The column I had originally written for today was bleak and dark and the person whose story I was including was understandably reluctant for it to be aired because she feared repercussions—although no one was identified. She needed some time, she said, before she could deal with it. I respect …
Read More »Noble: What is man? The chequered legacy of Lawrence Duprey
“We didn’t want anyone to be in doubt of what we were offering policyholders because dishonest agents, men who lied, could have destroyed the company.” Ray Dieffenthaller, a friend of Cyril Duprey. (Express, 28 August 2024.) The recent passing of Lawrence Duprey, a business titan, should cause us all to …
Read More »Dear Editor: Should we reintroduce late president Hassanali’s no-alcohol policy at state functions?
“[…] The sight of public officials indulging in alcohol sends mixed messages, particularly to younger generations, who are often told to avoid drinking. “The transformation of Trinidad and Tobago will only occur when we start making conscious decisions that reflect the values we want to promote…” The following Letter to …
Read More »Noble: God, Glory and Gold—the relationship between the Church and the Downtrodden
The transatlantic trade in Africans was founded on a misguided interpretation of Christianity. Prince Henry of Portugal, “the Navigator” (1394-1460), put Europe’s aggressive and ruthless expeditions to Africa in motion. It was during this period that the feudal European states began to unite. Henry taught men to sail down the …
Read More »Dr Farrell: Dr Deyalsingh was wrong; let’s stop ramshackle cases for retaining Privy Council
“[…] The accusations of political or cultural bias against our judges are simply not warranted on the facts which I have also researched and documented—and to the extent that it may exist, is certainly no worse than any other jurisdiction, even the United Kingdom. “Let us stop falsely accusing our …
Read More »Noble: The iron entered our souls—the unthinkable cost of the slave trade
Iron shackles bound the African enslaved people together as they journeyed across the Atlantic. They were bound tightly. These shackles created physical scars, but the emotional ones begun long before. The Africans were taken from their homes on various pretexts, never sure when and if they would return. Their pain …
Read More »Noble: Slavery, Finance and Us—the immoral legacy of the slave trade
“[…] What is this claim that human people have been thrown overboard? This is a case of chattels or goods. Blacks are goods and property; it is madness to accuse these well-serving, honourable men of murder. “They acted out of necessity and in the most appropriate manner for the cause. …
Read More »Noble: Truth, HCU and Karen Nunez-Tesheira—the lady doth protest too much
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate at Jesus’ trial (Luke 18:36). The Greek word for truth is aletheia, which literally means unconcealed and implies sincerity and factuality couched in reality. Mrs Karen Nunez-Tesheira submitted that my column on campaign financing was based on innuendo. Nunez-Tesheira indicated I painted “Johnny O’Halloran, presumably …
Read More »Noble: African slavery and us—how maximum greed transforms poor into mere tools
“Questions of silence always raise questions of memory. Who and what has been forgotten? Which peoples and events are downplayed? “[…] Memory is a site of conflict, ‘in which many contrary forces converge and in which the interactions between memory and forgetting are contingent as much as they are systematic…” …
Read More »Noble: All ah we tief—money, conflicts and whose interests do elite serve?
“If you don’t have unity, we can’t fight. There are fresh people who call themselves leaders. You can’t be leading, and when it’s time to stand up for people, you don’t know how to stand up. “The authorities have to take crime-fighting seriously; otherwise, there would be more chaos and …
Read More »Noble: The Rich, The Poor and Crime—do our chambers see corruption as criminal?
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Late US president John F Kennedy. This quote comes from Kennedy’s inaugural 1961 address. He had been gripped by the poverty he saw while campaigning. In his first official act, he …
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 …
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