Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 59 min ago
Hart, Warner slam Government
Published: 4 Oct 2009
From left: Jack Warner and Victor Hart
“The message is clear: You can do what you want, because no one is ever held accountable in T&T,” says Victor Hart, Chairman of T&T Transparency Institute. Hart and Chaguanas West MP, Jack Warner, both expressed grave concerns over the lack of accountability and transparency regarding the inquiry.
“I find it passing strange that, whereas last Thursday’s Cabinet meeting directed the line ministers to have TSTT and PTSC withdraw petitions before the Industrial Court to have Communications Workers’ Union and Transport and Industrial Workers’ Union decertified, Cabinet did not direct Udecott’s line minister to instruct Udecott to withdraw its legal challenges to the inquiry, despite calls by many persons to do so,” Hart added.
“The message is clear: Different strokes for different folks.”
Hart said the implications for the country of Justice Dean-Armorer’s decision were very serious. “We must now wait several more months for the commissioners’ expected recommendations on the reform of public sector procurement, while billions of dollars continue to be spent on mega-projects that are experiencing time and cost overruns without the checks and balances that minimise corruption. “We must also wait for their recommendations on the reform of the construction sector.
“Persons in public life, against whom serious allegations were made at the inquiry, some of which the commissioners might recommend for further investigation, will continue in their posts and have delayed the opportunity to clear their names or to be held accountable for their actions,” he added. According to Hart, the people of T&T will be the losers, after so much is being spent. Civil society, he said, should take note and say: “Enough is enough.”
‘We want answers’
Meanwhile, Warner was concerned that many serious questions continued to torment the minds of citizens regarding the conduct of Udecott officials. The public, he said, needed answers.
“The issues pertaining to corruption, misconduct in office and other malfeasance must be ventilated. “The games being played by the government of my country and Udecott, regarding accountability and transparency in the handling of billions of dollars by the state company, must come to an end.
“It is clear from the conduct of the various parties that the government and certain officials of Udecott are either collaborating or working separately to deny the public accountability and transparency, to cover up misdealing and to allow those involved in corruption to escape the law of my country.” Warner said it was a most scandalous state of affairs, and increased the suspicion and the need for a proper forensic probe into Udecott. He said his international colleagues all suggested to him that “T&T and I will be crying for a long time to come.”
Trinidad is a kick-back
Trinidad is a kick-back state. Almost every business transaction, be it government or private, have a kick-back associated with it. In fact in today's economy with alot on money circulating, the kick-backs are more prevalent. White collar crimes rampant in free Trinidad with no consequences.
Concerned Trini.
DONT FORGET
DONT FORGET -
That the underground drug economy is in the billions
WE KNOW ALL OF THAT JACK AND
WE KNOW ALL OF THAT JACK AND HART -
It is time for the opposition forces to come together, and civil society to speak with a united voice. We by our action or inaction put PNM there it is up to us to remove them. We were warned that this would happen. What did we do? Everybody wants to have their own little march, own little conference, own little party, but it is not coming together.
Messrs, Victor Hart and Jack
Messrs, Victor Hart and Jack Warner, we are literally sick to our stomachs reading of the alleged violations being carried on by UDeCOTT under the 'watchful' eyes of our "PNM Administratiion".
This Crown Corporatin is 100% owned by the citizens of this country, and seeing our Prime Minister, The Honourable Patrick Manning sitting silent, which is not in his nature, and tuning out the cries of my people is unconscientionable.
The gov't had to step in and prevent decertification of two unions from the TSTT and PTSC in which the gov't/the people have a way lesser interest in.
So what is in the way of Mr. Manning doing his duty in this case?
Are we to understand that should he step in that Mr. Caulder Hart will blow the whistle and open the Pandora's box letting the 'dirty little secrets' out to see the light of day. And among those 'secrets' will be the revelation of some of our highest ranking gov't officicals who have been 'misbehaving in public office'?
Mr. Manning wants Mr. Rowley to answer 'where the money went'? the $20M. The answer may be revealed if and when this 'box' is opened.
I get a feeling that Mr. Manning will not move, until and unless we move him. He will continue with business as usual. No doubt the world is watching. In this day of computerization and instsnt gratification the world is a very small place, and information spreads faster than in an old-time small village, or a wooden house on fire. Within seconds the world will have access to all our 'dirty little secrets' and plans.
Under this "PNM Administration" there is no accountability, transparency nor ethical practices being exercised.
We are ashamed of our government who has taken it upon themselves to squander our resources like men 'possessed' and leave us stranded, even as we see them violating our rights left, right and centre. We do not have a democracy, what we have is a 'government' with 'ABSOLUTE POWER' reigning over this country of innocent and trusting citizens.
I cannot imagine us deteriorating any further. This gov't has used and abused the citizens of this country and continues to attempt to demoralise us with every move they make. When will this madness end?
Gardenia
But tell me: where really
But tell me: where really are the big spinners?, Colm, Manning, Enill? Have they escaped? Its all so quiet on the front-line. NO one is coming out to talk to the public. You know Russia has a lot of public corporations and if something is proven, the directors who are in/c are sent to Siberian jails where it is -70 deg C in winter and large helicopter mosquitoes in summer. Really where are the leaders of TT on this?
Desmond, patience my
Desmond, patience my boy.
Enter Pandora's Box in your search engine, then come back to reading my comments, then you will understand what I was attempting to say.
My guess is that they are scared; don't know if they should say anything; or what they should say. Who knows. At this point in time, it is anybody's guess.
So you want to send some of our wayward boys off to Siberia, if they are caught 'drinking the cooking cherry'?
You will just have to wait, like the rest of us.
Have a good day.
Gardenia
Gardenia, it's going to get
Gardenia, it's going to get worse before it gets better. The enemy is regrouping and will be digging in for a long field campaign. We'll have to prepare for a long protracted war. Longer than WWII, longer than Vietnam, longer than Afghanistan, longer than Iraq. So, let's start digging our trenches; we're talking trench warfare here and we'll be coming up against attack helicopters and tanks. We'll have to engage in guerilla warfare like the tribes of France against Caesar, like the Spaniards in the hills against Napoleon. A line has been drawn in the sand. Hope you have your Thermos ready. But please note that my allusions to military campaigns are metaphorical, just in case you were wondering.
Please continue to fight the good fight. It'd going to be a long dirty war but when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, as Nissan used to boast about their pick-up trucks. We are counting on you to do your duty. You said "trust me". We have full trust in you, rest assured.
The supportive Prince.
The message is clear: You
The message is clear: You can do what you want, because no one is ever held accountable in T&T,” says Victor Hart, Chairman of T&T Transparency Institute. This paragraph said it all.
I disagree with this
I disagree with this statement, if only slightly. Public opinion seems to suggest that the population is increasingly fed up of the blatant squandering, with no accountability, of our assets. As was done to the UNC after allegations of the same nature were levelled at them, let Mr Manning and his band of merry men continue on their pillaging of the public purse. All rope must have an end. Lets hope yuh doh see ah few ah dem on the end of that same rope, holding on for their political lives.....or then again, that might be a good thing...... T&T Still A Paradise
The time is right for
The time is right for national unity in this country.
Never, in the history of this lovely twin island country, has everyone been singing the same song against rampant corruption, crime and abuse of the people.
I am not a politician, but the issues affect us all, and for the first time, everyone seems to be on the same page.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Agreed. To quote the wise
Agreed. To quote the wise words of Shakespeare:
Brutus:
There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
Julius Caesar Act 4, scene 3.
The time is now.
To think that while our
To think that while our people are suffering in T&T.......a Canadian man and a Malaysian woman can come here and get the okay from our government to do this to us..... the world must be laughing ! it makes me mad but what goes around will certainly come around.
I wait.
We seem to believe that
We seem to believe that everyone and everything from abroad is better than home-grown and local. Agreed often local stuff can be shoddy at times, but the cheap throw-away goods that China is flooding the world with are not that much different.
We want foreign used cars calling them names like imported pre-owned autos, we like foreign crme plans over those from the likes of Ramesh Deosaran, we like Scotland police coming over to have a good time, we looking to advertise for a foreign commissioner of police etc. We seem to have a predeliction for foreigners and things foreign. And Calder Hart is well aware and taking good advantage.
While Brown & Obama are saying no protectionism in one breath, they are saying British jobs for British workers, buy British and US companies employing American workers will receive rescue money to protect US workers. And what are we doing? employing more and more foreign labour on mega-projects relegating local workers into dependenccy "jobs" like URP & CEPEP.
We have had several foreigners running our airline, past and present and it doesn't appear that they have done a good job. There were a couple good local candidates like Conrad Aleong and others. But foreign is better. Where is Acker now?
I don't mean to sound xenophobic, but we have to start believing in ourselves and the politician can help by not encouraging the old colonial mantra: "Divide et Impera". United we stand, divided we fall.
We have the power in our stained fingers to rid us of all these megalomaniacs, zombies, dead politicians walking, bandits and parasites when the time comes, if not sooner. But we must start applying pressure from now and preparing the ground for the final offensive when the time comes. Or else too late, too late shall be the cry.
I have to disagree slightly
I have to disagree slightly with Mr.Hart's statement,he should have said " No one who is a friend of Patrick Manning is ever held accountable in T&T".
Clearer than this it cannot
Clearer than this it cannot get!
Ooooops we forget!
UP TO NOW, NO WORD ON THE FORENSIC AUDIT INTO CLICO ET AL!
Is this another big whitewash? Or just another distraction? Which lesser evil will we be privy to?
Eh?