“[…] As the calypsonian Luta said: ‘the system works for the rich, it holds no hope for the poor’. So miss we with talk about ‘bulwark of democracy’, ‘separation of powers’ and ‘sanctity of the process’. “[…] Are we to expect the Customs, Immigration, Police and parliamentarians to follow the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Khan calling for the death penalty is engaging in doublethink
“[…] Mr Khan must know of the hundreds of people missing and presumed dead in T&T. Those are counted by the population as homicides. No perpetrators have been found. The hangman’s noose swings empty and idle. “… Mr Khan must know that in the finding of guilt, the criminal justice …
Read More »Dear Editor: Restricting suspects’ rights restricts your own rights too
‘[…] Those baying for blood are the very ones who do not recognise that abrogating the rights of suspects would also restrict their own rights. And that anyone can be arrested, or even be accused falsely—Andrew Morris and Joel Belcon are just the latest on a list numbering in the …
Read More »The Sedition Ruling: Dr Crowne offers in-depth analysis on High Court decision
On Monday Justice Frank Seepersad declared sections 3 and 4 of the Sedition Act null and void (Vijay Maharaj and Central Broadcasting Services Limited v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, CV2019-02271—the ‘Sat Maharaj’ decision). The AG has since indicated that the state will appeal the decision. In this article, …
Read More »Selection and Eligibility: Sport attorney offers best practice tips for NSOs
The Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games are over and congratulations are in order to the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Team, their coaches, and administrators for a job well done and special congrats to my client Cleopatra Borel Baptiste. This is why, and due to current happenings in our sporting governance, …
Read More »Living Law: Do you really know what your rights are? The link between the law and what we say and do
What is a right? Rights are such a fundamental thing; everybody has them and governments and courts and other powers-that-be are constrained to respect them. It certainly is not unusual to hear people declare vehemently, “That is my right!” Also commonplace is “I have the right to [insert comment of …
Read More »Living Law: Should Moreau have sued Minister Smith instead of Smith’s Ministry?
Carrie-Ann Moreau, who claimed to have been sexually harassed by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, did not sue Smith but sued the State (the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Chief Personnel Officer) for TT$234,360. Similarly, Bernadette Sammy, who claimed to have been sexually harassed …
Read More »Living Law: The paradox of the ‘rule of law’ and why no one quite gets it right
The idea of the rule of law is very old; it has been traced way back to the time of Aristotle (384 – 322 BC), who wrote that it was “better for the law to rule than one of the citizens […] so that even the guardians of the law …
Read More »Dear Editor: How to avoid successful challenges to sport decisions: fairness and transparency
“To begin, no formal disciplinary hearing should be arranged until the matter has been investigated. Investigations must be undertaken in an open and transparent manner by persons appropriately skilled and trained in investigating such matters. “The question of whether there is any substance to the claim must be answered and …
Read More »Dear Editor: CARICOM, community, law and the PM’s invitation to Dominicans
“The public consternation caused by the Government’s decision also calls our value system into question. As all Caribbean people can attest, anywhere you travel in the world, you are guaranteed lodging in the home of some friend or family. Hospitality is as Caribbean as sun, sea and sand. “Furthermore, for …
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