Trin | Surviving life in Trinidad and Tobago

First SAUTT, now SIA!

You must be as shocked as us to learn that, according to the Honourable Prime Minister's statement in parliament last Friday, up to two weeks ago unknown persons were requesting transcripts of the illegally wiretapped SIA phone converstations and text messages of law-abiding private citizens. The Security Intelligence Agency had, for years under former Prime Minister Patrick Manning, spied on citizens.

Which well connected secret operative made the requests for transcripts? According to the news reports the information was used by a certain MP from the opposition PNM. 3 of our national newspapers published the names of high ranking public figures that were spied on along with other gory details of the SIA operations. A bust at one of the SIA offices on St Vincent street in Port of Spain turned up $6 Million in cash, supposedly used to pay "informants". There were 200 employees at the office.

At 3pm on Friday Patos held his own press conference to justify the need for the SIA and schpeel some propaganda about the merits of spying on law-abiding citizens for the greater good of some selfish purpose or other, while Opposition Leader Keith Rowley implored the public to distance the PNM from the shameful violation of citizens' rights being perpetrated by the SIA. Rowley emphasized that a few individuals in the PNM may be responsible for this atrocity, but the entire party should not be punished for the psychoticness of a few of its members. Oh Rowley was also on the list of citizens being spied upon. Reports also indicated there was evidence that a large "sanitization effort" had been taking place at the SIA office in Port of Spain, to get rid of information  - empty files with the names of citizens were found lying around the office.

So we join in the national outrage and wait for action as we highlight the Honourable Prime Minister's apt comments:

"It grieves my heart to say that whilst our children were being kidnapped and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) seemed powerless and unable to trace the several telephone calls demanding a ransom, the SIA was busy listening to our conversations—conversations of prominent members of society who had no connection with criminal activity. How many men, women and children who were kidnapped or abducted could have been saved we'll never know."

Oh great SIA, can you tell us where Calder Hart dey?

The 3-strike law for gun control

Our suggestion for one policy that could be implemented as part of our National crime plan is being implemented by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago! In September 2009 we discussed the 10-20-Life strategy. Over the last couple of weeks you may have heard about the three strikes and  then life plan. It's an adaptation of the 10-20-Life. The Firearms Amendment Act is a move in the right direction.

'Life' for strike 3
In an effort to deal with illegal guns in this country, Government yesterday moved to establish a three-strike law so that criminals found guilty of possessing arms and ammunition will now face a life sentence upon their third conviction.

National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy piloted the Firearms (Amendment) Act 2010 at the Senate sitting, in taking what he said was a "zero tolerance" on the issue.

He lamented that children and the elderly have become involved in crimes, as they are now keeping guns and ammunition for criminals in communities. He said a high percentage of crime in this country is gun-related and this requires harsher measures of gun control.

Sandy said the law will now provide that a person who is previously convicted of possession of a firearm or ammunition on two occasions and facing a third "no longer has the option of a summary trial, his trial is one of indictment only and he will now upon a third conviction face a term of life imprisonment. This measure again serves to demonstrate the seriousness with which this Government views the possession of illegal firearms".

"This Government envisions that this particular version of the three- strike law will be effective because it will target those repeat offenders who have refused to change their criminal behaviour. The law will only apply to convictions, therefore if a person is simply arrested and charged and not found guilty of a crime, he will not be subjected to the punishment of the three strike law," Sandy said.

He said the penalties for persons selling or transferring a firearm or ammunition without authority will also be increased. He said members of the protective service, including police, customs officers and prison officers, if found guilty of this, can be imprisoned for 20 years.

Sandy said the Commissioner of Police will now also be given the discretion to refuse the granting of a firearm to a person convicted of an offence under the domestic violence act.

He said the chairman of the Police Complaints Authority will no longer be the chairman of the Firearms Appeal Board. These posts, he said, will be occupied by two separate persons for greater efficiency.

"Too many lives have been lost in crossfire between gang members and too many members of our society live in fear. We have had instances where people in their homes were shot and killed by what we call stray bullets, totally unfair to those people who now will be leaving orphans in the wake of their deaths," said Sandy, as he called on the community to work with the police in the fight against crime.

- Anna Ramdass, Trinidad Express.com, Nov 17, 2010

Kindred souls

Today we were reading some of the pre-May 2010 election news stories (partly because we can't seem to stop the the horror of what-if-Manning and his puppets-were-voted-back-in-and-were-still-in-control thoughts from creeping into our heads today after the terrifying news about the SIA) as we remember all our anxieties and fears leading up to the May 2010 election, patiently waiting to exhale.

We like to read the comments at the bottom of The Guardian's online articles (though we wish more of them would be fair), and we found this comment that we've posted below. Whoever you are JP, and whoever compiled the list, we loved the facts (teeny wish that some dates were included). Holla at us if you ever find this blog you like-minded folks!

PICK ANYONE AND VOTE OUT ...
Submitted by JP on 19 April 2010 - 8:37am.

PICK ANYONE AND VOTE OUT ... YES VOTE OUT MANNING .....

>1. Thirty percent (30%) of our citizens live below the poverty line
>though the Per Capita income is $15,000.00 US or $100,000.00 TT.
sometimes coined "the working poor"

>
>2. Inflation went to double digit making the middle class poorer.
>
>
>3. Between 2001 and 2009 there was massive increase in murders.
>
>
>4. In 2006 there were 26 kidnappings for ransom.
>
>
>5. Expensive blimps but no data on criminal activities.
>
>
>6. One billions spent on CEPEP and no accountability.>
>
>
>7. Sold out BWIA's Heathrow landing rights for a pittance and peanuts.
>
>
>8. Closed down CARONI and put 9,000 people on the breadline Plus their dependants.
>
>
>9. Babies continue to die at MountHope(less) hospital.
>
>
>10. Faith Williams dies as a result of mismanagement at MountHope(less).
>
>11. Refusal to give recognition to MPATT thus frustrating the democratic
>right of the doctors to representation they desire.
>
>12. Wants the parliament for his office.
>
>
>13. Has taken over the rugby field at St. Ann's for his rose garden for Hazel.
>
>
>14. Spends one billion on a stadium in his constituency.
>
>
>15. Wants smelters despite the people's opposition to it.
>
>
>16. Makes deal with ALCOA for natural gas but refuses to tell the country
>what is the price at which gas is being sold.
>
>
>
>17. Appoints his wife without credentials as Minister of Education.
>
>
>
>18. Police abandon St. Joseph and Guanapo police stations.
>
>
>
>19. No transparency in award of contract for rapid rail project.
>
>
>20. Gives JUSAMCO a $137,000,000. 00 contract to pave airport runway after
>the same company botched the last job and cost the taxpayer $50,000,000.
>00.
>
>
>
>21. Refuses to control the price of food and building materials making
>life really hard for poorer people.
>
>
>22. Wild housing projects on arable lands.
>
>
>23. Cannot control gang warfare in schools.
>
>
>24. Romanticizes criminals as community leaders at CrownePlaza.
>
>
>25. Court threw out Bakr's affidavit that manning made a deal with him not
>to pursue the $30,000,000. 00 owed to the state over the 1990 coup by the
>Jamaat, but we remember that the same Manning was about to give the
>Mucurapo lands to the Jamaat. Who is lying?
>
>
>26. Gave Robinson two tax free cars, gives none to Hassanali. Remember who
>made him Prime Minister when there was an 18-18 tie?
>
>
>27. Continues to punish the children of Biche by keeping the BicheHigh
>Schoolclosed.
>
>
>28. WASA a national disgrace!Many still with out pipe bourne water.
>
>
>29. Judiciary in crisis because they cannot get facilities and human
>resources.
>
>
>30. Prisoners controlling crime from jail.
>
>31. Agriculture being murdered .
>
>
>32. Hospitals without drugs.Patients lie on the floor or bring own bed
>
>
>33. Private nursing homes unregulated.
>
>
>34. Only common sense and a level head required to be Minister of National
>Security - remember who said that?
>
>
>35. National Security Council of which Manning is the head honcho cannot
>secure the citizens who now live behind bars while criminals roam the
>streets.
>
>
>36. Presides over the exorbitant cost overruns of UDECOTT.
>
>
>37. Cannot computerize the licensing office to help police trace vehicles
>but wants to achieve vision 20/20.
>
>
>38.Schoolbuilding programme cannot get off the ground.
>
>
>39. Early childhood centers stillborn.
>
>
>40. Minimum wage for people is $9.00 per hour. Manning's pay cheque is as
>follows: Salary, House Allowance, Entertainment Allowance, Clothes
>Allowance, Car Allowance, Tax free car Allowances every two years, Travel
>Allowance, Holidays.
>
>
>41. Meager pensions for senior citizens.
>
>
>42. Meager disability allowances.
>
>
>43. Meager pension benefits from NIS because of incompetence and
>mismanagement at the national insurance board.
>
>
>44. Boynes as Minister of Sports building massive sports facilities for
>PNM areas and in his own constituency but discriminating against UNC
>constituencies.
>
>
>45. Tried to fire Devant Maharaj - Manning embarrassed in court.
>
>
>46. Gives Lee Sing a radio license within 24 hours - court declares
>discrimination.
>
>47. Tried to get revenge against Marlene Coudray - Manning embarrassed in
>court.
>
>
>48. Maha Sabha had to go to privy council to get a radio license - racial
>and / or religious discrimination - tell us father of the nation.
>
>
>49. Forms state companies to avoid tendering and to promote political
>patronage.
>
>
>50. Makes Prakash Saith head of major energy company and his brother Lenny
>Saith the Minister of Energy. Can this happen in any other country.
>
>
>
>51. Cannot build a hospital in Tobago- massive corruption. 400 million
>disappeared and no hospital. Costs still climbing.
>
>
>52. $60,000,000. 00 in spy equipment yet bandits roam freely.
>
>
>53. VMCOTT used to buy 112 million in spy equipment.
>
>
>54. No vehicles for police - woman on phone to police telling them there
>are thieves entering her property. Police responds "no car".
>
>
>55. $53,000,000, 00 for retired Scotland Yard officers – murders remain
>unsolved.
>
>
>56. Water taxis to Port of Spain- $15.00 one way. I thought mass
>transportation meant lower prices.
>
>
>57. Institutes affirmative action policy under the guise of scholarship
>programme to Grenadamedical school.
>
>
>58. No compensation for Rio Claroflood victims after two years.
>
>
>59. Removes sixteen State Companies including the Central Bank from
>purview of the freedom of information act.
>
>
>60. Brain power leaving Trinidad and Tobago- migration of trained
>professionals high.
>
>
>61. East Port of Spain residents to be displaced for Manning's high class
>friends.
>
>
>62. Ken Julien and Lenny Saith remains an untouchable under Manning and
>the PNM
>
>
>63. Universityof Trinidad and Tobagospending money without any
>accountability - no accreditation after millions spent on contracts with
>foreign universities.
>
>
>64. Traffic woes creating stress, destroying family life and reducing
>productivity.
>
>
>65. Rural communities neglected in favour of mega projects like the
>Waterfront in Port of Spain.
>
>
>66. National health insurance plan needs caesarean.
>
>
>67. Large agricultural farm projects promised in budget - no sign of even
>a bodi tree.
>
>
>68. Five ministers of pnm reported to integrity commission yet no action
>taken.
>
>
>69. Senior police officer found with $$$$$$ in his office but no action
>taken.
>
>
>70. ODPM (Office of Disaster Preparedness & Management) led by a Jamaican
>with long list of qualifications but cannot deliver a hamper to flood
>victims of Penal / Debe.
>
>
>71. City of Port of Spain, the capital city “ a national dump, a national
>disgrace - dirty, vagrant infested. Manning lives in the city.
>
>
>72. Deputy Commissioner of Police, glen roach does not know that there is
>a crime problem in Lange Park and Central Trinidad. If the police don't
>know, who will know?
>
>73. Health Ministry cannot deliver Panadol in Hospitals but NWRHA hosts
>$400,000.00 Xmas party, with jerseys et al.
>
>
>74. Panday jailed for not declaring a bank account. 300 others not
>touched. Many PNM haks given opportunity to correct integrity forms.
>
>
>75. Manning cleared for taking free ride on Repsol jet. Repsol lands
>business deals in Trinidad! You could have fooled me!
>
>
>76. Emperor wants Bombardier jet at a time when Bombardier is bidding on
>rapid rail project.
>
>77. Jack Warner denied national honours, yet without him soca warriors
>would have remained at home and not gone to Germany.
>
>
>78. Country in crisis, president Richards appointed by Manning wining with
>jean at Tribe carnival party. What morality and spirituality by the
>supposedly exemplars of the nation? Who cares about Vindra anyway?
>
>
>79. Even judges are declaring that women are under siege - Hazel,
>Christine and Christine, Joan and Dianne feting!
>
>
>80. Embassies being set up in countries from which no economic or cultural
>benefits can emerge.
>
>
>81. Manning offering aid to African countries but people starving in
>Trinidad and Tobago.
>
>
>82. Murderers walking free everyday out of the courts for poor policing
>and sloppy investigations - Mastrofski smiling with 10 million $$.
>
>
>83. Million dollar eye in the sky remains blind without cameras.
>
>
>84. Manning wants to be an executive president but does not want to do so
>by a one man one vote system - he knows he can't win.
>
>
>85. Ellis Clarke hired to write a constitution to serve manning but then
>declares that the prime minister has too much power.
>
>
>
>86. Maha Sabha has to go to court to force government to change Trinity
>Cross. Manning a born again Christian always thought that this is a
>Christian country. That is why they still say amen in the parliament.
>
>
>87. National self help commission being used to fund Pentecostal churches
>as an election gimmick. The head of the national self help commission is a
>Pentecostal. Check how many Pentecostal churches have gotten funding
>compared to temples and mosques and other Christian denominations. Every
>Friday the head of the self help commission is with Manning in San
>Fernandoto dispense political patronage. Is this right or is this a case
>for the integrity commission?
>
>
>88. SWMCOL paying rent for Baptist convention, transporting CEPEP workers
>to PNM conventions. Is this a case of the abuse of position? Does it have
>the approval of Manning?
>
>
>89. PNM forms own medical board to hire foreign doctors undermining the
>medical standards.
>
>90. Postpones local government elections gerrymandering !
>
>
>91. Mega projects being announced without parliamentary approval and
>scrutiny - undermining the role of parliament. What will happen if with
>the help of COP and Dookeran he gets a two thirds majority and becomes
>executive president?
>
>
>92. Does not eat chicken so high price of chicken is of no concern to him.
>Which member of his cabinet made him turn half vegetarian? Gets sada roti
>and chokha from Caroni. I wonder if it is a Hindu influence!
>
>
>93. Cabinet Minister Rowley declares Trinidad and Tobagois a lawless
>country. What an indictment of the leadership of his boss manning and
>the PNM!
>
>
>94. CabinetMinisterValleydeclares that crime is the no 1 problem and if it
>is not solved the pnm will lose the election. What an admission of
>failure. Time to fire the PNM!
>
>95. Ongoing commission of inquiry into health sector. Condemns the
>administration of the health services - Manning takes no action to improve
>the health sector.
>
>96. Minister of national security celebrates that there were only 19
>kidnappings in 2006. What a thing to celebrate? What kind of value does he
>place on the lives of our citizens? Does he have sisters and daughters,
>mothers and aunts / will it take the kidnapping of a family member for the
>pnm to wake up to the plight of the people?
>
>97. Everybody knows the drug dens except the minister and the police.
>
>
>98. Sugar manufacturing company up for sale - cane farmers in pain -
>Barrackpore to become ghost town.
>
>
>99. Manning wants to review the role of UWI. He can't cope with what he
>describes as too many lecturers masquerading as politicians at the
>university. Manning really wants to shut up all those who don't agree with
>his foolishness. See the dictator in the making
>
>100. Destiny is character!!! - do you understand this?

101. 2 Million dollars for a flag and defended it and then to say it was a mis-step.

102. P-A-P refinery going bust- from massive profits to massive losses.

103. Moves to bail out /buy Air Jamaica while Trinidadiand suffer

104. Two Summits costing billions and not real benefits for the citizens

105. Proposed steel mill at the cost of destroying the environment.ESSAR pull out

106. Accused in the doplomatic pouch issue heads to the Privy Council.Govt embrassment.

107. Proposed private jet with taxpayers funds while ordinary folks suffer

108. Caribbean airlines -attenpts to put PNM logo on plains

109. Increased hardship - with rise in gasoline,sugar,TTEC,WASA and NIS

110. Imposition of a prpperty tax with some increases of 1000%

111. NO rent accessment board -poor people to catch.

112. interfering with integrity act.

113. Many acting positions on order to control from white house

114. Secret scholarship list for party hacks and their children.

115. apparent Messiah syndrome- where white is right (and executive president )

116. No EMA approval plus court orger in plac eyet work continues

117. Minister breaks accounts "with insurance giant gone bust" and withdraws her money.

118. HCU receives no support from the govt while insurance giant did.

119. Coat of arms on PM car who wants to be executive president.

110. TTRA being pushed down our throats.

111. Did I mention the PNM Mansion. While madam breakfastes stay at the Hyatt.

112. Property Tax totally unnecessary.

113. ----- KEEP IT GOING FOLKS-----

Spying victims express outrage

Contractor Emile Elias says confirmation that his telephones had been tapped by the Special Intelligence Agency (SIA) came as “a great shock” to him, and he is looking to take legal action.

Elias, chairman of NH International (Caribbean) Limited (NHIC), was among several prominent figures who were reportedly under surveillance by the SIA under the previous regime.

In the Lower House on Friday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed a list of names against whom the agency had engaged in illegal wiretapping. These included this country’s President, politicians, members of the Judiciary, media personnel, trade unionists and other prominent personalities.

The PM said that these were just “a few of the names” from a long list.

“I was advised in 2008, both my cellphone and my land lines at my home and my office were being tapped and even though I knew in a sense that this was so, it came as a great shock to me to see it confirmed that this was the case,” Elias said in a telephone interview, yesterday.

Elias said he was also told that his land lines could not have been tapped without cooperation of people from the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

“So, they have questions to answer as well. I have asked my attorney to look into how I might be able to bring an action to this illegal conduct against the individuals concerned. I have no interest in bringing any constitutional or other kind of motion which would require the taxpayers of this country pay for the wrongdoing of Patrick Manning (former prime minister), Martin Joseph (former national security minister) and all the others who cooperated in this illegal wiretapping,” he said. Elias said he would go after the individuals concerned in a way that would not cost the taxpayers any money by bringing actions of a particular kind that required the Attorney General to get involved.

Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGO’s (FITUN) president, David Abdulah, stated that while he was “not entirely surprised” that he was among several trade unionists who were under electronic surveillance, the widespread use of the spy agency by a former high-ranking member of the previous administration was another reason why the trade union movement had joined forces with other groups and political organisations to remove the PNM.

Abdulah, who is also OWTU general secretary and a Government Senator, described the revelations as “frightening” and an “exceptionally dangerous threat to the democracy” of the nation. “This was a rogue agency which was being used by a rogue politician to engage in wiretapping of citizens who were not involved in illegal or criminal activities, but who were perceived to be opposed to the then Government and that is truly frightening,” Abdulah said.

Abdulah said this action was aimed at the heart of the nation’s democracy and the freedom of expression and civil liberties. “What is also disturbing is that this surveillance was carried out on persons ranging from the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the Commissioner of Police, to both PNM Government ministers and the extent of the network is horrendous, disturbing and frightening,” he said. “And this reaffirms why we had to struggle to get rid of the PNM administration because one can only imagine what would have happened had this been allowed to continue,” Abdulah added. Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Satnarayan Maharaj, said he was offended by the fact that he was one of the people named on the PM’s list.

“I feel offended that TT is a free democracy and I am only the leader of a religious organisation, and here we have a man who proclaims himself to be a religious person with his own prophetess, leading a spy agency spying on ordinary citizens and it will appear it was done without legal sanction,” Maharaj said.

However, he said he felt gratified that TT was still a democracy because Persad-Bissessar was able to “let the whole world know what was happening in TT”.

“The President, whose person we must protect, the Chief Justice of a country... they are under surveillance and this information was being fed to one or two people. This is absolutely wrong. We were being turned into a dictatorship,” he said.

Maharaj added that the SIA was not supplying the police with information, but party leaders.

“While kidnappings and so on were taking place these surveillance people were not directed at that. When we thought that the blimp in the sky was supplying information to the police it was quite the contrary, it was supplying information to politicians. This must never be permitted to ever happen again. I am advising that the Prime Minister put a committee in place that assures that this doesn’t take place again,” Maharaj said.

Journalist Dale Enoch said up to Friday evening when his name was called he felt he should not have been surprised and was not. However, that feeling did not last for very long.

“When I pondered it I became outraged. I saw it as a clear violation of my privacy, and for what reason? I am hearing people denying it, and they did not sanction it, and that ‘they did not report to me’.

“This is wrong especially as we know there are no laws that manage how these agencies work. It is vexing, insulting and an invasion of my privacy,” Enoch said.

He questioned what made him a national security risk.

“Because I have a big mouth? Because I speak about the issues? Or is it because people have paranoid minds or a way to keep them entertained?” Enoch asked.

Columnist Peter O’Connor said he did not feel too outraged because he felt what he did was inconsequential.

“I’m a critic of various governments, but I am not as outraged because maybe I always kind of expected it. My cellphone is one that would light up in the night for a long time now. It’s now been confirmed, but I don’t feel I have cocoa in the sun. My e-mails are to Newsday and friends and so on. However, it is dreadfully wrong and it is even more wrong that they are letting Manning have the last say, so to speak, to suggest that this unit is being dismantled to pay drug cartels.

O’Connor said the case against drug lord Dole Chadee, who was hanged along with his gang, was made by wire tapping, which he said was the last major drug case.

“Since then, with all of Manning’s talks he hasn’t had a major drug arrest, far less a conviction. This is disgraceful and I don’t believe Manning when he says he didn’t get the information. Martin Joseph says he know nothing about it, but I don’t believe that,” O’Connor said.

In a news conference on Friday, Manning said he never authorised any agency to look into the private affairs of citizens.

Special Branch shut down the operations of SIA two weeks ago when the wiretapping scam was discovered.

-CAROL MATROO
Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday
Sunday, November 14 2010

United Force!

UNITED FORCE
Kamla Persad-Bissessar selected as prime ministerial candidate

Carolyn Kissoon and Kristy Ramnarine

The Trinidad Express

Sunday, April 18th 2010

It is final - Trinidad and Tobago’s leading opposition parties and some trade unionists have agreed to unite and contest the May 24 general election under a single banner.

And they have agreed that United National Congress leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar would remain as the prime ministerial candidate.

Following a five-hour long meeting at Kampo Restaurant in Chaguanas last night, the United National Congress, Congress of the People, National Joint Action Committee and the Movement for Social Justice announced that the decision was taken.

’Today is an historic day. There is no turning back now. We are fully committed to this movement,’ Persad-Bissessar said.

The UNC team, led by the political leader, included chairman Jack Warner and deputy leaders Roodal Moonilal and Suruj Rambachan.


IN THEIR NUMBERS: Flag-waving supporters of the United National Congress show their colours at the party's public meeting at Emerald Plaza car park, St Augustine, on Friday night. -Photo: ROBERTO CODALLO

Winston Dookeran, political leader of the COP, added: ’For us, this is a moment in history. We now embark on a road for political battle. Perhaps this is the first time there is such a coalition of parties together, taking such a unified approach. This is a fresh start,’ he said.

Dookeran said he was certain that the coalition would now be under scrutiny by the public.

’But we see ourselves as a patriotic group and that is what Trinidad and Tobago needs,’ he said.

Dookeran said it was agreed on ’common platform’ that Persad-Bissessar would lead the team into the general election. The COP team included Dookeran, deputy leader Prakash Ramadhar and Clyde Weatherhead.

Persad-Bissessar was also endorsed by former Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) president Errol Mcleod, chairman of the Movement for Social Justice.

’We are now on our way to rescue Trinidad and Tobago,’ he said. He was accompanied by leader of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs, David Abdulah.

NJAC’s political leader, Makandal Daaga, led his team which included deputy political leader Nyahuma Obika. Daaga said his party was ready to join forces and he was looking forward to working with the united force. The first joint political meeting would take place next Wednesday at Fyzabad.

On Friday night, Persad-Bissessar said negotiations between the party and COP were concluded for both parties to come together to contest the May 24 general election against the People’s National Movement (PNM).

’Only a few hours ago, negotiations were concluded between the UNC and the COP,’ Persad-Bissessar told supporters at the party’s political meeting at Emerald Plaza, St Augustine.

’And as you know, there’s been a lot of talk about these talks. Is there really change in the air? Will it be different this time? Will we move forward united. Will we walk this historic road together?

’I can tell you tonight, the answer is yes. We move forward as singular, unstoppable, unwavering force for change. History is already happening. Change is already happening,’ she said.

As the crowd waved their yellow flags and posters - which bore the face of Persad-Bissessar - the Opposition Leader said it was time to take back the country from Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

’There were those who thought the UNC and COP would not come together. That we couldn’t find common ground to move our nation forward,’ she said.

’They were wrong. Patrick Manning was wrong. He didn’t want to call this election. He didn’t want to have to face the people. But we forced him and now that we have, we must grab this moment and take back our country because it was never for sale, it was never to be used for personal gain.

’So take my hand and join me on this path. Together we’ll make things right...

’And so when Patrick Manning and his friends get desperate and start the lies and the dirty tricks and that’ll be soon, believe me. It’s not going to work. This time it’s different. It’s not about him. It’s not about me. It’s about us,’ she said.

Negotiations between the UNC and the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) have already been concluded with the agreement being that the TOP will screen candidates on the sister island.

Everyday pollution in TnT

When will our policymakers come up with legal limits for Trinidad and Tobago's  pollution levels? Great ideas are found in the article below.

Advice for Gov't on climate change 

The president of the University of T&T warned in 2008 that high levels of CO2 emissions were emanating from the nine ammonia and seven methanol plants at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, as well as from motor vehicles (33 million tonnes annually). T&T has one of the largest vehicle per capita populations with highly toxic poisonous emissions (greater than 400,000 vehicles for 1.3 million citizens). Since many of these are old vehicles, the pollutants are extremely high. Government has destroyed 140 acres of forest at Union Estate, the site of the smelter and another 85 acres at the site of the steel plant. Wildlife is seriously endangered and the fishing industry is at risk of extinction. We are experiencing increasing intensities of droughts, fires, floods, stronger storms and health-related vector diseases. The main waste dump sites are continuously ablaze from chemical reactions.

Lead and mercury seep from these sites into the waterways, leading to the Caroni Dam which supplies east and north Trinidad. Coastal erosion is severe in the South West Peninsula with huge mainland shores being washed away. The Government, despite widespread protests by citizens and a judicial ruling against the continuation of construction of an aluminium smelter (Alutrint), arrogantly pursues its continued construction. The judge ruled that the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to grant approval for construction of the Alutrint smelter was illegal and stated that the decision was “outrageous, irrational and procedurally irregular.” The EMA, being extremely inefficient and incompetent, fails to give a definitive method by which spent pot lining (SPL) would be dealt with. SPL contains cyanide, fluoride, arsenic and other toxic substances. The dangers associated with the treatment, crushing, extraction and transportation of SPL are extremely detrimental to human health and the environment.

The Government for the last eight years has shown no interest in working with the recommendations from the Geneva 1990 Second World Climate Conference for the Alliance of Small Island States nor with the West Indian Commission document on environment and development. The issues from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States held in Barbados in 1994, which identified climate change and sea levels as being amongst its highest priorities, was addressed by the then Prime Minister Panday Government, “Initial National Communication of Trinidad and Tobago under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” published in February 2001. Eight years later, this Government has failed to produce even a Green Paper on climate change issues.

The Opposition recommends the following:
1. There is urgent need for a comprehensive policy on climate Change.
2. Need to fast track collaboration with international organisations in pursuit of cost-effective strategies for carbon reduction, cognisant of economic development and sustainability.
3. Government must provide information on T&T’s emission trends, vulnerability, mitigation and adaptation options.
4. Government must engage in active consideration on the use of renewable energy sources, eg solar.
5. It must adopt policies for clean energy technology and approaches for energy efficiency.
6. Formulate a national agenda to create awareness.
7. Need for improved management by EMA.
8. Need for urgent action in treating with coastal erosion.
9. Need for a strong commitment for reduction of greenhouse gases and a mandate to produce new targets.

The Opposition calls for, under Article 4 of the convention, the Government to publish, update periodically and make available its national inventory of greenhouse gases and its national programmes to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is imperative that this Government takes climate change scenarios with the utmost seriousness in relevant future social, economic and environmental policies and actions.

Tim Gopeesingh
UNC MP 

Published: 1 Dec 2009, The Trinidad Guardian

The definition of a true trini

 
Dear readers,
some of the Trin posse were having a debate about that Brian MacFarlane piece during the Summit of the Americas and the conversation inevitably turned to the topic of common misconceptions trinis have about what makes a true trini. We want to make our stance clear to you sweet not-wanting-to-offend-anyone trinis: there is no one single definition of what constitutes a true trini. Our diveristy is what makes our country wonderful and rich.

In every developed country in the world (nearby examples being the USA and Canada) diversity is honestly respected by both those in power and by ordinary citizens. People are never expected to have to choose between being either African or American or being either Indian or Canadian - developed nations never makes such a nonsensical request to its citizens that in order to fit in you must assimilate and abandon your heritage.  Citizens are not discriminated against in the workplace because of religion, name or ethnic group. Being a citizen of a developed country never has and never will require that you think of your religion or heritage as a burden to society or a handicap to your career.

However in Trinidad and Tobago too many fools in high places say things like "you are a trini and you need to forget your heritage and your motherland in order to be a true trini, or if you want to keep your traditions alive you don't belong in Trinidad go back to your motherland". If the political leaders in Canada or America told that nonesense to any Italian American, African American, Chinese Canadian or any other immigrant that has settled in one of these first world countries, they would not be as passive as Trinidadians when it comes to protecting their rights and freedoms at work and at school from the onslaught of both religious and ethnic intolerance found in too many Trinidadian work and school environments.

A little history and modern day perspective for you  - that ideology of abandoning the motherland in order to be Trinidadian was conceived by PNM founding father Eric Williams, who back in the day was sniffing too much fairy dust and decided those who abandon their heritage would be considered the real trinis and everybody else should not belong - those who tried to maintain their religious and or cultural traditions were somehow doing a disservice to our country. Granted he was pioneering a new nation and had a few ludicrous ideas about how to develop this new nation so we at Trin have forgiven him for his lunatic racist ideas - pioneering is hard work! Also this way of thinking has since been classified as misguided and also as oppressive by most educated people. Was big daddy's idea oppressive? You bet. Wikipedia defines oppression as follows:

Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and anxiety.

As TnT strives for 2020 developed country status it seems, incredibly, that this way of thinking is still pervasive - and almost as if we are experiencing an Eric Williams revival. It seems the institutional racism in state enterprises is becoming more and more prevalent based on the job hunting experiences of some of our friends who have returned to Trinidad from the US over the last couple of years. These friends wanted to return home to make a difference...now some scratching dey head and wondering if it's time to just go back to USA because there's too much discrimination when trying to find a job in Trinidad. They submitted their CVs to a few very well known recruitment agencies in Port of Spain and our friends may have had more contact for interviews if they threw their resumes into a trash can. Unexplainable maybe not, but certainly eyebrow-raising.

People all over the world immigrate to the US and Canada because they are persecuted in their homelands and experience discrimination for just wanting to be who they are. Trinidad is still one of those oppressive countries that people want to flee - people are fleeing. So we have a brain drain and the ignorance spiral continues...

We believe it is important for you to question how diverse countries like the US and Canada manage to not just function but grow and prosper despite the presence of many large thriving religious groups such as Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and other faiths. Ask yourself if your ways of thinking and the way you treat other trinis at work and at school contributes to Trinidad remaining a 3rd world oppressive country. It is about time trinis realize there is no one single type of person - be it a person of a specific race, a person of a specific mix of races or a person from one religion that is more trini than any other person living here.

Ramesh Maharaj resumes battle with the Alutrint Smelter + the EMA

Ramesh vows to continue fight against smelter
-Kimberly Mackhan
The Trinidad Guardian
Published: 6 Oct 2009

Senior counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj will renew the fight against the construction of an aluminum smelter in south Trinidad following tomorrow’s resumption of a legal challenge into the decision from High Court Judge Justice Mira Dean-Armorer’s to halt the construct of the billion-dollar Alutrint project, in which government has a 60 per cent stake. “The basis of the Environmental Act is that in respect of environmental assessment and decision-making, the public do not only have a right to be consulted, but they have a right to participate and be involved in all of the environmental information. So in my view, this is a clear case of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) having no case, but there are two sides to every coin and we have a Court of Appeal and then we have the Privy Council,” Maharaj said.

He was speaking at a press conference he held in the rotunda of the Red House on Sunday. He, along with attorney Vijaya Maharaj, would be representing the anti-smelter lobby group, the Rights Action Group (RAG). “You would see when I make my submission (on Thursday), I would refer to instances where the EMA states that the report could not be the basis of a proper decision. “The EMA collected all the information to itself and made a decision without the public consultation in accordance with Section 28.” On June 16, Justice Dean-Armorer delivered a 156-page judgment that made note of the lack of proper consultation between the EMA and the residents of La Brea, where Alutrint was constructing its aluminium smelter project.

Her verdict quashed the EMA’s decision to issue a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) for the projects development. It also put a halt to the construct the billion-dollar aluminum smelter plant. With hundreds of millions of dollars invested into the project, Alutrint has retained queen’s counsel Keith Straker to challenge the judgement. “It may be that the EMA is asking the Court of Appeal to re-write the law, to re-write the Environmental Act and to go in a new direction with respect to environmental justice,” Maharaj said.

Grounds for EMA appeal:
In its appeal of Justice Dean-Armorer’s judgement, the EMA submitted that there is no specification in the Environment Act as to precisely when the EMA should submit the application the an EIA for public comment, except that it must be done before any CEC is issued by the EMA (Section 35(5). “Thus, there is no stipulation that the submission for public comment must take place either before the terms of reference is finalised, or while the EIA is being prepared, or after the EIA is completed and so on. “There is also no requirement that the EMA must conduct more than one period of public comment. All Section 35(5) requires is that the application be submitted for public comment.”