National Security is the concept that the government, along with its parliament, should protect its sovereignty and its citizens. What is inherent in this concept is a belief that actions taken are necessary and justified. The recently concluded debate of the Strategic Services (Amendment) Act brought to the forefront a …
Read More »Office of the PM responds: Gov’t sees “critical need” to end child marriages
The following release was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister in response to the issue of child marriages for Trinidad and Tobago’s religious sects: The Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) has noted with concern the statements that are being …
Read More »Gap between intelligence and action: why SSA probably won’t help war on crime
Really, it does not bother me that the Strategic Service Agency (SSA), or any other State intelligence agency, from the AIA to the ZIA, might want to peep through my back door, monitor what I am writing now, check my email before I do, or listen in on my telephone …
Read More »CARICOM divided: The myth of Caribbean free movement
The furore over Trinidad and Tobago’s deportation of Jamaican nationals points to an ongoing issue rather than a new one. It originates out of a clear misunderstanding of who qualifies for consideration under Articles 45 and 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas 2001 for “Free Movement of People.” Both …
Read More »A land of perceptions: Daly SC muses over political spy games and media woes
Sunity Maharaj and I wrote, on the same Sunday last month, about the much delayed revelation of the exercise of so called Ministerial discretion to make State housing available to media personnel. These persons, including high profile journalists, were treated preferentially, at least as far as jumping the queue was …
Read More »Maybe America deserves Trump: Raffique Shah muses over US presidential campaign
So what if Donald Trump wins the race for presidency of the United States next November? He won’t be the first fool to occupy the highest office in the most powerful country on earth. Nor will he be the stupidest president ever. Bear in mind that if he does make …
Read More »Empty promises! Fixin T&T slams PNM’s campaign finance legislation offer
Civic watchdog group, Fixin’ T&T, today slammed Stuart Young, the Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister, for “vacuous” promises regarding campaign financing legislation. Young vowed to present legislation before the next general election. However, Fixin’ T&T, which is …
Read More »Lazy and crooked or overworked and undervalued? The Public Service dilemma
Generally when one is asked to give their opinion on the Public Service and public officers in Trinidad and Tobago the following terms usually come up: lazy, corrupt, red tape, run-around and poor service. Yet is this image fair? My answer would be yes and no. This answer comes from …
Read More »Our other oil: How the T&T economy can benefit from arts and culture
The proceeds of our oil and gas production are no longer sustaining the high life. As they say in Grenada, “the money can’t reach.” For decades there has much talk about diversification of the economy, but no action. This is a pity because we have other oil. I refer to the …
Read More »Fixin T&T says speed guns will save lives; congratulates Hinds and Police
The following is a press release from Fixin’ T&T on the introduction of speed guns by Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds: FIXIN’ T&T congratulates Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds on putting the infrastructure in place for laws governing speed on our nation’s roads to be ‘effectively implemented’ by …
Read More »Off the Cuff-ie: Maxie talks corruption, PNM ‘arrogance’ and the ‘vomit comet’
“You can look at several laws that have been passed over the years that made absolutely no difference,” said Minister of Communications and Public Administration Maxie Cuffie. “The integrity in public life act has not made us more honest. It has not dealt with corruption. And it is because we …
Read More »Call for reformation: Why Archbishop Joe’s petition spells trouble for hardened criminals
Archbishop Joseph Harris’ initiative to petition Government to free from prison petty offenders who have remained on remand for an inordinately long time is laudable and deserving of support. However, if it’s accepted and implemented in its current form, it would deal an unjust blow to many more accused persons, …
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