Tag Archives: Kwame Nantambu

Decoding European plantation system of governance

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
November 02, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe 27 October 2015 (191-2) vote/resolution passed by the UN General Assembly that called “for an end to the decades-long US embargo on Cuba” brings to the fore the contemporary modus operandi of the 15th century European plantation system of governance in two aspects, namely, the Euro-British-imposed Westminster system of government on then colonies in the Caribbean and Africa in the 1960s and the United Nations system in 1945.
Continue reading Decoding European plantation system of governance

Taking calypso to the next level

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
October 26, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuAs the Trinidad/Tobago United Calypsonians Association (TUCO) is currently celebrating “Calypso History Month”, it became supremely imperative for this writer, albeit lover of the calypso art form, to pen a few thoughts about the need to take the art form of calypso to the next ultimate international level.

Now, for the past umpteen decades and counting, the calypso genre has been posited within the local myopic confines of the Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Continue reading Taking calypso to the next level

Racial chupidness vs ethnicity in T&T

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
September 20, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe recent public simplistic, albeit ridiculous racial remarks as per social media by Trinbagonians, tended to false impression that that’s the human interactive reality in this country post 53 years of putative political independence, period.

At the outset, it must be stated quite emphatically and equivocally that “this our native Land” is NOT racially monologue; our “native Land” is a polyglot, multiracial, multi-religious, multi-ethnic society, period. Hey, my fellow Trinbagonians there were human beings as in peoples who inhabited this land in B.B.E. era long, long, long, those whom are now called Europeans came, albeit stumbled, after being totally lost, ‘discovered’ whatever….
Continue reading Racial chupidness vs ethnicity in T&T

New US-Cuba Rapprochement

Dr. Kwame Nantambu
July 17, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe historic diplomatic reality that the Obama administration has decided to re-establish a US embassy presence in Havana, Cuba on 20th July, 2015, signals a new geopolitical policy of the United States toward Cuba, albeit “Charting a New Course on Cuba.”

Firstly, by this diplomatic policy decision the Obama administration is renouncing the geopolitical decision by then US President Dwight Eisenhower to severe diplomatic ties with Cuba on 3rd January, 1962.
Continue reading New US-Cuba Rapprochement

Decoding racial tensions in United States: Updated

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
May 27, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe shooting and killing of unarmed 17 year-old African-American male Trayvon Martin on 26 February 2012 in Sanford, Florida; the 24 November 2014 “no indictment for officer Wilson” verdict arrived at by the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, in regard to the shooting and killing of the unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown and the subsequent 3 December “no indictment” verdict by a grand jury in Staten Island, New York City, in favor of a white police officer in the New York Police Department (NYPD), Daniel Pantaleo, for the “chokehold death” of an unarmed, forty-six year-old African-American man, Eric Garner; the 2 March 2015 killing of 12 year-old African-American male Tamir in Cleveland; the 6 March 2015 shooting and killing of unarmed 19 year- old African-American male Tony Terrell Robinson in Madison, Wisconsin; the 7 April 2015 killing of unarmed African-American man 50 year-old Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina; and the 19 April 2015 death in police custody of Freddie Gray in Baltimore speak massive volumes as to the omnipresence of racial tensions/distrust between the Black community and white police officers in the United States.
Continue reading Decoding racial tensions in United States: Updated

Race versus Ethnicity in T&T

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
March 19, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe recent firing of Board Member of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) Jaishima Leladharsingh by the Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development Dt. Bhoe Tewarie speaks volumes as to the overt misunderstanding, albeit confusion, between race and ethnicity in Trinidad and Tobago.

At the outset, it must be stated quite categorically and equivocally that the public remarks by Mr. Leladharsingh via Facebook were not racist; instead, they were downright “chupid”, unacceptable, foolish, insane, insulting, irresponsible and ignorant to the nth degree.
Continue reading Race versus Ethnicity in T&T

Decoding racial tensions in United States

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
November 27, 2014
Updated: December 05, 2014

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe 24 November 2014 “no indictment for officer Wilson” verdict arrived at by the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, in regard to the shooting and killing of the unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown and the subsequent 3rd December “no indictment” verdict by a grand jury in Staten Island, New York City, in favor of a white police officer in the New York Police Department (NYPD), Daniel Pantaleo, for the “chokehold death” of another unarmed, forty-six year-old African-American man, Eric Garner, speak massive volumes as to the omnipresence of racial tensions/distrust between the Black community and white police officers across the United States.
Continue reading Decoding racial tensions in United States

Rowley’s attempt to woo Indian vote

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
November 10, 2014

Dr. Kwame NantambuOne of the least noticed events in the nature of the political beast in Trinidad and Tobago is the overt attempt by the leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) and Opposition Leader in Parliament, Dr. Keith Rowley to woo the Indian vote in the upcoming 2015 general elections.

Indeed, one of Dr. Rowley’s first political-electoral actions was to mend fences with his former boss and former PNM leader Patrick Manning. Of course, no one was fooled by Dr. Rowley’s public farce, period. It tantamounted to a puerile exercise in futility on Dr. Rowley’s part.
Continue reading Rowley’s attempt to woo Indian vote

Hypocrisy towards violence in T&T

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
April 26, 2014

Dr. Kwame NantambuOne of the most ridiculous and hypocritical political statements ever made in the history of public policy-making in this country is the remark by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that her Government “will look at legislation that can offer protection to children in their homes”.
Continue reading Hypocrisy towards violence in T&T

Decoding Crime in T&T

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
February 12, 2014

Dr. Kwame NantambuOne of the apparently unknown realities of crime in T&T is the fact that neither the current People’s Partnership (PP) government, a People’s National Movement (PNM) government nor an Independent Liberal Party (ILP) government can solve/prevent certain crimes in this
country.

For example, if as occurred quite recently, an aggrieved ex-husband decides to kill his ex-wife, then, there is absolutely nothing any of the afore-mentioned or the Commissioner of Police can do to prevent/stop this familial crime.
Continue reading Decoding Crime in T&T