Finance, General T&T, Protest

Blind man claims discrimination by San Fernando bank

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By Radhica Sookraj
August 10, 2012 – guardian.co.tt

David La Caille, of PleasantvilleA blind worker is calling for an investigation into alleged discrimination at T&T’s state-owned First Citizens Bank (FCB) claiming he was denied a bank card because of his disability. David La Caille, of Pleasantville, said he was amazed at the discourteous service meted out to him when he went to FCB’s High Street, San Fernando Branch to open a savings account on Tuesday.
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General T&T, Sports

Lightning Bolt

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 09, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeHe was like a lightning bolt and his playfulness made him even more human, a star that descended from above to share a human moment with us. I would have given anything to be at the Olympic Stadium to share in this once-in-a-lifetime moment with this great star. But, like so many others, I had to enjoy the moment in front of a flat screen and that was alright by me.
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General T&T, Sports

Glorious Olympic fields of dreams

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By Raffique Shah
Aug 05, 2012

Raffique ShahHALFWAY into the Games and it has been a mixed bag thus far. Oh, the performances all round have ranged from superb to sublime. Really, who could ask for better than what we have seen in the aquatic centre? Just to have witnessed the curtain come down in the career of possibly the greatest swimmer ever, Michael Phelps, was worth it. Bear in mind Phelps started these Games with the threat of Ryan Lochte looming large over his quest to become the most decorated swimmer.
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Africa, Books, Education, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Africa’s hurt revisited

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By George Alleyne
August 01, 2012 – newsday.co.tt

EmancipationWhat has been suppressed by British and European reactionaries with a vested interest in justifying slavery was that long before the slave trade Africans were well advanced in mining and metal-working, agriculture, food production, cotton weaving and garment manufacture.
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Africa, General T&T, International, Nigeria, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Introducing A Black Supremacy Agenda into T&T/Nigeria Relations

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By Stephen Kangal
August 03, 2012

Stephen KangalPatriotic Trinbagonians, including the ESC must show their outrage and disgust against the statement made by The President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, at the Emancipation Day Celebrations when he accorded racial precedence and exclusivity to Afro-Trinbagonians in our national quest for attaining the good life (The Promised Land). This unfortunate statement was made at a function organised by the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) that received a Government subvention of $4m and at which the Indo- T&T Prime Minister of T&T and Cabinet Ministers were in attendance.
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Africa, General T&T, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Raced Memories

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 01, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeFor anyone black and slightly conscious, Emancipation Day should be as exciting as Independence Day. One only has to look at the spontaneous response of Africans on the first Emancipation Day to realize how united we were at the gloriously liberating moment. Listen to Governor George Hill as he reported to the Secretary of State on August 7, 1834:
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General T&T, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics

A Way of Seeing

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 25, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeDr. Bhoe Tewarie is an academic; so am I. Dr. Tewarie is a Hindu; I am an Orisa, sometimes Anglican. Dr. Tewarie is Tapir/NAR/PP; I have always been a member of the PNM. Dr. Tewaire has been principal of UWI/ Arthur Lock Jack/ Minister of Planning and Economics; I am a professor, researcher and writer of books. Dr. Tewarie is busy planning our 50th anniversary celebrations; I am at the British National Archive researching the first fifty years of our nation’s history (1800-1850). As nationals, there cannot be a starker dichotomy of two lives.
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corruption, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics

Exoneration or escape?

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By Raffique Shah
July 21, 2012

Raffique ShahFORTY years ago on July 27 I was released from prison a free man. I had spent 27 months in prison, faced a court-martial on mutiny and other charges, and had been committed to stand trial for treason. The treason charge was without substance.

But on the equally serious offence of mutiny, for which the court-martial had found me guilty and sentenced me to 20 years imprisonment, the Court of Appeal later decided there was a miscarriage of justice, hence it overturned the conviction.
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General T&T, Law, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, Tobago

Tobago’s Self-Governance and Legal Separation from T’dad

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By Stephen Kangal
July 21, 2012

Stephen KangalIf Tobago were to be accorded full and effective internal self-governance in the current climate, it is mandatory that boundaries separating the domestic jurisdiction of both islands have to be established to demarcate the maritime limits of the reach of their respective law –creating capacity to avoid over-lapping or concurrent jurisdiction and reduce potential conflict.
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Finance, General T&T, India, People's Partnership, Politics, Racism Watch

When Race Trumps Reason

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 18, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeYou work at an institution for ten years; you begin to like that institution. You grow to admire the intellectual caliber of the men and women who work there and you embalm those precious memories. Ultimately, you reverence that institution as a place where standards matter and excellence is the order of the day. You read Terrence Farrell’s Central Banking in a Developing Economy: A Study of Trinidad and Tobago, 1964 to 1989, you appreciate the origin of central banking in the nation, pre and post-independence. You realize the stature of the men who served this nation as governors (sadly there are no women) and you feel a sense of pride in your nation’s achievement. You realize that no matter what its limitations are, it tries to reward excellence signaling to the nation’s young men and women that achievement matters.
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