Tag Archives: neocolonialism

“[…] In Dr Eric Williams’ Capitalism and Slavery, he used historical analysis of a vast number of sources to put forward his seminal thesis: West Indian sugar fuelled Britain’s industrial revolution, and slavery in the British Empire was abolished not because of humanitarian arguments, benevolence or acknowledging the atrocities of …

In 1818, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Trinidad were established under British colonial administration. That same year, Mary Shelley published Frankenstein: the story of a scientist who assembles a living being and then abandons it. Nearly eighty years later, HG Wells wrote The Island of Doctor Moreau, where natural life …

In the rhythm of life in Trinidad and Tobago, and across the wider Caribbean, we know the power of a good “bacchanal.” One moment, a public figure—or perhaps a private citizen caught in the crosshairs—commits a transgression; the next, the digital hive mind descends. On Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram, …

“[…] Today the government is putting us on the wrong side of history and in support of a colonial and imperial agenda, grounded in the 200+ year old Monroe Doctrine which US administrations have used as justification for interfering in this hemisphere to militarily invade sovereign states (Haiti, Cuba, Dominican …

“[…] The psychological impact of long-term oppression can be devastating, leading to a cycle of poverty, social alienation, and continued subjugation. Mental slavery is not just an individual issue but a societal one, as communities and even entire nations can be affected by the lingering effects of colonialism, racism, and …

“[…] Social capital trumps educational capital every time. In Trinidad and Tobago’s business and politics, social capital—your surname, your old boys’ club, your Carnival band, your golf foursome—often outweighs your degree.  “[…] Trinidad and Tobago doesn’t reward talent. It protects power. It preserves privilege. And it punishes those who try to …

“[…] Dependency on global and regional football authorities, and government funds disempowers football leaders in these associations. Leaders often find themselves constrained by the conditions attached to grants or by the pressure to align with donor priorities rather than focusing on their country’s specific football needs. “[…] This dynamic can …

“[…] To be sure, reparative justice advocacy must also include an honest self-assessment by Africa and the African diaspora about their role in perpetuating continued underdevelopment. “[…] That process would entail seriously confronting well-documented issues, such as corruption, nepotism, and political maladministration, that continue to subvert their attempts at achieving …

“[…] The accusations of political or cultural bias against our judges are simply not warranted on the facts which I have also researched and documented—and to the extent that it may exist, is certainly no worse than any other jurisdiction, even the United Kingdom. “Let us stop falsely accusing our …

“[…] It is my view therefore that a decision to alter the Coat of Arms should not have been made by the political directorate at its party convention taking into account the implications for such a change, which is not the responsibility of any political party, but a responsibility of …

“[…] The term ‘mental slavery’ suggests that even after physical chains have been broken, the psychological and cultural chains imposed by centuries of oppression can persist. “These chains are manifested in the form of internalized racism, self-doubt, and a sense of inferiority that can be deeply ingrained in the consciousness …

Those of you who took god out your thoughts and were following my rants over the years know I have been saying the word “emancipation” actually means transfer ownership. And that puts into clearer perspective what dem snakes and soucouyants I was taught to celebrate as humanitarians and liberators were …