Tag Archives: PNM

The next five years ahead for the country will be tough. What is terrible now has every chance of worsening: this is the future facing us. We quickly forget that we have a country to run when we read about the various leadership struggles in the two major political parties. …

On a faraway, remote island in a time long, long before yesterday, a great Party that always prevails—it is on their calling card—summons its regents to a meeting at Tobago Plantation. The aging taikō, Lord Keithos, has made it known on several occasions that he wants to leave public affairs …

My intended topic this week was a further examination of the rumblings over leadership succession within the People’s National Movement (PNM), the party currently in government, with the General Elections due no later than November next year. I have been suspicious that the PNM hierarchy wishes to avoid succession to …

“[…] I am saddened by those among us who cannot restrain ourselves from spewing bitter bile at this moment of great tragedy. “[…] Is there not a John McCain—the Republican presidential candidate who defended Barack Obama as a decent person—among us? No holding back the vile trolls on the Facebook …

“[…] 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 …

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has put his political leadership of the People’s National Movement (PNM) into play, but he did so by ambiguous remarks in the House of Representatives (the House). As a consequence, there have been all kinds of rumblings. Moreover, we are still awaiting “the further positions” …

Contemporaneously with critical commentaries, the Prime Minister last Sunday attempted certain deflections of the Government’s decision—despite the parlous state of our finances—to accept for its members the hefty salary increases and backpay, which the Salaries Review Commission recommended (the SRC increases). However, it is reasonable to hold this Government accountable …

“[…] The Cabinet has adopted the same arguments advanced by trade unionists in support of their claims for hefty increases in the remuneration packages of their members. “The SRC surveyed the local, regional and international environment and discovered that the remuneration packages of those under its purview were wholly inadequate …

“[…] A glaring example of this disconnect is the Government’s approach to wage negotiations. While public servants are offered a mere 5% salary increase for 2020–2022—a proposal so meager it was sent to the Industrial Court—the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) has recommended massive raises for top officials. “[…] These increases, …

Another big pappy resigned last week but of course that was in foreign. As with lame duck US President Joe Biden, that big pappy too was pushed from within. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who was the leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, had to resign because an investigation …

The autocratic nature of our politics is most memorably captured in the sordid 1962 episode featuring Dr Patrick Solomon, minister of Home Affairs in the People’s National Movement (PNM) government—with responsibility for the police service. His stepson was arrested and incarcerated for throwing missiles in a public space. Solomon allegedly …

A second volume of The Daly Commentaries—a selection of these weekly columns from 2016-2023, picking up from my first volume covering 2002 to 2015—has been published. Information about its release concludes this column. During my twenty-two plus years as a columnist, I have had the unstinting support of the Express …