By Clint Chan Tack
June 03, 2010 – newsday.co.tt
AS the People’s National Movement (PNM) prepares for its new role as this country’s parliamentary opposition, there appears to be growing support for former Arima MP Pennelope Beckles to be appointed as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate and to succeed Patrick Manning as PNM political leader.
Continue reading Penny tipped for Senate
June 02, 2010 newsday.co.tt
PNM chairman Conrad Enill yesterday told Newsday that Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley has received the support of all 11 PNM MPs to become Leader of the Opposition.
Enill scotched previous reports that only ten MPs were backing Rowley, amid claims that Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert was not supporting Rowley but was himself seeking to become Opposition Leader. Enill said a letter with the names of all 11 of Rowley’s colleagues was sent yesterday to President George Maxwell Richards, indicating support for Rowley to become Opposition Leader.
Continue reading All 11 PNM MPs back Rowley
By Raffique Shah
April 11, 2010
FIRST, let’s cut the bull over Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s reasons for calling a mid-term general election. The United National Congress (UNC) motion of no-confidence in the PM, which he cited as one reason, was doomed to fail-unless he feared his own members voting against him. There was no cause for concern or unpleasant surprises.
Continue reading Manning’s election gambit
The news release from the Office of the prime minister, issued today, states:
In accordance with Section 68 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago today advised His Excellency, President George Maxwell Richards to dissolve the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with effect from midnight, Thursday, April 8, 2010.
His Excellency, President George Maxwell Richards has issued the relevant Proclamation.
Continue reading BREAKING NEWS: Parliament to be dissolved at midnight
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
Newsday Editorial
February 28, 2010 – newsday.co.tt
We wonder what impression the Caribbean Parliamentary visitors must have had on Friday of Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s display of religious fervour — some would even say religious rage at what he perceives as persecution of himself and of the Full Gospel churches in Trinidad and Tobago?
Continue reading PM does not get it
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
By Raffique Shah
February 07, 2010
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Most readers would interpret my headline as suggesting that UNC “founding father”, Basdeo Panday, is enjoying sweet chutney/soca music in keeping with the spirit of the Carnival season. For them, “Karma” is a music band whose lead singer, Ravi B, won the recent Chutney-Soca Monarch title. Ironically, Ravi’s winning song was titled “Ah Drinker”. Ravi was not referring to orange juice or WASA’s now-scarce potable water, but to the wanton abuse of alcohol.
Continue reading Karma, Bas, not Kamla