Tag Archives: T&T Govt

General T&T, PNM, Politics, Race and Identity

Answer me, oh my friend

2 Comments

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.
Continue reading Answer me, oh my friend →

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.
Continue reading What sweet in goat mouth… →

General T&T, PNM, Politics, UNC

Executive President, yes…elected by the people

16 Comments

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.
Continue reading Executive President, yes…elected by the people →

Caribbean, PNM, Politics, UNC

Rudi wanted to lead PNM

6 Comments

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.
Continue reading Rudi wanted to lead PNM →

Crime in T&T, Politics, Security, Violence

Rid the ranks of rogues, Commissioner

6 Comments

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.
Continue reading Rid the ranks of rogues, Commissioner →

General T&T, PNM, Politics, UDeCOTT

The Israel Khan affair

3 Comments

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.
Continue reading The Israel Khan affair →

Finance, General T&T, Politics, Security

Answers needed on helicopters

5 Comments

Newsday Editorial
August 13, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

HelicopterThe first deal under consideration began back in November 2005. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, on a visit to Israel, announced that he had met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and had discussed the issue of crime with his host. Then, in a television interview, Mr Manning stated that the talks with the Israelis might include the acquisition of four armed helicopters as well as patrol boats. He said that the Israeli Air Force used armed helicopters and he had initiated discussion to “effect a transfer”.
Continue reading Answers needed on helicopters →

Crime in T&T, Politics, Tobago, Tourism, Violence

British couple beaten, chopped

17 Comments

By Indarjit Seuraj and Andre Bagoo
August 03, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

Domestic ViolenceSo horrific was the beating and chopping of 59-year-old British vacationer Murium Greene at her home in Bacolet Tobago on Saturday, that tears of blood streamed from her swollen eyes as she lay on a bed yesterday at the High Dependency Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope.

At the Intensive Care Unit of the EWMSC, Greene’s husband Peter, 65, lay in a medically induced coma, his head and face covered in cuts and chops. Doctors expressed concern that bleeding in his brain, caused by the traumatic injuries, had not stopped.
Continue reading British couple beaten, chopped →

Culture, Features, General T&T, Politics, Race and Identity

Securing Our Future in Turbulent Times

13 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 01, 2009 – trinicenter.com
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com

Emancipation(A lecture delivered by Professor Cudjoe at the 9th Annual Emancipation Day Dinner of the National Association for the Empowerment of African People [NAEAP] at the Center of Excellence, Tunapuna, Trinidad, July 31, 2009. Professor Cudjoe is the president of NAEAP.)
Continue reading Securing Our Future in Turbulent Times →