General T&T, Law, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Joan out of line

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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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General T&T, Health, Parliament

Coping with the generation gap

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By Raffique Shah
May 17, 2015

Raffique ShahIf you allow yourself to be consumed by politicking that more so in the run-up to elections, is a deafening cacophony that can distract you to death, you miss out on not-too-subtle changes that are altering the landscape fundamentally.

I am in my 70th year, and while some aspects of aging are catching up with me, I remain mentally alert, capable of digesting many of the exciting advances in technology that, for better or for worse, have opened up new horizons that we must learn to live with or find ourselves buried in the sands of time.
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General T&T, Law, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

PM responds to Deputy DPP’s Emailgate statement: I am stressed

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By Richard Lord
May 15, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarPrime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday admitted to becoming stressed out after reading the reports of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul criticism of her over the Emailgate probe.

She made the admission during a Mother’s Day function at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s.

The PM initially began by recalling to the gathering “all the good times and memories” she had as a child growing up. She then recalled a personal incident with her grandson, who had told his aunt that he was stressed.
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Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Deputy DPP Press Release on ‘Emailgate’

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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:
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Crime in T&T, Elections, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Deputy DPP slams PM for Emailgate claims: No One Cleared

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By Irving Ward
May 14, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarDeputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul last night slammed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for her suggestion that she and her colleagues should be cleared in the Emailgate probe, saying the police were far from done with their investigations and the case was still wide open.

She also chastised Persad-Bissessar for releasing contents of reports provided to the police from the US Department of Justice, saying that the treaty under which this information was provided prohibited anyone else other than the national security parties probing the matter to use it.
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Elections, General T&T, Law, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Disregard for rule of law in T&T

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Risk consultancy on Rowley suspension

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarA global consultancy specialising in political and security risks has warned United Kingdom company BG Energy Holdings Group that the suspension of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley from Parliament highlights a lack of reliable state administration and widespread disregard for the rule of law in Trinidad and Tobago.
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General T&T, Media

NATGEO documents Trini rubbish

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By Verne Burnett
May 12, 2015 – newsday.co.tt

RubbishTHE authorities who deal with waste disposal in this country say that a documentary broadcast last week on the National Geographic (NatGeo) Channel, naming this country as the top producer of garbage per capita in the world, was based on incorrect statistics.

An official at the Solid Waste Management Company Limited (SWMCOL), who refused to be named or quoted, said the programme was based on outdated statistics probably obtained from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
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corruption, Crime in T&T, Editorial, Finance, General T&T, Law, Media, People's Partnership

Questions about that $60m theft

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Express Editorial
May 11, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

TheftIt is not enough for Finance Minister Larry Howai to say that he expects all of the $60 million stolen from the National Energy Corporation’s account at First Citizens to be recovered. What is needed is prosecution of those who stole the money and full accountability from officials of the two State enterprises who were entrusted with managing the $60 million in public funds.
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Elections, General T&T, Law, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

A clear and present danger

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By Michael Harris
May 11, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-BissessarThe suspension from Parliament of the Leader of the Opposition by the UNC-led Government last week is a total abuse of power, a denigration of our Parliament and a threat to our democracy.

It is a total abuse of power because in the absence of any final report of the investigation into the e-mail affair from the police or the Integrity Commission the UNC Government went to the Parliament and, acting as investigator, prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner all at the same time, used its majority first to censure the Leader of the Opposition and then to banish him from the Parliament for the rest of this term.
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Elections, General T&T, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, Politics, UNC

Vengeance could strangle you

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By Raffique Shah
May 09, 2015

Raffique ShahI seldom agree with pronouncements made by Basdeo Panday, such is my mistrust of a man I came to know before he became a big name in politics.

From early o’clock, meaning in 1973 when he was parachuted into leadership of the sugar workers union by the PNM (yes, you read right…check your history) to take up from where the other puppet, Bhadase Maharaj, had died leaving a vacuum, I recognised Panday for what he was—an opportunist posing as a pragmatist.
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