Speaking at Indian Arrival Day celebrations in Penal on 30th May 2026, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for national unity. She stated that: “We have no Mother India, we have no Mother Africa, we have no Mother China, no Mother Europe, no mother other nation. What we have is Mother …
Read More »Destruction without creation; Dr Harris ponders T&T economy—and a starting point for revitalisation
In 1942, Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter coined the term ‘creative destruction’. It describes a process where innovative products, technologies, and business models continuously replace outdated ones. New firms and jobs are created, and old ones die. In Trinidad and Tobago, we experienced creative destruction in the past century. Sugar (and …
Read More »Dr Harris: What we vote for, and not—reviewing T&T Govt’s foreign policy position
The UNC won the 2025 general elections promising to transform Trinidad and Tobago’s economic fortunes, treat workers fairly and address the crime situation—all important domestic issues. And as expected, as the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led Government marks a year in office this month, commentators and analysts have opined on their performance in …
Read More »Dr Harris: Trust me, if you can—why Trinidad and Tobago is poorer with societal distrust
“[…] Trinidad and Tobago has very low levels of reported trust given its GDP per capita… Most people do not trust the police. Most people do not believe justice is meted out fairly… There is even mistrust in the Road March competition with year-on-year allegations of the ‘Soca Mafia’. “[…] …
Read More »Dr Harris: Why we need more hope in 2026—T&T must break cycle of decline
“[…] We are losing hope in the ability of our economy to provide good jobs for us. A smaller share of the working age population has been participating in the labour market. “[…] The decline is largely driven by falling male participation from above 80% to just above 60%. Female …
Read More »Dr Harris: Survival of the shameless—T&T will pay heavy price for surrendering shame
“[…] Rachel Price made this observation reflecting on social media: some things that may have been deemed shameful a mere 10 years ago, are now common behaviours in order to solicit ‘likes’ and ‘shares’. “[…] Historians have longed recognised the role of shame in keeping groups in check. In the …
Read More »Dr Harris: The economic cost of war—why T&T could lose big from US-Venezuela conflict
“[…] For neighbouring countries [of war sites], output falls by 10% on average after five years while inflation rises by five percentage points over the same period. “These results should be particularly concerning for Trinidad and Tobago […] because we are not like the average country in the Kiel Institute …
Read More »Dear Editor: Diversification, not the Dragon, is key for T&T’s economic survival—but here’s why it has eluded us
“[…] The Ministry of Finance website provides budget statements from 2002 onwards. Diversification is mentioned in each budget statement. All 23 years. Undoubtedly, diversification will feature in Budget 2026 when it is read in the coming weeks. “[…] This is not to say that there have been no changes since …
Read More »Devaluation: the good, the bad and the public debt—why T&T needs careful analysis, not noise
“[…] Basic economic theory does not always manifest in practice—in fact, it rarely does. To understand if or by how much exports/imports change requires an understanding of how responsive exports/imports are to price changes. This is called elasticity in economics. “[…] Alongside this, the constantly changing geopolitical environment must be …
Read More »Dear Editor: Rights come with responsibilities—T&T must grasp social contract to grow as mature nation
“[…] Dr Eric Williams was clear in his articulation—in a democracy, citizens have both rights and responsibilities. The government, too, has responsibilities to citizens. This is the social contract: the underlying rules that govern how citizens behave towards each other, and how the government and citizens behave towards each other. …
Read More »Dear Editor: Three things that Cepep—and other T&T institutions—need for true reform
“[…] Almost daily, the discourse has been filled with opinions on Cepep and Cepep workers: UNC/PNM supporters, radio commentators and newspaper columnists present opinions and arguments on one side or the other. “These are all useful for taking the public temperature. But, after nearly 20 years of Cepep, absent from …
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