GOPIO: T&T Indians second class citizens

By Kim Boodram
Jun 1, 2016 – trinidadexpress.com

lettersNEARLY two hundred years after they became part of the building of Trinidad and Tobago, people of East Indian descent are still considered second class citizens, the president of the local chapter of the Global Organisation of Indian People (GOPIO), Karran Nancoo, has said.
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Sex and the geriatric preachers

By Raffique Shah
June 01, 2016

Raffique ShahIt is amazing, though not surprising, how easily our people can be distracted from the important issues that we face as a nation, currently galloping crime and an economy in crisis.

Last week, everyone, from captain to crook, was consumed in debate over a rather stupid statement that Harrypersad Maharaj, issued on behalf of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which called on Government to not change existing laws that allow for Muslim and Hindu girls, aged 12 and 14 respectively, to be legally wedded.
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Flow Down in Maraval: Plagued by Poor Service

By M. Ranut
May 31, 2016

FlowAt around 11.38 a.m. on 31st May, 2016, FLOW’s cable and internet services went down. I immediately tried to contact the company to ascertain the problem. However, all that I got was a recording from the technical department stating that a customer service representative would be with me shortly. After waiting for ten minutes I hung up.
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8 not guilty, retrial for two: Vindra Naipaul-Coolman murder trial

By Rickie Ramdass
May 31, 2016 – trinidadexpress.com

Vindra Naipaul-CoolmanEIGHT of the ten men on trial for the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman, were found not guilty of the crime this afternoon.

Retrials have been ordered in the case of the two other murder accused.

The verdicts were announced at around 5.30p.m in the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain before Justice Malcolm Holdip.
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Holly B passes at 91

Right: Holly Betaudier
Right: Holly Betaudier at the Independence Queen of the Ball and Dance Competition 2007

By Joan Rampersad
Tuesday, May 31 2016 – newsday.co.tt

Former radio and television producer and presenter, as well as actor Holly Betaudier passed away peacefully at his home in Westmoorings at 11.20 pm on Sunday night. He turned 91 on January 27, 2016.
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Go to hell Mr Archbishop, says Sat

By Laurel V Williams
Tuesday, May 31 2016 – newsday.co.tt

Go to hell Mr Archbishop, says Sat“Go to hell!”.

That was the “message” Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Satnarayan ‘Sat’ Maharaj sent publicly for Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris in light of the controversial debate on child marriage and the law.

“Mr Archbishop and all you other people, look at the mote in your own eye before you point out the mote in the eye of the Hindu.
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Indian Arrival Day messages

By Richard Lord
Monday, May 30, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

lettersOn the observance of Indian Arrival Day today, President Anthony Carmona says the indigenous Indian culture brought by indentured labourers benefitted not only T&T but the world.

In his Indian Arrival Day message, Carmona said East Indian culture has produced doubles, Trini roti and curry blend and chutney music. He said citizens must remember the journey of the East Indian forefathers during the current times of economic challenges He said the East Indian presence in T&T has also had a great influence on the Caribbean way of life.
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The Child Bride—Dularie’s story

By Ria Rambally and Rosemarie Sant
Monday, May 23, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Dularie Baboonie KanhaiAs the debate rages on over laws on child marriage, there is scepticism from an elderly woman who was married at the age of nine, before there were even any marriage laws in this country.

Today Dularie Baboonie Kanhai says she had no regrets about her marriage, she and her husband had a good life which produced ten children and a happy home. But she is sceptical whether young people now have the stamina and the mindset to get married at that age.
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Gap between intelligence and action

By Raffique Shah
May 22, 2016

Raffique ShahReally, it does not bother me that the Strategic Service Agency (SSA), or any other State intelligence agency, from the AIA to the ZIA, might want to peep through my back door, monitor what I am writing now, check my email before I do, or listen in on my telephone or family conversations at my home.

I have long accepted that with the sophisticated technology available to them, indeed to anyone who might want to “macco” people, the privacy that we once enjoyed, or thought we did, has ceased to exist.
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Man charged with raping stroke victim, 62

Published on May 19, 2016, 11:10 pm AST

ViolenceA MAN appeared before the Princes Town court yesterday charged with kidnapping, raping and buggering a 62-year-old stroke victim.

Kayam Mohammed, 20, of Chaguanas, faced Senior Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan and the indictable charges laid by Constable Dickie were read.
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