Government achievement thread (PNM EDITION 2015-2025)

[De Dragon]

For all those who really feel the recession bad the restoration work of the Brian Lara stadium in south has begun and people wondering why all taxes and cost cutting measures.

The caring Government's way of saying "fack you!". Arrogance and pig-headedness reigning supreme, just like old arse MoE Garcia saying that there is more support for denying citizens over-50 GATE funding, but providing absolutely no evidence of said support, then saying that
"Despite being accused of being “discriminatory” in deciding to discontinue GATE funding for people 50 years and over, the Government has made it clear that it has no intention of reconsidering its position.
In fact, Education Minister Anthony Garcia told the Express on Monday that support for the decision far outweighs the complaints received about it. He said this indicates that the Government has made the right decision".
Mind you this geriatric said just last week that the recommendations were not "cast in stone"

[desifemlove]

http://news.power102fm.com/ptsc-buses-get-wifi-38018

Passengers will soon have access to Wi-Fi connection while onboard Public Transport Service Corporation PTSC buses.

Minister of Public Administration and Communication, Maxie Cuffie has announced that this service, which will be accessible on selected routes during the initial phases, will become available to the public after its launch on Friday 29th July.


http://news.power102fm.com/wp-content/u ... IFI-1-.mp3

[baigan]

http://news.power102fm.com/ptsc-buses-get-wifi-38018

Passengers will soon have access to Wi-Fi connection while onboard Public Transport Service Corporation PTSC buses.

Minister of Public Administration and Communication, Maxie Cuffie has announced that this service, which will be accessible on selected routes during the initial phases, will become available to the public after its launch on Friday 29th July.


http://news.power102fm.com/wp-content/u ... IFI-1-.mp3

Well...that's actually pretty nice

[mrtrini45]

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-09- ... government



Fair to failing grades for Government

Rhonda Krystal Rambally
Published:
Sunday, September 4, 2016

Wednesday will make it one year since the People’s National Movement (PNM) led by Dr Keith Rowley won the general election and took over the governing of the country from the People’s Partnership coalition.

Here political analysts grade the Government’s performance in seven key areas and comment on how they have managed the country over the last 12 months.

Dr

Maukesh Basdeo:

In addition to setting up a joint border protection agency and strengthening the police service, better handling of the economy and crime would have assisted the Government’s performance.

Adoption of an intelligence-led national security model and immediately developing a policy on prison management upon assuming power would have also made a difference.

Engage criminal justice stakeholders to re-engineer the structure to provide an efficient and legitimate system as the foundation for crime prevention, law enforcement and protection of human rights is another area that could have improved the Government’s rating.

RATINGS

Crime/Security 4/10

Education 5/10

Health 4/10

Economy 5/10

Sports 5/10

Accountability 5/10

Transparency 5/10

Professor John La Guerre:

The process of adjustment by the population will be the most challenging problem facing the Government in the future. People got accustomed to a particular method of governance over the years and will have to adjust to the changes of the current environment. One such expectation is free education which is very rare in the world.

So far, there have been some reassuring statements and initiatives but I think we need a clearer vision of what kind of challenges we are expected to face in the coming years and how we are going to address them. It is important to have a clear economic policy in moving the country forward which is also crucial for investment. There has not been any clear statement on what the investment plans of the Government were but felt it was an area which government should try to clear the air as much as possible.

RATINGS

Crime/Security 6/10

Education 7/10

Health 6/10

Economy 6/10

Sports No rating

Accountability 6/10

Transparency 7/10

Dr Winford James:

No movement with crime. The old problems remain despite increased allocations to the Ministry of National Security. In fact, the levels of unchecked criminality seem to be rising.

In education there are no big ideas yet, though recently established committees seem to be preparing some.

Focus on removing violence and violent students from schools, making schools ready, healthy and comfortable for students and teachers.

In health the old problems of bed and drug shortage remain. Many persons are buying their own drugs and are looking to private institutions for relief and comfort.

Government was able to focus on managing falling revenue and income to mostly keep inherited levels of employment and sourcing loans for development. Caution and conservativeness are the names of the game.

Pretty good on accountability. The attitude is right and transparency is inspiring.

Holding more consultations with various communities on their plans and programmes and starting a high stakes demonstration development project would have made a difference on the Government’s scorecard. Govern with the people in their various communities constantly and hold regular consultations and accounting sessions.

RATINGS

Crime/Security 5/10

Education 6/10

Healthcare 6/10

Economy 7/10

Accountability 9/10

Transparency 9/10

[coolfiger]

Just passed by to drop this for the BUGWAAANAAA who was saying d pnm doin stuff http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160906 ... ig-trouble

[sMASH]

accountability? if firing big mac is accountability, then is more like 10/9

how de frazzle is health care 6/10? from cdap, cancer meds, blood work reagents, no improvements to hospital conditions, is more like 3/10

economy7/10.. not when the demand for the TTd is falling. not that it is their fault, but they made it harder to live and stifled spending, with the midget's modifications.

education, well school books not free, gate got cut, i haven't seen the school feeding program van pass this whole week, (probably taking another road), schools were opened, but the not all classes were available. and more and more children are failing maths.

sport, well all fail for olympics,, lol just a joke. except for the boxer, he was an idiot.

crime and security... how many crimes are prosecuted and punished? we need those figures.

[TRAE]

Marlene get hired back ?

[sMASH]

daiz the werd on de street, they reinforcing the streets.

[hong kong phooey]

looking for a hat to buy to join the upcoming protest, any recommendations.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160907 ... dget-pains

[K74T]

PNM Government Achievements after 1 Year

1. Smaller Cabinet Size from 33 to 23 Members
2. Decreased perception of Corruption evidenced by CPI
3. Dialogue and Consultation in Decision making.
4. Local Government Reform Embarked Upon (Policy Document)
5. Successfully brought the Overdraft facility from negative $9 Billion to zero.
6. Resumption of ongoing projects viz. Brian Lara Stadium, NAPA etc. despite financial constraints.
7. Completion of Cycling Velodrome
8. Completion of Aquatic Center
9. Completion of Tennis Centre
10. Rationalize Fiscal Expenditure
11. Timeframe set out for minimizing Budget deficit and returning to balanced budget.
12. Inflation subdued at 2.1% Core and 3.5% Headline at April
13. Outfitting and occupancy of Government Buildings to reduce Rental fees
14. VAT Reduction decreased to 12.5%
15. Personal Allowance increased to $72,000
16. Phased reduction of Fuel Subsidy and savings of $340 Million
17. OJT Stipends increased by 20%
18. Removal for fees for persons over 60 years old for Drivers permits and passports
19. GATE Reviewed to ensure savings and efficiency.
20. Legislative Agenda for 2015-2020 prepared and published
21. Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Properties Amt Bill passed paving the way for implementation.
22. Simplified process of selecting Police Commissioner
23. Enforcement of Speed Limit – Noticeable decline in road fatalities
24. Firm Action to reduce violence in schools – decline in school violence.
25. National Tripartite Advisory Council Established paving the way for greater consultation.
26. National Statistical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago being established.
27. Landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change signed
28. Cooperation Agreements signed with Ghana in oil and gas.
29. Opportunities created to expand trade into Venezuela.
30. State Visit to Jamaica to avert a potential foreign relations crisis.
31. Cut out wastage in the delivery of Food Cards
32. Improved working relationship with Tobago House of Assembly (THA)
33. Commenced the Housing programme under the HDC
34. Paid Caroni workers outstanding money


Compare to the UNC Blunders after their first Year
Year 1

• Pension promise of $3,000 for 60 year olds withdrawn
• Thousands of Contract works fired or not renewed (Response to a question from Dr. Rowley in September 2010)
• Award of Airport lighting without a Board or tendering process
• Ganga Singh appointed CEO at WASA – without Board and Advertisement
• Anand Ramlogan & missing Piano at PM residence
• Cancellation of OPVs with nothing to replace it
• SIA Files revealed in Parliament
• Appointment of Reshmie Ramnarine as Head of SIA
• Susan Francois appointed Acting Director of the FIU
• Jack Warner dispute with Nicholas CAL Board
• Mary King’s dismissal in corruption scandal
• Bulldozing Farmers Crops
• Award of Gopaul Contract with NP
• Spent over 10 million dollars in 81 overseas trips (after nine months)
• Hiring of party members (UNC), friends and family in Ministries and State Agencies with impunity.
• Hiring persons with false papers
• Shutdown of special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT)
• Insulted Jamaicans (ATM Machine slur)
• Insulted St Lucians in despair when in hurricane damage they were told that to get aid from T&T they must agree to buy from us.

https://www.facebook.com/PNMTT

[desifemlove]

ban both pnm and unc, and start the constitution over from scratch.....how tings going on, neither will solve crime or improve health, or diversify the economy.

[$h@dy]

Former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday gave the Government a failing grade on their performance after a year in office. Today marks one year since the Dr Keith Rowley-led administration was voted into office.

Over the weekend, the Sunday Guardian published the result of an online poll which showed that 65.66 per cent of those canvassed were “very dissatisfied” with the Government’s performance, with 12.70 per cent indicating they were “somewhat dissatisfied.”

Another 6.35 per cent of the respondents said they were “very satisfied,” while 7.91 per cent were “somewhat satisfied” and 7.39 per cent were “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.”

Lee Sing was one of five people who assessed the People’s National Movement’s performance. With ten being the highest rating, Lee Sing, who resigned from the PNM last year, gave the administration “a four.”

He said there was no conscience in the current Cabinet and the “Prime Minister had deliberately assembled a team of people who would demand nothing of him. Because they could demand nothing of him, they can’t demand anything of themselves and so they are unable to do anything that sparks...precisely because they are no sparks around their leader.”

It was clear the majority of the population were dissatisfied in the areas of health, crime, labour, housing, foreign affairs and energy, he noted.

Lee Sing said rather than look at the country’s foreign exchange earnings and try to generate domestic revenue, the Government’s plan was to sit, wait and hope that energy prices would skyrocket to turn around the economy.

He also criticised the PM’s regular oversea trips, stating as a leader he should be anchored with his Cabinet.

Assessing the performance of ministers, Lee Sing said he was disappointed in National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.

“To me, Dillon has not come to grips with the difference between running a controlled environment and running an environment where everything is out of control. They have to understand that the buck stops with them. They have to find ways and means to get the job done,” Lee Sing added.

He also condemned the performance of Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre.

“We do not have an Energy Minister. In the context of Trinidad and Tobago, the Energy Minister is the czar of the region. I don’t even know that this lady (Olivierre) exists. And even if she says something it amounts to nothing,” he added.

Lee Sing suggested that Rowley reconfigure the Cabinet to 16 ministers, with each minister being assigned a junior minister to help out. He gave Ministers Shamfa Cudjoe, Dennis Moses, Randall Mitchell, Fitzgerald Hinds, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Dillon and Olivierre failing grades but felt there was also room for improvement in health, education, finance and agriculture.

Lee Sing questioned if Finance Minister Colm Imbert would be better suited in Works and Transport, while Mariano Browne, a former minister, would be better to manage the Finance Ministry.

In going forward, Lee Sing said Rowley had to take the bull by the horns by working and guiding his “inexperienced” Cabinet, otherwise they would repeat the error of the past.

Maraj: Grit and courage required

Former foreign affairs minister Ralph Maraj said the economy and crime were two areas the Government collapsed on. He said the country had not seen much movement in adjustments, new earnings and the restructuring of the economy.

Maraj said the Government also needed to look critically at the exchange rate, which should be allowed to slide further while not much had been done in diversification towards new earnings. Another issue not addressed, he said, was the rationalisation of state enterprises to ensure accountability and transparency.

While he praised Rowley for calling on divisional police heads to be sheriffs in their areas, he said Rowley needed follow-up meetings every month with these heads to get updates on developments.

In doing that, Maraj said Rowley would engender a culture of leadership and responsibility which was what was required to reduce crime.

He, however, commended Imbert, saying he had done relatively well for someone who was inexperienced in finance.

“What is required is the grit and courage to make tough decisions. That is what has been lacking and as a result we have not seen any movement towards the challenges we have before us,” he added.

Ferreira: A year spent detoxifying

Founding PNM member Ferdie Ferreira said it seemed the Government spent its first year detoxifying.

As a political analyst, however, Ferreira, 89, said for the last year the country had seen more accountability, while wastage was significantly reduced.

“The major part of the Government in the last year was paying bills or trying to correct what went wrong. I don’t think people really understand the magnitude of the disaster the Government faced when they came into office.”

But Ferreira refused to assess the ministers’ individual performances.

“The problem with prime ministers is the question of judgment. People might be academically qualified for a job but in some cases they don’t fit in... they are not politicians. I think one of the problems is that with a team of so many newcomers, obviously... a lot of them without any political experience... it would take them some time to become politically acclimatised.”

He said sometimes ministers did perform but lack of political flare would give the public the impression that he/she was incompetent or incapable of handling their job.

Teelucksingh: Horse bolted on crime

Former independent senator, Rev Daniel Teelucksingh, said crime should have been addressed from day one by the Government with stakeholders from different quarters.

“You let a year pass. The horse has already bolted. You wait so long. This should have been the first thing this Government should have done.

“They have inherited a nation that is riddled by crime. I don’t think they know how to deal with this very serious problem with the close connection between crime, the narcotics trade and the high prevalence of guns in T&T,” he said.

Teelucksingh gave the Government a thumbs down for not opening the Children’s Hospital in Couva yet, saying citizens were suffering for proper health care while the building was going to waste.

“That hospital does not belong to the PP nor PNM government. It belongs to the people... and many people have been asking if it has become an instrument in a political game,” he said.

On the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle, Teelucksingh said it was impossible for an OJT minister to learn their job in one year.

“I do not believe in any overnight shuffle of a Cabinet. What the Government has to do is operate in consortium with their manifesto, plans and policies and work towards that. I would be very gracious towards any government in their first year and give them a chance.”

Ford: Cabinet will listen to population

Yesterday, PNM general secretary Ashton Ford said when the PNM came into office they were faced with an empty Treasury and had to cut expenditure due to falling oil prices.

He said it was difficult to understand how some sectors of the public expected the Government to achieve a high level of delivery when the revenue from oil dropped from US$120 to $26 a barrel.

“It is inconsistent with reason. You can’t ask more with less. You could not ask the Finance Minister to be reckless with his spending,” Ford said, praising Imbert for handling the economy prudently.

Asked if an inexperienced Cabinet had created some setbacks for the Government, Ford refused to say.

“That is the Prime Minister’s call. He is the one to assess them and to make a judgment call in the performance of the ministers.”

In the coming year, Ford said the Government would listen to the population’s views.

“The Cabinet will also adjust the negatives and improve on the positives,” he added.

[mrtrini45]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead ... -5-million


Rowley visit cost Jamaica almost $5 million
Published:Friday | September 16, 2016 | 12:00 AM Jovan Johnson


It cost taxpayers $4.6 million for a four-day visit to Jamaica in July by Dr Keith Rowley, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

The expenditure, which was released to The Gleaner by the Office of the Prime Minister under an Access to Information request, showed that approximately $1 million was spent on dinner and drinks at Vale Royal, the official residence of Jamaica's prime minister.

Rowley was in Jamaica from July 17-21 on an invitation from Prime Minister Andrew Holness as the relationship between the two Caribbean Community countries soured over the treatment of Jamaicans by Trinidadian immigration officials and a growing call by Jamaican businesses for boycotts over alleged unfair trade practices.

While here, Rowley, accompanied by a delegation including his wife, met with members of civil society and the private sector and participated in bilateral talks with government officials on issues such as security, air and sea transportation, energy, immigration, trade, as well as strengthening the Caribbean Community.

A breakdown of the cost of the visit showed that food and drink amounted to $1.4 million, most of which ($1.1 million) went to paying for dinner and the bar for a reception at Vale Royal.

It cost $870,000 for accommodation and about $1.6 million for "other goods and services", which included buying phone cards for protocol staff, tents, fuel, and the washing of cars.


NO MAJOR CONCERN



Public affairs commentator Martin Henry has said that the cost should be of no major concern and citizens must expect to pay for visits involving heads of government, which, he argues, are part of the normal business of government.

"I am not at all distressed. Not by this case and by most of the others, which were raised in the Portia Simpson Miller administration. I'm all in favour of careful expenditure, avoidance of waste and corruption, but I am not joining the dollar chase," Martin said, adding that "a visit is quite in order, especially given the stresses and strains" between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago over the years.

Dr Morais Guy, opposition spokesman on foreign affairs, said it is "'probably too early" to say whether the cost of the trip was justified.

"I can't say whether it was justified, but in terms of the cost, one cannot see any direct benefit for it immediately because that is not how one expects to gauge whether it was successful or not. It takes some time for these things to happen," he told The Gleaner.

At a press briefing marking the end of the visit, Rowley said he came to avert a "'trade war", noting that "if we had not agreed to take the initiative to put to an end what was festering between our countries, the consequences could have been quite dire for our business communities and for our countries as a whole".

Holness, meanwhile, noting that the relationship between Kingston and Port-of-Spain had been "reset", said: "At the end of the day, there is greater clarity, greater understanding, and most importantly, restored friendship."

jovan.johnson@gleanerjm.com

[Dizzy28]

Thats 4.6m Jamaican dollars. Thats like TT$400

[De Dragon]

Clyde Paul plead not guilty to DUI charges in court. PNM Mayors seem to be a lawless bunch.

[bluesclues]

Telly Paul plead not guilty to DUI charges in court. PNM Mayors seem to be a lawless bunch.

Well once he get off a precedent set there for everyone to get off after failing a breathalyzer by using his same argument. Stay tuned to this one.

[mrtrini45]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161019 ... nk-driving

Point Fortin Mayor charged with drunk driving
...to appear in court today

Published on Oct 19, 2016, 9:00 am AST
By Susan Mohammed


POINT Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul is expected to appear in court on Wednesday charged with drunk driving.

Paul, 72, of Bonasse Village, Cedros, was arrested on Tuesday during an exercise by officers of the Point Fortin Police Station.

According to a police report, at around 8 p.m. officers of the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Task Force were conducting checks on motorists at a junction at Grant's Trace, Rousillac. One of the vehicles which the officers caused to stop was allegedly driven by Paul.

A breathalyser test was conducted and Paul's reading was allegedly over 100 microgrammes. He was detained and taken to the Point Fortin Police Station where he was charged by Sgt Gosine.

[De Dragon]

In B4 Redman and the "iz notting" crew.......................

[baigan]

That's very irresponsible and shameful that a mayor is drinking and driving. What an example to set for the people....

[De Dragon]

That's very irresponsible and shameful that a mayor is drinking and driving. What an example to set for the people....

Watch how the red and red crew will avoid this topic like the plague.

[SR]

Well at 100 its best you plead not guilty and then get off the charges ......

[Redman]

In B4 Redman and the "iz notting" crew.......................

Jail him ,
Confiscate everything...
Hang him,

In fact hang him twice....


Hope yuh feel better.

[De Dragon]

In B4 Redman and the "iz notting" crew.......................

Jail him ,
Confiscate everything...
Hang him,

In fact hang him twice....


Hope yuh feel better.

Convention? Because I guess a Point Fortin Mayor has never been convicted of of a 100 mg DUI on Grant Trace Roussilac before.

[Redman]

You might be right -never convicted....but more than one get ketch...plastered.

[rspann]

Allyuh making a big thing out of nutten. He was doing research to see the effects of driving under the influence. How else we would know the dangers of drunk driving.
Waiting for PM 1 to criticize the DUI task force, and say he can't trust them.

[De Dragon]

Allyuh making a big thing out of nutten. He was doing research to see the effects of driving under the influence. How else we would know the dangers of drunk driving.
Waiting for PM 1 to criticize the DUI task force, and say he can't trust them.

Then extend it to the Coast Guard, Army, and entire TTPS.

[bluesclues]

Allyuh making a big thing out of nutten. He was doing research to see the effects of driving under the influence. How else we would know the dangers of drunk driving.
Waiting for PM 1 to criticize the DUI task force, and say he can't trust them.

The funny thing is that after all these years as a government minister. Rowley is actually showing some schoolboy level ignorance on state structure and affairs. How does one spend so much time in government and not learn anything new? How could one be so oblivious as to what is improper practice and tarrgetting for a Prime Minister or even political leader.

How the fk u gonna go against your country's military for doing their job without taking legal advice first on things like presidential jurisdiction. How u gonna go and be vex that you get in power and now realizing that u have not been made king because ur powers dont extend over everything and that classification will also apply to you because YES, you may be the country's leader, but u still have ppl to answer to.

#Democracy - effectively defending the public from falling under tyrrany for 2000 years.

[urbandilema]

[mrtrini45]

[baigan]

That sucks :/
we already pay duty and vat when shopping online