Trin | Surviving life in Trinidad and Tobago

Why is Gary Hunt sour?

Do you think it's sniffing too much PNM fairy dust that's responsible for Gary's bafflingly sour reaction to the success of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team in the Champions League Final? Here, go ahead and read the nonsense the sport minister man saying while our team is making Trinidad and Tobago famous all over the world, and not for murder or kidnapping mind you!

Sport Minister: No reward contemplated for team
The Trinidad Guardian
Published: 25 Oct 2009
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford

No award has been “contemplated” for the Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team for its prowess at the just concluded 2009 championships League Twenty20 cricket tournament in Hyderabad, India. Though having lost the final, their only defeat of the tournament, the team walked away with US$1.3 million. Yesterday, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt asked how the Government had planned to reward the team, said, “They did not win. At this point reward is not being contemplated, however, it will be discussed.”

Hunt also revealed that no welcoming party was planned for the team since they are carded to head to Guyana soon after they arrive. “The team is coming in late on Monday night, then they fly off to Guyana, so we have not planned a welcoming ceremony for them. But there is still time to discuss it with the cricket board.”

By the way allyuh see how John Bravo don't mix matters - we were happy to see his comments covered in the Guardian. Way to go daddy Bravo, tell 'em like it is! (Not like we think Manning even cares - he probably at home in his mansion rolling around in a vat full of money and watching the "Best of Robert Mugabe's Political Strategies" dvd.)

Bravo’s dad to Manning, Govt...Stay away from cricketers
The Trinidad Guardian
Published: 25 Oct 2009
Yvonne Baboolal
John Bravo, father of T&T cricket allrounder, Dwayne Bravo, is sending a message to Prime Minister Patrick Manning to not come to Piarco airport when the team returns home. “Tell Manning don’t come by the airport. We don’t want him up there,” an angry Bravo told the Sunday Guardian shortly after the T&T team lost the final match to New South Wales Blues in Hyderabad, India last Friday. “He aint give the boys nothing.” Bravo was referring to the Government’s alleged lack of financial assistance to the team and the help they solicited from an Indian firm. “We don’t want the Government in the airport,” John insisted. He said he and a Cantaro possee are planning to go to the airport. “I have to go to welcome my son home.”

He said he expected the team to win the league but felt good, nevertheless, because they gave 100 per cent. “They played Australia, who had eight Test players on their side. “Is cricket... If you know cricket, so it is.” T&T cricket captain, Darren Ganga’s entire family went to India to support him and his brother, Sherwin, Barackpore MP, Nizam Baksh said last Friday. “But we’re planning a celebration function for he and Sherwin with their original cricket club, All Apaches. “This is the club they played with from small.” He said Ganga’s grandfather was a cane farmer in the area and his father is a retired school teacher.

Patrick Manning's possible ties to group in NYC terror case

The Associated Press Article: 

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — A judge in Trinidad has ordered a probe into allegations that the island's prime minister promised state resources to a radical Islamic group in exchange for supporting his 2002 campaign.

The group is the same one that two years ago denied involvement with four men in a plot to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport.

An indictment in 2007 said the men hoped to "cause greater destruction than in the Sept. 11 attacks" by using explosives to ignite the fuel pipeline feeding JFK.

Authorities said the plot never got past the planning stages.

Trinidad Prime minister Patrick Manning did not return calls seeking comment on the judge's order for an investigation into the allegations.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

In case you were living under a rock and didn't hear about the Trinidad connection to the plot to bomb JFK, here it is: Authorities Hunt Fourth Suspect in JFK Bomb Plot in Trinidad.

The picture above, taken from the FOX News website shows Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, 56, left, and Guyanan Abdul Kadir arrive to the Magistrate Court for an extradition hearing in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Authorities said Kadir and Nur were longtime associates of a Trinidadian radical Muslim group, Jamaat al Muslimeen, which launched an unsuccessful rebellion in 1990 that left 24 dead.

The PNM has repeatedly dismissed calls from members of both the political parties the UNC and the COP to perform a complete investigation into the 1990 coup. And this is the kinda people runnin' we country. That real wrong yes. Opposition get your act together and move with this before the PNM Propaganda machine start taking people down!

Patrick Manning's PNM election dealings with terrorist Abu Bakr

Trin wants to know what kind of sick political leader makes deals with a known terrorist organization that tried to destroy democracy in Trinidad and Tobago in order to win an election. Pinochet? Mugabe? Stalin? Read on, see what our own Patrick Manning and the PNM are alleged to have done to thwart the democratic process and hold on to power. The results of the investigation remain to be seen of course, but this news is no surprise to most Trinidadians I am sure. Manning is a dictator and will do whatever it takes to keep our people oppressed, while allowing his criminal supporters free reign over our people. What a sick sick man.

Court orders sale of Bakr properties…
Judge: Probe ‘deal’ with PM
-Francis Joseph
Published: 12 Sep 2009
The Trinidad Guardian

A High Court judge yesterday directed that an affidavit filed by Jamaat al Muslimeen leader, Yasin Abu Bakr, detailing an alleged agreement with Prime Minister Patrick Manning, be sent to the acting Commissioner of Police and the acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for their consideration.

Justice Rajendra Narine, presiding in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court, said the matter caused him some measure of concern. He made reference to parts of the affidavit, although he emphasised that he held no view, nor made any finding with respect to the truth of the allegations contained in the document. Narine delivered a 27-page judgment in which he ordered that 11 properties belonging to Bakr and senior Jamaat member, Kala Akii Bua, be put up for public auction to satisfy a $32 million debt owing to the State for the destruction of Police Headquarters during the 1990 attempted coup. Bakr was not in court yesterday as he is in London with his daughter who will start university soon. The Attorney General was represented by Dana Seetahal, SC, Rikki Harnanan and Sean Julien, while Mark Seepersad, Gerald Ramdeen and Lemuel Murphy, appeared for the 114 Muslimeen insurgents.

After making the orders for the sale of the properties, Narine devoted the last seven pages of the judgment to deal with the controversial affidavit. During the hearing of the summons for sale application, Narine admitted the affidavit into evidence. On an application of the AG, the Court of Appeal struck out the document and Bakr went to the Privy Council. The British Law Lords, on May 5, ruled that the affidavit should be struck out for irrelevance but in the course of his judgment Lord Carswell, who delivered the opinion of the Privy Council, referred extensively to its contents. Lord Carswell stated that the essence of the agreement between the Prime Minister and Abu Bakr “was that certain advantages would be given to the Jamaat out of State property, in return for securing voting support for the Prime Minister’s political party. In the opinion of the Board this was corrupt within the meaning and intendment of Section 3 and each party to the agreement was acting incontravention of the section.”

In reference to the Privy Council’s judgment, In reference to the Privy Council’s judgment, Justice Narine said: “These are the pronouncements of the highest court in this jurisdiction. Yet, as far as the court is aware, no action has been taken by the appropriate authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations. “The allegations made by the second defendant (Bakr) are extremely serious. If they are true, they strike at the heart of our democratic system of government.” Justice Narine also said: “If the allegations are true, the Prime Minister made promises of state resources to the leader of an organisation which had made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the duly elected government of the country, in return for the Jamaat’s leverage in the marginal constituencies (during the 2002 general election).”

Narine, who will sit in the Court of Appeal next week, added: “The court is confident that the relevant authorities will carry out their constitutional duties without fear or favour. In recent times, there have been investigations and prosecutions of persons in high office. The guiding principle has been that no one is above the law, regardless of his position.” As far as Narine was concerned, this matter should be afforded the urgency and transparency which it deserves. According to Narine, Bakr’s affidavit stated that the Jamaat leader spoke and met with Manning, Larry Achong, Joan Yuille-Williams and Martin Joseph, before the 2002 general election.

According to Bakr, it was agreed that:
• The remaining lands at Mucurapo would be transferred to the Jamaat.
• The Mucurapo Islamic College would be included in the concordat and would receive funding from the Ministry of Education.
• The State would not enforce the payment of damages against the Jamaat.
In consideration of these promises, Bakr said the Jamaat agreed to, among other things:
• Work within the crime-ridden areas to bring about a reduction in crime.
• Work within the marginal constituencies to mobilise young people to vote.
• The Jamaat would publicly come out in support of the ruling party and would endorse the PNM for re-election.
Bakr said that after the election, Manning failed to honour any of the obligations under the agreement, especially the agreement not to enforce the judgment against the Jamaat.

The issue

The background to the case was the armed occupation by members of the Jamaat in 1990 of the Red House and TTT. The complex subsequent history led to two successful appeals to the Privy Council in relation to criminal prosecutions. The Jamaat sued the Police Commissioner in two actions and obtained an award for damages in each, the amounts being some $2 million and $700,000 or thereabouts respectively. Then in 1994, the Government commenced proceedings against the insurgents and Bakr, claiming damages for trespass and damage to, and/or destruction of property of the State at the time of the insurrection.

On September 6, 1996, the Government obtained judgment in default of defence for damages to be assessed. On January 15, 2001, damages were assessed by Justice Joseph Tam in the sum of $15 million, with interest. The debt stands at $32 million. On February 6, 2006, the Attorney General issued a summons on behalf of the Government, pursuant to the Remedies Against Creditors Act, for the sale of 11 parcels of land. On June 8, 2006, Bakr filed an affidavit in opposition to the summons, raising a major issue by way of defence to the claim.

Obamania in Trinidad!

Obama is coming! I wonder what fumble Manning will make in the presence of the great One to remind Obama that Trinidad, despite Manning’s best efforts to clean up for the Summit, Trinidad is just a banana republic after all.

I have gotten some slack from some PNM haters for being too harsh on Manning. Imagine that! The say he is not really a bad man, he is actually a Godly man, opposes gambling, is a pastor, and they want to know why I can't see Manning's good side.

What do trinis hope Obama's visit to Trinidad will accomplish? I'd be thrilled if Obama's commitment to serving the people of his country, his intelligence, his ideas about sustainable development and his sense of justice would rub off on our own power-grubbing Prime Minister and his pack of fools.

What type of leader sees about his house, land, car, wife and health before taking care of those who elected him? Seems like a very smart leader, right? I know Manning can't be too smart, or else is simply blinded by religious ignorance, when he tells a nation to "watch TV instead" when asked about possible action to combat the spread of AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago.

I want Obama to know that despite the big pappy show that’s about to commence for his benefit, our Prime Minister Manning has dipped his oppressive fingers into every aspect of our tiny society from:

•Angrily bursting into a radio station to confront broadcasters that dared to speak out against his policies and leadership skills (how scary!)
•Meddling in the Police Services Commission - having members of the police force dismissed for “being disrespectful” when they were doing their jobs, ignoring extensive research conducted to find a replacement Police Commissioner at a time when criminals are running our country
•Falsely accusing his own party members of being corrupt (Rowley), or flat out firing them (Valley) when they dare to question him
•Having his administration wage and lose a long and costly legal battle to remove the Chief Justice in order to gain more control over the judiciary
•That like a true nepotistic dictator he placed his wife into office without any explanation
•He has been written up by the Speaker of the House for being a delinquent participant in Parliament •That he repeatedly denied requests from the Opposition for an inquiry into one of the most unsettling and frightful events in our National history - the 1990 Coup
•Year after year he manipulates our Nation's highest merit ceremony - the Order of T&T awards – dismissing recommendations, so that his personal favourites win the majority of the awards year after year, while the contributions of one of the major ethnic groups in our society are consistently ignored •He seeks medical care abroad at our expense while we are left here with hospitals that are understaffed, badly equipped and falling apart.

Manning sounds like a real monster, doesn’t he? And allyuh think I too harsh.

I don’t know how everyday people will benefit from Obama meeting Manning but as the leader of the free world I really hope Obama’s influence will inspire the next leader of our country to step up and bring us the change we so badly need.

Our National Shame: Cuban doctors for the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister's gone to Cuba to get a tumor removed. He surveyed the length and breadth of our islands and decided there was neither a well equipped hospital nor one single suitably trained Trinbagonian surgeon in our entire country that could perform the procedure. He ditched us all and went to Cuba with his expense account, while we disbelievingly watched him go, choosing to put his life in the hands of Cubans instead of any of our own.

Unlike the Prime Minister we ordinary people are trapped with no expense accounts to fly overseas to treat a medical emergency. Heaven help us! We are left to deal with the evidently inferior medical services provided by our local health care professionals. I wonder what our local nurses, doctors and surgeons must think after being so snubbed by the man responsible for overseeing the development of our country, including our health care system and our hospitals.

This move is truly a defining low on the part of our Prime Minister; indeed it is a National Shame. I wish him everything he deserves during his recovery.

As Manning’s expense accounts grow our standards of living deteriorate. Obscene amounts of money are spent to maintain his life of luxury, while for us nothing changes.

This weekend 16 year old Tony Jaggan was beaten, stabbed through the heart and murdered by six men. Jaggan’s mother told the Trinidad Express “While walking towards MovieTowne, [his friend] Nicholas was struck by a car, and in retaliation he slapped the car's driver side window. The car stopped and its occupants, six in all, came out of the car, she related.

At the time of the incident Jaggan was some metres ahead of Nicholas, she said. When Jaggan saw what was going on, he ran to his friend's assistance. At this time the men in the car began taking out several weapons out of the vehicle, including at least one knife and an ice pick, she said.

When Jaggan and Nicholas saw the weapons they ran off. But in the attempt to escape injury, Jaggan tripped and fell, she said. Some of the men started to stab and hit Jaggan all over his body. Jaggan sustained a broken arm along with several stab wounds about the body, she said. Nicholas was also stabbed in his arm during the incident.

Jaggan's other friends stopped a van and the teenager was rushed to the Port of Spain General Hospital. Trinidad Express December 15th 2008

Someone’s child was senselessly murdered, but the Prime Minister is safe in Cuba with his sons and our tax money. Childhoods are lost, billions are spent but our young people are not any safer.

"$42 million will be spent on 200 luxury vehicles for use during the Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings."

$42 million that could instead be put toward buying ambulances, improving our emergency response services or upgrading our police patrol teams. A rapid response ambulance or the arrival of police on regular patrol might have saved the life of Tony Jaggan. Obscene amounts of money are squandered but lawless savages seem to be winning day after day.

"Manning’s travel expenditure for 2009 is $3.5 million, one million more than last year, even without his private jet.

Manning budgeted $1 million for medical expenses in 2009.

The Prime Minister's Establishment in the 2009 budget has $16 million to spend in the new year.

Manning has fired his army and police guards and is now paying the Executive Security Service $14 million of taxpayers’ money for private security.”
Richard Charan - Trinidad Express Investigative Desk Sunday, December 14th 2008

In 2007 “$1.6 billion was spent to keep 5,000 CEPEP people wastefully engaged in non-productive employment at a cost of $300 million. The other $1.3 billion went into the coffers of the PNM contractors and agents. When the URP criminality funding war chest is added to CEPEP it will turn out to be a $2.5 billion bonanza. That windfall was neither subject to accountability nor transparency. It, however certainly transformed Laventille and Morvant into killing fields.

$1.6 billion was spent under the UNC Administration and Trinidad got a new airport to show for it, large deposits secretly stashed away in foreign bank accounts and supporters facing the courts and in jail for alleged theft.” Shame and Scandal in CEPEP by Stephen Kangal February 24, 2007

In 1986 the PNM was defeated by the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR). The PNM won 3 of 36 seats with 32%.  But Trinis have amnesia or else they are incredibly masochistic. There is no difference between our country 22 years ago and today except that many innocent people must die in order for us to remember that the PNM’s legacy is failed development, mismanagement of funds, criminality, and “all a we tief”.

Nelson Mandela called Robert Mugabe a 'Tragic Failure of Leadership' for while Mugabe lives in his palace in Harare the people of his country continue to live in a state of humanitarian crisis - they cannot afford food, are dying because of poor medical care and are brutalized by Mugabe's private army; any political opposition to Mugabe is met with intimidation and harassment. (Manning instructed one of the nation's security agencies to investigate Opposition MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar. "I have monitored the relationship between the Member for Siparia and the individual concerned for years," Manning told the Parliament in December.) In this regard I believe the term "Tragic Failure of Leadership" applies to Manning as well

Jack Warner questions Opposition leadership; the Prime Minister announces project cutbacks

In other news, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced the cutbacks needed to contain spending in light of the anticipated loss of nearly $6-billion in revenue. Manning made cuts in three areas that directly affect us plebian people: Education Health and Housing, while continuing with mega projects such as the $15-billion rapid rail system. (Manning flies off to Cuba for his medical checkup on December 4th - part of his ongoing refusal to tighten his own belt.(Edit: he flew to Cuba sin private jet so the man is apparently making some sacrifices).

Manning told the nation:
There will be a slowdown in construction of new schools but all programs of the Ministry of Education will continue. We will continue the pursuit of the best health care system for the people of this country, but  some major infrastructural projects, like the new hospitals planned for Couva and Port of Spain will have to be deferred.
There continues to be an urgent need for affordable housing in Trinidad and Tobago. Regrettably, we will start no new housing units at this time. However all housing units under construction will be completed as well as preparatory works for projects already on the drawing board. We will also expedite the distribution of those houses already completed.

Responding to Manning's moves Panday said the measures are unfair and unfortunate, noting that "our rural communities, our children, the sick and the poor are to be made the casualties of this government's callousness and indifference and their relentless pursuit of corruption-riddled mega-projects.

The former prime minister said, "There are communities that have been waiting for schools for five and ten years. They have received promises after promises.
They have tightened their belts over and over, waiting their turn. And now, those children are not getting any school and they have no idea if and when they will ever get one." - HotLikePepperRadio December 4th, 2008.

Regarding Basdeo Panday, TG Mendes wrote in a letter to the Trinidad Guardian: “Ironically,[Panday] provided T&T with its most enlightened and equitable administration from 1995-2001. It is encouraging to see that Warner apparently now recognizes the fact that the party with which he is involved will be denied governance so long as Panday retains a leading role in it.

I do not for one moment advocate, after his contribution as PM in the period referred to above, that Panday simply be cast aside and forgotten. I am convinced he still has very much to contribute—in an advisory capacity.”  Letters to the Trinidad Guardian, Dec 2nd, 2008

Trinidad Guardian columnist Denzil Mohammed discussed the Obama phenomenon in his recent d Guardian commentary entitled "Grimm fairy tale paradox". He wrote:

    "John F Kennedy, in whose name the largest central space on the UWI campus is appropriately titled, represented hope for a generation and its offspring not merely looking to pay less for gas and get higher prices on their houses. They were looking for a way of escaping centuries-old imprisonment of mind and institution that ran farther and firmer than financial woes and a farcical “war.”  Then that hope was shot to death. For months now there’s been the same speculation—if they elect him [Barack Obama], someone will kill him. At least one plot already has been uncovered. I rub my eyes. Obama is still there.

I was ashamed, yes, for not believing... I had truly given up on people, especially so many people in a land whose quintessential characteristic is paradox. ...I will continue to watch from the audience. But, unlike before, I will watch with deliberate expectation, with hope and conviction and belief, no matter how pointless they may seem, no matter how implausible my desires, no matter how fanciful the fairy tale. Trinidad Guardian Sunday 23rd November, 2008

Is it this Obama effect - the audacity of hope - that prompted Denzil to resurrect his expectation, hope and conviction? Is it the Obama effect - that change we all need - that prompted Jack Warner to make public his thoughts about the UNC leadership, recognizing what we trinis all know - that political change in Trinidad and Tobago lies in mobilizing and unifying the fragmented opposition forces?

Warner bluntly declared “I think we have to put ourselves in order. Before we fix the country, we have to fix ourselves.” Mr Warner is calling for internal elections as the first “fix” needed by the party. It’s not enough for Mr Panday to invoke “discipline” against airing “internal matters” as a means of silencing unhappiness felt by members.

“I would expect people to be disciplined and follow the rules and the constitution of the party,” he scolded. Party rules also call for elections at regular intervals. If they aren’t held, Mr Panday himself should show serious concern.

"The readiness and the integrity as a democratic entity of the party that offers itself as an alternative to the PNM are legitimate matters of national concern.  Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters agreed with Warner’s recent sentiments that serious changes were needed within the UNC. Peters said he would support Warner for leadership if the opportunity ever arose." Trinidad Guardian Editorial Nov 30th, 2008.

After years of political inertia, the intellectual decay of our leaders and the continuing degeneration of our society's values, it is possible that Jack Warner could be the spark needed to mobilize the oppsition forces, preventing the inevitable death of our nation if Patrick Manning is allowed to continue holding the reigns of power?  Maybe it's a long shot, but can Jack Warner do for Trinidad what Barack Obama has done for America?

Trinidad's financial endgame; are you enraged yet?

Manning in an address to the nation, warned that Government’s revenue would suffer a $6 billion shortfall for the year and that unemployment was likely to rise. “I would urge restraint at all levels since this is a period when we must all tighten our belts,” Manning said. Asked by reporters if he too was prepared to “tighten his belt”, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning replied, “I do no live an extravagant lifestyle by any means. I do not drink alcohol. If I was to tighten my belt anymore what will happen to me.” - Guardian Nov 21, 2008

The ignorance of our Prime Minister enrages me. Extravagance, as defined by our erudite Prime Minister entails the consumption of alcohol, and solely the consumption of alcohol. Upon stern reflection, when asked by reporters, to ascertain if our Man-in-Charge would be leading by example, a self-righteous Manning said that he found nothing about his lifestyle to be extravagant and there was nothing he was willing to give up, as a matter of sacrificial symbolism, to show solidarity with his financially-strained citizens. I am so angry at his excessive arrogant self righteousness. He will continue to feed off of our sweat while we adjust our consumption accordingly. Absolutely unforgivably sickening.

Another sickening incident was that like Sleeping Beauty awakening after years of slumber the Prime Minister has finally clued in to the vicious financial crisis that has been engulfing North America and the rest of the world since 2007. Considering the barrage of advice being thrown at his cabinet since last year warning him that he needs to cut Government spending, ask yourself, is his  response too little too late? Our recent National Budget was based on crude at $70 per barrel. Today it is trading at $51 per barrel.

Why has the price of oil fallen? The price of crude has fallen in response to the global recession. Oil is expected to trade at $45 per barrel in the near short-term. "The declining demand due to recession in Eurozone, the US and Japan may pull down crude from 45 dollar per barrel  level; the US witnessed seven per cent decline in oil consumption on week on week basis."-NDTV Profit

Trinidad is not immune to the global recession as the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister imagined. All either had to do was pick up a financial newspaper anytime since early 2007 when the mortgage crisis ballooned, to have an inkling of what the economy might be like in 2008. But no; in Trinidad ignorance and self righteousness prevail in leadership while intelligence and good judgment are told to fuck off.

In September Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Mariano Browne, announced that Trinidad and Tobago's financial sector was safe as it had little exposure to the global financial system.

Since December 2007 Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams has warned that the Government must cut public spending. He said "Trinidad & Tobago must cut public spending and invest more in agriculture to lower food prices and stem rising inflation"  - Associated Press report on Dec. 23, 2007.

Annual inflation jumped from 7.3% in October 2007 to 8.1% in November 2007 and one year later inflation is 15.4% in November 2008. What's your inflation forecast for November 2009? (I ask this as visions of Zimbabwe dance in my head).

Did the Prime Minister wait too long to make cutbacks? What measures are in place to help our citizens deal with the impending financial fallout? Given the wealth of expertise and advice given to the Prime Minister over the last year regarding our economic future, it is an outrage that he waited this long to take action. Our time, our stress and our livelihoods are of no importance to the Prime Minister.I am seething with proletarian despair. Until next week, Trin.

Patrick Manning has a media meltdown and storms a Trinidad radio station!

Well boy. Patrick Manning's behaviour is just getting crazier and crazier by the week. What de mudder the man really think people will say when he decide to storm the radio station of 94.1FM on October 25th ? Manning say , “If the spirit moves me,” he will visit media houses to complain if he disapproves of the content they produce. Maybe the spirit should tell him to stop talkin and actin so friggin crazy. Well now everybody have an opinion about this storming business. I'll give ya the wrap.

Well first things first, really almost everybody agree that it was wrong and came across as intimidation on the part of the Prime Minister. Manning say it have no pro-government agenda media. I guess he ain't get the message yet that people up to they arse with stress from crime, food, inflation and the public doh really like him too much anymore. Media houses, how dare you complain about crime and wasteful spending on the part of the PNM! Why are you trying to make the PNM look bad?!

Energy Minister Conrad Enill (apparently singing for his supper?) gone and declare to all how "nowhere in the world is news reporting as bad as here in T&T.” I guess Mr. Enill didn't realize that when he makes such a dumbass biased statement all by he-self, losing all his integrity as an impartial and intelligent man, the media ain't have to even try to make up something bad to say about he! They just have to keep his comments on repeat in the public eye and we will all realize what a jackass we have for an Energy Minister.

Louis Lee Sing say how  “I commend him (Manning) for finally bringing his concerns to our attention, in a manner that must force all of us to stop and think—that is, if you can think—about your roles as media practitioners in a plural society.” and how “This single action by the prime minister has been, in my view, most fortuitous as it has brought centre stage the burning issues of professionalism within the media.”  - Trinidad Guardian Nov 12th, 2008

Lee Sing is a man who know a ting or two about burning issues of professionalism - his own radio station I95 FM employs one of the most unprofessional broadcasters in the history of Trini media. George "Umbala" Joseph instigated what eventually turned out to be a landmark libel case started because of comments Umbala made during his talk show on Lee Sing's i95 FM radio station. 

"Radio talk show host George “Umbala” Joseph sued Partap and Newsday for libel arising out of Partap’s letter to the Editor, published on December 11, 2004 in response to Joseph who had described UNC’s parliamentarians on his I95 FM Radio programme as “malicious”.

It was a landmark judgment in the High Court regarding the right of an individual to respond to a public attack and the responsibility of a newspaper to make available to the public the reply to such attack. High Court Justice Peter Jamadar, presiding in the San Fernando High
Court, threw out Joseph's libel claim and said Joseph criticized the UNC "in the most disrespectful and demeaning manner when he mocked the UNC in tone, attitude and content, by repeatedly referring to the UNC as “United Nasty Canesuckers.”

Justice Jamadar said that he found Joseph to have been “deliberately evasive and unhelpful if not untruthful” when questioned about the  comments. The judge ordered the Umbala Joseph to pay Partap and Newsday’s legal costs in the matter. George‘Umbala’ Joseph was ordered to pay $70,000 in costs.
- Newsday April 3rd, 2007

Lee Sing also make it clear that he doh agree with what Enill say. Apparently Lee Sing don't want to look like he is a dumbass too. I really cannot understand how Lee Sing can run a station that employs a talk show host as unprofessional and biased as George Umbala Joseph, yet be complaining about lack of media professionalism in a plural society. I guess the man really mean do as I say, not as I do?

Ken Gordon say it was clearly intimidation on the part of the Prime Minister and that Manning was wrong. He even went as far as to say "to go to the extent of suspending people on the basis of what was clearly a misguided and unqualified attempt to intimidate them was wrong.” He also said “an even greater crime” than the visit of the PM to the station was “ the fact that they have allowed so many stations to go unbridled without any attempt to pull them in when the behaved excessively.” Broadcasters have to conform to professional standards else face the penalty. In Trinidad we know how impossible it is to follow though on penalizing misconduct!

94.1 - The Station - suspend the two broadcasters - well I dunno what would have happened to that station manager if he didn't do something to appease the Prime Minister.

The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago condemned the actions of Prime Minister Manning. In response to MATT's statement Lee Sing say  "I am aghast that the Media Association has seen this purely as an opportunity to fight in the media with the prime minister!" Seriously, yuh getting closer and closer to doing the Enill with that statement eh Lee Sing.

The Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) say it is unacceptable for an organization or person “who is of the view that he has been wronged” to “enter the premises of a broadcaster to have the incorrect information corrected.” “In a democracy, to have a prime minister do so is unacceptable as it can be interpreted as an abuse of power and a threat to freedom of the press, because such action may be perceived as intimidatory,”  - Trinidad Guardian  Nov 8th 2008

The Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) say how if Manning lodges a complaint with them, they could not do anything because of the absence of a broadcast code. What?! What yuh mean we doh have a broadcast code? Say what?! Isn't that the same thing like running a country without havin any laws to follow as guidelines? Oh stupid me, is so the country really being run yes - running just like the media - without any standards.

(Gordon, Lee Sing and Manning pics are copyright the Trinidad Guardian. Enill's pic is copyright the NGC. Umbala Joseph's pic is copyright the TrinidadandTobago news blog).

Welcome to the new slavery. Meet your new Master.

PNM Gov't has Money To Burn, Report #1,000, 434.

The budget estimates are based on oil at US $70 per barrel. This Government is spending half-a-BILLION dollars hosting two conferences in 2009. Evidently once tings lookin' nice when the dignitaries arrive in 2009, then by PNM logic, f*ck anybody else 'cuz  tings officially nice.

There will be 50 dignitaries visiting for the Fifth Annual Summit of the Americas, but according to Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, we need 200 luxury vehicles.

Keisha Alfred wants to know* "Is this conference the raison d’etre of our country?" 
"For what purpose do we in Trinidad really need such vehicles? Do we get healthcare in such a vehicle?" 

David Subran, writes* "Having read of Government’s intention to import 200 luxury cars for the Summit of the Americas, and afterwards to distribute these cars to government ministries, I am compelled to reflect on the drastic reversal of the value system that now guides the development of T&T." 

"When the Government engages in such conspicuous consumption, the expectations of the masses will also rise, to the extent that some will commit crime to satisfy their wants. 

"The Government cannot ask people to restrain their spending and to “eat cassava” when the Government itself seems to be preoccupied with the acquisition of showy gadgetry and the trappings of office. Furthermore, this wanton waste of taxpayers’ money without the people’s consent... seems to be tantamount to a crime." 

Under slavery the masters were in complete control of their slaves. If the master chose to abuse his power there was no one to stop him.

Under the Manning administration Patrick Manning, a teflon man, is above the law - when the Opposition raised the issue of nepotistic practices within his administration (Manning appointed wife Hazel as an unelected minister), he hurled insults and chose to attack the character of the opposition members, avoiding the question. There is evidently no one to keep him in check. 

Trin believes that if we are not a part of the solution, we are a part of the problem. If you choose to engage in illegal or immoral behaviour, then we say you bloody well deserve what is coming to you in this life or the next. 

Former Prime Minister Panday was investigated for charges of failing to declare assets to the Integrity Commission, and was subsequently charged. A leader should not be above the law. Our young people need to see and understand that there are consequences for criminal behaviour, even for those in high places. 

It is an outrage that Patrick Manning seems to be above the law - no one better dare to investigate any action or statement of his, such as wondering what happen to some ten million dollars that disappeared under his watch, wondering how he could brazenly add his wife to the payroll just so (and who knows which other members of his family are also on the payroll). Welcome to the great PNM. Their divine leader appointed by God just as the slave masters believed they were doing God's will. Their leader's actions are above the law; we lowly people work to pay taxes to fund his extravagant lifestyle, to fulfill his every costly fancy, and the law is used only for lowly common slave workers and people that need to feel the wrath of God like the Oppositon members. 

Welcome to the new slavery, where we Trinbagonians exist to work to support the lavish lifestyles of our Prime Minister/Slave Master, his family and his elected officials; the elected officials no longer work to serve us.

In April 2008 World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick estimated that 100 Million people in low-income countries would be impoverished by the rising cost of food. I hope yuh enjoy yuh cassava. 

*Letters from the Guardian, Monday October 13, 2008
Photo 1 - monstersandcritics.com Photo 2- usinfo.state.gov

 

Editorial on parliament: "Parliament must enlighten"

"As in the instance of the Woodford Square fiasco over the no-confidence motion, Prime Minister Manning is demonstrating his extreme irritation with criticism and his preparedness to do whatever it takes to get even with his enemies, both real and perceived. "

"It is too often the case that what should be an engaging, enlightening and uplifting debate in the House of Representatives on fundamental issues, such as the national budget, degenerates into personal attacks.
These attacks are sometimes against people not able to defend themselves with such freedom as the parliamentarians enjoy against mauvais langue and partisan party politics. 
The end result is blissful ignorance of the issues involved in the debate by the national community and the continuing slide in the credibility of the Parliament."

It is clear that both sides in the verbal duel between the Prime Minister and his former colleague, Dr Keith Rowley, must share some of the blame for the fact that much of the debate got side-tracked.

On Tuesday night, what Prime Minister Patrick Manning had to “reveal,” using what he described as documentary evidence, amounted in the instance of his contentions against his former colleague of 20 years, no more than weak circumstantial evidence of alleged corruption.

If the Prime Minister really thinks he has evidence of one of his ministers feeding at the public trough, why did he not place the matter in the hands of the investigating authorities to pursue?

Why engage the Parliament in such an unsubstantiated allegation and, more than that, why trade on a privileged position in the chamber to insinuate in such a manner—surely no one was fooled by his pretence of not making an allegation—without presenting the evidence?

Moreover, it stretches credibility for the Prime Minister to come months, perhaps even years, after an event involving, as he claims, $10 million of public funds gone missing, to “discover” it in a document that one has to assume was always available to him. This discovery is also an indictment of the scrutiny by Cabinet before approval is granted for the expenditure of large sums of taxpayers’ dollars.

How could Cabinet have allowed such a simple arithmetical error, as indicated by the Prime Minister, to get by it?

Is it that the Cabinet gives the green light to any document that comes before it without the appropriate scrutiny?

The Prime Minister is therefore demonstrating the shortcomings of his own administration more than supporting the possibility of alleged corruption by a former member of the Cabinet.

How many other instances of discrepancy and possible outright corruption have got past the Cabinet? That is a question that requires an answer from Mr Manning.

In the instance of the Prime Minister’s allegations against UNC MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her alleged links to a member of the Integrity Commission, here again is an instance of the potential commission of a crime as it is illegal for a member of the commission to engage in the business of the institution with others outside.

Armed with such information, as he claims he has, why has the Prime Minister not put the information in the hands of the police for further investigation? Why has he kept it to use as political ammunition against his opponents? 

Questions might also be raised about how the Prime Minister came upon the information about the alleged link between Mrs Persad-Bissessar and someone associated with the Integrity Commission. Is it that the country’s intelligence services were instructed to monitor the private activities of an Opposition MP and her association with the Integrity Commission, an institution that is supposed to be free of the taint of partisan politics?

Would it not have been the preferred course of action for the Prime Minister to pass on his suspicions to the chairman of the Integrity Commission for him to order the investigations required?

As in the instance of the Woodford Square fiasco over the no-confidence motion, Prime Minister Manning is demonstrating his extreme irritation with criticism and his preparedness to do whatever it takes to get even with his enemies, both real and perceived.
Editorial, Thur Oct 2nd, 2008

Letters: Shame on us for not yet being angry.

Are we angry yet? The Prime Minister told Parliament on Tuesday that $10 million has been missing for years and is pointing a finger at his former deputy and Cabinet colleague, Keith Rowley.

So how come Patrick Manning sat on this “corruption” for years and is only now talking about it?

By his own admission Manning has indicted his PNM administration in corruption. “Where it gone?” he asked Rowley. But shouldn’t the nation be asking Manning the same question?

Manning stated clearly that there was a $10 million discrepancy in a housing contract while Rowley was in charge of housing and he is hoping that the former minister could shed some light on the matter and clarify things.

Well, what’s to clarify? Why didn’t he ask when Rowley was sitting in Cabinet? And why is he now asking after so many years? Is it because he now wants to paint Rowley as corrupt?

As captain of the ship, Manning must take responsibility for it. Manning should be asking himself “where it gone?” Because in the final analysis, $10 million of taxpayers’ money just vanished and Manning is still making like a saint.

And the tragedy of it is that we are not angry yet. Shame on us!

Capil Bissoon
Letters, Guardian Thur Oct 2nd, 2008

Rowley: Manning's boasting is not the PNM"s way!

Prime Minister Patrick Manning found himself at the receiving end, yesterday, of the political wrath of the minister he fired in April, Keith Rowley.

In fact, Rowley condemned the statement made by Manning, two weeks ago, in Woodford Square that "if the leader falls, all fall down." Manning made the statement while addressing scores of PNMites who journeyed from various constituencies to show support for Manning while the Opposition's no-confidence motion against him was being debated. But Rowley was not impressed.

"I took careful note of a comment by our Prime Minister last week Friday in Woodford Square, where he told the people gathered there among them the least fortunate of the country, Cepep and similar types all took careful note of the statement that "If the leader falls, all fall."

"That is not the PNM way, and it should never be like that!"

Rowley reflected on when his grandfather became a PNM supporter "because of the policies and programmes that Dr Eric Williams put in place , that converted me from a barefoot schoolboy in Mason Hall, creating the opportunity for mobility from the backwaters of a village to where I am in the Parliament of T&T."

"So PNM must not tell people that your future, your meal depends on me being in office. It can''t be that."

On the issue of inflation, "which has ballooned to 13.5 per cent," Rowley said it "bothered" him that government officials were discounting the issue as trivial.

"Approaching 10 per cent inflation and you get a comment from the top of the Government that the sky is not going to fall, it doesn't do anything for the confidence of those who hire you to do their jobs and it causes concern with people like me who are about to enter retirement.

"Because 15 per cent inflation is the biggest enemy to my quality of life and for the thousands of people in this country who live on fixed income," Rowley said.

Guardian, Tuesday 30th September, 2008

Letters: The growing PNM cult in Trinidad and Tobago

Why PNM now seems to be a cult

PNM must now be a cult. It has dogma—its Vision 2020 ideology. It has mentally blind followers willing to support and protect the movement regardless of circumstances.

The movement believes itself to be immortal: “Great is the PNM and it shall prevail.” Its leader believes he is divinely selected to rule. It locks other groups and individuals out of the governance system. It hears its own views only.

One commonality of cults is that they place their survival over and above that of mainstream social interest. Isn’t that what the PNM is about, placing its survival over that of the nation?

Consider the policies on crime, inflation, health, infrastructure development, land and marine farming, housing and urbanisation, transportation, energy monetisation and utilisation, local and central government reform. Are these pursued through national consensus? Are the majority benefiting?

B Joseph

Via e-mail

Guardian Letters Sep25th, 2008

Manning on Motion of No Confidence - "Tell them leave me alone"

"Referring to the Opposition in a fighting mood (The Prime Minister didn't care to give any truthful contribution to the debate, instead choosing to assemble an army in the Square, deflect any questions aimed at his performance by instead referring to the UNC administration from almost 7 years ago and generally carrying on like a circus clown while perform his war speech) in Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Patrick Manning told hundreds of his supporters, “Tell them leave me alone.”

Answering the accusation of nepotism  on the basis of appointing his wife to the Cabinet, the Prime Minister pointed to the presence on the opposition side of the House of three Pandays. Incredibly, and unbecomingly, he failed to note that, unlike Mrs Hazel Manning, all three Pandays had individually contested and won election to Parliament."  - The Trinidad Guardian - September 13th, 2008.

Patrick Manning appointed his wife Hazel as Minister of Education after the 2001 election (and during the debate justified this by tallying up the last names of the opposition members, all of whom were fairly elected in a democratic manner). Nepotism in politics occurs when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications.

When Manning says "Tell them leave me alone" is he implying that we ordinary citizens have no right whatsoever to dare ask him for some accountability? Is our government turning into a dictatorship? Wait a minute, is he (or his army of supporters).... threatening us? 

 The people of Trinidad and Tobago desperately want some answers, Mr. Prime Minister, answers to a few questions about corruption in your administration, to "charges of failure to perform, maladministration, lack of transparency and questionable dealings" and maybe some information on how you plan to fix our country's inflation, crime and education problems. We are not a nation of idiots and we would like some truthful and intelligent answers.

We were aware that the motion of no confidence was not guaranteed to remove the Prime Minister because of the obvious reason that his ruling PNM party has 26 of the 41 seats in the House of Representatives (won with 299,813 votes) while the UNC-A only has 15 seats (won with 194,425 votes, while the COP won not a single seat but received 148,041 votes).

Caribbean political union?

Here are two letters - thoughts from our citizens about Manning's regional integration crusade. Why can't just a few of these intelligent people that send letters into the newspaper every day ever end up in Government??

REACHING THE POINT OF NO RETURN ON POLITICAL UNION 

It should dawn on any reasonable citizen that PM Manning has pre-empted the yet-to-be-determined verdict of the people of T&T. He has now taken T&T, at enormous public expense, diplomatic hype and great bravado, beyond the political point of no return on his proposed union with at least three other Caricom states. 

He justifies this cart-before-the-horse modus operandi on the basis that a private club of which he is the jefe, that is to say the PNM, some 52 years ago invoked political integration as one of its bye-laws.

 At the legal level, PM Manning has no authority and has acted outside of his political and constitutional remit to have entered into contractual arrangements (MOU), the implementation of which will lead to the dissolution of the current state of T&T, abandonment of its Constitution and jeopardise the viability of the CSME. Any contract that violates the existing Constitution is void.

 This is a clear case not of the coalition of the willing but of the foolish sub-regional unilateralists bent on repeating the mistakes of the political history of the Caribbean of 1958.

 At the political and diplomatic level, PM Manning has assumed such a high and determined leadership profile, evidenced by the frenetic pace of his shuttle diplomacy up and down the Caribbean, that were Trinidadians/Tobagonians to say or allowed to say “no,” there would result such a catastrophic blow to our political reputation and diplomatic credibility in the Caribbean that we will want to seek shelter in shame and ignominy. That is the potential route that Manning is now taking T&T down.

 PM Manning has staked so much of his personal political legacy, presumption and sub-regional standing on the realisation of this fait accompli union initiative that it is likely to undermine, contaminate and detract from the genuineness of his proposed consultative process. That process should in fact have preceded the current multilateral discussions.

 Creeping dictators can under these political challenges degenerate into full-blown tyrants in order to have their political ways, having already dismissed the value of co-operation with the Opposition and committed T&T to ratifying the MOU by year-end. And this while the electorate and Parliament are still to decide.

 The CCJ in fulfilling its original jurisdiction function should be approached, based on the legitimate reservations for Caricom expressed by PM Bruce Golding of Jamaica, to give a legal opinion on whether the MOU infringes or is likely to infringe and retard the commitments already undertaken by the four countries within the ambit of the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caricom Single Market and Economy.

 Will not all of these potential developments make T&T look like having dollars but no political and diplomatic sense once again?

 Stephen Kangal, Caroni, Letters to the Guardian Sep 8th, 2008

 
PM putting cart before donkey

 It is somewhat ironic that our Prime Minister is rambling on about a Caribbean political union at this time when we celebrate our 46th year of independence.

 Prof Vaughn Lewis and Dr Cuthbert Joseph were given a mandate to prepare a road map by the end of this year that would hash out the details and offer concrete models.

 In response to questions from the Trinidadian public regarding what exactly this is all about, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said, with typical arrogance, that “until such time as the report is received, then really it would be premature to be talking about the exact form it will take and so on.”

 Is this not putting the cart before the donkey? Would it not have been more sensible to review what is proposed before flying all over the place talking about political union?

 Those three small island states must be smacking their chops at what their new fairy godfather can bring to their woeful economies, while we Trinidadians are left wondering what are the priorities of our Prime Minister.

 F Khan, St Augustine, Letters to the Guardian Sep 8th, 2008

Letters: Employ professionals to help police officers

The Prime Minister spent $18 Million on travel in 2007, no wonder he has no clue about the common man's daily stress from living in Trinidad. He has just donated $26 Million to neighboring countries affected by hurricane Gustav. What if Manning decided it was urgent to spend $26 Million fixing our roads and bridges and clearing our drains to prevent the flood disasters of last week? Imagine the cost of damage if a hurricane hit us? What if he thought it was important enough to spend $18 Million on improving the police force? Ah to dare to dream...

Rev Dr Michael Friday writes:
A middle-management police officer shoots a non-violent citizen to death. A woman is enraged to find her police officer spouse in a compromising situation with another female in a police station/office.                  
These two recent incidents are among the many that constantly remind us that all is not well within our Police Service. The service is crying out for urgent intervention, both of a spiritual and psychological nature.

Many police departments all over the world employ the services of either chaplains or psychologists. Some do both, as in the case of neighbouring Jamaica. Their Police Chaplaincy Unit has been of              invaluable assistance in developing standards for professional behaviour, personal development, stress management, debriefing and other procedures after shootings of any kind, recruitment, training, promotion and, generally, the development of a new culture within the force.
            
If T&T is supposedly on track to be a developed, first world nation by 2020, we can by no means achieve this with police personnel who ape caveman behaviour. We cannot go on with reactive responses to intrigue within the service. It is high time for the full-time employment of professionals who would help the service rid itself of its potentially dangerous miscreants, and help the many good ones become better professionals and greater people.            

Rev Dr Michael Friday            
Former assistant chaplain-psychologist            
Jamaica Constabulary Force      

Trinidad Guardian, Saturday September 6th, 2008

Trinidad to fund St. Vincent's new airport.

Trinidad committed to international airport in St Vincent

By Duggie Joseph
Caribbean Net News St Vincent Correspondent
Email: duggie@caribbeannetnews.com
Published on Monday, July 14, 2008
 

Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has pledged his government’s assistance in helping St Vincent and the Grenadines realize its goal of constructing an international airport.

Manning was invited to Sunday’s ‘ground-breaking ceremony’ for the airport but was unable to attend. However, he sent an official statement, which was read by Hans King, Press Secretary for Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Manning pointed out that his government had opened a CARICOM Petroleum Stabilization Fund three years ago, the purpose of which was to assist with poverty alleviation and to provide relief in emergency situations.

“In response to a request from the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for US$10 million to start with the construction of this runway, Trinidad and Tobago decided to establish a special window in the CARICOM Petroleum Stabilisation Fund, to help finance infrastructure development projects and programmes of countries within the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States), with an allocation of TT$6.5 million per month,” Manning said in his official statement. 

Manning said establishing the special window became necessary, since St Vincent and the Grenadines’ request did not meet the established criteria for accessing money from the Fund. 

(What exactly is the criteria for accessing funds? Do we kiss ass and get $6.5 Million a month? Here we are, poor suffering stupid trinis dying at the hands of murderers, gang wars, imaginary dengue and losing our homes to floods but our Prime Minister's responsibility is to take care of St. Vincent. Neighbourly yes but we all know it's just a grandiose scheme to stroke patos' megalomaniac ego as we trinis need neither poverty alleviation nor emergency measures to combat crime. Perhaps St.Vincent will also send people over to Trinidad to vote for the great PNM in the next election to ensure that they prevail forever! Yay us Trinidadians!)

(Oh, didn't you know a Commonwealth citizen can vote in our elections? The link above states that "A Commonwealth citizen, 18 years of age or older, whom has resided legally in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of at least one year and has resided in an electoral district/constituency for a least two months prior to the Qualifying Date." )

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, recognizing the need to commence this project without undue delay, decided to capitalize up front, the funds in the special window by a sum of TT$78 million, that is, an injection of one year’s funding at TT$6.5 million per month,” Manning stated."