Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sam on May 26, 2010, 05:21:37 PM
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Kamla Persad-Bissessar first 100-days.
Under the microscope.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar first 100-days as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
Look for the changes.
Lets see if she will continue to do well or will she fall into the same political bo-bo bisuness.
The only thing spoil Kamla victory was Jack Warner and Anil Roberts, she better keep a close eye on Jack.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/shared/images/2010/05/26/kamlaoath.jpg)
OATH OF OFFICE: Trinidad and Tobago's new Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, left, takes her oath of office, at Knowsley Building, Queen's Park West, this afternoon, while President George Maxwell Richards looks on. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Persad-Bissessar, Ramlogan sworn in
By - Donstan Bonn
Wednesday, May 26th 2010 6:57 PM
A new chapter of Trinidad and Tobago history was completed at Knowsley Building, Queen’s Park West, this afternoon, when Kamla Persad-Bissessar was sworn in as the nation’s first female Prime Minister.
"The challenge ahead is for us to remain as one people," the new PM declared, following the swearing in ceremony.
"One of my first acts as Prime Minister is to meet with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) to treat with the issue of flooding.
"Tomorrow (today)," Persad-Bissessar continued, "all Members of Parliament will be on the ground visiting the various constituencies to deal with the people’s issues, and on Friday the new Cabinet will be sworn in."
Following her speech, Persad-Bissessar called on President George Maxwell Richards to swear in attorney-at-law Anand Ramlogan as the country’s new Attorney General.
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The only thing spoil Kamla victory was Jack Warner and Anil Roberts, she better keep a close eye on Jack.
The biggest victory at the polls was recorded by Jack Warner. The United National Congress (UNC) chairman got 18,767 votes in Chaguanas West to secure the seat for the People’s Partnership by the huge margin of 17,296, PNM candidate Ronald Heera getting just 1,471 votes.
Here are the official election results:
1. Arima
COP: 7,612
PNM: 7,241
NNV:200
2. Arouca/Maloney
PNM: 11,467
COP: 5,476
3.D’Abadie/O’Meara
COP: 9,541
PNM: 8,421
4. Diego Martin Central
PNM: 9,040
COP: 8,041
NNV: 145
5.Diego Martin North/East
PNM: 8,538
UNC: 8,077
NNV: 126
6.Diego Martin West
PNM: 8,777
COP: 8,023
NNV: 136
7. La Brea
PNM: 9,590
UNC: 7,121
NNV: 235
8.La Horquetta/Talparo
UNC: 8712
PNM: 7,633
9. Laventille East/Morvant
PNM: 10,797
COP: 3,780
NNV: 399
10. Laventille West
PNM: 10,730
COP: 2,725
11. Point Fortin
PNM: 8,885
COP: 7,959
12.POS North/St Ann’s West
PNM: 8,088
UNC:5,120
NNV: 93
13. POS South
PNM: 7,855
COP: 4,808
NNV: 311
14. San Fernando East
PNM: 9,736
COP: 6,109
15. St Ann’s East
PNM: 9,283
UNC: 6,570
NNV: 118
16. Tobago West
TOP: 7,693
PNM:6,811
17.Toco/Sangre Grande
UNC: 7,491
PNM: 7,285
NNV: 59
18. Caroni Central
UNC: 13,966
PNM: 4,719
19. Caroni East
UNC:14,981
PNM: 3,724
20. Chaguanas West
UNC: 18,767
PNM: 1,471
21. Couva North
UNC: 16,157
PNM: 5,159
22. Couva South
UNC: 15,045
PNM: 4,773
23.Cumuto/Manzanilla
UNC: 12,998
PNM: 7,144
24. Fyzabad
UNC: 12,631
PNM: 7,214
25: Naparima
UNC: 16,595
PNM: 2,553
26.Oropouche East
UNC: 17,927
PNM: 2,872
27. Oropouche West
UNC: 14,188
PNM: 3,526
28. Princes Town
UNC: 14,149
PNM: 5,051
29. Siparia
UNC: 15,808
PNM: 4,037
30. St Augustine
COP: 15,166
PNM: 3,991
31. Tabaquite
UNC: 14,310
PNM:5,350
32. Barataria/San Juan
UNC: 10,850
PNM: 6,742
33. Chaguanas East
UNC: 10,797
PNM:6,717
NNV: 48
34. Lopinot Bon/Air
COP: 9,279
PNM:8,222
35. Mayaro
UNC: 12,846
PNM:7,330
36. Pointe-a-Pierre
UNC: 10,972
PNM: 6,685
37: Moruga/Tableland
UNC: 11,628
PNM:8,681
38: San Fernando West
COP: 9,111
PNM: 7,810
NNV: 128
39: St Joseph
UNC: 10,835
PNM:7,778
40: Tobago East
TOP: 7,649
PNM: 5,623
41: Tunapuna
COP: 10,513
PNM: 8,005
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.. PNM has strong support still :thumbsup:. let people stay and fool they self DOOKERRAN WANT HIS PARTY COP IN POWER!!! last election warner was saying they finally get rid of the "COP" .. ...kamala called warner a PNM agent he and ramesh get move to the back bench .. "ramjack" ... then jack support kamala, ramesh support panday .Yet YUH HAVE PEOPLE who THINK THIS partnership WILL LAST a term :devil:... The unc has the majority 22 of 41 so they dey for 5 years ... but know wha party comming back in 2015 :devil:
Let see what kamal does in her term
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.. PNM has strong support still :thumbsup:. let people stay and fool they self DOOKERRAN WANT HIS PARTY COP IN POWER!!! last election warner was saying they finally get rid of the "COP" .. ...kamala called warner a PNM agent he and ramesh get move to the back bench .. "ramjack" ... then jack support kamala, ramesh support panday .Yet YUH HAVE PEOPLE who THINK THIS partnership WILL LAST a term :devil:... The unc has the majority 22 of 41 so they dey for 5 years ... but know wha party comming back in 2015 :devil:
Let see what kamal does in her term
still no TnT passport for yuh! :rotfl: :rotfl:
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I predict people will have selective amnesia where it comes to Kamla... people set their expectations so unreasonably high that if they try and hold her to it she bound to fail. Expectations aside, you could promise the heavens, but you'd better be able to deliver.
As much as I am a PNM sympathiser I think we need changes in government every so often... it keeps leaders/parties on their toes. PNM leadership had grown complacent under Manning and his high-handed attitude needed to be brought low... unfortunately he took the entire party with him. Still Kamla will have a short leash in terms of she better get things right because I don't believe the electorate will be forgiving of any mistakes.
Sam talking about watch Jack and Anil... Anil Roberts is no threat, he's ah mongrel not a mongoose. Is fox and mongoose like Jack and Volney yuh have to watch out for.
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I predict people will have selective amnesia where it comes to Kamla... people set their expectations so unreasonably high that if they try and hold her to it she bound to fail. Expectations aside, you could promise the heavens, but you'd better be able to deliver.
As much as I am a PNM sympathiser I think we need changes in government every so often... it keeps leaders/parties on their toes. PNM leadership had grown complacent under Manning and his high-handed attitude needed to be brought low... unfortunately he took the entire party with him. Still Kamla will have a short leash in terms of she better get things right because I don't believe the electorate will be forgiving of any mistakes.
Sam talking about watch Jack and Anil... Anil Roberts is no threat, he's ah mongrel not a mongoose. Is fox and mongoose like Jack and Volney yuh have to watch out for.
kamla will do well and she should be judged the same manning has been judged and forgiven for all the corruption under the former regime.
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kamla will do well and she should be judged the same manning has been judged and forgiven for all the corruption under the former regime.
You does specialize in talking shit or what... what the bolded part have to do with anything? Nobody eh go hold Kamla responsible for any perceived corruption under PNM... that goes without saying.
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.. PNM has strong support still :thumbsup:. let people stay and fool they self DOOKERRAN WANT HIS PARTY COP IN POWER!!! last election warner was saying they finally get rid of the "COP" .. ...kamala called warner a PNM agent he and ramesh get move to the back bench .. "ramjack" ... then jack support kamala, ramesh support panday .Yet YUH HAVE PEOPLE who THINK THIS partnership WILL LAST a term :devil:... The unc has the majority 22 of 41 so they dey for 5 years ... but know wha party comming back in 2015 :devil:
Let see what kamal does in her term
Manning, is that u?
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Minister of Justice aka AG. He will be responsible 4 criminal matters while Anand civil matters both duties are d responsible of an AG. So if it walks like a duck... AG by another name is still an AG
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Minister of Justice aka AG. He will be responsible 4 criminal matters while Anand civil matters both duties are d responsible of an AG. So if it walks like a duck... AG by another name is still an AG
if volney get that post i stand corrected. :beermug:
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.. PNM has strong support still :thumbsup:. let people stay and fool they self DOOKERRAN WANT HIS PARTY COP IN POWER!!! last election warner was saying they finally get rid of the "COP" .. ...kamala called warner a PNM agent he and ramesh get move to the back bench .. "ramjack" ... then jack support kamala, ramesh support panday .Yet YUH HAVE PEOPLE who THINK THIS partnership WILL LAST a term :devil:... The unc has the majority 22 of 41 so they dey for 5 years ... but know wha party comming back in 2015 :devil:
Let see what kamal does in her term
Manning, is that u?
:rotfl:
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Correct is right..
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Minister of Justice aka AG. He will be responsible 4 criminal matters while Anand civil matters both duties are d responsible of an AG. So if it walks like a duck... AG by another name is still an AG
if volney get that post i stand corrected. :beermug:
Not if, when...
Bakes, I don't have any high expectations for this regime. I am simply going to judge them by the promises they made and hold them accountable when they going astray. The fact that Jack's there is enough to make mih get out mih microscope. I had high expectations of Patrick Manning and he let mih down bad, bad so I learn mih lesson....
On another but related note, of all the things they promise and I EXPECT to be delivered is term limits for a Prime Minister, fixed election date and referendum and recall.......
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Minister of Justice aka AG. He will be responsible 4 criminal matters while Anand civil matters both duties are d responsible of an AG. So if it walks like a duck... AG by another name is still an AG
if volney get that post i stand corrected. :beermug:
Not if, when...
Bakes, I don't have any high expectations for this regime. I am simply going to judge them by the promises they made and hold them accountable when they going astray. The fact that Jack's there is enough to make mih get out mih microscope. I had high expectations of Patrick Manning and he let mih down bad, bad so I learn mih lesson....
On another but related note, of all the things they promise and I EXPECT to be delivered is term limits for a Prime Minister, fixed election date and referendum and recall.......
fair enough
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Somehow i remember ppl on this board saying how volney woulda be AG.
Well, what say u now?
Minister of Justice aka AG. He will be responsible 4 criminal matters while Anand civil matters both duties are d responsible of an AG. So if it walks like a duck... AG by another name is still an AG
if volney get that post i stand corrected. :beermug:
Not if, when...
Bakes, I don't have any high expectations for this regime. I am simply going to judge them by the promises they made and hold them accountable when they going astray. The fact that Jack's there is enough to make mih get out mih microscope. I had high expectations of Patrick Manning and he let mih down bad, bad so I learn mih lesson....
On another but related note, of all the things they promise and I EXPECT to be delivered is term limits for a Prime Minister, fixed election date and referendum and recall.......
CO-SIGN LIKE EVRY OTHER GOVT
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http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Commerce-groups-calling-on-Kamla-for-quick-action_7654807
Commerce groups calling on Kamla for quick action
BY ARETHA WELCH
Friday, May 28, 2010
BUSINESS leaders across Trinidad & Tobago earlier this week congratulated and expressed support to the new People's Partnership government.
They also called on Prime Minister-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar to address immediate problems.
Downtown Owners and Merchants Association president Gregory Aboud said: "Trinidad and Tobago obviously faces several serious problems, which we have been discussing for several years and we obviously would like the pressing and basic needs of our citizens given top priority. We are extremely encouraged by the observations made of the poll which indicate that there has been voting across traditional lines of class, race, and ethnicity."
In a release this week, the Employers' Consultative Association said: "It is our view that now is the time to prove that the people's choice was well placed and that promises will give way to prudent implementation, for the benefit of all the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago."
The American Chamber of Commerce called for new strides to be made and methodologies to be applied in "effectively dealing with crime and curtailing the lawlessness that has pervaded our society".
In a statement, AmCham said crime had affected business activity and the quality of life in the country.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce affirmed its commitment to work with the new government and congratulated citizens for turning out at the polls.
The chamber said: "The voter turn-out, as reported by the media, was also quite impressive at 70 per cent, much higher than seen in recent elections."
The Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce congratulated Persad-Bissessar for creating history on her election as the first woman prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
"We are pleased to note that, once again, the electorate in Trinidad and Tobago has shown maturity at the polls, and that, despite political differences and the keenly contested election, voting went smoothly with the exception of a few hiccups, and was in the main, a peaceful process," the chamber said in a statement.
Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association president Greig Laughlin said that even as manufacturers were happy to work with the new government, they also wanted the new administration to focus on addressing national issues like crime.
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(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs634.snc3/31797_1485849224721_1188617610_31438742_1100002_n.jpg)
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^^^ well we know that is not A.B Trini after the posts he made in the Elections update thread.. :rotfl:
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(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs634.snc3/31797_1485849224721_1188617610_31438742_1100002_n.jpg)
LOL... dey does get mih vex sometimes, but how could I not love mih people :D
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^^^ well we know that is not A.B Trini after the posts he made in the Elections update thread.. :rotfl:
:rotfl:
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State guards for Manning
By CLINT CHAN TACK Saturday, May 29 2010
PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday instructed her new Minister of National Security, Brigaidier General John Sandy to provide state security to former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of members of her new Cabinet at Knowsley Building, Port-of-Spain, she told reporters Manning did not ask for security, but she was of the view that he needs to be treated with respect because of the Office he once held.
“He should have respect as a leader. More than 200,000 persons voted for him and we should respect that,” Persad-Bissessar said, noting that a vehicle and security would be provided for Manning.
Her comments came a day after Manning faced a rowdy crowd of disenchanted PNM supporters at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, moments after he tendered his resignation as PNM political leader to the PNM General Council.
As his Prado SUV drove away on that day (Thursday) the rowdy crowd hurled verbal insults at Manning and hit the sides of the vehicle. Police had to be called in.
Persad-Bissessar also said yesterday that President George Maxwell Richards had declined her invitation for him to take up residence at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre in La Fantasie, St Ann’s and as such, she will take up residence there.
Asked when she would move in, Persad-Bissessar said, “I don’t know if there is any hurry. Mr Manning should be given every opportunity to vacate the house.” Persad-Bissessar spent her first day at the Office of the Prime Minister where, hours before the swearing-in, she met Manning who formally handed-over to her the Office, at 1pm.
While it was a tense and disappointed looking Manning who left Balisier House on Thursday night as he was taunted and insulted by PNM supporters, his demeanour was considerably relaxed yesterday as he was received by Persad-Bissessar in a state room on the third floor of his former office. While as Prime Minister, he received many dignitaries and other important visitors in this room, this time around, Manning was the guest and Persad-Bissessar was his hostess.
She wore a bright orange dress while Manning wore a light grey business suit. With the heat of the election campaign behind them, Persad-Bissessar and Manning each sat on plush leather seats adjacent to each other. They smiled at each other and laughed as they chatted amicably for nearly 20 minutes. As he stood up to leave the room for the last time, Manning smiled and clasped Persad-Bissessar’s extended right hand with both of his hands as he bid her farewell.
Manning chatted with some of his former employees as he walked towards the elevator. He declined to answer questions from reporters who were in the elevator with him.
“Let’s enjoy the ride,” he said. The reporters got off on the ground floor while the elevator carried Manning to the basement of the building where his private vehicle was waiting to carry him back to San Fernando.
Before her meeting with Manning, Persad-Bissessar met with employees of the Office of the PM on the ground floor when she arrived at 12.45 pm. While the majority of the employees present were women, all of them without exception, warmly greeted the new Prime Minister who spent a few minutes chatting briefly with each of them.
© newsday.co.tt - www.newsday.co.tt
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Persad-Bissessar also said yesterday that President George Maxwell Richards had declined her invitation for him to take up residence at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre in La Fantasie, St Ann’s and as such, she will take up residence there.
Aye, aye Sammy, remember our little discourse over in a next thread??......didn't I tell you she would live there??....so uuummm yuh were saying???.....
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Persad-Bissessar also said yesterday that President George Maxwell Richards had declined her invitation for him to take up residence at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre in La Fantasie, St Ann’s and as such, she will take up residence there.
Aye, aye Sammy, remember our little discourse over in a next thread??......didn't I tell you she would live there??....so uuummm yuh were saying???.....
lol...that lie was not meant for everyone sugar..only her supporters...lol
hear Kamla yesterday nah..it would be too costly to build another house, :rotfl: :rotfl:, ah wonder when she knew that.
so the question is....Is the residence really manning own, or the pm of T&T?? Sammy you go first!!
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This whole thing is just silly... this is the inevitable result of politicizing trivial matters. People criticized Manning for building the PMs residence saying it extravagant and how he building palace to himself. At the time I tried pointing out to the few here that whenever he leaves office the building stays behind for whomever his replacement would be. But people shortsighted and when they get they "ignorant" up it ent have no reasoning with them.
We have "First World" aspirations but doh want to foot the bill for that. I agree that some of Manning's priorities can be questioned and that his officious attitude in governing was rightfully rejected. That said however, on this particular matter, upgrading the PMs residence and integrating a conference center with which to host foreign guests and dignitaries makes perfect sense except to those who refuse to acknowledge it.
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(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs634.snc3/31797_1485849224721_1188617610_31438742_1100002_n.jpg)
LOL... dey does get mih vex sometimes, but how could I not love mih people :D
Cyar not love yuh people when yuh see stuff like dis, I jus had two doubles by Singhs, but it wasn't free
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This whole thing is just silly... this is the inevitable result of politicizing trivial matters. People criticized Manning for building the PMs residence saying it extravagant and how he building palace to himself. At the time I tried pointing out to the few here that whenever he leaves office the building stays behind for whomever his replacement would be. But people shortsighted and when they get they "ignorant" up it ent have no reasoning with them.
We have "First World" aspirations but doh want to foot the bill for that. I agree that some of Manning's priorities can be questioned and that his officious attitude in governing was rightfully rejected. That said however, on this particular matter, upgrading the PMs residence and integrating a conference center with which to host foreign guests and dignitaries makes perfect sense except to those who refuse to acknowledge it.
I always thought the controversy about the PM's residence was unjustified and yet another attempt to make Manning look bad , not that he needed help. The PM's residence is the PM's residence not anyone's personal property, case closed.
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I always thought the controversy about the PM's residence was unjustified and yet another attempt to make Manning look bad , not that he needed help. The PM's residence is the PM's residence not anyone's personal property, case closed.
Now Kamla and dem run and make a political football out of the issue and watch she now. All de brakes she brakesing watch she move in easy easy... it eh have no other official residence.
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This whole thing is just silly... this is the inevitable result of politicizing trivial matters. People criticized Manning for building the PMs residence saying it extravagant and how he building palace to himself. At the time I tried pointing out to the few here that whenever he leaves office the building stays behind for whomever his replacement would be. But people shortsighted and when they get they "ignorant" up it ent have no reasoning with them.
We have "First World" aspirations but doh want to foot the bill for that. I agree that some of Manning's priorities can be questioned and that his officious attitude in governing was rightfully rejected. That said however, on this particular matter, upgrading the PMs residence and integrating a conference center with which to host foreign guests and dignitaries makes perfect sense except to those who refuse to acknowledge it.
I always thought the controversy about the PM's residence was unjustified and yet another attempt to make Manning look bad , not that he needed help. The PM's residence is the PM's residence not anyone's personal property, case closed.
Jah Gol, I totally agree
my question was "why did it have to be that extravagant?"
It seems to be at a scale of say a country as big as the USA
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State guards for Manning
By CLINT CHAN TACK Saturday, May 29 2010
PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday instructed her new Minister of National Security, Brigaidier General John Sandy to provide state security to former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of members of her new Cabinet at Knowsley Building, Port-of-Spain, she told reporters Manning did not ask for security, but she was of the view that he needs to be treated with respect because of the Office he once held.
“He should have respect as a leader. More than 200,000 persons voted for him and we should respect that,” Persad-Bissessar said, noting that a vehicle and security would be provided for Manning.
Her comments came a day after Manning faced a rowdy crowd of disenchanted PNM supporters at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, moments after he tendered his resignation as PNM political leader to the PNM General Council.
As his Prado SUV drove away on that day (Thursday) the rowdy crowd hurled verbal insults at Manning and hit the sides of the vehicle. Police had to be called in.
wow. I sleep fuh 2 days an all dat happen.
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State guards for Manning
By CLINT CHAN TACK Saturday, May 29 2010
PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday instructed her new Minister of National Security, Brigaidier General John Sandy to provide state security to former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of members of her new Cabinet at Knowsley Building, Port-of-Spain, she told reporters Manning did not ask for security, but she was of the view that he needs to be treated with respect because of the Office he once held.
“He should have respect as a leader. More than 200,000 persons voted for him and we should respect that,” Persad-Bissessar said, noting that a vehicle and security would be provided for Manning.
Her comments came a day after Manning faced a rowdy crowd of disenchanted PNM supporters at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, moments after he tendered his resignation as PNM political leader to the PNM General Council.
As his Prado SUV drove away on that day (Thursday) the rowdy crowd hurled verbal insults at Manning and hit the sides of the vehicle. Police had to be called in.
wow. I sleep fuh 2 days an all dat happen.
yuh was in a coma ? :devil:
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I always thought the controversy about the PM's residence was unjustified and yet another attempt to make Manning look bad , not that he needed help. The PM's residence is the PM's residence not anyone's personal property, case closed.
Now Kamla and dem run and make a political football out of the issue and watch she now. All de brakes she brakesing watch she move in easy easy... it eh have no other official residence.
In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
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:o :o :o
WADE MARK IS NOW HOUSE SPEAKER
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/aktualnosci/fullfront1165front.JPG)
By INVERA ARJOON Monday, May 31 2010
ON the heels of Friday’s announcement of Cabinet Ministers came the news yesterday that the new Speaker of the House is former senator Wade Mark while Dr Fuad Khan takes up the mantle as Deputy Speaker. Attorney Timothy Hamel-Smith will be the new Senate President and trade unionist David Abdulah will take on the role of Deputy Senate President....
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,121671.html
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Imbert willing to assist Warner 'any time'
Jensen LaVende jensen.lavende@trinidadexpress.com
Monday, May 31st 2010
FORMER minister of works and transport Colm Imbert is willing to assist, ’within reason’, newly appointed Works Minister Austin Jack Warner should Warner request his help...He said Warner’s proposal to open the Priority Bus Route (PBR), to one-way traffic, for peak periods to alleviate traffic coming into and leaving Port of Spain is a ’knee-jerk reaction’ to the problem.
Imbert added that this would ’completely’ clog the PBR since it was not designed to facilitate all vehicles but gave priority to certain vehicles, adding that ambulances and other emergency vehicles would end up in serious problems because of the proposal.
Imbert said: ’In the past we have opened the PBR and it does not ease the traffic congestion, it seems attractive, but I would advise against it and he (Warner) should seek advise from transportation experts’...http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161684373&weba=NWSNews
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Tobago Hindus get land
Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Monday, May 31st 2010
After years of delays, East Indians in Tobago finally received lands from the State that they can call their own.
The East Indian community were formally given four lots of land, following an agreement between the Tobago House of Assembly, on May 25, just one day after the general election...
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Minority Leader Ashworth Jack said the election of an East Indian Prime Minister signifies the celebrating and the breaking down of racial barriers.
’It says that regardless of how we feel or what we think, there are more persons who believe that we are better together than we are apart,’Jack said.
THA Chief Secretary Orville London said East Indians arrived, settled and contributed. He noted there is a lot citizens can learn from the East Indian community, and their forefathers. About their resilience, focus, commitment and more importantly self reliance.
’And that same level of resilience, self reliance, commitment and focus that cause them to nurture the kind of environment in which the Kamla Persad-Bissessars of the world could have developed, that those are the qualities we wish to ensure that we retain today,’ London concluded...http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161684367&weba=NWSNews
.........
In additional news socawarriors.net member "Brownsugar" was spotted at the Hindu Society building in Scarborough Esplanade, converting into Hinduism to get a piece of the action :devil:
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In additional news socawarriors.net member "Brownsugar" was spotted at the Hindu Society building in Scarborough Esplanade, converting into Hinduism to get a piece of the action :devil:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ;D ;D
Yuh idle boy....
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In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
People irked but people not thinking. The President is a figurehead and his office is but a vestigial nod to the British Monarchy. How many foreign dignitaries (whom themselves are not figureheads in their respective homelands) does the President receive? The Prime Minister is the nation's chief diplomat and receives a steady stream of foreign visitors per year... and this facility serves as the State's main banquet and conference facilities. The President's house is by no means comparable... for all intents and purposes it may as well be one of the Magnificent Seven... a nice historical building of questionable utility.
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In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
People irked but people not thinking. The President is a figurehead and his office is but a vestigial nod to the British Monarchy. How many foreign dignitaries (whom themselves are not figureheads in their respective homelands) does the President receive? The Prime Minister is the nation's chief diplomat and receives a steady stream of foreign visitors per year... and this facility serves as the State's main banquet and conference facilities. The President's house is by no means comparable... for all intents and purposes it may as well be one of the Magnificent Seven... a nice historical building of questionable utility.
So we come back to mih original question of some time ago....why the hell we need a President??!!.... ???
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In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
People irked but people not thinking. The President is a figurehead and his office is but a vestigial nod to the British Monarchy. How many foreign dignitaries (whom themselves are not figureheads in their respective homelands) does the President receive? The Prime Minister is the nation's chief diplomat and receives a steady stream of foreign visitors per year... and this facility serves as the State's main banquet and conference facilities. The President's house is by no means comparable... for all intents and purposes it may as well be one of the Magnificent Seven... a nice historical building of questionable utility.
So we come back to mih original question of some time ago....why the hell we need a President??!!.... ???
We don't... which is why the proposal for the office of an Executive President makes sense, but it come from Manning so automatically it get met with skepticism and talks of him crowning himself Emperor.
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In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
People irked but people not thinking. The President is a figurehead and his office is but a vestigial nod to the British Monarchy. How many foreign dignitaries (whom themselves are not figureheads in their respective homelands) does the President receive? The Prime Minister is the nation's chief diplomat and receives a steady stream of foreign visitors per year... and this facility serves as the State's main banquet and conference facilities. The President's house is by no means comparable... for all intents and purposes it may as well be one of the Magnificent Seven... a nice historical building of questionable utility.
So we come back to mih original question of some time ago....why the hell we need a President??!!.... ???
We don't... which is why the proposal for the office of an Executive President makes sense, but it come from Manning so automatically it get met with skepticism and talks of him crowning himself Emperor.
I agree with the Exec President....but with lots, and lots and lots of checks and balances....I could be wrong but what Patos was proposing had some troubling elements to it......in any event he/PNM gov't would have needed a 2/3rds constitutional majority to change (or even a 75% majority as I learned this past week) to make the necessary changes. So I eh know what was so troubling to folks....any legislation wanting to change the powers of the President would have been hard to pass....IMO...
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In additional news socawarriors.net member "Brownsugar" was spotted at the Hindu Society building in Scarborough Esplanade, converting into Hinduism to get a piece of the action :devil:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ;D ;D
Yuh idle boy....
Is true I in bago and I c she when I pass
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In additional news socawarriors.net member "Brownsugar" was spotted at the Hindu Society building in Scarborough Esplanade, converting into Hinduism to get a piece of the action :devil:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ;D ;D
Yuh idle boy....
Is true I in bago and I c she when I pass
Chups.....all ah all yuh too idle in here.... ;D ;D
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In additional news socawarriors.net member "Brownsugar" was spotted at the Hindu Society building in Scarborough Esplanade, converting into Hinduism to get a piece of the action :devil:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ;D ;D
Yuh idle boy....
Is true I in bago and I c she when I pass
Chups.....all ah all yuh too idle in here.... ;D ;D
Dat is part ah we charm
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i feel sara palin could be a good Prime Minister if she follow her road plans and these men around her dont let their ego take over .
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In addition to the cost, I think what also irked people was that the Prez's house was clearly the building in need of more urgent repairs and/or rebuilding. So when this palace was constructed in record time but the prez was still living in a cottage behind the main residence it made people go ??? ???
And well they wait until the roof literally fall down on Max head to run and bawl they goh fix it...by then, one week before the elections, it was too little, too late....just one more misstep that Patos could have avoided....
People irked but people not thinking. The President is a figurehead and his office is but a vestigial nod to the British Monarchy. How many foreign dignitaries (whom themselves are not figureheads in their respective homelands) does the President receive? The Prime Minister is the nation's chief diplomat and receives a steady stream of foreign visitors per year... and this facility serves as the State's main banquet and conference facilities. The President's house is by no means comparable... for all intents and purposes it may as well be one of the Magnificent Seven... a nice historical building of questionable utility.
So we come back to mih original question of some time ago....why the hell we need a President??!!.... ???
We don't... which is why the proposal for the office of an Executive President makes sense, but it come from Manning so automatically it get met with skepticism and talks of him crowning himself Emperor.
What were the benefits of having an executive president though?
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What were the benefits of having an executive president though?
With only a rudimentary understanding of Manning's proposal, the benefits of centralizing leadership in one entity as I see it are:
1. Efficiency- why are tax payers monies being wasted to house, clothe, feed, provide security, salary and employment benefits to a functionary? Nothing against Sir Ellis, Noor, Ray and Max, but let them serve their country in some other useful capacity.
2. Clarity. Most executive powers already lie with the Prime Minister... he's our chief executive in everything but name. I think the need for checks and balances are overblown, because you still have an independent Legislature and Judiciary. The Legislature makes the laws; the Judiciary interprets them; and the Executive implements them. I admit that this probably reveals my own personal bias in favor of the American model, but arguably this has been the most scrutinized and tested model... and it works. The legislative power to impeach has been successfully exercised in the US to remove both sitting Presidents and Justices. Processes and protocols are in place to ensure that the power isn't abused or used arbitrarily or trivially. We can do the same.
3. Accountability. As they say, of whom much is given much is expected. The buck will fall squarely in the lap of an Executive President (whose title would simply be "President" btw). Currently the President has a largely functionary role as I have already harped on... but he also has some very real powers as well, particularly powers of appointment. He appoints the Chief Justice, Auditor General and Chair of the Public Services Commission. He is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Assuming the Prime Minister and the President are at odds... to whom should the military listen? Everybody hate Patos... but remember he is an elected official. Take away the personalities... should such important responsibilities be held by someone whom the people did not vote for?
I could go on enumerating other advantages but there are already snippets of dialogue out there on the internet which I think does a good job of articulating the issues even better than I could. Some can be found here:
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1255245024,7734,.shtml
(a personal perspective on the debate by Derren Joseph)
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1083 (in the interest of full disclosure I have to say that I am biased where anything concerning Raffique Shah is concerned... that man is a straight genius as far as I concerned. That said I disagree with his assessment of the American Presidential model as he examines it here... it's not quite as open to abuse as he makes it sound.)
http://www.cubaalamano.net/visiones//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=523&Itemid=1
(a nice synopsis of the major issues with commentary from some major stakeholders... many of whom, ironically enough find themselves in governance now as part of the fallout from last week. It is disappointing to read some of the 'concerns' raised because they indicate a certain strand of selfishness on the parts of Kamla and Sat Sharma et al... and now that power has shifted hands, it will be interesting to see how the debate similarly shifts... which it must, for the proposal to survive... as most acknowledge it must.)
http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1124.pdf
Finally, here is the only public indication as to what Constitutional Reform might look like. The document is 180-something odd pages, but the relevant portions on the proposed executive President can be found beginning on page 3, and it reads fairly simply.
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What were the benefits of having an executive president though?
With only a rudimentary understanding of Manning's proposal, the benefits of centralizing leadership in one entity as I see it are:
1. Efficiency- why are tax payers monies being wasted to house, clothe, feed, provide security, salary and employment benefits to a functionary? Nothing against Sir Ellis, Noor, Ray and Max, but let them serve their country in some other useful capacity.
2. Clarity. Most executive powers already lie with the Prime Minister... he's our chief executive in everything but name. I think the need for checks and balances are overblown, because you still have an independent Legislature and Judiciary. The Legislature makes the laws; the Judiciary interprets them; and the Executive implements them. I admit that this probably reveals my own personal bias in favor of the American model, but arguably this has been the most scrutinized and tested model... and it works. The legislative power to impeach has been successfully exercised in the US to remove both sitting Presidents and Justices. Processes and protocols are in place to ensure that the power isn't abused or used arbitrarily or trivially. We can do the same.
3. Accountability. As they say, of whom much is given much is expected. The buck will fall squarely in the lap of an Executive President (whose title would simply be "President" btw). Currently the President has a largely functionary role as I have already harped on... but he also has some very real powers as well, particularly powers of appointment. He appoints the Chief Justice, Auditor General and Chair of the Public Services Commission. He is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Assuming the Prime Minister and the President are at odds... to whom should the military listen? Everybody hate Patos... but remember he is an elected official. Take away the personalities... should such important responsibilities be held by someone whom the people did not vote for?
I could go on enumerating other advantages but there are already snippets of dialogue out there on the internet which I think does a good job of articulating the issues even better than I could. Some can be found here:
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1255245024,7734,.shtml
(a personal perspective on the debate by Derren Joseph)
http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1083 (in the interest of full disclosure I have to say that I am biased where anything concerning Raffique Shah is concerned... that man is a straight genius as far as I concerned. That said I disagree with his assessment of the American Presidential model as he examines it here... it's not quite as open to abuse as he makes it sound.)
http://www.cubaalamano.net/visiones//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=523&Itemid=1
(a nice synopsis of the major issues with commentary from some major stakeholders... many of whom, ironically enough find themselves in governance now as part of the fallout from last week. It is disappointing to read some of the 'concerns' raised because they indicate a certain strand of selfishness on the parts of Kamla and Sat Sharma et al... and now that power has shifted hands, it will be interesting to see how the debate similarly shifts... which it must, for the proposal to survive... as most acknowledge it must.)
Finally here is the only public indication as to what Constitutional Reform might look like. The document is 180-something odd pages, but the relevant portions on the proposed executive President can be found beginning on page 3, and it reads fairly simply.
http://www.ttparliament.org/documents/1124.pdf
thanks, i will check out the links later.
in my opinion though, little about an executive presidency in Trinidad was geared at addressing any real gaps or issues existing in the current leadership framework. Even if it does, little was done to enumerate what the real point of such a big shift was.
I don't really buy the argument about efficiency, i have no issues with spending money to sustain a ceremonial head and i don't think it was every really raised as a pressing issue in Trinidad.
As for clarity, for me the office of the president as it is now is that a sovereign head that can be looked to for oversight in issues that need independent and non-partisan decision making like the 17-17-2 and the coup. Not suggesting that the president is not influencable, but i feel more confident in a president above the prime minister than an independent body underneath.
As for accountability, that was my exactly my problem with the executive presidency. It was delivering more power to a prime minister that didnt really need to have more of it the way he was angling. For me, I couldn't separate the process from the personality, to be frank Manning was showing some worrying dictatorial tendencies. The point about the military is a valid one though.
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and they shout down Manning idea of an Executive President? so this present gov't cyar even think about proposing dat now.
TnT doh need a reigning President who doh rule.The Chief Justice could perform his duty in case of an emergency.
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thanks, i will check out the links later.
in my opinion though, little about an executive presidency in Trinidad was geared at addressing any real gaps or issues existing in the current leadership framework. Even if it does, little was done to enumerate what the real point of such a big shift was.
Actually all that information is out there... Manning and some of the commenters in the links provided outlined exactly what some of those "gaps" are and how they'd be filled by the proposed changes. Not only were the gaps addressed, but enumeration was provided in detail... but again, was Manning saying it (never mind the original impetus come from Panday and the UNC government) so everybody knickers was in a knot talking about "dictator". No different from the noise raised about the "palace".
I don't really buy the argument about efficiency, i have no issues with spending money to sustain a ceremonial head and i don't think it was every really raised as a pressing issue in Trinidad.
Your own personal feelings aside... can you articulate for us some of the benefits of this waste of taxpayers money? I presented my opinion on why the proposed changes were good... I never said these were the reasons raised in Trinidad. Everybody cry down de $2million dollar flag (to use an example), but how much money the President draws annually? I know the PM gets $48k, but maybe Brownsugar, Weary or JahGol, who usually up on these things could clarify. And that is just salary. Not counting security, food, shelter, employment benefits (health, vision, dental per diem etc.) and not counting pension, which is the equivalent of a monthly salary until they die. I wouldn't be surprised if that easily costs a million by itself a year. Everybody always quick to point out how public funds could be diverted to othe critical areas, so I curious to hear how propping up this figurehead can be justified on fiscal or other non-nostalgic grounds.
As for clarity, for me the office of the president as it is now is that a sovereign head that can be looked to for oversight in issues that need independent and non-partisan decision making like the 17-17-2 and the coup. Not suggesting that the president is not influencable, but i feel more confident in a president above the prime minister than an independent body underneath.
Issues such as? You want what... a high-profile consultant? "Oversight" can be had from a number of other independent public and private sources, and they don't have to be on the government payroll for that. The President isn't above the PM, so I'm not sure where that train is going. In the event of a tie the people could simply go back to the polls to break the tie. We've had exactly one (successful) coup and one electora tie in our nearly 50 years of independence... it is a gross waste to be spending all this money, say nothing of the non-fiscal problems raised... all in name of keeping a figurehead in office just in case one of these rare occurrences happen again. Besides, what did Noor do during the coup? Robbie was PM and it was to him that subsequent credit was given for the speedy return to peace.
As for accountability, that was my exactly my problem with the executive presidency. It was delivering more power to a prime minister that didnt really need to have more of it the way he was angling. For me, I couldn't separate the process from the personality, to be frank Manning was showing some worrying dictatorial tendencies. The point about the military is a valid one though.
...and nothing wrong with that, but it betrays the fact that people were opposing the idea more out of emotion than reason. Nobody really took the time to look at what was being proposed. Opposition kept raising talk that things were being done in 'secret' which was a lie. There has always been public information on what was being proposed. The debates leading up to the draft were not public, nor is it necessary for it to be public. The public doesn't have to be involved in the minutae, but once there is a semi-ready product, such as the Working Paper included in the last link I provided above... then that is time for public comment and input. Nobody really wanted to talk about the real issues... people just drink the opposition Kool-Aid and start fighting it down. Whatever you think of Manning he's accountable to the people as last week's election showed. Under the current system, the President isn't... yet he wields all this influence over the Judiciary and Military.
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and they shout down Manning idea of an Executive President? so this present gov't cyar even think about proposing dat now.
TnT doh need a reigning President who doh rule.The Chief Justice could perform his duty in case of an emergency.
I doh even find this appealing... put his powers and duties in the hands of an elected official... the best candidate for which would be the chief executive as proposed in the person of the Executive President.
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I hear Kamla make ah speech and say "is we time now!" Women go make mas. ;)
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PM: Victory makes East Indian women feel they've arrived
Kim Boodram
Sunday, May 30th 2010
IN her first public speech as Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday night hailed her victory at the May 24 polls as one that has brought a sense of ’arrival’ to East Indian women in Trinidad and Tobago.
Persad-Bissesar made the statement during a surprise appearance at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Indian Arrival Day dinner at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya
Indian Arrival Day will be celebrated across the country today. Several guests at the dinner said Persad-Bissessar’s general election win was the best gift they could have received on this occasion.
Along with newly-appointed Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, and a number of newly sworn-in MPs of the People’s Partnership, the country’s first woman PM ’brought down the house’ when she swept into the function around 8 p.m.
The schedule was changed to accommodate brief addresses by Persad-Bissessar and Ramlogan, who also delivered his first address since being appointed AG on Wednesday.
’It was at this same dinner last year that I really launched my campaign,’ Persad-Bissessar said, referring to her address that night, ’Indian Women in Public Life’.
She went on to say that her own victory has helped Indian women around T&T to feel that they have, indeed, arrived and to feel a sense of belonging.
She added that most women also now saw in her achievements a victory for their great-grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers, who toiled under often adversarial conditions to raise their children.
Persad-Bissessar also called on the nation to celebrate its diversity, saying it would be a mistake to think that every is the same.
Head of the SDMS, Sat Maharaj, agreed with Persad-Bissessar and said she has shown the country that Indian women are strong and progressive.
’There are citizens who are of the misguided notion that the Indian woman is a submissive female,’ said Maharaj, who has expressed his support for Persad-Bissesar since her campaign for the leadership of the United National Congress’ (UNC) during the party’s internal elections, which she won on January 24 of this year.
’Mrs. Persad-Bissessar has certainly shown us the substance and strength of Indian women.’
He added that her climb to the Office of the Prime Minister is a justification of the efforts of those men and women who sought to change the culture among Indians of depriving their daughters of an education.
’The culture then was that girls were married off young, there was no education and no academic career,’ Maharaj said.
AG Ramlogan, in a quick acknowledgement, said he intends to uphold the same the level of justice and equality that he fought for his years as an attorney.
Also giving a shortened address was history scholar, Dr, Dennison Moore, who disputed several key points of what is accepted as the history of Indians the Caribbean and in T&T.
Among them, Moore claimed that the actual date of arrival in T&T is May 3 and not May 30 and the ocean vessel most famed among East Indian descendents today, the Fath al Razack, may not have been the ship described by scholars at the time.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161683525&weba=NWSNews
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sat maharaj oui...
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The taken out of context quote of the day.
"There is absolutely no plan." - Kamla Persad-Bissessar
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,121769.html
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I always thought the controversy about the PM's residence was unjustified and yet another attempt to make Manning look bad , not that he needed help. The PM's residence is the PM's residence not anyone's personal property, case closed.
Now Kamla and dem run and make a political football out of the issue and watch she now. All de brakes she brakesing watch she move in easy easy... it eh have no other official residence.
No no no....All before PM stood for Patrick Manning.
Now it stands for Prime Minister.
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(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/2%20June%20pg1_0.png)
Published: 2 Jun 2010
New Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her Government’s 120-day plan is on stream and will be successfully implemented as promised. She indicated that during a news briefing at her St Clair office yesterday following a Cabinet orientation for her new ministers. She said a lot of time was spent in the three-hour exercise, determining how to implement the action plan. She described the exercise as “getting a fit in terms of our promises within the structure of governance.” She said several Permanent Secretaries who attend the meeting spoke about the roles and responsibilities of Government Ministers. She said it was “quite a productive morning” and assured “we will keep the pledges we made for the 120-day plan.” She said that was the most important issue that came out of the meeting.
Persad-Bissessar said she would meet with National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy to convene a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the nation’s crime problem. She said the configuration of the Ministry of the People is taking place. “It involves a lot of social development and that is why Social Development has been placed side-by-side with the Ministry of the People,” she added. She said the Ministry of the People “was more than the functions of the Ministry of Social Development.”
On the election of a Speaker of the House of Representatives, Persad-Bissessar said that individual would be chosen at the opening of the new Parliament. “You will see at that time who is elected by the members of the House, likewise Members of the Senate will elect the President of the Senate and the Vice President.” She said she did not want to be premature and pre-empt that process. She said Cabinet would meet on Friday. Meanwhile, new Minister of Public Administration Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam said she intended to meet with all staff to determine the way forward.
“So the first thing (priority) is building relationships. I think that is extremely important , how do we work with people,” she added. She said once that was accomplished 75 per cent of the work was done. Asked what she wanted to be a major success story as minister, she said: “Delivery of the goods and services to the end-user in this society and therefore my focus will be on implementation of Government’s decisions so that you and me and all the others can benefit from it.”
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
A lot of that is rum talk spitting around.
I must say though I have heard from 3 students who claimed they received information from their institutions that GATE will shift to a 60/40 arrangement where the student pays 40% of the tuition.
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
A lot of that is rum talk spitting around.
I must say though I have heard from 3 students who claimed they received information from their institutions that GATE will shift to a 60/40 arrangement where the student pays 40% of the tuition.
Everybody just need 2 take a chill pill and wait 4 Dooks 2 bore we 2 death wit he budget presentation. Then we go hear if d gate get close or it go be half open or remain as wide open as it is now.
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
A lot of that is rum talk spitting around.
I must say though I have heard from 3 students who claimed they received information from their institutions that GATE will shift to a 60/40 arrangement where the student pays 40% of the tuition.
Everybody just need 2 take a chill pill and wait 4 Dooks 2 bore we 2 death wit he budget presentation. Then we go hear if d gate get close or it go be half open or remain as wide open as it is now.
yuh right
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
Oh really?
I had a long talk with my peeps back home as well. Some of the things i heard were:
- That Kamla cut her swearing in ceremony short and ask excused to run down central to address the flood situation. Straight from the ceremony she zoom down the road and in her high boots on the ground.
- The very next day after the swearing in of Cabinet, Makandal Daaga is setting up a youth foundation in Laventille, because the government understands the need to change the mindset of the youths. He wants Russel Latapy on the board.
- Police officers going to be made to go out into the schools and the community to establish a more visible presence. Especially the schools because youths need to be looking up to them as role models instead of the gangsters and the gold chains etc..
- The flooding in Longdenville. A woman say something real strange going on because its the first time ever she seeing people wukkin in she life.. Normally, when it have flood is your ass to ketch.. But now is tent set up, sandwiches sharing from volunteers and people in they overalls and wukkin to clean up and assist..
- Kamla's first mandate to her cabinet... "You work for the people. You are not above the people. You are accountable to the people. Not for yourself. From now on you will be accessible to hear the needs of the people." Also a push to get rid of the "Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian" mentality deeply instilled in the populace and leave that as a thing of the past.
- Jack Warner vopping. The ODPM is a waste of time, people suffering in flood and the ODPM want to "assess the situation". He saying they should get rid of the ODPM and install something capable or more suited to reacting to a disaster. He talking about making use of the PBR to resolve the traffic situation and revamping licensing.. He going into the communities seeing how people living and making a mandate to change that. Now alot of these ideas need to be properly fleshed out but at the very least, the man trying something.. Which is not what I can say about the previous administration.
It was a long convo and these are just some of the things i heard.
My point is that I real glad that PNM didnt get back in power. The election was a choice between voting for the certain continued regress or voting for the uncertain. This here is the uncertain, but change is refreshing and change should be embraced.
Sometimes I read this site and I does just laugh. Many people here incapable of giving credit where credit is due and everything needs to be met with skepticism. Everything is ah cry down and especially from some foreign base who not on the ground to give a properly supported opinion.
29 constituencies (including some considered as safe) voted for this new administration, and last I checked how a democracy works is that the majority voice is the right decision.
I say give the people a chance, at the very least they willing to try something different. And if it don't work or when the shit surface then by all means lash dem hard.
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Dinho, is not often we does agree! I with you 100% on this, and I remain a member of the PNM!
Things feeling better on the ground in T&T and the nation deserves that!
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Sometimes I read this site and I does just laugh. Many people here incapable of giving credit where credit is due and everything needs to be met with skepticism. Everything is ah cry down and especially from some foreign base who not on the ground to give a properly supported opinion.
exactly!
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Sometimes I read this site and I does just laugh. Many people here incapable of giving credit where credit is due and everything needs to be met with skepticism. Everything is ah cry down and especially from some foreign base who not on the ground to give a properly supported opinion.
exactly!
I thought that was dinho;s quote???
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I now talk to meh peeps in T&T is rel bacchanal thing.
-I hear Kamla want to get rid of GATE and just do the $1 for $1 in some form. They was debating to see if they could make the people who already benefit from the GATE to pay it back
-I hear she wants to stop the school feeding programme saying the students does only waste the food. They want to charge $6 everytime the students want to eat ah food.
-I hear she want to get rid of OJT saying it only wasting time and don't help anyone.
In the lead up to the election id real cash pass from the UNC.
-It have ah gyul who use to work in the court in Princes Town. The gyul link up with Jack during the elction campaign. Now the UNC win and she quit she job, driving bigger car and moving in to a new office somewhere in the North.
- Meh boy who sing that chutney song, "why yuh leave" get big car and rel flashing.
- One in meh sistren who was campaigning for the PNM and rel support for the candidate get ah $50,000 to switch party and convince the PNM supporters to do the same.
- Another PNM supporter who went to school with me and does work with the PNM youth in that area get ah $10,000 to switch.
Oh really?
I had a long talk with my peeps back home as well. Some of the things i heard were:
- That Kamla cut her swearing in ceremony short and ask excused to run down central to address the flood situation. Straight from the ceremony she zoom down the road and in her high boots on the ground.
- The very next day after the swearing in of Cabinet, Makandal Daaga is setting up a youth foundation in Laventille, because the government understands the need to change the mindset of the youths. He wants Russel Latapy on the board.
- Police officers going to be made to go out into the schools and the community to establish a more visible presence. Especially the schools because youths need to be looking up to them as role models instead of the gangsters and the gold chains etc..
- The flooding in Longdenville. A woman say something real strange going on because its the first time ever she seeing people wukkin in she life.. Normally, when it have flood is your ass to ketch.. But now is tent set up, sandwiches sharing from volunteers and people in they overalls and wukkin to clean up and assist..
- Kamla's first mandate to her cabinet... "You work for the people. You are not above the people. You are accountable to the people. Not for yourself. From now on you will be accessible to hear the needs of the people." Also a push to get rid of the "Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian" mentality deeply instilled in the populace and leave that as a thing of the past.
- Jack Warner vopping. The ODPM is a waste of time, people suffering in flood and the ODPM want to "assess the situation". He saying they should get rid of the ODPM and install something capable or more suited to reacting to a disaster. He talking about making use of the PBR to resolve the traffic situation and revamping licensing.. He going into the communities seeing how people living and making a mandate to change that. Now alot of these ideas need to be properly fleshed out but at the very least, the man trying something.. Which is not what I can say about the previous administration.
It was a long convo and these are just some of the things i heard.
My point is that I real glad that PNM didnt get back in power. The election was a choice between voting for the certain continued regress or voting for the uncertain. This here is the uncertain, but change is refreshing and change should be embraced.
Sometimes I read this site and I does just laugh. Many people here incapable of giving credit where credit is due and everything needs to be met with skepticism. Everything is ah cry down and especially from some foreign base who not on the ground to give a properly supported opinion.
29 constituencies (including some considered as safe) voted for this new administration, and last I checked how a democracy works is that the majority voice is the right decision.
I say give the people a chance, at the very least they willing to try something different. And if it don't work or when the shit surface then by all means lash dem hard.
lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
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Election again in 2 years. Promise. It eh no fight down thing. All of a sudden JW and them is upstanding citizens. Give me a freaking break yes. They spend all the money JW tief from the players to win an election and I should just support them because they talking a good talk?
Dinho give what credit? What have they done?
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Election again in 2 years. Promise. It eh no fight down thing. All of a sudden JW and them is upstanding citizens. Give me a freaking break yes. They spend all the money JW tief from the players to win an election and I should just support them because they talking a good talk?
Like yuh eh get d memo sport and politics doh mix so d tiefin ah we players money is nutten. JW will put all d wrongs right.
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all hail JW ::)
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all hail JW ::)
D bestest PM ever
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
Rowley
ya wasting your time
That Commission cant interfer with FIFA business, and on this side of the Globe Jack is FIFA MAIN business
any how, FIFA loves Jack Warner
if you want anything to come of it, the whole of FIFA will have to change from Seap Bladder on down
what you could seriously try for is to ask ask Kamla to do a Forensic Audit of the dealings that the spetial advithor had with the TTFF, especially when it comes to support with Tax payers money
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
Rowley cah take on FIFA stueps
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
Rowley cah take on FIFA stueps
dat is not what he said.
he said he will write to d integrity commisision asking them if it is correct for a minister in d cabinet to have a job (paying or otherwise) on d outside. and that madame kamla has to account for his (JW) appointment.
he also said being a minister of cabinet is a 24/7 job and you are on call 24/7 and all your time should be devoted to doin d government's work
so he is not 'takin on' FIFA.
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
Rowley cah take on FIFA stueps
dat is not what he said.
he said he will write to d integrity commisision asking them if it is correct for a minister in d cabinet to have a job (paying or otherwise) on d outside. and that madame kamla has to account for his (JW) appointment.
he also said being a minister of cabinet is a 24/7 job and you are on call 24/7 and all your time should be devoted to doin d government's work
so he is not 'takin on' FIFA.
in that case
watch the ratchifee that FIFA and Jack go pull
FIFA go say he has suspended his FIFA roles
but i eh think that the government can do anything
but i hope they can
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Rowley lashing Kamla's appointment of JW as a minister already as of Today. He said Kamla is a hostage to the Forces around her. :rotfl: He most noted Jack Warner. Dr. Rowley said he will write to the Integrity Commission to investigate whether Jack Warner can hold a ministerial position and still operate as part of FIFA's Executive on Monday.
Rowley cah take on FIFA stueps
dat is not what he said.
he said he will write to d integrity commisision asking them if it is correct for a minister in d cabinet to have a job (paying or otherwise) on d outside. and that madame kamla has to account for his (JW) appointment.
he also said being a minister of cabinet is a 24/7 job and you are on call 24/7 and all your time should be devoted to doin d government's work
so he is not 'takin on' FIFA.
in that case
watch the ratchifee that FIFA and Jack go pull
FIFA go say he has suspended his FIFA roles
but i eh think that the government can do anything
but i hope they can
Why would this gov't do anything. Is like the judge charging himself for speeding.
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
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Rowley should hush he c@nt!! patrick was ah bandit , but yet, he still ran on the PNM ticket! if rowley was true to form and serious about the politics and the country, then he woulda run on the independent ticket.
as for JW, despite his all ill dealings wid the TTFF, FIFA and the SW players owed, i believe JW is ah very good administrator. yes i said it!!
and should be left alone tuh do the job. i also believe it way too early tuh start criticizing the PP when the country needs tuh heal first and foremost, and rowley and dem should take ah chill pill and leave the opposing for later when it's truly warranted.
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Sometimes I read this site and I does just laugh. Many people here incapable of giving credit where credit is due and everything needs to be met with skepticism. Everything is ah cry down and especially from some foreign base who not on the ground to give a properly supported opinion.
Correct me if I'm wrong... but aren't YOU "foreign base" as well? What makes YOUR opinion more "properly supported" than anyone else's?? Or is it the issue more the criticism than the zip code from which it originates?
29 constituencies (including some considered as safe) voted for this new administration, and last I checked how a democracy works is that the majority voice is the right decision.
The majority of Germans voted the Nazis into power. A majority of Southerners voted to keep blacks in subservient positions under Democratically passed Jim Crow laws... or wait, we shouldn't question dem kinda tings because "de majority" say so?
I say give the people a chance, at the very least they willing to try something different. And if it don't work or when the shit surface then by all means lash dem hard.
So to be clear... yuh asking fuh ah moratorium on criticism of de new government because what... they 'new'?? We should ignore de stench coming from Jack and Volney because they put on new clothes?
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I can't understand why I should celebrate 'initiatives' that are nothing more than verbiage at this point. And yes sammy I put my country first, that why I won't be critical of the new administration because all they have done is to say what they plan to do.
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
You should change yuh name from 'Sammy' to 'Tammy'... because dai'z just how yuh acting, like ah blasted UNC tampon.
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
You should change yuh name from 'Sammy' to 'Tammy'... because dai'z just how yuh acting, like ah blasted UNC tampon.
:applause: u feeling good now? I know u does feel really big about yourself when u insult others. I glad i cud give u a lil charity in the form of happiness.
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Rowley should hush he c@nt!! patrick was ah bandit , but yet, he still ran on the PNM ticket! if rowley was true to form and serious about the politics and the country, then he woulda run on the independent ticket.
as for JW, despite his all ill dealings wid the TTFF, FIFA and the SW players owed, i believe JW is ah very good administrator. yes i said it!!
and should be left alone tuh do the job. i also believe it way too early tuh start criticizing the PP when the country needs tuh heal first and foremost, and rowley and dem should take ah chill pill and leave the opposing for later when it's truly warranted.
what i cant understand is that ppl not willing to give the new govt a chance. They have been in power for 1 week but ppl doing like they in power for a year. If they do shit, they let us all lambast them and chase them with torches and pitch forks, but come on, instead of hoping/praying that this government does things that make t&t better, they hoping they break apart so they cud bring back this pnm. PPL WISHING the PP fail and the country get worse so they can say that were right.
PPl saying how i is UNC and this and that , but is so they dotish cause they miss the point that the last govnt didnt cut it, and we need a change. If we never change leaders, then they will do us what they want. How can we really let these leaders know that we mean business if we dont fire them? Keep burning tyres?
I SURE I USED TO GET MORE MONEY DIRECTLY FROM PNM GOVMT THAN MOST ON THIS BOARD, BUT COME ELECTION DAY I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN ME CONTINUING TO BENEFIT, OR GIVING THE COUNTRY A CHANCE TO BENEFIT FROM A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP but I is UNC right?
Right now the PNM cant find a leader, but man want the PP to fall apart. Who go lead the pnm -rowley? the hero who start to sing cause he get he throat buss? steups. Rowley bring down the govt so he cud take over. How can we trust a man who will bring the country to its knees so he can get power from his own colleague?
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:applause: u feeling good now? I know u does feel really big about yourself when u insult others. I glad i cud give u a lil charity in the form of happiness.
« Reply #80 on: Today at 12:21:10 AM »
« Last Edit: Today at 12:47:44 AM by sammy »
Yuh like that next forever-editing nannyhole West Coast... 26 mins to think about it again and dai'z de best yuh could come up with?
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Why would this gov't do anything. Is like the judge charging himself for speeding.
ha ha ha big tune
heself tell heself you are charge for speeding
heself start to shout de policeman lying :rotfl:
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:applause: u feeling good now? I know u does feel really big about yourself when u insult others. I glad i cud give u a lil charity in the form of happiness.
« Reply #80 on: Today at 12:21:10 AM »
« Last Edit: Today at 12:47:44 AM by sammy »
Yuh like that next forever-editing nannyhole West Coast... 26 mins to think about it again and dai'z de best yuh could come up with?
yeps.... i eager u see your next reply.
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
Sammy go f&*^$k yourself!!!!... >:( >:(
You are the only patriot on here right?? Because yuh government in power all thanks to Jack Warner one of the most corrupt men in T&T, we mustn't say anything right??
Because he treated a group of 16 men who dared to stand up to him like shit and SOME of us on here decided to call him out, we are not patriots right??
Because you want to be the blind to the facts that face you, and we choose not to be blind but to call BS, we are not Patriots right??
Again I say...
GO INSIDE YUH LATRINE AND F#$%^K YOURSELF!!!!.... >:( >:(
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
Sammy go f&*^$k yourself!!!!... >:( >:(
You are the only patriot on here right?? Because yuh government in power all thanks to Jack Warner one of the most corrupt men in T&T, we mustn't say anything right??
Because he treated a group of 16 men who dared to stand up to him like shit and SOME of us on here decided to call him out, we are not patriots right??
Because you want to be the blind to the facts that face you, and we choose not to be blind but to call BS, we are not Patriots right??
Again I say...
GO INSIDE YUH LATRINE AND F#$%^K YOURSELF!!!!.... >:( >:(
wow - i sincerely apologize to u that my uttering hurt u feelings :-\ .
please read my follow up post to understand y i said what i did.
PS i done with talking bout politics yes. (for now) ::)
(pss....it harder than i thought to stay out a politics yes - i eh last 5 mins -maybe i cud cut down )
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Yuh like that next forever-editing nannyhole West Coast... 26 mins to think about it again and dai'z de best yuh could come up with?
hear nuh
It is just amazing that you have believed your 3 little friends and decided that your focus will turn to me
Man grow up
but, I know and you know, it is not Politically correct to not do what you do
allya real sad........real sad
Your next pardna does point it out to his FEEBLEMINDED friends every time I mess him up
allya does be real sad in truth
Be Happy man Be very Happy.....obviously you have many feebleminded friends who think like you
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
one of the COP's candidates family is close to mine..it came out of his own mouth...not hearsay...that is why i cant speak of it because it can be traced back to me..
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Sammy, yuh dead wrong about Rowley! dead wrong. Rowley got his throt slit because he took care of the people's business! HE WAS SPEAKING OUT IN THE CABINET! questioning discisions that were made outside the cabinet and was unceremoniously dumped.
He was attached at maligned and he defended himself. he was called wajang, accused of stealing 10 million etc. and above it all he was exonerated and came out clean.
He did not start talking AFTER his throat was cut, he spoke out and then his throat was cut!
Come again!
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Yuh like that next forever-editing nannyhole West Coast... 26 mins to think about it again and dai'z de best yuh could come up with?
hear nuh
It is just amazing that you have believed your 3 little friends and decided that your focus will turn to me
Man grow up
but, I know and you know, it is not Politically correct to not do what you do
allya real sad........real sad
Your next pardna does point it out to his FEEBLEMINDED friends every time I mess him up
allya does be real sad in truth
Be Happy man Be very Happy.....obviously you have many feebleminded friends who think like you
u get blame innocent innocent for my dunceeness yes. :devil:
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lets just see where it goes...already i hearin grumblin in d COP but i cant say what bcuz only a limited amt of ppl know...leh we jus say dookeran is ah nastiness an kamla had tuh call ah man an say sorry bout 100 times!!
:rotfl: :-\
u hearing or hoping?
----------------
men & women suffering serious political tabanka on this board yes. I didnt even bother to reply to elans post cause it wont make sense.
I realise most posters priorities are :
1. their massive ego first
2. soca warriors 2nd
3. political Party 3rd
4. country (trinidad & tobago ) 4th
and I not sure where race fits in as the order may vary with some.
one of the COP's candidates family is close to mine..it came out of his own mouth...not hearsay...that is why i cant speak of it because it can be traced back to me..
i see. well all i can say is that i hope the PP doesnt fall apart before they can do some good for the country., even if they force a new and improved pnm, then the country will gain both ways, after all we living here no matter who in power.
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Sammy, yuh dead wrong about Rowley! dead wrong. Rowley got his throt slit because he took care of the people's business! HE WAS SPEAKING OUT IN THE CABINET! questioning discisions that were made outside the cabinet and was unceremoniously dumped.
He was attached at maligned and he defended himself. he was called wajang, accused of stealing 10 million etc. and above it all he was exonerated and came out clean.
He did not start talking AFTER his throat was cut, he spoke out and then his throat was cut!
Come again!
So u dont think arresting power from manning was his goal (similarly to ramesh), after all he was trying for years? ???
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Sammy, yuh dead wrong about Rowley! dead wrong. Rowley got his throt slit because he took care of the people's business! HE WAS SPEAKING OUT IN THE CABINET! questioning discisions that were made outside the cabinet and was unceremoniously dumped.
He was attached at maligned and he defended himself. he was called wajang, accused of stealing 10 million etc. and above it all he was exonerated and came out clean.
He did not start talking AFTER his throat was cut, he spoke out and then his throat was cut!
Come again!
So u dont think arresting power from manning was his goal (similarly to ramesh), after all he was trying for years? ???
what is your real point?
He challenged Manning, so did others and they all got their throats cut. I can ask a similiar question of Warner and kamla, did they not try and were successful in wresting power from basdeo Panday?
how come they get kudos from you and Rowley earns your disdain?
neither warner nor Kamla said a peep about Panday for many years and they were STILL in his inner circle...Rowley for years stood toe to toe with Manning, never compromising his morals or integrity...can we say that about either Kamla or Warner/
NOPE! we just cannot! So for you to say Rowley's primary goal was wresting power and self service is hypocritical to the highest order!
He played hs cards well, just like Kamla did. stop bad talking a good manwith no just reason.
Thanks
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
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Sammy, yuh dead wrong about Rowley! dead wrong. Rowley got his throt slit because he took care of the people's business! HE WAS SPEAKING OUT IN THE CABINET! questioning discisions that were made outside the cabinet and was unceremoniously dumped.
He was attached at maligned and he defended himself. he was called wajang, accused of stealing 10 million etc. and above it all he was exonerated and came out clean.
He did not start talking AFTER his throat was cut, he spoke out and then his throat was cut!
Come again!
So u dont think arresting power from manning was his goal (similarly to ramesh), after all he was trying for years? ???
what is your real point?
He challenged Manning, so did others and they all got their throats cut. I can ask a similiar question of Warner and kamla, did they not try and were successful in wresting power from basdeo Panday?
how come they get kudos from you and Rowley earns your disdain?
neither warner nor Kamla said a peep about Panday for many years and they were STILL in his inner circle...Rowley for years stood toe to toe with Manning, never compromising his morals or integrity...can we say that about either Kamla or Warner/
NOPE! we just cannot! So for you to say Rowley's primary goal was wresting power and self service is hypocritical to the highest order!
He played hs cards well, just like Kamla did. stop bad talking a good manwith no just reason.
Thanks
good points! kamla waited her turn and it came about through warner, and Rowley brought about his own turn so he owes no one i guess.
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TC do u view ramesh similarly to rowley?
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Not at all! ramesh is a self serving snake and rpwley is a man of integrity!
ramesh brought down Panday and the UNC, then he fomed his own oarty an dfailed, called Panday a tief and then went back to the party and sucked basdeo's aashole.
Panday was going to jail, he gave Dookeran reins of the UNC over Kamla, Ato became UNC senator after Jack told him Panday done, Panday get out of jail and say allyuh mad de UNC belongs to me.
All during this time Kamla say she NOT joining with dookeran and she backing her maha guru Basdeo!!! Doks made many attempts to get her to join him, saying basdeo will NEVER win an election in T&t again as he is forever tarnished. that was how COP was born!!!
jack did say he supporting dookeran, panday days done, only for he to then back track and say nah ah backing Panday, dookeran too weak.
Kamla was basdeo's deputy, den Jack start funding the party heavier and bring back ramesh. Next ting yuh know basdeo put jack and ramsen next to him in parliament and move kamla down to seat 4..remember she did support him right thru.
Ramesh and jack was basdeo real henchmen and next to him, Kamal was demoted...lol
jack and ramesh start to fuss about Panday as people say dem will never vote for him. Dey start dey movement for change, ramesh thought he Gypsy and jack will do ah ting move bas and out he as leader of the UNC...dem plan was moving good, until Jack realize people eh want Ramesh as dey eh forget how he bring down the last UNC government. So jack who used to say Kamla is de same as Panday, not ready, how he have files and pcis of she, how she fall in fountain drunk fall down next to Ghandi statue all kinda ting, say I backing Kamla she is de best option too facking funny!
ramesh all during that time had nutten but bad talk for basdeo...lol
But when he learn jack reject he for leader of hte UNC, he run by heself, get ah cutarse from Kamla and Panday den say he backing Basdeo Panday over kamla.
And you want to compare dem men to Rowley?
come again nah!
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
He also say on more than 1 ocassion that d players issue was resolved. So 4 given me 4 not blievin anyting JW says. If he say d sky blue I goin outside 2 check.
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"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
Technically he might be correct... he mightn'a get pay from FIFA, but dat eh mean dat he never use FIFA tuh get pay. Allyuh fuhget dis eh no mere vampire allyuh dealing wid... is Viktor heself.
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Allyuh fuhget dis eh no mere vampire allyuh dealing wid... is Viktor heself.
hahahahaa :rotfl: , good one
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Not at all! ramesh is a self serving snake and rpwley is a man of integrity!
ramesh brought down Panday and the UNC, then he fomed his own oarty an dfailed, called Panday a tief and then went back to the party and sucked basdeo's aashole.
Panday was going to jail, he gave Dookeran reins of the UNC over Kamla, Ato became UNC senator after Jack told him Panday done, Panday get out of jail and say allyuh mad de UNC belongs to me.
All during this time Kamla say she NOT joining with dookeran and she backing her maha guru Basdeo!!! Doks made many attempts to get her to join him, saying basdeo will NEVER win an election in T&t again as he is forever tarnished. that was how COP was born!!!
jack did say he supporting dookeran, panday days done, only for he to then back track and say nah ah backing Panday, dookeran too weak.
Kamla was basdeo's deputy, den Jack start funding the party heavier and bring back ramesh. Next ting yuh know basdeo put jack and ramsen next to him in parliament and move kamla down to seat 4..remember she did support him right thru.
Ramesh and jack was basdeo real henchmen and next to him, Kamal was demoted...lol
jack and ramesh start to fuss about Panday as people say dem will never vote for him. Dey start dey movement for change, ramesh thought he Gypsy and jack will do ah ting move bas and out he as leader of the UNC...dem plan was moving good, until Jack realize people eh want Ramesh as dey eh forget how he bring down the last UNC government. So jack who used to say Kamla is de same as Panday, not ready, how he have files and pcis of she, how she fall in fountain drunk fall down next to Ghandi statue all kinda ting, say I backing Kamla she is de best option too facking funny!
ramesh all during that time had nutten but bad talk for basdeo...lol
But when he learn jack reject he for leader of hte UNC, he run by heself, get ah cutarse from Kamla and Panday den say he backing Basdeo Panday over kamla.
And you want to compare dem men to Rowley?
come again nah!
u have to admit that all rowley did and said in the parliment against corruption and manning, he went on the the platform and told the nation to vote for the captain, even if the ship running aground.
I mean from his pointof view i cyah really blame him , cause if he didnt it would've been political suicide.
Anyone saw manning in the audience for the swearing in?
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"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
Technically he might be correct... he mightn'a get pay from FIFA, but dat eh mean dat he never use FIFA tuh get pay. Allyuh fuhget dis eh no mere vampire allyuh dealing wid... is Viktor heself.
:rotfl:
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Election again in 2 years. Promise. It eh no fight down thing. All of a sudden JW and them is upstanding citizens. Give me a freaking break yes. They spend all the money JW tief from the players to win an election and I should just support them because they talking a good talk?
Dinho give what credit? What have they done?
Why election in two years? If i was Kamla and them I would say "Leh we run de ting for as long as we could before we go to the polls again............"
Under all the talk, Trinis only voted out PNM because they were totally fed up with crime as well as Manning and his ego. If Manning had stepped aside the day before the elections, all zandolee woulda crawl back to their hole and gi we PNM for another 5 years.
Change is sometimes needed, no matter how difficult it is........and as Stalin say "if de new managers not supplying what we need.......when election time come again iz new ones we bringing."
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Election again in 2 years. Promise. It eh no fight down thing. All of a sudden JW and them is upstanding citizens. Give me a freaking break yes. They spend all the money JW tief from the players to win an election and I should just support them because they talking a good talk?
Dinho give what credit? What have they done?
Why election in two years? If i was Kamla and them I would say "Leh we run de ting for as long as we could before we go to the polls again............"
Under all the talk, Trinis only voted out PNM because they were totally fed up with crime as well as Manning and his ego. If Manning had stepped aside the day before the elections, all zandolee woulda crawl back to their hole and gi we PNM for another 5 years.
Change is sometimes needed, no matter how difficult it is........and as Stalin say "if de new managers not supplying what we need.......when election time come again iz new ones we bringing."
true talk
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sammy, what platform you hear rowley say to 'vote for d captain'? get your facts straight nah
d few times rowley was on d platform, he made it clear to d listeners, that they should vote not for who dey like or dont like, but vote for d policies d pnm had put in place
what he said bout d 'captain' is that when a 'ship' (pnm) is in battle, dat is no time to throw d captain (manning) overboard. and that ther would be time afterward for court martial.
never once did he say vote for 'd captain'.
and no, manning was not there for d swearin in
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Sammy
check the Rowley videos
part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLXSjp6ud-A&feature=related
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZlnDVxgwc&feature=related
part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8lQNnLey0&feature=related
part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrkcJM3cls&feature=related
part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H09eaUif-EM&feature=related
part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASrpNnQsYcQ&feature=related
his request is yes vote for the PNM, and by doing that I guess he is asking people to vote for Manning, as Manning was still the leder of the PNM
maybe that is what you may be thinking?
but that is all water under the bridge
Kamla, make the best of your time at White Hall ;)
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PNMites real sour these day boy!
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
Semantics. I remember talk of him saving his per diem and meal money from FIFA travel allowances and using that to start his businesses. If the money is generous enough to bank the excess it is tantamount to income.
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Sammy
check the Rowley videos
part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLXSjp6ud-A&feature=related
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZlnDVxgwc&feature=related
part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8lQNnLey0&feature=related
part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrkcJM3cls&feature=related
part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H09eaUif-EM&feature=related
part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASrpNnQsYcQ&feature=related
his request is yes vote for the PNM, and by doing that I guess he is asking people to vote for Manning, as Manning was still the leder of the PNM
maybe that is what you may be thinking?
but that is all water under the bridge
Kamla, make the best of your time at White Hall ;)
:beermug:
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
Semantics. I remember talk of him saving his per diem and meal money from FIFA travel allowances and using that to start his businesses. If the money is generous enough to bank the excess it is tantamount to income.
Is not because of his salary from FIFA he could have boasted that he will only take $1 from his salary as an MP??....steups!! Jack realise he talk all kinda dotishness in this town cuz men like Sammy and Diamondtrim does lap it up without question. And why, cuz money talks......
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Yuh like that next forever-editing nannyhole West Coast... 26 mins to think about it again and dai'z de best yuh could come up with?
hear nuh
It is just amazing that you have believed your 3 little friends and decided that your focus will turn to me
Man grow up
but, I know and you know, it is not Politically correct to not do what you do
allya real sad........real sad
Your next pardna does point it out to his FEEBLEMINDED friends every time I mess him up
allya does be real sad in truth
Be Happy man Be very Happy.....obviously you have many feebleminded friends who think like you
u get blame innocent innocent for my dunceeness yes. :devil:
no man not like that
the amazing thing is that he does go around the forum CHECKING out when peeps does edit their post ::)
not ONLY that he does then run around like CHICKEN LITTLE telling people who he found does edit thier posts
Can you Imagine someone who claims to be Reading Law doing that, and we have definitive PROOF right here :rotfl: :rotfl:
I can just see it, when Karl Hudson-Phillips was at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge doing what our esteemed college finds so enterning
ya unnstan my drift?
Man, when he gets his LL.B I going and search he out for SURE
now who have the most dunceeness eh WHO
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no man not like that
the amazing thing is that he does go around the forum CHECKING out when peeps does edit their post ::)
not ONLY that he does then run around like CHICKEN LITTLE telling people who he found does edit thier posts
Can you Imagine someone who claims to be Reading Law doing that, and we have definitive PROOF right here :rotfl: :rotfl:
I can just see it, when Karl Hudson-Phillips was at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge doing what our esteemed college finds so enterning
ya unnstan my drift?
Man, when he gets his LL.B I going and search he out for SURE
now who have the most dunceeness eh WHO
kakahole... I doh have to "check out" nutten that's there for everyone to see. It particularly funny to see man post ah pack ah ass then comeback and edit it to say even more assness.
I never claim tuh be "Reading Law"... and "LL.B"... what is dat, ah Lara? whappen' yuh sources dry up or what... who feeding yuh all dat misinformation? Careful yuh loss yuh sexytary wuk enuh.
And doh worry... you have de dunceeness title on lock yuh quinquagenarian buller.
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And doh worry... you have de dunceeness title on lock yuh quinquagenarian buller.
What?? ??? ??? <scratched head and checks dictionary>
Oh ho....right, right....
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no man not like that
the amazing thing is that he does go around the forum CHECKING out when peeps does edit their post ::)
not ONLY that he does then run around like CHICKEN LITTLE telling people who he found does edit thier posts
Can you Imagine someone who claims to be Reading Law doing that, and we have definitive PROOF right here :rotfl: :rotfl:
I can just see it, when Karl Hudson-Phillips was at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge doing what our esteemed college finds so enterning
ya unnstan my drift?
Man, when he gets his LL.B I going and search he out for SURE
now who have the most dunceeness eh WHO
kakahole... I doh have to "check out" nutten that's there for everyone to see. It particularly funny to see man post ah pack ah ass then comeback and edit it to say even more assness.
I never claim tuh be "Reading Law"... and "LL.B"... what is dat, ah Lara? whappen' yuh sources dry up or what... who feeding yuh all dat misinformation? Careful yuh loss yuh sexytary wuk enuh.
And doh worry... you have de dunceeness title on lock yuh quinquagenarian buller.
yes you are very right
You is de onlyest Court Stenographer
http://www.youtube.com/v/ywjOf030J-Y
on de Forum sorry bout that eh
And it is just Funny as hell that when Tallman
give info on something some one wants,
you does break in ya Bingo drawers
yet when I do it ya does run around telling all ya WALMART pardnas that look look he post ah wiki link...twit
and you are the MOST PREDICTABLE poster on here as you eventually post something to do with BULLERS, exact exact like your Siamese twin
and YOUR LIKKLE FRIENDS just lap it up and your inbox does get full full
Bravo big man bravo
play yaself man play yaself
ok this addendum is especially done for my esteemed colleague who will tosh and turn whole night GRINDING that i edited my Post :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
TEENAGE PUNK ASS INTERNET GANG BANGER
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yes you are very right
You is de onlyest Court Stenographer
Court Stenographer AND File Clerk... make sure yuh get it right yuh feeble-minded assclown.
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by the way, yuh see how Jack Warner says he never got a penny from FIFA for his work? lol many times before he stated i used my salary from FIFA and built my business...now??? Too facking funny!
:rotfl:
so he working for fifa for free? :devil:
"In his defence, Warner said he is not and has never been a paid officer of either FIFA or the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF). "
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161688750&weba=NWSNews
Semantics. I remember talk of him saving his per diem and meal money from FIFA travel allowances and using that to start his businesses. If the money is generous enough to bank the excess it is tantamount to income.
Is not because of his salary from FIFA he could have boasted that he will only take $1 from his salary as an MP??....steups!! Jack realise he talk all kinda dotishness in this town cuz men like Sammy and Diamondtrim does lap it up without question. And why, cuz money talks......
PNM should jus take over this country and rule it forever, then allyuh would be happy yes.
Jack alone cause we not to go through in 89 rite? He had nothing to do with we going through in 05 rite? he had nothing to do with bringing back allyuh hero yorke & who turned his back on T&T right? He alone turn his back on sancho and them right? Is jack fault we does be playing so much shit right? steups.
The man did shit but he also did some good as well - just like allyuh fadder manning
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PNM should jus take over this country and rule it forever, then allyuh would be happy yes.
Jack alone cause we not to go through in 89 rite? He had nothing to do with we going through in 05 rite? he had nothing to do with bringing back allyuh hero yorke & who turned his back on T&T right? He alone turn his back on sancho and them right? Is jack fault we does be playing so much shit right? steups.
The man did shit but he also did some good as well - just like allyuh fadder manning
What I doh understand is why it is you feel the need to construe every criticism of the PP... and Jack Warner particularly, as people "wanting the new government to fail" or people wanting PNM "to rule forever". Why is that? Yuh come like Bush and he "if yuh not with we yuh against we" talk. Yes Kamla government deserves a chance to prove itself, but recognize also that Jack Warner comes with significant baggage... the man track record is horrible, people call him all kinda ole crook.. yet fuh some ah allyuh is like criticism of him is sacrilege. The hypocrisy is astounding... I could only imagine the outcry if Jack was PNM.
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PNM should jus take over this country and rule it forever, then allyuh would be happy yes.
Jack alone cause we not to go through in 89 rite? He had nothing to do with we going through in 05 rite? he had nothing to do with bringing back allyuh hero yorke & who turned his back on T&T right? He alone turn his back on sancho and them right? Is jack fault we does be playing so much shit right? steups.
The man did shit but he also did some good as well - just like allyuh fadder manning
What I doh understand is why it is you feel the need to construe every criticism of the PP... and Jack Warner particularly, as people "wanting the new government to fail" or people wanting PNM "to rule forever". Why is that? Yuh come like Bush and he "if yuh not with we yuh against we" talk. Yes Kamla government deserves a chance to prove itself, but recognize also that Jack Warner comes with significant baggage... the man track record is horrible, people call him all kinda ole crook.. yet fuh some ah allyuh is like criticism of him is sacrilege. The hypocrisy is astounding... I could only imagine the outcry if Jack was PNM.
Mr. Shark this is the best post i ever see u make - well in relation to me anwyways and i appreciate the omission of the insults. :beermug: :thumbsup: cause i try not to disrespect anyone here.
(I only answered the last time cause brown called my name.)
yes i know jack comes with baggage, i cant/wont deny that. I dont mind the criticism however, ppl must be willing to admit that he did some good as well. Ppl here seem to blame him for everything wrong with our football when that is not entirely the case - but that is a different story.
Preferably, i wished that he was not a part of the PP - because of the "baggage", but he is, so all i can do is to hope that he does a good job. The man good at getting what he wants, he has skills and maybe he can apply that to his ministry - which allow us to benefit.
As soon as the PP win election, they done start to criticize, they eh even waiting to see what they can do why is that? At least wait til the PP slip up and then jam them. - Is really this that irks me so. All the time ppl complaining bout manning, so now we have someone else and ppl still complaining even before anything goes wrong.
If we dont have hope, then what we have? People accusing me of being UNC cause i have hope, but that is unfair. I didnt vote UNC last election and for this election i didint have a choice in the matter cause we needed change.
If we dont change leaders every so often then they will do us what they want.
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Mr. Shark this is the best post i ever see u make - well in relation to me anwyways and i appreciate the omission of the insults. :beermug: :thumbsup: cause i try not to disrespect anyone here.
(I only answered the last time cause brown called my name.)
yes i know jack comes with baggage, i cant/wont deny that. I dont mind the criticism however, ppl must be willing to admit that he did some good as well. Ppl here seem to blame him for everything wrong with our football when that is not entirely the case - but that is a different story.
Preferably, i wished that he was not a part of the PP - because of the "baggage", but he is, so all i can do is to hope that he does a good job. The man good at getting what he wants, he has skills and maybe he can apply that to his ministry - which allow us to benefit.
As soon as the PP win election, they done start to criticize, they eh even waiting to see what they can do why is that? At least wait til the PP slip up and then jam them. - Is really this that irks me so. All the time ppl complaining bout manning, so now we have someone else and ppl still complaining even before anything goes wrong.
If we dont have hope, then what we have? People accusing me of being UNC cause i have hope, but that is unfair. I didnt vote UNC last election and for this election i didint have a choice in the matter cause we needed change.
If we dont change leaders every so often then they will do us what they want.
I only start insulting you when yuh start becoming overbearing with yuh constant defense of the new government. You can't tell people tuh wait to complain... if I think it's questionable that Jack decide to move licensing to his home constituency you can't tell me to wait until next year (after they had a chance to screw up) to complain. That isn't how human nature is... most here only reacting as the news break... you saying wait until they mess up, but what yuh fail to realize is that by simply bringing Jack on board, to many of us that is a major fack up right there.
Every time somebody say something critical of anything even remotely related to the PP you jumping down they throat with "PNM 'til I die" talk. Check and see if the personal comments towards you didn't start until after that. If you have Brownsugar cussing you out YOU KNOW something is wrong.
As for Jack himself... you keep saying that Jack "did some good as well"? Care to name some of this good? Doh say he spend he own money on we football because if he didn't hijack the TTFA from others, and stifle Arthur Suite rival league, and kill too many footballing careers you never know if the TTFA woulda been broke in the first place. All that aside, ANY money he spend he make back long time... and then turn around and tief more.
Okay, so he name stadium after Marvin Lee... he spend some ah de tief money on a couple private citizens to pay fuh hospitalization... dai's what yuh want we tuh give him a pass for??
You can't be serious.
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Mr. Shark this is the best post i ever see u make - well in relation to me anwyways and i appreciate the omission of the insults. :beermug: :thumbsup: cause i try not to disrespect anyone here.
(I only answered the last time cause brown called my name.)
yes i know jack comes with baggage, i cant/wont deny that. I dont mind the criticism however, ppl must be willing to admit that he did some good as well. Ppl here seem to blame him for everything wrong with our football when that is not entirely the case - but that is a different story.
Preferably, i wished that he was not a part of the PP - because of the "baggage", but he is, so all i can do is to hope that he does a good job. The man good at getting what he wants, he has skills and maybe he can apply that to his ministry - which allow us to benefit.
As soon as the PP win election, they done start to criticize, they eh even waiting to see what they can do why is that? At least wait til the PP slip up and then jam them. - Is really this that irks me so. All the time ppl complaining bout manning, so now we have someone else and ppl still complaining even before anything goes wrong.
If we dont have hope, then what we have? People accusing me of being UNC cause i have hope, but that is unfair. I didnt vote UNC last election and for this election i didint have a choice in the matter cause we needed change.
If we dont change leaders every so often then they will do us what they want.
I only start insulting you when yuh start becoming overbearing with yuh constant defense of the new government. You can't tell people tuh wait to complain... if I think it's questionable that Jack decide to move licensing to his home constituency you can't tell me to wait until next year (after they had a chance to screw up) to complain. That isn't how human nature is... most here only reacting as the news break... you saying wait until they mess up, but what yuh fail to realize is that by simply bringing Jack on board, to many of us that is a major fack up right there.
Every time somebody say something critical of anything even remotely related to the PP you jumping down they throat with "PNM 'til I die" talk. Check and see if the personal comments towards you didn't start until after that. If you have Brownsugar cussing you out YOU KNOW something is wrong.
As for Jack himself... you keep saying that Jack "did some good as well"? Care to name some of this good? Doh say he spend he own money on we football because if he didn't hijack the TTFA from others, and stifle Arthur Suite rival league, and kill too many footballing careers you never know if the TTFA woulda been broke in the first place. All that aside, ANY money he spend he make back long time... and then turn around and tief more.
Okay, so he name stadium after Marvin Lee... he spend some ah de tief money on a couple private citizens to pay fuh hospitalization... dai's what yuh want we tuh give him a pass for??
You can't be serious.
he didnt bring back yorke and latas after they ride out on we?
he didnt negotiate for benhacker to come and coach we?
he didnt push for a 4th qualifying spot that we needed to qualify ?
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he didnt bring back yorke and latas after they ride out on we?
he didnt negotiate for benhacker to come and coach we?
he didnt push for a 4th qualifying spot that we needed to qualify ?
Dai'z de best yuh could come up with? You really giving Jack credit fuh Yorke and Latas coming back to play? Was he the only man who could have... or who did talk them into coming out of retirement? How much you really know about TnT football? Yorke and Latas didn't retire as much as they didn't want to play for St. Clair. Once St. Clair get fire it didn't take no setta convincing for them to come back.
You seriously raisig talk about him hiring Beenhakker and him pushing for the extra half a spot for CONCACAF in this conversation? Hiring Beenhakker by itself eh nothing to crow about, Beenhakker and the players still had to go out there and earn dey half ah spot. He coulda still hire Beenhakker and we coulda miss out on Germany same way... same way that half ah spot coulda gone to Bahrain easy. Yes both moves helpe we get to Germany, but getting to Germany was the success, not the half ah spot or Beenie hiring.
Yuh reaching now. Come back with ah better list.
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he didnt bring back yorke and latas after they ride out on we?
he didnt negotiate for benhacker to come and coach we?
he didnt push for a 4th qualifying spot that we needed to qualify ?
Dai'z de best yuh could come up with? You really giving Jack credit fuh Yorke and Latas coming back to play? Was he the only man who could have... or who did talk them into coming out of retirement? How much you really know about TnT football? Yorke and Latas didn't retire as much as they didn't want to play for St. Clair. Once St. Clair get fire it didn't take no setta convincing for them to come back.
You seriously raisig talk about him hiring Beenhakker and him pushing for the extra half a spot for CONCACAF in this conversation? Hiring Beenhakker by itself eh nothing to crow about, Beenhakker and the players still had to go out there and earn dey half ah spot. He coulda still hire Beenhakker and we coulda miss out on Germany same way... same way that half ah spot coulda gone to Bahrain easy. Yes both moves helpe we get to Germany, but getting to Germany was the success, not the half ah spot or Beenie hiring.
Yuh reaching now. Come back with ah better list.
Warner wanted to hire Ron Atkinson... Beenhacker was Nakhid and Lincoln Phillips proposal on top of that
... and yuh know what.. f$ck it... I going to go ahead and say Jack Warner never do nothing good for Trinidad and Tobago football that wasn't incidental to his interests first!!
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yes you are very right
You is de onlyest Court Stenographer
Court Stenographer AND File Clerk... make sure yuh get it right yuh feeble-minded assclown.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
OH shit I goin and ded
That is ALL you good for today
Ya musbe freakin sick
take two cafenol and wheel again
Dick Cheese
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
OH shit I goin and ded
That is ALL you good for today
Ya musbe freakin sick
take two cafenol and wheel again
Dick Cheese
Shouldn't you be playing with yuh Catholic Priest blow up doll? btw... it's "wheel and come again" eh gramps... yuh trying too hard.
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'An insult to people'
Kamla tells why she decided not to meet Clinton at Caricom talks
Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Wednesday, June 9th 2010
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has blanked today’s Caricom meeting with United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in Barbados because she felt it would be an insult to the people who elected her to travel without taking the parliamentary oath.
Persad-Bissessar gave this explanation yesterday in response to criticism from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who said the Prime Minister’s failure to attend today’s meeting was ’a dereliction of duty’.
’I was of the view that we have not been sworn into the Parliament and it is the people who elected us to represent them there. It would be offensive to the people to travel to represent them without taking the oath in the Parliament,’ said Persad-Bissessar in a brief interview with the Express yesterday by phone.
She said therefore a policy decision had been taken that no minister would embark on foreign travel on behalf of the people of this country, until Parliament is convened on June 18.
Persad-Bissessar said that technocrats will represent this country at the Caricom meeting and apologies were extended to Clinton and other heads for her absence.
She added that Caricom was informed that a new government was elected and a decision was taken that there would be no foreign travel until the parliamentary oath is taken.
’We meant no disrespect to anyone,’ stressed Persad-Bissessar, adding that she also did not want to offend the democratic transition taking place.
Rowley however believes that Persad-Bissessar missed out on a golden opportunity for this country.
’The meeting with Hillary Clinton is a major issue to us in the Caribbean. The fact that there was an election and the Government changed cannot interfere with that, we still have a Government,’ Rowley told the Express by phone.
’The Government so doesn’t understand its role that she as Prime Minister is saying I am not going to this most important meeting, with this most important trading partner because I have not taken an oath in Parliament. Somebody must tell Kamla she is not the Prime Minister in the Parliament which is the legislator, she is the Prime Minister of the executive, she has taken an oath at Knowsley and that oath is good enough, she is now the Prime Minister,’ he added.
Rowley said Persad-Bissessar has said that no minister will embark on foreign travel until the Parliament is convened but he pointed out Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner was in South Africa.
’So apparently this Prime Minister has no control over Jack Warner so whatever edict she gave applies to other ministers but it does not apply to Jack Warner ... so while she as Prime Minister is failing to go to conduct our business with Hillary Clinton in Barbados, Jack Warner has gone off to conduct FIFA’s business in South Africa,’ said Rowley.
’To pass up on the opportunity to talk to Hillary Clinton on a serious matter of interest to us in Trinidad and Tobago is a dereliction of duty. ... So Hillary Clinton comes to Caricom to talk to Caricom leaders and Trinidad and Tobago sends technocrats,’ said Rowley.
Warner, a vice-president of FIFA, is in South Africa to attend to business relating to the opening of 2010 World Cup on Friday.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/Comments?id=161692509 (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/Comments?id=161692509)
That 1st name thing will become an issue, mark my words. Better they avoid it. I find its a silly excuse btw.
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hmm..i wanted to see hilary an she long lost twin sister in a picture
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Raise yuh hand if yuh would have felt insulted if she did go 2 meet Hilary? If Barack did call and say come would she have said d same nonesense. Wake up Kamla u is d PM. D other countries is only the technocrats that representing.
Is ok 4 JW 2 go on FIFA business but u cyah go on minds. LOUDEST OF STEUPSSSSS
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Rowley being an ass with this Jack Warner thing now... Jack travelling in a non-ministerial capacity, which is what Kamla talking about, get sworn in first before yuh represent yuhself as a minister/envoy of the people.
That said, this has to be the most stupid 'policy' I have ever heard... either we have a functioning Parliament or we don't. If they can perform in their ministerial capacity at home w/o being sworn in then there should be no issue doing the same abroad. This is a classic example of acting nevwr-see-come-see and overthinking things. The peoples business comes first... this ent McCain she was to meet with but the third-ranking US government executive. And she blow that off because of some ill-conceived notion about protocol? Lord help us.
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Rowley being an ass with this Jack Warner thing now... Jack travelling in a non-ministerial capacity, which is what Kamla talking about, get sworn in first before yuh represent yuhself as a minister/envoy of the people.
That said, this has to be the most stupid 'policy' I have ever heard... either we have a functioning Parliament or we don't. If they can perform in their ministerial capacity at home w/o being sworn in then there should be no issue doing the same abroad. This is a classic example of acting nevwr-see-come-see and overthinking things. The peoples business comes first... this ent McCain she was to meet with but the third-ranking US government executive. And she blow that off because of some ill-conceived notion about protocol? Lord help us.
Got this from a poster on Farsebook:
"The integrity commission has stated that Cabinet Ministers must divest themselves of private interests upon taking up their post."
I ain't hear nothing else on it, but it looks like the commission agrees with Rowley.
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Rowley being an ass with this Jack Warner thing now... Jack travelling in a non-ministerial capacity, which is what Kamla talking about, get sworn in first before yuh represent yuhself as a minister/envoy of the people.
That said, this has to be the most stupid 'policy' I have ever heard... either we have a functioning Parliament or we don't. If they can perform in their ministerial capacity at home w/o being sworn in then there should be no issue doing the same abroad. This is a classic example of acting nevwr-see-come-see and overthinking things. The peoples business comes first... this ent McCain she was to meet with but the third-ranking US government executive. And she blow that off because of some ill-conceived notion about protocol? Lord help us.
Got this from a poster on Farsebook:
"The integrity commission has stated that Cabinet Ministers must divest themselves of private interests upon taking up their post."
I ain't hear nothing else on it, but it looks like the commission agrees with Rowley.
yes i heard this on the 7pm news a while ago.
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Rowley being an ass with this Jack Warner thing now... Jack travelling in a non-ministerial capacity, which is what Kamla talking about, get sworn in first before yuh represent yuhself as a minister/envoy of the people.
That said, this has to be the most stupid 'policy' I have ever heard... either we have a functioning Parliament or we don't. If they can perform in their ministerial capacity at home w/o being sworn in then there should be no issue doing the same abroad. This is a classic example of acting nevwr-see-come-see and overthinking things. The peoples business comes first... this ent McCain she was to meet with but the third-ranking US government executive. And she blow that off because of some ill-conceived notion about protocol? Lord help us.
Got this from a poster on Farsebook:
"The integrity commission has stated that Cabinet Ministers must divest themselves of private interests upon taking up their post."
I ain't hear nothing else on it, but it looks like the commission agrees with Rowley.
yes i heard this on the 7pm news a while ago.
ONLY D DOTISH EH C DAT I IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
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Nicole Dyer Griffith had to give up her Public Relations Manager big wuk at ANSA McAL
All the doctors who held or holding Ministerial positions had to give up their practice both public and private.
Prior to this elections Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan had to give up her Chairman position at NP
Herbert Volney, then why give up ya position as a judge if it wasn't wrong to hold 2 posts?
Who dey rass is Jack?
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Nicole Dyer Griffith had to give up her Public Relations Manager big wuk at ANSA McAL
All the doctors who held or holding Ministerial positions had to give up their practice both public and private.
Prior to this elections Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan had to give up her Chairman position at NP
Herbert Volney, then why give up ya position as a judge if it wasn't wrong to hold 2 posts?
Who dey rass is Jack?
Go wash yuh mouth out wit soap. If u want 2 know who he is ask Gladdy will say google him. I want him to ignore d ruling. U should ask who is d Integrity Commission?
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Rowley damn right!! Finally we will have something resembling government!! If Panday wasn't busy building a family dynasty and paying more attention to being a creditable opposition the PNM would not have gotten away with half the things they did.....so thank you Dr. Rowley for doing your job!!!...
Now to Mrs. Persad-Bissessar, you know, I know, mih tantie, mudder, fadder, brudder, mih nephew, mih dog and 3 cats, mih best friend and she son, the little ole lady down the street, the little ole man up the street, the man with the parlour round the corner KNOWS that Jack Warner should NOT BE HOLDING DOWN ANY MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIO AND STILL HOLD DOWN HIS FIFA WUK!!!!...
Let mih guess, yuh fraid him?? Doh worry, take ah number and join the line....the only problem ah have with that scenario is......
YUH IS THE FRIGGIN PRIME MINISTER!!!!!.....I eh want mih Prime Minister fraiding dey Minister!!!...steups!!!
Gosh man, the electoral ink eh come off mih finger properly and yuh have mih cussing already!!!! >:( >:(
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first rule of being a PM, dont mess with JW. ;) lol
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Rowley damn right!! Finally we will have something resembling government!! If Panday wasn't busy building a family dynasty and paying more attention to being a creditable opposition the PNM would not have gotten away with half the things they did.....so thank you Dr. Rowley for doing your job!!!...
Now to Mrs. Persad-Bissessar, you know, I know, mih tantie, mudder, fadder, brudder, mih nephew, mih dog and 3 cats, mih best friend and she son, the little ole lady down the street, the little ole man up the street, the man with the parlour round the corner KNOWS that Jack Warner should NOT BE HOLDING DOWN ANY MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIO AND STILL HOLD DOWN HIS FIFA WUK!!!!...
Let mih guess, yuh fraid him?? Doh worry, take ah number and join the line....the only problem ah have with that scenario is......
YUH IS THE FRIGGIN PRIME MINISTER!!!!!.....I eh want mih Prime Minister fraiding dey Minister!!!...steups!!!
Gosh man, the electoral ink eh come off mih finger properly and yuh have mih cussing already!!!! >:( >:(
CO-SIGN EXCEPT ME EH CUSSING DID NOT EXPECT ANY DIFFERENCE
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If Kamla don't want to go to the meeting because it appears she will be cow-towing to Hilary, what can I say. It is her decision. But to say she has to be sworn in first, is a bit far stretch. I really don't understand that one. As for Jack, what can we say. I know he will stay in both positions. Both FIFA and Kamla will make exception for Jack. All this time local football will continue to suffer.
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Got this from a poster on Farsebook:
"The integrity commission has stated that Cabinet Ministers must divest themselves of private interests upon taking up their post."
I ain't hear nothing else on it, but it looks like the commission agrees with Rowley.
I could also quote Weary and brownsugar... but I'll just respond here.
I don't know that type of powers the "Integrity Commission" has, unless the Constitution (or alternatively, the Government) gives them the authority and/or power to make and enforce their decisions then all they are really is an advisory body... which I how I as an outsider looking at them. I don't know that they have already ruled (I doubt it, the issue has been alive barely a week... yuh cyah get nutten done in TnT that fast), but if they have then I imagine their word has some sort of authority behind it.
All that said, I imagine the "divests themselves of private interests" has to do with private interests in TnT... particularly where said private interests can be affected (positively or negatively) by the cabinet members role in government, or by the actions of government (their own or their colleagues) in general.
I must be one of "D DOTISH" because I can't see how Jack's role as a FIFA VP is affected by him being in government. FIFA does little to no business in TnT and what little they do (the odd World Cup tournament) isn't the type of business that's likely to be impacted by government action, unless it comes to building stadia, improving infrastructure for the site etc. Nobody... certainly not Weary for all her emoting, has offered any argument to show how the alleged "conflict of interest" is implicated.
I think people getting caught up in Jack's "Special Advisor" role and tying that up with his FIFA VP role. Unless "divest themselves of private interests" means yuh cyah hold ah outside wuk then this argument is a non-starter.
Besides all that... Brownsugar et al who bawling "Rowley damn right"... about what? Leh we please try and focus on what it is Rowley carrying on about dis rounds. This isn't last week's argument that Jack can't hold ah outside wuk... the argument today is that he can't travel outside the country until he's sworn in... which is nonsense. It's a very superficial and ignorant reading of Kamla's own superficial and ignorant pronouncement prohibiting government travel for the yet to be sworn in MPs.
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not even a month clean uncle jack in d cabinet an he already out of d country. if lewwe say something drastic was to happen where his minstry is concerned, we hadda wait for him to fly back from south africa before anything cud be done? uncle jack hadda choose man. is either/or. he cyah have everything.
if i was he, i was stayin fifa. ah cud run more racket dey.
but den again, dis is sweet t&t, an nuttin probably goin an come out of dis. we goin an blow hot air for d next two days, an by monday all ah we forget
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First off rowley iz ah c@nt!! secondly, jack has ah junior minister that could hold it down in his absents. 3rd, jack is no stranger tuh multitasking. i believe rowley was talking bout his own inability tuh hold multiple positions.
love jack or hate him, and trust meh, there's been times if i had seen jack in the streets , i woulda definitely zopp him wid ah rotting orange or some kinda missile and take ah six months in the grove for assault easy easy, that's how much i detested this fellow.
but putting all that aside, it takes ah capable shrude fella tuh produce the results that jack warner is capable of and now after watching how effective this fella could be, i say. that man is definitely and asset to the country, and tuh lose his services would be ah travesty on rowley's dunce head.
all who saying that ah man can't hold multiple offices, is the reason why TNT soooo fackin backward and latadaical!! man here in foreign have two and three positions and doing an effective job of it. TNT ppl too bad mind and envious!! ah bunch ah jealous disruptive fadder fackers.
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First off rowley iz ah c@nt!! secondly, jack has ah junior minister that could hold it down in his absents. 3rd, jack is no stranger tuh multitasking. i believe rowley was talking bout his own inability tuh hold multiple positions.
love jack or hate him, and trust meh, there's been times if i had seen jack in the streets , i woulda definitely zopp him wid ah rotting orange or some kinda missile and take ah six months in the grove for assault easy easy, that's how much i detested this fellow.
but putting all that aside, it takes ah capable shrude fella tuh produce the results that jack warner is capable of and now after watching how effective this fella could be, i say. that man is definitely and asset to the country, and tuh lose his services would be ah travesty on rowley's dunce head.
all who saying that ah man can't hold multiple offices, is the reason why TNT soooo fackin backward and latadaical!! man here in foreign have two and three positions and doing an effective job of it. TNT ppl too bad mind and envious!! ah bunch ah jealous disruptive fadder fackers.
It was on the news tonight...The integrity commission said that Warner can't hold both posts...I don't think the issue revolved around Jack Warner's capability to hold two posts...I think anyone can multi task to some degree...It was whether it was morally or ethically correct or not to do so...
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(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/10%20June%20pg1.png) :devil:
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First off rowley iz ah c@nt!! secondly, jack has ah junior minister that could hold it down in his absents. 3rd, jack is no stranger tuh multitasking. i believe rowley was talking bout his own inability tuh hold multiple positions.
love jack or hate him, and trust meh, there's been times if i had seen jack in the streets , i woulda definitely zopp him wid ah rotting orange or some kinda missile and take ah six months in the grove for assault easy easy, that's how much i detested this fellow.
but putting all that aside, it takes ah capable shrude fella tuh produce the results that jack warner is capable of and now after watching how effective this fella could be, i say. that man is definitely and asset to the country, and tuh lose his services would be ah travesty on rowley's dunce head.
all who saying that ah man can't hold multiple offices, is the reason why TNT soooo fackin backward and latadaical!! man here in foreign have two and three positions and doing an effective job of it. TNT ppl too bad mind and envious!! ah bunch ah jealous disruptive fadder fackers.
It was on the news tonight...The integrity commission said that Warner can't hold both posts...I don't think the issue revolved around Jack Warner's capability to hold two posts...I think anyone can multi task to some degree...It was whether it was morally or ethically correct or not to do so...
D fact dat it eh moral or ethical mean it is JW cup of tea.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161693683&weba=NWSNews
statement released by the integrity Commission
Thursday, June 10th 2010
Following is the statement released by the Integrity Commission on the issue of Jack Warner holding positions in both Government and FIFA.
The question whether Mr Austin Jack Warner should properly be a member of the Cabinet of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago while continuing to serve as vice-president of FIFA is actively in the public sphere and has been brought to the attention of the Integrity Commission.
The Integrity Commission is responsible, inter alia, for the regulation of the conduct of persons exercising public functions, and, for preserving and promoting the integrity of public officials and institutions.
The commission, in effecting this responsibility, is guided by the application of the Code of Conduct as specified in the Integrity in Public Life Act governing persons in public life which reads as follows:
CODE OF CONDUCT
23. This Part applies to a person in public life and to all persons exercising public functions.
24. (1) A person to whom this Part applies shall ensure that he performs his functions and administers the public resources for which he is responsible in an effective and efficient manner and shall-
(a) be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty;
(b) afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual;
(c) arrange his private interests whether pecuniary or otherwise in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in his integrity.
(2) A person to whom this Part applies shall not-
(a) use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interest of any person;
(b) engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof;
(c) use public property or services for activities not related to his official work;
(d) directly or indirectly use his office for private gain.
(3) No person to whom this Part applies shall be a party to or shall undertake any project or activity involving the use of public funds in disregard of the Financial Orders or other Regulations applicable to such funds.
25. A person to whom this Part applies shall not use information that is gained in the execution of his office and which is not available to the general public to further or seek to further his private interests.
26. A person to whom this Part applies shall not use his office to seek to influence a decision made by another person or public body to further his own private interests.
27. (1) A person to whom this Part applies shall not accept a fee, gift or personal benefit, except compensation authorised by law, that is connected directly or indirectly with the performance of the duties of his office
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a gift or personal benefit that is received as an incident of the protocol or social obligations that normally accompany the responsibilities of office.
(3) Where a gift or personal benefit referred to in subsection (2) exceeds five thousand dollars in value or where the total value received directly or indirectly from one source in any twelve-month period exceeds five thousand dollars, a person in public life shall file with his declaration, a statement indicating the nature of the gift or benefit, its source and the circumstances under which it was given or accepted.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the amount of a gift comprising property, other than money, shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the value of the property.
28. Matters of a confidential nature in the possession of persons to whom this Part applies, shall be kept confidential unless the performance of duty or the needs of justice strictly require otherwise, and shall remain confidential even after separation from service.
29. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a conflict of interest is deemed to arise if a person in public life or any person exercising a public function were to make or participate in the making of a decision in the execution of his office and at the same time knows or ought reasonably to have known, that in the making of the decision, there is an opportunity either directly or indirectly to further his private interests or that of a member of his family or any other person.
(2) Where there is a possible or perceived conflict of interest, a person to whom this Part applies, shall disclose his interest in accordance with prescribed procedures and disqualify himself from any decision-making process.
This Code is further buttressed by the Code of Ethics for Parliamentarians, including Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, as approved by Resolution of the House of Representatives on 15th July, 1988.
This Code requires that Cabinet ministers divest themselves of their private interests upon their assumption of public office.
The Commission is of the view that all persons in public life who offer themselves for Cabinet posts, should so organise their affairs in order that there be no breach of the aforementioned Code of Conduct or the Code of Ethics.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/nart?id=161693683&weba=NWSNews
statement released by the integrity Commission
Thursday, June 10th 2010
Following is the statement released by the Integrity Commission on the issue of Jack Warner holding positions in both Government and FIFA.
The question whether Mr Austin Jack Warner should properly be a member of the Cabinet of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago while continuing to serve as vice-president of FIFA is actively in the public sphere and has been brought to the attention of the Integrity Commission.
The Integrity Commission is responsible, inter alia, for the regulation of the conduct of persons exercising public functions, and, for preserving and promoting the integrity of public officials and institutions.
The commission, in effecting this responsibility, is guided by the application of the Code of Conduct as specified in the Integrity in Public Life Act governing persons in public life which reads as follows:
CODE OF CONDUCT
23. This Part applies to a person in public life and to all persons exercising public functions.
24. (1) A person to whom this Part applies shall ensure that he performs his functions and administers the public resources for which he is responsible in an effective and efficient manner and shall-
(a) be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty;
(b) afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual;
(c) arrange his private interests whether pecuniary or otherwise in such a manner as to maintain public confidence and trust in his integrity.
(2) A person to whom this Part applies shall not-
(a) use his office for the improper advancement of his own or his family’s personal or financial interests or the interest of any person;
(b) engage in any transaction, acquire any position or have any commercial or other interest that is incompatible with his office, function and duty or the discharge thereof;
(c) use public property or services for activities not related to his official work;
(d) directly or indirectly use his office for private gain.
(3) No person to whom this Part applies shall be a party to or shall undertake any project or activity involving the use of public funds in disregard of the Financial Orders or other Regulations applicable to such funds.
25. A person to whom this Part applies shall not use information that is gained in the execution of his office and which is not available to the general public to further or seek to further his private interests.
26. A person to whom this Part applies shall not use his office to seek to influence a decision made by another person or public body to further his own private interests.
27. (1) A person to whom this Part applies shall not accept a fee, gift or personal benefit, except compensation authorised by law, that is connected directly or indirectly with the performance of the duties of his office
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a gift or personal benefit that is received as an incident of the protocol or social obligations that normally accompany the responsibilities of office.
(3) Where a gift or personal benefit referred to in subsection (2) exceeds five thousand dollars in value or where the total value received directly or indirectly from one source in any twelve-month period exceeds five thousand dollars, a person in public life shall file with his declaration, a statement indicating the nature of the gift or benefit, its source and the circumstances under which it was given or accepted.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the amount of a gift comprising property, other than money, shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the value of the property.
28. Matters of a confidential nature in the possession of persons to whom this Part applies, shall be kept confidential unless the performance of duty or the needs of justice strictly require otherwise, and shall remain confidential even after separation from service.
29. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a conflict of interest is deemed to arise if a person in public life or any person exercising a public function were to make or participate in the making of a decision in the execution of his office and at the same time knows or ought reasonably to have known, that in the making of the decision, there is an opportunity either directly or indirectly to further his private interests or that of a member of his family or any other person.
(2) Where there is a possible or perceived conflict of interest, a person to whom this Part applies, shall disclose his interest in accordance with prescribed procedures and disqualify himself from any decision-making process.
This Code is further buttressed by the Code of Ethics for Parliamentarians, including Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, as approved by Resolution of the House of Representatives on 15th July, 1988.
This Code requires that Cabinet ministers divest themselves of their private interests upon their assumption of public office.
The Commission is of the view that all persons in public life who offer themselves for Cabinet posts, should so organise their affairs in order that there be no breach of the aforementioned Code of Conduct or the Code of Ethics.
Remember in Animal Farm it strted that no animal must sleep in a bed then it change to no animal must not sleep wit a bed wit sheets. Well dat is d story now all dem ting was applicale b4 d gr8 1 AJW.
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This statement doesn't even offer an explanation as to how Jack Warner is in breach of the Codes of Conduct or Ethics. It states that public officials should divest themselves of private interests... what that mean exactly? They need to speak with clarity and specify how his private interests as a FIFA Exec affects his public duties. Travel and time committments I can see... if that's the case then they need to come right out and say so, not leave it up to speculation.
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BUDGET BY THE PEOPLE
By COREY CONNELLY (T&T Newsday).
For the first time in Trinidad and Tobago’s political history, the new People’s Partnership Government intends to convene a meeting of young people, seeking their views on what should be included in the upcoming annual budget, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said yesterday. This will be part of a concerted effort by the new Government to have all-inclusive discussions on the National Budget before bringing it to the Parliament.
“For the first time, we shall have a special session for the young people of Trinidad and Tobago to be engaged in the process. And today (yesterday), I will use this opportunity in Tunapuna to invite all those young people to come together and to participate in a session that we shall call shortly so that you can make a difference in your ideas on what you feel Trinidad and Tobago needs in this process,” Dookeran announced while delivering the feature address at the formal opening of the Tunapuna Partnership Council, Eastern Main Road, El Dorado.
Dookeran, the Tunapuna MP, said a public announcement would soon be made on the ground-breaking development.
“Change does not come simply by saying it. Change comes by doing it. And doing it is what I will continue to do,” he said amid loud cheers from the audience, most of whom were activists and constituents.
Several Congress of the People members, including attorney Vernon De Lima, former national security minister Joseph Toney, and former president of the Public Services Association Clyde Weatherhead attended the event.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nizam Mohammed and former attorney general Anthony Smart were also present. Dookeran’s announcement came exactly one week after he revealed that the Government would be faced with some challenges in charting the country’s economic future.
He had, however, assured that the Government would still be able to fulfil its promises to the people, which were made during the campaign in the run-up to the May 24 General Election.
Yesterday, the former Central Bank Governor told his audience that he had already begun the process of formulating the new fiscal package, but was forced to revamp the process which had been adopted by the former PNM administration.
Dookeran, who has been meeting with the ministry’s technocrats, said unlike the PNM, the People’s Partnership intended to democratise the process through dialogue with business and labour leaders, civil society representatives and housewives.
“I have begun the process of charting the new budget for Trinidad and Tobago and already we have designed a new approach and I have had discussions with all those in the Ministry of Finance, who in the past, have gone through an exercise which they call a consultation,” he said.
“What they (PNM) called consultation was simply hearing what they have to say, not listening to them and doing what you want to do.
“So, I have told them that my first task is to redesign the consultation process. We can change this name to the dialogue process because we want to begin dialogue with all the stakeholders in the country. Regrettably, we have to do this rather quickly, but we shall commence a new dialogue process with all the stakeholders in the country.
“Those stakeholders will, of course, come from the business sector, the labour sector, civil society and the household sector.”
Acknowledging that expectations were high for a speedy delivery, Dookeran vowed to honour the pledge of the Tunapuna manifesto, through the Partnership Council.
One of the first items on its agenda, he said, would be to publicly honour the contributions of the district’s outstanding citizens.
These include late scholar and economist Lloyd Best, former PNM MP Eddie Hart, surgeon Dr Vijay Narinesingh, calypsonian Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung, renowned pianist Winnifred Atwell and businessman Chanka Seeteram.
Dookeran said the People’s Partnership, a coalition of four Opposition forces, represented a new call to duty.
“We know that we must build a transparent Government, a new kind of Government in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said. “What we have done is broken the politics of the past and embraced a new politics of the future. It is a feat that history must recognise for years to come.”
In an earlier address, historian Dr Brinsley Samaroo gave an overview of the concept for the Tunapuna Partnership Council. He said although the organisation was non-partisan in structure, attempts would be made to break up the Partnership.
“We have to watch that,” he said, urging constituents to assist in easing Dookeran’s burden in his dual role as finance minister and MP.
Samaroo said the Council would comprise an executive and what he referred to as service desk, which would listen to the complaints of constituents.
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Interesting.
Treasury in a mess...so citizens giving suggestions on what they want in the budget.
Lets see how this goes.
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This statement doesn't even offer an explanation as to how Jack Warner is in breach of the Codes of Conduct or Ethics. It states that public officials should divest themselves of private interests... what that mean exactly? They need to speak with clarity and specify how his private interests as a FIFA Exec affects his public duties. Travel and time committments I can see... if that's the case then they need to come right out and say so, not leave it up to speculation.
Thank you sir!
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http://www.youtube.com/v/RzXuI0N9Pow
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DEFIANCE
Land grab continues: squatters say they're too poor
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/shared/images/2010/06/15/n1.jpg)
Richard Charan
Tuesday, June 15th 2010
Citizens continued to build on State property at Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, yesterday, despite Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal’s statement that the new administration would deal with squatters involved in illegal construction.
People were seen chopping down cashew trees and clearing brush, and others were observed putting up single-room shacks along a dirt track. The situation has been described as a ’land grab’ by bona fide residents of the area, who said hundreds of people began moving into the village last week and staking claim to land.
The new arrivals said they were building homes based on the campaign promise of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that no squatter would be evicted. The squatters said they were too poor to afford State housing. Residents, however, said many of the ’squatters’ owned cars and properties elsewhere.
Persad-Bissessar said during a public meeting in the build-up to the May 24 general election in Gasparillo last month that the People’s Partnership administration would not allow the Lands Settlement Agency (LSA), a department of the Housing Ministry, to arbitrarily demolish and evict squatters. (I remember cuz I was there ;D)
Persad-Bissessar said then that she, in her capacity as an attorney, had successfully filed an injunction to prevent scores of squatters from being evicted from lands in her Siparia constituency.
The current land-grab has angered some citizens, who say the State is allowing lawlessness by not acting quickly and decisively against the squatters.
Moonilal said on Sunday that it would be left to the Commissioner of State lands to resolve the issue of squatting on State lands while Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath said squatters would be given the chance to dismantle their homes.
On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said Government would assist in the regularisation process of persons squatting on State lands, but urged people not to build on State lands. None of the newly-built squatting homes were dismantled yesterday.
Cashew Gardens was a development overseen by the United National Congress government and 60 lots, costing $25,000 a lot, were given out seven years ago. Many of the lots were never developed by the owners.
In one area of Cashew Gardens, caution tape was placed around an area of land with a sign stating ’agricultural property’.
Police officers or LSA officials were not seen in the Cashew Gardens area yesterday, said residents who claimed that their new neighbours, some of them members of a religious organisation, had made death threats against people reporting the issue to media and police.
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DEFIANCE
Land grab continues: squatters say they're too poor
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/shared/images/2010/06/15/n1.jpg)
Richard Charan
Tuesday, June 15th 2010
Citizens continued to build on State property at Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, yesterday, despite Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal’s statement that the new administration would deal with squatters involved in illegal construction.
People were seen chopping down cashew trees and clearing brush, and others were observed putting up single-room shacks along a dirt track. The situation has been described as a ’land grab’ by bona fide residents of the area, who said hundreds of people began moving into the village last week and staking claim to land.
The new arrivals said they were building homes based on the campaign promise of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that no squatter would be evicted. The squatters said they were too poor to afford State housing. Residents, however, said many of the ’squatters’ owned cars and properties elsewhere.
Persad-Bissessar said during a public meeting in the build-up to the May 24 general election in Gasparillo last month that the People’s Partnership administration would not allow the Lands Settlement Agency (LSA), a department of the Housing Ministry, to arbitrarily demolish and evict squatters. (I remember cuz I was there ;D)
Persad-Bissessar said then that she, in her capacity as an attorney, had successfully filed an injunction to prevent scores of squatters from being evicted from lands in her Siparia constituency.
The current land-grab has angered some citizens, who say the State is allowing lawlessness by not acting quickly and decisively against the squatters.
Moonilal said on Sunday that it would be left to the Commissioner of State lands to resolve the issue of squatting on State lands while Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath said squatters would be given the chance to dismantle their homes.
On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said Government would assist in the regularisation process of persons squatting on State lands, but urged people not to build on State lands. None of the newly-built squatting homes were dismantled yesterday.
Cashew Gardens was a development overseen by the United National Congress government and 60 lots, costing $25,000 a lot, were given out seven years ago. Many of the lots were never developed by the owners.
In one area of Cashew Gardens, caution tape was placed around an area of land with a sign stating ’agricultural property’.
Police officers or LSA officials were not seen in the Cashew Gardens area yesterday, said residents who claimed that their new neighbours, some of them members of a religious organisation, had made death threats against people reporting the issue to media and police.
Is real ting goin on in Cashew Gdns. Yuh make yuh bed...
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Kamla lets Jack Warner keep both jobs as M.O. Works and Fifa VP. Any surprise here?
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Moonilal said on Sunday that it would be left to the Commissioner of State lands to resolve the issue of squatting on State lands while Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath said squatters would be given the chance to dismantle their homes.
On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said Government would assist in the regularisation process of persons squatting on State lands, but urged people not to build on State lands. None of the newly-built squatting homes were dismantled yesterday.
Is how many different Cabinet members it take to address this issue? Shouldn't the government be speaking with one voice on this matter? As for the issue itself, this is a slap in the face of every citizen of TnT, not only because some ah we work hard to PAY for what we have, but also because that is STATE land, the land belongs to the public, these squatters can't be allowed to put deyself above everybody else and juss huff it juss so.
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Trinidad is place where lawlessness is justified by poverty. This government's position on this is pathetic.
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Kamla lets Jack Warner keep both jobs as M.O. Works and Fifa VP. Any surprise here?
nope
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Kamla lets Jack Warner keep both jobs as M.O. Works and Fifa VP. Any surprise here?
I am shock out of my mind. Neva saw this coming.
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So what allyuh trying to say? Kamla is the Project Manager and Jack is the Prime Minister?
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini, because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: So yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure with a new Gov.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini, because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: Yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure.
Well u c some ah we decide 2 stay and make a difference and not fly d coop. As 4 making a contribution what contribution u makin as I said u cyah even join a chat room discussion but I gossiping when I post I post what I know is d truth. I doh come here and spread rumours. For your lil education I have said many time that the only party I ever supported is NAR ME EH NO PNM CREOLE. Educate yuhself and learn what d word creole mean so next time u can use it in the correck context.
Nah my URP job secure I iz d foreman.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini,because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: So yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure with a new Gov.
Care to elaborate ?
I thought people leave because they had more opportunities outside. I din know it was because they know more than me. Most people frustrated with how things going, have opportunities to leave and still stay.
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Sharpen your political cutlassed my friend, Local Government elections is to be held on the 26th of July...Strap up and prepare for the ride.....AGAIN...!!!
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Squatters' shacks torn down
Gyasi Gonzales gyasi.gonzales@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, June 19th 2010
THE STATE flexed its muscles yesterday, breaking down scores of squatter houses recently erected at Cashew Gardens, Longdenville, Chaguanas.
Squatters began claiming tracts of land since last week, citing that People’s Partnership politicians had promised lands for the homeless while they were on the hustings.
Housing and Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, however, advised them to stop the construction since it was illegal. He also told the squatters the issue would be dealt with, as squatting would not be tolerated.
Around 2.15 p.m. yesterday, a demolition crew arrived at Cashew Gardens along with officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch, Central Division Task Force, Regiment and officers from a private security firm-Smartt Security.
None of the police or soldiers present, who were heavily armed, were involved in actual breaking down of the small huts.
Armed with sledgehammers, crowbars and shovels, the crew began dismantling the small wooden and galvanize houses. Their action was met by defiance, verbal abuse and tears from those who had put up the homes.
’Why my children must suffer,’ said 25-year-old Stacy Ann-Marrasse as the crew began tearing down her hut.
Days earlier, Marasse’s little hut, which was erected the week before, contained a bed, couch, stove, windows and the floor was laid with vinyl. There was no electricity leading to the house but there was a refrigerator and a microwave, all of which she was told to remove or else it would be part of the rubble.
She held court with reporters just before the sledgehammers began pounding down her house, stating, ’They (the People’s Partnership Government) supposed to be making a brighter way for the people. She (Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar) said we will rise but she mean we will fall. Why we children must suffer?’
Her hut was soon no more.
Chief among those protesting the demolition was Selwyn ’Robocop’ Alexis. He too claimed land, about five acres, stating that he was going to use it for agriculture to get errant youths out of a life of crime and into farming. He too was not spared yesterday, with his little camp being among the first structures to be ripped down. Alexis, however, told the media that some of the recent squatters were spared, adding ’what they could do to one they could do to all’.
Justice of the Peace and operation’s manager for Smartt Security, Hamid Mohammed, later told reporters some homes were spared because they could not yet ascertain whether they were legitimate or not. He also explained that when they entered the area, a lot of the hastily-erected shacks were unoccupied, adding people only returned when they heard the demolition crew had moved in.
’I can’t say whether this is a humane action or not, I am simply a servant of the State,’ Mohammed said.
The Land and Settlement Agency (LSA) Act, which came into effect on January 1, 1998, authorises the State to demolish any illegally constructed house on State lands. The law further states that the occupier of the land is, ’liable to ejectment according to law without any compensation or pecuniary benefit’.
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Demolition at Cashew Gardens
Donstan Bonn
Saturday, June 19th 2010
A contingent of heavily armed police and soldiers and members of Smart Security Services moved in yesterday on home dwellers who recently constructed illegal houses on state lands, in Cashew Gardens, Longdenville.
According to Hamid Mohammed, Operations Manager of Smart Security and a Justice of the Peace, the demolition exercise was approved by the Land Settlement Agency.
"We were hired by the Estate Management Business Development Corporation to demolish the illegally erected properties. We are only acting under instruction."
Many home owners were distraught, including this young mother.
Check Video Out Here (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/videos?s=VIDEOS)
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People’s Partnership puts pause on some promises
By RICHARDSON DHALAI Monday, July 5 2010
FINANCE Minister Winston Dookeran...
FINANCE Minister Winston Dookeran has admitted that Government would have to shelve some of its programmes which the People’s Partnership promised during the General Election campaign. The country’s economic indicators, he said, point to declining revenue.
“Well, we are not flat out, but all our indicators are declining so we have to arrest the decline. Our job is to restore and prevent that decline,” he said.
However, the Finance Minister assured that one election promise that would be kept — the increase in old age pension to $3,000 per month. He reiterated that the conversion from Senior Citizens Grant back to Old Age Pension was a campaign promise.
“It was a mandate that we received from the people and mandates that are given to us by the people must be honoured. And if it has to require a change in priorities of expenditure, we will do so,” Dookeran said.
He also said Government is not letting down on GATE.
“In fact, GATE would be expanded,” he said.
Dookeran made the statements when he addressed the handing-over ceremony for incoming Penal Rotary Club president, Clint Arjoon, at Paria Suites on Saturday evening. The new president took over from attorney Kevin Ratiram.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said at Friday’s launch of its Local Government election campaign in Chaguanas, that the necessary legislation will soon be introduced in Parliament to facilitate the changing of the grant to Old Age pension.
“We are working on the legislation and I’m working on the financing proposals for it, but it won’t be without cost. Some other proposals will have to be taken off to allow this to happen. But it’s a mandate.
“It is a commitment that we want to have a minimum level of support to those in the community who have worked so hard in the past. So there is a philosophical intent in what we are doing and it is part of what I call the inclusion,” Dookeran said.
Asked by reporters to identify what programmes would be given priority by Government in the upcoming budget, Dookeran said his Finance Ministry was currently engaged in identifying them.
Also, he said, the Ministry will be holding consultations with various stakeholders in the country to solicit their views on what they would like to see in the budget.
“I want to hear from them what their expectations are and we’ll be doing other groups for the whole week in full-day sessions, to get what the expectations for people are,” Dookeran said.
During his address, Dookeran urged the business community to explore new and emerging markets, and cited the Brazilian market as a place for businessmen to market their products and services.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini, because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: Yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure.
Well u c some ah we decide 2 stay and make a difference and not fly d coop. As 4 making a contribution what contribution u makin as I said u cyah even join a chat room discussion but I gossiping when I post I post what I know is d truth. I doh come here and spread rumours. For your lil education I have said many time that the only party I ever supported is NAR ME EH NO PNM CREOLE. Educate yuhself and learn what d word creole mean so next time u can use it in the correck context.
Nah my URP job secure I iz d foreman.
but ent you said you were voting or voted for the election? if people want change they should vote no? not voting is also not helping the situation and shows that the particular person is happy with the current regime and doesnt feel the need for change.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini, because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: Yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure.
Well u c some ah we decide 2 stay and make a difference and not fly d coop. As 4 making a contribution what contribution u makin as I said u cyah even join a chat room discussion but I gossiping when I post I post what I know is d truth. I doh come here and spread rumours. For your lil education I have said many time that the only party I ever supported is NAR ME EH NO PNM CREOLE. Educate yuhself and learn what d word creole mean so next time u can use it in the correck context.
Nah my URP job secure I iz d foreman.
but ent you said you were voting or voted for the election? if people want change they should vote no? not voting is also not helping the situation and shows that the particular person is happy with the current regime and doesnt feel the need for change.
Where did I say I was not voting.
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The only thing I hate about Kamala victory is Jack Warner and MAYBE Anand Ramlogan, he kinda suspicious and look like another Ramesh Maharaj in the making.
When u figure out dat d AG suspicious b4 or after u figured out dat Manning and I was sweating up d sheets while Hazel was in d HYATT.
Dis from a man who would not even join a chatoom discussion 2 c what could be done bout d suspicious fella.
LOUDESTTTTTTTTTTTTTT OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS. Typical foreign base Trini who knows more about what going on here than we who living here and not 2 mention wukin in d Public Service.
Whole day you keep chatoom discussions and not one ass coming out of it, just running up yuh dam mouth all day like some bagga cat.
Yes, de foreign Trinis know more that is why we left flicking Trini, because is ah bunch ah asshole running de country and screwing they own people who by de way, cant stand up for themselves and only begging de foreign Trinis for help in de discussion rooms.
Look a foreign Trini site yuh on whole day, why yuh doh go and post on de local Trini site like de pro league one, steups, you and yuh typical PNM ole creole mentality, quick quick to judge and only gossiping.
PS: Yuh woking Public Service, no wonder yuh like Manning, he give yuh unlimited 10-days, now yuh job unsecure.
Well u c some ah we decide 2 stay and make a difference and not fly d coop. As 4 making a contribution what contribution u makin as I said u cyah even join a chat room discussion but I gossiping when I post I post what I know is d truth. I doh come here and spread rumours. For your lil education I have said many time that the only party I ever supported is NAR ME EH NO PNM CREOLE. Educate yuhself and learn what d word creole mean so next time u can use it in the correck context.
Nah my URP job secure I iz d foreman.
but ent you said you were voting or voted for the election? if people want change they should vote no? not voting is also not helping the situation and shows that the particular person is happy with the current regime and doesnt feel the need for change.
Where did I say I was not voting.
yuh getting tie up or wha? yuh jus tell sam yuh only vote for nar, now yuh saying where yuh say you not voting?
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Now ize probably one of de man biggest fans with de nonsense eh buh i was more than a little confused when i see dis (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/97827774.html)
HERBALIST Trevor Sayers will be representing the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) for the People's Partnership in the upcoming Local Government elections.
Dis campaign go be interesting. He go raise de bar with de political advertisements.
More gems like dis are in the imminent future:
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v=PaKX_Zr__Ts
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Now ize probably one of de man biggest fans with de nonsense eh buh i was more than a little confused when i see dis (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/97827774.html)
HERBALIST Trevor Sayers will be representing the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) for the People's Partnership in the upcoming Local Government elections.
Dis campaign go be interesting. He go raise de bar with de political advertisements.
More gems like dis are in the imminent future:
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/PaKX_Zr__Ts
Breads I remember oon election night when ever they showed Rienzi on TV, Trevor Sayers was the man u seeing jumping up the most in the crowd, and daiz before any seat was declared.
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Now ize probably one of de man biggest fans with de nonsense eh buh i was more than a little confused when i see dis (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/97827774.html)
HERBALIST Trevor Sayers will be representing the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) for the People's Partnership in the upcoming Local Government elections.
Dis campaign go be interesting. He go raise de bar with de political advertisements.
More gems like dis are in the imminent future:
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/PaKX_Zr__Ts
Breads I remember oon election night when ever they showed Rienzi on TV, Trevor Sayers was the man u seeing jumping up the most in the crowd, and daiz before any seat was declared.
Me eh vex with dat. De man have a right to be free to support any party he chooses.
Now ize a man who does encourage wileness and ting off kicks buh lets stop and be real here.
TREVOR SAYERS...for LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.
:-X
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PH drivers to get special licences (http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/07/08/ph-drivers-get-special-licences)
In a radical move aimed at assisting the travelling public, the Government is set to legalise the operations of PH taxi drivers. Acting Prime Minister Jack Warner confirmed this yesterday in an interview with the T&T Guardian. Warner, who is also Works and Transport Minister, said the measure would be implemented with the aim of assisting commuters in several remote districts across the country. Warner said the proposal had already been “discussed internally” and a note is to be taken by him to Cabinet shortly for consideration and approval.
He said several PH taxi drivers are to be regularised as a result of the proposed step. Under existing legislation, the operations of PH taxis are illegal. Asked to explain how the measure will work, Warner said: “Special licences are to be issued to the PH drivers to allow them to operate legally in remote areas of the country. “The special licence will authorise the PH drivers to ply their trade legally... commuters will benefit from insurance coverage, which will now be provided,” he added.
Warner said the PH cars will retain their number plates, which will not be altered to “H.” He added that the details of the initiative were still to be worked out. President of the Alternative Transport Association Gerard Whyms yesterday welcomed Warner’s announcement. Whyms said PH taxis must be “regularised and brought under the transportion structure in T&T.” The previous PNM administration had contemplated a crackdown on PH drivers, following the deaths of passengers sometime ago. That proposed action sparked a national debate on whether the operations should be regulated or closed down.
...
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
:-X
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
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Roll up the tassa Bissessar
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/cWIb-JY1dgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWIb-JY1dgw
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
tanti have moves what wrong with alyuh :mackdaddy:
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Anyone else get this email? Dancing Kamla! :rotfl:
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4780063526_bdc7fbcf99_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4780063952_1309827dd2_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4780063358_b7d90efbe5_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4780063196_ce899cc836_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4780063680_65dfc0ef5a_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4779430477_789229b37d_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4780064104_0af4766ed4_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4780064242_c5a7de5c6f_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4780064368_7ab84f598d_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4780064512_90fef4cf5a_o.jpg)
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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It have real idle people oui
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lol i think they should start banning internet in trinidad now :rotfl: :rotfl:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzWM-JV5VdU
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Kamla blanks Bakr
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99292684.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99292684.html)
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night turned down a request made yesterday by Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Imam Yasin Abu Bakr that the two meet to discuss the State's decision to sell off the assets of the organisation.
On Sunday, an advertisement was placed in the newspapers to invite interested persons to an auction of land and buildings previously owned by Bakr in several locations across Trinidad.
The ad was placed even as the Government announced on Thursday that it would launch a commission of enquiry into the attempted coup.
The State is seeking to recover a $32 million debt that resulted from the destruction of Police Headquarters during the 1990 coup attempt.
The attempted coup was led by Abu Bakr, and at least 24 people were killed before the insurgents surrendered and were later freed based on an amnesty agreement. Today is the 20th anniversary of the failed coup. (See Page 9)
Told about Abu Bakr's request for a meeting last night, Persad-Bissessar said, "I think such a meeting should be held by lawyers who will represent the Government."
She said the issue was not political, but legal.
Earlier yesterday, Persad-Bissessar responded to statements made by Bakr that the auction was "unlawful and illegal" and the planned move was a state of desperation by the new government.
Persad-Bissessar said, "This matter would best be answered by the Attorney General. But the Government has already indicated such and so the advertisement for auction would be out tomorrow."
She was still unable to say who the members of the commission of enquiry would be.
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lol i think they should start banning internet in trinidad now :rotfl: :rotfl:
:rotfl:
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Source:..http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/99525304.html
Pledges, promises and performance
By Reginald Dumas
The Local Government election is over, and with it the pledges and promises made. Actually, from what I was reading, and hearing from others, and from the little I saw on TV, there didn't seem to be many pledges and promises at all.
Rather, I had the impression of an overabundance of personality attacks from both opposing sides on each other. The scope of these attacks was even broadened to include an Independent Senator. She had given voice to what many people were saying, but now, for speaking up, she was promptly assigned membership of the other party and skewered accordingly.
We also heard about the wickedness—it must be wickedness—of the Prime Minister dancing in Jamaica, as if dancing is an activity to be viewed with Puritan, or perhaps Talibanic, horror. Perhaps Patrick Manning will have to pastor in hell for having danced with Hazel?
It was all very disappointing, and makes me unconfident about performance to come.
The truth, and we all know it, is that political parties, once in office, generally do not keep many of their electoral promises. Often they do not intend to, because they know they can't: the promises were simply cynical come-ons to attract votes. Sometimes they do intend to, but are blocked by circumstances which they didn't anticipate or which are more formidable than anticipated; reality kicks in. Remember Obama's campaign pledge to close Guantánamo quickly?
The only government I can remember offhand that delivered on what seemed like most of its promises within days of taking office was the administration of Bob Hawke in Australia in the early 1980s. Even at a distance of several thousand miles, I was left breathless by Hawke's speed.
But Hawke was an aberration; governments usually take more time in their early months. I therefore find strange the repeated PNM criticism that the PP administration isn't keeping its word. To be sure, the PP has made missteps, the bulk of them avoidable, and I have publicly expressed reservations about certain aspects of its approach and behaviour. However, can it seriously be argued that after a mere two months in office, the government should or could have fulfilled all, or most, of its manifesto promises? Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a far shrewder politician than she has been given credit for, but Bob Hawke she ain't. Continue..http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/99525304.html
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..doh worry I also post on different sites (sites more popular than this) .. what is in the dark will come to light..
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Dumas has been a critic of the PNM for the longest while. Not that criticsm is bad thing but some level of balance is necessary. Its kind of pathetic that he resorting to criticism of the PNM's criticism of the new government's decisions thus far.Did anybody say anything about the Prime Minister dancing anyway?
I'm not sure if Dumas expects the Opposition to be quiet about appointing an active politician as chairman of the PSC.What about plans to basically neglect if not mash up UTT and E-Teck ? There was no word from Dumas when the Minister of Finance rather clumsily tried to hoodwink the country.
Granted that it is foolhardy to legitmately point fingers at broken promises within two weeks office. I think Dumas is overstating that rhetoric.
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Dookeran axes Financial Centre (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99525284.html)
The vision of an International Financial Centre (IFC) in Port of Spain is over, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said yesterday. In fact, Dookeran said the Trinidad and Tobago IFC, which was to be housed in two 26-storey towers at Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, was "an idea that never should have been born".
State special-purpose company e Teck may also be about to undergo a restructuring process, he said. The towers were part of a $2 billion international Waterfront project, which included the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel. Tower C and Tower D cost taxpayers $1.3 billion and were completed in 2008 by the previous People's National Movement (PNM) administration.
Discussions to turn the towers into the Caribbean headquarters of international banking and financial powerhouses, however, were stalled with the onset of the global economic meltdown, and the towers remained practically empty until government ministries started occupying several floors.
"The economics of the IFC were never there" from the time the towers were completed, Dookeran told reporters, following a luncheon address to American Chamber of Commerce members at the Hyatt Regency.
The IFC idea also faced legal challenges to make it a reality.
"The legal and taxation framework were not there," Dookeran said.
The IFC under the previous PNM government was designed to be a financial platform for international banks and finance houses, similar to IFCs in Dubai, the Middle East and Asia.
Earlier during his address, Dookeran said the IFC idea in Port of Spain should not have been created, and the new People's Partnership would now have to redesign the IFC concept as a means of increasing investment promotion. A ministry task force has been assessing options for the new IFC.
Dookeran said the ministry was exploring new options to convert the IFC into an investment-promotion entity that would actively go after investors who want to come to Trinidad and Tobago.
There is also the need for a new investment promotion vehicle because there has been a "missing link" in promoting Trinidad and Tobago since the demise of the Tourism and Industrial Development Company (Tidco), he said.
Dookeran is projecting US$2 billion worth of investments to start in the country next year, and he expects to convert the IFC into a permanent liability company to drive the investment thrust forward.
Another issue is the Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company (e TecK), a special-purpose company set up in 2003 to develop new industries. The company says it is nearing completion of its Tamana InTech Park at Wallerfield, which will be a science and light industrial park.
Responding to questions from AmCham members, Dookeran said, "e Teck has been a sore spot not only because the building is still not complete, but the bills are starting to rise."
He said the company would be restructured in the context of investment promotion.
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Dookeran is projecting US$2 billion worth of investments to start in the country next year, and he expects to convert the IFC into a permanent liability company to drive the investment thrust forward.
Et tu Dooks ? Methinks thou dost pulleth numbers from the atmosphere.
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Dookeran is projecting US$2 billion worth of investments to start in the country next year, and he expects to convert the IFC into a permanent liability company to drive the investment thrust forward.
Et tu Dooks ? Methinks thou dost pulleth numbers from the atmosphere.
YEPPPPPP
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Govt halts OJTs (http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2010/08/01/govt-halts-ojts-pg-3)
The brake has been put on the recruitment of On-the-Job Training Programme trainees until the start of the new fiscal year in October. Sunday Guardian understands the move comes as a result of a $12 million deficit on the programme’s budgetary allocation. The programme was allocated $155 million for the period 2009/2010 for the recruitment of 10,000 personnel. However, data obtained by Sunday Guardian from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education under which OJT falls, revealed that total expenditure to date is $167,565,728.03. Contacted on the issue the relevant minister Fazal Karim says that the programme is not being scrapped but admits that the budget is strained.
“I want to state categorically that absolutely no directives were given for OJT to stop. The programme is currently being reviewed and definitely going to be improved. What has happened is that as we are moving to the end of the fiscal year. The budgetary quota has been reduced. We cannot have people working and not receiving any salary,” Karim said. As a result the deficit, Sunday Guardian learned, has caused the ministry to review department budgets to assist with the payment of salaries and reimbursements to companies.
The ministry reimburses companies 50 per cent of the approved stipend. Payments vary from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the level of certification.
Sunday Guardian understands up to last Friday OJT trainees had not received monies. The OJT programme caters to students between the ages of 16 and 35 aiming to provide them with the necessary training for the job market. Since its inception in 2002, the database of OJT has been bombarded with over 90,000 applications from students all seeking training to enter the job market. A total of 62,000 have successfully received training from the programme so far, with an additional 10,000 students enrolling every year. However, the halt of the OJT programme has raised concerns among some students seeking employment. The students claimed that they were informed by education officials the programme had been scrapped until 2011 because of lack of funding.
“Many of us were turned away from education offices in south and central Trinidad when we went to collect applications forms. Nobody knows what exactly is going on. One person said directives were given for scrapping until next year, while another person is saying that there is no money to continue the programme. “If you do not have work experience you cannot get a job anywhere? So, we need to know exactly what is going on?” one student’s concern.
OJT to be upgraded
Meanwhile, Karim said his ministry is currently considering certifying trainees participating in the programme. He said the implementation of the T&T National Vocational Qualification unit is going to set up to assist with upgrading the move. “Trainees now entering the system are going to be assessed and evaluated. At the end of the apprenticeship they will receive certificates that will be recognised by other institutions and companies. No longer will trainees be leaving empty handed but they will be certified in their required field.” On the issue of the teaching-assistants programme being relocated to the education ministry, Karim said no decision has been made. “The issue is still being reviewed.”
Two weeks ago Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Fazal Karim said suggestions were made for the OJT teacher-training programme be removed from his portfolio to ensure proper training is available. Only recently OJT implemented a Life Skills Training component to the programme. The programme is geared at equipping students with goal-setting, communication skills, personal and financial management and responsible social behaviour.
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hard luck youths. too bad half of them couldnt/didnt vote
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hard luck youths. too bad half of them couldnt/didnt vote
Trust me. A lot of dem did. De question is for who.
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OJT has a knack for mucking up so first people thought it was an administrative error. Word got out that the Ministry of Finance did not release sufficient funds to pay all OJTs. I heard that they switch from a quarterly disbursement to a monthly one with the change in government. The way OJT works is they have to check time sheets to calculate stipends. They're really anal about it but they would usually dock pay for days lost in the previous month. So generally funds would be available, payments would go out and any errors would be corrected by the next month. I suspect that there will a contraction of the programme or these problems will continue.
In terms of the 'upgrades' the Minister spoke about actually already exists. That is Assessment and Certification for trainees who complete the programme. They're just bringing it under the TTNVQ.
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hard luck youths. too bad half of them couldnt/didnt vote
Trust me. A lot of dem did. De question is for who.
PP
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hard luck youths. too bad half of them couldnt/didnt vote
Trust me. A lot of dem did. De question is for who.
PP
Obviouslyt they wanted 2 rise
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US Embassy official 'farse and out of place' (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99917989.html)
PUBLIC Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy, Matthew Cassetta, is "farse and out of place", says Sport and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Roberts.
"As a minister here to serve the people, if the media asks me a question, I choose to answer, I choose not to say no comment...because the media represents the views of the people," he said.
Roberts was speaking at a press conference at the ministry's head office in Port of Spain yesterday in response to criticisms by Casseta that he followed the wrong protocol in his response to an Express reporter who approached him after he spoke to someone protesting about the embassy's visa system.
On Sunday, Roberts told the Express that the US Embassy should give citizens a better explanation for denying them visas.
And yesterday, Casseta was quoted in the Guardian as saying that Roberts should have followed protocol and sent a diplomatic note regarding any complaints.
"I couched my statement very carefully and followed protocols, in fact after our swearing in, the first minister I spoke to was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, and I shared with him my concerns and it was enunciated by the protestor there on the Promenade on Emancipation Day," Roberts said yesterday.
Additionally, Roberts said the issue was discussed in Cabinet and the Minister of Foreign Affairs has started negotiations and discussions with the relevant officials.
"Now it seems as if people did not hear that part, but I then went on to say in my own capacity as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs that I know of cases involving two athletes...furthermore I have made many requests through writing letters and diplomatic notes and not once have I received a note saying 'minister we have received your letter'," he said.
As such, a visibly annoyed Roberts called on Cassetta to explain why he in turn chose to address the issue via the very media.
"Because I would suggest to him that he is a guest in this country. No one elected him...and I think the official from the embassy is farse and out of place to be discussing in the newspaper that a minister of government in this country is out of place to be asking him anything. So I think the shoe is on the other foot and he should read his diplomatic manual before commenting," he said.
Calls to the Embassy yesterday afternoon to get Cassetta to respond proved futile as he had already left and no other official wanted to comment.
A July 2009 report compiled by the Office of the Inspector General in the US Department of State with regard to the operations of the embassy located in Trinidad and Tobago has stated that once a individual meets the requirement for a visa they cannot be turned down nor can someone be turned down if in the past they have had a US visa.
The report can be viewed by logging on to www.oig.state.gov
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Between dis and the extradition..i wondering wha de hell going on.
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I following this thing past couple days and Roberts is ah c**t... he moving like ah real country bookie come to town. The US official correct, you as a big Minister doh go to the newspapers to complain about what going on at the US Embassy. The man was right in saying that there are proper protocols in place for raising such grievances when the source fo those grievances is a government Minister.
As for Cassetta commenting in the newspaper, perhaps he should have said there are proper channels for conversation between us and the TnT Government, but he not attacking government procedures in the press the way that Roberts is. Guest or not he right to dress back Roberts. Roberts is a low-level functionary... Ministry of Sport eh no big portfolio fuh him to be carrying on swell-headed like that. In the end whomever the US decide to admit into their country, and how they go about it is their business... we eh have to like it.
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I miss the opening salvo so I didn't hear exactly what Anil said and in what forum (I think it was at an Emancipation function and the media asked him a question....but like I said I eh see or hear for mih self). But yes Bakes ah feel ah want to agree with yuh on this one. There is a time and place for everything.....he and Calamity Cornelis need to know when to uuuummm......."shut up".
I find Anil should spend he time commenting on Jackie boy/TTFF vs. players, dat right up he alley......
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Roberts has the deft touch of a young elephant. I don't expect anything more from a man who believes talking loud is the same as making sense.
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Roberts has the deft touch of a young elephant. I don't expect anything more from a man who believes talking loud is the same as making sense.
Indeed!
Expect plenty more calamities from this fellah, he so since fatima days.
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Roberts has the deft touch of a young elephant. I don't expect anything more from a man who believes talking loud is the same as making sense.
Like all yuh 4get dis is d country where a fella name Sugar Aloes say Robbie take down d cock and put up a dragon and meh man Patrick instruct Imbert in d death of nite 2 take down d dragon and put up a dove. In TNT u eh have 2 b loud just say sumting more than once and is gospel.
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Allyuh should take a look at the OIG report they going on about in the press (http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/129778.pdf)... very informative. It shows the difference between a progressive country and... TnT. Imagine the government self have ah independent body to investigate and criticize it's agencies to ensure efficiency and adherence to laws. This only underscores the American diplomat's position... Trinidad on the other hand have a vaille-qui-vaille way of doing things. Some nobody Minister of Sport taking it upon heself to criticize a foreign government, when that is the role of either the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the Executive himself. You don't criticize an ally government in the press you pursue it thru the diplomatic channels.
Besides, the OIG report made it clear that the ills it describes occurred under Roy Austin's watch, and are largely the product of his personal meddling in Embassy protocol and processes. To turn around and criticize the Embassy (and by extension the US State Department/Government- circa page 28) is poor form... especially when they made it clear that they are about the business of trying to correct past errors.
People should really take a look at the report and see for themselves how the problems (particularly as it relates to the Public Relations and Visa Issuance offices) deteriorated under Bush Vincentian stooge, Roy Austin.
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THE United States Embassy should give citizens of this country a better explanation for denying them visas, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts said yesterday.
Speaking with the Express during the re-enactment of the Declaration of Emancipation on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain yesterday, Roberts said he agreed with some of the issues raised by a man who carried two placards objecting to the US visa policy.
"As citizen we want a good relationship with the US, we are friends, we are trading partners but really and truly more explanation should be given to citizens as to why they are being denied," Roberts said.
The protester Addil Abdullah, who said that he did not want a US visa, held placards during the emancipation celebrations in Port of Spain.
Roberts, who was near Abdullah as he stood in the crowd, told Abdullah that he agreed with some of the things he was saying and added that he hoped that the citizens would not line up in the "hot sun" waiting for a US visa either.
Roberts referred to two incidents involving sporting personnel -- national footballer Sean de Silva and former national high jumper Janille Prime -- both of whom were denied visas to enter the United States to continue their studies.
"These things are very worrisome, it appears that there is no clear policy that we could understand," Roberts said adding that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Surujrattan Rambachan would have talks with them (the US Embassy) "with a view of getting some sort of clarity".
Rambachan, in a telephone interview, yesterday said that it is the "right of a country to deny entrants" adding that the right sort of conversation must take place and continue to take place between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
He added that since assuming office in May, 18 students seeking to further their education in the United States sought his help in acquiring visas after they were denied by the American Embassy.
Abdullah's protest come on the heels of last weeks visit by Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Dr Arturo Valenzuela.
During his three-day visit, Valenzuela said that about 70 per cent of the 36,000 visa applications each year from Trinidad and Tobago nationals are approved.
Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy Matthew Cassetta said yesterday that there are no plans to change the US visa policy.
Aug 2, 2010
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/99738779.html
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Sports Minister Anil Roberts makes no apologies, for publicly calling on the U.S. embassy to give reasons for rejecting some visa applications.
The Minister says he was responding to questions posed by the media during Emancipation Day celebrations in Port of Spain.
Mr. Robert’s public questioning of the U.S. embassy’s visa policy has been criticised by spokesman Matthew Cassettas who said the minister should follow diplomatic processes.
He said he told reporters Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan was apprised of the situation and was dealing with it.
Minister Roberts said he has nothing to apologise for and will always speak out for the people.
http://www.i955fm.com/News.aspx?id=8942
(http://www.i955fm.com/News.aspx?id=8942)
3rd August 2010.
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Newly installed U.S ambassador to Port of Spain, Beatrice Welters says the visa process at the embassy is done according to the letter of the law.
Ms. Welters says the embassy takes the letter of the law very seriously and all processes are according to U.S legal norms, especially those in the Immigration and Naturalisation Act of 1952.
Mrs. Welters’ explanation follows criticisms from Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts who says the visa selection process has not been a fair one.
She says U.S visa processes seem to be of great interest to many in the Caribbean.
According to Mrs. Welters, as a sovereign country the U.S.A is committed to balancing border security needs with welcoming and encouraging travel to the United States.
She says thus far, the embassy has processed over 20 thousand visa applications, approving 71 percent for visa issuance.
The U.S diplomat says she has personally seen consular officers at work interviewing applicants and can affirm that they are courteous and effective in dealing with the public.
Minister Roberts believes that the embassy should explain to applicants the reasons for their rejection.
His position was responded to by a spokesman for the embassy Matthew Cassetas, triggering a public dispute.
http://www.i955fm.com/News.aspx?id=8967
(http://www.i955fm.com/News.aspx?id=8967)
5th August 2010.
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Saying the people of Trinidad and Tobago had nothing to gain by "insulting" the people who conducted American business in Trinidad and Tobago, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley suggested yesterday Sport Minister Anil Roberts's criticisms of a US Embassy official should not be encouraged.
"One has to bear in mind that where there are actions, there are consequences and those consequences may not be for the minister. They are for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and we have nothing to gain by insulting the people who conduct American business in Trinidad and Tobago.
"If there are issues here, there is a proper way to treat with them as we have treated with them for decades," Rowley said. He added: "What we are seeing here is a kind of governance which is reckless. And the Prime Minister should talk to her minister and tell him that is not how it should be done".
Rowley said foreign affairs was a very sensitive matter, and a minister of Government in Trinidad and Tobago ought not to be taking that position in that way.
"If there are issues with the United States government and its embassy's actions here, those issues are required to be dealt with by the portfolio that has that responsibility—the Ministry for Foreign Affairs," he said, adding the ministry would know how to handle it so as not to create offence.
On the situation of the flooding situation, Rowley was asked to respond to the contention the flooding was partly the result of People's National Movement (PNM) neglect.
Rowley said: "We accept no responsibility for acts of God, and when politicians talk foolishness, after a while, people would understand that there is sense and nonsense."
"We had an unusually heavy downpour for a number of hours; the watercourses have a certain carrying capacity, and whenever every once in a while you get excessively heavy rain, not only in Trinidad and Tobago but anywhere else in the world, you get watercourse problems, whether there are small drains or large rivers, " he said.
"The Government is still campaigning. Somebody should tell the Government that the elections are over. They should get on with running the country, and talking foolishness about the last government when you have matters of this nature is just an excuse to make news and to have photo opportunities and to not assume responsibility for the country's challenges.
"We all know that a lot of our population live within or close to watercourses. Insofar as is engineeringly possible, you can, in some way, modify those watercourses and that would usually take care of most of the situation. But every so often, there is excessively heavy rainfall or you may have blockage of streams, and that would create some challenges.
"So for the Government to get up every time they are called upon to discharge their responsibility, to be referring to the previous government, then we should have left the country with the previous government," he said.
"The rainfall had nothing to do with the PNM," he added.
Rowley said he was surprised to hear a UNC (United National Congress minister (Jack Warner) talking about creating a drainage entity. "These are policies being made on the hoof," he said, adding the Government had a lot of say when the PNM came up with the idea of a Revenue Authority, another special-purpose entity created under statute to do a particular job.
He said such statements do not come out of any Cabinet position.
"There are ministers shooting their mouths all over the place," he said, adding the country was still awaiting coherent policy from the Government.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/100095454.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/100095454.html)
Aug 6, 2010
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Allyuh should take a look at the OIG report they going on about in the press (http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/129778.pdf)... very informative. It shows the difference between a progressive country and... TnT. they are about the business of trying to correct past errors.
I read it Bakes and it was very informative indeed.
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
which part?
"The rainfall had nothing to do with the PNM," he added.
yes. correck.
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the rainfall has nothing to do with the pnm but the poor drainage does.
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the rainfall has nothing to do with the pnm but the poor drainage does.
Y D drains eh fix 95-01? When we go strt blamin d people who bbuild dey house at d river bank/who throwin rubbish in d drains etc. Is only poor drainage?
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Allyuh should take a look at the OIG report they going on about in the press (http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/129778.pdf)... very informative. It shows the difference between a progressive country and... TnT. they are about the business of trying to correct past errors.
I read it Bakes and it was very informative indeed.
I fine dat ting read more like ah objective report on bacchanal...who fren up wit who,, who local is de confidant to de yankee, who waste money on party instead ah de wukk...low morale, poor wukkin conditions...local and yankee fightin in de office is "endemic and systemic"
de report even take time to waste dong P.O.S.
Trinibago culture infeck de yankee psyche :wavetowel:......WE REACH!!!
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Rowley said he was surprised to hear a UNC (United National Congress minister (Jack Warner) talking about creating a drainage entity. "These are policies being made on the hoof," he said, adding the Government had a lot of say when the PNM came up with the idea of a Revenue Authority, another special-purpose entity created under statute to do a particular job.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/100095454.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/100095454.html)
Aug 6, 2010
:rotfl: :rotfl:
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Trinibago culture infeck de yankee psyche :wavetowel:......WE REACH!!!
Austin is ah Vincy... dat was de first mistake.
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transformation of licensing, drainage entity/..ALL PNM Iniatives....signed sealed and delivered...PNM
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
So if d fella was not a clown he would have known dat he no longer d drunk on 102 but d drunk in Parliament. All d joker had to say I will refer your concerns to Suruj as he is d Min of Foriegn Affairs dat 2 difficult. But then again he mentor stoppping hanging and he is d Min of Works so I understand y he open he trap.
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
You talking ah emotional pack ah ass.
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
Cool,
I differ with you there bro. The complaints are legit. I have heard about those conditions for years. The previous gov't should have voiced their complaints about the shitty conditions. But The ministry of foreign affars should be dealing with that
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transformation of licensing, drainage entity/..ALL PNM Iniatives....signed sealed and delivered...PNM
Which is why ah was pissed with Patrick et al. Instead of annoying the hell out of the citizens every Monday morning, just get the damn job done!! The Hobbit was complaining last week that some thing Jack say he going to do was his idea.....steups!!! So why the arse after 7 - 8 years yuh eh do it??!!
I know all these plans are the PNM's but why after so long in Government these things didn't come to fruition I'll never know steups!!
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
So if d fella was not a clown he would have known dat he no longer d drunk on 102 but d drunk in Parliament. All d joker had to say I "am dissatisfied with the lack of accountability regarding the visa denials process and I"will refer your concerns to Suruj as he is d Min of Foriegn Affairs dat 2 difficult. But then again he mentor stoppping hanging and he is d Min of Works so I understand y he open he trap.
Look ah correk it for yuh............................. ;D
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
So if d fella was not a clown he would have known dat he no longer d drunk on 102 but d drunk in Parliament. All d joker had to say I "am dissatisfied with the lack of accountability regarding the visa denials process and I"will refer your concerns to Suruj as he is d Min of Foriegn Affairs dat 2 difficult. But then again he mentor stoppping hanging and he is d Min of Works so I understand y he open he trap.
Look ah correk it for yuh............................. ;D
Thanks eh :beermug:
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transformation of licensing, drainage entity/..ALL PNM Iniatives....signed sealed and delivered...PNM
Which is why ah was pissed with Patrick et al. Instead of annoying the hell out of the citizens every Monday morning, just get the damn job done!! The Hobbit was complaining last week that some thing Jack say he going to do was his idea.....steups!!! So why the arse after 7 - 8 years yuh eh do it??!!
I know all these plans are the PNM's but why after so long in Government these things didn't come to fruition I'll never know steups!!
Brown govt doh implement d Public Service does. So unless dey put some measures in place 2 deal wit d non performers in d PS nutten happening. Dat is d biggest poblem in TNT dem dead weight serpents at all levels. So let me c d plan implemented then I will b extatic.
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transformation of licensing, drainage entity/..ALL PNM Iniatives....signed sealed and delivered...PNM
Which is why ah was pissed with Patrick et al. Instead of annoying the hell out of the citizens every Monday morning, just get the damn job done!! The Hobbit was complaining last week that some thing Jack say he going to do was his idea.....steups!!! So why the arse after 7 - 8 years yuh eh do it??!!
I know all these plans are the PNM's but why after so long in Government these things didn't come to fruition I'll never know steups!!
Brown govt doh implement d Public Service does. So unless dey put some measures in place 2 deal wit d non performers in d PS nutten happening. Dat is d biggest poblem in TNT dem dead weight serpents at all levels. So let me c d plan implemented then I will b extatic.
Gotcha.....
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transformation of licensing, drainage entity/..ALL PNM Iniatives....signed sealed and delivered...PNM
Which is why ah was pissed with Patrick et al. Instead of annoying the hell out of the citizens every Monday morning, just get the damn job done!! The Hobbit was complaining last week that some thing Jack say he going to do was his idea.....steups!!! So why the arse after 7 - 8 years yuh eh do it??!!
I know all these plans are the PNM's but why after so long in Government these things didn't come to fruition I'll never know steups!!
Brown govt doh implement d Public Service does. So unless dey put some measures in place 2 deal wit d non performers in d PS nutten happening. Dat is d biggest poblem in TNT dem dead weight serpents at all levels. So let me c d plan implemented then I will b extatic.
Gotcha.....
Girl I does sit in some meetings and I does wander what d HELL goin on. D answer in some cases NUTTEN and in other cases not much.
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btw, with all dis flooding in d country, where is our beloved minister of works? is he in the country?
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btw, with all dis flooding in d country, where is our beloved minister of works? is he in the country?
Hope he gone 2 d bank in Switzerland 2 get the players money.
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btw, with all dis flooding in d country, where is our beloved minister of works? is he in the country?
rowley saying "i tell allyuh so, a minister is one and fulltime job"
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For the record, people NO LONGER stand in the hot sun like they did in the Doc days to get a visa! They have appointments now!
Just for JC's edification.
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For the record, people NO LONGER stand in the hot sun like they did in the Doc days to get a visa! They have appointments now!
Just for JC's edification.
when i went for mine last year (AND WAS DENIED WITH THE EXPLANATION " I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIES TO T&T ???) we may not have had to stand up outside but we had to stand inside with a couple hundred people, no aircondition and a couple ceiling fans. it was a SWEATBOX!! hot and uncomfortable.
dem damn people in d embassy have dey own ideas as to who should be granted an who should not.
i had NO INTENTION of goin to america any time soon. imagine my job was sendin me for training in d states for two weeks. gone by d embassy, d clerk ask me three question an tell me i denied. no details as to why.
sometime i wonder if is because i livin morvant and have locks that i was denied, because d clerk didnt ask any question to determine if i 'have ties' to d country or not.
dem americans feel i go leave my family and frens, job an school down here to go up dey do what? wash wares in a restaurant? mind some rich people child?
in some ways i agree wid anil. he may have gone about it wrong but he wasnt lying.
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...in some ways i agree wid anil. he may have gone about it wrong but he wasnt lying.
While I agree that some kinda explanation would be nice the fact is the US doh owe nobody no explanation on who to allow into dey country. Anil is a backside to be trying to tell dem what to do with their own policies and the State Department official was right to slap him back down. Imagine if Hilda Solis went to the press tuh criticize TnT saying something like "The government of Trinidad and Tobago should lower the prices they are charging Americans for Natural Gas". The first thing people go say is who de fack is Hilda Solis... and better yet, why she opening she mouth to be meddling in how TnT running they affairs... and is not even she portfolio".
Aside from that... all that talk about the air conditioning was addressed in the OIG report, they say is years now the Embassy trying to get money to upgrade the facilities but they never could get money in the budget for it. Is not like they say "fack dem, dem used tuh de heat anyways."
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...in some ways i agree wid anil. he may have gone about it wrong but he wasnt lying.
While I agree that some kinda explanation would be nice the fact is the US doh owe nobody no explanation on who to allow into dey country. Anil is a backside to be trying to tell dem what to do with their own policies and the State Department official was right to slap him back down. Imagine if Hilda Solis went to the press tuh criticize TnT saying something like "The government of Trinidad and Tobago should lower the prices they are charging Americans for Natural Gas". The first thing people go say is who de fack is Hilda Solis... and better yet, why she opening she mouth to be meddling in how TnT running they affairs... and is not even she portfolio".
Aside from that... all that talk about the air conditioning was addressed in the OIG report, they say is years now the Embassy trying to get money to upgrade the facilities but they never could get money in the budget for it. Is not like they say "fack dem, dem used tuh de heat anyways."
That is the problem here. Nobody is taking issue with the substance of Roberts' statement. Almost all Trinis will agree with it. The problem is the Minister of Sport has no business making statements that concern his government and the government of another country without any Cabinet decision on it all. He must understand that he is a Minister of Government and not just the man from Spalk !
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...in some ways i agree wid anil. he may have gone about it wrong but he wasnt lying.
While I agree that some kinda explanation would be nice the fact is the US doh owe nobody no explanation on who to allow into dey country. Anil is a backside to be trying to tell dem what to do with their own policies and the State Department official was right to slap him back down. Imagine if Hilda Solis went to the press tuh criticize TnT saying something like "The government of Trinidad and Tobago should lower the prices they are charging Americans for Natural Gas". The first thing people go say is who de fack is Hilda Solis... and better yet, why she opening she mouth to be meddling in how TnT running they affairs... and is not even she portfolio".
Aside from that... all that talk about the air conditioning was addressed in the OIG report, they say is years now the Embassy trying to get money to upgrade the facilities but they never could get money in the budget for it. Is not like they say "fack dem, dem used tuh de heat anyways."
That is the problem here. Nobody is taking issue with the substance of Roberts' statement. Almost all Trinis will agree with it. The problem is the Minister of Sport has no business making statements that concern his government and the government of another country without any Cabinet decision on it all. He must understand that he is Minister of Government and just the man from Spalk !
And add to that the manner it was done in. Dat just poor. Ah mean....even de first salvo was a candid opinion...it woulda be cool. Buh de subsequent "farse and outta place"? Come on...
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when i went for mine last year (AND WAS DENIED WITH THE EXPLANATION " I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIES TO T&T ???)
I95.5 fm did a series on the Student VISA issue last year but aspects of the tourist VISA came up as well. The Embassy stated that most of the people who overstay on their Student VISA were from Trinidad and Tobago hence the reason it appears as though we (T&T) were being treated more harshly than other Caribbean countries. They also stated that a lot of extensive behind the scenes checks go into a VISA application so that when you appear for your interview they already know who will get the VISA and who wont. Dais what the TT$800 is for and that's why its non-refundable.
They said for example, that if you go on vacation but stay 3 - 6 months then it appears as though you can easily stay in the US and don't have significant ties to the country. Other times it could be that another family member went and never returned and when you apply for your VISA, well Peter pay for Paul. I got the impression from the series that they don't just turn down an application vykie vie. They just choose not to go into a detailed explanation to the applicant. The OIG report however did indcate that there were times when the applicant that got turned down should not have been for the reasons given. For the most part though it appears to be a thorough process....just mih 2 cents....
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They just choose not to go into a detailed explanation to the applicant. The OIG report however did indcate that there were times when the applicant that got turned down should not have been for the reasons given. For the most part though it appears to be a thorough process....just mih 2 cents....
Another thing about not giving a full explanation is that even though it unfair tuh de applicant, it makes perfect sense to the Embassy staff to not do it. Sometimes the more info yuh give somebody the better they learn how to defeat the system. It come like telling people where the speed trap on de highway is; tell them what you looking for (in order to reject them) and they'll learn how to prevent the negative info from factoring in.
One thing I like about the OIG report is that they clamp down on them rejecting pregnant women... even though in a lot of cases some ah dem women flying out specifically so that they chile could born America. The report say however that yuh cyah make everybody pay fuh what some might be guilty of.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
Neva spent more than 3 wks in d people place. All yuh go know what happen. Dey betta doh play d FOLLLLLL DAT IS ALL I SAYINNN.
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They just choose not to go into a detailed explanation to the applicant. The OIG report however did indcate that there were times when the applicant that got turned down should not have been for the reasons given. For the most part though it appears to be a thorough process....just mih 2 cents....
Another thing about not giving a full explanation is that even though it unfair tuh de applicant, it makes perfect sense to the Embassy staff to not do it. Sometimes the more info yuh give somebody the better they learn how to defeat the system. It come like telling people where the speed trap on de highway is; tell them what you looking for (in order to reject them) and they'll learn how to prevent the negative info from factoring in.
One thing I like about the OIG report is that they clamp down on them rejecting pregnant women... even though in a lot of cases some ah dem women flying out specifically so that they chile could born America. The report say however that yuh cyah make everybody pay fuh what some might be guilty of.
Guys, there are some Congressmen(Repubs, mostly) who want to change the birthright law. They want children born to illegal immigrants not be given citizen even though they born in the US. So pregnant women may get the scrutiny again.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
well look at dat. yuh girl have a stable job, had all my bank statements, had d letter from from my Chairman (who is a high profile person and easily recognisable) stating what the purpose of the vist to d states was, a letter from uwi showing i was a student and the other relevnt documents, and still got blanked.
mind you, my co worker who was also goin on the trip and was a first time applicant as well and who is also my age, never been to the states, same level of education (tho not in school), who more or less had a similar profile to me, got through. another reason why i suspected i was discriminated against. who knows ???
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Orville London still waiting on response from the Prime Minsiter since June 7th regarding issues relating to the THA..
link..http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/100205479.html
London, who wrote to Persad-Bissessar on June 7, 2010 requesting a meeting, said he is still waiting on communication from her.
In a six page letter he apprised the Prime Minister of issues such as budgetary allocation, the completion of projects funded by the Central Government and land tenure, which he said were critical in the development of Tobago.
He said, "According to the THA Act the Prime Minister and the THA Chief Secretary are supposed to meet regularly
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
well look at dat. yuh girl have a stable job, had all my bank statements, had d letter from from my Chairman (who is a high profile person and easily recognisable) stating what the purpose of the vist to d states was, a letter from uwi showing i was a student and the other relevnt documents, and still got blanked.
mind you, my co worker who was also goin on the trip and was a first time applicant as well and who is also my age, never been to the states, same level of education (tho not in school), who more or less had a similar profile to me, got through. another reason why i suspected i was discriminated against. who knows ???
Is that coworker male ?
I have a friend who applied and promptly denied. She was told that she matched the profile of a 'husband hunter'. Her interviewer was a woman btw.
She has Tertiary level education and a permanent job at a statutory board.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
well look at dat. yuh girl have a stable job, had all my bank statements, had d letter from from my Chairman (who is a high profile person and easily recognisable) stating what the purpose of the vist to d states was, a letter from uwi showing i was a student and the other relevnt documents, and still got blanked.
mind you, my co worker who was also goin on the trip and was a first time applicant as well and who is also my age, never been to the states, same level of education (tho not in school), who more or less had a similar profile to me, got through. another reason why i suspected i was discriminated against. who knows ???
Is that coworker male ?
I have a friend who applied and promptly denied. She was told that she matched the profile of a 'husband hunter'. Her interviewer was a woman btw.
She has Tertiary level education and a permanent job at a statutory board.
All yuh makin dem ting as all yuh go along. Seriously dey out of order baddddddd.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
well look at dat. yuh girl have a stable job, had all my bank statements, had d letter from from my Chairman (who is a high profile person and easily recognisable) stating what the purpose of the vist to d states was, a letter from uwi showing i was a student and the other relevnt documents, and still got blanked.
mind you, my co worker who was also goin on the trip and was a first time applicant as well and who is also my age, never been to the states, same level of education (tho not in school), who more or less had a similar profile to me, got through. another reason why i suspected i was discriminated against. who knows ???
Is that coworker male ?
I have a friend who applied and was promptly denied. She was told that she matched the profile of a 'husband hunter'. Her interviewer was a woman btw.
She has Tertiary level education and a permanent job at a statutory board.
All yuh makin dem ting as all yuh go along. Seriously dey out of order baddddddd.
Nope, I had to ask her if she was joking. She wanted to visit for few a weeks and she get blank.
We were having a discussion on this issue in class and at least 4 women revealed that they were denied. It was comical they way all of them protested almost unison. Its post graduate class btw, with professionals and business owners. Two of the ladies (still very perturbed by their rejection) indicated that they noticed the male interviewer granted more approvals than the female one.
I remember a report read on the Tony and Dale show last year from the State Department confirming that certain officers were taking liberties and basically profiling applicants which is actually against the S.D. policy.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
I had mine renewed in 2007 after travelling to the US only once on the first visa. I doubt you will have a problem. Once your record shows you weren't spending 5 months and 3 weeks regularly ;D. I got mine renewed for 10 years and I was an OJT at the time. I carried a normal bank statement showing my little stipend I was collecting every month. The guy talk to me for 3 minutes at most and it was approved.
well look at dat. yuh girl have a stable job, had all my bank statements, had d letter from from my Chairman (who is a high profile person and easily recognisable) stating what the purpose of the vist to d states was, a letter from uwi showing i was a student and the other relevnt documents, and still got blanked.
mind you, my co worker who was also goin on the trip and was a first time applicant as well and who is also my age, never been to the states, same level of education (tho not in school), who more or less had a similar profile to me, got through. another reason why i suspected i was discriminated against. who knows ???
Is that coworker male ?
I have a friend who applied and promptly denied. She was told that she matched the profile of a 'husband hunter'. Her interviewer was a woman btw.
She has Tertiary level education and a permanent job at a statutory board.
a female
the interviewer was male.
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ok
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I have a girlfriend she say 2 things she doh tell people bout is d Labour Ward and the US embassy interview everybody expeience different.
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
Mine expiring next year as well......we could arrange to go together for moral support.... ;D
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lol!! husband hunter?!?...dem yankee is headache oui
weary dey go tell yuh yuh lookin for yankee hubby ;)
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lol!! husband hunter?!?...dem yankee is headache oui
weary dey go tell yuh yuh lookin for yankee hubby ;)
all weary have to do is tell dem she have ah Dutch Husband name Wim...;)
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Well my visa expring in 2011 dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. It have nuff cruise leavin Miami and ever so often I go Maryland 2 look 4 meh sis. I assure u no intention of staying in d good ole USA. So again dey betta doh play d FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.
Mine expiring next year as well......we could arrange to go together for moral support.... ;D
Its a date.
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For the record, people NO LONGER stand in the hot sun like they did in the Doc days to get a visa! They have appointments now!
Just for JC's edification.
and how do they get these appointments pre tell ?
PS: in the doc days ppl did not line up to go to the embassy, that's BC getting ah U.S. visa back then was no big deal, even when chambers was PM there was still no big visa rush. ppl simply walked in , sat in the waiting area and got ah visa, reason i knew, my aunt lived on marley st for yrs and on some school nights i would stay with her and i saw ppl coming and going without fuss nor fight.
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Rowley talking some sense dey..
Rowley is ah phat c@nt!! and ah sour grapes one @ dat! since dat man take the reins i eh hear one encouraging complimentary thing about the new government! all of ah sudden now he noticing all these things wrong wid the country.
and for the record, anil is right tuh say what he said! and tuh add insult, if that was in the days when the doc was runnin TNT, the U.S. woulda never pull dat dog treatment of trinis! standin in the HOT sun for ah stamp in dey book, pleaseee!! that shyte doh go on in countries dat have clout, suadi, france, england, germany, not even bahamas and bermuda,
so allyuh doh jump on anil, the man was asked ah question in ah public forum and he answered according to how he felt, is the yanks who makin ah big deal of it! it's not like the man went tuh dem and complain, the media asked and he showed his dissatisfaction. simple. ::)
You talking ah emotional pack ah ass.
Well, that's your opinion, and every man woman and child is entitled to an opinion.
BTW, you're not always on point yuh self MR. so that yuh know.
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Talkin bout embassies and visas. not too long ago i went wid ah female friend to the TNT embassy here in lower manhattan, maiden lane to be exact, and to my amazement she had tuh get there @ 3am tuh stand in line on the side walk until 730 opening time tuh get an extention on her passport, that's BC they're only serving 50 ppl per day and it's on ah first come first serve basis.
in some instances ppl reaching there @ 2am just to secure ah spot, some women even come with their infants in strollers @ those ungodly hours without ah male escort, and i find that rather disturbing!
why does simple every day things like ah passport renewal or ah visa has tuh be so hard when yuh is ah TNT national ? i kinda detect some kind of total disregard predicated on the 3rd world disrespect factor.
i believe for ah country with so much resources and economic stability our citizens should be treated better! and our leaders are the ones to be blamed.
in reference to the U.S. embassy policies, we have what they need, and we should be far more demanding. it's not like our main source of income is sugar cane and flying fish! we are a rich a$$ country and our citizens should not be treated like we have rickshaw drivers pullin whiteman in the middle of POS! WTF, they need us more than we need them!
as for the TNT conciliate here in the U.S. , the govt needs tuh look into this problem, especially here in NYC, BC their policies stinks to the high heavens. JMO
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... they need us more than we need them!
Is that so? So everybody else outside your parallel universe have it wrong then?
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For the record, people NO LONGER stand in the hot sun like they did in the Doc days to get a visa! They have appointments now!
Just for JC's edification.
and how do they get these appointments pre tell ?
PS: in the doc days ppl did not line up to go to the embassy, that's BC getting ah U.S. visa back then was no big deal, even when chambers was PM there was still no big visa rush. ppl simply walked in , sat in the waiting area and got ah visa, reason i knew, my aunt lived on marley st for yrs and on some school nights i would stay with her and i saw ppl coming and going without fuss nor fight.
Fella yuh had to line up and wait den too...lines may be longer now, as more people want to travel, income increased etc. Now people make online appointments and jes reach in time fuh yuh appointments, there are NO walk in appointments shit like in de Doc and Chambers days..NONE!
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in reference to the U.S. embassy policies, we have what they need, and we should be far more demanding. it's not like our main source of income is sugar cane and flying fish! we are a rich a$$ country and our citizens should not be treated like we have rickshaw drivers pullin whiteman in the middle of POS! WTF, they need us more than we need them!
Our ability to generate foreign exchange by monetizing petro-carbon resources has little impact on labour market conditions in T&T. The energy industry accounts for 40 % of GDP but only employ 5 % of the population.
It is true that they require our labour but there is no evidence to suggest that this labour couldn't be sourced elsewhere. It is also true that the American labour market in total would be able to remunerate workers more generously than ours. Economic symbiosis except they have plenty other birds who ready and willing to eat the tick off deh back.
In any case the State Department would have best practices to follow around the world, regardless of economic conditions in the host nation in keeping with consideration for the complex geopolitical issues which may exist. They should ensure that local embassy is in compliance.
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in reference to the U.S. embassy policies, we have what they need, and we should be far more demanding. it's not like our main source of income is sugar cane and flying fish! we are a rich a$$ country and our citizens should not be treated like we have rickshaw drivers pullin whiteman in the middle of POS! WTF, they need us more than we need them!
Rich how, rich where, yeah we have oil and gas but we not exactly rich...Every minute we hear talks that the treasury is empty, even political parties campaign on this point..We have oil and gas but the ppl are not rolling around in ferraris and porsches, do U not that pp; from the arab nations are expected to spend over 250 million pounds this summer on shopping, not to mention they are buying up all the high end real estate in London. We talking homes that go for nothing less than 10 million pounds..We still trying to market tourism as bake and shark and maracas and failing miserably at it...Other countries have moved on to Motorsports, gambling and other activities that attract the rich and famous...They are rich, we are not...!!!
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Rich how, rich where, yeah we have oil and gas but we not exactly rich...Every minute we hear talks that the treasury is empty, even political parties campaign on this point..We have oil and gas but the ppl are not rolling around in ferraris and porsches, do U not that pp; from the arab nations are expected to spend over 250 million pounds this summer on shopping, not to mention they are buying up all the high end real estate in London. We talking homes that go for nothing less than 10 million pounds..We still trying to market tourism as bake and shark and maracas and failing miserably at it...Other countries have moved on to Motorsports, gambling and other activities that attract the rich and famous...They are rich, we are not...!!!
You mad or wha'... you eh hear Doc say "money is not ah problem"?
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problem is money
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in reference to the U.S. embassy policies, we have what they need, and we should be far more demanding. it's not like our main source of income is sugar cane and flying fish! we are a rich a$$ country and our citizens should not be treated like we have rickshaw drivers pullin whiteman in the middle of POS! WTF, they need us more than we need them!
Rich how, rich where, yeah we have oil and gas but we not exactly rich...Every minute we hear talks that the treasury is empty, even political parties campaign on this point..We have oil and gas but the ppl are not rolling around in ferraris and porsches, do U not that pp; from the arab nations are expected to spend over 250 million pounds this summer on shopping, not to mention they are buying up all the high end real estate in London. We talking homes that go for nothing less than 10 million pounds..We still trying to market tourism as bake and shark and maracas and failing miserably at it...Other countries have moved on to Motorsports, gambling and other activities that attract the rich and famous...They are rich, we are not...!!!
Guy, we have the same ting the saudis have! and our populous is minuscule, so why the fack we can't have ah sustainable way of life? ..... yuh know why, misappropriation and mismanagement of funds. and yes we have what they want and they need us more than we need them.
we may not be ah member of opec but we not in the dog house either. there's no caribbean country that is in demand like TNT, we are the industrial bread basket of the WI, plus whiteman doh hang out no place where they can't turn ah buck.
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Kamla's NY trip to cost taxpayers $.4m
By —Joel Julien
Story Created: Aug 14, 2010 at 1:03 AM ECT
(Story Updated: Aug 14, 2010 at 1:03 AM ECT )
PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar's ten-day trip to the Big Apple will cost taxpayers just over $400,000, Press Secretary Garvin Nicholas stated yesterday.
"The budgeted expenditure of the Prime Minister and her party's ten-day trip to New York, USA, is approximately $380,000, plus a contingency fee of US$4,000," Nicholas said in a media release yesterday.
Persad-Bissessar left the country yesterday out of Piarco Airport on a commercial flight. She is scheduled to return to Trinidad on August 22.
The entire first-class section of the plane was booked to accommodate Persad-Bissessar, members of her Cabinet and their families who were aboard the flight, a Caribbean Airlines source said yesterday.
It is not confirmed whether the $400,000 price tag includes the other members of the entourage.
Persad-Bissessar was scheduled to visit the State University of New York in Albany, the Polytechnic Institute Public Symposium in Brooklyn, a Public Meeting at Maracas, Queens, and a fund-raiser and dinner at Liberty Avenue in Queens yesterday.
She is expected to be interviewed by India TV Network and visit Shiva Temple at Richmond Hill for a reception today.
Persad-Bissessar has been criticised for the timing of her second State trip overseas. But Nicholas said the trip would be of benefit for the country.
"By meeting face to face with members of these organisations, the Prime Minister hopes to convince them to play a greater role in the development of our twin-island State, which it is hoped will redound to the benefit of the population of Trinidad and Tobago, more substantially than the two summits held over the last two years at an estimated cost of some $3 billion," Nicholas said.
Persad-Bissessar was invited to New York to be a special guest at the 30th India Parade scheduled for tomorrow and a celebratory dinner carded for Monday
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"By meeting face to face with members of these organisations, the Prime Minister hopes to convince them to play a greater role in the development of our twin-island State, which it is hoped will redound to the benefit of the population of Trinidad and Tobago, more substantially than the two summits held over the last two years at an estimated cost of some $3 billion," Nicholas said.
LOL... :rotfl: :rotfl:
Dem people is tears oui... meeting with some nightclub and restaurant owners out in Queens will benefit TnT HOW?? Yuh'd swear was real movers and shakers she meeting with.
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Clearly this is not an official visit and state funds shouldn't be used to finance it. Just my opinion.
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
De Minister of Defence probably part ah de foreign junket too... AirMan MIA too.
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
All yuh just vex she take URP 2 d next level jus like BB is an upgrated me 2. Kamla get an upgraded 10 days.
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When yuh check the itinerary in the newspapers it didn't outline what she was doing between Monday 16th and Saturday 21st.....maybe Sammy could tell we....
Paging Sammy, paging Sammy....
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When yuh check the itinerary in the newspapers it didn't outline what she was doing between Monday 16th and Saturday 21st.....maybe Sammy could tell we....
Paging Sammy, paging Sammy....
Town have a few suggestions as 2 wha will b happening.
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When yuh check the itinerary in the newspapers it didn't outline what she was doing between Monday 16th and Saturday 21st.....maybe Sammy could tell we....
Paging Sammy, paging Sammy....
she is going Dancing my dear
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4780063358_b7d90efbe5_o.jpg)
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
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daiz what I saying
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
Nah man. I doubt. Dem cyar be dis boleface.
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
Nah man. I doubt. Dem cyar be dis boleface.
what about the security guard firms ?
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
Nah man. I doubt. Dem cyar be dis boleface.
what about the security guard firms ?
Well....cyar vex. People vote for dat ent?
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Unofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
Nah man. I doubt. Dem cyar be dis boleface.
what about the security guard firms ?
Well....cyar vex. People vote for dat ent?
ENTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTUnofficial old talk is that Jack want to sell the water taxis to this company
http://www.atlantismarinett.com/
When ah look at the owners is Daryan and Darrel Warner (sp?) He 2 sons.
lol
that would indeed be somnething special..I hope dat eh true
I feel that is rum talk. That too brazen to be true.
Nah man. I doubt. Dem cyar be dis boleface.
U NOT SERIOUS. Whre were u in 2001?
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I waiting man. I really waiting to see.
I want to hear all dem who enjoy while de bovine excreta get rub on dey tongue under de guise of it being margarine to hear dem when dey realise what it is. Den yuh go hear..."I can't believe its not butter!"
I waiting to hear all dem tertiary education students when de mark bout GATE buss.
I waiting to hear dem GOPIO people comment on de state of NAPA since dey see it and use it for dey awards function...after it had all kinda ting to say bout it during de previous regime.
I waiting to hear what going and really change bout crime.
I waiting to hear all ah dem man.
All dem who talk bout wanton corruption.
All dem who talk bout wanton wastage.
All who talk dey talk bout ethics and ting.
I feel i go write a kaiso yes..."Allyuh vote for dat."
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I waiting man. I really waiting to see.
I want to hear all dem who enjoy while de bovine excreta get rub on dey tongue under de guise of it being margarine to hear dem when dey realise what it is. Den yuh go hear..."I can't believe its not butter!"
I waiting to hear all dem tertiary education students when de mark bout GATE buss.
I waiting to hear dem GOPIO people comment on de state of NAPA since dey see it and use it for dey awards function...after it had all kinda ting to say bout it during de previous regime.
I waiting to hear what going and really change bout crime.
I waiting to hear all ah dem man.
All dem who talk bout wanton corruption.
All dem who talk bout wanton wastage.
All who talk dey talk bout ethics and ting.
I feel i go write a kaiso yes..."Allyuh vote for dat."
Watch d RIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kamla-Bissessar1.jpg)
On her inaugural visit to mingle with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living in New York, the new female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, made a stop at Maracas Night Club in Queens New York on Friday July 13th 2010.
The theme was “come home, Trinidad needs you”; the days of racism centered politics and corruption are all gone; Trinidad has dawned on a new epoch and the government now works for the people not against them.
Bissessar was welcomed with much zeal and fanfare as supporters of the United National Congress (UNC) waving the red, white and black flag shouted “We love you,” to the first Indo Caribbean female Prime Minister. Veteran Calypsonian Calypso Rose sang from her latest album the song ” Senior Citizen Day” as a way paying tribute to Kamla’s victory and advocating for a day dedicated to senior citizens in the Caribbean nation.
As she took center stage, Bissessar gathered her accompanying ministers of government and in song they raised their voices to Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” and then to Mohammad Rafi’s “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki”; the message to her people was “Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing gonna be all right,” in the words of Marley and “The lovely night has descended,” in the words of Rafi.
Bissessar’s rise to power is historic in many respects, as her prior roles in government and accolades indicate that she will do well. Trinidad, under the leadership of former PM Patrick Manning has been plagued with high murder rates, kidnapping of tourists, human trafficking, drug trafficking and uninvestigated killings committed by police officers. Now rests the burden of neglect on Bissessar’s shoulders.
Last evening at Maracas was more of a hurrah and less of serious discussion on the state of affairs of Trinidad and Tobago. Standing amidst the waving flags, the sounds of patriotism to the Calypso capital echoed around every corner of the Queens night club.
However, at many points during this event I felt as if I was at a brainwashing ceremony. Through the vehement speeches of Ministers of Sports, Housing, Local Government and Arts, Anil Roberts, Roodal Moonilal, Chandresh Sharma and and Winston Peters, respectively, the PM was transformed to a deity fitting of uncompromising adoration and praise as she will lead Trinidad out of darkness.
Remembering that I was at the center of a Caribbean political gathering, I did not expect anything less or more.
Bissessar indeed has her job laid out of her. Will she be successful in persuading her Diaspora to return the once tropical paradise? I am of the persuasion that she will not, at least not for the next decade. A gentleman standing next to me at one point turned and said, “I built my life here over the last 16 years, sure I will visit but that’s it and nothing more.”
http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/trinidad-and-tobago-pm-kamla-persad-bissessar-pleads-with-her-diaspora-to-come-home/
(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/trinidad-and-tobago-pm-kamla-persad-bissessar-pleads-with-her-diaspora-to-come-home/)
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kidnapping still going, murders still happening..human trafficking???? drug trafficking still rampant..Jesus/Orisha?Kamla is her to save us
hahahahaha
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I really not trying to nitpick eh... but I THIS is what they spend half ah million dollars on?? THIS is what this Garvin Nicholas fool say they hope would benefit TnT more than the two Summits?? Them gone Queens to talk to who?? Think of the Caribbean demographic represented there, but "racism politics" done, yeah right. And gone there to try and convince people to pick up and move back home? I hate to say it but people eh going back home unless they ketching dey ass up here... and even den they still rather stay. How them going home to help?
And make it worse... you carry Anil Roberts... Minister of facking Sports, Roodal Moonilal from Housing and Local Government and the Arts. Is that who we really need speaking to people to convince them of the economic opportunities back home? Make it worse you carry two other dead weights, including Gypsy... and not just these Ministers, but their family members too. AND ALL THIS at taxpayers expense. I bet all dem government Ministers was casting lots to see who could score de free trip to NY. And it was waste ontop on waste... as the blogger say, it was more a "hurrah", meaning it was more a celebration of the victory than anything... no policy, no planning. And then they have the nerve to talk about PNM waste and how today comes accountability.
well yes.
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The only problem with this ... Our prime minister should have a private jet for such travel. Fingers crossed that the partnership with crash soon and all this hating will end soon for some.
what ms prime minister need s to do is call a retreat for her ministers in some allinclusive resort.
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Aye all yuh ah find Francis Joseph....remember he?? The reporter from the Guardian that sell out the players for 30 pieces of silver.....when I grow up I want to be just like dem fellas....
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2010/08/15/7m-paint-job-police-fleet-lead-story
$.7m paint job for police fleet
...VMCOTT to undertake repainting of 60 Summit vehicles for cops
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Published: 15 Aug 2010
Some $750,000 is being forked out by the Government to repaint 60 of the black spanking new Fifth Summit of the Americas and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) luxury fleet which has been handed over to the Police Service. The fleet is expected to form part of the crime-fighting machinery aimed at boosting the Police Service in an attempt to make a dent on rising crime levels in the country. A Sunday Guardian probe revealed the Vehicle Maintenance Corporation of T&T (VMCOTT) has been hired to repaint the vehicles from black to white at a cost of approximately $12,500 each. The People’s National Movement administration had purchased a total of 110 vehicles at a cost of $42.463 million for delegates attending the summit and CHOGM. The then government spent $22.731 million to purchase vehicles for the summit, while a further $19.731 million was forked out to purchase an additional 90 vehicles for CHOGM.
A well-placed source from the Police Service said while there were other quotations from automobile shops to do the job cheaper, VMCOTT was given the job. Contacted by Sunday Guardian, chief executive officer of VMCOTT Joel Browne confirmed that his company was hired to repaint the vehicles but refused to disclose at what cost. “Yes it is true. It is an agreement, but we have to agree when the actual work will start. I do not want to disclose the figure. It is a business relationship and it is not information I wish to disclose,” Browne said. Browne said VMCOTT had been mandated to deliver seven vehicles per week. The project involves stripping and repainting the cars and jeeps from black to white. The vehicles undergoing the facelift are Mazda 6, Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Prado.
Browne said two weeks ago VMCOTT submitted an estimate for the job and received confirmation on Wednesday. “All I know is that we were hired to paint the vehicles in white. I do not know if the Police Service is doing the labelling. The job will be completed in approximately nine weeks.” Asked if the company would be able to meet the October deadline, Browne said, “If we had concerns with our manpower we would not have taken the job. The vehicles will be ready. I really do not know what is the issue.”
Ministry’s response
A response to questions forwarded to Minister of Works of Transport Jack Warner—under which VMCOTT falls—from his communications director Francis Joseph stated: “The Hon Minister, Mr Jack Warner is unable at this stage to answer these questions.”
Craig in the dark
However, while Browne is awaiting word on when the job will commence, deputy commissioner of police Raymond Craig has denied that VMCOTT has been hired.
“Let me say some of the vehicles are being repainted in police colours but they are not being repainted by VMCOTT. I am not aware the vehicles are being repainted by VMCOTT. “All I will say is out of the 135 vehicles given to the Police Service 56 of those vehicles are being painted in the police colours.”
Asked if the vehicles will be repainted in white, Craig replied: “I do not know anything about painting in any white base colour or any blue and white colour. What I am saying is some of the vehicles are being repainted in the police colours. The vehicles will be deployed to major high crime areas to augment the police mobility and police stability in terms of responding to crime.” Craig abruptly hung up the telephone when asked which company was repainting the vehicles.
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:devil:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs357.snc3/29437_103586829685539_100001026680614_31250_8084266_n.jpg)
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Interesting. Well dey hadda make sure de job do good.
Or it probably like a special data dots paint so dey could tell where every vehicle is at every minute of the day.
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Francis Joseph get guvament wuk with Jack Warner... well yes. My God... and people like dat fool, YoursTruly want to vex when I talk about the utter unprofessionalism of the local press??
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:devil:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs357.snc3/29437_103586829685539_100001026680614_31250_8084266_n.jpg)
ORRRRRRR!!!
Dahs wha dey goin and paint on de vehicles? Since dey done black and hadda paint white?
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Aye all yuh ah find Francis Joseph....remember he?? The reporter from the Guardian that sell out the players for 30 pieces of silver.....when I grow up I want to be just like dem fellas....
Nah stay small doh grow up
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neil parsanlal was a reporter
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neil parsanal was a reporter
Neil Parsanlal was also working in public relations for HiLo or Neal and Massy immediately before going into government service... try yuh best. Francis Joseph was reporting on the Bonus impasse all along, knowing full well that he had a personal relationship with Jack Warner... and possibly stood to benefit from that relationship. In other words he had a very strong incentive to not be impartial in his reporting, which calls into questions his ethics as a "journalist". I have to put it in quotes because again them men in TnT doh really take stock that they supposed to be professionals.
You really need to wheel and come again with yuh mention of Parsanlal, there's a world of difference between the two.
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Like Manning say to those reporters in elevator 2 days after the election results when they asked for comment, "Let's just enjoy the ride." More and more I realising that he wasn't talking about the elevator ride..!!!
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Jack: Partnership must do more for foot soldiers
Published: 16 Aug 2010
Councillor for Charlieville Falisha Isahak left, her daughter Indira Faria Alisha Manickchand, Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner and Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagessar at the function at Saith Park, Chaguanas, on Saturday night. PHOTO: SHASTRI BOODAN
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner says the People’s Partnership Government has not done enough for its foot soldiers. He said so on Saturday night, while delivering the feature address at a function held at Saith Park, Chaguanas. The event was hosted by Falisha Isahak, the successful councillor for Charlieville in the Chaguanas Borough Corporation.
Warner said the the patience of the party’s grass-roots supporters was “wearing thin.” He said many party activists who did the groundwork for the general and local government elections were grumbling that they had not even received a job with the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), and were not benefiting from the “fruits” of their party getting into government.
Warner said he was advised that others were still in control of the URP and were “laughing at us.” But Warner said all was not lost. He said within the next two weeks, Labour Minister Errol McLeod promised to restart the URP, changing the operations of this “much-maligned” programme. He added that the URP would be better for the people of T&T. Warner said party supporters were concerned about their future, since the People’s Partnership Government was taking too long to appoint people to state boards and to various diplomatic commissions abroad. But he urged them to “keep the faith” since the majority of these issues would be resolved by month’s end.
Warner said what was worrisome to him was that a number of people were “crawling out of the closets,” demanding positions on state boards. He said during the election campaign, these people were nowhere to be seen. He also commented on the late Dorothy Cummings, whom he described as a party loyalist. Warner said Cummings spent her own monies and travelled throughout T&T to support the party. He said in the end, there were only four people from the Government who attended Cummings’s funeral.
—Reporting by Shastri Boodan
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Francis Joseph got as job, he is entitled to his political affiliations. He was Jack's lackey, Parsanlal was partial to the PNM as a reporter too.
To the victor goes the spoils.
I understand the angst, and the outrage....but such is the political way!
Obama offered that MSNBC Dem reporter a job. Thats the way...reward your people.
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Francis Joseph got as job, he is entitled to his political affiliations. He was Jack's lackey, Parsanlal was partial to the PNM as a reporter too.
To the victor goes the spoils.
I understand the angst, and the outrage....but such is the political way!
Obama offered that MSNBC Dem reporter a job. Thats the way...reward your people.
I had never heard of Neil Parsanlal before he became the Min of Information so I cyar comment on his writings. Ah commenting on this because ah cyar believe that this is the same man who get a "leaked" story supposedly from the players, allowed them to be dragged through the courts for so long knowing full well is the vampire give him the story.....
I done see I will never become active in politics.....I eh have the stomach for these things... :puking:
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Francis Joseph got as job, he is entitled to his political affiliations. He was Jack's lackey, Parsanlal was partial to the PNM as a reporter too.
To the victor goes the spoils.
I understand the angst, and the outrage....but such is the political way!
Obama offered that MSNBC Dem reporter a job. Thats the way...reward your people.
Parsanlal was a Corp Com man he wuk EMA/SWRHA and was at Neal and Massy b4 he went into govt.
I had never heard of Neil Parsanlal before he became the Min of Information so I cyar comment on his writings. Ah commenting on this because ah cyar believe that this is the same man who get a "leaked" story supposedly from the players, allowed them to be dragged through the courts for so long knowing full well is the vampire give him the story.....
I done see I will never become active in politics.....I eh have the stomach for these things... :puking:
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
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yeah it is obvious dat Francis is a dog..I know him a long time now and he is all about he self, he is an arrogant f**k.
his brother was a very good 400 meter runner who came to the US on an athletic scholarship.
Francis is ah cyat hole
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
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Parsanlal was a Corp Com man he wuk EMA/SWRHA and was at Neal and Massy b4 he went into govt.
I had never heard of Neil Parsanlal before he became the Min of Information so I cyar comment on his writings. Ah commenting on this because ah cyar believe that this is the same man who get a "leaked" story supposedly from the players, allowed them to be dragged through the courts for so long knowing full well is the vampire give him the story.....
I done see I will never become active in politics.....I eh have the stomach for these things... :puking:
Dais probably why I doh remember him before his stint in Government.....
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
its called objectivity..
Some of you should try it sometimes.
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
hmm that is very possible seeing that the crime plan eh wukking so far. :-\
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
its called objectivity..
Some of you should try it sometimes.
:thumbsup:
that word is foreign language to some in here yes - sad to say ;)
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
its called objectivity..
Some of you should try it sometimes.
You don't find me objective Dinho??....
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
;D
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waaayyyzzz. u get invited to a parade and dinner, an u stayin 10 days ???
yet when u had d opportunity to meet wid hilary clinton d other day, yuh brakes from goin, givin d population some outta timin excuse ::)
interesting
pagin sammy 8)
wow...so much ppl calling my name and talking bout meh, no wonder my ears ringing ;D
anyhow, this trip is BS and ill advised. Seems to me this trip was to appease UNC over seas supporters/financiers more than anything else. What a waste of money. Kamla like she ketching manningitis, see she done suffering from some kinda flew already ;D
WHHHHHHAAAATTT??!!! Sammy is that you? Nah. Somebody tief Sammy profile.... :o
its called objectivity..
Some of you should try it sometimes.
You don't find me objective Dinho??....
wasn't directed at you personally.
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Francis Joseph got as job, he is entitled to his political affiliations. He was Jack's lackey, Parsanlal was partial to the PNM as a reporter too.
To the victor goes the spoils.
I understand the angst, and the outrage....but such is the political way!
Obama offered that MSNBC Dem reporter a job. Thats the way...reward your people.
Lol@ "angst and outrage"... is a waste talking to you fella. This is Volney quitting the judiciary to become a UNC politician all over again, but let's move on b/c you clearly not getting it.
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I cant help but notice the comparison beetween some ah allyuh and Kamla vs the tea party, right winger types on Obama
The laser like microscopic scrutiny is too funny
If Obama or Kamla buss wind too hard...detractors on dem quick
"How she fartin so hard?"...
"de last government didnt fart wit dat kinda impunity....she good stink ,she eh care bout de people"
Granted havin Warner, Volney and Roberts is cause to watch dat party with ah evil eye......but still
Anyway, back to mih popcorn.
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I cant help but notice the comparison beetween some ah allyuh and Kamla vs the tea party, right winger types on Obama
The laser like microscopic scrutiny is too funny
If Obama or Kamla buss wind too hard...detractors on dem quick
"How she fartin so hard?"...
"de last government didnt fart wit dat kinda impunity....she good stink ,she eh care bout de people"
Granted havin Warner, Volney and Roberts is cause to watch dat party with ah evil eye......but still
Anyway, back to mih popcorn.
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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I cant help but notice the comparison beetween some ah allyuh and Kamla vs the tea party, right winger types on Obama
The laser like microscopic scrutiny is too funny
If Obama or Kamla buss wind too hard...detractors on dem quick
"How she fartin so hard?"...
"de last government didnt fart wit dat kinda impunity....she good stink ,she eh care bout de people"
Granted havin Warner, Volney and Roberts is cause to watch dat party with ah evil eye......but still
Anyway, back to mih popcorn.
is not about criticizing every move eh. kamla an d PP came to d population with a promise of change, sayin that they wud not operate like d pnm. but day after day, it is becomin obvious that d more things change, d more dey remain d same.
if it was d pnm in power and it was manning who went on d ten day trip, u wud not have heard d end of it from warner, kamla and anil. so why it is when d shoe on d other foot, people cant ask questions?
i eh vote for d PP but i willing to give dem a chance to see wat CHANGE dey bringin, but so far i eh see dem doin anything different to d previous administration :-\
BTW, waiz moonilal purpose for bein dey? and anil? and sharma ???
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I cant help but notice the comparison beetween some ah allyuh and Kamla vs the tea party, right winger types on Obama
The laser like microscopic scrutiny is too funny
If Obama or Kamla buss wind too hard...detractors on dem quick
"How she fartin so hard?"...
"de last government didnt fart wit dat kinda impunity....she good stink ,she eh care bout de people"
Granted havin Warner, Volney and Roberts is cause to watch dat party with ah evil eye......but still
Anyway, back to mih popcorn.
is not about criticizing every move eh. kamla an d PP came to d population with a promise of change, sayin that they wud not operate like d pnm. but day after day, it is becomin obvious that d more things change, d more dey remain d same.
if it was d pnm in power and it was manning who went on d ten day trip, u wud not have heard d end of it from warner, kamla and anil. so why it is when d shoe on d other foot, people cant ask questions?
i eh vote for d PP but i willing to give dem a chance to see wat CHANGE dey bringin, but so far i eh see dem doin anything different to d previous administration :-\
BTW, waiz moonilal purpose for bein dey? and anil? and sharma ???
same thing i sayin...i might have ''llow kamla if it was just her and somebody else but all d marish and d parish she gone up dey wit...and garvin nicholas and he doosras..if they were goin on behalf of their portfolios i wud think that a team with technocrats etc from the relevant ministries wud play that role...but then again..what do i know..
-
I cant help but notice the comparison beetween some ah allyuh and Kamla vs the tea party, right winger types on Obama
The laser like microscopic scrutiny is too funny
If Obama or Kamla buss wind too hard...detractors on dem quick
"How she fartin so hard?"...
"de last government didnt fart wit dat kinda impunity....she good stink ,she eh care bout de people"
Granted havin Warner, Volney and Roberts is cause to watch dat party with ah evil eye......but still
Anyway, back to mih popcorn.
is not about criticizing every move eh. kamla an d PP came to d population with a promise of change, sayin that they wud not operate like d pnm. but day after day, it is becomin obvious that d more things change, d more dey remain d same.
if it was d pnm in power and it was manning who went on d ten day trip, u wud not have heard d end of it from warner, kamla and anil. so why it is when d shoe on d other foot, people cant ask questions?
i eh vote for d PP but i willing to give dem a chance to see wat CHANGE dey bringin, but so far i eh see dem doin anything different to d previous administration :-\
BTW, waiz moonilal purpose for bein dey? and anil? and sharma ???
same thing i sayin...i might have ''llow kamla if it was just her and somebody else but all d marish and d parish she gone up dey wit...and garvin nicholas and he doosras..if they were goin on behalf of their portfolios i wud think that a team with technocrats etc from the relevant ministries wud play that role...but then again..what do i know..
I dunno why allyuh wasting time trying to talk all dat sense... allyuh need tuh stop allyuh microscopic scrutiny and me more "objective". If Kamla and dem (or dey supporters) coming off like hypocrites why allyuh studying dat?
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Oh oh....ah wonder who is the sixth..... :-X
http://www.newsday.co.tt/letters/0,125976.html (http://www.newsday.co.tt/letters/0,125976.html)
Keeping the Partnership whole
Wednesday, August 18 2010
THE EDITOR: The People’s Partnership has been well crafted. I place its founding date as 21st day of April 2010. It is a historically significant date for another reason four decades ago.
The founding principles stated, inter alia, “to adopt Principles and Codes of Conduct whereby the interest of our beloved country is and shall be put before party and individual self interest”. Among its declaration is “to establish mechanism for the achievement of consensus.
The Partnership has been in government for just over two months and it might be argued that there has been insufficient time to make a dispassionate assessment of its actions to determine if the above principles are being followed. While I concur with the time constraint, I note that red flags of warning are being waved by respected commentators. Additionally, I am aware of the growing discontent within the membership of the COP and their desire to publicly react to what they perceive as abuse and disrespect by some of the top leadership of the UNC. During discussion on allocation of seats, a process that is solely within the UNC’s domain and has nothing to do with Partnership consensus, a committee of the COP was told, in an abusive manner, that the COP brought only six seats to the Parliament and if they were not satisfied with the electoral districts allocated to them they can take their (obscene) six seats and go. Fortunately, good sense prevailed eventually and the matter of electoral districts was resolved.
This was the latest in the episode of discontent that has surfaced over the past three months which has caused a recent response from COP leader, Winston Dookeran to pacify his membership while assuring of his commitment to build a strong, sustainable partnership.
I contend that there is really no partnership. The term “People’s Partnership” is but a name that does not relate to a functional entity but reflects a team of five separate units, hence the creeping instability fuelled by mis-steps, personal agendas and inexperience. The partnership must be given structure and cohesiveness and must be seen to be controlled by a leadership council and not by one unit of the so-called partnership. This governance structure, endorsed by the national community, cannot be a public relations gimmick.
I have taken the responsibility to prepare a Federal Model, which must represent the political arm of the government. We must remove the confusion about UNC government, UNC Ministers; COP Ministers and Ministers who are not sure of their roots. We must, sooner than later, reach the stage where the government is recognised as a People’s Partnership entity. The Federal Model seeks to achieve this objective.
I have circulated a copy to the five leaders of the Partnership. I am advised that there are six but I refuse to recognise the sixth.
ALLOY LEQUAY
Port-of-Spain
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Mr. Austin Jack Warner is the real and true true leader leader;
Alloy wasting time passing paper to five others, de poor fella.
De las government had in charge a Project Manager
Dis People's Partnership have ah Puppet Master
Kamla eh even meet with de Tobago leaders as yet
But she in New York meeting in club wey does hold fete
I feel I have to remind she she is PM ah T&T..... oh Bata
She holding meeting with all kinda people from India
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I supported change eh, but Kamla have to realize ther eis a BIG difference between a 2 month campaign and a five yeard term...she cyar sing Bob marley songs for 5 years,,,,dat eh go wuk!
Thus far, they have REFUSED to reach out and meet with the Tobago House of Assembly...ask mehself why? Could it be because dem is PNM?
She created a new ministry Ministry of Tobago Development and yet she has failed to meet with the leaders of the THA, but she could take ANil and dem to NY to met with peeps in night club and reps from India?
Steups!
But den why I so worked up about that?
People doh worry about a ting...
cuz every likkle ting go be alright..
woke up dis morning..smiled wit de rising sun.....
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Change you can believe in...!!!
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Over ten ministers outside of the country at the moment....Hollywood cabinet...Most of time on private business...Who's guarding the guards???
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(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kamla-Bissessar1.jpg)
On her inaugural visit to mingle with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living in New York, the new female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, made a stop at Maracas Night Club in Queens New York on Friday July 13th 2010.
The theme was “come home, Trinidad needs you”; the days of racism centered politics and corruption are all gone; Trinidad has dawned on a new epoch and the government now works for the people not against them.
Can someone explain to me how people of East Indian decent were discriminated against and how they were racially persecuted? This has been bugging my mind. Growing up I always saw the "indian people" as being more successful, had greater opportunities and were more in control than anyone else. Maybe, I was naive or stupid or both. Yes there was always the bullying of the "coolie boy", but nothing that any other school age children did not go through in T&T. This has me confused, angry and and really heart broken to read how people putting T&T out there like that.
Anyone care to explain? Anyone of East Indian descent care to tell there story?
-
(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kamla-Bissessar1.jpg)
On her inaugural visit to mingle with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living in New York, the new female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, made a stop at Maracas Night Club in Queens New York on Friday July 13th 2010.
The theme was “come home, Trinidad needs you”; the days of racism centered politics and corruption are all gone; Trinidad has dawned on a new epoch and the government now works for the people not against them.
Can someone explain to me how people of East Indian decent were discriminated against and how they were racially persecuted? This has been bugging my mind. Growing up I always saw the "indian people" as being more successful, had greater opportunities and were more in control than anyone else. Maybe, I was naive or stupid or both. Yes there was always the bullying of the "coolie boy", but nothing that any other school age children did not go through in T&T. This has me confused, angry and and really heart broken to read how people putting T&T out there like that.
Anyone care to explain? Anyone of East Indian descent care to tell there story?
U cyah remember when tings was sooooooooo bad when they had to apply 4 refugee status in Canada. U know when African men were raping their women.
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(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kamla-Bissessar1.jpg)
On her inaugural visit to mingle with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living in New York, the new female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, made a stop at Maracas Night Club in Queens New York on Friday July 13th 2010.
The theme was “come home, Trinidad needs you”; the days of racism centered politics and corruption are all gone; Trinidad has dawned on a new epoch and the government now works for the people not against them.
Can someone explain to me how people of East Indian decent were discriminated against and how they were racially persecuted? This has been bugging my mind. Growing up I always saw the "indian people" as being more successful, had greater opportunities and were more in control than anyone else. Maybe, I was naive or stupid or both. Yes there was always the bullying of the "coolie boy", but nothing that any other school age children did not go through in T&T. This has me confused, angry and and really heart broken to read how people putting T&T out there like that.
Anyone care to explain? Anyone of East Indian descent care to tell there story?
U cyah remember when tings was sooooooooo bad when they had to apply 4 refugee status in Canada. U know when African men were raping their women.
And I vaguely remember the current prime minister a few years ago appealing to either the indian prime minister or president or some high ranking member of the govt of India to send his navy as the indians in this country under attack.
Hard to take people seriously when dey always crying wolf.
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(http://www.baiganchoka.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kamla-Bissessar1.jpg)
On her inaugural visit to mingle with Trinidadians and Tobagonians living in New York, the new female Prime Minister of the twin Island republic, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, made a stop at Maracas Night Club in Queens New York on Friday July 13th 2010.
The theme was “come home, Trinidad needs you”; the days of racism centered politics and corruption are all gone; Trinidad has dawned on a new epoch and the government now works for the people not against them.
Can someone explain to me how people of East Indian decent were discriminated against and how they were racially persecuted? This has been bugging my mind. Growing up I always saw the "indian people" as being more successful, had greater opportunities and were more in control than anyone else. Maybe, I was naive or stupid or both. Yes there was always the bullying of the "coolie boy", but nothing that any other school age children did not go through in T&T. This has me confused, angry and and really heart broken to read how people putting T&T out there like that.
Anyone care to explain? Anyone of East Indian descent care to tell there story?
U cyah remember when tings was sooooooooo bad when they had to apply 4 refugee status in Canada. U know when African men were raping their women.
And I vaguely remember the current prime minister a few years ago appealing to either the indian prime minister or president or some high ranking member of the govt of India to send his navy as the indians in this country under attack.
Hard to take people seriously when dey always crying wolf.
YUH DOES STEUPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD when dey chattin dey nonesense.
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Just saw it on tv6 news...SO I don't have a link to the story...
New Commisioner of Police to receive over 1.5 million dollars a year...!!! in other words over 172000 dollars a month...Deputy commisioner getting over 106000 dollars a month...!!!!
We have risen :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Just saw it on tv6 news...SO I don't have a link to the story...
New Commisioner of Police to receive over 1.5 million dollars a year...!!! in other words over 172000 dollars a month...Deputy commisioner getting over 106000 dollars a month...!!!!
We have risen :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
A man won't come here to work for chump change, I'm not surprised. Hopefully he can make a positive difference.
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Just saw it on tv6 news...SO I don't have a link to the story...
New Commisioner of Police to receive over 1.5 million dollars a year...!!! in other words over 172000 dollars a month...Deputy commisioner getting over 106000 dollars a month...!!!!
We have risen :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Canadian or TT
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Just saw it on tv6 news...SO I don't have a link to the story...
New Commisioner of Police to receive over 1.5 million dollars a year...!!! in other words over 172000 dollars a month...Deputy commisioner getting over 106000 dollars a month...!!!!
We have risen :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Canadian or TT
fantino, de former police chief of toronto make something like $250K/year CAD.
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Wow. (http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=3832)
Excitement preceded Trinidad and Tobago`s first female Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar arrival for a 10-day visit to New York City last Friday. However, that enthusiasm in the Caribbean and Trinidadian American community has quickly dissipated since the PM it seems is more interested in the Indian community than West Indians.
Ahead of the visit, a meeting of Diaspora nationals was promoted in Brooklyn by a local organization there, leaving many to assume that it was the PM`s first and only official New York meeting with her nationals and friends of the Caribbean. Imagine the surprise of many when it was also announced that the PM would be rushing off to two events in southeast Queens, NY, that same evening to meet with a different section of the Trinidad and West Indian community.
In a nutshell – the Brooklyn meeting it seemed was for Afro-Trinidadians and the southeast Queens meeting for Indo-Trinidadians/Caribbeans. In a country that is not only multi-ethnic but has a history of an ethnic voting divide, this move was disturbing.
Worst of all, with five ministers of government in tow at a $380,000 burden to the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago, the PM`s office and her handlers have refused to speak to the Caribbean media, blatantly ignoring the fourth estate, Caribbean or mainstream.
Infact, Garvin Nicholas, who is listed as press secretary, seems to badly need a course in public relations as he has missed a major PR opportunity in this visit for both Caribbean and mainstream media publicity. Mr. Nicholas has no photographer documenting this historic visit and seems content to take the PM`s photos with his camera phone while standing aside and seeing no need to set up any real photo ops.
Most importantly, real news photographers seeking access to cover the visit are being shut down and ignored while Nicolas complains of his email not working properly.
Really now? And where is the consulate in all this? Shouldn`t they be the one guiding Mr. Nicholas on the media in NY and the community leaders? Well last we heard the sitting counsel general was trying to wrangle a flag away from a Trinidad and Tobago national on Sunday since he had none and neither did the PM until some smart Alec handed her one on the float in the Indian Day Parade.
But let`s backtrack to the PM and her itinerary. While she has made no time to speak to Caribbean media, she certainly has taken time out to be interviewed by Indian television, which begs the question: is she the Caribbean-born PM of Trinidad and Tobago or of India? Can you imagine the PM of India visiting here and giving no media interviews to his media? Can you imagine the outrage this would cause?
For those who may think this is too harsh please note that PM Persad-Bissessar not only participated in the Indian Day Parade, an unprecedented move, but she has had two fundraisers with the Indians, one in Long Island, NY and one in New Jersey. This is in addition to her exclusive meeting with the GOPIO on Monday at the New York Marriot, where she is shelling out the big bucks to stay with her entourage; and of course that Indian TV interview.
And what about Caribbean American meetings? Nothing beyond a bunch of listings for attendance at several nondescript events in the Indo-Caribbean community in Queens.
To make matters worse and to show the obvious ineptness of her PR person and handlers, the PM`s itinerary has not been provided beyond Monday. So her meeting with New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly Wednesday was truly a surprise and it certainly went undocumented by media photographers here.
A post-release issued by Nicholas said Persad-Bissessar and Kelly `discussed many strategies for preventing detecting and prosecuting criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago.` Really now? So can we expect to see another foreigner added to the payroll of Trinidad and Tobago in its crime fight in the near future?
The fact is that the PM`s visit here is a waste of time and money and Trinidad and Tobago nationals paying for this should take her to task on it. What exactly has she achieved? Certainly there has been no real return on investment in the form of public relations? And what about meetings with real investors and diverse groups of nationals and Caribbean Americans in power in this city?
Has she met with members of the New York City Council or other city politicians to leverage power and investment opportunities? Or was this really a visit to India New York, the same Indians who hardly believe Indo-Caribbeans have any link to India and who consider many, `nigger coolies.` Their term not ours.
These are the questions that need to be seriously asked especially as the PM gets ready to spend more mula to return here next month for the UN. A historic moment has been squandered and the PM has left many wondering if she is the head of state of the multi-ethnic twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago or only of some of the people. What a shame, what a disappointment, what a lost opportunity!
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To be honest with you I find some of the inferences of an ethnic preference to be unnecessary. The same Prime Minister was in full regalia and participated (literally marched) in the Emancipation Day parade. Whether that is perceived as superficial patronage is immaterial .The good lady was there.
The bigger issue is that this was a meeting of UNC New York and some friends at the expense of tax payers.
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Not only that emancipation day is OUR holiday..That belong to Trinidad and Tobago. What business is it of hers as our Prime Minister to go all the way to New York to attend an India Day Parade as a sitting head of state...She celebrating India gaining independence...!! Steupsssss and worst yet she appearing alongside Bollywood stars not even other sitting head of States..!!! Madnesss
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for better Govt teamwork
Story Created: Aug 20, 2010 at 12:53 AM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 20, 2010 at 12:53 AM ECT
Over the general election campaign, one of the barbs hurled against the People's Partnership was that, if the coalition got into government, it would be undermined by internal divisions. After three months in office, there are no signs of any such conflict, but the Partnership does appear to lack a firm centre.
As they have settled into their duties, various Government Ministers have been making statements which are apparently personal or idiosyncratic views, rather than representative of Government policy. In the latest example, Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has written Attorney General Anand Ramlogan requesting – or instructing – the AG to take steps toward the resumption of hanging convicted murderers as soon as possible.
That Mr Warner should write an open letter to a colleague, rather than approaching him privately or raising the matter in Cabinet, is a transparent public relations ploy. Why should an issue like the death penalty so consume the attention of the Minister of Works, more than the National Security Minister, or the Legal Affairs Minister, or the Attorney General himself? Apart from populist politicking at the expense of his fellow MPs, Mr Warner is reinforcing the opinion, also hurled as a barb during the election campaign, that he is pulling the Prime Minister's strings.
Mr Warner, however, is only the most prominent example of this motor-mouth approach to policy. AG Anand Ramlogan himself has been criticised for his unnecessarily aggressive statements on crime-related matters. For her apparently confrontational approach, Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis has drawn raised eyebrows. As did Sport Minister Anil Roberts' outburst against a US Embassy official concerning visa procedures. Surges in volume and changes of tone might be acceptable if Government people seemed to be coming from a settled and uniform policy centre. Instead, they almost appear to be improvising as they go along.
This is not merely a matter of image. While Ministers spend time dealing with day-to-day problems, some critical matters seem to be left unattended. State entities, including UDeCOTT and Petrotrin, remain in holding patterns, their boards awaiting new appointees. Meanwhile, PNM appointees hang on anomalously at the NLCB. Again, statements about water taxis and the Offshore Patrol Vessels come from Ministers and other officials without apparent benefit of in-depth analysis.
The new Ministers have won kudos for their hands-on approach, responsiveness, and the undoubted energy of the Cabinet's leading people. But it is also apparent that the planned Tobago retreat, cancelled when the floods hit two weeks ago, remains a necessary exercise. Whenever it happens, the members of the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration must emerge knowing their roles, knowing the Government's policy positions, and performing like a cohesive team.
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The Cabinet is not functioning. They don't need a retreat to know the decision making progress. Look at the people making bold public statements, Ramlogan, Roberts, Warner. They're all new to government but they've been around, as we say they big and they have sense. You have to question the Prime Minister's leadership in all this. She has been silent on these issues and the gaffes continue. This leads me to believe that these issues are not being discussed in Cabinet or Warner in particular just doesn't care.
Baptiste-Cornelis in a word , is a quack. If she lasts the full term she will be a walking highlight reel PR errors. Hers is different degree of hubris. So far though, she has actually stuck to her portfolio and her infractions have more to do with a lack of tact than any attempt to foist her personal rather government position on public policy.
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How hard it is when allyuh post ah article or news item, to also post a link or otherwise provide attribution for the source? Sorry, just one of my pet peeves.
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How hard it is when allyuh post ah article or news item, to also post a link or otherwise provide attribution for the source? Sorry, just one of my pet peeves.
Here sorry...I know yuh eh like pets l;ol
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Time_for_better_Govt_teamwork-101136459.html
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How hard it is when allyuh post ah article or news item, to also post a link or otherwise provide attribution for the source? Sorry, just one of my pet peeves.
Here sorry...I know yuh eh like pets l;ol
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Time_for_better_Govt_teamwork-101136459.html
Thanks... I just needed to understand the context of the article. Particularly so since it reflects much of the very things I and others have pointed out here in the discussions viz-a-viz breaches of protocol and the haphazard free-for-all approach to public pronouncements.
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
(Story Updated: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT )
Does any of this sound familiar?
• One man who was allowed to bypass conventions and structures, checks and balances, in order to get things done fast;
• One man who seemed to have a finger in every pie;
• One man who had big men and women falling down before him in awe and obsequiousness;
• One man who nobody seemed able, or willing, to bring under supervision;
• One blue-eyed boy.
In hindsight, we can see that allowing the newly-appointed Minister of Works to also keep his FIFA job was only the beginning. Now the man is on a roll: I don't want to hear about obstacles, he warns, with regard to the building of another water taxi port; I only want to hear how it can be done.
The proposed site of the port seems to be a mangrove swamp. Suppose the EMA says no to destroying yet another piece of wetland; is he going to overrule them? Or is the EMA going to be accommodating, as with the smelter plant and quarrying regulations?
In discussing bureaucratic obstacles, Mr Warner lamented "This country is bogged down in too much democracy" (First Up, August 20). Slip of the tongue? Mouth open tory jump out? Or just mouth running ahead of brain?
Calder Hart did not wish to be hampered, either, by little things like the rules of tendering, and he was accommodated. Look where that landed us.
Why is the Minister of Works and Transport instructing the Attorney General? Is that the correct line of authority? Clearly this personage has become the "Minister of Everything'' — getting into other people's portfolios.
Mr Warner has admitted that the move to resume hangings was not a collective decision: "the party has to discuss it. It has not been discussed" (Express July 21).
Reports are that it has still not been discussed, but some of his colleagues have been individually recruited into his personal project to hang at all cost, scheduling the proposed human sacrifice as a Republic Day celebration: "the best gift you can give the country — the best republican gift" (Austin Jack Warner, First Up, August 20). How obscene. And should all of these arrangements be going on while the Prime Minister is away?
It is very disturbing to see how willingly he gets people to do his bidding — grown men with brains of their own, Ministers in their own right, working just as hard as he does, but talking less, not given to blowing their own trumpets.
It seems as though every word that falls out of Mr Warner's mouth gets reported in the media. Cameras seem to follow him everywhere (at his invitation?). One night this week, almost every story on the 7 o'clock news was about him.
This week, too, a respected radio talkshow host expressed admiration for the way Mr Warner is able to circumvent structures and get things done. And this seems to be the sentiment on the ground — Mr Warner is a knight in shining armour, acclaimed by all as an action man who gets things done fast.
Calder Hart was also highly praised and put on a pedestal, then hotly defended even after we had begun to see through him and recognise the appalling breakdown of accountability that his modus operandi involved.
Let us hope that the Government retreat/workshop can be held as soon as possible after the PM's return, and that as part of this exercise Mr Warner's colleagues will get out from under his spell and confront the issues raised by his actions and utterances.
If those who are hired as facilitators of the workshop process have the skill to make this happen, then the country will owe them a great debt of gratitude.
We're on a very dangerous path, and we have too much to lose. Let us not squander the opportunity given to us on May 24 to build a humane, orderly and peaceful society. There is no short cut to that goal.
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
I just read that mihself about 20 mins ago.... thanks for the vid.
EDIT: gawd... I juss try watching that thing... ah whole 2 hurs and yuh cyah even scroll thru.
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More on the VISA issue....
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/08/23/officials-don-t-have-look-supporting-papers (http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/08/23/officials-don-t-have-look-supporting-papers)
Getting a US visa...
Officials don’t have to look at supporting papers
Published: 23 Aug 2010
The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago is not duty-bound to look at supporting documents when reviewing an application for a non-immigrant visa. Well-placed US diplomatic sources said consular officers are not required to look at an applicant’s supporting documents. It was further explained that the information on the application form and the information stated by the applicant during the interview are usually all that are necessary to determine an applicant’s eligibility under the law.
The sources said that all applicants must qualify on their own merits and must not rely on the assurances of third parties, relatives or otherwise. It was further explained that Section 214 (b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, commonly called INA, presumes that every applicant for a non-immigrant visa is an intending immigrant to the United States. That is, unless he or she can provide credible evidence of strong family, social, professional and economic ties that would compel him or her to leave the United States after a short stay.
Visa applicants must demonstrate that they do not plan to abandon their residence in Trinidad and Tobago, it was explained. All applicants must overcome that presumption, regardless of their reason for travel, the US sources said. Further, applicants must qualify on their own merits.
At the interview, you do not overcome the presumption of an intending immigrant, said the sources. Previous applicants for visas are free to reapply, it was stated. But his or her circumstances must have changed to warrant a visa, the sources further said.
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More on the VISA issue....
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/08/23/officials-don-t-have-look-supporting-papers (http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010/08/23/officials-don-t-have-look-supporting-papers)
Getting a US visa...
Officials don’t have to look at supporting papers
Published: 23 Aug 2010
The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago is not duty-bound to look at supporting documents when reviewing an application for a non-immigrant visa. Well-placed US diplomatic sources said consular officers are not required to look at an applicant’s supporting documents. It was further explained that the information on the application form and the information stated by the applicant during the interview are usually all that are necessary to determine an applicant’s eligibility under the law.
The sources said that all applicants must qualify on their own merits and must not rely on the assurances of third parties, relatives or otherwise. It was further explained that Section 214 (b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, commonly called INA, presumes that every applicant for a non-immigrant visa is an intending immigrant to the United States. That is, unless he or she can provide credible evidence of strong family, social, professional and economic ties that would compel him or her to leave the United States after a short stay.
Visa applicants must demonstrate that they do not plan to abandon their residence in Trinidad and Tobago, it was explained. All applicants must overcome that presumption, regardless of their reason for travel, the US sources said. Further, applicants must qualify on their own merits.
At the interview, you do not overcome the presumption of an intending immigrant, said the sources. Previous applicants for visas are free to reapply, it was stated. But his or her circumstances must have changed to warrant a visa, the sources further said.
Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
How does that counter what brownsugar posted though?
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Dookeran say the new Comish salary will put starin on the economy. Jack say dat is nonsense...lol
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
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I have a gfriend who daughter get blank d aunt she was goin by write d foreign dept askin 4 a reason she was told 2 reapply and she get d 1 entry. She went and come back.
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http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/05/25/trinidad-elects-its-first-female-prime-minister/
Top 10 Female Leaders
Trinidad Elects Its First Female Prime Minister
By: MADISON GRAY (90 days ago)
Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister-elect Kamla Persad-Bissessar
The twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, known for warm beaches and its wild annual Carnival celebration, could now be known for breaking glass ceilings because of its election of its first female prime minister.
Voters elected United National Congress candidate Kamla Persad-Bissessar, 58, to the position after Patrick Manning of the People's National Movement conceded defeat. in Manning called this round of elections a month ago in response to a "no-confidence" motion against him for what has been seen as flagrant government spending. The PNM has had a stronghold on Trinidadian politics for nearly 50 years, and kept Manning in power for 13 of them.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar's UNC galvanized a multi-ethnic coalition of parties in order to seize a majority 29 of 41 parliamentary seats, giving them control of the oil and natural gas-rich nation's government. The country's resources have made it an economic leader in the Caribbean region and its ties to the United States are not expected to change. Coalition leaders have said they will pursue more strategic ties with Brazil once the new administration is in place.
Still the prime minister-elect will have to contend with the problems Manning is leaving behind. Last year, the nation became the murder capital of the Caribbean, with homicides up 38%. She will also have to quickly address corruption issues in government projects that have dogged her predecessor for years.
Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/05/25/trinidad-elects-its-first-female-prime-minister/#ixzz0xSz8818r
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
I just read that mihself about 20 mins ago.... thanks for the vid.
EDIT: gawd... I juss try watching that thing... ah whole 2 hurs and yuh cyah even scroll thru.
Jack say Trinidadians have too much Democracy :o
He have to take short cuts to get things done. mamayo.
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
I just read that mihself about 20 mins ago.... thanks for the vid.
EDIT: gawd... I juss try watching that thing... ah whole 2 hurs and yuh cyah even scroll thru.
Jack say Trinidadians have too much Democracy :o
He have to take short cuts to get things done. mamayo.
U 4get dem peeps use money from TIDCO 2 pave road. Not 2 mention dey pave d savannah.
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
I just read that mihself about 20 mins ago.... thanks for the vid.
EDIT: gawd... I juss try watching that thing... ah whole 2 hurs and yuh cyah even scroll thru.
Jack say Trinidadians have too much Democracy :o
He have to take short cuts to get things done. mamayo.
U 4get dem peeps use money from TIDCO 2 pave road. Not 2 mention dey pave d savannah.
who is dem peeps?
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From Calder Hart to Minister of Everything
Story Created: Aug 21, 2010 at 12:41 AM ECT
Merle Hodge
St Augustine
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/From_Calder_Hart_to_Minister_of_Everything-101210819.html
http://video.ctntworld.com/view/318/first-up-online-200810/
I just read that mihself about 20 mins ago.... thanks for the vid.
EDIT: gawd... I juss try watching that thing... ah whole 2 hurs and yuh cyah even scroll thru.
Jack say Trinidadians have too much Democracy :o
He have to take short cuts to get things done. mamayo.
U 4get dem peeps use money from TIDCO 2 pave road. Not 2 mention dey pave d savannah.
who is dem peeps?
UNC is dem peeps. Dey pave d savannah and use TIDCO money 2 pave road. Who u tink it was?
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
EXACTLY DEY DOES MAKE IT UP AS DEY GO ALONG.
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He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
:thinking: :thinking:
Well boy I eh know nah....I guess it must be come down to if the Embassy official get up on the wrong side of the bed that particular morning......btw when did this happen? I remember the OIG report discussed earlier in this thread commenting on the circumstances or reasons for which some people were declined VISA's didn't make sense. Cyar remember off hand which period the OIG had concerns with though....
Any who, my turn coming next year...Weary girl, doh forget we have to co-ordinate we visit.... ;D
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He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
:thinking: :thinking:
Well boy I eh know nah....I guess it must be come down to if the Embassy official get up on the wrong side of the bed that particular morning......btw when did this happen? I remember the OIG report discussed earlier in this thread commenting on the circumstances or reasons for which some people were declined VISA's didn't make sense. Cyar remember off hand which period the OIG had concerns with though....
Any who, my turn coming next year...Weary girl, doh forget we have to co-ordinate we visit.... ;D
Yes we have a date
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All pensioners will benefit from increase (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/_All_pensioners_will_benefit_from_increase_-101445449.html)
SENIOR citizens were yesterday assured that they will all benefit from pension increases come September 1.
Speaking at a Ministry of the People Public Forum in Palo Seco, June Ramsey-Ross, social welfare advisor III, told senior citizens that although not all of them qualified for the $3,000 pension they would all benefit from the pension increase.
"Some of you are going to be receiving $3,000 but not all of you are going to be receiving that. We have several different bands of payments, some of you are getting $800, some of you are getting $1,550, some of you are getting $2,100. Those of you who are getting $2,500 now you are going to be getting $3,000. Those of you who are getting $2,100 now you will be getting a little extra—$2,500."
Ramsey-Ross said the pensions will now range from $1,000 to $3,000, because there are people who have incomes that range between $2,800 and $3,000.
"So that if your income is between $2,800 and $3,000 you will get a $1,000. So the pensions will now range from $1,000 a month to $3,000," she said.
She said posters will be placed at the various social welfare offices indicating what pension increases people will be getting.
"It will state clearly the various amounts of pensions."
National Insurance Scheme (NIS) recipients, pensioners from Caroni Ltd, as well as those seniors doing gardening will also receive a pension, she said.
"Even people who may have applied previously for pensions and were rejected because of excess income may now be eligible for the pension if they have an income of anything less than $3,000," Ramsey-Ross said.
"They may now qualify for a smaller pension and that may include some of you here today."
She also assured public service retirees who now receive a pension of $1,950 that they too will eventually get an increase in their pensions which will take them up to the $3,000 mark.
"I can't say when because it is in the hands of the Comptroller of Accounts and the Ministry of Finance, but I know that it is being looked into," she said.
Honour pension promise (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Honour_pension_promise-101534068.html)
Opposition Leader Keith Rowley yesterday called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to honour the $3,000 pension her party promised the country during its election campaign.
In a press release last evening, Rowley said, "During the general election campaign, it was a documented and recorded fact that the UNC (United National Congress)-led Coalition committed to paying a $3,000-per-month old-age pension to all beneficiaries, and to lower the pensionable age to 60 years, without consideration of any other qualifying terms."
He said after the Government "attempted to escape its contract with the people during the Parliamentary debates on the issue, the PNM (People's National Movement) finds it wholly objectionable that Mr Garvin Nicholas, the Press Secretary of the Prime Minister, could now post on the Internet that the paid advertisements on this subject, in which the promises were outlined, were in fact a "misprint".
Rowley said the unacceptable position of the Government now was also cemented by Sports Minister Anil Roberts, whom he said also told a television journalist yesterday that "the Government had absolutely no intention of reducing the pensionable age to 60 years, and that the paid advertisement that so stated was a "misprint".
Saying that it was the PNM's position that "this patent deceit on the part of the UNC-led coalition only serves to discredit and undermine the Office of the Prime Minister", Rowley said, "Today, on behalf of those who have been deceived, we call on the Prime Minster to honour her Government's commitment to the citizens of this country, and to restrain her Press Secretary and Ministers from making a travesty of our electoral system, and to cease from further attempts at insulting the senior citizens on Trinidad and Tobago."
I went and check the manifesto....page 8 of the 39 page pdf where it specifically addresses the pension issue.
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And...as expected....tanties toting and uncles taking umbrage.....
Pensioners angry (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Pensioners_angry-101136424.html)
SCORES of senior citizens yesterday expressed displeasure at how the $3,000 pension the People's Partnership promised during the general election campaign will be paid out in September.
At a well-attended Open Public Forum for Older Persons at the St Joseph's Community Centre yesterday, Anthony Alexander, 69, of St Joseph, was one of many pensioners who turned up to voice their discontent with how much will be disbursed to senior citizens as a pension.
Alexander said, "I expected to be paid an Old Age Pension of $3,000 from the State in addition to my National Insurance Scheme (NIS) entitlement. When I voted in the general election, I voted for a $3,000 pension. I did not vote for my NIS to be topped up to be called my pension."
He added, "I feel cheated."
Pensioners nearby, some sitting others standing, hummed in agreement, some noting that the $3,000 pension was one of the major promises made by the People's Partnership during election campaigning.
Many of the senior citizens then carried on their own discussions while they were being briefed on the subject by Ministry of the People and Social Development Welfare Officer Zelpha Phillips. The senior citizens were so loud in their discussions that at one stage they drowned out the voice of the speaker. At the intervention of another senior citizen, who could not hear what Phillips was saying, the moderator asked them to listen.
The senior citizens also questioned the main criteria for eligibility for the pension. The criteria includes being age 65 and over, residency and income.
Phillips said in addition to the pension, senior citizens could benefit from a number of other measures in place to help alleviate their status, but would need to qualify to benefit from these measures.
The measures include a maximum $10,000 housing assistance grant; $4,500 for household articles; $1,600 assistance for domestic help during illness for a three-month period; $500 clothing grant; $3,500 funeral expenses grant; an education grant for a grandchild where the grandparent is the legal guardian; a dietary grant for special cases, such as for diabetics; and a house rent for up to three months at a cost of $2,500.
In delivering the feature address, Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development, Dr Lincoln Douglas, said the ministry will be embarking on a national policy on aging. Views will be taken from the public forums and in collaboration with the private sector, civil society organisations and trade unions among others, he said.
Noting that Trinidad and Tobago's aging population was 11 per cent, Douglas said the population was expected to grow to 20 per cent by 2020, which means there would be additional challenges. He announced, too, that in addition to centres for the elderly currently in place, six more will be built in Trinidad next year and two will be built in Tobago.
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
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heard on d news that cabinet approved the renumeration packages for CoP Gibbs and his Deputy. lets see how this goes
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heard on d news that cabinet approved the renumeration packages for CoP Gibbs and his Deputy. lets see how this goes
I SHOCK
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The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Boy to be honest, I used to hear all kinda stories before I went for mine in 2001. But when they called me to the window, the whole thing took about 15 minutes. I was asked about 5 - 6 inane questions that I can't remember now. Easy, breezy no problemo....
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Buh weh de arse is diss! yuh know all along by the way dis man does go on, i sincerely thought he was livin here in foreign and coachin some girl team here somewhere in the south, not knowin the man livin home kectin he sc**t!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
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The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Boy to be honest, I used to hear all kinda stories before I went for mine in 2001. But when they called me to the window, the whole thing took about 15 minutes. I was asked about 5 - 6 inane questions that I can't remember now. Easy, breezy no problemo....
Cyah remember how it went nah but I had a LOUDDDDDDDDDD STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS waitin 4 dem if ah did get blank. Did u go b4 9/11 or after? My sista went right after 9/11 and it was easy as sunday morning. She was wukin in d bank at d time but she was on contract and I on contract but I still had a Public Service wuk so I walk wit meh confirmation letter as well as meh job letter from Police. Dey ask for d confirmation letter.
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The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Boy to be honest, I used to hear all kinda stories before I went for mine in 2001. But when they called me to the window, the whole thing took about 15 minutes. I was asked about 5 - 6 inane questions that I can't remember now. Easy, breezy no problemo....
Cyah remember how it went nah but I had a LOUDDDDDDDDDD STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS waitin 4 dem if ah did get blank. Did u go b4 9/11 or after? My sista went right after 9/11 and it was easy as sunday morning. She was wukin in d bank at d time but she was on contract and I on contract but I still had a Public Service wuk so I walk wit meh confirmation letter as well as meh job letter from Police. Dey ask for d confirmation letter.
dey eh ask me to see anything. not bank statement, not job letter. NUTTIN. i even push d letter from my chairman (which stated d reason for d trip an why i needed d visa) through d hole in d window. clerk man screw up he pan an push it back normal normal. imps done make up his mind on me already. but u an brownie should get thru easy, seein allyuh already have a visa
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The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Boy to be honest, I used to hear all kinda stories before I went for mine in 2001. But when they called me to the window, the whole thing took about 15 minutes. I was asked about 5 - 6 inane questions that I can't remember now. Easy, breezy no problemo....
Cyah remember how it went nah but I had a LOUDDDDDDDDDD STEUPSSSSSSSSSSS waitin 4 dem if ah did get blank. Did u go b4 9/11 or after? My sista went right after 9/11 and it was easy as sunday morning. She was wukin in d bank at d time but she was on contract and I on contract but I still had a Public Service wuk so I walk wit meh confirmation letter as well as meh job letter from Police. Dey ask for d confirmation letter.
dey eh ask me to see anything. not bank statement, not job letter. NUTTIN. i even push d letter from my chairman (which stated d reason for d trip an why i needed d visa) through d hole in d window. clerk man screw up he pan an push it back normal normal. imps done make up his mind on me already. but u an brownie should get thru easy, seein allyuh already have a visa
I went just before 9/11, was working in the bank but permanent.......
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Ah forget to post this over here after Jackie boy interview with Marcia last night....so Marcia ask Jackie boy why did he appear to want to upstage the PM on the death penalty issue? He say he just had his view and expressed it. He said after he made the initial comment, she expressed her view that she wasn't for it but he came back again and threw the issue out there....why? I still eh know. Although later on he seemed to contradict himself and said that he didn't know what Kamla's view was. Laaawwwddd...
He showed the new driver's permit and said we are going to start getting them by the end of the year. He say the idea to move Licensing to somewhere in Central was on the cards by the PNM he just inherited it. He just inherit everything.....So no, it's not because it is in his constituency. So she ask, what going to happen to the compound on Wrightson Rd. He say the St. James office moving there. So she say dat wouldn't that be a duplication of work or just moving one bad thing for another. He say that St. James is not an ideal location/site....I still trying to figure out how putting the St. James operation on Wrightson solving anything...but we shall see. On the PH taxi issue he said it would be localised. Meaning, places like Morvant, on the North Coast, deep south that doh have regular taxi would get the regularised PH. They would be marked the way the maxis are marked and so ah man cyar go and wuk PH outside he area just so, just so. Asked if it would be implemented on a test basis he say no....he say it had uproar when the maxi system came into being and it work out fine so far. IMHO, his discussion gave the impression that the whole thing is not well thought out as yet....
Finally he say he eh planning to stay in government for long.....football is he first love so dais where he want to go back to....go figure....
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Arhmmmm...i confused by this (http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2010/08/22/cop-s-salary-put-strain-economy-dookeran). Admittedly reported on the 22nd...but.....I'd hope he woulda bring dis up in de cabinet meeting this was passed in ent?
CoP’s salary to put strain on economy — Dookeran
Should the Cabinet approve the proposed salary of the country’s next Commissioner of Police (CoP)—reportedly $1.5 million annually—it would put a strain on an already challenged economy. Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Winston Dookeran was giving his views yesterday in answer to questions by reporters about the hefty pay packet Canadian Dwayne Gibbs is expected to enjoy as CoP once Cabinet approves the package he negotiated with Government officials. Gibbs’ fellow Canadian, Jack Ewatski, it is alleged, will take home a monthly salary of $106,000 as his right-hand man. “Well, obviously, any increase in cost will affect the budgetary situation. But we are trying to ensure that we can return to growth during the next economic year. During that period we hope to build back the country and also build back the fiscal accounts,” said Dookeran, when asked about Gibbs’ controversial salary.
Dookeran was speaking at the Holy Trinity Spiritual Baptist Church, Morvant, following a service marking T&T’s 48th Independence anniversary. In an exclusive interview with former T&T Guardian reporter Kyle Jeremiah in New York on Thursday at Marriott Marquis hotel, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, when questioned about the furore surrounding Gibbs’ $133,000 monthly salary, said no decision had been taken on the salary but that she could not comment further. “I know the matter will come to the Cabinet and we will take a decision. As far as I am aware there has been no decision to pay the CoP that money, whatever amount whether it is X or Y. No decision has been taken,” Persad-Bissessar said.
In addressing members of the church, Dookeran appealed to community members to return to good parenting, which he said was the bedrock of building a solid nation. “We must be prepared to walk in the rain without getting wet. We have lost focus.” Dookeran urged the members, some of whom complained of being neglected for years, not to follow the wrong path and work towards celebrating a 48th Independence anniversary as one people.
Expect 2010 budget deficit
Finance Minister Winston Dookeran says he expects a deficit in the upcoming 2010-2011 budget, the date of which he’s keeping close to his chest. “I think there will be (a deficit)... but not as large as we first anticipated.” Last year’s budget, Dookeran said, was approximately $45 billion. Last year’s deficit was $7.7 billion. “I am hoping we could at least get there as well,” was Dookeran’s response when probed about this year’s budget package. “We are still working on it. We will explain everything when the budget is read.”
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Steups!! I read that :bs: earlier this week. $2 million goh bankrupt we but $83 million for a sensless laptop plan wouldn't??..... ??? ???
Bourbon boy is real entertainment we in for, at the rate dese people going we cyar keep up!!......
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Steups!! I read that :bs: earlier this week. $2 million goh bankrupt we but $83 million for a sensless laptop plan wouldn't??..... ??? ???
Bourbon boy is real entertainment we in for, at the rate dese people going we cyar keep up!!......
AH TELL ALL YUH LONG TIME ENJOY D RIDE.
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Steups!! I read that :bs: earlier this week. $2 million goh bankrupt we but $83 million for a sensless laptop plan wouldn't??..... ??? ???
Bourbon boy is real entertainment we in for, at the rate dese people going we cyar keep up!!......
Somebody explain mih... dem chirren supposed tuh get dem laptops tuh take home wid dem?
If so... ah done seeing ah whole laundry list of problems with that.
If not, den what is de point... why not PCs in ah lab in every school or sumting so instead?
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Buh weh de arse is diss! yuh know all along by the way dis man does go on, i sincerely thought he was livin here in foreign and coachin some girl team here somewhere in the south, not knowin the man livin home kectin he sc**t!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
Who yuh dey with me? What if I living in T&T? So what? How you get out of what I type tha I home seeing trouble? Miss Cleo daiz you? Yuh rel confuse me dey. Yuh hadda be on jokes.
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Buh weh de arse is diss! yuh know all along by the way dis man does go on, i sincerely thought he was livin here in foreign and coachin some girl team here somewhere in the south, not knowin the man livin home kectin he sc**t!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
Who yuh dey with me? What if I living in T&T? So what? How you get out of what I type tha I home seeing trouble? Miss Cleo daiz you? Yuh rel confuse me dey. Yuh hadda be on jokes.
Yuh not too good @ sarcasm bro? i on kicks dude.
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Buh weh de arse is diss! yuh know all along by the way dis man does go on, i sincerely thought he was livin here in foreign and coachin some girl team here somewhere in the south, not knowin the man livin home kectin he sc**t!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
Who yuh dey with me? What if I living in T&T? So what? How you get out of what I type tha I home seeing trouble? Miss Cleo daiz you? Yuh rel confuse me dey. Yuh hadda be on jokes.
Yuh not too good @ sarcasm bro? i on kicks dude.
Daiz why I arkse yuh if yuh on kicks. Yuh feel I is Joel Bailey. Me eh running yuh kno. :-*
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Daiz why I arkse yuh if yuh on kicks. Yuh feel I is Joel Bailey. Me eh running yuh kno. :-*
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Daiz why I arkse yuh if yuh on kicks. Yuh feel I is Joel Bailey. Me eh running yuh kno. :-*
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
it doh get better dan dis
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Dey talking level nonsense there,
I had a police bredrin who had to get a VISA to go to New York for an interview with the UN. He got denied the first time even though he had all the documentation from the UN to support. So he went and applied again, and got through the second time. There was no change in any of the circumstances of his travel. He just end up spending double the money. At least he got a ten year VISA.
When did he reapply?? Right away or years after?? How long was he in the Police Service before he applied?? He had any relatives that went and never came back?? How about Police Officers who may have gone to the US on a similar jaunt and never came back?? How about Police Officers who does be on 6 months leave and going and work and come back?? (Police does still do that??)
The message I get from listening and reading what the Embassy people have to say, is that they does know things that you eh know but dey doh have to tell yuh why yuh getting turn down.
He reapplied immediately after he was declined, he is relatively young under 30 but in d service for 10 years. He has relatives up there. Not to mention he had been granted visas previously and has travelled before.
My point of contention was the statement from the embassy that your circumstances have to change for their decision to change. There was absolutely no difference in his application between the first and second application.
The first time I went to get my F1 it started out shaky. I went to the window and the lady started of witha series of questions, The name of the college? My course of study? Why I wanted to study that particular course? Now that last question kinda piss me off. As I started answering her, someone in the back called out to her and she placed me in the next line, closed her window and left. At the next window was a guy. His line of questioning went, where do you work? How long? Which facility? Then he just relaxed and started chatting with me, asking about how it was to work in my job? The he ask what position I played? That he had a nephew that played that position. Then he asked me why it took so long to get a scholarship? When he started asking these last set of questions he had already made his mind up about me getting the VISA or not. He did not look at my bank statement, or my job letter. He did look at my Work ID though. He then said enjoy your trip.
If that woman had stayed I truly believe she would have turned me down.
Buh weh de arse is diss! yuh know all along by the way dis man does go on, i sincerely thought he was livin here in foreign and coachin some girl team here somewhere in the south, not knowin the man livin home kectin he sc**t!! :rotfl: :rotfl:
Who yuh dey with me? What if I living in T&T? So what? How you get out of what I type tha I home seeing trouble? Miss Cleo daiz you? Yuh rel confuse me dey. Yuh hadda be on jokes.
Yuh not too good @ sarcasm bro? i on kicks dude.
Daiz why I arkse yuh if yuh on kicks. Yuh feel I is Joel Bailey. Me eh running yuh kno. :-*
raaaarrrrwrwrrrrr :flamethrower: oh gardo
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Truth be told PNM still running this country.
All the policies the PP implementing are from the PNM..ALL!
Way sah...those they promised is misprint and hearsay...wow!
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http://www.youtube.com/v/RUvY-z3D77U&p=A24DDFFDEC4FD2B1&playnext=1&index=14
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Looks like kamla movin in after all. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla_readies_for_move-101701033.html
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Looks like kamla movin in after all. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla_readies_for_move-101701033.html
Is not like she did say she was not moving in. :devil:
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Looks like kamla movin in after all. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla_readies_for_move-101701033.html
Is not like she did say she was not moving in. :devil:
Of course she didnt say she was moving in. She misunderstood. She (and all her supporters) thought that the term "PM Residence" meant "Patrick Manning's Residence." Hence they were against it. But they only realised that it was for the Prime Minister after the elections.
And..... Who vex...vex... (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Who_vex_vex-101701058.html)
ATTORNEY General Anand Ramlogan will be forming a committee to look into the issue of the reintroduction of the death penalty, Works Minister Jack Warner said yesterday.
He was speaking with the media following the opening of the Powder Magazine Walkover elevators at Phase 2, Powder Magazine, Diego Martin.
Warner has been the most vocal champion of a return to hanging and last month, while acting as Prime Minister, he instructed Ramlogan to find ways to circumvent international organisations that seek to block convicts in this country from being sent to the gallows.
Yesterday, Warner said the Attorney General did not provide him with a time frame for the setting up of this committee on the death penalty and he is awaiting its implementation.
He also reiterated that the death penalty will be a deterrent to crime, especially murder, and he has no intention of backing down on its enforcement.
"And who vex vex," Warner said.
He said the recent attacks against members of the security forces, including the murders of prison officer Marvin Diaz last month and police constable Jason Thomas just this week, reinforced the need for hangings to resume.
"Until you do that people will not stop this foolishness. Everything has been tried. All those guys who want to pamper these criminals I say pamper them. But I say again the time will come, God forbid ... when they (opponents to the death penalty) will feel the pain and they will understand the pain that others have felt," Warner said.
The last executions took place when the UNC was in power in 1999. Dole Chadee and eight members of his gang were hanged then. A month later on July 28, 1999, Anthony Briggs was hanged for the murder of a taxi driver.
Warner was also asked to comment on the controversy surrounding the salaries for Canadians Dwayne Gibbs and Jack Ewatski for the posts of Commissioner of Police (CoP) and deputy commissioner of police respectively, at approximately $1.3 million and $1.2 million per year respectively.
He was questioned about the reason for the current hullabaloo while superintendents and senior superintendents of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of T&T (SAUTT) have been earning an estimated $1.5 million for years.
Warner agreed and pointed out that when US criminologist Prof Stephen Mastrofski earned $18 million for his services, no one said anything in way of protest.
"But they want to say something because the People's Partnership, we are trying to use the best available skills we have to arrest crime. Why the inconsistency? If it is good for SAUTT, it is good for Mastrofski, but it is not good for Gibbs? Give me a break nah."
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Kamla’s first 100 days
By Andre Bagoo Sunday, August 29 2010
T&T Newsday.
ON MAY 25, Kamla Persad-Bissessar was sworn-in as this country’s first female Prime Minister. Her first 100 days in office, which will be marked this week, has seen controversy, challenges and important milestones.
While Persad-Bissessar has aimed to set herself apart from previous office holders, a review of her first 100 days in office reveals marked similarities between the opening of her tenure and that of two of her predecessors: former Prime Ministers Basdeo Panday and Patrick Manning.
A Sunday Newsday analysis of thousands of pages of newspaper clippings, public records and government releases relating to the first 100 days of the first terms of Persad-Bissessar’s two most recent predecessors reveals similar approaches to: issues of conflict of interest in public offices; Cabinet appointments; the review of state entities; travel and the issue of crime.
At the same time, Persad-Bissessar has also set herself apart from her predecessors: differing markedly on the issue of media relations; the treatment of the problem of flooding and on Budget consultation.
ECHOES OF BASDEO PANDAY’S TERM
The issue of crime was an important one in both Persad-Bissessar’s and Panday’s first 100 days. For example, during Panday’s first few months in office there were several brutal murders.
Panday was sworn in as Prime Minister on November 7, 1995. In the last week of November 1995, 25-year-old teacher Leslie-Ann Ramsey was gunned down and a man was also executed that week, his hands and legs chopped off.
In the first week of December 1995, there were two brutal murders: Joseph Clovis and Walter Junior Hamilton. A contractor was gunned down on December 17, 1995. A Toco fisherman tied up, his throat slashed on December 18. Brian Davis found dead in a drain and Lalcham Roopan, 32, found dead at the side of a road over the Christmas holidays. Nicole Agard stabbed to death on February 3, 1996. On Feb 21, Clint Huggins, one of the State witnesses in the Dole Chadee murder trial, was sensationally murdered.
As part of his plans for dealing with crime, Panday appointed a retired member of the Defence Force to head the Ministry of National Security: Brigadier Joseph Theodore. Almost fifteen years later, Persad-Bissessar would do the same: choosing Brigadier John Sandy.
During Panday’s first term, the issue of reviving hangings is raised: on February 7, 1996, Theodore is appointed to chair the Mercy Committee as the call for the resumption of hangings grows. Similarly, under Persad-Bissessar, the capital punishment issue has been pushed to the fore-front, most notably by her Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner who has called for murderers to hang. Sandy has also backed the call.
The first legislation tabled by Panday was billed as an anti-crime one: it established the offence of holding a fraudulent passport. Similarly, Persad-Bissessar on June 2 meets with her National Security Council and immediately promises to table several bills to deal with crime, bills which are later laid in Parliament.
Like Panday’s Cabinet – in which she was, incidentally, appointed as the first woman Attorney General in 1995 – Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet is short on women. At the swearing-in of Cabinet on May 27, 2010, she tells the press that she would have liked to see “more women”. There are five female ministers or about 17 percent of the total Cabinet. This compared with Panday’s three female ministers which then represented about 15 percent of the Panday Cabinet.
Both Panday and Persad-Bissessar created controversy with ministerial appointments and saw issues over the conflict of interest of ministers holding more than one post emerge. For Panday, things became heated when it emerged that his Agriculture Minister Dr Reeza Mohammed still held his post as UWI lecturer. He would hold on to that post for at least three months, even after appointment and in apparent defiance of university rules.
For Persad-Bissessar, it was almost deja vu, when controversy erupted over the appointment of Minister of Works and Transport Jack Warner, who has held on to his post of FIFA vice-president. Persad-Bissessar adopted an arguably stand-offish approach: assigning the issue to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for legal opinion. Ramlogan opts to commission legal opinions of lawyers, opinions which are released on June 17, 2010, backing Warner.
Ramlogan’s appointment, too, raised some degree of debate, given his history of legal cases brought against the State. The debate resembled that which occurred when Panday replaced Persad-Bissessar with Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, a lawyer with a strong public law practice, for Cabildo Chambers in February 1996.
Persad-Bissessar leads a coalition Government comprising the Congress of the People (COP) and the Tobago Organisation of the People, the TOP. Like Panday, one of the first things Persad-Bissessar did upon assuming office was set up a Ministry for Tobago Affairs, headed by Vernella Alleyne Toppin.
Panday, who was then also leading a coalition government with the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), had done similarly: on November 10, 1995, he appointed Pam Nicholson to be the Minister for Tobago Affairs.
Additionally, Panday also appointed ANR Robinson, the leader of the NAR, as “Minister Extraordinaire”. Winston Dookeran was also that month given the vague title of “Minister of National Unity”, a post which is arguably similar to that now held by the Persad-Bissessar appointed Minister of the People Glenn Ramadharsingh.
KAMLA MAKES HER OWN WAY
Echoes notwithstanding, there are clear differences between Persad-Bissessar’s first 100 days and Panday’s. Panday’s relationship with the media was rocky from the start: he called for a boycott of the Guardian and for a firing of editor Jones P Madeira within his first 100 days in office. His boycott ended on February 9, 1996, after a meeting with regional publishers. In contrast, Persad-Bissessar, minutes after she was sworn in, defended members of the media who had gathered at Knowsley, Port-of-Spain, to interview her. She now enumerates a policy placing the freedom of the press in high regard.
While both Panday and Persad-Bissessar complained of ill-heath in their first days in office, Persad-Bissessar has been able to perform her functions almost without significant interruption. In contrast, Panday was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on December 17, 1995 after suffering chest pains. He later underwent angioplasty surgery on December 30, 1995, in London and returned to Trinidad on January 6, 1996.
KAMLA from Page 3A
Also, Panday’s first 100 days were arguably rockier: the country underwent tremendous anxiety after some learnt for the first time that Panday had a criminal charge pending against him from before the 1995 election. Then the new Prime Minister, Panday attended court on November 14, 1995. Three charges of sexual misconduct against him were discharged. The decision in the case had been delayed for still unclear reasons.
Both Panday and Persad-Bissessar had to contend with the issue of the legacy of the Jamaat, the Muslim sect which attempted a coup d’etat in 1990. During his first 100 days, Panday reportedly agreed to entertain a delegation of the Jamaat for a meeting to discuss the issue of a debt the sect had for damage done during their uprising. Panday failed to make any public moves to set up an inquiry into the 1990 coup, despite calls for such.
But this appears in stark contract to Persad-Bissessar who, on July 22, 2010, announced a Commission of Inquiry into the 1990 coup. Under the new Prime Minister, the Attorney General’s Office also pursues a debt action for damages owed by the Jamaat, with an auction on August 17, 2010, netting $5.2 million of a $42 million debt. Persad-Bissessar also sets herself apart given her response to flooding. Mere minutes after being sworn-in on May 26, 2010, she gets to work dealing with flood-relief action. The day after she tours flooded areas in Trinidad. She orders her MPs to go out on the field and does so again later, in June, July and August.
COMPARISONS TO MANNING’S FIRST TERM
Persad-Bissessar’s first 100 days will also inevitably be compared with the first 100 days of her immediate predecessor: former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
On June 26, 2010, Persad-Bissessar opened up the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic centre at La Fantasie, St Ann’s, Manning’s former residence, to children. The venue is also, controversially, used for UNC party caucus meetings, with members of the Opposition arguing that the complex should not be used for partisan politics.
But while she had privately expressed the view that she would not want to live at the residence, later that month the Prime Minister is scheduled to move in. She hosts a gala for Commonwealth students visiting Trinidad on July 29, 2010. Food and drink flowed at taxpayers expense, members of the Opposition were this time invited and members of the media were let in for the early part of the event, which was largely attended by UNC party members.
Both Manning and Persad-Bissessar have had to deal with crime. For instance, after Manning was first sworn in as Prime Minister on December 16, 1991, several murders rocked the nation.
Elsa Constatine, 66; David Ortega, 31 and Dipchaud Manoo were killed over the Christmas/Boxing holidays in 1991. In January, 1992, businessman Ishmead Ali, 40, was shot dead at an Old Year’s Night party. The next day top cop Hubert Williams was revealed to be the main suspect. On February 23 the body of an unidentified woman was found in the posh Goodwood Park. The next day, a High Court judge, Justice Lennox Deyalsingh, condemned the crime wave hitting the country and called for swift justice.
Manning’s approach to crime, though, in his first 100 days was considerably quieter than that of Persad-Bissessar.
And, Persad-Bissessar has exercised her executive powers in markedly different ways. While Manning’s first appointment to the post of Acting Prime Minister was unelected Senator Dr Lenny Saith (he was appointed to act on January 22, 1996); Persad-Bissessar has appointed, thus far, only elected MPs to serve in the post: Warner and Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran.
Like Manning, Persad-Bissessar, has been concerned with fulfilling campaign promises within her first few weeks in office.
Manning, on December 22, 1995, called a special three-day training session for ministers in line with a PNM campaign promise. Similarly, Persad-Bissessar has been intent on providing, via her Minister of Education, laptops for Secondary Entrance Assessment students for use in secondary school, even in the face of controversy over the $83 million expenditure.
Also, Persad-Bissessar endured controversy for her administration’s handling of the issue of pension reform, with new legislation appearing to contradict her coalition’s campaign promise of a pension for all without criteria of $3,000 from the age of 60. A virtual conditional grant for persons over 65 is passed in Parliament instead on August 10.
Manning’s administration in its first stages also reviewed and probed projects of the former NAR Government such as the Labour Intensive Development (LID) programme, much in the vein of what Persad-Bissessar’s is doing today in relation to larger-scale state bodies like Udecott, Petrotrin and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
Unlike Persad-Bissessar, Manning announced the Budget mere days before it happened. On January 13, 1996, he said the Budget would be on January 17, 1992. In contrast, the new Prime Minister has made an effort to encourage consultations ahead of an announced date of September 8, which was announced on August 22. Today, the Budget, averaging around $40 billion in scope, is arguably a more complex affair than it was in 1991 or even in 1995.
There is another mark of Persad-Bissessar breaking from the ranks of her predecessors: the frequency of her international travel. The new Prime Minister has travelled more often than either Panday or Manning did in their first 100 days.
There was a high-profile trip to Jamaica, where Persad-Bissessar made headlines for her dancing skills, in early July. And then, in August, with Parliament vacationing, the Prime Minister went on a ten-day trip to New York, a trip that was said to be official, but which provoked much criticism. Other trips to the United States were made, including one to Miami in July.
As a result, the new Prime Minister has been criticised for jet-setting at taxpayers’ expense in an historic first 100 days in which she has both jettisoned and echoed some of the practices of those who came before her.
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Did Andre Bagoo really say that "kamla privately expressed the view that she did not want to live at the residence" .....or was that a misprint?
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Somebody now ask me someting dey and i had to wonder.
How come is no scene to spend 2.8 million for Independence celebrations for each of de regional co-operations.....buh....a flag which total erecting costs was 2 million was a problem?
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Somebody now ask me someting dey and i had to wonder.
How come is no scene to spend 2.8 million for Independence celebrations for each of de regional co-operations.....buh....a flag which total erecting costs was 2 million was a problem?
2.8 in total..not each
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Somebody now ask me someting dey and i had to wonder.
How come is no scene to spend 2.8 million for Independence celebrations for each of de regional co-operations.....buh....a flag which total erecting costs was 2 million was a problem?
2.8 in total..not each
Thats what i meant to say. Guess i expressed myself clumsily. 200000 each for 14 regional co-operations.
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Ah think this sum it up for me....
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm (http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm)
Take charge, madame PM
David E Bratt MD
Published: 31 Aug 2010
David E Bratt MD
Let us hope the Government uses the once again promised retreat to pull things together and start to focus on its programme, if indeed it has one. True, it’s been only about 100 days since in power and many of the ministers are still finding their feet and, yes, it’s the civil servants who keep government services ticking over. But surely it’s time for the Government to show some unity and direction and the retreat and the coming budget are opportunities to do so. Luckily the Minister of Finance seems to be one of the few doing his homework and, despite some glitches (the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund error and the comment on the salary for the new Commissioner of Police), he is not talking much or leaving the country on trips that do not appear to be worth the money spent. I would have expected new ministers to say little or nothing for the first few months whilst they learned how their ministries function and who are the real power brokers within them.
Instead they appear intent on posing for pictures with individuals who they personally seem to have helped and not because of their ministry’s policies. They also seem to want to follow in the footsteps of the loquacious Minister of Work. What is it about this ministry that makes people in charge there believe they know everything? First we had Imbert and his endless letters and smirking remarks, now it’s Warner, the latest Mr Know-It All. Whether it’s roads, traffic schemes, barriers, water taxis, flooding, crime, the death penalty, football, he knows it all. It also seems to be the general opinion in the media that he not only knows it all but he is Mr Get-It-Done, except that one must ask the question: what exactly has he done, except talk a lot at four o’clock in the morning and look busy on his cell?
It is true that, in the Caribbean, the person who talks most is the one everybody believes is doing the most but this is carrying the thing to absurd levels. Ideas are one thing, deeds are another. Mr Warner has undoubtedly taken advantage of Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s prolonged absences to seize the limelight. Simply put, the PM has been travelling far too much. Since her election, she’s been out of the country for 19 days or one in five. Any new enterprise needs to have its leader on hand, to lead and to give direction as well as to keep discipline among the troops. A pattern is being set up or has been set up where individual ministers seem to be out of control and mouthing off on various aspects of government policy and it is confusing.
Take the Children’s Life Fund. Is it on? Is it being developed? How much money is in it? Who is in charge of the $100 million? The Minister of Health says it is in the process of being set up. The PM goes away and comes back with promises of money and medical assistance from some group of doctors. Who selected them? Who advised her? Why have some children already been selected to go away? Who decided this? Was there medical input into their selection? Is the choice of children to go away to be a political one? Transparency, objectivity, a recognised process have to be put in place. And quickly, before the euphoria of removing the PNM evaporates. The members of this Government and the PM especially, should not forget that people did not necessarily vote them in because of their personal qualities or policies.
Most of us just want to get on with our lives whilst the Government interferes the least possible. We especially want to see a plan for crime control and for getting the economy moving. One would have to look long and deep for any analysis of its policies which, so far, appear to be a set of promises. Giving children laptops or raising the pension for senior citizens are not policies. They are political “initiatives.” Mrs Persad-Bissessar should not forget that many people, apart from the UNC faithful, as intolerant as the bigoted “PNMites for life,” voted not for her but against Mr Manning and the PNM. She is not there because of anything special she stands for or did in the past, but because of what Mr Manning stood for. Yes, she seized the moment and, firstly, with the help of the UNC rank and file, got rid of Mr Panday and we must forever be grateful for that.
Then with the assistance of the Udecott scandal and Mr Rowley’s machinations, even during the middle of the election, as Mr Imbert keeps subtly and not so subtly reminding us, she succeeded in putting together a coalition of anti-PNM forces. We are double grateful to her for that. But surely she must know that her coalition is full of man-crabs, her Cabinet is increasingly beginning to look like a crowded mud-hole, and its raining heavily.
Kindly take charge, madame.
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Ah think this sum it up for me....
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm (http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm)
Take charge, madame PM
Kindly take charge, madame.
I think this is going to prove difficult for her. If she doesn't become heavyhanded with them crosses she dealing with, the proverbial "crapaud smoke she pipe". The signs there already.
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Ah think this sum it up for me....
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm (http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/columnist/2010/08/31/take-charge-madame-pm)
Take charge, madame PM
Kindly take charge, madame.
I think this is going to prove difficult for her. If she doesn't become heavyhanded with them crosses she dealing with, the proverbial "crapaud smoke she pipe". The signs there already.
SHE MAKE SHE BEDDDDDDDDD SO LIE WIT D FLEAS AND TAKE YUH BITE
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
LET ME SAY AGAIN ENJOY THE RIDEEEEEEEEEE.
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
forgive mih ignorance eh, but is francis joseph ??? and why d apparent expressions of dismay ???
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
WHO SAY PAYBACK TIME!!!
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
forgive mih ignorance eh, but is francis joseph ??? and why d apparent expressions of dismay ???
D man who wrote article about the judgement dat lead to the case 4 breech of d confidentiality clause that Francis Joseph.
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
forgive mih ignorance eh, but is francis joseph ??? and why d apparent expressions of dismay ???
D man who wrote article about the judgement dat lead to the case 4 breech of d confidentiality clause that Francis Joseph.
ok thanks
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
forgive mih ignorance eh, but is francis joseph ??? and why d apparent expressions of dismay ???
D man who wrote article about the judgement dat lead to the case 4 breech of d confidentiality clause that Francis Joseph.
ok thanks
Your most welcome
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
I really tried to stay away from this thread. Doh want to nitpick too much nah .
Anyway I welcome a change in personnel for that position they created. Nicholas wasn't qualified or suited for that job. I don't have a problem with the government creating that post. What is disturbing is who gettin d job. Francis Joseph is so obviously Jack's boy it eh funny. If this change actually occurs it will be the last bit of evidence I need to confirm that we have 2 Prime Ministers in this country. One to give theatrical speeches and one to policy decisions.
Please madame Prime Minister don't let this man subvert will of the 400,000 voters who put you there.
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
Isn't he already doing some kinda PR or Press position with Jack?
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
I really tried to stay away from this thread. Doh want to nitpick too much nah .
Anyway I welcome a change in personnel for that position they created. Nicholas wasn't qualified or suited for that job. I don't have a problem with the government creating that post. What is disturbing is who gettin d job. Francis Joseph is so obviously Jack's boy it eh funny. If this change actually occurs it will be the last bit of evidence I need to confirm that we have 2 Prime Ministers in this country. One to give theatrical speeches and one to policy decisions.
Please madame Prime Minister don't let this man subvert will of the 400,000 voters who put you there.
They eh really put she dey dey remove Manning that is what the eh realize. So let dem continue wit thir inaction.
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:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:....Let's just enjoy the ride..!!
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:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:....Let's just enjoy the ride..!!
CO-SIGNNNNN
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Oh lawd it just get worse!!! Tony and Dale were just talking about grapevine chatter they have been picking up.....one relates to the Press Secretary. Word on the street is that Garvin Nicholas going and guess who coming...
FRANCIS JOSEPH!!!! :o :o :thinking: :thinking: :waiting:
Like ah say is just grapevine chatter but Tony and Dale does have some good sources....
Isn't he already doing some kinda PR or Press position with Jack?
Yeah Bakes, dais what was in the story I posted some time ago so let we watch and see....and yeah I still eh know how Garvin Nicholas get that wuk.....oh whatever yes.....
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PP activists cry neglect from Govt
Leah Sorias
Published: 2 Sep 2010
Members of a newly-formed association, comprising some 500 People’s Partnership activists, are calling on the party to provide them with jobs. Members of the the group—Social Ground Troops Association—feel they were sidelined for jobs after the PP came into Government. “The PP has not lived up to the mandate that was given to it,” UNC activist Juliet Davy said during a press conference at the Communication Workers’ headquarters, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. “Their mandate was not only to fix crime but to continue the process of removing middle management PNM operatives who would be on state boards and they have not done that,” she said.
She said the frontline activists of the party should have been given jobs within those state boards. She added: “It is not that we were promised jobs but I want to look at it as right of passage. “We have contributed to what has taken place now…this victory the PP now enjoys is a victory as a result of the hard work people like myself have put in.” She said she found it unfair that persons who were screened to be PNM candidates prior to this year’s general election now held “high positions” in Government while die-hard PP activists were unable to feed their families. She said the members of the association would be unable to send their children to school when the term started on Monday because they have been without jobs for years, since the tenure of the PNM Government.
She said those activists “could not even get a ten-day job with the PNM”. She said some of the activists thought that when the PP came into power they would have been given “interim” jobs within the Unemployment Relied Programme (URP) to sustain their families until better jobs were provided but that was not so. Davy said: “We cannot play games anymore because this is a real issue and we have to take it head-on in order to bring it to a halt immediately. “Don’t tell me that you are rewarding people with meritorial service and with community service because I served both in community and in party but who rewards me?” she asked. She said front-line activists, like Lynette Abraham, Norman Frederick and Lennox Smith should be give the positions owed to them.
“When Government changed hands activists had expected Government would have removed the appointees who were there before, and they would have been able to place our people in those positions,” she said. “We are dissatisfied that after three months those people are there and our people are still outside in the cold,” Davy added. She added that the members of the association felt like they were in “no-man’s land” during the last administration and when the PP came into office they found it unacceptable that they were still in that same position. “There is no concrete position from any minister as to jobs for us. It is a problem of organisation and structure that is why we put together this association,” she said. “Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said there is room for all but so far we have not been able to go into that room,” Davy added.
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This "political apointee" ting always had me wondering..but of late i questioning its wisdom ( and fairness) even more. Why should this be the case? Regardless of government? Is it to say that persons cant be trusted to execute their duties in fairness....giving their best performance....and would rather do things to undermine the state board and thus the effectiveness of the government?
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This "political apointee" ting always had me wondering..but of late i questioning its wisdom ( and fairness) even more. Why should this be the case? Regardless of government? Is it to say that persons cant be trusted to execute their duties in fairness....giving their best performance....and would rather do things to undermine the state board and thus the effectiveness of the government?
U have regular serpents underming d govt once is not dey peeps in power. D day b4 SEA under Hazel watch a key official could neva b found. It have subtle ways 2 undermine a govt. Not 2 mention it have d inbuild systems dat slower than a turtle so just watch d oil paint dry instead of usin water paint. D building still paint. Dey cyah say u eh do yuh wuk.
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US tutor for Govt
By NALINEE SEELAL and CLINT CHAN TACK Thursday, September 2 2010
AMERICAN DR Daniel Shapiro, founder and director of the world-renowned Harvard International Project, will be teaching “the Art of Negotiation” to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and members of her People’s Partnership coalition Government during a three-day workshop at Coco Reef Hotel in Tobago.
The workshop begins today immediately after the weekly Cabinet meeting also at the hotel.
A statement issued yesterday by the Office of the Prime Minister said Shapiro will be one of the presenters at the workshop. Shapiro is on the faculty at Harvard Law School and in the psychiatry department at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital. He also has been on the faculty at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has
a doctorate in clinical psychology and specialises in the psychology of negotiation.
In addition to teaching at Harvard, Shapiro travels throughout the United States and the world teaching negotiation to groups such as governmental officials, corporate executives, lawyers, psychologists, and dispute resolution professionals. He also is an adviser to the International Criminal Court. Former President Arthur NR Robinson was the chief architect of that court. Shapiro is currently pioneering a research programme on the emotional and identity-based dimensions of regional conflict and terrorism.” Government officials said they expected Shapiro would be properly remunerated for his services but did not know what was the cost for him to conduct a session at the workshop.
When the former PNM government held retreats at the Coco Reef Hotel and in Salybia Bay, the presenters were all Trinidad and Tobago nationals. This was confirmed yesterday by former PNM government ministers Dr Amery Browne and Conrad Enill who attended those retreats.
Enill said the focus of the PNM’s retreats was team-building and learning various aspects of governance. He added that many sessions in those retreats were coordinated by local human resource consultant Dr Anthony Watkins and none of the presenters were foreign nationals.
A subsequent statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said journalist Tony Fraser, Law Association president Martin Daly SC, former Public Service head Reginald Dumas and Joan Massiah will conduct sessions at the workshop with government members on Government- Media relations, separation of powers between the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature, governance for an effective and high performance Public Service and protocol, respectively.
The workshop ends on Sunday morning with Persad-Bissessar and other government ministers expected to attend the opening of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup at the Hasely Crawford Stadium later that day. Finance Minister Winston Dookeran presents the 2011 Budget in the House of Representatives next Wednesday.
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Ah hope they call ah Priest, an Imam and a Pundit too.....dey need all the help they could get.....
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Ah hope they call ah Priest, an Imam and a Pundit too.....dey need all the help they could get.....
GOD HIMSELF NEED TO COME NOT HE SON JESUS GOD HIMSELF
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I wonder how much this one costs ??? ??? ???. I remember when the last administration started off with a retreat in Toco, these same ppl were talking about the government wasting money and such.
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I wonder how much this one costs ??? ??? ???. I remember when the last administration started off with a retreat in Toco, these same ppl were talking about the government wasting money and such.
Trust mih, this bunch need it more than the last bunch.....if they come back having found a way to shut up Jack it would have been money well spent....
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I wonder how much this one costs ??? ??? ???. I remember when the last administration started off with a retreat in Toco, these same ppl were talking about the government wasting money and such.
Trust mih, this bunch need it more than the last bunch.....if they come back having found a way to shut up Jack it would have been money well spent....
Well if dat was d objective it is a HUGE F. Shuttin Jack up only God u know who need 2 facilitate at that they retreat could make dat happen.
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(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/Front_1.png)
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BIG CHANGES COMING
By ANDRE BAGOO
Saturday, September 4 2010
click on pic to zoom in« prev photo next photo »THE KAMLA Persad-Bissessar-led Government will move to introduce big changes to the Constitution in line with its 2010 General Election campaign promises, by tabling four bills in Parliament which will radically alter the Supreme Law of the land by imposing limits on the Government.
The four bills, which are currently being drafted by staff at the Office of the Attorney General, are scheduled to be tabled after passage of the 2010/2011 Budget and will kick-start an 18-month period in which government aims to bring forward longer-term changes to the Constitution.
In an interview with Newsday on Thursday at the Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Store Bay, Tobago, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Collin Partap disclosed that government’s ambitious plan to move forward with Constitutional reform, hinges on the strength of the two-thirds majority of the People’s Partnership coalition.
The four bills being drafted, Partap disclosed, will each introduce a single amendment to the Constitution. The bills will seek to:
* limit the number of terms of a Prime Minister to two;
* introduce fixed dates for General Elections;
* create a mechanism for the recall of non-performing MPs and;
* forge a process for referenda for issues of national importance.
The legislation will come after a period of consultation, Partap said, and will come alongside the setting-up of a Constitution Commission. The consultation, he disclosed, will aim at selecting the best mechanisms to be used to introduce some of the measures.
“Immediately after the Budget is passed we have a short-term plan involving those bills and a long-term plan,” a relaxed-looking Partap said as he sorted paperwork while seated on a sofa in the lobby of the sea-front hotel at Store Bay.
“Four bills to amend the Constitution will be tabled in Parliament, the commission will be set up,” he said. Of the four bills, he said there will be a short period of consultation on these to iron-out exactly how they will work.
“There are many ways in which things like a right to recall and referenda can happen,” he said. “There are a number of different mechanisms or ways in which we could do each item.”
The Minister, who is charged specifically with Constitutional affairs in the Persad-Bissessar Cabinet, said after the bills are tabled, there will be an eighteen month period in which the planned Constitutional commission will examine a more comprehensive range of reform to the 1976 Constitution.
“The Commission will be a standing body: the aim is to have an eighteen-month consultation period with a view to establishing a draft Constitution,” Partap revealed. Some issues which could come under consideration in this larger reform process are the need for a new process of selection for a Commissioner of Police and the overlapping powers of the office of the prime minister.
Partap gave no indication that the issue of the Privy Council’s appellate jurisdiction could be reviewed, an issue which Persad-Bissessar ruled out at the Post-Cabinet press briefing held on Thursday in Tobago.
Partap was yesterday among Cabinet ministers attending a four-day workshop in Tobago, which is due to end on Sunday. The workshop has been scheduled to see sessions on governance and law moderated by Law Association President Martin Daly SC as well as retired diplomat and former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas.
During the 2010 General Election campaign, which saw the UNC/COP/TOP coalition take home victory with a Constitutional majority in Parliament, the coalition promised to limit prime ministerial terms, introduce fixed election dates, a right of recall of MPs and referenda. In its first one hundred days in office, however, the party has focused on Local Government Elections, the issue of a new Commissioner of Police and now, the Budget, which is scheduled to be delivered next week Wednesday.
The coalition’s move to push forward constitutional reforms comes near the start of its tenure in Government, when its Constitutional majority may be at the forefront of the parties’ leadership.
The People’s Partnership’s plan to bring big changes to the Constitution also comes after similar attempts by previous administrations. Under the last PNM administration, former Prime Minister Patrick Manning produced a controversial Working Document on Constitutional Reform, a document drafted under his supervision and which came after a series of talks between members of a specially-appointed and secret roundtable of experts who met under the auspices of Manning’s office. Manning and former Opposition leader Basdeo Panday had famously both agreed on the need for Constitutional reform, which could have ushered in a new executive presidency.
It is unclear whether the issue of an executive presidency will be one for consideration of the People’s Partnership Government. The working document produced under Manning was itself a companion to another document, a draft Constitution penned by Sir Ellis Clarke, the country’s first President who alongside TT’s first Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams and other public officials, is largely acknowledged to be one of the key architects of the current Constitution.
The documents, alongside a third draft Constitution (the “Principles of Fairness” draft) produced by a group of lawyers led by Tajmool Hosein TC, QC, have generated tremendous debate over the merits and flaws of the current Constitution.
The current Constitution was last amended in 2006 in a collaboration between the then PNM Government and UNC Opposition. That amendment ushered a new process for the selection of a CoP, a process that has been criticised in political and legal circles.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,126964.html
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I agree with all but the referendum idea... I like Democracy but I eh think ah like it that much.
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BIG CHANGES COMING
By ANDRE BAGOO
Saturday, September 4 2010
The four bills, which are currently being drafted by staff at the Office of the Attorney General, are scheduled to be tabled after passage of the 2010/2011 Budget and will kick-start an 18-month period in which government aims to bring forward longer-term changes to the Constitution.
Ah been meaning to ask this for the longest time, what is the purpose of the Ministry of Legal Affairs?? Ah remember it was created by the Panday administration and dey throw Kamla self dey after she hold down the AG's office for a 10 days....what's the real purpose??
* limit the number of terms of a Prime Minister to two;
* introduce fixed dates for General Elections;
* create a mechanism for the recall of non-performing MPs and;
* forge a process for referenda for issues of national importance.
:applause: :applause: Dais what we talking about.....I always hated to hear "ah have de date in mih back pocket" and "we will shoot when we see the white of the eyes"..... ::) ::)
I agree with all but the referendum idea... I like Democracy but I eh think ah like it that much.
Why yuh eh like it Bakes??.... :-\
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Edit to the post above
Ah do ah quick check and the Ministry of Legal Affairs does take care of
Legal Aid
Consumer Affairs
Registrar general
Rent assessment board (which is practically defunct)
Intellectual property
Law revision commission.....
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Is like de man read mih mind...
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Time_is_up__Partnership-102233714.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Time_is_up__Partnership-102233714.html)
Time is up, Partnership
By Martin Daly
Before my August break, I gave glimpses of my growing impatience with the new Government (and I am not referring to it as "new" after today). It is now more than three months since it took office. It is time to assume the demeanour of a Government. The time for settling in is up.
I agree that the Local Government elections should have been held immediately but the Cabinet has had time to spare. The Prime Minister and bloated entourage took a dubious ten day trip to New York. Reading some of the reports of the New York tour I fear that the high living, decadent TIDCO posse of the Panday time era was back.
If the Prime Minister wished to walk in a parade in New York, the West Indian Day parade, preceding mas' on the Parkway, was the thing to do. I understand that the current US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago will be doing just that tomorrow.
At that parade the Prime Minster would have met the US Senators for New York, Mayor Bloomberg and other notables, as well as bonded with important Trini diaspora leaders. She was badly advised to omit it from her choice of parades. Perhaps the misprinted and misplaced Press Secretary did not have enough boy days to know what is what in the Trni socio-cultural structure.
Time is up, People's Partnership, for the gallery of victory. Let me first, after my two week August break, recap the concerns I had been expressing between mid June and mid August: Individualistic outbursts by members of Cabinet comprising either unseemly personal attacks or off the cuff statements, which concern fundamental policy issues, obvious lack of teamwork, dissatisfaction with the placement of special advisers and hidden lobbyists, such as ex-ministers, with access to and secretly operating within the engine room of the Government.
I also asked the Government to take a whiff of purifying oxygen and to avoid resurrecting ghosts of the pilfering past. Another concern was the promised removal of the ACIB from the portfolio of the Attorney General, in fulfillment of a specific campaign promise. This has not happened with the result that the very capable Mr Ramlogan is being seen as a hatchet man rather than the measured Chief Legal Adviser to the Government.
Meanwhile the charade about so-called implementation of the death penalty continues without reference to the unavoidable need for amendments to the Constitution if that is the direction in which the Government wishes to go. Moreover you cannot hang persons you cannot apprehend and convict.
Many of us are also satisfied that the $3,000 per month pension is a sham when measured against the relevant campaign promises. The prudent (some might say the honest) thing to have done was to provide it without qualification at age 65, provided the senior citizen was not in employment, and confess and avoid consideration of pension at age 60.
Dr Rowley, Leader of the Opposition, had generously suggested that two months or three at the outside might be a reasonable transition period. That time has gone. If the budget statement, which is scheduled for September 8, 2010, does not provide a coherent policy statement of the allocation of public funds with detailed social development objectives, it will be no different from the aimless squandermania of the PNM.
Will the Budget statement disclose the date for repeal of the property tax and what, if anything is to be put in its place? What is the precise future of the Alutrint smelter site?
To what extent is the Government withdrawing from being the prime mover in the economy, currently in limbo? Will a hard look being taken at the NIDCOs, NEDCOs and TIDCOs, symbolic of the dangerous state enterprise sector that leads politicians into temptation and lines the pockets of the flatterers and fawners? Trends suggest that we may simply have new feeders at the troughs.
The time is also up, Partnership, for blaming the PNM. The country gave you an impressive mandate to fix things and the tolerance fuse of the country is short, growing shorter each time it takes the risk of trying something different and is subsequently bitterly disappointed.
No less a person than President Obama, who set the world alight, has seen his ratings decline even though it is acknowledged that he inherited many difficulties created by his predecessor. In a recent column in the New York Times, Maureen Dowd said this and it constitutes advice the Partnership should heed: "Obama is the victim of the elevated expectations he so skillfully created in 2008. He came as a redeemer and didn't redeem. Nothing bums out a nation that blows with the wind like a self imposed messiah who disappoints."
I cannot over emphasise that is time to finish the extensive inauguration in which the Partnership has indulged. The country will not easily handle another political disappointment.
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Why yuh eh like it Bakes??.... :-\
Governance shouldn't be made subject to the whims of the majority, the legislative process is the proper medium for the passage of law and adoption of policy. With the referendum as a tool, government can manipulate the mood of the country to use to it's advantage. Take for instance Venezuela... Chavez tried two or three times to get support to change the Constitution and centralize his power. At first the people were skeptical... eventually he won a slim 50-some percent majority to change the Constitution. Some issues are larger than others, but on something such as a Constitutional amendment a simple majority (more than 50%) isn't enough,a two-thirds majority may be necessary or some other number.
Constitutional changes aside... referendum makes the government not accountable to the people, but beholden to their whims. For instance, take a referendum on this inane laptop policy and I bet a majority of Trinidadians will support it. But in the deliberative, legislative process, debate and study might show that this isn't the most prudent choice. MPs have a little bit of a buffer in Parliament where they can deliberate and vote without thinking (too much) about the political costs of their actions. This is a good thing... we want representatives in parliament who want to do what's best for the country... not what's politically expedient.
Additionally, what the majority wants isn't always what's best. At a point in US history the majority in certain parts of the country wanted to keep non-whites in second-class status. Conceivably the same can happen in TnT, not necessarily on overt racial issues, but on other issues.
Suppose a majority of people (as the numbers suggest) are PP supporters.
Suppose they start agitating for the government to reward them with jobs, as some contractors are now doing.
Suppose they say "fire PNM supporters and hire we, the campaign workers instead".
Suppose a proposal is put to referendum on that issue, what do you think the chance of passage will be?
Do you think such a bill, if introduced in Parliament would even make it to table?
The legislative process does not insure against these issues, but it at least offers the hope that more thought and debate would go into the process of enacting legislation, rather than leaving it up to whichever direction the political mood of the country blows on any given day.
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D country will not easily handle another politucal dissapointment. :rotfl: Dat real funny boi. What dey go do? Look Martin just sit back and enjoy d ride.
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hhhhhhhhmmmmmm Bakes..... :thinking: ah understand what yuh saying but let me just mull it over a bit....
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it seems to me that fixed election dates and an executive presidency will have to go hand in hand. I don't know how else to deal with the possibility of the ruling party's parliamentary caucus being fragmented between elections.
(I am in favour of an executive presidency myself).
Anyone know of any country that uses a Westminster-like system that has fixed election dates?
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it seems to me that fixed election dates and an executive presidency will have to go hand in hand. I don't know how else to deal with the possibility of the ruling party's parliamentary caucus being fragmented between elections.
(I am in favour of an executive presidency myself).
Anyone know of any country that uses a Westminster-like system that has fixed election dates?
Eh?? Ah eh quite understand yuh concern.... :-\
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it seems to me that fixed election dates and an executive presidency will have to go hand in hand. I don't know how else to deal with the possibility of the ruling party's parliamentary caucus being fragmented between elections.
(I am in favour of an executive presidency myself).
Anyone know of any country that uses a Westminster-like system that has fixed election dates?
Eh?? Ah eh quite understand yuh concern.... :-\
well, it's not exactly a concern. I'm just curious as to how it would work.
Currently we have a Westminster system where the head of the executive (the PM) is the person who commands the support of the majority of the members of the Lower House. There's also the constraint that members of Cabinet have to be members of Parliament (of one house or the other). There is necessarily a lot of shared personnel between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Currently, if the PM feels that they have lost the support of a critical number of MPs she/he can call an election. If election dates are fixed how would we deal with a re-alignment of allegiances among the elected MPs? Does the President revoke the appointment of the Prime Minister mid-term? Or what if the PM is unsatisfied with the performance of the cabinet?
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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's statement that she was asked by National Security Minister John Sandy to pay former acting Police Commissioner James Philbert one month's salary has been deemed as interference in the affairs of the Police Service Commission by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
"I don't know why the Prime Minister and her Government do not respect the independence of the Police Service Commission. If there is money owing to Mr Philbert, it should not take any direction from the Prime Minister for him to be paid those monies," Rowley said yesterday.
He also asked whether the monies were an ex gratia payment for the humiliation Philbert suffered, or was it money to pacify him for breach of contract.
"These are questions to be answered and the independent commission ought not to be taking direction from the Prime Minister. And she is doing Mr Philbert no favours, she is just furthering the humiliation," he said.
On the Prime Minister's apology to Philbert for the manner in which the People's National Movement treated him by having him acting for so long and not appointing him as Police Commissioner, Rowley asked whether the Prime Minister was saying the PNM should have made Philbert Police Commissioner outside of the process established for hiring a commissioner.
Noting that Persad-Bissessar was a member of the Parliament which established the new system for the appointment of a police commissioner, Rowley said Philbert took part in that process and was not selected and therefore the "PNM or anybody could not have made him Commissioner of Police".
He said on the second occasion that a police commissioner was selected, Philbert did not take part in the process.
"So the Prime Minister is only playing for headlines and photo opportunity, because the PNM did nothing to interfere with Mr Philbert, other than give him the opportunity like everybody else to participate in a process which the Parliament (which included the Prime Minister) established."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PM__interfering_-102316709.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PM__interfering_-102316709.html)
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She apparently issued some press release telling Rowley to shut up in a nutshell. Ah cyar comment further cuz ah didn't hear the entire news report, but dais what ah gather from the bit of newsclip I caught. I guess she was responding to this.....
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Work for schools clerical staff ends Friday
Wednesday, September 15 2010
THE Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has said that by Friday most primary schools would be without clerical staff because their contracts come to an end. Clerical officers’ contracts have not automatically been renewed as they were told they would have to re- apply for positions when advertised, and be interviewed again.
First vice president of TTUTA, Davanand Sinanan said some contracts expired last Friday, but the majority would expire this week. “We would only know the degree of disruption this situation will cause by next week,” Sinanan said yesterday in a telephone interview.
He said the situation was worrying because it would cause disruptions to many primary schools.
Sinanan said clerical staff’s duties included writing letters, filing and photo-copying documents, among other duties.
“These officers usually work in the principal’s office and without them, the principals would have to do those duties,” said Sinanan. He said the majority of principals expressed concern about the issue.
President of the Primary Schools Principals’ Association, Vijay Jagrup, told Newsday principals were assured by Minister of Education, Dr Tim Gopeesingh the clerical officers would be kept on a month-to-month basis.
“The minister, in a meeting with us in late August, prior to the opening of the new school term said the officers would be kept on a month- to-month basis, until such time as the advertisement comes out so they can re-apply for their posts. In the meantime the current officers would have continued,” said Jagrup.
He said principals were concerned about the welfare of the workers, and their individual schools.
When Gopeesingh was contacted Monday afternoon, he said he as well as other officials from the Education Ministry were occupied in meetings. As a result, he could not comment on the issue.
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Work for schools clerical staff ends Friday
Wednesday, September 15 2010
THE Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has said that by Friday most primary schools would be without clerical staff because their contracts come to an end. Clerical officers’ contracts have not automatically been renewed as they were told they would have to re- apply for positions when advertised, and be interviewed again.
First vice president of TTUTA, Davanand Sinanan said some contracts expired last Friday, but the majority would expire this week. “We would only know the degree of disruption this situation will cause by next week,” Sinanan said yesterday in a telephone interview.
He said the situation was worrying because it would cause disruptions to many primary schools.
Sinanan said clerical staff’s duties included writing letters, filing and photo-copying documents, among other duties.
“These officers usually work in the principal’s office and without them, the principals would have to do those duties,” said Sinanan. He said the majority of principals expressed concern about the issue.
President of the Primary Schools Principals’ Association, Vijay Jagrup, told Newsday principals were assured by Minister of Education, Dr Tim Gopeesingh the clerical officers would be kept on a month-to-month basis.
“The minister, in a meeting with us in late August, prior to the opening of the new school term said the officers would be kept on a month- to-month basis, until such time as the advertisement comes out so they can re-apply for their posts. In the meantime the current officers would have continued,” said Jagrup.
He said principals were concerned about the welfare of the workers, and their individual schools.
When Gopeesingh was contacted Monday afternoon, he said he as well as other officials from the Education Ministry were occupied in meetings. As a result, he could not comment on the issue.
It is very unfair to keep workers in limbo like that. What is the purpose of changing entry level staff anyway ? That reapplication process will take months upon months to be completed.
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It is very unfair to keep workers in limbo like that. What is the purpose of changing entry level staff anyway ? That reapplication process will take months upon months to be completed.
fully agree. it's been months, certain things (simple like this) should have been sorted out already. if not automatic. dem people probably real stressing.
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minimum wage increase to $100 a day from $72 just announced
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It is very unfair to keep workers in limbo like that. What is the purpose of changing entry level staff anyway ? That reapplication process will take months upon months to be completed.
fully agree. it's been months, certain things (simple like this) should have been sorted out already. if not automatic. dem people probably real stressing.
I tell all yuh evry body who get a contract wuk Dec 01-May 10 is ah agent of d PNM. D joke is d Ministry eh have d capacity 2 hire all dem peeps. D Min of Lab did the recruitment for Edu.
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(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/17%20sept%202010%20pg1.png)
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(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/17%20sept%202010%20pg1.png)
So all need 2 happen now is appoint Daaga/Jack as temporary senators when next se fly out and evrybody will get dey opportunity 2 act.
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Funny day in Parliament yesterday. Warner stole the show...
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/aktualnosci/fullfront1264front.JPG)
(http://guardian.co.tt/files/front_cover/18%20sept%202010%20pg1.png)
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1284781913747n23.jpg)
PAULA 'WAIST HUG' OBAMA,'
By Andre Bagoo Saturday, September 18 2010
MINISTER of Works and Transport Jack Warner, a former school teacher, yesterday gave former Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon a hilarious lesson in protocol, lambasting her for attacking Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s deportment when she (Gopee-Scoon) had once made a girlish grab at United States President Barack Obama...http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,127730.html
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Speech to the UN (full): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGKgGefjAfI&feature=related :beermug:
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PM_STAYS_OUT-104548694.html
PM STAYS OUT
Sandy, AG to head negotiations with Brits on cancelled OPVs
By Akile Simon
Story Created: Oct 8, 2010 at 12:54 AM ECT
Story Updated: Oct 8, 2010 at 12:54 AM ECT
NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Brigadier John Sandy and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan will lead a team of technocrats into negotiations with the British government and BAE Systems on the cancellation of the purchase of three offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the disclosure at yesterday's post-Cabinet media conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's. She said it was not appropriate for her as head of the Government to be engaged in such a multi-billion-dollar discussion.
She also confirmed a report carried in yesterday's Express,which stated this Government had been in talks with the British government regarding the cancellation of the contract for the vessels.
The contract was signed off as part of a government-to-government arrangement under the former People's National Movement (PNM) government, which signed a £150 million contract in April 2007 with VT Shipbuilding to build and commission the vessels. In October last year, BAE acquired full control of VT.
The vessels are part of a $5.1 billion-dollar expenditure approved by the former People's National Movement government to acquire naval assets, which would provide surveillance and protection capabilities, including drug interdiction, anti-smuggling operations and disaster relief functions within the region.
Persad-Bissessar said she has spoken with Eric Jenkinson, the British High Commissioner to this country, on the matter.
"I am not of the view that it is appropriate for me as the Prime Minister of the country to engage in negotiations while I am there (in London, England)) on Commonwealth business. I do not think it's appropriate for the Prime Minister to be holding closed-door meetings with persons on a matter that is worth billions of dollars of taxpayers' dollars. :o
"I am not of that view and in that regard, I will not hold discussions of that nature. I think they (Sandy and Ramlogan) would be the better persons, but I so did indicate to the British High Commissioner Mr (Eric) Jenkinson," she said when asked if she would be meeting with British government officials during her trip to London next week.
A few months ago, both Sandy and Ramlogan were part of an interministerial committee which was set up to review the purchase of the OPVs.
Persad-Bissessar did not say whether the Government would purchase one of the vessels.
"Any discussions as I said would be without prejudice, so that we do not jeopardise that notification and then have to start from scratch all over again.
"We have taken a decision already, but we are willing to listen. If there is something that comes forward that's in the best interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, we will be willing to consider it...we are holding our position," she said.
She said after the one-month notification the Government gave to BAE to cancel the purchase expires, negotiations would then begin with the company.
The negotiations are expected to commence from October 18, one day after the one-month notice to cancel the purchase expires, the Express was told.
We also understand officials from BAE are expected to travel to this country to begin talks for an equitable settlement, and with the expectation this country would take the first vessel which is ready for delivery.
When asked whether the $61 million BAE owed this country after it repeatedly breached the contract by constant delays in the delivery of the vessels and the wrong specifications being used in one of the boats, she said the country would have to await the outcome of the arbitration process.
"I do believe the way out of the contract is not necessarily through the courthouse, but it's through arbitration. If it is not settled by negotiation, then we would have to empanel persons to arbitrate. It's a process that would take some time," she said.
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someone sent me a PM and said it looks like Kmala intends to travel 29 times this year so member of her cabinet can act as Prime Minister.
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Speech to the UN (full): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGKgGefjAfI&feature=related :beermug:
http://www.youtube.com/v/aGKgGefjAfI&feature=related
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Anyone else get this email? Dancing Kamla! :rotfl:
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2010-07-10-5-1a_boogie_kamla.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4780063196_ce899cc836_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4780063680_65dfc0ef5a_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4779430477_789229b37d_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4780064242_c5a7de5c6f_o.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4780064512_90fef4cf5a_o.jpg)
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1287379833208trinidadexpress.jpg)
i hear he fall dong too :beermug: :cheers: :chilling:
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I blame Danraj, he who start off this dancing craze in the UNC.
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(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/1287379833208trinidadexpress.jpg)
i hear he fall dong too :beermug: :cheers: :chilling:
If he did fall that woulda be the frontpage or the picture will pop up soon. To many people there for that not to be captured. Look like he had a damn good time there.
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I blame Danraj, he who start off this dancing craze in the UNC.
:rotfl:
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I blame Danraj, he who start off this dancing craze in the UNC.
:rotfl:
wuh was de calypso meh boy black stalin sing....wine danraj wine.
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Ah wonder how Kamla would look in ah Caribbean Airlines flight attendant suit????????
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I blame Danraj, he who start off this dancing craze in the UNC.
:rotfl:
wuh was de calypso meh boy black stalin sing....wine danraj wine.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Q80BuLvMgE4
http://www.youtube.com/v/jcu1oMn6E4U
http://www.youtube.com/v/yxgetJnwmow
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Kamla Persad Bissessar
Tomorrow afternoon, when your Representatives in the Lower House meet for the second time of this week, I shall be making a significant statement to Parliament. I invite you to tune in on Cable channel 11, or on radio station 105.5 FM from 1:30 pm
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Ah know it gone pass 100 days and we could probably start a new thread when they hit 365 days, but Tony and Dale would do a poll on their show ever so often to gauge how people think the Government is performing.
Yesterday they did one as this government is 8 months in office. While its not a scientific poll, the results tend to give a fairly good idea of the pulse of how people feel.
The result...
83% Unsastifactory
17% Satisfactory
I was one of the 83%. Dey doing shit!! (that category shoulda be one of the options "Are dey doing shit??"....)
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Ah know it gone pass 100 days and we could probably start a new thread when they hit 365 days, but Tony and Dale would do a poll on their show ever so often to gauge how people think the Government is performing.
Yesterday they did one as this government is 8 months in office. While its not a scientific poll, the results tend to give a fairly good idea of the pulse of how people feel.
The result...
83% Unsastifactory
17% Satisfactory
I was one of the 83%. Dey doing shit!! (that category shoulda be one of the options "Are dey doing shit??"....)
the thing is if they poll 106 then the results might be reversed.
Radio stations tend to have certain party supporters listener-ship.
I am not saying that they doing good or they doing shit, but different stations have different ppl listening to it.
Maybe power 102 u might get a fair mix.
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Ah know it gone pass 100 days and we could probably start a new thread when they hit 365 days, but Tony and Dale would do a poll on their show ever so often to gauge how people think the Government is performing.
Yesterday they did one as this government is 8 months in office. While its not a scientific poll, the results tend to give a fairly good idea of the pulse of how people feel.
The result...
83% Unsastifactory
17% Satisfactory
I was one of the 83%. Dey doing shit!! (that category shoulda be one of the options "Are dey doing shit??"....)
the thing is if they poll 106 then the results might be reversed.
Radio stations tend to have certain party supporters listener-ship.
I am not saying that they doing good or they doing shit, but different stations have different ppl listening to it.
Maybe power 102 u might get a fair mix.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT
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Ah know it gone pass 100 days and we could probably start a new thread when they hit 365 days, but Tony and Dale would do a poll on their show ever so often to gauge how people think the Government is performing.
Yesterday they did one as this government is 8 months in office. While its not a scientific poll, the results tend to give a fairly good idea of the pulse of how people feel.
The result...
83% Unsastifactory
17% Satisfactory
I was one of the 83%. Dey doing shit!! (that category shoulda be one of the options "Are dey doing shit??"....)
the thing is if they poll 106 then the results might be reversed.
Radio stations tend to have certain party supporters listener-ship.
I am not saying that they doing good or they doing shit, but different stations have different ppl listening to it.
Maybe power 102 u might get a fair mix.
Nah Sammy, I have been listening to Tony and Dale's show for years and while there are some sycophants from BOTH sides that call in, their listeners tend to be fair and can discuss the issues quite rationally and can tell BS from sugar.
How yuh call 106 in this I eh know because doesn't that station's format cater to a particular subset of society?? Tony and Dale's show caters for a wider cross section so its understandable that the results of 106 would be skewed as opposed to theirs.
In any event, it eh matter at this point who do the poll the result goh be the same.....this government doing shit!! Pure unaldurated shit!!
Now what it is yuh had post about fecal matter before the election again??.... :thinking: :whistling:
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
It is an insult to compare this PM to Panday. Chalk and Cheese. Kamla couldn't shine his boots.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
It is an insult to compare this PM to Panday. Chalk and Cheese. Kamla couldn't shine his boots.
That is a bit over the top.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
Y all yuh sounding surprise. I am not what did d UNC achieve in 95-01. Kamla send all dem chicken licken chirren 2 Secondary school dat is about it. As d UNC dey did very little but at least it was 1 head and anyting wit more than 1 head is a freak. This freakshow we have hear in addition do doin NUTTEN. D infightin makin it worse.
PNM 4 all dey corruption had a vision 2020 d fact that it woulda never happen by 2020 is another story but they had a viison all I hear bout is 5 pillars for economic development in a meeting. Cyah name a pillar.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
It is an insult to compare this PM to Panday. Chalk and Cheese. Kamla couldn't shine his boots.
That is a bit over the top.
What is over the top? The fact that the Silver Fox is head and shoulders above the Current PM? And the fact that she could not shine his shoes?
Quite accurate actually, while a nice person, she is NOT PM material.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
It is an insult to compare this PM to Panday. Chalk and Cheese. Kamla couldn't shine his boots.
That is a bit over the top.
Basdeo Panday was actually in charge of his government and was not upstaged or marginalized by any Minister. He was PM and everybody knew it. KPB is a PR queen. That and he had a better AG at his side. He didn’t pick quaks like Spalk or Volney, I take that back Dhanraj was kinda weird. Panday never made diplomatic gaffes to genereate unnecessary hostility and cause a boycott of T&T goods.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
It is an insult to compare this PM to Panday. Chalk and Cheese. Kamla couldn't shine his boots.
That is a bit over the top.
Basdeo Panday was actually in charge of his government and was not upstaged or marginalized by any Minister. He was PM and everybody knew it. KPB is a PR queen. That and he had a better AG at his side. He didn’t pick quaks like Spalk or Volney, I take that back Dhanraj was kinda weird. Panday never made diplomatic gaffes to genereate unnecessary hostility cause a boycott of T&T goods.
Dat is putting it mildly. ;D
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
Y all yuh sounding surprise. I am not what did d UNC achieve in 95-01. Kamla send all dem chicken licken chirren 2 Secondary school dat is about it. As d UNC dey did very little but at least it was 1 head and anyting wit more than 1 head is a freak. This freakshow we have hear in addition do doin NUTTEN. D infightin makin it worse.
PNM 4 all dey corruption had a vision 2020 d fact that it woulda never happen by 2020 is another story but they had a viison all I hear bout is 5 pillars for economic development in a meeting. Cyah name a pillar.
doh get tie up panday's unc over saw ah period of significant economic growth an' development without d benefit of ah oil money windfall............d nonsense jus overshadow all dat
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Dat is putting it mildly. ;D
What was the story with Dhanraj really?
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Dat is putting it mildly. ;D
What was the story with Dhanraj really?
He was a winer man with a badge to prove it
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Dat is putting it mildly. ;D
What was the story with Dhanraj really?
The Saga of Sheriff Dhanraj (http://www.triniview.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1065878789,55356,.shtml)
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Dat is putting it mildly. ;D
What was the story with Dhanraj really?
The Saga of Sheriff Dhanraj (http://www.triniview.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1065878789,55356,.shtml)
Thanks... ah was familiar with bits and pieces, particularly the murder charge, but I obviously didn't keep up with the litany of incidents.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
Y all yuh sounding surprise. I am not what did d UNC achieve in 95-01. Kamla send all dem chicken licken chirren 2 Secondary school dat is about it. As d UNC dey did very little but at least it was 1 head and anyting wit more than 1 head is a freak. This freakshow we have hear in addition do doin NUTTEN. D infightin makin it worse.
PNM 4 all dey corruption had a vision 2020 d fact that it woulda never happen by 2020 is another story but they had a viison all I hear bout is 5 pillars for economic development in a meeting. Cyah name a pillar.
doh get tie up panday's unc over saw ah period of significant economic growth an' development without d benefit of ah oil money windfall............d nonsense jus overshadow all dat
If u say so sah. 4give me 4 not experiencin that economic growth. We were not in recession but cyah remember any growth.
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
Y all yuh sounding surprise. I am not what did d UNC achieve in 95-01. Kamla send all dem chicken licken chirren 2 Secondary school dat is about it. As d UNC dey did very little but at least it was 1 head and anyting wit more than 1 head is a freak. This freakshow we have hear in addition do doin NUTTEN. D infightin makin it worse.
PNM 4 all dey corruption had a vision 2020 d fact that it woulda never happen by 2020 is another story but they had a viison all I hear bout is 5 pillars for economic development in a meeting. Cyah name a pillar.
doh get tie up panday's unc over saw ah period of significant economic growth an' development without d benefit of ah oil money windfall............d nonsense jus overshadow all dat
If u say so sah. 4give me 4 not experiencin that economic growth. We were not in recession but cyah remember any growth.
well it would have been relative to what they had at there disposal and we know about the questionable firings and non renewals of contracts of certain types of people so.................
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as much as ah didn' an' still doh like d man and even wit all d pettiness and corrupt dealings Panday's UNC atleast had ah clear direction....... dey had for most part picked up on where d PNM and NAR had left off in terms of puttin d country back together but like Manning he defended, covered for and may have engaged in shit dat brought his downfall.................dese fellas here have no such thing you can see no clear direction or policy nutten
Y all yuh sounding surprise. I am not what did d UNC achieve in 95-01. Kamla send all dem chicken licken chirren 2 Secondary school dat is about it. As d UNC dey did very little but at least it was 1 head and anyting wit more than 1 head is a freak. This freakshow we have hear in addition do doin NUTTEN. D infightin makin it worse.
PNM 4 all dey corruption had a vision 2020 d fact that it woulda never happen by 2020 is another story but they had a viison all I hear bout is 5 pillars for economic development in a meeting. Cyah name a pillar.
doh get tie up panday's unc over saw ah period of significant economic growth an' development without d benefit of ah oil money windfall............d nonsense jus overshadow all dat
If u say so sah. 4give me 4 not experiencin that economic growth. We were not in recession but cyah remember any growth.
well it would have been relative to what they had at there disposal and we know about the questionable firings and non renewals of contracts of certain types of people so.................
Like what dey doin now.
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http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=499193574797&set=a.348475224797.153528.348203869797&comments
read dem comments by UNC own supporters o Kamla own page, dem eh too happy nah...
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Kamla lost my support when she did not openly rebuke her supporters from chanting through out TnT, "IS WE Time" she should have condemned that kinda talk especially since she need all peoples to defeat the PNM.
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Comrade Rudy to run URP
By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, January 18 2011
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/5-1a_MINISTRY_OF_LABOUR_(1).jpg)
Welcome comrade: Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod, left, welcomes Rudy Indarsingh to the Ministry of Labour after his reassignment from Ministry of Works...
NEWLY-appointed Minister in the Ministry of Labour Rudy Indarsingh’s main responsibility in his new post will be to take charge of the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), amid deepening dissatisfaction with the programme in the Cabinet.
“I intend to make it more accountable and to see it become more productive,” Indarsingh told Newsday moments after he was introduced to senior heads of staff at the ministry at a special meeting at the International Waterfront Complex in downtown Port-of-Spain.
At the event, held in a conference room on the sixth floor of Tower C of the complex, Indarsingh was dubbed “Comrade Indarsingh” and welcomed by Minister of Labour Errol Mc Leod who announced to staff that the URP section of the Labour portfolio has been assigned to Indarsingh.
“Comrade Indarsingh is going to be concentrating mainly on the URP programme but will also be involved in other of the ministry’s work,” Mc Leod said.
“This ministry is a large one, though it is often not identified as such. In the past people were of the mistaken view that this was the Ministry of the URP,” he said.
“But recognising the enormous task that we have here at the ministry, the Prime Minister (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) in her wisdom decided that I will work better with a comrade,” Mc Leod said. Mc Leod, who was once a key figure in the Oilfield Workers Trade Union, noted his shared labour background with Indarsingh, who was once president of the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union.
Indarsingh noted the ministry is now run by a trade unionist from the oil industry and a unionist from the sugar industry.
“It is a strange twist of fate, sugar and oil at the helm of the Ministry of Labour,” he said. “This is quite a pleasure for me. This is a very large ministry and a critical ministry to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago.”
Of the State’s plans for the URP, both Mc Leod and Indarsingh noted the URP remains under an “ongoing” review. Indarsingh is due, in the coming days, to be briefed on all of the Cabinet’s decisions on the URP taken over the last six months.
The URP programme has been a complex and problematic issue for Mc Leod, who last year faced protests over late wages from URP workers. Senior URP staff, who had allegedly fired workers without authorisation and contravention of government policy, were also last year issued with suspension letters.
At the sixth floor of Tower C yesterday there was no office for Indarsingh to work from, an indication of his abrupt re-assignment. Staff yesterday temporarily assigned an office used by a deputy permanent secretary as Indarsingh’s office.
Newsday understands there has been some Cabinet disquiet over the URP. It is understood that the scale of the programme has caused some delay which has placed pressure on the Ministry of Labour.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed an exclusive Newsday story which broke the news of Indarsingh’s re-assignment to the Labour Ministry from the Ministry of Works and Transport. Indarsingh yesterday said he had no word on who his replacement at the Ministry of Works and Transport, headed by Jack Warner, might be. He also said he was unsure if there would be a replacement assigned at all.
Other Cabinet sources were also mum on other possible shifts to occur in the wake of the Prime Minister saying two ministers without portfolio could be assigned to the Ministry of Finance. Senator Patrick Watson, tipped to be a clear candidate, offered no comment on the issue.
Other ministers, who may be in line to be shifted, also offered no comment. These included Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Colin Partap and Parliamentary Secretary Kevin Ramnarine. Senior Cabinet sources said the shifting of lower-level portfolio-holders is not a prelude to a larger reshuffle.
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Indarsingh is going to the Labour Ministry because the PP supporters say PNM supporters still inside they running it and dem cyar get no jobs.
Errol McLeod say he not just going to fire PNM supporters just so, just so and Cabinet Ministers complain about it so they send Indarsingh to do what McLeod say he wouldn't do.....
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Indarsingh is going to the Labour Ministry because the PP supporters say PNM supporters still inside they running it and dem cyar get no jobs.
Errol McLeod say he not just going to fire PNM supporters just so, just so and Cabinet Ministers complain about it so they send Indarsingh to do what McLeod say he wouldn't do.....
indarsingh is d hitman
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We voted for that!!!
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Wait.
Central Government PP controlled.
Local Govt PP Controlled.
So even if people eh pulling their weight...why action cant be taken against them? Dey not carrying out their duty.
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We voted for that!!!
WIT WE EYES WIDE OPEN.
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Ah like dis ............Kevin Baldeosingh does alway have some interesting pieces, hit plenty nail on d head too.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Lost_and_found-114339609.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Lost_and_found-114339609.html)
Lost and found
By Kevin Baldeosingh
Story Created: Jan 21, 2011 at 12:43 AM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 21, 2011 at 12:43 AM ECT
When Attorney General Anand Ramlogan announced that a grand piano was missing from the Prime Minister's residence, he took aim at the mansion's last occupant but missed his target. The lost piano, it turned out, was never lost, but was sitting right on the stage outside the residence where it was supposed to be.
So there was only loss of face: and, looking at him, you might think Ramlogan would be glad to lose some face. But no: he went even further when his error was uncovered and lost his cool, refusing to apologise for the gaffe. Instead he said, "Prior to my disclosure in the Parliament, not a single citizen in this country knew that Mr Manning and Mr Julien spent millions to purchase pianos."
This is undoubtedly worth finding out, but only a PR adviser who's lost his marbles could think this strategy was an effective way for Ramlogan to regain lost ground. Besides, what the AG didn't let citizens know is that the Government has also lost several other things.
Let's start with the man who couldn't find the piano in the first place. Captain Gary Griffith lost his rank when he resigned from the military, but has continued to pretend that it can be rightfully found in front of his name. It is clear, though, that Griffith is lost in space. Explaining his failure to find the grand piano, Griffith said, "It seemed to be deliberately tucked and hidden away. It was covered with layers of cloth."
Since this man is security adviser to the Prime Minister, the nation can only hope that bandits don't try to sneak into the official residence disguised as ghosts. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
The other thing several Government ministers have lost is their hearing. For example, Sport Minister Anil Roberts went deaf when he attended the Nicki Minaj concert, which is why he told the Parliament that there was no cussing in front of the invited children. Roberts also didn't hear when Ramlogan implied that former PM Patrick Manning had taken the piano since, defending Ramlogan, he declared: "There is nothing to apologise for. It was a total waste of taxpayers' money to buy those pianos." And you can bet your last black, red, or dougla cent that the former talkshow host will also lose his voice if anyone asks him to apologise for the total waste of $869,000 that the Minaj concert cost taxpayers.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran can't hear PSA president Watson Duke, Clico investors spokesman Peter Permell, or panmen: but, in those cases, loss of hearing is no loss.
The real problem, though, is that the People's Partnership is convinced that ordinary citizens have also lost their hearing. First, we didn't hear what we thought we heard about the $3,000 pension promise. Second, former judge Herbert Volney implied all sorts of malodorous things about Chief Justice Ivor Archie and former AG John Jeremie and, when faced with widespread public criticism, gave an apology in which he told everyone that they hadn't heard the allegations they had heard.
And two weeks ago, Multiculturalism Minister Winston "Gypsy" Peters announced that the $2 million prize money for Carnival competitions was promised by the People's Partnership for 2011 alone and not, as common sense would suggest, just promised. But maybe we all really have gone deaf, which is why we aren't hearing the People's Partnership regime talk about its other promises, like term limits for the Prime Minister or recall for MPs.
The Partnership coalition has also lost its way in respect to crime, and not just because they've let Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed get away with losing his temper when two police officers found him breaking the law. Last week, PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that the Government would be taking steps to resume hanging, although she didn't specify whether the bodies would be swinging at 7 a.m. in Woodford Square as Justice Minister Volney wants.
But any time you hear a politician propose hanging as a crime-fighting solution, it means that they have no crime-fighting solutions. If they did, the People's Partnership would be listening to their former candidate and social activist Verna St Rose Greaves, and not to religious leaders who believe that stopping young women from losing their virginity is a good way to stop crime.
Both the PNM and the Partnership feel safe touting hanging, however, since they know that any plan to pop necks guarantees that ordinary citizens, and not just the murderers, would lose their heads. And the more people lose their minds, the better for politicians, since they can then treat such persons like lost sheep. Sheep, as you know, do as they're told, behave the same way, and dislike Serta mattresses.
But the majority of people in this place won't lose any sleep over this, so trying to make politicians implement policies based on evidence, logic, and compassion is a lost cause. That, anyway, is what I have found.
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
Then u shoulda vote PP. U cyah have it both ways. As I said b4 all d crap Patos and co was doin d country was running. Now a technician headin d SIA.
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
My post went waaaaay over yuh head..no worries doh.
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
My post went waaaaay over yuh head..no worries doh.
I jus expressin mih view dat we balancing on two ends of d same shit log..... @weary same ting, ah know d way phrase it suggest dat ah mean dem jokers should stay dey, but diaz not d case.........is like ah plane in d air and d pilot and co-pilot missing.............as ah say plenty times before, I would not be sad, if d 41 and dey respective organizations should suddenly disappear
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
My post went waaaaay over yuh head..no worries doh.
I jus expressin mih view dat we balancing on two ends of d same shit log..... @weary same ting, ah know d way phrase it suggest dat ah mean dem jokers should stay dey, but diaz not d case.........is like ah plane in d air and d pilot and co-pilot missing.............as ah say plenty times before, I would not be sad, if d 41 and dey respective organizations should suddenly disappear
ok it satill went over yuh head, let me explain I was expressing sacarsm when I said Badeosingh was anti PP, becasue we have a FACTION here that is quick to say yuh is PNM if yuh say anything in line of criticizing dis Peoples Partnershit.
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This Baldeosingh fella is clearly anti PP...hahahahahahaha jes like me, all dem tings hge saying I bawling out, and yet is de PNM fault....modder f**kers here head so far up dey assholes dey cyar see de light ah day.
I notice ah few ah dem real scarce dese days doh.
ah doh tink he anti PP as much as anti-shit the PNM and Manning get dey good share too..............and dias what we need, more Trinis dat anti-shit and not afraid to say so regardless ah yuh politics, yuh should be Trinbagonian first an' foremost what happens here affects ALL of us.............I will kick d PP in dey balls for d shit dat dey doing, but ah ah still ent prepared to advocate d return ah d PNM jus yet, an' I vote PNM :-\
My post went waaaaay over yuh head..no worries doh.
I jus expressin mih view dat we balancing on two ends of d same shit log..... @weary same ting, ah know d way phrase it suggest dat ah mean dem jokers should stay dey, but diaz not d case.........is like ah plane in d air and d pilot and co-pilot missing.............as ah say plenty times before, I would not be sad, if d 41 and dey respective organizations should suddenly disappear
ok it satill went over yuh head, let me explain I was expressing sacarsm when I said Badeosingh was anti PP, becasue we have a FACTION here that is quick to say yuh is PNM if yuh say anything in line of criticizing dis Peoples Partnershit.
no it didn' really....read enough of Bal pieces to have ah clue where he would have most likely stain he finger...........but dias a'ight ..........we cool :beermug:
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Baldeosingh did his part to bring down the PNM so I KNOW who he stain he finger for.
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no it didn' really....read enough of Bal pieces to have ah clue where he would have most likely stain he finger...........but dias a'ight ..........we cool :beermug:
You missed the clearly evident sarcasm... you interpreted TC's post as a commentary on Baldeosingh's political affiliation. No shame in saying so.
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no it didn' really....read enough of Bal pieces to have ah clue where he would have most likely stain he finger...........but dias a'ight ..........we cool :beermug:
You missed the clearly evident sarcasm... you interpreted TC's post as a commentary on Baldeosingh's political affiliation. No shame in saying so.
non what so ever
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well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
-
STEUPS,
Is Patos friggin fault!!!!!
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well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
I just finish tell a friend when I went education 2 wuk a man who was d SS3 when I was in high school was still wukin d man older than Metusala. Dat was 18 yrs after I graduate high school. U know what he was doin?Manager RCLRC and responsibility for school security. What Hazel do? She let gramps finish he contract and was never heard of again.
But this group of croonies escorting people of d compound who just get a wuk they apply 4 because all ah we is agent of d PNM.
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STEUPS,
Is Patos friggin fault!!!!!
correct!
well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
I just finish tell a friend when I went education 2 wuk a man who was d SS3 when I was in high school was still wukin d man older than Metusala. Dat was 18 yrs after I graduate high school. U know what he was doin?Manager RCLRC and responsibility for school security. What Hazel do? She let gramps finish he contract and was never heard of again.
But this group of croonies escorting people of d compound who just get a wuk they apply 4 because all ah we is agent of d PNM.
weary, dis ting serious and highly upsetting.
serious question: did this kind of thing ever happen when pnm came into power after the UNC term? i honestly cant say ive heard of that happening
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STEUPS,
Is Patos friggin fault!!!!!
correct!
well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
I just finish tell a friend when I went education 2 wuk a man who was d SS3 when I was in high school was still wukin d man older than Metusala. Dat was 18 yrs after I graduate high school. U know what he was doin?Manager RCLRC and responsibility for school security. What Hazel do? She let gramps finish he contract and was never heard of again.
But this group of croonies escorting people of d compound who just get a wuk they apply 4 because all ah we is agent of d PNM.
weary, dis ting serious and highly upsetting.
serious question: did this kind of thing ever happen when pnm came into power after the UNC term? i honestly cant say ive heard of that happening
D scenario I just mention is d case. U know d croonies who dey give wuk. How u go b managing RCLRC and be responsible 4 school security? HE EH HAVE D SKILLS 2 MANAGE RCLRC. He was a School Supervisor what skill he had as a Facilities Mger which is d duties of Mging RCLRC. As 4 being responsible 4 school security that is an issue that is handled by Planning Division.
In education Guidance Officers/School Safety Officers/Remedial Teachers 2 teach all dem chirren Kamla sent 2 Secondary school. I go have all d office space my me because come nxt month 1 co-ordinator from pan in d classrom go b left so unless something happen no school panorama.
D school clerical officers d least qualify of d bunch is d 1's wit d balls as they took their matter to d Min of Lab and no resolutiion and it in d Industrial Court now. ECCE should b returning soon but they plan 2 but d pre schoolers in primary school where they under populated.
NONESENSE 2 D NTHHHHHHHHHHHHH POWER.
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girl, dont get me started on that ECCE issue
my aunt went to school specifically to be qualified as a ECCE administrator, got her interview and was hired. she along with numerous others, their contracts were not renewed. for what reason? only kamla knows
now to hear that they have to reapply after for the same positions that they held. that makes no sense to me.
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girl, dont get me started on that ECCE issue
my aunt went to school specifically to be qualified as a ECCE administrator, got her interview and was hired. she along with numerous others, their contracts were not renewed. for what reason? only kamla knows
now to hear that they have to reapply after for the same positions that they held. that makes no sense to me.
PM meh yuh aunt name. They start to call peeps who were reinterviewed.
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well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
I why dese people letting dese tings slide everybody should know what goin on, people gettin unjustifiably let go an dey jus goin an sit down, right now dem fellas runnin from embarrassment because dey gettin it left right an' center wit d shit dey doing, an man jus walkin away from wuk................dey need to understand is all kinds vote for dem................ protest an call dem out for what dey is................ and dey go boil dong like bargie, dem havin ah hard time spinnin d shit dey doin an victims eh puttin dem under pressure, d only people dat shake up lil bit was d education admin assistants.
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well we reach where we f**kin goin.
imagine this government, send ARMED police office to remove a family member of mine, who is the CEO of an agricultural based company from his office, like a f**kin criminal. mind u, and i cud put my head on a block for this, that they werent involved in ANY form of corruption.
their contract was not yet up, yet this government decides to fire them for no reason other than they want to bring in there ppl.
this person mind u, build that company from the GROUND UP, yet being treated like a dog.
good thing, this person got a vibes as to what would have gone done, and didnt allow themselves to be unjustifiably embarrassed by kamla and her loons.
it is also unsettling to see that people who i know, their work contracts have not been renewed. mind u, these people were not political appointees
this new government is biased and racist and nepotism is rampant and there is not much anyone can say to change my mind about that.
I why dese people letting dese tings slide everybody should know what goin on, people gettin unjustifiably let go an dey jus goin an sit down, right now dem fellas runnin from embarrassment because dey gettin it left right an' center wit d shit dey doing, an man jus walkin away from wuk................dey need to understand is all kinds vote for dem................ protest an call dem out for what dey is................ and dey go boil dong like bargie, dem havin ah hard time spinnin d shit dey doin an victims eh puttin dem under pressure, d only people dat shake up lil bit was d education admin assistants.
Nuff pees shame because dey was LAMBASTING PATRICK 4 D WORLD 2 HEREso dey quiet like church mouse. In edu is not admin assistants is clerical officers fancy name 4 clerks.
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Baldeosingh did his part to bring down the PNM so I KNOW who he stain he finger for.
TC,
Patos and his foolishness is what bring down PNM.
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Baldeosingh did his part to bring down the PNM so I KNOW who he stain he finger for.
TC,
Patos and his foolishness is what bring down PNM.
Doh 4get d General Council who gave him his instruments 2 get on dotish
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Baldeosingh did his part to bring down the PNM so I KNOW who he stain he finger for.
TC,
Patos and his foolishness is what bring down PNM.
Doh 4get d General Council who gave him his instruments 2 get on dotish
:applause: :applause:
I real pound Patrick (and I'm still disappointed in the latter part of his PM'ship) but we does forget that he was enabled in the chupidnes.....steups!!
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Baldeosingh did his part to bring down the PNM so I KNOW who he stain he finger for.
TC,
Patos and his foolishness is what bring down PNM.
Doh 4get d General Council who gave him his instruments 2 get on dotish
:applause: :applause:
I real pound Patrick (and I'm still disappointed in the latter part of his PM'ship) but we does forget that he was enabled in the chupidnes.....steups!!
EXACTLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
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The first man or woman go postal on them then they would stop sending home people .
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The first man or woman go postal on them then they would stop sending home people .
ENTTTTTTTTTT
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
my word :rotfl:
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
I really missing the FOX
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
U could organize yuh pick up it have shuttle
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
As much as he is/was ah commess agent, he have de best lines. Yuh remember when he say "This is not ah hat-trick, this is ah Patrick"
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
As much as he is/was ah commess agent, he have de best lines. Yuh remember when he say "This is not ah hat-trick, this is ah Patrick"
D BEST 1 LINERS
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
U could organize yuh pick up it have shuttle
i know daiz u front yard right there, so i go look out for u on TV
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
U could organize yuh pick up it have shuttle
That shot Weary hit yuh in yuh pweffen coulda make de highlight reel from teh T20/20
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
U could organize yuh pick up it have shuttle
That shot Weary hit yuh in yuh pweffen coulda make de highlight reel from teh T20/20
nah man, high profile supporters like me does ride direct with the pm
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Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
U could organize yuh pick up it have shuttle
That shot Weary hit yuh in yuh pweffen coulda make de highlight reel from teh T20/20
:devil: :devil:
-
Ole silver fox gettin een on d act oui....lawd ;D,
quote attributed to panday - "This is very functional Government..........They hold alot of functions" :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :beermug:
BASSSSSSSSSS :beermug:
Another big bash in Rienzi today.
I was about 2 drop stop and roll but I 4get is only fireworks from Rienzi
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Ah watch the drinker say she shooting for $12.00 TT per hr min.wage and the special adviser want to build a Hwy from S'ndo to Pt.fortin
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Ah watch the drinker say she shooting for $12.00 TT per hr min.wage and the special adviser want to build a Hwy from S'ndo to Pt.fortin
He turning d sod 2mor. Imbert say he check d PSIP and it have no funding 4 it so is another PR gig so only time will tell.
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Ah watch the drinker say she shooting for $12.00 TT per hr min.wage and the special adviser want to build a Hwy from S'ndo to Pt.fortin
That was on cards since PNM days.....like I asked over in another thread what the great efficient Jack has done so far that HE HAS INITIATED AND FINISHED??!!......as of last night I get no response......
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So what outfit Kamala could wear to make people not hold her accountable for this SIA lie? Maybe she can order ah bolt of the Emperors' Cloth and make ah outfit. That will surely give em a stiff tongue.
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On CNN news. A grand piano just showed up i think the Keys in Florida and nobody knows where in came from. Several questions in the making here.
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On CNN news. A grand piano just showed up i think the Keys in Florida and nobody knows where in came from. Several questions in the making here.
you come like ah Tobago Evening News...LATE!
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On CNN news. A grand piano just showed up i think the Keys in Florida and nobody knows where in came from. Several questions in the making here.
you come like ah Tobago Evening News...LATE!
That was aired last night on CNN bro.
Tobago Evening News ??? look fetus ! T minus and counting fuh yuh ! pluto! here you come
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On CNN news. A grand piano just showed up i think the Keys in Florida and nobody knows where in came from. Several questions in the making here.
you come like ah Tobago Evening News...LATE!
That was aired last night on CNN bro.
Tobago Evening News ??? look fetus ! T minus and counting fuh yuh ! pluto! here you come
It was posted HERE long beofre you saw it on CNN bro.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1- YUh ship blast off and yuh still here..see dat is yuh problem
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On CNN news. A grand piano just showed up i think the Keys in Florida and nobody knows where in came from. Several questions in the making here.
you come like ah Tobago Evening News...LATE!
That was aired last night on CNN bro.
Tobago Evening News ??? look fetus ! T minus and counting fuh yuh ! pluto! here you come
It was posted HERE long beofre you saw it on CNN bro.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1- YUh ship blast off and yuh still here..see dat is yuh problem
Okay.. I will have to give Turner Broadcasting a call about SW.net. He (Turner) dropping in the ratings, maybe Flex can Negotiate a deal with all them big time maccos he have on here since I late with the Piano news
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Kamla’s rating falls
PP comes under fire
Published: Sun, 2011-02-13 23:53
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford and Malissa Lara-Patterson
Eight months and 20 days after the People’s Partnership has been voted into office, the coalition Government has come under fire from the population. Blunders and a failure to deliver on some aspects of its 120 days immediate action plan are responsible for the Prime Minister and the party’s popularity slipping. There is also growing dissatisfaction with the way Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been handling serious blunders affecting her Government. This, according to findings of a random digital dialling nationwide survey conducted by Ansa Mcal Psychological Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, that has revealed disappointment and disenchantment among the electorate. The opinion poll conducted between February 3 to 6 was supervised by the manager and senior lecturer in the Department of Behavioural Sciences Dr Derek Chadee.
A total of 509 respondents rated the performance of Persad-Bissessar and the PP in five categories—excellent, good, fair, poor and extremely poor. The biggest faux pas to date, according to the respondents, is the controversial hiring of former Strategic Services Agency (SSA) director Reshmi Usha Ramnarine. This has hurt the PM’s image the most. Ranking the performance of Persad-Bissessar as fair, 38 per cent of respondents felt the Prime Minister has failed to be proactive and suggested that she adopts the more-action-less-talk approach. However, respondents said the PM’s decision to apologise on certain matters gained her some points, but she needed to get a grip and control some of her ministers.
Warner her closest rival
Her closest rival on performance is Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, who received a good rating of 35 per cent for handling traffic congestion. The PM was rated as follows: Excellent-12 per cent, Good-31 per cent, Fair-38 per cent, Poor-14 per cent, Extremely Poor-5 per cent. Those who rated the PM’s performance as “fair” said she was trying but some of the problems still existed. They also felt she was yet to seriously address the problem of crime. It was in the PM’s Old Year’s night address to the nation, that she spoke of a three-prong approach to crime—prevention, detection and conviction. However, the country has recorded 56 murders in 42 days to date. The 31 per cent of respondents who gave her a “good” rating said she had been doing her best but she inherited the problems of the former administration. However, 14 per cent of the respondents agreed that the Reshmi Ramnarine fiasco negatively affected the PM’s image. Some felt the Prime Minister needed to do less talking and act more. Regarding ethnicity, Indo-Trinidadians were more likely than Afro-Trinidadians to rate the PMs performance to date as “good.” Precisely 58 per cent Indo-Trinidadians, 37 per cent Mixed and 30 per cent Afro-Trinidadians stated “good.”
Further, Mixed Trinidadians (45 per cent) and Afro-Trinidadians (43 per cent) were more likely than Indo-Trinidadians (31 per cent) to give a rating of “fair.” Acknowledging that the PP was new in Government, respondents also rated their performance as fair. This found favour with only 43 per cent. Respondents said apart from not delivering on election promises the PP lacked unity. The PP was rated as follows: Excellent-eight per cent, Good-29 per cent, Fair-43 per cent, Poor-15 per cent, Extremely Poor-five per cent. The respondents who gave the PP a “fair” rating cited leadership issues as one of the main challenge of the party. In addition, respondents suggested that they need to be united. While some respondents felt the PP needed time to perform, they said election promises were broken. Those who rated the Partnership’s performance as “good” said more could be done for the country even though some of the manifesto promises were fulfilled.
Blunders and apologies
• The controversial SSA fiasco has taken centre stage since the PP came into Government.
Even as a new SSA director is set to be appointed, there is no letting up with respect to the handling of the appointment of former director, Reshmi Usha Ramnarine, who has been severely criticised.
Calls from several quarters for Persad-Bissessar to apologise met with stern resistance. Her eventual apology, which was long in coming, has been condemned in several quarters.
• The revelation of the Security Intelligence Agency created a tit-for-tat between the Prime Minister and Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs over who had control of the agency. The Prime Minister eventually apologised for the mix-up.
• In November, Persad-Bissessar received a tongue-lashing from Caricom neighbours regarding her Hurricane Tomas statements. It was while surveying the trail of destruction left behind in St Lucia, Persad-Bissessar vowed to assist but said in return T&T must benefit.
• It fuelled earlier criticisms levelled against the PM in July when she attended her first Regional Heads of Government Conference and stated regional countries should no longer regard T&T as an ATM card. The PM later apologised, ensuring her commitment to regional integration.
• Attorney General Anand Ramlogan continues to grab headlines with alarming statements which has caused the Government some embarrassment.
Most recently is the allegations of a missing piano from the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.
After much brouhaha and public outcry, the piano was discovered in the same spot where Ramlogan claimed it could not be found. Ramlogan refused to apologise. The PM was also heavily criticised by the public for Ramlogan’s failure to say he was sorry, as the population felt she did not have a handle on her ministers and senators.
• Ramlogan was again in the spotlight when he claimed investigations into the controversial CL Financial fiasco were concluded and in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard. The DPP announced that investigations had not started.
• Ramlogan last week took on Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, claiming there is sufficient evidence to charge former Udecott executive chairman, Calder Hart. The DPP later refuted this in a press, saying he did not file on the Hart matter at his office.
• Eyebrows raised when Ramlogan, not the National Security Minister, took a jab at the new CoP, Dwayne Gibbs for failing to stop Pena from leaving the country during a high-profile criminal investigation. He then publicly informed Gibbs his honeymoon was over.
• Congress of the People Leader Winston Dookeran on July said: “I now feel that I have a party that can run on its own. And I have for the first time real politicians in the COP, for they can win elections too,” as he addressed a meeting in Chaguanas. This comment sparked controversy in the PP, with some MPs calling on Dookeran to explain what he meant. Dookeran later claimed his comment was taken out of context.
• Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts apologised to Parliament for denying that expletives were used at the Nicki Minaj concert.
• Minister of Justice Herbert Volney claimed Chief Justice Ivor Archie benefited from a ‘sweetheart deal’ granted by former AG, John Jeremie. Questions arose as to why the CJ did not have an official residence instead of taxpayers being burdened with such a $64,000 monthly rental.
It was later discovered that a decision was taken by the then United National Congress administration to sell all government properties.
Promises delivered
• Laptops to every Secondary Entrance Assessment student
• Property tax rescinded
• The expansion of Gate is being addressed
• A Ministry of the People has been established
• The Water and Sewerage Authority has embarked on a repair programme of all disrupted water mains.
• The minimum wage has been reviewed and stands at $12.50 per hour
• A Life Fund for children undergoing surgery has been set up
• The reviewing of laws and institutions to address white-collar crime
Broken promises
The PP, in its manifesto, promised 120 days of immediate action but the party has come under heavy criticisms from the public for its failure to deliver on some of its 32 plans.
• Failure to deal with crime and roll out an effective crime plan.
• Beginning the introduction of camera technology at traffic lights and set into motion an efficient system of ticket offenders.
• Establishing a Ways and Means Committee to formulate a project plan on a phased basis to make all government public services more accessible to residents of Tobago.
The people: The PP must deliver
Regarding the delivery of election promises, analysts said the PP gave the electorate certain expectations and they need to fulfil them at a faster pace. Political analyst, Bishnu Ragoonath, said: “The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for the inability to deliver as fast as the people are expecting. I accept that things take time, but there are issues people expect to move a little faster. She needs to make sure there is more than talk and some degree of action.”
‘Busy putting out bush fires’
Also echoing similar sentiments was analyst Indira Rampersad, who said disappointment was expected given that the PP made many promises. “The people were expecting more at a faster pace. This was not necessarily unreasonable because the PP came into power with a lot of promises. Ministers have been busy putting out bush fires; they have been more reactive than proactive, quite frankly people were expecting to see action.”
Distribution of laptops the biggest achievement
Noting that the Prime Minister was seen as a hope of change for many, Ghany said there were certain expectations that needed to be kept. “The Prime Minister came into office on a wave of hope and change that propelled her to heights in the public imagination that were unreal. As a consequence, the expectation factor was very high.” Meanwhile, Ghany said the PM’s biggest achievement to date is the distribution of laptops to all Secondary Entrance Assessment students. On another issue, the analysts said the PP was elected into office on an anti-corruption slate and should desist from doing otherwise.
Electorate not easing up
Political analysts viewed the change as a dawn of a new era—out with the authoritarian style of leadership and welcoming a humanitarian type of governance. The PP made promises on the election campaign trail and the electorate is not easing up. They are insisting that the Persad-Bissessar led Government must deliver. Assessing the performance of the Prime Minister, political analysts agreed that the controversial SSA fiasco has negatively impacted her leadership.
Ghany: Govt reeling from SSA
In fact, Dr Hamid Ghany said the Prime Minister’s first response to the media on the controversial issue demonstrated an element of authoritarianism. “The Government is still reeling from the effects of that move. She has now taken full responsibility for the matter which is the better way for her to go as a new Prime Minister,” he said. However, Ghany said, though the apology was late in coming, the Prime Minister showed a level of humility when she still opted to apologise.
Ragoonath: Proceed with caution
Urging the Prime Minister to proceed with caution, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said Persad-Bissessar needed to desist from making blunders. “There are several. The most recent one would be the SSA issue; That would be the biggest blunder. She should double check her sources before making appointments, bearing in mind that this is not only scrutinised by the Opposition but rather by the world.”
Keep AG, ministers in line
Referring to the alleged “missing piano” raised by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Ragoonath said: “He should have said sorry. What she needs to do is have her ministers in line and know when they need to apologise to the citizenry at large. One has seen instances where the Attorney General would have made statements which I think, clearly, were not correct and insisted he would not apologise.”
Rampersad: Damage control overdue
Meanwhile, Dr Indira Rampersad said damage control was overdue. “The criticisms had already escalated out of proportion. If she had come forward earlier it probably would not have negatively impacted her leadership as it did. She handled the other issues very well up until the SSA issue.” However, Rampersad said leaders must be careful with how they interact with the media, noting that a badly handled interview can make or break any government.
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All I read is the man line that JW getting props for handling traffic congestion :devil: and I done. Just now they will get rate for attending parliment 30 days in a row.
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All I read is the man line that JW getting props for handling traffic congestion :devil: and I done. Just now they will get rate for attending parliment 30 days in a row.
:rotfl:
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Boy I eh know nah.....its only 9 months.....and counting..... ::) ::)
Kingston rejection
By Keith Subero
Just when we search for possible avenues to "move on" as the Prime Minister suggested, there comes the news of a diplomatic snub, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is trying desperately to contain.
As part of changes in diplomatic postings, the Government late last year sent off to the Jamaican government the name of a person to head our High Commission in that country.
Diplomatic sources said traditionally such an appointment is communicated through the Ministry's Protocol Division; this time the person's name was kept hush-hush, and went directly from the office of the Minister.
One report said the person was "a well-known, retired Petrotin pipe-fitter from Penal"; another source reported it was "a young, low-level employee in the Plant Quarantine Department"; a third source pointed to a former UNC energy minister.
Reports in diplomatic circles said that after the Jamaican government did the customary background checks on the individual, it "gave a polite rejection" to the T&T Government.
Such was the embarrassment in Port of Spain that the Government went in immediate search, quickly arriving with the name of Dr Iva Gloudon, UWI Director of Sport and Physical Education, and a practising pastor, whose name was sent immediately to the Jamaican government.
It is reported that the choice, when presented by Transport Minister, Jack Warner, was approved promptly by Foreign Minister Suruj Rambachan. Warner, on his recent trip to Jamaica on Caribbean Airlines matters, is said to have spoken further with the Jamaican Foreign Ministry about her appointment.
Attempts last week to get the name of the rejected individual drew "blanks" in every quarter. One staff member said: "No one knows what is going on; it is very difficult around here. Matters are conducted secretively, kind of creepily. Close-circuit cameras are installed, and staff members have been instructed that files are not to remain on desks overnight; they should be locked away every evening."
In diplomatic circles, how is such a snub interpreted?
"First, this is not the first time the Jamaican government has said no to us. Knowlson Gift, you would recall, who served there, was suggested for a return, but was refused by the Jamaican government," a source said.
"It is obvious that the Jamaican government's background checks turned up more information than we have on that individual, or which we chose to ignore. Our choice was not seen as suitable for Kingston, and, possibly, that government felt insulted.
"In international circles, it's a blot on relations, a serious embarrassment to T&T. In fact, Jamaica is saying that our Government's choice is not to be good enough to represent T&T in their country."
High commissioners and ambassadors are considered the official face of a country. They monitor, represent, and negotiate their country's commercial, legal, economic, cultural and scientific interests in a host country.
"Such a person, in fact, is the representative of our President; in his credentials, he promotes friendly relations between the two countries; he attends functions on our behalf; at all times, he must display proper diplomatic etiquette, e.g. in those circles, there must be proper pronunciation and recall of names, and familiarity with places and events," the source said.
"So to seek the Jamaican government's approval for such person as a pipe-fitter or a young, plant quarantine employee would be seen as an insult in Kingston."
Recently, Venezuela refused to accept a US envoy, which has meant a further deterioration in their relations. In diplomatic circles, a rejection could heighten tensions, which may be expressed by diplomats politely ignoring each other, refusing to shake hands, cancelling appointments, postponing meetings indefinitely, or walking out at formal meetings.
However diplomatic sources said the Jamaican government's rejection of the candidate was considered as "informal". In turn, the T&T Government could have expressed its displeasure by not submitting another choice for some time.
But this country, on one hand, wants to be seen as re-branding its image after the Prime Minister's two diplomatic "mis-steps" with our Caribbean neighbours—stating that TT was not the Caribbean's "ATM"; and that humanitarian aid to the region would be given with strings attached.
In addition, there are niggling, unresolved areas in the Caribbean Airlines takeover of Air Jamaica— with potential for further tension.
But, at the same time, the Rambachan strategy, called "value-based diplomacy" is described by senior staff as "confusing".
The CSME Unit was disbanded last week, and a number of International Relations Officers, employed on contract, were sent home recently.
These officers were told that to be re-employed they would have to sit an entrance examination, and face interviews.
Besides the rejection from Jamaica, the administration also struggles to contain reports, circling among its staff, about the "inappropriateness" of appointments of the two young, inexperienced persons to head Missions in the United States.
"We wondered, but recently we identified their uncle," the source said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Kingston_rejection-116138244.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Kingston_rejection-116138244.html)
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
Rumer Hazzit says she couldn't find de right rasta wig and matching merino tuh make de Kingston trip.
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
Rumer Hazzit says she couldn't find de right rasta wig and matching merino tuh make de Kingston trip.
;D
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
Rumer Hazzit says she couldn't find de right rasta wig and matching merino tuh make de Kingston trip.
oh gorm..... :rotfl: :rotfl:
Hear nah, I honestly keep hoping that I goh wake up one morning and not have to comment on some dotishness some one of these jackasses misfits do.....but geez and ages, it just ridiculous man....steups!!!!
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
Rumer Hazzit says she couldn't find de right rasta wig and matching merino tuh make de Kingston trip.
oh gorm..... :rotfl: :rotfl:
Hear nah, I honestly keep hoping that I goh wake up one morning and not have to comment on some dotishness some one of these jackasses misfits do.....but geez and ages, it just ridiculous man....steups!!!!
If yuh complaining so after barely 9 months....
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I don't want to comment on the obvious nepotism taking place here. We beat horse already and already establish that is the M.O. of this government. Watch how crazy these people are. What the hell the Works and Transport Minister doing engaging in Foreign Affairs ? Where is the ceremonial Prime Minister in all of this ?
Rumer Hazzit says she couldn't find de right rasta wig and matching merino tuh make de Kingston trip.
oh gorm..... :rotfl: :rotfl:
Hear nah, I honestly keep hoping that I goh wake up one morning and not have to comment on some dotishness some one of these jackasses misfits do.....but geez and ages, it just ridiculous man....steups!!!!
If yuh complaining so after barely 9 months....
*sigh* I know......ah took up Yoga classes once a week late last year. Ah feel ah have to increase mih sessions to at least 3 times a week. Ah looking for coping mechanisms nah......
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Well Kamla and she cabinet come up large in the Economist Magazine.. :devil:
http://www.economist.com/node/18114940?story_id=18114940&CFID=156330297&CFTOKEN=10762034
In the shadow of the gallows
Trinidad debates the death penalty
Crime in the Caribbean Feb 10th 2011 | PORT OF SPAIN | from PRINT EDITION
“WE NEED the death penalty…that is the word of God,” said Benjamin Agard, a Pentecostal pastor, in his funeral sermon last month for Cecil Carrington, a retired police officer shot dead by bandits at the small hotel he owned on Trinidad’s windswept east coast. The funeral came a fortnight after Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, promised to remove legal obstacles to hanging, offering a parliamentary debate on February 18th.
Her stance is popular across the English-speaking Caribbean, where murder rates have soared since the 1990s. Her country suffered 472 killings last year—close to 5% of all deaths. In 1999 there were just 93. Almost everyone can name a friend or relative who has met a violent end. Last year’s murder rate, of 36 per 100,000 people, was seven times that in the United States and 30 times that of Britain. But it trailed Jamaica (53), Belize (42) and tiny St Kitts-Nevis (40).
Rulings from the London-based Privy Council, still the final court of appeal for most of the region, have made it much harder to use the noose. The most important was a judgment, in 1993, which held that execution cannot take place more than five years after sentencing. In practice, exhausting all routes for appeal usually takes much longer than that.
Related topics
Capital punishment
Criminal sentencing
Crime
Crime and law
Murder and homicide
Overturning Privy Council rulings requires a constitutional amendment. In Trinidad that needs a three-quarters majority in parliament, and hence opposition support. Barbados, a much more tranquil island, completed a similar process in 2002, but has made no moves to hang anyone since. With anger running high over violent crime, Trinidad and Tobago is unlikely to take this relatively laid-back stance. If the opposition were to be brave enough to resist hanging, it would be blamed for every subsequent murder.
Many politicians privately admit that hanging will not halt crime. The death penalty hardly acts as a deterrent, since only a tiny proportion of murderers are arrested, tried and convicted. Ten men were hanged in Trinidad in 1999, nine of them members of the Dole Chadee gang, a notorious drug mob. But killings resumed in a fortnight.
The most recent Caribbean hanging was in St Kitts-Nevis, a few days before Christmas in 2008. With only 50,000 people, the country had been shaken by 23 murders that year. The next year there were 27. In practice, even in Caribbean islands where hanging is not carried out, murders are often followed by the death of the perpetrator, gunned down either in gangland reprisals or by the police.
If they really wanted to stem the violence, politicians would do better to try to stem the trade in illegal guns, which are plentiful and cheap. Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister noted last month that many arrive on drug boats from South America. But his government in September cancelled an order for three 90-metre patrol boats, which with planned helicopter support and an existing fleet of smaller boats and coastal radar might have staunched the flow. Other guns are rented to criminals by police or soldiers, said the national security minister.
The police and the judiciary also need reform. For its part, Trinidad and Tobago’s overstaffed intelligence agency was caught last year tapping the phones of the country’s president and several journalists, but it has had little impact on the drug gangs.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s People’s Partnership coalition swept to power last May, with a manifesto that did not mention hanging. She promised a “multi-pronged approach” to the “political, economic, social, technological and managerial dimensions” of security. “Punitive sanctions alone” would not solve the problem, the manifesto declared. But voters seem to want quick fixes. They should study Suriname, which suspended the death penalty decades ago, and suffers just four murders a year for every 100,000 people.
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Well Kamla and she cabinet come up large in the Economist Magazine.. :devil:
http://www.economist.com/node/18114940?story_id=18114940&CFID=156330297&CFTOKEN=10762034
In the shadow of the gallows
Trinidad debates the death penalty
Crime in the Caribbean Feb 10th 2011 | PORT OF SPAIN | from PRINT EDITION
“WE NEED the death penalty…that is the word of God,” said Benjamin Agard, a Pentecostal pastor, in his funeral sermon last month for Cecil Carrington, a retired police officer shot dead by bandits at the small hotel he owned on Trinidad’s windswept east coast. The funeral came a fortnight after Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, promised to remove legal obstacles to hanging, offering a parliamentary debate on February 18th.
Her stance is popular across the English-speaking Caribbean, where murder rates have soared since the 1990s. Her country suffered 472 killings last year—close to 5% of all deaths. In 1999 there were just 93. Almost everyone can name a friend or relative who has met a violent end. Last year’s murder rate, of 36 per 100,000 people, was seven times that in the United States and 30 times that of Britain. But it trailed Jamaica (53), Belize (42) and tiny St Kitts-Nevis (40).
Rulings from the London-based Privy Council, still the final court of appeal for most of the region, have made it much harder to use the noose. The most important was a judgment, in 1993, which held that execution cannot take place more than five years after sentencing. In practice, exhausting all routes for appeal usually takes much longer than that.
Related topics
Capital punishment
Criminal sentencing
Crime
Crime and law
Murder and homicide
Overturning Privy Council rulings requires a constitutional amendment. In Trinidad that needs a three-quarters majority in parliament, and hence opposition support. Barbados, a much more tranquil island, completed a similar process in 2002, but has made no moves to hang anyone since. With anger running high over violent crime, Trinidad and Tobago is unlikely to take this relatively laid-back stance. If the opposition were to be brave enough to resist hanging, it would be blamed for every subsequent murder.
Many politicians privately admit that hanging will not halt crime. The death penalty hardly acts as a deterrent, since only a tiny proportion of murderers are arrested, tried and convicted. Ten men were hanged in Trinidad in 1999, nine of them members of the Dole Chadee gang, a notorious drug mob. But killings resumed in a fortnight.
The most recent Caribbean hanging was in St Kitts-Nevis, a few days before Christmas in 2008. With only 50,000 people, the country had been shaken by 23 murders that year. The next year there were 27. In practice, even in Caribbean islands where hanging is not carried out, murders are often followed by the death of the perpetrator, gunned down either in gangland reprisals or by the police.
If they really wanted to stem the violence, politicians would do better to try to stem the trade in illegal guns, which are plentiful and cheap. Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister noted last month that many arrive on drug boats from South America. But his government in September cancelled an order for three 90-metre patrol boats, which with planned helicopter support and an existing fleet of smaller boats and coastal radar might have staunched the flow. Other guns are rented to criminals by police or soldiers, said the national security minister.
The police and the judiciary also need reform. For its part, Trinidad and Tobago’s overstaffed intelligence agency was caught last year tapping the phones of the country’s president and several journalists, but it has had little impact on the drug gangs.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s People’s Partnership coalition swept to power last May, with a manifesto that did not mention hanging. She promised a “multi-pronged approach” to the “political, economic, social, technological and managerial dimensions” of security. “Punitive sanctions alone” would not solve the problem, the manifesto declared. But voters seem to want quick fixes. They should study Suriname, which suspended the death penalty decades ago, and suffers just four murders a year for every 100,000 people.
4get Kamla meh Pastor make the news ind economist magazine.
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If they really wanted to stem the violence, politicians would do better to try to stem the trade in illegal guns, which are plentiful and cheap. Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister noted last month that many arrive on drug boats from South America. But his government in September cancelled an order for three 90-metre patrol boats, which with planned helicopter support and an existing fleet of smaller boats and coastal radar might have staunched the flow. Other guns are rented to criminals by police or soldiers, said the national security minister.
The police and the judiciary also need reform. For its part, Trinidad and Tobago’s overstaffed intelligence agency was caught last year tapping the phones of the country’s president and several journalists, but it has had little impact on the drug gangs.
It was? Where is the proof of this?
On balance, it's a fair article but it really not saying much...
Privy Council make it near impossible to hang
Police need reform
Judiciary need reform
Capital Punishment is not a deterrent
Murders are out of control
Water is wet
Dog bites man...
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I wonder how suriname does it?
One would think the infrastructure and geo. location would make it ripe for drug running too.
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I wonder how suriname does it?
One would think the infrastructure and geo. location would make it ripe for drug running too.
2 decades ago Suriname had they issues also. The man in power right now was an army man who executed some members of the cabinet, including ex-Caribbean football great Andre Kamperveen. Honestly I don't know how they do it. Maybe because they have the Dutch temperament instead of the Brits.
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All she good for is partying...nutten else.
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if she really warned about a pacific tsunami ,that is a quote of George Bushian proportions .
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Gone on another party junket...when we have serious issues at home to deal with..steups.
What a waste ah f**king time...she is NOT PM material at all..who vex f**king lorse!
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Jack Warner is the PM of Trinidad and Tobago. Kamla is window dressing...
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ah cyar remember if it had a separate thread for this topic so ah goh stick it here.....
Ramesh is back.....
Taxi drivers to sue Govt on 'PH' plan
By Gyasi Gonzales
THE Trinidad and Tobago Taxi Drivers Network intends to take legal action against the Government due to its decision to legalise PH taxi drivers and has hired attorney Ramesh Lawrence-Maharaj to represent it.
Adrian Acosta – president of the network along with some other members carried out an education and fund-raising drive on Friday at the Croisee in San Juan.
"The money we get is to pay our lawyers and we also wanted to sensitise our drivers about what is going on with our industry," he said.
He said, "Since Works Minister Jack Warner proposed an amendment for legalising PH drivers it has presented legitimate taxi drivers with severe challenges to providing a service as they (PH drivers) are now claiming rights to our taxi stands around the country and have even also formed their own taxi stands."
Acosta added, "We have also written a letter to Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs and told him of this but since then we have gotten no response either from the police or the Govern-ment so they left us no choice but to do this."
Acosta also said that a mass meeting for all "legitimate" taxi and maxi-taxi drivers is carded for next Saturday where Maharaj is expected to address them on their up-coming legal battle.
Time and place have not yet been announced.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Taxi_drivers_to_sue_Govt_on__PH__plan-118342894.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Taxi_drivers_to_sue_Govt_on__PH__plan-118342894.html)
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Wait.
Is how much different groups protesting?
-
Wait.
Is how much different groups protesting?
Lets see
PSA
MPATT
OWTU
Feel free 2 add.
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If they really wanted to stem the violence, politicians would do better to try to stem the trade in illegal guns, which are plentiful and cheap. Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister noted last month that many arrive on drug boats from South America. But his government in September cancelled an order for three 90-metre patrol boats, which with planned helicopter support and an existing fleet of smaller boats and coastal radar might have staunched the flow. Other guns are rented to criminals by police or soldiers, said the national security minister.
The police and the judiciary also need reform. For its part, Trinidad and Tobago’s overstaffed intelligence agency was caught last year tapping the phones of the country’s president and several journalists, but it has had little impact on the drug gangs.
It was? Where is the proof of this?
On balance, it's a fair article but it really not saying much...
Privy Council make it near impossible to hang
Police need reform
Judiciary need reform
Capital Punishment is not a deterrent
Murders are out of control
Water is wet
Dog bites man...
Didn't the wiretapping had a big part in curbing the kidnappings in T&T?
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(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/860830036/Kamla.jpg)
"It is always a special joy and an honour, to answer the many questions that other Heads of State and Government ask about my Country and it's Citizens, when we gather at these International Events and Forum. Other Heads are always keen to learn more about a Country that is democratic enough to elect a woman, enjoys a high literacy rate and has a mature energy Industry."
via Twitter
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Wait.
Is how much different groups protesting?
Lets see
PSA
MPATT
OWTU
Feel free 2 add.
Ah think ah read TTUTA was either going to protest this week or they did it last week already.....
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Wait.
Is how much different groups protesting?
Lets see
PSA
MPATT
OWTU
Feel free 2 add.
Ah think ah read TTUTA was either going to protest this week or they did it last week already.....
Yeah dem can be added they protested last wk.
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(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/860830036/Kamla.jpg)
"It is always a special joy and an honour, to answer the many questions that other Heads of State and Government ask about my Country and it's Citizens, when we gather at these International Events and Forum. Other Heads are always keen to learn more about a Country that is democratic enough to elect a woman, enjoys a high literacy rate and has a mature energy Industry."
via Twitter
Aye ah she does vomit plenty when she drink she gazule
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(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/860830036/Kamla.jpg)
She very attractive if is one thing.
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I reading a lil Sun Tzu Art of War and came across this.
When the general is weak and without authority, when his orders are not clear and distinct, when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men,and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganisation.
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I reading a lil Sun Tzu Art of War and came across this.
When the general is weak and without authority, when his orders are not clear and distinct, when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men,and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganisation.
U BETTA SEND THEMA COPY OF THAT BOOK.
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Unlesss we start ah PP Government Thread, ah putting this here...
Analysts give Partnership thumbs down
PP struggles to manage structure of governance
by Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Inexperience and rash decisions are to be blamed for challenges facing the coalition People’s Partnership (PP). This is the view of political analysts who firmly believes the first anniversary of the “Fyzabad Declaration” that saw five national leaders coming together to form a political party, should be used as a learning experience rather than a reason to celebrate. In fact, as the PP gears up to celebrate its first anniversary of its crushing electoral victory over the People’s National Movement on May 24, the analysts are warning that decisive action must be taken and a change in governance must be adopted immediately if the political party intends to contest another election. The PP is also being urged to address the issue of crime that is said to be negatively impacting the Government and affecting citizens.
Sagewan-Alli: Stop pointing fingers
Not mixing words, political scientist Dr Indera Sagewan-Alli, told Sunday Guardian that the PP has failed to address critical issues affecting the nation. In addition, she said the time had come to stop pointing fingers at the former administration and accept blame for failures.
“Clearly the only objective at that time was winning an election and other critical matters were left to be worked out in office. Unfortunately, campaign rhetoric required platform presentations that reflected an understanding of the challenges facing the country and moreover that the presenters had the solutions and capacity to implement them once voted into office. “They talked a good talk that raised popular expectations of the people who believed that in no time the problems of crime, raising unemployment and high prices would be at an end.
“One year down the road and the reality is much of these ills have worsened. All the blame certainly cannot be laid at the feet of this government, however, they are running out of opportunities to blame the People’s National Movement (PNM) for everything.” Sagewan-Alli said. Noting that the expectation for quick results was not unrealistic, Sagewan-Alli said many of the government ministers previously formed an administration, so certain demands were expected. Acknowledging that Finance Minister Winston Dookeran’s handling of the public sector wage negotiations and investment plans must be commended, Sagewan-Alli said the economic performance of the economy remains gloomy.
“The Minister of Finance’s commitment to fiscal discipline and reduction of the country’s deficit is good. This has brought us “A” ratings. However, it has come at a price. The economic performance of the economy has continued to worsen in the last year. Both investor and consumer confidence are at an all- time low. Consumers are not spending as we need and investors are not engaging in new investment.”Stressing the need for the PP to get its house in order, Sagewan-Alli said some faux pas should not have been made.
“The Security Intelligence Agency fiasco; there is no excuse that could justify such an appointment. Crime remains the number one problem even as it is the government’s stated number one priority. Claims of political interference at a television station and the response that no one complained when it was the PNM is not acceptable. This is supposed to be new politics.” Sagewan-Alli also knocked the Government for the period of time being taken to appoint state boards and foreign ambassadors. “After one year is unacceptable. And even so, one is hardpressed to understand the appropriateness of some of the appointments. For instance, the fiasco with the initial appointment of a Jamaican High Commissioner, who was rejected by the Jamaican Government. The continued strife among board members of Caribbean Airlines which is affecting the performance of the state-subsidised entity yet the Government seems unable to act decisively in bringing a resolution.”
Suggesting that better planning is definitely needed, to chart the way forward, Sagewan-Alli said better vision is needed. “The country is still after one year largely directionless. We are yet to understand what this government’s vision is for transforming and indeed diversifying the economic base of the country in the context of a post 2008 global crisis. The government was not put in place to tell us what the problems are. We know them. We voted them into office to implement solutions and to date we are seeing too little of that.”
Ragoonath: Inexperience to blame
Expressing similar views, Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said the intervention by the Prime Minister to quell unrest is a move that should not have taken place. He said inexperience is to blame for this move. “We have seen in a lot of cases where several issues have had to fall back on the Prime Minister. This should not be but it is because some of her ministers lack experience. There have been many; but the most recent is the crisis with the doctors. The Prime Minister should not have been involved in this issue.” Ragoonath who also cited governance as a challenge affecting the PP, said more accountability and transparency should be forthcoming:
“The greatest challenge for the PP to date is how they have managed the structure of governance. They campaigned and promised to be accountable and this is what people are looking forward to people. Clearly, experience is lacking. In having come together, there was a concern if the PP would have remained together given what has happened with other coalition governments. There is always a challenge that coalitions would break up but there is still a long way to go.”
Ryan: PP survived, but…
Also echoing similar sentiments was Dr Selwyn Ryan who said the PP was yet to make a significant mark since assuming office. Ryan said: “The PP defied the odds. The political party survived while many thought the political party would have not. However, we are still waiting on their main performance to date. The PP has been faced with rough circumstances leaving many to be concerned but they have been able to hold it together. Inexperience is definitely affecting the party and they are performing how many thought they would. Those that believed that crime would have been addressed were not thinking realistically because all political parties who assume office always use the issue as a political gimmick ”was rejected by the Jamaican Government. The continued strife among board members of Caribbean Airlines which is affecting the performance of the state-subsidised entity yet the Government seems unable to act decisively in bringing a resolution.”
Suggesting that better planning is definitely needed, to chart the way forward, Sagewan-Alli said better vision is needed. “The country is still after one year largely directionless. We are yet to understand what this government’s vision is for transforming and indeed diversifying the economic base of the country in the context of a post 2008 global crisis. The government was not put in place to tell us what the problems are. We know them. We voted them into office to implement solutions and to date we are seeing too little of that.”
http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/04/24/1st-anniversary-election-victory-approaches (http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/04/24/1st-anniversary-election-victory-approaches)
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Rum, pan for Will and Kate
From T&T with love
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
A unique blend of Angostura rum and a pan will be given as gifts to Prince William and Kate Middleton at the royal wedding tomorrow by Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Nicholas will be the sole representative for Trinidad and Tobago at the royal wedding which will be held at Westminster Abbey, London.
He will be presenting these gifts to the royal couple on behalf of the Government and People of Trinidad and Tobago.
The rum is a specially created wedding present.
"The Angostura master blender describes it as a one-of-a-kind Angostura rum blend that was aged especially in charred casks to ensure optimal cask reactions of the rums during ageing. It is a rich, dark chocolate, luxurious rum from Trinidad and Tobago that exudes a complex aroma with hints of caramel, spice, chocolate, banana with a smooth lingering taste of apples and toffee mellowed out with hints of vanilla," a release from the High Commission stated.
The rum will be presented in a crystal decanter that can be reused over a lifetime.
The pan, made of this country's finest chrome was also specially designed for the royal couple.
It was supplied by Nestor Sullivan, manager of the Pamberi Steel Orchestra and was made by Augustus Peters of La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz.
The pan case and chrome stand were custom built by Sarah's Pan Case of 208 Eastern Main Road, San Juan.
"It is hoped that these two gifts, the first which represents our finest rum by a company that has proven itself internationally and secondly our national instrument, the only musical instrument to be invented in the last century, will help to further market our nation and its products as well as signal our commitment to strong bilateral relations for the next generation of Royals," said Nicholas.
Nicholas will be wearing a morning suit (formal suit with tails) to the royal wedding in keeping with traditional expectations for these events.
See if T&T is on the list
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-wedding-watch/post/royal-wedding-guest-list-british-monarchy-releases-confirmed-attendees-for-the-service-at-westminster-abbey/2011/04/27/AF99IDyE_blog.html
The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Governor-General of Australia and His Excellency Mr. Michael Bryce
The Governor-General of The Bahamas and Lady Foulkes
The Governor-General of Barbados
The Governor-General of Belize and Lady Young
The Governor-General of Canada and Mrs. David Johnston
The Governor-General of Jamaica
The Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Satyanand
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Mrs Michael Ogio
The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands and Lady Kabui
The Governor-General of St Christopher and Nevis
The Governor-General of St Lucia
The Governor-General of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Lady Ballantyne
The Prime Minister of Australia and Mr. Tim Mathieson
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Ms Delores Miller
The Prime Minister of Barbados
The Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mrs. John Key
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Lady Somare
The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Mrs. Rosalia Nestor King
The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines and Mrs. Ralph Gonsalves
The Premier of Bermuda and Mr. Germain Nkeuleu
The Premier of The British Virgin Islands and Mrs. Ralph O’Neal
The Premier of the Cayman Islands and Mrs. Kerry Bush
The Hon. Sharon and Mr. Rodney Halford (Falkland Islands)
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Mrs. Peter Caruana
The Chief Minister of Montserrat and the Reverend Doctor Joan Delsol Meade
The Hon. John and Mrs. Vilma Cranfield (St. Helena)
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I am very concerned that Sat goh get vex and say we shoulda send a tabla too..... ::) ::)
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Kamla sister and hair stylist flying all over de world on tax payer dollars..and de treasury empty...lol
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I am very concerned that Sat goh get vex and say we shoulda send a tabla too..... ::) ::)
CO-SIGNNNNNNNNN
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Remember the Bride and Groom said they not accepting any gifts. People can donate to the charity that they have chosen.
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Remember the Bride and Groom said they not accepting any gifts. People can donate to the charity that they have chosen.
I guess dey eh get d memo.
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Blessings to the bride and groom!!!!
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Rum, pan for Will and Kate
From T&T with love
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
A unique blend of Angostura rum and a pan will be given as gifts to Prince William and Kate Middleton at the royal wedding tomorrow by Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Nicholas will be the sole representative for Trinidad and Tobago at the royal wedding which will be held at Westminster Abbey, London.
He will be presenting these gifts to the royal couple on behalf of the Government and People of Trinidad and Tobago.
The rum is a specially created wedding present.
"The Angostura master blender describes it as a one-of-a-kind Angostura rum blend that was aged especially in charred casks to ensure optimal cask reactions of the rums during ageing. It is a rich, dark chocolate, luxurious rum from Trinidad and Tobago that exudes a complex aroma with hints of caramel, spice, chocolate, banana with a smooth lingering taste of apples and toffee mellowed out with hints of vanilla," a release from the High Commission stated.
The rum will be presented in a crystal decanter that can be reused over a lifetime.
The pan, made of this country's finest chrome was also specially designed for the royal couple.
It was supplied by Nestor Sullivan, manager of the Pamberi Steel Orchestra and was made by Augustus Peters of La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz.
The pan case and chrome stand were custom built by Sarah's Pan Case of 208 Eastern Main Road, San Juan.
"It is hoped that these two gifts, the first which represents our finest rum by a company that has proven itself internationally and secondly our national instrument, the only musical instrument to be invented in the last century, will help to further market our nation and its products as well as signal our commitment to strong bilateral relations for the next generation of Royals," said Nicholas.
Nicholas will be wearing a morning suit (formal suit with tails) to the royal wedding in keeping with traditional expectations for these events.
See if T&T is on the list
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-wedding-watch/post/royal-wedding-guest-list-british-monarchy-releases-confirmed-attendees-for-the-service-at-westminster-abbey/2011/04/27/AF99IDyE_blog.html
The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Governor-General of Australia and His Excellency Mr. Michael Bryce
The Governor-General of The Bahamas and Lady Foulkes
The Governor-General of Barbados
The Governor-General of Belize and Lady Young
The Governor-General of Canada and Mrs. David Johnston
The Governor-General of Jamaica
The Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Satyanand
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Mrs Michael Ogio
The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands and Lady Kabui
The Governor-General of St Christopher and Nevis
The Governor-General of St Lucia
The Governor-General of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Lady Ballantyne
The Prime Minister of Australia and Mr. Tim Mathieson
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Ms Delores Miller
The Prime Minister of Barbados
The Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mrs. John Key
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Lady Somare
The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Mrs. Rosalia Nestor King
The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines and Mrs. Ralph Gonsalves
The Premier of Bermuda and Mr. Germain Nkeuleu
The Premier of The British Virgin Islands and Mrs. Ralph O’Neal
The Premier of the Cayman Islands and Mrs. Kerry Bush
The Hon. Sharon and Mr. Rodney Halford (Falkland Islands)
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Mrs. Peter Caruana
The Chief Minister of Montserrat and the Reverend Doctor Joan Delsol Meade
The Hon. John and Mrs. Vilma Cranfield (St. Helena)
NO KAMLA.. like defraid she buss the bar or what? :beermug:
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That is far from a complete list of invitees
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Rum, pan for Will and Kate
From T&T with love
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
A unique blend of Angostura rum and a pan will be given as gifts to Prince William and Kate Middleton at the royal wedding tomorrow by Garvin Nicholas, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Nicholas will be the sole representative for Trinidad and Tobago at the royal wedding which will be held at Westminster Abbey, London.
He will be presenting these gifts to the royal couple on behalf of the Government and People of Trinidad and Tobago.
The rum is a specially created wedding present.
"The Angostura master blender describes it as a one-of-a-kind Angostura rum blend that was aged especially in charred casks to ensure optimal cask reactions of the rums during ageing. It is a rich, dark chocolate, luxurious rum from Trinidad and Tobago that exudes a complex aroma with hints of caramel, spice, chocolate, banana with a smooth lingering taste of apples and toffee mellowed out with hints of vanilla," a release from the High Commission stated.
The rum will be presented in a crystal decanter that can be reused over a lifetime.
The pan, made of this country's finest chrome was also specially designed for the royal couple.
It was supplied by Nestor Sullivan, manager of the Pamberi Steel Orchestra and was made by Augustus Peters of La Canoa Road, Santa Cruz.
The pan case and chrome stand were custom built by Sarah's Pan Case of 208 Eastern Main Road, San Juan.
"It is hoped that these two gifts, the first which represents our finest rum by a company that has proven itself internationally and secondly our national instrument, the only musical instrument to be invented in the last century, will help to further market our nation and its products as well as signal our commitment to strong bilateral relations for the next generation of Royals," said Nicholas.
Nicholas will be wearing a morning suit (formal suit with tails) to the royal wedding in keeping with traditional expectations for these events.
See if T&T is on the list
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-wedding-watch/post/royal-wedding-guest-list-british-monarchy-releases-confirmed-attendees-for-the-service-at-westminster-abbey/2011/04/27/AF99IDyE_blog.html
The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Governor-General of Australia and His Excellency Mr. Michael Bryce
The Governor-General of The Bahamas and Lady Foulkes
The Governor-General of Barbados
The Governor-General of Belize and Lady Young
The Governor-General of Canada and Mrs. David Johnston
The Governor-General of Jamaica
The Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Satyanand
The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Mrs Michael Ogio
The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands and Lady Kabui
The Governor-General of St Christopher and Nevis
The Governor-General of St Lucia
The Governor-General of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Lady Ballantyne
The Prime Minister of Australia and Mr. Tim Mathieson
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Ms Delores Miller
The Prime Minister of Barbados
The Prime Minister of New Zealand and Mrs. John Key
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Lady Somare
The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Mrs. Rosalia Nestor King
The Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines and Mrs. Ralph Gonsalves
The Premier of Bermuda and Mr. Germain Nkeuleu
The Premier of The British Virgin Islands and Mrs. Ralph O’Neal
The Premier of the Cayman Islands and Mrs. Kerry Bush
The Hon. Sharon and Mr. Rodney Halford (Falkland Islands)
The Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Mrs. Peter Caruana
The Chief Minister of Montserrat and the Reverend Doctor Joan Delsol Meade
The Hon. John and Mrs. Vilma Cranfield (St. Helena)
NO KAMLA.. like defraid she buss the bar or what? :beermug:
LOL....Allyuh good oui
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Questions for Kamla over $40m NP contract
Published: Mon, 2011-05-16 21:51
Gail Alexander
The house at Tunapuna where it is alleged the Prime Minister stayed after the general election. PHOTO: GAIL ALEXANDER
Questions have arisen regarding the reported award of a $40 million NP contract to an Eastern garbage trucking company and the owner of a Tunapuna property where Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stayed after the May 24, 2010, general election. PNM Senator Fitzgerald Hinds said yesterday: “I’m calling on the Prime Minister to declare her interest, if she has any, in the award of this contract and say whether she is a friend of the contractor who is expected to receive the award.
“She must say if she has some interest in ensuring if someone is a beneficiary of a state contract like this, in circumstances where it cannot easily be justified.” Hinds’ call follows questions he raised in Parliament on the entire issue over the last two months, including up to last Tuesday. More than a month ago, Hinds asked whether Persad-Bissessar stayed at state expense at the Pasea, Tunapuna, residence or another residence apart from the official St Ann’s residence. He again raised the issue in the Senate last Tuesday, when he alluded to the contract award. In the Senate, Hinds said a contract was being awarded to a “particular friend of the Government (sic) when a contractor who had been doing it for ten years remained the lowest bidder.”
HInds claimed “instructions from high up in the Cabinet, a direct involvement” were that the existing contractor be removed. Hinds said the existing contractor was asked to “hold on”until the new awardee brought trucks into T&T to handle the contract. Yesterday, National Security Adviser Gary Griffith confirmed the Prime Minister stayed at a Mohammed Street, (Pasea) Tunapuna, residence, after the general election, since the Prime Minister’s official residence at La Fantasie was not yet ready or secure. The Opposition has alleged that the owner of that property owns the garbage collection company (also located in Pasea, Tunapuna) which is at issue in the NP $40 million contract award.
Last week, CDS Ltd, one of the bidders for the contract—and which has been handing the contract for years—sent a pre-action protocol letter to Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan asking her to “investigate and have NP show and justify” why they were “overlooked” for the provision of a service which “they have been performing with distinction (for NP) over the years.” CDS alleged that although it had tendered “the lowest bid” and had “the best track record and experience,” the company was not determined as the “preferred bidder” and contended that NP’s decision to do so was “clearly not” based on merit. Yesterday Hinds claimed: “I have information the contract has been been awarded to the (name called) East Trinidad contractor and it is likely a letter of award has gone out.
“I’m calling on the Prime Minister and the Energy Minister to clear the air on this...The minister is responsible and she cannot say she is not,” he said. “I also notice the Prime Minister saying she has no idea who the new contractor is, while we are aware of her occupancy of that Tunapuna house. “We’d like her to clear the air on the questions around this and say if the contract has been awarded to the Gopaul company and what, if any interest, she may have in this.” Hinds said he had filed further questions in Parliament on the issue and to source more information on it under the Freedom of Information Act.
Last week, Persad-Bissessar said the NP contract award had not been brought to her attention nor that of the Cabinet. She said there was need to properly procure the award of these state contracts to prevent the possibility of creating a scandal. Yesterday, speaking with reporters at Couva, when asked about the contract issue, Persad Bissessar said the line minister was getting a report. “I’m sure they’ll bring that back to us hopefully, this week,” she added. Asked if she was acquainted with any of the parties in the contract, Persad-Bissessar said: “I’ll be honest, if I say I am or I’m not—I don’t know, because I don’t know who got the contract or what happened. “So when the report comes in, we’ll know and then I’ll be able to say if I know them or I don’t—I need to see the report so I’ll know who it is,” she said.
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GOPAUL's Luck
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/GOPAUL_s_Luck-122132578.html
PM admits staying in house owned by contractor...
By Aabida Allaham aabida.allaham@trinidadexpress.com
PRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Gopaul and Company Ltd have not yet been awarded a $40 million contract from National Petroleum (NP) for the supply of trailer trucks used in gasoline haulage.
She admits, however, "they won the bid".
Speaking to reporters at the handing-over ceremony of the Bon Air West Early Childhood Care Centre in Bon Air yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said when it comes to the awarding of contracts, boards are expected to be faithful to the tendering rules and to be fair.
She said though, "It will be unfair and unjust, in my respectful view, to exclude persons from bidding from contracts simply because I know them and, further, there are laws in the country to deal with these matters of integrity, and we support these laws."
Gopaul and Co is a family-owned business formed in 1973 by Cyril Gopaul and operated today by members of the Gopaul family, whom the Prime Minister admits she personally knows.
In fact, Persad-Bissessar yesterday admitted she stayed at the residence of Ralph Gopaul and Maureen Gopaul before and after the 2010 general election.
"I stayed there from time to time in order to facilitate my public engagements in the north, if I had to be up late or early mornings and so on.
"There is someone who is saying we are hiding the fact that I stayed there; that is totally untrue; some of you will recall, some of you may have even come, media persons came; you took the photographs, you put them on the newspaper, and people knew I was staying there."
"I stayed there, as I say, before the election, I was there prior to a period before the election, indeed; I was staying with another relative and that's when I got the death threats and the robbery to the vehicle, and I was then graciously allowed to stay at this home where it was very enclosed and in the middle, and it was thought it would be safe for me to stay. Remember, I did not have security and police and so on when I was campaigning, and so I started staying there before the election; I stayed there for some time before the election; I did not go to rent a home, others rented homes and stayed in hotels; I did not bring that additional cost to the taxpayers," she said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said she has asked the minister responsible for NP, Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, to provide her with a report surrounding the tendering process in which Gopaul won.
"I have pledged to have a Government that adheres to the best practices when it comes to procurement, and the joint select committee is looking at that legislation, and should any member of the Government or should any member of any board transgress against these laws and practices, then I would deal with it decisively as I have already demonstrated," she said.
Asked if she thought this matter was similar to that of former minister Mary King, the Prime Minister said: "I don't know."
"I don't know if it's different, let me wait until I see the report; I don't know what happened, I honestly don't know, so I will await the report from the line minister, who will then consult with the Attorney General, and we deal with it at that point. It would be premature for me to comment on this matter because I do not know what transpired," she said.
Asked if she thought the tendering committee favoured Gopaul & Co because the directors knew her, Persad-Bissessar said, "I don't know, that's what we will have to find out."
With regard to recent statements made by political leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) Ambassador Makandal Daaga about corruption in the country, the Prime Minister said she could not comment.
"I have not heard what Daaga said, indeed; I understand he was on TV this morning, but it will not be appropriate for me to comment on Daaga's words because I don't know what he said," she said.
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RESIGN NOW
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/RESIGN_NOW-122274089.html
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
May 19, 2011
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has called on chairman of the Integrity Commission Dr Eric St Cyr to resign immediately for saying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar should have stayed at a hotel instead of the house of her friends, Ralph and Maureen Gopaul.
Following the post-Cabinet news conference at Rovanels Resort in Tobago yesterday, Government ministers Jack Warner, Winston Dookeran and Suruj Rambachan all condemned the comments made by St Cyr, saying they were inappropriate, reckless and taints any investigations the commission may have before it.
St Cyr had made the statement in an interview with the Express on Wednesday when asked to comment on Persad-Bissessar's admission that she had stayed at the Gopauls' house for free.
The Gopauls have won a $40 million bid for an National Petroleum (NP) transport contract but have not been given a contract.
"It's not a finding of the commission because as I said, we haven't investigated or gone into the details, but it's clear and that's in my opinion," St Cyr had said.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has called on the commission to investigate the matter, saying the Prime Minister breached Section 27 (1) of the Integrity in Public Life Act, which states persons in public life "shall not accept a fee, gift or personal benefit, except compensation authorised by law, that is connected directly or indirectly with the performance of his or her duties of office".
However, members of Government believe St Cyr cannot investigate this matter as he compromised the probe by making premature personal comments.
Warner said yesterday this was not the first time St Cyr has crossed the line. He made reference to St Cyr also making personal comments when Rowley had asked the integrity Commission to investigate whether it was right for Warner to wear two hats as minister and FIFA vice-president.
"Even before he sat and met on the matter, he gave an opinion, totally out of turn…Today, he has done this same thing again, and I want to say publicly now, and I will say so in the strongest possible language that the chairman of the Integrity Commission has to resign. He's consistently showing his biasness, and I am not going to mince any words about it," said Warner.
Warner said he sent a letter to St Cyr asking him to step down.
"I have said to the Cabinet; I have said to the media that he has to resign because of the fact he has shown his discrimination and is not worthy of being a chairman of any commission, far more the Integrity Commission," he said.
Dookeran also criticised St Cyr, saying: "I think it is more than improper for the chairman of the Integrity Commission to express a view that may prejudice whatever investigation ought to have taken place.... admitting it is not the view of the commission but saying that it is his opinion."
He said St Cyr's statement was improper and infringes on legal and ethical lines.
"The Integrity Commission is an important institution that must maintain the highest standards of ethics and must be able to stand scrutiny at all times," he said.
He said statements like these compromise the Integrity Commission to stand scrutiny on this and any other matter before it.
Ramadhar said St Cyr cannot continue as chairman.
"For him to continue as chairman of the Integrity Commission will really bring that institution into some level of disrepute, and he should really assess his position whether he's fit and proper to continue as chairman," he said.
"I think it is an extremely terrible situation to have arisen, and we have to stand back as a society and appreciate that institutions of this nation have to stand for what they should do and not be in form and not in substance," he added.
Rambachan said persons in such positions should subject themselves to self-scrutiny.
"He (St Cyr) should know what is the right and decent thing to do," he added.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/LM-vn-FJkg0
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People in TnT can be so f**king simple eh... it sickening. St. Cyr commented on the propriety of Kamla staying with her friends. That is one matter. What is to be investigated is the award of this contract to said same friends. Another matter. He has not expressed an opinion as to the investigation into the tendering process... how then is he showing bias regarding a matter before the Commission? steups
Personally I don't think Kamla do anything wrong, except show her naivety... yuh have to expect that when yuh have friends who do business with the government (and she surely should have known this about the Gopauls) that you can't if you self in government (as then Opposition MP) go and live up in dey house. St. Cyr right to say that she should have shown better judgment in staying elsewhere. Is not like he come out and say Kamla help rig de bid fuh she friends... THAT might warrant resignation. And fuh Jack.. of all people, to be questioning anybody's integrity!
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People in TnT can be so f**king simple eh... it sickening. St. Cyr commented on the propriety of Kamla staying with her friends. That is one matter. What is to be investigated is the award of this contract to said same friends. Another matter. He has not expressed an opinion as to the investigation into the tendering process... how then is he showing bias regarding a matter before the Commission? steups
Personally I don't think Kamla do anything wrong, except show her naivety... yuh have to expect that when yuh have friends who do business with the government (and she surely should have known this about the Gopauls) that you can't if you self in government (as then Opposition MP) go and live up in dey house. St. Cyr right to say that she should have shown better judgment in staying elsewhere. Is not like he come out and say Kamla help rig de bid fuh she friends... THAT might warrant resignation. And fuh Jack.. of all people, to be questioning anybody's integrity!
Bakes the call is not for the Integrity Commission to investigate the bid, it was for them to investigate her stay as Rowley claims she received a GIFT....that may be a breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act. He says the stay amounts to a gift and she did not declare it..or something so.
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CDS cites lower bid, more experience in letter to minister
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CDS_cites_lower_bid__more_experience_in_letter_to_minister-121971269.html
By Curtis Rampersad Business Editor
May 17, 2011
Couva company CDS Transport Ltd says it bid less for a contract at National Petroleum (NP) than Gopaul and Company Ltd, had ten years more experience in the fuel transport business but still lost out after the tendering process.
In a letter to Seepersad-Bachan obtained by the Express, CDS Transport's managing director, Premnath Dindial, said his company submitted a tender for the lease of 20 tractors to NP.
At a meeting on April 14 with NP acting chief executive Rajkapoor Ramlochan, NP offered an award for the lease of five tractors.
On April 20, CDS responded, saying it would not accept the offer for the five tractor trucks, correspondence between CDS and NP stated.
CDS Transport alleged that the evaluation process was "procedurally compromised" and questioned why it was "not considerably favoured" for the award of this contract.
Macoya-based Gopaul and Company Ltd received a $40 million contract from NP for gasoline haulage.
In a detailed breakdown of its expertise in comparison to Gopaul and Company, CDS Transport suggested in its letter to Seepersad-Bachan that it had ten years' experience in the haulage of petroleum products. It alleged in its letter that Gopaul and Co had none.
CDS said it tendered a lower price at $28,500 per truck per month while Gopaul & Co tendered $28,695 per truck per month.
CDS said it had five trained mechanics with four years experience to service the trucks while it alleged that Gopaul and Co had none. It also said CDS had three spare trucks at Sea Lots, Pointe-a-Pierre and Tobago and Gopaul and Co had none.
Seepersad-Bachan told the Express by phone yesterday that she received an evaluation of the process involving the award of the contract to NP. She has requested notes from the Neil Gosine-chaired NP board of directors as well as documents from the tenders committee with regard to the contract.
She said the board of directors was entrusted to ensure that contracts were awarded in fair and transparent manner and she could not say if statements made about the award of the contract to NP were true.
Seepersad-Bachan said she maintained that if someone was unfairly treated they could write to her, which was what CDS Transport did. But she also pointed out that any company had the right to tender for a contract.
Gopaul and Co is a family-owned business formed in 1973 by Cyril Gopaul and operated today by members of the Gopaul family.
It has three operational divisions and is involved in trucking, oils and food products and sugar.
It operates in several Caricom territories including Barbados and Jamaica and employs 300 people, its website indicates.
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People in TnT can be so f**king simple eh... it sickening. St. Cyr commented on the propriety of Kamla staying with her friends. That is one matter. What is to be investigated is the award of this contract to said same friends. Another matter. He has not expressed an opinion as to the investigation into the tendering process... how then is he showing bias regarding a matter before the Commission? steups
Personally I don't think Kamla do anything wrong, except show her naivety... yuh have to expect that when yuh have friends who do business with the government (and she surely should have known this about the Gopauls) that you can't if you self in government (as then Opposition MP) go and live up in dey house. St. Cyr right to say that she should have shown better judgment in staying elsewhere. Is not like he come out and say Kamla help rig de bid fuh she friends... THAT might warrant resignation. And fuh Jack.. of all people, to be questioning anybody's integrity!
She also stayed there for a while after becoming Prime Minister. I think it was for about 3 months or so. All she had to do was stay in a hotel and that would have been the end of the matter. UNC spent the most money on that campaign. I'm sure they could have afforded a hotel for their leader..!!!
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She also stayed there for a while after becoming Prime Minister. I think it was for about 3 months or so. All she had to do was stay in a hotel and that would have been the end of the matter. UNC spent the most money on that campaign. I'm sure they could have afforded a hotel for their leader..!!!
Yeah, then that is pretty egregious then... and schupid. Whatever happen to avoiding even the appearance of impropriety?
TC... if the call was to investigate the free stay, then I stand corrected, but frankly if they had a prior long-standing friendship then I don't see what the problem is.
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She also stayed there for a while after becoming Prime Minister. I think it was for about 3 months or so. All she had to do was stay in a hotel and that would have been the end of the matter. UNC spent the most money on that campaign. I'm sure they could have afforded a hotel for their leader..!!!
Yeah, then that is pretty egregious then... and schupid. Whatever happen to avoiding even the appearance of impropriety?
TC... if the call was to investigate the free stay, then I stand corrected, but frankly if they had a prior long-standing friendship then I don't see what the problem is.
Rowley technically tying the two together. Saying she accepted a gift of a free stay after she became PM and that is a breach of the integrity act.....he digging and dem in parliament playing tit for tat
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JACK MOVES ON ST CYR
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/JACK_MOVES_ON_ST_CYR-122376099.html
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
May 21, 2011
Works Minister Jack Warner yesterday called on President George Maxwell Richards to revoke the appointment of chairman of the Integrity Commission Dr Eric St Cyr.
Warner has criticised St Cyr for saying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar should have stayed at a hotel instead of the private residence of her good friends, the Gopauls.
On Thursday, he called on St Cyr to resign. Yesterday, he went a step further and wrote two letters—one to Richards, asking that St Cyr's appointment be revoked, and another to St Cyr, requesting that he resign.
The members of the Integrity Commission are appointed by the President in his sole discretion and can only be removed by him, exercising his presidential prerogative.
Persad-Bissessar's stay at the Gopauls' house has been called into question since the family's company, Gopaul and Co, has won the bid for a $40 million National Petroleum (NP) transport contract.
In the letter to Richards, written in his capacity as chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), Warner said: "His premature pronouncements on the use of an alternative residence by the Honourable Prime Minister is not simply a lapse in judgment but rather a clear manifestation of an open bias that seems to favour not just the People's National Movement but its current leader, the Honourable Dr Keith Rowley."
Warner stated it was the second time a lapse in judgment by St Cyr had "provoked the ire of the national community", and it was the second time his pronouncements seem intended to give credibility to statements made by Dr Keith Rowley.
Warner stated one would have expected "greater prudence and discretion" from one who holds such an esteemed position, but his lack of restraint is both "deadly and dangerous" to the social and peaceful development of the national community which the Government was seeking to cultivate.
"Since Dr Eric St Cyr has failed on not one occasion but two, in less than one year, it appears, therefore, that he lacks the ability to appreciate the importance of dispensing opinions in a manner that instils confidence in the national community. As leaders, we have no other alternative than to do the right thing and demand the revocation of Dr Eric St Cyr's appointment to the position of chairman of the Integrity Commission," Warner said in the letter.
"His premature statements were untimely and baseless because based on his own volition, he admits that they were without investigation and made in the absence of knowledge. If this is what passes for integrity, then I wish to remind you of the words of Samuel Johnson, who opined that 'Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless'," Warner added.
In his letter to St Cyr, Warner said: "What, for me, is most disturbing is the fact that your actions demonstrate a clear conflict of interest, and what is even worse is that as the official spokesperson for the Integrity Commission, one cannot be sure...that your opinion is not the collective opinion of the commission, and for this compromise alone, Dr St Cyr, your resignation will be most welcomed."
As he called on St Cyr to use "whatever integrity is left in you to do the right thing and, in dignity, demit office", Warner concluded: "You have failed to live up to the high standards expected of your office or to enhance its reputation, which is constantly under threat. The only reasonable alternative is for you to submit your resignation as chairman of the Integrity Commission to our esteemed President."
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Rowley technically tying the two together. Saying she accepted a gift of a free stay after she became PM and that is a breach of the integrity act.....he digging and dem in parliament playing tit for tat
The problem is not the gift... the question arises as to why the gift was given. Was it given b/c she's PM (as can be inferred), or was it because they have been long-standing friends? It really can go either way.
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Gopaul and Co trails in 2nd place
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Gopaul_and_Co_trails_in_2nd_place-122786228.html
Losing bidder objects to award of $40m NP contract to company owned by PM's friends
By Camini Marajh Head Investigative Desk
Story Created: May 28, 2011 at 11:53 PM ECT
Story Updated: May 28, 2011 at 11:53 PM ECT
On two of the four criteria used by the management of the State-owned National Petroleum Marketing Company (NP) to assess the eligibility of the bids submitted in a $40 million cab-over-engine-design tractor deal, CDS Transport Ltd was way ahead of its closest rival and the winning bidder, Gopaul and Co Ltd.
Documents obtained by the Sunday Express reveal NP's favoured bidder for the multimillion-dollar fuel distribution service contract, Gopaul and Co, trailed the top-ranked CDS group by 21 points on two of the three criteria that points were awarded in the summary prequalification evaluation score sheet.
Five of the 14 companies that submitted bids—including CDS—scored overall higher marks than Gopaul and Co, and one, D&D Auto World Ltd, which received an overall score of 52 points, the same as Gopaul and Co, was issued a fail grade by the five-member bid evaluation team which comprised Chester Beeput, Ronald Fraser, Alan Tang Wing, Kevin Ragbir and Lynette Hamblyn. The bid evaluation report was reviewed and signed off by acting chief executive officer of NP Rajkapoor Ramlochan.
The Prime Minister's personal friendship with the owners of Gopaul and Co has come under scrutiny, following CDS-raised objections to the award of a $40 million contract to the Macoya-based food distribution, trucking and garbage disposal company. CDS filed a pre-action protocol letter claiming bias against the State-owned petroleum company on May 12, four days after the Neil Gosine NP board of directors decided to favour Gopaul and Co.
The Opposition People's National Movement (PNM) has referred the matter of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's stay at the Tunapuna home of Ralph and Maureen Gopaul after the May 24 general election to the Integrity Commission (IC) for a determination on whether her stay at the home of her old friends after she was elected leader of the Government amounted to a gift and whether she was required by the Integrity in Public Life legislation to have disclosed her stay at the private residence.
On Thursday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, armed with a fistful of opinions obtained from four legal luminaries, made clear the Prime Minister's use of the Gopaul's sprawling Tunapuna residence in the post-election period did not consti tute a gift under the Integrity in Public Life Act. He also made public the views of the four silk that Integrity Commission chairman Eric St Cyr "displayed bias" when he said the Prime Minister should have stayed at a hotel.
In his bid to pour cold water on the CDS-levelled accusations of bias in the award of the $40 million fuel haulage tractor contract to the Prime Minister's friends, Attorney General Ramlogan, at Thursday's post-Cabinet news conference, said there were no grounds "legally and factually" for suspicion in the award of the contract and, further, there was "absolutely no grounds for this complaint" which he dismissed as "completely baseless".
This, after he had disbanded the four-member probe team of State-employed technocrats, appointed a week earlier by Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan to investigate the CDS complaint of bid-manipulation.
Yesterday, Ramlogan told the Sunday Express he had no choice in the matter, given the line minister's decision to recuse herself from the process following the discovery of a previously unknown connection between her brother and the firm of CDS.
Ramlogan insisted it would have been "improper" for the committee, appointed by the line minister, to continue to probe the allegation since their findings could be subject to a legal challenge on the grounds that they would "arguably be affected for the same reason as the person who disqualified himself".
As to the expanded "investigator" role the legal adviser to the Cabinet has now taken on, Ramlogan said there was a "fundamental misunderstanding of what I am about to do". He explained CDS has challenged the award of the NP contract and has threatened litigation, and it was his job to determine whether the complaint has any merit in it. This, again, after he had expressed publicly that the bid-manipulation complaint made by CDS was "completely baseless".
Documents obtained by the Sunday Express, however, tell a different story. One which raises questions about how Gopaul and Co emerged with the lion's share of the contract, the process used to evaluate the bids and the apparent failure of the bid evaluation team to conduct the requisite on-site inspection of the operations of the top-ranked firms.
By NP's own admission, the bid evaluation process was discredited by the fact that 13 of the 14 bidders failed to comply with the ITB (Invitation to Bid Document) requirement for the submission of audited financial statements. A copy of the evaluation report, under the heading "prequalification evaluation" says this: "Audit and finance personnel recommended that no evaluation be done on unaudited financial statements as the information may not be accurate and cannot be used to make an assessment of the company's financial status."
The NP evaluation report noted: "Strict adherence to the pre-qualification process meant that 13 bidders would have been disqualified. The evaluation team decided to proceed to evaluate bidders who passed the other three criteria in the pre-qualification evaluation (experience, resources, legal information). At the com- mercial evaluation stage, an examination of the bidders would then be done and requests for audited financial statements made to the best prospects."
Documents show CDS Transport was the top-ranked company on the commercial evaluation,
with Gopaul and Co in second place and Paramount Transport and Trading in third position. The two shortlisted firms were issued an April 7, 2011 deadline to provide audited financial statements. CDS submitted one audited statement, but it was deemed invalid because it failed to carry the required two directors' signatures as required by the company. Gopaul failed to submit any financial information.
The evaluation report said: "In strict terms, no award can be made as each bidder failed at the prequalification stage at financial evaluation. However, other factors need to be considered in the best interest of the company."
The factors listed talked about the benefits of having two providers of leased tractors, namely the competitive element and the enhanced reliability of access to resources of both companies in the event that one is unable to meet their contractual obligations. The recommended options put forward by the bid evaluation team were:
• award the contract to either CDS Transport Ltd or Gopaul and Co Ltd
• award separate contracts to CDS Transport Ltd and Gopaul and Co Ltd for the supply of ten new tractors each, for a seven-year lease period. To achieve this, management required approval to negotiate with both companies for acceptance of a partial award.
The board tenders committee, however, citing safety issues with CDS, opted on the award of an uneven split in the seven-year contract for the 20 fuel tractors: 15 new tractors for the second-ranked bidder and five for the top-ranked company.
It sought to justify the award of the larger contract to Gopaul and Co on safety concerns relating to CDS's aged fleet, which is three years past its seven-year life expectancy. But as insiders report, the safety issues with the CDS-owned equipment is of NP's own making. The State company had awarded a $16 million buy-new-tractor contract to Neal and Massy Motors in 2009 but failed to finalise the buy-tractor deal. With the change of government in 2010, NP abandoned the buy option, in favour of the more expensive lease option.
No explanation has been put forward for the costly about-turn. Insiders suggest it may not be unrelated to the political sub-plots and tension between the two main coalition partners, the United National Congress (UNC) and the Congress of the People (COP). The Sunday Express was told there was a lot of political tussling for most of the State board appointments, including NP. Sources have identified Gosine, an insurance executive with Comprehensive Insurance Brokers, as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's personal pick to chair the NP board. Seepersad-Bachan, a member of the COP, was reported to have been backing Uttam Maharaj's candidacy for the post.
Dismissed CEO Richard Callender told the Sunday Express yesterday the decision to pursue the lease option was a political decision and not the desired course of action initiated by his management. Callender, who was fired in April over a credit facility extended to a service station dealer, claimed in early January of this year, he was instructed by Gosine to register Gopaul and Co as a contractor to NP.
"Neil Gosine said to me, 'Richard, this is the Prime Minister's people, make sure we get it right the first time.' He said he complied with the request because Gopaul and Co met NP's stringest registration requirements. Gosine did not return messages left on his cell phone.
Well done again Ms Camini
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Kamla: TT to establish direct flights from India, South Africa
T&T Newsday Reports.
THE STATE will seek to open the gates to Commonwealth citizens wanting to come to this country and to establish direct flights from India and South Africa, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced yesterday.
In remarks delivered at the closing press conference for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at Perth, Australia, yesterday, Persad-Bissessar also noted that Trinidad and Tobago will serve a second term as a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
On opening the gates for travel, Persad-Bissessar said, “as a direct outcome of this CHOGM, Trinidad and Tobago will be stepping up its bilateral conversation with member states towards relaxing the requirements for Commonwealth citizens entering Trinidad and Tobago for business or holiday. In this way, we can serve as the bridge between Commonwealth and South America.”
Additionally, the State will explore “the possibility of direct flights from South Africa and India to Trinidad and Tobago.”
Of the CMAG, Persad-Bissessar said, “Trinidad and Tobago is grateful for Caricom support for allowing us, represented by (Foreign Affairs Minister) Dr Rambachan, to continue as a member of CMAG for a second term. With our Minister of Foreign Affairs as a member we will be able to remain engaged as we strengthen CMAG’s role to deal with serious and persistent violation of Commonwealth values.”
“Strengthening of CMAG is a positive development and will go a long way to preserving Commonwealth values, as well as act as an effective check on any attacks upon human rights in Members states.”
Persad-Bissessar pledged to support the efforts of new chairman, Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the issue of gender equality.
“I would like to wish the Chair in Office, prime minister Gillard every success. I am delighted that prime minister Gillard has signalled her early intention to press for greater involvement of women in decision-making. I offer my support and will assist in whatever way I can to support the work of the Chair in Office,” she said. She also offered condolences for casualties of the war in Afghanistan, noting that ten Australians had been “killed and wounded” over the weekend.
The Prime Minister noted the Commonwealth resolved to establish a new, consolidated charter.
“The charter is to be approved by leaders following a meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers in September 2012 after a process of consultation to ensure that the principles and aspirations of the 54 member association are fully reflected in the Charter,” she said.
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Well i didn't know that he knew kamla so well, i'm truly surprised. :o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3vSsA4fqNE&feature=related
;D
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Any word on
elssina kamla on her india tour.
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(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt359/truetrini/kamlaboots.jpg)
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Que?
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the pnm waste plenty money so dey tryin to ketch up
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Not only does she lack intelligence, but she also lacks taste....
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Not only does she lack intelligence, but she also lacks taste....
it fugly for real
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Jeez fellas.... ease up nah. Leh the woman enjoy she self nah. Me eh no PP, but I have to admit, Kamla does have me laughing at times. She love the limelight. She is ah soca-chutney rock star!!!! She is a real Chameleon. She has an outfit for all occasions.
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I NEED MY SISTER
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/I-NEED--MY-SISTER-142214755.html
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her sister’s travelling costs even as new figures reveal that Vidwatie Newton has cost taxpayers on trips to Brazil, London and Australia.
The Office of the Prime Minister spent $338,329.19 for Newton to accompany Persad-Bissessar to Australia from October 19 to November 6, 2011.
The figures were contained in a note prepared for Cabinet obtained by the Sunday Express.
Newton, described as travel assistant to the Prime Minister, was given a per diem equivalent to a public servant.
In London, from the period October 19 to 21 and again on November 3-5, she was allowed accommodation of £350 a day.
Her per diem was £145 a day totalling $9,422.00.
In Dubai from October 21-23 she was given a accommodation valued at US$278 a day, which totalled US$834 (TT$5,362.62).
Her per diem was US$155 a day which totalled $1,993.30.
In Perth, Australia, for the period October 24 to 30, no accommodation expenses were incurred as the delegation was accommodated by the Australian Government.
Her per diem was US$155 a day which totalled $6,976.55
In Hong Kong from October 31 to November 4, an allowance of $23,089.52 was paid for accommodation with a per diem of US$155 a day which totalled $3,986.60.
On Friday, it was revealed that Newton incurred expenditure of $233,600 as a member of Persad-Bissessar’s delegation to India from January 4 to 16.
The 14-member team from the office of the Prime Minister- which included Persad-Bissessar’s husband Dr Gregory Bissessar and a personal assistant Mila Loredo—totalled $2,341,891.
Yesterday Persad-Bissessar defended her sister’s travel costs as much as she’s had to defend her own during her 22 months in office.
“I think any person who does the kind of job that I do would requires someone to assist them personally,” said Persad-Bissessar as she defended Newton’s travel cost on her January journey to India.
Describing as “political mischief” the signalling out of Newton’s travel sum, the Prime Minister said she relies on her sister when she travels.
“It has been done before my time. She travels with me,” said Persad-Bissessar.
“I trust my sister. I feel comfortable with having her handling my personal matters like food and medication. It is vital. It allows me to spend more time on my job,” she said.
“Indeed, I am advised that former prime minister (Arthur N R) Robinson would take his son as his travel assistant,” she told reporters at the Maha Sabha Phagwa celebrations at the Tunapuna Hindu School yesterday.
Earlier, during a brief interview with the Sunday Express, she said she needed Newton to manage her busy schedule.
Newton has travelled frequently with Persad-Bissessar during her time in office.
She’s accompanied her on several trips to New York, Washington, to the UK, to Brazil and recently Australia and India.
Last September, Persad-Bissessar, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express said Newton was not employed or paid by the government.
She said then: “I do give her some of my own money because she has to live.”
“She was gainfully employed for many years and I am very grateful to her for helping me. I can trust her with my personal things: my food, my clothing. She came for the internal election and within weeks when Mr Manning called the general election I had to say ‘come back’. She came immediately and has been here ever since,” she told the Express on September 25 last year.
“It’s just political mischief they are up to as usual,” she said yesterday.
The Prime Minister leaves today on a state trip to Panama.
She said the Government intends to sign several agreements with Panama with regard to trade and energy given that Panama was “interested in buying bitumen from us”.
In return, Trinidad and Tobago will be offered “bunkering facilities” at the Panama Canal.
Meanwhile, Persad-Bissessar said as far as she was aware Tobago Affairs Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin does not owe any money on her Government credit card.
“I said all I had to say on the no-confidence motion,” she said
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Referencing the PNM is more often than not the green light for the PP to claim carte blanche. That alone raises a question mark.
From a bilateral perspective, there's a lot more we could obtain from Panama.
Might as well include a lil mischief in this post ... maybe the good lady is heading there to explore another PNM precedent ... as set by O'Halloran.
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I thought the Lisa Ghany person was responsible for this? And Sasha prior to this?
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:whistling:
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We all need our sisters. Why restrict it 2 biological sisters we need our soul sisters not 2 4get my spiritual sisters.
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I think its fine for a Prime Minister to have a personal assistant, that person is hired at the discretion of the minister, i am not sure if her sister is acting in this official capacity which has a salary and allowances as stipulated in the salary review commission if she is assigned to the role.
The personal assistant to the PM is also a traveling officer position which has benefits such as bus route access and tax benefits for a personal vehicle and the position will also have the per diem allowances for overseas travel based on where the minister is going.
I think what is causing all the strife comes from the amount of the traveling the PM does and as such the increased allowances to be paid out as a result of the PM's activity overseas.
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the sister is not hired in any capacity. she literally tags along.
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I think its fine for a Prime Minister to have a personal assistant, that person is hired at the discretion of the minister, i am not sure if her sister is acting in this official capacity which has a salary and allowances as stipulated in the salary review commission if she is assigned to the role.
The personal assistant to the PM is also a traveling officer position which has benefits such as bus route access and tax benefits for a personal vehicle and the position will also have the per diem allowances for overseas travel based on where the minister is going.
I think what is causing all the strife comes from the amount of the traveling the PM does and as such the increased allowances to be paid out as a result of the PM's activity overseas.
the PM has a personal assistant.....and she sister
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ah wonder if Jack have ah twin?? ;D
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ah wonder if Jack have ah twin?? ;D
might be, dat f**ker too ugly to be one person!
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I think its fine for a Prime Minister to have a personal assistant, that person is hired at the discretion of the minister, i am not sure if her sister is acting in this official capacity which has a salary and allowances as stipulated in the salary review commission if she is assigned to the role.
The personal assistant to the PM is also a traveling officer position which has benefits such as bus route access and tax benefits for a personal vehicle and the position will also have the per diem allowances for overseas travel based on where the minister is going.
I think what is causing all the strife comes from the amount of the traveling the PM does and as such the increased allowances to be paid out as a result of the PM's activity overseas.
the PM has a personal assistant.....and she sister
(http://dc406.4shared.com/img/2YV-D_BT/s7/gross.gif)
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corrupt is as corrupt does..... or to quote them..."is we time"
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corrupt is as corrupt does..... or to quote them..."is we time"
D good lady in an interview earlier dis yr say d state eh payin 4 her sista but I guess I must have read wrong.
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ROBBIE NEVER DID IT
Dumas says Kamla wrong: Former PM's son was not his travel assistant
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's statement that former prime minister Arthur NR Robinson used to take his son, David, as his travel assistant on overseas trips has been vigorously challenged by a number of persons in the know.
Persad-Bissessar in defending her decision to take her sister, Vidwatie Newton, at taxpayers' expense on official trips with her, told reporters on Saturday: "It has been done before my time...Indeed, I am advised that former prime minister Robinson would take his son as his travel assistant".
She dismissed queries relating to her sister's travel costs, first raised by the Opposition in Parliament last Friday, as mischief.
Newton has accompanied the Prime Minister to several trips including Brazil, Australia, London and Hong Kong.
Former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister, Reginald Dumas, said yesterday he had "absolutely no recollection whatsoever of Robinson's son ever being on any Trinidad and Tobago delegation (travelling overseas)".
"In my experience working with him as prime minister, David was never on any Trinidad and Tobago delegation," he said during a telephone interview.
"Mr Robinson would not do that. He is not that kind of person to have his child or sibling travel with him and say it is his travel assistant. That is not the kind of person he is," Dumas said.
He added that Robinson did not even have a personal assistant.
"And as for anyone travelling with him as he travel assistant, forget it!" Dumas said.
Former attorney general in National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) administration (1986-1991), Anthony Smart, also said yesterday he was unaware of Robinson's son travelling with him as an assistant.
In fact, Smart recalled that the opportunity came up during the NAR tenure to have personal assistants to help in the respective constituency offices, he (Smart) considered hiring a relative who was familiar with his constituents but when he discussed the matter with Robinson, Robinson told him that he didn't think it was a good idea.
And former prime minister Basdeo Panday said yesterday he could not understand what was going on.
"This is a peculiar and unusual case. It is not a hired person. The Prime Minister has said she (Newton) is not an employee of the Government. If you are employed and paid by the State to do anything, one can understand that. But this is not the case. This is the Prime Minister who has her sister...who accompanies her at State expense. This is a case of having her sister or your mother travel with you and then chalking up a bill on one trip of $245,000. And nobody (except the Prime Minister) knows what her function is," he said.
Panday said he had no personal assistant while he served as prime minister, though he said there were persons attached to the Office of the Prime Minister working for the Government.
On Saturday, Persad-Bissessar said: "I trust my sister. I feel comfortable with having her handling my personal matters like food and medication. It is vital. It allows me to spend more time on my job."
One source who worked with Robinson as Prime Minister said there was no instance when his son travelled with him as a travel assistant while he served as prime minister.
"I know nothing about that. At no time did it happen," the source said. The source added that it also never happened while Robinson served as President.
"When he was President if anyone of his family travelled with him, they did so at his (Robinson's) expense," the source said.
"Mr Robinson would use his own means," the source said.
The source recalled on one occasion when David joined his father in New York, USA, he (David) paid his own way.
The source added that on another occasion, Robinson's daughter Margaret-Ann journeyed with him, but it was not a charge on the State coffers.
Another source said one had to bear in mind that the Prime Minister has said Newton does not get paid.
"So how did the State come to spend so much money on her. The Prime Minister said repeatedly that it was the Government of India which paid for hotel accommodation and meals. So how come the Government spent nearly as much on her as the Prime Minister herself? How is it possible if the Government of India were meeting her expense? " the source asked.
The figures given in Parliament include the cost of a first class ticket to India, which is around is $70,000. Noting that the $233,000 was essentially a per diem allowance, the source said the per diem usually covers hotel expenses plus meals and transport.
"If the Government of India was paying these bills, what does the per diem cover and how did they arrive at $233,000 for Mrs Newton. What then is going on?" the source asked.
Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan has said repeatedly that "all costs" for the Prime Minister's official delegation of 12 were covered by the Indian Government.
He pointed out that even the cost of "internal transport" was covered by that Government which provided an airbus for the delegation to travel to various cities.
Robinson did not return calls seeking clarification on the issue.
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Another source said one had to bear in mind that the Prime Minister has said Newton does not get paid.
"So how did the State come to spend so much money on her. The Prime Minister said repeatedly that it was the Government of India which paid for hotel accommodation and meals. So how come the Government spent nearly as much on her as the Prime Minister herself? How is it possible if the Government of India were meeting her expense? " the source asked.
The figures given in Parliament include the cost of a first class ticket to India, which is around is $70,000. Noting that the $233,000 was essentially a per diem allowance, the source said the per diem usually covers hotel expenses plus meals and transport.
"If the Government of India was paying these bills, what does the per diem cover and how did they arrive at $233,000 for Mrs Newton. What then is going on?" the source asked.
Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan has said repeatedly that "all costs" for the Prime Minister's official delegation of 12 were covered by the Indian Government.
He pointed out that even the cost of "internal transport" was covered by that Government which provided an airbus for the delegation to travel to various cities.
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The Prime Minister's judgement was terribly misplaced in orchestrating this debacle. It is not surprising that she has taken her customary cowardly stance to deny wrong doing but it is most egregious that by either design or ignorance she would attempt to sully the record of a true statesman. She is the worst Prime Minister in our history.
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The Prime Minister's judgement was terribly misplaced in orchestrating this debacle. It is not surprising that she has taken her customary cowardly stance to deny wrong doing but it is most egregious that by either design or ignorance she would attempt to sully the record of a true statesman. She is the worst Prime Minister in our history.
dat is plain is day, but u would be labelled a racist, sexist and obligatory pnm for statin dat I tink it would take a near catastrophy of International proportions to open many of the eyes still blinded but to those that might starting to open there eyes, the question remains what would be next............Rowley ??? , Panday v2.5- build 623t, ..................who ???
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There is a very irritating lack of class by too many in the PP. Their ignorant arrogance is kinda disgusting.
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There is a very irritating lack of class by too many in the PP. Their ignorant arrogance is kinda disgusting.
Kinda disgusting just comfirmimg what lefty said.
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The Prime Minister's judgement was terribly misplaced in orchestrating this debacle. It is not surprising that she has taken her customary cowardly stance to deny wrong doing but it is most egregious that by either design or ignorance she would attempt to sully the record of a true statesman. She is the worst Prime Minister in our history.
dat is plain is day, but u would be labelled a racist, sexist and obligatory pnm for statin dat I tink it would take a near catastrophy of International proportions to open many of the eyes still blinded but to those that might starting to open there eyes, the question remains what would be next............Rowley ??? , Panday v2.5- build 623t, ..................who ???
I maintain that Kamla was a terrible Minister of Education whose only real accomplishment was to clumsily implement universal secondary education which in practical terms meant simply placing all the standard 5 pupils in schools regardless of their performance in C.E./S.E.A. There were also reports of the minister herself manipulating placements.
While they touted this accomplishment they systematically neglected the Teachers Training College. And even as they boasted of the hundreds of schools built that I still can't find both John D and Sando Tech were allowed to decay at the expense of the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology, a multimillion dollar facility built in Central Trinidad that did nothing.
For these reasons I gladly accept the risk of being called a PNM sycophant. Surely Rowley would be better than KPB. He was a much better Minister than KPB in both Housing and Planning. Rowley is an paradoxical situation where depending on the move he makes he can either be labelled aggressive, rude or at best undiplomatic and on the other hand weak or docile. A disunited PNM has not helped him either. Notwithstanding this image problem I am have more confidence in Rowley's potential to lead than Kamla's episodes in crapulent indiscretion.
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fair enough, the pnm he has at his disposal is mainly due to Manning's dismantling of the old guard to install yes man and weaklings and it is plain to see, disunity notwithstanding, that he may simple not possess the wherewithal to bring the party together or convince T&T growing "middle" to vote for him, he might have been a good minister, but woe is d general that lacks the support of his men.............and then there is the distinct lack of tactical awareness ...........always seems to be steps behind the pace, being outmaneuvered at every turn....fighting battles best left "unfought" , not recognizing the battles that can be won...........and if he does see them, they are clumsily bungled
He may well be a good soldier............but he has proven a piss poor general
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fair enough, the pnm he has at his disposal is mainly due to Manning's dismantling of the old guard to install yes man and weaklings and it is plain to see, disunity notwithstanding, that he may simple not possess the wherewithal to bring the party together or convince T&T growing "middle" to vote for him, he might have been a good minister, but woe is d general that lacks the support of his men.............and then there is the distinct lack of tactical awareness ...........always seems to be steps behind the pace, being outmaneuvered at every turn....fighting battles best left "unfought" , not recognizing the battles that can be won...........and if he does see them, they are clumsily bungled
He may well be a good soldier............but he has proven a piss poor general
Can't really disagree with this. But as you rightly pointed out the arsenal Manning left them with is not formidable. The PNM is no position financially or politically to regain office.
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fair enough, the pnm he has at his disposal is mainly due to Manning's dismantling of the old guard to install yes man and weaklings and it is plain to see, disunity notwithstanding, that he may simple not possess the wherewithal to bring the party together or convince T&T growing "middle" to vote for him, he might have been a good minister, but woe is d general that lacks the support of his men.............and then there is the distinct lack of tactical awareness ...........always seems to be steps behind the pace, being outmaneuvered at every turn....fighting battles best left "unfought" , not recognizing the battles that can be won...........and if he does see them, they are clumsily bungled
He may well be a good soldier............but he has proven a piss poor general
Can't really disagree with this. But as you rightly pointed out the arsenal Manning left them with is not formidable. The PNM is no position financially or politically to regain office.
D weakest PNM betta than these budling set ah idiots and always remember Manning is my man so all yuh know my view point on d issue.
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I AM WOMAN
As first female PM, Kamla explains why she needs her sister
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
A woman's needs are different to a man's, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night as she sought to make a case for the payment of a per diem to her sister, Vidwatie Newton.
In a statement issued last night, Persad-Bissessar said: "It was not unexpected that the election of a woman as Prime Minister would necessitate some changes in the arrangements for accommodation and personal travel. The official residence, for example, must be configured to meet the familial needs of the office-holder.
"Many personal issues unique to a woman warrant the involve- ment of a close and trusted assistant. This, more so, on occasions of official foreign travel when the hectic schedule and frenetic pace demands the Honourable Prime Minister's undivided attention, without the distraction of critical personal care."
The Prime Minister said the particular expertise Newton brought to bear was critical.
"Ms Vidwatie Newton was a qualified nurse with many years experience. She is responsible for the Prime Minister's diet, medication, exercise, wardrobe and other health-related and personal issues. It is quite reasonable for the Honourable Prime Minister to trust and rely upon her sister for this level of personal care and attention. It should be noted as well that this support is provided on a continuous basis literally, as and when required," Persad-Bissessar stated.
The Prime Minister said the Office of the Prime Minister, "like the Office of the President", has traditionally recognised the need for a level of personal service and ancillary support to the office-holder. She stressed there was "ample precedent" of personal staff accompanying past and present presidents and prime ministers.
The Prime Minister, who has been criticised for having the State pay substantial per diem payments to her sister, defended the practice, pointing out that a previous (PNM) Cabinet had approved such a facility.
She stated the provision of the per diem to said individuals, including persons who are not public officers, was, in fact, contained in the Cabinet Minute 780 of April 2006 captioned: "Revision of the Per Diem for Official Overseas Travel", which states: "the allowances provided in the per diem schedule be applicable to official overseas travel by non-public officers where Government is required to meet all cost".
The Prime Minister said it should be noted she had the option of formally employing her sister, Ms Newton, as a member of her personal staff. "She refused to do so to avoid any allegations of nepotism, in consequence of which, Ms Newton receives no salary from the State. Moreover, such employment would essentially be for fixed hours and a fixed work week, in keeping with industrial relations practice," she said.
The Prime Minister concluded, therefore, that in the circumstances, the criticism of the decisions of the Cabinet to have her sister accompany her on some of her more demanding overseas official visits was "unjustified, ill-conceived and totally without merit". Such criticisms "failed to appreciate the human and practical side of the hectic life and schedule of the nation's first woman Prime Minister", the statement said. It added that Government reaffirms its commitment to the principles of transparency and integrity in public life.
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As a male...I am somewhat at a disadvantage in this matter since I have no idea of what these issues may be. Would any female (be it Prime Minister, Forumite or whoever) enlighten me so that I can understand what would be an appropriate position in this matter?
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As a male...I am somewhat at a disadvantage in this matter since I have no idea of what these issues may be. Would any female (be it Prime Minister, Forumite or whoever) enlighten me so that I can understand what would be an appropriate position in this matter?
As a 21st C woman like u Bourbon I cannot relate and I cannot rack my head to come up wit a woman who can relate 2 level of gobarr comin from d mouth of d PM.
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As a male...I am somewhat at a disadvantage in this matter since I have no idea of what these issues may be. Would any female (be it Prime Minister, Forumite or whoever) enlighten me so that I can understand what would be an appropriate position in this matter?
As a 21st C woman like u Bourbon I cannot relate and I cannot rack my head to come up wit a woman who can relate 2 level of gobarr comin from d mouth of d PM.
Perhaps I can suggest an example or two
well de PM say Vidwatie WAS a qualified nurse....so clearly an unemployed nurse she would know the exact placement of , say, a bra strap so that the PM would avoid tendonitis of the shoulder
or
One would not expect the PM to be comfortable enough to use the indian or asian styled infloor toilet, thus an unemployed nurse would need to have strong hands to hold the posie
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Kamlamity!
To borrow a quote from Clarence Rambharat
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Kamlamity!
To borrow a quote from Clarence Rambharat
LUV IT MY NAME 4 HER FROM NOW ON. I tink I will give 195 a lil listen 2day should b pure kicks.
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I AM WOMAN
As first female PM, Kamla explains why she needs her sister
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
A woman's needs are different to a man's, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night as she sought to make a case for the payment of a per diem to her sister, Vidwatie Newton.
In a statement issued last night, Persad-Bissessar said: "It was not unexpected that the election of a woman as Prime Minister would necessitate some changes in the arrangements for accommodation and personal travel. The official residence, for example, must be configured to meet the familial needs of the office-holder.
"Many personal issues unique to a woman warrant the involvement of a close and trusted assistant. This, more so, on occasions of official foreign travel when the hectic schedule and frenetic pace demands the Honourable Prime Minister's undivided attention, without the distraction of critical personal care."
Am I reading right?
Is her defence of this bullshit to say that “a female PM is a special needs case compared to a male PM”. That is a such a backward defence. It is a slap in the face of females everywhere who compete in the workforce on an even footing daily.
Is a good thing she wasn’t PM in her younger days because she probably wouldna be able to function every 28 days.
I really hope this backward, dotish defence come back to bite her at the next election.
But even if we run with this line that she is special needs case why should the government have to pay for it. Is like saying somebody with an ailment need a higher salary or to work less hours just to compensate.
Also if we roll with this BS line of thinking and the sister is not paid and helps her out when she in TnT, why she needs a per diem when she travelling.
And what is the husband role on a trip with his invalid wife? What he so busy doing that he can’t organize meals, iron clothes and lay out she panty on the bed in the morning?
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Isn't her husband a medical doctor? Why the need for a nurse on a daily basis? Did she have a nurse before she became Prime Minister? Why wasn't the sister taking care of her before she became prime minister. Just say that you want your sister nearby because she's a familiar face and somebody to talk to. I will agree with that. Is the lying I can't take. I thought she was all about equality. Why now is a woman's needs different to that of a man? Is she now saying that women are inferior to men?
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Isn't her husband a medical doctor? Why the need for a nurse on a daily basis? Did she have a nurse before she became Prime Minister? Why wasn't the sister taking care of her before she became prime minister. Just say that you want your sister nearby because she's a familiar face and somebody to talk to. I will agree with that. Is the lying I can't take. I thought she was all about equality. Why now is a woman's needs different to that of a man? Is she now saying that women are inferior to men?
She need somebody tuh carry she menopause medication... Bas and Manning wear pants, so they had pockets.
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Apparently it could go even further..... :banginghead:
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Apparently it could go even further..... :banginghead:
Share B share
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Apparently it could go even further..... :banginghead:
Share B share
(http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/21600000/Eating-Popcorn-3-michael-jackson-21626092-257-192.gif)
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Isn't her husband a medical doctor? Why the need for a nurse on a daily basis? Did she have a nurse before she became Prime Minister? Why wasn't the sister taking care of her before she became prime minister. Just say that you want your sister nearby because she's a familiar face and somebody to talk to. I will agree with that. Is the lying I can't take. I thought she was all about equality. Why now is a woman's needs different to that of a man? Is she now saying that women are inferior to men?
digging and over reacting. A PM taking an entourage including medical staff (especially to a foreign country) is far from unheard of. Her husband being a doctor is of no importance.
Definitely perks will fall in if your brother or sister is PM; come on....
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The integrity concerns pertaining to this case are clear. Also, the concern of profligacy in office ... particularly at a time when economic austerity should be driving every penny put out. My thing doh is that these indiscretions are so poorly handled when anyone asks an offending party why X or Y happened. The PM's response only serves to invite more fuel, not less fire.
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digging and over reacting. A PM taking an entourage including medical staff (especially to a foreign country) is far from unheard of. Her husband being a doctor is of no importance.
Definitely perks will fall in if your brother or sister is PM; come on....
De man say this is "digging and overreacting" yes.... lol. Men eh even trying tuh play coy with de jackass talk anymore. If she sister being a nurse is significant, then she husband being a DOCTOR carries even greater significance... especially since tax payers are footing the bill for it. "Perks" my f**king ass.
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Isn't her husband a medical doctor? Why the need for a nurse on a daily basis? Did she have a nurse before she became Prime Minister? Why wasn't the sister taking care of her before she became prime minister. Just say that you want your sister nearby because she's a familiar face and somebody to talk to. I will agree with that. Is the lying I can't take. I thought she was all about equality. Why now is a woman's needs different to that of a man? Is she now saying that women are inferior to men?
hush nah man...why yuh trying to make sense?????
Seriously though if Madam PM could be so blatant and egregious not only about her nepotism but her wanton disregard for the laws and protocol that surround the Highest office in the country, what then would she not do?
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'Ex-official told me of Robinson's son'
By Anna Ramdass
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night a former head of the Public Service, whom she did not name, advised her that former prime minister Arthur NR Robinson used his son as a travel assistant when he travelled on official business.
Speaking to the media at Piarco International Airport, shortly after her return from an official trip to Panama, Persad-Bissessar said her office had issued a statement on the matter on Tuesday, and she had nothing further to say.
That statement indicated a woman's needs were different to a man's and, as such the Prime Minister needed her sister Vidwatie Newton by her side when she travels to assist her personally in terms of diet and medication.
Persad-Bissessar said on Saturday, during Phagwa celebrations at the Tunapuna Hindu School, a precedent was already set for the State to pay for the travel expenses of her personal assistant as other leaders of the country carried family members with them on trips.
"Indeed, I am advised that former prime minister (Arthur NR) Robinson would take his son as his travel assistant," she said then.
On Friday, in Parliament, it was disclosed that taxpayers paid $233,600 to fund the expenses of Newton during an official trip to India in January. The Sunday Express reported that Newton accompanied the Prime Minister on official trips to Brazil, Hong Kong, Australia and London at the State's expense.
On Tuesday, in an exclusive Express report, former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas said when he worked with former prime minister Robinson, no monies were spent by the State for the travel expenses of the prime minister's son, David.
In the face of that denial, Leader of the Opposition Dr Keith Rowley called on Persad-Bissessar to apologise to Robinson.
Questioned yesterday on the accuracy of her statement that taxpayers funded the travel of Robinson's son during the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) administration (1986-1991), Persad-Bissessar responded: "I was so advised by a former head of the Public Service."
She did not identify the person who provided the information to her.
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PM'S MONEY REFUSED
New twist in saga of Kamla hiring her sister
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar offered to pay for her sister Vidwatie Newton on the first official trip she made as Prime Minister shortly after assuming office, high-level sources revealed yesterday.
The Express learned the Prime Minister even offered to tender a cheque to cover Newton's travel expenses, but it was refused by a senior public servant who argued it would set a bad precedent which other prime ministers may be obliged to follow. The senior public servant also told Persad-Bissessar there was precedent for the Prime Minister to have a travel assistant.
"It was in those circumstances that the Prime Minister acceded to the (current) arrangement," a Government source said.
In July 2010, Persad-Bissessar went to Jamaica to attend her first Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Montego Bay.
The Express contacted the former public servant on the issue. The individual, who asked not to be named, said Persad-Bissessar indicated in July 2010 that she needed assistance in travelling and enquired about paying for the person who would be accompanying her, which she identified as her sister.
"I understood fully what it was that she wanted. It was the first time that we were having a female Prime Minister. Normally, a protocol officer would accompany the prime minister abroad. And one of the things the protocol officer would assist the prime minister with is if the prime minister needed to get his suits pressed or to get ready for his meetings, those kinds of personal things. The protocol officer would usually assist the prime minister because you don't expect a prime minister to call room service or the laundry.
"But, in this particular case, it was the first time we were having a female Prime Minister. The protocol officer who was in place was a male, and the Prime Minister did not yet have any of her personal staff. And you have to understand that for people to look after your personal needs, your clothes, et cetera, it should be somebody that you are familiar with and feel comfortable with.
"If we didn't have someone to help her—and I understood it fully—someone was required to look after her wardrobe, to help her get ready. Because if she unpacked her clothes and went looking rumpled to a meeting, the next thing we would be seeing in the newspapers is, 'Look how the Prime Minister appeared at this meeting'. It was something (a need) that was recognised," the former public servant said.
The former public servant said she conferred with a colleague in the Ministry of Finance, and they both understood the need to address the issue since this was the first female Prime Minister on her first trip.
"We felt it was something that could be accommodated," the person said.
Recognising that Newton was not a public servant or an officer on contract, a recommendation was made, subject to the approval of Cabinet, that she accompany the Prime Minister as a travel assistant, the person said.
The individual added that the travel assistant would tend to those needs peculiar to a female, as well as medication and other personal needs.
The Cabinet agreed to pay Newton's airfare and hotel accommodation and meals, "but she was not treated like a public officer, and what was granted to her was actual expenses (as opposed to a per diem which, in most cases, is based on a formula which takes into account things that someone on official duty would have to carry out)".
The same arrangement was used for the Prime Minister's trip to New York, USA. The individual stressed that these arrangements were made in the unique scenario of a woman Prime Minister now coming on board.
Government sources disclosed yesterday the entire Cabinet had advised the Prime Minister to put Newton on staff.
But at the time, there were persons occupying positions on the staff of the Prime Minister's residence, and the Prime Minister was reluctant to release them.
One minister, speaking on the condition of anonymity, commenting on the issue, said yesterday: "She tried to do the right thing. She didn't fire anybody (to create an opening for Newton)."
The minister added further: "The last time the Prime Minister travelled with someone (else), security found the person going through her purse and cellphone. And this is one of the reasons why her sister looks after those kinds of things."
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God only knows how Cristina Kirchner and Angela Merkel does manage without dey sisters.
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Sounds nice and sensible.
I waiting for an article to come out. Just waiting. If it true...well........ :frustrated:
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Sounds nice and sensible.
I waiting for an article to come out. Just waiting. If it true...well........ :frustrated:
Bourbon most of we here iz family share yuh info brudder.
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Isn't her husband a medical doctor? Why the need for a nurse on a daily basis? Did she have a nurse before she became Prime Minister? Why wasn't the sister taking care of her before she became prime minister. Just say that you want your sister nearby because she's a familiar face and somebody to talk to. I will agree with that. Is the lying I can't take. I thought she was all about equality. Why now is a woman's needs different to that of a man? Is she now saying that women are inferior to men?
digging and over reacting. A PM taking an entourage including medical staff (especially to a foreign country) is far from unheard of. Her husband being a doctor is of no importance.
Definitely perks will fall in if your brother or sister is PM; come on....
She is a head of state, yuh know how we trini's does follow fashion, so maybe she following other heads of state. All yuh lucky she eh traveling in ah 21 car entourage with ambulance, swift tactical response team accompanied by air (helicopter) security. Next thing yuh know the Blimp go gave ah gatlin gun!
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bout she need she sister she need a good kick in she c**t.. when we go get a PM who care bout we country and not about themselves?I think I have to go home get a nice African thing breed she , and let she raise the child over there to be the nx PM .... anyone a allyuh who have a nice sister who like coolie man Link up war nuh ..
war
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Right...finally read the article....and...is one of two things I expecting.
If it false....I expecting a lawsuit.
If it true...well......
http://www.tntmirror.com/2012/03/16/sister-act
Wattie’s family living in PM’s official residence as Kamla moves out
ALTHOUGH Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was insisting up to last weekend that her sister Vidwatie Newton works for her free of charge, TnT Mirror investigations reveal that Newton is just one among a number of familial relations of the Prime Minister who have been living at considerable expense to the State and who are integral to her function as the country’s chief executive.
While Persad-Bissessar has one of the largest Cabinets (24) the country has ever seen, she still relies on the advice of two key persons who hold no Cabinet rank, her husband Dr. Gregory Bissessar and sister Vidwatie Newton. She is also said to be particularly close to niece Alicia Harry, who has also traveled with her on official engagements at Government expense.
The family cabal is a small but influential group, who, according to insiders, are maintained at considerable taxpayers’ expense although doing no work for the State. The PM said last weekend that she needs her sister to look after her personal issues including food, medication and clothing. Insiders describe Newton and the other family members as high maintenance, who also enjoy State security to their various destinations in the country.
Even as Persad-Bissessar and her immediate family, including husband Gregory, maintain their upgraded Philippine residence along with her son Kris, grandson Kristiano and granddaughter Sophie, unknown to the public the extended family led by sister Newton has moved into the official PM’s residence, where they now live at taxpayers’ expense, which, according to public service officials, has never been the case with any previous PM. The PM commutes from her Philippine home by National Security helicopter or official car as the need arises, an arrangement for which National Security Advisor Gary Griffith has often told Mirror he is responsible.
Newton, according to insiders, lived in England for 30 years but returned home and moved into the PM’s official residence on Persad-Bissessar’s assumption as Prime Minister in 2010. She is said to also travel by National Security helicopter and official car like the PM1.
Mirror has learnt that she has been accompanied on her return home by two of her three adult sons who live with her in the official residence. The sons, Quinton and “Stroppy” (a nickname), are said to be maintained at taxpayers’ expense with all the trappings afforded the PM’s family including use of official vehicles and other transportation.
“Stroppy” is said to be studying law and interning with attorney Devesh Maharaj, a known UNC party supporter, and senior partner of Devesh Maharaj and Associates, while Quinton is not known to be desperately seeking employment.
They are not the only ones enjoying the State’s hospitality. The PM has another sister, Sally, who lives in the US and whose son has also moved to Trinidad, where he is also maintained at State’s expense. None of the PM’s nephews were born here and they also carry British and American citizenship. Sally’s son is also interning at Devesh Maharaj’s chambers in Port of Spain.
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Reckless abuse of state resources for the benefit of your family. To borrow a phrase used by Brownsugar to describe the AG , the Country Bookies really come to town.She couldn't possibly be that stupid to think this was ok. It is the mark of Prime Minister who has lost not only lost touch with reality but who now think she is untouchable.
Worst Prime Minister in our history.
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http://www.tntmirror.com/2012/03/16/mums-the-word-on-watties-residence
NO one at the official level wished to comment on TnT Mirror’s investigation of the circumstances surrounding Vidwattie Newton’s occupation of the official residence or the fact that her children were now part of the PM’s household establishment.
Contacted for a comment, attorney Devesh Maharaj’s secretary conveyed Mirror’s queries to him on the internships for the PM’s nephews. This reporter was told to leave a contact number and he would return the call later on Tuesday. Up to press time there was no call.
According to insiders, Newton also occupies an office on the compound of the Diplomatic Centre and official residence where the staff which runs the PM’s household is housed. Not only has she hired her own two assistants at taxpayers’ expense, but she also issues instructions to persons on the official establishment.
Sources say on weekends Newton and her family continue to enjoy the hospitality of the official residence and access its services for their social engagements, including using the official car to attend fetes.
Newton, who accompanies Persad-Bissessar on all her trips and major official engagements, was described as a ‘travel assistant’, an unknown public service designation, when Leader of Government Business Dr. Roodal Moonilal attempted to explain the Government’s payment of $233,600 to cover the cost of Newton’s travel to India.
Newton and her family are not the only relatives enjoying the hospitality of the taxpayer. Another niece of the PM, Alicia Harry, also plays a role in the PM’s establishment.
Harry, who was the passenger in the PM’s SUV which was mysteriously hijacked on the eve of the May 24, 2010 general election, has however denied that she was among the PM’s chosen team to visit India. She told TnT Mirror, “I did not accompany her to India. I have seen it reported but that is not true.”
Mirror learnt that Harry is often credited as the official photographer of the Prime Minister although the photos are usually taken by Nicholas Ramjass, but mainly functions out of the office of the Siparia MP, where she assists in treating with issues of constituents and performs personal errands for the PM.
Harry also denied any knowledge about relatives taking over the PM’s official residence at St. Ann’s.
“I am not aware of that at all,” she told Mirror.
National Security Advisor Griffith was also mum on the subject, saying only, “I cannot comment on that.”
Head of the PM’s household and former chief of defence staff Brig. Carl Alfonso also refused to comment on the matter, referring Mirror to the public relations functionaries at the Office of the Prime Minister.
“I would prefer to refer those queries to the PR people, since I would not want to comment on any media issue.
Pressed further on the PM’s American-born nephew, he said, “The only sister I know about and have spoken with is Vidwatie Newton, but the name Sally does not ring a bell.”
When the Mirror attempted to speak with Vidwatie, and after the reporter identified herself, there suddenly seemed to be a bad connection, as she kept saying, “Hello, hello” as if unable to ascertain the questions.
Insiders say that with the PM’s infrequent visits to the official residence and the PM’s office, she has become dependent on information from her relatives and an even larger group of power grabbers known as the Cabal (to the outsiders) and the Friends of Kamla (FoKs) to those on the inside.
In our next issue of the Weekend Mirror we profile the FoKs headed by the man known as the PM’s friend-in-chief.
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steuuupppppsssssssssssssss
i wonder which former PM name she would call in her mouth now to justify having her whole blasted family in the official PM residence? She already call Robbie name, who next on d list? ::)
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http://www.youtube.com/v/ru365xvV0YQ
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Maybe its just a throw back to the close knit nature of Indo-Trini families where they all live very close to each other...almost on the same property.
Plus the sisters now return from abroad....cyar expect dem to find a place of their own so fast. And de PM's residence empty..so why not? It eh supposed to be permanent.
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steuuupppppsssssssssssssss
i wonder which former PM name she would call in her mouth now to justify having her whole blasted family in the official PM residence? She already call Robbie name, who next on d list? ::)
Chambers.... ::) ::)
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Worst Prime Minister in our history.
Understatement.....
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She is a head of state, yuh know how we trini's does follow fashion, so maybe she following other heads of state. All yuh lucky she eh traveling in ah 21 car entourage with ambulance, swift tactical response team accompanied by air (helicopter) security. Next thing yuh know the Blimp go gave ah gatlin gun!
She travels IN the helicopter almost exclusively now.....as well as she family taking it to go here, there and everywhere......kinda like a taxi service in the sky......at my expense.....*sigh* aye.....I voted for this.....*double sigh*
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She is a head of state, yuh know how we trini's does follow fashion, so maybe she following other heads of state. All yuh lucky she eh traveling in ah 21 car entourage with ambulance, swift tactical response team accompanied by air (helicopter) security. Next thing yuh know the Blimp go gave ah gatlin gun!
She travels IN the helicopter almost exclusively now.....as well as she family taking it to go here, there and everywhere......kinda like a taxi service in the sky......at my expense.....*sigh* aye.....I voted for this.....*double sigh*
Glad you saved me the trouble of saying it.
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
Will lose? You might be suprised. Sheep are sheep for a reason.
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
d rate dem goin at and whispering yuh hearin.......doh be surprised if dem fuuckas eh try to to rig a nex election....we all know dey capable........... as for d pnm...god help us all :worried: :worried: :worried:
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This might seem like a small thing to some people but this rankles me more then anything I hear about this PP to date. When you see this shit going on you know that in every public industry, every contract, every financial arrangement people raping the country.
It is a despicable abuse of power. A true statesman would not even tolerate arrangements that use state resources that would look unproper, much less encourage your family to come home, as if winning the election is like winning the lottery.
The fat that all these nephews and nieces no even citizens makingit even worse because they are clearly opportunistic vultures.
KPB making the classic mistake of these clueless politicians…because she not paying your sister a salary she thinks she is doing something good, as a result she feels entitled to make use of perks, which at the end of the day end up being more than what a salary would have been. A salary would have been accountable as opposed to this nebulous support – room, board, security, travel for sister and family well exceeds what a personal assitant would cost.
Jack used to do the same thing. Put some personal money into football and feel entitled to own the perks so he take catering, travel, hotel contracts from the TTFF and Concacaf. And then still claim that the federation owe him money so when something like 2006 come around is payback time. At the end of the day he make more money than he put in but there is no accountability. It is wholly unprofessional.
Government world is not the corporate. The rules are different. There was a huge scandal about this in the UK several years ago where they crack down on all expenses. I remember a female MP who had a 4pound pay-per-view charge on her hotel bill that get submitted for re-imbursement. It was her husband who rent a blues. The blues wasn’t the issue it was usnig $4 of the public coffers for personal use, something that should have come from your own pocket or your per diem. We can’t even dream of having that kinda accountability.
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Where were u people between 1995-2001? Did u all not expect this? D women when she left d MOE went wit d wares. Come on we all had a problem wit d Project Manager so hug up Queen Kamla and enjoy d ride.
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
Which brings mih to one of the main reasons I put on a Hazmat suit and voted for these people. PNM people say dey was vex (and de rest ah we too) but couldn't do one damn thing about it. So the only way to do something was put on mih Hazmat suit and vote for dem....yeah ah still vex or even more vex now but what PNM people doing about their party?? Just sitting back and waiting for this bunch to implode?? Which they will and den what?? We back to a lesser state of vexation??
Dais why unless the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny form a party mih eh voting in the next General Elections cuz with this current bunch on BOTH sides we screwed.....ah might vote in the THA elections......dais Tobago. Ah eh want Kamla to get she grubby little hands on mih island......
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
Which brings mih to one of the main reasons I put on a Hazmat suit and voted for these people. PNM people say dey was vex (and de rest ah we too) but couldn't do one damn thing about it. So the only way to do something was put on mih Hazmat suit and vote for dem....yeah ah still vex or even more vex now but what PNM people doing about their party?? Just sitting back and waiting for this bunch to implode?? Which they will and den what?? We back to a lesser state of vexation??
Dais why unless the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny form a party mih eh voting in the next General Elections cuz with this current bunch on BOTH sides we screwed.....ah might vote in the THA elections......dais Tobago. Ah eh want Kamla to get she grubby little hands on mih island......
I'm asking this with all sincerity. Do you and/or the people of Tobago feel they can go it alone? (forget PNM, UNC, Cop, PP) Or is it the feeling that you 'have' been doing this is some respect 'alone' ever since?
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Next election they will lose, but do we really have good options? PNM seems to be in shambles.
Which brings mih to one of the main reasons I put on a Hazmat suit and voted for these people. PNM people say dey was vex (and de rest ah we too) but couldn't do one damn thing about it. So the only way to do something was put on mih Hazmat suit and vote for dem....yeah ah still vex or even more vex now but what PNM people doing about their party?? Just sitting back and waiting for this bunch to implode?? Which they will and den what?? We back to a lesser state of vexation??
Dais why unless the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny form a party mih eh voting in the next General Elections cuz with this current bunch on BOTH sides we screwed.....ah might vote in the THA elections......dais Tobago. Ah eh want Kamla to get she grubby little hands on mih island......
I'm asking this with all sincerity. Do you and/or the people of Tobago feel they can go it alone? (forget PNM, UNC, Cop, PP) Or is it the feeling that you 'have' been doing this is some respect 'alone' ever since?
I think I understand the question up the bolded part. But just clarify, what exactly do you mean by "go it alone??" Are you referring to ceceding from Trinidad?? If that is what you are referring to, then no I don't feel we can go it alone not at this stage of our development. We've been linked to Trinidad for too long and everything is too intertwined to go as far as ceceding. I'm not saying it can't happen, nothing is impossible, it would just be too long, drawn out and convoluted.
What I do support is more autonomy for the internal self government on the island. THAT I think is what most Tobagonians want, not outright cessation per se.
I eh understand de last part of your question, the part in blue..... ??? :-\
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She is a head of state, yuh know how we trini's does follow fashion, so maybe she following other heads of state. All yuh lucky she eh traveling in ah 21 car entourage with ambulance, swift tactical response team accompanied by air (helicopter) security. Next thing yuh know the Blimp go gave ah gatlin gun!
She travels IN the helicopter almost exclusively now.....as well as she family taking it to go here, there and everywhere......kinda like a taxi service in the sky......at my expense.....*sigh* aye.....I voted for this.....*double sigh*
Brown you is ah Tobagonian? I had to rub meh eyes to see if something in it... yuh vote fuh dem... after what the UNC do to Robbie? The UNC is ah reactionary party formed out of a reaction to robbie policies and he race, how is this party supposed to lead when they are all about reactions?
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Well the opposition finally asked the pm to explain after Marlene McDonald had press conference today. When questioned KPB said they visit from time to time she ran away after. What's amazing is tv6 nightly poll question asked if there should be a probe in into the allegations and the results showed 66 % against and 34 % for.
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Well the opposition finally asked the pm to explain after Marlene McDonald had press conference today. When questioned KPB said they visit from time to time she ran away after. What's amazing is tv6 nightly poll question asked if there should be a probe in into the allegations and the results showed 66 % against and 34 % for.
dread dem polls rigged long time they paying good money to make sure of it...yuh didn' get d memo
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Well the opposition finally asked the pm to explain after Marlene McDonald had press conference today. When questioned KPB said they visit from time to time she ran away after. What's amazing is tv6 nightly poll question asked if there should be a probe in into the allegations and the results showed 66 % against and 34 % for.
dread dem polls rigged long time they paying good money to make sure of it...yuh didn' get d memo
I know they are.
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This might seem like a small thing to some people but this rankles me more then anything I hear about this PP to date. When you see this shit going on you know that in every public industry, every contract, every financial arrangement people raping the country.
It is a despicable abuse of power. A true statesman would not even tolerate arrangements that use state resources that would look unproper, much less encourage your family to come home, as if winning the election is like winning the lottery.
The fat that all these nephews and nieces no even citizens makingit even worse because they are clearly opportunistic vultures.
KPB making the classic mistake of these clueless politicians…because she not paying your sister a salary she thinks she is doing something good, as a result she feels entitled to make use of perks, which at the end of the day end up being more than what a salary would have been. A salary would have been accountable as opposed to this nebulous support – room, board, security, travel for sister and family well exceeds what a personal assitant would cost.
Jack used to do the same thing. Put some personal money into football and feel entitled to own the perks so he take catering, travel, hotel contracts from the TTFF and Concacaf. And then still claim that the federation owe him money so when something like 2006 come around is payback time. At the end of the day he make more money than he put in but there is no accountability. It is wholly unprofessional.
Government world is not the corporate. The rules are different. There was a huge scandal about this in the UK several years ago where they crack down on all expenses. I remember a female MP who had a 4pound pay-per-view charge on her hotel bill that get submitted for re-imbursement. It was her husband who rent a blues. The blues wasn’t the issue it was usnig $4 of the public coffers for personal use, something that should have come from your own pocket or your per diem. We can’t even dream of having that kinda accountability.
As to the first bold: 100%!!! Yep, pretty much.
Second bold: To be fair though ... that level of accountability arose in the UK only (in part) after the level of permissiveness became glaringly indulgent and too in yuh face. After all, it was a longstanding practice of operation silently condoned by the majority of MPs. I give them credit though for including in the reforms private citizens to serve on committees that scrutinize parliamentarian behaviour.
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No one wants to accept politics as a profession ... then why does everyone have the expectation that politicians will act professionally?
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Well the opposition finally asked the pm to explain after Marlene McDonald had press conference today. When questioned KPB said they visit from time to time she ran away after. What's amazing is tv6 nightly poll question asked if there should be a probe in into the allegations and the results showed 66 % against and 34 % for.
dread dem polls rigged long time they paying good money to make sure of it...yuh didn' get d memo
You mean BB
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Actually she promised this yuh know.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/A_PALACE_for_the_people-114787079.html
"The house will become the people's house. I will use the house but I will open the house to the people, to the children of the nation and to any who wish to visit. It will become the people's house," Persad-Bissessar said.
"I do not think I should put the nation to further expense of fixing up another house. The house is there and it is empty, certainly we shall use the house for purposes of the government, but I plan to open it up. I would like to see people and children and make it indeed the people's house."
Anyhow:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/NO_FREE_RIDE_IN_PM1-143755766.html
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday denied that her three nephews and her sister, Vidwatie Newton, have ever used her official car, PM 1.
Persad-Bissessar was responding to allegations made by Opposition MP Marlene McDonald who charged yesterday that the Prime Minister's sister and three "foreign" nephews were living at the official residence in St Ann's, being transported in the fleet of the cars attached to the residence and living generally at taxpayers' expense as a consequence.
Mc Donald made the statement during a press conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Charles Street, Port of Spain.
Questioned on the allegations at AmCham T&T's 19th Annual General Meeting held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port of Spain, Persad-Bissessar said: "My sister did stay with me, my nephews visit from time to time."
Pressed further on whether they lived with her at the official residence, she stated: "They visit from time to time. My sister stayed with me, yes."
On the use of the official vehicles, she said: "There is no official car. There are vehicles attached there (to the PM's residence). No, No, they have never used PM 1."
"In fact, that vehicle is solely reserved for the Prime Minister or the Acting Prime Minister", she added.
Earlier, speaking at the Opposition's bi-weekly news conference, McDonald said her mailbox was being bombarded with "so much documentation" on the "scandalous use" of the Prime Minister's official residence.
She said she wanted to ask the Prime Minister why was she not residing at the official residence where security and other systems were in place to accommodate her and why was she holding/hosting official government meetings at her private residence in Phillipine, South Trinidad.
McDonald alleged that the Prime Minister was using a National Security helicopter to commute.
She alleged that the Prime Minister's sister and her two adult children as well as another nephew (the child of another sister), were living at the residence and being maintained at considerable State expense.
Their board and lodging, meals were being met by the taxpayers and they were being transported in the fleet of cars assigned for the exclusive use of the Prime Minister, she added.
McDonald, who used the term "it is alleged" before each sentence, claimed that the Prime Minister's sister and nephews also enjoyed State security.
"They have all the trappings according to the Prime Minister," she said, noting that none of the nephews was a citizen of this country.
She said this "abuse of the Prime Minister's residence" was unprecedented and this management style was reminiscent of Ferdinand Marcos (Filipino dictator), Papa Doc (former president of Haiti) and Benazir Bhutto (former Pakistani prime minister).
McDonald said if the Prime Minister failed to provide a satisfactory response, she planned to file questions in Parliament on the issue.
And I confused. Does she stay at the PM's residence or her own private residence? Cause if she stays at her own private residence...then.....if she is getting visited from time to time.....wouldnt the visit be at the private residence? After these visits...do they leave?
If it not true....I expect a lawsuit for the Mirror. Fair enough?
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dat guy suruj rambachan...lol...and wit ah straight face too eh..lol...
ah give up..
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dat guy suruj rambachan...lol...and wit ah straight face too eh..lol...
ah give up..
FAMILY LIFE we go here bout FAMILY VALUES NEXT.
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All over facebok the talk is dat black people makin chirren all over and abandon dem and dey committing crime and have no family values.....
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All over facebok the talk is dat black people makin chirren all over and abandon dem and dey committing crime and have no family values.....
in the morning program on cnc3 he emphasized that it was an aspect of indian family life and society will do well to return to those values..
i see he didnt repeat it in the post cabinet press conference...
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Lol this government is rel kicks yes. Family values, lol.
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All over facebok the talk is dat black people makin chirren all over and abandon dem and dey committing crime and have no family values.....
in the morning program on cnc3 he emphasized that it was an aspect of indian family life and society will do well to return to those values..
i see he didnt repeat it in the post cabinet press conference...
This is just like when the Prime Minister tried to touch the feet of the Indian President it was seen as appropriate and in keeping with Hindu tradition. It is worth noting that Her Excellency Patil immediately spotted the faux pas and stopped the PM from embarrassing both States.
I am reminded of this Interview from 2010.
Interview of the month: Winston Dookeran “THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM INDIA”
http://www.indiaempire.com/v1/2010/May/WINSTON_DOOKERAN.asp
(http://www.indiaempire.com/v1/2010/May/WINSTON_DOOKERAN.asp)Please explain to us why the Indian identity in the West Indies remained subverted for years, and the Caribbean largely became known as a place made up of Africans, even though East Indian majority was established through indentureship in many of the countries?
There are two reasons. The power structure in the country did not facilitate the plurality of the political voices. My name is Winston, I was named so by my parents as it allowed me entry to an English school. My grandson’s name is Dhruv, and those things do not matter anymore. The structure of society was such, that is why identity became a big issue. The Indians saw themselves as victims, not shapers of society, and the Africans captured political power. They felt they had the power of the state. What is required now for the Indian community is to be the legitimate shaper of the New Society. When we talk about Indian identity, we need to talk in terms of Caribbean identity. The time has come when the Indian community must now shape the society for all so that they can offer that leadership.
This is the second time the government has labelled what was either highly inappropriate or in this case an abuse of power to be consistent with Hindu/Indian values and tradition. Kamla's drunken indiscretion is running amok. It seems laughable what Suruj is saying but there is a clear mood that my tribe will accept it and my media machine will help spin it for me.
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Maybe its just a throw back to the close knit nature of Indo-Trini families where they all live very close to each other...almost on the same property.
Plus the sisters now return from abroad....cyar expect dem to find a place of their own so fast. And de PM's residence empty..so why not? It eh supposed to be permanent.
Apparently I give dem a excuse.
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Maybe its just a throw back to the close knit nature of Indo-Trini families where they all live very close to each other...almost on the same property.
Plus the sisters now return from abroad....cyar expect dem to find a place of their own so fast. And de PM's residence empty..so why not? It eh supposed to be permanent.
Apparently I give dem a excuse.
:D yuh know when yuh type dat a coupe days ago I remember thinkin to myself, that could come across as a lil prejudiced/racist or wuhever in 2012
I cyah believe kamla camp actually use that reasoning as a defence
too funny
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Maybe its just a throw back to the close knit nature of Indo-Trini families where they all live very close to each other...almost on the same property.
Plus the sisters now return from abroad....cyar expect dem to find a place of their own so fast. And de PM's residence empty..so why not? It eh supposed to be permanent.
Apparently I give dem a excuse.
:D yuh know when yuh type dat a coupe days ago I remember thinkin to myself, that could come across as a lil prejudiced/racist or wuhever in 2012
I cyah believe kamla camp actually use that reasoning as a defence
too funny
Well according to Suruj.....I most probably was paying them a compliment.
Now while I would admit I eh hear the actual statement.....what I have heard widely reported is that it is being justified by him in the manner of it being due to the close knit nature of the family.
All I coulda find really was a 24 second clip where Rambachan described the PM's family oriented nature (going to her Phillipine home on weekends to spend time with grandchildren etc.)
And I now come across dis article:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Suruj__defends__the_PM-143917216.html
So now I asking:
We taking that as the reason then?
Because I thought the PM said "They visit from time to time"? Does this mean if she goes Phillipine on weekends...that she stays in the PM's official residence during the week..when they "visit from time to time?" If she does...does that mean she changed her mind from not residing there as promised? Or do the relatives "visit" the residence "from time to time"? If true..then is Rambachan saying then that they actually stay and he doh see an issue with that.....but he's actually misinformed because they dont stay according to the PM and just "visit from time to time"
Curiouser and curiouser. And if this eh true......why the Mirror eh get threatened or hit with legal action yet? No legal challenge whatsoever to something that is a brazen lie?
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Like REAL elements conspiring to elevate my blood pressure. I skimming through today's Guardian. See a notice for collection of uncashed cheques on page A25. Didnt take it on cause I doh have no money to collect. But due to an ability to read quickly I see things at just a passing glance. Guess who name under the office of the PM....Second column.....second name.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p1/triniBourbon/Image19.jpg)
:-\
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Was wondering if I woulda be the only one to pick up on it.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-03-25/pm%E2%80%99s-sister-receives-taxpayers%E2%80%99-dollars
e
PM’s sister receives taxpayers’ dollars
The Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications was caught off guard yesterday, expressing shock that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s sister Vidwati Newton has been listed as a payee to receive a government cheque.
Questioned yesterday as to how Newton’s name ended up in the advertisement by the ministry relating to uncashed cheques, Nicole Dyer-Griffith said: “I am not aware of the advertisement. I have not seen the listing. It was placed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications? Even if I sourced the document, I am not in a position to speak or give any further information as to why she has an uncashed cheque.”
However, Dyer-Griffith contacted Sunday Guardian last night indicating that she had been advised that the uncashed cheque was a per diem. The advertisement was published by the ministry on March 23, informing payees that uncashed cheques for the period October 2010 to September 2011 become void after March 31. Newton’s name appeared on the list as a payee of an uncashed cheque issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.
The advertisement also listed payees with uncashed cheques from the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Communications. However, payees who have encashed the cheques were asked to disregard the notice. In an interview last year Persad-Bissessar said her sister was not paid at the expense of taxpayers.
However, following queries by the Opposition on whether Newton was paid a salary, Persad-Bissessar admitted that her sister was paid a per diem as her travel assistant. Commenting on the development yesterday, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley accused the Prime Minister of telling untruths regarding payments made to her sister.
“It is clear that the Prime Minister was being less than forthright and truthful when she went out of her way to explain to the nation that her sister was not accessing public money and she was sharing her money with her,” Rowley said. The Diego Martin West MP said the advertisements raised several questions that warranted immediate answers.
“The statement now has to be questioned given that it is clear that the cheque was made out to her sister. Someone gave instructions for her to get paid because she was on the payroll since 2010. These questions demand answers,” Rowley said. When Sunday Guardian contacted Newton yesterday, a woman who answered her cellular phone, said: “Ms Newton is indisposed and I do not know when you can call back.”
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Like REAL elements conspiring to elevate my blood pressure. I skimming through today's Guardian. See a notice for collection of uncashed cheques on page A25. Didnt take it on cause I doh have no money to collect. But due to an ability to read quickly I see things at just a passing glance. Guess who name under the office of the PM....Second column.....second name.
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p1/triniBourbon/Image19.jpg)
:-\
Friend u lettin dem raise yuh pressure. Sit down buckle down and enjoy d ride.
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Notice the Address too!
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Aye PP supporters....two years gone. How yuh feel?? Is it ok to criticise now or we still need to give them more time??
WRONG TIME TO FETE
Abdulah hits out as Partnership Government plans 2nd year anniversary rally, but Rambachan says 'coalition' politics
By Renuka Singh
The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) yesterday sought to distance its party from the planned coalition second anniversary celebrations on May 24.
Party leader David Abdulah yesterday issued a signed statement yesterday saying it was "inappropriate for the Partnership to have a celebratory rally at a time when there were so many crucial issues facing the country".
Abdulah's response was triggered by full-page advertisements in yesterday's daily papers which Abdulah said appeared even after he did not commit to appearing at the event or speaking on the platform.
" In a media report dated Monday May 14th, I publicly indicated the MSJ's position as 'the Government needs to focus on the key issues affecting the people and that is more important than a celebratory type rally'. I also then stated that 'we will make our position publicly known at an appropriate time," he said.
"Despite stating that position at the last Leadership meeting on Tuesday May 8, we note the full page advertisements in today's (yesterday's) press regarding our attendance at the rally," he said.
The Express learned that the party went one step further yesterday and requested that Abdulah's image be removed from the advertisements for the planned second anniversary rally.
Party public relations officer (PRO) Gregory Fernandez said it was "not ethical" that Abdulah's picture be in the advertisements given the party's noncommittal at this time.
"Given that there we have not made a final decision," he said.
This is the latest move by the MSJ to distance itself from inter-coalition politics. They are the only party to make a public statement about the rally.
Congress of the People chairman Joseph Toney yesterday attended a planning session with United National Congress (UNC) chairman Works Minister Jack Warner.
Toney has said that party leader Prakash Ramadhar will be attending the rally.
"The MSJ, as a disciplined and democratic political party will announce its decision only after the Party's Activist Council meeting, which is expected to take place within the next several days," Abdulah said.
Abdulah is also expected to make a decision on its relationship with the Partnership after that meeting.
"The MSJ will also be finalising its appraisal exercise on whether the Government has seriously addressed the issues raised by the MSJ in our Statement of March 11th, 2012," Abdulah said.
The MSJ is expecting to host a media conference on Monday to make several announcements about the way forward within the Partnership.
Senior members of Warner's camp yesterday denied any knowledge of this new MSJ move, while UNC deputy political leader, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday texted "no comment" in response to questions on the issue.
Several attempts to reach Tobago Organisation for the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack were futile.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/WRONG_TIME__TO_FETE-151982215.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/WRONG_TIME__TO_FETE-151982215.html)
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Aye PP supporters....two years gone. How yuh feel?? Is it ok to criticise now or we still need to give them more time??
WRONG TIME TO FETE
Abdulah hits out as Partnership Government plans 2nd year anniversary rally, but Rambachan says 'coalition' politics
By Renuka Singh
The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) yesterday sought to distance its party from the planned coalition second anniversary celebrations on May 24.
Party leader David Abdulah yesterday issued a signed statement yesterday saying it was "inappropriate for the Partnership to have a celebratory rally at a time when there were so many crucial issues facing the country".
Abdulah's response was triggered by full-page advertisements in yesterday's daily papers which Abdulah said appeared even after he did not commit to appearing at the event or speaking on the platform.
" In a media report dated Monday May 14th, I publicly indicated the MSJ's position as 'the Government needs to focus on the key issues affecting the people and that is more important than a celebratory type rally'. I also then stated that 'we will make our position publicly known at an appropriate time," he said.
"Despite stating that position at the last Leadership meeting on Tuesday May 8, we note the full page advertisements in today's (yesterday's) press regarding our attendance at the rally," he said.
The Express learned that the party went one step further yesterday and requested that Abdulah's image be removed from the advertisements for the planned second anniversary rally.
Party public relations officer (PRO) Gregory Fernandez said it was "not ethical" that Abdulah's picture be in the advertisements given the party's noncommittal at this time.
"Given that there we have not made a final decision," he said.
This is the latest move by the MSJ to distance itself from inter-coalition politics. They are the only party to make a public statement about the rally.
Congress of the People chairman Joseph Toney yesterday attended a planning session with United National Congress (UNC) chairman Works Minister Jack Warner.
Toney has said that party leader Prakash Ramadhar will be attending the rally.
"The MSJ, as a disciplined and democratic political party will announce its decision only after the Party's Activist Council meeting, which is expected to take place within the next several days," Abdulah said.
Abdulah is also expected to make a decision on its relationship with the Partnership after that meeting.
"The MSJ will also be finalising its appraisal exercise on whether the Government has seriously addressed the issues raised by the MSJ in our Statement of March 11th, 2012," Abdulah said.
The MSJ is expecting to host a media conference on Monday to make several announcements about the way forward within the Partnership.
Senior members of Warner's camp yesterday denied any knowledge of this new MSJ move, while UNC deputy political leader, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday texted "no comment" in response to questions on the issue.
Several attempts to reach Tobago Organisation for the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack were futile.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/WRONG_TIME__TO_FETE-151982215.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/WRONG_TIME__TO_FETE-151982215.html)
Nah is only 2 yrs d honeymoon still on.
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D Good lady in hospital and not a post SMHHHHHHHH
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She aint going to no more fete again.
C News Live
Acting PM Jack Warner's statement on PM's hospitalisation in Barbados:
"Ladies and gentlemen, fellow citizens, I have just been advised that the Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. Just prior to her admission I spoke with the Honourable Prime Minister who assured me that she would rally through. At this point in time the Prime Minister is undergoing a battery of tests. I have advised the Prime Minister's family of the situation and have promised to keep them updated as further reports come in. I have made contact with the Prime Minister of Barbados who has assured me that he would do everything possible to ensure her comfort and care. On behalf of the nation I wish to express our gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados for his kind assurances and support. Further bulletins will be made available to the nation as reports on the Prime Minister's condition become available. I join with the nation in extending our sincerest wishes for the Prime Minister's speedy recovery."
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A A.......what is this.
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A A.......what is this.
So d 10 0clock news goin and strt lets c what is d latest
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As expected much ado bout nutten she discharge and comin home 2mor.
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ALLYUH SEE WHY SHE NEED A
TRAVEL ASSISTANT NURSE TO GO ABROAD WITH SHE? STEUPS!!!!
You kno wha dis could mean? If anyting happen to tanty kams.....Jack could be PM!!
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She aint going to no more fete again.
C News Live
Acting PM Jack Warner's statement on PM's hospitalisation in Barbados:
"Ladies and gentlemen, fellow citizens, I have just been advised that the Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. Just prior to her admission I spoke with the Honourable Prime Minister who assured me that she would rally through. At this point in time the Prime Minister is undergoing a battery of tests. I have advised the Prime Minister's family of the situation and have promised to keep them updated as further reports come in. I have made contact with the Prime Minister of Barbados who has assured me that he would do everything possible to ensure her comfort and care. On behalf of the nation I wish to express our gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados for his kind assurances and support. Further bulletins will be made available to the nation as reports on the Prime Minister's condition become available. I join with the nation in extending our sincerest wishes for the Prime Minister's speedy recovery."
kindah sound like Abu Bakr taking over the country.
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That Mount Gay and Cockspur rum does fu*k up yuh system. Next time walk wid yuh Puncheon woman :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
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ALLYUH SEE WHY SHE NEED A TRAVEL ASSISTANT NURSE TO GO ABROAD WITH SHE? STEUPS!!!!
You kno wha dis could mean? If anyting happen to tanty kams.....Jack could be PM!!
Boy that thought crossed my mind last night.....that's some scary shit right there :nailbiting: :nailbiting:....ah mean yuh hear bout the files that a "petty thief" took from the SIA compound?? Along with $2 million in computer and office equipment. Now the interesting thing is the files are on Jack and it occured while he is acting PM and Head of the National Security Council. Now, is probably the conspiracy theorist in mih and mih strong, strong dislike for Jackula......but hhhhhhhmmmmm...... :thinking:
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Hmmm, got conflicting thoughts concerning Kamla. I do believe the PP government is doing a superb job of promoting T&T industry overseas and is working hard to develop new industries.
However, I am a little cynical about some of Kamla's actions.
The MSJ basically pull out of the partnership, but the news is overshadowed by Kamla's illness. Now, this illness was not diagnosed by tests in Barbados and apparently is due to exhaustion. And Mr Warner then says that this could have been avoided if Kamla had a travel assistant. So, this illness kills two birds: it takes MSJ off the front page and justifies Kamla's sister travelling overseas. Clever.
Similarly, when the story broke about Kamla's sister on 25th April, Kamla suddenly announced the withdrawal from the Privy Council, even though the Cabinet were not even aware it was to be announced!
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Hmmm, got conflicting thoughts concerning Kamla. I do believe the PP government is doing a superb job of promoting T&T industry overseas and is working hard to develop new industries.
However, I am a little cynical about some of Kamla's actions.
The MSJ basically pull out of the partnership, but the news is overshadowed by Kamla's illness. Now, this illness was not diagnosed by tests in Barbados and apparently is due to exhaustion. And Mr Warner then says that this could have been avoided if Kamla had a travel assistant. So, this illness kills two birds: it takes MSJ off the front page and justifies Kamla's sister travelling overseas. Clever.
Similarly, when the story broke about Kamla's sister on 25th April, Kamla suddenly announced the withdrawal from the Privy Council, even though the Cabinet were not even aware it was to be announced!
Yeah they track record doh help.
She take in sick...so sick to warrant a press conference to be called by the Acting PM. Get discharge de next day...no diagnosis....so what was her chief complaint that caused her to take in sick in the first place?
Buh we hadda be as dotish as they feel we are. Cause we taking it.
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ALLYUH SEE WHY SHE NEED A TRAVEL ASSISTANT NURSE TO GO ABROAD WITH SHE? STEUPS!!!!
You kno wha dis could mean? If anyting happen to tanty kams.....Jack could be PM!!
Boy that thought crossed my mind last night.....that's some scary shit right there :nailbiting: :nailbiting:....ah mean yuh hear bout the files that a "petty thief" took from the SIA compound?? Along with $2 million in computer and office equipment. Now the interesting thing is the files are on Jack and it occured while he is acting PM and Head of the National Security Council. Now, is probably the conspiracy theorist in mih and mih strong, strong dislike for Jackula......but hhhhhhhmmmmm...... :thinking:
That bastillion of integrity and decency would never have anything to do with that. In fact...if that computer just had files on Jack....then it must have been brand new because he has never done anything to have files on..thus warranting its theft.
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I hear she get sick because she break d FA agreement. Fernandes and Angostura
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ALLYUH SEE WHY SHE NEED A TRAVEL ASSISTANT NURSE TO GO ABROAD WITH SHE? STEUPS!!!!
You kno wha dis could mean? If anyting happen to tanty kams.....Jack could be PM!!
Boy that thought crossed my mind last night.....that's some scary shit right there :nailbiting: :nailbiting:....ah mean yuh hear bout the files that a "petty thief" took from the SIA compound?? Along with $2 million in computer and office equipment. Now the interesting thing is the files are on Jack and it occured while he is acting PM and Head of the National Security Council. Now, is probably the conspiracy theorist in mih and mih strong, strong dislike for Jackula......but hhhhhhhmmmmm...... :thinking:
That bastillion of integrity and decency would never have anything to do with that. In fact...if that computer just had files on Jack....then it must have been brand new because he has never done anything to have files on..thus warranting its theft.
Sandy saying the stolen PC's were unused and the files were not confidential, just administration. :bs: And just to recap, the planned event that caused the SOE would make 1990 look like a tea party. :bs: And the Tooth Fairy really exists. :bs:
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Sandy: No classified info in stolen computers
By Joel Julien
TWO computers, one unused and another containing administrative information, were stolen from the Arima facility of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (SIA), National Security Minister John Sandy has confirmed.
Sandy made the statement yesterday as he addressed members of the media following the official commemoration of the country's 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain.
Sandy was responding to a report in the TnT Mirror published on May 20, which claimed all of the SIA's "records, including surveillance equipment and computers totalling $2 million were stolen".
"There was a break-in and there was also a most erroneous and irresponsible report in the press, most of which is false," Sandy said.
"One of the areas spoke of a $2 million loss. There is nothing like that. One of the areas spoke of security information and classified information. Absolutely untrue, totally false," he said.
"Two unused computers were stolen, one carries administrative information—nothing to do with any classified information, nothing to do with any operations on the unit whatsoever. And I found it was totally, totally, totally, irresponsible of that newspaper to do something like that," Sandy said.
A release from the National Security Ministry yesterday said the break-in is currently being investigated by police.
"A break-in at one of the ministry's external locations occurred and is currently the subject of police investigations and therefore the ministry is not in a position to disclose any further details on this on-going matter," the release stated.
"The ministry, however, will like to state categorically, that any stolen item did not contain any highly sensitive and confidential data and all reports to the contrary are erroneous," the release stated.
"Further, the statements in the article alleging that stolen files contained records on the Honourable Jack Warner, Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West and Minister of Works and Infrastructure are entirely false."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sandy__No__classified_info_in_stolen_computers-152839765.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sandy__No__classified_info_in_stolen_computers-152839765.html)
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ALLYUH SEE WHY SHE NEED A TRAVEL ASSISTANT NURSE TO GO ABROAD WITH SHE? STEUPS!!!!
You kno wha dis could mean? If anyting happen to tanty kams.....Jack could be PM!!
Boy that thought crossed my mind last night.....that's some scary shit right there :nailbiting: :nailbiting:....ah mean yuh hear bout the files that a "petty thief" took from the SIA compound?? Along with $2 million in computer and office equipment. Now the interesting thing is the files are on Jack and it occured while he is acting PM and Head of the National Security Council. Now, is probably the conspiracy theorist in mih and mih strong, strong dislike for Jackula......but hhhhhhhmmmmm...... :thinking:
That bastillion of integrity and decency would never have anything to do with that. In fact...if that computer just had files on Jack....then it must have been brand new because he has never done anything to have files on..thus warranting its theft.
Sandy saying the stolen PC's were unused and the files were not confidential, just administration. :bs: And just to recap, the planned event that caused the SOE would make 1990 look like a tea party. :bs: And the Tooth Fairy really exists. :bs:
Nah, nah that last part is not BS.....the tooth fairy really exists.....well I'm hoping so because I need someone/party to vote for next election....tooth fairy, easter bunny, santa claus......dem fellas will get my vote next time so dey better organise fast, fast....
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MISSING SISTER
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/MISSING__SISTER-152839965.html
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
May 22, 2012
Did the absence of Vidwatie Newton, sister and travel assistant to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, lead to her falling ill during her hectic trip to four countries?
This was the strong suggestion of Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal yesterday.
Newton, who is a qualified nurse, has accompanied the Prime Minister on many of her overseas assignments since July 2010.
However, Newton did not travel with Persad-Bissessar on her most recent trip and the Prime Minister fell ill during the Caricom-Mexico Summit and had to be admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Monday.
She later discharged herself from the hospital after a number of medical tests were conducted on her at the hospital. She returned to her hotel room and flew back to Trinidad yesterday.
Persad-Bissessar arrived at the Piarco International Airport at around noon and was airlifted by helicopter to a helipad near the San Fernando General Hospital around 1.20 p.m.
She boarded her official vehicle and was taken to her family's home, where her husband Dr Gregory Bissessar and other relatives were gathered.
Persad-Bissessar smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign as her vehicle passed media photographers.
The Express was told she was accompanied by a medical doctor.
Persad-Bissessar hugged her husband and relatives before going into the house. She then walked onto a balcony and waved at reporters gathered outside her gate.
The Express was later told that Persad-Bissessar was tired and resting.
Speaking with the Express by phone, Moonilal strongly suggested there was a correlation between Newton's absence and Persad-Bissessar's illness and that the Prime Minister needed her sister during her overseas assignments.
He told the Express last night: "I observe that this is one of the few trips in which her sister, Miss Newton, did not travel with her. And this trip was very hectic. It was to Panama, Belize, New York, Barbados and Port of Spain, all in less than a week, attending meetings.
"It was one of the few occasions that Ms Newton did not go with her and I am wondering whether her illness had anything to do with this failure, of not having people around her to manage her, not only her preparation (for functions), but also to ensure that she is taking her medication, eating on time, and preparing her, given her needs.
"And we (the Government) would have to assess this because notwithstanding the Opposition's view, we would have to look at this. Ms Newton plays a critical role as a travel assistant."
It has been argued the Prime Minister needs that kind of personal assistant as a woman.
And Moonilal agreed with this view.
"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
Newton is responsible for the Prime Minister's diet, medication, exercise, wardrobe and other health-related and personal issues, Persad-Bissessar said in March of this year.
"This support is provided on a continuous basis literally, as and when required," she added.
The Prime Minister has also pointed out she had the option of formally employing Newton, as a member of her personal staff, but refused to do so "to avoid any allegations of nepotism in consequence of which Ms Newton receives no salary from the State".
However, the Prime Minister has been criticised by the Opposition which has been asking questions in the Parliament on a weekly basis with respect to Newton's entitlements as travel assistant, which include first class travel and a per diem allowance.
On the issue of the Prime Minister's current health condition, Moonilal assured she would be well enough to deliver the feature address at the People's Partnership's second anniversary rally in Chaguanas tomorrow.
Moonilal, who along with acting Prime Minister Jack Warner met the Prime Minister at the Piarco International Airport yesterday, said she was at home resting yesterday. He said there was a planning meeting at her Phillipine home later last night at which she was expected to participate.
"Myself and Mr Warner would carry on the (planning) meeting and we believe later in the evening she would attend to bring greetings. ... We expect her to be well for Thursday."
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Just a thought, but maybe Newton is the only person who can administer the correct medication and make Harvey Wallbangers just so?
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MISSING SISTER
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/MISSING__SISTER-152839965.html
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
May 22, 2012
Did the absence of Vidwatie Newton, sister and travel assistant to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, lead to her falling ill during her hectic trip to four countries?
This was the strong suggestion of Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal yesterday.
Newton, who is a qualified nurse, has accompanied the Prime Minister on many of her overseas assignments since July 2010.
However, Newton did not travel with Persad-Bissessar on her most recent trip and the Prime Minister fell ill during the Caricom-Mexico Summit and had to be admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Monday.
She later discharged herself from the hospital after a number of medical tests were conducted on her at the hospital. She returned to her hotel room and flew back to Trinidad yesterday.
Persad-Bissessar arrived at the Piarco International Airport at around noon and was airlifted by helicopter to a helipad near the San Fernando General Hospital around 1.20 p.m.
She boarded her official vehicle and was taken to her family's home, where her husband Dr Gregory Bissessar and other relatives were gathered.
Persad-Bissessar smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign as her vehicle passed media photographers.
The Express was told she was accompanied by a medical doctor.
Persad-Bissessar hugged her husband and relatives before going into the house. She then walked onto a balcony and waved at reporters gathered outside her gate.
The Express was later told that Persad-Bissessar was tired and resting.
Speaking with the Express by phone, Moonilal strongly suggested there was a correlation between Newton's absence and Persad-Bissessar's illness and that the Prime Minister needed her sister during her overseas assignments.
He told the Express last night: "I observe that this is one of the few trips in which her sister, Miss Newton, did not travel with her. And this trip was very hectic. It was to Panama, Belize, New York, Barbados and Port of Spain, all in less than a week, attending meetings.
"It was one of the few occasions that Ms Newton did not go with her and I am wondering whether her illness had anything to do with this failure, of not having people around her to manage her, not only her preparation (for functions), but also to ensure that she is taking her medication, eating on time, and preparing her, given her needs.
"And we (the Government) would have to assess this because notwithstanding the Opposition's view, we would have to look at this. Ms Newton plays a critical role as a travel assistant."
It has been argued the Prime Minister needs that kind of personal assistant as a woman.
And Moonilal agreed with this view.
"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
Newton is responsible for the Prime Minister's diet, medication, exercise, wardrobe and other health-related and personal issues, Persad-Bissessar said in March of this year.
"This support is provided on a continuous basis literally, as and when required," she added.
The Prime Minister has also pointed out she had the option of formally employing Newton, as a member of her personal staff, but refused to do so "to avoid any allegations of nepotism in consequence of which Ms Newton receives no salary from the State".
However, the Prime Minister has been criticised by the Opposition which has been asking questions in the Parliament on a weekly basis with respect to Newton's entitlements as travel assistant, which include first class travel and a per diem allowance.
On the issue of the Prime Minister's current health condition, Moonilal assured she would be well enough to deliver the feature address at the People's Partnership's second anniversary rally in Chaguanas tomorrow.
Moonilal, who along with acting Prime Minister Jack Warner met the Prime Minister at the Piarco International Airport yesterday, said she was at home resting yesterday. He said there was a planning meeting at her Phillipine home later last night at which she was expected to participate.
"Myself and Mr Warner would carry on the (planning) meeting and we believe later in the evening she would attend to bring greetings. ... We expect her to be well for Thursday."
LOOK MOONILAL ....
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What was her illness ?
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What was her illness ?
u ent hear it was "inconclusive" or wha...................
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What was her illness ?
u ent hear it was "inconclusive" or wha...................
Nah...it was exhaustion. It appears that because her sister wasn't there, she became overworked. Presumably, she had to iron her clothes, do her own hair and make up, read an itinery, take a bus to the venues, go to the bar for her drinks etc. I mean. I'm assuming she had no help and thats why her sister is so important???
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What was her illness ?
u ent hear it was "inconclusive" or wha...................
I'm not even trying to be facetious , it just sounds strange.
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What was her illness ?
u ent hear it was "inconclusive" or wha...................
I'm not even trying to be facetious , it just sounds strange.
me neither and I agree with u, its sad that they are now involving our neighbors in their shameless gamesmanship.......I have no doubt in my mind that that whole thing was scripted to sneak Mrs. Newton back on board d gravy train.
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What was her illness ?
u ent hear it was "inconclusive" or wha...................
I'm not even trying to be facetious , it just sounds strange.
me neither and I agree with u, its sad that they are now involving our neighbors in their shameless gamesmanship.......I have no doubt in my mind that that whole thing was scripted to sneak Mrs. Newton back on board d gravy train.
I feel so too, these people so bold face I don't doubt it.
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What was her illness ?
Delerium tremens... they put she up in a dry hotel.
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No but seriously. Should there be a debate about the PM's health. I am not joking about this. Is she healthy?
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No but seriously. Should there be a debate about the PM's health. I am not joking about this. Is she healthy?
as healthy as she liver .....given all d "abuse" it does "allegedly" endure
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Bakes she next trip go be to Belgium ....she may have had too much cock spur ring her on that is why she was exhausted
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Bakes she next trip go be to Belgium ....she may have had too much cock spur ring her on that is why she was exhausted
dat rumour right dey frightens me plenty more dan she taste in beverage....because is serious old talk yuh hearin on dat front...no pun intended
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MEP and Lefty whey allyuh saying?
http://www.youtube.com/v/8HSyaYHhpVU
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MEP and Lefty whey allyuh saying?
http://www.youtube.com/v/8HSyaYHhpVU
oh gadooooooo :devil:
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"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
WTF she is a invalid? she cah fix she hair , she cah eat , she cah take she own medication . How the fack she running d country then?
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"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
WTF she is a invalid? she cah fix she hair , she cah eat , she cah take she own medication . How the fack she running d country then?
She's running the country? WTF? When did that happen ???
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:rotfl:
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"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
WTF she is a invalid? she cah fix she hair , she cah eat , she cah take she own medication . How the fack she running d country then?
She's running the country? WTF? When did that happen ???
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
lawd
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WAIT NAH!
Dis trip..the delegation involved who?
Did the minister of foreign affairs go?
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"There is a reality here, a woman leader ... has to organise make-up, hair. A man is just a shower and a jacket and tie. And (furthermore) she is hustling and forgets to eat, forgets to take tablets and so on," he said.
WTF she is a invalid? she cah fix she hair , she cah eat , she cah take she own medication . How the fack she running d country then?
She's running the country? WTF? When did that happen ???
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Oh gorm FS......
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(http://i.imgur.com/C53cb.jpg)
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(http://i.imgur.com/C53cb.jpg)
hahahahahaha :rotfl: :devil:
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MSJ pulled out of the Partnership today. They going it alone and Abdullah resign his Senatorial position.
Shocked nobody aint post that yet, the news broke since 1pm Sunday.
PM issues a release later in the evening with some parting shots.
And the movie continues
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Kamla's press release was highly personal... and unprofessional. Many of the comments contained, were not only unnecessary, but in being so, diminishes the prestige of her office.
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MSJ pulled out of the Partnership today. They going it alone and Abdullah resign his Senatorial position.
Shocked nobody aint post that yet, the news broke since 1pm Sunday.
PM issues a release later in the evening with some parting shots.
And the movie continues
More like people jus fed up and want de next 3 years to come fast.
I open a tab to post a new topic with dis new government program that supposed to teach manners to children costing 2 million....looking like a "eat a food" scene again. Open de new topic....just steups and close it.
It getting overbearing now. Every week is some new dotishness.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/RECKLESS_DAVID-159382625.html
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/I_respect_his_decision-159382585.html
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MSJ pulled out of the Partnership today. They going it alone and Abdullah resign his Senatorial position.
Shocked nobody aint post that yet, the news broke since 1pm Sunday.
PM issues a release later in the evening with some parting shots.
And the movie continues
More like people jus fed up and want de next 3 years to come fast.
Really??!! You sure bout dat?? Well somebody better tell Suruj dat cuz he say last night in an interview about the David Abdullah resignation that the government still enjoys lots of support among the populace......I feel he smoking some high grade yes ::)
Kamla's press release was highly personal... and unprofessional. Many of the comments contained, were not only unnecessary, but in being so, diminishes the prestige of her office.
Yuh mean it have even lower for the prestige of the office to go??!! I thought it reach rock bottom already!! Well lawd fadder we really up de creek with no paddle.......hell, without a boat!!! :banginghead: :frustrated:
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Kamla's press release was highly personal... and unprofessional. Many of the comments contained, were not only unnecessary, but in being so, diminishes the prestige of her office.
She is an embarrassment to the office. The statement is one you might expect from a village council head. To say she's unprofessional is being kind.
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MSJ pulled out of the Partnership today. They going it alone and Abdullah resign his Senatorial position.
Shocked nobody aint post that yet, the news broke since 1pm Sunday.
PM issues a release later in the evening with some parting shots.
And the movie continues
More like people jus fed up and want de next 3 years to come fast.
Really??!! You sure bout dat?? Well somebody better tell Suruj dat cuz he say last night in an interview about the David Abdullah resignation that the government still enjoys lots of support among the populace......I feel he smoking some high grade yes ::)
Kamla's press release was highly personal... and unprofessional. Many of the comments contained, were not only unnecessary, but in being so, diminishes the prestige of her office.
Yuh mean it hMSJ pulled out of the Partnership today. They going it alone and Abdullah resign his Senatorial position.
Shocked nobody aint post that yet, the news broke since 1pm Sunday.
PM issues a release later in the evening with some parting shots.
And the movie continues
More like people jus fed up and want de next 3 years to come fast.
Really??!! You sure bout dat?? Well somebody better tell Suruj dat cuz he say last night in an interview about the David Abdullah resignation that the government still enjoys lots of support among the populace......I feel he smoking some high grade yes ::)
Kamla's press release was highly personal... and unprofessional. Many of the comments contained, were not only unnecessary, but in being so, diminishes the prestige of her office.
Yuh mean it have even lower for the prestige of the office to go??!! I thought it reach rock bottom already!! Well lawd fadder we really up de creek with no paddle.......hell, without a boat!!! :banginghead: :frustrated:
we really up de creek with no paddle.......hell, without a boat!!! :baave even lower for the prestige of the office to go??!! I thought it reach rock bottom already!! Well lawd fadder nginghead: :frustrated:
Nah, Brownie, yuh didn't read Davids statement....we now paddling our own canoe :rotfl:
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The MSJ withdrawal from the so-called People's Partnership is nothing more than the exercise of a conscience vote against the unacceptable behaviour of this rampant, self-serving UNC. It clearly makes nonsense of Prime Ministerial bravado which so often proclaims that they are more united than ever and it now puts an end to the frequent futile assurances from Royalty that she has all that it takes to keep the subjects of the partnership together.
The PNM maintains that what we have in office, masquerading as a coalition, is nothing more than a thinly disguised UNC cabal hiding behind an embarrassed veil of disposable facilitating groups. Now that the MSJ has removed itself, it is only the desperate desire of the COP Leader to hold on to the UNC Constituency which he currently occupies, that is delaying their departure from the wreck.
Notwithstanding the unending propaganda campaign, all that has been provided by the current governing arrangement is a stream of stifling confusion, over whelming incompetence, runaway corruption, lack of national confidence and a general feeling of chronic disappointment which seriously damages any prospect for any improvement in the quality of life of the people of Trinidad and Tobago but prefers to submerse itself in Government in this pretence of a dysfunctional "partnership".
It is inevitable that the wider population would take the necessary steps to divorce itself from the UNC which is always ashamed to stand on its own name. The only way that the Prime Minister, with a strait face, could say that the exit of Abdullah and the MSJ has left the Government stronger, is that she is finally admitting, publicly, that all the "partnership" talk is a sham and it was always a UNC cabal which remains unaffected as the disillusioned political neophytes withdraw in deep disappointment I inadvertently did not put in the full stop at the end of the sentences.
Regards,
Keith Rowley
Leader of the Opposition
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Official Jack Warner is national security minister
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Official Jack Warner is national security minister
Confirm BANANA REPUBLIC.
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Official Jack Warner is national security minister
(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120323002233/central/images/f/fe/Mother-of-god-meme.jpg)
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Jack can now block a football team from coming into the country? Oh me lawd!!!!
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Jack can now block a football team from coming into the country? Oh me lawd!!!!
4get that what police goin and serve him when d judge say he has 2 b serve 4 spendin we money on UNC campaigns.
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PM's Cabinet reshuffle:
Minister of National Security: Jack Warner,Colin Partap.
Legal Affairs: Prakash Ramadhar.
Attorney General: Anand Ramlogan.
People and Social Development: Dr. Glenn Ramadharsingh, and Vernella Alleyne-Toppin.
Education: Dr. Tim Gopeesingh.
Housing: Dr. Roodal Moonilal.
Gender, Youth and Child Development, Marlene Coudray.
Justice: Herbert Volney.
Public Administration: Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan.
Energy: Kevin Ramnarine.
Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development: Errol McLeod.
Sports: Anil Roberts.
Transport: Chandresh Sharma.
Planning: Dr. Bhoe Tewarie.
Public Utilities: Nizam Baksh.
Tobago Development: Dr. Delmon Baker.
Local Government, Dr. Suruj Rambachan, Rudy Indarsingh.
Works and Infrastructure: Emmanuel George, Stacy Roopnarine.
Arts and Multiculturism: Dr. Lincoln Douglas.
Health: Dr. Fuad Khan.
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister: Rodger Samuel.
Tertiary Education: Fazal Karim.
Tourism: Stephen Cadiz.
Community Development: Winston Peters.
Food Production: Devant Maharaj, Jairam Seemungal.
Science and Technology: Dr. Rupert Griffith.
Foreign Affairs: Winston Dookeran.
Trade, Industry and Investment: Vasant Bharath.
Environment and Water Resources: Ganga Singh and Ramona Ramdial.
National Diversity and Social Integration: Clifton de Coteau and Embau Moheni.
Communications: Jamal Mohammed.
Finance and the Economy: Larry Howai.
Deputy Speaker: Nela Khan.
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Let's just sit back and enjoy the ride..!!!
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So we had a large cabinet and nothing was being accomplished. The solution....an even bigger cabinet, with a crook to catch the crooks thrown in for good measure!!!
Now ah never buy into the talk about Kamla being a drunk, but ah convinced now. In fact she not only abusing alcohol, I feel she has moved on to harder stuff......
What manner of madness is this??!! Real GREEN FIG Republic thing going on here yes....
:cursing: :cursing: :cursing: :cursing: :cursing: :bs: :bs: :bs: :frustrated: :frustrated: :frustrated:
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PM's Cabinet reshuffle:
Minister of National Security: Jack Warner,Colin Partap.
:cursing: :cursing:
Gender, Youth and Child Development, Marlene Coudray.
Mama.... :o :o
Tobago Development: Dr. Delmon Baker.
THA elections coming up. Ashworth "Sell out" Jack and Shopping Toppin doh see eye to eye......ah have a theory..... :thinking: :thinking:
Environment and Water Resources: Ganga Singh and Ramona Ramdial.
Aye, aye....well de man from the UK dey run from WASA to give Ganga Singh de job could come back now I guess.....shameless bastards!!!
National Diversity and Social Integration: Clifton de Coteau and Embau Moheni.
Pardon mih french eh....but what facking shit is this??!!....What de fack this ministry supposed to do?? Steups!!!.....
:cursing: :cursing: :cursing: :bs: :bs:
People who still support this government have to be smoking or sniffing the same thing Kamla using....all yuh good yes.....
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Well ton a tell them we reach Jack Warner min of national security , this is one minister of national security cant leave trinbago he loss his wings, grounded cant fly .
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TnT graduate from Ripe Fig to official Banana republic status now.
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TnT graduate from Ripe Fig to official Banana republic status now.
Nah boy....we still in green fig stage....we never matured....never ripened.....
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you could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
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Isn't Jack still being investigated for the undeclared money that he brought into the country?
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you could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
Hahahaha
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wish she had move Anil too. Well nough said about Jack being Min of national security.Hope what goes on in T&T stays in T&T.
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Isn't Jack still being investigated for the undeclared money that he brought into the country?
By who? Uyou could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
Partap goin all dem meetin.
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Viewers calling in to C6 news were divided 50-50 about Jack. Some say he's the best for the job, some sound like they're going to commit suicide!
But one guy made a good point. Maybe Jack's been put there because they know he will fail and that will reduce his popularity and prevent him from being PM.
I think he will make a positive impact in T&T.
The problem is when he has to liaise with overseas security services. Its a very real possibility that he will not pass the USA and UK security clearances. This will result in certain valuable confidential information not being passed to T&T.
In fact, it may result in foreign security services conducting exercises in T&T without informing the T&T protective services until the last minute.
Again, I have to ask the question: If Warner is so peachy clean that he's now in a position only attainable by only the most incorruptible and lawful Ministers, why has he never attempted to clear his name of the allegations against him and therefore prevent the entire government of T&T and, by extention, its citizens, from being tarnished by their association with him?
After all, its entirely possible that either Jack will eventually come before Rampersad in the court case or the LOC accounts are subpoenaed. If there is one iota of compromising evidence against Jack, surely he will have to resign?
......Ah, now I get it :idea:
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you could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
We are not going to be invited to those meetings anymore.
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TnT graduate from Ripe Fig to official Banana republic status now.
Nah boy....we still in green fig stage....we never matured....never ripened.....
Nah I feel we've officially matured as a Banana Republic. In fact, we so ripe that ah sure we fall from de tree... and hit we head on every branch on de way down.
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you could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
When last Jack left the country?? Since he eh have FIFA jet to jump on anymore me eh think he has left the country since last year's drama....
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you could imagine warner goin to some high level security meeting in UK or US? and be able to be taken seriously?
When last Jack left the country?? Since he eh have FIFA jet to jump on anymore me eh think he has left the country since last year's drama....
He say he went Miami and bust a lil lime and nobody eh wit him.
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I worked hard for it
PM: New $.9m Land Rover 'not a gift'
By Asha Javeed (Express).
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her right to own a new, high-end luxury vehicle and yesterday dismissed any suggestion that it was a gift.
Persad-Bissessar, in June, purchased a customised black Range Rover Sport vehicle, registration PCW 1, for her personal use.
"Purchased by me, with downpayment from my personal funds acquired from my salary, with the majority payment from a loan from Parlia- ment which is accessible to all MPs. I have to repay the loan by monthly instalments from my salary. Definitely not a gift. I pay out of my hard-earned income," the Prime Minister texted in reply to a text query from the Sunday Express yesterday.
The Sunday Express learned that Persad-Bissessar obtained the vehicle, which averages about $1.8 million, at about half the cost, or about $900,000, based on the tax and duty exemptions afforded to political office-holders.
The registration card of the vehicle, which the Sunday Express obtained from the Licensing Office after an application was made two weeks ago, has it being registered on June 11.
It stated she got a $166,905 exemption from value added tax and $249,950 exemption from motor vehicle tax.
It also noted the vehicle cannot be transferred "within two years of its purchase without the approval of chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue".
The Prime Minister observed that many other MPs have used this facility from Parliament to buy a vehicle as the car loan facility is part of the terms and conditions of MPs as provided for by the Salaries and Review Commission.
"Indeed, when I was a minister of government previously and when I was an opposition MP, I also accessed this facility as did many others," she texted.
As an Opposition MP, Persad-Bissessar maintained a Prado vehicle- PCJ 3—which the Sunday Express understands has since been sold.
The Sunday Express shared a text message exchange with the Prime Minister yesterday.
Sunday Express: Do you think it's unfair that attention will be drawn because its you (the Prime Minister) purchasing the car?
Persad-Bissessar: "Smiley-face" symbol.
Persad-Bissessar: It is not unusual for a PM to access a facility which is lawfully available. As it is not unusual for MPs to do so. Nor for ministers to do so.
Sunday Express: Why acquire this vehicle now?
Persad-Bissessar: If not now, when?
Persad-Bissessar: It is something I am lawfully allowed to do. Do not forget that I give a percentage of my salary to Children's Life Fund as do all Govt parliamentarians, and we do so voluntarily.
While there is no restriction to Persad-Bissessar purchasing a vehicle for her personal use, as Prime Minister, she has at her disposal the vehicles of the Office of the Prime Minister and has used helicopter transportation from time to time.
She would not say if PCW 1 will be included in the fleet of official vehicles at the Office of the Prime Minister.
As Prime Minister, she has two official vehicles for her use—PM 1 and PCM 1. Those vehicles are among a few which are registered to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Persad-Bissessar has completed the majority of her private residence in Phillipine, which began construction in 2002, according to a statement read in Parliament on November 24, 2010.
She also explained that the house, which is jointly owned by her husband. Dr Gregory Bissessar, was built "country-style".
"Mr Speaker, when we were construc ting that house, it was in the tradition of what professional contractors call country-style—we bought material and paid for labour when it was available and when we could afford it.
Midway into construction when this country suffered a construction boom and we found it hard to pay the labour fees then in demand, we stopped construction and restarted only when we could afford. Mr Speaker, after eight years, the physical structure of this house was finished in April this year, 2010," she had said.
Further, she explained that from 2001, the cost spent on the house was $3 million.
"Indeed, in my last Integrity form for 2009, I disclosed that as at December 2009, the value was $2.9 million," she had said.
PM's entitlements According to the 89th Report of the Salaries and Review Commission, the Prime Minister's entitlements are as follows:
Salary: $48,000 per month Duty allowance: $7,500 per month Transport facilities (some of which are):
1. A fleet of official motor vehicles, fully furnished by the State and manned by a complement of chauffeurs
2. A maximum loan of $350,000, at a rate of interest of six per cent per annum, repayable over a period of six years, to facilitate the purchase of either— i. a new motor vehicle, with full exemption from motor vehicle tax, value added tax and customs duty or ii. a used motor vehicle, with full exemption from special motor vehicles tax, value added tax and customs duty
3. A transportation allowance of $5,550 per month
4. A personal chauffeur Housing: Official residences, fully furnished and maintained by the State, with the necessary complement of household staff. Entertainment: Actual expenses incurred for official entertainment to be met from an official Entertainment Vote under the control of the Office of the Prime Minister.
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Best she had buy a Hummer. Steups.
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Yesterday when half of the population was celebrating the heroics of our Olympic Athletes, and another significant portion was dealing with a natural disaster.our darling Prime Minister had her minions and corn curls crew passing out these baudy trinkets...Yellow Plague running T&T into oblivion!
This is worse than 10 Manning run PNM's
(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt359/truetrini/kamla4cup.jpg)
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I would use that cup as a piss pot.
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Hold on, let me re-state that. I would use that f**king cup as a modder c**t piss pot
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ah shut it.. Kamla is f**kin boss.
war
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ah shut it.. Kamla is f**kin boss.
war
Bread and circuses.
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Wait. Dat for real?
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ah shut it.. Kamla is f**kin boss.
war
you is a bigger c**t..I would piss on you too, but you go like it.
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Communist style propaganda and now paraphernalia.
(http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/175/315/PicardDoubleFacepalm-1.jpg?1316330080)
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You ever take a look at the background on kamla official portrait? All the other prime ministers have the national flag behind them, she has a yellow background. I saw it in the airport.
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TT wha yuh want from Kamla...if Patrick wuz dey..would he be any more sincere...
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TT wha yuh want from Kamla...if Patrick wuz dey..would he be any more sincere...
I want from Kamla good leadership and substance over style..committment over propaganda.
Patrick was haughty, arrogant and ahrd ehad..Kamla jes pure f**king dunce.
Patrick manning ever make cup with he face on it?
Manning ever elevate one religion over de next? Contracts were given to everybody under the PNM..even the COP and UNC saying so, now is only Hindus dat cyar be right.
Meanwhile in Chaguanas Radical Islam is on the rise.
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TT wha yuh want from Kamla...if Patrick wuz dey..would he be any more sincere...
I doesn't understand this........so because Patrick was a bad leader Kamla should be given a bly for being ah bad leader too.....how dat make sense in d grand scheme ah tings..........d ting alyuh fail to realize is dat d pongin Kamla and Co getting, dey getting on d merits of dey own actions not on what patrick do before dat.........dat era gone never "hopefully" to return, but this is equally shitty and allyuh need to realise dat.
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ah shut it.. Kamla is f**kin boss.
war
you is a bigger c**t..I would piss on you too, but you go like it.
why yu nuh guh piss on yu mudda for farting out a dumb faggot like you.. yu dumb mudda c**t...
war
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Communist style propaganda and now paraphernalia.
jg, yuh hadda change dat sig. shaq eh come all way america to kiss kamla bamsee. daiz what dat pic look like.
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Communist style propaganda and now paraphernalia.
jg, yuh hadda change dat sig. shaq eh come all way america to kiss kamla bamsee. daiz what dat pic look like.
It eh Photoshop.
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when is de next elections? de people go decide.
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Meanwhile in Chaguanas Radical Islam is on the rise.
Expound por fa vor
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abu bakr must be buy one ah dem expensive house they building down there.
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when is de next elections? de people go decide.
steups dem done setting d stage to "cheat" a'ready.......they have very little on merit to stand on...and even with all d PR.....swing votes will be hard to get.
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Meanwhile in Chaguanas Radical Islam is on the rise.
Expound por fa vor
I was having a discussion with some Muslims and 2 Muslim Organizations based in T&T night before. The full details of the conversation will remain confidential, but I can reveal that there is much concern voiced by them on the rise of what THEY claim is radicalism among Islamic adherents in the Chaguanas area.
This has nothing to do with Abu Bakr, even though some of the new Islamic Imams came up through him and his Jamaat.
I am not going to discuss why I was having discussions with T&T based Muslims, other than I was invited to a Conference Call with them.
The concern is very real and they are very concerned by what they view as marginalization of Muslims by this PP Government.
They stated that they supported the PP to get rid of Patrick Manning and that several had shed tears with the alliance to the UNC but they felt powerless and saw it as a case of choosing your posions, not they have expressed regret.
They do however, feel that the COP has faild them and that the PNM is not a viable option.
The Nation has hard choices to make soon it appears.
I am selling it as I buy it.
Hope that answers your question.
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Intriguing ... :) Muslims calling an agnostic ... albeit not necessarily in that capacity. Ah wish I was making de turn tonight.
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Intriguing ... :) Muslims calling an agnostic ... albeit not necessarily in that capacity. Ah wish I was making de turn tonight.
Well I am not an agnostic..get yuh stories straight. They called me on issues that are purely secular.
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Intriguing ... :) Muslims calling an agnostic ... albeit not necessarily in that capacity. Ah wish I was making de turn tonight.
Well I am not an agnostic..get yuh stories straight. They called me on issues that are purely secular.
Based on a couple equivocal references bearing your signature, ah couldn't be sure that you're a dedicated atheist. I like to test yuh convictions.
As far as the festering fundamentalism ... lehwe say there will be embers, and there may even be flames, but there won't be a sustainable blaze.
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As far as the festering fundamentalism ... lehwe say there will be embers, and there may even be flames, but there won't be a sustainable blaze.
Never thake things for granted in TT.
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Fully agree.
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Yuh wanna see propaganda and subliminal advertising.
The same song that Nigel Rojas sings for Kishorn Walcott utilises the same beat as "we will rise". It's the same melody and everything, only the lyrics change.
This has become his de facto official song. It was playing throughout the motorcade. Check it out and see for yourself.
These people are smarter than we give them credit for.
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i wouldnt be surprised if bernie campbell still on they payroll...i really havent seen all this strategy play out before and on a consistent basis...
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Hearts and Minds.
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Yuh wanna see propaganda and subliminal advertising.
The same song that Nigel Rojas sings for Kishorn Walcott utilises the same beat as "we will rise". It's the same melody and everything, only the lyrics change.
This has become his de facto official song. It was playing throughout the motorcade. Check it out and see for yourself.
These people are smarter than we give them credit for.
and yet dey doh know dey ass from dey elbow 'bout running a country.....imagine dat!...steups
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D muslims got hook wink like all who could have been hook wink. D rise of radical islam not surprising which is worse 4 d country because it eh a race issue it is now a religious issue which will b far worse.
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D muslims got hook wink like all who could have been hook wink. D rise of radical islam not surprising which is worse 4 d country because it eh a race issue it is now a religious issue which will b far worse.
hang ah hog ears off your neck like ah necklace and yuh safe. works like garlic with vampires.
Doh study truetrini sc, he drinking tea in that same cup right now. This pic was taken on he dining room table.
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D muslims got hook wink like all who could have been hook wink. D rise of radical islam not surprising which is worse 4 d country because it eh a race issue it is now a religious issue which will b far worse.
hang ah hog ears off your neck like ah necklace and yuh safe. works like garlic with vampires.
Doh study truetrini sc, he drinking tea in that same cup right now. This pic was taken on he dining room table.
mal jeux, I have the cup yuh eh lie, but it did not make it into my home, I does feed the feral cats in the neighborhood with that....dey sure to f**king dead.
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Yuh wanna see propaganda and subliminal advertising.
The same song that Nigel Rojas sings for Kishorn Walcott utilises the same beat as "we will rise". It's the same melody and everything, only the lyrics change.
This has become his de facto official song. It was playing throughout the motorcade. Check it out and see for yourself.
These people are smarter than we give them credit for.
and yet dey doh know dey ass from dey elbow 'bout running a country.....imagine dat!...steups
yuh mad..dis group well equipped to run a country...into de f**king ground!
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Not smart as in intelligence. Smart as in cunning and deceitful and even calculating. They let no opportunity go to waste to mess with the minds of the citizens.
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Not smart as in intelligence. Smart as in cunning and deceitful and even calculating. They let no opportunity go to waste to mess with the minds of the citizens.
It is because d citizens are so gullible that they get away wit it.
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(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt359/truetrini/Kamlamugsforeverybody.jpg)
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(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt359/truetrini/kamlameetsPNM.jpg)
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COP leaves the partnership.
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COP leaves the partnership.
Votes to...a decision taken 1130pm Monday night...and yet prakash having press conference not stating dat. And Toney saying he eh know nuttin bout dat. Nice man
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/COP_executive_votes_to_leave_Govt-170276036.html
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eat ah food......drink ah juice.......stay quiet.......many trinis have ah price, and most can be bought for ah simple ting like being on d "inside" wit full access to d johnny and puncheon, all elected COP member fall in dat, Igor....... ah mean.......Anil ::) was always undercover UNC from since dat first taste ah johnny blue from jackula veins. steups
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Trinidad Guardian @TriniGuardian
PM: I will tell all. @pmkamla promises to break her silence on proclamation of Section 34 of Administration of Justice Act. #news #trinidad
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she will tell another lie
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Trinidad Guardian @TriniGuardian
PM: I will tell all. @pmkamla promises to break her silence on proclamation of Section 34 of Administration of Justice Act. #news #trinidad
Translation: Rowley and de PNM was cahoots with we and only playing that de didn't know about the proclamation. Oh and de Country Bookie and Volney staying right here in my Parliament.....who eh like it, get to hell outta here!!!!
*reminds me of a song* :thinking:
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Trinidad Guardian @TriniGuardian
PM: I will tell all. @pmkamla promises to break her silence on proclamation of Section 34 of Administration of Justice Act. #news #trinidad
Translation: Rowley and de PNM was cahoots with we and only playing that de didn't know about the proclamation. Oh and de Country Bookie and Volney staying right here in my Parliament.....who eh like it, get to hell outta here!!!!
*reminds me of a song* :thinking:
Sugar, Everybody agree on the bill, okay. But there were conditions. So explain to me how all the parties were in cahoots. The opposition say we will support on condition. Then in the middle of the night back stab them. Tell me if there was something so different. I still can't understand it. If that is the case then UNC will have to pass all the bills by themselves. I would oppose every friggin' one because I eh believe anything they saying.
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Trinidad Guardian @TriniGuardian
PM: I will tell all. @pmkamla promises to break her silence on proclamation of Section 34 of Administration of Justice Act. #news #trinidad
Translation: Rowley and de PNM was cahoots with we and only playing that de didn't know about the proclamation. Oh and de Country Bookie and Volney staying right here in my Parliament.....who eh like it, get to hell outta here!!!!
*reminds me of a song* :thinking:
Sugar, Everybody agree on the bill, okay. But there were conditions. So explain to me how all the parties were in cahoots. The opposition say we will support on condition. Then in the middle of the night back stab them. Tell me if there was something so different. I still can't understand it. If that is the case then UNC will have to pass all the bills by themselves. I would oppose every friggin' one because I eh believe anything they saying.
Deeks, I think Sugar was being sarcastic......at least I hope so!!
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Trinidad Guardian @TriniGuardian
PM: I will tell all. @pmkamla promises to break her silence on proclamation of Section 34 of Administration of Justice Act. #news #trinidad
Translation: Rowley and de PNM was cahoots with we and only playing that de didn't know about the proclamation. Oh and de Country Bookie and Volney staying right here in my Parliament.....who eh like it, get to hell outta here!!!!
*reminds me of a song* :thinking:
Sugar, Everybody agree on the bill, okay. But there were conditions. So explain to me how all the parties were in cahoots. The opposition say we will support on condition. Then in the middle of the night back stab them. Tell me if there was something so different. I still can't understand it. If that is the case then UNC will have to pass all the bills by themselves. I would oppose every friggin' one because I eh believe anything they saying.
Deeks, I think Sugar was being sarcastic......at least I hope so!!
Deeks, calm down!!! :) :) Mods, we need a sarcasm emoticon please and thanks.....
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Volney get fired. Good riddance
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Volney get fired. Good riddance
Kamla: "The integrity of my government will not be compromised by anyone, regardless of office".
Lol, Kamla say she has listened to the voices of the man on the street. Steups
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Volney get fired. Good riddance
Kamla: "The integrity of my government will not be compromised by anyone, regardless of office".
Lol, Kamla say she has listened to the voices of the man on the street. Steups
She should name "the man on the street" AG then.
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Good... a promotion for Volney. From goat to scape goat. How de legal advisor eh get nuttin? He files real strong or wha?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXMut3RoxL0
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXMut3RoxL0
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
allyuh doh waste time atall
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CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt)
9/22/12 7:10 PM
PM refuses to answer reporters' questions about Section 34 fiasco, and dismissal of Mr. Volney. She defers to Warner "to speak on that"
Sent from my iPad
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Lol Warner is the pm now?
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Lol Warner is the pm now?
Now she now confirmin what we always knew
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Volney wants AG fired
Saturday 22nd September, 2012
Sacked Minister of Justice Herbert Volney is calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to fire his former Cabinet colleague, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
His call was made on his Facebook page.
The post on Mr. Volney's Facebook page reads: "I want to thank the hundreds of people from all walks of life for your support for me and my family. We are people of faith and we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We need now to pray to God for strength for our Prime Minister who is now overcome by Anand Ramlogan that she may purge herself of the influence of one who is unelected by the people."
On Thursday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a statement to the nation, said Mr. Volney gave the Cabinet assurances that both the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions supported the early Proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice Indictable Proceedings Act. She said Mr. Volney's failure to faithfully and accurately represent the CJ and DPP's positions to the Cabinet is a serious misrepresentation and amounts to material non-disclosure. This led to the revocation of his Ministerial appointment.
Also lending his voice on the firing was Sports Minister Anil Roberts who agreed with the Prime Minister's decision to fire Justice Minister Herbert Volney. He said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is an astute attorney who understood the ramifications of Section 34.
Constituencies of the United National Congress across the country have also been expressing their full support for the Prime Minister’s decision to fire Mr. Volney.
They said Mrs. Persad-Bissessar was deliberately patient, weighing the facts and gathering information and she ultimately did the right thing.
Related Articles:
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Source?
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Not sure which thread to put this in so ah using this one.....
Water more than flour
By Sunity Maharaj
So once again, the old authoritarian culture has risen to its own protection and self-preservation with all the smugness of an established order.
For, which democratic society would accept that a Cabinet under suspicion of negligence and misbehaviour in public office should be allowed to investigate itself?
Surely, public interest would suggest that the last person to conduct an enquiry into the Section 34 Cabinet outrage is the Prime Minister who, as head of the Cabinet, is accountable, primus inter pares, for all actions of the Cabinet. Herself to herself, as the Mighty Spoiler might say.
At least Spoiler's magistrate was willing to charge himself, even if he too, was ultimately playing for a five-year deal. (Magistrate Try Himself, Mighty Spoiler).
But such is the culture that supports maximum power, that just when healthy skepticism is most needed, we are tempted to settle for benefit of the doubt since de boss say so.
If ever a matter cries out for a Presidential commission of enquiry, it is this hijacking and subversion of the entire apparatus of the State. And what about the Parliament?
On behalf of the 1.3 million people which it represents, will it not demand justice for the crime to which it has been made a party?
With our complacency shattered by the shock and horror of learning that there is no place safe and uninfiltrated by the cancer of corruption and incompetence, we find ourselves adrift, cut loose from the moorings of our comfortable assumptions about life in sweet T&T.
For the sheer magnitude of its brass-facedness, the nearest comparison for Section 34 is that Friday evening in July 27, 1990 when 114 men took the country hostage.As we survey the shards of broken trust, where, we wonder, is there a haven for our hopes?
Certainly not within the cabinet where, for eternity, all are bound by this single act of collective irresponsibility.
Finally, in a single stroke, the UNC and COP have buried their differences beneath the common interest of political survival.Now sheltering under the fig leaf provided in the Prime Minister's speech, the party that rose to office on a promise of new politics, now faces a future of division along the lines of the old politics: party name and symbol in one place; party people in another. With possibility approaching probability, opportunity is in the air for new players and alliances by the next general election. For the COP, too, the challenge will be survival.
Predictably, under pressure on Thursday night, the leader of the UNC, so reluctant to embrace her partner-leaders in governance, reached out to fashion a set designed to suggest unity and strength. For the occasion, Makandal Daaga, Ashworth Jack and Prakash Ramadhar were suitably elevated to the status of props for the leader. She may be a novice at governance, but this Prime Minister has no equal in the art of survival, honed as her talents have been on the sharp whetstone of the politics of Basdeo Panday.
Raffique Shah, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Winston Dookeran and Hulsie Bhaggan are only a few who would know precisely what it might have taken to have outlasted Panday. In a land where politics is purely the art of the possible, the strategy of "by any means necessary" has spawned an ideology in which rank opportunism is exalted as the highest form of politics under the twin peaks of the PM and her alter ego, Jack Warner. Neither should take this as a personal slight; not when the ideology is so widely worshipped across the national landscape.
Ultimately, however, it is We, The People, who have been the architect of the permissive conditions in which this ideology has flourished to the point where it now threatens to overrun this garden republic of ours.
Our unwillingness to assume responsibility for what goes on in our own land, and to place our lives into the hands of those we have not even bothered to scrutinise, has now brought us sharply up against the unflinching, unyielding law of consequences.
Who among us would dare deny that the comprehensive failure demonstrated by the fiasco of Section 34 is the inevitable consequence of the culture of Crapaud Politics? Programme and policy be damned when the main course is rum and roti accompanied by regular snacking on wine and jam.
Our willingness to be summoned by the ethnic call, to line up behind bandwagons without reference to driver, route and destination, to surrender responsibility to somebody- anybody- else, over these five decades of independence have now, ineluctably, brought us to this point. The multiple orgies of outrage, masquerading as general elections in T&T, are producing a politics of increasingly diminishing returns. As self-delusion gives way to disappointment, cynicism and apathy just need one lit match to transform anger into rage in search of blood. On Thursday night, in response to the demand for blood, the PM offered up Volney's head, confident in the knowledge that, having licked our chops, we will then lick our wounds and, appeased, slink away.
It was a gamble based on her own reading of the political culture of a people for whom a bloody head is often more satisfying than the truth. Except when water more than flour.
The survival gene may be most powerful in the political class, but only because it is etched into the DNA of a whole people for whom survival was the biggest triumph of life in the West Indies.
And, from time to time, as happened last week, the survival instinct kicks in to stir the people out of their apathy to rescue their country from the brink. Call it brinksmanship, or the wisdom of the collective. Already, we are demonstrating this could be one such time.
In the case of Section 34, enough experts have tracked the timeline to show that the story, as presented, simply does not add up.
But ultimately, whether Volney slipped one by them or not, who could believe that the words "Section 34", written in black and white before men and women who had championed the legislation for months and would know it like the back of their hands, could have failed to recognize it as it passed under noses.
Over the past week, when it most counted, the power of public opinion demonstrated its omnipotence over the power of office.The requirement now is for eternal vigilance.
Because, to invoke the Mighty Spoiler, the old order may be decomposing till it stinks, but it composing still.
• Sunity Maharaj is the editor of the
T&T Review and director of the
Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Water_more_than_flour-170861191.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Water_more_than_flour-170861191.html)
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-09-23/volney-mum-ag-attacked-facebook-page
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has come under attack through a wall post on a Facebook page allegedly operated by axed justice minister Herbert Volney. The post on MP Herbert Volney’s Page yesterday stated: “I want to thank the hundreds of people from all walks of life for your support for me and my family.
Volney's facebook page posts statement on dismissal, Jack Warner and PM responds
We are people of faith and we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We need now to pray to God for strength for our Prime Minister who is now overcome by Anand Ramlogan that she may purge herself of the influence of one who is unelected by the people but influences her in a way that We the People must fear.”
Volney is mum on the issue and is neither admitting nor denying he wrote the comments. When contacted around 6.30 pm yesterday, Volney said the “integrity” of the page should be investigated. He said he had made enough statements to the media and to respect his wish not to comment further. There are five Facebook accounts attributed to Volney, all of which had pictures of him and his family.
A visit to Volney’s Champ Fleurs, home was fruitless as his front gate was locked and no one was in sight. When contacted then, he said he preferred to remain silent. The comments triggered responses from his Facebook friends. Eve Rangai wrote: “no washing of dirty linen in public Sir....thanks for your contribution to our country...”
Gerard Pinard wrote: “Please tell the nation the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, Mr Volney. It is time for people of courage and integrity to step forward and save our beloved country.” Volney was fired on Thursday by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar surrounding the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act and the proclamation of Section 34.
The PM said Volney had a duty to faithfully and accurately represent the position and views of the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions and that he failed to do so. She said the Cabinet relied and acted on his assurances in good faith and that his failure to do so was a serious misrepresentation and amounted to material non-disclosure of relevant facts to the Cabinet which effectively prevented it from making an informed decision.
Ramlogan was also contacted yesterday but in a brief telephone interview, he said, “I do not intend to respond to anything like that.” He claimed he had the virus and had not seen the comments. Volney’s purported comments were read to the AG who listened and then replied, “I have no comments to make.” Asked if the comments made his Government look bad, Ramlogan sighed, insisting he had nothing to say.
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
Wha de milkana condensed milk I hearing here in true? So dahs dey solution...when de public in doubt...fete it out?
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
Wha de milkana condensed milk I hearing here in true? So dahs dey solution...when de public in doubt...fete it out?
Panem et Circenses...
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
Wha de milkana condensed milk I hearing here in true? So dahs dey solution...when de public in doubt...fete it out?
Panen et Circenses...
Cynical aren't we all? lol
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
Wha de milkana condensed milk I hearing here in true? So dahs dey solution...when de public in doubt...fete it out?
Dey call me Mr. Fete!!! Hay haaaaaa!!!
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@tv6tnt Govt to hold 'pre-Budget rally' at MidCentre Mall on Saturday
Wha de milkana condensed milk I hearing here in true? So dahs dey solution...when de public in doubt...fete it out?
Panem et Circenses...
I doh want to make assumptions...say it in english now nah Bakes. I want to make sure that if I have to repeat it, I know what it means ;)
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what the hell is a pre-budget rally? is that where you spend money to say you're broke?
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Panem et Circenses...
I doh want to make assumptions...say it in english now nah Bakes. I want to make sure that if I have to repeat it, I know what it means ;)
It mean yuh hire some panmen tuh play some tunes and bad up de people head ;D
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penix et circumcision!
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COP = UNC = PNM = worthless shit
all ah dem is de same
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(http://www.trinituner.com/v3/forums/download/file.php?id=124666&t=1)
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Fete away yuh worries, that is how you solve serious issues.
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COP = UNC = PNM = worthless shit
all ah dem is de same
Ah nearly went looking for the "like" button for this post....
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(http://www.trinituner.com/v3/forums/download/file.php?id=124666&t=1)
Oh gorm....it doesn't look like the citizens are happy....*tsk, tsk, tsk*
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Is this bash on Saturday? If it is, then they will have a big crowd.
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COP = UNC = PNM = worthless shit
all ah dem is de same
WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. UNC AKA COP makin u miss d PNM. How much people go take wit these jokers.
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Crime is down, this is the best government so far...
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D PP buy out all the tv and radio stations air time tonight to explain d section 34 fiasco. conveniently around d same time when d pnm having their meeting in Arouca.
My question is, Why d hell they didnt say ALLL they had to say when it was debated in the parliament?? ::)
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Thank God 4 cable. Doh have 2 watch these buffons.
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D PP buy out all the tv and radio stations air time tonight to explain d section 34 fiasco. conveniently around d same time when d pnm having their meeting in Arouca.
My question is, Why d hell they didnt say ALLL they had to say when it was debated in the parliament?? ::)
It does take time to come up with a good lie yuh know.
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So....somebody pointed me to this:
apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
(http://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384055_4381570693853_358617897_n.jpg)
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apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
More to the point, if Herb wasn't responsible for it, how come it was him who piloted through both houses?
Kamla forgot? Anan forgot? This is deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
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apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
More to the point, if Herb wasn't responsible for it, how come it was him who piloted through both houses?
Kamla forgot? Anan forgot? This is deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
Was removed from the AG's portfolio and given to the Min. of Justice.
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apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
More to the point, if Herb wasn't responsible for it, how come it was him who piloted through both houses?
Kamla forgot? Anan forgot? This is deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
Was removed from the AG's portfolio and given to the Min. of Justice.
Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
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apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
More to the point, if Herb wasn't responsible for it, how come it was him who piloted through both houses?
Kamla forgot? Anan forgot? This is deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
Was removed from the AG's portfolio and given to the Min. of Justice.
Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
This is correct.
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apparently "Criminal Legislation" was removed from the portfolio since 2011. So where does it fall now?
More to the point, if Herb wasn't responsible for it, how come it was him who piloted through both houses?
Kamla forgot? Anan forgot? This is deeper and more sinister than anyone imagined.
Was removed from the AG's portfolio and given to the Min. of Justice.
Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
This is correct.
So, my question remains: Kamla forgot? Anan forgot?
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/JACK_ATTACKS_MEDIA-171639871.html
United National Congress (UNC) chairman and Minister of National Security Jack Warner yesterday warned that all media workers with "an axe to grind" against the Government should first be beyond reproach themselves.
"If you are going to attempt to expose people then be above reproach," Warner said in a telephone interview.
Warner said he was noticing a "most deceitful" trend where media reporters used their position to "push an agenda" and saw where the media were "compliant" with the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM).
"That is duplicitous," he said.
(sounds familiar?)
When asked if his statements should be seen as a threat to media workers, Warner said he was "not threatening anybody".
"That is not a threat. I will never go down that road," he said.
Warner's statements yesterday confirmed similar statements he made on Wednesday night's Democracy Is Alive programme.
During the programme, Warner held up this week's Sunday Express, and pointed to two front-page articles.
"(Opposition leader Dr Keith) Rowley is being propped up by a section of a compliant media," he charged.
Warner said the articles, published on Sunday, detailed two issues, one two years old, another two months old which was not current news but was written "as though they happened last week".
Asked who wrote the articles by programme host Hansley Ajodha, Warner responded that it was Asha Javeed, who left the Guardian and went to the Express "and you know her history...where she lives and so on..."
With regards to the programme, Warner said it was a People's Partnership party initiative which aired simultaneously on five local television stations between 8 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. While Warner was unable to put a total cost to the initiative, the Express learned that prime time allocations on various local stations cost between $70,000 to $100,000 for that one hour.
It is also understood that one television station located in Central Trinidad charged the party $6,000 to air the programme.
Warner said the programming format was expected to continue every Wednesday until December but would include other party panelists and was paid for by party funds through its advertising advisers, Ross Advertising.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Ernie Ross, owner of Ross Advertising, confirmed that the programme was paid for by the People's Partnership party and not through any Government funds. He referred all questions regarding the final cost of the programme back to Warner, but said "it was not a significant sum".
At a post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday, Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan also said that taxpayers did not foot the bill for the programme.
"No State funds are being used for those programmes, those are party programmes and it is a programme that will be funded by the party every Wednesday night on (State-owned Caribbean News Media Group) CNMG, we are prepared to put it on the other stations," he said.
Though the programme coincided with a People's National Movement (PNM) public meeting in Arouca, Rambachan denied it was done deliberately.
"This was planned long before the PNM meeting last night. It is not something that was in any way a reaction to the PNM," he said.
The programme was moderated by television personality Hansley Ajodha who is also the current Director of Communications at the Ministry of Education and included both Warner, Rambachan, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, Sport Minister and Congress of the People member Anil Roberts and Tobago House of Assembly leader, Ashworth Jack. Ajodha seemed to pose prefixed and guided questions to a panel and included his own sentiments on the Section 34 fiasco and subsequent public fallout.
"My own feeling is that we are beyond Section 34 now," Ajodha said to the panelists.
But the group did not seem to need his help to move beyond the contentious Section 34 issue and instead detailed the "scandals" under the PNM including the outstanding perjury case of former UDeCOTT boss Calder Hart and former PNM leader Patrick Manning's involvement in the construction of a multi-million dollar church at the Heights of Guanapo. They called Rowley an "abuser" and played a 2009 video clip of when former prime minister and PNM leader Patrick Manning labelled then senator Dr Keith Rowley "a bully".
With regards to the pre-budget rally tomorrow at Mid Centre Mall in Chaguanas, Warner said it was planned in direct response to a call from party supporters.
"The cry for a rally came last Sunday from the membership. We said if it's a rally you want, a rally you would get. We responded to the cry of the membership," Warner said.
Minister of Finance Larry Howai is expected to reveal a preview of the budget at the rally that would be further detailed on Monday.
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Bourbon that whole article there is unbelievable :o :o
what kinda place is this?
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Bourbon that whole article there is unbelievable :o :o
what kinda place is this?
Bourbon eh post the article about having daily government programs on all the TV stations and radio stations for one hour.....and if the stations don't comply there will be a law passed to make them comply.....
And dey say Manning was a Dictator......Heil Kamla!!...or is it Jack?? (he being the REAL PM).....
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Bourbon that whole article there is unbelievable :o :o
what kinda place is this?
Bourbon eh post the article about having daily government programs on all the TV stations and radio stations for one hour.....and if the stations don't comply there will be a law passed to make them comply.....
And dey say Manning was a Dictator......Heil Kamla!!...or is it Jack?? (he being the REAL PM).....
WHAT? Me eh see dat! Post it dey!
*Edit*
I couldnt believe it so I went looking..and nicely timed...one of my friends posted it on facebook dey.
1984 and Animal Farm!
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Govt_wants_daily_programme_on_its_accomplishments-171639841.html
The Government wants one hour per day of State-produced programming on its accomplishments to be aired on local radio and TV stations.
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Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
Looking at the chronology again that seems to be the case, not under his Ministry in 2011. Presumably back under the AG... or possibly National Security.
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Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
Looking at the chronology again that seems to be the case, not under his Ministry in 2011. Presumably back under the AG... or possibly National Security.
It went back under the AG. Colm Imbert discussed it at length on Wednesday night at the PNM meeting in Arouca. While the PP was engaing in PR and BS, the PNM was dishing out some serious cut arse.......Keith even sound like he old Rottweiler self....
Hear nah, the PP have sooooo screwed up their opportunity to bury the PNM for a long time, imagine I could tolerate listening to Colm Imbert now. A man ah couldn't stand to listen to prior. For all I know the man was always a good speaker/debater but ah just couldn't stand him used to tune out.....
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It went back under the AG. Colm Imbert discussed it at length on Wednesday night at the PNM meeting in Arouca. While the PP was engaing in PR and BS, the PNM was dishing out some serious cut arse.......Keith even sound like he old Rottweiler self....
Hear nah, the PP have sooooo screwed up their opportunity to bury the PNM for a long time, imagine I could tolerate listening to Colm Imbert now. A man ah couldn't stand to listen to prior. For all I know the man was always a good speaker/debater but ah just couldn't stand him used to tune out.....
thing I wanted all that they promised, but I knew that they were only saying what many trinis wanted to hear, because at heart I think we know the kind of govt and by extension the kind of democracy we want, we just cant seem to find people willing scrap the old system........In many ways Williams can be faulted for laying the foundations of this no accountability maximum leader situation we seem unable to extricated ourselves from...........d PP already dump any idea bout recall "as if we had any doubt" ..............and like the evil gremlins they are, scheming to undermine what little farce of a democracy we have now..........ah mean we elected Jack Warner ah man who time and time again undermine and stifle democracy in we football, alyuh did really feel he want it for d country steups..........god help us if dey did get ah constitutional majority
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when we see football lineups, the formation and the players starting we could tell how and what style the team gonna play. nobody could tell me that with the candidate lineup of the PP for election, that all this shyte wasnt expected...
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Hmm. I thought it was given to Justice when the position was created in 2010. Then, according to the Gazette, was not there in July 2011? Not so?
Looking at the chronology again that seems to be the case, not under his Ministry in 2011. Presumably back under the AG... or possibly National Security.
In which case the whole "Anand not responsible coz this was Volneys job" argument is yet another untruth. I am getting very concerned that when this govt finally goes, there will be an awful lot of wrongdoing discovered.
A case in point is this $20 billion bond. What is it for? The shameless propaganda in advance of the "pre budget rally" says that "this budget will turn the peoples dreams of a better life into reality" (I've heard it so many times this week I know the ad off by heart....brain washing too ent)
In a time when they're talking about austerity measures and they can't give pay rises to public workers, how can a budget be a vote winner? Usually, mid term is when a govt makes the hardest cuts and taxes increase. The PP are using this to increase popularity. So, my question is: Will they be buying back the public with a vote winning budget and is this what the $20 billion is for?
Even if the $20 billion is for something else, you don't borrow that kind of money at 5.25% unless you really need it. If so, wheres the money coming from for the "happy budget"?
I am very scared for this country at the moment.
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I am totally disgusted by this government, they quite obviously gone into panic mode and propaganda overdrive..
In all my life I've never heard so much political advertising and propoganda in the media outside of an election season.
Its one thing to read the articles online, but allyuh need to be hearing these ads to get the full effect.
Some of these radio ads, the tone and the delivery remind me of the movie Hotel Rwanda with the state sponsored propoganda broadcasting/brainwashing. And its not just on the stations that traditionally appeal to a politically inclined audience, i have to hear this shit all on my 96.7 Red FM, 100.5 Slam, 94.1 Boom etc which are stations that target the youth. The mdcnt ads everywhere.
Lets not talk for that panel discussion shit show they put on, and they want to ram that down people throat daily??
And who the f**k does hold a pre-budget rally?? I mean really?
Wow...
I thought Manning with the church, the radio station run in and the license plate was showing a dictatorial streak, but this shit here is real.
Who are these people?!
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^^^^^^^
They are your people. This is the government that you voted for. These are your players. The funny thing is that the solution to this simple. Fire Ramlogan and whoever else is culpable. But she can't touch Ramlogan cause Ramlogan also conspired against Eric Williams and Franklyn Khan and she was d one who buss mark regarding that case in parliament. They all tied up like market crab. That is their problem.
People cussing Volney now but this is the same Volney that was the judge during the Brad Boyce case. Volney's campaign manager is/was Carlos John. They were side by side walking through the constituency. Volney vs Swaratsingh in an election and people vote overwhelmingly for Volney? A man who was a judge just a week before turning politician. They're the same people.
What a tangle web we weave when we conspire to deceive. The hate for Manning was used to put this bunch into power. All the crap Manning was doing, Manning never had no constitutional majority to do any major damage. The Pnm had some sort of plan for the direction of this country. I am not a party hack. I don't get anything from any party. The last thing I got from the government of TnT was secondary school education up to form 5.
Atleast Show me that you have a plan. Their manifesto was filled with fairy dusts and unicorns. I like the idea of the children's life fund. I wish some law could be passed to allow that to continue from now on. I'll give them that.
All this talk about Calder Hart. He living Miami. The Us doesn't care or want Calder hart. Ish and Steve who the Us wants living in TnT so what does that tell you.
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when we see football lineups, the formation and the players starting we could tell how and what style the team gonna play. nobody could tell me that with the candidate lineup of the PP for election, that all this shyte wasnt expected...
ENTTTT I eh know y people surprise. Like they were sleepin when they were in power b4.^^^^^^^
They are your people. This is the government that you voted for. These are your players. The funny thing is that the solution to this simple. Fire Ramlogan and whoever else is culpable. But she can't touch Ramlogan cause Ramlogan also conspired against Eric Williams and Franklyn Khan and she was d one who buss mark regarding that case in parliament. They all tied up like market crab. That is their problem.
People cussing Volney now but this is the same Volney that was the judge during the Brad Boyce case. Volney's campaign manager is/was Carlos John. They were side by side walking through the constituency. Volney vs Swaratsingh in an election and people vote overwhelmingly for Volney? A man who was a judge just a week before turning politician. They're the same people.
What a tangle web we weave when we conspire to deceive. The hate for Manning was used to put this bunch into power. All the crap Manning was doing, Manning never had no constitutional majority to do any major damage. The Pnm had some sort of plan for the direction of this country. I am not a party hack. I don't get anything from any party. The last thing I got from the government of TnT was secondary school education up to form 5.
Atleast Show me that you have a plan. Their manifesto was filled with fairy dusts and unicorns. I like the idea of the children's life fund. I wish some law could be passed to allow that to continue from now on. I'll give them that.
All this talk about Calder Hart. He living Miami. The Us doesn't care or want Calder hart. Ish and Steve who the Us wants living in TnT so what does that tell you.
Say it again
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/___joins_Warner_in_bashing_the_media-171879671.html
ATTORNEY GENERAL Anand Ramlogan yesterday called for self-analysis and self-introspection by the media, as he took issue with columnists with the Trinidad Express newspaper.
Ramlogan said the Express columns lacked positivity and he also took issue with the newspaper's public polling of national topics in the Big Question section in which persons on the street have their responses to questions about national issues published.
"In the Express there is a poll where they put passport-size pictures. They can't seem to move past Grand Bazaar (mall at Bamboo No.1). There seems to be an anchor in Port of Spain.
"This Port of Spain-centric approach to getting the views which do not reflect the pot-pourri of Trinidad and Tobago is something we must be concerned about," said Ramlogan.
"It is not a criticism of the media but an observation that I ask them to take on board.
"Not a single columnist in the Express had one positive line to write. That kind of imbalance is something that calls for self-analysis and self-introspection by the media itself," he added.
The AG said that journalist Maxie Cuffie, a former adviser of former People's National Movement (PNM) attorney general John Jeremie, is also to return to the Guardian newspaper.
"The media has a responsibility to reflect the views of society on which it thrives and seeks to represent democracy," said Ramlogan.
During a panel discussion on Wednesday night on national television, National Security Minister and United National Congress chairman Jack Warner held up a copy of the Sunday Express newspaper, named the author of its front-page article, and spoke of her.
Yesterday, the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) issued a statement condemning what it described as on-going smear campaigns against investigative journalists.
"These journalists, who have been conducting legitimate investigations, now find themselves the target of anonymous e-mails being circulated on the Internet by various groups, as well as public attacks on television by senior politicians," said the MATT statement.
"Personal attacks in response to news reports are not a valid or acceptable means of discrediting the information unearthed by journalists who are simply doing their job.
"There are various channels available, including legal ones, through which public figures may obtain redress if inaccurate information about them is carried in the media," the statement added.
MATT called on Members of Parliament and party officials to deter their followers, both in public and in private, from engaging in these unwarranted attacks on journalists.
"If this trend is not rapidly checked, the association fears a trend of organised personal attacks against journalists will eventually damage the ability of the media to report fearlessly, undermine the functioning of the media, which is fundamental to all democracies, and ultimately weaken the rights of all citizens," MATT stated.
• EDITOR'S NOTE: The Express Big Question is often asked outside of Port of Spain, including San Fernando, and by reporters on assignment in various parts of Trinidad and Tobago.
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uuuuuummm Dinho, this is a question I have been meaning to ask you for the longest while. Where you in the country during the last UNC reign 95 - 2002??
I am totally disgusted by this government, they quite obviously gone into panic mode and propaganda overdrive..
In all my life I've never heard so much political advertising and propoganda in the media outside of an election season.
Its one thing to read the articles online, but allyuh need to be hearing these ads to get the full effect.
Some of these radio ads, the tone and the delivery remind me of the movie Hotel Rwanda with the state sponsored propoganda broadcasting/brainwashing. And its not just on the stations that traditionally appeal to a politically inclined audience, i have to hear this shit all on my 96.7 Red FM, 100.5 Slam, 94.1 Boom etc which are stations that target the youth. The mdcnt ads everywhere.
Lets not talk for that panel discussion shit show they put on, and they want to ram that down people throat daily??
And who the f**k does hold a pre-budget rally?? I mean really?
Wow...
I thought Manning with the church, the radio station run in and the license plate was showing a dictatorial streak, but this shit here is real.
Who are these people?!
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So who to vote for next couple of years? or no sense in voting?
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None of the above!
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So who to vote for next couple of years? or no sense in voting?
U know d peeps in d US doh say that. They realize non of d parties eh perfect, they support things they do not agree with but at d end of the day they weigh the parties as what they have 2 offer the country and vote. We however, want a perfect govt. WAKE UP PEOPLE IT DOH EXIST.
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Vote for the party that actually has a developmental plan for the country. Consider also whose reputation can stand scrutiny. In a serious country KPB would not even have been considered after her the mess she created as Minister of Education. I won't even mention the catalog of errors and outright immoral acts that she has committed as PM.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/34_questions__with_answers-171639901.html
1.Why was Section 34 proclaimed early?
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a strong, caring, brilliant leader.
2. What is ten times three plus four?
A result that ensures non-black, non-poor, non-young men don't go to jail.
3. Why didn't anyone in Cabinet ask why Section 34 had to be proclaimed early?
Free jumbo shrimp.
4. Did Attorney General Anand Ramlogan know it would be futile to appeal the extradition judgment because Section 34 was coming?
The AG is not a criminal lawyer, a criminal, or waxed.
5. Did AG Ramlogan know that Ish and Steve were suing the State for $76 million in lawyers' fees?
The AG was an outstandingly successful lawyer before he was AG, and an astute buyer of buildings after.
6. What Government is on spin cycle 24/7?
Get white collars really clean with Detergent 34.
7. What is two times ten plus 14?
A number which sums up Herbert Volney's judicial record.
8. Who brought in Herbert Volney to be a candidate in the 2010 election?
Persons who were impressed with his judicial record.
9. Why did UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar present Volney as the candidate for St Joseph?
Ms Persad-Bissessar is a fearless, brave, and courageous leader.
10. How does AG Ramlogan being on vacation for four days absolve him from responsibility in the months-long drafting and proclamation of Section 34?
Every MP was responsible, including Patrick Manning who showed what Calder Hart, Juliana Pena, and Andre Monteil could get away with.
11. Why is COP leader Prakash Ramadhar satisfied with the Prime Minister's action in the Section 34 scandal?
Ramadhar is very handsome.
12. Why hasn't anyone resigned from the Government over Section 34?
The COP represents new politics of principle, which is just like the old lack of principles.
13. Who changed "may" to "shall" in Section 34?
Every MP in Parliament is responsible, but Cabinet was misled.
14. Why is the Government holding a "pre-Budget rally"?
The People's Partnership is the most competent, innovative, and godly Government this country has ever had.
15. Why does the Integrity Commission not need to explain or justify any judgments it makes?
Because all the Commissioners have integrity or else they wouldn't have been appointed by President George Maxwell Richards.
16. Why does President Richards go on vacation every time the country has a controversial public issue?
Because he needs to rest before the next round of band launches.
17. How do citizens know that President Richards chose persons of integrity to sit on the Integrity Commission?
Because a man with his integrity would have resigned if he ever chose unsuitable persons for such a board.
18. Why did Cabinet agree to the early proclamation of Section 34?
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a strong, caring, brilliant leader.
19. Why didn't God stop Section 34?
He did, through the strong, caring, brilliant Prime Minister.
20. Why didn't God prevent Section 34 from being re-written?
Mr Volney is a born-again Christian.
21. How did Ish and Steve know to file an injunction under Section 34 even before it was published in the Gazette?
Their lawyers called the Psychic Hotline at $13.65 a minute.
22. Why are Ish and Steve suing the State for $76 million in legal fees?
Their lawyers called the Psychic Hotline for $13.65 a minute.
23. What is 30 plus four?
A figure like 69, without the pleasure.
24. Why wasn't the list of scholarship winners published at once?
Because non-Indian parents might be embarrassed.
25. Why did a black woman bow down in front of Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal?
To embarrass PNM Leader Keith Rowley.
26. What is five times six plus four?
A figure party financiers can agree on.
27. Why did the Chief Justice Ivor Archie say that 2,840 divorce applications in 2011-2012 was a "conspicuous increase", when 2,857 cases were filed the previous year?
Because 17 fewer cases is half of 34.
28. Why did AG Ramlogan say that religious leaders should pay more attention to the rising divorce rate?
Because he was unable to count to 34.
29. Why do religious leaders think that T&T's 1-in-7 divorce rate is high?
Because 33 out of every 100 adults get married, so person 34 is fornicating.
30. Why was Jack Warner chosen to be National Security Minister?
Because laws against three-quarter jeans with a white vest would reduce crime.
31. What is Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams doing to reduce crime?
Acting.
32. Why was Vidwatie Persad Newton chosen to be the Prime Minister's personal assistant?
Because Kamla cares about the family.
33. Why was former journalist Sasha Mohammed chosen to be the Prime Minister's event planner at $30,000 a month?
Because journalists deserve to get National Awards when they assist such a strong, caring, brilliant leader.
34. When will Kevin Baldeosingh's naturally curly hair get straight?
When he realises that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a strong, caring, brilliant leader.
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Iheard Richard Nooray saying the project manager told the people in the rally she took vat off food stuff ,wheh he richard checked he said the food stuff did not have vat before the budget.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Window_into_the__siege_mentality-171958401.html
At a time when the country needs a careful hand, a wise head and a straight tongue, it gets instead non-stop slackness from its most senior political leaders.
On Wednesday night, five gossiping men paid handsomely in cash for the dishonour of spending 60 unrestrained minutes on primetime television, peddling mauvais langue and innuendo in an unbelievably vulgar display of self-indulgent flippancy.
Even if he knew how to, the moderator was in no position to help them, cast as he was in the role of facilitating insider. And if there were communications strategists behind the scenes, well let's just say Keith Rowley and the People's National Movement (PNM) owe them big money for rebranding and resurgence.
And the Prime Minister: Did she really approve this message? Could she have been party to this strategy of silencing the media by naming and shaming journalists—female journalists in particular?
She, whose personal life has been the target of such fantastical gossip and rumours that some are prepared to explain her blunders as the result of blackmail? It is unthinkable that she could be party to letting this gang of men loose on the private lives of public women.
What irony that a Prime Minister and Cabinet that have so stoutly defended Jack Warner on the grounds of innocence until proven guilty in court, should so fulsomely embrace a strategy of throwing mud- any mud- till it sticks.
To viewers with the stamina, the one-hour United National Congress (UNC) show would have had all the fascination of a train wreck presented in slow motion. But it yielded so much more.
In 60 minutes, we got a rare and privileged window into the workings and psychology of the siege mentality, an affliction to which one government after another has succumbed since Independence.
The specific dynamics by which our political parties go from riding into office on the euphoric wings of public adoration, to being kicked from office amid howls for blood is a prime area for study in bringing greater clarity and understanding of our relationship with power and its institutions.
To those so inclined, Wednesday night's televised performance- mockingly advertised as a panel discussion given that all five were there to promote a common position -offers priceless research data. It was a public marker of that moment when regimes, having lost control of the public agenda, lose touch with reality.The road after that we know all too well, having witnessed the downward spirals that have ended in a pitting of government against their people.
We know from experience that it is almost impossible to break through the mindset of a government under siege. For them the world is a simple place of simple people, either for them or against them. Even if, by some miracle, there are minds inside the camp strong enough to resist the enveloping unreality, it is doubtful that their voices will cut through the miasma that strangles logic and common sense. The intriguing irony is how well the prescription works to achieve the very end against which it is designed to fight.
We have seen it with every administration past, but none as dramatically presented as in the current case where the Partnership's strategy of attributing every iota of public disagreement to Rowley and the PNM is serving, primarily, to build the profile of the leader and to inflate the significance of the party as the sun in a growing galaxy of anti-government dissent. If the Partnership keeps up this strategy, all points of resistance will eventually decide it is better to ride with the PNM than to walk alone-as in 2010 when the COP, MSJ, NJAC and TOP swallowed their reservations and accepted the role of junior partners to the UNC.
True, the march against Section 34 was a significant success for Keith Rowley. On a timeline, it might well stand as the moment he really became the leader of the People's National Movement, nipping in the bud a rising challenge from within his own party.
In calling the march, he took the political risk of his life, gambling on his reading of the popular mood on Section 34 in a move that could have gone either way. As it turned out, he had judged well enough to settle the leadership issue, at least within his own party.
Having itself misjudged the state of the public mind, the government has responded in ways that have opened up new room for Rowley to begin transcending core party support.
For Keith Rowley, this has been the greatest challenge of all. Brought into politics as part of Patrick Manning's New PNM of professionals in 1987, his CV has lacked the community grounding of the career politician, while his politics- Tobagonian by culture and West Trinidad by style- has limited his national appeal, notwithstanding his reputation as a socializer across all lines.
Now, with the strategic decision to train all its ammunition on him, the UNC has succeeded in singling him out for national attention, thereby catapulting him to the top of the heap on an issue of broad public outrage across the land.
The even bigger strategic mistake of the People's Partnership, however, stems from its confidence in the conquering power of money, a view drawn from the UNC's analysis of what it takes for a Caroni/Naparima-based party to cross the political rubicon of race and class in T&T. (See "Old Strategy, New Game" in tomorrow's T&T Review).
Much is made about the prevailing "Eat Ah Food" political culture exalted by the Persad-Bissessar/Warner administration which would seem to prove, with nauseating regularity, the principle that everyone has a dollar price. Those inclined to accept this view of us fail to take into account the history of Caribbean people which has been shaped not only by those who have called a price, but more powerfully by those who have been willing to pay the price.
This is the real meaning of the national revulsion over Section 34. It is not that we don't condemn all for sleeping on the job and being cavalier over matters of the highest import. We do and we worry because it shows the depth of the rot. But our unstoppable outrage stems from the fear that our weakness could have been exploited in the name of the basest worship of money.
If the Partnership administration understood the full implications of this, the last thing they would be doing now is throwing around money and provoking the spirit of the politics of principle, of which the youth is always in the vanguard.
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Iheard Richard Nooray saying the project manager told the people in the rally she took vat off food stuff ,wheh he richard checked he said the food stuff did not have vat before the budget.
Yuh mustnt rely on wha people say. Go and find it for yuhself.
http://www.ird.gov.tt/uploadedfiles/VAT%20Act%20sch%202.pdf
Start dey.
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Vote for the party that actually has a developmental plan for the country. Consider also whose reputation can stand scrutiny. In a serious country KPB would not even have been considered after her the mess she created as Minister of Education. I won't even mention the catalog of errors and outright immoral acts that she has committed as PM.
We not serious that is y we in this hott mess.
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Vote for the party that actually has a developmental plan for the country. Consider also whose reputation can stand scrutiny. In a serious country KPB would not even have been considered after her the mess she created as Minister of Education. I won't even mention the catalog of errors and outright immoral acts that she has committed as PM.
We not serious that is y we in this hott mess.
my hope is, if people do decide to bring back d pnm "provided that another viable option doh present itself" dat we keep up d pressure until our political parties have no choice but to govern responsibly and most importantly governing for the benefit of all or risk being thrown out on their collective asses...........ah mean is high time dat we kill this shitty type of gov't once and for all and force govt to truly be accountable to the people
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Vote for the party that actually has a developmental plan for the country. Consider also whose reputation can stand scrutiny. In a serious country KPB would not even have been considered after her the mess she created as Minister of Education. I won't even mention the catalog of errors and outright immoral acts that she has committed as PM.
We not serious that is y we in this hott mess.
my hope is, if people do decide to bring back d pnm "provided that another viable option doh present itself" dat we keep up d pressure until our political parties have no choice but to govern responsibly and most importantly governing for the benefit of all or risk being thrown out on their collective asses...........ah mean is high time dat we kill this shitty type of gov't once and for all and force govt to truly be accountable to the people
I agree. The only problem is that 2 years again is plenty time for people to forget what happening today. With the proper PR from this govt they will attempt to spin it so that the people forget about all their failures...and even blame the PNM for the PP failures...The sad thing is that they have already convinced at lot of the masses.
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Vote for the party that actually has a developmental plan for the country. Consider also whose reputation can stand scrutiny. In a serious country KPB would not even have been considered after her the mess she created as Minister of Education. I won't even mention the catalog of errors and outright immoral acts that she has committed as PM.
We not serious that is y we in this hott mess.
my hope is, if people do decide to bring back d pnm "provided that another viable option doh present itself" dat we keep up d pressure until our political parties have no choice but to govern responsibly and most importantly governing for the benefit of all or risk being thrown out on their collective asses...........ah mean is high time dat we kill this shitty type of gov't once and for all and force govt to truly be accountable to the people
I agree. The only problem is that 2 years again is plenty time for people to forget what happening today. With the proper PR from this govt they will attempt to spin it so that the people forget about all their failures...and even blame the PNM for the PP failures...The sad thing is that they have already convinced at lot of the masses.
I tink yuh ever estimate this bunch of buffoons plus it seems dat people startin "all be it very slowly" to look past d "eat ah food" politricking, due mostly to the disgusting nature of the propaganda we have to absorb....I feel for d people dat doh have cable........um gov't have ah override clause in cable TV concession contracts ??? ..... if so watch out :(
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-10-10/opposition-mp-lake-asphalt-contract-m-deal-linked-minister%E2%80%99s-relative
$m deal linked to minister’s relative
A Lake Asphalt Ltd (LATT) contract was shifted from a Brazilian firm to a local firm allegedly owned by the close relative of a government minister, Opposition PNM MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey has said. Jeffrey, MP for La Brea, spoke about the situation during Monday night’s House of Representatives budget debate. He said the chairman of LATT was said to be a close relative of a senior Cabinet Minister and also a close friend of the Prime Minister.
Jeffrey added that the shift of the contract to the local firm incurred extra cost for LATT. He said: “I come to a scandal that warrants urgent attention, Lake Asphalt (1978) Ltd. There is a questionable operation at Lake Asphalt.” He said Lake Asphalt usually imports hardboard from a company called Pegasus from Brazil.
“They have been doing that for the past five years to make their ballast,” Jeffrey said. He said early this year, the chairman of the board, “who it is said to be a close relative to a senior Cabinet Minister, and is said to be a close friend of the Prime Minister, authorised the board and the CEO to stop importing the hardboard from Pegasus in Brazil and instead purchase the hardboard from a company called Fastec that is owned by a close relative of another minister in Government.”
Jeffrey said: “The cost of the hardboard from Fastec is twice as much as the hardboard from Pegasus. The quality at Fastec is inferior to the hardboard that is coming from Brazil. “As a matter of fact, Fastec hardboard has a 20 per cent rejection rate because the strength of the board is inadequate and difficult to work with.” He said earlier this year, the asphalt company spent $1 million more for hardboard from Fastec than it would have had to pay if it had imported from Brazil.
He added: “They had to pay an additional $300,000 to produce the drums, so, $1.3 million extra that this company, that is employing 185 persons only, had to pay. “What is more staggering is that the chairman has ordered the CEO and the board to double the importation from Fastec.”
Jeffrey said it would cost Lake Asphalt $2 million extra to import the hardboard and $500,000 extra in production costs. “That is a cause for concern,” he added. LATT chairman Kuralal Rampersad and Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine did not answer cellphone calls yesterday.
Jeffrey said he also had information that a former senior LATT official went to Canada to set up a company to buy raw asphalt from LATT which was to be refined and sold, undercutting LATT’s product. Jeffrey claimed that was intended to rundown LATT in order for it to be sold.
Jeffrey said under the UNC, attempts were made to sell Lake Asphalt to one of the party’s financiers. Jeffrey added: “It took the population of La Brea to march around La Brea several times to stop the sale. I am putting Lake Asphalt on notice that the people of La Brea will stand by again if it happens again that they have to do that.”
Jeffrey called on Government to say if there was a plan to make Port-of-Spain deteriorate since Government was moving many ministries out of the capital, saying an El Socorro building was being rented out for government offices. He added: “There is a new development along the El Socorro Road in San Juan where buildings, once used to sell car parts, are being converted into office space and rented for as much as $80,000 a month.”
The budget debate is expected to end today, House leader Roodal Moonilal said yesterday. Debate begins in the Senate at 10 am on Monday.
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(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564829_447902868595994_1211318085_n.jpg)
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(http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564829_447902868595994_1211318085_n.jpg)
And me eh care wha nobody say.....I eh vex with dat...dat is money well spent.
Yuh know wha it is to be good for little to nothing...and den on top of dat...yuh hard on the eyes?
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KPB is imminently lampoonable but I don't know if that was necessary.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/NAME_GAMES-173984841.html
Both the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) said yesterday they did not know who owned a local company awarded a multi-million-dollar hardboard contract.
They only did so after being pressed by the media.
They, however, confirmed the local company was being paid millions more for hardboard than the usual supplier—an international company in Brazil.
In his budget contribution this week, Opposition La Brea MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey said there was a scandal at Lake Asphalt where local company Fastec—which he claimed was owned by a relative of a senior Cabinet Minister—was awarded a contract to supply hardboard to LATT at a higher cost that from the original supplier, Pegasus from Brazil.
Jeffrey also claimed the quality of the hardboard from Fastec was inferior to that of Pegasus.
Hardboard is a type of material used to make drums to store and export asphalt.
LATT chairman Kuarlal Rampersad and CEO Leary Hosein yesterday held a media conference at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, in Port of Spain, to deny there was a family link in the award of the contract.
Both said they did not know who the owners of the company are who were awarded the million-dollar contract. And only at the end of the news conference, and after the media asked whether they could make a phone call and enquire as to the owners, was that information divulged.
Hosein, after making the phone call at the media's request, disclosed that Fastec was owned by Balvant Nathu-Hari and Angeline Nathu-Hari.
Both Rampersad and Hosein denied they were related to any Cabinet Minister.
Rampersad said the process was above-board, as suppliers were presented with Lake Asphalt's hardboard specification sheet, which detailed the necessary requirements.
He said both Fastec and Pegasus provided hardboard which not only passed the initial control checks, but also displayed good workability in the manufacturing of drums.
So then why was Fastec, which is charging almost 50 per cent more for the product, given preference?
Rampersad said Pegasus had a problem with delivering on time and cost LATT US$3 million in sales in one instance in May/June this year.
Another consequence of later delivery, said Rampersad, was that LATT had to approve overtime and manpower to meet the demands of its customers, or the company faced penalties for not meeting its obligations.
LATT, he said, also had problems with Pegasus breaching payment terms and there were concerns about the company's stability.
Rampersad said a decision was taken to de-register Pegasus because of "breach of payments and questionable activities".
An internal audit, he said, was conducted, which found that Pegasus was not a timely supplier.
Rampersad said Fastec delivers in eight to ten weeks, while Pegasus takes eight to ten months.
With respect to the family link, Rampersad said neither the CEO nor any board member was related to Cabinet ministers.
"Let me state for the record that I am not a relative with any senior member of the Cabinet. People have told me that my line Minister Senator the Honourable Kevin Ramnarine and myself do share a similar resemblance, but that is all. I have never seen him at a family function," said Rampersad.
Questioned on who owned Fastec, Rampersad replied, "I think there is the Freedom of Information Act where you can get that information."
Asked whether he could provide the information as LATT is a State enterprise and taxpayers' money was being expended, Rampersad again referred the media to the Freedom of Information Act.
Questioned as to why a company that was charging almost 50 per cent more was selected and whether there weren't other companies with lower costs and faster delivery times, Hosein said the decision was based on the Tenders Committee's "evaluation matrix".
When questioned, neither men could provide the cost of the contract or the duration.
Rampersad said it all depended on the request for supplies from its clients.
Asked how they could be certain of no family link if neither of them knew the names of the owners of Fastec, Rampersad said he did not know and again referred the media to the Freedom of Information Act.
Questioned on whether it was not curious that a due diligence was conducted on Fastec and still they did not know the owners, Rampersad repeated, "As I said, the information, you can apply for that information, you can go through the process... I don't have the information, it's not my responsibility to look into these things."
Asked whether or not either of them could make a phone call to LATT to get the information, both Rampersad and Hosein appeared surprised.
However, at the end of the news conference, just before the media left, Hosein made a phone call and provided the names of the directors of Fastec to the media.
Earlier this week, the Express had contacted Fastec with regard to the company's ownership, but a woman refused to divulge the information.
A search on the Companies Registry found that the directors of the company were the very names which Hosein provided yesterday only after the media persisted.
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Ugly, Prime Minister
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Ugly__Prime_Minister-180067351.html
By Ralph Maraj
November 19, 2012
Before Divali, I wrote that "Rawan'' rules here, pointing to corruption, political tribalism, decadence and a spreading social swampland in Trinidad and Tobago. The Prime Minister proved me right. At the Divali Nagar, she was raw and "rawanic'', pouring her darkness on the people's lights, blasting the "kurta-clad'' Opposition Leader.
Unbelievable, scandalous and completely without class!
It rendered the rest of her speech "sounding brass'' and "clanging cymbal''; high-sounding hollowness. For she spoke of dharma but was divisive; posed as a gyani but was unenlightened; celebrated Hanuman but was small and mean; touted fearlessness but was as insecure as Kaikeyi, the stepmother who engineered Rama's exile. Ugly, Kamla, ugly! Dressed up nice and so ugly? Thank God for the brave little deyas lit by thousands of ordinary hands. They triumphed over the darkness you invoked.
The UNC will pay dearly for this. Henceforth, Kamla could pull whatever costume from her wardrobe, headpieces and all, for Emancipation or Shouter Baptist Day, she will justifiably be seen as a pathetic masquerader with her contrived cosmopolitanism. She claimed to speak for Hindus; but many, of all sects, reject her rakshas rubbish of that night.
She attacked Rowley because he condemned her bowing at the feet of the Indian president. So let's make it abundantly clear. As Prime Minister of T&T, Kamla must bow to nobody in this universe. Respect the nation you lead. We, the people, demand it. You were not on a personal pilgrimage. In any case, in the Hindu tradition, you bow at the feet of the elders in your family or your pundit or spiritual leader. Not to every elderly Hindu you meet. Then you could be bowing all day, all night.
The then president of India, Prathiba Patil, was not Kamla's ajee, nanee, khakee, mowsie, or any other family elder. She was not a great guru of India. She was merely the ceremonial head of the Indian government as was her predecessor Abdul Kalam. And Patil has gone, replaced by Pranab Mukerjhee.
Kamla called her bowing "a sacred exercise in devotion''. Hare Ram! Devotion? Devotion to whom? Devotion to the president of India? What idiocy! If we follow Kamla's logic and Max Richards were Ramachandra Maharaj, all Hindus would bow to him whenever they meet in "a sacred exercise in devotion''. Ridiculous! Kamla was totally out of place and belittled the nation. She behaved like a country bumpkin.
The Indian protocol establishment has an acute sense of propriety and knowing them, I still hear derisive giggles and guffaws in New Delhi, whenever they remember the spectacle. It will forever remain an embarrassment. And it was all theatre, to make headlines in India. Embarrassing your country to get your picture in the Indian papers? What next?
Therefore discipline this Prime Minister, before she does further damage. She has already got away with too much, from Reshmi to Section 34 and so much in between. People of culture, lead the way. It is your responsibility. National Council of Indian Culture, (NCIC); reject Kamla's uncultured behaviour at the Nagar. Your mandate is to elevate Indian culture. Her attack on Rowley was not Indian culture. It was despicable, divisive darkness. Maintain your respect, NCIC. Condemn her behaviour and don't invite her again unless she issues a public apology.
The same for the Emancipation Support Committee, the Shouter Baptist Movement, the Chinese Association, Syrian Lebanese Organisation and the Dougla Brotherhood, if it exists. Collaborate. Stand up. Give the National Anthem meaning. The Prime Minister insulted every citizen with that ugliness. Discipline her.
Do not invite her to your celebrations without her contrition. Exile her to her residence, office and constituency to do some real work for a change and to exorcise the inner demons that produced those dark utterances. And do not fear the government will withhold funds for your organisations. It is your money and you must have it, with or without the Prime Minister. And if they make the mistake and are vindictive, stand up and be worthy of the history you represent.
Time to discipline these politicians! We are their bosses. Raise the bar. No politician, Partnership or PNM, who acts against the nation, must be allowed to bask in the people's limelight, hugging national celebrations, without doing penance. Take them from the front pages and you terrify them. Publicity is their lifeline. So deny them what they live for. Teach them to focus on the country's challenges. Imagine. This nation has huge problems of declining revenue and mounting debt and its leader is fulminating over Rowley's kurta!
Rowley does not represent the PNM only. He is our Opposition Leader, as Kamla is our Prime Minister. His office is critical to our democracy and we must protect it. And when Rowley deserves it, we must condemn him as I have done several times for failing miserably in his sacred duty to protect the people from Section 34. But we must stand with him when he is abused liked this. He is wise not to respond. Be the victim. People are actually beginning to feel sorry for Keith Rowley!
Insecurity is the cause of Kamla's stupidity. The floating vote has left her, some to the PNM, most parked, and her own supporters are increasingly disenchanted. So to protect the base, she drives a partisan wedge. So shortsighted! She may have corralled die-hard Hindu supporters who weren't leaving anyway, but she stirred displeasure among professional, upwardly mobile Hindus, as well as Muslims and Presbyterians. She is dismantling her inheritance, Panday's carefully crafted Indo coalition, and taking the UNC back to the DLP days. Most backward, Prime Minister; and very ugly.
• Ralph Maraj, former
government minister
http://www.youtube.com/v/y1CrrvHgqZc
Notice how President actually stops her to save her the embarrassment.
http://www.youtube.com/v/hKvjkAFTRwA
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Wow... Ralph well tear into she boy. Well-said.
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hahahahahahaha Ralph is sour grapes, but he eh lie, he jes embellish a bit hahahahahahaha
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Ralph boi yuh change Super kaiso yuh ht d ball in POS and end up in India. I luv yuh go b bowing hold night lololol.
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how petty can people be...
not sure how you people show respect to their elders or in their religion...but what I say from this video...is applaudible in this case....
and btw ralph should be d last person talking...
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how petty can people be...
not sure how you people show respect to their elders or in their religion...but what I say from this video...is applaudible in this case....
and btw ralph should be d last person talking...
It may be "applaudible," but it was certainly NOT applaudable!
She went as PM not as a pilgrim!
That is far from respect it is obeisant and obsequious and unctuous! (use google)
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how petty can people be...
not sure how you people show respect to their elders or in their religion...but what I say from this video...is applaudible in this case....
and btw ralph should be d last person talking...
You have tuh be a real idiot to find what she did "applaudible". Name me one other instance in which you ever see the head of a State attempting to kiss the feet of another. How come she never try and kiss Max foot? Or is it only elder Hindus feet she supposed to kiss? Was Prathiba de only older Hindu she meet in India? Call that bullshit for what it is... bullshit.
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She could come and kiss my foot too...wait is only 11 inches...
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Name me one other instance in which you ever see the head of a State attempting to kiss the feet of another.
Well Bakes...how many other Hindu women Head of States have had the opportunity to bow to an elder??
TT she did go in the capacity as PM but I dont not see how she acting as any pilgrim... because you bow...
Listen I may not agree with the way she handles her politics but this is not political and should be treated separately..If anything its down to her temperament..and for that I can fully respect that...
If you want pilgrim talk to Kumbayasingh ...look he showing another reason where ah PhD at Oxford does take yuh....
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Name me one other instance in which you ever see the head of a State attempting to kiss the feet of another.
Well Bakes...how many other Hindu women Head of States have had the opportunity to bow to an elder??
Fella, she didn't "bow" to no elder... yuh just finding out about this or what? Is kiss she was bending down tuh kiss de woman foot. Thank the Hindu gods she had more shame than Kamla than to allow such a disgraceful display. Again...
1) Name me one other instance in which you ever see the head of a State attempting to kiss the feet of another?
2) How many other elders did she encounter in India... did she try and kiss any of them feet? It eh have no Hindu elders here in TnT? How come she never try and kiss their feet? Not that that would be acceptable either.
Fact is Kamla and she country bookie self went India and ketch ah vaps... she free to kiss as much feet or ass as she want, just not while serving as Prime Minister. This has nothing to do with politics.
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All the time she spent genuflecting to plant her lips on Jack Warner's ample black ass, maybe she just wanted to give her lips a break???
Better toe jam to ass wind.
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I understand that this particular gesture is sacred is Hindus but can we at least acknowledge the fact that President Patil actually stopped her from doing it.
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Does anyone have any video or image of Kamla kissing her feet?
All I found was her going to touch her feet which is a sign of respect in Hindu-Indian culture. Then Patil does what is common in Indian culture which is to hold her up and to not allow someone to touch her feet.
This issue seems to be an exaggeration, and a petty and outdated issue. Should she have done it? Maybe not.
But it was not subjugation, it was a way of showing respect for an Indian symbolic tradition. When in Rome?
And what about Obama bowing to the Saudi King and the Emperor of Japan? He wasn't demonstrating subjugation but rather showing respect in the respective leader's country. However as a leader, your country people may not appreciate such actions and the opposition will always use it to their advantage.
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Does anyone have any video or image of Kamla kissing her feet?
All I found was her going to touch her feet which is a sign of respect in Hindu-Indian culture. Then Patil does what is common in Indian culture which is to hold her up and to not allow someone to touch her feet.
Explain this please because to me it looks like a reflex response to prevent the PM from embarrassing herself.
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Does anyone have any video or image of Kamla kissing her feet?
All I found was her going to touch her feet which is a sign of respect in Hindu-Indian culture. Then Patil does what is common in Indian culture which is to hold her up and to not allow someone to touch her feet.
Explain this please because to me it looks like a reflex response to prevent the PM from embarrassing herself.
It is a reflex response, correct. I've noticed a lot of Hindu elders in India (except for those who are physically incapabale) stop people from touching their feet. She wasn't preventing the PM from embarrassing herself. It's the other way around. It is embarassing to have your feet touched, but you feel honoured that someone was going to, as they are asking for your blessing. I don't get it myself, but understand there is a cultural significance.
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It is a reflex response, correct. I've noticed a lot of Hindu elders in India (except for those who are physically incapabale) stop people from touching their feet. She wasn't preventing the PM from embarrassing herself. It's the other way around. It is embarassing to have your feet touched, but you feel honoured that someone was going to, as they are asking for your blessing. I don't get it myself, but understand there is a cultural significance.
You's de only man I've read commenting on this thing who insist that Patil didn't stop Kamla from embarrassing sheself. That aside you really trying to compare bending down and "touching" (yeah, that is what she was going to do ::) ) somebody foot AS HEAD OF A COUNTRY to this below?
http://www.youtube.com/v/3kyD_e0Y7FQ
A brief polite bow as was the case in both this and the Saudi King in no way compares to stooping down to do anything with anybody feet. Do that shit in yuh private capacity. This ent America, nobody talking about 'subjugation'... is about shame, Trinidad shouldn't be touching anybody feet or showing that level of deference to nobody... she represents Trinidad, with she blasted country bookie self. If is foot she want to go touch let she travel on she own dime and on she own time and go do so.
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Does anyone have any video or image of Kamla kissing her feet?
All I found was her going to touch her feet which is a sign of respect in Hindu-Indian culture. Then Patil does what is common in Indian culture which is to hold her up and to not allow someone to touch her feet.
This issue seems to be an exaggeration, and a petty and outdated issue. Should she have done it? Maybe not.
But it was not subjugation, it was a way of showing respect for an Indian symbolic tradition. When in Rome?
And what about Obama bowing to the Saudi King and the Emperor of Japan? He wasn't demonstrating subjugation but rather showing respect in the respective leader's country. However as a leader, your country people may not appreciate such actions and the opposition will always use it to their advantage.
And if yuh recall Obama get pong from all corners for the bow to the Saudi King.
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being cultured iz ah thing yes.....
and understanding and assimilating is another....
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being cultured iz ah thing yes.....
and understanding and assimilating is another....
Count yuh blessings that you hold de franchise on dem qualities... then go find someplace tuh put them.
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ON the eve of a planned meeting between the government and civil society groups headed by the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) to discuss the controversial highway to Point Fortin, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said nothing will stop the highway and that the project "must" continue.
She was speaking at the United National Congress' meeting at Rienzi Complex, Couva yesterday evening.
She also put her party in election mode—the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Local Government elections are in 2013—even as she spoke of the vulnerabilities of being a leader of the 30-month-old coalition government.
She warned members yesterday that they must never lose sight "of the importance of the party in getting us into Government", and that deserters of the party would not be treated kindly.
"For those within the Partnership who think otherwise and would wish to go it on their own, let me also confirm that the electorate will chew and spit out such individuals or political groups who are seen to be betraying the trust that has been placed in the Partnership.
"That is why sometimes contrary to your own desires as members of the UNC, I have borne the pains of insults, the stress of threats and sometimes what amounts to be blackmail of my leadership," said Persad-Bissessar.
"I am in command as your PM," she said.
She noted that her Government had come under sharp criticism from the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM) last week for developing south of the Caroni.
"I say no more of that because the comments were filled with undertones and overtones designed to create public mischief and dissonance. They seem to have conveniently forgotten that the North of Trinidad has been the greatest beneficiary of the oil wealth from the South and that the South has remained underdeveloped.
"This is also why it is important that nothing must stand in the way of the Highway to Point Fortin. The highway is about economic opportunities and social transformation as it is about the ease of movement. Let not the highway debate get lost in the side shows and side talk," said Persad Bissessar. See Page 9.
Environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh has been engaged in a hunger strike protest outside the Prime Minister's office in St Clair for the past 17 days. Kublalsingh is head of the Re-Route Movement which is seeking to divert a section of the highway—the Debe to Mon Desir portion—based on environmental concerns.
Despite his protest, the Government has remained firm that it will be built. The JCC and other civil society groups sought an intervention of the stand-off between the government and the environmentalist by making a proposal which will be discussed with Works Minister Emmanuel George tomorrow.
The Prime Minister said members of the UNC now had responsibilities to keep the party strong.
"Getting into Government has been a role you have played well. You have sacrificed and now it is your duty to stay in power. You know the cost of losing power. The PNM will discriminate, will deny, will frustrate you at every turn," she said.
She urged the party members to expand the party by recruiting new members and forming party groups in every electoral area as part of Local Government elections which are seven months away.
She also said members must "be prepared" for attacks against the government even as she called on them to stand ready to "defend" their leaders.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/internal?st=print&id=181705891&path=/news (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/internal?st=print&id=181705891&path=/news)
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"Getting into Government has been a role you have played well. You have sacrificed and now it is your duty to stay in power. You know the cost of losing power. The PNM will discriminate, will deny, will frustrate you at every turn," she said.
She also said members must "be prepared" for attacks against the government even as she called on them to stand ready to "defend" their leaders.
aaaaaahhhh yeeesss the mask totally fall off now eh......no more serving of the people....well no, it probably still is serving of the people......but instead of serving us, we are being served, as in cutting us up and sharing us out like a meal at dinner......*sigh* two and half more years of hurtling downhill at break neck speed on this roller coaster.....ah eh enjoying the ride at all, at all......
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Politics of division, and shamelessly so at that.
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Politics of division, and shamelessly so at that.
The language that is being employed suggests alarm and desperation. It is a rallying cry to support the government not on an ideological ,intellectual or philosophical basis but on the basis of pure political survival. It is meant to suspend thought and appeal to baser narrow interests. In effect what she is saying is forget all the wrong that we have done and remember that the most important thing is for us to retain power. Divisive and shameless indeed !
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-02/kamla-has-given-up%E2%80%94verna
Kamla has given up—Verna
Published:
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Dr Sheila Rampersad
Text Size:
Former minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development Verna St Rose-Greaves.
Public Affairs Editor
There are elements within the Cabinet of the People’s Partnership Government that are trying to engineer a national crisis in order to sideline Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and “slip in and do what they want.” And what are perceived to be off-the-cuff statements from members of the coalition Government are in fact calculated to create division and unrest.
In a revelatory, exclusive interview with the T&T Guardian last Wednesday, former government minister Verna St Rose-Greaves expressed deep concern for Persad-Bissessar and her ability to perform her prime ministerial functions. “I listen to what is being said—and don’t be fooled: these are no off-the-cuff statements. They want the place to mash up.
“There is a quiet hunger strike and you bring in your people to create confusion. I’m seeing people pushing for fire. They want this place to explode and I hope the country smarter than that because there will be no winners. “I truly believe they think the Prime Minister cannot cope with a national crisis and that if a crisis should arise, it would provide them with the opportunity, and this is why I am pushing for her to stand up and step up.”
(This is the first in a two-part series.) St Rose-Greaves served as a United National Congress (UNC) Opposition Senator from March 2 to April 8, 2010, when Parliament was dissolved in preparation for the May 24 general election. She campaigned for the PP coalition in the run-up to the general election and on June 27, 2011, 13 months after the PP won the election and formed the Government, was appointed a government Senator.
She served as a member of Cabinet as Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development until June 24, 2012, when she was dismissed from Cabinet in favour of former San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray during a Cabinet reshuffle. No explanation was given for her removal.
Saying that the country cannot continue on its current path, the often outspoken women’s movement and children’s rights activist said she feels the time has come for her to speak up for the good of the country. “The Prime Minister is loved, she is loved. And I think if people understand the promise of what is possible, if she is allowed to function in the way that is required of a prime minister, I think there are sufficient people willing to help and support her.”
It might be too late for the Government as it is currently configured, she said, but she does not think it is too late for Persad-Bissessar to leave a better legacy. “I don’t want her to go down, our first woman leader, in this way. She can still salvage her legacy.
“I am suggesting that if she has to get rid of certain people, that she does that. If she has to reconfigure how things get done, do that. She has to assert her position and have a better handle on how and what her ministers are doing.”
Asked whether she feared for the Prime Minister, St Rose-Greaves said she had always been concerned.
“When you are dealing with people who are desperate, you don’t put anything past them. Things happen in this country now that we never thought could happen. There are desperate elements and a kind of callousness that is bothersome. When you have people who are functioning in fear and in anger, that is a deadly combination. I am concerned. I have always been concerned.”
Kamla needs her sister
Insisting she was not speaking from “a place of anger and bitterness and spite,” St Rose-Greaves said she was interested in finding a solution to the crisis of governance, a crisis which she analysed as emanating both from a tight wall of personalities around the Prime Minister and from flawed processes of governance.
“There is a wall around her who keep making interventions when people approach with good sense and who have her best interest at heart. You make interventions to individuals and they say, ‘Hush, don’t go there. If you raise those issues, you are out of here.’”
Asked whether she had attempted to penetrate that wall, she responded, “Yes, I have attempted to do this, and you are warned. There was a move for me not to be too close to her, and she, too, grew afraid of appearing to be close to me.”
Unlike the many who demanded the removal of Vidwatie Newton, Persad-Bissessar’s sister, as the Prime Minister’s informal personal assistant and travel companion, St Rose-Greaves said the presence of Newton was good for the Prime Minister, and her removal was orchestrated by members of the Cabinet who wanted uninterrupted access to the Prime Minister.
“I was very happy the Prime Minister’s sister had come to be with her. I had advised if there were two or three sisters, they should all come, because I saw very early she (the Prime Minister) needed protection. Everybody had access to her and would go to her and pressure her to get what they wanted.
“All the drama about the money spent on the sister—people around her fostered that for their own purposes. There were people who did not want her sister there. “But it was important for her sister to be there, someone she could trust who had her best interest at heart, and who would stand up with her, and they have undermined that. The Prime Minister’s family needs more support than they have been getting.”
Flawed processes
On the matter of flawed processes of governance, St Rose-Greaves explained, “Collective responsibility suggests that we have shared decisions, we have discussions, collective decision-making, and then I am to be held responsible in that context.
“But there are no minutes of Cabinet in terms of who said what, who supported what decision. Those things are not in Cabinet minutes. So, for example, the decision about Clause 34, no one knows who would have objected to it, who were present at the discussion, whether it was discussed or not. When it was said there was a death threat against the Prime Minister, was that ever brought to the Cabinet?
“You don’t even know what is a majority position. So the Prime Minister or little groupings would say something and it comes out as a majority position, when you didn’t even know—but you are held responsible. We have to deal with that.” Saying the country has to decide on the question of leadership, she elaborated on a point she made in a CNC3 interview last week when she asked: Who is in charge?
“The Prime Minister has been in politics for many years, so we can’t say she doesn’t have strengths and skills. To have survived in that patriarchal political scenario, she must have had lots of strengths and lots of skills. She is now in leadership. “How then does it seem to the population that she has handed over, she has pulled back?”
Who’s really in charge?
Asked to answer her own question about who is in charge, St Rose-Greaves said it varied. “It depends on what is being discussed, whether we’re discussing a particular piece of legislation, buying over companies, or moving things out of Port-of-Spain beyond the Caroni River. At any time it’s a group of people who is in charge.
“I know it appears the Prime Minister is not in charge, and that much I think there is a general agreement on. She is not in charge. “She says she is not afraid but when I look at her, she is afraid, and I can’t say who or what she is afraid of, but I am picking up a lot of fear. Is she afraid of the people she is governing, of those around her?
“The Prime Minister has the capacity to make sound decisions, but whether she follows through on those decisions is another matter. Who are the people who, when the decision is not in their favour, go to her and use what they perceive to be her weakness to make her do what they want her to do?
“She does not appear to be in charge, and if that is in fact so, I am suggesting that she reasserts her authority, she step up and take back her power, and one of the ways to retake your power is to remove any secrecy and step up. She has to step back into her power. “She knows she must look after the women and children of this country. She was given a gift of a special opportunity to do something for this country.”
In 2010, she said, none of the senior male ministers currently in the Government could have won the election without Persad-Bissessar, yet she appears to have given up control of her office. “They could have had (no matter) what combination of parties—there was no way they were going to win that election without her. People voted for her.
“On this whole question of woman leadership and change, people bought into that, and that is because of the work the women’s movement has done over years in opening people’s minds and giving them the possibility of something better and something different.
“And it is painful to me that in such short shrift, they have squandered all that goodwill and the Prime Minister has just given up. If you watch all the things that have happened since, from Reshmi to Section 34, every time something happens, she goes silent and she allows these ministers to get up and make vicarious statements and say all kinds of things. And then, after people insist, she would talk, but she takes her cue from what these people are saying.
“We cannot go on like that. They will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.”
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I just read this and had to repeatedly remind myself that the person in focus was an adult and the Prime Minister of a country at that. Verna St. Rose is obviously a feminist and views the world through that lense but in an effort to ostensibly defend KPB she has succeeded only in making her a victim.
The only people responsible for protecting the Prime Minister are the members of her security detail . One would a expect someone so experienced and so highly acclaimed to be able to hold their own in the cut and thrust of politics. Her comments embarrass the Prime Minister more than anything else.
Why is it necessary for us to talk about the PM 'not being allowed to function' and about the need to 'assert her position.' I don't understand. Doesn't she have constitutional authority to make the decisions to structure and protect her government from the insubordination if not outright mutiny that St. Rose describes.
St. Rose seems determined to make this a gender issue. I think there is more evidence to suggest this is an issue of competence , integrity and leadership. KPB has been found wanting in all these areas- no need to rehash the vast catalog of errors committed over the past 2.5 years. I will say though that if she possessed these attributes some of those 'senior male ministers' should never have been selected or should have been removed. Incidentally , St. Rose forgot to mention anything about Ambassador Baps, Mary King or Shopping Toppin.....or herself for that matter.
I disagree with St. Rose that the PM has 'given up'. That would suggest that she tried in the first place. I seem to recall a certain John Sandy reading from a single page in Parliament. He was taking the blame for the Reshmi affair which occured mere months into her reign. This is in fact her M.O. Even if we give her the benefit of the doubt in the section 34 fiasco for instance, doesn't it prove that she's a poor steward ?
The nepotism and corruption that has taken pace from Day 1 is proof that where she fails in stewardship she makes up for in agency. The question is , an agent for whom.
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Nah man, Michael Harris.....yuh wrong. Ask mih good forum pardner Dinho.....
The fascist impulse
By Michael Harris
I do not normally use labels when I write. One of the many things I learned from Lloyd Best is that it is always better to describe a phenomenon in as much detail as possible rather than merely affix a label to it. For Lloyd, the use of labels was often not only a sign of intellectual laziness but also usually resulted in more confusion than clarification.
I use the label in my headline today because, notwithstanding Lloyd's caution, the fact is that when one describes a phenomenon and that description demonstrates that the phenomenon walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, then there is little point in refraining from calling it a duck.
I was moved to such ruminations after viewing the television broadcast of the UNC's meeting in Debe last Monday night. It was with utter disbelief and an ever-increasing sense of outrage that I witnessed the spectacle of a procession of Government ministers each trying to outdo the other in terms of the extent of ridicule and vituperation that they could heap on the head of Dr Wayne Kublalsingh because of his hunger strike.
But it was the Minister of National Security and chairman of the UNC, Jack Warner, who outdid all others when he stated, "They say the Prime Minister is killing Wayne Kublalsingh, but he is killing himself and he better do it quickly." I was completely stunned and it was then that the thought entered my head that 'this man is sounding like a fascist'.
Before going any further I think that it is only right that I should openly state where I stand on Dr Kublalsingh's hunger strike and the cause on behalf of which he has undertaken that action. As far as the cause is concerned I neither support nor reject the position of the Highway Re-Route Movement. I simply do not have the necessary information on which to make a reasoned judgement and frankly this is more the movement's failing than that of the Government.
As far as Dr Kublalsingh's hunger strike is concerned. I recognise it as a bold political act which has succeeded in garnering tremendous publicity but I have considerable misgivings as to the appropriateness of the action relative to the cause. Violence, in my view, is always a last resort, even when it is violence inflicted on oneself. I do, however, recognise Dr Kublalsingh's right to use such legal actions as he thinks fit to advance his cause.
I also recognise that his hunger strike has placed the Government in a highly untenable situation since, on the one hand, they cannot give in to what they have deemed to be an attempt at 'blackmail' while on the other hand they run tremendous risks of grave political damage if it is perceived that they stood by and allowed Dr Kublalsingh to do irreparable damage to his health or, in the worst case, to die.
The Government therefore finds itself on the horns of a dilemma and the outpouring of vituperation which took place last Monday night was a clear indication of the extent of their frustration with their inability to deal effectively with the situation. But that, equally as clearly, is no excuse for such atrocious conduct. In the words of former prime minister Basdeo Panday, the Government ministers were, "inhumane, distasteful, callous and insensitive".
Jack Warner, however, was all that and then something more.
What Mr Warner's expressed desire that Dr Kublalsingh should hurry up and kill himself betrayed was not only a cold-hearted disregard for human life but, as well, a view, implicit in that expressed desire, that the lives of those who opposed the Government and more particularly he himself, were worthless, of no significance and such persons were better off dead.
As disturbing as such a view undoubtedly is to any civilised person, taken by itself it merely brands Mr Warner as someone bereft of any spirit of human kindness. But Mr Warner's comment cannot be taken by itself. He has been in government long enough and has said and done enough to establish a pattern of behaviour based upon which a judgement of his political persona might reasonably be made.
Let us remind ourselves of some of the elements of that pattern of behaviour. It was Mr Warner who, earlier this year, without even the cover of a State of Emergency, took it upon himself to call out armed soldiers to mount a military sortie against the Re-Route Movement and to demolish their campsite.
His actions on that occasion were clearly illegal and unconstitutional and yet, when faced with a barrage of justifiable criticism from citizens his response evinced no remorse or regret but came in the form of a belligerent threat to the population that "if allyuh believe what you saw in Debe, allyuh haven't seen anything yet; mark my words".
It was Mr Warner a few weeks ago who, again illegally and unconstitutionally, issued an edict to ban the release of crime reports and statistics by the police. It was Mr Warner who attacked the media and threatened to chastise them. It was Mr Warner who was attempting to buy a particular media house. And it was Mr Warner who only recently, without apparent objection from the Commissioner or from the Police Service Commission, offered to make (or made) from his own pockets "incentive payments" to members of the Police Service.
What this pattern of behaviour demonstrates is a consistent and unrelenting effort to assert control over key institutions of public life and public freedom, particularly the military and the media. What this pattern demonstrates is an unapologetic disregard for constitutional boundaries and a systematic attempt to push beyond their limits. What this pattern demonstrates is a perverse determination to advance his political goals by any means necessary.
For one scholar the very essence of fascism is "its frightening impulse to rule over every dimension of life". Or as another scholar puts it: "A fascist is anyone who aspires to be able to control what you read, what you watch, and what you listen to. A fascist is anyone who aspires to crush human dignity and freedom by controlling the lives of others. They brook absolutely no disagreement or discussion and want to control everything, utterly."
In the end, of course, Lloyd Best was right. Labels do not describe a thing. I doubt that Mr Warner would even recognise his own impulses in the descriptions above. He is no philosopher and is not given to theoretical introspection. He only knows what he wants and that there is no morality, no legality, no constitutionality and no person that is going to stand in the way of his efforts to achieve those things.
But still, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…..
—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/The_fascist_impulse-181778391.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/The_fascist_impulse-181778391.html)
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PM: I didn't say Dookeran betrayed party
Originally printed at http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/PM__I_didn_t_say_Dookeran_betrayed_party-181774431.html
By Renuka Singh
December 2, 2012
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday denied that she was referring to former Congress of the People leader Winston Dookeran on Saturday, when she spoke of issues of trust and divisions within the People's Partnership coalition government. However, National Security Minister Jack Warner yesterday lashed out at Dookeran for putting financial supporters before his loyalty to the Government.
Persad-Bissessar, who is political leader of the United National Congress (UNC), which has the largest membership of the now four-party coalition Government made her remarks at a congress of the UNC at Rienzi Complex, Couva. Warner is the party chairman. The other coalition members are the Congress of the People (COP), the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC).
She said Saturday, "For those within the Partnership who think otherwise and would wish to go it on their own, let me also confirm that the electorate will chew and spit out such individuals or political groups who are seen to be betraying the trust that has been placed in the Partnership. That is why sometimes contrary to your own desires as members of the UNC, I have borne the pains of insults, the stress of threats and sometimes what amounts to blackmail of my leadership."
Dookeran, who is Foreign Affairs Minister and returned Saturday from Santo Domingo where he attended a Cariforum meeting last week, sent a statement from that country, appealing to the Prime Minister for compassion in the Dr Wayne Kublalsingh issue.
Kublalsingh's hunger strike, which enters its 19th day today, is in a bid to impel the Government to undertake an independent technical review of the construction of the Debe to Mon Desir segment of the Point Fortin highway. In that statement Dookeran said: "In all aspects of public policy, there must be compassion and compromise and Trinidad and Tobago must not be seen in the eyes of the international community as a decadent society." At a meeting last Monday, the UNC leaders vilified Kublalsingh for his stance.
The Express yesterday sent Persad-Bissessar a question by text on whether she was referring to Dookeran in the speech Saturday, Persad-Bissessar simply responded "no", but in a telephone interview yesterday, Warner was more vocal on Dookeran's call for "compassion" from the Government on Kublalsingh's hunger strike.
"I know that the Kublalsingh family are financial supporters of the COP with millions of dollars through EIL (Electrical Industries Ltd)," Warner said.
Kublalsingh's younger brother, Hayden Kublalsingh, is a director at EIL.
"That does not give Dookeran the right to make a statement contrary to the Prime Minister's while he was miles away and not full briefed on the situation," Warner said. "No Government can run this way," he added.
The COP held its executive meeting yesterday at the COP office in Charlieville and both current COP leader, Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar and party chairman, Public Administration Minister, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan refused to comment on the issue.
"I will not be making a statement at this time," Ramadhar said as he exited the building.
When asked if Seepersad-Bachan would say anything on the issue, Ramadhar said, "No one is authorised to say anything." Moments later when similar questions were posed to Seepersad-Bachan, she said, "No comment."
Hayden Kublalsingh, in a brief telephone interview yesterday admitted that he was involved with the COP, but said he was not going to allow Warner to detract from the issue.
"The members of the Highway Re-Route Movement are supporters of the People's Partnership Government and the COP is part of the Government, so I don't understand why Mr Warner would say what he is saying," the younger Kublalsingh said.
He said the issue of party funding is not a national issue.
"The Government's inability to provide a cost-benefit analysis, hydrological report on the Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway is," he said.
Dookeran last night attended the COP's seventh annual Christmas dinner and awards in San Fernando. —See Page 16
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This woman is a clown. Always back tracking and flip flopping.
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Warner on claim by St Rose-Greaves: PP Govt remains intact and stable
Published:
Monday, December 3, 2012
RICHARD LORD
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-03/warner-claim-st-rose-greaves-pp-govt-remains-intact-and-stable?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-03/warner-claim-st-rose-greaves-pp-govt-remains-intact-and-stable?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=)
National Security Minister Jack Warner and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal are insisting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is in command of the People’s Partnership. They dismissed a claim by sacked minister of Gender Affairs Verna St Rose-Greaves that there were elements within the party who were committed to creating a national crisis and have Persad-Bissessar sidelined to allow them to do what they want.
St Rose-Greaves told the Sunday Guardian: “I know it appears the Prime Minister is not in charge, and that much I think there is a general agreement on. She is not in charge.” In an interview yesterday, Warner said he “made a promise not to talk to the media but I will break that promise only because I believe it is the most ungrateful statement one could make of Mrs Bissessar.”
He said people should not follow “the one or two people who have political grievance, whether real or imagined. Warner said St Rose-Greaves’ statement was untrue and cannot be substantiated. He said if Persad-Bissessar was not in charge she could not have held the coalition together. He said he would “not join those who have grievances against Mrs Persad-Bissessar and her Government in trying to bring down her government.”
Warner said the PP Government remained “intact and stable.” He said there was ample evidence of the Government being united and strong. “The facts speak for themselves...Do not look at the bile of anyone individual,” he said. He said all those who were speaking out against the People’s Partnership Government “have a grievance of one kind or the other.”
Moonilal said he was “shocked and very disappointed” by the former minister’s comments. Speaking in an interview while having his birthday lunch of dhal, peas, rice and “yard fowl,” Moonilal said St Rose-Greaves allegations were based on her own imagination. “The allegations are completely untrue,” he added.
Moonilal, who is also the leader of government business in the House of Representatives, said the PM “signs off on all decisions and is in complete command of our Parliamentary work. Absolutely no decision is taken without her knowledge and approval.”
With respect to the affairs of Cabinet, Moonilal said the PM has built “a Cabinet culture of participation, inclusion and respect for all. Every member of Cabinet has the same right as any other to speak and to shape decisions and outcomes.”
He said as a cabinet minister, St Rose-Greaves also exercised influence.
“The tenor of her (St Rose-Greaves) accusations is regrettable,” Moonilal said.
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Warner must deny it. He speaking more than Kamla on every issue.
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This woman is a clown. Always back tracking and flip flopping.
Capital K clown at that.
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http://guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-03/we-have-help-pm
In the first part of this exclusive interview, published in yesterday’s Sunday Guardian, former government minister and women’s and children’s rights activist Verna St Rose-Greaves said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is not in charge of her government. In this concluding installment, she talks to the T&T Guardian's Public Affairs Editor Sheila Rampersad about the true nature of the challenge facing the PM.
Verna St Rose-Greaves says the time has come to move beyond gossip and scandalous whispers about the physical and mental health of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and treat productively with whatever challenges the Prime Minister is experiencing. If the Prime Minister does have a problem, she insists, she is not the first and will not be the last.
“If in fact the Prime Minister has a problem which we are all talking about, whispering about and making scandal about, let us treat with it, if it impinging on her performance as Prime Minister. The problem can be contained, with a lot of support and help. We must not only treat with her diabetes and high blood pressure. “I remember when Tim [Gopeesingh] said peas fall on her foot. What is that about?
“If somebody is not well, they’re not well, and we have to put things in place to help her so she can perform at optimum, so that she cannot have people use those challenges to control her, to make decisions on her behalf, to advise in ways that are not productive and not in the best interest of the country.”
St Rose-Greaves spoke exclusively with the T&T Guardian last Wednesday. She served as a United National Congress (UNC) opposition Senator from March 2 to April 8, 2010 and campaigned for the People’s Partnership coalition in the runup to the general election.
On June 27, 2011, 13 months after the PP formed the Government, she was appointed a government Senator. She served as a member of Cabinet as Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development until June 24, 2012 when she was dismissed cabinet in favour of former San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray during a June 23 cabinet reshuffle.
St Rose-Greaves agreed that Persad-Bissessar’s life is more closely scrutinised than former prime ministers’. “When the Prime Minister says that her life is the most scrutinised, it is true, because people spend time whispering about it.
“I am saying the way to take her power back is to take away the secrecy, take away the ransom they want to hold her under. Come with it, face up to it. There are people willing to stand with her and to help her.
“Female leadership is not easy. I think the time has come for us to say something and do something about it.” A qualified social worker trained in counselling, child development, mental health, and community work, St Rose-Greaves was adamant that public disclosure is “the way we must go” and that the society must stop “beating up” on people who have challenges that affect their overall wellbeing.
“We cannot beat up on people because of their weaknesses. We have a responsibility to help and one way of doing that is to remove the cloak of secrecy, stigma, discrimination and ugliness that we associate with these issues. This is not about a person alone; it is about a country.”
Responding to whether she felt the society is sufficiently mature to react respectfully to a public disclosure, she said, “As a whole the society may not be mature enough—but it is an opportunity to help the society grow up. There are sufficient people who will help her. People love the woman; there are sufficient people who can stand up and help the society mature.
“There are people in leadership all over the world who are bipolar, who suffer depression, all kinds of things, and if that interferes with how they perform in public office, I think we have a responsibility, and the people around them have a responsibility, to ensure that they take their medication and that they function at an optimum.
“It’s the same thing with diet; some people are gorging themselves, not looking after themselves. Some think it is a good thing to boast that they’re not sleeping. You need to sleep, and some of the irrational statements and decisions are perhaps hinged to that.
Your mental wellness is not up to mark when you don’t sleep. You’re angry and frustrated. You just have to look at the public outbursts, the arrogance and vexation, as if we cannot solve anything peacefully. It’s a level of illness that we have to be prepared to treat with in this society.”
She identified a broad problem with current governance in T&T where greed, viciousness and hate characterise reactions to emergent national issues. “When you function with hate, you turn into what you hate. I think this Government started off with so much hate for the PNM that they don’t even recognise they have become the PNM and worse than the PNM.
The very things they were complaining about—arrogance, lack of empathy, neglect of certain communities—are what we are seeing. They have to move away from that hate. They have to distance themselves from that bile. When you listen to the ranting of Government, those are not things people should be saying.”
The public continues to hope for something better, she said, and Persad-Bissessar must speak to the population from a deeper place.
“One major strength the Prime Minister has is her people skills. But when she talks about her people, it must not only be her constituents, it must be all of T&T. She must be brave and she must stand up and speak to people from a deeper place than from where she is speaking from now. She seems to be only able to reach people in big rallies, with lakouray and drama.
“There is a gap, and either Mr Warner or Mr Moonilal would get up and say something and just cause confusion, and when people make noise, she comes forward and uses their words, takes her lead from what they say, rather than asserting herself as the authority figure, as the one who is in charge. People continue to hope for something better, but people no longer trust, and they are getting no real reassurance from her.
“We cannot continue like this. It’s as if power is an aphrodisiac to many of these men. We voted for something different. I entered a campaign for something different, to support her, because I thought supporting her gave this country an opportunity to turn a corner.” But can people who are handicapped because of health challenges be expected to help themselves, given that they are already handicapped?
St Rose-Greaves said her experience in counselling proved to her that: “Anyone can be helped with care and treatment, and if there are people around you who understand your challenges and know how to manage them.”
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/On_the_road_to_where_-181778401.html
On the road to where?
By Keith Subero
Story Created: Dec 2, 2012 at 11:44 PM ECT
Story Updated: Dec 3, 2012 at 6:15 AM ECT
I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts," Will Rogers, the American newspaper columnist wrote in one of his 4,000 syndicated columns.
Rogers, a talented man of many parts, died in 1935, but is still celebrated more for his political wit and social commentaries made during the period defined as the "American Progressive Era".
Readers of the Express are fortunate. Every week they can turn to columnists Kevin Baldeosingh and Tony Deyal for healthy doses of satire and lampoon, but, like Rogers' my columns are just my personal interpretations as I watch the Government, then allow the facts to reveal their own humour.
It is because I find no amusement in the the burlesque show that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar now stages every day under the neon marque of "good governance".
At first, I was tolerant of the shallow attempts at governance. Like kaisonian Chalkdust "ah in town long", so I recognised very early the PM's unpreparedness for office.
I was the Express political reporter for part of the Williams era, and worked on the news desk during part of the Chambers tenure. I know that Mrs Persad-Bissessar is no Eric Williams and, contrary to Jack Warner's defence that people are critical of the PM because she is "Indian and a woman", I know that she has neither the intellectual grasp of Mr Robinson nor Mr Manning's grand vision and capacity for work.
For centuries, theorists have been examining political change, debating about both the moral and psychological forces that have shaped leaders and the swirl of structures and strictures that may have influenced their times.
Plato for instance, told us over 2,000 years ago, that it was all about statesmanship, "the only true art of managing the life of the state", which he likened to weaving.
"The supreme goal of statecraft is the achievement of unity, peace and harmony in the state; the highest task of the statesman becomes the weaving of the aggressive and courageous warp of society to the quiet and self-controlled weft (fabric)," he wrote.
That delicate art of statecraft, as identified by Plato, some of those critics have said, is really beyond the Prime Minister, and despite her recent claims that she is a tough leader her reality is that she is imprisoned by an ego block which prevents her going beyond the bling of office. Her critics have sniped that for her ministerial office does not go beyond baubles, bangles and beads.
The saddest part of that reality has been an inability to weave, as Plato advised, the conflicting threads of our dynamic plural society. In fact, from the start, her administration appeared vengeful.
To date, almost every senior executive in the state enterprises and other agencies has been replaced by persons, from either her party or the clan, regardless of their incompetence and inexperience.
The late Lloyd Best would have explained that the "plantation" has captured the "port", so there is now the tacit manifesto that "It is we time".
Still another part of that reality is how the chosen executives have translated their new positions to mean new found sources of wealth.
So since, May 2010 almost every state agency has gotten a stinging "sampat" and has been ravaged. The tsunami of state banditry is fast becoming the new normal, with ministers and Government officials becoming millionaires overnight.
There is also the shifting of state agencies and ministries away from Port of Spain, first to San Juan, where businesses that once sold car parts have been converted into government offices at rents of around $100,000 a month.
This relocation is now expanding to Chaguanas, soon to become a city, where businessmen are renovating former commercial sites for government office rentals.
Couva businessmen are also preparing as there are plans to site the Industrial Court and an international airport at Camden - 45 minutes away from Piarco.
But although her critics may say she is unprepared for office, another part of the Prime Minister's reality is the establishment of her legacy.
A little-mentioned aspect of the highway project that triggered Wayne Kubalsingh's hunger strike is the Government's plan for a network of access roads from the PM's hometown of Siparia to the highway.
Jack Warner, as Works Minister, admitted last year that already he had spent over $100 million in the PM's constituency to establish those access links, which will first facilitate the PM's major legacy project — the $509.3 million UWI campus under construction in Penal/Debe.
But the PM "show-me projects" in her constituency will also include a high court; an ultra-modern hospital for non-communicable diseases in Penal; a multi-million dollar technical vocation centre; the Siparia (East) Secondary School; a 20-acre regional corporation complex; a workforce and development centre, a sporting complex to host international games, and the shifting of other central government offices.
So coming soon will be the "Port of Siparia", the new capital of the south, possibly with a statue in the city centre in tribute to its founder.
The stoking of racial discord and Minister Moonilal's hint of violence are also facts. Dat is no joke!
* Keith Subero, a former Express news editor, has since followed a career in communication
and management.
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What Verna actually talking about ? She trying to give people intellectual blue balls. What is the 'problem' ?
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Warner must deny it. He speaking more than Kamla on every issue.
That is it..
Hopefully the post called Kamla Persad-Bissessar last 100 days comes soon. Time for this circus to end.
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TV6 news tonight reported allegations of the Prime Minister's drinking problem. These allegations were not unknown but it must now be at a higher stage for it to reported in mainstream media.
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Rum till i die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar denies she has a substance abuse problem. :puking: :puking:
Anything should happen to the drunk who will replace she ? that will be craziness :duel: :challenge: :busshead:
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The PM’s alleged drinking problem—the perception
Published:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s real drinking problem is not whether she is a heavy drinker who cannot hold her liquor, but that everyone, supporters and detractors alike, thinks she has a problem and that the problem affects her ability to function. And as Prime Minister of a country with the many pressing challenges being faced on a daily basis requiring sober analysis and a thinking head, the perception is as much of a problem as whatever reality truly exists.
In the November 2 Section 34 march which went through the streets of Port-of-Spain, I was surprised by the chorus being sung, which although accompanied by different verses along the route, was constant. Singing to the tune of Beginner’s 1940 Road March Run Yuh Run, the marchers were chanting “Drink yuh rum, Kamla, drink yuh rum...,” making a clear link between the Section 34 fiasco and the Prime Minister’s alleged drinking problem.
It is now becoming acceptable to attribute many of the issues of poor governance with which the Government is being confronted to the PM’s alleged substance-abuse issues.
Last week, for example, when he was questioned on the stand-off between Dr Wayne Kublalsingh and the Government on his visit to the site of the Highway Re-route Movement hunger strike camp, veteran masman Peter Minshall also broke into calypso and sang by way of explanation: “Rum, rum sweet rum, when I call you, you bound to come.
Yes, rum, rum sweet rum, when I call you you bound to come. You were made from Caroni cane and they bring you to Port-of-Spain. I going to send my scorpion to bite you centipede, santimanitay. Without humanity.”
And it is not just PNM supporters or UNC detractors who are seeing the PM’s work-related performance issues in substance-abuse terms. Former PM Basdeo Panday, in the campaign in which he was unseated as party leader, had mused darkly: “She is not yet ready. She has to get rid of that serious problem she has. I empathise with her. But the leadership of your party at this time is of overriding concern.”
He returned to that theme almost three years later when, on one of his visits to Kublalsingh, he was cryptically quoted as saying of the PM’s ability to govern: “She will never be ready until she gets rid of that monkey on her back.” In fact, most worrying for the PM is that the suggestions of a drinking problem have come from those closest to her.
In an interview with the Guardian ahead of the UNC January 2010 internal elections, then Panday campaign manager Dr Roodal Moonilal, when told that Persad-Bissessar’s campaign was picking up steam, said, “Well, she should just keep on walking” in an obvious reference to the Johnnie Walker campaign tagline.
And although by 2010 Jack Warner was firmly supporting Persad-Bissessar, he, too, had previously gone public in accusing her of being unfit for public office, recounting tales of allegedly drunken escapades at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in India and on an official visit to Miami.
Most distressing for the public is that the allegations are always made in a fit of political pique and then recanted when the accusers find themselves in the good graces of the Prime Minister. So Moonilal, who said then that his leadership of the campaign for Panday was aimed at protecting the party and the country’s interest, now finds Persad-Bissessar a more than able steward of both.
Warner has attributed his statements to being misled by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and confessed to not telling the truth when he said he had files on her.
And Verna St Rose-Greaves, one of the PM’s biggest defenders—who in May 2011 was publicly chastising those people who were making allusions to the PM’s substance-abuse problems as being disrespectful and indulging in gender bias—following her dismissal, is now accusing her erstwhile friend of having a problem that needs to be confronted frontally.
What is one to believe?
Like estranged couples who hurl the nastiest of allegations in parting and then refute them when making up, it does not mean that the accusations may not have merit. Persad-Bissessar now has to deal with the rumours which have been urban as well as rural legends for much of her public life.
On Wednesday both Dr Fuad Khan and the PM’s engagements adviser, Lisa Ghany, were telling the media that contrary to rumours, the PM’s known medical battles with diabetes and hypertension were under control. They not too deftly avoided the real issue that has been making the rounds of social media before it was brought to the fore by St Rose-Greaves in its most recent incarnation, that there is a problem with alcohol.
By Thursday the newspapers were reporting that the PM was questioned by reporters and denied having a problem. “I have no such problem and I have nothing further to say with respect to that,” she was quoted as telling reporters outside the Hyatt on leaving an official engagement. While we should all be happy to take the PM’s words as final on the matter, we also know that the first defence of alcoholics and other substance-abuse victims, when confronted, is denial.
• Maxie Cuffie runs a media consultancy, Integrated Media Company Ltd, is an economics graduate of the UWI and holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School as a Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management.
http://ht.ly/fWzSd
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So Jack admit he lie. According to the Late Johnny Cochrane in the OJ Simpson trials if you lie about the lil things you will lie about the big things. So Jack when you put on the affidavit that you eh tief no money from the players I can say yuh lie.
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Rum till I die!
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DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Kamla's approval falls 16%, but if elections were called now...
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has become less popular in the past year, has lost some of the public's respect, and there is dissatisfaction with her Government's strategies. These are the findings of a Market Facts and Opinions (MFO) survey commissioned by the Trinidad Express Newspapers. The survey results also indicated the country was still unhappy about the Section 34 fiasco and disapproved of the performance of two top government ministers—Jack Warner and Anand Ramlogan. But even with the sharp dip in her approval ratings, the survey findings projected that if general elections were called tomorrow, people would still vote for the Prime Minister and her People's Partnership Government.
Persad-Bissessar's approval ratings declined from 54 per cent in 2011 to 38 per cent in 2012. Conversely, her disapproval ratings increased from 39 per cent in 2011 to 53 per cent in 2012. The MFO survey results suggested that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Jack Warner were not serving the interests of the country as well as they could. Ramlogan's disapproval rating was at 64 per cent while Warner's was at 56 per cent. People interviewed were most dissatisfied with the standard of health care in the country's hospitals (67 per cent), the handling of Section 34 and its repeal (63 per cent), the working relationship of the member parties of the People's Partnership (63 per cent), the physical condition of the country's schools (62 per cent) and the performance of Cabinet ministers (61 per cent). (See Graph 1). But should general elections be called, 53 per cent of people polled have indicated that they would vote along the same party lines they voted in May 2010. However, this represents a decline from 2011 when 67 per cent of people polled said they would vote along the same party lines. The survey was conducted over a two-week period by MFO from November 26 to December 8, 2012 to assess the Government's mid-term performance. The first poll, from which comparisons were drawn, was conducted in April 2011 and was also commissioned by the Express.
To gather a sample of people, Trinidad and Tobago was divided into five regions- North West (24 per cent), North East (22 per cent), Central (22 per cent), South (26 per cent) and Tobago (six per cent). The participants were further sub-divided in socioeconomic status (where middle income represented 62 per cent, low income 31 per cent and high income seven per cent), ethnicity (where African represented 43 per cent, East Indian 38 per cent and mixed/other 19 per cent). The interviews were conducted by four teams comprised of four interviewers and one supervisor. In Trinidad, research was conducted door-to-door and in Tobago, interviews were conducted by telephone. The sample margin of error was plus or minus four per cent. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar The survey found dissatisfaction with the
way Persad-Bissessar has been handling her job as Prime Minister as well as her ability to manage her Cabinet. MFO's analysis observed that the positive expectancy of her earlier days has waned. "In 2011, five in every ten persons interviewed approved her performance whereas in 2012 the proportion fell to four in every ten persons.
Support for the Prime Minister lay among those respondents who are 55-64 years, from a low socioeconomic background, of East Indian descent and those living in central and south Trinidad," the MFO said. The top three high points of her tenure as Prime Minister thus far (identified by the sample interviewed) were: 1. The removal of VAT on food items- ten per cent 2. Charity work for those in need (includes the Children's Life Fund)—nine per cent 3. Laptops for SEA pupils- eight per cent "What is significant, however, is that one in every two persons were unable to pinpoint a single action which they considered to be the greatest achievement of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar," the MFO said. When respondents were asked: "How much respect do you think the general public has for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar?" There was a 17 per cent increase in the number of people who believed the general public did not have respect for her. (See Graph 2). "The lack of respect has been attributed to her perceived inability to lead the country (31 per cent) and her show of disrespect for citizens (24 per cent)," MFO said.
The People's Partnership Government The MFO survey concluded that Government's efforts to work for the country have worsened. The government also came in for sharp criticism for its management of the country's finances as 59 per cent of people surveyed were dissatisfied with the management of the country's coffers. "There is a definitive divide in the demographic profile of those who assess the management of the country's finances favourably versus unfavourably. Those who held a negative opinion tended to be between 25-35 years, of low and high socioeconomic status, living in North-West and North-East Trinidad and of African and Mixed/Other ethnic descent. On the other hand, those with an optimistic outlook were more likely between 45-64 years, living in central Trinidad and of East Indian descent," the MFO stated. It observed that "there is a clear demographic divide" in those who assessed the Government favourably or unfavourably in its management of public funds. "The respondents who tended to deem the Government's efforts positively were from a low socioeconomic status and/or 55-64 years old, and/or those of East Indian descent and/or living either in Central, South or Tobago. Those of an opposing view tended to be either African or Mixed/Other ethnic descent and/or living in north-west and east Trinidad," the MFO said. "Interestingly, 56 per cent of the sample opined that the recent protest and marches
represent the people's true desire for better governance. A comparatively smaller proportion (38 per cent) are of the view that this civil action represents the political ambitions of a select few."
The most worrisome problem facing the country was crime at 62 per cent, unemployment at eight per cent and inflation at six per cent. (See Graph 3).
The crime problem was described by respondents as "extremely serious".
When asked: "How confident are you that the Government has a workable plan to deal with the crime situation," 44 per cent were not confident while 22 per cent were uncertain about the Government's ability to tackle the situation.
The approval for Cabinet ministers also declined in 2012 when compared to 2011.
"In 2011, 23 per cent of the sample was satisfied and conversely 55 per cent were dissatisfied with their performance. Thus it may be concluded in 2012, there is growing disapproval of the work of the Cabinet with 61 per cent of the sample indicating that they were dissatisfied with their performance. Notably, almost two of every ten persons interviewed did not wish to give an opinion of the Government's handling of Section 34 and its repeal," the MFO stated.
Confidence
Confidence in a number of public institutions and public figures has declined.
But confidence in the media, the banks and the trade unions has increased.
Confidence in the media increased from 26 per cent in 2011 to 39 per cent in 2012 while confidence in commercial banks increased from 31 per cent in 2011 to 37 per cent in 2012.
The trade union movement registered a two per cent growth from 21 per cent in 2011 to 23 per cent in 2012. (See Graph 4).
The significant dips in confidence were in:
1. Religious leaders—confidence declined from 34 per cent to 22 per cent
2. The education system, which declined from 46 per cent to 35 per cent
3. The Prime Minister from 31 per cent to 23 per cent
4. The police from 18 per cent to 11 per cent.
When it comes to the media, 63 per cent of people interviewed perceived that freedom of the media was under threat, 49 per cent agreed that current events were reported objectively and accurately and 73 per cent believed that they could acquire information from the media.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/DOWN__BUT__NOT_OUT-186642321.html
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Ah don't know if alyuh see this yet, but this is the funniest video I have seen. I have this thing replaying. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
http://www.youtube.com/v/qB2WLbL6uHE
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Ah don't know if alyuh see this yet, but this is the funniest video I have seen. I have this thing replaying. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
http://www.youtube.com/v/qB2WLbL6uHE
shot sah :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Ah shit! Hahaha
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It makin d rounds on fb
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Aye, allyuh real idle, you know. :rotfl:
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This is part of a longer interview with residents. Of all the people interviewed, Tanty didn't hold back.....
Edit:
Here is the full interview....approx 2 mins long. Somebody embed for mih thanks. Ah tried and I eh getting it right....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kMb1UEFbcWc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kMb1UEFbcWc)
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https://www.youtube.com/v/kMb1UEFbcWc
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Poignant...
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So even some of she own people realising now that she doh really care about them?! Interesting!
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So even some of she own people realising now that she doh really care about them?! Interesting!
It started from year one. Farmers were the first to feel it.
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Kamla: It’s a tragic scenario
Concacaf expose
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla-Its-a-tragic-scenario-203862811.html
Story Created: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:13 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:13 PM ECT
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has admitted to being shocked by the revelations regarding National Security Minister Jack Warner contained in a report presented yesterday in Panama by the head of Concacaf’s Integrity Committee, Sir David Simmons.
In a brief telephone interview with CNC3 News last night, the Prime Minister, who is in Washington, DC, USA, said she would like to see the report, but added: “Should these allegations be true, they tell a tale of a tragic scenario.”
She also admitted: “I have action to take.” But the Prime Minister told CNC3, “Natural justice demands that I see the report first.”
Former Barbados chief justice Simmons presented the report to Concacaf’s congress.
The report detailed allegations of financial mismanagement by former Concacaf president Warner and ex-general secretary Chuck Blazer with respect to the management of Concacaf.
The Prime Minister left Trinidad on Sunday for the United States, where she attended a meeting at the United Nations and participated in the debate “The UN and Global Economic Governance” in New York.
The Prime Minister also contributed to the Americas-Africa Business Forum, which was organised by the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC.
She is scheduled to return to Trinidad tonight.
Reuters reported on March 28 that there was an FBI probe into allegations of FIFA corruption and Warner’s son, Daryan Warner, was a cooperating witness in the matter.
On March 30, Persad-Bissessar indicated she had instructed Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran to seek information from US authorities on the matter.
However, on April 4, Ramlogan said he had not yet received any response from US Attorney General Eric Holder, whom he had written.
The Attorney General was in South Africa this week to attend the 18th Commonwealth Law Conference, which took place from April 14 to 18.
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More mamaguy talk... everybody shocked by news that in the public domain since I was school uniform
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Jamal’s statement misleading, says COP
‘All Cabinet members support Jack’
Story Created: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM ECT
Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) and Public Administration Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said yesterday she did not want to comment at this point in time on the serious allegations of the Concacaf Integrity Committee made against National Security Minister Jack Warner.
She said she had not yet read the report put together by former Barbados chief justice Sir David Simmons.
However, Seepersad-Bachan did confirm that she and COP political leader Prakash Ramadhar met and agreed that a statement be put out refuting the statement made by Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed that every single member of the Cabinet was giving full support to Warner.
She said at no point in time was there any such discussion, nor was Mohammed authorised to make any such statement on behalf of the COP Members of Parliament.
She said the COP would be having discussions with Mohammed on this issue.
The COP statement expressed surprise at Mohammed’s remark that “the Minister of National Security, Mr Jack Warner, enjoys the full support of every single member of the Cabinet”.
Mohammed’s statement had been made at Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair.
“The COP would like to state that this assertion is misleading.
The party has consistently stood by the principle that any public figure facing serious allegations should step down and allow a full investigation to reveal the facts.
“In this regard the COP is on record calling on two occasions for the Honourable Minister of National Security to step down. Similar positions were taken with respect to other public figures,” it said.
The COP added: “The COP strives to adhere to our founding principles, our commitment to maintaining the highest standard of good governance and the Fyzabad accord. The success of the Partnership starts with every Cabinet Minister and its failure could have a damaging effect on future generations.
“The COP makes no pronouncement on the guilt or innocence of any individual facing allegations in the public domain.”
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More mamaguy talk... everybody shocked by news that in the public domain since I was school uniform
She cnnot accuse Sir David Simmons of being biased..her back is definitely against the wall now.
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No way she touching Jack is she want to make the 5 years.
She will probably use the line that it is just accusations and outside Trinidad's jurisdiction almost a private matter and that Jack has not been charged with any crime la dee da
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Jamal’s statement misleading, says COP
‘All Cabinet members support Jack’
Story Created: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM ECT
Story Updated: Apr 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM ECT
Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) and Public Administration Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said yesterday she did not want to comment at this point in time on the serious allegations of the Concacaf Integrity Committee made against National Security Minister Jack Warner.
She said she had not yet read the report put together by former Barbados chief justice Sir David Simmons.
However, Seepersad-Bachan did confirm that she and COP political leader Prakash Ramadhar met and agreed that a statement be put out refuting the statement made by Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed that every single member of the Cabinet was giving full support to Warner.
She said at no point in time was there any such discussion, nor was Mohammed authorised to make any such statement on behalf of the COP Members of Parliament.
She said the COP would be having discussions with Mohammed on this issue.
The COP statement expressed surprise at Mohammed’s remark that “the Minister of National Security, Mr Jack Warner, enjoys the full support of every single member of the Cabinet”.
Mohammed’s statement had been made at Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair.
“The COP would like to state that this assertion is misleading.
The party has consistently stood by the principle that any public figure facing serious allegations should step down and allow a full investigation to reveal the facts.
“In this regard the COP is on record calling on two occasions for the Honourable Minister of National Security to step down. Similar positions were taken with respect to other public figures,” it said.
The COP added: “The COP strives to adhere to our founding principles, our commitment to maintaining the highest standard of good governance and the Fyzabad accord. The success of the Partnership starts with every Cabinet Minister and its failure could have a damaging effect on future generations.
“The COP makes no pronouncement on the guilt or innocence of any individual facing allegations in the public domain.”
The COP formula is one part hypocrite and two parts eunuch. Dookeran and Ramadhar proved to be useful lackeys and only Mrs Seepersad Bachan appears to have some fortitude. What a philosophically disparate bunch of opportunists.
Even this position has no real merit because it is not activated by any means of coercion. Just more words.
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As I said on fb the dog have flies. COP might be the tail of the dog but they have flies. So let COP eat they food and hush.
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um the COP MPs are mostly UNC moles or pure opportunists like jah noted...............if COP were to pull out of the partnership the MPs would defect along with dey parliamentary votes, even their leader.
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um the COP MPs are mostly UNC moles or pure opportunists like jah noted...............if COP were to pull out of the partnership the MPs would defect along with dey parliamentary votes, even their leader.
ENT I eh know y they doh eat they food and hush
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http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&pageId=26&id=5412
PM to welcome Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will meet with, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, on April 25, 2013 during her official visit to Canada.
“Canada and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a strong, vibrant relationship with deep historic ties as members of the Commonwealth,” said Prime Minister Harper. "We are both committed to a common vision of shared prosperity, security and democratic values, and I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar to Canada.”
During Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s visit to Ottawa, the two leaders will discuss commercial ties and ways to advance trade negotiations between Canada and the Caribbean Community. Discussions will also focus on ways to expand academic cooperation, and collaboration within the Commonwealth and the Organization of American States. The visit will also serve to further Canada’s engagement in the Americas, a foreign policy priority since 2007.
This is Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s first official visit to Canada; the leaders last met at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia in April 2012. Her visit to Canada follows the Governor General’s state visit to Trinidad and Tobago in April-May, 2012.
Canada and Trinidad and Tobago celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2012. This relationship is further strengthened by the valuable contribution to Canadian society made by Canadians of Trinbagonian descent.
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She's making TT look good, been long since the PM has been in Canada. The last official visit to Canada by the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago to Canada was in 1966.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kamla-Canada-PM--plan-major-talks-in-TT-204785801.html
Kamla, Canada PM plan major talks in T&T
A Caricom Public-Private Partnership Seminar will be held in Port of Spain later this year which will be co-hosted by Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.
This was one of the highlights coming out of discussions between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday.
Persad-Bissessar is on an official four-day visit to Canada and will return home tomorrow.
A release from the Office of the Prime Minister said the joint seminar will bring together representatives from government, the private sector, international financial institutions and multilateral development banks from Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, the broader Caricom and international community to share best practices in this field and how they can be applied further in their jurisdictions.
The business seminar will come after Trinidad and Tobago takes up the Caricom chair in July 2013.
The status of trade talks between Canada and Caricom and the common vision for a more integrated Caribbean region was the focus of discussions.
Both Persad-Bissessar and Harper, according to the release, affirmed the importance of bilateral trade and investment, the centrality of free markets to mutual prosperity, and a keen desire to strengthen collaboration in the financial, oil and gas, and energy sectors.
It noted that Canadian investment in Trinidad and Tobago has grown substantially, now exceeding $1.3 billion (CAD).
Annual two-way merchandise trade grew by 45 per cent between 2005 and 2012, and is now approaching $600 million.
Discussions also focused on education and both leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement between Brock University and the University of Trinidad and Tobago to expand co-operation between students and professors. Some 300 students from Trinidad and Tobago study in Canada each year.
The Prime Ministers’ discussions further centred on security and welcomed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of National Security and Canadian Commercial Corporation concerning the development and implementation of projects in the field of defence, security, and related infrastructure.
The MoU, stated the release, will facilitate closer ties between the two countries, including through the provision by Canadian companies of technology and services to enhance the capacity of defence and security institutions in Trinidad and Tobago.
The release stated that this country has been part of Canada’s Military Training and Co-operation Programme (MTCP) since 1970.
In support of their shared desire to expand defence relations, the Prime Ministers welcomed the signature of a memorandum of understanding between the two nations to help Trinidad and Tobago take on a greater role to provide regional military capacity-building training. The leaders were also pleased to announce the appointment of the first Canadian defence attaché accredited to Trinidad and Tobago.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the launch of negotiations between the Air Guard of Trinidad and Tobago with Provincial Aerospace Ltd of Canada with respect to two long-range multi-mission aircraft.
The Prime Ministers also noted that Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme is supporting Trinidad and Tobago in modernising criminal investigations.
Harper and Persad-Bissessar were also pleased to collaborate to improve the Caribbean region’s preparedness and ability to respond effectively to natural disasters by way of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the Caribbean Disaster Management Harmonised Implementation Programme, which is led by the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency and supported by Canada.
According to the release, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, hemispheric and Commonwealth partners, share common values, multicultural societies, similar systems of government and a commitment to democracy, freedom, the rule of law and human rights.
These ties are strengthened by the contributions of almost 65,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents with roots in Trinidad and Tobago, and 6,000 Canadians resident in Trinidad and Tobago
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She's making TT look good
:worried:
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She's making TT look good
:worried:
Wait for it ... :)
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All yuh could keep her.
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All she has to do is show up and read speeches, it not that hard she just has to remain sober. Everyone she meets will be polite and welcoming and any press she does will avoid any questions about controverisal domestic issues.
When someone googles Trinidad and Tobago and clicks the news button the they see is the JW debacle so I don't know what you're talking about making us look good.
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harper go loan kamla a next police chief to take with she on the plane. or maybe a mayor like that one from montreal. they could talk bobolese together.
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She's a female Head of State ,those still are pretty rare birds .
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She's a female Head of State ,those still are pretty rare birds .
Another reason why u all should keep her. You guys have a better conservation plan u all know how to keep rare items.
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First female PM ,your tail feathers should be up and proud wham lol .
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Gone to rally the base?
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... interesting comment, elan.
I wonder if her schedule permitted any meetings on the margins of her official meetings with the Canadians. Although it has been reported that she's the first PM to venture to Ottawa since The Doc, Mr. Panday travelled to Canada to as you say ... "rally the base".
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As I transition, let me clarify something:
... Your disagreement essentially is with something I said, though you chose not to address me directly. I disagree with your "disagreement" and up until now I chose to not address you directly, responding in kind. ...
There was nothing captivating about what you stated. It was an ordinary comment that, standing alone, commanded no response, and was appropriately filed away as "nonsense", with no motivation or intention to comment.
However, because Brownsugar standardly projects enlightened, liberated viewpoints as I've read them over the years, and because she is a woman who acquiesced in your unenlightened view, I commented on her responsive post.
Now .. Despite Browns' enlightenment, it's possible that any woman, who responded as Browns did, may have stimulated the response I stated:
Browns, I'm surprised you agree with this assertion.
Why?? :-\
Because it's nonsense.
Therefore, I was more interested in Browns' perspective than in your pontification. Ultimately, I found her response partially helpful, but in essence mired in your splatter.
I remain more interested in her gendered viewpoint than in your rationale, but shall nonetheless address them both since in many posts you seem to be preoccupied with gender-identification.
At this point, I'll engage your impatient enthusiasm a bit more.
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... the pace will be glacially slow here, but the outcome will be the same. Lehwe build again.
Why I Miss Julia Gillard
I celebrated Julia Gillard becoming our first female prime minister and dreamt of a political future, as did many girls.
Then we witnessed the crude harassment, disgusting personal comments, threats and derogatory questions she had to endure while in office. Some of us can recite sections of her ''misogyny'' speech that went around the world.
Now we have elected Tony Abbott to lead the country, and have a political environment pretty much devoid of women at the top.
Young women who have observed what was done to our first female prime minister are now growing up in a world that believes how she was treated - by the Liberal and Labor parties - was OK. The long-term consequences could plague Australia for lifetimes to come because girls and women might not be interested in reaching for the top in politics.
We were warned of this future by none other than the woman who received the brunt of the misogyny. Gillard warned us of the ''repulsive double standards'' Abbott has regarding women. She told us a vote for Abbott would spell the end of women's voices in our political life. That our voices would be drowned out in a sea of blue ties. With now only one woman in his cabinet, her fears were right. Abbott believes that one woman in cabinet is enough.
At the state level - with only one female premier - the future is no brighter. The more women are attacked in their political roles, the more numb we appear to become about it. We are growing up in a society that accepts comments such as ''the prime minister's father died of shame'' as OK.
This provokes questions about the treatment of women in politics in the future - will it get any better? Girls are growing up on an unhealthy diet of the mistreatment of women and their disappearance from politics entirely.
What women will unfortunately take away from Gillard's prime ministership is how mercilessly and relentlessly she was attacked for everything she did or attempted. And how she has disappeared from public life, as if kowtowing to the bully boys' wishes.
She has moved back to her and my home state, South Australia, yet has been completely absent from the political debate before our state election.
The future for women in Australian politics can be redirected from the path it is on right now. Our only option is to convince women - especially young women and girls like me, a 14-year-old - to enter politics.
Gillard hoped her time in the top job would influence young women to think of politics as a future career, and to aim for the top job. Unfortunately our current federal government is not saying the same thing.
Her hard work, resilience and dignity through her prime ministership was inspiring. While some girls will think of the hardship she experienced and wonder whether it was worth it, others like me now want to get more involved in politics and will continue to be inspired by her. We miss her.
Arabella Wauchope is a year 9 student at Adelaide High School
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-i-miss-julia-gillard-20140219-330py.html#ixzz2uSMEcnrD
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Julia Gillard: Sexism against female leaders isn't just an Australian problem
February 26, 2014 - 3:25PM
http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/news-features/julia-gillard-sexism-against-female-leaders-isnt-just-an-australian-problem-20140226-33huc.html
Julia Gillard has told BBC that the sexism faced by female leaders isn't just "something Australian", but that ''many of the things that happened to me as prime minister happened to other women leaders''.
The former Prime Minister addressed an international audience ahead of taking her role at the Global Partnership for Education, stating that while the sexist attitude she encountered while she served in Parliament was challenging, things will be easier for the next woman who gets the job.
Speaking to the BBC in Washington DC, Ms Gillard cites meetings with other female heads of government where they commented on a ''never-ending focus'' on appearances with people more interested in handbags than what was being said.
Soon after losing the election last year Ms Gillard told a Sydney Opera House audience of the "murderous rage'' she felt about sexism she had to endure as prime minister.
Advertisement
''There were some things about gender our nation needed to work through, that I personally had to work through,'' Ms Gillard told the BBC.
''But I think it's all part of a journey, where we will over time be treating women and men far more equally in politics.''
She told the BBC that many of the things that happened to her had also happened to other women leaders.
"You'll gather [with other women leaders] and chat about common experiences, where there's never-ending focus on appearance ... people are too interested in the handbag rather than what you're saying,'' she says.
But the BBC says it went well beyond the handbag.
The interviewer, Tim Franks, interrupts Ms Gillard to point out comments aimed at her being ''deliberately barren'' or a description by the boss of one of Australia's biggest agricultural companies calling her a ''non-productive old cow''.
''You had to sit there while a radio interviewer was asking if your partner was gay,'' Franks says.
He asks: ''Was she then, is she now, too phlegmatic? Again, 'the murderous rage' of which she spoke in September (at the Sydney Opera House) appears to have been extinguished.''
''I'm a pretty even-tempered sort of person," Ms Gillard says.
"There are always difficult judgment calls about how much oxygen you give to people who are being truly absurd."
Ms Gillard is about to take on a new role as chair of the Board of Directors at the Global Partnership for Education.
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http://www.youtube.com/v/SOPsxpMzYw4
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(http://theshake.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Julia-Gillard-Sexism-300x258.png)
”It’s not been ever the norm in our nation before for people to wake up in the morning and look at the news and see a female leader doing this job.
”For all of the years before, you would see a man in a suit; I am not a man in a suit and I think that that has taken the nation some time to get used to – I think it is probably still taking the nation a bit of time to get used to.
”I think it’s the same sort of journey that many nations around the world are on and it speaks really to the changing nature of our times and the forward progress for women in societies like ours.
”But it’s got some uncomfortable moments along the way. There’s no doubt about that and I feel one of the things that will certainly happen, having had the first female prime minister, is it’s going to be easier for the second, and then it’s going to be easier again for the third.
”And then everybody will get over it and forget about it and no one will even bother to comment any more.”
--- Julia Gillard.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australians-still-getting-used-to-female-pm-gillard-20130404-2h8zd.html
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So....KPB and Gillard being undermined by the same problem with women leadership? What makes you think so?
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So....KPB and Gillard being undermined by the same problem with women leadership? What makes you think so?
You have time. I see this shit yesterday and just skipped past responding to it. Loved Gillard's speech though... watched every one of the 15 minutes, and fuh 15 mins she reamed dude out, tore him a new asshole... but in a nice, diplomatic way. Gillard seems genuinely qualified for the office and was undermined by an intransigent opposition and pervasive misogyny and sexism. Kamla just being undermined by the fact that the public unreasonably expects her to be effective in office and do actual work. Why burden the poor woman with expectations when all she want to do is dress up fuh function and hand out silk tuh she and she drinking pardnas?
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So....KPB and Gillard being undermined by the same problem with women leadership? What makes you think so?
You have time. I see this shit yesterday and just skipped past responding to it. Loved Gillard's speech though... watched every one of the 15 minutes, and fuh 15 mins she reamed dude out, tore him a new asshole... but in a nice, diplomatic way. Gillard seems genuinely qualified for the office and was undermined by an intransigent opposition and pervasive misogyny and sexism. Kamla just being undermined by the fact that the public unreasonably expects her to be effective in office and do actual work. Why burden the poor woman with expectations when all she want to do is dress up fuh function and hand out silk tuh she and she drinking pardnas?
I saw it....pondered....wondered. Considered...contrasted my sentiments on Gillard with my sentiments on KPB. It wasnt adding up.
So since I always willing to learn...I say I go ask.
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I saw it....pondered....wondered. Considered...contrasted my sentiments on Gillard with my sentiments on KPB. It wasnt adding up.
So since I always willing to learn...I say I go ask.
Well in fairness he say it go move at a "glacial pace"... didn't realize he was referring to the logical reasoning being offered as well. Ah well, looks like de Ice Age now start... might take some time.
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country on auto pilot, the only thing this gov't is diligent at is drafting poor legislation, with an almost secular interest in the main.
yet to see any policy decision that should have a run rate economical growth effect in either the short or long term after almost 4 years.
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1. KPB couldn't hold a candle to Gillard as a public speaker or general knowledge of what her government is(was) doing.
2. If Abbott actually said those things as I am wont to believe, he's a real backside.
3. Admittedly I'm not familiar with the context of her statement but it seems more like someone on a personal soapbox talking about how their feelings and personal convictions.
4. Gillard in the end was very unpopular among Australians see http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/18/julia-gillard-most-unpopular-leader-australia (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/18/julia-gillard-most-unpopular-leader-australia)
5. So unpopular was she that she lost Kevin Rudd in the Labor party election. Australians had summarily dismissed this guy in 2010.
I wouldn't doubt that she faced 'sexism and misogyny' but clearly there were many more issues that lead to her demise.
KPB operates on a much lower level of sophistication but claims to be similarly attacked.
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1. KPB couldn't hold a candle to Gillard as a public speaker or general knowledge of what her government is(was) doing.
2. If Abbott actually said those things as I am wont to believe, he's a real backside.
3. Admittedly I'm not familiar with the context of her statement but it seems more like someone on a personal soapbox talking about how their feelings and personal convictions.
4. Gillard in the end was very unpopular among Australians see http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/18/julia-gillard-most-unpopular-leader-australia (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/18/julia-gillard-most-unpopular-leader-australia)
5. So unpopular was she that she lost Kevin Rudd in the Labor party election. Australians had summarily dismissed this guy in 2010.
I wouldn't doubt that she faced 'sexism and misogyny' but clearly there were many more issues that lead to her demise.
KPB operates on a much lower level of sophistication but claims to be similarly attacked.
1. I think we could end this idiotic comparison to both the performance and/or the experience of Gillard.
2. Notice that others were chiming in to finish her sentence, indicating widespread knowledge of the comments, while Abbott himself wore the impassive look of someone bereft of a defense.
3. The context of her statement is that Abbott (of all people), was trying to criticize a member of the Gillard administration about being sexist and misogynist.
4. Nah, yuh have tuh find ah better supporting article. That one was from a year into her administration... can't say that is where things stood at the end.
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Glenn Ramadharsingh's appointment as minister has been revoked according to CNC3 :beermug:
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Read more: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/GLENN-FIRED-252362181.html
GLENN FIRED
PM acts on minister following unruly behaviour towards flight attendant on CAL flight
By Anna Ramdass anna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Mar 25, 2014 at 9:36 PM ECT
Story Updated: Mar 25, 2014 at 11:02 PM ECT
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night advised President Anthony Carmona to revoke the appointment of Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh.
In taking action on the minister, Persad-Bissessar said there must be no compromise on integrity and no allowance for arrogance in her Government.
Her action comes 11 days after the Express exclusively reported in a story by investigative journalist Denyse Renne that police were investigating a report of disorderly behaviour by Ramadharsingh on board a domestic flight from Tobago to Trinidad on March 16.
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When I left T&T in the late 80's I was to young to vote. I have no political affiliation to any party. I must say that this is by far the worst Government in the history of T&T. In less than four years 12 ministers removed , infighting like a cheap soap opera , and worst of all corruption like never before. I truly believe that this Party has to go. If they win the next election T&T will be sent back 100 years. Please people of T&T forget about voting along racial lines and vote this embarrassment of a Government out.
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How can you ask people to not vote along racial lines when the UNC is deeply rooted in racial politics. What is their mantra? is we time? "We" isn't about party but about race.
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When I left T&T in the late 80's I was to young to vote. I have no political affiliation to any party. I must say that this is by far the worst Government in the history of T&T. In less than four years 12 ministers removed , infighting like a cheap soap opera , and worst of all corruption like never before. I truly believe that this Party has to go. If they win the next election T&T will be sent back 100 years. Please people of T&T forget about voting along racial lines and vote this embarrassment of a Government out.
It good 4 we. We got a preview 1995-2001 but ignored it.
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Can't wait for this woman's last 100 days.....
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Why are you all talking as if UNC losing the next election is a given? I could still see them winning over 20 seats next election. Tribe and bribe over rationality anyday. Not to mention the amount of money they thief, we gonna see a huge pr and campaign for the election. All that money they thief over these last 5 years gonna buffer the community for when they leave office anyway. They too smart.
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Can't wait for this woman's last 100 days.....
:beermug:
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Why are you all talking as if UNC losing the next election is a given? I could still see them winning over 20 seats next election. Tribe and bribe over rationality anyday. Not to mention the amount of money they thief, we gonna see a huge pr and campaign for the election. All that money they thief over these last 5 years gonna buffer the community for when they leave office anyway. They too smart.
We live in hope. Hope is all we got.
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Why are you all talking as if UNC losing the next election is a given? I could still see them winning over 20 seats next election. Tribe and bribe over rationality anyday. Not to mention the amount of money they thief, we gonna see a huge pr and campaign for the election. All that money they thief over these last 5 years gonna buffer the community for when they leave office anyway. They too smart.
Ah disagree.
PNM winning the 13 seats they have now (although St. Joseph is a marginal and any number could play but I would be surprised if the people there go back UNC so fast after the bye-election). They winning both Tobago seats especially if Rowley is re-elected as Leader. We clannish like that ;D
They winning Sando East....dais how much 13+2+1 = 16.
Dey winning Toco, D'abadie/Omera, Arima (Penny or no Penny), so that's 16 + 3 = 19. PNM only needs 2 more to win. Those two seats could come from anywhere in the East-West Corridor (Tunapuna, San Juan/Barataria, St. Augustine) or somewhere South.
Interesting times are ahead....
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At best PNM going and crawl over the finish line. It not going to be any convincing victory. With that slim majority they gonna find it hard to pass needed legislation. The other side after having stolen everything gonna be sitting comfortably for the next 10+ years. If people only knew half the stuff that hasn't come out as yet, they will hold their heads and bawl...
A next thing. I watched that scene outside Parliament yesterday and I just laugh. They will forever use poor people in this country. Poor people only good to come out and protest and heckle parliamentarians. When is time to share contracts and share up the wealth of the country, poor people not around though. On one side is african and on the yellow side is east indians. The funny thing about it is that both these groups are not power brokers. Where were the trini whites, syrians, french creole and local chinese. When is time to get contracts, these are the people who benefit. It's time we demand that they make themselves known. We know they benefiting from the treasury as well. Time they come out and take sun too.
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Why are you all talking as if UNC losing the next election is a given? I could still see them winning over 20 seats next election. Tribe and bribe over rationality anyday. Not to mention the amount of money they thief, we gonna see a huge pr and campaign for the election. All that money they thief over these last 5 years gonna buffer the community for when they leave office anyway. They too smart.
Ah disagree.
PNM winning the 13 seats they have now (although St. Joseph is a marginal and any number could play but I would be surprised if the people there go back UNC so fast after the bye-election). They winning both Tobago seats especially if Rowley is re-elected as Leader. We clannish like that ;D
They winning Sando East....dais how much 13+2+1 = 16.
Dey winning Toco, D'abadie/Omera, Arima (Penny or no Penny), so that's 16 + 3 = 19. PNM only needs 2 more to win. Those two seats could come from anywhere in the East-West Corridor (Tunapuna, San Juan/Barataria, St. Augustine) or somewhere South.
Interesting times are ahead....
These seats PNM can win
Constituency
Arima
Arouca/Maloney
Arouca North
Barataria / San Juan
D'Abadie Omera
Diego Martin Central
Diego Martin East
Diego Martin West
La Brea
La Horquetta/Talparo
Laventille East / Morvant
Laventille West
Lopinot/Bon AirWest
Moruga/Tableland
Ortoire / Mayaro
Point-a-Pierre
Point Fortin
Port of Spain North / St. Ann's West
Port of Spain South
St. Ann's East
St. Joseph
San Fernando East
San Fernando West
Tobago East
Tobago West
Toco / Manzanilla
Tunapuna
Them in bold it will b hard wuk but doable
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At best PNM going and crawl over the finish line.
Dat eh nutten new.
And is part of the reason why under a PNM government it is hard to get anything going especially in Parliament because the PNM usually have to rely on the UNC to pass legislation that requires more than a simple majority and de UNC routinely does not vote with PNM. Is just oppose for opposing sake and as we see clearly now, they have no plans of their own when in government......
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At best PNM going and crawl over the finish line.
Dat eh nutten new.
And is part of the reason why under a PNM government it is hard to get anything going especially in Parliament because the PNM usually have to rely on the UNC to pass legislation that requires more than a simple majority and de UNC routinely does not vote with PNM. Is just oppose for opposing sake and as we see clearly now, they have no plans of their own when in government......
Here how d UNC ridiculous the Police Reform legislation was there legislation by time it was ready 2 pass they were in opposition. U tink they vote 4 d Bill of course not because their role is to oppose. This includes opposing legislation you proposed initially.
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I not sure allyuh realise how strong the tribe and bribe angle is yes.
There are seats that regardless of what...will not vote a certain way.
Before Local Govt elections last year...we were averaging a scandal every two weeks.
After that cutass.....you notice what it drop to? Not much escaping...not that not much happening..but they getting better at hiding it....cause they bracing for 2015...and hedging so at least no matter what certain people business fix.
I cant recall seeing posts about the NGC/WASA/SIS deal for the Water treatment plant. The back stories make it even more obvious.
But yet the tribalists..apologists....the sheep in this whole parody of Animal farm would baa as they told.
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Exactly and by now we know the mo of the UNC and its cronies. We spinning in mud if we think PNM could make any sort of progress. I am done being the diplomat in this equation. It's time to fight fire with fire. Manning was too much of a diplomat. That whole party tries to be too diplomatic and please everyone. Life doesn't work that way. Time to fix house.
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I not sure allyuh realise how strong the tribe and bribe angle is yes.
There are seats that regardless of what...will not vote a certain way.
Before Local Govt elections last year...we were averaging a scandal every two weeks.
After that cutass.....you notice what it drop to? Not much escaping...not that not much happening..but they getting better at hiding it....cause they bracing for 2015...and hedging so at least no matter what certain people business fix.
I cant recall seeing posts about the NGC/WASA/SIS deal for the Water treatment plant. The back stories make it even more obvious.
But yet the tribalists..apologists....the sheep in this whole parody of Animal farm would baa as they told.
Exactly..That money that they tucking away would keep their tribe cosy for the next couple of decades....You all see how long ISH and company fight court case for. That not cheap...Soon enough you'll be fighting serious economic warfare. SIS barely existed 4 years ago and they easily rivalling Junior Sammy today.
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Exactly and by now we know the mo of the UNC and its cronies. We spinning in mud if we think PNM could make any sort of progress. I am done being the diplomat in this equation. It's time to fight fire with fire. Manning was too much of a diplomat. That whole party tries to be too diplomatic and please everyone. Life doesn't work that way. Time to fix house.
Rowley has been called many things but never a diplomat. That is when d election bell is sound this time I eh steupsing I just voting 2 make sure the candidate get back his deposit.
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Exactly and by now we know the mo of the UNC and its cronies. We spinning in mud if we think PNM could make any sort of progress. I am done being the diplomat in this equation. It's time to fight fire with fire. Manning was too much of a diplomat. That whole party tries to be too diplomatic and please everyone. Life doesn't work that way. Time to fix house.
Rowley has been called many things but never a diplomat. That is when d election bell is sound this time I eh steupsing I just voting 2 make sure the candidate get back his deposit.
Any hope that Rowley going and significantly reduce corruption (or are we okay when is our tribe doin the tiefin)? Will it just be a hopeless witch-hunt in the end? Is the reason the crime situation never really get solved - a large part of the original PP campaign esp when Jack was in position to talk - b/c the people in charge now jus move in to gettin they cut in the racket?
Seems like we have a certain propensity to 'accept' a lot of BS. For me the water situation being a good example - how could a tropical island with >15cm monthly average rainfall accept 'water comin' 2 times a week for the MAJORITY of the population? Who are the thinkers to solve our problems? I just get the feelin like we 'stuck' for so long. But supposedly we doin okay? people seem happy. I'd like to hear how people frame the whole governance and progress issue today. Any pointers to good writers (not always pessimistic like Fazeer) to help me tune in?
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Exactly and by now we know the mo of the UNC and its cronies. We spinning in mud if we think PNM could make any sort of progress. I am done being the diplomat in this equation. It's time to fight fire with fire. Manning was too much of a diplomat. That whole party tries to be too diplomatic and please everyone. Life doesn't work that way. Time to fix house.
Rowley has been called many things but never a diplomat. That is when d election bell is sound this time I eh steupsing I just voting 2 make sure the candidate get back his deposit.
Any hope that Rowley going and significantly reduce corruption (or are we okay when is our tribe doin the tiefin)? Will it just be a hopeless witch-hunt in the end? Is the reason the crime situation never really get solved - a large part of the original PP campaign esp when Jack was in position to talk - b/c the people in charge now jus move in to gettin they cut in the racket?
Seems like we have a certain propensity to 'accept' a lot of BS. For me the water situation being a good example - how could a tropical island with >15cm monthly average rainfall accept 'water comin' 2 times a week for the MAJORITY of the population? Who are the thinkers to solve our problems? I just get the feelin like we 'stuck' for so long. But supposedly we doin okay? people seem happy. I'd like to hear how people frame the whole governance and progress issue today. Any pointers to good writers (not always pessimistic like Fazeer) to help me tune in?
Corruption is wrong wherever d source. Having worked in the Public Sector 2 long when these jokers are in power nutten gets done because they 2 busy tiefin and findin wuk 4 their friends. Imagine school social workers were home 4 2yrs while Tim look 4 his own 2 fill the position. Now tings gone haywire and after bein interview bout 3 times in 2 years 4 a wuk yuh was doin 4 years u gettin bck yuh job. I said a zillion times me eh like d PNM but d PP makin meh luv them. D worse day in the PNM eh as part as the best day of the PP. Corruption like it in Trinis DNA so me eh expect it 2 done when Rowley take d reins but at least the average Joe who eh benefiting from d big contracts could have get a lil wuk after we get a legitimate certificate. But d PP only care bout their own is salt 4 d rest of us.
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At best PNM going and crawl over the finish line.
Dat eh nutten new.
And is part of the reason why under a PNM government it is hard to get anything going especially in Parliament because the PNM usually have to rely on the UNC to pass legislation that requires more than a simple majority and de UNC routinely does not vote with PNM. Is just oppose for opposing sake and as we see clearly now, they have no plans of their own when in government......
Here how d UNC ridiculous the Police Reform legislation was there legislation by time it was ready 2 pass they were in opposition. U tink they vote 4 d Bill of course not because their role is to oppose. This includes opposing legislation you proposed initially.
Caribbean Court of Justice is a next one.....
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At best PNM going and crawl over the finish line.
Dat eh nutten new.
And is part of the reason why under a PNM government it is hard to get anything going especially in Parliament because the PNM usually have to rely on the UNC to pass legislation that requires more than a simple majority and de UNC routinely does not vote with PNM. Is just oppose for opposing sake and as we see clearly now, they have no plans of their own when in government......
Here how d UNC ridiculous the Police Reform legislation was there legislation by time it was ready 2 pass they were in opposition. U tink they vote 4 d Bill of course not because their role is to oppose. This includes opposing legislation you proposed initially.
Caribbean Court of Justice is a next one.....
Yea boi 4get that 1
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Kamla in Misstep
Chief State Solicitor denies writing letter: ‘I am very troubled by the language’
By \\\\\ Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Sep 15, 2014 at 10:29 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 16, 2014 at 8:30 AM ECT
Oops!
“And inadvertent error” from the Office of the Prime Minister.
In the face of a strong dissociation of Chief State Solicitor Christophe Grant from the contents of a letter attributed to him by the Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday took responsibility for the mix-up and retracted the original release put out by her office.
The letter, which was responding to Dr Wayne Kublalsingh’s threat of a hunger strike, quoted Grant as stating if Kublalsingh wanted to commence another hunger strike, he would be doing so at his own peril.
Grant told i95FM yesterday: “I had no knowledge of that letter until I read its contents (in the newspapers) to my surprise this morning. I, like you am very troubled by the language. Half of the letter is tinged with politics. And I am saying I have no part in that. I am more professional than that.”
Several hours later, the Prime Minister issued a release stating:
“The Office of the Prime Minister wishes to correct an inadvertent error in the press release issued on Sunday, September 14, 2014 which stated that the Chief State Solicitor had responded to the letter sent by Highway Re-Route Movement Leader, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, dated 3 September, 2014.
“The letter was in fact sent by the instructing attorney from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, who was assigned to the pending Constitutional Motion filed by Dr Kublalsingh and other members of the Highway Re-Route Movement,” the release stated.
The original statement from the Prime Minister’s office said the Chief State Solicitor told Kublalsingh that his proposed “action would lead to consequences and risks, which are unknown. However you do so at your own peril.... The State is prepared to abide by the law in this matter and will not be persuaded by the actions of a man who seeks sympathy and empathy from the population in support of the cause. It would lead only to anarchy and tyranny and compromise the rule of law and the democracy which we are a people have grown to enjoy and protect”.
Grant said: “I wish to dissociate myself. I am not the author. I did not pen that letter.”
He added: “I normally don’t talk to the press, I treat these things very professionally. But this is a matter I think of life and death, a man’s life or death.
“I have a lot of respect for people’s lives and I don’t want to be advocating in my children’s thoughts as the one telling the man on the ledge, ‘Go ahead, jump off’.
“I am not the author, I had no sight of the letter. I did not pen any of the thoughts, words or expressions in that letter,” he said.
Grant said he went into his office and saw that there was such a letter from the Chief State Solicitor, but it was signed by one of his junior attorneys who has conduct of the matter.
He said he presumed it was dictated by the advocates in the matter and the instructing attorney was therefore instructed to sign the letter.
In the Prime Minister’s release on Saturday, it was stated Kublalsingh had written to the Prime Minister on September 3 asking that the highway construction be stopped. The release said the Prime Minister “passed the letter to the Attorney General for a response”.
In the Prime Minister release yesterday, she said: “It would not have been prudent for the Office of the Prime Minister to respond to Dr Kublalsingh’s letter whilst the matter is before the courts and hence his letter was forwarded to the State’s legal team so that the issues raised can be appropriately addressed.”
The Prime Minister released a copy of the letter which was signed by Petal Alexander, the attorney in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor who signed for the Chief State Solicitor.
Previous Article
Charles: We’ll take our plight to the UN
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Dog bites Man no news here.
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Dog bites Man no news here.
True...if not for missteps she wouldn't be stepping at all...
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Dumas is saying that some will perceive Grant as a PNM or anti-govt because he exposed the govt error publicly instead of privately
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Dumas is saying that some will perceive Grant as a PNM or anti-govt because he exposed the govt error publicly instead of privately
Dumas chat real nonsense. D AG he was suppose 2 report it 2. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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Dumas is saying that some will perceive Grant as a PNM or anti-govt because he exposed the govt error publicly instead of privately
That's correct. Some will arrive at that conclusion ... likely individuals bearing a political axe themselves. Relying on a political lens will inform a political analysis, but arriving at such a conclusion ignores the integrity of Grant's stance.
The article was placed in the public domain and his response (protective of his professional integrity) sustains a matching response in the public domain.
He did so compelled by the publication, not as a gratuitous cheap shot at the government of the day.
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Grant told i95FM yesterday: “I had no knowledge of that letter until I read its contents (in the newspapers) to my surprise this morning. I, like you am very troubled by the language. Half of the letter is tinged with politics. And I am saying I have no part in that. I am more professional than that.”
Grant said he went into his office and saw that there was such a letter from the Chief State Solicitor, but it was signed by one of his junior attorneys who has conduct of the matter.
Ergo ...
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Christophe Grant is God raise the dead so an easy target. People know his as Singing Sandra calypso writer and eh even know he is the Chief State Solicitor. He was an easy target.
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I am wondering what part the AG played in writing of that letter because the junior lawyer could not just decide to write and sign that .
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I am wondering what part the AG played in writing of that letter because the junior lawyer could not just decide to write and sign that .
Move 2 d head of the class
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I am wondering what part the AG played in writing of that letter because the junior lawyer could not just decide to write and sign that .
Move 2 d head of the class
Like the last time when the then Solicitor General had letters appearing telling the PM she was satisfied and no need for investigation?
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I am wondering what part the AG played in writing of that letter because the junior lawyer could not just decide to write and sign that .
Move 2 d head of the class
Like the last time when the then Solicitor General had letters appearing telling the PM she was satisfied and no need for investigation?
:beermug:
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Misstep- outta step outta time- back step sidestepping - falling from step - StepDown
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AB I was advised that person could be drunk .
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Million-dollar-lawyer-authored-CSS-letter-275907581.html
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/No-mistake-pure-mischief-275906911.html
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Didn't really want or intend for this post to be moved to the Gays thread.
This is where I originally intended to make this post but was a bit too lazy to find the thread.
How come our T&T PM didn't think similarly about the need for a referendum before forcing thru the Run-off Elections amendment that is designed to help keep her government in office?
I sense clear double-standards here! :thumbsdown:
At least she is smart enough to realize that attempting to change that law without consulting the T&T public first can lead to her party losing the next elections.
PM: Gay rights not legally possible (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-09-26/pm-gay-rights-not-legally-possible)
Published: Friday, September 26, 2014 (T&T Guardian)
This country is nowhere near ready to establish a referendum dealing with the decriminalisation of homosexuality and gay rights as it is not legally possible says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She made the remarks while fielding questions from members of the local media after delivering yesterday’s feature address at the T&T Investment Conference in Manhattan. “At this moment it is not legally possible. “The draft gender policy came to the Cabinet, discussed at length and given the very divided voices of Trinidad and Tobago. It will not be prudent for Government to proceed in that direction... it’s too divided. There is no consensus on that issue,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Pressed whether decriminalisation was being considered, she maintained it would be unwise for Government to go in that direction. The PM also spoke on the topic while having the one-on-one conversation with Lakshmi Singh, an anchor for National Public Radio, based in Washington. Describing the issue as “very touchy and sensitive,” the Prime Minister said the policy was produced before the People’s Partnership came into office in 2010 and it had “never seen the light of day. “This was because the previous government faced many persons who were against issues for decriminalising gays and our present government picked it up, dusted it off and put it for discussions again,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said tremendous opposition was faced, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, but the issue of gay rights, the PM said, was not really for the Government to decide. “I think that is an issue that is not really for the Government to decide at this time in our country. It is an issue that the people must decide and therefore one that may require as a referendum to get the views of the people... personal views are not good enough. “But at this time we are very divided in Trinidad and Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar added. She urged that people should not be discriminated based on their sexual orientation.
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;D ;D
https://www.youtube.com/v/yuK4uckbhYA
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PROBE THEM ALL
By Andre Bagoo
Tuesday, February 3 2015
AS SHE announced the departures of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Minister of National Security Gary Griffith over matters relating to the issue, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night called for a far-reaching, independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West by President Anthony Carmona last year, warning, “let the chips fall where they may.”
The Prime Minister criticised the apparent failure of Griffith to inform her of his role in the matter as well as reports he may have received in the matter, and said she had asked both men to resign to avoid their offices – both charged with administering law and order – from being further embroiled in controversy.
The Prime Minister further noted the PCA is an independent institution and is supposed to be apolitical. She questioned the failure of West and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to disclose to herself and the President allegations now made against Ramlogan, and the fact that West was a defence witness in a defamation lawsuit filed against Rowley by Ramlogan. The Prime Minister said the non-disclosure in the matter raised the spectre of a possible attempt to hoodwink the President and herself.
“There are more questions than answers as to whether there was any deliberate attempt to hoodwink His Excellency and the Prime Minister in making the appointment by such non-disclosure,” the Prime Minister said in a highly-anticipated statement on the matter. “I urge that an independent probe be conducted into these circumstances involving the Attorney General, the Minister of National Security, the head of the Police Complaints Authority and the Opposition Leader. And so let the chips fall where they may.” She called for West’s immediate resignation or removal by the President.
Section 6 of the PCA Act states, “(1) The Authority shall comprise a Director and a Deputy Director to be appointed by the President on the joint advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.” Rowley last week confirmed that all three post-holders agreed to West’s appointment. Persad-Bissessar on Friday, speaking with reporters during the Parliament tea-break, said she did not have remit over the post of PCA director West.
Section 12 of the PCA Act states it is for the President to revoke an appointment. That section reads, “12. The President, acting in his discretion, may revoke the appointment of a person as Director or Deputy Director where he is satisfied that the person — (a) has, without reasonable excuse, failed to carry out his prescribed duties for a continuous period of three months; (b) is unable to discharge the functions of his office, whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause, or for misbehaviour; or (c) has become a person who would be disqualified for appointment pursuant to section 8.”
Disqualification for the post includes being a member of any House of Parliament, being a police officer, bankrupt or convicted of a criminal matter.
The Prime Minister’s statement came after a series of convoluted political developments in the wake of the publication of a newspaper article. The article implied that Ramlogan had attempted to induce West, an attorney, to withdraw a statement in defence of Rowley in defamation proceedings brought by Ramlogan, in exchange for accepting the post of director of the Police Complaints Authority, a job which draws a salary of $38,540 per month, excluding perks. West was sworn in as PCA director last November, one month before his statement was filed in court by attorneys who act for Rowley.
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams last Thursday announced the start of a police investigation into, “an allegation of an attempt to pervert the course of justice” against Ramlogan, after West walked into Police Administration Building, Edward Street, Port-of-Spain, and submitted a signed statement. The investigation is led by Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip, who is also an attorney and previously served in the Fraud Squad and the Criminal Investigation Department.
However, another question in the affair arose over the involvement of National Security Minister Gary Griffith on the issue. Last Thursday, the Prime Minister revealed the matter related to the conduct of not just Ramlogan but another minister, now understood to be Griffith.
As the Prime Minister announced that she had asked Ramlogan and Griffith to resign over their handling of the matter, she further took the opportunity to disclose wider Cabinet changes. But in her statement, she focused on the two Cabinet office holders whose posts she said had become embroiled over the last few days.
The Prime Minister said while Griffith had apparently confirmed phoning West on the matter last year, Griffith never reported the matter to her, nor did he consult with her. Furthermore, she said, Griffith never reported the alleged interference by Ramlogan to her.
Persad-Bissessar said, “The situation today would have been very different had such a request not been made and this matter been brought to my earlier attention.”
The Prime Minister said she asked for reports from both Ramlogan and Griffith on the matter and while they conflicted, what was clear was the need for the offices responsible for the administration of law, to be protected.
“While I am not in a position to determine neither guilt nor innocence in this matter, it is of grave enough consequence to warrant serious consideration and immediate action,” Persad-Bissessar said. “I cannot and will not sit idly by while the Office of the Attorney General and that of the Minister of National Security and the head of the Police Complaints Authority are being compromised and brought into disrepute by such allegations that have warranted a police enquiry.”
At the same time, the Prime Minister expressed equally grave concern over whether West’s position was tenable and called for his resignation or removal. She said his position as police watchdog raised a conflict or perceived conflict given the fact of a police probe in relation to him was ongoing. Persad-Bissessar further said West’s position had been compromised by his delay in reporting the alleged approach of Ramlogan, done almost three months after it was allegedly made.
“The question must arise as to why he did not make it known to me or to His Excellency President Anthony Carmona when the position of heading the PCA was offered to him in November,” the Prime Minister said. “Further, why did he wait until now to make public this matter?” But also, Persad-Bissessar was equally concerned by the role of Rowley, the person on whose behalf West is testifying.
“If the Opposition Leader also knew of the issue at the time when he was consulted about the appointment by myself -we had discussions- and the President, it would also have been obligatory upon him to have informed His Excellency,” the Prime Minister said. “Failure by the Opposition Leader to do so at the time does create doubt to any independent observer as to why no mention was made at the time of appointment and why was there such a delay between November and when the appointment and now in making known the matter.”
The Prime Minister continued, “Given the political sensitivity and nature of the alleged incidents it would have been not just prudent but mandatory that both myself and His Excellency, the President be informed. Withholding such information has seriously compromised the appointment of the Director of the PCA.” The Prime Minister noted that the PCA is an independent institution.
“The head of the Police Complaints Authority has the responsibility to investigate complaints against police officers. He would find himself doing so now while he himself has filed a matter for investigation to the Commissioner of Police,” Persad-Bissessar said. “The threat of conflict of interest or perception thereof clearly emerges and compromises the role of the head of the PCA.”
Of Rowley, Persad-Bissessar said, “Further, questions also arise on the role of the Opposition Leader in the matter. Did the Opposition Leader not have a moral if not legal obligation to inform me as Prime Minister and His Excellency the President about the personal involvement of a witness in a defamatory statement involving himself, the Leader of the Opposition?
“One has to be mindful that public office is not used for private gain. Had there been a disclosure by the Opposition Leader of the personal interest in a legal matter involving himself and the Director of the PCA at the point of his nomination to be head of the PCA, the conflict of interest would have been declared.”
The Prime Minister had initially been scheduled to make yesterday’s statement at 4 pm at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, according to a notice sent out from the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday afternoon. But by 12.43 pm, officials said the statement had been pushed back to 7.30 pm and the new venue was the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.
Hours before the Prime Minister was due to make her statement on the Attorney General, another situation mushroomed. Communications Minister Vasant Bharath issued a media release condemning Griffith for supposedly claiming Cabinet last Thursday had attempted to pressure him.
On Sunday evening, Griffith issued a trenchant reply: he spoke with newspaper reporters and issued comments live to television news broadcasters accusing the Communications Minister of acting too hastily. In reply that evening, Bharath stuck by the statement, re-issuing it with only a slight correction in relation to a date but no other changes. Yesterday morning, Griffith fired yet another volley at Bharath. In a media statement emailed at 10.49 am, Griffith accused Bharath of “either mischief or incompetence”.
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‘Speech full of red herrings’
By Kim Boodram
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Speech-full-of-red-herrings-290615621.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Speech-full-of-red-herrings-290615621.html)
A “political bloodbath” and “blood on the floor”.
This was how senior counsel Martin Daly last night described the Cabinet shake-up announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in which she revoked six political appointments, including that of outgoing attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former national security minister Gary Griffith.
The announcement was made during an address to the nation by Persad-Bissessar, which was brought on by a police investigation into claims by Police Complaints Authority director David West that Ramlogan had asked him to withhold a witness statement in the matter of Section 34.
Griffith is named as a volunteer witness in the matter.
Persad-Bissessar also announced her intention to ask President Anthony Carmona to revoke the appointments of Senate president Timothy Hamel-Smith and justice minister Emmanuel George, while Stacey Roopnarine was reassigned from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development.
Speaking on a post-address TV6 panel that included journalist Sunity Maharaj, Daly said the population should not be taken in by the other announcements but should focus on the matter at hand, which was the conduct of Ramlogan in the Office of the Attorney General.
Persad-Bissessar had also called for the resignation of West or the revocation of his appointment, saying there were too many questions as to why his allegations were not made at the time that the matter was in progress.
Daly said there were reasons West should or should not resign, but that was not the issue at hand and should not be focused on.
He said Persad-Bissessar has conceded that the Government has “tripped over integrity issues” that required her intervention in the public interest and that should be where the focus stays.
The other matter that must be examined is the conversation that took place between Griffith and West, since Persad-Bissessar had shifted her words to say Griffith had spoken to West about a “statement”, as opposed to a “document”, as was previously stated in other discussions on the matter.
Daly said Persad-Bissessar’s choice of delivery was based on “narrow and naked” political purposes.
Maharaj also said the focus should remain on Ramlogan and the “skeletons” he has left in his wake, while, she stated, the PM in her address chose to “skedaddle” over Ramlogan and focus on Griffith and Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Persad-Bissessar’s speech, said Maharaj, was filled with red herrings and was designed to take focus away from Ramlogan.
The panel was asked whether they were satisfied with the developments in Cabinet, to which Maharaj said there was no matter of satisfaction but rather an indication of instability in the Government at a time of a general election.
She said the faster the country could get to that point and make a choice based on what was being offered, the better for it.
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http://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall (http://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall)
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Letter to the Editor: Blatter, Kamla: so much in common
Trinidad Express
There seems to exist a striking similarity between FIFA and the UNC. Or is it between Sepp Blatter and Kamla Persad-Bissessar?
Under Blatter's watch there have been allegations of corruption for decades. Today, some of his executive officers, past and present, have been indicted, including Jack Warner, a former government minister and one who has acted as Prime Minister of T&T.
Blatter, the teflon king, has accepted no responsibility for the allegedly corrupt actions of his executive officers, much to the amazement of millions of people around the world, and has won another term in office primarily because he has given millions to the greedy football associations of many small Third World countries.
Under Kamla Persad-Bissesssar (teflon queen?) there have been many allegations of mistakes, missteps and malfeasance, some proven, and she has accepted no responsibility and is now seeking another term in office.
Blatter claims that his work is not yet finished. So does Kamla. Will she succeed like Blatter by giving away goodies, notwithstanding the state of the economy, and let the future take care of itself? There is one significant difference. FIFA's resources are almost without limit.
But it is axiomatic that there are greedy people everywhere in the world.
Time will tell and there is not much of that left.
Annette Singh
via e-mail
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All we want from her right now is the election date! Her 5 years of lies, thiefing and mismanagement is up! :waiting:
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Letter to the Editor: No longer smelling like a rose
Trinidad Express
The Prime Minister’s walkout of the Parliament on Friday was not so much in anger at the contribution being made by the Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West but an attempt at damage control, in the presence of international media.
Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar can no longer set herself apart from the alleged corruption of Jack Warner and, by the prece- dent she herself set, should do the decent thing and resign.
Negative press surrounded Mr Warner for many years, yet she happily welcomed him to her “Partnership” and sheltered him for a very long time. She is now claiming “one citizen” is making the country look bad.
You cannot so easily disengage yourself from this one, Madam Prime Minister. You have sullied yourself and the People’s Partnership by association.
Joanne Viechweg
via e-mail
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Jack claims ganja find at PM’s home not first: ‘Tell the country who Christian is Kamla’
By Kevon Felmine (Guardian).
Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner has given Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar two weeks to reveal to the nation who “Christian” is before he does it himself. He made the challenge to Persad-Bissessar at a cottage meeting at Embacadere, San Fernando, last night as he continued to question the circumstances surrounding marijuana found at her Philippine, San Fernando residence in 2013.
Warner again threatened to expose the PM until the eve of the September 7 general elections, saying that the issue of marijuana being found at her residence was a small issue compared to the other files he plans to release on her. “We have bacchanal until September 6 and it will get bigger and bigger. When I buss the last one, who ain’t dead, badly wounded. Kamla has to be exposed,” Warner said.
He continued, “Kamla, tell this country who is Christian and if you can’t remember, ask the special reserve police officer, his name is Jit Hardeen. He will tell you who is Christian. And Kamla, if in two weeks time you don’t tell us, I will tell you.”
Warner also questioned whether there were other discoveries of marijuana at the PM’s home, as he said former DCP Mervyn Richardson had showed him a picture of the marijuana found in a window sill at her home, but noted that in a release the PM had given another location and amount. He added that former national security minister Gary Griffith also spoke about “two joints” during a radio interview yesterday.
The Chaguanas MP said Persad-Bissessar had violated the sanctity of a prime minister’s home, as there has been no other leader in the Commonwealth where marijuana had been found at their home. He claimed Persad-Bissessar was also the only person who had a five-day weekend, as she has been going home every Friday and returning to Port-of-Spain on Wednesday within recent years. He alleged whenever she could not resume work in Port-of-Spain, she would call Cabinet meetings in San Fernando on Thursdays.
Also commenting on the resignation of former Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran, he said it was a little too late. He said the COP had failed because Dookeran gave the party to Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, who was the lawyer of Dole Chadee, a former notorious drug lord.
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Griffith: Police dropped the ball.
By Gail Alexander (Guardian)
Head of Special Branch Senior Supt Gary Gould said yesterday the investigator probing the discovery of marijuana at the prime minister’s property in 2013 would deal with whatever issue arose regarding a report on the matter. Gould headed the Special Branch in 2013 when the drugs were found.
He had submitted a report to the acting Police Commissioner on Tuesday—just prior to a news conference on the issue by Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner—that five grammes of a plant-like material resembling marijuana was found by a member of the Special Branch in a plastic bag in the male washroom of a gazebo on the western end of the PM’s Phillipine residence on April 19, 2013, around 8.50 am.
Warner has said he was informed by former deputy commissioner of police Mervyn Richardson on April 12, 2013, of the discovery of four ounces of weed on a ledge outside a window of the PM’s house. He said an officer had taken a photo of the find and he urged the media to check the police station and diary on the matter. Contacted yesterday, Gould declined questions, saying: “I’m not in a position to discuss anything on the matter.”
Yesterday, Warner, when asked about the difference in details given by himself and the police report, said: “The police say they discovered material ‘resembling that of marijuana’ in the male toilet of the PM's Phillipine home on April 19. I say that members of the PM’s security detail discovered four ounces of marijuana on the ground outside a window of the PM’s Phillipine home on April 12.
“The PM in her two-paragraph release refers to something ‘found on the common grounds outside of my residence’ etc, and that she was out of the country. Don’t tell me that you don’t see the contradictions here and that this matter is getting messier and messier because of the series of lies that are being offered by the minute.”
Former national security minister Gary Griffith also said someone in the police service “dropped the ball” on the matter since an analysis of the “plant-like substance” should have been done at the time which would have ascertained whether it was an illegal substance. “Or at least it should have been by now,” he added. He maintained it was for the police to comment on the issue.
Griffith said he would have been out of place to try to speak to the police on any matter as that would have usurped the then national security minister’s authority. Warner was national security minister during that period. He said Warner just mentioned the issue to him, probably as hearsay, not for Griffith to have acted on since it would have been the minister who liased with the Prime Minister on such a matter.
On Tuesday, Griffith confirmed he had attempted to speak to Warner to make peace between the ILP and People’s Partnership (PP). Warner, at his earlier media conference, said United National Congress officials and a Congress of the People emissary had been holding talks with him in the last four months to try to restore his relationship with the PP. Warner had claimed this was to make him the “poster boy for the East-West corridor.”
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Griffith: Police dropped the ball.
By Gail Alexander (Guardian)
On Tuesday, Griffith confirmed he had attempted to speak to Warner to make peace between the ILP and People’s Partnership (PP). Warner, at his earlier media conference, said United National Congress officials and a Congress of the People emissary had been holding talks with him in the last four months to try to restore his relationship with the PP. Warner had claimed this was to make him the “poster boy for the East-West corridor.”
So the Alliance of Independents thing...Gary done with that or wha?
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There are some hilarious memes floating around regarding KPB and the "mariwarner".
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There are some hilarious memes floating around regarding KPB and the "mariwarner".
Post them nah
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Watch nah- as per all issues in TnT , this too will pass and be unresolved or as the usual MO , this too will blamed on the PNM 🌿🌿
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PM says ‘Christian’ lives next door: Jack delusional
By Sascha Wilson (Guardian).
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she has a neighbour named Christian Gokool but to her knowledge he has never received any Government contracts.
Also responding to Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner’s questions on whether there were at least three drug finds in 2013 at he home at Philippine, San Fernando, Persad-Bissessar said Warner was “delusional.”
She said so yesterday as she responded to Warner’s claims, at a cottage meeting at Embacadere, San Fernando, on Wednesday night.
During his speech, Warner spoke about the 2013 alleged marijuana find and questioned whether there were more than what was confirmed by the police. He also gave Persad-Bissessar two weeks to tell the nation who “Christian” was.
Interviewed by reporters following the sod-turning of the Housing Development Corporation and Republic Bank’s Carlton Lane Housing Project yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said Warner needed to be more specific because she knew several “Christians”.
“I do not know which “Christian” he is speaking about so we await his words,” she first said.
But asked by reporters if Warner may have be referring to Christian Gokool, she said: “Oh yes, that name is familiar to me. In fact, Christian Gokool is my neighbour at the Philippine residence, one of the properties next door belongs to him, his father and his wife.”
Asked if Gokool was a recipient of Government contracts, she replied: “Not to my knowledge that Mr Gokool has received any government contract. I am not aware of any such contract.”
Told that Warner was also questioning whether marijuana was in fact found three times on her premises and not once as confirmed by the police, Persad-Bissessar said:
“Mr Warner is delusional, quite frankly. There is something that says he who alleges must prove and I await Mr Warner to prove any of the allegations that he has made.
“If it is that the police have reported something was found there fine, the police is investigating that, go ahead.
“Mr Warner said I was in New York (April) 12 (2013). I could hold up my passport to you and show I left the country on the (April) 14 (2013), so now he is shifting the goalpost at every single moment, shifting the dates. I think he is delusional, quite frankly.”
She suggested that reporters ask Warner why he resigned the day after she returned to the country.
But speaking at a political meeting in La Brea last night, Warner again stuck to his guns on the claim, saying he had given the PM two weeks to say who Christian is or he would. He said if the People’s Partnership believed he was bluffing they could wait until the time passed and he would deliver the bombshell if they did not.
Resignation claim false
Persad-Bissessar also denied asking Warner if she should resign after the marijuana was allegedly found.
“Of course not. I have gone through five years of office with people calling upon me to resign every day. Would I ask someone if I should resign? No... totally not true.”
Reiterating she was not aware of the marijuana find in 2013, she said when the report came about it she felt horrified and very disturbed.
“The report speaks to a point in my premises which is like hundreds of yards away. it is way out.
“I have no control of that part of my premises, no direct control. It is in fact under the control of police, soldiers, other workers, Special Branch... they have control of those portions of the premises,” she added.
Told that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had said the easiest way for her to end that was to say she did not smoke marijuana, she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.
“I think he might be high when he asked that question,” she replied.
Persad-Bissessar also said people were not foolish and she did not believe anyone in the country thought Warner could become prime minister but noted the people would decide on September 7.
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Regardless of political will and party affinity, I believe that all due respect usa be accorded to the office of PM. It appears that this is lacking ,we have taken to liberties to address the person in office like we do a friend; the media has propagated in part a public shaming of elected individuals in the manner i which stories are revealed .
I believed that if the text of our PM 's victory speech could be published, one would read of great hope , great promises anda vision of a unified TnT .five years later under this current leadership the Right Honourable leader has failed to live up to these ideals- the weight of Mao practice, incompetence and poor judgements by some of those supportive ministers have tarnished of what could have been a defining legacy of our first female PM . I was open and willing to accept that this promise of change would uplift and stand up to corruption,crime and transformTnT as a safe nd desirous destination for many to grace its shores and for some to return and contribute to our proud history. Today I have not seen ou Right Honourable leader successfully taken a stance of accountability and demand resolutions of grave criminal activities which continue to cast a shadow upon the island. Firing ministers and replacing them are mere acts or attempts of managing incompetency Anderson of judgement in putting them in positions of authority without truly assssing competency and integrity .
Today, whatever nd however we judge,we must first consider the weight of leadership nd the office of PM. If the robe does ot fit, time to do the dignify thing and respectfully decline the next elections
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Kristyan Unmasked
By Anika Gumbs and Nikita-Braxton-Benjamin (Trinidad Express).
Kristyan has been unmasked.
Corruption accused Jack Warner threw out the question “Who is Kristyan” to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday night at a political meeting in San Fernando.
Kristyan was spelled “Christian” in newspaper reports yesterday.
Warner said: “Kamla for your sake and the country sake, tell them who is Kristyan. That is all. Tell the country who is Kristyan, Kamla. I go further to tell you to tell Jit Hardeen, a special reserve police officer, ask him to tell us who is Kristyan because if she does not and he does not in two weeks' time I will.”
Kristyan, whose surname is Gokool, is the neighbour of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and the owner of a $6 million property her husband Gregory Bissessar lost in a family dispute 12 years ago.
Persad-Bissessar revealed Kristyan Gokool's identity to the media yesterday.
Speaking with reporters following a sod-turning ceremony for a housing project in San Fernando, Persad-Bissessar said she was aware of “several Christians”.
She said, “The Pope is a Christian and he is in the news right now ... If Mr Warner would be so kind as to specify which of the Christians he's speaking about, we'll be happy to speak further on it.”
Asked by a reporter if she knew the name Kristyan Gokool, Persad-Bissessar said: “Oh yes, that name is familiar to me. In fact, Kristyan Gokool is my neighbour at the Phillipine residence, one of the properties next door to us belongs to him and his father and grandfather.”
Asked if Gokool had ever received any Government contracts. Persad-Bissessar said, “Not to my knowledge.”
When the Express contacted Gokool yesterday, he said: “ I was unaware it was me Mr Warner was referring to.”
Gokool is the son of businessman Daniel Gokool who is listed as a director of Danny Enterprises, and the twin brother of Kristoff.
The company is on record as receiving state contracts.
Next door neighbours
Gokool's mansion is situated on two lots of land next door to the private residence of Persad-Bissessar at Estate Drive, Phillipine, in south Trinidad.
The deed for the Estate Drive property list Gokool, 35, of Papourie Road, Lengua Village, Barrackpore as purchasing the multi million-dollar property on November 22, 2012 without a mortgage.
Court records show the two lots formed part of a one-acre 20 perches parcels of land that was purchased by Bissessar for $85,000 in 1990.
However, a family dispute ensued, and by consent order Bissessar's brother—Lenin Bissessar and his wife Ukie—became the new owners of the two lots of land in 2003. Two years later, British couple Achillea and Catriona Achilleous bought the land from Lenin and Ukie Bissessar for $1 million and built a four-bedroom mansion.
The Achilleous family, however, placed the mansion on the market for sale in 2012, asking for $6.5 million.
More than one property
The mansion is not the only property Gokool is listed as purchasing along Estate Drive.
Gokool also purchased a $3.1 million parcel of land that is located obliquely the mansion along Estate Drive.
The parcel of land measuring .4988 hectares was purchased on December 19, 2013 from John Dos Ramos of Santa Cruz.
Gokool did not secure a mortgage for the purchase of the land either which is still vacant.
The Express caught up with Gokool on February 26, 2015 at the Barrackpore address where he lives with his wife, attorney Keisha Manohar, 33, and their two children along with his parents (Daniel and Indrawatee Gokool).
Asked how the mansion and land were paid for, Gokool said: “I did not take a mortgage. My wife is an attorney. I am 35 years and my parents helped me to buy it. I got married in October 2012.
“I sell stones. I buy land and sell with whatever I get from my father who is a director in Danny's Enterprises Ltd. I work sometimes with my dad and they helped me. My wife's parents helped us also.
“I know everybody trying to sling mud right now. I know you have your job to do. From the moment I bought the house people started to talk. If I had taken a mortgage it would have taken 25 years to repay it.”
As to when his wife was called to the Bar, his wife, Keisha Manohar who was present during the interview said: “In 2009.”
Our parents helped us
Gokool added: “Our families contributed. We also got money from the wedding plus our parents helped us.
“The house was for sale and I was looking to purchase land in Dow Village, Otaheite. Someone was selling six acres of land but they wanted too much for it. I was then informed of this house at Estate Drive.
“We found out the price and the people agreed to sell and I ended up buying it.
“I recently got married and we had our first daughter who is turning two this year. It was hard to see about a newborn baby.
“It was my parents' first grandchild and they asked us to stay here with them so I fixed up the house at (Estate Drive) and then two years later we have another child (ten-weeks old); that is how I am still here. It is kind of hard because my newborn baby got sick.”
Regarding the purchase of the land Gokool said he was alerted to the sale by a sign.
“The piece of land for sale was 53,000 square feet. When I was passing I saw the sign and they asked for $3.1 million. When I did my calculations it was around $57 per square foot so I thought that was a good deal because land is selling for $200 per square foot. I ended up buying it for the $57 per square foot and I am trying right now to sell it back because people are developing the area. I want to sell it back for $100-plus per square foot,” Gokool said.
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:o :o Speak Out T&T on FB
Gary Griffith on Kamla
"Not one day in her five years as Prime Minister has that woman been to work on a Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday. You want to run the country and have a five day weekend? We have enough ammo on that woman that she can't play hard ball on us." - Gary Griffith speaking to Jack Warner about the PM
See link https://www.facebook.com/SpeakOutTnT/posts/842389419181186?fref=nf
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:o :o Speak Out T&T on FB
Gary Griffith on Kamla
"Not one day in her five years as Prime Minister has that woman been to work on a Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday. You want to run the country and have a five day weekend? We have enough ammo on that woman that she can't play hard ball on us." - Gary Griffith speaking to Jack Warner about the PM
See link https://www.facebook.com/SpeakOutTnT/posts/842389419181186?fref=nf
so basically GG confirming that we have at least 1 civil servant wuking 2 days a week! ;)
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There are some hilarious memes floating around regarding KPB and the "mariwarner".
Post them nah
Been trying to, but I can't get them to stick. Will try again.
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He vowed to bring down PP.
By Yvonne Webb (Guardian).
PM offers reason for Jack’s attack...
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says her party’s former chairman, now “arch nemesis,” Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner, cried like a baby when she demanded his letter of resignation in 2013 and instructed him to clear his name. But she asserted she was a strong woman and all of his current lies and fabrications against her would not make her cry.
“I tell you, this woman no cry. This woman will not cry, will never cry,” she said as she boasted of her strength as a woman during a United National Congress cottage meeting in the Oropouche East constituency on Tuesday night. Revealing details previously unknown to the public, Persad-Bissessar said when she demanded Warner’s resignation after the Sir David Simmonds’ Concacaf report, he (Warner) asked for seven more days but she refused.
“He swore he will do everything he could to take down my Government but we have stood strong. We have stood tall and we will continue to stand,” she said. The PM’s statement came hours after Warner released another tape at a press conference in Port-of-Spain, which he claimed allegedly told of “sleaze, graft, corruption, sexual misconduct and misbehaviour in public office” arising out of an alleged incident at the Diplomatic Centre in 2013.
Shrugging off Warner’s allegations once again, the PM said her strength and gender, plus the fact that she fired him, had him angry and delusional. “I formed a government in 2010 and I did my best to ensure that we delivered and when ministers failed they were sacked. I do not apologise for that.
“I am a woman and I am strong. He cannot handle that. The first female prime minister I am of this very great nation and so he resents my gender, he does not respect the office I hold and that is not an insult just to me, it is an insult to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and every woman of Trinidad and Tobago,” she added.
She said he was delusional “because he knows for a fact that he cannot overthrow me and I have refused every of his attempts to control and to influence me.” Saying she was fed up with the “gruesome twosome”—Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Warner—Persad-Bissessar said she was ready to fight them both “any time, anywhere, any day and beat them.”
She said she would stand and fight like a mother whose child was in danger for her country. She said she would not play into their hands and be distracted by their lies and allegations.
Kamla Not afraid of attacks
Persad-Bissessar said her focus ahead of the September 7 general election would be on issues, rolling out her Government’s plans, policies and programmes to continue to build a new Trinidad and Tobago. She said the People’s National Movement (PNM) had no plans or programmes, that is why they were fabricating lies and allegations against her Government which had outperformed every single government in the history of T&T.
Taking a cue from Warner, Persad-Bissessar took off the gloves and took aim at her former Cabinet colleague and “his sidekick Mr Rowley”, saying their stories were becoming more bizarre, wild and delusional each week but she will not play out their script. “My lawyers will deal with their lies and fabrications. I will not play into their script because this is now becoming like ‘stay tuned.’
“You remember the series on TV, Peyton Place? They say ‘Stay tuned next week... coming soon to a theatre near you’ is the latest in the episode in the series of a man on the list of the most wanted men in the world,” she added.
She told the audience, which included former finance minister Gerald Yetming and former Senate president Timothy Hamel-Smith, that Warner, “is like a Jack in a box who is trying to jump out of the box and that box is that he must answer for racketeering, he must answer for wire fraud transfer, he must answer for money laundering and those charges are not by us here, those charges come from every country around the world.”
She had the audience laughing when she said she had one good thing to say about Warner and that was he did not discriminate. “He does not discriminate. He took money from every continent in the world, including right here in the Caribbean... from Haiti,” she said. Saying her Government will win the September 7 election and her seat will be the first to be declared for the UNC, she also took aim at Rowley, saying he was bitter because she fought him with the Emailgate matter and cleared her name.
She called on Rowley to clear the air on the statement attributed to the Laventille PNM candidate Fitzgerald Hinds about “people like alligators in a lagoon.” “You never condemned the Calcutta ship statement in Tobago and now today your members are speaking about alligators in a lagoon. “Well, let me tell you, I planted rice, like many of you, in a lagoon. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is where you are going and where you are,” she added.
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Kamla fed up of ‘gruesome twosome’
By LAUREL V WILLIAMS (Newsday)
EVEN as she declared being fed up of the “gruesome twosome” team of PNM leader Keith Rowley and ILP leader Jack Warner, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she will not be distracted as she leads the People’s Partnership into battle for a second term in power.
Speaking at a cottage meeting on Tuesday night at the Oropouche East constituency office in Debe she told supporters that recently, there have been more wild, bizarre and delusional claims by Warner, which are echoed by his sidekick, Rowley.
“I am sorry for all the people who have ever met me in my 40 years of service to this country. You will all be accused by Jack and Keith, the gruesome twosome, of impropriety and wrongdoing just because you speak to me, just because you happen to meet me somewhere, just because you happen to live near me. I am sorry for all my neighbours,” Persad-Bissessar said.
On Warner, who is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, bribery and racketeering, she said he is like a jack-in-a-box, trying to jump out with spurious claims.
Throwing some picong, the PM noted Warner does not discriminate, getting his hands on money on every continent in the world even right in the Caribbean... from Haiti. The kind of language he now uses, she noted, is one of Jurassic Park and the dinosaur age which has long gone.
“His utterances are becoming more incredible, more far fetched and more bizarre. He will do for himself...the truth always prevails,” Persad-Bissessar said. Saying she fears neither Warner nor Rowley, Persad-Bissessar anticipated more accusations by the duo.
“I may be accused of knowing the sister of the cousin of a friend who is involved in the assassination of President Kennedy. Who knows. Perhaps, I will be accused of being in a safe house owned by someone who once met someone, who knew someone, who was a villain in Scooby Doo,” she said.
Turning to governance, she boasted that 90 percent of the 2010 manifesto was fulfilled.
“This is a job that I have worked in 24/7. I have never in my five years of office taken vacation. I took a couple days of sick leave. I take my job and responsibility very seriously. I know that I hold this job to serve the people,” she added.
Saying one must not play politics with people’s lives, the PM gave supporters two choices when deciding to cast their votes on September 7. “It is either Warner and Rowley’s poison or Kamla’s plan for a better tomorrow. That is your choice!”
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Steups- she fed up- look at how convenient it is now for her to play the " victim" role! Looking for sympathy by claiming the opposition against me and attacking me or my gender!
What does Mr. Rowley or PNM have to do with the incompetence and poor decisions made? Reflect on the lack of plans this government had coming in to office ; reflect on all they did was to blame PNM for everything they could not resolve!
Look somebody play that Kaiso " Go Nah"
Frankly I am tired and ashamed to see the great depths of mediocracy that TnT has fallen to under this government . This daily mudslinging shows a callousness disregard for personal Integerity. Matters held in confidence are now shared in public- dirty linen is now open for public consumption - for what purpose?
Mr.Rowley doh take the bait - rise above all this bs
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Jack on Kamla’s statement: No tears from me
T&T Guardian Reports.
Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader Jack Warner says statements made by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar that he cried when he was asked to leave the government in 2013 are false.
Addressing supporters at an ILP cottage meeting in Indian Walk, Moruga, on Wednesday night, Warner said he never cried. While speaking to United National Congress (UNC) supporters in Debe on Tuesday, Persad-Bissessar said Warner cried when asked to leave office in 2013.
“She said I cried. The only time I remember any tears between Kamla and me was when she was crying in Cabinet over Reshmi. She was saying she had been set up,” Warner said.
He was referring to the appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine, a junior technician, to lead the Strategic Services Agency, a covert unit set up in 2011 to monitor criminal activities. Ramnarine was later fired because she was unqualified for the job.
“Cabinet had to be adjourned. If you see ‘snatty’ nose. She was crying. That was the only tears between Kamla and me,” he said. Warner said he volunteered to leave the government and was not asked to do so as Persad-Bissessar previously said.
“I cried? When I came out of Kamla office, I met (Roodal) Moonilal, Suruj (Rambachan) and Chandresh Sharma by the door. I said hi and bye and I left. I said to her I will leave and therefore to say I cried is not true,” he said.
Responding to Persad-Bissessar’s statement’s that he was attacking her because she is a woman, Warner said: “She says she is being attacked because she is a woman, well I never heard about so much foolishness but I know as an old hunter...male manicou, female manicou, same shot...when you in the bush you don’t say that manicou will escape because it’s a female.”
Warner said Persad-Bissessar opened her life up to criticisms when she became Prime Minister. “If anybody is delusional is Kamla not me. My friends know what I drink, when I drink and where and that is all I will say.”
What PM Said
Speaking to United National Congress’ (UNC) supporters in Debe on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said Warner cried when he was fired from her government in 2013. “Mr Warner came to the Diplomatic Centre, the same centre he is now maligning with his lies, with a letter of resignation. He gave me the letter which I still have, he was resigning from the government and he cried, he cried that night.
“He knew the David Simmons report was coming out the very day when I was out the country, so he took front with it, came and cried and said ‘Hey if you want this I’ll give it to you, keep it whatever.’”
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PM: I don’t smoke weed
By Anna Ramdass (Express).
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night that she does not smoke marijuana.
And she is considering creating a Ministry of Defence in her new term if she is re-elected on September 7.
She was speaking during what was dubbed a “leadership exchange” at the studios of state owned Caribbean News Media Group (CNMG) where she fielded questions from a panel comprising of political analyst Derek Ramsamooj, economist Dr Morgan Job and former People’s National Movement (PNM) councillor Isha Wells who asked the PM the question on whether she smoked marijuana.
CNMG had invited the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to a leaders debate but Rowley declined as he had already committed to two debates to be hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Debates Commission (TTDC) next month. The Prime Minister has said that she was only available to debate on July 30.
Last night Persad-Bissessar answered questions on the economy, national security, governance and human and social development.
Wells pointed out that last year there was a multi-million dollar drug bust where cocaine was discovered in juice cans shipped from Trinidad to Virginia, United States. She asked what was being done to deal with the issue of the drug trade.
Persad-Bissessar said there was always room for improvement in dealing with national security issues and in a new term the country can expect even more stronger measures.
“I’m looking to, in our new term to create a separate Ministry of Defence,” said Persad-Bissessar, noting that at present there are the Ministries of Justice, Legal Affairs, the Ministry of the Attorney General and National Security.
She said the protective services — the police and defence force fall under the National Security Ministry and a new Ministry of Defence can focus specifically on dealing with border control and locking down this country’s borders to prevent the infiltration of guns and drugs.
Right decision to scrap OPVs
She pointed out that her Government procured three of 12 vessels to patrol and protect the borders. Wells asked whether the Prime Minister was admitting that an error was made in scrapping the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that the PNM had bought.
“No, I am totally convinced it was the right decision,” said Persad-Bissessar, adding that the money saved was utilised for buying CCTV cameras, police vehicles, GPS systems and putting more human resources in the security system.
“I do not regret shutting down the OPVs, they were bad for us...they are bad for us at this point in time,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar also answered the controversial question as to what led to the appointment of former head of the Strategic Security Agency (SSA) Reshmi Ramnarine. Ramsamooj noted that Ramnarine’s appointment, the State of Emergency and the controversy with LifeSport point to decision making and he asked whether the Prime Minister was misled in making decisions and if so by whom.
LifeSport was a programme
Persad-Bissessar said the country functions on the Westminster system and therefore there is collective Cabinet decision and LifeSport was a programme approved by the Cabinet.
“That (LifeSport) was laudable in its own objectives to assist those at risk in hotspot areas, when it went down to implementation there were administrative issues that led to the scandal that it became,” she said.
“Is there something wrong with the decision making process? I say no, it’s when it comes to implementation of the administrative processes that is where the flaw lies and that is what we need to fix,” she said adding that it comes back to procurement legislation which will aid in bringing transparency and accountability.
Ramsamooj pressed further, asking about the decisions with respect to Ramnarine’s appointment and the state of emergency.
“Miss Reshmi Ramnarine lasted all of two days I believe, there was a flaw in the decision-making process, I go back to it is not a perfect world, having discovered that flaw we took action on it, that is the difference I say between our leadership as opposed to the previous administration that was here before us,” said Persad-Bissessar.
“LifeSport when we discovered what was happening, we did the audit, we sent it to the police, we sent it to the DPP for investigation. The Reshmi Ramnarine issue, the flaw in it, whatever information came was incorrect information, when we discovered that we acted on it within a day or two,” she added.
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Where our yellow jersey defending forumite 'Controversial'? :D
After Rowley raises bribery claims against PM on platform, CoP finally orders probe
Hours after Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley criticised police for not investigating an $8.3 million bribery claim against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in connection with the Section 34 fiasco, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams assigned the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau to probe the allegations.
The claims, which were made by Independent Liberal Party leader and former People’s Partnership MP Jack Warner at a news conference on July 13, allege Persad-Bissessar received cheques from United National Congress (UNC) financiers—Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson—in exchange for their freedom on pending criminal charges.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/Kamla%20Persad-Bissessar_4.png?itok=ON9rd2oi)
Speaking by telephone yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) Glenn Hackett said it was only yesterday that Williams received the correspondence relating to the alleged conspiracy. However, he said he had not read the details of the matter. “Only this morning the Commissioner of Police received that correspondence and he has assigned it to the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau.
“I was there with the commissioner when he received it but I did not read or see the details so I cannot comment further,” Hackett said. At the People’s National Movement’s regional meeting at Harris Promenade, San Fernando, on Tuesday night, Rowley demanded that Williams initiate an investigation into Warner’s claims.
At the new conference at the Hotel Normandie, St Ann’s, on July 13 Warner showed a sworn affidavit which alleged Persad-Bissessar received the cheques at the Tunapuna home of businessman Ralph Gopaul in May 2010. Warner claimed that Persad-Bissessar told him that the Ministry of Justice would “help our friends” and Section 34 was allegedly created to ensure both men walked free.
In response, Persad-Bissessar said the allegations were all lies and the process of law was followed with respect to Galbaransingh and Ferguson’s case. She added that Section 34 was passed unanimously with the support of all sides of the House. Galbaransingh and Ferguson were indicted by the US for conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bid-rigging in relation to the construction of the Piarco International Airport project between 1996 and 2001.
In 2011, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh threw out their extradition request and ordered that they be tried in Trinidad. Persad-Bissessar noted that was done a year before the proclamation of Section 34. On Tuesday night, Rowley said he saw an affidavit signed by a Justice of the Peace and even met a man in Couva last Wednesday who informed him he was present at the 2010 meeting with Warner and Persad-Bissessar.
“I ask you tonight, is that what you expect with respect to law enforcement in Trinidad and Tobago? Is it that some people are above the law in Trinidad and Tobago? “And if allegations are made against you or whatever it is, I can say I am not investigating that because it’s your name being called?” Rowley asked.
“Tonight, I want to demand of the Commissioner of Police that he begin an investigation into the conspiracy of Section 34, where Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, is alleged to have done certain things and only a proper investigation with witnesses, statements and thorough examination will determine whether it is true or not.”
section 34
The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act was passed to abolish preliminary inquiries and replace it with paper reviews. This meant a Master of the High Court would review submissions in a matter and decide if there was sufficient evidence to take it to trial. Section 34 of the Act allowed those people who had matters before the court that were ten years or older to apply to a judge to have their case(s) dismissed, once the trial(s) had not begun.
This and five other sections were proclaimed by former president George Maxwell Richards on August 2012. However, a furore was created when Galbaransingh and Ferguson made an application to have their cases dismissed. Two weeks later and with mounting pressure from the public and civil society, an emergency sitting of the House of Representatives was called and Government repealed Section 34.
Former justice minister Herbert Volney, who had piloted the Bill in Parliament, was fired on September 20 and replaced by attorney Christlyn Moore. It was only in May 2014 that Volney accepted sole responsibility of the fiasco
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-07-30/after-rowley-raises-bribery-claims-against-pm-platform-cop-finally-orders-probe
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Where our yellow jersey defending forumite 'Controversial'? :D
After Rowley raises bribery claims against PM on platform, CoP finally orders probe
Hours after Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley criticised police for not investigating an $8.3 million bribery claim against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in connection with the Section 34 fiasco, acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams assigned the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau to probe the allegations.
The claims, which were made by Independent Liberal Party leader and former People’s Partnership MP Jack Warner at a news conference on July 13, allege Persad-Bissessar received cheques from United National Congress (UNC) financiers—Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson—in exchange for their freedom on pending criminal charges.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/Kamla%20Persad-Bissessar_4.png?itok=ON9rd2oi)
Speaking by telephone yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) Glenn Hackett said it was only yesterday that Williams received the correspondence relating to the alleged conspiracy. However, he said he had not read the details of the matter. “Only this morning the Commissioner of Police received that correspondence and he has assigned it to the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau.
“I was there with the commissioner when he received it but I did not read or see the details so I cannot comment further,” Hackett said. At the People’s National Movement’s regional meeting at Harris Promenade, San Fernando, on Tuesday night, Rowley demanded that Williams initiate an investigation into Warner’s claims.
At the new conference at the Hotel Normandie, St Ann’s, on July 13 Warner showed a sworn affidavit which alleged Persad-Bissessar received the cheques at the Tunapuna home of businessman Ralph Gopaul in May 2010. Warner claimed that Persad-Bissessar told him that the Ministry of Justice would “help our friends” and Section 34 was allegedly created to ensure both men walked free.
In response, Persad-Bissessar said the allegations were all lies and the process of law was followed with respect to Galbaransingh and Ferguson’s case. She added that Section 34 was passed unanimously with the support of all sides of the House. Galbaransingh and Ferguson were indicted by the US for conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and bid-rigging in relation to the construction of the Piarco International Airport project between 1996 and 2001.
In 2011, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh threw out their extradition request and ordered that they be tried in Trinidad. Persad-Bissessar noted that was done a year before the proclamation of Section 34. On Tuesday night, Rowley said he saw an affidavit signed by a Justice of the Peace and even met a man in Couva last Wednesday who informed him he was present at the 2010 meeting with Warner and Persad-Bissessar.
“I ask you tonight, is that what you expect with respect to law enforcement in Trinidad and Tobago? Is it that some people are above the law in Trinidad and Tobago? “And if allegations are made against you or whatever it is, I can say I am not investigating that because it’s your name being called?” Rowley asked.
“Tonight, I want to demand of the Commissioner of Police that he begin an investigation into the conspiracy of Section 34, where Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, is alleged to have done certain things and only a proper investigation with witnesses, statements and thorough examination will determine whether it is true or not.”
section 34
The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act was passed to abolish preliminary inquiries and replace it with paper reviews. This meant a Master of the High Court would review submissions in a matter and decide if there was sufficient evidence to take it to trial. Section 34 of the Act allowed those people who had matters before the court that were ten years or older to apply to a judge to have their case(s) dismissed, once the trial(s) had not begun.
This and five other sections were proclaimed by former president George Maxwell Richards on August 2012. However, a furore was created when Galbaransingh and Ferguson made an application to have their cases dismissed. Two weeks later and with mounting pressure from the public and civil society, an emergency sitting of the House of Representatives was called and Government repealed Section 34.
Former justice minister Herbert Volney, who had piloted the Bill in Parliament, was fired on September 20 and replaced by attorney Christlyn Moore. It was only in May 2014 that Volney accepted sole responsibility of the fiasco
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-07-30/after-rowley-raises-bribery-claims-against-pm-platform-cop-finally-orders-probe
so supporting Sancho against the corrupt and inept TTFA is yellow jersey defending now??? :D :D :bs:
just because i not in love with rowley like yourself doesn't mean i support the PP... yuh accustom with too much mavais lange business.. talk some sense for a change nah..
which politician in TT not corrupt to a certain extent, if they get catch, good riddance, you won't see me shedding any tears like allyuh stooges..
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Kamla: Zero tolerance to crime in next term
By Anna Ramdass (Express)
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday launched the People’s Partnership election manifesto and assured that on August 16, all 41 candidates contesting the September 7 general election will be presented.
The manifesto launch took place at Aranjuez North Secondary School where Persad-Bissessar rolled out a plan aimed at developing every sector in the country —economy, health care, national security, as well as Tobago.
It’s just about a month to go before the election and the United National Congress (UNC) has named 12 candidates so far, but the Prime Minister said “don’t jumbie me”, adding one day before nomination day, which is August 17, there will be a mass rally where all the candidates will be revealed, and when they are, victory will be certain.
She also disclosed there will be no Monday night forum next week as throughout the country, different constituencies will go through the manifesto on “Manifesto Monday” with their current sitting MP.
Agenda for first 30 days
The Prime Minister said within the first 30 days of her Government’s return to office, they will bring back the Squatting Regularisation Bill, pilot the 2015-2016 national budget and work towards full implementation of procurement legislation.
She pointed out parts of the legislation were proclaimed on July 27.
Persad-Bissessar also promised her Government will implement strong legislation to deal with the long overdue campaign finance reform.
With respect to controversial issues such as decriminalisation of marijuana, abortion laws and gay rights, Persad-Bissessar said all these require further consultation.
She said Caricom is currently looking at the decriminalisation of marijuana and when it produces its report, that report will be discussed with the people of this country.
With respect to gay rights, she said the religious sectors in this country are against it and this, too, requires more discussions.
“My Government has taken no decision on the issue of gay rights.... However, my Government says, and I say, that we respect basic human rights for every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.
Plan to deliver
The Prime Minister, in launching the manifesto, pointed out 285 days have passed since the People’s National Movement (PNM) promised to present a plan to the people.
“My clear plan is to deliver security, prosperity and a better future for everyone,” she said.
She said under her administration, the country can be assured of more jobs, zero tolerance on crime, improved child care and health care.
Persad-Bissessar said the economy has grown over the past five years, and in the next five years, it will continue to soar, with focus on diversification and, in particular, the manufacturing sector.
The PM said crime continues to concern her, and in the next term, stronger measures will come.
“Crime and law and order remain the number one issue facing our country, and this is our top priority for our second term in office. I will take a zero-tolerance approach to crime. Let me repeat that—a zero-tolerance approach to crime.
“In our next term in office, we will continue the emphasis on more effective law enforcement, policing and border control. We will also strengthen surveillance and control of our territorial borders to stem the illegal entry of goods and people,” she said.
And she promised there will be continued emphasis on education and health care.
New laptops will be given to students entering university and iPads or tablets will be given to primary school pupils on a phased basis.
No rapid rail—rapid bus rail
The Prime Minister said there will be no rapid rail under her Government. She admitted there was consideration for a light-rail system, but this was never moved forward.
Persad-Bissessar said two dedicated, predictable “bus rapid-transit systems” from North to South and East to West will be introduced, and this will aid in alleviating the traffic congestion.
She said they will also plan for a dedicated school bus transportation system and dedicated bus services for industrial estate workers.
The PM said her Government will continue to link communities by building the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin and Fyzabad; the San Fernando to Mayaro highway and the Port of Spain to Chaguaramas highway/causeway.
She disclosed there will be a medical tourism hospital in the East-West Corridor, the San Fernando Waterfront development project and the Mayaro hotel tourism project.
The Prime Minister said the controversial Brian Lara Tarouba facility will be made into the Tarouba sport academy.
Tobago
In the manifesto, it was noted Tobago’s self-determination is an essential pillar for internal self-government.
The People’s Partnership stated it recognised without the issue of self-determination being settled, the failed approach by those who control the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) will continue to the detriment of self-determination by the people of Tobago.
The People’s Partnership will therefore proceed with the following in its second term:
1. Create the conditions for a genuine constituent assembly of Tobagonians in Tobago to agree on draft legislation for Tobago.
2. Put the agreed draft legislation to the vote of a referendum to ensure that this agreed draft will go to the national Parliament for enactment without hindrance.
The manifesto stated it will collaborate with the THA on the development of a new marina and the designation of Tobago as a duty-free port.
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Crime running Trinidad red for years, and for the last 5 years that you have been in charge, you have been unable to stem the violence. But if you get a next term, then you go show the criminals who is boss? WTF have you been doing all this time then?
TBH any politician who could say this kinda assh0leness with a straight face really has scant regard for the intelligence of the electorate.
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Complete disregard Grim, take people Fuh pappyshow
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There's something fundamentally wrong with an electoral system that facilitates the announcement of candidates a mere THREE weeks before elections. Ridiculous, considering that the victors will serve years in office.
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The PM said crime continues to concern her, and in the next term, stronger measures will come.
“Crime and law and order remain the number one issue facing our country, and this is our top priority for our second term in office. I will take a zero-tolerance approach to crime. Let me repeat that—a zero-tolerance approach to crime.
“In our next term in office, we will continue the emphasis on more effective law enforcement, policing and border control. We will also strengthen surveillance and control of our territorial borders to stem the illegal entry of goods and people,” she said.
I agree that this government (as was the previous government) is vulnerable to the charge of being impotent on crime. However, allyuh not fully representing what she stated.
Nonetheless, she look fuh dat. After serving a full term, her words ring hollow.
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Gosh Kamla .....
What about the "Big Fish"
We know where the areas ....
Question ...who is bring in the drugs!!!!!
What about targeting that area .......
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Whether it is unc or PNM in charge.. It will be the same thing... No different..
And if you don't know how things run in Trinidad, then you being naive.. No government in Trinidad is brave enough to stop the drug lords..
Period....
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which drugs lords? TT eh have no drug lords. Who are they? What do they look like. The socalled drugs lords have to be living outside TT and ordering them boys east of the dry river to do their dirty work. Because they cant seem to find them since Patos. Like Mr. Big.
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
you are not fooling anyone with that lie. the way i see it is that you are a UNC apologist and the best thing for you to do is to own up to it instead of talking out the both sides of your mouth. for the little time i have been here you have done nothing but oppose and attack the PNM for past indiscretion yet you have never held kamla bissessar accountable for the gross mismanagement of the country's finances and her blatant disrespect for the constitution of the land. the present PNM under keith rowley has done nothing but expose the dishonest policies and treachery displayed by the present government lead by kamla and her crocked friends.
the way i view it is simple, dr rowley has no power over government affairs to make decisions on the way the nation is governed, but he does have a parliamentary power which does not extend beyond the parliament, but as far as cabinet decisions goes he is in the dark and has no say, so why even blame rowley and the PNM for the nations failure?
despite section 34, life sport, the demise of the foreign exchange policy, the dispersal of government land to friends and financiers, the leasing of the convention center, selling of the OPVs, the rape of the treasury all 400 billion of it, the firing of 24 cabinet ministers and mass corruption and nepotism in government, you have been mum on all them, yet the best you could come up with is to say that the UNC and the PNM are one and the same. for goodness sake man grow a pair and call a spade a spade and salvage some semblance of self respect, instead of dangling on the end of a bunch of strings.
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY... TRINIDAD HAS NOT REACHED THIS POINT YET, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LOSE THEIR LIVES...AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING RADICAL...
SO THEY COMPLAIN AND SETTLE, ACCEPT DOCILITY... THEY ARE EASILY MANIPULATED THAT UNC OR PNM WILL SOLVE THEIR ILLS...A MISCONCEPTION..."
this is absolute rubbish mate. the people in trinidad is afraid to lose their lives you say? it was less than 10 years of independence and trinidadians had already staged a coup on the government, and 20 years later they had staged yet another, now does that strike you as a people who is afraid to challenge the system?
political violence in trinidad is just an arms length away from realization if you ask me, and it seems even closer if this kind of negative campaigning continues with the death threats and the plotting to kill a prominent candidate. i was listening to keith rowley on line on the campaign trail where he stated that the prime minister was playing a very dangerous game when she delayed the election, used illegal measures to remove him from the parliament and incite racial sentiment amongst the east indian voters claiming that rowley is himself a bigot. he also stated that section 34 and state land distribution to wealthy financiers was a gross infringement on democracy as well as the constitution.
i will predict that if the PP government wins this election in five years things will only get worst in terms race relations and inciting political violence amongst the public, and we as a people need a leader who will extinguish these negative sentiments and restore some kind of decency and healing to the people before we cross the line of no return. in all honesty i see kamla and her ministers as enemies of the state who only craves power for personal gain. i hope she loses but i strongly doubt that she will given the latest sexual misconduct allegations against rowley. it's best for him to resigns as leader and let imbert or al rawi lead the party if they are to stand a chance.
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY... TRINIDAD HAS NOT REACHED THIS POINT YET, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LOSE THEIR LIVES...AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING RADICAL...
SO THEY COMPLAIN AND SETTLE, ACCEPT DOCILITY... THEY ARE EASILY MANIPULATED THAT UNC OR PNM WILL SOLVE THEIR ILLS...A MISCONCEPTION..."
this is absolute rubbish mate. the people in trinidad is afraid to lose their lives you say? it was less than 10 years of independence and trinidadians had already staged a coup on the government, and 20 years later they had staged yet another, now does that strike you as a people who is afraid to challenge the system?
political violence in trinidad is just an arms length away from realization if you ask me, and it seems even closer if this kind of negative campaigning continues with the death threats and the plotting to kill a prominent candidate. i was listening to keith rowley on line on the campaign trail where he stated that the prime minister was playing a very dangerous game when she delayed the election, used illegal measures to remove him from the parliament and incite racial sentiment amongst the east indian voters claiming that rowley is himself a bigot. he also stated that section 34 and state land distribution to wealthy financiers was a gross infringement on democracy as well as the constitution.
i will predict that if the PP government wins this election in five years things will only get worst in terms race relations and inciting political violence amongst the public, and we as a people need a leader who will extinguish these negative sentiments and restore some kind of decency and healing to the people before we cross the line of no return. in all honesty i see kamla and her ministers as enemies of the state who only craves power for personal gain. i hope she loses but i strongly doubt that she will given the latest sexual misconduct allegations against rowley. it's best for him to resigns as leader and let imbert or al rawi lead the party if they are to stand a chance.
there was only one coup... labour strikes, the uriah butler days are not what jamat took part in...
you brought up some good points but failed to address what i'm talking about...
TT citizens not going to lay their lives on the line to cleanse the nation... abu bakr even said himself the youths of today are not like the men of yesteryear so i don't know where you are getting these pipe dreams from...
whether rowley or kamla win it will be the same thing... they are puppets for the system.. if you think any different you are naive..
in all honesty i don't care who wins, what i do care about is our football team being funded well and making the wc... that's why i hate the partisan nonsense we are witnessing now...
revolution is a forbidden word in the 21st century when it comes to democracies..
-
Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY... TRINIDAD HAS NOT REACHED THIS POINT YET, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LOSE THEIR LIVES...AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING RADICAL...
SO THEY COMPLAIN AND SETTLE, ACCEPT DOCILITY... THEY ARE EASILY MANIPULATED THAT UNC OR PNM WILL SOLVE THEIR ILLS...A MISCONCEPTION..."
this is absolute rubbish mate. the people in trinidad is afraid to lose their lives you say? it was less than 10 years of independence and trinidadians had already staged a coup on the government, and 20 years later they had staged yet another, now does that strike you as a people who is afraid to challenge the system?
political violence in trinidad is just an arms length away from realization if you ask me, and it seems even closer if this kind of negative campaigning continues with the death threats and the plotting to kill a prominent candidate. i was listening to keith rowley on line on the campaign trail where he stated that the prime minister was playing a very dangerous game when she delayed the election, used illegal measures to remove him from the parliament and incite racial sentiment amongst the east indian voters claiming that rowley is himself a bigot. he also stated that section 34 and state land distribution to wealthy financiers was a gross infringement on democracy as well as the constitution.
i will predict that if the PP government wins this election in five years things will only get worst in terms race relations and inciting political violence amongst the public, and we as a people need a leader who will extinguish these negative sentiments and restore some kind of decency and healing to the people before we cross the line of no return. in all honesty i see kamla and her ministers as enemies of the state who only craves power for personal gain. i hope she loses but i strongly doubt that she will given the latest sexual misconduct allegations against rowley. it's best for him to resigns as leader and let imbert or al rawi lead the party if they are to stand a chance.
there was only one coup... labour strikes, the uriah butler days are not what jamat took part in...
you brought up some good points but failed to address what i'm talking about...
TT citizens not going to lay their lives on the line to cleanse the nation... abu bakr even said himself the youths of today are not like the men of yesteryear so i don't know where you are getting these pipe dreams from...
whether rowley or kamla win it will be the same thing... they are puppets for the system.. if you think any different you are naive..
in all honesty i don't care who wins, what i do care about is our football team being funded well and making the wc... that's why i hate the partisan nonsense we are witnessing now...
revolution is a forbidden word in the 21st century when it comes to democracies..
you really do have a problem with reading comprehension dont you?
-
Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY... TRINIDAD HAS NOT REACHED THIS POINT YET, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO LOSE THEIR LIVES...AFRAID TO DO SOMETHING RADICAL...
SO THEY COMPLAIN AND SETTLE, ACCEPT DOCILITY... THEY ARE EASILY MANIPULATED THAT UNC OR PNM WILL SOLVE THEIR ILLS...A MISCONCEPTION..."
this is absolute rubbish mate. the people in trinidad is afraid to lose their lives you say? it was less than 10 years of independence and trinidadians had already staged a coup on the government, and 20 years later they had staged yet another, now does that strike you as a people who is afraid to challenge the system?
political violence in trinidad is just an arms length away from realization if you ask me, and it seems even closer if this kind of negative campaigning continues with the death threats and the plotting to kill a prominent candidate. i was listening to keith rowley on line on the campaign trail where he stated that the prime minister was playing a very dangerous game when she delayed the election, used illegal measures to remove him from the parliament and incite racial sentiment amongst the east indian voters claiming that rowley is himself a bigot. he also stated that section 34 and state land distribution to wealthy financiers was a gross infringement on democracy as well as the constitution.
i will predict that if the PP government wins this election in five years things will only get worst in terms race relations and inciting political violence amongst the public, and we as a people need a leader who will extinguish these negative sentiments and restore some kind of decency and healing to the people before we cross the line of no return. in all honesty i see kamla and her ministers as enemies of the state who only craves power for personal gain. i hope she loses but i strongly doubt that she will given the latest sexual misconduct allegations against rowley. it's best for him to resigns as leader and let imbert or al rawi lead the party if they are to stand a chance.
there was only one coup... labour strikes, the uriah butler days are not what jamat took part in...
you brought up some good points but failed to address what i'm talking about...
TT citizens not going to lay their lives on the line to cleanse the nation... abu bakr even said himself the youths of today are not like the men of yesteryear so i don't know where you are getting these pipe dreams from...
whether rowley or kamla win it will be the same thing... they are puppets for the system.. if you think any different you are naive..
in all honesty i don't care who wins, what i do care about is our football team being funded well and making the wc... that's why i hate the partisan nonsense we are witnessing now...
revolution is a forbidden word in the 21st century when it comes to democracies..
you really do have a problem with reading comprehension dont you?
No obviously you do.... We are not an arms length away from any uprising, that is rubbish.. You are accusing me of lack of comprehension because I refuted your point of view, that's your opinion and I have mine.. Both of us can be wrong or one of us can be right... Right now our perspectives differ
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I agree that this government (as was the previous government) is vulnerable to the charge of being impotent on crime. However, allyuh not fully representing what she stated.
Nonetheless, she look fuh dat. After serving a full term, her words ring hollow.
I agree - Flex's title is obviously showing where the bias may lie.. but..
Kamla is full of shit. She'd be better campaigning that she can do better than the PNM (which may/may not be a valid argument), but to suggest some "zero-tolerance" with all of the scandals, accusations, assassinations, and continued failure of the police service, justice, and prisons is an insult to our intelligence. She's had absolute instability in the Ministry of National Security (we've had what, 5 different ministers). We STILL don't have a police commissioner. The police commission is in shambles.
Are we that stupid?
it's best for him to resigns as leader and let imbert or al rawi lead the party if they are to stand a chance.
Oh gawd no... and I'm saying that even though Imbert is in my (very) extended family.
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Oh gawd no... and I'm saying that even though Imbert is in my (very) extended family.
ah know he could be real arrogant and does come off aloof most times, but rowley have he people as does manning, but other than winnin he seat Imbert doh seem to have "no people" per say....he dat undesirable as a leader......jus curious as to why EVERYBODY doh seem to like he head...other than to vote for him
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Family you won't find them and no one will ever speak of them... Ask rowley or Kams if they could ever shut down drugs in the nation?
Big joke, not happening... How much men you want to dead?
So... What to do then? Just leave it let it happen?
Are you willing to die for change? Lay your life down? Are you ready to join a revolution?
Sad to say but thats exactly the point. To deal with it wont be pretty.
Imagine a person taking a serious hard line approach to crime. It might get to how Mexico is. Just like when tough decisions had to be made in the 80's and people didnt understand that it had to be done.
That's the thing brother.... People quick to say I'm anti PNM or unc.. Which is far from the truth... They're both the same... While the population gets wrapped up in partisan politics they ignore what really needs to be done... They are so caught up in political division that they forget the power in unity.... They are manipulated ...
If you want real change in Trinidad.. You can only achieve this with revolutionary ideas and actions... They may start off as non violent but may escalate into violence because you will be forced to protect yourself, your family and your fellow supporters..
There is no other way... Trinidad has not reached this point yet, because people are afraid to lose their lives... Afraid to do something radical...
So they complain and settle, accept docility ... They are easily manipulated that unc or PNM will solve their ills.. A misconception..
United as a people will solve their ills and bring change.. They lack the vision to see that...
So like I said before, are they ready to die for change, how far are they willing to go?
you are not fooling anyone with that lie. the way i see it is that you are a UNC apologist and the best thing for you to do is to own up to it instead of talking out the both sides of your mouth. for the little time i have been here you have done nothing but oppose and attack the PNM for past indiscretion yet you have never held kamla bissessar accountable for the gross mismanagement of the country's finances and her blatant disrespect for the constitution of the land. the present PNM under keith rowley has done nothing but expose the dishonest policies and treachery displayed by the present government lead by kamla and her crocked friends.
the way i view it is simple, dr rowley has no power over government affairs to make decisions on the way the nation is governed, but he does have a parliamentary power which does not extend beyond the parliament, but as far as cabinet decisions goes he is in the dark and has no say, so why even blame rowley and the PNM for the nations failure?
despite section 34, life sport, the demise of the foreign exchange policy, the dispersal of government land to friends and financiers, the leasing of the convention center, selling of the OPVs, the rape of the treasury all 400 billion of it, the firing of 24 cabinet ministers and mass corruption and nepotism in government, you have been mum on all them, yet the best you could come up with is to say that the UNC and the PNM are one and the same. for goodness sake man grow a pair and call a spade a spade and salvage some semblance of self respect, instead of dangling on the end of a bunch of strings.
:thumbsup:
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Jack gets details of PM’s private liaisons...
By Renuka Singh (Guardian).
‘Too much hypocrisy’
Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner is putting together another political bombshell—one that further intrudes into the private life of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. On Friday night, speaking at an ILP forum in Arima, Warner pledged to “do anything” to get Persad-Bissessar out of office. He mentioned then that he had a big “mark to buss” on her.
The Sunday Guardian has learned that the “mark” will come from the recording of a conversation he had with National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Nidco) communications manager, Ingrid Ishmael, in which Ishmael divulges confidential information on Persad-Bissessar’s private life, including past liaisons during her stint as leader of the opposition and while in office.
The Sunday Guardian obtained copies of taped conversations between Warner and Ishmael, which spoke about women said to be connected to the Prime Minister.
The women, according to the audio, allegedly shared a history with Persad-Bissessar and are now working in various ministries.
One of them, who is said to be favoured by Persad-Bissessar, was appointed to a consulate.
According to the audio, Ishmael, who claimed to have worked with Persad-Bissessar for 23 years, is willing to testify in court and swear on the Bible that what she is saying is the truth.
The Sunday Guardian yesterday contacted Ishmael to verify that it was her voice on the recording.
“Yes, I know what you are talking about,” she said.
“I don’t know how you plan to deal with this but what I said in that conversation with Mr Warner is the truth,” Ishmael added.
Ishmael said she worked closely with Persad-Bissessar when she was the then opposition leader and was privy to several aspects of Persad-Bissessar’s private life.
Ishmael said she worked with Persad-Bissessar as communications specialist at the Ministries of Education, Legal Affairs and Office of the Attorney General, as well as media relations officer at the Office of the Opposition Leader.
Ishmael said she has only now decided to break her silence because of her beliefs.
“I don’t believe a woman who prides herself on being the ‘mother of the nation’ but carries on like this in her private life should be given another chance in office. I cannot stand the hypocrisy of it at all,” she said. Ishmael confirmed that she turned to Warner to vent.
“I was there when they spoke about Mr Warner even when he was in the party and they referred to Mr Warner in the most degrading terms,” she said.
“That hypocrisy was too much,” she said.
“I do not push for fame. I work very hard. I am not doing this for any monetary nothing. I want my country back...”
While there is no date on the audio recording, the two talk about needing the information from the women involved “like yesterday,” as the election was “only four weeks away.”
The timing of Warner’s latest bombshell comes in the last few weeks of the United National Congress’ campaign for re-election. But at least one political analyst is questioning whether revealing information on a politician’s private life would have the desired outcome.
Just a week ago, news broke that former Express investigative journalist Anika Gumbs was “traumatised” by what she claimed were sexual advances by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
Gumbs cited Rowley’s alleged behaviour as the reason behind her surprise resignation from the Express Newspaper.
Several calls and a text to Persad-Bissessar’s mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.
Political Analyst: Negative news could turn off key undecided voters
Analyst Mukesh Basdeo yesterday warned that while negative news about a politician’s private life may not affect loyal voters, it could turn off the key undecided voter.
“The idea of talking about the private lives of politicians is really to tarnish the public image of that politician. It is saying to the voters that this is the person behind that public image and to chip away at that,” Basdeo said.
“And obviously that could have an impact on the person vying for office.”
He said to alleviate this situation, the candidate-screening process must now move past the person’s viability for office and look at the person’s private life.
“It is now at the point where, like the US and the UK, we are holding persons in high office to a higher standard and we expect a certain type of behaviour from them because of the office they hold,” Basdeo said.
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Gypsy to start anti-Kamla campaign
By Richard Lord (Guardian)
Glad to be friends with Rowley, Jack
Winston “Gypsy” Peters yesterday resigned with immediate effect from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet, describing her as the “most ungrateful ingrate, if there was ever one, that I have ever met.”
Peters said he had made the decision because he could not in good conscience tell anyone to vote for Persad-Bissessar in the September 7 general election. He insisted, however, that it was not the end of his career in politics.
Peters made the announcement during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, where he finally broke his silence on his rejection as the United National Congress’ candidate for the People’s Partnership in this general election.
Businessman Rushton Paray was eventually nominated as the Mayaro candidate.
Peters later said on radio that the UNC was dying and it would lose the election. He also announced his immediate resignation as a member of the UNC.
“And as of today I have tendered my resignation from the United National Congress and I have also tendered my resignation as a government minister from Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s Cabinet. I have divorced myself from the UNC."
In explaining the reason for his decision, Peters said for the past year and a half, Persad-Bissessar and others in Mayaro and Rio Claro had been undermining him.
Former UNC chairman and government minister Jack Warner, who resigned from the party in 2013, was present for Peters’ news conference.
Peters, like Warner previously, yesterday claimed that he had been instrumental in Persad-Bissessar becoming Prime Minister and leader of the UNC. This is why he said he “could not in good conscience tell anybody to vote for Kamla Persad-Bissessar. I never thought this day would come when I would stand here and say that.”
He said he was also not saying this because he was an angry man.
“I am saying this because it is logical,” he added.
Peters, however, said he was yet to determine his future in terms of joining another political party.
“As of now, I haven’t made up my mind to join any political party but Keith Rowley has been a friend of mine. The last person I thought was my friend was Kamla Persad-Bissessar and she is not.”
He said Rowley was his friend because his mother had fed him when he went to Port-of-Spain from Mayaro years ago. But he said he was happy that Rowley would have made him an offer to join the People’s National Movement.
Warner then reminded Peters that Rowley’s offer was made after UNC deputy political leader, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, said he (Peters) was from the bottom of the barrel.
Peters, in turn, said Moonilal would see that “the bottom of the barrel will come up and move him from where he is.”
Asked what role he would be playing in the next 12 days of the campaign, Peters said he would be encouraging electors not to vote for Persad-Bissessar.
Peters said he was not a member of Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP), but Warner was his family and friend. He said it was Warner who had invited him to return to T&T and get involved in politics years ago.
Reflecting on his campaign to get former prime minister Basdeo Panday removed as UNC leader years ago, Peters said he was sorry for doing that now, adding that Panday was “much better than Kamla Persad-Bissessar.”
He said one of the “crimes” he might have committed was in 2013 when he went to Warner’s celebration party at the ILP’s office after he won the July 2013 Chaguanas West by-election.
“I will never turn my back on Mr Warner, I am not going to. Neither would I turn my back on Keith Rowley as his mother fed me,” Peters insisted.
He said Warner was not invited to the news conference yesterday, but noted he was a newspaper publisher.
‘Kamla one-man show’
Asked about the controversial Section 34 passage in Parliament yesterday, Winston “Gypsy” Peters said every MP had supported the legislation, which was part of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill and that he was comfortable with it.
The legislation was later repealed following an emergency sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Asked how would he now respond to claims he was a neemakaram, Peters said he would say, “It takes one to know one.”
On how he felt about having quit as minister and UNC member, Peters shouted, “I want to dance. I feel good.”
Peters was also asked if he would say, as he did in 1986 against George Chambers’ PNM, that the UNC ship was now sinking. He said he would say that it has water in it but he did not know if it would sink.
“Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as far as I am concerned, has become a one-man show and anytime people become that, it is time to give them a reality check and I think that she needs a reality check.”
He said Persad-Bissessar was “warm, but she is also a very deceitful person because anybody who can conceal that kind of deceit, there has to be some devious being living in you.”
Peters did not use the word cabal, but said, “There is an inner circle in the UNC and her inner circle helps to direct what her moves are.”
Earlier, Peters claimed that $5 million was paid by one person to become a UNC candidate. He also said after the screening exercise “seats were given to people to cover the wrong that was done somewhere else.” He indicated that one such example was the “putting Rodney Charles down in Naparima absurdity.”
Peters recalled Persad-Bissessar asking him if he would get vex if he were not chosen to contest the seat. Peters said he told her he would be very vex.
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Gypsy strikes me as your classic bandwagonist. He will jump from ship to ship to whatever is flavour of the day to keep his little political office. Here's a man that was proven incompetent (caused the UNC to lose power in 2000 because he maintained dual citizenship), aligned himself with Ramesh/Jack to bring down Panday (I remember him referring to Panday and his slate as croonies at that time), and is now backtracking and pretending to have integrity now that he has no seat to contest.
Good calypsonian, but absolutely no leadership skills or integrity and doesn't belong in parliament for either the UNC/PNM or any other future party.
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Kamla Persad Bisessar concession speech
https://www.youtube.com/v/r2U9dIQRLls
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^^ How difficult was it for her to say Dr Rowley name and say congratulations to him. ah boy smh
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^^ How difficult was it for her to say Dr Rowley name and say congratulations to him. ah boy smh
Yeah, she come across as a sore loser in that speech. For all the adoration and devotion she gets from her supporters, I was surprised that she didn't even want to go to Rienzi and console and comfort her peepz. So much for standing united with yuh team. Yuh loss, so party mash up.
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Pathetic ingratitude. The least she could have done was go and thank them.
This is why i ketching kicks whole day that the official vehicle couldn't start and she get embarrassed. No class whatsoever.
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Kamla goes home in private car after election defeat
By Kevon Felmine & Yvonne Webb (Guardian)
Constituents upset
Members of the security detail guarding outgoing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday came under fire for abandoning her after she lost Monday’s general election.
The claims came from members of her Penal constituency who questioned how the Special Branch officers allowed Persad-Bissessar to leave her constituency office in an unsecured private vehicle for her home at Phillipine, San Fernando, after she addressed supporters and said she would not go to the traditional Rienzi Complex, Couva, home base for a concession speech.
They also queried whether officers of the security detail who told her earlier that the official vehicle PM1 was not working had deliberately misled her. (See Page A6)
The concerns about what they called a clear security breach were raised after video footage circulated of Persad-Bissessar opening and entering a white Toyota car, licensed PDA 9309, in the absence of any of the Special Branch officers who normally accompany her.
Persad Bissessar, accompanied by her sister Vidawatie Newton and another unidentified person in the back seat of the vehicle, along with the civilian driver, then left minus any of the escort vehicles shortly after midnight when the crowd had left.
Eyewitnesses said after her concession speech she went into a private room and emerged some time later and headed for the white car which had reversed in front the official vehicle.
Persad-Bissessar was reportedly told the official vehicle was experiencing some ignition problems and would have to be towed away by a wrecker.
However, constituency officials said yesterday there were other vehicles in her detail which could have been used and it was very strange that PM 1, which is checked every day, experienced mechanical problems only upon her defeat.
One person who claimed to be an eyewitness alleged after she left in the private vehicle, PM 1 was driven off by Special Branch officers.
An eyewitness described what happened on the night:
“She came down the stairs looking depressed and distressed. There was no security around her. She greeted some people who had remained and shook their hands.
“She then headed towards the white car, which was reversed in front of PM 1. She walked towards it, opened the door, sat in the left back seat and closed the door herself.
“Her sister Wattie was seated on the right and there was another person in the middle. The driver was a civilian. They drove off without any police escort although there were some black jeeps on the road.
“After she left the officers jumped in the car and drove off. No wrecker towed it away.”
A senior officer from the Southern Division said yesterday he was alarmed at the claims as the Penal Police Station was next door to the Siparia constituency office but no one sought their help.
The officer said assistance could have been sought to take Persad-Bissessar home as she remained Prime Minister until People’s National Movement leader Dr Keith Rowley was sworn in later today. Following his swearing in, Persad-Bissessar will also continue to be afforded security for another three months.
Ex-PM: I told them to leave
Contacted yesterday, T&T Police Service head of corporate communications, Ellen Lewis, said claims that Special Branch officers attached to the PM’s security detail had abandoned their post were untrue.
Lewis said she spoke to Special Branch head, ACP Earla Christopher, who assured her officers were on the duty to escort Persad-Bissessar home.
“The official car experienced engine problems and it was understood the Prime Minister opted to travel home in the company of a relative and that vehicle was escorted by Special Branch personnel,” Lewis told the T&T Guardian.
“The Special Branch did not vacate the side of Mrs Persad-Bissessar. There is no truth to the allegation or the report that Special Branch officers vacated the side of the Prime Minister following the outcome of the general election.”
However, another official within the Police Service told the T&T Guardian Persad-Bissessar seemed to be upset at the election results and indicated to the officers she had no further need for their services.
The official said the officers refused to depart from her side and remained on site to ensure full security.
Contacted via text message yesterday, Persad-Bissessar too said she was not abandoned by the security detail. However, she confirmed she left in a private vehicle without a security detail.
“I told them they could leave as I had other transport. When they attempted to leave the car did not start. Seems the car wanted to stay,” she responded.
But attorney Subhas Panday said Persad-Bissessar was not authorised to instruct Special Branch officers to leave. He said only the head of the Special Branch could have made those decisions.
“She is still the substantive Prime Minister until 1.30 pm tomorrow (today) when Dr Rowley is sworn in. As a result, she ought to be in the protective custody of the State. Suppose someone had shot her in that unguarded moment?” he asked.
“In the circumstances the Special Branch should not have taken her on. They should have performed their duties and escorted her home. Protocol should have been observed,” he added.
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Caricature found in the Barbados Nation of Sept. 9, 2015
(http://www.nationnews.com/IMG/294/61294/september-9-2015-cartoon0349-418x278.gif?1441773042)
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She really isn't doing much to help people who questioned her judgement and ability to lead for the past 5 years. She should have never requested the security to leave - if we had an emergency between the election night and Rowley's swearing in, she was still legally the Prime Minister. I think not showing up to Rienzi also showed poor leadership as the very least you can do after such a long campaign is show solidarity with folks that supported her. Leaders are judged by the actions they take.
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This could get very interesting :D
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Ex PM Kamlier said she will be suing the EBC for extending the voting time,the same voting time she agree too when she was informed by the EBC.
The ex PM is saying at 6 00pm the UNC was in the lead but because of the rain the EBC extended the voting time to 7 00pm, do you guys feel the UNC have a case here.
The ex PM feel the elections should be null on void .
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Ex PM Kamlier said she will be suing the EBC for extending the voting time,the same voting time she agree too when she was informed by the EBC.
The ex PM is saying at 6 00pm the UNC was in the lead but because of the rain the EBC extended the voting time to 7 00pm, do you guys feel the UNC have a case here.
The ex PM feel the elections should be null on void .
The only thing that should be null and void is the ex PM. She needs to do her party a favour and resign and ride off into the sunset.
This is 5 elections in a row Kamla has now lost and she did criticised Mr Panday for the very same thing losing elections 4 times in a row as leader of the UNC and she has now outdone him. Does she have no shame?!!
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Kamla tells Rowley congrats
Six days after polls.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150913/news/kamla-tells-rowley-congrats (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150913/news/kamla-tells-rowley-congrats)
Almost a week after the People's Partnership was defeated at the polls by the People's National Movement (PNM), former prime minister and United National Congress political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has congratulated new Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said it is her hope that Rowley follows her lead, which is to use his office and power “for the betterment of people's lives”.
She noted: “Democracy truly is a precious thing and the result of an election is an expression of the will of the people. All persons who are elected should take those responsibilities very seriously indeed and I congratulate the hundreds of thousands of you who exercised your right to vote and made this possible.
“Again, I take this opportunity to congratulate my opponent Dr Keith Rowley on his victory.”
Persad-Bissessar, who had not previously acknowledged the PNM's success, went on to wish Rowley the best “for the sake of all our people”.
Noting that citizens of this country deserve competent and effective governance, Persad-Bissessar said she hoped the new government will continue the People's Partnership's legacy of performance and delivery.
She noted that she was proud of the many promises delivered during her government's term in office and pointed out that the People's Partnership left Trinidad and Tobago “in a far better position today than what we inherited in 2010”.
“I hope the new Prime Minister will use all that has been achieved thus far, and build on it so as to ensure that development continues,” she said.
“My passion was to serve in public office because I wanted to make a difference — because I want to make a difference and improve lives. As the saying goes, with power comes responsibility. I held office and power and used both for the betterment of people's lives. For the sake of our country, let us all hope Keith Rowley now follows that lead.”
Persad-Bissessar said while her party may not be in power, it will do its best to be patriotic citizens and an effective Opposition.
“Rest assured the United National Congress and the People's Partnership will be back stronger than ever before. In the meantime, we will do our patriotic duty as members of the Opposition and we will prepare a programme that puts people at the centre and our country at the front.”
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Kamla tells Rowley congrats
Six days after polls.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150913/news/kamla-tells-rowley-congrats (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150913/news/kamla-tells-rowley-congrats)
Le Canal Conch....
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Frankly that might be a new low in the conceding an election loss that I can remember. When Panday lost the "moral and spiritual values" vote during the 18/18 deadlock (despite winning the popular vote), I think we saw an even more amicable acceptance of the situation.
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Does this mean that she has finally accepted the voice of the people and will no longer be taking the EBC to court because she does not want to accept the reality that the general population has had enough of her corrupt government?
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Does this mean that she has finally accepted the voice of the people and will no longer be taking the EBC to court because she does not want to accept the reality that the general population has had enough of her corrupt government?
my thoughts exactly, because you never know with this lady. is she through with the protest of the election or is she just talking for talking sake, is this a real concession speech? excuse me for asking this rhetorical question but the nation needs closure, and don't want this funk sprung up six months later.
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Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be presented with her instruments of appointment as Leader of the Opposition on Monday. A release from President's House on Friday, confirmed that Persad Bissessar will be officially sworn in as Opposition Leader in a ceremony at The Office of the President in St. Ann's on Monday
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Ah know plenty people was wondering who will Kamla choose as Opposition Senators.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Wade Mark, will be sworn in as an Opposition Senator tomorrow. Vasant Bharath, Wayne Sturge, Khadijah Ameen, Rodger Samuel and Danny Solomon are the other Opposition Senators.
Well well Wade Mark aint done yet oui
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well what we have here eh
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-26/tide-turning-against-kamla-unc?utm_content=buffer28326&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-26/tide-turning-against-kamla-unc?utm_content=buffer28326&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
Former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar is facing serious heat inside the party for the five losses at successive elections.
While the party has closed ranks after the latest defeat at the general election, the Sunday Guardian has been informed that UNC members are “disheartened” with Persad-Bissessar and are looking to vote against her in the long overdue internal elections.
.
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Tide turning against Kamla in UNC (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-26/tide-turning-against-kamla-unc?utm_content=buffer28326&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
By Renuka Singh (T&T Guardian)
Published: Sunday, September 27, 2015
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/Socapro/Socapro021/Kamla%20Persad-Bissessar%20Opposition%20Leader.png) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/Socapro/media/Socapro021/Kamla%20Persad-Bissessar%20Opposition%20Leader.png.html)
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar is facing serious heat inside the party for the five losses at successive elections.
While the party has closed ranks after the latest defeat at the general election, the Sunday Guardian has been informed that UNC members are “disheartened” with Persad-Bissessar and are looking to vote against her in the long overdue internal elections.
The Sunday Guardian has been reliably informed that Persad-Bissessar would be hard pressed to pull off an internal win given the sentiment in the party at this time. One insider said even the latest Persad-Bissessar led challenge of the election results is an attempt to “distract” from the losses at the polls. The Sunday Guardian understands that moves to undermine Persad-Bissessar began in the last year when party insiders realised the UNC was losing favour with the electorate.
“Look at the people who have been in high ministerial offices and let go, they were her main supporters inside the party. Who does she have inside here now?”
The insider named former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, former minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and former local government minister Chandresh Sharma among those who “had her back” inside the party.
Among those favoured to take over the reins of leadership are Vasant Bharath, Dr Roodal Moonilal and Mickela Panday whose father, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, founded the party.
Moonilal: We are not ready for internal until next year
While the Sunday Guardian was met with silence from several quarters, Moonilal said the UNC would not be ready for internal elections until next year.
“Right now we are really focused on the budget and then there is Christmas which brings the usual lull, so we would not be looking at the internal elections until after that which takes us into next year,” he said. Moonilal confirmed that there was some negative sentiment directed to Persad-Bissessar after the successive losses but denied that he was preparing himself to take over the party.
“I mean, if I am called upon to vie for leader and that depends on who is doing the calling too, then I would consider it,” he said.
He said right now the party was in “consolidation” mode.
“The internal election would receive our attention in due time,” Moonilal said.
Panday: Kamla cannot win, UNC was stolen and ruined
But while Moonilal did not say how he felt about Persad-Bissessar following the losses, former prime minister Basdeo Panday had no such problem.
“I think it’s obvious she cannot win an election. I think the people who are the UNC need to take back their party because it was stolen in 2010 and ruined,” Panday said.
Panday said the image of the UNC was damaged and now the party was seen as a “bunch of corrupt, incompetent, self-seekers.”
He said as it stood now, no one knew who were the real members of the party.
Despite his very negative view of the party he founded, Panday said he was not coaching his daughter to take over the helm.
“I have the fortune or misfortune of having children who are independent minded and cannot be coached,” he said. He said that his daughter would have his blessing if she chose to take over the UNC.
Several attempts to reach Mickela Panday were unsuccessful.
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I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm
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I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm
That clown??!! Steups!!!
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I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm
But can he garner wide appeal, he seems a favorite of the nasty elements within the unc, dat alone may hinder his rise, kamla always kinda manage to come off as moderate....... He does give off dat Indian only for Indian vibe dat Facebook put sharply in focus in relation to the UNC core support, at this stage they someone who on the surface at least, doh give dat sat have my ear vibe...
Honest blunt opinion
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PM: Kamla racks up $6m helicopter bill
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-10-14/pm-kamla-racks-6m-helicopter-bill (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-10-14/pm-kamla-racks-6m-helicopter-bill)
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar flew for 636 hours while she was head of government at a cost to taxpayers of more than $6 million.
Rowley made the statement during his contribution to yesterday’s debate on the 2016 national budget in the House of Representatives. He said that might be linked to a dubious contract for use of specific helicopters by the National Operations Centre.
Rowley said it was “extremely wasteful for the (former) prime minister of T&T.”
According to Rowley: “The records show that the last prime minister occupied helicopter time of 636 hours, 415 missions at a cost of over $6 million.”
Rowley told legislators: “That kind of expenditure ought not to be on the backs of the people of T&T.”
He said he had no intention to follow in Persad-Bissessar’s footsteps and would be travelling by land and sea.
He said the NOC, which was set up as a coordinating agency for national security agencies in the country “seems to be trying to become another operational arm of the State.”
Rowley said when he assumed office as Prime Minister he saw a document requesting payment of a $500 million commitment for a company called Bell Helicopters. He said he had “some concern as to how that contract was issued.”
He said there was no money budgeted for that helicopter contract “but the country was contracted by an officer of the State.” He said when questions were raised about who authorised the contract nobody knew.
Rowley said the National Helicopter Services Ltd (NHSL) was approached “to try to get them to sign on to this thing and they refused.”
According to Rowley, the “transaction regarding the loan financing was not completed by NHSL.” Rowley said it was a questionable arrangement.
He told Parliament the Ministry of National Security “will look into this and report to the population further as we go forward.”
Rowley also spoke about “another troubling” matter within the Office of the Prime Minister, which he said was “another $500 million contract to a Chinese company (unnamed) in Knowsley building...I am told that this Chinese company is putting in some system which will allow us, electronically, to look on television screens over the whole of T&T.”
He said he was “more concerned about that as a security breach to our sovereignty.”
He added that the contract entered into “was not properly funded.”
“These are billion dollars of contracting for these two items with no proper financing in place.”
Rowley said earlier that Cemex, one of the joint venture companies in the Alutrint Smelter Plant in La Brea cancelled by the former People’s Partnership government, “has submitted a letter to Alutrint to institute the dispute resolution clause in April 2015.”
He said Alutrint sought an extension and there had been no further development on the matter to date.
Rowley also said there would be no further amnesty for property tax and it would be reintroduced next year
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PP ministers spent $250m on travel
By Charles Kong Soo (Guardian).
The former People’s Partnership government spent $250 million on travel.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Keith Rowley while speaking at the PNM’s post-budget national public meeting at Piggott’s Corner, Belmont Circular Road, Belmont, on Friday night.
Rowley said, “It’s important for government members to travel because we do have business outside T&T.
“So ministers will have to travel from time to time but we believe that travel ought not to be a perk and a junket.
“It ought to be done only when necessary because it is very expensive.
“Would you believe the government that just went out of office, guess how much money the ministries, I’m not talking about state enterprises, the Judiciary, the ombudsman, just the ministries, the executive, the government spent on travel in the last five years?
“Two hundred and fifty million dollars.”
Taking a jibe at former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, he said the people of T&T received savings on the night of September 7, the minute the PNM got the majority vote and he became Prime Minister, because he started saving on a hairdresser and a powder man travelling with him.
Rowley said it was one thing to say that government travel was important and necessary, but when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent $30 million on travel, the question to ask was where were they going and for what purpose.
He said the Government would be looking at ways to cut out waste and corruption in the public sector, such as state enterprises leasing hundreds of motor vehicles.
Rowley said instructions were made through Cabinet that all government vehicles, barring specific national security and state vehicles, must carry the insignia of the agencies that were leasing vehicles and the instruction would go out to every permanent secretary.
He also said there was to be no purchase of any vehicle dedicated to any minister and no minister’s driver was to drive any public vehicle because it was a cost to tax payers.
On the issue of mass transit, Rowley said the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was invited to come to Trinidad to look at the situation with the eyes of independent experts.
He said when the IDB gave its report with recommendations, the Government would then decide how it was going to treat with the need for a mass transit system of whatever kind in T&T.
Rowley said the PNM started off with a rail system, but the former government undermined and scrapped it.
He said the Government would not green light the project until it got the IDB’s report and after holding consultations with the people before taking a decision.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert, meanwhile, said when the PNM left office the public debt was $45 billion, compared to the UNC’s $77 billion.
He said the former government not only used up all the cash reserves in the Central Bank, it also maxed out the country’s borrowing limit.
Imbert said there were projects that needed to be funded.
Among these are a new port in Port-of-Spain; converting the Beetham dump into an industrial estate; building a highway to Manzanilla, a road to Toco, and a new ferry port; converting the whole Waterfront area to housing, recreation and entertainment; a better road to Chaguanas; and a ringroad around Chaguanas. He said he intended to include a mass transit system as well.
Stuart Young, minister in the Office of the Attorney General, said the Government intended to implement several pieces of legislation and initiatives to ensure proper and efficient management for T&T. These include a revenue authority, local government reform to be passed before the next constitutionally due local government elections next year, public procurement legislation, whistleblowing legislation by December, reforming the process for appointing a Commissioner of Police, the International Finance Centre, and resuscitating cyber crime legislation.
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PCA finds enough for case in ‘ganja cover-up’
By Darren Bahaw (Guardian).
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has recommended that the former head of Special Branch be charged for his role in the alleged cover-up of the discovery of a quantity of marijuana at the private residence of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013.
The recommendation was made at the close of the PCA’s five-month probe and forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, along with the evidence collated by its investigators for action, a statement from the organisation said yesterday.
It would now be the Office of the DPP’s option to await the findings of a parallel police investigation, which is scheduled to be wrapped up by month’s end, before charges are laid. The T&T Guardian understands the PCA recommended that retired Snr Supt Gary Gould be charged with misbehaviour in public office on account of wilful neglect of duty.
The PCA’s probe focussed solely on the conduct of police officers to determine if a criminal offence or serious police misconduct took place in their handling of the alleged discovery of marijuana on April 19, 2013.
Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, who at first had denied that the Police Service was in receipt of such a report of illegal drugs being found at the Phillipine home of Persad-Bissessar, later ordered a broader probe into the allegations after Gould, the then head of Special Branch, confirmed that a member of the Special Branch assigned to Persad-Bissessar’s security detail had found five grammes of marijuana in the washroom of an outside gazebo on the property.
Williams said then the investigation would not only focus on the discovery of the illegal drugs but all the circumstances surrounding the alleged cover-up of the find. Police investigators only recently received statements from two politicians accused of being involved in the plot. Gould retired from the Police Service in the face of the probe.
The investigation was triggered by a June 14 newspaper report in which former national security minister Jack Warner admitted to taking part in a discussion in 2013 with other senior politicians and a senior police officer to ensure there was no criminal probe into the matter.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ainsley Garrick, who was initially given one month to complete the investigation, has been granted several extensions.
Warner’s statement
Former national security minister Jack Warner, in a June 6 statement to police, stated that after he was approached by former senior police officer, DCP Mervyn Richardson, in Parliament, relating to the drug find, he summoned the then leader of government business Dr Roodal Moonilal, who advised him to contact Persad-Bissessar, who was in the United States at the time.
Warner claimed when he contacted her she was surprised and enquired whether she should return home immediately and resign. He claimed further he advised Persad-Bissessar not to resign as he, Richardson, Moonilal and former national security adviser Gary Griffith would cover up the marijuana matter. All three men have denied any knowledge of the incident.
In response to the police probe, Persad-Bissessar questioned its timing and labelled the investigation as “political” but suggested the police should investigate their own conduct and that of other law enforcement officers involved in the discovery.
In a statement, she said the grounds of her private premises were “under the control of state security services, including the army, Special Branch and the police.
“Many staff, workmen and other individuals are allowed by security services onto the property each day. I was out of country when security services are reported to have made this discovery. Needless to say, I am horrified and disturbed to hear these reports,” she had said.
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IT'S A FAKE
By JADA LOUTOO (Newsday).
A LETTER purportedly penned by United States’ Democratic presidential candidate, Vermont Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders, to former US Attorney General Eric Holder, calling for an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) into an allegation that former prime minister and current Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar received US$20 million from former Cconcacaf president Jeff Webb, is a fake.
The letter was published in this week’s edition of the Sunshine Newspaper, a weekly newspaper owned by former FIFA vice-president, former Government Minister and former United National Congress (UNC) member Jack Warner. The Sunshine’s publication which hit newsstands on Wednesday, is headlined “US Senator wants probe into Kamla’s alleged TT$125 Million Bank Account.” But in an interview with Newsday yesterday, Senator Sander’s deputy communications director and digital director Josh Miller- Lewis said the letter did not come from the Senator’s office.
“That letter is fake,” Miller-Lewis emphasised. He told Newsday that the Senator’s office found out about the publication and the purported letter only on Wednesday.
“In terms of background, we saw it only yesterday. I can tell you that it didn’t come from our office,” Miller-Lewis said. The US Senator, he added, and his advisers have not yet decided on what course of action to take. “As I said, we found out about it only yesterday so no decision has been taken on what the Senator intends to do,” Miller-Lewis told Newsday in a telephone interview late yesterday.
Senator Sanders, who became a Democrat this year, is the longest- serving independent in US Congressional history. He has also been the ranking minority member on the US Senate Budget Committee since January and is a candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she was “most happy to have it confirmed”, that the letter published in Warner’s newspaper, was a fake.
“I knew all along it was fake,” she said. She also added that the issue was now in her lawyers’ hands.
Also yesterday, Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Stephen Weeks, when asked about the purported letter, said he could shed no light on it. In the letter, which was undated, Sanders purportedly expressed concern to then US AG Holder - who demitted office in April - to investigate what was described as “a potential instance of corporate fraud-behaviour and take appropriate action if the investigation yields evidence of wrongdoing.” The letter quoted an eightmonth long investigation by journalists at the New York Times, on the FIFA scandal involving Warner.
Checks on the Times’ website for publication of the alleged investigation uncovered nothing.
The letter went on to detail the former prime minister being in receipt of US$20 million from an account at First Caribbean International invested in RBS Securities, Japan registered to Jeffery Webb, former Concacaf president who last month pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
FALSE CLAIM OF $M FOR KAMLA Webb, on November 23, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Webb agreed to forfeit more than US$6.7 million.
Also yesterday, the current US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that 16 additional persons were indicted on a 92-count superseding indictment, unsealed yesterday, in the Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offences, in connection with their participation in a 24- year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.
The superseding indictment also includes additional charges for seven of the defendants, still pending extradition following the return of the original indictment last May. The guilty pleas of eight defendants – including Webb – were also announced yesterday.
The new defendants include high-ranking officials of FIFA.
According to Lynch, the new charges brought the total number of individuals and entities charged to date, to 41. Of those, 12 individuals and two sports marketing companies have already been convicted as a result of the ongoing investigation. The convicted defendants have agreed to pay more than US$190 million in forfeiture. In addition, more than US$100 million has been restrained in the United States and abroad, in connection with the alleged criminal activity.
The United States has issued mutual legal assistance requests seeking the restraint of assets located in 13 countries around the world. Warner was indicted last May by a US grand jury on 12 charges of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering over an escalating scandal at FIFA, football`s world governing body.
On July 23 last, US authorities asked for Warner, former Concacaf head to be extradited to face the charges.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi in September signed the authority to proceed giving the go ahead to commence extradition proceedings, but this has since been challenged by Warner. The former FIFA vice president and Webb’s predecessor at Concacaf, appears before a high court judge this morning to seek permission to have the AG’s decision as well as the US order for extradition, challenged by the courts.
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Kamla to Jack: Tell me sorry
Stories by JADA LOUTOO (NEWSDAY).
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has initiated legal action against former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner for a publication in his Sunshine newspaper which alleged she received US$20 million from former Concacaf president Jeff Webb. She is demanding an immediate apology from Warner by no later than 4 pm next Monday.
The allegation was contained in a letter purportedly sent by US presidential candidate and Democratic Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders to former US Attorney General Eric Holder calling for an investigation. On Thursday last, Sanders’ deputy communications director Josh Miller-Lewis confirmed to Newsday that the letter was a fake.
Persad-Bissessar who maintained she knew the letter was fake, but was happy that it had been confirmed, yesterday had one of her lawyers issue Warner a pre-action protocol letter calling for an immediate and unqualified apology via a press release to all media houses apologising and withdrawing the allegations made against her.
Persad-Bissessar’s list of demands also called on Warner to, ‘publish a similar front page exclusive with equal prominence indicating that the said letter is fake and apologise for the outrageous defamatory remarks made; agree not to publish any such further defamatory material and statements; admit liability for defamation of character and agree to allow the High Court of Justice to assess and quantify compensation payable to her; and agree to indemnify her for all legal costs incurred as a result of the defamatory publication.
’ Issuing the pre-action letter was attorney Wayne Sturge, who told Warner that it was evidence that the Sunshine’s front page story headlined ‘US Senator wants probe into Kamla’s alleged TT$125 Million Bank Account’, written by reporter Azad Ali - was ‘baseless and incorrect.’
“Your newspaper and reporter have published defamatory and malicious falsehoods which suggest that my client has committed a serious crime in respect of which she is wanted by the authorities in the United States of America and is therefore facing extradition to the US,’ Sturge wrote.
‘That such a story could be written without any attempt to ascertain whether the letter was in fact true, underscores the lack of investigative journalism and reveals the sinister intention for which it was published, namely to assassinate and tarnish my client’s character and reputation on the eve of internal elections in the UNC, where she is seeking to retain her position as political leader,” Persad-Bissessar’s lawyer said in the pre-action protocol letter.
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HOUSE OF RUM
By Clint Chan Tack (Newsday).
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley caused an uproar in Parliament Monday night, when he revealed that a substantial amount of alcohol was stockpiled at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s during the tenure of his immediate predecessor and current Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
In his contribution to debate on the Finance Bill 2016 in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister declared, “When we talk about priorities, waste and just general bad behaviour...the last government takes the cake.” Indicating he and his family moved into the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre on December 5, Rowley said a series of functions were held at the Diplomatic Centre since he was elected Prime Minister. Indicating there were three functions for adults and one for children, the Prime Minister said there was an alcohol bar at each function for adults. He surprised MPs when he disclosed, “You’d be very surprised to know...all the alcohol for those functions (for adults), we did not buy a bottle. We used from the houshehold, from what was there.” As MPs were still recovering from that bombshell, Rowley continued, “When Christmas was over, we had a valuation on what was left... $400,000 of liquour on the compound! That is what they left. That should tell you what the priorities were for those who were there before the PNM.” A cry of, “drunkeness!” was heard from Government benches as the Prime Minister reiterated, “Right up there in that compound, there is $400,000 in alcohol.” “The interesting thing about it, is that in the records, we can’t find how it was sourced. There is no paper trail towards its sourcing. So it leaves us to wonder, how all that alcohol got into that compound.” Repeated efforts yesterday to contact former Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar for a comment, were unsuccessful. She did not participate in debate on the Finance Bill.
Persad-Bissessar never lived at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in St Ann’s during the last five years of the People’s Partnership (PP) tenure in office. She opted to reside at her private residence in Philippine, south Trinidad.
However, Persad-Bissessar hosted several receptions at the adjoining Diplomatic Centre for a variety of occasions over the five years of her government.
At some of these functions, guests left with gift bags and even posed with Persad-Bissessar for pictures. Rowley said knowing the way the former regime managed the country’s business over the last five years, it would not be surprising if arrangements to get alcohol into the compound involved payments to persons favoured by the PP.
Recalling that Persad-Bissessar has been regularly distributing toys to children ever since she was first elected to Parliament in 1995 and held massive toy distribution functions at Christmastime over the last five years, Rowley observed, “The one thing we didn’t have was a prime minister running up and down the country on the back of trucks playing Santa Claus for two weeks.” In contrast, Rowley said, “What I demonstrated last Christmas, is that it is possible to have Christmas and have a prime minister working too.” WEDDING TALK IN HOUSE Turning his attention to Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, who was one of Persad-Bissessar’s aides during the PP’s administration, Rowley said Padarath, “has a problem with me and weddings.” Padarath, earlier in the debate, criticised Rowley for attending the wedding of a friend’s daughter in Barbados and then attending the wedding of a relative in Miami last month.
In his contribution to the debate, just before Rowley spoke, Padarath reiterated that every Monday morning, Rowley flew out of the country. He also tried to explain what “maticoor night” is in a traditional Hindu wedding. Responding to Padarath, the Prime Minister quipped, “We have some discussions and when you are betrothed...
let me know. If you invite me...I will come to your wedding.” Government MPs hooted in mirth and thumped their desks in support of Rowley, who calmly sipped some water while he was on his legs. As the thumping subsided, Rowley told Padarath, “I suspect there would have to be some serious discussions before you invite me.” Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds quipped, “Be careful you don’t break the law.” Rowley also said Padarath was wrong to claim the Motor Vehicle Authority building in Fredrick Settlement, Caroni was completed.
Saying the PNM knows the level of seriousness required to address the country’s problems, Rowley said the evidence over the last five years shows the PP did not understand what good governance was.
He said to the PP, good governance meant, “I give you everything you want.” Stating this resulted in the PP giving, “what they didn’t have”, Rowley said this was why $200 million in contracts were awarded by the Works Ministry under then minister Dr Suruj Rambachan but there was, “no money in URP.” Indicating this resulted in the former PP Cabinet approving $250 million to cover those debts, just before last September’s general election, Rowley stated, “Debts like that are still debts to be paid.” He said while the Opposition continues to question what Government will do with the revenue it hopes to generate, Government is not going to, “take it to WASA and set it alight.” Indicating if only one Cabinet minister misbehaved under the former regime it would be considered an aberration, Rowley said, “It was the entire Cabinet.” Referring to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s earlier contribution, the Prime Minister said the decision to reduce the size of the Cabinet from 33 to 23 ministers, equates to a savings of $44 million per year.
“That is saving. We are attacking waste and trying to get savings,” he added.
Noting that whenever the Cabinet now meets there are ten empty chairs, Rowley said he sometimes asks, “where did the other ten go?” Recalling that Persad-Bissessar promised the expansion of the Government to 35 ministries with the creation of a Defence Ministry and a Home Affairs Ministry if the PP was re-elected, Rowley quipped, “At least John Public said, ‘nah...enough is enough’.” Slamming the Opposition for continuing to mislead the population about property tax, Rowley said he has been paying land and building taxes since he was 17 years old. He said it was wrong for St Augustine MP and Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar to be telling persons that if Government collects the tax, they could lose their properties. Rowley said everybody in the country knows that if they do not pay the appropriate tax that is required, there is the possibility that their property could be forefeited.
“It has always been so. That is the law,” he declared.
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Just imagine KPB was re-elected in the internals by a landslide hmmm
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Kamla: My Gov’t would have done better
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160307/news/kamla-my-govt-would-have-done-better
By Camille Hunte
“My government would have done better.”
So said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar while delivering an address following a march against violence in Chaguanas on Saturday.
Although yesterday’s march, held in commemoration of International Women’s Day, was dubbed a “march against violence”, Persad-Bissessar quipped that it could also have been a march against the current Government.
The former prime minister said the country has seen an “explosion” of crime during the six-month period since the People’s National Movement (PNM) assumed office reaching the point where Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite used this country’s crime statistics as a comparison. Brathwaite said Barbados was nowhere near as bad as Trinidad and Tobago.
“Imagine when somebody in Barbados can say they better off than Trinidad,” Persad-Bissessar said. “That could never happen in my time.”
She said the government’s “boasts” that they would deal with crime, corruption and the economy have not materialised and they have instead made the country worse.
Six-month mark
Today marks six months since the PNM’s victory at the polls, Persad-Bissessar said the period of adjustment is now over and the government must “buck up or step out”.
“Six months was enough for the government to put plans in place to deal with the crime issue which they boasted they would do. To put plans in place to deal with the economy which they boasted they would do. Today the economy is flat, thousands have lost their jobs and more will continue to lose their jobs.”
Questioned by reporters on what her government would have done differently, Persad-Bissessar said more focus would have been placed on increasing revenue in other areas rather than depending on the energy sector.
She said the Couva Children’s Hospital, which remains unoccupied, would have functioned as a stimulant for medical tourism. She said it would also have provided jobs for a number of out-of-work doctors and nurses. She said the government’s position that there would be difficulty in staffing the hospital was untrue as there are currently some 160 qualified doctors in Trinidad and Tobago who are not employed and more medical staff could have been sourced from foreign countries such as Cuba, China and Grenada.
She said the government was focusing on “vanity projects” including the Tarouba stadium and recent talks about a billion dollar beach front for the Magdalena hotel in Tobago.
She said her government had a plan whereas the PNM government were serving themselves and their friends.
“Their plan is to help their friends and family and the devil take the hindmost,” she said.
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I read this in a "Late O'Clock News" article and get confused...so she really feel so or is satire?
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I read this in a "Late O'Clock News" article and get confused...so she really feel so or is satire?
I think this time both is truth.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/d03pSaOUvkQ
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Fixin’ T&T: Probe Kamla too*
Nieces working at constituency office
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160320/news/fixin8217-tt-probe-kamla-too
PRESSURE group Fixin’ T&T yesterday said it was “deeply troubled” and “utterly confused” by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s response to the fact that she has two relatives employed at her Siparia constituency office in breach of the Parliament rules.
As a result Fixin’ T&T will today deliver a letter to the chairman of the Integrity Commission Zainool Hosein, copied to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard requesting an investigation into the matter to determine whether Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Members of Parliament Barry Padarath, Dr Bhoe Tewarie and Rushton Paray, all of whom have admitted having relatives employed at their respective constituency offices, are in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.
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(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/-Phillipine%20home.png?itok=jeRof-r9)
PM: Probe cops in Kamla ganja case
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-29/pm-probe-cops-kamla-ganja-case
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct against senior and junior police who were investigating the discovery of marijuana at the private residence of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013. It is also calling on anyone who may have information relevant to the case to come forward.
The move came hours after a call by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley for a detailed investigation into alleged inducements and personal benefits offered to the team of investigators, and for a determination on if this constituted misconduct in public office and/or the commission of a serious crime.
The claim that marijuana had been found at Persad-Bissessar’s Phillipine residence was first made by former national security minister Jack Warner in 2015.
Warner had claimed that on April 12, 2013, former deputy commissioner of police Mervyn Richardson informed him (Warner) that several ounces of marijuana had been found at Persad-Bissessar’s house. Persad-Bissessar was in New York at the time. Warner said both former national security adviser Gary Griffith and former housing minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal were aware of the find and had advised Persad-Bissessar of it.
Yesterday, Rowley said it was now to be determined if the conduct of the police investigating the matter had, “received a series of personal benefits and it is to be determined now whether those actions and persons who offered those benefits have in fact resulted in the commission of a serious crime.”
He said Warner had sworn an affidavit prior to the general elections last September, confirming the details of the marijuana find as well as the alleged cover-up which saw police officers deviating from the proper channels of protocol.
Underscoring the seriousness of the matter, Rowley said the investigating officers had reportedly been the recipients of state housing, Priority Bus Route passes and had their vacation leave bought out by government.
He said the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had the power to intervene in the matter.
Asked about the lack of power by the PCA to move beyond a certain point in many of these types of investigations, Rowley revealed that plans were afoot to bestow “more power” on the PCA.
He also knocked acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, whom he said held the post with the highest authority.
“I don't want to think that the Commissioner of Police who has lost breath in all of this, would allow the officers who were at Phillipine to be prosecuted and turn a blind eye to the fact that high-ranking office holders may have been involved or behind the conduct of those officers. Then that would be saying the law only applies to certain people and doesn’t apply to other people,” he said.
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Panday: Kamla is the UNC's business
CLINT CHAN TACK (NEWSDAY).
UNC founder and former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Friday said it was the UNC's problem whether Kamla Persad-Bissessar resigns as its leader.
Panday also said the PNM's 22-19 victory in the election will not fundamentally improve the lives of most citizens.
Despite calls from several quarters for Persad-Bissessar to resign, UNC PRO and Tabaquite MP-elect Anita Haynes said the UNC has full confidence in Persad-Bissessar and this includes all 18 MPs-elect.
On Tuesday, Haynes said Persad-Bissessar's future as UNC leader does not hinge on the results of the recounts going in the party's favour.
"The UNC has very clear internal processes in terms of how our leadership is chosen," she said.
She recalled that Persad-Bissessar was elected "with a very huge mandate."
She added, "When our elections are due, we will have elections. But until then, the question of leadership does not arise in the UNC. We have full confidence in the political leader of the UNC."
Several former UNC MPs were non-committal over whether or not Persad-Bissessar should resign. Individual MPs-elect such as David Lee, Barry Padarath and Khadijah Ameen have openly expressed their support for Persad-Bissessar
Panday said it did not matter which party won the election because people continue to lack basic amenities such as water and housing.
He also said neither the PNM nor the UNC want to undertake the constitutional reform that will make racial and ethnic voting a thing of the past, pointing out that both parties had constitutional majorities under Dr Eric Williams and Persad-Bissessar, but did not undertake any constitutional reform.
"I don't think either party wants that."
Panday also said the opportunity for fundamental change was also missed with Arthur NR Robinson and the NAR from 1986-1991.
His focus, he said, remains on the 40 per cent of the electorate that consistently does not support either the PNM or the UNC, and only by mobilising this part of the electorate can there be a demand for constitutional reform. Panday said this is what he tried to do with some of the smaller political parties before the election, but that initiative was rejected.
Panday's daughter Mickela, leader of the Patriotic Front, said last month the party's campaign would begin after the election.
On June 25, Mickela announced the PF would contest all 41 seats and her father would be its campaign manager. But on July 14, she said the Prime Minister’s sudden announcement of the election date on July 3 made it impossible for the party to run the kind of campaign it wanted to.
he PF, she stressed, “was not born merely to fight elections, it was born to restructure the society.”
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As a leader leaves little to be desired - Like the present president in USA, it speake volumes to all who support and provide a mandate that is based on lies divisness , degradation and corruption. Shame shame on them that not one of them could stand up for principles and denounce the bs that is contaminating and spreading among the rank and file. I listened to their young PRO and could see a future for her but without guidance or a moral compass she like all the followers will be just following blindly a path bent on the same hatred. We need leaders who regardless of party politics or affinity, will stand up if leaders are moving along an immoral or unethical path.
Still trying to find out :
what is a " blank man"?
What is the intent of referring to his right honourable Dr. Keith Rowley with due respect as befitting of a prime minister?
Simple acts of respect is sadly lacking form our leaders
Time to bring respect back in the way people speak or refer to others
The issues is not whether blank or black was used - why was either used in the first place.
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Why Kamla lost, loses and will continue to lose
BY KEVIN JARED HOSEIN (NEWSDAY).
I live in the marginal constituency of Chaguanas East. I am on the boundary between Enterprise and Cunupia, such that they could be interchanged and the package would still reach my house. I's Chaguanas till ah dead.
I myself am a swing voter and thus, the person you need to be appeal to if you campaign here.
The ketchup and mustard presented at the table were, respectively, Clarence Rambharat (PNM) and Vandana Mohit (UNC). It took me a while before I could actually decide who would get my vote, as I thought both candidates would've been great MPs.
Clarence, in my opinion, had a very aggressive campaign. An uphill battle. Mainly because he was going up against the mayor and a very popular former councillor. Billboards to rival Pastor Cuffie's daughters. Youtube ads like mad. But I watched all of them at least once.
Most outlined a focused plan to help legitimise small businesses, kiosks, eateries around the Enterprise and Montrose areas – respectable, plausible and doable within a realistic timeframe.
However, one video stood out for me in particular: him listing five facts about himself, including his attempts at extempo, that he hasn't driven a vehicle since 2007, and that he sometimes confuses left and right.
I initially found this strange, but it stayed in my mind. Only strange because it was unfamiliar. Would Fitzgerald Hinds ever put out a video saying he couldn't tell left from right? What about Moonilal? Jennifer Baptiste-Primus? Anthony Garcia? How about Gypsy?
Coming back to this later.
Vandana dedicated a share of her personal campaign on online platforms. I only use Facebook, so that’s what I saw.
I’m a secondary school teacher. Some of the children I teach say they look up to Vandana. “I woulda vote for she if I coulda vote!”
To me, this is major, especially after the shaming and kankalang that happened to her last year that made even Al-Rawi explode. At Bocas Lit Fest, I heard an agent who predominantly represents young adult and children’s literature once say that zoomers are the scariest people in the world when they band together.
Vandana popped up on my timeline almost every day I was online. Mostly early-morning videos, pre-makeup, sleepy, eyes sunken and dark-ringed in some, sharing photos of herself back in her school days, talking about food, casually streaming with followers, answering questions, chatting about growing up in Chaguanas. In the end, she carved out a persona as the "Chaguanas homegirl" and used it as her hashtag.
I found all of this endearing. And so did others. And I began thinking back to Clarence's video.
From a literary perspective, if you want to have the reader empathise with a character, the reader must see themselves in that character. If that character gets insulted, they must feel so as well.
The reader is never a perfect person, a paragon of anything. The reader is a flawed individual who wants to overcome a struggle, accomplish something, and do better in life. And a lot of the time, cannot figure out how.
Clarence's idiosyncrasies, as briefly as he related them, made him distinctly human in that video. That's why I could remember it so clearly and not, say, the plot of any of the Transformers movies.
Similarly, Vandana dedicated posts and videos talking about things that were not overtly politics or rhetoric. Might not seem like much, but remember this is not just some gyal live streaming – this is the Mayor of Chaguanas.
These two candidates sought to humanise themselves and were very good at it. Something that Kamla (and a lot of the older stalwarts on both sides) has failed to do.
For many of today's youth, a lot of their opinion banks more on empathy than on apotheosis. They want you to talk to them, not at them. I tell my students embarrassing tales about my teen years all the time, lest they forget that I too was once a stressed-out student.
All these stalwarts were once regular citizens, right? They didn't fall from the sky, did they?
You barely hear a word out of Kamla's mouth now that does not serve self-interest. Even her gaffes in her campaign do not seem to be fully hers, but the machinations of something else. She is not even someone brave enough to make her own mistakes. So how can she possibly own them and grow from it? She has never given herself this opportunity.
It is very difficult to empathise with someone who has not humbled themselves. There is nothing more humanising and humbling than owning up to your flaws. Nothing better for your narrative.
Imagine Kamla as the main character of a story. Who is she? What does she want? Now try to describe the personality she presents to you. Now try to do it without using adjectives.
Take in this: The UNC MVP of 2020 was not Kamla, its leader, but a young, passionate councillor and science graduate named Michelle Benjamin of Moruga.
I am definitely not a fan of those he keeps around him, but Keith Rowley, on the other hand, has actually had somewhat of a character arc over his tenure. When he gets annoyed or visibly angry and outta timing, at least you know that is him. And you can look back at the "Rowley tea party" and “Mr Speaker, I see acrimony” days and compare and see how he has tempered himself. He is, of course, imperfect.
Panday and Manning oozed personality, down to their last days. There's a particular exchange that I love between them:
Panday: "I would risk having another meeting with you, you know!"
Manning, with arms outstretched: "It would be my extreme pleasure!"
And in the background, you could hear both sides of the Lower House laughing. Their downfall was not a fault in their stars, but in themselves. Panday spewing venom at his own supporters while donning a red beret, telling them how they should look in the mirror and "hold allyuh head and bawl!" whenever they are raped or gunned down. Manning huffing and puffing, pulling a Birdman, driving down to a radio station because somebody was bad-talking him.
They became tragic heroes in the great Trinidadian tapestry. Their time was up. Elephants to the graveyard.
Fling Kamla in there now. Once brimming with verve, class, empathy, but s now resigned to stonewalling, second-hand, ill-advised rhetoric. Look at her Prime Minister photo with her Hillary hair-do. Do you see the giant forced smile? Lost her way and thus, lost the election.
Now look at the video of Manning conceding. He was arrogant, and I was ecstatic when he was ousted, but I felt something odd looking at him concede. A sadness that seemed to bubble out of nowhere. Because he was no longer the demi-god Manning there. But a man. A broken man. Some would say he came out like a scolded dog to his supporters.
But that took great bravery. He displayed his greatest class there. It's too bad one of his bravest, most formidable moments was among his last in politics.
It is a lesson to us all. Our idiosyncrasies make us human. Our embracing of them makes us affable. Our mistakes terrify us. Our apologies for those mistakes make us intrepid. Our flaws make us vulnerable. Our acceptance of those flaws makes us impenetrable. If you’ve ever seen 8 Mile, you’ll know what I mean.
When Vandana won her seat, I felt a pang of pensiveness for Clarence. If Clarence had won, I would have felt the same for Vandana. It serves as testament to how these two presented themselves.
I think Vandana and Clarence can tell Kamla why she lost. And I think if they replace Kamla with Moonilal, all the upcoming young politicians – JW, Saddam, Anita Haynes, Sean Sobers, Nikoli Edwards, Obika, Michelle Benjamin – can tell him why he will lose as well.
Many congratulations to PM Keith Rowley. Time to face forward now. All of us need to exorcise the douens from within us and make sure our feet are positioned forward as well.
Kevin Jared Hosein is an award-winning novelist and educator living in Chaguanas. He has twice won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
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Devant: Kamla 'mamaguyed' UNC by calling for recount
STACY MOORE (NEWSDAY).
UNC activist Devant Maharaj said the party's leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has ‘mamaguyed’ members into thinking that a recount in certain seats in the August 10 general elections was a chance for the UNC to win.
Maharaj said many of the members were holding on to such illusion and failed to accept defeat. He said these games must stop.
“I am not a PNM and I have no intention of joining the PNM. I have challenged the PNM in and out of court for many years but I recognised that this was an electoral race where there will be one winner or one loser and we lost.”
The former minister said Persad-Bissessar, who has not been seen since the general election, has shown her deficiencies as a leader.
“When you listen to some of the members speak, they were holding on to hope that the recount could go our way and we could get government. This is false.”
Maharaj said Persad-Bissessar must come to terms that the party has lost the election.
“We lost and I feel the mature thing to do is to congratulate the winner and move on. She did not show that sense of maturity and, I think, in this last couple of weeks she has highlighted her leadership deficiencies by this ridiculous recount which has stalled the country.”
He added, “This strategy of also demonising the EBC as working for the PNM is disingenuous. When we won the local election the EBC was not under attack and how come now when we lost the general election, the EBC is a PNM. These games must stop.”
Maharaj said the focus now should be on dealing with covid19.
“We have a crisis here. We are at a war with an unseen virus that can kill all of us. It is time for us to put politics aside and work with the government."
On the weekend, attorney and UNC member Kelvin Ramkissoon called on Persad-Bissessar to step down as political leader.
In a WhatsApp conversation, Ramkissoon said, “I don’t even want to watch the news conference. In a proper democracy when a leader losing an election the proper thing is done.
“They don’t hold on. That’s the essence of the Westminster model. The leader knows that."
Ramkissoon was election agent for Ahloy Hunt who has demanded a recount for the St Joseph seat which he lost to incumbent, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
“The question is not who will take over. Leave that to those who constitute the entity and move on with dignity while you still have it.
“Better yet, show some magnanimity and vacate your own seat and give it to someone else. You will save yourself and save future generations.
“Further time will just erode trust and confidence and chisel away at the remaining goodwill which the party still has and cause people to gravitate towards the continuous winner.
“The maxim if you can’t win them, join them may pervade in the minds of person.”
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Devant: Kamla 'mamaguyed' UNC by calling for recount
STACY MOORE (NEWSDAY).
UNC activist Devant Maharaj said the party's leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has ‘mamaguyed’ members into thinking that a recount in certain seats in the August 10 general elections was a chance for the UNC to win.
Maharaj said many of the members were holding on to such illusion and failed to accept defeat. He said these games must stop.
“I am not a PNM and I have no intention of joining the PNM. I have challenged the PNM in and out of court for many years but I recognised that this was an electoral race where there will be one winner or one loser and we lost.”
The former minister said Persad-Bissessar, who has not been seen since the general election, has shown her deficiencies as a leader.
“When you listen to some of the members speak, they were holding on to hope that the recount could go our way and we could get government. This is false.”
Maharaj said Persad-Bissessar must come to terms that the party has lost the election.
“We lost and I feel the mature thing to do is to congratulate the winner and move on. She did not show that sense of maturity and, I think, in this last couple of weeks she has highlighted her leadership deficiencies by this ridiculous recount which has stalled the country.”
He added, “This strategy of also demonising the EBC as working for the PNM is disingenuous. When we won the local election the EBC was not under attack and how come now when we lost the general election, the EBC is a PNM. These games must stop.”
Maharaj said the focus now should be on dealing with covid19.
“We have a crisis here. We are at a war with an unseen virus that can kill all of us. It is time for us to put politics aside and work with the government."
On the weekend, attorney and UNC member Kelvin Ramkissoon called on Persad-Bissessar to step down as political leader.
In a WhatsApp conversation, Ramkissoon said, “I don’t even want to watch the news conference. In a proper democracy when a leader losing an election the proper thing is done.
“They don’t hold on. That’s the essence of the Westminster model. The leader knows that."
Ramkissoon was election agent for Ahloy Hunt who has demanded a recount for the St Joseph seat which he lost to incumbent, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
“The question is not who will take over. Leave that to those who constitute the entity and move on with dignity while you still have it.
“Better yet, show some magnanimity and vacate your own seat and give it to someone else. You will save yourself and save future generations.
“Further time will just erode trust and confidence and chisel away at the remaining goodwill which the party still has and cause people to gravitate towards the continuous winner.
“The maxim if you can’t win them, join them may pervade in the minds of person.”
Y
BWTF?
Mamaguyed that is putting it mildly - blind leadership
Leading maseees to the koolaid table
I feel sorry for some of the young MPs who I think could make a difference
I was going to say young and bright but until they stand up and stand apart and denounce the bs without saying they support 100% I reserve that adoration
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Kamla from TnT could learn a lot from Kamala Harris whose mother was of Indian descent and whose father was Jamaican. Kamala identifies as Afro American- and speaks openly of that identity- see
" Kamala Harris- the unauthorized documentary
The maturity , the acceptance and the intellect Kamala Harris shows is sadly lacking from those who strive to seek political gains through divisiness destabilization and dysfunctional politics.
Listen tosh real Kamala- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XZ6bTsKIwI
Kamala Harris " The Truths we Hold"
Listen to her talk about UNITY- for all people - I urge all the old and newly elected MPs to listen and study this speech
Sen. Kamala Harris Presidential Capaign Announcement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frt81nmSbz8
When I could hear this time of sentiment in a TnT from elected officials I would say we have overcome the bs we getting now
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Kamla from TnT could learn a lot from Kamala Harris whose mother was of Indian descent and whose father was Jamaican. Kamala identifies as Afro American- and speaks openly of that identity- see
" Kamala Harris- the unauthorized documentary
The maturity , the acceptance and the intellect Kamala Harris shows is sadly lacking from those who strive to seek political gains through divisiness destabilization and dysfunctional politics.
Listen tosh real Kamala- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XZ6bTsKIwI
Kamala Harris " The Truths we Hold"
Listen to her talk about UNITY- for all people - I urge all the old and newly elected MPs to listen and study this speech
Sen. Kamala Harris Presidential Capaign Announcement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frt81nmSbz8
When I could hear this time of sentiment in a TnT from elected officials I would say we have overcome the bs we getting now
I see that somebody text somebody - the former president of USA stealing strategy from TnT opposition trying to invoke tactics and making accusations of voter tampering and blaming the media for trying to sway the votes and declaring a winner
Well look how birds of a feather does fk together
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Kamla retains leadership of UNC
By Gail Alexander (T&T Guardian).
Incumbent United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar last night claimed victory in the UNC’s internal polls, saying there was a clear trend that her Star slate was going to win when the official results come in.
Her leadership challenger Vasant Bharath conceded shortly after she spoke saying, "Members of United National Congress have voted in the National Executive election, and the Lotus Team accepts their decision. We congratulate the Star Team of candidates, led by incumbent Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and wish them all success during their term of office.
We offer to be of assistance in the urgent and extensive exercise of rebuilding and renewing the UNC. “
Bharath however strongly slammed a number of irregularities which he claimed occurred in the election.
Persad-Bissessar spoke around 9.30 pm last night when the majority of votes coming in from polling stations around T&T showed her slate was ahead of Bharath's Team Lotus slate.
UNC election management team chairman Ramesh Persad-Maharaj told Guardian Media the trend last night was that the Star slate was the winner.
Persad-Maharaj declared the first position for the Star slate around 7.30 pm.
Star candidate Bheemal Ramlogan won the post of Tobago regional co-ordinator with 13 votes.
Lotus team contestant for the same post, Barrington Thomas, polled two votes.
Approximately 120,000 voters were eligible to vote at the 78 polling stations located in T&T’s 41 constituencies.
No official voter turn-out figure was given last night. Up to 10 pm, Persad- Maharaj said there had been a reasonable voter turnout.
Speaking last night, Persad–Bissesar said her team would be monitoring proceedings until the wee hours of today, "But the trend is very, very clear that the Star team will win this election – a trend....but we must await the official final results from many of the stations.”
Persad- Bissessar said there had been some voter suppression due to COVID restrictions and there were some reports of voter intimidation at certain polling stations – but there hadn’t been major issues.
Persad- Bissessar said the way forward for the party under her leadership was to lead the party in going after the real political enemy, “The PNM Government..to take out! Take them out…!”
She said she’d focus on making the UNC stronger, staying focused and together and to continue to be united.
Persad Bissessar now remains in charge of the Opposition UNC for another three years until 2023.
Bharath in his speech, however added, “In acknowledging the announced results of the election, we note there were widespread irregularities, just as we had feared and to which we had alerted the national community."
“Scores of people whose names were not on the revised list of electors were permitted to vote at several polling stations. Several lifetime members were debarred from exercising their franchise.
In one case, a veteran party operative – who had previously served as presiding officer in one of the houses of Parliament – brought in several non-financial members who were permitted to cast their ballots."
“In some cases, prominent and active campaigners for the Star Team performed as election officers, including as Presiding Officers. Revised lists of electors were provided only to candidates and activists of the Star Team. There were many cases of voters being verbally abused, bullied and intimidated at polling stations.”
Bharath added, “At least two Members of Parliament were seen openly campaigning among members who were lined up to cast their votes. Paraphernalia of the Star Team were distributed within the precincts of some polling stations. It is most ironic that these gross abnormalities took place at the hands of an incumbent Political Leader who had lobbied for independent observers for the August 10 general election. “
“Further, the leader had declined to concede defeat in the general election and had claimed for several days that there were electoral irregularities.
For weeks before the election, Team Lotus had publicly complained about the absence of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Our documented objections were never addressed. With the electoral process behind us, I urge all party members not to engage in recriminations.
He added, "Antagonism and reproach would only harm an organisation that requires the commitment and united purpose of all its human resources in order to displace the failed PNM at the next general election.
"I implore Mrs Persad-Bissessar to embrace and integrate all party supporters and sympathisers in the essential organisational restructuring that is required if the UNC is to become a viable political force.
A major initial assignment should be to determine why there is such apathy among members, as evidenced by the abysmally low voter turnout."
Just before polls closed at 6 pm Bharath also wrote election team chairman Persad-Maharaj officially claiming of a number of matters demonstrated “manifest unfairness in the internal election process.”
In a statement earlier in the day, Persad-Bissesar had said
she expected her slate would emerge victorious "despite the petty games and underhanded tactics being utilised by opponents".
Persad-Bissessar has helmed the UNC since January 24 2010. When she won that leadership election with 13,932 votes over UNC founder Basdeo Panday's 1, 359 and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's 1,072 votes.
After her PP Government lost the 2015 general elections, she won UNC’s leadership with 17,502 votes against Bharath (1,305) and Dr Roodal Moonilal (1,821 ). After UNC’s modest improvement in 2016 Local Government polls, she won 2017 internals: 20,328 votes to Christine Newallo-Hosein’s 114 and Chanda Bhaggan’s 45.
VASANT'S COMPLAINTS
Vasant Bharath’s letter to the election team chairman added, “These matters are also evidence of your inability to manage an electoral process."
He cited: "In Couva South, Moruga Tableland, and the Port-of-Spain cluster, persons whose names were not contained on the "final list" as specified in the rules were allowed to vote. We were informed that you personally made calls to the respective presiding officers and instructed them to "write-in names" on the list to allow these persons to vote.”
* Throughout all constituencies, voters complained about being harassed by electoral staff to "vote the Star" this includes both presiding officers and deputy presiding officers. This harassment also took the form of electoral officers actually being in close proximity of persons while voting. This is no doubt a result of the biased selection of electoral staff which you unilaterally appointed without any fair process.
* In Naparima there was no electoral ink for the start of voting. Further, a female senator was constantly giving instructions to the presiding officer on what to do during the electoral process which resulted in one of our candidates, Kamani Ramraj, being prohibited from entering the station.
* Several MPs and senators were allowed into the polling stations and were resident within the station for large parts of the day. In the case of one MP, she was seen taking in a list for the Presiding Officer.
* Numerous persons, who are lifetime members, were not allowed to vote despite presenting their membership card. This demonstrates clearly that the membership list was sanitized prior to the polling day.
At 330 pm, the presiding officer at the La Horquetta/ Talparo created a polling division and placed a new ballot box in a separate area of the station for the collection of votes. This resulted in Team Lotus having no representative to view this ballot box or determine how many votes were put into this ballot box. This action is highly improper and seems designed to ensure that ballots would be entered into the overall count without any form of scrutiny.
We are receiving further instructions on this matter and will continue to place the same on the record. Further particulars on these matters will also be provided."
Victorious Star Team
POLITICAL LEADER – Kamla Persad-Bissessar
DEPUTY LEADERS – Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, Jearlean John
CHAIRMAN – Devendranath Tancoo
VICE CHAIRMAN – Kadijah Ameen
EDUCATION OFFICER – Clifton De Coteau
PARTY ORGANISER – Ravi Ratiram
ELECTIONS OFFICER – Don Sylvester
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER – Nicholas Morris
POLICY AND STRATEGY OFFICER – Sean Sobers
TREASURER – William Archie
RESEARCH OFFICER – Monifa Andrews
SOUTH REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Shanty Boodram
NORTH WEST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Eli Zakour
CENTRAL REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Imam Rasheed Karim
NORTH EAST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Neil Gosine
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Kamla retains leadership of UNC
By Gail Alexander (T&T Guardian).
Incumbent United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar last night claimed victory in the UNC’s internal polls, saying there was a clear trend that her Star slate was going to win when the official results come in.
Her leadership challenger Vasant Bharath conceded shortly after she spoke saying, "Members of United National Congress have voted in the National Executive election, and the Lotus Team accepts their decision. We congratulate the Star Team of candidates, led by incumbent Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and wish them all success during their term of office.
We offer to be of assistance in the urgent and extensive exercise of rebuilding and renewing the UNC. “
Bharath however strongly slammed a number of irregularities which he claimed occurred in the election.
Persad-Bissessar spoke around 9.30 pm last night when the majority of votes coming in from polling stations around T&T showed her slate was ahead of Bharath's Team Lotus slate.
UNC election management team chairman Ramesh Persad-Maharaj told Guardian Media the trend last night was that the Star slate was the winner.
Persad-Maharaj declared the first position for the Star slate around 7.30 pm.
Star candidate Bheemal Ramlogan won the post of Tobago regional co-ordinator with 13 votes.
Lotus team contestant for the same post, Barrington Thomas, polled two votes.
Approximately 120,000 voters were eligible to vote at the 78 polling stations located in T&T’s 41 constituencies.
No official voter turn-out figure was given last night. Up to 10 pm, Persad- Maharaj said there had been a reasonable voter turnout.
Speaking last night, Persad–Bissesar said her team would be monitoring proceedings until the wee hours of today, "But the trend is very, very clear that the Star team will win this election – a trend....but we must await the official final results from many of the stations.”
Persad- Bissessar said there had been some voter suppression due to COVID restrictions and there were some reports of voter intimidation at certain polling stations – but there hadn’t been major issues.
Persad- Bissessar said the way forward for the party under her leadership was to lead the party in going after the real political enemy, “The PNM Government..to take out! Take them out…!”
She said she’d focus on making the UNC stronger, staying focused and together and to continue to be united.
Persad Bissessar now remains in charge of the Opposition UNC for another three years until 2023.
Bharath in his speech, however added, “In acknowledging the announced results of the election, we note there were widespread irregularities, just as we had feared and to which we had alerted the national community."
“Scores of people whose names were not on the revised list of electors were permitted to vote at several polling stations. Several lifetime members were debarred from exercising their franchise.
In one case, a veteran party operative – who had previously served as presiding officer in one of the houses of Parliament – brought in several non-financial members who were permitted to cast their ballots."
“In some cases, prominent and active campaigners for the Star Team performed as election officers, including as Presiding Officers. Revised lists of electors were provided only to candidates and activists of the Star Team. There were many cases of voters being verbally abused, bullied and intimidated at polling stations.”
Bharath added, “At least two Members of Parliament were seen openly campaigning among members who were lined up to cast their votes. Paraphernalia of the Star Team were distributed within the precincts of some polling stations. It is most ironic that these gross abnormalities took place at the hands of an incumbent Political Leader who had lobbied for independent observers for the August 10 general election. “
“Further, the leader had declined to concede defeat in the general election and had claimed for several days that there were electoral irregularities.
For weeks before the election, Team Lotus had publicly complained about the absence of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Our documented objections were never addressed. With the electoral process behind us, I urge all party members not to engage in recriminations.
He added, "Antagonism and reproach would only harm an organisation that requires the commitment and united purpose of all its human resources in order to displace the failed PNM at the next general election.
"I implore Mrs Persad-Bissessar to embrace and integrate all party supporters and sympathisers in the essential organisational restructuring that is required if the UNC is to become a viable political force.
A major initial assignment should be to determine why there is such apathy among members, as evidenced by the abysmally low voter turnout."
Just before polls closed at 6 pm Bharath also wrote election team chairman Persad-Maharaj officially claiming of a number of matters demonstrated “manifest unfairness in the internal election process.”
In a statement earlier in the day, Persad-Bissesar had said
she expected her slate would emerge victorious "despite the petty games and underhanded tactics being utilised by opponents".
Persad-Bissessar has helmed the UNC since January 24 2010. When she won that leadership election with 13,932 votes over UNC founder Basdeo Panday's 1, 359 and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's 1,072 votes.
After her PP Government lost the 2015 general elections, she won UNC’s leadership with 17,502 votes against Bharath (1,305) and Dr Roodal Moonilal (1,821 ). After UNC’s modest improvement in 2016 Local Government polls, she won 2017 internals: 20,328 votes to Christine Newallo-Hosein’s 114 and Chanda Bhaggan’s 45.
VASANT'S COMPLAINTS
Vasant Bharath’s letter to the election team chairman added, “These matters are also evidence of your inability to manage an electoral process."
He cited: "In Couva South, Moruga Tableland, and the Port-of-Spain cluster, persons whose names were not contained on the "final list" as specified in the rules were allowed to vote. We were informed that you personally made calls to the respective presiding officers and instructed them to "write-in names" on the list to allow these persons to vote.”
* Throughout all constituencies, voters complained about being harassed by electoral staff to "vote the Star" this includes both presiding officers and deputy presiding officers. This harassment also took the form of electoral officers actually being in close proximity of persons while voting. This is no doubt a result of the biased selection of electoral staff which you unilaterally appointed without any fair process.
* In Naparima there was no electoral ink for the start of voting. Further, a female senator was constantly giving instructions to the presiding officer on what to do during the electoral process which resulted in one of our candidates, Kamani Ramraj, being prohibited from entering the station.
* Several MPs and senators were allowed into the polling stations and were resident within the station for large parts of the day. In the case of one MP, she was seen taking in a list for the Presiding Officer.
* Numerous persons, who are lifetime members, were not allowed to vote despite presenting their membership card. This demonstrates clearly that the membership list was sanitized prior to the polling day.
At 330 pm, the presiding officer at the La Horquetta/ Talparo created a polling division and placed a new ballot box in a separate area of the station for the collection of votes. This resulted in Team Lotus having no representative to view this ballot box or determine how many votes were put into this ballot box. This action is highly improper and seems designed to ensure that ballots would be entered into the overall count without any form of scrutiny.
We are receiving further instructions on this matter and will continue to place the same on the record. Further particulars on these matters will also be provided."
Victorious Star Team
POLITICAL LEADER – Kamla Persad-Bissessar
DEPUTY LEADERS – Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, Jearlean John
CHAIRMAN – Devendranath Tancoo
VICE CHAIRMAN – Kadijah Ameen
EDUCATION OFFICER – Clifton De Coteau
PARTY ORGANISER – Ravi Ratiram
ELECTIONS OFFICER – Don Sylvester
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER – Nicholas Morris
POLICY AND STRATEGY OFFICER – Sean Sobers
TREASURER – William Archie
RESEARCH OFFICER – Monifa Andrews
SOUTH REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Shanty Boodram
NORTH WEST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Eli Zakour
CENTRAL REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Imam Rasheed Karim
NORTH EAST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Nei
Big hairy deal
Which leader will make assinine statements like
We will take them out!!!!
Wish Kadijah Ameen will look good wearing a balizay come to think of it she looks good period. Cheeers to TnT democracy.
Grey goose on sale