Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Richard G. on December 31, 2012, 07:05:09 AM
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Headline from Trinidad Express, also on Newsday and Guardian
Big bucks for Tobago
PM at TOP rally: Budget allocation to double, more power for THA
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Dec 31, 2012 at 1:22 AM ECT
(
Story Updated: Dec 31, 2012 at 7:24 AM ECT )
A wave of change will sweep Tobago come 2013, as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced last night that the Parliament's first order of business in the new year will be the debate of legislation which will see increased financial power for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
Among the major changes will be a doubling of the budgetary allocation to the THA, expansion of the island's territorial waters and law-making powers.
Speaking at the presentation of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) candidates at Market Square, Scarborough, Tobago, Persad-Bissessar said the Constitutional (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2012 will be laid in Parliament on January 7 and debate will begin on January 16.
Read more... http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Big_bucks__for_Tobago-185246732.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Big_bucks__for_Tobago-185246732.html)
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171345.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171345.html)
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-31/pm-no-disrespect-no-invasion-tobago (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-31/pm-no-disrespect-no-invasion-tobago)
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Been meaning to start this thread.....
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All i want from Tobago is some of Ashworth Jack cucumber and pumkin magic seeds that got him million dollars .
That story remind me of Jack and the bean stalk .
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All i want from Tobago is some of Ashworth Jack cucumber and pumkin magic seeds that got him million dollars .
That story remind me of Jack and the bean stalk .
Jack and de punkin vine?
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London: PP’s Tobago self-government move insulting
Published:
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Richard Lord
“Troubling and insulting” was how chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London described the announcement of some of the provisions in new legislation on internal self-government for Tobago.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced them during the launch of the Tobago Organisation for the People (TOP) January 21 THA election campaign in Scarborough on Sunday.
Persad-Bissessar said the report of a cabinet-appointed committee, headed by UWI’s Dr Hamid Ghany, made seven recommendations, which were included in the legislation....
Read More.. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-31/london-pp%E2%80%99s-tobago-self-government-move-insulting (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-31/london-pp%E2%80%99s-tobago-self-government-move-insulting)
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JACK BLANKED PM'S OFFER
By KARL E. CUPID Tobago Bureau Tuesday, January 1 2013
STRESSING that he was unapologetic about his burning ambition to become Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and THA Minority Leader Ashworth Jack said on Sunday night that he had turned down an offer from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to become a Cabinet Minister in favour of his quest for THA leadership.
The TOP is one of four parties which comprises the UNC-led People’s Partnership (PP) coalition. Jack said the offer was made after the PP won the May 2010 General Election. Jack made this disclosure in the presence of the PM as he addressed a joint TOP/PP rally at Old Market Square, uptown Scarborough during the official presentation of the TOP’s slate of candidates for the January 21 THA election.
Read More... http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171378.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171378.html)
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Jack now know what every body in Tobago with at least 1 brain cell know Kamla eh want him in charge of the THA.
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So Tobagonians....wha allyuh getting from the ground? How close would this election be?
Wha issues in focus?
Have both positions and proposals for "self governance" been scrutinized by the average man on the street? What are the feelings towards that?
And...if yuh livin in Trinidad but voting in Tobago....is dat voter padding?
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so if pnm wins again in tobago...kamla wouldnt pull through with the doubling of their budget allocation then? she setting up herself to be made out..easy easy..
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This election will be close....PP using the incumbency to great advantage.
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And...if yuh livin in Trinidad but voting in Tobago....is dat voter padding?
:whistling: ;D
As for the other part of your post, I will deal with that later today....
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And...if yuh livin in Trinidad but voting in Tobago....is dat voter padding?
:whistling: ;D
As for the other part of your post, I will deal with that later today....
Yea I was goin and call yuh and ask yuh how it lookin? So answer Bourbon so I will benefit.
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Ok. So I found this blog. I didn't write any of what is blogged. It's being posted here as it's another forum where 'things' pertaining to the 2013 THA elections. Read and enjoy.
http://tobagojustice.blogspot.com/2013/01/tobago-not-taking-mamaguy.html?m=1
Blessings and enjoy the day/night.
Richard G.
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OK.....right. My take on things........hhhhhmmmm......Before I went across for Christmas ah was certain Tobagonians eh taking on Ashworth and was seeing he for the opportunist that he is.
However, after talking to a few friends trying to feel them out ah find the race appears to be, as TT pointed out in post, closer than I thought.
Orville London finds himself in the same place Manning did in 2010. Ah setta money spend but Tobagonians eh seeing where it went. The allegations of corruption, nepotism and waste are rampant (what else is new). The most interesting conversation I had was with a friend who works in the belly of the THA - Finance dept to be precise. She would usually support the PNM but she has seen too much crap with her own two eyes to vote for them and is considering switching. Of course her concerns with the TOP is the UNC factor. Its the usual rock and a hard place, devil and the deep blue sea.
On the other side, the people who are planning to vote PNM are doing so based primarily on the anti-UNC factor. People just cyar stomach Kamla and she crew.
I had planned on going to one political meeting of each party but the PNM stopped their meetings during the Christmas period but the TOP had one in Castara on Sat 22nd that I went to. I wanted to get a feel of the "vibes". The crowd was smaller than I thought but I chalked it up to folks at home getting ready for Christmas....I took some video footage. If all yuh have some spare time, take a look....
Overall, I really can't pick up on where the breeze is blowing at the moment. As I said at the start, my feeling right now is that the race is closer than I initially thought.....or want....
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Ashworth Jack at TOP meeting in Castara - Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdR6zwyIeUQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdR6zwyIeUQ)
Ashworth Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlQiqa2y-gw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlQiqa2y-gw)
Vernella Allyene-Toppin - Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TloTA0xopg8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TloTA0xopg8)
Vernella Alleyen-Toppin Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un_rstX5oeY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un_rstX5oeY)
Anslem Richards - Candidate in TOP elections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t19w6MEbqg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t19w6MEbqg)
Fitzherbert Taylor - Candidate for the Castara area.....his introduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QRstsNRiC4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QRstsNRiC4)
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......and for those interested in the nautical miles/boundary issue.....here is Dr. Vanus James speaking on it.
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XICAbwjtAXs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XICAbwjtAXs)
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8t2iOMIgIU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8t2iOMIgIU)
Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBESQNlCPvA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBESQNlCPvA)
Part 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWzR4ZDTVQ8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWzR4ZDTVQ8)
Part 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBMntQTwCk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBMntQTwCk)
Brief bio I found on Dr. James. He is a Tobagonian by birth and is part of the new party formed in 2012 MDD (Movement for _________________ and Democracy) but they aren't fighting the elections, just holding these meetings around the island talking about the boundaries issue.
"Dr. Vanus James is currently a Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where he obtained his B.A in Economics. He earned his Masters in Economics and his Ph.D degrees at the New School for Social Research in New York. His post-doctoral studies were pursued at the University of Michigan, USA, Auburn University, Auburn, Montgomery, Alabama and Hofstra University, New York.
He was an Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College, and Tuskegee University in Alabama. He tutored at Hofstra University in New York, and also at the University of the West Indies, St. Agustine Campus, in his native Trinidad.
Dr. James has worked extensively on numerous projects as a consultant and a researcher locally, regionally and internationally. Locally and most recently, he conducted a study for the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica on “Impact of Cost Sharing on Education in Jamaica.”
He has written numerous papers, both published and unpublished on issues dealing with Economics and has recently produced a refereed paper on “Import Productivity Growth, Capital Deepening and Caribbean Development: Some theoretical Insights (Forthcoming, “Social and Economics Studies”, December 2004)
The list of Dr James’ papers is extensive, impressive and available upon request."
http://www.mona.uwi.edu/conferences/2004/monaconf/profiles/james.htm (http://www.mona.uwi.edu/conferences/2004/monaconf/profiles/james.htm)
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Very interesting. Thanks for the youtube links Brownsugar.
Blessings and enjoy the day.
Richard G.
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Minister on Tobago Constitution Bill: It won’t be ready before THA polls
Published:
Friday, January 4, 2013
Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed said it was not expected the Tobago House of Assembly Bill and the Tobago Constitution Amendment Bill would be passed in both Houses of Parliament before the January 21 THA election.
The legislation was seeking to amend the T&T Constitution to allow for internal self-government for the people of Tobago.
The bills will be laid in the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on January 7 and debate will begin one week later on January 16.
The measure is expected to be passed in the House of Representatives as the Government has the required special majority.
Debate was expected to take place in the Senate the week after the election. The Government is not guaranteed the required two-third support for passage of the bill in the Upper House as the Opposition PNM was not expected to support it.
Read More... http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-03/minister-tobago-constitution-bill-it-won%E2%80%99t-be-ready-tha-polls (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-03/minister-tobago-constitution-bill-it-won%E2%80%99t-be-ready-tha-polls)
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THA elections debate designed to change voting culture
Published:
Friday, January 4, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
On January 10, the leaders of the three main political parties in the race for control of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will be made to sit down and calmly tell the country how they are going to run the Assembly should they succeed.
Chief Secretary Orville London of the PNM, Minority Leader Ashworth Jack of the Tobago Organisation of the People, and Hochoy Charles of the lesser known Platform of Truth will square off without the usual bacchanal and picong of the campaign trail, in a 90-minute debate at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Lowlands, Tobago.
The televised debate, similar to the recent US presidential debates, will be produced by the Caribbean New Media Group and fed ‘live’ to other stations from 8 pm.
A member of the Tobago media fraternity is expected to moderate the event, which is being organised by the T&T Debates Commission (TTDC), an independent NGO set up by the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
A TTDC release yesterday said the commission invited the leadership of the four political parties contesting the THA election to participate in “THA Election 2013: The Leadership Debate.”
Read More.. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-03/tha-elections-debate-designed-change-voting-culture (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-03/tha-elections-debate-designed-change-voting-culture)
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The measure is expected to be passed in the House of Representatives as the Government has the required special majority.
Debate was expected to take place in the Senate the week after the election. The Government is not guaranteed the required two-third support for passage of the bill in the Upper House as the Opposition PNM was not expected to support it.
This answered a question I had about passage of the bill. Dr. Winford James wrote an article on the issue and after reading it, I came to conclusion that the bill would pass. I found it strange that something this serious could pass without opposition support but I understand now that it would fail in the Senate and rightly so.
However, I see this as nothing more than games. They know the PNM would not support it so I fully expect the next wave of attacks from the TOP/UNC (forget PP) would be "Tobagonians all yuh see!!! De PNM eh want all yuh to get autonomy!!"
Games, games, games!!!.... :cursing: :cursing: :bs: :cursing: :bs: :pissedoff: :pissedoff:
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This is the article I refered in my post above.....
Another case of indecent haste
By Winford James
In my column of November 22, 2012, headlined, "Another broken promise?'', I suggested that the People's Partnership government would not take legislation to Parliament to give Tobago greater autonomy in the conduct of its affairs before the THA elections scheduled for January 21, 2013. If it has not happened in two and a half years, I queried, how can it happen in 61 days? I also observed as follows:
"If the bills are not reconciled, what will be taken to parliament? Our best answer is the one in the Green Paper or some amended version of it. But when it will be taken is anybody's guess. Is the government bold enough to take it during the election campaign? I don't think so…
So they will take it to the parliament after the elections. But since it will be far easier to do so if the TOP wins control of the THA, how motivated will they be if the TOP loses?'
It appears that I was wrong. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, prime minister of the country and political leader of the People's Partnership, announced at the Tobago Organisation of the People's presentation of candidates on December 30, 2012 that a bill to that effect would be laid in Parliament on January 7, 2013 and debated from January 16, 2013—during the election campaign.
So, 14 days before the elections, our parliamentarians will be given a mere nine days to study the relevant proposals and consult with their various publics in preparation for the debate, and a merer five days to debate—that is, if a vote is expected before January 21.
Sounds rushed, indecently rushed, doesn't it?
We do not yet have sight of the new bill, but Persad-Bissessar highlighted some of its provisions in her political tour de force: law-making powers in respect of matters on the Tobago list (of responsibilities); establishment of the position of 'Secretary of Legal Affairs'; extension of Tobago's maritime boundaries from six to 11 nautical miles from some baseline; increase of Tobago's minimum share of annual budgets from 4.03 per cent to 6.09 per cent and of its maximum share from 6.09 per cent to 8 per cent; and creation of several positions of "Independent Assemblyman''.
Now these are big proposals—not nearly as big as those that I would like to see, but big. The power to make laws on a Tobago list of matters is unprecedented, and it presumes that there is a Trinidad list of matters as well as a national or federal or concurrent list of matters. Since this is the case, one may reasonably ask whether Trinidad was consulted on it before the decision to lay the bill on January 7, and whether Trinidadian parliamentarians, especially the Opposition and Independent ones, would not need consultation time with the Trinidadian publics before the debate day of January 16.
The proposal to extend the maritime boundaries to a radius of 11 miles raises a number of questions: What is the basis for the figure 11? Why not 12 or 100? Are these 11 miles part of the definition of Tobago? If not, what are they related to? Do they include oil and gas resources? To what extent?
The proposal to increase the budgetary share sounds exciting, but it is not half as exciting as one that seeks to have a share determined on Tobago's potential to generate income from its GDP on the basis of the estimated performance of its petroleum and non-petroleum sectors. The advantages of the latter proposal would make those of the first mere chicken feed! We must remember that, based on an evidence-based analysis, the Tobago economy was projected to generate a GDP of TT$6.3 billion in 2012 and a per capita GDP of US$17,614, and is projected to generate a GDP of TT$15.2 billion and a per capita GDP of US$35,696 by 2015. And if current trends hold, future prospects look very bright indeed.
This is therefore not a matter for prime ministerial fiat but for serious discussion between the THA and the national government in the full glare of public scrutiny.
The proposals to increase the number of assemblymen, as highlighted by PM Persad-Bissessar, are not clear but, as in the case of the other proposals, they raise questions. In light of the proposal to extend the maritime borders, why not have a new position of "Secretary of Energy'' as well, that is, if the proposal has any value at all as we are led to think? And the proposal for new assemblymen seems promising of better governance once the structure of the new tier of independent assemblymen will not be designed to ape the current structure of independent senators in the national space but to actually give the various Tobagonian interest groups the power to constrain certain actions of the Executive Council.
So, yes, these are big issues and they should have been properly discussed by both Tobago and Trinidad and not be foisted upon us by the government of the day through a clearly partisan committee ostensibly set up to reconcile two competing sets of legislative proposals—one from the government, the other from the opposition. Their passage should therefore not be rushed in this season of political opportunism.
In the context of an election campaign, this is indecent haste, not unlike the political indecency of the early proclamation of Section 34. It would have been far better if the proposed legislation had been discussed before the date of the elections was set so as to avoid loading public debate on it with unnecessary and retarding emotionalism. But naked, self-accommodating opportunism is the chosen way of this government.
And the worst part of it is that the new changes will come about, not necessarily through the will of the peoples of Tobago and Trinidad, but rather through prime ministerial fiat.
I am tired of this way of governing.
• Winford James is a uwi lecturer and a political analyst.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Another_case_of_indecent_haste-185492391.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Another_case_of_indecent_haste-185492391.html)
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Interesting read. Politics and the undercurrent of what 'they' mean by what they say (and don't say).
Blessings and enjoy the day.
Richard .
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Playing politics with Tobago
By Raffique Shah
THE constitutional relationship between the islands of Trinidad and Tobago is too important an issue for structural changes in the status quo to be implemented in the heat of an election campaign. Unless the election is a referendum on, say, the issue of self-governance for Tobago, with Tobagonians knowing exactly what they are voting for or against, such matter, which has far-reaching implications for all citizens of the twin-island republic, is best dealt with in a more sober atmosphere.
I didn't think that I, or anyone else, needed to spell out what I have done here to experienced politicians who ought to know where politicking stops and serious matters like constitutional reform and structural changes begin. That government could table legislation that seeks to alter the existing arrangements between the two islands on the eve of an election in Tobago is insulting to parliamentarians and contemptuous of Tobagonians and Trinidadians.
No one—not Trinidadians, not Tobagonians—can be against a comprehensive revision of the Tobago House of Assembly Act of 1980, which was amended, piecemeal, in 1996 and 2006. The original act was not very fair to Tobagonians who, through their MPs (Ray Robinson and Winston Murray), demanded greater autonomy than what the Dr Eric Williams-led PNM government conceded. I know first-hand about the original act. I was an MP in 1977 when Robinson tabled a motion calling for greater autonomy, which my colleagues and I supported. I also spoke out in favour of devolution of power when the bill was debated in 1980.
In the current scenario, the question that must be asked is this: how many citizens know details of the Amendment Bill that will be laid in Parliament on Monday? Even more damning, how many parliamentarians are familiar with its provisions? Few, if any, I think. Interested parties know only of a Draft Bill that was appended to a lengthy Green Paper that was published in May 2012.
The paper itself drew references to about six previous committees that examined the "Tobago question" for close to a decade. Almost all the reports from these exercises, among them one commissioned by the outgoing THA, are said to have recommended some form of self-government. In its May 2010 manifesto, with one key partner (TOP) coming from Tobago, the People's Partnership committed itself to actively addressing self-governance for the island.
As such, Government has the right, even a responsibility, to pursue the "Tobago question" through a legislative agenda, especially since the PNM in office was tardy and indecisive in this regard. The PNM-controlled THA did draft two bills on the issue and forward them to Government in 2011. The central Government rejected them without making their contents public, which was itself a contradiction—seeking more power for the THA on the one hand, but denying it an input on change on the other.
Government instead appointed a three-member committee chaired by Hamid Ghany to examine the Green Paper. The Ghany committee was mandated to meet with Tobagonians (not Trinidadians, eh—we have no say in this matter) and other unnamed stakeholders and consider their views on internal self-government. Out of this exercise, Government was supposed to produce a White Paper for public discussion, following which a bill would be brought before Parliament, debated and take its course, given that its passage requires a special majority.
Nothing more was heard of it until a few weeks ago when the Tobago election bell rang. As has become a disturbing norm, the Prime Minister used a political platform, not the Parliament, to reveal a few details of a bill that parliamentarians and the public are yet to see.
Now, while I do not begrudge Tobagonians full internal self-government, such fundamental constitutional change demands the widest possible consultations among people of both islands that constitute sovereign Trinidad and Tobago. My understanding of self-government is that the country (in this case island) that enjoys this status is empowered to control ALL aspects of governance except defence and foreign affairs. Correct me if I am wrong. Assuming such a bill becomes law within weeks, would it mean that Scarborough would have powers usually ascribed to ministries such as Finance, Attorney General, Public Utilities, Energy, Trade, and so on? Again, I'm asking questions because I do not know the answers. We are getting snippets from the Prime Minister amidst the din of campaigning, mainly by way of promises of more power and much largesse, as she seduces the sister-isle electorate to have them vote for Ashworth Jack's TOP.
The PM trumpeted an increase in the statutory budget allocation, taking the upper limit for Tobago from 6.9 per cent to 8.0 per cent. She said to the crowd, "You know what that means? More money for you!" What the PM did not tell Tobagonians is that central government has always given the THA the bare minimum prescribed by law, never the maximum. And if those people believed she meant more money in their pockets, well....
The near-surreptitious manner in which the bill is being brought before Parliament signals that Government intends to use the forum for electioneering, which is wrong, even vulgar. PNM parliamentarians and independent senators, especially the latter (their support is critical to its passage), will find themselves in an awkward position. If they oppose parts of bill based on genuine concerns, they would be branded "anti-Tobago".
The Government knows that whatever happens in Parliament, the bill will not be law by Election Day. If London and the PNM retain control of the Assembly, the PP could allow the bill to lapse (or not proclaim it) to deny them self-government status. If Jack's TOP wins, then "ah we boy" could well become the first premier, or whatever, of Tobago. Did someone say politics has a morality of its own?
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Playing_politics_with_Tobago-185766401.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Playing_politics_with_Tobago-185766401.html)
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SIS $$ FOR TOP
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/SIS____FOR__TOP-185766381.html
By Asha Javeed asha.javeed@trinidadexpress.com
January 5, 2013
One of the contractors behind Tobago Minority Leader Ashworth Jack's million-dollar mansion is investing heavily in the Tobago Organisation of the People's (TOP) campaign bid to claim control of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
The Sunday Express has learned from several sources that Couva-based Super Industrial Services (SIS) —the recipient of several contracts from the People's Partnership Government, including the $45 million Siparia Market and $70 million Couva/Preysal Interchange—is footing some of the TOP's bills for its electioneering process.
Asked yesterday if the SIS was financing the TOP's election bid, Jack responded: "What does it matter?"
In turn, Jack asked: "It is always interesting that questions are raised about who's financing the TOP. But who is funding the PNM (People's National Movement)?"
SIS's construction firm, Casa Contractors Ltd, was responsible for
extension works at the Phillipine
residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last March.
The firm also worked on Jack's home in Hillsborough, Mt St George, Tobago.
In a Sunday Express exclusive on December 23, Jack had denied the construction of his home was a "gift" from a local contractor, saying he was not "hand-to-mouth" and was solely responsible for building his family a "nice" home.
He claimed to have paid for his home by working four jobs, including from funds accrued from the sale of cucumbers and pumpkins from his garden and was being paid a $35,000-a-month salary as project manager with a firm in Trinidad.
The TOP leader, who last week said he turned down a Cabinet position in the hope of being Tobago's next Chief Secretary, told the Sunday Express yesterday the TOP has been raising funds for years in the hope of wresting power away from the PNM.
Jack said the TOP has hosted many fund-raising dinners.
Asked again about SIS and financing, Jack answered: "I have already answered. What more do you want me to say?"
SIS owner Krishna Lalla did not respond to calls to his cellphone yesterday.
A number of attempts to reach company officials for comment last week also went unanswered.
Meantime, the TOP has steered away from the People's Partnership's go-to advertising executive for its election and party media blitz, Ernie Ross.
Asked why he was not working with Ross in this instance, given the Partnership was keen on a THA victory, Jack told the Sunday Express that while he has respect for Ross' work, the TOP chose who it wanted to work with this time around.
"This is the TOP. We run our campaign," he said.
But he didn't offer any details on how the TOP was handling its campaigning.
"I do not want to talk about that," was all he would say.
The Sunday Express confirmed from Dennis Ramdeen, founder of Pepper Advertising, that his company was only handling the placement of advertisements.
The Sunday Express learned the TOP's spending on newspaper advertisements has been small compared to the PNM's spending, pegging it at close to $1 million to date.
The TOP, the Sunday Express was told, has been focused on spending money on its ground campaign.
On the other hand, the PNM has spent millions on radio and print advertisements in the country's daily newspapers.
Jack told the Sunday Express he'll be campaigning every night for the next two weeks.
Asked about arriving at a political meeting last Thursday in a National Security helicopter, Jack said he was simply accepting a "lift".
He told the Sunday Express he was in Trinidad for a meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and National Security Minister Jack Warner.
He explained that Warner, chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), was going to Tobago to appear on a TOP platform in Roxborough and offered him a lift back, which he accepted.
He dismissed any suggestion there was an abuse of State resources for election campaigning.
In a bid to fulfil a campaign promise, the Government will debate a bill to repeal and replace the Tobago House of Assembly act in the coming weeks to grant Tobago greater autonomy.
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It is my sincere wish that Tobagonians observe the behaviour of this man and decide accordingly. If this is how he behaves without power what will he do with it.
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The answer to who will win is hidden in the article immediately above.
Campaign financing and transparency ... Where there are no rules, play by no rules?
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Tobago love: THA elections
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Paolo Kernahan
The scramble for seats in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections is heating up, although it would seem coverage of the campaigning in Trinidad’s daily publications is somewhat limited. There seem to be more full-page advertisements being placed by the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), although it is difficult to imagine to whom those garish and expensive adverts are meant to appeal.
The leader of the TOP, Ashworth Jack, was the focus of media attention with unanswered questions about his ability to acquire a multi-million dollar property in Tobago. Air PNM in Trinidad cavorted daily with insinuations and thinly-veiled accusations of impropriety in public office.
Mr Jack did himself no favours with his stubborn defiance; his refusal to spill his guts over the intimate details of his financial life. Photographs appeared of Mr Jack in his “garden,” spawning a slew of typically weak Trini joke: “I want to know whot kyna ponkin it is he growin dey so I could get some seed fuh meself!”
Trying to steer Tobagonians clear of “distractions” foisted on the public by the ruling PNM “London brothers’ Assembly dynasty,” Mr Jack has been harping on the track record of the THA under the stewardship of Chief secretary Orville London. His arsenal includes references to a number of capital projects yet to be completed by the THA, wanton waste by the Assembly and a glaring lack of direction or a governance philosophy.
Recently, Mr Jack was quoted as describing Scarborough as a dying town, ascribing what he considers to be the failing fortunes of the capital of Tobago to the ineptitude of the current administration. It was a risky move, given the sort of reactions which followed from the Tobago public: “Whaaat chupidness he talkin’, Scarborough much more better and more cleaner than all of Trinidad!”
Coming from the mouth of the average Tobago Joe, that remark of course has nothing to do with Mr Jack’s assessment of the economic standing of Scarborough but points to something more profound. Traditionally, Tobagonians do not vote the way Trinidadians do simply because they don’t have the deeply entrenched tribal politics supported by decades of racial division. Not to worry, though, it seems that can be changed!
Secretary of Finance in the THA, Anselm London, was recently spotted on facebook posting dire warnings against allowing these “foreigners” a foothold on the island. His naked xenophobia was directed inward, at the United National Congress (UNC)—a Trinidadian political party—not outward at some faceless invading aggressor (although it could be argued that he views them as one and the same thing).
Anselm London has always had very strong views on the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago. In an extensive interview he trilled sweetly about the glowing credit rating bestowed upon Tobago by the international credit rating agency, Standard and Poor’s.
Mr London viewed this favourable rating as an endorsement of the sound fiscal governance of the THA. He then made a very curious remark: the Finance Secretary suggested that their credit rating could have been higher had it not been pulled down by the poor performance of the Trinidad economy.
One could interpret that to mean that Tobago would fare much better were it not stricken with the albatross of the overbearing big brother that is Trinidad. This might play well with the Tobago electorate (not that there is any truth to it) because while they may be unhappy with the performance of the present regime, they certainly don’t want to import Trinidad’s current brand of governance to their island.
The TOP is being sold by the PNM as a mere corollary to the questionable practices of the UNC-led central Government. That is enough to terrify any right-thinking Tobagonian.
Fear of the UNC notwithstanding, the incumbent does have a problem. It has presided over steadily declining tourist arrivals. According to independent senator Dr Victor Wheeler, Tobago has suffered a 60 per cent decline in tourist arrivals over the past five years. Orville London has in the past attributed the anaemia in the industry to the global economic crisis.
With tourism rebounding in previously stagnated tourist economies like St Lucia, Barbados and Jamaica, Orville London’s justification has outlived its usefulness. This has been compounded by the decision of Virgin Airlines to pull its flights for the summer months, a dreadful turn of events laid squarely in the lap of the Assembly by Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz.
The Assembly’s response was: “The relationship between the THA and the airlines is something that the minister does not understand.” In other words, stay out of big people business.
Tobagonians have a tough decision on their hands: reinstall a regime which has not yielded any significant change on the island other than dubious and costly infrastructural projects, or vote in the TOP, a Trojan horse for the UNC Government. The relationship between the islands has always been a complex affair; it is likely to be made more so regardless of the outcome of the THA elections.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-05/tobago-love-tha-elections (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-05/tobago-love-tha-elections)
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Until there is proper campaign financing legislation we will continue to be faced with scenarios like what is reported above.
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HEATED BATTLE
PNM alliance talk, racist accusations in THA election build-up
By Irene Medina
THE People's National Movement (PNM) went into full election battle gear yesterday, with political leader Dr Keith Rowley speaking of a possible alliance with Tobago heavyweight Hochoy Charles and former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj to run the country.
Rowley was speaking before a large crowd at Market Square in Scarborough where the PNM presented its 12-member slate for the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.
He told the lively crowd: "I hear them saying that the PNM is financing Hochoy Charles to split votes, but let me tell you this, I have been in opposition to Hochoy Charles since 1980...if there is any Tobagonian who deserves the name Tobagonian, is Hochoy Charles. If Kamla could get together with Jack to ruin this country, I can get together with Ramesh Maharaj and Hochoy Charles to run this country."
Rowley was responding to claims by Tobago Organisation of the People leader Ashworth Jack that the PNM was financing Charles, a former THA chief secretary under the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) government, to split the TOP votes.
Rowley, who was ushered onto the platform with confetti and flag-waving, also put Tobagonians on notice that the PNM will not be rushed to support any legislation for internal self-government for the island as he criticised the "indecent haste" of the People's Partnership Government to bring a bill to the Parliament this week.
"I would have liked to stay longer with you, but tomorrow morning I have to head back to Trinidad. It is a high point of vulgarity, lack of class, and crassness that washes this country when you see a Government calling the Parliament to session to lay in the Parliament a bill to give Tobago internal self-government in the height of an election.
"As Opposition Leader, I have no idea what the Government is going to lay in the House.," he said.
Rowley further lambasted the Government as he asked the crowd of supporters, "Should we have expected from this Government a little bit of decency and courtesy?"
He chastised the TOP leader and his team for treating with the issue of internal self-government as a joke.
He warned that it is a "serious matter", adding that in any country, any move to amend the Constitution was "serious business".
"In some places wars are fought, wounds never heal."
Rowley chided the Prime Minister and the "heinous Anand Ramlogan and Christlyn Moore, who came from under a stone somewhere" for attempting to pull wool over Tobagonians' eyes on this issue, while they undermine the process of discussion.
"She (Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar) comes here as the giver of gifts, saying she is going to give you this gift of self-government, but self-government is progression, it is a civilised process, not an election gimmick from the TOP.
"I see something in the newspapers, they talking about powers to make laws and even before we have a chance to see what they are talking about, they (the Government) is saying that Rowley and the PNM must vote for it, but under no pushing will we enact any legislation that concerns the business of the people of Tobago," he said.
Rowley warned Tobagonians to beware of the UNC brand of politics, saying that when the Partnership Government came into office, they fired thousands of persons with no regard for the Public Service Act.
He posed several question to PNM supporters, about whether they were consulted by the Partnership on issues such as a Federation arrangement with the Central Government.
"Have you ever heard more madness?"
The PNM leader said he was extremely proud of the calibre of the 12 candidates chosen to contest the THA election and promised that the PNM will protect Tobago.
"Have no fear people of Tobago, you will get the protection of the PNM. We are what stands between you and disaster," he assured.
Rowley accused Ashworth Jack and National Security Minister Jack Warner of taking a deliberate decision to smear incumbent Chief Secretary Orville London, but said when they failed to do so with the Milshirv deal, they were now spying into his bank account to see how much money he has.
Calling Warner a disgraced FIFA official, Rowley slammed the Prime Minister's silence on allegations of wrongdoing by the TOP leader in the building of his multi-million-dollar mansion at Mt St George, as he reiterated his call to Tobagonians not to be fooled by "food in their mouth and money in their pockets".
"They took a deliberate decision to smear Orville London and rather as PM to stand up against what Ashworth Jack represents, she says that's not important….
Honing in on election day, Rowley admonished supporters, telling them that it is "all well and good to to mash up de place today, but you must remember your purpose for being here. You are supporting a body of candidates being presented here today, and I must remind you that elections are won on election day".
He congratulated the young candidates as he told them: "As political leader I say we have made our contribution , but it is for the young people that we have invested in the last decade, step forward and take responsibility.
Rowley urged voters: "Do not vote for a cell phone, vote to represent your upbringing, your honesty and integrity."
He said he was at the launch simply to support the candidates, support the party in Tobago and added that while the PNM had given Tobago the autonomy to run their affairs, "We stand behind behind you."
Rowley reminded Tobagonians about the lack of integrity of the Partnership Government in the handling of the anti-gang legislation, and the controversial Clause 34.
"...and she has the gall to come to Tobago and say that this indecency must go unnoticed. Tobagonians, has anybody ever so insulted you in Tobago?"
He called on Tobagonians "to vote to send a message to Kamla and Ashworth Jack that we are decent people and we will not accept that. Dip your finger in the ink right down to your elbow and send that message to them".
During the presentations of candidates, several political calpysoes punctuated the launch, which started as a rally from Scarborough Port to Market Square.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/HEATED_BATTLE-185821941.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/HEATED_BATTLE-185821941.html)
That part in bold is why I have to jump on a plane or boat and go and vote.......lawd knows unless we get some serious reforms in this country we just spinning TOP in mud (pun intended) with these parties, but I cyar sit down watch ah bunch ah people piss all over the constitution and still vote for Ashworth/TOP!! NO FIRETRUCKING WAY!! Nasty, stinking dutty people!!!.... :puking: :pissedoff: :cursing: :bs:
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Mr. Harris this is one time we going to disagree. It eh no dilemma at all nah!!!! :pissedoff: :bs: :cursing:
Tobago's dilemma
By Michael Harris
I cannot claim to have an ear to the ground when it comes to Tobago affairs. So in this instance I rely on the reports of knowledgeable friends and respected commentators who, on this issue, seem to be united in the view that the people of Tobago have been given a choice of drinking from either of two poisoned chalices in the forthcoming Tobago House of Assembly elections.
I trust that my fellow Express commentator Dr Winford James would forgive me for quoting extensively from one of his recent articles on the subject. I do so only because it clearly sums up the dilemma which seems to face the Tobago electorate as they ponder on the forthcoming polls.
In his article Dr James stated that "The voters have to choose between two parties mired in old, reactionary, and proprietary agendas... Should they retain a PNM whose record of performance over the last 12 years includes: acute polarisation of government, opposition and independent forces; non-transformation of the economy; suggestive, subjacent corruption; virtual stasis; and a leadership whose inspiration dried up after the first four years? Or should they re-insert a DAC/NAR/TOP that has no inspiring alternative programme, that is part of a partnership which has on multiple occasions demonstrated its unsuitability for respectful and democratic governance, and that is saddled with a leader who has a distaste for democracy and one who is, by the most charitable assessment, a puppet of the UNC?''
If Dr James and my friends are correct in their assessment then it means that the Tobago electorate, in two weeks time, will be required to make a choice that is even worse than that which the proverbial Mr Hobson offered to his customers. And, for all but the most diehard of partisans on either side, they face that choice without even a fig leaf with which to delude themselves that they are anything but naked.
Yet, precisely because the choices they face are so unredeemably bad, theirs is the opportunity to make a decision based upon a clinical and hardnosed political assessment that would not only serve themselves in good stead but also be a salutary lesson to the electorate in Trinidad.
For it was not too long ago in 2010 that the country as a whole faced a choice almost as bad. On the one side they had a PNM, mired in all sorts of corruption, and led by a rampant, megalomaniacal Patrick Manning, whose policy decisions seemed to be leading inexorably to the institutionalisation of a state of executive dictatorship.
On the other side there was a hurriedly thrown together pick-up-side, a collection of has-beens, wannabes, and never-weres, dominated by a UNC under new leadership.
Long before election day arrived it had become, or should have become, clear to any discerning onlooker that the People's Partnership simply did not have what was required to provide the country with the type of government and governance so earnestly desired.
In the event the electorate, on that occasion made, what I consider to be the right choice. The question is whether they made it for the right reasons? The sounds and signs of deep disappointment, frustration and outrage which have attended the People's Partnership administration as it perpetrated one egregious act of misgovernment and maladministration after another would suggest that a large percentage of the electorate had truly invested their hopes and dreams in them.
If that is so then they were sadly mistaken. But the question is why would they do that? Nothing in the manifesto of the People's Partnership, nothing that was said on their campaign platform, and nothing in the history of the various parties which made up the partnership, ever remotely suggested that they, collectively or individually, had a grasp of the fundamental problems which beset the country and a considered plan for tackling those problems.
So from whence did this hope of a new dispensation arise? I would suggest that there were two elements which allowed so many in the electorate to persuade themselves that the Partnership did indeed offer something new and wholesome. The first was the fact that the UNC was now led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar rather than Basdeo Panday, and the second was the fact that the Partnership included the COP and the MSJ, was sufficient to transform that new coalition into a viable alternative.
But there is an even more fundamental aspect to be considered. For it may well be that so many in the population sought to delude themselves that the People's Partnership offered hope of meaningful change because they simply could not comprehend and come to terms with the nauseatingly unpalatable choices which faced them without that fig-leaf of hope.
The fact is that as a people we had not yet come to understand and accept that often in politics the choice faced by electorates as well as by governments is a choice between two evils and that the best that can be done in such a circumstance is to choose that evil which leaves intact more, and better, options for the future.
This it would seem is the kind of choice which our brothers and sisters in Tobago now face. And they do so without any elements from which to construct a fig-leaf of hope. For unlike 2010 they cannot pretend that they do not know what the People's Partnership is and what it can do.
One can only hope they face their choice with courage and clear-headedness and make that decision which leaves open to them real options for tomorrow. If they do that they would have given to Trinidad an invaluable lesson in the realities of politics.
• Michael Harris has been for many years a writer and commentator on
politics and society in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Tobago_s_dilemma-185821971.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Tobago_s_dilemma-185821971.html)
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Is only firetrucking games!!!!
Less haste on Tobago
There are no issues more core to the integrity of the unitary state of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago than the terms of association between the islands of this republic. It is therefore a great pity that the Government has chosen the hectic and pugilistic period of an election campaign for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to take legislation to Parliament that proposes to alter this fundamental relationship.
It is not enough whether this legislation is in the interest of Tobago or Trinidad or Trinidad and Tobago. What matters is that an issue of such fundamental importance is undertaken seriously, soberly and with the greatest respect for the interest and involvement of the people of both islands so that it has the best chance of success after implementation.
The issue of more meaningful internal self-government for Tobago is one that this newspaper has supported for decades as indeed we have supported greater decentralisation of Local Government in this country. In the 1970s, we lent our voice to the campaign for greater autonomy that led, eventually, to the creation of the Tobago House of Assembly which, imperfect as it was then, was a crucial step in the right direction.
Notwithstanding occasional tinkering with the THA Act, the relationship between the islands continues to be plagued by acrimony with Tobago bristling under what it considers to be Trinidad's hegemony in a relationship of inequality between partners. This has continued to fuel the demand for greater autonomy with some Tobagonians going so far as to promote the case for secession. Predictably, Tobago's campaign for greater self-government has rubbed some Trinidadians the wrong way, convinced as some are, that Tobago gets a disproportionate share of the national revenue.
These are extreme positions along a spectrum relationship that could only be improved by greater understanding among all. In approaching the next round of constitutional amendments to give Tobago greater control over decision-making in its own affairs and a greater share of the combined national patrimony, the environment needs to be receptive to dialogue and the facts.
It is doubtful how useful a parliamentary debate on such a seminal issue could be in the heat of an election campaign when conditions are the least propitious for dialogue and when rival parties have the most to gain by sharpening the lines that divide them.
With two weeks to go before the January 21 THA election, the people of Tobago, as well as the rest of us, would be better served by a campaign in which the parties that are competing for the vote outline their programmes and policies for the next term.
This is not a time for cutting corners and rushing debates. We have been through enough such episodes to know that political expediency can be a short cut to failure, at best, and disaster at worst.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Less_haste_on_Tobago-185821991.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Less_haste_on_Tobago-185821991.html)
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This is going to get ETREMELY nasty.
Mark my words.
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A Calcutta quote from Hilton Sandy is making its rounds through social media.
Totally unnecessary, polarizing and downright stupid.
These politicians don't know how quickly goodwill can be tarnished with such statements.
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ramesh and rowley together :D
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A Calcutta quote from Hilton Sandy is making its rounds through social media.
Totally unnecessary, polarizing and downright stupid.
These politicians don't know how quickly goodwill can be tarnished with such statements.
Just heard the clip.....lawd aye. Steups!! Hilton Sandy is a real backside.....double steups!!
:banginghead: :busshead: :busshead: :yellowcard:
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Sandy apologises for 'Calcutta' remarks
Story Updated: Jan 7, 2013
Trinidad Express
Spoken to: Hilton Sandy
People's National Movement (PNM) candidate for Roxborough/Delaford in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election Hilton Sandy has apologised for what was perceived as racist statements made at a public meeting on Sunday.
The Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) had critcised Sandy for his statements and provided an audio clip of Sandy at the meeting where he suggested that if they (his constituents) did not vote for the PNM, East Indians would move to Tobago and take over- that a ship from Calcutta was waiting to sail to Tobago pending the outcome of the election.
In a release to the press, Sandy apologised saying in the 45 years of service to Tobago,he conducted his duties with integrity and fairness, values upon which he built his private and public life.
"At a recent political meeting, I was unfortunately overwhelmed by the exuberant atmosphere and erred by referencing what has been perceived as a racial statement. To all who have been offended by this statement I offer my sincerest apologies," stated Sandy.
"During my years in the service of the public I have always been inspired and guided by the founding principles of the movement to which I belong that said that we are a mobilisation of all the forces in the community, cutting across race and religion, class and colour, with emphasis on united action by all the people in the common cause," he added.
At a press conference at the Parliament yesterday, when questioned Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley said that Sandy should apologise and stressed that his comments were not representative of the PNM.
"It was unfortunate that Mr Sandy would make that kind of reference to some song, it was unnecessary and whatever implications it had, he should apologise for it and it forms no part of the PNM campaign, I know many people would jump to grab at it to prove that the PNM is running a racial campaign, we certainly are not, the people of Tobago subscribe to the principles of the national anthem, every creed and race must find an equal place," he said.
Rowley also refuted reports that both he and THA chief secretary Orville London had cheered Sandy when he made the comment, "That's an absolute untruth and in fact Mr Sandy was spoken to about it and I would expect that he would rectify his misstep or misgivings. It forms no part of PNM policy or PNM campaign."
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Too late.
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A Calcutta quote from Hilton Sandy is making its rounds through social media.
Totally unnecessary, polarizing and downright stupid.
These politicians don't know how quickly goodwill can be tarnished with such statements.
injudicious .... idiotic... imbecilic....insipid....insensitive....ignorant....invidious...and unfortunately very temerarious but less of an impact in Tobago than in Trinidad.
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Former THA head backs London
Laying of Constitution Amendment Bill 'done at wrong time'
By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Jan 7, 2013 at 10:59 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 7, 2013 at 11:01 PM ECT
Former Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary and leader of the Platform of Truth Hochoy Charles is in full agreement with Chief Secretary and PNM Tobago Council leader Orville London that the laying of the Constitution Amendment Bills in Parliament yesterday has been done at the wrong time.
Charles said what the People's Partnership Government, aided and abetted by Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack, has done is disgusting and insulting to the people of Tobago in the build-up to the THA election on January 21.
He said to date neither he nor the people of Tobago know the details of the bill and this is totally wrong.
"And you carry it in the midst of an election campaign, you serious? They not serious. The Prime Minister all of them crazy. All of them are mad people," said Charles at his party headquarters in Scarborough.
He said if he were London, he would call all parties in Tobago and demonstrate against the doings of the Government. And he is calling for the TOP to lose the upcoming THA poll.
"And if people know what is good for them the TOP should not make one seat in this election. The TOP should not get a seat in this election or else we would be destroyed in Tobago," Charles said.
He said the TOP is foolish to think his party is being funded by the PNM as 99 per cent of his party's campaign is being funded by him. However, he has no problem joining with the PNM or any other party to run the country, but not to run the Tobago House of Assembly.
"Don't you think I'm qualified to run the country? I don't have to join with anybody to run the country, in fact all of us can build the country."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Former_THA_head_backs_London-185960601.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Former_THA_head_backs_London-185960601.html)
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LONDON: RENEW OUR CONTRACT
By Sasha Harrinanan Monday, January 7 2013
Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and political leader of the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) Tobago Council, Orville London, yesterday made an impassioned appeal to Tobagonians to “renew” the PNM’s contract on January 21 because of what he called the party’s “loyalty and commitment” to the social and economic development of all Tobagonians.
One of the main reasons cited by the Chief Secretary for “contract renewal” was the THA’s purchase of large parcels of land over the past ten years of his time in office, and more recently a $90 million investment in property in Courland for the construction of houses due to be delivered in late 2013.
“We are asking, and our contract should be renewed, because we delivered and we have the capacity to continue to deliver...When we came into office in 2001, Tobagonians were bereft of opportunity, whether it was in education (or) social services...Now we can boast of an expenditure of over $100 million so that 1,600 Tobagonians were able to access tertiary level education.”
Read More: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171635.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171635.html)
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EMPOWER TOBAGO
By ANDRE BAGOO Tuesday, January 8 2013
TOBAGO will be empowered to make its own laws and will have a body tantamount to its own Cabinet under proposed legislation, to amend the Constitution, unveiled by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Parliament yesterday.
The Prime Minister described the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2013 — the first piece of legislation tabled in Parliament for the year — as “revolutionary” and stated it would take Tobago down “freedom road”.
“All in all, these proposals are groundbreaking and represent a quantum leap forward in addressing the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. “After one hundred and twenty three years, the TOP and Peoples’ Partnership are placing Tobago on freedom road.”
The legislation proposes Tobago will have:
* Exclusive power to make its own laws;
* Its own Cabinet body, called the Executive Council;
* A Constitutionally-guaranteed slice of the nation’s Budget to the tune of 6.9 - eight percent; and
* MPs who will have a right of audience in Cabinet on all national decisions;
“The changes will confer greater power to the people of Tobago and your elected representatives; it will limit the powers of the Parliament and the Cabinet vis-à-vis Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Tobago’s freedom beckons. Self determination for Tobago speaks to the maturity of the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Read More: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171666.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171666.html)
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EMPOWER TOBAGO
By ANDRE BAGOO Tuesday, January 8 2013
TOBAGO will be empowered to make its own laws and will have a body tantamount to its own Cabinet under proposed legislation, to amend the Constitution, unveiled by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Parliament yesterday.
The Prime Minister described the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2013 — the first piece of legislation tabled in Parliament for the year — as “revolutionary” and stated it would take Tobago down “freedom road”.
“All in all, these proposals are groundbreaking and represent a quantum leap forward in addressing the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. “After one hundred and twenty three years, the TOP and Peoples’ Partnership are placing Tobago on freedom road.”
I had to scroll back up to make sure I read the first bolded part when I read the second bolded part. Buh....I guess campaigning musbe like being fit. De best ting to do is always stay fit so yuh ready ::)
EMPOWER TOBAGO
The legislation proposes Tobago will have:
* Exclusive power to make its own laws;
* Its own Cabinet body, called the Executive Council;
* A Constitutionally-guaranteed slice of the nation’s Budget to the tune of 6.9 - eight percent; and
* MPs who will have a right of audience in Cabinet on all national decisions;
“The changes will confer greater power to the people of Tobago and your elected representatives; it will limit the powers of the Parliament and the Cabinet vis-à-vis Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Tobago’s freedom beckons. Self determination for Tobago speaks to the maturity of the democracy of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Read More: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171666.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171666.html)
Aside from the first and third points...how does that compare to how things are now?
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Just heard on radio that the national debate amongst the political leaders of the 3 parties is being stalled due to the inability to agree on an impartial moderator. The debate is supposed to be scheduled for Thursday evening.
Hochoy Charles has agreed to the moderators presented but one of the other two leaders saying that they don't want any moderator from Trinidad as they do not understand Tobago affairs.
Apparently the debate is going ahead as planned with the parties in agreement.
In my opinion the leader of the party that doesnt show up will essentially kill their chance to be the next Chief Secretary.
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More from Dr. Vanus James....
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9GPE1aM0PFbZ2xVNnZoUFNmRHc
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'Rowley Wrong'
Analysts 'buff' Opposition Leader on slow reaction to 'Calcutta' statements
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Jan 8, 2013 at 10:03 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 9, 2013 at 6:32 AM ECT
Former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas and political analyst Derek Ramsarooj yesterday chastised Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley for failing to immediately refute the statements, perceived to be racist, which were made by PNM candidate Roxboxough/Delaford, Hilton Sandy.
Dumas said Rowley and Chief Secretary Orville London, who were present at the public meeting when Sandy made the offensive remark, should have immediately distanced themselves and the PNM from Sandy's statement, right there and then.
"Whoever had spoken after Sandy (on the platform) should have said 'we don't accept that kind of language'. But it wasn't said and it was only after the other side reacted ... after the ferocious statements from the UNC blogs and the Tobago Organisation of the People issued a statement, that Rowley said something ... and London has not said anything. And that's not good enough," Dumas stated.
Ramsamooj said both Rowley and London should have "publicly chastised" Sandy right away. "One would have expected that Dr Rowley, who is aspiring to be the prime minister of the country, would have been much more proactive and intervened immediately," he said.
Political analyst Winford James said Rowley should have pulled Sandy aside and have a conversation with him which should have led to any immediate withdrawal and apology for the remark. "It would have given the man (Sandy) a chance to redeem himself right there on the platform," he said.
James lamented that there was no "resistance" to Sandy's remark on the very platform and that the intervention (from the leadership) only came after the TOP raised the issue.
Sandy, addressing a public meeting, had stated that if his constituents did not vote for the PNM that "a ship from Calcutta" was waiting to sail to Tobago.
The matter was taken up by the TOP and the UNC bloggers and Sandy apologised, saying he was "overwhelmed by the exuberant atmosphere and erred by referencing what was perceived as as racist statement".
Despite their criticisms of Sandy's statements, however, both Dumas and James said they did not believe it had done Sandy or the PNM irreparable damage in the THA campaign.
"I would not say it has done him irreparable damage in Tobago because a lot of Tobagonians feel the same way ... and agree with Sandy. He ought not to have speak it on a platform in public. But the truth is that a lot of Tobagonians have the same attitude—that if you vote for the TOP, 'all them Indians from Trinidad would come and take over,'."
He said: "That has been going on, on the ground, for months", adding that it predated the campaign. "Sandy just forgot where he was and said it publicly," Dumas stated.
He said platform speakers in the campaign have spoken about "pagans coming in". "What do you mean by pagans? All these coded words that everyone knows what they mean," Dumas said, adding there were even racist jokes in the schools.
Dumas, nevertheless, said Sandy's remarks would do some damage because there were also a lot of people in Tobago who reject that kind of language. He said at the end of the day, however, it would do the PNM more damage nationally than in Tobago. "And that is why Dr Rowley ran quickly to say he had spoken to Sandy and he must apologise," he said.
Noting that politicians do tend to become "overexuberant" in front of a crowd, Dumas said if people continued to talk in those terms and the PNM wins," is it not the same people (in the Central Government) "from Calcutta, quote, unquote, that we (in Tobago) would have to deal with?"
James said because of Tobago's demography (the vast majority of the electorate is African) and history shows the statement would not hurt the candidate or the party's chances. "In Trinidad, you are likely to pay more than in Tobago, (for such a remark)," he said.
He said while he accepted that Sandy could have been overwhelmed by exuberance, his apology should have come sooner, "as soon as he recognised her error".
"It would have been far better if once he had come to his senses, he apologised and not have to be motivated by the TOP. "Though, one should add that politicians always tend to wait (rather than immediately withdraw an injudicious comment), hoping that nobody would pick up on it," James said.
Ramsarooj said Sandy was one of the most senior active politicians in Tobago and his unfortunate and irresponsible comments were detrimental to his political well being. Ramsarooj said Sandy should know that there would be a political price for such politically incorrect statements. An apology would not rectify the damage done to his reputation, he said.
He said Sandy had compromised the political appeal of the PNM, especially among the undecided and swing voters. Ramsarooj said Sandy's statement would hurt the PNM's chances not just in the THA election, but there might leave a negative connotation in the pending local government elections, especially where swing voters play a crucial.
"There must be no place on the political landscape for direct or subtle talk of racism, he said. He added that within the framework of good governance and political ethics, politicians in other countries do the honourable thing and resign. "If the PNM has to talk about ethics and acceptable behaviour then they must lead by example," he said.
Ramsarooj said it appeared that subtle racism was seeping into the public domain at the national level. He said while there is an element in the population which may be motivated to vote along ethnic lines, there was a much stronger element of the electorate which rejects any subtle or direct voting intention based on ethnicity. See Pages 4 and 7
Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/_Rowley_Wrong_-186105101.html
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He damn wrong, as a national politician he ahd a right to PUBLICLY denounce the statements made in harsh terms.
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Maha Sabha: Sandy must go
PNM faces backlash over 'Calcutta' remarks...
By Ria Taitt
Story Created: Jan 9, 2013 at 9:48 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 10, 2013 at 7:42 AM ECT
If a UNC candidate had stated on an election platform that a boat from the Congo would arrive in Trinidad if the PNM wins the election, what would have been the PNM's and the nation's reaction?
This is the question the Maha Sabha is asking People's National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley, in the wake of statements made on Sunday by Roxborough/Delaford candidate Hilton Sandy that a ship from Calcutta was waiting to sail to Tobago if the Tobago electorate fails to vote for the PNM. Sandy apologised for the remarks on Monday.
The Maha Sabha and United National Congress (UNC) chairman, National Security Minister Jack Warner, in separate statements, slammed Rowley, Chief Secretary Orville London and Sandy
In a media release, the Maha Sabha called on Rowley to make "an unequivocal and definitive condemnation of Sandy" and have him step down as candidate for Roxborough/ Delaford in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election.
It added: "Dr Rowley must clearly articulate the PNM's policy on discrimination and ask Mr Sandy to step down (as a candidate) as tangible proof that the PNM has dissociated its party...from discrimination against Indians.
Stating Sandy's statement was "divisive, racist and incendiary and has been criticised and repudiated by all right-thinking citizens, the Maha Sabha said neither Rowley nor London, who was present when Sandy made the offensive remarks, failed to intervene.
"The Maha Sabha finds the position of the Leader of the Opposition confusing, given that Rowley has been going to extreme lengths to deviate from his past character and try to embrace the Indian community as part of a re-engineering of the PNM. Dr Rowley was on the streets of Debe eating doubles, (he was) at Mastana Bahar and (also) at Divali Nagar celebrating Indians while in Roxborough, by his silence, he was censoring Indians," it said.
Warner, in a statement, said Hilton's outburst reflected an unfortunate position of his party that has been uttered in one way or the other in various coded ways. "This time, however, it found open expression on a public platform in the presence of the political leader and Chief Secretary. The mask has dropped, and we can see them for who they truly are," he said.
Read More: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Maha_Sabha___Sandy_must_go-186244331.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Maha_Sabha___Sandy_must_go-186244331.html)
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I consider this an interesting read. Might give a little more perspective on 'implementation' of the Constitutional Amendment (Tobago). How accurate his views are remain unknown as this is taken from the Opinion section of the Trinidad Express.
War against Tobago
By Winford James
Story Created: Jan 9, 2013 at 9:48 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 10, 2013 at 7:54 AM ECT
Let's make no bones about it. The Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill, 2013 is a wicked piece of legislation—deceptively wicked. It is the wickedest piece of legislation in Trinidad and Tobago since I was born —wickeder than Karl Hudson-Phillips' Public Order Bill. And I really, really hope it goes the way of that Bill—into a legislative burial ground so deep that even the corbeaux won't be able to find it.
This is a bill that says with a lover's bewitching charm, "Here, Tobago. Take a 6.09 to eight per cent of the national budget—a guaranteed two per cent more than you are getting now. Take a radius of 11 miles of seawater —five more than previously. Take a bigger number of secretaries and assemblymen. Go and make your own laws. And you know who to vote!''
But this is a bill that wraps these gifts in something worse than man scratch-bush, making the island an unwitting slave colony of Trinidad— a status worse than the one that it is unhappy with at present—and the TOP leadership is too besotted to either feel or see.
One of the deceptively wicked pieces of wickedness is that it pits one half of the country, Tobago, against the whole country, Trinidad and Tobago, while making it look as though Tobago will be better off with its new gifts. Cabinet is in charge of the country and it abuses that power to give a few—and cheap, as we shall see—constitutional gifts to Tobago and, ostensibly, none to Trinidad. But since, by default, Trinidad (along with the whole country, somehow) must get what is left over after Tobago's allocation, it is easy to see that Trinidad will get the whopping lion's share! But the critical point is that it is Cabinet, composed predominantly of Trinidadians, that decides what Tobago gets and not the Assembly, composed wholly of Tobagonians. Tobago only comes into the picture helplessly through its two representatives in the Lower House, its less-than-a-handful of senators, and a feckless Ashworth Jack outside of Parliament.
A second deceptive piece of wickedness is that Cabinet controls the law-making of the Legislature of Tobago and the policy making of the Executive Council through overriding powers which it can arbitrarily apply. There are three lists of areas of responsibility: a Tobago list, a national list, and a concurrent list. The Executive Council—which, by the way, remains in the new legislation—ostensibly has responsibility for the Tobago list. The Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago has responsibility for the national list, and both the Cabinet and the Executive Council ostensibly have responsibility for the concurrent list. That's on the surface. But when you look at the provisions carefully, it is really the Cabinet in charge.
How so? Well, two Sections that show this are 6(c)(3) and (under Chapter 11A) 141B(2). The former says:
"Where a provision of a law made by the Legislature of Tobago under subsection (2) is inconsistent with a) a law which Parliament is competent to enact; or b) a provision of an existing law, the law made by Parliament, whether made before or after the law made by the Legislature of Tobago, or, as the case may be, the existing law, shall prevail and the law made by the Legislature of Tobago, shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. '' (Emphasis mine.)
Yes, Cabinet can, through the Parliament, override Assembly laws at its discretion. Before or after those laws are made!
Section 141B says more or less the same thing, especially since the determination of what is necessary or expedient is left to the judgment of Parliament, that is, Cabinet:
"Parliament may pass a Bill for an Act to make laws for Trinidad and Tobago in respect of any of the matters enumerated in the Tobago list if it is stated in the Act that the Act is necessary or expedient in the national interest and the bill for the Act is passed after consultation with the Assembly.'' (Emphasis mine.)
While it is not entirely clear how Parliament will consult with the Assembly, what is quite clear is that i) the Act merely has to state that it (the Act) is "necessary or expedient in the national interest'' and ii) the Assembly merely has to be consulted.
Amazing!
A third deceptive piece of wickedness is the defining of Tobago but not of Trinidad. According to Section 141F, the Executive Council and the Assembly will have legal and administrative control "within the confines of the island of Tobago, its offshore islands, and such part of the inland waters between Tobago and Trinidad of not less than 11 miles, measured from the nearest points between the two islands, and such part of the territorial sea of Trinidad and Tobago of not less than 11 nautical miles esured seaward from the baselines of Trinidad and Tobago, as determined in accordance with section 5 of the Territorial Sea Act, as amended.'' (Emphasis mine.)
There is a semantic conundrum in the phrase "not less than 11 nautical miles''; the meaning could be "at least 11 miles,'' in which case, we could have a shifting boundary—12 miles? 15? 20?—or simply 11 miles, which seems to be the Prime Minister's interpretation. If the boundary is fixed at 11 miles, the result will be most likely a loss of oil and gas resources for Tobago, which will then go to the rest of the country, virtually Trinidad. Cabinet is therefore manipulating the maritime boundary to box bread out of Tobago's mouth.
A fourth deceptive piece of wickedness is the constitutionalisation of Tobago's percentage of the national budget. If, as is reasonable to think, Tobago's economy grows over time to the extent that it contributes, say, 30 per cent of the national GDP, then Tobago will be stuck with a ceiling of 8 per cent of the budget, which will need a three-fifths majority vote in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority in the Senate to change. Outrageous!
A fifth deceptive piece of wickedness is exclusion of important areas of economic development and manpower management from the Tobago List—like tertiary education, customs and excise, air and sea transportation, airports and wharves, energy and energy affair. This is tantamount to leaving critical areas of Tobago's development to Trinidad! But alas, I have run out of space.
I have enough, though, to end with the observation that the island seems headed to becoming a slave colony of Trinidad and that Cabinet is waging war against Tobago. See what havoc prime ministerial fiat can wreak?
• Winford James is a uwi lecturer and a political analyst.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/War_against_Tobago-186244391.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/War_against_Tobago-186244391.html)
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A T&T election first. Congrats to the leaders of the political parties and the T&T Debate Committee for coming together to create history in T&T politics. I know I will make sure to be seated and listening attentively at 8pm (Tobago time :) ) till end.
Political analysts on THA election debate: Chance for politicians to focus on real issues
Published:
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
The much-anticipated Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election debate tonight will take citizens away from the traditional tendency to vote on race and put the spotlight on the issues that affect them daily, says political scientist Dr Indira Rampersad.
“I think it is an excellent idea. I was always in support of political debates. We really need a comprehensive understanding of what politicians intend to do when they get into office,” Rampersad said of the significance and usefulness of the debate.
The debate, a first for Tobago, will feature the leaders of the three main parties—Orville London’s People’s National Movement (PNM), Ashworth Jack’s Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and Hochoy Charles’ Platform for Truth. The three will seek to influence the electorate to vote for their respective parties in the January 21 election. The debate is being organised by the T&T Debates Commission, an initiative of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Speaking about what she hopes to see in the debate, Rampersad said: “Constitutional reform, for instance, is high on the Government’s agenda and I would like to hear what the TOP has to say on it.”
Responding to criticisms from THA Chief Secretary Orville London and other PNM members in Tobago that bringing legislation for self-government for Tobago in the midst of an election campaign was contemptuous, Rampersad said: “An election is coming up and I think the Government is going to use any opportunity for political capital. It’s not unheard of.”
She said the ramifications of self-government for Tobago were too far-reaching to think it was just about electioneering. She also observed that the ethnic card was being played in the THA election, but added that the debate would give politicians a chance to focus on the real issues for a while. Last Friday, THA assemblyman Hilton Sandy told a political meeting “a ship from Calcutta is waiting to come to Tobago” if the election results do not go in the PNM’s favour.
Minority Leader Ashworth Jack and others slammed the statements as racist. Noting the ethnic tension, Rampersad said: “It would be interesting to see to what extent the race card will impact on the electorate.” She said the THA election debate is also a good forerunner for the upcoming local government elections, due by July, and the 2015 general election.
Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath, meanwhile, said the THA debate would be useful as an attempt to change the political culture. “You will have a situation where parties are not going to engage in mud-slinging and mauvais langue, but will deal with the issues in a structured manner.” Ragoonath, however, said he was not yet sure about the significance of the debate.
“Various side issues, like Jack’s house and the race issue, seem to have taken prominence in the campaign. Hopefully, the debate will bring back the politicians to the real issue of the governance of Tobago,” he said. Curtain-raiser on the debate
• Starts at 8 pm at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Lambeau, Tobago.
• Will be fed live to all the main radio and TV stations.
• Will be attended by members of the T&T Debates Commission and some of its staffers, two or three representatives of each of the political parties contesting the THA election and members of the media.
• Chief economist at Republic Bank Ltd Ronald Ramkissoon will be the facilitator.
• Hayden Blades, president of Business Insight Ltd, and Victor Hart, former chairman of T&T Transparency Institute, will pose questions to the three debaters.
• Debaters will be the PNM’s Orville London, THA Chief Secretary, TOP leader Ashworth Jack, and Hochoy Charles, leader of the Platform of Truth.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-10/political-analysts-tha-election-debate-chance-politicians-focus-real-issues (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-10/political-analysts-tha-election-debate-chance-politicians-focus-real-issues)
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THA debate is on. Very interesting debate.
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Apart from one story I believe in the guardian http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-10/no-clear-winner-historic-tha-debate (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-10/no-clear-winner-historic-tha-debate) there isn't much news from any of the media houses about the THA Debate.
So to ask: WHICH CANDIDATE WON THIS DEBATE?
*According to the TT Debates Committee..
From the TTDC Facebook page (last night).....
Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission - TTDC As far as we know Mr Jack did not walk in with any notes. There is a chance that Mr Charles took the notes that were written during the debate as notes that were brought in....
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http://eternalpantomime.com/2013/01/11/the-great-tha-pappy-show-debate/ (http://eternalpantomime.com/2013/01/11/the-great-tha-pappy-show-debate/)
The Great THA Pappy Show Debate!
Posted on January 11, 2013 by The Pantomime
This morning at Macueripe a group of above middle-aged swimmers were discussing last night’s THA Debate and assessing the speakers. One man said he found Hochoy the best speaker, but overall the debate was boring and he switched to the cricket. His wife announced that she found Orville London…she couldn’t remember his name at first….spoke English so well. Because I was in mid-stroke and not close enough to organically enter the conversation I didn’t get the opportunity to ask the question, “Speak English so well as opposed to what language?”
This lady is an example of the general attitude Trinidadians have towards Tobagonians…condescending, arrogant, rude…as if Tobagonians are stupid, uncivilised barbaric people with little to no education or indeed common sense.
It is this condescension and arrogance and general rudeness to Tobagonians I see in the TOP/UNC Campaign. Indeed the entire UNC?TOP media campaign seems to be run for the benefit of Trinidadians and not Tobagonians.
Take a glance at their Facebook Page and realise that more Trinidadians than Tobagonians engage in the conversations.
Listen to their radio ads and realise that many of the ads are playing on Trinidad radio stations whose signal never reach Tobago. WACK radio? 93.1/93.5? WACK Radio is based in San Fernando. Hott 93′s audience listens to pop/rock, which is a decidedly Indo-dominant audience and listenership. The Calcutta Ship ads features the voice of Hansley Ajodha pretending to represent the interests of Tobagonians….and the list goes on.
But it was last night’s debate that struck as particularly insulting and dismissive of Tobagonians….and I really wondered what the people at the Chamber of Commerce and the UWI were thinking when they organised the debate and drafted the questions.
The Debate had a closed off and select audience. All Tobagonians couldnt attend. Remember this is THA elections…it affects Tobagonians more than it could ever affect Trinidadians. The moderator was a Trinidadian of Indian origin. The panellists presenting the questions both sounded distinctly Trinidadian. The venue was the government owned Magdalena Hotel. The production team was Lisa Wickham, a Trinidadian consultant. The research team that came up with the questions were all from the UWI campus and the names I saw listed featured mostly Trinidadian researchers from the University’s research sphere.
In short, everything about last night’s debate was geared towards a Trinidadian sensibility. But we respect Tobago and want them to have autonomy right? Kamla and TOP aint fooling me with that rhetoric.
The message sent was that this debate was a production by Trinidadian for Trinidadians about a Tobagonian issue. The only Tobagonians voices heard on set were that of the debaters. A very curious thing. The debate claimed to be about economic progress yet managed to bring up the topic of race…a decidedly Trini pre-occupation. But the debate steered clear of corruption, nepotism and cultural difference. The debate also steered clear of addressing issues that are specific and unique to Tobago because the person who researched the questions focused posing questions that are relevant to Trinidadians. As a quick example….there were questions about Transport between the two islands…..not a question was raised about transportation problems on the island. How many Trinis stay beyond Store Bay/Bon Accord/Canaan? Very few. So the concept of moving around Tobago via public transport escapes them. And let’s not discuss the issue of unemployment and the types of employment available. Ashworth Jack went on and on about Tourism and Agriculture because clearly the entire educated population of Tobago wants to become farmers, waiters and hotel managers. Not only are job opportunities limited, the industries are limited as well. Which means thousands of Tobagonians have to leave their homes to excel!
I sat through the debate waiting to see it change course and begin to address core issues and then it struck me. The Debates Commission didnt set up this debate for Tobagonians but for themselves. So now it can be said that we have held an election debate and everyone can pat themselves on the back for putting on a good show…but to me the Debate made no difference to the political landscape.
If you ask me who won last night’s pappyshow of a debate, I’d tell you the production team…..because them eating a big food and the issues remain untouched!
Vote With Sense….Don’t Vote Full Dotish!
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ramlogan_files_for_judicial_review_of__143m_Milshirv_deal-186568581.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ramlogan_files_for_judicial_review_of__143m_Milshirv_deal-186568581.html)
Ramlogan files for judicial review of $143m Milshirv deal
By Irene Medina
Story Created: Jan 11, 2013 at 10:55 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 11, 2013 at 10:58 PM ECT
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is moving to get the High Court to strike down the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Milshirv deal as illegal.
Yesterday, Ramlogan filed for judicial review of THA Chief Secretary Orville London's decision to enter into a $143 million BOLT (Build, Own, Lease, and Transfer) arrangement for the development of the Milshirv Administrative Centre in Milford, Tobago.
This action to go to court comes even as former attorney general John Jeremie, SC, and President of the Senate Timothy Hamel-Smith gave separate legal opinions confirming the ability of the THA to enter into a BOLT arrangement, before and after the deal was struck.
This is the second lawsuit London faces from the Attorney General, which come smack in the middle of the heated election for control of the Tobago House of Assembly.
The other has to do with a claim by some UK investors that the THA had discriminated against them in a $200 million land deal.
The Milshirv issue has been a hot topic on the political platform by the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), a coalition partner of the ruling People's Partnership.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had also raised the issue during the hustings in Black Rock, Tobago, a few days ago, of the silence of the Government in the matter, since documents requested were provided to the Minister of Finance and made public on the THA website almost a month ago and there has been no response from the Government on the issue.
But attorneys acting on behalf of Ramlogan filed the lawsuit yesterday before the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain, for judicial review in the matter, which has now become a public issue and has been referred to the Integrity Commission by Ramlogan.
Ramlogan has also provided a sworn affidavit in support of the application for leave to make an application for judicial review against the THA.
Ramlogan's 37-page affidavit spelt out the issues, stating that the "intended judicial review application relates to a decision of the Tobago House of Assembly to enter into a BOLT arrangement with a private developer, Amera Caribbean Development Ltd, for the purposes of the construction and financing of an administrative building for the Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment in Tobago," a copy of which has been received by the Minister of Finance".
Under the arrangement, Amera would undertake to build the complex and lease it to the THA for a 20-year period, after which time the legal title would be transferred to the THA.
Giving a chronology of events, the Attorney General indicated that the Finance Minister had written to London, asking for the provision of details of the funding accessed by the THA for payment of the land, said to be $12 million; and for details of the documents relating to the construction of the complex.
According to Ramlogan: "The decision taken by the THA has raised much public comment and criticism in that the basis and justification for the decision has been questioned in the media.
"There has also been criticism in the media regarding the 'rent' to which the THA has agreed to pay," Ramlogan said, adding that the criticisms suggest the rate is not in conformity with the market rate for building space in the same vicinity.
He also pointed out that it was apparent from the BOLT documents that the THA suggests that in the past Central Government had not approved its proposals for major projects and therefore sought to obtain the financing for such projects by using other means not provided for within the framework of the THA Act.
Ramlogan pointed out that the budgetary allocations for 2013 of the BOLT documents do not reflect any estimates or provisions for the financing and construction of the project during 2013.
The Attorney General made it clear in his affidavit that the Central Government is vested with the power and responsibility to manage the State's resources and in this instance the Milshirv deal had not received "the approval of Central Government".
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171869.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,171869.html)
Dumas: Ashworth, the best debater
By Clint Chan Tack Saturday, January 12 2013
FORMER Public Service Commission chairman Reginald Dumas yesterday said he believed that Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) political leader Ashworth Jack performed better than Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London and Platform for Truth leader Hochoy Charles in Thursday night’s debate at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort in Lowlands, Tobago.
However, Dumas said this does not necessarily mean that Jack will be the next THA Chief Secretary or that the TOP would win the THA election on January 21. Jack is the current THA Minority Leader.
Commenting on the performances of London, Jack and Charles in the debate, Dumas told Newsday he thought that Jack “performed best on the night.” He said while Jack was well known in Tobago, he would have been considered “an unknown quantity” with respect to this fora. “I think he (Jack) would have surprised a number of people,” Dumas stated.
He said Jack appeared to demonstrate an ability to think quickly on his feet and “to think down the road.” Noting that Jack highlighted the fact that he was not Chief Secretary for the last 16 years (unlike London and Charles), Dumas said that was not necessarily a reason Tobagonians should vote for Jack on January 21.
Turning to London, Dumas said there was no doubt that London is very articulate and “more suave than the other two (Jack and Charles).”
However Dumas felt London found himself in an “awkward position” as the incumbent and was on the defensive for much of the debate. He explained that London has a track record as Chief Secretary and would have had to rely in a major way on that to encourage Tobagonians to re-elect him to office.
Regarding Charles’ performance, Dumas said Charles spent too much time focusing on the past and not what he planned to do for the future should be elected as Chief Secretary. Kariwak Hotel CEO Allan Clovis said he thought Jack remained composed during the debate and “seemed prepared.”
Noting that Jack touched on issues such as alternative energy while London and Charles did not, Clovis said Jack appeared to demonstrate some “generational thinking.” He said while Jack may have strengthened his position with TOP supporters and may have convinced some undecided voters to vote TOP, he was not “a messiah” by any means. Clovis felt London appeared “very resigned” and did not appear comfortable in putting forward his views. He thought Charles only “caught himself at the end” and may have lost out on an opportunity to send a clear message to voters to support his party on January 21.
Dumas and Clovis both welcomed the principle behind the debate but felt there was room for improvement. Dumas felt that moderator Dr Ronald Ramkissoon cut off the debaters at times during the debate while they were in mid-response. He also believed that when a question was put to one debater and the other two were allowed to rebutt his statement, the first debater should have been given an opportunity to rebut the statements made by the other two debaters.
Clovis thought the questions posed were “very impersonal.” He said this did not reflect badly on the persons posing the question but rather on the structure of the debate. Clovis stated it might have been better to simply give some of the questions “on a piece of paper” to the debaters and allow them to respond rather than pose them the way they were.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Charles__Jack_should_be_disqualified-186568601.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Charles__Jack_should_be_disqualified-186568601.html)
Charles: Jack shouldbe disqualified
Ashworth taken to task for THA debate notes...
By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Jan 11, 2013 at 10:55 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 11, 2013 at 10:58 PM ECT
Former Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Hochoy Charles said Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack should have been disqualified from Wednesday night's debate at the Magdalena Grand Hotel in Lowlands.
Charles said members of the Debates Commission—organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce—told the leaders not to bring notes into the debate, although notes could be written during the debate.
"Mr Jack actually started off with his notes, and they were all there... a pile of paper and I just chose the time to draw it to their attention because he was not removing them, using them all the time," Charles, leader of the Platform For Truth (PFT), told the media after the debate, an innovative event in the build-up to the THA election on January 21.
Jack, in responding to the allegations, said he was merely taking notes during the debate. "What I did is that I write the headlines. I went along, I took notes of it, and that is how you debate. And that's why there was a pen on the table to write," he said.
PNM Tobago Council leader and THA Chief Secretary Orville London said despite the incident the Debates Commission should be commended for holding the event.
London said he was happy to participate in the historic event and looked at it as a future benchmark for elections in Trinidad and Tobago. He said he was glad Tobago was a part of setting the stage and also congratulated his colleagues for an excellent debate. "Of course, there was the very unfortunate incident of the notes, but I mean this is something we can discuss at another time. Except for that I think it was an excellent initiative and I think that Tobago and the people of Tobago would have benefited from it."
London said some of his views coincided with what Charles said and it was mere coincidence.
CEO of the Chamber Catherine Kumar said debaters were told not to walk with notes to the debate. However, the matter will be used to improve any future debate.
"Well I think, yes, we have to make sure the rules are all in writing and if there is any violation of the rules that there would be penalties," Kumar said. See Pages 7 & 17.
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Ah hear Kams was in church this morning with Ashworth in Plymouth. God muss be nearly get a stroke.....
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Ah hear Kams was in church this morning with Ashworth in Plymouth. God muss be nearly get a stroke.....
God start liking ugly?
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A poll ahead of next Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election is predicting a landslide victory for the incumbent People’s National Movement (PNM).
The poll, by Nigel Henry and Tarik Parris of the firm Solution by Simulation, was carried out by telephone from January 7-9. It showed the Orville London-led PNM team winning 11 of the 12 seats being contested. And Ashworth Jack, leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), has an uphill struggle to retain his seat, figures suggested.
The pollsters reported, however, that while the PNM was in the lead, “more than one in three Tobagonians are still waiting to be convinced.” Apart from the incumbent PNM, the TOP and the Hochoy Charles-led The Platform for Truth (TPT) are also fielding full slates of candidates in the January 21 election.
The poll showed that 46 per cent of interviewees favoured the PNM, while 18 per cent favoured the TOP. But 36 per cent of electors surveyed failed to indicate a preference. The pollsters said some of the registered voters interviewed chose The Platform of Truth, “but the total support did not register above statistically significant level.”
The report said, “Unless TOP can tap into the hearts of the large block of voters in the middle, the PNM is set to repeat its landslide of 2005.” The PNM scored an 11-to-one victory at the polls eight years ago.
Henry said 30 per cent of those interviewed said the most important issue in the election is internal self-governance for the island, while 22 per cent said it was completed or stalled projects and 19 per cent said the biggest issue is corruption. The pollsters said 29 per cent of interviewees also listed “a myriad of other issues such as general economic development, road repair and land and law reform as also being important.”
“TOP’s biggest challenge is its deficit on the issue of internal self-government, the biggest decider in this election.” The report continued: “One of the most surprising findings of the poll is that Mr Ashworth Jack is among the candidates with the biggest gap to close, trailing the PNM’s Sheldon Cunningham by a 43 per cent margin.”
The pollsters said the number of respondents who said they made their choice on the basis of internal self-government for Tobago was higher in Jack’s electoral district than in any other, with a margin of 44 per cent. “This suggests that voters find Mr Jack too closely associated with the central Government to be a suitable leader of the island’s Assembly,” the survey said.
The pollsters said they were not commissioned to do the survey by any campaign or political organisation. Calls were made to 478 likely voters in registered households and the interviews were done via landlines. The margin of error for the overall sample was plus or minus 4.4 per cent. The T&T Guardian was unable to reach London, Jack or Charles for comment on the poll results yesterday.
The pollsters:
Nigel Henry is the lead analyst at Solution by Simulation, which has historically provided analytics for US political candidates for the municipal, state, federal and presidential levels. He was recruited as lead numerical analyst for Florida, North Carolina and Virginia for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election campaign.
His expertise is in the use of agent-based modelling neural networks, artificial intelligence and social simulation, to model economic, political and social phenomena and their application to strategic planning. Henry earned a BSc from Yale University and a MA from Elliot School of International Affairs, where he gained experience applying computer-learning models in social science contexts.
Tarik Parris is an April 2013 Bachelor of Mathematics candidate at the University of Waterloo in Canada with a major in statistics and a minor in economics. He is a statistics intern at Solution by Simulation.
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Villagers protest PM's presence
By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Jan 13, 2013 at 10:50 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 13, 2013 at 11:00 PM ECT
Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar yesterday faced a small protest from villagers in Plymouth, Tobago, when she attended a church service at the Plymouth New Testament Church of God.
Supporters of the opposition People's National Movement (PNM), with a PNM banner, gathered at the bottom of the street near the church calling on the Prime Minister to leave the village as she was not wanted there.
When the Prime Minister's entourage passed by they called on her to leave, saying the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) was not welcome in Plymouth. The situation caused a stir and even Pastor of the Plymouth New Testament George Alexander, said he was disappointed with the display by residents, and that it was not called for.
"And I believe it was a total disgrace for people who are supposed to be so sensible and have right thinking in their mind, knowing that somebody coming to the house of the Lord to worship, and would stand at the corner to behave unseemly."
Persad-Bissessar sat alongside Minority Leader and TOP chief Ashworth Jack, managing director of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Jearlean John, TOP candidate for Plymouth/Golden Lane Certica Williams-Orr and Tobago East representative Vernella Alleyne-Toppin and her husband Lenn Toppin.
She greeted the congregation reading Psalm 121 and Psalm 23, and was later prayed for by Pastor George, who invited both PNM and TOP members. Following the service she said she felt energised and really wonderful.
Asked to comment on the Opposition's decision to not support the Constitutional (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2012, she said the Opposition was being hypocritical on the matter.
"The Opposition is being very disingenuous to say that you will not support it because you want X, Y, P, Q. That's the very purpose of sending it to the Joint Select Committee," Persad- Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar said while the debate will continue on Wednesday as planned, everyone will be consulted on the Bill. She said Wednesday's debate was not the final step in the process of constitutional reform for Tobago, and no one will be left out of further consultations on the Bill.
"The tripartisan committee will consult with all stakeholders which will include, Tobago, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, and all such persons who wish to be consulted, that process is not going to be terminated and finalised on Wednesday," Persad- Bissessar said.
Asked for her thoughts on the TOP's chances in the upcoming THA elections, she said she sees the votes in favour of the TOP.
"I think the TOP are on top of it... they are well poised to win. At the end of the day the people of Tobago will decide. I have been here and I see a very good, positive movement towards the TOP," Persad- Bissessar said.
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"The Opposition is being very disingenuous to say that you will not support it because you want X, Y, P, Q. That's the very purpose of sending it to the Joint Select Committee," Persad- Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar said while the debate will continue on Wednesday as planned, everyone will be consulted on the Bill. She said Wednesday's debate was not the final step in the process of constitutional reform for Tobago, and no one will be left out of further consultations on the Bill.
"The tripartisan committee will consult with all stakeholders which will include, Tobago, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, and all such persons who wish to be consulted, that process is not going to be terminated and finalised on Wednesday," Persad- Bissessar said.
Kamla and Ashworth really feel Tobagonians is a bunch a dotish people......I hope Rowley take the bill and shove it so far up she get constipated for months!!..... :cursing: :cursing: :pissedoff: :bs: :bs: :cursing:
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"The Opposition is being very disingenuous to say that you will not support it because you want X, Y, P, Q. That's the very purpose of sending it to the Joint Select Committee," Persad- Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar said while the debate will continue on Wednesday as planned, everyone will be consulted on the Bill. She said Wednesday's debate was not the final step in the process of constitutional reform for Tobago, and no one will be left out of further consultations on the Bill.
"The tripartisan committee will consult with all stakeholders which will include, Tobago, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, and all such persons who wish to be consulted, that process is not going to be terminated and finalised on Wednesday," Persad- Bissessar said.
Kamla and Ashworth really feel Tobagonians is a bunch a dotish people......I hope Rowley take the bill and shove it so far up she get constipated for months!!..... :cursing: :cursing: :pissedoff: :bs: :bs: :cursing:
Ah well.
And wrt that poll.......we go wait and see wha happen with elections.
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Don't trust a poll. PNM learned that lesson a while ago. They were expecting to win out the THA and only got 1 seat.
Blessings and enjoy the evening/night.
Richard G.
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......and for those interested in the nautical miles/boundary issue.....here is Dr. Vanus James speaking on it.
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XICAbwjtAXs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XICAbwjtAXs)
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8t2iOMIgIU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8t2iOMIgIU)
Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBESQNlCPvA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBESQNlCPvA)
Part 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWzR4ZDTVQ8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWzR4ZDTVQ8)
Part 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBMntQTwCk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBMntQTwCk)
Brief bio I found on Dr. James. He is a Tobagonian by birth and is part of the new party formed in 2012 MDD (Movement for _________________ and Democracy) but they aren't fighting the elections, just holding these meetings around the island talking about the boundaries issue.
"Dr. Vanus James is currently a Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, where he obtained his B.A in Economics. He earned his Masters in Economics and his Ph.D degrees at the New School for Social Research in New York. His post-doctoral studies were pursued at the University of Michigan, USA, Auburn University, Auburn, Montgomery, Alabama and Hofstra University, New York.
He was an Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College, and Tuskegee University in Alabama. He tutored at Hofstra University in New York, and also at the University of the West Indies, St. Agustine Campus, in his native Trinidad.
Dr. James has worked extensively on numerous projects as a consultant and a researcher locally, regionally and internationally. Locally and most recently, he conducted a study for the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica on “Impact of Cost Sharing on Education in Jamaica.”
He has written numerous papers, both published and unpublished on issues dealing with Economics and has recently produced a refereed paper on “Import Productivity Growth, Capital Deepening and Caribbean Development: Some theoretical Insights (Forthcoming, “Social and Economics Studies”, December 2004)
The list of Dr James’ papers is extensive, impressive and available upon request."
http://www.mona.uwi.edu/conferences/2004/monaconf/profiles/james.htm (http://www.mona.uwi.edu/conferences/2004/monaconf/profiles/james.htm)
Thanks, Thanks, THANKS very much for those references.
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I have been listening on Radio Tambrin to many of the candidates at the various rallies. The passion and intensity associated with this THA election is the highest that I have ever heard. Why is it so hot? I talk to friends and family in Tobago and they all think that it is critical. However except for the length of PNM stay in power (12 years), I don’t see any particular issue that really stands out. TOP preaching that they can do a better Job, and they may be correct, but every party that is out of power always claim that they can do a better job. People arguing about who can deliver free health care the best. And I am here in the USA and cannot ever get free health care. It is a classic struggle for power without real distinctions in platform/position. It is not like one side favors the rich and the other the poor, or some similar distinctions. I like the rallies, the debate, etc.
The announcers at the TOP rally tonight (14 Jan) kept saying that it is being transmitted live on the internet. Anyone knows which website or channel is carrying those rallies? Any links?
Full disclosure: One of my family member is a PNM candidate, and a very very good friend from High School is a TOP candidate.
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foock yuh fren. dat woulda be ah ex-fren!
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla_calls_for_end_to_notes_row_in_Tobago_debate_-186881992.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla_calls_for_end_to_notes_row_in_Tobago_debate_-186881992.html)
Kamla calls for end to notes row in Tobago debate
By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Jan 14, 2013 at 9:52 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 15, 2013 at 2:23 AM ECT
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called on the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission to put the notes issue involving Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Leader Ashworth Jack to rest. Persad-Bissessar was speaking at the TOP political meeting at Bon Accord, Sunday evening.
Persad- Bissessar said the only reason the notes issue was being blown out of proportion was because Jack won the debate fair and square. It was a question of sour grapes from the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) and the Platform of Truth, she said.
All three political parties are contesting the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election and participated in the historic Tobago Debate organised by the Debates Commission of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce on January 10.
"Tonight, I call on the Debates Commission to clarify that issue, because at no time during the debate was any matter raised by the Commission or by the moderator or the other persons there," Persad-Bissessar said.
Speaking on the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago) Bill 2013, to be debated in Parliament on Wednesday, Persad-Bissessar said the only reason the PNM was opposed to the issue was because it was afraid of losing next Monday's THA election. She said it is quite obvious PNM style, they continue to spread lies on the issue.
"They are afraid that they will not have 16 years to sit in the THA. They are afraid that they will not be able to squander the money of Tobago people in the manner that they have been doing it," she said.
She then noted the PNM of the past has assisted in stifling further development of Tobago. She said they starved their own PNM THA administration of funds.
"So for ten years who starved him of funds? His own party, and not a word he said then, and now he running all about crying crocodile tears," she said.
She later revealed the TOP's manifesto labelled, "Tobago Let's Get Going". She said Jack and his team gave the people of Tobago their blueprint and plan of governance for Tobago. See Page 7
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-14/london-unfazed-poll-giving-pnm-landslide-win (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-14/london-unfazed-poll-giving-pnm-landslide-win)
London unfazed by poll giving PNM landslide win
Published:
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
Orville London, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), says he’s unaffected by the results of a poll that shows the PNM winning 11 of the 12 seats in the January 21 elections.
The results of the poll by the firm, Solution by Simulation, released on Sunday, shows London’s team winning the elections by a landslide with his rival, minority leader and Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) head Ashworth Jack, facing the possibility of losing the seat he now holds. London spoke on the matter at a Tobago PNM council media conference at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel yesterday, called to present the party’s election manifesto.
London said he does not allow polls to affect him. “Polls are used to guide and inform. I don’t allow them to affect me. I am encouraged by the poll findings, but I am not euphoric,” he said. London added he expected the results of the election to be in the PNM’s favour.
Indicating he prefers to trust the electorate’s direct response, London said he is quite heartened by the feedback the PNM has been getting from Tobagonians. Asked about reports that his political colleague THA Assemblyman Hilton Sandy was jeered by PNM supporters in his own constituency of Roxborough/Delaford, London replied: “I am convinced Sandy did the right thing. He stood up and said I am sorry.”
Sandy is under fire on the TOP campaign trail for making what has been deemed a racist statement. He warned supporters there was a ship anchored in Calcutta waiting to come to Tobago. Winston “Gypsy” Peters, speaking at a TOP meeting in Bon Accord last Sunday night, said that meant Indians from Trinidad. Responding to charges from the TOP that the PNM was a racist institution, London said the party was the only one that had attempted to bring every creed and race together. London said the PNM is trying to protect Tobago from a political culture alien to Tobagonians.
“They are taking a culture from the UNC and the PP and bringing it here,” he said. Attacking Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for saying she wants to free Tobago, London said: “The sheer audacity of this lady, to come to Tobago and say Tobago land is locked under the PNM, and she is going to free Tobago.”
He appealed to the PM to withdraw the government’s Tobago internal self-government bill and restore some degree of confidence in her motive for bringing it at this time. Dr Anselm London, THA Secretary of Finance, said the PNM’s manifesto, titled, “In defence of Tobago,” outlined its record of achievement over the last 12 years. He said the TOP’s claim that the THA had spent $22 billion over the last 12 years was untrue.
“It was $17 billion,” London said.
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PM: WE WILL DELIVER
By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, January 15 2013
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday spent a hectic day in Tobago, seeking to shore up support for the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP)’s Ashworth Jack, as the final week of campaigning ahead of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election started.
The Prime Minister traversed forty-two miles, handing out certificates of title to land to ten Tobagonians in Canaan; launching the Tobago Natural Gas Receiving Facility at the Cove-Eco Industrial and Business Park, Lowlands; and opening an NP gas station at Roxborough. She was also last night due to address two political rallies put on by TOP at Mt Pleasant and Lowlands.
TOP political leader Ashworth Jack was at the Prime Minister’s side at all of these events.
Persad-Bissessar’s engagements came after the Prime Minister attended a church service at Plymouth and went on a walkabout at Mason Hall on Sunday, in a bid to woo the electorate to support Jack, whose party is a member of the coalition government.
The Prime Minister is due to return to Trinidad today ahead of tomorrow’s Parliament debate of the Tobago Bill 2013 but is expected to return to Tobago later this week ahead of Monday’s election.
At a ceremony to distribute certificates of land title held at the MIC Building, Milford Road, Canaan, the Prime Minister said her Government had delivered its promise in relation to dealing with the perennial problem Tobagonians face in getting legal documentation of their ownership of their land.
The Prime Minister presented 94-year-old John Parks with a title document he had waited more than five years for. John broke down in tears as he finally received title to the land he lives on at Cuyler Street, Scarborough Tobago. “God bless you and keep you and give you strength and give you health,” Parks told the Prime Minister before making the sign of the cross. The Prime Minister hugged him and replied, “God bless you.”
A total of nine certificates were given out by the Prime Minister. Also receiving title was Princess Cupid, who is blind and whose title certificate was in braille. Cupid, from Windward Road, Mt St George, had applied for her title five years ago.
The other certificates handed out were for: Rebecca Roberts, of Buccoo, who had applied eight years ago; Theodore Charles, of Carnbee, who had applied eight years ago; James Alfred E Yorke, of Bon Accord, who had applied 15 years ago; Denise and George Arnaud, of Plaisance Park, who applied nine years ago; Janice Mc Farlane, of Bon Accord, who had applied five years ago; Harriet Rogers, who applied four years ago, and Cohen Auditt O’Kello, who had applied in 2007.
“This issue of not having title has been an issue which has plagued Tobago for as long as I remember,” Persad-Bissessar said. “There is a long list of reasons why what we are doing here today could not have been done before. The laid-back custom and culture of the times gone by, staffing inadequacies, equipment inefficiencies, travel and logistics, have all been put forward as reasons.”
“But history has shown that what the real problem was the lack of will to get the job done,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Those who were previously in charge probably did not have the will to get it done. How else can we explain a problem dating back decades being solved in two years?”
She noted that some Tobagonians have been unable to get formal title to their land and this has deprived them of the ability to use land as collateral; buy and sell land; get Town and Country Planning approvals or formally pass on the land to their children.
“Yes, there is a monetary value to this but how can you truly belong to a country if you do not have ownership of the land of the country where you belong?”
“We were all brought here in shackles and had no land,” she said referring to the colonial past. “How is it that so many years after emancipation, how could it be that you could not get title?”
“These are things we promised and these are things we are delivering,” she said, just after noon.
At 2.29 pm, the Prime Minister opened the main valve to the NGC onshore Gas Receiving Facility at Lowlands, a facility which NGC says will supply gas to the power generation utility on the island.
“This is a new chapter in the economic development of Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar said. “It directly affects and benefits Tobago in many ways….and is significant from the point of view of energy security for Tobago.” At 4 pm, the Prime Minister then opened a new National Petroleum (NP) gas station at Roxborough. At that event, held at the gas station which is virtually next to the office of PNM Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford candidate Hilton Sandy, a dozen protestors wearing PNM t-shirts held up placards, bearing messages such as, “In defence of Hilton Sandy and Tobago”.
The placards came after a similar protest on Sunday at Plymouth where the Prime Minister had attended a church service.
Addressing the audience gathered for the opening of the NP station, Persad-Bissessar said, “Today we have had a very hectic day.” She said the new gas station was possibly just the start of further development.
“Having a gas station is just one thing that we can do,” she said. She urged members of the audience to tune in to tomorrow’s Parliament debate.
“I ask you to please tune in so you can listen to what will be a historic debate,” she said. After the formalities, Persad-Bissessar mingled with the attendees, chipping with a choir that had been invited to sing.
Speaking with reporters at the NGC event at Lowlands, the Prime Minister said the TOP had, “more work to do” in terms of its campaign.
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The announcers at the TOP rally tonight (14 Jan) kept saying that it is being transmitted live on the internet. Anyone knows which website or channel is carrying those rallies? Any links?
Google these; (the street and Radio Tambrin have coverage of the meetings almost nightly)......
91.9fm the street
and Radio Tambrin also has a link but depending on which browser you use you might have difficulty getting them. I have to switch to Internet Explorer to get Tambrin instead of google which I usually use. And even then the stream is not reliable IMO.....
I95.5fm also carries some coverage but the bigger events like the PNM Roxborough event last Sunday. I suspect that might be your best bet for coverage election night in terms of radio. All the TV stations will probably carry coverage of the results but may not stream it live.
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foock yuh fren. dat woulda be ah ex-fren!
Nah, nah, nah, I cannot say that or do that to my friend. Look, in some ways I am closer to a few of my high school friends than to some folks in my family. Similarly, some of my brethren in the village (with whom I grew up) are like family to me.
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The announcers at the TOP rally tonight (14 Jan) kept saying that it is being transmitted live on the internet. Anyone knows which website or channel is carrying those rallies? Any links?
Google these; (the street and Radio Tambrin have coverage of the meetings almost nightly)......
91.9fm the street
and Radio Tambrin also has a link but depending on which browser you use you might have difficulty getting them. I have to switch to Internet Explorer to get Tambrin instead of google which I usually use. And even then the stream is not reliable IMO.....
I95.5fm also carries some coverage but the bigger events like the PNM Roxborough event last Sunday. I suspect that might be your best bet for coverage election night in terms of radio. All the TV stations will probably carry coverage of the results but may not stream it live.
Hi Brownsugar,
Thanks for the response and the Radio station info. I already listen regularly to Radio Tambrin and it is disconcerting that the stream is not up all the time. So far the stream has been available during the rallies. It is good to hear about an alternative 91.9, and I will check them out.
I was really asking about a live video transmission. The announcers mentioned a live TV signal that people in Australia etc can pick up over the internet. And a couple of times the announcer was telling people at the rally not to stand dey because of the camera etc.
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Very good observations, SBL.
You mentioned the 12 year period and the heightened interest in this particular election ... clearly things wouldn't be as feverish as they are with a different parliamentary majority in POS. That stated, in effect this election has an aspect of being a referendum on the governing party, Tobago-specific issues notwithstanding. It also constitutes an opportunity for the PNM to sharpen its dulled blade.
However, as inevitable as that dynamic above is ... fuh me, iz the Tobago-specific issues that are the most intriguing. Trinidadians still have a long way to go to understand that the relationship between both islands is a managed relationship rather than an automatically joyous union.
I'm also enjoying the input of the smaller political entities/parties.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PROBE__ON_SANDY-187049951.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PROBE__ON_SANDY-187049951.html)
PROBE ON SANDY
Equal Opportunity Commission investigates 'Calcutta' statements
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 9:53 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 15, 2013 at 9:54 PM ECT
The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) has begun a probe of People's National Movement (PNM) member Hilton Sandy's controversial "Calcutta" statement and has issued a preliminary report on the issue.
The preliminary report, which is dated January 15, stated the EOC "received a complaint via its website on January 10 from the Equality Council of Trinidad and Tobago (the complainant) against Mr Hilton Sandy (the respondent) of offensive behaviour."
The Express yesterday obtained a copy of the EOC's report on the matter—"Equality Council of Trinidad and Tobago-v-Mr Hilton Sandy".
Sandy, the incumbent candidate for the electoral district of Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford, at a public political meeting in Tobago on Friday, January 4, urged the people to vote for the PNM, saying a ship from Calcutta was waiting to sail to Tobago, pending the outcome of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election scheduled for January 21.
Sandy has since twice apologised for his statement.
Vice-chair of the Equality Council of Trinidad and Tobago Barrington "Skippy" Thomas, who is an executive member of the United National Congress (UNC), lodged a formal complaint of offensive behaviour against Sandy with the EOC, which is chaired by Prof John Le Guerre.
Thomas claimed Sandy breached Section 7 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act, which defines offensive behaviour as "A person shall not otherwise than in private do an act which:
(a) Is reasonably likely in all the circumstances to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or groups of persons
(b) Is done because of the gender, race, ethnicity, origin, or religion of the other person or of some or all of the persons in the group
(c) Is done with the intention of inciting gender, racial or religious hatred.
With respect to "boats from Calcutta", Thomas complained: "this statement was directed at his political opponents who are allied to the People's Partnership Government. It was interpreted by many to be a reference to persons of East Indian origin; persons of East Indian origin are, by and large, the traditional support base of the United National Congress political party, which is the majority party within the People's Partnership Government.
"Mr Sandy is a candidate for the People's National Movement political party, which has had its traditional support base among persons of African ethnic origin. At the same time, it is to be noted that demographic data has shown that the population of Tobago is, by and large, traditionally of African ethnic origin.
"Given this background, the complainant feels that the respondent's statements are "acrimonious, racist and combustible" and were made to "perjure and insult" persons of East Indian origin as a group, "with the intention of inciting racial/tribal voting practice in the upcoming THA election".
The EOC also said; "It is to be noted that the commission has not yet received a proper transcript of the respondent's full statement. As such, we cannot at this point make any conclusions or findings on the matter. Further, it was reported in the news media that the respondent has apologised or retracted his statement. We would also need to see the transcript of this as it would affect that we can and cannot do."
The EOC stated that offensive behaviour under the Act was not created as a criminal offence and, as such, it was not within the remit of the commission to fine or reprimand Sandy.
The commission's function, stated the preliminary report, is to receive, investigate and, as far as possible, conciliate allegations of discri- mination.
If the matter cannot be resolved by conciliation, then an Equal Opportunity Tribunal is appointed to examine it further.
The EOC stated in order to prove a complaint of offensive behaviour, the alleged act must meet all three criteria set out in Section 7 (1), which was quoted above.
The first criterion, stated the EOC, is objective—the conduct or statement must reasonably likely, in all of the circumstances, insult, offend, humiliate or intimate another person or group of persons.
The EOC stated the statements made must be looked at in their entirety, as well as the context of the surrounding circumstances, and a conclusion must be drawn as to whether it is reasonable that humiliation was caused.
The EOC added the second criterion is a question of fact, that is the conduct or statement must be done because of the gender, race, ethnicity, origin or religion of the other person or of some or all of the persons in the group.
The third criterion, stated the EOC, is subjective—the statement must be made with the intention of inciting gender, racial or religious hatred.
"Proving a person's intent is a challenge but it is not impossible. It has been said that the state of a man's mind is as much a fact as the state of his digestion, and that one's intent can be proven as any factual matter," stated the EOC.
"In criminal law, one is taken to have intended the natural consequences of one's actions so that, for example, one cannot point and shoot a loaded gun at a crowd of persons and then say one did not intend to do harm," stated the EOC.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Judge_gives__AG_go-ahead-187049931.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Judge_gives__AG_go-ahead-187049931.html)
Judge gives AG go-ahead
Govt challenges THAover Milshirv contract
Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 9:53 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 15, 2013 at 9:54 PM ECT
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has obtained the grant of leave for judicial review against the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
Last week, Ramlogan filed proceedings in the High Court as he seeks to challenge the THA's power and authority to enter into deals such as the contentious Milshirv contract.
Attorneys Alvin Fitzpatrick SC, Lesley Lucky-Samaroo and Martin George were retained to seek the AG's interest in the matter, and they were instructed by attorneys Kerri Ann Olivierie and Tamara Maharaj.
Yesterday, the matter came up in the Port of Spain High Court where Justice James Aboud, presiding in the matter, after hearing arguments, granted leave to the AG to proceed with the application for judicial review and also ordered the company Milshirv be served with the proceedings.
Aboud fixed the next date of hearing for February 15 when all parties are expected to be present and represented and for arguments in the matter to proceed.
In October last year, during her budget contribution, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar raised questions with respect to the $250 million Bacolet Aquatic Centre and Indoor Sport Complex and the $143 million Milshirv THA Administration Complex at Shirvan Park.
She called for the projects to be halted, pending investigations, and also instructed the Finance Minister to conduct an audit.
Director at Milshirv Properties Ltd Joseph Rahael had welcomed the probe, saying the build-own-lease-transfer (BOLT) arrangement with the THA was above board and transparent.
THA Chief Secretary Orville London had also said the BOLT arrangement was above board and posted a report of over 100 pages of the contract on the THA's website.
The matter comes up days before three political parties—the People's National Movement (PNM), the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and The Platform of Truth (TPT) head to the polls on January 21 to contest the THA election.
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What's missing in Tobago campaign
To an increasing degree, the sound and fury emanating from the campaign platforms of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections have gained national attention. High points have been identified with the historic leaders' live TV debate, and the continuing echoes of and responses to the race-talking PNM deputy Chief Secretary Hilton Sandy. Last weekend, it was the pollsters' turn to deliver putative soundings of popular feeling that could predict the outcome of next Monday's vote.
It has taken an Independent Senator, business executive and academic, however, fearlessly to call attention to a grievous deficiency of the Tobago campaign. In an op-ed contribution to yesterday's Express, Senator Rolph Balgobin cast a cold but sharp eye on the platform exchanges that have ill-served Tobagonians' need for informed discussion on matters most critical for the island's long-term well-being.
For sure, the basic question of internal self-government has received platform attention, agitated by reform legislation opportunistically tabled by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar short weeks before polling day. Those measures, for requiring amendments of the T&T Constitution, will need Opposition support for passage. Which support, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has signalled, will not be forthcoming.
But as the leaders' debate last week revealed, much of the focus of the campaign is on who is more qualified, and somehow more trustworthy, than whom to take charge of the THA.
Meanwhile, the question of how Tobago is to become an economically self-sustaining entity is addressed, if at all, only indirectly. Will the terms of full, or fuller, internal self-government necessarily enable the island to attain economic viability?
This is the main line of attack pursued by Dr Balgobin. He did devote space to deploring the low intellectual level of the political debate. And he elaborately made the case for why the infamous Sandy "Calcutta ship" utterance amounts to statements so "ignorant" as to disqualify those mouthing them from "being anywhere near public funds, far less managing them".
Then the Senator pointed to the "elephant in the room" represented by the failure to deal with the fundamental matter of the Tobago economy.
It takes a truly independent Senator publicly to affirm that the Tobago economy is "unsuccessful, unproductive and uncompetitive". Yet it is difficult to argue otherwise.
With gas production and export in its future, and desired to be under its control, Tobago seems set to become energy-rich in a manner familiar to Trinidad, or so one version of that story goes. But Senator Balgobin raises the question of productivity and competitiveness, where right now Tobago is simply scoring low.
If not enough Tobagonians seem to be doing so, it is certainly in order for thoughtful and well-meaning Trinidadians to put their mouths in Tobago economic business. Thus, Dr Balgobin deplores the so far "misguided and distracted public conversation", and points to the need for focus on what is to be done to "turn the economic fate of Tobago around".
On this alone, the need is great for an informed debate not only among leaders, but indeed by all in Tobago, and in Trinidad.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/What_s_missing_in_Tobago_campaign-186882042.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/What_s_missing_in_Tobago_campaign-186882042.html)
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Tobago may have to vote again if polls tied
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
If there is a 6/6 tie or a 5/5/2 result in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election, there would be real trouble. And the Tobago electorate may very well have to go back to the polls.
The THA may not be able to elect either a presiding officer or a chief secretary.
According to the Tobago House of Assembly Act, both officers—presiding officer and the chief secretary, are elected by the 12 assemblymen.
The Act states upon the swearing in of the assemblymen, they shall elect a presiding officer.
The Act states upon the election of the presiding officer, the assemblymen shall elect from among their number the chief secretary and deputy chief secretary.
The person elected (in each case) shall be the candidate receiving the highest number of votes, but where because of an equality of votes the election of a person is impossible, the ballot shall be retaken in respect of the relevant candidates. The votes are done by secret ballot.
The act states that where at the second ballot, the equality of votes continues, the presiding officer shall exercise a casting vote.
If despite the tie, a presiding officer is elected, he would therefore have tremendous power. The issue however is whether in the face of a tie, the two sides would be able to elect a presiding officer.
When the Elections and Boundaries Report on Tobago, which detailed the new boundaries for this THA election, was debated in Parliament late last year, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley suggested the EBC consider creating 13 electoral districts in its next review of the boundaries to avoid the possibility of an electoral tie.
When there was an electoral tie in the general election in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001, the President of the Republic, under the Constitution, had the power to select as prime minister the person whom he felt was best able to command the support of the majority of members of the House of Representatives.
Arthur NR Robinson selected Patrick Manning. But the Parliament was unable to elect a Speaker for the entire life of that administration. The Parliament, therefore, never functioned and Manning called elections after one year.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Tobago_may_have_to_vote_again_if_polls_tied-187049921.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Tobago_may_have_to_vote_again_if_polls_tied-187049921.html)
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@richard g could you please set paragraphs on those last two articles you posted finding it difficult to read them. thanks
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PROBE__ON_SANDY-187049951.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PROBE__ON_SANDY-187049951.html)
The EOC stated that offensive behaviour under the Act was not created as a criminal offence and, as such, it was not within the remit of the commission to fine or reprimand Sandy.
The commission's function, stated the preliminary report, is to receive, investigate and, as far as possible, conciliate allegations of discri- mination.
If the matter cannot be resolved by conciliation, then an Equal Opportunity Tribunal is appointed to examine it further.
The EOC stated in order to prove a complaint of offensive behaviour, the alleged act must meet all three criteria set out in Section 7 (1), which was quoted above.
The first criterion, stated the EOC, is objective—the conduct or statement must reasonably likely, in all of the circumstances, insult, offend, humiliate or intimate another person or group of persons.
The EOC stated the statements made must be looked at in their entirety, as well as the context of the surrounding circumstances, and a conclusion must be drawn as to whether it is reasonable that humiliation was caused.
The EOC added the second criterion is a question of fact, that is the conduct or statement must be done because of the gender, race, ethnicity, origin or religion of the other person or of some or all of the persons in the group.
The third criterion, stated the EOC, is subjective—the statement must be made with the intention of inciting gender, racial or religious hatred.
"Proving a person's intent is a challenge but it is not impossible. It has been said that the state of a man's mind is as much a fact as the state of his digestion, and that one's intent can be proven as any factual matter," stated the EOC.
"In criminal law, one is taken to have intended the natural consequences of one's actions so that, for example, one cannot point and shoot a loaded gun at a crowd of persons and then say one did not intend to do harm," stated the EOC.
So when dey done all dat dey hadda do..wha de most likely end result go be? Cause according to the article...they cant fine or reprimand him.
And this ever happen before? Cause I could think of a few instances where they coulda have some work to do. Or is it necessary for somebody to lodge a complaint?
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Ironically, had Williams (yes, Dr. Eric) taken certain decisions way back when, he would have set the stage for the maturation of the Tobagonian economy.
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And this ever happen before? Cause I could think of a few instances where they coulda have some work to do. Or is it necessary for somebody to lodge a complaint?
the EOC was setup so unc activists could have ah avenue to play d victim card with impunity, pure and simple, if or when the table is turned, I am certain it will be shoved under the rug................Hilton was wrong to say what he said full stop, but the ethnic undercurrents of the UNC agenda ain't no secret.........
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And this ever happen before? Cause I could think of a few instances where they coulda have some work to do. Or is it necessary for somebody to lodge a complaint?
the EOC was setup so unc activists could have ah avenue to play d victim card with impunity, pure and simple, if or when the table is turned, I am certain it will be shoved under the rug................Hilton was wrong to say what he said full stop, but the ethnic undercurrents of the UNC agenda ain't no secret.........
Well thats why I asking. Devant eh get call before dem yet? How come?
Oh well. Yuh within yuh rights Skippy. Hope yuh keep up the vigilance.
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I am still trying to find out why Sandy apologise ? compare what Sandy said to the PM comments, know Indians on the Caribbean Judges board , Sewage comments not enough Indians working in the NY passport office , Devant so many racial comments did anyone apologise yet .
Men like skippy them is eat ah food lick bottom Africans so call good negroes .
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I am still trying to find out why Sandy apologise ? compare what Sandy said to the PM comments, know Indians on the Caribbean Judges board , Sewage comments not enough Indians working in the NY passport office , Devant so many racial comments did anyone apologise yet .
Men like skippy them is eat ah food lick bottom Africans so call good negroes .
absolutely nothing wrong with the man apologizing and I don't see how this makes him what I've bold above. If anything it shows some class when you made an error in what you said and rather than run from it.. you man up and apologize.
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If the PP is really serious about Tobago making it own decision with Tobago affairs, why is the AG taking the THA to court ?
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Minister of Education comments there will be ethenic clensing in the hospitals of Trinbago , Min of National comments the only people marching is Afro Trini.
Skippy them is not serious about cleaningup the racist problems in trinbago they are about eat ah food .
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http://www.ttparliament.org/parliament_channel_live.html
The Tobago debate bill for internal self governance.
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Ironically, had Williams (yes, Dr. Eric) taken certain decisions way back when, he would have set the stage for the maturation of the Tobagonian economy.
what kind of decisions you are talking about?
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Ironically, had Williams (yes, Dr. Eric) taken certain decisions way back when, he would have set the stage for the maturation of the Tobagonian economy.
what kind of decisions you are talking about?
For one, he was notably against developing Tobago's tourism industry. And, he viewed overtures on foreign direct investment on the island suspiciously.
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So...all articles and media talk and ting aside...from the Tobagonians on the ground...wha allyuh seeing?
I hear a TOP meeting MC say they had a crowd of 10 Thousand. I think the voting list is 46000...so quarter of the possible vote was there?
How it looking? How de support flowing? What the voices on the ground saying? Wha dey focused on and such?
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I am still trying to find out why Sandy apologise ? compare what Sandy said to the PM comments, know Indians on the Caribbean Judges board , Sewage comments not enough Indians working in the NY passport office , Devant so many racial comments did anyone apologise yet .
Men like skippy them is eat ah food lick bottom Africans so call good negroes .
absolutely nothing wrong with the man apologizing and I don't see how this makes him what I've bold above. If anything it shows some class when you made an error in what you said and rather than run from it.. you man up and apologize.
I agree it was an asshole comment and here we go comapring shit with shit. If you saying the PM etc making disparaging race comments yuh answer is to do the same?
Anywhere else in the world and Sandy stepping down under pressure!
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-17/pnm-claims-violence-top-followers (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-17/pnm-claims-violence-top-followers)
PNM claims violence from TOP followers
Published:
Friday, January 18, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
The rivalry between People’s National Movement (PNM) and Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) heated up yesterday with the PNM claiming TOP supporters had verbally and physically attacked one of their young supporters.
The victim, Crystal Smith, 16, was allegedly targeted as she showed her support to the PNM as a motorcade was passing in her community on Tuesday, the PNM camp claimed yesterday.
Her mother, who requested anonymity, said: “A PNM motorcade was passing around 4.30 pm Tuesday evening introducing the candidates and she put on her red PNM jersey and ran out the road because she liked the music.
“There were some TOP supporters in the area and they told her ‘don’t walk here, this is TOP country.’
“They are always harassing her. She gave them some ‘backchat’ and they cursed her and one of the men hit her on her foot with his hand.”
Smith said the matter was reported to the Scarborough Police Station who advised them to go to a Justice of the Peace.
PNM Tobago Council PRO, Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, said that was not the first report of violence they had received since the election campaign started.
She added: “We got a report that TOP supporters passing in a truck in Black Rock pelted a man wearing a PNM jersey and burst his head. Then we heard they pulled a senior citizen out of his car and slapped him up, telling him he was going around tearing down TOP posters.”
Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said this was the first time they were witnessing this level of violence and aggression in Tobago’s politics.
“Tobagonians always have been civilised for elections. People wearing red and yellow jerseys will be dancing together. Many people have relatives on both sides of the fence. It’s a tragedy things have gone to this level,” she said.
Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said she did not believe the attitude was coming from the PNM camp.
“I would really think this is not the PNM way of doing things. We have been admonishing our supporters to not get involved in confrontations with the other party,” she added.
Responding to charges from TOP leader Ashworth Jack that 20 thugs from a religious sect have been driving around intimidating TOP supporters, she said: “I don’t know who else has access to those kinds of people.”
PM, Warner fly in to help
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and National Security Minister Jack Warner flew into Tobago yesterday evening, reportedly to lend support to TOP leader Ashworth Jack for a series of political meetings this weekend.
Warner was photographed by T&T Guardian photographer Marcus Gonzales coming out of a helicopter at the ANR Robinson Airport, Crown Point, shortly before 6 pm. Persad-Bissessar arrived within the hour by plane.
Both were expected to make appearances at TOP political meetings last night in Plymouth and Moriah.
As for claims from TOP activists that they were being chased from the yards of PNM supporters by people brandishing guns and cutlasses, she said: “PNM supporters don’t have guns.”
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TOP_urges_Integrity_body___Probe_THA_media_blitz-187390291.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TOP_urges_Integrity_body___Probe_THA_media_blitz-187390291.html)
TOP urges Integrity body: Probe THA media blitz
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jan 17, 2013 at 9:55 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 18, 2013 at 8:55 AM ECT
The bitter election battle between the People's National Movement (PNM) and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) has taken a new turn as the Integrity Commission has been asked to probe the millions of dollars being spent by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) on media advertisements over the past few weeks.
The Integrity Commission is currently looking into a complaint made by Tobagonian Goslyn Loraine, who raised the issue of the acquisition of the land and construction of TOP leader Ashworth Jack's multimillion-dollar private house in Tobago with registrar of the Integrity Commission Martin Farrell.
In a letter dated January 17, attorney Joseph George wrote to Integrity Commission chairman Kenneth Gordon on behalf of the TOP, taking issue with expenditure on advertisements and accusing the PNM of using State resources for its own propaganda.
"My client has instructed me that within the recent weeks leading up to the election, which is carded for January 21, 2013, there has been an unprecedented proliferation of public advertisements, both in the print and electronic media, by the THA, which seeks to extol the achievements of the THA and, in particular, the stewardship of Mr Orville London, who is a candidate in the election," stated the letter.
"Whereas my client understands and fully appreciates that the THA must be awarded some degree of latitude to engage in its public relations and propaganda, my client is nevertheless shocked, alarmed and dismayed that the massive and unprecedented advertising campaign bears such close confluence to the said election," the letter added.
George stated it was his client's view that the conduct on the part of the THA amounted to "a flagrant abuse of power and is nothing short of a naked attempt by the THA as currently constituted to seek to influence the outcome of the elections by the use of the resources of the THA".
The letter noted the Integrity in Public Life Act expressly prohibited any person or body from using resources to favour any person or group.
"It is our respectful view that a purposive construction of the Act will demand that the actions of the THA to favour the PNM by the massive and unprecedented proliferation of advertisements is clearly within the contemplation of this prohibited conduct. In the circumstances, I hereby, on behalf of the TOP, formally lodge a complaint to your commission, asking that commission to fully investigate all the facts and circumstances surrounding the decision to engage in this massive and unprecedented advertising campaign," the letter read.
The matter, stated the letter, offends the Integrity in Public Life Act and warrants an investigation by the Integrity Commission.
For the past few weeks as both parties have engaged in their campaigns, they have pointed fingers at each other, taking issue over the content of public advertisements.
The fight for power is visible in Tobago as both parties have transformed the sister isle into red (PNM) and yellow (TOP) zones, with flags, life-sized portraits of candidates and paraphernalia in public spaces.
Music trucks decorated with PNM and TOP flags and banners have been making their way through the streets, blaring election jingles and urging people to come out and vote.
While the PNM and the TOP have spent millions on advertisements in an election blitz to win the THA election, the third party in the race—The Platform of Truth (TPT)— has no public advertisements and, instead, has opted to walk the streets and meet people in an attempt to woo voters and persuade them to vote for the Hochoy Charles-led Tobago party.
Efforts to contact THA Chief Secretary Orville London for comment on advertising proved futile yesterday as calls and text messages to his mobile phone went unanswered.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,172151.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,172151.html)
THA gets less funding in 2011
Thursday, January 17 2013
THE Tobago House of Assembly (THA) received less funding than it requested from the Ministry of Finance in 2011. This information is contained in the THA Administrative Report 2011 which was laid in the House of Representatives yesterday.
The report shows that in 2011, the THA’s Finance Division requested a total of $3,616,211,995 but was allocated $2,085,464,638 by the Finance Ministry instead. Within this reduced figure, the THA received no allocation for CEPEP despite requesting $35,085,200 for this programme. The Assembly requested sums of $1,574,379,600 and $83,190,800 for its Development Programme and the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) respectively. However the THA instead received sums of $308,385,000 and $17,000,000 respectively for these programmes. The THA is currently controlled by the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) which has eight seats in the Assembly while the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), one of four parties which comprise the ruling People’s Partnership coalition, has four seats. The THA elections take place on January 21.
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-17/east-indians-tobago-fear-election-backlash (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-17/east-indians-tobago-fear-election-backlash)
East Indians in Tobago fear election backlash
Published:
Friday, January 18, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
People of East Indian descent who live in Tobago are saying that racism on the island is so bad they fear that if the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) wins the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections on January 21, there will be “trouble.”
Speaking to the T&T Guardian, several of those interviewed, who have been living on the island for years, all agreed they had experienced racism in their day-to-day activities.
The issue was raised in the wake of THA assemblyman Hilton Sandy’s controversial statement on the PNM campaign platform that “a ship is anchored in Calcutta waiting to come to Tobago to take over the island” should the TOP emerge victorious.
The residents who spoke to the T&T Guardian on the subject yesterday begged for anonymity.
“I have been here 14 years and, yes, there is racism,” one woman who works at a business outlet said.
“If TOP wins, Tobago will have real problems. It’s going to be a real fight. They are going to terrorise people. Remember Tobago is the heart of obeah,” she warned.
She said the current election campaign was the worst she had seen on the island.
“People are now starting to show their true colours. They don’t want Indians in Tobago.”
She said recently she witnessed a man standing near where a TOP meeting was taking place and making all kinds of racist remarks about East Indians.
“Tobagonians don’t want change. I hear them talking when they come in here,” she said.
She added, though, that there were also many who were hoping a new administration would be voted in on Monday.
The owner of Carnbee Auto Supplies, an East Indian who identified herself as “K James,” agreed there is racism in Tobago, which she said had existed for a long time.
“I have been here 15 years and if any kind of argument takes place, they are quick to call you ‘coolie.’ I have heard people saying, ‘Coolie, go back Trinidad where you come from,’” she said.
“I have not been overly affected by it.”
“We are the minority here...A lot of us are established here doing business. But it’s not as bad as people think.”
James felt Sandy’s statement was not impulsive but premeditated. She did not believe it would turn his supporters away, though.
“Whether the boat coming from China or Syria or wherever, they will still support Sandy,” she said.
Jenny from Jenny’s Roti Shop on the Crown Point Road endorsed the comments of the other two women.
“There is racism. It is manifested in their actions, words and attitudes. No locals buy roti from me. My clients are only tourists.
“The locals say we come here to get rich off them and they are not supporting us.
“But I am not stealing or doing anything illegal. I work very hard,” she said.
She said Tobagonians did not show Caucasians the same racism.
Jenny, a Trinidadian who has lived in Canada, said she opened the roti shop five months ago. She dismissed Sandy’s Calcutta statement as “silly.” “Either he is not educated or he is trying to get people riled up,” she said.
Journalist Ira Mathur, who was born in India and spent her early years in Tobago, said she had a wonderful childhood on the island.
Mathur’s father, Col Mahendra Mathur, an engineer, was contracted by the former PNM administration to oversee the construction of the Claude Noel Highway.
She recalled being called a “coolie,” but said she felt no real racism when she went to live in Tobago in 1973.
Mathur said she developed a love affair with Tobago and always felt she was going home when she went there. She feels all the racist talk is sad.
“All this stuff is just stupid and sad. I think it can poison the minds of the young people. They don’t want to see Indians taking over. But Indians feel Tobago is part of their country,” she said.
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*sigh* Ah fed up....Monday cyar come fast enough.....
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Agreed. When it passes, I hope we rip the page out and toss it in de dustbin.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CONCRETE__PROOF-187546241.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CONCRETE__PROOF-187546241.html)
CONCRETE PROOF
Invoices show PM's contractor SIS helped build Jack's Tobago house
By Irene Medina Associate Editor
Story Created: Jan 18, 2013 at 10:04 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 18, 2013 at 10:06 PM ECT
He has never admitted it, but the Express has been provided with documents revealing that United National Congress (UNC) financier Super Industrial Services (SIS) provided both material and labour to help build Ashworth Jack's house in Tobago.
Responding to queries in a press release dated December 11, 2012, the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader had stated that "the work was done by CJ Construction, a firm owned by my brother (Curtis)".
He added that the two had worked together on his first home at Mt Grace, and also on "this present construction".
Jack had also pointed out in his statement that he and his brother had kept costs down, "as we did a lot of the work ourselves and got 'lend hand' from a number of construction persons with whom we have had a longstanding relationship".
In an interview published on December 9, 2012, Jack was asked outright whether SIS had built his home, but he had dismissed it, saying: "I am not hand-to-mouth. No construction firm from Trinidad built my home for free for me."
At that time, he had also indicated he had been holding down four jobs, one of which he said was with a firm called Phoenix Welding and Fabricating Ltd, where he was a project manager.
Express investigations subsequently revealed the company was a subsidiary of SIS.
For some time now, the acquisition of the land on which the TOP leader has built his house and the subsequent construction of his two-storey house, complete with swimming pool, have been the subject of queries as to how he was able to afford it.
In an interview with the Sunday Express last month Jack said he had planted cucumbers and pumpkin, and the sale of these food items was one of the sources of income to build the house.
Jack has stated the transactions on his house were above board and he has publicly denied it was a "political gift" from party financiers.
The Express has been provided with invoices for materials and work sheets of SIS workers from way back in October 2010—five months after the People's Partnership won the general election in May of that year.
At least one of the documents shows where materials provided for the construction job "were not charged to the job".
Among the items under this arrangement were a backhoe, a fork-lift and a labourer "to fill sand into 14 jumbo bags".
This document was dated Friday, November 19, 2010, labelled "Tobago".
The same document shows an entry dated Monday, November 22, 2010, for a "40 foot trailer and truck to transport fill sand to Port of Spain Port" for a period of "10 hours".
At the bottom of the document is a handwritten note addressed to someone named "Lisa", advising her that "Mr Lalla said Ashworth needs this urgently as they are out of stock". The note went on to instruct: "Make sure and confirm the booking for today."
Krishna Lalla is the general manager of SIS.
At least 11 invoices sent to the Express revealed that a number of items were provided from Point Lisas Industrial Hardware Ltd, of Pacific Avenue, Point Lisas, and billed to SIS to the tune of $45,266.42.
The items included treated lumber, gypsum sheets, construction buckets, PVC pipes, bulk bags and shovels.
One invoice, dated 25/11/10 Job Number SI0000100737A, specifically listed the job description as Tobago, and even though the others did not clearly state such, they all bore the same job number.
The work sheets recording the workers' attendance identified several dates in November and December 2010 when the workers were on the job. They also listed the names of six workers along with their worker ID numbers and the check-in and check-out times for work, which were from 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The supervisor for the project was identified in the documents as Tom Khan, who in an interview with the Express last year had referred all queries to SIS's offices at Couva.
On one of the work sheets dated November 23, 2010, there was a handwritten note addressed to "Mr Lalla", stating, "Please note Balgobin (one of the workers listed on the work sheet) said he is keeping a stock, as Ashworth confirmed with Curtis that more manpower would be coming up next week".
On that same document was a query by Lalla over "high meal vouchers".
The Express contacted Lalla two days ago, but did not get beyond formal introductions, as he quickly hung up the phone when told it was the Express calling.
The Express also tried for a comment from Jack on this new information yesterday before the launch of the University of Trinidad and Tobago campus in Scarborough. His response was: "I have no further comments to make on my house."
Pressed further, he maintained: "Let me make it absolutely clear, my house is built by me."
Already, two Tobagonians—Moses O Thomas and Goslyn Loraine—have written to the Integrity Commission, asking for an investigation into Jack's house and land, especially since he is yet to file his declarations for the years 2010 and 2011, as required under the Integrity in Public Life Act.
The commission has since asked Loraine to provide evidence and he is yet to do so.
The TOP is seeking to unseat the incumbent People's National Movement in Monday's hotly contested Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election to lead Tobago for the next four years.
The TOP controls the two Tobago seats in the Parliament and is seeking to further its political gains with the Central Government.
Jack, who is seeking to become Chief Secretary of the THA, continues to enjoy the support of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has publicly defended his home, saying that when she was building her own at Phillipine, in which SIS was also involved, she too had come under scrutiny. See Page 4.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TOP_raises_questions_on_two_wanting_probe-187546231.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TOP_raises_questions_on_two_wanting_probe-187546231.html)
TOP raises questions on two wanting probe
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Jan 18, 2013 at 10:04 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 18, 2013 at 10:06 PM ECT
Do not throw stones when you live in glass houses.
This is how the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), led by Ashworth Jack, has fired back at those posing questions to the Integrity Commission about Jack's house, saying they themselves have questions to answer with respect to their integrity.
Tobagonian Moses O Thomas had made an official request to the Integrity Commission to investigate the land on which Jack built his home and a vehicle which he claimed was owned by Jack.
Thomas, who is employed as the field liaison officer for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London, had asked the commission to review Jack's declaration of income, assets and liabilities for the years 2001-2008, which he felt were "inconsistent".
The Integrity Commission has dismissed Thomas's request for an investigation, and the commission's chairman, Ken Gordon, had told the Express Jack would not be investigated unless and until a request came to the commission as an official query.
Following Thomas's call for a probe, another Tobagonian, Goslyn Loraine, political activist and coordinator of Tobago's Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), has raised the issue of the acquisition of the land and construction of Jack's house with the Registrar of the Integrity Commission, Martin Farrell.
The Express has reported exclusively that in a letter dated December 18, 2012, to the commission, Loraine raised four concerns to determine whether Jack had acquired his property by "fraudulent or corrupt means".
The commission, in its response to Loraine, dated January 3, 2013, invited him to tell all in a meeting with its director of investigations, Richard Frederick.
Loraine is yet to meet with Frederick, as he told the Express he needed more time to provide the information requested.
Speaking at a public meeting at Mount Moriah, Tobago, on Thursday night, TOP candidate for Plymouth/Golden Lane Certica Williams-Orr said she was "vex" over this development, and more so by those posing questions to the Integrity Commission.
"...What bothers me is the individual who had the gumption to ask questions about the house Jack built, Moses Thomas. I want to ask a question, whether it was the same Moses Thomas who asked questions about Jack's integrity to the Integrity Commission is the same Moses Thomas who I am advised that he is out on bail for fraud charges. Is it the same Moses Thomas?" asked Williams.
Waving a document in the air, Williams-Orr questioned whether Thomas was the beneficiary of a contract to the tune of $75,000 (which was not tendered) "to cut, clear and remove bush, clean and unclog drains" at Milford Court.
"When you shake a peas tree, every pod does rattle; so when they trouble meh leader, they trouble me too. I does take offence!" Williams-Orr said.
She then turned her attention to Loraine, whom she claimed had sent home a number of people working under URP without reason.
"Goslyn Loraine has to sing for his supper and he has to sing for a couple days well because, come January 22, he will [have] a different principal to report to and report he will have to report... I worked in HR and my heart is filled with the number of persons who have been coming, crying for Goslyn Loraine's name in their mouth. How many of you in this crowd have been sent home unceremoniously without disciplinary action?" asked Williams-Orr.
"Let us get this straight. We not going to worry about the house that Jack has built. We not going to worry about those who have asked questions. What I want to ask to you tonight, the PNM (People's National Movement) has shown to us that their campaign is falling apart, they have no issue," she added.
The TOP, she said, has come too far now to lose the election battle. "Do not let them break us at this time!" she urged. See Page 7.
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-19/warner-three-jamaat-camps-tobago (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-19/warner-three-jamaat-camps-tobago)
Warner: Three Jamaat camps in Tobago
Published:
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Yvonne Baboolal
National Security Minister Jack Warner has said he was advised there are three camps with Jamaat al Muslimeen members in Tobago. Warner made the charge when he addressed a large crowd of Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) supporters in Moriah, Tobago on Thursday night.
His allegation follows a claim by TOP leader Ashworth Jack that 20 thugs from a religious sect were driving around Tobago and intimidating potential voters. The national security minister, who was flown into the island by helicopter around 6 pm on Thursday evening, was given a resounding welcome by villagers when he arrived in Moriah with a large security detail around 9.40 pm.
“This is a fantastic crowd, the biggest I’ve seen in Tobago,” he said. Warner began his address by establishing his Tobago ties. “Moriah, I’m back home. That shop was my Uncle Leonard shop,” he said, pointing to an old building nearby. He said on January 24, three days after the THA election, TOP leader Ashworth Jack would be sworn in, and urged supporters to assist in the campaign.
“Go in every nook and cranny. Don’t count no egg in fowl bumsee,” he said. At 10.15 pm, Warner paused as the crowd erupted into another uproar for the arrival of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She had also arrived by helicopter at the ANR Robinson Airport, right after Warner.
Moriah women converged around her and danced with her to the platform to the tune She’s Royal. “Where Orville? Let him come and see for himself,” an elated Warner said. “There’s a new dawn in Tobago, a new era has come.” Warner spent most of his short address launching an attack on Orville London who is the incumbent chief secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly.
“If ever there was a disaster on the island, Orville is it,” Warner said. “Orville, people tell me you build a house in Sou Sou Lands and renting it to a Chinee. They tell me you have a house in Calder Hall and one in Delpeche. “Orville, they tell me you have shares in a gas station. “Since 2008, the THA has given no financial statement to the Auditor General,” Warner told villagers in what was reportedly a TOP stronghold.
Persad-Bissessar, addressed the crowd later and standing on the edge of the stage touched their outstretched hands. “Anil (Sports Minister Anil Roberts) said some people don’t want a Calcutta ship in Tobago. But he said his mother is from Calcutta and his father is from Tobago,” she said.
Roberts, who came to Tobago along with close to a dozen government ministers to assist in the TOP’s campaign in the run-up to Monday’s THA election, also addressed the crowd. The PM supported Warner’s expectation that Jack would be sworn in as THA Chief Secretary on January 24.
She said the number 24 was special to her since she was sworn in as UNC leader on January 24, 2010 and the People’s Partnership won the last general election on May 24, 2010. “God works in mysterious ways. On January 24, Jack will be sworn in as chief secretary,” she said. The PM was expected to continue her hectic round of activities yesterday at the launch of the Tobago Campus of UTT in Scarborough and a trade school.
Warner flew back to Trinidad yesterday morning and was expected to return for a TOP meeting in Tambrin Square last night. He will reportedly be in Tobago until Tuesday.
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-19/owners-deny-pnm-claim-canoe-bay-resort-no-election-base-top (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-19/owners-deny-pnm-claim-canoe-bay-resort-no-election-base-top)
Owners deny PNM claim: Canoe Bay resort no election base for TOP
Published:
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Security officers at Canoe Bay, Tobago man the closed gates of the resort on Thursday. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES
Representatives of the T&T Guardian covering the upcoming THA election were threatened by security officers guarding the entrance to the Canoe Bay Beach Resort in Tobago yesterday. The property was reportedly recently rented to the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) to be used as a base for their election campaign.
“You are breaking the law. I am precepted,” an officer dressed in plain clothes warned as T&T Guardian photographer Marcus Gonzales took a photograph from the Milford Road side of the secluded Cove Estate resort in Canaan. Informed that Gonzales was taking a photograph from a public road and was not breaking any law, he said: “You took a picture of me. That is an infringement of my right.”
As this reporter approached the security, he used his cellphone and took a photograph. Calls were then made by the two officers present and shortly after a burly gun-toting officer appeared and positioned himself at the front of the gate. A large “Closed” sign was at the front of the resort but several cars with TOP flags drove in and out.
Trucks also entered and left the compound, one holding equipment to lift heavy objects. The security officer, asked what was going on and why such a shroud of secrecy, said he could not say. PNM sources told the T&T Guardian that the resort, owned by prominent Tobago tourism activist, Carol-Ann Birchwood James, has been used as a TOP base since the start of the election campaign.
“We understand that TOP people are being housed there and trucks brought up from Trinidad are parked there,” the source said. Another source said food is being cooked at the resort and distributed to activists at all the TOP’s offices in the island. The resort not too far from the state-owned Magdalena Grand (the former Tobago Hilton) and has 17 apartments. The source said the facility is the only access to Canoe Bay near Crown Point on the south-eastern end of the island.
She said Tobagonians are upset about the activities at the resort and the blocking of access to the popular bay. “They are being treated very poorly when they go near the area,” she said. The T&T Guardian called the resort’s number and asked if rooms were available. The woman answering the telephone said, “Not at the moment. No rooms are available until February.”
Asked if they were sold out, she replied, “Sold out and doing renovations.” The T&T Guardian called back the same number, identified our media house and asked to speak to Birchwood-James. A woman answering the phone identified herself as Ashella James, Birchwood-James’ daughter.
Told about reports that the TOP has rented the entire resort for the election campaign and asked why it was closed, she said, “I don’t know about that. “There’s a group staying with us. They haven’t identified themselves as belonging to any political party.” James said the resort is closed for renovations to its beach facility which everybody knows.
She said renovations started since September last year and due to contractual delay, are still incomplete. James said the facility is the only access to Canoe Bay and there is a charge of $20 for adults and $6 for children for bathers wanting to access the bay through the property.
And the TOP’s election campaign appear to be well-organised and funded. There’s a music truck for each of the 12 constituencies. High-profile artistes on the island, like Speyside resident Gardah Knight, and Trinidad calypsonian Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon have performed at TOP political meetings. One of the TOP’s most popular campaign songs is sung by Mt Pleasant youngster Kyle Baptiste and is played on music trucks all over the island daily.
Activists have been distributing jerseys, hats, cups, flags, glow sticks and whistles to supporters. The music and giveaways are creating excitement among the youth. There are reports that cellphones are also being given away. But the PNM’s campaign does not have the same level of excitement.
TOP Tobago East MP Vernella Allen-Toppin, Minister in the Ministry of Social Development denied that the central government has been funding the party’s campaign on the island. “TOP could buy something?” she asked in response to questions about Canoe Bay Resort.
The minister said the party’s headquarters are at Tambrin Square in Scarborough. She said she knows nothing about the TOP using Canoe Bay resort as a base. The TOP gets funding from friends, well-wishers, party members and supporters, she claimed.
Allen-Toppin said together with Delmon Baker, Minister of Tobago Affairs, and Tobago-born Justice Minister Christlyn Moore all give $700 a month from their salaries to the party. The cost of the TOP’s campaign is yet to be worked out, she said.
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De amount of different strains of jackassness I see in this one forum page...I eh even sure what to comment and say.
Monday come fast oui.
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Doh worry Bourbon and Brownsugar...nothing will be posted tomorrow (election day).
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PNM_Edge-187613791.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PNM_Edge-187613791.html)
PNM Edge
UWI Sociology Division's THA poll predicts: PNM: 7 seats, TOP: 2 seats, marginal: 3 seats
Story Created: Jan 19, 2013 at 9:55 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 19, 2013 at 9:56 PM ECT
The People's National Movement (PNM) will control the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) after tomorrow's elections.
This prediction is based on the results of an independent, self-financed survey conducted by the Sociology Division of the Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine done in Tobago from December 12-15, 2012.
The survey's conclusions are based on the assumption that voters' intentions will hold.
But that victory may not come easy as the survey indicated that a large percentage of voters remained undecided and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) had a lead in some districts.
It predicts: "TOP will win two seats, the PNM will win seven seats and three are difficult to call. PNM will control the Tobago House of Assembly (THA)."
The third political party in the THA race, headed by former THA chief secretary Hochoy Charles called The Platform for Truth, did not make an impression on the survey.
The poll interviewed a proportionate, random sample of 108 people from ten polling districts in the sister island. Their ages ranged from 18 to 70 years with the mean age group being 31-40 years.
It carried a margin of error of plus/minus two percentage points.
The survey by the Sociology Division and its senior lecturer Dr Ronald Marshall stated that more women (55.6 per cent) were interviewed compared to men (44.4 per cent).
And when it came to ethnicity, 88 per cent of the people polled were Africans compared to other groups and most had voted five to seven times before. The poll observed that 37 per cent of the respondents had primary education, 32 per cent had secondary education and 14 per cent had tertiary education.
In Tobago, location is important. (See Table 1).
It informed the answer to the survey question, "Are you likely to vote as you did in the last THA election?"
In the areas where the PNM has support like Plymouth/Golden Lane and Roxborough/Delaford, the support was overwhelming at 67 per cent and 83 per cent respectively, the survey results indicated.
At Canaan/Bon Accord and Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah where the TOP has support, again it was in the majority at 83 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
A large percentage- 33 per cent in Belle Garden/Goodwood, 33 per cent in Parlatuvier/L' Anse Fourmi/Speyside and 20 per cent in Bacolet/ Mount St George were undecided.
When it came to the performance of the THA, location again informed the response to the Orville London-led THA, the survey analysis by the Sociology Division suggested.
The THA generally performed "Good".
However, 60 per cent of respondents interviewed in Bacolet/Mount St George rated the THA's performance as "Very Poor" while 50 per cent of respondents interviewed in Roxborough/Delaford rated its performance as "Excellent".
Generally, people interviewed felt their standard of living remained about the same and was a "little better" in the past 12 months.
All the respondents interviewed in the Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah area felt their standard of living was the same compared to 67 per cent of respondents of Lambeau/Signal Hill who felt that life had got a little better.
In Roxborough/Delaford 22.2 per cent felt that life was a lot better compared to 20 per cent at Bacolet/Mount St George who felt that life in the last 12 months was a lot worse.
In nine out of ten districts polled, the majority of respondents felt that the THA did not get a fair share of the country's resources.
It ranged from 50 per cent in Lambeau/Signal Hill to 89 per cent in Buccoo/Mount Pleasant.
Only in Bacolet/Mount St George did 60 per cent of the people interviewed feel that the THA got a fair share of the country's resources.
When asked, "Do you think Tobago should be run entirely by the Tobago House of Assembly?", the majority of respondents said "No".
However, in Belle Garden/Goodwood, Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden and Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah, the respondents felt that Tobago should be run by the THA.
Respondents were of the view that people in Government "look after themselves" rather than "do the right thing", the survey analysis said.
In all ten districts polled, the majority of respondents felt that people in Government usually looked after themselves.
The percentage points of answers to this question from polled respondents ranged from 55 per cent in Lambeau/Signal Hill to 100 per cent in Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah.
Only in Buccoo/Mount Pleasant did 37.5 per cent of people polled believe that people in Government "sometimes" looked after themselves.
When it came to the final question of "Which in your view is the better party?", the PNM won the two-party race. (See Table 2.)
In some districts they were outright winners like Plymouth/Golden Lane with 81 per cent approval.
In other areas like Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah, the TOP was regarded by 66 per cent of respondents as the better party.
"In Parlatuvier/L'Anse Fourmi/Speyside, 44.4 per cent said the TOP while 11.1 per cent said the PNM; however it should be noted that in this district 33.3 per cent said they did not know which was the better party and 11.1 per cent did not respond," the Sociology Division survey stated.
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-20/persad-bissessar-integrity-commission-biased-milshirv-deal (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-01-20/persad-bissessar-integrity-commission-biased-milshirv-deal)
Persad-Bissessar: Integrity Commission biased on Milshirv deal
...it’s a PNM family affair
Published:
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Shaliza Hassanali
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
On the eve of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has accused the Integrity Commission of being biased in the controversial Milshirv deal, stating there is a stony silence on the matter which leaves much to be desired. She called on the commission to clear the air on the Milshirv scandal as it reeked of corruption and backslapping, describing it as a “PNM family affair.”
“Whilst the commission was quick to announce and comment on the fact that complaints against the TOP was being investigated, there has been a stony silence on this $310 million transaction, which leaves a lot to be desired and some may say reeks of an appearance of perception of bias by the commission.”
Persad-Bissessar said the same enthusiasm the commission launched into the construction of Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Ashworth Jack’s home, they should do for the Milshirv fiasco.
In a new twist, Persad-Bissessar dropped a bombshell, stating that the land embroiled in the Milshirv deal was owned by Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, who is the Public Relations Officer of the PNM in Tobago and special adviser to the THA. The PM claimed she received a monthly salary of $60,000 from the THA. Persad-Bissessar raised three issues at the TOP’s final rally at
Market Square, Tobago, on Friday: The Milshirv deal; the more than US$30 million in damages and compensation from the THA being sought by a group of investors; and the Tobago bill. Milshirv was incorporated on October 3, 2011. On November 15, 2011, THA purchased three acres of land situated at the corner of Shirvan and Milford Roads for $12 million from Dankett Ltd.
Directors of Dankett Ltd are Anthony Rahael, Joseph Rahael, John Aboud and Michael Aboud. Seven days later, the THA leased the same three-acre property for 199 years at an annual rent of $10 to Milshirv Properties Ltd to build an administrative office for $143 million.
Persad-Bissessar claimed, “The three acres were owned by Denise, her mother Marjorie Tsoi-a-Fatt and her uncle Conrad Young.” The deal became “curiouser,” Persad-Bissessar said, as Dankett Ltd bought all three acres from the three individuals on September 7, 1999.
PM: middle man used to disguise transaction
“We don’t know what the total figure was, as we have only been able to locate one of the deeds. But it would be interesting to know how much money Dankett paid for the lands.” Persad-Bissessar said the land was not sold directly to Dankett, but through a company called Aquila Ltd of 11-16 Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain, which acted as a middle man to disguise the transaction.
“Why was the sale to Rahael-owned Dankett Ltd being passed through a middle man? Was this being used to shield the sale from Dankett from your eyes?” Persad-Bissessar said London and his team should not be trusted. “They are totally shameless. They come with deceptions and half-truths.”
The plot thickened further, Persad-Bissessar said, as the registered address for Dankett Ltd in the same deed was described as 11 to 13 Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain. “It means that Dankett Ltd was housed at the same address building as part of Aquila Ltd.”
A PNM family affair
“What we did not know then that this was just one PNM family from Trinidad alone which profited, but rather two PNM families are involved in this sweetheart deal. For Dankett Ltd to know this, they would have had to know that the THA will be willing to favourably consider locating and building an office complex at Shirvan. Did she (Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus) have inside knowledge about the THA desire or plan to build an office complex at Shirvan Road?”
Persad-Bissessar said, “Some $310 million would have been shared amongst PNM family and friends.” The PM questioned why “Denise and her family could not sell the land directly to the THA? The Milshirv matter was clearly a PNM family affair. It reeks of corruption and PNM backslapping PNM.”
Keeping Tobagonians captive and dependent
Touching on the estate, Persad-Bissessar said the investors who entered into a sale agreement to buy the estate to build a five-star hotel had applied in 2007 for a license, which they never got. Persad-Bissessar said this deal would have created foreign investment, jobs, and eco-tourism but London and his team “had scuttle that,” thereby putting Tobago and the tourism sector in shambles.
“They (PNM) don’t want to see Tobagonians earning revenue on their own. They want to keep you captive and dependent on the ten days of Cepep and URP.” She appealed to Tobagonians to remember the PNM’s mismanagement when they go to the polls tomorrow. The PM said she lives with the hope that the PNM will have a change of heart on the bill. Several attempts to reach Integrity Commission Chairman Ken Gordon yesterday proved futile.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PNM-official-threatens--legal-action-187615881.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PNM-official-threatens--legal-action-187615881.html)
PNM official threatens legal action
PM makes Milshirv allegations
By Anna Ramdass and Elizabeth Williams Scarborough
Story Created: Jan 19, 2013 at 10:19 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 19, 2013 at 10:20 PM ECT
THE multi-million dollar Milshirv deal fattened the pockets of two families from the People’s National Movement (PNM) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said.
On Friday, she called on the Integrity Commission to probe the transaction with the same pace it did with respect to allegations made against political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Ashworth Jack and the construction of his private home in Tobago.
“I make no pronouncement or judgment on the bona fides of this transaction (Milshirv) but will simply call upon the Integrity Commission to clear the air and announce with similar enthusiasm whether it has not yet also commenced an investigation into the complaint we have made against Mr (Orville) London concerning the Milshirv scandal. Whilst the Integrity Commission was quick to announce and comment on the fact that complaints against the TOP were being investigated, the stony silence on this $310 million transaction, leaves a lot to be desired and will give rise to political bias,” said Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking at TOP’s Freedom Rally at Old Market Square, Scarborough, Tobago on Friday night, Persad-Bissessar claimed not only the Rahael PNM family benefited from the contract but also the PNM’s public relations officer (PRO) Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, and her family.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has filed for judicial review of the Milshirv deal which was accepted by the court earlier this month.
Persad-Bissessar reminded the crowd that the Milshirv land deal involved three parcels of land located at Shirvan road.
The THA, she said, bought the land from Dankett Ltd which is owned by the Rahael family for $12 million in November 2011.
The land was leased to Milshirv Ltd, which is also owned by the Rahael family, which in turn rented it back to the THA, seven days later, on November 21, for $310 million.
“What we did not know then was it is not simply one PNM family from Trinidad alone that profited but rather two PNM families are involved—one from Trinidad and one from in your own backyard right here in Tobago,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She said no one asked how Dankett Ltd was able to have such good fortune and good luck to secure a three-acre parcel of land that it somehow knew would meet the needs of the THA.
Persad-Bissessar said Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, who is employed at the THA as an adviser to the Secretary of Health, earning $60,000 a month was the owner of one of the three parcels of land.
The other two parcels, said Persad-Bissessar, were owned by her mother, Marjorie Tsoi-a-Fatt and her uncle.
“Dankett Ltd bought all three acres from Denise, her mother and uncle on the same day, September 7, 1999 by virtue of deeds registered as No.18520, No.18521 and No 18523 of 1999,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She said it would be interesting to find out how much Dankett Ltd paid for the lands.
Persad-Bissessar said the sale of the land was curious because it was not sold directly to Dankett Ltd but through a company called Aquila Ltd.
Persad-Bissessar added that Dankett Ltd and Aquila Ltd shared a relationship as the registered office address for Aquila Ltd was described in the Deed as #11-16 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain- the same registered address for Dankett Ltd.
“This Milshirv matter was clearly a PNM family affair. The lands were owned by the PNM’s PRO and her family, sold to a company owned by another PNM family,” and bought by the THA which then leased and rented it back at the exorbitant price of $310 million.
Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said yesterday she planned to take legal action against Persad-Bissessar following statements made by the Prime Minister about her family’s alleged involvement in the Milshirv affair.
Commenting on the matter at her Mt Irvine home yesterday, she said her initial reaction, when she heard her name belted out by the Prime Minister at the TOP’s political meeting, on Friday evening was: “I felt crushed. I felt sick that as a woman, as Prime Minister, she could make a statement like that.”
She said she also felt sorry for her mother, Marjorie, who visited her yesterday offering words of comfort. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said in 1999 the lands at Shirvan were sold to a group of people.
She displayed a copy of the deeds to the lands which included her mother Marjorie Tsoi-a- Fatt, her uncle-in-law Herbert C Phillips and her uncle George Young. Nowhere on the document is her name, Tsoi-a-Fatt said.
“My uncle, uncle-in-law and my mother would have sold that piece of land,” she said.
She said legal action will be taken to clear her mother’s name as the prime minister misrepresented the facts.
Her mother is the owner of a pharmacy at the NIB Mall, and worked in the public sector for many years.
“I think I am forced to take legal action to clear my name.”
Marjorie Tsoi-a-Fatt said with the Prime Minister being an attorney, she expected that Persad-Bissessar would have examined all the information she received at hand, before making such a statement.
Contacted yesterday, former PNM minister and businessman John Rahael said he had no comment to make on the Prime Minister’s statement about his family’s company.
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http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,172213.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,172213.html)
LAST LAP FOR VOTES
By Andre Bagoo in Tobago Saturday, January 19 2013
POLITICAL parties vying for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) yesterday began their last lap, seeking to create a final push of momentum ahead of Monday’s polls.
The People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) both held a series of events in Scarborough, Tobago’s capital, designed to show the electorate what they had to offer.
The PNM Tobago Council held a walkabout – billed as “Red Day” – as their Women’s Forum paraded the streets of Scarborough. The parade started at about 5.30 pm just off Old Market Square and ended at the Scarborough Esplanade where a rally took place, attended by incumbent THA Chief Secretary Orville London and PNM Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford candidate Hilton Sandy, among other top-brass party officials.
Hundreds of PNM supporters made good their promise to turn the streets red, chipping to political jingles played by large music trucks, snaking their way through the urban centre of the island. They wore PNM T-shirts and bore PNM flags. Some danced to the music, holding umbrellas to shade from the hot sun or wearing sunglasses. Others decked themselves with feathered headdresses – one man had a headpiece made out of peacock feathers – and carried water or beer to keep cool.
For yet another day, at towns and villages all over the island, vehicles with loud-speakers played political jingles, one crying, “We voting TOP! TOP! TOP! TOP!” and another, “O! PNM coming!”
A man on a loudspeaker drove around Canaan/Bon Accord saying, “A vote for the TOP is a vote for the UNC.”
The TOP was last night due to hold a rally – billed as a “Freedom Rally” – at Old Market Square, not far from the same location where the PNM supporters had begun their walkabout earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was due to speak last night on the platform alongside TOP political leader Ashworth Jack. Entertainment was also expected, including Sizzla Kalonji, Baby Cham, Denise Belfon, Swappi and Roy Cape.
All of the events were the start of a final round of activities all the way up to Monday, election day, when political campaigning will have to come to a halt.
On Saturday, the TOP will journey into the heart of the island, and hold a rally at Sandy River, Mason Hall, in the centre of Jack’s polling division at 7 pm. At the same time, the PNM, will hold its own youth rally.
Up to yesterday, the TOP was scheduled to carry out a motorcade on Sunday – the Sabbath for many Christians – starting from Tambrin Square at 9 pm. Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s diary continued to focus on Tobago.
After returning to the island on Thursday evening, after the weekly Cabinet meeting in Trinidad, Persad-Bissessar launched several programmes in her continued campaign to woo Tobagonians to support coalition partner TOP.
In a sign of the frenetic nature of the build-up to the election there was a virtual battle of political DJs at the launch of a University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) campus at Scarborough, attended by Persad-Bissessar.
She formally opened the UTT education campus – meant to administer its BA in Education programme – at Milford Road. The launch took place under four specially set up tents just off the road, which adjoins central Scarborough’s busy esplanade.
Things got off to a smooth start, with the master of ceremonies, Dr Arthur Potts, starting the proceedings at 2.45 pm. However, one of the many vehicles with loudspeakers which have been driving around Tobago playing political jingles, passed by and interrupted the safety briefing.
“O! PNM coming!” blared from the car, as the safety briefing was paused to let the car pass by on the busy street. But then, at about 3.12 pm, just as the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Fazal Karim was delivering his address, another car passed, this time blaring, “We voting TOP TOP TOP TOP!”
By the time TOP’s Jack finished his speech at about 3.30 pm, another car was passing. The master of ceremonies held back his introduction of the Prime Minister, who was due to deliver her feature address, to wait for the car to pass.
“PNM people!” it shouted.
“Ladies and gentlemen, just excuse the little lull,” Potts said. “I want to make sure we introduce the next speaker at the right time.” To the DJ at the UTT event, he said, “Is there some other kind of music we can play in the meanwhile?”
The UTT DJ put on generic pan/soca music.
But the car outside was still blaring. Potts queried whether it was possible to bring back a band that had performed earlier.
“Can we bring back the band?” he asked. That band could not return. Potts told the DJ, “They are not readily available so shall we have some more music?”
After about five minutes, when he finally introduced Persad-Bissessar, she said, “Dr Potts, I like music so it’s okay when music passes up and down. We are in an exciting time. This is a time for change.”
The Prime Minister heralded the opening of the new UTT education campus but also said her Government proposed to build a full university in east Tobago.
“Our vision is to have a full campus in Tobago,” she said. “Our vision is for this facility to come on stream. An integrated campus for Tobago.” She said there is as yet no site selected and a rumour that land would be acquired from a person with ties to the Government was far from the truth.
“Nothing is further from the truth,” she said. “There is a site-selection committee for the campus so I just want to debunk that idea. No final decision has been made.”
Karim noted that in 2011, 4,775 Tobagonians accessed the GATE programmes, at a cost of $51.7 million. In 2010, 3,137 Tobagonian students accessed the programme at a cost of $35.4 million. Persad-Bissessar said GATE would not be closed and the Government is aiming for a 60 percent enrolment in tertiary education from the pool of secondary school graduates (she said the current level is 42 percent).
The Prime Minister said her son attends the UTT campus at Corinth, Trinidad. She pledged that the Government would build a long-awaited library in Tobago.
To Jack she said, “We will establish it for you in Tobago and I know after Monday you will complete the library.” The Prime Minister also yesterday afternoon launched a training programme for apprentice mechanics at an event hosted at Old Government Farm Road, Shaw Park. She said the programme is the first of others to be introduced at Beetham, Port-of-Spain and San Fernando in Trinidad.
“We want Tobago to become an education hub so that others will come here,” she said.
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PNM official threatens legal action
PM makes Milshirv allegations
By Anna Ramdass and Elizabeth Williams Scarborough
Story Created: Jan 19, 2013 at 10:19 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 20, 2013 at 8:07 AM ECT
THE multi-million dollar Milshirv deal fattened the pockets of two families from the People’s National Movement (PNM) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said.
On Friday, she called on the Integrity Commission to probe the transaction with the same pace it did with respect to allegations made against political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) Ashworth Jack and the construction of his private home in Tobago.
“I make no pronouncement or judgment on the bona fides of this transaction (Milshirv) but will simply call upon the Integrity Commission to clear the air and announce with similar enthusiasm whether it has not yet also commenced an investigation into the complaint we have made against Mr (Orville) London concerning the Milshirv scandal. Whilst the Integrity Commission was quick to announce and comment on the fact that complaints against the TOP were being investigated, the stony silence on this $310 million transaction, leaves a lot to be desired and will give rise to political bias,” said Persad-Bissessar.
Speaking at TOP’s Freedom Rally at Old Market Square, Scarborough, Tobago on Friday night, Persad-Bissessar claimed not only the Rahael PNM family benefited from the contract but also the PNM’s public relations officer (PRO) Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, and her family.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has filed for judicial review of the Milshirv deal which was accepted by the court earlier this month.
Persad-Bissessar reminded the crowd that the Milshirv land deal involved three parcels of land located at Shirvan road.
The THA, she said, bought the land from Dankett Ltd which is owned by the Rahael family for $12 million in November 2011.
The land was leased to Milshirv Ltd, which is also owned by the Rahael family, which in turn rented it back to the THA, seven days later, on November 21, for $310 million.
“What we did not know then was it is not simply one PNM family from Trinidad alone that profited but rather two PNM families are involved—one from Trinidad and one from in your own backyard right here in Tobago,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She said no one asked how Dankett Ltd was able to have such good fortune and good luck to secure a three-acre parcel of land that it somehow knew would meet the needs of the THA.
Persad-Bissessar said Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus, who is employed at the THA as an adviser to the Secretary of Health, earning $60,000 a month was the owner of one of the three parcels of land.
The other two parcels, said Persad-Bissessar, were owned by her mother, Marjorie Tsoi-a-Fatt and her uncle.
“Dankett Ltd bought all three acres from Denise, her mother and uncle on the same day, September 7, 1999 by virtue of deeds registered as No.18520, No.18521 and No 18523 of 1999,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She said it would be interesting to find out how much Dankett Ltd paid for the lands.
Persad-Bissessar said the sale of the land was curious because it was not sold directly to Dankett Ltd but through a company called Aquila Ltd.
Persad-Bissessar added that Dankett Ltd and Aquila Ltd shared a relationship as the registered office address for Aquila Ltd was described in the Deed as #11-16 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain- the same registered address for Dankett Ltd.
“This Milshirv matter was clearly a PNM family affair. The lands were owned by the PNM’s PRO and her family, sold to a company owned by another PNM family,” and bought by the THA which then leased and rented it back at the exorbitant price of $310 million.
Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said yesterday she planned to take legal action against Persad-Bissessar following statements made by the Prime Minister about her family’s alleged involvement in the Milshirv affair.
Commenting on the matter at her Mt Irvine home yesterday, she said her initial reaction, when she heard her name belted out by the Prime Minister at the TOP’s political meeting, on Friday evening was: “I felt crushed. I felt sick that as a woman, as Prime Minister, she could make a statement like that.”
She said she also felt sorry for her mother, Marjorie, who visited her yesterday offering words of comfort. Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus said in 1999 the lands at Shirvan were sold to a group of people.
She displayed a copy of the deeds to the lands which included her mother Marjorie Tsoi-a- Fatt, her uncle-in-law Herbert C Phillips and her uncle George Young. Nowhere on the document is her name, Tsoi-a-Fatt said.
“My uncle, uncle-in-law and my mother would have sold that piece of land,” she said.
She said legal action will be taken to clear her mother’s name as the prime minister misrepresented the facts.
Her mother is the owner of a pharmacy at the NIB Mall, and worked in the public sector for many years.
“I think I am forced to take legal action to clear my name.”
Marjorie Tsoi-a-Fatt said with the Prime Minister being an attorney, she expected that Persad-Bissessar would have examined all the information she received at hand, before making such a statement.
Contacted yesterday, former PNM minister and businessman John Rahael said he had no comment to make on the Prime Minister’s statement about his family’s company.
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UTT students cry discrimination
By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Jan 19, 2013 at 9:55 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 19, 2013 at 9:56 PM ECT
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1358646047776nw9.jpg)
Students of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) have complained of discrimination following the ceremonial opening of the campus on Friday at the TLH Building in Scarborough, Tobago.
Student Wade David told the Sunday Express he was told to remove his tie since the colours seemed "offensive".
David said his red, white and black tie represented the national colours and were chosen by the executive of the UTT to officially represent the university.
"I was pulled aside by one of the organisers of the event and told to change my tie and put on another tie. I asked what was wrong with the tie, the organiser said the colour of the tie may not be appropriate for the event," David said.
Another student, Sean Daniel, complained that the campus manager could not give a definite time when the UTT building will be able to be used by UTT students.
In addition, students were told there was space for the OJT students but not UTT students.
"I found it in extremely poor taste that the building was opened and the students in Tobago are at a disadvantage," David said.
Both David and Daniel are members of the UTT Student Guild.
Daniel said UTT was all embracing, but the ceremony took a more political slant when a student wearing a PNM jersey was not permitted to enter the venue, while a guest dressed in a TOP jersey was allowed in.
"We are not lobbying for any particular party but principle is principle," Daniel said.
Students told the Sunday Express they will have to return to their cramped space at the MIC building at Canaan, until the newly launched UTT office space is available.
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I notice that there is one sided reporting here sometimes.
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Which side?
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@richard g could you please set paragraphs on those last two articles you posted finding it difficult to read them. thanks
Oh hard go dey. Ah didn't even see dis post until today.
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@richard g could you please set paragraphs on those last two articles you posted finding it difficult to read them. thanks
Oh hard go dey. Ah didn't even see dis post until today.
not tryin to be nitpicky the discomfort is genuine
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Downright malicious!
August 19, 2011
(Sometimes it's useful to go back before going forward.)
The PNM Tobago Council officials were in a fiery mood on Tuesday as they launched a scathing attack on the TOP leader Ashworth Jack and his organisation. They were speaking during a media briefng held last Tuesday at its Scarborough headquarters.
The PNM Council representatives, Tobago Party Chairman Neil Wilson, Tobago East Chairman Wendell Berkely, Tobago West Chairman Stanford Callender and PRO Denise Tsoi-A-Fatt all sought to clarify the Tobago PNM position on a number of issues.
It was the well groomed Tsoi-A-Fatt who threw the opening salvos when she condemned the recent assertion by TOP leader Ashworth Jack who accused the PNM of using race politics.
Tsoi-A-Fatt described Jack's statement as "deliberately misleading and downright malicious." The Tobago PNM PRO noted that "all right-thinking Tobagonians will be aware that over the past 15 months since the UNC-led coalition took over the reins of Government, the PNM Administration in the THA and the Tobago PNM Council have been focused on protecting the autonomy of THA."
She cited blatant efforts to disrespect the Tobago institution, Tobago leaders and Tobago people as part of the attack from the Central Government.
Tsoi-A-Fatt chided the TOP leader for cowering in the THA and not giving support to the PNM on matters concerning the Senior Citizens Grant, the plight of the fishermen and the blatant attack on the THA.
The PNM PRO reminded the media that "It was the THA which was in control of Health and Carnival. These have been two contentious areas between the THA and Central Government recently, and the PNM PRO wanted to know if "it is racial politics when persons elected by Tobagonians to protect their interests and enhance their lives raise these critical issues." She reminded all present that the PNM was "now standing up for the very issues which ANR Robinson, Hochoy Charles and Lennox Denoon stood up for and no one branded their politics as racial."
Tobago East PNM Chairman Wendell Berkely congratulated the Orville London-led THA for introducing the fast ferries, the cargo boat, the 600 million dollars power plant at Cove, the acquisition of Pigeon Point, Little Tobago and a number of estates.
Berkely, a former THA Assistant Culture Secretary also mentioned the 17 health centres built by the THA and the construction of the Shaw Park Sports Complex, the Mt Irvine Fisheries, the Buccoo Integrated Facility, the Mt Grace Pavilion and a number of hard courts in different parts of the island. He also mentioned more to come for the PNM THA such as community works at Louis D'Or, Belle Garden, Charlotteville, John Dial, Mt Irvine, Mt Pleasant, Betsy's Hope and Calder Hall.
Berkely also noted that the problems faced by the mega projects were now over and rapid progress is being made where these projects are concerned.
Chairman of the Tobago West PNM Council Stanford Callender recalled his time as a PNM representative on the Tobago County Council in 1977 and said he appreciated and respected the struggles of Robinson and others to get the THA established. He bashed the TOP and its association with the UNC-led Partnership Government.
"Jack and the UNC are trying to disrupt the THA," he said. He also predicted that Jack would get all the same bad experiences which Charles and Robinson got from associating with the UNC. "Do not give up your fight for what is right," the former government minister added.
Meanwhile, Tobago Council Chairman Neil Wilson announced the plans of the Tobago PNM.
The long serving and calculated Wilson announced that on September 1st, walkabouts will begin. On September 11, there will be a 'Feeling The Pain' meeting at Signal Hill Comprehensive School with main speaker Fitzgerald Hinds and Orville London and testimonies from those who are feeling the pain.
On September 24 there will be the Tobago West Family Day and September 25 Tobago East Family Day.
http://www.thetobagonews.com/news/Downright_malicious_-128054423.html
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Reports of madness in Tobago. Reports that TOP has been making calls en masse...with threats to non TOP voters.
Also reports that there were 30 filled out ballot cards BEFORE a polling station opened!
This follows a weekend where non TOP voters were stoned with bottles in a drive by attack..they even trhew oil in front of a car leading a PNM motorcade..trying to make it crash
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Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions.
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Cutass
Results for Ashworth Jack seat PNM 731 TOP 431
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBLJszyCYAAKdc4.jpg:large)
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TOP like they losing all the seats
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Cutass
Results for Ashworth Jack seat PNM 731 TOP 431
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBLJszyCYAAKdc4.jpg:large)
Well..is a good ting he's a resourceful farmer and planter and business man...he eh go starve..cuz like he going and have a source of income removed.
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Results so far saying.....PNM bloodbath. WOW!!! The TOP might literally get blown out.
If it stays this way, it will be considered an absolute beatdown and throw away of the People's Partnership gov't and anything to to with it. More to come.
Stay tuned..........
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People fedup
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People fedup
more than fedup.............to quote sam "bull dem tobago.....bull dem hard"
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PNM has won the THA - Official
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Ladies and Gentlemen please humbly join the red wash,Tobago has spoken 12 -o nilllll
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBLXY33CUAA_XI-.jpg:large)
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and the PP mask of a corrupt, opportunistic and racist unc pretend govt continues to crumble..........
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Is sweeping time!!!! Take that Kamla and Jack both of them!!!
:whip: :whip: :whip: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel:
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Orville also need to recognize dat he win by default and need to improve on his delivery........d gov't goin' an make it hard work doh, doh put nutten past dem spiteful fuuckers
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBLXY33CUAA_XI-.jpg:large)
Braps
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Ashworth loss he seat.
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Rowley: Tobago people have signalled to the government that 'enough is enough
Rowley: Those in governance must not take the people of Trinidad and Tobago for fools
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Orville also need to recognize dat he win by default and need to improve on his delivery........d gov't goin' an make it hard work doh, doh put nutten past dem spiteful fuuckers
Of course they goin and make it hard they petty that way.
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Rowley: Tobago people have signalled to the government that 'enough is enough
Rowley: Those in governance must not take the people of Trinidad and Tobago for fools
finally...........sounds like a general............the soldier might finally be getting his stars....good for him
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dem TOP f**kers texting people and calling people whole day telling dem to vote for TOP!
Licks in dey cunnie!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=19ZUREKRwjE (ftp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=19ZUREKRwjE)
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So wait!!!!! Pnm have a 12 seater, what TOP has? A Convertible no TOP.
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I am still in shock that Ashworth lost his seat. That seat has NEVER been won by the PNM before. NEVER mih say....
:whip: :whip: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
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Wasn't this result expected? No real surprise here other than the ugly face of politics showed up.
All the best to the people of Tobago.. hopefully this will act as a wake-up call to Kamla and her bunch of imbeciles to get their act together.
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I am still in shock that Ashworth lost his seat. That seat has NEVER been won by the PNM before. NEVER mih say....
:whip: :whip: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :flamethrower: :flamethrower:
ah tink is d house ting or likely d ridiculous excuse thrown up dat put nails in he coffin ...........talkin 'bout d eat ah food crew........yuh could almost see tears wellin and hear ah quiver in Andy Johnson voice on C TnT tonight ;D
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http://www.youtube.com/v/LmEPbo1DOsg
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Wasn't this result expected? No real surprise here other than the ugly face of politics showed up.
All the best to the people of Tobago.. hopefully this will act as a wake-up call to Kamla and her bunch of imbeciles to get their act together.
sadly I dont tink they recognized just how far down d public opinion latrine hole they have fallen and continues to fall.............how u much u want to bet dey try to spin it as a race ting.......ah could hear jack now "where was d indians"...dismiss it as a foregone conclusion and continue doin' d same shit until 2 months before d next election..........they never seem to learn from their mistakes, much less admit to making a mistake.
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So wait!!!!! Pnm have a 12 seater, what TOP has? A Convertible no TOP.
I borrowing this...lol
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http://www.youtube.com/v/LmEPbo1DOsg
thanks
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Yuh know....my view is this.
The Calcutta ship statement only got real mileage when the TOP used it to campaign. But then when people saw things that were questionable.....dramatic increase in voters list numbers....allegations of people camping on beaches this weekend......campaigning on the day itself....dirty tactics....PLUS the performance of the central govt...along with their harping on it....dey decide..nah man.
It plausible. How true it is..we may never know. It was real heated doh.
Anyhow...Ashworth for President or wha?
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Yuh know....my view is this.
The Calcutta ship statement only got real mileage when the TOP used it to campaign. But then when people saw things that were questionable.....dramatic increase in voters list numbers....allegations of people camping on beaches this weekend......campaigning on the day itself....dirty tactics....PLUS the performance of the central govt...along with their harping on it....dey decide..nah man.
It plausible. How true it is..we may never know. It was real heated doh.
Anyhow...Ashworth for President or wha?
President ah what? PP? Pumpkin Planters?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PWXj3uqpst8#!
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Lol fitting song. Never heard it before
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Lol fitting song. Never heard it before
LAWD all yuh does make meh feel old. After d 81 elections this song game out after Chambers said it in d campaign,
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I was not born yet ;)
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I was not born yet ;)
I wasnt even a thought. I hear the quote before though so when I heard the song I got the significance.
I was looking for the Kitchener..."Two to 1..PNM...8 to 1...UNC..."...buh cyar find it.
Oh well...Local Govt go be interesting.
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I was not born yet ;)
D defence rest yuh honor.I was not born yet ;)
I wasnt even a thought. I hear the quote before though so when I heard the song I got the significance.
I was looking for the Kitchener..."Two to 1..PNM...8 to 1...UNC..."...buh cyar find it.
Oh well...Local Govt go be interesting.
I eh know that 1
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I was not born yet ;)
D defence rest yuh honor.I was not born yet ;)
I wasnt even a thought. I hear the quote before though so when I heard the song I got the significance.
I was looking for the Kitchener..."Two to 1..PNM...8 to 1...UNC..."...buh cyar find it.
Oh well...Local Govt go be interesting.
I eh know that 1
He was using a horse racing analogy. Is YEARS I eh hear that...I was like 10 at most when I heard it..and quite a few times.
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(http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/24423_10151243770833873_222937319_n.jpg)
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OK, Madam Prime Minister ... thought about calling elections before they are constitutionally due? Hold that thought.
“I don’t want to beat around the bush — after such an emotional roller coaster, a loss hurts all the more." - Angela Merkel reeling from the cutarse she and the Christian Democrats got yesterday in local government elections.
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Considering the beatdown that was laid upon the TOP/UNC/PP last night...yuh know ah had to come up with ah remix...NO COWS ALLOWED!!!
Bunji Garlin-(Differentology remix - THA election style)
We Ready (16 times)
De time was ‘round ‘bout 10 o’clock
And de TOP shakin up
De results dem flow NICE
De town was redded up
De PNM dem start huddle up
Dey headquarters right next to TOP
Yes boy de vibes was all-right all night
When de results dem started to flow
De PNM started to glow
Den Ashworth loss out he seat
PNM sey ASHWORTH....GO SO!!!
Seh den yuh hear de whistle blow
De final count was 12-0 (twelve to zero)
So Bunji Garlin sing it out loud AY-YO.....
DE T.O.P. GEH LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICKS FUH SO...
RIGHT IN DEY BACKYARD HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE IN TOBAGO!!!
Is plenty (licks) – repeat 16 times
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70% voter turnout. When was the last time you heard that for an election? This election woke up the Tobago voting public. Kudos my 'Bago people. :)
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,172348.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,172348.html)
ORVILLE TOPS IACK
By NEWSDAY STAFF Tuesday, January 22 2013
THE INCUMBENT People’s National Movement (PNM) obliterated the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) in yesterday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election, winning all 12 seats. The Tobago electoral map was literally painted in the PNM’s colour — red.
From as early as 9 pm, it was clear that the PNM had easily pushed the TOP into second place in virtually all seats, with The Platform for Truth (TPT) party trailing a distant third everywhere.
TOP leader Ashworth Jack, the former THA minority leader, lost his Pro-
vidence/Mason Hall/Moriah seat which was won by the PNM for the first time ever. TPT leader Hochoy Charles, a past THA chief secretary, failed to win the Plymouth/Golden Lane seat he once held.
This is the fourth time in a row that the PNM has won the THA election and sets out London for another four years on top of his past 12 years as THA chief secretary.
The PNM in 2001 won eight seats to the four won by the NAR; in 2005 it won 11 seats to the DAC’s one seat; in 2009 it won eight seats to the TOP’s four and last night, it won 100 percent — 12 out of 12.
This election saw a whopping 70 percent of registered electors voting more than the 56 percent in the 2009 THA polls. In giving the PNM a clean sweep, Tobago voters yesterday sharply reversed their vote in the 2010 general elections when they elected the TOP’s Vernella Toppin-Alleyne and Dr Delmon Baker.
Yesterday was also the first time the PNM ever won the Mason Hall seat, hitherto held by Ashworth Jack. The PNM’s Hilton Sandy was re-elected to his seat of Roxborough/Delaford, despite his “Calcutta ship” controversy, beating his TOP rival by 1,422 to 1,198 votes.
Last night, the influx of results at Scarborough created jubilation at PNM Tobago headquarters, while the TOP camp had an air of a funeral.
In an immediate response, Jack took responsibility for his party’s shock obliteration and said that within the coming days, he would consider his political future.
At 10 pm, London gave a victory speech hailing the result but calling on electors to now put Tobago ahead of any party political interest. He said the THA cannot do everything alone and called on Tobagonians to adopt a new outlook to help build the island. London called for a “total rethink of attitudes and postures over the past two and a half years” in the relationship between the PNM-led THA and the People’s Partnership Government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in the best interest of the people of Tobago.
London wanted both to meet in an environment of, “amicable resolution, meaningful consultation and mutual respect”, to discuss reform of the THA and the Constitution. He also urged Government to pay the THA its “best inauguration gift” of an allegedly outstanding $625 million in allocations.
“Tonight I feel humbled, challenged and inspired...all at the same time,” said London as all around him bells were rung and a PNM supporter even waved her cocoyea broom joyously in the air. “This is not an Orville London victory or a PNM victory. This is a victory for the people of Tobago,” London said. Urging Tobago unity after a polarising campaign, he said, “We can’t allow that polarisation and divisiveness to mark and brand us, going forward. From tonight, the election is over and the people must work together for the people of Tobago.” This unity was shown by him not wearing a PNM jersey, he told listeners.
London vowed new strategies and governance structures to transform the Tobago landscape, so Tobagonians can have more say in their own affairs apart from their THA ballot every four years. He said Tobagonians must take responsibility so as to claim self-sufficiency and autonomy. Paying tribute to the isle’s youth, he said he’d never been prouder of them.
Opposition and PNM Leader Dr Keith Rowley, then addressed cheering supporters, loudly praising the work of London. A dejected TOP leader Ashworth Jack later addressed a media conference.
At 10.04 pm, Persad-Bissessar issued a statement of concession via email, but did not go to TOP headquarters to publicly speak. Her statement sought to rally deflated spirits of the defeated and be conciliatory toward the victors. She said the people of Tobago had spoken.
“This has been a tough political battle and the choice for Tobagonians between change and a perpetuation of an administration which has been in place for 12 years,” said Persad-Bissessar. “Tobagonians, in an overwhelming majority, chose to stay with the Orville London-led THA, and as I have always said, the voice of the people, is the voice of God. I wish to extend congratulations to Mr London and the PNM for the resounding victory secured at the THA polls,” her statement continued.
She assured London and Tobagonians that the Government would work with the THA in the interest of developing Tobago for the benefit of all. “To our own supporters I say do not despair. In the words of poet Maya Angelou, ‘while one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated’,” said Persad-Bissessar.
“There is much to be learnt from this and from which strong character can emerge. It is a time for introspection and resolve. A time to gather valuable insights that will serve us well in the months and years ahead.
“To each of you who worked tirelessly, I express my heartfelt gratitude. Somewhere down the road your efforts will bring you the returns and the victory will be sweeter. But for now, let us be mindful that the election is over. Let us put aside our political differences and embrace each other. All that matters now is the development of Tobago which we will work together to develop.”By Andre Bagoo
EVEN before the polls in Tobago closed yesterday, many described the voter turnout as being possibly higher than not only the last Tobago House of Assembly election in 2009 (23,916 or 56.39 percent) but also the 2010 general election (27,776 or about 60 percent).
“There seems to be a higher turnout than last time,” Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) chairman Dr Norbert Masson said yesterday. “But as we speak the final figures are not in.”
Political leader of the PNM Tobago Council Orville London yesterday morning said he had seen indications that the final turnout could be higher than that for the 2010 general election.
“I think the turnout at this time was better than for the general election of 2010 and indeed the last time there was a THA election,” London told reporters after casting his vote at the Signal Hill Secondary School, Tobago.
“If it was another year and I saw a high turnout I would have been nervous at this point in time. I would have known that the PNM was in power in Tobago and in Trinidad. But this time around, I think a high turnout would not be disadvantageous to us.”
“I think we are going to have a historic turnout,” said TOP candidate for Lambeau/Signal Hill Chester Robinson Alleyne after casting his vote at the Lambeau Anglican Primary School, Lambeau. “Right now the lines are loaded. Everybody is excited. I have heard of similar things in other areas. I think we are seeing a very enthused electorate. People are fired up.”
Early yesterday morning, it was clear there was a good turnout at polling stations on the island. Many people were seen lining up at stations in Bon Accord, Lambeau and Scarborough. One party official, attached to one of the mock polling stations set up outside of the perimeter of polling stations by both the PNM and TOP, said from as early as 6 am about 30 persons were already lined up at the Lambeau Anglican Primary School, Lambeau. From beind the 100-metre limit, beyond which assembly was not allowed under election day rules, it was clear that many had come out to vote.
At the Scaborough RC School, Bacolet Street, Scarborough, voters expressed relief at being able to finally vote.
Marva Nancis, of Mt St George, said, “I feel relieved that it is all over. I am hoping for change in Tobago.”
Cecil Delmar, 78, said his voting experience went smoothly.
“The process is going smoothly and one thing I like in particular is that they are taking care of senior citizens and recognising that they have needs on election day. For example, you can sit down and don’t have to wait, standing.” He said he is looking for some peace with the end of the campaigning. “I think the campaign was very long and I feel there will be peace and love afterwards,” he said. “Tobago people is one people and they will unite in peace and harmony. How many Gods we have? One.”
Another woman, who passed by the media after voting, said, “I feel relief. No more evil! I feel I was able to cast my vote to the person or persons I would like to see in the THA. I don’t want no foolishness. I am a senior citizen.”
A resident of Mt Grace said he cast his vote because he wanted change.
“I am not accustomed voting but this election year is a more serious election,” said Nicholas Anthony, who said he was a cousin of TOP political leader Ashworth Jack. “So I have come out to vote because Trinidad and Tobago are undergoing a lot of changes right now and from what I see we don’t have a lot of togetherness. I find that for a small nation we are supposed to be more developed so I am voting for change.”
Fr Kenneth Forrester cast his vote at the Scaborough RC School.
There were a series of allegations and counter-allegations in relation to election day offences made, prompting the EBC to issue a press release to urge citizens to formally report complaints to the police.
While there are election rules banning parties from seeking to influence voters on election day, some party officials yesterday issued text messages accusing the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) of “robo call” campaigning, namely automated telephone calls. One text message circulated in the name of a PNM official and said, “If the TOP could do this in direct contravention to the EBC it is a clear indication that they intend not to follow the EBC’s rules.”
The TOP in turn issued a press release saying, “The TOP refutes the PNM election day propaganda that the party is engaging in telephone canvassing. the TOP has no knowledge of such activity and has issued no such authorisation. The TOP rejects these blatant attempts by the PNM to interfere with the smooth running of the election by interjecting unsubstantiated and wild allegations.”
“No company or anyone has been contracted to do that,” TOP political leader Ashworth JAck said when questioned on the issue at the Mt Grace Community Centre, Mt Grace, after he voted yesterday morning.
For its part, the EBC accused no party, but simply, in a press release, stated persons should report matters to the police if there were problems.
“It has come to the attention of the EBC that potential voters are receiving text messages and or phone calls urging them to vote for a particular party,” the EBC said in a two-line press release. “The Commission wishes to advise that persons receiving such requests while in the precints of a polling station should report the matter to the police.”
Mobile phones were banned inside polling booths by the EBC.
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If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
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Aashworth what can the matter be Orville is still in the chair. That ad was the most offensive using children in all yuh nonesense.
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Aashworth what can the matter be Orville is still in the chair. That ad was the most offensive using children in all yuh nonesense.
Girl the entire TOP campaign was concieved and run by a setta dotish Trinidadians who don't understand the mind set of Tobagonians. It was so in yuh face and obscene it was sickening. All it achieved was to send the people to poll in droves to consign Ashworth and his Pee Pee clowns to the political dustbin!!!
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Lol fitting song. Never heard it before
LAWD all yuh does make meh feel old. After d 81 elections this song game out after Chambers said it in d campaign,
Wrong song. Is this one you talking about.
The quote was, I believe - "They are too wicked! Not a damn seat for them!"
https://www.youtube.com/v/LmEPbo1DOsg
In my recollection, he said "Not One damn seat for them, but I can't find the original to verify
-
If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
Or could it be they (voters) were satisfied with the job Mr London was doing and wanted to ensure that continue?
-
If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
Or could it be they (voters) were satisfied with the job Mr London was doing and wanted to ensure that continue?
family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
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well allyuh as per d pattern....... tobago doh like indian ::) ::) ::) ::) u should see some ah d comments on dem articles........ smh, so I have ah question, how to like indian ??? ??? ??? ??? , turn a blind to all d nonsense to going on, kneel down and take yuh "eat ah food" trinkets like ah good nigga.................... dese people need to realize dat d political thinking in this country changing and d electorate not going and take crap from nobody...........................I would like to ask dem kinda ah indian "not all indians think like dat" how dey win so convincingly in 2010.
sad sad people
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If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
Or could it be they (voters) were satisfied with the job Mr London was doing and wanted to ensure that continue?
Nah it eh that. In 2010 d vote was against Manning in 2013 it was a vote against Kamla and her croonies
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Aashworth what can the matter be Orville is still in the chair. That ad was the most offensive using children in all yuh nonesense.
Girl the entire TOP campaign was concieved and run by a setta dotish Trinidadians who don't understand the mind set of Tobagonians. It was so in yuh face and obscene it was sickening. All it achieved was to send the people to poll in droves to consign Ashworth and his Pee Pee clowns to the political dustbin!!!
CO-SIGNNNNNN
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family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
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family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
CO-SIGNNNNNNN
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family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
Leff.. I say this with much sincerity. As someone looking in on the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago the past 20 + years, I see nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing!
That said, I just happy that those who were sour after the General elections have something to beat dey chess about today.
-
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
Well this was the reason the PP get in power in the first place. PNM do shit and get the boot....and deservedly so. Now they playing the same game PP did.
PP still have time to take Tobago as a learning. It's the only way Trinbago will move forward or else it will continue to be back and forth.
-
If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
Or could it be they (voters) were satisfied with the job Mr London was doing and wanted to ensure that continue?
NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Jumbie, all the people I spoke with share the same view that if an "independent" TOP fought this election on its own the the landslide would have been reversed. Trust mih, this morning is London who would have been crying instead of Ashworth.
In the early days of the race the polls were close. But as time went by and the TOP allowed the UNCites to control the message they really turned people off with their vulgar campaign. Jumbie, yuh had to be here to experience it. And I was really only exposed to the ads on radio and TV. Being in Tobago was a hellish experience especially in the last 3 weeks. I was there for 3 days and by day two I was fed up....
The bombardment was really offensive to Tobagonians.
On top of which the PM and Jackula and big mouth Anil decided to insert themselves into the TOP campaign and did more damage than anything else. Imagine Kamla stand up on a platform and slander Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus the PNM PRO. Anybody who knows Tobago knows that the Tsoi-a-Fatts are a well known prominent family. Why de arse she do that??!!
So before the bell rang, people were already wary of Ashworth and his pumpkin house and the questions surrounding the source of funds to build it. When Tobagonians saw the level of spending on the campaign the questions didn't go away they just grew to the point where people were convinced that he must have sold out the UNC and become a puppet. So what would happen if he took over the THA?
Well, we eh wait to try ah thing and see what go happen. We did that in 2010 and up to know we ketching we nenen to put back the creatures in the Pandora's box from whence they came.....
Kamla and the two Jack-arses have no one else to blame for the loss but themselves......
-
Btw.....anybody see Warmonga?? :devil: ;D
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d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
Well this was the reason the PP get in power in the first place. PNM do shit and get the boot....and deservedly so. Now they playing the same game PP did.
PP still have time to take Tobago as a learning. It's the only way Trinbago will move forward or else it will continue to be back and forth.
EXACTLY but d pathethic posse eh learn squat and they will continue in the same vain. Did they learn anything from when they were in opposition and return to power, no they will continue because they not concern about governance they concern bout filling their pockets and their friends pockets.
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family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
Leff.. I say this with much sincerity. As someone looking in on the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago the past 20 + years, I see nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing!
That said, I just happy that those who were sour after the General elections have something to beat dey chess about today.
PREDICTION: The PNM will squander "this" ... moment? opportunity? goodwill? I can't quite find the word right now ... and, although it is somewhat a referendum on the PP, it is not a cakewalk to translate this resounding victory into a General Election reversal.
-
Btw.....anybody see Warmonga?? :devil: ;D
Trying to cash in he ticket to Tobago. Some fool call on I95 and say Indians eh welcome in Tobago and he eh go be coming.
-
Leff.. I say this with much sincerity. As someone looking in on the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago the past 20 + years, I see nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing!
That said, I just happy that those who were sour after the General elections have something to beat dey chess about today.
I think it has not significantly but it has, we need to start callin shit .....shit no matter what side of the political divide yuh fall on and dat finally it happen in 2010 and it continues to happen, unc pnm or whoever need to get dey shit together and start treatin with the electorate as if 1) dey actually have ah voice, and 2) dat dey dealin wit intelligent people dat doh jus see colour................because we eh going nowhere otherwise
plus I was never sour pnm lost, manning was due a stiff kick in the nuts................nor am I doing cartwheels at this result.......all I want is ah electorate to call shit, shit and hold d leaders accountable regardless of who yuh vote for or d colour of yuh skin..........and for ah govt dat use the wealth of Trinidad and tobago for d benefit of ALL
DAIS ALL
d pnm eh it, but dey do better job...by default rather than effort which is bad, no question about dat.
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family you have time for all that ole talk and race baiting going on in TT and the board? as far as i am concerned, whether its pnm or unc, its the same nonsense.... the die hards on the board have a false sense of security when pnm in power and even worse 95% of them, not even from the ghetto :D :D you talk to the people in east dry river and most of them don't even vote, its the older heads and bought votes through cepep and govt programs voting bc they eating ah food...
as far as i am concerned, both parties are a blight for the country and the people that buy into this political garbage :D :D
d political climate changing in trinidad and tobago people thinkin before dey vote and if yuh doing shit yuh goh be gone and the Orville woulda and coulda be gone, if not for the perceived , bias and corruption of the unc faction ....the tobago voter seems very sophisticated compared to trini voters and your attempt to down play the message they sent to central govt reflects exactly why the PP and its main support base are so delusional
Leff.. I say this with much sincerity. As someone looking in on the political climate in Trinidad and Tobago the past 20 + years, I see nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing!
That said, I just happy that those who were sour after the General elections have something to beat dey chess about today.
PREDICTION: The PNM will squander "this" ... moment? opportunity? goodwill? I can't quite find the word right now ... and, although it is somewhat a referendum on the PP, it is not a cakewalk to translate this resounding victory into a General Election reversal.
The PNM eh have to do nutten the PP just have to continue doin what they doin and the PNM will be return to power. You think Arima/ Omera etc goin and vote for the UNC again?
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Brown
Yuh eh tell meh Kams say section 34 had nutten 2 do wit Tbgo. All yuh independent ah ready and u eh tell meh. Nxt time I comin I need to walk with meh Passport
-
Ah hear yuh weary ... but if the PNM handles its business properly it will force the PP/UNC to go through yet another period of dismantling, separation and restructuring come the results of the next General Election (assuming there's one).
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Ah hear yuh weary ... but if the PNM handles its business properly it will force the PP/UNC to go through yet another period of dismantling, separation and restructuring come the results of the next General Election (assuming there's one).
Seperation will only happen when COP grow a pair and since they happy 2 eat d crumbs off d UNC table and worse yet Doooks get Max wuk now self they go remain in this Pathethic Posse.
-
If I'm not mistaken I think the General Election results in 2010 was 70%. Imagine I gone on the EBC website to check and dem eh have results for 2010. Steups!!! I had to check Wikipedia and I see it was 69.4%.
What is interesting is that the historical trend has been that a high voter turnout means a win for the opposition. This time it meant that Tobagonians was so damn vex with Ashworth and Her Majesty and she jokey government they went out in droves to send the message home.
I saw plenty Tobagonians on the ferry last night on the way back down....and I'm sure most of them went to vote like me.....
Ah still cyar get over Ashworth losing his seat. waaayyy sar!!! That is the new definition of cut arse!!!
SWEEPING TIME!!!
:wavetowel: :flamethrower: :whip: :whip: :flamethrower:
Or could it be they (voters) were satisfied with the job Mr London was doing and wanted to ensure that continue?
NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Jumbie, all the people I spoke with share the same view that if an "independent" TOP fought this election on its own the the landslide would have been reversed. Trust mih, this morning is London who would have been crying instead of Ashworth.
In the early days of the race the polls were close. But as time went by and the TOP allowed the UNCites to control the message they really turned people off with their vulgar campaign. Jumbie, yuh had to be here to experience it. And I was really only exposed to the ads on radio and TV. Being in Tobago was a hellish experience especially in the last 3 weeks. I was there for 3 days and by day two I was fed up....
The bombardment was really offensive to Tobagonians.
On top of which the PM and Jackula and big mouth Anil decided to insert themselves into the TOP campaign and did more damage than anything else. Imagine Kamla stand up on a platform and slander Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus the PNM PRO. Anybody who knows Tobago knows that the Tsoi-a-Fatts are a well known prominent family. Why de arse she do that??!!
So before the bell rang, people were already wary of Ashworth and his pumpkin house and the questions surrounding the source of funds to build it. When Tobagonians saw the level of spending on the campaign the questions didn't go away they just grew to the point where people were convinced that he must have sold out the UNC and become a puppet. So what would happen if he took over the THA?
Well, we eh wait to try ah thing and see what go happen. We did that in 2010 and up to know we ketching we nenen to put back the creatures in the Pandora's box from whence they came.....
Kamla and the two Jack-arses have no one else to blame for the loss but themselves......
Thanks for taking the time to shed light on this.
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Aashworth what can the matter be Orville is still in the chair. That ad was the most offensive using children in all yuh nonesense.
Girl the entire TOP campaign was concieved and run by a setta dotish Trinidadians who don't understand the mind set of Tobagonians. It was so in yuh face and obscene it was sickening. All it achieved was to send the people to poll in droves to consign Ashworth and his Pee Pee clowns to the political dustbin!!!
CO-SIGNNNNNN
It was too simple. bombard Tobagonians who really dislike constant in-yuh-face politics and dutty underhand manipulation of the voter. The island has approx 60,000 people. a 'village ground game' is critical. What came was the big machine of the PP and it was coming to take over Tobago. And to put this into perspective.....from 56% to 70% voter turnout. I know Tobagonians were very annoyed at what they saw and experienced. You pay for what you say. The most resounding NO I've seen in an election for a very long time.
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PP still have time to take Tobago as a learning. It's the only way Trinbago will move forward or else it will continue to be back and forth.
I feel it too late for dat..............because even when dey do someting that seems good......there is always d troubling else dat there is nefarious intent behind it................such is the level of distrust that exists, dey goh have to work damn hard d next 2 years to quell dat.
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NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Jumbie, all the people I spoke with share the same view that if an "independent" TOP fought this election on its own the the landslide would have been reversed. Trust mih, this morning is London who would have been crying instead of Ashworth.
In the early days of the race the polls were close. But as time went by and the TOP allowed the UNCites to control the message they really turned people off with their vulgar campaign. Jumbie, yuh had to be here to experience it. And I was really only exposed to the ads on radio and TV. Being in Tobago was a hellish experience especially in the last 3 weeks. I was there for 3 days and by day two I was fed up....
The bombardment was really offensive to Tobagonians.
On top of which the PM and Jackula and big mouth Anil decided to insert themselves into the TOP campaign and did more damage than anything else. Imagine Kamla stand up on a platform and slander Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus the PNM PRO. Anybody who knows Tobago knows that the Tsoi-a-Fatts are a well known prominent family. Why de arse she do that??!!
So before the bell rang, people were already wary of Ashworth and his pumpkin house and the questions surrounding the source of funds to build it. When Tobagonians saw the level of spending on the campaign the questions didn't go away they just grew to the point where people were convinced that he must have sold out the UNC and become a puppet. So what would happen if he took over the THA?
Well, we eh wait to try ah thing and see what go happen. We did that in 2010 and up to know we ketching we nenen to put back the creatures in the Pandora's box from whence they came.....
Kamla and the two Jack-arses have no one else to blame for the loss but themselves......
Yuh sure yuh eh wrong? This election eh had nutten to do wid de PP and dem... it was all about Tobagonians loving dey Orville.
-
Brown
Yuh eh tell meh Kams say section 34 had nutten 2 do wit Tbgo. All yuh independent ah ready and u eh tell meh. Nxt time I comin I need to walk with meh Passport
Yes girl it was in there with all the other gems she uttered during this campaign.....taking Tobagonians for fools!!!!
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
so you mean all this love for (pop corn prime minister) Orville won't transcend into victory for the PNM in general elections?
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
so you mean all this love for (pop corn prime minister) Orville won't transcend into victory for the PNM in general elections?
D VICTORY for the PNM will b because of the PP taking all of us 4 fools.
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
so you mean all this love for (pop corn prime minister) Orville won't transcend into victory for the PNM in general elections?
still tryin to understand d love ting u on about, dat ent have nutten to do wit nuttin................I tink is one highly untenable situation being chosen over another, which is a huge indicator of the mess this country finds itself in leadership wise
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Ah hear yuh weary ... but if the PNM handles its business properly it will force the PP/UNC to go through yet another period of dismantling, separation and restructuring come the results of the next General Election (assuming there's one).
what suggestions yuh have for the PNM handling they business right?
Inbox me if yuh feel more comfortable.
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Btw.....anybody see Warmonga?? :devil: ;D
Trying to cash in he ticket to Tobago. Some fool call on I95 and say Indians eh welcome in Tobago and he eh go be coming.
ent just before the elections dey was saying is only Indians does be on dem planes? Now is Indian not welcome? lol
too funny, and I hope people NOW seeing the side where the most amount of racism coming from!
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NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Jumbie, all the people I spoke with share the same view that if an "independent" TOP fought this election on its own the the landslide would have been reversed. Trust mih, this morning is London who would have been crying instead of Ashworth.
In the early days of the race the polls were close. But as time went by and the TOP allowed the UNCites to control the message they really turned people off with their vulgar campaign. Jumbie, yuh had to be here to experience it. And I was really only exposed to the ads on radio and TV. Being in Tobago was a hellish experience especially in the last 3 weeks. I was there for 3 days and by day two I was fed up....
The bombardment was really offensive to Tobagonians.
On top of which the PM and Jackula and big mouth Anil decided to insert themselves into the TOP campaign and did more damage than anything else. Imagine Kamla stand up on a platform and slander Denise Tsoi-a-Fatt-Angus the PNM PRO. Anybody who knows Tobago knows that the Tsoi-a-Fatts are a well known prominent family. Why de arse she do that??!!
So before the bell rang, people were already wary of Ashworth and his pumpkin house and the questions surrounding the source of funds to build it. When Tobagonians saw the level of spending on the campaign the questions didn't go away they just grew to the point where people were convinced that he must have sold out the UNC and become a puppet. So what would happen if he took over the THA?
Well, we eh wait to try ah thing and see what go happen. We did that in 2010 and up to know we ketching we nenen to put back the creatures in the Pandora's box from whence they came.....
Kamla and the two Jack-arses have no one else to blame for the loss but themselves......
And is exactly that.
Manning paid the price for how he treat Rowley (a Tobagonian) and dey vote against him.
Kamla now come IN Tobago and bad talk Rowley.....and just running slander and propaganda....you feel Tobagonians taking that just so?
The Sandy incident.....incidents of violence...all kinda madness. Worse yet you seeing PP style governance...and add to the fact that no matter what Ashworth staying in line....condoning wrong and follies. Den the house...the denial..ducking and skirting around the issue.
Tobagonians eh taking that so. And Tobagonians does back Tobagonians...through thick and thin...so the PP tactic of demonizing Rowley backfire.The disrespect of meeting with Jack bypassing the Chief Secretary....even down to the political atmosphere in the opening of the UTT psuedo campus. In addition....Ashworth Jack wasnt really seen as an intelligent leader....as compared to London who was highly involved in education in Tobago. Add to that you see Kamla all over with Jack....trying to mamaguy people...implictly letting people wonder who really would be in charge. PNM left London to run the show..even in meetings...if Rowley speaking...he speaking short and before Orville London...showing that London is the PNM leader in Tobago.
Tobagonians eh necessarily say they want PNM. But when given a choice between PNM and PP....dey realise it better to take PNM before PP.The devil yuh know better than the devil yuh dont know. The whole nation (aside from die hard apologists and sheep) realising that it might have been better to see it like that from May 2010. This election was a recoil against the style of governance exhibited by the PP.
Local Govt coming up. It go be interesting.
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
so you mean all this love for (pop corn prime minister) Orville won't transcend into victory for the PNM in general elections?
still tryin to understand d love ting u on about, dat ent have nutten to do wit nuttin................I tink is one highly untenable situation being chosen over another, which is a huge indicator of the mess this country finds itself in leadership wise
you really miss it?
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Tobago is not Trinidad. The PNM may be somewhat energized now but the situation on the ground in Trinidad hasn't just changed overnight. The result will also have the impact of uniting the UNC et al, they're not going to be complacent. Rowley has to be level headed and put things into perspective. He must be vigorous but deliberate in his leadership. He has to show his readiness and that of the party as whole as a viable alternative. He does have the benefit of government supplying more than enough fodder to utilize. Dissatisfaction does not automatically convert into support however. He and the party still have a lot of work to do.
so you mean all this love for (pop corn prime minister) Orville won't transcend into victory for the PNM in general elections?
still tryin to understand d love ting u on about, dat ent have nutten to do wit nuttin................I tink is one highly untenable situation being chosen over another, which is a huge indicator of the mess this country finds itself in leadership wise
you really miss it?
guess I did :D
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BEAT IT, JACK
Tobagonians don't want TOP leader around after THA defeat
By Anna Ramdass
An effigy of Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) political leader Ashworth which was hung high in his former electoral district of Mason Hall/Moriah/Providence was soundly beaten yesterday.
A wake will be held every night and a funeral is carded for Saturday. While Jack has said he would decide his political future in a matter of hours, it was clear yesterday that the people who once loved him and kept him as their representative for 16 years have no desire to see him around.
The TOP led by Jack suffered a massive defeat at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election on Monday with the People's National Movement (PNM) sweeping all 12 electoral seats - including Jack's and the three others formerly held by the TOP.
The Express visited Mason Hall yesterday where just opposite the TOP's office the effigy of Jack was hung. Some of the men in the area took long pieces of sticks and beat the wooden figure of Jack as they shouted for him to get out of the area.
Mark Reynalds, who claimed to be Jack's cousin, said Jack lost his seat because he lost touch with the people.
He said his woodworking shop, which is located just opposite the TOP's office (where the effigy was hung) was burnt and Jack never offered any help.
"For 16 years he never do anything. He have nothing to show for his time, not even a wall to say this is Ashworth Jack wall. All he does is drive up and down in his big van and he can't even explain he house," said Reynalds.
A group of men and women all sat in front of a shop and discussed the licking that the TOP got from the PNM. They were all vocal against Jack but did not want to give their names.
"He was voted out because he feel he too big. He wasn't even chief secretary and he moving around with five and six security. Look at Orville London, he goes to church, he goes in the market and he doh move with no security," said one of the men who was beating the effigy.
"Tobagonians are not fools. I want Ashworth Jack to know that money cyah fool we, if he did take the millions he spent in the campaign and do something for the people of Mason Hall then he might have kept his seat,"said a man.
Another man alleged that during the campaign T-shirts wrapped with money were given to voters and also cell phones.
"They take it and still vote them out," laughed the man.
Throughout the Mason Hall/Providence/Moriah electoral district people were out on the streets yesterday, still in their red PNM jerseys celebrating the TOP's demise. Some said they had not yet slept as they had partied in Scarborough till early yesterday morning.
From 9 p.m. on Monday the victory party had broken out in the PNM's camp. Within minutes thousands of people came out in their red jerseys and transformed Scarborough into a sea of red. An impromptu motorcade with music trucks and rhythm sections filled the streets as a Carnival like atmosphere exploded. People rang bells and they danced with cardboard pieces bearing the words "RIP Jack" .
Amongst the jubilant PNM members was former minister Arnold Piggott who said, "We have worked hard, we have dealt with the issues very clearly, we have prevailed and won the election in Tobago and it is time for the Central Government to take stock and seek the business and interest of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago so that we can move forward. Now that the PNM has won the THA election it is clear that the local Government election in 2013, we are inside for a win and we are going to move on as well in 2015," he said.
Victorious PNM candidate for Bacolet/Mt St George, Joel Jack, told the Express that the clean sweep was expected.
"It was expected, we did the work, we were feeling confident two weeks ago because of our interaction with the community, I was hoping that the people would make a definite statement in support of the PNM and decency in governance and they did," he said.
PNM supporter Elvin McPherson from Signal Hill added, "I wasn't surprised. I expected the TOP to lose because of their behaviour. We don't accept that in Tobago."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/BEAT_IT__JACK-187981951.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/BEAT_IT__JACK-187981951.html)
That part in bold......is why ah love mih people....... ;D
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Free cloths money and cellphone. Alyuh lucky
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Allyuh gone and spoil it for we in Trinindad in the marginals now. My phone giving trouble.
But poor Ashworth......I feeling sorry for him now...
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Allyuh gone and spoil it for we in Trinindad in the marginals now. My phone giving trouble.
But poor Ashworth......I feeling sorry for him now...
Feel sorry 4 me nah had to use some of meh carnival trip spending money on d car. He made his bed now let him lie in it.
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Btw.....anybody see Warmonga?? :devil: ;D
Trying to cash in he ticket to Tobago. Some fool call on I95 and say Indians eh welcome in Tobago and he eh go be coming.
ent just before the elections dey was saying is only Indians does be on dem planes? Now is Indian not welcome? lol
too funny, and I hope people NOW seeing the side where the most amount of racism coming from!
They now see then they get heal because is years Sat and Devant and co spouting their racist chants. Sat was rewarded for being a racists.
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On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
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On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
by indian he mean hindu
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On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
So arhm.
If the results was reversed...and it was the same people there....he woulda say the same ting?
In fact...if Sandy did say Indians have no place in Tobago....how yuh think that would go down?
On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
by indian he mean hindu
Buh ent dey get some land to build a temple and cremation ground?
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,124843.html
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,122591.html
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
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Taken from the comments section of an Express article:
" What's the difference between a latrine and the TOP? "
*
*
*
*
* " A latrine has a seat!" :rotfl:
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Taken from the comments section of an Express article:
" What's the difference between a latrine and the TOP? "
*
*
*
*
* " A latrine has a seat!" :rotfl:
Hahahaha
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
True
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ah hate f**kin hypocrites...........yuh cyah only see racism from one side
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On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
by indian he mean hindu
The SDMS is a racist organisation headed by a racist that claims to represent a religious interest. Occasionally the overlap is not hidden, and intentionally so I feel.
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
Sandy could haul he racist c**t....man so dotish and ignorant, Calcutta not even used anymore since 2001, is Kolkata....
TnT is a real joke yes...go PNM!
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just saw this on the express comments and couldn't agree more
The UNC needs to finally come to grips with the fact that they cannot serve two masters at the same time. It is either they are a national party or an ethnic lobby group.
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
disingenuous and convenient, he in a position of influence and his views are transmitted as the views of those he represents, same boat, come again!
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Maybe everyone is right here. Sandy is a racist and Ashworth was really going on sell out Tobago based on that deal with his house and other favours from the government. And Tobagonians want to maintain their identity and gain more sovereignty.
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
Sandy could haul he racist c**t....man so dotish and ignorant, Calcutta not even used anymore since 2001, is Kolkata....
TnT is a real joke yes...go PNM!
Not overtly but clearly he has the ear of those who are.
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
disingenuous and convenient, he in a position of influence and his views ah are transmitted as the views of those he represents, same boat, come again!
Fair enough, but I ain't defending either...
Sandy been preaching racism behind doors like a coward, and finally his racist self get shown.
It going to get a lot worse before things get better. Seems T20 team is the only platform where the 2 largest ethnic groups get along and succeed.
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He have a right to say that after what Sandy said...dais racist
After A politician making those kinda comments ... expect him to just smile and say "that's alright...he apologized...twice!"
when he jack talk shit about no indians in the section 34 march dat was racist too....let sat haul he fat fascist modder c**t
Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
Sandy could haul he racist c**t....man so dotish and ignorant, Calcutta not even used anymore since 2001, is Kolkata....
TnT is a real joke yes...go PNM!
Come nah man!!! Think! Sandy's comments were reproduced in the press as "Calcutta". His words were delivered in spoken comments. Address that concern with the press.
That aside, I agree that an inference of racism is appropriate here.
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A divisive campaign based on race and politics is a volatile mixture. Unifying the country has become paramount if we are to move forward in the name of progress. If either of the major parties claim victory, there will always appear to be a tainted bias and an underlying blanket of ethnic divide.
As witnessed in this last election; when strategic maneuvers is framed as promises of autonomy it only begs the question that the old mentality of divide and conquer is still evident in our present governance. There would have been much to gain by certain fractions if Tobago was to separate political ties from Trinidad. For one, it would reduce the potential of number of seats for any other party other that the ones held by our present government. With Tobago out of the picture, Trinidad would be further carved and slaughtered up with political and ethnic divide. It is sad to witness the degree of how our nationhood has evolved in 50 years!!!!!!!!!!
George Orwell's ' Animal Farm' a minute novel with gigantic overtones must be a mandatory read for all those in the present government. Rules change ( 34) , propaganda runs wild and double speak are the order of the day. Machiavellian decree has also become the norm- shame shame shame on the way in which those entrusted to govern are transforming our beloved nation.
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It going to get a lot worse before things get better. Seems T20 team is the only platform where the 2 largest ethnic groups get along and succeed.
THE fact of the matter is............this idea dat if yuh doh like d shit dat going on and yuh send that message some how yuh doh like indian, d pnm and manning get nuff blows right here from the people dat labelled as pnm, but when d tables turn, when shit going on.........all of ah sudden is man doh like indian.............dais madness, last I checked nigger and coolie shit does smell stink d same way........why we should accept d shit from the latter when we did vex wit d former............dat attitude jus plain wrong
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The Calcutta or whatever way it is spelt in 2013 is what u Yanks say was not politically correct but the reason he did not suffer for the statements is because a large percentage of the poulace feel that way.
1 of my yutes in church went Tbgo last week with her friends from high school they all scatter around d 3 campuses of UWI. So they wanted to go Pigeon Point approach taxi driver x he wanted 100 approach taxi driver y he offered to do the job for 70. of course they went wit taxi driver y. Taxi Driver take a turn in them how all yuh go do me that when y peeps come they does only travel wit y I woulda drop the price for all yuh. D child was stunned
So people lost no sleep over Sandy statement. So let see if Sat boycott plea will be successful.
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On the new awakening Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM Sat was in a complete rage and is demanding a FULL INDIAN pull out of Tobago and claims Tobagonians are Racists for Rejecting Kamla. He says Indians have no place in Tobago.
by indian he mean hindu
Until ASJA or TML come out and say is hindu he referring to I will say Indian.
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Not downplaying Sanday's statement. I think that is the general sentiment of a substantial amount of Tobagonians towards Trinidadians, ever since Eric and ANR fell out. Tobago and Trini were buddy buddy until it was alleged ANR tried to usurp the DOC. After that Robbie formed DAC and then the mutual distrust started. Tobago going NE and TT going SW.
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Sat is an extremist and ain't no politician.
Sandy could haul he racist c**t....man so dotish and ignorant, Calcutta not even used anymore since 2001, is Kolkata....
TnT is a real joke yes...go PNM!
So Sat "have a right" to say what he say... because he's ah extremist and not a politician? Interesting. Clearly Sandy ent de only racist it have around. "ProudTrinbagonian" yuh calling yuhself? lol...
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http://www.ctntworld.com/index.php/2011-12-27-04-09-23/3418-unc-statement-tha-election-results-why-tobago-lost
The results of the THA election reflect how palpable the notion of fear among the African population can be. With very little to show from a party they have supported; a party that has neglected and overlooked them, Tobagonians still chose to remain with their political abusers.
All the PNM had to do was resort to their age old tactic of instilling fear that some other group would take away the little they had and the tribal instincts did the rest. Note that the PNM did not seek nor have to seek showing Tobagonians how much they gave to Tobago for the answer to that was some 22 billion dollars and nothing to show.
The PNM didn't have to sell any vision of a better life for Tobagonians. Their theme was simply that "a Calcutta ship" was coming for them and so they needed to stand in defence of Tobago. That was it. Fear trumped a better future.
Now what? Will Tobagonians be better off with the proven failure of the PNM? It is the same reason why Laventille with so little given by past PNM administrations would yet support the party regardless. The tribe is all they have been convinced is needed to be protected.
So the task for us is large. It is about emancipation from mental slavery. How do we allay the fears of those who have been duped for so long? How can we get them to understand that the appeal to tribal instincts alone with nothing else in the offing is not in their best interest? How can we encourage them to look for more from their leaders? How can we inspire their self-determination?
And also, how can we improve on our own message? The time has come for introspection on how we are perceived? These are the matters which we will deliberate upon and use to get people to unite against those who do not represent them but imprison them by using fear and tribalism even in this day and age when a black man, with the name Barack Hussein Obama, has just been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.
It is time for us to revisit how we achieve the liberation of our people from the insularity they have been captive to for far too long. We are all in this together.
Good Luck Tobago and congratulations to all the winners ! ! !
Signed
Jack Warner
Chairman
United National Congress
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https://www.facebook.com/notes/kamla-persad-bissessar/prime-ministers-statement-on-tobago-election-results/10151661511222846
Office of The Prime Minister
Prime Ministers statement:
The people have spoken.This has been a tough political battle and the choice for Tobagonians between change and a perpetuation of an administration which has been in place for twelve years. Tobagonians, in an overwhelming majority chose to stay with the Orville London led THA. And as I have always said, the voice of the people, is the voice of God.I wish to extend congratulations to Mr London and the PNM for the resounding victory secured at the THA polls.I assure Mr London and Tobagonians that the central government will work with the THA in the interest of developing Tobago for the benefit of all.
To our own supporters I say do not despair, in the words of poet Maya Angelou, "while one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated." There is much to be learnt from this and from which strong character can emerge. It is a time for introspection and resolve. A time to gather valuable insights that will serve us well in the months and years ahead.
To each of you who worked tirelessly, I express my heartfelt gratitude. Somewhere down the road your efforts will bring you the returns and the victory will be sweeter. But for now let us be mindful that the election is over. Let us put aside our political differences and embrace each other. All that matters now is the development of Tobago which we will work together to develop. May God bless our nation and may God bless you all.End
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http://www.southasianoutlook.com/issues/2005/may/indocarib0409.html
Indians in T&T form a clear majority but continue to be treated like a minority! The State undertook a national census in 2000. Census Day was heavily advertised as June 8. The Maha Sabha advised all Hindus and the general population to fully co-operate with personnel conducting this important exercise.
To date, the data collected have not been made available to the general population. The Maha Sabha suspects that there is political interference to suppress the data because the data must direct the expenditures and other State inputs into areas that reflect growth. Population growth demands additional social facilities.
This census information is to see what areas of the country need what. If a town or district has more children living in it than it had ten years ago, then this will be a place that needs a school. If workers in the cities are spending too much time getting to work because they are stuck in traffic, then it will be necessary to build more roads.
The critical census data will also point to the ethnic composition and could force the politicians to rethink their efforts of imposing a state culture on the majority population.
The US conducted a nationwide census that was more complex than the T&T census. This exercise conducted on April 1, 2000, also marked 210 years since the first census was taken in that country.
According to US publications, its 2000 census has grown to be a sophisticated tool. It not only counted the population but also “sampled the socio-economic status of the population, providing a tool for government, educators, business owners and others to get a snapshot of the state of the nation.”
In T&T, the politicians in charge are deliberating about withholding publication of the 2000 census results to deny the population “a snapshot of the state of the nation.”
The secret numbers and other data of census 2000 are held in the Ministry of Planning and Development at its Statistical Office, National Statistical Building, 80 Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. They cannot be published because finance is not being made available.
The Maha Sabha, however, was able to access what has been described as “response data.” The data does not help businessmen or religious groups to make decisions, but we were able to extract the racial composition of T&T, according to age, sex and ethnic origin in the various geographical areas.
We now understand why the numbers are being deliberately withheld from the people of T&T. It is because they reflect the rising Indian population and the falling African population. The African population is a minority in T&T and if Tobago is excluded, its minority status becomes more pronounced.
According to the 2000 response census data, the total population of T&T was 1,114,772. The three major ethnic groups listed are Africans, Indians and mixed.
The Indian population in T&T is 40.03 per cent, while the African population fell by more than two per cent to 37.5 per cent. The mixed rose to 20.46 per cent and the other groups just around two per cent.
An examination of the census data from 1980, 1990 and 2000 shows that despite heavy migration to North America by Indians under the regime of ANR Robinson’s National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR, 1986-1991), the Indian percentage of the population has held steady.
In 1980 it was 40.7 per cent, in 1990, 40.3 per cent and in 2000, 40.03 per cent.
On the other hand, the African population was 40.8 per cent in 1980, in 1990, 39.6 per cent and in 2000, 37.5 per cent.
The mixed population seemed to have benefited from the African drop. In 1980, it was 16.3 per cent; 1990, 18.4 per cent and in 2000, it jumped by two per cent to 20.46 per cent.
Dr Morgan Job has been attempting to influence the people of Tobago to seek a federal relationship with Trinidad. He even advocates outright independence. I say let the 44,190 go independent if they wish or, for that matter, let them join a federal relationship with Grenada and let Morgan Job be president.
The result will make the African population of Trinidad a smaller minority by another two per cent. With the Tobago figure taken out of the 2000 census figures, the Indian majority will climb to 41.85 per cent while the African will slip to 35.04 per cent.
These census figures that are being suppressed have serious implications for the disbursement of funds for education, culture, regional development and other State realignments.
Failure to respond to these new figures will surely witness appeals to the international community for economic, cultural and other interventions.
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http://southasianoutlook.com/issues/2007/may/call_for_mixed_communities_in_tobago.html
Prime Minister Patrick Manning exposed the naked underbelly of his ruling party’s continued affirmative action programme when the PNM political leader stated the following: “The Government has taken the decision to increase that to 18,000 lots to ensure that we have a mixed development and that no one category of person is on any parcel of land.” He was referring to part of the settlement of housing lots to sugar workers who became redundant when Caroni (1975) Ltd was closed down.
“The experts will tell you that as you do housing these days, and the Minister of Housing is here, the way you do it is you ensure that the development is mixed, and as we do our developments here in Trinidad it is a policy and philosophy to which we will continue to subscribe, ensuring that the diversity of the country is represented on those parcels of land and that the communities that emerge as a consequence will be communities that represent the national diversity, represent people from all walks of life, people of different backgrounds,” concluded Mr Manning.
Whatever the PNM spin doctors Jerry Narace or Ministers Rowley and Robinson-Regis may say via press releases or legal threats in an attempt to control the ethnic damage done by the Prime Minister, the racial agenda of the PNM has already been let out of the bag.
The assertion that the lands of Caroni will be given to the supporters of the PNM is camouflaged by the code words “mixed communities.” This is a continuation of the affirmative action policies of Cepep, Must, Hype, UTT, Swmcol, scholarships and other activities that are shaded from the public glare.
Indo-Trinidadians have always believed that there is an ethnic agenda with regards to many aspects of the Government’s distribution of the largesse of the State but none was as blatant as the distribution of the homes under the National Housing Authority (Home Development Corporation). The statement of the Prime Minister now confirms that the Government openly supports an ethnic quota system in the distribution of houses and land.
Those who pedal historical inaccuracies to advance an ethnic agenda fail to observe that Central Trinidad is already a mixed community as is much of the nation.
In Caroni (1975) Ltd, approximately 33 per cent of the employees were Afro-Trinidadian workers located in the factories and management while the Indo-Trinidadians were in the fields. Rudranath Indarsingh, president general of the Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Trade Union, confirmed the 33 per cent Afro figure is near accurate. In all pleas for the Government to distribute the Caroni lands, the call was for the former workers to benefit from such distribution. At no time has any organisation or political or social entity propagated that such distribution be based on race.
The Prime Minister should also take a close examination of his party’s track record of building communities in T&T. In its 40-year history, the governments artificially engineered several communities like Beetham Gardens, Maloney Gardens, Pleasantville and La Horquetta. These are not areas that the average citizen is willing to reside.
This unwillingness applies to current residents of these housing schemes. The PNM Government has no experience in creating communities, but it is expert at creating ghettos. In these ghettos residents from Laventille, John John, Never Dirty, small islanders and other PNM vote banks are relocated in certain constituencies for an electoral advantage.
This advantage is often to the detriment of the existing community as often crime and other anti-social activities are imported with the new residents. Arima with its mixed community was traumatised when the PNM created a housing scheme in Malabar for electoral reasons.
Citizens regularly relocate from one area to another with ease. In Chaguanas the present demographics show that Afro-Trinidadians constitute approximately 35 per cent of the total population. There was no political or racial agenda in this natural movement of our people within the nation.
Should the Manning government pursue its mixed communities agenda in Central Trinidad, the Maha Sabha will expect that the Government will declare a similar intention to create mixed communities in Tobago, Westmoorings, Port-of-Spain, Diego Martin, and other elitist areas.
Tobago has been particularly hostile to the Indo-Trinidadian community with the Tobago House of Assembly refusing to allow the Maha Sabha to construct a mandir on lands we bought on the island over five years ago. But churches are funded and allowed to flourish.
The THA also promoted a gospel concert on the island while refusing to fund a kirtan concert. This is now a court matter. It refuses to establish a cremation site or a crematorium to facilitate the disposal of the dead according to our ancestral rites.
Tobagonians migrate to Trinidad and are entitled to the best jobs to which they are qualified. They are free to move to any area and establish a home. They must understand that Tobago does not belong to them alone and the people of Central Trinidad must share in prestigious housing estates like Bon Accord.
[Devant "Parsuram" Maharaj is an Executive Member of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Inc. [SDMS] - the largest Hindu body on the island. in 2002 Maharaj was appointed the SDMS Delegate to the Inter-Religious Organization [IRO] of Trinidad & Tobago.
In 1996 Devant along with Kamal Persad began the first Indian oriented radio talk show called "The Hindu View Point" which ran for 2 years on 91.1 FM. Recently in 2002 Maharaj has been appointed President of Global Organization for People of Indian Organization [GOPIO] Chapter.
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Knew it would get nasty. :banginghead:
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Where she wukkin?
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Lemme guess ... not a twin.
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Damn Straight. I endorse both pics. LOL
I don't have either t-shirts but went to 2 TOP and 1 PNM meeting/rally. Much of the same from either camp. One was just always fighting to keep it's message geared towards a Tobago audience.
BUT...
Lemme ask this question. Is it possible that Mr. Ashworth Jack was set up by the PP gov't? Could they have done this in order to get rid of Ashworth so they can have even more influence on the TOP?
Thoughts?
Blessings and enjoy the night.
Richard G.
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... Depends on who leaked the house invoices to the press.?
However, I would say "no". De PP invested in him fully and the playbook was doomed. Put it this way, PP sabotage of Jack would have meant a strategy that featured fewer prominent public associations with Jack by Kamla. Yuh could answer the question another way too, but ... even that way would feature no short to medium term political gain for the PP. Answer=no sabotage.
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It is also possible they did a risk assessment of the campaign and was handed a gift from Sandy. it's the only thing they've talked about since the election concluded. Cementing their 'base' voters while allowing the TOP to practically die a painful death. We've known politics to bring about strange theories. Just throwing it out there.
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Lemme guess ... not a twin.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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So people lost no sleep over Sandy statement. So let see if Sat boycott plea will be successful.
Boycott what? Black people own anything TT?
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It is also possible they did a risk assessment of the campaign and was handed a gift from Sandy. it's the only thing they've talked about since the election concluded. Cementing their 'base' voters while allowing the TOP to practically die a painful death. We've known politics to bring about strange theories. Just throwing it out there.
Practical strategy by the PP, albeit ethically wanting. However, the PNM's lack of distancing from Sandy facilitated this. I get that making Sandy step down would have opened an internal fissure, but keeping him ensured a chasm on the national stage as far as race.
(This election result need not mean that the TOP dies or is dead. It should mean that Ashworth Jack is consigned to a political graveyard for some time ... preferably permanently).
The lack of sophistication by the PP in this election makes one wonder about the game plan for the General Election.
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So people lost no sleep over Sandy statement. So let see if Sat boycott plea will be successful.
Boycott what? Black people own anything TT?
Not 1 wink
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It is also possible they did a risk assessment of the campaign and was handed a gift from Sandy. it's the only thing they've talked about since the election concluded. Cementing their 'base' voters while allowing the TOP to practically die a painful death. We've known politics to bring about strange theories. Just throwing it out there.
Practical strategy by the PP. (This election result need not mean that the TOP dies or is dead. It should mean that Ashworth Jack is consigned to a political graveyard for some time ... preferably permanently).
The lack of sophistication by the PP in this election makes one wonder about the game plan for the General Election.
They have 1 plan d statement by d Chairman sayin is race y they lost indicates it will b business as usual. I said it b4 Rowley eh hv 2 do nutten and d PM chair is his. D Central posse will vote 4 them as they usually do. Rowley just hv 2 work hard in the marginals. Jack and his croonies take clueless 2 new heights.
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Warner: 'Tribal' votes
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Warner___Tribal__votes-188143551.html
United National Congress (UNC) chairman and National Security Minister Jack Warner has said the people of Tobago voted on the basis of "tribal instincts" and the fear that a "Calcutta" ship was coming.
In a statement issued yesterday in his capacity as UNC chairman, Warner said: "The results of the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) election reflect how palpable the notion of fear among the African population can be. With very little to show from a party they have supported; a party that has neglected and overlooked them, Tobagonians still chose to remain with their political abusers."
Warner said all the People's National Movement (PNM) had to do was "resort to their age-old tactic of instilling fear that some other group would take away the little they had, and the tribal instincts did the rest".
Noting that there was nothing to show for the $22 billion spent by the PNM THA, Warner said the PNM did not seek nor did not have to seek to show Tobagonainss how much they gave to Tobago.
He said the PNM did not have to sell any vision of a better life for Tobagonians. "Their theme was simply that 'a Calcutta ship' was coming for them and so they needed to stand in defence of Tobago. That was it. Fear trumped a better future," Warner stated.
"It is the same reason why Laventille, with so little given by past PNM administrations, would yet support the party regardless. The tribe is all they have been convinced is needed to be protected," he said.
Warner said the task of "emancipation from mental slavery" is large. "How can we get them to understand that the appeal to tribal instincts alone with nothing else in the offing is not in their best interest? How can we encourage them to look for more from their leaders? How can we inspire their self-determination?" he said.
He said the time had come for introspection on "how we are perceived". He said there was a need to unite people against those "who do not represent them, but imprison them by using fear and tribalism even in this day and age when a black man, with the name Barack Hussein Obama, has just been inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States...
"It is time for us to revisit how we achieve the liberation of our people from the insularity they have been captive to, for far too long. We are all in this together. Good luck Tobago and congratulations to all the winners," he said.
Congress of the People chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, speaking in a telephone interview last night, said she did not think Tobagonians voted on the basis of race.
She said it was more an issue of the Tobago Organisation of the People maintaining a separate identity while being part of the People's Partnership coalition.
She said Tobago had always demonstrated it would vote for a party that would support its autonomy and would not compromise its interests. "I don't believe it was an issue of race. It was an issue of identity," she said
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Knew it would get nasty. :banginghead:
This is what you callin nasty?? :heehee:
breds i leave trinidad 27 yrs now, and i tellin you this iz nothing new, neither is it anything close to nasty. i worked in piarco airport in 1983, and i swear, if you ever went into that bathroom in our airport, you would have seen somethings to make your flesh crawl.
in the main terminal building there was graffiti all the walls with all kinda nigger references, and yuh dun know piarco is indian town, most of the workers there were 75% indian, and they were very evil and dastardly!
i can't begin to tell you how hateful these folks was! there was one time in my life after that experience i never wanted to be around indian ppl ever again, but then you does come and meet some kind solid ppl to change that perception, and could bring things back into prospective.
i met quite ah few solid indian ppl who were the salt of the earth, luckily for me they came around in the nik of time and change my perception, or else i would be as dumb as the bigots them who go around viewing life on a superficial skin deep level.
this is nothing new bourbon, nor is it as nasty as it could get, i'm definitely not surprised.
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Knew it would get nasty. :banginghead:
This is what you callin nasty?? :heehee:
breds i leave trinidad 27 yrs now, and i tellin you this iz nothing new, neither is it anything close to nasty. i worked in piarco airport in 1983, and i swear, if you ever went into that bathroom in our airport, you would have seen somethings to make your flesh crawl.
in the main terminal building there was graffiti all the walls with all kinda nigger references, and yuh dun know piarco is indian town, most of the workers there were 75% indian, and they were very evil and dastardly!
i can't begin to tell you how hateful these folks was! there was one time in my life after that experience i never wanted to be around indian ppl ever again, but then you does come and meet some kind solid ppl to change that perception, and could bring things back into prospective.
i met quite ah few solid indian ppl who were the salt of the earth, luckily for me they came around in the nik of time and change my perception, or else i would be as dumb as the bigots them who go around viewing life on a superficial skin deep level.
this is nothing new bourbon, nor is it as nasty as it could get, i'm definitely not surprised.
Nope I know it could get worse. I just saying...if this degree of emotion AFTER the election....from someone who isnt even Tobagonian (cause she said she would never visit) means people toting some heavy feelings for what ever reason. Its not to say that they would be directly affected by Tobago's decision...its not a General Election. So why all this? How come it so easy to resort to racist vitrol like that yet on the other hand condemning a statement that was branded racist yet at least could be argued was stated far more euphamistically than this? Wrong is wrong both ways.
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Maybe they're so used to getting their own way that this wasn't just a simple no thanks.
Maybe they never expected such a emphatic....PELT YUH BACKSIDE FROM HERE!!!
Maybe the lesson they learned about politics in Tobago was a lesson never learnt.
Maybe they now realize how much of the country they've lost and how hard it will be to regain our trust and belief that they want the best for the citizens of T&T.
*And for the record, as a Tobago voter, I am telling everyone here that this election was NEVER based on race. That was the PP/UNC/TOP spin. Incredibly horrific miscalculation on their part.*
Blessings and enjoy the day
Richard G.
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Laugh @ Rowley. Yuh cyah convincingly argue that yuh "patently and unambiguously disassociated" yuhself from Sandy's comments when Sandy contested the election under your party's umbrella.
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Laugh @ Rowley. Yuh cyah convincingly argue that yuh "patently and unambiguously disassociated" yuhself from Sandy's comments when Sandy contested the election under your party's umbrella.
opportunity missed I think, they would have been much better served to ask him to take one for party, accept censure and step aside........... at the same time the tactic of rowley taking a back seat in this ting meant it was orville's call to make....so in that regard it was ah double fail IMO............would like know the tobago people take on it though, given rowley's push to reposition the party.........and what of the PnM indians surely dat hurt dem............ah mean we know what the UNC is , a pact between a bunch ah racists and opportunist, but then what is the pnm..............
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Laugh @ Rowley. Yuh cyah convincingly argue that yuh "patently and unambiguously disassociated" yuhself from Sandy's comments when Sandy contested the election under your party's umbrella.
opportunity missed I think, they would have been much better served to ask him to take one for party, accept censure and step aside........... at the same time the tactic of rowley taking a back seat in this ting meant it was orville's call to make....so in that regard it was ah double fail IMO............would like know the tobago people take on it though, given rowley's push to reposition the party.........and what of the PnM indians surely dat hurt dem............ah mean we know what the UNC is , a pact between a bunch ah racists and opportunist, but then what is the pnm..............
de same thing....people who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones
Rowley should have disciplined and removed Sandy, believe me, if it was the other way around, it would not have sunk so quiet even if "large percentage of the populace felt that way"
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*And for the record, as a Tobago voter, I am telling everyone here that this election was NEVER based on race. That was the PP/UNC/TOP spin. Incredibly horrific miscalculation on their part.*
Tell dem nah Richard G. Steups!! Apparently Tobagonians became racist is the past two years....blasted hypocrites!! Sour grapes in dey arse!!
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*And for the record, as a Tobago voter, I am telling everyone here that this election was NEVER based on race. That was the PP/UNC/TOP spin. Incredibly horrific miscalculation on their part.*
Tell dem nah Richard G. Steups!! Apparently Tobagonians became racist is the past two years....blasted hypocrites!! Sour grapes in dey arse!!
I know this.........but thr pnm pretty much dropped a grenade at their own feet with sandy ting..........dey didn' need to give dem room to deflect, which they (PP) got................on d other hand ah tink dey goh be dotish to use it as ah battle cry in any of the up coming elections........it have people with stories to tell on the other side of dat coin dat will make yuh blush
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From TOP to bottom.
Hahahahahaha
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Here is what i think the quandry is for the PP Government come around General Election time.
You know they love to create all kinds of emotive ads. Does the result in Tobago make them rethink their advertising strategy? In Trinidad where there is more of a ethnic tribal divide emotive messages that strike the tribal chords may actually work. But do they dare given the very comprehensive result of the THA elections? It will be interesting. When Sandy made his comments my first thoughts wasn't even Tobago, it was how damaging this will be to the PNMs efforts in Trinidad which is much more polarized and where the indo vote is significant.
Local government will be the real indication for me, and the approach by the main parties. Voter turnout will be the first indicator, local government elections usually have very low turnout. The issues are different as well, it's about how you are being served in your communities.
National issues may come to the fore but will the PNM, like the PP possibly make a mistake by pushing too many of the wrong messages down the throats of the electorate? Will national issues be the majority of the messages and campaigning when the focus should be about community development and delivering services to the people though local government. The next few months will be interesting. CPEP, Santiation and other services in my community have actually improved since the last local government elections why shouldnt I keep my COP representative? This will be interesting.
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Kamla drink nuff ah dat already
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Outrage, not race
By Raffique Shah
THE flogging that Tobagonians administered to the People's Partnership in last Monday's THA elections was no "wake up call", as many pundits and analysts suggest. Sensible people see it as an outright rejection of the crass, class-less, vulgar politics that has characterised the Partnership ever since the coalition came to power in 2010. The Partnership cannot and will not "wake up", since it never went to sleep. Its many missteps and misdeeds were committed with eyes wide open. And in its consuming arrogance it will continue along a destructive path that will tear this society apart as never before—unless decent citizens call halt to the madness.
The evidence is there for those who have eyes to see or common sense to understand what devious minds have in store. Having gambled heavily on bare Jack, as I wrote last week, the moment they sensed licks on Monday night, they erupted with cries of race and tribalism. Justice Minister Christlyn Moore, a panellist on CNMG, hinted as much when the results showed that the TOP would lose the elections.
In the next 48 hours, the race venom would come from the mouths of senior ministers Jack Warner and Anand Ramlogan. Both men proclaimed that Tobagonians had voted race, an outlandish allegation against a people who first rejected Eric Williams and the PNM in 1976, a people who played a decisive role in routing the PNM 33-3 in 1986, a people who helped bury Patrick Manning in 2010. When Tobagonians supported the TOP/People's Partnership's in 2010, based on the Warner-Ramlogan logic, they must have mysteriously cleansed themselves of racialism. When their two MPs gave the country its first Indian prime minister back in 1995 (how they conveniently forget 17-17-2!), I guess race had taken a holiday. But last Monday, when, by a margin of 60 per cent to 40 per cent, outraged Tobagonians punished the Partnership for its many misdeeds, they did it because of race.
You see "Cobo logic"? You see how low some politicians are prepared to go to have their ethnic-based core supporters "get in their sections", a People's Partnership rallying-cry during the coalition's second anniversary celebrations? They would sooner mash up the country than accept responsibility for their annihilation in Tobago. Warner had earlier shown rank stupidity when he argued that the TOP had lost nothing since it had nothing before the elections! This from a man who, days before, had forecast a 10-2 TOP victory.
Then the Prime Minister plunged, head first, into the fray: Tobagonians voted the way they did because of fear, she said. Fear of what, Prime Minister? Clearly, she too played the race card, sending subliminal messages to her party's core supporters.
By then, the party's paid bloggers were polluting cyberspace with rank racism. The sycophants vowed never to visit Tobago again, to starve the island of tourist dollars, and they called on their party to withhold State funds from the THA. On Wednesday night, CNC 3 News asked if the Partnership ministers should stop the race talk: 80 per cent of paid callers responded with a loud, "No!" (90 per cent of said callers in the previous week had said the TOP would win the elections.) In other words, the offending ministers should continue to stir the race pot. These people are not sick, they are ill, mentally deranged.
These are the very people who assailed Hilton Sandy after he made his stupid "Calcutta ship" remark, for which he later apologised. Will Warner and Ramlogan apologise for their descent into the race pit? Now way! They are tin gods in their partisan cocoons, heroes whose every action is applauded, whose every word is deemed a gem of wisdom. Yet, we wonder why our society is falling apart, why we are losing generations to a nihilism that is as pervasive as it is oppressive.
I do not know that we can take comfort in the Tobago vote. I concur with those who argue that Tobagonians voted against the vulgarity and excesses of the central government, much the way they voted against Manning's mania in 2010. The PNM benefitted from an island-wide outrage that expressed itself in a blanket blackout of the TOP/Partnership.
London comes across as a decent man whose political language is tempered and measured. I think the Government committed a cardinal sin when it mounted a vicious advertising campaign against "teacher London". Tobagonians still maintain healthy respect for their elders and professionals who served the community.
That said, London has a huge challenge on his hands if he is to leave a legacy that counts for something as he enters his final term as Chief Secretary. The Tobago economy, such as it is, is in near shambles. With tourism under stress and food production almost a distant memory, the new THA needs to focus on these fundamentals, resuscitate them so they are restored as pillars of the economy. A direct supply of natural gas to the Cove Estate opens up opportunities in manufacturing. Bottom line is the new Tobago, with greater self-governance, should be less dependent on Port of Spain for its sustenance.
In the broader politics of the twin-island Republic, the Tobago vote signalled to the ruling coalition that it cannot be business as usual. There is a large body of citizens, intelligent people, who will not sell their souls—and votes—for trinkets. Growing in numbers every year (currently around 150,000 in my estimation) and aligned to neither main party, they demand from government performance, good governance and social and economic justice...nothing more, nothing less.
Deliver unto the patriots these basics, you good to go. Cross them, take them for fools, insult their intelligence, treat them with contempt, you will face the vengeance of Moko. Party sycophants and "eat-ah-food-ers" account only for core constituencies; they cannot win a national election. Tobagonians proved that last Monday. Trinidadians waiting like mapepires.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Outrage__not_race-188514131.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Outrage__not_race-188514131.html)
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Shah has delivered one of the best editorials I have ever read.
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Shah has delivered one of the best editorials I have ever read.
I love that man yuh hear......I know he is getting up in years but I hope he is around for a long time to come......
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Shah has delivered one of the best editorials I have ever read.
CO-SIGNNNNN I is 1 ah dem mapepires and I livin in 1 ah dem UNC safe seat but I have to make sure the next fella get back he deposit.
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PP is the real racist
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Shah has delivered one of the best editorials I have ever read.
He never fails to deliver. This man is as close to a 'true' patriot as you would ever get... he's a man who as a politician was anti-PNM, not the people, not the personalities, just the politics. Yet has always been fair to everybody when it comes to political commentary. What I have always admired him for is not his obvious intelligence, not his gift with the pen... but his independence. He truly calls it as he sees it, irrespective as to race, party, politics, class. Considering the arc of his life and career few has devoted as much to service to the public (as distinguished from 'public service') as Shah has.
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PP is the real racist
U 4get Sat and Devant in d bowels of d PP?