The *Official* LOCAL Election Thread (2013)

[mamoo_pagal]

Felicity temple vandalised
...Jack wants quick police action

By Susan Mohammed susan.mohammed@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 6, 2013 at 9:16 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 7, 2013 at 12:14 PM ECT
A HINDU temple in Felicity, where Chaguanas West Member of Parliament Jack Warner held a puja (prayer service) before the last Monday’s by-election, was burglarised and torched yesterday.
Over $230,000 worth in gold jewelry which adorned 20 murtis in the temple, and cash from a donation box, was stolen.
Carpet, drapery and plastic chairs worth more than $50,000 were destroyed in the fire at the Shri Sankar Mandir at Cacandee Road.
Secretary of the temple Ramdin Rooplal said the incident followed an incident on Saturday, when the saris draped over the murtis were slashed.
Rooplal said the fire was discovered around 1 p.m. by a passerby.
Warner visited the temple yesterday afternoon and surveyed the damage.
“I am amazed that this could be done in broad daylight when the culprits can be seen by anybody vicinity of the temple”, said Warner.
“To think this is political I don’t want to rush to judgement. There is no evidence here that this was political. What I do know however there has been a wanton act of vandalism.”
Warner said he wanted the police officers “to try to solve matter quickly. I will work with the organisation here to have this place restored in the shortest possible time.”
He said: “Crime is on the rise. Seven murders in 12 hours is a shocker for any country.
If the minister is comfortable with crime, and if he is believes crime is on the downhill then so be it.”
The incident is being investigated as an act of sacrilege by officers of the Chaguanas Police Station.
—SM

so Sat Maraj and company saying "it is the thugs that JW brought down for the election come back to vandalize the temple as an attack on Hindus". Sorry but it seems UNC still carrying out their dirty tricks. They really want people to believe that people from the "corridor" come down to attack Felicity and start with the temple. UNC at it's finest.......still trying to stir up the "attack on Hindus"

[Alexy]

Mamoo, yuh listening to Sat's mukdar program on radio or what?
He is one clown!

[mamoo_pagal]

Mamoo, yuh listening to Sat's mukdar program on radio or what?
He is one clown!

boy I does have to hear what these men saying sometimes to get an idea of what their next move or agenda is. The clowns are the ones that call in and support the man like he is some savior...........
UNC not giving up their arrogance!!! how they deal with the results of the bi-election, the old man that get knock down, work @ 8, ppl leaving the UNC. It borderline aggravating now, how much lower can they go?

[wagonrunner]

when i tell eliteauto this was kams biggest cash earner soundtrack in the back of jack's car he tell me he nar taking that.

[eliteauto]

Panday vex that song didn't come out when Kams was in the back of the Royal Saloon

[rspann]

Elite, what I missing dey? Fill meh in nah.

[brams112]

LYNDIRA JOINS JACK

UNC hit by third parliamentary resignation

By Irene Medina Associate Editor

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/LYN ... 12611.html



Story Created: Aug 6, 2013 at 9:33 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Aug 6, 2013 at 11:33 PM ECT )


Former United National Congress (UNC) senator Lyndira Oudit has joined the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), the Express has learnt.

Oudit, who announced her resignation yesterday, both from the UNC and the Senate, is expected to share a political platform on Saturday with interim political leader and founder of the ILP, Jack Warner, when the party launches its local government campaign.

Oudit, who was also vice-president of the Senate, is likely to be named as one of the ILP’s deputy political leaders and is also carded to make her first political speech when she mounts the ILP’s platform at Auzonville Park, corner Auzonville Road and the Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna.

Warner has already named his attorney Anna Deonarine as an interim deputy political leader and attorney Robin Montano as interim chairman.

While Warner would not divulge information about Oudit’s involvement in the party he did indicate yesterday that the ILP was busy finalising plans for the launch of its local government elections campaign.

“Things are going extremely well with our plans. We had a meeting last night (Monday night) where we were streamlining the programme for Saturday’s launch, following which we will begin to look at the screening of candidates,” Warner said.

Making it clear that there is “no stopping him” as he moves from by-election to local government elections, to general elections, Warner has indicated that he has also set his sights on Tobago.

Political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People, (TOP) Ashworth Jack , confirmed the resignation of the chairman of the TOP, Lionel Coker, who he said gave no reason for quitting his post in his resignation letter yesterday.

These latest developments come on the heels of two resounding defeats suffered by the ruling UNC at the Chaguanas West by-election poll last week and the Tobago House of Assembly executive election in January this year.

During the blistering by-election battle, some 10 councillors of the UNC and the Congress of the People (COP) also resigned from their parties to join the ILP.

The councillors are Falisha Isahaq, Danan Singh, Ramesh Ramadhan and Eric Harry (from the Chaguanas Borough); Wazim Daniel (Diego Martin); Winston Ramsaroop (Tunapuna Regional Corporation); Clinton Jennings (Arima Corporation), Dayne Francois, Lawrence Lalla and Quincy Luces (Sangre Grande).

Of the 10, four are Congress of the people (COP) councillors.

At a recent press conference following his victory in the Chaguanas West by-election, Warner outlined a six-point plan to take his ILP forward, among which was a party constitution, which he said is being framed by a team led by Deonarine.

Warner also said that the party was embarking on a leadership drive for persons interested in serving their country under the ILP banner.

“We are not only looking in our leadership drive for councillors, aldermen, possible candidates for general elections, but we are also looking for persons interested in leading and we will be asking applicants to state clearly in their resume in what areas they possess the competence to lead.

“This is important because once a national pool of leaders has been identified, the ILP will run development courses for this team to institutionally strengthen their capacity when we advance to Government,” Warner said.

Warner added that a database of all the applications for membership is being prepared disaggregated according to the 121 electoral areas in Local Government in the first instance, and the 41 constituencies in the second. He said the database will give an idea as to the support of the ILP for the local government elections.

The ILP leader also added that he will be opening offices across Trinidad and Tobago, and said the party has already established a planning committee to organise a National Assembly of all its supporters tentatively set for Sunday, September 29, 2013, so that all leadership positions can be ratified.

Warner has also indicated plans to set up two teams, one to develop a Strategic Development Plan for the 14 electoral areas in local government and another to prepare a draft plan for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

Woman make a big jump,from nothing to deputy political leader,so what post will the rest of the deserters get then?somehow jack will take them for a ride,he have enough to flee anyways,all he have to do is clear his name worldwide.

[equipped2ripp]

from what to deputy political leader?

[rspann]

Yeah, all he have to do is clear his name worldwide!

[pete]

from what to deputy political leader?

Senate vice president..

and on the UNC side.. from what to interim chairman?

[Chimera]

Woman make a big jump,from nothing to deputy political leader,so what post will the rest of the deserters get then?somehow jack will take them for a ride,he have enough to flee anyways,all he have to do is clear his name worldwide.

err from nothing?

She would be acting president if Carmona & Senate President out of country

[brams112]

Woman make a big jump,from nothing to deputy political leader,so what post will the rest of the deserters get then?somehow jack will take them for a ride,he have enough to flee anyways,all he have to do is clear his name worldwide.

err from nothing?

She would be acting president if Carmona & Senate President out of country

SHE wouldhave been,to stupid anyways nobody in opposition respected her at all.

[Chimera]

Who from the ppg gets any respect from anyone in opposition?

[brams112]

they respect anand,he made them look small when they were in goverment,that is why they want him out before he spokes them,too bad he can't keep his mouth shut.

[Habit7]

Woman make a big jump,from nothing to deputy political leader,so what post will the rest of the deserters get then?somehow jack will take them for a ride,he have enough to flee anyways,all he have to do is clear his name worldwide.

err from nothing?

She would be acting president if Carmona & Senate President out of country

no, last time that happened Wade Mark was president

[Ted_v2]

Lolll

[janfar]

ELECTION COMMESS

Outcry after PM says councillors want local govt polls postponed

By Ria Taitt Political Editor



Story Created: Aug 8, 2013 at 9:52 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Aug 8, 2013 at 11:39 PM ECT )


Government is seeking legal advice on the possibility of postponing the local government elections, sources said yesterday.

If the government moves for a postponement this would be a complete reversal of the Prime Minister’s earlier pledges of her People’s Partnership Government to hold elections when they are constitutionally due by October 26.

The fundamental rethink has come in the wake of the debacle which befell the United National Congress (UNC) in the Chaguanas West by-election on July 29 in their heartland seat.

Sources said one of the options that has been proposed is the establishment of advisory councils, comprised of the former councillors, who alongside the mayors and chairmen would run the corporations until the election is held.

The Government allowed the local government bodies to die and the terms of all councillors to expire on July 26. That removed the opportunity for a simple extension of the life of the local government bodies.

At a meeting at Rienzi Complex in Couva on Wednesday called to do a post-mortem of the Chaguanas West by-election, the former councillors expressed their anxieties and made a call for a postponement of the local government polls.

One of the major grounds they advanced was that the Chaguanas election was brutal and bruising and they did not feel the party’s foot soldiers were ready to go back into the election fray in what is likely to be an equally testing battle.

Sources said their argument seems to have found favour with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who took the issue to the Cabinet which discussed the matter at yesterday’s meeting.

But even prior to this, the Government had made overtures to the Opposition on Wednesday evening seeking its support for the move, according to reliable Opposition sources.

The Opposition flatly refused and demanded the elections be called immediately. Sources said the Opposition said the only condition on which it would support this measure which would lead to the delay of local government elections, was if the Prime Minister called a general election instead and in the same time frame.

Questions have however been raised about why the Government approached the Opposition in the first place, given the fact that any legislative measure would require a single majority which the Government has.

“They don’t need the Opposition. It (any measure) can be passed by a simple majority of 21 votes,” an Opposition source said. The Opposition source said Government appeared to be uncertain of the extent of its support in the House of Representatives at this point in time.

“If we (the Opposition) support the measure, it would pass, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. But if we are not supporting it and there is a shortfall on their side, the bill would fail and they would have to go to the polls and that would be another disaster,” the Opposition source noted.

However, when questioned on whether the issue of postponement was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information Minister Jamal Mohammed would say only: “On more than one occasion our Prime Minister has mentioned that elections when they are due, will be held. And we stand by that position insofar as local government elections are concerned.”

When the People’s Partnership first came to office and the political wind was in its sail, one of the Prime Minister’s first statements was to give a commitment that local government elections would be held when due. The Prime Minister had then contrasted her government’s position with the People’s National Movement’s (PNM’s) record of postponing local government polls.

Former prime minister Patrick Manning had extended the life of local government bodies on three consecutive occasions.


http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/ELE ... 32131.html

[janfar]

...Rowley says no

By Ria Taitt



Story Created: Aug 8, 2013 at 9:50 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Aug 8, 2013 at 11:39 PM ECT )


Obey the law and call the local government elections!

That is the response of Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statements that “UNC councillors” were asking for a postponement of the local government elections.

Rowley told the Express yesterday that the PNM is not supporting any extension of the life of local government bodies.

“In this period of general disarray, the Government should do what has to be done, which is to comply with the law and call the local government election,” Rowley stated.

Rowley said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s claim that “councillors” were asking for a postponement of the election could not stand, since, with the expiration of the term of office of councillors on July 26, “there are no councillors”.

“What the former UNC councillors want is a free pass, to continue in office, get paid, without having gone to the polls,’ he said. Rowley said this would be like former MPs asking to hold on (as MPs) after the dissolution of Parliament.

Rowley said the Government was “looking for a way out” of facing the electorate.

He said the Prime Minister had consistently given her commitment to the people that elections will be called when they are due. The term of local government councils expired on July 26, 2013 and as such, the Prime Minister is required to act under the law and call the local government elections, which is to be held by October 26, 2013, he noted.

“The PNM rejects out of hand any attempt by the Prime Minister to postpone the local government election, particularly since she seeks to justify this on the spurious grounds that the request is being made to her by ex-councillors. We therefore call on the Prime Minister to uphold the law, keep her word and call the elections without delay in keeping with the many assurances which she gave,” the PNM leader said.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Row ... 31991.html

[janfar]

Kamla: Councillors asked for delay

By Anna Ramdass janna.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com



Story Created: Aug 8, 2013 at 9:48 PM ECT
(
Story Updated: Aug 8, 2013 at 10:45 PM ECT )


Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said that she personally does not want to delay the local government elections but United National Congress (UNC) councillors have asked that the elections be postponed given the party’s defeat at the Chaguanas West by-election.

The local government elections are constitutionally due in October.

Persad-Bissessar has said in the past that elections must be held when they are due.

However, after meeting with the UNC’s parliamentary arm on Wednesday night at the Rienzi Complex, Couva, the Prime Minister said she will be guided by the people before any decision is taken.

Persad-Bissessar said such a move will involve returning to the Parliament for an approval which requires a simple majority.

She said discussions will continue on the issue before any decision is made.

The Prime Minister met with UNC councillors, MPs and senators for almost four hours on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting close to midnight, Persad-Bissessar said the views expressed were filled with passion and pain and she must listen to the people.

“We have taken no such decision, it is something that has come from the floor by many of the councillors. As a party we have taken no decision. I want to make that very clear and therefore the headline tomorrow in my respectful view cannot be that the UNC decides to delay local government elections,” said Persad-Bissessar.

“For my own self I’m not inclined so to do because I always feel for the democracy we need to hold elections when elections are due but again I will be guided by others,” she added.

When questioned, Persad-Bissessar admitted that councillors did express concern over the UNC’s chances at the polls given its massive defeat in the Chaguanas West by-election.

She said a number of arguments were put forward in support of delaying the election.

The issue of the constitutional reform, she said, is being pursued at the moment and that report is due to come in shortly.

She said further that the issue of local government reform is also in the works with a white paper now on the Cabinet desk.

“So we would need time if we so desire to legislate for that,” she said.

Another “very compelling” reason, she said, came from the suggestion of President Anthony Carmona that a referendum be held on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) at the same time of the local government election.

She said if this was the case, a referendum on the death penalty should also be considered and this would require time to put into place.

“Tomorrow’s headline is not that I am delaying local government elections,” reiterated Persad-Bissessar.

“That is my honest belief, that we should hold elections when they are due but at the same time I have to listen to people, I have to listen a little more now than I did before so I’ll be guarded by the reality of the voices and the consensus of views. At this point in time there is no decision to delay local government elections,” she stressed.

Persad-Bissessar said in the coming week she will meet with party activists in the North and South and have a national conversation on strengthening the UNC.

She said discussions with the coalition leaders will follow.

Persad-Bissessar said the party must return to the pavements, communities and religious spaces to reconnect with the people rather that sit in offices in town.

“From the Chaguanas West by-election one of the lessons coming out is the disconnect that there was,” she said.

The UNC, she said, left all the work to former member Jack Warner.

“That is a mistake we must never make again, we shall be in all of the constituencies,” she said.

The Prime Minister also cautioned supporters to be wary of what they read and hear and double check the facts.

She said there was no haemorrhage of the UNC or a “tsunami of resignations”.

She pointed out there was a report that UNC councillor Fitzroy Beache had joined Warner’s Independent Liberal Party (ILP) but Beache was at the meeting at Rienzi and when he was questioned he said he did meet with Warner but did not join his party.

“Do not believe everything you read, do not believe everything you hear because there’s a lot of misinformation. Indeed I mention the story of the reshuffle and two specific ministers being named...I could imagine the trauma it caused to them to read that in the newspaper. I was traumatised reading it myself when I knew that no such decision had ever been taken,” she said.

She said there was also no truth to rejected UNC candidate Khadijah Ameen being made Local Government Minister.

The Prime Minister said people were becoming upset over such misinformation in the public domain.

She also said that out of the UNC national executive meeting an audit team led by Ameen was appointed to do a “drill down” on what led to the UNC’s loss of the Chaguanas West by-election.


http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Kam ... 31911.html

[pugboy]

kamla really stupid to open her mouth about any potential delaying
the antiPP resentment will just get worse

[eliteauto]

call the election and let the chips fall where they may, apparently 2 electoral defeats in one year is still not enough for the Gov't to find humility and acknowledge the concerns of the populace, all dissenting voices are simply labelled PNM and ILP and since the PP diehard insist the PNM will never win another election ( they didn't win Tobago, it was a vote of fear) what's the worry?

[De Dragon]

Kamla should call the elections as she promised on the campaign trail. Rowley is hypocritical for his statements since he voted for postponement of Local Gov't elections at least 3 times. Jack seems to have let Chag west go to his head a bit as he is in no position at present to win LG elections.

[rspann]

Change this thread to" the official Kamla not going to take chances and call local elections thread"

[brams112]

Kamla should call the elections as she promised on the campaign trail. Rowley is hypocritical for his statements since he voted for postponement of Local Gov't elections at least 3 times. Jack seems to have let Chag west go to his head a bit as he is in no position at present to win LG elections.

Daily the pm making a fool or herself,just call the elections,how much local bodies they control now,delaying will look like they are afraid.
Plus Rowlie did not vote for delays years ago?

[DFC]

Interesting to see who is going up for Chaguanas East.

[rfari]

The time has passed for requesting postponement of the local govt elections. Unlike what happened with the pnm (passed in parliament and legally extended) the situation now iirc is that the local govt reps have vacated their posts leaving a void in representation. Thats the pp for u; running the country like a rumshop

[javishm]

she go loss

[Country_Bookie]

We need to look at the bigger picture here.
The Privy Council is a millstone around the neck of our justice system and needs to be replaced with the CCJ asap. As Pres Carmona said, call the election when u can have a referendum to vote on withdrawal from the privy council at the same time.
No sense rushing local govt elections now and then u gonna have to wait a next 2 yrs for general elections to have the referendum.

[rfari]

The president said that? Is that so Whre can i read this quote?

[j.o.e]

We need to look at the bigger picture here.
The Privy Council is a millstone around the neck of our justice system and needs to be replaced with the CCJ asap. As Pres Carmona said, call the election when u can have a referendum to vote on withdrawal from the privy council at the same time.
No sense rushing local govt elections now and then u gonna have to wait a next 2 yrs for general elections to have the referendum.

ummmm....you know that the Pres didn't say that right? referendum... yes...postponing Local Gov't ..no