“In the way of the world, things happen. As one writer previously wrote, ‘there is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face…” Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, Express, 5 July 2024. The preening, self-important Minister Hinds evidently did not recognise that he was quoting Macbeth and …
Read More »Daly Bread: Is T&T’s National Security Council part of the solution, or the problem?
The Roman Emperor, Nero, is said to have fiddled while Rome burned. His alleged conduct passed into common parlance to mean “not dealing with a difficult or dangerous situation but instead doing useless things or pretending nothing is wrong”. In our current situation, fiddling with runaway violent crime includes the …
Read More »Where is Fitzgerald Hinds? Star T&T U-17 footballer misses flight due to “unavailable” Minister
After two weeks in Trinidad waiting for the green light to join his soon-to-be international teammates, 17-year-old England-born footballer Rio Cardines thought he finally got the breakthrough to represent the country of his grandfather, Patrick Cardines. All he needed was a signature from Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds that …
Read More »Dear Editor: How to stop crime: overhaul criminal justice system and beef up death penalty
“[…] We should seek to establish an advisory committee comprising of eminent jurists and law enforcement officials from some [foreign] jurisdictions (possibly a five-member panel) to undertake a comprehensive review of our existing laws and other measures/practices in our criminal justice system. “[…] Accordingly, all crimes related to the illegal importation …
Read More »Daly Bread: Our enduring epidemic of denial as violent crime ravages T&T
I am frequently drawn by the direct and uninhibited language of fellow Trinidad Express columnist Joanne Paul. In her commentary last Monday, Dr Paul treated with our massive diabetes problem. Interestingly, from my perspective, she came to the conclusion that it was time to acknowledge the truth. ‘Things are …
Read More »Noble: CoP’s upgraded ‘Cockroaches’ philosophy arms the ‘well off’; the rest of us are mere targets
Trinidad and Tobago did not buy ‘cat in bag’ when we hired Mr Gary Griffith. We knew full well what to expect. In October 2015, then Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon reported on his predecessor’s bid to purchase armoured vehicles for the police service: ‘Unknown to the PS and …
Read More »Francis named high commissioner to S/Africa, Dillon is ambassador to Venezuela
Two former ministers were on Tuesday presented with their Instruments of Appointment to serve at Trinidad and Tobago’s overseas missions. They were among a group of five new heads of mission who received their credentials from Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Senator the Honourable Dr Amery Browne. Lovell Francis, …
Read More »Noble: Calling (out) the Police; why questions linger on Commissioner’s Cup, ISOS and Bad Wolf Sport
In 2016, our country was the western world’s highest per capita supplier of recruits for the ISIS campaign in the Middle East. We are among the world’s most violent nations, with an average annual murder rate of 32.9 per 100,000 inhabitants(from 2009–2018). Refugees and trafficking complicate our lives. These trends …
Read More »Daly Bread: Limiting persuasive reach and blame to share around on our worrying future
It is clear now that the pandemic began to get the better of us in March and April and succeeded in surging to almost overwhelming proportions in the just concluded month of May. Although prematurely boastful, we appeared to have done well in restraining the advance of the pandemic for …
Read More »Jackassery aside; is T&T being served during the pandemic? Do we deserve to be?
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called a state of emergency yesterday afternoon based on the health catastrophe that is the Covid-19 pandemic. The people who were not at his side to explain how we arrived at that momentous decision and what comes next were: the chief medical officer, the attorney …
Read More »Dr Rowley: Traffickers, imps and do-gooders criminally liable for illegal Venezuelan migrants!
“[…] We advise all, including local do-gooders and the international press and agencies, to cease and desist from encouraging and exposing ordinary Venezuelans to risk their lives in the waters between our two nations. “It might appear to some to be a short journey but these waters are very dangerous…” …
Read More »Demming: Government repeating mistakes with procurement
I grew up hearing an anecdote that the late former member of parliament for Diego Martin West, Johnny O’Halloran, and a contingent went to Venezuela to negotiate the purchase of a boat, and the only member of the contingent who could translate Spanish into English was the cook. So, the …
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