No political blight

By Raffique Shah
August 19, 2012

Raffique ShahI EXPERIENCED déjà vu last Monday, a feeling of “been there, seen that” as I watched the Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues milk golden boy Keshorn Walcott for all he was worth, and then some. Politicians can be merciless in extracting their mileage from achievers. Walcott, having endured two extensive world-class sporting events with all the in-built tension, not to add energy- sapping hours of travelling, was forced into an ultra-marathon homecoming to satiate the political appetites of the powers-that-be. In what should have been his hour of glory, I felt sorry for the boy.
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Eid-ul-Fitr 2012 message from His Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards

Fellow Citizens

President Professor George Maxwell RichardsThis year, as we celebrate the significant milestone of the fiftieth anniversary of our nation’s Independence, I am reminded of how thankful we should be to be citizens of a nation in which religious observances, such as Eid-ul-Fitr, can be celebrated in an atmosphere of respect and peace, as guaranteed by our Constitution and as espoused in the words of our National Anthem, where “…every creed and race find an equal place.”
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A nineteen year old from Toco

Keshorn Walcott at welcoming ceremony, Piarco International Airport
Keshorn Walcott at welcoming ceremony, Piarco International Airport

A nineteen year old, with no international senior experience, who is not on the Grand Prix circuit, who is not in college, who has not participated in Commonwealth Games or World championships, goes in one month less one day from being the World Junior champion to being the Olympic champion in his first major international outing.
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Against All Odds

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 14, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeJust about when Kamal Persad Bissessar was celebrating the achievement of Trinidad and Tobago athletes who performed at the Olympics 2012 in Great Britain, I received an email from an African sister from Brothers Road. About ten years ago she had created a small company in that remote part of the country and was trying hard to make the best of herself. She wrote:
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Memorable moments in time

By Raffique Shah
August 12, 2012

Raffique ShahTHERE is an afterglow to the Olympic Games, an image or moment in time that remains etched in the minds of hundreds of millions of people who view the quadrennial extravaganza. These indelible memories are often so overwhelming, they capture the hearts and minds of most fans. In my case, I’ll always remember the men’s 100-metres final in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988 —the greatest race (for me) until this year’s edition in London, England.
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Blind man claims discrimination by San Fernando bank

By Radhica Sookraj
August 10, 2012 – guardian.co.tt

David La Caille, of PleasantvilleA blind worker is calling for an investigation into alleged discrimination at T&T’s state-owned First Citizens Bank (FCB) claiming he was denied a bank card because of his disability. David La Caille, of Pleasantville, said he was amazed at the discourteous service meted out to him when he went to FCB’s High Street, San Fernando Branch to open a savings account on Tuesday.
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Lightning Bolt

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 09, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeHe was like a lightning bolt and his playfulness made him even more human, a star that descended from above to share a human moment with us. I would have given anything to be at the Olympic Stadium to share in this once-in-a-lifetime moment with this great star. But, like so many others, I had to enjoy the moment in front of a flat screen and that was alright by me.
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Glorious Olympic fields of dreams

By Raffique Shah
Aug 05, 2012

Raffique ShahHALFWAY into the Games and it has been a mixed bag thus far. Oh, the performances all round have ranged from superb to sublime. Really, who could ask for better than what we have seen in the aquatic centre? Just to have witnessed the curtain come down in the career of possibly the greatest swimmer ever, Michael Phelps, was worth it. Bear in mind Phelps started these Games with the threat of Ryan Lochte looming large over his quest to become the most decorated swimmer.
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Africa’s hurt revisited

By George Alleyne
August 01, 2012 – newsday.co.tt

EmancipationWhat has been suppressed by British and European reactionaries with a vested interest in justifying slavery was that long before the slave trade Africans were well advanced in mining and metal-working, agriculture, food production, cotton weaving and garment manufacture.
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