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Mr. Panday appeared in court this morning….

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:16:55 +0000

Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday will have to answer to charges laid against him in connection with his failure to declare a London bank account.

This as Mr. Panday appeared in court this morning, his second court appearance for the week.

Mr. Panday arrived at the Port of Spain Magistrate’s Court just before 10 this morning.

First Court Magistrate, Marcia Murray, told his attorneys that the no-case submission which they had made was denied.

Magistrate Murray ruled that there was enough evidence for Mr. Panday to answer to the charges and told Mr. Panday’s lawyers that they had to proceed with a defense for their client.

Mr. Panday is charged with failing to declare a million dollar account in a London Bank to the Integrity Commission.

He was charged under section 27 (1)(b) of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

Government Is Sticking To Its Position

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:10:36 +0000

Government is sticking to its position that the People’s Partnership coalition remains strong in spite of internal differences that may cause public concern or controversy.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Suruj Rambachan, responding to several questions posed by reporters this afternoon defended the government’s performance during its two year tenure in office.

Speaking at the weekly post cabinet news briefing held at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s this afternoon, Minister Rambachan sort to clear on the air on reports that the Movement for Social Justice may not take part in the coalition’s second year anniversary celebrations next week.

He added the interest shown by foreign investors who want to do trade in this country is an indication of political and economic stability.

Commenting on reports that the executives of the Lopinot \Bon Air West Congress of the People constituency have resigned and are interested in joining the United National Congress, Dr Rambachan said it’s a matter the leaders will address in due course.

No word yet from the COP on the reported resignations

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:55:43 +0000

No word yet from the Congress of the People on the reported resignation of (COP) Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency executives…

Late yesterday, COP chairman, Joseph Toney, said he would want to see their resignations before he make any…

On Wednesday Chairman of the COP Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency executive, Rawle Raphael, announced that the entire executive have resigned from the party and are expected to join the United National Congress (UNC).

Mr. Raphael said the eight COP members resigned over the lack of representation by MP Lincoln Douglas, Minister of State in the Ministry of the People and Social Development, and also one of the deputy political leaders of the party.

The executive had sought to have Douglas recalled as MP and had convened a meeting to express a lack of confidence in him however; this did not find favour with the party’s national executive….

Raphael said the COP needed changes and he was not seeing the touted “new politics” that was promised by the party’s founding leader, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran.

Kurleen Cooper, is showing signs of improvement

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:48:22 +0000

Doctors say Point Fortin mother, Kurleen Cooper, is showing signs of improvement….

Cooper underwent surgery for seven and a half hours Tuesday night, to reattach her right arm after being attacked by her neighbour’s dogs…

The 36 year old pregnant mother of three other children was mauled by three dogs while walking along South Central Road, Point Fortin, where she lives…

She had just dropped two of her three children to school….

The dogs, owned by fish vendor, Ronnie Maharaj, bit Cooper numerous times about her head, face, arms, ear, genitals and legs.

Meanwhile, Point Fortin residents say the owners of the dogs should have exercised more responsibility…

programs like “Color Me Orange” have proven to be failures.

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:36:04 +0000

Opposition Senator, Penelope Beckels, says protest by residents of East Port of Spain come as no surprise as programs like “Color Me Orange” have proven to be failures.

Ms. Beckles spoke on the matter this morning….

She said although the Managing Director of the Housing Development Corporation, Jerlene John said the “Color Me Orange” Program will resume soon, government has not listened to stakeholders.

Ms. Beckles noted these types of communities have suffered neglect and that previous governments have not done enough to bring about change.

TTTI, has taken issue with the appointment of Works and Infrastructure Minister

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:13:56 +0000

The Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute, TTTI, has taken issue with the appointment of Works and Infrastructure Minister, Jack Warner, as Prime Minister in the absence of Mrs. Persad-Bissessar…

In an interview this morning, TTTI President, Richard Joseph said the organization was not attacking the government in any way however, caution the signal to the international community….

Mr. Joseph said there were still many questions surrounding the minister’s affairs with football governing body FIFA…

Mr. Joseph questioned what the authorities are doing about the matter…

Same-sex Relationships Needed To Be Looked At…

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:21:14 +0000

Temporary Opposition Senator, Sharrie Ali, is calling on legislators to raise the bar and deal with the controversial issue of same-sex relationships.

During Tuesday’s Senate debate on a Bill to Amend the Miscellaneous Provisions (Maternity Protection and the Masters and Servants Ordinance) Bill, 2012, Ali made the call…

She said in the nature of being progressive, same-sex relationships needed to be looked at…

Last Friday, a group of people demonstrated outside the Parliament at Tower D, Waterfront Complex, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, demanding an end to what they claimed was discrimination against them.

Meantime, later on in the marathon 12-hour sitting, Independent Senator Corinne Baptiste-McKnight said a lot of the bullying taking place at schools was against boys suspected of being gay.

Baptiste-McKnight was contributing to debate on the Children Bill 2012, which seeks to protect children from abuse.

Ragoobar Planned To Kill His Mother On Mother’s Day

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:03:28 +0000

Basdeo Ragoobar, the son of Batia Ramsumair, the 70-year-old woman who was bludgeoned to death on Mother’s Day, reportedly said goodbye to his friends the day before he died…

We’re told 47 year old Ragoobar waved and said it was the last time his friends would be seeing him before riding away on his bicycle…

It’s also reported that Ragoobar had told villagers he was fed up with his mother and that he would kill her, insisting her death would come on a Mother’s Day…

The 70-year-old woman was beaten on the head with a blunt object when she visited her son(Ragoobar) on Mother’s Day.

She collapsed and died in the front yard.

Ragoobar’s corpse was also discovered by police that same day, at the back of his house.

He is believed to have drunk a weedicide…

The mother and son had a long dispute over property…

Eight COP Members resign….to moved to UNC…

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:25:10 +0000

Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) Lopinot/Bon Air West constituency executive Rawle Raphael and the entire executive have resigned from the party and are expected to join the United National Congress (UNC).

Mr. Raphael confirmed the move during a news conference at the Surrey Community Centre, near Lopinot, yesterday (Wednesday).

He said the eight COP members resigned over the lack of representation by MP Lincoln Douglas, Minister of State in the Ministry of the People and Social Development, and also one of the deputy political leaders of the party.

The executive had sought to have Douglas recalled as MP and had convened a meeting to express a lack of confidence in him however; this did not find favour with the party’s national executive….

Raphael said the COP needed changes and he was not seeing the touted “new politics” that was promised by the party’s founding leader, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran.

Meantime, COP chairman, Joseph Toney, said he would want to see their resignations before he make any…

UDeCOTT Chairman Cleared

NewsPower — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:44:03 +0000

Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation, (UDeCOTT), Jearlean John, has been cleared by the Integrity Commission, of any wrongdoing over claims that her daughter, Aisha Serrette, was the beneficiary of legal work from UDeCOTT…

Ms. John yesterday disclosed that on April 27th she received a letter from the Ken Gordon-led Commission which informed her that there was no evidence to support the charge.

The letter, signed by the Commission’s registrar, Martin Farrell, stated that in reference to its October 3rd, 2011 letter, in which it advised John she was being investigated for possible breaches of the Integrity in Public Life Act, Chapter 22:01….the commission, following investigation found no evidence to support any breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

Speaking with members of the media after addressing members of the Trinidad Union Club luncheon, at Nicholas Tower, Port of Spain, the UDeCOTT chairman said the entire episode was not very pleasant as it censured the character of her family.

She said although she was vindicated on paper, the tragedy is how the whole thing unfolded, a case of having to run behind your name to catch it…