Ex-criminalizing Trinbago.

That, in Trinidad and Tobago, the criminal element is out-of-hand, there can be no doubt. No point, then, in here belabouring that point. Instead, focus must pinned on solving the problem. And the problem won't be solved until two things start happening:

1. There be swift retribution for criminal activity; and, simultaneously,
2. There are enticing and productive income-earning alternatives to those involved, or intending to be involved, in criminal activity.

Why those two suggestions? Because the criminally-minded believe that their career is the best, sometimes, only, option for them to make money; money, which, like any law-abiding, hard-working citizen, they use to access the creature comforts they crave. And that they never would be made to pay the price.

Get it?

Manning threatens business sector with PNM violence.

Prime Minister Manning needs to be summoned before some competent authority! Why? To explain what he said to the People's National Movement constituents gathered at the Thick Village Community Centre, Fyzabad, on the night of Thursday October 23rd 2008, in what was advertised as a post-Budget presentation. For, yours truly nearly fell off his seat on reading what was reported in the print media, to wit:

“When the prices fall on these international markets, we expect local prices to also fall but you know there are some unscrupulous businessmen operating in this country... and we may have to use the power of citizens to get our just due.” (Manning) said. (PM: Expect food prices to fall", by Richardson Dhalai, Trinidad Newsday of October 25th 2008.)

At the time, no doubt prompted by facts previously highlighted by yours truly, the Prime Minister was commenting on the high cost of food and pointing out that, due to the steep drop in grain prices on the international market, local consumers would soon get some relief as the price of derived goods follow suit. Which is the logical thing.

But, his choice of words disturbs! What does he mean by:

"...you know there are some unscrupulous businessmen...";

and,

"...we may have to use the power of citizens to get our just due..."?

One forgets one's history at one's peril. Therefore, given:

• the aforesaid setting for Manning's admonition (it was a PNM event); and, moreso,
  
• coming on the heels of what, sometime before, had taken place at Woodford Square (when, by PNM supporters, Opposition Members of Parliament were accosted and abused as they made their way into the Parliament chamber to participate in the no-confidence debate against PM Manning); and of
  
• His Imperial Majesty's recent and startling mea culpa of secretly and illegally using State intelligence-gathering agencies to sort out those about whom His Majesty is displeased; and of,
• the brazen, but ineffectual, attempt completely to muzzle and hobble the Silver-Maned Lion, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, just as the nation was about to commemorate another anniversary of the passing of Dr. Eric E. Williams,
  

it's obvious and unavoidable to conclude that the expressions "you" and "citizens" mean, "PNM supporters"; and that "we" (pluralis majestatis) means Patrick Augustus Manning's in his imperial alter-personage; and "unscrupulous businessmen" means the grouping of Trinbagonians identified in 1958 by Dr. Eric Williams as "the recalcitrant minority", who, through sheer hard work, sacrifice, discipline, prudence and co-operation, have, over time, become the dominant force in the food-import business in this neck of the woods.

Therefore, what Manning said to the "citizens" gathered in Thick Village can only be viewed as a threat, an open, subliminal and serious threat, to the life, limb and property of every businessperson, especially those belonging to "the recalcitrant minority".

None can fault the herein-deduced alarum knell! Not in the face of the incontrovertible evidence! Thus, the recalcitrant minority has to take all necessary and reasonable precautions, lest, thanks to Manning's urgings, what happened, first, in Uganda, then, Zimbabwe, occurs, with similarly dire consequences, in Trinbago.

On a side note! Why does the Prime Minister expect local businessmen to drop their price, when he refuses to lead by example? After all, haven't he and his régime thickheadedly (pun intended) refused, despite earnest pleas from the citizenry, to curb government spending in light of the dramatic drop in the price of a barrel of oil, a reduction caused by the same forces that have impacted upon grain? And, what will force them to heed to such pleas? Maybe non-"citizens" need to show him what power they, on their own, could muster?

Education system flop.

What other signs does one need of the extent to which, since 1956, successive administrations have screwed up this country's education system, than the sight of hordes of foreigners, from Shanghai captain to Chinese cook, busily constructing the skyscrapers all over Port of Spain, while, at ground level, simultaneously, hordes of locals feign busyness as they cut roadside grass à la CEPEP?

Mixed-up persons always give mixed signals.

Re: Your Editorial of October 25, 2008, the one headlined "Mixed signals we do not need"

The preamble to the captioned Editorial, in part, declared:

"In times of uncertainty the last thing that citizens expect of the political directorate is a mixing of signals...".

The article then went on to highlight the constant and public hithering and thithering of the Manning administration where public policies are concerned, e.g. Minister Imbert's and Nunez-Tesheira's opposite positions about drawing down from the Heritage Fund; and the Prime Minister's and Foreign Affairs Minister's different takes (or, is it spin?) on the 200 luxury cars for the 2009 Summit of the Americas Folly.

But, the Express rounded off in most abrupt manner, as no conclusion was drawn, though recommendation was given. Hence, the following is proffered by yours truly: "The actions of the Manning administration as identified in your Editorial confirm that mixed-up persons always give mixed signals."

Ent?

Karen and them and the 2009 Budget.

Hmm! Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira, attempted to justify her using a U$70.00 base for Trinbago's 2009 National Budget, by indicating that Alaska, Iran, Indonesia and Iraq (are the only-known countries in the world to have) used a projected oil price that's equal to or higher than hers. ("US$70 oil price lower than Iraq's" by Clint Chan Tack, Trinidad Newsday October 24, 2008.)

As if that would calm the nation's jitters.

Even so, she (conveniently?) neglected to mention that:

1. In the case of Iraq, as of the date of this writing, its 2009 Budget has not yet been approved by its Parliament and, in any event, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister has publicly declared that it will amend its projected expenditure because of falling oil revenues. Karen and them have not.
2. In the case of Alaska, whose financial year runs begins in July, thus, whose Budget is prepared and approved some time before then, the U$83 oil price used for their 2009 Budget was LOWER than that for their 2008 Budget. Karen and them went in the opposite direction.
3. In the case of Indonesia, in response to falling oil prices, their economic projections have already been downgraded; and, they have already, twice, revised, downwards, the base oil price, overall by some 15%. Meanwhile, Karen and them have not budged. And,
   
4. In the case of Iran, one of the world's major oil-exporting countries, there's abundant evidence of serious efforts being made to re-hike world oil prices by tweaking the supply. Iran's probably prompted so to do because depressed oil prices would mean less revenue available to maintain her massive social welfare programmes. Whatever! Suffice it to say that everyone knows Iran could get OPEC to turn on the screws, as she has some heavy clout in that oil cartel. Karen and them have none.

Quo ab hinc, Trinbago?

Since Trinbago has neither say nor sway over the price of oil, it stands to reason that, in projecting therefrom-to-be-derived revenues, any prudent Finance Minister would yaw close to shore rather than look to chart a course through Kick-'em-Jenny type waters. Karen and them have not.

One might also recall that, whenever challenged by the public to "run something" from the increased oil revenues, former Junior Finance Minister, Conrad Enill, was fond of explaining that, when projecting for the future, the Manning administration sticks with the historic long-term oil price price and that, regardless, the increase didn't amount to much, as Trinbago's oil fetches a much lower price than is popularly believed.

Given that, for the ten-year period ending 2007, that historic figure was about U$41/barrel, in light of the dramatic turn (for the worse) of events, hindsight forces one to wonder why Conrad was not given the job which Karen now holds?

There's cause to be alarmed, for, truly, Karen-and-them behaviour reminds the cognoscenti of the recreation-club nowayrians, the ones who always hang around in the wappie and poker rooms, scrounging and grovelling for a lil change from the Casa or some lucky, carefree gambler and who, eventually, when someone does throw them a bet, would dive in the gamble and, if they happen to win two bets, would become so frenzied by the sight of a couple hundred dollars scruffily heaped in front of them, -their money, not nobody else own- that they would fervently believe that, such is their there-and-then fortune and skill, they could break everybody, even the Casa and, without fail, overplay their luck, because their winning would launch them into a spending spree, buying whiskey and chasing with beer, plus Benson and Hedges, when, just before, it was literally catpiss and pepper and a bummed smoke, until, as surely as thunder follows lightning and in about the same time frame, they end right back at square one: penniless, wondering whence cometh the next meal, reminiscing and telling whoever cares to listen of the pile ah money they just had.

Even a kindergarten pupil can see that.

There are those, both within and without the present government régime, who would have the citizenry believe that, because oil revenues account for just about 20% of National Income, then the citizenry ought not be worried over the drastic decline in the price of that commodity.

Such foolhardiness -can't find any other way to describe it- must be dismissed, out of hand. Why? The public perception is that things take a turn in step with the direction on the Futures Index that oil takes. And, as is accepted, perception is reality!

So! As long as the population-at-large holds dear that Trinbago's economic fortunes are inextricably linked to the price of a barrel of oil, their confidence about their economic pursuits -which is key to continued and prospective investing- will maintain a perfect pas de deux with black gold's every twist and turn!

Thus, syllogism mandates the Trinbagonian entrepreneurial spirit to droop whenever the price of oil does a nosedive; as it has.

Even a kindergarten pupil can see that.

At last! The reason for horrible footpaths.

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday declined a response except to say "I stay away from pedestrian matters."

(Cut and pasted from 'I stay away from pedestrian matters': the Trinidad Newsday of October 23, 2008.)

At last! The reason why, all over Trinidad and Tobago, wherever they exist, footpaths are in such a horrible condition.

Media: Shapers of public opinion.

The media have always touted (and prided?) themselves as being shapers of public opinion. Which implies that they must have already decided upon what that public opinion ought to look like when they're done shaping it.

This dispatch is not purposed to delve into the merits (or demerits) of the media's assertion, rather, to remind those that own/control them, that, as long they, as aforesaid, self-opine, then, they must ignore certain things. What things? The things which aren't conducive to the finished product they have in mind; and, also, to highlight those which are.

Is Dr. Keith Rowley afraid of his destiny?

The best-known occasion of Dr. Eric E. Williams coming close to losing mastery of the People's National Movement (PNM) was back in 1973, when he "resigned", effective upon the party finding a replacement. But, swiftly back he came! To this day, some swear his comeback was galvanized by the Amoco oil find and the hike in oil prices, which combined to give the depleted National Treasury a lifesaving infusion thus, fortuitously for him, some additional breathing space. In the end, it was Karl Hudson-Phillips (who had offered himself as Eric's replacement), who really paid the price. Eric, thereafter, remained leader; till he died.

Dr. Williams's 1981 death forced PNM to find a new leader; makes sense. So it was that one of the PNM's troika of Deputy Political Leaders, George Michael Chambers, took over the rule of the roost.

For a few months George held it together, despite the grumblings of the supporters of Kamaluddin Mohammed and or Errol Mahabir, the "bypassed" Deputies. George reinforced his authority by handsomely winning the 1981 elections, having, electrified, at the eleventh hour, PNM supporters with his impassioned invocation not to give "a damn seat" to the Karl-led Organization for National Reconstruction (ONR); which call, in droves, they heeded.

No surprise, then, that George, thereafter, became (and remained) unquestioned leader of the PNM. Until the PNM lost the elections of 1986, in the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) 33-3 deluge.

But, George was a gentleman: gentlemen prefer blondes, remember? So! George promptly gave up the PNM mantle. Resigned! Went bird-hunting in the Northern Range! Refusing even to entertain the PNM's Women's League's pleadings for him to stay, to reconsider! Thus, again leaderless, PNM had no other option but to hunt as well: for a new leader, its second in less than six years. Enter, eventually, Patrick Augustus Manning, who, were he as gentlemanly as his predecessor, would, too, have resigned in 1995, having yielded control of the government with a full year, yet, to go in his term.

However, Patrick, by that time, had become so drunk with power (some say, also with the feel of power), that he refused to leave. He contrived to fight off a serious leadership challenge, or, better put, a serious challenge to his leadership, mounted by one of his own troika of deputies, Dr. Keith Rowley.

Twelve years have passed since that 1996 Rowley challenge, however, to this day, it's evident, even to cursory observers, that Patrick is afraid of Dr. Keith. What better evidence than that he has never allowed Dr. Keith to hold for him whenever duty requires him abroad to travel.

Trouble is, Dr. Keith, too, is afraid of Patrick, as evidenced by the former's reluctance again to lunge for the latter's jugular.

Dr. Keith Rowley and PM Patrick Manning

Guess the country would have to wait for Patrick altogether to collapse, ergo, so, too, would Dr. Keith, for it's clear that Dr. Rowley is afraid of his destiny.

Or something of the sort.

Re: This somewhat sophisticated, special, security squad, SAUTT (Special Anti Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, pronounced "sort").

Take away the blimp and some sophistication, in at least two other places and another time, SAUTT would have been called Tonton Macoutes and or a Mongoose Gang. Or something of the sort.

Greed and greed alone!

The price of wheat has fallen by about 50% since March, to about U$264.00/ton. Simultaneously, the prices of corn and rice has dropped by more than one-third. Those downward trends have been triggered by the dramatic decreases in the cost of harvesting and transporting, due, mainly, to lower fuel costs and increased production.

So! Why are those items and their derivatives still so expensive on the grocery shelves? Could it be that greed and greed alone is what's keeping retail prices at a high level?

Obama rally in St. Louis, Missouri. Wow!

This, from a sickbed.

"...The PTSC declined to give an official response to Samuel's killing, but said the incident was just a reflection of the current crime wave facing the country..."

The above Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) response to the brazen, brutal butchering of Lyndon Samuel, as reported in Joel Julien's Trinidad Express of October 18, 2008, galvanized yours truly to rise from his sickbed to say this:

The public, therefore, ought not to fuss about such incidents: just take them in stride; and move on with its "normal" business.

A police officer guards the Lyndon Samuel murder scene.
Photo: CURTIS CHASE

On another note: the investigating law enforcement agencies (and the media?) have, inanely, given the perpetrator(s) the jump start by expatiating that everything was captured on tape. Plus, it makes no sense publicizing that information unless it's accompanied by a picture of the suspect. Jeez!

Sachin, Brian; and Digicel.

Well done, Sachin: the first to score and surpass 12,000 runs in Test cricket! All accolades to the best batsman on the today's scene; and best wishes for his continued success and record-setting!

Oh! By the way, none of this would have possible without dimwitted help from Digicel, who, through their downright pigheadedness, forced several of West Indies top players off the scene for a good while, in the process denying one Brian Charles Lara the opportunity to be the one to whom the hereinabove-extended congratulations would have been given.

McCain's Miscalculation.

A buddy went searching the dictionary for all the words in which the letters McCAin follow in exactly that order. This is what was found:

Very apt, don't you agree?

The only other word that matches is the word MoCCAsIN. That also figures, for, through McCain, the GOP wants to continue trampling all over US citizens.

UPDATED: Well, Mr. Manning?

Yours truly previously mentioned:

Well, Mr. Manning! Oil price has dipped perilously close to the budgeted price, having fallen to U$71 before swinging up a little, to U$73.
When are you gonna review the Budget? When the foul-looking/smelling stuff hits the fan?

Yours truly now updates, post the 2008 October 15, close of day's trade:
Well, Mr. Manning! The price has now dipped below the budgeted price: it closed at U$69.85.
The foul-looking/smelling stuff has hit the fan!

Not a Ministry office!

This, really, to the Editor of The Trinidad Guardian:

Dear Trinidad Guardian Editor,
Your published report of a burglary at No. 215 Eastern Main Road, Arouca ("Parsanlal's office burgled", penned by GK), is misleading due to its inaccuracy: the burgled premises never have, nor do not, house the office of the Minister, or Ministry, of Information of Trinidad and Tobago; they house the office of the Member of Parliament for Lopinot/Bonair West. All such premises fall under the full purview of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, all thereto-related expenses: rent, utilities, furnishings, staff, consumables and maintenance, are met by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

While one might consider the slip to be a trifling one, it is not, for it conveys the impression that, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Government is the Parliament and, or, vice versa, when it's well-known that such is NOT the case; at least according to the Constitution.

Sincerely,
kid5rivers,
Five Rivers,
Arouca,
Trinidad and Tobago.

Let's opt out of this Summit!

Let the USA host the Fifth Summit of The Americas: whatever financial benefits to be gained by them, as host country, would cost less than it is costing/would cost Trinidad and Tobago, since they already have all the infrastructure, support systems and expertise in place; and, especially at this time of economic stress and job loss in that country, the shift would redound more immensely to their benefit. Hell! The even have excess luxury cars in stock!

No reasonable argument could be advanced against this presently-proffered proposal.

Sorry, Sando Court and City Corp, but...

Yolandra John of the Trinidad Express, reports that some 4,000 plus digital compact discs (with cases and liners) containing pirated music were destroyed, under court order, then buried in the dump near Roodal Cemetery, San Fernando. ("CDs CRUSHED. Magistrates order 4,000 pirated discs destroyed" by Yolandra John South Bureau)

One would have thought that, coming on the heels of Kristy Ramnarine's exposé of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) lapses, re: strip mining near to the Asa Wright Nature Centre, matters relating to environmental oversight would have been on the front burner of EVERY state agency? Thus, that these compact discs (with cases and liners) would have been recycled after being crushed; which would have been the case, had The Solid Waste Management Company, the state agency incorporated for such purpose, been brought into the picture, rather than/in addition to those who seized the photo-op in the Stephen Doobay picture that accompanied John's article.

Members of the San Fernando City Police look on as a roller crushes over 4,000 seized digital compact discs.
Photo: STEPHEN DOOBAY

It is hoped, therefore, that every future court order for any such disposal be accordingly issued.

Well, Mr. Manning?

Well, Mr. Manning! Oil price has dipped perilously close to the budgeted price, having fallen to U$71 before swinging up a little, to U$73.
When are you gonna review the Budget? When the foul-looking/smelling stuff hits the fan?

Parachutes required.

Oil prices are tumbling! Tumbling means falling over and downwards, simultaneously. The 2009 Budget assumes oil price of U$70 per barrel. That assumption was enunciated, what, two weeks ago? Now, 2008 October 9th, one notes that the price of oil is just U$85, with all predictions saying that it will continue to tumble, maybe even till it reaches U$30-40. Or, lower!
Yours truly has already fastened his seatbelt and strapped on his parachute.

My personal daily prayer (one of them).

Dear Great Orchestrator!
Please keep fossil-fuel prices inordinately high: life is hell despite all the humongous income those high prices generate, so, obviously, it would only get worse should they fall.
Please, give favourable ear to this prayer.

Electrifying turn of events at T&TEC.

Re: The Devanand Ramlal and T&TEC brouhaha.

Just wait and see! Someone will SHORTly say that it was the UNC that put Devanand Ramlal as Chairman of T&TEC in the first place.

As to Mr. Ramlal himself? His public declaration that he "eh bong fuh ah wuk" prompts swift eyebrow raising in this quarter, since that declaration snuggles down nicely with what Senator Mark had alleged about him in the Senate.

And, finally, for now, as to Mr. Ramlal's insistence that, because Roopnarine's Hardware is owned by his cousins, it falls outside the umbra of the conflict-of-interest umbrella? Well! The inference from his such-held dogma leads to suggest that he took part in and or, otherwise influenced, for the Hardware's benefit, T&TEC board and or Tenders Committee decision-making where Roopnarine's Hardware is concerned.

One awaits the outcome of this electrifying turn of events.

Dr. Carol James in the crosshairs.

The threat to the serenity of the Asa Wright Nature Centre being wrought by rampant quarrying in its proximity, as reported in the Trinidad Express of October 6, 2008, is yet more evidence of the perspicacity of Manning's vision of life, as it shall be in Trinidad and Tobago, come 2020 C. E. ("Nature centre faces quarrying threat" by Kristy Ramnarine.)

What's worse is that if, indeed, what the Express report highlights is correct -that Dr. Carol James, who sits on the Centre's board, together with the National Quarries Company, are looking at ways of devising tactics for sustainable quarrying in the area- then, perhaps, Dr. James has compromised her role as a director of the Centre. For one would have thought that, as director of one of the most prestigious and successful nature centres in the world and, having spoken out, on numerous occasions, of the havoc created when man denudes forested mountain slopes and, for years, having been the head of the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, she would have been forever fiercely focused on moving heaven and earth (no pun intended) to prevent and stop all quarrying activity within a reasonably-wide buffer zone around Asa Wright's legacy; in this instance, even if it meant seeking a court order.

Dr. Carol James
(Speaking to participants of the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project in March 2005)
Photo by Christine of trini.view

One also needs to question whether the Environmental Management Authority, on whose Board Dr. James also sits, gave its blessing, as is first required, for the troublesome quarrying operations. If it did, then all the more reason for Dr. James to resign from one of the two directorships, preferably from the Asa Wright's.

Until she does that, Dr. Carol James remains fixed in the crosshairs.

Some men are born ignominious, ...

It is said that some men are born great, that others achieve greatness during their life's course and that yet others have greatness thrust upon them. The obvious inference from such axiom is that in like fashion, ignominy is conferred. Though the jury's still out where the verdict re: one Patrick Manning is concerned, from its demeanour, while the judge was summing up, one is tempted, seriously tempted, to believe that it has already agreed he embodies the trinity of ignoble traits.

Well, praise de baleezay!

Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh feeling good
Bout life in Trinbago
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh have water
In de pipe in yuh house
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh doh know
Nobody who get murdered
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh could drive in 25 minutes
From Arima to POS
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh could spen TT$200 a week
And feed yuh family
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh get a good wuk
After passing yuh CAPE
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh could get answers
From yuh Prime Minister
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh doh have to depen
On barrel from abroad
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh happy bout
De direction T&T going
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

Yuh answers to
All dem questions is no,
Today?
Well, praise de baleezay!

All salute Milady, Justice Carol Gobin!

In one of the most damning judgments handed down against the State of Trinidad and Tobago, Milady, Justice Carol Gobin detailed the horrendously sub-human conditions which exist on the Remand Yard at the Port of Spain Prison. The Remand Yard, as Milady rightly and forthrightly indicated, is the place where persons charged, but whose trials have not begun or are not yet concluded, are kept in custody pending the outcome of their trial. The Remand Yard also houses accused persons who have been granted bail, but, for one reason or another, mostly financial, are unable to conclude the necessary arrangements for the posting of their approved bail.
All salute Milady, Justice Carol Gobin! Thanks to her example, there is yet hope for Trinidad and Tobago.

For the benefit of readers, the details can be had in this Oct 4, 2008 Trinidad Guardian article by Francis Joseph. An excerpt from the article is posted below:

JUSTICE CAROL GOBIN

“The executive needs to be reminded that the treatment at the remand yard, Port-of-Spain, cannot continue, not only because it is treatment which is debasing and dehumanising to prisoners and to prisons officers who are duty bound to participate in the process, but because it is treatment which, if after having been exposed, is allowed to continue, threatens to redefine us as a people.”

Let's ride!

So de gas price gone up? And the price of vehicles too? So de taxi and maxi fares go follow suit? Well?

If we want to avoid de resulting stress, leave the fuel-fossil powered motors and let's ride! Let's take a bicycle!

Dat's better for we wallet. And we heart. And the environment.

Well? Let's ride!

Manning and his WMD Achilles' Heel.

An American President was turned into a lame duck because he felt threatened by certain WMDs over which he had no control. A British Prime Minister lost his crown because he, too, felt threatened by certain WMDs over which he had no control. So! What in blazes is wrong with a certain Trinbagonian Prime Minister? Why is he bent on raising the ire of Trinbagonian WMDs? Doesn't he know that unless he pays attention to history he is doomed to repeat it?

Dear Patrick,
Stay far, far away from WMDs: they will bring you down!

Oops! Forgot to define what a Trinbagonian WMD is! My bad! It's "Whom Manning Dismissed". Manning's provoking the Trinbagonian WMD nest! According to history, Manning is doomed!

And, just in case one believes yours truly is fancifully flying, beware that there's this other WMDs-always-bring-down-leaders precedent, most recent: it's "Whom Mbeki Dismissed".