By Raffique Shah May 31, 2018 Sat Maharaj can manufacture a controversy in the calmest situation. He knows that the fundamental rule for staying alive in public life, and more importantly looking lively even though you may be half-dead is to get embroiled in “kuchoor”, as Indians would say, and do the most outrageous things … Continue reading Sat still stirring religious intolerance
By Danielle Frederick May 22, 2018 One would have hoped that a nation such as ours, created from genocide and enslavement, one which has felt the destructive, manipulative forces of colonialism would want to raise its voice clearly against war, oppression, exploitation of human beings and anything that threatens humanity. Alas not. The Trinidad and … Continue reading As Israel murder Palestinians, where are we?
By Corey Gilkes April 03, 2002 – trinicenter.com For many of the faithful, god-fearing Christians around the world, the resurrection of the Christ is central to that faith they hold so dear. Every year around March-April dramas are re-enacted commemorating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus put on by devotees as a form of … Continue reading Easter: Origins in a pagan Christ
By Stephen Kangal February 21, 2018 Today Friday 16 February 2018 I made my third visit for this week to the fabulous and awesome natural ambience of St Augustine Nurseries located West of Southern Main and Farm Roads in Curepe. I have agonized at the potential and real destruction and bull-dozing of the beautiful natural … Continue reading Arresting the Decline Into HDC Madness
By Nalinee Seelal February 17, 2018 – newsday.co.tt US law-enforcement officers, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), tipped off TT’s Special Branch and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) in December last year on plans by a certain group of local Muslims to bomb the US Embassy in Port of Spain between Carnival Monday and … Continue reading FBI tip on terror threat
By Raffique Shah February 16, 2018 Dear Chalkie, I rarely respond to critics of views I express in my column, unless, like you, I hold them in high regard. Just as I enjoy the freedom to criticise public figures within the bounds of decency, I respect others’ right to respond to my opinions when we … Continue reading Chalkdust, calypso must change or die
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 Raffique Shah January 30, 2018 They looked pathetic, three of the leading calypsonians in the country—Chalkdust, Sugar Aloes and Pink Panther—as they begged the Government for a “mere half-a-million-dollars” to operate the Calypso Revue tent over the three-week Carnival season. Admitting that they had already received $100,000 funding that was woefully inadequate, the top … Continue reading Death of calypso tents
By Jensen La Vende January 11, 2016 – guardian.co.tt With the Carnival season now in full swing, police are warning people who plan to gyrate on others that they can be arrested for assault if the person they want to “thief a wine on” decides to engage the police. Speaking at the weekly media briefing … Continue reading Cops: Get permission before thiefing a wine
By Raffique Shah January 11, 2018 The Government missed a good opportunity to impress upon the population the gravity of the country’s economic circumstances, and consequently the dire need for all segments of society to make sacrifices on the expenditure side of the equation, when it capitulated by doling out millions of taxpayers’ dollars to … Continue reading Funding culture vultures