tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54591949756856661242024-02-07T17:13:45.124-08:00Lord Strange of T&TA glimpse into the diabolical mind of a strange trini. ©Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-5895116718045425282015-12-30T06:17:00.000-08:002015-12-30T06:17:53.816-08:00UNC Needs Reality Check<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18.688px;">
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Oil rich nation Saudi Arabia which is far wealthier than Trinidad and Tobago in a clear depature from it's decade old generous welfare system has moved to slash subsidies due to the fall in oil prices. <span style="font-size: 18.688px;">Long accustomed to cheap utilities Saudi's were shocked when their government told them they have to pay extra for fuel, electricity, water and plane tickets. Prices on fuel products were increased by 50%. Saudi Finance Minister is quoted as saying "We have to rationalize unneccessary spending...this requires changes to focus on essential spending.</span></div>
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In light of this information citizens must question pronouncements made by the UNC Opposition Leader in criticizing the Dr. Rowley led PNM Government for first implementing small increases in the price of fuel and seeking to make savings in social programmes such as the food card and free school books for children.</div>
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The attempt by Mrs. Persad-Biessessar to blame the new PNM government for our economic woes in light of the excessive waste which occured under her stewardship and in light of prevailing global economic conditions has left many citizens in bewilderment. Is it that the irrational comments coming from the UNC camp is a glimpse of the disaster that awaited us had we retained them in Government?</div>
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If the UNC was truly serious about governance they will not at this time be criticizing the PNM Government for making neccessary cuts, they would instead be doing its own work in identifying additional areas of waste/unnecessary spending and pointing these out to the PNM Government.</div>
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What we are witnessing from the UNC Opposition is it's continued failures as a political vehicle. The UNC has never been a Government in waiting but a political party in waiting because they lack the necessary Governance philosophy to be a "constructive" alternative. The philosophy and politics of the UNC has always bordered on anarchism, rendering them politically handicap. Thus they often miss obvious opportunities to demonstrate their political worth to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Notwithstanding the recent bruising internal elections, one thing remains abundantly clear, that the UNC and its political leader are in dire need of a reality check.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-89675458969129795582014-08-10T19:46:00.001-07:002014-08-11T01:29:53.462-07:00Run-off vote from a run away government<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr9Kr3wo6eKU-Cex6D1HPTxsSKccTgUgBG7fgxuPKYcN4c34yKkGj5ql6bSQKNjM3lJKXSXhIaD3bvoRNq7CmT6_xjddS3rhTR63uDaSHaOx6Daf-ie_b2bVKs_8Vjr55_VZKzbByqw7C/s1600/Election+Rigging+For+Dummies+dBOs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr9Kr3wo6eKU-Cex6D1HPTxsSKccTgUgBG7fgxuPKYcN4c34yKkGj5ql6bSQKNjM3lJKXSXhIaD3bvoRNq7CmT6_xjddS3rhTR63uDaSHaOx6Daf-ie_b2bVKs_8Vjr55_VZKzbByqw7C/s1600/Election+Rigging+For+Dummies+dBOs.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a>In it's usual style of deceit and cunning the People's Partnership Government has chosen the vacation period of our Parliament to try and shove a piece of legislation down the electorate's throat. Legislation which will not only affect us during next year's general elections but for generations to come. The spokepersons for the People's Partnership Government has tried to mask and camouflage the seriousness of the run-off vote with fluffy things like two terms for Prime Minister and the right to re-call.</div>
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In the first instance Trinidad and Tobago has never had a problem with long serving Prime Ministers as Dr. Eric Williams is the only Prime Minister to ever serve more than two terms consecutively. After Dr. Williams the T&T electorate has exercised their franchise and removed sitting Prime Ministers, therefore stipulating two terms as if it's something we should be grateful for is like offering a bicycle to someone who owns a motor vehicle. </div>
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The right to recall is another red herring as based on what is proposed it can only be enforced after three years of the election date, which means any misfits in office basically have 36 months to steal as much as they want and mismanage our affairs. After three years 2/3 of the electorate in that constituency must sign a petition if they wish to remove the MP, this petition must then be forwarded to the elections and boundaries commission and then a bi-election called. In a country where a court case takes 12 years to be completed and the Integrity Commission takes a whole year to begin questioning someone who has been accused of misconduct, you can see how convoluted the process to recall an MP would be. By the time we reach the stage of having a bi-election to remove the MP it will be the next general election.</div>
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The PP Government is not being truthful by not telling people all the countries they used as examples as having run-off elections are countries who use run-off elections to elect one person, usually an executive president. They do not use run-off elections to select every single MP. Nowhere in the Common Wealth is there any precedent for using run-off elections in a general election.</div>
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What the PP is proposing is that if there are 21 seats and PP wins 6, the PNM wins 14 and in 1 seat PP gets 35%, COP 20% and PNM 45% of the vote, the president cannot elect a new government or Prime Minister and Mrs. Persad-Biessessar and the current PP Government remains in office until a clear winner is announced in the contested seat. How on earth can that be democratic? How does that improve the democratic process for the average citizen? The only thing this run-off vote will do is cause political and economic instability and cause alienation and strife in the society. </div>
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This run-off vote has the potential to cause violent civil disruptions the likes of what we are only accustomed to seeing on international news. If the PP Government has its way, we could very well see the end of a peaceful transfer of power after elections in Trinidad and Tobago and a constant case of political turmoil. This is what the legacy of the Kamla Persad-Biessessar People’s Partnership Government will be, a legacy of instability and chaos.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-90633548167176802452014-06-06T18:28:00.000-07:002014-06-06T18:28:57.482-07:00PM needs to buy a Thesaurus for Central Bank Governor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzcA4ekrLKOaXqoq76JoWFDLbXmKR0sHwieych5rSr_zkZvsEsqOyLs4oe0pikTG2NMmAYuPYj4Jg8-a2rPur_qDGWkZ7b9BjFTY0srzH3GVl8i1D4SdyiIMxP6x7Pa9AVVs1v1XQgBfB/s1600/ignorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzcA4ekrLKOaXqoq76JoWFDLbXmKR0sHwieych5rSr_zkZvsEsqOyLs4oe0pikTG2NMmAYuPYj4Jg8-a2rPur_qDGWkZ7b9BjFTY0srzH3GVl8i1D4SdyiIMxP6x7Pa9AVVs1v1XQgBfB/s1600/ignorant.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
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Last week Thursday at a meeting in San Juan, Dr. Rowley made the claim that the Central Bank Governor changed the system for the allocation of US dollars and it is this change that is causing the shortfall of US currency in the local economy.</div>
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The Central Bank Governor responded the Friday after, at a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce by saying he did not change the system, he merely amended it and made modifications to it. I would just like to draw the attention of the Central Bank Governor to the following dictionary definitions:-</div>
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Amend:- (Verb) "to change......"</div>
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Modification:- (Noun) "a change made to something..."</div>
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Perhaps the Central Bank Governor should have consulted with an SEA student before standing in front of a group of well qualified business men, many of whom hold degrees and MBAs, to tell them that he did not "change" a system but merely "amended" it and made "modifications" to it.</div>
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In the meanwhile I would advise the Prime Minister who was instrumental in appointing the goodly gentleman to the post of Central Bank Governor to please buy him a Thesaurus this Christmas.</div>
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Can any of the legal luminaries in Trinidad and Tobago explain the purpose of having a law that prevents citizens from wearing camouflage clothing in Trinidad and Tobago? Both the UK and USA are countries that have vast military histories, have both engaged in World Wars and have active military operations currently across the globe, yet their citizens are free to wear camouflage clothing, while in Trinidad and Tobago, a country whose regiment has never fought an external threat, citizens are prohibited from wearing camouflage clothing. Why?</div>
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I have heard that its to prevent criminals from impersonating a soldier. That has to be the most stupid justification I have ever heard. What does it matter whether criminals impersonate a soldier or not? Furthermore why would any criminal want to impersonate a soldier unless they're completely stupid as they would stand out? Soldiers have no authority to arrest or question civilians outside an SOE. Even if God forbid the current Defense Amendment Bill is passed the soldiers will still have to be accompanied by a police officer if they are to make an arrest. So why would any citizen who has at least 5% knowledge of what his rights are entertain interacting with any batch of soldiers outside an SOE? If I hear a knock on my door at 1 am and I look out the window and see a batch of soldiers and no police officers, it does not matter whether they are bandits dressed as soldiers or real soldiers, I am calling the police!! Furthermore how does preventing citizens from wearing camouflage prevent rogue soldiers from renting out their uniforms as occurs under the existing law? </div>
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Many times soldiers wear a green or red t-shirt, I'm surprised they have not banned us from wearing those too, the law is that stupid! Please, would our legislators use some initiative and relegate that stupid camouflage law to the obsolete bin? I think it is totally embarrassing to be living in a country where a 10 month old baby can be denuded in our airport by customs officials for wearing a camouflage pants with a teddy bear on it. I mean what was this 10 month old baby to do, impersonate a soldier and go put down a robbery on a nestles van? It is interesting that this is the same Customs which allowed large sums of US currency to be brought into this country undetected by certain individuals in the international football arena, Customs please get your priorities in order! Legislators please let commonsense reign!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-7502167254985478692013-01-23T06:28:00.004-08:002013-01-23T12:23:04.764-08:00The Convenient Race Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is a phenomenon emerging in Trinidad and Tobago that has me totally flabbergasted. Everyone in Trinidad and Tobago knows that the core support of the PNM are people of African descent and the core support of the UNC are people of East Indian descent. The phenomenon to which I refer to is that every time the PNM is voted out of office, even when their loss is as catastrophic as what took place in 2010, no one claims it's because of race but the minute the UNC receives any opposition or rejection from the electorate the first thing to come out the mouths of UNC pundits is race. Why? </div>
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The entire country literally threw the PNM out of Parliament giving the UNC controlled PP Government an overwhelming majority in the Central Government along with the two Tobago seats, not a single UNC pundit said the results of this win was because of race. Two and a half years into their governance and several "missteps" dragging them down (Reshmi; unexplained and failed State of Emergency; Section 34; total lack of transparency and accountablity), the population is up in arms over the PP Government's performance just as they were up in arms over the Manning led PNM, only this time we are being told it's because of the Prime Minister and her Government Minister's race. Why? </div>
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I feel sorry for my Tobago brothers and sisters, after voting overwhelming for the PNM in Tobago in the 2013 THA elections the UNC pundits are coming out from the wood works and accusing Tobago of voting based on race. Where were these individuals when Tobago gave the PP Government the two Tobago seats in 2010? Where were these individuals when Tobago voted out the PNM in 1980 and did not vote them back into power until the year 2000, a whole twenty years after? To see the UNC pundits cry race after the outcome of the 2013 THA elections not only solidifies why they deserved to lose, it also shows up their total lack of understanding where Tobagonians and Tobago culture is concerned. </div>
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Even the Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission Dr. Indira Rampersad is making the colossal mistake of interpreting the Tobago vote as a race vote. She is quoted as saying "People are still focused on political parties and personalities as opposed to issues. It may not be just political parties and personalities. It may be another issue, an issue of ethnicity and race. These issues play out in T&T all the time and some people discount it as an issue." First of all as someone who is commissioner of the Equal Opportunity Commission I can't understand how the goodly Dr. could make such a biased and one sided nuanced statement and go unchallenged. If she is going to accuse Tobagonians of voting based on race then she has to equally accuse the UNC dominanted Partnership of having a race agenda in Tobago to ensure an ethnic influence comprised of the UNC support base. To accuse one ethnic group of voting based on race while absolving the other ethnic group of having any race motive discredits anything Dr. Rampersad says and she looses all appearances of objectivity. Dr. Rampersad's claim is also a two edge sword as it tacitly implies that the PP Government is not that multi-ethnic political party it is being touted to be but rather an Indo dominated political party with a few Non-Indos for cosmetic appearances, because if the People's Partnership was truly multi-ethnic then the issue of race would and should never arise.....over to you goodly Dr. </div>
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It is also interesting that Dr. Rampersad did not see the following as pertinent issues for Tobagonians:- PP Government's total disrespect to Tobagonians by putting forward a bill regarding internal self government on the eve of an election, a bill that does not adequately address internal self government for Tobago and would deprive Tobago of it's resources via the stated 11 nautical miles; Ashworth Jack's inability to explain the funding of his home and provide sufficient evidence to appease Tobagonians that he is not receiving political favours behind closed doors which he undoubtedly would have had to repay; Ashworth Jack's further lack of integrity by refusing to observe the law of Trinidad and Tobago and file his declaration of assets and income with the Integrity Commission. For Dr. Rampersad to totally down play these issues and turn this into an election of race calls into question her own qualification of being able to adequately analyse political issues. For her to be aware of these various issues and say that Tobagonians voted on race and not issues is to insult the intelligence of Tobagonians, and I'm saying that if Dr. Rampersad was running for Chief Secretary of Tobago she too would have suffered a catastrophic loss and it would have nothing to do with her ethnicity. </div>
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A twelve year old in Tobago can tell you that Tobagonians voting for a party they rejected for 20 years has nothing to do with the ethnic composition of the People's Partnership Government, but everything to do with the PP's misunderstanding of Tobago's culture. You cannot win votes in Tobago by bribing them with fancy ads, having helicopters invading the people's air space unnecessarily and you certainly do not win votes by attacking Tobagonians. Tobagonians hold it as their sacred right to criticize their own, as a Trini I learnt that the hard way when I went over there to work for some years. By attacking Orville London and Dr. Rowley on the most spurious of allegations the PP Government secured their own demise. Tobagonians although being part of a unitary state, do not recognise their leader as being that of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, their leader to govern Tobago affairs is the Chief Secretary. The PP Government's constant disregard for the THA and total disrespect they showed to Mr. London as well as the Prime Minister acting as if it was she contesting to be Chief Secretary and not Ashworth Jack all caused the severe beating the TOP suffered at the polls. </div>
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So to the UNC pundits I say to you, the loss of the THA election had nothing to do with race and everything to do with your leader's colossal misunderstanding of Tobago's culture. Further to that, your convenient and constant reference to race every time the electorate rejects a politican of East Indian descent is not only distasteful to Tobagonians, but also to the Non-Indo electorate in Trinidad. If it is in the minds of the UNC pundits that as long as East Indian politicians do not control and dominate political life in Trinidad and Tobago it means the rest of the electorate are racist then I dare say, these pundits need to do some introspection because when they point a finger at others there are four fingers pointing right back at them.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-13851385170555459122013-01-09T15:41:00.001-08:002013-01-09T15:42:42.529-08:00Ashworth Jack must also call for resignation of Devant Maharaj<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mr. Sandy made some unfortunate comments during the election campaign in Tobago and has been rightly condemned for them. But what disgust me is the hypocrisy of the UNC, TOP and it's leader Ashworth Jack in calling for Mr. Sandy to withdraw from the election. Where was Ashworth Jack when Devant "Parsuram" Maharaj wrote an article entitled "Secrets of the census in Trinidad and Tobago" back in 2005? This article which can be found from a simple Google search, revealed what Mr. Maharaj truly thought of Afro Trinbagonians back then, Tobagonians in particular. He was not concerned about national unity then but about the ethnic domination of the East Indian. </div>
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The following excerpt is from Mr. Devant Maharaj's article, "Dr Morgan Job has been attempting to influence the people of Tobago to seek a federal relationship with Trinidad. He even advocates outright independence. I say let the 44,190 (Tobago) go independent if they wish or, for that matter, let them join a federal relationship with Grenada and let Morgan Job be president. The result will make the African population of Trinidad a smaller minority by another two per cent. With the Tobago figure taken out of the 2000 census figures, the Indian majority will climb to 41.85 per cent while the African will slip to 35.04 per cent. These census figures that are being suppressed have serious implications for the disbursement of funds for education, culture, regional development and other State realignments." You can read the entire article at this link >>>>>> http://www.southasianoutlook.com/issues/2005/may/indocarib0409.html </div>
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As you can see back then Mr. Maharaj who was a prominent member of the Maha Saba now a government Minister under the People's Partnership Government was not interested in national unity at all. He was only interested in the ethnic dominance of the East Indian. As a matter of fact Mr. Maharaj wanted Tobago to go their way just for the simple fact of reducing the Afro population in the unitary state Trinidad and Tobago. Yet still Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar leader of the United National Congress deemed Mr. Devant Maharaj a suitable candidate for her so called "multi-ethnic" government. How could Mrs. Bissessar appoint someone with the philosophy of Devant Maharaj? And he is functioning as a current PP Minister serving all ethnicities without fear or favour? If he can do that after making these comments why can't Mr. Sandy serve after making his comments? </div>
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How can someone who wanted to get rid of Tobago just because of the Afro population across there, be a valid member of a government which claims to want to give Tobago autonomy and which claims they are inclusive of all races in Trinidad and Tobago. I eagerly await an explanation from Mr. Ashworth Jack of Mr. Devant Maharaj's presence in the People's Partnership Government.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-49292548886291016372012-11-28T12:45:00.000-08:002012-11-28T12:46:01.727-08:00Highway Standoff A Governance Issue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Without venturing into whether Dr. Kublalsingh is right or wrong in his position regarding the issue of the Point Fortin highway a particular position of the Government has intrigued me. Dr. Rambachan along with Jack Warner and others have accused Dr. Kublalsingh's actions as being "political". My question to the members of the People's Partnership Government is "so what?" What is wrong with Dr. Kublalsingh being political? Does this government not understand that for it to even grace the halls of power it required citizens of this country to be political and engage in a political process of electing them? </div>
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Why is it that the People's Partnership Government seems so afraid of citizens becoming enlightened and engaging the government on a civil level? If it's one thing this present group belonging to the People's Partnership Government has demonstrated to the citizens of this country is that as a nation we seem to have a breed of politicians who are quite contented with having citizens exercise their democratic rights just once every four years and then simply granting absolute unquestionable power to them so they can rule over us like Lords and Serfs without question or accountability. </div>
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This latest stand off between Dr. Kublalsingh and government goes deeper than the need for a highway by some, it goes deeper than economic and social consequences albeit very relevant. This stand off between a lone civilian and a government ever eager to display it's arrogance and contempt for the citizenry strikes at the very heart of our democracy and the type of governance that exist in our Republic. The question is are Trinbagonians satisfied with being mere spectators in the affairs of their nation or are they prepared to grow up and take charge of their destiny and tell the politicians who have no regard for their voice exactly where to get off?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-48242031877180769472012-11-11T17:39:00.000-08:002012-11-11T17:41:44.365-08:00T&T No Hindu Nation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems like Jack Warner is determined to use his political office to cause racial and ethnic acrimony in Trinidad and Tobago. That is the only logical conclusion one can come to with this man's inane weekly statements that repeatedly receives "silent endorsement" from the Prime Minister and by extension this government. So Jack's latest gnashing of teeth on behalf of the Hindu community comes in the form of a claim against the radio stations for not playing any bhajans in the lead up to Divali but almost 8 weeks before Christmas they flood us with carols.</div>
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Let us first deal with Jack's selective folly, how come Jack did not make the same claim prior to Eid, Double 10 or the Shouter Baptist Holiday? People of African descent make up the second largest ethnic group in this country and I say with utmost confidence that all my life I have never heard an indigenous African song tribal or otherwise playing on any local stations, but I have heard many Indian songs. How come Jack does not speak about this?</div>
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According to a 2000 consensus as stated on the CIA World Fact Book the religious denominations in T&T are as follows, Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 25.8%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, Hindu 22%, Muslim 5.8%, Other Christian 5.8%, Other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4% and none (which includes me) 1.9%. Without having genocide or any major internal conflict it is highly unlikely that between 2000 to present there would have been any major changes to those percentages over a 12 year period. If one were to add up all the "Christian" based denominations one would find that the Christian community in this country is roughly 76.2% while the Hindu community is a meager stand alone 22%,. Therefore it is only logical that any religious holidays that center around Christianity will be given more attention by the populace than the religious holiday's of smaller sects. </div>
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But if Jack so wishes he is free to utilize the funds he was going to use to buy the T&T Mirror and instead buy Radio Jaagriti 102.7 FM and play bhajans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I assure him it would not matter either way to the average Christian Trinbagonian, I highly doubt there will be a mass religious conversion to Hinduism and it definitely does not matter to the non-religious like myself. So to Mr. Jack Warner I say Namaste, go in peace my brother, I'm sure Christian T&T along with their Hindu brothers and sisters are praying for your speedy mental recovery.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-85254467986896819442012-11-04T12:04:00.000-08:002012-11-04T12:05:41.752-08:00Red Card That Jack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Prior to the 2010 General Election I was a very vocal voice against the People’s National Movement and their way of governance. I wrote many blogs which are still circulating in cyber space because I never took them down, I wrote many letters to the Express editor all of which I have copies. I attended political meetings of the United National Congress, the signing of the Fyzabad accord between the Partnership Parties and I voted for the Congress of the People. The interesting thing is, despite being well in my 20’s, 2010 was the first time I have ever voted or have been so actively involved in politics and as a consequence the first vote I have ever cast in Trinidad and Tobago went to the Congress of the People, a member of the People’s Partnership Government. I say the above in light of the nasty, vicious, divisive and hateful comments made by Minister of National Security Jack Warner concerning the march last week Friday regarding Sec 34, that seem to indirectly accuse people of African descent in this country of having a racist agenda against the shadowy government of which he is a member. Jack Warner claimed that he only saw Africans marching on Friday. Firstly this could not be so because I marched alongside my co-worker who is predominantly of Chinese descent, I saw persons of East Indian descent and I also saw few Caucasians and many persons who were patently of mixed ethnicity.</div>
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In Trinidad and Tobago politics has always been predominantly along the lines of ethnicity. When I attended the UNC political meetings back in 2010, despite there being a few other persons who “seemed” to be of African descent, I was engulfed in scores of East Indian supporters of the United National Congress, and it has always been that way just as the People’s National Movement crowds have always largely been of people who seem to be of “African” descent. Jack Warner as Chairman of a political party whose core supporters comprise 90% of East Indians is in no position to speak about the ethnic composition of any other political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Furthermore the COP is the party which gave the People’s Partnership the appearance of a multi-ethnic political party not the UNC, the UNC is still by and large a party supported predominantly by persons of East Indian descent. But to further analyse the illiteracy of Jack Warner’s statements, where does someone like me fit in to Trinidad and Tobago’s society? I am dark skinned like Dr. Rowley but my mother has a fair complexion like the wonderful Denyse Plumber and I have a Hebrew Surname. If I am an African according to Jack Warner because I took part in Friday’s march, notwithstanding the fact that I voted for Jack’s Government, Jack Warner needs to tell me from which African nation I came. There are 57 recognised countries on the African content so Jack Warner need to tell myself and the other Africans from Friday which country is our mother land. Are we South Africans? Zimbabweans? Angolan? Ethiopian? Somalian? Am I a Hutu or Tutsi? Which one of these African countries will take me in, and would they consider me African especially if they see my mother?!</div>
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While T&T’s politics has traditionally been along the lines of ethnicity, as a people we have historically come together to vote out a government that we perceive to be a threat to all of us as happened in 2010, and which I suspect will happen in 2015. Many young individuals like myself are no longer falling for the racial divisiveness of people like Jack Warner and as Political analysts Derek Ramsamooj has pointed out, asinine statements like the one made by Jack Warner only serves to anger persons like myself who know exactly who and what we are i.e. TRINBAGONIAN! Jack Warner has some gall to level such an ugly accusation against persons in this country who may have some measure of African ethnicity in their DNA make up. Who does Jack Warner think helped give his government a Parliamentary majority in the 2010 general election? One would think that it was only Jack’s core supporters of East Indian descent and some race from another planet in the universe voted in the 2010 general election because his ridiculous utterances and vulgar conduct as a government minister are pretty much out of this world. </div>
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By his statements Jack Warner has only confirmed to me as a citizen that he still harbours racist beliefs that belong to an era before I was born. He has also confirmed to me that he thinks he can drum up support for his government by playing on the ethnic sentiments of his core supporters. Rather than denigrate persons of African descent, Jack has simply exposed the policy that still exist amongst some in the United National Congress, a policy of playing on the ethnic sentiments of my fellow East Indian brothers and sisters to support his government even when his government is engaging in gross miss-governance. That Jack Warner should find support from this country’s most controversial figure regarding race relations I can only say mission accomplished Jack, you have successfully roused the support of those who would blindly follow you in your anarchist quest for unbridled power. But make no mistake, Jack’s racial card is a two edge sword as he has earned himself a political red card from many like myself and we have already disqualified him and his government from the next election world cup in 2015!</div>
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Poor COP, they are drowning in the cesspool of incompetence and ethnic division of the UNC that is being bandied about as good governance. Leader of the COP Prakash Ramadhar has speedily distanced himself from Jack’s comments and rightly so, but I say to Mr. Ramdhar that you are guilty by association. Despite the many missteps of this government including the Reshmi Ramnarine fiasco, Section 34, nepotism in the distribution of legal briefs and now Jack Warner’s racial comments the COP has remained a steadfast member of the PP Government. The COP is now tainted with the rot of the UNC and has lost all credibility. I assure all parties concerned that no matter what name they call me, they could call me African, Martian, Alien, Cling-on, whatever they choose to call me, as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago irrespective of whether they got my vote or not in the past I shall continue to demand good governance and transparency! Sticks and stones may break my bones your words can never harm me, however your poor governance will destroy my country!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-44130569919716071592012-05-27T09:32:00.000-07:002012-05-27T09:32:52.646-07:00People's Partnership celebration an erosion of democratic principles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am of the opinion that last Thursday's celebration by the PP Government concerning their two years in office, is a breach of democratic principles. Since when is it the practice of a government to celebrate what they are constitutionally mandated to do and what they are paid to do? As far as I am aware it is only in monarchies, dictatorships and despotic fanatical countries like North Korea where the achievements of leaders and government institutions are celebrated. Can any of you imagine Barack Obama hosting a million dollar celebration in Time Square to tell the people of America about some community centre he built in Oklahoma? Or David Cameron holding a celebratory rally in London to talk about some colour me orange project he launched in Essex? The practice is unheard of and is also inappropriate and smacks of political 'never see clumsy' and immaturity. </div>
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The Prime Minister has stated that the purpose of the celebration was to 'account to the people'. If my memory serves me right, in the Westminster system Parliament is the institution by which the elected government of the day accounts to the people. Having this discussion last week with a pro PP colleague they jeered at me saying I just vex cause the PP use their money to throw their celebration and account to the people. It is then I indicated to the person that it is exactly that which reveals the perversity of the PP Government's actions. Why must the elected Government of the day spend private funds to account to the people of the country when they can do so freely under the constitutionally charged institutions such as the Parliament? Why can't they via their weekly Cabinet meetings tell the public what they have decided to do as a government and what they have done? Instead they opted to throw a big fete which climaxed akin to that of an all inclusive carnival fete and at the end of the day all they have done is further erode the democratic mechanisms of this country and the citizens of this country are still non the wiser of their achievements.</div>
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And while the PP was busy frolicking Thursday night, a CAL Chairman appointed by themselves requested a $20,000 leasing of a luxury vehicle for himself, this from a state enterprise which has incurred a $339 million loss and which he was appointed to steer back to a viable financial status, not withstanding the fact that the 2011 State Enterprises Performance Manual clearly states "company cars or car loans should not be granted to Chairmen or directors". Criminals continue to run amok and the economy is stagnant. It seems we have now become a country which celebrates underachievement and mediocrity.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-13502707511124765822012-04-12T09:40:00.006-07:002012-04-12T10:30:27.950-07:00A Child Molester's Paradise<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zhboukUMcCo6fjfBE7fajxqQueNv-DMJaIwp_DMqJOw8Q8ANffEjVtqO8jC1rle2LVMEB3T1IMRQDsWPJCj55zLcgbbrVzYP1KZ0QMA6y-kvUmCblBnMR8uBb7gosD0-nm8KmkZf5e0U/s1600/3425035231_70a669a1de.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zhboukUMcCo6fjfBE7fajxqQueNv-DMJaIwp_DMqJOw8Q8ANffEjVtqO8jC1rle2LVMEB3T1IMRQDsWPJCj55zLcgbbrVzYP1KZ0QMA6y-kvUmCblBnMR8uBb7gosD0-nm8KmkZf5e0U/s400/3425035231_70a669a1de.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730560474717712146" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Despite having no children of my own (as yet), I find myself being particularly aware when young children are around in the wake of 2 year old Aliyah Johnson's brutal murder. Maybe it's just the male protective instinct in me, maybe it's because I've been affected by this child's death in a way I do not as yet perceive.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While selecting fruits at the fruit stall in St. James near Singer's today, said instincts were over active when I observed the manner in which the fruit vendor was dealing with her daughter (or should I say not dealing with her daughter) who could be no more than 7 years old. The peculiar thing is it was not even an out right observation, and I was not particularly thinking about baby Aliyah at that point in time, but having read the various stories in the dailies this week my subconsciousness was some how perturb enough by this child's death to pay attention when children are around me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I'm there selecting my fruits while the vendor is speaking to one of her helpers and the little girl is desperately trying to get her mother's attention to tell her she is going to Singer's to come back. And she is there "mummy, mummy, mummy" and the mother and the help totally ignores her. "Mummy, mummy, excuse me, mummy, mummy". The mother continues to ignore her. She then grabs hold of her mother's hand, "mummy, mummy, mummy." The mother is still speaking to the help. Frustrated the child says, "I'm going to Singers and come back okay", and she proceeds to walk off, mother totally oblivious or not aware enough.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mother does not even acknowledge her. Now imagine if I was a child molester, that child would have been a prime victim for me. Imagine this child attempted to engage her mother for close to two minutes without any success. As she walks off it is at this point I grab hold of the mother's shoulder (a little too roughly to be honest but I was agitated because of the situation I just observed), and as she looks at me totally shocked I say to her in a stern but friendly voice, "You need to pay attention to where your daughter is going, she has been trying to get your attention for the longest while and you have been ignoring her. Just remember one minute she will be here and the next minute she may not."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With a noticeable expression of chagrin, she acknowledges my admonition but I can tell she was grateful for the little "pull up". Parents need to be more aware of their children's whereabouts, virtually their every move. As parents people need to give their children their undivided attention, yes it can be difficult doing this while working, having to pay bills and put food on the table, but make no mistake, a parent's failure in this regard creates a child molester's paradise.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-30625194565537075202012-04-11T08:37:00.007-07:002012-04-11T09:11:17.155-07:00Kamla being more than dishonest with Statistics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGf6L2uK18B7nY87TFNpjxFQFSqGfRqy20Lksh4qRtE06EbVnAM58dAzprkduOAoavDn3-jrwKnFlnT_7EnEqwqtEdOgGfq-qtlPRDExfeXMQl1zxx4eRd0olVW4ZmJPA-l98GfFXs7sD/s1600/files.jpg" style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGf6L2uK18B7nY87TFNpjxFQFSqGfRqy20Lksh4qRtE06EbVnAM58dAzprkduOAoavDn3-jrwKnFlnT_7EnEqwqtEdOgGfq-qtlPRDExfeXMQl1zxx4eRd0olVW4ZmJPA-l98GfFXs7sD/s400/files.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730170013150636114" /></a><br /><p style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 16px; "><span style="line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">With regard the poll conducted by the Ansa Mcal Institute of Psychology published last Sunday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bisessar was quoted in Express April 11 as stating that if one "Adds the excellent , good, fair ratings - its almost 80%, so the government is doing fine." Now it is either the Prime Minister thinks the citizens she presides over are complete idiots or she was being deliberately misleading and having no compunction about it whatsoever. A standard five pupil can discern that the Prime Minister's pronouncements makes absolutely no sense and it is a deliberate attempt at polluting the poll results. The following were the Ansa Mcal Poll results:-</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 17px; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="line-height: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span>Ratings</span></strong></p><p style="line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; "></p><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Overall, how do you rate the performance of the Government to date?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Excellent 4%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Good 30%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Fair 47%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Poor 15%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Extremely Poor 4%</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="line-height: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span>Ratings</span></strong></p><p style="line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; "></p><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>If a general election was held today, which political party would you vote for?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>UNC 5%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>COP 3%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>NAR 1%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>PP 34%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>MSJ 1%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>PNM 13%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>NONE 25%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>DON’T KNOW 19%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>NEW PARTY 1%</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><strong style="line-height: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span>Ratings</span></strong></p><p style="line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; "></p><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>How do you rate the performance of the Prime Minister to date?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Excellent 11%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Good 31%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Fair 42%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Poor 13%</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span>Extremely Poor 3%</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span>If by the Prime Minister's logic we are to add the good and fair ratings of two of the three questions, it would show that the government got almost an 80% rating and thus is doing well, then it stands to reason that if one is adding the good and fair ratings one must deduct the poor and extremely poor ratings to get a more objective view. This would show that the ratings according to the Prime Minister's logic were in fact (30+47-15-4) = 58% and (31+42-13-3) = 57%. Clearly as one further analyses the stats using the Prime Minister's logic it is blatantly clear that the PP Government barely made a passing grade. Out of the 512 people questioned, it would mean that only 296.96 and 291.84 persons gave the PP Government a fair to good rating. 512/2 = 256, one must therefore ask the question what exactly is Mrs. Persad Bisessar boasting about.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span>It is also instructive to note that the Prime Minister totally ignored the excellent ratings of 4% and 11% respectively, is this an indication that the Prime Minister is quite contented with mediocrity and does not concern herself with exceeding expectations? Of 512 respondents 4% would be 20.48 and 11% would be 56.32 persons, if I remember correctly in primary school when one's report card said "Good" or "Fair" for the term one usually went home with a B, B- or a C. And the most glaring omission of the Prime Minister was the ratings related to the question "If a general election was held today, which political party would you vote for?" Out of 512 respondents a whopping 5% (25.6 persons) said they will vote for the UNC, the party to which the Prime Minister belongs, and 13% (66.56 persons) said they will vote for the opposition PNM. Granted the PP got 34% one must beg the question if the Prime Minister is contented with the fact that the only way the party to which she belongs can win an election is by currying favour with other political parties for the sole purpose of defeating the PNM, because as a stand alone political party the PNM is the only party that got the highest rating.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span>I would therefore caution the Prime Minister, that the next time she opts to play with statistics to fool the population she should do so with a bit more cunning, as you can fool some of the people some of the time, you can't fool all of the people all the time.</span></p></div><p style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-346192808030916742012-04-05T11:10:00.003-07:002012-04-05T11:50:10.429-07:00Stone in my shoe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDujUtHId0uifhO447psdaY_K8Am4kUJ0k4yAloR18-GxOkDpi7Zw4u-GPXxredbxU23lwnnamxEgj4U9YaVHXhGfjuIluoDlELBO9FdLor941Mte2M8vo2MXz6ysMu8ytcdcqybutuoXv/s1600/5056821738_6a95c02dfd.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDujUtHId0uifhO447psdaY_K8Am4kUJ0k4yAloR18-GxOkDpi7Zw4u-GPXxredbxU23lwnnamxEgj4U9YaVHXhGfjuIluoDlELBO9FdLor941Mte2M8vo2MXz6ysMu8ytcdcqybutuoXv/s400/5056821738_6a95c02dfd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727988347276971682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">One morning a couple weeks ago at work, I had cause to take my shoe off to remove a stone that was causing me much irritation. While searching for the little bastard that was causing me much discomfort, I found myself muttering the words "Stone in my shoe". That was it, just "stone in my shoe", it was not even a full sentence. I stood confused asking myself, that apart from the obvious fact that I did indeed have a stone in my shoe, why did I see the need to verbalize it to myself and in such an informal way. It is during this state of unexpected mental indulgence that it occurred to me, hey....you know that would be a pretty cool name for a book, "Stone in my shoe".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As an avid reader, I did not surprise myself at the direction my contemplations veered. But then another thought came to mind, that is we all have figurative "Stones in our shoes", you know something or someone in our lives that is causing us to lose focus or feel discomfort. These stones usually tend to cause us to lose focus on achieving our goals or cause us to stop doing things we may enjoy doing. In some cases we ourselves may be the stone in our very own shoe by harbouring negative thoughts about ourselves or about others, thus becoming entrapped in a cycle of negative energy and thought, causing much discomfort to our spiritual and emotional well being.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The trouble is, some of us become so entrapped by the discomfort that it cripples us to the point of making it extremely difficult to come to the understanding that at times we just need to stop, realign our thoughts with our actions and engage in a sought of re-calibration of the soul, thus removing the "stone from our shoe". This can be especially difficult when as I mentioned above, sometimes we ourselves are the stone in our own shoe and in cases like these it can often be difficult to locate the stone as we fail to recognize that we may be the source of our own discomfort.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I guess my message to you in these insane contemplations is, always strive to maintain a stone free shoe, however figurative or literal. My other message to you is, it does not hurt to speak to yourself sometimes! Have a fantastic long weekend!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-15485634097685184552012-04-05T09:10:00.014-07:002012-04-05T10:47:32.397-07:00Free Cheryl Miller Now!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjMsk-PMf4QOojFm4FToiQwFWaYtcubQxaixY58wdkTViuXASLCtCovkImfSYZXPv02rC4yM9wrtgUgfangnfEl1Erhyl5yTqJuO63OjuXNI3ttM4mF1ZRy4JgrljtD3hZ_lxswOUa8hz/s1600/asperger-syndrome.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjMsk-PMf4QOojFm4FToiQwFWaYtcubQxaixY58wdkTViuXASLCtCovkImfSYZXPv02rC4yM9wrtgUgfangnfEl1Erhyl5yTqJuO63OjuXNI3ttM4mF1ZRy4JgrljtD3hZ_lxswOUa8hz/s400/asperger-syndrome.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727963663699285202" /></a><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><span>I find it tellingly strange that an introvert woman who goes by the name of Cheryl Miller, can be virtually strong armed and kidnapped from her work place by mental health officials and carted off to a mental health institution and drugged up without her next of kin being notified and without having apparently been evaluated by a psychiatric doctor. What is even more strange is this incident has a occurred after a mere couple weeks, March 23rd to be exact, when our Minister of Health Dr. Faud Khan stated, </span><b>"Some 500 of the 822 patients at the St Ann's Hospital are not supposed to be at the mental institution. Sixty per cent of the patients do not need to be here and they are just social cases where the family themselves do not want to take responsibility for the patient. They are social patients, chronic care patients that do not need to be in a hospital setting because they do not have acute in-house psychiatric illness."</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><b><span><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span>The issue surrounding Cheryl Miller has to do with her allegedly raising her voice at another co-worker because she felt she was being victimized. Now as someone who has never been described as insane, I must say I have worked in many organisations where I have witnessed loud boisterous altercations between co-workers, myself being a partaker of such outbursts at times. Such behavior while generally frowned upon socially is a regular occurrence on any given day in any establishment, and not just in the work environment but at home in domestic settings.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span>One must beg the question as a free thinking citizen, what did this woman do that would have caused her employer, the Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs to institutionalize her? What acute in-house psychiatric illness did she display that warranted Minister Verna St Rose to come on national radio and say this woman was institutionalized "out of concern" for her. Ms. Miller is certainly not a patient whose family has deserted her, as her family were not even notified by the Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs that they were institutionalizing Ms. Miller and her family has been visiting her and demanding her release so again I ask the question on what basis is this woman being held? Who is the medical practitioner that issued the medical certificate for her confinement as ought to have been done as per the Mental Health Act? Why was she committed to an asylum without her next of kin being notified?</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span>Ms. Miller's co-workers have been staging daily protests for her release, some of them having worked with the quiet lady for 15 odd years. While they have outrightly described Ms. Miller as "strange" none of her co-workers have described her as insane, as having exhibited violent tendencies or any acute psychiatric illness. One co-worker went so far to say that Cheryl will use folders to box her self in at her desk so she would not have to communicate with people. He further went on to say that she has a penchant for mathematics and if something was off by a cent she will look for it and find it. The co-worker further stated that when he first saw her box her self in with the files it was a bit "strange" for him but after he got to know her he realized that's just how Ms. Miller is, and he worked with her for 15 odd years without a problem. One must call on Minister St Rose to state categorically what exactly is the problem now, because she as the Minister of Gender and Youth Affairs has not worked at the Ministry as long as Ms Miller and her co-workers, so what is the basis for St Rose's "concern".</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span>While I may not be a medical practitioner, the behaviorial characteristics described of Ms Miller does not suggest to me an insane person. It suggest to me of someone who is suffering with a disability such as Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism which is described as a "spectrum disorder" because it affects people in different ways. Medical professionals describe it as a "hidden disability" because people cannot easily tell someone has the disability from their outward appearance. People with Asperger Syndrome have extreme difficulty reading body language which makes it very difficult for them to communicate with others, they tend to be of average intelligence and in some cases above average intelligence having a penchant for subjects such as mathematics as in Ms Cheryl Miller's case. They are affected in three main areas, social communication, social interaction and social imagination.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span>People with Asperger Syndrome have difficulty expressing themselves in the following ways:-</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-align: justify; "><ul><li style="line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; ">have difficulty understanding gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice</span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; ">have difficulty knowing when to start or end a conversation and choosing topics to talk about</span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; ">use complex words and phrases</span><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; "> but may not fully understand what they mean</span></span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; ">be very literal in what they say and can have difficulty understanding jokes, metaphor and sarcasm. For example, a person with Asperger syndrome may be confused by the phrase 'That's cool' when people use it to say something is good.</span> </span></li></ul><span style="line-height: 21px; ">Their difficulty with social interaction will include:-</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><ol style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><li><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; ">not understand the unwritten 'social rules' that most of us pick up without thinking. For example, they may stand too close to another person, or start an inappropriate topic of conversation</span></li><li><span style="background-color: initial; font-size: 100%; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; "><span>struggle to make and maintain friendships</span></span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; ">find other people unpredictable and confusing</span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; ">become withdrawn and seem uninterested in other people, appearing almost aloof</span></li><li style="line-height: normal; "><span style="background-color: initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: justify; font-size: 100%; "><span>behave in what may seem an inappropriate manner.</span></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span></span></span></p><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">While none of us may know what Cheryl Miller is suffering with, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs carting her off to the mad house to be confined and drugged up without notifying her family seems to be an exaggerated and draconian manner for dealing with someone exhibiting the characteristics of Cheryl Miller. It would seem that not only Ms Miller constitutional rights were violated but also her human rights as per the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. We have a civic duty, each and every one of us to find out exactly what happened to this woman as it could be you or your family members.</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span>Nothing short of a full investigation is required and anyone found culpable of violating the Mental Health Act and Ms. Miller's constitutional and human rights should be hauled before a court of law and be dealt with accordingly. It is not good enough for anyone to make a random accusation of insanity against someone and have them carted off to the mad house with just one phone call, no questions asked and no family notified. If that should be the case then we are bordering on becoming a despotic country the likes of Stalin's Soviet Union and Hitler's Germany, where the state can incarcerate any citizen on the flimsiest of pretexts i.e. insanity. FREE CHERYL MILLER NOW!!</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-15759314435636683292011-11-24T05:05:00.000-08:002011-11-24T05:07:24.223-08:00A successful unsuccessful State of Emergency<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwINowQEe7kOBY0dN6J53ZfmJlzfwy6xIe-r-ctFy5kk-g_MlrFz8j6GeMjtTUhQ82JL6YmhFmNfnv2RnmfW2UaZbkcy6Ezx0Gqn8xhOY4_i67GYH5HGa0qhacXydMpcPiD_UzosKpDpJ/s1600/success_through_failure.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 300px; height: 299px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678548069659915266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwINowQEe7kOBY0dN6J53ZfmJlzfwy6xIe-r-ctFy5kk-g_MlrFz8j6GeMjtTUhQ82JL6YmhFmNfnv2RnmfW2UaZbkcy6Ezx0Gqn8xhOY4_i67GYH5HGa0qhacXydMpcPiD_UzosKpDpJ/s400/success_through_failure.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">So just short three weeks of the end to this illegitimate state of emergency I have come to the conclusion that it is a successful unsuccessful state of emergency. First of all during the SOE and the imposition of a curfew murders and rapes continued. After the lifting of the curfew and rentention of the SOE, murders and rapes continued. Last week a claim was made that rapes are on the rise and about two days after the police service published a release saying that sexual offences are on the decline.<br /><br />After the police and army dug up a bunch of old guns, the security forces along with representatives of the People's Partnership Government all patted themselves on the back and claimed victory in ridding this country of illegal guns and restricting criminal activity. They even had a big public event where they invited the UN to come to Trinidad to destroy guns, yet still three weeks shy of the end of this State of Emergency the country's security forces are on high alert because of death threats against the Prime Minister and curiously enough "only three" other government ministers who seem to have been 'specifically' hand picked for this criminal plot. The Prime Minister has stated that this plot is being commissioned by criminal elements who are angry over the 'success' of the State of Emergency.<br /><br />I'm not sure I understand this current situation facing our country. If the State of Emergency was successful in stunting the free movement of criminals in this country, getting illegal guns off the streets and destroying criminal enterprises then how come these criminal elements still exist and more so how come they have the capacity and resources to plot an assasination on the Prime Minister if the State of Emergency was successful? If after almost three months of a State of Emergency we have criminal elements in this country that are so powerful that they have the resources to plan an assasination againts the Prime Minister and three top government officials then one can only conclude that this is a successful unsuccessful state of emergency. The question is where does that leave us as a nation?<br /> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-40859482560017707962011-11-21T23:32:00.000-08:002011-11-21T23:36:59.162-08:00Under a State of Curiosity<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuxUyR8b69Jj1rR6uqf348A8KvXSw_Pezvt0WNtrVDa_NHrBtYmwhyJGk97hiMo4ErCaA7hCdX8VxZgQXYXgy546V3AvYL4M81Ln4C9eQkeUKfRH2fU72VPongxkZ6JCXh3fE6oqr6WiO/s1600/133_button-curiosity.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 327px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677720433081756978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuxUyR8b69Jj1rR6uqf348A8KvXSw_Pezvt0WNtrVDa_NHrBtYmwhyJGk97hiMo4ErCaA7hCdX8VxZgQXYXgy546V3AvYL4M81Ln4C9eQkeUKfRH2fU72VPongxkZ6JCXh3fE6oqr6WiO/s400/133_button-curiosity.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I find it extremely curious that under a State of Emergency certain sectors of this country can protest "without police permission" to have a duly appointed school principal removed from her position, and no action is taken against them. I find it curious that under a state of emergency the board of a denominational school can disregard the instruction of a government commission and refuse to allow a school principal to return to school. I find it curious that under a state of emergency a board of a denominational school can put chains on a school to prevent a government appointed school principal from entering a school thereby putting the education of children in jeapordy & disturbing the peace.<br /><br />I find it curious that under a state of emergency a goverment minister will go to the police station to support a 'friend' on the board of a denominational school that is engaged in disregarding instructions from both the Ministry of Education and Teaching Service Commission. I find it curious that under a state of emergency people can come on our national television and insight violence with impunity. I find it curious that under a state of emergency the Government of Trinidad and Tobago seem unable to bring the board of a denominational school to order yet they claim to be taking on criminal "big fish". I'm under a state of curiosity.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-23011801220018447912011-11-07T17:18:00.000-08:002011-11-07T17:21:39.597-08:00Police's treatment of female citizen needs to be investigated<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmElyK6GVpc3M8pajVfBP-aR9ETJo9mt4Il5tKVPVpOVM8iE7xh01z_Ca0UU2EQtANFb7zjCvL-bhn3s7h3A6IhZevW5Xsj5z_yAIo5TyAM4YjoFCvSxWa4fZDufukMtC15QzRYOOvo4Z/s1600/4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmElyK6GVpc3M8pajVfBP-aR9ETJo9mt4Il5tKVPVpOVM8iE7xh01z_Ca0UU2EQtANFb7zjCvL-bhn3s7h3A6IhZevW5Xsj5z_yAIo5TyAM4YjoFCvSxWa4fZDufukMtC15QzRYOOvo4Z/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672428844945083378" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night (Monday) I saw a video clipping on TV6's U Report showing police officers arresting a young lady on Ariapita Avenue and if anything this video did was show the total lack of professionalism of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, their abject ignorance and lack of commonsense. The video clearly showed the young lady claiming she did not refuse to take the breathelzyer test so why was she arrested? She did not use obscene language, was clearly not drunk and certainly did not pose a threat to the public. I therefore have a few questions for Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1) Did these police officers read this young woman her rights?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2) Did they inform the young woman of the reason for detaining her?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3) Did the police have reason to believe that under this State of Emergency this young woman is a gang member or had criminal intent or posed a threat to the state?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4) Why did a male police officer attempt to roughly handle a female citizen despite the presence of a female officer?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5) Why did the male officer insist on attempting to roughly handle a female citizen despite her objections to him putting his hands on her?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">6) Why is a female citizen wearing a skirt and high heels treated in such an inhumane and degrading manner by being made to 'cock up' in the back of a police vehicle?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">7) Is the police so void of commonsense that they could not logically deduce that they should have put this young lady in the back seat of the police vehicle?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Only in an uncivilized third world country would a young lady be treated in such a disgraceful and degrading manner, even male suspects are placed in the interior of police vehicles in developed countries. Good luck in implementing your 21st century policing plan Commissioner Gibbs but from this video alone, I can tell that retraining these "thugs in blue uniform" is going to be a colossal challenge. I do not envy you.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-5899129941514238322011-10-18T18:12:00.000-07:002011-10-18T18:38:49.439-07:00Questions for Kamla..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrw04dWpsYmzbmM_agLNnMJKDdUnbrECn4GIUxYhGKCGKjRo6WYQB9HaXsH0IrsIuR14nbhtTRsqDwCRntgGIo-cSSbi_oHycgMWMi04CPmDzwalNcP7YpKySp8ApJM-k9iLII1FK8bil/s1600/foot%252Bin%252Bmouth1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrw04dWpsYmzbmM_agLNnMJKDdUnbrECn4GIUxYhGKCGKjRo6WYQB9HaXsH0IrsIuR14nbhtTRsqDwCRntgGIo-cSSbi_oHycgMWMi04CPmDzwalNcP7YpKySp8ApJM-k9iLII1FK8bil/s400/foot%252Bin%252Bmouth1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665011530283596898" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Out of curiosity my dear Prime Minister, how do you know that only 7% of the scholarship recipients were of East Indian descent? Did your government conduct a DNA examination of the scholarship recipients? I have many East Indian friends with non-seemingly East Indian names so I would hope that you did not base your accusation exclusively on the recipient's surnames. Is this the modus operandi of your government Mrs. Persad-Bissessar? Governance by eugenics and ethnicity? I noticed in your accusation you said "7% of the recipients were of East Indian descent and the other 93% were of non East Indian descent", perhaps you should clarify to both the population and Anil Roberts what you mean by "Non East Indian", because when you said it Anil Roberts was heard by the entire nation shouting over your voice asking, "not even a Dougla?". I would have thought that non East Indian would mean Afros, Douglas, Syrians, Chinese, Caucasian etc, but it seems Anil Roberts begs to differ. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why were you only capable of giving a specific percentage of the East Indians that received scholarships but you couldn't tell the population how many Africans, Chinese, Syrians, Douglas and Caucasians were given scholarships? By deliberately withholding information on what ethnic group or groups made up the 93% I fail to understand your claims of racial discrimination. Also what does this mean of the 7% of East Indians who received scholarships? How were they able to secure scholarships from an alleged discriminatory government (according to you)? Did this 7% betray the larger East Indian community to secure these scholarships? Now that former Minister of Culture Ms Marlene Mc Donald has indicated in Parliament that it was a five member committee, two of which are of East Indian descent were the one's responsible for interviewing the scholarship awardees, is our Prime Minister indicating that these two citizens of East Indian descent aided and abetted the PNM in engaging in racial discrimination?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from considering the recipient's ethnicity did you or your government contemplate any other reasons why they were selected? Are the person's selected from a particular economic stratum? Was the government offering scholarships for courses which it deemed priority? And while we are on the topic of the ethnic composition of tertiary education students, does this mean that the People's Partnership Government is going to launch an investigation into why so many of the persons admitted into the medical school at UWI are of East Indian descent? And last but not least, forgive me if I seem to be slow, but could you please explain to me of what relevance is the PNM's awarding of scholarships to the current $50b budget debate? How does the PNM awarding scholarships to only 7% East Indians bear any relevance to the fact that your government is about to once again embark upon deficit budgeting in what is the largest budget in the history of this country, and to date the citizens of this country still have not received a lucid explanation as to how your government intends to utilize this money. You do remember that this is a budget debate don't you?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-35535854019801384972011-09-04T10:47:00.000-07:002011-09-04T11:32:09.914-07:00State of Emergency Lacking Constitutional Validity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP1OR59kBhNxwijNMDhaCgtj3Q0W_BAOtiitr8mjuaERB1IphdAEBJCJp_YDTg74V4pOvIgDbqi7eATdhflQATQHB2_AdQAkS_bByopSKBZvoosDqTCR_xL3Vdo0TfGvzXPoEQUyTysN5/s1600/tyranny_-_montesquieu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP1OR59kBhNxwijNMDhaCgtj3Q0W_BAOtiitr8mjuaERB1IphdAEBJCJp_YDTg74V4pOvIgDbqi7eATdhflQATQHB2_AdQAkS_bByopSKBZvoosDqTCR_xL3Vdo0TfGvzXPoEQUyTysN5/s400/tyranny_-_montesquieu.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648569767126294562" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been two weeks since the People’s Partnership Government declared a state of emergency and citizens still remain in the dark as to the reasons for having our constitution suspended and thus being deprived of our fundamental democratic and constitutional rights. As per section 1 (9) of our constitution “within three days of making the proclamation, the President shall deliver to the Speaker for presentation to the House of Representatives a statement setting out the <b>specific grounds</b> on which the decision to declare the existence of a state of public emergency was based”.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Sandy in his contribution to the debate on the motion to extend the state of emergency for three months repeated the Attorney General’s claim that a major crisis was averted and that there was an immediate threat and endangerment to public safety. To date however, both Mr. Ramlogan and Mr. Sandy have refused to give this nation the “specific grounds” on which this state of emergency was called. In a most ingenious way, the Minister of National Security resorted to the cover of “matters of national security” as his reasons for not telling the citizens of this country why exactly a state of emergency was called.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The refusal of the Attorney General and Minister of National Security to inform this country as to the “specific grounds” for having declared a state of emergency does not seem to be in accordance with our constitution. The constitution is quite clear the President must tell our Parliament the <b>“SPECIFIC GROUNDS”</b> on which the state of emergency was called. Nowhere in the constitution does it state that if the state of emergency pertains to a matter of national security that the government can withhold information from citizens. As a matter of fact that entire notion proffered by the Attorney General and Minister of National Security is vulgarly nonsensical as the very purpose of having the provision for a state of emergency in our constitution is to deal with <b>matters of national security</b> in whatever form they may arise, be it natural disaster, disease pandemic or an attack on our democratic institutions by way of a coup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In seeking to allay justifiable concerns as to the governments declaration and handling of the state of emergency, during his debate Mr. Sandy recapped all the previous state of emergencies our country has been under. What Mr. Sandy did not say in our Parliament as he ought to have, is of all our previous states of emergencies the citizens of this country knew exactly why we had a state of emergency. This is the first time in the history of our country that a state of emergency has been called and citizens have not been appraised as to the ‘specific grounds’ for declaring such. Therefore, what this People’s Partnership Government has done is set a dangerous precedent where any government in the future can call a state of emergency to further their agenda, be it genuine, political or even oppressive and all that government would have to do to circumvent the constitutional and democratic rights of citizens of this country is use the cloak of “matters of national security” and thus avoid accountability to the electorate.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whether one is in support of the ‘reasoning’ behind this government’s state of emergency or against it, one must take note of this dangerous precedent that has been set by the People’s Partnership Government and its implications for our democratic survival. It seems foolhardy that in order to get a temporary relief from crime because of the abject failure of our security services that we should allow such a colossal undermining of our constitutional mechanisms. Quite frankly I’m not sure which frightens me the most, the government’s reckless manipulation of our constitutional apparatus or citizen’s ignorance to the implications of government’s actions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trinbagonians would do well to heed the words of Netsanet Belay, Director of Policy Research at CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation regarding our state of emergency, “The State of Emergency, inappropriate legislation and broad implementation of a curfew represent a disproportionate interference with fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly enshrined both in the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and throughout international human rights law. After just two weeks, Trinbagonian citizens risk signing away civic freedoms that have taken forty-nine years of hard struggle and nation-building to win. Persistent crime and personal insecurity are very real threats to many Caribbean nations and need to be taken seriously. Nevertheless the trend we are witnessing across the Caribbean region of using disproportionate security-based measures will only weaken trust in state institutions and could lead to a virtual close down of space for citizens and civil society participation.”
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-60442914884019271102011-08-26T19:05:00.000-07:002011-08-26T21:00:49.449-07:00Anand Ramlogan The Transformer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2PUvlEY5bYTZVwArmjb-RC-CcwFZYOIdahEbl5Z-xSjnibMNAhJKJ3MItAVwIKVPpRqgCbU4gX3Bogw8uiShateiJzU-cfXR4x114EGlR915hgIaDRDx1vgAUnK-hL8UFmXtnRyvhPkM/s1600/4-1A_Anand_Ramlogan_1.15.4.10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2PUvlEY5bYTZVwArmjb-RC-CcwFZYOIdahEbl5Z-xSjnibMNAhJKJ3MItAVwIKVPpRqgCbU4gX3Bogw8uiShateiJzU-cfXR4x114EGlR915hgIaDRDx1vgAUnK-hL8UFmXtnRyvhPkM/s400/4-1A_Anand_Ramlogan_1.15.4.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645364641049575234" /></a>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">I am without a doubt convinced that Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is a transformer, our own local version of 'Bumble Bee'. As the current Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is in his glee, using non-bailable law such as the Anti Gang Act to detain alleged criminals. But this was the same Anand Ramlogan who wrote a long diatribe against the anti kidnapping bill and it's consequences re: it being a non bailable offence. Now Anand is singing a totally different tune. But you see unlike most Trinidadians my memory eh short! I WILL HIT YOU FOR SIX RAMLOGAN. SEE THE FOLLOWING TRINIDAD GUARDIAN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NONE OTHER, THE INCUMBENT ATTORNEY GENERAL ANAND RAMLOGAN ON THE 1ST AUGUST 2004!</p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> </p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">"Manning’s knee-jerk crime plan" - by ANAND RAMLOGAN (Before being appointed Attorney General and suffering from a delusional swelling of the male part!)</span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">PM Manning unveiled his great crime plan last week. It was greeted with a series of brutal murders and demands for “less talk, more action.” The headline grabber was the “no bail for kidnappers” strategy.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">This knee-jerk legislative reaction to what is admittedly a frightening problem is one that must be cautiously studied. The erosion of human rights and the enlargement of State power (that can later be misused and abused) normally take place in the height of a crisis, with the full support of the people, because rational thought is overwhelmed by panic and fear. </strong><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><i>(In 2004 who would have thought that Anand in one of his editorials to the Guardian was simply describing the state in which he would have the country when he is appointed Attorney General. These words adequately describes the People's Partnership Government's state of emergency)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">At present, kidnapping is a criminal offence punishable by life imprisonment. Though it is a bailable offence, magistrates have the power to refuse bail under the Bail Act, because of the seriousness of the offence and its prevalence in society.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">Carlos Manickchand and his gang were, for example, refused bail, as have many others who have been charged for kidnapping. Persons charged for car theft and drug offences have routinely been refused bail by magistrates.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><b>A magistrate can set a high bail that is beyond the reach of the accused person, and he would not be out the following morning. We see this happening every day in our courts, so why all the fuss now? </b><i>(Why all the fuss indeed Anand? Why did your government call a state of emergency to detain criminals when you knew before you even became Attorney General that a magistrate can set a high bail if need be?)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><b>If persons charged with kidnapping offences are being released on bail too frequently, then perhaps our magistrates are setting bail too low, and the Chief Justice needs to issue some guidelines. </b><i>(I GUESS THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCE WHICH OUR MAGISTRATES MAY HAVE BEEN SETTING BAIL TOO LOW FOR)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">Surely, the seriousness and prevalence of the offence must weigh heavily in the magistrate's mind and tilt the scales towards imposition of onerous bail conditions in appropriate cases.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">A non-bailable offence means that once arrested and charged, you will remain behind bars until your trial, regardless of the paucity or strength of the evidence against you. </strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">It’s almost as if you're presumed guilty, rather than innocent. In effect, politicians could use it to remove and incarcerate political opponents from society; police officers could use it to get rid of a troublesome boyfriend or husband to access a “slack” wife or girlfriend. </strong></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><i>(YET STILL HE IS TRYING TO CONVINCE US THAT UNDER A StATE OF EMERGENCY THE POLICE AND ARMY WILL NOT ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY, AND TO ADD TO THAT HE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE CLAIMED COULD BE DONE, HE IS PRESUMING THE GUILT OF ALL THOSE THUS DETAINED UNDER THIS FARCICAL STATE OF EMERGENCY!)</i></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i>
<br /></i></span></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><b>
<br /></b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">There are very few non-bailable offences in our law. These are: murder, treason, piracy or hijacking, and any offence for which the penalty is death. <strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">A non-bailable offence means that once arrested and charged, you will remain behind bars until your trial, regardless of the paucity or strength of the evidence against you.</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">It could easily be misused and abused, because the judiciary would have no power to grant bail, and the ultimate power to deprive a citizen of his liberty is given to the police, who can charge on the flimsiest basis. </strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">It places the liberty of citizens in the hands of the police, because once someone is charged for a non-bailable offence, he/she would be amputated from society and incarcerated like a convicted criminal.</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">Pressing the right buttons, a drug dealer could easily manipulate the police service to get rid of competitors, so that he could control their turf.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">If every time a particular crime increases we allow our politicians to fool us with the knee-jerk reaction of new legislation to make the offence non-bailable, then car theft, robbery with violence and drug offences should all be non-bailable.</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><i>(ANAND RAMLOGAN, YOU MEAN LIKE HOW YOU AND AUNTY KAMLA MADE THE VERY SAME CAR THEFT, ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE AND DRUG TRAFFICKING NON-BAILABLE OFFENCES AS PER THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE ANTI GANG ACT WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT IS TAKING CREDIT FOR HAVING LAID IN PARLIAMENT? YOU MEAN LIKE HOW YOU AND KAMLA TRYING TO FOOL US WITH THIS KNEE-JERK STATE OF ABUSE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS? OH SHUCKS....AH MEAN STATE OF EMERGENCY?)</i></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i>
<br /></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">If every time a particular crime increases we allow our politicians to fool us with the knee-jerk reaction of new legislation to make the offence non-bailable, then car theft, robbery with violence and drug offences should all be non-bailable.</strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">The trauma inflicted on a victim, whose home is robbed while his/her children are tied and beaten to near death, is not any less than that of a parent whose child is kidnapped. It's no use making qualitative distinctions in the effects of serious crimes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">It is a serious thing for the State to deny an accused bail in circumstances where the backlog of criminal cases in the magistrates’ court system means that an innocent man could be jailed for several years before he is even given an opportunity to prove his innocence. </strong><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><i>(YET STILL YOU AND GIBBS BOASTING OF HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE DETAINED UNDER THIS FARCICAL STATE OF STUPIDITY ....OH SHUCKS AH MEAN STATE OF EMERGENCY. ARE THESE ALLEGED CRIMINALS GOING TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE MR. TRANSFORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL?)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></strong></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">By the time he wins his case, his whole life is ruined. The main weapon in the fight against crime is an efficient and expeditious system of criminal justice. </strong><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">(NOTICE IN 2004 ANAND RAMLOGAN WAS NOT ESPOUSING NOR WAS HE PROMOTING ANY STATE OF EMERGENCY!)</em></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></em></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">Part of what motivates kidnappers on bail to commit more crimes is the long delay in trying and convicting them. We are all falling into a trap cleverly set by a clueless PNM. <i>(SEEMS THE ONLY TRAP WE FELL FOR IS VOTING FOR A DECEITFUL LYING GOVERNMENT)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">The problem is not the lack of laws, but rather the lack of penetrating policing and enforcement of the existing laws.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">“No bail for kidnappers” will deflect the nation's attention from the incompetence of the Government, the impotence of the police, as the spotlight once again shifts to Panday. If he refuses to support this amendment, the nation would be so busy “ponging” and “cussin'” him, that no one will have time to focus on the real issue of the Government's inability to deal with crime. </strong><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">(I WONDER WHOSE INCOMPETENCE ANAND RAMLOGAN IS CURRENTLY DEFLECTING? OH GOSH THEY CUSS PANDAY, YOU MEAN LIKE HOW YOU CUSSING ROWLEY FOR CRITICIZING YOUR ILLEGAL STATE OF EMERGENCY? EH ANDAND?)</em><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "></em></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></em></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">The mad rush to make new laws every time we have a problem is a reflection of the idle and bankrupt intellectual state of the PNM. The unthinking rush to embrace and welcome this “no bail policy” for kidnapping might be a reflection of our desperation and helplessness.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">There's no point in making new laws when the present ones aren't properly utilised. </strong>(<em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">NOR IS THERE ANY POINT IN CALLING A STATE OF EMERGENCY WHEN LAWS SUCH AS THE ANTI GANG ACT, FIRE ARMS ACT AND THE FINANCIAL ACT AREN'T BEING PROPERLY UTILISED)</em></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><em style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; ">
<br /></em></p><p style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> </p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2004-08-01/ramlogan.html</p></span></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-65202023792459448082011-08-24T20:24:00.000-07:002011-08-24T21:37:32.284-07:00State of Emergency An Abuse of The Constitution<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEnvXnCmwAj_1bxYunqfGCD4Yh14DIKrpFm32WBuc8oAoutSHVGzg4sKRORXPW0cgT3ePIATJVTrB40ikUDcPPUeCjhi48SHUYE-dUxFtqQarLvvq_t6_I74bj84p6lDLCRWtFROt1K8N/s1600/dictatorship.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEnvXnCmwAj_1bxYunqfGCD4Yh14DIKrpFm32WBuc8oAoutSHVGzg4sKRORXPW0cgT3ePIATJVTrB40ikUDcPPUeCjhi48SHUYE-dUxFtqQarLvvq_t6_I74bj84p6lDLCRWtFROt1K8N/s400/dictatorship.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644631313262968562" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I do not support a state of emergency and the suspension of my democratic and constitutional rights just so the police can do routine police raids. This state of emergency by the People's Partnership Government is ill advised and an abuse of our constitution. The state of emergency has yielded nothing to suggest it is worthwhile, arresting a few hundred persons and seizing a few grams of weed and cocaine does not justify the suspension of our constitution. Denying citizens of their constitutional and democratic rights is a serious issue and is not something that should be done flippantly. I heard the Attorney General justify the state of emergency because of the expected rise in violence that would have occurred because of a $22 million TT drug bust. My response to that is so what? In 2007 the US Justice Department made a drug bust of $45 million US dollars, TT $289 million and to date there has been no declaration of a state of emergency in the United States of America, a country which has more guns than T&T in any given state due to their constitution granting their citizens the right to bare arms!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Martin Daly made a very valid point on TV6 news on Tuesday night, one does not call a state of emergency to seize six guns, a few grams of illegal drugs and a hundred or so people. Even if I am to be generous and give them credit for finding to date just under ten fire arms with some ammunition and the few grams of drugs (no major drug or arms bust as of day three, no big drug financier arrested), is it that the hundred or so persons arrested are all going to be charged collectively for these few guns, ammunition and drugs? I ask because the government is beating their chest in triumph and claiming success in arresting/detaining these people, but has any of the legal luminaries in this country asked what crime these people have committed? Is it that once you have been held by the police under a farcical state of emergency you are automatically guilty? Have any of these men been taken before a court of law, successfully and judicial tried and convicted for a crime that will see them be locked away for a very long time? And if they have not been charged and tried by a court of law why is the government claiming victory? Is the government preempting the conviction of these men who have been detained? Is that legal and constitutional? Does anyone not find it strange that under a state of emergency where the government has the authority to go after any and every criminal that it is only men being loaded into the police vehicles? Are we a nation where it is only the male homo sapien that commits crime? If that is the case then our country is certainly replete with research material for any discerning anthropologist.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What is even more worrying is the fact that there was no need for a state of emergency when our Parliament inclusive of both Government and Opposition members passed in Parliament the Anti Gang Legislation which gives the police the authority to adequately address the crime situation in T&T without calling a state of emergency and depriving law abiding citizens of their constitutional rights. Some of the police's authority under the act include but are not limited too :-</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The authority to arrest without a warrant any person he has reasonable cause to believe is a gang member or has reasonable cause to believe has committed an offence under this Act.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The authority to enter with a warrant issued by a magistrate any dwelling house if he has reasonable cause to believe a gang member will be found in that dwelling house.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* The authority to enter "without" a warrant any place or premises not used as a dwelling house and search the same if he has reasonable cause a gang member will be found in such place or premises</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Notwithstanding any law to the contrary a police officer may detain without a warrant for a period not exceeding 24 hours any person who he reasonably suspects having committed an offense under this Act</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* If a senior officer has reason to believe that detention of a person without charge is necessary to preserve evidence relating to an offence or to obtain such evidence by questioning the detained person the senior officer may apply to a magistrate for a detention order not exceeding 144 hours (6 days).</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sad part about this entire fiasco is the Opposition the main body responsible for keeping the government in check seemed to have been asleep on the job. However I was heartened to see Dr. Rowley finally espouse what I have been saying in my personal capacity for the past few days, that this state of emergency was not needed, is excessive and just simply does not make sense when we have the necessary legislation in place for the police to deal with the criminal element. True to form the Honourable Prime Minister has immediately criticized Dr. Rowley's claims saying the Anti Gang Legislation could not have been used by the government to carry out the current exercises under the state of emergency as the act is specifically geared towards 'gangs' and gang members. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is simply a case of the Prime Minister not only being pedantic with legal jargon but also insulting the intelligence of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. According to Cambridge's Online dictionary one of the definitions for a gang is "a group of criminals who work together". It's definition for a gangster is "a member of an organized group of criminals". What part of these definitions do not apply to the criminals operating in the various hot spots in T&T? They work together and consort with each other, they have a sophisticated communication network that includes BBming and texting, and they are well organized in the execution of their illicit activities. It therefore stands to reason that the Anti Gang Act was fully capable of being utilized to carry out the current operations of the security forces, more importantly the police service and not the army!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition the Anti Gang Act further states "For the purpose of this Act, <b>it shall not be necessary to show</b> that a particular gang, possesses, acknowledges or is known by a particular name, insignia, flag, means of recognition, secret signal or code, creed, belief, structure, leadership or command structure, method of operation or criminal enterprise, concentration or speciality, membership, age or other qualification, initiation rites, geographical or territorial situs, boundary or location, or other unifying mark, manner, protocol or method of expressing or indicating its membership when the gang's existence can be demonstrated by a preponderance of other admissible evidence, but any evidence reasonably tending to show or demonstrate the existence of or membership in a gang shall be admissable in any action or proceedings brought under this ACT!" In the Act a gang member is stated as "a person who belongs to a gang, or a person who knowingly acts in capacity of an agent for an accessory to, or voluntarily associates himself with any <b>gang-related activity</b>.....". The act further states that "<b>gang-related activity</b> means any criminal activity, enterprise, pursuit, or undertaking in relation to any of the offences listed in the <b>First Schedule</b> acquiesced in, or consented or agreed to, or directed, ordered, authorized, requested or ratified.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What all of this means is all the state has to do is prove one has committed an offence or engages in "gang-related activity" as is listed in the First Schedule of the Anti Gang Act and <b>you can be convicted under this legislation as a gang member once you commit a gang related offence'</b>'! Some of the gang-related activity in the First Schedule are but not limited to :-</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Possession of imitation firearms in pursuance of any criminal offence</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Larceny of a motor vehicle</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Arson</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Receiving stolen goods</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Possession of bullet-proof vest, firearm or ammunition for benefit of gang</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Demanding money with menaces</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Murder</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Shooting or wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Robbery, robbery with aggravation, robbery with violence</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Assault occasioning actual bodily harm</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Possession and use of a firearm or ammunition with intent to endanger life</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Possession of firearm or ammunition without licence certificate or permit</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Trafficking a dangerous drug or being in possession of a dangerous drug for the purpose of trafficking</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Rape & grievous sexual assault</div><div style="text-align: justify;">* Kidnapping & Kidnapping for ransom</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the above in mind I cannot fathom nor understand how our Prime Minister, our head of government, can publicly state that the Anti Gang Act could not have been used to deal with escalating crime situation which would have seen the police carrying out the very duties they are currently carrying out while our constitution and our democratic rights remained intact. I am very concerned by the fact that we had valid Parliamentary legislation in place to be used by the security services in the full operation of our constitution and rather than use this available legislation and the resources available to it to mobilize the police service in executing their duties, the government instead chooses to adopt what is known internationally as one of the most drastic acts a government can ever perpetuate against it's own citizens, a state of emergency. What is even more worrying is that our Head of State the President does not seem to have the necessary legal advisory team in place to review present legislation etc, which ought to be utilized to deal with a situation before calling a state of emergency.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why is the government so hell bent on justifying this state of emergency when the results of it thus far shows that it is clearly not worthwhile as these so called 'successes' could have been achieved with a normal police raid under the Anti Gang Act? Why is it that the government seem to be engaging in a campaign of misinformation regarding the legislation and laws that were available to it as well as the capacity of said legislation to deal with the crime problem without interfering and suspending our country's constitution? No government should be allowed to flippantly call a state of emergency when all evidence suggests that they had absolutely no need too. This is a very dangerous precedent that the government has set and I'm very disappointed that the various legal luminaries and the opposition of this country all seem to have been caught with their pants down and the consequence of that lethargy of our respective political and legal vanguards may very well see the creation of a runaway government drunk on power.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-23131390473344017082011-08-15T19:57:00.000-07:002011-08-15T20:35:47.678-07:00Are T&T's Police Really Paid Well?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIX33DkLgjjUTz6YyRGIOvV2QAmyo29Pr8ITLJ5kQSFgRKYtR6NlhDGyiv_yhsSknArEp-mDDf4dRxRVPen59sDHIozwvn56A_y6Y20uYZI1hR0T2lNZvYasMjclU3di6M38DFo8XYLsr/s1600/1974_Police_Strike.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIX33DkLgjjUTz6YyRGIOvV2QAmyo29Pr8ITLJ5kQSFgRKYtR6NlhDGyiv_yhsSknArEp-mDDf4dRxRVPen59sDHIozwvn56A_y6Y20uYZI1hR0T2lNZvYasMjclU3di6M38DFo8XYLsr/s400/1974_Police_Strike.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641284949285254290" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">With a crime rate per capita higher than that of the United States, can it truly be said that Police Officers in Trinidad and Tobago are well paid? The Express has quoted Minister of National Security as saying that per month a married constable will receive $9,516 per month, a married sergeant $11,460 and a married inspector $12,324. In light of the high risks involved regarding the job of a police officer, especially with regard to the high crime rate of our country can one truly say our officers are paid well? Mr. Sandy was on TV6 morning show saying that one cannot put a price to police work or on an officer's life. He said that even if each officer was paid $100,000 it still does not equate to the value of their life. What I want to know is if that is the case does that justify our police officers being severely under paid?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How do our police officers pay look in comparison to the pay of officers in other countries where the crime rate per capita is not as high as ours? Well in the UK police officers salary are as follows : -</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Constables</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On commencing service - £23,259, TT annual equivalent $251,025, Monthly TT Equivalent $20,918!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Constables at Pay Point 5</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£31,032, TT annual equivalent $334,916, TT monthly Equivalent $27,909</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Constables at Pay Point 10</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£36,519, TT annual equivalent $394,135, TT monthly Equivalent $32,844</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sargeant's Pay 1yr in Position</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£37,767, TT annual equivalent $407,604, TT monthly equivalent $33,967</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sargeant's at Pay Point 4</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£41,040, TT annual equivalent $442,928, TT monthly equivalent $36,910</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inspector Pay Point 1</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£48,108 with a raise bracket to £50,163, TT annual equivalent $519,210, TT monthly equivalent $43,267</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inspector Pay Point 3</div><div style="text-align: justify;">£50,751 with a raise bracket to £52,818, TT annual equivalent $547,735, TT monthly equivalent $45,644</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the United States the average base pay for a New York State Trooper is USD $5,938 per month, which is TT $38,219 per month. However with over time a 2009 US Bureau Consensus found that with overtime officers took home on average USD $96,890 per annum which works out to be USD $8000 per month and a TT equivalent of $51,492 per month. As of 2010 the aveage salary for all ranks was USD $112,537 per annum, TT $724,276 per annum which works out to be TT $60,356 per month. Front line troopers took home in 2010 on average USD $101,574, TT $653,720 per annum which works out to be TT $54,476 per month. As a group Supreme Court Judges and New York City Judges are the only public servants who made more money than New York Police Officers with an average of USD $14,000 per annum. The interesting thing to note however is New York City Police Officers are the 'second highest paid' officers in the United States as Police Officers in New Jersey are actually paid more than New York Officers. Dennis Hallion an Executive of the National Troopers Council when asked to comment on the USD 112,000 salary for officers said "not enough". </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So with these figures in mind, I can't see how Mr. Sandy can boast about a local married constable being paid $9,516 to leave his family every day and put his life at risk for another man's family and expect that police officer to be motivated and enthusiastic about his job but let's be real the majority of police officers are constables, and even when one considers the salaries of our senior officers it can be clearly shown from the figures that constables in the UK and US are working for twice the salary than our local senior officers. I agree asking for a ridiculous increase for officers such as a 50% increase may not be feasible, but certainly a 5% increase by government is totally out of order.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-89118293049536986442011-08-09T16:09:00.001-07:002011-08-12T16:56:30.968-07:00United States Employees Striking despite Economic situation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxmm8XPlSxpf4GT8Bie4TzQSQilA-9di_uZ0C982JWP3M4wQe48u60KA4qYcod4XgUtuEjZf9puD0FsdVSebGuzt_Hupa9BfPhPryl0oXBQ-IqWWpzym2rOxEGSvcV_SQsosacDKzwwlC/s1600/Untitled.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxmm8XPlSxpf4GT8Bie4TzQSQilA-9di_uZ0C982JWP3M4wQe48u60KA4qYcod4XgUtuEjZf9puD0FsdVSebGuzt_Hupa9BfPhPryl0oXBQ-IqWWpzym2rOxEGSvcV_SQsosacDKzwwlC/s400/Untitled.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638997382569946194" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Central Bank Governor has said that T&T's economy is fragile and a national strike will harm our economy. Trade Unionist have responded to Mr. William's claims asking 'When is the right time to strike'. The local media has flooded us with images and stories of the USA's debt, the crash of their stock market etc. Yet still on Monday 45,000 Verizon workers walked off the job in protests over labour negotiations with the telecommunications giant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My question is if United States workers could still strike despite the state of their economy, then why can't citizens of Trinidad and Tobago strike for a just wage? Our economy is better than the USA and we have local companies like Republic Bank churning out profits like $806 million and growing their asset base to $46.2 billion dollars, OneMedia Caribbean made $44.5 million and Ansa McAl made $954 million. Make no mistake, economic troubles or not I assure you that the shareholders of the aforementioned companies will receive their millions in dividends, the managers will receive their thousands in bonuses, so why can't workers who are responsible for the profits seek a just wage? It is indeed a travesty and a criminal act to pay out dividends to shareholders and bonuses to management while denying employees a just wage. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " ><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">WHAT THE EXPRESS, GUARDIAN, AND NEWSDAY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE >>>>>>>> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44048667/ns/business/</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Buh doh worry....GOOGLE IS THE BIBLE OF THE 21ST CENTURY!!! KAMLA, WINSTON DOOKERAN, EWART WILLIAMS...YOU NAME IT....WE WILL EXPOSE ALLLLLLLLLLLLL AH DEM!!!</p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-70563524050720382592011-08-07T01:57:00.000-07:002011-08-07T02:02:00.874-07:00Tone it down Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA-qiNxl0Y98iEuDEcK48tLxmfKVjUkAe-FcnDvT2T6vsapn6W2KWqvvoYnonM_FU9mqWe8OJcgeL1W-ErXkhkKrdswqhQ5BtZMw1GmosYgmWG3MnkqfKtrIYyjUjuk8XIjOjBApDSQwE/s1600/speak_softly_and_carry_a_BIG_STICK-lk3res-d.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA-qiNxl0Y98iEuDEcK48tLxmfKVjUkAe-FcnDvT2T6vsapn6W2KWqvvoYnonM_FU9mqWe8OJcgeL1W-ErXkhkKrdswqhQ5BtZMw1GmosYgmWG3MnkqfKtrIYyjUjuk8XIjOjBApDSQwE/s200/speak_softly_and_carry_a_BIG_STICK-lk3res-d.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638036312495876658" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">One need not try too hard to guess what class of society Mrs. Diana Mahabir-Wyatt belongs to with her latest letter to the Express Editor entitled “Industrial Relation Act Gives Government Power to Act”. In her letter she outlined briefly how the Industrial Relations Act was established and the fact that the Industrial Court was established under said Act to deal with current issues such as the current impasse between the Government and Trade Unions. She lamented the fact that both Government and Trade Unions are refusing to refer their matters to the Industrial Court and questioned whether they wanted a reasoned and sober solution. I find it very disingenuous on Ms. Mahabir-Wyatt’s part to give mention to the Industrial Court without mentioning the fact that said court is underfunded and short staffed hence any matter that is referred to that court takes years to resolve. Whether her failure to disclose such blatant and well know facts was deliberate or due to ignorance is not certain, and while I cannot speak for employers such factors do weigh heavily on the minds of Trade Unionists who are seeking a speedy resolution in the interests of members that does not constitute blindly accepting 5% or whatever unreasonable offer is made by the employer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt then paid particular attention to Section 69 of the Industrial Relations Act which prohibits members of the Public Service, the Teaching Service, the Prison Service, the Fire Service and the Central Bank from going on strike. The Act further states the holder of an office in a trade union who calls for or causes industrial action to be taken or who induces or persuades any other person to take such action is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 and to imprisonment for 18 months." In Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt’s estimation “industrial action” is an illegal strike which attempting to “shut down the country” would qualify as, and she lamented the fact that the government is ignoring the law and in her estimation, stated in closing that “we like it so”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Quite frankly anyone who understands basic human psychology will know that the government of the day, whomever they may be, will do well to not only ignore that draconian law but to delete it from our law books altogether. I was highly amused by Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt’s letter and found it novice to say the least, but worst yet I found it to be dangerous and void of deep contemplation as to the social consequences that could occur should the government take such a high handed approach. I was totally surprised that Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt thinks that public servants striking despite a law preventing them from doing so is some kind of novelty and something unique to Trinidad and Tobago. On the contrary whether the right is given or not public servants, federal employees or civil servants as they are called in different parts of the world exercise the right to strike without compunction in countries such as Australia, United States, Canada, England, India and France.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a matter of fact in the England from where our Westminster System came, public servants are not denied the right to strike unless their duties are necessary for the safety and security of the public. Civil servants in France are granted the right to strike under the French Constitution and in Canada at least five provinces grants public workers the right to strike, the others allow strike action even though it is not legal, while all prevent them from striking if they belong to the protective services. Even at a Federal level Canadian federal workers are allowed to strike within statutory limits as per the Federal Public Service Staff Relations Act of 1967. Despite having a long history of anti-strike laws, in the US today there are no less than 38 states which prevent public sector workers from striking and 12 states have actually legalized public sector striking. In his 1998 report “Behavioural Determinants of Public Sector Illegal Strikes”, Robert Hebdon surmised that due to the many laws that attempt to prevent workers from striking, in systems like the US and Canada the “illegal strike” is an inevitable element of these industrial systems.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">S.T. Cooke summoned it up more precisely when he stated “Taking away the right to strike is a bit like eliminating the vapour safety valve on a boiler. Employees need to know that they have this means of relieving their frustrations and internal tension even if they never use it. Otherwise an explosion is inevitable”. The consequences of a government’s high handed approach can be seen in the manner in which the Reagan Government dealt with the striking Air Traffic Controllers back in 1981. Federal law required federal employees at that time to take an oath not to strike and made strike action illegal. Needless to say talks between the Professional Air Traffic Controllers and the Federal Aviation Administration broke down and the workers went on strike. The US District Court ruled the strike action illegal and a contempt of court and President Reagan ordered the firing of all air traffic controllers who did not return to work within forty eight hours of his order.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the legal sanctions and threat of job loss only 800 employees returned to work within the President’s 48 hour deadline. Dismissal letters were issued to the non-compliant employees, however it must be noted that despite the Reagan Government’s firm stand, the entire action against the controllers proved to be totally ineffective. The sanctions totally disrupted air traffic services and the government precluded any form of settlement with the majority of the traffic controllers which ultimately aggravated the very situation they sought to remedy and prevent. After all was said and done it was the public and the economy that suffered the most from the firing of the air traffic controllers. Hence the reason I stated earlier that Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt’s stance that the government implements the law seems novice to say the least and not well thought out.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I would also like to inform Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt that the Industrial Act notwithstanding the fact that it is our national law, does in fact run counter to International Labour Conventions. The International Labour Organisation has repeatedly admonished and advised successive T&T Government’s that their term ‘essential services’ in the Industrial Act is excessively broad in comparison to International Labour Standards and it is successive T&T Governments, who are the agents of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and who are supposed to be acting in our best interest, they are the ones who have repeatedly refused to amend the Industrial Act as advised by the ILO. The ILO has also repeatedly made calls for the Government of T&T to change the Collective Bargaining Laws of the Act which state that collective agreements must be for a maximum of five years and a minimum of three years making it almost impossible for workers on short term contracts to be covered by such agreements. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt, now you understand why our government obstinately refuses to comply with International Labour Standards, it also explains their fondness for hiring people on contract! Our government the body which is supposed to be seeking our interest has been deliberately denying entire sectors of our economy, their legitimate rights by refusing to comply with International Labour Standards. As it stands the Industrial Relations Act of T&T is a flawed piece of legislation that runs counter to International Laws and Standards. As a matter of fact just as recent as April of this year the ILO Committee of Experts condemned the UK Government for preventing and denying prison officers the right to strike. The ILO has indicated that the UK Government either gives prison officers the right to strike or have adequate compensatory mechanisms in place to compensate prison officers for denying them the right to strike. Is Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt aware of any such compensatory mechanisms in place for our security services here in T&T?</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And last but not least, though she tried to make a joke of it, Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt’s suggestion that the government acts with regard imprisoning for 18 months any one holding a trade union office and who instructs public servants to strike, had to be the least thought out aspect of her letter. Why would anyone advocate the jailing of any trade unionist at a volatile and heated industrial time like this is beyond me. I guess if nothing else we can all breathe a sigh of relief that Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt is not the first female Prime Minister of this country because I dare say, the very state of emergency which the government claims to be dodging would have certainly been upon us by now. I’m keeping my fingers cross that Mrs. Persad-Biessessar would demonstrate a more levelled and reasoned head and contemplate deeply on her actions with regard this current labour impasse than her counterpart Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt. As a former executive director for the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights I must say I'm surprised by the sentiments expressed by Mrs. Mahabir-Wyatt.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459194975685666124.post-19789166750743293682011-07-31T17:09:00.000-07:002011-07-31T18:01:01.149-07:00ECA issuing threats to the working class of T&T<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiFq_jpXSfL5W-xHL-Uf3-YcDP5L_7bWPsrSyTFwPtm24dalGmuNcCLozFO9h1TTzQpnoC2NVOWvZ7uM34OmYRfTVLG8-SKNWrr6GaCpTJEjfxMP9r5fylRMvKnOsr9wYu2rra0t_Cn2s/s1600/4cc9b24cae.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiFq_jpXSfL5W-xHL-Uf3-YcDP5L_7bWPsrSyTFwPtm24dalGmuNcCLozFO9h1TTzQpnoC2NVOWvZ7uM34OmYRfTVLG8-SKNWrr6GaCpTJEjfxMP9r5fylRMvKnOsr9wYu2rra0t_Cn2s/s400/4cc9b24cae.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635678570848075010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMawadzFDD24e2L4sSrsy0UuRzA4bSFgs6IoFs-Nq8wqAnhsGAu7fPcN0c0ZPZaTccfChABF4X7liwKvMT3wZ1CSTXjq9HkadCHdfzwQ0DKPKIhi4Syf1E9xEisuTVef9xEbXiU1klwVUb/s1600/4cc9b24cae.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week the Employer’s Consultative Association issued a statement saying that any strike action by trade unions in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago could result in workers being laid off from their jobs. What I found curious about such a statement being made by an association that is operating freely in a modern day democratic society is the fact that they did not state why workers would be laid off for exercising their democratic rights.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ECA chairman Keston Nancoo was quoted in the Express as saying "In the present set of circumstances, while we acknowledge the right of trade unions to use their organisation and institutional power to resist attacks on social and labour rights, we do believe that the time has come for us to break with tradition and to introduce greater levels of creativity, innovation and imagination, supported by the will to succeed and the belief in the possibility of change". So again I ask the question, if it is as Mr. Nancoo states that the ECA recognises the right of trade unions to use their institutional power to resist attacks on social and labour rights, why then does his organisation foresee that workers will be laid off for exercising those rights, an act which would no doubt be in contravention of not only our democratic freedoms but a contravention of good industrial relation practice?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is Mr. Nancoo indicating the ECA’s subtle acceptance that despite the so called advancement of democracy, end of slavery and indenturedship that members of his organisation are still openly victimising workers for exercising their democratic rights? Is Mr. Nancoo now subtly admitting that members of his organisation are employing tactics of our former colonial masters when our forefathers took to the streets and downed tools when they were of the opinion that they were being exploited, treated unfairly and not being given a fair share of the profits which they toiled to generate? I do believe Mr. Nancoo and the ECA owes the citizens of this country an explanation with regards his organisation’s latest statement. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I for one cannot understand why Mr. Nancoo would advocate a break with tradition when it seems members of his association are well prepared to engage in tactics of the past such as victimising workers for engaging in industrial action, and to issue threats such as the above statement. If it is that Mr. Nancoo’s members are not only going to continue their acts of depriving workers of a just wage but also victimise them when they seek to fight for just wages as their democratic rights permits them to, then surely Mr. Nancoo cannot reasonably expect the trade unions to break with tradition. I do believe what Mr. Nancoo and the ECA are engaging in is what is called “double speak”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the ECA is pleading with trade unions to “put their country first”, one cannot help but notice that they have issued no such request to their respective members who are making millions in profit. How come the ECA does not see it as a duty to remind it’s members who are raking in millions of dollars in profits despite the global financial crisis, that they need to put country first by ensuring they pay their workers well and give them a just share of profits to ensure that poverty eradication remains a priority in our beloved country and a descent standard of living for the workers who were responsible for them making such millions is secured?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One Caribbean Media Ltd has reported a $44.5 million before tax profit for the half-year ended June 30 2011. Republic Bank Group has recorded a net profit attributable to shareholders of $525.3 million for the financial half year ended March 31 2011 and just posted a 7% increase over their 9month results. Ansa McAL reported a $954m profit for its shareholders. Yet still the ECA is silent with regards to the patriotic responsibilities of these organisations in terms of rewarding employees and ensuring that they have a good standard of living. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to let Mr. Nancoo and the members of his organisation know that the workers of this country will not revert to the kind of oppression that was endured by our forefathers. We will not be susceptible to tomfoolery and masked threats. I also want to remind Mr. Nancoo that throughout history the number one crippling factor in economies the world over is the greed of the employer class and their reluctance to fairly distribute the wealth, so he can mamaguy the working class in T&T all he wants it is the employer class that stands to lose the most. I therefore recommend to Mr. Nancoo to advise his members to "put country first" and ensure that the wealth of this nation is fairly distributed to all and not greedily hoarded and controlled by a few.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02684499670767435226noreply@blogger.com0