Africa, Caribbean, Cuba, General T&T, International, South Africa

The Challenge of Ideology

6 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn Cudjoe
December 11, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeNo one who has followed Caribbean history over the last century could miss Fidel’s important role in helping Caribbean people to access their condition. Fidel had his faults.

However, his achievements surpassed his shortcomings and that is the salient point.

Fidel was to the 20th century Caribbean what Toussaint was to the 18th and 19th centuries. CLR James noted: “Castro’s revolution is of the 20th century as much as Toussaint’s was of the 18th…West Indians became aware of themselves as a people in the Haitian Revolution.”
Continue reading The Challenge of Ideology →

General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

Speaker George Mishandled and Scuttled the FACTA Debate

14 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
December 10, 2016

Stephen KangalHaving regard to the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of T&T and the consequent urgency of concluding the FACTA debate by gaining the requisite 26 votes in the House on Friday last with the indispensable and exclusive assistance of The Leader of the Opposition I submit that The Honourable Speaker of the House, Madame Ingrid Annisette- George mishandled the earlier proceedings that had the effect of scuttling the substantive FACTA Bill 2016 debate.
Continue reading Speaker George Mishandled and Scuttled the FACTA Debate →

General T&T, Religion, Schools

Caroni Presbyterian Re-Enacts the Nativity Story

1 Comment

By Stephen Kangal
December 06, 2016

Stephen KangalStaff and Students ably supported by the parents of the Caroni Presbyterian School recreated the events, using song, dance and skits that led to and culminated in the nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This they staged to enhance the formal opening of their annual Creche and Tree and Candle Lighting function held at the School on Friday morning 25 November 2016.
Continue reading Caroni Presbyterian Re-Enacts the Nativity Story →

Elections, General T&T, PNM, UNC

No longer blinded by our eyes

10 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn Cudjoe
December 04, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeThe People’s National Movement (PNM) ought to chill; ask what it is doing wrong; recharge its battery; and then take it from there. It lost the local government election and people are losing confidence in its leadership.

This is one situation in which loud talking and grand charging are unlikely to solve the problem at hand. The situation calls for calm, cool and reflective thinking. The election results are clear: The PNM won seven corporations (down from eight in the last elections); the United National Congress (UNC) won six. The PNM and UNC received four seats each in Sangre Grande. PNM lost about 12 seats to the UNC.
Continue reading No longer blinded by our eyes →

Caribbean, Cuba, General T&T, International, Passed on

Castro: colossus of the Caribbean

6 Comments

By Raffique Shah
November 28, 2016

Raffique ShahIN response to a request from one young reporter for me to comment on Fidel Castro after the legendary Cuban leader died last Friday, I blurted out: he was a colossus of the Caribbean who walked the world stage tall like a giant.

I don’t know if my one-sentence summary of the complex character that was Fidel was original, but I certainly think it was accurate. Never before in the history of the Caribbean had we seen a leader of his stature. And, like him or loathe him, the titans who straddled the world stage during his 50-year tenure at the helm of Cuba dared not ignore him, with many of them grudgingly respecting him.
Continue reading Castro: colossus of the Caribbean →

Crime in T&T, Elections, PNM, Racism Watch, UNC

Roti Diplomacy

5 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
November 28, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeTomorrow is Election Day. It is the first time the populace will have an opportunity to express their views about their new government. Although one expects the PNM to triumph in this campaign, it has not evoked the same passions of the last election, nor for that matter, the same urgency. Whatever its outcome, it will be a referendum on the prime minister’s leadership.
Continue reading Roti Diplomacy →

Elections, General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

PNM Has No Credibility on LG Reform

By Stephen Kangal
November 25, 2016

Stephen KangalBoth Public Service Reform as well as Local Government Reform has been the political football of PNM governments past and present with nothing of substance to show during years of issuing all colours of Paper and holding consultations galore the last being the year-long political façade conducted by former Local Government Minister Franklin Khan.
Continue reading PNM Has No Credibility on LG Reform →

Elections, General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

The corbeaux are circling

1 Comment

By Raffique Shah
November 23, 2016

Raffique ShahThe campaign for next Monday’s local government elections has degenerated into a dogfight that is dominated by fluff, innuendoes, outright lies and a teaspoon of violence which the main combatants, PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley and UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, hope will generate a large voter turnout and salvage their respective political careers.
Continue reading The corbeaux are circling →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Media, Murder

Cops shot teen five times

3 Comments

By Jensen La Vende
November 23, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Josiah RamsahaiFifteen-year-old Josiah Ramsahai who was killed by police last Friday in a reported shoot-out with police was shot five times with a high-powered rifle his autopsy revealed.

According to forensic pathologist, Dr Valery Alexandrov, the teen was shot once in the leg, twice in the hands and twice in the torso.
Continue reading Cops shot teen five times →