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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Sport_Ministry_to_launch_LIFEsport_programme-159382675.html
Sport Ministry to launch LIFEsport programme
Story Created: Jun 17, 2012 at 11:52 PM ECT
The Ministry of Sport will launch their LIFEsport programme today at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, an initiative geared at providing opportunities for "at-risk" youth through sport.
Close to 120 youngsters from youth from "at-risk communities", a Ministry release said on Friday, will benefit from the programme, which is the brainchild of Sport Minister Anil Roberts.
Participants will engage in sport training in boxing, athletics, basketball and football, while there will also be sessions targeting coach education, facility/grounds management, life and vocational skills training.
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http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2012-06-19/minister-roberts-warner-launches-lifesport
Minister Roberts, Warner launches LIFEsport
Published: Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nicholas Clarke
The Ministry of Sport will begin working with young people from 33 at risk areas throughout the country as part of its new outreach programme, LIFEsport. This was revealed during the initiative’s formal launch at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s on Monday afternoon. The event was attended by stakeholders from the government and private sectors, who were screened a short documentary featuring interviews with young men from the Laventille area. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Sport Anil Roberts said the aim of the programme would be to counter the country’s crime problem by giving neglected young people more opportunities to make something of their lives. “They want to be on track,” he said. “It’s just that they’ve never been taught that the track was made for them. “The concept of LIFEsport is to change that philosophy and to let our young people know that those who did not come from privileged backgrounds and those not lucky enough to have two parents and a stable family, that there is a place in T&T for them.”
He added that the programme would involve “using the passion, the excitement, the love, the adrenaline of sport to bring young people in and then keep them on the right path. We will attract them to sport, pay them a stipend, train them, make them healthier, get them off the ground, get them off the drugs, make them use their time productively and then develop whatever skills they have.” The former television show host first developed the concept in 2007 while he campaigned for the Congress of the People in the Sea Lots area. “I walked into a football game with some young boys and I sat to watch them and two of them, aged about eight and ten, came up and asked: ‘Sir, what somebody like you doing in Sea Lots?’ At eight years old, somehow he had a concept that he was inferior and that I should not have been where he lived.”
He added he had also been inspired by the success of the sporting programmes in Cuba. Later, Minister of Works and Transport Jack Warner called on the public to assist with the ongoing crisis. “Crime is not the responsibility of the Minister of National Security alone but rather it is the business of all of us and therefore, we must take a lead in a sport-based strategy to reduce crime and this must be done to steer the youths away from negative social activities,” he said.
“Putting youths in prison has failed, community service hours and boot camps have failed...It is not a time to lose hope. However, it is time for us to devise new plans.” Warner also cited the previous administration’s “mashing up” of community grounds in Diego Martin and Santa Cruz as the catalyst for increased criminal activity.
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Auditor General cites discrepancies in Life Sport (http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,195693.html)
By Andre Bagoo Tuesday, June 3 2014 (T&T Newday)
THE AUDITOR General has recorded discrepancies in the accounts of the controversial Life Sport programme – which has been subject to competing claims from Government ministers over allegations of financial irregularity – and has found the programme to be “high risk” because of a lack of internal controls at the Sport Ministry.
The Report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for the Financial Year 2013, also discloses three loans, totalling $154 million, were issued to the LifeSport programme via the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago/First Citizens Bank. These loans appear to be separate and apart from the programme’s ministerial head allocation detailed in the 2013 Budget documents.
In a review of expenditure of accounting officers, the Auditor General, Sharman Ottley, flags questions over invoices relating to mysterious companies and purported duplicated payments to programme participants across several areas and to the same single bank account. “Three invoices for equal amounts totalling $259,350 for catering of meals for the in 3 different areas – Marabella, Morvant and Bagatelle – did not reflect any business address or telephone contact number for the supplier,” the Report states.
Further, questions over the possibly duplication of payment of stipends are raised.
“From a review of one month’s payments under the Life Sport Programme, 59 participants who were seen to have been paid stipends totalling $88,500 for St Joseph, were also seen to have been paid $88,500 for Maloney,” the Report states. “In addition, a further amount of $76,500 was paid to 51 participants for Maloney. Also, payments to 6 participants in the Maraval area were made to the same bank account.”
The Auditor General deems the programme “high risk” because it was not included under ministry controls. “Analysis of the internal audit programme of work for the year revealed that high risk areas such as the Life Sport programme, Development Programme and Infrastructure Development were not included for review,” the Report states.
Information in the Report also discloses two loans issued for the Life Sport programme via the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
Treasury Statements detailing Letters of Comfort issued by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago list two loans by the company which appear to have been designated for use by the programme. The lending agency for one loan, for $77.2 million, is identified as FCB Ltd (Life Sport (1)). The second loan, for $76.8 million, is identified as FCB Ltd (Life Sport (2))
The balances outstanding on both loans, as at September 30, 2013, are: $77.2 million and $40.4 million respectively (a total of $154 million). These figures for the Sport Company appear separate and apart from other figures relating to the funding of the programme. For instance, the Draft Estimates of Recurrent Expenditure states that for the year 2013, the programme, termed “Pathway Programme - Life-Sport”, was expected to incur $29 million in expenditure. In 2014 that allocation rose to $113.5 million.
The Life Sport programme was last month moved by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar from under the Ministry of Sport to the Ministry of National Security over concerns about its functioning. In the wake of this, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith expressed concerns over possible “ghost gangs” in the programme. Minister of Sport Anil Roberts and the programme’s director, however, defended the programme, with Roberts describing it as a “tremendous success”. An audit by the Ministry of Finance was announced. In relation to the Ministry of Sport, the Report of the Auditor General raises — as it does several ministries across the board, questions about compliance with audit process and over documentation relating to specific transactions.
The Report, tabled in Parliament last month, flags on transaction relating to multiple payments to several companies which had an overlapping director.
The documents states, “Five payments totalling $680,455 were seen to be made to 2 companies with a common Director for work of the same description undertaken at 5 recreation grounds, namely Maloney, Samaroo, Mayaro, Moruga and Morne Diablo.” The issue had a previous incarnation.
“Serious concerns were expressed in the 2012 Report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts about payments totalling $1,996,400 made to one of these companies,” stated the Report.
Additionally, “Original invoices as required by Financial Instruction 113(1) for two payments totalling $251,859.20 to one company were not produced for audit.”
In relation to current transfers and subsidies of the ministry, the Auditor General found that, “Controls over payments in this area also continue to be weak.” This included payment to one company for which there did not appear to be any record. “From the sample selected, invoices were not presented to support a payment of $400,000 to one company,” the Report stated. “A search of the online Companies Registry did not reveal any company registered in the name given. Invoices were also not seen for an amount of $63,900 paid to one person under this vote. Quotations were seen to be used to effect these payments.” In relation to expenditure control generally, the Report states, “Funds were not seen to be committed in the Vote Book before vouchers totalling $1,705,252.40 were passed for payment as evidence of ensuring that votes are sufficient to meet all commitments. Minister of Finance Circular No 23 of 1959 on the subject of Accounting for Commitments and Financial Regulations 66 and 67 refer. The breach of these Regulations was also reported in the prior year.”
The Daily Abstract of Payments for the months of July, August and September 2013 2.195were not produced. This practice is in contravention of the Auditor General’s constitutional and legal right of access and Financial Instruction 43.
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$34M FOR NO WORK
By NEWSDAY REPORTER
THE LIFE SPORT Programme continues to be embroiled in corruption allegations with further revelation yesterday that a whopping $34 million was paid to a contractor for the provision of educational training services in Math, English and Modern Technology with a focus on numeracy and literacy, but such training to persons in the programme was never done.
Ruth Marchan, the Deputy Director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport who on Monday exclusively disclosed to Newsday, a plot to kill her and her colleagues, yesterday said the $34 million was paid in two tranches. The first tranche, of $17 million was paid in September and the other, in the sum of $17 million was made in December 2013.
However, there is no work to account for the monies put out by Government with well over two years gone in the programme. According to Marchan, the contractor is a well-known figure of an educational institution in Port-of-Spain, who is now on the run. She admitted in a recent report that threats on her life stemmed from disagreements with certain top officials in the Ministry of Sport related to the her Life Sport Programme and because these officials had a political agenda.
“I was just there doing my best at the ministry and there were people who wanted me out because I did not concede to some of their requests. One of the things they wanted me to cover up was the $34 million to this contractor but, I said no because I felt it was way too much for such a contract” Marchan explained.
Meanwhile, information about the $34 million contract was corroborated by an ex-executive at the Life Sport who resigned recently. This executive who wished to remain anonymous, told Newsday yesterday he was asked to sign off on an agreement of $34 million to be paid to the contractor for services in Math, English and Modern Technology with a focus on numeracy and literacy, but he did not sign because he felt there was a need for more information on the project.
He noted the agreement had already been signed off on by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago and he would have been an additional signatory.
The programme began with 33 centres throughout Trinidad and Tobago and was quickly expanded to 43 due to the demand in the different communities. However, when Newsday contacted the contractor in question yesterday, he refused to respond to questions about the $34 million contract. He did disclose however an involvement with the programme on two fronts: personal and via a company of which he was chairman.
He made it clear all work that he did in a personal capacity in the Life Sport programme was done free of charge. “I in fact volunteered to work on the Life Sport programme to help with the development of the youth and all my work was voluntary work” the contractor said.
However, when quizzed as to whether he had been given a contract by the life sport he said, “I was never given money physically, but I was the chairman of a company that had a contractual agreement with the Life Sport company. Whether that company was my company and if the company had a $34 million contract with the Life Sport, I cannot speak about that” the contractor said.
He added, “I left the Life Sport programme on August 15 last year. I think it will be highly unethical to talk about such a situation to someone on the phone.” He pointed out that although he had no reason to defend himself, concerns about him being on the run are far from the truth. “I answer my phone calls at all times but if I am unable to answer then everyone knows that they can get me on my email,” the contractor said. He admitted to being abroad at the moment, but when asked when he would be returning to Trinidad, he said that was personal and he did not wish to discuss that information.
The contractor who is a representative of Oxford and Cambridge told Newsday also that he left the Life Sport programme last September.
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when i read that above then the article about lack of funding for the football programmes...i just shook my head and steups..
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Disgraceful. No surprise that Warner was involved, and Anil Roberts looks pretty shady given the massive corruption on his watch
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I HAVE TO FLEE
By Newsday Staff Saturday, June 28 2014
click on pic to zoom in
Deputy Director of Physical Education and Sport, Ruth Marchan, is planning to flee the country out of fear following the murder of Curtis “Tall Man” Gibson, the man she described as her bodyguard and who she claimed a couple weeks ago was among persons, including herself, close to the Life Sport Programme targeted to be killed.
Gibson, 42, one of four persons associated with the programme who Marchan revealed was under threat, was shot to death at his Malabar home in Arima early Thursday morning. He was asleep with his common-law wife when gunmen broke down his door and sprayed him with bullets. His wife escaped unharmed.
Up to press time, no suspect was held for Gibson’s murder. Autopsy reports confirmed Gibson died for shock haemorrhaging, consistent with being shot multiple times. Police said Gibson had been killed “mafia style”, as he also had a single gunshot to the head.
A terrified Marchan told Newsday yesterday, “I will have to give up my entire life which means that I will have to sell my house and my vehicles and leave the country.”
“I have been forced to live in fear and I want the authorities and whoever to help me,” Marchan said.
Marchan added that she will not have a job anymore since she would not be able to return to a place where she will not be comfortable. She did not wish to expand on any further aspects of the Life Sport Programme, except to say that things had gone too far in that project.
But Caryl Keller, Adviser to the Minister of Sport, refuted claims that Gibson’s murder had any relation with the Life Sport Programme. He said that killing was as a result of the spiralling crime rate in the country.
Keller also believes Marchan had become paranoid and he had not been able to make sense out of all she has been saying about the Life Sport Programme. He said what Marchan has been saying was just not logical.
Asked why Marchan was away from work at the Ministry, Keller said as far as he knew she was on vacation and was expected to return to duties on August 12.
A statement from the Sports Ministry said Marchan had no authority to speak about Life Sport.
“The management of the Life Sport Programme wishes to inform that Ms Ruth Marchan has no authority to speak on behalf of the Life Sport Programme as it is not formally under her purview at the Ministry of Sport,” the release said. Keller also lashed out at Minister of National Security, Gary Griffith on claims that the programme was filled with criminals. He said the Minister had been giving inaccurate information about the programme.
Griffith in an interview with Newsday yesterday said Gibson’s killing proves that criminality exists within the scheme.
Newsday had asked for his response to the death such as if he would probe it, to which he said, “no” because that is the purview of the Commissioner of Police.
“What I would say though, it would emphasise the fact again...that there are certain persons in the Life Sport who claim that my statements, that there were questionable activities, and my accusations were unfounded and were a figment of my imagination, and those are the same individuals that then came after the fact to claim their lives were at risk, based on questionable activities in the same Life Sport,” Griffith said. Life Sport is now under the National Security Ministry after Prime Minister ordered the programme be transferred from the Sports Ministry and also commissioned an audit by Finance Minister Larry Howai.
Furthermore, Keller said Gibson has never been employed with Life Sport. This supported what was said by Sport Minister, Anil Roberts, during the sitting of Parliament yesterday.
Roberts told the Parliament Gibson was not associated with the Life Sport Programme in “any way or fashion,” disputing claims that were made by Marchan when she first revealed the ills of the scheme.
Yesterday, the Public Transport Service Corporation issued a release expressing condolences on the death of Gibson while at the same time saying that he worked with the corporation for some 12 years as a CSR II (customer service representative) Facilities Administration. Newsday understands Gibson last had responsibility, as of 2010, for the maxi taxi bays at the public transport hub, City Gate, Port-of-Spain. Linus Phillip, president of the Route 2 Maxi Taxi Association, expressing condolences said Gibson was well-liked, and a good person.
The Sports Ministry also issued a release dissociating Gibson with the Life Sport Programme.
“News reports which refer to Gibson as a Life Sport employee are totally erroneous, inaccurate and absolutely misleading. It is with great concern that this misinformation continues to be published in the media, even in the midst of an audit of the programme currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Finance,” the release said.
But Newsday sources confirmed a connection, revealing that Gibson, who was quite close to an imam in an east Trinidad mosque, was the man who would go to various communities to get young potential candidates for the Life Sport Programme.
According to the source, Gibson was the “main man” in the programme. “He was the man on the ground,” the source said. “He would work for the imam by going out and convincing youngsters between the ages of 16 and 25 years who were eyeing a life of crime to join the Life Sport Programme as it led them towards a positive life.”
Keller also told Newsday that Permanent Secretary in the Sports Ministry, Ashwin Creed, is not missing as has been reported but has been out of the country on family business including securing United States citizenship since his daughter already enjoys that status. Buxo Potts, special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board, refuted claims made recently by Marchan, linking him to the plot to harm her and other officials of th Sports Ministry. He said he has never and still does not have any involvement in the Life Sport Programme.
I hope they would put the 2 pull man from room 201 balls in a draw and slam it real hard .
suddenly the life sport program became a death sport program
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PS Creed not around to provide info for audit
By Asha Javeed (Express).
LifeSport Hold-Up
Even as the Central Audit Unit of the Ministry of Finance is investigating the controversial LifeSport programme in the Ministry of Sport, its permanent secretary, Ashwin Creed, remains out of the country and unable to provide answers required by the Unit on the programme’s expenses.
As PS, Creed is the ministry’s accounting officer who would have final say on how money for the programme was eventually spent.
LifeSport’s expenses since 2012 have amounted to about $400 million.
Creed has been in and out of the ministry since April.
LifeSport was not audited by the Auditor General for its 2013 report but several discrepancies were noted in the ministry’s payments.
On April 14, Creed contacted head of the Public Service Reynold Cooper requesting “emergency leave”, faxed him a letter with the request and left Trinidad the same day.
The Sunday Express understands that it is because of death threats he received linked to the LifeSport programme.
Cooper has confirmed these events.
The Sunday Express understands that Creed returned to Trinidad for a brief visit and then departed again.
“Mr Creed went on his business. Approval would have been granted to Mr Creed for two weeks of leave on May 13. He left the country on May 13, and it was only on May 26 or 27 you began to hear the Prime Minister (Kamla Persad-Bissessar) ordered a probe of the LifeSport Programme,” his attorney Peter Taylor said.
Even after the Prime Minister directed a probe be conducted, as the ministry’s accounting officer, Creed was not present to assist the officers in the audit.
Two permanent secretaries yesterday said if an audit was being conducted in the ministry, ideally the PS should be there. And given the controversy that the LifeSport programme has generated, it was even incumbent that Creed be present to account.
By June 3, Creed was still away.
Taylor had said then: “Mr Creed called Mr Cooper on June 3 and indicated to him—‘listen, I need more leave, I will be communicating with you in due course’. He called back on June 7 and a fax was sent to his office at the Ministry of Sport indicating that he sought leave from the Minister of Sport (Anil Roberts).”
Taylor explained that Creed cannot be disciplined for taking his leave and extending it because he required “personal family business, which requires an extensive period of time”.
Creed’s leave ends tomorrow.
The Sunday Express was unable to contact Cooper to find out when exactly Creed was supposed to report to work.
According to the 98th Salaries Review Commission, a PS is entitled to 30 calendar days of vacation. But the Sunday Express understands that a PS usually accumulates a lot of time off during the year.
When the Sunday Express tried to reach Creed through Taylor on when he was expected back into the country, Taylor replied: “I am unable to say.”
The Sunday Express also asked Taylor if it could address questions to Creed through him and Taylor replied, “I would advise him”.
Yesterday, Ruth Marchan, the deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport, told the Sunday Express that she was being advised on her media statements by Creed.
A messy affair
Marchan told the Sunday Express that bringing the case to the media was her best defence to protect her life after she received a death threat.
She had blamed the threats on boxing promoter Buxo Potts and a ministry official.
Potts denied the threats in an interview with the Sunday Express last week.
The Sunday Express understands that before allegations were made by Marchan about Potts, they had enjoyed a cordial friendship.
Marchan and her husband Edward Marchan have been recipients of cheques from the Unified Promoters Boxing Association—a company co-owned by Potts, which has had sponsorship from the Sport Ministry.
Marchan’s husband was at one point employed as a head coach at Yan’s Sporting Academy, which is also owned by Potts.
Marchan was also linked in a relationship with a senior Ministry of Sport official. Asked about this and other personal allegations, Marchan yesterday responded: “Prove it.”
In an interview on Friday, Potts said the problem with Marchan started in 2011. He accused Marchan of being disingenuous with the corruption she chose to highlight in the press.
He said: “The young men who the LifeSport programme was designed to assist, they are the victims. The structure of the programme is one of the greatest. If you look at the structure of the programme, it can make a difference to the young men’s lives. It’s a good programme. The real criminals in the programme is not the young people.”
Marchan did not want to comment on Potts’ statement.
Creed could not be reached for comment.
The Jamaat bodyguard
On June 26, Marchan’s bodyguard Curtis “Tallman” Gibson was murdered in his bed at his home in Malabar.
She said while Sport Minister Anil Roberts was right that Gibson was not employed at the ministry, he was involved in the LifeSport programme.
Marchan explained that Gibson was brought on board because of his relationship with Imam Hassan Ali, the head of the Carapo-based Jamaat.
She said the Imam asked for Gibson, whom he considered a son, to be his liaison on the ground. She said he was paid by the Imam and not the ministry.
Police records list Gibson as a repeat offender.
He was jailed in 1999 for drug possession. He had appealed this sentence and was jailed for two years with hard labour. There are two outstanding warrants in his name—one for failing to attend court and another for failure to pay a fine.
There was no firearm licence issued under his name.
During an interview with the Sunday Express on June 11 with Marchan, Gibson was present and displayed a gun.
Marchan admitted that she had a good rapport with “the people on the ground” from the Rastacity gang to the Carapo-based Jamaat al Muslimeen but feared repercussions from inside the ministry. A statement from the Sport Ministry on Friday said Marchan had no authority to speak about Life Sport.
“The management of the LifeSport Programme wishes to inform that Ms Ruth Marchan has no authority to speak on behalf of the LifeSport Programme as it is not formally under her purview at the Ministry of Sport,” it said.
About LifeSport
LifeSport was a brainchild of Sport Minister Anil Roberts.
It is one of the Government’s most expensive social programmes which was designed to target criminals.
The programme, which was started in 2012, had a budget of $6,647,000.
LifeSport pays $1,500 a month to “criminal elements” to get them interested in sports. A daily meal allowance of $75 is catered for but a contract is usually given to a catering company to provide meals for the participants.
According to Ministry of Sport officials, the programme is supposed to exist in 33 centres and have 60 people at each centre. A stipend is paid to the participants of the programme and an allowance of $30,000 is paid to a coordinator of the programme.
The funding and recipients of LifeSport were identified in an investigative series by the Express newspapers. Following the stories, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar directed Finance Minister Larry Howai to initiate an audit into the programme and transferred it out of Sport to the Ministry of National Security. National Security Minister Gary Griffith said LifeSport will now be directed by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
For 2014, the Government has already spent just over $267 million on the LifeSport programme.
According to the Draft Estimates of Recurrent Expenditure for the Financial Year 2014, an estimated $113,502,273 was transferred to the LifeSport under the heading Pathway Programme.
The loan for the LifeSport programme was taken by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Sportt).
Under the heading “Transfers to State Enterprises”, $154,133,000 was transferred to the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Sportt) for “Repayment of TT$77.2 million loan re: Pathway Programme”.
That would take the total sum transferred to LifeSport in 2014 to $267 million.
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Life Sport coach talks of quitting.
By STEPHON NICHOLAS (Newsday).
With all the turmoil surrounding the Life Sport programme, one coach yesterday told Sunday Newsday he was considering quitting the programme. Coaches are hired to work at 40 centres for the programme throughout the country.
The programme, conceptualised by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, has been fraught with controversy for the past six weeks since allegations of corruption and other criminal activities surfaced.
Minister of National Security Gary Griffith was quoted in a report that there were ghosts in the Life Sport with former murder accused and Life Sport Coordinator for Carapo, Rajaee Ali, reaping substantial financial benefits from this scheme.
The programme, which cost taxpayers just $6.6 million in 2012, has expanded significantly in two years, with costs put at an astronomical $113 million in 2014.
The programme has since been stripped from the Ministry of Sport and handed over the Ministry of National Security and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has also ordered an audit.
Since then, though, Ruth Marchan, Deputy Director of Physical Education and Sport, has claimed that there is a plot to kill her after she refused to condone corruption in the Life Sport programme. So afraid was Marchan that she hired a personal bodyguard - Curtis “Tall Man” Gibson. Gibson was brutally gunned down at his Malabar home early Friday morning while sleeping next to his wife.
Yesterday, a Life Sport coach, speaking on condition of strict anonymity, says his view about the programme was beginning to change for the worst.
“Honestly, the programme is a good one. Initially it was a good idea (but) I don’t know what went wrong. I know for a fact it helps plenty young people in my area. A lot of young people lives have been saved but up top I don’t know what’s going on,” the coach said.
The murder of Marchan’s bodyguard seems to have shaken up the coach too as he is considering leaving the programme despite receiving an approximate $6,000 monthly salary.
“You see where people getting killed and thing, I really kind of sceptical of continuing. You pick up the papers and reading how people getting murdered now,” the coach said.
Asked whether he has seen any illicit activities taking place at his centre, the coach denied that any corruption was there but pointed fingers at the East-West corridor.
“We at the ground don’t know much about what going on on top. We centre does run good. The problem is mostly in the East-West corridor. That is the hot spot area,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact Marchan, who said she was ready to flee the country, proved futile yesterday as calls to her cellphone went unanswered.
Marchan had previously said she did not report the alleged threats against her to the police and it is unknown whether she has approached the police for protective custody now that her private security guard was dead.
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Before all this drama I never even heard of this programme.
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In today's Newsweek , a representative for the program is appealing to politicians to come and witness the impact of the program in the community of Carapo. While this program may have infused an economic windfall in this community I beg the question: is this program designed for a specific community? Or for the at risk youths nationally? What impact or access did youths from a Tobago receive? What other areas benefitted from this program?
It appears to me that we have one set ah voices saying there were benefits and another who taking about the specific alleged corruption / misappropriation of funds and the alleged criminal involvement. Now red flags are all over this program and for me if Weary who living down dey and in the know and she had not heard of this program before then I now more suspicious of the real intent and am inclined to see this as another oblique political handout to placate and to propagate those in power.
My humble opinion
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What is suspicious is that the T&T government or who ever is in charge of dispersing the government funds paying all of this money all the time and it didn't realize it??
If wasn't for the video with Anil on the web this would have still been going on.
Paying 113 million to one organization and no one noticed....
:rotfl:
The citizen in T&T really need to put they foot down.
From Egypt to Venezuela the government would have been in some hot water. Only in T&T politicians can do what ever they like and walk scratch free.
It make make the news for a month but guarantee nothing comes out of it.
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I just love the fact that this "bodyguard" has two outstanding warrants out for him but he holding down a ministry wuk normal. TTPS at its finest again. Imagine this man talking about being bodyguard but he get killed in his bed. :frustrated: :frustrated: Couldn't make up this story nah. This whole thing rotten and if the ones at the bottom could be feeding so lavishly just imagine what the ones on top doing. Sighhhh
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$200,000 a month to cut grass
LifeSport revealed:
By Asha Javeed (Express).
LifeSport paid companies $200,000 a month to cut grass in the recreation grounds where the programme was held.
Friends of Ministry of Sport officials, soldiers and a journalist were beneficiaries of those LifeSport contracts.
The Ministry of Sport submitted documents to the Ministry of Finance requesting the $200,000 a month “for (3 sports/fields) x 33 venues for 24 months”.
The funding, with 33 centres, would work out to a cost of $6.6 million a month.
It would have cost taxpayers $79.2 million in 2013.
Documents obtained from the Ministry of Sport show that nine companies were contracted to maintain 26 recreation grounds.
Of the nine companies, two companies with a common incorporator—James Dedier—maintain eight recreation grounds.
Those two companies are S.O.S West Indies Limited and Reno Energy Company Limited.
Reno Energy Company Limited, based in Edinburgh 500 in Chaguanas, has the contracts to maintain Carapo Recreation Ground, Morvant Recreation Ground, Point Fortin Recreation Ground and Samaroo Recreation Ground.
S.O.S West Indies Limited, which is based at the same address, has the contract to maintain Mt Dor Recreation Ground, La Horquetta Recreation Ground, Maraval Recreation Ground and Moruga Recreation Ground.
Contacted yesterday on the contracts, Jolene Legere, director at Reno Energy, said: “You have said who you are. I do not know who you are so I can’t speak to you.”
Roamfort Enterprises, based in Balmain, Couva, is owned by a soldier, Andy Berahazar, with another soldier, Anthony Superville, as a director.
Roamfort was contracted to maintain four grounds—Maloney Recreation Ground, Enterprise Recreation Ground, Carenage Recreation Ground and La Romaine Recreation Ground.
Walter Alibey, a sports reporter at Newsday newspaper, through his company Agro Aggressive Organisation and Maintenance Services Limited, also received a contract from the LifeSport program me.
Alibey was the reporter on the stories about the death threat on the life of Ruth Marchan, deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport, and the corruption she exposed about how $34 million was paid from LifeSport funds for Math and English lessons to a well-known educator, but no work was done.
Contacted yesterday, Alibey said he started the company since 2011 and has worked for different organizations.
“They called me for the contract and I went for it,” he said.
Questioned on whether it was not a conflict of interest then for his reporting on Marchan’s death threat, he replied: “I didn’t know all this was going to happen. I didn’t foresee all this was happening.”
He said he had a friendship with Marchan for more than 20 years.
The Sunday Express was unable to find one of the nine companies which had a contract for four of the recreation grounds.
The matter is being reviewed by the Central Audit Committee of the Ministry of Finance.
The Sunday Express understands that despite the exorbitant sum paid to companies by LifeSport to maintain the grounds, they were actually being maintained by the regional corporations of the respective areas.
National Security Minister Gary Griffith yesterday said the contracts were the key to unravelling how millions of taxpayers dollars were spent.
“Giving one person tens of thousands of dollars in a brown paper bag with claims of handing it over to invisible participants because they have no bank account has to be a sick joke. If that is not a sign of financial mismanagement, questionable activity and incompetence, then I don’t know what is,” said Griffith.
“Jump high, jump low, no desperate PR spin with advisors to ministers openly making adverse statements about me, or paying people to assemble in front of Parliament, or senior officials of the Programme getting a handful of people together to state that there are no ghosts when it is supposed to be over 1,800, but then claim that their life is at risk because of the same Programme that they claimed was so pure, would deter me from cleaning up the Programme.
“Read my lips—there would be no room for ghosts, financial mismanagement, or persons of interest in LifeSport,” he added.
“I would ensure that no gang leader has access to State funding. I also do not believe in the practice of paying people not to commit crime. If you sleep with the Devil, there is a price to pay, and I have no intention for our citizens to pay that price. This is not a witchhunt. But I am not going to have any criminal acquire State resources and funding to fuel crime.
“Next stop is URP (Unemployment Relief Programme). If they don’t change their ways and want to continue killing youths to fight for contracts, they would lose it. They can’t have their cake and eat it.”
(http://media.trinidadexpress.com/images/nw3296.jpg)
PARLIAMENT PROTEST: Members of the LifeSport programme on June 27 outside Parliament at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, during their demonstration in support of the programme. —Photo: ANISTO ALVES
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Memo for $77 million
T&T Express.
In a memo dated June 12, 2013, the permanent secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance wrote to Ministry of Sport PS Ashwin Creed about his request for $77,233,050 to pay off invoices for the mobilisation fee, catering/meals and coordinating services.
The PS in the Ministry of Finance observed that only $971,181 would be paid from its account at First Citizens because there were irregularities with regard to the invoices.
It was noted that:
“1. Differences with respect to the format and layout of invoices tendered by the same contractor which are dated one day apart;
2. Material differences with respect to the quoted amounts and the information on the amended invoices; and
3. Invoices were not certified by the Permanent Secretary.
“Given the above observations, it obviously appears that new invoices were generated for the LifeSport Programme February expenses, when our intent was that you would certify the originals which were returned to you,” the memo stated.
“In addition, with respect to the letters of engagement between each coordinator and the Ministry of Sport, we have observed that a Mr Hugh Grant executed the contracts for the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport for and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Finance and the Economy wishes to remind you that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport is the Ministry’s Accounting Officer and is the appropriate officer for executing such documents,” it said.
“Furthermore, it should be noted that whilst we are unable to approve the payment to coordinators until the contracts are executed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport, we have observed that there are inconsistencies in the certification of the coordinators’ invoices.
“The Ministry of Finance and the Economy is very concerned about the inconsistencies in invoices submitted for payment, most notably in respect of the fact that new invoices are being generated in lieu of our request for the original invoices to be appropriately certified,” it said. Creed is out of the country until July 31.
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See what the police in Calgary Alberta is doing as an initiative: it eh look like they paying out no money to join the program-
Police launch anti-gang initiative for at-risk youth
CALGARY HERALD July 08th 2014
City police have launched a new anti-gang initiative for at-risk youth and parents trying to seek help.
Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention or GRIP was developed by the Guns and Gangs Unit and the Community and Youth Services Section, and aims to raise awareness, provide resources and garner tips about gang activity.
This new initiative replaces the previous Get A Life anti-gang program.
“Gangs are very much a part of the larger world of organized crime,” police said in a news release. “They are regularly involved in a wide array of criminal activity ranging from theft and fraud to drug trafficking and murder.”
Police say it can be hard to get out of gang life as there’s often pressure and intimidation to stay.
The police service currently has several programs for youth at risk of joining a gang, including the Stay Smart Stay Safe and the Youth At Risk Development Program.
More information on the new initiative, as well as the current programs, can be found online at www.cpsgrip.com.
Members of the public who want to contact gang investigators can send an email to CPSGrip@calgarypolice
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
SEE- http://cpsgrip.com
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This is a joke right? Creed allowing millions in irregularities to be transferred to this agency by somebody name 'Hugh Grant'? And basically abdicating his post in the process? Someone please tell me this is a joke. The sportz minister beating coke and hoes is one thing. But to have this kind of toxic wastepile fester under his watch is quite another. Anil's brainchild my ass. This one has Jack Warner written all over it.
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Creed denies wife got Life Sport contract.
T&T Newsday Reports.
ASHWIN CREED, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, yesterday denied that his wife or any member of his family had received contracts in the controversial Life Sport programme.
His denial was contained in a letter read into the record of Hansard on the instruction of Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith.
The letter was written by a lawyer representing Creed, and dealt with allegations that Creed’s family had benefitted from contracts in the programme.
PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi had stated in the Senate that he had been “advised” that Creed’s wife had received a $6.75 million contract.
“Mr Vice-President, I am putting this on the record and I want the Members of this Senate to listen,” Al-Rawi said on July 1 in the chamber during debate of a budget supplementation bill. “I am advised that the catering contract amounting to $6.75 million that the beneficiary of that contract, I am advised, is the wife of the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Sport.” He said $75 was being spent for a lunch.
The Senate President, under practices which are invoked whenever a member of the public would like to have their side of the story recorded, said he had received a request for correspondence to be read into Hansard and had approved it.
At the start of the Senate sitting, Hamel-Smith asked a clerk to read the letter, which had been addressed to him. The letter was penned on Creed’s behalf by attorney Ravi Rajcoomar, of the Port-of-Spain-based Invictus Chambers.
“Permit me to advise on an issue that has arisen in Parliament and in which matter I am instructed by Ashwin Creed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sport,” Rajcoomar said. The attorney noted the press had reported on Al-Rawi’s contribution, and had, “set out an argument by the honourable Senator Faris Al-Rawi in his contribution to the Senate that my client’s wife is the recipient of a contract from Life Sport programme.”
Rajcoomar stated, “I am instructed that this argument is entirely false. My client’s wife and, in fact, no member of my client’s family are the recipients of any contracts of any form or type under the Life Sport programme. Therefore, I ask that this letter, and my client’s denial, be read into Hansard.”
Minister of Finance, Larry Howai, did not immediately respond to queries yesterday over the status of a ministry audit of the programme. The audit was due to be completed last week but its completion was reportedly postponed by one week in light of further unspecified developments.
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Roberts: If Life Sport shows wrongdoing by my ministry I will resign forthwith
By Shaliza Hassanali (Guardian).
Sport Minister Anil Roberts says he will resign from the People’s Partnership Government forthwith if the audit into the controversial Life Sport programme shows that his ministry has been funding terrorists, criminal gangs, a militia and a sprawling palace. On Friday, Roberts finally broke his silence on the programme, which Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has sought to link to the murder of prominent attorney Dana Seetahal.
In May, the programme came under scrutiny after it was reported that a Carapo-based Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen was controlling the mammoth share of the Ministry of Sport’s $113 million spent on the Life Sport programme, which the Ministry of Finance had found to be riddled with irregularities. The co-ordinator of the programme is Rajaee Ali (otherwise known as R Ali), son of the north-west leader of the Jamaat, Imam Hassan Ali.
It was reported that R Ali was detained by police for gang-related activities following the murder of Seetahal in May. Ten weeks after the issue raised its ugly head, Roberts, in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Guardian on Friday at his Port-of-Spain office, said while some people may interpret his silence as indicating fear or guilt, he did not want to speak out until an audit into the programme, requested by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was done.
In June, Persad-Bissessar had said the results of the audit would determine the future of the programme and whether any action would be taken against Roberts.
End of political career
Roberts said: “If it is proven that a programme I conceptualised to help poor black people is funding terrorists, criminal gangs, and an armed militia of 250 men in a palace in Carapo...a huge compound from which they can train, operate and terrorise the people of Trinidad and Tobago, I will resign forthwith.”
He said if the audit showed “that the programme was giving money to a terrorist organisation to the tune of $1.5 to $3 million monthly, had 1,400 ghost names with aliases such as Michal Jackson, Madonna, Beyonce and Kanye West, spent $8 million on a sports day for bandits, robbers and crooks, as soon as that audit comes out, the Prime Minister will not have to call me. I will write my resignation immediately. If that happened under my watch, I do not deserve to sit in this chair and be the Minister of Sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
That will be the end of my political career.” Last month, Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert said in the House of Representatives that an armed militia of about 250 men was being cultivated and funded through the corrupt administration of the Life Sport programme.
However, Roberts said, if the audit gave his ministry the all clear “many people may have a lot of apologising to do...some other people may have to resign too. Let the chips fall where they may because some serious decisions across the board will have to be taken.” He also warned that he stayed quiet because of his discipline, but when the contents of the audit is revealed “Anil now start to talk.”
Despite Cabinet’s approval for Roberts to attend a meeting at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow today, he opted to stay put because “I heard the audit is soon to come out.” The 2013 auditor general’s report, Roberts said, showed that his ministry had operated above board. “You would always have people who would try a skull. The job of the auditors is to pick up that and deal with it. If someone is found to be corrupt the police will investigate and lock up whoever did it.”
Roberts said that as for the daily management issues at his ministry, involving procurements, issuing of contracts and signing of cheques, “I have no control over that. This is managed by responsible employees. If it shows otherwise they will be dealt with.” Roberts believes the PNM was trying to tarnish his name and ministry in order to reclaim the D’Abadie/O’Meara seat, which the PP Government won in 2010.
“All the PNM sees is politics. They are so narcissistic. They want to get into power. The PNM wants to rewrite the Constitution and decide who are criminals.”
Country’s reputation at stake
Roberts said the allegations levied against the programme and ministry by Rowley, Imbert and PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi were not only grave and serious, but had far-reaching implications for T&T, as well as international implications. “It is something that has impacted on the country’s reputation domestically and outside.”
Asked about issues raised by National Security Minister Gary Griffith, who stated that the programme was funding ghost participants and approximately $90,000 in cash was put into paper bags and given to one person to distribute to 60 Life Sport participants, Roberts said, “Well he would have to talk for himself. I cannot speak for him. May God bless him.” Roberts said he met R Ali, who is co-ordinator of the Carapo centre, but did not know him or his father personally.
“I have met all 40 co-ordinators of the programme as minister.” He did not deny that “most of the participants” in the programme had criminal records. “The minister does not hand-pick anyone. Many of them would have been dead had it not been for Life Sport.” He said the programme was created to positively reshape the lives of “at risk men” who were going down the wrong path.
Daily, Roberts said, people would tell him “to leave those young black boys to kill one another, if they want to be bad. But I came here to help those most in need and offer my assistance.”
Roberts said no amount of guns, jail, bullets and batons could solve the country’s crime problem since the issue needed a different approach and one where those participants could feel appreciated, accepted and trusted. Questioned about the ministry’s deputy director of Physical Education and Sport Ruth Marchan who claimed her life was threatened, Roberts said, “anyone who is being threatened is a serious thing...they should go to the police. Let the police handle it. Other than that, Hollywood makes lots of movies.”
Life Sport stained for life
With all said and done, Roberts said, Life Sport was now stained for life—a stain that would be hard to remove or cleanse. “If Life Sport is stained we will come up with something else. But those who stained it, would they be men or women enough to say they were wrong and apologise? I don’t think so.” The PNM, Roberts said, has historically “been a curse on black people in Trinidad and Tobago” with their policies.
“The PNM hates black people. I was born a PNM. Their policies have ensured that black young men remain the highest risk [population] in society.” Of the 2,097 participants in the programme, Roberts said, “at least 98.8 per cent are Africans, with the other 1.2 per cent being dougla and Indians.” He said, “That is frightening for Rowley because they depend on black people staying poor and impoverished and beholden to the great czar of the PNM.”
He said the PP Government would not keep people in starvation and begging for handouts.
Pulled in by PM
Roberts said media reports of R Ali collecting about $1.5 million a month in profit and raking in about $18 million in the last year was what had prompted the PM to call for an audit. “As soon as this allegation was made, wherever they came from, I was called in by the Prime Minister.” Roberts said he explained his side of the story to Persad-Bissessar. “I told her I don’t know anything about that.”
Roberts said after the PM had listened to him, “her exact words to me were ‘these are grave allegations and it must be investigated’.” He said he agreed wholeheartedly with the PM, who informed him that she would shift the programme to the National Security Ministry “where it was intended to go anyway because of its anti-crime initiative. I was in full agreement.”
Shandell—a tower of strength
“Unadulterated mayhem.” That’s how Roberts described those last ten weeks of his life after the Life Sport programme was put under the microscope and attacked from all sides. In the last 70 days, Roberts said, he was under “absolute stress” due to the daily onslaught at the hands of the PNM and the media. “I thought about my young, beautiful, pregnant wife and the pressures and tension she had to be going through. She is now 23 weeks pregnant. For the last ten weeks she had to be going through stress, which she didn’t ask for.”
Last December, Roberts married Shandell, 22. “Yes, she knows she married a politician, but for a young mother to be going through those critical weeks, from 13 to 23 weeks of her pregnancy with all that unnecessary stress and worry, I must say she is a tower of strength. She handled it brilliantly.” Luckily, Roberts said, both mother and baby were in good health. Roberts said even his deceased mother was unfairly targeted.
He said social media was the most dangerous invention known to man, as cowards hid behind computers to assassinate his character and spew their unsubstantiated garbage.
Howai to get report this week
Contacted on Friday, Cheryl Lala, strategic communications adviser to the Finance Minister, said the audit into the Life Sport was in its final stages of preparation. “It is being reviewed by the CAU before being presented to the Minister of Finance.” She did not say, however, when it will be presented to the minister. The Sunday Guardian understands that Howai is expected to receive the report early this week.
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I sure he has his is not me letter ready just to date to submit.
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It's okay, when "no third party" comes forward to confirm the news story, and Anil asks Kamela nicely, he'll be let off
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PM to lay LifeSport audit in Parliament today
By Asha Javeed (Express).
A CASE FOR DPP
The audit into the LifeSport programme has unearthed enough evidence to warrant a probe by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Express understands several senior officials from the Ministry of Sport have been identified in the report for misuse of public funds, misbehaviour in public office and con-spiracy to defraud the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago.
The audit was completed without an interview with Ruth Marchan, the deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport, even though one was requested by the audit committee.
Marchan, who had claimed there was a threat on her life, is under police protection after her bodyguard, Curtis “Tallman” Gibson, was murdered on June 26.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will table the report by the Central Audit Committee into the LifeSport Programme in Parliament today, following which it will be forwarded to the DPP.
Persad-Bissessar said the decision to lay the report in Parliament was in keeping with transparency and accountability to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
A statement issued yesterday by the Office of the Prime Minister stated the Prime Minister has noted the continued public attention and commentary regarding the LifeSport Programme.
“It should be recalled that within days of reports of possible irregularities in the programme published in the media, the Prime Minister took steps to move the programme from the Ministry of Sport to the Ministry of National Security, and instructed the Ministry of Finance to conduct a full audit into the programme. This audit has been completed and the Prime Minister has received the report,” it said.
The Express understands the report was forwarded to her by Finance Minister Larry Howai on Tuesday.
Sport Minister Anil Roberts has been reported by the Guardian as saying he would resign if it is proven the programme which he conceptualised “to help poor black people is funding terrorists, criminal gangs and an armed militia of 250 men in a palace in Carapo...”.
LifeSport pays $1,500 a month to “criminal elements” to get them interested in sports. A daily meal allowance of $75 is catered for, but a contract is usually given to a catering company to provide meals for the participants.
The funding and recipients ofLifeSport were identified in an investigative series by the Express into the funding to the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. Following the stories, Persad-Bissessar directed Howai to initiate an audit into the programme and transferred it out of the Sport Ministry to the Ministry of National Security.
The programme has been riddled with financial irregularities since its inception.
LifeSport, which was funded through Government loans, has cost taxpayers some $400 million. For 2014, the Government allocated just over $267 million. A further $33 million was approved in the Supplementation of the Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2014.
The Sunday Express has reported on the interlocking directorships of several companies which received multiple LifeSport contracts, how the programme paid close to $200,000 a month to cut grass in LifeSport centres, and all contractors of the programme were hand-picked friends of Ministry of Sport officials, soldiers and a Newsday journalist, Walter Alibey.
National Security Minister Gary Griffith has said LifeSport will now be directed by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.
Pastor contradicts Anil
Last week, the Sunday Express reported the LifeSport programme has not granted scholarships to 25 members of the programme, which was contrary to statements made by Sport Minister Anil Roberts in Parliament on June 27.
Pastor Andrew Seaton, president of the Christian Victory Academy in New York, USA, has said 25 individuals from the controversial programme have not been granted visas or scholarships or are even currently enrolled at the academy.
And further, the pupils were not even part of the LifeSport programme but are all enrolled in secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Life Sport has been terminated. What a frigging mess !!!
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audit document
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9yq90ReLhfeVUNPa0NFbVdUamc/view?sle=true (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9yq90ReLhfeVUNPa0NFbVdUamc/view?sle=true)
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This is what needs to be done with the 2006 WC money inquiry.
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Thanks for the pdf.
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PM ends programme; audit uncovers fraud, criminal supervisors, multi-million-dollar payments for no work
By Ria Taitt Political Editor (Express).
LIFESPORT BURIED
LifeSport, the brainchild and baby of Sport Minister Anil Roberts, has been laid to rest.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday announced the “immediate” termination of the controversial programme, following the tabling of the “Report of the Central Audit Committee on the Comprehensive Audit of the Payment System
of the LifeSport Programme” in the House of Representatives, at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, yesterday.
What the Prime Minister did not address was whether Minister Roberts can still find a place in her Cabinet,in the face of the damning findings.
As she disclosed some of the findings, she expressed her own “shock”, “deep, personal disappointment and dismay that a programme that was intended to save lives, to build lives, was used by a group of people for fraud and personal gain”.
The same sense of shame was mirrored on the faces of those on the Government benches. The Sport Minister, on the contrary, wore an expression of feigned bravado. His colleague, National Security Minister Gary Griffith, who had so often spoken critically about the LifeSport programme, had an air of vindication. For the People’s National Movement (PNM) MPs, their faces reflected it was a case of deju vu.
The report will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the acting Commissioner of Police (CoP), the Integrity Commission and the head of the Public Service.
Noting the Audit Committee raised questions regarding possible complicity by officers of the ministry, given the widespread nature of the breaches, the Prime Minister said: “What is most shocking and disappointing is the fact that given the usually stringent nature of the bureaucratic processes in obtaining approvals for projects, implementing programmes and monitoring progress, no action was taken to halt or prevent what the Audit Committee found.”
The Prime Minister bemoaned the fact that a group of people derailed the good intentions of the programme, giving their support to criminality, in some cases, rather than to the country’s young people. “For those who really sought to improve their lives and positively benefit from this programme, I am sorry that this had to happen,” Persad-Bissessar stated.
Because of the actions of a few, this programme will have to be halted,” she said. “However, do not despair .... But through other working programmes, we will reach out to our vulnerable. We will look to ways to assist vulnerable persons through other programmes, and new ones if necessary,” she said.
“We will reach you (the youth), we will help you and we will provide the opportunities you need to build your lives,” she added.
The Prime Minister assured the population as Government moved forward implementing social programmes, it would not tolerate wrong-doing, corruption and the abuse of programmes, “meant to save our people, for selfish, personal gains”.
The Prime Minister said she had instructed the Attorney General to turn the report over to the DPP and CoP “to investigate, detain and prosecute those guilty to the fullest extent of the law”.
She added that given the fact the Central Audit Committee raised the possibility of complicity of ministry officials, the report would also be referred to the Integrity Commission [which at the moment is non-functional] and the head of the Public Service “for further investigation, consideration and action”.
“Any person and any group who seeks to subvert the law and the public benefit would pay the full price of the law!” the Prime Minister declared.
The Prime Minister recalled the LifeSport programme was “conceptualised and formulated as part of a comprehensive programme to try to roll back the tide against criminals and criminality in our country. It was specifically focused on saving the lives of young men (between the ages of 16 and 25) who needed to be protected from the criminals who routinely preyed on them, and (the programme was meant instead) to help shape positive futures for these young people”.
The Prime Minister said the one important message coming out of the audit report was the urgent need for procurement laws to become fully operationalised. The procurement bill is currently before the House of Representatives. She said this issue drives home the point of how important procurement laws are to each and every person, family and community in the country.
The Prime Minister stressed while her Government would continue to champion the new procurement regime, the country can rest assured she had stood firm on the principle that progress must be underlined by integrity and benefit for the population.
LifeSport was launched in June 2012 and started in August 2012.
The Prime Minister said the report revealed a number of discrepancies which included:
1. There were widespread breaches of proper procurement practices
2. The approval given by Cabinet was not strictly adhered to
3. Persons at the co-ordinating level may have been involved in criminal activity
4. There were several instances of fraudulent activity by suppliers to the programme
5. There may have been widespread theft of equipment from the programme
6. There may have been breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act
7. Exorbitant and questionable payments were made in several instances
8. There was poor control and monitoring of the Programme by the Ministry of Sport.
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Another malady miscarriage of justice ineptitude by our leaders. Yuh go have thief to investigate thief? Yuh eh see before this findings come out man challenging others to find a direct line with him as a wrong doer,,,,,,, that alone should ah tell we thief covering fuh thief.
This man only defence is that the PNM want him down- is like ah lover who get a rejection and he cyar get over the hurt- or he get ah horn from PNM and he cyar get over it-
Sadly to say another one to add to the list of high class scandal corruption and incompetence. I had to laugh when I read the news we- imagine another leader of a political party want to present evidence to show alleged overspending and misappropriation of funds to alleged bogus companies- this is the same leader that was embroiled in numerous alleged scandals involving misappropriation of funds again ironically associated with a major " sporting" program- talk about. POT Calling the KETTLE black!!!!!!!!!
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Educator paid by LifeSport for no work...
By by Asha Javeed (Express).
$34m Man
He was paid $34 million from LifeSport but did no work.
But Adolphus Daniell, the owner of Daniell’s Educational Institute, has no intention of returning the money he was paid from the program me.
“The thing about it is, it is a non-issue because the only way under a contract anything is recoverable is if the other party is in default. There was never a single letter of complaint that I was in default of this contract. Not even a phone call,” he said.
Daniell, through his company EBeam Interact Ltd, was solely selected to provide mathematics, English and technology lessons to the participants of LifeSport in 2012.
LifeSport was started in August 2012.
Daniell’s contact to provide lessons for the programme was from December 6, 2012, with a projected completion date of September 30, 2014.
“Central Audit was informed that EBeam was sole selected mainly because of the company’s president/CEO Mr Adolphus Daniell’s track record as an educator, with respect to individuals who have struggled academically,” the audit into the LifeSport programme revealed.
The audit was tabled in Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the acting Commissioner of Police, the Integrity Commission and the head of the Public Service.
The audit uncovered the programme was riddled with financial irregularities, had co-ordinators with criminal backgrounds, massive fraud, millions misspent, ghost centres, ghost participants, improper procurement and theft.
Daniell’s $34 million payment was the single biggest payment of the programme for no work.
EBeam was paid two tranches of $17 million. The first tranche represented 50 per cent of the fee on September 2, 2013. The second payment was done on February 11, 2014
“Ms Dawn Mohan, current corporate secretary of SporTT, however stated that since the numeracy and literacy component (N&LC) had not started by EBeam, for which it was contracted, legal advice on whether to pay EBeam the second payment as per the terms of the contract was sought. Two pieces of legal advice were received, one from Ms Lisa Solomon, the then head of Legal of SporTT, and the other from JD Sellier & Company. The opinion from JD Sellier suggested that measures, including arbitration, be explored to avoid having to make the payments,” the audit noted.
But Daniell yesterday explained it was he who found the auditors (the Central Audit Committee) and presented himself to be interviewed for the audit.
Daniell, who said he had worked at LifeSport for free for several months, said he went to the Central Audit Committee because he felt a major player in the LifeSport corruption scandal was steering the story in a different way.
“Had I not gone there and really put a brake on the story, the story would have been completely different because I was being set up, sadly, to take the fall,” he told the Sunday Express in a telephone interview.
Asked to elaborate, he responded: “Anyone with a modicum of common sense would know that the crook always points in the other direction,” he said.
He said the conflicting stories put out on his contract about money being divided up, his being on the run and being kept safe by a criminal underworld forced him to go to the Central Audit Committee to share his documents.
“When you look at the story, it wasn’t that a contract was forged in the middle of the night, OK?”
He said officials of the SporTT company would have “considered all the angles of the legal advice”.
Questioned on why he did not fulfil his part of the contract, Daniell explained the ministry did not provide the necessary infrastructure, which was part of its contract for him to execute his services.
“I lay out a particular type of approach. It does not make sense to do a chalk and talk, a whiteboard scenario. I mapped out all the things.
But it is necessary that these are the things which need to be done and I sent the document, first and foremost, on what are the conditions which must exist and if those conditions don’t exist, I don’t want to be part of anything at the time,” he said.
When the Sunday Express pointed out he still accepted payment, he explained he was not the party in default in the contract.
He said at no time did the SporTT company send a letter of complaint questioning why the work was not implemented.
Instead, he has a bundle of documents which he sent to them requesting they fix the centres to begin the classes.
“I was the individual who saved the LifeSport programme from being closed down in 2013. It had nothing to do with my contract,” he said, explaining he was the one who got the ministry’s team to get the community centers.
He said he would choose the appropriate time to release more information on his LifeSport contract.
“I want nothing materially. There is nothing they can do for me that I want. I can walk into the major universities and be welcomed. For the people of this country, and a country that is in decay, you cannot allow people to tarnish perception of an individual who has served, continues to serve and who people look up to. One has a responsibility to address that and that is the only reason I am addressing it,” he said.
But he warned: “Anytime I come out, it’s timing. If I wait until two months before the election, it’s timing.
I have a lot of time. It will shake this place like an earthquake, OK?”
Central Audit was informed SporTT is currently awaiting legal advice from Senior State Counsel Russell Martineau on a way forward or what actions,if any, can be taken against EBeam.
“It is obvious that SporTT was a party to this contract, mainly because the contract was above the authorised limit of the permanent secretary, MoS (Ministry of Sport). It is evident that the ‘mind and management’ of this contract has always been and continues to be the Ministry of Sport...” the audit stated.
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Price condemns ‘sloppy’ Life Sport audit
By SHALIZA HASSANALI (Guardian).
Life Sport programme director Cornelius Price has condemned the manner in which the auditors undertook their investigations into the controversial programme. Price yesterday said they failed to do their job thoroughly. The audit was done by the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Unit (CAU). In the 53-page audit, Price’s name came up several times, mainly for the criteria he used in selecting companies and the exorbitant prices paid to suppliers.
The report stated that Price was unable to provide adequate answers to the issues raised. Yesterday, a fuming Price said he did nothing wrong and was not to blame for the Life Sport fiasco. He said the auditors did not carry out the audit properly, which put Life Sport in a bad light. “The auditors, in my view, never checked certain things. I find the audit did not pay much attention to checking files.
You compiled files for them and they never checked it.” He said the auditors did not look at certain files, which he found strange. “Some of the procurement processes were outlined in the files.” Price said Life Sport was asked by the auditors for certain documents, which were supplied to them but “I don’t think they read it.”
Computers accounted for
In one instance, Price said, the auditors refused to see certain files. Price said last Friday, a package was sent to the CAU for their perusal, but he later found out that it was too late since the report was being finalised. “They say they did not get certain documents. Well, all right.” Price said he had written statements from co-ordinators who stated that the auditors queried the location of certain “boys” at certain centres, and upon receiving the information, never checked.
Price said he was interviewed by the auditors twice. Price said the auditors highlighted in the report that 200 laptop computers which cost Life Sport $998,500 were not physically located at the centres visited. However, the auditors stated that enquiries from Theodore Charles, assistant programme director, revealed that only 70 laptops were accounted for. Price said as far as he knows “all the laptops are accounted for. I don’t know what the auditors looked for. They did not check nothing. That was a pattern. They start off badly.”
‘I never encouraged anything’
He said normally the auditors would visit the ministry and talk to the permanent secretary and they would compile files and hand over documents. “In this instance, the auditors went straight to the Sport Company for information.” Price also took issue with the report, which recommended that the relevant unit of the Ministry of National Security conduct an investigation on the programme’s 43 coordinators.
“You cannot make a blanket statement. You are saying that all of them are criminals. That is madness.” He felt that the auditors could have observed all the centres and co-ordinators over a period of time, than draw their own conclusions. Tomorrow, Price said, he would hold a press conference at the Ministry of Sport to clear the air on matters that fell under his portfolio. In March, Price was appointed the programme’s director. “I wasn’t involved in certain things directly.
I could only deal with matters relating to me. When I came in I tried to put things in place. As a manager you have to make decisions on the spot. I never encouraged anything. Let the auditors go and deal with their foolishness that I encouraged things. That is foolishness.” He said any invoices that came to him would have been verified. “There are one or two things that may have slipped through. When I came into the system I saw an arrangement...that is something I was accustomed seeing.
So when I became director there was no reason to stop those payments because I saw them coming in all the time. However, there were several other payments that were stopped about two or three months ago for different areas because I became suspicious. When I checked there was nothing. I was being harassed about it.”
Missing files Price said the bills had to do with the rental of tents at Bagatelle, Barataria, Carapo, Sangre Grande and Valencia. He admitted that files had gone missing from Life Sport. “There are a lot of files that go missing sometimes. You cannot find it.” Price said the only bills he did not sign for were those for janitorial services, “until recently” when his signature was required. Those bills were previously signed off by the project unit for matters in that area.
Asked if he was scared that the PM had sent the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions and Commissioner of Police, Price said, “There is nothing to be scared about. I have not done anything wrong.” Is the audit an indictment of him? Price said, “I don’t know about any indictment of me. If you look at the report you would see things as far back as 2013.
What happened before (my time) is not my business.” The burying of Life Sport, Price said, was not the end of the world. “It finish, it finish. I wasn’t born in Life Sport. It was a good programme but it had issues.” Price said even though the programme had been scrapped, he would not be out of a job since he had other things to fall back on.
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Latest from the TNT Express. With all due respect madam PM - yuh star boi pointing fingers at everyone else but has refused to accept responsibility for the shambles in his ministry and he still. Ah minister today!!!'
Yuh see when yuh appoint thief to investigate thief yuh get more thieving. Next up ah read yesterday's papers where the health minister eh happy as it appears there is a committee now that runs his ministry- ah how is the "cabal" working fuh yuh?
TNT Express
Anil: I had no control
Story Updated: Jul 28, 2014
Sport Minister Anil Roberts says that he did not “personally” escort Adolphus Daniell, the educator who was paid $34 million from the LifeSport programme for no work, to meet Finance Minister Larry Howai but was part of a team.
While Minister Roberts has declined to speak with the Express to clarify his position, he did so in an interview with CNC3’s The Morning Brew programme yesterday.
Roberts said the Ministry of Finance wanted clarification on the programme and a meeting was arranged.
On Monday, Finance Minister Larry Howai says it was Roberts who brought Daniell to his ministry.
“Mr Daniell was brought by Minister Roberts and officers of the Ministry of Sport to meet with the Ministry of Finance to demonstrate how the programme would work. After the demonstration, nothing further was heard about this initiative as far as I am aware,” Howai had said in an e-mail response to questions from the Express.
Howai’s comments were in relation to questions on why Daniell was solely selected for the project and whether Daniell’s $34 million contract was sent to Cabinet for approval, given the quantum of it.
Roberts yesterday sought to distance himself from the contract, saying the minister was not involved in policy.
“I have no control over who signs cheques, who pays what, who gives out contracts, who are chosen as suppliers, who are employed...a minister does not have that, so please people understand the roles we have and understand the flip-side to that question is if a minister gets involved and goes to a board meeting and says hire this one, give this contract, then they will be considered corrupt,” he said.
“I take full responsibility for those 2,097 young men who are now without hope, without a programme. They trusted in the LifeSport programme. These are young men who don’t trust easily...they’ve not been treated well throughout their lives from the time of conception straight up to being 16. I don’t think the programme was a failure, I think human beings who were given the responsibility to manage the programme have failed. Those suppliers who over-invoiced have failed, those who did not pay their VAT have failed, those who didn’t follow procurement. As I say this is the audit report, the ministry can respond and then of course the DPP, FIU, Integrity Commission will deal with that. Those who have done wrong, there are systems to pay for it. So I accept, of course, I accept responsibility. Do you want me to resign and stop helping people when I had no authority over managerial things?” he asked.
Roberts also said that in his view, the audit was not final.
“The ministry officials, the permanent secretary, the Sport Company, the LifeSport contractor, the directors and so on are given an opportunity to respond to any queries or any statements made here...so this is not the final thing. They would do that this week and so on but when you look in here, something that bothered me terribly was that laptops were bought for poor people, poor children, I call them children, some people call them criminals...well, whatever you want to call them, who were making the wrong choices, who were on the street, who were robbing, who were involved in crime, this programme is to take them out, try and get them in. The coordinators are not supposed to be mentors, they are supposed to be able to get these fellas off the streets,” he said.
Roberts maintained that because the report had not linked him directly to corruption, there was no reason for him to resign.
He believes that while the participants of the programme may be disappointed at this point: “I just appeal to them to stay calm, the Prime Minister will find another avenue.”
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What a miserable coward
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‘Dear Kamla, fire Anil’
By SEAN DOUGLAS (Newsday).
INDEPENDENT Liberal Party (ILP) chairman and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner yesterday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar urging her to fire Sports Minister Anil Roberts from the Cabinet, over findings in the Finance Ministry’s Life Sport Programme audit.
But in an immediate reaction, Roberts suggested Warner was in no position to point fingers, due to what Roberts claimed were “certain dubious actions” by Warner when he was a government minister.
Warner in his letter to the PM, said the audit had found that “Life Sport” was plagued by procurement breaches, a deviation from Cabinet’s mandate, involvement of some persons in criminal activities, fraud by suppliers, theft of equipment, breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act, and poor control and monitoring by the line Ministry.
Warner explained that good governance and the traditions of Westminster demand that where such mismanagement/corruption occurs, the relevant minister must resign or have his appointment revoked by the Prime Minister.
He cited sections of the 2010 People’s Partnership (PP) Manifesto as grounds in which Roberts should be sacked in keeping with Government’s promised, “greater transparency and accountability.”
Warner said it was the PM’s duty to maintain the image and reputation of the Government and country locally, regionally and internationally. But contacted for a response, Roberts asked who was Warner to make such demands.
“Tell Jack Warner to worry about a letter he wrote on a Ministry of Works and Infrastructure letterhead regarding money by contractors. Tell him to worry about that and read the Integrity in Public Life Act. Other than that, I have nothing to respond to Jack Warner,” Roberts said.
Meanwhile, the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce yesterday said it supports Government’s action over the Life Sport Programme but urges more to be done by way of passing the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Bill.
In a statement yesterday the Chamber commended Persad-Bissessar for ending the programme and sending the Ministry of Finance’s audit of Life Sport to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Commissioner of Police (CoP).
But the Chamber lamented the many discrepancies identified in the report, including poor control by the Ministry of Sports; cases of fraud by suppliers and possible breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Chamber backed the Prime Minister’s view that this Report underscored the urgent need for procurement laws to become fully operationalised, and recalled that as part of the Private Sector Civil Society Group (PSCSG), they had made this same call to the Prime Minister in an advertisement published on July 25.
The Chamber vowed to continue to monitor this issue and, as with the wider national community, awaits the outcome of the investigations.
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No doh fire him!!! leave he dey!! Doh leh he getaway!!!! he is ah moving target!!!!!
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Why is this gov't making it that Anil is untouchable? A disgrace to himself, his constituency and the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
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http://www.ttparliament.org/hansards/hh20100730.pdf
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The Prime Minister is showing weakness by not removing this man from her cabinet. The public is calling for his removal and she is yet to do what should be done. This is not helping her image
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The Prime Minister is showing weakness by not removing this man from her cabinet. The public is calling for his removal and she is yet to do what should be done. This is not helping her image
Everybody knows she weak already. Don't know why she afraid
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https://www.youtube.com/v/o4PxDjowrV0&list=UUoMVhsqo5huXDwMyr3lF4qQ&index=5
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Anil is not the only senior person involve in this shit roll here ,he is protecting somebody and the Project Manager know it , that is why he is not fired yet .
We have to ask ourselves what part the min of finance played in this shit .
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http://www.ttparliament.org/hansards/hh20100730.pdf
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
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I stop reading the parliament briefing after diarrhetic sheet start flowing from the man who posing as a sports minister.
Don't you think mr Roberts should stop the childish attack with comments like political slavery from PNM? Every time ah hear this mans peak he sounding and smelling more like a fart in a latrine.
He has a serious mental trauma about PNM- rejection is ah bitch
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The Inland Revenue Department has a lot of work to do ....
Was any of these monies (34 million man etc) reported ...... with no expenses to deduct ...
Still a win for him however ..... did his company report it...
Did Jack report anything ??????... did anyone report anything. ....
Who in charge of the Inland Revenue Department ? The Audit Division especially ....
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Inland revenue? what they could do?
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Anil was always problems from way,way back.
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He's Gone!!!
Breaking: PM announces that she has accepted the resignation of Anil Roberts as Sport Minister http://t.co/KIrzKm5NsB
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Excellent article
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Ent-we-know-that-269480191.html
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Ok so the inevitable happened but does the probe stop there?
If the minister cough former minister was adamant that he did nothing wrong in awarding a 34 million contract and that the finance minister the same one who was entrusted with the audit was the one who signed off on the contract then is the investigation still on?
Or is this resignation a " take one for the team" so that further investigation would not reveal more misappropriation by other ministers'. This soap opera eh over nah but yuh go see how quickly they quiet this one down until another bacchanal issue appear on the scene.
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Anil to take fresh Life Sport evidence to DPP, CoP, IC
By Shaliza Hassanali (Guardian).
Former sport minister Anil Roberts has described the controversial Life Sport audit as “flawed, untoward and doctored,” and says he will be taking fresh evidence from the programme to the Director of Public Prosecutions, acting Police Commissioner, Finance Minister and the Integrity Commission.
Roberts said the 53-page report, which was tabled in Parliament on July 25 by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was “clearly designed to create public mischief.”
Roberts also promised to “seek legal advice on the report,” in a bid to get redress on the matter.
On Thursday, shortly after resigning as sport minister, Roberts said the “Overview of Conclusions” on Page 4 of the report stated that “given the widespread nature of the breaches, it is difficult to understand how they went unnoticed by the Ministry of Sport.
“Consideration has to be given to whether there was complicity by officers of the ministry. For example, the entire payment of $34 million to EBeam Interact Ltd was made not withstanding that external attorneys advised that there may have been grounds to contest and resist the final payment.”
On December 6, 2012, SporTT engaged EBeam to provide numeracy, literacy and interactive technology for the Life Sport programme at a cost of $34 million.
However, a legal battle ensued between SporTT and EBeam over the contract.
Roberts produced a letter from JD Sellier and Company, dated February 17, 2014, written by attorney Anja Dass, which stated that SporTT was obligated under the contract to issue the remaining $17 million to EBeam.
The letter was copied to JD Sellier’s attorney Dennis Gurley and SporTT’s head legal, attorney Lisa Solomon.
“However, given the lack of co-operation on the part of EBeam to meet and negotiate any new terms/conditions/amended contract until said payment is made to him we advised that SporTT was left with no other option but to pay the contracted balance, given SporTT’s position under the contract,” Dass advised.
“This was the final external legal advice upon which the SporTT board and its CEO acted upon,” Roberts said.
Roberts: Vital information conveniently left out in report
The conclusion by the audit committee that Ministry of Sport officials were complicit in making this payment despite external legal advice to the contrary is wrong on many levels, Robert said.
“Firstly, it was the Sport Company that was responsible for managing and making payment on the EBeam contract and not Ministry of Sport officials. Secondly, and more importantly, both internal and external legal advice stated that the Sport Company was legally obligated to pay and had no other option but to pay.”
Roberts also drew reference to a memorandum dated November 11, 2013, sent to CEO of SporTT from Solomon, which stated that “based on the instructions which have been provided, there are no facts which can give rise to a legal termination of this contract. As discussed above, there is no evidence of a material breach of contract by EBeam.”
Roberts said Solomon advised that “the contract between SporTT and EBeam, having been duly executed is a binding legal document,” and that “failure by SporTT to pay EBeam the $17 million, representing 50 per cent of the fee contractually due and owing will, in the circumstances, be a breach of contract and may result in legal action by EBeam to recover the contract price and any other reasonable consequential losses.”
Solomon also recommended that the most feasible option available to SporTT would be to pay to EBeam the monies claimed by their invoice in accordance with the obligations set out in the contract, Roberts said.
However, he said this piece of vital information was conveniently left out of the report.
“Someone intentionally doctored and edited Solomon’s advice before attaching to the report. My question is, who did that and why?”
Roberts said what was equally disturbing, the committee did not return to the Ministry of Sport, Life Sport and SporTT to verify and check the information they had obtained, which is a normal procedure in completing an audit.
“This is not the only thing I found missing. That is fraud. Documents have been doctored to present a false conclusion...a conclusion of complicity, corruption and criminal activity. This is very serious and dangerous.
“So the audit report attaches a legal memorandum with the most important pages missing, then comes to a false conclusion based on the doctored advice. This is too coincidental.”
Finance Minister Larry Howai, whose ministry undertook the audit, did not respond to questions that were e-mailed to him on Friday.
Speaker to get MP’s resignation letter tomorrow
Former sport minister Anil Roberts will submit his letter of resignation as D’Abadie/O’Meara MP to Speaker Wade Mark at 9 am tomorrow.
Roberts in a brief telephone interview yesterday said he would not deliver his resignation letter personally to Mark.
Instead, the letter will be sent from his former executive secretary at the Ministry of Sport to Mark’s personal secretary at his office.
“On Monday, at 9 am, the Speaker will receive my letter of resignation as MP for D’Abadie/O’Meara,” Roberts said.
For Roberts’ resignation to be effective, the Speaker has to receive communication from the MP, which would be read to the House.
Up to Thursday, communications officer of the Parliament Jason Elcock said Roberts’ letter of resignation had not yet been submitted to Mark.
Last Thursday, Roberts was forced to resign from the People’s Partnership Government.
He attributed his resignation to mounting pressures from the public, the Opposition, and even his own Cabinet colleagues.
Roberts’ resignation came six days after the Life Sport audit was laid in the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar said there was enough evidence in the audit to warrant a probe by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the acting Commissioner of Police, Integrity Commission and head of the Public Service.
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LifeSport never got tuition programme approval...
By Asha Javeed (Express)
NO $34m SIGN-OFF
Deputy chairman of the LifeSport Implementation Committee Ishwar Mootoo says no approval was ever given by his team for the $34 million contract paid to EBeam Interact to teach mathematics and English.
Mootoo, in a telephone interview with the Sunday Express, said when the proposal was brought before the implementation committee, it was rejected for two reasons—there was concern about the sum of the contract and the centres were not ready to accept the technology which the proposal had outlined.
The LifeSport Implementation Committee was set up by former Sport Minister Anil Roberts in June 2012, shortly after LifeSport was launched.
It was chaired by Forbes Persad and comprised private sector individuals and well as employees from the Ministry of Sport.
Persad resigned several months ago and deferred all questions to Mootoo.
It was this team that managed LifeSport for the first year after it was set up before the director, Cornelius Price, was brought in to manage it.
“We have minutes to show that we did not sign off on that contract,” said Mootoo.
He said this position was outlined to the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago and was surprised several months later when he heard that the contract had been awarded.
It was the Sport Company which awarded Adolphus Daniell the $34 million contract for which he did no work.
Daniell’s $34 million payment was the single biggest payment of the programme for no work unearthed by the Central Audit Committee’s audit into LifeSport.
LifeSport was shut down by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last month.
The Sunday Express sought to ascertain just who gave approval for the Sport Company to approve Daniell’s contract despite the rejection from the LifeSport Implementation Committee, the rationale for contracting Daniell and whether any objection to the contract was raised by permanent secretary Ashwin Creed, as the ministry’s accounting officer.
The Sunday Express contacted chairman of the Sport Company Sebastien Paddington to ascertain what made the company approve and pay the contract to Daniell but he declined comment, explaining that legal advice was being sought on the matter.
Even as the Sunday Express sought answers as to why a second $17 million payment was made in spite of no work, Paddington deferred comment until he had spoken to the company’s attorneys.
The Sunday Express also called several directors—Reynold Bala, Norris Blanc, Nisa Dass, Anyl Gopeesingh, Sabrenah Khayyam, Kent Samlal and Harnarine Singh—who all declined comment.
When the Sunday Express contacted the Ministry of Finance for an explanation how this payment went undetected, an official said that when the Sport Company applies for the money allocated to it in the budget, it does not always specify exactly what the payment is for, just a general request for the sum which it requires.
One permanent secretary explained that in Government contracts, usually nothing or at most, ten per cent is paid up front.
And it is only on completion of a project or job, once invoices are sent in, that final payment is made.
“That contract would have had to be an anomaly, a departure from normal procedure so you can tell that other players would have had to be in concert,” said the permanent secretary.
“When you apply for funds from the Ministry of Finance, you have to explain how the funds will be used.
That is how the system works. I don’t understand how there could have been no documented proof that work was not done, and still pay out that sum,” the permanent secretary explained.
Finance Minister Larry Howai had previously explained: “This particular contract was approved by the Sport Company (SporTT), not by the ministry. State enterprises can and do enter into contracts without Cabinet’s approval. As far as I can recall, Cabinet would not have been aware of this contract at the time that it was approved. The Ministry of Sport proceeded with it through the Sport Company rather than through the Ministry of Sport itself.”
Daniell defends
Daniell, through his company EBeam Interact Ltd, was solely selected to provide mathematics, English and technology lessons to the participants of LifeSport from December 2012.
However, EBeam was paid two installments of $17 million- the first installment which represented 50 per cent of the fee was paid on June 14, 2013 and the second payment was done on February 11, 2014.
On March 11, 2013—three months after he was supposed to start teaching and three months before he was paid $17 million—Daniell wrote a memo to the Sport Company.
He e-mailed a copy to the Sunday Express which he outlined what he thought were the key flaws in the programme:
1. The top down prioritisation drains the limited resources before they can filter down to the bottom where the impact is intended. Sadly, the greatest benefits that the participants continue to enjoy are free meals and unearned stipends with no strings attached.
2. The execution of management policies as it pertains to impact on the participants does NOT rely on the participants’ involvement or require them to take personal or collective responsibility for any outcomes. In fact, the current approach is a ‘hand-me-down’ approach which reinforces the prevailing dependency syndrome and exposes management to severe criticism when there is any failure, real or perceived, to meet the needs of the participants who are not made to be responsible for anything other than their collecting material things.
3. Failure to appreciate that there are proven system-dynamics principles which must be used in transitioning a complex, connected system from one state to another. This failure to understand and apply these principles have resulted in a lot of noise and vibrations within the LifeSport System, keeping it in the same state as it continues to use valuable resources in order to sustain the continuous internal noise and vibrations.
“In its present form, the LifeSport programme is on an inevitable collision course which calls for professional, sound, scientific intervention. If what is required is not undertaken, it would be futile to embark on the mathematics, English language or technology component,” he stated.
He said in order “to accomplish and sustain what is desirable, a scientific approach to ordering the processes throughout the entire LifeSport system must be undertaken as a matter of urgency. Without such an undertaking, the LifeSport programme is destined to reinforce the very things it was designed to eliminate, namely dependency, selfishness, unemployable youths who lack values and promote rising crime.”
“If I am expected to meaningfully contribute to the attainment of the LifeSport objectives and the success at the mid-term review, then I would have to lend assistance to the persons who are charged with the responsibility for execution and oversight in ordering the LifeSport System to achieve its desirable and measurable outcomes. If accepted, with immediate effect for the next three months, I would require the following:
1. That the programme director and his team be charged with the absolute responsibility for the overall execution of the LifeSport programme without ad hoc interference. In particular, the Programme Director must have the last say; of course, he will be held accountable by his superiors for the results produced.
2. That I will work with and through the programme director and his team to assist them in the implementation of an effective, scientific, operational framework.
3. I will specify what I need to conduct my work and must be given such within a responsible time frame.
4. All Cabinet defined and Ministry of Sport protocols should be observed.
5. Finally, in this regard, I will give of my time FREE of CHARGE as my personal contribution to my country, Trinidad and Tobago, at this critical time.
I trust that my requests will be given due consideration and quick approval, with or without further consultation. Regrettably, if there is no desire by the Ministry of Sport to embark on my proposed vital intervention then I would in conscience have to withdraw from further participation in the LifeSport programme and decline any contractual obligation as it relates to mathematics, English language and technology,” his memo stated.
While Daniell was paid, the programme never got started.
Daniell has said he has no intention of returning the money he was paid from the program me.
“The thing about it is, it is a non-issue because the only way under a contract anything is recoverable is if the other party is in default. There was never a single letter of complaint that I was in default of this contract. Not even a phone call,” he had said.
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Six days before SporTT got legal advice to pay Daniell second half of $34m LifeSport contract
By Asha Javeed (Express).
$17m CHEQUE OUT
Six days before the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) received legal advice to pay an outstanding $17 million payment to Adolphus Daniell’s EBeam Interact, a cheque had already been made out to him.
Daniell’s cheque for $17 million—the second half of a $34 million payment from the now defunct LifeSport programme to teach Maths and English — was dated February 11, 2014.
SporTT received legal advice from attorney Anja Dass from JD Sellier on February 17 that it “is legally obligated under the contract to issue the remaining balance of the TT$17 million to E-beam”.
It was the second time that JD Sellier had advised SporTT on Daniell’s contract. On January 17, 2014 it had outlined the legal options SporTT had with regard to the contract such as arbitration and re-negotiation of employment terms.
However, despite this, a cheque for the outstanding $17 million was made to Daniell on February 11.
In an e-mail dated February 17, Dass stated: “We suggested that ideally the parties should negotiate terms and conditions of works yet to be done before the payment is made. We further advised that the said payment should be negotiated to be paid in installments based on the works to be done.
“However, given the lack of co-operation on the part of EBeam to meet and negotiate any new terms/condition amended contract until said payment is made to him we advised that SporTT was left in no other option but to pay the contracted balance, given SporTT’s position under the contract.”
The audit into Life-Sport revealed that Daniell was paid $34 million although no work was done. His $34 million payment was the single biggest payment of the programme for no work unearthed by the Central Audit Committee’s audit into LifeSport.
Daniell has said he has no intention of returning the money.
“The thing about it is, it is a non-issue because the only way under a contract anything is recoverable is if the other party is in default. There was never a single letter of complaint that I was in default of this contract. Not even a phone call,” he has said.
Even as the Express attempts to piece together just who gave approval for the Sport Company to approve Daniell’s contract, the rationale for paying Daniell the entire sum for no work and whether any objection to the contract was raised by permanent secretary Ashwin Creed as the ministry’s accounting officer, documents obtained by the Express show a timeline on how the second $17 million payment was made.
It was former chief executive John Mollenthiel who drafted a note for the board of SporTT to approve the final payment based on his recommendation.
On November 25, Mollenthiel wrote to SporTT chairman Sebastien Paddington noting: “At this time, we are in breach of our contractual obligations and the lack of such payment is adding to delays in the commencement of active teaching (now pushed to February 2014). Subject to your agreement, I’m asking this be circulated via round robin to the board for a decision by close of business tomorrow — i.e. Tuesday, November 26th, 2013.”
By December 2, the note was circulated to the board by SporTT’s corporate secretary Dawn Mohan. The email, in part, stated: “Directors are being asked to indicate whether you approve the recommendation contained in the Board Note by 4 pm on Wednesday 4th December 2013 please.”
Mollenthiel’s note on the “Decision Item” of the “2nd payment to EBeam” observed that: “On account of the delegated financial authority limit of the Permanent Secretary (i.e up to $1 million), the contractual arrangement for these two components are handled by SporTT.”
“By submission of a written synopsis on November 16th 2013, EBeam has, inter alia, reiterated the need for the second payment of $17 million as per contract. The processing of this payment is directly related to the commencement of active teaching, which is now proposed for the first week in February 2013. According to EBeam, any further delays in processing the said payment will serve to further delay the already protracted timeline of February 2014,” noted Mollenthiel.
“The Board is informed that the costs of the contract have been provided for and the sums which are due and owing will be drawn down from the existing loan facility with First Citizens Bank Limited. The Board is further informed that the Bank has recently approved an extension of 45 days on the drawdown period for the loan (previously October 31, 2013.) A brief opinion from SporTT’s Legal Department on the options which are available to SporTT with regard to this request for payment of $17 million is also attached. The opinion supports the CEO’s recommendation to pay the outstanding $17 million as per the obligations set out in the contract between SporTT and EBeam,” he said.
Mollenthiel was interviewed by the Central Audit Committee on July 9 and said he signed the contract to avoid undue delays in the implementation of the literacy component.
“ He said he did not consider the suggested changes to the shortcomings of the contract identified by SporTT legal since he was told that the contract should be ‘loose’, a word he coined as he could not recall the actual word used. He denied that prior knowledge of Mr Daniell’s track record as an educator influenced his decision to sign a ‘loose’ contract. He said another reason for signing was that he always believed Mr Daniell would deliver since he felt that he had an international image to maintain. In hindsight however he believes that he may have been set up and regretted signing the contract. He said he is also astonished at Mr Daniell’s current ‘nit-picking’ behaviour,” the Central Audit Committee’s report into LifeSport stated.
The Express contacted Mollenthiel last week but he declined to speak about the EBeam contract or LifeSport. The Express tried several times to contact him by phone and text massages yesterday but was unsuccessful.
The board of directors of SporTT are Reynold Bala, Norris Blanc, Nisa Dass, Anyl Gopeesingh, Sabrenah Khayyam, Matthew Quamina, Annan Ramnanansingh, Kent Samlal, Milson Siboo and Harnarine Singh.
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Please inform me as I have not seen or read of any sustainable positive impact from the initiatives of this Life Support Program. I emphasize sustainable and positive.
I ask, was the "Hoops for Life" a sustainable initiative? Did it have an altering impact in the communities? What lingering legacy did that have? Did it simply add financial resources to Shaquille- like he needed it.
Good intentions poorly implemented would yield undesirable results.
LSP= Life Sport Program or a Little Something Please
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Roberts: Fire Howai
By CLINT CHAN TACK (Newsday)
FORMER Sport Minister Anil Roberts yesterday rejected a statement by the Finance Ministry that the Life Sport audit was not doctored. In doing so, he demanded that Finance Minister Larry Howai be fired. Roberts also said he is prepared to assist the police in their investigation into the controversial Life Sport programme which cost him his Cabinet post and his seat in the House of Representatives.
“I am ready, willing and able to cooperate. Even the police have been misled by this false report,” he declared. In a statement on Tuesday, the Finance Ministry admitted that two pages of the legal opinion provided by attorney Lisa Solomon, Head Legal at the SPORTT Company, were “inadvertently” omitted.
The Ministry said this was a human lapse and not “a deliberate and insidious act of intent, creating any major flaw in the integrity of the investigation.” In response, Roberts said, “This shows the level of deceitfulness of the Ministry of Finance. It is not a mere two pages that are missing.” He declared this is “an incomplete flawed process that breached all principles of accounting practice, audit and natural justice.”
Roberts said the two pages are critical documentary evidence from a qualified legal mind whose advice flies in the face of the (central audit) committee’s damning, dangerous and false conclusion that $34 million was paid (to Ebeam Interact Limited), despite legal advice to the contrary.”
Saying that neither the Sport Ministry, SPORTT Company nor Life Sport’s management were given the opportunity to respond “to the draft document,” Roberts charged this “is unacceptable at best and fraudulent at worst!”
Reiterating his question about how such a document could have been presented to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to be laid in the House on July 25, Roberts declared, “ This audit is a prime example of incompetence, fabrication and falsehood being given to the highest office holder.”
Responding to Roberts, Finance Ministry officials insisted that Persad-Bissessar did not lay an incomplete report in the House and what was laid was in fact the final report, the officials said the ministry “has undertaken to ensure that corrected copies of the document were distributed to the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Parliament, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Commissioner of Police (CoP) as well as the Integrity Commission.”
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Small companies earn big $$ under Life Sport
By Renuka Singh (Guardian)
Missing documents from the Central Audit Unit (CAU) details an unchecked financial feeding frenzy under the now defunct Life Sport programme. One company, less than two months old, earned almost a million dollars in a single contract, while another was invited to supply educational training and sporting equipment at over $2 million.
Since the CAU report into the controversial Life Sport programme was tabled by the Prime Minister in Parliament on July 2, it has been riddled with criticism from at least four different groups including former Sport minister Anil Roberts and his permanent secretary Ashwin Creed, Life Sport director Cornelius Price, and now the board of directors at the Sport Company of T&T.
Chief among the controversial omissions are the missing appendices from the tabled Life Sport programme which was obtained by the Sunday Guardian and shows evidence of a feeding frenzy under the defunct multi-million dollar programme.
The missing appendices show several companies earning hefty payouts mere months after being legally registered. Some of these companies show no accounting documents or evidence of experience, yet were paid over $900,000 for work under the Life Sport programme. These companies were first highlighted by Independent Liberal Party (ILP) chairman Jack Warner moments before Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar tabled the document.
According to the Ministry of Legal Affairs company registry database, one company, Allsnorth General Contractors, was officially registered on July 31, 2013, and according to the Life Sport appendices, earned $928,000 by September 27, 2013, less than two months later.
• Allsnorth General Contractors’ invoice details payments for a basic course in air conditioning and refrigeration and a basic course in electrical installation.
• Another company, Kardian Construction and Property Management supplied three invoices for cleaning work at the Carapo Community Centre, the Pinto Road Community Centre and the La Horquetta Regional Complex.
For a one-month period, from May 1-31, Kardian Construction claimed $37,900 in the first invoice and $37,580 for the other two, respectively. Scope of works included “clean and polish all stainless steel appliances such as refrigerators” at $3,900, spot clean all windows and other glass panes for $4,000 and spot clean all doors, light switches and walls at a cost of $2,200 for the month.
• Yet another company, Reno Energy Corporation presented the identical scope of works for maintenance of three different fields.
According to the appendices, Reno Energy tendered for refurbishment, upkeep and maintenance of the Fyzabad Recreation Ground, the Tabaquite Recreational Grounds and the Chrissie Trace Recreational Facilities in Enterprise. The first two fields were maintained at a cost of $199,582 each, while the Enterprise field cost $199,852 a month.
The breakdown of the scope of works shows Reno Energy charged the Life Sport programme $20,300 to remove all weeds and knott grass from the fields and an additional $30,400 for services and supplies “not limited to weed killers and fertilizers.” Reno Energy charged a further $14,250 to clean and maintain the playing surface.
According to the company registration, one director of Reno Energy also had a secondary company which was contracted to provide meals to 65 participants and charged $91,000 for meals for 20 days. This catering company, named Jolene Legere, is not listed on the Companies Registry.
• Meanwhile, Kadeem and Associates provided invoices for training at a cost of $970,000 but was also invited by Life Sport to send a quotation for the supply of uniforms, sports equipment and team kits. That quotation came in at over $2 million.
• A further 38 caterers earned over $3 million in June 2014.
Thirty-three of those caterers earned $86,450 for providing 65 breakfasts and lunches over the course of 19 days.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/How-the-LifeSport-contract-went-from-12m-to-34m-270699381.html
By Asha Javeed asha.javeed@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 10, 2014 at 10:51 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 11, 2014 at 11:57 AM ECT
On September 4, 2012, Adolphus Daniell, a director of eBeam Interact, submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Sport to teach math and English throughout Trinidad as part of the LifeSport programme.
The cost of that two-year programme was $7.5 million for the first year and $4.5 million for the second year—a total of $12 million. Two months later, on November 4, 2012, Daniell again submitted the proposal to the ministry. This time, the cost of the two-year programme was revised to $11 million for the first year and $11 million for the second year—a total of $22 million.
There were no material changes to the two proposals titled “Proposal for Mathematics and English Language courses for participants at thirty-eight LifeSport centres in Trinidad and Tobago”, of which the Express has a copy, except the cost. On December 6, 2012, a contract was signed by Daniell, whose registered office is at LP#52 John Street, Montrose, and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT).
The total on the contract was $34 million. The scope of services in the contract was copied straight from Daniell’s proposal, but there was no justification for the costs although a justification for sole-selection, dated November 23, was attached to the contract. “It should be noted that the budget for literacy and numeracy is exclusively to meet the cost of teachers, quality assurance and the monitoring component. There is no direct cost to eBeam Interact Ltd for supplying these service elements.
In addition, the programme costs have been budgeted for technology equipment and installation. Given the sensitive nature of this programme, the Ministry of Sport supports this implementation approach of utilising the services of sole select supplier,” the justification for sole select stated. Daniell’s first $12 million proposal had stated the equipment required for his teaching engagement would be one eBeam engage system (complete), one laptop, one high-resolution multimedia projector and a digital student-response system which is commonly called a voting system.
Further, each facilitator would be given one 16-gigabyte USB flash drive. In addition, he required a high-definition digital camcorder and appropriate accessories. He also said a biometric time-and-attendance system would be installed at each centre.
In addition, for that $12 million cost, SporTT would have been the recipient of:
• a high-resolution multimedia projector for all 38 centres;
• high-resolution multimedia projectors for all 38 centres;
• laptop computers for all 38 centres;
• digital camcorders for all 38 centres;
• automated student-response system for each class group at all 38 centres;
• 2,300 student-response clickers (one for each participant);
• web-enabled, biometric time-and-attendance system for all 38 centres;
• hosting fees and monthly fees associated with Cloud storage;
• Integrated management information system;
• web-portal development and configuration;
• web-portal implementation, ongoing maintenance and support cost of training all users;
• development and production of training manuals and cost of other training resources;
• cost of installation of all hardware;
• licensing fees;
• shipping and handling;
• internal transportation of equipment and ongoing travel of personnel management fees;
• production of monthly reports;
• miscellaneous costs.
At $22 million, those services remained the same.
But after a $34 million contract was signed, no work was done and the SporTT company does not have any of the equipment which it would have expended sums to cover. According to eBeam, which is distributed by US-based Luidia Inc, Daniell’s Educational Community Ltd is its sole Trinidad distributor. The Express understands each eBeam device costs under US$1,000.[/b]
An invoice submitted to the Ministry of Sport by eBeam Interact showed a total cost of all equipment for the LifeSport centres at US$125,590 (TT$797,496.50). The Express tried to contact Daniell in an attempt to understand how the cost had escalated and whether he had acquired the equipment for the programme and, if so, whether he left the equipment he had obtained with SporTT. On the first attempt, the Express was told: “Please do not contact me again.
Thank you.”The Express again tried to contact Daniell last Saturday and was told: “I have asked you not to call me again. Could you please respect that?” before the call was ended.
Creed and the contract
EBeam Interact was registered on August 9, 2007, by attorney Allison Eustace Luther Roberts, of Roberts and Company. He is the father of former sport minister Anil Roberts. The directors of the company are Daniell and Gloria Kirton. On March 8, 2013, the SporTT company had a board meeting in the Giselle Salandy Room of its offices at Henry Street, Port of Spain.
Among the issues discussed was the contract to EBeam.
The board minutes stated: “The board ratified the decision made on 6th December 2012 to award the contract for the numeracy and literacy components of the LifeSport programme to eBeam Interact Limited in the sum of TT$34 million based on the fact, among other things, that the recommendation was made by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport (Ashwin Creed) to the CEO of SporTT (then John Mollenthiel).
Board approval will be required for any additional payment in excess of the TT$34 million to EBeam Interact Limited for the numeracy and literacy component of the LifeSport programme.” For its $34 million, EBeam was paid in two installments of $17 million—the first installment which represented 50 per cent of the fee was paid on June 14, 2013, and the second payment was done on February 11, 2014.
At a news conference last Friday, Creed’s lawyer, Peter Taylor, said his client was being made a scapegoat. “The permanent secretary cannot direct the board. He can advise. The special-purpose company is a legal entity on to itself,” Taylor said in defence of Creed.
Last Thursday, Cabinet fired the SporTT board, which was chaired by Sebastien Paddington and included Reynold Bala, Norris Blanc, Nisa Dass, Anyl Gopeesingh, Sabrenah Khayyam, Matthew Quamina, Annan Ramnanansingh, Kent Samlal, Milson Siboo and Harnarine Singh.
Mollenthiel resigned from the company two months ago. Contacted last Saturday on whether he was aware of a friendship between his father and Daniell, the former sport minister explained his father was a lawyer with over 50 years in practice and was surprised he had registered Daniell’s company. He said no recommendation ever came from him to the SporTT board to approve Daniell’s contract.
‘Major, deliberate obstacles’
On September 16, 2013, Daniell sent a document to Mollenthiel requesting an update on why the programme was not yet started. Daniell insisted the centres were not ready with the format for teaching being very structured. He noted EBeam had acquired 38 EBeam Interactive Whiteboard systems, 38 laptop computers and 43 printers, which it was under no obligation to do, 38 high-resolution multimedia projectors, 76 USB drives of 16GB and a voting system.
In the document, Daniell stated: “Suddenly, and regrettably, eBeam has encountered major, deliberate obstacles and open interference as it attempts to execute its contractual obligations related to the technology component. In one brazen case, an executive order was issued to eBeam to cease the essential manual activity of acquiring a true record of the daily attendance of all staff and participants at all the LifeSport centres.
“Further, that instruction was reinforced by a well-orchestrated act of violent intimidation, which included the confiscation, and destruction of government equipment in the process. “These treacherous acts ensured that eBeam stopped the recording of all other relevant data that could expose financial and other irregularities within the LifeSport programme.”
Audits and the EBeam contract
The EBeam contract was highlighted in the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee’s July 2014 audit report into LifeSport, which has now been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Integrity Commission, the Commissioner of Police and the head of the Public Service.
However, in November 2013, the Ministry of Finance’s audit committee had compiled an interim report of the LifeSport programme and had voiced concerns about Daniell. That report stated: “Central Audit noted that EBeam, played an unusual role in the programme, for example loans were issued to the Ministry of Sport. Staff also involved in the programme indicated that Mr Daniell of EBeam personally interacted with other contractors such as the coordinators, coaches, caterers, etc, and he tried to run the programme as he saw fit.
For example, he paid coaches an additional salary from his personal funds and was subsequently reimbursed by the MSYA (Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs); Central Audit was not provided with the approval for the re-payment to EBeam.”
The recommendation by the Central Audit then was that the current contract be cancelled or renegotiated so that SporTT will have better control of the monies expended toward the component of the programme. It was in November 11, 2013, that SporTT got legal advice from its head of legal, Lisa Solomon, to pay Daniell his outstanding $17 million payment.
Daniell received his second payment on February 11, 2014, without once having taught a lesson at LifeSport.
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Like every other unresolved issue - wha happen this talk done? No more investigation? What happen to all the other missing pieces they finding? Allyuh real good we moving from one thing to the next and eh resolving none- closure is ah bitch
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The narrative has changed since the Reform Bill was introduced in Parliament. This is still an issue
Govt repays $150m LifeSport loan
By By Asha Javeed
The Government has spent over $150 million of taxpayers’ dollars to pay off two loans taken by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) to fund the now-defunct LifeSport programme which targeted criminal elements for rehabilitation.
Fiance Minister Larry Howai told the Sunday Express two loans were taken to finance LifeSport during the programme’s two-year existence. The loans were taken by SporTT from State bank First Citizens in 2013.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Govt-repays-150m-LifeSport-loan-272444841.html
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It have some people in here real quiet on the issues - me eh go surprise that it may have people in here who benefitted from the program or knew someone who did or had a relative or frien who did-
Yuh know this issue gone cold too? They get ah scapegoat and all the others in different ministries in RECOIL mode. Steups
What happen to the further investigations? Happy independence
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It have some people in here real quiet on the issues - me eh go surprise that it may have people in here who benefitted from the program or knew someone who did or had a relative or frien who did-
Yuh know this issue gone cold too? They get ah scapegoat and all the others in different ministries in RECOIL mode. Steups
What happen to the further investigations? Happy independence
Who tell you this issue gone cold? Don't believe that everything you imagine is real unless you are speaking for yourself rather than for the general T&T population.
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..
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Ashwin Creed, can now put the spectre of the controversial Life Sport programme behind as he has gone home on pre-retirement leave. This was confirmed by the Head of the Public Service Reynold Cooper yesterday. Creed has been on extended leave of absence since May and will remain on pre-retirement leave until April next year, Cooper told the T&T Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-09-04/pre-retirement-leave-creed
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Ashwin Creed, can now put the spectre of the controversial Life Sport programme behind as he has gone home on pre-retirement leave. This was confirmed by the Head of the Public Service Reynold Cooper yesterday. Creed has been on extended leave of absence since May and will remain on pre-retirement leave until April next year, Cooper told the T&T Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-09-04/pre-retirement-leave-creed
So wait..allyuh eh realize that as far as this government concerned...this dead?
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As they say it shall rize jus like the sun .
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Bourbon you right the government may not be concerned, but the people want answers as to how their money is being spent
Rowley: Probe LifeSport too
PM orders Commission of Enquiry into the Las Alturas apartments
By \\\\\ Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Sep 19, 2014 at 11:42 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 19, 2014 at 11:42 PM ECT
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley wants to know why the Prime Minister has not ordered a Commission of Enquiry into LifeSport which took $400 million or into the $36 million paid to Adolphus Daniell under the programme.
Rowley also noted that no Commission of Enquiry was ordered into the Beetham Waste Water Treatment plant, which was awarded to an SIS-led consortium at a cost which was $400 million higher than the next ranked bidder. He said he understood that this contract was now being sublet by the Government’s “favourite contractor” to another contractor.
The Opposition Leader also raised the fact that no Commission of Enquiry was ordered into the purchase of land for $175 million by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) under the tenure of current Minister, Roodal Moonilal, when that same land was valued by “one of the most prominent valuators in the country”, Lindon Scott, at $52 million.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Rowley-Probe-LifeSport-too-275859301.html
Rowley also wants the Prime Minister to state what criminal liability did she accept as Minister of Education for the purchase and renovation of the BH Rose Hardware in 2001, a building which was deemed to be wholly unsuitable for use as a school.
“She was directly involved in advancing that public purchase as Minister of Education... One can’t get more direct responsibility than that,” he said, adding that there is no school there now and the matter has disappeared from the radar.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Rowley-Probe-LifeSport-too-275859301.html
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Hmm this is a shame
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ex-LifeSport-man-on-bail-leaves-TT-278917551.html
Ex-LifeSport man on bail leaves T&T
Former co-ordinator for the Carapo arm of the now defunct LifeSport Programme, Rajaee Ali, has left the country.
The Sunday Express understands Ali left the country last week.
The LifeSport Programme is under active investigation by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
Contacted yesterday, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith said he was aware that Ali had left the country.
“It has been brought to my attention that he is not in the country,” he said.
Asked whether Ali was a person of interest, Griffith said he could not comment.
“We are aware of who the persons of interest are. We cannot share that with the public but we are aware,” he said.
Ali was detained on May 9 by police for gang related activity, shortly after Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal was murdered on Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, while heading home from Ma Pau casino on Ariapita Avenue.
Ali is on $25,000 bail for another matter.
Ali, 29, is also due to re-appear in court after he was charged for possession of wild meat in August.
Ali had appeared before Arima Magistrate Indra Jagroo along with Roget Boucher, 29, and Kevan Modeste, 33, charged with possession of wild meat but had pleaded not guilty.
Ali’s attorney Criston J William said Ali was a father of two and had two wives and no convictions under his name. The case has been adjourned.
On July 22, Ali and 17 other people were arrested at the Carapo mosque in relation to several enquiries including kidnapping and gang-related activities but three days later were released with no charges against them.
Following his release on July 27, Ali told reporters he felt as though he was being victimised by the police as he claimed he was not doing anything wrong or illegal, yet was still being targeted.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Ex-LifeSport-man-on-bail-leaves-TT-278917551.html
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A shame how? Ent part of the conditions for bail is that you surrender your passport? How he get to leave? And how Griffith could say he aware...no effort was made to stop him? If not..then was he ever seriously a person of interest?
Next ting yuh hear he gone to join ISIS and they let him go so that he eh go act up here.
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$20m owed for Life Sport services.
By Shaliza Hassanali (Guardian).
Months after the Life Sport programme has been shut down, caterers, coaches, co-ordinators and participants of the programme are still being owed $20 million. But National Security Minister Gary Griffith who said, “Life Sport is dead,” indicated that his ministry will not pay a cent unless his permanent secretary (PS) can verify the legitimacy of invoices and services rendered by those who were affiliated with the programme.
A document leaked to the Sunday Guardian showed that of the $20 million, caterers who provided meals to participants in January, February and July are owed $6,860,370—the largest sum. The document gave a breakdown of the programme’s cost which amounted to $11,948,436.96, while the arrears stood at $8,651,231.90. Under programme costs, the document showed a list of people who are owed up to July 2014.
They are:
• Participants’ stipends—$3,088,500
• Caterers—$3,200,000
• Co-ordinators—$1,110,000
• Coaches—$853,200
• Life skills—$500,000
• Staff at Youth Training Centre—$69,900
• Life Sport Committee—$31,875
• Life Sport operation expenses—$1,200,000
• Salaries—$690,386.96
• Staff contract obligation up to September 2014—$243,000
• Upgrade selected centres February 2014—$961,875.
The document also revealed that the “maintain and upgrade” bill for the life centres in December 2013, January and February 2014, was $2,522,256. Cleaning and janitorial services in January and February 2014 stood at $1,757,250. Kim Engineering was also listed to be paid $344,000.
Meanwhile, an additional $367,355.90 was invoiced, in advance, for special upgrade of the centres for October 2014, even though in July Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the termination of the programme in the wake of damning findings of a government-ordered audit which unearthed evidence of fraud and theft, and linked individuals in criminal activity.
Griffith said he has no intention of paying state funds to anyone who does not have proper documentation. “People have been coming in large numbers with claims of certain things. Unless I can get justification that the actual product was delivered, my PS will not be cutting cheques for imaginary projects and imaginary people for things that were never delivered or at exorbitant costs.”
Griffith said Sport Minister Dr Rupert Griffith can confirm that people had been making demands with no contract in hand. He said while many of the claims might be legitimate, “money will not be handed out freely; I will go through everything with a fine tooth comb when it reaches my desk.” In the coming weeks, Griffith said he plans to meet with the Sport Minister to discuss the revamping of the programme.
“The concept of the programme was never questioned, it was the end result.” Griffith said the ministry may work in tandem with sporting teams to act as role models to participants of the new programme.
Former director threatens legal action
Meanwhile, former programme director of Life Sport, Cornelius Price has threatened to take legal action against the Ministry of Sport for failing to pay him his salary for the last three months. Price collected a monthly salary of $25,000. Price, whose contract ended in September, said he is owed $75,000 as the ministry was refusing to pay him his renumeration for the months of July, August and September.
“October is coming to an end and I am yet to be paid. I have since consulted with my attorney on this matter.” Sunday Guardian was reliably told that six workers whose contracts ended in September are also awaiting payments estimated at $300,000. On Friday, the Sport Minister refused to comment on the matter. He said matters involving Life Sport should be directed to the National Security Minister
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So how long again should we wait for someone to be charged?
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They waiting until after the next elections then all they cronies go be making noise for the next government to resolve. In this way government too busy in the first term of office trying to undo all the mess of the previous government before they could ever implement a firm set of working principles to benefit all.
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RAJAEE BEHIND BARS
Former LifeSport coordinator on gang charges, conspiring to murder DJ
By Rickie Ramdass (Express).
SECURITY in and around the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court was increased yesterday as former LifeSport programme co-ordinator Rajaee Ali appeared before a magistrate charged with being a gang leader and conspiracy to murder.
Heavily armed and masked officers of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit blocked traffic along St Vincent Street outside the courthouse as Ali and five other people, including a woman, were brought to court around 11 a.m.
They were brought to court on charges contrary to the Anti-Gang Act, possession of arms and ammunition to endanger life, and conspiracy to murder radio disc jockey Kevaughn “Lurbz” Savory.
All the offences are alleged to have taken place on November 27 in Port of Spain.
Ali, and the other accused were remanded in custody given that people charged under the Anti-Gang legislation cannot be granted bail for a period of 120 days.
Outside the Eighth Court where Ali, Keshon Dempster, Ishmael Ali, Brandon Borneo, Brent LaCroix and Donna Dyer appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, other armed officers stood guard for the duration of their appearance.
The accused made their appearance shortly after midday and were not called upon to plead to any of the indictable charges.
Attorney, Insp Richard Taylor of the Police Service’s legal department, objected to bail being granted on the charges which did not fall under the Anti-Gang Act, pointing out the seriousness of the alleged offences and the fact that the accused criminal background traces were not obtained up to the time of their appearance.
In response to Taylor’s submissions, defence attorney Criston J Williams argued that the prosecutor’s grounds for objecting to bail were insufficient, saying Taylor needed to present subsequent grounds such as the likelihood of them committing further offences while out on bail or the likelihood of them fleeing the jurisdiction.
He also made an application for disclosure of copies of any judge’s warrant related to the Interception of Communication Act; copies of his clients’ custody records; interview notes and oral utterances his clients may have made and the names of the senior officers of the Belmont, Morvant, Woodbrook and Central Police stations who would have reviewed the grounds for the detention of the accused.
The attorney also made an application for disclosure of any camera footage related to the offences captured on the day they were allegedly committed.
Williams said he was instructed by his clients that they were fearful they may be harmed if remanded at the Port of Spain Prison on Frederick Street and he asked the magistrate that they instead be remanded at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.
Forde-John said the court did not have the power to dictate where prisoners were detained as this was the responsibility of the Prison Service.
The matter was adjourned to December 22 when the court will address the issue of bail as it relates to the offences that do not fall under the Anti-Gang Act.
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What allyuh think is the motive?
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'oman
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Well... If the talk true... She could deny being in a video same way he deny it.
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Half of the Police Service looking for Anil, says Rowley
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Half-of-the-Police-Service-looking-for-Anil-says-Rowley-284939961.html (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Half-of-the-Police-Service-looking-for-Anil-says-Rowley-284939961.html)
Half of the Police Service is looking for former sport minister Anil Roberts, says Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
He was speaking during the debate of procurement legislation at the Parliament sitting yesterday.
Rowley used the Prime Minister’s own words to criticise her, noting that she said the best assessment of human behaviour is to look at their past behaviour.
“Look at the behaviour of this Prime Minister with respect to the Minister of Sport,” said Rowley as he reminded the House that he had brought a motion to raise concern over the billion-dollar contract to Super Industrial Services (SIS) for the Beetham wastewater treatment plant and the Prime Minister authorised Roberts to respond.
“The Prime Minister authorised the Minister of Sport to respond...to a matter where the NGC is for the first time leaving its core business to go and invest a billion or more dollars in water and the person in the Parliament who is responding to a challenge from the Opposition is the Minister of Sport with the Prime Minister.... Today half the Police Service looking for the Minister,” said Rowley.
He also noted the Prime Minister presided over the appointment of junior technician Reshmi Ramnarine to head the Strategic Security Agency (SSA).
Rowley further chided Persad-Bissessar for bringing up allegations that he siphoned materials from the Landate Tobago matter.
Rowley said the Integrity Commission by court order conducted an enquiry into the allegations and at the end of the day the Commission was able to report there was no wrongdoing
He said yet the Prime Minister comes again for the “umpteenth” time resurrecting the allegations while the Attorney General was wasting millions to pursue the same matter which the Integrity Commission already concluded that there was no wrong.
He also refuted allegations by Pointe-a-Pierre MP that he as Minister of Housing gave a contract to the wife of the chairman of the PNM.
“I want to make it abundantly clear, Mr Speaker, I had absolutely nothing to do with any award of any contract in the Ministry of Housing,” said Rowley.
He said further that the issue of procurement legislation is not new and it has been existing due to the presence of the Central Tenders Board Act.
Rowley also categorically stated that after the section 34 fiasco as long as the Opposition has any concerns about any legislation they will not give their support for its passage.
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Sex And blackmail
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sex--And--blackmail-284990981.html
DJ marked for death, Rajaee both knew ex-Govt official
By By Asha Javeed asha.javeed@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Dec 6, 2014 at 9:45 PM ECT
Story Updated: Dec 6, 2014 at 9:45 PM ECT
Radio DJ Kevaughn “Lurbz” Savory was possibly saved from being a statistic.
But the question he’s being constantly asked now is: who would want you killed?
One week after police uncovered an alleged plot to kill him and swiftly charged six people, including ex-LifeSport co-ordinator Rajaee Ali, 27-year-old Savory sat down for an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express yesterday.
Ali was detained by police shortly after the murder of former senior counsel Dana Seetahal seven months ago. He also had a charge of possession of wild meat.
He had told the Sunday Express he did not kill Dana Seetahal.
What did Ali, a member of the Carapo Jamaat Al-Muslimeen and Savory have in common?
On the surface, nothing.
Ali sometimes leads the jumah prayers at the Carapo mosque on a
Friday while Savory hosts boat parties.
So whom did they have in common?
The Sunday Express understands a former Government official was an associate of both men.
But who ordered the alleged “hit” and why?
Savory admitted he was scared because he could not identify a motive and the police never disclosed exactly why he was wanted dead.
Savory said he had just finished his shift at SLAM 100.5FM on November 27 when he was escorted by police to their Port of Spain headquarters and informed of the “hit” placed on his head.
Last Thursday, Ali was charged with being a gang leader. He and five others—Keshorn Dempster; Brent La Croix; Brandon Borneo; his wife, Donna Dyer; and his brother, Ishmael—were all charged with being members of an unnamed gang.
The group was also jointly charged with conspiring to murder Savory and with assisting a gang member in the commission of a gang-related act by possessing a gun and ammunition.
Savory, who hasn’t given pause to his busy party schedule despite the public scrutiny which he’s come under since the alleged plot was made public, says it could have been a “grudge” hit.
The only thing that came to mind was a sex video with himself and his ex-girlfriend, who is related to the ex-Government official, which is still in his possession.
He considers it a “nuclear bomb”.
He described his ex-girlfriend as his “realest” relationship and the longest, having lasted two and a half years.
He said he met her when she was 18 and he was studying journalism and public relations at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT).
“We were very public together,” he said.
Apart from two of his trusted friends, to whom he showed the video, he said the whole of Synergy Television (where he hosts a programme) saw it in March of this year.
“Here’s the weird thing about it. The whole of Synergy saw the video because I jacked in the phone to charge it and a picture thing came up. And I left and I went out and come back and people were like, ‘You’re genuine boy. We see everything.’ People know this video existed,” he said.
Asked by the Sunday Express why he kept a video of his ex-girlfriend, who is now married, he responded:
“Why did you keep the video?” he repeated. “I am a very funny person and a hoarder of pictures. Not for the content on it but the properties on it, for the date and time.”
The date and timestamp on the video, he said, is his ticket to show that he’s not the father of his ex-girlfriend’s child.
“Look how this played off. If I didn’t have the video and if I didn’t understand the date and time of the video timeframe of the video, people would have bawled that it was a recent video,” he said.
“That child is not my child. It’s an innocent child. When the child grow up, when it comes to the public, you will see it’s not my child. It’s an innocent child. Leave the child out of it. You could continue to make all your memes pertaining to me, the mother and father, but leave the child out of it,” he said.
He added: “That was personal. I was never broadcasting it. People didn’t know I had it. It’s either they recovered it or somebody must have recorded it off the computer. It wasn’t kept for me to watch over and use against them. That was never my intentions. I just have the video.”
For Savory, there was no profit in the video except ego.
“I was going through my phone. I am a hoarder for pictures so I am going through my phone and scrolling up to see what I did because the pictures are date and timestamped. I didn’t do anything to any girl; I have been in a steady place,” he said.
Asked if he was aware the video was possibly being used as blackmail, he responded:
“The blackmail thing is a whole new thing to me. Everything now, between last week and now, everything is new. It’s nothing that I knew or expected. This popped out of nowhere so, all the blackmailing,” he said.
Savory is straightforward.
He readily admits to being an employee who can test a manager’s limits and bend the rules as much as he can without breaking them.
At Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) where he had once worked as a cameraman, he admitted to crashing cars and falling asleep on the job.
But it’s his raw talent and deter-mination—racing to the scene of a burning fire on Charlotte Street or climbing to the top of an unfinished building to get “that” shot which compensated for the carelessness.
“I give trouble. Real trouble,” he admitted with a laugh.
Not surprisingly, his recklessness led him to death’s door once before.
In September 2009, he was in an accident close to the Besson Street Police Station which nearly left him paralysed.
But by November, he cut off the casts and made a trip to the church at Mount St Benedict, determined to turn his life around.
Savory then went to Synergy Television where he worked as a cameraman and as DJ.
“That’s when my whole career started because that’s when I started to take life seriously. I told myself, let’s do this. I survived for a reason and I said, let’s make something of myself,” he said.
Savory’s story has made him a social media and meme sensation.
And it’s not something he prepared to run away from.
Instead, he actually laughs about it.
“The events that will come out of this I have no control over, I can’t tell people what to do, what to post, what to say. I know what took place, I know what is in my heart and it’s clean and pure, and I just glad it didn’t happen on that day. I am just glad I survived to tell the story.
I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t even know it could be a video motive. I had no idea. I was just living my life,” he said.
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This fella sound like a real asshole.
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Probably her type. Not sure if I believe his story in the circulation aspect.
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This fella sound like a real asshole.
Lol I just come to the same conclusion. Except he closer to c*rnt than than asshole
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So I just read another account elsewhere... and the implication being made is that Anil is the one who order the hit, because the woman in the video is his wife.
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So I just read another account elsewhere... and the implication being made is that Anil is the one who order the hit, because the woman in the video is his wife.
Which Anil?, Breds?
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So I just read another account elsewhere... and the implication being made is that Anil is the one who order the hit, because the woman in the video is his wife.
Which Anil?, Breds?
Roberts...
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So I just read another account elsewhere... and the implication being made is that Anil is the one who order the hit, because the woman in the video is his wife.
Which Anil?, Breds?
Roberts...
That is both interesting and very serious!
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I thought Ray J and Kim K could not have been beat for worst one but the thirty seconds :bs: between the DJ and Anil wife take win
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This brave fellow on facebook called Chris Callender uploaded the video, I hope they don't terminate his account.
Please note the link is for adult viewing only as nudity, cussing and licking is involved: https://www.facebook.com/chris.callender.568#!/video.php?v=870177819701069&pnref=story
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So he did lie when he said it was before..cause then why he calling Anil name....calling names from the 201 video..then saying..."This is my wife now".
Look like real vindictiveness. And confirmation of asshole conduct.
I could see that tripping a man off to order a hit.
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This brave fellow on facebook called Chris Callender uploaded the video, I hope they don't terminate his account.
Please note the link is for adult viewing only as nudity, cussing and licking is involved: https://www.facebook.com/chris.callender.568#!/video.php?v=870177819701069&pnref=story
One of the few times I am feeling sorry for the ex MOS.
Having said that, if a man do me that and there's a vid. I might be compelled to cap his ass as well.
VB
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This brave fellow on facebook called Chris Callender uploaded the video, I hope they don't terminate his account.
Please note the link is for adult viewing only as nudity, cussing and licking is involved: https://www.facebook.com/chris.callender.568#!/video.php?v=870177819701069&pnref=story
One of the few times I am feeling sorry for the ex MOS.
Having said that, if a man do me that and there's a vid. I might be compelled to cap his ass as well.
VB
I don't feel sorry for Anil as he fully deserved that horn his wife give him.
Do you think his wife believed that BS story that it wasn't him in the 2 pull ganja video in room 201 with those girls getting ready to do the nasty, do you?
Moral of the story here is if yuh cyah take horn then doh give.
Anil should be taking his well deserved horn with a smile rather than ordering a hit on the DJ who was only doing what his wife wanted him to do.
I hope Anil makes a jail for this if they can't jail him for overseeing the Life Sport fiasco that lost T&T taxpayers millions as well as deprived the youths of exactly what the programme was meant to provide them with, which are more opportunities to better their life through sports and to steer themselves away from a dead end life of crime.
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Nah Pro,
that vid was before he meet the girl.
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Nah Pro,
that vid was before he meet the girl.
Before who meet who? Are you saying the vid was made before Anil met his wife?
Well if you are, it don't make much sense because the DJ actually called Anil's name in the video and cheekily said that Anil's wife is now his wife.
Do you honestly believe that that video was made before Anil met and married his wife VB? Are you really that gullible?
That video was obviously done with the wife's full consent in revenge for the horn that she publicly got from Anil in the 2 pull ganja video. And she probably even encouraged the DJ to share it with his friends after allowing him to film it.
Lesson here again is if yuh cyah take horn then doh give! Ah horn is ah horn only if yuh take it on!! And Anil rell take it on because he put a hit out on the DJ and for that he should make some jail time as far as I am concerned.
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Allyuh men good yes... you telling me allyuh wife horn allyuh on tape, know it taping... know de man doing it fuh spite... and allyuh vex with de man? :rotfl:
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Allyuh men good yes... you telling me allyuh wife horn allyuh on tape, know it taping... know de man doing it fuh spite... and allyuh vex with de man? :rotfl:
Tell them Bakes!! :thumbsup:
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I doubt that was before the marriage.
Study the fact that they not even married a full year yet.
And the names being called could only have reference to the 201 video.
Look like this was for spite. Was done with disrespect in mind . The kicks was reading yesterday the Guardian article from when they were newlywed. Lawd have mercy.
Amery Browne brought up something I didnt think about. If this hit could be ordered based on this video....what could have happened to the girls that were in the 201 video to keep them quiet? Considering the fact that he probably was unaware of being recorded...and it possible that elements that could be criminal could be employed....
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I doubt that was before the marriage.
Study the fact that they not even married a full year yet.
And the names being called could only have reference to the 201 video.
Look like this was for spite. Was done with disrespect in mind . The kicks was reading yesterday the Guardian article from when they were newlywed. Lawd have mercy.
Amery Browne brought up something I didnt think about. If this hit could be ordered based on this video....what could have happened to the girls that were in the 201 video to keep them quiet? Considering the fact that he probably was unaware of being recorded...and it possible that elements that could be criminal could be employed....
Move to the head of the class Bourbon! :beermug:
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I eh feelin sorry 4 that foul mouth fella. As 4 Amery Brown he eh realize that we as a society but Anil in power knowin how he is. So we wanted that kind of character in our govt.
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I doubt that was before the marriage.
Study the fact that they not even married a full year yet.
And the names being called could only have reference to the 201 video.
Look like this was for spite. Was done with disrespect in mind . The kicks was reading yesterday the Guardian article from when they were newlywed. Lawd have mercy.
Amery Browne brought up something I didnt think about. If this hit could be ordered based on this video....what could have happened to the girls that were in the 201 video to keep them quiet? Considering the fact that he probably was unaware of being recorded...and it possible that elements that could be criminal could be employed....
Move to the head of the class Bourbon! :beermug:
By now I thought everybody who wanted to would have seen the video. It's too raw to post here.
Basically Lurbz say at the start of the clip "Kevaughn and Snaneee..... eff you Anil , this is my wife" then a little by play between him and the girl who is lying on a bed naked skin up. He proceeds to lick de thing.
Capo this should interest you. She have a bush.... not common for the younger ladies eh ?
With the ego Anil have the hit attempt is not surprising.
BTW ah hear that the house in La Estancia was bought for 5 million in CASH !!!
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Ex-Life Sport official begs PM for help.
T&T Newsday Reports.
A former Supervisor at the now defunct Life Sport programme yesterday begged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to intervene as she claimed she and other officials have not been paid for the month of July.
The Prime Minister in a speech in Parliament on July 25 had cancelled the controversial programme following revelations in an audit of massive corruption and irregularities.
But the ex-official who declined to give her full name, said she worked at the Point Fortin centre and has several outstanding bills needed to be paid.
The woman produced a letter from a popular local furniture store in which the company indicated they will be repossessing an item for failure to pay the terms of the hire purchase.
“The Prime Minister needs to know what is going on. I don’t care how much they thief but there are innocent ones among the guilty. Why must we have to pay for them? We didn’t thief $34 million. We want we money,” she said.
The ex-Life Sport Supervisor argued that the Prime Minister has been helping others and wishes she could come to their aid as well.
“Churches getting money, baby grant getting money but where we money?” she asked incredulously.
She continued, “The Prime Minister doesn’t know what is going on. (Minister of National Security Gary Griffith just playing with it (the issue). They have to pay us before Christmas.”
Mrs Richards claimed that she received calls from the Ministry of National Security about two months ago, enquiring about the particulars of the centre including number of participants and lunches served but since then nothing has been forthcoming.
Efforts to contact the Minister of National Security yesterday proved futile.
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Nah Pro,
that vid was before he meet the girl.
Before who meet who? Are you saying the vid was made before Anil met his wife?
Well if you are, it don't make much sense because the DJ actually called Anil's name in the video and cheekily said that Anil's wife is now his wife.
Do you honestly believe that that video was made before Anil met and married his wife VB? Are you really that gullible?
That video was obviously done with the wife's full consent in revenge for the horn that she publicly got from Anil in the 2 pull ganja video. And she probably even encouraged the DJ to share it with his friends after allowing him to film it.
Lesson here again is if yuh cyah take horn then doh give! Ah horn is ah horn only if yuh take it on!! And Anil rell take it on because he put a hit out on the DJ and for that he should make some jail time as far as I am concerned.
Sorry trying to type at work.
I was going to say before he married her. I was basing that on the fact that the imps say the time stamp on the vid would validate that point. However, I eh see no time stamp so I might have to reserve judgement.
What kinda ass does horn and let ppl take video if yuh husband is a public figure.
Spare a though for Anil's children who must be in highschool. The gossip and picong.
VB
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I can't understand this. Was this done before Anil get married?
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I can't understand this. Was this done before Anil get married?
Unlikely... yuh eh hear the DJ fella say "this is my wife"? He eh say "woman", he say "wife"... that was pretty specific, indicating that he was telling Anil that his wife was "my wife."
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I can't understand this. Was this done before Anil get married?
Unlikely... yuh eh hear the DJ fella say "this is my wife"? He eh say "woman", he say "wife"... that was pretty specific, indicating that he was telling Anil that his wife was "my wife."
Wow, Dj man real friggin brave. Case of lower head controlling the upper head.
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I can't understand this. Was this done before Anil get married?
Unlikely... yuh eh hear the DJ fella say "this is my wife"? He eh say "woman", he say "wife"... that was pretty specific, indicating that he was telling Anil that his wife was "my wife."
Wow, Dj man real friggin brave. Case of lower head controlling the upper head.
If Anil publicly horn his wife in the Two Pull Ganja video then tried to deny it was him in the video with the agreement of the Prime Minister then don't you think his wife is within her right to publicly horn Anil back?
I think she put the DJ up to it and probably asked him to film the "revenge horn" and to also share the video with his friends so that the news gets back to Anil. The DJ was brave but I don't think he was stupid unless he knew that Anil was brave and stupid enough to try to kill him and so risk making a very long jail sentence if he is caught.
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I eh saying what Anil did was right. She should have walked and leave him stranded. She young and could have gotten any man. I guess she can get all the men in TT now. But to each his own. I am glad this hit failed. It brings to light the depth and length, we Trinis of this generation will go to settle a score. It also show how people in high places in TT, can get away with doing wrong. Including murder. No wonder most of the murderers kill with impunity. This episode was a rare exception to the rule. Well if it is proven that Anil put out the hit.
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Pro, now I remember why I said "it was before they meet."
I was referring to the two skettel video. Ppl were referring to that in Parliament and TT about a year before it came out.
If I remember correctly the ex MOS met his wife and six months later married. Her, thus, the skettel video could most likely have been before the met her and certainly before marriage.
Having said that the "this is my wife video," could be a revenge horn for any transgression or maybe just plain horn. But certainly not because skettel video happened while they were married.
VB
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There is a FB page with the ex MOS name on it as his. On that page he linked to another page by the name of "I like to be used as a slut for my wife's bull."
It has over 100 likes.
Before ppl go overboard and say this is him. Remember he's a public figure and this may just be a joke or character assassination on someone's part.
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Pro, now I remember why I said "it was before they meet."
I was referring to the two skettel video. Ppl were referring to that in Parliament and TT about a year before it came out.
If I remember correctly the ex MOS met his wife and six months later married. Her, thus, the skettel video could most likely have been before the met her and certainly before marriage.
Having said that the "this is my wife video," could be a revenge horn for any transgression or maybe just plain horn. But certainly not because skettel video happened while they were married.
VB
I got you now VB.
Maybe Anil's wife believes that he is still running around after skettels despite their marriage and decided that the "video horn" was fair and justified revenge.
What is clear is that the video was done with Anil's wife full knowledge and consent.
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i used to tutor a girl who was attending that uwi school in the back of st augustine there with anil's wife at the time...was her parents pushing her into the marriage with Anil...she didnt even want to but relented under pressure...so..d horn isnt a surprise
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Just dis thread alone is ah kaiso writer's dream ...
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Just dis thread alone is ah kaiso writer's dream ...
Meh padnah just had the same thing to say. According to him ".......... and Calypso season just around the corner."
VB
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i used to tutor a girl who was attending that uwi school in the back of st augustine there with anil's wife at the time...was her parents pushing her into the marriage with Anil...she didnt even want to but relented under pressure...so..d horn isnt a surprise
If that true her parents are wicked people.
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i used to tutor a girl who was attending that uwi school in the back of st augustine there with anil's wife at the time...
bess school.
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fella dive een that pangola like he hunting truffles
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Former Life Sport director attacks Govt online.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Claims to have info on Dana’s murder
A former Life Sport director, Ruth Marchan has now taken to making a stream of serious allegations against the Government online and in a letter to Jack Warner. Marchan disappeared last June, going to a ‘safe house’ provided by the former national security minister and Independent Labour Party leader.
Weeks later, she allegedly fled the country amid threats on her life. She remained under the radar for the better part of seven months, but resurfaced on social media sites in the first week of the new year making incriminating comments about the Government, the unsolved assassination of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal and the $34 million paid to a single contractor under the now defunct Life Sport programme.
Marchan also e-mailed Warner last week from her hiding place to warn of an underworld plot to assassinate him. According to the e-mail, Marchan is in dire financial straits and in need of Warner’s assistance to hire a lawyer and help pay her rent. Warner, in a brief interview with the Sunday Guardian, confirmed that he had received the e-mail from Marchan and that he was convinced it was her and not some electronic ploy.
“She has pleaded with me for assistance both in terms of additional security and finance. I did this for her before and I am prepared to do so again because of what she is going through is wrong,” Warner said. Marchan’s letter to Warner, which was sent from her new e-mail address on January 10, asks for the assistance, lists details of Seetahal’s murder plot, and alleges one very tech-savvy former Life Sport contractor was retained to conduct electronic spying and set up foreign accounts for some clients.
“Behind close doors he is doing all their dirty work spying on top officials and undermining the State in a lot of areas,” she said. She claimed a local who was linked to the JFK bombing had his records cleaned up by this Government before he came back to T&T and was able to get lucrative business deals. Marchan made allegations against four senior government ministers in her letter to Warner. She also implicated a former government official in Seetahal’s assassination in her letter.
“(Name called) was given the official job to implement the plot on Dana,” she said. Marchan goes into detail about who else assisted the official by “housing” the hired guns at a private home in the West. She defended the people hired to carry out the murder, saying that they were “innocent.”
“For them is a job, the ground is innocent,” she said. She named five people behind the plot and every name linked back to the Life Sport programme in one way or another. “All that went on with lifesport and its connection with Dana Seetahal and a lot more wrong doing with the bring in of durgs (sic) and guns into the country,” she said. “I was told I have to stay away until after the elections...” she said.
She said with all the information she had “it is not safe” for her to be back in the country as she believed there would be an attempt on her life. But she wanted to hire a lawyer to help build a case against the State with respect to her involvement in Life Sport. “The lawyer I need we will win the state for all i have been through. I am innocent... I need a lawyer to represent me as well. I have a lot of grounds to sue the state on more that three situations that occur,” she told Warner.
This is not the first time Marchan has turned to Warner for help. At the height of the Life Sport debacle, Warner came to Marchan’s rescue after her own body guard, Curtis “Tallman” Gibson, was killed in his bed. Marchan said she was ready to talk and to provide the necessary evidence. While Warner did not reveal if he had handed Marchan’s letter over to the police, the Sunday Guardian revealed the contents of the letter to National Security Minister Gary Griffith yesterday.
Griffith said he was apprised of Marchan’s comments on the social media site and the alleged death threats made against Warner. “But I have to be very careful not to overstep my boundaries on any matter that is part of a police investigation,” Griffith said yesterday.
Griffith said he was also aware that the police investigations into the criminal aspects of the matter were ongoing. “Where there is a criminal offence, the police will continue investigations,” Griffith said, adding that he would continue to keep abreast of the situation.
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Where there is smoke, there is..........who is in charge of connecting the dots? Which minister taking the lead? MOS or AG? Who stepping up to take a stance? From the files of today's
Trinidad Express
January 182015
Police probe into LifeSport far from over
It took three months for the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee to conduct an audit into the Ministry of Sport’s LifeSport programme, which led to the programme being scrapped. But it will take much longer for the police to investigate the matter. Deputy Commissioner of Police Glen Hackett told the Sunday Express the investigation into the now-defunct programme will be long and protracted. He said while the police have recorded statements of several people, they “are basically still at the data-collecting stage”. “There are still documents to be collected,” he said. He said only after all those documents are collected, a strategic analysis will be done as to the direction of the investigation. “The investigation will be a long and protracted one because of the enormity of the spectrum. LifeSport encompassed a wide range of com- panies and entities. We are in for a long haul with respect to this,” he said. The audit, which was laid in Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on July 26 last year, was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Attorney General and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. The audit had revealed Adolphus Daniell, through his company EBeam Interact Ltd, was solely selected to provide mathematics, English and technology lessons to the participants of LifeSport in 2012. But while he was paid $34 million, no work was ever done. On July 28, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan had said: “I am particularly disturbed about any payments made in respect of contracts for which there was no work, and if restitution is an option, then legal redress will be pursued. I am in the process of reviewing the report and if there are grounds for civil action, then I will most certainly explore and pursue.” Ramlogan subsequently retained Deborah Peake SC to provide an opinion on the matter of the EBeam contract. On Friday when the Sunday Express emailed Ramlogan for an update on the matter, he responded: “I have received the legal opinion. Unfortunately, I am unable to divulge the contents of it, in light of the sensitive investigations into this matter.” When the Sunday Express queried whether he would initiate any civil proceedings based on the content of the opinion he received, Ramlogan did not respond. When he assumed office, Ramlogan initiated civil proceedings against directors of several State boards such as the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), eTecK, Petrotrin and the Urban Development Corporation (UDeCOTT), in a bid to recover taxpayers’ dollars. Ruth’s Facebook Affair But one person who’s not staying quiet about the state of the investigations is Ruth Marchan, deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport. In the past week, Marchan has been vocal on social media platform Facebook, discussing LifeSport, former LifeSport co-ordinator Rajaee Ali and the murder of former senior counsel Dana Seetahal. “It is too sensitive to bring all to the public. I just trying to open people eyes behind the scene of what is taking place. My issue really is the killing of innocent people to silence them,” she wrote on Facebook. “I am very strong-minded, and all who tried to hurt me will get back their medicine. I am deadly, that is why I come out talking.” In June, Marchan gave an interview to the Sunday Express after she claimed her life was under threat by officials at the Ministry of Sport. An armed man, identified only as “Tall Man”, accompanied her. Tall Man, whose real name was Curtis Gibson, was killed four days after the interview. In that interview, Marchan had claimed (in an Express investigative series on the Jamaat and LifeSport) officials at the Ministry of Sport and the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) had contrived to bring down the ministry’s permanent secretary, Ashwin Creed, herself, her then line minister Anil Roberts and the Government by exposing the LifeSport programme. She had said the success of the pro- gramme made it, and her, a target. “They targeted the LifeSport. To prove that we are recruiting criminals and using State funding, funding these criminals through the LifeSport to buy guns and ammunition,” she had said. The Sunday Express understands while Marchan had initially sought Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner’s help following the LifeSport scandal, she was under police custody for months. However, the Sunday Express learnt Marchan has since left the safe house provided by police.
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BTW Anil Roberts appeared at the funeral of journalist Marcia Henville. All this talk about no one can find him is now rubbish
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Just in case yuh didnt hear me before....anything coming out of this dead. Here's further reason why I feel so.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Creed-goes-to-PMs-office-293308531.html
CREED IS BACK IN PM’S OFFICE
Ex-sport ministry PS returns to work tomorrow
By By Asha Javeed
Story Created: Feb 21, 2015 at 9:18 PM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 21, 2015 at 9:18 PM ECT
Former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed resumes work tomorrow as a permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Creed was the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport when the LifeSport debacle took place and following an audit conducted by the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee, he has been on vacation leave since last year.
The audit uncovered that LifeSport was plagued with fraud, mismanagement, theft, questionable payments and other illegal activities and is now the subject of investigations by the Integrity Commission and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
A copy of the audit was also forwarded to head of the Public Service Reynold Cooper for review.
As the ministry’s accounting officer, Creed was ultimately in charge of the disbursement of public funds.
He had publicly stated his intention to proceed on pre-retirement leave and not resume duties as a permanent secretary.
However, last month he wrote to Cooper indicating his intention to resume duties when his leave comes to an end.
Cooper, in a telephone interview on Friday, confirmed to the Sunday Express that Creed would be joining him at the OPM tomorrow.
He said Creed had been on vacation leave and was entitled to resume work until his retirement later this year.
Asked if he would feel comfortable with Creed resuming duties as an accounting officer, given the millions of dollars that went missing from the Ministry of Sport, Cooper responded: “I will be here.”
Cooper confirmed to the Sunday Express that he had read the copy of the audit but did not make any recommendations to the Public Service Commission chairman or board on the matter.
“Remember the report gives the findings of the auditors. The principal of natural justice provides for a person named in the report must be given a fair hearing before any decision is taken,” Cooper said.
When the Sunday Express pointed out that the audit raised concern about accounting practices in the Ministry, Cooper replied: “Each PS, as the accounting officer of the ministry is personally and pecuniary responsible for all expenditure under his/her control and is accountable to the Ministry of Finance and the Economy and the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. As PS to the PM I am only responsible for expenditure under my control not other ministries.”
When the Sunday Express asked Cooper to explain why Creed wanted to come back out to work, he directed those questions to Creed.
The Sunday Express was unable to contact Creed.
A text message was also sent to his attorney Peter Taylor seeking comment but no response was forthcoming.
The Sunday Express was told that a conflict may exist with Creed’s re-appointment given that his sister, Anastacia Creed, is the director of Public Administration.
Creed has taken the Ministry of Finance to court seeking a judicial review into the findings of the LifeSport audit and that matter is still before the courts.
Asked to comment on Creed’s return to work, Finance Minister Larry Howai on Friday responded: “I have absolutely no knowledge of Mr Creed returning to Office. I shall certainly look into it right away.”
Howai maintained that the audit “was turned over to the Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and to the Integrity Commission and was being followed up by the Office of the AG. I have not been involved in the matter since as I expect these institutions to carry out their responsibility from there.”
But pressed by the Sunday Express yesterday for an answer as to whether he was comfortable with Creed being an accounting officer at the Office of the Prime Minister, Howai responded: “Sounds like a leading question but in short I am advised that he would not be assigned to any ministry as an accounting officer. To answer your question directly (et ceteris paribus), I would not be comfortable with him as an accounting officer.”
Creed is due to retire from the Public Service in July. He has been absent from the Ministry of Sport since April last year and went on official leave on May 13, 2014.
The Express had reported that Creed fled the country after he received threats against his life for the execution of the LifeSport programme.
His official reason was to deal with family business out of the country.
He was expected back at work on July 1, 2014 but requested additional leave until July 31.
Last July, Creed’s lawyer, Taylor, said his client would return to work: “He instructs that when his business abroad is completed he will be available.”
However, on July 25 Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar laid the LifeSport audit in Parliament and Creed opted to go on pre-retirement leave.
Creed and three former directors of the LifeSport programme—Cornelius Price, Theodore Charles and Ronnell Barclay—have filed for judicial review of the audit into the now defunct programme.
The team of four’s legal team is headed by Taylor is seeking legal costs from Government, damages for and/or injury to the claimant’s respective reputations; general damages; interest and any other relief as the court deems fit and appropriate.
In affidavits filed by Creed and Price, both stated they were not given the opportunity to respond to the concerns unearthed by the CAC during the audit they undertook on the recommendation of Persad-Bissessar.
They both argue that the CAC exceeded the mandate outlined by the Prime Minister.
Persad-Bissessar did not respond to a text query from the Sunday Express yesterday.
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http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/CREED--PMS-PICK-293766651.html
CREED PM’S PICK
Acting on advice of Public Service head...
By Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Feb 23, 2015 at 10:14 PM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 23, 2015 at 10:14 PM ECT
It was the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who, acting on a recommendation from the Head of the Public Service and Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, Reynold Cooper, moved Ashwin Creed from the Sport Ministry and assigned him to the Office of the Prime Minister as a Permanent Secretary.
Asked yesterday who had the constitutional authority to transfer Creed from the Ministry of Sport to the Prime Minister’s Office, Cooper said according to Section 121, subsection 6 of the Constitution, that power resides with the Prime Minister.
“That is the constitutional position. But what would happen is that I would go to the Prime Minister and say, ‘Listen, we have a vacancy here (in the Prime Minister’s office). Because there is a PS in all the ministries. There is currently no ministry out there without a PS. So if he is coming back in, you have to make room for him and there is a vacancy here in the Office of the Prime Minister, so he is being placed in a vacant position. And I was the one who said, ‘Listen, put him here because there is a vacancy’,” he said.
Quoting Section 121, subsection 6, Cooper said: “The power to make appointments on transfer to the following offices shall vest in the Prime Minister a) Any office of Permanent Secretary from one such office to another such office carrying the same salary”.
This contrasts with statements made on Sunday by Communications Minister Vasant Bharath who had said the Prime Minister and the Government had no power to intervene in this issue.
Cooper said placing Creed in any other ministry would have meant a certain measure of disruption, since a PS (in whatever other ministry he went to) would have had to be moved.
“The Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance and the Economy are the only two ministries with more than one Permanent Secretary,” Cooper stated.
However, Cooper said Creed was not the accounting officer in the Prime Minister’s office, it was he (Cooper), the more senior officer and the substantive Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister.
“There is only one accounting office in every ministry. You can’t have four persons dipping into one pool of money,” Cooper said, adding that this would be a recipe for confusion.
Under the Exchequer and Audit regulation, it is the Minister of Finance who selects the accounting officer in each ministry, he stated.
Cooper also explained the Public Service Commission (PSC) was not involved in this matter because Creed was on vacation leave, not pre-retirement leave.
Cooper said Creed went on vacation in May/June of last year. He said while Creed was on vacation leave he wrote to the director of Human Resources in the Ministry of Sport indicating that he wanted to retire with immediate effect.
The director stated he could not retire immediately because he was on vacation leave and that his retirement therefore takes effect at the end of the vacation leave, which was supposed to end in April of this year.
However, Cooper said Creed in January called him to say he wanted to revoke that letter (which he had requested immediate retirement) and he wanted to come back out to work.
“And, I told him, ‘Okay, give me enough time,’ because I wanted to make sure that I had a position available. Because remember he was on leave and while he was on leave, someone was placed at the Ministry of Sport (as Permanent Secretary). And he have a new Minister (of Sport). To disrupt the flow of things after the new Minister has gotten accustomed (to that PS)...”.
Cooper said people were looking at Creed’s assignment to the Office of the Prime Minister as a “clandestine thing” but it was nothing like that.
However, Creed, who was originally due to return to work yesterday, has requested additional time to attend to some personal business,
“He said he would call me to let me know,” Cooper said, when asked when exactly Creed would be reporting for duty.
Told that Creed appeared to have tremendous flexibility in determining when he would report for duty, Cooper said: “He would probably call me tomorrow. I won’t force him... it is a human being that I am dealing with... He called and said he had some things he was doing and he needed some time.”
Cooper continued: “He was due to come out on Monday, but he decided not to.”
Cooper said Creed will be 59 years old this April. He said if he had retired this year as he originally requested, it would have been a voluntary retirement because compulsory retirement for him—that is at the age of 60—would be due in April, 2016.
Cooper said this was why the PSC did not have to sign off on anything because Creed was on vacation leave. And it was not even vacation leave prior to retirement, since Creed’s vacation leave was ending a whole year before his retirement date (of April 2016), Cooper noted.
He said in the Public Service one can accumulate vacation up to 90 days, after which one has to get the permission of the Permanent Secretary or in the case of a Permanent Secretary, the Head of the Public Service.
Creed and LifeSport
Ashwin Creed was the Permanent Secretary and accounting officer in the Ministry of Sport during the entire period of the LifeSport scandal.
The controversial programme which absorbed over $400 million in taxpayers money, was disbanded following damning findings of the Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee (CAC).
That audit concluded that LifeSport was plagued with fraud, mismanagement, theft, questionable payments and other illegal activities. The report was referred by the Prime Minister to the Integrity Commission, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions for further investigations.
As Permanent Secretary Creed had financial responsibility for the disbursement of funds in the ministry, which had oversight of the programme. He had the power to intervene to deal with any abuses on the programme, but such abuses went unchallenged by the ministry. One such abuse was the payment of $34 million to one contractor, Adolphus Daniell, for doing absolutely nothing. That contractor has refused to return the money.
Creed left the country suddenly on May 13, 2014, after alleged death threats against his life for the execution of the LifeSport programme. He has said, however, that he was on leave at the time.
Creed and three former directors of the LifeSport programme have filed for judicial review of the Report of the CAC. Then sport minister Anil Roberts resigned following the tabling of the report of the CAC.
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Rowley on Creed
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley says there are several questions surrounding the return of Ashwin Creed to the Public Service. He says, despite statements made by the Minister of Communications, the Prime Minister has a crucial role to play in this latest development.
http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-Rowley-on-Creed--2933----293775061.html (http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-Rowley-on-Creed--2933----293775061.html)
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$3 million to audit LifeSport bobol
By Nalinee Seelal (Newsday)
FOUR local accounting firms are charging TT $3million to carry out an audit of the controversial Life Sport Programme set up under the previous administration which was the brain child of former Minister of Sport Anil Roberts.
Newsday understands that the four firms have sent proposals to the Acting Police Commissioner each charging an estimated $3million to carry out the audit.
However the acting Commissioner sent the proposal to the Attorney General two weeks ago to be guided on the matter. The office of the Attorney General is expected to look at the proposal and advise the police on which firm would be best suited for the job. Newsday understands that the Police Service will foot the cost of the audit and the money will come from the police vote. Each year after the national budget is presented the police service is allocated monies to assist them in running the organisation.
According to well placed sources police officers assigned to the probe one year ago had been advised that an audit should be carried out to assist them in the investigation. This resulted in several local accounting firms being contacted and proposals were then sent to the police service.
In the interim a police team led by ACP Carlton Alleyne have been interviewing several persons in connection with the probe.
Checks revealed yesterday that former Minister of Sport Anil Roberts and other high profile members of the Ministry of Sport are yet to be interviewed.
Newsday understands that when the police service had first asked for an audit of the Life Sport Programme the Ministry of Sport had agreed to pay for the audit.
However they decided at the last minute, prior to the general election that they could not cover the $3million cost for the audit and the police service was again saddled with incurring the cost.
More than one year ago, former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar asked her then Minister of Finance Larry Howai to carry out an audit of the Life Sport Programme. The result of the audit was then laid in Parliament and the matter was referred to the Acting Commissioner for a police probe as well as the Integrity Commission.
It is estimated that millions of dollars were stolen form the Life Sport and records have since indicated that a lot of fraudulent documents were tendered to secure large amounts of cash from the programme.
Among the beneficiaries were unknown contractors, the owner of a school, soldiers, and a man identified as the leader of a gang in East Trinidad. A former official of the Life Sport Programme even went into hiding, claiming that her life had been threatened.
Yesterday sources revealed that police investigators have in their possession a room filled with documents seized from Life Sport offices but they cannot do anything with the documents because they are not trained to peruse those documents to detect fraudulent activities.
Up until yesterday the Integrity Commission has not made public the outcome of their own findings.
The Life Sport Programme was discontinued under the previous administration after it was discovered that there was rampant corruption and mismanagement.
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Whaaaaat! Ah jes turn on de radio to hear Spalk spitting fire as if on a campaign platform. Who rouse de jep nest?
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https://www.youtube.com/v/nzUOZdX2fvo
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A victory based on procedural defects rather than on the merits/substance of the case.
That should provide Mr. Warner with a comforting thought.
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There is un-controverted evidence that the CAC promised an exit meeting,” Justice Dean-Armorer said, adding that by not meeting with Creed and the others before the report was submitted, the audit team breached the legitimate expectation of the subjects of the report and it was on this basis she ordered said report be quashed.
From Newsday. What a waste.
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So.
A procedural error on the part of the ex-PM Kamla Persad-Bisessar...caused this report and any possible case to be thrown out.
As soon as it thrown out....one of the main persons rouses from his slumber to bray....claiming vindication.
Yuh really eh feel some people rubbing shit in we mouth and telling we is butter?
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AG: LifeSport still alive
By SEAN DOUGLAS (Newsday)
THE multi-million dollar LifeSport programme is still being investigated.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi disclosed yesterday in reaction to a ruling on Monday by a High Court judge which quashed an audit report of the programme, which was taken to Parliament by the People’s Partnership government under then Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. Al-Rawi blamed Persad-Bissessar for Monday’s court outcome, citing her premature laying of the audit report in Parliament in July 2014.
Al Rawi said that a Senior Counsel ought to know that natural justice says an acccused person has the right to be heard.
Al-Rawi said the ruling upheld only five out of 14 grounds argued by the claimants. These were: that a breach of natural justice had occurred, that legitimate expectations had been breached, that the claimants had not been informed nor given the right to be heard, a grant of the order of certiorari (quashing the report), and the award of legal costs. Otherwise, he said, other investigations into Life Sport are still alive - including a probe by the police, even as he suggested reporters could ask the Integrity Commission about the probe it is conducting. Al-Rawi neither confirmed nor denied if Government will appeal Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s ruling, a written version of which he is awaiting.
Al-Rawi recapped that under Life Sport, half-billion dollars was dubiously spent, amid allegations of murder, corruption, bid-rigging and fraud, some issues including several public officials. The Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee (CAC) had probed all aspects of Life Sport, after which Persad-Bissessar, laid it in the Lower House in July 2014. Al-Rawi said that former Finance Minister, Larry Howai had been specifically told that the allegations must be presented to the alleged wrongdoers. Al-Rawi said Persad- Bissessar should have known that premature publication - without a chance of reply - would result in breaches of the law.
“She went on to give the claimants the very card that found itself face up,” the AG said. The AG said the rules of an internal audit mandate that parties must be told of the possibility of adverse findings and that an exit interview be done, the latter which had been promised to all witnesses for the suspects. The AG alleged that even when former Ministry of Sport Permanent Secretary (PS) Ashwin Creed, later sat as Head of the Public Service as PS in the Office of the Prime Minister under Persad-Bissessar, no action was taken to send the LifeSport report to the Public Service Commission (PSC), until the PNM took office.
Al-Rawi said that just because the High Court had quashed the official audit report into LifeSport, that does not stop other investigations from proceeding, as the subject matter that gave rise to the report still exists. He spoke later of over-billing and a doubling up of invoices. “There are other matter around Life Sport that are getting attention,” the Attorney General said. Al -Rawi warned that certain person(s) should not be so quick to think they can walk away from the LifeSport allegations. “I’d not be as comfortable as these with their newfound bravery,” he said.
(See Page 5) Attempts yesterday by Newsday to contact Persad-Bissessar, Howai and several Opposition-linked attorneys for comment on the AG’s claims, were unsuccessful.
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AG: LifeSport still alive
By SEAN DOUGLAS (Newsday)
THE multi-million dollar LifeSport programme is still being investigated.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi disclosed yesterday in reaction to a ruling on Monday by a High Court judge which quashed an audit report of the programme, which was taken to Parliament by the People’s Partnership government under then Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. Al-Rawi blamed Persad-Bissessar for Monday’s court outcome, citing her premature laying of the audit report in Parliament in July 2014.
Al Rawi said that a Senior Counsel ought to know that natural justice says an acccused person has the right to be heard.
Al-Rawi said the ruling upheld only five out of 14 grounds argued by the claimants. These were: that a breach of natural justice had occurred, that legitimate expectations had been breached, that the claimants had not been informed nor given the right to be heard, a grant of the order of certiorari (quashing the report), and the award of legal costs. Otherwise, he said, other investigations into Life Sport are still alive - including a probe by the police, even as he suggested reporters could ask the Integrity Commission about the probe it is conducting. Al-Rawi neither confirmed nor denied if Government will appeal Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s ruling, a written version of which he is awaiting.
Al-Rawi recapped that under Life Sport, half-billion dollars was dubiously spent, amid allegations of murder, corruption, bid-rigging and fraud, some issues including several public officials. The Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee (CAC) had probed all aspects of Life Sport, after which Persad-Bissessar, laid it in the Lower House in July 2014. Al-Rawi said that former Finance Minister, Larry Howai had been specifically told that the allegations must be presented to the alleged wrongdoers. Al-Rawi said Persad- Bissessar should have known that premature publication - without a chance of reply - would result in breaches of the law.
“She went on to give the claimants the very card that found itself face up,” the AG said. The AG said the rules of an internal audit mandate that parties must be told of the possibility of adverse findings and that an exit interview be done, the latter which had been promised to all witnesses for the suspects. The AG alleged that even when former Ministry of Sport Permanent Secretary (PS) Ashwin Creed, later sat as Head of the Public Service as PS in the Office of the Prime Minister under Persad-Bissessar, no action was taken to send the LifeSport report to the Public Service Commission (PSC), until the PNM took office.
Al-Rawi said that just because the High Court had quashed the official audit report into LifeSport, that does not stop other investigations from proceeding, as the subject matter that gave rise to the report still exists. He spoke later of over-billing and a doubling up of invoices. “There are other matter around Life Sport that are getting attention,” the Attorney General said. Al -Rawi warned that certain person(s) should not be so quick to think they can walk away from the LifeSport allegations. “I’d not be as comfortable as these with their newfound bravery,” he said.
(See Page 5) Attempts yesterday by Newsday to contact Persad-Bissessar, Howai and several Opposition-linked attorneys for comment on the AG’s claims, were unsuccessful.
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No disrespect to our legal forumites, do these people have silk or crocus bag?
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so audit thrown out (on technicality), monies still misused and unaccounted for. Ah man ger exposed and then boast he get handed 10's of millions for nothing, and because somebody did talk bout it before it was supposed to be talked bout, that is that..and the administrators of the programme now get a chance to speak, so everything go be allrite now ? only in TT
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PNM fault!
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SPoRTT writes off Life Sport $millions.
By Ryan Bachoo (Guardian).
The Sports Company of T&T has written off the $9.4m owed to it by the now defunct Life Sport programme. This was revealed in a report into the organisation’s financial performance by independent auditors Moore published in the press on Tuesday. The Life Sport debt goes back to the last government, where it was found that the programme was riddled with corruption and eventually shut down by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in July 2014.
Speaking to Guardian Media Sports yesterday, Chairman of the Sports Company Douglas Camacho said, “That would have been a receivable that would have been in the books for a number of years and under the accounting rules it is not likely that the receivables will be collected so we made the decision to write it off in this financial statement.”
But the report went further in showing that the Sports Company had paid out over $13.4m in a court settlement and expenses during 2019. When asked to clarify this expenditure, Camacho told Guardian Media Sports, “There are number of old matters before litigation, disputes over amounts and quantum.” He went further in explaining that a large chunk of that figure went to one contractor who was suing the organization for more than double than that of which was settled.
“The major part of that was a settlement for some work done where the contractor was claiming $25m and Sportt Company was saying that figure was way too high and we were able to settle for a lot less so we were able to get a settlement and resolve the matter in a fair way,” Camacho further stated.
While that lawsuit may have been settled, the report shows that the Sports Company owes creditors millions of dollars. Its current assets total $92m while non-current assets amount to $339m. Also, its current liabilities totalled $209m while its non-current liabilities was shown to be $335m. Current liabilities are those that need to be paid off within a three-year period while non-current are not dated.
Camacho said the Sports Company is at a disadvantage because it doesn’t generate income. He stated, “The struggle is that Sports Company, as a legal entity, does not have the right to collect revenue on its own behalf. All of the funds that the Sports Company receives are, in fact, grants from the government of T&T so that although we may have Hasely Crawford Stadium under our remit, when we rent it out for a concert and we collect revenue we don’t retain the money. We don’t have the right to retain. It all goes to the consolidated fund.”
Camacho said his organisation may have requested the funds and are not yet in receipt of it which would explain the figures.
RELATED NEWS
SPoRTT records $114m deficit, writes off $9m LifeSport balance.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).
STATE company SPoRTT recorded a $114 million deficit for 2019, $36 million more than 2018. Included in that total, published on Wednesday, was $60.7 million for infrastructure development, $40.5 million for equipment and storage rental, $11 million for salaries and staff benefits and $9 million to write off the LifeSport balance.
This effectively puts an end the $400 million LifeSport scandal, nearly five and half years after former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ended the programme because of fraud, theft, and allegations that the programme, which was supposed to empower at-risk youths away from crime through sport, was linked to people involved in criminal activity.
In his report, chairman Douglas Camacho said, "SPoRTT has experienced a difficult and challenging period, but since being appointed chairman on July 4, 2018, the board has continued to focus on rebuilding discipline and good corporate governance to redefine how we operate and do business. We have met with each of the National Governing Bodies under our purview, ensuring that there is a clear understanding on requirements to be met so that requests for funding can be processed. Our present target for achievement has been made very clear – Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
In a brief interview with Newsday, Camacho added, "It (Life Sport debt) has been around a long time and the write off is because the probability of collecting on the debt is remote at best...that is written off, that is no longer a debt, that is gone."
SPoRTT received most of its money through a $127.9 million government grant, $11 million less than the subvention in 2018. Its other income was $375,362, for a total income of $128.2 million. Its total expenditure was $164.3 million and its deficit for the year was $36 million. The accumulated deficit brought forward from 2018 was $77.7 million, bringing its total deficit to $113.8 million.
Camacho said despite the debt the Government has been making a priority in assisting athletes as the games approach.
"Is two dimensions to look at there. One is the preparation and the process of qualification. The Government of T&T had indicated since 2018 the focus of this Government would be to assist national athletes and teams aspiring to get to the Olympic Games as a priority and to be honest, as a matter of fact, they have honoured that commitment for the last year and a half."
Funds don't come to SPoRTT, he noted. Instead, when a party, for example, Machel Monday, rents the Hasely Crawford Stadium, that money goes to the State's Consolidated Fund. "From that perspective, there is very little directly that we could do to advent that debt."
Camacho suggested a couple of options to help reduce the debt, including capital injections to help eliminate the debt.
(https://www.guardian.co.tt/image-3.2364966.204e0e5ed6?size=1024)
Douglas Camacho - Chairman of SPoRTT
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Must be was a slow day in hell
https://newsday.co.tt/2020/06/14/cops-probe-former-sports-minister-over-400m-life-sport/
I ain't able nah.
and
https://newsday.co.tt/2019/12/25/daniel-call-life-sport-enquiry-now/
Just come across this from back in 2016. It's like a SNL skit. :rotfl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVn5GxOQ_Os
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AG: LifeSport still alive
By SEAN DOUGLAS (Newsday)
THE multi-million dollar LifeSport programme is still being investigated.
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi disclosed yesterday in reaction to a ruling on Monday by a High Court judge which quashed an audit report of the programme, which was taken to Parliament by the People’s Partnership government under then Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. Al-Rawi blamed Persad-Bissessar for Monday’s court outcome, citing her premature laying of the audit report in Parliament in July 2014.
Al Rawi said that a Senior Counsel ought to know that natural justice says an acccused person has the right to be heard.
Al-Rawi said the ruling upheld only five out of 14 grounds argued by the claimants. These were: that a breach of natural justice had occurred, that legitimate expectations had been breached, that the claimants had not been informed nor given the right to be heard, a grant of the order of certiorari (quashing the report), and the award of legal costs. Otherwise, he said, other investigations into Life Sport are still alive - including a probe by the police, even as he suggested reporters could ask the Integrity Commission about the probe it is conducting. Al-Rawi neither confirmed nor denied if Government will appeal Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s ruling, a written version of which he is awaiting.
Al-Rawi recapped that under Life Sport, half-billion dollars was dubiously spent, amid allegations of murder, corruption, bid-rigging and fraud, some issues including several public officials. The Ministry of Finance’s Central Audit Committee (CAC) had probed all aspects of Life Sport, after which Persad-Bissessar, laid it in the Lower House in July 2014. Al-Rawi said that former Finance Minister, Larry Howai had been specifically told that the allegations must be presented to the alleged wrongdoers. Al-Rawi said Persad- Bissessar should have known that premature publication - without a chance of reply - would result in breaches of the law.
“She went on to give the claimants the very card that found itself face up,” the AG said. The AG said the rules of an internal audit mandate that parties must be told of the possibility of adverse findings and that an exit interview be done, the latter which had been promised to all witnesses for the suspects. The AG alleged that even when former Ministry of Sport Permanent Secretary (PS) Ashwin Creed, later sat as Head of the Public Service as PS in the Office of the Prime Minister under Persad-Bissessar, no action was taken to send the LifeSport report to the Public Service Commission (PSC), until the PNM took office.
Al-Rawi said that just because the High Court had quashed the official audit report into LifeSport, that does not stop other investigations from proceeding, as the subject matter that gave rise to the report still exists. He spoke later of over-billing and a doubling up of invoices. “There are other matter around Life Sport that are getting attention,” the Attorney General said. Al -Rawi warned that certain person(s) should not be so quick to think they can walk away from the LifeSport allegations. “I’d not be as comfortable as these with their newfound bravery,” he said.
(See Page 5) Attempts yesterday by Newsday to contact Persad-Bissessar, Howai and several Opposition-linked attorneys for comment on the AG’s claims, were unsuccessful.
And just imagine this program initiative unde a certain government benefitted more non sports individuals than players - the sports minister had to flee the country but all the rakes cool down - all allegations forgotten nothing resolved and now yuh ent see how. People want to bring this leadership back?
Joking - dis place real " jokey
" like we use to say