Category Archives: Culture

Culture, General T&T

Every Cook Can Govern

18 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 19, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeOn Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of this week, the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival shall premier “Every Cook Can Govern: The Life, Impact & Works of C. L. R. James,” a film that was produced by Worldwrite, an English non-profit or charity organization. The producers describe this documentary as “The world’s first film on the life of a fearless and uncompromising revolutionary.” There is much truth in advertising here. “Every Cook Can Govern” is a well-crafted and informative film about one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most distinguished intellectuals and Marxist theoreticians.
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Culture, General T&T, PNM, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, UNC

A Cry for Social Justice

15 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 05, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIn his article “Black Caucus, Black Humor,” Raymond Ramcharitar pours scorn on the BCM’s (Black Caucus Movement) demand for “land in Caroni for ‘Africans’ and saying it’s a love thing” (Guardian, August 17). He sought to reduce its position to “black humor” and to deride its claim for social justice it wishes to bring to the public’s attention.
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Africa, Culture, General T&T

Self-Identity: The Key to Mental Emancipation

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By Ayinde
August 02, 2016

Emancipation“The stories of our past should not condemn us to the turmoil of acrimony; but rather they should show us a path for achieving the positive and prosperous development of our country now and for the generations to come. . . . We are currently writing new pages in our history. . . . We need to ask ourselves, are we facilitating new prejudices and divisions in our society? Are we perpetuating a mindset of entitlement – claiming rights where instead we should accept personal responsibility? . . . Are we committed to working together in the best interest of our country? Can we look past the ‘me’ and ‘my group’ to the bigger picture of nationhood?”
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Culture, General T&T, PNM, Politics

May Their Bread Be Buttered Over

5 Comments

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
Submitted: July 31, 2016
Posted: August 02, 2016

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeTomorrow (August 1st) is Emancipation Day. It’s a day on which the formerly enslaved commemorate their freedom; a practice they have undertaken since 1848 although there have been interruptions over the years. Generally, two different strata (those whose bread had been better buttered and those whose bread have been larded) have celebrated their emancipation in different ways.
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Carnival, Culture, General T&T, International, Japan, Violence

Of sensuality and vulgarity

25 Comments

By Raffique Shah
February 16, 2016

Raffique ShahI wonder if the wide spectrum of persons who have used the words “misogyny” and “misogynic” to describe ex-Port of Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee following his asinine statements on the murder of pannist Asami Nagakiya either believe what they are saying, or understand the definitions of the words?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, misogyny means “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women”.
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Carnival, Crime in T&T, Culture, Entertainment, Gender, General T&T, Media, PNM, Politics

TIM KEE MUST GO!

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By Darcel Choy and Sasha Harrinanan
February 16, 2016 – newsday.co.tt

TIM KEE MUST GO!PEOPLE’S National Movement (PNM) Chairman Franklin Khan last night insisted that the party’s Treasurer and Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee must resign in the wake of his (Tim Kee) contro- versial comments made in the wake of the murder last week of Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya, who body was found on Ash Wednesday under a tree in the Queen’s Park Savannah. Khan made his position clear speaking also in his capacity as PNM chairman and Urban Development and Local Government Minister. He did so as Tim Kee’s intention to demit office following an emergency meeting of the Corporation did not materialise yesterday.
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Carnival, Culture, Entertainment, Gender, General T&T, Murder, PNM, Politics, Sex, Sex Crimes, Violence

Mayor Tim Kee Set to Resign

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Tim Kee caves in

By Corey Connelly
February 14, 2016 – newsday.co.tt

Raymond Tim KeeBowing to mounting pressure, both at home and abroad, over his recent controversial statements about the death of Japanese national, Asami Nagakiya, Raymond Tim Kee yesterday signalled his intention to resign as Mayor of Portof- Spain.
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Carnival, Culture, General T&T, Media, Sex Crimes

Mayor: Beware dangerous ‘sub-cultures’

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By Sean Douglas
February 11 2016 – newsday.co.tt

CarnivalPORT-OF-SPAIN Mayor Raymond Tim Kee yesterday called on women, especially tourists visiting for Carnival, to maintain their dignity and protect themselves against dangerous local sub-cultures, as he reacted with shock over the discovery of a mas woman’s body, still clad in bikini and beads, yesterday under a large tree at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
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Carnival, Culture, General T&T, Media, Violence

Brute force in the band

Newsday Editorial
February 11 2016 – newsday.co.tt

CarnivalTHE POLICE must investigate the circumstances surrounding video images which purported to show a man being beaten by the private security guards of a Carnival band. The footage raises deeper questions which have, over the years, been left unresolved in relation to the regulation of private security guards and our national festival. The footage, which circulated on social media on Carnival Monday, shows a band of about a dozen guards from the band Yuma — identified merely by black t-shirts saying “Yuma Extraction” — ganging up on a man, who has been identified as PNM councillor Jason Alexander. The incident appears to have occurred not on private property, but rather in a public street.
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