Tag Archives: Kamla Persad-Bissessar

General T&T, India, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

The Prime Minister as Goddess

11 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
December 13, 2011

Annabella stocking want patching
She want de doctah to help she with dat
Johnson trousers falling
He want de doctor help he wid dat
Some want a zephyr motor car
Others want a piece of land
[Now] Dorothy loss she man
She want to complain to Doctoh Williams.

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIn 1958, as the demands upon Dr. Eric Williams grew, the Mighty Striker penned “Don’t Blame de PNM” in which he elevated Dr. Williams to the status of godhead. Dr. Williams may have been ironic in quoting this poem in his autobiography. However, Striker was on target when he satirized the fickleness of our people’s understanding of government when he observed that even when yo’ lose yo’ man, yo expect the prime minister to help yo’ with dat.
Continue reading The Prime Minister as Goddess →

General T&T

Diminishing Our Diplomatic Legacy

2 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
December 13, 2011

Stephen KangalMinisterial and accredited diplomacy failed to insulate T&T from the embarrassment occasioned by the successful and complicit application of the extra-territorial tentacles upon which the anti- Cuba 1996 Helms Burton Act (HBA) depends for the effectiveness of its punitive global outreach during the recent triennial Caricom-Cuba Summit. It is Cuba that should have apologized to T&T for feeling the impact of the US big stick diplomacy.
Continue reading Diminishing Our Diplomatic Legacy →

Caribbean, CARICOM, Cuba, General T&T, International, People's Partnership, Politics

Blunder after Blunder

16 Comments

By Raffique Shah
December 11, 2011

Raffique ShahFIVE weeks ago, in my column titled “Diplomatic Blunders”, I wrote, “…The US has the right to decide what countries it has relations with, so excluding Cuba as a trade or investment partner is not the issue. What is criminal is for the US to use its might to deny other countries, as well as all corporations, their right to have relations with Cuba…”

I was referring to America’s unjust trade embargo against Cuba, but also to the People’s Partnership Government’s seemingly confused foreign policy positions. Trinidad and Tobago had abstained at a UNESCO general meeting at which Palestine was granted full membership, with an overwhelming majority of nations voting in favour of the motion.
Continue reading Blunder after Blunder →

Caribbean, CARICOM, Cuba, General T&T, Latin America, Media, Politics, USA

END ISOLATION OF CUBA

2 Comments

IV CARICOM-Cuba Summit
Click here for more photos

By Clint Chan Tack
Friday, December 9 2011 – newsday.co.tt

CUBAN PRESIDENT Raul Castro yesterday slammed United States (US) President Barack Obama for failing to keep a commitment he made at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain in April 2009 to lift the 49-year-old embargo which the US placed on Cuba since 1962.
Continue reading END ISOLATION OF CUBA →

Caribbean, CARICOM, Cuba, General T&T, Politics

Arrival of Cuban President Raul Castro: Fourth Cuba-Caricom Summit

3 Comments

Arrival of Cuban President Raul Castro: Cuba-Caricom Summit
Click here for more photos
Arrival of H.E General Raul Modesto Castro Ruz, the President of the Councils of State and Council of Minister of the Republic of Cuba for state visit ahead of the Fourth Cuba-Caricom Summit.
Continue reading Arrival of Cuban President Raul Castro: Fourth Cuba-Caricom Summit →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, UNC

The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight

20 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
December 06, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeWe didn’t have to wait until the Prime Minister declared an official end to the state of emergency to realize that it was ill-advised, ill-timed and disingenuous. Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear have come to the realization that what began as a farce ended up as a comedy of errors with rotten eggs splattered on the Government’s face and even greater opprobrium cast upon their name. Ah mean, they couldn’t even carry off this jokey maneuver with a modicum of humor.
Continue reading The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, Politics, Violence

PM’s Credibility at Stake

16 Comments

By Raffique Shah
November 27, 2011

Raffique ShahPRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s credibility is on the line with allegations of a plot to assassinate her and three of her ministers. This latest drama, coming at the tail end of a contentious State of Emergency, has drawn scepticism from many quarters. The PM and her security chiefs must now deliver the heads of the would-be assassins on the proverbial platter, or face loss of face and much more debilitating political fallout.
Continue reading PM’s Credibility at Stake →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Police, Politics

Plot to Assassinate the Prime Minister

37 Comments

13 DETAINED

By Nalinee Seelal
November 26, 2011 – newsday.co.tt

Plot to Assassinate Prime MinisterPolice and soldiers have discovered a secret training camp in East Trinidad believed to have been used by ex-soldiers, rogue police officers and members of an organised group in preparation to carry out a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.

As of yesterday, 13 persons, the latest a police sergeant, have been arrested in connection with the threat to the Prime Minister and national security.
Continue reading Plot to Assassinate the Prime Minister →

Flooding, General T&T, People's Partnership, Photos, PNM, Politics

Wall at Maraval Roundabout Collapses after Showers

1 Comment

Country Club Wall at Maraval Roundabout Collapses after Showers
Click here for more photos

The retaining wall that collapsed was erected by the Government when they acquired land from the Country Club to widen the Maraval Road. The original wall was torn down to facilitate the new construction which was completed in May this year.
Continue reading Wall at Maraval Roundabout Collapses after Showers →

Africa, Culture, General T&T, Hindu, India, Labour, People's Partnership, Politics, Racism Watch

Sat and Devant on the Saddle

24 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
November 15, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeSat and Devant riding high on de saddle now and dey driving a hard bargain. Many who voted for the UNC never expected them to thrust Sat and Devant on we with such force, guns ablazing. Even those who refused to vote (and I am culpably in this regard), are feeling uneasy about what is happening in the country. However, I do not think those who voted for UNC and those who abstain should feel badly. They did the correct thing in telling Patrick Manning that he had gone too far and had to be restrained. That is the essence of democracy. Whenever things go out of whack, a countervailing force always steps in to correct the excesses of any party. Silvio Berlusconi who ruled Italy supreme for seventeen years is gone. Muamar Gaddafi ruled Libya for forty two years. He’s gone. As my mamma used to say, “Nothing lasts forever.”
Continue reading Sat and Devant on the Saddle →