A LETTER TO CITIZENS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
From former PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Dear Friends: Candidates, Volunteers, Supporters,
Democracy truly is a precious thing and the result of an election is an expression of the will of the people. All persons who are elected should take those responsibilities very seriously indeed and I congratulate the hundreds of thousands of you who exercised your right to vote and made this possible.
Continue reading Kamla Congratulates Rowley Six Days Later
After months of heavy political campaigning, the PNM edged victory in the September 7th general election, prevailing over the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led regime with 23 seats to the PP’s 18 seats. Although a visibly tight race, the PNM managed to capture some key constituencies including the two in the island of Tobago to secure its victory.
Continue reading PNM, Rowley Win
By Gail Alexander
September 8, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
The People’s National Movement’s fourth leader, Dr Keith Rowley, now Prime Minister-elect, will be T&T’s second Tobago-born Prime Minister following yesterday’s 2015 general election victory.
Rowley follows Tobago-born late Prime Minister Arthur NR Robinson into history in this regard.
Continue reading T&T starts new era under PNM
By Raffique Shah
September 07, 2015
If I had to identify a singular, dominant development from the tiresome, months-long election campaign, it would be the emergence of Keith Rowley as an orator and a leader of distinction.
Here is a man who started off the marathon campaign with all the negatives which any prime ministerial aspirant could be burdened with, but he overcame them with aplomb.
Continue reading Rowley rises
By Raffique Shah
August 30, 2015
Tomorrow being Independence Day, falling exactly one week before the general election, offers Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar an opportunity to play one final campaign hand-bestowing national awards on persons she believes can help sway votes in her direction.
Of course, with serious uncertainties over her re-election and a second term as PM, she would also want to give thanks to individuals and organisations that stood faithfully with her through a rough five years during which mistakes, missteps and blunders were as routine as, say, the rising sun.
Continue reading Lament for a falling leader
By Jamille Broome
September 06, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
Last week, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications decided to trample on the Constitutional rights of the non-voting section of the electorate, by saying: “I think as we mature as a society, we’ve got to take a more active part, otherwise, you are not in a position to complain subsequently or to demand anything.” Or, in colloquial terms, “vote or hush allyuh damn mouth!” Of course I’m not surprised by Vasant Bharath’s irreverent spiel because his party has been known to disregard the rule-of-law and violate human rights, left, right and centre. Cue Bail (amendment) Act, “Section 34”, and the State of Emergency .
Continue reading Defending my non-voting rights…
By Peter O’Connor
September 06, 2015 – newsday.co.tt
Imagine that you were very thirsty and in front of you were two glasses, each containing a clear, cool liquid. But you know from bitter experience that one glass contains vinegar and the other has brine. Do you sip from one because you feel that it is less bitter than the other? Or do you alternate, and sometimes sip vinegar and other times try the brine? Or maybe, having been fooled by both, leave them there and keep moving wearily on, hoping to find water elsewhere? But the two poisoned chalices remain there, waiting to fool new thirsty people.
Continue reading Two poisoned chalices?
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 01, 2015
On March 3, 2014, I predicted “Keith Rowley will emerge victorious during the PNM’s party elections and go on to become the next prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago” (Express). Everything that has transpired since (including his winning PNM party’s election) has persuaded me of the certainty of my prediction. One week before Trinidadians and Tobagonians go to the polls I can confidently assert the PNM will win at least 26 of the 41 constituencies it is contesting.
Continue reading Why the PNM Will Win the Election
Newsday – August 30 2015
The latest North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) tracking poll finds the 2015 General Election still to be going down to the wire with the outcome in a few marginal seats determining who will be the prime minister.
The poll also found that Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been consistently leading her main challenger, Dr Keith Rowley, in voters’ choice for Prime Minister as well as in approval and favourability (likeability) ratings.
Continue reading NACTA: PP leads PNM
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 27, 2015
Sometimes our public officials act in incredible silly ways that are entirely incomprehensible to the ordinary citizen. Dr. Keith Rowley, the leader of the PNM, is locked in a close fight with the UNC, the governing party, for the leadership of the country. Fifteen days before the election the Integrity Commission (IC) demands that he produces certain documents within that period or face the prospect of prosecution.
Continue reading Keith Rowley and the Coercive State