When a public official who has undoubted legal power exercises that power, a question of the legitimacy of the exercise of that power can arise. Legitimacy concerns the exercise of legal power in a manner that is appropriate and justifiable and does not otherwise disturb the public conscience. Our governments …
Read More »Noble: T&T’s economic performance, the IMF and Professor Hosein’s gish gallop
More than half our population did not experience the ravages of the 1988 International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) intervention. This group likely does not pay attention to the news reports on the Article IV consultations. They do not know that the Public Services Association’s 1988 membership was savaged and subsidies were …
Read More »Orin: Rudder is the best of T&T; I know my favourite song—what’s yours?
“[…] In musical terms, T&T punches well above its geographic and demographic weight. Many artistes have brought great poetic, musical and lyrical richness to the global table—but none of them brings the feels like David Rudder. “[…] You’ll not find more deftly written words to describe a particular sexy woman …
Read More »Daly Bread: Port of Spain and Port-au-Prince—will T&T mirror crime-ridden Haiti?
As long ago as 2007, readers of this column were introduced to the phrase “breakdown of ordered legal control in the face of anarchy or banditry” as I began my predictions about where we were headed. The phrase belongs to Professor HLA Hart, who was a famous professor of Jurisprudence …
Read More »Noble: When chickens come home—why Ryan Report should be mandatory reading
We all know the idiom “chickens come home to roost”, which means the consequences of wrongdoing always catches up with the wrongdoer. In the past two weeks, this expression has materialised in our country. The new spate of crime witnessed is the fruit of our actions over several decades. Passions …
Read More »Vaneisa: Rudderless, we flounder—another portrait of Trinidad and Tobago
In hindsight, it was a rather selfish column, so wrapped up in my woebegone mood that it might actually have been unfair. Not long after David Rudder migrated to Canada, I had written of the enormous loss to our country’s psyche. My distress came from the abiding feeling that for …
Read More »Dear Editor: Bassant should simplify investigative reports on Foster Cummings—for man-on-the-street
“[…] I am firmly of the view that no minister who has been or is involved in any shady financial and business dealings should be serving in the government of my country. “My problem with Mr Mark Bassant’s report is that it is pitched over my head—and, I dare say, the …
Read More »Demming: Commendable that Gov’t proclaimed Procurement Legislation; but keep Lalchan!
“[…] The theft of billions of dollars could have been prevented if we had a fully functional [Office of Procurement Legislation] according to acceptable legislation. We cannot underestimate the lost opportunity to have invested those stolen funds to take care of our social needs, such as health, education, utilities and infrastructure, and more. …
Read More »Dear Editor: Home invasion laws need upgrading, and PNM and UNC MUST work together on crime
“[…] Both parties have now dug their heels in, and would regard any compromise on this matter as a sign of weakness and incompetence. They are playing to the gallery. “Where does the national interest feature in this soap opera? […]” The following Letter to the Editor on the need for …
Read More »Daly Bread: Has Farley caught the maximum leadership disease?
Despite the short-sightedness of those who should be deploying our artistic and cultural output to diversify the economy, my depictions of pan and culture are of accomplishment. By contrast, commenting weekly on the latest of the unpleasant results of thoroughly deficient governance is a painful exercise. I would like sometimes …
Read More »Noble: T&T’s Education system still broken after 60 years—and all we hear is “Yada! Yada! Yada!”
In the long-running comedy series, Seinfeld, the phrase “yada, yada, yada” became popularised. Marcy, a character, used the expression to hide important details, while George used it to avoid speaking about an unpleasant incident. When they discuss their use of the idiom, George discovers that Marcy is a shoplifter. The …
Read More »Dear Editor: Pundit Maharaj’s race-baiting comments provoke memories of Hulsie Bhaggan
“[…] As at June 1993, police reports revealed that there were 13 rapes in Central Trinidad. Five of the 13 rapes had been committed by East Indian men, and one of the seven women raped by masked men was of African descent. “[…] Forward to 2023, a religious leader of …
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