Like most of Trinidad and Tobago, I am not looking forward to the upcoming election (a.k.a. silly) season with the current offerings. The PNM and the UNC or its derivatives have ruled this country since independence and the problems of underdevelopment persist. Citizens need to escape the never-ending abusive cycle …
Read More »Demming: Rowley should set positive precedent, give us the 2020 Election Date
The PNM Manifesto 2015 begins: “In summary, we in the PNM envision a society where integrity and morality in public life is of the highest priority and the Government serves the public good above all else, and where decisions are made and actions taken by the Government in the best …
Read More »Demming: Lawless leaders set the standard for indiscipline in T&T
‘Discipline guarantees success’ has been a tried-and-true maxim, but no matter how disciplined you are, if your operating context is chaotic, you are unlikely to succeed. At all levels, Trinidad and Tobago exhibits a lack of discipline, which is facilitated by the absence of enforcement of the rules. From captain …
Read More »Demming: Brand Angostura needs policy of gender equality, not just female board members
In 10 years, Angostura Holdings Limited has had two women appointed to their board of directors: Vidia Persad-Doodnath was the first in 2009 and Ingrid Lashley the second in 2016. At the time of her appointment, Ingrid Lashley was the only woman out of eight board members, if you exclude …
Read More »Demming: Time to disrupt the PNM/UNC status quo
On an early morning run or walk through Port of Spain, you are greeted by homelessness, filth and a strong smell of human faeces. That’s not very different from some other developing countries, but after 60 years of dominance by one political party, our capital city is still in this …
Read More »Demming: Mr Mayor, praise in public, criticise in private!
When a mayor resorts to angrily scolding a roomful of more than 80 adults (all of whom can vote), it tells me that he has forgotten the road travelled to the office he holds. It tells me that he should not be the mayor of anything; he should really return …
Read More »Demming: Atone for your intemperance with sexual harassment legislation, Mr PM
Twenty-six years ago, Radhica Saith published a book titled Why Not a Woman? It paid tribute to more than 100 women in Trinidad who had been making a difference in various spheres of life. One of the women featured at the time was former government minister and mother of our …
Read More »Demming: Do the right thing for T&T’s harassed women and release the Darryl Smith report, Mr PM
On 9 April 2018, I blogged: “How would things have been different for the minister of sports had the GOTT implemented a sexual harassment policy throughout all state enterprises and ministries and piloted relevant legislation? Women’s rights are human rights and once again this government is failing us.” Eighteen months …
Read More »Demming: State failure to blame for Arouca rehab facility
Leave alone … zap … seems to be the preferred management strategy being deployed throughout this country. It is a very unhelpful strategy to leave any situation to fester then swoop down and try to zap it out of existence. The recent furore over the 69 or so people being …
Read More »Demming: Why Patriotic Energies can be the game-changer for Trinidad and Tobago
The consummation of this deal with Patriotic Energies and Technologies Company Ltd (PETCL) might be the game-changer we have been looking for to change the work ethic of Trinidad and Tobago. But it will require a level of collaboration that we have not experienced in recent times. From one perspective, …
Read More »Demming: Election Goody No.1; amnesty extension with no tax refund is mamaguy
Hurray … election goodies have begun. The income tax amnesty has been extended to September 30th. But like an ungrateful voter, my response is a big steups. Unless the extension of time is accompanied by the release of refund cheques, we are all in the same place. The tax amnesty …
Read More »Demming: PM needs to start believing in us again
The unravelling of the contract between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Chinese construction company, Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co Ltd (CGGC), is so close to the fourth anniversary of PNM’s 2015 election victory because it represents the collapse of a significant plank upon which the Keith Rowley-led administration placed …
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