The killing of the four Fyzabad youths narrated on the soundtrack of the sad stories of their parents is depressing. These young criminals were in their early 20s. But while we scratch our collective heads, we should recall that these are not the first children involved in murders. In 1993, Prisons …
Read More »Noble: With ‘boundless faith’ in our destiny; give praise despite the challenges, T&T!
“Forged from the love of liberty, in the fires of hope and prayer, with boundless faith in our destiny. We solemnly declare: Side by side, we stand Islands of the blue Caribbean sea. This our native land. We pledge our lives to thee. “Here every creed and race find an …
Read More »Dear Editor: T&T’s celebrates 60 years of “Independence”—but are we truly independent?
“[…] It is quite an accomplishment to celebrate a 60th anniversary but can we as a people truly say that we have all really enjoyed the benefits of being an independent nation? “There are many positive achievements, most of which can be ascribed to our sportsmen and women, our cultural …
Read More »Daly Bread: And so it has come to pass; T&T suffering from breakdown in legal control
No, no Mr Jacob, Acting Commissioner of Police, you cannot expect us to be patient and bear with the police in tackling crime. During the 20 years of these weekly columns, violent crime—particularly murder and the impunity with which it is committed—has been a high profile subject. As long ago …
Read More »Noble: Why T&T’s housing woes can be a national security issue
Government policies toward public housing are linked to their position on delivering economic growth. To interpret the strategies, we need to appreciate that governments respond to the pressures arising from social and demographic change and adherence to particular ideologies. These decisions are complicated by the public discourse which advocates that …
Read More »Noble: $2 short—rising food prices, ageing population and outdated pension service spell trouble
Two Fridays ago, I visited my neighbourhood’s favourite food store. I had gone to pick up one item. I saw an older man being helped by a woman as I entered the aisle. Nothing appeared unusual, just a younger person helping an older one with his purchase. However, everything turned …
Read More »Noble: Random musings about Trinidad and Tobago—a country trapped in zig-zag mode
Last Sunday, late at night, I took a flight to the ANR Robinson Airport in Tobago. The journey was unremarkable, but a memory kept rising. That memory was of Mr ANR Robinson on a similar flight, but from Tobago to Port-of-Spain not long after he had split with the then …
Read More »Noble: Forget KFC condiments and Cabinet reshuffle, new IMF Report affects our future way of life
This week, the most important business news story was not the $2 that KFC wants to levy for their condiments, nor the shenanigans surrounding the Cabinet reshuffle. The week’s critical story was the release of the IMF 2021 Article IV Consultation Report. To reduce the Report to a sound bite, ‘our …
Read More »Missing the Faris for the trees? Mr Live Wire gets another political lecture from a mysterious man
(Scene: A dapper gentleman examines a humble lodging with notable admiration.) FAR: I love the more intimate office space, boss. I can get from one end to the next far quicker than at my last office, which is bound to make me even more less-dynamic. The decor is more than …
Read More »Noble: Wheels within Wheels; how crime flourishes with a malnourished public sector
Nobody wants to live in fear. Nobody wants to lose a loved one to crime or be victimised. The pain ricochets through the community as others experience the wrenching loss that descends on us in sudden ways. Most believe that the government is responsible for public safety. But our reactions …
Read More »Noble: ‘The black masses win elections, but the oligarchy wins the govt’—the elites and T&T society
Gabriel Faria, the past CEO of the leading local business chamber, had an insightful interview in this week’s Business Express. He discussed the formation of a new business advocacy group. He quoted a Dr Terrence Farrell 2011 article on the need for responsible elites in our society while admitting that …
Read More »Noble: Pivot or perish; how T&T’s constitutional violations led to violent crime surge
Covid-19 brought an exhausting string of events. First, we had to wash our hands, and then we had to wear masks, social distance from all, then lockdown. To be vaccinated or not. Fear populated our every moment as we realised how little control we had over our lives. The feeling …
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