“There are two things that are important in politics,” said Mark Hanna, a 19th-century businessman and political kingmaker in Cleveland, Ohio. “The first is money, and I can’t remember what the second one is.” Pete W Moore, the MA Hanna associate professor of politics at Case Western Reserve University in …
Read More »Daly Bread: Are Padarath and Kamla in sync? And what to make of PNM Changemakers?
Since her return from Opposition to the office of prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Kamla) has been putting great emphasis on her United National Congress (UNC) Government treating the battered population with empathy. On the occasion of the ceremonial opening of the new Parliament, a little over a week ago, the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Governance with empathy—Kamla and ‘Penny’ promise refreshing change
Miriam Castellano, the name by which a prolific social media commentator goes, responded to a column I had written on the distressing impact of global warfare. “Disengage! You sound like an empath. For your own mental health you should train yourself to know when a Time Out is necessary,” she …
Read More »Daly Bread: Dear Kamla, 2025—can we shift from “blame and shame” to empathetic governance?
Dear Kamla, Fifteen years ago, at the time of your first election as prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago (PM), I greeted you in a column published on 13 June 2010, in which I explained why I may take the liberty of addressing you in familiar terms. Let me begin …
Read More »Daly Bread: The fix that failed—PNM collapse started with Rowley’s sneaky succession moves
In October last year, almost immediately after a strong intimation in Parliament from then People’s National Movement (PNM) prime minister Dr Keith Rowley that he was having his swansong and would be leaving the Parliament, the PNM tersely announced that: “its 51st Annual Convention, as well as the internal election, …
Read More »PNM names ‘Penny’ as opposition leader; Rowley revokes posts of Imbert and Gadsby-Dolly
The People’s National Movement (PNM) has appointed Arima MP Pennelope Beckles as its opposition leader. Beckles, 64, was endorsed by the PNM’s General Council today after producing writing support of six from the opposition’s 13 MPs: Symon de Nobriga, Marvin Gonzales, Colm Imbert, Kareem Marcelle, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, and Keith …
Read More »Rowley, Young resign PNM posts; party seeks opposition leader, chair and vice-chair
Former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley vowed to resign as political leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), just two days after the party’s disastrous showing at the polls. The PNM was routed in the 2025 General Elections under the joint leadership of Rowley and Prime Minister Stuart Young, as …
Read More »Noble: The Arima Warriors—how Dial Dynamos were reborn
The historical overview A Short History of Santa Rosa De Arima by Jean Patricia Elie states: “[…] Arima was effectively Indian Territory. For most of the 16th and 17th centuries, the district of Arima was the home of the Nepuyo, whose active resistance to Spanish Rule effectively limited Spanish attempts …
Read More »Dear Editor: Political parties must understand value of experience alongside fresh faces
“[…] With the current leadership transition announced by Dr Keith Rowley, despite having new faces in the likes of Kareem Marcelle and Christian Birchwood for the Laventille seats and not-so-new faces in MPs Terrence Deyalsingh, Faris Al-Rawi, Stuart Young, Nyan Gadsby-Dolly—who all have at least 10 years of experience under …
Read More »On Lisa Morris-Julian: “[…] Her kindness, humility, and sense of purpose touched everyone…”
“[…] I first met Lisa many years ago when she was a young teacher, full of enthusiasm and an unwavering passion for serving others. Even then, she radiated a bright light that inspired everyone she encountered. “Her journey from the classroom to the corridors of public service was a natural …
Read More »Big Five: Five Kirk showing! Blanchisseuse blow away Moruga to go top
Forget what you think you know about Blanchisseuse. Tranquil, slow-paced, and friendly? Hah. The Moruga Secondary football team would beg to differ. At the final whistle in yesterday’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big Five contest, Blanchisseuse Secondary led by five goals to two; and, in truth, the home team …
Read More »Intercol 23: Arima North overcome rain, darkness and Sween to secure East crown
Arima North Secondary overcame persistent rainfall and fading light to secure the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) East Zone Intercol crown by virtue of a 15-14 scoreline, courtesy kicks from the penalty mark, against San Juan North Secondary in today’s final at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. It was …
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