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PM: Udecott to set up new order
Published: 10 Nov 2009
Executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Calder Hart holds a model of the Academy for the Performing Arts. It was presented as a gift to Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald. PHOTOS: Shirley Bahadur
Prime Minister Patrick Manning yesterday formally opened the US$78 million National Academy for the Performing Arts Academy (North Campus) describing it as “a masterpiece.” And in his strongest vote of confidence in the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) and its executive chairman Calder Hart, Manning said the State-owned special purpose company which manages many of Government’s billion-dollar construction projects “is the instrument that the Government is using to bring about a new order in the construction sector.” Manning said not withstanding all the criticisms that continue to be thrown at Udecott, “The Government refuses to be a part of the witch hunt.”
He said he wanted to pay special tribute to Udecott, its board and its management and particularly its Hart “for the tremendous work is continues to do to development T&T.” Manning also thanked his Cabinet and former cabinet ministers for their role in the establishment of the facility. He said there were many in the country who said such a facility would never be constructed in T&T, but Udecott has made it happen. Manning said the academy in north Trinidad and the one to be constructed in San Fernando are to cost the State about $820 million (US$130 million).
Manning said the stage at the academy was the only one in the world designed for the national instrument—the steelpan. He added that the stage was three times larger than the one at the nearby Queen’s hall, had 19 curtains and 439 lights. He said there was no sod turning ceremony for the project because of the level of cynicism in the country over the project. But in praising Udecott and builders, the Shanghai Construction Group of China, Manning said he felt a great sense of pride that such a world class facility had in fact been delivered to the people of T&T. Manning said this country’s application for the patent to the steelpan has now advanced to the status of application pending.
“The patenting of the steelpan as an instrument to T&T is well on its way,” Manning said to the cheers of the audience. Manning said President’s House and the Carnival Centre at the Queen’s Park Savannah were the next major projects to be undertaken by Udecott. He said by September of next year, the Government intends to award major contracts for the construction of six major highways across the country. Manning lists other priorities in the new fiscal year as the construction of desalination plants to ensure water for all, electricity generation and ICT.
Planning Housing and development Minister Dr Emily Dick Forde said the delivery of academy was childbirth “with pain and pressure,” but she was high in praise for Udecott for sticking to the task despite the criticisms and attacks and ensuring delivery. Hart in his address said the project was completed within time and budget. “We have created a facility of excellence and set a new standard for excellence in the process,” Hart added. Udecott is to host several cultural events for the public in the coming months. And officials of Shanghai described the facility was world class. Soca artiste Neil ‘Iwer’ George welcomed the facility saying it was money well spent.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning formally unveils the plaque commissioning the academy, yesterday.
To quote someone in the UNC
To quote someone in the UNC performance beats B.S all the time. When The UNC puts up a Viable canidate who can win the east/west corridor,and galvanize T&T and not put us on a part to Guyanisation (open ethic strife) come talk to us. .The Lord Kitchener said"all ar we tief is de one de ketch dose get de blame, soca in wining" Now corruption is every where look at the big Scandal in the U.K NOOO!!! REALLLLY their are crooks there and the UK is not a third world country,maybe because it's an island like T&T. My point is people even in the most Scrutinize and so called sophisticate societies if some one sees an opportunity to make a quick buck they will do it. Yes I also agree with some that the Government should similtaneous build a general hospital in Couva , Point Fortin and Port of spain.However when they were working on several projects just recently the cry was that they boosting the price of building materials when in fact it was the business community engaging in price gouging.So UNC PEOPLE put alluh house in order them may be you can think about governing this country again. Nuff said.
PNM NOT IN POWER BECAUSE
PNM NOT IN POWER BECAUSE PANDAY TAINTED -
PNM is and will continue to be in power not because Panday is tainted, PNM is more tainted than Panday, but there supporters have forgiven their leaders. If Manning was singled out for corruption charges by an Integrity Commission which is in itself under question, by a government which is itself more corrupt than anything this nation has ever seen, more corrupt that all the others put together. Their supporters would have been rioting in the streets. They did so for a $25,000 Jean Miles statue. Laventille would have come down. The Africans in the army would have changed their loyalties. How do the opportunist supremacists Indians react, they make deals with PNM to avoid their own prosecution in return turn against Panday to show they not like he. Guess what as far as the African community is concerned they were all complicit benefited from it, be it appointments to be Governor of Central Bank, contracts for stadia or elevation to Deputy Political Leader. They weak lacking in testosterone, cahones, they have no belly; they could be easily bought by Warner for 12 pieces of silver. Indians would sit in the PNM and hear all kinds of racial insults hurled at Indians and take it because of the money. The sentiments are, All ah them Indians thief. Foolishly COP has cut off Pandays nose to spite Indians face.
And I'll make this short and
And I'll make this short and sweet....
Keep doing what you've always done....and you'll get what you've always gotten!!!!
VOTE PNM AGAIN NAH....
A picture is worth more than
A picture is worth more than a thousand words. The gentleman seems to have the whole world, or at least the arts center in his hands!! Hell, he seems to have every high official in Trinidad eating out of his hands! He claims that he gave up his comforts in N.A. (to the effect) over 2 decades ago. Well, I'd do the same for less money and perks than the man is rumored to be getting. Hell, I'd even change my name, if they wanted me to. (A story which made the rounds in South Trinidad over 4 decades ago, a man won a sweepstake or some large sum of money from a beverage company. One of the conditions under which he could have collected the huge amount of pounds was that he added the beverage's name to his. He did.) So the gentleman 'Super Boardman' (each regime has one!) indeed has talents to convince our Head government man to spend billions in huge projects. But I'll feel offended if he thinks he's doing Trinidad and Tobago a favor by his presence here. My grandchildren may call out his name and cry tears one day and blame them for the extravagance!!!
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Lord put a hand! Am reading
Lord put a hand!
Am reading all the bloggers' comments and wondering if the Mannings and their entourages as well as Hart and his Sherrine are reading this!
They must be reading and laughing! Millions of laughter! At our pitiful expense!
As a matter of concern, wonder if the masqueraders and blue devils will be allowed to soak in the fountains around this monstrosity on Carnival Monday and Tuesday...and on all the days preceding Carnival...will they have access to the walkways so they can meander and rest their tired feet? Hmmmm.....who is going to stop the vagrants from having a bath?
The flippancy with which Manning declared the 'new order' and the arrogance of the 'bulldozer' leaves me to remember when the 'emperor really had on no clothes and strutted himself before his people.' It took an innocent one to expose the truth!
An the truth shall set you free Messrs Manning and Hart!
God please intervene and
God please intervene and save this country from this madness.Why is one man being allowed to squander the country's money like this.So many hospitals,schools,police stations etc. needed,and these shameless people can stand up with a straight face and boast about that overpriced piece of crap.
But even if God did
But even if God did intervene, Manning has created so many clones and clowns in his own image and likeness, that none of his disciples will be any different.
There are those who submit to a belief in fate and believe in destiny and pre-ordination. There are others who believe in the free will to choose, freedom of choice.
If you belong to the first category, you will get more of the same. If on the other hand you believe in the second one, you can help make a change when the time comes, if not before.
Trinbagonians are never
Trinbagonians are never satisfied. There is always other thinks that could have be done with the money, but the duly elected prime minister of T&T decided to build an academy of performing arts and as the duly elected prime minister it's his right to do. Looking at the structure it's an impressive structure. So I commend the Prime Minister on his effort to improve the nation.
IT’S NOT HIS RIGHT TO DO
IT’S NOT HIS RIGHT TO DO SO -
It is our money and our right to complain. It is also our right to vote him out. He does us no favours. He is an employee highly paid to do a job. He is a SERVANT not LORD of the people. He has no divine right to rule, he was put there to follow our wishes not to impose his wishes on us. He is accountable to us; we are the final judges of his stewardship. That is why at election time he promotes the neglected to the centre of attention. He kisses babies and shakes hands literally begging for our vote. He elevated gangsters to community leaders and the money spread to keep the crime down. There is no arrogance and aloofness only love caring and a willingness to hear what we want and to be pleasing. It is just that we then allow him to feel he can do what he wants. Memories are short there was 1970 and 1990. You serve at the people’s pleasure.Do you see people in the States taking that kind of stupidness from there leaders. In the first place you serve a maximum of two terms and you are out before you start to feel you own the place.
Is it always necessary for
Is it always necessary for Manning to always sing Hart's praises, isn't that a conflict of interest since the COE is not yet completed ?
All everyone one does is
All everyone one does is complain, complain and complain. Yes ole talk it up. Drink and tell your friends how bad the government is, how corrupt the politicians are, how inept and cowardly the police service is. Let's see if just complaining does anything to relieve the problems facing the nation. All talk and no bite that is what allyuh is. WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO ADMIT THAT YOU LIKE THINGS THE WAY THAT THEY ARE BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T, SOMETHING WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT IT A LONG TIME AGO?
We not allowed to protest
We not allowed to protest cause we doe get no protest license like Cudjoe.
You are definitely right on
You are definitely right on the dot. And here I see yu complaining...
TINIDAD DOMED OR DOOMED As
TINIDAD DOMED OR DOOMED
As long as the people of this country set the wrong priorities, continue to have short memeories and thus remain stupid, theis country is doomed to have the brilliant lesdership of Patrick Manning
My Silver Lining
....in the finest T&T
....in the finest T&T tradition...face clean, backside dirty....thanks Patos...we will remember....
This Government continues to
This Government continues to demonstrate that it has no intentions of listening to the people. Mr. PM, we have no difficulty with physical beauty and architectural masterpieces! We Trinis love nice things. All we ask is that you fix the things that touch and affect we the people in a real and tangible way on a daily basis FIRST! So, let us see 2020 vision NOW in the delivery of health services, national security, care of the elderly and the very young. The highways construction and improvement should have been placed ahead of these "beautiful" structures. Why? So many of us lose countless hours stuck in traffic each day - and this includes our children of all ages who seek to benefit from the strides in education which we all welcome.
Once you do that, Mr. PM, you can build your towering masterpieces and write your name in stone - we will ALL celebrate with you. Of course, that is provided the country can afford them and that you safeguard our money from persons who may seek to unjustly enrich themselves through the process.
This Government needs to look closely at the countries that have managed to break out of the "third world" trap and examine their methodology, instead of looking only at their big buildings!
Tall buildings
Tall buildings
instead of looking only at their big buildings!
Ah yes. Let us not forget the "musical fountains".
As I typed this, an image of Michael Jackson shopping at Hamleys (the store with the finest toys in the world) came to mind... I will have 7 of these, 12 of those, 27 of that, 55 of the other... MJ was still behaving like a 'child' shopping at Hamleys (the toy equivalent of a sweet shop) et al when he was 'allegedly' broke, to how ever many hundreds of millions.
It is in his passing, that alot of those debts have been cleared. I wonder how our story will end, with Team Manning behaving like MJ in Hamleys...
PS. I love waterfalls; I love seeing the musical fountains; there is however, a time and place for everything. Perhaps what we need, is a waterfall and/or a musical fountain so large, that those lying in the hospitals' corridors whilst waiting for a bed can see the waterfall/musical fountain, and hear the sound of the water (very relaxing those sounds) in all five corners of Trinbago (with Tobago making up the fifth corner). I think we know just the man to 'authorise' such a project, seeing as there is no "cost to national pride". Let the Games... oops, I meant the construction of the largest waterfall/musical fountain commence!
By the way, what is going to happen with Queen's Hall and programming of events so as not to clash with the newly opened Performing Arts Centre and split the audience into two?
La Diva
The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is. For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves-and the better the teacher, the better the student body. Warren Buffet
For consideration:
For consideration: Performing Arts is a profitable industry and adds to the value of the tourism industry and can add a variety of jobs in the marketplace and as a result it diversifies the economy.
Also note the structure is also an academy , a teaching place for the many talented trinis a place where the many would now feel that they can attain excellence right here in trinidad.
Money CANNOT solve our social problems total. Our moral and social values must change and that cannot be legislated.
It is important to create avenues for future employment and development hence diversification.
Look at other developed countries. america spent trillions on a space program and gives aid to other countries yet there are millions of homeless people / crime in america.
It was Jesus who said 2000yrs ago the poor will be with us always.
For to have the poor is a subtle was to test how you and I can be charitable. It is to make individuals responsive to the needs of others.
SO IS THE DRUG TRADE
SO IS THE DRUG TRADE -
So what, at what COST?
COST ARE CLEVERLY HIDDEN
COST ARE CLEVERLY HIDDEN -
What is even worst is that even with the astronomical cost we have been given, there are a lot of hidden cost. These cost will surface bit by bit, the use of creative accounting could see them even double.
WE LIKE IT SO -
Don’t complain you were warned, split your vote and you will put PNM back in power. Another set ah CONMEN tell we if we split we vote they go win 25 seats and we problems go be solved. We believe them and we split we vote. So take yuh pressure like ah man or woman whatever is appropriate for the circumstances. I leave with few lines from my up and coming calypso,
You were warned,
Just wine back,
You like it so,
Just wine back,
You choose it so,
Just wine back,
Wine back
Wine back
Sans Humanite
Take it in yuh pwefen
Take it in the East, Take it in the West, Take it in the North and Take it in the South. Take It. Take it. Just take it.
Gardenia, thanks for your
Gardenia, thanks for your extensive insight but you know what Gardenia and fellow bloggers? its so illogical as Hart is allegedly involved in contracts to family members. Its unethical, conflict of interests and our PM stands on the bible knowing we are violating laws in conflicts on interests. What is going on? the lighting was bad, AC wad bad, microphone not wireless, beam lights on manual, someone said salt spray may see its day. I like the picture but will it smell like a typical TT cinema when the mildew sets in, in a Tropic environment?.
Now lets build something to show we care bout the environment- build a large aquatic zoo, Do you know in Bristol zoo we have mangroves fm the Caribbean, cultured & growing under tropic environment with all the insects and wildlife? What do we have in TT? ok spend the money here too. how many people of TT would ever pass thru the doors of this building for performing Arts? Will they give a pensioner credit?
Desmond, just a few days ago
Desmond, just a few days ago Tong confessed that he did not know anything about the electricity system, voltage, cycle etc in T&T and had to learn by trial and error with transformers etc. So I'm not surprised that the lighting and aircon were giving some teething problems. I'm sure they'll sort it out by the time of the opening of the CHOGM.
I remember years ago when China manufactured their first colour TVs, they used to catch fire and were often a fire hazard. But since then they have improved considerably and almost all the major TV brands are now being made in China, like nearly everythingthing else these days.
Soon China will be taking over most of the world, starting with little third world countries who borrow their money and are unable to pay when the time comes.
Some might recall the Anglo-German blockade of Venezuela in 1902/1903 when Venezuela under the fiery dictator Cipriano Castro was not repaying the country's debts to America, Britain, Germany, Italy and others.
The US minister in Venezuela reportedly told Castro bluntly "You owe money and sooner or later you will have to pay." By the time Britain, Germany and Italy instituted their naval blockade, Castro was "persuaded" by this act of "gunboat diplomacy" to negotiate terms for the settlement of the debts and to compensate the foreigners for losses incurred from Venezuelan instability and turmoil.
When the time comes, will we be able to settle our debts? The rich and famous are always looking for islands in the Caribbean. Who knows? America purchased Alaska from Russia, Louisana from France, took Texas from Spain and California from Mexico; Britain exchanged Martinique for Quebec and took Trinidad from Spain and some in Venezuela still think that Venezuela rightly belongs to them.
Annexation is outlawed under modern international law, but they say possession is nine tenths of the law. Do we see Israel returning much of annexed territory to Syria, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestines?
We are living in very uncertain geopolitical times where balance of power is continually shifting. The US and its coalition of the willing will attack/invade countries like Grenada, Afghanistan, Iraq but would they attack/invade Russia, China or even North Korea? Small States are extremely vulnerable and must ensure they do not put themselves in compromising positions.
Might sound alarmist and far-fetched but it's something to think about.
"A New Order in the
"A New Order in the Construction Sector"? I am at a loss as to what the PM's assertion is supposed to mean. I look at that $480M abomination and I see no source of National Pride nor direction for the local construction sector. This is a project that was designed by a FOREIGN architect. That was constructed by a FOREIGN contractor. Utilizing FOREIGN labour and capital. Under the direction of a FOREIGNER.
There is no source of national pride to be extracted from it. Nor is there any semblance of national learning or experience.
Now tell me Mr PM, how is it that a project that has so excluded the resources and talent of our own people, be as you described it the source of a 'New Order in the Construction Sector'?
UNINSPIRED
What a political conundrum
What a political conundrum !!
Patrick Manning continues to praise the UDECOTT and Calder Hart , seemingly ,ignoring the negative views directed at UDECOTT , Hart and him . Who is Manning trying to fool , Dr.Rowley or Lawrence Maharaj ?? Well that will be an exercise in futility . UDECOTT & Hart are frustrating the effort of the Uff Commission of Enquiry , yet Manning continues to sing their praises . It is the PNM administration who establish the enquiry and Manning also supported the validation bill !!! UDECOTT vs Uff Commission (govt of T&T) - LOL !!
"But in praising Udecott and builders, the Shanghai Construction Group of China, Manning said he felt a great sense of pride that such a world class facility had in fact been delivered to the people of T&T". This extract shows that Manning is not listening to the good people of T&T . The people are interested in the lack of transparency and accountability , at the UDECOTT , Mr. Prime Minister !!
ATW-Barbados .
Monsterpiece for
Monsterpiece for real............
No burns unit in an industrial country
No modern hospital in Point,Central and East
No water for many (while paying a WASA bill and $300 for a tank full)
No vehicles at police stations
Most roads in poor condition
No new inventions since pan
No alternative energy sources
No integrity in leaders
No ease up on crime
No bright people to lead us
jp
"If the people have no
"If the people have no bread, let them eat cake" intensifies its meaning in T&T.
Rik Hansel
IN THE LAP OF LUXURY vs
IN THE LAP OF LUXURY vs MISSING BASIC ESSENTIALS:-
Why is it necessary for this "PNM Administration" to quote the cost of these mega multi dollar structure in US dollars; we are T&T, not the U.S.A., or are we? Then when it suits them they quote the cost in T&T dollars. We see this as their attempt to mislead us on the real cost to the citizens of this country on these structures.
The Performing Arts Academy (North Campus) is quoted as costing the citizens US-$78 million (appx. TT-$492 million).
Both North and South costing us TT-$820 million (appx. US-$130 million). A huge chunk of money that could have fixed many of our broken essential services.
I am a lover of the arts and do dabble in it myself, but I do put this love of mine into perspective and set my priorities in order and give preference to my basic essentials first.
The Prime Minister of T&T describes this structure as "a masterpiece", but what stares back at us the innocent citizens of T&T is a 'masterpiece of shame'.
This Prime Minister never seems to miss an opportunity to SING THE PRAISES of Mr. Calder Hart, Chair of UDeCOTT, a foreign born national who heads many of our Boards and Corporations; positions that could have been occupied by many of our qualified and capable sons and daughters. Plus the P.M. even goes further to praise the Shanghai Construction Group of China. Our local contractors and labour have been shafted aside in favour of 'foreign'.
The UFF Commission is still in session and they are attempting to uncover the true nature of the operation of UDeCOTT and its Board of Directors. This is not simply checking your bank statement, it is a Commission of Enquiry, a major operation. So how could you, Mr. Prime Minister, in all conscience stand before the nation and inform us that "The Government refuses to be a part of the witch hunt." You look upon this Enquiry as a 'witch hunt' painting the citizens of my country as fools and idiots for requesting and getting a Commission of Enquiry activated to look into our affairs.
But what this P.M. refuses to acknowledge is that he and his government are sitting in our Parliament because we, the people put them there to govern our country on our behalf and we pay them a hefty salary with luxurious benefits. We are your employers and you need to respect the contract/agreement you made with us when we allowed you to walk into our House of Power. Mr. Manning we do realise that you have disconnected yourself from the people of this contry and turned your back on us and have gone about doing as it pleases you and your gang of 'inner circle and well-connected' as though you are an Empire unto yourself.
In the words of Abraham Lincoln:-
"You can fool some of the people all of the time,
All of the people some of the time,
But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
You Mr. Manning, elected to pay special tribute to UdeCOTT, its Board and its Management, and particularly Mr. Calder Hart "for the tremendous work it continues to do to development T&T." While you were thanking your Cabinet and former Cabinet Ministers for their role, did it ever occur to you to give some vote of thanks to the innocent citizens of T&T who have been neglectd and cheated out of their basis necessities so that you could siphon our wealth into putting up your 'illusions and delusions of grandeur' such as these Arts Academies.
Our Health Care is dysfunctional, our schools - many crumbling and lacking in staff and equipment; our roads are in a disgraceful state of disrepair; crime and criminals are running us into the ground; our children are slaughtering each other; our police services go with unfilled vacancies and lack of equipment to carry out their duties; we could hardly afford the cost of our food basket; etc. and you have the audacity to stand before the nation and glorify a structure and a man of alleged questionable behaviour. In addition, you never miss a beat to put down our people for questioning your squandering style of 'governance'.
You Mr. Manning have now advised us that your next project would be the President's House and the Carnival Centre. You have been promising us for years now to build our highways, and your promises have been kept empty. Now you come promising us that come September 2010 you will start 6 major highways, but need we remind you Sir, that we will not be holding our collective breaths, as we may get 'blue' in the face and suffocate. Promises are cheap, and can be had for a few measly pennies.
Dr. Emily Dick Forde to you the delivery of the Academy was childbith "with pain and pressure" and you lavish your praise of UDeCOTT, too. I wish the same reference to childbirth could be given by our expectant mothers who turn up at our ailing health facilities in an attempt to deliver their babies. The hell many experience is no walk in the park. So Madame, your reference to childbirth was sickening. It seems that those in the "PNM Administration" have this false sense of reality that they own this country, and not the other way around. This country is owned by the citizens of T&T and we are the stakeholders, not the government we voted into power. How disrespectful of these politicians for taking every opportunity to attempt to erode our democracy, and stifle our freedoms.
Everytime, we take an ailing child or any loved one to our dysfunction health care facilities, and we have to wait days for a bed and medical service we will cringe in horror: Every time one of our citizens have to wait for a year or more to get an appointment with a specialist, or get required surgery as our lives depond upon it, we will have to face the reality that our government used our money to put up mega structructures of luxury instead of investing in our essential services. When will this end?
Gardenia
In the words of Abraham
In the words of Abraham Lincoln:-
"You can fool some of the people all of the time,
All of the people some of the time,
But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
But in this case it's MOST of the people ALL OF THE TIME!! How many times has he & PNM been voted into power???
First of all Gardenia, all
First of all Gardenia, all prices for these mega projects are quoted in US$ because it seems smaller to taxpayers and everyone else (compared to the real costs in TT$).
Secondly, its because not one cent of it really stays with the people here. Its a drain on our foreign exchange and treasury.
I really do hope that the people of this country who are paying for these projects, somehow enjoy them. I'm not just talking about the facilities themselves, but the maintenance. It wouldn't be too far fetched to see one of Hart's companies or colleagues getting the maintenance contracts. IIts where the meat of the money now is.
Gardenia, I see you have
Gardenia, I see you have been hard at work reading the riot act for Manning and Dick Forde for their riotous behaviour.
I had a look at the Express and Newsday reporting on the event and they both complement the Guardian's. I recommend their reading to you and fellow bloggers for a more complete picture.
In the Newsday you see Hart showering thanks and praises to Sherrine. Makes you wonder who is boss, to quote Denyse Plummer. Before the ladies accuse me of male chauvism, I was only referring to Udecott business.
I am becoming a bit exhausted and frustrated about the obscene manner in which Manning and Hart are running the country (into the ground) and not listening or changing course, judging from the list of projects they both announced, first the real boss Hart and now Manning.
I suppose those who can't get potable water to drink, cook or bathe can always come to the fountain to get some water for their basic needs. And those with no electricity in their "homes" can come and enjoy the magnificent lighting. And those whose "homes" are constantly flooded out can seek comfort and refuge in this asylum and those suffering in the corridors of the nearby POS General Hospital can be transferred across to the Manning Memorial Monument (MMM) to end their days in contemplative euphoria soothed by divine echoes. I am sure that between grand performances, this multi-purpose half-billion pantheon will be worth its weight in gold.
But these delusional politicians continue to be divorced from reality. Anybody with a little common sense saw that a recession was inevitable for some time now and would have started tightening their belts. As to be predicted, the recession arrived, and still no belt-tighening, apart from some confusing and contradictory utterances which seem to be the order of the day.
The economy and the budget is like a cake. You slice it up to distribute according to needs. If the cake has been shrinking, of course you can't keep serving large chunks and to fewer and fewer. So too when the country's resources are dwindling and you still have the same demands to meet. Put in a simple way: the supply is declining but the demand is increasing.
As the persons appointed by the people to manage their resources and affairs we expect that they would do so wisely, not like the greedy careless international bankers who have the world in the mess that it is today.
We expect our political leaders to have a sense of the priorities and urgent needs of the population and not to squander our money to satisfy their personal egos, whims and fancies.
The money is fast running out and we are still talking about embarking on some major money-sucking projects for Hart & Udecott to feed on. Where is the funding coming from? Higher taxes on the beleaguered taxpayer? Loans from China? If so, how will these loans be serviced and repaid? Surely not from these non-income-earning mega-structures which will also be a strain to maintain or left to ruin from neglect. If we are not careful, sooner or later somebody or some country is going to levy on us and re-possess trinidad & Tobago.
This is a good time to remind everyone of Milton Friedman’s quote about the four types of spending:
"There are four ways in which you can spend money. You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then you really watch out what you’re doing, and you try to get the most for your money. Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I’m not so careful about the content of the present, but I’m very careful about the cost. Then, I can spend somebody else’s money on myself. And if I spend somebody else’s money on myself, then I’m sure going to have a good lunch! Finally, I can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get. And that’s government. And that’s close to 40% of our national income."
It's the opportunity cost
It's the opportunity cost I'm more concerned about - what this $800 million tt dollars could have done otherwise.
ajfyzabadbutlertown
This clearly will be a high
This clearly will be a high maintenance structure - and probably not the best materials for a tropical island. I sincerely hope they are up to the challenge. Recall that several weeks the project manager was quoted as saying he hoped they would also get the contract for day-to-day maintenance. What will this upkeep cost taxpayers ?
It's ironic that the Government is splashing out on the opening (yes, and quoting US$'s. because psychologically, it sounds cheaper !!), while some residents such as those in Penal still cannot get pipe bourne water. The reality is that this community, in this day and age, still didn't have pipe bourne water up to recently. And now, the supply has been cut off. How can the government expect the country to progress with conditions such as this ? In the meantime, Calder Hart has been literally handed the keys to the Country, and the combination to the Treasury vault.
The dictatorship mentality afoot here: keep taxpayers suppressed both mentally and physically, while the Gov't itself prospers with said taxpayer funding....
I looked at the opening on
I looked at the opening on the tele, quite an impressive edifice, I hope it is put to good use and properly maintained.
However, at the end of the day Hart and company may end up like Jones the bridge builder and the sheep.
Wouldn't it have been more
Wouldn't it have been more impressive if the PM was opening a brand new state of the art hospital ?
Ah, but then where would he hold his heads of government party in 2 weeks.
carl allen 480 million for
carl allen
480 million for 1500 seats and a major maintenance exercise every 3 years. Note that for open structure such as this, the sea blast may be a matter of some concern. Fortunately it is the rainy season now so we did not have to worry about dust at the opening.
Most TT citizens will have to depend on charity to seat themselves in this building.
I am minded to think that it would have been better placed in Tobago where most tourists come all the year round.
When you look at the pretty
When you look at the pretty building it is hard not to see the thousands of lost souls. The lost souls that were murdered in the playing fields of Laventille and the like. The lost souls still not sure what to do because they cannot connect. Lost in transition.
This is not illusionary but a heavy guilty feeling knowing that we can celebrate art but still not be safe. This man is still parading and praising a 'new construction order'. An order that broke all the regulatory laws of the land. An ordere that could isoltae itself in the way it spends the Trini Pot ($$$).
Navin H Sankersingh