President Christine Kangaloo played a hopeful string of chords for me with her inaugural address. She spoke of modernising the protocols that govern how citizens and her office interact, and “having its facilities put to even greater use in hosting cultural, educational and artistic ventures, particularly among the youth”. My …
Read More »Vaneisa: Inside an abandoned world; breaking the cycle of violence and cruelty
LAST August, I wrote about Wishing for Wings, the 2013 book by Debbie Jacob, and the 2022 film by Dr Kim Johnson. I’d written about the indefatigable efforts of these two in promoting the culture of this melodious, cacophonous paradox called Trinidad and Tobago. The film’s premiere was then being …
Read More »Vaneisa: A poignant wingspan of beauty and hope—the prison reform passion of Debbie and Kim
Grief was palpable in her Facebook post; a jolting reminder of the savage, indelicate and arbitrary nature of life. Akili Charles had been gunned down in the night, mere days after his legal challenge to the criminal justice system had been supported by the Privy Council. Those accused of murder …
Read More »Dear Editor: Please Prime Minister, include prisoners’ art in Independence art exhibition
“[…] I saw recently, via our local news media, the paintings done by some of our prisoners, and I was, indeed, very impressed by what I saw. “[…] The display of the paintings done by our prisoners at the Independence art exhibition would go a long way towards giving effect …
Read More »Letter to the Editor: Why our attitude to prisoners and YTC inmates is self-defeating
“What the view expressed by the talk show host reflects is the right-wing approach that says we must: “lock up dey ar** and throw away de key.” And upon eventual release what have we created? “Those who imagine that these young men and women at the corresponding facility are ‘wotless’, …
Read More »Call for reformation: Why Archbishop Joe’s petition spells trouble for hardened criminals
Archbishop Joseph Harris’ initiative to petition Government to free from prison petty offenders who have remained on remand for an inordinately long time is laudable and deserving of support. However, if it’s accepted and implemented in its current form, it would deal an unjust blow to many more accused persons, …
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