Tag Archives: Politics

General T&T, Media, PNM, Politics, Recession

NEW BENZ FOR PM*

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Office of the Prime Minister orders $2 million vehicle for Rowley’s fleet…

Published on Apr 3, 2016, 12:01 am AST
By Anna Ramdass and Camille Hunte

Prie Minister Dr Keith RowleyA new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222) valued at $2 million has been purchased for the official use of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

The Sunday Express understands the vehicle was acquired through local dealer Sterling Services (Battoo Brothers) Ltd and was at the company’s Sackville Street, Port of Spain, garage up to yesterday, being customised for official use.
Continue reading NEW BENZ FOR PM* →

General T&T, Parliament, PNM, Politics

Manning knocks MPs hiring relatives

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Not worthy of public office

By Rhondor Dowlat
April 01, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Patrick ManningFormer prime minister of T&T Patrick Manning believes that politicians who are guilty of hiring relatives at their respective constituency offices are not worthy of public office.

Manning made a statement via his Facebook page on Wednesday night.

He disclosed that in all his 44 years as a Parliamentarian, he has never employed a family member or relative in his constituency office.
Continue reading Manning knocks MPs hiring relatives →

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

Getting serious with errant MPs

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Express Editorial
March 20, 2016, 9:49 pm AST – trinidadexpress.com

ParliamentIT is disingenuous for Members of Parliament to be offering to refund salaries paid to relatives in breach of parliamentary rules, to quibble over definitions of employment, to suggest that new rules should not affect old behaviour or to dismiss them as mere guidelines. The fact that one of those MPs is Wade Mark, former speaker of the House under whom the parliamentary rules regarding employment at MPs constituency offices were reviewed and changed before being implemented in the current term, is scandalous.
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General T&T, Opposition Party, Parliament, PNM, Politics, UNC

Padarath to repay Parliament $60,000 for hiring relative

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By Gail Alexander
Sunday, March 20, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

ParliamentApart from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, two other Opposition UNC MPs had relatives employed at their respective constituency offices in this current parliamentary term, and a third UNC MP still has a “distant” relative employed.

They are Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie and Mayaro MP Rushton Paray.
Continue reading Padarath to repay Parliament $60,000 for hiring relative →

General T&T, ILP, Opposition Party, Parliament, PNM, Politics, UNC

KAMLA MUST GO TOO

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Opposition Leader accused of hiring relatives at Siparia constituency office

By Ria Taitt
March 19, 2016 – trinidadexpress.com

Kamla Persad-BissessarAllegations of a breach of the Parliament rules against the hiring of relatives gathered momentum yesterday with fresh claims that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has broken the rules too.

Reports surfaced yesterday that Persad-Bissessar has employed two of her relatives at her Siparia constituency office for well over a decade.
Continue reading KAMLA MUST GO TOO →

General T&T, Parliament, PNM, Politics

MARLENE AXED

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By Nalinee Seelal
March 18, 2016 – newsday.co.tt

MARLENE AXEDPORT-OF-SPAIN South Member of Parliament Marlene Mc- Donald was yesterday fired as Minister of Housing by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during a tense meeting at 6.30 pm, at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. Well-placed sources told Newsday that during the meeting, which lasted for about 30 minutes, loud voices could be heard.

Sources added that McDonald later stormed out of the meeting, telling her driver that she had just been fired before making a call on her cellular phone as she entered her vehicle which sped off.
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General T&T, International, Labour

Don’t take Mittal’s mill even for free

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By Raffique Shah
March 16, 2016

Raffique ShahTrinidadians are hell, I tell you.

Take their almost instantaneous sympathy with the 600-odd steel workers who found themselves jobless last week when ArcelorMittal shut down its plant in this country.

Sure, that means at least 5,000 family members facing very uncertain times if not utter devastation. Those who have mortgages or rentals could lose the roofs over their heads. Vehicles may be repossessed. Children’s education will be at risk, in particular those who attend university. And ultimately, putting food on the table might be a challenge.
Continue reading Don’t take Mittal’s mill even for free →

General T&T, Integrity Commission, PNM, Politics

Rating Rowley’s Government

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By Raffique Shah
March 11, 2016

Raffique ShahI am relieved to learn that the Cabinet “retreat” in Tobago last weekend did not have as a main item on its agenda achievements of the not-so-new Government during its first six months in office.

If it did, I would have screamed bloody murder, not to add rape of the Treasury, because although I’ve never been to Hotel Magdalena, I should think it’s an expensive place.
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General T&T, Media, Parliament, PNM, Politics, Protest

PM reviewing Camille, Marlene matters—AG

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By Richard Lord
March 11, 2016 – guardian.co.tt

Prie Minister Dr Keith RowleyPrime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is reviewing the future of Cabinet Ministers Marlene McDonald and Camille Robinson-Regis and will act decisively at the appropriate time. So said Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi during an interview with reporters after yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair.
Continue reading PM reviewing Camille, Marlene matters—AG →

General T&T, International, USA

Trump gives America a bad name

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By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
March 03, 2016

Dr. Kwame NantambuAs the general election heats up in the United States, it becomes essential to posit an outsider’s, albeit foreign, perspective.

At the outset, it must be stated quite equivocally that the outside world still holds the highest regard/respect for the United States of America and its president. Indeed, the outside world welcomed the radical change in America’s psyche with the election and subsequent re-election of its first African-American president in Barack Obama.
Continue reading Trump gives America a bad name →