Category Archives: corruption

China, corruption, Finance, General T&T, Health, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Scale of squandermania mind-boggling

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By Raffique Shah
October 19, 2015

Raffique ShahIf a mere ten percent of the sums of money quoted by almost every new PNM minister as having gone to waste or astray under the previous government is factual, then at least a billion dollars was squandered or stolen during the tenure of the People’s Partnership.

If the ministers were accurate and truthful in their allegations of profligacy, then an astounding ten billion dollars, at least, found its way into the bank accounts of assorted thieves and accomplices.
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corruption, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

WASA now saddled with $1.6b deficit

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Guardian
October 14, 2015 – guardian.co.tt

WASAPublic Utilities Minister Ancil Antoine says the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is “burdened with massive debt and (is) financially strapped for funds.”

He said the state-owned utility company was currently operating with deficit is $1.6 billion and its receivables were $33.9 million.
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corruption, Elections, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, Schools, UNC

The Laptop Scandal

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 18, 2015

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI was at Maloney on Wednesday evening when Dr. Keith Rowley analyzed the Government’s laptop program. Dr. Rowley did not have to do much work since he read from a document that pointed out the introduction of laptops and the incorporation of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in our schools “had no statistically significant impact on student performance.” It also found that staff and student groups registered “a relatively high dissatisfaction with the provision of internet service” and the implementation of the laptop program.
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corruption, Court, Crime in T&T, Elections, ILP, Law

Wet brown paper could cut Jack

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By Raffique Shah
August 02, 2015

Raffique ShahIN days of old here in Trinidad, people one or two generations ahead of mine used an adage, “when yuh crooked, wet brown paper could cut you”.

The word “crooked” in that context usually meant “a run of bad luck”, although in the instant case of Jack Warner, to whom it now applies, it could be a double-entendre. And if wet brown paper could cut you, then you were really deep in the doo-doo.
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corruption, Elections, General T&T, ILP, International, Media, Opposition Party, Parliament, People's Partnership, Sports, UNC, USA

Shame and scandal, indeed

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By Raffique Shah
June 07, 2015

Raffique ShahCorpus Christi morning, I come awake, latish, closer to seven o’clock. I tune in to BBC television to see what’s happening in the world, since, Thursday being a Christian holiday, the local electronic media stations will have no real news.

I do a double-take, re-check the channel number when, big and bold at the bottom of the screen I see “…Trinidad and Tobago…breaking news…”
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corruption, General T&T, International, Law, Media, Money Laundering, Sports

Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president

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Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president after 17 years in role

By Owen Gibson
June 02, 2015 – theguardian.com

FIFASepp Blatter has dramatically quit as Fifa president just days after he was defiant in re-election for a fifth term, sparking a flurry of speculation over the future of world football and the fate of the next two World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

Under intense pressure from ongoing investigations by the FBI and Swiss prosecutors that have already led to 18 senior football executives being charged in the US on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and racketeering, Blatter said he had decided to step down.
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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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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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corruption, Elections, General T&T, Media, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, UNC

Rowley exposes new e-mails

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By Anna Ramdass
May 8, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

Dr. Keith RowleyON THE heels of being suspended from Parliament over Emailgate, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley last night exposed more e-mails.

This time he has shown new e-mails which allege that $60 million was transferred from First Citizens bank to three foreign banks.
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corruption, Elections, Finance, General T&T, Media, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Behind the promise of a causeway

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By Michael Harris
April 27, 2015 – trinidadexpress.com

CausewayEXTRACT:

But there are more serious issues behind the promise of a causeway.

First of all while there is no question that the UNC did “tief” the PNM promise, we do have to ask ourselves why this particular promise. One answer has to do with what the Government is doing to the Chaguaramas peninsula. According to Planning Minister Bhoe Tewarie, the Government’s plan is to “monetise” the peninsula.
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