Two of my previous reviews of Carnival unequivocally set out issues within the festival that are troubling, particularly if Government is to continue funding the festival at the significant levels that it does. Last year’s review The minority sport of Carnival, referred to “the obvious acceleration of Carnival’s decline into …
Read More »Is murder a lifestyle choice? Daly ponders how to reclaim the streets of T&T
Port of Spain suffers from personality disorder, for a long time now, and so does many of its environs. This disorder, sometimes described as split or multiple personality disorder, is defined by Psychology Today as “a condition wherein a person’s identity is fragmented into two or more distinct personalities.” Each …
Read More »Laws, culture and Carnival; the Martin Daly SC column
Last Sunday’s appreciation of Jit Samaroo was warmly received. One of my Trinidad All Stars comperes suggested that I deliver some more evocative J’Ouvert morning descriptions. I will do so shortly with the added stimulus of the material he provided, but I must first return to the great economic uncertainty. …
Read More »Blue tinsel: Daly remembers Jit Samaroo and Renegades’ magic
A few of the Caribbean’s finest entertainers like Alison Hinds, Superblue, Marcia Miranda and Mairoon Ali, along with Canboulay, East Indian and sailor dancers have performed at my home. They have done so on the little home made stage next to the mango tree that Farook and Steve would build when …
Read More »Fireworks, Flow and other fouls: Martin Daly SC weighs in
Last Sunday my fellow columnist, Sunity Maharaj, wrote forcefully about the removal of the cuisine vendors from the Savannah. She pointed out that many things which emerge from the peoples’ sector get hammered by the authorities rather than receiving a helping hand with facilities, guidance or strategic co-operation. As a …
Read More »Standing in last chance saloon: Daly demands sensible approach to 2016
Once again I am unable, on the opening Sunday of a new year, to write in a positive mood, even though last year, 2015, was a fulfilling year for me, as I waded deeper into the very positive, but under resourced, world of arts and entertainment: assisting in getting St …
Read More »Daly: T&T’s denial of reality offset by an evening in Newtown
Essentially, we have been faking it for a long time, that is, gasping with pleasure at Trini life when in reality life is stressful and brutish. A senior citizen having fallen ill in the street across the street from a public hospital and having to wait 45 minutes for assistance …
Read More »Promoting unpolluted energy: what music can do for T&T
One sometimes comes across facts containing intense ‘human interest’ stories in law reports. The United Kingdom Supreme Court recently decided a case concerning publication of a biography. The book is called “Instrumental.” James Rhodes, the concert pianist, author and television filmmaker, is the author. He describes in graphic detail the …
Read More »Remedies for a murderous land: Innovative solutions needed, not the death penalty
We had a successful launch of The Daly Commentaries. There is a Facebook page bearing that name. In the words of the editor, Judy Raymond, these columns “share the sweetness as well as the adversities of life in this simultaneously frustrating and glorious little country.” Her words are apt at …
Read More »Dumbing down debate: Daly reflects on his 13-year column and new book
This coming week my book entitled The Daly Commentaries will be launched. It is a collection of 200 of my approximately 600-plus columns, published since 2002. There is a Facebook page of the same name, which provides details of the availability of the book. I thank again my readers …
Read More »The elder’s gesture: Daly tackles State’s exorbitant legal fees and POS wrecking
Owing to my commitment to take part in Raoul Pantin’s play Hatuey I was unable to write a column last Sunday. I was therefore unable to make timely comment on the contentious Budget debate and the feeding trough for favoured lawyers exposed in the course of that debate. Happily the …
Read More »The Hatuey experience: Did the Budget miss Culture?
There is a hole in the Budget presented to Parliament on Monday last. There is scant acknowledgement of culture, particularly of our performing arts despite their huge potential for assistance in diversifying the economy and its significant contribution to social stability. Presumably the new Minister of Culture, who is a …
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