Category 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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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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Warner on $2.5M bail

UPDATE: MAY 28, 2015 Jack leaves prison in an ambulance
JACK Warner, who woke on Wednesday as a free man, but went to sleep accused and imprisoned, was able to make bail this afternoon, and leave the Frederick Street prison in Port of Spain. He left in a prison ambulance.

  • Police have an arrest warrant for Jack
  • US makes extradition request for Warner
  • Darian and Darryl Warner plead guilty
  • FIFA Officials and Five Corporate Executives Indicted

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$2.5 Million Bail but Warner Remains in Custody

By Rickie Ramdass
May 27, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Jack WarnerJACK Warner was this afternoon granted $2.5 million bail but has failed to secure his release. In addiiton, his attorney were unable to secure an emergency sitting of a judge in the High Court, to consider his bail application. Warner is now at an unknown location. It is uncertain whether he will spend the night at the Maximum Security Prison, Arouca, or at a police station.
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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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Integrity Commission ends its emailgate probe

By Anna Ramdass
May 19, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarPrime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night declared victory following the Integrity Commission’s termination of its investigation into emailgate.

She added this vindication was proof Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was unfit to lead Trinidad and Tobago.
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Joan out of line

PM, AG on Emailgate counter-attack

By Yvonne Webb
May 19, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarPrime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night called on Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul to step aside in the Emailgate matter over a statement she made on the issue last week.

Her comments came hours after Attorney General Garvin Nicholas expressed his disappointment and concern over Honore-Paul’s judgment last week in criticising Persad-Bissessar for suggesting that she and her colleagues had been cleared in the probe when the case was still open.
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Deputy DPP Press Release on ‘Emailgate’

BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

Joan Honore-PaulRE: INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE EMAIL DISCLOSURES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BETWEEN MAY 20, 2013 AND MAY 24, 2013

Through various reports in the electronic and print media, it has become obvious that certain correspondence from the United States Department of Justice, sent to the Police Investigative team through the Central Authority, has found its way into the hands of parties who are not members of the Investigative or advising Prosecutorial teams. While the articles are numerous, the following excerpts are instructive:
Continue reading Deputy DPP Press Release on ‘Emailgate’