Jack Warner wants Calder Hart fired from NIB

Chaguanas West Jack Warner is calling for the immediate removal of Calder Hart from the post of Chairman of the National Insurance Board (NIB). Hart is also the Executive Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT).

In a news release, Warner said Hart is in a conflict of interest and that he in ineligible to hold both positions because of the regulations governing the appointment of directors and a chairman to the NIB.

The MP pointed to page 8 of the National Insurance Act, Chapter 32:01 section 3(2) that states:

The NIS System is managed by an eleven-member Board comprising of:-

1. Government representatives
2. Labour representatives
3. Business representatives
4. the Executive Director
5. a chairman who in the opinion of the Minister (Finance) is independent of Government, Labour and Business

Warner said Hart, the current Chairman, was in fact a Government representative on the board before he was elevated to the post of Chairman.

He said this in itself disqualifies Hart from serving as Chairman of the NIB.

"It is a blatant disregard for the law and a clear violation of the rules governing the appointment of a chairman for the NIB," he said.

The MP said in view of the clear evidence of a breach of regulations Hart should be removed forthwith to maintain the integrity of the National Insurance Board and to protect people who have contributed to the system.

"There is more to the whole scandal. Not only is Mr. Hart not eligible to be the Chairman of the NIB, he is in a clear conflict of interest. Since UDeCOTT borrows money from the NIB to finance its multi-million projects, Mr. Hart is in effect the person who applies for the loan and then approves it," Warner said.

Warner said this is scandalous and called for an independent public investigation into the loans approved by the NIB to finance UDeCOTT projects.

"In particular the government must reveal the terms and conditions of each loan, especially the rate of interest."

The UNC Deputy Leader said, "Mr. Manning has an obligation to give citizens the assurance that Mr. Hart, in his dual role of borrower and lender, is not bankrupting the NIB...The people who depend on the NIB must know that this breach of rules and conflict of interest is not putting their benefits and pensions in jeopardy."

Agriculture minister says TT has no food crisis

Agriculture Minister Arnold Piggott says Trinidad and Tobago is not facing a food crisis. His comments came as news to citizens who are scrambling to buy scare food at exorbitant prices and contradicted the reality that confronts consumers daily.

"I wouldn't like us to say that we have a crisis in food in Trinidad and Tobago, because I don't know that we do. I am not aware that we have a crisis at this time. What we have been doing is seeking to prepare such that we don't find ourselves in a crisis," Piggott told reporters Monday at a news conference in Port of Spain.

Piggott said while the nation is importing much of its food "we are producing substantial quantities of food in Trinidad and Tobago."

His revelations also contradict statements by his Cabinet colleague, Consumer Affairs Minister Peter Taylor.

Last week Taylor encouraged consumers to change their eating habits and start planting home gardens to survive the worsening food crisis. Taylor advised the nation to beat the current food crisis by eating what we produce and producing what we eat.

He called on consumers to readjust their tastes and he placed high emphasis on cassava as a substitute for wheat flour. He also spoke of plans to grow cassava as a substitute energy source for poultry.

Taylor said he anticipates that would drive down the cost of chicken, which, he revealed, has already become cheaper by 20 cents a pound during the past week.

Piggott told reporters his ministry is currently conducting “a gap analysis” to determine how much we produce, as opposed to what the population demands. And he urged citizens “to be understanding.”

The minister also announced that his government is “acutely aware of the imperative that has been placed upon Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate increased food production and as we speak, several committees are diligently at work to fine tune certain initiatives."

The committees, he said, are dealing with revising incentives to farmers, praedial larceny, and subsidies for rice farmers and tackling possibilities for labour supply.

He acknowledged the unprecedented increases in the cost of food, adding that a committee is dealing with food and inflation while another is guiding the land settlement and distribution process.

Piggott encouraged farmers to form associations and cooperatives. He said the Government had begun to look at infrastructure development in terms of access to roads, drainage and irrigation.

Read Jai Parasram’s column on agriculture: Revenge of the stepchild

President of the Supermarkets Association, Balliram Maharaj, said news reports clearly point to a global crisis for rice and wheat. He disagreed with Pigott, saying the nation is indeed facing a serious food shortage. However he agreed on the need to act quickly to develop and revitalize agriculture.

President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), Gregory Aboud, agreed that there might not be a food crisis today but he is convinced that one is imminent.

"The fact remains that there is widespread international concern about the supply of food and that should be ample warning to our country that agriculture needs to become a priority again," Aboud told local media.

Read related story: Food crisis threatens global security

Food crisis threaens global stability: UN Sec-Gen.

The United Nations is setting up a high-powered task force to deal with the global food crisis under the chairmanship of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The heads of other UN agencies and the World Bank will be part of the task force.

The UN chief says the number one priority is to feed the millions are going hungry because of soaring prices for basic commodities such as rice and flour.

The UN estimates that believes 100 million people are going short of food, and the World Food Programme says it will need an extra US$755 this year to meet its goal. That’s an increase of nearly 50 per cent.

The challenge is more intense because even developed countries are facing food shortages and governments have to adjust economic policies to deal with the crisis, which has reached – or will soon reach – their doorsteps.

In Canada, for example, one report warned that it is a matter of months before the country will face extraordinary price increases. The report by the bank of Nova Scotia says the effect of the crisis have been cushioned so far because of competition among the large grocery chains, but warned that that would end soon.

The World food Organization predicts that the food crisis would have multiple effects but warns that its most serious impact would be on the most vulnerable.

In one year, the cost of staple foods like rice, grain, oil and sugar have all gone up at least 50 per cent. And there is no end in sight.

Speaking with officials in Berne, Switzerland, World Bank President Robert Zoellick urged countries not to use export bans to protect food stocks. A host of countries across Asia have suspended rice exports amid fears that insufficient domestic supplies could lead to acute instability.

"These controls encourage hoarding, drive up prices and hurt the poorest people around the world who are struggling to feed themselves," he said.

In a statement after the meeting, the World Bank said that it would double its lending for agriculture in Africa over the next year. It said it was also considering providing quicker and more flexible financing for poor countries.

Food has become increasingly expensive, triggering unrest in several countries. In Haiti, the prime minister was forced to quit this month in the wake of violent food riots that spread from rural communities into the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The UN Chief says emergency measures are urgently needed to help the most needy and to give them access to basic foods in the coming months.

He warns that if this doesn’t happen the crisis will escalate and pose real threats to "economic growth, social progress, and even political security".

Tobago Jazz Festival offends TT PM's "spirituality"

Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his former Trade and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley are in Tobago for the weekend. But their agendas are different. While Rowley showed up at the International Jazz Festival to a warm welcome, hugs and kisses, Manning kept his distance.

Following Rowley's dismissal from Cabinet, Tobago expressed anger at the treatment meted out to their "native son" and there was even the suggestion that the fallout for Manning would be serious, some even saying his People's National Movement (PNM) risks losing the Tobago House of Assembly(THA) elections due by the end of the year.

Chief Secretary Orville London said he expects some adverse reaction but did not offer any political judgements on what might happen in the aftermath of Rowley's firing.

Political sources say Manning was well-received when he arrived in Tobago Saturday with his wife, Hazel, and son, Brian. But he didn't venture into the heart of the island and he is staying far from the Jazz festival.

The sources say it's not because of fear that he would get a cold shoulder over the Rowley matter but because Manning never planned to attend the festival. because "spiritually his orientation is not entirely consistent with matters of that nature."

Manning wears his "spiritual orientation" on his sleeve.

The sources did not explain what is offensive with Jazz, which is a free-form art based on variations of classical techniques for the purpose of emancipation from rigid musical standards. It is similar to Calypso, which is more focused on lyrics, some of which could be obscene and inappropriate.

His wife and son plan on attending while Manning will spend his time "to catch up on government work." Cabinet members are also attending the shows.

Some of the international names at the three-day fourth festival in Plymouth include Whitney Houston, Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart, Diana Ross and Shikara.

Indepedent Senator calls for UDECOTT probe

Independent Senator Mary King wants an inquiry into The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) and wonders why one man has the power to control 20 per cent of the country's budget.

King told the local media Calder Hart, Udecott Executive Chairman has too much power.The senator was commenting on the dismissal of Dr Keith Rowley from the Cabinet.

Prime Minister Patrick manning said last week he had to remove Rowley because of behaviour that was unbecoming of a government minister.

But Rowley, who is yet to tell the nation his side of the whole story, told his Diego Martin West constituents Manning fired him because he expressed concerns over Udecott and demanded "Cabinet oversight of Udecott’s activities, where billions of dollars of state funds are being expended on projects which are unnecessary.”

Rowley said he was deeply concerned about the agency's "procurement processes and the nature of the activities, with respect to Cabinet oversight.”

King said allowing Hart to control 20 per cent of the country’s annual budget was putting too much power in the hands of one man.

“There really should be proper control. Hart has been holding down so many positions, which is an open door for corruption and lack of transparency...No other country in the world would give one man so much power. This should not happen,” King told the Sunday Guardian.

She also raised questions about Hart's background and wondered if he declares his assets to the Integrity Commission, and whether Udecott have proper tendering procedures.

Read related story: Hart goes on the defence
Read Related story: Businesses want probe of mega-projects

Hart was out boating on Saturday, according to his wife. "My husband works very hard, you know. He needs a rest...People are just blowing things out of proportion,” Sherrine Lee Hart told the Guardian.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark has also called for for “an independent, impartial forensic investigation” and inquiry into the overall operations of Udecott and Hart.

The former chairman of the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee (PAEC) said investigations into Udecott projects between 2002-2005 showed the State-owned organization was “loose" with its operations.

“We were shocked that a company that had under its control over $10 billion in projects had very weak systems of internal controls and mechanisms," he said.

Last Wednesday Mark said, “The time has come for a criminal investigation involving fraud, open theft and other illegal activities to be launched by the Fraud Squad against Udecott...We believe the population has been fleeced of millions of dollars.”

He also suggested the Director of Public Prosecution and the Integrity Commission probe Udecott.

Read related story: Scandal in government spending; opposition demands inquiry

Calder Hart has too much power: Critics

There is a chorus of condemnation from the opposition benches about the role of Calder Hart, the Executive Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT) and the power he wields in spending state funds.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the Opposition UNC-A will use all its powers to get answers and expose what she calls "rampant corruption surrounding UDeCoTT."

The Siparia MP and former Attorney General says this is a critical matter and suggested that Hart's "power" was at the root of the dismissal of senior Cabinet Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Rowley raised concerns at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting over the building of a 60-room hotel along with the National Academy of Performing Arts project, one of more than a dozen mega-projects to be built by UDECOTT as part of the government's Vision 2020 project.

Rowley told reporters Prime Minister Patrick Manning fired him for objecting to UDECOTT's "access to and expenditure of public monies in a manner which does not meet proper procurement practices."

He explained that it was matter of principle: "Given the position I took with the UNC, and it was never political, it was always about principle. I believe that if something is wrong under the UNC, it is doubly wrong under the PNM because we should know much better."

Rowley revealed that some members of Cabinet were shocked to learn the a 60-room hotel was going to be part of the performing Arts project.

He said following a presentation by Hart his objections were made "firmly within the confines of the Cabinet and that under the Westminster system, where members are jointly and severally bound, any objection by a Minister has to take place within the confines of the Cabinet and its sub-committees".

Rowley said he used no obscene language, did not bang on his desk, nor did he shout or attack anyone. He said he merely questioned the large sums which UDECOTT was expending without proper oversight.

He added that he understood how UDECOTT operated and he felt "duty-bound to intervene".

Manning has told a different story. He said he fired Rowley because of he behaved like a "hooligan" and explained that his action had noting to do with Rowley's concerns over UDECCOTT and Hart.

In fact the prime minister even suggested that Rowley might be back in Cabinet because he is a Christian and can be forgiven.

But the opposition is not buying Manning's story. Persad Bissessar said while the government is committing billions of dollars into UDECOTT's mega projects there is little or no transparency and accountability.

She suggested that it was appropriate for an intervention by the Auditor General, adding that an independent commission of enquiry was in order.

Manning is not perturbed by the opposition's rantings. He has made it clear that there will be no investigations into UDECOTT.

Hart has overall responsibility for the award of contracts worth billions of dollars.

• Some of the projects include:
• Customs—$114 m
• Inland Revenue—$275 million
• Legal Affairs—$375 million
• Education Ministry—$114 million
• Health Ministry—$143 million
• A 1600 unit car park—$175 million
• The POS Waterfront—$1.2 billion, which includes the 428-room Hyatt hotel
• 42,000 square foot Arima Borough Corporation
• 35,000 Chaguanas Regional Corporation Complex
• Diego Martin Regional Administrative Complex
• Chancery Lane Complex, San Fernando
• Scarborough Esplanade Waterfront project
• National Academy for Performing Arts, Port of Spain (which got Rowley into trouble)
• National Academy for the Performing Arts, San Fernando
• National Carnival and Entertainment Centre, Port of Spain
• Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba ($500 million approximately)

The projects are in varying stages of planning and implementation with UDECOTT having total financial control. Critics say this gives Calder Hart more power than Cabinet ministers and he seems invincible because he answers only to the prime minister.

The race for the White House - anything's possible

Central Bank warns TT to watch big spending

The Central Bank is again warning the government of Trinidad and Tobago to go easy on big spending. Governor Ewart Williams says increasing inflation poses the biggest threat to the country’s economy, and warns of the possibility of double-digit inflation.

The annual inflation reached 10 per cent in October 2006, then took an encouraging downward slide reaching a low of 7.3 per cent in November, last year. But since then it has been moving up again, reaching 10 per cent again in January with February figures showing at 9.4 per cent.

Read related story: Inflation reaches 10%

One of the bank's major concerns is the continuing rise in food prices, which pushes inflation up. The other problem is public expenditure.

Williams told journalists Monday it is imperative for the government to slow down the public spending both by the central government and quasi-government institutions.

He said governments all over the world are watching inflation closely and developing monetary policies to keep it in check.

"Everybody has now recognised that the global food crisis and financial turmoil threaten stability and certainly price stability,” he said, adding that the government must act with urgency to stimulate agriculture.

He suggested a partnership involving government, business and labour to work at controlling prices.

Williams raised one major private transaction, which he says can have a significant impact on the economy. He said the Central Bank is particularly worried about the massive payments to be made by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to shareholders of RBTT, who agreed recently to sell their shares in the takeover.

RBTT shareholders approved the sale on March 26 for $7.5 billion.

The Central Bank's Monetary Policy report says based on the impact of this financial transaction the government must rethink how it is spending money.

Williams was not optimistic about the government reaching its target of six per cent inflation by the end of 2008 because of serious challenges on the domestic and international scene.

The United States is facing what its senior economic planners have called the worst crisis since the Great Depression. And that will affect not only America's big trading partners like Canada, but economies across the world.

Williams said one of the biggest problems facing Trinidad and Tobago today is consumer spending, noting that bank loans for motor vehicles went up by 50 per cent last year.

The bank's Monetary Policy Report says, "Stronger monetary policy action and considerable expenditure tightening" is needed to tame "existing demand pressures."

It recommends re-phasing some budget expenditure to deal with poverty reduction programs and projects "geared to accelerate the resuscitation of the agricultural sector.”

Read Jai Parasram's column on agriculture: Revenge of the stepchild

Inflation hits 10% in TT

Members of the House of Representatives were talking about the rising prices of food Friday as the Central Bank reported that the annualized inflation rate had climbed to 10 per cent by the end of January – a staggering 2.4 per cent increase over the December figure.

The bank said food was mainly responsible for the steep increase.

On the inflation index, food prices were up from 16.8 per cent to 20.8 per cent, a full four percentage point upward move over the same period.

The ‘food inflation’ was mainly in basic edibles:

• bread, cereals (up 14.1 per cent)
• milk, eggs and cheese (28.4 per cent)
• meat (13.7 per cent)
• fish (17.2 per cent)
• fruits (34.8 per cent)
• vegetables (30.2) per cent

What it all means to the consumer is that the average buying power of their earnings had been devalued by four per cent in the space of 30 days while their wages remained fixed. That’s only the big picture. On individual needs it is worse.

A pound of tomatoes that cost $10.00 in December 2007, would have cost $13.02 and fruits at the same prices of $10.00 would be selling at $13.48.

The bank also announced that it has moved up its overnight interest rate - the 'Repo rate' – by 25 basis points to 8.25 per cent. The rate had remained constant for the past 17 months.

The Central Bank said high oil prices, a booming economy and “global and domestic food price shocks" are to blame.

In parliament, Gopeesingh attacked Trade Minister Dr Keith Rowley for comments he made blaming people’s lack of productivity for creating the high prices.

Gopeesingh said Rowley insulted the citizens of the country and demonstrated a lack of compassion.

The Caroni east MP pointed out that the blame was not with the people but the government, which he said had failed to arrest the problem and provide food for the people.

He said people are not getting value for their money, adding that government had failed to deal with the problem of closing the gap between wholesale and retail prices.

Using tomatoes as an example, the MP pointed out that the difference between what a farmer gets and the price at supermarkets is 100 per cent.

And he said it is worse with many other produce. Melongene, he noted, had a markup of 700 per cent, with peppers selling at 300 per cent markup.

Gopeesinghi’s parliamentary colleague for Couva South, Kelvin Ramnath, called it extortion.

Story originally written Feb. 23/09

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Revenge of the stepchild

Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General opened the United Nations conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Accra, Ghana on Sunday with a warning to delegates that higher food prices risk wiping out progress toward reducing global poverty and eventually hurting world growth and security.

Ban pledged to use the full force of the world body to tackle the price rises, which threaten to increase hunger and poverty and have already sparked food riots in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and nearer home, in Haiti.

"I will immediately establish a high-powered task force comprised of eminent experts and leading authorities to address this issue," he announced.

His speech far away on the African continent sounded familiar and similar to what the people of Trinidad and Tobago have been hearing from the Patrick Manning government for months. The prime minister keeps promising measures to deal with the problem while at the same time shifting blame to anyone but those who must take responsibility – members of his government.

Now a head honcho of the governing People's National Movement (PNM) is talking about buying food from "sources" in Latin America at one third of the current cost. John Donaldson was short on details, saying only that the consumer affairs minister Peter Taylor would have the details Tuesday. That's the same Peter Taylor who urged people to boycott supermarkets and brushed off looting as "routine" practice along the Beetham Highway.

And from London where he is at the bedside of his ailing spouse, Basdeo Panday is calling for a people's revolt against the present regime.

"You don't have to wait five years for change, you can bring the Government down by demonstrations and marching, but the people must have the courage…If they do nothing, then they must simply be prepared to suffer the consequences," he said in an interview with the local media.

In the end, the reality remains the same. People are hungry and cannot afford food in a nation that is awash with billions of dollars from an unprecedented oil boom that has seen the price of oil rise beyond US$115 a barrel.

Many years ago Professor George Sammy warned Trinidad and Tobago to nurture agriculture because a nation can never be independent unless it can feed itself. "You can walk naked," he told an agriculture conference, "but you cannot go without food."

But nobody was listening. Nobody important that is. Agriculture remained, as it did through every administration, a stepchild and a pariah.

Every year farmers begged for help to arrest the problems of flooding and access roads. Every year they implored those in authority to create the mechanisms to make agriculture attractive and profitable. And every year they were left with an empty begging bowl.

Today that neglect is showing. Food prices are steadily climbing, the government keeps making promises and the army of the hungry grows.

And Dr Sammy’s predictions have come true. Part of the food problem is that nations that grow food for export are hoarding it for themselves or selling it where they can get the best price in the new globalized world. And the other part of the problem is a failed agriculture policy.

Every Trinidad and Tobago government has refused to help the struggling small farmer cope with flooding, access roads problems, technical expertise, funding and marketing. For the most part farmers provided a service. And nobody was listening when they asked for help because despite their problems, the food reached the market.

Today we are hearing of hundreds of small farms, allocation of lands for a demonstration farm, mega-farms with Cuban experts and an ambitious Caricom food plan proposed by Guyana. But it’s all talk. And the most fundamental and basic problems remain.

Even if some of these things happen, it would take years to see the result. And many of the same recurring infrastructure, economic and logistical problems would continue to undermine agriculture.

And then there is the politics of agriculture.

"We try to bribe dem by keeping Caroni open, but dey still aint vote for we." That’s a direct quote from the late PNM Cabinet minister Ronald J. Williams who called his boss, George Chambers, "a damn fool" for not shutting down the sugar company that sustained a community of nearly a quarter of a million people, most of whom were perceived to be pro-opposition.

Two decades later Manning did it, ostensibly to save the plundering of the treasury by a company that was existing on a subsidy averaging one million dollars a day. He called it the best decision he has ever made.

But he is yet to demonstrate the wisdom in taking that decision. Thousands of former sugar workers are still waiting for the land his government promised them, land that would have been producing food today.

Even a court judgment has not accelerated action on these farms. And I would wager that we are not going to see those farms soon.

There is a reason for the disdain for agriculture: politics.

Manning once told me that a state enterprise did not exist for profit. “It is there for social stability, social stability,” he insisted. If that is so, why close down a state industry like Caroni (1975) Limited? If any state enterprise qualified under Manning’s definition, it was Caroni.

But Manning did it for political spite in an irrational move that was not based on economic or social planning. It was an opportunity to crush the opposition base and destroy its leadership.

It didn’t work.

In fact, Manning could very well have been on the opposition benches if Winston Dookeran and his tribe had heeded the call of the United National Alliance (UNC-A) to fight Manning in 2007 as a united team. So much for dispossessed sugar workers.

That is why those farms for former Caroni workers will remain a promise and an illusion. That is why agriculture remains a stepchild. And that is why the nation is unable to feed itself.

If you look at Caroni alone in the context of a national agricultural strategy you would be amazed at some of the truth that got smothered in the spin about the company being a drain on taxpayers and the economy.

First, it employed nearly 10,000 people directly and a further 6,000 cane farmers produced cane for the factories. That’s 16,000 people and their dependants – a total of about 64,000. These people supported the shops and other businesses that grew up in the agricultural communities. The essential trade provided tens of thousands of small entrepreneurs who worked and lived, looked after their families and upgraded their standards of living.

In other words, that state enterprise that Manning shut down provided the “social stability” that was so important to him.

The spin only portrayed Caroni workers as illiterate cane cutters and field workers. In reality Caroni was much more than that. It was also a community of mechanics, drivers, heavy machine operators, clerical workers, computer technicians, managers, engineers and doctors.

Here are some other facts Manning didn’t tell anybody:

• Caroni represented 44.7 per cent of the GDP in the agricultural sector
• Caroni injected TT$680 million into the national economy every year, including guaranteed foreign exchange from sugar and rum exports
• Caroni workers earned $447 million a year and paid $32 in direct taxes to the government
• Caroni subsidized the state medical services by providing FREE medical services to all its staff and its dependents – more than 60,000 people – and provided free prescription medicines to them
• Caroni subsidized the local government authorities by providing land for cemeteries, parks and recreation grounds and assisted by maintaining these facilities
• Caroni subsidized the state housing plans by providing land and loans to its workers
• Caroni subsidized the business sector – particularly the soft drink industry – to the tune of $60 million a year
• Caroni operated profitable beef, rum and citrus subsidiaries
• Caroni had a fully mechanized rice subsidiary capable of providing domestic needs
  
• Caroni owned assets valued at more than one billion dollars

In short the company that was a drain on the economy and a burden on taxpayers was taking one million dollars a day and giving back nearly two. It was not an economic parasite. And more important, it provided social and economic stability to an entire community and the nation.

It was the golden goose of agriculture than Manning killed. And contrary to what Manning said in the last general election, keeping Caroni open did not condemn the children of sugar workers to remain in "slavery."

Yes slaves and indentured labourers built the industry, but their children have moved on. The lawyers, doctors, politicians, white-collar workers and leaders who run the affairs of the nation in the public and private sectors are children or grandchildren of sugar workers.

Sugar built the nation.

And while sugar cane may have lost its economic appeal, the land and the expertise existed to create a revolution in agriculture that would have been the envy of the region and the world.From the ashes of sugar, Trinidad and Tobago could still build a sustainable agriculture sector.

But will it?

Trinidad and Tobago’s wealth has been its curse. It has generated waste and avenues for corruption while failing to address the most basic human need – food. It has created an army of “dependents” whose gratitude would provide the political muscle for those in power to remain there.

And the reality is there is no need to keep agriculture in the dark ages or to fear those who would benefit from a sound agricultural strategy. It’s not too late.

The floods are coming, the roads need fixing, and the lands need to be cultivated. The people are ready. But is the government ready to help create a revolution in agriculture or is it content to just throw around its energy windfall and nurture its import culture?

That’s a question the politicians have to answer. If they don’t people would have to eat the money. And that means the masses would continue to starve.

Panday challenges people to action on food crisis

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in Trinidad and Tobago especially with regard to the rising cost of food.

"I feel sick and disgusted and I also hope the rest of the country feels disgusted, that's the real issue, you have to feel sick and disgusted to the point where you're going to do something about it," Panday told the Trinidad Express in a telephone interview from London England

Panday is there with his wife, Oma, who is awaiting surgery for a serious heart problem.

"Quite frankly I think the first thing the people of Trinidad and Tobago should do is getting rid of Manning," he said in response to a question from the paper about Prime Minister Patrick Manning's refusal to consider a food subsidy to help deal with the crisis.

He predicted that there will be no ease in the problem unless they come to terms with the fact that Manning is incapable of fixing what is wrong. "If they don't want to face the facts, well that's too bad for them,'' Panday said.

He didn't directly address the contentious issue about whether food subsidies would help. "The Government should not have allowed this issue to reach this position at all, now they can't find their way out."

Panday believes that the government would have to forced into taking action because he is convinced that it would not do anythings about the rising cost of food and crime.

He suggested that the people can take matters in their hands instead of waiting until 2012 for another general election.

"You don't have to wait five years for change, you can bring the Government down by demonstrations and marching, but the people must have the courage," he told the paper.

"If they do nothing, then they must simply be prepared to suffer the consequences," he added.

Commenting on the possible suspension of three opposition members from Parliament for making negative comments about Speaker Barry Sinanan, Panday reiterated that it is part of a plan to undermine democracy.

Read the story: Political showdown looming

"I have been telling this country for a very long time, if you give the PNM a chance they will smother all freedom of speech in the country. Those who don't listen will feel obviously," he said.

Top PNM executive says cheap food available in Latin America

A top executive member of the government People's National Movement is suggesting that the Manning administration has found a formula to deal with rising food prices. PNM Vice Chairman John Donaldson says government has identified a "source" that could provide food products at one third of current costs.

Donaldson told reporters importers can buy food from the Latin America source, which he did not name.

"I know, with respect to certain items the Ministry of National Security used to import when I was there, when we sought alternative sources, it was ten per cent of what we traditionally paid." Donaldson said. He is a former Minister of National Security.

Minister of Legal Affairs, Peter Taylor, will address the Senate and the nation on rising food prices on Tuesday.

Donaldson noted, however, that the Government is not in the business of importing food. And he seemed certain that business people would be able to find what they need from Latin American sources.

He declined comment of whether Government would recommend any particular "sources" except to say Taylor would address that this week.

Last week Prime Minister Patrick Manning came under fire from consumers and opposition politicians for saying that he won't introduce food subsidies to help deal with the crisis.

Manning said that had been tried before and it only created greater problems of hoarding and corruption. He also ruled out dropping VAT on food, saying it has already been removed from most items and it has not brought prices down. And Taylor has blamed supermarkets for gouging consumers and suggested that they shop elsewhere.

The government has also been promising to expand the agricultural base with hundreds of small farms on former sugar lands and mega-farms run by the government.

But according to columnist Dana Seetahal, while there is much talk nothing has been done to make farming and agriculture more attractive.

Read Seetahal's column in the Sunday Guardian

John La Guerre to head TT's Equal Opportunities Commission

Professor John La Guerre takes office Monday as Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). The Trinidad and Tobago government was ordered to establish the commission following a ruling in October 2007 by the Privy Council. The EOC legislation was passed during the Panday administration.

Four other commissioners - Dr. Eastlyn Mc Kenzie (Vice-Chairman), Beverly Beckles, Stephanie Daly and Dr. Hamid Ghany - will also take the oath of office, which President Max Richards will administer.

An EOC tribunal, which is the enforcement arm, is yet to be appointed. The tribunal would have the power to impose fines, make awards and other action that it might wish to take and both units are expected to work closely together.

La Guerre, who is one of the country's most respected academics and political commentators has always spoken out against discrimination in Trinidad and Tobago, which he says usually takes subtle forms. His view is that with the best efforts it is difficult to eliminate.

The Professor Emeritus at UWI, St Augustine expects to be busy because the establishment of the commission would raise hopes that people's concerns would be finally addressed.

But La Guerre notes that the EOC is also a conciliatory body aimed at resolving conflicts without the intervention of the courts. He believes that one of the critical issues that he would have to address initially is one of educating the public about not only what the EOC can and cannot do, but also about the nature and causes of prejudice and discrimination.

La Guerre is well suited for that. He headed the Departments of Behavioural Sciences and Government at the St Augustine campus and has written commentaries and academic papers on the subject for decades.

La Guerre puts great passion in his work and he is expected to do so in this assignment.

He expects some of the first cases that would come before the commission would include aggrieved workers, people who feel banks and financial institutions have been unfair to them, and others who thing they have experienced discrimination in the distribution of government housing.

People have been complaining about state discrimination for years but until now they have had no recourse to address the matter other than expensive litigation in the overcrowded courts.

La Guerre has always been interested in the problem of racial discrimination in Trinidad and Tobago because of the nature of the society and the various strata of influence.

His wife, Dr Ann Marie Bissessar, a political science lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences at St Augustine, believes President Richards could not have chosen a better person to chair the commission.

A thought for the day

Read the text in English and hear the words in its original Sanskrit

TT Opposition says CCJ is a waste of money

Former Trinidad & Tobago Chief Justice Michael de la Bastide is President of the CCJ

Two political heavyweights clashed in a political duel in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament Friday over the relevance of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Opposition Chief Whip and former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj suggested that the court was irrelevant noting that justices spent "most of the time drinking coffee and reading papers."

He called on the government to either close down to CCJ or find a way to build public confidence in it.

Speaking on the CCJ Bill in the House of Representatives, the Tabaquite MP claimed that many Caricom prime ministers were having second thoughts as to whether they should continue to pay the expenses of maintaining the court.

He said no cases are going to the court and judges are not pleased with the fact that they have nothing to do. He suggested that the Government consider whether the jurisdiction of the CCJ could be expanded as a Court of Appeal in a range of matters, while allowing for a further appeal to the Privy Council.

He said Caribbean leaders knew that their people did not support the CCJ and they were rethinking the wisdom of having such a court.

That statement promoted Prime Minister Manning to spring to his feet with a denial. Manning was adamant that at no time there were doubts on supporting the court.

Maharaj shot back saying Barbados had reservations, adding that Prime Minister David Thompson made it clear that unless Trinidad and Tobago was part of the court, it would be a waste of time.

He demanded that the Government give the population an account on how much money it has spent so far on the CCJ. He also that the government reassess the situation to see how best the court could be utiltized given the resources being dedicated to it.

Manning insisted the court would be financially independent, adding that the only additional cost was that the CCJ headquarters would be in Trinidad.

In her contribution to the debate, Maharaj's colleague, Kamla Persad-Bissessar wondered why Trinidad and Tobago was investing millions of dollars in a regional court when the local judiciary needs additional resources.

The Siparia MP noted that statistics show that a shortage of legal personnel is causing a mammoth backlog of cases at the level of the magistrates courts. Too often, she said, cases are just called and postponed.

The former Attorney General said there are thousands of cases before the courts that cannot be heard because of inadequate resources while the government is pumping millions in a court that is idle with no cases to hear.

She said since the court's inauguration the government has spent $204 million on it, with no accountability to the people.

The court was inaugurated in April 2005 and started hearing cases in 2006. But so far it has heard only 12 cases - seven from Guyana and five from Barbados. And it has given judgments in three of the cases in Guyana.

Only these two countries have signed on to support the CCJ as their final court of appeal.

Trinidad and Tobago is footing the cost for the CCJ headquarters (it spent $3.8 million on the inauguration in April 2005) but it retains the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London remains as this country’s final court.

Other countries in the Caribbean have agreed in principle to joining the CCJ, they have not done so primarily because in each case they lack the required constitutional majority to make the change.

UWI experts say food subsidy not a good idea

Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s statement this week that food subsidies would lead to corruption is attracting mixed reviews. The opposition is demanding subsidies for staples while experts from the University of the West Indies are backing Manning. And the business community thinks it is "premature" to dismiss subsidies.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar called on the government to subsidize staples such as rice and flour, noting that some countries are doing that to alleviate the problems created by a global rise in the cost of food.

People have rioted in some countries over rising food prices and in neighbouring Haiti, where 10 people died in food riots, the clamour for lower prices led to the fall of the government.

Persad-Bissessar slammed the government for pumping millions of dollars into the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and other mega-projects such as the Brian Lara Stadium at a time when a quarter million people can’t buy food.

She noted that the government spent $3.8 million for the inauguration ceremony for the CCJ in 2005.

But a senior Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the West Indies says Manning is right to reject the idea of food subsidy.

Dr Carlisle Pemberton said subsidies are usually recommended in terms of the prices of farmers’ output, but said subsidies of input have never made sense. He said subsidies for staples such as flour and rice can be dangerous.

"We see all over the world they lead to riots and so on. They create artificial markets—the Prime Minister is right—black markets and what have you, and they really create a lot of distortions in the markets, and with market distortions we will have serious problems," Pemberton said.

And the head of the University’s Food Production Department also disagrees with subsidies for food. Dr Isaac Bekele said that while the country is facing some unusual price increases he did not believe that subsidies were the way to go.

However, The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce has given a qualified response to subsidies.

In a news release, it acknowledged that VAT has already been removed on many basic food items and said there might be no need to provide subsidies.

But it was not amused at the government’s attitude of shifting blame to the business community.

"The Chamber is however extremely displeased at the aspersions that are constantly being cast on the entire business community about the cost of food and with respect to profit margins by merchants who are constantly accused of not passing on reductions such as may be occasioned by VAT removal," the release stated.

The chamber said food pricing is complex and is affected by constantly increasing global prices, multiple ongoing price increases on imported commodities, rising fuel and transportation costs among other factors.

Economist Jwala Rambarran pointed out that it is a little too early to make any definite decision about food subsidies.

"For one we haven’t seen what plan Government has to deal with the issue of food prices. Part of that plan must contain some element of subsidies but subsidies that are targeted, that go directly to those who deserve it not to the entire population," he said.

Rambarran said given the severity of the food shortage, it is premature to dismiss the notion of subsidies.

Showdowm looming in TT Parliament

A showdown is looming in the House of Representatives that could lead to the suspension of three more opposition members - Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal and Princes Town South MP Subhas Panday.

Deputy Speaker Pennelope Beckles ruled Friday that the MPs would have to appear before the Privileges Committee to answer charges of contempt of the House.

Beckles said a prima facie case of contempt has been made, relating to statements made by the Opposition members against House Speaker Barendra Sinanan, during the sitting of Friday April 11.

Government House leader Colm Imbert inititated the proceedings following the suspension of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday. Beckles was given the responsibility of making a decision on the matter after Speaker Barendra Sinanan excused himself since the issue related to the right of the opposition members to make critical comments about him.

Beckles told the House she wanted to make it "abundantly clear that it is not my task to inquire into the validity of evidence or to hold an inquiry into the matter." She said she was required to consider whether the alleged statements by the MPs were enough to conclude that "a reasonable possibility" of contempt had occurred.

In her statement, she was careful to note that the conduct of the Speaker is not immune from criticism and comment, but explained that it can only be done "by a substantive motion moved for that purpose, under Standing Order 36(10)."

She said members cannot incidentally criticize the Speaker in a debate. She said the language contained in the statements allegedly made by the three opposition MPs "would not be permitted in a debate or speech on a substantive motion under Standing Order 36(10)."

Beckles said that in considering the matter, she looked at the practice in the UK House of Commons, as well as the practice in other Commonwealth jurisdictions, including Canada, Australia, India and New Zealand.

Beckles will chair the Privileges Committee that will consider the fate of the members, but it is not clear if any of them would appear before her.

Each has said he has the right of freedom of speech under the constitution and they are standing by the comments pertaining to bias by Speaker Barendra Sinanan. They said what is happening is that the Speaker is in collusion with the governing party to undermine democracy and individual rights.

Maharaj has already stated publicly that he considers the committee a "kangaroo court", adding that he would not dignify it by appearing at a hearing. He said if he is hauled before the committee he would resign his Tabaquite seat.

Moonilal and Panday might do the same, although neither of them has made any commitment on the matter.

And one other MP, Jack Warner, said this week that he would fully support Maharaj. "If Ramesh resign in the morning, I'll resign in the afternoon," he said.

The United National Congress Alliance (UNC-A) has also been considering the resignation of all its members from the House and demanding fresh elections, which it says would be a referendum on Manning's performance.

Such action would only necessitate 16 by-elections, since the quorum of the House of Representatives is 14 and the People's National Movement (PNM) has a comfortable majority.

However, whenever there is a vacancy within the first four years of the Parliament, a by-election must be held within 90 days of the seat becoming vacant. Manning would be forced to call 16 by-elections.

The opposition hopes that would create an opportunity for a prolonged national debate on critical issues such as crime and rising food prices during an election campaign.

But it is also a gamble because there is always the possibility that it could lose one of more of the seats it now has and bring the PNM closer to a constitutional majority.

Manning says food subsidy would lead to corruption

Prime Minister Patrick Manning says he's not planning to subsidize food to deal with spiralling costs because experience has shown that it would lead to corruption. And he says he's not even considering removing the value added tax (VAT), since most food items are already exempt from the VAT and prices have not come down.

"It is very unlikely that government will subsidize food prices because we have gone that way before and we know what that leads to...It leads to shortages, it leads to black marketing, it leads to corruption big time," Manning told reporters, adding that it is a global problem.

He made the comments in San Fernando at the opening of a community centre in his San Fernando East constituency. He said Minister of Legal and Consumer Affairs Peter Taylor would address the nation within the next week on the food issue.

"Let the minister make his contribution and then we will talk. But it is unlikely that government will subsidize food."

He dismissed the idea of cutting the VAT off food items. "If you check it, we have removed VAT on nearly all food items and the one thing we are sure of, is that it has not resulted in a reduction in prices. "

He said the explanation for that is that the "the market can stand it." He said such a move would play into the hands of merchants who would then increase the margin of their profits, so the consumer would not benefit. "That has been our experience," he said.

Most food items have been on the rise since the beginning of the year. Flour, rice, dahl, sugar, milk, butter cheese, eggs, poultry, meat and vegetables have all increased. For some items, such as flour, consumers are paying 39 per cent more and others items have gone up between 80 and 100 per cent. And there are shortages of many food items.

The government refuses to take responsibility for the food crisis. It blames supermarkets for price gouging. And consumer affairs minister Peter Taylor has even told people to boycott supermarkets. Manning insists that high food prices is a global issue.

But owners claim they are not to blame since they are only responding to the same reality of rising costs not only for food but every other item that goes into doing business.

And on Thursday the opposition United National Congress Alliance (UNC-A) issued a statement accusing the government of failing in its responsibility of dealing with the food crisis, adding that it is also inciting violence against supermarket owners and their families.

Read the story: UNC-A accuses government of inciting violence...

Last week the electricity commission announced a 30 per cent increase for power, effective May first. And water rates are also expected to go up. Such prices increases add to the cost of doing business and increase the price of goods and services.

What about that Tarouba stadium?

We heard recently from works minister Colm Imbert who was boasting that the first phase of the light rail project for Trinidad and Tobago is a go and the contract contains one of the tightest anti-corruption clauses "in the world".

Imbert was also telling reporters he would show it to them. He hasn't. And probably because no one asked to see it.

But what about other contracts, especially that Tarouba stadium, the one that was supposed to be ready for the big World Cup cricket event? Does it also have an airtight contract?

We ask because we find it amazing that it has been under construction for an eternity and now we hear Sports Minister Gary Hunt saying he doesn't know what it would cost or when it would be finished.

He told reporters July is an "ambitious timeline". The government, he assured the attentive scribes, was monitoring the project very closely for "progress and cost."

And what exactly is the cost? Well the honourable minister did not know.

"I don’t have the exact figure, but there is a projected final cost of around $500 million, just a ballpark figure because of the many variables on such a large project.”

And neither could he give any figure on cost overruns, which have become a feature of every government project. The Scarborough hospital comes to mind.

But in trying to explain the cost and delay he raised another important issue. "It is a large and complicated project on challenging soil type and a myriad of challenges have been encountered on developing this facility," Hunt said.

Indeed it is.

Any farmer who worked the land around there would have told you that long before the government embarked on the project.

But surely, before undertaking such am ambitious and costly project someone would have had some kind of engineering report to determine, first, whether such a facility should go there, and more important, if the soil structure could support it.

That is what we expect from a responsible government that understands the need for planning. A previous government built a high school in a cane field in Waterloo in nine months by driving hundreds of piles into the earth.

Perhaps the Manning administration could have checked the files to understand how such a feat is possible.

Five hundred million dollars is a lot of money, especially when the nation is facing a food crisis and government is not taking any decisive action to deal with it other than make promises and blame other factors, including local supermarket owners.

What is happening in Tarouba is a reminder of many other projects that the Manning administration past and present have undertaken without proper accountability. The abandoned Labidco project in La Brea, with millions being wasted, in one example.

But it is not alone. How long has the Scarborough hospital been under construction? And hundreds of millions later, it's still not finished. Then there is that Oncology unit that has also cost millions and led to a legal battle with Ellis Don, one of the most reputable construction firms in the world.

It is time to tell the government that it cannot spend taxpayers money without accountability. It is not good enough for a government minister to just brush away an issue feigning ignorance about the details.

A half a billion dollars might be pocket change for a leader who lives in a $148 million mansion, protected by private security guards, having lavish gourmet meals every day and flying around the place in a private jet.

But it is a lot of money for the masses who are clamouring for some relief, living in poverty and trying to eat and save their families from starvation. The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve better and it is time they start demanding it.

A thought for the day

George Washington

A thought for today

Greetings on Ram Naumi, the birth anniversary of Lord Rama

Rama is perhaps the best known of all Hindu incarnations of god, representing all the elements of virtue, love, compassion, duty and so much more. He is also the embodiment of idealism.

Click here to read more
Click here for devotional music on YouTube

Yes, failure is an option - by Ken Ali

It is becoming increasingly difficult to fault the analysis of doomsayers that Trinidad and Tobago is racing toward failed nation status. Let’s cite a cross-section of news-making events of the past few days alone.

Steep food prices are now being matched by lightning shortages of certain items, most notably staples rice and flour, as if to belie the old people’s adage that "yuh cyar eat de money."

Through it all, parliamentarians are posturing ever more, and there is yet to be a meaningful proposal form the authorities to whip up food production.

With crippling international factors and crude indifference from the Trinidad and Tobago Government, the forecast for food supplies is gloomy. But, who is bothered?

Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who stage-managed Friday’s hi-jinks in Parliament, is seemingly more concerned by political one-upmanship, such as the move to take opposition parliamentarians to the government-dominated Privileges Committee.

It is the kind of self-centredness that had Manning delivering a spiel to the nation the other evening, simply to justify the purchase of his much-coveted costly executive jet.

In the meantime, Rome is burning. The dreadful cost of living is striving valiantly to become the nation’s prime villain, but crime is continuing to rule the roost.

Virtually every week there are new disclosures about multi-million-dollar government spending on crime fighting, but the report card is becoming increasingly horrendous.

The cold-blooded murder of Meela "Melanie" Sagram for daring to defend and protect her teenaged daughter has long paled from the headlines in a land in which, if you blink, you could miss gross and dastardly violent acts.

Like the one in which a man killed and then dumped his lover’s body. Or the shooting death of a young man in Santa Cruz. Or the police slaying of a Laventille man, curiously nicknamed Taliban. And that was just one day’s fare!

Tomorrow would toss up another parade of horrific crimes, and Security Minister Martin Joseph would respond with typical bleeding heart diatribe, with great sound and fury signifying nothing.

Murders and other major crimes – like a carjacking of a Fyzabad taxi man, allegedly by two young women – have long numbed and stolen the innocence from a nation rushing frenetically from bewilderment to gross disgust to grinding fear.

Lawlessness pervades the land. So, parents of students at Erin Road Presbyterian School, upset about the administration of the institution, chain the principal’s car to iron gates.

Indeed, our schools have become such a critical war zone that the media feed only off staggering events – like a wretched stabbing – all the while ignoring reports of frequent classroom scuffles, of drug running and of pornography gone so wild that – if we are to believe university expert Dr. Daphne Phillip – teachers are now passing material to students, via electronic devices.

There is seemingly no bright spark. Education is floundering. Health care has collapsed to the point where the minister, a freewheeling character named Jerry Narace, has to intervene to have burn victims flown for attention to Miami. You see, the highly industrialised TT still does not have a burns unit!

The social scientists measure a failed state by textbook yardsticks about the absence of economic benefits et al., and no one disputes that benchmark.

But another gauge must be the happiness index of a nation and how deeply the financial spoils seep to the underclass.

Yes, joblessness is at one of its lowest levels ever, thanks, in part to make-work schemes that distort the employment picture. But poverty remains rampant and in many communities. This social devil is coupled with hopelessness, lack of education and training, sex crimes, deviance and other forms of wretchedness that do not fit a society with one of the largest per capita budgets.

And there are no tangible and urgent measures to right this disturbing wrong.

The helplessness is not limited to the downtrodden. The mystery suicide of millionaire real estate agent, Sabrina Ramlogan-Rahamut, may have been linked to domestic issues. Or not.
There may also have been colluding factors associated with rampant national despondency.

In all of this, there is a graphic breakdown or growing irrelevance of key institutions.

Witness, for example, how Fr. Garfield Rochard, a vital figure in the Catholic faith, refused to offer refuge to Harold Joseph, a murder witness on the run. When Joseph was duly killed, Rochard, without a blink of his conscience, declined to proffer remorse – or last rites.

Maybe the society has slipped too far down for a vital intervention by important institutions. Or maybe these stakeholders are taking their cue from Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who, like a child with Christmas morning toys, is simply thrilled over the number of skyscrapers being built.

Or Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, who has likened himself to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, with his senseless laptop computer "struggle."

Trinidad and Tobago sorely needs exemplary leaders, in addition to a sense of direction and common national purpose. Regrettably, they appear as scarce as flour and rice.

- Email Ken Ali at kenvick22@hotmail.com
Ken's column also appears on www.hotlikepepperradio.com

Guest column by Anand Ramlogan

I have often debated Panday’s irrational behaviour, trying to deny it isn’t a flaw in his leadership. On the one hand, one can’t help but admire his courage and strength in the face of crisis. He has demonstrated nerves and testicular fortitude under pressure like no man.

On the other hand, he doesn’t seem to think things through as he should, and it is this disregard for consequences that has him where he is. The laptop incident is symptomatic of this idiosyncrasy.

The sudden increase in the price of flour and dhal and the domino effect on food prices presented a fantastic opportunity for the UNC to expose the PNM. The Government was against the ropes on this one, and this was a one-off opportunity to go on the offensive.

Once the price increase took effect, the sting in the criticism would be lost, as T&T nationals are famous for grumblingly accepting and adjusting to change. The PNM needed a distraction badly.

It baited Panday and preyed on his Achilles heel: his ferocious temper. They picked a fight at the right moment, and were laughing all the way to Manning’s palace to feast and fete at our expense.

They were able to avoid a well-deserved drubbing by outfoxing Panday. Not a master stroke, really, when you consider how easy it was for them to push Panday’s buttons. He was predictable, and easy to manipulate.

Once you ignited this dynamite, it was bound to explode. It doesn’t seem to have the power to pause, to stop and think, consider the entire situation in a moment of detached reflection. The hard part, though, this is from a man whose favourite quote is: “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad.”

I’d be surprised if Panday deliberately did this to focus the spotlight on him and create a confrontation, because he thrives on victimhood. This would be selfish and stupid, and disqualify him from leadership for more obvious reasons.

Truth be told, his political career is replete with examples of this kind of unthinking foolishness.

When Panday had to deal with the rift between himself and Ramesh, he poured fuel onto the flame by appointing Kamla to act as PM, even though Ramesh had just won the prized position of deputy political leader.

It was as clear as daylight to everyone that if this rift widened, the party would crumble, and there was no guarantee the UNC could win an election against the PNM with Ramesh attacking from the flanks, riding the horse of morality dressed as the great corruption buster.

Panday had the power to heal the rift, but irrationally and angrily lashed out at Rienzi, telling Trevor Sudama, Ralph Maraj and Ramesh “who want to leave could blasted leave!”

Without any regard for the consequences, the UNC administration predictably unravelled. Ramesh was fired; MPs refused to tow the line, and fresh elections were called, which resulted in the infamous tie.

Panday could have saved the opportunity to impale the PNM on the rising food prices by simply indicating to Barry Sinanan that he intended to speak in the debate. He would have been allowed to keep his laptop open; end of story.

Instead, he allowed his anger to control him, because he has nothing but contempt for Sinanan, whom he thinks is a PNM Indian stooge appointed for cheap window dressing who shouldn’t dare have the audacity to try and wield power over him.

He held and treated Ramesh, Kelvin, Sudama, Dookeran, Kamla and countless others with the same kind of contempt, and has paid the price. He is the cause and author of his own political misfortunes.

Whilst he thrives on disintegration and reincarnation and reintegration, the fact of the matter is the people are the ones who have to suffer the consequences of his irrational choices.

Whilst the PNM is laughing and Panday is basking in the glory of his duel, the light bill increases, phulourie is now two for $1, doubles is $5 and flour is scarce.

A typical, pyrrhic Panday victory.

anand@tstt.net.tt - http://www.anandramlogan.com
Anand's column also appears in the Sunday Guardian

TT getting $7-b light rail in three years: Imbert

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is spending $190 million (US$30 million) for the design and planning of its proposed Rapid Rail Transit System.

It says the first part of phase one of the rail project would be completed by the end of 2009, with a further $266 million (US$42 million) on the second portion of this phase.

But government is still holding the option not to proceed with the project. Works Minister Colm Imbert told reporters in such a case, government would not be able to any of the $190 million invested in the design and planning phase.

He shrugged off the cost calling it "a small figure" in the context of the overall estimated capital cost of $7 billion (US$1.2 billion).

The contract is between Government and Trinitrain, a consortium comprising Bouygues Construction, Alstom and RATP Development. The Consortium would operate and maintain the service for 15 years.

Imbert explained that the first segment of the project would provide service between Port of Spain and St Joseph and from the capital to Chaguanas. He said that route could be in use in three years, which would be near the end of the mandate of the current government.

Other segments include a Diego Martin-to-Port of Spain route, Port of Spain to Arima, Arima to Sangre Grande and Curepe to San Fernando. He said he expects the railway to be fully operational by 2012 or 2013 with the capacity to move at least 100,000 people daily.

Imbert boasted that the procurement exercise was "one of the most transparent in the world" with an anti-corruption clause that the Government is willing to make public, although he didn’t produce any details of the clause.

While Imbert was giving time lines for the project he didn’t provide cost estimates for the acquisition of the lands on which the railway would run. "We have a ball park figure, which I would prefer not to disclose at this point in time," he said.

"We are going to try and minimise land acquisition but there were some areas where it is inevitable, especially where you come into Port of Spain and it is densely populated," he said.

Used water taxis bought

On another transportation development, Imbert revealed that government has bought four used ferries for $85 million (US$12.6 million) for its water taxi service between Port of Spain and San Fernando.

But he could not say when they would arrive. “Seeing is believing. I have been burnt too many times with those boats. And when I see them, then I will believe."

He hoped they would in Trinidad soon so the ferry service could get into full gear. He explained that using the old boats (one of them is eight years old) is an interim measure because government is planning to buy new one.

Warner demands action on squatting, infrastructure

Jack Warner says his constituents in Chaguanas West continue to experience "bias and neglect" despite assurances from Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment Dr Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde that "all agricultural lands will be maintained by this Government".

The MP says this is clearly not so, noting that representatives from his office have documented evidence that problems with flooding of prime agricultural lands at Bridal Road in Cunupia have not be resolved.

Warner says he was shocked to learn that parcels of lands that were designated for development by the Estate Management Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) have been left in squalor.

He says although the government has allocated millions of dollars to the EMBD "the crushing assessment is that very little progress is seen in the lands being developed by the EMBD, which is disheartening if not a humiliating defeat of the purpose of the EMBD."

Warner suggests political bias in dealing with problems in central Trinidad. "It is no surprise that strides of development are taking place just on the opposite side of the street in Bridal Road, an area that falls in the Chaguanas East constituency." That constituency is held by the governing People's National Movement (PNM).

Warner is asking for an investigation into the functions and operations of the EMBD, since prime agricultural lands that once belonged to Caroni (1975) Limited have been left in ruins.

He says some of his constituents have had to abandon their homes bordering abandoned former Caroni plantations because of flooding from the non-operational drainage systems in the fields.

He also notes that children have to walk through mud and brave floods to get to school. He says the Bridal Road area has not been maintained for several years.

It is time for the minister and her government colleagues to keep their promises and fix the problems in Cunupia, he adds.

Warner has also accused the government of turning its back on squatters and less fortunate people in Chaguanas West and across the nation.

He says in one community in Cunupia more than one hundred families are under threat of eviction, noting that the same is happening in Williamsville and other parts of the country.

"It burdens me that these squatters feel that all hope has been buried," the MP says. "No one should have to worry where they will rest their head or their children’s heads at nights."

TT gov't denies using agricultural lands for housing

Housing and Planning Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde has denied that the government of Trinidad and Tobago is taking over prime agricultural lands for housing instead of developing a better land use policy to encourage farmers to grow more food.

She was responding to a charge by Jack Warner. The Chaguanas MP said this week the Manning regime is "squarely responsible for high food prices," noting that in spite of "the big pappyshow of a food consultation they have failed to produce a food and land use policy."

Read the story: Stop blaming farmers for food crisis: Warner

According to the minister, "There is, in fact, a look at where housing developments have been allocated, where they're being located and we are comfortable that we are not taking over agricultural land as has been said."

Speaking specifically about the allocation of land for agriculture that Warner had raised, Dick-Forde reiterated the Government's previous statements with regard to its plans for that sector including those for the lands which formerly belonged to Caroni (1975) Ltd.

"I can't give you the percentage but I'm sure more than 50 per cent is actually going to former Caroni workers for agricultural purposes. Some of the lands have been allocated for residential purposes and that is mainly for the former Caroni workers as well," Dick-Forde said.

She said 7,282 two-acre lots, amounting to 20,000 acres of Caroni lands, have been allocated for agricultural use. She added that the figure is based on data from the EMBDC, the State-owned Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd.

The minister said 22 sites comprising 6,980 lots that are each 5,000 square feet been allocated for residential housing.The two-acre plots have been promised for years but former Caroni workers are still waiting for the farms five years after the closure of Caroni (1975) Limited.

A court judgment made earlier this year ordered the government to complete the distribution by June. But there are conflicting reports on whether the government would meet that target.

Uthara Rao, executive chairman of the EMBDC says there's no way he could meet that target. He estimates that he would deliver 22,500 residential lots on lands formerly owned by Caroni (1975) Ltd. by September this year. But only about one third of that would go to former Caroni workers.

Rao said the government has ordered EMBDC to expand the originally promised 22 sites to 42, with the additional 15,050 lots going to the public. He said the development cost for each plot would be around $110,000. The government plans to subsidize the cost for new owners.

Altogether nearly 7,000 acres of prime agricultural land will be converted to housing settlements.

These statistics and the evidence on the ground suggest that the minister is either not fully aware of the extent of the housing development or she is misleading the public.

In developments in Beau Carro and Mc Bean in central Trinidad, for example, hundreds of acres of prime agricultural land are being developed for government housing. The acreage was among Caroni (1975) Limited's most productive cane plantations.