Category Archives: COP

The Congress of the People

Alleyne Must Curb Fixation For Property Taxation

By Stephen Kangal
February 27, 2012

Author with Dr. Navi Muradali in Harris Promenade
Author with Dr. Navi Muradali in Harris Promenade
Newsday’s prime space columnist, George Alleyne continues to base his mistake-prone obsession on misleading argumentation for the re- imposition of property taxation (Newsday 1 Feb) when it is patently obvious that during the current economic down-turn, Government can and should stimulate consumer confidence and spending power by leaving as much resources in consumer hands and not in the coffers of Government.
Continue reading Alleyne Must Curb Fixation For Property Taxation

PNM Must Now Trump and Follow Suit

By Stephen Kangal – Caroni
July 05, 2011

Stephen KangalThe PNM with the longest sojourn in the governance of T&T now has no alternative but to review and radically revamp the secrective and undemocratic nature and nurture of its long outdated and corrupted delegate system used to elect and determine its leader and governing National Council.
Continue reading PNM Must Now Trump and Follow Suit

Exercise in democracy

By Raffique Shah
July 02, 2011

Raffique ShahAS members of the COP vote today on who will lead the second biggest party in the People’s Partnership Government, I commend officials who organised the internal elections, as well as the candidates and members of the party, on a reasonably well executed electoral exercise. I shall not attempt to influence voters by stating my views on the contenders. Suffice to say that for all his shortcomings, Winston Dookeran set some high standards that whoever succeeds him would find difficult to maintain, far less exceed.
Continue reading Exercise in democracy

PM vows to make T&T a better place

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarPM vows to make T&T a better place
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar wrapped up a national day of prayer at Rienzi Complex, Couva, last night by extending a branch of hope to the citizenry saying, “better days are coming.” Speaking with reporters last evening after handing out gifts to scores of supporters, Persad-Bissessar commented on recent polls which showed that her Government had a decline in its performance ratings for the past year. According to recent polls, including last Sunday’s ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre’s poll in the Sunday Guardian, Persad-Bissessar’s rating has fallen over the last year. The PM said that despite the setbacks, she was committed to making T&T a better place.
Continue reading PM vows to make T&T a better place

Look What the PNM Come To!!!

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
May 11, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIn March I supported the candidacy of Penny Beckles to become the chairman of the PNM because I thought she was the better candidate. Many of my friends, including Louis Lee Sing and Ferdie Ferreira, felt that Franklyn Khan was the better candidate not necessarily because he was more accomplished than Penny but because he is an Indian. In his now-famous words, Comrade Lee Sing declared: “If we don’t elect Khan as our chairman the PNM will become a N….Party.”
Continue reading Look What the PNM Come To!!!

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Fires Mary King

Minister Mary KingThe appointment of Minister and Senator Mrs. Mary King was revoked, today, 10th May, 2010 by the President, His Excellency George Maxwell Richards on advice of the Prime Minister. Mrs. King held the portfolio of Senator and Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs from May 28th, 2010.
Continue reading Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Fires Mary King

Partnership leaders must smoke ‘peace pipe’ now

By Raffique Shah
October 16, 2010

Raffique ShahA brief story in the Express last week caught my attention. The report spoke of serious differences between two organisations purporting to represent nationals of this country who have indigenous blood flowing in their arteries.

The first contentious issue is a claim that one group represents only Amerindian descendants who are Catholics. The other was the timing of the “smoke ceremony to the spirits”. One group swears it should be before dawn. The other went ahead “smoking” at 7 a.m.
Continue reading Partnership leaders must smoke ‘peace pipe’ now

Leveraging Incompetence

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
October 14, 2010

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI am sure that People’s Partnership took a long time to select the three hundred persons they elected to the various state enterprises, statutory bodies, regional health authorities and key ambassadorial positions. In making her selection, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar enunciated two broad principles: a determination to make the correct choices and no one could sit on more than one board.
Continue reading Leveraging Incompetence

Inclusive Development and Growth Poles in the Budget

Finance Minister Winston DookeranTHE EDITOR: Finance Minister Winston Dookeran has woven, in his own inimitable and unique style, an underlying development and ideological philosophy/ substructure that permeates, underpins and sustains the visible superstructure/fabric of his 2010/11 fiscal and development package The concept of inclusive or balanced development that is a fundamental pillar of the economic strategy of the Partnership regime was initially conceived within the womb of the COP partner. It is pivotal to the COP Mission and Vision Statements.
Continue reading Inclusive Development and Growth Poles in the Budget

Big win, bigger expectations

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Minister of Works & Transport Jack Warner, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Public Utilities Emmanuel George and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the People's Partnership's Victory Celebration - June, 18, 2010
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Minister of Works & Transport Jack Warner, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Public Utilities Emmanuel George and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the People's Partnership's Victory Celebration - June, 18, 2010
By Raffique Shah
August 01, 2010

THE People’s Partnership has stamped its authority to govern the country over the next five years by convincingly winning two elections in as many months. Now, its leadership must be sensitive to the high expectations among a polls-drunk populace that was summoned to vote in six elections in ten years. The new Government faces the onerous task of governing a nation that can at times be overly demanding, somewhat fickle, and quick to condemn.
Continue reading Big win, bigger expectations