The ‘Marlene Affair’ raises important issues about the fate of our women. Progress, as measured by the number of women in leadership, does not tell the whole story. Last week, three women—Marlene McDonald, Christine ‘Twiggy’ Livia and Joan Yuille-Williams—were in the courthouse precincts, a place where many mothers frequent because …
Read More »Daly Bread: Delusions, deceivers and duds; how ‘Marlene mess’ exposes long-standing state deficiencies
Events that rock us into further consternation about the state of our country and whether ‘we gone through’ are occurring with increasing frequency. Sadly, the responses of our rulers are superficial. The event that dominated the news cycle last week was the arrest of Marlene McDonald on significant fraud charges …
Read More »Rowley strips Marlene of PNM deputy political leader post; corrupt acts allegedly continued during IC investigation
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has stripped Marlene McDonald of her position as Deputy Political Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), after a statement to that effect was posted on his Facebook page. The brief statement read: “As the Political Leader of the People’s National Movement, I have today …
Read More »Marlene muddle in their words: Does buck stop with Rowley? Or Integrity Commission?
On 23 December 2013, the Integrity Commission, then chaired by Ken Gordon, cleared POS South MP Marlene McDonald of ‘any breaches of the Integrity in Public Life Act (ILPA)’. The letter did not specify what issues were brought before the IC. McDonald had been publicly accused of using her influence as …
Read More »Rowley assumes Marlene’s portfolio; as Simonette appointment ‘cancelled in light of new information’
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has assumed the portfolio of Minister of Public Administration, after Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald was fired from the Cabinet for a third time this morning. The Ministry of Communications initially stated that Senator Garvin Simonette, an attorney by profession, would be sworn-in …
Read More »Marlene hogs headlines again; Mr Live Wire gets ‘word on the street’ on the arrested MP
The big story today is, yet again, Marlene McDonald, the Port of Spain South MP who was once fired between the swearing-in ceremony and her first day of work—after taking Cedric ‘Gangsta Smurf’ Burke into President’s House. Since then, Burkie’s career soared as he became Trinidad and Tobago’s most beloved …
Read More »TTPS confirms McDonald detained in corruption investigation, Gov’t tightlipped on PNM deputy political leader
Minister of Communications Donna Cox confirmed this afternoon that her Cabinet colleague and Member of Parliament Marlene McDonald is now under police investigation but did not divulge whether internal action might be underway. A Loop T&T report this morning, which quoted an unnamed ‘senior police officer’, stated that McDonald and …
Read More »Come to work! Marlene warns workers to ignore “irrational and irresponsible” union leaders
“The Minister [Marlene Mc Donald] wishes to discourage citizens from taking such irresponsible and injudicious action and in particular to remind Public Service employees that, as a rule, persons employed in the essential services are prohibited from withholding their services whether or not in sympathy with institutions in which they …
Read More »Hide and seek! Rowley moves ‘Sleazy Smith’ to Housing Ministry in sordid Cabinet reshuffle
First, the good news. New Commonwealth Games gold medalist Michelle-Lee Ahye will not be told—in a fierce, sleazy whisper—how good her pants looks on her, when she meets the Sport Minister in the Piarco International Airport’s VIP Lounge, later this week. The bad news? Well, single mothers on the market …
Read More »Who ordered a “Big Mac” in Lent?! “Rottweiler” tries to steal the spotlight from the “Black Panther”
If Marlene McDonald is Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s answer, then what the hell is the question? On Thursday 1 March, Keithos made a surprise move to steal the spotlight from the “Black Panther” as he announced his endorsement of Marlene III—despite the fact that Marlene I was about as …
Read More »Marlene is back! PM appoints McDonald in Ministry of Public Admin and Communications
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has appointed controversial Port-of-Spain South MP Marlene McDonald as Minister in the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications. McDonald, the PNM’s deputy political leader, was already twice given a ministerial portfolio under the current administration and was fired on both occasions. She was sacked as …
Read More »Congratulate Rowley?! It’s his fault! Fixin’ T&T slams PM on Marlene fiasco and gov’t weaknesses
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is still being commended by some for taking decisive action in firing Ms Marlene McDonald for a second time. If Dr Rowley had any appreciation for the philosophy that “politicians serve their party best when they put their country first”, Ms McDonald would not have …
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