THE EDITOR: As the United States and the rest of the world said farewell to “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, I kept wondering how many libraries and schools across the country bothered to put up displays to educate our very young people who was this giant of a personality.
Continue reading On ‘THE GREATEST’ as a model
Category Archives: International
Peerless and fearless: simply The Greatest
By Raffique Shah
June 11, 2016
In death, as in life, he straddled the world like a colossus. All the major international news networks suspended regular programming to pay homage to Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer ever, the supreme sporting figure of the 20th Century, the defiant one who sacrificed a successful career on the altar of principle.
Just four years older than me, Ali symbolised the rebelliousness of so many of my generation, it was almost as if we knew him, grew up with him, that when he spoke out, confronted what we had dubbed “the establishment” in those heady days, his was our voice.
Continue reading Peerless and fearless: simply The Greatest
Integrity Commission a waste
By Raffique Shah
June 06, 2016
When constitutionally-independent institutions in the country seem to be collapsing, when holders of the highest offices seem confused about their roles and perplexed about their powers, and when the law publicly proves to be the proverbial ass, then, Trinidad & Tobago, we have a problem…a very serious problem.
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GOPIO: T&T Indians second class citizens
By Kim Boodram
Jun 1, 2016 – trinidadexpress.com
NEARLY two hundred years after they became part of the building of Trinidad and Tobago, people of East Indian descent are still considered second class citizens, the president of the local chapter of the Global Organisation of Indian People (GOPIO), Karran Nancoo, has said.
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Go to hell Mr Archbishop, says Sat
By Laurel V Williams
Tuesday, May 31 2016 – newsday.co.tt
“Go to hell!”.
That was the “message” Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Satnarayan ‘Sat’ Maharaj sent publicly for Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris in light of the controversial debate on child marriage and the law.
“Mr Archbishop and all you other people, look at the mote in your own eye before you point out the mote in the eye of the Hindu.
Continue reading Go to hell Mr Archbishop, says Sat
Maybe America deserves Trump
By Raffique Shah
May 18, 2016
So what if Donald Trump wins the race for presidency of the United States next November?
He won’t be the first fool to occupy the highest office in the most powerful country on earth. Nor will he be the stupidest president ever.
Bear in mind that if he does make it to the White House, and there is a high probability of this happening, it would be with the support of some 50-to-60 million American voters.
Continue reading Maybe America deserves Trump
Don’t take Mittal’s mill even for free
By Raffique Shah
March 16, 2016
Trinidadians are hell, I tell you.
Take their almost instantaneous sympathy with the 600-odd steel workers who found themselves jobless last week when ArcelorMittal shut down its plant in this country.
Sure, that means at least 5,000 family members facing very uncertain times if not utter devastation. Those who have mortgages or rentals could lose the roofs over their heads. Vehicles may be repossessed. Children’s education will be at risk, in particular those who attend university. And ultimately, putting food on the table might be a challenge.
Continue reading Don’t take Mittal’s mill even for free
Trump gives America a bad name
By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
March 03, 2016
As the general election heats up in the United States, it becomes essential to posit an outsider’s, albeit foreign, perspective.
At the outset, it must be stated quite equivocally that the outside world still holds the highest regard/respect for the United States of America and its president. Indeed, the outside world welcomed the radical change in America’s psyche with the election and subsequent re-election of its first African-American president in Barack Obama.
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Of sensuality and vulgarity
By Raffique Shah
February 16, 2016
I wonder if the wide spectrum of persons who have used the words “misogyny” and “misogynic” to describe ex-Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee following his asinine statements on the murder of pannist Asami Nagakiya either believe what they are saying, or understand the definitions of the words?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, misogyny means “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women”.
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Man, mosquito and money
By Raffique Shah
February 02, 2016
In this space yesterday, Dr Sherene Kalloo launched a broadside against Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and his almost jokey war against the Zika virus, pre-empting a column I had already half-written, titled “Man vs Mosquito”.
Dr Kalloo argued that Minister Deyalsingh’s declaration of war against Zika and the Aedes Egypti mosquito by deploying soldiers, as hard-hit Brazil has done, as being a failed strategy.
It has not worked in Brazil and it will not work here.
Continue reading Man, mosquito and money