The Threatener

I’m going to start off this letter in an unexpected way… do you remember those way-back-when TV series and movies with titles such as: The Equalizer, Eraser, Viper, etc.?

Well, now we have a character called the Threatener. No lie.

His modus operandi (MO in crime law parlance) is to threaten those who are critical of him. You ask him uncomfortable questions, or say something seemingly critical of him, his first words to you are words to the effect (wtte) that ‘you seem to have inside knowledge – alternatively, in-depth knowledge – of the issue, you will be contacted for questioning’.

You are then forced to undergo several hours of questioning, which has nothing to do with the original issue, or the matter at hand, but… you have dared criticise the next best thing to God. How dare you?!

The Threatener gives truth to the words of D Bonhoeffer – killed by the Nazis for expressing his thoughts too freely:

“… the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one.

“Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.”

Tying the two threads together, we see that not only is the Threatener highly dangerous, he certainly lacks maturity of thought to be able to handle critique and criticism. I imagine I can write and publish this only, as one reader pointed out, I am ‘safely ensconced’ 5000 miles away.

I will digress to another point. True learning comes from maturity. One must have maturity to be reflective, understand what that reflection is about and change one’s behaviour to demonstrate that learning has taken place (Schön, Bawden et al). Clearly, the Threatener hasn’t developed sufficient maturity to face uncomfortable truths about himself.

But I think we have enough for a Netflix series...  Go figure.

 

That Hackshaw file

If the Express’ reports are correct, that there “were over 180 deposits amounting to $1.8 million spread over 18 RBC Royal Bank accounts, with more funds in an account at Scotiabank and the Unit Trust Corporation”, then DPP Gaspard is absolutely correct in requesting the file for review. [Express 29/06/2020]

Think about it logically – simple mathematics shows that the depositor (and I am not saying it is Hackshaw) deliberately kept deposits under $10,000. Why? Deposits of over $10,000 attract attention as to the source of the funds. Clearly, the depositor (and I am not saying it is Hackshaw) wanted to avoid undue attention, which indicates that the depositor (and I am not saying it is Hackshaw) ‘knew’ there might be questions to be answered. Pretty unusual when you consider that some of the money were given in cheques in sums way above $10,000.

I am pretty sure that the ordinary man on the street would have a very difficult time converting/depositing a cheque of over $10,000 in partial increments of under $10,000. Did Hackshaw’s depositor (and I am not saying it is Hackshaw) get special benefits from the bank by virtue of Hackshaw being a high-ranking police officer?

A further discrepancy comes from Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, who, with his usual blustering style, seeks to obfuscate the issue further. On June 8 he claimed that Hackshaw’s file would be sent to the DPP, then some days later claimed that the file would not be sent until all investigations are completed – the further investigation coming not from the police service, but from an independent organisation, the PCA. One can only wonder at Gary’s agenda. There seems to be an institutionalised “protection” racket going on, a police brotherhood intent on protecting their own.

Another question that comes to my mind is why is Hackshaw’s depositor (and I am not saying it is Hackshaw) depositing money into Hackshaw’s personal accounts, money contributed by private businesses that “were donations given to him by businesses to assist with police functions”. Surely such money should have been given to the coordinators and planners of those police functions?

The Hackshaw situation raises more questions than answers, and in the interest of transparency needs to be fully aired – in public – to the satisfaction of all that there is no jiggery-pokery going on. And if Hackshaw is found to be misbehaving in public office, then I hope that the full brunt of the law falls on him, retirement or not.

Who can’t help but love the law, eh?

Chief Justice Ivor Archie is like a salmon swimming against the current. With a bear (or other predator) waiting upstream.

Archie is an untenable position, but it seems he alone does not know it. Or at least, he chooses to ignore it, using the defence, “Might is right”.

Not only has Archie admitted to using his position as Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago (CJ) to influence the award of housing to persons, the persons so recommended for housing were convicted felons, who continued to breach the law, only they did so by using the name of the CJ – and by extension his Office! – to mislead people in furtherance of their fraudulent activities.

Be very much aware: Archie admitted publicly that he used his Office to gain favours for his friends. That was, and is, the core issue. Guilt, as far as I am concerned, was admitted. All is left is the sentence, to keep the judicial analogy.

Obviously, there is a great deal wrong with the above scenario, of convicted fraudsters using the Office and relationships with the CJ to further scam/fleece the public. Any right-thinking person would immediately see the breach of ethical responsibility of the CJ.

“His conduct was perfectly odious—that is, to any right-thinking person.”

The above quote by John Conroy Hutcheson, is apt to the occasion, don’t you think?

But Archie’s ‘might is right’ doctrine holds, as at least on 2 separate occasions he has used his position and Office as ‘administrative head’ of the Judiciary to issue press releases in defence of himself for breaches of law and ethical conduct, made in his private capacity.

Another question, superbly referred to by Justice Seepersad and one which I wondered myself, is who is footing the legal bill for the CJ all the way to the Privy Council? Are his Counsels (Ian Benjamin, for one) being paid by the Archie the private citizen, or by the Office of the CJ? Perhaps Benjamin should answer; I dare say that revealing the source of the payments would not be a breach of client/attorney privilege, as it does not require divulging any details of the matter at hand.

I for one, eagerly await the judgment of the Privy Council, but I am aware that the judgment is merely the first stepping stone… it is only to determine whether the CJ can be investigated by the Law Association (LATT) with a view to determine whether a recommendation can be made to the Prime Minister (step 2) to refer the matter to the President (step 3) to set up a tribunal (step 3) to investigate the CJ (step 4).

Who can’t help but love the law, eh?

What then, is the solution to all this? If the Prime Minister stops diddling with himself, obviously.

Had the Prime Minister, (let's call him Rowley, for simplicity's sake) triggered section 137 of the Constitution, then all this matter would have been addressed, and put behind us by this time. Rowley's dithering in this matter is the primary reason that this issue is going on so long, and making Trinidad and Tobago the laughingstock of the Commonwealth, and indeed, the whole world.

Readers may want to research 'fettering of discretion'. In short, this is where someone has a discretion granted in law, but refuses to use it, or uses it incorrectly.

Note that Rowley has no physical or legal impediment stopping him from referring the matter to the President, thus triggering section 137. Therefore, one can only infer that the impediment is psychological (mental). Referring the matter to the President for setting up a tribunal to investigate the Chief Justice does not imply guilt on the part of the latter. Rather, it is to determine guilt – or innocence – and one way or the other, the matter would be settled. Short, sweet and simple.

Personally, I cannot see where or what the Chief Justice has to gain by staying in office, neither can I see where or what the Prime Minister has to gain by keeping him there. Whatever it is, it must be so important that they are willingly bringing the Judiciary, the Government, and the country into disrepute.

Who can’t help but love the law, eh?

Stupidity Rules

The leader of the Opposition has “called on the nation to pray for the safe return of all the missing women and girls who have been kidnapped or have disappeared from their homes, schools and communities.”

Given that there has never been evidence that prayer works, despite all of the years of praying for crime to end, in which various people connected to Gawd have tried their bit to influence His ears, and officials have joined marches and promised results years ago, and we we still await those results… all I can say is stupidity rules.

To walk or not to walk (caption comment)

Well well LOL.

Shot in the Arse

A woman police constable (WPC) attached to Barataria Police Station had to be rushed to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope yesterday after she was shot while performing duties at the station.

At about 1 p.m. yesterday, the WPC, who is attached as a Special Reserve Police officer, was seated in the charge room of the station taking a report when a loud explosion was heard.

The officer felt a burning sensation to her buttocks and leg and she soon realised that she had been shot.

The injured officer was then rushed to the hospital, where she was treated by doctors on call.

Police sources said the bullet had penetrated her buttocks and lodged in her ankle.

Senior officers from the division, including Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Boxhill and Superintendent Trim, visited the station following the incident and ordered that an investigation be launched to determine the cause of the shooting.

They were then expected to visit the injured woman at hospital.

Police sources said that initial enquiries indicated that a licensed firearm at the station had been accidentally discharged.

Investigations are continuing.

The above is the entire article from the Express. The highlighted parts will explain my title. (^_~)

It does raise some questions though. For example, looking at some of the details, I observe she was seated. The bullet penetrated her backside and lodged in her ankle, meaning it had a downward trajectory. The question then arises, where did it come from? Some smartass will say “a gun” at this point, but there is a certain mystery here that needs an answer. Did the bullet come from a fellow officer’s gun? Or, did she have it tucked in her waist at the small of her back (do police have a ‘small of the back, given their rotund shapes?), and it went off, blasting a hole in her derrière?

If the first situation, then how did a fellow officer manage to fire a gun in a charge room? Carelessness? Deliberate maliciousness? If the second situation, why was the gun not holstered and the safety on?

But here’s the bothersome thing… if a person is seated in a chair, and the bullet comes at the buttocks, how does it end up in an ankle? I mean, the ankles are not in alignment with the butt, under the chair so to speak. Just picture a person sitting, or try it yourself. That bullet would have to go through the WPC’s bottom, through the chair and into the ankle. This story doesn’t make sense.

I note that the article did not present any in-depth, probing questions by the reporter to the authorities and investigators. We must be satisfied with “initial enquiries indicated that a licensed firearm at the station had been accidentally discharged”.

Still, it’s hilarious and I make no apologies for finding humour in the situation… I’m a Trini, I can laugh at almost anything.

Jumbie’s First Law strikes Again!!

Joint Trade Union Movement leader Ancel Roget yesterday also told the Express that a national day of prayer and fast is scheduled for March 27 at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be done for the state of the country the high levels of corruption,  bad governance and the state of wage negotiations, he said. 

When I read the above, I almost bawl like 40 Tarzans. Almost, but not quite.

Yuh see, Trinibagonians have been praying for XYZ for long, long time. Dey pray for everything. Dey pray for rain, dey pray for sun. Dey pray West Indies tuh win in de cricket, dey pray de Govament lose election, dey pray dey party win election, dey pray for more money, dey pray to win de lotto, dey pray de chile pass SEA, dey pray de chile win scholarship, dey pray de neighbour have mo’ bad luck than dem… yuh know, prayers fuh every hill and mountain life throws at dem…

As I said before:

Allyuh praying for decades, day in, day out, night time too. Allyuh praying while getting kidnapped, robbed, beaten, chopped, raped, murdered in all kinda styles and fashion, and crime still going up... but allyuh still seeing that as the solution to crime?!

Allyuh praying before and after too. Allyuh praying at funerals, in churches, mosques, gurdwaras, in taxis, by de roadside, in canefields, ricefields, lagoon, city, streets, allyuh wearing white and lying on de road, allyuh meeting by people house to pray...

I cyah even remember the many ways allyuh praying... and so far I see no evidence even 1 prayer, whether from child, woman, man, sadhu, priest, imam, rabbi, teacher, police, minister,.... worked.

NOT ONE!!

I know, Jumbie’s First Law, ent? But I eh have no Holy Aloes tuh pray to anymore. So I guess people go jess remain dotish till dey dead.

I well understand some ah allyuh so weak-minded that allyuh cyah function unless allyuh believe some higher power watching over allyuh and taking de flak for de shit allyuh does do and then beg 'forgiveness'. But trust meh on this one - no bad luck go come to yuh... GOD too busy listening to Pa-trick, Pastor Cuffie, Sat Maharaj and benny Hinn dem to take yuh seriously. If you ent believe meh, examine when last you had a prayer come true.

As far as dotishness go, prayer hard to beat…

What I have….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does it really need an explanation?

If Gord cyah save yuh…

… who can?!

This news article had me baffled.

A small plane that crashed on approach to the island of Grand Bahama killed all 9 people on board, including a prominent Christian minister and his wife, the government of the Bahamas said.

Among those killed was Myles Munroe, the founder of Bahamas Faith Ministries, who was traveling to Grand Bahama to attend the 2014 Global Leadership Forum, Prime Minister Perry Christie said.

My confusion is from a conflict in my conscious thoughts.

• Was Gord so uncaring he took “indisputably one of the most globally recognizable religious figures our nation has ever produced” as well as another and a child too (aren’t they supposed to be innocent, after all?) without so much as a fare-thee-well?
• Or was Gord so caring he ‘called them to him’ before the rest of the planet was ready for them to go?

Either way, you see my dilemma. Gord either didn’t care for the ‘prominent minister’ or he didn’t care for their relatives and friends.

So, is either Gord playing with we like… well, a Gord nuh, or we jess too insignificant to bother about. Which makes me wonder why the human race spends so much time and energy praying, wailing, gnashing teeth etc as it clearly has no bearing on the final outcome.

A Presidential Pardon

In spite of giving a country hope when he was elected, citing his now infamous line, “Powers you think I have… I do not. Powers you think I do not have… I do.”, President Carmona is proving to be a disappointment in more than one front.

From using his public office to defend the “honour” of his wife… (who in an ironic twist seemingly brought the Office of the President into disrepute by dressing inappropriately at the United Nations) and staying silent on important matters affecting the country, and now receiving a housing allowance while living in state appointed housing, President Carmona is actually making more missteps than President Max. And of course, in the latest brouhaha, everyone is protecting his/her own backside.

As senior counsel Martin Daly says, President Carmona should give the money back not only because it is illegal (contrary to the Constitution) but also because it is the right thing to do. But that and a cock’s teeth you will never see…

And of course, he will never ask pardon for bringing his office into disrepute.

Things I find unbelievable

Cocaine removed from intestine handed back to patient

A patient who swallowed around 20 packets of cocaine, found himself having problems and had to resort to surgery to have them removed. The surgeon who removed them handed them back to the patient, transferred him from the private institution to Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex where he spent around 10 days.

Despite months of ‘extensive investigations’ no charge has been made, the most senior duncey saying there is not enough evidence to prosecute, as per advice from Deputy DPP.

Of course, after months of delay, I don’t expect there would be… or that anything would have come from this. Incidentally, nothing will come from the investigation into the death of Dana Seetahal… why? Well, for one thing, dunceys can’t catch cascadoo in a bucket….

President Carmona’s help sought in Kublalsingh matter

A group of young people, calling themselves Project 40, is optimistic that President Anthony Carmona’s acknowledgment of a letter to him seeking his intervention in the ongoing hunger strike by Highway Re-route Movement (HRM) leader Dr Wayne Kublalsingh shows that “a positive outcome can still be achieved.”

Ah hate tuh break it tuh allyuh youngsters… de Prez busy defending the dishonour to he office brought about by he wife that was drawn to the attention of the public by a comedienne. Yuh see, when yuh is a old man with a young wife, yuh really have to mind yuh P’s and Q’s by she.

T&T remains at low risk for Ebola

And cock have teeth…

2,000 suspected cases of CHIKV

Yes, dey was sure dey could prevent it… or barring that, nip it in the bud. Big news brief and ting by all kinda minister and stakeholders (medical staff)…

Wait… dey saying de same ting bout de Ebola…

Yeah, maybe I is a born sceptic but over de past years, I more right than wrong…

NOT GUILTY AS NOT CHARGED!

The full text of the LifeSport Audit, is below Anil’s photo op (scroll down).

Life Sport Final Audit Report - July 2014

Hitler reacting to PP winning elections

This has to be one of the most hilarious videos I’ve ever seen… the subtitled words are so funny. The sad part is, they are made funnier by the ring of truth they carry! Not to mention the passion displayed by the actor, completely in sync with the words.

The shared experience of absurdity

Who is malala?

She is the 16 year daughter of a BBC reporter in Pakistan – now working in the UK. Her dream was to become a doctor. Her life almost came to an abrupt end.

Malala was targeted and shot in the head in Parkistan by the Taleban on 9th October 2012 (one year ago) for promoting education of girls in the Swat valley in Pakistan. Strenuous international cooperation allowed for her to be  taken to Birmingham's Children’s Hospital where she was saved from near death.  By an amazing set of coincidences and luck – the hand of god if you wish – Malala survived, was awarded the Harvard Humanitarian of the Year Award, and was tipped to be shortlisted for the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Dr Fiona Reynolds of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital, was in Pakistan at the time advising on transplant surgery, when she  picked up on Sky News that Malala was shot and was at death’s door. Pakistani officials asked for Dr Reyolds’ assistance. That set a chain of events in motion that led to Malala arriving in Birmingham for expert care. [Birmingham is where the Jumbie lives – that’s no secret].

Malala’s story is about luck, defying the odds and steely determination. She is an international icon that is still the target of the Taleban. Please hear/read Malala’s story in her book ‘I am Malala’ available at Audible and at Amazon Bookshop.

Malala had been politically active from 2009 and had been writing under a pseudonym as a blogger for the BBC.

Having been extremely lucky to have survived, Adnan Rasheed, a Taleban commander wrote to Malala to explain,  "Taliban believe that you were intentionally writing against them and running a smearing campaign to malign their efforts to establish Islamic system in Swat and your writings were provocative." At the end of the 4-page letter appears the words “All praises to Allah the creator of the Universe.”

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, announced in December 2012 that a $10 million education fund in Malala’s name would be set up.

Malala is thought to be eligible for permanent residence in the UK. I dare say she is a National Treasure and should share dual citizenship of the UK and Pakistan, by special arrangement if necessary.

What ever you do today, give time to this story and Malala’s work. It’s bigger than us. This is world-changing and life-changing.

Additional sources:

1. Malala on BBC blog 2009.
2. Portait of the girl blogger

A Caprine defence

Hear dis…

Allyuh t’ink if ah man get ketch molesting .. a goat, for instance… allyuh t’ink he could go to court and tell de judge, “Ah see meh neighbour do it, so I do it too”? Ah doh t’ink dat is a real defence nah… more like a caprine defence.

Ah jess had to ask that, because this morning ah seeing, from the less than honourable AG of all people, the same old caprine defence that… “If the PNM do it, why we cyah do it too?”

Once apon a time, de AG was touted as a bright bright fella… but dat was when he was sitting in de shadow ah Sir Fenton Ramsahoye. People use tuh say how the AG was real bright to take all dem case and ting to the Privy Council… buh in retrospect (ah know is a big word fuh this post), ah have to say that most ah dem was in a kinda partnership wid Sir Fenton… and dat I t’ink is where the population of the lil Rock get fool. Because dey start to see the AG, when he was a private la’yer, nah, as some kinda miracle advocate.

Buh look at how tings tu’n out… de first signs dat he eh so bright was mere weeks after he get appointed as ah AG, and Sir Fenton wasn’ around to hol’ he hand and lead him ‘rong.

Ah mean, dis man making elementary mistakes we use to tap up school chirren for… and look how de country accepting the shit he shovelling out. As de Captain say… dung beetles does live and thrive in a whole world ah shit… buh dey eh know… that is shit…

Heat

It must be the heat… else why would the denizens of the Rock be as bright as a jackass in heat over Aunty K and Jack…?

First, we have Jack resigning under dubious circumstances following a Concacaf report that, in no ambiguous terms, called him a thief… Aunty K accepted his resignation but gut feeling on this Jumbie is that he was forced to resign… the resignation being an ‘out’ to save whatever little face (and I do mean little) he had left.

Now both parties in the forthcoming Chaguanas by-election are attempting to use the unknown circumstances of that resignation to advantage… Aunty K saying in a tack back approach that if Jack didn’t have heat on him, why did he resign and Jack saying he resigned to save heat on the country. But no matter what heat is being applied, the denizens are the ones being slowly roasted… but… like a crapaud in a frying pan, the denizens are adjusting their behaviour to accommodate the heat and like that crapaud will cook to death, so too denizens are failing to realise the danger of accommodation to the heat.

Hence the reason the dotish will still choose between Jack’s ILP and Aunty K’s UNC… they’re so busy adjusting to the heat you see, to realise the fire hot hot hot.

Too busy fighting to notice the heat applied to the media… starting when Suruj shafted a poor lil Muslim presenter up the backside some years ago for asking hard questions… Now the Guardian is bending over to take it up the jacksey and the same names are being called as applying pressure.

Me, I jess watching how all this play out, and I predict things going to get worse before it gets better… if at all. All I seeing is shit being baked into a nice hard patty, and they calling it cake.

Is the heat!

Rolling around in stitches!!!!

If you don’t care for the effect of obscene language in stand up comedy, avoid this now.

Well, George Carlin had me rolling around for the last hour. This is totally maaaad!!!

The maddest parts of this:

• Low IQ population, stupid people shopping and diet: http://youtu.be/8lgYfdvC3EA?t=33m30s
• They don’t want critical thinkers!! http://youtu.be/8lgYfdvC3EA?t=41m55s
• Jump for Jesus he says!!! http://youtu.be/8lgYfdvC3EA?t=50m18s
• Death by jerk off!!! PMSL!!! http://youtu.be/8lgYfdvC3EA?t=52m28s
• Waste of pussy!!! http://youtu.be/8lgYfdvC3EA?t=58m2s