“[…] Under the Westminster system of government, if you are the leader of your political party and you lose a party leadership election, you have an obligation to resign from your position as prime minister—or any leadership position that you hold in a legislature or a body such as the …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Josse Franco was enjoying a Kes concert, when Mama Dlo showed up…
“[…] With her metallic chains clinking against her bulging, scaly skin, Mama Dlo suddenly skidded into the heart of the crowd. Panic sent everyone hurtling in different directions, leaving the venue nearly deserted. “Kes and his stunned band stood rooted to the spot; it was up to me. I seized …
Read More »Daly Bread: A triumph of legitimacy; PDP’s Farley gave good ‘calpet’ to PNM bullies
Farley Augustine and the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) have interrupted the alarming descent of Trinidad and Tobago into an authoritarian one-party state and I thank them for that. Having comprehensively routed the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM) in the Tobago House of Assembly elections, in the backyard of its leader …
Read More »Noble: ‘She made me do it’—T&T society is taught to distrust women; we see the bloody results
The news was blunt but not unexpected. The lead sentences (Express, 9 December 2021) calmly reported, ‘Shadie Dassrath was beaten to death in an apartment in La Romaine last Friday morning. An autopsy done on the body of the 31-year woman found she died of blunt force trauma and sustained …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Lian-Devi Indar tries to turn the tables on her hero, Raymond Ramnarine
“[…] My heart raced, my palms were invaded by beads of perspiration and fear consumed my body. Everything went silent for a second and all I could hear was the announcer cheering, ‘Please welcome, with a warm round of applause, Lian-Devi Indar of ASJA Girls’ College San- Fernando, performing Achutam …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Shantelle Williams has a supernatural encounter with Gerard Besson in the forest
“[…] ‘Shhhh, you don’t want her seeing you. Quick, turn your clothes inside out.’ “‘Her?’ I peeked over the rock, the horrific sight on the other side made me double over. ‘That thing’s a her?’ “There’re few words to describe what I saw, monstrous is one of them. Her dark …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Shirley Prescott dreams of a majestic Carnival—but will reality bite?
“[…] In the midst of the packed atmosphere, the unmistakable sound of a leather whip cracks with fury amongst the crowd like a bolt of lightning across a darkened sky. Spectators carefully inch away though against their better instincts—they wish to lean closer, eager for a more desirable view. “Younger …
Read More »Dear Editor: Nobody can hold two full-time jobs at once; Duke should choose between PSA and THA
“[…] No matter how intelligent, resourceful, talented, creative or gifted, one individual cannot effectively and efficiently discharge the functions/duties of two full-time jobs. “[…] The Chief Secretary, in effect, would be demonstrating a stupefying lack of confidence in the other members of his team at the THA if he allows …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Shara Balkaran quit cricket that day, but Brian Lara had other ideas…
“[…] ‘Why are you here?’ asked one of the boys. ‘Girls cannot play cricket,’ said another jokingly. “Their comments were followed by an eruption of laughter from the other boys. Demotivated and embarrassed, I darted from there, as fast as a lightning bolt. I sat at the end of the …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Malique Auguste foresees a dour Carnival where masqueraders are ‘lonely together’
“[…] It’s Carnival Monday, 2022, and reluctantly a gloomy mass of people trickle down the street. Post-covid Carnival and barely anyone marches along the avenue because most are too concerned with catching the still present disease, except of course for those vagrants that have nowhere else to be. “Due to …
Read More »Write Start (11-15): Can Gabriella Mohammed make it as a writer? Lisa Allen-Agostini offers some advice
“[…] My whole dream was to be a writer and my parents—well, more specifically my dad—always crushed it. My dad wanted me to become a doctor, something ‘useful’. “However I wanted to be a writer. The feeling I felt as I brought a tree or a meadow to life. I …
Read More »Write Start (16-18): Aastha Kumar sees designer masks and condensed parade in post-pandemic Carnival
“[…] A ‘no mask, no mas’ policy should be adopted with costume designers incorporating this aspect of PPE into costume designs. “[…] The parade of the bands should be condensed in to one day at one venue to limit the risk of infection…” Seventeen-year-old San Fernando Government Secondary student Aastha …
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