By Keith Subero
April 14, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com
Yes, Minister Vernella Alleyne-Toppin’s contribution in the House caused the UNC Government’s no-confidence motion against the Opposition Leader to implode—rather than explode, as planned.
Yes, Minister Alleyne-Toppin offended our collective sensibilities, and we remain offended, probably more so because the Speaker allowed the House to be reduced to the Minister’s barrackyard gossip.
Yes, other political minutiae—such as the recent Express poll which rates the Prime Minister, in spite of her Government’s daily mis-steps, as being more popular than the Opposition Leader—are now occupying our attention.
Continue reading Before Vernella’s vile bile
In April 2014 Jaishima Leladharsingh said in an insensitive Facebook comment said that he was “glad (ANR) Robinson (had) gone forever.” Soon after, he launched a racial assault on Anthony McLeod, whom he didn’t know but who he obviously thought was black. McLeod’s photo in fact shows him a mixed race person. Leladharsingh was clearly misled by the name: he must have assumed that Anthony looked like Errol. The Minister should take note.
We join the call for a full investigation into the payment of legal fees by the Office of the Attorney General during the tenure of Anand Ramlogan. A thorough forensic audit would be the best way to explain the phenomenal 300 per cent-plus increase in payments to private attorneys hired by the State during Ramlogan’s tenure. It would also serve to deal with the many questions and complaints that have been raised by some of the private attorneys involved since the payment figures were released. If there are discrepancies between the figures supplied to Parliament and the actual figures, these would need to be identified and resolved.