I must give credit to my colleague Earl Best for the title of this piece given that, on this rare occasion, he was faster out of the blocks than I was. The news late last night was that Housing Minister Marlene McDonald had been fired. Don’t pop that champagne just …
Read More »Fixin’ T&T: Rowley did right thing; but procurement legislation and stronger DPP needed
Civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, has congratulated Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for doing “the right thing” in dismissing Housing and Urban Development Minister Marlene McDonald. However, the group also urged Rowley to prioritise meaningful legislation on procurement, campaign financing, party financing and whistle blowing and create a more financially …
Read More »Rowley sacks Marlene; Randall Mitchell gets Housing portfolio as PM acts
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has revoked the appointment of Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Marlene McDonald. Rowley’s decision, which was communicated to President Anthony Carmona, follows intensified scrutiny on her behaviour during a previous stint as minister under the Patrick Manning administration and as an Opposition MP under …
Read More »Sack the sugar momma! Live Wire points Keithos to the elephant in the room
Now this is more like it. The PNM Government has finally demonstrated a new era of accountability with State funds and a fearless willingness to root out corruption wherever it can be found. And by that, of course, we mean the “criminal mastermind” that is Dr Ryan Wellington who slipped …
Read More »Fixin T&T: Investigate Marlene for fraud and misbehaviour in public office
Civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, has urged the Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams, to investigate Housing Minister and Port of Spain South MP Marlene McDonald for fraud, misrepresentation, misbehaviour in public office and breach of Parliamentary rules. The request is anchored on documents unearthed through the Freedom of Information …
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 »Raffique rates Rowley’s Gov’t: the PNM’s inherited traps, pitfalls and own goals
I am relieved to learn that the Cabinet “retreat” in Tobago last weekend did not have, as a main item on its agenda: “Achievements of the not-so-new Government during its first six months in office.” If it did, I would have screamed bloody murder. Not to add rape of the …
Read More »Fixing T&T: Rowley must ask Marlene to prove Calabar Foundation exists
The following is a press release from Fixin’ T&T, which raises questions about Housing Minister Marlene McDonald’s interaction with the Calabar Foundation and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s own perceived reluctance to act: Fixin’ T&T notes, in light of calls for ministers to be investigated or fired, Prime Minister (PM) …
Read More »Fixing T&T: Police should investigate Marlene for fraud; Rowley must act now
Fixin’ T&T, a civic watchdog group, has reiterated calls for Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to immediately sack Housing Minister Marlene Mc Donald and for a police investigation to be launched into her role with the Calabar Foundation. The following is the release from Fixin’ T&T: Fixin’ …
Read More »Big Momma’s House; why we are all right about Marlene… and wrong
Independent Senator Dhanayshar Mahabir suggested last Friday that “Big Momma’s House” might be an appropriate caption for the furore surrounding Marlene McDonald’s request for a home for her boo, which may or may not be an improvement on Marlene-gate. If only because it would be more accurate to say Marlene-gated …
Read More »Sunity scrutinises Gov’t approach to recession, Carnival 2016 and Marlene
She might be a woman just hurting for her country. But the image of a tearful Minister of Trade Paula Gopee-Scoon pleading for loyalty to country in this time of recession, personifies the psychology of helplessness that poses additional risk to the economy. While reduced revenue could send an economy …
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