Prominent attorney Martin Daly will launch his book, a collection of the best of his Sunday Express columns, titled The Daly Commentaries, spanning the years 2002-2015, which goes on sale from November 6.
Martin Daly is a senior counsel of long standing, a former independent senator, former president of the Law Association and an accessible, knowledgeable, go-to resource for the media when political or constitutional issues arise.
Since 2002 he's also commented on public affairs in his weekly newspaper column, expressing an independent and informed point of view in robust language, often tempered with wit.
As one would expect of a senior lawyer, Daly's Sunday columns at times offer an expert opinion on legal issues. As a former independent senator, he occasionally addresses questions of parliamentary practice, especially when the administration in power–whichever one that may be–tries to push the boundaries and go beyond its legal and constitutional limits.
But Daly stresses the importance of morality as well as the law, explaining that what is legal may not always be legitimate.
The need for transparency in the conduct of public affairs is another of his constant refrains, and he was one of the first to flag concerns about public-procurement procedures being bypassed and manipulated for personal gain and to taxpayers' cost. Daly has also campaigned tirelessly for the authorities to bring to justice the murderers of Akiel Chambers and other child victims of brutal killings.
But he doesn't always deal with such serious preoccupations. Daly's personal passions take centre stage in his writings too: he writes with an infectious delight about music, especially pan, and the performing arts. He describes other, everyday pleasures as well: the beauty of the countryside of Trinidad and Tobago, and of its people. Daly writes not only with nostalgia but also with hope of the neighbourliness typical of the traditional T&T way of life, which he believes can and must be revived and retained. So it's not his legal learning alone, but his enthusiasm and his optimism that make this book an inspiring read.
People looking for information on how to purchase the book directly can also visit The Daly Commentaries on Facebook. The book is on sale at Paper Based Bookshop, Hotel Normandie, Port-of-Spain, which can be reached by calling 625-3197, and Blue Edition, 32 St Vincent St, Tunapuna, the number for which is 223- 6921.