Who aborted the process for the appointment of a substantive commissioner of police and why? Is the unprecedented situation of the top leadership positions in the Police Service now being vacant the outcome of the President’s acts and omissions concerning the merit list which the Police Service Commission had settled, …
Read More »Crowne: Copyright and the Privy Council; why AG’s wrong on Petrotrin complaint
The Privy Council decision in Maharaj v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, [2019] UKPC 21 (20 May 2019) has shone a Guaracara-esque spotlight onto Petrotrin’s decision to abandon its $97 million USD claim against Malcolm Jones. According to the Court, based on the evidence available to them, ‘there …
Read More »Daly Bread: The boundaries of Attorneys General; from Cox and Barr to Ramlogan and Al Rawi
Two weeks ago our current Attorney General, Faris Al Rawi, and the former AG, Anand Ramlogan SC, engaged in a public dispute over Mr Ramlogan’s appearance in a case heard in the Privy Council on 20 March 2019. The proper boundaries of conduct for attorneys general have also been a …
Read More »Dear Editor: Who is really responsible for Petrotrin?! Khan, Rowley and Imbert have dirty hands
“One would swear that [Franklin] Khan’s government had just come into office and didn’t have a clue as to what is going on; that Petrotrin was some runaway horse whose directors and management did what they wanted. “[…] All of these projects were started during the chairmanship of Malcolm Jones, …
Read More »A familiar depression: Daly bemoans PNM’s poor communication and belligerence
This time last week, a familiar depression settled on me. It is best described by referring to some of what I wrote in November 2010, six months after the so-called “People’s Partnership Government” was in office. At that time, I suggested: “The bottom line is that a mere six months …
Read More »Is just a PNM movie: Best look at what politicians are saying but NOT doing
“Life is a stage and we are the actors,” calypsonian Lord Valentino sang in the 1970’s. Three or four decades later, endorsement came from the novelist Earl Lovelace, who declared that (Politics in T&T) “…is just a movie.” “Everybody have a part to play,” Valentino also sings. Including Faris Al-Rawi. …
Read More »‘Do so ent like so’: Raffique Shah looks at UNC’s reaction to Jwala’s sacking
I am surprised that so many people are surprised by the termination of services—firing, suspension, the euphemistically-couched “sent on administrative leave”—of several senior government officials, the most prominent being Governor of the Central Bank, Jwala Rambarran. Clearing the politically-constructed State-stables of partisan appointees is a ritual that occurs every time …
Read More »Fixin T&T: Rowley must remove Malcolm Jones from Energy Committee
Civic watchdog group, Fixin’ T&T, has called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to remove former Petrotrin executive chairman Malcolm Jones from his new portfolio as member of a Standing Committee for the Ministry of Energy. The following is the full press release from Fixin’ T&T: FIXIN’ T&T calls on …
Read More »Signs of the times, Kamla’s minority report and Jack lectures teachers
On Friday afternoon, John “Amigo” Matthews, 54, was walking along the Eastern Main Road in Barataria when a sign for The Gate Church fell and immediately took him to meet his Maker. An eyewitness said it was nobody’s fault but rather a tragic accident prompted by high winds. Yet, Mr …
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