injured during the gun fire. A gifted player, Julien was comfortable playing on either flank or upfront and was the Trinidad and …
Read More »Daly Bread: Is Kamla preparing to be ‘martyred loser’? Did Cabinet ignore Laventille MPs?
My principal but probably vain hope for the general election, to be held on 10 August, is that it will not polarise the country further. Realistically, one cannot hope for more and it is mamaguy to feed us dreams of unity and overcoming while our leaders are likely to engage …
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