Category Archives: International

General T&T, Health, International

Dengue Outbreak

4 Comments

Aedes aegypti mosquito
Aedes aegypti mosquito
Dengue outbreak
A dengue outbreak has been declared in T&T. The confirmed deaths of three people due to the virus, unconfirmed deaths of two others and more than 600 reported cases of dengue prompted chief medical officer Dr Anton Cumberbatch to make the declaration yesterday.

3 Dengue Deaths
After two years, Trinidad and Tobago (TT) is again grappling with a dengue outbreak. The Health Ministry has received reports of five deaths out of which three have been confirmed as due to dengue haemorrhagic fever. There are approximately 600 clinical cases reported. Dengue fever is caused by an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Continue reading Dengue Outbreak →

Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, Politics

The ‘Forum Conveniens’

2 Comments

By Dana Seetahal
July 18, 2010 – guardian.co.tt

Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve FergusonIn an Advice apparently solicited by attorneys for Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh, former president Ellis Clarke, an eminent attorney-at-law, proferred the opinion that the case for T&T being the “forum conveniens” to try the accused men is lucid and “compelling.” This is not the first time that it has been argued in respect of an extradition matter that local trial for people accused of similar offences in both the US and T&T should be preferred. The point was taken in extradition proceedings in relation to some of the men locally accused of killing Balram Maharaj, a US citizen, and in respect of whom the US had sought extradition for offences involving hostage taking. The accused were eventually extradited.
Continue reading The ‘Forum Conveniens’ →

Business, Drug Trade, Finance, General T&T, International, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, Security

Bring OPV Report

8 Comments

Scarborough CG 51 vessel at BAE Systems' shipyard on the Clyde River in Glasgow, Scotland
Scarborough CG 51 vessel at BAE Systems' shipyard
on the Clyde River in Glasgow, Scotland
Newsday Editorial
July 16, 2010 – newsday.co.tt

WE eagerly await the report recently promised by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the former regime’s purchase of three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that are said to cost $1.5 billion, which would work out at $500 million each.
Continue reading Bring OPV Report →

Business, Finance, General T&T, International, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC, USA

PM Persad-Bissessar’s Address at Luncheon in Miami

11 Comments

Feature address delivered by the Hon. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a Business Luncheon in Fort Lauderdale, Miami – Monday, July 12, 2010.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarGood Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. It is indeed a pleasure to address you today, and I extend my sincere thanks to you all for granting me the opportunity to showcase the dynamic twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, during my short stopover in Miami. As some of you may be aware, my visit to Miami follows in the wake of attending the 31st Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit which was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica last week.
Continue reading PM Persad-Bissessar’s Address at Luncheon in Miami →

Complaints, General T&T, International, Letters, Security, USA

Mysterious Detention of 17-Year-Old in the U.S.

48 Comments

AbuseTHE EDITOR: I wish to bring to your attention the detention of my 17-year-old daughter in the United States of America. She boarded a Continental flight at Piarco International airport on the night of Monday 5th July, 2010, at 9 p.m. to catch a connecting flight from New Jersey to Maryland. Upon arriving at the Immigration Transportation Hub at Newark International she was detained and remains so at present.
Continue reading Mysterious Detention of 17-Year-Old in the U.S. →

corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, People's Partnership, Politics, USA

Injustice Sows Seeds of Terrorism

26 Comments

This picture shows a portion of the barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank. This part is in Abu Dis, close to the eastern part of Jerusalem.
This picture shows a portion of the barrier being built by Israel in the West Bank. This is close to the eastern part of Jerusalem.
By Raffique Shah
July 11, 2010

THOSE among us who keep abreast of international developments will have noted huge protest demonstrations in Israel most of last week. This kind of action is unusual. Small numbers of Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians and atrocities committed by their military, hardly come out in the open for fear of their lives and liberty. Last week’s protests were not only big, but apparently supported by the state apparatus.
Continue reading Injustice Sows Seeds of Terrorism →

General T&T, International, People's Partnership, Politics

Adopting a Consultative Approach on Our Foreign Policy

6 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
July 09, 2010

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj RambachanFreshly minted Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan has appropriately initiated his public exposure at the helm of the Foreign Affairs Ministry by adopting a consultative, transparency and accountability-based strategy during his recent interaction with his staff, business, academic and civic society representatives at the Claxton Bay Cara Suites retreat.
Continue reading Adopting a Consultative Approach on Our Foreign Policy →

Africa, Features, General T&T, International, Race and Identity, Sports

Africa’s Decade

40 Comments

World Cup Excitement in South Africa
World Cup Excitement in South Africa
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 01, 2010

I don’t know who you are supporting for the World Cup but I have picked Brazil although Joel Villafana and some of the Wakka Wakka boys on Channel 6 are rooting for Argentina. When Trinidad and Tobago participated in the last World Cup my second pick was Brazil. Now that we are not there I have no qualms about supporting the samba magicians. As I marvel at the grandeur of the game and its international reach, I also rejoice at the marvelous job South Africans are doing to pull off this world event.
Continue reading Africa’s Decade →

Elections, Gender, General T&T, International, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

T&T and Australia — Lesson No. 24 — Queen: Comparative Analysis

2 Comments

Prime Minister of Australia Ms. Julia Gillard and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
PM of Australia Ms. Julia Gillard (Photo: Adam Carr) and
PM of Trinidad & Tobago Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar
By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
June 27, 2010

Recent political events in T&T and Australia have brought to the fore the stark reality that there has to be something magical and/or lucky in number 24—Queen.

On 24 January 2010, United National Congress (UNC) supporters voted Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the new political leader of the UNC.
Continue reading T&T and Australia — Lesson No. 24 — Queen: Comparative Analysis →

corruption, India, International, Law

Myth of all men created equal

20 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 27, 2010

Oil SpillTWO weeks ago in India, seven local managers who worked with Union Carbide at its Bhopal plant in 1984 were sentenced to two years imprisonment and each fined US$2,100. There was outrage outside the Delhi court, and understandably so. Those of us who recall that night of horror that was followed by years of additional pain, deaths, disfiguration and death-dealing afflictions, will never forget it. The Bhopal disaster proved that all men (and women) are not created equal. In death, they are even more unequal.
Continue reading Myth of all men created equal →