“[…] 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 …
Read More »Early Bird: Lyricsing in Parliament; how Rodney Charles’ Mia Mottley remark resurrected Explainer
“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. …
Read More »Demming: Order in the House! Is Prime Minister Rowley a tone-deaf role model?
“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 …
Read More »Demming: All MPs who’ve served for more than a decade should resign now—you’ve failed!
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 …
Read More »MSJ: Whose agenda are the UNC seeking to promote by weaponising the Parliament?
“[…] 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 …
Read More »Demming: Leaders should avoid unbecoming, ‘impish’ language and respect their office
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 …
Read More »Demming: Bring back graciousness and civility to Parliament, Annisette-George can lead the way
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. …
Read More »Robinson-Regis: ‘None of them present said a word!’ Lee: ‘They want to turn Parliament into Balisier House!’
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: …
Read More »Camille: All mechanisms in Parliamentary Standing Orders remain intact, despite Opposition complaints
“[…] 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. …
Read More »Media Monitor: Kamla’s choice, Anil’s voice and putting party before country
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 …
Read More »President Weekes: ‘Can we trust you, parliamentarians? I’m asking for a friend…’
“[…] 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? …
Read More »Daly Bread: Just an expensive red box, unless politicians can think outside of it
Her Excellency the President spoke a little over a week ago at the re-opening of the Red House, the seat of our parliament. As a self-described emissary of the people, she brought a message to the parliament to the effect that whatever the politicians are doing within the Red House …
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