By Raffique Shah
November 29, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Friday morning. Big day for Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heads a list of dignitaries attending the CHOGM. Over the next three days Trinidad and Tobago, this small country, will showcase its wonderful Chinese architecture to our envious Commonwealth brethren. Look at me! Watch my costume (including my brand-name ‘darkers’ that I don’t take off, not even to look Her Majesty in the eye, as royal etiquette demands). Don’t mash my Performing Arts cape! I’m on the world stage!
Continue reading An ‘old boys club’ headed by an old lady
Tag Archives: Patrick Manning
Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus: The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
The Challenge of Our Time
1. Climate change is the predominant global challenge. We convened a Special Session on Climate Change in Port of Spain to discuss our profound concern about the undisputed threat that climate change poses to the security, prosperity, economic and social development of our people. For many it is deepening poverty and affecting the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. For some of us, it is an existential threat.
Continue reading Port of Spain Climate Change Consensus: The Commonwealth Climate Change Declaration
Speech by Queen Elizabeth at the Opening Ceremony of CHOGM 2009
Remarks by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Opening Ceremony of the CHOGM 2009 at the National Academy Performing Arts. November 27, 2009
President Richards,
Prime Minister Manning,
President Museveni,
Secretary-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This diamond anniversary year is an important time for the Commonwealth to look back – and, more importantly, look forward. In doing so, I believe we can be pleased with how far the Commonwealth has come in its 60years, and yet how true it has remained to its origins. But this does not mean we should become complacent or rest on past successes. Like any good organization we must continue to pay close attention to the things that give it distinctive character.
Continue reading Speech by Queen Elizabeth at the Opening Ceremony of CHOGM 2009
Head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II opens CHOGM
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
‘Together we aspire, together we achieve’
HER MAJESTY Queen Elizabeth II yesterday called upon Commonwealth leaders to adopt Trinidad and Tobago’s national motto in order to find consensus on burning issues such as climate change, during their deliberations over the next two days at their meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain.
Continue reading Head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II opens CHOGM
At that price we expect nothing but the best…
By Raffique Shah
November 15, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
IT’S most columnists’ nightmare, having to return to a topic he or she will have dealt with recently. It gets worse when the target is a politician, matters not what side of the divide he or she is on. They never look into their mirrors and wonder why writers focus on them. They conclude you are against them, that you support their enemies, hence your criticisms.
But, as I learned early in my many years of writing opinion pieces, you write and be damned; if you fail to address burning issues, readers conclude you are on somebody’s payroll. There are so many important matters I wish to address, to have my fellow citizens focus on. Sadly, because of the insensitivity of our politicians, I have to forego serious issues and zero my computer on Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Continue reading At that price we expect nothing but the best…
Official Opening of the National Academy for the Performing Arts
PM’s $480m PRIDE
National Academy for the Performing Arts a masterpiece, says Manning
Continue reading Official Opening of the National Academy for the Performing Arts
Can PM Manning Ever Get Anything Right?
By Stephen Kangal
November 05, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
When the ethnicity agenda gets in the way of PM Manning’s modus operandi, which is the rule, he is doomed to make faux pas after faux pas. He becomes a stranger to the stark multicultural reality that surrounds him. His groping in the dark Caucasian Minister of Sports is caught in the horns of an ethnicity dilemma. He dismisses the outstanding T&T Cricket Team as not winning anything in India. At the airport he merely “notes” the performance. He is a stoic only where cricket is concerned. This is tragic and blatant irrationality.
Continue reading Can PM Manning Ever Get Anything Right?
Shoring up time?
Newsday Editorial
November 03, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
What is the real agenda for the sudden meeting between Prime Minister Patrick Manning and embattled Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday?
According to the official line, Manning has invited Panday to the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s to discuss “national issues — crime and the constitution.” Basdeo Panday has jumped at the invitation, saying “It is my duty to respond…”
Continue reading Shoring up time?
Leave this ‘House of Clowns’, Mr Speaker
By Raffique Shah
October 25, 2009
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com
WITH the greatest deference to House Speaker Barry Sinanan, I think he should realise by now that he presides over a House of Clowns. If he values his integrity, he should run like hell, but not before he inflicts some choice words on the 41 jokers who sit in Parliament. In case the Speaker is short on gems from the “mooma-lexicon”, he can feel free to summon my help, since I co-authored the Obscene Dictionary.
Continue reading Leave this ‘House of Clowns’, Mr Speaker
UDECOTT WORSE THAN PIARCO
By Sean Douglas
October 20, 2009 – newsday.co.tt
PULLING no punches as he fearlessly trained his guns on his political leader, Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Patrick Manning, declaring the Udecott scandal was ten times worse than the Piarco Airport affair and warning that come the next General Election, the issue would be about PNM corruption.
Continue reading UDECOTT WORSE THAN PIARCO