I hold no brief for the wealthy and the super-wealthy among us. I am sure that they can speak for themselves, although I note most of them maintain a discreet silence on local affairs.
However I do not accept that every wealthy person in T&T became rich from drug trading or money laundering. Maybe some of them did, but I have no proof, one way or the other, about that. But much of T&T seem to “know for a fact” that most or all of Goodwood Park, Haleland Park and Westmoorings are into drugs and money laundering.
We all claim that “Mr. Big”, a person known since 2005 to Patrick Manning, is obviously high up in the social establishment of the country. And this may well be so, but I do not know this. When I ask those who claim to know how they know, they respond “Everybody knows”.
So, when the public, and some in the media, radio talk show hosts in particular, demand of the government that they raid the homes of the big shots in the gated communities as well as the known hot spots, I wonder on what information they are making these calls.
However I do not accept that every wealthy person in T&T became rich from drug trading or money laundering. Maybe some of them did, but I have no proof, one way or the other, about that. But much of T&T seem to “know for a fact” that most or all of Goodwood Park, Haleland Park and Westmoorings are into drugs and money laundering.
We all claim that “Mr. Big”, a person known since 2005 to Patrick Manning, is obviously high up in the social establishment of the country. And this may well be so, but I do not know this. When I ask those who claim to know how they know, they respond “Everybody knows”.
So, when the public, and some in the media, radio talk show hosts in particular, demand of the government that they raid the homes of the big shots in the gated communities as well as the known hot spots, I wonder on what information they are making these calls.
And if they have the information about anyone in these neighbourhoods why have they not made specific reports?
The PNM claims that the police are only picking up “small fry”, and the big fish are swimming free. This government never claimed to know who was “Mr. Big”, and it seems that Manning never shared his knowledge of the man with this government.
The PNM claims that the police are only picking up “small fry”, and the big fish are swimming free. This government never claimed to know who was “Mr. Big”, and it seems that Manning never shared his knowledge of the man with this government.
Maybe Senator Hinds, who was a Minister in the Minister of National Security when Manning announced he knew “Mr. Big”, can assist by pointing out Mr. Big so that his home can be searched too? What’s that, Fitzgerald? Manning never told you? And you were in the National Security Ministry? Interesting.
Anyway, I think that the concept of Mr. Big’s identity being confined to the upper classes-- presumably white, Syrian or wealthy Indian—is racist and elitist.
Anyway, I think that the concept of Mr. Big’s identity being confined to the upper classes-- presumably white, Syrian or wealthy Indian—is racist and elitist.
Why could persons like Dole Chadee, the King Brothers, and others not have the entrepreneurial skills to rise high in the trade, as they seem to have done. Indeed, most of the stories of the meteoric rise to wealth among the drug lords show that these were “self-made” men, who, because of the value of the product they sold, could be become filthy rich in a couple of years.
But I do not know, and only Manning can tell us, but he is not talking!
While the rest of you are demanding searches in Goodwood Park, I would like to follow up on some other collateral issues while the SOE is ongoing.
But I do not know, and only Manning can tell us, but he is not talking!
While the rest of you are demanding searches in Goodwood Park, I would like to follow up on some other collateral issues while the SOE is ongoing.
The first is where are we going to put all these people we are detaining? Sports stadia have been used in emergencies, as shelters and as detention centres. While the AG was very careful in how he described the facility in Tarouba, one newspaper insensitively headlined the idea “Lara Jail”.
Immediately the PNM attacked the idea—Colm Imbert saying it made “no sense”. But I am sure I can find video of Colm pounding his little paws on the desk in parliament and smirking when his master declared the stadium would also serve as a shelter for tsunami victims! Whether for tsunami refugees or detainees, the suitability for accommodating them is the same.
Which brings me to the point of the media in general, and how they dig for their stories, and grill every member of the government, down to the finest detail, nuance, and misspeak about the topic at hand.
Which brings me to the point of the media in general, and how they dig for their stories, and grill every member of the government, down to the finest detail, nuance, and misspeak about the topic at hand.
And I have no problem with that. That is their job! I saw no problem with Dominic’s interview with the AG. There was confusion needing clarification, and I am not sure that the AG handled it all that well. But Dominic was far more circumspect with Fitzgerald Hinds!
My problem with the media, so aggressive and so persistent with the government, is how come they are so pliant in the presence of the opposition.
My problem with the media, so aggressive and so persistent with the government, is how come they are so pliant in the presence of the opposition.
Every briefing by the government brings a barrage of questions and demands for clarification and proof of what is being announced. Manning, Rowley, Hinds, Amery Browne and others call media briefings, make sometimes scandalous, nearly always erroneous announcements, and are never questioned by a media who simply rush to publish “as received”.
Manning’s claims about Kamla’s house, all the “GATE cancelling”, “CEPEP cancelling”, Rowley’s attempt to align himself with the labour movement he spurned before, the now sanctimonious bleating about the crime the PNM used to sponsor, or the cronyism they now see is wrong. The media seems too timid to raise a single question or seek a single clarification about the PNM’s evidence for any of their dramatic exposes.
Is this impartiality?
Manning’s claims about Kamla’s house, all the “GATE cancelling”, “CEPEP cancelling”, Rowley’s attempt to align himself with the labour movement he spurned before, the now sanctimonious bleating about the crime the PNM used to sponsor, or the cronyism they now see is wrong. The media seems too timid to raise a single question or seek a single clarification about the PNM’s evidence for any of their dramatic exposes.
Is this impartiality?
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