It was a pleasant surprise to find myself so eager to watch the First Test match between the West Indies and India in Dominica. I embraced the prospect, knowing fully well that we were unlikely to do well against that formidable team. I prepared for Wednesday, basically leaving the day …
Read More »Brinsley Samaroo: A Historian of the People who saw potential all around him
I first met UWI Professor Emeritus Dr Brinsley Samaroo many years ago on a radio programme, where I brought up an aspect of race relations in Trinidad and Tobago that I thought his explanation was missing. He agreed with me, and we spoke for a long time following the programme. …
Read More »Vaneisa: Hard not to be cynical about Caricom
Even when you have always believed that a unified Caribbean is the ideal state for regional development; even when you support the idea of Caricom, it is hard to buy in to what it has turned out to be in its 50 years of existence. I was but a child …
Read More »Noble: Central Gov’t in its present format doesn’t work—oh, gorm, man! Lead, nah!
Disappointment and impatience cloak our land in the run-up to the Local Government elections. Oh, Gorm Man! When will we get serious about our life, children, and future? A Lloyd Best quote captures our dilemma, which is the appalling lack of imagination and gravitas to tackle our nation’s problems: “[…] …
Read More »Mia Mottley: The Black Stalin was a maestro, griot and true Caribbean leader
“[…] Black Stalin was one of our region’s finest masters of calypso. Both his lyrics and his melodies expertly captured the rhythm and vibe and voice of the Caribbean. “He was acutely conscious of our shared history, culture, passions and concerns and expressed them in his songs in a way …
Read More »Dear Editor: We can’t increase Caribbean integration when it’s cheaper to fly to Miami than Barbados
“[…] Decreased airfare is one way to stimulate intra-regional travel for both business and leisure. “Studies show that increased visitor arrivals lead to increased economic activity—more tax collection, increased employment, and general stimulation of economies…” The following Letter to the Editor on the disproportionately high airfares within the Caribbean was …
Read More »“He used calypso music to define calypso music”; Caricom honours iconic calypsonian, David Rudder
“[…] From the very first note, a Rudder song grabs your soul, and never lets it go. He gave us the anthem that still rallies West Indians near and far. He beseeched us to appreciate our neighbours, and to empathise with them in their times of struggle. He used calypso …
Read More »Dear Editor: Forget Jagdeo’s ‘unfounded’ comments—T&T has always been there for Guyana
“[…] Some of Guyana’s most brilliant and respected attorneys and scholars are not only highly regarded by Trinbagonians, but considered to be part of the callaloo that makes Trinidad and Tobago the most welcoming island in the Caribbean. “[…] How can the former president of Guyana forget the role of …
Read More »Orin: Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana need ‘reset’ from lingering political animosities
“[…] When the incumbent David Granger administration tried to stop the party of Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali from taking office after an election they’d won in March 2020, some in that party felt that Dr Keith Rowley was soft on Granger, in contrast to his Barbadian and Vincentian colleagues …
Read More »Noble: Brer Anansi stories; Dr Rowley’s Guyanese minefield
All Caribbean children (from Jamaica to Guyana) learned about Brer Anansi. Brer Anansi is one of the most significant characters in Caribbean folklore. ‘He is admirably clever as he is greedy, selfish and reckless. In a place where there are no standards and anything goes, Anansi holds a cherished place …
Read More »Noble: Reading between the lines; how leaked CPSO email could trigger Guyana’s Caricom exit
The most momentous happening of this year is the leaking of an email from the Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO). This event will reverberate beyond the ripples of the teargassing incident at the Queen’s Park Savannah. The latter reflects the polarisation of our country but the email fiasco highlights the …
Read More »Noble: Divided we fall; splintered T&T is stumbling carelessly into bankruptcy
The last 21 months have drained our nation’s emotional resources and injected paranoid feelings. Uncertainty and risk are now our constant companions. We no longer have a clear vision of the future. We are exhausted. The constant quarrelling on every front has bewildered us, and we no longer appear to …
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