General T&T, Law, Politics, THA, Tobago

Tobago’s Internal-Self Governance — No Façade Structure

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By Stephen Kangal
July 11, 2012

Stephen KangalCurrent proposals originating both in POS (The Green Paper) and Scarborough (The Draft Bill of the THA) now in the public domain and geared to accord a higher level of self-governance to Tobagonians must not result in another façade Legislature exercising political and administrative autonomy merely to achieve peace, order and good governance in the sister-isle. There must be fundamental changes both in structure and substance. Tobago must be treated with dignity, the inalienable right of its people to self-determination respected and their ownership or sovereign rights over adjacent maritime resources to be exploited for the welfare of its people recognized and legitimized.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Protest, Security

PM, Cabinet knew about demolition

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…protests increase Golconda to Pt Fortin highway by $3.5m

Sunday, July 8, 2012
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford – guardian.co.tt

PeopleResidents of Debe and surrounding areas line the M1 Ring Road in Debe with their placards in a show of support for the Point Fortin to Golconda highway yesterday morning. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH

Minister of National Security Jack Warner did not act on his own accord when he instructed the demolition of the Highway Re-route Movement’s camp, to allow works to resume on the $7.2 billion Point Fortin Highway. In fact, Sunday Guardian learnt that only two weeks before Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reshuffled her Cabinet, Brazilian firm Construtora OAS Ltd had issued a $3.5 million claim against the Government for breach of the contractual agreement caused by the protesters.
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General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Security

Cry blood, my beloved country

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By Raffique Shah
July 07, 2012

Raffique ShahRARELY do I address the same topic for two consecutive weeks, but I feel compelled, in highly unusual circumstances, to alert the nation to the misadventures of National Security Minister Jack Warner. Last week, like many of my columnist colleagues, I took Warner to task over the way he handled the demolition of the Highway Re-Route Movement’s shed. In a country that adhered to the rule of law, Warner would have fallen on his own sword on that issue alone.
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General T&T, Hindu, India, Law, Politics, Protest

Hello, Hindutva

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By Raymond Ramcharitar
July 4, 2012 – guardian.co.tt

lettersI could be mistaken, but it seems that the Highway Re-Route Movement activists are using their protests as a medium to deploy a Hindu-centric protest language to address the national community, and (presumably) the Government. Since, looking at the visual statements, a new vernacular is making its debut in the national conversation/cussout, it might be important to point out that we’re not really sure what they’re saying.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, International, Law, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Security, Sports

Jack’s lawlessness and Corruptibility

11 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 03, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeLife in T&T is very funny business. Yo know way yo going; yo don’t know where yo’ likely to reach. The government declares a state of emergency, arrests over 8,000 black young men under the guises that they are/may be criminals. No charges made, no apologies offered and no compensation paid. In fact, we are told by the AG that if dey tink dey go make any money off the state for these illegal arrests, dey lie. He waiting for them. He would release the legal power of the state against them. They had better not even think about seeking compensation.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Security

Return of Sheriff Lobo

9 Comments

By Raffique Shah
July 01, 2012

Raffique ShahWHAT more must Jack Warner do to prove that he is unfit to be this country’s Minister of National Security? Declare war on Tobago or Venezuela or Barbados? Introduce a death squad to go around executing persons he suspects of being criminals or gangsters? Arrest and detain persons perceived to be opponents of the People’s Partnership Government?
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Protest, Security

Warner was right – Afri-centric analysis

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By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
June 29, 2012

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe decision by newly-appointed Minister of National Security, Austin Jack Warner to demolish the “Highway Re-route Movement” camp on government land was the right thing to do.

The fact of the matter is that since T&T has degenerated into a lawless society, now is the time for a totally responsible government to take the bull by the horns and enforce the laws of this country, period. Long-outstanding half measures did not work; in fact, they have exacerbated the crime problem to the nth degree.
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General T&T, Labour, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, Security

Politics and Promotions in the Cabinet Re-Shuffle

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By Stephen Kangal
June 27, 2012

Stephen KangalThe Cabinet reshuffle, dubbed the new “pan- Cabinet”, would appear to be engineered, driven and tuned exclusively by the politics of consolidation, internal cohesiveness and ministerial promotion/demotion rather than enhancing performance in the post-MSJ era. It is a case of creating some over-lapping and ill-defined courses for horses while earning a six-month respite from the rising tide of adverse media reviews and infrastructural and labour discontent.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Police, Sex Crimes, Violence

Mother jailed for ignoring child’s sex abuse

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By Reshma Ragoonath
June 27, 2012 – guardian.co.tt

VictimA Gasparillo woman who turned a blind eye while her nine-year-old daughter was being sexually abused in their home in 2003 has been jailed for nine months. The woman, who was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, appeared before Magistrate Alicia Chankar in the San Fernando court. She was convicted of failing to report to the police that her daughter was being sexually abused by a 20-year-old man.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Police, Violence

A sad situation

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Newsday Editorial
Wednesday, June 27 2012

VictimTHERE’S certainly nothing to celebrate about the jailing of a mother for having abused her child, as one wonders how all her children will now fare without her.

We refer to the imposition of a three-year jail sentence on Kamla Ramcharan, 29, of Longdenville, Chaguanas, for burning the left hand of her daughter, Vishala Bikharrie, eight, on a hot tawah, in a supposed attempt to discipline the child for allegedly stealing $5 from a schoolmate.
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