“[…] Mrs Camille Robinson-Regis, at the relevant political meeting, laid a series of charges against Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar. In so doing, for dramatic effect—as is the norm on the political hustings and in the court of law, as depicted in movies—she referenced the Leader of the Opposition’s full name, including …
Read More »‘Significant and humbling!’ Newcastle poised to grant Hislop keys to the city for anti-racism work
Former Trinidad and Tobago international and Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is prominent on the Wednesday 2 March agenda of the Newcastle City Council as the executive will vote on presenting Hislop with the keys to their city for his anti-racism work. Hislop, who turned 53 on Tuesday, joined Newcastle …
Read More »NJAC Rededication: What the ‘Black Power Revolution’ won in 1970
“[…] Most of all, the movement of 1970 gave the population a new sense of ownership of their land. This also meant acceptance of direct responsibility for their nation’s affairs…” The following is the 12th and final column in an NJAC series on their contribution to Trinidad and Tobago society …
Read More »NJAC Rededication: How the ‘March to Caroni’ sent shockwaves through T&T
“[…] From the moment the chief servant [Makandal Daaga] announced the ‘March to Caroni’, it sent shock waves through the corridors of power. This march challenged one of the pillars of domination, control and oppression of our people, which was laid down by our past colonial ‘masters’—the creation and maintenance …
Read More »Race, politics and coronavirus; President Weekes targets T&T’s biggest challenges on Independence Day
“[…] The lead-up to the [2020] election and its immediate aftermath saw political differences couched in vitriolic racist rants, complete with the most foul language. “[…] While some of these exchanges may have taken place at close quarters, social media provided a convenient and safe vehicle from which to launch …
Read More »Noble: ‘Did business leaders choose comfort over constructive conflict?’ How Ramsaran’s discourse soured
Since 2002, the annual ALJGSB ‘Distinguished Leadership and Innovation Conference’, with cutting-edge lessons taught by global thought leaders, has been chock full of our local business leaders. Yet the recent Ramsaran imbroglio unmasked glaring shortcomings by some of these same business leaders. These missteps have real-life consequences for us as …
Read More »Noble: Beware long-time beneficiaries from gov’t policies who pretend to be self-made men and women
Trinidad and Tobago is a nation of immigrants. We may have come on different boats, but we are in the same boat now. Between the drop in oil and gas prices and their depressed demand, the consequent lack of foreign exchange and the Covid-19 economic shock, we could be set back …
Read More »Vaneisa: 95.9% of votes went to PNM or UNC, will T&T ever escape ‘race, ethnicity and tribalism’?
There is something poignant about what Steve Alvarez said as he walked away from politics. He had wanted ‘a new Trinidad and Tobago, one where the races unite under one political organisation to seek that which is best for our nation’. He’d built his Democratic Party of Trinidad and Tobago …
Read More »Dr Rowley ‘unreservedly apologised’ for sari skit—don’t mangle facts to make racism point
“[Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley] unreservedly apologised for the skit on his own behalf, on behalf of his party and all PNM supporters… [Letter writer Sanjay Dhalla] seemed to have missed all of that. “[…] More than 70-75% of the students [at Presentation College, Chaguanas] were Indians. If some of …
Read More »Dear Editor: Does every creed and race ‘FIND an equal place’ or ‘FINDS’—it matters!
“[…] I have seen many publications on government websites that reproduce the words of our anthem on their webpages as: ‘here every creed and race FINDS…’ and on others that state that it is: ‘here every creed and race FIND…’ “Which is it? It may seem pedantic and as if …
Read More »Le Hunte: The African reality—T&T will never fulfil potential without addressing ‘black’ problems
“[…] It should be obvious to all that the most likely winner of a 100 metre race (no pun intended) is the participant who gets the ‘jump start’. It is in these circumstances that the ‘false start’ rule becomes operative and the race line-up is reset. “[…] What is undesirable …
Read More »Tye: Removing the Knees: Black Lives and Protests in a Plantation Society
Approximately 50 years ago, mainly young people—disillusioned by the continued colonial nature of the country, the deep racism, classism and limited opportunities—made brave efforts to improve things. Instead of the then government, led by Dr Eric Williams, listening and properly engaging with these persons, the leaders of the movement were …
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