“[…] Within recent times, several of the retrenched workers from The Myerson Company Limited have approached our Union for advice and representation. “In the process, they raised with us some concerns over their contributions to NIS—only to discover that no contributions were remitted to NIB for parts of 2018, none …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s bureaucratic education system doesn’t reward success or punish failure
“[…] Public Education is the only industry we have in which if you do a good job, nothing good happens; and if you do a bad job nothing bad happens to you. If we do not change this fact, we will not get better schools…” The following letter to the …
Read More »My friend, Sprang—Eric St Bernard remembers an enduring friendship
‘Sprangalang’ was mih partner. We worked together on many productions. Sprang did not tell jokes; he told stories. He was a true standup comedian who would have held his own on any stage with the likes of Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock. I recruited Sprang into radio broadcasting …
Read More »Calypso as film: How does Dr Bird stack up against the director of The Birds?
De lizard run up she foot, An’ it disappear. Everybody still searchin’ everywhere. Wey de lizard, Teacher Mildred? …. …. …. …. De way she jolly an’ happy Ah sure de lizard must be ticklin’ she. There are many directors, screenwriters, DOPs, storyboard artists and cutting room assistants who would …
Read More »Daly Bread: Lilies in the sand; T&T needs right conditions to grow our human capital
Like us, canna lilies are colourful children of the tropics. Our culture, as I shall explain, shares characteristics with these lilies but crucially departs in the nurture requirements. My Mayaro beat continued for much of September to include the dry hot sun of petit carême, in the course of which …
Read More »NJAC rededication: Gene Miles, Errol Pilgrim and Makandal Daaga come to the fore
“[…] Gene Miles’ evidence before Karl De La Bastide-led commission of enquiry exposed corruption in very high places. The one-man commissioner, Karl De La Bastide, recommended that all evidence recorded at the enquiry ‘should be, without delay, transmitted to the Public Service Commission’ to enable enforcing of ‘Disciplinary Laws of …
Read More »NACC: ‘If laughter is the best medicine, Sprangalang was one of the best doctors T&T ever produced’
“[…] He was certainly a man of deep and original thought. Dennis ‘Sprangalang’ Hall will always be remembered for his ability to take serious and complex issues and portray them in a manner in which everyone could understand, appreciate and enjoy…” The following press statement on the passing of cultural …
Read More »Noble: Our young men can change, if we try—addressing domestic violence
The police commissioner, in April 2020, estimated that domestic violence reports would double this year (232 in 2019 to 558 in 2020). This is consistent with what the UN calls the ‘shadow pandemic’—a global increase in domestic violence amid the Covid-19 health crisis. ‘How do you reach out for help …
Read More »Vaneisa: The Gentle Observer—remembering the ‘Cultural Sprangalang’
The following column on Dennis ‘Sprangalang’ Hall, who passed away on Friday 2 October 2020, was first published in the Sunday Guardian on 30 January 1994: “Why you want to write about me?” he asks suspiciously on the telephone. “I doh like publicity. I’s just ah ordinary man making mih …
Read More »Dear editor: Gender-based violence is a ‘shadow pandemic’ in T&T; we need attitudinal change
“[…] Attitudinal and behavioural changes won’t happen by vaps. We have serious work to do. For example, we must address the need for values/conscience formation and citizenship programmes—at home, in our educational institutions, in our faith communities, in our workplaces etc…” The following is a press statement from the Catholic …
Read More »Noble: ‘Disruption or disturbance?’ T&T appears trapped inside perfect storm
What a horrendous week! On Friday 18th, Dr Terrence Farrell, discussing the future of our economy, pointed to the need for disruption in the way the country’s business is done—using as an example BP’s strategic pivot (‘bold, fraught with uncertainty, risky but highly socially responsible’). He asked us a most …
Read More »Daly Bread: Understanding the part the panyard plays in T&T’s social fabric
It appears from their television interviews, that the Community Recovery Committee headed by Anthony Watkins is proceeding with the task given to it by the Prime Minister, namely ‘to find solutions to address some chronic problems in urban and semi urban communities’. The appointment of the committee was stimulated by …
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