Trade Minister co-chairs 2nd Caribbean-Korea Business Forum in Seoul, South Korea

Story by Yolande Agard-Simmons

Trade, Industry and Investment Minister on Monday co-chaired the 2nd Caribbean-Korea Business Forum with H .E. Sung Hwan Kim, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Korea at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. 

The forum brought together leading Korean investors in ICT, marine management and clean technologies as well as eight Ministers from CARICOM and several South Korean senior government officials.

Bharath is currently in Korea on the official invitation of the Government of Korea, meeting with several business leaders and government leaders in an attempt to attract investments from the world's thirteenth largest economy and 7th largest exporter.

During his remarks at the Forum's session on e-government, Bharath articulated the government's vision for ICT as well as the country's National ICT plan and ambitions to make Trinidad and Tobago one of the top 10 countries in the world for the Ease of Doing Business. 

The minister also promoted his Ministry's Singe Electronic Window for Trade and Business Facilitation branded TTBizLink which has been lauded by several quarters in the private sector.

Later this week Bharath will meet with potential South Korean investors interested in investing in Trinidad and Tobago in the ICT and Merchant Marine sectors. South Korea is the world's number one ship builder in the world.

In 2011, the trade volume between Trinidad and Tobago and Korea stood at just over one billion US dollars.

Gibbs, Ewatski quit; Government committed to aggresively fight crime

File: Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs (right) and Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski

Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and one of his deputies, Jack Ewatski, have resigned. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement in a brief statement to the nation Monday night. The resignations are effective August 7. Both men are Canadians.

File: Stephen Williams

It is expected that the Police Service Commissioner will appoint Deputy Commissioner Stephen Williams to act as commissioner. He was the number one choice for the top position when Patrick Manning was Prime Minister but Manning used his veto to block his appointment, saying he was not the right person for the job.

Persad-Bissessar said her government is committed to a frontal attack on crime, adding that dealing with the problem remains the number one priority. She said there is going to be a stronger and more aggressive attack on crime. "Good will prevail," she said.

She added National Security Minister Jack Warner will announce several new crime fighting initiatives over the next few weeks.

Persad-Bissessar said, "All necessary resources will be placed at the disposal of those reposed with the authority and responsibility of getting the job done quickly and effectively.” 

She added, “We are of the view that there is no room for failure nor patience for excuses but an abundance of gratitude await those who would become the heroes of our nation’s most bitter war on crime.

"No measure will be spared against those who seek to terrorise and brutalise our elderly folk, our women, our children and our men. 

"The national outrage has reached the stage where everyone agrees that stronger and more aggressive initiatives are required. We must channel this sense of outrage into an army of resistance involving every law-abiding citizen.

"Ours is the duty of hard action to be taken against those who wish to threaten public safety at any level and we will deal with them with the full force of the law."

She called on citizens to work with the law enforcement agencies. “We will work to create tactical and intelligence units of the joint services that will become the pride of law enforcement and the terror of the underworld. Together with you our citizens of Trinidad and Tobago we will emancipate ourselves from the burden of fear, from the burden of lawlessness and unbridled violence,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Kamla's statement on resignation of Gibbs and Ewatski

Monday 30 August, 2012 

I am advised that, the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Dwayne Gibbs and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Jack Ewatski, tendered their resignations to the Police Service Commission effective from 7th August 2012.

I am further advised that the Police Service Commission (PSC) met and considered the resignations and have taken note of same. And indeed you may have already received the media release from the Police Service Commission which reads as follows:

‘The Police Service Commission today July 30th 2012 received and noted letters of resignation dated 26th July 2012, from Commissioner of Police Dr. Dwayne Gibbs and Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Jack Ewatski advising of their resignation from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service effective 7th August 2012.

The Commission wishes to assure that the nation is committed to the process of managing the transition to ensure continuity and stability at the executive level of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.’

And so I am advised in this regard that the PSC is engaged in the process of appointing persons to fill the vacancies which have been created by the resignations of the two officers.

On behalf of the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to thank Commissioner Gibbs and Deputy Commissioner Ewatski for their service.

We stand ready to support the new Acting Commissioner of Police and other deputy commissioners and we pray for their success.

I ask that you rest assured that all necessary resources will be placed at the disposal of those reposed with the authority and responsibility of getting the job done quickly and effectively.

There can be no greater effort, nothing of more significance or urgency, than guaranteeing our Nation’s safety and security.

We are of the view that there is no room for failure nor patience for excuses but an abundance of gratitude await those who will become the heroes of the Nation’s most bitter war on crime.

It will be waged in the battle for young minds and in the provision of avenues for a brighter future for youth, but will also be hard-fought on the streets with a better equipped police service - armed with technology and weaponry and improved incentives for performance.

We will work to create tactical and intelligence units of the joint services that will become the pride of law enforcement and the terror of the underworld.

Together with you the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, we will emancipate ourselves from the burden of fear, from the burden of lawlessness and unbridled violence.

No measure will be spared against those who seek to terrorize and brutalize our elderly folk, our women, children and men.

The national outrage has reached a stage where everyone agrees that stronger and more aggressive initiatives are required.

We must channel this sense of outrage into an army of resistance that involves every law abiding citizen.

The battle lines are clearly drawn and we are confident that good will prevail over evil.

Ours is the duty of hard action to be taken against those who wish to threaten public safety at any level. And we will deal with them with the full force of the law.

As head of the National Security Council, together with the other members of that council we have identified several major shifts in policy and programs as the government moves to arrest the issue of crime as our number one priority.

Over the next few weeks newly appointed Minister of National Security, the Honourable Jack Warner, will be announcing the details of some of these measures.

I ask that we give him all out support as we will give to those who will fill the vacancies in the Public Service.

I want to thank you very much.

LETTER: Top COPs’ resignations for the best

Without prejudice to the character or ability of Dwayne Gibbs and Jack Ewatski, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is better off today now that these two officers have resigned their top posts.

It was clear from the beginning that the appointment of foreigners to such high posts and at exorbitant salaries did not go well with many sections of the national population.

There are many persons out there who are firm believers in “buy local” and that it is an insult to the intelligence of local people to hire from outside, regardless of the qualifications, experience and competence required for the job.

Without a doubt, there would be many police officers, and especially senior ones, who would feel that way. Already low police morale would have been made worse.

Then there is the argument that foreigners cannot understand our culture or know our geography, or would take too long to learn it. And that these are important factors for developing effective strategies.

Whatever the true merits of these arguments, the bottom line is that our Canadian top cops would not have had the kind of support that they needed to get the police service working at the level we need it to for there to be meaningful results.

They could have had the best ideas but without the full team, inside the police service and in the general public, behind them, they were doomed to fail.

The resignation of Gibbs and Ewatski clears the way for a fresh start – a reset.
Firstly the tension and contention personally directed at them are no longer issues and it is better that these are out of the way sooner rather than later.

There is now another chance to choose replacements that fit the profile that the population believes would work, and now we can focus on the real issue of fighting crime.

But having done that, from the Prime Minister to the Opposition Leader and Minister of National Security all the way down to the Police Constable and the Police Association must take note, there is no longer any excuse for non-performance or failure.

The excuses of low morale, local versus foreign, lack of cultural and geographic awareness and whatever else have vanished and we can now demand performance and hold accountable those who have just been perpetual complainers.

Cassandra Rawlins | St Joseph, Via email
Editor's note: The system of recruitment was established during the previous administration when a decision was made to advertise internationally and get an international agency to conduct the recruitment exercise. Once the candidate was accepted then the remuneration package was negotiated since that issue was not included in the recruitment process.

From our archives: Manning rejects Stephen Williams as CoP

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2008

Williams silent on "secret" meeting with Manning

Senior Supt Stephen Williams acknowledged that he met with Prime Minister Patrick Manning at Whitehall last week. He said it was one of several meetings he has had with Manning in the past few weeks and refused to comment on discussions at the meeting, citing confidentiality.

Manning's government rejected Williams' nomination of Police Commissioner last week saying while his qualifications were never in question, the selection and recruitment process was "flawed."

But at a news conference Monday Williams disagreed with that explanation.“The legislation is not flawed. The process is not flawed. That is my opinion. It is not flawed.”

Williams said, “It was a specifically-designed process to bring a specifically-designed result—a process which when followed will result in a candidate nominated by the Service Commission for appointment to Commissioner of Police...There is no flaw in the process."

On the meeting with Manning at which Manning allegedly told him to withdraw his name for the post of police chief Williams wondered why people are fussing about that one meeting when he has held several others with Manning.

“I, in fact, met with the honourable Prime Minister on more than one occasion over the last few weeks,” Williams said.

He made it clear that he was not going to reveal anything from the confidential meetings. “If the prime minister is of the view that there are things out of those meetings that he would want to make public, surely you can contact him and he would furnish that," he explained.

The new acting commissioner, James Philbert, was also at the news conference. He told reporters he isn't interested in applying again for the post of police commissioner.

He was not the first choice of the Police Service Commission (PSC) but the commission chose him over their number one nominee to act.

Both he and Williams pledged to work together, saying there is no animosity between them.

Philbert failed a lie detector test during the selection process for the CoP's job. He told reporters that he had good reasons to lie.

"I was confronted with decisions to make with regards to covert operations which have been conducted in the past...I chose not to reveal certain things and I was called after to explain, which I explained and I understand that the explanation is an accepted explanation.”

Philbert said there were other reasons as well, adding that some issues bordered on national security.

Philbert rejected as "frivolous", claims by the Opposition that he was favoured for the post because he had been carrying out the agenda of the ruling People's National Movement (PNM).

He denied that he received any favours. “I went through the same rigours that everybody else went through, because I thought that I could offer the country something out of my experience, my knowledge of policing, to bring the situation under control."

Deosaran: PSC is an independent body

The chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) issued a media release Monday making It clear that he did not attend a meeting last Friday with the Minister of National Security Jack Warner and the Prime Minister at the Diplomatic Centre. Deosaran said he was out of the country at the time and returned home on Sunday night.

He added, “As chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and to avoid any misconception, I wish to affirm that the PSC is an independent body which strictly adheres to its constitutional remit and the only meeting I attended since my return, is a Commission meeting held today (Monday).”

Photo story: Chinese ambassador drops in on Jack

National Security Minister Jack Warner met on Monday with China's ambassador to Trinidad & Tobago, Yang Youming, at the minister's office in Port of Spain.

Yang congratulated Warner on his recent appointment and the minister presented the diplomat with a gift to show appreciation of the friendship between T&T and China. 

Manning to return home Tuesday night; Rowley won't be at welcoming event

File: Patrick Manning

Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning is expected to return home on Tuesday night, according to an Internet message posted by his San Fernando East constituency.

Manning suffered a stroke in January and was sent to the U.S. for treatment following initial medical attention at the San Fernando General Hospital. He is on extended leave from Parliament.

The statement from the San Fernando East Constituency Office said Manning has completed his therapy program during which he made "tremendous" gains.

It added, "He is currently preparing to return

home to continue his therapy locally. Mr. Manning will be arriving at Piarco International Airport on Tuesday July 31st, 2012 at 9:45pm."

It did not state the nature of the additional treatment of whether Manning is fit to return to office as the MP for San Fernando East. The government of Trinidad & Tobago has paid Manning's medical bills.

The constituency is planning a big welcome for the former Prime Minister but the leader of the People's National Movement (PNM), Keith Rowley, won't be there. PNM general secretary Ashton Forde told local media the the national executive was not involved in the homecoming event. He added that the PNM was not officially informed of Manning’s return.

A thought for today (sent by a friend of JYOTI)

The point is this: If for one week every year we could take the military budget away and give it to the poor and hungry we would rid the world of hunger. What a wonderful thought! But can it ever happen? Ask your politician.

Nigerian president to make state visit to T&T July 31 to August 2

Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is leading a 70-member delegation on a state visit to Trinidad & Tobago, beginning Tuesday.

The Nigerian delegation is expected to arrive at Piarco International Airport at five in the afternoon. President Max Richards, the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet will welcome the the Nigerian leader at the airport.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the visit last Thursday. She said, "Trinidad and Tobago is extremely pleased that their Excellencies have accepted the Invitation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to participate in this years Emancipation Celebrations, especially as this also takes place in the historic year of our 50th Anniversary of Independence."

During his visit the President will also hold bilateral talks with Persad-Bissessar and her Cabinet. Their discussions will focus on trade and energy related matters,with a view to further developing partnerships between the two countries. The Nigerian President will also visit key energy and shipping installations. The state visit will also include a courtesy call on President Richards.

The Prime Minister will host a luncheon for the visitors on August 2 at the Diplomatic Centre, on the occasion of Emancipation Day, 2012. The Nigerian leader leaves Trinidad that same day.

Last year, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago announced the formation of a Chamber of Commerce of Nigeria, and has been actively involved in areas of technical co-operation in health care and Energy related matters.

Persad-Bissessar and President Jonathan first met in Australia during Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in October 2011.

The Trinidad & Tobago government will cover the cost of the visit. However the amount has not yet been determined.

Bakr's lawyer says sedition charge was part of a plot hatched by Manning

Imam Yasin Abu Bakr's lawyer told a court Monday the sedition charge against his client was part of a political conspiracy involving former prime minister Patrick Manning, former director of public prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson and former attorney general John Jeremie.

Wayne Sturge told the jury the entire charge brought against Bakr was because the Muslimeen leader had become a political enemy of Manning. "They threw everything at him, including the kitchen sink," Sturge said.

The lawyer noted that while Bakr's involvement in the failed coup of 1990 was not relevant, that incident was used to give credence to the sedition charge. 

Sturge said none of the three - Manning, Jeremie, and Henderson - have been called in court to refute the charge that they conspired against Bakr.

Bakr is charged with:

• unlawfully inciting persons present to demand with menaces property of members of the Muslim community who are not members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen
• unlawfully inciting persons present to demand with menaces property of (former head of the Inter-Religious Organisation) Noble Khan, with intention to steal
• unlawfully inciting persons present to commit a breach of the peace by enforcing the collection of Zakaat against members of the Muslim community who are not members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen
• uttering a seditious speech, the purport of which was to engender and promote in his listeners feelings of ill-will or hostility between members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen and other members of the Muslim community who are not members of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen

The case if being heard by Justice Mark Mohammed with Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal leading the state's legal team. She is expected to begin her closing statement to the jury on Thursday.

CEO of CISL quits following allegations of conflict of interest

Ramchand Rampersad has resigned as chief executive officer of State-owned Community Improvement Services Ltd (CISL).

Local Government Minister Surujrattan Rambachan confirmed the resignation, which came at the end of a meeting with the board of directors Monday night.

Ramchand has also quit as chairman of the Government Human Resources Services Co Ltd (GHRS), following allegations of a conflict of interest.

Rampersad had been under fire for alleged abuse of taxpayers' money, including overspending on a company vehicle for himself, claim of a life insurance benefit for which he was not entitled and irregularities in tendering rules.

Rowley demands Jack's dismissal

Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley demanded on Sunday that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar fire Jack Warner as National Security Minister, claiming that Warner is "an embarrassment" to Trinidad & Tobago.

Rowley said he has written to the Integrity Commission and to Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs calling for an investigation of Warner’s alleged “secret” bank account.

Speaking at a news conference at Balisier House, Rowley said Warner's refusal to provide answers on the matter is not acceptable. "If Mr Warner was a private citizen and had taken the position that he would respond to no queries about his conduct we could not take issue with that," he said. "Mr Jack Warner holds the very important position of minister of government in T&T and from time-to-time he holds the position of head of the Cabinet," he added.

Rowley said Warner must adhere to the rules of the Integrity Commission. "He is subject to the law...It is quite unacceptable for Mr Warner to want to hold public office and to take the position that he would be answerable to no one," Rowley declared.

Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) released a report on investigations into allegations of bribery by Caribbean Football Union (CFU) delegates at a meeting at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. The CAS report called Warner an "unreliable witness."

Rowley wants to be sure Warner did not break any laws. "We in the PNM call on the police in T&T to conduct the necessary investigation, given the public information and evidence that was available in the public domain to ensure that no person, not specifically Mr Warner, that no person who might have broken our laws would have gotten away,” he said.

Rowley told reporters the PNM has sent three pieces of correspondences to the Integrity Commission. In addition he said the party is writing the Commissioner of Police and copying the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), calling on them "to act in the face of the evidence in the public domain because our accusations are very clear."

Communications Minister, Jamal Mohammed told local media Rowley is entitled to his opinion. "Let the process take place. As the Prime Minister had indicated, we stand with Mr Warner," he added.

Letter: Rowley is out of touch

Dear everybody, 

I watched the news on tv last night (Sunday) and was most fascinated by your Mr. Rowley, the leader of the PNM and the opposition. 

He was going on and on making a case to keep the Commissioner of Police, but, at the same time, he was making a case to get rid of the Minister responsible for the Police.

The thing that really fascinated me with all he was saying is that he is a black Tobagonian, the Minister is a black Trinidadian, the Commissioner a white Canadian and he's saying what he's saying just a few hours before Trinidad and Tobago ushers in Emancipation Day celebrations and a few weeks before your country's golden anniversary of Independence. 

I hope you're seeing through what he's saying, since, to me, Mr. Rowley's making an argument for Trinidad and Tobago to be recolonized and locals to play second fiddle.

Mr. Rowley seems out of touch, lost in a world of his own, doesn't he? Somebody needs to nudge him back into reality before he loses it completely.

Ah yes! I just love sweet Trinidad!

Gerrard Dachle, Savonetta.

Rambachan slams Express for 'distasteful' report on vehicle purchase

Official statement from Dr Surujrattan Rambachan:

File: Dr Surujrattan Rambachan

The publication on the front page of the Sunday Express of the “news” that the Hon PM has bought a new vehicle demonstrates the extent to which every action of members of the PP Government is coming under scrutiny. 

It would have been okay to show a picture of the vehicle bought by the Hon PM, but it is manifestly clear that the objective of the publication is to create in the minds of the readers some semblance of wrongdoing, when in fact there is none. 

This type of journalism must be questioned. Further it comes at a time when the PM, despite all attempts to “knock” her, continues to enjoy a highly favourable popularity rating from the people.

Let us be clear on a couple of things related to this purchase. The Prime Minister, like any other Minister of Government, is entitled to certain benefits which are a part of the Office of Prime Minister and of Ministerial status. By purchasing a vehicle in accordance with those benefits, she has violated no laws nor breached any ethical standards

Secondly, she has utilized, as is her option, the facility to borrow $350,000 from the Government, which again is allowed to all Ministers.

I find it preposterous that she was asked by the reporter, “why now?” The Prime Minister can at any time during her five years use the facility extended to her to purchase a vehicle and to borrow from Government to pay for it. 

One wonders what is there to make news in this matter. It is said that in the life of a politician there is no privacy. However, one always hopes that in the quest to “invade” the privacy of a politician that the news being carried is not slanted to create a controversy to make the public question the integrity of the politician when there is in fact nothing to question. This is what makes this article and reporting so distasteful. 

This article comes in the wake of what must now necessarily be construed as a continuing series of attempts to embarrass the Prime Minister. One vividly recalls the attack by Manning on the house of the PM and on her sister accompanying her on Official business. 

It also comes in the wake of a series of questions about the PM’s travels although no comment has been made of the fact that the PM has been able to re-brand Trinidad and Tobago and to attract a constant flow of persons investigating business opportunities in TT as well as Conference Business. 

The last two years have seen a number of high level diplomatic meetings and visits taking place in TT and has also witnessed the opening up of the Latin and Central American markets to TT manufacturers. The foundation for expanded markets has been set by the Hon Prime Minister.

In the context of her travels, let us not forget that the PM was dutifully obliged to travel on a number of assignments including the UNGA in 2010 and 2011, as well as meet travel obligations occasioned by her position as Chair in Office of the Commonwealth in 2010/2011. 

These visits were used to profile TT and to rebuild the image of TT in the eyes of the International Community. The success of the PM was witnessed by the assumption by TT of the very high body in the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group as well as by the fact that this year TT has assumed the Vice Presidency of the UNGA 67. 

All of this has served to bring a new level of respect to TT at a time when the need to be a global player though coming from a small state is extremely important. 

Let me be the first to shout that TT enjoys an extremely favourable image in the international community and at both the UN and the Commonwealth Office. Let us also recall with appreciation that it was the PM who took the issue of greater participation of women and girls in political decision making to the margins of the UN in 2011, causing a declaration to be signed amongst Women Leaders of the world. All of this in a short space of two years.

Unfortunately, we see no review of these international achievements and milestones, but instead a cheap attempt to politicize and skew the event of the purchase of a new vehicle by the PM with her own money. Lest it also be forgotten the PM, even as a member of the opposition always drove a good vehicle, the last being a Prado.

I find the thrust of this article highly unfortunate!

Surujrattan Rambachan, MP | Deputy Political leader, United National Congress (UNC)/Minister of Local Government

Commentary: Politically bankrupt PNM will continue attacking Kamla to no avail

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar mobbed by supporters of the People's Partnership

The political landscape in Trinidad & Tobago these days reminds me of a comment that Britain's Iron Lady, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, made when asked about personal attacks by her political opponents.

This was her response: "I always cheer up immensely...because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."

In many ways that is what is happening in the country today with respect to the almost daily attacks on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar by an impotent political opposition that is characterised by its bankruptcy of constructive ideas.

The People's National Movement (PNM) and some of its friends and supporters in the media have been carrying out a personal attack on Kamla, often with no grounds for even suggesting wrongdoing or breach of ethics and integrity.

Yet they carry on. It started with Patrick Manning and his baseless accusations about Kamla's private home, which earned him a temporary banishment from Parliament. And it has continued with Keith Rowley and his team, including his sidekick, Fitzgerald Hinds.

We are a people with short memories so many of us may not even remember what Hinds said about the little boy with dreadlocks who embraced Kamla during her tour of flood stricken Maraval in November 2011.

In case you have forgotten or missed it, this is what the PNM senator said: "I saw an idiot little rasta boy kissing the Prime Minister's palm. That made me sick. And if I had my way, I cut every dreadlock off his head, every one...what a rude little dreadlock."

That is the level of stupidity we hear from the PNM instead of how they would do a better job than the government at running the country. 

There is also the Rowley attack on AG Anand Ramlogan, accusing him of questioning the ethnic composition of staff at the Trinidad & Tobago diplomatic mission in New York when Ramlogan had never been there. Rowley had to apologise after insisting for months that he was right.

The PNM has gone after Kamla for everything from the clothes she wears (some are offended by saris) to her shoes, her hats, who has "breakfastses" at the official residence, why her sister travels with her. They even have a problem with her cultural custom of bowing to her elders.

The latest is a pointless article in a newspaper about the the fact that Kamla did what every MP is entitled to do - borrow money from the state to buy a personal vehicle. The paper acknowledged that, yet ran with the story on its front page perhaps to give the false impression that that there was something wrong about it. That kind of reporting is unethical and irresponsible. However it fits the opposition agenda.

Rowley and the PNM have had more than two years to be a constructive opposition but they have failed every step of the way. Even their own staunch supporters like Louis Lee Sing have had to call into question the actions of the leadership.

Rowley is operating on the principle that Manning has boasted about in the past - attack the leader relentlessly with the hope that the leader would fall and then "all fall down". That is what Manning did with Prime Ministers ANR Robinson and Basdeo Panday.

And now Rowley is hoping he can do it with Kamla. The trouble is citizens are more politically aware today than they were in 1991 and 2001. They have no interest in gutter politics and they care about substance, not political theatre.

That is why the PNM is looking for a leader. They gave Rowley a chance and he failed them. They tried to see if Manning had any political currency and discovered that there was none. So now the big dilemma they face is "who we go put."

There is talk from PNM insiders that they want to show Rowley the door but they are not looking for any small change; they want somebody who can lead with fresh ideas and somebody who can take on the People's Partnership. That's a tall order because the PNM today is even more divided that when Manning gave up and called an election in 2010. And even worse, from among them, there is no one to challenge Kamla and her team.

The name Mariano Browne keeps popping up but the power brokers in the party have serious doubts about whether he can excite anybody in the party, much less win an election. He is a Manning import, who like Hazel Manning, never faced the electorate. And there is a great fear that he might have some baggage that could weigh the party down.

So for now, the game of shooting the leader will continue. Kamla can expect the attacks to increase. And they will. Rowley will keep barking at every passing car but unfortunately he won't be able to cause any harm.

And Kamla? She's comfortable because so long as Rowley and his team are in charge at Balisier House she can be PM for as long as she likes. It's because of the PNM's jaundiced view of the country and politics. It has remained stuck in the past, with a narrow vision built on a tribalism that excludes everyone who doesn't dance according to its outdated music.

But perhaps more important, Kamla knows how to embrace people, how to build coalitions and how to bring citizens together instead of pushing them apart. Today she leads the first government in the history of the country to represent every stratum of society and "her people" are "all of the people" of Trinidad & Tobago. And that includes her political opponents because at some time those who are fighting her now might turn into strategic allies.

Jai Parasram | Nova Scotia, 30 July 2012

Video of Therese Baptiste-Cornelis to be sent to Foreign Affairs Minister

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan told the Express newspaper Sunday he will refer a video Ambassador Therese Baptiste-Cornelis to Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran.

He told the paper, "I would expect at all times and at all places, diplomatic representatives of Trinidad and Tobago observe the highest level of protocol in keeping with fostering the best image of Trinidad and Tobago."

Rambachan's ccomment was in response to a video posted on the Internet showing the former health minister speaking on cultural diplomacy in Geneva, Switzerland. 

More than 16,000 people have viewed the video in which she spoke she spoke about her experience as Health Minister and also her personal life.

Watch the video and read viewer comments:

The Express said Rambachan sent an email explaining his views on the matter. It quoted the email.

"Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other Diplomats as well as Trinidad and Tobago staff serving at overseas Missions of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago are always expected to promote a positive image of Trinidad and Tobago at all times. 

"This means that words uttered as well as personal actions and behaviour should always bring credit to Trinidad and Tobago and build a positive international profile of our nation.

"It is expected that confidentiality will always be a hallmark practised by our Diplomats and that they exercise good judgement and maturity when they bring into the public space matters that are internal to the government and to Trinidad and Tobago. This holds also for comments made about other governments and nations.

"Further, diplomats representing Trinidad and Tobago are also expected to observe the highest ethical standards remembering that they serve all the peoples of Trinidad and Tobago."

PM's new Range rover bought with personal funds and loan from Parliament

Black 2012 Range Rover Sport

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed that she has bought a new vehicle for her personal use, according to her entitlement as a Member of Parliament. 

The Express newspaper enquired about the black Range Rover Sport vehicle, registration PCW 1.

It quoted a text message it said it received from Persad-Bissessar: "Purchased by me, with downpayment from my personal funds acquired from my salary, with the majority payment from a loan from Parliament. which is accessible to all MPs. I have to repay the loan by monthly instalments from my salary. Definitely not a gift. I pay out of my hard-earned income." 

The Sunday Express gave details of the vehicle, which it said cost about $900,000 after tax and duty exemptions to which she is entitled.

The paper said the exemptions are: $166,905 exemption from value added tax and $249,950 from motor vehicle tax.

The Prime Minister noted that there was nothing unusual about her buying a vehicle through the loan facility, which is part of the terms and conditions of MPs.

"Indeed, when I was a minister of government previously and when I was an opposition MP, I also accessed this facility as did many others," she told the paper.

The Express also quoted the PM's entitlement according to the 89th Report of the Salaries and Review Commission:

• Salary: $48,000 per month
• Duty allowance: $7,500 per month 
• Transport facilities (some of which are): 1. A fleet of official motor vehicles, fully furnished by the State and manned by a complement of chauffeurs. 
• A maximum loan of $350,000, at a rate of interest of six per cent per annum, repayable over a period of six years, to facilitate the purchase of either— i. a new motor vehicle, with full exemption from motor vehicle tax, value added tax and customs duty or ii. a used motor vehicle, with full exemption from special motor vehicles tax, value added tax and customs duty. 
• A transportation allowance of $5,550 per month
• A personal chauffeur 
• Housing: Official residences, fully furnished and maintained by the State, with the necessary complement of household staff
• Entertainment: Actual expenses incurred for official entertainment to be met from an official Entertainment Vote under the control of the Office of the Prime Minister

Letter: What's the point of the story of the PM's new vehicle?

I wish to congratulate today's Sunday Express on its choice of lead story about Prime Minister Kamla's new car because it again confirms how accessible to and forthright with the media the Prime Minister is, even when the mainstream media is being trite.

Oh yes! The Sunday Express is being trite, since the article clearly mentions the Prime Minister is entitled to purchase the vehicle and to get a car loan if she wants. 

My God, it even points out that she bought vehicles before this one! I can't recall any media eyebrow being raised then, so why try now to insinuate something's fishy when all is above board? Maybe they'd have preferred if she bought it for a drug dealer, like someone allegedly did and escaped scot-free?

My take is, this is no slip-up by the Sunday Express: this is another salvo in the bring-back-the-PNM, fuelled-by-the-mainstream-media chorus. Or that it's fuelled by some other form of tabanca.

Thank God, the people of Trinidad and Tobago continue to show they understand where the mainstream media's at. 

I wish the government would show they know that too and stop taking the media's crap, because politics is war and sometimes in war, when you run out of ammunition or your gun jams, you does have to resort to throwing in the towel, or, if you're the "take no prisoner" type, throw the kitchen sink. 

If you read through the whole paper, you'd agree that it's not only the sink, but the whole damn Express house coming at the Prime Minister and her government!

I hope to God Jamal could jam up these micreants' works!

George Augustus-Clarke | North Valsayn, Trinidad

Rowley wants PM to fire Jack

Keith Rowley wants Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to fire Jack Warner from cabinet.

The opposition leader is holding a news conference Sunday to make the demand based on a resolution that the People's National Movement (PNM) unanimously passed Saturday at a meeting of its general council.

The resolution cites an alleged bribes-for-votes matter in 2011 while Warner was a vice-president of FIFA. Warner subsequently resigned from FIFA.

Last week the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted a lifetime ban on Warner's former FIFA colleague Mohamed Bin Hamman, stating that there was insufficient evidence against Bin Hamman. Warner claimed vindication.

PNM Senator Fitzgerald Hinds told reporters his party views Warner's continued place in Government as a threat to the stability and democracy of this country that was "as serious as July 27". 

The PNM has been opposing Warner since the 2010 general election, saying he is not fit to be in cabinet.

NJAC slams Rowley and PNM, says Manning provided no funds to NJAC for emancipation

File: NJAC leader Makandal Daaga

The National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) has responded to criticisms by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley who last week questioned NAJC's silence about Government's initial $1 million offer for 2012 Emancipation celebrations.

And in an official statement it suggested Rowley and the PNM have no moral authority to raise the issue since they offered NJAC nothing for the celebration when the PNM was in office.

NJAC said, "We have in our possession a copy of a letter dated 28th July, 2008 from former prime minister Patrick Manning, indicating that his government could not give us any funding. 

"He stated that the PNM government in giving support to the Emancipation Day celebrations did so largely through the medium of the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC)," the group said.

Last Wednesday Rowley accused NJAC leader Makandal Daaga of not speaking about Government's initial offer because his mouth was full from "eating ah food" in the Government. 

The government has given $4 million to the ESC.

The NJAC statement added, "Over all those years NJAC has never gone public to complain about anything regarding funding for Emancipation Day activities. We kept on doing what we could, within the context of our circumstances."

It described Rowley's "eat ah food" criticism as an attempt to "weaken the People's Partnership" coalition, noting that Rowley and other "PNM-ites" are "pushing talk" that Daaga is too busy "eating in the Government" to stand up for the ESC.

"It is also shameless of Dr Rowley to state that Makandal Daaga has not done or has not been doing anything for Laventille," the party said.

"Makandal Daaga has never asked for a safe seat or anything for himself. He stood steadfast in Laventille, where he still resides, win, lose or draw, in the interest of the people of Laventille and the nation," NJAC said.

The release also questioned whether the PNM has truly represented Laventille over the past 50 years.

"Which party has Parliamentary representatives for Laventille at present? It seems as though Dr Rowley is dismissing his party and its representatives for Laventille and has given full authority and responsibility for Laventille to Makandal Daaga and NJAC," the party said.

PNM faces heat from Diego Martin youth

The opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) is facing criticism from members of the Diego Martin Central Youth League, which staged a protest at the party's Balisier House headquarters Saturday while the party's general council was holding a meeting.

The group complained about what it said is the party’s inaction in dealing with the fact that members of the league prevented several of its executive members from voting during constituency elections this month.

The Newsday newspaper quoted the youth league’s chairman, Mikhail Garcia, as saying that what happened was a breach of democracy in the party. "They are seeing us as young people and not respected members of the party,” Garcia told the paper. He accused several members of the constituency’s executive of “trying to railroad them for their personal benefits.”

Garcia added that the PNM is not dealing with the issue. He said the group has written "a lot of letters to the hierarchy of the party and, unfortunately, we have not gotten any response."

Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne is supporting the youth and has so far failed to get PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley to intervene. "I support these young people. We cannot speak out on injustice only in some places,” Browne told Newsday.

PNM vice-chairman Camille Robinson-Regis told Newsday the matter is an internal party matter. "It is really a matter that has to be solved by the Diego Martin Central constituency executive,” she said.

Robinson-Regis also denied that the party has failed to take a definitive position on the issue. "That is not entirely so," she told Newsday, adding that two unsuccessful attempts were made for the youth league to hold elections.

"We then asked the Diego Martin constituency to deal with those matters because it really is a matter internal to the Diego Martin Central constituency," she said. She denied that the PNM operates in a high-handed manner. 

“What we can do, and this is what we did, was listen to both sides of the issue and the decision was taken for Diego Martin Central to resolve the issue internally,” she added.

The general council addressed a non-party issue as well during their meeting Saturday. They passed a resolution calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to remove National Security Minister Jack Warner from the Cabinet.

Robinson-Regis said the resolution had unanimously support. He colleague, Fitzgerald Hinds, said the controversies surrounding Warner is “a threat to the democracy” of Trinidad and Tobago.

Guest commentary: Arguing About Eric Williams - by Dr Hamid Ghany

The column below has been reproduced from the SUNDAY GUARDIAN with the permission of the author.

Eric Williams - PM of T&T 1962-1981

As the argument about the role of Eric Williams in the 50th anniversary celebrations came to a boil last week, it was apparent that the PNM was trying to ensure that Williams is given pride of place in the celebrations; while the Government admitted that Eric Williams will play a part, but not the major part.

In arguing about Williams, it must be noted that many of his influences are being challenged today. The concept of the dominant single party that will seek to capture power on the basis of establishing its hegemony over the society seems to have dissipated. The extent to which the PNM has changed since the time of Eric Williams makes the point that his own role inside the very party that he formed and led has changed.

Perhaps the best example of this is the debate over the future use of the balisier tie. At one time, all PNM legislators and local government councillors and aldermen were required to wear it on all formal occasions. That is being relaxed today, as the party seeks to rebrand itself with a relaxed balisier-tie philosophy.

This debate has to be juxtaposed against the current debate about the role of Eric Williams in the independence celebrations this year. The dismantling of the Williams legacy inside the PNM is ample proof that the party is in transition from an icon who will be remembered by the older population and many people in the diaspora.

For the 25th anniversary, there is no doubt that Williams would have played a more prominent role because he served as prime minister for 19 of those 25 years. 

However, for the 50th anniversary the situation has changed and the diversity of what has to be celebrated means that the impact of Williams cannot be as great as it was before. Nevertheless, it should be noted that he was a highly influential figure who was able to dominate the political landscape of his time because he had established a political machine that was highly efficient.

In his later years, when addressing one of his party conventions, he made it abundantly clear that he did not want anything named after him nor did he want any honour in his name. Needless to say, his wishes have been violated on a wide scale primarily because his supporters wanted to find ways to honour him.

He remains a curious and enigmatic figure who was able to attract wide appeal for his political oratory and scholarship in negating the imperial influences in the region, while simultaneously showing great reverence for British institutions and culture.

It was that kind of enigma that would lead him to embrace the Westminster-Whitehall model and hold on to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the face of a Constitution Commission, led by Sir Hugh Wooding, that had proposed a significant departure from the Westminster-Whitehall legacy and would seek the abolition of the Privy Council.

That contrast would demonstrate Williams’ tremendous ability to uphold British traditions, so that many in the society came to believe that these institutions belonged to us. 

Indeed, there is a debate about whether these institutions are ours by virtue of historical evolution or by virtue of suitable adaptation of an import. Williams clearly came down on the side of the latter. However, his discourse is being challenged in the society today, as fewer people who were influenced by him remain in positions of authority.

The nostalgia that is expressed by some people who seek to keep his legacy alive has to be contrasted with people from the same political background who think that the time has come to move on. 

It is that dialogue that has won the battle inside the PNM, which has converted the balisier tie from being mandatory to being optional. Whether they realise it or not, Williams is no longer the dominant figure in the minds of today’s youth and so, the PNM has to work out a way to make him relevant to them if they want to argue over his role in the 50th anniversary.

At the moment, the PNM is going through a period of reorganisation and introspection in order to locate itself in the politics of today, in the aftermath of the 2010 general election that was called two-and-a-half years early. Part of that challenge relates to debates that were already underway prior to 2010. There were some who felt that Patrick Manning had dismantled some of the Williams legacy and that he was becoming all too powerful inside the party.

This disenchantment was causing other political forces to attract former PNM supporters. 

One of them was the Congress of the People who began to ingrain themselves into the psyche of many disenchanted PNM supporters that assisted in their victories in Lopinot/Bon Air West, D’Abadie/O’Meara, and Arima. For those voters, the memories of Eric Williams is not a motivating factor because they took their exit from the party. Whether the PNM can attract them once again is a matter for debate.

Lend me your ears - the Peter O'Connor column

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears! I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar.”
Those were the words attributed to Mark Antony by William Shakespeare in his classic play “Julius Caesar”. 

But we are not Romans here, nor Englishmen from Shakespeare’s time. And here in Trinidad, at least, it is the evil that men do which is interred with their bones, and forgotten; and it is the good, or such good as we can acclaim, which lives after them. And so let it be with Kelvin Ramnath.

In Trinidad & Tobago there are two certainties in life. One is that we shall all die one day, and the other is that one’s “slate is wiped clean” upon dying.

I have no doubt of the sincerity in the accolades poured upon Mr. Ramnath, nor do I doubt that the accolades are true. But, as we close a week in which Friday 27th July was the anniversary of the attempted coup of 1990, we need also to reflect upon the part Mr. Ramnath played in the aftermath of that event.

And I am making no new or startling revelation when I address Ramnath’s role in the freeing of the murderous Muslimeen following their arrests in August 1990, so let no one suggest that I am suddenly committing that most dastardly of Trini sins: “Bad-talking the dead”. 

I have, in addressing the issue of July 1990 on each anniversary of the event, constantly referred to Kelvin Ramnath’s betrayal of our nation in the aftermath of the coup attempt. 

I have not bestowed upon Ramnath the same level of betrayal as I have accorded to Manning and Panday, both of whom were, according the coup leader, forewarned of an event to occur on July 27th, both of whom were safely ensconced in their homes in South Trinidad when the Muslimeen invaded parliament, murdering Diego Martin MP Leo Des Vignes, and other innocent persons, and held dozens, including Kelvin Ramnath hostage for several days under appalling conditions.

We wonder what Ramnath must have thought about the absence of his Leader—Basdeo Panday—who had fled to safety, leaving Ramnath and others to their fate, to lie, unfed, without any toilet facilities, under the gun and under the dreadful stench of rotting bodies, while gunfire regularly raked the surrounding premises?

While the hostages were being held, the remnants of the government were devising a plan to secure their release without further bloodshed. It was decided to agree to grant an “amnesty”, which some of the best legal minds in the country assured could not stand because it would have been granted under duress. 

But government also decided to publicly deny the grant of amnesty and “capture” all the copies of the amnesty document as they searched the insurgents who surrendered to them. 

The hostages were not searched, and Kelvin Ramnath walked out of the Red House with a copy, ungrateful to his liberators, and gave it to Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, attorney for Abu Bakr, who used it to persuade Justice Brooks to release the band of killers. 

By the time the Privy Council ruled that the amnesty was worthless, having been granted under duress, the Muslimeen were free men. “Politico-legal” individuals with cocoa in the sun may question some detail of what I state here, but that is the gist of what happened.

Ramnath would later say that he regretted his action, but that was less an expression of remorse than the anger he felt at the Muslimeen falling out with Ramesh and the UNC, and supporting, via an acknowledged campaign of voter intimidation, the PNM in the 2002 election campaign. 

As we now all know, Manning tried to reward the Muslimeen for this terror campaign by giving them more land in Mucurapo.

Kelvin Ramnath did not appear before the Commission of Inquiry into July 1990, so we will never know why he chose to betray his country and provide the documents which freed the Muslimeen. 

But as far as I at least am concerned, it is important that we do not simply allow his action to be forgotten, in some mawkish sentiment about “ill speaking the dead”. 

Those of us who have done wrong in their lifetime, but who escaped censure or punishment while alive, should not be permitted to pass on covered only with accolades of the good they may have done. The evil that men do must also be permitted to live on after them. So let it be with Kelvin Ramnath, who should be remembered for all that he was--the good, the bad and the ugly, and may he now rest in peace.

Therese Baptiste-Cornelis taking heat for 'undiplomatic' lecture

Trinidad & Tobago's ambassador to the United Nations in Switzerland, former Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis, has been slammed for her presentation in a lecture on cultural diplomacy she in Geneva in June. You can watch the YOUTUBE presentation by clicking on the image below.

Feature: Water is a miracle ingredient for good health

We always seem to be in a hurry to buy all manner of health drinks these days, costing considerable amount of money. Yet we have the best within reach at no additional cost and most of us ignore it. It's plain old WATER. Read about it by clicking on THIS LINK

Clico policyholders lose at Privy Council

The Privy Council has refused to grant Clico policyholder Percy Farrell and others special leave to file an appeal against a ruling of T&T’s Court of Appeal that they had no right to an interim cost order, which would have meant that their legal costs would have been covered by the State.

The Law Lords also set aside an earlier decision that the claimants should be treated as “financially assisted persons.” The Privy Council stated that permission to appeal was refused “because the application does not raise an arguable point of law.”

A statement from the office of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Friday stated that the ruling means that Farrell and others “shall now be liable to pay the State its legal costs at several levels of litigation.” 

The statement noted that Farrell and others have lost at every stage of the judicial ladder. “As a consequence of the decision, issues are likely to arise amongst the policyholders as to how the mounting legal bill for costs would be met. 

"The State has the benefit of the option of using the legal process to enforce the orders of costs including making a deduction from monies in the assets held by Farrell and others.”

Read the full story in the GUARDIAN MEDIA

Jack begins dredging in Felicity

Story and pictures: Ann Dookie

Jack Warner, assisted by Chaguanas Mayor Orlando Nagassar, cut the ribbon the launch the dredging project

Jack Warner, MP for Chaguanas West, launched a state of the art dredger at the Madame Espaniol River at Cacandee Road in Felicity Friday morning. In his address Warner noted the high absenteeism of councillors of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation for the inauguration of "something that will benefit them".

The National Security Minister warned Local Government Elections are coming in 2013 and they are the ones who will have to "face the people and the music".

Warner also slammed Opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds and Opposition Leader Keith Rowley whom he said have nothing to say except "to talk about Jack and Kamla".

Warner said if there is one promise he would keep it is to "see that Rowley never becomes Prime Minister of this country."

The eco-friendly dredging equipment will assist in alleviating flooding in the area. It uses modern technology to spray the silt unto the mangrove, which is good for the mangrove growth.

The dredger spraying silt unto the mangrove

Photo story: T&T shines at the opening of the games

Read the story in the TRINIDAD EXPRESS

Gibbs calls on police to embrace change and free T&T from crime

File: CoP Dwayne Gibbs

Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs on Friday urged police to raise their standards and deliver a better service to the country.

He was speaking at an Emancipation Day function at the Police Administration Building on Sackville Street, Port of Spain.

Gibbs told officers the Police Service is going through a "radical change" and called on all police to move with the tide.

"The Police Service is going through a radical change just as the country did for the emancipation of the country. This change is geared towards raising the standards of the TTPS (Trinidad and Tobago Police Service) to a level befitting the 21st Century Policing Organisation," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said, "It means the employment of science and technology to solve crime through efficient and strategic use of resource and personnel."

He called on citizens to embrace the wider concept of emancipation and "be inspired by the ancestors" by liberating society from poor work attitudes, laziness, corruption, disrespect and crime.

He said that the Police Service must have the commitment and drive to improve the quality of life for all they serve and emancipate the country from crime, thereby creating a peaceful atmosphere for all.

Photo story: Emancipation support committee gets TT$4M

Khafra Kambon receives the cheque from PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Multicultural Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas is standing to the left of Kambon and Hazel Simonette in the other woman in the picture.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Thursday presented a government cheque for $2 million to the head of the Emancipation Support Committee Khafra Kambon. This is in addition to the $2 million that the committee received from the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism.

No $10M for MPs; $94M for texbooks

Local Government Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan told reporters on Thursday cabinet is still to consider a proposal to provide $10 million annually to each of the 41 Members of Parliament for work in their respective constituencies, including social development needs.

Rambachan said the Government is reforming Local Government to ensure that councilors have offices and secretarial staff and certain tax benefits for the purchase of vehicles.

He said such a measure in common in many countries. "In Jamaica, 2.5 of the national budget is spent on this matter and there are other countries in the world including India and Kenya where such funds do exist so that there are other parts of the world and in the Commonwealth that have such an activity," he explained.

Rambachan's cabinet colleague, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh, also spoke with reporters Thursday. He revealed that Cabinet has approved about $94 million for the Textbook Loan Programme for students in primary and secondary schools.

Gopeesingh advised parents not to buy textbooks until it is determined which ones Government will be providing. He explained that under the program each student will have books on loan for at least three years. Primary school students would have five textbooks. Those in secondary school would have seven.

He added, "In addition, the Ministry will provide textbooks which have been selected by the Principals and teachers at the Secondary level for all subject areas."

Gopeesingh also stated that there are going to be changes to ensure that one supplier alone doesn't benefit.

"This whole system has been changed to allow for a wider participation but of course taking into consideration what the Principals and teachers want for their particular schools to be used. The cost of this exercise for this year, the expenditure to be incurred is approximately $94,074,633.26."

Gopewssingh said in 2009 one publisher made up to $30 million selling primary school books and $30 million for secondary school books.