Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis: “[…] Senator Nakhid’s instrument of appointment was given under the hand of the President who is the head of the Republic, yet he has chosen to attack with such venom and vitriol, and for that alone, he should demonstrate at least a modicum …
Read More »Daly Bread: Who is guarding the public interest, as public offices fall prey to political interference?
It is well known that in a functioning democracy checks and balances to guard against abuses of power are required in the public interest. In addition to the separation of the respective powers of the political executive (principally the Cabinet), the legislature and the judiciary, there are additional constitutional provisions …
Read More »Best: Picking sense out of MoH nonsense; Dr Fuad Khan’s broadside at Piarco Covid system
“This makes no sense,” Dr Fuad Khan thunders at one point in his latest online sermon. “Whoever did this system is a dunce! Is time to get rid ah dese fools in the Ministry of Health.” It’s not easy to decide which set of fools is more wearisome, harder to …
Read More »Tye: T&T’s governance model ‘breeds deep mistrust’—as such, ‘forced vaccinations’ would be a mistake
I certainly empathise with the government as they are navigating difficult decisions in the management of the economy and society during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, the issues facing the society are mostly not due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but deeper social issues that have never been properly addressed by …
Read More »Daly Bread: Trapped in conflict and Covid; PNM and UNC must unite against common enemy
Have we taken a good look at ourselves? It is not an encouraging picture. We should have been re-assessing our tiny nation’s place in the world on an ongoing basis since Independence, long before we were reminded of our lowly place by having to stand in line for a supply …
Read More »Robinson-Regis: ‘None of them present said a word!’ Lee: ‘They want to turn Parliament into Balisier House!’
Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis: “[…] It was within the capacity of the Opposition to request that the prime minister stand down… None of them present said a word… Mr Rudranath Indarsingh, who for some time appeared to be texting, merely continued doing so…” Opposition Chief Whip David Lee: …
Read More »MSJ: Opposition Leader’s attack on health care professionals is ‘dangerous in the extreme’
“[…] Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s most recent attack on our senior public servants in the health care sector must be condemned in the strongest possible manner. “[…] For the leader of the opposition to suggest that these medical professionals are in some form or fashion contributing to ‘premeditated, state-sanctioned murder’ is scurrilous and …
Read More »Daly Bread: Angry dus’ in we face; unvigilant Dr Rowley’s Easter own goal
In the parliamentary debate held on Monday last, the boastful confirmation from the minister of transport that the air and sea bridges carried 50,000 persons between Trinidad and Tobago during the Easter week came up again. The prime minister reportedly ‘dismissed as a distortion the opposition leader’s reference to the …
Read More »MSJ’s Covid suggestions: Faster test results, Cuban nurses and vaccines, and review home isolation policy
“[…] The process of home isolation needs to be reviewed so that we do not have significant spread in families… It is to be noted that many persons live in circumstances that do not allow social distancing and the isolation of an ill family member. “It may therefore be necessary …
Read More »Deyalsingh: Sinopharm vaccine passed WHO tests; UNC trying to ‘derail’ vaccination drive
“[…] On the basis of all available evidence, the Sinopharm vaccine efficacy is estimated at 78.1% for all age groups 18 years and over. “The erroneous comments made by MP [Dr Roodal] Moonilal that Trinidad and Tobago will be used as guinea pigs only reinforces the MP’s deliberate attempts to …
Read More »Noble: The cost of our polarisation—where ‘do them back’ gets us
In a week shortened by the long Easter weekend, we ended up exhausted and battered. While our neighbours in St Vincent contend with a raging volcano, we wreck our society. They would lose their livelihoods, and some will need to be evacuated outside of the country. We are voluntarily destroying …
Read More »Camille: All mechanisms in Parliamentary Standing Orders remain intact, despite Opposition complaints
“[…] Let me also point out that even though because of the Covid-19 restrictions the speaking time has been reduced, we have not removed any of the mechanisms provided in the Parliamentary Standing Orders—whether it be Questions, Motions, Privileges and the Standing Orders themselves—that regulate the operation of the Parliament. …
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