In parts of the Caribbean, including here in Trinidad and Tobago, fooling someone is referred to as “giving a six for a nine.” Last week, a High Court Judge was arrested and charged with—as it is popularly known—driving under the influence. After his court appearance, it was reported that the …
Read More »EOC: Denying employment on religious grounds is illegal; SMDS: EOC is soliciting Nafisah and has proven bias
“Members of the public are reminded that denying employment to someone on the basis of their religion may constitute discrimination, and is prohibited by the Equal Opportunity Act. “[…] Persons who have been subjected to discrimination in their employment, on the basis of their religion—or any other status ground—can lodge …
Read More »Bim at 45 (Pt 3): Melodies from a master craftsman; is Tanker the Derek Walcott of Caribbean music?
Bim Singh’s final fall is the harsh culmination of the metaphor of entrapment that runs through the film. A mesh, inescapable, awaits Bim everywhere, even in his opulent, new haven. It is an element of the past which refuses to go away that jumps out of nowhere on his return …
Read More »Uber: T&T lacks environment for innovation; Govt: Uber’s lack of transparency was dangerous
Uber T&T: “We believe that there is a lack of a proper environment for innovation and technology to thrive in Trinidad and Tobago…” T&T Government: “[…] The protection of our locals and of our economy should never be subjected to arbitrariness and lack of transparency.” The following are releases from …
Read More »Master’s Voice: The rightness of whiteness; the complex nature of black and brown inferiority beliefs
In Trinbago, there is no racism, only prejudice. Well, daiz wha some people try to explain to mih after mih piece last week. Come to the US and Canada, they told me, to experience “real” racism—I have been to the US some years ago US and have experienced it first-hand. …
Read More »Garcia’s response to hijab furore “lacks veracity and mature thought;” SDMS issues legal letter to AG
“The SDMS has not deprived Ms [Nafisah] Nakhid of any substantive right, […] indeed, the right of any qualifying citizen to participate in [the State-run OJT] programme cannot equate to a right to be enrolled specifically at the Lakshmi Girls High School. “Therefore, references by the Minister of Education with …
Read More »Daly Bread: Bitter-sweet royal wedding Saturday; Kingdom Choir versus PanTrinbago comess
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, aged 19, was the cellist at the royal wedding Saturday before last. Just about the time he was playing Schubert’s Ave Maria, in a setting of style and civility, two things happened. The first was my train of thought that we had artistes of high calibre, who could …
Read More »Bim at 45 (Pt 2): Robertson’s masterful camera work adds to Tanker’s music to make a politician cringe
Andre Tanker orchestrates—there is no better word—perfect harmony between musical movements and plot movements. Key to that harmony is the articulation of a fusion that proved a prophetic precursor to the diversity of musical forms taken for granted in Trinidad today. At a time when ‘Trinidad music’ meant almost exclusively …
Read More »Bim at 45: Production far from perfect but Andre Tanker’s music scores big
“Revisiting Bim four and a half decades later, thanks to the 40th Anniversary Film and Music Pack, I find the film’s imperfections all the more endearing, its shortcomings charming. Perfection in any home-grown Trinidad film product back then would have been out of sync with place and context; it remains …
Read More »Why Imbert must stand firm for the sake of our future economic development
“Thanks to State intervention in almost every sector of the economy over the years, we have developed and enjoyed a comfortable standard of living subsidised by the State… That has provided real opportunities for many as well as lifted large segments of the population out of poverty. “However, it has …
Read More »Glasgow to head new TTPA; call issued for national dialogue on tourism and Carnival
Randy Glasgow, the well-known production company which bears his name and which put on a slew of shows locally every year, has been elected to head the newly formed Trinidad and Tobago Promoters Association (TTPA). Another four members, including Secretary Colin Miles, were on Tuesday elected to form the Executive …
Read More »Not Condemning: T&T’s Angostura Farm, where all animals are holy but only cows are sacred
“Doudou!” “Darling! “Darkie!” “Red ting!” “Sweet ting! “Slim ting!” “Tick ting!” “Tall ting!” Their catcalls come at us from all sides, across the street, across the room, in the Stadium, in the Oval, in City Gate, at the taxi-stand, everywhere. Their candid remarks about our bodies are delivered without hesitation, …
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