CHOGM, General T&T, International, Politics

In the shadow of Commonwealth excess

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By Stephen Chan
December 03, 2009 – guardian.co.uk

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009A Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago was careful to shield delegates from the plight of nearby slum residents

Sea Lots is a slum that lies only a kilometre from the luxury hotels where the presidential and prime ministerial delegations from 53 Commonwealth countries, including the Queen, gathered last weekend in Trinidad and Tobago. Two huge cruise ships were tethered alongside it to provide overflow accommodation for the great and good. Many of them were confined to windowless cabins.
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General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

UNC Support for the Property Tax In the Manday Accord?

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By Stephen Kangal
December 05, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Patrick Manning and Basdeo PandayPolitical observers are duty bound to pose the question, in the face of recent bizarre public posturing of the UNC towards the property tax (PT) whether non-opposition or neutrality towards the PT would appear to be a condition of the Manday Accord. In the post- budget debate the UNC, except for the MP for St. Augustine, has been lukewarm in its limited opposition to the PT even though its current and potential political support base stands to bear the brunt of the expected $7bn punitive revenue windfall.
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Complaints, Crime in T&T, Law, Security, Violence

Police executed my friends, Morvant man says

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‘I played dead to stay alive’

By Francis Joseph
December 03, 2009 – guardian.co.tt

Codi AlvesCodi Alves is living a second life today after he miraculously escaped death when police killed his three friends in Morvant on the night of October 1.

Alves, 30, said he had to “play dead to stay alive,” otherwise he would have been killed by the police. He “played dead” from Morvant to Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he awoke in the mortuary, much to the surprise of the lone policeman and hospital staff. But his three friends—Joel Romain, 19, a former national junior sprinter, Kerwin “Lall” Joseph, 24, and Akee Caballero, 32, were not so lucky.
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Culture, General T&T, Politics

The 2012 movie and Trinidad

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By Derren Joseph
November 30, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

The 2012 movie and TrinidadI went, recently, to see the movie called 2012. Given its performance at the US and UK box offices, the movie studio should be confident in its ability to recoup the US$200 to $300 million investment. For those who have not heard of it, it is a typical big-budget Hollywood disaster movie, but it is based on an “end-of-the-world” scenario expected in the year 2012. To be completely honest, I am a 2012 researcher myself. For some time now, I have been following the work of Terrence McKenna and Time Wave Zero, interpretations of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, Hopi Prophecies, galactic wave theories, such as Velikovsky’s Planet X Nibiru theories, planetary ascension theories, and so on. Naturally, we should only expect fascination with 2012 to heighten as we approach that fateful year.
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CARICOM, CHOGM, International

PoS CHOGM ends

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Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009PoS CHOGM ends
COMMONWEALTH leaders yesterday paid glowing tribute to Trinidad and Tobago for hosting one of the most successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) in the 60-year history of the organisation. The leaders paid their tributes as they delivered their closing statements in the presence of local and international journalists during the final executive meeting of the CHOGM in the Port-of-Spain ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Centre.
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CHOGM, International

PoS climate deal sealed

Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

CHOGM 2009 Press Conference
CHOGM 2009 Press Conference

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009PoS climate deal sealed
HISTORY was made in Port-of-Spain yesterday as Commonwealth leaders reached a groundbreaking agreement on climate change on day two of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This was revealed at a news conference held at the International Financial Centre in Port-of-Spain by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
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CHOGM, Complaints, International, Politics

Ahead Has No Crown

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By Amilcar Sanatan – UWI Student
November 29, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heads CHOGM
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heads CHOGM

The Commonwealth is a voluntary intergovernmental organisation that covers fifty-three independent states. The collection of nations that belong to the organisation and the two billion people they represent justify its existence. The Commonwealth organisation has established itself throughout the former colonies of the British Empire and the world.
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CARICOM, CHOGM, Finance, International, Politics, Security

An ‘old boys club’ headed by an old lady

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By Raffique Shah
November 29, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Commonwealth 2009 Heads of State
Commonwealth 2009 Heads of State

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009Friday morning. Big day for Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heads a list of dignitaries attending the CHOGM. Over the next three days Trinidad and Tobago, this small country, will showcase its wonderful Chinese architecture to our envious Commonwealth brethren. Look at me! Watch my costume (including my brand-name ‘darkers’ that I don’t take off, not even to look Her Majesty in the eye, as royal etiquette demands). Don’t mash my Performing Arts cape! I’m on the world stage!
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CHOGM, International

Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus: The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration

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Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

South Africa President Jacob Zuma (right), his senior wife, Sizakele Khumalo (left), Hazel and Patrick Manning (centre)
South Africa President Jacob Zuma (right), his senior wife, Sizakele Khumalo (left), Hazel and Patrick Manning (centre)

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009The Challenge of Our Time

1. Climate change is the predominant global challenge. We convened a Special Session on Climate Change in Port of Spain to discuss our profound concern about the undisputed threat that climate change poses to the security, prosperity, economic and social development of our people. For many it is deepening poverty and affecting the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. For some of us, it is an existential threat.
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