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.

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!)

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.

Dhansook plans to spill more beans

Source: Trinidad Express

Richard Charan South Bureau

Thursday, January 10th 2008

Dansam Dhansook, the man who fingered two of the most powerful politicians in the ruling

PNM with claims of corruption, said yesterday he planned to report another government official to the police.

Dhansook, whose evidence against former Energy Minister Eric Williams was rejected by the court, said he would be sending a file to the Anti Corruption and Investigations Bureau (ACIB) about the official's attempt to swindle property from him.

Dhansook spoke yesterday for the first time since Port of Spain Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan threw out seven corruption charges against Williams.

Cardenas-Ragoonanan said no jury would convict on the evidence. Dhansook was the State's star witness.

But yesterday, Dhansook, who is also the star witness in the ten corruption charges against former Works Minister and PNM party chairman Franklin Khan, said that the Director of Public Prosecutions should further pursue the case against Williams.

"The DPP should take a second look at the evidence in this matter," Dhansook told reporters in South Trinidad, at a location which he did not want disclosed.

He said it was Prime Minister Patrick Manning who had advised him to report his claims of corruption against the two ministers to his attorney. He said he had no regrets about what he had done, although he had lost lucrative contracts.

Dhansook, whose business - TT Geoseis Services Company Ltd -- provides oil exploration services, said his family now lived abroad, but he had no plans to leave.

"I believe Trinidad and Tobago will be a better place. People who want to get involved in corruption will think twice," he said.

Dhansook said he would be testifying in the Khan case and was willing to stand the consequences of his actions.

Dhansook, a local government councillor in the Rio Claro/Mayaro Regional Corporation, said he remained a member of the PNM and did not intend to resign. He said he was still friendly with many of PNM politicians. However, he said Manning was a dictator who had hijacked the party.

Sometimes I wonder what is this guy's point? It doesn't matter how much evidence he brings or how much times he testifies in court, the bottom line is that as long as PNM is in power and they have their party hacks in high positions in the Judiciary, justice will never be served and court decisions will never be fair. Opposing forces will always be persecuted and PNM friends and family will always get away no matter what crime they commit.