RADAR DOWN AGAIN

Richard Charan South Bureau

Source: Trinidad Express

Wednesday, January 30th 2008

-Photo: TREVOR HACKETT

The radar installation on the San Fernando Hill that forms part of the State's $100 million 360-degree coastal surveillance system went dead again four days ago and has become a roost for corbeaux.

All day yesterday, the birds, which feed on carrion, flew around or nestled on the facility. But the Ministry of National Security has refused to comment on what some believe to be a malfunction of the system that Government considers critical in the fight against drug and gun smugglers.

Another waste of money by the PNM. What's new?
Look like the corbeaux making better use of this glorified bird nest.

Plot to destabilise COP

Dookeran:

Stories by Ria Taitt Political Editor

Source: Trinidad Express

Wednesday, January 30th 2008

Congress of the People leader Winston Dookeran yesterday suggested that criticisms coming from within his own party were attempts by "the other side" to "try to destabilise us as we move to contest the local government elections". (So what he trying to say is that Gary Griffith, Gillian Lucky and Gerald Yetming are on the other side now? Duckanrun look like he losin it now.)

In a statement, Dookeran said: "We know that our success (COrPse eh win ah blasted seat and he bawling sucess? What brand ah weed you smokin hoss?) has shocked many on the other side. Those elements will no doubt try to destabilise us as we move on to contest the local government elections." (Look who talking about destabilising. Isn't this the same jack@$$ who destabilise the opposition and hand the PNM another 5 years in office?)

He also welcomed the "challenge" to the leadership from former candidate and prominent member Gary Griffith who wrote Dookeran recently criticising his leadership style. (This man welcoming a challenge for leadership but leadership of what? Ah dead corpse? Griffith have no shame, he fighting to lead ah dead party.)

On Griffith's assertions that he had set up several parallel groups which were taking instructions from him without any input from the executive, Dookeran said he did not think that "the objective of full participation by a wide cross section of the party membership" should be interpreted as setting up "parallel groups". (Ah boy Duckanrun, take ah little taste of your own medicine now.)

Where all the new politics gone by the way? The way I see it, Dookeran trying to play the blame game and blame UNC-A for the shit he in now and he trying to make comparisons to other parties and say his is the best. Looks like Duckanrun up to the same old poli-tricks he was bashing.

PNM Dirty Laundry in Senate Uproar

Opposition Senator causes stir in Senate
Sunday 27th January, 2008
Source: Trinidad Guardian

By Yvonne Baboolal

Author and popular letter writer, Mohammed Faisal Rahman, now an Opposition Senator, caused a stir in the Senate last Tuesday when he made his contribution to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, prompting at least one Government Senator to say no to a request to extend his speaking time.

Rahman made several statements that kept Government Senators wide awake way past the 4.30 pm tea break, one of which was that it was a common practice for former PNM ministers to often ride free on the national airline, BWIA.

“I used to be in the travel business and airline personnel told me BWIA used to be packed with government ministers, not from this regime, from the past, from first class right down.

“BWIA too often had to carry non-revenue seats. Mr President can I ask for your help Sir?” Rahman asked, forced to break his contribution because of the chorus of protests that rose from the Government benches. (Now we see why BWIA was always running at a loss under the PNM.)

When the noises from the other side abated, the bearded Rahman reminded the Government that the reasons it gave for wanting to shut down the national airline was that it was saddled with inefficiencies and cost overruns.

Next, he moved on to attack Government’s 2020 Vision and its emphasis on the construction of mega buildings in the city, in particular.

“Vision 2020 seems to be an altered skyline. I see the buildings all stacked up there and it looks like a little piece of New York.

“But the Government should be building schools, houses, hospitals and police stations to bring social benefits to the people. (Well done Mr. Rahaman. Apparently the 299,813 PNMites don't have much of a brain, so they are unable to realise that they can't eat sky-scrapers and that they are being treated like 3rd class citizens.)

“Government is supposed to be providing security, food, clothing and shelter...I am giving you some discomfort, am I?” he paused again to ask a Government Senator who had fired a salvo at him.

Continuing, Rahman then blamed Prime Minister Patrick Manning for the high cost of goods in the country.

“Manning didn’t float the dollar. He submerged it like a submarine and handed control of the currency of the nation to the banking sector.

“The sovereignty of a nation hinges on its control of its currency and when you give it to the banks they determine what goods cost. Over the years the banks continued to devaluate the dollar and profit by this. “The dollar has been steadily losing its purchasing power. One dollar is now worth 16 cents,” Rahman informed the Senate.

He said all of this was linked to crime. “Necessity can make a priest, maulana or pundit a criminal. But how can you be concerned for the poor when you are living in a $48 million palace?” he asked rhetorically. (Well all Manning care about is being a King and the PNMites, as I said earlier, fail to realise that they can't live on sky-scrapers and palaces won't do them any good either.)

At this, a Government Senator shot up, Standing Orders in hand, and pointed Senate President Danny Montano to a rule that spoke about the relevancy of a speaker’s contribution.

Montano agreed that Rahman had certainly sailed way off course and asked him to try and bring his contribution nearer to the subject at hand.

Rahman, noting he was not telling the Government these things because he was on “the other side” but because he was a citizen of the country, then digressed to disclose that he had once been a supporter of the PNM for years. “I was a PNM boy,” he said.

He also took the opportunity to chastise Manning for once referring to himself as the father of the nation, declaring, “There has been and will always be only one father of the nation, Dr Eric Williams.”

When his speaking time ended shortly after and a request to extend it by 15 minutes was put to the vote, one Government Senator (Couldn't handle the heat eh?) said a loud no.

Grateful that it was only one person, Rahman said, “I thank the majority on the other side for allowing me to speak, at their expense.”

Well it seems to me that Mr. Rahaman is really a fine choice by the UNC-A. Bravo on your stellar contribution to the Upper House.

Human Rats Strike Again!

'Human rats' blamed again

Cocaine missing from station

Richard Charan South Bureau

Source: Trinidad Express

Saturday, January 26th 2008



SPANKING NEW: Senior Supt of the Central Division Rattan Singh, right, and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul tour the Brasso/ Flanagin Police Post yesterday after it was opened. -Photo: DAVE PERSAD

Police suspect that 33 kilogrammes of cocaine stored in the property room of the Princes Town Police Station, might have been taken by the same "human rats" who stole a similar amount of the drug from the station three years ago.

An inventory has been requested of all evidence in the property room, a place where items lost, seized or stolen are kept pending use in a trial, return to owners, or destruction by the State.

The investigation has been requested by Superintendent Chadrabhan Maharaj, who is based at the station, and who, it was learned, received information that the cocaine had been taken and sold.

The Express was told that hesitation by junior officers to conduct the inventory has led to a complaint being recorded in the police station's log book.

Maharaj could not be contacted yesterday.

His telephone number at the station is out of service.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul declined to take questions at yesterday's official opening of the Brasso Police Post in Central Trinidad.

Maharaj is the police officer who two months ago turned down a promotion to the rank of Acting Senior Superintendent Southern Division, because he said there were too many corrupted police officers involved in the guns and drug trade.

Report of narcotics being stolen from the Princes Town Station first surfaced during the 2005 trial of a couple charged with trafficking in more than 73 kilogrammes of cocaine.

During the trial, a police sergeant said the year before he went to check on the cocaine in the property room and found that half was gone.

The couple were freed, and presiding judge Herbert Volney blasted the police, saying that "human rats" had eaten the cocaine. A investigation into the disappearance by Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenroy Woodley, is still to be completed.

The new investigation involves cocaine that was found by a farmer buried in a canefield in Tableland in August 2000, and taken to the Princes Town Station to be kept while the drug dealers were hunted.

No one was ever held.

The cocaine was part of a multi-million dollar shipment apparently lost at sea and which began floating ashore on Trinidad's south and east coasts. There was a race back then between police and thieves trying to get to the cocaine first.

Imagine the police stations not even safe. The police can't even guard evidence in a police station, where the police are for most of the time, so how they expect to protect the citizens who are not even in same building as them? How does the TTPS expect the citizenry to have any faith in them? And to think that this has happened before in the same station, one would have thought that measures would be put in place to prevent a re-occurrence, but then this is the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service we speak of, in other words, a bunch of bungling idiots who can be categorised as having only 3 CXC passes. Lord put ah hand!

GANGING UP

340 per cent increase: 1,700 members in 86 gangs in T&T
Ria Taitt Political Editor
Source: Trinidad Express
Saturday, January 26th 2008


Criminal gangs in Trinidad and Tobago are multiplying and fast, both in terms of the numbers of gangs and the numbers of persons joining gangs. The activity is leaving one with inescapable conclusion that the society is now under greater threat.

Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, National Security Minister Martin Joseph stated that there were now 86 gangs, comprising up to 1,720 members across the country.

He said the average size of each gang varied between 15 to 20 members, which meant that the total membership was between 1,300 to 1,720 persons.

The situation has deteriorated considerably over the past 18 months. The last time Joseph gave a head count, he told the House of Representatives on June 6, 2005, that there were some "500 hardcore members" in the "66 known gangs".

Yesterday's figures therefore represent an over 340 per cent increase in the membership of gangs and a 30 per cent increase in the numbers of gangs.

Joseph said the reason for the proliferation was because "splinter groups were being formed within gangs as a result of some displacement activity".

Asked by Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj whether any of these criminal gangs were brought to justice in the courts, Joseph said his understanding was that a number of them were, but he did not have the specific information.

The minister has repeatedly stated that the record murder toll for last year was the result of gang-related activity, since most of the homicides in Trinidad and Tobago are gang-linked. He also stated that most of the gang-related activity is directly linked to the problem of the illegal drug trade and the prevalence of firearms. (Maybe if the multi-million dollar radar, that the PNM bought with tax payer's money was working, we wouldn't have this problem.)

Yesterday, Joseph said among the initiatives taken since 2006 to arrest gang members were the establishment of the Homicide Prevention Working Group and the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), which created a presence in Carenage, Diego Martin, Beetham Gardens and Cocorite. This was in addition to the established centres of operation in Quarry Street, Charford Court, Harpe Place and Beverly Hills, he said. (See Page 6) (We need a police presence in the areas of the country where crime against the hard working citizens is prevalent, not where criminals are shooting criminals, who gives a f**k!)

He said because efforts to disrupt the activities of gangs also had to include initiatives to disrupt the drug trade, Government had also restructured the Homicide Bureau of Investigation, established the Repeat Offenders Programme, purchased vehicles, established police posts in the Morvant/Laventille area to deal with rising gang activity; the establishment of the Crime and Problem Analysis Branch; E-999 patrols, roadblocks and other police and joint army and police patrols.

In response to another question, Joseph revealed that the Firearms Interdiction Unit had seized a total of 111 firearms and 2,813 rounds of ammunition between 2003 and 2005, when it was disbanded. The areas from which the arms and ammunition were retrieved included Chatham, Port of Spain, Arima, Tableland, Claxton Bay, San Fernando, Chaguanas, Princes Town, Laventille, Cunupia, Longdenville, Cedros, Sea Lots, Valencia, Morvant, Curepe, Valsayn North, Trincity, Rousillac, Toco, Maracas Bay and Tobago.

He said the FIU was disbanded in July 2005, and since then the Police Service has seized 110 firearms in the last six months of 2005, 266 in 2006 and 220 in 2007.

Fartin Joseph has all this information and yet he can't make any progress in the fight against gang violence. That just goes to show you how completely inept the PNM is. Now as you all may kn0w, I don't have a problem with gang violence. So what if gang members kill one another, it's not like they were productive members of society anyway. In fact these gang member who are still alive are destructive members of society in my book. I say cordon off the area and let them kill one another.

Pregnant mom hit by school boys, foetus in danger

Nikita Braxton South Bureau

Source: Trinidad Express

Wednesday, January 23rd 2008

A 22-year-old woman was last night in fear of losing her unborn child after being attacked by several schoolboys.

Carlene O'Brien said her four-month-old foetus was bruised by the blow. She was transferred to the Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex in need of three pints of blood. In the attack she was hit on her waist with a stone.

Another woman was also attacked and a car's windows were smashed.

O'Brien of Piarco was taken to the Chaguanas Health Facility after she began bleeding following the incident.

She was with Irma Rodriguez, 42, who went to pick up her daughter from the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive School.

Rodriguez's daughter was being bullied by a male classmate. On Monday she went to meet her daughter at the school to clear up the situation with the principal. She said her daughter, a Form Five pupil, made several reports to her form teacher who said she would forward the matter to the Dean of the school. Rodriguez said this was not done.

While waiting for a policeman outside the school to accompany her to see the principal, she said, her daughter pointed out the boy who also plays basketball at the school, to her. When he saw them he came up. Rodriguez said she told the boy that they would be handling the situation with school officials and the police.

She said the boy replied "leh we handle this scene now" and allegedly slapped Rodriguez.

She said her nephew who was in the back seat of the car came out and he was covered by about a dozen pupils who began kicking and cuffing him.

"I even took off my shoe and tried to hit them off my nephew, but one of the boys took it and pelt it," she said.

She said she got back into the car and tried getting away which was when a bottle was pelted.

She told her nephew and daughter to hide in the backseat and O'Brien to turn her back so that they would not get hit in the face when the children began pelting stones. One of the stones shattered the back glass in the car and another hit O'Brien in the waist.

Chaguanas CID did not comment on the complaints. The car Rodriquez was driving was parked on the station's compound.

School officials could not be reached.

It seems we are now raising animals instead of children in these schools we have here. Well Hazel did a terrible job in the past 5 years as Minister of Education and I think she should be held responsible for the madness that is now taking place in schools. No respect at all for elders, none whatsoever. I think The Grim Reaper said it best here in the following quote:

A snapshot in time
Well here we have it folks: The future of Trinidad and Tobago playing out right before your very eyes. These people have no respect for themselves, their fellow citizens or for defenceless, unborn lives. The entire country is adrift and leaderless. It is dog eat dog out there, survival of the fittest. The rule of law is meaningless and toothless. The unending nightmare of crime, bloodletting and violence continues to rape and pillage the land. No one is immune. No one is safe. Hide and cower down behind your burglar bars, prisoners in your own homes. This is your future because you failed to act to save yourselves when there was still time to do so. Reap your whirlwind now, people of Trinidad and Tobago. The Grim Reaper.

Bandits attack media at Chutney finals

By CECILY ASSON Monday, January 21 2008
Source: T&T Newsday

NEWSPAPER photographers who covered the Chutney Soca Monarch Finals at Skinner Park, San Fernando, were attacked by a group of bandits outside the venue early yesterday morning.

Newsday photographer Anil Rampersad suffered an injury to his back, while Express photographer Dave Persad was allegedly slapped in the face and hit with a bottle on the head. Photographers Trevor Hackett (Express) and Rishi Ragoonath (Guardian) escaped unhurt.

Five suspects have been detained in connection with the incident which took place as the photographers were headed back to their respective vehicles parked on the “B” ground, Skinner Park, the designated parking area for the media workers on the night.

Rampersad said they were denied parking inside the venue and were shuttled into Skinner Park. However, after the event a shuttle service was unavailable.

The photographers were attacked at about 3.45 am as they were walking along the Rienzi/Kirton Highway, Cross Crossing, near Skinner Park. A gang of about eight men rained bottles on them when they reacted to their alleged attempts to rob them. Rampersad was struck in the back with a bottle as he tried to run for cover.

Plain clothes police officers on their way out of Skinner Park were alerted to the incident.

Five suspects were held and taken to San Fernando CID where up to late yesterday evening they were still detained.

The injured photographers were forced to seek medical attention at the Princes Town District Health Facility after waiting several hours at the San Fernando General Hospital without being attended to. Rampersad yesterday blamed organisers of the annual chutney event for the unfortunate incident. He explained: “If only the media were shown some more respect with parking arrangements this would not have happened.”

Investigations are continuing.

Pictures, pictures of our Health Ministry *cough* .... well look at that picture. Let's hear the names of these members of the media now who were attacked. Anil Rampersad and Dave Persad (Trevor Hackett and Rishi Ragoonath were not assaulted). Where they were attacked? At the Chutney Soca Monarch Finals at Skinner Park. Who attacked them? See above picture. Now it looks to me like those fellows doing the attacking are a bunch of fellows of African Descent and the 2 media men who were attacked, from the names given, seem to be of East Indian Descent. First thing people might bawl is that Trini Views is another racist, but the fact still remains that this attack here can be classified as a racial attack by Afro-Trinis on Indo-Trinis. What could these reporters have possibly done to these men to warrant such a violent attack? They say it was attempted robbery, but what would you expect to get from some cameramen covering an event? Film? Cameras? Come on, call a spade a spade.

Idiots' (PNM's) Dilema

'Improve water supply or maintain cheap gas?'
Govt's $2b dilemma

Juhel Browne

Source: Trinidad Express

Monday, January 21st 2008

Motorists could find themselves paying more for gasoline and diesel at the pump sometime in the not too distant future but Energy Minister Conrad Enill says they are already doing so out of their taxes anyway.

In an interview yesterday, Enill said the Government was in the early stages of examining the possibility of a reduction in the $2 billion a year State subsidy on gasoline and diesel which is paid for out of the taxes it collects.

He said the Government had no choice but to deliberate the matter given the record high price of oil that was now hovering at around US$90 a barrel. (Pull up dey selectah! You now bawl oil selling at a record high price and you saying that the Government can no longer pay for the subsidy on gasoline and diesel? Conrad Enill even more stupid than he looks! If the oil selling at record high prices, it would stand to reason that the Government was making more money and would therefore be able to subsidise a whole lot more than just fuel. These people take we for idiots or something? All they will be doing is making inflation higher than it already is if they take of the subsidy on transportation fuel. I'm sure you all remembered what happened when the PNM raised the price of transportation fuel. The price of basically all consumer items, including the price of food on the whole, went up, up, up! So what it is the PNM really trying to accomplish by doing this? Make the rich richer and the poor poorer (or dead) perhaps?)

"We are conducting a preliminary examination of the issue in relation to expenditure in other areas of the economy," Enill said.

"A subsidy simply says that instead of the people getting it in increased taxes, they are getting it in reduced fuel. They are paying for it (increased fuel cost)," Enill also said.

Enill's comments followed Trade and Industry Minister Keith Rowley statement in the Parliament last Friday that the time had come for the Government to reconsider the subsidy in light of record high global oil prices as it was buying oil at the international price to keep the State-owned refinery's operating at full capacity. (Ah yes, let the poor man suffer some more. Goverment making billions when they sell oil and gas so let the poor man suffer some more.)

The fuel subsidy has been the sole protection to drivers in Trinidad and Tobago from the negative effects of any fluctuations in the international oil markets.

In Trinidad and Tobago it now costs drivers TT$3 per litre to fill up the tank of a gasoline fuelled vehicle.

In nearby Barbados, the cost of filling up the tank of a gasoline vehicle is BDS$2.30 (TT$7.21) per litre. (Yeah man you keep quoting figures. You ever notice the PNM always quotes figures that make them look good? Why not quote the price of gasoline from a nation that produces oil and gas, eh Enill?)

Enill said the record high oil prices are forcing the Government to make some hard choices regarding the use of subsidies and gave the example of the ambitious restructuring plans for WASA which is projected to cost a total of US$2 billion (TT$12.5 billion).

Prime Minister Patrick Manning had said that his administration "had no option" but to review water rates given the $1 billion annual subsidy the State pays for the supply of water.

"The gas subsidy is now at $2 billion. The government now finds itself having to answer a particular question," Enill said.

"Is the $2 billion a year better provided to water supply for everybody or for cheap gas and continuing the situation where people can travel at a very low cost." (Well considering the fact that the high-density-PNM-supporter zone of Lavantille doesn't pay for water, lights, telephone or rent for that matter. The more logical choice would be to increase water rates, since this would have little or no effect on the PNM heartland.)

He said, however, said the issue was really one of economic policy that was being discussed within the Finance Ministry and he was only speaking from the standpoint of the energy side of the equation.

"Right now, we have an increase in oil prices and, therefore, the increase in oil prices is going to find itself in the finished product.

So the question is not about increases in prices, the question is about the use of the subsidy it is not about price increase. Prices are increasing, so the subsidy is increasing," Enill also said.

Well it seems that the PNM wants the already ready high rate of inflation to rise further and cause poor people in this country to suffer more than they already are. Now the poor PNMites don't have a problem with this because they are accustomed to living in sordid squalor and they have programmes such as CEPEP, URP and the PNM Smart-man Card, which they benefit from. And if these aren't sufficient, there is always some unsuspecting, working class citizen, ready and available to rob due to the lack of T&T having a working Police Service.

PM, Joseph try to defend radar

Anna Ramdass aramdass@trinidadexpress.com

Source: Trinidad Express

Monday, January 21st 2008

Prime Minister Patrick Manning and National Security Minister Martin Joseph were forced to defend the high tech radar system at the weekend saying that it was up and running.

The PNM held its first general council meeting for the year at Balisier House, Port of Spain following which party chairman John Donaldson briefed the media on what was discussed at the meeting.

He did not mention crime, but asked if the pressing situation was discussed, Donaldson said: "The issue of crime was very indirectly touched upon on when someone raised concern about a report of the radar system".

He said both Manning and Joseph put fears to rest saying that the radar was functioning and in fact Manning pointed out that the radar was responsible for one of the largest drug interdictions.

On January 11, the Express in an exclusive report revealed that the radar system atop the San Fernando Hill had not been functioning for three months.

It was also reported that technicians trained by Israelis repaired the radar earlier this month.

The radar is part of the Advanced Coastal Surveillance Radar (ACSR) system bought from Israel's Aircraft Industries Limited, at a cost of more than $130 million.

Manning and Joseph have often spoken about the 360-degree radar coverage being crucial in stopping the flood of illegal guns and drugs fuelling many of the violent crimes in the country.

The radar had helped Coast Guard and Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau officers make several drug busts in the Gulf since it began operating in 2006.The radar is also capable of detecting and tracking boats as small as fishing pirogues, as well as being able to follow the target, provide real-time updates on its location, direction and speed.

All this talk about 360 degree coverage and how great this radar is that it could detect how much prostitutes it have in a dinghy in the water coming from Venezuela and yet so much drugs and guns still entering Trinidad? Like allyuh take the people of T&T for a bunch of retards or something? Another thing, why d hell it take 3 months to fix this blasted radar? Like they discontinued that model in Israel due to the fact that it couldn't detect anything smaller than the Titanic?

Speaker blanks Ramesh on PM issue

I know I've said this before but you know when it's nice they say do it twice so I really want to know.
Why does Manning need so much security if crime is under control? Somebody tell mih why? WHY?
Why is it OK for Manning to use state funds to hire private security to protect himself but it's not OK for the UNC-A to use their own money to hire security to protect citizens who are at risk?
Another thing, does Manning not trust his own police force? Why does he have to hire private security when there are all these special branches of the police force? Apparently the TTPS is not good enough to safeguard Patrick Manning's life but they are just fine for protecting 1.3 million at risk citizens. See article below.

Source: Trinidad Guardian 190108

Lack of confidence

• Maharaj says by hiring additional private security, the Prime Minister has demonstrated a lack of confidence in the Police Service.

By Shaliza Hassanali

Speaker Barendra Sinanan yesterday turned down Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj’s request to discuss the increase in Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s security detail while citizens remained unprotected. (Well that's what the PNM is paying him for. He is just another puppet in the PNM muppet show.)

Maharaj said while the PNM Government—“within the last 24 hours”—gave Manning additional security, which included contracted private security guards, citizens were losing their lives as they remained without police protection. (When will everybody realise that Patrick Manning doesn't care?)

Sinanan told the House of Representatives that he could not allow the Opposition Chief Whip’s motion because it did not qualify under the Standing Orders. (A matter of public importance such as this and you mean this man won't allow it. He always brings up some Standing Order at his convenience to knock down any motion by the opposition dealing with the very important issue of crime just so the PNM will not look bad.)

Maharaj raised the matter, stating that while the PM had received private security guards, in addition to regular police and defence personnel of the State to protect his life at his residence, office and public places, people throughout the nation were without police protection.

“The Government does not provide police presence in communities to prevent the people from being murdered and from having serious crimes committed against them daily,” Maharaj said. (Keep voting the PNM back in and see how much people will live to see the year 2020.)

He said the Constitution required that the Government provide the people with such security and treat them equally. (The only part of the constitution that the PNM cares about is that part about changing it to make Manning an executive president/ultimate dictator and making T&T into a dictatorship.)

“The Prime Minister has demonstrated a lack of confidence in the Police Service to adequately protect his life,” Maharaj said.

Sinanan said it was not a question of whether he would allow the motion.

“It’s whether he (Manning) would answer it. This motion does not qualify under the Standing Orders.”

Barry probably have his own private security too, so he really doesn't mind if Patrick decide to hire some private security for himself.

Manning gets private guards

So let me get this straight. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj of the UNC-A hires private security for residents of Macaulay who have been hit by an upsurge of crime in recent times and statements coming out of the PNM call it vigilantism. If that is vigilantism then why the hell did Patrick Manning, the "great" leader of the PNM, hire private security for himself? Is he promoting vigilantism in this country? Or is it OK for him to have private security but not OK for poor people to have security?

From his action in hiring private security, Manning has showed us two things.

1. He has no faith in the protective services of Trinidad and Tobago, who are in charge of protecting the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
2. He only cares about the safety of himself and his family and no one else.

When last was the Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, held up at gun-point? When last was their an attempted kidnapping on any one of his immediate family?
Another thing, why is it not called vigilantism when the rich people from places like West Moorings, Valsayn, Goodwood Park and Lange Park hire private security? Is it because they are rich that it's not vigilantism? So I guess this means that poor people shouldn't be given protection then, according to what's being spewed by the PNM.
I say it's high time we get rid of this nasty regime going by the name of the PNM. They don't care about poor people and they only business with filling their pockets.
When you read the article below you will also notice that sources could not even state whether there was a tendering process or not. More corruption again!

Source: T&T Newsday

By NALINEE SEELAL Thursday, January 17 2008

SEVENTY-FIVE specially trained, armed guards who were previously assigned to the Office of the Attorney General, Legal Affairs and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have been posted to provide security at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Diplomatic Centre, Whitehall and as personal security detail for Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

The security company which employs the guards is Executive Security Services Limited and the cost is borne by the Office of the Prime Minsiter.

The lowest ranking officer in this security company takes home a monthly salary of between $10,000 and $12,000, while the highest rank receives a salary of $25,000 monthly. (They shoulda hire me. Or wait, I forgot, I don't have a PNM party card and my hair is too straight.)

These highly paid officers, some of whom are retired policemen and former MTS guards, have virtually replaced Police Special Branch which previously carried out these duties. (Kickbacks to somebody friend or family who decided to open a security firm.)

The officers are under the direct control of former Special Branch Head, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Mervyn Guiseppi, who previously headed a special security unit set up in 2002 to provide special security for the offices of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the DPP.

These guards are trained in policing, anti-terrorist activities and VIP security.

Sources told Newsday that shortly before Prime Minister Manning moved into the official residence at St Ann’s last December, the officers of the Executive Security Services Limited were told they were being reassigned, some to the Office of the Prime Minister, others to the official residence of the Prime Minister, another batch to the Diplomatic Centre and others to the personal security detail of the Prime Minister. By the time the Prime Minister moved into the official residence in late December, the officers were already on duty.

Newsday learned that a security firm from San Fernando East called Innovative Security Technologies Limited is now responsible for security at the office of the Attorney General, Legal Affairs and the Office of the DPP. (More kickbacks.)

Police sources said yesterday that the role of Special Branch in terms of providing security for the Prime Minister has been decreased and will decrease even further.

Disclosure of special private security around the Prime Minister, comes at a time when there has been criticism of the formation of crime watch community groups assisted by private armed guards. (Just what I was saying.)

Yesterday, Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who has started using armed guards to patrol and fight crime in his Tabaquite constituency said: “The Prime Minister is concerned only about the personal security of himself and his family and is not concerned about the security of the people of Trinidad and Tobago to have police presence in their communities.

He said that the Government should let the people know about these new security measures. “The fact is that all previous Prime Ministers had the services of the police, army and Special Branch and all of these agencies and manpower were resourced by the State and the taxpayers and the people for greater accountability.”

Sources yesterday could not state whether a tendering process took place before Executive Security secured this contract and what is the value of this contract. (Like I was saying above, they can't even say if there was a tendering process or not. More PNM styled corruption!)

A week in the life of a Trini

One week of tales, real and terrible
Monday, January 14th 2008
Source: Trinidad Express

Saturday: I am in a well-appointed clothes store on lower Frederick Street, looking at a rack of garments. A young woman walks in holding a toddler by the hand, with an open bottle of malta in the other. The guard politely says, "Excuse me miss " She turns around and, anticipating what he is about to say, says quickly and pleasantly, "I'm not drinking it". He says, "yes but ". She says, "Yuh still can't come with it?" He says something like, "That's right". She seems all right with the rules, however, the tall young man who trails in behind her says "look, leh we get the f--- outta here; I ent want nobody talking to you like you is a (inaudible)''. The young woman and the child make an about turn and leave with him as he continues: "Like dey want me shoot someone here today; I could f---ing shoot ." (I could bet mih bottom dollar it was a semi-literate PNMite getting on so.)

Wednesday or thereabouts: A friend calls me from St James; there appears to be a dead man in a sitting position on a chair on the sidewalk; people are walking by, he says, seemingly unconcerned. It seems to be a natural death, given the fact that he is seated calmly and there is no blood. It's almost a relief to hear that someone might have died naturally. My friend calls me back about forty-five minutes later, in amazement; the body is still there and people are still streaming by

Thursday: I suspect the store opposite my office has been robbed; a special response car is driving off and there are people who have come out from their own buildings to peer at the scene with worried looks on their faces, and one talks about having seen a young man leaning up against a "No Parking" sign, looking at the store in question just before the police arrived

Friday: I walk into the head office of a religious order to request a document. I wait and wait after my request is made; as I am waiting, a well-spoken woman working in the reception area, maybe in her 50s, is heard to declare (thankfully not to me), that she is not taking any bullsh.. this year. The key word is highly audible - in the religious space

Friday again: I walk across the Brian Lara Promenade from lower Edward Street to St Vincent Street. The stench of rotting garbage is almost unbearable

Friday yet again: I lose track of the number of people whose deaths were reported this week on the first few pages of the daily newspapers. Oh, right, the week isn't quite over yet.

2020?

Sonja

via e-mail

This is the state we have now reached to in Trinidad and Tobago. We have gone from bad to worse and yet Manning and the PNM are still crowing about Vision 2020. The way things going, when Manning finish with this country we will hit vision 2020BC.

Ramesh merely trying to protect his people

Source: Trinidad Express
Tuesday, January 15th 2008

I have never been a fan or supporter of Ramesh Maharaj. However I must express my support for his initiatives to try to provide a level of security for his constituents.

There is no doubt that the State has failed to protect the law-abiding citizens of this land and the Government and its supporters do not even take responsibility for its failure. Ramesh Maharaj has taken the only logical step in organising a community to look out for itself. Someone needs to advise Mr Imbert that self defence is not vigilantism.

Naushad Khan

Valsayn

Sometimes I wonder why PNMites couldn't have sense too?

No time to party

Source: Trinidad Express
Tuesday, January 15th 2008

This is ridiculous! The country is falling apart at the seams and criminals are in control of the national landscape, and all the PNM people can do is to hold a big victory fete in Tunapuna complete with wine and jam? And their supporters lap it up like rum and roti?

The elections ended more than two months ago but it seems that these people are still campaigning with a vengeance! I understand they will be having a Carnival fete at their Balisier House too. When will the madness stop? Where are the born-again Christians in the PNM who like to demonise other people's religions?

Priyanka Jaisundar

Princes Town

Well said Priyanka. Damn well said.

Ramesh: Protection good for rich and not the poor?

Source: Trinidad Express

Ria Taitt Political Editor

Tuesday, January 15th 2008


MAKING HIS POINT: Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj at a recent meeting at the Macaulay Community Centre, Claxton Bay. -Photo: TREVOR HACKETT

Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj yesterday described as "laughable and discriminatory", statements by Works Minister Colm Imbert that his plan to use private security to assist in the protection of communities was vigilantism.

Maharaj asked why Imbert did not make the same accusation against the "gated communities of PoS", who use the same private security guards. (Well it's obvious the PNM doesn't care about the poor people. Once yuh poor yuh have no rights under the PNM.)

"Is he saying that poor people cannot be treated in the same way as the rich and that they must be unprotected and defenceless against rapists and murderers?" Maharaj asked. (That is exactly what he is saying!)

Maharaj said the Government also used private security guards for its ministries, State corporations and to provide protection to public officers.

"As a fact, the Government retains a private security company - Amalgamated Security - for its prisons and prison vans."

He said private companies such as bpTT use "the same kind of guards" being utilised to protect the people in Macaulay.

"Diplomats, the banks, the Guardian, the Express... all use private security. So I do not understand why there should be a different interpretation and category when poor people in Macaulay, who cannot get police protection, are getting the same security guards who have precepts from the Commissioner of Police and who have the powers of arrest and who perform the same function that the guards perform for bpTT, the Government, the prisons...," he said. (I think the reason Colm Impsbert have a problem with this is because he knows the M.O. of the criminals/potential PNM voters. These PNMites will think twice before attacking the rich and mighty who live in the posh areas of West Trinidad. The PNMites will attack the middle class citizens who live in South and Central Trinidad so basically if they are now protected, it is taking away from the "livelihood" of these criminals and it also means that there is a higher chance of criminals, aka PNMites, being caught or killed. This would mean less votes for the PNM in the long run.)

Maharaj said the issue Imbert should be addressing was why Government could not provide security for the people who pay taxes. He said both the Government and the police (who are also against the proposal) were embarrassed.

Maharaj said the Supplemental Police Service Act provided for estate police and rural police, and under Section 14 of the act, the estate police had all the powers of the members of the police service.

Maharaj said Macaulay Fund was a pilot project, funded by Chaguanas MP Jack Warner, with "a little assistance" from him. But he stressed the UNC-A planned to establish a national fund to which nationals would be able to contribute, which would be used to fund a security service for any area of the country- PNM or UNC-A areas.

Now the police not doing their job, which includes protecting and serving the public, which I think is clearly defined in their motto. The police being paid a nice, fat salary every month to do this job and yet so many people are being killed, raped, kidnapped and robbed. What else is there left to do? If the Supplemental Police Service Act allows the estate police to have the same powers as members of the police service then what is the PNM making all this noise about? They should be glad that private citizens are helping them fight crime, but no, they are concerned for the safety of the criminals/potential PNM voters. What if a criminal got shot? What if a criminal got injured? What if a criminal got arrested? What if a criminal got killed with somebody's refrigerator stuffed down their drawers?

More woes for South kidney patients

Source: Trinidad Express
Louis B Homer South Bureau

Tuesday, January 15th 2008

More than 100 people suffering with kidney problems have been affected by the shutdown of the haemodialysis equipment at the San Fernando General Hospital. (My sources have told me that a number of patients have gotten ill after taking the dialysis treatment at San Fernando General Hospital. At least 50 patients' catheters have become infected after taking dialysis treatment at SFGH. Could this mean that proper procedures are not being followed? How can so many patients become infected in such a short space of time? Are the doctors/nurses not following proper procedures when sanitising the equipment after use? Who is to be held responsible for all the pain and suffering that patients have to go through? Again we see a case of poor people having to suffer at the hands of the PNM.)

The equipment has been out of operation for the past week.

Yesterday, there were some 20 patients sitting on a bench waiting to be dialysed. Among them was Dr Savitri Kallipersadsingh, a medical practitioner who lives in Siparia.

Kallipersadsingh told the Express she was "totally dissatisfied" with the service. "Just imagine I am here since 5 a.m. and I am not being told whether I would be dialysed today," she said.

Kallipersadsingh said she has been receiving dialysis treatment for the past three years. "This is the worst I have ever seen. The authorities seem not to know what they are doing," said Kallipersadsingh, who spent some three years on a bed at the hospital, from which she operated her private practice as an obstetrician.

After waiting for six hours at the institution yesterday, the doctor was told she would have to return for treatment. Partial restoration of the equipment was made late in the evening, and nine patients, including Kallipersadsingh, began receiving treatment. In all, 12 units used in the treatment were sent to be "sanitised" following the discovery of a bug in the system.

Since last Friday, 20 patients with kidney problems have been kept on Ward 11 of the hospital, following complaints about the catheters used in the withdrawal of body fluid during haemodialysis treatment.

The patients were treated at the hospital with antibiotics to ensure that no further injury is done to the neck piece, which is the area in the neck in which the catheter is inserted.

Imtiaz Ahamad, chairman of the Southwest Regional Health Authority, told the Express "all the elements concerning dialysis were sent to the Trinidad Virus Laboratory and a private institution to conduct the necessary tests". New patients (with kidney disorders) have been to private institutions for treatment since the discovery of the problem.

A medical source explained that the catheter is a tubular instrument used for the withdrawal of fluids from the body. Haemodialysis is the removal of waste from the blood of a patient with acute or chronic renal failure, by means of a dialysis or artificial kidney. The apparatus is coupled to an artery and dialysis is achieved by the blood and rinsing fluid passing through a semi-permeable membrane. Blood is returned through a vein.

Health Minister Jerry Narace was not available for comment yesterday, but the ministry's communications advisor, Jones P Madeira, said the matter would be investigated.

As usual, the PNM Minister of Health, Jerry Narace, is not available for comment. It's just the poor people, they don't matter, they could wait, tell them to wait their turn. If you can't go and get the thousand dollar treatment privately because you can't afford it then wait your damn turn! PNM giving free health care, if your catheter get infected and you die that is not the PNM fault, we giving you free health care. Take what yuh get!

PNMites will eat grass!

Dookeran: Govt has lost control

Announcement on increasing water rates

Peter Christopher pchristopher@trinidadexpress.com

Monday, January 14th 2008

COUNCIL MEETING: Congress of the People's deputy Political Leader Carolyn Bachan during the party's press conference at the Vishnu Boys Hindu School in Caroni yesterday. At left is COP's Political leader, Winston Dookeran. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

CONGRESS of the People leader Winston Dookeran has slammed Prime Minister Patrick Manning's announcement that water rates may soon be on the increase. (You should have had a little common sense and thought of the consequences of your actions when you didn't want to join the united opposition parties and you ended up splitting the opposition votes.)

"It is only one of the examples that the Government lost control," Dookeran said at a COP media briefing following the party's national council meeting at Vishnu Boys Hindu School in Caroni yesterday.

The Prime Minister hinted at a rate increase during the People's National Movement celebration rally in Tunapuna on Friday night. Manning said that due to an annual subsidy of $919.5 million to run WASA, a review of the current water rates is necessary. (See Page 11)

Dookeran also criticised the response of the crowd to Manning's announcement.

"I understand he made the statement to applause. It is ironic he would have the applause of his membership," Dookeran said. (Well Dooky boy, this is what I would call typical PNMite behaviour. Notice that no matter what Manning tries to shove down these PNMites throats, they will take with their mouths wide open and ask for more. This is why I say that PNMites will quicker eat grass than vote for another party. Imagine food prices already so high and these blind PNM supporters hear of an increase in water rates and cheer as though they just won the lotto. This just goes to show you the kind of support the PNM has - uneducated and semi-literate.)

COP Deputy Political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan also criticised the possible increase, noting that almost "75 per cent of the nation is without a 24 hour water supply". (You should have thought about this before throwing your support behind a party that was splitting the opposition votes and doomed to fail!)

She also asked about the Government's plan to use more underground water sources when an EMA report revealed that the ground water table may be contaminated by leaks from gas stations. (I see you fail to recall the sewer water incident that happened a while aback, when WASA sent sewer water from the Caroni resevoir into people's taps. You actually thought that the PNM cares?)

Dookeran was also harsh on the Prime Minister's voicing of plans to monitor the performance of his ministers, labelling it as more evidence of "undemocratic behaviour". He said this was an "indication of the lack of confidence he has in his ministers".

Now I seriously thought Dookeran had a little more sense that that. Performance? With Manning, performance is measured by how much corruption you could get away with as a Minister in 5 years. The more you can get away with, the better your chances of getting a promotion. Case in point: Camille Robinson-Regis committed thousands of dollars in credit card fraud/misuse of state funds through a state issued credit card and instead of getting fired, she now holds a diplomatic position in Canada. I guess after Manning saw how much Government funds she could misappropriate on just a small trip to the US, he figured that he might as well put her in a foreign country permanently, that way she could misappropriate funds on a regular basis and not just in the short term.

Gang violence Set to spin out of control

Source: Trinidad Guardian 130108

Gangs are claiming new territory in East, South and Central Trinidad even as police continue to crack down on their urban strong holds in Port-of-Spain.

Areas, as far east as Sangre Grande to Point Fortin in the South, are now experiencing increased criminal activity, as gangs based in Port-of-Spain establish operational cells and actively recruit new members.

And while the police and security services continue in their attempts to combat gang violence, Sunday Guardian reporter GIZELLE MORRIS found out residents of the areas are being targeted, and seem to have given themselves up to living in fear.

In a bid to crack down of gang-related crime, National Security Minister Martin Joseph, last week unveiled a series of “new” initiatives before the Parliament.

The highly criticised measures included the strengthening of the Homicide Prevention Working Group and Homicide Bureau of Investigations, along with a refocusing of the Inter-Agency Task Force to provide increased support for gang suppression in hotspot areas.

According to police statistics provided by acting Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime & Operations) Gilbert Reyes, the number of gang-related murders has steadily increased from 20 per cent in 2003 to more than 50 per cent of the annual homicide rate last year.

In 2003, of the 229 reported homicides 46 were gang-related. This number dropped to 32 in 2004, when 260 homicides were reported.

The number of gang-related homicides then continued to climb steadily.

And if the member of one Port-of-Spain gang is to be believed, the number of gang-related murders is set to increase as turf wars and power struggles threaten to explode.

When Keron “Blood” Burnett was killed, allegedly by a close associate, G-Unit insiders were not surprised.

“That death warrant sign long time,” claimed one associate of Burnett, who was described as a contract killer.

Burnett’s death is just one in a series of violent assassinations that has rocked the gang as members of the G-Unit grapple for power and leadership since the murder of Kerwyn “Fresh” Phillips last September.

“There is a leader now, but he is keeping a very low profile because…well you see what happening (killing of G-Unit members). But the fellas don’t really respect him. When Fresh was alive, they respected him,” said one G-Unit insider who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing he would be branded “an informer.”

The basis of Phillip’s respect among his members was more than charisma; those on the inside said it was fear. Those who worked closest to him said he was dangerous when crossed. The man now at the helm, according to the insider, does not have Phillip’s control or a reputation for swift, decisive action.

Phillips was at the height of his power when he was killed in a hail of bullets at Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.

Leading one of T&T’s most organised urban gangs, Phillip kept lucrative contracts, many mistresses and his base of operations at Teshier Terrace, commonly known as The Harpe, and Charford Court.

But with his death and the absence of a strong leader, the insiders believe the violence is set to spin out of control.

One source warned that reprisal killings would increase as those who used the G-Unit and Phillip as a shield to “advantage people” may now find themselves targets.

“Fresh was really backing the peace accord. He had them fellas calm. Now that he dead, people who was afraid to put down wuk will feel they could do what they want,” said one gang member.

The peace accord, signed by Port-of-Spain’s major gang leaders in September 2006 after several anti-crime marches, was aimed at ending the violence in and around the capital city.

Police intervention

In a move to prevent the simmering tensions of ambitious young “shottas” from flaring into open warfare, the Harpe, Charford Court and neighbouring streets remain under the watchful eyes and heavy presence of the police.

Every day, from early morning into late night, the visible presence of the Inter-Agency Task Force armed with intimidating assault rifles, can be seen watchfully patrolling the community’s courtyards or “yard” and wide asphalt pathways.

With the police literally camped out in their back yard (a security post has been set up next to the Renegades Pan Yard on Charlotte Street), things have been quiet in what was once one of Port-of-Spain’s major crime hotspots.

While this offers some relief for shell-shocked residents, it has spelled bad news for once peaceful neighbourhoods in other parts of Trinidad.

As Reyes explained, in a release issued by the Public Relations Department of the Police Service to the Sunday Guardian: “Whenever pressure is applied to the Port-of-Spain area, gang members migrate to Central and deep South to avoid law enforcement and criminals as themselves.”

The move out of Port-of-Spain and into outlying suburbs and towns is not a new phenomenon. This started as early as 2002, when Operation Anaconda rolled into the hills of Laventille as part of a national crime plan by then national security minister Howard Chin Lee. As the lawmen armed with search warrants invaded, criminals fled seeking safety across the Caroni Bridge.

Today, the migration out of the capital city has seen cells of major gangs spring up nation-wide.

New hotspots

Major hot spots for gang activity outside Port-of-Spain, according to police intelligence, include Santa Cruz, Mount D’Or, St Joseph and Maracas/St Joseph.