Deyalsingh’s tough message after austere mid-term budget
By Adrian Boodan
Sunday, April 10, 2016 – guardian.co.tt
It’s time that nationals grow up and take some responsibility for T&T, says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
Deyalsingh was at the time fielding questions from the media when he attended a health and fitness fair hosted by the Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, at the Chamber’s building at Camden Road.
Continue reading Grow up, take responsibility
By JANELLE DE SOUZA
April 10, 2016 – newsday.co.tt
The seven percent levy on online purchases of goods and services scheduled to take effect by September will probably not slow down online shopping simply because local prices are too high.
Some regular online shoppers to overseas retail companies questioned the move by the Government to further tax online shoppers as they already pay a 20 percent duty and Value Added Tax on these items when they arrive in the country.
Continue reading Online shoppers: 7% tax unfair
By Raffique Shah
April 03, 2016
Recently, there has been much noise over Trinidad and Tobago’s capacity to produce the foods that we eat.
I use the word “noise” instead of discussion or debate because so much of what is said and written is uninformed.
Continue reading Doomed to importing foods
Office of the Prime Minister orders $2 million vehicle for Rowley’s fleet…
Published on Apr 3, 2016, 12:01 am AST
By Anna Ramdass and Camille Hunte
A new Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222) valued at $2 million has been purchased for the official use of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
The Sunday Express understands the vehicle was acquired through local dealer Sterling Services (Battoo Brothers) Ltd and was at the company’s Sackville Street, Port of Spain, garage up to yesterday, being customised for official use.
Continue reading NEW BENZ FOR PM*
Not worthy of public office
By Rhondor Dowlat
April 01, 2016 – guardian.co.tt
Former prime minister of T&T Patrick Manning believes that politicians who are guilty of hiring relatives at their respective constituency offices are not worthy of public office.
Manning made a statement via his Facebook page on Wednesday night.
He disclosed that in all his 44 years as a Parliamentarian, he has never employed a family member or relative in his constituency office.
Continue reading Manning knocks MPs hiring relatives
Express Editorial
March 20, 2016, 9:49 pm AST – trinidadexpress.com
IT is disingenuous for Members of Parliament to be offering to refund salaries paid to relatives in breach of parliamentary rules, to quibble over definitions of employment, to suggest that new rules should not affect old behaviour or to dismiss them as mere guidelines. The fact that one of those MPs is Wade Mark, former speaker of the House under whom the parliamentary rules regarding employment at MPs constituency offices were reviewed and changed before being implemented in the current term, is scandalous.
Continue reading Getting serious with errant MPs
By Gail Alexander
Sunday, March 20, 2016 – guardian.co.tt
Apart from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, two other Opposition UNC MPs had relatives employed at their respective constituency offices in this current parliamentary term, and a third UNC MP still has a “distant” relative employed.
They are Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie and Mayaro MP Rushton Paray.
Continue reading Padarath to repay Parliament $60,000 for hiring relative
Opposition Leader accused of hiring relatives at Siparia constituency office
By Ria Taitt
March 19, 2016 – trinidadexpress.com
Allegations of a breach of the Parliament rules against the hiring of relatives gathered momentum yesterday with fresh claims that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has broken the rules too.
Reports surfaced yesterday that Persad-Bissessar has employed two of her relatives at her Siparia constituency office for well over a decade.
Continue reading KAMLA MUST GO TOO
By Nalinee Seelal
March 18, 2016 – newsday.co.tt
PORT-OF-SPAIN South Member of Parliament Marlene Mc- Donald was yesterday fired as Minister of Housing by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley during a tense meeting at 6.30 pm, at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. Well-placed sources told Newsday that during the meeting, which lasted for about 30 minutes, loud voices could be heard.
Sources added that McDonald later stormed out of the meeting, telling her driver that she had just been fired before making a call on her cellular phone as she entered her vehicle which sped off.
Continue reading MARLENE AXED
By Raffique Shah
March 16, 2016
Trinidadians are hell, I tell you.
Take their almost instantaneous sympathy with the 600-odd steel workers who found themselves jobless last week when ArcelorMittal shut down its plant in this country.
Sure, that means at least 5,000 family members facing very uncertain times if not utter devastation. Those who have mortgages or rentals could lose the roofs over their heads. Vehicles may be repossessed. Children’s education will be at risk, in particular those who attend university. And ultimately, putting food on the table might be a challenge.
Continue reading Don’t take Mittal’s mill even for free