Tag Archives: T&T Govt

Complaints, Finance, General T&T, Letters, PNM, Politics

Transforming a Property Owning Nation into Renters

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

HouseTHE 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.
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Finance, General T&T, Media, PNM, Politics

T&T’s 2009 – 2010 Budget Statement

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

Calder HartThe text of the 2009-2010 Budget Statement as was presented in the House of Representatives on Monday, September 08, 2009, by the Minister of Finance the Honourable Karen Nunez-Tesheira.

Mr. Speaker, it is a distinct privilege to present to this Honourable House and to the people of Trinidad and Tobago the 2009/2010 Budget. This is the second budget of this Administration in which we continue to implement a progressive programme of development intended to improve the quality of life of our nation’s citizens.
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Finance, PNM, Politics, UDeCOTT

Uff inquiry postponed until further notice

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newsday.co.tt
Sunday, September 6 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog

Calder HartTHE HEARINGS of the fourth and final phase of the Uff Commission of Inquiry into Udecott, which was expected to start tomorrow, was yesterday adjourned “until further notice” by its chairman Professor John Uff.

In an email sent by the inquiry’s secretariat to all the parties to the proceedings yesterday, it was announced that the hearing would not take place, but instead a press conference would be scheduled for 11am on Monday.
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General T&T, PNM, Politics, Race and Identity

Answer me, oh my friend

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By Raffique Shah
Sunday, September 6th 2009
www.trinicenter.com/Raffique

Kamaluddin MohammedIN this post-national-awards week and on pre-budget day, most of my columnist colleagues would focus on one topic or other. There is a whole lot to be said about the awards system, much of which has already been ventilated. The issue I found most amusing was the brouhaha over Kamal “Charch” Mohammed being nominated for the nation’s highest award, but being denied it by those on high.
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Food, General T&T, Politics

What sweet in goat mouth…

By Raffique Shah
August 30, 2009
www.raffiqueshah.com

Caricom LeadersWITH the price of sugar shooting through the roof-at least by that commodity’s standard-there are calls from many quarters for Government to resuscitate the local sugar industry. From the Maha Sabha’s Sat Maharaj to All Trinidad’s Rudy Indarsingh, people are heaping scorn on Government for closing the industry when it did in 2007. They are seeing gold where, not long ago, only trash and spoilt canes stood. Fool’s gold, I say-and I shall produce facts to support my position.
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General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

Executive President, yes…elected by the people

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By Raffique Shah
August 23, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

Raffique ShahListening to well-informed people, some of them respected intellectuals, argue against a system of government that allows for an executive president, intrigues me. They invariably pursue their arguments using fancy-words-work, but essentially they are little different to the barely-informed masses, who, on the eve of Trinidad and Tobago adopting a republican constitution in 1976, cried “bloody murder” over that minor change in our system of governance.
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Caribbean, PNM, Politics, UNC

Rudi wanted to lead PNM

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By George Alleyne
August 19, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

Basdeo PandayThe scarcely concealed leadership battle in the United National Congress (UNC) between the Party’s Political Leader, Basdeo Panday, and one of its Deputy Political Leaders, Jack Warner, as to which of them will command the UNC in the immediate days ahead is not uncommon to Caribbean politics.
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Crime in T&T, Politics, Security, Violence

Rid the ranks of rogues, Commissioner

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By Raffique Shah
August 16, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

PoliceACTING Police Commissioner James Philbert and his senior aides must be commended for their recent initiatives to clean up the Service. The exposure of one or more corrupt officers at the St Joseph Station, their identities yet to be determined, is but the proverbial drop in the bucket. But at least it restores some public confidence in the police hierarchy.
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General T&T, PNM, Politics, UDeCOTT

The Israel Khan affair

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Newsday Editorial
Saturday, August 15 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

Israel KhanIt was an imperative that Israel Khan should have recused himself from the Uff Commission of Inquiry into Udecott and the Construction Industry. The ten-page letter which he issued to Udecott’s attorneys some days ago appeared to pre-judge the personalities and the issues before the Commission. As a Commissioner, Mr Khan should not have been giving vent to such opinions prior to having them stated in the body of the eventual Commissioners’ Report.
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