Our national boast is a beautiful one. Here in this republic of the new world, we are perhaps one of the earliest examples of a truly cosmopolitan nation. We’ve co-existed relatively peacefully for centuries, and over time, I’d say we have assimilated far more than we’ve rejected. And we are …
Read More »Dear Editor: Opposition Leader, not T&T citizens, must be ashamed; Kamla must apologise
“[…] The refugee crisis in Venezuela was not spawned by any government in T&T, either past or present. We are the victims of geo-politics… The shame is not on our country, but on those politicians and so-called validating elites/professionals […] who are willing to be pawns of a bully to …
Read More »Dear Editor: Murder?! Not even the Venezuelan authorities went as far as T&T’s Opposition Leader
“[…] It is no secret that the officers in the Coast Guard are traumatised by the continued accusations from her and the other Opposition members who have already found them guilty of the most heinous crime: MURDER—without the completion of an official investigation. “What is even more significant is the …
Read More »Dear Editor: Persad-Bissessar’s Coast Guard accusations were reckless and disgraceful!
“[…] Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a former prime minister of T&T, an experienced politician, an aspirant for the office of prime minister, and a senior member of the legal profession in T&T. “Yet she has convicted, without a trial, the officer of the Coast Guard who fired the shot that …
Read More »The story of Parang: Venezuela’s musical gift that makes Trinbagonians feel at home
The raucous sound of cuatro and maracas spills from a variety store in Arima. A woman in a long wrap skirt stands nearby, hips swaying in time. Behind her, whistling along, a street vendor measures out bags of the bright red sorrel that will flavour his customers’ Christmas drinks. A …
Read More »Demming: T&T can benefit by setting aside xenophobia and using systematic integration
Why would a person willingly give up their family, job and community to embark on an illegal, dangerous journey to another country? In the case of the Venezuelans, it’s because they are generally running away from unbearable, life-threatening circumstances. Our leaders are publicly pretending not to know that conditions in …
Read More »Daly Bread: Limiting persuasive reach and blame to share around on our worrying future
It is clear now that the pandemic began to get the better of us in March and April and succeeded in surging to almost overwhelming proportions in the just concluded month of May. Although prematurely boastful, we appeared to have done well in restraining the advance of the pandemic for …
Read More »Daly Bread: Evading reality and the unsafe pathway to our doorsteps
Many of us know that the government is prevaricating and attempting to evade responsibility for what the population generally knows to be realities in plain sight, for example porous borders persistently penetrated by persons fleeing from Venezuela. The condonation of ‘society’ events, which were held—contrary to ministerial and other exhortations—to …
Read More »Public service on rotation and concert ban among 4 new gov’t measures; bars and gyms can continue
The government reinstated four measures today meant to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections, as Trinidad and Tobago reels from its highest surge of the novel coronavirus since August 2020. Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh announced that all gatherings for entertainment and concerts are now outlawed, while the public service …
Read More »US Ambassador: Our security, health and cultural relations are fine, ‘ease of business’ and Venezuela are problems
“[…] The state of our bilateral investment relationship can be improved. The United States Government cannot mandate its companies to invest here, unlike others that can direct their state-owned enterprises to invest regardless of whether they make a profit or not. “Instead, US investors are attracted to countries where …
Read More »Caricom’s shame! How Jamaica, Haiti and Bahamas orchestrated ‘unfounded’ attack on T&T over Venezuela migrant crisis
“[…] It’s difficult for me to understand, much less find justification, for why Jamaica, the sitting chair of the OAS Permanent Council at the time, failed to rule on whether to allow Guaidó’s agent to level unfounded charges directly accusing the T&T government of culpability in the Venezuelan tragedy. “[…] …
Read More »‘Maduro and his backers—not sanctions—are to blame’; US reject culpability for Venezuela crisis
“[…] It is Maduro and his backers—not sanctions—who are to blame for the Venezuelan people suffering dire economic, political, and human rights conditions, and have caused millions to flee their homes since he assumed power. “The Venezuela sanctions program is designed to limit the Maduro regime’s sources of revenue and …
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