By Jada Loutoo April 13, 2018 – newsday.co.tt A victory was scored yesterday for the LGBTQI community, which is now celebrating a landmark Supreme Court ruling which has overturned this country’s sodomy law, deeming it unconstitutional. Justice Devindra Rampersad had been asked by Jason Jones – a Trinidad-born openly gay man – to determine whether … Continue reading Victory for gay rights
By Dr Selwyn R. Cudjoe April 09, 2018 Queen Njinga of Africa ruled Ndongo (located in present-day Angola) from 1624-1663. Despite her outstanding accomplishments, “Europeans at the time portrayed her as a bloodthirsty cannibal who thought nothing of murdering babies and slaughtering her enemies.” This is the conclusion that Linda Heywood, a Trinidadian professor of … Continue reading Flawed Heroines
By Stephen Kangal March 27, 2018 Current proposals that are now in the public domain by way of the Bill No 5 0f 2018 geared to accord a higher level of self -governance to Tobagonians will create another façade Legislature like that of its predecessor exercising political and administrative autonomy merely to achieve peace, order … Continue reading Tobago’s Claims over Its Maritime Resources
By Raffique Shah March 14, 2018 The last time the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) awarded increases in water rates to the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was in 1993. The RIC used data from the year 1989 to determine the increases. One can easily assume that in the ensuing 29 years, every commodity price from … Continue reading Sewage more than water
By Raffique Shah March 07, 2018 As the nation grapples with two seemingly intractable problems, crime and the economy, we pay little or no attention to two critical issues that are bound to generate a furore sometime soon—increases in water and electricity rates. The Regulated Industries Commission (RIC), which determines how much the Water and … Continue reading Realistic rates hikes for T&TEC
By Dr Selwyn R. Cudjoe March 05, 2018 “The constitutional conventions…provide the flesh which clothes the dry bones of the law; they make the legal constitution work.” —Sir Ivor Jennings Somehow I can’t get the image out of my mind: a garbage truck, driving into East Dry River and dumping its contents in the middle … Continue reading Garbage Country
UPDATE: MARCH 19, 2018: ‘Johnson planned hit on WASA official’ CJ’s close friend a suspect in 2 murders, says police report sent to UK… ACTING Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has said it is alleged convicted fraudster Dillian Johnson, a close friend of Chief Justice Ivor Archie, who planned a hit on an official of the … Continue reading Questions over shooting of gay man with links to Trinidad judge
By Raffique Shah February 27, 2018 While I empathise with the trainee teacher who was robbed at gunpoint on her school’s compound last Wednesday morning—I suffered a similar fate at my home back in 2002—I do not understand why people are shocked by the brazen, early morning robbery. If we feel schools should be sacrosanct, … Continue reading No guns in our schools
By Raffique Shah February 13, 2018 When opposition and government parliamentarians jointly pursue any issue that seems to be of national importance, I become very suspicious. Recently, when they did in the instances of the passing of former President Max Richards and election of Justice Paula Mae Weekes to the presidency, I expressed my fears … Continue reading Mad, mad Trinidad
By Jada Loutoo February 06, 2018 – newsday.co.tt Social media users beware. You may have to pay if your posts are found to be defamatory. The warning came from Justice Frank Seepersad who yesterday ordered a woman who posted defamatory statements on Facebook, to compensate an entire family. She was sued after a series of … Continue reading $$ FOR FB POSTS