Tag Archives: Raffique Shah

General T&T, International, Passed on, Protest, Racism Watch, Sports, USA

Peerless and fearless: simply The Greatest

2 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 11, 2016

Raffique ShahIn death, as in life, he straddled the world like a colossus. All the major international news networks suspended regular programming to pay homage to Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer ever, the supreme sporting figure of the 20th Century, the defiant one who sacrificed a successful career on the altar of principle.

Just four years older than me, Ali symbolised the rebelliousness of so many of my generation, it was almost as if we knew him, grew up with him, that when he spoke out, confronted what we had dubbed “the establishment” in those heady days, his was our voice.
Continue reading Peerless and fearless: simply The Greatest →

General T&T, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, Venezuela

Integrity Commission a waste

14 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 06, 2016

Raffique ShahWhen constitutionally-independent institutions in the country seem to be collapsing, when holders of the highest offices seem confused about their roles and perplexed about their powers, and when the law publicly proves to be the proverbial ass, then, Trinidad & Tobago, we have a problem…a very serious problem.
Continue reading Integrity Commission a waste →

Gender, General T&T, Law, Politics, Religion, Sex

Sex and the geriatric preachers

9 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 01, 2016

Raffique ShahIt is amazing, though not surprising, how easily our people can be distracted from the important issues that we face as a nation, currently galloping crime and an economy in crisis.

Last week, everyone, from captain to crook, was consumed in debate over a rather stupid statement that Harrypersad Maharaj, issued on behalf of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which called on Government to not change existing laws that allow for Muslim and Hindu girls, aged 12 and 14 respectively, to be legally wedded.
Continue reading Sex and the geriatric preachers →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, PNM, Security

Gap between intelligence and action

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By Raffique Shah
May 22, 2016

Raffique ShahReally, it does not bother me that the Strategic Service Agency (SSA), or any other State intelligence agency, from the AIA to the ZIA, might want to peep through my back door, monitor what I am writing now, check my email before I do, or listen in on my telephone or family conversations at my home.

I have long accepted that with the sophisticated technology available to them, indeed to anyone who might want to “macco” people, the privacy that we once enjoyed, or thought we did, has ceased to exist.
Continue reading Gap between intelligence and action →

General T&T, International, USA

Maybe America deserves Trump

4 Comments

By Raffique Shah
May 18, 2016

Raffique ShahSo what if Donald Trump wins the race for presidency of the United States next November?

He won’t be the first fool to occupy the highest office in the most powerful country on earth. Nor will he be the stupidest president ever.

Bear in mind that if he does make it to the White House, and there is a high probability of this happening, it would be with the support of some 50-to-60 million American voters.
Continue reading Maybe America deserves Trump →

Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Religion

Call for reformation

19 Comments

By Raffique Shah
May 10, 2016

Raffique ShahArchbishop Joseph Harris’s initiative to petition Government to free from prison petty offenders who have remained on remand for an inordinately long time is laudable and deserving of support.

However, if it’s accepted and implemented in its current form, it would deal an unjust blow to many more accused persons, perhaps several times the number of those who would benefit.
Continue reading Call for reformation →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Police, Violence

All ah we dead

6 Comments

By Raffique Shah
April 29, 2016

Raffique ShahI had planned not to address crime in my columns, to waste valuable newspaper space on an issue that, while it grows grimmer by the day, is seemingly intractable.

When last I tackled it, I admitted to have become inured to the barbarism into which the nation has descended. Decapitation, mutilation, suffocation and now on-the-spot cremation no longer shock me.
Continue reading All ah we dead →

Finance, Food, General T&T, Recession

Battle against be-suited bandits

24 Comments

By Raffique Shah
April 21, 2016

Raffique ShahI find it almost amusing that some grocers who are caught dipping their greedy hands deep inside the inside consumers’ pockets, cry foul when their names and outrageously high prices are exposed through advertisements posted by the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade.

In immediate response to being named as selling certain foodstuff way above the norm in the business, they claim the prices attributed to their establishments were wrong, and they issued “corrected” versions that were between $5 and $10 cheaper-per item.
Continue reading Battle against be-suited bandits →

Finance, Food, General T&T, Health, Politics, Recession

Descent into imports-dependence

4 Comments

By Raffique Shah
April 05, 2016
Posted: April 10, 2016

Raffique ShahWhat I established last week was that Trinidad and Tobago, like most small island states that were once colonised by imperial powers, relies heavily on imported foods for its sustenance.

All our staples-grains (wheat, rice, maize), dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), sugar, edible oils, white potatoes, beans and pulses-come from abroad, mainly North America, the EU, Australia and New Zealand.
Continue reading Descent into imports-dependence →