“When politics is involved in business, they don’t thrive. In most of these companies… there is a significant inflow of politics.” Gokool Seemungal, National Enterprises Limited (NEL) shareholder. “We adhere to the philosophy that cash in the shareholders’ hands has greater value than ours.” Ingrid Lashley, chair of National Enterprises …
Read More »Liz Williams: “Some friends become enemies, [there’s] a lot of social media bullying”
“[…] It takes a lot of hard work, late nights, missing out on family time, some friends become enemies, a lot of social media bullying. “Holidays for the public are work for us; [there are] threats made on your life, just to name a few…” Wired868 sheds light on the …
Read More »Noble: The Men Behind the Curtains—beware the manipulators among us
“[…] The police, they’re going after the young kids on the streets…the big fish don’t come to do deals directly. “The big fish are […] politicians and businessmen; them is the men, and they’re the ones who are bringing the drugs in, too. Dem is the men who behind the …
Read More »Vaneisa: The People in Print—the problem with T&T’s media
One of the panel discussions at the recent Bocas Lit Fest focused on the fate of newspaper columnists in today’s environment. Themed “They Don’t Write Them Like They Used to: A Discussion on the Present and Future of the Newspaper Column,” it ended up with a rather bleak prognosis. Among …
Read More »Dear Editor: The late BC Pires embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent
“[…] Truth be told, BC embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent more than the Newsroom. He was a hybrid, in some sense, of Winston Bailey and HL Mencken. “[…] Kind, generous and determined to make a difference in a world populated by the indifferent…” The following Letter to the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Our immortal BC
At the end of September, in Thank God It’s Friday, a column which has now been running for more than 35 years, BC Pires said: “Chances are Thin.” Without a wallow or a moan, but replete with dread details of his beastly struggle with cancer of the oesophagus, he revealed …
Read More »Dear Editor: Newspaper editors needed… and start at the Trinidad Express!
Trinidad Express Newspapers are in the market for an assistant night editor. Through you, I wish to make an application for the job. On the list of qualifications and experience required for securing employment in this position are nine items: At #7, ‘Proficient knowledge of the structure and content of …
Read More »Dear Editor: Bassant should simplify investigative reports on Foster Cummings—for man-on-the-street
“[…] I am firmly of the view that no minister who has been or is involved in any shady financial and business dealings should be serving in the government of my country. “My problem with Mr Mark Bassant’s report is that it is pitched over my head—and, I dare say, the …
Read More »Vaneisa: Space for our diversity—T&T must resist “segregation” of “special interest” concerns
A long time ago, I had a discussion—maybe an argument—with a newspaper editor about what constituted “soft” news. He thought that issues affecting women were soft, and should be relegated to pages headed by labels that suggested they were for women only. Instinctively, I rejected that. It seemed to me …
Read More »Media Monitor: Making amends for mystery of not calling SC’s name
As a part-time monitor of the media and a full-time anglophile, I sometimes come across stuff in the newspaper that gives me pause but which might not move other more casual observers in the same way. For example, there is the Express’ Saturday 11 February lead story. It sent me …
Read More »Early Bird: When CNC3 “rolled” over the late Professor Gordon Rohlehr
Apoplectic, my fo’daymorning walk pardnah Bobby would later describe my state. In hindsight, I had to agree. Unapologetically apoplectic. Don’t blame me. Blame the pair of presenters on duty on the 7 ‘o’ clock news on CNC3 on the night of 30 January. They had ignited my ire. Had lit …
Read More »Dear Editor: Too much negativity in media! Columnists and contributors should also inspire
“[…] I have no difficulty with the working journalists reporting the news as they find it, whether positive or negative… My concern is with the columnists and the established letter-writers. “I am suggesting that you devote at least one of your contributions per month to a positive message—something that will …
Read More »