“[…] His death is a profound loss not only to his family but also to the profession he elevated and the region he served so passionately. “[…] Jones P Madeira’s career was a masterclass in the power of journalism as the fourth estate and a vital pillar of democracy…” The …
Read More »You’re mad! On Guyanese accent, rum’s reputation and ‘clinical depression’
I grew up in Guyana and the earliest memories of my childhood were that my family was rich! The standard I used was this: my now deceased Dad bought us every single piece of wearable merch from then hit song “We are the World”. we lived in a “big house” in …
Read More »Dear editor: T&T deserves better than CNC3 journalist Akash Samaroo’s “petty” Budget review
“[…] National budgets are critical moments for shaping a country’s future. Instead of addressing the actual content of the budget, this article reduces the coverage to petty complaints about time. “CNC3 should aim to deliver coverage that explains how budgetary measures will affect the economy, jobs, healthcare, education, and more…” …
Read More »Noble: Should state own shares in media company? The problem with govt’s OCM move
“When politics is involved in business, they don’t thrive. In most of these companies… there is a significant inflow of politics.” Gokool Seemungal, National Enterprises Limited (NEL) shareholder. “We adhere to the philosophy that cash in the shareholders’ hands has greater value than ours.” Ingrid Lashley, chair of National Enterprises …
Read More »Liz Williams: “Some friends become enemies, [there’s] a lot of social media bullying”
“[…] It takes a lot of hard work, late nights, missing out on family time, some friends become enemies, a lot of social media bullying. “Holidays for the public are work for us; [there are] threats made on your life, just to name a few…” Wired868 sheds light on the …
Read More »Noble: The Men Behind the Curtains—beware the manipulators among us
“[…] The police, they’re going after the young kids on the streets…the big fish don’t come to do deals directly. “The big fish are […] politicians and businessmen; them is the men, and they’re the ones who are bringing the drugs in, too. Dem is the men who behind the …
Read More »Vaneisa: The People in Print—the problem with T&T’s media
One of the panel discussions at the recent Bocas Lit Fest focused on the fate of newspaper columnists in today’s environment. Themed “They Don’t Write Them Like They Used to: A Discussion on the Present and Future of the Newspaper Column,” it ended up with a rather bleak prognosis. Among …
Read More »Dear Editor: The late BC Pires embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent
“[…] Truth be told, BC embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent more than the Newsroom. He was a hybrid, in some sense, of Winston Bailey and HL Mencken. “[…] Kind, generous and determined to make a difference in a world populated by the indifferent…” The following Letter to the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Our immortal BC
At the end of September, in Thank God It’s Friday, a column which has now been running for more than 35 years, BC Pires said: “Chances are Thin.” Without a wallow or a moan, but replete with dread details of his beastly struggle with cancer of the oesophagus, he revealed …
Read More »Dear Editor: Newspaper editors needed… and start at the Trinidad Express!
Trinidad Express Newspapers are in the market for an assistant night editor. Through you, I wish to make an application for the job. On the list of qualifications and experience required for securing employment in this position are nine items: At #7, ‘Proficient knowledge of the structure and content of …
Read More »Dear Editor: Bassant should simplify investigative reports on Foster Cummings—for man-on-the-street
“[…] I am firmly of the view that no minister who has been or is involved in any shady financial and business dealings should be serving in the government of my country. “My problem with Mr Mark Bassant’s report is that it is pitched over my head—and, I dare say, the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Space for our diversity—T&T must resist “segregation” of “special interest” concerns
A long time ago, I had a discussion—maybe an argument—with a newspaper editor about what constituted “soft” news. He thought that issues affecting women were soft, and should be relegated to pages headed by labels that suggested they were for women only. Instinctively, I rejected that. It seemed to me …
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