Trinidad & Tobago
‘Race-baiting’ by
PNM – Persad-Bissessar
Port-of-Spain – Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and members of the government are using “race-baiting” as an election strategy to deflect from their failure, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar claimed last week.
Persad-Bissessar also accused the PNM government of continuing the vicious historical cycle of home rentals and low wages in the interest of friends and a small group of elites, which denied opportunities to nationals to acquire land and property.
Persad-Bissessar said the government’s rhetoric with respect to the Couva Children's Hospital and the Debe South campus of The University of the West Indies was an example of “race-baiting”.
“They create this false race bogey that the UNC is anti-African, and paints UNC as a threat to the survival and prosperity of Afro-Trinidadians. They have started that narrative, they see elections are coming... you see it in the writings of their paid columnists and their trolls on social media,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said the race-baiting is seen on the PNM's political platforms and the songs they promote, as there are no achievements to talk about.
“You see the race-baiting when Mr Rowley mounts the platforms; you see it with their hired guns in State enterprises... These friends and financiers of the PNM have no care for any poor people in this country... no matter what your race or religion is – they do not care.”
Calling Stuart Young the “Minister-of-Everything-and-Minister-of-Nothing”, Persad-Bissessar said he played the race card in the Parliament to disguise his failure as national security minister. Also, she noted Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh repeatedly asks the Opposition why the People's Partnership built the Couva hospital and did not deal with Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “You know what is happening there? Do you understand? That is race-baiting again. They say our motive for building it in Couva is because UNC people live there, but they wrong. The people who would access Couva would come from all over the island and outside the island as well.”
Persad-Bissessar said the PNM forgot to tell the people the PP built the Diego Martin health facility; also, a state-of-the-art facility in Carenage along with the El Dorado nursing academy, the San Fernando teaching hospital, and more. Also, in 2014, a government-to-government memorandum of understanding was signed between Trinidad and Tobago and the UK to build an integrated medical facility in Port-of-Spain, not just a Central Block – an entire complex to include training and specialist treatment.
Persad-Bissessar said if the government were not so “spiteful and malicious”, it would not have put a hold on the construction of “UNC projects”, such as the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals, which could have been completed already.
She said a second example of the use of race-baiting was the rhetoric surrounding the UWI South Campus. According to Persad-Bissessar, the government has refused to open this campus because “they think South only have Indo... descendants of Indo”.
Persad-Bissessar said the campus was built because the land was available, and was on a key location where both South and Central could easily access tertiary education. Constituencies such as Point Fortin, La Brea, San Fernando East and West, Mayaro, and so on would benefit; however, the government opted to use race in a very skilful way in ill-speaking the project.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “You know what is happening there? Do you understand? That is race-baiting again. They say our motive for building it in Couva is because UNC people live there, but they wrong. The people who would access Couva would come from all over the island and outside the island as well.”
Persad-Bissessar said the PNM forgot to tell the people the PP built the Diego Martin health facility; also, a state-of-the-art facility in Carenage along with the El Dorado nursing academy, the San Fernando teaching hospital, and more. Also, in 2014, a government-to-government memorandum of understanding was signed between Trinidad and Tobago and the UK to build an integrated medical facility in Port-of-Spain, not just a Central Block – an entire complex to include training and specialist treatment.
Persad-Bissessar said if the government were not so “spiteful and malicious”, it would not have put a hold on the construction of “UNC projects”, such as the Arima and Point Fortin hospitals, which could have been completed already.
She said a second example of the use of race-baiting was the rhetoric surrounding the UWI South Campus. According to Persad-Bissessar, the government has refused to open this campus because “they think South only have Indo... descendants of Indo”.
Persad-Bissessar said the campus was built because the land was available, and was on a key location where both South and Central could easily access tertiary education. Constituencies such as Point Fortin, La Brea, San Fernando East and West, Mayaro, and so on would benefit; however, the government opted to use race in a very skilful way in ill-speaking the project.
She said for almost 200 years discrimination has been used in the country to encourage racism and division. Looking at the nation’s history, Persad-Bissessar said when indentureship ended, Indians were given “bad land” in Central or South, or a passage back to India – and many opted for the land.
However, when slavery ended, Africans were not given any such lands, and so they were forced into low-paying jobs which was just as bad as slavery. Persad-Bissessar said the freed slaves rented poor accommodation from the very plantation owners.
“The placing of freed slaves into slums was a deliberate act to keep them into a forced type of slavery by trapping them in a vicious cycle of low wages, poor living conditions, and no property ownership rights. This is a problem we will still face today where young Afro-Trinidadians have difficulty in obtaining property ownership,” she said.
Additionally, “So, what we have now is that a large number of people cannot afford lands and property, and are trapped in a vicious cycle of rentals and low wages. Until as a country we face these realities and relevant truths, we will not be able to move forward.”
Said Persad-Bissessar: “The Indo-Trinidadians must acknowledge that the Afro-Trinidadians were wronged by these acts; and while it is also difficult for many Indo-Trinidadians to get land and ownership now, it is a more difficult task for others because of historical discrimination.”
Persad-Bissessar said she tried to resolve it as Prime Minister, as the UNC has always led the charge for land and home ownership. The only way to reduce the crime rate and build the economy is to have a society where wealth, prosperity, and property ownership are distributed to all the population, and not just a select few.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “I promise you, I pledge tonight when you put us back into government we will re-introduce all these land – and home-owning programmes, and incentives so we could make right what went wrong in our history.”
In a response, Rowley leveled a similar accusation, saying Persad-Bissessar and the UNC were using issues of race and slavery to appeal to the emotions of Afro-Trinidadians to discourage them from voting. In speaking to the accusation, Rowley said, “Kamla is that you?”
He then recalled an invitation one year to attend the annual Divali Nagar in Chaguanas, saying Persad Bissessar and some members of her party had refused to attend while he was there.
He added Persad-Bissessar, “who now suddenly is the defender of African people in this country, she suddenly discover that slave masters didn’t give us nothing when they put us off the land and she is going to make sure that black people get land in Trinidad and Tobago”.
He questioned the genuineness in Persad-Bissessar’s words, asking whether her government distributed former Caroni 1975 Limited lands equitably.
Said Rowley: “For five years she oversaw land distribution in Caroni; she must tell us how much of the land she gave to black people.”
According to Rowley, Persad-Bissessar is also using the common stereotype of the African male being driven by sex and unfit to lead. He recalled that when he was in Opposition, UNC MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin came to Parliament and “accused me and my father of rape”.
He also accused the Opposition of “offering money left, right and centre” to not vote, as that will result in the PNM losing the elections.
“If that is the type of politics that is so transparent in this country now, and if you can be encouraged to not exercise your democratic right so that somebody else can win, so that they can come and thief out the treasury again,” Rowley said.
However, when slavery ended, Africans were not given any such lands, and so they were forced into low-paying jobs which was just as bad as slavery. Persad-Bissessar said the freed slaves rented poor accommodation from the very plantation owners.
“The placing of freed slaves into slums was a deliberate act to keep them into a forced type of slavery by trapping them in a vicious cycle of low wages, poor living conditions, and no property ownership rights. This is a problem we will still face today where young Afro-Trinidadians have difficulty in obtaining property ownership,” she said.
Additionally, “So, what we have now is that a large number of people cannot afford lands and property, and are trapped in a vicious cycle of rentals and low wages. Until as a country we face these realities and relevant truths, we will not be able to move forward.”
Said Persad-Bissessar: “The Indo-Trinidadians must acknowledge that the Afro-Trinidadians were wronged by these acts; and while it is also difficult for many Indo-Trinidadians to get land and ownership now, it is a more difficult task for others because of historical discrimination.”
Persad-Bissessar said she tried to resolve it as Prime Minister, as the UNC has always led the charge for land and home ownership. The only way to reduce the crime rate and build the economy is to have a society where wealth, prosperity, and property ownership are distributed to all the population, and not just a select few.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “I promise you, I pledge tonight when you put us back into government we will re-introduce all these land – and home-owning programmes, and incentives so we could make right what went wrong in our history.”
In a response, Rowley leveled a similar accusation, saying Persad-Bissessar and the UNC were using issues of race and slavery to appeal to the emotions of Afro-Trinidadians to discourage them from voting. In speaking to the accusation, Rowley said, “Kamla is that you?”
He then recalled an invitation one year to attend the annual Divali Nagar in Chaguanas, saying Persad Bissessar and some members of her party had refused to attend while he was there.
He added Persad-Bissessar, “who now suddenly is the defender of African people in this country, she suddenly discover that slave masters didn’t give us nothing when they put us off the land and she is going to make sure that black people get land in Trinidad and Tobago”.
He questioned the genuineness in Persad-Bissessar’s words, asking whether her government distributed former Caroni 1975 Limited lands equitably.
Said Rowley: “For five years she oversaw land distribution in Caroni; she must tell us how much of the land she gave to black people.”
According to Rowley, Persad-Bissessar is also using the common stereotype of the African male being driven by sex and unfit to lead. He recalled that when he was in Opposition, UNC MP Vernella Alleyne-Toppin came to Parliament and “accused me and my father of rape”.
He also accused the Opposition of “offering money left, right and centre” to not vote, as that will result in the PNM losing the elections.
“If that is the type of politics that is so transparent in this country now, and if you can be encouraged to not exercise your democratic right so that somebody else can win, so that they can come and thief out the treasury again,” Rowley said.
Port-of-Spain – Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal last week commended Police Commissioner Gary Griffith for his all-out war against gangsters, but said the lucrative contracts given to gang leaders under the administration led by Prime Minister Keith Rowley is undermining efforts to stop the gang war.
Moonilal called on Rowley to terminate contracts with gang leaders and to take action against any minister who gave contracts to gangsters.
Ironically, under Moonilal’s tenure as Housing Minister in 2013, contracts were given to known gang leaders, some of whom were arrested by police last week.
Said Moonilal: “Rowley’s regime has been grossly negligent in dealing with the scourge of gang warfare. One report exposes the fact that the government has been sitting on a shocking 2014 study, and has continued to feed alleged gangsters by providing them with lucrative taxpayer-funded contracts.” He was referring to a 17-page report compiled by Griffith when he served as Minister of National Security.
“The Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration had taken decisive and far-reaching decisions following allegations pertaining to LifeSport, and had also facilitated an independent investigation,” he said.
Moonilal said the government failed to act in a timely manner on police intelligence gathering in spite of the passage of anti-gang legislation.
“The fact that taxpayer-financed agencies are still providing rewarding contracts to gangsters four years after the comprehensive report is a serious indictment on the incompetent PNM administration. It also contradicts the oft-stated all-of-government approach to crime-fighting,” he said.
He noted that senior government officials have repeatedly stated they have names and addresses of gang operatives.
“Indeed, the prime minister harbours senior ministers of his government with known links to people before the courts on drug trafficking charges and other alleged gang leaders. Instead, the bald facts prove that the ruling regime has facilitated the growth of the deadly gang culture,” he said.
Moonilal said instead of blaming the past government, Rowley should assist law enforcement agencies by acting on the significant findings of the two reports.
Moonilal called on Rowley to terminate contracts with gang leaders and to take action against any minister who gave contracts to gangsters.
Ironically, under Moonilal’s tenure as Housing Minister in 2013, contracts were given to known gang leaders, some of whom were arrested by police last week.
Said Moonilal: “Rowley’s regime has been grossly negligent in dealing with the scourge of gang warfare. One report exposes the fact that the government has been sitting on a shocking 2014 study, and has continued to feed alleged gangsters by providing them with lucrative taxpayer-funded contracts.” He was referring to a 17-page report compiled by Griffith when he served as Minister of National Security.
“The Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration had taken decisive and far-reaching decisions following allegations pertaining to LifeSport, and had also facilitated an independent investigation,” he said.
Moonilal said the government failed to act in a timely manner on police intelligence gathering in spite of the passage of anti-gang legislation.
“The fact that taxpayer-financed agencies are still providing rewarding contracts to gangsters four years after the comprehensive report is a serious indictment on the incompetent PNM administration. It also contradicts the oft-stated all-of-government approach to crime-fighting,” he said.
He noted that senior government officials have repeatedly stated they have names and addresses of gang operatives.
“Indeed, the prime minister harbours senior ministers of his government with known links to people before the courts on drug trafficking charges and other alleged gang leaders. Instead, the bald facts prove that the ruling regime has facilitated the growth of the deadly gang culture,” he said.
Moonilal said instead of blaming the past government, Rowley should assist law enforcement agencies by acting on the significant findings of the two reports.
Griffith: breach the law and face arrest
Port-of-Spain – Nationals who block roads and protest through loyalty to gang leaders and others in the community face arrest, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said last week.
“I would want to advise the public… those who put God past their thoughts this time around I will be waiting on them… no area should feel that they so big and bad… If they are in love with their gang leaders they will join them,” Griffith said.
He added: “Nobody has the authority to block roads, no one had the authority to take the law into their own hands. Everything is intelligence-driven, and the operations will be based on that. It is not a case of us trying to deliberately intimidate, profile, or harass or target anyone on an individual-based. We are looking at individuals who want to use their ‘troops’ to work above the law.”
Last week Griffith and members from Special Operations Team, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, the Canine Unit, and the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit moved into the Dan Kelly, Laventille, and Phase 5 Beetham Gardens areas. The team conducted several searches and detained 27 people, including several gang leaders during a 72-hour operation.
In the exercises, 30 warrants were executed on people for various offences, and 105 tickets for driving under the influence of alcohol, and for speeding; 359 strategic stop and searches were conducted.
Among the gang leaders detained was one recently released from prison and believed to be linked to an increase in gun crimes, including murders in Port-of-Spain.
While he was not specific on who was detained, Griffith said it is unfair to the police for people who have serious cases pending to be easily given bail, and would be making recommendations.
“It is very difficult for the TTPS to do our job when we do all that is required through intelligence, getting information, arrest persons, have persons arrested with firearms, and within a few hours, or a day or so, they are released based on the easy access of bail… It makes it very difficult for the police service,” he said.
Additionally, “An individual who has several serious cases pending, and then bail is given to him, and then maybe you start seeing an increase in homicides.”
Last Wednesday Griffith announced a “red-code” based on the escalation of threat assessments, gang activities, and homicides. He made it clear that it is in “no way a degree of intimidation or profiling… it is in defending the country…We are in a war… we have a nation to defend. This is about good versus evil, right versus wrong… all of us getting together to hit back at the criminal elements”.
Griffith said last year the homicide rate decreased by 18 to 22 percent in the same period. He added in the Port-of-Spain Division one murder was recorded last year compared to 11 during the same period this year. At the end of February 2018, the murder toll stood at 97. Last week the murder toll was at 71.
“I would want to advise the public… those who put God past their thoughts this time around I will be waiting on them… no area should feel that they so big and bad… If they are in love with their gang leaders they will join them,” Griffith said.
He added: “Nobody has the authority to block roads, no one had the authority to take the law into their own hands. Everything is intelligence-driven, and the operations will be based on that. It is not a case of us trying to deliberately intimidate, profile, or harass or target anyone on an individual-based. We are looking at individuals who want to use their ‘troops’ to work above the law.”
Last week Griffith and members from Special Operations Team, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, the Canine Unit, and the Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit moved into the Dan Kelly, Laventille, and Phase 5 Beetham Gardens areas. The team conducted several searches and detained 27 people, including several gang leaders during a 72-hour operation.
In the exercises, 30 warrants were executed on people for various offences, and 105 tickets for driving under the influence of alcohol, and for speeding; 359 strategic stop and searches were conducted.
Among the gang leaders detained was one recently released from prison and believed to be linked to an increase in gun crimes, including murders in Port-of-Spain.
While he was not specific on who was detained, Griffith said it is unfair to the police for people who have serious cases pending to be easily given bail, and would be making recommendations.
“It is very difficult for the TTPS to do our job when we do all that is required through intelligence, getting information, arrest persons, have persons arrested with firearms, and within a few hours, or a day or so, they are released based on the easy access of bail… It makes it very difficult for the police service,” he said.
Additionally, “An individual who has several serious cases pending, and then bail is given to him, and then maybe you start seeing an increase in homicides.”
Last Wednesday Griffith announced a “red-code” based on the escalation of threat assessments, gang activities, and homicides. He made it clear that it is in “no way a degree of intimidation or profiling… it is in defending the country…We are in a war… we have a nation to defend. This is about good versus evil, right versus wrong… all of us getting together to hit back at the criminal elements”.
Griffith said last year the homicide rate decreased by 18 to 22 percent in the same period. He added in the Port-of-Spain Division one murder was recorded last year compared to 11 during the same period this year. At the end of February 2018, the murder toll stood at 97. Last week the murder toll was at 71.
Port-of-Spain – Joint Trade Union Movement leader Ancel Roget last week expressed confidence that the Oilfields Workers Trade Union will be successful in its bid to take over the refinery assets of defunct oil company Petrotrin. Roget is also OWTU president general.
Roget said there is a non-disclosure agreement which binds the union to confidentiality, and the union has satisfied all the relevant requirements, including international financing, an international management team, and international auditors, to oversee purchase of the refinery.
“We, the OWTU, are confident that we would have satisfied all of the requirements.... Remember an offer was made. It has been accepted. I can assure you, in not too long from now, we will be putting out a statement relevant to that situation.”
He added: “But the OWTU has stepped up to the plate and we have done all the necessary, satisfied all of those requirements, and we are confident that having done that, the only thing that will prevent us from getting that is – nothing.”
Roget said there are several outstanding issues regarding Petrotrin, including negotiations, and the improper application of severance pay. Most of those issues, he said, are either “before the court or on its way to the court”.
Asked about the perceived inaction of the unions while the retrenchment of workers seems to be occurring on a daily basis, he said the umbrella trade union organisation had developed a “work programme” to address the issue.
Said Roget: “Everybody saying they not hearing anything. Then when we put out plans, they are hearing too much. I guess it is a situation where you just can’t please everybody, you just have to stay on target, stay on focus. We are proactively going to put a work programme in place and we going to execute that work programme in ways that perhaps people may or may not like. But rest assured, our consistency is what will take us through.”
He said there are several social ills plaguing society, including runaway crime, the industrial relations climate and the attack on institutions.
“There is an attack on our industrial court by an elitist group in this country who would have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to challenge any decision of the court, and this is our reality. They take advantage of workers’ situation, and violate industrial relations. They want to control the court in their own image and likeness,” he said.
Roget said there is a non-disclosure agreement which binds the union to confidentiality, and the union has satisfied all the relevant requirements, including international financing, an international management team, and international auditors, to oversee purchase of the refinery.
“We, the OWTU, are confident that we would have satisfied all of the requirements.... Remember an offer was made. It has been accepted. I can assure you, in not too long from now, we will be putting out a statement relevant to that situation.”
He added: “But the OWTU has stepped up to the plate and we have done all the necessary, satisfied all of those requirements, and we are confident that having done that, the only thing that will prevent us from getting that is – nothing.”
Roget said there are several outstanding issues regarding Petrotrin, including negotiations, and the improper application of severance pay. Most of those issues, he said, are either “before the court or on its way to the court”.
Asked about the perceived inaction of the unions while the retrenchment of workers seems to be occurring on a daily basis, he said the umbrella trade union organisation had developed a “work programme” to address the issue.
Said Roget: “Everybody saying they not hearing anything. Then when we put out plans, they are hearing too much. I guess it is a situation where you just can’t please everybody, you just have to stay on target, stay on focus. We are proactively going to put a work programme in place and we going to execute that work programme in ways that perhaps people may or may not like. But rest assured, our consistency is what will take us through.”
He said there are several social ills plaguing society, including runaway crime, the industrial relations climate and the attack on institutions.
“There is an attack on our industrial court by an elitist group in this country who would have committed hundreds of millions of dollars to challenge any decision of the court, and this is our reality. They take advantage of workers’ situation, and violate industrial relations. They want to control the court in their own image and likeness,” he said.
Port-of-Spain – The government is exploring the possibility of a special subsidy to reduce the cost of Super gasoline for fishermen, Energy Minister Franklin Khan said last week.
Khan said officials of the Energy Ministry will soon meet with Agriculture Ministry’s Fisheries Division to discuss logistical changes fishermen may have to adopt to access fuel following the cessation of Regular fuel. Talks may also extend to working out whether a subsidy can be paid if the Agriculture Ministry approves.
Making the announcement in Parliament last week, Khan projected the possibility of answers for fishermen in a matter of “weeks”.
Fishermen in Tobago, Central and South Trinidad have been expressing growing concerns about the survival of their industry and their livelihood since the government stopped the importation of Regular fuel last year. Last month, fishermen in Carli Bay fishermen staged a protest and Otaheite fishermen also voiced concerns recently.
The importation ended following closure of the Petrotrin refinery and its restructuring last November. Paria Fuel now imports fuel, and has said it is uneconomic to import Regular fuel due to the small quantity used by fishermen.
Replying to questions from UNC MPs Lackram Bodoe and Ganga Singh in Parliament, Khan said his Ministry had written to the Agriculture Ministry seeking a meeting.
“After (the meeting) it’s our intention to meet with the fishermen to discuss the outcome, and chart a way forward on addressing the grave situation which they face,” Khan said.
Responding to whether the government may provide a subsidy, Khan said: “That will fall into the lap of the Agriculture Ministry. But from the Energy Ministry’s side, we’ve made it quite clear it would be impossible to supply the market with Regular (fuel) at least in the short term until the (Pointe-a-Pierre) refinery becomes operational, hopefully later this year or next year. We’ll work out if the Agriculture Ministry is so inclined, we’ll work out the logistics of whether a subsidy could be paid or not.”
Khan said officials of the Energy Ministry will soon meet with Agriculture Ministry’s Fisheries Division to discuss logistical changes fishermen may have to adopt to access fuel following the cessation of Regular fuel. Talks may also extend to working out whether a subsidy can be paid if the Agriculture Ministry approves.
Making the announcement in Parliament last week, Khan projected the possibility of answers for fishermen in a matter of “weeks”.
Fishermen in Tobago, Central and South Trinidad have been expressing growing concerns about the survival of their industry and their livelihood since the government stopped the importation of Regular fuel last year. Last month, fishermen in Carli Bay fishermen staged a protest and Otaheite fishermen also voiced concerns recently.
The importation ended following closure of the Petrotrin refinery and its restructuring last November. Paria Fuel now imports fuel, and has said it is uneconomic to import Regular fuel due to the small quantity used by fishermen.
Replying to questions from UNC MPs Lackram Bodoe and Ganga Singh in Parliament, Khan said his Ministry had written to the Agriculture Ministry seeking a meeting.
“After (the meeting) it’s our intention to meet with the fishermen to discuss the outcome, and chart a way forward on addressing the grave situation which they face,” Khan said.
Responding to whether the government may provide a subsidy, Khan said: “That will fall into the lap of the Agriculture Ministry. But from the Energy Ministry’s side, we’ve made it quite clear it would be impossible to supply the market with Regular (fuel) at least in the short term until the (Pointe-a-Pierre) refinery becomes operational, hopefully later this year or next year. We’ll work out if the Agriculture Ministry is so inclined, we’ll work out the logistics of whether a subsidy could be paid or not.”
Port-of-Spain – Businessman and long-standing PNM member and financier Harry Ragoonanan was expelled from the political party last week. The announcement following the expulsion was made by PNM chairman Colm Imbert.
Imbert told the media following a complaint made last year about Ragoonanan, the matter was referred to the party’s disciplinary committee. Its members conducted an investigation, and last week reported its findings to the General Council. The recommendation was Ragoonanan be expelled from the PNM.
Imbert said the report was discussed, and a motion put to the floor to adopt its findings and recommendations. No one voted against the recommendation, but a few abstained.
Ragoonanan was suspended from the party with immediate effect in October, 2017, pending the outcome of a police investigation into possible criminal conduct in relation to alleged bid-rigging in 2016.
At that time it was reported the party received audio recordings of a voice identified as Ragoonanan talking to a Chinese businessman on three separate occasions about the manipulation of tender processes at State-owned Public Transport Service Corporation.
Imbert said the investigation began in August and concluded last week. He also stressed he and general secretary Foster Cummings were not on the disciplinary committee, but his role was to chair the meeting while Cummings read out the committee’s report. This committee had been chaired by Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis.
“It’s very, very unfortunate. It’s not a happy day for me. I don’t consider it to be a good day in those terms, but there are procedures and there are rules and regulations of the party and the procedures had to be followed with respect to this matter,” Imbert said.
Ragoonanan later told the media he had been informed about the vote by a member of the General Council following last week’s meeting. He said he did not want to make any statement until he had the letter in his hands officially expelling him, and not until had he read the wording and noted the reason for his expulsion.
Said Ragoonanan: “I expected it. We have a matter in court so I suppose they took in front. I will deal with that in due time.”
In September last year, Ragoonanan sued Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, as well as former public relations officer and National Security Minister Stuart Young, for defamation. The matter is still now in court.
Imbert told the media following a complaint made last year about Ragoonanan, the matter was referred to the party’s disciplinary committee. Its members conducted an investigation, and last week reported its findings to the General Council. The recommendation was Ragoonanan be expelled from the PNM.
Imbert said the report was discussed, and a motion put to the floor to adopt its findings and recommendations. No one voted against the recommendation, but a few abstained.
Ragoonanan was suspended from the party with immediate effect in October, 2017, pending the outcome of a police investigation into possible criminal conduct in relation to alleged bid-rigging in 2016.
At that time it was reported the party received audio recordings of a voice identified as Ragoonanan talking to a Chinese businessman on three separate occasions about the manipulation of tender processes at State-owned Public Transport Service Corporation.
Imbert said the investigation began in August and concluded last week. He also stressed he and general secretary Foster Cummings were not on the disciplinary committee, but his role was to chair the meeting while Cummings read out the committee’s report. This committee had been chaired by Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis.
“It’s very, very unfortunate. It’s not a happy day for me. I don’t consider it to be a good day in those terms, but there are procedures and there are rules and regulations of the party and the procedures had to be followed with respect to this matter,” Imbert said.
Ragoonanan later told the media he had been informed about the vote by a member of the General Council following last week’s meeting. He said he did not want to make any statement until he had the letter in his hands officially expelling him, and not until had he read the wording and noted the reason for his expulsion.
Said Ragoonanan: “I expected it. We have a matter in court so I suppose they took in front. I will deal with that in due time.”
In September last year, Ragoonanan sued Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, as well as former public relations officer and National Security Minister Stuart Young, for defamation. The matter is still now in court.
Port-of-Spain – The two CT scanners at the San Fernando General Hospital have been out of action since January, with reports indicating this is so due to money woes being experienced by the South West Regional Health Authority.
The hospital said last week the unavailability of cash, estimated at over (TT) $500,000, to buy parts for the 16- and 64-slice scanners has been the major setback. This situation has emerged since the new service provider engaged by the SWRHA has demanded payment upfront. According to staff members, the unavailability of the scanners has seriously inconvenienced patients and doctors.
“[The administration] has had shifting explanations as for the delay in fixing the machines. As a result, CT scans have not been available, causing major inconvenience to patients and long lines at the department. Urgent cases that can’t afford to go to a private nursing home are being taken to Mt Hope (Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex) via ambulance, if they can be accommodated at all,” a member of staff said last week.
The hospital said last week the unavailability of cash, estimated at over (TT) $500,000, to buy parts for the 16- and 64-slice scanners has been the major setback. This situation has emerged since the new service provider engaged by the SWRHA has demanded payment upfront. According to staff members, the unavailability of the scanners has seriously inconvenienced patients and doctors.
“[The administration] has had shifting explanations as for the delay in fixing the machines. As a result, CT scans have not been available, causing major inconvenience to patients and long lines at the department. Urgent cases that can’t afford to go to a private nursing home are being taken to Mt Hope (Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex) via ambulance, if they can be accommodated at all,” a member of staff said last week.
