The year was 1986, and my American University Soccer team was having an average season compared to our previous season having reached the National Championship game against perennial powerhouse, UCLA. Seven of our starting team had graduated, including three fellow Trinbagonians who were players of outstanding quality. I was now …
Read More »Noble: The ‘underbanked’ and the $100 bill; the real solution is accessible electronic banking for all
Much of the discussion about the introduction of the polymer $100 bill conflates the evil of ‘dark’ money with persons who have been shut out of the banking system. The persons who deal in ‘dark’ money have self-selected to operate outside the system; but there are those who are unable …
Read More »Daly Bread: Delusions, deceivers and duds; how ‘Marlene mess’ exposes long-standing state deficiencies
Events that rock us into further consternation about the state of our country and whether ‘we gone through’ are occurring with increasing frequency. Sadly, the responses of our rulers are superficial. The event that dominated the news cycle last week was the arrest of Marlene McDonald on significant fraud charges …
Read More »Rowley assumes Marlene’s portfolio; as Simonette appointment ‘cancelled in light of new information’
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has assumed the portfolio of Minister of Public Administration, after Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald was fired from the Cabinet for a third time this morning. The Ministry of Communications initially stated that Senator Garvin Simonette, an attorney by profession, would be sworn-in …
Read More »TTPS confirms McDonald detained in corruption investigation, Gov’t tightlipped on PNM deputy political leader
Minister of Communications Donna Cox confirmed this afternoon that her Cabinet colleague and Member of Parliament Marlene McDonald is now under police investigation but did not divulge whether internal action might be underway. A Loop T&T report this morning, which quoted an unnamed ‘senior police officer’, stated that McDonald and …
Read More »Daly Bread: Crooks, mooks and jooks; the choice between corruption and incompetence
I have emphasised in these columns that we cannot expect our country to come out of its steep, continuous and frequently murderous decline if we continue, as I recently put it, with ‘poor governance, pursuit of failed policy, inability to vary something that is not working and official petulance when …
Read More »Dear Editor: Only justice can solve war between ‘haves’ and have-nots’, not ‘one shot, one kill’
“The police and the police commissioner are not supposed to declare war on the citizens of the country. They are supposed to bridge the gaps and develop and maintain good relationships with the people in the communities. “[…] The youths in our communities are not criminals by nature; it is …
Read More »Fixin T&T: Kamla must fire Ramdeen now! UNC Senator operating under several clouds
“It’s been more than 48 hours since criminal charges have been officially laid against [UNC Senator Gerald Ramdeen]. Mr Ramdeen is an unelected member of our Parliament whose removal is long overdue…” Fixin T&T calls on Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to remove Senator Gerald Ramdeen, after he was charged for …
Read More »Dear Dale Enoch: Who we go put?! NOTA is not a serious option for responsible citizens
I know I have a strong stomach. In my almost five decades as an adult, I have attended countless political meetings and have never once, as far as I remember, thrown up. I almost did this morning. Had I already broken my fast when I saw ‘50,000 NEW JOBS’ sprawled …
Read More »Over $16 million unaccounted from FIFA-funded Home of Football project! TTFA bank records to be searched next
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams and general secretary Camara David could be asked to explain a gap in excess of TT$16 million between the quantum of contracts at their headquarters and the budget for the controversial Home of Football in Couva. The revelation comes as TTFA …
Read More »Chambers of Commerce criticise ‘invasive’ Unexplained Wealth Bill, urge Govt to hold consultations
“The very invasive legislation seeks to investigate property owners, business persons and others with accumulated wealth as to the means in which they are acquired… “The Joint Chambers do acknowledge the present administration’s drive for transparency within the private economic forces that service our nation. We would also hope our …
Read More »Noble: Don’t forget how we got in this financial mess; and here’s how to improve our economy
“Thank God for decisions made to stimulate drilling […] by the Kamla Persad- Bissessar government… Instead of benefitting from flowing gas today, we might well have been on our knees, eating grass.” (Dr Bhoe Tewarie, Trinidad Express, 13 March.) An astounding statement with subtexts! What exactly is he saying and …
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