General T&T, International, Labour, USA

Joe Young: last man standing

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By Raffique Shah
October 07, 2012

Raffique ShahLAST Tuesday, one of this country’s great labour leaders and patriots, Joe Young, made his exit from life. Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, as this gentle giant was hurried to some morgue, unmarked and indistinguishable from others. Not that he would have wanted otherwise. It was his final interaction with the ordinary man with whom he lived and mingled freely, for whom he fought many a battle. At age 80, Joe must have endured more than he could in this cussed country that he so loved. He was ready to join his ancestors, to re-link with old comrades.
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Business, Crime in T&T, Finance, General T&T, Labour, Law, Media, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, Security

$58B Budget, TT’s Largest Ever

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Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai
Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai

By Clint Chan Tack
October 02, 2012 – newsday.co.tt

Finance Minister Larry Howai on the front page of NewsdayPEOPLE who drive vehicles fueled by premium gasolene will pay higher prices at the pump from today. A wide range of hefty tax increases was imposed on the local gaming industry as of yesterday and land and building taxes will return.

However orphans, retirees, special reserve police officers and persons involved in home construction are just some groups in society who will benefit from the country’s largest ever budget which Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai presented in the House of Representatives yesterday.
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Caribbean, Finance, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, Politics

Tell me something good

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By Raffique Shah
September 29, 2012

Raffique ShahI WAS privileged to have known and spent some invaluable time with one of this country’s great thinkers, CLR James. He was in his winter years, mostly lying in bed, but his mind remained razor-sharp. A conversation with “Nello”, as he was fondly called, was worth several high-level lectures at any university, so I extracted the most I could from him during what would be his final sojourn in the land of his birth. Today, I remember him more for his wit than his wisdom.
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corruption, Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, Protest, Security

Backward ever, forward never

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By Raffique Shah
September 22, 2012

Raffique ShahIN ordinary times, the Prime Minister’s decision last week to fire Herbert Volney for allegedly misleading the Cabinet on a critical issue (Section 34) would have won the lady universal acclamation. But these are extraordinary times. The baying of the hounds continues unabated, the sounds of fury rise to crescendos, refusing to be silenced by the sacrifice of one silly goat. The natives are restless.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, Security, UNC

Volney paying now

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By Sasha Harrinanan
September 22, 2012 – newsday.co.tt

Herbert VolneyTHE firing of Justice Minister Herbert Volney, two days ago by Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar, was karma for his controversial 1998 dismissal of a manslaughter trial against Brad Boyce, who was before the High Court for the 1996 killing of Jason Johnson.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Labour, Law, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, Security, UNC

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Statement on Proclaimation of Section 34

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September 20, 2012

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarMy fellow citizens, much has been commented and reported upon the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act 201 and the proclamation of Section 34. I chose to remain silent on the matter since any premature pronouncement could have been deemed injudicious and appear to influence the outcome of my own investigations and examination of the issue.
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corruption, Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Watchdogs of democracy

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By Raffique Shah
September 16, 2012

Raffique ShahFIFTY years ago, in one of his now-famous speeches delivered during the euphoria of Independence, Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams told citizens of the fledgling nation, “…Democracy, finally, rests on a power higher than Parliament. It rests on an informed and cultivated and alert public opinion….” I recalled that injunction last week when the nation was shaken from its Jubilee stupor to learn, through the alertness of the media, that an injudicious act of Parliament was about to hurl us down a legal precipice, the consequences of which are best left to the imagination.
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corruption, Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

DPP Roger Gaspard Breaks Silence

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By Richard Charan
Sep 12, 2012 at 1:12

Director of Public Prosecutions Roger GaspardDirector of Public Prosecutions senior counsel Roger Gaspard today issued a statement on the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011, and its impact on the two legal proceedings involving defendants charged in the Piarco Airport Terminal project.
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Business, corruption, Court, Crime in T&T, Finance, General T&T, International, Law, Media, Money Laundering, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC, USA

ISH, STEVE ‘CUT DOWN’

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By Andre Bagoo
September 13, 2012 – newsday.co.tt

Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve FergusonPRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar issued directions to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to table last-minute amendments to bolster legislation designed to shield the State from the legal fallout of its decision to abruptly repeal Section 34 of the Administration of Justice Act, it was revealed yesterday.
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