Author: Newsday
WHEN the Soviet Union fell in 1991, the oligarchs swooped in. Under Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, Russian billionaires took hold. Mr Gorbachev’s high-minded perestroika gave way to crude blat; reform yielded to cronyism, kleptocracy and the hush-hush dealings of an old boys’ club. Think this USSR experience does not resemble the US? Think again. […]
THE three-month extension of the state of emergency (SoE) approved by Parliament on January 13 creates a situation in which the ongoing measure will be one of the last chances, if not the last chance, for top cop Erla Harewood-Christopher to prove her mettle as her tenure comes up for renewal by Cabinet. The stakes […]
Jerome Teelucksingh IN MARCH 2022, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, an American comedian, at the Oscars, it seemed as if humour had crossed a boundary. Undoubtedly, humour remains a powerful medium in healing, communication, teaching, and defusing tension. And we all know the value of humour as an antidote for a stressful and tense […]
Dr Rita Pemberton THE IMPLEMENTATION of the laws which reduced the conduct of the human trade with particular colonies (including Tobago) in 1806, terminating the trade in captive Africans in 1808, the legal ending of enslavement by the Emancipation Act of 1834, and the premature termination of the apprenticeship system in 1838 sent strong signals […]
THE EDITOR: As a concerned citizen of TT, I am troubled by the persistent political divisions that hinder our nation’s progress. The rivalry between the PNM and the UNC has long been a source of contention, often aligning along ethnic lines and fostering an environment where collaboration is scarce. Prime Minister Rowley has previously called […]
THE EDITOR: As we head into another general election, it’s time for us to think about the kind of representatives we want in Parliament. For years we’ve faced amateur debate and questionable personalities in Parliament. It’s clear that we need new voices in politics, people who truly want to make things better for everyone. One […]
AFTER EIGHT hours of debate, Parliament on January 13 extended the state of emergency for three months. In doing so, both sides of the House have taken a gamble and made, in a general election year, a leap in the dark. Available indicators suggest the emergency has already had an impact, even though it does […]
THE EDITOR: In congratulating President Christine Kangaloo on her award of India’s highest award to non-nationals, the Patriotic Organisation of Trinbago reminds the nation of her remarks at her alma mater, St Joseph’s Convent, San Fernando, some time ago. Specifically, she honestly described herself as an “extremely ordinary student.” At secondary school level she advised […]
THE EDITOR: The selection of Stuart Young to be the new prime minister represents a pivotal moment for the People’s National Movement (PNM) and offers the promise of a fresh vision for TT. Young’s leadership can herald a transformative era, fostering changes across every department of the party. With his experience and insights, there is […]
THE EDITOR: An understanding of current developments with respect to a change in the leadership of the PNM has to be viewed in the context of the political culture of TT, which greatly favours incumbent leaders and acquiesces in their machinations. Leaders are generally regarded with extraordinary deference, sometimes with awe, reverence and messianic purpose […]