By Gail Alexander
October 11, 2015guardian.co.tt
A Government Information Services Ltd (GISL) CEO was also hired as a consultant for a state company which bought him an SUV vehicle, and a CNMG freelancer was collecting “four salaries” under the past People’s Partnership (PP) administration, Communication Minister Maxie Cuffie revealed yesterday.
Continue reading GISL, CNMG—‘A big waste’ of $$
By MARINA SALANDY-BROWN
October 08, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
THE RECENT debate of the rights and wrongs of a new UWI law campus being built in Debe revealed some of the complexities of the business of education and unleashed an unusually high level of public discourse.
I use the word “business” advisedly.
I could also add the word “politics”. I pose two questions arising from the hornet’s nest uncovered by former UWI principal and President of Trinidad and Tobago George Maxwell Richards in his speech at the recent opening of the 2015-16 Law Term. Firstly, what are universities for? Secondly, do we need more lawyers? I share Professor Richards’ view that a university’s “…contribution depends substantially on the activities of its academics and students to discuss, evaluate, criticise and investigate ideas and thus make available to the policymakers and the community possible options.” I would add that universities are where people learn to develop their thinking and knowledge to an advanced level that will serve in the advancement of the human race in all its aspects.
Continue reading UWI in Debe – 2 questions
By Rhonda Krystal Rambally
October 04, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Anthropologist Dr Dylan Kerrigan says racist posts on social networking site Facebook are a cultural manifestation of the political climate and is suggestive of how T&T’s society might become.
He described this cultural manifestation as “dangerous” and attributed this to failing social and educational institutions, the media, disconnected and irresponsible politicians and a lack of general critical thinking among the population.
Continue reading Small group ‘fanning the flames’ of race in T&T—UWI lecturer
By Raffique Shah
September 28, 2015
Not being a religious person, I must confess that religion (used here collectively) confuses me, and quite often frightens me.
Mark you, I am not disrespectful towards religion or religious persons. If I were, I’d be alienated from most of my family, relatives, friends and fellow-citizens, almost all of whom are praying people who belong to one faith or other among the scores that form the tapestry of this cosmopolitan country.
Continue reading Ruminations on religion
By Vashtee Achibar
September 27, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
Attorney General Faris Al- Rawi, also the sitting Member of Parliament for the San Fernando West seat, was on Friday served with an election petition at the funeral service for former People’s National Movement (PNM) government minister Errol Mahabir.
The funeral service took place at the St Paul’s Anglican Church on Harris Promenade, San Fernando and was attended by hundreds of mourners including Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, former Prime Ministers Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday, a line up of government ministers and senators as well as members of Parliament from both sides of the House and a list of other prominent persons in society.
Continue reading AG served with election petition at Mahabir’s funeral
September 23, 2015
Newsday – newsday.co.tt
ATTORNEY Mickela Panday, daughter of former prime minister and UNC leader Basdeo Panday yesterday at an OWTU post-election forum said the citizens of this nation, who wielded power for 24 hours on General Election day, are powerless now that the election is over and a winner declared.
Continue reading Panday: TT helpless after polls
Newsday Editorial
September 19, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
FORMER President George Maxwell Richards must be doing something right. With just one speech, he’s managed to upset all sides of the political divide.
Before he had even finished his remarks delivered at the religious service held to mark the opening of the Law Term on Wednesday, detractors wrongly speculated he had made an error; that his remarks were not intended for the occasion.
Continue reading Shooting the messenger
Trinidad Guardian
September 19, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
The United National Congress (UNC) has crossed the first hurdle in its challenge of the Elections and Boundaries Commission’s decision to extend last Monday’s general election voting by one hour due to rainy weather.
Lawyers representing the UNC, which lost the election to the PNM 23-18, last night received leave to pursue their petitions from High Court Judge Mira Dean-Armour after an emergency hearing in the Port-of-Spain High Court which ended after 7 pm.
Continue reading UNC granted leave to file petition against EBC
By AZARD ALI
September 15, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
A British-based attorney yesterday, said the Opposition United National Congress’ (UNC) election petition could cut both ways, as the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) could claim it also lost votes due to the extension of voting time in the election held two Mondays ago.
Attorney Anand Beharrylal, who specialises in constituional law, however supported the UNC’s petition on the basis that the courts need to lay down the law on the powers of the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) relating to extending the time for voting, without consulting political parties.
Continue reading It could cut both ways for UNC or PNM
By Raffique Shah
September 14, 2015
My last two columns, one titled “Rowley rising” and the other “lament for a falling leader”, were seen by many of my readers as being almost prophetic in the wake of last Monday’s election results.
Had I made public another document in which I analysed the results in all 41 constituencies from 2007 onwards, using historical data and trends, and projecting the 2015 results (which I circulated only to close friends), I might have been accused of being an “obeahman” or “seer”.
Continue reading Projections, not predictions