“The youths today did not create the monsters that are haunting our once beautiful two-island nation. The thieving politicians whom we have employed to manage our affairs and whom, blinded by party loyalty, we fail to hold up to public scrutiny are the ones to be held responsible for the …
Read More »NOT CONDEMNING… Do the PM and the GoRTT see men as more equal than women?
When there is no law against sexual harassment, those engaged in such activities are in fact fully protected to continue their wrongdoing. This is the stark reality in Trinidad and Tobago today. There are few policies and no legislation to provide redress to the victims of sexual harassment. Harassers can …
Read More »Dear Editor: The political shots Beetham is calling: joint concerted action now or anarchy tomorrow
“We are on the brink of civil war between those who have power either by the gun, their physical strength or their money and those of us who perceive themselves as having less. The majority of us have neither guns nor much physical strength so we become trapped between the …
Read More »SALAAM: Beetham’s urban violence: can we kill our birds of prey with a big stick?
I would have liked to write a comical or even a satirical piece but Mr Live Wire has a patent on those types of columns. And, frankly, I don’t think the Editor would have allowed anything I wrote in that vein to be so much as edited for publication, far …
Read More »Why we elect the leaders we do; a former journalist looks in the mirror—and cringes!
“So what is it about Trinidad and Tobago that results in our putting corrupt politicians in office election after election? It is, arguably, the fact that we are too simple to care and perhaps the fact that we are a ‘laissez-faire’ people.” Former political reporter Akilah Holder shares her concerns about the …
Read More »Criticism vs Critique Pt 2: Hassanali takes a stab at the fuel subsidy debate
I am no hypocrite. So before someone, having read what I have so far written, attempts to stick that label on me for not practising what I preach, let me have a stab at elevating the fuel subsidy debate. I totally agree with the sentiment that the subsidy in its …
Read More »Criticism vs Critique Pt 1: Colm, the crowd, critics, commentary and keeping it constructive
Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced an increase in fuel prices with immediate effect. Cue outrage from all quarters in the immediate aftermath. “Cheap Fuel is the bedrock of our society!” they clamoured. “Raise the cost of transport and everything else goes up! It’s common sense!” As tired as these arguments …
Read More »Street Vibes: The jamming done; time to done with the political distractions
How many times since last Carnival have we heard the refrain “We jamming still” quoted? And in how many different contexts? Lifted from the Ultimate Rejects’ mega soca track “We Doh Business,” it has tended to be used so often because it sums up very neatly the “carnival mentality” we …
Read More »Monitoring the masters’ voices to find the true colour of the Rottweiler’s bark
Seriously? Did you seriously expect some died-in-the-balisier PNMite to say (s)he disapproves of Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s decision to appoint a “sole investigator” for the ferry fiasco? Hahahahahahahahaha! You doh understand nutten about the culture of T&T—which is not, as the Mighty Power claimed years ago, just calypso and steelband. …
Read More »Media Monitor: TGIF, UNC! Why, despite PNM shortcomings, I mute Opposition politicians
TGIF. Tim Gopeesingh is farse. And outta place! He was on the radio the other day. And Rudy Indarsingh. And Roodal Moonilal. And Gerald Ramdeen. And Devant Maharaj. And, probably Wade Mark and Rodney Charles. And, of course, Kamla Persad-Bissessar. I have a queasy stomach so I have no idea …
Read More »Yasinism—Part 2: The unravelling: Pyrrhic victory, greed, disillusionment and corruption of power
1990: A JAMAAT CHILD REMEMBERS—Part 2 Today marks the 27th anniversary of, in the splendid words of David Rudder, the night of the day when the prophets died” because “a man opened a door and showed us our other side.” To mark the occasion, Wired868 exclusively presents the second installment of a …
Read More »Yasinism—Jim Jones without the suicide; portrait of a powerful imam
1990: A JAMAAT CHILD REMEMBERS This Thursday marks the 27th anniversary of, in the splendid words of David Rudder’s “Hosay,” “the night of the day when the prophets died” because “a man opened a door and showed us our other side.” And today marks the first anniversary of an as yet …
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