She might be a woman just hurting for her country. But the image of a tearful Minister of Trade Paula Gopee-Scoon pleading for loyalty to country in this time of recession, personifies the psychology of helplessness that poses additional risk to the economy. While reduced revenue could send an economy …
Read More »Destiny in our hands; How T&T can respond positively to falling oil prices
As a nation, we can do nothing about the plunging price of oil except watch with alarm as crude slides below US$30 a barrel. Even if we ramp up production, which has fallen by approximately 50 per cent over the past decade, it will make little sense. At this point, …
Read More »Standing in last chance saloon: Daly demands sensible approach to 2016
Once again I am unable, on the opening Sunday of a new year, to write in a positive mood, even though last year, 2015, was a fulfilling year for me, as I waded deeper into the very positive, but under resourced, world of arts and entertainment: assisting in getting St …
Read More »Keithos, Fazeer, Machel: Live Wire reads T&T’s New Year Temperature gauge
Scene: Office of the Minister of Satire. The phone rings. Mr Live Wire: Hello? Caller (singing): Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind… Live Wire: I hope you referring to Kamla. Caller: What? No my brother. Auld Lang Syne means to ‘times gone past’. I am calling …
Read More »Rambarran v PNM Gov’t exposes lie of Central Bank’s ‘independence’
Just when we most need our leaders to stand together and assume their joint responsibility for guiding T&T through the rough waters of an economic downturn, we get instead a fireworks display of cheap shots. Hostile relations between a Dr Keith Rowley-led Government and the Governor of the Central Bank …
Read More »Sunity: Tackling Health’s special interests is Dr Rowley’s biggest challenge
Within minutes of its appointment, a shot was fired across the bow of the new Health Care Delivery Review Committee reminding us, lest we had forgotten, of the trials of bringing change to the public health sector. In condemning Committee chairman Dr Winston Welch, former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan …
Read More »Boors will be boors: Raffique Shah wades in CHOGM controversy and fireworks furore
I address two issues of public importance today. First is the emerging controversy over this country’s attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting to be held in Malta next week. And second, I join the chorus of frustrated voices crying out for something to be done to curb …
Read More »Vasant makes Stacy his deputy, Mrs Bharath mute; Plus Maltese Falcon soars
Former Oropouche West MP Stacy Roopnarine has been announced as ex-Minister of Trade Vasant Bharath’s “Deputy” at the upcoming UNC internal elections on December 5. There has been no comment yet from Mrs Bharath although Mr Live Wire was unreliably informed that Nicole Dyer-Griffith phoned her to offer support and …
Read More »Barry, barra and other crap: Best on un-Parliamentary language
Say “Employer” to someone and (s)he expects soon to hear “Employee.” And ditto if you reverse the order. So I wasn’t really surprised when Wired868 stopped talking about “Barra” and started talking about “Barry.” But I stopped reading Monday’s Express story about the MP for Princes Town with the first …
Read More »Mind-boggling squandermania: But Rowley must loose lions on culprits
If a mere ten percent of the sums of money quoted by almost every new PNM minister as having gone to waste or astray under the previous government is factual, then at least a billion dollars was squandered or stolen during the tenure of the People’s Partnership. If the …
Read More »Fixin T&T: Rowley must remove Malcolm Jones from Energy Committee
Civic watchdog group, Fixin’ T&T, has called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to remove former Petrotrin executive chairman Malcolm Jones from his new portfolio as member of a Standing Committee for the Ministry of Energy. The following is the full press release from Fixin’ T&T: FIXIN’ T&T calls on …
Read More »Signs of the times, Kamla’s minority report and Jack lectures teachers
On Friday afternoon, John “Amigo” Matthews, 54, was walking along the Eastern Main Road in Barataria when a sign for The Gate Church fell and immediately took him to meet his Maker. An eyewitness said it was nobody’s fault but rather a tragic accident prompted by high winds. Yet, Mr …
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