“Haiti is the only member of CARICOM whose citizens require a visa to travel to any other CARICOM nation. In other words, although CARICOM leaders pay lip service to Haiti, they also know that Haitians might leave their failed state—which is the diplomatic way of calling a country a ‘shithole’—and settle …
Read More »Dear Editor: Karma and ourselves to be blamed for our troubles, not young people
“The youths today did not create the monsters that are haunting our once beautiful two-island nation. The thieving politicians whom we have employed to manage our affairs and whom, blinded by party loyalty, we fail to hold up to public scrutiny are the ones to be held responsible for the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Heroes of the chord; pride, pan, power and Panorama
“Steelband arrangers are constantly seeking to craft an individual style in their arrangements which, they hope, will be recognized and acclaimed by the artistic community in general and the pan fraternity in particular.” “Their musical productivity contributes to the development of new styles. But it is not a luxury; they …
Read More »Caribbean dignity unbowed; UWI vice-chancellor explains what Trump and USA really owe Haiti
“Haiti’s Caribbean vision illuminated America’s way out of its colonial darkness. This is the debt President Trump’s America owes Toussaint L’Ouverture’s Haiti. “It’s a debt of philosophical clarity and political maturity. It’s a debt of how to rise to its best human potential. It’s a debt of exposure to higher …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T citizens are now the “wretched of the earth”; cringed in denial at murder rate
“The carnage has become part of our lives just like potholes in the road, increased fuel prices, crime in the military and police service and deep-seated corruption in the Judiciary. “[…] Murder has now become the supreme expression of corruption in our culture.” The following Letter to the Editor on …
Read More »Dr Farrell: Why I quit EDAB; Gov’t was too slow and not using enough of our ideas
“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 …
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