Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 9 min ago
$2b helicopter contract... Does it add up?
Published: 25 Aug 2009
Evidence has emerged which raises new questions about the amount of money the Government has agreed to pay a consortium led by an Italian company in a contract for four helicopters.
Finmeccanica, a defence and aerospace company, announced on July 30 that its wholly-owned subsidiary, AgustaWestland, had been awarded a contract with the Government of T&T worth US$348 million for the supply of four AW139 helicopters. The contract, which includes an extensive training and logistical support service for five years, will allow the Air Guard to use the helicopters for search and rescue, surface surveillance, law enforcement, drug interdiction and disaster relief operations. But an examination of about a dozen AgustaWestland contracts by the Guardian, from the company’s own Web site, has revealed that while T&T paid US$348 million for its four-helicopter contract, other countries and companies have paid less, sometimes much less, for helicopters from the company.
• In July last year, AgustaWestland signed a contract to supply 18 AW139 medium twin helicopters, to the Qatar Armed Forces. These are the same as those to be supplied to T&T. The Qatar helicopters will perform duties similar to those to be acquired by T&T.
The functions of the Qatar helicopters include utility, troop transport, search and rescue, border patrol, special forces operations, law enforcement and homeland security duties. According to the AgustaWestland Web site, the Qatar contract includes crews training and an initial spares package while the T&T contract makes provisions for “extensive training and logistical support service for the first five years.”
T&T’s negotiating team agreed to pay US$348 million for four helicopters while the Qatar negotiators paid €260 million (the conversion was US$408 million on the day of the contract) for 18 helicopters.
• In a letter to the editor, published as a commentary last Friday, Trade Minister Mariano Browne revealed that the four AW139 helicopters to be acquired cost US$93.56 million. That means that each helicopter costs US$23.39 million. On November 12, 2007, AgustaWestland signed a contract with Gulf Helicopters in Qatar for ten AW139 helicopters, although those were to have been equipped for offshore passenger transportation operations. The overall value of the Qatar contract, which included the establishment of a service station in the country, was approximately US$130 million. That means the unit cost of the Qatar helicopters was less than US$13 million each—or about US$10 million less than the T&T helicopters.
• On November 5, 2007, a company called CHC Helicopter Corporation, a global offshore oil and gas contractor, signed a contract with AgustaWestland to purchase 13 AW139 helicopters. The contract had a value of US$140 million. That’s a per unit cost of US$10.76 million.
• On October 30, 2008, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency signed a contract with AgustaWestland to buy three AW139 helicopters plus options for several additional aircraft. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will use the helicopters for search and rescue, coastal patrol and law enforcement duties, similar duties to those being acquired by the T&T government. While T&T paid US$348 million for four aircraft, the Malaysians paid US$200 million for three, with an option to puchase several more.
• On October 7, 2008, the Canadian charitable organisation, Ornge, signed a contract for for ten AW139 medium twin helicopters in aero-medical configuration, with an option for two additional aircraft. The overall value of the contract was about US$120 million, which means that each unit costs US$12 million.
Only PNM math’s, just like
Only PNM math’s, just like the kind they try to use on Rowley, Manning and the PNM don’t add up!
Now are you going to fire Mr. Brown for trying to misleader the public on the article on the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian?
Thank You Guardian. I hope the people read this article.
Ryan4Party
Dude of course it adds
Dude of course it adds up!!
Remember 30% for the helicopters, and 70% in the pockets of the PNM.
And then there is the extras
What yer sayin man that de
What yer sayin man that de Minister and his PNMers are all gentleman farmers?
Take that in your
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you reach in the hospital and it eh hah no medication.
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you get rob and its a policeman
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you see Manning wineing and dining he pardners
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you see the money gone
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
but no
you like it so
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
when time to vote
you get your rum and roti
Take that in your rukutungtung!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes the PNM in front on the
Yes the PNM in front on the poll, I think they made a mistake, in front for corruption, robbing the treasury, and crime.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2009/08/22/pnm-out-front
Ryan4Party
it has come down to this: we
it has come down to this: we either have very poor negotiators, we have negotiators who do not care how the monies are spent, or we have the negotiators who actually negotiate something for themselves.i firmly believe it is the last one.
On a serious note... does
On a serious note... does the website indicate the type of equipment that is being installed on these aircraft and the cost? While we recoginze that the writer is doing some type of comparison in his quest to show some form of corruption, is this really a true comparison when you don't have the details of any of the contracts stated? My I suggest that if you're really doing some form of investigative journalism, that you supply us with some more indepth details please....
Be real sails!!! With the
Be real sails!!! With the PNMs track record ?
What we need to see is the negotiator's bank
record.
Be real sails!!! With the
Be real sails!!! With the PNMs track record ?
What we need to see is the negotiator's bank
record.
http://guardian.co.tt/news/ge
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/08/02/govt-awards-2b-helicopter-...
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2009/08/14/browne-helicopters-do-not...
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/editorial/2009/08/17/will-helicopter-bi...
Ryan4Party
http://guardian.co.tt/comment
http://guardian.co.tt/commentary/letters/2009/08/25/web-chat-helicopters...
RYAN, I LOVE YOUR SITE:
RYAN, I LOVE YOUR SITE:
Ryan, I love your site UNCNothingYet, I have told all my friends about it. I am on it right now reading all the newspapers and seeing my favorite TV shows in Trinidad. Keep up the good work.
Avalynn, NY
RYAN, I LOVE YOUR SITE:
RYAN, I LOVE YOUR SITE:
Ryan, I love your site UNCNothingYet, I have told all my friends about it. I am on it right now reading all the newspapers and seeing my favorite TV shows in Trinidad. Keep up the good work.
Avalynn, NY
The only thing that is
The only thing that is missing from these details is the exact configuration for the helicopters T&T is buying and for those that the other countries are buying. Still, even taking differences into consideration those are some substantial mark-ups for the ones T&T is buying. I wonder if that odor I am getting is the smell of kick-backs?
Is there not a bidding process that was not followed though? How did the government justify not following that process in this case? Some crap like saying there was only one possible supplier? That is an old trick, you write the requirements with only one company in mind then claim only one company meets the requirements. I shudder to think of what would be uncovered in the contracts for the six 30-metre boats being built in Australia and the three 90 ninety-metre boats in England.
Still I will not rush to judge although it does like damning for the government. What will they say in response? What can they say?
Yes you are right, the units
Yes you are right, the units that Qatar is buying does not come with rotors, engines, and is bought fully CKD. The units Trinidad is paying for comes fully equipped with EITHER the latest Israeli spy equipment OR Kitchen and bar for entertaining. This accounts for the roughly 100% difference in prices.
Misleading
Misleading article.......Which Company will post the details of a procurement transaction detailing specification's, Issues surrounding transport and lodging cost etc. so that different buyers can make informed decisions????????? Guardian at its best or should I say the anti govt campaigners..Key word is RESEARCH and be OBJECTIVE in your research
The key to this is (The Air
The key to this is (The Air Guard (TTAG) will establish a dedicated unit to use these helicopters for search and rescue, surface surveillance, law enforcement, drug interdiction and disaster relief operations).
Load these birds with everything for the reasons given above and still cannot justify spending that money.
Including your 136 pilots and 5 year package, No way! What they doing building the aircraft out of Platinum, That can`t fly!
Who is the consultant; I want a job with them. LOL
About the boats that is another story, we sure them coming with Platinum propellers!
The Manning and PNM government frighten to go try to do them deal with the USA, people will get lock up in the USA. So they can’t buy it from the USA government because it will have to go before congress for approval and will be published.
So they have to do business with China, Italy, Australia, Cuba, Philippines, hope you people seeing the trend.
I still waiting for them to tell me they buying some Ferrari Enzo for the Police service and some Cigarette Race Boats for the Cost Guard to catch drug dealers.
Everybody want to eat a food
Everybody want to eat a food and nobody wanna pay
Monkey know what tree to
Monkey know what tree to climb and what vine to swing on.
It is odd that, instead of trying to correct the apparent putrid mistake they're trying to defend, prima facie, atrocious negotiation. This problem is typical of Third World nations where the the victims of what looks like white collar 'deviations' are the public purse and not any 'person' per se. Negotiators in such situations usually don't see anything wrong in literally deviating from the path of righteousness without blinking an eye because there are no 'victims' to what may apparently be, at worst, 'victimless crime?' Maybe a heavier hand is operating behind the scenes?
Added to this, the 'invisible' negotiators know that there are absolutely no consequences for any deviant or disadvantageous negotiation in which they may be involved..
There's no effective opposition and the pliant, compliant and madding crowd will be 'educated' about the prudence of such a decision. They know what tree to climb.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
You on Target! more than
You on Target! more than Manning, but I think what you said will go over a lot of people Heads.
...it appears that the
...it appears that the researcher did not factor the kick-back into his reasoning...this is déjà-vu all over again...
THIS GOVT NO MORE CORRUPT
THIS GOVT NO MORE CORRUPT THAN UNC
Come on you guys, have we already forgotten the Piarco Airport corruption case for which we have not reached a final verdict on the Trinidad co-conspirators yet, but their American counterparts have already been tried and sentenced to jail in Miami? Under whose watch did this happen? I think it was the UNC? So let's be fair and balanced here. If we are going to talk about corrupt govt, then we must bring this up, and what about our former fearless leader who still has not accounted for the 10 million pounds in the London bank account, under whose watch was that? Let's call everybody out, not just some because of our political affiations.
Do I think that $2 billion for helicopters is excessive and over the top? Yes, I do. Especially when I read that people call police stations and they don't have vehicles to go to the crime scene, or when people die in fires because there was no water in that neighbourhood to save these peoples lives or no ambulances to take people to hospitals. Yes, the mis-use of funds for helicopters is quite upsetting, but I don't think it's criminal. I want to see the taxpayers money spent with much more fiscal responsibility and this is what this forum should be about, not slamming a political party, just because. Let's stick to the subject here.
Avalynn, NY
When the UNC lost the
When the UNC lost the election in 2002, the lost a significant number of voters because of the perception of corruption. Some persons who previously voted for the UNC did not vote and some voted for the PNM. In my opinion, they got what they deserved and have had to suffer in opposition since.
However, the PNM is now in power and is up to the same tricks as the UNC. In 2001, it was Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj speaking about investigating corruption within his own government. PNM supporters always speak about a UNC member (Ramesh) from the bowels of the party bringing the corruption to the fore. Now we have Dr. Rowley coming out and speaking about corruption taking place in UDECOTT with Calder Hart. The current enquiry into the case seems to be going nowhere with the recent resignation of Israel Khan.
Anytime someone talks about corruption in the PNM the response is always, "but the UNC was more corrupt than we". Well we are not talking about the UNC, since they already paid their price. While some may be attacking the PNM for attacking sake, I think most people just want value for money. If the article is wrong it would be very easy for the government to explain where the extra costs are coming from to end the matter. Or do we only want accountability when the UNC is in power?
Corruption existed long
Corruption existed long before the UNC. You no doubt will be familiar with Lock Joint; the late Minister John O'Halloran; Mr Francis Prevatt; as well as the infamous confession 'is all ah we t'ief'?
I agree: corruption in all its incarnations and reincarnations must be condemned absolutely. Perceptions of corruption, too, must be investigated. so you are right: we can't jump to conclusions before credible investigation.
One point on which I disagree with you is that the UNC appears to have lost the 2002 elections for a combination of reasons: People (the core of both major parties) vote race; the PNM was the incumbent, having been in office for 1 year; the UNC was split because of what is now clear was a leadership struggle involving key players Ramesh L. Maharaj, Ralph Maraj and Trevor Sudama; the alleged involvement of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen; voter apathy; allegations of corruption against Mr Panday; as well as effective campaigning by the PNM.
Until and unless the veil of secrecey over the negotiations surrounding the helicopters has been removed, the facts will never be known. Therefore, for now, we can only surmise.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Avalyn, are you for real, do
Avalyn, are you for real, do you really believe that what the PNM is doing can be compared to what the UNC did(or were accused of doing)?
"The misuse of funds for helicopters is quite upsetting but I don't think it is criminal"....You DON'T think it's criminal, then what my dear lady do you consider to be criminal. If while people suffering for everything, from water to hospital beds and the PNM government wasting away billions and lying to cover it up, if that is not criminal then you really like it so.
And like people forget about
And like people forget about hart. PNM and UNC both rob the country.
Obeah she doh have to like
Obeah she doh have to like it so, you didn't see where she sign out from??
Maybe if she came here she'd sing a different tune..
UTTERLY MISLEADING -BIASED.
UTTERLY MISLEADING -BIASED.
THESE NEWSPAPERS HAVE NO SHAME. IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT!!!
ALL THIS BASELESS ANTI-GOVERNMENT RHETORIC.
WHEN YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH COME BACK AND TRY AND CONVINCE ME, OTHERWISE, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE LOSING CREDIBILITY FOR FACTUAL INFORMATION, AS IT SEEMS YOU HARDLY EVER SPEAK THE TRUTH.
REMEMBER TO CONSIDER WHAT THE MINISTER SAID:
1)IT IS GOING TO BE CUSTOM BUILT FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
2)IT IS GOING TO HAVE A 15 ON BOARD CAPACITY, EACH HELICOPTER
3)IT IS GOING TO CONTAIN SPECIAL AMMUNITION AND EQUIPMENT
4)MULTIPURPOSE AIRCRAFT, FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE,DOMESTIC FIGHT AGAINST THE DRUG TRADE.
THE NORMAL AW139 HELICOPTERS DO NOT HAVE A CAPACITY TO HOLD 15 MEMBERS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND DO NOT GENERALLY HAVE A WEAPONS FIT, WHICH IS WHY IT IS BEING CUSTOM BUILT FOR T&T. SO CONSIDER THE FACTS PLEASE, BEFORE COMING HERE TO SPEW YOUR BASELESS RHETORIC.!!!!!!!!!!!
rmaharaj Yea right . And you
rmaharaj
Yea right . And you think the disparity in the cost adds up eh?
the extra perks really cost a lot man.
Accusations of Bias &
Accusations of Bias & Lacking in Shame:
My friend, you sure got your underpants in a knot. See how glorious it is to have FREE SPEECH in this country! Your accusations against the Guardian of violating their Code of Ethics as a media outlet came down like 'fire and brimstone'. And see, they did not 'censure' your comments. I pride myself in being a 'literate' person and what I read in this article is simply the findings of the Guardian following their investigation. They are not telling us what to believe or accept. They, as media professionals are doing their job, and have laid out their findings, and hopefully we are intelligent enough to come to our own conclusion(s). We too have the internet at our fingertips and can do our own research. So throwing the baby out with the bath-water will serve no useful purpose. If their 'facts' prove to be incorrect, surely our Honourable Minister, Mr. Mariano Browne is quite qualified to refute any of these 'facts'. Did the Guardian not extend to him an open invitation, in their previous presentation, to come on board and respond should any of their findings, as presented prove to be incorrect. So far, I do not believe that he has made use of this offer. I do not believe that The Guardian is "Anti-Government". Because, after all this gov't is their gov't and our gov't. It is just that we hold them accountable and desire 'accountability, transparency and ethics' in their governance. In the meantime, lets enjoy our freedom! Peace & Love.
Gardenia- So True. Maybe
Gardenia- So True.
Maybe someone should have used google and see for themselves, the Guardian is not being biased in anyway, they are putting the facts that a child can find out to the public and putting questions forth to this government that the local press should have been doing for YEARS.
In MY OPINION: The purchase of these helicopters, without the facts of the misleading information that gov't provided - is a WASTE OF MONEY. As you can see from reports of bridges falling (yeah, it was caused by a crane crossing but that's besides the point), Health care is none existent! Shall I continue? (CRIME) No?
So before you type such jargon that implies that you are biased. Do what the Guardian did - Research!
And if all else fails. You can repeatedly Bang your head on your keyboard til you go unconscious and go to the hospital for (overdue) medical attention and then maybe you'll see what we are talking about (if you last 3 days!)
:)
PS: HAIL CAESAR MANNING YEAH!!!!
Is Calder Hart involved in
Is Calder Hart involved in the purchse of these helicopters? One of the companies mentioned in the article is CHC Helicopter Corporation. Is it Calder Hart Helicopter Corporation, like Calder Hart Construction? Now ah only asking !!!!
Zide great observation and
Zide great observation and great question...ah sure nobody eh think bout that and who is to know the answer to that.
Anthony Wilson Guardian
Anthony Wilson
Guardian editor-in-chief
Hi folks. I just want to make it very clear that the Guardian is NOT accusing the Government negotiators of corruption or of incompetence.
The Guardian does NOT have any evidence, at this point, to support allegations of corruption or incompetence, so let's not get too carried away in our comments on this blog.
It is not unlikely that there are plausible reasons to explain the disparity in the cost that the T&T government proposes to pay and that paid by other companies and countries.
It is not unlikely that there are plausible explanations for the fact that the Qatar Army paid US$408 million for 18 AW139s built for a similar purpose to T&T, while we are paying US$348 million for four helicopters.
All we are saying is that the Government needs to account for its expenditure on these helicopters and should feel impelled to provide the plausible explanations.
And in accounting for its expenditure, the Government should feel it necessary to account for the disparity in the T&T contract and other contracts, especially the Qatar Army contract which seems similar to T&T, aside and apart from the fact that our helicopters need to be fitted to land on the offshore patrol vessels.
I would also like to disabuse anybody who thinks that this newspaper is on some anti-government campaign or that its editor-in-chief has some personal vendetta against Minister Browne. Nothing could be further from the truth and I mean that.
This newspaper and this editor-in-chief will not shirk its responsibility to be fair, balanced and measured while searching after the truth and doing the investigations necessary to ensure that the population can hold the Government to account for the expenditure of billions of dollars at a time when the country can ill-afford financial waste.
Finally, does it give me pause that the Government, and its spokesman on this issue, Minister Mariano Browne, has not responded to the editor's note in the Friday newspaper up to now?
Yes it does. But that may simply be because the Government wishes to check and double check its release to avoid the embarrassment of issuing another error-filled statement.
Thank you and sorry for disturbing your comments.
Anthony
Anthony: Good points in
Anthony: Good points in explaining yours and the Guardian's position in bringing us this news story. I agree with you that there is a huge disparity between what other countries are paying for similiar helicopters and what the GOTT is paying for the four we are buying. I believe the GOTT owes the public a creditable explanation of what are the differences. As you so rightly pointed out in your comment, with the present global economic downturn, no government can afford to be "pissing away" the publics' money in frivilous ways. We all need to be fair and give the govt a chance to explain themselves to us. I for one, await the govt's explanation with bated breadth before casting any aspersions on Mr. Manning or anyone else in his administration. The ball is now in your court, Mr. Manning.
Yes folks please note the
Yes folks please note the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian is not accusing anyone of anything, Ryan4Party is doing that! I am the pit-bull after the red meat, but not just the PNM government, but all the corrupt politicians in Trinidad and Tobago, PNM, UNC, COP all included.
Patriiiickkkk......we
Patriiiickkkk......we steppin' up with u!!!!!!!!
"In the face of intelligence, ignorance dies!!!!!!"
Three Helicopters worth more
Three Helicopters worth more than we whole Airport..talk to any PNMite and they go be able to justify it warning take your blood pressure tables first...sweet sweet trini
Oh lawd one of the PNMite
Oh lawd one of the PNMite just try to justify this....Hey KAKa do we need all the choppers to be fully equip to sit, fifteen, do air sea rescue, fight drugs etc ...how the ass we managed before how many died at sea for lack of a this type of chopper...is the Blimp not enough to maco people business we don’t need 4 choppers fully equip to maco people business....The people report it as the see it keep up the good work. The other side work is to spread the lies.
Anthony Wilson Guardian
Anthony Wilson
Guardian editor-in-chief
Hi folks. I just want to make it very clear that the Guardian is NOT accusing the Government negotiators of corruption or of incompetence.
The Guardian does NOT have any evidence, at this point, to support allegations of corruption or incompetence, so let's not get too carried away in our comments on this blog.
Mr.Wilson
What the Guardian did, is throw red meat in a kennel full with anti-PNM pit bulls, and expect them to make a concious decision to examine the red meat, and find out which abbatoir it came from.
I doubt that any of them went to the company's website for themselves.
http://www.agustawestland.com/news/trinidad-and-tobago-orders-four-aw139...
Had they done so, they would have seen this:
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the government of Trinidad and Tobago has signed a contract to purchase four AW139 medium twin turbine helicopters. Trinidad and Tobago's Air Guard (TTAG) will establish a dedicated unit to use these helicopters for search and rescue, surface surveillance, law enforcement, drug interdiction and disaster relief operations.
The contract also includes an extensive training and logistical support service for the first five years. The contract, comprising the aircraft and support package, is valued at US$348 million.
A consortium involving AgustaWestland, Bristow Caribbean, FB Heliservices of UK and Helidecks Training Solutions of UK will be established to manage the AW139 programme in Trinidad and Tobago with training services to be supplied in Italy, the UK and the USA. Operations will primarily take place from Piarco International Airport and from offshore patrol vessels, working in conjunction with the Coast Guard. This order marks the establishment of the first Search and Rescue helicopter unit in the country.
In other words, Trinidad and Tobago is paying for a support package that the other countries may not have paid for.
If these countries purchased the same support packages, along with the same amount of helicopters, I could see a problem with the price discrepancy.
Not one of us knows anything about the finite details of the contract. But that never stopped a Trini from biased mauvais langue before.
We mouth does run, while we brain still in park.
1) The statement about the
1) The statement about the "extensive training and logistical support service" was included in the first local story published on this matter on Sunday August 2.
2) Does the fact that T&T "is paying for a support package that other countries may not have paid for," cause alarm bells to go off in anyone's mind?
Do we need five years of supervised training and logistical support or could we have made do with three?
What is peculiar about a helicopter that we need to buy the package which includes "extensive training and logistical support"?
If we were buying a 747 would we need to buy a package which included "extensive training and logistical support?"
3) From what I have been able to deduce there is no standard helicopter package. This allows the helicopter manufacturers to hide behind the details of what they are providing to a specific customer.
Anthony Wilson
Guardian editor-in-chief
You are right; tell the
You are right; tell the reporters at the Guardian keep up the good work! But then you do have to read and spell for some people on here.
I don’t care what anyone say the Government of Trinidad and Tobago cannot justify spending all that money.
Well then - I guess the
Well then - I guess the priorities are that 4 helicopters are more beneficial to the populace than say a hospital in Couva, a decent rail or enhanced school system, or even better bridges. Mr Manning wants to run our country like those leaders in Central Africa who buy all these expensive toys so we look "modern" from outside appearances that bring no real benefits to average taxpayers.
One of the duties these
One of the duties these helicopters will be engaged in is "drug interdiction".
The biggest market for the illegal drug trade in the world is the USA. Instead of the US going after the rich, white folks that are responsible for using these illegal drugs, they prefer to raid the ghettos of America, and help the third world countries through which the drugs pass, on their way to the USA (and lately, the UK and Canada)with planes, helicopters, radars, guns, and any other accoutrements in this so called, never ending war against drugs.
What if part of T&T's bill for these helicopters and the support package, is being financed by the USA, the UK, and Canada?
Most times, a government cannot discuss national security issues out in the open.
So while, we raise legitimate questions and concerns about the discrepancy in this expenditure, it is quite possible that there are a whole lot of answers to which we may never be privy.
We may never be privy to
We may never be privy to these answers not because of national security but because Manning and his cronies making millions and there is no explanation or he thinks that we don't need one....ALL Hail THE Father of the Nation.
Respect to Mr Anthony
Respect to Mr Anthony Wilson, but people don't like the secrecy in government operations.
I think people are really fed up with the very secret way in which all our governments have conducted and still conduct negotiations which involve billions of of public dollars. Many of the civic minded bloggers here express disgust at the often questionable manner in which our national patrimony is distributed to conglomerates and multinational corporations, re the awarding of contracts to such groups like CPEP, PSAEL, UDECOTT, Sports Company, Rural Development Company. There's total secrecy as far as gas pricing is concerned, when big big contracts for WASA and TTEC projects, airport contracts, water taxi purchases, etc are negotiated.
Sir, quite often, as in the case of the helicopters and the rapid rail, we hear it first from foreign sources, as if the powers that be are afraid to trust us, the citizens, with the facts.
Admit it:Whenever there's secrecy, people get extremely suspicious, especially where there is little or no proper and transparent accountability.
Can patriotic citizens, many who are skating on his /her last underclothes, be faulted for asking, directly or indirectly through this widely read blog, 'where the money gone?'
But, anyway, thanks for affording us this avenue to express our thoughts.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rl
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119175.htm
“The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. However, the World Bank's worldwide governance indicators reflected that government corruption was a problem”
The world knows the Government CORRUPT. And the one before them 2.
For the USA government to publish this on their website using information from the World Bank, the Guardian don`t have to defend them self, if some people read the article on the Chinese that protesting. I will not get to this point.
So that means they can hide how much they want but some other party will win one day and then we will see how much people get lock up. If Manning cannot clean his own government don’t worry someone will, and I want the man to prosecute them to be Ramesh, I want this man to finish what he set out to do in the start of the madness.
And for the person with the CAP LOCKS I did my research.
The motto for Manning and the PNM should be – CRIME, MISMANAGEMENT, and BOBOL.