By Raffique Shah
March 28, 2010
Lest I am accused of consorting with the ‘drugs mafia’, or worse, being a drug lord posturing as a journalist, I need to be very careful how I couch my words in this column. With Prime Minister Manning on the warpath against enemies more imagined than real, the last I want is police swooping down on me, looking for ‘crack’ cocaine.
Continue reading Mad Man-ning on the rampage
FOR THE first time, Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday admitted that former Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart has “a case to answer”, even as fresh questions emerged over the role Manning played in the circumstances surrounding Hart’s departure from Trinidad last Saturday in the midst of an ongoing criminal investigation.
PM: Hart not guilty
Minutes after saying former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) Calder Hart was not guilty of anything, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced the appointment of Chief Executive Officer at the Housing Development Corporation, Jearlean John as the new chairman of Udecott, replacing Hart, who resigned last week.
Continue reading Hart has case to answer
HART RESIGNS
ALMOST two years after allegations of corruption were first made against him, Calder Hart yesterday resigned as the Udecott executive chairman and as the chairman of four other state boards he had been appointed to under Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s administration.
Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Calder Hart Resigns
So wha bout the politics now?
By Corey Gilkes
March 02, 2010
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
On the 24th January an interesting but not unexpected shift in the politics occurred when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was voted in as political leader of the United National Congress dethroning the charismatic veteran leader and founder of the party, Basdeo Panday. This paved the way for her being sworn in as Leader of the Opposition on the 25th February. Kamla’s victory is significant in more ways than one. For well over fifty years there have been women figuring in one way or another in the political world of Trinidad and Tobago. Significant strides have been made by such figures as Audrey Jeffers, Gertrude Kirton, Muriel Donawa-McDavidson and Jean Pierre, to name but a few and while in the past there have been women appointed by the Prime Minister to function in his capacity in his absence, never before have we seen a woman elected to lead a political party with the likelihood that she may also be elected as the country’s next Prime Minister.
Continue reading Well a Woman is Almost There
Continue reading Maha Saba Children’s Phagwa 2010
February 28, 2010
THE tide of events often disrupts the best laid plans of columnists. I promised readers last week that I would today conclude my take on a ‘dying Carnival’. I wanted to share my thoughts on the few remaining bright sparks in the festival-the effervescent young pannists, calypsonians Kurt Allen, Brian London and Kizzie Ruiz, and dedicated cultural activists who refuse to allow our Carnival to descend into the abyss of nothingness.
Continue reading Ghosts in Panday’s political afterlife
Former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday defied the order of UNC chief whip Jack Warner and stuck to his word to occupy a backbench seat in the Parliament yesterday.
Bas disappoints Kamla
FORMER Opposition Leader, Couva North MP Basdeo Panday, sat on the Opposition back- bench yesterday, ignoring a call by his successor Kamla Persad-Bissessar to stay on the front bench next to her.
Continue reading Kamla’s First Day in Parliament as Opposition Leader
She gave an address to supporters and reporters moments after being given her instrument of appointment at President’s House, St Ann’s by President George Maxwell Richards who called it “a most historic occasion”.
Long journey to the top
Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday replaced her ‘political guru’, Basdeo Panday, as Opposition Leader-a position she now adds to an impressive resume.
Continue reading Kamla is the New Opposition Leader
Kamla says she has majority support for Opposition Leader post
By Juhel Browne
February 21, 2010 – trinidadexpress.com
Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday declared she has secured the support of the majority of the 15 Opposition MPs she requires to replace Couva North MP Basdeo Panday as opposition leader.
Persad-Bissessar, who was elected as the United National Congress’ (UNC) political leader in the party’s January 24 internal elections, made her declaration shortly after Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh announced his support for her as opposition leader yesterday morning.
Continue reading Tim makes eight…Panday disappointed
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday “fired” UNC’s new deputy leader Lyndira Oudit from her senatorial post and replaced her in the Upper House with Public Services Association (PSA) second vice-president Christopher Joefield.
Bas Spits Fire
Axes UNC Senator Lyndira Oudit; warns Opposition staff about Kamla
Opposition Leader fires Senator Oudit
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday made mas yesterday, firing Lyndira Oudit from the Senate forthwith and immediately appointing PSA Second Vice President, Christopher Joefield.
Continue reading Bas Spits Fire, fires Oudit