Letters to the Editor

“[…] This is not leadership; it is a distraction. “[…] Ordinary citizens risk lawsuits or police action for far less, yet politicians hurl insults without consequence. That imbalance is the real scandal …” The following Letter to the Editor on the effect of our leading politicians’ trading of insults was …

“[…] The government has shown great efficiency in imposing burdens, but lethargy in delivering relief. “[…] Almost one year after forming the government, no legislation has been brought to Parliament, no amendment has been enacted, and pensioners remain burdened by taxation …” The following Letter to the Editor on the …

“[…] There is often a misconception that MPs are exempt from the strict rules governing civil servants. The legal reality is the opposite. They are unequivocally public officers and a trustee of the people. “Because MPs wield immense political and legal power, often with very little daily oversight, the law …

“[…] What is perhaps most instructive from the data on Trinidad and Tobago’s national culture is our incredibly low score on long-term orientation (17 out of 100 vs 77 out of 100 in China and 50 out of 100 in the US). “It demonstrates a low propensity to sufficiently consider …

“[…] Where is the music to ‘turn a woman’s body into jelly’? Where is the fun? The celebration? The ‘Spirit of Carnival’? (Fun fact: that actually used to be a judging criterion in Calypso). “Long gone are the days when a calypsonian could win with a rum song paired with …

“[…] Advocates of this strategy contend that traditional interdiction efforts intercept only a fraction of maritime drug trafficking operations, whereas the systematic destruction of vessels and the targeting of personnel establish a more robust deterrent effect. “The strikes have implications that extend beyond the immediate legal proceedings. Critics contend that …

“Trinidad and Tobago could only progress if Laventille does,” Winston Dookeran said in May 2010. Have we moved beyond this idea? Have we accepted that crime is not a group problem? It is not an “Afro problem”, an “Indian problem”, or a “PNM problem”. Crime is a national problem, and …

In the rhythm of life in Trinidad and Tobago, and across the wider Caribbean, we know the power of a good “bacchanal.” One moment, a public figure—or perhaps a private citizen caught in the crosshairs—commits a transgression; the next, the digital hive mind descends. On Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram, …

“[…] 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’. “[…] …

“[…] What happened in Venezuela has nothing to do with Trinidad and Tobago. Citizens, just like myself, went about our normal business. We are not involved, so citizens have no need to be bothered. “[…] Trinidad and Tobago does not covet Venezuelan property—we never have and we never will…” The …

Kamla Persad-Bissessar: “[…] Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela.” Pennelope Beckles: “[This is] a matter of serious concern for Trinidad and Tobago, Caricom, and the wider Caribbean… We place …

“[…] It is time that pan (read Pan Trinbago, or PTB) involves itself in some long-term policies, strategies and actions that have the long-term goals of sustainability of the pan and benefits to the thousands of panmen who continue to play for free, simply for their unenviable love of pan. …