“[…] I was also very concerned on last Wednesday morning, when I heard [i95.5FM] Head of News Dale Enoch affirm—on the popular morning talk show he hosts with Tony Lee—that the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) were never bought (by any government of Trinidad and Tobago). “[…] It seems implausible to …
Read More »Gilkes: Where denial meets ignorance; and where you can stuff ‘all lives matter’
Dem old people and dem does say: ‘when yuh neighbour house on fire, wet yuh own’. So I trying to wet mine, with this open rant to Lasana Liburd and my not-so-secret crush Dr Sheila Rampersad. Because we Trinis doh learn, we doh like to connect things and we love to live …
Read More »Rowley: T&T media have interests to protect! PM pushes back on Venezuela narrative
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley launched a scathing attack on the local media today, which he accused of trying to paint him and his government as ‘liars’ with regards to its narrative on the visit of Venezuela vice-president Delcy Rodríguez and her contingent in March. In today’s …
Read More »MSJ: The problem with the Rio Treaty; and how gov’t, opposition and media got Venezuela imbroglio wrong
“[…] Central to this entire issue is the United States’ agenda with respect to Venezuela. If the US had not imposed sanctions on Venezuela there would be nothing for the government to explain about a visit by the vice-president of Venezuela, nothing to explain about the sale of fuel by …
Read More »Not even Devant believes he’s a journalist! Judge rules against UNC politician
United National Congress (UNC) politician and former minister of agriculture, Devant Maharaj, has failed to convince the San Fernando High Court of Justice that he is a journalist who is being unfairly kept out of press briefings by the Ministry of Communication and its line minister, Senator Donna Cox. Justice …
Read More »MFO Covid-19 study: High satisfaction in gov’t and Health Ministry, less trust in media
“[…] While international media is the top source for information on the outbreak, the public also places focus on local television channels, and government websites. Locally, government sources take precedence, with the Ministry of Health being considered the most trustworthy source. “[…] Despite the fear and concern for economic well-being, there is …
Read More »World Press Freedom Day: Shrinking T&T media faces greatest challenge in Covid-19
“[…] The health crisis is exacerbating longstanding tensions between the institution of the free press and governments here and around the world. Authoritarian impulses, single-source information flow, privacy incursions, political polarisation, hostility towards the media and shrinking resources in the wake of Covid-19, which will further impoverish the quality of …
Read More »Noble: Public trust and press conferences; does more info mean greater transparency or insecurity?
The scale and speed of the Covid-19 disease are unsettlingly apocalyptic. A now-familiar question is: have you ever seen anything like this in your lifetime? The short answer is no. I have lived through the assassination of John F Kennedy when we were sent home from school; the 9/11 event, …
Read More »Non-essential workers ordered home from 30 March; Gov’t addresses blanks on first Covid-19 death
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley advised today that only ‘essential workers’ should report to work between 30 March and 15 April. For the rest, the message was: stay at home. However, Rowley stressed, on multiple occasions, that he was not proposing a state of emergency, and he criticised a Trinidad …
Read More »Young slams media, ‘washes hands’ of Trinbagonians stranded abroad; Dr Hinds offers ‘community spread’ info
Minister of National Security Stuart Young continued his criticism of the media today at a press conference to update the public on the country’s battle with Covid-19, as he suggested local journalists were being irresponsible by interviewing citizens stranded abroad who are desperate to return home. The government shut the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Express raid shows TTPS has found another loophole after Sedition Act knock back
“[…] Now that the police can no longer bring charges under the Sedition Act, they are going for the vague charge of ‘Tipping Off’ found in section 51 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2000. “A quick review of the Act showed that the charge of ‘Tipping off’ is designed …
Read More »‘A unique light gone too soon…’ Remembering Cordielle Street
“Loved by many, confidante to most, Cordielle’s was a unique light gone too soon… Cordielle was fearless, beautiful, and feisty. With strong moral compass, she lived a life of integrity and had little patience for games…” The following is a eulogy by former TV6 producer Caroline Onikute to close friend, journalist …
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