The Freedom Chambers

The response of Central Bank to the complaint from the Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) about the non-selection of Indo-Trinidadian students for its vacation internship programme was predictable and shallow.

I could not help but take notice of the today's article on the CEO of Carribean Airlines said to be getting a salary of about $655,000 per month, although the government refused to confirm this, or the request to provide the information in the house, on the basis that it is confidential to the parties involved, and it would also affect the "competitive nature of the job between airlines."  

In this never-a-dull-moment country of ours it is always a challenge to choose a single topic for discussion, hence today’s roving commentary.

Road carnage

The pathetic response of the police to the numerous road accidents (fatal and non-fatal) shows why we will have to keep pulling twisted bodies out of twisted wrecks. Constantly appealing to drivers to be more careful has not worked in the past but seems to be the only strategy thus far.

The scandalous and shameful inaction on the part of the Judicial & Legal Services Commission (JLSC) regarding the recommendation in the Justice Ventour report that Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nichols face disciplinary charges for misconduct is ridiculous. It is a clear case of different strokes for different folks.

In June 2006, then BWIA signed a $20 Million US contract with a British firm to advertise and brand BWIA internationally {an illogical move seeing that BWIA only serves Trinidad from the UK, I don't quite understand the strategy here}, see the following Link:

The issuing of an ultimatum to the President of our country by a lawyer from my law chambers was the source of some consternation and controversy. The President deemed the letter “disrespectful in the extreme,” but did not say why. The headline in the Guardian on June 23 read “President slaps down UNC 36-hour ultimatum.”

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You'd think that Prez Max R. would have taken a hint from Brother Hinn regarding PM Manning's mental agility. Had he done that, he would not have been so quick off the mark heeding the PM's request. Let's say Hinn is not the brightest spark around, all the Prez had to do was ask himself, how many brain cells did the PM have in gear to come up with the idea to build a (22m?) bridge linking T'dad to Tobago? How many.... did he employ in his latest request regarding the CJ?

I was speechless today after reading the Sunday Guardian article "Confusion as ex-Sando mayor dies". Sadly, the Guardian website is set up in such a way that you cannot link to the story conveniently.

The article describes how Hazel Rogers-Dick was allowed to go home with more than $50,000 worth of equipment from San Fernando General Hospital. She was a board member of the SWRHA.

By Anand Ramlogan – 2007-06-23

The suspension of CJ Sharma was effected pursuant to section 137 (4) of the constitution. This section authorizes or triggers the power of suspension in circumstances ‘where the question of removing a judge has been referred to a tribunal’.

The much anticipated and dryly predictable suspension of the Chief Justice surprised few because the battle lines were irreversibly draw some time ago. There are several nagging issues about the manner in which this second round of impeachment proceedings and suspension has been handled. The scandalous refusal of Chief Magistrate (“CM”) Sherman Mc Nichols to testify at the long awaited criminal trial against the CJ seriously undermined his credibility.

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul and PM Manning enjoyed a respite from public criticism over the appalling crime problem because of the arrest of ‘terror suspects’ wanted by the US. Lest we fall prey to the glib praise gushing from the US and UK ambassadors, perhaps we should remember our predicament where we face terrorism from criminals on daily basis.

We live in a society that is the product of colonialism. Our politicians have learnt the efectiveness of The Master's Divide and Conquer SCHEME. We the children of Indentureship and slavery have not fully come to terms with our past. This is reflected in the problems we face today in society.

The need for transparency and integrity in public life is based on the fact that public officials and institutions are financed by and spend money that belongs to the people of this country. The public's 'right to know' stems from this simple fact. Unfortunately, far from accounting to the population, pubic authorities disconnect themselves from the people and govern with a sense of condescending arrogance.

Former government ministers Franklyn Khan and Eric Williams have had their trials constantly adjourned. Both matters have been fixed for trial for May and June 2007 respectively. What are the chances of these cases starting before the next general election?

Usually I avoid getting into debates about the dealth penalty, and abortion. Not because I do not have my beliefs, or that I don't have reasons for my belief. Mainly because people who argue for or against fail to do so in a logical or clear manner. Instead, they spout rhetoric and allow extreme emotional depth to cloud rationality.

It is with much amusement that I read about Minister Ken Valley’s apology and counter-attack in the Parliament over his injudicious statements about Justice Tiwary-Reddy. Valley attempted to defend his political leader PM Manning who had just lost a case because the learned judge found that the PM had acted unfairly and abused his power when he tried to block the transfer of a senior public servant who was entitled to serve in the London High Commission.

Mr George ‘Umballa’ Joseph (who is a popular radio talk show host with Louis Lee Sing’s radio I 95.5FM), recently lost a libel case before Justice Peter Jamadar. He had sued UNC’s Harry Partap and the Newsday over a letter to the editor which the former wrote in response to his claim that ‘UNC MP’s were all malicious’.

In a recent letter to the TG a Mr A Petit asked: could someone explain to him what was going on in T&T, he contends he's was not asking the question lightly. AP observed: how insane and stupid a proposal it was to increase the benefits of Gov't ministers by hundreds of thousands of dollars. He asks many questions like : Did anyone in power care the least bit about the general public and did they have any pride.

Richard Charan, reported in the Express, Tuesday, May 1st 2007 that:

What a week! Not a dull moment: Panday blocked from entering parliament by armed policemen; the true identity of dirty dancing teenager Danah Alleyne exposed – daughter of a popular pastor; the greatest batsmen in cricket history our beloved Brian Lara resigned from international cricket; Machael Montano involved in an altercation that leaves a youth seriously injured; no less a person than the Prime Minister came out in support of Danah and the PNM trained its guns on Johnny Soong in an effort to shift blame from the pastor and his daughter.

2007-04-23

Anand Ramlogan’s commentary, ‘How many more must die?’ (Guardian 2007-04-22), shines a spotlight on dilapidated, disconnected, and neglected systems, lacking accountability and still operating partly in the dark ages.

The Anamunthudo case he referred to is representative. It is necessary to overview the salient features of the case to highlight the scale of systems and individual failures.

From media coverage of the case the following are known:

Administrator's note: This matter may be of of importance under S4(h) of the Constitution of Trinidad & Tobago: freedom of conscience and religious belief and observance - hence it's promotion to a separate topic line.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington did the correct thing by dismissing the case against Anita Annamunthodo. After 11 months, the DPP had failed to appoint a State Counsel to prosecute this case, and the investigating officer, PC Hamilton, never had the courtesy to grace the court with his presence.

In balancing the scales of justice, the magistrate could not ignore the fact that Anita was in jail awaiting trial, because she could not raise the bail of $7,500.

As the weekend fast approaches it is an idea to lighten things up a bit. This photo has been floating around for some time. Leave us some caption comments for a bit of comic relief.