Category Archives: Court

Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media

Vicky Boodram recaptured

11 Comments

…found in house hours after ‘public’ meal

By Jensen La Vende, Kevon Felmine
December o1, 2017 – guardian.co.tt

Vicky Nirupa BoodramThree days after alleged fraudster Vicky Boodram escaped from the Women’s Prison at Golden Grove, Arouca, she was recaptured in Penal last night.

Officers from the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, acting on intelligence, went to a house at Sunchine Drive off Lachoos Road, just before 7 pm. They later found Boodram, 35, hiding in the house.
Continue reading Vicky Boodram recaptured →

Court, General T&T, Health, Tobago

TRHA travesty

7 Comments

Newsday Editorial
October 28, 2017 – newsday.co.tt

CourtThere are about 60,000 people living in Tobago. Yet, there is only one general hospital. And that hospital is killing patients. That, in a nutshell, is the damning view of the High Court which on Thursday found the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) culpable for the death of a child in circumstances which were wholly avoidable. According to Justice Frank Seepersad, 17-year-old Zach Seeram’s demise was due to the most basic of failings: the lack of a scan. Zach visited the hospital on no less than three occasions after receiving stab wounds which punctured his left lung, right diaphragm, liver and kidney. Despite repeated complaints and a recommendation that he undergo a CT scan, he was discharged.
Continue reading TRHA travesty →

Court, General T&T, PNM, Politics, Property Tax, UNC

Looking for the justification of the May 22/June 5 Deadlines?

13 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
June 09, 2017

Stephen KangalThe Minister of Finance had pulled out of a hat a May 22nd deadline for the submission of the illegal return forms(VRF’s) to the offices of the Valuation Division.

He had further compounded the debacle by extending it to June 5 because Cabinet decided so. Since when Cabinet has to sanction and approve a voluntary exercise that is the sole prerogative of the Commissioner of Valuations?
Continue reading Looking for the justification of the May 22/June 5 Deadlines? →

Court, General T&T, Law, Media, Politics, UNC

GO AHEAD AND SWEAR

2 Comments

By Jada Loutoo
June 07 2017 – newsday.co.tt

GO AHEAD AND SWEARNOTHING stands in the way of President Anthony Carmona swearing in two new judges to the High Court.

In a unanimous decision yesterday, Justices of Appeal Allan Mendonca, Nolan Bereaux and Peter Rajkumar said they were satisfied the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) was properly constituted. They also threw out a substantive claim of former United National Congress Senator Devant Maharaj who challenged the constitutionality of the JLSC’s composition, on the basis that the Constitution does not permit more than one retired judge to sit in the commission.
Continue reading GO AHEAD AND SWEAR →

Court, General T&T, Law, Media, PNM, Politics, Property Tax, UNC

Property Tax forms can be submitted/collected

5 Comments

Justice Seepersad overruled again: Appeal Court makes new order

By Rickie Ramdass
June 07, 2017 – trinidadexpress.com

THE Court of Appeal has overturned another ruling of Justice Frank Seepersad, this one involving whether the State could continue to accept Property Tax valuation forms from citizens.

This morning, the Appeal Court ruled that Seepersad should not have granted an interim stay on the collection process but that the substantive matter for judicial review is still on.
Continue reading Property Tax forms can be submitted/collected →

Court, General T&T, Politics, Property Tax

Since when the Courts are Playgrounds?

By Stephen Kangal
June 02, 2017

Stephen KangalUpon his return to T&T after the Chilean visit the Prime Minister made the following comment on the property tax issue:

“…On the current property tax legal battle, Rowley reiterated that his Government “will respect what goes on in the courts but I think, as PM, you’ll allow me a comment and I have my concerns.” “I find it very difficult to swallow ministers of a previous government could have managed a law in a particular way, not to the benefit of the people of TT, and when they get put out of executive authority, those same persons could see the court as their playground; to the disadvantage of the people of TT…

I stand by that comment but that dos not say that I do not respect the outcome of the courts in TT and the Government of TT, the executive, we will carry our point of view to the highest court in the land, if we have to,” Rowley stated.
Continue reading Since when the Courts are Playgrounds? →

Court, General T&T, PNM, Politics, Property Tax, UNC

Harris and Koylass Recruited to Lobby for Doomed Property Tax

13 Comments

By Stephen Kangal
May 27, 2017

Stephen KangalI read the statement issued by RC Archbishop Harris and a Guardian article penned by SC Koylass both making a misguided and ill-founded case for the collection of the Property tax outside of the the scope of the relevant legislation and quite favourable to the person who seemed to have recruited them. An exercise that is truly voluntary does not need external encouragement by the Minister of Finance bent on mobilising people to join his crusade to collectively defy the Court Order as if he is protected in Parliament.
Continue reading Harris and Koylass Recruited to Lobby for Doomed Property Tax →

Court, General T&T, Law, PNM, Politics, Property Tax

Time-Tabling by the Executive and Legislature in the Property Act

1 Comment

By Stephen Kangal
May 19, 2017

Stephen KangalA determination of the intention of the Executive and the Legislature as expressed in the time-tabling of the implementation of Act No 18 of 2009 is pivotal to the interpretation of the legislation as well as whether the Act has lapsed through non-implementation and non-observance of the dated law. It is also crucial in assessing whether the current bulldozing action being instituted by the Minister of Finance is legitimate and valid or tantamount to misbeviour in public office.
Continue reading Time-Tabling by the Executive and Legislature in the Property Act →

Court, General T&T, PNM, Politics, Property Tax, Recession, UNC

PROPERTY TAX IN COURT

31 Comments

By Jada Loutoo
May 13 2017 – newsday.co.tt

PROPERTY TAX IN COURTAN ALL out attack has been launched against Government on the implementation of the property tax. In separate strikes, legal letters were fired off yesterday by a battery of lawyers representing three landowners threatening to take Government to court for what has been described as an “ambush” on citizens.

Two of the actions seek to have the courts review the implementation process of the controversial tax while the third is a constitutional challenge to the property tax. In the judicial review and constitutional claims former transport minister Devant Maharaj, United National Congress activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj and Chaguanas resident Lutchmidat Ramcallie, are asking the Government to hold its hand on the implementation of the Property Tax until it amends the legislative provisions and before the court determines the actions.
Continue reading PROPERTY TAX IN COURT →

Court, General T&T, Law, Media, PNM, Politics, UNC

Imbert seeks clarity on LifeSport

3 Comments

By Clint Chan Tack
October 27 2016 – newsday.co.tt

Colm ImbertFINANCE Minister Colm Imbert said on Tuesday that he will not comment at this time about the quashing of the 2014 audit report into the controversial LifeSport programme. In a ruling on Monday, Justice Mira Dean-Armorer quashed the report of the Ministry of Finance’s central audit committee into Life Sport. Imbert said he will not commenton this matter until he receives the written judgement or, “until I get clarity on excactly what the judge ordered.”
Continue reading Imbert seeks clarity on LifeSport →