Budget Day

Today is budget day in Trinidad and Tobago. It is an exciting day usually, however this year it is even more exciting, because today is the day that the People’s Partnership will show us what they are about and how they plan to do it. The national budget is an annual plan of how the government intends to earn money and how they plan to spend it. The budget is actually an Appropriation Bill and goes through the same process as any other Bill. As a money Bill it can only be introduced in the House of Representatives and it must be done by the Minister of Finance. Usually there is a limitation on the length of time a Member is allowed to speak, however during the presentation of the budget by speech the Minister of Finance no time limit is imposed. Simply because the budget is important business. The budget usually spans a number of areas including Tobago, Trade and Industry, Tourism, Agriculture, Energy, Housing, Infrastructure, Environment, Education, Health, Social Protection, National Security, Sport, Youth, Culture and Community Development. I am specifically interested in Health, National Security, Education, Youth Development and Trade and Industry.

So tune in my dear friends to Channel 11 at 1:30 p.m. because today is the day that the PP government is going to put their money where their mouth is. What aspects of the Budget are you looking forward to today?

Ten Things I want the People’s Partnership to Do

I was thinking about our new Government and there are a few things that I would like them to do as follows:

1. Stop campaigning. You all won, unless the new PM hires Patrick Manning as her political advisor you all will be there for five years. Get cracking.
2. Eradicate Corruption – don’t know how. Just do it.
3. Ensure that there is succession planning in the Police Service to ensure that we don’t have to hire another foreigner to be Commissioner of Police.
4. Recognize that crime is a social problem.
5. Use social media to get the message out. I love twitter.
6. Criticise in private, Praise in public. Especially in relation to public servants.
7. Elevate the content of debates in parliament. Let the younger one say something.
8. Don’t just make laws, enforce them too.
9. Do the right thing. Everybody may not like it, but its a good start.
10. Treat every citizen equally regardless of political patronage or affiliation.

What would you like the People’s Partnership to do?

How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?

Recently in Trinidad and Tobago we have had a change in Government. We are now being governed by a new group of people. But how new are these people? And how different are they from the people that were there before? Politicians are elected or nominated officials who are supposed to represent the interest of the people who put them in the positions they hold. Let us think about the term House of Representatives. This implies that it is filled with Representatives, that is, persons representing us. When did we get the notion that these people were better than us in any way? They are supposed to be one of us chosen by us to represent our interest. How many of us feel that our representative truly represents our interest.

Every time this representative speaks they are speaking for us. They are not speaking for the political party. This is solidified by the fact that if an elected member of the House of Representatives leaves his party he can still hold his seat in the House. Why? Because we put him there and it is based on that authority he is a Member of the House of Representatives. So then why do we allow these politicians to do to us whatever they want? Is the system of choosing persons to represent us truly representative of the people in our society? Or is it just a bunch of sawaties coming together to seek their own interest to the detriment of the rest of us? How can we get them to truly represent our interest?

During an election we are presented with a candidate chosen by the political party. How do we know that the person is truly the best representative for our constituency? What gives the political party the right to screen candidates behind closed doors? On what basis do they accept some candidates and reject others? Are there financial considerations when choosing candidates? When did party politics become more dominant that representing the people? Section 47 of the constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago sets out the qualifications for election as a Member of the House of Representatives, it states that a person must be a citizen eighteen years or upwards residing in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of two years prior to his nomination for election. Where does is say that the candidate must be vetted confidentially by a political party?

It seems that I only have questions. The more I think about it, the more I question it. So I end right where I started: How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?

Biased TV 6 Programme on the 1990 Coup

Yesterday was the twentieth anniversary of the 1990 coup. This is an event in our history that I have always felt distant from for a number of reasons. The first is that I was out of the country at the time, and by the time I returned things had gone back to normal. The second reason was that I was very young so for me that was big people thing. As a result of this I have always enjoy coup stories from people simply because I have no story to tell. Minding my own business I realised that TV6 advertised a special feature to be broadcasted on the evening of the twentieth anniversary. The programmed was entitled News Special: 1990 Untold Stories – Cocaine, Conspiracy, Coup. This programme aired against the back drop of the Attorney General, Senator Anand Ramlogan saying that he was going to place the notice in the print media for the auction of the properties owned by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. As well as the announcement by the Prime Minister in the post Cabinet press conference that there would be an enquiry into the coup.

At the beginning of the programme I instantly got vex because I realised the presenter was Sasha Mohammed, so they start bad already. Then it is stated that the PNM and the UNC governments made no attempts to enquire into the events of the 1990 coup and flashed to a video clip of Mr. Manning and Mr. Panday shaking hands. You would swear they were shaking hands agreeing not to enquire into the coup. Of course mention was made of the Prime Minister’s plan to have a Commission of Enquiry. Ms. Mohammed then interviewed a number of people including Imam Yasin Abu Bakr and the Attorney General in 1990, Mr. Anthony Isidore Smart. Generally I got from the programme that the presenter who is obviously a strong supporter of the People’s Partnership was attempting to place the blame for the coup on members of the NAR, while implicating Mr. Manning and Mr. Panday. I am no fool I have no doubt that there were persons other than the Muslimeens backing the coup. However, I was expecting the programme to be unbiased, and a true record of the events of the coup. Something for me to look at to gain a true sense of the events that occurred. Rather that it being propaganda and a political advertisement for the upcoming Commission of Enquiry. I guess from the title of the programme I should have known. Even the inclusion of an interview of Dr. Tim Gopeesingh who is a gynecologist claiming that he assisted the Prime Minister ANR Robinson. Unless the Prime Minister got shot in some part of his female anatomy how Dr. Gopeesingh got involved. Like I said earlier, I was not around so perhaps the man was the Chief Medical Officer or something.

I am looking forward to this Commission of Enquiry to see what information it uncovers. I am also interested to see what this Commission of Enquiry is going to cost the tax payer. The programme also alleged that the current levels of crime and violence in the country are a direct result of the events of the coup. This tells me that the Partnership Government is already looking for something or somebody to blame for why they cannot stop the escalating rate of crime. Imam Yasin Abu Bakr made an interesting point, he said that there are a lot of guns on the street and nobody in Laventille have any boat to get any gun so they have to be getting help from somewhere. He also expressed his intention to call names in the enquiry implicating a number of top government officials, politicians, and senior law enforcement officers.

So we shall see how the story goes. How do you think things are going to unfold?

Too Much Election Drama

These days I just feel saturated. I feel like there is too much of everything going on. There is too much bacchanal. Politicians are fighting and obviously they are forgetting that they are supposed to be role models for the youth of our country. This is the worst set of name calling in an election that I can remember. I really don’t know what is going on with these people. The funny thing is that at the end of all this nonsense all of these politicians will be laughing having a time in their little rum shop to which the rest of us cannot afford to gain entry. This election is becoming a big joke and I would really like to know at what stage the running of a nation became a laughing matter. While I strongly support one party, I will admit that is both sides indulge in the stupidness. Issues are being pushed aside to discuss things such as Marlene Mc Donald’s weight and Nicole Dyer winning Mastana Bahar. I am well aware that picong is part of our Trini culture, I think things are getting a bit out of hand. I wish elections were this coming Monday so we could get this Election over and done with. I anxiously await election results so that the country can continue with its regular day to day activities with the winning party at the helm leading the way.

How do you feel about the way the Election Campaign is going? Do you think the Politicians are taking the insults too far?

The Prime Minister is no Fool

Sadly my prediction of the dissolution of Parliament has become a reality. I was wrong about the date for elections to be held. The Representation of the People Act mandates that a number of things take place prior to the election which would require thirty-five days. However the Constitution states that the election must be called within three months. Therefore the election can be anywhere between thirty-five days and three months from Friday April 9, 2010.

Our Prime Minister is not a crazy man and I think that this election is no fluke. It may seem like something out of the blue but it is not. The Prime Minister is going to use this election to get rid of some of the bad eggs that are in his party. I use the term bad eggs because usually looking at an egg you cannot always tell that it is bad. It is only when you attempt to use the egg you would realise that it is bad. For the last general election the PNM had a lot of new comers to the political arena, while many of the stalwarts were pushed aside. Many of the newbies won their seats because the PNM had a strong hold in the constituency and any PNM candidate would have won. The population vote according to the overall party they support, whether or not they think the actual candidate they are voting for will do well as a Minister.

The Prime Minister was left in somewhat of an embarrassing situation where if he admitted to having bad eggs in his administration it would bring his ability to screen candidates into question. The fact that there was no major Cabinet Reshuffle is testimony to the fact that little could have been done with many of the persons within the Cabinet. The Prime Minister was then left with no other option but to advise the President to dissolve Parliament for a general election to be held which could then be used as an opportunity to get rid of some of the persons within the party who were bringing the PNM into disrepute. Some of the trouble makers include the Flag Man, Gary Hunt, Nunez-Tesheira, who did not ensure that there was proper public consultation prior to the introduction of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Bill. While Indra Sinanan Ojah-Maharaj and Roger Joseph were allegedly not representing their constituents well. With the trouble makers gone the Prime Minister could now make another attempt to win the hearts of the population while saving face. This is also why the Prime Minister has been walking around the country visiting various constituencies over the last few months because he has been preparing for an election.

What do you think about the upcoming General Election? Do you think a change in some of the PNM candidates would improve the running of the country? or Do you think another party is the answer?

Kamlamania

The General Election that has been hinted by our wonderful Prime Minister has fed Kamlamania that was initially created by Mrs. Persad-Bissessar winning the post of Political Leader of the Opposition followed by her appointment as Leader of the Opposition. Everybody seems to be looking towards the new Leader of the Opposition to be the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Personally I am not a fan of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar. I have doubts that she can continue holding the majority of the members of the UNC in order to maintain her post as Leader of the Opposition. I remember all too well this was the fate of Winston Dookeran not too long ago. This is a party that has been through it all with Basdeo Panday always coming out on top. I am not quite sure that he is finished with the party and it would be interesting to see what his role in this alleged election. For the UNC to succeed at any General Election and to be a stable government in power there needs to be unity within the party. Currently this does not exist as there is the back bench of Ramesh, Basdeo and Kelvin, (Ramdeovin perhaps?) with Ramesh acting as a pseudo chief whip. Until the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar can bring unity to her own party and truly lead the entire party as opposed to a small majority, I am not impressed. Because if she cannot control her own members how is she going to control the country. Luckily for her we still have some limited time before the Prime Minister unleashes the final bomb, the election date. This will give Kamlamania some more time to grow and hopefully emerge as a viable option for some change in society and not just be another mouth piece.

What do you think about the Kamlamania that is sweeping the nation?

Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament

With election fever in the air there has been a lot of talk about the Prime Minister proroguing Parliament. At this time I would invite all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to familiarise themselves with the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is truly an interesting document and is the foundation of our society. When we do not know something for ourselves it is so easy for us to be fed lies and wrong information. We are currently in the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Sections 67, 68 and 69 of the constitution outline the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament. A session of parliament is simply the yearly intervals between general elections. There can be up to five sessions, of which sessions one to four have to be prorogued with the fifth session being dissolved for general elections to be held. Parliament can be dissolved at anytime but it cannot go beyond five years to the date of its first sitting. Additionally the Prime Minister cannot dissolve Parliament, it is actually the President who dissolves parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. Simply put prorogue is the term used between sessions and dissolved is the term used between elections. Therefore the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago essentially means that we are in the third year since the last election and there have been nine general elections since Republican constitution was enacted in 1976. I just thought I would clarify some of the nonsense that has been printed in the daily news papers recently.

Election Date to be Announced This Week?

This coming Friday April 9, 2010 a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister would be debated. This motion would be led by the Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister is the longest sitting Member of Parliament. Therefore he like Mr. Panday is no stranger to the world of politics. With the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Sector laid in Parliament today and a motion of no confidence looming, what better time to dissolve parliament and call a general election. The Prime Minister has previously stated that his hinting at a general election is no bluff and this week, either Friday or before would be the ideal time to dissolve the Parliament and announce the date for the general election. So look out people, because apparently the election is coming like a tief in the night. Since we are a follow fashion type of society I just have a feeling that our election would be sometime in early or mid May to follow our former colonial masters. I am thinking that perhaps May 10, 2010 might be the day.

When do you think Parliament would be dissolved to accommodate the impending general election?

Basdeo Panday – Politician or Actor?

Many of us in Trinidad and Tobago take for granted the ingenuity of Mr. Panday, Opposition Leader of the UNCA. This man is a stalwart in local politics. Born in 1933, Mr. Panday worked as a cane worker, teacher and civil servant prior to obtaining three degrees. Now this is where it gets interesting, Mr. Panday has degrees in Law, Economics and Drama. Who does that? Who combines those subject areas and why? Mr. Panday is a brilliant man in that he understands that politics is drama in its truest sense. Politics has been our reality TV for decades and unlike many other politicians Mr. Panday is well aware of this. Without a doubt Mr. Panday has changed the political landscape in Trinidad and Tobago simply by the strategic skits that he has played out throughout his almost thirty years as a member of the Parliament. I will take the activities of the Parliament yesterday to prove my point. The sittings which are governed by standing orders start on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. unless the House otherwise decides. Therefore Mr. Panday being a Member of Parliament since 1972 very well knows this, yet he arrived late for effect. Mr. Panday very well knew that there would be a media circus and as such for maximum effect he arrived after his opponent in the “mother of all elections” held on Sunday. In case you live under a rock the UNC-A held internal elections on Sunday and Mr. Panday and Mrs. Persad-Bissessar vied for the position of political leader, Mr. Panday lost. Upon arrival Mr. Panday theatrically offered his seat to Mrs. Persad-Bissessar, then as reported he proceeded to sit and say nothing to Mr. Warner his former cohort who was appointed as chief whip on his right and Mrs. Persad-Bissessar on his left. With Mr. Panday seated between them “KamJack” talked to each other and pass notes to each other. Well I anxiously await the next phase drama from Mr. Panday, after all the man is well trained in the field. I personally wish that Mr. Panday remains a Member of Parliament for as long as he is of sound mind to do so.


Do you think the actions of the Leader of the Opposition are deliberate? Do you appreciate the drama and theatrics brought to the Parliament by Mr. Panday?

Cabinet Reshuffle?

Yesterday there was a Ceremonial Opening of the Third Session of the Ninth Parliament. It is quite interesting because a ceremonial opening is usually held at the beginning of Parliament, which is after a general election, not for the opening of a Session. It makes me wonder what our Prime Minister is up to and what prompted him to have this gala opening at such an unusual time. I am wondering if he is possibly going to announce a Cabinet reshuffle maybe today at the Cabinet Press Conference or at the next sitting of the House of Representatives. I have already indicated my opinion on this in a previous post, so let’s see what happens in the next few days.

What do you think our Prime Minister is up to?

Why is Martin Joseph still Minister of National Security?

November 2009 would make it six years that Martin Joseph has been Minister of National Security. Why? Isn’t there someone else in the PNM administration that could take up this portfolio? Upon closer inspection the options are limited. The job of Minister of National Security is a difficult one. The Ministry of National Security includes Police, Fire, Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Immigration, ODPM, National Drug Council, Citizen’s Security Programme, Forensic Science Centre, Prison, Cadets, SAUTT and a few other intelligence agencies. So the Minister has to oversee all these agencies, divisions and departments. The Ministry of National Security currently has a Minister of State, Donna Cox. She is responsible for the Fire Service, Prison Service, ODPM, and Youth programmes. While this may be noble, if anything goes wrong with any of the units under her purview the media and citizens still hold Martin Joseph accountable for the mishap, therefore ultimately he is responsible.

In terms of the options for Minister of National Security within the PNM administration I think there are two. Colm Imbert and Conrad Enil. My rationale is simple, the other Ministers are just too new to the PNM. The portfolio of Minister of National Security is a powerful one that requires a certain amount of political maturity. The Minister would also be privy to pertinent information that could make or break the PNM. Of the two available options Conrad Enil is my pick simply because I personally don’t like Colm. Not to mention Enil is a member of the National Security Council and a handover to him would be smooth as he would have been aware of a number of the issues being faced by the Ministry.

That being said, I am predicting, praying, hoping and wishing for a Cabinet reshuffle after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November. I think this would be an appropriate time because of the ongoing security arrangements for the event should not be disrupted by a ministerial change. I do not expect this change to lead to a significant reduction in crime and violence in the country. But just to give somebody else in the PNM administration some pressure. Let’s give uncle Martin a rest, because it is not easy to wake up every morning knowing you doing your best and ignorant Trinis talking a pile.

In the lineup of Government Ministers, who is your pick for the next Minister of National Security?