Elections, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Why the PNM Will Win the Election

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 01, 2015

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeOn March 3, 2014, I predicted “Keith Rowley will emerge victorious during the PNM’s party elections and go on to become the next prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago” (Express). Everything that has transpired since (including his winning PNM party’s election) has persuaded me of the certainty of my prediction. One week before Trinidadians and Tobagonians go to the polls I can confidently assert the PNM will win at least 26 of the 41 constituencies it is contesting.
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Elections, General T&T, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

NACTA: PP leads PNM

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Newsday – August 30 2015

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarThe latest North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) tracking poll finds the 2015 General Election still to be going down to the wire with the outcome in a few marginal seats determining who will be the prime minister.

The poll also found that Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been consistently leading her main challenger, Dr Keith Rowley, in voters’ choice for Prime Minister as well as in approval and favourability (likeability) ratings.
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Elections, General T&T, Integrity Commission, PNM, Politics, UNC

Keith Rowley and the Coercive State

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 27, 2015

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeSometimes our public officials act in incredible silly ways that are entirely incomprehensible to the ordinary citizen. Dr. Keith Rowley, the leader of the PNM, is locked in a close fight with the UNC, the governing party, for the leadership of the country. Fifteen days before the election the Integrity Commission (IC) demands that he produces certain documents within that period or face the prospect of prosecution.
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Elections, General T&T, Media, Politics, UNC

Gypsy jumps off: “The PM is ungrateful, conniving”

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By Kim Boodram
August 26, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Winston Gypsy PetersREJECTED by the United National Congress after being screened to be the general election candidate for the Mayaro seat, Winston Gypsy Peters has lashed out at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, describing her as conniving and ungrateful.

He has resigned the Minister of Community Development, and given up his membership in the UNC.
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Elections, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Half truths and manifestos

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By Raffique Shah
August 25, 2015

Raffique ShahI don’t know that the majority of people in the country are influenced in any way by the manifestos presented by various parties-in our case two, one from the UNC/PP and the other from the PNM.

In fact, I believe few people, likely less than ten percent of the electorate, read these voluminous documents. In my case, I sought the synopses of the presenters because I know they will have highlighted what they saw as the fundamentals of what they would implement if elected, and certainly their most marketable offerings.
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Elections, General T&T, Law, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Clarify property tax

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Newsday Editorial
August 25 2015 – newsday.co.tt

HouseUNFORTUNATELY all of the barbs being exchanged in relation to the question of a proposed property tax have distracted us from the deeper question: what is the policy of both of the major parties on the imposition of taxes on property assets generally? The property tax was a proposal of the last PNM administration and it would have introduced a brand new regime of taxation which would be tied to the rental and taxable values of property.
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Elections, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

SS Trinidad Sinking

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By Raffique Shah
August 19, 2015

Raffique ShahAmidst the din of election campaigning—hundreds of ‘Kamla has a plan’ ads on all television stations during prime time, DJ music systems scouring the country daily, public meetings broadcast nightly on almost every radio and television station, more ads popping up every time you click on the Internet, assaults via phones and emails—I have yet to hear one frontline politician tell the people of this nation of the grim times the country faces if oil and gas prices keep tumbling, as they have done over the past two months.
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corruption, Elections, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, Schools, UNC

The Laptop Scandal

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 18, 2015

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI was at Maloney on Wednesday evening when Dr. Keith Rowley analyzed the Government’s laptop program. Dr. Rowley did not have to do much work since he read from a document that pointed out the introduction of laptops and the incorporation of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in our schools “had no statistically significant impact on student performance.” It also found that staff and student groups registered “a relatively high dissatisfaction with the provision of internet service” and the implementation of the laptop program.
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Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Police, Violence

7-year-olds can be charged

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By Alexander Bruzual
Monday, August 17, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

ViolenceWith two children, aged 11 and 13, currently before the courts on charges of manslaughter, several members of the public have taken to social media questioning at what age can a child be held criminally responsible for their actions, and if it was right that children be made to face such a serious charge.

However, many people may be shocked to know that the age for criminal responsibility in Trinidad and Tobago is actually seven years.
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Elections, General T&T, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

PP candidates superior to PNM’s—Kamla

By Richard Lord
Monday, August 17, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarIn the face of significant inroads into territory of its (UNC) coalition partners, political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) Kamla Persad-Bissessar told party supporters yesterday that the People’s Partnership could not be in better shape to seek a second mandate from the electorate as the coalition presented its 41 candidates for the September 7 polls.
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