Government achievement thread (PNM EDITION 2015-2025)

[Numb3r4]

Awarding contracts to financiers isn't anything new. Does it warrant splitting into two though. It just seems like it's creating greater avenues for corruption and redundancies which only further poor practices.

[Numb3r4]

Begining to wonder if it has anything to do with the Sandals resort? If some investor sees the TDC as nothing more then tedious beurocracy easily done away with, with money.

[desifemlove]

It makes no real sense, but this PNM government doesn't either.

[sMASH]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170310 ... c-shutdown

‘Contract’ behind TDC shutdown

Published on Mar 10, 2017, 9:41 pm AST
By Anna Ramdass



The Tourism Development Com­pany (TDC) is being shut down after “startling revelations” surrounding a contract awarded to a ­purported People’s National Movement (PNM) financier on the Maracas Bay ­project. This allegation is being made by president of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) Joseph Remy, who said yesterday the union will challenge Cabinet’s decision to dissolve the TDC. He questioned the timing of this move, pointing out it comes on the heels of an investigation that is now being conducted into the award of a contract by the TDC in 2016.
Remy claimed a lot of questions have been left unanswered about the contract, which was awarded to a purported PNM financier for the clearing and desilting of drains along the Mara­cas Bay car park.


“Based on information gleaned so far, we have been advised that some startling revelations have been made and, as such, there is now this haste to close down the TDC before that information reaches the public domain,” he stated.
On Thursday, Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe announced the TDC would be dissolved and two separate entities would be established to market Trinidad and Tobago sepa­rately. She also said a regulatory authority would be set up to set basic standards for all tourism operators.

[mrtrini45]

Begining to wonder if it has anything to do with the Sandals resort? If some investor sees the TDC as nothing more then tedious beurocracy easily done away with, with money.

Sandals resort

[drchaos]

funny that Cadiz couldn't get Sandals in.

but no achievements in this PNM government, until he thinks oil will rise to $100. The PM most likely would die of old age before that happens.

Cadiz could not sign Sandals because we were not desperate at the time and Sandals was demanding too much.

Now that we are desperate, Sandals can ask for what ever the hell they want and the PNM will have to give it to them.

[toyota2nr]

Ha ha all the pages and still no achievement from this dumb incompetent excuse for a government. Who is the financier getting the contract after the dissolution of TDC? At this point we are not too far off from becoming like Venezuela.

[desifemlove]

haha.unc would be no better. we don't have endless sheit of boxdrains and footbridges that the UNCs posted at the time.

kind of funny UNCs though saying it is a financier benefitting? not as if UNC never did that, eh?

[De Dragon]

haha.unc would be no better. we don't have endless sheit of boxdrains and footbridges that the UNCs posted at the time.

kind of funny UNCs though saying it is a financier benefitting? not as if UNC never did that, eh?

Yeah but their time of sheit and wrongdoing is past. The focus is on this present bunch of clowns. Besides, don't Scarfy and Arse_Wari promise us every week, that someone is going to make a jail?

[Numb3r4]

As much as the PNM isn't performing and seems to be waiting on some "hail Mary" scenario to bail them out I am still left to wonder if the UNC would actually be any better.

Crime under the UNC was still high, it was marginally lower than the previous administration, but still high, and the unemployment situation, well I doubt that they could have done anything about that, in all fairness the OJT programme was failing since they came into office and yet they only continued it, not to metion "Colour Me Orange"...Oh God....

True the UNC/PP did facilitate oil and gas exploration, needed to expand the reserves base but still amid the expenditure at Petrotrin what good was it? Added to that was the ridiculous hiring practices at the company.

The only saving grace of that administration was....maybe they would be more wiling to borrow and run a deficit budget and possibly keep thing going, not good long term but mght keep the citizenry happy, it might have improved the general mood of the populace. Don't Know.

They only thing they had going for them was the fact that crime was some how (marginally) lower so they could have built on that, maybe it had to do with the fact that they were willing to give legal briefs to everybody......I don't know.....

[sMASH]

i wanting to disagree and say, that in these times, they would have humbled themselves and resorted to some means to keep the people employed... the same mindset that kept them from instituting the property tax as envisioned by patos, is the same one that would understand, its not good to keep money out of the hands of the lower strata of the society.

yes, they helped them selves, but i thinking, they would have found ways to help out the grass roots...

i watched the pnm slate, and saw bench warmers... nobody with potential to weather this storm.. and as much as i disliked unc,, at that point in time, was the only viable option that could have done something to keep this boat floating a bit longer.

[Dizzy28]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170310/news/8216contract8217-behind-tdc-shutdown

‘Contract’ behind TDC shutdown

Published on Mar 10, 2017, 9:41 pm AST
By Anna Ramdass



The Tourism Development Com­pany (TDC) is being shut down after “startling revelations” surrounding a contract awarded to a ­purported People’s National Movement (PNM) financier on the Maracas Bay ­project. This allegation is being made by president of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) Joseph Remy, who said yesterday the union will challenge Cabinet’s decision to dissolve the TDC. He questioned the timing of this move, pointing out it comes on the heels of an investigation that is now being conducted into the award of a contract by the TDC in 2016.
Remy claimed a lot of questions have been left unanswered about the contract, which was awarded to a purported PNM financier for the clearing and desilting of drains along the Mara­cas Bay car park.


“Based on information gleaned so far, we have been advised that some startling revelations have been made and, as such, there is now this haste to close down the TDC before that information reaches the public domain,” he stated.
On Thursday, Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe announced the TDC would be dissolved and two separate entities would be established to market Trinidad and Tobago sepa­rately. She also said a regulatory authority would be set up to set basic standards for all tourism operators.

They closing down an entity of more than 1o years old and with 150 employees because of 1 drain cleaning contract??
This story seems shaky and if this really is the cause then Udecott, HDC, etc would have been closed down long time too.

[toyota2nr]

We can all agree that he UNC did a lot of crap. Reshmi was a big mistake as well as Birju. However they seemed to be much more equipped to weather the storm than this present bunch of misfits. Don't forget the price of oil dropped since early 2015 and the country was still operating. As soon as idiot Rowley and his ilk came into office is where the problems began. They have not shown that they're intelligent enough to fix or at manage the problems that we face as a country.

[De Dragon]

We can all agree that he UNC did a lot of crap. Reshmi was a big mistake as well as Birju. However they seemed to be much more equipped to weather the storm than this present bunch of misfits. Don't forget the price of oil dropped since early 2015 and the country was still operating. As soon as idiot Rowley and his ilk came into office is where the problems began. They have not shown that they're intelligent enough to fix or at manage the problems that we face as a country.

Cassava peeling classes, as well as Belt Tightening 101 at Balisier House on Saturday mornings.

[desifemlove]

PNMites say "there's no money!" true, everybody knows that. but then it's like this phrase from the Simpsons "crisitunity".

Sandals is one thing, but more is needed. Saying the fiscal issues stop progress is pretty moot, actually pretty stupid. I blame both PNM and UNC for it, both under the late manning and Kamla, the opportunity to be less reliant on energy existed.

[drchaos]

Lots of things they could have done ... An offshore US medical school is another option for tobago as well.

But these guys look like they want to enrich themselves with minimal effort ... UNC was different enriching themselves alot more with alot more effort.

[hydroep]

Trade union movement withdraws from Tripartite Council

The trade union movement in Trinidad and Tobago has taken a decision to suspend its participation in any meetings called by the National Tripartite Advisory Council (NTAC).

The movement comprising of NATUC, FITUN and JTUM says the decision was taken as a result of Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe’s choice to inform the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), the representative union for the Tourism Development Company (TDC) workers, via telephone of Cabinet’s decision to dissolve the TDC and replace same by two separate entities.

The trade union movement says the fact that no consultation was held with the CWU demonstrates an insensitivity and disrespect to them and the workers of TDC, and has no place in a democratic society.

It intends to hold a conference on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

http://www.looptt.com/content/trade-union-movement-withdraws-tripartite-council

[Numb3r4]

It was recently reported that the TDC and the union was assured that the workers would not be sent home, now all this happened....

Can anyone shed some light on the matter?

Sorry for the workers...especially in these times.....

[urbandilema]

Lots of things they could have done ... An offshore US medical school is another option for tobago as well.

But these guys look like they want to enrich themselves with minimal effort ... UNC was different enriching themselves alot more with alot more effort.

You mean give back to their investors in the process

[De Dragon]

It was recently reported that the TDC and the union was assured that the workers would not be sent home, now all this happened....

Can anyone shed some light on the matter?

Sorry for the workers...especially in these times.....

Imagine having to hear about your company's dissolution by media report. Imagine from PNM favourite buzz word "review" to dissolution with nothing in between to prepare you for it. Imagine having to go to work and function like normal until the actual dissolution and wind up of the entity.

[Numb3r4]

^^ UGH...that is tough....will they be given any sort of option for transfering to the new contractor run companies....

I mean is it possible that they can be given the option of at least being considered for the new TDC with the appropriate adjustment in salaries.....at least they have some form of income.....

[Numb3r4]

On top of that a south oil company has sent home some more guys.....

[drchaos]

I wonder how much in consultation fee's they gonna pay out to friends/family/financiers to set up these new tourism companies?

[desifemlove]

https://twitter.com/cnewslive/status/842424003952279553

No Styrofoam? So what then? paper? wrapping plastic? As this will impact on costs, prices, and many other things. Note there is a FOREX issue, and this means importing more protective items.

hmmm...does it matter if this is done or not?

[dude2014]

The new CEO is sending home the 150 people in batches of three or four, so they do not have to report it to the Ministry of Labour. Imagine the Minister of labour who was a U N I O N I S T WAS TALKING THE MOST AMOUNT OF ARSENESS about how persons can re-apply for their work.

The PSA Vs the Govt in the TTPost matter was resolved in the privy Council and essentially what they said was the Govt as Employer had some responsibility. I wonder if kick em Jenny who used to school us at General Council about those responsibility, whether she remembers them?

The UNC man who get fired from the Maracas project has more than one company and his in laws are known PNMites .........

[Dizzy28]

The new CEO is sending home the 150 people in batches of three or four, so they do not have to report it to the Ministry of Labour. Imagine the Minister of labour who was a U N I O N I S T WAS TALKING THE MOST AMOUNT OF ARSENESS about how persons can re-apply for their work.

The PSA Vs the Govt in the TTPost matter was resolved in the privy Council and essentially what they said was the Govt as Employer had some responsibility. I wonder if kick em Jenny who used to school us at General Council about those responsibility, whether she remembers them?

The UNC man who get fired from the Maracas project has more than one company and his in laws are known PNMites .........

Do they have to report it to the MoL if the employees are on fixed term contracts and those contracts are either not being renewed or being bought out?

[tourniquet]

Glad to see a government taking a stance against moochers:
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2017-03- ... -own-roads

[Dizzy28]

More closures announced

[sMASH]

PNM anthem 2020:

[De Dragon]

Yes let us close the $2.00 enterprises like Caroni Green, but spend millions on lobbyists, with no influence with the Republican US Government. I'm sure Rowley and his good friend Arthur Collins, will not be able to tell us what our $14.5 million dollars did for us. This from a Government who always hypocritically demands value for money from everyone BUT themselves.