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1

General Discussion / I starting to notice a "trend..."

« on: January 30, 2013, 03:53:12 PM »

Old news eh. Buh when I read bout the comissioner for the coup.....it came back to mind...

http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-06/jailed-us-fake-id-new-disaster-co-ordinator-ready-face-consequences

Newly appointed Disaster Management Co-ordinator for Chaguanas Stephan Kishore has been keeping a secret. At 26, he has a criminal record. In 2006, Kishore served 60 days in prison in the United States and was put on probation for three years for illegally possessing a fake federal agent’s identification card. He had to return to his home in Central Trinidad in 2009 after being unable to obtain a green card because of his criminal record.

 

After trying his hand at an assortment of jobs before landing the post at the Chaguanas Regional Corporation last year, Kishore confessed to the Sunday Guardian on Thursday that he had opted to remain tight-lipped about his past in order to get a job. “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” Kishore said, as he contemplated his next move following the publication of this article.

 

“If you were in my position, what would you have done?” he asked, throwing his hands up in the air. Kishore was offered the three-year contract in October. After the mass destruction caused by severe weather last year, co-ordinators were assigned to different areas to deal with affected residents. Kishore was the only new disaster co-ordinator to be appointed, replacing Jagdeo Balroop. He receives a salary of $9,500. 

 

A blast from the past
But his decision to stay quiet is not sitting well with some of his colleagues, who view it as an attempt to “outsmart” officials. “He should have been upfront and put his cards on the table. If he was to get the job he would have been hired, but now it is not looking right at all,” one of them said.

 

While acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes, another staff member said: “His actions have come back to haunt him like a blast from the past. He should have been straightforward and said what he did.” At the time of the incident Kishore was a student at York College in New York.

 

According to a report in the Queens Courier, Kishore was pulled over on the Van Wyck Expressway by Port Authority police for changing lanes without signalling. His minivan had been modified to look like a police van and had a large police decal on the rear door.

 

There were red and blue strobe lights on the front dashboard, as well as two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) parking placards. Kishore handed over a black wallet which contained a DHS Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) identification card and an ICE shield.

 

When asked if he was a police officer, Kishore replied: “Yes, I am on duty.” However, when police looked more closely, they spotted on the back of the shield the words: “Copshop.com, Collectible Badge, Not for Official Use.”

 

Kishore was arrested and police searched his home in the Bronx where they found a cache of weapons including two stun guns, two pellet guns and two starter pistols, a laminating machine, blank ID cards and several pieces of forged law-enforcement paraphernalia. He was charged with criminal impersonation, forgery and criminal possession of a weapon, a forged instrument and forged devices.

 

Asked if he felt if he believed that he would have been able to get away from the police officers, Kishore said: “I tried something but knew I had been caught.”

 

Don’t ask, don’t tell
So why didn’t Kishore disclose his background details when being interviewed? He told the Sunday Guardian he felt because the incident happened six years ago, he should be given a chance to start over. However, he said, if the application form had required him to list details of his background, he would have confessed.

 

On further reflection, Kishore admitted he should have revealed all. He said he was prepared for the severe consequences he might now face. “At this point, I will deal with whatever has to come my way. For me, the worst is over.” In fact, he says he’s relieved that his secret is out.

 

“Honestly, I am feeling a weight off my shoulders. I knew it would have come out sooner or later, but I did not know how to do it. “Young people do silly things. I was under no obligation to reveal it, so I said nothing.”

 

Why did he do it?
Kishore did not say when but revealed that he had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He did not say if it was before or after he was charged. One thing was certain, he was fixated on the police.

 

 

“I always wanted to be a police officer. Now I have blown my chances of that ever happening. I collected everything police officers are supposed to use and have. I just used to collect anything that policemen will use. I got in over my head and I paid the price. It was a weird fixation,” he said. The offence also caused him to lose his longtime girlfriend.

 

“We were supposed to get married, but after I got arrested, her family wanted her to have nothing to do with me. “I came back home and I am trying to put the pieces back together. “Since I came home I worked with the T&T Red Cross and as a first-aid and disaster lecturer. This is my first solid job.”

 

 

While Kishore did not reveal what his exact qualifications were he insisted that he was qualified for the job based on his work experience. Telephone calls to Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan for comment on this matter were unsuccessful.

 

 

More Info

According to Medicinenet.com OCD is an anxiety disorder characterisied by irresistible thoughts or images (obsessions) and/or rigid behaviours that may be driven by obsessions. The most effective treatment for OCD is often cognitive-behavioural therapy. Antidepressants are sometimes used in conjunction with therapy, although medication alone is rarely effective in relieving the symptoms of OCD.

2

General Discussion / New SSA appointment raises eyebrows

« on: December 30, 2012, 08:36:47 PM »

This country’s new lead national security agency, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), is expected to be in operational mode sometime next year.

 

The unit, which has been touted by Government as being an elite intelligence gathering agency, lacks legislative framework and is still unable to function. Plans are afoot to merge the now defunct Security Intelligence Agency (SIA), which has no legal framework; and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), which is currently undergoing structural change, with other intelligence networks to form the NIA.

 

Despite promises that the NIA will become functional soon, several of the sensitive managerial positions have already been filled. The SSA is currently being led by Bisnath Maharaj, who assumed the post in April this year, taking over from Col Albert Griffith. Griffith’s one-year contract was not renewed. Maharaj, a police officer, was seconded to the SSA.

 

Sources say the appointment of acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Surajdeen Persad to the post of Director of Security Intelligence with the SSA was approved by Cabinet recently. Persad is currently on 22 months vacation leave from the T&T Police Service and was last assigned to Community Relations. Prior to this, he served as the second in command at Special Branch.

 

Sources say Carlton Dennie has been elevated to the position of Director of Intercept. Dennie previously held the position of Assistant Deputy Director of Intelligence. Cabinet has also approved that NIA will be headed by a Director General with two deputy directors offering assistance, sources confirmed. The positions of Director of Criminal Intelligence, Director Corporate Services and Director Communication and Internet are yet to be filled.

 

CoP confirms Persad is on vacation
However, it is the appointment of Persad which is raising eyebrows. Many are questioning who gave Persad permission to be employed at the SSA while on vacation from the police service and what criteria were used to interview people for the post. Contacted for a comment, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams confirmed that Persad was on vacation.

 

“Obviously if he is on vacation, he will be getting paid,” Williams said. Asked about Persad’s status at the SSA while still being employed with the T&T Police Service Williams said: “The SSA is an intelligence unit and I try not to speak on them. You will have to contact them. I try not to interfere with matters involving the SSA.”

 

Questioned whether he (Williams) gave authorisation for Persad to take up the position at SSA, Williams said he chose not to comment on the issue. Efforts to contact Persad were unsuccessful as calls to his cell phone went unanswered.
In January 2011, the SIA was headed by Reshmi Ramnarine but her appointment was short-lived following her resignation from the top post.

 

 

Ramnarine, 31, was touted to have in her possession a Bsc in Information Technology from the University of the West Indies, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several government ministers said part of the reason she was appointed as SIA director was due to her qualifications. It was later learnt that such qualifications were falsified.

 

Police Association: If Persad’s appointment is true, it’s wrong
Secretary of the T&T Police and Social Welfare Association Sgt Michael Seales said: “If the information is true” and Persad is now employed at SSA, then this is wrong. “If that is true, then it is wrong and the acting commissioner of police needs to address this immediately.”

 

Seales described Persad as being a decorated officer in intelligence gathering and even if permission was given to Persad to function at SSA while still being employed at the T&T police service, such permission did not make it right. He said the association has always complained about such situations and in the past, officers have found themselves “on the wrong end of the disciplinary process when they did this.”

 

Also commenting on Persad’s position at SSA, was president of the association Sgt Anand Ramesar. Ramesar in a brief telephone interview said it was not unusual for officers to take up contract postings while retaining their office as police officers. “However, such situations fall under the purview of the police who has the authority to grant permission as is provided for in the Police Service Act and Regulations,” he said.

 

Ramesar said it would be unusual and a breach of the regulation, “should the officer proceed to pick up employment without the permission of the Commissioner of Police, especially where the employee for the second employment is also the Government. He said in recent times the association has seen different regulations in the organisation not being complied with and various issues not being addressed.

 

Ramesar said the association had voiced complaints about “selective enforcement of the police service regulation and that some officers are now getting away with misconduct, while other are dealt with for smaller offenses.” He said acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams must address the issues with haste “so members can be assured that our confidence in him and his leadership is intact.”

3

General Discussion / Death threat investigation at a 'critical stage'

« on: October 28, 2012, 11:34:20 PM »

The investigation into a death threat against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has reached a "critical stage", Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson has said.

Richardson would not discuss the issue in detail, but assured that the threat against Rowley earlier this month was being actively investigated.

National Security Minister Jack Warner made the disclosure of a death threat against Rowley at a community meeting in Trou Macaque, Laventille on October 2.

Richardson refused to say whether any security personnel had been assigned to the Opposition Leader.

"It is not something I want to discuss," he said.

Head of Special Branch, Assistant CoP Ann Marie Alleyne, could not be reached for comment last week, and Senior Superintendent Gary Gould would not say whether the political leader of the People's National Movement, (PNM) was assigned security.

The Sunday Express was reliably informed that the State had assigned no security to the Opposition Leader and he was forced to put his own safety measures in place.

It was also learned that six months after he was appointed Opposition Leader in June 2010, a security detail that was assigned to him was quietly removed without any explanation given.

Despite a query to the then National Security Minister John Sandy, Rowley's security was never re-installed, even now as police investigate a threat on his life, the Sunday Express learned.

Deputy Commissioner Richardson also said he had no knowledge of any police investigation into the Opposition Leader, contrary to a statement made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in the House of Representatives, on September 12, during a debate on the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill when the controversial Section 34 was repealed.

The AG told the House that the "Landate matter was still the subject of a police criminal investigation", even though Rowley was cleared by the Integrity Commission on a "technicality".

"I am not aware of any investigation into Dr Rowley," Richardson said, admitting however, that "I wouldn't know everything."

Meanwhile the investigation into the death threats against Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard is still on the police front burner but acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams has refused to discuss the matter publicly.

In July, the DPP was informed of threats against him.

To date, no one has been arrested but reports indicate that the threats emanated from behind the walls of one of the State's prisons.

The Sunday Express also learned, that one of the key suspects in the matter is an ex-convict, who was recently arrested on gun charges by the police.

Since then, the DPP has beefed up his security detail.

4

General Discussion / For the first half of 2012:T&T records $500m in suspicious transactions

« on: September 17, 2012, 05:00:39 PM »

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-09-16/tt-records-500m-suspicious-transactions

Trinidad and Tobago is at risk of being blacklisted by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) if by 2014 it continues to fail to prosecute anyone under anti-money laundering or combating the financing of terrorism (AML-CFT) laws. So said attorney and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist David West at a seminar at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain yesterday. Speaking at the event organised by the Anointed Professionals Exhibiting Excellence (APEX), West said, “Come 2014, somebody is going to have to be charged.”

 

He explained that “in 2010 there were $263 million worth of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs); in 2011, there were $569 million worth of SARs; that’s $832 million worth of SARs and there have been no prosecutions.” However, the situation is even more alarming for the first half of 2012 where already, $500.47 million of SARs have been reported.

 

Keith King, CEO and chairman of Firstline Securities who also spoke, later compounded West’s figures saying SARs and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) totalled 303 in 2011, up from 111 in 2010. King said SARs and STRs totalled $304.1 million in dollar terms in 2011, up from $85.7 million in 2010.

 

“This represents a 172 per cent increase in the amount of SARs/STRs and a 254.84-per cent increase in dollar terms (or) value of the reports,” King told the audience which included financial advisers, representatives of financial institutions and attorneys.

 

‘T&T not ready for 4th round evaluation’
On one of his powerpoint slides, King showed attendees that at the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), “121 suspicious activity transactions/activity reports were received and disseminated between January and June 2012. Total value of the SARs/STRs for the first half of 2012 is $500.47 million.”

 

He said that “only half of the year has gone by and we have already surpassed 2011,” and later added that very few cases have led to prosecutions or convictions. He cited the only two to the best of his knowledge to be the Piarco airport corruption case and the Vicky Boodram case.

 

 

Speaking after Financial adviser Roger Hernandez of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), who was tight-lipped about the results of the 3rd Round of Mutual Evaluation Reports, West said that independently of the results from the 3rd Round, “Trinidad and Tobago is not ready for the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluation Reports.”

 

The evaluation report provides a summary of the AML-CFT measures in place in Trinidad and Tobago, and influences whether the country stays on the grey list, moves to the white list or falls to the black list. There are 12 pieces of legislation dealing with AML-CFT and the country has witnessed “amendment after amendment,” West said. “How do we expect people to catch up and know what to follow?” he asked rhetorically.

 

He said it was his view that T&T needs more suitably qualified people to draft the laws because the current draftspeople “are limited in what they know” and lack the specialised training necessary.

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General Discussion / So....lets talk about that recalcitrant minority....

« on: August 26, 2012, 10:35:19 PM »

http://www.tntmirror.com/2012/08/26/so-lets-talk-about-that-recalcitrant-minority

Get into a conversation about race in this country, especially one that compares the policies of the PNM and the UNC (or any other Indo-led party), and the conversation will invariably go to the most memorable comment Eric Williams ever made about some members of the Indian community here when he called them the “recalcitrant and hostile minority”. It is a phrase that has haunted both Williams and the PNM since its utterance in 1958, but few Trinbagonians know the context and background of the speech and its content.



The phrase has become a virtual get-out-of-jail-free card for members of the Indian community hell-bent on an ethnocentric agenda. And it is often made out to be the first racist comment ever made by Trinbagonian… ever! As a result of Williams’ use of the phrase, national history is often re-invented with Williams described as the father of racism, the PNM is depicted as racist and oppressive – in fact, the only racist and oppressive party – and as having an oppressive “African” agenda that everyone must be afraid of. As a result of Williams’ folly, the party has spent almost all of its political life either avoiding discussion of the issue, or giving in to the demands of religious and cultural leaders who claim to be promoting Indian interests. In an effort to not appear racist and to underscore its all-inclusivity as a government and a party the PNM has opted to instead give in to silly demands and pander to the demands of some, rather than address Williams’ statement and come to terms with its legacy.

By 1958, Trinidad and Tobago was well underway to negotiating for a federated government. Williams was one of the chief negotiators of the process, it was his desire to have Trinidad and Tobago be the regional seat of power. But the DLP here, a party that was a coalition of interest groups that represented Hindus, Roman Catholics, the business class and members of the white elite, had aligned itself with political parties from both Jamaica and Guyana that were opposing the move towards a federation. At a public meeting, Williams, freshly returned from the Bandung Conference in India, revealed to the crowd that during the campaign for federal elections a letter had been circulated. According to Williams, the letter accused him of both “favouring his own kind in the Cabinet” and practising ethnic tokenism by selecting “a few Indians merely to mislead other Indians into supporting his movement in order to have a majority”. The closing paragraph of the letter stated: “If, my dear brother, you have realised these occurrences, and the shaky position in which our Indian people are placed, woe unto our Indian nation in the next ten years.”

Unsurprisingly, Williams saw this campaign, attributed to the DLP, as undermining his ambitions for the country. Williams lashed out at the use of the term “Indian nation” because as far as he was concerned, the Indian nation was continental India. He felt that the DLP was conveniently using the phrase as an ethnic rallying point, and that ethnic politics had no place in the West Indies, least of all Trinidad. He described the group circulating this letter as a “recalcitrant and hostile minority masquerading as the Indian nation, and prostituting the name of India for its selfish, reactionary political ends”. I quote the entire sentence because few people ever do, and in its entirety it makes a very strong statement about what Williams thought was the political agenda of the DLP then.

Prime Miniter Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Indo-centric writers and cultural activists, more interested in promoting the warped agenda of a group than a healthy national agenda of respect and co-operation, have taken advantage of the PNM’s reluctance to address Williams’ comments. Long before the formation of the PNM, our local politics had the taint of racism attached to it. And ethno-specific voting has become a feature of our electoral system. Another feature of our politics here is giving in to the cries of oppression by groups that claim to be in the minority. Land and ethnic-specific holidays for everyone! But while members of the People’s Partnership keep using the ghost of Williams and Manning to provoke feelings of guilt among blacks, and to rally the clans to keep separate and vote tribe instead of issues, their ethnic-flavoured political policies that they insisted was new politics are taking the country nowhere fast.

Williams’ statement was extremely unfortunate, because it was an angry generalisation that painted an entire group with one brush stroke. It is a statement that the current leadership of the PNM must address if they really expect to move forward and be the all-embracing party that Williams claims he started. More than 50 years later, Williams’ statement begs certain questions about politics, race and nationalism here. Has any group here prostituted its ethnic identity to rally political support? Is ethnic identity more important than national identity to groups here? When a Prime Minister takes a trip at the taxpayers’ expense to search for roots does it promote national pride or ethnic identity? In 1958, Williams felt that exploiting race as the base of political power was the greatest danger facing the country, and given the current state of our politics, he was not mistaken.

6

General Discussion / Minister 'rings up charges' ...on three cellphones

« on: August 14, 2012, 01:24:30 PM »

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Minister__rings_up_charges_____on_three_cellphones-165884326.html



For nearly a year, taxpayers footed the bill for not one but three cellphones for ex-transport minister Devant Maharaj, in contravention of the Government's own one-cellphone rule.

Insiders report further that one of the two Government-issued cellphones to Maharaj—708-0217—was in the possession of his girlfriend and chief executive officer of Radio Jaagriti, Kristal Ramroopsingh, up until his reassignment to the Ministry of Food Production in late June of this year.

Maharaj has vehemently denied the charge, insisting he was the holder of the two "708" numbers provided by the Ministry of Transport as well as his own personal "683" mobile, which is paid for by the State. Persons with knowledge of the situation, however, report that Ramroopsingh not only had use of the 708-0217 Government-issued cellphone, but gave the number out to people as her personal contact detail.

Several Radio Jaagriti staff, including the station's head of news, Lokesh Maharaj, identified the 708-0217 mobile as one of two numbers they have for the station's CEO. Telephone logs obtained by the Sunday Express for the "708" cellphone in question show a significant number of calls placed to Ramroopsingh's mother's cellphone, her family home in Fyzabad, Radio Jaagriti's Tunapuna office at the corner of Pasea Main Road and to Minister Maharaj's personal and other "708" Government-issued cellphones.

Ramroopsingh did not answer her phone and failed to respond to several voice mail messages left on her cellphone up to late yesterday.

Last Thursday, Minister Maharaj said he gave up the two "708" Ministry of Transport-issued cellphones when he took up official duty as the new Minister of Food Production at the end of June this year. He denied he ever gave the BlackBerry Torch 708-0217 cellphone to his girlfriend for her personal use and insisted the phone was always with him up until his reassignment of ministerial portfolios at the end of June.

Asked to explain the volume of phone calls placed to his girlfriend's mother's cellphone and family home, Minister Maharaj said: "Yeah... well, I call her mother from time to time."

And the radio station of which she is the CEO? According to Maharaj, he has a "very close relationship" to the station's founder and general secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Sat Maharaj, who he said, is based there.

Asked about the calls made from the 708-0217 number during the weekly Thursday Cabinet meetings when ministers are prohibited from using their cellphones, he answered this way: "Yeah... well, we do have breaks in between."

And the calls placed to himself on his other two cellphones? According to the Minister, that was when he gave the phone to his adviser to check for messages. Asked if he was in the habit of having long chats with his personal adviser, Maharaj said: "Yeah, we have intense conversations."

His responses were vague, however, about the roaming charges billed to the 708-0217 number while he was on a private trip to Miami last December and again, on official State business to India in January of this year.

Maharaj could shed no light on who exactly authorised local telephone provider Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) to put the 708-0217 number on roaming while he was on a private trip abroad with all three of his cellphones, or why the limit on the controversial cellphone was increased from $5,000 to $15,000 a month. Insiders report the limit was extended to $15,000 in part because of late payments to TSTT. He confirmed girlfriend Ramroopsingh did travel with him to Miami nearing the end of December last year, but had no answer for why he placed nine calls to himself from the controversial Government-issued phone to his personal and official cellphones while in Miami.

Cellphone billing records for January 3 to February 2, 2012, for the controversial 708-0217 number reveal total charges of $5,164.86. Of this, roaming charges account for $1,307.71, data roaming charges of $2,702.56 and total call usage of $1,443.30.

During the six-day period December 27, 2011, to January 1, 2012, 15 calls were made to Ramroopsingh's mother's cellphone and three to the family home in Fyzabad. Calls were also made to Radio Jaagriti.

Billing statements, dated February 3 this year from TSTT to the Ministry of Transport show total roaming charges of $5,241.88. The controversial number racked up roaming charges while in India of over $5,000, with roaming data charges alone accounting for $2,408.09. And, as with the Miami trip, phone calls were made to Ramroopsingh's mother's cell, family home in Fyzabad and to the Minister's two other cellphones. The Minister's girlfriend also went to India.

How Minister Maharaj came to have three cellphones for almost a year is also a bit of a mystery.

Maharaj said the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) took over his personal cellphone bills when he was given the Transport brief in July 2011. The billing from the OPM was transferred to the Ministry of Transport at the same time he was provided with two Government-issued cellphones.

Maharaj made clear he did not ask for the phones and merely assumed it was part of a ministerial benefit when he got it in July 2011.

A top public official, speaking on background only, said the rules provide for a cellphone to a Government minister and a telephone allowance of $500 for a private land line. According to the official, there is provision for a full refund for calls certified as official business which exceed the $500 a month limit for land lines.

Maharaj seemed unaware of the one-cellphone rule and said he had no idea how he got so lucky.

He also seemed unaware of the roaming charges racked up by his 708-0217 mobile. He expressed surprise, saying if the Sunday Express information was correct, his Permanent Secretary would have brought it to his attention. Maharaj said, to the best of his knowledge, he never exceeded $500 a month on the controversial cellphone. Billing statements obtained by this newspaper, however, show otherwise.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport at the time of the three-cellphone affair Myrna Thompson, by her own admission, had no knowledge of the controversial cellphone. Thompson said she only had knowledge of the Minister's personal "683" phone and the official "708" number which he gave out to Government colleagues and other people.

The accounting officer for the Ministry of Transport, who transferred over to Food Production, was vague as to whether the Minister was entitled to more than one cellphone or who authorised a second official cellphone for his use or who approved payments for his multiple phones, including the controversial 708-0217 number.

She expressed shock that billings for the controversial cellphone, which she said she had no knowledge of, had racked up charges in excess of $30,000 in the year that Minister Maharaj had it. This is in addition to charges incurred by the Minister's two other cellphones.

Thompson was unable to explain how Maharaj came by the controversial third cellphone and admitted, on closer questioning, that "yes, I should have been aware of it".

Maharaj, for his part, insists that since the matter was never raised with him by the substantive Permanent Secretary, the Sunday Express information was not authentic.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport Verna Johnson refused to take our calls for an account of the Minister's several cellphones. She was deputy PS at the time of the incident.

7

General Discussion / Allegations of improper conduct:

« on: July 22, 2012, 12:31:53 PM »

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CISL_board_members_resigned_over_inaction-163313726.html



The entire board of directors of the State-owned Community Improvement Services Ltd (CISL), including chairman Dr Rai Ragbir, and former line minister Chandresh Sharma had direct knowledge of allegations of improper conduct made against the government-backed chief executive officer, Ramchand Rampersad.

Continuing Sunday Express investigations into governance issues at the State-subsidised special purpose company suggest that chairman Ragbir, a medical doctor by profession, and the former local government minister made no effort to act on information they received that Rampersad had acted improperly.

From all accounts, chairman Ragbir fought against the efforts of some of his directors, two of whom have since resigned, to make Rampersad accountable for alleged wrongdoing.

He failed to respond to urgent e-mail calls from directors on his board for an emergency board meeting and was hostile to questions put to him by this newspaper on July 12.

E-mail correspondence obtained by the Sunday Express show Dr Ragbir being briefed on a list of concerns, chief among them, a $2,500 a-month life insurance claim for which Rampersad was not entitled and his decision to push through the purchase of a company vehicle which exceeded the price limit of the issued- guidelines of the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Director Asha Sooknanan, in e-mail correspondence, dated June 14 and sent under cover of strict confidentiality to eight members of the CISL board, including the chairman, provided directors with a brief of a special meeting of the heads of the various sub-committees of the board held earlier that day.

Among the issues flagged at the June 14 meeting was the salary overpayment of the CEO, the acquisition of a vehicle in excess of the stipulated MOF limit and questionable tendering practices.

Another director, attorney Anuradha Ramdath, who resigned with immediate effect on June 25, in a June 15 e-mail to the board, including chairman Ragbir, urged that a detailed investigation into all of the allegations of wrongdoing be conducted.

Deputy chairman and director Malcolm Reid, who also resigned on June 25 with immediate effect, in response to fellow director Edison Hoolasie, in a June 21 e-mail, copied to the board, expressed his deep discomfort and frustration that nothing was being done to deal with the very serious governance issues raised.

He said the board would be guilty of complicity if it failed to act on the allegations of wrongdoing involving the company's CEO.

Sooknanan, in a June 20 e-mail sent to minister Sharma and to the CISL board, including chairman Ragbir, provided detailed documentation related to some of the governance issues under scrutiny.

Sharma, who is said to have played a pivotal role in catapulting the former CISL director into the executive suite in an acting CEO position in the first instance, yesterday, refused comment on his failure to investigate the allegations of wrongdoing.

"I am no longer the minister," he said, making clear he was not prepared to answer anything related to his former portfolio as local government minister.

"I am the ex-minister," he said, accusing this reporter of changing the rules of engagement.

Told that we were merely trying to get some answers about something that happened on his watch as the local government minister, Sharma, who was reassigned to the Transport Ministry on June 22, said: "That might work for you but it doesn't operate so in government."

He suggested instead that this newspaper continue its conversation with new Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan.

"Anything prior to my appointment as Minister of Transport I will not respond," he told the Sunday Express.

Rambachan, who last week promised to look into the governance issues at CISL, admitted there were breaches related to the acquisition of a Toyota Fortuner, the insurance benefit of $2,500 a month and Rampersad's private job to short-list prospective candidates for the CEO's position at State-owned National Flour Mills (NFM).

Rampersad's private company, Perfect World Human Resources and Management Services, which was incorporated in January this year, was contracted to draw up a short list of candidates for the top executive job at NFM in an apparent conflict of interest with his other public job as chairman of the state funded and managed corporation, Government Human Resources Co Ltd (GHRS).

The company was set up to service the HR needs of the state sector.

As reported in last Sunday's Express, Rampersad refused to say how much his private company was paid for the NFM job.

A tough talking Minister Rambachan, who made clear he was not going to tolerate wrongdoing on his watch said: "Obviously there are issues of governance at CISL. If something is wrong, it must be declared wrong."

Dr Rambachan said he was awaiting a report from chairman Ragbir and would be meeting with the board of directors next week.

He also spoke about his plan to have an orientation conference for state boards which fall under his ministerial portfolio on the role and fiduciary responsibilities of directors.

He denied that his coalition government condoned wrongdoing and countered that it was a wrong perception held by some.

Asked to square his assertion with the Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) incident in which a leased luxury vehicle was provided for the non-executive chairman Rabindra Moonan, Dr Rambachan, in a short telephone interview with the Sunday Express, said if MOF or official State Enterprises regulations were breached, "then it is wrong".

Asked if it was wrong for the CAL chairman to breach the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual which is clear that a non-executive chairman is not entitled to a company vehicle, Rambachan answered this way: "If according to the rules, it is wrong, then it is wrong. We must say it is wrong and let the chips fall where they may." He declined further comment.

The former line minister for CAL, now Food Production Minister, Devant Maharaj, who defended the leased luxury ride for Moonan countered that the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual (SEMM) was not the law.

"What rule?" he enquired, making clear that the SEMM was not legislation but general guidelines intended "to guide" State companies.

And those guidelines, according to Maharaj's interpretation, are not set in concrete and may vary from State enterprise to State enterprise. In short, different State companies were subject to a different interpretation of official rules.

He said Moonan did not have the Toyota Prado for more than eight days and reports suggesting otherwise were wrong.

He insists that the Prado lease was a "non-issue" and pointed to other unidentified boards which provided the disputed benefit to non-executive chairmen.

"There are other boards that I know about which we inherited that has a vehicle for the chairman," he said, refusing to call names.

Insisting that the operative word was "guidelines", Maharaj said: "It is supposed to guide you. It is not a law."

He said Moonan was appointed at short notice and needed to be mobile.

Asked if chairman Moonan did not have a car before he was appointed to CAL's board, Maharaj sidestepped the question, saying the lease had to be taken in the context of the transition of a new chair to the board.

8

Football / Lets say the PFL was to use Getafe's marketing strategy....

« on: May 28, 2012, 08:23:15 AM »

Yuh think it would work?

http://www.laligatalk.com/getafe-releases-viral-porn-video-to-encourage-more-fans-to-buy-season-tickets-4206

Getafe CF, in a campaign to increase the number of season ticket holders, have launched a viral video in which it encourages fans of Getafe to become sperm donors so they can breed new Getafe season ticket holders.

The bizarre video, which is obviously done tongue-in-cheek, features a sperm donor collecting a plastic container at a clinic, and then watching a film called Zombies Calientes de Getafe (translated in English as “Getafe’s Hot Zombies.”)

The club, which resides in Getafe — on the outskirts of Madrid, has approximately 9,000 season ticket holders but has to compete against rival clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid who have 85,000 and 42,000 season ticket holders respectively. One way to stand out from the crowd is to hope that a viral video like this will spread and attract supporters.

Whether they stay up is another matter entirely.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4hcjjRgvnDo" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/4hcjjRgvnDo</a>

9

Football / PFA to make racist abuse a sacking offence for professional footballers

« on: May 24, 2012, 05:43:49 PM »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/24/pfa-racist-abuse-sacking-offence?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

Racist abuse will become a sackable offence for professional footballers next season, as part of significant changes being made to every Premier League and Football League player's contract.

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, is behind the proposal that he hopes will send out a powerful message on the back of a season when racism on the pitch made an unwelcome return to English football.

Taylor told the Guardian that he believes the change in the standard players' contract will highlight how seriously the PFA views racism, and remove any ambiguity about the possible consequences for anyone found guilty of the offence. Racist abuse will now be deemed as gross misconduct and, although the decision of whether to terminate a contract will ultimately rest with the player's employers, Taylor pointed out that any club failing to act "could be held responsible for condoning [racism]".

The PFA will present the proposal to the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee, which includes the Premier League and the Football League, and Taylor is confident that it will be approved. "We're just about to bring it to the PFNCC, the body by which we bring the issues to the Premier League and Football League, and I don't see a problem with that being introduced," he said.

"It just highlights the point in the standard players' contract. It would say that racist abuse, if found guilty, will be classed as gross misconduct and a reason to terminate a contract. I feel it's important to highlight it, bearing in mind what has happened, and not mess about with it and not afford for anybody to be ambiguous about what the consequences are.

"I'm not saying it's ambiguous [now]. But just to really put it in there means there is no misunderstanding on how serious we take it. If any player is found guilty of racist abuse, the club and the player need to be aware that could be a solid reason for terminating the contract."

Racist abuse on the pitch has become an emotive issue on the back of two high-profile incidents last season. Liverpool's Luis Suárez was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra at Anfield in October while the Chelsea captain, John Terry, will appear at Westminster magistrates' court on 9 July after he was charged with a "racially aggravated public order offence" following an altercation with Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road, also in October. Terry denies the charge.

Although the PFA has worked hard to campaign against racism in football, Taylor acknowledges that this season has, in some respects, been a "reality check". He remains concerned that black players will "think twice" about lodging an official complaint because of "such intimidation with social networks" and because "there is so much abuse flying about", and for that reason feels it is vital the "football world" supports those who come forward. Taylor also revealed that he has been on the receiving end of "terrible abuse" for speaking out against racism.

As well as the change to players' contracts that will carry the threat of more severe punishments, Taylor accepts that there is a need to "re-address the education process, rather than just think about sanctions".

He explained that the PFA, working in tandem with the League Managers Association, are planning to bring in a new education programme that would lead to managers, all British and overseas players, and even directors and owners receiving training and advice in relation to racism and discrimination in football.

"Rather than just concentrate on the young apprentices as part of their curriculum, we want to introduce it to all senior players, and also that when players come in from abroad, to try and have an educational process for them and the owners of the club and management," said Taylor. "It will be part of the duty of [player liaison officers] introducing any player coming in from abroad to go through a list of things, particularly in the player's contract, where you see about racist abuse, code of conduct and what is expected in this country on racism and equality issues."

10

Football / German Fans making a Point

« on: March 28, 2012, 09:26:13 AM »

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/helpful-fans-show-goal-shy-team-where-goal-095626049.html


When a team goes through a goal drought, most fans have a simple answer: a few abusive chants from the terraces, followed by a moan in the pub after the game.

But fans of German regional side FC Magdeburg decided to take a more constructive and creative approach - one that has now made them globally famous.

Reasoning that their men had gone without a goal for five matches simply from having forgotten where the goal was, they decided to take giant dayglo arrows to the match to point their heroes in the right direction.

11

General Discussion / Govt spied on Rowley

« on: March 13, 2012, 08:45:49 AM »

http://www.tntmirror.com/2012/03/04/govt-spied-on-rowley

Used phone taps to defuse ‘bomb’

ON the eve of the Opposition’s vote of no confidence motion against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Peoples Partnership government enhanced its intelligence-gathering services, including telephone wiretaps and interception of communications along with emails and GPS info on cell-phones in an effort to diffuse any political threat to the PM.

This, as national security insiders confirmed that the government has been quietly upgrading its intercept equipment at a cost of US$ 3 million (TT$ 20 million) with the guidance of Israeli technicians and American firm Verint which specialises in interception technology. They are currently in the country and are said to be spearheading the installation of intercept equipment at State-owned TSTT.

Mirror has also received proof that the interception of communication by the Persad-Bissessar led government extends to journalists as well as politicians, a move which runs contra to the Interception of Communication Act, which was passed in the Parliament in 2010 to legalise the State’s use of intercept equipment.

Mirror investigations reveal that while this new upgrade equipment was purchased under the previous Manning administration the final payments, were made by the Peoples Partnership.

It was not so long ago, when she assumed office in May 2010, that the Prime Minister exposed in the Parliament, the questionable actions of then Prime Minister Patrick Manning whom she accused of using the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) and the Special Anti Crime Unit (SAUTT) to engage in illegal wiretapping of a number of people in the country including journalists and trade unionists.

Mirror was also reliably informed that the intercept equipment was used to gather information about what ‘political bombs’ Opposition Leader, Dr. Keith Rowley was likely to bring to the House, during Friday’s debate on the vote of no-confidence against the PM.

Leader of Government Business Dr. Roodal Moonilal, for example, in responding to Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley in the House of Representatives on Friday, said the Government had prior knowledge that Rowley would be bringing charges of misuse of the government’s credit card against Tobago Development Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin. He did not, however, say how the Government came by the information.

Mirror’s source disclosed that the “Israeli technicians are here periodically, but they are here now with a view to delivering by the end of next month.” The source could not say whether the Government officials were aware that the information being provided to them were coming from illegal wiretaps.

According to the source, the spyware technicians first met with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in 2011 and have been in contact with him and other national security government officials for some time over the procurement of the equipment which forms part of the legitimate National Security apparatus.

The issue of spyware equipment from the Israeli government shot into the spotlight following Prime Manning’s visit to Israel and meeting with then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in November 2005.

National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Gary Griffith, would not refute or confirm Mirror’s information when contacted on the matter.

He would only say, “Anything pertaining to intelligence, I am unable to comment on.”
[True talk yes....]
Questioned as to the use of the Israeli technicians and the upgrade intercept equipment to garner information about the debate, he said, “….such matters are highly sensitive and I cannot comment.”

12

General Discussion / Government downsizing FOIA

« on: February 17, 2012, 01:11:16 AM »

QUESTIONS are being asked about Government’s commitment to the Freedom of Information Act as moves continue to quietly downsize the Freedom of Information Division which now falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications.

Questioned on the matter at Thursday’s Post-Cabinet Media Conference, Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Suruj Rambachan would only state that the Unit was still in operation and that he would make another statement at a later date.

The Division acts as a secretariat for co-ordination among ministries and to provide training and information to Government agencies and the public. It has a Cabinet approved structure for five persons but it is now down to just one employee, a business operations assistant, as the Ministry failed to renew the contracts of Rishi Maharaj the last Senior Freedom of Information Officer and head of the Unit and Andrea Julien who was a Freedom of Information Officer attached to the Ministry.

“It is strange how this government which got into power by using the FOIA to access information is now trying to stop the process by restricting access to information,” said one official familiar with the operations of the Ministry.

Public officials say the downsizing of the Unit is deliberate as the Ministry is intent on restricting access to information. A check of the website by the TnT Mirror on Friday shows the Unit still advertised as falling under the Office of the Prime Minister in Nicholas Towers, Port of Spain and Maharaj and Julien are still advertised as holding their positions although the only person employed there is a relatively junior Business Operations Assistant, Joanne Balgobin.

http://www.tntmirror.com/2012/02/12/government-downsizing-foia

13

General Discussion / Devant: Govt seeks investors for $b light transit

« on: January 29, 2012, 08:15:15 AM »

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Devant__Govt_seeks_investors_for__b_light_transit-138274109.html

GOVERNMENT is seeking an investment of possibly $1 billion to construct and operate a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima, which will not be funded from the Treasury but from investors, Transport Minister Devant Maharaj has said.

"Government's only obligation to the enterprise is that of a facilitator," he said.

Maharaj was speaking to the Sunday Express yesterday in a telephone interview and responding to a definite matter of urgent public importance raised by Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert, during the sitting of the Lower House on Friday, held at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.

Imbert had expressed concerns about a print advertisement on Thursday, in which the Transport Ministry invited expressions of interest for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima to be constructed approximately 4.2 metres above the Bus Route.

He noted the deadline is February 23, only four weeks to submit expressions of interest for this "complex project", with offices closed for the two days of Carnival.

He said one month was too short a time for this process, and it may be in breach of the Central Tenders Board ordinance as Government ministries are only permitted by law to initiate procurement of goods and services to a maximum value of $1 million while this project will likely cost billions of dollars.

Yesterday, Maharaj said Imbert was "fundamentally wrong", and he was "accustomed to PNM (People's National Movement) squandermania and assumes that all others follow the same level of reckless spending that is the watermark of the PNM".

He said the expression of interest was for the first phase for securing the particular project and will be followed up by detailed requests for proposals that will carry the entire process, "well beyond two months".

He added it was "regrettable" Imbert appeared to make misleading statements about a breach of the Central Tenders Board Act, explaining that in this project, Government was not putting out expenditure for goods, machinery, equipment or other items, but the operator was solely responsible for all these things.

"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not purchasing any article of work or any service," Maharaj stressed.

He said Government was awaiting the various expressions of interest, but there was no obligation to enterprise, such as a guarantee to a foreign investor coming into this country, and they were not tendering for anything but acting as a facilitator.

"Imbert's reckless, uninformed statement is fundamentally flawed in the interpretation of the nature, extent and purport of the Central Tenders Board Act," he added.

Maharaj said the project followed the P3 model (public, private, partnership) which was popular in India and pointed out if the venture fails, it is the commercial entity that fails, and Government or taxpayers' money are not at risk. He further explained that the entity would recoup their investment by the fees it would charge for people to use the system though the fee structure is subject to review by the Government to prevent exploitation.

He compared the project to the Rapid Rail project by the previous administration, noting a US$75 million pre-feasibility study was currently "in some boxes in the Ministry of Works".

14

General Discussion / Animal Farm: Obsessions with flights, fancy

« on: January 23, 2012, 06:50:54 PM »

http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2012-01-22/obsessions-flights-fancy

Fresh back from his passage to India, Minister Vasant Bharath has seen it fit to insult the collective intelligence of the population in statements and actions which are fast becoming symptomatic of this People’s Partnership Government, which of itself is becoming the living embodiment of George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm. The obsession with flights of fancy which Mr Manning had with his private wishes for private jets, are mirrored in helicopter flights like a taxi service, to get you here, there and everywhere. It is mirrored also in the outlandish idea of building an airport in Central and, of course, from the bag of goodies on the return from India, we are now looking at flights to India for Caribbean Airlines.

 

Now really, we cannot even get it right for flying between Trinidad and Tobago and our big announcement is that we are going to be trying to fly from Trinidad to India? Who comes up with this type of clap-trap to try to peddle such rubbish to the public? Where is the market for this? Where is the feasibility study for this and if it were such a good and profitable idea, why aren’t airlines from India ponying up to take planeloads of tourists back and forth across the oceans between the two countries? These ideas are as ill-fated as Snowball’s windmill on Animal farm.

 

The excesses and madness of Manniningism were the Achilles heel and the ultimate downfall of the PNM. The present Government, just like in Animal Farm, is beginning more and more to resemble the very ones they disposed and got the rid of and their constant excuse seems to be—well PNM did it too. Hello...this is why we got rid of them! The Animal Farm analogy continues with the hard-working Jack, who after all his time, money and effort expended, has been treated just like Boxer and the only thing left is for someone to suggest that they now boil him down to make glue, or send him off to the Knacker’s. In his bust-up with King George, in the circling of his wagon by the religious and ethnic fundamentalists in the party, and now the quest to make him impure by auditing PURE, all serve to remind Uncle Jack that—All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others.

 

So it should be no surprise to see Napoleon and others walking around on two legs now, because while the sheep were previously bleating, “Four Legs Good/Two Legs bad” after the Revolution of May 24, 2010, suddenly it is, “Two Legs good/Four legs Bad,” and the sycophants and the “booty smoochers” who make up the ranks of the sheep, have now changed their tune accordingly—“Two Legs good/Four legs Bad.” Why not throw in a luxury 4x4 in the process as Vasant has done, and say to the masses, that it is not expensive, it is not really a luxury car. “Comrades!” he cried. “You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples."

 

Prior to election day, the population bought in big time for old Major’s speech and the dream of a better world and a better tomorrow—We will rise. “Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings (wearing Balisier ties)? Only get rid of man (Manning), and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. Not one man, woman or child will be left behind. The Beasts of England and Beasts of Ireland were believers, they yearned for a new day under the Rising Sun, but they are getting scorched in the heat, burnt in the process. And Squealer is frisking around, skipping from side to side, telling them they are relaxing in the shade and that what they think is heat is a nice cool temperature and that everything’s fine in the House of the Rising Sun.

 

“Comrades,” he said, “I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself (All these foreign trips are really hard work). Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! (Nor the helicopter flights, nor living at La Fantasie, nor the Bollywood joyride) On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility (Which must be taken with as many trips out of the country as possible). No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal (And we have Sat, Devant and Suruj here to prove that). He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves (As you did when you once believed us). But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions comrades, (As we fear you may make at the next general election), and then where should we be?

15

Football / Candidate for Goal of the Year

« on: December 19, 2011, 06:21:02 PM »

It deserve a win at least for the own goals category!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/wXb8RjGLcZk" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/wXb8RjGLcZk</a>

16

General Discussion / Great News! Panday to form team to contest UNC polls

« on: December 14, 2011, 10:14:59 AM »

Long time now we suffering for a lack of kicks!


http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=36314

Former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Congress, Mr. Basdeo Panday, has vowed to take back the party he helped to form in 1989.

 

Basdeo Panday

 

At a News Conference on Tuesday, Mr. Panday said the rank and file of the party has expressed displeasure in the direction of the party. He said under the theme "Generation Next," he will lead a team to contest the 2012 UNC internal elections.

 

He said: "We shall put up a full slate of candidates in the next internal party elections which are due in a few months time. I emphasise, I want no office, I shall serve in an advisory capacity only."


The UNC evolved from Club 88 in 1989 after Mr. Panday and six members of Parliament broke away from the NAR. The UNC then became known as a grassroots party that attracted a large East Indian following. Mr. Panday said the present-day UNC knows nothing of the people's struggles to build the party over the past 22 years.

 

"The rank and file who have been speaking to me claim that the good name of the UNC. The party which they formed from Club 88 in the cold rain and thunder, mud and slush in Aranguez in 1989, is now being given a bad name and bad reputation by the PP Government."

 

The former Prime Minister, who has been out of active politics since the People's Partnership came into Government in 2010, also accused the UNC Members of Parliament of losing touch with their constituents.

 

He said over the next few weeks, his faction of the UNC will launch their campaign with public and cottage meetings, the use of social media websites, and interviews. He said they will also set up a website at: www.takebacktheunc.com

 

17

Football / Philosophers Three Sided Football match

« on: December 05, 2011, 09:41:05 AM »

I play some games similar to this with some youths from my church as a training excercise.

Wha you think?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/PXPbKBo-KuM" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/PXPbKBo-KuM</a>

18

Football / Brilliant Benfica Tactical Move

« on: December 05, 2011, 09:39:05 AM »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/pPDxXGelbUw" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/pPDxXGelbUw</a>

19

General Discussion / Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute: Results of 2011Corruption Perception

« on: December 01, 2011, 12:41:14 PM »

Link Here

Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks Trinidad and Tobago in position 91 out of 183 countries, with a score of 3.2 out of 10. In 2010 Trinidad and Tobago was ranked in position 73 out of 178 countries, with a score of 3.6. The country ranked first in 2011 with the highest score is New Zealand with a score of 9.5 and the lowest ranked country is Somalia with a score of 1.0.

The CPI is a measure of perceptions of public sector corruption. It is a survey of surveys undertaken by international institutions ranking various countries based on the perceptions held by senior resident business leaders and non- resident analysts. It should be noted that the CPI is a perceptions test and does not aim to capture the reality of corruption on the ground. However, it is known that perceptions play a role in shaping and representing what may be in reality. The CPI uses a simple form of indexing to arrive at a score ranging between 0, perceived to be the most corrupt, and 10, perceived to be the least corrupt. The surveys used to prepare the 2011 ranking covered the period from December 2009 to September 2011. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, five reports from four institutions were used.

The 2011 CPI results suggest that there is a widely held perception that the issue of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago has not as yet been comprehensively addressed by the authorities. Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute (TTTI) notes that two major campaign promises from the 2010 General Elections, that could have reversed this perception, are still to be addressed: the implementation of the recommendations of the Uff Enquiry into the Construction Sector and the enacting of new public sector procurement legislation. Several events in the past year have also created the opportunity to raise questions about the current Administration’s avowed commitment to transparency and accountability. These include Minister Jack Warner’s continued presence in the Administration and many allegations about improper procurement and poor governance practices at some State agencies. While the Administration has insisted on selectively observing the rules of natural justice in these matters it is possible that, by allowing some incumbents to remain in office while lengthy and still unresolved investigations take place, its reputation has been harmed by association. There are other and more appropriate ways of dealing with these matters under current circumstances while adhering to the principles of natural justice.

Overhanging all of this are the disclosures arising from the Colman Commission of Enquiry into CL Financial/CLICO and HCU that involve serious allegations that impropriety in corporate governance has resulted in financial distress for thousands of people and a negative impact on the public coffers that has contributed to a reversal of the fortunes of the country in a very short time.

In this scenario, the message is clear, transparency and accountability are fundamental in dealing with corruption and the Administration’s anti-corruption initiatives do not appear to have been sufficient to reverse the widely held perception they inherited that corruption was out of hand. More needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly if we are to avoid a complete collapse of confidence in our state institutions.

TTTI is concerned that the perception of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago has grown worse. We believe that it is the responsibility of our political leadership to take the steps that can reverse that trend in the short and long run.

And if yuh check de table..notice the trend since we started being on this index. Interestingly there was only a 3 year period where our score didnt decline.

20

General Discussion / Devant in AATT confusion

« on: November 13, 2011, 01:57:53 PM »

Devant's Missteps

Transport Minister Devant Maharaj has landed himself in a dilemma regarding the award of contracts at the Airports Authority of T&T (AATT).  The matter is now engaging the attention of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Correspondence obtained by Sunday Guardian which was sent to the Prime Minister by the AATT chairman Vaman Bajnath details a list of ‘special requests’ Maharaj had instructed him to carry out. Maharaj, the line minister for the AATT, yesterday admitted in a telephone interview with the Sunday Guardian that he did in fact discuss some of the ‘special requests’ with Bajnath. At the centre of the exposé are the award of contracts and the short-listing of people to be hired for employment at the AATT.  The revelation comes on the heels of the minister’s move to have Bajnath’s appointment revoked following a vote of no-confidence against him on October 21. It was in a letter dated October 31 that Maharaj informed Bajnath a copy of the resolution was sent to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for direction on the matter. But Bajnath, who has taken issue with the handling of the matter, and in attempt to clear his name, responded to the allegations in a tell-it-all style.

Bajnath chastised Maharaj for not affording him the opportunity to respond to the ‘baseless allegations’ before the matter engaged the attention of the Attorney General, claiming the rift between AATT board members was due to political interference and meddling. Bajnath stated: “The present wrangling and disruptive behaviour of members of the board is directly linked to the carrying out of the directions and desires of your office.”  Referring to Section: 12A (2) of the AATT Act which states: “In the performance of its functions and in the exercise of its powers, the Authority shall act in accordance with specific or general written directions given by the line minister,” Bajnath claimed that he facilitated the minister’s “expressed desires” since his appointment.

Chairman claimed he fulfilled minister’s ‘expressed desires’
Dismissing allegations that he failed to carry out instructions of the line minister in a timely manner, Bajnath listed several occasions to the Prime Minister where he allegedly fulfilled the minister’s ‘special requests’.

• Request: Favourable consideration for Bridgcom Ltd with respect to a three-year contract for grass cutting of the airfield, maintenance of the drains and fence line at the Piarco International Airport.
Action: At a July 2011 meeting, the board of the AATT awarded the contract to Bridgecom Ltd in the sum of $2,156,189 plus VAT per annum for three years for the grass cutting of the airfield, maintenance of the drains and fence line at the Piarco International Airport.
                                                                   
• Request: Favourable consideration for attorney Jagdeo Singh of Fortis Chambers to receive AATT Oropune legal portfolio.
Action: At the September 2011 board meeting, the appointment of Jagdeo Singh, Fortis Chambers to provide professional services in settling the legal issues associated with the relocation of the Oropune villagers.
 
• Request: Human Resources consultant to remain on a month-to-month contract.
Action: Members were advised at the August 2011 board meeting that the decision of the board taken to with respect to the renewal of a one-year contract for the human resource consultant will revert to a month-to-month contract on the basis that the potentially new appointee to the position of human resource manager possessed the capabilities and experience to address industrial relations issues.
 
• Request: Favourable consideration be given to three specific attorneys for the vacant positions within the AATT Legal Department. Action: The positions were publicly advertised, and the recommended people were shortlisted in preparation for the interview process.
 
• Request: Removal of board member Diane Hadad as chairman of the Business Development Committee (BDC) and or termination decision and instructing management to halt negotiations with various concessionaries in the absence of board approval. In addition, you advised that negotiations must continue with potential concessionaries.
Action: The BDC was immediately disbanded on the basis that the decisions taken with respect to the halting of negotiations with concessionaries were not in the interest of the authority nor was it approved by the board. Additionally, while the committee was established by the board, no terms of reference were documented and items discussed overlapped with the business of the operations committee. Furthermore, negotiations with the following concessionaries resumed without delay.

According to Bajnath, among the requests to be filled with the concessionaries are:
•T o issue a letter of commitment to open one food kiosk at the International Departure Lounge East and another in the International Departure Lounge West
• To lease 16 square meters of space at the south terminal for an Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
• To issue a licence to place an ATM at the north terminal
• To send a sample lease without rates
• To lease 172.69 square meters of office space at the south terminal
• To complete negotiations with the company when the review of rates and charges has been completed. 
Bajnath also disregarded all grounds for moving the motion stating that the allegations were without fact and a breach of protocol.

Six against Bajnath on the board
The fall-out between Maharaj and Bajnath comes one month after chairman of the Port Authority of T&T Clive Spencer was fired. Spencer had claimed that he was given the boot because he refused to adhere to the minister’s directives. Sunday Guardian has been reliably informed that board members—Gary Kalliecharan, Suresh Ramdial, Emile Baptiste, Dyanand Maharaj, Ian Gomez and Diane Hadad voted in favour of the no-cofidence motion against Bajnath.

Citing grounds for the motion, the board members stated the following reasons for removing Bajnath:
• Has demonstrated total disregard for the AATT Act and procedures governing the authority, pertaining to his authority and decisions taken by the board.
• Failure to call a vote on motions which were proposed and seconded at the board meeting.
• Failure to carry out instructions of the line minister in a timely manner.
•  On several occasions displaying an inability to control and conduct board meetings in an orderly  manner
•Chairman has on occasions disregarded requests by members of the board to have employees of AATT leave the boardroom for private discussion.

Deputy chairman also under fire
The saga does not end there though, as Maharaj is also reportedly butting heads with the deputy chairman of AATT Felix Hernandez. This, after Maharaj claimed that a no-confidence motion was also moved against Hernandez on October 21. Maharaj also referred Hernandez’s matter to the Attorney General.As to which members moved the motion remains an issue of contention.

Six board members, Maharaj stated, gave the following reasons for their decision:
• Has demonstrated a failure to understand and comply with the AATT Act and procedures governing the AATT
• Unilaterally changing lawful decisions taken by the board
• Has on occasions displayed abusive behaviour towards members of the board and employees
• Allow misinformation to be presented to the board, despite objection from board members.
• On several occasions displaying inability to support chairman in conducting meetings in an orderly manner
• Displaying poor judgement with little regard for fair and natural justice.

Vehemently denying that the majority of members voted in favour of the motion, Hernandez responded to Maharaj stating: “I was present and attended the monthly statutory meeting of AATT on October 21. At that meeting no resolution was tabled or voted upon in terms of the enclosure in your under reference. One of the members of the board moved a motion of no confidence in me as deputy chairman. The motion was seconded. No notice was given of this resolution nor was any details supplied. Some discussion took place on the resolution but it was never put to vote and therefore not passed.” Hernandez who is weighing his legal options has deemed the allegations  as ‘vague’ and ‘malicious’, insisting that he acted in accordance with the provisions of the AATT Act.

Transport Minister responds to allegations

Contacted yesterday, Maharaj attempted to downplay the rift at the AATT insisting that the “board is very much in place” and Bajnath remains the chairman. Pressed further as to why he opted to refer the no-confidence motion against Bajnath and Hernandez to the Attorney General, Maharaj said: “No, no, it is not true I have not referred the matter to the Attorney General,” Maharaj said. However, when told that the Sunday Guardian was in possession of the correspondence dated October 31, that stated the matter was engaging the attention of the Attorney General, Maharaj then replied: “I have to see what you have before you.” On the issue of giving directives to Bajnath for the granting of ‘special requests’ in relation to the maintenance of the grass and fence line at the airport, Maharaj explained: “I have a letter from Bridgecom Ltd stating that they have some concerns with the tendering process. In terms of Mr Bajnath, I spoke to him identifying the concern of this person who tendered and that he should review the tender process if indeed the allegations made by Bridgcom is correct. “Subsequently, the board indicated that they did indeed find out that there were some problems with the evaluation criteria of that particular contract and they deliberated upon it and arised at the lowest bidder.” 

Admitting that attorney Jagdeo Singh of Fortis Chambers has been retained to represent the interest of AATT regarding the relocation of farmers in Orpoune Maharaj said: “There was issue regarding the brief from the previous attorney amounting to $1.8 million or $2 million dollars. It was felt that that price was exceptionally high for the brief. I asked them to look around for other attorneys and my experience with Mr Singh is that he is reasonable; we are ensuring that we get value for money and not exorbitant legal fees.” The minister, however, was oblivious on the issue with the human resource consultant who has been hired on a month-to-month contract. As to whether he requested for three ‘specific’ attorneys to fill the vacancies in the legal department, Maharaj explained: “Since I came into office I have been getting request for jobs and so on. What I do is that I take the resumes and filter them out to the various departments and ask if they can consider them. As far as I know, the AATT has not met in a number of months to fill any positions.”   The minister, however, denied that he requested the removal of the BDC chairman. “Only recently, I was in Tobago with Ms Hadad; we have a good relationship. This issue with the BDC is one that troubled Mr Bajnath because he felt it was impeding some of the work he wanted to do in regard to the concessionaries. He identified that negotiations had halted because of the BDC.
“Those details with the concessionaries I would not know,” Maharaj stated. Attempts to contact managing director of Bridgcom Ltd Narindra Ramsubhag proved futile.

PS sends legal letter to minister

The permanent secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Tobago Development Hermia Tyson-Cuffie is demanding an apology from Transport Minister Devant Maharaj in relation to claims that she played a role in the alleged “slush fund” set up under the Community Development Scholarship Financial Assistance Programme. Through her attorneys Alexander, Jeremie and Company, Tyson-Cuffie, who was recently promoted to the rank of PS, has issued a pre-action protocol letter to Maharaj regarding statements he allegedly hurled at her outside the office of the Equal Opportunity Commission on October 25. Tyson-Cufffie, who has been employed in the public service for the last 36 years, is claiming that the statements identified her as a “player” in the alleged slush fund at the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

In her claim for damages, the PS said the statements also imputed that during the period 2003 to 2007, when she held the position of deputy permanent secretary she acted in a racist manner, discriminated against people of East Indian descent, favoured and facilitated members of a political party and managed the Ministry’s funds in such a manner that they were dissipated and could not properly be accounted for. The statements, Tyson-Cuffie said, could be interpreted as she committed a criminal offence in public office under the relevant statutes of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Integrity and Public Life Act. The permanent secretary further contented that the fund fell under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Community Development and Gender Affairs and was managed by a committee of which she was never a member of as deputy permanent secretary, since the inception of the programme in 2003. All recommendations, Tyson-Cuffie claimed, were approved by the relevant minister and payments were authorised by the then PS for the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.
Substantiating her claim, Tyson-Cuffie said no where in the alleged Equal Opportunity Commission report makes mention of her name or any responsibility attached to the office of the deputy permanent secretary that she formerly held.

21

Cricket Anyone / WICBEXPOSE.com

« on: April 25, 2011, 04:05:55 PM »

http://wicbexpose.com/

22

Jokes / Taxi Ride

« on: February 09, 2011, 09:22:44 PM »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/h_VOEwLQXWA" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/h_VOEwLQXWA</a>

23

General Discussion / Immigration officer fired after putting wife on list of terrorists

« on: February 03, 2011, 10:56:38 AM »

An immigration officer tried to rid himself of his wife by adding her name to a list of terrorist suspects.

He used his access to security databases to include his wife on a watch list of people banned from boarding flights into Britain because their presence in the country is 'not conducive to the public good'.

As a result the woman was unable for three years to return from Pakistan after travelling to the county to visit family.

The tampering went undetected until the immigration officer was selected for promotion and his wife name was found on the suspects' list during a vetting inquiry.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351937/Immigration-officer-fired-putting-wife-list-terrorists-stop-flying-home.html#ixzz1CuqMXGdM


 

24

Football / 8 Fan guestures that flopped miserably

« on: February 01, 2011, 12:56:39 PM »

Well BOY!


1. Man changes name to Fernando Torres weeks before transfer

Shaun McCormack's extravagant gesture to prove his dedication to Liverpool could not have come at a worse time: the 36-year-old from Sc**thorpe changed his name to Fernando Torres just before Christmas.

"I did think about changing my name to Steve Gerrard but I wanted something a little more flamboyant," said Fernando.


3, 4 and 5. Manchester City fans' triple tattoo trouble

Tattoo parlours and tattoo removal clinics in the Greater Manchester area have long been offering secret prayers of thanks to Manchester City. And, more specifically, fans' habits of getting pre-emptive tattoos done before players have been signed or trophies have been won.

Take 25-year-old Kirk Bradley, for example, who had " Manchester City - Champions League Winners 2011" tattooed on his left arm before the start of the 2009-10 season. City failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Then there was Chris Atkinson, who had the name of Brazilian superstar Kaka tattooed on his chest after becoming convinced that the playmaker would move to Eastlands from AC Milan. Kaka chose to go to Real Madrid instead, and Atkinson was left red-faced.

Not that he learnt his lesson: Atkinson later got a Robinho tattoo after a bet with a friend, this time sensibly waiting for the player's deal to be confirmed. The forward has since left at a loss of around £20m to the club's owners.

Atkinson is not worried, however, and has come up with a novel alternative to having his tattoos removed:

"I'll just wait until I have kids and call them Robinho and Kaka," he said.

Those well-publicised bits of body art proved to be no deterrent for City fan Simon Hart, who spent £500 having a massive image of Wayne Rooney etched into his back with the words "Rooney - City Legend" beneath it last autumn when the England striker seemed set to leave Manchester United.

Needless to say, Rooney decided to stay at Old Trafford leaving Hart with egg on his face as well as ink indelibly injected into his back.

"It would have been so sweet to ram it down their throats after all these years of getting the s****y end of the stick," said Hart.

"Now I've been shafted by United again - and I'm stuck with Shrek's ugly mug on my back."

25

General Discussion / SIA Shocker

« on: January 21, 2011, 08:36:23 AM »

Hmm



A new Director has been appointed to head the Security Intelligence Agency (SIA).

President George Maxwell Richards, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, earlier this week issued the instrument of appointment to 31-year-old Reshmi Usha Ramnarine.

Ramnarine has been attached to the SIA for the past four years where she held the post of communications technician. She was among the employees sent home when the SIA was busted in October last year.

Her appointment is expected to last for six months.

The SIA came into public glare last year when Attorney General Anand Ramlogan announced that the SIA was illegally spying on citizens of T&T.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in addressing Parliament, called the names of several people, including members of her Cabinet, Opposition MPs, journalists and trade unionists upon whom the SIA was spying.

Following the announcement, Director of the SIA, Nigel Clement was fired. Clement succeeded Lynne Ann Williams, a former soldier, who ran the unit for close to 14 years.

Williams is now the executive director of Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

Sources say Ramnarine's appointment has left a sour taste in the mouths of SIA personnel, since she lacks the educational background and expertise to run the agency which deals with intelligence gathering information and security issues with regards to the country.

"She has no training whatsoever in the field of security and intelligence," a source said.

Stating that Ramnarine will be exposed to "extremely sensitive material on national security issues," the source added that employees at SIA were officially informed of the appointment on Wednesday, when Ramnarine called a meeting displaying her instrument of appointment. Calls to several government ministers on the issue were dodged as many of them expressed surprise at the appointment.

One Minister, who did not wish to be identified, said: "I am now hearing of this. It probably happened and we (Cabinet) did not know."

Sources said Ramnarine, a past student of John Donaldson Technical Institute, entered the SIA as a junior support staff member and earned a monthly salary of $5,000.

With this promotion, Ramnarine's salary has now been pushed into the $40,000-$45,000 range. She will also receive transportation, travelling and other allowances. Should she be required to travel, she will be entitled to business class.

Sources further say following the SIA fiasco last year, Persad-Bissessar had appointed Trevor Ganpat, 33, to head the agency. Ganpat, sources say, is a senior intelligence analyst and was in charge of the Threat Assessment Group during the Caribbean Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) held in 2009, which saw United States President Barack Obama and world leaders visit Trinidad.

Ganpat has been attached to SIA for the past ten years and is currently awaiting results from the University of the West Indies, having completed his Masters in Criminology.

Ganpat is also an intelligence analyst on the National Security Council.

Sources say that Ganpat was given his instrument of appointment to head the agency within 24 hours after a recommendation was made for him to be at the helm, but this was rescinded, weeks after.

Two weeks ago, Ganpat and another senior analyst— Julie Browne—were given their instruments of appointment to the post of Deputy Directors of SIA.

They received their instruments from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Jennifer Boucaud-Blake.

Repeated efforts to get a response from Ramnarine proved unsuccessful, as calls to her cellphone went unanswered and voice messages were not returned.

Calls to Minister of National Security John Sandy and Minister in the Ministry Subhas Panday, also went unanswered.

26

Jokes / Past...

« on: January 16, 2011, 09:58:28 PM »

Past, Present and Future walked into a bar.









Things got a bit.....tense.

27

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / A big tune: Mr. Trinidad

« on: January 03, 2011, 10:53:45 AM »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZnKHe3BL1E" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/YZnKHe3BL1E</a>

Amazing how much more true this is.

28

General Discussion / Free entry for Indians, Russians

« on: December 31, 2010, 06:53:15 AM »

Ministry of Foreign Affairs WUKKIN!!

In an effort to boost tourism and investment in this country, Indian and Russian nationals now have free entry into this country and will no longer require a visa, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said yesterday.

Rambachan said the visa requirement was lifted one month ago. He was responding to questions from the Express on the issue at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's, where Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosted a luncheon for the media.

"Indian nationals require visas to come to Trinidad and Tobago. We have removed it for a period of 90 days for business or pleasure. It is to facilitate easier access to Trinidad and Tobago in terms of tourism and people wanting to do business with Trinidad," Rambachan said.

"We also removed it with respect to Russia," he said, adding that a lot of Russians have been travelling to Tobago for holidays.

Rambachan said there is also a large sector of Indian nationals in the United States who want to come to this country for a vacation or business, but are deterred by the visa requirement.

Rambachan added that in order to facilitate persons from Japan coming to this country, their visas are now being processed at the Jamaican Embassy in Tokyo, which takes just three days. He said previously, Japanese had to wait up to a month for their visas to be processed, as it had to be sent from Tokyo to Manila, Philippine.

Interesting. Wonder what made them decide on Russia. I cant recall off hand hearing of any significant visits.....but I dont pay attention to these things usually so I could be mistaken.

29

General Discussion / Has the Partnership Government acted on Crime?

« on: December 26, 2010, 11:55:47 AM »

Kevin Baldeosingh, Sunday Express

Over the past few months, the coalition People's Partnership government has been taking some flack for an apparent lack of action. Critics say that the Partnership is still searching for solutions to crime and to economic challenges, that Ministers are butting heads on policy decisions, or that the Government is simply moving too slowly.

One measure which can be used to gauge such criticisms is the Government's legislative agenda. Although, contrary to the rhetoric of politicians, passing laws does not solve problems, the various Bills laid in Parliament do indicate what a government's policy priorities are. Since assuming office on May 24, the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration has introduced 18 key pieces of legislation in Parliament. (See box)

Since the present 10th session of Parliament started on June 18, that's an average of just under three Bills per month. This equals the average of the previous PNM regime during their last year in office.

Eight of the Bills deal with crime, while at least four of the other Bills seem to have purely political (in the sense of getting re-elected) agendas. For example, "An Act to repeal and replace the National Ecclesiastical Council of Spiritual Baptist Churches of Trinidad and Tobago" was made a priority on the Government's agenda. Since this Act will give legal force to "organise, establish and maintain a united Spiritual Baptist fellowship through bona fide representatives of affiliated groups and assemblies", the disbursement of State monies and other resources will be facilitated to a group which has traditionally voted for the PNM.

The Children's Life Fund Bill was also prioritised because this was a campaign promise from the Partnership, while Bills relating to senior citizens and persons leasing land are also aimed at catching votes. This last Bill actually requires a special majority to pass, since its provisions contravene the right to property in Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution.

In fact, of the eight crime-related Bills, five require a special majority because they override entrenched rights in the Constitution. Since the Partnership occupies 29 of the 41 seats in the House of Representatives, it automatically has that majority there, although it would need the support of some Independent Senators in the Upper House to get these Bills passed into law.

What clauses of the Constitution does the Government find it necessary to bypass in order to fight crime? The Firearms Amendment Bill increases the penalties associated with unlawful possession of a gun, but the contravention comes in respect to clauses which allow arrest of any individual who is on the premises or vehicle where a firearm is found and, says the Bill, "shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to be in possession of such firearm or ammunition" — in other words, be guilty until proven innocent.

The Interception of Communications Bill, which legalises the now infamous Security Intelligence Agency (SIA), contravenes Section 4(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees "the right of the individual to respect for his private and family life." The Bail Amendment Bill, which is aimed at stamping out criminal gangs, would allow the authorities to deny bail to anyone arrested on suspicion of gang-related activities and to hold such a person without laying charges for four months. In fact, the courts under this Bill are barred from granting bail even if the judge or magistrate wishes to do so. This alone rides roughshod over at least two provisions of the Constitution:

4. (b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;

(j) freedom of association and assembly.

The first right is contravened because the individual designated a "gang member" will be deprived of equality before the law – i.e. this law cannot be applied to someone charged with the same criminal offence who is not a member of a gang. And, of course, gangs qua gangs have the right to associate with one another – they only become subject to prosecution when they commit acts which are illegal under existing laws.

The Bill also allows an individual to be designated as a gang member on "any evidence reasonably tending to show or demonstrate the existence of or membership in a gang". Such individuals can be detained for five days without any charges being laid. An accompanying piece of legislation, the Anti-Gang Bill 2010, defines a gang as "any alliance, combination, enterprise or other similar conjoining of two or more persons". The Bill's penalties also apply to anyone "who professes to be a gang member when in fact he is not, whether by telling anyone that he is a gang member or otherwise suggesting to anyone that he is a gang member." These penalties include a 20-year jail sentence and, for gang leaders, life imprisonment. A police officer can also arrest anyone just on suspicion of being a gang member.

In its first seven months in office, therefore, the Partnership administration has prioritised crime legislatively, and showed that it feels limiting citizens' enshrined rights is the most effective way to go about fighting this battle.[/b]

Discuss.

30

Football / The Perfect Striker

« on: December 14, 2010, 11:16:29 PM »

Just came across this..had to share.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/z04lJgIOSF8" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/z04lJgIOSF8</a>