“Betaa, dey ain’t making no more land” was the advice Mr Terrence Deyalsingh, reported to the House on 11 July 2014, his grandmother told him. He went on “… land is a family heritage… it represents wealth, it represents where you toil; it represents an investment.” The Medium-Term Policy Framework …
Read More »Daly Bread: Peewats and pharaohs; concerns over Paria secrecy and Venezuela geo-politics
Last week predictably began with more turbulence over the aftermath of the Petrotrin shut down and over one of the successor companies, Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited. Our governments have had marked communications deficits because there is too much attempted secrecy over the process attendant upon deals constantly being made …
Read More »Daly Bread: In ‘wth’ country; Paria Fuel, the President and the Chief Justice
What the hell? Can one set out to sell a State asset by mistake? ‘Wth’ is a milder version of the social media acronym used to express surprise or disgust. It was my response to the Minister of Energy’s implausible media release on Monday last related to the failure of …
Read More »Rowley: Let Caribbean be a zone of peace; Prime Minister defends stance on Venezuela
“Now more than ever we need to revisit the significant events and connect the dots between our principles informing our decisions and show how those decisions have shaped who we are—to determine how we are viewed—and why we must do what we do now. “[…] We hold to those principles …
Read More »Dear Editor: Where is the Darryl Smith Report? Rowley administration hypocritical on sexual harassment
“What can be taking the [Dr Keith] Rowley Administration almost a year to deal with the contents with an already completed report [on former Sport Minister Darryl Smith]? “Why the hesitancy by Prime Minister Rowley to make public the committee report?” The following Letter to the Editor on the government’s …
Read More »Noble: The elites and the poor; Aboud rings bell for deeper issue on use of national resources
An Economist article (2011) defined ‘elites’ as people who shape the world without anyone noticing. The rich and powerful leverage their privileged status to exercise decisive control over the way society is organised and developed. I am thankful that Gregory Aboud has opened this discussion. While he did not define …
Read More »Emancipation Committee: T&T gov’t must continue to defend justice and sovereignty in Venezuela
“The critical issues for us here in [Trinidad and Tobago] and the region are not how anyone feels about President Nicolás Maduro—based on knowledge, misinformation or ideology—but about fundamental principles in international relations, in particular the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states. “It is vital for …
Read More »Young: USA is ‘treasured partner’ of T&T; Opposition Leader spreading ‘unfounded’ fears
“Notwithstanding efforts by the UNC to undermine Trinidad and Tobago’s position—particularly at this time of sensitive negotiations—Trinidad and Tobago reaffirms its principle positions and counts the USA among its treasured partners in observing and protecting these principles.” The following release on relations between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, …
Read More »Dear Editor: Non-intervention has always been T&T’s policy; and Kamla backed Maduro in 2015
“Then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in April 2015: ‘We believe inherently in the sovereignty of nations and so we stand with you President [Nicolás] Maduro for your sovereignty and for the determination of the right of your people to be governed as they choose’…” The following Letter to the Editor …
Read More »Demming: Hinds’ bullying behaviour on I95.5 further displays govt’s communication problems
One year ago, on 26 January 2018, Minister Stuart Young called into a radio programme hosted by former Senator Mariano Browne and tried to read a prepared statement. Almost one year later on 24 January 2019, his colleague Minister Fitzgerald Hinds physically storms the radio programme co-hosted by former Minister …
Read More »US Embassy ‘deeply concerned’ by T&T’s stance on Venezuela; Caricom re-affirms non-intervention
“Democracy and prosperity require tough choices…” The following release on Trinidad and Tobago’s recognition of Venezuela president Nicolás Maduro’s government was issued by US Ambassador Joseph Mondello: Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó and the democratically elected National Assembly have the full recognition and resolute support of the United States of …
Read More »A home for Despers; Demming cries for Laventille’s iconic but homeless steelpan side
A photograph by Maria Nunes stirred emotions in me that I thought I had quelled. I cry for Laventille when I remember the beauty of the people and the ambition and the sense of striving I grew up with. The callous may say, “Nostalgia!” But it was real. The memories …
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