By Jada Loutoo
April 6 2013 – newsday.co.tt
BUSINESSMEN Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, and 40 other persons, will face prosecution in their respective criminal trials having failed to get the courts to deem as unconstitutional the amendment to the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, which prevented the automatic dismissal of their cases under the controversial Section 34.
Continue reading Ish, Steve Lose on Section 34
By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
March 31, 2013
Within recent times, the public domain has been over-flooded with a plethora of accusatory statements by some among the leadership of the People’s Partnership (PP) government.
Indeed, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has gone so far to adamantly/emphatically inform the nation that “rouge elements” exist in the media. And not to be outdone, National Security Minister Jack Warner has also publicly scoffed at “negative things” been revered in news reporting.
Continue reading Negative Reporting: Afri-centric Analysis
By Raffique Shah
March 30, 2013
IF THERE was anything surprising about the Prime Minister’s frontal assault on the media and journalists, it was the expression of hurt and outrage emanating from the nation’s newsrooms. Really, people, I cannot believe you were shocked when the PM labelled us “rogues”.
If anything, Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s declaration of war took a long time in coming—almost three years. Fellow scribes, be thankful for the lengthy grace period, be grateful that the lady wined and dined you lavishly before she turned on you.
Continue reading PM following predecessors
PM SEEKS CONFIRMATION
International news agency Reuters has identified Daryan Warner, son of Minister of National Security and former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, as a “cooperating witness” in a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into alleged corruption in international football.
Continue reading PM Seeks Confirmation on Warner
Selwyn Ryan – March 26, 2013
www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-25/ryan-crime-report-soca-music-breeding-criminals
Soca, dancehall and hip-hop music are said to be influencing youths into criminal behaviour. This is according to a report by the Ryan Committee on Youth at Risk. The report was laid in Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday. The committee’s report said while it was impossible to draw a definitive correlation between violence or explicitness of lyrics and the level of criminality among youth, the lyrics of 2012 soca hits “tend to support the idea of a contemporary youth culture that is very consistent with the rebellious behaviour of previous generations of youth.”
Continue reading Ryan crime report: Soca music breeding criminals
By Richard Lord – March 23, 2013
www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-03-23/ryan-report-laventille-crime-dagger-aimed-pos-belly
Government is being warned to do “whatever is necessary” to silence the guns in the hands of the criminal element in Laventille. If those carrying the guns are allowed to run rampant, they could eventually train those guns on the capital city itself.
Continue reading Ryan report on Laventille crime: Dagger aimed at POS’ belly
By Raffique Shah
March 23, 2013
THE purpose of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2013 is to add soldier-power to Government’s crime-fighting initiatives, although if you read the one-clause legislation you would think otherwise. The bill simply speaks of extending to soldiers engaged in assisting the police in maintaining law and order “the same powers, authorities, privileges and immunities as are given by law to members of the Police Service”.
Continue reading Don’t demonise soldiers
By Sean Douglas – March 23 2013
newsday.co.tt
PORT-OF-SPAIN Mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday called for bigger guns to be given to his municipal police force to deter criminals who harass his contractors when they work in the city’s criminal “hot-spots”.
Addressing a Joint Select Committee (JSC) hearing at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, Lee Sing said criminals are undeterred and unafraid when confronted by city police officers armed with handguns including the Beretta brand.
Continue reading Wanted bigger guns for city cops
By Suzanne Mills
March 17, 2013 – newsday.co.tt
It’s nigh impossible to gauge precisely what Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley hopes to accomplish by forming an alliance with his former foe, ex attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.
We can deduce from the evidence Maharaj’s raison d’etre — he was beaten roundly and soundly in the 2010 UNC leadership race by Kamla Persad-Bissessar and likely pique has moved him to join forces with the Opposition to dismantle her regime. By teaming up with Rowley and the PNM, he is guaranteed a political platform, an additional opportunity to maintain a high profile and to bash the government, and possibly another shot at a seat in the parliament.
Continue reading Rowley’s revival of Ramesh
By Raffique Shah
March 17, 2013
AND hypocritically, we wonder why the moral-social fabric of the society is torn apart, nay, shredded, by a culture of violence, of lawlessness, of nihilism such as we have never known.
We blame the young, easy targets, never admitting that they are misfits moulded in our own image and likeness, created by elders who are anything but exemplars. We blame foreign influences, television, alien music and art forms. We blame any and everything but ourselves. We never look into the mirror.
Continue reading The Warner way