“[…] Mrs Camille Robinson-Regis, at the relevant political meeting, laid a series of charges against Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In so doing, for dramatic effect—as is the norm on the political hustings and in the court of law, as depicted in movies—she referenced the Leader of the Opposition’s full name, including …
Read More »Dear Editor: Choosing one more thing, should T&T finally formalise ‘Trinbagonian’ for its citizens?
“[…] As a nation, Trinidad and Tobago ought to be beyond the moment in which the word ‘Trinidadian’ constitutes a default adjectival encapsulation of things Trinidad and Tobago. “It is time to officially formalise the word ‘Trinbagonian’ or to institute an appropriately similar substitute that effectively reflects the conjoined community …
Read More »Dear Editor: Faris should do what he’s paid to do—not indulge in PR gimmicks
“[…] Does it feel good to see a minister doing the hard work? Yes of course, but he is not paid to do that. “While this task is very necessary, he is paid to get it done—not do it himself. His time, which costs the taxpayers lots of money by the hour, …
Read More »Daly Bread: T&T spoiled by deadweight of no credible political choice
In July 2021, I wrote: ‘There is now an urgency also to get real about ourselves in light of the nasty, and now what seems a dangerous and emotionally unbalanced feuding between the Government and the Opposition. ‘The country has descended almost exclusively into the practice of the poisonous …
Read More »Noble: Choosing the one thing; what T&T missed amidst the ‘insidious’ name-calling
‘Bond, James Bond’ is an immortal catchphrase. No youth of yesteryear would forget Dr No and Sean Connery. In that first movie in the franchise, Sean Connery said his name is ‘Bond…’ then closes his lighter—‘James Bond’. Those words lived through many years. This scene rushed into my memory this …
Read More »Vaneisa: History matters; why Min of Education should promote Prof Brereton’s pioneering collection
True story: ‘In 1919—over 80 years after Emancipation—a Trinidadian petitioned the King for compensation for 31 freed persons previously owned by his grandfather, which he claimed had never been paid.’ It’s one of the astonishing tales recounted by Professor Emerita Bridget Brereton in her newly released book, History Matters: Selected …
Read More »Dear Editor: A Eurocentric psyche underpins name-calling between Kamla and Camille—on both sides
“[…] Kunta Kinte, the original Toby, was kidnapped at age 17 and enslaved in America. Yes, his body surrendered to physical defeat but his spirit, his mind remained untouched. “[…] Unfortunately, the psyche of today’s Toby is configured by Eurocentric institutions—programmes that subconsciously motivate him to consciously act like a …
Read More »Dear Editor: Gov’t indifference to the man on the street offends me, not Kamla Susheila’s ‘slave master’ jibe
“[…] The fact is that 2015 – 2025 was declared by the United Nations as the International Decade for People of African Descent with the theme: Recognition, Justice, Development. “[…] Has our country ticked off any of the objectives of the Decade? […] Why be outraged by a pure, if …
Read More »Dear Editor: Kamla’s apologists knew she was not attacked, so apologise for ‘middlename-gate’!
“[…] Curiously, the United National Congress was similarly quiet in the days following the PNM political meeting that was held in Arima on 24 May. “[…] One would be safe to assume that were there an attack of any kind that night on the Member for Siparia, it would have …
Read More »Dear Editor: What’s this about slave name, Kamla? Humble yourself and apologise—or resign
“[…] As a black Trinbagonian, I am truly offended that you felt that you should have gone to such a base degree through invoking the horrors of slavery in defence of your name. The UNC and Trinidad and Tobago deserve much better. “[…] You forgot to mention that when you …
Read More »Mottley: Rethinking confrontation; the pitfalls of the government and public sector’s existing relations
“[…] For many decades, T&T’s highly productive energy sector funded disproportionately high standards of living in its non-energy sectors, including the public service. However, production in the energy sector has been in decline since 2010, masked temporarily by extraordinary recent increases in energy prices. “[…] In such difficult circumstances, governments …
Read More »Noble: Harden children bound to feel—the story of Trinidad and Tobago
A ‘harden’ child is a stubborn child who has to feel the wrath– usually in the form of ‘licks’–to understand the lesson. Trinidad is a ‘harden’ child—repeating its experiences without learning from them. When the country is splintered and only the rich can survive, you are looking for trouble. You …
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