Tag Archives: PNM

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines la-la land as “a euphoric, dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher realities of life”. In our version, leaders and followers are allergic to facts—inconvenient truths. They look at life through red and yellow-tinted glasses that allow them to possess selective memories. The citizens of La-La …

The immutable law of nature is: what we sow, we will reap. We will not get mangoes if we sow pigeon peas. We always reap later. Sometimes, we sow ochro and have a crop in six weeks. But the crop takes years at other times, as it does when we …

In a powerful editorial last Monday on the occasion of Divali, the Trinidad Express newspaper urged that we look around and see Trinidad and Tobago as it really is: “a country carried by the goodness of its people and their love for this place that we call home”. The writer …

Senior UWI lecturer and former PNM senator Dr Lester Henry passed away last night at his home from a heart attack. He celebrated his 61st birthday on Thursday 20 October. Henry, an economist, was recently appointed to the board of the NGC and attended a board meeting shortly before his …

The presentation and discussion of a national budget usually focus on competing ideas about the future of a country. The process is a statement about the development of the country. In 2020, Branko Milanovic, a reputed US economist, wrote, “the most important role economic policy can play now is to …

A regular reader, who messages me occasionally, opened a WhatsApp exchange about last week’s Budget debate in the House of Representatives with the question: “Have you heard the comments targeted at citizens made in Parliament?” She added: “Honestly, whenever I think they can’t get any worse, they do. I do …

“Words are the clothes thoughts wear” — Samuel Beckett, Irish writer. The Budget debate and its fallout sent me scurrying to recall Beckett’s writings. He is the author of “Waiting for Godot”—a play the late James Lee Wah introduced to me in the early 70s.  The state of play on …

“[…] Trinidad and Tobago is now in possession of three gold medals at the highest level of the sport, which is the true measure of the performance of athletes. “Our failure to properly recognise the 2008 Olympic 4×100 metre champion athletes is incomprehensible, despicable, unfair, unjust, improper and a disservice to …

Having over a long period described the issues confronting us and analysed where they would lead if left unattended, it is deeply painful to see the predicted outcomes dragging us further and further down. So much of what is dangerous and disturbing in Trinidad and Tobago today has its origins …

The prominent sold out fetes this June provided precursor vibes of the 2023 Carnival season as fete goers celebrated “we outside again”. The coming season was loudly announced by the Tribe band launch in July, which drew large crowds behind music trucks on Ariapita Avenue. Other promoters remained at event …

“[…] Mr Anil Roberts, from his demeanour in the video, seemed to have taken a particular delight in his very unsavoury comments. Where is the milk of human kindness? What manner of man is this?  “[…] I do not feel that a politician should stoop so low with respect to his …

“[…] Having failed on more than one occasion to besmirch the good name of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has let loose Senator Anil Roberts to attack the good name and reputation of the Honourable Prime Minister’s wife.  “[…] Whilst politicians expect to be attacked by their opponents …