Scene: Office of the Prime Minister. Dr Keithos convenes an urgent meeting to tackle the murder rate, which has climbed, risen and worsened but not spiked. Keithos: (Speaking softly to Energy Minister Nicole Ollivierre) So, Nicole, how is it going so far? Nikki: (Beaming) Good day, Prime Minister. It is …
Read More »Remedies for a murderous land: Innovative solutions needed, not the death penalty
We had a successful launch of The Daly Commentaries. There is a Facebook page bearing that name. In the words of the editor, Judy Raymond, these columns “share the sweetness as well as the adversities of life in this simultaneously frustrating and glorious little country.” Her words are apt at …
Read More »Chickens coming home to roost: Millette’s murder must be a tipping point
In 1963, Malcolm X referred to the assassination of President John F Kennedy as a case of “chickens coming home to roost.” He had made this statement in response to a question after a speech delivered in December of the same year. He was suggesting that the failure of the …
Read More »Man murdered by Perfect Hideout; Live Wire investigates shocking crime wave
Trinidad and Tobago is now officially in a crime wave. And, unfortunately, the criminals are not waving “bye, bye.” This week, Shawn Joseph, a construction worker, was murdered at “The Perfect Hideout”, which begs the question as to exactly where is safe these days. Joseph, according to the Trinidad Guardian, …
Read More »Sick of violence? Solomon seeks cure for T&T’s epidemic
Violence in Trinidad and Tobago is endemic. It pervades the pages of daily newspapers; it generates local content and attracts advertising income. We routinely talk about it, laugh about it and even contemplate it. It is hard to determine when or why, but we have allowed brutality to become our …
Read More »Photographer’s rough close-up; wheelchair man outruns police
Alleged drug trafficker Matthew Soo-Chan was so irate at having his picture taken on his exit from the Tunapuna Magistrate’s Court yesterday that he physically lashed out at Newsday photographer Angelo Marcelle. So much for marijuana being a harmless and jolly, recreational drug. Soo-Chan must have been on that stuff …
Read More »Johnny-be-good: Superintendent oversees five slayings in one week
Finally, Trinidad and Tobago is getting the police service it wants and deserves. Whether it is the police service that the country needs is another question entirely. On Monday, a 20-year-old mother of one, Shantel Ali Bocus, and 35-year-old Marvin Trotman were brought before a San Fernando Magistrate for smoking …
Read More »Sport Minister passes the buck; and taxpayers pay for it!
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar finally gave citizens what they were waiting for in her Parliamentary address yesterday. There will be a twenty percent discount on rice, flour and oil until August 1—a period which includes Eid, Emancipation Day and the Coup anniversary. Eat a food, Yasin Abu Bakr. Don’t say …
Read More »Inglorious basterds: Soulja Boys run amok while Gov’t up Al-Rawi’s family tree
Breaking news: Unconfirmed reports suggest that Argentina captain and 2014 World Cup Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi had three slices of toast with his dinner last night. Mr Live Wire understands that Diego Maradona could have put away five and still had room for bagels. Football discussion has descended into …
Read More »Cry havoc: Beware Persad-Bissessar’s war for peace
In my last blog, published on 5 June 2014, I suggested that our political situation was not unlike George Orwell’s Oceania, which was the fictitious setting for his timeless novel, “1984”. On 11 June 2014, within a week of my post, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared that we must “unleash …
Read More »Do-or-die: Forget Brazil W/Cup, Port of Spain has the real group of death
The Brazil 2014 World Cup has dominated conversations all over the globe and, in the past week, there was finally irrefutable evidence about which nation got stuck in the “Group of Death.” Spain? Not even close. More like Port of Spain. A four-day long weekend was a chance for families …
Read More »Off-colour National Security Minister deserves the pink slip
Day Nine: The nation of “red, white and black” is still blue about the inability of the men in khaki to catch Dana Seetahal’s dark-hearted killers. So why exactly has the National Alert State moved from “Yellow” to “Green?” According to the National Security Ministry: the National Operations Centre, which …
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