The historical overview A Short History of Santa Rosa De Arima by Jean Patricia Elie states: “[…] Arima was effectively Indian Territory. For most of the 16th and 17th centuries, the district of Arima was the home of the Nepuyo, whose active resistance to Spanish Rule effectively limited Spanish attempts …
Read More »Noble: T&T’s leadership dilemma—our choice will shape our institutions; think wisely
Today, we face a myriad of problems. It seems as though there is a cascading chain of events that seeks to deaden our response. We do not finish dealing with one thing before another arises. How, then, will we run our country? How will we manage to survive? Which course …
Read More »Noble: Who will we put? Does T&T have competent, charismatic leader for these difficult times?
The next five years ahead for the country will be tough. What is terrible now has every chance of worsening: this is the future facing us. We quickly forget that we have a country to run when we read about the various leadership struggles in the two major political parties. …
Read More »Noble: A man called ‘Bandy’; is T&T reaping whirlwind for alleged extrajudicial killing?
The “well-coordinated hit with pinpoint accuracy” that felled Randall Hector was entirely predictable. The roots of this current situation started with the 2011 State of Emergency. Then, the Attorney General told us: “When the state of emergency was declared by His Excellency, it was in response to intelligence received from …
Read More »Noble: Peering into 2025; T&T must be mindful of polycrisis
I am no prophet. I would not attempt to replicate the famous BC Pires, who used to write a column with predictions for each new year. He noted: “Some of my predictions are included only to make you laugh; the others are deadly serious and, if accurate, will make anyone …
Read More »Noble: The weary world rejoices—escape the darkness this Christmas
“[…] A thrill of hope! The weary world rejoices. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…” Excerpt from the carol O Holy Night. 2024 has been a very tough year! The word ‘pining’ captures our mood after the battering of …
Read More »Noble: Different class, same struggle—why Farley’s house slave jibe jars
“[…] I’m a slave from a land so far/ I was caught/ And I was brought here from Africa…/ I’m a slaaaave from a land so far/ I was caught/And I was brought here from Africa/ “Ah toil, ah toil/ Ah toil, ah toil/ So haaaard each day…/ I’mm dying…/ …
Read More »Noble: Have we lost every drop of human kindness? Lisa Morris-Julian deserves better
“[…] I am saddened by those among us who cannot restrain ourselves from spewing bitter bile at this moment of great tragedy. “[…] Is there not a John McCain—the Republican presidential candidate who defended Barack Obama as a decent person—among us? No holding back the vile trolls on the Facebook …
Read More »Noble: The Highlanders road—how Robert Hernandez builds community through pan
“They say mih country so stressful, so tense/ With race hate, young jail bait, too much violence. Girl, pack up and go, this sweet Trinbago/ I tell dem no way (no way)/ How de people small-minded, macocious and loud/ Of bobol and scandal they boastful and proud/ Yet somehow I …
Read More »Noble: ‘Greed and selfish living result in social instability’—T&T needs more financial transparency
The autocratic nature of our politics is most memorably captured in the sordid 1962 episode featuring Dr Patrick Solomon, minister of Home Affairs in the People’s National Movement (PNM) government—with responsibility for the police service. His stepson was arrested and incarcerated for throwing missiles in a public space. Solomon allegedly …
Read More »Noble: When your neighbour’s house is on fire; T&T must learn from USA debacle
“When your neighbour’s house is on fire, wet yours!” is an excellent Trinidadian proverb applicable now. We have been consumed with the goings-on about succession planning cum election preparation in the People’s National Movement. Not forgotten is the troubles of the Dissident Five, who have been sidelined after the United …
Read More »Noble: The killing of our women—a cultural issue we consistently failed to address
“Across the region, approximately 11% of the survey respondents of both sexes reported experience with domestic violence,” the report noted. For Trinidad and Tobago, the rate was 8.3%. Across the seven Caribbean countries surveyed, the average injury rate for men was 6.7% and 10.7% for women. Domestic or spousal abuse …
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