According to recent reports, the minimum cost of political campaign
public meeting was approximately $400,000. Other auxiliary costs, including
advertising, food, drinks and hand-outs were also listed in the hundreds of
thousands even in the build up for the less auspicious local government
election cycle.
This phenomenon should be disturbing to citizens as campaigns represents a complete waste of T&T’s limited resources that adds no real value
to society. Furthermore substantial sums of campaign funds are moneys syphoned away
from the tax payer by virtue of state contracts (past and present) to political
party financiers.
Even more fascinating is the demonstration of how much party
financiers, faithful and the politically connected are willing to spend to
weasel themselves or their confederates into the corridors of power. Surely
such a substantial investment must yield a commensurate reward sadly, all at
the expense of the tax payer.
The fact that it
is becoming increasingly difficult to get $US is an obvious sign that there is a
shortage of available $US. This is a clear market signal that the price
for $US in $TT (the exchange rate) is too low and that there is
depreciating pressure on the $TT.
Despite all the
fanfare surrounding the recently held local government elections the
Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) reported that there was only a 26%
voter turnout. 
Well run credit unions offer an excellent alternative to the mediocre banking system.
The police can't be everywhere at once therefore they can't stop all criminal activity. The fact remains that when you require an immediate police response the police will be minutes / hours away at best. 
