The Freedom Chambers

If, as Opposition-for-life Leader Basdeo Panday claims, Kamla is “not ready to lead,” then who is? By implication, it would appear that only he is. If so, what do we make of his numerous public statements that he understands that some of the corruption mud the PNM has flung has stuck, and it is time for a new leader to emerge?

Mairoon Ali was the last media person to interview me before I left for vacation. I had emerged from hibernation to do a few radio and television interviews. This was prompted by two burning issues: the exciting news about the challenge for leadership in the UNC, and the brazen attempt by the Government’s spin doctors to explain away the discriminatory secret scholarship PNM slush fund.

I read this article this morning and tried to ignore it, but my conscience won’t let me.

The issue is not necessarily who the stronger or better candidate is in the UNC internal elections. If the objective is to dislodge the PNM from office the relevant questions are:

“It may be that the Government should be given some credit—as opposed to flippant cynicism—for providing financial assistance to citizens in need, especially our young, in pursuit of outfitting themselves educationally, thus gearing up to make a contribution to the advancement of our country.

How does one describe “political discrimination,” which translates into and necessarily results in racial discrimination or exclusion? This is the dilemma that affects the Indo-Trinidadian community. This question crossed my mind after the scathing Newsday editorial criticising the government for the scholarship scandal.

Two weeks ago, I published statistics compiled by Richard Thomas on the ethnic composition of the hierarchy of the boards and upper management of state enterprises. The grave racial imbalance against Indo-Trinis prompted a virtual avalanche of e-mails.

A sad consequence of the racial-based nature of our politics is the exclusion of the “other” major race from governance. “They” simply have no say in how the nation’s resources are distributed, and do not enjoy any of the influence that comes with high public office.

A sad consequence of the racial-based nature of our politics is the exclusion of the ‘other’ major race from governance.

The call for Panday to hand over the reins of leadership to Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at the UNC’s meeting of delegates, underscores the weakening grip he has on the Indo-Trini base. A few years ago, this would be virtually unthinkable. Such a robust internal challenge from a mere party delegate to the leader is a sign of the times. Things have changed a lot since the heydays of PM Panday.

I have just returned from a pub full of inquisitive cricket fans in London, after the latest victory by team T&T in the Champions League Twenty/20 in Hyderabad, India. It is a shock to most to know that Indo-Trinidadians comprise the single largest ethnic group, but Ganga’s team has prompted most foreigners to Google-search and inquire about our amazing and rich racial diversity.

I read about the untimely passing of Ken Fitz-Andrews and it added to the cold chill here in London.  I knew Ken and had come to respect him as a caring, patriotic and proud man. He was destroyed because he could not stomach the corruption he was seeing at UTT where he was the Vice President of Finance.

The Uff Commission of Enquiry has all the hallmarks of a carefully-orchestrated political conspiracy. One caller to Dale and Tony’s popular morning radio talk show linked the fiasco to the premature resignation of former AG, Annisette George, who quietly resigned without any explanation. Could this be why she resigned?

I agree with AG John Jeremie that there is a need for “a more sophisticated justice system …… for the delivery of swift justice” but this can be a dangerous political slogan.  What we have to be careful about however is the erosion of the independence of the judiciary and the dangerous possibility

Writing this weekly column is a burdensome hobby, but a large part of what inspires me to write it is the appreciative comments and feedback and constructive criticism I receive from readers.

If life in our beloved country had not become so frightening because of the rampant and serious crimes, murders, robberies, kidnapping, rapes and corruption in places high and low, our country would still have been the paradise it once was. Now it seems some are beyond the reach of the law.

"The essence of the agreement between the Prime Minister and Mr Abu Bakr, on behalf of the Jamaat, was that certain advantages would be given to the Jamaat out of State property, in return for securing voting support for the Prime Minister’s political party. In the opinion of the board, this was corrupt within the meaning and i

It is known, from observations in the courts, and the shenanigans of the judiciary, that justice comes at a high price, not necessarily financially. Many a time we have seen culprits walk because of some demented opinion by a magistrate or judge... case in point, the Brad Boyce trial.

If acting Police Commissioner Philbert is as serious about solving crime as I think he is, he must deal with the simple problems that can be solved without foreign consultants. People lose confidence in the Police Service when things that make no sense continue unabated without any credible explanation. A few common-sense solutions to a few common problems must be considered.

Due to the high amount of hits on the site - some 50,000 per month - spammers have gathered. This month and last month, some low life with nothing better to do, joined the site and decided to post porn.

That Spammers have descended on us, is not all bad. It means we're popular enough for spammers to want to chuck their spam at.