The following letter on ArcelorMittal’s retrenchment of hundreds of Trinidad and Tobago employees was written by Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) education officer Bryan St Louis: Retrenchment is defined as the forced layoff of employees by a company usually to cut down or reduce payroll expenses. In our jurisdiction and in accordance …
Read More »Doomed to importing foods: Raffique points to economic risks of our diet
Recently, there has been much noise over Trinidad and Tobago’s capacity to produce the foods that we eat. I use the word “noise” instead of discussion or debate because so much of what is said and written is uninformed. With the economy in full-blown recession and foreign exchange inadequate to …
Read More »Mystifying dead-ends to reform: Sunity explains why the people must seize reins
Of all the plans being promoted by the Dr Keith Rowley administration, local government reform offers the greatest potential for revolutionary political change through decentralisation of power. But we would be a very naïve people indeed if we were to ignore the record and underestimate the great risk of it …
Read More »Recession inflammation: Daly fears mix of simmering anger and economic strain
The recent departures of Raymond Tim Kee and Marlene McDonald from the respective offices of Mayor of Port of Spain and Minister of Housing respectively are still reverberating around a discussion of what is the degree of inappropriate behaviour that requires departure from office or denotes unsuitability to hold high …
Read More »Dr Rowley’s baptism of fire; why PM may follow tainted footsteps of successors
The dismissal of Marlene McDonald could be the start of something good, if it helps to shift the system towards more accountable power. If this were to happen, it would mark a real revolution. The more predictable outcome, however, is that her dismissal will stand as a new marker of …
Read More »Protecting the public interest: Daly explains value of Fixin’ T&T and Womantra
On Wednesday last, I gave the third in a series of presentations put on by the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies. My presentation was entitled Professional Organisations and the Public Interest. One aspect of my presentation was an examination of why we are so often silent in the …
Read More »Fixin’ T&T: Excuses by Kamla and Padarath for hiring relatives is insulting
Civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, will target Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and MPs Barry Padarath, Dr Bhoe Tewarie and Rushton Paray tomorrow for allegedly breaching Sections 24.2 and 29.1 of the Integrity in Public Life Act by having relatives employed at their constituency offices. Fixin’ T&T, which is headed by …
Read More »Ode to Grenfell: BC Pires bids a very special farewell to a Guardian icon
Satirical columnist, BC Pires, offers an imitable tribute to Guardian Media chairman, Grenfell Kissoon: “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” – Mark Antony OUTSIDE the media, few people know or think much about the Guardian Media chairman, Grenfell Kissoon, and even those within the industry think little …
Read More »No Biggie: Why we shouldn’t be too quick to celebrate Marlene’s dismissal
I must give credit to my colleague Earl Best for the title of this piece given that, on this rare occasion, he was faster out of the blocks than I was. The news late last night was that Housing Minister Marlene McDonald had been fired. Don’t pop that champagne just …
Read More »Fixin’ T&T: Rowley did right thing; but procurement legislation and stronger DPP needed
Civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, has congratulated Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for doing “the right thing” in dismissing Housing and Urban Development Minister Marlene McDonald. However, the group also urged Rowley to prioritise meaningful legislation on procurement, campaign financing, party financing and whistle blowing and create a more financially …
Read More »Rowley sacks Marlene; Randall Mitchell gets Housing portfolio as PM acts
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has revoked the appointment of Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Marlene McDonald. Rowley’s decision, which was communicated to President Anthony Carmona, follows intensified scrutiny on her behaviour during a previous stint as minister under the Patrick Manning administration and as an Opposition MP under …
Read More »Dear Prime Minister: A policy switch can help T&T though economic crisis
The following open letter to Prime Minister Dr Keith Christopher Rowley, which is titled ‘the leadership we require for these tough times’, was sent to Wired868 by author Keston K Perry: Dear Dr Rowley, It has just been six months since your entry into this office as the fourth head of …
Read More »