By Sacha Wilson
Published: 23 Sep 2009 – guardian.co.tt
The State has to pay the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, which operates Central Broadcasting Services Ltd, close to $3 million in damages for its unequal treatment and delay in granting them a FM radio broadcasting licence.
Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh awarded compensatory and vindicatory damages yesterday by way of a video conference at the San Fernando High Court.
Continue reading Govt to pay Maha Sabha $3M for radio licence delay
By Sylvan N. Wilson
September 20, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
The Government and in particular the Minister of Finance have been attempting to justify their murderous property tax by arguing that the value of properties has changed since 1948. They have astutely deciphered that properties have increased in value over the last sixty-one years.
Continue reading No to Increase in Property Tax!
By Raffique Shah
September 20, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
AS I listened to Chief Justice Ivor Archie deliver his address at the opening of the new Law Term, I was transported back in time-42 years ago, to be precise. The CJ must have been a little past toddler stage then, and most of his fellow-judges not yet born or barely older. It was my first Carnival after two-years of military training in frigid England. As a “carnival peong” who had missed out on Sniper’s classic “Portrait of Trinidad” (1966), I jumped straight into however many fetes I could “play myself”. And the tune we partied most to? An infectious double-entendre titled “Archie Buck Dem Up” by a little known (for me, anyway) Bajan group called the Merrymen.
Continue reading Archie buck dem up
By Onika James
September 19, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s veto of Carla Brown-Antoine for the post of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Government’s “retrograde step” to set up a Ministry of Justice are “dark clouds” over the Judiciary and the administration of justice, Law Association president Martin Daly SC warned yesterday.
As he criticised Manning’s “exercise of the constitutional veto” of Brown-Antoine as DPP, Daly praised Chief Justice Ivor Archie’s “wonderful dissertation” in the defence of the independence of the Judiciary.
Continue reading PM’s Veto Unfathomable
By Stephen Kangal
September 17, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
I am now becoming increasingly convinced that the proposed draconian property tax is conceived to defray most of the estimated $7bn budget deficit in the face of an aggressive attempt by Government to bring all residences including those of the new HDC settlements, agricultural lands including the Caroni two-acre farms and new business places into the new, punitive tax net. One will recall the hike in the price of premium gas last fiscal to cover the costs of the $500m Summit of the Americas. CHOGM is next.
Continue reading Property Tax Can Off-Set $7bn Budget Deficit
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Following is the full text of the address by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the opening of the 2009/2010 Law Term at the Convocation Hall,
Hall of Justice, Knox Street,
Port-of-Spain.
September 16, 2009
Because of the particular focus that I want to adopt for this year’s opening address I will take the unconventional step of acknowledging at the beginning, rather than at the end, those persons who have retired during the past year and whose contributions will endure and leave an indelible mark on this institution, its administration our jurisprudence and most of all on the lives of those with whom they have come into contact.
Continue reading Address by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the opening of the 2009/2010 Law Term
By Darren Joseph
September 13, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
A white South African was granted refugee status in Canada, on the ground of “racism.” He claimed that he was attacked six or seven times because of his skin colour. Needless to say, this caused much controversy in South Africa. Prime Minister Harper of Canada asked the Federal Court to review this ruling that so threatened Canada-South Africa relations.
Continue reading Positive Reporting
By Raffique Shah
September 13, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
TAXATION in any form meets with resistance from those who are made to pay taxes. The tide of taxation-discontent varies. In 1773 in what is now the USA, the cry “no taxation without representation” led to the American Revolution and its declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. The 1990 introduction of the infamous Poll Tax by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, led to the Iron Lady’s political demise. Now, Karen Nunez-Tesheira’s increased property tax seems poised to be the most contentious issue emanating from her pocket-full of adjusted tax measures.
Continue reading Resistance to taxation
By Andre Bagoo
September 13, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
ACTING Commissioner of Police James Philbert yesterday assured that a controversial affidavit containing allegations made by the Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Abu Bakr involving Prime Minister Patrick Manning “will receive full attention” and be investigated by the police.
“If a judge sends something to be investigated it will be investigated,” Philbert said. “Whatever they send, it will be investigated and given full attention.”
Continue reading Philbert: We will investigate Bakr affidavit
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
THE EDITOR: The onerous, burdensome, sting-in-the-tail and exploitative property tax imposed by the Minister of Finance in her barrel-scraping Budget Statement will have the effect of transforming the mentality of a proud and confident, property- owning, diverse population into a nation of transient renters. From childhood I was socialized culturally into not being a renter. Now I am being forced as a fixed income pensioner, after building and living in my own home, to regard and treat myself pschologically as a renter in my own home. A long term renter has no commitment to his community or country. He is always on the move in search of greener pastures. I do not want to be treated as that.
Continue reading Transforming a Property Owning Nation into Renters