Mr Yetming, please take AG's advice
Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2001
THE EDITOR: This is an open letter to Mr Gerald Yetming. Sir, Please take the advice of the Attorney General and do not waste your time trying to mend the broken fences within the UNC. Mr Panday cannot exist without being in conflict with someone, and it does not matter who - friend or foe. You ought to take heed from the treatment he metes out to his long standing associates and know that you too will be no sacred cow, once you demonstrate an independent mind and do not bow to his whims and fancies.
I write from an experience the women of NOW had with Mr Panday in 1987. During the upheaval in the NAR with Mr Panday's atrocious behaviour with "kisses by day and stabs by night," in his attitude to Mr Robinson, the Executive of NOW was mandated by the membership to seek an audience with both parties to try for reconciliation. We were then in the initial stages of organising a function called "NAR in Concert" and knew that it could not have taken place under the circumstances which then existed. When they reported to us about their audience with Mr Panday we were in utter disbelief. Instead of treating with the concerns raised as Mr Robinson had done, he treated them as morons, incapable of dealing with serious political issues. He veered away from the issue completely and treated them to a discourse on the cocoon and the butterfly, before it becomes to beautiful it must go through that ugly stage, there was no conflict between himself and his leader, everything was alright, do not worry our pretty little heads.
All this from him, when the previous night, he was in his destructive mode, making derogatory remarks against our leader after attending his birthday party. We all listened in disbelief at this report. But of all the ladies present at that meeting, the most distressed at the manner of their dismissal was the then secretary and present Minister of Education. She felt most aggrieved at the blatant insult to our intelligence and had to be consoled. Some of us are now so amused at her defense of Mr Panday today and her remarks of him being the best Prime Minister ever.
After that experience we the members of NOW at that time, were convinced that Mr Panday does not accept women in the political arena as his equal, and any position he allows them is mere tokenism to boast, as he has done recently, I was first to so elevate them. So Mr Yetming, do not waste your time. The UNC is not the ONR or the NAR.
Your leader is not accustomed to operate under systems which existed in those parties and which the UNC is now trying to institute. Such discipline is completely foreign to him. So, for now, keep your sanity, you have proven to be a political neophyte and out of your league. The Attorney General is treating with him fearlessly for which we are quite happy. Probably Mr Rampartapsingh is laughing in his grave and can now rest peacefully. At long last, someone is doing to Mr Panday what he meted out to him. One last question though, weren't you the one of those who helped to purge Mr Panday out of the NAR.
M THOMPSON
Princes Town
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Non-Natuc unions rally against corruption
Posted: Thursday, August 30, 2001
Leading the march was the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), whose blue-clad members made up just under half the crowd, followed by the beige-jerseyed Communication Workers Union (CWU), Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers Association (Ticfa) in blue jerseys, the Public Services Association (PSA) in green, plus other unions like the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU) and the Contractors and General Workers Trade Union.
NON-Natuc unions yesterday called for an independent public commission of enquiry into allegations of corruption in State enterprises and Government agencies.
The call came from Errol McLeod, president general of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union, the organiser of the anti-corruption march from Mt Hope to Port of Spain.
The march ended in a meeting in Woodford Square which was addressed by several trade union leaders and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
In his turn at the podium, the OWTU leader warned of more mass activity to come, including another march on Republic Day, September 24.
Raffique Shah, president of the Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers' Association (Ticfa), was one of the more popular speakers with the crowd. He reminded his audience of the days in the '70s and '80s when trade unionists, including Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, were among the sharpest critics of corruption in the PNM Government.
But under the Panday Government today, he said, "we are swimming, sinking and stinking in corruption. Everywhere you go, you are hearing, smelling and feeling the corruption in society". In his view, the current Government was the most corrupt regime this country had ever seen.
Shah said the Government had planned to shut down Caroni (1975) Ltd but his union was fighting to keep the company alive. National development, he declaimed, was about poverty elimination and not rising GDP and expensive cars on the road.
"The people have thrown down the gauntlet to all politicians in the country that the labour movement and the masses will be unforgiving," he warned.
Several Natuc leaders came in for stinging criticism, including Robert Giuseppi, Natuc's leader, and Bank and General Workers' Union (BGWU) president Vincent Cabrera, acting chairman of the National Broadcasting Network (NBN).
Energy Minister Lindsay Gillette also told reporters after Cabinet that the Government and investors were pleased with efforts to eradicate corruption.
Gillette said the controversial ISS report on allegations of corruption at Petrotrin was being investigated by the Fraud Squad and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said investigations at other State enterprises like NP and the North West Regional Health Authority were also underway.
Gillette was also asked if he felt the corruption concerns expressed by Maharaj and those who marched yesterday were warranted.
Extracts: The Express
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Always some jackass to challenge the leader
Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Prime Minister Basdeo Panday on Monday night used the spectre of a PNM return to power in order to hold his support in check.
Faced with a fracturing of his party, at a time when general elections may be imminent, Panday enumerated some of the progressive measures his Government had taken, asking repeatedly: "You want to hand this country back over to the PNM?"
"Nooo!" the crowd shouted.
"Well that is what some foolish fellas in our party trying to do!" he countered.
"No way!" responded his audience. Panday said the economy was so strong under the UNC that something highly unusual for a third world country was happening - the Trinidad and Tobago dollar was appreciating against the US dollar.
"You want to hand over this country to somebody else," he asked again. He continued: "How can you! Whether it was somebody inside we party or somebody outside."
Panday reminded Finance Minister Gerald Yetming, who is due to present his Budget next two weeks, that he made a campaign promise last election to raise old age pensions to $1,000. People started clapping, but the Prime Minister interrupted, saying: "Wait, not so quick. I meant by the time mih term finish (the pension must increase). He regained the applause when he stressed that Yetming had to start the incremental trek from now.
Panday said he met on Monday with a Venezuelan company which wanted to establish a US $600 million methanol plant in this country. Why did it choose Trinidad and Tobago over Venezuela? "Because they know there is a leader here who will maintain a stable economy and a stable society," he stated.
Panday told his supporters not to worry about what was happening in the party. "There is always some jackass who wants to challenge the leader," he said, causing an uproar. He said that while in communist societies, people got shot for that, in Trinidad and Tobago "we ain't shooting nobody", all that took place was a "little cussout".
Panday said all leaders - Eric Williams, George Chambers, ANR Robinson and Patrick Manning - inclusive of himself, "who has been suffering this since he came to office" - dealt with challenges. He reminded the crowd about the fate of "Poor - 'I born to lead' Hulsie" Bhaggan who "got too big for her shoes" after she defeated "the mighty Winston Dookeran but then ended up losing her deposit to an "unknown" called Manohar Ramsaran.
He predicted the same future for his colleagues who were now challenging him. "So you feel any of them fellas who playing the fool could win their seat without the UNC? Answer meh!" He said it was some people's job to aspire to take the leader's work and the leader's job to see that they didn't.
Panday said the society was more racially and ethnically united than ever before, despite what the newspapers said. The party must never abandon its policy of inclusion and national unity, he said, "not even if we lost the next election."
"Never abandon the struggle to unite our people. It is not only morally right..." he said.
But he kept tripping over the syllables as he said the words 'morally right' several times. Panday, always full of wit, stated: "Somebody calling meh name and I know who it is." The crowd went wild.
"I do not believe my Prime Minister would refer to me in that way," Maharaj told reporters yesterday.
"But if he (the PM) did, I think that he was expressing great sympathy for me carrying the heavy burden and weight through the dirty road and tracks," Maharaj said. The Prime Minister was expressing sympathy and sorrow for all the beasts of burden in the party (such as himself Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama), he added. Maharaj said therefore he did not interpret the statement as an insult, nor did he think that the Prime Minister meant it to be one.
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Faking Independence
Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2001
(Terry Joseph) IT’S not that I am especially fond of women in uniform, but among yesterday’s larger pleasures was a Daily Express picture of four police officers attached to Tobago’s mountain bike patrol, a group that included at least one female.
A praiseworthy project of Senior Police Superintendent Frank Diaz, what the sight of officers perched on bicycles said to me was that we are finally growing comfortable with our culture, albeit some 39 years after the attainment of political independence.
Now, don’t rush to the impression that, as a policy, I remain unmoved by women in uniform. Friday’s military parade to mark the independence anniversary, would not be quite the same without female officers.
But no matter how precise or aesthetically pleasing these military demonstrations, spectacular fireworks displays and other such trappings of national celebrations cannot, by themselves, render a country independent; if its social and cultural calibrations continue to be guided by external value-systems. More
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Who was the Judas in the NAR Govt?
Posted: Monday, August 27, 2001
THE EDITOR: As an activist of the NAR during its formation and under the tenure of Mr Basdeo Panday as Deputy Political Leader, I can use many quotations to describe the implosion that is taking place within the UNC. Some of these are ... What you sow you will reap ... what goes around comes around ... whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad. But a local quotation which comes to mind and which fascinates me the most says this in part ... the stench coming out of the state room is overwhelming, Tis I say has now been revisited.
I will now use some of the Prime Minister's statements as reported in the media to remind the citizens of his actions in 1987 while he was a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Mr Robinson. He now says ... "No Political Leader or Head of Government will allow a Judas to remain on Board. Wasn't this the role he played to the hilt while being a Senior Cabinet member.
After Cabinet meetings didn't he go post-haste to the media making derogatory remarks against his leader? Weren't these the same which forced Mr Robinson to remove him from the Cabinet so as not to "place the entire ship with all souls on board in peril?" His new quote. The stench from the stateroom was also one of his quotations during his behaviour then.
However, Mr Robinson, the statesman that he is, treated his behaviour by doing what he had to do with dignity and decorum as befitting a Prime Minister.
I find it very hilarious that Mr Panday should utter words like "treating the togetherness of the party with scant respect". Who was the biggest antagonist of Mr Robinson while serving as his Deputy? Who engineered the demise of the NAR splitting it down the middle? Who was the Judas then ... and even now? Mr Panday has destroyed every political party that he has been a part of when he could not get his way, and we are witnessing a repetition in the UNC.
Mr Panday's statement that the UNC had taken these Judases and traitors in the party to power and now are so ungrateful would have been very hilarious were it not so obscene. When one recalls that were it not for the generosity of the NAR, the corridors of power would still have been the elusive dream to him ... and what was their reward? He set out to systematically destroy that party, reneging on every promise made, both written and oral. Mr Panday should look in the mirror when he utters the word "ungrateful".
I am also totally bemused when I see the total hypocrisy of some former NAR members in the bowels of the UNC and singing the high praises of their leader.
These are the same persons, with no exception, who advised the General Council of the NAR to expel Panday.
One of the most shameless ones, aspiring to high office in the UNC, actually moving the motion to do so. When I see the total submission of one who in '91 described him as "one who cannot even run a rum shop", who was so devastated after the coup and spoke about traitors of Mr Robinson who made the coup possible, and now extolling his virtues as "the best Prime Minister ever," I feel an overwhelming disdain.
A word now to Mr Ramesh Maharaj. He is experiencing the helplessness and the betrayal that the country felt when he assisted and defended his leader in the appointment of seven losers to our esteemed Senate, and a worst leader as Speaker of the House.
He went to great lengths, even using taxpayers dollars on expensive comments from lawyers in England to prove the President wrong. The question to him is this. When you assisted in the rape of the spirit of the constitution of TT to put the rejects/losers in positions, weren't you aware that you were setting the stage for the rape of the constitution of the UNC? You ought to have known, as we all do, that Mr Panday holds nothing sacred.
His attainment of Absolute Power is all that matters to him. His treating of his base in Central which has stood by him in his dark years while trying for the top prize is testimony to that fact.
The parasitic oligarchy, against whom he railed all his political life now reigns supreme. I too urge the elders and thinking supporters of the UNC to save Trinidad and Tobago from Basdeo Panday and his band of opportunists.
ODESSA BOBB
Palmiste
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Whom the Gods wish to destroy...
Posted: Monday, August 27, 2001
THE EDITOR: We have to get rid of the Judases, corbeaux and suckers, Bachac does get wings when they are going to die, who the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad, no one will be left unscathed, do them first before they do you all, are statements of hate, malice, anger, viciousness, evil and violence which the Prime Minister seems to love to quote to his supporters.
When he makes those cherished statements there is usually a strange hush in the country.
The PNM then starts to run around wildly, the journalists rush to anyone to get any comment, Manning runs to the chicken nest and counts the chickens before they are hatched and political analysts make all types of "willy nilly" suggestions. When the smoke has cleared you see a different Prime Minister and UNC.
Those cherished quotes of the Prime Minister come at a time when there are allegations of corruption, and massive ones too, when there are movements of people to their comfort zones in their campaign for a national executive, when there are jealous statements made by people not chosen to act in high office, when there is a threat to the leadership position and when love blows close to the 'mad house'.
What is clear now is that they are all diversionary tactics swallowed by the news hungry journalists and a PNM that feels they are an authority on governing a country to which experience says negative.
Panday and Ramesh go back, too far to turn back now. Ralph Maraj has no political impact without Panday. Sudama is Panday's disciple, not Judas. Carlos John has a money tree Panday cannot do without, Kamla is an educated woman who knows how to toe the line and the Parasitic Oligarchy is now well entrenched in the UNC with this oil boom so they 'Nah Leaving'.
So there is no real spilt, just a political outburst highlighting different times with one goal.
But on the other hand, supposing the Gods wish to destroy someone and they are making that person mad hence the recent sarcastic closing words at a Hindu function - 'May Allah bless you". I could be wrong.
LYSTRA LYTHE
Sangre Grande
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Trevor Sudama - So what if I'm fired?
Posted: Sunday, August 26, 2001
(The Express) LOSING his ministerial portfolio, or being further stripped of parts of the ministry, is no problem for Food Production Minister Trevor Sudama, the Member of Parliament for Oropouche.
He makes this absolutely clear, while admitting that, like his Team Unity colleague Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, he no longer enjoys a very close relationship with Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
He thinks Panday is now favouring big businessmen whose views he listens to more than those of the party which he helped to form along with Panday and others.
This relationship betweeen Sudama and Basdeo Panday
In 1966 we were candidates for the Workers and Farmers Party in the general elections when we all lost our deposits (a half smile). But to go back a little; we were studying at the same school in 1964, in London. He was studying economics and I was doing a diploma in banking...so that's where it all started. And then, of course, he came back to Trinidad before I did, and he became involved in the protest against the Industrial Stabilisation Act.
I returned home in 1965, where we again teamed up and then the issue of the elections came up. I was approached by several people, including Panday, to contest the Oropouche seat, which I did not win.
(Sudama recalled many events along the road, such as being shot at while campaigning against the sugar workers union led by Bhadase Sagan Maraj, and Panday's own attempts to seize control of the union in 1974; the formation of the United Labour Front which was one of those organisations which eventually formed the National Alliance for Reconstruction, its victory in the 1986 general elections and the split in the NAR administration of 1988, which led to the subsequent formation of the United National Congress.)
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A Lot is Rotten in the "State of Denmark"
Posted: Friday, August 24, 2001
( Clyde Weatherhead ) Media reports last night suggest that a young woman was victim of a vicious and potentially murderous attack possibly because someone disagrees with the way in which she felt that fund-raising for a charitable cause ought to have been carried out.
If the attack on her, while driving home is indeed connected, we have reached a most dangerous level of intolerance in this society which anticipates disaster on a much larger scale.
Make no bones about it, the idea of "auctioning" off 'sexy people' in order to raise funds for whatever purpose is itself abhorent and deserves to be denounced.
However, it is not a problem of such nature as warrants harrassment of the organisers of the event, as has been reported, by anyone who claims to be defending women's or people's dignity. Nor does it warrant violent attacks against one who feels satisfied that such a spectacle is a good thing.
Why should anyone feel that such an activity is good or uplifting or useful? Well, for one thing it comes from the good ole USA. After all, we are awash with the decadent culture of American "values" 24 hours a day on our television screens if we purchase cable connections from one who is even hailed as a "good" minister of government. More
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PM asks Ramesh for hit man evidence
Posted: Friday, August 24, 2001
ABSTRACT: ( the Express )
Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, in agreeing yesterday to investigate claims by Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj that a hit man has been hired to kill him, has asked Maharaj to supply the evidence.
Maharaj claimed on Wednesday that an unnamed financial group has hired a hit man to assassinate him.
Panday, who also holds the National Security portfolio, wrote Maharaj yesterday asking that he provide the "details of the report that prompted you to make public disclosure of the plot..."
The PM told his Attorney General he was free to go directly to the Commissioner of Police with the details, if he so wished, but that he would still take action in the matter.
"I shall therefore ask the Commissioner of Police to initiate all appropriate steps, including such special measures as may be considered necessary to ensure your continued safety," Panday added.
But the PM also told the AG that his statement did some harm, internationally.
He wrote: "Given the devastating effect your disclosure has quite probably had, internationally, on the perceived integrity of all financial groups, and on the entire financial sector in this country, it is imperative that the alleged threat to your life be expeditiously dealt with, and the offending party brought swiftly to justice."
He ended his one-page letter to Maharaj telling him, "Your co-operation in the prompt investigation of this very serious development is vital."
Earlier, when questioned by reporters at Couva, Panday said he could not recall whether any such report was made to him, adding that he was prepared to check with the national security ministry and the police to determine if Maharaj’s claim was "a grand-charge, whether it is false or whether there is any truth in the statement".
Panday said he would inform the public about his findings on completion of the investigations.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Hilton Guy told the Express he had no comment to make on the matter except that he had received no information from Panday on the matter as yet.
Senior Special Branch officers also said yesterday they had no report on the matter.
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Feels like DÉJÀ VU-With A Difference
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2001
(Raffique Shah ) PRIME Minister Basdeo Panday has decided to rid himself and the UNC of the party's newly elected deputy political leader, Ramesh Maharaj. Marked for political death, too, are Panday's friend from as far back as 1966, Trevor Sudama, as well as the man who was often credited with devising strategies that moved the party from opposition to the corridors of power, Sadiq Baksh. And Ralph Maharaj, who was among the first high-profile ex-PNMites to "cross the floor" to the UNC, thus prompting rank and file PNM supporters to switch their support, is also set to bite the political dust.
Two weeks ago, when Panday laid down the gauntlet by branding those who dared to challenge him "Judases" and "corbeaux", I immediately sensed that the end was nigh. In 1977/78, when he took a similar decision regarding those of us in the ULF who had brought his conduct as a leader under internal party scrutiny, he branded us "the after-birth of the party that must be thrown away if the baby (ULF) is to survive". So those who experienced Panday's descent into the gutter whenever he was in the "mash up" mode several times in his lengthy political career, will have recognised the smoke signals of destruction that emanated from the Rienzi Complex.
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PM trims AG and Ralph duties
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2001
Prime Minister Basdeo Panday yesterday launched a strike in the heightening conflict in his party, by slashing the portfolios of UNC deputy leader, Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, and Communications Minister Ralph Maraj.
Maharaj lost the Drug Trafficking/Money Laundering, Counter Drug/Crime Task Force. Maraj was stripped of the Freedom of Information Act, including Government Information services and NBN.
It is the second time in his political career that Maraj has suffered from portfolio adjustment. He underwent the same fate in 1995 when he was demoted as PNM Foreign Affairs Minister by then -Prime Minister Patrick MAnning. He left the PNM front bench that August and later joined the UNC.
It is also a fall from grace for Maharaj, whom Panday brought into the UNC in 1991, replacing Kelvin Ramnath in Couva South. Maharaj became UNC deputy leader in a bitter election in June, following which the ruling party has not settled down.
Yesterday, Panday announced the changes to his team at the end of the weekly Cabinet session. He said there was no reaction at the meeting to his announcement. Speculation that some development might have taken place at the meeting had been rising in view of increasing tensions in the UNC.
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Maraj: Yetming wants certain UNC members removed
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2001
Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Ralph Maraj yesterday chastised Finance Minister Gerald Yetming and said he (Yetming) scuttled his own mediation efforts to heal the rift within the ruling United National Congress (UNC).
Speaking to reporters after the launch of TTPost's Direct Mail Service at the Crowne Plaza, Maraj said when Yetming made the statement of purging the party, he hampered his own mediation talks.
"How can you be a purger and a mediator at the same time?" Maraj asked.
He said it was clear that Yetming was talking about removing the long standing senior members of the UNC who have contributed to the party and Government. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.asp
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AG claims a financial group hired a hit man to kill him
Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2001
Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj claims a financial group has hired a hit man to kill him.
But he quickly adds that the "information might not be true".
In fact, Maharaj's claim that a "certain financial group in the country has retained a hit man to get rid of the AG" was made when the media were prompted to ask the question by his public relations man Siewdath Persad.
Maharaj refused to say whether he made a report to Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy, and Guy could not be reached for comment yesterday.
He also has no plans to leave the Government in the wake of Prime Minister Basdeo Panday's takeover yesterday of some key agencies for which he was responsible.
"Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj does not resign or give up easily," the AG emphatically declared to a handful of supporters at his Couva South constituency office yesterday.
He added: "I do not think today that is in my mind at all. I am not easily intimidated and I do not get discouraged easily."
Maharaj added: "An Attorney General who is worth his salt will not be annoyed or distressed in any way with projects being taken away from him. No AG, who is committed to his job, will allow any stripping of portfolio to prevent him from doing public service."
"As long as people support a politician, he will never die politically," he remarked.
Maharaj said the present "struggle" in the UNC was not a "battle for the appointment to act as Prime Minister, but a battle for the rights of the people, a battle to ensure the constitution of the party is followed".
"Whatever the people want me to do I will accept," he said and added his supporters would be the ones to decide whether he ran for re-election with the UNC.
Maharaj disclosed that he was sent a copy of the ISS Report on corruption at Petrotrin "in the mail" and speculated that "someone from the media sent the report".
Maharaj said the report was sent to him two weeks ago and that he has acted in "accordance with the law", but refused to say what action he intended to take or has taken.
Panday had refused to give Maharaj a copy of the report saying it was the line minister's function to deal with the report.
Carlos John said last night Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj was in the best position, apart from Prime Minister and National Security Minister Basdeo Panday, to "track down" reports that someone was out to assassinate him.
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PM Basdeo Panday fires back
Posted: Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Breaking News: Aug 22, 2001, 12.30pm
T&T's Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, changed the portfolios of Minister Ralph Maraj and the Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj following today's cabinet meeting. The PM relieved Ralph Maraj of his portfolio that relates to the telecommunication industry and relieved the AG Ramesh Maharaj of some of his responsibilities as it relates to drug enforcement.
In a radio interview following the cabinet meeting, Ralph Maraj said that he would have to consider his options in the UNC and would not rule out resigning.
"U N C nothing yet" Click here for more
Build up:
(the Express) Ramesh: I am ready to step back
DEPUTY political leader of the UNC, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, told supporters on Monday night that he left a lucrative law practice to enter politics and assist the party in forming the government, but was now "prepared to step back" if necessary. full story
(the Express) Yetming says AG's arrogant
MINISTER of Finance Gerald Yetming has condemned Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj as arrogant for rejecting his attempt to resolve tensions between himself (Maharaj) and Prime Minister Basdeo Panday. full story
(the Express) ...but Maraj says Yetming's plan absurd
"ABSURD" was how Communications Minister Ralph Maraj yesterday described Finance Minister Gerald Yetming's suggestion that mediation might help solve differences between Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. full story
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AG slaps down Yetming
Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2001
ABSTRACT: (the Express)
Finance Minister Gerald Yetming yesterday abandoned his peace-making efforts within the UNC, saying he would leave that matter in the hands of Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
In an obvious response to Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's questioning of his authority to act as mediator, Yetming said: "I don't go where I am not wanted. I have confidence the Prime Minister will deal appropriately with the matter."
Yetming had earlier said he did not need Maharaj's permission, or anyone else's, to do anything he wanted to do.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Maharaj rejected Yetming's peace initiatives and wanted to know who had requested his services.
Maharaj said there was no need for a mediator and that he was certain Yetming did not want to create a "serious precedent" whereby the Prime Minister and the Attorney General spoke through a third party.
Reiterating that he had always spoken directly to Panday, Maharaj added: "I don't know where all this talk of mediation has come from."
Maharaj said: "I'd like to thank him (Yetming) very much, although he has just joined the UNC, for his noble efforts... But the political leader and deputy political leader always speak directly and need no third person to mediate. I'm sure he would not want to create a serious precedent of the Prime Minister and Attorney General to talk through a third person, or the political leader and the deputy political leader to talk through a third person. The political leader and the deputy political leader have always spoken directly to each other, things which need not necessarily be the subject of public information.
"Since a lawyer in private practice, I have always been committed to peace, love, understanding and dialogue. I have not changed. All members of the party are committed to this."
Yetming responded in a telephone interview with the Express: "If I see a building on fire I don't have to ask anybody's permission to call the Fire Services to put it out."
Asked if he was implying that the ruling UNC was now a party on fire, Yetming said he was not saying that but was merely drawing an analogy.
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj agrees with Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and Minister of Finance Gerald Yetming that the UNC needs to be purged, and he has offered to help.
Speaking to reporters outside his Cabildo Chambers office yesterday on Richmond Street, Maharaj said if Yetming was saying the party and the Government needed a purge, that meant the UNC was contaminated.
He said: "I'll want to assist in any way I can. It needs to be purged-of people who are involved in corruption, abuse of office, conflict of interest or who join to promote their commercial interests. I'm sure Mr Yetming has these people in mind."
He was asked about Panday's remark that the party needed cleansing and that who the gods wished to destroy they first made mad.
Maharaj replied: "I didn't think he was referring to me. You should ask him. I'm sure if he wants help identifying who the mad person is, or with a psychiatrist, I will help."
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'Human Auction' raises $82,642
Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2001
Someone paid $29,200 to date Shelly Dass at the Single Sexy Sold fund-raiser auction on Sunday.
The proceeds which will go towards the Cancer Society and was described as mind-boggling by the event's organisers.
The total figure raised by the auction was $82,642.
Dass said yesterday: "I am very surprised, I can't believe I got that much. But I am so glad the show was successful."
In the final days before the auction, Dass took on critics who had accused the organisers of debasing women.
Some women's groups, like the Network of NGOs and the Hindu Women's Organisation, had complained that the auction, in which patrons got a chance to win a "date" with the participants, was demeaning.
One woman said, "they were raising funds to treat one cancer by reinforcing another. In the end it always comes down to women selling their bodies."
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Trinity Cross & Political Games
Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2001
From: ( Kurt Garcia )
Dear Editor
I would like your permission to highlight gross hypocrisy among well known members of our society. Prior to 1995, these people who the country knows well, both in Trinidad and Tobago made many public appeals for the Trinity Cross to be renamed immediately with all the reasons for so doing.
They made the issue contentious and a political one and a couple people even refused to accept the Award.
Fast forward 2001 and you are not hearing none of these previously loud and offended people anymore and the said Award is going to be given out for the 6th time since 1995 and their is nary a word from these people. Who still live here and are in public life.
Under the circumstances, one can only suggest that the motives for attacking the Trinity Cross was political and to be contentious and divisive, as many things were said and calculated to offend deliberately. I can only surmise that it was part of a political game, to seek political power. Why the present silence on the same issue?
KURT GARCIA
Mucurapo Rd.
St James
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When Things Fall Apart
Posted: Sunday, August 19, 2001
(Raffique Shah) Finance Minister Gerald Yet Ming, who is no doubt a good Christian, clearly believes in the biblical injunction, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." What he will learn, though, as he tries to persuade the warring factions in the UNC to "talk" in order to heal the rift in the ruling UNC, is that there is one law for mankind and another for political animals. Because while the main protagonists, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj, will heed his call and "talk", what they say to each other, and to their supporters, may not be quite what Yet Ming has in mind.
In his opening salvo, for example, Panday also waxed biblical by blasting the "Judases in the party". Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ to the Romans, is alleged to have kissed his Master after he had accepted 30 pieces of silver to deliver the latter's head on a platter. We must conclude, therefore, that Maharaj and others kissed Panday somewhere, sometime, and most important on some part of his anatomy that The Chief did not find exciting. Maharaj was quick to deny that he was a "Judas": clearly he does not believe in "kiss and tell", and was put off by Panday's public exposure of what must have been a private arrangement. More
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Ramesh's hubris!
Posted: Sunday, August 19, 2001
(Selwyn R. Cudjoe) Basdeo Panday had every right to be mad, even though it is for the wrong reasons. Although Ramesh talked about the need for women to be treated equally, his contempt for women could not be more obvious; his understanding of equality could not be more skewed. Even as he chastised Kamla Persad-Bissessar's followers for being disrespectful toward him, he displayed male privilege and disrespected Persad-Bissessar and every woman in the country.
His first indiscretion occurred when he addressed the audience. Rather than acknowledge Persad-Bissessar's status as Acting Prime Minister, which is of more importance than his position as deputy political leader or AG, he addressed her as "The Minister appointed to carry the duties of the Prime Minister during the absence from the country of the honourable Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday". Such a salutation was meant to insult. More
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The Inter-American Democratic Charter
Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2001
Organization of American States (OAS) has created this home page to encourage citizens throughout the hemisphere to participate in developing this important affirmation of democratic principles.
At the Third Summit of the Americas in April, the hemisphere's leaders instructed the OAS to prepare an Inter-American Democratic Charter that would strengthen the ability to respond when democracy is threatened. The draft text now being debated came out of the OAS General Assembly session held June 3-5 in San Jose, Costa Rica. The OAS Permanent Council has a mandate to complete work on the Democratic Charter by September 10 of this year.
Discussion forum related to the Inter-American Democratic Charter. The Organization of American States (OAS) has created this home page to encourage citizens throughout the hemisphere to participate in developing this important affirmation of democratic principles.
Click here to read the draft text of the proposed Inter-American Democratic Charter.
Click here to contribute ideas and opinions about the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
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Swami Preaches: Mingle but don't marry
Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2001
(The Express) Jagatguru Sankracharya Swami Divyanand Teerth is all for fraternity and mingling among the races, but insists that it is necessary to retain the identity of each original culture.
In a cosmopolitan society, there must be respect, regard and honour for each and every culture, but identity must be maintained, said the visiting Swami yesterday at the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha's headquarters in St Augustine.
Speaking specifically of the two main cultures in Trinidad and Tobago, the African and Indian cultures, he explained: "Cosmopolitan means respecting each and every culture. Let us have respect, tolerance and fraternity for each other, and not criticise and look down on each other. However, the African culture must be maintained, and so too the Indian culture." More
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August 15, 2001
Basdeo Panday godfather to a Christian child.
(The Express) SANATAN Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMA) general secretary Satnarayan Maharaj said yesterday Roman Catholic priest Fr Clyde Harvey was out of place to judge whether or not Prime Minister Basdeo Panday could be godfather to a Christian child.
He said: "Matters like marriage and christening are family affairs and if Mr Lawrence Duprey and his wife choose to have Panday as a role model for their child, then that is not Fr Harvey's business or anyone else's."
Maharaj said the responsibility of bringing up a child was that of a parent, "not a church or external agencies. Harvey is well advised to spend more time on the pulpit and his flock rather than interfere in other people's lives. He cannot decide who is to be role model for your child.
"If Duprey thinks the PM, whether he is Christian, Hindu or Muslim, is a role model for his child, what is wrong with that? More
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AG hiding behind the law
Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2001
Dear Editor
In the wake of the multiple death sentences handed down in the Thackoor Boodram murder case, Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has again reportedly said the law must be carried out until such time as the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago petition the Government to abolish capital punishment.
That implies the Government's job is simply to respond to the wishes of the people and no more. Well, on that basis, if enough people complain about having to pay income tax, the Government will abolish it. And that, of course, is nonsense.
Governments do not sit twiddling their thumbs waiting for people to petition them before passing legislation. They are elected to take decisions on behalf of the people and that includes decisions that might be unpopular but are in the public interest.
That is why the death penalty was abolished in South Africa. Public opinion was strongly in favour of retention but it was decided such a punishment had no place in the post-apartheid era.
It is believed public opinion would support its return in the UK and some other European countries but the European Union has taken a collective decision to ban it. Indeed, a commitment to abolition is now a pre-requisite of membership of the EU and Council of Europe.
So judicial killing has never been abolished by popular demand but because it is right.
The AG's stance might ease his conscience and help him reconcile his abolitionist past with his retentionist present. But the fact is, he could take steps towards ending the death penalty yet chooses not to. To his shame, he chooses to hide behind the law instead.
Yours faithfully
Shelagh Simmons
Co-ordinator
Caribbean Justice
PO Box 216
Southsea
Hampshire
PO4 9YW
England
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)23 9275 6730
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Peeved About Trinicenter's African Views
Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2001
(We are not sure about the authenticity of names and e-mail addresses when comments are posted on general forums.)
POST FROM: Navin misternavin@hotmail.com
Well, I must say the responses were something. Thank you for taking the time. After reading the bits on SELF and more reading on other areas connected to these Websites I have an increased appreciation for what this is about. Still, for me the name of the Wesbite and the subsequent pose assumed by its rhetoric is still, taking all diversity of all the peoples of Trinidad & Tobago into account, it is still socially irresponsible because it is misleading. But I'll get to that later. First let me acknowledge those who took the time to respond to me.
Moloney, as a young Trinidadian of East Indian descent I must say that I am honoured to have you respond to my article. I have a great respect for the work I believe you were directly a part of as depicted on the article entitled "State Media Racism," (http://www.meri.bigstep.com/generic.html?pid=2). I have learnt a lot form it. You actually reminded me of it once more:
"The site never set out to promote a vague concept of a Trinidadian as in my view this Trinidad country denied Africans from using the State media to promote another aspect of what makes up Trinidad. So the sites focuses on what they left out of the Trinidadian. You would also see what Trinidad Indians left out about Blacks in India and this Website gives the brothers in India space."
Firstly, I do believe that authentic West African culture has been largely omitted from our Trinidadian-ness (save its Creole strains) and I support the plea to have it more assimilated in the Trinidadian identity along with the other cultures represented.
Secondly, I appreciate the premise of the Website but its name Trinicenter.com is more of a misnomer because there are Trinidadians of non-Afro-Creole character that will naturally be unable to directly identify with the 'reporting' of this site. Maybe my request is an audacious one, but would it not be more accurate to call it Afrotrinicenter.com? This is not a racist statement. But in acknowledging the need to put the African back in what was left out of Trinidad shouldn't it have a more accurate name? I will continue to applaud and support the efforts of this Website once it's banner is more representative of its premise.
Thirdly, I am proud of my African/Dravidian heritage as a man of East Indian descent. I know that there are many others who have not been taught as such, and when faced with such historical accounts, they are rebuked. Those of Asian descent that intend to back their arguements against the 'Out of Africa' theory have pointed to the another confirmation of genetic testing of a Homoerectus found in Asia that Asians descended from the Homoerectus. Furthermore this theory, unlike the Out of Africa one, demonstrates that Native Indians and Caucasians both alike descended from Asians with geographical differences changing these peoples physically over a period of about 45,000 years. (http://www.raceandhistory.com/asians.shtml) You may be surprised to know that I sidestep this theory, in preference for the Out of Africa theory simply because I like the idea that we are all part of one human race.
Hence, to say that I'm afraid of "the Blackness" which is "scaring" me as the rabid Lawrence purported in one of his responses is not only untrue, but also very, very ludicrous. What I am afraid of is the increasing divisions/tensions between the races in this country. Something I don't think people can F****** (Moderator removed the obscene language here.) understand no matter how often I make the point. This is the third time I am saying it and it is being overlooked onto other points. I deal with these points that come at me, and then reassert the ones that aren't challenged and modify or settle the ones that are dealt with and again they may be ignored. It's very frustrating isn't it?
And again, I know about the message boards that are free for all to post. But my peeve is on the articles that are archived. Furthermore, I believe for someone to continually upload information on race, maybe be more reflective of one where their study of their race and race relations plays a major part of their professional or full time academic life. It does not for me but I still have a right to voice my opinion as a countryman. There are other things that I am a apart of and even though race plays a major role in my day to day life, I am taken up with other concerns related to my work that helps me to further myself. So to ask me to keep uploading articles when it is not part of my daily vocation or occupation, is as fair as asking Tiger Woods to take time off his game to bring Frantz Fanon to a conservative white golfer's world.
I don't want to spin top in mud. So if people can enter dialogue with me, instead of throwing words at me, or insinuating that I am a racist or that I feel threatened by blackness -- when I for one have absolutely no reason in the world to feel threatened and far less be typecast as a racist -- then that will be cool. Racism and emotion are inextricably linked, which unfortunately make's it all the more tempting to pass off politically charged rhetoric as rational enlightened thinking.
Hence in short, so as not to confuse people, all the Websites linked to Triniview.com/Trinicenter.com show African history, culture, discourses on the African Diaspora, or their history in negation of the history of other peoples at times. If North Americans or Europeans show a Eurocentric worldview supplemented by a sense of moral pretentiousness, the management of this site has an Afrocentric one - and there's nothing wrong with that and I believe it is needed and very natural. Keeping in mind that you are citizens of Trinidad & Tobago or members of the Trinidad & Tobago Diaspora, then just confess man, it would be more accurate to call these twined Websites /Afrotrinicenter.com/Afrotriniview.com because it highlights the reality of the descendants of the African peoples of the T & T experience over other peoples of T & T. Change the name. This is my criticism and suggestion. Unless politically charged rhetoric and pedagogy must rule the day or some alternative cliched question of "Who runin' dis site?" I don't see why this request should be a ludicrous one that should be thrown to the side. Do you? If not, how about those rational enlightened responses for these are the ones I can address.
________________________________________________________________
EDITOR'S RESPONSE:
QUOTE: "Firstly, I do believe that authentic West African culture has been largely omitted from our Trinidadian-ness (save its Creole strains) and I support the plea to have it more assimilated in the Trinidadian identity along with the other cultures represented. "
Your slip is showing. Do you know what is authentic West African Culture?
Though most who came to Trinidad were from West Africa, West Africans are comprised of diverse African cultures so I do believe that these Websites should promote all aspects of African Culture, which was omitted from our media as you quite rightly said, alongside other aspects of other cultures that were equally neglected. If the popular media houses sufficiently cover certain views, then there is no need for these Websites to give those views added coverage other than to use some for discussion purposes. Our Websites are adding to what already exists.
Supporting the plea for African programs on this page is quite different to you publicly supporting it in Trinidad. I am yet to see Indians stand up for this principle in Trinidad. Many have no problem with all the Indian media houses in Trinidad even the monopolizing of our very state (people owned) media. We were not sitting idly by waiting on all the hypocrites who would privately agree and publicly remained silent, so we are doing our own thing.
Again, just in case you did not get it, you would see articles submitted by many Europeans and Indians on the Website. It is not the Sites intention to replace the State Media, which should be all inclusive, but to compliment the wide array of media houses by presenting perspectives that they refused to highlight which so many people now agree should have been covered.
Examples: A Trini View of India and A Trini View of China
Trinidad was developed on the backs of unpaid African labour and this we should not forget.
There is historical and scientific information that points to all humans sharing an African Heritage. This is theory to some and fact to our members. For numerous years we have pointed out the historical evidence and we are now highlighting the modern scientific findings on our Websites. This would not have been an issue had most people not developed these negative attitudes towards Black people in general and Africans specifically. We think this is the central point from which to examine the Identity of everyone.
This work on the Internet was pioneered by Nationals of Trinidad who hold firm to the premise of examining our diversity from our central common historical origins, hence (Trini) - (center). See the link? Perception man!
QUOTE: "Those of Asian descent that intend to back their arguments against the 'Out of Africa' theory have pointed to the another confirmation of genetic testing of a Homoerectus found in Asia that Asians descended from the Homoerectus. Furthermore this theory, unlike the Out of Africa one, demonstrates that Native Indians and Caucasians both alike descended from Asians with geographical differences changing these peoples physically over a period of about 45,000 years. (http://www.raceandhistory.com/asians.shtml) You may be surprised to know that I sidestep this theory, in preference for the Out of Africa theory simply because I like the idea that we are all part of one human race. "
It is good that you posted the link to prove that Trinicenter carried that e-mail and responded to it. Apparently those who are ignorant of the debate do not know that on both sides of the debate there is widespread agreement that everyone came out of Africa initially. They are mostly disputing at what point modern differences evolved. Tell me where in nature can you find the identical phenomena being replicated to give the same form and same complex biological structure?
Ancient history and the present sciences do not disagree with the stated historical position of these Websites, that all humans descended from that region called Africa and share a common ancestry. It is the Websites' position that the answers to many social problems lies in addressing the misunderstandings about how differences evolved alongside the different cultural expressions and perceptions that evolved with the dispersion of early humans. The Websites also seeks to promote other neglected cultural views and promote dialogue. The Websites facilitate a greater understanding of our selves through highlighting neglected views and aspects of our heritage. I think the Hindu and European views are well if not over represented in Trinidad and on the wider Internet.
QUOTE: "But my peeve is on the articles that are archived."
Do you want these Websites to archive articles that were not submitted? Do you want us to forget or neglect our past?
QUOTE: "I don't want to spin top in mud. So if people can enter dialogue with me, instead of throwing words at me, or insinuating that I am a racist or that I feel threatened by blackness -- when I for one have absolutely no reason in the world to feel threatened and far less be typecast as a racist -- then that will be cool. Racism and emotion are inextricably linked, which unfortunately make's it all the more tempting to pass off politically charged rhetoric as rational enlightened thinking."
QUOTE: "Something I don't think people can F****** (Moderator removed your obscene language) understand no matter how often I make the point."
I don't think you are rational and certainly you have little respect for yourself. What made you feel you could so easily get away with using obscene language on our forum?
QUOTE: "If North Americans or Europeans show a Eurocentric worldview supplemented by a sense of moral pretentiousness, the management of this site has an Afrocentric one - and there's nothing wrong with that and I believe it is needed and very natural."
Well what is the complaint? And in case you don't know, it is not if but most North American and Europeans have always been publishing a very distorted Eurocentric Worldview. The historical African view is the central glue that binds all cultures, because it is the birthplace of all other cultures. This is a position that we have always expressed in the local media for many years prior to coming on the Internet.
"First, the distortions must be admitted. The hard fact is that most of what we now call world history is only the history of the first and second rise of Europe. The Europeans are not yet willing to acknowledge that the world did not wait in darkness for them to bring the light. The history of Africa was already old when Europe was born."
- Dr John Henrik Clarke
So to repeat: TRINI - "because the Websites were created by Nationals of Trinidad" and CENTER - "from the African historical perspective, the central perspective for evaluating all cultures."
There is another meaning for Trinicenter, which is equally accurate and carries a similar meaning to Triniview but later for that.
________________________________________________________________
POST FROM: Pdiidy pdiidy22@hotmail.com
NAVIN can you now show me the letter you wrote to the 5 East Indian stations that promote East Indian culture including one by the State, making the same type of observations you just did.
Or perhaps you are speaking out of fear, what happen are they not Indo-centric and could raise fear or division in the nation.
Leh mih hear Trini?
________________________________________________________________
POST FROM: dshap dspanna@yahoo.com
I am so sorry my friend that you have fallen into the Trini trap, our problem is not so much an issue of race, but one of Trinidadian-ness, (we have no Trinidadians)Tobago does not have this problem.
In places like Jamaica and Barbados when they change governments the new government continues to build upon what the outgoing government left, in our country we are forever restarting,we usually break down what we have in place and build over in our personal image and likeness, so this my friend is why we are going nowhere at a fast rate regardless of race, flatly there no TRINIDADIANS.
Forum: Trinicenter's General Forum
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The Bodyguard Too
Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2001
(Terry Joseph) Jack Warner, founder of the movie-making empire that still carries his family name, also helped pioneer the sequel concept, Hollywood's way of repeatedly milking celluloid cash cows.
His local namesake is no less an entrepreneur. So when news broke that Warner was contemplating a sequel to the Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston movie, The Bodyguard, I was suitably confused. Was it the Trini mogul in the producer's chair? Or was it Warner Bros, the company that, in 1992, released the original version?
The producer's identity remains a mystery, although a few clues have surfaced. Word is, for instance, that Warner chastised scriptwriters for failing to keep under wraps the plot for The Bodyguard Too, a movie soon to be shot here, on location at the Prime Minister's official residence. [More]
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Judas's were welcomed
Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2001
(Kurt Garcia) Mr Panday seems to be pretty upset lately about Judas's in the UNC. But I remember him recently boasting about how he got and could have attracted Judases for "ah lil boy an ah doubles."
Oh Politicians and the web they weave. Whither Trinidad and Tobago?
Mucurapo Rd St James
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Ramesh, Kamla in UNC showdown
Posted: Monday, August 13, 2001
(The Express) CLEAR signals were sent yesterday when Acting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar came face to face with Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj at a UNC Women's Congress at the Rienzi Complex, Couva.
In his salutation, Maharaj, the UNC's Deputy Political Leader, instead of addressing Persad-Bissessar as Acting Prime Minister, called her "The Minister appointed to carry out the duties of Prime Minister during the absence from the country of the honourable Prime Minister Basdeo Panday".
Maharaj said: "Although women are entitled to equality and must demand it, women must not be satisfied with equality based on tokenism. You must not be satisfied to achieve positions and get equal treatment merely because you are women... Any positions you get must be on the basis of equal treatment and not on tokenism or cosmetics".
Maharaj had arrived at the meeting while Persad-Bissessar was addressing the audience, his loud welcome by tassa and clapping cutting into her speech.
During Maharaj's address about 20 women from Persad-Bissessar's Siparia constituency walked out, complaining their representative had been insulted. Persad-Bissessar's composure became serious and she was not her usual smiling self. More
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Women stronger than Men?
Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2001
E-Mail From: (Deanna Alexander)
Dear Sir/Madam
I would like to comment on something what no doubt others have observed. That is the greater majority of our women who uphold the strength of the traditional cultures of Trinidad and Tobago when compared to men. It has long been so in the dress of the East Indian woman and it is now so in the dress of African women as was seen in the various Emancipation events. What's happening with the men, for Emancipation, is it that at these functions they are also required to have a higher standard of behavior and respect. Or is it the fact that they cannot engage in the "psst, psst", "sexy, sexy", "yow, yow", etc.
It seems our men have some questions to answer.
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FORGOTTEN BEHIND THE BRIDGE
Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2001
(Angie B) I am proud to say that I grew up Behind the Bridge. There is a stigma attached to citizens coming out from the area. At times its erodes your self confidence and esteem always hearing the negativity spoken against the residence.
Also, the money or wealth of the country is not reaching the people Behind the Bridge. They are almost forgotten. There are houses in the Quarry Street area that are in the same condition that I have known as a child. It is so sad to experience the poverty that exists in these areas.
I know personally, that employers by-pass your resume when your address is Laventille/East Dry River.
Successive governments have neglected the area. The rebuilding must start soon. We need to showcase the good things coming out from Behind the Bridge. The children must feel proud and not be ashamed to say their address. The NGOs must lobby for improvement in housing, employment etc.
The people MUST wakeup and take positive control of their future.
Trinicenter Forum
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Getting 'the head' right!
Posted: Monday, August 6, 2001
(Bukka Rennie) What was the reason for this rush to produce a monument to Sparrow? Couldn't we have talked about it? Shouldn't CLICO and the interested individuals not have engaged the society on this issue? There are numerous artists and non-artists in this country who would have loved to have had an input in the conceptualising of such a monument. In the end, what Clico and company did was hand out a $70,000 job. That is very typical of what obtains today. The following analogy is certainly not far-fetched: "gangsters" hand out jobs and contracts together with pictures of the target, right-thinking people provide "work' which involves the engaging and contending of minds to achieve, if not the sublime, then as close to that as is possible. "Work" to an artist of substance is about registering material and spiritual iconic statements. [More]
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Betraying a People's Trust
Posted: Sunday, August 5, 2001
(Raffique Shah) IF anyone had said to me 15 years ago, or as recently as 1995 when he assumed office as Prime Minister, that Basdeo Panday would head the most corrupt government ever in this country, I would have responded with an emphatic, "No way!"
Today, in the face of overwhelming evidence that he presides over a gang of bandits, a few of them inside his Cabinet, but mostly outsiders who are even more powerful than his ministers, I feel ashamed. Ashamed to have been partly responsible for foisting him on the country, ashamed of being Indo-Trinidadian ("look a t'iefing Indian dey!"), ashamed of being Trinidadian, period. [More]
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Panday's Hysteria
Posted: Sunday, August 5, 2001
(Selwyn R. Cudjoe) BASDEO Panday has always been a theatrical figure, his forte being farce, comedy and hyperbole. Lately, he has vaulted into hysteria, megalomania and legal whitemail (after all, his party keeps bringing all of these English lawyers to frighten us.)
To heighten his rhetorical effect, he has inundated his prose with a lot alliterative nonsense. He hopes that sheer repetition, skilful distortion and diabolical imprecation would camouflage his intentions. He twists information to gain political advantage although he knows that a lot of what he says is not true. [More]
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Why is the PM complaining?
Posted: Saturday, August 4, 2001
LETTER: What is all the vexation and anger about rituals being performed for Mr Panday's demise all about. Did not Mr Panday before in his own rituals to deal with his "enemies" ask for his troops to "do dem first", "to go for the "jugular" and to "drive them into the Gulf of Paria".
Surely he was not suggesting that he wanted them alive or that they should survive. The power of the spoken word time and time again by leaders. It may yet make fools of us all.
Cindy Williams Ariapita Ave. Woodbrook P.O.S
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Court rules against Gypsy and Chaitan
Posted: Wednesday, August 1, 2001
(The Express) JUNIOR Ministers William "Bill" Chaitan and Winston "Gypsy" Peters have lost a second round in their legal challenge to the PNM's election petitions which seek to unseat them in Parliament.
The Court of Appeal yesterday unanimously dismissed the appeal of the constitutional motions filed by both men and ordered them to pay the costs of attorneys representing defeated PNM candidates Farad Khan and Franklin Khan.
However, the judges ruled that the Attorney General had to bear his own legal expenses for both the Appeal and the High Court hearing. The Attorney General had retained the services of British Queen's Counsel James Guthrie.
The court had reserved its decision on May 14, after hearing extensive arguments from attorneys representing Chaitan and Peters, the Attorney General and the PNM candidates.
On the last day of the 2000-2001 law term, at the odd hour of 1.15 p.m., the Chief Justice, Justices of Appeal Sat Sharma and Rolston Nelson, sauntered into a packed courtroom to announce their decision. [More]
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