The Congress of the People
May 23, 2010
I AM told by people who have witnessed election campaigns in other Caribbean countries that ours are not unique in their curious blend of the sacred and the profane. I regret not having experiences like theirs so I can make comparisons. I doubt, though, that elections platforms in any other country can rival ours when it comes to hypocrisy, contradictions and shamelessness.
Continue reading Political cocktail: the sacred and the profane
May 22, 2010
I am convinced that for the good of the country the present Manning-led PNM administration needs to go. To this end, I agree with the points expressed in this article, Election 2010: An Opportunity for Change.
My view is simple – the present Manning-led government is just too arrogant, dishonest and squandering to be rewarded with another term in office. The corruption under the PNM invokes memories of the infamous John O’Halloran, and in my view, surpasses that of the UNC while they were in office. The Manning-led government has presided over mass squandermania while expecting the public to pay for their excesses through such initiatives as the Property Tax Bill.
Continue reading Time For Change
“Prime Minister Patrick Manning last night conceded that State enterprise Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) may have ‘cut corners’ in order to deliver on its mandate. Manning also stated that the governance model with UDeCOTT and other special purpose and state enterprises ‘require improvements.’ He said such companies ‘cut corners all the time,’ but that this was done in order to get around bureaucracy and to meet the demands placed on them.”
Continue reading Cutting Corners Mister Project Manager?
Friday, May 21 2010 – newsday.co.tt
ROMAN CATHOLIC Archbishop Edward Gilbert yesterday said Kennedy Swaratsingh, the PNM candidate for St Joseph in Monday’s General Election, is still a priest of the RC Church. It was widely thought that Swaratsingh was an ex-priest since he entered public life three years ago.
In an interview with Newsday, the head of the local Catholic Church further revealed that Swaratsingh was suspended under Church law after he got married in a civil ceremony.
Continue reading Swaratsingh Still a Priest
By Richardson Dhalai
May 19 2010 – newsday.co.tt
UNITED National Congress (UNC) leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday received the endorsement of two religious organisations, the Central Ministries Fellowship and the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago, at two separate functions.
Continue reading Kamla Endorsed by Religious Organisations
The Telecommunications Authority of T&T (TATT) has been served with a legal letter by the United National Congress (UNC), claiming that the Government is abusing its authority for this election period. In a letter dated May 15, 2010, Om Lalla stated that his client, the UNC, entered into contractual arrangements with various television and radio companies to purchase broadcast airtime. However, Lalla stated the Government had demanded the same air time for which the UNC had already entered an agreement. Those days include May 16 (today), May 17 and May 23. The letter stated that failing to hear from the authority would result in the UNC seeking redress in the High Court without notice.
Continue reading PM Broadcast: Govt Abusing Authority
Time for change: no renewal of mandate deserved
By Selwyn Ryan
Sunday, May 16th 2010
This column has been witness to at least ten general elections over the past four decades. In almost all of them, the exceptions being those in 1976 and 1986, it has supported the PNM, whether implicitly or explicitly. We are now in 2010 and face many new and daunting political and economic challenges. After having thought carefully about all that has happened to us as people since the 2007 elections, and indeed before, and having also considered the issues and the options that are available to us in terms of leadership, I find that I cannot possibly support the PNM and have no alternative but to endorse the People’s Partnership coalition as the formation which best suits the political and economic circumstances in which we find ourselves at this juncture. It is time for a change. We need to open up the political system and consider other governance options. We also need to lay to rest the ghost of the NAR. And the fear of coalitions with which it left us.
Continue reading Ryan Dumps PNM and Endorses the People’s Partnership
Sunday, May 16th 2010
WITH one week to go before ‘decision day’, the two parties contesting the general election are locked in a tight race. Whatever the pollsters may say—I expect some of their findings will be published today—I do not see either the PNM or the People’s Partnership (PP) gaining a significant majority that will enable the winner to govern the country comfortably.
Continue reading Imperatives: social equity, diversified economy
Saturday, May 15 2010
Had the National Library and Information Service refused the People’s Partnership request to use NALIS for the launch of the latter’s Political Manifesto, the matter would have passed relatively un-noticed. But that was not the case. NALIS accepted the booking for the Library’s facilities, accepted the payment for them, and met with the Party on site, all during the lead-in to the proposed manifesto launch. No questions were raised about the propriety of holding a manifesto launch there, beyond, we assume, the normal requirements regarding noise, decorum and a deposit against damage to property.
Continue reading Malice over Nalis
Download the PNM’s 2010 Manifesto. (Adobe PDF 19 Mb)
Our programme for the next five years is based on our Vision to make Trinidad and Tobago a developed country on or before the year 2020, and on the work we have done over the last 8 ½ years to lay a solid foundation for the attainment of this Vision.
Download the UNC Coalition’s 2010 Manifesto. (Adobe PDF 3.8 Mb)
This General Election comes at a defining moment in our Nation’s history. The oil and gas boom of the last decade has fizzled out and the hard work of building a sustainable economy stands before us.
Continue reading PNM and UNC Coalition 2010 Manifestos