Embattled Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams is expected to face another grilling on Glorious Saturday when the local football body attempts to hold its AGM for a sixth time. However, despite concerns about John-Williams’ stewardship—financial and otherwise—and autocratic behaviour, according to football insider, there are two main …
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Not Condemning: Of sirens, blue lights, uniforms, abuse and an information-starved society
Monday 19 March, 3:54pm. Charlotte Street. The shrill wail of a siren assails shoppers, motorists and pedestrians as a lone Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force vehicle bores a hole through the thick traffic, forcing drivers to hastily squeeze to the far edges of the road, making room where there is …
Read More »Black Identity (Pt 7): From Chaucer’s contempt to Caribbean Black Power; can 1970 advances be sustained?
In England, the word black (originally spelt “blæk”), from its Germanic/Dutch root “blah”/“blaken,” first appears in Old English around 1210, meaning “absolutely dark, absorbing all light, the colour of soot or coal” [www.etymonline.com]. Interestingly, “blac” from the same root, meant: “bright, shining, glittering, pale.” Linked to fire, the two meanings …
Read More »From West Indies to Windies (Pt II): Fourth Rising? Where has the ‘natural talent’ got us?
The following is the second part of the text of a speech delivered by Charles Wilkin on the occasion of the launch of the latest book by Professor Hilary Beckles towards the end of last year. The book carries the title “Cricket Without a Cause—Fall and Rise of the Mighty …
Read More »Warriors hold off Martinique to end tour without conceding; Foncette gets maiden clean sheet
The Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team ended their two-match Caribbean tour with a solid showing in Martinique today, coming away with a goalless draw against the host nation—who were without their Europe-based players—at the Stade Pierre Aliker in Fort-de-France. The result ensured that, after their 1-0 win over Guadeloupe …
Read More »Black Identity (Pt 6): How the word was made flesh; the demonisation of melanin
“The English language has its roots in a savage historical racism and pride,” (Chris Searle, White Words, Black People, 1972). The words “black” and “white” in Searle’s book-title echo the dialectic in Frantz Fanon’s Peau Noire, Masques Blancs (1952). Indeed, Searle acknowledges his reliance on the English edition, Black Skin, …
Read More »RBNYL: Goals galore as QPCC, Santa Cruz and Maestros run amok; Laventille, North Coast shine
Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) got their 2018 Republic Bank National Youth League (RBNYL) season off to a rollicking start yesterday, recording handsome victories in all three age-group categories—Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16—at the Queen’s Park Savannah. The “Parkites” “A” team hammered Harvard 12-0 in the Under-14 Division while the “B” …
Read More »Dear Editor: “You MIGHT actually win something in this lifetime!” The Commonwealth games powerful people played
“The Express of Friday 23 March carried the following excerpt from Ato Boldon’s FB page: ‘If you worried as much about podiums as much as you do about unprovoked shots at younger teammates you MIGHT actually win something in this lifetime’. […] “For decades, Boldon has been a facilitator and …
Read More »Daly Bread: Replenishing the reservoir of hope; welcome, President Weekes
Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes became the sixth President of the Republic on Monday last. She gave an inaugural speech that was universally well received. Her central theme was the question of what are we to do when “in the state of the State, we might see every reason to despair.” …
Read More »Francesca, Rampersad and Lyndersay appointed to MATT Cybercrime Bill steering committee
The following media statement by the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) on the proposed Cybercrime Bill was issued on Saturday 24 March, 2018: Today the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago appointed a steering committee to address deep concerns regarding upcoming Cybercrime legislation which has the potential to …
Read More »FIFA backs DJW’s adjournment based on apparent TTFA misinformation; Look Loy election key to impasse
The constitutional impasse between Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams and the general membership appeared to take another convoluted turn on Friday, as FIFA deputy secretary general Zvonimir Boban offered a learned opinion on the issue. Boban, a former Croatia and AC Milan star, appeared to side …
Read More »Shabazz: Arjoon ready for senior football; St Louis experiment pays dividends in Panama tie
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team ended their two-match exhibition series against Panama with a 1-1 draw at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Saturday, after again conceding a late goal. The result continued an odd sequence for coach Jamaal Shabazz, whose Under-20 and Senior teams have …
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