March 28, 2024, 05:10:15 AM

Author Topic: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.  (Read 202430 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Bourbon

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5209
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1050 on: September 28, 2015, 06:12:35 PM »
I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline Brownsugar

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 10179
  • Soca in mih veins, Soca in mih blood!!
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1051 on: September 28, 2015, 06:40:04 PM »
I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm

That clown??!! Steups!!!
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline lefty

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5888
  • would u like to buy an 'O'.........
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1052 on: September 28, 2015, 06:44:28 PM »
I actually heard that Moonilal setting things up since before the election. The gambit is... Take what you can take now... Lose.. Displace kamla as leader... Assume PNM gets unpopular due to the economy and get a free pass to be pm
But can he garner wide appeal, he seems a favorite of the nasty elements within the unc, dat alone may hinder his rise, kamla always kinda manage to come off as moderate....... He does give off dat Indian only for Indian vibe dat Facebook put sharply in focus in relation to the UNC core support, at this stage they someone who on the surface at least, doh give dat sat have my ear vibe...

Honest blunt opinion


I pity the fool....

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1053 on: October 14, 2015, 01:22:02 PM »

PM: Kamla racks up $6m helicopter bill

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-10-14/pm-kamla-racks-6m-helicopter-bill

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar flew for 636 hours while she was head of government at a cost to taxpayers of more than $6 million.

Rowley made the statement during his contribution to yesterday’s debate on the 2016 national budget in the House of Representatives. He said that might be linked to a dubious contract for use of specific helicopters by the National Operations Centre.

Rowley said it was “extremely wasteful for the (former) prime minister of T&T.”

According to Rowley: “The records show that the last prime minister occupied helicopter time of 636 hours, 415 missions at a cost of over $6 million.”

Rowley told legislators: “That kind of expenditure ought not to be on the backs of the people of T&T.”

He said he had no intention to follow in Persad-Bissessar’s footsteps and would be travelling by land and sea.

He said the NOC, which was set up as a coordinating agency for national security agencies in the country “seems to be trying to become another operational arm of the State.”

Rowley said when he assumed office as Prime Minister he saw a document requesting payment of a $500 million commitment for a company called Bell Helicopters. He said he had “some concern as to how that contract was issued.”

He said there was no money budgeted for that helicopter contract “but the country was contracted by an officer of the State.” He said when questions were raised about who authorised the contract nobody knew.

Rowley said the National Helicopter Services Ltd (NHSL) was approached “to try to get them to sign on to this thing and they refused.”

According to Rowley, the “transaction regarding the loan financing was not completed by NHSL.” Rowley said it was a questionable arrangement.

He told Parliament the Ministry of National Security “will look into this and report to the population further as we go forward.”

Rowley also spoke about “another troubling” matter within the Office of the Prime Minister, which he said was “another $500 million contract to a Chinese company (unnamed) in Knowsley building...I am told that this Chinese company is putting in some system which will allow us, electronically, to look on television screens over the whole of T&T.”

He said he was “more concerned about that as a security breach to our sovereignty.”

He added that the contract entered into “was not properly funded.”

“These are billion dollars of contracting for these two items with no proper financing in place.”

Rowley said earlier that Cemex, one of the joint venture companies in the Alutrint Smelter Plant in La Brea cancelled by the former People’s Partnership government, “has submitted a letter to Alutrint to institute the dispute resolution clause in April 2015.”

He said Alutrint sought an extension and there had been no further development on the matter to date.

Rowley also said there would be no further amnesty for property tax and it would be reintroduced next year

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1054 on: November 01, 2015, 01:40:33 AM »
PP ministers spent $250m on travel
By Charles Kong Soo (Guardian).


The former People’s Partnership government spent $250 million on travel.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Keith Rowley while speaking at the PNM’s post-budget national public meeting at Piggott’s Corner, Belmont Circular Road, Belmont, on Friday night.

Rowley said, “It’s important for government members to travel because we do have business outside T&T.

“So ministers will have to travel from time to time but we believe that travel ought not to be a perk and a junket.

“It ought to be done only when necessary because it is very expensive.

“Would you believe the government that just went out of office, guess how much money the ministries, I’m not talking about state enterprises, the Judiciary, the ombudsman, just the ministries, the executive, the government spent on travel in the last five years?

“Two hundred and fifty million dollars.”

Taking a jibe at former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, he said the people of T&T received savings on the night of September 7, the minute the PNM got the majority vote and he became Prime Minister, because he started saving on a hairdresser and a powder man travelling with him.

Rowley said it was one thing to say that government travel was important and necessary, but when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent $30 million on travel, the question to ask was where were they going and for what purpose.

He said the Government would be looking at ways to cut out waste and corruption in the public sector, such as state enterprises leasing hundreds of motor vehicles.

Rowley said instructions were made through Cabinet that all government vehicles, barring specific national security and state vehicles, must carry the insignia of the agencies that were leasing vehicles and the instruction would go out to every permanent secretary.

He also said there was to be no purchase of any vehicle dedicated to any minister and no minister’s driver was to drive any public vehicle because it was a cost to tax payers.

On the issue of mass transit, Rowley said the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was invited to come to Trinidad to look at the situation with the eyes of independent experts.

He said when the IDB gave its report with recommendations, the Government would then decide how it was going to treat with the need for a mass transit system of whatever kind in T&T.

Rowley said the PNM started off with a rail system, but the former government undermined and scrapped it.

He said the Government would not green light the project until it got the IDB’s report and after holding consultations with the people before taking a decision.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert, meanwhile, said when the PNM left office the public debt was $45 billion, compared to the UNC’s $77 billion.

He said the former government not only used up all the cash reserves in the Central Bank, it also maxed out the country’s borrowing limit.

Imbert said there were projects that needed to be funded.

Among these are a new port in Port-of-Spain; converting the Beetham dump into an industrial estate; building a highway to Manzanilla, a road to Toco, and a new ferry port; converting the whole Waterfront area to housing, recreation and entertainment; a better road to Chaguanas; and a ringroad around Chaguanas. He said he intended to include a mass transit system as well.

Stuart Young, minister in the Office of the Attorney General, said the Government intended to implement several pieces of legislation and initiatives to ensure proper and efficient management for T&T. These include a revenue authority, local government reform to be passed before the next constitutionally due local government elections next year, public procurement legislation, whistleblowing legislation by December, reforming the process for appointing a Commissioner of Police, the International Finance Centre, and resuscitating cyber crime legislation.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1055 on: November 26, 2015, 02:51:20 AM »
PCA finds enough for case in ‘ganja cover-up’
By Darren Bahaw (Guardian).


The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has recommended that the former head of Special Branch be charged for his role in the alleged cover-up of the discovery of a quantity of marijuana at the private residence of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013.

The recommendation was made at the close of the PCA’s five-month probe and forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, along with the evidence collated by its investigators for action, a statement from the organisation said yesterday.

It would now be the Office of the DPP’s option to await the findings of a parallel police investigation, which is scheduled to be wrapped up by month’s end, before charges are laid. The T&T Guardian understands the PCA recommended that retired Snr Supt Gary Gould be charged with misbehaviour in public office on account of wilful neglect of duty.

The PCA’s probe focussed solely on the conduct of police officers to determine if a criminal offence or serious police misconduct took place in their handling of the alleged discovery of marijuana on April 19, 2013.

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, who at first had denied that the Police Service was in receipt of such a report of illegal drugs being found at the Phillipine home of Persad-Bissessar, later ordered a broader probe into the allegations after Gould, the then head of Special Branch, confirmed that a member of the Special Branch assigned to Persad-Bissessar’s security detail had found five grammes of marijuana in the washroom of an outside gazebo on the property.

Williams said then the investigation would not only focus on the discovery of the illegal drugs but all the circumstances surrounding the alleged cover-up of the find. Police investigators only recently received statements from two politicians accused of being involved in the plot. Gould retired from the Police Service in the face of the probe.

The investigation was triggered by a June 14 newspaper report in which former national security minister Jack Warner admitted to taking part in a discussion in 2013 with other senior politicians and a senior police officer to ensure there was no criminal probe into the matter.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ainsley Garrick, who was initially given one month to complete the investigation, has been granted several extensions.

Warner’s statement

Former national security minister Jack Warner, in a June 6 statement to police, stated that after he was approached by former senior police officer, DCP Mervyn Richardson, in Parliament, relating to the drug find, he summoned the then leader of government business Dr Roodal Moonilal, who advised him to contact Persad-Bissessar, who was in the United States at the time.

Warner claimed when he contacted her she was surprised and enquired whether she should return home immediately and resign. He claimed further he advised Persad-Bissessar not to resign as he, Richardson, Moonilal and former national security adviser Gary Griffith would cover up the marijuana matter. All three men have denied any knowledge of the incident.

In response to the police probe, Persad-Bissessar questioned its timing and labelled the investigation as “political” but suggested the police should investigate their own conduct and that of other law enforcement officers involved in the discovery.

In a statement, she said the grounds of her private premises were “under the control of state security services, including the army, Special Branch and the police.

“Many staff, workmen and other individuals are allowed by security services onto the property each day. I was out of country when security services are reported to have made this discovery. Needless to say, I am horrified and disturbed to hear these reports,” she had said.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1056 on: December 04, 2015, 06:35:00 AM »
IT'S A FAKE
By JADA LOUTOO (Newsday).


A LETTER purportedly penned by United States’ Democratic presidential candidate, Vermont Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders, to former US Attorney General Eric Holder, calling for an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) into an allegation that former prime minister and current Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar received US$20 million from former Cconcacaf president Jeff Webb, is a fake.

The letter was published in this week’s edition of the Sunshine Newspaper, a weekly newspaper owned by former FIFA vice-president, former Government Minister and former United National Congress (UNC) member Jack Warner. The Sunshine’s publication which hit newsstands on Wednesday, is headlined “US Senator wants probe into Kamla’s alleged TT$125 Million Bank Account.” But in an interview with Newsday yesterday, Senator Sander’s deputy communications director and digital director Josh Miller- Lewis said the letter did not come from the Senator’s office.

“That letter is fake,” Miller-Lewis emphasised. He told Newsday that the Senator’s office found out about the publication and the purported letter only on Wednesday.

“In terms of background, we saw it only yesterday. I can tell you that it didn’t come from our office,” Miller-Lewis said. The US Senator, he added, and his advisers have not yet decided on what course of action to take. “As I said, we found out about it only yesterday so no decision has been taken on what the Senator intends to do,” Miller-Lewis told Newsday in a telephone interview late yesterday.

Senator Sanders, who became a Democrat this year, is the longest- serving independent in US Congressional history. He has also been the ranking minority member on the US Senate Budget Committee since January and is a candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said she was “most happy to have it confirmed”, that the letter published in Warner’s newspaper, was a fake.

“I knew all along it was fake,” she said. She also added that the issue was now in her lawyers’ hands.

Also yesterday, Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Stephen Weeks, when asked about the purported letter, said he could shed no light on it. In the letter, which was undated, Sanders purportedly expressed concern to then US AG Holder - who demitted office in April - to investigate what was described as “a potential instance of corporate fraud-behaviour and take appropriate action if the investigation yields evidence of wrongdoing.” The letter quoted an eightmonth long investigation by journalists at the New York Times, on the FIFA scandal involving Warner.

Checks on the Times’ website for publication of the alleged investigation uncovered nothing.

The letter went on to detail the former prime minister being in receipt of US$20 million from an account at First Caribbean International invested in RBS Securities, Japan registered to Jeffery Webb, former Concacaf president who last month pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

FALSE CLAIM OF $M FOR KAMLA Webb, on November 23, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy. As part of his plea, Webb agreed to forfeit more than US$6.7 million.

Also yesterday, the current US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that 16 additional persons were indicted on a 92-count superseding indictment, unsealed yesterday, in the Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offences, in connection with their participation in a 24- year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.

The superseding indictment also includes additional charges for seven of the defendants, still pending extradition following the return of the original indictment last May. The guilty pleas of eight defendants – including Webb – were also announced yesterday.

The new defendants include high-ranking officials of FIFA.

According to Lynch, the new charges brought the total number of individuals and entities charged to date, to 41. Of those, 12 individuals and two sports marketing companies have already been convicted as a result of the ongoing investigation. The convicted defendants have agreed to pay more than US$190 million in forfeiture. In addition, more than US$100 million has been restrained in the United States and abroad, in connection with the alleged criminal activity.

The United States has issued mutual legal assistance requests seeking the restraint of assets located in 13 countries around the world. Warner was indicted last May by a US grand jury on 12 charges of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering over an escalating scandal at FIFA, football`s world governing body.

On July 23 last, US authorities asked for Warner, former Concacaf head to be extradited to face the charges.

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi in September signed the authority to proceed giving the go ahead to commence extradition proceedings, but this has since been challenged by Warner. The former FIFA vice president and Webb’s predecessor at Concacaf, appears before a high court judge this morning to seek permission to have the AG’s decision as well as the US order for extradition, challenged by the courts.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1057 on: December 05, 2015, 05:09:34 AM »
Kamla to Jack: Tell me sorry
Stories by JADA LOUTOO (NEWSDAY).


OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has initiated legal action against former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner for a publication in his Sunshine newspaper which alleged she received US$20 million from former Concacaf president Jeff Webb. She is demanding an immediate apology from Warner by no later than 4 pm next Monday.

The allegation was contained in a letter purportedly sent by US presidential candidate and Democratic Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders to former US Attorney General Eric Holder calling for an investigation. On Thursday last, Sanders’ deputy communications director Josh Miller-Lewis confirmed to Newsday that the letter was a fake.

Persad-Bissessar who maintained she knew the letter was fake, but was happy that it had been confirmed, yesterday had one of her lawyers issue Warner a pre-action protocol letter calling for an immediate and unqualified apology via a press release to all media houses apologising and withdrawing the allegations made against her.

Persad-Bissessar’s list of demands also called on Warner to, ‘publish a similar front page exclusive with equal prominence indicating that the said letter is fake and apologise for the outrageous defamatory remarks made; agree not to publish any such further defamatory material and statements; admit liability for defamation of character and agree to allow the High Court of Justice to assess and quantify compensation payable to her; and agree to indemnify her for all legal costs incurred as a result of the defamatory publication.

’ Issuing the pre-action letter was attorney Wayne Sturge, who told Warner that it was evidence that the Sunshine’s front page story headlined ‘US Senator wants probe into Kamla’s alleged TT$125 Million Bank Account’, written by reporter Azad Ali - was ‘baseless and incorrect.’

“Your newspaper and reporter have published defamatory and malicious falsehoods which suggest that my client has committed a serious crime in respect of which she is wanted by the authorities in the United States of America and is therefore facing extradition to the US,’ Sturge wrote.

‘That such a story could be written without any attempt to ascertain whether the letter was in fact true, underscores the lack of investigative journalism and reveals the sinister intention for which it was published, namely to assassinate and tarnish my client’s character and reputation on the eve of internal elections in the UNC, where she is seeking to retain her position as political leader,” Persad-Bissessar’s lawyer said in the pre-action protocol letter.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1058 on: January 13, 2016, 02:49:11 AM »
HOUSE OF RUM
By Clint Chan Tack (Newsday).


PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley caused an uproar in Parliament Monday night, when he revealed that a substantial amount of alcohol was stockpiled at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s during the tenure of his immediate predecessor and current Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

In his contribution to debate on the Finance Bill 2016 in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister declared, “When we talk about priorities, waste and just general bad behaviour...the last government takes the cake.” Indicating he and his family moved into the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and Diplomatic Centre on December 5, Rowley said a series of functions were held at the Diplomatic Centre since he was elected Prime Minister. Indicating there were three functions for adults and one for children, the Prime Minister said there was an alcohol bar at each function for adults. He surprised MPs when he disclosed, “You’d be very surprised to know...all the alcohol for those functions (for adults), we did not buy a bottle. We used from the houshehold, from what was there.” As MPs were still recovering from that bombshell, Rowley continued, “When Christmas was over, we had a valuation on what was left... $400,000 of liquour on the compound! That is what they left. That should tell you what the priorities were for those who were there before the PNM.” A cry of, “drunkeness!” was heard from Government benches as the Prime Minister reiterated, “Right up there in that compound, there is $400,000 in alcohol.” “The interesting thing about it, is that in the records, we can’t find how it was sourced. There is no paper trail towards its sourcing. So it leaves us to wonder, how all that alcohol got into that compound.” Repeated efforts yesterday to contact former Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar for a comment, were unsuccessful. She did not participate in debate on the Finance Bill.

Persad-Bissessar never lived at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in St Ann’s during the last five years of the People’s Partnership (PP) tenure in office. She opted to reside at her private residence in Philippine, south Trinidad.

However, Persad-Bissessar hosted several receptions at the adjoining Diplomatic Centre for a variety of occasions over the five years of her government.

At some of these functions, guests left with gift bags and even posed with Persad-Bissessar for pictures. Rowley said knowing the way the former regime managed the country’s business over the last five years, it would not be surprising if arrangements to get alcohol into the compound involved payments to persons favoured by the PP.

Recalling that Persad-Bissessar has been regularly distributing toys to children ever since she was first elected to Parliament in 1995 and held massive toy distribution functions at Christmastime over the last five years, Rowley observed, “The one thing we didn’t have was a prime minister running up and down the country on the back of trucks playing Santa Claus for two weeks.” In contrast, Rowley said, “What I demonstrated last Christmas, is that it is possible to have Christmas and have a prime minister working too.” WEDDING TALK IN HOUSE Turning his attention to Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, who was one of Persad-Bissessar’s aides during the PP’s administration, Rowley said Padarath, “has a problem with me and weddings.” Padarath, earlier in the debate, criticised Rowley for attending the wedding of a friend’s daughter in Barbados and then attending the wedding of a relative in Miami last month.

In his contribution to the debate, just before Rowley spoke, Padarath reiterated that every Monday morning, Rowley flew out of the country. He also tried to explain what “maticoor night” is in a traditional Hindu wedding. Responding to Padarath, the Prime Minister quipped, “We have some discussions and when you are betrothed...

let me know. If you invite me...I will come to your wedding.” Government MPs hooted in mirth and thumped their desks in support of Rowley, who calmly sipped some water while he was on his legs. As the thumping subsided, Rowley told Padarath, “I suspect there would have to be some serious discussions before you invite me.” Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds quipped, “Be careful you don’t break the law.” Rowley also said Padarath was wrong to claim the Motor Vehicle Authority building in Fredrick Settlement, Caroni was completed.

Saying the PNM knows the level of seriousness required to address the country’s problems, Rowley said the evidence over the last five years shows the PP did not understand what good governance was.

He said to the PP, good governance meant, “I give you everything you want.” Stating this resulted in the PP giving, “what they didn’t have”, Rowley said this was why $200 million in contracts were awarded by the Works Ministry under then minister Dr Suruj Rambachan but there was, “no money in URP.” Indicating this resulted in the former PP Cabinet approving $250 million to cover those debts, just before last September’s general election, Rowley stated, “Debts like that are still debts to be paid.” He said while the Opposition continues to question what Government will do with the revenue it hopes to generate, Government is not going to, “take it to WASA and set it alight.” Indicating if only one Cabinet minister misbehaved under the former regime it would be considered an aberration, Rowley said, “It was the entire Cabinet.” Referring to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s earlier contribution, the Prime Minister said the decision to reduce the size of the Cabinet from 33 to 23 ministers, equates to a savings of $44 million per year.

“That is saving. We are attacking waste and trying to get savings,” he added.

Noting that whenever the Cabinet now meets there are ten empty chairs, Rowley said he sometimes asks, “where did the other ten go?” Recalling that Persad-Bissessar promised the expansion of the Government to 35 ministries with the creation of a Defence Ministry and a Home Affairs Ministry if the PP was re-elected, Rowley quipped, “At least John Public said, ‘nah...enough is enough’.” Slamming the Opposition for continuing to mislead the population about property tax, Rowley said he has been paying land and building taxes since he was 17 years old. He said it was wrong for St Augustine MP and Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar to be telling persons that if Government collects the tax, they could lose their properties. Rowley said everybody in the country knows that if they do not pay the appropriate tax that is required, there is the possibility that their property could be forefeited.

“It has always been so. That is the law,” he declared.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1059 on: January 13, 2016, 07:21:38 AM »

Just imagine KPB was re-elected in the internals by a landslide hmmm

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1060 on: March 08, 2016, 06:38:26 PM »

Kamla: My Gov’t would have done better

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160307/news/kamla-my-govt-would-have-done-better

By Camille Hunte

“My government would have done better.”

So said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar while delivering an address following a march against violence in Chaguanas on Saturday.

Although yesterday’s march, held in commemoration of International Women’s Day, was dubbed a “march against violence”, Persad-Bissessar quipped that it could also have been a march against the current Government.

The former prime minister said the country has seen an “explosion” of crime during the six-month period since the People’s National Movement (PNM) assumed office reaching the point where Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite used this country’s crime statistics as a comparison. Brathwaite said Barbados was nowhere near as bad as Trinidad and Tobago.

“Imagine when somebody in Barbados can say they better off than Trinidad,” Persad-Bissessar said. “That could never happen in my time.”

She said the government’s “boasts” that they would deal with crime, corruption and the economy have not materialised and they have instead made the country worse.

Six-month mark

Today marks six months since the PNM’s victory at the polls, Persad-Bissessar said the period of adjustment is now over and the government must “buck up or step out”.

“Six months was enough for the government to put plans in place to deal with the crime issue which they boasted they would do. To put plans in place to deal with the economy which they boasted they would do. Today the economy is flat, thousands have lost their jobs and more will continue to lose their jobs.”

Questioned by reporters on what her government would have done differently, Persad-Bissessar said more focus would have been placed on increasing revenue in other areas rather than depending on the energy sector.

She said the Couva Children’s Hospital, which remains unoccupied, would have functioned as a stimulant for medical tourism. She said it would also have provided jobs for a number of out-of-work doctors and nurses. She said the government’s position that there would be difficulty in staffing the hospital was untrue as there are currently some 160 qualified doctors in Trinidad and Tobago who are not employed and more medical staff could have been sourced from foreign countries such as Cuba, China and Grenada.

She said the government was focusing on “vanity projects” including the Tarouba stadium and recent talks about a billion dollar beach front for the Magdalena hotel in Tobago.

She said her government had a plan whereas the PNM government were serving themselves and their friends.

“Their plan is to help their friends and family and the devil take the hindmost,” she said.

Offline Bourbon

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 5209
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1061 on: March 08, 2016, 07:40:19 PM »
I read this in a "Late O'Clock News" article and get confused...so she really feel so or is satire?
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline weary1969

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 27225
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1062 on: March 09, 2016, 11:22:12 AM »
I read this in a "Late O'Clock News" article and get confused...so she really feel so or is satire?

I think this time both is truth.
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1063 on: March 18, 2016, 10:58:20 PM »

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/d03pSaOUvkQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/d03pSaOUvkQ</a>

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1064 on: March 20, 2016, 09:59:40 PM »

Fixin’ T&T: Probe Kamla too*
Nieces working at constituency office


http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160320/news/fixin8217-tt-probe-kamla-too

PRESSURE group Fixin’ T&T yesterday said it was “deeply troubled” and “utterly confused” by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s response to the fact that she has two relatives employed at her Siparia constituency office in breach of the Parliament rules.
As a result Fixin’ T&T will today deliver a letter to the chairman of the Integrity Commission Zainool Hosein, copied to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard requesting an investigation into the matter to determine whether Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Members of Parliament Barry Padarath, Dr Bhoe Tewarie and Rushton Paray, all of whom have admitted having relatives employed at their respective constituency offices, are in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

Offline Sando prince

  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 9192
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1065 on: April 29, 2016, 11:37:39 AM »




PM: Probe cops in Kamla ganja case

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-04-29/pm-probe-cops-kamla-ganja-case

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct against senior and junior police who were investigating the discovery of marijuana at the private residence of former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2013. It is also calling on anyone who may have information relevant to the case to come forward.

The move came hours after a call by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley for a detailed investigation into alleged inducements and personal benefits offered to the team of investigators, and for a determination on if this constituted misconduct in public office and/or the commission of a serious crime.

The claim that marijuana had been found at Persad-Bissessar’s Phillipine residence was first made by former national security minister Jack Warner in 2015.

Warner had claimed that on April 12, 2013, former deputy commissioner of police Mervyn Richardson informed him (Warner) that several ounces of marijuana had been found at Persad-Bissessar’s house. Persad-Bissessar was in New York at the time. Warner said both former national security adviser Gary Griffith and former housing minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal were aware of the find and had advised Persad-Bissessar of it.

Yesterday, Rowley said it was now to be determined if the conduct of the police investigating the matter had, “received a series of personal benefits and it is to be determined now whether those actions and persons who offered those benefits have in fact resulted in the commission of a serious crime.”

He said Warner had sworn an affidavit prior to the general elections last September, confirming the details of the marijuana find as well as the alleged cover-up which saw police officers deviating from the proper channels of protocol.

Underscoring the seriousness of the matter, Rowley said the investigating officers had reportedly been the recipients of state housing, Priority Bus Route passes and had their vacation leave bought out by government.

He said the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had the power to intervene in the matter.

Asked about the lack of power by the PCA to move beyond a certain point in many of these types of investigations, Rowley revealed that plans were afoot to bestow “more power” on the PCA.

He also knocked acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, whom he said held the post with the highest authority.

“I don't want to think that the Commissioner of Police who has lost breath in all of this, would allow the officers who were at Phillipine to be prosecuted and turn a blind eye to the fact that high-ranking office holders may have been involved or behind the conduct of those officers. Then that would be saying the law only applies to certain people and doesn’t apply to other people,” he said.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1066 on: August 15, 2020, 10:16:09 AM »
Panday: Kamla is the UNC's business
CLINT CHAN TACK (NEWSDAY).


UNC founder and former prime minister Basdeo Panday on Friday said it was the UNC's problem whether Kamla Persad-Bissessar resigns as its leader.

Panday also said the PNM's 22-19 victory in the election will not fundamentally improve the lives of most citizens.

Despite calls from several quarters for Persad-Bissessar to resign, UNC PRO and Tabaquite MP-elect Anita Haynes said the UNC has full confidence in Persad-Bissessar and this includes all 18 MPs-elect.

On Tuesday, Haynes said Persad-Bissessar's future as UNC leader does not hinge on the results of the recounts going in the party's favour.

"The UNC has very clear internal processes in terms of how our leadership is chosen," she said.

She recalled that Persad-Bissessar was elected "with a very huge mandate."

She added, "When our elections are due, we will have elections. But until then, the question of leadership does not arise in the UNC. We have full confidence in the political leader of the UNC."

Several former UNC MPs were non-committal over whether or not Persad-Bissessar should resign. Individual MPs-elect such as David Lee, Barry Padarath and Khadijah Ameen have openly expressed their support for Persad-Bissessar

Panday said it did not matter which party won the election because people continue to lack basic amenities such as water and housing.

He also said neither the PNM nor the UNC want to undertake the constitutional reform that will make racial and ethnic voting a thing of the past, pointing out that both parties had constitutional majorities under Dr Eric Williams and Persad-Bissessar, but did not undertake any constitutional reform.

"I don't think either party wants that."

Panday also said the opportunity for fundamental change was also missed with Arthur NR Robinson and the NAR from 1986-1991.

His focus, he said, remains on the 40 per cent of the electorate that consistently does not support either the PNM or the UNC, and only by mobilising this part of the electorate can there be a demand for constitutional reform. Panday said this is what he tried to do with some of the smaller political parties before the election, but that initiative was rejected.

Panday's daughter Mickela, leader of the Patriotic Front, said last month the party's campaign would begin after the election.

On June 25, Mickela announced the PF would contest all 41 seats and her father would be its campaign manager. But on July 14, she said the Prime Minister’s sudden announcement of the election date on July 3 made it impossible for the party to run the kind of campaign it wanted to.

he PF, she stressed, “was not born merely to fight elections, it was born to restructure the society.”

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline ABTrini

  • Sr. Warrior
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1067 on: August 15, 2020, 11:50:02 AM »
As a leader leaves little to be desired - Like the present president in USA, it speake volumes to all  who support and provide a mandate that is based on lies divisness , degradation and corruption. Shame shame on them that not one of them could stand up for principles and denounce the bs that is contaminating and spreading among the rank and file. I listened to their young PRO and could see a future for her but without guidance or a moral compass she like all the followers will be just following blindly a path bent on the same hatred.  We need leaders who regardless of party politics or affinity, will stand up if leaders are moving along an immoral or unethical path.

Still trying to find out :
what is a " blank man"?
What is the intent of referring to his right honourable Dr. Keith Rowley with due respect as befitting of a prime minister?
Simple acts of respect is sadly lacking form our leaders
Time to bring respect back in the way  people speak or refer to others
The issues is not whether blank or black was used - why was either used in the first place.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2020, 12:01:19 PM by ABTrini »

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1068 on: August 17, 2020, 08:55:44 AM »
Why Kamla lost, loses and will continue to lose
BY KEVIN JARED HOSEIN (NEWSDAY).


I live in the marginal constituency of Chaguanas East. I am on the boundary between Enterprise and Cunupia, such that they could be interchanged and the package would still reach my house. I's Chaguanas till ah dead.

I myself am a swing voter and thus, the person you need to be appeal to if you campaign here.

The ketchup and mustard presented at the table were, respectively, Clarence Rambharat (PNM) and Vandana Mohit (UNC). It took me a while before I could actually decide who would get my vote, as I thought both candidates would've been great MPs.

Clarence, in my opinion, had a very aggressive campaign. An uphill battle. Mainly because he was going up against the mayor and a very popular former councillor. Billboards to rival Pastor Cuffie's daughters. Youtube ads like mad. But I watched all of them at least once.

Most outlined a focused plan to help legitimise small businesses, kiosks, eateries around the Enterprise and Montrose areas – respectable, plausible and doable within a realistic timeframe.

However, one video stood out for me in particular: him listing five facts about himself, including his attempts at extempo, that he hasn't driven a vehicle since 2007, and that he sometimes confuses left and right.

I initially found this strange, but it stayed in my mind. Only strange because it was unfamiliar. Would Fitzgerald Hinds ever put out a video saying he couldn't tell left from right? What about Moonilal? Jennifer Baptiste-Primus? Anthony Garcia? How about Gypsy?

Coming back to this later.

Vandana dedicated a share of her personal campaign on online platforms. I only use Facebook, so that’s what I saw.

I’m a secondary school teacher. Some of the children I teach say they look up to Vandana. “I woulda vote for she if I coulda vote!”

To me, this is major, especially after the shaming and kankalang that happened to her last year that made even Al-Rawi explode. At Bocas Lit Fest, I heard an agent who predominantly represents young adult and children’s literature once say that zoomers are the scariest people in the world when they band together.

Vandana popped up on my timeline almost every day I was online. Mostly early-morning videos, pre-makeup, sleepy, eyes sunken and dark-ringed in some, sharing photos of herself back in her school days, talking about food, casually streaming with followers, answering questions, chatting about growing up in Chaguanas. In the end, she carved out a persona as the "Chaguanas homegirl" and used it as her hashtag.

I found all of this endearing. And so did others. And I began thinking back to Clarence's video.

From a literary perspective, if you want to have the reader empathise with a character, the reader must see themselves in that character. If that character gets insulted, they must feel so as well.

The reader is never a perfect person, a paragon of anything. The reader is a flawed individual who wants to overcome a struggle, accomplish something, and do better in life. And a lot of the time, cannot figure out how.

Clarence's idiosyncrasies, as briefly as he related them, made him distinctly human in that video. That's why I could remember it so clearly and not, say, the plot of any of the Transformers movies.

Similarly, Vandana dedicated posts and videos talking about things that were not overtly politics or rhetoric. Might not seem like much, but remember this is not just some gyal live streaming – this is the Mayor of Chaguanas.

These two candidates sought to humanise themselves and were very good at it. Something that Kamla (and a lot of the older stalwarts on both sides) has failed to do.

For many of today's youth, a lot of their opinion banks more on empathy than on apotheosis. They want you to talk to them, not at them. I tell my students embarrassing tales about my teen years all the time, lest they forget that I too was once a stressed-out student.

All these stalwarts were once regular citizens, right? They didn't fall from the sky, did they?

You barely hear a word out of Kamla's mouth now that does not serve self-interest. Even her gaffes in her campaign do not seem to be fully hers, but the machinations of something else. She is not even someone brave enough to make her own mistakes. So how can she possibly own them and grow from it? She has never given herself this opportunity.

It is very difficult to empathise with someone who has not humbled themselves. There is nothing more humanising and humbling than owning up to your flaws. Nothing better for your narrative.

Imagine Kamla as the main character of a story. Who is she? What does she want? Now try to describe the personality she presents to you. Now try to do it without using adjectives.

Take in this: The UNC MVP of 2020 was not Kamla, its leader, but a young, passionate councillor and science graduate named Michelle Benjamin of Moruga.

I am definitely not a fan of those he keeps around him, but Keith Rowley, on the other hand, has actually had somewhat of a character arc over his tenure. When he gets annoyed or visibly angry and outta timing, at least you know that is him. And you can look back at the "Rowley tea party" and “Mr Speaker, I see acrimony” days and compare and see how he has tempered himself. He is, of course, imperfect.

Panday and Manning oozed personality, down to their last days. There's a particular exchange that I love between them:

Panday: "I would risk having another meeting with you, you know!"

Manning, with arms outstretched: "It would be my extreme pleasure!"

And in the background, you could hear both sides of the Lower House laughing. Their downfall was not a fault in their stars, but in themselves. Panday spewing venom at his own supporters while donning a red beret, telling them how they should look in the mirror and "hold allyuh head and bawl!" whenever they are raped or gunned down. Manning huffing and puffing, pulling a Birdman, driving down to a radio station because somebody was bad-talking him.

They became tragic heroes in the great Trinidadian tapestry. Their time was up. Elephants to the graveyard.

Fling Kamla in there now. Once brimming with verve, class, empathy, but s now resigned to stonewalling, second-hand, ill-advised rhetoric. Look at her Prime Minister photo with her Hillary hair-do. Do you see the giant forced smile? Lost her way and thus, lost the election.

Now look at the video of Manning conceding. He was arrogant, and I was ecstatic when he was ousted, but I felt something odd looking at him concede. A sadness that seemed to bubble out of nowhere. Because he was no longer the demi-god Manning there. But a man. A broken man. Some would say he came out like a scolded dog to his supporters.

But that took great bravery. He displayed his greatest class there. It's too bad one of his bravest, most formidable moments was among his last in politics.

It is a lesson to us all. Our idiosyncrasies make us human. Our embracing of them makes us affable. Our mistakes terrify us. Our apologies for those mistakes make us intrepid. Our flaws make us vulnerable. Our acceptance of those flaws makes us impenetrable. If you’ve ever seen 8 Mile, you’ll know what I mean.

When Vandana won her seat, I felt a pang of pensiveness for Clarence. If Clarence had won, I would have felt the same for Vandana. It serves as testament to how these two presented themselves.

I think Vandana and Clarence can tell Kamla why she lost. And I think if they replace Kamla with Moonilal, all the upcoming young politicians – JW, Saddam, Anita Haynes, Sean Sobers, Nikoli Edwards, Obika, Michelle Benjamin – can tell him why he will lose as well.

Many congratulations to PM Keith Rowley. Time to face forward now. All of us need to exorcise the douens from within us and make sure our feet are positioned forward as well.

Kevin Jared Hosein is an award-winning novelist and educator living in Chaguanas. He has twice won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1069 on: August 17, 2020, 08:56:25 AM »
Devant: Kamla 'mamaguyed' UNC by calling for recount
STACY MOORE (NEWSDAY).


UNC activist Devant Maharaj said the party's leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has ‘mamaguyed’ members into thinking that a recount in certain seats in the August 10 general elections was a chance for the UNC to win.

Maharaj said many of the members were holding on to such illusion and failed to accept defeat. He said these games must stop.

“I am not a PNM and I have no intention of joining the PNM. I have challenged the PNM in and out of court for many years but I recognised that this was an electoral race where there will be one winner or one loser and we lost.”

The former minister said Persad-Bissessar, who has not been seen since the general election, has shown her deficiencies as a leader.

“When you listen to some of the members speak, they were holding on to hope that the recount could go our way and we could get government. This is false.”

Maharaj said Persad-Bissessar must come to terms that the party has lost the election.

“We lost and I feel the mature thing to do is to congratulate the winner and move on. She did not show that sense of maturity and, I think, in this last couple of weeks she has highlighted her leadership deficiencies by this ridiculous recount which has stalled the country.”

He added, “This strategy of also demonising the EBC as working for the PNM is disingenuous. When we won the local election the EBC was not under attack and how come now when we lost the general election, the EBC is a PNM. These games must stop.”

Maharaj said the focus now should be on dealing with covid19.

“We have a crisis here. We are at a war with an unseen virus that can kill all of us. It is time for us to put politics aside and work with the government."

On the weekend, attorney and UNC member Kelvin Ramkissoon called on Persad-Bissessar to step down as political leader.

In a WhatsApp conversation, Ramkissoon said, “I don’t even want to watch the news conference. In a proper democracy when a leader losing an election the proper thing is done.

“They don’t hold on. That’s the essence of the Westminster model. The leader knows that."

Ramkissoon was election agent for Ahloy Hunt who has demanded a recount for the St Joseph seat which he lost to incumbent, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

“The question is not who will take over. Leave that to those who constitute the entity and move on with dignity while you still have it.

“Better yet, show some magnanimity and vacate your own seat and give it to someone else. You will save yourself and save future generations.

“Further time will just erode trust and confidence and chisel away at the remaining goodwill which the party still has and cause people to gravitate towards the continuous winner.

“The maxim if you can’t win them, join them may pervade in the minds of person.”

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline ABTrini

  • Sr. Warrior
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1070 on: August 17, 2020, 04:07:20 PM »
Devant: Kamla 'mamaguyed' UNC by calling for recount
STACY MOORE (NEWSDAY).


UNC activist Devant Maharaj said the party's leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has ‘mamaguyed’ members into thinking that a recount in certain seats in the August 10 general elections was a chance for the UNC to win.

Maharaj said many of the members were holding on to such illusion and failed to accept defeat. He said these games must stop.

“I am not a PNM and I have no intention of joining the PNM. I have challenged the PNM in and out of court for many years but I recognised that this was an electoral race where there will be one winner or one loser and we lost.”

The former minister said Persad-Bissessar, who has not been seen since the general election, has shown her deficiencies as a leader.

“When you listen to some of the members speak, they were holding on to hope that the recount could go our way and we could get government. This is false.”

Maharaj said Persad-Bissessar must come to terms that the party has lost the election.

“We lost and I feel the mature thing to do is to congratulate the winner and move on. She did not show that sense of maturity and, I think, in this last couple of weeks she has highlighted her leadership deficiencies by this ridiculous recount which has stalled the country.”

He added, “This strategy of also demonising the EBC as working for the PNM is disingenuous. When we won the local election the EBC was not under attack and how come now when we lost the general election, the EBC is a PNM. These games must stop.”

Maharaj said the focus now should be on dealing with covid19.

“We have a crisis here. We are at a war with an unseen virus that can kill all of us. It is time for us to put politics aside and work with the government."

On the weekend, attorney and UNC member Kelvin Ramkissoon called on Persad-Bissessar to step down as political leader.

In a WhatsApp conversation, Ramkissoon said, “I don’t even want to watch the news conference. In a proper democracy when a leader losing an election the proper thing is done.

“They don’t hold on. That’s the essence of the Westminster model. The leader knows that."

Ramkissoon was election agent for Ahloy Hunt who has demanded a recount for the St Joseph seat which he lost to incumbent, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.

“The question is not who will take over. Leave that to those who constitute the entity and move on with dignity while you still have it.

“Better yet, show some magnanimity and vacate your own seat and give it to someone else. You will save yourself and save future generations.

“Further time will just erode trust and confidence and chisel away at the remaining goodwill which the party still has and cause people to gravitate towards the continuous winner.

“The maxim if you can’t win them, join them may pervade in the minds of person.”

Y



BWTF?

Mamaguyed that is putting it mildly - blind leadership
Leading maseees to the koolaid table
I feel sorry for some of the young  MPs who I think could make a difference
I was going to say young and bright but until they stand up and stand apart and denounce the bs without saying they support 100% I reserve that adoration

Offline ABTrini

  • Sr. Warrior
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1071 on: August 23, 2020, 10:35:45 PM »
Kamla from TnT could learn a lot from Kamala Harris whose mother was of Indian descent and whose father was Jamaican. Kamala identifies as Afro American- and speaks openly of that identity- see
" Kamala Harris- the unauthorized documentary


The maturity , the acceptance and the intellect Kamala Harris shows is sadly lacking from  those who strive to seek political gains through divisiness destabilization and dysfunctional politics.

Listen tosh real Kamala- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XZ6bTsKIwI

Kamala Harris " The Truths we Hold"

Listen to her talk about UNITY- for all people - I urge all the old and newly elected MPs to listen and study this speech
Sen. Kamala Harris Presidential Capaign Announcement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frt81nmSbz8

When  I could hear this time of sentiment in a TnT from  elected officials I would say we have overcome the bs we getting now
« Last Edit: August 24, 2020, 01:17:29 AM by ABTrini »

Offline ABTrini

  • Sr. Warrior
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1072 on: November 08, 2020, 11:11:53 PM »
Kamla from TnT could learn a lot from Kamala Harris whose mother was of Indian descent and whose father was Jamaican. Kamala identifies as Afro American- and speaks openly of that identity- see
" Kamala Harris- the unauthorized documentary


The maturity , the acceptance and the intellect Kamala Harris shows is sadly lacking from  those who strive to seek political gains through divisiness destabilization and dysfunctional politics.

Listen tosh real Kamala- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XZ6bTsKIwI

Kamala Harris " The Truths we Hold"

Listen to her talk about UNITY- for all people - I urge all the old and newly elected MPs to listen and study this speech
Sen. Kamala Harris Presidential Capaign Announcement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Frt81nmSbz8

When  I could hear this time of sentiment in a TnT from  elected officials I would say we have overcome the bs we getting now

I see that somebody text somebody - the former president of USA  stealing strategy from TnT opposition  trying to invoke tactics and making accusations of voter tampering and blaming the media for trying to sway the votes and declaring a winner
 Well look how birds of a feather does fk together
« Last Edit: November 09, 2020, 08:40:33 AM by ABTrini »

Offline Flex

  • Administrator
  • Hero Warrior
  • *****
  • Posts: 18062
  • A Trini 4 Real.
    • View Profile
    • Soca Warriors Online
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1073 on: December 07, 2020, 04:33:22 PM »
Kamla retains leadership of UNC
By Gail Alexander (T&T Guardian).


Incumbent United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar last night claimed victory in the UNC’s internal polls, saying there was a clear trend that her Star slate was going to win when the official results come in.

Her leadership challenger Vasant Bharath conceded shortly after she spoke saying, "Members of United National Congress have voted in the National Executive election, and the Lotus Team accepts their decision. We congratulate the Star Team of candidates, led by incumbent Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and wish them all success during their term of office.

We offer to be of assistance in the urgent and extensive exercise of rebuilding and renewing the UNC. “

Bharath however strongly slammed a number of irregularities which he claimed occurred in the election.

Persad-Bissessar spoke around 9.30 pm last night when the majority of votes coming in from polling stations around T&T showed her slate was ahead of Bharath's Team Lotus slate.

UNC election management team chairman Ramesh Persad-Maharaj told Guardian Media the trend last night was that the Star slate was the winner.

Persad-Maharaj declared the first position for the Star slate around 7.30 pm.

Star candidate Bheemal Ramlogan won the post of Tobago regional co-ordinator with 13 votes.

Lotus team contestant for the same post, Barrington Thomas, polled two votes.

Approximately 120,000 voters were eligible to vote at the 78 polling stations located in T&T’s 41 constituencies.

No official voter turn-out figure was given last night. Up to 10 pm, Persad- Maharaj said there had been a reasonable voter turnout.

Speaking last night, Persad–Bissesar said her team would be monitoring proceedings until the wee hours of today, "But the trend is very, very clear that the Star team will win this election – a trend....but we must await the official final results from many of the stations.”

Persad- Bissessar said there had been some voter suppression due to COVID restrictions and there were some reports of voter intimidation at certain polling stations – but there hadn’t been major issues.

Persad- Bissessar said the way forward for the party under her leadership was to lead the party in going after the real political enemy, “The PNM Government..to take out! Take them out…!”

She said she’d focus on making the UNC stronger, staying focused and together and to continue to be united.

Persad Bissessar now remains in charge of the Opposition UNC for another three years until 2023.

Bharath in his speech, however added, “In acknowledging the announced results of the election, we note there were widespread irregularities, just as we had feared and to which we had alerted the national community."

“Scores of people whose names were not on the revised list of electors were permitted to vote at several polling stations. Several lifetime members were debarred from exercising their franchise.

In one case, a veteran party operative – who had previously served as presiding officer in one of the houses of Parliament – brought in several non-financial members who were permitted to cast their ballots."

“In some cases, prominent and active campaigners for the Star Team performed as election officers, including as Presiding Officers. Revised lists of electors were provided only to candidates and activists of the Star Team. There were many cases of voters being verbally abused, bullied and intimidated at polling stations.”

Bharath added, “At least two Members of Parliament were seen openly campaigning among members who were lined up to cast their votes. Paraphernalia of the Star Team were distributed within the precincts of some polling stations. It is most ironic that these gross abnormalities took place at the hands of an incumbent Political Leader who had lobbied for independent observers for the August 10 general election. “

“Further, the leader had declined to concede defeat in the general election and had claimed for several days that there were electoral irregularities.

For weeks before the election, Team Lotus had publicly complained about the absence of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Our documented objections were never addressed. With the electoral process behind us, I urge all party members not to engage in recriminations.

He added, "Antagonism and reproach would only harm an organisation that requires the commitment and united purpose of all its human resources in order to displace the failed PNM at the next general election.

"I implore Mrs Persad-Bissessar to embrace and integrate all party supporters and sympathisers in the essential organisational restructuring that is required if the UNC is to become a viable political force.

A major initial assignment should be to determine why there is such apathy among members, as evidenced by the abysmally low voter turnout."

Just before polls closed at 6 pm Bharath also wrote election team chairman Persad-Maharaj officially claiming of a number of matters demonstrated “manifest unfairness in the internal election process.”

In a statement earlier in the day, Persad-Bissesar had said

she expected her slate would emerge victorious "despite the petty games and underhanded tactics being utilised by opponents".

Persad-Bissessar has helmed the UNC since January 24 2010. When she won that leadership election with 13,932 votes over UNC founder Basdeo Panday's 1, 359 and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's 1,072 votes.

After her PP Government lost the 2015 general elections, she won UNC’s leadership with 17,502 votes against Bharath (1,305) and Dr Roodal Moonilal (1,821 ). After UNC’s modest improvement in 2016 Local Government polls, she won 2017 internals: 20,328 votes to Christine Newallo-Hosein’s 114 and Chanda Bhaggan’s 45.

VASANT'S COMPLAINTS

Vasant Bharath’s letter to the election team chairman added, “These matters are also evidence of your inability to manage an electoral process."

He cited: "In Couva South, Moruga Tableland, and the Port-of-Spain cluster, persons whose names were not contained on the "final list" as specified in the rules were allowed to vote. We were informed that you personally made calls to the respective presiding officers and instructed them to "write-in names" on the list to allow these persons to vote.”

* Throughout all constituencies, voters complained about being harassed by electoral staff to "vote the Star" this includes both presiding officers and deputy presiding officers. This harassment also took the form of electoral officers actually being in close proximity of persons while voting. This is no doubt a result of the biased selection of electoral staff which you unilaterally appointed without any fair process.

* In Naparima there was no electoral ink for the start of voting. Further, a female senator was constantly giving instructions to the presiding officer on what to do during the electoral process which resulted in one of our candidates, Kamani Ramraj, being prohibited from entering the station.

* Several MPs and senators were allowed into the polling stations and were resident within the station for large parts of the day. In the case of one MP, she was seen taking in a list for the Presiding Officer.

* Numerous persons, who are lifetime members, were not allowed to vote despite presenting their membership card. This demonstrates clearly that the membership list was sanitized prior to the polling day.

At 330 pm, the presiding officer at the La Horquetta/ Talparo created a polling division and placed a new ballot box in a separate area of the station for the collection of votes. This resulted in Team Lotus having no representative to view this ballot box or determine how many votes were put into this ballot box. This action is highly improper and seems designed to ensure that ballots would be entered into the overall count without any form of scrutiny.

We are receiving further instructions on this matter and will continue to place the same on the record. Further particulars on these matters will also be provided."

Victorious Star Team

POLITICAL LEADER – Kamla Persad-Bissessar

DEPUTY LEADERS – Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, Jearlean John

CHAIRMAN – Devendranath Tancoo

VICE CHAIRMAN – Kadijah Ameen

EDUCATION OFFICER – Clifton De Coteau

PARTY ORGANISER – Ravi Ratiram

ELECTIONS OFFICER – Don Sylvester

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER – Nicholas Morris

POLICY AND STRATEGY OFFICER – Sean Sobers

TREASURER – William Archie

RESEARCH OFFICER – Monifa Andrews

SOUTH REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Shanty Boodram

NORTH WEST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Eli Zakour

CENTRAL REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Imam Rasheed Karim

NORTH EAST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Neil Gosine

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline ABTrini

  • Sr. Warrior
  • ****
  • Posts: 422
    • View Profile
Re: Kamla Persad-Bissessar Thread.
« Reply #1074 on: December 07, 2020, 11:51:58 PM »
Kamla retains leadership of UNC
By Gail Alexander (T&T Guardian).


Incumbent United National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar last night claimed victory in the UNC’s internal polls, saying there was a clear trend that her Star slate was going to win when the official results come in.

Her leadership challenger Vasant Bharath conceded shortly after she spoke saying, "Members of United National Congress have voted in the National Executive election, and the Lotus Team accepts their decision. We congratulate the Star Team of candidates, led by incumbent Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and wish them all success during their term of office.

We offer to be of assistance in the urgent and extensive exercise of rebuilding and renewing the UNC. “

Bharath however strongly slammed a number of irregularities which he claimed occurred in the election.

Persad-Bissessar spoke around 9.30 pm last night when the majority of votes coming in from polling stations around T&T showed her slate was ahead of Bharath's Team Lotus slate.

UNC election management team chairman Ramesh Persad-Maharaj told Guardian Media the trend last night was that the Star slate was the winner.

Persad-Maharaj declared the first position for the Star slate around 7.30 pm.

Star candidate Bheemal Ramlogan won the post of Tobago regional co-ordinator with 13 votes.

Lotus team contestant for the same post, Barrington Thomas, polled two votes.

Approximately 120,000 voters were eligible to vote at the 78 polling stations located in T&T’s 41 constituencies.

No official voter turn-out figure was given last night. Up to 10 pm, Persad- Maharaj said there had been a reasonable voter turnout.

Speaking last night, Persad–Bissesar said her team would be monitoring proceedings until the wee hours of today, "But the trend is very, very clear that the Star team will win this election – a trend....but we must await the official final results from many of the stations.”

Persad- Bissessar said there had been some voter suppression due to COVID restrictions and there were some reports of voter intimidation at certain polling stations – but there hadn’t been major issues.

Persad- Bissessar said the way forward for the party under her leadership was to lead the party in going after the real political enemy, “The PNM Government..to take out! Take them out…!”

She said she’d focus on making the UNC stronger, staying focused and together and to continue to be united.

Persad Bissessar now remains in charge of the Opposition UNC for another three years until 2023.

Bharath in his speech, however added, “In acknowledging the announced results of the election, we note there were widespread irregularities, just as we had feared and to which we had alerted the national community."

“Scores of people whose names were not on the revised list of electors were permitted to vote at several polling stations. Several lifetime members were debarred from exercising their franchise.

In one case, a veteran party operative – who had previously served as presiding officer in one of the houses of Parliament – brought in several non-financial members who were permitted to cast their ballots."

“In some cases, prominent and active campaigners for the Star Team performed as election officers, including as Presiding Officers. Revised lists of electors were provided only to candidates and activists of the Star Team. There were many cases of voters being verbally abused, bullied and intimidated at polling stations.”

Bharath added, “At least two Members of Parliament were seen openly campaigning among members who were lined up to cast their votes. Paraphernalia of the Star Team were distributed within the precincts of some polling stations. It is most ironic that these gross abnormalities took place at the hands of an incumbent Political Leader who had lobbied for independent observers for the August 10 general election. “

“Further, the leader had declined to concede defeat in the general election and had claimed for several days that there were electoral irregularities.

For weeks before the election, Team Lotus had publicly complained about the absence of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Our documented objections were never addressed. With the electoral process behind us, I urge all party members not to engage in recriminations.

He added, "Antagonism and reproach would only harm an organisation that requires the commitment and united purpose of all its human resources in order to displace the failed PNM at the next general election.

"I implore Mrs Persad-Bissessar to embrace and integrate all party supporters and sympathisers in the essential organisational restructuring that is required if the UNC is to become a viable political force.

A major initial assignment should be to determine why there is such apathy among members, as evidenced by the abysmally low voter turnout."

Just before polls closed at 6 pm Bharath also wrote election team chairman Persad-Maharaj officially claiming of a number of matters demonstrated “manifest unfairness in the internal election process.”

In a statement earlier in the day, Persad-Bissesar had said

she expected her slate would emerge victorious "despite the petty games and underhanded tactics being utilised by opponents".

Persad-Bissessar has helmed the UNC since January 24 2010. When she won that leadership election with 13,932 votes over UNC founder Basdeo Panday's 1, 359 and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's 1,072 votes.

After her PP Government lost the 2015 general elections, she won UNC’s leadership with 17,502 votes against Bharath (1,305) and Dr Roodal Moonilal (1,821 ). After UNC’s modest improvement in 2016 Local Government polls, she won 2017 internals: 20,328 votes to Christine Newallo-Hosein’s 114 and Chanda Bhaggan’s 45.

VASANT'S COMPLAINTS

Vasant Bharath’s letter to the election team chairman added, “These matters are also evidence of your inability to manage an electoral process."

He cited: "In Couva South, Moruga Tableland, and the Port-of-Spain cluster, persons whose names were not contained on the "final list" as specified in the rules were allowed to vote. We were informed that you personally made calls to the respective presiding officers and instructed them to "write-in names" on the list to allow these persons to vote.”

* Throughout all constituencies, voters complained about being harassed by electoral staff to "vote the Star" this includes both presiding officers and deputy presiding officers. This harassment also took the form of electoral officers actually being in close proximity of persons while voting. This is no doubt a result of the biased selection of electoral staff which you unilaterally appointed without any fair process.

* In Naparima there was no electoral ink for the start of voting. Further, a female senator was constantly giving instructions to the presiding officer on what to do during the electoral process which resulted in one of our candidates, Kamani Ramraj, being prohibited from entering the station.

* Several MPs and senators were allowed into the polling stations and were resident within the station for large parts of the day. In the case of one MP, she was seen taking in a list for the Presiding Officer.

* Numerous persons, who are lifetime members, were not allowed to vote despite presenting their membership card. This demonstrates clearly that the membership list was sanitized prior to the polling day.

At 330 pm, the presiding officer at the La Horquetta/ Talparo created a polling division and placed a new ballot box in a separate area of the station for the collection of votes. This resulted in Team Lotus having no representative to view this ballot box or determine how many votes were put into this ballot box. This action is highly improper and seems designed to ensure that ballots would be entered into the overall count without any form of scrutiny.

We are receiving further instructions on this matter and will continue to place the same on the record. Further particulars on these matters will also be provided."

Victorious Star Team

POLITICAL LEADER – Kamla Persad-Bissessar

DEPUTY LEADERS – Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, Jearlean John

CHAIRMAN – Devendranath Tancoo

VICE CHAIRMAN – Kadijah Ameen

EDUCATION OFFICER – Clifton De Coteau

PARTY ORGANISER – Ravi Ratiram

ELECTIONS OFFICER – Don Sylvester

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER – Nicholas Morris

POLICY AND STRATEGY OFFICER – Sean Sobers

TREASURER – William Archie

RESEARCH OFFICER – Monifa Andrews

SOUTH REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Shanty Boodram

NORTH WEST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Eli Zakour

CENTRAL REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Imam Rasheed Karim

NORTH EAST REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR – Nei

 Big hairy deal
Which leader will make assinine statements like
We will take them out!!!!   
 
Wish Kadijah Ameen will look good wearing a  balizay come to think of it she looks good period. Cheeers to TnT democracy.
Grey goose on sale
« Last Edit: December 08, 2020, 08:36:08 AM by ABTrini »

 

1]; } ?>