We washed and put away our sailor costumes last weekend. That induced a stronger nostalgia than usual for the carefree days of Carnival generally and, in particular, for Carnival Tuesday as All Stars sailors. The nostalgia was a brief antidote to the keen awareness that murders—albeit unrelated to Carnival—remained an …
Read More »Dear Editor: Express raid shows TTPS has found another loophole after Sedition Act knock back
“[…] Now that the police can no longer bring charges under the Sedition Act, they are going for the vague charge of ‘Tipping Off’ found in section 51 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2000. “A quick review of the Act showed that the charge of ‘Tipping off’ is designed …
Read More »‘A unique light gone too soon…’ Remembering Cordielle Street
“Loved by many, confidante to most, Cordielle’s was a unique light gone too soon… Cordielle was fearless, beautiful, and feisty. With strong moral compass, she lived a life of integrity and had little patience for games…” The following is a eulogy by former TV6 producer Caroline Onikute to close friend, journalist …
Read More »Demming: Will a woman take the fall in Piarco airport corruption scandal?
It’s been more than 15 years since the Piarco Airport corruption scandal, and the once high-flyer Renee Pierre is before the court to answer three corruption charges. My late mother from behind–the–bridge used to say: “Friends will carry you, but they won’t bring you back.” This is still stellar advice—especially …
Read More »Terrible Thursday? Queen Terri tells old-stagers to share tricks of calypso trade
Calypso needs to get its act together! Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly did not think very much of TUCO’s handling of calypso in 2020 and she pulled no punches in letting the world know. Her unflattering comments on TV6 revealed disapproval of the decision to keep Kaisorama and the art form’s Carnival …
Read More »Dear Editor: Erosion of bail rights for gun possession could be first step on slippery slope
“People never seem to think that a breach of the rights of even one individual, means that that breach can apply to all. It is why the judiciary so staunchly defends the rights of even the most depraved of society…” The following Letter to the Editor on proposed amendments to …
Read More »What’s in a name—Pt 2: Black Power, Calypso, Soca and pumpkin vine
What, a young British schoolboy was asked somewhere in the early 1980s, is Black Power? His response was a name: ‘Clive Lloyd.’ As the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago emerges from Carnival and begins a largely muted celebration of the anniversary of the epoch-making 1970 Black Power Revolution, some other …
Read More »Daly Bread: Swallowing the Carnival wrecker and other camels
Carnival post-mortems are usually futile because the vested interests in Carnival are so strong that those with the power to make changes will not attempt to solve congestion on the parade route, the marginalisation of traditional mas and other problems. Nevertheless, all praise to Pan Trinbago, under the presidency of …
Read More »Demming: Thanks, but no thanks Mr Prime Minister; George St no place for Despers
Desperadoes Steel Orchestra is in no position to refuse the generosity of the prime minister, but the population can. We can tell Dr Keith Rowley that the reasons Despers left the ‘Hill’ are still with us and may even be more deeply entrenched as we count the daily shootings, killings …
Read More »Best: What’s in a name? Calypso’s losing battle with the new identity normal
When Terri Lyons led Karene Asche and Heather Mac Intosh in a clean sweep for women in the National Calypso Monarch competition on Carnival Thursday, it may have reminded many of Denyse Plummer’s 1988 boast that woman is boss. However, for those willing to go back two more years to …
Read More »Noble: SEC CEO’s response to FCB IPO scandal shameless
This Carnival, I felt like Black Stalin with his refusal to sing about ‘Dorothy’ while grave social injustices exist. The breathtaking interview and official announcement by the CEO of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Haydn Gittens, in the FCB IPO scandal are shameful. The SEC exists to ensure the soundness …
Read More »Remembering the 1970 Mass People’s Movement and the Church
The entry of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) under the leadership of Makandal Daaga (then Geddes Granger) into Port of Spain on Thursday 26 February 1970, represented the beginning of the most dynamic and significant period in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. NJAC had convened a March through …
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