Category Archives: UNC

General T&T, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

The Dualism of Wrong-doing

5 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
August 05, 2014

Stephen KangalPM Kamla: “…The election of this government has changed the political landscape. The expectation of the public that something will be done when wrongs are committed in public office are now the hallmarks of good governance…”.

The standard of political accountability changes according to the regime because after four years the PNM that was rejected in 2010 on the platform of persistent wrong-doing may be on the cusp of returning to Whitehall in spite of all the numerous wrongdoings it has visited on the people of T&T.
Continue reading The Dualism of Wrong-doing →

Complaints, corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Lead us to temptation

8 Comments

By Raffique Shah
August 02, 2014

Raffique ShahNow, of course, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has to see this sordid affair, five tumultuous years in Government, to its messy end.

Never before in the history of this country, or, indeed, other countries where democratic elections determine who governs, has a ruling party been wracked by the forced resignations or firings or re-assignments of more than thirty officials who held ministerial portfolios or similar high offices, all within one term of office.
Continue reading Lead us to temptation →

General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Sewer rat snarls

3 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 29, 2014

Raffique ShahAt the risk of being branded a snarling sewer rat by Senator Camille Robinson-Regis, I return to the issue of pensions for parliamentarians. Following expressions of outrage from a broad cross section of the population, across partisan lines, over the pensions approved unanimously by members of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister made a mild retreat.
Continue reading Sewer rat snarls →

General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Govt and next govt to themselves?

5 Comments

By Winford James
June 26, 2014 – trinidadexpress.com

Dr. Winford JamesThe opposition last Friday joined with the government in passing the Judges’ Salaries and Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The collaboration was for me not only momentous, but also staggering in its bold exploitation of opportunism and power.
Continue reading Govt and next govt to themselves? →

General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

PM’s Statement on Salaries and Pension Bills

4 Comments

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarBelow is a statement of the Hon Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, relating to the Judges Salaries and Pensions (Amendment) Bill, and the Retiring Allowance (Legislative) Amendment Bill.

“It is rare that the Government and the Opposition ever agree on anything.
Continue reading PM’s Statement on Salaries and Pension Bills →

General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Own Goals and Penalties

6 Comments

By Rhoda Bharath
June 24, 2014

Parliament

Sometimes the beauty of a goal is in its build up, not the scoring.

Last week, on June 14th to be precise, Express journalist Ria Taitt revealed that the Lower House (MPs) had just approved amendments to two bills giving themselves fat new pensions. The story took about 48 hours to really generate interest because it’s the middle of the first round of World Cup 2014 in Brasil. And soccer-mad TnT, caught up with the beautiful game, barely have time for Anil, weed stashes, prostitutes in hotel rooms, or Government programs that are funding criminals, far less to pay attention to debates in their Parliament. Oh, and we had a long holiday weekend. And Laventille and the Police/Army were at war.
Continue reading Own Goals and Penalties →

COP, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Heartless Parliamentarians

7 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 22, 2014

Raffique ShahDisclosure: I am a parliamentary pensioner. I receive the princely sum of $3,000 a month.

In 1976, I was elected Member of Parliament for the Siparia constituency, and I served for five unremarkable years. When I look back at my life, my achievements, my contributions to country, I easily forget those five years.
Continue reading Heartless Parliamentarians →

General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

More $$ for judges, parliamentarians

4 Comments

Two pension bills passed

By Ria Taitt Political Editor
June 15, 2014 – trinidadexpress.com

ParliamentA financial boost for judges and Parliamentarians is on the way.

The holder of the third highest office in the land—the Chief Justice—will now receive the highest pension- $93,223 a month tax free.

This, according to the new pension arrangements passed by the House of Representatives on Friday night at the International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.
Continue reading More $$ for judges, parliamentarians →

Crime in T&T, General T&T, NJAC, People's Partnership, UNC

NJAC leader concerned over extent of corruption in TT

12 Comments

By Cecily Asson
May 17, 2011 – newsday.co.tt

National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) leader Makandal DaagaPOLITICAL leader of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Ambassador Makandal Daaga, has expressed concern over the level of corruption that continues to play out itself in the country.

Speaking on Saturday at the founding congress of the Movement of Social Justice (MSJ) at Palms Club San Fernando, Dagga called on the government to “open our jail doors, and just pack them in.”
Continue reading NJAC leader concerned over extent of corruption in TT →

COP, Elections, General T&T, UNC

Dance Macabre in the COP

7 Comments

By Raffique Shah
June 08, 2014

Raffique ShahI suppose the Congress of the People (COP), born a robust, bouncing baby in 2007, died of greed rather than malnutrition in the aftermath of the 2010 general elections, so there is little to mourn today as its corpse twitches in delayed rigor mortis, signs of life that are really spasms of death.

How else must one interpret the feast of vultures we are witnessing today, a kind of dance macabre in which those who suffocated the healthy infant in the ample but noxious bosom of big-mama United National Congress (UNC), pretend to be architects of the party’s afterlife?
Continue reading Dance Macabre in the COP →