General T&T, International, Law, Media, Sports, USA

Given Rampant White-Collar Crime, FIFA Raid Raises Questions About DOJ Priorities

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Notoriously-corrupt FIFA heads arrested in early morning raid during annual meeting

By Lauren McCauley
May 27, 2015 – commondreams.org

FIFAWhile 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?
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Court, General T&T, ILP, International, Media, Money Laundering, USA

Putin Lashes U.S. on FIFA Probe

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Putin: FIFA-linked arrests are US attempt to thwart Blatter re-election

May 28, 2015 – rt.com

Vladimir PutinThe FIFA-linked arrests on the eve of the re-election of the organization’s chief are an obvious attempt to thwart Sepp Blatter’s re-appointment, Vladimir Putin said, answering journalists’ questions. He added it’s another example of US meddling abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the US could be selfishly motivated for its own gain, as was the case with Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.
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General T&T, Police, Racism Watch, USA

Decoding racial tensions in United States: Updated

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By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
May 27, 2015

Dr. Kwame NantambuThe shooting and killing of unarmed 17 year-old African-American male Trayvon Martin on 26 February 2012 in Sanford, Florida; the 24 November 2014 “no indictment for officer Wilson” verdict arrived at by the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, in regard to the shooting and killing of the unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown and the subsequent 3 December “no indictment” verdict by a grand jury in Staten Island, New York City, in favor of a white police officer in the New York Police Department (NYPD), Daniel Pantaleo, for the “chokehold death” of an unarmed, forty-six year-old African-American man, Eric Garner; the 2 March 2015 killing of 12 year-old African-American male Tamir in Cleveland; the 6 March 2015 shooting and killing of unarmed 19 year- old African-American male Tony Terrell Robinson in Madison, Wisconsin; the 7 April 2015 killing of unarmed African-American man 50 year-old Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina; and the 19 April 2015 death in police custody of Freddie Gray in Baltimore speak massive volumes as to the omnipresence of racial tensions/distrust between the Black community and white police officers in the United States.
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General T&T, ILP, International, Media, Money Laundering, Politics, Sports, USA

Warner on $2.5M bail

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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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Elections, General T&T, Integrity Commission, Law, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Rowley: Hosein’s name on letterhead of PM’s lawyer

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

Special Branch report: DPP Office was monitored

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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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General T&T, Integrity Commission, Law, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

The law is an ass

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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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General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, PNM, UNC

Talking Loud and Saying Nothing

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
May 24, 2015

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoePart 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.
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corruption, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Media, Parliament, PNM

PNM wants Commission of Enquiry into deal

By Richard Lord
May 23, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

TheftThe 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.
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General T&T, Integrity Commission, Law, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

IC Deputy Chairman Ventour Disagrees, Resigns

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Ventour disagrees with Emailgate statement…
‘Time to stand up’

By Renuka Singh
May 21, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Justice Sebastian VentourDeputy 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.”
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