Now! As to my snapshot, infer as you wish to have your say!
Monday, 30 November 2009
THA Tobago-land quirky dealing.
They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so I took the below
picture of a table I compiled to let it say what I wanted to say:
Try as I did, couldn't get any figures for the empty spaces, nor of any other acquisitions recently done by the THA.
Now! As to my snapshot, infer as you wish to have your say!
Now! As to my snapshot, infer as you wish to have your say!
Sunday, 29 November 2009
While out of golden goblets Manning sips...
'Twas the Empress Marie Antoinette who, allegedly, condescendingly quipped, "Let them eat cake!" ---when urgently informed by her attendants that the French masses were most agitatedly pained over the lack of sensitivity displayed by royalty to their lack of pain [French for "bread"].
History records what, not long afterwards, became the fate of the French Royal family.
Fast-forward to the captioned report, whence this eye-opener was culled:
Prime
Minister Patrick Manning was one of the first Heads of Government to
sip from a solid gold, antique Commonwealth Goblet at Friday night’s
long-awaited Royal Commonwealth Dinner... Dozens of the golden
goblets...were provided by the United Kingdom...for use at a high
powered [sic] dinner meeting on Friday night, hosted by Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth II. The golden goblets are a symbol of the
Commonwealth’s greatness and are displayed on ceremonial occasions. The ’priceless’ objects arrived in T&T last week, ahead of the Queen...
According to Commonwealth protocol, after the dinner, the goblets would
have been promptly returned to a vault at the Central Bank in Port of
Spain for safekeeping until they are returned to England.
I described it as an "eye-opener" because it's inconceivable the United Kingdom's locally-based intelligence people ---there must be, for the French have--- did not forewarn the UK's delegation that, given the mood of the local masses, such opulent display would not sit well with them and may very well become the straw which causes the way-overburdened jackass's spine to crack.
For the "precious" goblets to arrive ahead of the Queen and stored where they were means that, all along, PM Manning knew they were here and for what purpose. That he went along, rather than, as convener and host of CHOGM2k9, pulling aside his UK counterpart and asking him to advise Her Majesty to use more mundane drinking ware for the evening's fare ---David Brown would have intently listened, then acceded, for that's they way things are done in merrie olde England--- confirms what a previous English monarch had made plain ---by having the patriarch David utter these immortal words, in English, thus for every commoner clearly to grasp:
[O, God!] Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the
wine of astonishment. [Psalm 60:3 - King James Version of The Holy Bible].
While the Queen's wine out of his golden goblet Manning sips, we, the people, who yearn to be free of his heavy yoke, too, continue to sip, but not of one that glitters like his, rather one which our tongues bitters. For ours is a chalice deep with despondency, a despondency precipitated by the double blow of the harshness of his rule and of the yet-festering inability to appreciate that only in unity is there to be found the strength to attain our emanicipation.
UPDATE 9:93am T&T Time: Uncanny how The Jumbie also went to town on this topic.
We living in jail fuh true!
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161563649 refers:
Maybe, too, unwittingly those authorities have stumbled upon the way to free us ---Trinidadians--- from continued assault by the criminally-bent: banish the latter all to Tobago?
Sigh! Anyhow you take it, we living in jail fuh true!
A LOCAL Muslim was denied entry into Trinidad from Tobago on Friday
allegedly because of his radical beliefs on Islam, the Sunday Express
learned yesterday...
Law enforcement officials deemed Abdullah a threat to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) currently being held in this country and also a threat on the life of a specific individual at the conference.
Maybe local law "enforcement" authorities should alert the several
French elite living/vacationing in Tobago to be on the lookout for this
"security threat"?Law enforcement officials deemed Abdullah a threat to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) currently being held in this country and also a threat on the life of a specific individual at the conference.
Maybe, too, unwittingly those authorities have stumbled upon the way to free us ---Trinidadians--- from continued assault by the criminally-bent: banish the latter all to Tobago?
Sigh! Anyhow you take it, we living in jail fuh true!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Timely reminder of Britain's relevance these days.
Well! Invoking Leroy "Black Stalin" Calliste, CHOGM is the latest ism
these days, as leaders of countries formerly/still a part of the
British Empire gather ---how odd they should so do in a place called
"Port of Spain"--- under the benign auspices of Her Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth The Second, to pose for photographers, knock glasses, rub
shoulders, hobnob, or whatever, I guess, is done at such convocations,
at great expense to the host country.
It's fitting, then, that I share this cool, silent video I just encountered, for it certainly puts the UK's present-day context in proper perspective, thus makes one wonder over why all that fuss went into prepping for the local hosting of CHOGM 2K9.
Watch the video: >>Visualizing empires decline, by Pedro M. Cruz<<. (http://vimeo.com/6437816)
Non-Commonwealthy, President Sakorzy, of France, were he to see it, would at once agree with me and would, I'm sure, express his impression of it this way: "Formidable!" [That's pronounced "formeedahbluh", for you who may not know French.]
May God save the gracious Queen!
It's fitting, then, that I share this cool, silent video I just encountered, for it certainly puts the UK's present-day context in proper perspective, thus makes one wonder over why all that fuss went into prepping for the local hosting of CHOGM 2K9.
Watch the video: >>Visualizing empires decline, by Pedro M. Cruz<<. (http://vimeo.com/6437816)
Non-Commonwealthy, President Sakorzy, of France, were he to see it, would at once agree with me and would, I'm sure, express his impression of it this way: "Formidable!" [That's pronounced "formeedahbluh", for you who may not know French.]
May God save the gracious Queen!
How about if the Passport office couriers it to them?
What a horrible idea by Mr. Metcaffe ---that passport owners who are tardy in retrieving them from the Passport Office be fined $100.00 as a penalty. Though I understand the angst, a much better idea would be for the Passport Office to have completed passports delivered by courier to the owners of such documents ---as the USA Embassy does. Of course the usual TTPost fee would apply ---as, also, is the case with the USA Embassy.
Hors de bouche ouverte saut le conte!
Now I understand why Prime Minister Manning invited President Sarkozy, parce'que hors de bouche ouverte saut le conte [mouth open and tohry jump out]! How else to assimilate why Sarkozy uttered what he did ---as per captioned Trinidad Express article--- other than that both men had agreed the latter should come because he fully endorses what we, the people, of Trinidad and Tobago, reject?
Ah Monsieur! Comme dit chez vous, "Va-t-en au Diable!" That, for those who didn't know it, is French for the Trinbago derisive dismissal: "Go to France!"
Democracy in full flight.
Of the 45,000 public servants currently known to be in existence in Trinidad and Tobago, 5,000 cast their vote to seal who shall negotiate terms for employment for all 45,000. Now! If that's not democracy in full flight, then what is?
Friday, 27 November 2009
Does Dubai's distress drumbeat denote doomsday for us?
The alarming news that Dubai World cannot repay its humongous debts, thus is demanding it be given a reprieve by its many creditors, has caused negative reverberations throughout the world markets, from the London, to Germany, to Hong Kong.
Here, in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), we, too, ought to be quivering in our boots, for there are many similarities between us and Dubai. See here:
- Dubai World (DW) is the state-owned enterprise which, directly or indirectly, oversees all state real property development, as is the case with the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT).
- DW's financing comes by way of direct injection from the state and government-guaranteed loans. Again, just as is the case with UDeCOTT.
- DW's debt represents a significant portion of Dubai's National Debt. Again, regarding T&T, though, unlike Dubai, the exact quantum is unknown, UDeCOTT's picture is similar.
- Dubai's autocratic leaders have been fond of derisively dismissing the local sextons who have been frantically yanking on the belfry ropes, pealing out their warnings. Regarding T&T, sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Does Dubai's distress drumbeat doomsday for us?
I pray with renewed earnestness that it does not. Yet, as so I do, as the prudent ones do during Hurricane Season, I'm making all necessary preparations for the eventuality.
Patrick's pornographic pitch.
"As he addressed a dinner for Commonwealth dignitaries on board the cruise-ship, Serenade of the Seas, on Tuesday evening, (an event intended, as its venue suggests, to make a sales pitch to the invitees as to the charms of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), Prime Minister Patrick Manning highlighted the following) attractions of Trinidad and Tobago to his guests:
- (We produce) 700,000 barrels of oils equivalent of natural gas daily (in addition to 115,000 barrels per day of oil);
- (We are a charitable people, in that we) assist (our) Caricom neighbours with a Petroleum Fund; and
- (We have) some of the world’s most beautiful women within (our) mix of ethnic groups."
As such, an apology is required of the Prime Minister. He would strike out with haste to seek our forgiveness if his vision is as spot-on as mine.
PSA elections.
My buddy paused and pondered, "How come it's taking so long for the PSA election results to be known?"
I rejoined, "Is public servants we dealing with here, inno? So, what could be done in minutes would take a week!'
We then resumed our consumption of fresh-brewed café noir de Tamana.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
The last picture is worth millions.
Recently, President Barack Obama hosted his first White House State
dinner since being sworn into office. The occasion was in honour of
visiting Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and his wife, Mrs
Gursharan Kaur.
Given the presentations past presidents put out regarding such affairs, onlookers would, naturally, have been excused in expecting expense not be spared in the new president's attempt to impress the visitors. Lo and behold, the dinner party was entertained in a temporary canvas tent, erected on the verdant grounds of the White House!
At once I was stunned, for I was always under the impression that the mightiest nation in the world would have had some appropriate permanent structure for housing such events.
At once too, I was impressed, for though the setting was a humble tent. A tent? But, then, why not? For a tent is an ad hoc shelter and the very nature ad hocism affords the erector of such a pavilion the ease of tweaking it as he may, the better to accomodate the specific audience. Which is something quite impossible of an edifice set in steel and concrete. Hence, the decor and ambience for the Obama state dinner were so conducive to the grandeur of the occasion that none of the three hundred and fifty invited guests frowned upon the cheap canopy within which that night they were wined and dined; rather, of it, like me, they were in awe. In delight, too, at the menu, which included potato and eggplant (melongene/baigan) salad and arugula from the White House garden with an onion seed vinaigrette, plus, red lentil soup with fresh cheese paired and roast potato dumplings with tomato chutney (choka), chick peas (channa) and okra or green curry prawns with caramelized salsify with smoke collard greens and coconut aged basmati as the two entrees. Wow!
But tongue-watering reverie was abruptly interrupted when my mind turned to our own sour situation, here, in Trinidad and Tobago, where, to accomodate such future events, instead of deciding on using similar, tailored-for-the-occasion structures, our own Prime Minister has chosen to affix an "outdoor stage" to his obscene "Diplomatic Centre", the cost of which stage has been conservatively put at TT$10 million (Come bet in the end it would be close to 50?).
But, lemme hush mih mouth! For, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then these are woth millions.
I gone!
Given the presentations past presidents put out regarding such affairs, onlookers would, naturally, have been excused in expecting expense not be spared in the new president's attempt to impress the visitors. Lo and behold, the dinner party was entertained in a temporary canvas tent, erected on the verdant grounds of the White House!
At once I was stunned, for I was always under the impression that the mightiest nation in the world would have had some appropriate permanent structure for housing such events.
At once too, I was impressed, for though the setting was a humble tent. A tent? But, then, why not? For a tent is an ad hoc shelter and the very nature ad hocism affords the erector of such a pavilion the ease of tweaking it as he may, the better to accomodate the specific audience. Which is something quite impossible of an edifice set in steel and concrete. Hence, the decor and ambience for the Obama state dinner were so conducive to the grandeur of the occasion that none of the three hundred and fifty invited guests frowned upon the cheap canopy within which that night they were wined and dined; rather, of it, like me, they were in awe. In delight, too, at the menu, which included potato and eggplant (melongene/baigan) salad and arugula from the White House garden with an onion seed vinaigrette, plus, red lentil soup with fresh cheese paired and roast potato dumplings with tomato chutney (choka), chick peas (channa) and okra or green curry prawns with caramelized salsify with smoke collard greens and coconut aged basmati as the two entrees. Wow!
But tongue-watering reverie was abruptly interrupted when my mind turned to our own sour situation, here, in Trinidad and Tobago, where, to accomodate such future events, instead of deciding on using similar, tailored-for-the-occasion structures, our own Prime Minister has chosen to affix an "outdoor stage" to his obscene "Diplomatic Centre", the cost of which stage has been conservatively put at TT$10 million (Come bet in the end it would be close to 50?).
But, lemme hush mih mouth! For, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then these are woth millions.
I gone!
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Just when you'd think the inanity couldn't be topped.
In recent past, most of the news coming out of two mid-east Trinidad secondary schools have been distressing to the core, what with open warfare ---students against students and students against teachers. In the near furture, I shall be publishing an in-depth exposé that'll leave the reader stunned and agape, because, for far too long, the Ministry of Education, instead of tackling the issues head-on, has deliberately been sweeping things under the carpet where not only these two schools are concerned, offering to the gullible public all sort of inane excuses for its downright incompetence.
But, this latest tidbit, from no other than the Minister of Education herself, so confounded me ---I never believed that the Ministry's previous inanities could be topped--- that I'm forced to offer brief comment afore my opus is complete. Hear this, from the captioned Newsday article:
"According to the minister, research has shown that a main contributor
to school violence was after-school traffic along the Eastern Main
Road."
Her words, not mine, as to why, suddenly, violence amongst schoolchildren has escalated. Yes! The traffic along the Eastern Main Road causes schoolchildren in Chaguanas, Carapichaima and Pleasantville to attack and maim one another once school is done! Her words, not mine!
Like I said, I'll hold further comment for my unfinished opus on the "school violence" topic.
Wappen, Express? Yall fraid owot?
The gall and disjoint of our elected/selected public officials never ceases to amaze! Listen to this, that was reported in the captioned Trinidad Express article on November 25, 2009:
"Noting that there was some
controversy over the decision to include
decision-makers in the priority groups (to receive the H1N1 vaccine, of
which, for a population of 1,300,000, only 70,000 doses have been
ordered), one MP yesterday said: ’It
amazes me how people could make an issue over nothing. There are 70,000
vaccines and less that 100 MPs,’ the MP stated."
Wappen, Express? Yall fraid owot? Why yall didn't call his/her name so we coulda deal with him/her in the most fitting manner when the appropriate time came?
Monday, 23 November 2009
The P.N. symbol at TSTT and I.
Went
to TSTT, Park Street, Port of Spain, today, to sort out a bill, what
else? And came upon this "fire drill" sign in the lobby, stuck on a
column next to the Information Booth:
Notice what it says, right above "EMERGENCY NUMBERS"?
"Could anyone tell me what is a 'P.N. THE ELEVATOR'?" eventually I pondered aloud, since, for the life of me, I couldn't help thinking "P.N. THE ELEVATOR" was some special-purpose lifting device that must be avoided at all costs, were some crisis to arise within the building.
"Oh! The 'P.N.' means 'Please Note!', sir!" promptly, pleasantly replied a member of TSTT's Customer Service staff.
"Oh!", simply, I replied, silently musing that this had to be some yet-to-be-made-public TSTT lingo for "N.B.:"
P.N. Then quickly I concluded my business and left.
P.N. THE ELEVATOR MUST NOT BE USED IN EMERGENCY EVACUATION."P.N. THE ELEVATOR??? P.N. THE ELEVATOR???" I kept asking myself.
"Could anyone tell me what is a 'P.N. THE ELEVATOR'?" eventually I pondered aloud, since, for the life of me, I couldn't help thinking "P.N. THE ELEVATOR" was some special-purpose lifting device that must be avoided at all costs, were some crisis to arise within the building.
"Oh! The 'P.N.' means 'Please Note!', sir!" promptly, pleasantly replied a member of TSTT's Customer Service staff.
"Oh!", simply, I replied, silently musing that this had to be some yet-to-be-made-public TSTT lingo for "N.B.:"
P.N. Then quickly I concluded my business and left.
Anybody know what they does do with they salary?
Both the HOS [pronounced "hoss"] and the HOG of Trinidad and Tobago are beneficiaries of
handsome remuneration packages entirely footed by us, the people, ent?
What? You don't know what HOS and HOG are? Ah chuts man! HOS is Head of
State, so go figure what HOG is! Now! Can I move on?
Rightoh!
As I was saying, HOS and HOG are well-paid. They each receive a monthly paycheck, courtesy us. My question is: "Anybody know what they does do with they salary?"
I ask that because I want to know if they does have to buy they own food, pay they own doctor bills, buy gas for they own car, if they have any, pay they own cable and phone bill, pay the fella to cut the grass in the yard or some unfortunate piper to give we a hand with some odd-job around the house; and expenses of the general sort that you and I does catch we nennen every day to meet.
And, what about personal, private travel, at home or abroad, whether for holiday or medical reasons? They does use they salary or personal savings to do that? Or, does the Treasury have to meet all them expenses?
If is the Treasury what paying for all them things, then what the hell we paying them a salary for? Anybody could tell me? Is better we agree to cover all they expenses and when they leave office, then to give them a lifetime pension or something.
At very least, the detailed breakdown of what any HOS or HOG does do with they humongous salary and of what, separate from that, the Treasury does foot concerning their toing and froing should be public information, as, that way and that way alone, we go know if they dealing stright-up with we, or instead taking we for an additional ride, a real expensive one.
All the same, perplexed as I am over this, I not holding mih breath for no prompt answer, for if they doh care bout parliamentary questions, who is me?
I gone!
Oh! By the way! Just in case you didn't figure it out, HOS = Head Of State = The President and HOG = Head Of Government = The Prime Minister.
Rightoh!
As I was saying, HOS and HOG are well-paid. They each receive a monthly paycheck, courtesy us. My question is: "Anybody know what they does do with they salary?"
I ask that because I want to know if they does have to buy they own food, pay they own doctor bills, buy gas for they own car, if they have any, pay they own cable and phone bill, pay the fella to cut the grass in the yard or some unfortunate piper to give we a hand with some odd-job around the house; and expenses of the general sort that you and I does catch we nennen every day to meet.
And, what about personal, private travel, at home or abroad, whether for holiday or medical reasons? They does use they salary or personal savings to do that? Or, does the Treasury have to meet all them expenses?
If is the Treasury what paying for all them things, then what the hell we paying them a salary for? Anybody could tell me? Is better we agree to cover all they expenses and when they leave office, then to give them a lifetime pension or something.
At very least, the detailed breakdown of what any HOS or HOG does do with they humongous salary and of what, separate from that, the Treasury does foot concerning their toing and froing should be public information, as, that way and that way alone, we go know if they dealing stright-up with we, or instead taking we for an additional ride, a real expensive one.
All the same, perplexed as I am over this, I not holding mih breath for no prompt answer, for if they doh care bout parliamentary questions, who is me?
I gone!
Oh! By the way! Just in case you didn't figure it out, HOS = Head Of State = The President and HOG = Head Of Government = The Prime Minister.
Inshan Ishmael gravely ill!
DEVELOPING STORY:
Kilkaytay has just learnt that well-known Bamboo Settlement No. 2-based community organizer, Inshan Ishmael, has fallen gravely ill and is being flown out of Trinidad and Tobago to get urgent medical attention in North America.
A reliable source close to the Ishmael family has advised that Inshan who suffers from heart problems, has been under constant doctor's care, but, for a while, for some strange reason, he had abruptly stopped taking doctor-prescribed daily medication. The source explained that, as a result, "his entire face has become swollen like a balloon".
Ishmael is best-known as the owner of the Islamic Broadcast Network, where he hosts a popular talk show, “Breaking Barriers”. He shot into the limelight with an historic court action against the State of Trinidad and Tobago for naming the nation’s highest award "the Trinity Cross". In January 2007 he again received national attention when he was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act (2005) but charged the next day for printing flyers without his name and address on them. During his time in police custody, he was strip-searched and made to squat as police officers probed up his rear looking for hidden weapons.
Up to as recently as November 14th 2009, he participated at the forefront of the Axe The Tax Rally at Woodford Square, Port of Spain, an event he and his television station helped co-ordinate. It not known whether he was present at the same venue for last Sunday's People's Democracy Rally against the policies of the Patrick Manning-led government.
UPDATE (Nov. 24, 2009, 0949HRS):
Kilkaytay has just learnt that well-known Bamboo Settlement No. 2-based community organizer, Inshan Ishmael, has fallen gravely ill and is being flown out of Trinidad and Tobago to get urgent medical attention in North America.
Ishmael is best-known as the owner of the Islamic Broadcast Network, where he hosts a popular talk show, “Breaking Barriers”. He shot into the limelight with an historic court action against the State of Trinidad and Tobago for naming the nation’s highest award "the Trinity Cross". In January 2007 he again received national attention when he was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act (2005) but charged the next day for printing flyers without his name and address on them. During his time in police custody, he was strip-searched and made to squat as police officers probed up his rear looking for hidden weapons.
Up to as recently as November 14th 2009, he participated at the forefront of the Axe The Tax Rally at Woodford Square, Port of Spain, an event he and his television station helped co-ordinate. It not known whether he was present at the same venue for last Sunday's People's Democracy Rally against the policies of the Patrick Manning-led government.
UPDATE (Nov. 24, 2009, 0949HRS):
Explanatory email from breakingbarriers@gmail.com:To which Kilkaytay responds:
I would like to state that I am in good health and it is not as bad as this report states...I had a minor clot on a muscle and it was operated on with minor surgery..Swelling was expected and now it has been reduced by about 90%...last night I want to the restaurant and eat meh belly full and most of today will be spent spending time with family... I want to thank all those who called and sent their love and concern and anyone who wish to contact me can do so on my cell @ 684-4762....Apparently the person who gave this information should have reported from facts which unfortunately do not exist in many cases...( I wonder if Patrick planning a party because of this report now boy?)
Inshan Ishmael
Maashallah!
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Narace and dem lying to us bout the Swine Flu!
We don't really need Minister Gary Hunt's unfortunate circumstance ---with his wife's health--- to confirm that disease control and prevention expertise and technology is far superior in the USA than in Trinbago. Nor, too, to tell us that whatever picture of national health is painted in the USA is far superior to what obtains in Trinbago ---else so many of us who could afford would not flee north to seek medical attention at the slightest sign of worry, ent?
Thus it was that, thoroughly disgusted with the sudden announcement that "the elite" would get first preference when H1N1 vaccine doses start sharing, I found it prudent to see whether in the latest news from the outside something other than the virus had mutated to catalyze such a callous shift.
Sadly, not gladly, I hit paydirt.
The USA federal agency known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on November 20th last, put out a revised report on the status of H1N1 which shows that there has been a four hundred percent jump from what had been before reported.
Indeed, the CDC has now concluded that between April 2009 ---when the first case of Swine Flu was reported--- and October 2009, some twenty-two million persons have been infected, of which figure, three thousand, nine hundred have been killed by the disease! The CDC-revised figures clearly suggest that Swine Flu, in the USA, has been increasing at a rate faster than that seen for any type of influenza since the 1950s.
The new mind-boggling statistics were caused, not by the virus becoming more, well, um, virulent, rather by the CDC's sudden realization that its previous methodologies of evaluating H1N1's progress was totaly wrong, for it was basing its extrapolations, thus its response to the problem, on laboratory-confirmed cases, even though the CDC itself knew that most persons who come down with the flu never seek professional treatment and, even of those that do, not that many get tested to see what sort of flu they have! Amazing, ent? (See: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates_2009_h1n1.htm)
Turning inwards to Trinidad and Tobago (TT) then, what can we say of TT's true state of Swine Flu affairs? Well, seeing as we cannot trust the local authorities to give us accurate info on anything, heck! to give us any info at all, it makes sense to judge from what obatins in the USA to get some insight into what's going down down here in TT, ent? Makes sense, too, for, always, RES IPSA LOQUITOR.
At the outset I'd mentioned that the quality of healthcare available and practiced in the USA is far superior to what obtains in TT, remember? Therefore, in analyzing the TT Swine Flu scenario, one must factor in that difference, which, for this exercise, I've assessed the TT healthcare situation to be thirty percent of what exists in the USA. Hence, from the latest CDC figures, we can conjecture as follows:
Meantime, God help us!
Saturday, 21 November 2009
CHOGM Youth Forum? Youth?
I was just looking at the CNC3 7pm news ---Saturday Nov 21, 2009---
when up came its clip of the same day's Tobago-held CHOGM Youth Forum and,
guess what? Not a single youth was featured! Only adults prattling
---the Commonwealth Youth Affairs Secretary, who looked 50ish; the
Trinbago Minister of Youth Affairs, Gary Hunt, who's pushing towards
40; and the Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary, Orville London,
who must be in his mid 60s. What a thing! What a thing!
By the way, Minister Hunt must have been in his element, for there was a massive parade of flag-bearing youths during the cultural presentation part of the day's programme! :-)
By the way, Minister Hunt must have been in his element, for there was a massive parade of flag-bearing youths during the cultural presentation part of the day's programme! :-)
Leff Narace and dem wid de H1N1 vaccine!
To: All Who Oppose.
The Newsday reports that:
THE CONCERN:
THE REASONING:
THE RECOMMENDATION:
The Newsday reports that:
"Phase one of the roll out of the influenza A H1N1 pandemic vaccines
will begin next week and among the first to receive will be “essential
decision makers” comprising parliamentarians, members of the judiciary,
including judges, “captains of industry, key non-governmental
organisations (and) people in the media”. "
THE CONCERN:
It's
unconscionable that the elite of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) society be given first shot
[pun intended] at getting the H1N1 vaccine! As Raul mentioned, that's
akin to the pilot of a commercial passenger airline being accorded a
parachute while the passengers get none! To which I add, "And further akin to saying
that, on this sinking ship, the captain and crew are the first to the
lifeboats and the devil take the hindmost!"
THE REASONING:
It's our view that the TT persons to be given first bite at the cherry must be
the ones who most have need of it ---something which can easily be
determined by analyzing where the incidences of the flu occurred!
THE RECOMMENDATION:
It would be great therapy for their political career if all opposition Members of Parliament would openly declare that they would not be
joining the come-get-yuh-vaccine waiting line at its head and, simultaneously, openly call
upon all politicians who like to profess how much they love their country to stand with them in making
such a point. The devil will definitely take the hindmost of those who refuse to
heed such a call and, if the devil doesn't, then, regarding them, I pray what David prayed in Psalm 109:8:
God bless!"Let his days be few; Let another take his office!"
Sunday, 15 November 2009
The answer is blowing in the breeze.
"...Upon checks, it was confirmed
that both (Mayor Murchison) Brown’s and (President Max) Richards’
pictures were missing and the only picture left on the wall was the
portrait of Prime Minister Patrick Manning..."
If Murchie would just breeze across the street from his City Hall office and have a chat with anyone waiting in line at noted pawnbrokers, Maraj Bros., they'd readily explain why ---that fences don't accept pledges on things of no value.
lol
The Unit Trust gives mortgages?
The following paraphrases what the captioned article highlights, in its paragraphs 30 and 31:
"The
refusal of Angostura corporate secretary, Kirk Nancoo, to discuss the
sale of the 10 Ravewing shares, raises more questions than it provides
answers, given the fact that Ravenwing, a family-owned Patel company,
is the beneficial owner of a Tobago Plantations villa, Lot No 129,
which is secured by a $6 million mortgage held by the Unit Trust
Corporation."
and invites these questions:
- The Unit Trust Corporation lends money on mortgage?
- Since when? And,
- by what authority?
Friday, 13 November 2009
Things that have me troubled: Criminal Record.
Over the years, one of the things that have troubled me is the penchant of Trinidad and Tobago criminal court prosecutors to disclose the past record of the criminally-accused during their trial before the court pronounces on their guilt: surely such information is only relevant after conviction, if any, is made, the better to guide as to the most appropriate sentence. In any event, isn't it that the rule requires only the facts pertaining to the instant charge to be led as evidence? Thus, when divulged before conviction, such information will skew a court's judgement towards being biased against the defendant; ent?
True cost of looking for a Police Commissioner.
Well! Well!
It's gonna cost $4.6m to search for a new Police Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)! Wow!
If the Penn State University exercise is successful, T&T, at long last, will have a Police Commissioner who, more than likely, will serve for not more than five years.
Were that to be the case, then, in addition to his/her salary and perks, Trinidad and Tobago would have spent $76,666.67/per month for the services of such Top Cop, for the $4.6m search fee is akin to a capital cost, therefore must be written-off during the useful life of the acquired asset.
The figure would be more mind-boggling, if, in the end, it's learnt that the currency of the above transaction is USD not TTD!
When the reader's breath returns, it'd be good to hear what the remuneration package of a T&T Police Commissioner is.
Why always 'im butting in so?
Funny, but was always under the impression that the line Minister for such things would be the Minister of National Security and or the Minister of Health ---they are the ones clearly identified in the soon-to-be-proclaimed Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2007 as having the material say (http://ttparliament.org/legislations/a2007-19.pdf)--- and or ---for obvious reasons--- the Attorney General?
Strange, then, to see the Minister of Works and Transport on the frontlines with this detailed announcement regarding the soon-to-come breathalyser business. So! Again, of Colm, the question: "Why always 'im butting in so?"
Bwana Manning!
When someone agitatedly telephoned me to say that Trinbago could, at last, exhale, for "It just come over the news dat Bwana Manning was dead!", I quickly admonished someone that it's always wise to read/listen/observe carefully before drawing conclusions, since the Bwana of which the newsflash spoke was not the Bwana manning the ship.
Mr Hunt's errant ways.
The disclosure of Minister Hunt's wife's medical situation does not prompt any reasonable person to turn a sympathetic ear to him ---regarding his and his Ministry's errant ways--- for it's clear he should have taken an early exit from office, or been held firmly by the ear and therefrom led, the instant we, the people, heard of their unflagging shenanigans.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Guns and Baleezay Roses!
Having just done reading the captioned crushing story out of Venezuela, about which Raul [not Castro!] had alerted me, it hit me that, to date, we, the people, have not been advised as to the full extent [estimated or not] of the illegal guns problem in Trinidad and Tobago, which, lest we forget, is, on any calm day, within spitting distance from the easternmost shoreline of South American proximity.
The Reuters article quotes:
"...With 13,000 murders in 2007...the government [of Venezuela] estimates there are 6 million firearms circulating among
the population of about 28 million. Venezuela's murder rate is about 8
times that of the United States..."
Now! In 2007, there were 395 murders in Tobago. But, the public does not know [nor, apparently, does the police estimate] how many illegal guns are in circulation, despite the facts that nearly all the murders being committed are "gang-related" or "drug-related"! In the absence of such data, then, yours truly launched upon his own assignment to ascertain the truth, or as close as possible to the truth, of the matter.
Thus it was that, by, combining the relevant statistics for both countries for that year, the following table was developed:
| Country |
Population |
No. of Murders |
No. of Murders Per 1,000
Citizens |
No. of Illegal Guns in Country |
No. of Citizens per Illegal Gun |
No. of Illegal Guns per Murder |
| Venezuela |
28,000,000 |
13,000 |
0.46 |
6,000,000 |
4.67 |
461.54 |
| Trinbago |
1,230,000 |
395 |
0.32 |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Unknown |
from which the following was extrapolated:
| Country |
Ratio One: Trinbago Population as % of Venezuela's |
Ratio Two: Trinbago No. of Murders as % of Venezuela's |
Ratio Three: Trinbago Murder Rate Per 1,000 Citizens as % of Venezuela's |
| Trinbago |
4.39% |
3.04% |
69.17% |
which, finally, would yield the following glaring, grim realities:
| No. of Illegal Guns in Trinbago based on Ratio One |
No. of Illegal Guns in Trinbago based on Ratio Two |
No. of Illegal Guns in Trinbago based on Ratio Three |
| 263,571 |
182,308 |
392,663 |
So! There you have it! I'm sure you're as stunned as still I am, at what my simple mind has found. But, this is no time for superfluous stupor! For all right-thinking citizens must now gather at the Brandenburg thence to demolish the wall of inept leadership that, for too long, has stood resolutely against us! We owe nothing less to our children...if we love them.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Manaus, Manning and POS.
Wikipedia advises that:
Time shall tell what becomes of the TT$500 million National Academy for the Performing Arts Academy (North Campus), for our own history has shown that such edifices largely are underutilised and under-maintained.
The Teatro Amazonas is an opera house located in the heart of Manaus, inside the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. It is the location of the Festival Amazonas de Ópera held each April.
The Teatro was built during the Belle Époque at a time when fortunes were made in the rubber boom.
Construction of the Amazon Theater was first proposed in 1881 by a
member of the House of Representatives, Antonio Jose Fernandes Júnior,
the idea being to construct a jewel in the heart of the Amazonian
forest and to make Manaus one of the great centers of civilization.
Until 2001, there had been no opera here for almost 90 years. Then, a new governor of Amazonas was elected, a populist called Amazonino Mendes,
who decided that his city should have:
- a top-quality professional orchestra,
- a choir and
- a corps de ballet.
He set aside about 1.5 million
pounds a year, an enormous amount in a state where half the population
is illiterate and living on about 60 pounds a month.
As a result Manaus has become the focus of a most unlikely musical migration. Some of Eastern Europe's best musicians have been tempted from such orchestras as the Kirov to Manaus with the lure of much higher wages. In fact, 39 of the 54-member Amazon Philharmonic orchestra are from Bulgaria, Belarus and Russia. Even the archivist hails from Belarus".
As a result Manaus has become the focus of a most unlikely musical migration. Some of Eastern Europe's best musicians have been tempted from such orchestras as the Kirov to Manaus with the lure of much higher wages. In fact, 39 of the 54-member Amazon Philharmonic orchestra are from Bulgaria, Belarus and Russia. Even the archivist hails from Belarus".
Time shall tell what becomes of the TT$500 million National Academy for the Performing Arts Academy (North Campus), for our own history has shown that such edifices largely are underutilised and under-maintained.
Feel free to comment!
Unless the context otherwise makes plain, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by the one who posted it.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
At Patrick, privately, PNMites poke fun.
Unsolicited and totally out of the blue, from a very reliable PNM
source who, despite my urgent pleadings, insists on remaining
completely anonymous, I received the below-reproduced copy of an email
that had been forwarded to him..
From personal knowledge ---they're all on one of my mailing lists--- the originator of the email and those to whom it was sent are all elected members of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC), all having won their seats in 2003 ---when local government elections were last held in Trinidad and Tobago. (See: http://localgov.gov.tt/TUP/tup.htm). They were all candidates of the People's National Movement (PNM), the political party that has held power since Christmas Eve 2001. And, to date, PNM, still, they remain.
Indeed,
Don't you agree then, that, privately, even diehard PNMites ---such as the above Gang of Four--- deride their leader? I wonder if the TPRC's Chairman, Ms Patricia Mejias, knows of such clandestinity?
From: bestradasandy@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: Manning's Chauffeur
To: priscaferguson@yahoo.com, eric_ribeiro1@yahoo.com, carol_mcharles@yahoo.com,
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 9:36 AM
Ok guys, don't laugh too hard!
Subject: Fw: Manning's Chauffeur
To: priscaferguson@yahoo.com, eric_ribeiro1@yahoo.com, carol_mcharles@yahoo.com,
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 9:36 AM
Ok guys, don't laugh too hard!
Patrick
Manning was touring the countryside in his chauffeur-driven limo.
Suddenly, a male donkey jumps out onto the road, they hit it full on
and the car comes to a stop.
Patrick Manning says to the chauffeur: 'You get out and check - you were driving. '
The chauffeur gets out, checks and reports that the animal is dead.
'You were driving; go and tell the farmer, ' says Manning
Hours later, the chauffeur returns totally plastered, hair ruffled with a big grin on his face.
'My god, what happened to you? 'asks Manning
The chauffeur replies: ' When I got there, the farmer opened his best bottle of whisky, the wife gave me a slap-up meal and the daughter made love to me. '
'What on earth did you say to them? 'asks Manning
'I knocked on the door, and when it was answered, I said to them:
'I'm Patrick Manning's chauffeur and I've just killed the jackass!
Patrick Manning says to the chauffeur: 'You get out and check - you were driving. '
The chauffeur gets out, checks and reports that the animal is dead.
'You were driving; go and tell the farmer, ' says Manning
Hours later, the chauffeur returns totally plastered, hair ruffled with a big grin on his face.
'My god, what happened to you? 'asks Manning
The chauffeur replies: ' When I got there, the farmer opened his best bottle of whisky, the wife gave me a slap-up meal and the daughter made love to me. '
'What on earth did you say to them? 'asks Manning
'I knocked on the door, and when it was answered, I said to them:
'I'm Patrick Manning's chauffeur and I've just killed the jackass!
From personal knowledge ---they're all on one of my mailing lists--- the originator of the email and those to whom it was sent are all elected members of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC), all having won their seats in 2003 ---when local government elections were last held in Trinidad and Tobago. (See: http://localgov.gov.tt/TUP/tup.htm). They were all candidates of the People's National Movement (PNM), the political party that has held power since Christmas Eve 2001. And, to date, PNM, still, they remain.
Indeed,
- "bestradasandy@yahoo.com" is Bernadine Estrada-Sandy, Councillor for the Lopinot/Five Rivers constituency;
- "priscaferguson@yahoo.com" is Prisca Ferguson, Councillor for the Auzoniville/St Benedict constituency;
- "eric_ribeiro1@yahoo.com" is Eric Ribeiro, Councillor for the Mausica/Maloney district; and
- "carol_mcharles@yahoo.com" is none other than Carol Charles, Councillor for the Blanchisseuse/Santa Rosa constituency.
Don't you agree then, that, privately, even diehard PNMites ---such as the above Gang of Four--- deride their leader? I wonder if the TPRC's Chairman, Ms Patricia Mejias, knows of such clandestinity?
Doesn't take much to move from pandemic to pandemonium.
The captioned Trinidad and Tobago Express article mentions that:
"...On
November 16, Trinidad and Tobago will be the first Caribbean country to
receive 50,000 doses valued at US$7.50 each from the Pan American
Health Organisation (PAHO) following ’special negotiations’.
A second batch of 20,000 doses valued at US$15 each has been purchased directly from the European pharmaceutical company Novartis and will be delivered on November 17.
’We also expect delivery of the rest of 210,000 vaccines in the following weeks. A strategic plan towards their administration to population will be followed for all batches,’ Narace added..."
A second batch of 20,000 doses valued at US$15 each has been purchased directly from the European pharmaceutical company Novartis and will be delivered on November 17.
’We also expect delivery of the rest of 210,000 vaccines in the following weeks. A strategic plan towards their administration to population will be followed for all batches,’ Narace added..."
So! The swine flu vaccines are coming? Good! Now! Let's have the full disclosure surrounding those "special negotiations" and regarding the "ordinary" negotiations with Novartis, please?
Why?
Not only because it's millions of our dollars being spent or because the disparity between the two prices is mind-boggling, but, moreso, because of the fear that these vaccines are being acquired and will be administered even though only very brief assessment has been done on their long-term effects on humans!
Reuters informs that only on, or around, November 5th, 2009, Novartis's newest anti-H1N1 vaccine, Celtura, was approved in Germany, while Switzerland, where it is made, has not yet so done! (See: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSZAT01056620091105)
The same Reuters reports tells that, of the other two Novartis swine-flu vaccines, Focetria was, not long before then, approved by Switzerland.Focetria is the one which Novartis, most likely will supply to Trinidad and Tobago, since its other anti-H1N1 drug, Fluvirin, is being shipped exclusively to the USA market, where it has been approved by the US Food andl Drug Administration (USFDA). Which invites the final fear: Has any of these vaccines been approved by Trinidad and Tobago's Food and Drug Division? If so, where's the appropriate Gazette Notice of such approval, or of exemption?
One, therefore, hopes that the current pandemic hasn't created such pandemonium that the correct legal procedures are ignored in the rush to get the population vaccinated.
Feel free to comment!
Unless the context otherwise makes plain, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by the one who posted it.
Friday, 6 November 2009
The Sinking Ship II.
(Click >>here<< for the original and the melody!)
-THE
SINKING SHIP II-
This is an SOS from “The Trinbago”!
Location?
Seven miles of the coast of
Venezuela!
SOS! SOS!
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Help! Help!
The Trinbago, a luxury liner,
Sailing
the Caribbean Sea,
With
a silver-haired captain, named Basdeo Panday,
For
years sailed smooth and free.
But,
sadly, Panday got kicked out the way,
The
ship hit rough waters one Christmas Eve day,
As
someone turned the bridge over
To
Patrick Augustus The Emperor
Mih
blood crawl,
Things
start to fall,
Hold
mih head when a sailor bawl,
Omigadoh! the ship is sinking
Omigadoh! The seas are rough,
oh yes!
We gas tank almost empty,
No electricity!
We oil pressure reading low!
Shall we abandon ship?
Or shall we stay on it
And perish slow?
We don't know, we don't know!
Omigadoh!! You tell we what to
do!
Oh woe oh woe!
Under Panday, oh, T&T was a
beauty,
With wealth that few surpassed,
With wealth that few surpassed,
And
under him, she sailed majestically,
There
were few in her class!
Under
Panday her sailors saw to her every need,
Under
Patrick? Captain to cook is driven by greed,
And
so some pilfering slow,
Others
taking like is a pappyshow!
Now,
T&T looks dull,
She’s
at a lull,
She
could barely sit on her hull!
Omigadoh! The ship is sinking
Omigadoh! The seas are rough,
oh yes!
We gas tank almost empty,
No electricity!
We oil pressure reading low!
Shall we abandon ship?
Or shall we stay on it
And perish slow?
We don't know, we don't know!
Omigadoh!! You tell we what to
do!
Woe! Oh woe, oh woe!
The Trinbago, with Panday captaining,
She
was a friend to one and all!
She
never once ever hesitated
To
answer all SOS calls.
And,
yes, while then she always did her best
To
help out those in distress
Now
it’s so sad to see
How
Patrick has her in such misery,
That,
instead of a cheer
All
at her now jeer
And
sarcastically declare,
Omigadoh! The ship
is sinking
Omigadoh! The seas are rough,
oh yes!
We gas tank almost
empty,
No electricity!
We oil pressure
reading low!
Shall we abandon
ship?
Or shall we sit on
it
And perish slow?
We don't know, we
don't know!
Omigadoh!! You tell
we what to do!
Woe! Oh woe!
Panday voice: “If
only there was something I could have done
To restore the
credibility of this beautiful vessel?
Robbie is the cause
of the problem!”
Now there’s a lot of fingers
pointing,
Frustration
running strong,
Who’s
to be blamed for all her failures?
Who’s
to be blamed for doing her wrong?
Now!
Please remember? I’m warning you!
Since
Christmas 2001 she’s had the same crew
Who
hold the keys to her vault!
So,
we know who’s at fault!
Now,
it’s up to you!
It’s
up to me!
To
make her worthy to go back to sea!
Omigadoh! The ship is sinking
Omigadoh! The seas are rough,
oh yes!
We gas tank almost empty,
No electricity!
We oil pressure reading low!
Shall we abandon ship?
Or shall we stay on it
And perish slow?
No!
Vote them out! Vote them out!
Omigadoh!! What’s that you say
to do?
Ah say to:
Vote them out! Vote them out!
Omigadoh!! Say again? What to
do?
Ah say to:
Vote them out! vote them out!
Omigadoh! You tell we what to
do.
Omigadoh!
Dey put up a flag!
Omigadoh! You tell we what to
do.
Should we turn to Barack Obama
for help?
No! Ah say to: Vote them out! Vote
them out!
Vote them out! Vote them out! Vote
them out!
Somebody! Put in an application
to the White House!
No! Ah say to: Vote them out! Vote
them out!
How we could get some help to
do the repairs?
Ah say to: Vote them out! Vote
them out! Vote them out!!
Feel free to comment!
Unless the context otherwise makes plain, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by the one who posted it.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
PNM phallic "phantasies": where "ph" = "f".
Herein, where the context calls phor it, "ph" means "f".
Phirst Hunt phantasizes oph towering phlags ---which, phinally, aphter much phumbling, he aphirms did not cost a bucketphul to erect, but a phleck; now, Dick-Phorde phulminating oph ediphyingTowers?
Phrig, PNM! Yall and your phallic phantasies! When will we, the people, phinally get a break phrom yall, eh?
Feel free to comment!
Unless the context otherwise makes plain, ALL rights to postings in this blog are reserved by the one who posted it.
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