Tag Archives: Politics

More CEPEP, URP ‘lochos’

By Raffique Shah
Jun 13, 2015

Raffique ShahAs she enters uncharted territory seeking a second term in office, the Prime Minister exudes a measure of confidence that is at odds with a widely-held perception that her People’s Partnership coalition will lose the general election.

She and her ministers have made it clear that they plan to campaign on performance, which they hope will mute charges of corruption, waste and scandal that were deafening during the past five years.
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PP WILL BE BACK

By Andre Bagoo
June 13, 2015 – newsday.co.tt

PP WILL BE BACKPRIME MINISTER Kamla Persad-Bissessar, 63, yesterday announced the date of the general election as September 7.

In a statement at the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister informed the nation that she would advise President Anthony Carmona, “to dissolve Parliament at midnight on Wednesday 17th June, 2015” – a move which will bring to an end the Tenth Parliament and clear the way for the Eleventh.

In announcing the date of the election, Persad-Bissessar said her Government was the first under the Republican Constitution to serve its full term. She said it did so despite the expectations of the Opposition.
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Disband the Debates Commission

By Stephen Kangal
June 08, 2015

Stephen KangalThis proposal of the CIC Debates Commission to host two Leaders Debates involving the PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and PNM leader, Dr Keith Rowley is clearly indicative of the extent to which the Chamber is fossilized in and slave to the old paradigm and the old politics or order championing talk-talk and more talk. It is this continuing focus on and slavish obeisance to artificial talk that has hindered the rapid development of T&T. We continue to elect eye and ear-servants galore.
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Shame and scandal, indeed

By Raffique Shah
June 07, 2015

Raffique ShahCorpus Christi morning, I come awake, latish, closer to seven o’clock. I tune in to BBC television to see what’s happening in the world, since, Thursday being a Christian holiday, the local electronic media stations will have no real news.

I do a double-take, re-check the channel number when, big and bold at the bottom of the screen I see “…Trinidad and Tobago…breaking news…”
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Rowley: FIFA $$ for UNC ‘the real story’

Friday, June 5 2015 – newsday.co.tt

Dr Keith RowleyOPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday said former FIFA vice-president and former government minister Jack Warner has confirmed the United National Congress (UNC) — the lead party in the People’s Partnership coalition — received funding from the world football body for its successful 2010 general election campaign.

Rowley, the People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader and Diego Martin West MP, made this statement in response to comments made by Warner in a paid televised political broadcast on Wednesday night.
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Karma, boy, karma

By Raffique Shah
May 31, 2015

Raffique ShahIf, in what may be described as normal countries, a week in politics is a long time, in abnormal Trinidad and Tobago, a week can be likened to a lifetime. Last week, most scribes and commentators in the media engaged in heated exchanges over the latest bacchanal in the Integrity Commission.

Today, few remember what that furore was about or who the protagonists were.
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Jack sorry for missing Parliament: I was in prison

By Carolyn Kissoon
May 29, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Jack WarnerPOLITICAL Leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner turned up for the 1.30p.m sitting of Parliament today and apologised for being absent on Wednesday. “I was in prison” he said.

He made the statement before the Prime Minister question and answer segment in the Parliament. Warner was the lone politician on the Opposition beach. Members of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) are boycotting the Parliament as a result of the suspension of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
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Rowley: Hosein’s name on letterhead of PM’s lawyer

LIES & LETTERS

By Anna Ramdass
May 25, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Dr. Keith RowleyIsrael Khan SC has denied a claim by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley that the letter he (Khan) wrote to the Integrity Commission (IC) demanding that the Emailgate probe be concluded had Zainool Hosein’s name on the letterhead.

Retired Justice Zainool Hosein is chairman of the Integrity Commission and worked in Khan’s Justitia Omnibus Law Chambers as a consultant before he was made chairman of the IC in November 2014.
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Special Branch report: DPP Office was monitored

By Anika Gumbs
May 23, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

SpyingA Special Branch report has contradicted claims that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was not being monitored.

The report confirmed that infrared (IR) signals were found in the conference room of the DPP’s Office at the Winsure Building, Richmond Street, Port of Spain on January 11, 2013.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had referred to the report where it noted that infrared signals were found, but never divulged the full contents of it.
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The law is an ass

By Raffique Shah
May 24, 2015

Raffique ShahIf the adage “the law is an ass” is held to be true-and over the years, I have heard eminent persons, many of them lawyers, cite it as gospel-then I must confess that some very senior attorneys in this country are confusing me to the point where I am beginning to think that I am an ass, or they are a pack of donkeys.

Hear me out, eh, before you ask me to stop braying.
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