“There remains a large volume of work which is incomplete for lack of resources and I am acutely aware that several persons remain disappointed with the lack of progress on their ideas and proposals. “[…] My own expectations of high-level engagement followed by swift implementation on these and other policy …
Read More »Dear Editor: It was Panday—not Manning—who coined ‘community leader’ euphemism
“The time has come to correct gross inaccuracies pertaining to the widespread claim that former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago and also former political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Mr Patrick Manning had coined the phrase ‘community leaders’. “[…] Undisputed facts will clearly demonstrate that it was …
Read More »Baldeosingh: Calypso and chutney music are not inherently sexist; and here’s why
“The fact is that almost all the calypsoes that are deemed sexist are calypsoes which, in one way or another, express the power of women over men. Growling Tiger’s “Money is King” (1935) says: ‘If you have money and things going nice/Any woman will call you honey and spice/If you …
Read More »Dear Editor: The case of Gafoor’s chauffeur allowance has been badly misconstrued
“The matter referred to concerns the chauffeur’s allowance granted to the learned judge in her capacity as a judge. The High Court found as a fact that the allowance claimed arose as a matter of personal entitlement. “Up to that point in time, there had remained a question as to …
Read More »Dear Editor: Archie’s issues go beyond possible photoshop; he should declare his innings
“Aside from wondering if he is pursuing legal action as the CJ or as Ivor Archie in a personal capacity, I wonder who will be footing the bill? “And I have to wonder if the CJ is really that obtuse? […] It is not simply the one issue of whether …
Read More »Dear Editor: Why RBC’s High Court win over BIGWU is a hammer blow for local Unions
“The requirement to keep trade union membership or non-membership confidential is well established as a means of avoiding victimisation of union members. “[…] This judgement argued that, in this case, there were ‘exceptional circumstances to warrant the order for disclosure as requested [by the RBC] and such an order would …
Read More »Dear Editor: Time for a Madame President; CAFRA asks for qualified women to be considered
“[…] Five male Presidents later, the next President of Trinidad and Tobago should be a woman. Such an appointment would be a significant indicator of gender equality and an expression of the democratic value of inclusion. “We should widen the scope of persons to be considered and Trinidad and Tobago …
Read More »“Pure evilness and unjustness!” TTHTI faculty rages as students asked to pay GATE shortfall to graduate
“How do young people not get disenchanted with education and the stupid systems that are put in place in Trinidad and Tobago when over 50 students are told that they cannot graduate because the Institute that they belong to did not receive GATE funding for them? “And, to add insult …
Read More »Balderdash and intellectual acrobatics; Fergus responds to Baldeosingh on race and Afro-history
“[Kevin] Baldeosingh […] uncritically regurgitates the defunct racist hypothesis that ‘darker-skinned people’ are judged less intelligent and ‘more primitive’ than ‘fairer-skinned people’. “[…] During the first century of this era, Ethiopians were the majority in the town of Barygasa (now Baruch) in western India. By the time of the Mughal …
Read More »Fixin T&T: Show us the Balgobin report, let’s see what Justice Nelson’s made of
“Fixin’ T&T has taken note of reports that retired Justice Rolston Nelson may be the Dr Keith Rowley-led Government’s nominee to become the next president of our Republic. “Fixin’ T&T is deeply troubled by the apparent difficulty judges seem to have with being called upon to account for their actions.” …
Read More »Dear Editor: Is the pot calling the kettle black? Baldeosingh knocks Fergus over ‘historical distortions’
“In an article published on Wired868 on 15 December, Dr Claudius Fergus responded to Dool Hanomansingh, rightly accusing him of ‘gross historical distortions’ and asserting that ‘He is obviously not a historian. If not for the danger that his fiction might be taken as historical fact, I would not even dignify …
Read More »Dear Editor: Do we want a president above suspicion? Then we have to look elsewhere!
“I was horrified to learn that the People’s National Movement (PNM) is trying to foist on us Rolston Nelson while the United National Congress (UNC) is proposing Gladys Gafoor. “My mind instantly went numb.” The following Letter to the Editor, which deals with the issue of the imminent election of …
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