Category Archives: Politics

Gas equivalent of OPEC Needed

By George Allyene
www.newsday.co.tt
August 15, 2007

Natural GasWith the spectre of a relatively early end to Trinidad and Tobago’s natural gas reserves haunting the country following on the publication of a report which declared that gas reserves in TT would last for a mere 12 years, Government should lobby for the forming of a natural gas equivalent of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) with the immediate accent on an optimum price or system of taxation for the fast depleting asset.
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It’s About Time to Develop Laventille

By Michael De Gale
August 15, 2007

LaventilleThe government’s intention to develop Laventille though politically tactical is also vitally necessary if the social ills of this area are to be alleviated. Not only does this make economic sense but strategic investments in troubled communities are a sure way to address the social evils which has historically plagued communities where poverty rules supreme. Progressive social thinkers supported by statistics, shows that crime thrives where hope is stifled. Survival has always been the law of the jungle whether literally or metaphorically speaking.
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Judge: Devant Maharaj was treated unfairly

By Francis Joseph
www.newsday.co.tt
Thursday, August 2 2007

Hall of JusticeDEVANT MAHARAJ, a senior employee of the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) has won another court battle relating to his job.

In a 56-page judgment delivered by Justice James Aboud on Tuesday, the court declared that Maharaj was a victim of unfair treatment by the Statutory Authorities Service Commission. He was also awarded costs.
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Winston Dookeran invites NJAC to join COP

By Richardson Dhalai
www.newsday.co.tt
Sunday, July 29 2007

Congress of the PeopleCongress of the People (COP) political leader Winston Dookeran urged residents of Laventille and Morvant to “rise beyond the narrow politics of the past” and usher in a COP regime at the next General Election.

He also called on the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) to “join with” the COP to rescue the nation, when he addressed a public meeting at Harris Promenade, San Fernando, on Friday night.
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Gopio head makes political debut on COP platform

Reporting by Adrian Boodan
www.guardian.co.tt
July 26, 2007

Congress of the PeopleLaventille residents will be heading Central if Prime Minster Patrick Manning is serious about the State’s plans to purchase their property, says Devant Maharaj, Congress of the People’s (COP) prospective candidate for Couva South.

Manning spoke of redeveloping Laventille during a walkabout in the area on Monday.
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More money for MPs

By Ria Taitt, newsday.co.tt
Tuesday, July 24 2007

Red House‘It means that former MPs, such as Ralph Maraj and Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, would receive, at age 55, a gratuity of 10 percent of their gross salary.’

Once again, the financial perks of all members of Parliament (MPs) have been greatly enhanced.

An amendment to the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) Act which was quietly, quickly and unanimously passed in the House of Representatives last Friday, doubles the gratuity payment to which each MP would be entitled.
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Those whom the gods wish to destroy…

By Raffique Shah
July 22, 2007

Basdeo PandayI need to get in touch with the person who coined the adage, “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.” I think he or she should add “or clowns” at the end of it. How else does one explain Basdeo Panday’s puerile behaviour, his donning of a beret that would otherwise look chic on fashionable women or neat on a soldier’s head, but more like a clown cap on his? Can anyone in the UNC explain this eccentric side of a man who was once prime minister of this country, and whom some political analysts insist remains the “only genuine politician in the country”? I think Bas, his platform colleagues, and those pseudo-analysts need to have their heads examined.
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Cadiz says no to Panday

By Ria Taitt
newsday.co.tt
July 12 2007

NewspapersThe grand alliance of Opposition parties has hit a snag. Basdeo Panday, the acknowledged leader of the majority group within the alliance, the UNC, has been found to be unacceptable as leader by at least one party, YesTT, which is led by Stephen Cadiz.

On Monday night Panday announced that the UNC would fight the General Election as part of a coalition with NAR, Ytt, DPTT and NDP. The coalition is to be known as the UNC Alliance.
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Jokey terrorists, jokier politicians

By Raffique Shah
Sunday, June 10th 2007

JFK Terror SuspectsAfter overcoming the initial shock of television networks across the world featuring this country in an alleged plot to “blow up the JFK airport” in New York, I could not help but break into peals of laughter. The first giggle came when the US networks featured the sorry picture of the alleged mastermind, Russell De Freitas. This “Sad Sack”, as The New York Times dubbed him, looked incapable of blowing hot air with any force, far less deal the US a “blow more devastating than 9/11”, as a State Department spokeswoman insisted.
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Benny Hinn scorns PM’s ‘prophetess’

‘Prophetess’: I spoke to PM 5 times

By Rhondor Dowlat, newsday.co.tt
Monday, May 21 2007

Patrick Manning and Benny HinnPRIME Minister Patrick Manning got advice at least five times from a woman who has been described as his “prophetess.”

Newsday visited the woman, who sees herself as a spiritual guide rather than a prophetess, at her West Trinidad home yesterday. She had a few conditions for the interview.

Her identity and address must not be made public. The woman, who is mixed with Chinese and Spanish, spoke for a few minutes outside the gates of her home before inviting me upstairs, into her “counselling room.”
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