Message Board Archives

April

In reply to Chrissy

Yep!

April 28th.
This is a great move!!!!

Sadly for TT, there is only choice, as the opposition leader has destroyed the party of Panday and with her tribal outlook.

Expect a massive PNM victory, for all their faults, they remain the only true national party.

In reply to Emir

Are they only ‘good’ because the UNC are overtly corrupt?

There is misstep after misstep and incompetence after incompetence

Stand alone, PNM are ineffective as a government and we continue to slide further away from growth, security and unity.

In reply to Halliwell

The PNM failed with crime fighting, but they are not the only one.

Other policies have been good. The management of natural resources have won international praise and they made some very difficult but necessary calls with respect to the oil and gas industry.

There are "no misstep after misstep" etc- nothing out of the norm for a functioning government.

The PNM is the only true national party and the alternative to them is a small narrow tribal ethnic party led by the biggest loser in Trinidad political history.

A person who begged 2 US presidents to sanction her country, it is one of the reason why the PNM failed with crime, they failed to ask for the prosecution of a person who many believe is guilty of treason, now she wants to be PM.

In reply to Halliwell

PNM is a very well run party and structured government that is a party for all. PNM's performance is not correlated with what UNC has done or failed to do.

In reply to Halliwell

IN that regard, its almost as if they're competing with great merica, not to mention Great Britain!

In reply to VIX

Many times you get the feeling that UNC, being so long in Opposition, wants to be in Opposition because they never seem to have ideas or solutions but rather complain and "Oppose for opposing sake."

As Panday once said "Lead if you want to Lead."

In reply to Prako

I'll take this version of the PNM over the rudderless, incompetent UNC any day.
The only way the UNC can bounce back is by selecting a new, forward-thinking leader and getting rid of the people who benefited from the corruption they enabled.
Why the party sticks with unpopular Kamla is beyondn me

How is the management of natural resources so excellent that people poor, roads bad, public service corruption rife and crime off the charts? Because UNC rudderless?

In reply to Halliwell

err....poor by which standards? If yuh mean poor as a result of causing virtually every fete to be sold out then yes

In reply to Jumpstart

In reply to Halliwell

Let's hear from the PNM supporters. Apart from Rowley's pension and retirement benefits, what else has improved in the past ten years?

Governance and Decline:
Over the past decade, Trinidad and Tobago has faced significant challenges in governance, leaving many citizens disillusioned with the state of the nation. Issues such as crime, economic instability, declining infrastructure, and worsening inequality have eroded public confidence. Despite promises of progress, tangible improvements remain elusive.

The country’s ranking as sixth in murders per capita globally highlights a national security crisis that successive governments have failed to resolve. Economic challenges, including a $4 billion US capital flight to Guyana and a 50% shutdown of Point Lisas plants, reveal a lack of diversification and poor adaptation to global energy shifts. The Heritage and Stabilization Fund’s depletion from $12.6 billion US to less than $6 billion further underscores financial mismanagement, leaving critical sectors underfunded.

Meanwhile, everyday citizens struggle with poverty, inadequate healthcare, poor roads, and unreliable utilities, while political elites benefit from generous pensions and back pay. This growing disparity fuels public frustration and deepens mistrust in leadership.

To move forward, future governments must prioritize economic diversification, invest in infrastructure, and address systemic inequality. Transparency and accountability are critical to restoring public trust. Without urgent change, the gap between leadership and citizens will only widen, risking further stagnation for the nation.

About 20% of people in Trinidad and Tobago are below the national poverty line, and the rate is higher for some racialized groups.

T&T is bankrupt....

In reply to sgtdjones

Fact check alert!!
Fact check alert!!

A statistical approach - CSO





Please note that individuals politically aligned to the Trinidad and Tobago UNC opposition party have in their employ, a significant number of operatives, many of whom are paid, to disseminate biased opinions, misinformation and personal attacks against their political opponents on social media.

You ‘fact checked’ and ‘fact alerted’ a poverty stat with an unemployment stat?

You’re one of the special ones, non-aligned politically and certainly a non-operative. Viva Ostriches!!!

In reply to Halliwell

Oh I see!
Your attention span is somewhat limited, and couldn't get past the first sentence.
The first quote was contextual, while the second, from the same article provided the specifics.

But that's ok, next time I'll remember to cater to some of the slower ones.

In reply to sgtdjones

20% of the work force isn’t unemployed. The last CSO survey listed it at 5.4%. There is anecdotal evidence that youth unemployment is high. That to me though depends on your major. Unfortunately, in TT, you are more likely to get a job in engineering than if you study humanities, and that’s a tragedy because many Trinidadians now can solve relatively complex math and science problems, but can’t read or pronounce words properly. Grammar is also a serious issue. And of course there are challenges at the secondary level where every year, half or just under half of the population passes Maths and English. You can’t get a job in most government places if you don’t have Maths and English. It’s the most basic requirement

In reply to Halliwell

Not funny bro. You ask a question, but when you get the answer, you then play dumb if the answer isn't what you wanted if it doesn't support your belief.

You are free to back a tribal and ethnic party of a lady who has hijacked it and alienated it supporters, or you can exaggerate how bad the PNM is. but please don't be dishonest or a chupidee like the cut and paste Indesh you follow.

You are a better person than dat.

In reply to Jumpstart

T&T unemployment stats do not show citizens that gave up no longer looking for jobs.

That's why your government shows that low number of unemployed.

In reply to Halliwell

Notice :

Now I am referred to as Indian... its amazing.

Just show facts and are deemed to be a paid supporter of a political entity in T&T.
They bury their heads in the sand, showing paradise through rose-coloured glasses.

I get my facts from an NGO that I support with funds for the poor.
Ms Ramnarine in La Romaine. A lady that accepts no money for her services to the poor in T&T.

They ignore this: 10 years in power...when any government that cannot provide safety for its citizens is a failed state.
Its easy to blame the opposition; Rowley did it for a decade.

In reply to sgtdjones

not the role of gortt. The government doesn't know what sort of values you incorporate into your children, neither do they have control over that. And this goes for rich or poor. if your parents teach you that poverty is an excuse for crime, then they're inculcating poor and criminal values. If your parents tell or show you that nothing is wrong with pilfering state resources, then they're inculcating poor values. If they tell you that anything goes in order for you to maintain or attain a certain lifestyle......again poor values. there is nothing gortt or the ttps can do about that.

In reply to sgtdjones

that number is more than likely extremely minute, minute enough to be considered negligible. most people in tt either know a trade, or have attained a full csec cert or have some form of post secondary qualification.

In reply to Jumpstart

Jumpy , jumpy

If one does not have a full-time job, they are classified as unemployed.

In reply to Jumpstart

The Canadian government has indeed taken a proactive approach to workforce planning, recognizing the gaps that will emerge as large segments of the current workforce retire over the next decade. By identifying shortages—like the need for 10,000 welders, 15,000 plumbers, and 20,000 electricians—it is working to meet these demands by incentivizing businesses to invest in training programs and pushing educational institutions to prepare young Canadians for these roles well in advance. This kind of foresight not only addresses future labour market needs but also ensures that citizens see a clear pathway to gainful employment. When people perceive real opportunities for advancement, it can act as a powerful motivator, reducing the appeal of destructive alternatives like crime and fostering a more optimistic and productive society.

The emphasis on education and training as a foundation for future success is also tied to emerging technologies. Canada’s leadership role in equipping its citizens with skills for the jobs of the future—whether in green energy, artificial intelligence, or advanced manufacturing—shows a commitment to aligning education with economic realities. However, the key to this approach lies in translating skills into actual opportunities. Without jobs available for graduates, even the best training initiatives could falter. The government’s ability to connect education with employment opportunities is what sustains this system and builds trust among its citizens.

When this is compared to T&T, it highlights some stark contrasts. Many impoverished families in T&T have long struggled to find opportunities to improve their circumstances. Since independence, significant revenues have been earned during oil and gas booms, yet the question arises: has T&T truly advanced in ways that impact the majority of its citizens? While there have been periods of economic growth, the benefits have not always been equitably distributed, leaving many communities feeling disconnected from national progress.

A lack of structured, long-term planning like the kind seen in Canada might be part of the issue. Investment in education and training, particularly aligned with the needs of a modern economy, could help bridge this gap. For instance, if T&T were to identify sectors with potential for growth—such as renewable energy, tourism innovation, or even niche areas in global tech—it could build a strategy to train its workforce accordingly. But this must be paired with tangible pathways to employment. Without clear opportunities for skilled graduates, frustration can grow, and the cycle of poverty and crime may persist.

Ultimately, leadership plays a critical role in shaping a nation’s trajectory. When citizens see leaders who prioritize their futures through deliberate investment in education, job creation, and economic equity, they are more likely to feel hopeful and engaged. For T&T, the lessons from countries like Canada could provide a roadmap for addressing systemic challenges and building a more inclusive, opportunity-driven society.
Look at the situation of safety for its citizens..regressing since Independence..WHY?

The city of Toronto has six murders for this year.

Well apparently here if you don’t drink the PNM koolaid then you’re a UNC supporter. Would it help if I say UNC are worse?

Look whatever is being served up is far from even approaching average
Let’s not argue who is D vs D-

People should expect better in 2025.
But accountability is a new concept, maybe even yet undiscovered.

Emir you have you agendas that much is clear

In reply to Halliwell

Very good questions my youth.

There are 2 items I want to separate: 1. Election Machinery, 2. Execution of Governance

1. PNM has a very good Election Machinery.
From Williams to Manning, they had that strategy to mobilize and win (except for the Chambers disaster)

2. Governance
By and large, T&T is a developing country and still struggle with capitalism. Most of the population are still in a "hand out" and "dependency" syndrome where they think the "Government" must take care of us.

Even the wealthy (and what you call the Middle class) try their best to avoid paying taxes and take shortcuts in everything from making an appointment to get an ID card to get foreign exchange in the bank by utilizing "I have a friend in high places." That mentality still shackles people, even the educated ones, and the PNM capitalizes on it.

I will give the PNM a poor governance rating (lots of mismanagement of natural resources and how they manage Public Service Employees) however, the population does not keep them accountable. They push the letter as far as they can because they can get away with it.

The only one who really stood up against bad governance was Winston Dookeran but he got kicked by both the PNM and UNC and COP faded away.

In reply to Prako

That is such a great analytical response- thank you.
A real change from the tired tripe from emir

In reply to Prako

I can’t fault them for management of natural resources. Neither of the economy. Within three months of their tenure the country had run out of money. By last year the IMF said that the economy was the strongest it had been in a decade (and which will hopefully be replenished by gas from Venezuela at some point in the near future). This too with natural gas resources that had been declining since the end of 2009(by 2014 we had a chronic shortage). On crime, I’ve felt they’ve been too soft, but as I stated, you cannot grow People’s children for them. The fmr PM was castigated for saying people were raising monsters( in either 2016 or 17). I don’t think anybody can or will argue that he was wrong today

In reply to Jumpstart

Well said.

In reply to sgtdjones

Also. First things first. The vast majority of children in Canada and Toronto especially have two parents. Let’s start there. Just by virtue of having two parents, no matter how broke you are, the chances of producing a criminal decreases significantly. Nobody will deny the vast majority of bandits in Trinidad and Tobago come from broken families. Canada doesn’t have that problem generally. And we both know TT has a lot of broken families

In reply to Prako

I would give them a fair (C C+) rating, but agree with some of the other sentiments re the mentality of TnT people always looking for an easy way out. We often find it easy to criticize, but don't always put in the hard work needed to fix things! The society will always struggle to fulfill it's potential as long as the wedge between 2 major ethnic groups continue to widen. The group not in power politically, will typically try as far as possible to retard progress, hoping that this will help them at the polls.

The bigger problem, in my opnion, is less discussed but absolutely needs to be addressed:

The Relative Impotence of the Executive
We demand efficiency in government, yet when competent managers from the private sector, whether local or foreign, are brought in, they often find themselves ineffective. They can't hire or fire, they can draft budgets but have little power to implement them, and while the responsibility ultimately rests on their shoulders, they remain largely powerless. Naturally, some settle in and enjoy the perks, while others grow frustrated and leave.

This dysfunction is rooted in the service commissions—a framework established post-independence in 1962. Those commissions were introduced to protect public servants from political interference, ensuring that appointments, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions were based on merit rather than favoritism. Given the deep-seated political and ethnic divisions at the time, this degree of separation from the executive was seen as a necessary safeguard.

Fast forward to today, and the effects of this structure are clear: a weakened executive. Take, for example, the issue of crime.

The Police Service Commission selects the Commissioner of Police, yet it is well known that elements within law enforcement—police and customs officers—facilitate the narco trade, tipping off gang leaders about impending operations. Even the Commissioner has limited power to discipline corrupt officers and other miscreants under his perview. At best, he can transfer them to other posts or report them to the Police Service Commission, but his authority stops there.

In this scenario, blaming the Minister of National Security or expecting a swift reduction in gang-related crime is an exercise in self-deception. The degree of separation between the minister/executive and the problem is unbridgeable. The problem isn't one of political will—it is systemic. Until there is a serious reassessment of how governance functions in Trinidad and Tobago, the executive will continue to bear responsibility for issues they have little control over.

In reply to Jumpstart

Jumpy...

The differences in family structures and their correlation with crime rates can be complex and influenced by various social, economic, and cultural factors. Some key points regarding Canada, particularly Toronto, and Trinidad and Tobago (TT):
In Caribbean communities, Jane/Finch, the same problem that is affecting T&T applies here. It's just imported, yet they have access to all programs.
Canada: ~9.6% child poverty rate
Trinidad and Tobago: ~26.5% child poverty rate
These figures indicate a significant disparity in child poverty rates between the two countries, reflecting differences in economic conditions, social support systems, and overall family stability. Addressing child poverty is crucial for improving outcomes for children in both nations.
Addressing child poverty in Trinidad and Tobago requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on improving economic opportunities, enhancing access to education and healthcare, and strengthening social support systems. These efforts are crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a more equitable society.

Two-Parent Households:

Two-parent families may contribute to a nurturing environment, potentially reducing the likelihood of children engaging in criminal activities.

Socioeconomic Factors:
Economic stability plays a crucial role in crime rates. Canada, with its robust social safety nets and economic opportunities, may provide better conditions for families compared to TT, where socioeconomic challenges can be more pronounced.
In TT, higher rates of poverty and unemployment can lead to increased crime, as individuals may resort to illegal activities out of economic necessity.

Cultural Context:
Cultural attitudes towards family and crime can differ significantly. In TT, there may be a higher tolerance for certain behaviours due to various socioeconomic pressures.
Additionally, social norms and support systems in Canada may promote healthier family dynamics and discourage criminal behaviour.

Access to education, healthcare, and social services in Canada is generally more comprehensive, supporting families in need.
This access can mitigate some of the factors that lead to criminal behaviour.
In contrast, limited access to such resources in TT can exacerbate family instability and contribute to crime.
Strong community networks in Canada may help families cope with challenges, providing support that can deter criminal behaviour.
In TT, communities facing high levels of crime may struggle to offer the same level of support, perpetuating a cycle of instability.

While having two parents can reduce the likelihood of criminal behaviour, it is essential to consider the broader context that includes socioeconomic conditions, cultural influences, and access to resources.
The differences between Canada and TT highlight how these factors interplay to affect family dynamics and crime rates.
Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on improving economic conditions, educational opportunities, and community support systems.
Canadian leadership at various governmental levels provides such opportunities; such is lacking in T&T.
See how simple it is, with the leadership that is required.

In reply to sgtdjones

We didn’t have as many single households in the 70s and 80s. Hence crime rates were extremely low. But you’re right in that stable families are not the only issue when coming to crime and criminality

And even though we were still influenced by cultures, in my opinion inferior to ours in many ways, those cultures were not as violent either. Gangster rap and extremely violent dancehall that glorified violence weren’t even in existence in those days. In fact the 1980s, even though I wasn’t born then could rightly be said to be a cultural revolution, not only in TT, but all across the eastern Caribbean, especially in. Barbados. A teenager in the 80s wouldn’t just think the only West Indian authors were Derek Walcott and VS Naipaul. They’d be exposed to many more Caribbean writers, some weren’t even English speaking writers, like Aime Cesaire of Martinique and Nicholas Guillen of Cuba. The impact of that kind of upbringing on producing productive, upstanding citizens cannot be overstated or underestimated. Now, you have fellas singing about spraying up entire corners with gunfire. And then you expose the most vulnerable children and young adults to that sort of thing and what do you expect, certainly not a society of saints.

In reply to notinsular

yip.

In reply to Jumpstart

Jumpy

Let's look at Canada for a moment...

Crime and Social Changes in Canada
It’s undeniable that crime in Canada has shifted over the past few decades. Statistics Canada’s crime severity index (CSI), for example, shows an upward trend in certain types of violent crimes, such as gun-related violence and carjackings, particularly in urban areas. These are real issues that Canadians are noticing, and it's fair to say they represent a departure from the relative calm of the past.

There are other contributing factors that cannot be ignored. For instance, increases in crime often correlate with economic uncertainty, housing instability, and systemic inequalities. The rise in gang violence, for example, is more closely tied to youth unemployment, lack of community programs, and the lucrative nature of the illicit drug trade than to cultural or ethnic factors.

Immigration and Cultural Shifts
The concern about immigrants bringing “hatred and vengeance” from their countries of origin is a sensitive topic, but let's address it head-on. It’s true that immigration can lead to cultural tensions, especially when people bring deeply rooted conflicts or grievances with them. For example, Canada has seen protests or conflicts tied to international issues, such as the Khalistan movement or tensions stemming from Middle Eastern politics. These incidents can create discomfort among Canadians who fear such conflicts might disrupt the country’s peace.

However, these examples are exceptions rather than the rule. This doesn’t mean cultural integration is seamless—there are challenges, like differing values or norms

Single Mothers and Social Structure
The rise in single-parent households, particularly those led by mothers, is a demographic trend observed in many Western nations, including Canada. It’s a valid concern to discuss the social and economic challenges faced by these families, as single mothers are statistically more likely to experience poverty and housing insecurity, which can have downstream effects on their children.

However, it oversimplifies a complicated problem to imply that this directly causes an increase in crime. Research indicates that structural factors, such as poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to social services, are more strongly associated with crime than familial factors. Blaming single mothers risks ignoring the broader societal systems that fail to support families in need.

Canada’s proximity to a country with higher rates of gun violence, crime, and cultural influence is well taken. There’s no denying that some aspects of American culture—particularly its glorification of guns and violence in media—can seep across the border. However, Canada’s stricter gun laws and stronger social safety nets have historically provided a buffer against replicating the American model.
Nevertheless, there is evidence linking illegal firearms smuggled from the United States to some of the increased gun violence in Canada. This is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. However, it would be more fruitful to examine the policy gaps that could be addressed, such as border enforcement and community-based violence prevention programs, rather than portraying this as Canada giving in to American influence.

It all goes back to the people we elect in Parliament.