March 29, 2024, 05:02:37 AM

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - 1-868

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 27
1
Football / Re: 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League Thread
« on: November 21, 2023, 10:43:07 PM »
Or Mexico

2
Football / Re: 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League Thread
« on: November 16, 2023, 09:05:57 PM »
All that matters is the score, so they are doing well

3
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: July 02, 2023, 07:30:23 PM »
F#ck football and cricket.. time for me to start following pickleball  :cursing:

4
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: July 02, 2023, 07:01:14 PM »
Time for Eve to ride out.. thanks for your service

5
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: June 28, 2023, 07:34:08 PM »
Total F&ckery

6
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: June 28, 2023, 07:33:06 PM »
This match was lost at the time when Eve handed out the starting lineup :banginghead:

7
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: June 28, 2023, 06:21:21 PM »
Somebody tell Eve, that Patrick Vieira looking for a wok  :pissedoff:

8
Football / Re: 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Thread
« on: June 28, 2023, 06:11:03 PM »
Eve is facing up :cursing:

9
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: June 19, 2022, 04:18:10 PM »
It's live on YouTube

10
Football / Re: 2022 Concacaf Women's Championship Thread
« on: April 21, 2022, 01:57:58 PM »
Kenwyn Jones virtual press conference after the draw

https://youtu.be/qhrpK56M3vs

11
Football / Re: Women Warriors Thread
« on: April 19, 2022, 06:13:33 PM »
Concacaf WCQ women

Group A : USA, Mexico, Jamaica,  Haiti (Group of death)

Group B :Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago

13
General Discussion / Re: The David Nakhid General Discussion Thread
« on: June 15, 2020, 11:48:14 AM »
Ah want to see KPB and UNC control he

14
Football / Re: 2018 Caribbean Women's World Cup Qualifiers
« on: October 10, 2018, 01:20:48 PM »
Blame the terrorist for our poor showing, he should never be allow near to any national team again

15
General Discussion / Re: T&T 2015 General Elections Thread
« on: July 23, 2015, 09:47:28 AM »
Merle Hodge knocks campaign

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150721/news/merle-hodge-knocks-campaign

The United National Congress’s “No Rowley” campaign has been criticised by activist Merle Hodge as well as former editor Rhona Baptiste, who posted an open letter to the Prime Minister on her Facebook page yesterday.

In a letter to the editor, Hodge asked: What does our “new politics” party, the COP (Congress of the People), really think about the UNC’s/PP’s (People’s Partnership’s) descent into the muck of perso­nal vilification as its major campaign strategy?”

She noted: “The UNC/PP was voted into power in 2010 because throngs of voters trusted the COP to be the bulwark against political nastiness.” She then asked: “Has the COP now been so effectively neutered that it cannot even recognise such nastiness when it occurs? What a disappointment.”

Baptiste, in a letter “from one woman to another” addressed to the Prime Minister, commented on the No Rowley campaign and a number of issues.

In part of her post, she stated: “You (­Madam Prime Minister) must ask yourself whe­ther in winning an election any means justifies the end. For in the end it is not you as Prime Minister nor Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who matters as much as a nation...

“Last evening on witnessing the launch of your newest strategy against the Opposition, one is reminded of how effectively your campaign used Keith Rowley to demonise Prime Minister Patrick Manning in those ads that highlighted the tensions between them back in 2010.

“It was a cunning piece of propaganda and many of us bought the hype at that time and we voted you in... As a mother and teacher... It should be clear to you in fact that the destruction of the personal character of the opponent, whether that person is Keith Rowley or Mother Teresa, is not what the country wants. What the country really wants is to hear hardcore solutions to our problems.”

The campaign seeks to characterise Rowley as an “angry arrogant man who has no plan and no vision” for the country. The ads, seen at norowley.com, use state­ments made by Manning at the height of his political battle with Rowley, as well as sound bites from Rowley doctored to sound as his responses to a number of questions on matters of national import.

16
General Discussion / Re: Dana Seetahal murdered
« on: July 20, 2015, 04:42:49 PM »
Dana Seetahal murder probe
By Alexander Bruzual


SWOOP ON BAKR

Police yesterday executed an early morning surprise swoop on insurrectionist Yasin Abu Bakr and detained him as well as ten other people for questioning in connection with the murder of senior counsel Dana Seetahal.

At around 12.05 a.m. on May 4, 2014, Seetahal was assassinated while driving her Volkswagen Touareg SUV towards her apartment at One Woodbrook Place, Port of Spain. She was shot multiple times and died at the scene.

The detentions were made during an exercise at 4 a.m. that was carefully orchestrated and carried out in St James, Arima and Cocorite by several law enforcement agencies and known only to a few selected police officers.

Among the ten arrested and still in custody are Abu Bakr, two former Life Sport coordinators, a well-known Port of Spain gang leader, as well as the wife, father and brother of an incarcerated Carapo Muslim leader and three gang members.

Police sources say from midnight Sunday, officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch, Special Branch, the Western Division, the Northern Division and the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit took up strategic positions in close vicinity of the homes of those held.

But it was not until 4 am that law enforcement got the nod to proceed and detain the individuals for questioning.

The officers, upon knocking on Abu Bakr's St James home, executed a search warrant for arms and ammunition.

However, nothing was found.

Abu Bakr was then detained and taken to the Central Police Station in Port of Spain to be questioned by ASP Rampersad.

Abu Bakr, sources added, was being kept at the station to be questioned for a variety of offences, but specifically, any potential involvement in Seetahal's death.

Sources say following a meeting with his seniors, Rampersad will now question Abu Bakr today at 1p.m.

Law enforcement authorities were hoping to build a case that could point to conspiracy to murder based on telephone recordings and other vital “scientific information” they have gathered during the course of their inquiries, sources said.

Detainees at separate police stations

The other individuals detained will be questioned today by Cpl Jones of the CGIU.

All the detainees remain in police custody at separate police stations including Barataria,San Juan,Tunapuna and Arima.

Abu Bakr was visited by one of his wives Indrani around 3 pm yesterday while other family members were denied permission by the police to visit him.

A challenging investigation

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams told TV6 News yesterday that the operation was ongoing and he would not say anything until it had concluded, but did allude to the “Seetahal investigation” being a challenging one when he spoke in Tobago on Sunday prior to Bakr's arrest.

'Lock up somebody!'

Second in in command at the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen and welfare officer Kala Aki-Bua, believes that the entire incident was nothing more than “trumped up” charges, as law enforcement look to further persecute the Muslim organisation.

“The population is crying out. They want to know something, not only about Dana Seetahal's murder, but look how much murders are unsolved in this country. The population is crying out 'hold somebody! lock up somebody!' and we are a scapegoat,” Aki Bua said.


17
General Discussion / Re: The Chinese in T&T Thread.
« on: July 19, 2015, 08:09:40 AM »

Chinese restaurants hit hard

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-07-18/chinese-restaurants-hit-hard

Chinese restaurant owners fear that untold damage has been done to their businesses in the aftermath of a video showing Chinese nationals skinning a dog and Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan’s statements allegedly equating the reduction of the stray dog population to dog meat being served up to diners at Chinese restaurants.

Sales have plummeted by as much as 80 per cent at some Chinese food establishments.

The owners fear if this disturbing trend continues they may be forced to close their businesses because they will be unable to pay the rent and staff wages with dwindling customers.

The situation has become so dire that two emergency meetings to address the matter were held by the members of the China Society, the umbrella organisation for the various Chinese associations and groups, at the Chinese Association headquarters at St Ann’s on Tuesday and a business place in St Clair, on Thursday.

The fallout has been felt in Chinese restaurants nationwide, and not only in the western peninsula where the video originated.

Affected business owners came from as far as San Fernando to relate their experiences.

Johnny Chow, a member of the China Chamber of Commerce, said depending on the districts, several owners reported a drastic decline in sales ranging from 50 per cent to as much as 80 per cent.

He said some restaurant owners had no choice but to dump their perishables or sell their unused chicken, beef and pork at below cost price.

Chow said this could cause a domino effect in the local economy affecting local suppliers to Chinese restaurants.

Vice-president of another Chinese group, the Fui Toong On Association, Joe Chan, said a local supplier’s sales to his Chinese customers dropped by 40 per cent.

Besides their livelihood being placed in jeopardy, another major concern of members of the Chinese community is that the xenophobia, verbal insults, hazing, discrimination, and racial stereotyping that Chinese are subjected to may escalate to physical attacks, dirty tricks and smear campaigns.

The Sunday Guardian was shown video footage of a man exiting a vehicle and cutting the tyre valve stem on a Chinese man’s pickup in Massy Stores car park in San Fernando, earlier this week.

A dog hanging by a rope was posted on social media on Friday near to a Chinese establishment in St Croix Junction, Princes Town.

The Sunday Guardian confirmed from a resident that the act was done by someone in the neighbourhood and not Chinese people.

In the light of the backlash and negative repercussions, the China Society and other organisations of T&T citizens of Chinese descent have called on Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan to retract his statements warning people to beware of what they consumed from Chinese restaurants.

In a statement, the Chinese organisations alleged that “a proverbial witch-hunt” was now on against Chinese in T&T and they were being harassed by other citizens.

They said the result of the re-broadcast of the video and the minister’s comments was that all people of Chinese descent had become the subject of derogatory comments, racial slurs, harassment, intimidation, racial isolation, intolerance and bias.

On the streets, in business places, in person, on the phone and on social media they were constantly being singled out and harassed.

Chinese Association president Clyde Allum said, “As a Trinidadian-Chinese I am repulsed by the video. I accept there are Chinese who eat dog meat but that does not apply to every Chinese.

“What I find very much more distressing is the fact that Dr Khan made those statements and actually attributed the lack of stray dogs to the Chinese community.

“I think it is in very poor taste and we would like him to make an apology to the Chinese community.”

Joseph Tai Chew, president of the Chung Shan Association, said Khan’s remarks were unfortunate.

He said the Chinese community had done a lot for the country in various fields, including the economy, medicine, arts, culture, and generating employment.

Tai Chew said Chinese people were very reserved and didn’t make a lot of noise, but it was very sad when negative statements about the Chinese came from “higher places.”

President of the China Society Yung Gen Siu said a solution must be found soon for the Chinese restaurateurs’ plight.

Andrea CWH-Coutain from the I Am Trinidadian Facebook social media page said her concerns had always been for the Chinese people and Chinese mixed people of Trinidad, and how they were perceived and treated in the public eye.

Candice Lee Kim, who took to social media with the I Will Not Go Back to China sign campaign, said Khan’s statements were irresponsible. Lee Kim said Trinidadians generally took what the media reported to heart without a follow-up or investigation.

Chinese community members are fearful that there will be reprisals from the State in the form of relentless health food checks.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan did not return the Sunday Guardian’s calls.

18
General Discussion / The Chinese in T&T Thread.
« on: July 10, 2015, 09:10:16 AM »
DOG MEAT HORROR

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,213904.html

By Marlene Augustine Friday, July 10 2015


Go vegetarian is the advice coming from Health Minister Fuad Khan as he weighed in on the horrror of a dog being skinned by a Chinese looking man in a video which went viral on social media yesterday.

“We normally have stray dogs and one wonders if the Chinese restaurants, those which have sprung up all over the place have been serving dog meat and something else,” Khan told Newsday yesterday.

“So I think the time is right because if one becomes a vegetarian they will not end up in that position. They will lose weight. This is something we have a look at very very seriously.” Khan pointed to the number of stray dogs in this country that have disappeared, and are not seen in the dog pound. “So they have to be going somewhere,” said the Health Minister. Khan said he was very worried about what was being said about a restaurant in Diego Martin and although he felt horrified by the video, he was not surprised.

He said some of the Chinese nationals might have brought some of their culture to Trinidad and Tobago, but indicated that there is little that can be done to stop it.

“The Food and Drug Act addresses the importation of food items, but it does not cover issue like this,” Khan said. “When you mix food with MSG - vetsin that is - it softens the meat. The taste will change as well as the meat consistency, and it will look like beef, pork, or something.

So one has to be extremely careful what they are eating.” Khan went on to say, “I have been very particular because I know in China, rats, dogs and cats and other things: the Chinese public is coming down on quite a few of those people who are doing it. When I was told about the video...I was a bit worried about what is being sold.” He noted that there are no laws to protect animals at that level.

However he noted the video brought into the forefront that there have been a total wipe out of stray dogs in Trinidad and Tobago, adding, “we never had that before.” He suggested having public health inspectors going out and checking these meats.

“Now that the video has come out, people may go underground for a while, and it has to be a constant assessment,” Khan said.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) is on the look out for the couple of Chinese looking men who were seen in a video on social media skinning the dog dangling from a rope.

President of the organisation, Sita Kuruvilla, revealed they are attempting to get more information about the incident depicted in the video.

“We do have some information,” Kuruvilla told Newsday yesterday.

“We are trying to verify where this incident actually occurred, and who were the people involved.” She added that when they had verification, the organisation will be going to the site to speak to whoever is in charge, basically to advise them that this is not an acceptable practice in Trinidad and Tobago, and to make sure that they stop completely.

Some reports indicate the incident occurred on the compound of a restaurant but Newsday understands the video was taken by a security guard who works on the construction site of the new Carenage Health Centre located at the corner of Constabulary Street and Western Main Road, Carenage.

Serious health concerns and questions were raised by listeners to various radio stations yesterday who called in to speak about the issue as the video went viral.

An official of the Chinese Embassy in Port-of-Spain also commented on the incident depicted in the video after viewing it yesterday. He expressed his “sincere regret for the people who did such a cruel thing.” “It is absolutely wrong to hurt animals such as dogs and cats which are our humanity’s best friend,” the official said.

The official also asked Newsday if it was possible to find out if the persons who were shown in the video are Chinese, whether the video was shot in Trinidad and Tobago, and he further questioned why the local man who shot the video did not stop the killing, asking too if he also shared the dog meat with the men who killed the animal.

“I myself personally am strongly against such a killing, because I love dogs and cats,” the Chinese official told Newsday saying he also raised a dog in his home, and not all Chinese people would do such a cruel thing.

“Actually, there are a lot of animal protection volunteers in China,” he added. “They do all their best to protect animals every day.” Explaining that there are no laws in TT to specifically deal with such an incident the TTSPCA president told Newsday, “What we do have is a Summary Offences Act which deals with animal cruelty and, as in a case like this, (where) the animal would not have been most likely treated humanely, the animal cruelty laws would apply.” Kuruvilla indicated the TTSPCA wants to take a broader approach where many different groups are doing construction in Trinidad, to ensure that it is understood on a general scale that this is not accepted practice in TT.

However, she said since they were in a difficult position as far as legislation goes, “we are going to strengthen our position by looking at whatever agencies may have some influence over an issue like this.” Kuruvilla went to say, “I know everybody is getting very workedup about it, but the only way we can prevent things like this from happening is to make it very clear where in the law states that it cannot be allowed.

They need to know that it is not a cultural practice in this country and it is not going to be tolerated by citizens of this country, and certainly not by the Animal Welfare Organisation,” Kuruvilla said.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf7mJWuXylc


19
General Discussion / Re: Jack Warner General Section Thread.
« on: June 08, 2015, 07:43:17 AM »
PRAKASH IS SUCH A f**kING FRAUD !!!

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-06-08/prakash-urges-jack-head-us-face-trial-so-we-can-get-truth

Prakash urges Jack to head to US: Face trial so we can get truth

Congress of the People leader and Justice Minister Prakash Ramadhar yesterday urged former Fifa vice president and Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner to go the United States to face trial in connection with the ongoing corruption scandal, insisting that the country’s reputation has been tarnished.

“This is the battle for truth and T&T has to have its image repolished so that the true beauty of the nation be seen and not be identified by the actions of Mr Warner and those around him. I think it is so important for him to save the reputation of this country,” Ramadhar told local and international members of the media during a press conference at the COP’s Flagship House in St Clair yesterday.

Warner is one of 14 people wanted by the United States on suspicion of soliciting bribes worth millions in his Fifa dealings. He has been charged with multiple offenses, including racketeering and bribery, but has denied the charges.

Warner, currently on $2.5 million bail after his arrest locally, is expected to reappear in court on July 12. However, he has threatened to reveal secrets regarding “resources” he provided for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s 2010 general election campaign, which are purportedly linked to Fifa.

Scoffing at this yesterday, Ramadhar said if Warner was innocent as he claimed he should not have a problem going to New York to face the courts. “Go to your trial so that we will hear what the facts are and not what you say they are. And when you go we hope that what you speak will be the truth and not further allegations, as what we have had with you over the last couple of days.

“This is a problem for all of Trinidad and Tobago and the solution rests in the heart, conscience and in the hands of Mr Warner. If it is that Mr Warner cares about this country then he should go to the US and have his trial there.” He added, “At the end of the day we don’t want technicalities. We want truth. As a lawyer, and I will tell you that for many years the innocent always rush for an early trial, so as a patriot I am asking for him to do so.”

On details of the questionable transactions made by Warner, Ramadhar said due to the judicial process it would be inappropriate for him to speak on matters before the court. “These are charges that emanate from the United States and therefore the conduct of this Government is only to ensure that the judicial process for extradition is engaged. The Attorney General has done what he has to do,” Ramadhar said.

But he warned that sometimes extradition matters could be dragged on for a lengthy period by attorneys. On his relationship with Warner, Ramadhar described it as one of indifference. He said since 2011 he had called for Warner’s removal from the Cabinet, adding that when the ILP was created he also had views on that, especially with the use of money in politics.

“I thought that it was a very dangerous development...he having been elected to Chaguanas West having regard to all the allegations,” Ramadhar said. “I thought that at that point in time something had gone wrong with the democracy. I thought that it had been disturbed and the Congress of the People had taken a strong position on that. We do not belive in the use of money for political heads. “Mr Warner’s actions of the past has really polluted the stream of the politics of this nation.”

No PP members quizzed by FBI

Congress of the People leader Prakash Ramadhar says neither he nor any other Government member has been interviewed by US authorities regarding political funding which may have been provided to the party by Jack Warner. However, he pledged this country’s cooperation with the ongoing probe.

“I have no knowledge of Mr Warner’s funding but I can tell you Mr Warner has embarked on a process of getting rid of the Congress of the People from very early on. So it will be shocking if he helped us financially,” Ramadhar said as he responded to reports that the FBI had questioned some Government officials in connection with the case.

Asked if he had any conversation with Warner about handing himself to US authorities Ramadhar said he had not. Warner, who still holds the position of an MP, was also problematic, Ramadhar said. Saying that Warner was still popular, Ramadhar added that he not only had a say in the Parliament but also questioned the integrity of many.

“It is a problem because he stands in the Parliament with the authority of the Parliament, but that is the democratic process we have engaged in and there is no process to remove him unless he is extradited,” Ramadhar added. But he said he was certain the constituents of Chaguanas West would deal with that matter appropriately.

On whether he believed Warner has not acted in the best interests of T&T, Ramadhar was also vocal on this. “I will not say that he has not acted in the interests of Trinidad and Tobago, but what is being unearthed now is that it is a serious self interest and I can’t say now what proportions of his actions were in the interest of T&T or that it was self motivated under the cover of the interset of T&T,” Ramadhar said.

Efforts to contact Warner yesterday were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls to his cellphone.

20
Football / Re: FIFA News Thread.
« on: June 03, 2015, 07:16:20 AM »
6 FIFA executives have been added to Interpol's most wanted list

http://www.businessinsider.com/six-fifa-executives-added-to-interpols-most-wanted-list-2015-6

Interpol on Wednesday added six men with ties to FIFA to its most wanted list, issuing an international alert for two former FIFA officials and four executives on charges including racketeering and corruption.

Two of the men, former FIFA vice president Jack Warner of Trinidad and former executive committee member Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, have been arrested in their home counties. Warner has since been released, and Leoz is under house arrest. The Interpol "red notice" alerts member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for listed individuals and means they risk arrest anywhere they travel.

Others listed were Argentines Alejandro Burzaco and brothers Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who together are accused of paying more than $100 million in bribes for media and commercial rights to soccer tournaments; and Jose Margulies, a Brazilian broadcast executive.

A statement released by Interpol said: "At the request of US authorities, Interpol Red Notices — or international wanted persons alerts — have been issued for two former FIFA officials and four corporate executives for charges including racketeering conspiracy and corruption."

The announcement from Interpol comes a day after Sepp Blatter announced he would step down as FIFA president amid the widening corruption scandal. Despite trying to distance himself from the controversy, Blatter is still being examined by US authorities as part of an ongoing investigation.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has also been dragged into the scandal amid reports that he transferred $10 million in 2010 World Cup vote bribe money. Both Valcke and FIFA have denied the allegations.

A special FIFA congress will elect a new president sometime between December 2015 and March 2016, FIFA said. Until then, Blatter will remain the nominal president.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/six-fifa-executives-added-to-interpols-most-wanted-list-2015-6#ixzz3c0TIFkXQ

21
General Discussion / Re: T&T to be added to EU visa-free list.
« on: May 27, 2015, 08:03:49 AM »
EU Visa waiver in effect from tomorrow

http://looptt.com/2015/05/27/eu-visa-waiver-effect-month-end/

One Embassy in Caracas has offered the first official word on Visa exemption for Caribbean nationals wishing to travel to European Union (EU) countries.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Caracas issued a statement yesterday via their website, announcing that as of May 28, 2015, nationals of St. Lucia, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago will not require a visa for travel to all European Union countries, including Poland.

This is the first mention of an effective date issued to the public, as previous correspondence only said that the waiver would come into effect once all terms and conditions were met by the countries in question

22
General Discussion / Ventour quits Integrity Commission
« on: May 22, 2015, 05:17:29 AM »
Allyuh real quiet on this one

http://trinidadexpress.com/20150521/news/ventour-resigns#main

Ventour Resigns

Emailgate probe terminated: Integrity commission deputy chairman flabbergasted

ntegrity Commission deputy chairman Justice Sebastian Ventour yesterday tendered his resignation saying he was "flabbergasted" with the Commission's decision to terminate its investigation into Emailgate.

Ventour invited the media to his St Joseph home yesterday after numerous requests for an interview. In the 19-minute interview he made it clear he was a man who stood on principle and could not stay with a Commission that misled the country.

The Integrity Commission, which has a history of being plagued with controversies, now faces potential collapse as prior to Ventour's resignation, another member, Dr Shelly-Anne Lalchan, tendered her resignation on Wednesday.

However, when the Express visited Lalchan's medical office at Endeavour Road, Chaguanas, yesterday, her relative said she was not prepared to speak at this time. He insisted that Lalchan's resignation had nothing to do with Emailgate and it was a personal family issue that led to her decision.

Ventour on the other hand had no qualms in speaking his mind and dared anyone to challenge his position.

The retired High Court judge said the Commission did not sufficiently investigate Emailgate, adding that the content of the e-mails must also be looked into.

He repeated that the letter sent to Israel Khan SC on May 19 was "incorrect" and he himself was surprised to learn about it as he saw it on television.

In a letter dated May 19, 2015, the Commission's registrar Martin Farrell wrote Israel Khan, SC, stating that pursuant to Section 34 (6) of the act, the commission was "satisfied that there was no or insufficient grounds for continuing the investigation" into Emailgate "and accordingly this investigation is hereby terminated".

Khan is the legal counsel for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and former attorney general Anand Ramlogan in the emailgate affair.

President Anthony Carmona appointed Justice Zainool Hosein in November last year to head the Commission with members Ventour, Lalchan, petroleum and environmental engineer Deonarine Jaggernauth and accountant Pete London.

Ventour disclosed the Commission held a meeting on Tuesday this week-the very day the letter was sent to Khan-and at that meeting he did not like the way the discussions were going and he left. He confirmed that Lalchan also left the meeting after him.

Despite two members walking out of the meeting, the chairman pressed on with the move to issue the letter to Khan.

According to Ventour, Emailgate is far from closed.

Efforts to contact Hosein yesterday proved futile as calls to his phone went unanswered.

The Office of the President is expected to make a statement today on this matter.

Following is the transcript of the interview conducted by reporters with Justice Ventour at his St Joseph home yesterday:

You confirm you have tendered your resignation?

Yes I have.

Is it related to Emailgate?

Yes it is


In what way?

Because I didn't like what was said to the public of Trinidad and Tobago, totally incorrect and I couldn't be part of that. I just have no choice but to resign. I took an oath of office when I got my instrument of appointment to discharge my functions without fear or favour, affection or ill will and that implied a sense of being honest and truthful and when the decision was taken to put into the public domain what was said in that letter, I knew it was incorrect, not true and therefore I indicated I was not going to be part of this.

 

Is there insufficient grounds to continue the investigation?
Whatever is said in that letter is incorrect.

 

Did you find out about it (the letter) through the media?
That's right.

 

Does that mean that all five people on the Commission did not sign off on that letter?
I don't know.

 

How did it happen? Was a meeting called? Explain the process that took place.
We had a meeting and we discuss things at a meeting, we agree to disagree on matters. At the end of the day I think the chairman is the one responsible for the decisions based on the discussions following a meeting by the members of the Integrity Commission.

 

Is your decision based on the fact that there is outstanding information that has been requested by the Integrity Commission that has not been furnished?
I am totally flabbergasted how anyone can say that we have brought the investigation to an end and we have seen it fit to inform those who, I don't want to call names at this stage, those who are involved to say that we can go no further.

 

Did you tender your resignation itself today in person?
Yes, in person.

 

Did you state your reason to the chairman?
No.

 

What is your relationship with the chairman and how do you think the chairman handled the situation?
The chairman is pretty good, we agree to disagree as in every organisation.

 

Would you link him in particular to the outcome of this probe. Do you think his tenure is untenable now?
No, I have no comment on that.

 

Did the chairman force this upon members?
No I wouldn't say so at all.

 

Do you believe you are the only member of the Commission who found out about it that way? (through the media)
No.

 

Is it possible this letter (to Khan) was dispatched without a quorum?
There are five members of the Commission. Three is a quorum.

 

Is it possible the letter was dispatched with fewer than three? Should a matter like this should have been dispatched without all five agreeing on it given the high profile nature of the matter?
We don't all have to agree to come to a decision, very often we come to a disagreement but once there's a majority....

 

Did you and Dr Shelly-Anne Lalchan leave that meeting when it was agreed or stated that this was going to be the statement?
I left before her. I didn't like how the discussion was progressing.

 

On your departure you knew what the result was but didn't know about the letter being dispatched? Did that take you completely by surprise?
It did.

 

What do you suggest be done now when the Prime Minister went to the Parliament yesterday and said she's vindicated by the Integrity Commission, the only last body to give a judgment on this right now is the police, do you think the Integrity Commission should re-open its investigation at this point in time?
Oh, that is not for me to say, a decision has been made, in my absence. I query the correctness of that statement and I am pretty sure I cannot be contradicted, I dare anyone to contradict me.

 

So this case should not be closed at this point in time?
In my view? NO.

 

That statement that was released was premature?
My words-incorrect.

 

No one is really is, as far as the Integrity Commission's statement says, no one is really cleared per say because in your view the investigation is incomplete?

That's not for me to say, I just disagree with the correctness of the statement. As a result of the statement, someone or individuals are cleared, so be it.

 

What would you have required for it to be complete?

If we had completed the investigation.

 

Which would have required what?
Several things. I took an oath of secrecy under the legislation, I am now allowed to talk about matters.

 

The Integrity Commission obtained through Google information which showed that emails addresses were fabricated such as anan@gmail.com and there was no way emails sent or received from that address, so in your view, having a bogus address is not enough to clear this matter? Are you looking at the content? What are you looking at that you are not satisfied with?

That is an interesting question because I think that if you are doing an investigation you should not look at form but substance, that's my view and the fact that Google had responded as to the form, I think one needs more than that.

 

When the meeting was called, was the chairman asked to consult with the Director of Public Prosecutions and did he refuse?

I can't answer that.

 

What should the people of Trinidad and Tobago do if there is no faith in the Integrity Commission, and what next?

I believe in honesty and truth and there are certain principles in life that we have to stand up firm for. When I took my oath the last thing I would have thought is that I would be part of any statement that would mislead the public of Trinidad and Tobago. I want no part of that. That in my view has been done, I am out.

 

Do you detect any political links within the Commission?

I can't answer that.

Do you believe anyone was pressured into releasing that statement,or taking a position?

I wasn't pressured, I cannot speak for the others.

 

Did you expect a conclusion in the Emailgate matter?

Absolutely not.

 

Given this strong position you have taken, do you think the Integrity Commission can continue?

That's for the President to decide.

Do you think the Integrity Commission is necessary and it's able to carry out its functions considering that this will lead to a collapse? Why do you think it has to collapse?

We are not indispensable, neither of us, Dr Lalchan or myself. And it may be that the President might see it fit to appoint two persons to replace us. The Commission goes on.

I think the Integrity Commission is an absolute necessity in a country that has respect for values, integrity etc.

 

Can you put on the table any reasons why an inaccurate conclusion would have been arrived at this juncture or before the investigation, in your view, came to an end?

- Let me ask a question that letter that came from the Integrity Commission, do you remember?

Reporter: that there are no or insufficient grounds to continue.

Ventour: That is incorrect...we have not yet in my view investigated the Emailgate, we have not.

At all or thoroughly or sufficiently well?

Sufficiently well. Yes, we have dealt with Google, Google has responded, what about the other matters...Several names were mentioned, what happened to the others. Is it because we only got two (names) that's the end of the investigation for Emailgate? Come on now.

You are stating publicly your position through the media, but at the end of the day the allegations made in Emailgate are very grave...do you think your resigning is enough, shouldn't you go a bit further and call for a re-opening of the case or the resignation of the chairman?

That would be very improper of me to think along those lines, calling for the resignation of the chairman, I won't do that.

 

But you do not think that based on the premature conclusion that the investigation should not continue under that directorship?

Maybe it should, but that is not for me to decide, I have expressed my views and as a result of the views I have expressed, I decided to part ways with the Integrity Commission because I believe that is the right thing to do.

 

Are you concerned that if this investigation is not thoroughly investigated...what about other matters? Does that not bother you?

Anything that is wrong bothers me. If the conclusion that is wrong, then I will certainly be bothered.

 

What's next for you?

For me? Integrity has to mean something for the people of Trinidad and Tobago and if it doesn't it, then I am sorry. I stand by principle, let's just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, let's just do that.

I just want to stand up for what is right, was is truthful and what is honest.

 

Your understanding is that Dr Lalchan would have probably felt in the same way that you do?

I would like to think so.

She's indicated personal reasons. That's a matter for Dr Lalchan to deal with.

 The Integrity Commission as it stands now can be politically infiltrated?

What does that mean? Sounds like a coup, I don't know.

 

23
 Deja vu...“I never said that,” said Sancho  That sounds like Jack 9 years ago

24
US team stripped of medals, T&T receive Olympic silver
13/05/2015 14:40 (LOOPTT.com)


The entire U.S. men’s sprint relay team was stripped of its silver medal from the 2012 London Olympics on Wednesday as a result of Tyson Gay’s doping case. Under international rules, an entire team can be disqualified and stripped of medals because of doping by one member.


In this Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 file photo, USA’s Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey celebrate after receiving their silver medals for the men’s 4×100-meter during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London. Two officials with knowledge of the decision say the entire U.S. men’s sprint relay team has been stripped of its silver medal from the 2012 London Olympics as a result of Tyson Gay’s doping case. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not yet been announced. They say the International Olympic Committee notified the U.S. Olympic Committee by letter on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 that the team has been disqualified and the medals withdrawn. The letter asks the USOC to collect the medals and return them to the IOC. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Trinidad and Tobago placed 3rd in the 2012 4×100 Relay event, clocking in at 38.12 seconds.

The reallocation now means that Bronze will now go to the French team which placed 4th in 38.16 seconds.


In this Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 photo, T&T’s Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson on the medal podium show off their bronze medals for the men’s 4×100-meter during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London. Their bronze medals will now be upgraded to silver.

The International Olympic Committee notified the U.S. Olympic Committee by letter that the 4×100 relay team has been disqualified and all the medals withdrawn. The letter asks the USOC to collect the medals and return them to the IOC.

“As expected, following USADA’s decision in the Tyson Gay case, the IOC today confirmed that the U.S. team has been disqualified from the 4×100-meter race that was part of the athletics competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games,” USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.

“We will begin efforts to have the medals returned, and support all measures to protect clean athletes.”

The USOC statement came after The Associated Press broke the news of the disqualification.

Gay returned his own medal last year after accepting a one-year doping suspension and the loss of results going back to July 2012, but the status of the U.S. second-place finish in London and the medals of Gay’s relay teammates had remained in limbo until now.

Under international rules, an entire team can be disqualified and stripped of medals because of doping by one member.

Gay was a member of the American team that finished second in London behind a Jamaican team anchored by Usain Bolt. The Americans set a national record in the final with a time of 37.04 seconds.

The other U.S. team members losing medals are Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey, Jeffery Demps and Darvis Patton. Kimmons, Gatlin and Bailey ran in the final with Gay.

Gatlin, who is in Qatar for the opening Diamond League meet of the season on Friday, told the AP he was not aware of the decision and had no comment. Gatlin, who won the 100-meter gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games, served a four-year doping ban from 2006.

Gay tested positive for steroids at the U.S. championships in 2013. He received a reduced suspension — rather than a two-year ban — because he cooperated with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation that led to an eight-year ban for his former coach, Jon Drummond.

Gay’s results were annulled going back to July 15, 2012, the date when he first used a product containing a banned substance.

If the London medals are reallocated, the silver will go to Trinidad and Tobago, which finished third in 38.12 seconds. The bronze would go to the French team which placed fourth in 38.16 seconds.

The rules of track and field’s world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations, mandated that the entire U.S. team be disqualified, but the final decision was up to the IOC.

Drummond was the coach of the U.S. relay team in London and placed Gay on the team. According to the USADA decision in Drummond’s case, the athlete took a banned substance in July 2012 with the coach’s knowledge.

The IOC has previously stripped U.S. relay teams of medals retroactively for doping, including three teams from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The U.S. was stripped of gold in the women’s 4×400 and bronze in the 4×100 following Marion Jones’ admission of doping. Jones returned her medals, but her teammates appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to keep theirs and won their case in 2010. The court said IAAF rules at the time did not allow entire teams to be disqualified because of doping by one athlete.

The IOC also stripped the U.S. men’s 4×400 relay of their Sydney gold after a doping admission by Antonio Pettigrew.

In 2012, American runner Crystal Cox was stripped of her gold medal from the 4×400 relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics after admitting to doping. The IOC did not disqualify the rest of the team because it was unclear which rules were in effect at the time.

25
Football / Re: Kenwyne Jones Thread
« on: April 03, 2015, 02:16:37 PM »

26
dat is why de "mudda cant" so quiet  :cursing:

27
Football / Re: De Minister of Sport doing everything but Sports !!!!
« on: January 28, 2015, 08:09:01 AM »
Where d fack is ANIL ROBERTS  ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

28
General Discussion / Re: 2015 crime situation in T&T.
« on: January 22, 2015, 09:39:25 AM »
Come on Johnny Abraham !!!, you want to be C of P and you can't find a man in a wheelchair

29
General Discussion / Re: Life Sport programme Thread.
« on: December 07, 2014, 04:07:31 AM »
Sex And blackmail

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sex--And--blackmail-284990981.html

DJ marked for death, Rajaee both knew ex-Govt official
By By Asha Javeed asha.javeed@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Dec 6, 2014 at 9:45 PM ECT

Story Updated: Dec 6, 2014 at 9:45 PM ECT
Radio DJ Kevaughn “Lurbz” Savory was possibly saved from being a statistic.

But the question he’s being constantly asked now is: who would want you killed?

One week after police uncovered an alleged plot to kill him and swiftly charged six people, including ex-Life­Sport co-ordinator Rajaee Ali, 27-year-old Savory sat down for an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express yesterday.

Ali was detained by police shortly after the murder of former senior counsel Dana Seetahal seven months ago. He also had a charge of possession of wild meat.

He had told the Sunday Express he did not kill Dana Seetahal.

What did Ali, a member of the Carapo Jamaat Al-Muslimeen and Savory have in common?

On the surface, nothing.

Ali sometimes leads the jumah prayers at the Carapo mosque on a

Friday while Savory hosts boat parties.

So whom did they have in com­mon?

The Sunday Express understands a former Government official was an associate of both men.

But who ordered the alleged “hit” and why?

Savory admitted he was scared because he could not identify a motive and the police never disclosed exactly why he was wanted dead.

Savory said he had just finished his shift at SLAM 100.5FM on November 27 when he was escorted by police to their Port of Spain head­quarters and informed of the “hit” placed on his head.

Last Thursday, Ali was charged with being a gang leader. He and five others—Keshorn Dempster; Brent La Croix; Brandon Borneo; his wife, Donna Dyer; and his brother, Ishmael—were all charged with being members of an unnamed gang.

The group was also jointly charged with conspiring to murder Savory and with assisting a gang member in the commission of a gang-related act by possessing a gun and ammunition.

Savory, who hasn’t given pause to his busy party schedule despite the public scrutiny which he’s come under since the alleged plot was made public, says it could have been a “grudge” hit.

The only thing that came to mind was a sex video with himself and his ex-girlfriend, who is related to the ex-Government official, which is still in his possession.

He considers it a “nuclear bomb”.

He described his ex-girlfriend as his “realest” relationship and the longest, having lasted two and a half years.

He said he met her when she was 18 and he was studying journalism and public relations at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COS­TAATT).

“We were very public together,” he said.

Apart from two of his trusted friends, to whom he showed the video, he said the whole of Synergy Television (where he hosts a pro­gramme) saw it in March of this year.

“Here’s the weird thing about it. The whole of Synergy saw the video because I jacked in the phone to charge it and a picture thing came up. And I left and I went out and come back and people were like, ‘You’re genuine boy. We see everything.’ People know this video existed,” he said.

Asked by the Sunday Express why he kept a video of his ex-girlfriend, who is now married, he responded:

“Why did you keep the video?” he repeated. “I am a very funny person and a hoarder of pictures. Not for the content on it but the properties on it, for the date and time.”

The date and timestamp on the video, he said, is his ticket to show that he’s not the father of his ex-girl­friend’s child.

“Look how this played off. If I didn’t have the video and if I didn’t understand the date and time of the video timeframe of the video, people would have bawled that it was a recent video,” he said.

“That child is not my child. It’s an innocent child. When the child grow up, when it comes to the public, you will see it’s not my child. It’s an innocent child. Leave the child out of it. You could continue to make all your memes pertaining to me, the mother and father, but leave the child out of it,” he said.

He added: “That was personal. I was never broadcasting it. People didn’t know I had it. It’s either they recovered it or somebody must have recorded it off the computer. It wasn’t kept for me to watch over and use against them. That was never my intentions. I just have the video.”

For Savory, there was no profit in the video except ego.

“I was going through my phone. I am a hoarder for pictures so I am going through my phone and scrolling up to see what I did because the pictures are date and timestamped. I didn’t do anything to any girl; I have been in a steady place,” he said.

Asked if he was aware the video was possibly being used as blackmail, he responded:

“The blackmail thing is a whole new thing to me. Everything now, between last week and now, every­thing is new. It’s nothing that I knew or expected. This popped out of nowhere so, all the blackmailing,” he said.

Savory is straightforward.

He readily admits to being an employee who can test a manager’s limits and bend the rules as much as he can without breaking them.

At Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) where he had once worked as a cameraman, he admitted to crashing cars and falling asleep on the job.

But it’s his raw talent and deter-mination—racing to the scene of a burning fire on Charlotte Street or climbing to the top of an unfinished building to get “that” shot which compensated for the carelessness.

“I give trouble. Real trouble,” he admitted with a laugh.

Not surprisingly, his recklessness led him to death’s door once before.

In September 2009, he was in an accident close to the Besson Street Police Station which nearly left him paralysed.

But by November, he cut off the casts and made a trip to the church at Mount St Benedict, determined to turn his life around.

Savory then went to Synergy Tel­e­vision where he worked as a cameraman and as DJ.

“That’s when my whole career started because that’s when I started to take life seriously. I told myself, let’s do this. I survived for a reason and I said, let’s make something of myself,” he said.

Savory’s story has made him a social media and meme sensation.

And it’s not something he pre­pared to run away from.

Instead, he actually laughs about it.

“The events that will come out of this I have no control over, I can’t tell people what to do, what to post, what to say. I know what took place, I know what is in my heart and it’s clean and pure, and I just glad it didn’t happen on that day. I am just glad I survived to tell the story.

I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know it could be a video motive. I had no idea. I was just living my life,” he said.

30
Football / Re: Thread for the T&T WNT vs Ecuador WNT Game (08-Nov-2014)
« on: November 08, 2014, 01:51:21 PM »
Thanks, hold down ladies!!!

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 27
1]; } ?>