By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
June 27, 2016
Nine days ago when I arrived in London I had hoped the UK (United Kingdom) would remain within the EU (European Union). Having grown up within the British Empire, I thought it was in Britain’s best interest to remain within the EU. There was some nostalgia but my wish wasn’t to be.
Continue reading London Bridge…
THE EDITOR: Last weekend I looked at a photo of Coast Guard ratings bearing the body of Harold La Borde and wondered if I was the only one who felt it was just a shallow, hypocritical charade.
I mean it’s not like the La Borde’s amazing achievements of sailing around the globe in a litte yacht he built right here meant anything. In other countries – y’know, those where self-contempt does not run as deep as it does here – what Harold, Kwailan and Pierre La Borde did would have been held up as models of inspiration for fellow countrymen and women. There was so much they did that spoke to the power of imagination and perseverance.
Continue reading Don’t Mourn for La Borde Now
By Raffique Shah
June 26, 2016
Within recent years, annual Labour Day celebrations trigger accusations that the trade unions that mark the occasion with marches and speeches at Fyzabad pay homage only to Tubal Uriah Butler, never Adrian Cola Rienzi.
Such sentiments imply that Rienzi, whose original name was Krishna Deonarine, is ignored by labour because of his race. They suggest that his contribution to trade unions in the country through registration and leadership of both the oil workers’ OWTU and the sugar workers’ ATSEFWTU in 1937 was as critical to the recognition and development of labour as Butler’s charismatic appeal to the masses.
Continue reading Butler and Rienzi
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
June 22, 2016
On Monday evening, like so many people across America, I attended a vigil in honor of the 49 people who were gunned down at Pulse Night Club in Orlando just because some folks hate gay people. I was on my way to London but stopped in Wellesley, Massachusetts, to gather my papers and other necessities for my trip. In that small town of 28,000 people, about fifteen miles outside of Boston, I joined about three hundred people on the lawn of Wellesley’s Town Hall who had come together to stand in solidarity with those who had lost their loved ones in Florida.
Continue reading Gay and Straight Together
By Akilah Stewart
June 22, 2016
Professor Dave Chadee and postgraduate student Akilah Stewart at the closing ceremony of the 23rd Annual Caribbean Water and Waste Water Conference (CWWA), Bahamas, October, 2014
Known by various titles, “The Mosquito Man” amongst others, Professor Dave Chadee, 62, has died. He succumbed to a massive heart attack yesterday, June 21st, at around 4:30 p.m.
Continue reading Professor Dave Chadee has died
By Richard Lord
June 21, 2016 – guardian.co.tt
Fresh moves are underway to increase the salaries of the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, the Opposition Leader and all other MPs.
This is as a Salaries Review Commission (SRC) consultant met with senior Government and Opposition MPs last week to initiate the process for the hike.
Continue reading Pay hikes proposed for PM, Cabinet, Opposition
Newsday Editorial
Friday, June 17 2016 – newsday.co.tt
WE CONDEMN the flagrant violation of the privacy of a wide range of citizens which has been brought to the fore in recent weeks. Further, we also condemn the blatant – and sometimes politically-motivated – instances of victim shaming which have accompanied these incidents.
The matter involving former PNM senator Hafeez Ali has been accompanied by rhetoric from people seeking to score political points.
Continue reading Victim shaming
By Raffique Shah
June 16, 2016
It would be asking too much of our politicians that they show some humility in their public lives. In fact, it will be true to say that, with precious few exceptions, politicians across the world are egotistical and arrogant, character traits that distinguish them from most ordinary human beings.
Lest I be accused of being unduly harsh on the men and women who offer themselves for high political offices, I ask that readers think of politicians you may know personally, contrast the genial soul you knew before he or she was elected or appointed to high office with the person you see (or saw) in office, lording it over lesser mortals.
Continue reading No civility, much hypocrisy
THE EDITOR: As the United States and the rest of the world said farewell to “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, I kept wondering how many libraries and schools across the country bothered to put up displays to educate our very young people who was this giant of a personality.
Continue reading On ‘THE GREATEST’ as a model
By Clint Chan Tack
June 15, 2016 – newsday.co.tt
THE ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) yesterday demonstrated unwavering support for former government senator Hafeez Ali, who resigned from his post after being blackmailed by a woman from North America who posted nude videos of him on YouTube. Ali is the first Government Senator to resign since the PNM won the September 7, general election.
Continue reading PNM rallies around Ali