By Dr Tye Salandy September 22, 2019 As I mentioned in the first article in this three part series, the Sedition Act is not archaic or outdated, but it was an extremely bad law in the first place given its deliberate vagueness, its colonial intentions and the way that it was weaponized against those who … Continue reading Sedition and other Nonsensical Colonial Laws
By Raffique Shah September 09, 2019 What possessed United National Congress leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to unleash a loose cannon in the form of ex-soldier Carlton Dennie on an unsuspecting audience of party faithful a few Monday nights ago, we may never know. Surely she could not have known beforehand that the corporal, who had somehow … Continue reading Racism—last refuge of a scoundrel
Of Independence, sedition and legislative violence: how elitist laws have damaged the nation By Dr Tye Salandy September 02, 2019 UPDATED: September 03, 2019 Sedition, careful, careful how you talking … hey hey! Sedition, careful, careful whey you walking Incompetent idiots have genuine patriots Always under escort in the sedition court. —The Mighty Sparrow (Sedition) … Continue reading Independence, sedition and legislative violence
By Dr Selwyn R. Cudjoe August 27, 2019 OSKIE is my best friend but sometimes he does try my soul. He have a knack for asking the right question at de wrong time. Eleven years ago I had an operation for prostate cancer. One month after my operation, he come asking me if ‘de ting’ … Continue reading Ah hungry!
By Raffique Shah August 20, 2019 If the arrest of ex-Minister Marlene McDonald, and her indictment on fraud and misbehaviour in public office charges did anything for the morale of citizens, it was to restore confidence in some investigative units of the Police Service, and underscore the independence of the office of the Director of … Continue reading Least of the looters
By Raffique Shah August 14, 2019 It’s so easy for us to be so overwhelmed by our own mess—and there’s more than enough sewage there to drown us all—that we are unmindful of what’s happening in the wider world, developments that could impact our small island state negatively. When the fallout from certain actions by … Continue reading Turmoil in the global village
By Raffique Shah July 25, 2019 Oozing from the barrels of blood that flowed from the bullet-ridden corpses of last week’s 24 murder victims and almost as many who suffered serious to critical gunshot wounds were several important lessons that we may choose to ignore, to our peril. Violent crimes have spiralled out of control, … Continue reading Crime and punishment T&T style
By Raffique Shah July 19, 2019 I listened to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi a few nights ago as he detailed new legislation and associated measures the Government has put in place regarding land ownership and transactions. If I got it right, he said they have revolutionised the registration of deeds such that detailed information contained … Continue reading Land bandits stealing State lands
By Raffique Shah June 21, 2019 During the recent Venezuelan migrants registration exercise, I found myself subconsciously scanning video-clips and photographs of the hundreds of hopefuls who turned up at the three designated centres each day for, I am not ashamed to admit it, applicants of colour. “Where are the Waraos?” I kept asking aloud. … Continue reading Crisis next door will continue
By Dr Selwyn R. Cudjoe June 12, 2019 “If there is a miracle in the idea of life, it is this: that we are able to exist for a time, in defiance of chaos.” —Binyavanga Wainaina, One Day I Will Write About This Place Few people in Trinidad and Tobago may have heard the name … Continue reading “I Am a Homosexual, Mum”