Anil Roberts: Hypocrite Extraordinaire Attacks the Pillars of Democracy

In a brazen display of hypocrisy that could only come from the murky depths of Trinidad and Tobago's political swamp, Senator Anil Roberts – a man whose career is marred by scandals and whispers of corruption – has unleashed a vitriolic video assault on the nation's journalism. facebook.com Titled "NEWSDAY DEAD!!!" and laced with hashtags screaming anti-PNM vitriol while blindly praising Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Roberts positions himself as some sort of crusader against media bias. But let's be clear: this is no noble defense of truth. It's the desperate flailing of a politician with a checkered past, desperately trying to deflect from his own failings and those of the UNC government he serves in.

For those unfamiliar with Roberts' illustrious history, let's rewind to 2014. As Minister of Sport under the previous People's Partnership government (led by none other than Kamla Persad-Bissessar), Roberts oversaw the LifeSport programme – a supposed initiative to empower disadvantaged youth through sports. What it actually became was a cesspool of alleged fraud and corruption, with reports claiming it funneled funds to criminal elements.

The programme, bloated with a $400 million budget, crashed spectacularly amid accusations of ghost contractors, inflated costs, and ties to gang activity. Roberts resigned in disgrace, but notably, no criminal charges were ever laid – a testament perhaps to the very "proper legal system" the user dreams of, one that might finally hold such figures accountable. Fast forward to 2025, and here he is again, reincarnated as Minister in the Ministry of Housing under Persad-Bissessar's triumphant return to power, facing fresh allegations of leaking confidential information.

One has to wonder: in a nation plagued by crime and inefficiency, why recycle this tainted goods?

Yet, this is the man who dares to attack the fourth estate – the journalists who expose the rot in our systems, including his own. In his Facebook video, Roberts lambasts outlets like Newsday, declaring them "dead" and implying they're puppets of the opposition PNM.

The irony is thicker than molasses. Here’s a politician whose scandals were uncovered by the very press he now vilifies, hiding behind pro-Kamla hashtags like #kamlaisboss and #BackToBasics. If journalism is the fourth estate, Roberts is the squatter refusing to pay rent, benefiting from its protections only when it suits him. His attack isn't just on Newsday; it's an assault on the free press that holds power to account – especially in a democracy where politicians like him evade true justice.

And let's not forget the broader context: Roberts is a cog in Kamla Persad-Bissessar's UNC government, which has bent over backward to appease the United States amid tensions with Venezuela over the Essequibo dispute. Persad-Bissessar has openly declared that the US is TT's sole protector, allowing American forces entry, installing a US radar system in Tobago, and reaffirming zero trade with Venezuela while touting billions in US ties.

This isn't leadership; it's subservience. Under Donald Trump's blockade threats, TT has rolled out the red carpet for US military presence, all while Persad-Bissessar warns citizens not to "fight the Americans" lest they lose their visas.

Roberts, ever the loyal attack dog, distracts from this geopolitical groveling by turning his fire on local journalists. Why? Because a free press might question why TT is sacrificing sovereignty to Uncle Sam's demands, or probe deeper into the UNC's cozy arrangements.

This type of scum – yes, scum – has no moral high ground to attack journalists. Roberts embodies everything wrong with TT politics: scandal-ridden, unaccountable, and quick to cry foul when the mirror is held up. If we ever get a "proper legal system," as hoped, perhaps Roberts will face the charges his past actions scream for. Until then, his video is just noise from a has-been trying to stay relevant. Trinidad and Tobago deserves better than politicians who bite the hand that exposes them. The fourth estate isn't dead, Mr. Roberts – but your credibility certainly is.