Letters to the Editor

“[…] Does Tribe Carnival owe us an explanation? Not really, because what explanation would they come up with other than ‘yes our business model is colourist and we’re actually catering to a market demand’? “The truth is, if Tribe and like-minded bands were to cease operations, others with the same …

“[…] Etched on its surface are vodka bottle-shapes that separate the notes on the instrument. The words ‘ABSOLUT PAN’ are boldly depicted at its base. “It is an insult to our national musical instrument! Will it stand for as long as Columbus’s statue? Shouldn’t voices be raised nationally for the …

“[…] In our desire to bring a quick resolution to this issue, the CRFP has already written to the Honourable Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and dispatched a petition to both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament, signed by a cross section of prominent local individuals including a descendant …

Dr Kumar Mahabir: “[…] Despite the horrendous history of Columbus, his statue represents a tangible historical link to the Europe, Africa and Asia since 1498. It is one of the few statues of Columbus in the Caribbean and is a destination site for local and foreign tourists…” Corey Gilkes: “[…] …

“Q: If we remove all artefacts of our colonial past, who gets to determine what we replace it with? “A: Duh…We do! And we must make it clear that we do not venerate the protagonists of genocide, slavery, indentureship and apartheid in this land and don’t believe that any of …

“[…] Warao Queen Donna Bermudez Bovel and Chairman of Partners for First People’s Development Roger Belix described statements [from Chief Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community] as traitorous. “Tracy Assing the granddaughter of 5th SRFPC Queen Valentina Medina posted, ‘Not my Chief’ adding: ‘The powers that be …

“[…] When will I expect to obtain the requests for marches, and protests against such acts of barbarous brutality against our children?” In the following press statement, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith claims that there is ‘selected outcry’ against wrongdoings, after the murder of Tunapuna resident Stefhon Mc Cloud and his …

“[…] A standing committee should be established to review the names of streets, parks, etc on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the persons who are honoured with statues, street names, etc are truly deserving of such honours…” The following letter to the editor on calls to remove …

“[…] Constables Keron George, Hendron Moses, and Juvon White were charged today, Thursday 18th June 2020, by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC. “This after PSB officers concluded a comprehensive investigation into a report surrounding an incident …

“[…] 1797 was the last time anyone cared what the Spanish had to say here but who could ignore the sheer arrogance and entitlement of this idolatrous ambassador to ask us to remain backward while his own country is moving forward, confronting its past to free its future…” The following …

To the Spanish envoy, from a citizen of this country, kindly shut up, sit down and keep out of this. Go process some document or something, this is no concern of yours. And may I point out to you and the few local lackeys who are either as ignorant as …

In response to Spanish Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Javier Carbajosa’s statement that ‘removing the statue of Christopher Columbus in downtown Port of Spain would not right the wrongs of the past’, I, as a descendant of the First Peoples of T&T, write to challenge his view. To begin with, …