“The storytellers deal with a whole spectrum of inner issues. Like being too short; too unpopular; too boring; not bright enough; not talented enough; not nice enough; being too poor; too ‘stush’; too weird; too different; too ordinary. “Issues like being a middle child; an ‘unloved’ child; a rebellious child. …
Read More »Dear Editor: Ex-PNM general secretary knocks Justice Saunders for criticising T&T govt over CCJ
“One would have expected that as a Judge, Mr. Saunders would have checked his facts before making a pronouncement on the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, because if he did, he would have found that the failure of this country to be part of the CCJ lies with the opposition …
Read More »Living Law: Holding decision-makers accountable; why Judicial Review matters
We often read articles in the newspapers about some person applying for judicial review of a decision made that did not go in their favour. But have you ever wondered what is judicial review? It is a legal process by which we can hold government bodies—or those exercising powers authorised …
Read More »Demming: Why new Angostura chairman, Bharath, must face up to Balgobin affair
Since 2005 there have been allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Dr Rolph Balgobin. To quote a Trinidad Express Newspaper report of 4 January 2017: “Former (Arthur Lok Jack) ALJ Chairman and (at that time) University of the West Indies Principal Clement Sankat yesterday confirmed that he had inherited the …
Read More »Master’s Voice: Black labour pains: By the sweat of MY brow; thou shalt eat bread
“I have […] great doubts whether the Cooly and the African are morally and mentally capable of being acted upon by the same motives in this island on their first arrival as labourers are in more civilised countries… “The only independence which they would desire is idleness, according to their …
Read More »RSA: Avoiding the void; a short story of life on empty
I have known empty; I have lived empty many times in my life. There’s the running on empty that goes well beyond the mere Monday to Friday exhaustion spawned by the world of work. The bone-deep lassitude that slowly but steadily seeps into your soul and its spread is similar …
Read More »Salaam: Forget Brazil and France, T&T should be emulating Japan’s tidy fans after more flash fooding
Even after they were eliminated by Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday, the Japan National Football Team and their supporters gave us a lesson in class and a taste of their culture. I read that their fans cleaned up the section of the stadium where they …
Read More »Master’s Voice: The tumour of racism; addressing Trinbago’s ‘Nigger’ question (Pt Two)
By 1787 the English had just about constructed myths of their own about themselves where to be British was to be free and white. This despite their own history of being slaves of the Romans, at least one of whom, Cicero, wasn’t too impressed with them. They exported their notion …
Read More »Master’s Voice: Fear of the dark; addressing Trinbago’s ‘Nigger’ question (Pt One)
“Where a black man, by working about half an hour a day (such is the calculation), can supply himself, by aid of sun and soil, with as much pumpkin as will suffice, he is likely to be a little stiff to raise into hard work! Supply and demand, which science …
Read More »Salaam: The govt must “unleash” the Defence Force to curb crime
The more I want to be optimistic about my Trinidad and Tobago’s current situation and our chances and ability to climb out of the decadent cesspool we currently find ourselves, the more I’m convince that my positive outlook is overshadowed by the reality of our state of affairs. Many—including the …
Read More »Not Condemning: What was point of President Weekes’ “Laventille Nights” visit?
Curiosity got the better of me last Friday—on 8 June 2018—and I chose the much publicised “Laventille Nights” with our first female President, President Paula-Mae Weekes, over my usual Friday evening lime with friends. I wasn’t sure if it was at Beetham or Sea Lots but the flashing blue lights, …
Read More »Street Vibes: “Rebuild T&T” can go to hell; this is about human rights, not gay rights
It is amazing how a group of “religious leaders” can scramble together in such a frenzy to deny a smaller group of persons their basic human rights—all with the general understanding that their respective gods are loving and caring and created humankind in his image, subsequently giving them free will. …
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