“The idea that bright students use their brains rather than their hands continues to haunt the Education System; it has a demonstrably negative effect on the Tech-Voc subjects. “[…] The result of this prejudice is that we have technicians but not technologists, that we produce students who can repair shoes …
Read More »From romance to reality (Pt 2): how Compte de Lopinot forcibly enslaved free Africans
The well known, formerly enslaved, black abolitionist, Mary Prince, cogently argued in her autobiography in 1831: “How can slaves be happy when they have the halter round their neck and the whip upon their back?” Prince was directly confronting the lie of slave owners and other apologists for slavery that …
Read More »Dear Editor: Five reasons the worst is yet to come in T&T
Recent events in Trinidad and Tobago like the closing of Petrotrin and many other examples have signalled that we are in crisis. For some, we are seeing a crisis of leadership, for others, we are seeing a crisis of governance. It is hard to deny that our future is uncertain. …
Read More »From romance to reality: Why we deserve the truth about Compte de Lopinot and his “contented slaves”
Responding to the National Trust’s declaration to elevate the Lopinot Historical Complex to a heritage site, a Trinidad Guardian article in 2013 commended the villagers for preserving vital elements of the built landscape of early nineteenth century. Presumably, the “colourful history” to which the writer alluded is the abstract on …
Read More »Daly Bread: Breaking useless moulds and transforming Carnival
I congratulate the Minister of Tourism, Randall Mitchell MP, for his reported admission that Carnival has failed as a tourism product. In 2015, I had already described “the acceleration of the decline of Carnival into a minority sport”. Only last week I complained again that our rich and varied musical …
Read More »Tribute to Professor Ken Philmore: the steelpan pioneer T&T never fully embraced
“Professor Ken Philmore should have been one of our immortal monarchs and champions… Without assistance, without adulation, without even our cursory attention, Professor went about spreading the gospel of our sound and our instrument. “He would continue to push the international profile of pan further appearing with giants: Tito Puente, …
Read More »Demming: Requiem at Angostura; Bharath is the chief celebrant…
You are cordially invited to The Daily Requiem for all victims of sexual harassment at Angostura Holdings Limited and indeed throughout Trinidad and Tobago. The chief celebrant will be Mr Terrence Bharath Chairman, Angostura Holdings Limited. In anticipation of his sermon here are two quotes from previous sermons. On July …
Read More »No school on Friday 12 Oct; gov’t approves time off for teachers convention
The Ministry of Education confirmed that all schools—at primary, secondary and ECCE level—will be closed on Friday 12 October 2018. This is to facilitate the 2018 National Convention of Teachers, which will be held from 9am to 3pm on that day. Harrilal Seecharan, chief education officer of the Ministry of …
Read More »Young: Sankat will be treated like normal deportee; returns to Trinidad after US$909 fine
“I wish to state that all arms of our law enforcement that deal with returning deportees have been notified and are prepared to receive Mr Sankat, in the usual course of a returning national who has been deported…” Minister of National Security, Stuart Young, issued the following press statement on …
Read More »Daly Bread: We came again; the Big 5 and the future of steelpan
The second edition of the Big 5 concert, comprising prime bands in prime time, took place on the eve of Republic Day. This column is about what such an event demonstrates regarding leadership, management, positive development and self esteem. The event was promoted as We Comin’ Again. The Big 5 …
Read More »Dear Editor: “We hold up a mirror to society…”; MFO responds to Baldeosingh on ‘gay rights’
“Mr [Kevin] Baldeosingh’s confusion may be caused by his desire to correlate the findings with the cited comment by Inglehart. Our position is not that our country’s values have changed but that these values are changing. A world of difference.” In the following Letter to the Editor, MFO (Market Facts …
Read More »Gilkes: Republic reflections; pondering difference between ‘de-colonial’ and ‘post-colonial’
“Politics is a game of fear. Those that do not have the ability to frighten power elites do not succeed. “[…] The platitudes about justice, equality and democracy are just that. Only when ruling elites become worried about survival do they react. Appealing to the better nature of the powerful …
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