Tag Archives: Parliament

“The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves—in their separate, and individual capacities.”  US President Abraham Lincoln, 1854. This week saw the United National Congress (UNC) struggle …

“[…] Dr Paul Richards is not only an independent senator, but also a very experienced journalist. He ought to know better. “He has an obligation to provide the evidence [against Senior Superintendent Roger Alexander from the TV6 Beyond the Tape programme], or publicly withdraw his statement and apologise…” The following …

“Have you seen the ad everybody on Facebook seems to be talking about?” “Yuh want to spoil my morning!” Bobby grumbled, making a long face behind his mask. “Too early to be talking about Facebook, bro! And anyway, I’m not on Facebook! “And I want to talk about serious business. …

“Order!” shouted the Speaker of the House Bridgid Annisette-George. “Order!” “Prime Minister,” the Speaker had already said three times while on her feet. Ignoring her, the Prime Minister continued his rant in response to what seemed to me to be a reasonable question from Naparima MP Rodney Charles. The Speaker …

Black Stalin’s lyrics in his 1988 calypso ‘We could make it if we try’  have been occupying a space in my brain. He sang: ‘So the Treasury broke and they say that recession jamming/And so to foreign countries Trinis start migrating/ They lose faith in their country, they say we …

“[…] Some commentators are suggesting that there should have been a debate so that answers to questions that the public have could have been obtained. We disagree. “[…] Neither the President nor the former Chair of the PolSC sits in the Parliament so that, given what we’ve heard in the …

If only Members of Parliament could master the same level of decorum and use of language like our esteemed President, this would be a more gentle place. I contrast the language of the President with the language of the Prime Minister and feel sick to my gut. Prime Minister Dr …

Don’t let the young cricketer look at the ‘unorthodoxy’ of Richie Richardson, until he has been exposed to orthodox form of a master batsman like Desmond Haynes.  This was the advice my husband got from the Harvard cricket coach Dwight Day when our sons were introduced to Sunday morning cricket. …

Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis: “[…] It was within the capacity of the Opposition to request that the prime minister stand down… None of them present said a word… Mr Rudranath Indarsingh, who for some time appeared to be texting, merely continued doing so…” Opposition Chief Whip David Lee: …

“[…] Let me also point out that even though because of the Covid-19 restrictions the speaking time has been reduced, we have not removed any of the mechanisms provided in the Parliamentary Standing Orders—whether it be Questions, Motions, Privileges and the Standing Orders themselves—that regulate the operation of the Parliament.  …

It’s an ill wind, we have long heard, that blows nobody good. Ditto, I think, Anil Roberts. Which may be why Kamla Persad-Bissessar has seen it fit to return him to the national parliament as a senator. If every current UNC Member of Parliament were somehow able to make a …

“[…] Citizens have come to feel that they have been repeatedly forsaken, betrayed and mamaguyed by those they have put in a position to make laws for their peace, order and good governance. “Members of the 12th Parliament, I need to ask you a personal question. Can we trust you? …