Professor Emerita Bridget Brereton, in her masterful 2010 contribution, All ah we is not one, highlights the development of competing ethnic narratives. She highlights the colonialist and the anti-colonialist, then the Afrocentric versus Indocentric narrative. She said: “Generally, the kind of narrative produced before and after independence by former colonies …
Read More »Dear Editor: Indarsingh’s appointment as Industrial Court judge should spark national concern
“[…] The Industrial Court wields quasi-constitutional powers in employment matters. It issues binding decisions affecting the rights of workers, unions, and employers. The notion that such a role can be filled by a recent Opposition MP, without even a law degree, ought to provoke national concern. “Appointments to judicial office, particularly one …
Read More »Daly Bread: The need for the pan drum; and what T&T is missing with cancelled parade
I expect that my disappointment at the cancellation of today’s Independence Day military parade, in which the Defence Force is joined by other agencies of our protective services, will be mitigated by my attendance at Saturday night’s Brooklyn Panorama. Today, instead of exchanging Independence greetings on Tragarete Road, in the …
Read More »Noble: Nation-building musings—is T&T under construction or destruction?
“On August 31, 1962, a country will be free, a miniature state will be established, but a society and a nation will not have been formed. “After August 31, 1962, the people of Trinidad and Tobago will face the fiercest test in their history—whether they can invest with flesh and …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s political parties are uninspiring; but here is how to change that…
“[…] Madam Prime Minister 2.0 I suggest the development of an Innovation/Creative fund to encourage our students to promote math, science, and inventors’ competitions with compensations for our normal citizens to bring whatever inventions they have. “The key here is to start an innovation culture because we have a culture …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s reckless unilateral stance on US-Venezuela standoff is a betrayal of Caricom
“[…] The Government’s position, as expounded by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister, is not neutrality by any diplomatic or regional standard. “[…] Authority without principle, without consultation and without regard for Caricom unity and regional peace is not leadership—it is recklessness masquerading as sovereignty…” The following guest …
Read More »Dear Editor: Gov’t gave criminals symbolic win by cancelling Independence Day parade
“[…] Independence Day is not merely a ritual—it is a vital reaffirmation of national unity, resilience, and cultural pride… Cancelling the Independence Day celebration risks eroding this collective consciousness and diminishing the symbols that bind the nation. “The government’s recent decision to cancel the 2025 parade, citing security risks for …
Read More »St Louis: Union leaders inside UNC-led gov’t must speak up—workers are watching
Elements of the trade union movement now sits inside the coalition that governs Trinidad and Tobago. That should have brought working-class concerns closer to the centre of national decision-making. Instead, we’re seeing silence, especially on the issues that matter most to working people. There may be voices in the room, …
Read More »Dear Editor: Anand & co gaslighting T&T over gun legislation, instead of addressing valid concerns
“[…] Despite Trinbagonians having one of the highest tertiary and post-graduate levels of education and international travel, our leaders believe the electorate to be entirely ignorant of US law or lack the ability to research it for themselves. “Stand Your Ground (SYG) is not a federal US law. It is …
Read More »Daly Bread: Crunch time! Can UNC Gov’t transform T&T from “get-away” place for criminals?
In the recent past, governments both of the United National Congress (UNC) and of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) have had the then president of the Republic proclaim states of emergency said to be directed at the level of violent criminal activity. The dates of the proclamations were respectively 21 …
Read More »Daly Bread: T&T must avoid ‘democratic backsliding’, in face of a three-fifths majority
Against the background of recent attacks on the Independent senators, I outlined last week the two constraints on three-fifths special majority legislative power contained in our Constitution. I conclude the examination of these constraints this week. First, however, I pursue the question why such constraints are necessary. Next week, I …
Read More »Daly Bread: The justification for ‘Independent’ senators and special majority constraints
Several readers have pressed me to say how I felt on the merits of the Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill, which was passed by a special majority and took away from Stuart Young SC MP a very substantial pension. Young would have had this pension even though he held the …
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