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?

Weighty issues

It is no surprise to find out that MP Marlene McDonald is in the hospital once again. There is a self-defeating tendency for people not to face facts. Especially uncomfortable facts. The cognitive dissonance created by thinking of negative things about self is a driver in ignoring truth.

Marlene is obese. Not merely fat. Obese, corpulent, lardy, rotund.

However, in this day and age of political correctness (PC) gone mad, it is taboo to point out the obvious. So I expect flak for stating the transpicuous.

That aside, the point is that with carrying such excessive weight, Marlene is bound to be plagued by conditions which are triggered by her size and weight. These will only get worse. But since ‘everybody have to eat a food’, I don’t expect her to go on a diet, literally or figuratively, anytime soon.

In the matter of crime, I see that the son of the pint-sized big-mouth, Colm Imbert, has been robbed. Adrian Colm Imbert was robbed when he stopped due to vehicle troubles in the vicinity of Espinet Street, Eastern Main Road, Laventille.

Strangely, the police held one person within hours. Whether it is one of the actual robbers remains to be seen, but it goes to show, when a ‘big man’ is involved, the police can and sometimes do, get of their fat behinds. I fully expect though, with the Napoleonic MP clamouring for results, that a police frame-up is likely, with some poor sod getting sent down for the robbery… yes, I still remember Terrence Calix.

That anti-gang bill

Both the Government, and the Opposition (when they were the government) are touting the Anti-Gang Bill as a panacea for the horrendous crime situation in Trinidad and Tobago. Aside from being a badly drafted piece of legislation, there is no evidence whatsoever that the Anti-Gang legislation worked in the past; therefore, there is little doubt that it will ever work in the future.

As an example, the State is now required to pay compensation to several persons who were detained under the previous Anti-Gang Act as can be seen in the following link to a Guardian newspaper article. (http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2018-03-01/state-settles-soe-lawsuits).

“During the SoE, which lasted from September to December 2011, hundreds of suspected gang leaders and members were rounded up by police and charged under the controversial Anti-Gang Act. All were eventually freed by the DPP’s Office because there was no evidence submitted by the police to support their detention.”

The Anti-Gang Bill, sunset clause or not, suffers from the same ills as every other piece of legislation in Trinidad and Tobago – to be effective, it must be enforced! For enforcement to take place, the Police Service needs to do a better job; a much, much better job. Evidence is required to ascertain proof beyond reasonable doubt, which the Police Service seems to be clueless about. From all appearances, it seems that the entire police force (from Commissioner to Constable) is of the belief that arresting people is sufficient proof that the job is done correctly.

I have often said that the Police Service suffers collectively from an intellectual, and best practice, approach to fighting crime. There may be individual officers at all levels will have the occasional shining moments, but for the most part, the organisation is bereft of motivation and capability. Sadly, this reflects the culture within and without the organisation, built up over decades. Not only is it virtually impossible to stamp out, it will continue to grab new recruits in its tentacles and corrupt them in the same manner – after all, their teachers have already been “institutionalised” to that particular culture. In plain language, it is impossible to teach old dogs new tricks.

I have little hope the crime situation, currently rising to intolerable levels, will actually be reined in over the next 20 years. Partly because the local police are incapable, partly because they refuse to learn modern and effective policing methods, partly because they do not want external and qualified leaders, partly because those on a managerial level are probably even more ineffective than appears to be – one very senior police officer even boasted about how high he rose in rank with only a school leaving certificate. With that attitude, one can only despair. There is a vast difference between rising up the ranks on merit and qualifications, versus rising through mediocrity and seniority.

All in all, citizens ought to be prepared for was to come. I have said it before, and I will say it again – plainly and boldly – that is only when senior politicians and their relatives are affected by violent crime, will their anger and distaste turn towards effective legislation and the political willpower to manage the Police Service better.

This is the best we have?

This morning I woke up to articles in the Newspapers about the next potential President. I was horrified to learn that the Peoples National Movement (PNM) is trying to foist Rolston Nelson on us, and the United National Congress (UNC) is suggesting Gladys Gafoor. My mind instantly went numb.

I began to wonder if Nelson was covertly being rewarded for his role in exonerating Rolph Balgobin, the PNM’s seeming untouchable ‘Golden Boy’. If so, that makes the possible appointment of Nelson unsustainable. If not, the mere idea that this could be possible, is itself a sign that Nelson is the wrong candidate, being tainted before he could even be appointed. His Presidency will always be marred by a cloud of suspicion hanging over his head.

As for Mrs Gafoor, after cashing the cheques of a dead man for 6 years, she is hardly a beacon of light in the morass of Trinidadian corruption. What she did was criminal in most States, except perhaps T&T. Her ‘exoneration’ was gerrymandered to protect the reputation of the Judiciary at best, and her own at worst.

If these two persons are the best that Trinidad and Tobago has to offer, no wonder we are the laughing stock of the world. Third World status remains firmly entrenched as long as Third World thinking prevails, but I guess that the people will accept it as long as they remain the 5^th happiest place on Earth.

Constitutional flim-flams

There are 3 constitutional crises facing the Trinidad and Tobago right now. The crises are:

1. The Marcia Ayers-Caesar infamous promotion to the judicial bench.
2. The possible illegality of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC).
3. The possible illegality of the Police Services Commission (PSC).

I will deal with them in order listed.

Ayers-Caesar is the former Chief Magistrate (CM), a post held in the past by another infamous and less-than-honourable son of the soil, Sherman McNicolls. Search for on this website Shermie and you will find loads of shenanigans he was involved in. It must be something in the office that affects the head (and possibly wallets) of the office holders. In any event, we have a situation where the CM was promoted to the High Court and left some 54 outstanding cases behind, all of which may have to be restarted from the beginning. This pissed of those charged in these matters, and a riot occurred in the jail cells downstairs from the court which resulted in some police/prison officers (I forget which) being hurt. Of course, they can now sue the State (using the copy and paste master, Gerald Ramdeen for a sure win) for failing to provide a safe working environment (and that’s only for starters!).

But Ayers-Caesar is expected to go back to the position of the Chief Magistrate, toppling her replacement who can now sue the State because she has/had a ‘legitimate expectation’ to the post she was promoted to. And, if that is not all, the Chief Justice (CJ) claims Ayers-Caesar never resigned as CM. What?! I’ve never known someone having to resign from one position, within the same organisation, to take up a higher post in the same organisation. Did I miss something? Now we have a whole bunch of questions jumping out at the CJ and JLSC, the latter making the appointment by the way.

• If Ayers-Caesar didn’t resign, was she collecting salaries as both CM and a judge?
• Did Ayers-Caesar’s replacement know she wasn’t really promoted and so has no legitimate expectation to either job or salary?
• Why was there no due diligence checks?
• Did she sit in hearing for any cases at the High Court? What happens to those matters?

You see? All kind of questions come to my mind, and I am sure the public (and legal fraternity) has thought up a lot more.

Which brings me to the JLSC. If it is illegal as purported, then this whole episode is a mere speck in the judicial pond. Immediately coming to mind is that Ayers-Caesar appointment would be illegal, as would her replacement’s… and so would any appointments made during the period of illegality!! How so, you ask. Well, an illegal entity can’t appoint a legal entity. Simple. What is illegal can’t make the illegal legal. Now look how this spreads:

Every single appointment would have to be declared void (more lawsuits) and all monies paid by way of salaries and perks would have to be recovered. Like throwing back the cascadoo yuh done eat back in the pond. Hundreds of appointments in the most part, I suspect. And we haven’t even begun to think about the cases those so appointed have been involved in. Can you imagine a few thousands of prisoners realising that the magistrate or judge who heard their case is not legally appointed to do so? What about those who were/are sentenced to prisons or even fines? I see floodgates opening for lawsuits and a mess worse that the sewage dumped in Queen’s Park Savannah.

Same situation for the PSC.

I hope readers now see better how this constitutional gobar (cow dung) is important to be washed, dried and deodorised quickly… I really hope so.

Before I forget… those of you who are wondering why magistrates and judges aren’t commenting ought to know that they can’t. They have to remain impartial in both private as well as public life. Sad, isn’t it? They can neither complain, nor defend themselves.

Police – apart and aloof

As accustomed as I am to police stupidity (duncey dotishness) in Trinidad and Tobago, there are times I am still awe-struck at how low the intelligence quotient can go. If intelligence was a limbo, the police service consistently lowers the bar successfully. Take this example:

Adele Gilbert was shot and killed in San Fernando. he was allegedly unarmed, but the police dispute this; I tend NOT to believe police especially when investigations have time and again proven their statements to be lies. In this case, the autopsy revealed that Gilbert was shot at in the back, contrary to the initial police reports. The relative’s video, shot at the scene, also shows a police officer picking up a shell casing from the ground (the Police Welfare and Social Association president Michael Seales thinks it was a 25 cents piece), in effect tampering with  what might be evidence in any ensuing investigation. That’s not all though…

Rather than call for an investigation into the shooting, the Police Welfare and Social Association president Michael Seales is calling for an investigation into a subsequent video allegedly made by a relative of Gibert, in which racist comments and threats were supposedly made. Now, some may argue that the video needs investigating; I agree. But I also think that in the same breath, Seales should have called for an investigation into the shooting of Gilbert and assured the citizens that no stone would be left unturned in getting to the truth of the affair. As it is, his one-sided call is a blot on the police; it is essentially saying that whatever ‘we’ (the police) do is alright because ‘we’ doing it in the name of crime fighting.

As I have frequently said on this blog, the two tier system is in effect. And never the twain shall meet.

The ‘War’ is futile

The so-called ‘war’ on crime, declared by many Ministers of National Security, Prime Ministers, Police Commissioners et al is an abysmal failure. Not only has crime not been reduced, it has actually flourished, and has become more brutal, more bloody, more callous than ever.

And no one bats an eye.

It isn’t unusual to see headlines like: Couple’s throats slit during home invasion.

Nor to see photos like this, where once upon a time this would have been against all good taste and decorum for newspapers to print. Never mind the children who read the news or will be exposed to the gruesome sights… nothing is Almightier than the dollar, ent? The savagery has gotten so brutal that shock value keeps rising, we become inured against the exposure, and in turn we behave like humans… because animals, at least those lesser evolved than Homo Sapiens, do not behave with such disregard to their prey. Nor do they wilfully commit acts of cruelty.

But these are symptoms of how the ‘war’ has been a failure, not the reasons why the ‘war’ is incapable of being won. There are numerous reasons why Trinidad and Tobago will become even more of a failed State before too long.

There are incapable, incompetent, unqualified people at the top. People who lack critical thinking and educational skills, the ability to adopt and adapt into workable plans even ideas from elsewhere, who ‘protect their turf’ by refusing to hire external expertise (and when they mistakenly do, find that they can’t work with those people because they rock the status quo), people who can’t or won’t admit they are out of their depth.

That’s not all. Many of those in the upper echelons of the law enforcement organisations, government, and business world are corrupted, if not indeed active criminal participants, in drug trading, trafficking, kidnapping, land grabbing, money laundering etc. It isn’t at all therefore surprising that the curb on or to combat crime is not in their financial (or personal) interest. Why slay the goose with the golden eggs?

Think those are the only reasons? Not at all. They are ably aided by the educated population, who don’t even have the excuse of illiteracy to explain the utter stupidity of their thought processes. Bleating about praying and that ‘God is a Trini’ in hopes that the problems will disappear, the educated elite even includes a judge who apparently left his brains in his judicial robes and found the State’s purse in the Presidential ones he swapped into.

And let’s not forget those who bawl ‘Bring Back the Death Penalty’ as the apparently sole solution to end all serious crimes. I have news for you. The death penalty didn’t go for a walk, on vacation, or even become a ‘hornerman’ slinking into the night… no, it was and is still there. If the Law imposes conditions on which it can be used, then it is up to a proactive Government to find solutions to work within those conditions, if the death penalty is to be implemented as a (hopefully not ‘the’) solution to crimes gone wild.

Despite that 0.01% hope for a better T&T, I still see the futility of change. Which is why I’m unlikely to hold my breath.

Sweet like a Prosecco

Life on the Rock is sweet like a Prosecco wine apparently. Especially for the President, who seems to be a typical ole boy controlled by the greatest treasure on earth… the Bearded Clam!

What else would explain giving a contract to his wife’s former ‘stylist’ (someone say ‘flesh-coloured belt’?) to import  wine to the value of $1.2 millions? Okay, let’s be fair to the Prez, it’s TT dollars, not US. And it’s for a 2 years period so I can assume that he is not courting said bearded clam with sparkling wine baths. Or is he?

In the meantime, the judiciary is still treated like a stray dog; starved for funds.

Never before has a President of Trinidad and Tobago been mired in so many financial controversies. Aside from 2 pensions (one as a judge – which will be scaled up whenever the sitting judges get a raise - and one as President, also scaled) he has collected a housing allowance while being provided with State Housing and has refused to return said allowance received. A neat sum of $28K.

And there are allegations of public spending on jewellery as well, not only wine. All in all, this writer sees that the President is controlled by the bearded clam, and his public policies and actions are affected by his thirst.

Finally – sense

Finally, after so many have thought and believed it, lived it and grieved in it, a voice of authority has said it:

“There is also a tendency for medical professionals to band together and very often there is an unwillingness by professionals to express opinions that condemn or criticise the work of fellow professionals...” [Justice Frank Seepersad]

This is hardly surprising news. I wonder though that Justice Rampersad had the balls to articulate this – the tendency as we know it is to pretend it doesn’t happen. I say hurrah for him, but time will tell if his statement makes any difference. I personally think it was akin to a fart in a tornado, but who am I to judge the judge?

Hypocrisy - And you don’t even know it

With the death of Patrick Manning, former PNM leader and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, comes the hypocrisy.

As with nearly every deceased person, the outpouring of goodwill and praise is heartily sickening. No one speaks ill of the dead. But Patrick was a human, prone to human foibles. In his Prime Ministerial stewardship, he was often accused of hubris, and at times displayed signs of paranoia. Those same accusers now heap praise on a suddenly ‘faultless’ martyr.

People even forget he tried to slip a new Constitution in under the radar, that was the extent of his arrogance.

So, instead of coming to praise Manning, let us not forget the bad that came with the good.

When jackasses sing…

all I hear is ‘hee haw’.

This is the case with ‘Brother’ Harrypersad Maharaj, head of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). In saying that he (and the IRO) condones marriages of girls from ages 12 (Muslim faith) and 14 (Hindu faith), he comes across as a paedophile... which is itself both surprising and not surprising, because like a good Catholic priest takes a vow of celibacy, so has ‘Brother’ Harry, being a member of the Raja Yoga faith.

He is not alone. Sat Maharaj of the Sanatan Dharam Maha Sabha (SDMS) has also given the green light, under the enlightened wisdom of the ages where ‘evidence’ of arranged child marriages ‘worked’ as there were no divorces, despite husbands beating their underage wives like lathi* beat rice. I suppose sometimes they even used said lathis. Incidents of paedophilia are not unknown, in fact are quite rampant in the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago in particular.

Others have adequately dealt with the braying jackasses, but I wish to offer another view.

As activist and women’s rights champion Verna St Rose-greaves quite rightly pointed out, Trinidad and Tobago is signatory to several International Treaties including the Convention for the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. These directly contradict the laws of TnT on child marriages.

There are those who will argue that local law (statute) trumps treaties. Nothing is further from the truth. The moment TnT became a signatory to these treaties, that meant that the country agreed to update its domestic laws to meet the requirements of the treaties. In other words, Trinidad and Tobago placed itself in the position of having to take positive steps to meet the requirements and honour the rights of women and children.

Failure to do so can be challenged in court, by any one of those child brides. And I shudder to think of the compensation avalanche to follow.

What’s it worth?

I have written many, many times about dangerous dogs, dotish owners and apathetic law enforcement. So many deaths, and still dog owners raise moronic protests. Still, you know the saying, “Who don’t hear, will feel”.

And ‘feel’ is what a family is experiencing this morning. I am truly horrified that the victim is a mere 6 months old babe, but somehow I know the lesson is not yet learnt. Despite a comprehensive Dog Control Act, I have not yet read anywhere that the regulations are/were implemented. And the State has not yet seen fit to push on this to save lives.

After all, what is a life worth in Trinidad and Tobago? From my observations, just a few tears easily replenished with the next glass of water. Or rum.

So far in Trinidad and Tobago, only ‘dangerous’ dogs need microchips, but from next month in England, ALL dogs MUST be microchipped and non-compliance means a £500 fine. Why do I bring this up? It reiterates a point I’ve been making time and time again… that England is far more progressive in updating its laws than Trinidad and Tobago, and also in enforcing them.

Expect more blood.

Long arm of the Law is really a short stick up the backside

Not too long ago, maybe about two days after the general elections held on September 7, I posted a comment on the PNM Facebook page asking Dr Keith Rowley – Prime Minister – to update the Offences Against the Person Act in Trinidad and Tobago as a matter of priority. There are a number of reasons for this; most of them have been verbalised on this blog many times before. I did also mentioned that the update to this particular Act should be done post-haste and in my comment I gave several reasons for this.

Whether or not the Prime Minister saw my comment is a matter of conjecture. But I will say this, and continue to say it, that this particular Act needs a dramatic update if not a full rewrite. This statute is an inherited British one dating back to 1925. In other words, we inherited this as a pre-Independence law, kept it when we were made Republic, and have not really moved on despite another 10 years into the future will make that particular law 100 years old!

One may say that the age of the Act does not necessarily reflect upon its efficiency – in this case it certainly does. For example, how many of you know that the most serious offence is to assault/batter a Christian priest?!

But here's my main grievance, and I will compare it to the equivalent British standard: in Trinidad and Tobago, apparently the police dunceys are unable to charge someone who commits an assault/battery unless the victim files a complaint. However, comparatively, in the UK there is no need for the victim to complain. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS, the equivalent of the DPP in Trinidad and Tobago) will prosecute regardless. And sometimes even if the victim wants the charges dropped, the CPS can continue as a matter of public interest/safety.

Not so in Trinidad and Tobago. I refer to the recent case of a very small-size woman being kicked and sent skating across the floor.

The 26-year-old woman videotaped receiving a severe beating with a steel object in a video which was circulated on social media yesterday has refused to co-operate with police investigating the incident.

Her refusal has caused investigating officers at the Arouca Police Station to consult with their legal team on whether or not the suspect, an Arouca businessman, could be charged with any offence. With her refusal to file a complaint, the victim has left police with a case that may see the perpetrator of the vicious beating walk free, despite at least seven eyewitnesses to the incident.

In a telephone interview last night, attorney and former police officer Lyndon Leu said the police could only lay charges if the victim gave a statement or if the victim’s medical notes or a statement from the doctor showed the victim admitted to being beaten by her partner.

“It is a very difficult situation for the police. They can’t do much without a statement. Without a statement from her there is no victim,” Leu said.

He said the video would have been enough to arrest and detain the perpetrator for 48 hours but police needed more in order to charge him. Leu, who saw the video on Facebook yesterday, said police could either charge him for a minor offence, which was assault by beating, or possibly a major offence of wounding with intent to cause bodily harm.

He added: “If the police are clever or innovative they can find a way to lay charges but it is still possible that the victim will find a way to sabotage the case when it goes to court. “But as funny as it sounds, she has to tell the police she did not give permission for him to beat her.”

I have never read such rubbish in my life, and it seems to me that the interpretation of the law is done by idiots!

According to Section 26 of the Domestic Violence Act, evidence obtained through a statement is admissible in court if a witness refuses to co-operate.

Section 26 of Domestic Violence Act

Where direct oral evidence of a fact would be admissible in any proceedings under this Act, a document containing a statement made by the complainant which forms part of the record compiled by the police and tending to establish that fact, shall be admissible in circumstances where—
(a) The complainant refuses to be sworn as a witness; or
(b) having been sworn as a witness, gives oral evidence which is inconsistent or contradictory to the statement forming part of the police record.

So here's my next question – why are they looking at a charge under the Domestic Violence Act rather than the Assault Against the Person Act? Or both? To me, this is just another example of the stupidity of the members of the police service in Trinidad and Tobago. It demonstrates a very singular view, a tiny pinprick of light shining through. In other words rather than looking at all the ways the law can be used, they look at the single particular situation and have only a unilateral approach to that one problem – one solution mindset.

When I think about this situation only three words come to mind: FFS…

Carrying the baton - up the backside

I note with a certain amount of interest that Ken Julien has been reappointed to University of Trinidad and Tobago. I note with even more interest that Julien is now 83 years old… time long past when he should be playing with great-grandchildren…

I never forgot that under his direct ‘leadership’, UTT haemorrhaged TT $1 Billion like a dose of laxative… and then he refused to appear before the Joint Select Committee that tried to investigate.

And not forgetting a certain off-shore bank account, "US$4.2 million bank account in the Guernsey Island managed exclusively by the Trust Fund, HSBC International. It is understood that the Guernsey account generates over US$200,000 a year in interest payments."

So, a man whose ethics and business sense is obviously questionable, who has a foot and a half in the grave at age 83, is the ONLY possible person to carry the baton of UTT forward… obviously up the backside, since I can’t personally see it. Astonishing too a younger, more ethical person can’t be found…

Thieves, Dogs, Misfits and Donkeys

There are several things upon which my attention was drawn today.

The first is the continuing scandal of exorbitant fees from the Office of the Attorney General while headed by Anand Ramlogan. Two former Attorney Generals, John Jeremie and Ramesh L. Maharaj have come out in the open requesting a probe into "the prima facie case for financial impropriety", which I pointed out on 16 March.

“As far as I can recall my allocation for legal fees was about $25 million.” [John Jeremie]

Since 2008 or thereabouts, this blog has been lamenting on the strangulation of the entire judiciary for want of funds. Given that the spending spree undertaken by the previous Attorney General Anand Ramlogan ranges from an estimated $300 million to “what could potentially be “close to a billion dollars””, the impact of this mischief is equivalent to using a sledgehammer to crush a peanut, especially in light that in 2009 the entire judiciary was allocated the sum of $49 million for the entire year!

The second situation to catch my attention was the headline "pitbull mauls tot". Just recently I had cause to return to this topic, due to the fact that attacks by dangerous dogs are far more prevalent on the Rock than in England. Given that the Dangerous Dogs Act has been partially claimed in Trinidad and Tobago, the law is now that injury caused by a dangerous dog is punishable by a fine of $100,000 and 5 years imprisonment to the owner of said dog, if the dog unreasonably injures someone. I'm waiting to see if the dunceys take any action in this matter.

Related the dunceys taking action, I wonder if their uber-efficiency applies only to roadblocks or will continue in other areas of law enforcement. Even the public information officer of the TTPS, Insp Wayne Mystar said, " How in God’s name can you hold a country to ransom because of the inefficiencies of a group of misfits who cannot negotiate on behalf of its members?"

At least this time it is not a foreigner pointing out the obvious! It’s one of their own…

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…

Ah Deputy Essential

As Penguin (calypsonian) said, “Ah deputy essential”… and Chandresh Sharma is the latest MP/politician whose transgressions have been aired out in the open.

Sharma, married and father of 4 with his legal wife, had an extra-marital affair with one Sacha Singh, a Piarco business-woman who coincidently, was an ex-Miss Trinidad and Tobago contestant.

What appears to be yet a third extra-marital affair, with another woman and which resulted in a 12 years old child, was discovered by Ms Singh. When confronted with the ‘evidence’, Sharma went a little ballistic, as he is wont to do… (remember those car accidents where he slapped the other party?).

Ms Singh rightly made a report to the police.

But the point I want to make is this… is Sharma supporting his ‘outside’ child, or is he, like one former actor/MP, relying on the State to provide ‘Public Assistance’ for the object of his indiscretion? Is this ‘Good Brahmin Boy’ spending quality time and providing the love and attention his child needs?

On the other hand, ah have to ask Sacha Singh, what the hell she saw in Sharma? Not only is he ugly on the outside, the inside seem rotten to the core. He is also nearly twice her age, although he looks a hell of a lot older than the 54 he actually is.

It seems Jumbie’s First Law strikes again.

Fuad is quaking and reacts to ERHA.

I think I’ve had a relapse! I’ve been reading more news on the Rock of late. This one Health CEO Fired [TT Express 2013-12-09] could not escape my attention. My reference to ‘reported facts’ does not mean that I believe them. However, the TT Express has been doing a very good job of investigative journalism in the last year – and therefore the reported facts hold some degree of credibility. Newsday has also reported on this. I’ll summarise what happened according to reported facts for ease of understanding.

1. Ameena Ali was appointed CEO  of the Eastern Regional Health Authority on 1st November 2013.
2. According to media reports, there were 14 complaints made against Ali – 12 of those from “senior medical staff”. Of those 12, two were said to be doctors, some nurses and others pharmacist.  Letters of resignation were received. [Amusingly the word ‘medical’ no longer refers exclusively to medical doctors – anybody can be a medic these days – just like in England.]
3. ERHA board member, attorney Kiel Taklalsingh, stated that complaints were about the CEO’s lack of interpersonal skills, which effectively prompted the letters of resignation. Taklalsingh reasoned that if such mass resignations were to take place, then the ability of the ERHA to deliver it’s services would have been adversely affected, causing damage to patient care.
4. Chairman of the Board, Dr Stephen Bhagan reportedly said that because Ali was on probation she would be served a letter of termination.

Some relevant background:

1. A High Court judge tongue-lashed the North West Regional Health Authority for improperly dismissing Ali in 2003. As reported in Newsday 2004-12-21, “Ventour [Judge] stated on page 33 of his judgment that he was taken aback by the manner in which Ali was terminated. The letter was tantamount to a summary dismissal “without highlighting any serious breach of contract on the part of the applicant (Ali.)” Stating that the termination letter failed to consider Ali’s interest, Ventour wrote, “I am left with no alternative but to hold that the decision of the board to terminate the services of the applicant was, in all the circumstances, unjust, unfair, unreasonable and unlawful.”
2. It was certainly the case that Ali was a General Manager at NWRHA in October 2013 – just in case anyone wondered how 14 people reacted like a raised jep nest, so quickly from 1st November to 9th December 2013.
3. Dr Stephen Bhagan is the the Minister’s brother-in-law.
4. Carol Bhagan is the Minister’s wife, over whom there was recently a major uproar about her appointment as a director of health with the NWRHA.

Ali asserted that (and I paraphrase) that she had uncovered concerns arising from an audit, and a situation where doctors were being paid around $25,000 TT/month for one day’s work per week. Personally, I don’t know why that should cause such a fuss, because that level of pay is roughly the Sterling equivalent for a locum consultant doctor here in the UK.

Well, I don’t intend to take sides this early. However, a few inferences seem appropriate:

1. People did not like Ameena Ali back in 2003.
2. They reacted like a jep nest within a space of one month of her taking the reigns.
3. Workers seemed coordinated in their strategy to force the ERHA to sack Ali.
4. They effected that strategy.
5. The ERHA’s grounds for dismissal appears to be that Ali has caused trouble and could not get on whilst in her probationary period.
6. There is no account of a full and fair investigation of the complaints for substance or merit, available or accessible by the public. And it would seem that even the Minister is in the dark.
7. The Minister has referred to a possible lawsuit, and that seems connected to expectation that Ali is not going to be a pushover – as she demonstrated very well in 2004.
8. The Minister is probably concerned to avoid history repeating itself.

Just to be clear – I do not know Ali personally or professionally. I have no association with, or affiliation to, any of the persons mentioned – or their friends or relatives.

Consistently Incompetent

Justice Joseph Tam is nothing if not consistently incompetent.

In the matter of Monica Jane Ramnarine (Appellant) v Chandra Bose Ramnarine (Respondent) (Trinidad & Tobago), Justice Tam took almost 6 years total (4 years for oral judgment and another 1 year and 10 months to give the written judgment).

In the matter of Vishnu Ramdath,  Court records showed Ramdath’s appeal was only heard in 2011  because High Court judge Joseph Tam  initially gave an oral judgment in 2005 and only provided written reasons six years later.

Mainly due to Tam’s delays/incompetence, the Privy Council had cause to ‘tap up’ the judicial system on the Rock in the case of Monica Jane Ramnarine v Chandra Bose Ramnarine. Perhaps it is time Tam is retired.

Tiger or dog, still toothless

Every year, about this time, I am inspired by the list of names, published in the newspapers, of those who failed to file the relevant financial information with the Integrity Commission. Every year, I point out that the IC is a toothless dog, and needs to be given teeth.

Finally, the Chairman agrees with me.