Friday March 19th, 2010
- Last update:26 min 12 sec ago
Minister loses cool with journalists
Published: 9 Oct 2009
Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh faced off with journalists at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference after concerns were raised that Government ministers with more prominent portfolios were evading the media at the weekly conference. Questions from journalists about the non-appointment of members to the Integrity Commission and the Commission of Enquiry into the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) were shot down by Swaratsingh. He said: “It always amazes me that you choose to spend the (post-Cabinet news conference) time thinking about what you would want to ask a person (minister) who is (not present).
“Unfortunately, you do not get to make those decisions as to who comes to the post-Cabinet press conference but in so far that there are ministers available to you, use the time to ask them a question or we can adjourn the press conference,” he added. Swaratsingh was responding to calls for ministers to impress on their other Cabinet colleagues, such as the Attorney General, the importance of addressing the shrouds of controversy that surrounded issues such as Udecott. “You were in Parliament and you were in Parliament for the last couple of days with the Attorney General,” he said.
He received support from Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who told journalists that opportunities would arise at other places for ministers to be field questions from the media.
Minister Swaratsingh. did
Minister Swaratsingh. did someone open a window and allowed your 'political etiquette' to fly away in search of 'good manners and ethics'? You are out of order, Sir.
Mr. Manning took the entire lot of you up to Salyia Bay, the posh retreat, for Orientation Sessions. Did they not attempt to 'educate' you on what is acceptable behaviour during the days you enjoyed yourself at the expense of the taxpayers?
If you are going to have "post-Cabinet News Conference" then be prepared to answer questions coming from the media addressing current issues. If you do not have answers then tell them so: while exercising good judgement and manners in the process.
I find your behaviour toward the journalists lacking in pofessionalism. They are there to ask the questions your employers, the citizens of this country need answers for. We need answers and the journalists are our liaison officers: they are doing our bidding.
Two very troubling issues are on-going:- Vacant Integrity Commission, and Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT.; When the reporters tried to do their job you, Sir, attempted to silence them by saying "It always amazes me that you choose to spend the ..." Well Minister, it amazes us that you could have the audacity to believe that you could behave like a common brute while in our employ.
The journalists have the independence of asking what ever question they desire, and you, Sir, have the option of answering them, or saying 'No Comment' .. 'next question please'.
Throwing a 'hissy fit' - a childish tantrum, at the weekly press conference is certainly not the professional way to conduct yourself.
Minister Abdul-Hamid, you watch your steps. Minister Swaratsingh is quite capable of running his own show. You two are two token politicians in the Manning Adminstration. Have a look in the mirror and face reality. The question of whether you could do the job or not was not a deciding factor when you were allowed into their ranks.
All that seems absent on you is your thigh-high black booths and horse whip! - Yes massa.
At this rate, we may soon expect these weekly sessions to be cancelled all together, so that you could carry on 'your business' in total secrecy, away from the glaring eyes of the people; - like a true dictatorship.
Gardenia
THE TRAINING
THE TRAINING -
The training consisted of,
1) How to lie.
2) How to spread propaganda.
3) How to be evasive.
4) How to intimidate the press.
5) How to be disrespectful
6) How to be arrogant like the leader
The press is a toothless bulldog, they only have teeth when is cuchur in UNC.
Brilliant Role Models for
Brilliant Role Models for the Young:
Don't these self-serving silly people realise that the country is watching, and the young are learning from the best how to misbehave; and then they turn aroung and try to impress us when they question how and why the youths are getting out of control. You are showing them how to. Shame on you politicians who should know better, especially you Mr. Minister standing prominently before the podium; did you not learn anything from your previous life?
Fairplaay I think you and I will have to pay him a visit and read him the Riot Act. Rest up for the weekend my friend ... we will step out next week.
Gardenia
You right to rough up
You right to rough up journalist Minister Swaratsingh.
Who are they to be asking you serious questions that affect us all?
Who are they to be "questioning" you about things that you cannot, or would not answer?
Next time, have your police officers throw them out by the scruff of their necks like dogs.
Your leader must be so proud of you...
I work in the media and I
I work in the media and I can tell you the horror stories from these media briefings or hastily called media conferences by the Government. They treat us worse than stray dogs, then they throw food at us afterwards and joke about it. Granted, there are some who are really starving journalists and others who either just tow the line or are afraid of politicians, but it doesn't give them, or anyone, the right to treat us like this. These so-called, meek and humble guys in the faces of Kennedy Swaratsingh, Neil Parsanlal and even Amery Browne are all aspiring to be like Colm Imbert and the rest of the arrogant members of cabinet.
These two incompetents think
These two incompetents think that the country belongs to them.These two would have been just two other Joe Blokes around the place if the emperor didn't put them in as candidates.As they say you can put two crapauds in tie and people would vote them.Both of them have never demonstrated competence in anything.But they want to talk down to journalists.I watch these conferences and I admire the journalists' patience for tolerating the buffoonery of Colm Imbert,The arrogance of Neil Parsanal and the other jokers who feel that they are in charge of the country and so can show off on the press
Have you ever thought that
Have you ever thought that these jokers are well now seasoned?
When the look at Hart, Annisette, the P.M., Colm and so many others talking down to the media, they probably just looking for some rank now.
I can just imagine them with their pinkies stuck out as they sip a cup of chai tea, giggling like schoolgirls at how they "manners" the media.
The Neophytes Strike
The Neophytes Strike Back
These jokers are spineless "yes men" who are so far removed from the reality of a suffering, bruised and now very angry Joe Public. They think it's all about them. Their arrogance is a cover for their ignorance. They are all so clueless as to the frustration amongst the public. The vengence of the people will crush them.
Nina0646 The Minister once
Nina0646
The Minister once worked for God and was clothed in the frock of humility... now he works for us, the people of T & T and has apparently changed the "humble frock" for the one of arrogance as worn by his colleagues in the Government...
So sad....
Thoughts for Today
Thoughts for Today
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Niccolo Machiavelli, 1469-1527
To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.
Niccolo Machiavelli, 1469-1527
People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th president of the U.S
I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion's roar.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule to never criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
La Diva
Wasn't Swaratsingh some kind
Wasn't Swaratsingh some kind of preacher or something????
I think that he was a
I think that he was a Catholic Priest?
Then an Army Chaplain or something like that, too?
SHEEPISH PRESS
SHEEPISH PRESS -
Reporters go to a stage managed press conference; they ask if UDECOTT was discussed at Cabinet Meeting. Father Swaratsingh suggests they speak about things concerning Ministers gathered or they could close the meeting. What a nice little catholic boy? How impertinent? He damn farse and out of place, we are paying his salary and we want to know what the hell is going on. If you don’t want people to ask question resign and go back to the pulpit where you can tell people what to think, how to think and when to think. The press should have immediately walked out, but they sit there sheepishly and take rubbish from this failed priest. This press conference is not about giving information, it is stage managed for the dissemination of State Propaganda. This press only have mouth when it is UNC.
WE can now rest assured that
WE can now rest assured that journalists will never get answers to current vexatious issues as the relevant Ministers will not be present at the briefings. Reporters will in future be advised to confine their questions to matters as they relate to those Ministers who are present at the press conference. What a waste!
.....somebody read the riot
.....somebody read the riot act to this clown....if you want unquestioning loyalty Kenny, head back to the priesthood where everyone agrees with the mumbo jumbo emanating from the pulpit...this is the rough and tumble real world of lying PNM politics where no prisoners are taken.....especially when the peoples' money is involved...
Who is this
Who is this johnny-come-lately arrogant fool to talk down to the media? I understand that he has this same attitude with staff in his work place.
I am not surprised that he left the priesthood, unless he was pushed. Seems like arrogance has reached epidemic proportions with everyone associated with this sick and sickening government.
If the population is not under siege from the bandits and criminals, it's the jacket and tie government politicians putting them under siege.
Overstay in office causes politicians to forget their legal, social and moral contract with the people who employed them; they come to believe it's the other way around. Time to fire the lot of them. The sooner the better, or too late, too late shall be the cry.
And he wasn't even a good
And he wasn't even a good journalist.
I'm never one to suggest any
I'm never one to suggest any boycott of any kind, but if those self-same journalists, including the one on this blog who says they are treated worse than 'stray dogs' at these meetings, could summon up some adrenalin in their cojones and, for once, suppress the irresitible urge for a free proverbial 'roti and a red solo' (or a doubles and a 'lil boy'?), then they can have these so arrogant politicians eating out of their hands and begging them to fill empty chairs from week to week. But, I'm not suggesting a boycott of any kind, just let them speak to empty chairs for a few weeks.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Not just the journalists
Not just the journalists
But Joe Bloke as well, to suppress the irresitible urge for a free proverbial 'roti and a red solo' (or a doubles and a 'lil boy'?!
Having to socialise amongst themselves may help drive home the point that their salary payers are terribly unhappy. Or, you attend, but you stand in another part of the room. They approach you, you find an excuse to go and get another drink or go to the toilet, the same way ladies avoid unwanted male attention at a club.
As a thought, what the journalists could do is attend, but 'not be present', maintain a 'stony' silence. By not asking questions, seeing as the minister in attendance will be so arrogant, they are making the minister(s) aware they are there but... not taking the attitude.
As mentioned before, we have to start thinking more like cats. Dogs have owners; cats have staff. Displeased cats will be in the room with you, and sit with their backs to you or sit side on. No matter how much you move/shuffle to be in their line of vision, they will move/shuffle to let you know they know you are there, but they are ignoring you to kingdom come. Then, when THEY are good and ready, they will walk out of the room, head held high.
La Diva
'If the Priest could play,
'If the Priest could play, who is me?' (TT calypso)
Well said, La Diva. That's why the journalist fella who Swaratsingh lectured, I forgot his name, is to be admired. Tv6 showed footage of him 'moving away'from attempts by the former 'Father' to touch him. Well, 'If the Priest could play, who is me?' (TT calypsonian, can't remember his name) Journalists do a hellova important job in society, but do all have the courage as Sean?
ajfyzabadbutlertown
WHO OWN THE MEDIA
WHO OWN THE MEDIA -
In recent times the Government directly and through State Companies have acquired controlling interest in many media houses. CLICO had a few media houses and shares in Express which are now under the control of Government. Those not financially controlled are probably financial contributors to PNM. We do know of the assistance given to one radio station to fast track their radio license. The media is more state controlled than we think. No wonder when the PM says they are unfair to PNM they back off. Yuh forget he went into a radio station and take it over. If any other politician had done that we would not have heard the end of it.
Bac-cha-nal. Dis is
Bac-cha-nal.
Dis is bacchanal country !!
Bacchanal country
Bacchanal country
bac·cha·nal (bāk'ə-nāl', -näl', bāk'ə-nəl)n.
1 - A participant in the Bacchanalia
2 - The Bacchanalia. Often used in the plural
3 - A drunken or riotous celebration
4 - A reveler
Source: dictionary.com
Margaret, based on the definition above, am not seeing many people in 'drunken or riotous celebration'.
What I am seeming and feeling is a lot of fear, anger, fustration, helplessness, poverty, mistrust, distrust, mis/disinformation, 'don't give a cent', arrogance and passive acceptance, to name but a few. Bottom-line - a lot of drunken and riotous behaviour, but certainly not in 'celebration'.
The sooner we as a country start reclaiming our birthright, Trinbago PLC will have a better chance, in my opinion. We have too many 'intelligent' people (academic, business, 'street smart', creative etc etc) in this country to just let it ride the way it is riding. We talk about breaking the circle of domestic violence and many are quick to say a woman (or man) is [insert word of choice] to stay in an abusive relationship. Yet, here we are being abused in all forms, whilst the assets of our country are being wasted, in some/many cases 'allegedly' plundered, the hard-work of our forefathers is being ripped apart, the legacy for our grandchildren being thrown away and what are we doing about it?
What... are... we (as a nation)... doing... about... it...?
La Diva
The Oxford Dictionary of
The Oxford Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage (Richard Allsop-Oxford University Press 1996) does give a very relevant definition of the word as is used in these parts: -
" A scandal, a cause for great grief,very disreputable conduct, corruption". The example cited is " Everybody doing what the jackass they like, the county running itself and everything running to the dogs."
I'm sure you will agree with me that even the God Bacchus will agree to.
What a wonderful world!
Lord, Holy Father Priest!
Lord, Holy Father Priest! Put ah han!
Who de hell is dis man?.
As I write Mr. Imbert is presenting the Proceeds against Crime Bill in the House of Representatives on behalf of Mr. Joseph who is not there. Is Swaratsingh saying that cabinet ministers who call a post cabinet briefing to speak on cabinet issues cannot be asked questions not relevant to their responsibilities? Well fire all ah dem!
Whatever happened to collective cabinet responsibility Swaratsingh?
One thing for sure, if we have our way, when the next term comes you will not be there Swaratsingh!
And all yuh know I don't disrespect anybody on this blog!