Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 28 min ago
Heads hail CHOGM as a major success
Published: 30 Nov 2009
Prime Minister Patrick Manning, left, shares a laugh with South African President Jacob Zuma at yesterday’s final CHOGM media conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. PHOTO: MARCUS GONZALES
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port-of-Spain has been declared a big success, not only by CHOGM chairman Prime Minister Patrick Manning, but also several other Commonwealth leaders. Their overall vote of confidence was registered during a media briefing at the close of the three-day meeting. Leaders held their final session of talks at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Speaking subsequently at a briefing at the Hyatt, Manning said the 20th CHOGM meeting had been very successful in that six documents had been signed by all 52 members of the Commonwealth. These documents included a statement of Commonwealth’s values and principles, a statement on non-communicable diseases, the creation of a Commonwealth election management body and a youth declaration.
Manning said it was both an honour and a pleasure to host the distinguished heads of state and felt that the collaborative agreement among the nations would directly contribute to the future success of the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, in three weeks. He said the success of the meeting was further highlighted by the participation of both the president of France and president of Denmark, in the discussion. He added that the inclusion of nations not member states of the Commonwealth was highly unusual, but represented the strength of multinational collaboration, and the Commonwealth as an international organisation. President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, said the meeting’s success lay in the nations’ proactive response to the challenge of climate change.
Like Manning, Zuma said the successful discussions at the meeting would contribute to the outcome of the meeting in Copenhagen. “There is no doubt that we (the Commonwealth) will make a difference in Copenhagen,” he said. President of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare, said the meeting, above all else, “gave a voice to all small island states,” which, he added, were often most affected by the effects of climate change. Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, said CHOGM’s strength was its ability to foster bilateral communications among member countries, which he said proved that despite sceptics, the Commonwealth was still a relevant international organisation.
Denying criticism that the Commonwealth was no longer a relevant international organisation, Commonwealth Secretary General Karmalesh Sharma said success of CHOGM was evidence of its relevance. Sharma said CHOGM exemplified the importance of a common purpose among nations to make global change, which was in form of developing strategies to slow and stop climate change. He also said the Commonwealth’s success was also attributed to its mindfulness of equality among all nations, large or small, developed or developing. He said that it was through the Commonwealth that many smaller states had been able to secure international trade agreements and promote the expansion of their economies.
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, said this CHOGM was his first and that the meeting itself was proof to him that there was indeed a relevance in the Commonwealth. He said this relevance came in the ability of various nations, all of different social and economical backgrounds, to gather together, and under the same values address global issues that are great importance to each one. He said the Commonwealth’s strength lay in the “friendship and camaraderie” that was forged between nations striving for a similar goal. President Zuma said in such a divided world, an organisation was needed to unite nations to respond to global challenges. “That organisation is the Commonwealth,” he said.
Success? In what ways and
Success? In what ways and how was that measured? Did the ordinary people of Trinidad and Tobago benefit or likely to benefit in the future? The only success that is obvious is that our PM Manning successfully wasted hundreds of millions of dollars and successfully bought himself the chairmanship of the Chogm for 2 yrs.
I heard him say, it was a tv clip, that the people of Trinidad and Tobago hosted this. How could this be when it was Mr Manning who planned the whole thing: 1. Gave a commitment to host CHOGM; 2. rebuilt his official residence to host Heads; 3.and successfully fooled everyone into believing that he was building hotels and a cultural center, when in truth and in fact these were all for the CHOGM and the SOTA. Talk about conmanship.
trikkeepatbjung
What I think that PM Manning
What I think that PM Manning meant to say was that we paid for the heads of the Commonwealth with our hard earned tax dollars.
This was nothing more than a tropical vacation for most, if not all of the visitors, as well as the many Trinis who "lived" on the luxury cruise ship for the week.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
If Manning is REALLY serious
If Manning is REALLY serious about reducing carbon emissions he would SERIOUSLY re-think the whole aluminum smelter project. Not just that but he will for ONCE be thinking of the most important factor which is the health and the well-being of his citizens. BUT unfortunately his track record in so far as his concerns for the people are concerned speaks for itself. Let me summarise:
1. 200 million dollars spent on a PM residence and diplomatic centre (including lavish furniture, a brand new stage, a garden (as if he were living in the white house), a residence for maids etc, & to top it all off a swimming pool he can't use since he can't swim ... all for show.
2. 500+ million dollars to stage a Summit for the Americas, that to date has brought no significant benefit to this country, and in the words of one of his finance ministers Mariano Browne .. "it may or may not bring any benefit to Trinidad other than to show the world that Trinidad can stage such an event".
3. Still not sure of the final tally but CHOGM is said to be in the neighbourhood of AT LEAST 300 million dollars (and that's being generous), to which all we will be known for is a Port Of Spain Climate Change Consensus ... another way of saying a document that will prove to be worthless.
4. 378 million dollars on a Performance of the Arts Academy .. to which the only good thing about it is that one can say "oh .... ah" look at what we have here.
5. 800 million dollars (and counting) on a Brian Lara stadium that ... if you were to ask the average person ... no one wanted to begin with.
I can go on with a list of other projects but with all said that alone is over 2 billion dollars ... 2 BILLION dollars of tax-payers money .. all of which brings AND are of no benefit to the country .. ah but a benefit to inflate one's ego .. Manning's ego ... and of course to inflate Calder Hart's pocket.
What about the much needed health care system, what about the fight against crime, what about the need for people to have pipe-borne water, what about the need for proper roads and infrastructure. Instead the projects in hand at the moment are mostly about Industrialization .. that my friends contribute to carbon emissions. So all this talk about a "net situation in which we have an excess of carbon dioxide produced over carbon dioxide consumed, and it is in those circumstances we are considering carbon captive sequestration,” is all a bunch of hogwash.
Mr. Manning, my fellow citizens, when is it that you are going to wake up and see....and realise that your future is at stake. Manning himself said "we are a country of 1.3 million people" ... with all the revenue generated in the last decade there should be no reason WHATSOEVER that there should be 25% poverty levels, there should be no reason that we do not have the basic needs that we as a people deserve. I have said it over and over again ... when the people of Trinidad and Tobago are ready for change, when they can accept it, embrace it, and want it .. not say it but really desire it and are ready to do something about it, then you will do so with your vote. I know there are not many to choose from in the list of corrupt, egotistical, selfish and sorry to say "brain-dead, old style way of thinkers" to choose from, but in a nation that used to pride itself as having intelligent people, I am sure that some of those can step up to the podium.
After wining & dining them
After wining & dining them for three days at Trinidad's expense would any of these world leaders really tell you CHOGM was a failure & and a bloody waste of money and time ?
Get real Manning.
I wonder what this corrupt,
I wonder what this corrupt, male chauvinist rapist has to grin about?
Maybe Patos gave him some of
Maybe Patos gave him some of we beautiful women to take back to SA.
A success? Behold the
A success?
Behold the shambles left in its wake.
We are the poorer and more disadvantaged by it.
In what way does life improve for Trinis after that expenditure and excess?
The following written elsewhere is relevant:-
[[The larger question for T&T and all smaller Commonwealth nations is what role should smaller nations play?
In answering that one must consider one's resources, one's mandate of the people, and one's moral authority to aspire to leadership.
Half a brain will realize that a small nation ought not to go into debt to look big.
T&T is now in deficit spending mode. We are facing a growing cumulative deficit the service of which will require all the FOREX we can earn.
The relevance of the Commonwealth is not enhanced by our stupidity.
T&T continues under this government to neglect the people's welfare and to pander to worthless image building.
All the 53 Nations may proclaim the success of CHOGM, but T&T has footed the Bill playing big.
We are a rich nation in per capita terms, not in absolute terms.
We ought not to be spending so lavishly in absolute terms.
But per capita confuses Mr. Manning. He cannot understand our excesses of GHG in per capita terms. But he sees our per capita wealth as justifying his extravagant excesses.]]
MFRahman
I see all the haters are at
I see all the haters are at it again. I wonder if any of you posters could say one good thing about your nation, or should I say the nation you were born in (most of you all wouldn't know what it mean to be a patriot, but rather have great allegiance to nations, that had your ancestors stayed there, you would have been part of the permanent underclass, or should I say untouchables).
Please note the compliment was paid to Prime Minister Manning because he is the leader of the Government that hosted the CHOGM but that compliment is also extended to the Patriots of Trinidad and Tobago.
I would like to think that
I would like to think that we bloggers are the watchdogs of society. While its easy to pat ourselves on the back for every little thing, its important to have some level of balance. Bloggers like lahiana, Desmond, fairplay, IP, Gardenia, epsomsalts and many others are true patriots of this country who do not want to see our resources go down the drain.
I'm not lying to say that I felt a high level of pride to have seen all these world leaders pay tribute to our leader and the people for our warmth and hospitality, something that cannot be faked.
I resent being called a
I resent being called a hater...As a matter of fact I am doing this solely because of true patriotism for my country and my differing views on the direction which the current government is taking this beautiful nation.
My comments should not be viewed from a negative perspective but as constructive criticism. When you correct or scold your children it is not due to hate but because you love them.
Let us be open and mature about this. The government is totally bankrupt of ideas and until it gets its head out of the sand and face up to the reality of today's global issues, I will continue to speak out. I encourage all citizens of T&T to do the same and take advantage of their democratic right.
Dear rivers *the waters of
Dear rivers
*the waters of Trinbago run very deep*
I wonder if any of you posters could say one good thing about your nation, or should I say the nation you were born in (most of you all wouldn't know what it mean to be a patriot, but rather have great allegiance to nations, that had your ancestors stayed there, you would have been part of the permanent underclass, or should I say untouchables).
You sir/madam make some assumptions, that most of us would have been "permanent underclass", "untouchables".
1 - Not everyone who migrated to Trinbago were slaves/indentured slaves... unless my history teacher lied to me;
2 - What say you, as #1 Patriot of Trinbago re:
a) the recent announcement/explanation that due to cutbacks/insufficent funds in the budget, the monetary request by the judiciary was slashed?
b) the cancellation of a certain sporting event over the Summer ostensibly due to fears/concerns over swine flu, yet, CHOGM was allowed to continue? (Or, are we to infer that Heads of State/Goverment are less likely to contract swine flu as they are of the 'ruling classes' and more likely to be afflected with gout (never mind some of them probably attended school wearing their sisters' dresses), unlike sports men and women who are fitter specimens of the human species?)
c)the children who have experienced 'mysterious' deaths and the parents todate have not had an answer?
d)children in desperate need of medical care that cost several $$$ yet, certain people are so 'patriotic', they not only have an international fete once, but it was so good, they do it twice!
e) how many "patriots" of Trinbago, have become or are closer to becoming millionaires (TT$, but still millionaires non the less) as a result of these two fetes?
If I had time, I am sure I could get to points zz) however, I hope you get my drift from the sample above.
Please be advised that it is one thing to refer to some/many of us bloggers as unpatriotic (at least, you did not question our IQ, so some small mercies), however, you have shown to all and sundry that not only are you not wearing a 'slip', but also the twist in your knickers, by referencing most of our ancestors as "untouchables", without knowing who or which aspect of our multi-racial population we are drawn from, some of whom are descendents of aristocracy, the same "ruling classes" we feted these past few days.
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
My, oh my La Diva, you
My, oh my La Diva, you really did some scratching and clawing on this "patriot". I see you have launched your own defensive patriot missiles. Shows what happens when they try to trample on Persian aristocracy. When you did not appear we thought you might have been keeping the old Queenie company.
Prince, my dear
Prince, my dear
When you did not appear we thought you might have been keeping the old Queenie company
No my dearest fellow. I decided to go incognito as a moko jumbie (^_~) as everyone's head HAD to be lower than mine!* That I am the soul of discretion, I wanted to make it as subtle as possible... no ostentatiousness for me; no photos of me sipping from gold'en' goblets. (^*^)
*Guess the reference and you "pass jail, collect $200" (^_~)
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
rivers, 'if loving Mr
rivers, 'if loving Mr Manning's continual wastage of our precious resources is wrong, then I don't wanna be right'. I could make a jail for not crediting Banks, Hampton and R. Jackson for some of those lyrics.
But some people should make a ;bigger jail for misusing public money. Does wasting so much money on delusions of grandeur by a man suffering apparently from hubris syndrome qualify him for making a jail in the future? I don't know. Certainly, in some totalitarian regimes they wouldn't have gotten away with that wastage.
Mr bold prediction is that it's not long before we go the way of Dubai. Read the papers and you'll see what I'm talking about.
As for us 'haters'[read: PNM haters] I think we are the true patriots. If left to your band of PNM patriots, they should all forget about tomorrow, eat, drink, be merry and give away all our children's resources, leaving us to be the Haiti of the Southern Caribbean long before 2020.
trikkeepatbjung
Shanghai trickypat As for
Shanghai trickypat
As for us 'haters'[read: PNM haters]
No Shanghai trickpat. Some of the "haters" are haters of the squandermania, not of PNM, per... se.
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
In the opening CHOGM speech,
In the opening CHOGM speech, the PM said very clearly that for a Government to be relevant, it has to listen to the will of the people.
PM - it's time to put your money where your mouth is, and listen to the people, who generally know what is good for the nation.
All the agreements at the Summit are good for naught, if at the end of the day there is no benefit for the everyday person in this country. Citizens have every right to be critical of a Government if it is not providing :
- water to every household
- electricity for every house
- good roads for drivers (and passengers)
- appropriate social services (not just handouts)
- a high standard of medical care
- reduction in crime and criminal activity
etc, etc
Until the above basic needs are implemented , and until the youths of this good nation can be motivated to do better to improve their lives and their country, as a Nation we will failed, successful CHOGM or not.
"PM - it's time to put your
"PM - it's time to put your money where your mouth is, and listen to the people, who generally know what is good for the nation." I was reminded this morning by a blogger that it was our money and not PM Manning's money. Its easy to gamble away someone elses money Lahiana, but if its yours, then I suspect that you'd be more careful in this guava season.
In the opening CHOGM speech,
In the opening CHOGM speech, the PM said very clearly that for a Government to be relevant, it has to listen to the will of the people.
PM - it's time to put your money where your mouth is, and listen to the people, who generally know what is good for the nation.
All the agreements at the Summit are good for naught, if at the end of the day there is no benefit for the everyday person in this country. Citizens have every right to be critical of a Government if it is not providing :
- water to every household
- electricity for every house
- good roads for drivers (and passengers)
- appropriate social services (not just handouts)
- a high standard of medical care
- reduction in crime and criminal activity
etc, etc
Until the above basic needs are implemented , and until the youths of this good nation can be motivated to do better to improve their lives and their country, as a Nation we will have failed, successful CHOGM or not.
Lahaina, when Manning made
Lahaina, when Manning made that statement he was not talking about T&T he was talking about other countries, remember he doesn't have to listen to us he is the "father of the nation" so he knows what we want.
We are really a third world
We are really a third world country still trying to impress the first world by spending millions of dollars we can't afford.We have some jokers who felt so nice because the world was watching us.Millions spent on a show while people can't get beds in the hospitals,floods damaging people homes ,crime have us like prisoners but we are satisfied because we were dancing and performing before an international audience .We lapped up the mamaguy from World leaders who would soon forget us as they return to their particular affairs
What do you expect these men
What do you expect these men to say? You wine and dine them at the expense of the citizens, free entertainment, free accomodation and tell me what has Trinidad and Tobago gain by all this Malachy.
Nothing, meanwhile the people is suffering all around. Time for Manning to go.
CHOGM a success by any
CHOGM a success by any yardstick
The first global conference where members agree to act as a bloc regarding a subject of mutual concern is deemed a success to any reasonable mind.
The CHOGM 2009 can therefore only be described as a success as the above was, at least, achieved. The revision of roles, and communication between member countries was also fundamentally changed.
The persons who have provided their sickeningly ignorant comments below are reminded that they represent a priviledged global minority that (i) receives heavily subsidised free education and health/ child care services (but continues to laugh through the former and wildly abuse the latter via legendary lifestyle abuse); (ii) receives a 25% tax rate for those who work (no member country of CHOGM can claim the same) AND a TT$60,000.00 earnings tax break to pay any tax at all; (iii) receives a heavily subsidised housing programme for those willing to take on the responsibility of owning and living in a house; (iv) is allowed to squat freely and have land 'comforted over' after a period of years and (v) have significant access to the internet to splash their opinions, however poisonous and irresponsible, to an amused global audience.
What Trinis call problems, I can assure you, the world laughs at!
One day the Trinidadian shall awake from his disturbing sense of entitlements and understand the responsibilities required to truly build any society...or should the governemnt do that for us too?
This is not an apologist political e-mail (TT$2 million for a flag project is ridiculous by any measure) but simply a voice requuesting fairness in any critique. What I ahve read so far smells of agenda and deceit.
Now shall my e-mail be published in the paper that splashed the 'Commonwealth Irrelevant' headline on the day of the launch I wonder. Only in Trinidad I tell ya, only in Trinidad.
I could agree that there was
I could agree that there was a measure of success in the recently concluded CHOGM, but everything is relative and must be seen in a context. You have to ask at what cost and for whose benefit was this success? Certainly not for the average citizen who has so many priority needs requiring attention.
As for the being the first global conference where member countries agreed to act as a bloc regarding a subject of mutual interest, this is highly debatable. In fact most of what was agreed was already in the public domain as those following these events would have noted.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which numbers 118 members plus 15 more awaiting full membership, a membership more than doubling the Commonwealth, generally meets and agrees on unified positions ahead of major meetings of the UN etc. So do other regional and sub-regional groupings.
These reasonably generous tax levels and allowances did not come overnight. They were gradually improved by successive regimes during the second windfall years. But with the growing loss of the revenue base and mismanagement of the patrimony, these levels of benefits will soon be eroded as the government seeks to bridge the widening gap between income and expenditure without having to draw down further on reserves and or to increase borrowing.
With respect to subsidised housing, there seems to be a total lack of transparency on how these gov't-built houses are handed out. Many seem to be convinced it's based on political patronage, not too unlike URP and CPEP.
And who are these squatters who are allowed to take up and maintain residence on State lands? And in which areas do you see government bulldozers and crews demolishing or not demolishing the homes of squatters?
Those who utilise the internet to voice and articulate legitimate concerns have to do so because the voiceless deprived masses do not have these facilities and avenues. Any attempt by them to demonstrate or protest against anything perceived to be anti-government is usually met by objection or highhandedness from the police.
Until all citizens are treated equally and fairly, as far as this is possible and practical, T&T will continue to be held back from achieving its true potential.
ttobserver
ttobserver
What Trinis call problems, I can assure you, the world laughs at!
Would that be hysterical laughter by any chance?
ttobserver, as I have written, and many have written... Trinbago is in a state that is unbecoming of the immense 'common wealth' that has passed through our banks' coffers. Yes, I can well imagine how parts of the world are indeed laughing at us, that we have these natural assets and the huge inflows of US (!!) dollars, and we are in no better position than some of them; in some cases, worse off. As the saying goes, "A fool and his money will soon be parted... and there will be many willing to help relieve him of it".
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
WHOSE SHOW,WHO PAID AND WHO
WHOSE SHOW,WHO PAID
AND WHO ENJOYED IT
No guest would be so ungracious or risk appearing to be diplomatically incorrect by telling the Emperor that it was not his transparency that showed but, he was in fact not wearing any clothes at the time
The French President was caught in a diplomatic dilemma when asked about T&T's CO2 emissions ratings.He gave a qualified 'it is possible
to pollute and industrialize responsibly at the same time.This was an International Fashion Show of Club Commonwealth
What success and who succeeded apart from gorging themselves and basking in the glare of the cameras what did these people do help to help us with any of problems. It would have been improper and incorrect to to interfere in the internal affairs of their host. This was not a forum such as the U.N General Assembly or the Security.It did not have status and jurisdiction to genernate decisions and producing agreements. This was a political fashion show.
Most of these former colonies have internal colonies of Indigenous peoples who have problems regarding their ancestral lands and environmental threats. Why didn't they invite Indigenous people. The Caribbean Organization of Indigenous People wanted a seat around the table but the Commonwealth sees them as unqualified because they are merely 'nations without states'.
A welcome mat has been prepared for Paul Kagami of Rwanda Kagami was was Museveni's protege who organized and led the RPF invasion of Rwanda and left a trail of bodies between Kampala and Kigali.
I think that more effort ought to be put in strengthening the United Nations to become active in Word Governance and nations be made accountable for Human Rights and Environmental Responsibilities at that level
Look at the photos. It is all SHOW GUM.
alpha3as I can tell from the
alpha3as
I can tell from the tone of the objections to the Trinidad Guardian headline "Heads hail CHOGM as a major success" that the majority of these pointless objections and criticisms come from members of the UNC. What a disgruntled bunch of losers. Instead of celebrating the fact that our tiny country is stepping on to the world stage, they complain bitterly about what amounts to mere figments of their narrow imaginations. They love to oppose, and that may be why they are always the party of opposition! Now I expect all of them to be in opposition to what I just wrote.
According to your logic,
According to your logic, those who criticise are UNC and those who praise are PNM. So, obviously we know which one you are. With all due respect, you need to put aside the "UNC forever and PNM till ah ded" mentality and open your eyes and mind to what is really happening in the country.
alpha3as I can
alpha3as
I can tell from the tone of the objections to the Trinidad Guardian headline "Heads hail CHOGM as a major success" that the majority of these pointless objections and criticisms come from members of the UNC.
If you are so good at telling these things, I wonder if you would be so kind as to tell us what Prime Minister Manning and his wife will be having for lunch over the next few days please.
Instead of celebrating the fact that our tiny country is stepping on to the world stage, they complain bitterly
alpha3as... Our 'tiny' country does not need to step on to the world stage, we are already there! No amount of gold'en' goblets, well polished silver cutlery or $2 million plus flags could EVER, EVER, EVER hold a candle to the likes of Hasley Crawford, Ato Boldin, Brian Lara, Heather Headley, Boscoe Holder, David Rudder, Peter Minshall, Floella Benjamin, Rudolph Walker, Penny Commissiong, Wendy Fitzwilliam, Giselle Laronde, Collin Abraham, Darren Ganga, Heather Jones, Justice Cross, Dr Pat Bishop, Joan Wilson, Sparrow, the Soca Warriors, VS Naipaul, all our international panists and steelpans, our mas makers, that Angostura Bitters is based here for over 100 years, and all the other children of the soil who came before them, and will come after them, who are making it in all professions - legal, medical, fashion, acting, financial, music, sports, education, politically (in other countries), business arena, culinery, dance, military etc - and representing/flying the flag in all corners of the world.
It is a travesity and 'simple mindedness' that we are to feel hosting international fetes puts us on the 'world stage'. It is our education, talent and strength of character that puts us there, already!!! You have no idea alpha3as how PROUD I felt hearing the announcers saying the costumes for various Olympics were designed by Peter Minshall. I remember those occasions the same I remember where I was when I heard Dr Eric Williams had died, and I was a young one. You cannot get a bigger fete then the Olympics and you want to talk about Trinbago stepping onto the world stage? As Iwer George sang, as early as 2005/6... "Tell dem we reach!" (Note, he is not singing it 2009/10!!!)
For the sake of our country (and my nerves!) I hope your view is the minority! It is an abomination, disrepectful and total ingratitude for the accomplishments of our trailblazers.
It is also a travesty that those with the 'power' and financial resources to do so, have failed to ensure that the names of those who have put this country on to the 'world stage' looooong before some of the 'Heads of State/Government' got to where they are, that their names do not roll off the tips of our tongues like the names of some of the feted 'Heads of State/Government'!
Stepping on to the 'world stage' my pert, brazilian surgically enhanced, hairy Persian tail!
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
ARE THERE ANY
ARE THERE ANY -
Are there any recorded instances where the heads said that it was not a success?