Excuse me, Guv! But...

In announcing the "bailout" of Lawrence Duprey's empire, the Central Bank Governor, Ewart Williams, declared that:

"...A very high leveraging of the Group’s assets, which constrains the potential amount of cash that could be raised from the asset sales. In our regular monitoring of CIB (CLICO Investment Bank) and of CLICO since 2004 -when insurance supervision was transferred from the Ministry of Finance- the Central Bank has consistently focused on these deficiencies, but have (sic) been stymied by the inevitable challenge of change and by inadequacies in the legislative framework which do not give the (Central) Bank the authority to demand these changes.

The Central Bank is very conscious of the contagion risks that financial difficulties in an institution -as vast as the CL Financial Group- could have on the entire financial system of Trinidad and Tobago and, indeed, in the entire Caribbean region.

For the record, ladies and gentlemen, the CL Financial Group has an imposing presence, with potentially systemic consequences for the financial sector and the economy of Trinidad and Tobago and the entire region. For example:

1. The Group controls over ($100) billion of assets in at least 28 companies located throughout the Region and the world.
2. The Group’s financial interests cover several industry sectors including banking and financial services, energy, real estate and manufacturing and distribution. The four largest financial institutions in the Group manage assets of over $38 billion, over 25 percent of the country’s GDP..."

Stop one darn minute! A couple of questions needs must be asked:

1. Precisely whose interests does the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago seek? Asked because, if, for over four years, the Bank knew something was cooking and, when it spoke to them, the jefes at CL Financial weren't listening, why didn't the Bank go public with the information? Or, threaten so to do? Or, at least, forward some report to the Parliament about it? After all, "...The Central Bank is very conscious of the contagion risks that financial difficulties in an institution -as vast as the CL Financial Group- could have on the entire financial system of Trinidad and Tobago and, indeed, in the entire Caribbean region..."?
2. How come one company -and a privately-owned one at that- has been allowed to own such a huge chunk of Trinidad and Tobago? Asked in rhetoric, really, because one recalls that André Monteil was -till March last year- CL Financial’s Executive Director, Group Financial Director and Chairman of CLICO Investment Bank. Oh yes! Also Treasurer of the People's National Movement! Maybe that's why nothing was done?
   
3. What ties exist -even if tenuously- to link this turn of events does the recent statement by Information Minister, Neil Parsanlal, that the Trinidad and Tobago government intends to consolidate all its media operations in one place? Asked because, as a consequence of the announced "bailout", "the government", through state-owned First Citizens' Bank would become the owner of the bailed out companies, one of which -CLICO- owns one quarter -over fifteen million shares- of the largest Caribbean media conglomerate -One Caribbean Media Limited. In highlighting the salient areas that "...The Group’s financial interests cover..", The Guv neglected to mention that, even though the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange reports indicate that this single investment is worth -as at December 31st 2008- more than a quarter billion dollars!
4. Ought not the taxpayer to be made aware of the names of those who shall benefit from the taxpayers' rescue efforts? Asked because it's the taxpayers' money that's now going to be used to "bailout" CL Financial Holdings. Also, because it would be a shame if high-wheeling risk-takers -who could more than afford to take a hit- pepper that list.
   

No doubt, in coming hours and days, there will be many more questions to be asked. Whether any honestly would be answered is left to be seen. Meanwhile, the merry lime by Smoky and Bunty unabated continues.

The Commission of Inquiry into UDeCoTT: Come bet nothing would come uff it!

Many friends, colleagues and acquaintances have chided me -some, openly- over my not at all following the goings-on of the Uff Commission of Inquiry into UDeCoTT via the televised-live feed.

Whenever so they me rebuff, I'd simply uffer, in cynical response, that, despite all the huff and puff raised as said Inquiry proceeds, given the reputation uff Trinbago government administrations in such matters, when the Commission would uff been completed and its report submitted, nothing would come uff it...nothing! Come bet, nah? Come bet!

'Nuff said!

Time for Manning and Company to revisit the Vision 2020 thingy.

A couple of days ago the government of Iceland toppled. Why? Because Icelanders lost their cool. Why? Because the meltdown -the global financial one, that is- had so wrecked their economy that wracked, too, were their customary sangfroid.

Icelandic PM Geir Haarde (R) after he announced the immediate resignation …(Yahoo News)

As these words are being writ, France's government is being buffetted by the French, not with "Vive Sarkozy!" cries, but, rather, the vivacious lament of millions of French men and women who, in the current dispensation, catching their nennen to survive. And, as Dr. Sparrow has said, "Sixty million Frenchmen, can't be wrong!" So, it's just a matter of time when news shall come that, down from his prime ministerial bastion, Sarkorzy shall have tombé.

Paris Protest January 29, 2009 (Huffington Post)

Besides their recent and ongoing woes, Iceland and France also share company of another type: membership of The First World, a world to which, were Father of the Nation, Manning and his Company ever to embrace the right vision, by 2020 Trinidad and Tobago would belong.

But, it's worth recalling that all who neglect to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Therefore, Manning and Company might just want to revisit their Vision 2020 thingy for to tweak it so that, rather than Trinbago becoming a part of the First World -which is now showing its true colours- from it this country shall ever apart remain.

If they don't heed this warning, then, sooner, rather than later, Trinbagonians might very-well ups and follow the Icelandic and or French-cut suits.

BREAKING NEWS! Peanut Butter/Paste Recall goes viral!

Spurred by the sad memory of the thirteen or fourteen St. Ann's Hospital patients who died after being fed salmonella-infected eggnog, back in the 1990's, when Trinidad and Tobago, like now, also had an inept Minster of Health at the helm, every alarm bell must surely peal in dire warning, on receipt of these breaking news, that:

(The) Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Products
PCA Announces the Voluntary Recall of All Peanuts and Peanut Products Shipped from Georgia Plant

Contact:
Peanut Corporation of America
1-877-564-7080

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Lynchburg, Va. (January 28, 2009) – Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) is voluntarily recalling all peanuts and peanut products processed in its Blakely, Georgia facility since Jan. 1, 2007. Previously, PCA announced a recall of peanut butter and peanut paste. PCA sells its products to institutional and industrial users for service in large institutions or for sale and further processing by other companies. PCA does not sell peanuts or peanut products directly to consumers in stores.

PCA is not aware of any complaints or reports of illness involving the additional peanuts and peanut products subject to this expanded recall. PCA is acting out of an abundance of caution and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s help to recall all products manufactured in its Georgia facility. PCA is voluntarily taking this larger recall action following almost two weeks of inspection and review at the Georgia facility.

The expanded recall includes all peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste. All of the recalled peanuts and peanut products were made only at the company’s Blakely, Georgia facility; the lot numbers and a description of the products being recalled are listed at the end of this release. The Blakely, Georgia facility has stopped producing all peanut products.

The voluntary recall comes amid an FDA investigation into a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people nationwide beginning in September, with the largest number of illnesses reported in November. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Because some of our peanut products have been used by manufacturers of pet food, we are also alerting the public that Salmonella is an organism that can potentially be transferred to people handling pet treats exposed to Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian...

PCA is notifying customers who received recalled products by phone and/or in writing. Customers should segregate and hold the product and call PCA at 1-877-564-7080 for further instructions. Consumers should contact the FDA and visit the agency web site at www.fda.gov for a complete list of all products affected.

“We have been devastated by this, and we have been working around the clock with the FDA to ensure any potentially unsafe products are removed from the market immediately,” said Stewart Parnell, President of Peanut Corporation of America. “Additionally, we are working alongside state and federal food safety experts in every way we can to help them protect consumers, both now and in the future.

“We want our customers and consumers to know that PCA is taking extraordinary measures, out of an abundance of caution, to identify and recall all products that have been identified as potential risks.”

The recalled peanuts and peanut products were distributed nationwide to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies as well as and in Canada, Haiti, Korea and Trinidad.

All lots that are affected begin with the lot number 7, 8 or 9. The following is the description of the products being recalled:

Description:
Peanut Butter All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Paste All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7,8, or 9
Peanut Meal All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Granules All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9
Peanuts All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9

Source: United States Food and Drug Administration website (http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/peanutcorp401_09.html)

The list of processed foods into which this and previously-recalled peanut byproducts may have gone is a long one and recent in origin -less than two years- (http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html); and includes popular brands such as Reese's and Chef Boyardee.

And so, the questions must be asked as to whether, in 2009, the local public health authorities are on top of this latest one of Peanut Corporation of America's mash? And that, if they are, what are they doing/have they done about it? Or, shall they wait till it goes viral like first Dengue Fever, now, Yellow Fever have?

Manning is NOT Head of State, yuh done know!

DON STEWART -he signed as being from New York- had his letter published in Trinidad and Tobago's Sunday Newsday -January 25, 2009 edition. Which is all well and good, for it's always desirable that the diverse man-in-the-street views and opinions be allowed room to flex.

But, whenever any such letter Prime Minister Patrick Manning's name or office, openly, or discreetly, mentions, or refers, close scrutiny must at once be paid to what about him is said --after all, he is the Prime Minister, the Trinbagonian One; who, seemingly, over Trinbago all power wields? And, so, none wish that any inaccuracy about him while he holds such office be left out in the open --boomerangs are known sometimes to haunt even the most deft thrower, or to maim the wrong quarry when forth from fledgling fingers flung!

Now! DON's letter was his run at explaining -and defending- why the Trinbagonian One --who has arrogated unto himself the "Father of The Nation" title-- was not present to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama --hadn't noticed, but, apparently, some persons might have previously opined "for him not to have been was an insult". Whatever! Listen to DON:

"...there is nothing to be “mind-boggled” about. No world leader was in attendance. It is not customary to invite head of states to any elected official’s swearing in ceremony.

Doesn’t happen in Trinidad, doesn’t happen in the UK, doesn’t happen in India or Canada either and it certainly doesn’t happen in the US.

The fact is no head of state was invited to the historic occasion when Obama took his oath as the 44th President of the United States and its first African-American leader..."

However, on a point of order, in his eagerness to defend the usurper, DON fell into error by:

1. conjecturing that the Trinbagonian One is a Head of State, when, according to Trinbago's constitution --which, as law, supremely-ensconced over Trinbago remains-- he is not -the President is! And,
2. in the face of established and well-documented precedent, denying that when a coronation occurs in the UK, no non-UK head of state is invited to witness.

Regarding the second point, had DON done his homework, even if he had merely browsed through it, he would have gleaned, from the likes of the BBC's "This Day In History" online archives for June 2, 1953, this report:

"...Queen Elizabeth II has been crowned at a coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London.

In front of more than 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and heads of state from around the Commonwealth, she took the Coronation Oath and is now bound to serve her people and to maintain the laws of God..."

CONCLUSION: Wheel! Then come again, DON!

As to this rebuttal? Time to pull up stakes, for it is done!

42/4=10.5 LMAO!

The Trinidad and Tobago Saturday Express of January 24, 2009, in a brief report bylined, "Bas: Change laptop rules", informs:

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday urged House Speaker Barendra Sinanan to revisit the House rules with respect to the use of the laptop.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, (standing), in Parliament Jan 23, 2009.
Photo: Roberto Codallo TRINIDAD EXPRESS

"We must really change that ruling we made on the use of laptops. It is a waste, Mr Speaker, it is a tragedy not to be able to have at your fingertips in this House the availability of all that tremendous resource during the debate in this House," Panday said.

"I save so much time I don't have to run about to the library," said Panday.

He reiterated the need for laptops in the House, telling the Speaker, "You don't need to worry that there will be a proliferation of computer users in here, three quarters of the members in here are computer illiterate."

Off head almost fell, laughing at simple realization that if The Chief's right, then, most likely, some of the Opposition Members of Parliament are clueless where computers are concerned, for 42/4=10.5. How come 42? Well, The Speaker, too, is a Member of Parliament, d'oh!

So, hmm! Which ones plus a half lack computer savvy ? Knowing that it can't be The Chief -he was sent packing because he dared show that he was, remember?- then who? Hamza? Kelvin? Who? Maybe a division would tell.

Still laughing, though, this time, LMAO!

'Tis not she, but those who hold her reins, that make the law appear to be an ass!

Even if the law thus permits, this can't be right: that a woman who stood bail for her then lover, cannot walk away from the bail arrangement on the ground that their relationship is now history and, in fact, that before it did, it had turned into one of rampant domestic abuse? Or, did The Trinidad Newsday properly and truthfully inform its readership when, on January 21, 2008, under the byline "Magistrate refuses to revoke bail", it relayed that:

"...(Natalie) Nahase, 26, appeared before Wellington (in the San Fernando First Police Court) on an application to have the bail sum revoked. She had deposited the money in cash in the court, to secure the bail on July 14, 2008, for Wendell Williams on a charge of robbery.

Wellington asked Nahase who took the witness box, why she wanted to withdraw the bail and the woman testified that she and Williams were no longer in a relationship. The woman further said that she was being physically abused, and she wanted to cut links with him.

However, Wellington told Nahase that her reason was not a valid one because the accused Williams had always been present on each court hearings. “Did the Justice of the Peace make it clear that the bond will be forfeited and you will lose your money,” Wellington asked?

He advised Nahase that if she wished, she could get a restraining order against Williams, her obligation as bailor would remain. The magistrate told her that as Williams, also of Chaguanas, stood next to Nahase and did not utter a word."

It's indeed strange that the magistrate would infer that the reason why bail can be revoked is only if the bailee skips a court appearance, for, on the face of it, that would warrant not a revocation, rather, a forfeiture of bail, agree? If the herein-presented argument against what Wellington withheld is flawed one, then, indeed, the law -which, in this case, is represented by the magistrate- is asinine, in nature and or decision-making. Or, better put, that 'tis not she, but those who hold her reins, that make the law appear to be an ass!

In any case, potential bailors would, because of Wellington, in future, think twice, thrice; therefore, this obiter, left intact, would merely make it harder for an accused to get a bailor.

Which prompts this other commentary:

Why would the law so fetter a magistrate that she cannot respond with equity to the pleas of a mother for a prisoner on remand to be allowed to give blood urgently needed by their infant son? Again, it's The Trinidad Newsday, this time of January 15, 2008, which exposed the shocking turn of events, in an article captioned "Mother calls for end to child father’s assault case", which, in part describes that:

Nicole Sterling, a 22-year-old mother of two from Santa Cruz, has indicated this to Magistrate Avason Quinlan, who is presiding (that) the reason she wants this matter to end is because her one-year-old son, suffers from sickle cell disease, and she has been told by the child’s doctor that her son needs a blood transfusion, otherwise he will die.

However despite being on a waiting list, she has been unable to receive the necessary volume of the particular blood type that her son needs to survive.

With this in mind she has no choice but to turn to her son’s father, Clinton, for help as he shares the same blood type. But, she has been told by hospital authorities that the transfer would have to wait until the trial was over.

Quinlan said there was little she could do about the situation, and she has to continue following the correct legal proceedures before she could make a decision with regards to the matter, and unfortunately those proceedures (sic) took time.

Quinlan was informed by the police prosecution that there were only two other witnesses left to be brought before the court. She then adjourned the matter and it is scheduled to resume on January 20.

So aghast was The Newsday over Quinlan's coldblooded stance, that it sprang to the little tot's defence via its Editorial, "A child's life", published January 18, 2008:

"It seems unbelievable that bureaucrats would put their rules before a child’s life. Yet this seems to be happening even now in a legal matter.

...Now the hospital bureaucrats clearly can’t take blood from a man who isn’t available. So the first action must be on the part of the magistrate. She, apparently, cannot find a way to give priority to this trial so that it will be speedily concluded. She is, apparently, as much a victim of “the system” as the persons standing before her. She has also refused to grant bail to the accused man, and presumably she has good reasons for doing so. But why can’t arrangements be made for blood to be taken from him while he is in jail? Or, if that is too difficult a challenge for the prison bureaucrats, why can’t the accused man be taken to the hospital under armed guard just to carry out this procedure, which surely won’t take more than an hour or so?

...All the persons in authority in this matter would claim to be unable to take action because they have to “follow the rules”. Yet these same rules are easily bypassed when powerful persons, such as politicians and the wealthy, need them bypassed. In this particular situation, no rules need be broken, however — all that is needed is a little initiative and creative strategising. But what we have here is a mini-picture of why this society does not work and why its people, especially those from the poorer sector, are at high risk from cradle to grave. And, if the child dies, every individual who had the power to make a difference will tell everyone else, as well as themselves, that they weren’t responsible."

Aye! Indeed, 'tis not she, but those who hold her reins, that make the law appear to be an ass!

This prosecutor rests his case!

Jumping the gun? Race restarts, minus the jumper!

"For a fourth consecutive day the regular schedule of water-taxi (sic) service was affected but this time not from sabotage..."

The Trinidad Express's Rohandra John by those words propelled forth on her short voyage: one destined to explore the sorry saga of the now-you-see-it-now-you-don't Gulf of Paria Water Taxi Service (GoPWTS), a service which, after much and long ballyhoo, was launched -officially- just last December 29th and which, since Day One, in its reliability has been ebbing more than flowing. (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161422527)

Now that Johandra has made plain that GoPWTS is not sailing because, apart from it being a ragged-up service, there's yet to be built for it a proper launching pad, perhaps one may safely conclude that the original intention was for this service to begin, not in 2008, instead, a dozen years thence, when The Great Vision becomes reality?

In which case, all aboard with one conclusion: the powers-that-be stand guilty of jumping the gun. Jumping the gun? Therefore, the race they allegedly won must restart, minus the jumper!

Ansa McAl must heed Satyam's truth and FIFA's lead!

"Satyam" is the English transliteration of the Sanskrit word for "truth". It's also the name of one of the biggest information technology companies in India and the world: Satyam Computer Services Limited.

Established in Hyderabad, India, on June 24, 1987, by B. Ramalinga Raju and his brother B. Rama Raju, Satyam immediately set about the business of following the customer and the dollar, a task in which it was so successful that, within ten years, its annual revenues topped the US$1 billion mark and, two years thereafter, shot over the $US2 billion threshold.

The Brothers Raju (B. Ramalinga, top; B. Rama, below).
(PHOTOS: Satyam.com)

On the climb to those peaks, just under one year ago, in an all-cash U$60 million deal it acquired all intellectual proprietary rights to equipment-manufacturer Caterpillar's Market Research and Customer Analytics (MR&CA) operations (Browse: http://www.satyam.com/about/index.asp)

Remarkable feats, by any standard. And, to accomplish such remarkable feats, Satyam, truth be told, had to have help along the way, such as would come through astute and strategic business alliances.

One such alliance was entered into on Thursday June 30, 2005, with Trinidad and Tobago-based transnational Ansa McAl, when a formal agreement was signed at the Trinidad Hilton between it and Mc Enearney Business Machines Limited. (See: http://www.mbm-tt.net/mbm_satyam_partner.html and http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-07-02/business1.html) But, given the preponderant local weaknesses in official financial regulation and local media reporting, it's difficult for the Trinbagonian public to gauge, in dollars, what was exchanged for the deal to happen, or how Ansa McAl or Trinidad and Tobago has since benefitted from that relationship.

Another such relationship is the one Satyam struck, in November 2007, with Le Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), when FIFA announced that:

"...today (November 24, 2009) ...Satyam, a leading global consulting and information technology services provider, has become the first Indian company to sign up as a FIFA World Cup™ Sponsor. This historic agreement awards Satyam global rights for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil and the two FIFA Confederations Cups which fall within the 2007-2014 period. The partnership, sealed by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and Satyam chairman and founder B. Ramalinga Raju at a signing ceremony on the eve of the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in Durban, represents the first major sponsorship deal the IT services company has entered into - a further indication of the enduring appeal of football." (http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/media/newsid=644235.html)

That U$200-million deal more firmly cemented already-existing lucrative contracts the world football body had awarded the Indian company and, in case the significance of the new arrangement was missed, by the November 2007 deal, Satyam became the Official Information Technology (IT) Services Provider to the FIFA World Cups of 2010 and 2014 and the tangential Confederations Cups, which meant it had been given charge of developing the core IT event management system for FIFA and also become its IT services partner for accommodation and hospitality as well as for local organizing committees during the seven-year period, with the key to the whole system being the accreditation component. The event management system also handles ticketing, results, FIFA's live feeds, as well as FIFA's website. (See: The Hindustani Times, "FIFA Monitoring Satyam Developments")

Licence to print money, truth be told!

Which is why recent developments with Satyam, coming on the heels of the economic catastrophes that have overtaken North America, Europe and Asia, must surely trigger alarm bells within the boardrooms of every one of its all-over-the-globe allies. For it boggles the imagination that any of them would have embraced Satyam had they known what now they know of it, specifically, that its balance sheets were deliberately filled with "fictitious" assets and "nonexistent" cash in order to entice them to bed. That bombshell was dropped, not by any Mumbai-bound terrorist, but by the man who founded Satyam Computer Services Limited, B. Ramalinga Raju, himself, when he tendered his resignation from the company on Wednesday January 8, 2009. His letter began thus:

"It is with deep regret and tremendous burden that I am carrying on my conscience, that I would like to bring the following facts to your notice:

1. The Balance Sheet carries as of September 30, 2008, a) Inflated (non-existent) cash and bank balances of (U$1.038 billion) (as against (U$1.104 billion) reflected in the books); b) An accrued interest of (U$77.4 million), which is non-existent c) An understated liability of (U$253.3 million) on account of funds arranged by me; d) An overstated debtors' position of (U$100.9 million) (as against (U$546 million) reflected in the books);

2. For the September quarter(Q2) we reported a revenue of (U$556 million) and an operating margin of (U$133.7 million) (24 per cent of revenue) as against the actual revenues of (U$434.9 million) and an actual operating margin of (U$12.6 million) (3 per cent of revenues). This has resulted in artificial cash and bank balances going up by (U$121.1 million) in Q2 alone.

The gap in the balance sheet has arisen purely on account of inflated profits over several years (limited only to Satyam standalone, books of subsidiaries reflecting true performance)..." (Currency values converted from rupees using http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic Currency Converter [Thanks, Raul!])

And ended with the frank admission that, truth be told, prior to his resignation, he thought himself above the law:

"...I am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and face the consequences thereof."

Raju's entire confession can be witnessed at http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article5467583.ece

Both Raju brothers have subsequently been arrested for fraud and, at the time of writing, remain in judicial custody as the Indian government, having invoked its powers under section 234A of India's Company’s Act, moves to seize Satyam company records, "to prevent them being forged", or altogether disappearing. (See: http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/search-seizure-ordersatyam-issued-pc-gupta/376055)

The Indian government has also appointed a new three-person Board of Directors, in a desperate gamble to rescue the company from its dire straits: the livelihoods of over 52,800 souls are at stake, after all.

The Hindustani Times article, "FIFA Monitoring Satyam Developments", points out that the football body has already hit the replay button for to review with urgency all its dealings with Satyam. While credit must be given FIFA for its swift response, one must await the jury's return to see what foul, if any, has been committed and to know what rulings FIFA will make.

Ansa McAl would do well immediately to heed FIFA's lead, for now that the Raju brothers have made a clean breast of it, no one can deny that, all along, Satyam was involved in major shady business and that, truth be told, regardless, Ansa McAl needs quickly distance itself from the Raju's Satyamic embrace.

Gaza stanza: January 11, 2009, ongoing!

Gaza Stanza: January 11, 2009, ongoing!

To swat the mosquito that, annoyingly, by the ear buzzes,
that, from a neighbouring swamp, gained birth,
out, from my every within view, I shall every wetland wipe,
indifferent that, in my process, myriad innocents die or be maimed shall.
For, in my indignance, their well-being to me most irrelevant is,
and, so, too, the tears I cause their mothers and children to weep;
hence, the room to me must be given, ahead to forge for to them all purge,
and thus, only thus, at last, foolishly hope I, comfortably me to sleep.

Listen to The Doctor Bird!

Given the long and well-known vagaries of life as a global villager, how, so, can a régime continue -or be allowed to continue- in office, if it be one which has staked all its prospects -and its country's- on the achievement of First World status by the year 2020, without envisioning the present minefield and of the need to take all necessary -and commonsense- steps to avoid it?

The Doctor Bird.

Perhaps, as The Doctor Bird decades ago chirped, 'tis only because 'tis so such régime's supporters like it and that its opponents -even if they be in the majority- so apathetic are, that they would talk, but do nothing about the situation?

Karen must continue to follow foreign facilitators.

Minister of Finance, Karen Nunez-Tesheira, is in the habit of defending her obtuse reticence in heeding commonsense advice, by intoning that authorities more enlightened than Trinbago's have also erred in their prognostication of what future economic fortunes hold.

Since that is her case, then she cannot there stop, rather, must do what those "enlightened authorities" do when the brown stuff hits the fan, for instance, Citigroup's Senior Counselor, Robert E. Rubin, when he penned his letter of resignation addressed to his boss, Vikram S. Pandit, the group's Chief Executive Officer, a letter which incorporated the following mea culpa:

Dear Vikram:

As we discussed, after a great deal of thought, I have decided to retire as Senior Counselor at Citigroup effective January 9th and not stand for re-election to the board at the next annual meeting. I will continue to do all that I can to help you during my remaining time on the board and beyond.

...The last 18 months have been very difficult throughout the financial system, and this has had serious consequences for the employees and stockholders of Citi and affected the people of our country and in countries around the globe. My great regret is that I and so many of us who have been involved in this industry for so long did not recognize the serious possibility of the extreme circumstances that the financial system faces today.Clearly, there is a great deal of work that needs to go into understanding exactly what led to this situation and what changes, regulatory and otherwise, must now be implemented to reduce systemic risk and protect consumers... (nytimes.01-09-09.pdf)

So! Karen! Please continue to follow foreign facilitators! But, so do all their way, okay Ma'am?

All growth starts from the roots.

The constitution of any nation is its supreme law. But, that does not/never does mean that The Supreme, or those who feel they may be, crafts it. Its a law, made by the people, for the people, therefore, must be of the people. Any who does not understand that, neither understands that all growth start from the roots.

Therefore, any repeat of what happened back in 1976: partisan interests ignoring the will of the people and using their parliamentary majority to impose a constitution upon this country, must be resisted with stoutness of heart and, if necessary, also of the people's collective main.

In short order, there must be appointed a Constitution Commission which would traverse the land, à la Wooding, to get the views of the people on the matter of how they wish to be governed, then, only then, prepare some draft for their consideration, adjustment, if needed and eventual ratification, a ratification which would be afforded only via a referendum, afore being sent to the Parliament for the formality of its seal of endorsement.

Except, of course, the view is that the people don't know what they want; and never will.

In all fairness to Toyota!

Aghast over the post-collision (no pun intended) condition and consequences of Jizelle Giselle Salandy's Toyota Yaris, B Joseph submitted, via e-mail, a Letter To The Editor -published online in the Trinidad Guardian of January 8, 2009, under the caption "Most vehicles structurally weak"- complaining, in essence, that motor vehicles of such type -small, fuel-efficient- are, by design, death-traps on wheels:

"Ironically, modern vehicles are designed to fold on impact, crushing occupants...The car Jizelle Salandy was travelling in during the accident that took her life is a typical example of fuel efficiency given priority over structural dependability....Isn't it obvious that regardless of driver vigilance, vehicles are too structurally weak to withstand the mildest crash or do citizens await "foreign experts" to confirm this fact?"

In fairness to Toyota -and other manufacturers of modern motor vehicles- those arguments are flawed, perhaps because B Joseph opted to wax hyperbolic rather than using the same correspondence-transmission medium employed on the occasion -the Internet, in particular the website named "How Stuff Works"- to learn and appreciate the concept of the designed-to-fold motorcar and of how solid -from any angle- such concept is. Had B Joseph so done, B Joseph would have learnt the following:

The "designed to fold on impact" practice of which B Joseph speaks, is based on/derived from sound laws of Physics, in particular, the laws that to ever action there is a reaction. The energy release is the reaction which flows from every act of collision. And it cannot be avoided

But, another law, from kinetics, dictates that its impact can be diminished. For the overall rate of a reaction is determined by the slowest -or rate-limiting- step in that process. Thus, when moving object A collides with another, B, that is

1. moving at in the same direction, but at a slower rate of speed, or,
2. is not moving, or,
3. is moving, but in the opposite direction,

kinetic energy is released, it is released in different amounts, the least being where there's a same-direction collision, the greatest being the opposite-direction one.

Of course there are other factors which would impact upon the intensity of the kinetic energy released, for instance, the density of the objects that collide, or, the angle at which they collide, but, as a rule of thumb, the above three broad categories can suffice for the business at hand.

How did the designed-to-fold-on impact vehicle originate?
The German Patent and Trade Mark Office informs that the Hungarian-Austrian engineer, Béla Barényi, is the man who got the patent -issued in 1952- on how a car could be designed with areas at the front and rear built to deform and absorb kinetic energy in an impact. His concept was christened the "crumple-zone concept", what better? Crumple zones are areas of a vehicle that are designed to deform and crumple in a collision. This absorbs some of the energy of the impact, preventing it from being transmitted to the occupants. In other words, in any automobile collision, the crumple-zone is a deliberately-crafted reaction rate-limiting step, one that accomplishes two safety goals:

1. they reduce the initial force of the crash, and
2. they redistribute the force before it reaches the vehicle's occupants.

Béla Baréyni (March 1907-May 1997)

Barényi was not just an engineer, but, also, an avid inventor whose primary focus was on improving the passive safety of automobiles. Passive safety means "with the protection of the occupants in mind". In his lifetime, he was granted more than 2,500 patents, including the collapsible steering column. Seeing that he spent most of his career working for Daimler-Benz, it's not surprising that the crumple-zone concept was first put to use in on the Mercedes-Benz -the 1959 W111 Fintail (See picture, of car!).

That was 1959! And, the Fintail, being a Mercedes-Benz, was not made to be owned by the average B Jane or B Joseph! However, since then, other impetuses apart from kinesis forced other automobile manufacturers to absorb the Fintail notion, in particular, market forces. Consumers -who, by and large, put family first- didn't need to see many Fantails swaying ahead of them to become convinced that cars which had the crumple-zone feature were the ones to buy. They demanded for it to be incorporated in the cheaper-priced automobiles. Automobile manufacturers had no choice. In any event, the consumer didn't mind paying the "added cost" for the enhanced safety feature. Thus, today, all vehicles incorporate crumple-zones in their structure. Else no one would buy them!

The Non-Deformable Passenger Cell.

Now, on to B Joseph suggestion that
"...modern vehicles are designed to fold on impact, crushing occupants...It's the public's consensus that auto importers must make auto safety a top priority. Had they been doing so, this country would own fewer vehicles that collapse on passengers, maiming and crushing them to death when accidents happen..." (ibid)

Another of the 2,500 patents granted to Baréyni was that for the non-deformable passenger cell. As the name implies, cells of that type are designed and built to remain intact during and after a collision. Of course stress laws would determine the threshold beyond which even the most rigid cell would yield. Cost also does. And Consumer taste. For how many would purchase a family car which looks like and costs as much as a Sherman tank?

Non-deformable passenger cells afford the best protection when tandemmed with properly-inbuilt crumple zones, as the below picture shows;

Peter Ginter/Getty Images
These cars have been put to the collision test at an automobile safety research facility in Wolfsburg, Germany. Notice how the crumple zones appear to have absorbed most of the impact.

and with other passive-safety devices, such as headrests, seatbelts and airbags.

So! Just how valid is B Joseph's assertion: that cars, like the Toyota Yaris, are designed to crush occupants in a collision? And the Trinidad Guardian judgment in allowing the leeway to broadcast such a statement? Perhaps ANCAP could best answer? Especially as B Joseph also opined:

"...Isn't it obvious that regardless of driver vigilance, vehicles are too structurally weak to withstand the mildest crash or do citizens await "foreign experts" to confirm this fact?..." (ibid)

According to one of the premier and most-respected automobile-safety monitoring bodies in the world, the Australasin New car Assessment Program (ANCAP) onwards from 2005, the Toyota Yaris earned a Five-Star rating -the highest ANCAP gives- placing it in the same grouping with the likes of Volvo's C70 and C30; Volkswagen's Touareg, Passat and Golf; Subaru's Forester and Impreza; Saa's 9-3 and9-5; Lexus's GS 300 and IS; BMW 3 series and X5; and Audi's A4 and A6. And, the Mercedes-Benz! Yes! Mercedes-Benz's A, B C, E and M -Classes!

Oh! By the way, ANCAP's business is that of giving consumers consistent information on the level of occupant protection provided by vehicles in serious front and side crashes. In which effort, the ANCAP is supported by Australian and New Zealand automobile clubs, the government road and transport authorities of Australia and New Zealand, the Victorian Transport and Accident Commission (TAC), National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA), Insurance and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Foundation. (See: http://www.ancap.com.au/about/)

Nuff said! If B Joseph, or anyone else, wants to learn more of the topic, google it!

(See also: "Jizelle vs Killa Pilla: An Avoidable Tragedy?")

The inanity resumes.

The opening blast of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian's headline story grabs the attention.

What blast? This one:

"Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George says there is “no empirical evidence to show the existence of human trafficking in this country."

Which story? This one:

"AG: No evidence of human trafficking in T&T", (by Richard Lord, January 7th 2008).

T&T Attorney General Bridgid Annisette-George
(PHOTO: From T&T Guardian)

Lord fadda! The inanity resumes! So! Because there is no "empirical evidence", that means that it doesn't happen/isn't happening? Guess the same reckoning can be applied to the existence of murderers in Trinidad and Tobago?

That the comely AG would further complicate matters by voicing that in devising mechanisms "...to provide for swift return of children who have been abducted from their home of habitual residence...”, "...the T&T Government had been proactive from the legislative perspective...", is not much of an eyeopener, for such musings of hers are merely an Bridgid's abridgment of the all-along modus operandi of every single People's National Movement administration: rock back on our laurels once the law is enacted and let the status quo continue.

Not surprising, then, that the inanity has resumed.

Of Rainy Season and Economic Recession.

Perhaps the government is not levelling with the public, re: the shortpayment/nonpayment of thousands of welfare recipients, for it may very well be that there was a serious shortfall in revenues during the last quarters of 2008, especially from the fossil-fuel-based sectors, whose tax concessions allow them -as far as is publicly-known- to defer already-tabulated-but-not-yet-paid tax payments when fossil fuel prices tank? In any event, from the thus-far-announced, adjustment-in-mind, fiscal measures, it's clear that, whatever the thinking behind government's plans for dealing with the looming avalanche, it has completely ignored the well-known maxim that, in a flood, everything gets washed-away. Everything. Time shall tell. Perhaps.

Give NIB the job!

In short order! All this crap -wild and wide fluctuations in our senior citizens' pensions- would not recur if ONE authority/agency is given responsibility for directing and devising and distributing all disbursements funded by/through these welfare programmes. And that authority/agency must be the National Insurance Board, full stop!

When dropouts in charge, what dat mean?

Camille Clarke, in her 2008 Old Year's Day story in the new-look online Trinidad Guardian -Wow, Guardian! Looking damn good! Congrats!- quoted Deputy Police Commissioner Reyes as follows:

“Kids are leaving the secondary school system...those who are unemployable are graduating to gangs. We are speaking about kids who are 17, 16 and 14, are gang members and doing serious criminal activities. The crimes are more violent and gangs become stronger!”

A posteriori, Reyes's apocalyptic confession as to how Trinidad and Tobago's runaway crime situation is being fuelled, leads but to one conclusion: that those whose job it is to stop/staunch/solve crime never went to school.

Don't despair! Happy New Year to all.