Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sam on July 17, 2010, 04:29:56 AM
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Nizam a serial politician—Rowley
Opposition Leader slams new PSC head...
Gail Alexander (Guardian).
Former ULF, NAR and COP senior member Nizam Mohammed is a “serial politician” and is an inappropriate choice to head the Police Service Commission which needs to be free from political interference, says PNM leader Keith Rowley. Rowley was speaking in Parliament yesterday, on a motion to validate the President’s nominations for the commission.
This had earlier been piloted by National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy. Sandy listed nominees Mohammed, Addison Khan, Martin George, Jacqueline Cheeseman and Kenneth Parker. He said the appointment was for members, since the appointment of a commission chairman was within the discretion of the President.
Saying nominees were qualified, Sandy noted that Cheeseman who had expertise in management and finance was a former member of the Police Service Commission. Sandy said Mohammed is an attorney and was former House Speaker, while Khan is also an attorney and former president of the Industrial Court. George, also an attorney, has management expertise, while Parker who has finance and economics skills had worked with the Organisation of American States, Sandy added.
Rowley, however, while wishing Sandy well in his endeavours, said it was with regret he had to take issue with Sandy’s contribution, since it did not find complete favour with the Opposition. Rowley said the same issue of removing political interference from the Police Service that existed in the issue of the appointment of a Police Commissioner, was also present in the commission appointments.
He said this created even more political involvement and partisanship than before, since members of the PP Government had been announcing who the commission members would be, before the President’s nominations. Noting the service commissions’ history of independence, Rowley said politicians’ service was not wanted on independent commissions. Yet, he said, he had seen members of the PP Government advising the country of the names of politicians who would serve on the Police Service Commission.
“Sandy cannot erase the fact that two of his colleagues were telling T&T who the chairman of the PSC would be—total disregard for presidential discretion! ‘The president can go jump in a lake—we know who we want,’” Rowley added of the Government’s position. He said if the PNM had done that, every Government MP would have known exactly what to say and do.
Describing Mohammed as a “serial politician,” Rowley read out Mohammed’s political history, starting with Mohammed’s days in the ULF in the 1980s, including as ULF chairman. Rowley noted Mohammed’s role as a co-founder of the NAR, as MP and a onetime NAR leader. He noted that Mohammed was listed up to January 2009 as an active COP member serving on a COP constitution team. He also said Mohammed was once an Opposition chief whip and former House Speaker as well.
Rowley said he was sure the COP members who were so proud of “new politics” did not expect that independent commissions would be chaired by politicians. But he said the COP was totally prepared to sit idly by and pick up crumbs from the UNC’s table as part of the PP. “But we in the PNM aren’t prepared to tolerate that,” Rowley said. However, because the PP held a healthy parliamentary majority, Rowley said the Government felt it could so as it wanted. “But the PNM will have none of it!” Rowley declared.
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Govt gets Nizam
By Clint Chan Tack Saturday, July 17 2010
DESPITE vigorous protests from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley about Nizam Mohammed’s unsuitability to be a member of the Police Service Commission (PSC) because he is allegedly still an active politician, the People’s Partnership Government yesterday succeeded in approving Mohammed’s nomination.
Mohammed was the only PSC nominee which the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) objected to during yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. The Opposition raised no objection to the remaining nominees — former Industrial Court president Addison Khan, attorney Martin George, Kenneth Parker and former PSC member Jacqueline Cheeseman and the House approved them to complete the composition of the new commission. They will now be appointed by President George Maxwell Richards on a date to be announced.
As he opened debate on the motion to approve Mohammed’s nomination, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy said, “At present, therefore there is no PSC in existence and we must act quickly to correct this situation as such a significant function ought not to be neglected for any inordinate period. The purpose of this motion relates to the appointment of members of the PSC, not its chairmanship. That responsibility lies with His Excellency, the President who is authorised by the Constitution in his own discretion to appoint a chairman of the PSC from among its members.”
Declaring that Government believed the nominees had the expertise to be members of the Commission, Sandy noted that in Mohammed’s case, he is “an attorney at law and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
In response, Rowley said while he had no issue with Mohammed as an individual, “the only relevant part in this debate is his qualification as a politician.”
“I defy any on that side and those in the back of us to get up and tell me and to tell this country, in the true sense of the phrase of the word, that he is not a politician,” Rowley declared. Listing Mohammed’s affiliations with the ULF and NAR from 1975 to 1999, Rowley claimed Mohammed is an active member of the Congress of the People (COP), one of the four political parties comprising the People’s Partnership.
Referring to a January 16, 2009 media statement issued by the COP, Rowley said Mohammed was a member of “the COP’s high-powered team of active politicians,” which was drafting constitutional reform proposals.
While the PSC is an independent body, Rowley said at least two senior Cabinet ministers have been publicly saying that Mohammed would chair the Commission and Mohammed himself said he was being asked to do so by the Government. “Total disregard for the presidential discretion as written in the law that the chairman is to be appointed on the sole discretion of the President,” he said.
Rowley claimed Government was indirectly saying, “the President could go jump in a lake, we know who we want for the chairman.”
Government Chief Whip Dr Roodal Moonilal countered Rowley’s arguments and said former PSC chairman Kenneth Lalla was an MP.
“You playing smart with foolishness. Mr Lalla came out of politics for years before he became chairman of anything,” Rowley replied. Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan said the motion did not say Mohammed would chair the PSC.
Finance Minister Winston Dookeran, who is also COP political leader, said Mohammed’s membership in his party was “open to question.”
“Are you saying he is not able to discharge his function impartially which to me is the fundamental issue before us?” Dookeran asked.
Expressing his disappointment with Dookeran’s remarks, Rowley urged the Government not to use its parliamentary majority in the House to approve Mohammed’s nomination.
“For to do so, is henceforth to say that we no longer have independent commissions, commissions will be what the Government wants, partisan or otherwise. I ask the Government not to play fast and loose with our Constitution,” he said.
Concluding the debate, Sandy defended Mohammed again.
“I had not heard anyone refer to him as biased or non-professional. It is unfair to sit here and cast aspersions on the gentleman,” said Sandy.
He said former President Arthur NR Robinson was a former politician but showed an element of bias as Head of State. The House passed the motion to approve Mohammed as a PSC member by 24 Government votes “for” to ten Opposition votes “against.”
Contacted after the adjournment of the House, Mohammed declined to say whether he was still an active politician. “I am not responding to any politician. I have absolutely no comment to make on what happened in the Parliament.
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Nizam is my neighbor in La Romain and he acts like he does shit ice cream. What an idiot. !!!!
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Nizam is my neighbor in La Romain and he acts like he does shit ice cream. What an idiot. !!!!
chocolate flavour or wha :devil:
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Nizam is my neighbor in La Romain and he acts like he does shit ice cream. What an idiot. !!!!
WOW Flex boi he have 2 b real dotish.
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
:devil:
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
IF Patos had done this u would neva hear d end plus doh take meh 4 a fool and say d President have d final say when max on leave and yuh pardner d President of d Senate acting.Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
CO-SIGNNNNNN.
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
lol, I've been clamouring for a sarcasm emoticon for the longest while.
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
lol, I've been clamouring for a sarcasm emoticon for the longest while.
I think it doesn't exist for a reason :) Sarcasm identified before the fact is ... Meanwhile just play de devil :devil: ;D
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
:beermug:
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
lol, I've been clamouring for a sarcasm emoticon for the longest while.
I think it doesn't exist for a reason :) Sarcasm identified before the fact is ... Meanwhile just play de devil :devil: ;D
:beermug:
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Hmmm (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/98897984.html)
POLICE remained mum on their decision, at the last-minute, to cancel permission previously given to the People's National Movement (PNM) to host a political meeting along the Eastern Main Road in Tunapuna last evening.
The incident has angered Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who said the party's campaign coordinator for Tunapuna/Piarco was yesterday summoned and detained for two hours by Tunapuna police. He described the incident as an act of discrimination, saying that during the recently concluded general election, permission was granted to the Congress of the People (COP) to use the same venue with the full cooperation of the police.
In a press release, Rowley said on Monday permission was sought and approved by the police for the use of the Eastern Main Road in Tunapuna for a local government meeting, but yesterday the police "surprisingly have raised a series of frivolous objections and reneged on the approval of Monday".
The party was advised to find another venue to host the meeting, which eventually took place at the Exodus Panyard in Tunapuna.
Rowley said, "The PNM condemns this obstructionist action of the officers concerned, and calls on the Commissioner of Police (Ag) to advise the police to do everything possible to maintain independence of the service and adhere to the motto to 'Protect and Serve."
When contacted last night, National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy described the incident as "strange", adding that he was not aware of the situation.
"That is strange. I can't see why they would want to do that, but I can't really say why it may have happened because I don't know. I was in a meeting all afternoon," Sandy told the Express.
And the PSC head just got confirmed. Guess who.
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
lol, I've been clamouring for a sarcasm emoticon for the longest while.
LOL....the ::) is my cue for sarcasm.... :)
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Mih ent know what Rowley fussing about. So what if he is a politician?? Dat doh mean he cyar be impartial and do de wuk.....Rowley just want something to talk about..... ::) ::)
I happen to agree with Rowley. It is improper for politicians to serve on Service Commissions especially after the AG's recent public spat with the Commissioner of Police.
Yuh know ah being sarcastic right Jah Gol?? :)
lol, I've been clamouring for a sarcasm emoticon for the longest while.
Doh worry gyal. I know yuh was being sarcastic.
And i does prefer to hit dem it like arrow..and have ppl jump out dey crease looking to voop...and getting stump.
LOL....the ::) is my cue for sarcasm.... :)
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Mohammed gets a taste of 'police rudeness'
Cops, PSC chairman clash
By Akile Simon
TWO police officers who were on traffic duties in downtown Port of Spain yesterday are now at the centre of an investigation after a confrontation with chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Nizam Mohammed.
Colleagues of WPC Marlene Gittens and PC Sean Batson yesterday expressed concern that with the "stroke of a pen" the officers could be dismissed from the service, for simply performing their duties.
Even before the officers returned to the Central Police Station on St Vincent Street, on a break during their tour of duty, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jack Ewatski had sent a telephone message to the station, requesting a report on the incident, where Mohammed allegedly disobeyed a traffic instruction and was pulled over by the police officers.
Contacted last evening, Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs said while he was aware of the incident he was yet to receive a report.
Gibbs said, "The reports are being dealt with through the staff here and through one of the deputies (Jack Ewatski) here. Mr Mohammed wasn't able to reach me because I was in fact in other meetings.
"I don't know all the details, as you indicated to me, because I haven't received the reports yet so I cannot make comment on it...I have spoken to Mr Mohammed, but again, I am not investigating what took place, so until I have all the facts, I can't make any comment on what could take place," Gibbs said.
Told of the fear among officers that two Special Reserve Police officers could be dismissed for performing their duties, Gibbs said he could not say what the outcome of the matter would be until it was properly investigated.
The incident between Mohammed and the officers occurred around 12.40 p.m., while Gittens and Batson were directing traffic at the corner of Henry Street and Independence Square in Port of Spain.
Batson and Gittens, who were dressed in police uniform, were directing three lanes of traffic, one of which was proceeding onto Henry Street, heading north, while the other two lanes were proceeding east.
According to a statement given by the officers, a police source said, a black KIA Sportage SUV was proceeding on the centre lane and attempted to turn unto Henry Street.
Gittens, who was in front of the SUV, signaled to the driver to proceed east, but the driver of the SUV stopped the vehicle and identified himself as Nizam Mohammed, chairman of the Police Service Commission.
According to the statements, Mohammed told the officers he wanted to go up Henry Street because his office was located on Queen Street, but Gittens told Mohammed he had to continue east along Independence Square.
Gittens stated that Mohammed subsequently disobeyed her instructions and drove off onto Henry Street. She and Batson pursued Mohammed's vehicle, on foot, and caught up with it as it got stuck in traffic along the roadway.
Mohammed, the statement read, was ordered to pull his vehicle to the side of the roadway near the Puma Store, and asked to produce his driver's permit and insurance certificate.
Officers said Mohammed handed over his driver's permit and insurance and rolled up his window. Mohammed then made a call on his cell phone and later reportedly told Gittens that "the Commissioner" was on the phone and he wished to speak with her.
In response, officers said Gittens told Mohammed that she could not take the call since she was performing traffic duties.
After the officers recorded information from Mohammed's driving documents, he was allowed to leave.
In their report, Gittens and Batson, who have four years service, recommended that Mohammed be charged with failing to comply with a lawful instruction and causing an unnecessary obstruction.
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:-X
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Mohammed_gets_a_taste_of__police_rudeness_-111238889.html
CHAIRMAN of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Nizam Mohammed yesterday said he got a taste of "police rudeness" during an incident when he was stopped by two police officers on traffic duties in Port of Spain.
Mohammed said he was surprised at the treatment meted out to him by WPC Marlene Gittens and PC Sean Batson, after the officers stopped his vehicle at the corner of Henry Street and Independence Square shortly after midday.
Mohammed said, he was proceeding to his Queen Street office, where he had to attend a statutory meeting with Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and the CoP's deputies Stephen Williams, Maurice Piggott and Jack Ewatski.
Mohammed said as far as he was concerned, he did not violate any law, but challenged the officers to initiate prosecution against him if they felt he violated any traffic laws.
"What? I failed to follow a lawful instruction? If the lady (WPC Gittens) is saying that I failed to obey a lawful instruction, well then, let her charge me... I have not broken any law," Mohammed told the Express during a phone interview last evening.
Mohammed said after he was pulled over by the officers he became fearful for his life after a crowd of people approached his vehicle and began threatening him.
He said while proceeding along Independence Square, he was stopped by Gittens. He said he told the officer his name and that he was chairman of the Police Service Commission and had to attend a meeting at his Queen Street office with Commissioner of Police and his three deputies. Gittens, he said, gave him the clearance to proceed unto Henry Street.
He said he attempted to call the cell phones of Gibbs, Williams and Piggott, but did not get through but eventually got on to Ewatski, who requested to speak with Gittens, but the officer refused to take the call.
Mohammed said, "She (Gittens) told me to go ahead and the next thing is that I am in the traffic jam, on Henry Street between Queen Street and Independence Square, and she came up with a male police officer and knocked on my window and told me to pull aside, and I pulled aside.
"They told me they wanted my insurance and driver's permit and I gave it to them, and they handed it back to me. Then a man with a half-empty beer bottle came up and started threatening me and started talking about 'lock him up' and that kind of thing, and that is what forced me to call (Ewatski) for help."
He said, "I was virtually shaken, you know, because when the crowd gathered and were threatening me, they (Gittens and Batson) did absolutely nothing... I had a good taste of police rudeness to members of the public. They endangered my life and I was scared to death," Mohammed said.
Mohammed added he took a while to locate his certificate of insurance because it was mixed up with other documents in his vehicle. He said Batson told him, "But I ask you for your insurance certificate."
"I said 'give me minute, let me call the Commissioner because you all seem not to want to listen to me'. He said (Batson) 'well if the Commissioner has your insurance certificate, call him'."
Mohammed said up to late yesterday, the officers did not inform him that he committed any offence nor was he warned of any intended prosecution.
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If the people in charge not following the law or showing respect for Police Officers, how should regular citizens comply? No one wants to lead by example.
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"I said 'give me minute, let me call the Commissioner because you all seem not to want to listen to me'. He said (Batson) 'well if the Commissioner has your insurance certificate, call him'."
It had so much in dem two article ah wanted to respond to eh... but ah say nah, dat go be "nitpicking".
But dis one take de cake.... :rotfl: :rotfl:
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:-X
"I said 'give me minute, let me call the Commissioner because you all seem not to want to listen to me'. He said (Batson) 'well if the Commissioner has your insurance certificate, call him'."
It had so much in dem two article ah wanted to respond to eh... but ah say nah, dat go be "nitpicking".
But dis one take de cake.... :rotfl: :rotfl:
Trini is the greatest yes....I guess the rules only apply to you and me not the to "haves" in our society.
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Nizam version sound like he was making it up on the spot.
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I cyah believe pardna try and pull rank on dem... "I'z de (so and so), allyuh should let me get ah bligh because I about tuh go meet with de CoP." Part ah me understand, but is either yuh leave home early so that yuh doh arrive late (in yuh blasted Kia), yuh get in de right lane or yuh make de rounds like everybody else.
Then talking about how they endanger he life... he get frighten so he call de CoP heself fuh help. All ah we should be so special. De policewoman dam right... I busy doing what de public paying me to do, I doh have time to talk to nobody on yuh cellphone.
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I cyah believe pardna try and pull rank on dem... "I'z de (so and so), allyuh should let me get ah bligh because I about tuh go meet with de CoP." Part ah me understand, but is either yuh leave home early so that yuh doh arrive late (in yuh blasted Kia), yuh get in de right lane or yuh make de rounds like everybody else.
Then talking about how they endanger he life... he get frighten so he call de CoP heself fuh help. All ah we should be so special. De policewoman dam right... I busy doing what de public paying me to do, I doh have time to talk to nobody on yuh cellphone.
He sound like real stupidman. Is better he didn't say anything.
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Nizam is my neighbor in La Romain and he acts like he does shit ice cream. What an idiot. !!!!
chocolate flavour or wha :devil:
:rotfl:
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According to a statement given by the officers, a police source said, a black KIA Sportage SUV was proceeding on the centre lane and attempted to turn unto Henry Street.
Gittens, who was in front of the SUV, signaled to the driver to proceed east, but the driver of the SUV stopped the vehicle and identified himself as Nizam Mohammed, chairman of the Police Service Commission.
According to the statements, Mohammed told the officers he wanted to go up Henry Street because his office was located on Queen Street, but Gittens told Mohammed he had to continue east along Independence Square.
Gittens stated that Mohammed subsequently disobeyed her instructions and drove off onto Henry Street. She and Batson pursued Mohammed's vehicle, on foot, and caught up with it as it got stuck in traffic along the roadway.
Mohammed, the statement read, was ordered to pull his vehicle to the side of the roadway near the Puma Store, and asked to produce his driver's permit and insurance certificate.
Officers said Mohammed handed over his driver's permit and insurance and rolled up his window. Mohammed then made a call on his cell phone and later reportedly told Gittens that "the Commissioner" was on the phone and he wished to speak with her.
In response, officers said Gittens told Mohammed that she could not take the call since she was performing traffic duties.
After the officers recorded information from Mohammed's driving documents, he was allowed to leave.
In their report, Gittens and Batson, who have four years service, recommended that Mohammed be charged with failing to comply with a lawful instruction and causing an unnecessary obstruction.
If this account is true, that police woman deserve a medal. So because he is head of the PSC he could do what the hell he want??!! Steups!!!
He said while proceeding along Independence Square, he was stopped by Gittens. He said he told the officer his name and that he was chairman of the Police Service Commission and had to attend a meeting at his Queen Street office with Commissioner of Police and his three deputies. Gittens, he said, gave him the clearance to proceed unto Henry Street.
He said he attempted to call the cell phones of Gibbs, Williams and Piggott, but did not get through but eventually got on to Ewatski, who requested to speak with Gittens, but the officer refused to take the call.
Mohammed said,"She (Gittens) told me to go ahead and the next thing is that I am in the traffic jam, on Henry Street between Queen Street and Independence Square, and she came up with a male police officer and knocked on my window and told me to pull aside, and I pulled aside.
Dis part is what convince me Mohammed lying. If she give him the go ahead, wha she doing coming to knock on your glass and ask for licence and insurance?? Steups, these people think we is fools yes!!!
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According to a statement given by the officers, a police source said, a black KIA Sportage SUV was proceeding on the centre lane and attempted to turn unto Henry Street.
Gittens, who was in front of the SUV, signaled to the driver to proceed east, but the driver of the SUV stopped the vehicle and identified himself as Nizam Mohammed, chairman of the Police Service Commission.
According to the statements, Mohammed told the officers he wanted to go up Henry Street because his office was located on Queen Street, but Gittens told Mohammed he had to continue east along Independence Square.
Gittens stated that Mohammed subsequently disobeyed her instructions and drove off onto Henry Street. She and Batson pursued Mohammed's vehicle, on foot, and caught up with it as it got stuck in traffic along the roadway.
Mohammed, the statement read, was ordered to pull his vehicle to the side of the roadway near the Puma Store, and asked to produce his driver's permit and insurance certificate.
Officers said Mohammed handed over his driver's permit and insurance and rolled up his window. Mohammed then made a call on his cell phone and later reportedly told Gittens that "the Commissioner" was on the phone and he wished to speak with her.
In response, officers said Gittens told Mohammed that she could not take the call since she was performing traffic duties.
After the officers recorded information from Mohammed's driving documents, he was allowed to leave.
In their report, Gittens and Batson, who have four years service, recommended that Mohammed be charged with failing to comply with a lawful instruction and causing an unnecessary obstruction.
If this account is true, that police woman deserve a medal. So because he is head of the PSC he could do what the hell he want??!! Steups!!!
He said while proceeding along Independence Square, he was stopped by Gittens. He said he told the officer his name and that he was chairman of the Police Service Commission and had to attend a meeting at his Queen Street office with Commissioner of Police and his three deputies. Gittens, he said, gave him the clearance to proceed unto Henry Street.
He said he attempted to call the cell phones of Gibbs, Williams and Piggott, but did not get through but eventually got on to Ewatski, who requested to speak with Gittens, but the officer refused to take the call.
Mohammed said,"She (Gittens) told me to go ahead and the next thing is that I am in the traffic jam, on Henry Street between Queen Street and Independence Square, and she came up with a male police officer and knocked on my window and told me to pull aside, and I pulled aside.
Dis part is what convince me Mohammed lying. If she give him the go ahead, wha she doing coming to knock on your glass and ask for licence and insurance?? Steups, these people think we is fools yes!!!
He playing the belief that :
1) The Police does treat the public rude, and
2) There is no trust in the Police where the Public is concern.
I hope he see ho the Public come to the aid of the Officer. Kudos to the people who tried to assist the Officer. Special mention to the amn with the half empty beer bottle. :beermug:
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Well if the cops in the clear, then Nizam wrong :thinking:......hhhhmmm let we see if the police have de balls........
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Traffic_cops_in_the_clear-111973329.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Traffic_cops_in_the_clear-111973329.html)
Traffic cops in the clear
TWO police constables involved in a confrontation with chairman of the Police Service Commission, Nizam Mohammed, in Port of Spain two weeks ago, will not be facing any disciplinary charges.
WPC Marlene Gittens and PC Sean Batson, two Special Reserve Police officers, were the officers involved in the incident with Mohammed on December 2, while the cops were performing traffic duties at the corner of Henry Street and Independence Square.
Mohammed accused Gittens and Batson of being rude to him, alleging that the officers failed to respond when a group of people threatened him. Colleagues of the officers, who expressed fear that with the "stroke of a pen" the officers could be dismissed from the service, said they were awaiting the outcome of the matter.
However, a police source yesterday told the Express that a decision was taken that no disciplinary action would be taken against Gittens and Batson.
Contacted yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jack Ewatski said he has looked at the report submitted by the officers and has since passed the report back to ACP Simon Alexis, head of the North-West Division.
Ewatski, however, did not wish to say what instructions he gave to Alexis.
"I asked him (Alexis) to firstly speak with Mr Mohammed and the two officers, and the reason why I am not sharing that information at this stage is because I don't want them to read it in the newspapers and not be fully informed about the developments," Ewatski added.
The DCP said he simply asked for a report, but noted that no investigation was ever launched into the incident.
He said, "I just wanted to get a clear picture from the officers on what had transpired that's why I asked for a report. I have since received and viewed that report and have passed it onto the Assistant Commissioner (Alexis). I have given the ACP instructions on how to deal with it and he would either deal with it himself or delegate someone else to deal with it."
In their statements, Gittens and Batson said Mohammed, who was in the middle lane proceeding east along Independence Square, was stopped by Gittens as he attempted to turn on to Henry Street. Gittens alleged that Mohammed disobeyed a lawful instruction and caused an unnecessary obstruction when she signaled to him to continue proceeding east. She said Mohammed drove off onto Henry Street. Batson and Gittens then pursued his black Kia Sportage SUV on foot and ordered Mohammed to pull to the side of the road.
In their statements, the officers also recommended that Mohammed be charged with disobeying a lawful instruction and causing an unnecessary obstruction.
Mohammed had said at the time he was heading to his Queen Street office to hold a meeting with Gibbs and his deputies, Stephen Williams, Maurice Piggott and Ewatski. Hours after the incident, he told the Express he got a taste of "police rudeness" during his encounter with Gittens and Batson, an allegation the officers have denied. During the incident, Mohammed said he made telephone calls to Gibbs, Williams and Piggott to report the incident, after he was threatened by a group of people, but he did not get the officers. Eventually he got on to Ewatski and reported the incident to him and later to Gibbs.
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Check dis article..cuz I think I got lost near the end.
Nizam attack bid to undermine PSC (http://guardian.co.tt/columnist/2011/01/26/nizam-attack-bid-undermine-psc)
Israel Khan.
The incessant attack against Nizam Mohammed by certain politicians and his detractors is certainly getting out of hand. His detractors are attempting to make a mountain out of a molehill. It was alleged by a Special Reserve Police officer that Mr Mohammed had disobeyed a lawful traffic signal given to him by her good self. Mr Mohammed contended that he had not disobeyed any lawful direction given to him. He also stated that the said officer was in dereliction of duty when she failed to dispel a rowdy crowd of people who had converged on his car with one man threatening him with a beer bottle. It should be especially noted that the police handled this imbroglio by mediation and the matter has been settled. No charge of disobeying a traffic signal will be made against Mr Mohammed and Mr Mohammed is not pursuing his allegation of dereliction of duty against the officer. And this is in keeping with the philosophy of restorative justice for trivial criminal offences which the criminal justice system has adopted. But Mr Mohammed’s detractors have refused to let sleeping dogs lie.
From the moment Mr Mohammed’s name surfaced as a possible candidate to head the Police Service Commission (PSC), certain politicians began to attack his character and integrity. He was called a “serial politician” because he had been a member of different political parties during his very long stint in politics. They conveniently forgot that he had served this country well as a politician. He served three terms in the House of Representatives, and at one time was the Speaker of the House. He was a strong and impartial Speaker. I distinctly recall that during a certain debate he told his own Prime Minister to take his seat when the Speaker was on his legs. Mr Mohammed is a very senior attorney who has built a reputation for himself both in public life and in the legal profession. He is highly respected for his forthright and no-nonsense approach. He has refused to be provoked into a public duel on this matter involving the police officer which has frustrated those who wish to latch on to this trivial issue for the sole purpose of publicity.
The nature of his job as chairman of the PSC does not permit him to defend himself publicly against his detractors. One must understand the onerous responsibility of confidentiality and fair play placed on the chairman of such a commission which precludes Mr Mohammed from engaging in such frivolous banter. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition is contemplating moving a motion in the House of Representatives to debate this matter which has been amicably settled by all parties. Considering all the serious matters facing the country, this proposed motion is incredulous. What Opposition Leader Rowley should be concerned with is not the PSC chairman’s altercation with a police officer on an alleged traffic violation, but with the fact that the Police Service (like the army and coast guard) is grossly unbalanced in its composition, in favour of the Africans. It does not reflect that there is an equal place for every creed and race in the Police Service. Maybe there is a good reason for this imbalance; if so, it should be told to the nation.
How is it that the CEOs of the municipal corporations and borough corporations are 90 per cent African? And the permanent secretaries in the various ministries are the same. You know, I can distinctly recall former Prime Minister Patrick Manning commenting a few years ago that he could not find a single competent Hindu to place in his Cabinet. Where have all these competent Hindu ministers in the present Cabinet (including the Prime Minister) come from? Mars? The Leader of the Opposition in targeting Mr Mohammed as a political enemy of the PNM and the country is unwittingly undermining the PSC. Or is it that he is fearful that Mr Mohammed would get to the bottom of the scandalous state of affairs of the unbalanced ethnic composition of the Police Service and do something about it—if this action is both necessary and possible.
We are all patriots of this country—what is fair is fair. Just as something should be done to ensure that Africans form construction companies to build houses and highways, so too must we ensure that the East Indians be included in the armed forces as an integral part of this cosmopolitan nation. And incidentally, I support Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod who stated publicly that employment in the URP is for all deserving people, whether they are PNM or UNC, COP or NJAC.
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big petition going around T&T to remove Nizam and have him face charges
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This could go here or in the Gibbs thread. Either way I lost respect for he and he eh do nutten yet.....he still have 2 more months doh before he pack up and ride, by my clock......his balls might grow back before then to change mih mind.......
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CoP_on_Nizam__A_closed_issue-114247689.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CoP_on_Nizam__A_closed_issue-114247689.html)
CoP on Nizam: A closed issue
CASE closed.
This was the response from Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs yesterday, when asked about the status of the traffic matter involving chairman of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed and two traffic officers in downtown Port of Spain last year.
Mohammed was facing traffic charges of failing to comply with a lawful instruction and causing an unnecessary obstruction during a confrontation he had with WPC Marlene Gittens and PC Sean Batson, two Special Reserve Police officers, on December 2 at the corner of Henry Street and Independence Square.
Contacted last evening on the matter, Gibbs initially said he had nothing to say and advised that we contact his public affairs unit for a response. He then said the case was closed and offered no further comment.
One month ago, the Express sent an e-mail to Sharon Lee Assang, director of the Police Service's public affairs unit, seeking answers to several questions on the matter. There had been no reply to those questions up to last evening.
However, when pressed last evening to state the police's position on the matter, which has generated a high level of interest from the public, Gibbs said, "I'm not going to make any comment right now, but right now it's a closed issue." Asked to clarify what he meant and if the matter was dealt with and was over, Gibbs said, "Again, I'm not going to make any comment."
The Express had reported exclusively on this matter and noted three weeks ago that no action was going to be taken against Gittens and Batson, who were accused by Mohammed of being rude to him. Mohammed had also said the officers failed to respond after he was threatened by a man drinking beer.
Meanwhile, former attorney general Anthony Smart, during a radio programme on I95.5FM yesterday, called on President George Maxwell Richards to remove Mohammed from his position.
Smart said, "If in fact the information is correct, that Mr Nizam Mohammed disobeyed and disregarded a lawful command or instruction from a police officer, I think he must be removed from office for no behaviour. Nizam, as head of the Police Service Commission, should be the first person to observe and to obey a lawful instruction from a police officer, and if he doesn't, in my respectful view, he has misbehaved and he must be removed."
Mohammed has come under public criticism for his alleged failure to comply with WPC Gittens's instruction to continue proceeding east along Independence Square at the corner of Independence Square and Henry Street. Instead, Mohammed allegedly proceeded onto Henry Street and was chased by Gittens and Batson.
In an interview shortly after the incident, Mohammed had said he was given the all-clear by Gittens to proceed north onto Henry Street, after he identified himself to her and informed Gittens that he was on his way to attend a meeting with Gibbs and his three deputies. —Akile Simon
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NIZAM CRIES RACE
'Too many Africans in Police Service'
By by Akile Simon
ALREADY under fire for allegedly using his office to wiggle his way out of traffic offences, chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Nizam Mohammed, yesterday suggested that it was his intention to balance the ethnic composition of the Police Service.
His statements brought a swift response from three of his fellow commissioners—attorney Martin George, Kenneth Parker and Jacqueline Cheeseman—who distanced themselves immediately, saying they did not agree with Mohammed's position.
Mohammed, whose appointment to the post was met with resistance from the Opposition on the argument that he was an active politician heading an independent commission, told a Joint Select Committee of Parliament examining the operations of the PSC that 50 per cent of the population were of East Indian descent and the executive of the Police Service did not reflect the composition of Trinidad and Tobago's multi-ethnic society.
Mohammed said he had recently received a copy of a letter from president of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association , Sgt Anand Ramesar, which was sent to Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs, highlighting concerns regarding the ethnic composition of the Promotional and Advisory Board.
He said Ramesar stated he felt "threatened" and "unsafe" and asked that the PSC address the issue. Among the five-member promotion board, who are all of African descent, are Deputy Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Acting ACP Terry Young, including three civilians.
Mohammed said, "Out of ten Assistant Commissioners of Police, you don't have a single one of Indian origin. Out of three Deputy Commissioners, none of Indian origin. Well we have one Commissioner of Police. Senior Superintendent, you have 15 all of African origin, none of Indian origin.
"Happily when you look at the figures, you see at the Superintendent level, you have 21 of African origin and ten of East Indian origin and since within recent times, we have been emphasising the question of meritocracy as opposed to seniority, and Monday coming, Superintendents should be writing their exams. The better ones may move to Senior Superintendents and you may have a better mixture," Mohammed said.
He added such matters have to be corrected, "and you cannot approach a matter like this in an inflammatory, passionate, emotional kind of way.
"Fifty percent of this country are people of East Indian origin and you are asking them to support the Police Service. They have to provide the Police Service with information.
"They have to feel protected by the Police Service and when they see the hierarchy of the Police Service is as imbalanced as is reflected in these figures, and the chairman of the commission intends to tackle these things, you understand why the guns are being aimed at me. But I have a job to do and this is what I intend to do. I intend to address this with the help of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. We need the protection."
Mohammed said such matters could not be hidden and, "It's either we are here to carry out our oath of service in the manner in which we took our oath. We have to take our oath seriously and handle these matters in a very dispassionate kind of way."
In an immediate response to Mohammed's statement, Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis, a member of the JSC, said she was very concerned and felt offended by the manner in which Mohammed made the ethnic classifications. "I just never like that. Those kinds of statements being made or those types of classifications. Especially someone like myself who is from all (both African and East Indian descent).
"When you all determine that, how do you all determine me? Because if you start to classify people as East Indian and African, we are running into a problem and this is exactly as a Government what we are trying to get away from. We are trying to go for everybody," she said.
In response, Mohammed said the figures he read from spoke of the persons of African, East Indian and mixed origin, "so you'd (Baptiste-Cornelis) be among the mixed," causing the chamber to erupt into laughter.
Baptiste-Cornelis continued that there were several ethnic groups within the country, adding that one must be very cautious using "racial classifications and we should discourage that being used in any forms of evaluations. It is really wrong and its offensive to people," she said.
Mohammed continued that the PSC simply wanted to ensure that all the members under its charge are treated fairly, "and it is no deliberate ploy or action on the part of anyone. All we are trying to do is create a fair and just society."
To Mohammed's surprise, attorney Martin George, a fellow PSC member, said he endorsed Baptiste-Cornelis's comment, adding that Mohammed's statement did not reflect the views of Cheeseman , Parker and himself.
"… I can state categorically that myself, Ms Cheeseman and Mr Parker; I know for sure, the comments of the chairman do not represent our views in terms of what he just said and we disagree."
"This is news to me," Mohammed interjected, as he glanced at Commissioner Khan, who sat in silence next to him.
There were several other objections to Mohammed's statements which included PNM MP Joanne Thomas, PNM Senator Shamfa Cudjoe and Government Senator David Abdulah.
Abdulah stated that the PSC's role is to ensure that the Commissioner of Police (CoP) and those responsible for promotions have clear guidelines while executing the process in a "fair and equitable" manner and to correct any reports of unfair treatment. He warned that Mohammed ought to be careful in his statements which could be easily interpreted negatively by mischief-makers.
Chairman of the JSC ,Senator Subhas Ramkhelawan, who also disagreed with Mohammed's statement, said he wanted to hear the personal views of Parker and Cheeseman on the issue.
Cheeseman said she was surprised that Mohammed raised such an issue at yesterday's forum, adding that she did not agree with his statements while Parker said the core function of the PSC is to monitor the performance of the CoP, his deputies and the police service, and therefore, they should not step out of their boundaries.
"… Now that is such a large remit that for the constitutionally established commission, trying to move outside of that, it's going to be a major challenge... So I would much prefer to stay within that remit and focus," Parker said
After Parker's contribution, Mohammed said he agreed with Abdulah's contribution, noting that he thought it necessary to inform the country about what was taking place within the Police Service.
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1301110887864n22.jpg)
Wants better mixture: Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed during yesterday's Joint Select Commitee hearing into the PSC at the Red House in Port of Spain.. —Photo: ROBERTO CODALLO
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:o :o...Happily when you look at the figures, you see at the Superintendent level, you have 21 of African origin and ten of East Indian origin and since within recent times, we have been emphasising the question of meritocracy as opposed to seniority, and Monday coming, Superintendents should be writing their exams. The better ones may move to Senior Superintendents and you may have a better mixture," Mohammed said. .... :o :o
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smh @ chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Nizam Mohammed.
look fodder here nah. Dry so ? :-[
This not even worthy of a substantial comment.
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If people of indian decent want to govern themselves, why they eh move back to india. They always on this etnic thing, what's the hang up.
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If people of indian decent want to govern themselves, why they eh move back to india. They always on this etnic thing, what's the hang up.
Dont let a few assholes cloud your mind because they have a few creole who does sing de same tune.
We are Trinis and proud, I am half/half (Indian and Creole) and I will not change that for the world, to hell with India and Africa.
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If people of indian decent want to govern themselves, why they eh move back to india. They always on this etnic thing, what's the hang up.
Dont let a few assholes cloud your mind because they have a few creole who does sing de same tune.
We are Trinis and proud, I am half/half (Indian and Creole) and I will not change that for the world, to hell with India and Africa.
True, except this asshole heads the body responsible for recruitment, dismissal and promotion of police officers. He's not somebody in a bar or writing a letter to a newspaper.
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If people of indian decent want to govern themselves, why they eh move back to india. They always on this etnic thing, what's the hang up.
Dont let a few assholes cloud your mind because they have a few creole who does sing de same tune.
We are Trinis and proud, I am half/half (Indian and Creole) and I will not change that for the world, to hell with India and Africa.
This is how people shoulda reply to that idiot. I for my life can't understand these people who does push Indian and African thing. We's Trinbagonians and I find they should start taking away citizenshipp from people who pushing that kinda vibes. Go from we country if you can't accept and be proud to be a Trinbagonian.
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Why all yuh surprising. Who vex lost but all yuh did not expect that this would have happen WHEN WE RISE. The UNC govt has a history of being racist. In d yrs 1995-2001 all d programmes geared 2 blacks were closed eg Youth Camps and OJT. Doh 4get how UTT in Pt. Lisas STRTED.
When Sat used 2 b boasting we eh want no govt wuk because we does wuk hard in d garden and we chirren does be Dr and Lawyer. So the past 2 decades they decide to join d police service and public service now dey expect 2 b at d head of d organizations.
Doh stop at Police c how much Indian PS it have. How much CDS was Indian.
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lawd ...ah tried ah really tried to stay away but is the foolishness that does make me want tuh respond.
Ah wonder what Nizam have tuh say about having two CANADIANS running the force?
It is with disdain and abhorrence that one has to be subjected to these daily political posturing. Look I grew up when DLP and PNM were very adversarial but when you examined the make up of the PNM party in the 60's you had a multi racial and multi ethnic party representing various sectors and ethnicities
in TNT since that we have not fully achieved this sought of representation.
We are a pluralistic society and we have always have some tensions in harmonizing but in my humble opinion there is too much of a divisive element in the political arena today in TNT. Our NATIONAL identity has been replaced by a thirst for power through the 'race card' shameful that politicians are trying to stir up ethnic sentiments and power and status.
GOOD; People get what they want.........is that what PEOPLE VOTED FOR .....? " ARE WE READY FOR THE TRUTH?"
TIGER DOH CHANGE THEY STRIPES.
WEARY yuh home yuh know the insides and what happening...yuh tell them tell them gyul.
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lawd ...ah tried ah really tried to stay away but is the foolishness that does make me want tuh respond.
Ah wonder what Nizam have tuh say about having two CANADIANS running the force?
It is with disdain and abhorrence that one has to be subjected to these daily political posturing. Look I grew up when DLP and PNM were very adversarial but when you examined the make up of the PNM party in the 60's you had a multi racial and multi ethnic party representing various sectors and ethnicities
in TNT since that we have not fully achieved this sought of representation.
We are a pluralistic society and we have always have some tensions in harmonizing but in my humble opinion there is too much of a divisive element in the political arena today in TNT. Our NATIONAL identity has been replaced by a thirst for power through the 'race card' shameful that politicians are trying to stir up ethnic sentiments and power and status.
GOOD; People get what they want.........is that what PEOPLE VOTED FOR .....? " ARE WE READY FOR THE TRUTH?"
TIGER DOH CHANGE THEY STRIPES.
WEARY yuh home yuh know the insides and what happening...yuh tell them tell them gyul.
Nah I eh know what I talkin I is Manning gyul. Yuh eh read that I was sweetin up d sheets wit him. All yuh foreign base know more than we who living here.
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Nizam must go
Officers condemn PSC chairman:
By by Akile Simon
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Fredericks last night called for the immediate removal of chairman of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed over racial statements Mohammed made on Friday.
Frederick, who said he was annoyed and hurt by Mohammed's statements, said Mohammed was "farse and out of place" when he said there were too many police officers of African descent on the executive of the Police Service, as compared to East Indians.
Frederick, speaking on behalf of the executive of the Police Service, said he has placed Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs on notice that he intends to hold a news conference today at 10 a.m. at the Police Administration Building to "deal with the atrocious statements Mr Nizam Mohammed has made".
"We are disturbed and hurt and we are not working with that... We will not be working until Mohammed is removed... The Commissioner doesn't know the history of the Police Service here and we are going to deal with all of these issues tomorrow (today).
"We will also be calling for Mohammed to be removed as head of the PSC because he cannot be allowed to continue behaving in such manner."
He said, "This is the second time someone in high public office has targeted African people within the executive of the Police Service for absolutely no reason and I say we have had enough and we are not taking these matters lightly.
"The Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, did it last year and we are not going to work until these issues are dealt with because it seemed they are trying to fan the flames of race and divide the Police Service, and we will not stand idly by and allow it to happen. I want my fellow executive officers to rally around me and let's deal with this issue head-on," Fredericks said.
On Friday, Mohammed, speaking before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament, said records from the Police Service show there were more persons of African descent in leadership positions, as opposed to their East Indian colleagues.
He said the PSC, with the help of the Parliament, intended to change such since there must be an ethnic balance within the service to ensure equality of treatment.
"Happily, when you look at the figures, you see at the superintendent level, you have 21 of African origin and ten of East Indian origin and since within recent times, we have been emphasising the question of meritocracy as opposed to seniority, and Monday coming, superintendents should be writing their exams.
"The better ones may move to senior superintendents and you may have a better mixture," Mohammed told the JSC.
Meanwhile, several First Division officers, who are expected to write assessment examinations from tomorrow, have expressed serious concerns about possible attempts to influence and manipulate the process in light of Mohammed's statements.
Yesterday, more than a dozen of these senior officers contacted the Sunday Express, saying they had "grave concerns" over Mohammed's statements and they felt threatened by them.
The officers, of African descent, said the statements give the impression that Mohammed may attempt to influence the process in ensuring that persons of East Indian origin score high points in the exams and are promoted in front of their African colleagues, based not on meritocracy, but on ethnicity.
"Promotions are not based on race, colour, creed or seniority, but on whether you're up to the task and on merit, and that's the end of the discussion.
"I don't know where he came up with that idea, but it is unbecoming of the head of the PSC to make such statements, especially when it appeared that it would have been previously discussed by other members of his team, who do not agree with him," a Snr Supt, who asked not to be identified, told the Sunday Express.
In a telephone interview, Commissioner Gibbs said of this week's exams:
"I just want to assure the members that it's a fair and equitable process. There hasn't been any biasness built into the exam process. It has been developed by an outside organisation that has looked at it very objectively. It really has nothing to do with ethnicity. It really just really has to do with competency and merit."
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Maybe Nizam could put Reshmi as a Deputy Commissioner, ah hear she have qualifications.
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Maybe Nizam could put Reshmi as a Deputy Commissioner, ah hear she have qualifications.
He never say enough qualified indians in d service he just say indians so Reshmi meet d main criteria.
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If people could just let the 'jump and wave' and party mentality shake loose fuh awhile, they may recall the country was in a similar turmoil during the Panday regime. Once more the issues of equity, gets confused with equality base on ethnicity. Representation is now equated with the political will and those in political power.
I was strongly against such practices when the previous P.M. in his first term appointed his wife as education minister. On her own merits, fine but given the positional authority and family relations the optics of such was apolitical disaster.
I recalled some individuals applying for entry to Canada on claims of racial hatred, disenfranchisement, and discrimination. These same folks were not saying that under the regime of Panday.
Our nation is not one with disproportionate tribal elders or statesmen, yet the direction and sentiments of a few Nizam being one and long time we have not heard from Dookern, but there are vipers in the grass reveling in these divisive and utterly destructive elements aimed at keeping a unified TNT from moving forward.
As a nation, and given our demographics, political leadership ought not to be in the hands of an privileged few based on ethnicity. That should be an accepted reality; therefore it ought to matter little what the leader's ethnicity is rather the focus ought to be on a fair and equitable dispersal of service to the public that meets the needs of all its citizens.
How could we trust parties that emanated from parties that had fundamental corrosive and racially biased agendas to bear forth fruits that would be different from what was at the root of the founders of these parties?
I was deeply moved and encouraged by the acceptance speech of our P.M. and I still think that in her heart she means well but some of her appointed ministers continue to run a mock with their speeches and actions; like wayward boys defiant of their leaders. Some needs to be reprimanded or there ought to be an ETHICS commission that disciplines and safeguard the integrity, and ethics of public office.
In my humble opinion.
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If people could just let the 'jump and wave' and party mentality shake loose fuh awhile, they may recall the country was in a similar turmoil during the Panday regime. Once more the issues of equity, gets confused with equality base on ethnicity. Representation is now equated with the political will and those in political power.
I was strongly against such practices when the previous P.M. in his first term appointed his wife as education minister. On her own merits, fine but given the positional authority and family relations the optics of such was apolitical disaster.
I recalled some individuals applying for entry to Canada on claims of racial hatred, disenfranchisement, and discrimination. These same folks were not saying that under the regime of Panday.
Our nation is not one with disproportionate tribal elders or statesmen, yet the direction and sentiments of a few Nizam being one and long time we have not heard from Dookern, but there are vipers in the grass reveling in these divisive and utterly destructive elements aimed at keeping a unified TNT from moving forward.
As a nation, and given our demographics, political leadership ought not to be in the hands of an privileged few based on ethnicity. That should be an accepted reality; therefore it ought to matter little what the leader's ethnicity is rather the focus ought to be on a fair and equitable dispersal of service to the public that meets the needs of all its citizens.
How could we trust parties that emanated from parties that had fundamental corrosive and racially biased agendas to bear forth fruits that would be different from what was at the root of the founders of these parties?
I was deeply moved and encouraged by the acceptance speech of our P.M. and I still think that in her heart she means well but some of her appointed ministers continue to run a mock with their speeches and actions; like wayward boys defiant of their leaders. Some needs to be reprimanded or there ought to be an ETHICS commission that disciplines and safeguard the integrity, and ethics of public office.
In my humble opinion.
It obvious dey eh remember because dey give dem 29 seats.
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Well guys, whether we like it or not the changes in the Public Service is going to come. But I wonder if it will happen to the other professions or sports team.
Let's see how this plays out.
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Well guys, whether we like it or not the changes in the Public Service is going to come. But I wonder if it will happen to the other professions or sports team.
Let's see how this plays out.
It has strted 2 some degree already.
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Statements border on sedition—Ramesh
Published: Mon, 2011-03-28
Asha Javeed
Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday slammed the silence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the inflammatory comments of chairman of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed, even as he has described those statements as “extremely provocative,” “offensive” and “border on sedition.” Mohammed said on Friday that there were not enough East Indians in the upper echelons of the Police Service. “These statements, to a person like me of East Indian descent, are offensive and I am sure would be regarded as offensive to all right thinking persons of T&T, regardless of their ethnic origin,” he said in a release yesterday.
Mohammed’s statements, he said, represented an agenda that future appointments and promotions of the Police Service Commission would be based on ethnicity and ethnic disposition and not on merit.
Futhermore, Maharaj condemned Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s “deafening silence” and her “inaction on these dangerous statements which impact adversely on racial harmony and national unity.” “I am surprised that the Prime Minister has not taken immediate action as political head of the Government to publicly call for the removal of Mr Nizam Mohammed as chairman of the Police Service Commission,” he said.
Maharaj said it was the Prime Minister’s duty to seek an audience with President George Maxwell Richards, with a request to revoke Mohammed’s appointment under Section 126 (4) of the constitution.
“The neglect and or omission of the Prime Minister to have acted on this matter since last Friday may give the impression that the statements made by the chairman of the Police Service Commission reflect the present agenda of her Government,” he said. He called on Persad-Bissessar to account to the country on her Government’s intention with regard to “bodies in Trinidad and Tobago which do not have an “ethnic balance.”
The Prime Minister, said Maharaj, had a duty to recognise that continued inaction on her part as Prime Minister to “correct the political evils which have occurred under her administration in the last ten months would continue to damage and destroy the future of our country.” He noted that in countries such as Guyana, Fiji and some African nations, when such similar statements were made by people in public offices, national unity was obstructed. Maharaj sent a copy of his release to the Prime Minister and the President.
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COP calls for resignation
By Rickie Ramdass rickie.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 27, 2011 at 11:46 PM ECT
(Story Updated: Mar 27, 2011 at 11:46 PM ECT )
THE Congress of the People (COP) has called for the resignation of Nizam Mohammed as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), saying there could be a rise in racial tension among citizens as a result of a statement he made before a Joint Select Committee last Friday.
Chairman of the political party Joseph Toney yesterday described Mohammed's statement that there were too many police officers of African ethnicity in the executive of the Police Service as "grievously unfortunate".
Toney, who was in attendance at a Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day function at Chinapoo Village, Morvant, said the COP was strongly opposed to the approach taken by Mohammed "to resolve issues in the Police Service".
"It is going to cause racial tensions to rise in the country and this is what we of the People's Partnership are trying our best to get off of the political scene.
"We cannot be having a head count. And where will it stop? Are you going now to the medical profession, the law profession, dentistry, the car parts industry? Where are you going to stop?
"This is nonsense. It has to stop or else we would be very very divided as a nation and we would not progress as a nation."
Toney said from his understanding, the duty of the PSC was to monitor the Police Commissioner, his deputies and the Police Service as a whole to ensure they carry out their mandate but Mohammed, by making such a statement, was not carrying out that task.
"Has the chairman given any indication that by his approach of this racial head count that he is going about that task? I think the answer to that is a resounding 'no'. And this is what I am saying, maybe in all the circumstances we should all come to the conclusion that Mr Mohammed has lost so much credibility now as chairman of the Police Service Commission that it may be time for him to look at other job opportunities for himself," Toney said.
He added that with such a "racial head-counting" approach in any institution, it would only leave room for "danger, disaster and very very muddy waters".
He said it was his belief that an apology from Mohammed would do little or nothing to soothe the "anxiety and nerves" of citizens because of the statement made.
"I think he should go further... His executive members are already saying that they do not agree with that approach. I think that Mr Mohammed may want to look at his options and may want to consider whether indeed he is the most suitable person to be the chairman of the Police Service Commission," Toney said.
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Jack slams Nizam: I would have resigned
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
NOT ONLY has the controversial comments of Nizam Mohammed, chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), triggered outrage and condemnation, they have offended and hurt Government Minister Jack Warner.
Warner told the Express yesterday that Mohammed's statement will negatively affect the Government and if he (Warner) was in his shoes, he would resign immediately.
"I am very disappointed in him, I know the guy well, I'm disappointed in him. He has done a disservice to the Government and to the party by his conduct. I expect that my colleagues will deal with this matter but this hasn't done us very well at all as a government," Warner said.
Last Friday, Mohammed, at the Parliament's Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting said records from the Police Service show there were more people of African ethnicity in leadership positions, as opposed to their East Indian colleagues.
He went further to say that the PSC, with the help of the Parliament, intended to change such since there must be an "ethnic balance" within the service to ensure equality of treatment.
Said Warner: "I would have thought that a man of his stature would have been more circumspect. If I were in his position and I had done that, I would have resigned."
"I feel offended because if you look at the history of the Police Service, you would understand that even in the old days when you couldn't get people to work in the police service, we had to go to Barbados to get police officers to work here because nobody wanted to work in the Police Service and therefore what we have now evolved over time," Warner added.
Warner, a former SRP, said if he were still in the Police Service, he would be very offended.
The calls for Mohammed to be removed continued to pour in yesterday and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said he intends to write to President George Maxwell Richards a second time regarding the Nizam Mohammed issue.
Rowley had written to Richards last week asking for Mohammed's removal following a traffic incident where he used his office to wiggle his way out of a traffic offence.
Rowley said the situation has worsened.
Richards, he said, has agreed to meet with him sometime this week and he also intends to raise the issue as a matter of serious concern.
The President, said Rowley, cannot sit idly by and allow a chairman of a commission to bring the country into instability.
Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj also expressed his concern over Mohammed's comments and questioned why was Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar silent on the matter.
"These statements, to a person like me of East Indian descent, is offensive and I am sure will be regarded as offensive to all right-thinking persons of Trinidad and Tobago, regardless of their ethnic origin" said Maharaj.
He added the statements border on sedition and obstruct national unity.
"The Prime Minister has a duty to the country to have done that and she ought to have immediately sought an audience with the President of the country to request him to immediately remove Mr Nizam Mohammed from the office of chairman of the Police Service Commission," said Maharaj.
"The neglect or omission of the Prime Minister to have acted on this matter since last Friday may give the impression that the statements made by the chairman of the Police Service Commission reflect the present agenda of her Government," he said.
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1. Nizam was controversial political appointee in the first place .
2. He get ketch abusing his power to wiggle out of a traffic ticket
3. Police wage negotiations still going on.
Nizam forget all them tings when he take that gun with a scope and laser aim at he foot and fire.
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is right in saying the Prime Minister needs to make a statement. But Jack said his piece already so I guess everything cool.
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Alyuh eh relize Nizam giving alyuh the finger in a smart way watch the picture again .
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Alyuh eh relize Nizam giving alyuh the finger in a smart way watch the picture again .
I was goin and ask dat dis mornin self.....either way, he is a piece ah work oui
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Alyuh eh relize Nizam giving alyuh the finger in a smart way watch the picture again .
I was goin and ask dat dis mornin self.....either way, he is a piece ah work oui
It was a hot debate on d express blogs whether he give d country d finger.
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Police Execs: Nizam’s comments ‘insipid at best’
By Lara Pickford-Gordon Monday, March 28 2011
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,137916.html (http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,137916.html)
Members of the police executive and first division officers were yesterday unanimous in their condemnation of statements made by head of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed.
At a media briefing held at the Police Administration Building, Assistant Commissioner Fitzroy Fredericks of the police executive called for Mohammed to be removed as head of the PSC and for the President of the Police Social and Welfare Association (PSWA) Anand Ramesar to resign.
“The President should revoke the appointment of Mr Mohammed so there could be some peace and tranquillity,” Fredericks said. He believed Mohammed was deliberately attempting to frustrate efforts and create divisions within the police service and by extension the national community. Mohammed was appointed to head the JSC in July last year.
“He seems to have his own agenda in terms of what he wants. The police service has a lot of issues we thought he would have identified those issues before the Joint Select Committee to make us a much more professional organisation,” Fredericks said.
He described Mohammed’s statements as “insipid at best.”
“We thought it to be reckless, narrow and parochial and really designed to make this country and if I may use his (Mohammed’s) words designed to make this country ungovernable,” he added. Mohammed had said advertisements by the group Fixing TT which is lobbying for his removal at PSC Chairman were designed to make the country ungovernable. Commenting on the question of the racial composition of the police service, Fredericks said there have been calls in the past for balance in the recruitment in the police service.
He did not know where this came from but said there was a historical context to the current scenario. According to Fredericks, in the past, persons of East Indian decent did not join the police service but “gravitated” to other professions.
“As we become more urbanised, the police service has become a career and place for decent employment we have found when you look at the composition the service reflects the ethnic composition of TT,” he said.
He said up to 1971 the only female of East Indian decent in the police Service was Marjorie Beepatsingh and several women have been recruited over the years and were doing a good job. Fredericks said persons of Chinese decent and Caucasians have not “in any significant way” joined the police service.
“We find the statement is really seeking to divide our community and really put us in the kind of light that would not lend to a professional approach,” he said.
He disclosed at a meeting in January with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan raised the issue of the racial composition of the police service.
“We were really bludgeoned with such a request that the police service does not represent the ethnic composition. We don’t know where these things are coming from. I don’t know if it’s a mirage they are facing somewhere,” Fredericks said. He said the exam process was transparent and administered by an independent body—Penn State University. Fredericks said Mohammed was “a little ingenious” in stating promotions were based on seniority not meritocracy. As head of the PSC, Mohammed should be aware of amendments to the Police Service Act in 2006 and section 123 of the Constitution which gave the Police Commissioner responsibility for recruitment and promotion in the police service.
Fredericks said Ramesar was “playing games” with his letter on the composition of the Promotion Advisory Board of the police service not reflecting the racial balance of the country.
“Such statements are inimical to the interest of members of the police service and we are calling for resignation of Mr Ramesar and his entire executive,” Fredericks said.
There is a representative of the First Division on the PSWA and Fredericks asked if they allowed Ramesar to write the letter. The First Division Officers Association representative Ag Senior Sup Harold Cumberbatch said the association was dissatisified and unhappy with recent statements from Mohammed that there were too many persons of African descent in the police service and distanced itself from the remarks.
“We will not support it or anything that goes with it,” Cumberbatch said.
Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said as someone of East Indian decent he found Mohammed’s statements offensive and would be “offensive to all right thinking persons of TT regardless of their ethnic origin.”
Well look ting nah .
see this thread (http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=49527.msg663290#msg663290) for further reference.
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Fack Dat, Lets move on :beermug:
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Fack Dat, Lets move on :beermug:
:rotfl:
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Comments can spark healthy debate
By Nikita Braxton-Benjamin South Bureau
Story Created: Mar 27, 2011 at 11:46 PM ECT
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Comments_can_spark_healthy_debate-118752254.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Comments_can_spark_healthy_debate-118752254.html)
HOUSING and Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal yesterday said the controversial comments by Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman Nizam Mohammed were part of a legitimate issue which could be placed on the front burner to bring about healthy debate.
Last Friday, Mohammed compared the number of people of East Indian and African ethnicity and said there was an imbalance, with too many police officers of the latter denomination in top posts of the Police Service.
Speaking during a tour of Mohess Road, Penal, yesterday, Moonilal said while the PSC was an independent institution under the constitution and as a principle of law the Government could not get involved in the business of any service commission, he had noted Mohammed's comment.
Moonilal said the topic could bring about discussion on diversity and development. "These are interesting and important developmental challenges to all plural societies. I think without being emotional and without being hysterical and so on, it is a legitimate development issue that is on the agenda," Moonilal said.
He said the issue was not a new one, as it had been around since the country gained independence, but it may be "a timely opportunity now to reflect on it. Whether it is the Police Service or it is any other service or any other institution in the State, I think there are legitimate issues there and we should reflect on them, but we should reflect in a mature and dispassionate manner".
Moonilal said all developed countries had gained that status because they had confronted this issue of diversity and development.
Moonilal promised residents of Mohess Road that their sporting facilities, including the pavilion, would be improved.
I want the Minister's clarification about the forum for this debate. Does he mean on the talk shows , the internet and rum shops or somewhere else. I say so because Prime Minister is yet to make a statement. Remember the Chairman made this statement :
"Fifty percent of this country are people of East Indian origin and you are asking them to support the Police Service. They have to provide the Police Service with information.
"They have to feel protected by the Police Service and when they see the hierarchy of the Police Service is as imbalanced as is reflected in these figures, and the chairman of the commission intends to tackle these things, you understand why the guns are being aimed at me. But I have a job to do and this is what I intend to do. I intend to address this with the help of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. We need the protection."
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I was waiting for dis point.
Question: How many recruits are of East Indian descent? Anybody have an idea?
Cuz my thinking is.......if they doh enter the service......how dey go move up the ranks?
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Statement from the Office of the Prime Minister on the Nizam Mohammed issue
T&T Guardian
When we see each other for who we are rather than what we happen to look like, when the grounds of suspicion fall away and no one looks for shades of differences to determine their own value, when realities are not created by pigments of someone’s imagination, then we would have arrived as a nation.
Within this context, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago categorically condemns the statements made by Mr. Nizam Mohammed, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) regarding the allegations of discrimination and the need for ethnic balancing within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
The five leaders that formed the political grouping that brought this Government to power is the broadest- based representation ever held in this nation and the insularity propagated by Mr. Mohammed’s reckless and senseless comments run against the very grain of the philosophy that now governs this country.
Mr. Mohammed must be held accountable for his inflammatory and unwise remarks which in no way represent the views of the Government.
Statements such as the one by Mr. Mohammed are divisive and serve no useful purpose other than to undermine the trust that is reposed in him as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Our mission as a Government is to embrace everyone, to create a meritocracy based on people’s ability to do their jobs; race must not and will never be a consideration.
Whatever our ethnic origins, we are citizens of Trinidad and Tobago first and our Government believes the words of our National Anthem: “Here every creed and race finds an equal place,” express a philosophy that determines the way this Government functions today.
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I hearing so much different chords from dis choir dat i wondering if all ah dem singing from de same song sheet.
Moonilal i think? : Doh shoot de messenger.
Warner: He should resign
now Kamla: He should be held accountable.
Who else i forget?
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Lol... Kamla and Anand push de issue on "not enough Indians in de police service" and chain up Nizam into talking. Nizam di'n read de script properly and instead ah saying "not enough Indians" he say "too much Africans"... now Kamla wait and watch de ride good before throwing him under de back wheel.
Nizam scratching he head trying to figure out de license plate ah dat bus :rotfl:
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Finally the PM respond and condemn the statement. Who the hell writing this flowery garbage though ?
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Lol... Kamla and Anand push de issue on "not enough Indians in de police service" and chain up Nizam into talking. Nizam di'n read de script properly and instead ah saying "not enough Indians" he say "too much Africans"... now Kamla wait and watch de ride good before throwing him under de back wheel.
Nizam scratching he head trying to figure out de license plate ah dat bus :rotfl:
Rolled neatly under bus.
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This government is a big joke. They are all thinking this. They just used Nizam to get the debate going. Ask Chandresh Sharma. He say that it's the message that's important, don't shoot the messenger. AG come out and make same remarks to Police executive in front of Kamla. So what it is she really saying now?. Anyways, I didn't vote for that. A zebra can't change its stripes..!!!
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Where did we go wrong..... sometimes I does want to have a conversation with de almighty on why he make man...
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This government is a big joke. They are all thinking this. They just used Nizam to get the debate going. Ask Chandresh Sharma. He say that it's the message that's important, don't shoot the messenger. AG come out and make same remarks to Police executive in front of Kamla. So what it is she really saying now?. Anyways, I didn't vote for that. A zebra can't change its stripes..!!!
IT GOOD 4 WE. They drank d koolaide.
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OVER TO MAX
Govt condemns Nizam's statements as divisive and reckless
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
President George Maxwell Richards appears to have no choice but to remove Nizam Mohammed as chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the leader of the Government who promised a new kind of politics, roundly criticised Mohammed, in effect clearing the path for his dismissal. It is, however, only the President who can act.
In a strongly worded statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, titled: "Statement from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago", the People's Partnership Government "categorically condemned" Mohammed's "reckless ... senseless ... and divisive comments".
Speaking at a Joint Select Committee meeting last Friday, Mohammed expressed concern about the ethnic composition of the Police Service, saying the records showed there were more Africans than East Indians. He pledged, as chairman of the PSC, to deal with this imbalance "with the assistance of the Parliament" and cited this commitment as the reason why "the guns were now aimed at him". Mohammed has previously been the target of criticism because of a traffic incident in Port of Spain last year.
Since his explosive statements on Friday, criticism has continued to mount and pressure has persistently piled up for Mohammed to go, with many persons calling on the Government to state whether he had been given a mandate to address the ethnic imbalance in the service and whether Government supported this position.
Apparently responding, the Government, which vehemently supported Mohammed's appointment, reversed itself by pulling the rug from under him, stating: "Mr Mohammed must be held accountable for his inflammatory and unwise remarks which in no way represent the views of the Government. The five leaders that formed the political grouping that brought this Government to power is the broadest-based representation ever held in this nation and the insularity propagated by Mr Mohammed's reckless and senseless comments run against the very grain of the philosophy that now governs this country."
It added: "Our mission as a Government is to ... create a meritocracy based on people's ability to do their jobs, race must not and will never be a consideration."
The statement, however, stopped short of calling for Mohammed to be fired. The statement was, however, in tandem with comments given by Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis, who led the charge in immediately condemning Mohammed's remarks at the very JSC meeting, followed closely by Senator David Abdulah. Works Minister Jack Warner was also quick out of the blocks when he too expressed his "hurt and disappointment", saying had he been in his shoes, he (Warner) would have resigned immediately. However, in sharp contrast, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said Mohammed raised a "legitimate" development issue, while Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma stated that people should not shoot the messenger and debate must take place on the issue with a view to addressing any disparity which may exist.
The police executive, who for the first time in this country's history have come out publicly against a PSC chairman, have also named the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan as another government official who expressed sentiments similar to Mohammed's at a meeting with the police executive earlier this year.
The Congress of the People, who met in emergency session yesterday to discuss Mohammed's comments, called on the Prime Minister to advise the President that Mohammed's appointment be revoked "with immediate effect".
Today, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley meets the President at 2 p.m. with a view to renewing his request for Richards to remove Mohammed from office on the grounds of "proven unsuitability". Rowley, who had written to Richards last week calling for Mohammed's dismissal, stated yesterday: "Nizam Mohammed's behaviour as chairman of the PSC has become even more untenable in the face of his reckless, self-serving comments ... in which he outlined for himself the task of redressing perceived racial discrimination in the Police Service. Mr Mohammed's unfortunate statement does not only attack the integrity of previous Police Service Commissions but also disturbs the morale of the Police Service and threatens the social fabric of stability which has been the hallmark of our existence as a multi-ethnic society."
Rowley added that "in the light of similar statements made by the Attorney General at the New York Mission and locally to First Division Police Officers", the Prime Minister should state whether any assurance was given to Mohammed that her Government would use its parliamentary majority to rectify his perceived racial discrimination in the Police Service.
Rowley had objected last July when Richards proposed Mohammed as one of the nominees for appointment to the PSC, arguing he was a "serial politician" and thus unqualified to serve on a commission.
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Seetahal: He's not fit to lead
Story Created: Mar 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM ECT
(Story Updated: Mar 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM ECT )
Attorney Dana Seetahal SC said yesterday that Nizam Mohammed is not fit to be chairman of the Police Service Commission. Seetahal, who was recently elected as president of the Law Association, was speaking in her private capacity.
She said the PSC's constitutional remit was to appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the Police Service, specifically the Commissioner of Police and deputy Commissioners. She said the commission used to have overarching concerns about the Police Service, but its function with the new (2006) legislation has been restricted to appointments of the two top posts (CoP and his deputies).
"Nothing in that includes any prerogative to address any issue of bias in terms of the persons or an imbalance in terms of the persons who are appointed to the hierarchy of the Police Service," Seetahal said. She added that the PSC chairman is supposed to administer the law and the regulations in a fair manner.
"So when he says, 'I intend to address this (the racial imbalance) with the help of the Parliament. We need the protection'. I don't know what he is talking about. And I don't know what is the basis for saying that he has any mandate to address any issue of imbalance in the Police Service as he perceives it," Seetahal stated.
She said she also took exception to the generic statements Mohammed made to the Joint Select Committee, such as his remark that 50 per cent of the country was East Indian. She said the last Census showed 41 per cent of the country was of East Indian origin, approximately 39 per cent of African origin and the rest were mixed.
"And then to say that when people see the imbalance, the suggestion is that they would not feel protected by the Police Service, I think that is nonsense. Because it suggests to me that in the same vein the Commissioner of Police, who is a white foreigner, does not reflect the society. Is it then that no one in the Police Service other than the deputy (Jack Ewatski) can feel comfortable with him, and that the rest of the country can have no reliance on the Commissioner because he is neither Indian or African?"
Seetahal said Mohammed was assuming that the system of promoting on the basis of seniority led to a predominance of Africans.
"This fails to even acknowledge that the possibility is that up until 25 years ago, you couldn't even get 10 persons of Indian origin applying to the Police Service," she added.
She suggested that the sociology department of the UWI embark on an empirical study on why certain people do not go into certain professions.
"Until then, when we understand the society better, shut up" she said.
Outgoing Law Association president Martin Daly SC said the whole affair underlined how persons in public office little understood the responsibilities and burdens of such office. –Ria Taitt
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Breds back-ah-nal and confusion is the foundation of our society and that is what trinbagonians like , check it, every monday morning is something from these politicians that make john public rise up and people taking sides .
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Chandresh Sharma
I hope, in the process, we do not shoot the messenger. My understanding is that some statistics were provided and presented and perhaps one may be questioning the manner in which it was presented, or the remarks that may have been associated with it, but we must not avoid at any time real information and it was only presented to be addressed
Roodal Moonilal
"These are interesting and important developmental challenges to all plural societies. I think without being emotional and without being hysterical and so on, it is a legitimate development issue that is on the agenda"
Moonilal said all developed countries had gained that status because they had confronted this issue of diversity and development.
Therese Baptiste-Cornelis
I just never like that. Those kinds of statements being made or those types of classifications. Especially someone like myself who is from all (both African and East Indian descent).
"When you all determine that, how do you all determine me? Because if you start to classify people as East Indian and African, we are running into a problem and this is exactly as a Government what we are trying to get away from. We are trying to go for everybody,"
Austin 'Jack' Warner
I am very disappointed in him, I know the guy well, I'm disappointed in him. He has done a disservice to the Government and to the party by his conduct. I expect that my colleagues will deal with this matter but this hasn't done us very well at all as a government,"
"I would have thought that a man of his stature would have been more circumspect. If I were in his position and I had done that, I would have resigned."
"I feel offended because if you look at the history of the Police Service, you would understand that even in the old days when you couldn't get people to work in the police service, we had to go to Barbados to get police officers to work here because nobody wanted to work in the Police Service and therefore what we have now evolved over time,"
Office of the Prime Minister
the Government of Trinidad and Tobago categorically condemns the statements made by Mr. Nizam Mohammed, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) regarding the allegations of discrimination and the need for ethnic balancing within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
In a commentary from Selwyn Ryan last year on the Prime Minister's leadership style and the government's overall operations he posited that detractors may be too "brainwashed about the alleged virtues of the Westminster model with its emphasis on maximum leaders, patriarchal or prime ministerial monarchs, and the Victorian myths that surround the concept of collective responsibility, that we see any change in the template as to how ministers should behave as invitations to fractionalism, instability, and political collapse." I'm not concerned about the government's collapse I am however concerned that the dichotomous static from Ministers compromises the credibility of any stated position of the government.
This particular issue is obviously very explosive socially and politically. The divergence of views expressed by Ministers and the delay in issuing a formal statement has done nothing to quell any public discontent. Add the fact that PM and AJ have been silent about the claims made by Assistant Commissioner Fitzroy Fredericks and Nizam Mohammed's statement :I have a job to do and this is what I intend to do. I intend to address this with the help of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
and one is left seriously questioning the government's stated position.
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and one is left seriously questioning the government's stated position.
To seek redress. They will make changes.
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and one is left seriously questioning the government's stated position.
To seek redress. They will make changes.
Will blieve it when I C IT
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Nizam's numbers
By Clarence Rambharat
Story Created: Mar 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM ECT
(Story Updated: Mar 29, 2011 at 12:45 AM ECT )
It was Nizam Mohammed, as the Speaker of the House, who reintroduced the mace to Parliament in 1987. And though centuries before Oliver Cromwell famously dissed the mace as "a fool's bauble", last Friday Nizam looked like Cromwell, the Lord Protector. By the time it was over, a bauble, even one of a fool, might have been a place of safe retreat.
Of course the focus has been on Nizam but let us not forget that Nizam's shield and sabre was a letter sent to the Commissioner of Police by Anand Ramesar, a lawyer and President of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association. In that letter, first mentioned in the media in December 2010, Ramesar reportedly told the Commissioner that he "feels threatened" by the ethnic composition of the Promotions Advisory Board (PAB) and he does "not feel secure".
Nizam's problem is the fact that in his soliloquy he adopted a cause which was not that of the Police Service Commission's (PSC) he was representing at the time. The matter belongs with the Commissioner and the courts through judicial review on the basis of institutional bias. Nizam, a lawyer, offered little by way of evidence that the Board's deliberations and decision-making were influenced by ethnicity and he did not explain the basis for dragging an unwilling and unprepared PSC into the discussion.
But as Nizam hammered the point of meritocracy and promotion exams, my first point of wonder was what do Mohammed and Ramesar know about the nature, structure, content, marking scheme and actual marking of promotion exams, which gave Indians an advantage over non-Indians? Nizam seemed confident that Indians perform better on these promotion exams and Indians are set for the first division.
Now, Act No.13 of 2007 amended the Police Service Act to introduce the section dealing with the composition of the five-member PAB. It gives the Commissioner a fair amount of discretion in putting together the promotions Board. So under what is now Section 18 of the Police Service Act, the PAB consists of a Deputy Commissioner; an Assistant Commissioner; the Director Human Resources of the Police Service, a senior officer of the Ministry of National Security who is not a police officer and an independent consultant who is engaged by the Commissioner. The Commissioner also appoints a Secretary to the Board, that person not being a police officer.
We do not know whether Ramesar suggested what ethnic composition of the PAB will make him less threatened and more secure. Since Nizam resorted to population statistics and the ethnic breakdown, my analysis is that the five-member Board would be "properly" constituted for Nizam and Ramesar if it was made up two Indians, 1.875 Africans and 1.03 mixed persons.
But I am also inclined to think that Nizam and Ramesar would not feel too threatened or insecure if the entire Promotions Board looked like Commissioner Gibbs or Deputy Commissioner Ewatski. Ramesar's real problem may lie with anybody who looks like Deputy Commissioner Stephen Williams or Assistant Commissioner Terry Young. And by adopting the cause, that may be Nizam's problem too.
And we do not know whether it is Ramesar who feels threatened and insecure or it is second division police officers who feel that way. It might also be that Ramesar is saying to the COP that Indian police officers from the second division feel threatened and insecure when they face groups and bodies which do not mirror, with perfection, the ethnic proportions of the society.
Now if Ramesar feels threatened when he does not have his minimum 40 per cent Indians around him, it is amazing that he even contested the Second Division Association's presidency, out of which he became the association's first President of Indian origin.
Now having been elected by what must have included a fair amount of non-Indian votes, Ramesar must feel threatened and insecure at every Executive and Central Committee meeting of the association. After all Ramesar is one of two Indians on the association's eight-member Executive. And non-Indians outnumber Indians by a margin of 62 to 5 on the association's Central Committee.
It is remarkable that, so horribly outnumbered in ethnic composition at the Executive and Central Committee levels of the police association, Ramesar manages to get anything done: unless ethnic composition does not stand in the way of decision-making within the association. If that is so, then Ramesar may know that it is possible for right decisions to be made whatever the ethnicity or ethnic composition of public decision makers. And when decision-making is affected by institutional bias or other discriminatory factors, the robust judicial review process provides an opportunity for redress.
Or has Ramesar, for the selfishness of his ascent to the first division, tapped ethnic proportionality to suit his cause? And he is willing to ignore the fact that he is able to serve effectively in and represent the second division association in spite of the Executive being 75 per cent non-Indian and the Central Executive being 92 per cent non-Indian.
Going forward, the politicians are free to influence the ethnic composition of the Promotions Board. Hand-pick a Director of Human Resources; select the "right" senior officer from the Ministry of National Security and persuade the Commissioner on the choice of "independent" consultant and they have three out of five.
But however you deal with ethnic proportionality you end up facing an indeterminable and growing "mixed" segment in the country. In this Mohammed-Ramesar doctrine of proportionality, will they resort to blood analysis using genetic markers and blood science for recruitment and appointments? And what of the other debates: with Hindus outnumbering Muslims 23 to six per cent, Ramesar may want it to be called the Ramesar-Mohammed doctrine of proportionality and push Hindus ahead. If it comes to that, at least Nizam Mohammed has his fool's bauble, as Cromwell described it.
Next week I return to Part 2 of my discussion on the health sector.
* Clarence Rambharat is a
university lecturer and lawyer.
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Kamla: Hard decisions needed on Nizam issue
By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON.
Wednesday, March 30 2011
HARD decisions sometimes need to be taken, and this will be done in the interest of preserving social cohesion,” Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday as she responded to questions about the controversy surrounding Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman Nizam Mohammed’s statement of ethnic imbalances in the police service.
Persad-Bissessar met with President George Maxwell Richards from 11.30 am at Knowsley, Queen’s Park for about 45 minutes yesterday. She told reporters that she normally met with the President in accordance with the Constitution and meetings usually take place on Tuesdays.
“We discussed matters of public concern but I will not be at liberty to disclose the details of that conversation. What I will say is that I will do whatever I have to do to ensure we do not divide the people of TT.”
Her comments came a day after a release from her office roundly condemned and castigated Mohammed for his ‘racial imbalance’ utterances which he made last week while speaking before a Joint Select Committee of Parliament.
Persad-Bissessar reminded that during the election campaign and “conversations with the people were with respect to equity and justice for all.” She said the partnership was broad based and reflected the face of the society.
“So whatever I do I will do the best that I can to hold the society together. Sometimes we have to take hard decisions. I will take those decisions if I have to and that is all I can say on this matter at this time.” Pressed further, she said Mohammed’s fate is not in her hands. “Under the law such issues fall, constitutionally within the purview of His Excellency.”
She said the President would be guided by Act 6 of 2006 which sets out the criteria to be used if a member of a Service Commission has to be removed. “As I say, those are matters within the discretion of His Excellency and totally out of my hands. Asked if she recommended the revocation of Mohammed’s appointment, Persad-Bissessar said she was “not at liberty to disclose discussions I had with His Excellency.”
At a press briefing also yesterday, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said he met with President Richards reaffirming the Opposition’s view that Mohammed’s appointment should be revoked.
Yesterday, Labour Minister Errol McLeod added his voice to the list of persons condemning Mohammed for his comments by saying: “I condemn out of hand, the position taken by Mr Mohammed. Indeed the strains of (his) lamentations will see him imprisoned in the same facility in which Weston ‘Cro-Cro’ Rawlins might be residing at this time for his equally racist song ‘Compare and Contrast’.”
Mohammed could not be reached for comment yesterday despite repeated calls to his cellular phone and office phone.
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Brothers and Sisters... something doh seem right with Nizam's statements...
My dad worked vigorously for him in 1986... de man even give meh fadder ah shout out in Parliament. Why is that significant, my father an indian married a black woman. De amounta pressure my fadder has faced for falling in love with a creole woman. My fadder was sensitive to prejudice... he love he wife... so if Nizam even hinted as being racist in any form, meh fadder would have dropped him like a hot potato. He would ah tap nizam head like ah tabla....
During the last election on the PP page and Kamla's page people praised her, de said is "we" time... People say on she page that "ni@@er" time done... I wish I made this shyte up. However she failed to address this, since it was not a wholly UNC or Indian effort... Yet nothing was done as this behavior has continued.
I wonder is this was some sort of follow fashion Gimmick since the US Justice department in collaboration with AG Holder, released a report that the no. of US military's Generals currently serving did not reflect the current ethnic make up of the US.... and a few days later Nizam makes de same statement about a branch of our Protective forces..... People does be chameleon or dey does change, May be Nizam do so. or may be dey throw him under de bus.
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Brothers and Sisters... something doh seem right with Nizam's statements...
My dad worked vigorously for him in 1986... de man even give meh fadder ah shout out in Parliament. Why is that significant, my father an indian married a black woman. De amounta pressure my fadder has faced for falling in love with a creole woman. My fadder was sensitive to prejudice... he love he wife... so if Nizam even hinted as being racist in any form, meh fadder would have dropped him like a hot potato. He would ah tap nizam head like ah tabla....
During the last election on the PP page and Kamla's page people praised her, de said is "we" time... People say on she page that "ni@@er" time done... I wish I made this shyte up. However she failed to address this, since it was not a wholly UNC or Indian effort... Yet nothing was done as this behavior has continued.
I wonder is this was some sort of follow fashion Gimmick since the US Justice department under in collaboration with AG Holder, released a report that the no. of US military's Generals currently serving did not reflect the current ethnic make up of the US.... and a few days later Nizam makes de same statement about a branch of our Protective forces..... People does be chameleon or dey does change, May be Nizam do so. or may be dey throw him under de bus.
I 2 had Nizam as a noble fella because he did not join club 88 and went back wit Bas when he mash up NAR. But when Flex call him out early in d thread I say eh eh I was wrong bout d fella. Flex doh call out peeps so if Flex say he is a goat I goin wit Flex. So far Flex correct like dat.
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Brothers and Sisters... something doh seem right with Nizam's statements...
My dad worked vigorously for him in 1986... de man even give meh fadder ah shout out in Parliament. Why is that significant, my father an indian married a black woman. De amounta pressure my fadder has faced for falling in love with a creole woman. My fadder was sensitive to prejudice... he love he wife... so if Nizam even hinted as being racist in any form, meh fadder would have dropped him like a hot potato. He would ah tap nizam head like ah tabla....
During the last election on the PP page and Kamla's page people praised her, de said is "we" time... People say on she page that "ni@@er" time done... I wish I made this shyte up. However she failed to address this, since it was not a wholly UNC or Indian effort... Yet nothing was done as this behavior has continued.
I wonder is this was some sort of follow fashion Gimmick since the US Justice department in collaboration with AG Holder, released a report that the no. of US military's Generals currently serving did not reflect the current ethnic make up of the US.... and a few days later Nizam makes de same statement about a branch of our Protective forces..... People does be chameleon or dey does change, May be Nizam do so. or may be dey throw him under de bus.
I dunno Nizam so I can't say whether the man racist or not... what I would say is that I don't believe his statements were racist. Nizam was addressing the ethnic underrepresentation of Indians in the Police force, which is a legitimate concern, but both what he said, and the manner in which he went about it was foolish.
First off, from even passing observation it is plain to see that there are FAR fewer police officers of Indian descent relative to those of African descent. Fuhget about de panyols, chinee and local whites. But we know that there are legitimate reasons for that and a couple commenters (Dana Seetahal being one... love dat woman) who make mention of the fact that many "Indians" (Trinis of Indian descent, but dat too long to keep typing) didn't see the public sector as a viable option... just as many didn't view sports as a viable option. Now lest some accuse me of making sweeping generalizations, note I only say that "many"... I can't even say "most"... I can only speak from personal and anecdotal observation. For many Indians it seems as though entrepreneurship was the better route.
Nizam also say that Indians don't feel safe or wouldn't feel safe (something so) unless the representation balances out. Far be it for me to put words in his mouth... but I think what he is addressing is a lack of confidence in the constabulary unless you see faces that look like your own. Now whether we want to address the accuracy of that statement is another matter, but it is a fair observation, people feel better about those in authority when they see themselves reflected in the make up. Now Nizam say the genesis of all of this is Sgt. Ramesar's letter... but Ramesar has since made clear that he was speaking not of the ethnic makeup of the force, but rather of the Promotion Advisory Board. So that's yet another valid criticism of Mohammed, his statement was both clumsy and lacking in foundation. But does that make him racist? Rather than say "not enough Indians" his fateful mistake was saying "too many Africans"... I honestly think he misspoke.
Another reason why some of the criticism is valid has to do with the forum for which he chose to make it, and the forum through which he proposed to correct the imbalance. The PSC is an oversight body and has no mandate to go about making personnel and other changes within the force. The fact that he pledged to correct the ethnic imbalance with the help of Parliament was also troubling because it gives rise to the inference that he was acting with the approval of at least some in Parliament. This by itself is revealing, particularly in light of Fitzroy Fredericks charge that the AG raised similar concerns to him, in the presence of the PM. Asked about it now, Kamliar has deflected the question by saying it should be asked of Anand, since he was the one who raised it. Why?? Are you not the political leader of his party? Are you not the leader of the government of which he is part? Does he not serve under you? Are you not at least in part vicariously liable for actions taken in his official capacity... as you are with any other cabinet members who serve under you?
I was very distrusting of the PP government when they came to power... largely because of the presence of Volney and Warner. Some of my concerns were eased due to the involvement of Dookeran and Kamla. Sad to say Volney and Warner now appear to be the least of our concerns... Volney has been muffled and Jack is actually starting to look better by the day. Dookeran was been punted aside while Kamla runs the three-ring circus that is her government, and saying that she 'runs' it is actually being quite charitable. She seems more interested in the trappings of the office (with the focus on her wardrobe options and the foreign junkets) than in governance, and when pressed on the latter she has deflected, distracted from and danced around responsibility and accountability. Hers has been management by error and omission and frankly she has been a resounding disappointment, and quickly become a disgrace.
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Nizam ignores calls to resign
...‘I was not reckless’
Richard Lord
Chairman of the Police Service Commission Nizam Mohammed says he is not about to resign in the wake of public calls for him to do so. “I am not going anywhere…The work of the commission continues and I intend to carry on with my work,” he said. Mohammed broke his silence during an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, 24-hours after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said his future would be determined by President George Maxwell Richards. Both Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley met separately with President Richards on Tuesday in the wake of Mohammed controversial statement about an ethnic imbalance in the T&T Police Service.
Persad-Bissessar insisted that Mohammed was reckless and was seeking to divide the nation by his remarks. But Mohammed said he did not share that view. He suggested that his critics should ask the chairman of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament (JSC) if he was being reckless, adding that he would not have been allowed to be reckless at such a meeting. He said: “I was not reckless and irresponsible,” as was being claimed by the PM. Mohammed said he got a copy of Hansard (official record of what he said) and he cannot see how he was being reckless. He said he had not seen the newspaper reports of the meeting.
“I cannot see how people could conclude that I was reckless after reading my comments,” he added.
Mohammed said the controversy had not affected the operations of the commission “in the least.”
He said if yesterday was not a public holiday, the commission would have met, but the next meeting was likely to be set for next week. Mohammed said on Monday he met with Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and ACP Fitzroy Fredericks. According to the former House Speaker, the meeting was “warm and cordial.” He said the matter was discussed and “they fully understood my concerns…The meeting was held without any malice to anyone.” Rowley, who had objected to Mohammed’s appointment, said he was confident that President Richards would act and revoke the Police Service Commission chairman’s appointment.
Controversy brews
Friday, March 25: Mohammed raises the issue of ethnic imbalance in the hierarchy of the Police Service at a meeting with the Joint Select Committee. Sunday March 26: ACP Fitzroy Fredericks condemns Mohammed for his comment, saying he should be removed as Police Service Commission chairman; Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs said he did not agree with Mohammed’s claim that the composition of the Police Service did not reflect the society.
Sunday March 27: Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj criticises Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for not taking immediate action to have Mohammed’s appointment revoked. Monday March 28: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar issues a statement describing Mohammed statement as reckless and divisive. She said it did not represent the view of her People’s Partnership Government. Tuesday March 29: President George Maxwell Richards meets separately with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Persad-Bissessar told reporters that Mohammed’s future was in the hands of President Richards, while Rowley said after the meeting that he was confident the President would revoke Mohammed’s appointment for his irresponsible behaviour in office. Wednesday March 30 (yesterday): Mohammed, in his first public comment on the controversy, said he was not about to resign. He said the work of the commission continues. He said he could not understand how people could claim that he was being reckless. He said he met with the Commissioner of Police and ACP Fitzroy Fredericks and “they fully understand.”
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NIZAM STANDS HIS GROUND
Thursday, March 31 2011
T&T Newsday.
DESPITE FACING an ever growing mountain of calls and extreme pressure for him to quit as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Nizam Mohammed yesterday stood his ground, telling Newsday he intends to complete his three-year term as PSC head.
“I am focused on my work and I have every intention of completing the three-year term as chairman of the Police Service Commission,” Mohammed said, adding that he continues to function despite widespread calls for him to demit office.
Mohammed is facing a storm of condemnation and howls for him to go from several quarters including the Peoples Partnership Government, the Opposition and several trade unions for comments he made before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of parliament about an ethnic imbalance in the Police Service.
“I remain focused on my work (as PSC chairman) and I am answerable to the Head of State (President George Maxwell Richards),” Mohammed said. Asked whether he felt the calls for him to leave were impeding his ability to do his job or pressuring him to tender his resignation, Mohammed replied: “Not in the least.”
Mohammed also disclosed that he has since received a copy of the Hansard report from the JSC meeting on March 25 when he made his controversial remarks and is studying them before he makes any detailed comment on this issue. Newsday was reliably informed that Mohammed has been consulting with lawyers in San Fernando over the last few days about the contents of the Hansard report. Sources said the lawyers who Mohammed have consulted have thus far indicated to him that he committed no breach to justify removal from office.
Following meetings with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday, Government officials indicated that President Richards himself is seeking legal advice regarding what action he can take with respect to Mohammed. Officials said preliminary advice given to Richards suggests that the President has no legal ground on which to revoke Mohammed’s appointment but Richards is seeking additional legal advice before making a decision.
Government officials said during her meeting with the President, Persad-Bissessar told Richards she had no issue with Mohammed quoting statistical data regarding the hierarchy of the Police Service but had grave concerns when Mohammed went further to speak about correcting a perceived ethnic imbalance in the service and seeking Parliament’s protection to do so. Yesterday, after she spoke to a crowd at Skinner Park in San Fernando on the occasion of the sixth annual Sports and Family Day of the Baptist Union of Trinidad and Tobago, Persad- Bissessar reiterated to Newsday that it was solely up to President Richards to decide Mohammed’s fate. Asked if Government had made a decision on the Mohammed affair, Persad-Bissessar said: “These are matters for the President and we await further discussions with him. As you know, it is a matter of law. I say may the Constitution be your guide and your sanctuary. So there are constitutional issues involved which lie solely in the discretion of His Excellency.
“The President indicated that he was seeking legal advice and by Thursday (today) he should have that legal advice and make a decision accordingly. It is out of my hands,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Prior to her meeting with President Richards on Tuesday, a strongly worded statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday said: “Mr Mohammed must be held accountable for his inflammatory and unwise remarks which in no way represent the views of the Government.”
Sources claim this statement was a subtle hint to Mohammed from the Government to resign.
Also meeting with the President on Tuesday was Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who opined that Mohammed was unlikely to resign and called upon the President to remove him from office.
Section 122 (2) of the Constitution states that members of the PSC are appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader. Section 122 (1) of the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2006 states: “The President shall after consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, terminate the appointment of a member of the PSC if the member: fails to attend four consecutive meetings without reasonable cause; is convicted of a criminal offence in any court; becomes infirm in mind or body; fails to perform his duty in a responsible or timely manner; fails to absent himself from meetings of the PSC where there is a conflict of interest; demonstrates a lack of competence to perform his duties or misbehaves in public office.”
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner and Labour Minister Errol McLeod have openly criticised Mohammed’s remarks, with Warner saying that Mohammed should resign. Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma who previously defended Mohammed before Persad-Bissessar’s meeting with Richards, yesterday indicated that he indicated a personal view at that time. Sharma said he agrees totally with the position taken by the Prime Minister on this issue.
“When the Prime Minister speaks, she speaks on behalf of the Cabinet. When she speaks, she is supreme,” Sharma stated. The other four members of the PSC - Addison Khan, Martin George, Kenneth Parker and Jacqueline Cheeseman all distanced themselves from Mohammed’s comments during the JSC meeting on March 25.
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I jus realize wrong and strong is a cultural trait
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Like I said last year this gov't has a fixed agenda and it is based on race
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Ladies and Gentlemen look out for the latest episode of startreck when Nizam would be acting as Klingon Mohammed .
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Like I said last year this gov't has a fixed agenda and it is based on race
Evrybody who lives here knows dat people who livin foreign know betta than we who livin here.
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Me eh know bout that sis....I basin tings on what the AG was writin before he was AG...he relationship with Sat....Sat relationship with Nizam doh let the hindu and moslem ting fool ya
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Me eh know bout that sis....I basin tings on what the AG was writin before he was AG...he relationship with Sat....Sat relationship with Nizam doh let the hindu and moslem ting fool ya
Nutten bout no muslim and hindu. U c d jokers in d cabinet Tim ethnic cleansing Gopeesingh. All yuh remember what Kamla say when dey get rid ah Sharma? Almost verbatim what Nizam say.
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PLOT AGAINST ME
Nizam grants 'Express' exclusive sit-down interview at his home:
By by Anna Ramdass
Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Nizam Mohammed believes there is a political plot by some members of Government to hound him out of office to prevent him from bringing changes to the composition of the Police Service.
He said he intends to raise this issue in his closed-door meeting with President George Maxwell Richards which is expected to take place today.
"I feel like former chief justice Sat Sharma when the political pressure is being brought on me to demit an independent office, an office which politicians should not be interfering," Mohammed told the Express yesterday in an interview at his Otaheite, South Trinidad, home.
Sharma had claimed that former prime minister Patrick Manning and members of his government were intent on hounding him out of office after he was accused of interfering in two pending criminal cases—involving former prime minister Basdeo Panday and neurosurgeon Prof Vijay Naraynsingh. An impeachment tribunal appointed by the President subsequently cleared Sharma, who has since demitted office.
Calls for Mohammed's resignation and removal as chairman were made after he spoke of an ethnic imbalance in the Police Service at a Joint Select Committee meeting in Parliament last week saying that he, as Commission chairman, intended to address this issue with the help of Parliament.
His comments sparked condemnation from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Government Ministers such as Jack Warner and Errol McLeod, Senators David Abdulah and Therese Baptiste Cornelis, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and various other sectors in society.
However, some Government Ministers such as Chandresh Sharma and Roodal Moonilal felt the issue should be debated as Mohammed had factual statistics and no attempts should be made to shoot the messenger.
Mohammed contended that there are no grounds to remove him under the provisions of the Constitution.
"Do you believe you misbehaved in office?" he was asked.
"Absolutely not! There are no grounds to remove me."
Mohammed added, "What is happening now is that the political pressure is being brought on me. There is a ganging up of the politicians from both sides of the divide to see whether they can circumvent the provisions of the Constitution but the President is a very level-headed person and I don't see him trying to undermine the constitutional provisions. The only way I can demit office is if I voluntarily resign and that is very hard to do."
Asked if he felt betrayed in any way by comments made from Government members, Mohammed, a former leader of the political party the National Alliance for Reconstruction and Speaker of the House of Representatives, said, "It is the politics in the Government that have really caused this situation to escalate. It shows very clearly that there are people in public office who do not have the capacity to handle sensitive national issues in a rationale way because if I am gone the problem remains."
Asked his views on the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister which condemned his statements in Parliament: "I thought about that and I thought maybe one of her scribes wrote that without any careful reading as to what I said in the Parliament."
Persad-Bissessar repeated on Wednesday that Mohammed's statements were reckless and intended to divide the nation.
As for criticisms made by Congress of the People chairman Joseph Toney, Mohammed said, "I thought that Winston Dookeran who is the leader of that party was concerned about these inequities in the society."
Asked whether he held discussions about the racial imbalance in the Police Service with any politicians prior to raising it in Parliament, Mohammed said, "I do not relate with politicians. What I did, I wrote to the Attorney General (Anand Ramlogan). I sent him a formal letter from the Commission concerning a review of the selection process for Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. He responded saying they intended to change the legislation and the PSC should make recommendations."
When Mohammed raised the issue of an ethnic imbalance, three of the Commission's commissioners—Martin George, Jacqueline Cheeseman and Kenneth Parker—raised objections and distanced themselves from the chairman's views.
Mohammed revealed yesterday that he was shocked out of his life, because they all knew about the issue as it was placed on the agenda for discussion two weeks prior to the Parliament meeting.
"Since I put that on the agenda everybody had an opportunity to say whether they wanted it to go forward or not and nobody told me anything," said Mohammed.
"That was most alarming and distasteful for three members, for one member to speak on behalf of himself and two others, it showed clearly they had ganged up and that they had caucused before but excluded the other two commissioners including the chairman and that to my mind is treachery and a stab in the back," he said.
Asked: "Can you continue to work with them?"
"Yes. I can do it regardless because I see that as a one-off incident, easily placed behind me and I intend to move on," said Mohammed.
Both Persad-Bissessar and Rowley had visited Richards on the issue on Tuesday, it is now in his hands to determine whether Mohammed stays or goes.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PLOT_AGAINST_ME-119035629.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PLOT_AGAINST_ME-119035629.html)
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.....and I intend to move on," said Mohammed.
dais de new catch phrase in T&T or wha
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Presiden Maxweell jeopardizing the office of the President!
Nizam is guilty of bring his office into disrepute, and he committed misconduct with the police incident.
The President has a right to remove him!
The President's actions CANNOT be legally challenged in a court according to T&T laW!
Nizam is a racist.
Nizam has made similar calls in the past and he sated racist shit to Selwyn Cudjoe.
Kamla never signed that press release..her office put it out, and as no signed it..can it really be construed as a position of the government...despite her making statements, members of her cabinet proffer different opinions on the self same matter.
Nizam is defiant and he must have some silent support within the government for him to remain so!
Nizam is dead wrong about the TTPS...anyone remotely awars of the TTPS knows bajans used to run it, and as they left the top spots were eventually filled with locals.
The police service is like a pyramid when it comes to promotions. in that there are tries...the longer you stay in and work hard, the less opportunity there is for advancement as there is less space at the top.
Nizam is wrong as Indians traditionally did not join the service in numbers anywhere as near to afro-trinis...naturally, as seniors get promoted it is natural to have more aftro-trinis climbing based on sheer numbers.
In fact I would asy that the indians are OVER REPRESENTED at the Superintendent level as afro trinis out number indo-trinis by a smuch as 37-1 in the police service but at the superintendent level the ratio is only 2-1.
Nizam is saying he is gpoing to promote indians over afro-trinis and tthose afro trinis now in the senior positions got their because the police service is racist and did not promote indians!
Mizam is suggesting that indians are more intelligent than afro-trinis because not that the exams are being written, he expects the balance to be more even...as more indians will pass and have to get promoted!
Next thing they will start saying that all the nurses are black, BUT again...historically, indians did not send their girl children to be nurses in any large numbers...Muslims especially did not want their daughters to be touching men, as part of the tenets of their treligions and hindu girls were typically expected to stay at home....steups.
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and for those who feel I talking shit when I say yuh cyar take d ePresident to court for his decisions...like how Nizam talking about he lawyers he consulting with...check this from T*T Constitution:
IMMUNITIES OF PRESIDENT
38.- 1. Subject to section 36, the President shall not be answerable to any court for the performance of the functions of his office or for any act done by him in the performance of those functions.
2. Without the fiat of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the President in any court during his term of office and no process for the President's arrest or imprisonment shall be issued from anu court or shall be executed during his term of office.
3. No civil proceedings in which relief is claimed against the President shall be instituted during his term of office in any court in respect of any act done by him in his personal capacity whether before or after he entered the office of President, except on the condition specified in subsection (4).
4. The condition referred to in subsection (3) is that two months must elapse after a notice in writing has been served on him either by registered post or by being left at his office stating the nature of the proceedings, the cause of action, the name, description and address of the party instituting the proceedings and the relief claimed.
5. A period of limitation prescribed by law shall not run in favour of the President in respect of a civil action during the period of two months after a notice in respect of that action has been served on him under subsection (4).
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I eh expect Max to do one damn thing!! This is the same Pres who when told of plagiarism by one of the Integrity Commissioners he had appointed (cyar remember the man name now), remarked that "dais small thing man, dat does happen all the time in academia" (ah paraphrasing dey).
Nizam should not have been appointed in the first place, he WAS AN ACTIVE POLITICIAN AT THE TIME AND STILL IS!!! He fellow COP'er sell him out on Thursday. Big mouth Anil announced to all an sundry at the post Cabinet news conference that Nizam is a member of the COP "100%" the big mouth one remarked....
Then there was the incident with the police officers in December. But mih eh expect winer boy to do one damn thing. Not one blasted thing!! steups!!!
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and for those who feel I talking shit when I say yuh cyar take d ePresident to court for his decisions...like how Nizam talking about he lawyers he consulting with...check this from T*T Constitution:
IMMUNITIES OF PRESIDENT
38.- 1. Subject to section 36, the President shall not be answerable to any court for the performance of the functions of his office or for any act done by him in the performance of those functions.
2. Without the fiat of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against the President in any court during his term of office and no process for the President's arrest or imprisonment shall be issued from anu court or shall be executed during his term of office.
3. No civil proceedings in which relief is claimed against the President shall be instituted during his term of office in any court in respect of any act done by him in his personal capacity whether before or after he entered the office of President, except on the condition specified in subsection (4).
4. The condition referred to in subsection (3) is that two months must elapse after a notice in writing has been served on him either by registered post or by being left at his office stating the nature of the proceedings, the cause of action, the name, description and address of the party instituting the proceedings and the relief claimed.
5. A period of limitation prescribed by law shall not run in favour of the President in respect of a civil action during the period of two months after a notice in respect of that action has been served on him under subsection (4).
All this means is that you can't hold the President legally responsible for his acts... doesn't mean that his actions are not subject to judicial review (as you suggest), or that Nizam can't appeal to a court for redress if he feels he's been wronged.
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OFF THE HOOK
No decision following meeting between President and PSC chairman
By Anna Ramdass
No decision was made yesterday by President George Maxwell Richards on the fate of Nizam Mohammed as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), following a meeting to discuss his controversial statements of an ethnic imbalance in the Police Service.
This, however, does not mean he is off the hook as the Express understands both sides will seek legal advice, and discussions will continue.
Until a decision is made by Richards, Mohammed heads back to work.
Mohammed arrived half an hour early for yesterday's meeting, which was carded for 2.30 p.m. Two hours later, he walked out of President's House wearing a big smile and in good spirits. He removed his jacket, walked towards his SUV and was about to leave when he was faced with a barrage of questions from the media, who were gathered behind the fence.
The burning question of whether the appointment was revoked was asked, to which Mohammed, with an air of confidence, immediately responded, "No."
Questioned about his two-hour talk with the President, Mohammed said: "We were discussing the issue that is at hand and the discussions are continuing."
Mohammed reiterated he did nothing wrong, and when questioned, made it quite clear he never had the expectation the President would move to remove him yesterday.
"No. I didn't come expecting that my appointment was going to be revoked; I did not do anything wrong," he said.
Asked if the President agreed that he did nothing wrong, Mohammed responded: "Whether he agrees with me or not? He hasn't expressed an opinion on that."
Mohammed said he does not know when will be his next meeting with the President and stressed he was not at liberty to divulge their discussions.
Questioned about how he felt about the criticism from some sectors of society, Mohammed, with a big smile, said: "How do I look?"
Asked whether he would have done things differently, given the controversy that erupted over his comments, Mohammed said, "I'll have to think about that; I haven't given it a thought."
Asked if he will be going back to work, Mohammed replied: "As usual."
Told tomorrow (today) was Saturday, he said, "I have work to do."
Asked if he has any plans to resign, Mohammed said, "I beg your pardon? Plans to resign?"
He then got into his vehicle and was driven out of the President's House.
At a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting of Parliament last Friday, Mohammed raised the issue of an ethnic balance in the Police Service, saying there were no Indians at the top levels of the system and under his chairmanship, with the help of Parliament, he would work to address this.
His comments sparked outrage, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Government members and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley condemning it. Calls were made for his removal and resignation.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Express on Thursday, Mohammed said he believed there was a plot by some members of Government to hound him out of office. He said he was not a racist and his comments were misinterpreted as he would not single-handedly move to ensure Indians are placed in key positions in the Police Service.
On Tuesday, both Persad-Bissessar and Rowley met with the President to discuss the matter. Rowley had raised objections from the inception when Mohammed's name was brought to Parliament for approval as chairman of the PSC.
Yesterday, Rowley told the Express he was confident the President would make the best decision.
"I am confident that the President will act to protect the presidency and not have a repeat of the Integrity Commission issue," he said.
This is not the first time Richards has had to deal with a matter of this nature. The President had ignored calls to revoke the appointment of the then Integrity Commission in early 2009 over how they treated the investigation into the Landate matter where allegations of corruption were made against Rowley.
They subsequently had to resign after a court ruling in February of that year found them guilty of misfeasance of public office in the matter.
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I eh expect Max to do one damn thing!! This is the same Pres who when told of plagiarism by one of the Integrity Commissioners he had appointed (cyar remember the man name now), remarked that "dais small thing man, dat does happen all the time in academia" (ah paraphrasing dey).
Nizam should not have been appointed in the first place, he WAS AN ACTIVE POLITICIAN AT THE TIME AND STILL IS!!! He fellow COP'er sell him out on Thursday. Big mouth Anil announced to all an sundry at the post Cabinet news conference that Nizam is a member of the COP "100%" the big mouth one remarked....
Then there was the incident with the police officers in December. But mih eh expect winer boy to do one damn thing. Not one blasted thing!! steups!!!
and imagine nizam had the gall to say that "..politicians should not interfere in the PSC, because its an independant body.."
jokers.
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I eh expect Max to do one damn thing!! This is the same Pres who when told of plagiarism by one of the Integrity Commissioners he had appointed (cyar remember the man name now), remarked that "dais small thing man, dat does happen all the time in academia" (ah paraphrasing dey).
Nizam should not have been appointed in the first place, he WAS AN ACTIVE POLITICIAN AT THE TIME AND STILL IS!!! He fellow COP'er sell him out on Thursday. Big mouth Anil announced to all an sundry at the post Cabinet news conference that Nizam is a member of the COP "100%" the big mouth one remarked....
Then there was the incident with the police officers in December. But mih eh expect winer boy to do one damn thing. Not one blasted thing!! steups!!!
and imagine nizam had the gall to say that "..politicians should not interfere in the PSC, because its an independant body.."
jokers.
WE SHALL RISE
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you can be a member of a political party and not be a politician
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you can be a member of a political party and not be a politician
De man was an active politician. Rowley quoted from a document (a newspaper article I think) when he was nominated to make his case that Nizam should not have been appointed because he was still active in politics. Is not like he was in the COP but not taking a front row seat. He was active in their affairs at least up to 2007, at least.....dais just de other day....Nizam and dem on shyte!!!!...
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In case you missed it....
Nizam’s conspiratorial theories
Published: Thu, 2011-03-31 22:51
Prof Selwyn R Cudjoe
On January 20, 2011 I wrote an article entitled, “Mother Trinidad and Tobago” in which I strongly rejected the People’s Partnership’s position on multiculturalism. I emphasised that Dr Williams’ cultural policy as enunciated in his “Mother Trinidad and Tobago Speech” seemed a better position from which to base a national cultural policy rather than the nebulous, ill-informed multicultural thrust that the PP adopted. On January 20 I received the following response from Nizam Mohammed:
“Eric Williams and Africans like yourself had this master plan to eliminate the Indian fact from this country, so you all set about to import Africans from the small islands lock, stock and barrel, without a second thought, if some were criminal elements or not, did not care were (sic) they will live, or how they will work or eat, as long as they shored up the African population, and voted for the dominance of all Indians, by forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats. Well it has backfired, those same people make up the majority of poor in this country (because only poor [people] migrate for better living conditions) and are holding this country to ransom, especially their own African brothers.
“Nine out of every ten crimes committed in this country by an African is against his own kind. You and your kind refused to see, if it was not for Indians, who rent their homes and land to so many of those new arrivals there will be plenty more people living on the streets.” “You sir, continue to stir up this racial hatred, but rest assured, Indians know how to give back as they get, for whatever is dished out.”
I was shocked at the conspiratorial nature of this charge. I was shocked that this thinking was coming from a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the highest legislative body in our land. He supported multiculturalism and argued that “as human beings, we all have two signatures that follow us around all our lives, our nationality (where we were born or reside, eg Trinidad) and our race (Asian, African, etc.) We can change our nationality every Monday morning, (This is why we are allowed dual-citizenship). A passport today is worth the same as the paper a ship registration is worth, nothing.”
“To prove this point just let the USA open its doors to visa-less entry from here and half of the people will be out of here by Monday morning.”
“But our race. A stranger coming into contact with one of us for the first time does not see a doctor, lawyer, or our religion. What he recognises immediately is our race, so why can’t you?” “Be proud of who you are, and forget statements like ‘There is no Mother India, or Mother Africa’ or ‘Don’t think for one minute you will not have to give up your heritage for Caricom to survive.’ We live in a global village now, so celebrate your heritage.” Nizam’s real problem lies with the context of his statement and his inability to understand that statements can mean only within a given context. When Dr Williams argued there can be no Mother Africa or no Mother India he did not mean that one should be unmindful of one’s original heritage. He meant to argue that people have multiple identities. although each identity comes to the fore depending on the situation.
Nizam fails to understand that one can be an African and Asante (an ethnic group) simultaneously. So that when one looks at an African he may see a black skin; when he looks at an Asante he also sees a black skin. But within that black skin there are at least two identities that have nothing to do with the colour of his skin. The first (his Africanness) has to do with his geography (he is African because he is born in Africa) and he is Asante because of his culture; that is, the particular way in which he organises his life. It is therefore a folly of tremendous proportions to imprison someone in their colour or their race with the bland statement that we should be “proud of who you are and forget statements like ‘There is no more Mother India, or Mother Africa.”
It is precisely because Nizam is trapped irredeemably within his race that he is unable to see that Trinidad and Tobago cannot be only about race and that when see racial imbalances within the society or in any of the professions, we ought to inquire why it is so and how it came to be the way it is.
The real problem comes down to this: should a citizen who is tasked with looking over the fairness within the Public Service be so trapped in his racial identity that he is unable to see beyond that boundary. And should a person so tasked impute derogatory motives to those who are not of his own “race?”
How comfortable are we with an official placed in Nizam’s position who is informed by a philosophy that says “Africans in this country had a master plan to eliminate the Indian fact in the country;” that Africans sought “dominance over Indians;” that calypso and pan “are not even indigenous” to Trinidad and Tobago and that Indians know “how to give back as much as they get, for whatever is being dished out to them.” Nizam’s statement was/is not a casual statement. It is noteworthy that his fellow commissioners let him know that he was/is on his own with that particular brand of thinking. And while I am not included to condemn him, (he is free to say whatever he wants to say) I find it difficult to allow someone with those particular views to be the chairman of one of the most important commissions in the land.
Nizam’s statement demands that all of us, myself included, look at our beliefs and biases and ask how well they conduce to making Trinidad and Tobago a more harmonious and tolerant society in which to live and do such views bastardise our Trinidadian and Tobagonianness even as we take pride in our various heritages. Nizam is more concerned with practicing his Indianness. That is a good thing. However, he should not remain as the chairman of the Public Service Commission.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2011/03/31/nizam-s-conspiratorial-theories (http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2011/03/31/nizam-s-conspiratorial-theories)
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Oh great.
In case you missed it....
“Eric Williams and Africans like yourself had this master plan to eliminate the Indian fact from this country, so you all set about to import Africans from the small islands lock, stock and barrel, without a second thought, if some were criminal elements or not, did not care were (sic) they will live, or how they will work or eat, as long as they shored up the African population, and voted for the dominance of all Indians, by forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats. Well it has backfired, those same people make up the majority of poor in this country (because only poor [people] migrate for better living conditions) and are holding this country to ransom, especially their own African brothers.
“Nine out of every ten crimes committed in this country by an African is against his own kind. You and your kind refused to see, if it was not for Indians, who rent their homes and land to so many of those new arrivals there will be plenty more people living on the streets.” “You sir, continue to stir up this racial hatred, but rest assured, Indians know how to give back as they get, for whatever is dished out.”
Nizam’s statement demands that all of us, myself included, look at our beliefs and biases and ask how well they conduce to making Trinidad and Tobago a more harmonious and tolerant society in which to live and do such views bastardise our Trinidadian and Tobagonianness even as we take pride in our various heritages. Nizam is more concerned with practicing his Indianness. That is a good thing. However, he should not remain as the chairman of the Public Service Commission.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2011/03/31/nizam-s-conspiratorial-theories (http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2011/03/31/nizam-s-conspiratorial-theories)
Those points stood out for me.
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Oh and.....I heard about it...but didnt want to comment until i saw proof.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p1/triniBourbon/208788_156406924419131_100001494723732_335781_4362942_n.jpg)
Sounds about similar. Also makes sense of the other statements, even the unsigned one from the Office of the PM.
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Wow... great posts.
I argued earlier that I didn't think that Nizam was racist... but I ent so sure now nah. If he ent racist he sure as heck have some deep-seated prejudice in his heart against people of African descent. I've also never been much of a fan of Selwyn Cudjoe... probably more b/c of my own biases... but he writes a very powerful rebuttal of Nizam's thinking, although to his everlasting credit he softens the denunciation of the man himself.
As for Nizam... I am stunned by this:
"forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats"
I wonder what a man like Jit Samaroo would say about that? I'm sure there are other Trinis of Indian descent who have embraced both artforms, whose names I am ignorant of, who would similarly stand up in protest to such nonsense. Time for Nizam to pack he shit and ride out.
As for Kamla's statements from 2005, I understand the need for inclusivity, but to hold up the switch to the CCJ on the basis of racial politics is beyond absurd. I hope all who help put she where she is now proud of their handiwork. It is clear that Nizam wasn't speaking in a vacuum the whole time... and more and more it becomes apparent that Kamla and Anand were behind the scenes agitating as well.
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I wake up kinda stupidy this morning and read that article. As I came back to my senses I open the page again and the article was still there.This is unbelievable.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/uYvf8h1O5Xs
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"forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats"
I wonder what a man like Jit Samaroo would say about that? I'm sure there are other Trinis of Indian descent who have embraced both artforms, whose names I am ignorant of, who would similarly stand up in protest to such nonsense.
What about Bobbi Mohommed who use to lead Guiness Cavalier for some yrs well. They won Panorama when he was arranger.
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DEEKS you saying Jit what about his brothers and sisters the Samaroo kids .
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So does the pan belong to us or not?
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So does the pan belong to us or not?
dem fellas good eh
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One person I was waiting to hear from on this (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Accounting_for_imbalances-119132589.html)
PA, ah joining the Regiment," I announced, rather casually. "Whaaaaat?" my father Haniff screamed, Anil-like. "The Regiment? You mad! What you joinin' as?" he probed. He had known something about rank because I had been a member of the Cadet Force when I attended college.
"A private, Pa!" I replied, mischief written large on my face. "Boy, don't play the ass! I send you to college...make sacrifices...now you joinin' de army as a private?" He beckoned my mother to come listen to the nonsense their eldest son was talking. She joined in, despondent even before discussion continued.
Haniff was right, of course. My humble parents had strived to educate their five children. My sisters and brothers still attended primary school. I had had a pretty successful run at college, graduating in December 1962 with the Cambridge School Certificate, Grade I. I did not pursue Sixth Form studies because I wanted to help my father. I held a teaching job even as I sought scholarships on offer since I could not afford to pay for tertiary education.
The opportunity to enlist in the Regiment as an officer cadet came as heaven-sent. I told my parents nothing when I was invited to appear before the Commissions Board at Camp Ogden in 1963. I was the youngest hopeful, but I was also strong, confident and physically fit. The Board looked formidable. Besides written academic tests, we aspirants delivered five-minute addresses on selected topics and underwent challenges in the use of initiative.
I was somewhat surprised when I received a letter confirming that I had been selected for training at Sandhurst. I thought the other boys, besides being more mature than me, were very impressive. Because I was under 18, I would wait for more than a year before I was summoned to Teteron and told I should prepare to leave for England where I would undergo a two-year course. Upon graduation, I would hold the rank of second lieutenant.
It was only then that I informed my parents. I eventually explained to them the nature of the cadetship: I was enlisting as an officer-in-training, not as a private soldier. My father would later learn from "ah White man" at the sugar factory that Sandhurst was considered one of the finest military academies in the world. "Your son going off to Sandhurst?" the boss had asked the labourer, almost incredulously.
Afterwards, my father's stance towards my joining the army changed. He had envisaged his son moving into one of the more "acceptable" professions—maybe law, accounting or economics (I could not pursue medicine or engineering since I did not study the sciences). Still, my parents were apprehensive.
At the time, few Indians saw the Police Force or the Regiment as an option. Even boys who had failed to graduate from secondary schools repeated exams ad infinitum rather than join any of the services.
I hark back to that immediate post-independence period in the wake of the controversy that erupted when Nizam Mohammed made his injudicious statement about racial imbalances in the Police Service. What he said was factual. But it was not the whole truth. And that is what triggered the avalanche of condemnation that followed, especially when he added that he would seek to "redress these imbalances".
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, there were very few Indians in the Regiment—maybe five per cent of all ranks. I was the first and only Indian officer. In the Coast Guard, there were more, maybe 15 per cent. And in the Police Force there was a similar ratio. I should note that among the few police cadets who were sent abroad to be trained as officers, one was Indian. His name was Samson Phillips. I know he was Indian (or mostly Indian) because he was a teacher at the college I attended and a warrant officer in the school's cadet unit.
This imbalance in the police and the armed forces was not accidental. It was cultural. Most Indian parents, especially those who were devout Hindus or Muslims, saw their boys, should they choose to join these services, engaging in practices that violated their religious beliefs. For Muslims, the prospect that their sons would be exposed to pork (even if they did not eat it) was...well, haram. Hindus knew that beef was almost a staple in the services. That was unacceptable to their religious beliefs.
There was also the question of physical strength and fitness. Fewer Indian boys (than Africans) pursued these with passion.
I recall one Indian from San Juan (a Surajdeen, whose cousins in my village were my good friends), a muscular young man, who joined the West India Regiment in 1959 or thereabouts. Later, when I returned to the Regiment as a lieutenant, I met fitness freaks like Sergeant Boyin Ramnarine, and strongmen like Privates Isaac Ramlal and George Pran.
But we were more the exception than the rule. Generally, young Indian boys who were bright opted to pursue academic careers or join the civil or teaching service. Some went straight into their parents' businesses, which they would help build and eventually inherit. Those who failed to get past primary education, opted to become mechanics, work in the sugar or oil industries, or engage in farming or vending.
Given these ingrained imbalances, how Nizam expects to reverse them defies logic. If the race-profile of the Defence Force or the Police Service is skewed not through discrimination, but by people's choices, how do you redress that other than by naked racism?
—To be concluded
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Given these ingrained imbalances, how Nizam expects to reverse them defies logic. If the race-profile of the Defence Force or the Police Service is skewed not through discrimination, but by people's choices, how do you redress that other than by naked racism?
Talk done.
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Given these ingrained imbalances, how Nizam expects to reverse them defies logic. If the race-profile of the Defence Force or the Police Service is skewed not through discrimination, but by people's choices, how do you redress that other than by naked racism?
Talk done.
ENTTTTTTTTTTTTT
COSIGNNNNNNNN
:beermug:
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Given these ingrained imbalances, how Nizam expects to reverse them defies logic. If the race-profile of the Defence Force or the Police Service is skewed not through discrimination, but by people's choices, how do you redress that other than by naked racism?
Talk done.
And dahs wha I was alluding to when i posted on page 2.
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Given these ingrained imbalances, how Nizam expects to reverse them defies logic. If the race-profile of the Defence Force or the Police Service is skewed not through discrimination, but by people's choices, how do you redress that other than by naked racism?
Talk done.
And dahs wha I was alluding to when i posted on page 2.
I post long time when d story beak dat peeps 4get when Sat use 2 p boasting dat dey eh want no govt wuk dat they have business and dey chirren is Dr and lawyer.
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I have always made known my estimation for Raffique Shah... this is just further validating my respect and admiration for this man.
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So they could be appointed just so, just so but to remove them is stress......what de hell is this??!!
Did Nizam misbehave?
Constitutional experts assist President on thorny PSC issue
By Anna Ramdass
This is the sticking point for senior lawyers and experts retained by both President George Maxwell Richards and Mohammed hammering out arguments for and against both sides.
Did Mohammed go too far when he raised issue of an ethnic imbalance in the Police Service at a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting of the Parliament on March 25, and presented statistics showing that there were no Indians in top levels of the system?
Was he out of line to state further that he, together with the help of Parliament, would address this issue?
The President is expected to make a decision on the fate of Mohammed as PSC chairman some time this week.
According to the Constitution Amendment Act, misbehaviour in public office is one of the provisions listed by which a PSC member's appointment can be revoked.
Sources told the Express yesterday that this clause may be the avenue which the President will utilise to remove Mohammed.
Mohammed met with Richards on Friday for two hours and the Express was informed that Mohammed maintained he did nothing wrong by stating facts and further explained that he never meant that he would abuse or use his power to elevate Indians to the hierarchy of the Police Service.
"The only possible grounds for the President to consider the revocation of Mr Mohammed's appointment would be perhaps utilising the clause which deals with the misbehaviour in public office, and that would indeed be stretching the application of that principle," a source close to the case said yesterday.
"What he (Mohammed) did was put in the public domain factual information that he received. Are you saying therefore that raising factual information is misbehaving in office? The question is how do you make that assessment? What is the methodology that the President is going to use?"
The source noted that there is alleged misbehaviour by officials in public office and they continue to function. The source gave deputy director of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), Julie Brown, who is alleged to have embellished the resume of junior technician Reshmi Ramnarine, clearing the way for her to be appointed SSA head, as an example.
Ramnarine later resigned after it was revealed she was not qualified for the post, but Brown is still functioning in her position.
There is a growing legal opinion that there are no grounds by which the President can remove Mohammed, as expressed by senior counsel Israel Khan.
However, another source noted that misbehaviour can be cited given the public outrage that was sparked by Mohammed's comments.
Mohammed's comments were condemned by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Government members, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and MPs, as well members of other sectors of the society.
"His position is untenable. You have the Prime Minister, both Government and Opposition condemning him, most of the commissioners are against him, society is in uproar. Given the heat caused by his statements, whether he was misrepresented or not, his actions have triggered heat and affected the peace of this country," another source said yesterday.
In an exclusive report to the Express last week, Mohammed said he believes there was a plot by some members of the Government to hound him out of office. He also said he felt betrayed by fellow commissioners who raised objection when he spoke of an ethnic imbalance in the Parliament.
The Express understands that PSC commissioners Martin George, Jacqueline Cheeseman and Kenneth Parker have written to the President expressing their lack of confidence in Mohammed as chairman.
When contacted by the Express yesterday, George neither confirmed or denied this.
These three commissioners will hold a press conference today to raise further objections to statements made by Mohammed.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Did_Nizam_misbehave_-119161199.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Did_Nizam_misbehave_-119161199.html)
Winer boy Max, let me help yuh out......remember de two police officers Nizam disobeyed in December. Last time I checked that kinda like misbehaving in office....not so?? :-\
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Ah forgot to post this over the weekend.....if it eh clear to winer boy Max that Nizam clearly eh know what de hell he was appointed to do and should go then going down the river without sails, engine or paddles....
What is the remit of the PSC?
By Dana Seetahal
After the now infamous contribution of Nizam Mohammed during the hearing of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament the Chairman of the Committee made the observation that the Committee would like to see whether the Police Service Commission (PSC) was achieving the benchmarks they had set in terms of efficiency and effectiveness "which is the core of the discussion today". That statement was instructive as it should have served to remind Mr Mohammed (and his fellow Commissioners) what the function of the PSC was meant to be.
In this regard it is useful to consider what the law says about that. It is contained in section 123 of the Constitution, as amended by Act No 6 of 2006:
(1) The Police Service Commission shall have the power to—
(a) appoint persons to hold or act in the office of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police;
(b) make appointments on promotion and to confirm appointments;
(c) remove from office and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the offices specified in paragraph (a);
(d) monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the discharge of their functions;
(e) prepare an annual performance appraisal report in such form as may be prescribed by the Police Service Commission respecting and for the information of the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police; and
(f) hear and determine appeals from decisions of the Commissioner of Police, or of any person to whom the powers of the Commissioner of Police have been delegated, as a result of disciplinary proceedings brought against a police officer appointed by the Commissioner of Police.
It is in this regard therefore that one wonders what Mr Mohammed was speaking about when he said, "Fifty per cent of this country are people of East Indian origin and you are asking them to support the police service. They have to provide the police service with information. They have to feel protected by the police service and when they see the hierarchy of the police service, it is as imbalanced as is reflected in these figures, and the Chairman of the Commission intends to tackle these things, you understand why the guns are being aimed at me. But I have a job to do and this is what I am going to do. I intend to address this with the help of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. We need the protection. We cannot hide these matters and pretend that they do not exist. It is either we are here to carry out our oath of service in the manner in which we took our oath. We have to take our oath seriously and handle these matters in a very dispassionate kind of way".
Apart from the factually incorrect statement that 50 per cent of the population are people of East Indian origin, the oath of the members of the PSC does not require them to "handle" any matter of perceived imbalance in the racial composition of the hierarchy of the Police Service. Indeed the PSC has nothing to do with appointments or promotions within the Service as this falls within the purview of the Police Commissioner. Any member who thinks otherwise clearly does not understand what his purpose is.
So when Mr Mohammed suggests that this "imbalance" is something he needs to address and will do so "with the help of Parliament" he is not just opening a can of worms but is leading us all astray.
At least one Commissioner, Mr Parker, knew what his remit was. He made the point that the PSC should stay very, very close to its constitutional remit which involved "three things: The appeal function of the Commission; the responsibilities for the performance of the Commissioner of Police and his Deputy Commissioners of Police; and the monitoring of that performance and, by extension, the performance of the police service". Those were his words and he advocated that he preferred to stay with that remit and focus on it.
Among the many things said about Mr Mohammed's ill-advised comments by members of the Government was no clear statement that he had no business dealing with issues of perceived imbalance in the Police Service. Indeed Minister Moonilal in one of those first statements last Saturday suggested that the comments could spark "healthy debate" on the issue and further said the Government could not get involved with the business of an independent service commission.
The two ironies arising from Dr Moonilal's contribution are first, the debate has been far from healthy and has displayed a tendency to polarise the country and second, the PSC out of all the service commissions is the only one that may not be considered independent is terms of the appointment of its members. While the President does the actual appointment it is Parliament that must approve the appointment of all members of the PSC. The amended section 122 of the Constitution states:
"(4) The President shall issue a Notification in respect of each person nominated for appointment under subsection (3) and the Notification shall be subject to affirmative resolution of the House of Representatives.
(5) The President shall make an appointment under this section only after the House of Representatives has approved the Notification in respect of the relevant person."
Since the Government controls the numbers in Parliament it is disingenuous to say that the PSC is independently appointed. One hopes the members will be independent-minded but the constitutional provisions lean towards the Government intrusion in their appointments.
Meanwhile Mr Mohammed's words are curious: "All we are trying to do is create a just and fair society". Given the limited powers of the PSC as its Chairman how did he intend to achieve this?
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/What_is_the_remit_of_the_PSC_-119107624.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/What_is_the_remit_of_the_PSC_-119107624.html)
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Aye, Nizam yuh real making me wuk here.........
Plot against me, says PSC's George
By Anna Ramdass
Attendance records are being manipulated and used to undermine commissioners, member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Martin George, says.
George, together with some of the other commissioners of the PSC, will hold a press conference at the Mariott hotel at Invader's Bay, Mucurapo, from 1 p.m. today to discuss this, as well statements made by PSC chairman Nizam Mohammed against them.
His comments come in the wake of attendance documents obtained by the Express which revealed George had missed four consecutive meetings.
According to the Constitution Amendment Act, the President shall, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, terminate the appointment of a member of the PSC if the member fails to attend four consecutive meetings without reasonable cause.
The Express obtained the attendance records of all the PSC members, including chairman Mohammed and members Addison Khan, Kenneth Parker, Jacqueline Cheeseman and George. Of the 14 statutory and special meetings held by the commission since its appointment, George was listed to have attended only three, Cheeseman 11, while Parker, Khan and Mohammed attended all.
Contacted yesterday by the Express, George claimed this was part of a concerted attack on the PSC commissioners. He said he intends to speak to his fellow commissioners on this matter, and on statements made by Mohammed in an exclusive interview with the Express last week, where he expressed shock over the stand taken by three of the five commissioners at a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting. Mohammed also disclosed that he felt there was a plot against him, to hound him out of office, by some members of Government.
At that Parliament meeting, Mohammed raised concern over an ethnic imbalance in the police service, citing figures and saying he, with the assistance of Parliament, would seek to fix this. His words sparked controversy.
George, Parker and Cheeseman distanced themselves from Mohammed immediately, saying this was not their position. Mohammed told the Express this was a stab in the back, as they knew that ethnic imbalance in the police service was on the agenda for discussions.
On the attendance records obtained by the Express, George said they were inaccurate.
"This (records) does not take into account the several ad hoc meetings that are called, the several meetings and hearings that we do for appeals matters, not one of which the chairman has attended or sat upon," George said.
"He (Mohammed) has not sat on one appeal tribunal, the other Commissioners and I have been doing all the work, preparing huge files, working late into the night where even senior counsel have been on the record in some of these matters.
"We have been listening to arguments of counsel, asking questions, dealing with queries, doing case management fixing, setting deadlines and timetables for hearing ... with the limited facilities Mr Addison Khan spoke to in the Joint Select Committee meeting ... and the chairman has never been a part of this, he has never participated or assisted."
Noting Mohammed's criticisms of some of the commissioners who raised objection to his statements in Parliament, George said, "It is unfortunate that the chairman seeks to now attack members of his own commission and seek to undermine them having already publicly attacked everyone, from Prime Minister down by his own responses. He sees enemies every where."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Plot_against_me__says_PSC_s_George-119161189.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Plot_against_me__says_PSC_s_George-119161189.html)
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Max revoke his appoinmtent.
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Max revoke his appoinmtent.
4 TRUE Max u finally come to d dance.
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The news we have been waiting for.....Winer boy Max revoke Nizam's appointment....yuh surprise mih dey Mr. President, ah eh goh lie....yuh surprise mih.....thanks for the pleasant surprise!!!...
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The news we have been waiting for.....Winer boy Max revoke Nizam's appointment....yuh surprise mih dey Mr. President, ah eh goh lie....yuh surprise mih.....thanks for the pleasant surprise!!!...
CO-SIGNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
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Just came over the news that his position has been revoked.
Press conference going on now on 95.5 with the other members of the board.
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Look how Nizam turn into a modern day Dhanraj easy easy
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From: trinidadandtobagonews.com
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=5079
President Revokes Nizam’s Appointment
Published on April 4, 2011 in General T&T, Indian, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, Race and Identity and Security. 3 Comments Tags: George Maxwell Richards, Nizam Mohammed, President, PSC.
Nizam MohammedTHE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
TRINIDAD
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Media Release
In the matter of the Constitution and of the Revocation of the Appointment of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, as Chairman & Member.
His Excellency GEORGE MAXWELL RICHARDS, T.C., C.M.T., Ph.D., President advises that he has, with immediate effect revoked the appointment of Mr. Nizam Mohammed as Chairman and member of the Police Service Commission.
In so doing, His Excellency has exercised the power vested in him by Section 122A (1) (d) & (f) of the Constitution (as amended), all other powers thereto enabling and, after a most cordial meeting with Mr. Mohammed on Friday 1st April, 2011 when the business of the Commission was discussed.
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Wow... great posts.
I argued earlier that I didn't think that Nizam was racist... but I ent so sure now nah. If he ent racist he sure as heck have some deep-seated prejudice in his heart against people of African descent. I've also never been much of a fan of Selwyn Cudjoe... probably more b/c of my own biases... but he writes a very powerful rebuttal of Nizam's thinking, although to his everlasting credit he softens the denunciation of the man himself.
As for Nizam... I am stunned by this:
"forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats"
I wonder what a man like Jit Samaroo would say about that? I'm sure there are other Trinis of Indian descent who have embraced both artforms, whose names I am ignorant of, who would similarly stand up in protest to such nonsense. Time for Nizam to pack he shit and ride out.
As for Kamla's statements from 2005, I understand the need for inclusivity, but to hold up the switch to the CCJ on the basis of racial politics is beyond absurd. I hope all who help put she where she is now proud of their handiwork. It is clear that Nizam wasn't speaking in a vacuum the whole time... and more and more it becomes apparent that Kamla and Anand were behind the scenes agitating as well.
There are many of Indian descent who embrace many of the artforms that are unique to Trini. Whether they will stand up and chastize Nizam is another story (which I think is more of a Trini thing than a race or class thing). The embrace of culture swings both ways as well......I mean, Shorty, Jit and Rikki Jai are prime examples. Also, people laugh and joke about Morgan Job, but he makes some interesting points in his book on "race in trinidad." Unfortunately the message is often lost because of the messenger.
Having said that, I am glad that the President dropped the hammer on him, because that is the type of action that is lacking in T&T. If Kamla was a stronger leader all this talk would be mute because Nizam woulda think twice and tread carefully before running off his mouth.
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There are many of Indian descent who embrace many of the artforms that are unique to Trini. Whether they will stand up and chastize Nizam is another story (which I think is more of a Trini thing than a race or class thing). The embrace of culture swings both ways as well......I mean, Shorty, Jit and Rikki Jai are prime examples. Also, people laugh and joke about Morgan Job, but he makes some interesting points in his book on "race in trinidad." Unfortunately the message is often lost because of the messenger.
Having said that, I am glad that the President dropped the hammer on him, because that is the type of action that is lacking in T&T. If Kamla was a stronger leader all this talk would be mute because Nizam woulda think twice and tread carefully before running off his mouth.
I hear what yuh saying... but I disagree. I agree that Kamla is ah waste... if it eh involving fashion or foreign junkets then she eh business. That said, Nizam thought he could say what he say not because Kamla is ah weak leader... but because Kamla echo his sentiments. Kamla was right dey when Anand raise the same issue before the Fitzroy what-he-name police fella last month. Nizam mistake was in playing loose with he words and overstepping he official mandate.
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So now that Nizam Mohammed is gone should we move on or we should have a round table discussion about the Indian and creole problems in Trinbago , I feel there is a serious problem we pretend it do not exist I feel we should not let this opportunity pass us by, let us try to solve this one so we can make a better TRINIDAD & TOBAGO . Do not invite any politicans leave them out they create problems .
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So now that Nizam Mohammed is gone should we move on or we should have a round table discussion about the Indian and creole problems in Trinbago , I feel there is a serious problem we pretend it do not exist I feel we should not let this opportunity pass us by, let us try to solve this one so we can make a better TRINIDAD & TOBAGO . Do not invite any politicans leave them out they create problems .
Do "Africans" ban they chirren from marriding ah "indian" ??? or vice versa ???
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YOU'RE FIRED!
President cites Constitution in revoking appointment of PSC chairman
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
President George Maxwell Richards yesterday acted decisively in the matter which has embroiled the nation over the past ten days in race talk, sometimes spawning acrimonious race debate. At 11.22 a.m, the media received Richards's brief statement that he had revoked the appointment of Nizam Mohammed as chairman and a member of the Police Service Commission.
In a nutshell, the President indicated that Mohammed was removed for two reasons: a) he failed to perform his duties in a responsible or timely manner and b) he demonstrated a lack of competence to perform his duties. The release from the President's Office said His Excellency had exercised the power vested in him by Section 122 A (1) (d) and (f) of the Constitution (as amended).
Mohammed yesterday blamed "racist journalists" for his plight.
It was Mohammed who on March 25 raised the issue of an ethnic imbalance in the Police Service, pledging as chairman of the PSC to address the matter with the help of Parliament. Mohammed also suggested that the imbalance had made it difficult for East Indians, whom he said constituted 50 per cent of the population, to support the Police Service.
With the exception of a few persons, Mohammed's statements to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament, were universally condemned.
In an immediate response yesterday, acting Prime Minister Jack Warner said, "His Excellency's carefully deliberated action is a clear indication that as a nation we are not prepared to countenance any statement that threatens the unity of our national state."
Stating that this had been an extremely difficult moment for the President, Warner said the population can be "absolutely assured" that the Head of State and the Government would always put the well-being of all its citizens first before sectoral interests, "which interests can easily divide us".
"Regardless of how painful such action may be, as a Government elected by the people of Trinidad and Tobago, we will always strive to do what is right," Warner said.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, currently on assignment in the United States, said the President had acted according to the Constitution "and I respect the decision of the President".
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday the President had also acted properly. The actions and statements of Mohammed warranted an intervention by the President, an intervention called for by the office of the Leader of the Opposition and many citizens who were outraged by Mohammed's conduct and statement, Rowley said, adding that the office of the presidency was used to bring order in the governance of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rowley stressed that it was not a question of Mohammed chronicling who was in office at the executive level of the Police Service.
"It was Mr Mohammed's attempt to create the scenario of how they got there by virtue of racial preference, and then setting himself the assignment of fixing it to create a balance, the nature of which was questionable against his statistics and his understanding or misunderstanding of the situation," Rowley said.
He added that in seeking to "fix" the situation, Mohammed was giving himself an authority which he did not have under the law.
Rowley said "most offensive" was Mohammed statement, in seeking to explain the national crime wave, that because of the racial complexion of the executive of the Police Service, citizens (East Indians) were not co-operating with the police.
"That is offensive and demoralising to the Police Service, especially the executive officers who are charged with the responsibility of fighting crime in this country," he said.
Rowley added that on closer examination, the evidence did not bear out what Mohammed sought to portray to the country and the world.
He said despite Mohammed's dismissal, he had filed a motion in the Parliament, because some members of the Government had provided public support for Mohammed. Rowley said he wanted all MPs to state their position and whether they agreed with the stance taken by the Prime Minister.
Mohammed's tenure as chairman has been controversial from the inception. It began with strong objection from Rowley to the appointment of a "serial politician" to an independent commission.
On December 2, Mohammed was involved in a traffic confrontation with two police officers, Sean Batson and Marlene Gittens, at the corner of Independent Square and Henry Street in Port of Spain.
The officers claimed that he failed to obey a lawful instruction, but Mohammed counterclaimed that they were rude to him.
This incident sparked a campaign by Fixin T&T calling for his removal. Mohammed complained about the advertisements put out by the organisation and the Special Branch was sent to interview the directors of the organisation.
His statements to the Joint Select Committee, however, seemed to be the last straw.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar labelled his remarks as "reckless, ... divisive and senseless".
Warner, Rowley and the very party to which Mohammed belongs, the Congress of the People, crticised him and his own colleagues on the commission distanced themselves from his stance.
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So now that Nizam Mohammed is gone should we move on or we should have a round table discussion about the Indian and creole problems in Trinbago , I feel there is a serious problem we pretend it do not exist I feel we should not let this opportunity pass us by, let us try to solve this one so we can make a better TRINIDAD & TOBAGO . Do not invite any politicans leave them out they create problems .
Do "Africans" ban they chirren from marriding ah "indian" ??? or vice versa ???
We don't keep statistics on that. Should we?
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Do "Africans" ban they chirren from marriding ah "indian" or vice versa
Yes it have Africans who would do that but i know it is a crime to marrid ah kneegar the way the Indians would put it like is a scorn something nasty ah know that for sure .
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Do "Africans" ban they chirren from marriding ah "indian" or vice versa
Yes it have Africans who would do that but i know it is a crime to marrid ah kneegar the way the Indians would put it like is a scorn something nasty ah know that for sure .
not always d case but I was wit one who was always on ah hide up scene so I learn what to look for.........it had one in d office here who was kinda intrestin, all kinda small talk an ting for weeks, a morning she walk in d building wit anoder lady dat wukkin by me, I passin an say mornin, nobody answer an she do like she never see me before is den wen I look close ah see d "famly" resemblance, dat was it dey, she does still get mornin not ah word else
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“Eric Williams and Africans like yourself had this master plan to eliminate the Indian fact from this country, so you all set about to import Africans from the small islands lock, stock and barrel, without a second thought, if some were criminal elements or not, did not care were (sic) they will live, or how they will work or eat, as long as they shored up the African population, and voted for the dominance of all Indians, by forcing this half-baked idea of calypso and pan which, by the way, is not even indigenous to this country, down Indians throats. Well it has backfired, those same people make up the majority of poor in this country (because only poor [people] migrate for better living conditions) and are holding this country to ransom, especially their own African brothers.
“Nine out of every ten crimes committed in this country by an African is against his own kind. You and your kind refused to see, if it was not for Indians, who rent their homes and land to so many of those new arrivals there will be plenty more people living on the streets.” “You sir, continue to stir up this racial hatred, but rest assured, Indians know how to give back as they get, for whatever is dished out.”
So now we understand why there is preponderance of East Indians from Guyana.....Mr. Mohammed should also explain where they were first housed when they started coming to T&T.....didn't the mandir and the mosques provide temporary shelter as well as steered them towards gainful employment????
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Ah never forget Kumarie....whey boy. Ah in standard 3 and this nice lil indian girl transfer into we class, boy she sweet. So one day ah make ah move and tell she ah like she :-[ meh girl reply and tell me she always tort she woulda marrid ah nice lil indian boy. Ah never forget that at all.
Then one day this car pull up in front we house and this indian man come out and meh mudder start to laugh and cry, yuh know is she oldest brother Boyie ??? Now everybody watching me like daiz yuh famalee. So I say me eh know, meh mother calling meh to meet meh uncle. The man daughter then come up a couple days later to spend de week, the girl straight outta Penal or Barrackpore. People want to know what going on with we famalee.
So Nizam could haul he cyat, I love all meh Trini people.
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ACP: Send Ramesar packing over letter to Nizam
By Akile Simon
Story Created: Apr 6, 2011 at 12:03 AM ECT
(Story Updated: Apr 6, 2011 at 12:03 AM ECT )
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Fredericks is calling for the removal of president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Sgt Anand Ramesar.
According to Fredericks, Ramesar must suffer a similar fate to sacked Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed over statements Ramesar made regarding the ethnic composition of the Police Promotions and Advisory Board.
Ramesar had written a letter to Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs, which was copied to Mohammed, highlighting concerns about the ethnic composition of the board.
Two weeks ago, Mohammed, in addressing a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, raised the concern expressed by Ramesar, adding there were too many Africans, as opposed to their East Indian colleagues, holding leadership roles within the executive of the Police Service. Mohammed had stated the PSC, with the help of Parliament, intended to change that.
Fellow PSC members Kenneth Parker, Martin George and Jacqueline Cheesman immediately distanced themselves from Mohammed's statements, which sparked outrage and widespread debate. Mohammed was also criticised by Government, the Opposition and several sectors of society.
President George Maxwell Richards, after meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley last week, took the decision to terminate Mohammed's appointment with immediate effect on Monday. Fredericks had strongly condemned Mohammed's statements and called for his immediate removal.
Speaking yesterday on I95.5FM, Fredericks said Ramesar and any member of his executive who supported the letter must also be sent packing. He accused Ramesar of having a "hidden agenda".
"We thought that he had his own agenda, and there is a crisis of confidence by the membership of the Police Service, (and) Mr Ramesar has really not represented the interest of police officers at all. It's very disappointing (as a) founding father of the association, (I am) appalled by his conduct in this matter and other matters," Fredericks said.
"A lot of officers have expressed the view of wanting to withdraw from the association, and we said that they shouldn't withdraw, but there are processes within the rules that we need to follow in order to get his position, as well, revoked by the membership because there is a loss of confidence and he could no longer command. I think he has lost the moral authority to lead the organisation."
Fredericks, a former executive member of the association, said association members, under the rules, could access the letter written by Ramesar and could initiate the process of removing him.
Contacted last evening, Ramesar said the letter he wrote to Gibbs, which was copied to Mohammed, specifically spoke about the ethnic imbalance on the promotions board and was something reported previously in the media.
Ramesar said his executive will make the letter available to its general membership when they meet at the end of the month. He also dismissed statements by Fredericks that the association's membership had lost confidence in his leadership, saying he was in the process of fulfilling the burning issues affecting members.
Ramesar said, "I am disappointed by ACP Fredericks, who should have understood that the professional relationship with this executive would have been to communicate with the association executive, engage in some dialogue and engage himself with the correct information."
He maintained he did nothing wrong when he wrote the letter to Gibbs and Mohammed
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Fredrick is right just strt d proceedings 2 sent him packing.
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The Presidency of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association is a matter for the members the association. Fredericks like any officer has the right to his opinion on how they should proceed with the matter in question.However I can't see the benefit of making public pronoucements about Police business.
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Before we jump at Ramasar throat first we should read the letter Ramasar wrote , maybe what he wrote is not what Nizam said if what he said is legit i do not feel he should go . What about the police officers who made the woman strip in the middle of the road , made her strip and squat, I feel they should go also .
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Contacted last evening, Ramesar said the letter he wrote to Gibbs, which was copied to Mohammed, specifically spoke about the ethnic imbalance on the promotions board and was something reported previously in the media.
Every report I have read says this is what Ramesar raised... and he have a damn right to raise it, there must be diversity on the promotions board if we ever expect to see diversity in the senior ranks. Not one ass wrong with saying that. Until I read the letter mihself to see its contents then I'm not jumping on no bandwagon to get him removed. Fredericks coming off like a jackass here... without more, he should be keeping all of this in-house instead of trying to capitalize on the anti-Nizam feelings to get Ramesar removed as well.
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Warner: Nizam’s call to President absurd.
By: Sascha Wilson (Guardian).
Acting Prime Minister Jack Warner says it is “patently absurd” for dismissed Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed to ask President George Maxwell Richards to explain why he revoked his appointment. In an interview yesterday after attending the re-opening of Fort George Road, Moruga, Warner said: “In my humble view it is absurd to ask His Excellency to give an explanation for his actions.
“It is absurd and it tells you why we are where we are today, that we are questioning His Excellency and he must give explanation for why he acted as he acted. It has to be patently absurd.”
Mohammed, whose appointment was revoked on Monday because of his controversial statements about ethnic imbalance in the Police Service, had asked the President to give reasons for revoking his appointment. Saying he found Mohammed’s request difficult to accept, Warner, who is also Works and Transport Minister, said Mohammed did not ask publicly why he had been appointed so he should not ask now why he was dismissed.
However, Warner quickly added he did not want to say much on the matter. “The Prime Minister has spoken, the leader of the Opposition has spoken and His Excellency has acted and as for me let the chips fall where they fall. I am not going to say anything (else) at this point,” he added.
Asked about calls for commission member Addison Khan, who supported Mohammed, to step down, he said: “I don’t want to say anything about Addison Khan, what he should do or what he should not do. “I made a release on this matter and the Prime Minister will be back here on Friday and she will speak on this matter. I don’t want to say anything and even to be accused of being premature at this stage.”
Dismissing calls for the removal of the President for sacking Mohammed, Warner said: “There are some things in life that one must be dismissive of and that is one such thing.” He said he refused to dignify nonsense with a comment. Meanwhile, the President has since refused to comment on Mohammed’s call for him to state specifically and precisely why his appointment was revoked.
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Meanwhile, the President has since refused to comment on Mohammed’s call for him to state specifically and precisely why his appointment was revoked
Guardian on some shit yes... Max di'n no "refused comment"... he said an explanation will be forthcoming soon.
As for Jack... he doh want to dignify the talk with a comment... but he commenting anyways? And talking shit at that... of course Max should explain, the days of ruling by fiat are over. But Max has every right to take his time with that explanation, loose lips is what brought us into this situation in the first place.
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Article from the Rafique Shah on the imbalance in the TTPS and one way to address it.
THE race-ratios in the Protective Services I mentioned last week would have changed significantly since my generation broke barriers back in the 1960s. In fact, even as I write, an Indian officer, Colonel Kenrick Maraj, is set to take office as the nation’s next Chief of Defence Staff. He will become the first Indian to hold the highest command position in the Defence Force.
When that happens, there will hardly be a ripple in the ranks. I am sure there are members of the TTDF who harbour racial sentiments. But they are always in the extreme minority. Indeed, from way back there have been cliques or cabals in the armed forces. But generally, among brothers-in-arms, race is never a factor. Soldiering is about putting one’s life in the hands of all troops you go into action with. You cannot ask for more confidence in “the other” than that.
I should add that in the relatively small corps of female officers in the Regiment, there is one Indian officer. There are many Indian corporals, sergeants and warrant officers. I’m sure, though, that if we “count heads”, as Nizam Mohammed did for the Police Service, the ratio of Indians to Africans will not reflect the race profile of the nation. Last week, I outlined some reasons for this disparity. From what I see on the ground, I sense Indians in the Police Service comprise 33 per cent or more of the unit’s overall strength.
Regarding Indians moving into the upper ranks of the Police, it should be noted that Dennis Ramdwar had moved to Deputy Commissioner (I believe) in the latter 1970s. Ramdwar was the officer who was in overall command of the police sent to San Fernando to stop the “Bloody Tuesday” march, staged by the fledgling ULF, on March 18, 1975. He gave the order to fire tear gas on what was a peaceful demonstration. The police proceeded to bludgeon frontline leaders like George Weekes, John Humphrey and Vernon Jamadar (among many others). Basdeo Panday and I escaped, thanks to our agility and the protection our supporters gave us.
Ramdwar also had the police rip the religious banners borne aloft by some pundits, imams and clergymen (to get around the law prohibiting marches, we had deemed it a religious procession). The officers bludgeoned the holy men, journalists and innocent civilians who happened to be on Coffee Street at the time.
So there we had the first senior Indian officer in the Police Service giving the order to inflict maximum violence on marchers, more than half of whom were Indians. In contrast, in the 1970 Black Power revolt, this Indian officer refused to be used to bludgeon mainly African demonstrators who defied the State of Emergency.
Instead, I led a mutiny, defied the high command and the political directorate, and paid the price for it. I need add that during the ten days of the mutiny, I led more than 300 men, 95 per cent of whom were Afro-Trinidadians. They were all heavily armed. They could have killed me (and Rex Lassalle) anytime they chose to, if they were so inclined. But they did not. Instead, they protected us for the duration of that revolt.
What I have illustrated is that any race balance in the Police Service or other arms of the Protective Services guarantees Indians no better treatment. Indeed, I know too many Indians who have had nasty encounters with police officers of their own race. The same can be said of treatment meted out to Afro-Trinidadians by officers of their own kind. Almost every week, there are protests against the use of excessive force, even allegations of murder, in the above context.
In any event, how does one redress this race imbalance? Let me add another pepper to the pot: why do we have so many Indians playing cricket, in contrast to the numbers who play football at the highest levels? We return to the issues of choice, of culture—not race.
The only mechanism I know of to redress imbalances in the Protective Services is national service. This would entail having young persons who fail to progress up the academic ladder, or who refuse to adopt some form of training to enhance himself or herself, conscripted for at least one year. The conscripts are brought under military-type discipline, and besides comportment and drill, they ought to graduate as potential recruits for the services. As a bonus, the nation’s fast-expanding criminal enterprises would be denied recruits.
Whenever this option surfaced in the past, it was shot down by the likes of Sat Maharaj. He swears that its sole purpose would be to “douglarise” the population…as if that is not happening without national service. If you want to have more Indians join the Protective Services, you have to make it attractive to them. And national service can do that.
I was among the officers and men in the Regiment who cleared the bush, literally, to make way for the first Chaguaramas Youth Camp. We then trained the boys not so much for military pursuits, but preparing them to face life. Of course, drill, comportment and discipline were pivotal to their development. Every so often, I would meet some of them who would thank me for what members of the Regiment did for them in their formative years.
Those who clamour for “affirmative action”, for redressing imbalances, are they prepared to accept national service as an instrument towards achieving their goals?
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Professor Ramesh Deosaran sworn in as PSC Chairman (http://www.ctntworld.com/LocalArticles.aspx?id=26890&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed)
Wednesday 13th April, 2011
Professor Ramesh Deosaran has been sworn-in as the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Speaking shortly after taking the oath of office at Knowsley Building today, Professor Deosaran said his first order of business is to get an assessment of Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs' performance over the last six months.
He also said under his watch, the Police Service Commission will examine claims of ethnic imbalance at the senior level of the Police Service.
The allegations first came to light last month when the then PSC Chairman Nizam Mohammed raised the issue at a Joint Select Committee meeting in the Parliament. Mr Mohammed said there were too few East Indians in leadership positions in the Service, suggesting that because of this, East Indians might not co-operate with the police, and might not feel protected by the police.
Since then, there were calls for Mr Mohammed's removal and he was dismissed by President George Maxwell Richards last Monday after he held separate meetings with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.
Professor Deosaran was sworn into office by Acting President Timothy Hamel-Smith who said today's ceremony came at a very critical time in the nation's history.
The new Chairman, who is a noted criminologist, confirmed plans to meet with the four other members of the Police Service Commission on Monday. He also plans to meet with Commissioner Gibbs next week.
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Ah really doh know what to make of this.....de officers eh pass the exam but they want to be promoted anyway??..... ??? :-\
Police officers call on Nizam for help
Yvonne Webb
Scores of First Division police officers who failed their promotions examination have turned to sacked Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed for help. This was revealed by Police Social and Welfare Association President Anand Ramesar who also confirmed that the association has mounted a separate challenge on behalf of the failed officers. The officers are seeking promotion from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Superintendent, Senior Superintendent and acting Commissioner of Police.
The examination was set by the Penn State University and the officers received verbal confirmation of their results on Wednesday. Many of the seniors offices are unhappy that they will not be promoted. They are insisting that they should be promoted based on their long and outstanding records of service and performance. Reached by telephone, Mohammed, who said he was fishing with his grandchildren in La Romaine, confirmed that a number of officers had spoken to him about legal representation.
“I am waiting until they get something official, to see if any representation ought to be made on their behalf,” he said. He said he would hold talks with the officers who were all puzzled about some changes in the system which were instituted without prior notice. “So we are looking at that. Something (a meeting) will be arranged once they get something official,” he assured. Ramesar said based on the assessment, officers had to make more than 65 per cent to be considered for promotion to the next rank. He said some officers made between 50 and under 65 per cent.
“We are not satisfied that dividing mark should be applied. We are looking at what would have happened historically when officers with marks less than 65 were promoted. The precedent must he followed,” he insisted. “The association is going to launch a challenge because we are saying that officers who would have scored beyond 50 marks satisfy the criteria internationally and they must be considered for promotion.”
He said there was no consultation with the association with respect to the dividing mark, which he said was flawed in procedure. “The association stands as the representative body and any procedure should have included consultation with us. We are going to challenge it from that position as well,” he said. Ramesar said the association’s secretary Michael Seales had already sent letters to Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and newly-elected PSC chairman Dr Ramesh Deosaran on the matter.
“We are seeking to have that position reviewed and also to have officers included for consideration for promotion. The commissioner has that authority,” he said. Ramesar explained that the officers were tested on several books sent by the university for them to study. He said they were allowed ten weeks preparation, whereas in the past, the time allotted was three months. He said this was prejudicial to the officers. He added that while some officers were able to take leave to study, “not every officer was in a position to disengage himself from regular duties to take leave.”
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/04/16/police-officers-call-nizam-help (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/04/16/police-officers-call-nizam-help)
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President defends Nizam’s dismissal
By AZARD ALI Tuesday, June 5 2012
PRESIDENT George Maxwell Richards has responded to the lawsuit by Nizam Mohammed against His Excellency’s firing him as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) over remarks he made at a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting of Parliament about the ethic composition of the hierarchy in the Police Service.
The response to Mohammed’s lawsuit was not made personally by Richards, but through Senior Counsel Reginald Armour, who in an affidavit filed in the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, stated he advised His Excellency that he (Richards) covered all constitutional grounds in dismissing Mohammed.
Armour also stated that based on his advice to Richards, he does not accept Mohammed’s contention in his lawsuit that His Excellency did not allow him an opportunity to first seek legal advice before dismissing him.
Mohammed named the Attorney General as the defendant in a constitutional motion, in which he contended Richards acted under political pressure, and did not give him an opportunity to defend himself. He is seeking to have Richards’ April 4, 2011 revocation of his appointment as PSC chairman, null and void.
Mohammed was appointed PSC chairman when the People’s Partnership came into government on May 24, 2010.
On March 25, 2011 at the JSC meeting, Mohammed, reportedly questioned an ethnic imbalance based on statistics, in the upper echelons of the police service.
The comment drew a firestorm of public comments and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar advised Richards, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Keith Rowley, to revoke Mohammed’s appointment.
Richards called in Mohammed on April 1, to a meeting at President’s House and three days after, revoked his appointment.
Mohammed filed the constitutional motion in which he contended he was not afforded by His Excellency, an opportunity to be heard when he sought time to retain a Queen’s Counsel from England. Mohammed’s lawsuit was filed by attorney Ravi Mungalsingh on December 16, 2011, who is instructing Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein.
Armour stated in his affidavit filed on May 14, 2012, that over the past five years, Richards has called on him for legal advice in respect of his performance and functioning of his office as president. “On such occasions, in the normal course, I would attend on His Excellency at President’s House where we would meet. I would then receive from His Excellency by discussion, and by His Excellency sharing with me sight of documents received or issued by him,” Armour stated.
Armour went on to state in his affidavit, discussions and documents he studied relating to Richard’s revocation of Mohammed’s appointment, citing extracts of Mohammed’s statements at the JSC meeting. Armour stated that his role was to advise Richards on the functioning of the PSC and the constitutional role of the Office of the President. Armour further stated that he has reviewed Mohammed’s constitutional motion with Richards and has taken certain instructions in respect of certain statements Mohammed adduced.
Armour went on to state that he received from Richards, a copy of the unrevised verbatim notes of the JSC meeting. Additionally, the Senior Counsel stated in his affidavit, His Excellency furnished him with extracts of media reports on the issue.
At paragraph 12 of Armour’s affidavit, he stated that he has since advised Richards that he (Armour), does not accept that in all circumstances, the revocation of Mohammed’s appointment was unlawfully effected.