By Gail Alexander
October 11, 2015guardian.co.tt
A Government Information Services Ltd (GISL) CEO was also hired as a consultant for a state company which bought him an SUV vehicle, and a CNMG freelancer was collecting “four salaries” under the past People’s Partnership (PP) administration, Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie revealed yesterday.
Continue reading GISL, CNMG—‘A big waste’ of $$
By MARINA SALANDY-BROWN
October 08, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
THE RECENT debate of the rights and wrongs of a new UWI law campus being built in Debe revealed some of the complexities of the business of education and unleashed an unusually high level of public discourse.
I use the word “business” advisedly.
I could also add the word “politics”. I pose two questions arising from the hornet’s nest uncovered by former UWI principal and President of Trinidad and Tobago George Maxwell Richards in his speech at the recent opening of the 2015-16 Law Term. Firstly, what are universities for? Secondly, do we need more lawyers? I share Professor Richards’ view that a university’s “…contribution depends substantially on the activities of its academics and students to discuss, evaluate, criticise and investigate ideas and thus make available to the policymakers and the community possible options.” I would add that universities are where people learn to develop their thinking and knowledge to an advanced level that will serve in the advancement of the human race in all its aspects.
Continue reading UWI in Debe – 2 questions
By Kalifa Clyne
October 07, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
One day after chief executive officer of state-owned media company Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG), Ken Ali, and radio talk show host Marcia Braveboy were fired from their post, two other senior employees, who were also facing the axe, tendered their resignations.
Continue reading Two more CNMG employees part ways with company
By Clint Chan Tack
October 06 2015 – newsday.co.tt
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday said the 2016 Budget provides the Government with an appropriate roadmap to guide the country through the challenging economic times ahead. The Prime Minister made this point as he and Finance Minister Colm Imbert spoke with reporters at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, after Imbert unveiled the Government’s $63 billion fiscal package.
Continue reading PM: We will adjust Budget to suit
By Raffique Shah
October 04, 2015
Tomorrow’s Budget presentation by Finance Minister Colm Imbert is the most eagerly anticipated Appropriation Bill in many years.
The main reason for heightened interest is the depressed state of the economy. With low oil, gas and commodities prices, hence lower-than-normal revenues accruing to government, citizens are waiting to see just how the new administration proposes to navigate the ship of State.
Continue reading Weathering the storm
By Rhonda Krystal Rambally
October 04, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Anthropologist Dr Dylan Kerrigan says racist posts on social networking site Facebook are a cultural manifestation of the political climate and is suggestive of how T&T’s society might become.
He described this cultural manifestation as “dangerous” and attributed this to failing social and educational institutions, the media, disconnected and irresponsible politicians and a lack of general critical thinking among the population.
Continue reading Small group ‘fanning the flames’ of race in T&T—UWI lecturer
By Joan Rampersad
October 05, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
In his first official function as Minister of Communications, Maxie Cuffie, at the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) Eight Biennial General Assembly that took place at the Trinidad Hilton yesterday, stated too much state resources were spent in the last year on the Caribbean News Media Group (CNMG) and the Government Information Services Limited (GISL).
Continue reading Cuffie: $90 million spent by CNMG, GISL
By Raffique Shah
September 28, 2015
Not being a religious person, I must confess that religion (used here collectively) confuses me, and quite often frightens me.
Mark you, I am not disrespectful towards religion or religious persons. If I were, I’d be alienated from most of my family, relatives, friends and fellow-citizens, almost all of whom are praying people who belong to one faith or other among the scores that form the tapestry of this cosmopolitan country.
Continue reading Ruminations on religion
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 27, 2015
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has produced many distinguished scholars and thinkers who have served the Caribbean and the world. Dr. Keith Rowley, the most recent example, was elected to one of the highest offices in Trinidad and Tobago. Yet there remain pockets of discrimination and racism within UWI that need to be eradicated immediately.
On August 30 Dr. J. Vijay Maharaj, a UWI lecturer at Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies, invited me to address a conference, “Seepersad & Sons: Naipaulian Creative Synergies” at the end of October. I thanked her and asked what she would like me to speak about.
Continue reading An Unethical Dis(Invite)
By Vashtee Achibar
September 27, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
Attorney General Faris Al- Rawi, also the sitting Member of Parliament for the San Fernando West seat, was on Friday served with an election petition at the funeral service for former People’s National Movement (PNM) government minister Errol Mahabir.
The funeral service took place at the St Paul’s Anglican Church on Harris Promenade, San Fernando and was attended by hundreds of mourners including Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, former Prime Ministers Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday, a line up of government ministers and senators as well as members of Parliament from both sides of the House and a list of other prominent persons in society.
Continue reading AG served with election petition at Mahabir’s funeral