Crime in T&T, Death Penalty, General T&T, Law, Violence

Nightmare at Woodford Square

21 Comments

By Raffique Shah
September 04, 2010

HangingIT’S still dark, wee hours this Sunday morning, the steady drizzle having no impact on the growing crowd that is gathering at Woodford Square. I am dressed in a Rasta wig, fake-Shabaaz beard, jacket sans tie, looking more like a vagrant than the men at the ticket booths at the two entrances to the Square. It’s going to be a good day for hangings. People are queuing, some jostling, others scalping, but all more than willing to pay the $100 entry fee to witness the country’s first public executions since the days of slavery.
Continue reading Nightmare at Woodford Square →

Culture, General T&T, Media

The Way(ve) Forward for Local Content

10 Comments

By Christian Hume
September 02, 2010

DancersMaestro’s plaintive appeal on behalf of local culture to “play me” (see Youtube clip below) is still as sadly relevant in 2010 as it was 34 years ago in 1976. In a nation 48 years old, it is something of a near-tragedy that local music is still struggling for airplay. This is a DESPERATELY SERIOUS issue as we move forward in our evolution as an independent nation.
Continue reading The Way(ve) Forward for Local Content →

Culture, General T&T

Ponte Vecchio, Florence

3 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 01, 2010

DancersEven as a teenager I was attracted to the arts. When I participated in the Arts Festival (I think that was the correct name) that preceded the Better Village Program inaugurated by Dr. Eric Williams in 1964, I acted under Errol Hill, learned public speaking with his sister Jean Herbert and choral-speaking under David King, a true village patriot of Tacarigua. These stalwarts labored in the artistic vineyards to produce a more responsive citizenry and to cultivate a more rounded aesthetic sensibility that was appropriate for a nation that was coming into being.
Continue reading Ponte Vecchio, Florence →

Culture, General T&T, International, Politics, USA

Our Strength is Our Diversity

9 Comments

By Derren Joseph
September 01, 2010

TrinidadiansThere was a most interesting YouGov poll conducted a couple weeks ago on the website for the Economist magazine – one of my favorite publications. One of the questions asked – Whether or not you think the Islamic cultural centre and mosque should be built near the World Trade Center site, do you think that Muslims have a constitutional right to build a mosque there? Interestingly, 53.2% of Republican respondents, 24.9% of Democrat respondents and 25.2% of Independents disagreed – they actually believed that Muslims did not have a constitutional right to build a mosque on what is actually private property. Although these polls may not meet the test for being statistically reliable, I would argue that they are quite insightful.
Continue reading Our Strength is Our Diversity →

corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Politics

Time to Rewrite the Social Contract

9 Comments

By Raffique Shah
August 29, 2010

TrinidadiansWe have a new Government, a new dispensation – call it what you will – in place. But change, if it’s going to happen, seems, at this point like being in the middle pack of a snails’ marathon covering all the 100 feet. You ask yourself, especially when you come from the Baby Boomers generation, will change come before I die? Will I live to see my country, my people change for the better?
Continue reading Time to Rewrite the Social Contract →

Complaints, corruption, Elections, General T&T, Integrity Commission, Law, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UDeCOTT

Where are they now?

9 Comments

Karen Nunez-Tesheira and PM Patrick Manning
Karen Nunez-Tesheira and PM Patrick Manning
By Dana Seetahal
August 27, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com

It is now three months since the People’s Partnership won the general election and, understandably, the focus has been on how it is performing and whether it is capable of keeping its election promises. My take is still that it is too early to make any real assessment as the Government is still settling in; six months might be a more reasonable time. Meanwhile, I believe this is a good time to look back and assess why the last Government lost power. There might be lessons there that could prove useful to not only the current Government but anyone in politics.
Continue reading Where are they now? →

Complaints, Crime in T&T, Death Penalty, General T&T, Security, Violence

Police, Coast Guard, fail fishermen in distress

9 Comments

By Raffique Shah
August 22, 2010

Patrol BoatTWO murderous incidents that occurred last weekend exposed different sides of arms of the Protective Services, much of which is not flattering. In the first, sea-bandits attacked fishermen in a virtual orgy of violence that saw some six vessels seized by armed, masked men. The helpless fishermen, three of whom lived in my neighbourhood, were tossed into the sea miles offshore, and left to swim for their lives. The bandits-cum-killers conducted their ‘orgy’ from Pointe-a-Pierre to Otaheite.
Continue reading Police, Coast Guard, fail fishermen in distress →

Crime in T&T, Drug Trade, General T&T, Law, Politics, UDeCOTT, Violence

Drug Den for Rich

14 Comments

By Nalinee Seelal and Alexander Bruzual
Saturday, August 21 2010

GunsA day after they made one of the biggest weapons seizures, police described the Valsayn mansion of late millionaire contractor Hafeez Karamath as a drug den for the rich; a factory for the manufacture of exotic high-end hallucinogens.

Investigators estimate the mansion, located on a one acre property in the upscale neighbourhood of Palm Road, Valsayn, is worth more than $12 million.
Continue reading Drug Den for Rich →