Commentary: Let's find answers to deal with crime among black youth instead of looking for scapgoats

There have been some shocking comments from panelists at a forum organised by the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) at the National Library in Port-of-Spain last Thursday evening. 

My comment is based on a report on the event published in the Guardian newspaper that quotes panelists as saying that Christianity and a "Hindu government" are contributing to crime among black youths.

The comment about Christianity is attributed to Pearl Eintou Springer, who advocates preserving African heritage and follows the Orisha religion. 

"Christianity in schools is having a devastating effect on children because of the mindset it creates,” the Guardian quoted the lady as saying. She apparently took objection to a teacher making reference to "the Lord Jesus Christ". According to the report Springer also claimed children from a school in the Morvant/Laventille area are being forced to learn East Indian dance.

This is the same lady who said it was "insulting" to black women that someone would sing "She's Royal" to serenade Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She said she had reserved the song for black woman.

In a commentary I wrote about that matter I said: "music that celebrates humanity cannot be imprisoned within the narrow walls of racism." (Click here to read the commentary).

I doubt anyone is forcing school children to learn Indian or any other type of dance. But what is wrong with a society as diverse as ours teaching our children to understand and share our rich culture?

This divisive attitude from a person who should be demonstrating leadership in uniting our country is part of the cancer that the People's Partnership government has been trying to cure in Trinidad and Tobago society. 

Panelist David Muhammad, who is a member of the US-based Nation of Islam, added to the divisiveness with an irresponsible charge that "the Hindu People’s Partnership Government" is causing young black men to commit crime. 

The Guardian quoted Muhammed as saying, “African youths are targeted. You saw what happened when almost 8,000 African youths were arrested during the 2011 state of emergency by a Hindu government.”

First of all, there is no Hindu government in Trinidad and Tobago and there never was. Several years ago, the local media spoke about the Panday UNC government also being a Hindu government. By that logic, when Patrick Manning was prime minister, we would have had a Pentecostal government. But nobody seemed to have a problem with that. 

A government represents the people and in our country, the constitution guarantees every person the right to freedom of religion. So the PM and any member of her cabinet is free to follow any religion they choose. And the same applies to David Muhammed and Ms. Springer.

However, it is most unfair to blame any religion for the social decadence in the country and to make allegations that religion is a negative influence in the country. If you take a serious look at today's society you would see that religion is still one of our most valuable institutions.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a Hindu and is without a doubt the most inclusive leader in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. She makes no apology for being a Hindu but her policies are not motivated by her religion. 

In the three years since she has been in government, she has treated every religion with the same reverence. And unlike her predecessor, she does not cherry pick when it comes to giving recognition to religious and cultural groups.

And no one could present a convincing argument to support the wild charge that the People's Partnership government targeted black people during the state of emergency. Muhammed seems to be repeating the PNM accusation without providing anything to support it.

However there is compelling evidence that the majority of crime is committed by people of one ethnic group. In 2011, then Minister of National Security John Sandy provided Parliament with the statistics:

• 2007 - 2,726 prisoners, 1,464 Afro-Trinidadians 
• 2008 - 3,012 prisoners, 1,610 Afro-Trinidadians 
• 2009 - 1,886 prisoners, 1,776 Afro-Trinidadians
• 2010 - 2,412 prisoners, 1,300 Afro-Trinidadians
• 2011 - 1,734 prisoners, 890 Afro-Trinidadians

A draft of a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) produced in 2011 said there was evidence that 95 gangs were operating in Trinidad and Tobago with a membership of 1,269 members and that 83 per cent of gang members are of African origin.

This is the reality. We cannot blame Christianity or an imaginary "Hindu government". It's easy to find a scapegoat instead of trying to understand what is driving this trend of deviant behaviour and find a solution.

The Kamla government is doing that and has brought down crime significantly.

Jai Parasram 

Editor's note:
In a column in the Trinidad Express, Prof. Selwyn Cudjoe wrote: "Let us not dump on the Hindus or the Christians. They have their own problems. We will get nowhere by creating false scapegoats. Nothing but fierce honesty will save us." Read the column:

Don’t blame the Hindus or the Christians

Jack still a member of UNC: Kamla

Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters on Saturday Jack Warner is still a member of the United National Congress (UNC).

The UNC leader made the statement during a walkabout with Khadijah Ameen and several top UNC members. Ameen is the UNC candidate for the Chaguanas West by-election. Warner, the former Chaguanas west PM, was among eight persons screened for the election on July 29.

"Mr War­ner, as far as I am aware, remains a member of the UNC. I have not heard anything else," she told reporters who enquired about Warner's status within the party. "He remains a member of the party.”

Warner has said he wishes the candidate well and so far has not stated whether he would work to re-elect the candidate. He has scheduled a meeting in felicity for Friday at which he would tell supporters what he has decided to do.

Local media have quoted him as saying that he is considering one of three options - opting out of politics, running as an independent and forming a new party. Warner is on record as saying he has no quarrel with his leader and he has described himself as UNC to the bone.

At a meeting last week he said "they can take UNC away from me but they can't take me away from the UNC."

Ameen has asked all members of the party, including Warner and the others who sought the nomination, to work with her to win the seat for the UNC.

“Before I was named as the candidate, I indicated that if Mr Warner was named the candidate, I will work with him and trust that now that I am named the candidate, he will work with me," she told reporters." She said he has no "bad feelings" about the former UNC chairman.She also called on supporters to run a clean campaign. "Let us join hands...we are one family and we have to walk together.” 

Persad-Bissessar is confident that Ameen would win the seat. "The feedback has been really tre­men­dous," she told the media. She described Ameen as "a well-experienced person in the politics" and a good campaigner. "I do believe that she will win the seat for the UNC,” she said.

The troubling silence - Guest commentary by Dr Hamid Ghany

Ken Gordon

The personal decision by Ken Gordon in his capacity as chairman of the Integrity Commission to meet privately at his home with Dr Keith Rowley has been identified as being an error by many of those who have spoken publicly on the matter. 

For some it was a minor error and for others it was major. The consensus of opinion is that it was wrong. 

However, Gordon felt that he did the right thing owing to the fact that Rowley defined the need for his meeting as being urgent. The debate that has erupted over this has created a firestorm of controversy primarily because the Integrity Commission is a quasi-judicial body and not your average public body. 

The most troubling aspect of this entire episode has been the widespread silence of the traditional pressure groups and commentators who would otherwise have commented on a matter as fundamental as this. What has happened? 

There is no doubt that Ken Gordon is very well connected in the corporate and social world of this country and the region. Those connections cut through many of the groups and organisations that would normally vilify people in public life for any infractions that they may commit. Such people would fit into a category of “other lesser mortals” for whom there are no exceptions to the rules which create one set for the socially connected and another for the rest. 

To think that bodies like the local branch of Transparency International or the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce would remain silent on this issue, one way or the other, is baffling. 

In a release on the Section 34 controversy on September 19, 2012, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce said, inter alia: “Many of the challenges faced by T&T within recent years which have impacted on our country’s competitiveness, have been underpinned by repeating themes of the need for good governance and transparency, particularly by public officials. Therefore, the chamber will continue to call for the highest ideals and values of good governance and transparency that is expected of our government.” 

There are indeed lofty goals associated with the desire of the chamber to see “good governance and transparency” upheld by public officials. So what happened here? 

Did Ken Gordon’s secret meeting with Dr Rowley not rise to the standard laid out by the chamber last year on the Section 34 issue? New facts have emerged, and the meeting between Gordon and Rowley had everything to do with Section 34. Why was the chamber so vocal last year and so silent now? 

On the same date as the Chamber of Commerce statement last year, a joint statement was issued by the JCC, TTTI, Fixin’ T&T, Fitun and the TTMA which said, inter alia: “Further to the proclamation and subsequent repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011 and the ensuing damage to public confidence arising from both actions, it is critical that Government take immediate steps to restore that trust in public administration which is essential for good order in our society.” 

This sounds so good, yet when faced with a clear and present error of judgment from the chairman of the Integrity Commission involving the very same Section 34 matter, they have chosen to remain silent with the exception of one comment about an elusive board meeting that may or may not have been held and another waiting for more facts. 

Their silence is troubling as this is still a Section 34 matter that does not put the Government in the seat of error. 

These bodies have always prided themselves on their ability to play the watchdog role in society. What has happened is that they created a societal dead zone in which the very concerns they raised last year about the Section 34 matter cannot get similar treatment this year, perhaps because the Government is not involved in this latest controversy. 

This is a matter that involves the Opposition and the chairman of a quasi-judicial body and not the Attorney General and the Prime Minister. 

Their silence conveys a political preference or a bias to protect social and corporate interests to which they may be linked. The deeper problem is the fact that their silence removes the outrage that would otherwise accompany their intervention where other people are concerned. 

One wonders whether the fact that the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and some other ministers in the Cabinet are not involved here, and that they do not belong to the same corporate and social networks as Ken Gordon and some of the leaders of these pressure groups, could explain why this seems like the silence of the lambs. 

Is this the kind of reasoning that could help us explain why there is division and ambivalence on the accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice by many and that there is no burning public desire to let the Privy Council go? Something to think about. 

HAMID GHANY

Buxo had nothing to do with selection of SNC Lavalin for Penal hospital project

Trinidad and Tobago's High commissioner to Canada, Philip Buxo, said on Saturday he was not involved in discussions with respect to the selection of the Canadian company, SNC Lavalin, for the first phase of the Penal hospital project.

The diplomat was responding to allegations made in Parliament by the opposition suggesting that he lobbied for SNC to get the contract.

Buxo is a former director of SNC Lavalin but since taking up his diplomatic appointment he has had no dealings with the company.

JYOTI has published the High Commissioner's statement below: There is a vast amount of misinformation circulating in the local media about the proposed hospital in Penal, which is to be built through a government-to-government arrangement with the Canadian government. 

The High commissioner wishes to make it absolutely clear that he has had no influence in discussions with respect to the matter of SNC Lavalin working in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a release to local media in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday June 28th 2013, the President of the CCC, Mr. Marc Whittington stated: “SNC Lavalin approached CCC with an interest in this project. CCC assembled a Canadian team, including SNC Lavalin and financial institutions, to develop a comprehensive solution for a new hospital….the contract for this second phase has not been awarded.”

Mr. Whittington stated further, “No final decision has been taken on a Canadian supplier and any final contract must be mutually acceptable to both CCC and UDeCOTT.”

The High Commissioner was advised that these discussions were initiated in 2011 through the Canadian authorities in Port of Spain and involved only two Canadian companies that had expressed an interest in working in Trinidad and Tobago in the delivery of health care facilities.

The companies were Dessau and SNC Lavalin. Dessau had an interest in refurbishing the POS General Hospital. This left SNC Lavalin as the ONLY Canadian company that expressed an interest in building a hospital in Trinidad and Tobago from the ground up.

It was against this background that CCC engaged in discussions with SNC Lavalin and recommended the company for the first phase of the Penal hospital.

The High Commissioner has stated previously and wishes to reiterate that it is not proper to support or disenfranchise any company. He has kept an arms length relationship with all companies wishing to do business in Trinidad and Tobago, and this is especially so with SNC Lavalin because of his prior relationship with the company as director of the it’s CARICOM Energy and Infrastructure division.

The High Commissioner wishes to also state that there is no contradiction between this position and what he stated in an interview in 2011 with a Canadian publication in which he said his interest is in going directly to Canadian blue-chip companies to highlight the potential of Trinidad and Tobago as an ideal place for Canadian investment. Part of the responsibility of a Trinidad and Tobago diplomat is to market Trinidad and Tobago while keeping a professional distance.

The Canadians are conducting the necessary due diligence for Phase Two of the Penal hospital project before making any recommendation the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the proper thing to do is to let the process determine the merit of any Canadian proposal.

Lacking Leadership - the Peter O'Connor commentary

That heading is a global statement about us; our country, government, opposition, institutions, companies, labour, churches, and sport. 

I am sorry for whom it may offend, but it is really an undeniable fact, and if and when we can acknowledge this, we may begin to climb out of the slough of despond in which we are so deeply mired. Denial and pretence will only sink us deeper in despondency, “irregardless” of our drunken laughter and false mirth.

If you doubt me, and question my harshness, then show me who might lead us? Who can lead the country? Which of the senior police officers, from Acting Commissioner down, can you suggest to lead our police service to competence and pride? 

Which businessman here, with the banking system drowning in liquidity, has the vision and capability to diversify our economy instead of begging government for “corporate URP”? And where is a labour leader who can lead the new working class into the age of technology and self-employment? And finally, who among us can lift our football to the promise of the talent we possess?

So it is to my former affairs, and enduring love—Football—that I return today, having not written about the sport for a long time. And this is about who should be coaching our national football team. And it is not about names, but rather traits. 

The trait that is required to lift us, and our football is, first and foremost-- Leadership. Of course, the person must know football, must be a competent strategist, and a fair and capable assessor of his players and of the opposition. But leadership is the key to him being able to impart his knowledge, to inspire his charges, wring the changes, and to overcome the adversity which the occasion may bring. 

And moreso, to inspire among his charges the confidence in him as Leader, to develop them as individuals, as a team, and to lead them to victory. And we need to acknowledge that in the final analysis, “leadership” is bestowed by the led, but only upon the competent, fair and trusted. For no matter your credentials, or your history, if you do not have the confidence of your troops, you cannot lead them to success.

Would you care to list the persons, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, whom we can classify as “leaders”, based upon the above, or any other criteria of leadership you embrace? If it is any help, I will publish here my list of local coaches who meet or met my criteria: Everard Gally Cummings. End of list.

In my life supporting, and then as an administrator of local football, I have seen our National Squad “lifted” from mediocrity to capability only three times. The first was in 1973, when Kevin Verity, ably assisted by Edgar Vidale and Hen Henry “won” the final qualifying round for West Germany 1974 in Haiti, only to be cheated by refereeing dishonesty. 

Then, late in 1987, Gally Cummings took over a demoralized young group and almost led us to Italia 1990. Finally, a collapsing campaign for Germany 2006 was rescued by Leo Beenhakker’s appointment and we went to the World Cup. And I am not debating “foreign” versus “local” here. In the valleys in between those three peaks, we had local failures and we had foreign failures. I am discussing competence in leadership.

As a people, we tend to chose everything and everyone by friendship, or some other emotional state. From chairmen of state enterprises to football coaches, we want to give some “friend” a chance, or choose someone whom we “like”, or who may just be a popular choice. The potential for results is not a priority. Our current, or immediately former football coaches were not getting the job done. 

In sport, as a coach, you win or you go, and Hudson Charles and Jamaal Shabaaz were not winning. These are good people, and they worked hard, but they did not lift our team or our football, so they must move on, and replacements brought in. 
We all know Leo Beenhakker, but I really do not know Stephen Hart. Hart does have experience which we do not have here, and how he applies it remains to be seen. And how he is “accepted” by the squad, our media and our people. I am however heartened by the comments of Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack and Stern John regarding these appointments. 

True and respected professionals, who have worked seriously overseas, and understand our shortcomings. Shortcomings for which we need not blame ourselves too much, for they are shortcomings of lack of exposure and experience. But we do need to develop the confidence to acknowledge that we do not have the leadership experience we need—in all our fields of endeavour. Then we can lift ourselves.

UNC chooses Ameen to fight CWC byelection

Kamla and Khadijah Friday night

Khadijah Ameen is the candidate for the United National Congress (UNC) in the July 29 byelection in Chaguanas West. The party's political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the UNC's choice at a rally at Pepper Sauce Junction, Endeavour Friday night.

Persad-Bissessar thanked all eight persons who sought the nomination, including the former MP, Jack Warner, who was in the large audience.

"It always comes down to making choices; in every constituency we can only have one candidate," she said. "We had to decide who was best to meet all our requirements. We stand for honesty, integrity and loyalty. We are an inclusive party that embraces the youth and women...that’s the way of the future.

"And having considered all the factors, we made a choice and tonight I am asking you to embrace your candidate and elect that candidate on JULY 29" Persad-Bissessar said.

She stated that Ameen, the current chair of the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation, is no political novice. She said Ameen stood up in defence of people and was arrested for protecting her constituents.

In a speech in which she appealed to supporters to keep Chaguanas West in the UNC and in government, Persad-Bissessar said the election was unexpectedly thrust on the party but noted that the UNC was ready. And she urged everyone to keep the opposition PNM out.

"You have to keep Chaguanas West in government so that we will continue to serve you as we have been doing for the past three years that we have been in government. 

"Don’t let the opposition get anywhere close to winning...

"Don’t let anybody tell you this is not an important election. This is a very important election that will determine if Chaguanas West stays in government or goes into opposition...We win when we unit; we win when we vote," she said.

Persad-Bissessar called on her supporters to be wary of the PNM and declared that in In three years they have not contributed a single constructive idea about how to run a government or how to improve T&T.

Ask them what they can do for you," she said. "Ask them what they have ever done for you...They don’t want a hospital in Penal. They don’t want a university campus in Debe. They don’t want Chaguanas to develop. They don’t want anything unless it is in Port of Spain. 

"But I tell Port of Spain is not Trinidad and Tobago. We pledged to serve you and that service must come to you wherever you are – from Laventille to Cedros; Scarborough to Charlotteville... 

"Remember they are the ones who caused the worst rural neglect … and they are the ones who have pledged to shut down your ministry of the people. Their political spite is a threat to the peace and stability of our country."

Persad-Bissessar asked her audience to remember 2001 when the "egos of three men" caused the collapse of the first majority government the UNC had ever won. Ramesh, Ralph and Romeo, she said, felt they were bigger than the party and conspired with the PNM against the government. (Romeo is a nickname of former MP Trevor Sudama).

She said their actions caused the UNC to remain 10 years in the political wilderness. The UNC leader urged supporters to ensure than history is not repeated. She said their duty is to the greater good.

And she said no one should fear for her. "I have been up and down but I have never given up. Where the Lord leads, I will follow," she said.

PM Kamla pledges to had out hundreds of lots to former sugar workers

FILE: Former Caroni workers with PM Kamla and Food Production Minister Vasant Bharath at the time
after government handed out 480 leases to former sugar workers

The Manning PNM administration spent $1.6 billion to prepare agricultural and building lots for former sugar workers but failed to give out any of them to the people who were entitled to receive them under a separation agreement. And they even ignored a court judgment.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar spoke about the matter Friday night when she launched the campaign for the Chaguanas West byelection. 

Speaking in her dual capacity as PM and political leader of the UNC, her government has been distributing lots and pledged that everyone who is entitled to land would get it.

Persad-Bissessar said her predecessor, Patrick Manning, closed the sugar company, Caroni (1975) Limited because of political spite. "He shut down your sugar company and put thousands of people out of work. He destroyed the hopes of an entire community," she said.

"Nearly 10,000 people worked for the company… each of them had children and families to feed. Thousands of cane farmers were thrown out of work. All the businesses in the communities around the sugar estates were in a tailspin. 
Most of them had to shut down.

"Mr. Manning boasted that closing down the sugar company was the best decision he ever made...And he refused to give the people the lands that were rightfully theirs according to an agreement signed with their union. 

"In December 2007, Justice Lennox Deyalsingh gave the government a deadline of June 30, 2008 to hand out to 7,900 former sugar workers their entitlement of two-acre agricultural plots and to ensure that each plot had proper infrastructure, including access, drainage and irrigation facilities.

"The judge said the government’s lack of a sense of urgency in dealing the matter for four years was “tantamount to an abuse of power.” Abuse of power ...that was and remains the trademark of the PNM...

"That abuse of power that the judge talked about continued because you did not matter. Your children did not matter. You lived in the wrong area so you didn’t qualify to get noticed by the PNM."

She also took a swing at the current leader of the PNM, Keith Rowley. "In three years we have seen Dr. Rowley abuse his privilege in Parliament, concocting and fabricating stories to try to overthrow your government, making up lies about our AG, about our government and its officials, holding secret meetings and boasting that he did nothing wrong. Wrong and strong. That is the PNM way."

She told supporters to give the PNM one message. "Tell them you are voting for progress. Tell them you are voting for development. Tell them you are voting for integrity and honesty. Tell them you are VOTING UNC. Tell them you are voting for a party and a government that is not spiteful." 

She said when her government took office it began dealing with matter of the sugar lands. "Since we came into office your government has given out more than 1,000 leases in Cedar Hill, Reform, Mc Bean, Esmeralda and Picton.

"Within our first two years we put over 15,000 acres of land into productive use for agriculture. We have given out almost seven thousand two-acre plots to former Caroni workers.

"We are working on a shared business model on those thousands of two acre plots that we have given to former workers of Caroni (1975) Limited to maximize yield and benefit to the beneficiaries."

She promised that in the coming weeks the government would hand out hundreds of lots.

"And we expect by the end of this year that 5,800 acres of former sugar land will be in food production as part of the Caroni Green Initiative. 560 acres will have short-term crops for the local market. 

"And we are committed to make sure that everyone who is entitled to the land gets it. We don’t want to know who holds a party card. We don’t do things that way. That’s the PNM way," Persad-Bissessar said. "We are working for you."

Jack says he has nothing to fear about July 29; says people will decide

File: Jack Warner with Khadijah Ameen

Jack Warner accepted the decision of the UNC's screening committee to reject him as the party's candidate for Chaguanas West and stated that while the leadership has spoken "it is the voice of the people that is the voice of God."

In a media statement, the former Chaguanas West MP stated, "I will not stand here and criticize the members of the Screening Committee and/or even the leadership because I do not even know what criteria were used to select their representative."

He added, "It may be that quality representation for constituents was not considered nor the wishes of the 31 out of 31 Party groups of Chaguanas West but, after all is said and done, at the end of the day it is the people who will decide.

"The people of Chaguanas West trust me always to be there for them and I trust them always to support me. Our relationship is based on trust and loyalty built through proper representation in good times and in bad times. It is a bond which cannot be easily broken."

Warner said he has nothing to fear, adding that the people will speak and "that is what is of importance", noting that the crowd at Friday's UNC meeting was bussed in. 

"It is not whom the party selects but whom the people elect," he said, adding that he say more about that at a public meeting next Friday in Felicity.

AG will cooperate with police; slams Guardian for "misleading and false" headline

AG Anand Ramlogan

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan issued a media release Friday condemning what he called "the mischievous, misleading and false headline" in Friday's Guardian newspaper. He said the story headlined "AG has no trust in cops" contains no quote from the AG that reflects the message in the headline.

Ramlogan said, "The story that follows on page 3 is equally erroneous. The opening paragraph states: "Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mervyn Richardson yesterday described as unfortunate Attorney General Anand Ramlogan's statement that he did not trust the police to treat with his personal devices with confidentiality in the Section 34 e-mail probe." DCP Richardson was clearly lured into the trap of commenting on a statement that was falsely attributed to me."The AG said, "No such statement was uttered by the AG during the live televised Post Cabinet media conference. This is why that none of the other newspapers carried such a headline, story, or quote. 

"It is unethical and irresponsible for a newspaper to solicit comments and reactions to a statement that was never made in circumstances where it would have been very easy to verify its accuracy."

Ramlogan noted that Richardson said on June 4 that "foreign help was on the way" to assist with the investigation of the email matter. "This announcement meant that the police had hired foreign IT experts to assist the investigation," he said.

The release stated, "What the AG did was to explain the need for the police to have a clearly defined protocol and procedure to safeguard the integrity of the information on his devices. This is to ensure the integrity of the information on his devices are not compromised, interfered or tampered with after the police takes possession.

"Such procedural guidelines are quite normal and consistent with international best practice in most countries. The police provides the relevant information ("emails") to the IT expert who would in turn examine the device based on the relevant issues that are the subject matter of the police investigation. The IT expert will then pass the results of his examination onto the police who may then conduct further inquiries if necessary and where appropriate."

Ramlogan said his lawyers are awaiting clarification from the police on the procedure and protocols they intend to adopt. 

The release added, "He (the AG) remains confident that a reasonable compromise will be reached which will facilitate a thorough inspection of his devices by qualified IT experts selected by the Police Service. 

"The AG wishes to reaffirm that he has no objection whatsoever to his devices being inspected as part of this investigation because he is determined to have the perpetrator of this political fraud exposed, charged and prosecuted. He pledges his full cooperation and support for this investigation."

Guest commentary: ALL FALL DOWN

Reproduced from NEWSDAY - Reflections by Suzanne Mills Friday, June 28 2013

President Carmona greets PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Whining ad nauseum about the plummeting standards in Trinidad and Tobago, we often look across the seas to Great Britain as the benchmark for conduct in public life, ignoring that Britain cannot set standards for us, that we must be a beacon for our own behaviour.

"Much ado about nothing" is the description used by the PNM to describe the furore over the secret meeting between their leader Dr Keith Rowley and the chairman of the Integrity Commission, Ken Gordon, in complete ignorance of the impropriety of that meeting and its consequences for the IC and for the society. No surprise there. 

Their leader regrets the meeting, not because it was entirely off the wall, hush-hush and cast a shadow over the IC, but because it "created an opportunity for persons to misrepresent it". Put another way, the PNM decides what is unethical and what is not. The improper conduct of the IC chairman is irrelevant to them for it suits their purpose.

Despite cogent arguments that demonstrate that the IC chairman's actions were tantamount to misconduct in public office, the PNM and its cohorts would have us believe that our disgust and mistrust are much ado about nothing when the raison détre of the Integrity in Public Life Act is to preserve and promote the integrity of public officials and institutions. 

How can the IC meet its mandate with Ken Gordon at the helm? 

Mr Gordon's actions are not isolated from the email probe - his conversation with Dr Rowley was a step on the road to the disclosure of the email document in Parliament. We still do not know what was discussed at that meeting as there are no minutes of the conversation. We can speculate that Gordon gave Rowley assurances that pleased Rowley, which is why Rowley immediately announced that the IC could and should investigate the emails after the Prime Minister referred the matter to the police.

With the announcement of four new commissioners, the IC still cannot be viewed as an independent body not unless Ken Gordon is removed. So why hasn't the President taken action? Sufficient time has passed for President Anthony Carmona to dot the Is and cross the Ts. 

Now, it is clear that he does not intend to remove Gordon - it was clear from the PM's demeanour when she left his office last week. She looked defeated. After that meeting, Gordon must have realised then that he would not be fired which explains his confident statement the very next day.

Perhaps President Carmona is mindful of the ruling in the Nizam Mohammed case. But fear of being challenged should not prevent a president from being presidential, especially in a matter as worrisome as this is and given its implications for the future of the IC. 

Almost everyone agrees that Gordon's conduct was wrong. How many more have to express their disgust before President Carmona does what is expected of him? 

If because of that Nizam ruling the President is of the view that he has absolutely no power to act, what is the point of having a president? It appears that President Carmona prefers to have the IC decisions challenged rather than his. By leaving Gordon in his post, the message will be that Gordon can conduct himself as he pleases with impunity and undermine a body crucial to conduct in public life. In that case, all fall down.

The consensus among those who would have us believe that now we have the names of the four new commissioners we can have an independent, functioning and credible IC under Gordon and that the Commission can now move to investigate the email allegations is disingenuous. 

All its decisions can be legally challenged and once again we have an IC that operates under a dark cloud because of a president's lack of gumption. We might as well abolish the IC.

At his inauguration the new President declared, "Powers you think I do not have... I do. I may not have a magic wand, but the Office of the Presidency is not impotent. Section 81 of the Constitution mandates the Prime Minister to keep the President fully informed of the general conduct of the Government and, at the President's request, to submit information with respect to any matter relating thereto".

When he made this comment I concluded he was taking a potshot at the PM and referring to the occasion when former President George Maxwell Richards had written to the Prime Minister asking for full disclosure of the events leading to the early proclamation of Section 34 and it was wrongly assumed that the PM had ignored Richards. 

In his inaugural speech, the President also promised to do his part to make TT a better society and encouraged citizens to demand standards of all those persons who command positions of influence in our society.

"Whatever their sphere of influence, it is the right and duty of our citizenry to demand that, as leaders, they are responsible and accountable in the exercise of their functions," he declared.

That was three months ago and he has wasted his first opportunity to demonstrate that he will live up to the expectations of his much acclaimed speech and that he will lead his citizens by example. 

Instead he wavers and he demonstrates that he has confidence in Gordon's leadership when possibly the majority of the citizenry has lost faith in Gordon. President Carmona is either unprepared or afraid to use his power to hire or fire, to demonstrate that he is accountable in the exercise of his functions.

In his speech, President Carmona also stated that he was humbled by the abundance of goodwill that he had received on his nomination; but he was ever mindful that goodwill can be nebulous and can dissipate if expectations are not realised or not realised expeditiously.

If he intends to leave Gordon in the post then the President will have let the country down and TT will continue to be a nation where standards are not upheld. 

With the exception of the PNM and its supporters, the nation is appalled about the improper, secret meeting that took place between Gordon and Rowley and the President cannot expect to retain the goodwill that he had received when his nomination was announced by failing to remove Mr Gordon.

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Journalist get $600,000 for wrongful dismissal after he refused to expose source

Story and photo reproduced unedited from the Guardian newspaper:

Darryl Heeralal

The Industrial Court has awarded $600,000 to former Trinidad Express journalist Darryl Heeralal for wrongful dismissal. 

On June 29, 2009, Heeralal was dismissed for failing to reveal the source of a story he had submitted to editor-in-chief Omatie Lyder. Heeralal sued the company after he was dismissed. The story concerned a probe into a shootout between police and bandits in Wallerfield in August 2007, in which Wendy Courtney, the mother of five, was among five people killed by police.

A group of Northern Division police were on patrol along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, near Agua Santa Drive, Wallerfield, when they intercepted a car carrying four men. There was a shootout and a stray bullet struck Courtney as she lay in her bedroom, killing her instantly. 

Heeralal was dismissed after he refused to reveal his source to Lyder when the police officers sued the Express for defamation after their matter was dismissed after a preliminary inquiry. 

In his evidence, Heeralal said in refusing to reveal his source he had expressed concern to Lyder about confidentiality within the newsroom and wanted that issue addressed before he would reveal his source. Justifying his approach, he said: “An entire arm of national security could have been compromised and there were death threats.” The company argued that the employee had failed to comply with a legitimate instruction and therefore there was a loss of trust.

However, the court yesterday (Thursday) ruled the reasons for dismissal were “not valid,” given the circumstances of the case, and that Heeralal “was denied the basic principles of a fair opportunity to be heard.” 

The Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), which is the bargaining body for print journalists, asked the court for Heeralal to be reinstated or be granted damages of $750,000. But the court did not award the full amount. 

Speaking afterwards, Heeralal said while he was pleased about the ruling, he wanted the opportunity to clear his name, which he had built during his 11 years at the newspaper. 

He said the judgment showed a publisher was not in any position to force journalists to reveal their sources. He added: “Trinidad is one of the very few places where freedom of the press is constitutionally enshrined. The meat of journalism is sources. If a journalist has to be forced to reveal his sources, then journalists will stand on nothing.”

UNC launches campaign for CWC with appeal to keep party in government

Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Friday launched the UNC campaign for the Chaguanas West byelection with a focus on loyalty and the need to keep the constituency in government by re-electing the party's candidate, Khadijah Ameen. 
"Don’t let anybody confuse you about loyalty. People talk about loyalty but the question we must ask ourselves all the time is where does the loyalty lie," she said. She noted that the challenge of loyalty was manifest in 2010 when members of the UNC chose her as leader.

"Loyalty must be to the institution … our great party, the United National Congress. Sometimes we are challenged to choose between loyalty to one person and to our party and country...Loyalty must be an unwavering commitment to our country. 

In order to reinforce the point she went to the scriptures.

"Moses gave up the Kingdom of Egypt to stand up for the children of Israel. He had been loyal to Pharoah and still loved him. But the greater good was to end the slavery of his people. His duty to his people was greater that the comforts of a palace and the embrace of a queen. 

"Lord Krishna tells us in the Gita that to fight on the side of righteousness means sometimes you have to fight against your family...And if that is what you encounter in this election, you must make that choice and fight for what is right," she said.

She stated that the right thing to do on July 29th is to vote for the UNC because when the party is in government everyone wins. "You must put aside all other loyalties and friendships and choose the UNC," she said.

Persad-Bissessar said unlike the PNM, the UNC represents everyone and has created a revolution in development the likes of which has never been seen. And she said everyone is included because that is the UNC way.

"That is why our party chose the symbol of THE RISING SUN. The rising sun gives warmth and energy to everyone. It sustains all life and symbolizes who we are. 

"With each new day the RISING SUN brings new promises and new hope wherever its rays reach… We are a people’s party, dedicated to unity, equality, freedom, justice and democracy. 

"YOU PUT US in government to serve you. And together with our coalition partners we have been doing just that. 
"So I am asking you to maintain your trust in us… look at what we have achieved in three years. We have more work to do for you. Keep the faith and mark your X next to the RISING SUN on July 29 and we will continue to work for you – everyday. 

"We are a government of the people and when the UNC wins back Chaguanas West, we all win because we would have a stronger party and a stronger GOVERNMENT. Chaguanas West would be back in government – where it belongs."

She reminded voters that "Everything that you have got in Chaguanas West was because YOUR UNC MP was in government."

UNC launches campaign for CWC election Friday

The United National Congress (UNC) is holding a public meeting at Pepper Sauce Junction, Endeavour on Friday evening to launch its campaign for the by-election in the Chaguanas West Constituency. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm. 

Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar will deliver the feature address and also introduce the candidate for the election. The party screened candidates on Tuesday night.

Jack says he has no meeting for Friday night

Jack Warner issued a media release Friday stating that contrary to reports being circulated in the media he is not holding a public meeting Friday night.

Warner is one of the candidates screen by the UNC to contest the Chaguanas West by-election on July 29. The UNC is holding a public meeting Friday night to announce the candidate.

The release from Warner said persons are calling into the radio stations and circulating erroneous reports that he is mobilizing supporters to attend a public meeting.

"I wish to emphatically state that Jack Warner is not having any public meeting tonight (Friday) nor have I issued any call for the mobilization of supporters to attend any public meeting tonight. Any such reports are erroneous and untrue."

He stated that he would be having a public meeting on July 5 at the Corner of Cacandee Road and Pierre Road, Felicity.

$.5B to convert to CNG; priority to government vehicles

The government of Trinidad and Tobago plans to invest half a billion dollars to convert an estimated 17,500 vehicles to use compressed natural gas (CNG). 

Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine said this is the first stage of a two-phase conversion project over the next five years. He added that the financing to convert 17,500 vehicles would come from the National Gas Company (NGC) and at no cost to companies and private citizens who wish to make the conversion.  In addition, CNG would be reduced by seven centes a litre from $1.07 to $1.00.

Ramnarine said NCG would create a subsidiary company to implement and drive the programme. 

In the first phase the target mainly government vehicles and maxi-taxis. He said the emphasis would also be on what he called "high-mileage" vehicles" such as San Fernando to Port-of-Spain taxis and buses. 

Ramnarine said the plan involves the construction of 22 CNG stations and the installation of CNG pumps at stations run by Unipet or National Petroleum (NP).

Ramnarine noted that the annual fuel subsidy is around $4.4 billion and the move to CNG could see significant savings that could be put to good use. “If you were able to reduce that subsidy, more money would be available for things like schools, recreation grounds, health facilities and so on,” he stated.

Converting to CNG would bring other benefits, he said, including greater foreign earnings and a reduced carbon footprint since CNG is a low emission green fuel.

14 caricom leaders, 3 presidents coming to T&T for CARICOM summit next week

CARICOM leaders at their last summit in Haiti

Trinidad and Tobago will host the 34th CARICOM summit from next Wednesday, which coincides with 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Four Prime Ministers of the More Developed States signed the treaty on July 4, 1973. They were Trinidad and Tobago's Dr. Eric Williams, Forbes Burnham (Guyana), Errol Barrow (Barbados) and Michael Manley (Jamaica).

Acting Information Minister Anil Roberts gave details of the summit at the post cabinet media briefing on Thursday. He said in addition to the 14 leaders of the Caribbean Community there will be three special guests - the Presidents of the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Venezuela. The Heads of Regional and International Organisations will also attend. 

President Maduro of Venezuela

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is taking over the Caricom chairmanship from July 1 to December 31. He successor would be Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who would be chairman for the first half of 2014.

The conference begins on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 with the Opening Ceremony at the Diplomatic Centre. Several of the leaders will deliver addresses, including the outgoing Chair, Haitian President Michel Martelly and Persad-Bissessar. 

On Thursday there will be an event at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre to re-enact the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The main conference venue will be the Trinidad Hilton.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equatorial Guinea, is attending the summit as the chairman of the ACP Group of countries, which represents countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Roberts said Trinidad and Tobago has an interest in discussing energy-related matters with the President.

On Friday 5th July, the Heads of Government will be in an all-day retreat at the Petrotrin compound, where trhe guest of honour would be Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic.

The conference ends on Saturday, when the special guest would be venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Roberts said Maduro’s visit is important in the context of the Region’s relations with Venezuela.

The Prime Minister would host a joint media conference on Saturday with Caricom secretary general Irwin LaRoque to update the local and regional media on the discussions and decisions taken during the summit.

T&T receives UN award for TTBizlink

File: Vasant Bharath

Trade Minister Vasant Bharath on Wednesday received a prestigious United Nations Award at a Public Service Wards Ceremony in Bahrain.

T&T won first place in the Americas and the Caribbean for promoting Whole-of-Government Approaches in the Information Age for its TTBizLink, which is a single electronic window developed by the Ministry of Trade.

Each year the UN makes the award in different geographical regions. The award is considered the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. 

It ecognizes the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsible public administration in countries worldwide.

The awrds event this year was on the theme: "Transformative e-Government an Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All".

Justice Minister Christlyn Moore

Cabinet has approved amendments to the Legal Aid and Advice Act to speed up the time it takes for prosecuting capital matters.

Justice Minister Christlyn Moore made the announcement Thursday at the post cabinet media briefing. She said there is a small pool of attorneys to deal cases and the problem is compounded by what she called "unattractive" Legal Aid fees paid to defend accused persons. 

Moore said this makes it difficult to get attorneys to take on cases and this causes a backlog in cases.

She said, "Currently, the maximum amount paid for the defence of a capital mater is $30,000. There are quite a number of cases where there are multiple accused charged with capital offences. There are cases where these matters have been adjourned for up to five years,” Moore said.

She explained that Cabinet agreed that the fee structure had to be revised to take into account long trials and multiple accused. 

“In these circumstances, in that part three of the first schedule of the Legal Aid Act to be amended. That authority can now authorise fees paid on a monthly basis not exceeding $30,000 per month,” Moore explained.

750 roads to be resurfaced in coming weeks

Government has promised to pave more than 750 roads in the coming weeks and to repair 63 bridges.

Works Minister Suruj Rambachan made the announcement at Thursday's post cabinet media conference. He acknowledged that the work would cause some inconvenience and asked everyone to be tolerant with contractors.

“We will do what we can to lessen the inconvenience. We will issue letters to people on the streets so people will know when the works will happen. We hope that the work will not take more than three days in one instance. We ask for the corporation of the public,” Rambachan told reporters.

Insurance Act amended to protect victims

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told reporters Thursday government has amended the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third Party Risk Act to protect victims of road accidents.

Speaking at the post- Cabinet news briefing Ramlogan said the change was prompted by a recent ruling by the Privy Council.

“On the 16th of August 2012, in a matter, the Privy Council reversed what has been the law for a long time in Trinidad and Tobago. It was a policy where the insurance would only cover instances where only the named driver in the insurance policy itself was driving. It did not cover anyone else who drove,” Ramlogan said.

The AG said amendment means that victims would be able to get judgement if persons named on the insurance and also those driving the vehicle are involved in an accident.

Ramlogan also announced that the Salaries Review Committee would revise the pensions given to retired judges.

“Time and skills of judges have become more as cases have quadrupled over the past years. They are only human and it is time that one looks after them post retirement. They are facing hardship as their pensions are very small. To amend the pensions paid to them, the government is going to increase and adjusted it upwards,” Ramlogan said.

Manohar won't be screened, can't contest CWC election as UNC

Manohar Ramsaran

Manohar Ramsaran won't be the United National Congress (UNC) candidate for the July 29th byelection in Chaguanas West because he is not a member of the party and the UNC constitution forbids screening of candidates who are not party members.

Ramsaran is a member of the Congress of the People (COP). His party, which is a member a member of the People's Partnershup, has stated that it won't put a candidate in Chaguanas West and would let the UNC candidate alone stand against the People's National Movement (PNM). 

On Monday night COP leader Prakash Ramadhar reiterated that, saying COP would stand with the partnership and support the UNC candidate in the election.

COP said on Tuesday Ramsaran had not consulted the party on the matter.

The UNC began screening candidates on Tuesday evening. The matter of Ramsaran's interest in running for the party came up during a meeting of the UNC's national executive prior to the start of the screening process.

Political Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who did not take part in the screening, told reporters that NATEX discussed the matter and decided to advise Ramsarn that he would not qualify to be screened because he was not a member of the UNC.

Ramsaran was elected to Chaguanas West, when it was just Chaguanas, in the 2002 general election as a member of the UNC. However, when the COP was formed he crossed over to that party and contested the 2007 election as a COP candidate. He was defeated by UNC rookie candidate Jack Warner, who was re-elected in the 2010 election.

Warner created the vacancy in the constituency when he resigned as MP within days of leaving the cabinet and quitting his post as chairman. He was screened Tuesday night and remains confident that he would get the nomination. 

The party has said it would follow the rules in making its choice. It has planned a political rally for friday evening at Pepper Sauce Road in endeavour at which the political leader would announce the name of the candidate.

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UNC to screen 10 candidates for CWC byelection

It's D-Day for members of the United National Congress (UNC) who want to run as the party's candidate for the Chaguanas West seat that became vacant when Jack Warner resigned in April as the MP for the constituency.

The party's screening committee will meet Tuesday evening at the party's Rienzi headquarters in Couva to interview 10 applications for the nominations, including Warner, the man who Warner beat in 2007 to win the seat, Manohar Ramsaran and Khadijah Ameen, chair of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would have the final say on who will be the candidate based on recommendations from the committee. The political leader said on Monday night she will not be on the committee, which includes two deputy leaders, Roodal Moonilal and Marlene Coudray. The other deputy leader, Dr Suruj Rambachan, has said he would not be part of the screening committee.

Warner has been campaigning for the seat since he vacated it and has said he has the right qualifications to get the nomination. He has said he has the support of the 31 party groups in Chaguanas West.

The Chaguanas West by-election will take place on July 29. Nomination day in July 8.

Gordon-Rowley meeting "wrong and highly improper": Law Association

The Council of the Law Association of T&T has strongly condemned the meeting between Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon and Opposition and PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley that took place on May 15 at Gordon’s private residence.

The two men met alone and Gordon made his personal notes, which he later revealed through the media after Dr Roodal Moonilal asked about the meeting.

In a media release the association said, "It is wrong and highly improper for the chairman of the Integrity Commission to meet privately with a complainant." the body said in a press release.

It added, "The Council of the Law Association refers to the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Integrity Commission that he received the Leader of the Opposition privately at his residence on the evening of the 15th May, 2013 to discuss certain matters which are reportedly before the Integrity Commission.”

It noted that the Integrity in Public Life Act bars a chairman from conduct which affords undue preferential treatment to any individual.

“We remind the Integrity Commission, and in particular, the Chairman, that they are bound by the Sections 24 (1) (a) and (b) of the Integrity in Public Life Act which provide that a person holding public office, including the Chairman, shall be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty and afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual,” the Association said.

It said the Integrity Commission has an integral part to play in serving the public interest. "In order to do so it is vital that the Commission conducts itself with the highest degree of propriety,” the association said.

On Monday President Anthony Carmona named four commissioners of a new Commission. But they have not been sworn in and no date has been set for that. 

The commissioners are retired judge Justice Sebastion Ventour, petroleum and environmental engineer Deonarine Jaggernauth, ophthalmologist and surgeon Dr Shelly-Anne Lalchan and chartered accountant Seunarine Jokhoo. Jokhoo was a member of the previous commission.

The full statement from the Association is published below:
The Council of the Law Association refers to the recent disclosure by the Chairman of the Integrity Commission that he received the Leader of the Opposition privately at his residence on the evening of the 15th May, 2013 to discuss certain matters which are reportedly before the Integrity Commission.

It is wrong and highly improper for the Chairman of the Integrity Commission to meet privately with a Complainant. We remind the Integrity Commission, and in particular, the Chairman, that they are bound by the Sections 24 (1) (a) and (b) of the Integrity in Public Life Act which provide that a person holding public office, including the Chairman, shall be fair and impartial in exercising his public duty and afford no undue preferential treatment to any group or individual.

The Council states further that the Integrity Commission has an integral part to play in serving the public interest. In order to do so it is vital that the Commission conducts itself with the highest degree of propriety.