By Sean Douglas
December 20 2009 – newsday.co.tt
DIEGO Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley believes that people from all walks of life are angry at the Government’s property tax which they blame on squandermania. Rowley was speaking on Friday in the Lower House on two bills to bring the new tax, the Property Tax Bill 2009 and the Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill 2009.
Continue reading Rowley hits property tax
By Raffique Shah
December 13, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
I WISH I could take comfort in the marginal drop in the number of murders this year when compared with last year, the way Acting Commissioner James Philbert does. At a recent year-end function, (Acting) Assistant Commissioner Gilbert Reyes sought to assure citizens that soon we shall not only hear talk about further crime-cuts, but we shall have less crime to talk and write about.
Continue reading Crime shift from urban to rural districts
By William Blum
December 10, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
All the crying from the left about how Obama “the peace candidate” has now become “a war president” … Whatever are they talking about? Here’s what I wrote in this report in August 2008, during the election campaign:
Continue reading The Peace Candidate Myth: Yeswecanistan
November 09, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
EDITOR: A collection of sex video clips involving a local celebrity is making the rounds on the internet. I am told that she is quite embarrassed about this exposure.
Personally, I do not have a problem with adults exhibiting themselves to other adults by choice. However, if they have a problem with such performances being made public, then why do they record them in the first place? And, if they do record them, why do they not secure them properly?
Continue reading Once it’s taped, it might as well be out there
By Tim Collard
November 2nd, 2009 – telegraph.co.uk
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Continue reading Are the Chinese racist?
By Raffique Shah
October 18, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
SOME five years ago when criminal activities intensified to frightening levels, several people who care about this country suggested to Prime Minister Patrick Manning that he declare a limited state of emergency. I was among those who argued that once the law enforcement agencies were armed with intelligence-identities of the main criminals, overlords of the guns and drugs underworld-Government should move to stem the crime tide by use of emergency powers to arrest the situation, to rescue the country.
Continue reading Jail Chinese contractors for slavery
October 15, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com
Complainant against PM in wrong courtroom
A PRIVATE criminal charge against Prime Minister Patrick Manning was thrown out by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls yesterday, because the woman who filed the charge was absent from the courtroom.
Manning, who appeared through his attorney Michael Quamina, later waved to reporters as his convoy stopped for a moment outside the St Vincent Street, Port of Spain courthouse, moments after the dismissal.
Continue reading Case against PM thrown out
By Richardson Dhalai
October 14, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
The camp at Chatee Trace, Cunupia where Chinese labourers of Beijing Liujian Construction Corporation is tucked away on a lonely stretch of road.
The living quarters are shielded by sheets of galvanise which line the length of the compound.
Continue reading ‘Chinese work like slaves’
By Sacha Wilson
Published: 23 Sep 2009 – guardian.co.tt
The State has to pay the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, which operates Central Broadcasting Services Ltd, close to $3 million in damages for its unequal treatment and delay in granting them a FM radio broadcasting licence.
Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh awarded compensatory and vindicatory damages yesterday by way of a video conference at the San Fernando High Court.
Continue reading Govt to pay Maha Sabha $3M for radio licence delay
By Stephen Kangal
September 17, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
I am now becoming increasingly convinced that the proposed draconian property tax is conceived to defray most of the estimated $7bn budget deficit in the face of an aggressive attempt by Government to bring all residences including those of the new HDC settlements, agricultural lands including the Caroni two-acre farms and new business places into the new, punitive tax net. One will recall the hike in the price of premium gas last fiscal to cover the costs of the $500m Summit of the Americas. CHOGM is next.
Continue reading Property Tax Can Off-Set $7bn Budget Deficit