Monthly Archives: June 2014

Canada, Caribbean, General T&T, International, USA

The Impact of Caribbean Culture on North America

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Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe delivered this lecture on June 27, 2014 in New York for National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
June 28, 2014

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeWhen Brother Aggery Dechinea, associate director of grievances and legal services, asked me to address you on the impact of Caribbean Culture on North America, I really had to scratch my head for the simple reason that North America includes Canada and the United States and as much as we would like to cross boundaries I thought it best that we narrow our focus to “The Impact of Caribbean Culture on the United States.” This is certainly much more doable.
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General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Sewer rat snarls

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By Raffique Shah
June 29, 2014

Raffique ShahAt the risk of being branded a snarling sewer rat by Senator Camille Robinson-Regis, I return to the issue of pensions for parliamentarians. Following expressions of outrage from a broad cross section of the population, across partisan lines, over the pensions approved unanimously by members of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister made a mild retreat.
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General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Govt and next govt to themselves?

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By Winford James
June 26, 2014 – trinidadexpress.com

Dr. Winford JamesThe opposition last Friday joined with the government in passing the Judges’ Salaries and Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The collaboration was for me not only momentous, but also staggering in its bold exploitation of opportunism and power.
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General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

PM’s Statement on Salaries and Pension Bills

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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarBelow is a statement of the Hon Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, relating to the Judges Salaries and Pensions (Amendment) Bill, and the Retiring Allowance (Legislative) Amendment Bill.

“It is rare that the Government and the Opposition ever agree on anything.
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General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Own Goals and Penalties

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By Rhoda Bharath
June 24, 2014

Parliament

Sometimes the beauty of a goal is in its build up, not the scoring.

Last week, on June 14th to be precise, Express journalist Ria Taitt revealed that the Lower House (MPs) had just approved amendments to two bills giving themselves fat new pensions. The story took about 48 hours to really generate interest because it’s the middle of the first round of World Cup 2014 in Brasil. And soccer-mad TnT, caught up with the beautiful game, barely have time for Anil, weed stashes, prostitutes in hotel rooms, or Government programs that are funding criminals, far less to pay attention to debates in their Parliament. Oh, and we had a long holiday weekend. And Laventille and the Police/Army were at war.
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COP, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Heartless Parliamentarians

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By Raffique Shah
June 22, 2014

Raffique ShahDisclosure: I am a parliamentary pensioner. I receive the princely sum of $3,000 a month.

In 1976, I was elected Member of Parliament for the Siparia constituency, and I served for five unremarkable years. When I look back at my life, my achievements, my contributions to country, I easily forget those five years.
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General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

More $$ for judges, parliamentarians

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Two pension bills passed

By Ria Taitt Political Editor
June 15, 2014 – trinidadexpress.com

ParliamentA financial boost for judges and Parliamentarians is on the way.

The holder of the third highest office in the land—the Chief Justice—will now receive the highest pension- $93,223 a month tax free.

This, according to the new pension arrangements passed by the House of Representatives on Friday night at the International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.
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Crime in T&T, Culture, General T&T, Law, Murder, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Violence

Architects of our own demise

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By Raffique Shah
June 15, 2014

Raffique ShahI am writing this column knowing that it will not be read by the target audience—young, black and ‘er…unschooled men.

Few if any in this group read anything, least of all newspapers. If they pick up an Express, it would be to watch a photograph of some dead “bredren”, felled by bullets from police or criminal, same difference, and to wonder if they, upon meeting a similar fate, would make a pretty corpse.
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General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, Sports

PM: No Action Against Anil Roberts

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Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts

Official statement from: Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

June 12th 2014

PM: No action against Minister Anil Roberts at this time

There has been a clamour in some quarters for me to have taken immediate action in relation to allegations made against Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics

TAKE BACK $34M

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By Newsday Reporter
June 12, 2014 – newsday.co.tt

BanditTHERE IS to be swift action to recover the $34 million paid to a contractor in the Life Sport programme for work that was never delivered.

The money, paid to carry out Math, English and Modern Technology studies with a focus on numeracy and literacy, was issued in two tranches of $17 million each last year but there is yet to be a stick of chalk or blackboard as proof of this.
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