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Opinion and Commentary

COMMENTARY

Next  Commentary: Commonwealth in danger: Action needed in Trinidad Friday, November 20, 2009 As the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is about to take place in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, there is not much hope among its member states that it will achieve anything more than declarations without the means to implement them. Indeed, even more worryingly... read more... Commentary: Cuba: Raul's a brutal despot too?! Duh... Friday, November 20, 2009 This week, news organizations reported the fact that Raul Castro is continuing the reign of terror his brother Fidel launched almost 50 years ago as if it were every bit as shocking as the fact that President Barack Obama is continuing many of the oppressive war-on-terror tactics his predecessor George W. Bush deployed. read more... Commentary: Silencing the defenders in the Commonwealth Wednesday, November 18, 2009 In the seventh decade after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Commonwealth governments continue to resist fulfilling their human rights obligations. There is an ongoing need for people who are ready and willing to stand up and defend human rights. It is, however, only relatively recently... read more... Commentary: Cultivating intellectual property rights, responsibilities and respect in the Caribbean Wednesday, November 18, 2009 On October 28, 2009, this writer, upon browsing the Kaieteur News of Guyana, was left open-mouthed in astonishment at finding on page 9 of the newspaper, a big bold copy of my last article published on October 27, 2009, by Caribbean Net News entitled ‘Restorative justice: a farfetched idea for the Caribbean?’. read more... Commentary: Dare to Be Great: In praise of Sir Lynden Pindling Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Two recent events have caused me to pause and reflect on one of the greatest Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas the Right Honourable Sir Lynden Pindling. Firstly , the opposition Progressive Liberal Party and the Governing Free National Movement Party both held their conventions in Nassau. read more... Commentary: Law and Politics: So many on the political war path! Tuesday, November 17, 2009 In recent weeks, the numbers of complaints and criticisms coming from all shades of opinions, touching and concerning the actions and omissions of the government of the NDC have risen to alarming proportions, and in the public interest those controlling the ship of state have a duty to provide answers. read more... Commentary: Stop criticising PM Baldwin Spencer Monday, November 16, 2009 With so much catastrophe encircling the nation, it takes a sinister mind to conclude that PM, Winston Baldwin Spencer is not giving Antigua and Barbuda optimal leadership. In tragic circumstances, great leaders employ amazing strategies to make people care. They draw on self interests and cultural resources. read more... Commentary: A boycott to reform health care in TCI...?! Yes Monday, November 16, 2009 In the spirit of transparency and accountability, I should begin by acknowledging that I was amongst the most plaintive callers for British intervention in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). And, despite some disappointment with the way direct rule is unfolding, I remain convinced that this intervention was necessary. read more... Commentary: Getting ready to celebrate Garifuna Day in New York Saturday, November 14, 2009 Since the Garinagu people fled Honduras in the 1800s and landed on the shores of Dangriga Town with the leadership of their mentors Elijio Bennni and Satulle on the 19th November 1832, they have been celebrating this day which is a public and bank holiday in Belize. This holiday became a holiday due to the... read more... Commentary: The Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic Saturday, November 14, 2009 I just spent a full week in the Dominican Republic visiting the cities of Santiago and Santo Domingo as well as the towns and the villages in between. The experience was as pleasant as my trip to Trinidad and Tobago during Carnival time. Compared to Haiti, which is still living in the stone age, the... read more... Commentary: Dumped: A blueprint for Caribbean salvation Thursday, November 12, 2009 Government representatives of all the countries that now form the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), except the Bahamas and Haiti, were present at a meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica when “majority opinion was clearly in favour of a Federation”. They made concrete and visionary decisions... read more... Commentary: My Mummy died ten years ago ... today Friday, November 13, 2009 I suppose it’s embarrassing for a man to forever grieve the loss of his mother. Yet I feel no shame about not only acknowledging my grief but also paying eternal tribute to my Mummy. And since I know that my 14 siblings – inspired by my big brother Christy – all feel the way I do. read more... Commentary: Law and Politics: Who is more ashamed now? Tuesday, November 10, 2009 As we go about this life on planet earth - that is already very difficult to manage and testing to survive - we owe it to ourselves and families to be extra careful, and to try at all times to be prudent and conscious of our responsibilities to those whom we owe a duty of care, and who depend on us for their well being. read more... Commentary: Promises, Promises Monday, November 9, 2009 This year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) takes place in the 60th anniversary year of the Commonwealth. For the past six decades, notably since the 1970s, every CHOGM has seen the Commonwealth taking progressive stands on human rights.  Eighteen years ago, at the 1991 CHOGM... read more... Commentary: Local banks: Vital for the Caribbean's economic recovery strategy Monday, November 9, 2009 The recapitalization of the banking industry in North America and Europe, which transferred massive wealth from the public sector, to a selected elite cadre of the private sector, is now showing some positive signs in this global recession. But some economists warn that these signs offer more hope to political leaders. read more... Commentary: The intricacies behind the demise of the Pierre Louis government in Haiti Saturday, November 7, 2009 Michelle Duvivier Pierre Louis was dismissed by the Haitian Senate last Friday night as the prime minister of Haiti. A request was sent to the Executive to name a new Prime Minister to form a new cabinet. President Rene Preval wasted no time to name, on Saturday, Jean Max Bellerive. read more... Migration: A dirty word or a global opportunity? Friday, November 6, 2009 “Migration not infrequently gets a bad press. Negative stereotypes, portraying migrants as ‘stealing our jobs’ or ‘scrounging off the taxpayer’, abound in sections of the media and public opinion especially in time of recession”. That is the opening sentence of the United Nations Human Development Report 2009. read more... Commentary: Obama's CDC and Swine flu like Bush's FEMA and Katrina...? Friday, November 6, 2009 Over six months ago, I lamented that the Swine flu was causing more panic than pandemic. And I blamed the Obama administration for inciting much of this panic by issuing specious warnings about its deadly potential, including advisories against traveling to Mexico. I explained my lamentation by noting that... read more... Commentary: Should Rwanda be let in? Thursday, November 5, 2009 At the last Commonwealth summit in Kampala in 2007 heads of government endorsed a report that updated the rules for countries wanting to join the Commonwealth. So far the only country admitted that has no historic connection whatever with the UK or any other Commonwealth member is Mozambique. read more... Commentary: Guyana government has institutionalized torture as an instrument of law enforcement Thursday, November 5, 2009 I join Guyana’s former Attorney General, Bernard de Santos, Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjatan and 25 other prominent Attorneys, in strongly condemning the barbaric torture of the 14 year-old son of Ms Shirley Thomas, as well as the torture of Deonarine Rafick. read more... Commentary: Bahamas government debates a 'free' prescription drug scheme Monday, November 2, 2009 Well the FNM, not to be out done by the PLP, has taken the first step toward socialised medicine. We're told the comprehensive plan the PLP had proposed before they were voted out of office in 2007 was found by all concerned to be far too ambitious, and was bound to fail. So the FNM is introducing socialised medicine. read more... Commentary: South-South cooperation advanced by ASA Summit Tuesday, November 3, 2009 South-South cooperation advanced further when the two-day Africa-South America (ASA) summit concluded its deliberations on September 28 at Venezuela’s Margarita Island. There the leaders of the two continents issued a lengthy declaration outlining the views of the developing South. read more... Commentary: CSME jobs for you and me? Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Who says CSME does not create jobs? All one needs to do is a quick online search to discover that a whole new cottage industry has emerged. Namely: Workshops and Seminars. On any given day there is a workshop or seminar designed to educate, inform, "help the average citizen learn more about..." CSME. read more... Commentary: Law and Politics: When will we ever really learn? Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Just as I was thinking about my first article in “The New Today”, I recalled a short piece I saw in a story that said “Don’t die until you are dead”. And the part that stayed in my memory was, living out the ideals of our faith, will help us to make the right choices and asses the worth of our earthly pilgrimage. read more... Commentary: Dare To Be Great: What are you going to do when you give up? Monday, November 2, 2009 Due to the failing global economy, many persons have decided to give up on life. Whenever I encounter one of these individuals I ask them quite pointedly, “What are you going to do when you give up?” Yes, what are you really going to do? An unknown writer says “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world. read more... Commentary: Celebrating independence between pretense and paradox Monday, November 2, 2009 What does a morally strong, successfully sustainable, independent country look like? On the 28th anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda’s independence, we are trapped between broken promises and undetected decay. This situation is made more desperate with deceiving cycles of ‘family themes’ that stop short of suicide. read more... Commentary: Cooking up a Caribbean Callaloo Saturday, October 31, 2009 CASTRIES, Saint Lucia -- This week I am in one of my favorite Caribbean destinations, the simply beautiful island of Saint Lucia - the beneficiary of the new JetBlue service which started on Monday, October 26, 2009 and will operate thrice weekly on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. read more... Commentary: The state of the state of Haiti on the eve of its election year Saturday, October 31, 2009 Next November (2010) the people of Haiti will go to the poll to elect a brand new leader. Coming January 1, the whole country will position itself into a frenzy of maneuvering and posturing to pull up or pull down each one of the candidates. If the United States is all business, Haiti is all politics. read more... Commentary: Today's world - an ugly place for CARICOM states Friday, October 30, 2009 Regrettably, the standing of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), both regionally and internationally, is now at one of its lowest points when the people of CARICOM need it to be at its strongest. The deep concern about CARICOM’s failure to fulfil the promise it has made to the people... read more... Commentary: India insists on Bollywood film about Nehru's affair with Edwina Friday, October 30, 2009 I’ve read quite a bit about the love affair that blossomed during the last days of British rule in India between Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, and Edwina, the wife of the last viceroy of the British Indian Empire, Lord Mountbatten. And nothing has been more revealing in this respect than the love letters. read more... Commentary: Restorative justice: A farfetched idea for the Caribbean? Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Recent years have found the Caribbean embroiled in the challenges of drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, rape, robbery and crimes of all sorts. Gang warfare in Jamaica and Trinidad have resulted in appalling loss of lives, damage to property and devastated the communities involved. read more... Commentary: Whale-watching is a boon to Caribbean tourism Tuesday, October 27, 2009 A study produced this year by group of independent economists located in Australia confirms that whale watching has become a boon to tourism in Central America and the Caribbean over the last ten years and is set to make a bigger contribution to the industry’s earnings. read more... Commentary: Why I embrace homosexuals' rights but accept heterosexual norms Monday, October 26, 2009 I received an invitation to explore the socially volcanic issue of homosexuality and the Caribbean community from a theological perspective. This created hot pepper disagreements and bacchanal emotions. Some felt that my firmly grounded religious background would prejudice my view. read more... Commentary: October, the cruelest month of the year in Haiti Saturday, October 24, 2009 The month of October represents for most Haitian families, the cruelest month of the year. They must choose between feeding their families and allocating their meager funds to eat for sending their children to school. The business of schooling is one of the grossest oriented sectors of the Haitian economy. read more... Commentary: Curbing racism in Britain: Censorsing the BBC not the answer Friday, October 23, 2009 Racism and xenophobia have once again emerged in British politics, driven by the very difficult economic situation in which Britain is now mired. The grim reality of racial unease in Britain and its possible consequences were highlighted by an invitation by the BBC to a convicted racist and leader. read more... Commentary: 'Insufficient evidence' to charge former TCI Premier Misick of rape Friday, October 23, 2009 On Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Hon Kurt DeFreitas, issued a press release in which he announced that: “… there is insufficient evidence to charge [former Premier] Michael Misick with any offense in connection with a complaint of serious sexual assault..." read more... Commentary: CMAG needs to be reviewed and strengthened Tuesday, October 20, 2009 In over a month’s time fifty three heads of state representing one third of the world’s population will assemble in Trinidad and Tobago from 27-29 November to discuss wide ranging issues concerning the Commonwealth. The agenda of the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is decided... read more... Commentary: Law and Politics: 26 years ago this week - any changes? Tuesday, October 20, 2009 In the nineteen seventies and eighties, the life and times in the Caribbean were in the process of serious discussions and pending changes, as were the cases in South America and Africa. The Soviet Union was spreading its wings far and wide, and Fidel Castro in Cuba was the leading light in the Western Hemisphere. read more... Commentary: Dare To Be Great: Birds of a feather flock together! Monday, October 19, 2009 In nature, the birds of a single species do in fact frequently form flocks. Ornithologists explain this behavior as a ‘safety in numbers” tactic to reduce their risk of predation. Yes, “birds of a feather flock together” in one way it strongly suggest that people of like minds form close friendships. read more... Commentary: What is Antigua and Barbuda's agenda for the economy? Monday, October 19, 2009 When the former Minister of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort, made the point that the global economic crisis would not have any impact on the local economy, his statement was viewed as quite shocking. Given his training in economics, Dr Cort was likely being unreasonably optimistic. read more... Next

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