By Raffique Shah
May 31, 2015
If, 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.
Continue reading Karma, boy, karma
Re-elected Fifa president claims timing of arrests of officials had been motivated by revenge
By Owen Gibson in Zurich
Saturday 30 May 2015 – theguardian.com
Newly re-elected Fifa president Sepp Blatter has launched an astonishing attack on the US justice system and the British media in the wake of the string of bribery charges against senior officials that plunged world football into chaos last week.
As he denied being the unnamed high-ranking official who authorised the payment of a $10m bribe to disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, as alleged in last week’s US indictment, Blatter targeted his enemies and warned: “I forgive but I don’t forget.”
Continue reading Blatter accuses US authorities and British press of campaign to topple him
By Carolyn Kissoon
May 29, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com
POLITICAL 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.
Continue reading Jack sorry for missing Parliament: I was in prison
Notoriously-corrupt FIFA heads arrested in early morning raid during annual meeting
By Lauren McCauley
May 27, 2015 – commondreams.org
While the early morning raid and arrest of several high-ranking officials with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) captivated the international news circuit Wednesday morning, many observers were left wondering: With so many corrupt bankers, politicians, and other one-percenters still free to walk the streets here in the United States, why has the U.S. Department of Justice set its sights on FIFA?
Continue reading Given Rampant White-Collar Crime, FIFA Raid Raises Questions About DOJ Priorities
LIES & LETTERS
By Anna Ramdass
May 25, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com
Israel 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.
Continue reading Rowley: Hosein’s name on letterhead of PM’s lawyer
By Anika Gumbs
May 23, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com
A 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.
Continue reading Special Branch report: DPP Office was monitored
By Raffique Shah
May 24, 2015
If 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.
Continue reading The law is an ass
By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
May 24, 2015
Part of the glory of being a Trinbagonian is that someone always arises in our time of need. These are people who always place the needs of country before self, our communal health before blind egotism, and truth before falsification. On May 21, for yet another time, Sebastian Ventour, deputy chairman of the Integrity Commission and one of our distinguished citizens, rejected conformity to reaffirm the sterling quality of our personhood.
Continue reading Talking Loud and Saying Nothing
By Richard Lord
May 23, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
The Opposition PNM is insisting that nothing less than a Commission of Enquiry must be appointed to investigate the award and execution of Petrotrin’s South West Soldado project.
This point was made by St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh during his contribution to yesterday’s House of Representatives debate on a private motion on the project. It was presented for debate by Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon.
Continue reading PNM wants Commission of Enquiry into deal
Ventour disagrees with Emailgate statement…
‘Time to stand up’
By Renuka Singh
May 21, 2015 – guardian.co.tt
Deputy chairman of the Integrity Commission, retired Justice Sebastian Ventour, yesterday resigned, throwing the body into disarray yet again.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Ventour, whose departure came a day after member Dr Shelly Anne Lalchan also quit, said he took the decision because he disagreed with the media release from the commission which had stated that the prolonged Emailgate investigation had been “terminated.”
Continue reading IC Deputy Chairman Ventour Disagrees, Resigns